Chapter name: The Lady In Red.

Enjoy!

"Fuck!"

The curse echoed in the room. Hidan fidgeted as he stood beginning to pace from the door and back to the couch while the woman who had been seated beside him shook her head with a sigh.

"Sasori was right, you do panic under pressure. As soon as that peacekeeper entered you were finished" once again her broken Konohan filled the tense air, but she was ignored as Hidan swirled around and pointed a accusing finger at Kakazu.

"Why didn't you help me back there?" He shouted to Kakazu, the panic settling in "I flopped like a fucking fish. No, wait" Hidan clasped his hands together and grinned "if we don't tell her we'll be fine. Everything is ok!" He cheered.

"You dug your own grave, Hidan" Kakazu rolled his eyes, leaning on his elbow "now go lay in it" turning back to his stacked cards he shook his head. Hidan lost his grin, switching from excited to shocked in his panic, formulating his own plan of how to hide his betrayal. He had been given one task, keep quiet.

Unfortunately for him, every time he faced the agents from the intel division he broke, stuck between trusting them to protect him and his loyalties to the gang he used to call his family.

When that family disbanded years ago, the only one to stand beside him was Kakazu, his comrade since their younger training days, since leaving army ranks in the middle of the war. He had always been what they called the wild card, a man who talked shit, but proved his skill once long ago. However, all that changed. After the death of their members in their fight to stop the war in their small country, things fell apart. Each went their separate ways and Kakazu stayed with him, keeping tabs for the nation that allowed them to forget the past.

Sasori left.

Deidara left.

Kisame left.

Itachi left.

So what was he doing protecting the identity of her? Why did he let himself be roped back in? He remembered Sasori asking his favor fifteen years ago, to stop the start of another war. They had to die back then.

"She's gonna kill me, I've got to leave now" Hidan whispered to himself, lowering his arms as he stared at the dark red wall "I'm so screwed. I'm sorry" he rambled on quieter and shut his eyes, clenching his fists at his side. He was a coward, he always was and now he couldn't do it anymore. He gave in.

"Probably" the woman confirmed and raised a hand to inspect her nails with mock interest "your lips are loose, old man, and Mistress doesn't like a snitch" Hidan shifted, his expression darkened and he straightened with a sneer, turning to look back at the dirty blonde. The woman sent to keep eyes on him.

"You better keep that pretty little mouth shut, Sen" he warned, hitting each word in a dangerously low voice.

"I have no loyalties to you" she answered back rebelliously, glaring up at him as she rose to stand at his height. Tall, lean, and snappy like the other Suna women he had met.

"Between the two of them, I'd rather take my chances with a gun to my head than deal with a peacekeeper" he dared to grin, choosing his side "they are going to catch her, very soon and all will be well once again. The agency is a pain, but they protect me. Just like Jasin protects me"

"Don't let Mistress hear you say that" she shot back.

"Mistress won't be hearing about any of this" Hidan smirked.

"Are you sure about that?"

"I am" he boosted confidently, there was no way she would find him after this.

"Hidan" Kakazu stopped his game, slamming the stack of cards in his hand down and finally looking over. The sudden noise barely registered the two in their tension "stand down both of you, this is not a time to fight" his voice raised when neither moved.

Then Sen grinned, victoriously flashing a red framed smile at him.

"Oh no" Sen mocked a look of surprise "did I forget to mention the mistress would be here tonight?" And all relief left him. The expression, don't bite the hand that feeds you turned against him. He had bit the hand and if she was coming he was screwed.

"You're lying" Hidan whispered.

"No one can protect you from her" Sen continued, engrossed in her own victory "You should have thought about that before you spoke to the agent"

"You little" he bared his teeth and lashed out at her, catching Sen by the back of her neck, fisting a hand into her hair and pulling her head back. She gasped in surprise and raised a hand to grab his arm, unable to get any traction, she struggled against his hold.

"Hidan!" Kakazu had already stood, but before he could physically stop the outburst, a sound.

A knock came at the door.

"We are a little busy" Hidan didn't bother to hide the anger in his voice, but the door opened regardless of his command.

Karui froze looking from Hidan to Sen, before the scene could process in her mind, a hand slipped to her shoulder, squeezing. Temari walked past Karui and subtly glanced back at her, lowering her hand, but holding the woman's golden gaze.

"Shut the door on your way out" the demand came out in perfect Kumonian and Karui lowered her gaze closing the door behind her, she hoped that Choji's friend had seen the unease on her. All she could do right now was hope.

It was only a matter of time now, he had seen her, she had been crossed, and despite the careful preparations, the appearance of the agents had not been disclosed fast enough. Unfortunately for them, Temari had a plan, and if not, she had a way out. Now all she needed to do was tie up the loose ends and escape.

She had little time and a lot of ground to cover.

Her plan from the start of her international journey was now at full speed, all because someone had slipped and lost their cool. Dai wasn't supposed to die so soon, that had not been the plan. The four had been carefully scouted for months even before her arrival, intel gathered for her to plan the final strike to stop everything from the inside. A civil war in Suna had begun soon after her father was killed last year, his death marked as a assignation success, but they knew the truth. Gaara remained in Suna as the new leader of the country, now fighting its own, people split between the old and the new. He lead quietly behind a army and with one final thing to tell his brother and sister before they departed four months ago.

If they truly wish for peace, then they are our allies. If they seek revenge, then they are our enemies. Please. I do not want to lose you two again.

The door shut behind her and the decision was made.

"You've broken my number one rule, Hidan" she greeted the room coldly, stepping forward and looking between the two, sight settling on the hand that held Sen, one of her own.

"Don't flirt with your contact?" He tried to lighten the mood, releasing Sen slowly, she pushed away from him with a growl and rubbed the back of her head, muttering a curse under her breath.

"Confidentiality" she didn't need to speak her order to have the two women who had come in with her moving. They grabbed Hidan on either side and forced him to kneel down. Temari calmly closed her distance to him, raising her dress as she did, grabbing the gun strapped at her thigh in the movements "I've decided that I don't need you anymore" she raised the gun to his forehead and stopped before him, ready to execute.

"I can explain!" He pleaded, staring at the barrel of the gun with wide eyes.

"There was a peacekeeper, there wasn't much of a choice, Temari" Kakazu had abandoned his table to step forward, unconcerned about the weopon now raised at him from the brunette who had come in with her "if he didn't say anything he would have spilled more than just a few trade secrets"

"What did you say?" Temari demanded curtly.

"Nothing he could use against you" he groaned as the black haired woman beside him jerked his arm "I didn't tell him you captured Sasuke, but he knew Suna was involved. Killing Dai proved it!" another jerk but he wasn't saying more.

"Why am I even talking to you?" She turned to look at Sen, the woman nodding as she spoke.

"Nosey agent wanted to know where Sasuke was and any illegal entry into Fire borders. Suna specifically" Sen crossed a arm over her waist, glaring down at Hidan while rubbing the back of her head with the other hand "he also mentioned our Lord fourth and fifth's lineage when I left the room" a pause and Temari blinked a few times at Sen.

"Really?" Temari grinned looking back to Hidan, almost enough to seem outwardly pleased, but it was anything but friendly. Hidan glanced at the brunette beside him and laughed nervously.

"It might have slipped out" he tried and cleared his throat "I uh got him thinking though, so should have some time there"

"Temari" Kakazu spoke again "you remember what Sasori told you when you crossed the border. Trust us to aid you" they both glanced at Hidan, still squirming under the two women who had come in with her "ok, trust me at least" she returned her gaze to him, only briefly "you want to stop them right? Killing this dumbass won't help you at all. Take what you came for, let us go, and get out before they come back" he suggested, fighting back with reason and logic.

It was a long moment before anyone moved, all eyes on Temari. Her brows furrowed as she made her decision, weighting her options. Hidan flinched when she pulled back the gun, lowering it to her side. Turning from her kneeled opponent, Hidan breathing a sigh of relief, she walked towards the glass table and looked to the crystal glass of scotch Sen had served before her arrival. Remembering what Kankuro had told her, remembering her response back. Slim.

Tedious was a understatement. Hoping was pointless, but she had yet to make up her mind, ally or foe, who would they be to her? They weren't called peacekeepers without a reason.

"He will return here" Temari looked to Kakazu and he nodded once, she returned the nod and grabbed the scotch tipping back the glass and licking the bittersweet residue from her painted lips. At least she had been right about her next target "get what we came for and make sure everything is in there" she looked to the three women "Matsuri Yukata get ready to move" Temari commanded the women with a snap. The two who had come with her nodded and pushed Hidan to the ground face first when they let him go. Kakazu moved to the side pointing towards the table, a duffel bag sitting under his chair. They moved past him and began to assess the items inside the bag. Temari looked from Sen to her own dress and strapped her gun back to her thigh "Sen swap with me"

With a nod, Sen unzipped the back of her dress and wiggled it off her body without question, exchanging her red dress with Temari's black as she slipped out of hers. Kakazu busied himself with keeping an eye on the two behind him, watching them skim through glass containers and sealed herbs that had been in the bag. One grabbed a container with a live black scorpion and inspected the shy creature.

"Alive" the raven haired one, Yukata, confirmed out loud and wiggled a finger at the arachnid, pleased to see him moving, before setting the creature carefully back into the bag. The other skimmed a stack of ID cards and documents settled in a vanilla folder and nodded to herself.

"All set, Mistress. Everything is here" the brunette, Matsuri, called out as she grabbed the bag and hooked it to her shoulder. Temari nodded to them and stepped into the red dress Sen had been wearing, lifting it over her waist, over her black lingerie and up to her chest. During the trade off, Hidan had sat up from his graceless fall and was grinning ear to ear.

"If I wasn't in so much trouble right now. I'd be in heaven" Hidan hummed, licking his lips "there is a god and his name is Jasin" he smirked.

"You know this obsession with your false god is unhealthy" Temari rolled her eyes, staring back at him as she lifted her hair for Sen to zip her up.

"So is the shit list of people you wanna kill, princess" Hidan muttered, tilted his head to the side, drinking in the half naked bodies with a blissful look "I love my job. The pros always outweigh the cons" he grinned at Kakazu, his companion rubbed his tired eyes with a groan.

"How long before Puppet can make the poison Mistress?" Sen spoke in Sunian, turning her back to Temari for her to zip her up in the long sleeved black dress.

"He's returning from Iwa on Monday, so he only has the weekend to make it" Temari replied, stepping back to ruffle her hair, edging it to look more like Sen's wild dirty blonde. The code name for her brother comforting.

"Unless he told his friend out there about the four who aided in the start of the rebellion last year" Yukata chimed in, casting a dirty look to the man as he shifted to stand from the floor.

"I didn't tell him anything about the war, I swear. I mean they should know about it right? The agency knows just about everything" Hidan stuttered speaking quickly "besides, he'll be running in circles for days trying to pick apart who you are. Remember only one article was made in Konoha of you and your brother's death" Hidan relaxed and gave her a wink, hoping the thought would be comforting.

"False" Temari argued back "many were made, but only one slipped past Suna and into the hands of a Konohan agent" she adjusted the front of her dress, unconcerned that Hidan was still staring "Sasori had said that the agency had made the attempt look like an accident. When we really know it was agents from Konoha who were hired to kill us"

"Double agent uncle and all that" Hidan shrugged, regretting saying anything when she looked back to him. Kakazu moved to the back of the room to a curtain and pulled it aside, revealing a locked door with a sign, the name Cloud Nine printed on a red cloud above a peephole.

"Don't worry if you get out now they won't catch you" Kakazu slipped a key from his neck to the lock and opened the squeaky door to a staircase leading into a basement "Peacekeepers only kill when necessary, especially in city limits" he added and looked back to the four women.

"I'm aware" Temari stood at the other end of the door nodding to her ladies "It's only a matter of time anyways" she sighed "besides I knew he'd talk, just not this soon. Really shortens the time frame we have to accomplish our mission"

"Can't let the others know your coming" Kakazu nodded to her catching eyes with Sen as she came forward.

"One down, four to go" Sen gave Kakazu's arm a squeeze and pecked his cheek as she passed him and took the lead down the steps with Matsuri and Yukata trailing after her. Temari remained, watching Kakazu.

"You have been useful" she spoke clearly, but never lost the sharpness in her gaze.

"A thank you is acceptable here" Kakazu looked back to her once Sen was out of sight.

"The Akatsuki we're once good people, who wanted change and peace" she stared up at him, her gaze taking a softer look of almost concern "what happened?"

"I'm still asking myself that" he muttered and looked back to Hidan, standing with his hands clasped nervously before him.

"So we're free? No punishments?" Hidan ventured hopefully.

"Sasori might have loyalties to you, but I do not" Temari sneered, stepping away from the steps and raising her gun to him again "you're a dead man" he stumbled back and raised his hands in surrender.

"Is it weird that every time you threaten me, it turns me on a little?" Hidan forced a innocent charming smile, shrugging to Kakazu who gave him a stern look to shut up.

"You've got a lot of issues" Temari halted, but didn't lower her gun.

"Flash grenade during the third war" Kakazu explained with a sigh, a part of him still ready to defend his old, and unusual, comrade "hasn't really been the same since"

"Mercy?" Hidan swallowed down the horrible gut feeling and tensed, the regret of his previous outburst now taking way.

"I don't believe in mercy"

Then a gunshot rang in the room.

A gun shot.

Shikamaru instinctively pulled Karui behind him, the woman having been leading them back down the hall, a loaded gun in his hands and safety off. Kiba, being in the middle of the group, handed off Karui down to Choji who in turn slowed and gave her a parting look as he rushed to catch up to Shikamaru and Kiba, leaving her down the hall as they ran towards danger.

When she had returned to the main room, Karui had been cornered by the three, they didn't explain, but it was more than implied that she had no choice but to take them back to Hidan. Choji asking repeatedly if she was alright along the way.

"Kakazu get over here and help me!" The squealing shout of Hidan turned Kakazu around, adjusting the curtain behind him in a rush.

"Told you not to get cocky, idiot. You're lucky she went for the leg" Kakazu growled out irritability, lifting Hidan to stand on his good leg, his other beginning to spill a pool of blood on the floor. Just as he was about to speak again the door slammed open, hitting the concrete wall behind it and a piece of the hinges fell off, clattering to the floor. Behind the forced intrusion, Choji entered first.

"Hidan!" Shikamaru shouted coming in from behind him, gun raised.

"Shit" Hidan grimanced, hand pressed tightly to his leg, his wide dark eyes looking between the three men who had barged into the room "the fat one" he hissed to Kakazu and attempted to raise his free arm in greeting "hey Akamichi, buddy! What's good?" He called out nervously.

"What the fuck happened to you?" Kiba looked from Hidan to his bloody leg, Akamaru barking at the smell of blood.

"I tripped and fell" Hidan started sarcastically and waved a hand at Kiba wildly "what does it look like idiot, I was shot!"

"Where did she go?" Shikamaru stalked forward, ignoring the two, gun lowering when he only noticed the two men and began quickly taking in the room as he had before. Pieces out of place. A bag that had sat behind Kakazu, gone. The cup of scotch on the table that had been served to him, empty, with a red ring of where someone had drank from. A curtain that had been previously flat against the wall had a curl at the bottom, as if someone had moved past it. Shikamaru glared back at the two, the look enough to cause Kakazu to sigh.

"They left through Cloud Nine" Kakazu shoved a thumb toward the curtain and helped move a gapping Hidan out the way. He tossed the key to Choji as he passed him, watching the agents open the door and began their cautious walk down the stairs.

"Hell yeah" Kiba cheered in a loud whisper, following after Shikamaru "action time, buddy" he zipped up Akamaru in his jacket, the pup snuggly poking his head out to keep watch.

"Not cool Hidan" Choji glared back at him slowly shutting the door "not cool" when the door clicked shut, the room only remained quiet for a second before Hidan poked a accusing finger at Kakazu.

"Oh, but it's ok if you snitch on her" Hidan grumbled.

"Sen is with her" Kakazu shrugged "she'll be fine"

"Better hope so" Hidan mumbled "Sasori is gonna rip me a new one if his cousin gets shot or worse, captured" he winced "he's still pissy about that border mission we went on to get them into Fire country"

"Yeah well, we both seem to like crossing one another" Kakazu left the room with Hidan limping down the hallway to the back door of the building.

"Hey Kakazu" Hidan began hopeful again, slowly letting a smile crack on his face, despite the pain in his leg. It hadn't been the first time he was shot "you think she's warming up to me? I felt a spark back there" Kakazu halted and looked quietly to him then back down the hall with a groan.

"I really don't get paid enough to deal with you"

11:34pm, Friday.

Unauthorized Mission Start: Lead Agent- Shikamaru Nara.

Code Name: Lady in Black.

Leading down the steps of the basement floor, Shikamaru raised a hand for his team to stop. In the silence a long drawn out feminine moan and a deep groan echoed in the hall, the sound of lust. A second before the dots connected and Shikamaru grimaced looking back to Choji, unfazed by the noise.

"Told you before" Choji muttered "don't ask about the basement"

"Note taken" Shikamaru mumbled and as he left the steps the first hallways split in two, both ways glowing in a red dim light. Taking a second to assess his surroundings, he noticed a click of heels, the sound coming from his right, and turned to his team to follow it, each ready with a weapon to defend.

"Why does the old man keep it locked?" Kiba questioned, passing a door to his left and looking curious at the hum of another woman's voice inside. Seemingly have a great time.

"People don't want to get caught, so they pay extra for the privacy" Choji explained "who goes in an out of here is moderated by Kakazu" they took a few steps forward still following a vigilant Shikamaru.

"So, you and Kumo chick" Kiba smirked and wiggled his brows at Choji, ready to tease the suddenly beet red man.

"Don't say something like that Kiba" Choji started up nervously.

"Like-" he began with a smug grin.

"Shut up both of you" Shikamaru interrupted, half to keep his ears and eyes open to the winding hallways, half to stop Kiba from interrogating Choji about his crush. He didn't bother to look back, pressing himself to the wall of the next turn and slowly peeking out.

The sounds of the heels had stopped when they had began talking and now he saw his targets waiting for him.

As they moved to turn the corner three women stood at the end of the hall. Shikamaru halted quickly, remaining outwardly calm and raising a hand for Kiba and Choji to stop along side him. The women who had entered with her, a short brunette and long black haired woman, stared back at them, while the woman in black had her back to them.

"That's her" Shikamaru lowered his gaze, burning a hole in the back of her head, the flickering of the florescent red light framing the dark hall. Three accounted for, one missing. The spy from the room.

"Well let's go" Kiba went to raise his gun and step past Shikamaru, but was quickly pulled back by his arm.

"Kiba" Shikamaru hissed "think knuckle head. It's clearly a trap"

"They are right there" Kiba protested.

"Yeah waiting for us" he raised his gun ready to take the lead, but was interrupted by a impatient Kiba.

"Alright, hands up ladies!" He shouted down the hall "we won't shoot you if you just surrender" the women glanced at each other and spoke. Kiba slowly formed a look of dumbstruck confusion "What the fuck?"

"It's Sunian" Shikamaru confirmed, making out bits of what they were saying. Stall them, caught his attention.

"What are they saying" Choji asked.

"They are deciding which one of us to kill first" Shikamaru deadpanned, catching the last phrase along with one of the women pointing at them.

"Oh" Kiba wrapped a arm over his chest defensively, looking down to Akamaru as he poked his head out with a whine "that's not good"

"Shikamaru?" Choji took a step back debating to steady his gun or lower it.

"No killing" he ordered out loud "we want them alive" The woman in black tilted her head slightly to the side, just enough for him to catch the glimpse of a red framed grin before she moved aside and ran down the right hallway, her companions remaining and one set a duffel bag to the ground. To get to his target he needed to get past the obstacle she had set out for them.

Like in shogi, he had to get around her defense. The two women just offensive pawns in play. All he had to do was get around them to corner the queen.

The brunette moved first raising a gun at him, firing twice, missing twice as he'd already began a charge forward, aiming, hitting the wall just behind her head. She flinched as predicted and now it was her companions turn to strike. The dark haired one fired a silent shot just past Shikamaru, Kiba ducking down behind him when she did.

The brunette went to aim against the leader, stunned for another second that her gun had moved, pushed upward as Shikamaru had slipped behind her, knocking his shoulder into hers and throwing her weapon to the floor. She stumbled back into the wall, his size advantage over hers taking over. Behind him, the dark haired one went to strike, aim ready at Shikamaru's back, but she rethought just as Kiba came at her. Leaning away, she threw the halt of the gun into his back as he passed. Kiba winced, the king his hands up just in time to avoid colliding with the wall.

Choji was already at the scene, lifting the shocked woman from the floor with ease. She dropped her gun with a gasp, squirming uselessly against Choji.

The brunette threw punches at Shikamaru, unable to land a single one. He calculated each strike and with a final block of her fist he pulled her behind him, pushing her wrist away with a arm before she could deliver her hit. Behind him, Kiba had already grabbed the unsuspecting woman in the diversion and pinned her against the wall, grabbing her arms behind her to handcuff them.

"I've got the third one, get these two out!" He called back as he took off sprinting down the hall, hopeful he could catch up to the leader of the group, and possibly find the fourth.

"Hey wait!" Kiba called down the hall watching Shikamaru disappear around the corner with a huff "always has to go in alone" he rolled his eyes, throwing a set of cuffs to Choji behind him.

"Where did you get handcuffs from?" Choji panted, holding the other against the wall with ease, his size keeping her in place without much effort as he cuffed her.

"I always have cuffs on me, dude" Kiba grinned cheekily "never know when you'll need them" he added with a suggestive wiggle of his brows.

"Don't be gross" Choji rolled his eyes and looked back to the women, both seated besides each other, cuffed and quiet "don't worry, we won't stab me, we just want to go for a walk" he tried with a friendly attitude, they glanced at one another confused by his rusty Sunian. Kiba shook his head ignoring his friend's take on interrogation and squatted beside the duffle bag, Akamaru barking at his side as he sniffed at it.

"Now let's see what these lovely ladies came here for" he unzipped the bag and just as he went to put a hand in something sharp struck him from behind. With a grunt, Kiba was out cold. Choji stilled, the sound of a thump less than comforting, Akamaru whining even more so. Before he could turn to look himself, something sharp pricked him in his back. He gasped and his vision blurred, the two women before him looked over his shoulder with relieved smiles. His hearing was the last to go, a hum edging the sound of a woman's voice.

"Two down, one to go"

Black dress, blonde hair, and even in heels the woman ran faster down the hall than he could keep up with. He had come here for a missing piece, turns out Shikamaru had discovered a chest of gold he couldn't even began to comprehend. He was only a few strides away, if only he didn't have to run.

"This is such a drag" he grunted to himself, turning the corner sharply, he saw the woman had already made it half way down the hall. The whole place now seemed like a maze no matter how many times he turned, she was ahead. Veering left suddenly he formulated a new plan, cut right into her path. Just the faint sound of heels hitting the concrete floor alerted him that this plan would be a success, and just as he got to the end of the hall, his opponent ran right into the trap.

She gasped and crashed into his arms, whirling them around, he pushed her up against the wall, arm locked under her jaw and into her throat, and gun pressed into her side to still her from trying an escape.

"Finally caught you" he panted out, prepared for a easy win. He took in her heavy makeup, freckled tan skin, the ruffled hair, the hazel brown eyes when she opened them. Realization hit him. The woman who had sat next to Hidan was pinned against his arm. Did he imagine the teal eyes? The discovery was almost enough to loosen his hold, almost.

The click of a gun and something cold touching the nape of his neck is what actually did it.

"Let her go" The shiver down his spine came with the tingle of the sixth sense. Caution. The voice was no longer meek and small. He remembered that mousy brown hair and piercing gaze, but the image warped, and despite himself he thanked Hidan for cracking so easily.

Guess the man truly was a coward.

He looked over his shoulder, just a glimpse of the gaze he had seen earlier. The question that had itched him for days now had a answer and a gun pointed at him. He never forgot a face, but where had he seen hers? Golden bangs, red lips pressed in a pouted line, the subtle pull nearly baring her teeth when he didn't respond instantly to her command. The black dress had been swapped with red dress. When he locked dark eyes with her shining shade of teal, a headline made way. One locked away in the level one clearance files, ones that had been warped and changed over time to create a false mirage of all being good in the world.

He knew now.

Suna Royals, Lord Kankuro and Lady Temari, killed in brutal car crash accident along with relative in Suna borders.

It was the original though that stuck to him.

Written in Sunian, stolen fifteen years ago by leading agent, Asuma Saratobi.

Lord Rasa's children, young Lord Kankuro and Lady Temari, kidnapped and murdered in a failed attempt to overthrow the Kazekage by their uncle and Suna's second in command, General Yashamaru.

Seeing her now, he could pin the similarities to her younger picture. All were pawns in a broken system, and no one was a exemption, not even a child.

Focusing back to the gun, he played the path he could take, falling on his only option to stay alive. With a sigh, he slowly turned back to look at the woman pinned under his arm. He shut his eyes and lifted his arm off her, raising them in surrender, no subtle movements. The woman took a quick breath, able to breath freely again and slipped away pressed against the wall to his left. She looked at the woman behind him and muttered something in Sunian. Some slang he believed.

"Thank you, Mistress" The woman did not respond immediately, only kept a steady hand, unshaken and unmoved by either of them.

"Sen, disarm" Sen took the gun from his hand with a sly grin when he didn't fight back and slipped away from him to stand beside the woman.

"What do you want to do?" She did not answer her companion for a moment, gaze locked with his when he glanced back to them, listening closely to the exchange.

"Leave with the others, their targets have been taken care of. I'll join you soon" Sen nodded, moving away, taking his gun with her. At the mention of Kiba and Choji, Shikamaru almost acted on impulse. His comrades that he had left behind were now hurt or dead, because of him, his fault for leaving his group behind. Just as he was about to speak, to ask, to overthink, the woman blew out a huff, no doubt seeing his tensed posture "no need to get all worked up. I didn't kill them" she calmed him instantly with the news, but it only lasted a second, agents were meant to be emotionless, to take a opponent out without fear.

The distance wasn't favorable, he'd need to move closer.

"You're that troublesome woman from the embassy, aren't you?" He spoke shifting his weight to one side, she didn't reply, but he could see the way the teal gaze sharpened, he had her attention "any reason I get the pleasure of seeing you twice in one week?"

"Any reason you're here?" She fired back, batting his question aside and denying all access to answers. She was going to make this hard for him.

"Same as you I suppose" he glanced one way down the hall, quick before glancing down the other, all was quiet "making deals with the devil"

"Our devil won't be making deals anytime soon"

"That's a drag" he replied back unconcerned about Hidan's injury, but confident that she had probably been the one to shoot him "he really was useful"

"How much did he tell you?" She demanded, no panic, no fear, pure curiosity as if he was about to share juicy gossip.

"Enough" Shikamaru shrugged "enough to know you aren't going to stand down without a fight" he dared to lower his gaze, keeping steady with hers "also that your supposed to be dead, Lady Temari"

"Must be nice, having level one clearance" she narrowed her eyes with a scoff.

"It's where we keep all the secrets" he faked a unimpressed look, now confirming that this woman knew more than she was going with. The agency had been compromised, but how? Shino would have known if someone had breached their electronic files, unless. He swallowed, thinking about the one agent he hadn't seen in a while.

Sasuke Uchiha.

"Good to know, Nara" and his opening was made, she was ready to fire and he was ready to move. One gun and all he had to do was take it, easy enough. In the mean time he'd forget the fact that she knew who he was, which meant this battle would be playing with his disadvantages.

Hidan was always a double edged sword, both sides could get hurt if they weren't careful enough. Turns out both parties seemed to have gotten screwed over.

Song Suggestion- Tous les memes- Stromae (sped up/ tiktok version)

Shifting his foot right, he took what could be his only opportunity to strike first. He jerked right quickly, moving to grab her wrist with one hand and her arm with the other, closing the distance with his size advantage over her and forcing the release of two silenced gunshots to the ceiling. As useful as the gun would be, a empty one could save him the trouble of a bullet to the head. He spun around catching her arm with the gun and slamming her against the wall, her look of surprise quickly shifting to one of annoyance.

"This is how it's going to go" he spoke sternly, gripping her wrist to emphasize his point "you're going to give up and come with me, quietly" he leaned forward, hoping intimidation would bring out any fear she had "after you've been interrogated we'll decide what exactly to do with you"

"Not sure I want to agree to that" she deadpanned with a roll of her eyes.

"It's nonnegotiable" he grumbled, troublesome this one.

"I don't think so" She glared back at him and leaned her head back. As he went to speak again, to argue back with her to comply, she threw her head forward right into his nose. He stumbled back, vision momentarily blurred in white spots and just caught her moving closer, he raised the gun.

Lashing forward, she pushed his hand upwards forcing him to shoot into the ceiling, using the same move he had on her and forcing two shots into the ceiling. With one hand gripping his wrist she spun around and backed into him, shoving her elbow into his stomach and forcing him back another step until his back hit a door, the gun lost from his grip.

His sudden shock hard to hide at her quick movements, movements from a trained agent. Who the hell trained a dead Royal to fight like this? She raised the gun at him, only getting half way when he pushed past the ache of her previous hits and knocked it from her hand, shot fired into the wall beside him. The gun skidded halfway down the hall, and despite himself he shot her a smug smile for his success.

She, however, wasn't as amused by it.

Had he only been prepared for her rage afterwards.

With a growl she kicked her leg forward into his chest and pushed him right through the flimsy door behind him. He coughed out his breath, landing roughly on his back in a rubble of splintered wood chunks, but a splinter was the least of his worries.

A woman screamed somewhere behind him, high pitched and shrill.

He rolled his head back, only catching a glimpse of a naked woman seated on the lap of the man under her, both hanging upside down from the bed from his angle. The invasion of privacy would have been more embarrassing to him if he didn't hear the woman scream a second time and the man let out a curse. Looking back at his opponent he just caught the glint of a throwing knife being let loose from her hand.

"Shit" he lifted his legs throwing them above him and rolled back, the end of the knife lodging itself into the wooden floor that was under him, right where his leg would have been. Barely able to catch his breath he stumbled back up to his feet and prepared for the next strike. The woman in the room screamed again, both her and the man having rolled over and taken cover on the other side of the bed. Stepping through the wooden splints of the door, his opponent sent a annoyed look from him to the nude couple and raised the knife towards them.

"Shut up or get out" when the option presented itself, the man hastily pushed past the woman to leave first, stumbling naked out the door with his slacks in hand. Having recovered from her companion ditching her, the woman grabbed the satin sheet from the bed and ran out the door, leaving the two agents behind.

"Do I get an option?" Shikamaru asked when she looked back to him, why was she smiling now?

"Already tired?" Temari mocked, lifting the side of her dress, just enough to reveal the black strap wrapped around her thigh, small silver handles marking the start of another throwing knife. He had wondered where she got a knife from "Why don't you have a seat, Nara" she suggested, releasing the next knife, hitting the wall just behind him when he managed to move. Her next hit aimed upwards, she threw the knife hard enough the stick itself to the ceiling above him.

"Your aim is off" he looked from the knife to her, questioning the throw.

"Is it?" She smirked as the knife shifted from its bad angle and Shikamaru stumbled back into a nightstand, missing the next throw at his feet and just in time as the knife slipping out of the ceiling and fell into the end of the wooden nightstand between his legs with a thud.

"That was close" he huffed, thinking quick and pulling the knife from the wood, raising it just in time to deflect her next hit towards him. A clink of metal then a thud as the blade fell to the floor.

"Not close enough apparently" he voice broke him out of thought, looking past the blade be held up in defense. The gun that had been sent down the hallway was now aimed at him, and a sinking feeling began, there was only a single bullet left. He slowly rose from the stand and stood, stuck on his move.

"Well as the saying goes, don't bring a knife to a gunfight" he raised his hands, working out every detail.

"Shame that there is only one gun" she replied flatly, and without hesitation fired a silenced bullet into his chest.

The force of the shot knocked the breath right out of him, like a precise kick to the gut. The vest under his button up took the blow, but even he knew the hit at this distance would leave a bruise. He slipped to the floor and hunched forward on all fours, coughing out a breath with tears prickling at the corner of his eyes at the shocking sting racking his entire body. He'd never actually been shot at this range, this close, and a flashing thought of how grateful he was that he decided to wear the vest that night.

"Finished fighting back now?" The woman watched him, her head slightly cocked to one side as if curious, before lowering her gun wordlessly.

"Not yet" he looked up, trailing his gaze from the heels, up the tanned legs, past the curvy waist and up to her eyes "that was your last shot" he just managed to adjust his leg under him before pushing up. Rash moves were never his style, but desperate times called for desperate measures. Ramming into her waist, a gasp of shock leaving her, he lifted her up in a single swoop and threw her onto the bed, adrenaline pushing the pain away to aid him. Moving right into position, he caught both her wrists and threw them down above her head.

Laid below him, he trapped her wrists, putting all his weight into keeping her still, pressing his body between her legs. Both their chests heaved from the strenuous fight and adrenaline courses their their veins, his pain from the gunshot was beginning to fade into the background.

It clicked slower that his own gaze had left hers and ventured downwards. Hidan had a knack for making sure the dresses the ladies of the club wore were open and inviting. Needless to say, the way her chest rose and fell quickly was making him uncomfortable in a whole other way. Golden hair sprawled around her face, framing her own wide eyed look.

It daunted on him suddenly that he was on top of a attractive woman alone in a bedroom, where moments ago people had been, probably, in the same position, but with different intents and less clothing. She seemed to have been following his slow realization and pulled a soft smile up at him.

"I have something you want" she hummed, voice sultry and enticing, like a siren's song.

"Yeah and whats that?" he didn't realize he had leaned down closer to her.

"Sasuke Uchiha" the name was enough to make him freeze, forced back into the real problem at hand.

It was all Temari needed to move, his hesitation.

She wrapped her legs around his waist, tightly locking him closer to her and with a grunt squeezed her thighs together. He felt the crack in his back, the pressure too great on his sides and he struggled between getting free and holding her in place. Any other time a woman wrapped around him would be great, but right now, this was hell. He settled with breathing being more important in that moment and leaned away from her grabbing her knees in a futile attempt to pry them apart.

Her move was instant, she released him as soon as he did her. Reaching up for his collar, he gasped as she pulling him face first beside her in the bed. She rolled onto his back, set on grabbing his right arm and twisting it behind his back in a unbreakable hold before he could catch his breath. He groaned and attempted to look back, only managing to lay his head on one side and glare back at her, another move and she'd pop his shoulder right out of place.

"That barely counted for a warmup" she taunted leaning down closer to him, grinning past her pant "are you really the best agent Konoha has?" He attempted to move again, this time something else stopped him. She had reached down his side towards his pocket, close to the front of his belt.

"If you're looking for a gun, I don't have another" he managed, attempting to shift away only to end up with another forced push against his elbow. A broken arm would really put a damper on things "your friend took my only one" he added.

"Who said I was looking for a gun?" Pulling out something weighed from his pocket the only thing he kept in there was a lighter from his mentor. His eyes widened, and a plan to turn around and fight was quickly diminished as she pushed his arm up, sending a jolt of pain through him arm and back.

"Are you done frisking me, princess?" He growled out. She flicked the lighter open, sparking the flame and turned her gaze towards it, before slamming it shut and speaking.

"You ask a lot of questions for someone who is supposed to have all the answers, idiot" she drew out with a sigh.

"You lied earlier" he grunted, just seeing her raise a brow at him in question "about Sasuke"

"Oh that" she answered with disinterest, pushed his arm up one last time, another groan paining him "yeah no, I wasn't lying. Your friend is still alive, talking nonsense, but breathing"

"Where is he?" He demanded, not necessarily in a place to make demands.

"Do not interfere in my work again, Nara" once again his question batted away "I won't go for the heart next time"

"What makes you think you'll get away with any of this?" He searched the room, for anything, anything he could fight back with, to give him the advantage.

"It depends"

"On what?" he barely finished his words when a sharp pain, pricked his side.

"If you survive this" His eyes widened and her hand pulled back. The last thing he remembered past the taunting cruel smile was something in her hand.

A empty syringe.