At Shikadai's height he saw many thing others just couldn't see.

For example a golden rock that lead to a secret opening to his uncle's office. The Kazekage office.

The moonlight poured in through the window. Dawn was almost upon him, that much he knew. Which meant the building would be mostly empty aside from a few ANBU or the early risers. Like the counsel members!

He made his way towards the door before he remembered. He wasn't suppose to be by himself. There was a reason his parent's sent him to Suna. There was a reason someone attacked his mom on her mission. There was a reason his uncles didn't want to leave his side. And more horrifying, there was a reason he woke up in the tunnels without knowing how he got there. He hesitated. Maybe announcing his presence to a mostly empty building wasn't a good idea.

He ran to his uncle's desk and began to search through the drawers. All he wanted to do was find blank paper and something to write with.

He found much worse.

There was a manila folder with the words "Yondaime No Mago" written in menacing red letters.

'Yondaime? Mago? Doesn't that mean me?' Confusion wept through him. On one hand he wanted to find out what was in the folder, on the other hand he knew the longer he was alone, the more he'd be exposed.

He scooped up the papers and hid underneath the desk. Not the best place to be but it would have to do. He opened up the folder.

His hiding spot was dark, making it hard to see it's hidden contents.

Terroist group, rouge... Yondaime Kages... Edo Tensi... Bolt, Himawari... targeted... next target: Shikadai Nara.

The folder slipped through his frightened fingers.

Someone was trying to kill him. For what, he didn't quite know yet. But it scared him.

Shikadai needed to find someone he could trust. And fast.

He placed the papers sloppily back in their place.

'Think, think Dai. What are you going to do.' He was only six! He wasn't qualified to protect himself from mercenaries.

He looked back at the painting of his great-grandfather? It's where he came from, a place clealry no one new. If he could just hide.

Shikadai began to tug at the painting. The passage was closed. He tugged again but the painting wouldn't budge. His teal eyes widdened in horror. His only safe exit... Gone

He looked at the door that lead to the rest of the building. His lip trembled in fear. He had to find help.

With only Kamatari's sickle as protection Shikadai walked towards the door, turned the knob and walked out of the office.

His first priortiy was to find someone trust worthy. Someone who can keep him safe until a message could be sent to the Kazekage. However the only people in the building would be the ANBU somewhere in the mid-floors. If they ANBU were loyal to his Uncle Gaara, they'd be loyal to him.

As he made his way out of the office his eyes found their way to the Yondaime's portrait that faced down. His tiny arms reached for the portrait and propped it back up.

He stared into Rasa's eyes, the ones that looked so much like Kankuro's. The sand in the background glimmered once again. He felt his body sway.

Shikadai blinked furiously, "No... gotta find ABNU." But had anyone else seen him, they would have the golden specks that stood out against the teal.

He walked quietly as he tipped toed down the hall. His body moved automatically. The Kazekage's Tower was well known to him, yet the world around him seemed to warp itself until he longer recognized the building.

He let the moonlight guide him, not knowing the moon was watching him back.

Hisoki smiled as the small prince left the Kazekage office. The Yondaime's portrait serving as a reminder of his little trick on the boy a few days prior.

The boy was scared yet he clutched the weasel's sickle in his hands as he wondered down the hall. Hisoki could feel Shikadai's chakra fluctuate as his genjutsu began to take the boy once more.

Gently he guided Shikadai to the Council's floor. Shikadai stood in a trace in front of the door leading into the conference room. Hisoki approached the child and led him to the a secret side entrance.

"It's almost time, little Prince. Soon you'll have to play your part."

Shikadai's glossy eyes gave no response.

Hisoki forced the child into a deep sleep before picking him up. 'Now where's that rat?'

Gaara couldn't believe how sick he felt roaming around his father's room. This was the place where Kamatari's trail ended, and neither he or Shikadai were anywhere to be seen.

"Dai..."

He was gone. Shikadai was stolen right under his nose and he didn't even notice. Gaara wanted to throw up.

He placed his hand on a dusty night stand to balance himself. How could he not notice? If Shikadai was in danger he should have noticed. He would have had to, the necklace... the necklace.

Where was the necklace? Gaara ran back to Shikadai's room and searched the room top to bottom but couldn't find the necklace anywhere. As far as he knew Shikadai never took that necklace off. If the boy was danger, he would have sensed it. After all, the necklace was infused with his chakra.

Was Shikadai not in danger? Where could he even be? Gaara lost track of how long he was in Shikadai's room when Matsuri returned.

"Lord Gaara... Lord Gaara!"

He snapped out of his confusion and looked over at her.

"It's Baki and Kankuro, they say they found him."

Gaara's heart nearly dropped, "Where are they?"

"In front of the Tower, sir."

Gaara grabbed Matsuri and with a flick of his wrist the two were riding a sand wave.

-x-

Kankuro slipped in and out of the shadows as he searched for his nephew. Something had been off about the boy, especially with his new found obsession with Rasa.

Kankuro frowned, he didn't care much for his father. That man ruined everything he touched, the last thing Kankuro wanted was for Rasa to find a way to ruin Shikadai too. Part of him was glad the man was dead.

He and Baki had checked the playground, the library and other places Shikadai liked. But the boy was no where to be found. Which admittedly made sense, there was no way Shikadai would have ran away or snuck off. He was too much of a good kid.

Still there was one place they hadn't checked yet, Kankuro surveyed the Suna nightly skyline. The Kazekage Tower, he hadn't checked there yet. But maybe...

Kankuro's body began to run on it's own, running way faster than Baki. Part of him was scared of what would happen if Dai wasn't there. The thought made him run faster, because if Dai wasn't at the tower, then chances were he'd be long gone from Suna.

He bit down on his tongue to resist shouting. If the people if Suna knew their prince was missing, who knew what kind of chaos would ensue?

As he got closer to the tower he could see a tall figure at the base.

'Is that?'

Hisoki's blonde hair stood out against the rising sun. It was messy, unkempt. He wore a light robe over his casual clothing? Pjs? But more importantly was the object in his arms.

'SHIKADAI!'

Hisoki must have heard Kankuro's footsteps as he turned toward the puppet master. Shikadai was sleeping soundly in the man's arms, around Hisoki's neck was Kamatari's unconscious body.

Kankuro ran up the young Council Member and immediately scooped up Shikadai in arms.

"Lord Kankuro?"

" . .him?" Kankuro hissed.

Hisoki yawned and scratched his chin, "He was asleep with the rat in main office... is everything alright?"

Kankuro clutched the boy tighter. He didn't sense any malice from Hisoki. Still he couldn't help but to be on high alert.

It wasn't long before Baki managed to catch up, "Kankuro, what did you run- Shikadai!"

Hisoki looked confused as the older man checked the prince for injures. "If I may? What is going on?"

Baki took a deep breath, "Hisoki, our dear friend, there is something we must discuss. But not here."

-x-

Tōjūrō glared at Hisoki. "The child was meant to be ready, Hisoki. What happened?"

Hisoki grinned, "The rat woke the prince during the genjutsu. By the time I reach him, the Kazekage had figured out his nephew was missing."

One of the council members scoffed, "You seem quite confidant Hisoki. Care to explain why?" She demanded.

"Why? Had anyone one of you been found with boy, you all would have been taken into custody. But me? They trust me with the boy, and with that rat out of commission, he's ours for the taking." He turned to the members who doubted him, "The Yondaime's body better be ready by tomorrow night." He said as he headed out.

"Where are you going?! Hisoki?! Hisoki!?"

He didn't respond to the angry cries of the council, but he did stop in front of Tōjūrō and bowed. "My alliance, my lord, is yours and yours alone."

Tōjūrō kept his eye trained on the blond. "Good."

A/N: When you create a plot-hole and have to fix it.