.

"You're being too hard on them."

One of Kanoko's closed eyes twitched. The Nara was sitting crisscross on top of one of Konoha's empty mountain sides with her hands pressed together and her eyes closed. Her intent was to mediate some of her frustrations and anxieties away before her mission – away from the people that were slowly driving her insane.

Kakashi apparently didn't get the memo.

"I'll start reading Jiraiya-sama's new book out loud." Kakashi whimsical tone with a threatening smile under his mask, "I assure you, it's his best work yet!"

Kanoko's frown deepened in growing irritation before letting out a breath and speaking lowly, "You do not have the perseverance. You will fold to your own insecurity of another overhearing you. I will simply need to outlast you."

Kakashi paused for a second – placing his finger on his chin in thought before giving his student a joyous grin, "Then I suppose I'll just have to sing the words out loud! Takashi~ looked at Ka~go~me~ and-"

"ENOUGH!" Kanoko snapped in a deep voice, her eyes snapping open to glare openly at her sensei, "You will never do that again. Ever."

Kakashi stopped singing and gave Kanoko a victory smile before letting his happy expression drop slowly.

Kanoko's eyes narrowed before she turned her head with a scoff, "Say your piece and then leave me be. You have distracted me enough as it stands."

The silver haired shinobi sighed as he slid his book into his back pocket, "It's not every day a shinobi – one obsessed with rules and regulations – blows up at the jounin commander, yelling about how unfair the system is and how the Hokage should just solve her own problems – common sense be damned."

Kanoko's eyes narrowed dangerously again, "I am not the infant you portray me as."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow as he crossed his arms and leaned back on a nearby rock, "Is that so?"

"It is." Kanoko grounded out before closing her eyes and posing her body to continue meditating, "I don't expect a shinobi indoctrinated by this new, supposedly selfless ideology to understand my utter disappointment."

Kakashi's eyebrow rose even higher, "That's a bold statement – especially coming from the only Leaf nin who will openly dress down a fellow Leaf nin, in the middle of a busy street, if their hitai-ate is in poor shape without an acceptable reason as to why."

Kanoko just huffed lowly in response and mumbled, "You put someone in their place – rightfully so – once and no one will let it go…"

Kakashi let out a slight, low chuckle before turning serious again, "Kanoko…"

The Nara in question let out an annoyed murmur before turning her head slightly and shifting her eyes up towards Kakashi. Frowning deeply Kanoko let out a gruff noise before speaking in a firm tone, "Do you know why this village was formed? The ideology behind its creation?"

Kakashi gave Kanoko a long stare before speaking, "You think your father – the clan head of one of wisest and long standing clans, not to mention your father – and Tsunade-sama – the granddaughter of the First Hokage – don't?"

Kanoko paused for a second before looking out towards the horizon and responding, "They have forgotten." Kanoko's eyes closed as the wind blew gentle pass her, "And for too long, I have failed to remind them." The former Hokage paused a moment further before locking her reddish-orange eyes with his one black on and speaking again, "But you did not answer my question, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi frowned slightly before looking up towards the sky and speaking, "To end the bloodshed… so another child would never have to be killed in the name of war again."

Kanoko nodded, "And yet, before me you stand – a victim of an ideology many shinobi believe is in our past." Kanoko shook her head solemnly, "And you are just one of many."

Kakashi frowned, "I am not the standard, Kanoko, and you know that. We were at war with one, almost two great ninja villages. We were not afforded the luxuries-"

"Is that what you tell yourself when you stand at the memorial stone every morning?" Kanoko spoke in an even tone.

Kakashi felt his body still before forcing his muscles to relax. In a warning tone, he started, "That was uncalled for."

Kanoko's frown deepened, but was respectful enough to drop further prodding. "My point..." Kanoko started, shifting away from the obvious mental wound, "…is that we continue to make exceptions and knee-jerk reactions to tough situations in the name of continued prosperity. In a world where murder is not only common, but – to an extent – praised and rewarded… in a world where thievery and ending another's livelihood – their income that keeps their family safe and nourished – is just another job granted to you by your leaders… in a world where every moment is both a gift and a curse…" Kanoko sighed heavily, "We created this village with the knowledge that peace was not then achieved, but our actions taken in that moment would be just the beginning of something greater – a journey we would not see the ending to, but would instill in our children to instill in their children – so forth and so on – the strength to be better. To never compromise their hard earned morals and ethics, but to strengthen their ties to them, so one day true peace is achieved."

A quick gust kicked up – blowing leaves through the air between the two Leaf shinobi.

"This monster of hate will not die, so long as there is a system of shinobi." Kakashi spoke solemnly, quoting his old sensei, "True peace is impossible, so long as there is hate. Do you believe the solution is a world without shinobi?" Kakashi asked Kanoko, curious where her thoughts lay on the subject.

Reddish-orange eyes gleamed as they reflected off the setting sun, "I don't know what true peace looks like. Perhaps it is a world without shinobi; Perhaps it is a world even my greatest imaginations can't comprehend. What I do know…" Kanoko's eyes hardened with certainty, "…Is that it's our job to never give up in our future; to never compromise in our ideals; to respect those that came before us and to protect those that will come after us – to teach them, encourage them, guide them, build them up..."

Kanoko turned to look out at the horizon – to the sun reflecting softly off the tops of the village's buildings, "What I do know is that they are the only path to true peace – a world in which everyone coexists in true harmony. That is what makes them greater than any lord, any land, and any treasure – and one we must protect with more than just our bodies. Our children will not ask what our intentions were in moments of trial and tribulations, but they will remember our actions and the words we spoke leading up to and receding those actions."

"They are our future. I will never give up on our future and neither should the Leaf Village." Kanoko finished as she closed her eyes to take in the gentle breeze, "Not when so many have already given everything to make it a reality."

Silence filled the air as leave gently danced in the wind.

Kanoko flinched as she felt a hand land gently on her head. Orange eyes opened slowly to give her sensei a slightly annoyed look.

Kakashi smiled softly at his student as he gently ruffled her hair. Kakashi's one eye softened on Kanoko's form – disregarding her increasingly twitching eye – before he spoke – his voice barely above a whisper, "You're something, you know that?"

Kanoko tilted her head slightly – partly to shake his hand off her head, which she failed at, and partly in question.

Kakashi chuckled quietly in response.

.

Kakashi stood tall on top of one of the desert sand peaks. From his position, he could see the outline of a fight centered around several explosions and resulting dust clouds – his students; his comrades; those he was sent to keep safe. The silver haired jounin turned his head towards the deteriorating desert tower. Silence and the eerie stillness of nothingness greeted his senses when he gazed in that direction. Either the battle raging wasn't as flashy as his students' or…

Kakashi sighed heavily before quickly making a shadow clone. The clone appeared before him in a puff of smoke before turning around and speeding off in the direction of the Demon Desert Tower.

Turning his gaze back towards the raging battle before him, Kakashi shot forward – speeding rapidly towards the scene below.

"Naruto… Sakura… Kanoko…" Kakashi pushed his legs hard, pumping more chakra into them, "Just… hold on a little longer."

.

.

"Keep fighting Kanoko. I haven't broken my promise to you, so don't you dare break your promise to me." And with that, Naruto flared his chakra and shot towards the fight ahead – sending sand fly up at the force.

Naruto raced towards his comrades – dipping and weaving as burst of sand and wind ripped through the air from the multiple explosions blowing holes throughout the desert. Naruto gritted his teeth in annoyance as he felt another of his clones disappear from taking a direct hit.

Blue eyes shifted towards Deidara. The Akatsuki member was on the ground with tall, sticky, amorphous clay puppets defending him on all sides – laughing loudly and maniacally. The strange, almost humanoid and animal creatures slid and flopped around before shooting straight towards Neji and Tenten.

"Eight Trigrams: Air Palm!"

The chakra attack shot towards the clay soldier – splitting it in half. Everyone stilled for a second as the split clay doll slowly came back to life – as two individual clay creatures.

"What the hell?! Now there's two of them!" Tenten called to her team.

Deidara grinned wickedly as he watched his creations move gracefully across the sand, "You haven't seen anything yet!" Deidara moved his hand – the long thin string of clay connecting him to his clay creations twitched, causing his clay puppets to shoot forward towards the surround Leaf nin.

"Everyone back! Don't attack it!" Neji shouted as the shapeless dolls attacked them.

"Shit!" Ino shouted as she tried to dodge one of the smaller clay puppets, "I'm out of my depth in this fight! Why couldn't we face one of the Akatsuki freaks that required strategy and not blind dodge and smash tactics?!" The blonde cursed again when she realized that she wasn't fast enough to avoid it.

A flash of white paired with blond hair appeared before Ino. The clay doll hit Naruto, but didn't explode right away. Instead, the clay creature latched onto his front and expanded. Naruto cursed out loud as he desperately tried to pull the sticky creature off of him

"Hehehe!" Deidara laughed loudly as he made a different hand sign – causing the clay doll to explode.

"NARUTO!" Ino screamed as Shikamaru ran over and pulled her away.

"It's a clone, Ino." Shikamaru told his teammate calmly as the real Naruto dropped down next to them.

Ino blushed before glaring at the pair, "Well, it's not like it's easy to tell!"

Naruto chuckled nervously at the steaming blonde before turning to Shikamaru with a serious face, "What are you thinking?"

Shikamaru turned from his teammate and friend to the widely grinning Akatsuki member as he chased Sakura and Lee around the field with his clay puppets, "That should keep him busy for a few minutes… Sakura's surprisingly fast…" Sharp eyes turned to the white, clay substance coming out of the Akatsuki member's hands, "Those mouths on his hands… He uses them to make his explosive dolls." Shikamaru frowned, "It can't possibly be that simple…"

Dark brown eyes shifted towards Naruto – who had created twenty clones and dived towards the former Stone nin.

"Naruto!" Shikamaru shouted – having planned their next series of moves.

The blond sent a burst of wind chakra out towards Deidara – just barely missing him as the Akatsuki member dodged it – before turning his head towards Shikamaru, "It's about time!"

Shikamaru rolled his eyes before taking a stance and quickly forming hand signs, "Ino! Chouji! I need-"

"Yeah, yeah!" Ino called out as she stood behind Shikamaru and placed a hand on the back of his head, "Ninja Art: Mind Transmission Jutsu!"

"Ninja Art: Human Bolder!" Chouji shouted as he curled up – forming his body into a large spinning ball – and speeding towards the Akatsuki member.

Deidara turned his head to see the Akimichi zooming straight for him and smirked, "The fatso part of the weakling-ugly-fatso trio…" Deidara pulled his growing army of clay puppets away from Sakura and Lee to land between him and the closing in human bolder.

"UGLY?!"

"FAT?!"

"Troublesome…"

Deidara's wide grin grew as forced his clay creatures to combine – forming a large sticky net as Chouji's form was just a few feet away.

"CHA!"

"Leaf Hurricane!"

Sakura and Lee shouted out in unison as they leaped into the air – aiming a chakra infused taijutsu attacks at Deidara's back.

"Don't think I've forgotten about you!" Deidara laughed out as large clay caterpillars erupted from the sand and launched towards Lee and Sakura.

"Eight Trigrams: Palm Rotation!" Neji shouted as he spun his body around in-between his comrades and the clay bombs. The Hyuuga's chakra hit causing the bombs to explode and sending the three of them flying back.

Deidara clicked his teeth in annoyance at the Hyuuga's quick moves when suddenly, a long thick chain wrapped around him. Deidara hissed out as the chains tightened around his abdomen before roughly pulling him back.

"Ha!" Tenten shouted in victory as she and four Naruto clones pulled the restrained Deidara into the air.

"Now, Chouji!" Shikamaru shouted.

The spinning ball that was Chouji turned sharply before bouncing in the air towards Deidara's chained form, "Ninja Art: Flying Human Boulder!"

Deidara's lips twisted up into a wicked smile, "You brats just don't learn! Do you?!" Wiggling his hands around the chains, he pulled his clay creatures attached to him towards the Akimichi. The multiple clay creatures smacked into Chouji's spinning form and started encasing his body as if they were a large piece of expanding gum.

Deidara spun his body around and sent a chakra infused foot into the chains – loosening their hold on him – before making a hand seal. Deidara laughed loudly as he yelled, "Bye bye, fatso!"

The Leaf nin stared wide eyed as the clay glop around their comrade exploded loudly in the air – the force of the explosion sending a couple of them back.

"CHOUJI!" Shikamaru screamed out with wide and panicked eyes.

Deidara dropped to the ground with a slight hunch in his shoulders before starting to chuckle. Looking back up at the group with a wicked grin, Deidara stuck one of his hands into his clay pouch – preparing for another attack. His blue eyes gazed around at the utterly shocked Leaf nin and couldn't help his grin grow, "The look on their faces… what they are witnessing now is the only true art in this world – and they know it!" Deidara's grin turned into a satisfied smile, "It's almost a shame to have to kill them, but true art isn't something that can be contained, and I can't help it if they make perfect accents to my masterpieces!"

Deidara laughed out loudly as he pulled a small clay doll out with its 'hands' folded over each other, "I wouldn't bother mourning your friend! He was able to experience something too few get to: Witnessing and becoming a piece of true art! For true art is an ex-"

Deidara's monologue was cut suddenly a spike of chakra forced him to snap his head around. Blue eyes widened as a large human bolder smack him in the back and proceeding to run over him – sending his clay doll flying out of his hands. "SHIT!" Deidara thought as he saw his doll fly through the air.

A long black tendril whipped through the air and caught the flying clay doll in a gentle catch – as if it was a raw egg – before spinning it around and sending it flying back towards the squashed Deidara.

Deidara's eyes snapped from the clay doll to the large Akimichi quickly retreating, "How the hell – ?!" Deidara pushed chakra into his hands as he shoved them into the sand below – trying to escape from his incoming bomb when he was once again rammed into the back and pinned down, "THE FUCK?!"

"Hehehe!" Several Naruto clones chuckled evilly as they glomped onto the blond Akatsuki member, "For a scary Akatsuki member, you're sure easy to trick!" Naruto laughed, "You totally didn't catch the fact that one of us clones henged into Chouji earlier or when we were hiding behind the real Chouji just now!"

Deidara growled loudly before screaming at the Naruto clones, "GET THE FUCK OFF!" Deidara spat out two small bomb and forcing them to explode immediately – popping the clones while causing himself some resulting burns before quickly escaping the area just before the clay bomb landed.

Shikamaru cursed under his breath as he held an arm up in front of his face to protect himself from the blast, "So he'll resort to causing himself bodily harm without even flinching…" Shikamaru clicked his tongue against his teeth in irritation as his sharp brown eyes followed the enemy blond as he retreated, "That effectively removes several ideas I had with shadow clones. This is turning into a distance fight – something that is proving to be a greater strength for him than us…"

Deidara planted his feet into the sand – skidding across it slightly as he spun around to glare hard at the Leaf nin. Deidara's eyes moved across the area – eying each of them individually, "It seems I'll actually have to take this fight seriously." Deidara's eyes moved across the group again as he started kneading clay in his hands, "The Hyuuga's doujutsu limits me to unexpected trick moves to catch him off guard." Deidara's gazed stopped on Chouji, Ino, Sakura, Lee, and Tenten, "Besides being irritating distractions, they're nothing to worry about. Rather…" The Akatsuki's eyes snapped to Shikamaru and Naruto, "The Jinchuriki is stronger than the reports lead us to believe; and I thought the female Nara was supposed to be the problem, not the male one." Deidara clicked his teeth before grinning, "It doesn't really matter. I I've already done my job and have a lot of clay left to play with. And it's not everyday I get to show off so much of my art!"

Deidara opened his hands to gaze down at his masterpiece, "And art…"

The blond activated his clay doll causing a large puff of smoke to detonate around him.

"True art… is an EXPLOSION!"

The smoke cleared in an instant as large, white wings beat back and forth before ascending into the sky.

"Oh my god…" Tenten mumbled out loudly, her arms limp at her sides while she stared, shocked, at the massive creature above. Lee, Neji and Sakura also skidded to a halt to stare blankly up at the sky – their Naruto clones trailing behind them.

Flying proudly before them was a large white dragon – made with some kind of white clay, fully solid, and thrashing its wings back and forth through the air as if it was alive. The sheer size of the dragon made the Leaf nin look like insects in comparison.

Deidara's loud and dominant laugh echoed through the air as the smoke cleared. The blond waved open his arms with a triumphant grin on his face on the back of his new creation, "Behold: The C2 Dragon!"

Neji's Byakugan widened considerably as it took in the dragon's form, "The entire thing is nothing but dense chakra…"

Sakura's head snapped towards Neji with wide eyes, "You're saying it's a bomb."

Neji nodded slowly with a tight frown, "Probably."

"Well shit." One of the Naruto clones drawled out before eying one of the other clones, "It was nice knowing you, pal."

The other Naruto clone nodded solemnly, "It's been a good twenty minutes man. Better than most of us get."

"Mmmhm." Another sounded off while nodding.

Ino twisted her head around at the clones' conversation with raised eyebrows, "Note to self: Spend a couple days observing Naruto and his clones. The results could prove fruitful in aiding shinobi who develop multiple personalities…"

"Ino! Shikamaru! Look out!" Neji shouted towards the pair as Sakura rushed forward at an incredible speed.

A bird shape missile shot out from within the C2 dragon's mouth and ripped through the air towards Ino and Shikamaru.

Sakura pulled out a large ball of explosive tags and quickly tied it to a kunai before sending both of them flying towards the large bird-missile.

The two large explosives hit, sending a shockwave of heat and air out towards the field below.

Ino jumped back and next to Sakura – panting slightly at the rush of adrenaline. Locking eyes with her green eyed friend, Ino nodded, "Thanks Sakura."

Sakura returned her nod with a smile before turning back towards the Akatsuki member, "This creep picked the wrong person to get in an explosives match with."

"Keep in mind…" Shikamaru started before getting cut off.

"Shikamaru! Ino!" Chouji called out in joy as he landed next to the three of them, "Are the two of you ok?!" Chouji gave the two a quick look over before smiling widely at his friend, "See Shikamaru? Women aren't that troublesome! They keep you from dying!"

Shikamaru gave Chouji a tired, yet cocky smirk before drawling out, "Doesn't make them any less troublesome." Shikamaru gestured haphazardly towards the dual glaring women, "Case and point." Neither women had a chance to retort as Shikamaru's eyes caught Deidara aiming another attack after them – after failing to hit Neji's group - and cut them off with a yell, "Move!"

The group dispersed just in time to avoid another bomb-missile.

"He's using earth signs in his attacks!" Shikamaru shouted out – trying to get out what he noticed before to Sakura – "You're normal explosives aren't going to be as strong as you think they are against his, but – !" Shikamaru cursed as leaped out of the way to avoid another rapid moving missile.

"You think lightning style jutsus would help." Neji stated in a calm voice as he appeared behind the slightly disheveled brunet – after being forced to dive into the sand to escape that last hit.

Shikamaru nodded as he grumbled out, "The only problem…"

"RASENGAN!" Naruto shouted as he smashed his chakra ball into another of bird shaped bomb. The bird exploded in the air, just as Naruto used one of his shadow clones to fling himself away.

The blond landed next to Shikamaru and Neji, "…Is that no one here uses lightning jutsu." Naruto finished for Shikamaru before pausing to tilt his head and add, "Well, no one that's all that good at it."

The Nara gave Naruto an annoyed look before nodding and taking off at a high speed – away from Deidara's likely next target area. Turning his head, Shikamaru noted Neji and Naruto were running with him and continued his earlier thoughts, "No doubt my sister has equipped Sakura with all kinds of explosives, but the problem is getting her in range. This guy's not only quick on the draw, but he's got the advantage of aerial tactics. Even if that dragon of his isn't that quick to dodge, he could always create another bird to escape on – just like the beginning of this battle."

Shikamaru stopped himself as he eyed Sakura and Lee running circles around Deidara's C2 Dragon – making it impossible for the creature to aim at them and frustrating Deidara to no end. One of Shikamaru's eyebrows rose up, "Ok… When did Sakura get so fast? How is she even keeping up with Lee?"

Naruto twisted his head around – his jaw going slack as he realized that Shikamaru wasn't pulling his leg. They really were spinning around the Akatsuki member so fast – it was almost impossible to tell it was the two of them.

Neji answered in an impassive tone, "Kanoko's had Sakura training with Lee and Gai every second she's not with the Hokage or with Shizune-san." Neji paused for a moment before continuing, "Actually, I recall Kanoko getting into several… disagreements with the Lady Hokage over Sakura's training. The Hokage wanted Sakura to focus on her chakra techniques, but Kanoko heavily disagreed – stating speed was Sakura's true weakness and she refused to allow Sakura on any missions until she was much faster."

Shikamaru groaned loudly and heavily as they skidded to a halt – the focus of Deidara's rage becoming the elusive pair of green and pink, "Refused to let Sakura go on missions?!" Shikamaru groaned again, "The Hokage's going to make my life miserable, isn't she? Kanoko is the queen of troublesome..."

Naruto pulled at his hair and gave Shikamaru a pained look, "You're life?! More like our lives! The old hag barely likes me as it is!" Naruto whined loudly as Neji chuckled at the pair.

"It wasn't easy for Sakura." Neji continued with a smirk on his face at the pair, "But once she figured out how to use her chakra control to help her keep up with Lee and Gai – when they weren't in green beast mode that is – Lee and Sakura started forming complementary techniques around full frontal attack tactics."

Shikamaru perked up at this, "Complementary techniques?"

Neji nodded and turned his Byakugan back towards the fight ahead, "Just watch."

.

Sakura bit her bottom lip and she and Lee continued to run circles and figure eights around the large clay dragon. Her emerald eyes analyzed the creature carefully as she ran, "Shikamaru said something about Deidara using earth hand signs… Earth jutsu then?" Sakura's eyes narrowed slightly as she felt the heat from another missile graze her back, "His getting closer at hitting us… I need to come up with something…"

The pinkette's eyes shifted up towards Deidara's form – where he was holding his hands together in an earth hand sign. His eyes shifted rapidly over the area with a crazed smile on his face. Sakura almost sighed out loud, "How come I always get stuck with the crazies?" Just as that thought finished, a light bulb went off in Sakura's head.

Flashback

"No." Kanoko told Sakura firmly with her arms crossed and an almost angry frown on her face.

Sakura pouted, giving Kanoko the big, green eyed puppy dog look, "But Ka~no~ko!"

"No 'buts'." Kanoko said firmly, but quickly closed her eyes.

Inner Sakura smirked and mumbled in her head, "Almost…"

"Ok…" Sakura said with a light sigh.

Kanoko's frown deepened, but didn't open her eyes – knowing what will likely be waiting for her, "I'm not going to change my mind, Sakura."

Sakura made a childlike noise of protest, "I told you ok! I'm not a spoiled little girl! I know when to quit..."

Kanoko felt a headache come on – having an odd feeling of déjà vu. Sighing lightly, Kanoko opened her eyes and immediately regretted the action.

"Pweeeeeease?!" Sakura whined out, her eyes huge and tearing up with her hands clasped tightly in front of her in a begging manner.

Kanoko groaned lowly and uncrossed her arms before giving Sakura a tired look, "Neji never hears about this, am I clear?" Kanoko turned her head and mumbled under her breath, "He gives me enough crap as it is."

Sakura cheered loudly as she fist pumped the air, "Yes!"

End Flashback

Sakura turned her head to where Neji was standing with Shikamaru and Naruto, "Sorry Kanoko! I wouldn't do it if I thought I had any other options!" The pinkette turned her head to where Lee was racing around, "Lee! We're going to do it!"

Lee snapped his head towards Sakura as he passed her swiftly and yelled back, "Do what Sakura-chan?"

Sakura smirked as she ripped off the thick sash around her waist - revealing several etched seals on the inside, "The thing!" Sakura quickly activated the seals before strapping it back around her stomach, "I sure hope this works… or this is going to really hurt."

Lee's eyes paused in blinking for a moment before his mind finally supplied what she was implying. The green nin looked at Sakura a little unsure, "But Sakura-chan, we haven't tested it out completely yet. Gai-sensei and Kanoko-san were very specific in that-"

Lee was cut off when Sakura yelled back, "We're doing it Lee!" The pinkette's green eyes blazed with fire as she raised her fist in a threatening manner.

Lee squeaked out a quick, "Yes mam!", and zipped open his chunin jacket to pull out two long scrolls. Lee brought one scroll up to his mouth to start unraveling it, "I am sorry Gai-sensei, but I believe my cherry blossom is correct." Lee's eyes turned towards his teammates – specifically Neji. Keep everyone back – Lee hand signed to his teammate. The Leaf nin didn't keep eye contact to see the Hyuuga reply, as he forced on Sakura's form – knowing he had to prepare himself for what was happening next.

Sakura nodded back at Lee before frowning slightly as she started looking up for the best opening, "Where would be…" Sakura's eyes stilled on Deidara's bangs – specifically the odd thing over the eye hiding behind his bangs, "There no telling what that thing does… Maybe it helps him see chakra?" Sakura shook her head and sighed, "It's still the best option… here goes nothing!"

Sakura twisted her body around – her feet spinning in the sand – and she turned in the direction Lee was. From several yards away, Sakura caught the Leaf nin nod – the scrolls that were once in his hands were laying out, but with a layer of sand overtop to keep them hidden.

Sakura took a deep breath before using all her chakra control and focusing on her legs and feet. Taking a running pose, Sakura pushed herself off of the ground with a burst of chakra – an explosion detonating behind her from another of Deidara's failed attempts at hitting them. Bursting forward at an incredible pace, Sakura shot straight towards Lee.

Lee forced his body to relax – closing his eyes and clearing his mind of everything. The green clad nin took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. A burst of chakra erupted from him as he whispered, "Third Gate of Life: Open! Fourth Gate of Pain: Open!"

"ChaaAAAAAAAA!" Sakura roared out as sand flew up behind her.

Lee's eyes snapped open – his face a dark reddish color from opening up the third and fourth gates – and took an attack stance.

Once Sakura was a couple yards away from Lee, she pushed all her chakra into her feet and leaping into the air.

Lee's dark eyes locked onto Sakura's form as she shot down towards him. Letting out one last, quiet breath the Green Beast of Konoha shot forward, "Fifth Gate of Closing: Open!" Lee's twisted his body in mind air and swung his leg out, "Forgive me Sakura-chan!"

Sakura let out a nervous breath as she moved all her chakra from her limbs into her stomach. Sakura's eyes slammed shut as she started chanting, "Please let this work, please let this work!"

Lee's foot slammed into Sakura's stomach – right where her sash was – launching her far into the sky and speeding pass Deidara and his dragon as fast as lightning.

"What the fuck?!" Deidara called out as he saw a blur of pink and red pass by him. The blond's head snapped up, but saw nothing but a black, starry sky, "What the… where the hell did that thing go?! What even was that?!"

Deidara's questions were cut off as his C2 Dragon shook, "Ack!" The blond called out as he tried to check his balance, "What are you going to my art?!" Deidara looked down before quickly pulling his dragon back – just barely missing another large, explosive projectile. Bomb after bomb hit the underside of the clay dragon as more projectiles erupted from the sand below. It was like fireworks going off – just one after another into the sky.

"Damn brats!" Deidara roared out as he moved his dragon farther up into the air and away from the continuous attacks, "You have no appreciation for TRUE ART!"

"Yosh!" Lee called out as a battle call as he flipped and used his hands to propel him into the air.

"Shit!" Deidara called out as Lee appeared in front of him. Quickly spitting out some clay, Deidara made a small 'Deidara-doll' and aimed to spit it towards Lee. Lee quickly smacked his leg into the head of the dragon- making the whole thing lurch forward and causing Deidara to shot his small doll bomb in the wrong direction - missing Lee completely.

Lee fell back towards the ground as Deidara cursed at the Leaf nin loudly, "Fucking little brat!" Deidara shoved his hands in the bags of dry clay on his sides. The mouths on his hands quickly ate up several loads of clay before Deidara yanked them out, "Take this!" Deidara threw several hundred small spider shaped bombs in the same direction Lee was falling.

Lee spun around and eyed the small bombs before twisting his body in the air and landing on his hands. Quickly, Lee pushed off the sand with his fingertips and sped away from the exploding spiders as they glided through the air to hit it. The green clad shinobi sped through the sand before turning his head up towards Deidara and his dragon, "Just a little longer…"

Deidara growled in annoyance as the Gai look-a-like kept weaving through all his spider bombs, "The brat doesn't even have anything special like a Sharingan or a Byakugan!" Deidara's teeth gritted together before he forced himself to calm down and turn his attention from the taijutsu for a second to look out at the group of Leaf nin standing quite a few yards away, "What are they planning?" Deidara decided he didn't like how they were just standing there and started to move his dragon forwards towards them.

The C2 Dragon's wings beat heavily in the air as he started to move forward.

Deidara grinned wickedly as started chewing on a large chunk of clay in his mouth, "I was saving this one for another Leaf nin – well former Leaf nin – but this will take them all out quickly and a beautiful display of artistic genius!" Deidara's eyes shifted out towards the horizon, "Maybe if I make it big enough it'll hit that bastard too… Or his brother…" Deidara's grin grew even more crazed, "Watching his little brother disintegrate before his eyes – those stupid Sharingan eyes that remember everything – it would be my greatest masterpiece – !"

*BOOOOM*

Deidara cried out in surprise as his C2 Dragon tilted to the left, "The fuck-?!" Deidara's eyes widened as he saw a chunk of his dragon's wing missing with smoke pooling around it.

*BOOOOM*

Deidara grabbed onto the dragon as another explosion hit his clay dragon – this time on the other side. Deidara screamed out several curse words as he looked down – expecting the attack to come from there.

*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOOOM*

More explosions hit – each taking out pieces of his dragon - when a thought hit Deidara, making his head snap up and his eyes widening at the sight.

Falling through the sky with tens of open scrolls trailing behind her was Sakura. Her short pink hair whipped behind her and she threw bomb after bomb after bomb – each one bigger than the last.

Deidara screamed out in frustration as his dragon started falling to the ground, "Fucking bitch!" Deidara gripped his dragon tightly and spun his large clay dragon around in the air – so that its back as facing the ground – before roaring out, "As I said, my art isn't so ONE DIMENSIONAL!" The end of the dragon's tail collapsed within itself and moved up through its body. The clay formed inside the dragon's mouth – making the whole head expand at the huge amount of forming clay.

Deidara crackled loudly with a large grin on his face, "Try to avoid this – "

Deidara was cut off as Sakura detonated a bomb behind her – shooting her forward at an incredible rate towards Deidara and his dragon.

"CHAAAAAAAAAA!" Sakura roared as activated the second series of seals on her sash – coating her body in a protective chakra – before Sakura's chakra infused fist slammed into the C2 Dragon's bomb filled mouth.

Deidara's eyes went wide as the clay inside his dragon's mouth start to glow, "SHIT!" The blond slammed his hands into the back of his dragon – knowing that it was going to blow into an explosion even he wouldn't be able to come out of – when he felt a sharp pain impact him in the back over and over again – sending a shockwave of pure agony up through his spine.

"Sixth Gate of Wonder: Open! MORNING CHICKEN!" Lee shouted as he sent punch after fiery punch into Deidara's back - pinning the Akatsuki member to his C2 Dragon.

The Green Beast of Konoha only got out a fraction of the punches he was capable of giving when a pink blur smacked into him – sending them both flying to the ground at an incredible speed.

Sakura wrapped her arms tightly around Lee as she shut her eyes harshly. It wasn't until she hit the clay creature with her fist that she felt how much chakra was being stored in that thing. It was absolutely astronomical and in that very moment, Sakura quickly shift gears. Beating Deidara was the least of her concerns in that moment. There was no way they would survive this. Not something this big, this concentrated, this huge.

And this was her stupid idea.

And even if it wasn't, she wasn't going to lose Lee.

Even if that meant…

"Sakura-chan – ?" Lee yelled out confused, but was cut off when he felt a familiar, warm feeling of Sakura's healing chakra flood into his system.

His eyes went wide.

Lee used his enhanced strength from his open gates to spin them around – his back facing the blast instead of hers, "It is my duty, my nindo, to never break a promise I have made. I made you a promise Sakura-chan. I will not allow you to sacrifice yourself for me when the burden is mine to bare!"

"Lee! NO! This is my fault!" Sakura screamed, snapping her eyes open in pure panic, "I-"

.

.

The dark night stilled in silence for a moment before light filled the desert as far as the eye could see.

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

Molten hot wind ripped through the desert as the blast from the explosion bore through the large expanse of sand – creating a crater in the land.

.

.

.

A long, painful scream ripped through the air before being muffled by the deafening sound of the explosion.

.

.

.

.

.

The thick, smoke filled air stilled.

A groan cut through the thick night air, followed by a fit of coughing due to the thick layer of darkened smoke. Slowly the coughing died down and emerald eyes slowly opened up – trying to clear her blurry vision. Sakura almost vomited as a pain shot through her head and a loud ringing rang in her ears.

Sakura groaned again as her ears continued to ring loudly – preventing her from hearing anything at all.

Then suddenly, her brain started yelling at her.

"Lee! Lee! LEE!" Sakura screamed – having no idea if anything was coming out. Her eyes started to focus as the smoke cleared.

The image of a green blur lying flat on its stomach in front of her nearly stopped Sakura's heart.

"LEE!" Sakura fumbled in the sand – her limbs slipping and making her fall as she moved closer – before shooting chakra out to her hands and making them glow green. "NO LEE! COME ON LEE!" Sakura wailed out quietly as she flipped elder shinobi over and started applying first aid.

The tears had already started rolling down her face when Sakura stopped to blink.

There wasn't a single singe mark on him.

"What the…" Sakura mumbled before she realized something blond and white was next to her – yelling at her.

Sakura's vision cleared further and she realized that kneeling next to her was her teammate, Naruto.

"Naruto?!" Sakura called again before angrily slapping herself. Pushing out chakra, Sakura held her hands to her ears and quickly healed the damaged ear drums.

"-kura!" Naruto yelled at Sakura.

"Naruto!" Sakura yelled back, "How are we…?" Sakura looked from Lee to herself and changed her question slightly, "What happened?!"

Naruto let out a breath of relief before smiling widely at his teammate. Sakura let out a long breath of air – knowing that look on her teammate's face, knowing that they were safe – before feeling tears fall freely down her face in pure relief.

Lee turned his head, catching the flash of pink and stared shocked at Sakura before grinning widely and giving her a thumbs up. Even though he couldn't hear, his vision was clear enough to see the pair and knew everything was going to be alright.

Sakura smiled gently back at the green clad shinobi before turning back to Naruto, "What happened?" She asked, this time in a much calmer voice.

Shikamaru appeared from behind the thick smoke with a large frown on his face, "After Lee shot you into the sky, Neji just about had a heart attack – "

"He's not kidding!" Naruto cut off Shikamaru with a serious face, "The whole hyperventilating and grabbing his heart like he had just been stabbed thing! I thought he was dying on us!"

"And here we are without either of our two medics." Ino added in with a smirk as she crossed her arms.

Lee looked up at Ino's smirk confused – being unable to hear anything. Sakura caught his look and scooted her body over to heal his ears at the very least.

"Continuing on…" Shikamaru cut in with a drawl, "Tenten let us know that the two of you were attempting an attack that Gai-sensei and my sister had specifically warned you off of until you were both jounin…"

Tenten appeared in front of Lee just before grabbing him by the front of his shirt and yanking him back and forth, "WHAT WERE YOU TWO THINKING?!" Tenten turned her angry gaze towards Sakura, making her jump, before hissing out, "You don't get to leave me with them, YOU HEAR ME?! I finally got a female teammate and I REFUSE TO LET YOU GO!"

Sakura sweat-dropped as she gave Tenten a nervous laugh before nodding slowly. Behind Tenten, Ino giggled in amusement at her two friends.

Naruto frowned at Tenten and Lee, "Hey! Sakura-chan's Team Kakashi! Not Team Bushier Brow!" Naruto finished his comment by sticking his tongue out in a childish manner at them.

Shikamaru groaned loudly, "Can I finish so we can continue our mission? You know, the one that two ninja villages are counting on?" When his comments fell on deaf ears, he sighed heavily and mumbled, "Troublesome…"

Chouji grinned as he placed a gentle hand on his longtime friend's shoulder, making the shadow nin smile reluctantly back.

Neji scoffed as he crossed his arms, "Shikamaru is right. We have a mission to complete." Neji's gazed moved from the group over to where Shikamaru's barrier seal was protecting Kanoko, "And whether or not Sasuke's group was succeeding in finding the source of Kanoko's genjutsu, she is still unable to complete the mission in her current state. The parameters of the mission dictate that we rendezvous with the Kazekage's team."

Lee looked over at his teammate and blinked, "But Neji, how did you protect us from the blast?" Lee turned his head towards the large mushroom cloud floating into the night sky. The explosion sight looked incredibly far away – farther than even he could run in such a short amount of time.

Sakura caught Naruto's smirk before turning to Shikamaru with a curious look.

Shikamaru sighed as he mumbled, "So now you'll listen… troublesome…"

Ino stomped her foot and gave Shikamaru a narrowed eyed look causing the shadow nin to sigh again and answer, "Isn't it obvious? Naruto had two of his clones use substitution jutsu. Once Neji and Tenten informed us of your plan, we gathered to a safe distance and had Naruto handle the rest."

Naruto grinned widely and shouted, "Uzumaki Naruto: The finisher! Believe it!"

Ino looked up with a thoughtful look as she tapped her finger on her chin, "Technically, Lee was the finisher. You're more like… the backup plan?"

Sakura giggled at Naruto's angst look and as he mumbled, "That's the last time I agree to hang back…"

Shikamaru shook his head with a slight grin, "That wasn't a battle to laugh at. Had that Akatsuki member taken us more seriously, we wouldn't be sitting here arguing over who did the most damage. We each played a part that assured our safety and our comrades' safety. Never take that for granted." Shikamaru frowned as his half lidded eyes turned towards the direction of his sister, "Not all of us are celebrating right now and we still have two to three more battle ahead of us."

The group nodded solemnly – the seriousness of the situation coming back to the forefront of their minds.

Sakura pushed herself up from the sand and dusting herself off, "Shikamaru's right. Kanoko's down, Sasuke, Hinata, Kiba and Shizune are out facing who knows what, and our senseis – "

"HOW DARE YOU?!"

Everyone flinched at the screech of a familiar voice before snapping their heads around.

"No… no way…" Sakura spoke with wide, shocked eyes.

Growing before them was a large bundle of shifting clay – continuously expanding in size until it towered over them. The dark ball of clay stopped growing in height to start shaping into a form – a form they had just seen be blown to pieces.

Deidara of the Akatsuki.

"MOVE!" Shikamaru told them in a panicked tone, "DON'T THINK, JUST MOVE!"

Everyone was snapped from their thoughts at Shikamaru's order and quickly twisted around before snapping forward in a neck breaking pace. Team Gai and Sakura were quick to take lead of the group – Neji with his Byakugan active to monitor the situation. Naruto was just a step behind them with Shikamaru, Chouji, and Ino just behind him – one last Naruto clone at the back, just in case. The shadow nin turned to look at the giant Deidara slowly stepping towards them – eying the burned and laughing Deidara floating just behind it on one of his many clay birds – when Shikamaru cursed in panic.

Kanoko.

"I CREATED THIS MOVE ESPECIALLY TO KILL UCHIHA ITACHI - YOU WEAKLINGS DON'T STAND A CHANCE!"

Shikamaru had come a long way in fuinjutsu thanks to Jiraiya, but he would be the first to admit that he wasn't even in the same league as his sister or the Toad Sage himself, yet. That barrier shield he placed around her could take a lot of damage, but there was no telling the kind of damage this bomb would do.

The bomb copy of Deidara was absolutely and utterly massive.

"BOSS!"

Naruto turned his head around when his clone called out to him. Blue eyes went wide when he saw Shikamaru break formation and run perpendicular of the Deidara-bomb's path.

"Shikamaru!" Ino and Chouji called out as Naruto diverted from the group as well to catch up to the fleeing Nara.

Sakura turned at the noise and saw Naruto and Shikamaru running in the line of fire, "What are they doing?!"

Ino turned to Sakura – none of them decreasing their speed or changing their path – "I don't know! Should we follow them?"

"No!" Neji shouted as his eyes turned from the group to Naruto and Shikamaru, "Their going back for Kanoko. We're just going to have to trust they know what they're doing!"

Everyone turned to Neji with looks of concern and hesitation before continuing on their path away from the walking bomb.

.

"JUST TRY AND RUN! IT WON'T SAVE YOU FROM THIS!" Deidara shouted from high in the sky. The blond stopped in his maniacal rant to hiss in pain as the burns on his body sizzled agony, "Two lowly chunin from a pathetic village like the Leaf think they can best my art?!"

"NOTHING WILL SAVE YOU FROM MY C4: GARUDA!" Deidara shouted before his eyes caught two of the Leaf nin running in a different direction from the others. His blue eyes narrowed before it dawned on him. Deidara smirked, "They're going back for that Nara girl." Deidara shifted his eyes back and forth between the groups, "If I time it just right… I can hit both groups and the girl." Deidara's wicked smirk grew into a wide smile, "Come on little Nara, take down that barrier seal…"

.

.

Naruto quickly caught up to the shadow nin – his lungs pulsing slightly in pain at pushing himself to go faster – before yelling at him, "What the hell Shikamaru?!"

Shikamaru panted heavily as he pushed his legs to move faster, "Kanoko!" He told Naruto – unable to say anymore as his breath rapidly left him.

A light bulb went off in Naruto's head as his eyes turned to the outline of Shikamaru's barrier seal. The blond quickly turned his head back to the large moving bomb. Naruto gritted his teeth, "Need a plan, need a plan, come one Naruto, think!"

"A reverse summons!" Naruto shouted to Shikamaru, making the Nara give Naruto a crazy look.

"Can you do that with two extra people?!" Shikamaru responded before turning back towards the others, "We'll have no way of getting back! That's not an option!"

Naruto looked at Shikamaru with a bewildered look, "And getting blown up is?! Because that's what's gonna happen!"

Shikamaru sent Naruto an annoyed look, "We'll have a chance if we keep running perpendicular!"

"That's a stupid idea!" Naruto shouted back, "Aren't you supposed to be from a clan of smart people?! We're not fast enough to get outside the blast range if we continue on this path!"

Shikamaru smirked at his friend, "Aren't you the one always saying nothing's impossible for the great Uzumaki Naruto – especially not…" Shikamaru stopped to catch his breath, "…not where his friends are concerned?"

Naruto whined loudly, "I liked it better when no one thought I could do anything! It was less pressure and more fun when I got to rub my awesomeness in people's faces!" Naruto narrowed his eyes at Shikamaru, "You are the ultimate fun sucker! You know that?!"

Shikamaru smirked before skidding to a halt and falling to his knees. Rapidly, he ran through hand signs and nicked his thumb – applying blood to the seal and calling its wall down. As soon as the seal deactivated, Shikamaru picked up his sister's limp form.

"Shika– "

Shikamaru snapped his head up at Naruto pitched voice – his eyes going wide as the large, Deidara copy started expanding like an over-inflated balloon.

Shikamaru's grip on his sister tightened before passing her off to Naruto, "I'm going to try it Naruto!" Shikamaru shouted as he started rapidly making hand signs, "If I can't hold it, you reverse summon yourself and Kanoko out of here!"

Naruto looked at Shikamaru with wide eyes, "No! I'm not – "

"There's not time to argue Naruto!" Shikamaru shouted as he slammed his hand on the ground – markings akin to typical fuinjutsu seals spreading out before them, "Shadow Void!"

Black pooled out from Shikamaru's body until it was big enough to fit the three of them before curving up and encasing them in a thin, sphere-like ball of yin chakra.

Naruto shivered slightly as the black sphere cut off everything from the outside. The small space was completely void of sound, of wind, of everything. Naruto could swear it was even pulling the feeling of life out of him. He's only experience Shikamaru do this once, and it was just as terrifying then as it was now.

And Shikamaru had only held it for a minute – max – last time!

Even worse…

There was no way to tell what was going on outside.

.

He could only hope that his clone popped after the bomb went off – so it could relay its memories to him – and not before.

.

.

.

.

Neji's eyes widened as a black sphere formed around Naruto, Kanoko and Shikamaru before they completely disappeared from his Byakugan's vision. It was like they were wiped from existence – or that they were never there to begin with.

Completely invisible to even his enhanced gaze.

The Hyuuga didn't have time to think about it as the large clay copy of Deidara finally exploded.

Ino was the first to speak up with wide eyes, "No explosion?!"

Sakura turned to Neji for an explanation, "All that and the thing just pops like an over inflated balloon?"

Neji's gaze narrowed on the scene beyond them as everyone went silent. Neji's eyes focused in on Deidara's laughing form and narrowed further, "Either he thinks this is the best prank ever or…"

Neji's heart skipped a beat as his eyes caught an invisible – to the normal eye – cloud of chakra blowing their way at a rapid rate – the savage winds of the desert aiding its path towards them. Neji quickly shifted his eyes around for a way to escape it as he shouted, "I don't know that it is but there's a large cloud of chakra heading straight for us from that bomb!"

Tenten turned to Sakura, "Cloud of chakra?"

Sakura shook her head, "That doesn't sound like anything I've ever heard of…"

"Oh… my… god…" Ino spoke with a slack jaw before pointing up towards the crows flying past.

Everyone looked up to where Ino pointed before a rush of cold panic ran through their veins. The crows flying pass in the sky – seemingly nowhere near the explosion – disintegrated into nothingness.

"RUN!" Neji shouted, "EVERYONE IN FRONT OF ME!"

No one hesitated in following Neji's order as they all broke out into another run – their adrenaline and pure desperation to live keeping them moving. Neji's Byakugan took noted as the chakra cloud got closer and closer.

Their current speed simply wasn't fast enough.

"Chouji! Ino! You need to move faster!" Neji barked at them, sweating profusely due to all the running and constant use of his Byakugan.

"Come on Chouji!" Ino told her teammate in encouragement as she pressed a green glowing chakra hand on his back.

"Ino!" Chouji chastised his teammate for wasting energy on him.

Ino gave him a weak smile before turning her head in surprise as she felt a familiar glow of chakra run through her.

Sakura smiled next to Ino, as she used her own chakra to heal Ino and help her run faster – just like the blonde was doing for Chouji. Ino gave Sakura an annoyed look before quickly turning it into a soft smile.

With renewed energy, the three sped up – allowing Neji to do the same.

The Hyuuga checked the chakra cloud again and cursed under his breath, "We're not fast enough!" Neji turned his eyes back towards the group. He could see the sweat pouring down their faces, the way their chakra pulsed and constricted – telling him that even Lee was having a hard time. Neji gritted his teeth, "I can only imagine how much pain Lee is in after opening so many gates…" Neji turned his gaze back to where Shikamaru and Naruto once were, "Ino was right! We should have followed them!" Neji closed his eyes in anger, "Dammit!"

Neji opened his eyes back up and let out a calm breath, "It's no use – "

Neji didn't get to finish his sentence as tall, silver haired figure passed by them at an incredible rate. Neji's eyes widened as he turned to yell, "NO! Kakashi–!"

"Kamui!" Kakashi shouted with his Mangekyou Sharingan spinning rapidly.

Neji skidded to a halt in pure amazement as he watched the massive chakra cloud got sucked into seemingly nothing - like a blackhole. Neji stared blankly, "What is this madness?!"

Tenten and Lee turned to see Neji halt in his step and skidded to a halt as well. Even if the threat was still emanate, they weren't going to leave Neji behind – no matter what. Ino turned to Sakura and Chouji before yelling out, "Why are you guys stopping?!"

Sakura skidded to a halt too before yelling at Ino and Chouji, "It's Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura quickly ran over to her sensei before pausing just behind him.

Kakashi felt a massive strain on his Sharingan as he sucked all the microscopic bombs - the 'chakra cloud' - into his eye's time/space ninjutsu. Sweat poured down the side of Kakashi's face until he snapped his eye shut and he fell to the ground on one knee.

Sakura was at his side in a second, healing him with some of the last bit of her chakra, as he panted heavily. Turning slightly towards her, Kakashi gave his student a one eyed smile.

Sakura gave her sensei a relieved look before drawling out, "You're late."

Kakashi chuckled lowly before responding with a tight voice, "You see, this cursed fish crossed my path, so I had to take the long way…"

"Don't you mean black cat?" Chouji asked with a confused tone as he walked up with Ino at his side, "That's the superstition right?"

Sakura rolled her eyes before shaking her head at her sensei.

Kakashi smile slightly before shifting his eye around, "Where's Kanoko and Shikamaru?"

Neji turned towards where he last saw them, "They, along with Naruto, disappeared over there."

"Disappeared?" Kakashi asked with a strange tone before looking at the Naruto clone, "What do you mean? I take it that's Naruto's clone then?"

Neji nodded before explaining, "One minute they were there in my vision and the next it was like they were wiped away…" Neji paused to look over where the chakra cloud was, "Just like you did to that Akatsuki's attack."

Kakashi frowned, "That's not possible."

"It kind of is." A coarse voice spoke.

Everyone turned to the Naruto clone.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, "You want to explain Naruto?"

The clone shrugged, "I don't understand it all, but the best I can say is that Shikamaru combined the time/space jutsu that Kanoko uses with his own shadow jutsu make a…" Naruto looked up in thought for a second before mumbling, "A pocket in space? I think…"

Kakashi gave the Naruto clone a surprised look before sighing tiredly, "I don't like the sound of that…" Kakashi sighed again before getting up slowly and tossing a kunai swiftly at the clone, making him pop, "I have a feeling Team 10's going to be down a member when Kanoko finds out too…"

"Hey!" Sakura yelled at her sensei, "That was our only lead on Naruto, Shikamaru and Kanoko! What'd you do that for?!"

Kakashi laughed lightly at his student while backing up slowly away from Sakura's pulsing fist, "Something tells me Shikamaru has already figured the real benefit of the Shadow Clone Jutsu."

The group gave him a curious look before Neji's head snapped around, "They're back!"

Everyone was quick follow Neji as he sped in the direction of the magically disappearing and appearing trio.

.

.

.

.

Red eyes snapped open before quickly fading into a dull onyx color.

Itachi placed a hand on his knee for support as he panted heavily while drop of sweat traveled down the side of his face and fell to the stone cave floor below. "There's no mistaking it… If I wasn't convinced before, there is no doubt in my mind now." Itachi thought as he stared blankly at the bits of sand beneath his feet, "The amount of chakra I was forced to pour into that genjutsu to begin with, not to mention the additional amount it took to sustain it as he fought against it…" The elder Uchiha slowly brought his shaking hand to his forehead to wipe some of the sweat from his face, "If that had gone on for another minute…"

Black eyes snapped up.

"Already so close…" Itachi thought as the memory from one of his clones came back to him.

"I am impressed by how quickly you've discovered my location…" Itachi spoke in the darkness of the cave as the shadow of a familiar figure stretched across the cavern walls.

"…little brother."

Sasuke paused briefly to stare dully and emotionless into the darkness of the cave before taking small steps forward. The moonlight reflected off the dark tan walls, but stopped a few feet in – leaving the rest of the cave in complete darkness.

"Itachi." The younger Uchiha responded with a deep, venomous tone.

Two torches became inflamed – lightening up the space with a deep orange glow.

Red met red.

Itachi paused at the three tomoe Sharingan of his brother's.

"Tell me Sasuke… How much can you see with those eyes?"

Sasuke's eyes hardened as he took slow steps forward, "How much can I see? Right now… I'm seeing you dead at my feet!"

Itachi closed his eyes and tilted his head back, "You see me dead, do you? Well…" Itachi tilted his head back down to stare blankly at Sasuke as the air thickened. In an instant, Itachi appeared next to Sasuke, "Then go on. Make it happen."

The sound of metal clanking echoed loudly in the deep cave as Sasuke ripped off his sword and attempted to slice through his older brother. Itachi quickly met him with a simple kunai – blocking Sasuke's attempt. Itachi twisted his arm around and struck forward with another kunai – aiming straight for Sasuke's crimson eye. Sasuke elbowed Itachi's arm and brought his sword up to block – the two blades hitting with another loud clang before shaking against each other.

Itachi wasted no time in swiftly gripping Sasuke's elbow and forearm – holding the younger Uchiha in place – before bringing his leg up for an uppercut. Sasuke lifted his foot to block Itachi's knee and proceeded to use it to backflip away – breaking Itachi's hold on him.

Itachi's eyes zeroed in on Sasuke's flip before reaching out and grabbing him by the back of his gray jounin vest. Pushing chakra through his body, Itachi pulled Sasuke towards him and smashing his body into the ground.

"Gah!" Sasuke coughed out before quickly making hand seals. Sasuke's left hand started to glow as lightning crackled around it – the sounds of bird chirping echoing through the cave, "Chidori Current!"

Several currents of lightning cracked through the air, forcing Itachi to jump back. Itachi stared blandly at the several bolts of lightning before snapping his head around.

Red met red again.

Sasuke grinned widely in victory as he skewered Itachi through the chest with his Thunder Spirit Blade.

Itachi coughed up blood as he stared down at the lightning blade, "You have… gotten stronger."

Sasuke ignored him as his red eyes narrowed, "Listen to me." Sasuke prevised as a warning, "I have two final questions for you. Only then, will I let you die."

Itachi slowly lifted his arm – the action taking the rest of his energy – before pointing two of his fingers at Sasuke, and then slowly turning them to point to his left.

Sasuke turned his head.

Over by the torches, just a few feet away, without a scratch or even drop of sweat, stood Uchiha Itachi.

Sasuke turned back to the Itachi he held with his blade and grumbled slightly as the image turned into one of crows, "A genjutsu." Sasuke told himself before repeating the words out loud, "Your favorite genjutsu farce… is that how we're starting this?"

"What do you want to know?" Itachi asked, ignoring Sasuke's statement, "It won't be the last thing, but I'll hear what you have to say."

Sasuke's red eyes sharpened as he spoke in a dark tone, "Let me try this again."

Itachi's eyes widened as the Thunder Spirit Blade was once again rammed through his chest from behind. Blood spat out of his mouth in surprise. Itachi's eyes focused on the form of Sasuke in front of him before realization hit as 'Sasuke' turned into a flock of hawks.

"Genjutsu…" Itachi spoke, "Using my own trick against me."

"I don't like repeating myself." Sasuke growled out before he twisted the lightning sword in Itachi's chest – making more blood spurt out, "And don't you dare lie to me!"

Itachi chuckled humorlessly, "You deliberately avoided a vital spot." Itachi smirked slightly, "Tell me Sasuke, what is it that you think I know?"

"What did you do to Nara Kanoko?" Sasuke growled out, "It looks like the Tsukuyomi, but it's different. Tell me what you did!"

Itachi chuckled lowly, "Out of everything, that is your question?" Itachi's tone hardened, "You've become weak."

Sasuke twisted the blade again, his knuckles turning white as he harshly gripped his sword, "The pain won't stop until I kill you and I won't kill you until you answer my questions!"

Itachi hummed lowly, "There are many things about these eyes… about the Sharingan that you can't even imagine. Hidden abilities… bending the laws of reality… The Tsukuyomi that my eyes gifted me is one of different levels. The genjutsu I performed on you and Kakashi was just the first level." Itachi smirked, "It wasn't until I forced Izumi to experience a whole life in the matter of a millionth of a second with these eyes that I realized that I was simply scratching the surface of my power."

Sasuke felt his body go rigid at Itachi's cold statement towards someone that loved him. Sasuke's teeth gritted harshly as the anger boiling in his stomach started to swell again, "She loved him so much and he just…! All of them!"

"I made this Tsukuyomi special." Itachi continued, "I've grown tired of simply killing the things you hold dear." Itachi's smirked grew as more blood spilled over his lips, "I will admit… I took quite a bit of pleasure planning and implementing this one. I can see why you're so infatuated with the Nara. I won't bore you with the details, but the lengths I had to go to trap her… Not to mention how hard she fought back… I've never experienced my victim's chakra defend with such vigor! It was like killing the clan all over again!" Itachi finished with a loud, booming laugh, "The look on her face as her brother's bloody hands choked her to death… the look of pure anguish and betrayal…" Itachi's lips curled up into a wicked smile, "Just like yours that night."

"SHUT UP!" Sasuke roared as he pushed some of his chakra into the sword, making it spark and rip through more of Itachi's flesh.

The older Uchiha coughed out in pain before smirking again and speaking low, "There's nothing you can do for her now."

"Why…" Sasuke hissed out, "Why her and not…"

"Not your teammates? Your sensei? Any of your other friends?" Itachi supplied with a hum, "I've been watching you… the two of you for some time. When news spread of a kunoichi that could use the same space/time jutsu as the Fourth Hokage, I became curious. I was surprised to see she was one of your friends. I certainly didn't recall Nara Kanoko to be anything but an awkward clan heir with no remarkable attributes. I became even more fascinated as the two of you started to play house." Itachi's eyes hardened as he growled, "The clan, the clan, the clan… the two of you sounded just like those fools. It disgusted me. I became bored with your small minds."

Itachi stared blankly ahead, "The Akatsuki saw her as a threat though, so I waited until she was out on a mission without you. I… removed her client so we could have a private chat."

"What?" Sasuke asked slowly, his mind racing with questions before growling, "You're lying! Kanoko would have told me if she had run into you!"

Itachi smirked, "Still so naïve." Itachi tilted his head slightly back and closed his eyes, "You honestly believe that she is on your side? Naras are known to be fiercely loyal to the village. She will always choose them over you, especially over your precious clan."

Itachi was greeted with silence, making the elder Uchiha smirk, "I questioned her intentions: From her purpose for being to her efforts with the Uchiha. I was surprised in her responses. Kaa-san and Tou-san would have liked her for you, for the clan especially."

"Don't you say their names!" Sasuke growled out loudly, "You lost that right when you sliced their throats."

Itachi just chuckled in response before continuing in a dark tone, "But I knew then, that she had to… be removed." Itachi's tone deepened, "You should be thanking me Sasuke… she was making you weak."

Sasuke twisted the sword in Itachi's chest again, "I think the current circumstances would prove otherwise."

Itachi smirked again, "Each of us lives, dependent and bond by our individual knowledge and our awareness. All that is what we call reality. However, both knowledge and awareness are equivocal. One's reality might be another's illusion. We all live inside our own fantasies."

"Just what are you trying to say?" Sasuke growled out.

"That thinking Nara Kanoko is your friend is merely an arbitrary assumption that you made." Itachi cold tone thickened, "In the same way that you once thought me your kind and gentle older brother."

Sasuke's mind involuntarily flashed back to moments in his childhood. Moments with Itachi… laughing… playing… smiling… feeling loved… feeling protected…

I have acted like the older brother you desired for one reason: To discover how powerful you were.

Itachi's words that night, the night he lost everything, echoed in Sasuke's head.

"I wanted to believe, so badly, that everything that happened that night… the blood, the bodies… friends I would never see again, people that I never got to know, family… that I would never get another moment with…" Sasuke's hands started to shake slightly as all the emotions started flooding back in, "My older brother… the man that could do no wrong, that was the strongest, the smartest, the kindest… someone I looked up to and loved more than anything else…"

"I wanted to believe it was all a genjutsu." Sasuke spoke low with a venomous tone, "I wanted so badly for it all to be a dream." Sasuke activated the lightning blue chakra in his hand – the screeching sound of a thousand birds chirping almost making his ears bleed – before roaring out, "BUT THERE WAS NO MISTAKING IT! I WAS TRAPPED IN REALITY!"

Sasuke pushed out the lightning chakra in his hand – shooting it out like a spear behind him and ripping open a sizable hole in the cave.

Right next to Itachi's face – missing his cheek by a hair.

The Itachi Sasuke had skewered with a sword blended into the darkness – revealing it to be another genjutsu.

"My eyes are not the same as they once were." Sasuke spoke in an emotionless tone as he stood up straight to stare blankly at his older brother – the three tomoe in his eyes spinning against the red, "My Sharingan can see through your genjutsu."

"Hm." Itachi sounded out, "You speak with such confidence, as you always do." Itachi's Sharingan moved from the spear of lightning cracking next to him over to Sasuke's form, "I suppose I'll take you on your word... for now."

"I'm done playing along with your parlor trick games." Sasuke told Itachi with an annoyed tone.

"After all…" Itachi continued as if Sasuke hadn't spoken, "Confidence is fine, but Sasuke… it appears you still do not possess the same eyes as I do."

Sasuke's red eyes narrowed.

Itachi slowly closed his eyes, "You are not ready to face me."

Sasuke's teeth gritted as he gripped his sword and ran forward, "I'm not done with you yet!"

Itachi's form dispersed into a large flock of black crows just as Sasuke's blade hit. The younger Uchiha quickly twisted his head around – his Sharingan eyes searching for where Itachi escaped to.

Sasuke stilled when he heard Itachi's emotionless voice echo through the cave, "Once you have killed that which is most precious to you and gained the eyes that I possess… only then will I face you."

.

.

.

Sasuke cursed lowly with a scowl on his face.

.

Before it turned into a smirk.

Walking slowly towards the entrance of the cave - as if he had all the time in the world - Sasuke stopped to lean against the cave wall just before exiting.

.

Standing in the center of the entrance of the cave – in the shadow of the cave so that only those inside the cave could see him – was his elder brother.

Itachi.

.

Sasuke crossed his arms as his smirk grew, "Welcome to my hell, Itachi."

The elder Uchiha twitched slightly at Sasuke's taunt, but did not turn around. Itachi continued to stare blankly out into the desert night.

The bright moon shined down on the scene below – reflecting off of the several hundreds of Naruto's stretched around the cave as far as the eye could see. Some of them were standing – waiting patiently, if there was such a thing when it concerned Naruto – while others were sitting or doing pushups or hopping in place. Itachi's Sharingan eyes strained at the bright sight as he took in the age and attire of the several clones before him. Most adorned a white cloak with dark blue under garments while some wore a blinding, eye bleeding orange the Akatsuki recalled was the Jinchuriki's favorite outfit.

Itachi's red eye twitched again.

.

And it wouldn't stop.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"Thank you for coming Inoichi, Chouza." Yoshino said in an unusually soft tone.

Chouza nodded slowly as he walked through the threshold of the Nara household – sharing a quick, tentative look with Inoichi, "It's not a problem Yoshino. What's…" Chouza paused and looked back at Inoichi, hoping he would take point.

Inoichi gave his friend an annoyed look before turning to Yoshino, "Our wives said it was urgent."

Yoshino nodded and guided them into the main area of the Nara home, "It started just before Shikamaru and Kanoko left for their mission. Shikaku and Kanoko had gotten into some kind of fight and weren't speaking with one another. My blundering husband does things all the time that irritates my dear darling, but she normally forgives him pretty quickly – which was my first warning something wasn't right." Yoshino continued to walk them through the house as she spoke, "When Kanoko and Shikamaru left I immediately cornered Shikaku to ask him what was going on, but he completely rebuffed me! Me! His WIFE!"

Inoichi and Chouza looked at each other nervously before swiftly turning back to an animated Yoshino, "Says 'It's between Kanoko and I' – as if she's not my daughter!" Yoshino twisted her body around and smacked a hand on her hip and used the other to point at them, "Let me tell you, he can have the house, he can have the money, hell, he can kick me out of the village if the bastard thinks he's brave enough, but Kanoko is my daughter!"

Inoichi and Chouza watched wide eyed as Yoshino brought her hands together like she was strangling something – probably her husband – before deflating with a heavy sigh. Yoshino let her deep brown eyes drop as she spoke with a defeated tone, "But she's his daughter too. And she means everything to him – both she and Shikamaru do, as they do to me. I've just…" Yoshino sighed again, "I thought the worst was behind us…"

Inoichi quickly caught onto what Yoshino was saying, "Are you saying this is about…?" Inoichi didn't really want to finish the sentence – taking personal responsibility for what one of his clan members has caused to his best friend's family.

Yoshino shook her head, "No – at least I don't think." Yoshino shook her head again, "I just meant… Shikaku's not acting like himself." Yoshino paused to whisper quietly, "And neither is Kanoko…"

Inoichi nodded and pressed gently, "Then why did you call us here tonight Yoshino? I know you, we both do, and you would have just waited until the morning to get us all together to have a sit down with Shikaku - goodness knows it wouldn't be the first with any of us, after all the crazy, heart attack inducing things our children get into."

Yoshino nodded and let out a deep breath and turned her head towards her husband's study, "Yesterday evening I was putting away clean laundry when I heard several large bangs coming from Kanoko's room. I immediately called out for Shikaku – I didn't know where he was and I wanted him nearby in case I was about to get into a fight with a burglar. I heard a familiar grunt and quickly opened the door to Kanoko's room." Yoshino shook her head in disbelief, "What greets me is Shikaku, bleeding all over my recently cleaned floor, holding a strange blue sized scroll, with the tell-tale signs of the aftermath of several activated trap seals!"

The Nara monarch started waving her hands in the air, "I don't even want to think about how my daughter is going to slowly and viciously murder her father when she gets back! The idiot!" Yoshino turns to Inoichi, "Can you imagine what Ino would do to you if you were found holding her diary?!"

Inoichi shivered at the thought. He had been teaching his daughter everything he knew since day one and at the rate she was picking up the Yamanaka techniques...

She could do some serious damage.

Yoshino nodded at Inoichi, "Exactly my point! Granted I don't know if that was Kanoko's diary, but I don't know what else a teenage girl hides behind so many complex seals that even Shikaku comes out bleeding trying to avoid them all!" Yoshino threw her hands up into the air, "Then he pushes past me – doesn't even acknowledge me – and goes straight for this office! The place is an absolute disaster in there! I've tried several times to get him to come out or even acknowledge me, but he's completely absorbed in whatever is in that scroll!"

Inoichi turned to Chouza, who was giving him a serious look, before turning back to Yoshino, "We'll see what we can do, but you know how stubborn Shikaku can be."

Yoshino nodded solemnly, "I understand. I was just hoping…" Yoshino trailed off to look back at the office doors leading to her husband with a look of longing.

Chouza and Inoichi nodded before telling her it might be best for her to leave the house for the day – just in case things got heated. Yoshino agreed before grabbing a bag and making her way out the door of her house.

Inoichi turned to Chouza and let out a deep breath, "I started last time."

Chouza huffed at Inoichi before shaking his head and placing his hand on the door to Shikaku office and sliding it open. Inoichi and Chouza scanned the room first. Yoshino wasn't exaggerating – it was a mess. There were books and scrolls scattered around the room – some open, some closed, and some hanging off of things. Drips of blank ink and the deep burgundy of dried blood showed a trail going from the door, to the bookcase, to the desk, back to the bookcase – and so on and so forth. Finally, their eyes rested on the figure hunched over his desk.

Rolled out carefully before him was a medium sized scroll – likely the scroll Yoshino was talking about earlier. The scroll looked like it was almost at its end and was draped gently over one end of his desk. Next to the scroll were several books and numerous pieces of paper – all full of black ink and scribbles. Those same papers were also scattered around Shikaku's desk – some crumpled, some ripped to shreds.

After taking in the whole picture, Inoichi whispered to Chouza, "I've only ever seen something like this at the cryptology department – which is the only department Ibiki refuses to go into, by the way."

Chouza couldn't help but wish he had taken lead with Yoshino – Inoichi clearly got the better end of the deal on this one. Sighing lightly, Chouza spoke tentatively, "Shikaku…"

Silence and the sounds of pen hitting back answered him back.

Chouza groaned internally before trying again, "It's me and Inoichi. We were hoping that you could come with us… you know, go get some drinks and barbeque – the usual. Just us guys…"

Inoichi shot Chouza a look before mouthing 'Really? Barbeque?' to which Chouza responded with 'why don't you try, mister know-it-all!'.

Inoichi and Chouza took part in an annoyed glare contest before their attention was pulled away.

"That can't be it…" Shikaku mumbled as he rubbed his goatee with his injured hand before turning his head back to one of his papers and looking it over, "There has to be more…"

Inoichi and Chouza turned from Shikaku back to each other to have another mental argument. After another minute, Inoichi let out an annoyed grunt – to which Chouza smirked triumphantly. Clearing his throat, Inoichi just went for the jugular, "Ok, I'm just going to throw it out there! Shikaku, put your daughter's diary down and join us for drinks or I'll haul your ass into T&I for a Yamanaka special! You're scaring the crap out of us!"

Chouza let out a long groan, "Seriously? That's better?"

Inoichi opened his mouth to respond when Shikaku's coarse voice cut him off.

"It's not a diary." Shikaku mumbled low as he picked up the scroll to look at it again, "Not in the traditional sense."

"It's still your daughter's." Chouza started, "Come on Shikaku, I don't know what's going on, but she's going to be really upset and hurt when she finds out what you did. At least put it down so we can talk about this."

Shikaku stilled for a second at Chouza's words before sighing tiredly and resting his head on his hand and drawling out, "You're right, but I don't regret what I did. Not now, not after reading this."

Inoichi felt a growing headache and tried another route, "Both my daughter and my wife are going to kill me for this, but Shikaku… what does it say that has you acting like this?"

"It's not just what it says, but how it says it." Shikaku responded in an aloof tone before picking up a book without looking and tossed it at the pair. Inoichi quickly caught it and turned it over, "The basics of elemental chakras..." Inoichi mumbled the title out loud, "What does this have to do with anything?"

"Turn it over." Shikaku grunted out.

Inoichi started reading the print on the back, "Transcribed word for word from the Village Hidden in the Leaves' Second Hokage's, Senju Tobirama, scroll for the village's ninja academy. The Second Hokage believed strongly in not only equal and early education for all those within the safety of the Leaf Village, but also in forming bonds outside the walls of one's own clan – strengthening the Village Hidden in the Leaves to the title of one of the Five Great Ninja Villages – " Inoichi cut himself off to address Shikaku, "I honestly don't know where you're going with this."

Shikaku smirked cockily as he turned his head towards his two confused friends, "That book – well scroll at the time – was Konoha's first key for our coded messages. Everyone in the cryptology department is told the story. The Second Hokage purposely sold his academy scrolls to enemy villages so that our spies could easily use it to receive and send coded messages without anyone thinking it was anything other than a standard scroll on chakra natures."

Inoichi nodded in understanding before speaking, "So it's a key…" Inoichi's eyes focused on the scribbles on the paper and the medium blue scroll on Shikaku's lap, "So you're daughter coded her– are we sure it's not a diary? I'm only asking for my own safety here."

Shikaku nodded as he rolled his eyes and grunted out, "Yes, it's not a diary. I'll get there, just stay with me here."

Chouza sighed but nodded, "So she coded the scroll. Why is that important? Other than pointing out the fact that she really didn't want anyone to know what was in it."

"Because…" Shikaku started with an almost giddy tone, "She did it using that book."

Inoichi crossed his arms and pushed some books off of one of the chairs to sit down – something told him he would be here for a while – and asked, "She's your daughter. She's probably just as obsessed with cryptography as you are. Sometimes I'm still surprised you left the cryptology department to become the Jounin Commander – even if you do go by there every once and awhile to help out."

Shikaku shook his head, "You don't understand. The cryptology department stopped using this key when the Third took office. It was never discovered by enemy villages and only the field operatives at the time and the cryptology department knew about it. When the key was retired, it was classified as an S-ranked secret, in case they ever decided to deploy it again, but they never did. Only those retired or currently serving in the cryptology department even know about it."

"Yay to knowing another thing I have to remember to take to my grave…" Inoichi spoke sarcastically.

Chouza chuckled at his friend's despair before turning back to Shikaku with a serious look, "You don't think it's just coincidence? She is kind of obsessed with all things relating to the Second Hokage. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a life size cutout of him in her room…"

Shikaku smirked, "That's not all."

Inoichi groaned loudly, "Of course not…"

Shikaku picked up the scroll and motioned them to look at it, "Look. See this here?" Shikaku said, pointing to one of the characters on the page, "This was written with different ink. It was hard to tell at first – the two inks are practically the same – but if you hold it up to the light, the light reflects off of it differently." Shikaku's proud smirk widened, "Its sealing ink."

Inoichi leaned forward and spoke in a curious tone, "That doesn't look like your typical fuinjutsu markings… It's just standard characters. Did you try activating it?"

Shikaku gave Inoichi another cocky smirk, "Ahh, such an amateur."

Inoichi's eye twitched dangerously as Chouza laughed heartily in the background.

Shikaku grinned at his friend in letting him know that he was just jesting with him before explaining, "It's a trick move – a trap, to be specific." Shikaku grin grew, "Honestly, I probably would have fallen for it too, if it wasn't for the fact that I've seen Kanoko create hundreds of seals. She's meticulous and particular – and if I've learned anything from her and Minato it's that with sealing, you have to be. At least when it comes to the complicated ones."

Chouza nodded, "What happens when you activate it?"

Shikaku looked up at his other best friend, "Best guess? Burns the whole thing to ashes." Shikaku turned back to the scroll, "I had to go back to her room and steal a couple explosive tags to confirm it, but I'm ninety-five percent sure that's what it does."

Inoichi was quick to cut in at this point, "I just want to recap. You broke into your daughter's room – "

"It's not breaking and entering when you own the house." Shikaku supplied.

Inoichi continued as if not interrupted, "Went through her things and found a part of her room covered in barrier seals – "

"I happened to be in her room when I saw something that looked like it might have seals on it. I was checking it out to make sure it wasn't dangerous."

"Broke through the seals – causing bodily harm and scaring the shit out of your wife – "

"Again, out of fatherly concern and Yoshino's been through worse. She just selectively forgets all the times Kanoko's nearly given us heart attacks."

"Took out the scroll sealed inside – likely a diary – and then proceeded to trapped yourself in your office – "

"Not a diary."

"Only to learn that the whole thing was coded with a key only used in the Second Hokage's era – "

"That part's true, I'll give you that."

"And if that wasn't enough, it's booby trapped to go off if someone activates the seal inside it."

Shikaku paused, making sure his friend was done, before nodding in agreement at his assessment of the situation.

Inoichi gave Shikaku a bewildered look before turning to Chouza, "They're all insane, even by Yamanaka standards. You take over."

Chouza sighed heavily and turned to Shikaku, "I guess the question is now… You said there has to be more – when we came in, that's what you said – what did you mean by that?"

Shikaku's proud and happy looked dropped as he slowly turned his half lidded eyes back to the scroll and spoke solemnly, "It isn't a diary, but it is a documentary of certain events and several unsubstantiated theories."

Inoichi threw his hands in the air, "That's the definition of a diary!" The Yamanaka groaned loudly as he smacked his face into his hands, "I hope our children are ready to take over the clans because we're dead when the women find out!"

Chouza let out a light sigh and placed his hand on Inoichi's shoulder before giving him a soft smile, "Let's hear Shikaku out. We're dying anyways, right?" Chouza added with a small laugh.

Inoichi sighed as he looked up at his friend and groaned, "Just hurry up Shikaku. I need to get my affairs in order before my wife and daughter start discussing whether they're going to bury or cremate me."

Shikaku let out a small chuckle before turning his tired eyes back to the scroll, "The whole scroll is split into three parts. That's why it took some time going through it – taking out the fact that I had to decode each character. Some parts are almost complete, while other parts have large gaps with several lines crossed out."

Shikaku frowned as he looked up at his longtime friends and trusted teammates, "The first part is unsurprising. It has to do with my father, our clans, and the other clans in Konoha. It starts with an event that occurred when Kanoko was very young – something I was not pleased to read – and stretches out to a meeting that occurred between them not even a month ago." Shikaku's voice dipped into a dark tone, "I knew that Kanoko was being targeted, but to hear that he succeeded in sinking his teeth into my son – even for the briefest of moments…" Shikaku's chakra flickered dangerously before closing his eyes and willing his muscles to relax.

The pair watched Shikaku with concerned eyes as he started speaking again, "She talks about some clan members she believes are loyal to him and his goals – including their specialties and combat levels. She also has other clan members listed – main and branch house Hyuuga, high ranking Sarutobi, Inuzuka, one Aburame, and quite a few…" Shikaku paused to give his friends an apologetic look, "Quite a few Yamanaka and Akimichi clan elders." Shikaku closed his eyes, "The threat of two of the three of our clans being headed by women has them quick to side with my father's goals."

Inoichi cursed his clan elders under his breath before spitting out, "I'm not surprised. I've been getting nothing but resistance from them and every time I go on a mission, I come back to a new 'possible marriage candidate' for my daughter – as if she's allowed to even think about getting married!"

Chouza chuckled lightly at Inoichi's overprotectiveness before turning back to Shikaku with an apologetic look of his own, "I… didn't want to bring it up until I knew it I could no longer control the situation. I was hoping your daughter would show them how powerful a female clan head can be."

Shikaku nodded, "I was hoping the same for my own clan, but I always knew my father would be an obstacle." Shikaku sighed heavily as he rubbed his forehead, "I spent so much time worrying about the threats from beyond our walls… And here I thought Danzo was my biggest concern."

Shikaku sighed again, "Which bring me to part two: Shimura Danzo."

Chouza and Inoichi stiffened at the name.

Shikaku nodded to them, "I sealed the room the moment you two walked in. Another thing I borrowed from my lovely daughter, so I'm confident in its abilities."

Inoichi shook his head, "She's going to murder you, but continue…"

Shikaku nodded, "Most of it I was already aware of and some parts are actually incorrect. The basis of the theory is sound, but she's mistaken some of the facts." Shikaku stroked his goatee as he looked down at his scroll, "Her character assessment of Danzo is spot on, but she rarely mentions ever speaking with him. She must have a contact on the inside feeding her information about him…" Shikaku winced slightly in preparation of what he was about to say next, "And uh, Inoichi? I just want to start this by saying if I had any idea of what Kanoko was up to, I would have never, ever let either of them out of my sight."

Inoichi froze. The Yamanaka slowly opened his mouth – his mind already supplying all the information to know what Shikaku was saying, "Please… please tell me you are saying what I think you're saying…"

Shikaku nodded solemnly, "I'm going to have you do a mind walk of my daughter after every mission from now on because apparently she wasn't being completely honest about the mission in Grass Country. She had a run in with the Akatsuki's own Uchiha Itachi." Shikaku looked back at the scroll, "She's making leaps and assumptions based on facts she hasn't detailed here, but talks about the interaction and how it leads her to believe Itachi fears her."

"Woah, woah!" Chouza called out, "Uchiha Itachi fearing Kanoko?!" Chouza shook his head, "You're daughter's a lot of things Shikaku, but Uchiha Itachi level is not one of them."

Shikaku nodded, "That's why I said she's making leaps in judgement that I can't follow. Every other theory has facts and details to backup her claims, but this is the one that falls short of any sort of explanation. The best I have gathered from her notes is that he's not afraid for himself, but of what she could do to his little brother, Uchiha Sasuke."

Inoichi sighed heavily before locking eyes with Shikaku, "Let's get back to the part that concerns my daughter, please."

Shikaku nodded, "After her run in with Itachi, Kanoko started an investigation into the Uchiha massacre. She notes in here that, for a tragedy, many of the records are classified as S-ranked secrets. She states, and I'm quoting here, 'for what purpose would a Hokage choose to classify a lowly baker's autopsy as village-security related, when the attacker's identity is not only known, but well known – clearly more than one attacker was present, which makes more sense when you take into consideration that the victim clan is the Uchiha – one of the world's most deadly clans'." Shikaku's eyes read over the text again as he spoke, "She goes on to say that either an enemy Hidden Village is responsible or the attack can be, in some way, tied back to the office of the Hokage."

Shikaku hums lowly before speaking again, "She actually makes another leap here that I can't follow. I've analyzed the code several times over, but all I can get is that based on prior knowledge she has of Danzo leads her to suspect he is the key to the truth."

"Which leads your daughter to convince my daughter to…" Inoichi started, hoping Shikaku wasn't going to finish the sentence in the way he suspected.

Shikaku nodded with an apologetic look, "To worm her way into the outer ranks of Danzo's Foundation."

Inoichi slammed his fist down on the arm of the chair, "Dammit Shikaku!"

Chouza placed his hand back on Inoichi's shoulder in comfort – knowing words would not help right now.

Shikaku nodded, "She hasn't breached too far in the organization yet. We can still safely pull her from the situation as soon as the two of them get back from their mission."

Inoichi ran his hand across the lower half of his face – too hurt and worried to speak without whatever he says coming out as an attack.

"It was at this part…" Shikaku started with a quiet voice, "That I realized why Kanoko was so mad at me before leaving for the Sand. And how…" Shikaku's eyes dropped to the floor, "How I've let her down."

Chouza looked up from Inoichi's struggling form to Shikaku, "What do you mean?"

Shikaku continued to stare at the ground as he spoke, "Ino made contact with a shinobi that was, for lack of a better word, without emotion, without feeling – nothing but a shell. He's their age. After learning of his background – that he was an orphan under Konoha's protection before being forced into the village's own dark army – she started digging into the records of orphans disappearing going all the way back to when we were children. The records were hit and miss, but many of them had similar elements – children with dead shinobi parents or possessed some sort of special ability. She expanded her search to missing civilian children – the pool of possible victims was less, but still troubling – and then she expanded it further to clan children."

Shikaku looked up at Chouza, "She added that to the information she already gathered from Shino and Torune about Danzo and…" Shikaku let out a heavy sigh, "We're talking nearly a hundred children over the span of forty years – victims to Danzo's vicious recruitment methods."

Shikaku leaned back in his chair and stared blankly up at the ceiling, "We must protect our future. We can only do that by protecting our values, our morals, our ethics. By sacrificing a single child's life – claiming it is for the greater good – is to sacrifice them all; to sacrifice our future. And here we are, having sacrificed a hundred – that we know of."

Chouza and Inoichi stared at Shikaku in pure shock. Inoichi was the first to speak, "That's… that's not possible… we would have… we would have known… we would have stopped it! The Hokage –!"

"We all knew." Shikaku told them, "We just deluded our minds into thinking it was just one or two, that we were at war and war demands too much, that we had no choice, that it was necessary…" Shikaku slammed his fist on his desk as he hissed out, "I understand now, why she didn't come to me with this, with my father… why she didn't come to any of us, why she trusted her peers instead with things they were too young to take on, on their own!"

Shikaku let out a shaky breath, "Those children are the best this village has to offer and I'm not going to let any of you allow them to die, just so you don't have to get your own hands dirty – that's what she told me before they left. She wasn't talking about the mission like I thought she was, she was talking about this."

The room grew quiet as the three men were left with their thoughts.

After several long minutes, Chouza spoke quietly, "Do I dare ask what the last part is?"

Shikaku was silent for a moment before sighing and leaning back in his chair, "That's what I was referring to when you two first stepped into my office. The last part talks about the Akatsuki."

Inoichi pulled himself from his thoughts to add to the conversation, "That makes sense why there's 'not more'. After all, we don't have much as it stands."

Shikaku nodded, "Honestly, after reading everything else, I was shocked at how much more intelligence we have about the Akatsuki than her." Shikaku chuckled without humor, "The fruits of our labor from focusing all our efforts outside our gates."

"Some prize." Inoichi spoke in a dark tone.

Silence took over the room again.

After several moments, Inoichi looked up and motioned to the scroll, "She's never going to trust you again if she learns what you did – going through her things and reading through it all."

Shikaku leaned back in his chair and looked up at his ceiling. The Nara stared tiredly at it before drawling, "Probably."

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"But I'm done compromising on my morals, just because it easy."

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Shikamaru collapsed as the he let down his Shadow Void jutsu.

"Shikamaru!" Naruto called out in a slight panic as he carefully set Kanoko down to hop over to Shikamaru's panting form. Naruto's blue eyes quickly gazed over his friend and gulped back worry as he watched the etches of black bleeding into Shikamaru's face and hands retreat slowly back into his clothes.

"Come on Shikamaru…" Naruto spoke quietly as the Nara twitched painfully as shockwaves of yin chakra ripped through him.

This was what happened last time and why Jiraiya strictly forbade Shikamaru from using it again, until he or Kanoko could refine the fuinjutsu seal for him.

"Naruto! Shikamaru!"

Naruto's head snapped up as he watched his comrades approach. His face quickly lightened up, "Sakura-chan! Bushy brow! You guys made it!" Naruto grinned, "I knew you would!"

Sakura smiled lightly back before turning to Kakashi-sensei, who was trailing behind, "It's a good thing Kakashi-sensei showed up when he did."

Naruto blinked before grinning up at his sensei, "Kakashi-sensei!"

Kakashi chuckled tiredly – the massive use of Kamui still having a severe impact on him – before looking from Naruto to the Nara twins.

Naruto caught his sensei's gaze – as did Sakura, who was already using her chakra to analyze Shikamaru – before turning to the pair and speaking, "I don't know if duckbutt found the bastard that got Kanoko, but she hasn't moved an inch." Naruto's frown deepened at the thought before turning his gaze towards Shikamaru, "And Shikamaru…"

"It's just chakra exhaustion." Sakura supplied quickly, making everyone breath out in relief, "He should be coming to in just a second…"

"Uggg…" Shikamaru groaned as he tried to swat away Sakura's hand, "Leave me alone… I want to sleep…" Shikamaru mumbled out.

Kakashi chuckled slightly before nodding at Sakura. The pinkette grinned evilly before leaning down and whispering something in the Nara's ear.

Shikamaru sat up in an instant – eyes sharp and wide – before focusing on the scene in front of him. Shikamaru eyed everyone staring at him with a mixed of worried and curious gazes. Turning to where the voice had come from, Shikamaru glared at Sakura, "That wasn't even remotely funny."

Sakura giggled, "Ino wasn't lying when she said you have one of the worst sister complexes our village has ever seen."

Shikamaru opened his mouth but was cut off by his female teammate who squealed, "Ooo! What did you say?! I want to know!"

"Me too! Me too!" Tenten laugh out.

Shikamaru glared at all of them as they laughed at his misery before turning to Kakashi, "Any word on the other teams?"

Kakashi shook his head, "I sent a shadow clone towards the tower. It's unknown if the Kazekage and his team are still there, but I will know more once my clone reports in."

Shikamaru nodded, "I sent Sasuke, Hinata, Kiba and Shizune to make contact with the possible Akatsuki member that took out Kanoko." Shikamaru frowned as he turned towards her, "Can your Sharingan tell us anything?"

"Where is Gai-sensei?" Lee cut in. He had mixed feelings. On one end, Gai-sensei was the strongest person he knew, but that didn't lessen the worry he felt for his sensei.

Kakashi sighed before smiling lightly, "He'll be joining us soon, I bet. You know Gai. It'll take more than one of these guys to take him down."

Lee grinned widely and nodded confidently in agreement while Tenten and Neji let out a breath of relief.

Kakashi turned his attention from Team Gai over to his limp student – crouching down to her form. With a light hiss of pain, Kakashi moved up his headband and activated his Sharingan. His eye took a moment to analyzed her before he closed it. Looking over to Shikamaru, he spoke, "It looks like whatever genjutsu she was effected with is gone. If it was any regular genjutsu, she would have woken up by now..." Kakashi took a deep breath before turning to Sakura, "Has Lady Tsunade taught you about healing severe genjutsu attacks?"

Sakura frowned, "I know the basics, but we've been focusing more on physical injuries and field surgeries..."

Kakashi nodded solemnly before speaking, "Then we're going to need to get her to the Hokage then."

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Kakashi turned to the group and sighed, "Kanoko won't be waking up until we do."

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Shikamaru turned his sharp eyes towards the horizon - where the collapsed demon desert tower lay - and spoke in a deep, serious tone, "Then we only have one option left."

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"To get the Kazekage to safety for her."

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Author's Notes:

So this chapter was 50% done three weeks ago, then the holiday hit and I realized I was broke and needed to work a ton of overtime if I was going to afford Christmas this year (or kill off a few friends – either option), then I caught the flu going around…

Also, 40% of this chapter was written while I was very much drugged up from several fever reducing medications.

HUGE thank you to FreelanceBum for working on my mess of a chapter while suffering from food poisoning himself!

Thank you all again for the MASSIVE support! I couldn't do this without you guys!