Disclaimer: I'm not cool enough to own Naruto. For now, I only own Nao.

Warning: Violence.

Beta: Kalafina94

Beta: silverseed

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Interlude - Omniscient - 11

Hinata, having finally recovered from her fainting, decided to do her best to ignore the boxers inside her pocket. Instead, she went straight to the Hyūga Compound. She knew that Neji wouldn't mind her borrowing his hair-care products, so long as she returned them before he used them. And she really wasn't quite sure how to approach the whole porn-thing, so she was actually procrastinating.

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Tenten, meanwhile, was on her way to where she knew Kakashi lived —as Gai had been quite clear as to where his Eternal Rival resided when they ran past his house many a time on their morning training route. She didn't want to even attempt Asuma's cigarettes— she inwardly shuddered at the thought. Her feet landed lightly on Kakashi's roof and she started to crawl down it, peering into the first window. She didn't sense anyone inside, which was fine with her. Pulling out her burglary kit, once more, she broke into a fellow Konoha shinobi's home.

This place is way too neat, Tenten thought, peering around the bedroom. It doesn't even look like anyone lives here.

She moved quietly through the room, her fingers brushing along some items. She checked under his pillow and bed, even went through his drawers, but had yet to actually find anything. Only when she opened his closet did she find a multitude of porn —collector's edition it seemed. Tenten grinned and grabbed several books, uncertain how much she needed, before she headed out of the apartment.

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Ino marched straight into the academy. She stormed down the hallways, throwing open the classroom door. Iruka gave a startled shout, looking up from his papers, only to find his class student in a less-than-stellar position.

She stomped over to his desk, grabbed a stack of papers he was currently grading, and then left.

" try and stop me," Ino snarled quietly under her breath.

Iruka stared in shock, watching her leave. "What happened?"

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"I can't ask Kakashi-sensei for his porn because he's on a training mission with Sasuke," Nao sighed as she entered Kakashi's apartment. Pakkun sniffed and tilted his head, following after her. Nao tucked away the key Kakashi had given her back in her pocket. "But I can tell you to tell Kakashi that I'm borrowing his porn for the competition. Thankfully I ran into you."

Pakkun gave her a grin. "I'll say. I was on my way to Tsunade-sama for the bi-monthly report when I saw you trying to calm Inoichi down. No wonder Inoichi was so worked up."

Nao beamed. "Mn! Where does he keep his porn, anyway?"

"Well, he has henged porn in his closet," Pakkun said, guiding Nao into the living room. "It'll henge back into regular books after it's removed from his closet for more than ten minutes. He's got some henged porn in his bathroom, too. The real stuff he usually keeps with him, or."

Pakkun slammed his paw down on a single floorboard. The floorboard disappeared in a puff of smoke and Nao peered down into the hole, looking at the lined up porn. "A chakra-recognition seal, combined with a pressure seal? Nice."

Pakkun gave her another grin. "Take what you need, Nao-chan."

"Mn. Thank you, Pakkun-kun."

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Temari spotted Nao as the girl was on her way to Kame's current place of residence. "Oi, Nao-chan."

Nao stopped where she was, turning back around and tilting her head curiously as Temari jumped down from the roof. "Can you tell me what Chōji's favorite chips are?"

"BBQ," Nao said immediately.

"And where do you guys keep your family photo-albums again?" Temari asked.

Nao frowned. "Um. Sis has a photo-album in her room. oh, did you get the embarrassing picture of Shikamaru one?"

"Did you write that?" Temari asked. Nao beamed.

"Mm-hmm. Sis has a whole bunch of them, actually, I thought it would be an easy thing to do. She keeps them in the blue binder under her bed."

Temari grinned at the girl. "Thanks, Nao-chan."

"Uh-huh."

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I stood outside Tsunade's office. It was a couple hours after the trial and execution. Several more minutes passed by before the door opened and Ino, Shikamaru, and Chōji stepped out. I ran to Ino, hugging her immediately. "Welcome to the team, Sis!"

Ino squeezed me tightly, picking me up and swinging me around. "Oh, this is going to be awesome. I finished designing the uniforms, too, and they got approved by Tsunade-sama! Come on, I already made some and you are so trying yours on when we get home."

My nose crinkled in distaste at the thought of Ino using me as her doll. again. but I was too overjoyed at the fact that we would be going on a mission together tomorrow to care.

"Now we have new uniforms? Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered.

"So then are we eating dinner at Ino's?" Chōji asked, glancing at Shikamaru.

"Guess so," Shikamaru sighed. "Break it up, ladies. I'm hungry and we can't eat until you two stop hugging each other."

Ino glared at Shikamaru and squeezed me in defiance. Shikamaru rolled his eyes and moved past both of us, heading out the door. Ino sighed, setting me down, but taking my hand and dragging me along. "Come on, little sis. If we can get there fast enough, I bet we can you get all decked out in your new uniform before dinner!"

"Oh. yay."

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Ino looked at our reflections in the mirror, grinning from ear to ear. "I knew that the team was technically an ANBU Division, so I played off the ANBU look."

The uniform was close to the standard ANBU uniform. The gray vests were white, though, and there was a tattered, ruined cloak-scarf, a dark shade of blue-gray. The scarf wrapped around the lower half of my face, and the ends widened and tied together to form a makeshift cape. Only the ends looked ruined, giving it a more dramatic feel to it.

"I know it's not all that original, and I had a completely awesome uniform completely individual for everyone, but Tsunade-sama wanted something co-ed and close to the ANBU," Ino said, rolling her eyes. "Although, I have to admit I still like it."

I smiled up at her, though she couldn't see my smile due to the scarf. "I like it, too, Sis. Thank you."

Ino bent down and kissed me on the cheek. "Now, let's go eat."

"'Kay."

There was a knock on Ino's door and it opened. Yagura peered in, looking indifferent. "Inoichi-san wants me to inform you that dinner is ready and we are waiting on you two."

Ino rolled her eyes. "Whatever. What do you think, Yagura? Isn't she cute?"

Yagura shot her a mild glare, before his eyes settled on the uniform. "Is that our new uniform?"

"Yep!"

"Acceptable. Do you know if Tsunade-sama wants us to start wearing masks?"

Ino's eyes lit up at the thought. "I don't know. We should totally ask her, though. That would be awesome!"

Yagura, who normally wore a mask anyway, didn't seem to agree with Ino's enthusiasm. "Are you two going to eat dinner, or not?"

Ino glared at him. "Don't be a wet blanket. We're coming."

"Um, can I eat in this uniform or do you want me to change out?" I asked hesitantly.

"Good question. Let's change into our pajamas, then we'll eat dinner," Ino declared.

Yagura gave a groan of annoyance. "We're starting without you."

"You are not," Ino retorted. "Hmm. I should make some clones and send the uniforms out to everyone else."

"I'll help," I offered and Yagura glared at both of us before he stormed away, fully intent on eating dinner without us.

"Good! After dinner, I'll need to make uniforms for Shikamaru, Chōji, Jūgo, and myself," Ino said thoughtfully. "Do you know Jūgo's sizes?"

I shook my head. "Um. I can give you an estimation?"

Ino shrugged. "Good enough. I can make adjustments after the mission."

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The following morning, Ino gave a tired, but satisfied, yawn. Yagura surveyed each of us, adjusting his scarf in the process. "Are we ready?"

"As we'll ever be, I suspect," Shikamaru observed.

"Then let's move out," Kakashi said.

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"What exactly is our mission?" Ino asked. I glanced back at her, Yagura to my left and Kakashi on my right. Yagura didn't make any movements to show he heard her for a couple moments. Then he spoke.

"As you are now aware, I was privy to vital information regarding the Akatsuki. It's because of this information that spurred Tsunade-hime to create this team," Yagura said brusquely. "Some of that information was the strengths, weaknesses, and abilities of the Akatsuki members. You each left Tsunade-hime's office with folders containing these."

"Right," Shikamaru said slowly.

"We have received word that two Akatsuki members were spotted from the Fire Temple," Yagura said. "Kakuzu and Hidan. Our mission is to capture and detain, if possible, or to eliminate both targets. If we eliminate both targets, we are to bring their bodies back to the Leaf."

Ino's eyes widened. "Those two? Isn't one of them immortal?"

"And he's able to transfer his injuries to another after obtaining blood," Kakashi confirmed. "Shikaku has already devised a plan for us to use. Should we debrief them now, Yagura?"

Yagura gave a short nod. "Go ahead."

Kakashi glanced back at the trio. "Listen carefully."

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I kept close to Yagura, both of us crouching low on the roof. The Akatsuki member, Hidan, sat on the steps below us, his back turned. Shikamaru was beside us, and he slowly brought his hands together in the first sign.

I knew Kakashi and Jūgo were on the right side of the building, peering behind the corner, and Ino and Chōji on the left side of the building.

Yagura adjusted his earpiece, and then his mask. Quietly, he whispered into the microphone embedded in his mask, "Begin."

Kakashi flickered towards Hidan, pulling out a kunai and making a horizontal slash. Hidan, however, was as quick and turned around, pulling out his scythe in the same instance. His eyes narrowed in mild annoyance and he eyed Kakashi like an annoyed camper might eye an ant.

"You're not Kakuzu," Hidan said.

"Observant, aren't you?" Kakashi asked dryly, struggling to keep his kunai in place as Hidan placed more pressure on his scythe.

Hidan opened his mouth to say something, but froze.

"Shadow possession complete," Shikamaru said. He stood up from the roof, stretched out his hand and mimicked Hidan throwing his scythe away. Hidan tossed his scythe to the side, glaring defiantly at Shikamaru.

Kakashi gave a short nod. "Let's go."

Shikamaru jumped down from the roof, and spared a glance towards Hidan, before he turned on his heel and started to sprint in the direction of Konoha. Ino, Chōji and Kakashi darted after him.

Yagura leapt down from the roof, grabbing Hidan's scythe. "Jūgo, here."

Jūgo caught the scythe as Yagura threw it, and he swung it experimentally.

Yagura twirled his staff, slamming it into the ground and staring at the doorway.

I stared down at them, my stomach churning anxiously. then, the hairs on the back of my neck pricked and I lurched off the roof. My body curled into a defensive position and I reflexively squinted my eyes at the explosion of dust, once again grateful for my goggles. I barely had time to register that the other Akatsuki member had slammed their fist on the spot where I once was previously.

I continued to somersault backwards before I finally landed on the ground, a little further behind Yagura.

"Are you alright, Nao?" Yagura asked, not turning around, his gaze entirely focused on Kakuzu.

"Mn. I'm fine," I assured him.

Kakuzu hopped down from the roof, eyeing each of us. "Konohagakure ANBU? But none of you are wearing animal masks."

"We're a special division," Yagura said smoothly.

Kakuzu continued to eye us, sizing us up. "Where's Hidan?"

"Away," Yagura replied.

Kakuzu gave a soft hum. "I'm not interested in any of you. I don't recognize any of you, so you obviously don't have a —oh?"

Kakuzu's eyes narrowed as his eyes rested on me. "You're?"

My eye widened and I took a step back, a thrill of fear running through me at his dark gaze.

"You're coming with me," Kakuzu said.

Yagura moved to position himself between us. Jūgo's eyes narrowed. "She's not going anywhere."

Kakuzu cocked his head and straightened his shoulders. "We'll see about that."

My hands clenched into fists and a fit of defiance swelled inside me. I moved to stand at Yagura's side, my brows furrowed in a scowl and a determined glint in my eyes. "Ready, Sensei?"

"Mn. You know what to do," Yagura said. "Go!"

Jūgo leapt up into the air, throwing numerous paperbomb tags at Kakuzu. Kakuzu merely watched as the explosive tags tied to kunai landed on and around him. The explosion rocked the ground, sending up a pile of smoke and debris up into the sky as tall as the Hokage tower.

I quickly created a shadow clone of myself, leaving the clone where I once was and darting around Kakuzu. I hid behind him, in the building, preparing for the next phase. When the smoke cleared, Kakuzu's skin —which had been a dark brown— slowly returned to its normal color. Part of his Akatsuki cloak was torn, and he awarded Jūgo with a mild glare.

"Hmph. Such attacks are useless," Kakuzu muttered.

"Kirigakure no jutsu," Yagura said, his hands forming the Tiger seal. Mist surrounded the area in seconds and I charged from behind Kakuzu. In the same instance that Kakuzu heard me, his skin darkened again —even I could see it darkening from the thin mist, even though the mist was slowly growing thicker. At the last minute, my hand leapt out to his chest, electricity running along it.

I smirked. "Tōketsu-Raiton Katana."

Kakuzu froze, his entire body stiff as the cold chakra electricity slowly began to freeze his wound. Frost licked at him and his hands clenched into fists. I pulled out my katana, canceling the jutsu, and immediately, the mist dispersed. I made a movement to begin to stab his other hearts, but Kakuzu quickly substituted himself with a nearby rock.

Yagura flickered to my side. "Hmph. One heart done, at least."

"One heart?" Kakuzu echoed, straightening up. "So then you are aware of my investment in prolonged living. Interesting. I don't recall having a living enemy aware of my status."

Jūgo swung Hidan's scythe, still silent as Yagura cocked his head. "Then I guess you haven't been paying much attention to your enemies."

"Or perhaps you weren't always an enemy," Kakuzu observed. He unzipped his Akatsuki cloak and discarded it. He bent over, his eyes narrowing as his back started to bulge. I tasted bile in my mouth as I watched the stitches on his back start to break and bend. Within seconds, monsters wearing masks poured out of his back, each taking a different shape and form.

as predicted, I thought, disgust still swelling inside my gut.

"Jūgo," I said softly, "are you sure you can handle this?"

However Jūgo was already starting to change skin color. He started to giggle again, moving to stand in front of Yagura and myself. "Oooooooh. Kill the masks! Kill the masks! AhahahaHAHA!"

Fire flared up from Jūgo's back and he launched himself at the first monster. The monster with wings flew up into the air, and Jūgo flew up after it. Kakuzu brought his hands together into a handseal. The remaining two masks started to move forward, standing on either side of Kakuzu.

"Raiton: Gian! Katon: Zukokku!"

The two masks opened up their mouths. Lightning poured out of one mask, bright and powerful, and fire stormed out of the other.

Yagura pushed out his right hand, water forming at the end of it, swirling and taking the shape of a large mirror. The mirror appeared to have frozen over and the moment it was completed, Yagura used the end of his staff to pull the mirror down and position it to show the reflection of Kakuzu's attacks. A reflection of the two ninjutsu shot out of it.

The four powerful attacks slammed into one another, causing the surrounding area to explode. Even though I had braced myself for impact and I was behind Yagura, the attack was still strong enough to bring me to my knees.

My eyes stung from the brightness of it, and I had to blink to clear away spots in my eyes when the light died down.

Another explosion sounded in the not-too-far-distance and I snuck a peek to see Jūgo slamming into the wind-monster, laughing all the while.

It's a good thing we were able to convince Tsunade-sama to allow Jūgo to accompany us, I thought, and a good thing Jūgo has no qualms with fighting monsters.

"Nao," Yagura barked, "pay attention."

"Sorry, Sensei," I apologized immediately, focusing my attention back on Kakuzu.

Yagura darted forward, swinging his staff and bringing it down on Kakuzu. Kakuzu easily caught the staff, but he was pushed back a couple meters. Kakuzu threw Yagura's staff away with one hand and with his other hand he made to punch Yagura. Yagura dove underneath the punch, weaving in between Kakuzu's blows, and digging his elbow into Kakuzu's stomach.

I made a move to assist him, but a fireball prevented me. I glared at the creature, anger churning in my stomach as it positioned itself between me and Yagura. I sprinted towards it, and it continued to launch fireball after fireball. I had to twist and jump to avoid each one, and as I neared it, the second beast launched a ray of lightning at me.

My hand flew out to the lightning, and I stopped in my tracks. The lightning slammed into me, goosebumps running along my skin as I felt the overwhelming power of it. I struggled to absorb the lightning, as Kakashi had taught Sasuke and I years ago.

My arms shook as I lowered them. All my senses seemed heightened by the rush of power, but at the same time, seemed overtaxed from it. Another explosion sounded, this one far away —Ino and the others, then— and my eyes narrowed.

I can't grab either one of them with my mind if they're going to continuously attack me, I thought, leaping back as another fireball came towards me. My chakra has already been halved from the shadow clone. But.

I brought my hands into the Tiger seal. "Kirigakure no jutsu."

Mist erupted from me, my water-nature chakra dispensing into the air as a cool gas. From Yagura's knowledge, the masks don't 'see', they sense chakra. By dispensing my chakra around the area with the mist, they'll be essentially blind. However, by keeping the mist thin enough that I can see through it.

My eyes rested on the nearest mask, one that I could barely make out the outline of. My chakra fluctuated and I willed it outside of my body, wrapping around the creature instead. The creature stiffened, and froze in place before it began to struggle violently.

A dull pain began to throb inside my head, but I ignored it, sprinting towards the creature instead. My right hand glowed white and a low hum sounded from it. "Tōketsu-Raiton!" I jabbed my hand into the mask, feeling it slide through the heart.

The entire creature seized before it convulsed and fell to the ground.

Pulling my hand back, I clutched my head, wincing. Fatigue pushed down on me, but I refused to give in. I needed to get to Yagura, and I couldn't do that with these things in my way.

I glared at the next monster, my head still throbbing as I used my chakra to hold it in place.

Hang in there, Yagura. Please.

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Interlude - Nao's POV - 11

I sat the bluebells before the stone, sitting down and tucking my legs underneath me. The sun was starting to rise, barely peeking over the Hokage mountain, washing the sky in pale light.

Today, I did not sit at the Memorial Stone.

"Hello," I said. "Kakashi-sensei isn't here to talk to you, so I thought I would. Kakahi-sensei's on a training leave, you see."

As expected, the grave did not reply.

"It's kind of odd being in this graveyard," I continued, "knowing that your name is on the Memorial Stone, too. However, your family wanted you to be buried with them —metaphorically because Kakashi-sensei told me we never recovered your body— so now you have two graves."

I tilted my head. "I don't normally talk out loud during these things, but Kakashi-sensei did when he was talking to you, Obito-ue."

Obito's grave continued to remain silent, however, for the briefest of moments, I could have sworn someone was watching me.

I held up his goggles. "Kakashi-sensei gave these to me; I hope you don't mind. He misses you a lot. I like these goggles —I have trouble seeing underwater, so the goggles are quite helpful regarding that.

"I suppose this must seem odd to you. This is, after all, our first time meeting each other —unless you count the countless times at the Memorial Stone. I am, essentially, a stranger, but." I trailed off.

I bowed my head. "I hope you don't mind me rambling, Obito-ue. I'll be cleaning your grave after this, so pardon my intrusion."

Pausing, I thoughtfully added, "Kakashi-sensei told me talking to you was rather helpful to him whenever he has a problem. If you don't mind, I would like to give it a try. You see, Obito-ue, I'm not quite sure what's. what's wrong with me. Ever since I was little, my memory has been. odd. As have my. abilities, if you will.

"I can't quite explain it, but sometimes. sometimes I know when something is going to happen before it happens," I said. "Odd, I know. Irrational, I know, but true. There are gaps in my memories, too. Little things —but still there. And. And I've been hearing voices. Well, one voice in particular, but sometimes there are others. I am. I am uncertain how to proceed."

I let out a slow breath, my chest somehow feeling lighter than it did when I first came here. There was something nice to be said about verbally admitting it.

"Thank you for listening, Obito-ue," I said. "Now I suppose I should get to cleaning, huh?"

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Big thanks to Cantrona for the lovely new cover~ You can check out the full picture on her deviantART account (link is on profile) or my favorites gallery. :))))

Question: What's your guilty pairing? (The one pairing you shouldn't support because it's either wrong/questionable/everyone else hates 'em/etc)

Reviews are love!

Thanks again, Cantrona. C: