Temari's POV

I really don't want to give a report to the Hokage right now. She kinda scares me, and even Gaara is unnerved by her. But we've been putting it off for a day and a half now, and we've decided we're already late.

"Does it feel... strange to you guys?"

"Huh?" I ask Kankuro, looking at him over my shoulder. He narrows his eyes, staring off into the distance as we climb the stairs to the Hokage's office.

"I don't know," he says, tugging at the white strap over his shoulder. "But the atmosphere... I dunno. There's something going on here, something messed up."

"Don't be so overdramatic just cause of your face paint," I scold him, my smile taking out the sting. "You weren't cut out for theater."

"Yeah, yeah," he says.

I push open the door to Lady Tsunade's office, and am struck by the dark feeling surrounding the space. I nearly stumble, but correct myself and motion my brothers inside. Gaara, too, now has his eyes narrowed. He's probably sensed the shift in temperment from the rest of the Village. I'm afraid Kankuro might be right. Something's wrong.

"Ah, the Sand Siblings," Lady Tsunade greets us. The three of us stand before her desk, Gaara in between me and Kankuro. Her eyes flit over each of us, appraising us, it seems. "I was just going to send for you."

"If it's about the report," I say, "then I'm sorry we're late, but--"

"This has nothing to do with your previous mission's report."

"Oh." I don't like, nor do I understand the seriousness of her tone. It isn't anger; it's helplessness. She looks tired, as though she's spend the majority of her chakra. That's right; I heard she was performing surgery on that Rock Lee boy that Akari's friends with. I wonder how it went...

"I'm afraid I have another mission for the three of you," she goes on, much to my surprise. "One that it already being carried out."

"Lady Tsunade," I say, addressing her as politely as I can. I don't want to set her off and get my head bitten off. "What exactly is this mission? And don't you have other Ninja in your Village you can send?"

"There's currently a team of Genin, led by a Chunin, attending to this mission. But I'm worried it won't be enough, as with last time. There are no Jonin or Chunin I can send to help them. That's why I'm asking you, even though it isn't my place."

"What is this mission?" Gaara asks, repeating my other question. He's tensed for some reason, and I find it worries me more than any of the other indicators.

The Hokage sighs. "Right to the point," she mutters, then straightens and looks each of us in the eye. "As I've said, currently we have a team out right now. They're tracking Sasuke Uchiha, who has chosen to leave the Village."

Somehow, this doesn't surprise me. I can tell it's the same for Gaara and Kankuro as well.

"So we'll be assisting them?" I guess. "In subduing and returning with Sasuke?"

"That isn't all."

"What else is there?" Kankuro asks impatiently, arms folded across his black-clad chest.

The Hokage takes a deep breath. "You'll also be assisting them in securing a kidnapped Kunoichi, who we believe is with Sasuke. I believe you know her well. Akari Yuki."

At once, all the air is driven from my body, as though I've been punched in the gut. I feel faint, and Kankuro reaches around Gaara to take hold of my arm. He steadies me.

As horrible as I feel, I don't even want to imagine the pain swirling around inside of Gaara. I know now just how much Akari means to him. She's the reason he's changed. She let him open up. She keeps the monster at bay.

To lose her.... would be to lose himself again.

And he'd rather die than have that happen.

"Orochimaru."

Waving Kankuro off and standing by myself, I glance at Gaara. He is seemingly calm, but I can tell how angry and hurt he is by how his fingers grip his arms, which he has across his chest like Kankuro. And his eyes. I'm not quite sure I've ever seen so much pain in there. At least, not this kind of pain.

"What do you mean? What about Orochimaru?" Kankuro asks, placing a hand on our brother's shoulder.

His eyes narrowed at the ground, Gaara says, "While we were in the Land of Waves, we were attacked by a man by the name of Kabuto Yakushi, a subordinate of Orochimaru. He claimed he was there to take Akari back to his Lord."

"Why didn't you say anything before?!" Kankuro growls, grabbing Gaara by both shoulders, glaring at him with an intensity I haven't seen from him in a while.

"I made a promise not to," Gaara replies calmly, softly. Kankuro doesn't need to tell him that he made the wrong choice; I can tell how badly he's hurting because of his decision. No amount of punishment could equal this torment for him.

"Regardless of this," Lady Tsunade says, standing from her chair. "You still need to aid the others in this mission. Are you going to accept it?"

"Yes," the three of us chorus instantly.

"Good. I'll send a message to Suna to inform them of your whereabouts. Now get going. I have a feeling they're going to need you soon."

***

Akari's POV

Damn, how long have we been moving? I've lost track of time. Really, I lost track of time since I woke up, considering I don't know when that was. But I do know that the sun's warmth is starting to leave. Meaning it's either dusk, or the time just before, twilight.

I think it's been a while since our last encounter with Shikamaru's group. I don't want to think about what that means.

"It's nearing dusk," I hear Sakon say. It startles me, since neither of them have spoken in such a long time. "It seems they've got their hands full."

"That doesn't matter," Tayuya says. "What matters is Lord Orochimaru. We've only acomplished one-third of the plan in half a day."

"Yeah, this is not looking good. Even if all goes well, we're not even sure if we can make it."

***

It's hours before anything happens. And I do mean hours. I've started counting off the minutes. It's just about the only thing I can do besides chat with these two idiots. And I actually did try that. But Sakon freaks me out, and Tayuya's a complete bitch. They won't tell me anything about my or Sasuke's predicament. Except to say that Sasuke came with them of his own free will, despite the fact that he's in a "coffin" just like me.

I don't like the sound of that. Coffin. Ugh, like I need any more reminders of death.

Thump.

"Eh? What was that?" I ask.

They both ignore me. Tch. Typical.

I hear the two of them land on a branch, stopping. I can only wonder what that means. Are we there already?

"Is it time?" Sakon asks.

"No, it should take a bit longer. But--"

Oh crap.

"Looks like we finally caught up!"

That is umistakably Naruto's voice. But there's only two pairs of footsteps with him. Someone else is gone.

"Damn, what were those two idiots doing?" Tayuya growls.

"It doesn't matter," Sakon says. He sets down my container, precariously balanced on the slender branch. Oh, do you not care what happens to me, bastard?

Or... is it that you think you'll win with plenty of time to pluck me from my fall?

"I'll kill them all in seconds!"

The sound of fighting erupts, of kunai whistling through the air, feet pounding on bark, shouts in the air. But I can't see anything, and there are too many sounds to let me distinguish just what is going on. Though I can hear Sakon's movements relatively well, and I let myself focus on him. He seems surprised by something, hesitating in a jump. But then he's confident again. I hear what sounds like him talking to Naruto and then--

"Piercing Fang!!"

Kiba.

That's his new move he's been working on. I've been wanting to see it, you know, since I became my old self. But of course, the first time he does it around me, I'm trapped in a freaking coffin!

"They placed us both in a straight path," I hear Tayuya say. She's obviously pissed that Sakon can't handle them by himself. "So they were aiming for this!"

"You think you can get us with some shit like this?" Sakon cackles.

I can hear Kiba's Piercing Fang now, the air swirling and whirling around him as he spins. It sounds like it's just him though, no Akamaru.

I can also tell that Tayuya isn't moving. The only reason for that would be--

"Akari! You awake?"

"Kiba!" I cry, pressed against the container, wishing for a hole so that I could see his face. Someone grabs onto the top of my container and throws it. I'm tempted to scream, but refrain from doing so, as someone else catches me after a second. They set me down, and I hear something else land in their arms. Sasuke, I guess.

"Alright you guys! Let's go!" Kiba shouts, still sounding far away.

"Did you guys get Tayuya and Sakon?" I ask, not entirely sure who I'm talking to.

"Believe it!" Ah, that would be Naruto, then. "Shikamaru used his Shadow Possession Jutsu so they'd attack each other! It was so cool!"

I breathe a sigh of relief, slumping in my tiny prison. I hadn't realize how tense I'd become.

"Like I'd let you get away with that!!"

"Shit!" I hiss. "Dammit Sakon!"

***

Third Person's POV

Enraged, Sakon, the strange, possibly two-headed member of the Sound Four, flies at the fleeing Leaf Shinobi. He's faster than the three of them thought, and they have to move at top speed to keep any distance between them.

Up ahead, Kiba spots his faithful Ninken, Akarmaru. "Akamaru!" he calls, trying to stay focused on the guy behind him, who's beginning to close in. "Once you're done setting those traps, move!"

Akamaru barks in response, finished placing the last of the paper bombs.

Sakon immediately locks onto him, and changes direction. "Stop howling, bitch!" he shrieks.

The terrified little Ninken whimpers and jumps, trying to get away from his trap. But his paws catch on something, and he slams down into the foliage, unable to move.

Sakon grows ever closer, and the paper bomb's already been triggered. And Akamaru knows he won't be able to move in time. He whimpers softly, his eyes tearing up. He doesn't want to go out like this!

Kiba reaches Akamaru before Sakon and deftly picks him up, only to have the paper bomb go off, catching both him and Sakon in its blast. They're blown away by the explosion, right over the edge of the cliff, and are sent tumbling down into the ravine below.

"KIBA!" Naruto shouts desperately. "AKAMARU!!"

But there is no time for Shikamaru and Naruto to help their fallen comrade. Tayuya is still coming at them, ready to kill.

"Dammit," Shikamaru mutters, turning to Naruto. "You've got to take these coffins and go," he orders. "I'll try to hold her off here."

"But I can't take both of them!" Naruto protests.

"Make a clone!" Shikamaru snaps.

"Oh. Hehe, that's right," Naruto laughs nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "Ok, I'll--"

Naruto cuts himself off as someone lands on the branch behind him and Shikamaru. Someone they don't recognize.

But Tayuya knows him. And she knows he should be back at the hideout, slowly dying, waiting to breathe his last. So how is he here, right now?

"Kimimaro!" she shouts in confusion, thudding onto a solid branch.

The white-haired Kimimaro doesn't respond to her. He kicks both coffins away from the Leaf Ninja and shoots after them, somehow managing to grab hold of both and land safely on another branch.

"Sorry about that, Naruto," Shikamaru says, fighting to ease the mood. "Seems like I miscalculated."

Kimimaro stands and faces the three behind him. "You're too late, Tayuya," he states, in a cold, emotionless voice. "Also... where are the other three? You, who were once one of the 'five'."

"Why... why are you...?! Your body... your body is no longer--"

"I'm not moving with the power of my body anymore," Kimimaro answers calmly. "This is the power of my will."

"Damn," Tayuya mutters, an uneasy smile on her face. "With one foot in the grave."

"I can understand a little bit now," Kimimaro says. "This is the perception of an anthology life form that is no longer bound by the prison that is our body. It is as if I've touched the border of Lord Orochimaru's dream."

Orochimaru, Naruto thinks, flinching. That bastard...

"This is an important 'vessel' for that dream, and a test subject our Lord desires," Kimimaro goes on. "But... you were a little too late, Tayuya."

Tayuya blanches at the thought. She's late? What does that mean for Lord Orochimaru?

"Hey you! Quite babbling stupid things! Give back Sasuke and Akari!

"Naruto," Shikamaru shouts, watching his friend launch himself at the enemy they know nothing about. "Wait--"

Before Naruto can reach Kimimaro, Tayuya slams him with a punch, knocking him away. Shikamaru manages to catch him and they land on a branch some ways away.

Unnoticed, Kimimaro drops down behind Tayuya. He leans close to her, his words just by her ear. "The reason I've yet to kill you is you still have a mission to accomplish by staying alive."

Tayuya swallows, aware of just how easily her former "teammate" could end her life if he chose to.

"Please take care of those two... trashes over there," he says, gesturing at Naruto and Shikamaru. He then leaps back to the two coffins, and plucks them both up, before swiftly moving away from the scene of the fight.

The only thing in Kimimaro's head is the idea that he must bring this vessel and test subject to his Lord, before his life force gives out, and he will be of no more use to the man he admires above all others. As he moves, he becomes aware of a presence behind him, trying to gain on him.

Slightly aggravated that Tayuya was unable to kill both pests, Kimimaro stops in a large field devoid of trees, settling in among the long grass.

Damn that Tayuya, he thinks to himself. I'll kill her once I get back.

Naruto Uzumaki, looking fierce with the traits of the Nine Tails now visible, lands just feet from the mysterious Kimimaro. Red eyes flashing, Naruto growls, low and menacing. But the man is unperturbed. He has seen fiercer things in his time with Lord Orcohimaru.

After a long conversation about Orochimaru's true purposes, Naruto attacks, intent of saving his friends.

(A/N: So sorry! If you've read or seen this part in Naruto before, then you know there's this really boring conversation about what Orochimaru wants with Sasuke. Immortality, new body... Bleh. It annoys the hell outta me, so imma gonna skip it. And the part where Kimimaro first shows off his kekkei genkai, only because Akari has nothing to do with it, since she's still trapped in a stupid coffin along with Sasuke. But basically, Naruto tries to attack him, and Kimimaro starts using his ones bones as weapons. He can grow them at an unbelievable rate and pull them from his body without hurting himself. He uses them to defend against Naruto's multitude of Shadow Clones, until Sasuke decides to break out. Also, in case you're wondering, I don't intend to describe any of the battles between the Sound Four and the Leaf. I'm not the best with fight scenes, and plus, they'd take up like ten chapters all together. So I'm just gonna start with Sasuke breaking free.)

Thick, black-purple smoke curls away from Sasuke Uchiha's container, an omnious warning. Kimimaro pauses in his fighting, noticing the change right away. "It's almost time," he says.

Before either he or the orange-clad boy before him can react, the container explodes, showering the clearing in darkened bits of wood. Among the wreckage, Sasuke appears, his hair long gray and spiky, his skin darker than before. He ignores his teammate as the boy calls out to him. His appearance becomes what it once was, and he straightens, filling the air with a menacing cackle.

It sends shivers down Naruto's spine, his Fox appearance disappearing also. What's happened to his friend?

"Sasuke Uchiha," Kimimaro says calmly. The Uchiha slowly turns to look at him, a wicked smug smile on his face. "Retrieve the girl in the coffin beside you. Lord Orochimaru would be upset if you arrived without her."

"Hn." Sasuke slams his fist into the lid of Akari's coffin, breaking it with ease. He reaches in and grabs the girl by her collar, dragging her out.

"Let go, emo!" she shouts, straining to scramble from his grip.

"Akari!" Naruto shouts. She looks at him, eyes wide. She'd been able to hear what's been going on, so she understands the situation all too well. Sasuke is lost to his mad quest of revenge and Naruto is severely outmatched by the man, Kimimaro, beside her.

He won't survive this fight.

"Naruto!" she cries, no longer flailing about. "I told you guys before, just go! There's no point in you all dying for our sakes'! And emo-trash over here doesn't even want to be saved! So run and.... and tell everyone I'll miss them. Especially the Sand Siblings, make sure to tell them that, ok?" Tears form in her beautiful dark brown eyes, and Naruto feels his heart constrict, watching her.

Sasuke, annoyed with the current situation, slings her over his shoulder and prepares to take off for Orochimaru's hideout.

"Don't fight," Akari pleads, staring at the blonde boy with desperate eyes. "Get the others and go home. I'm not worth all your lives," she insists.

Sasuke rolls his eyes and jumps into the trees, speeding away.

Behind him, Naruto's anger reaches the breaking point. No one makes his friends cry like that!

***

Akari's POV

I've resigned myself to the fact that no one's saving me. It was too much to hope for in the beginning, anyway. A bunch of Genin to the rescue? As soon as I knew who was chasing after me and Sasuke, I just wanted them to turn around and go home. My friends will NOT die for me. I won't have it. And really, Sasuke doesn't deserve that right either. If he really chose to come here by himself, then he gave up the affections of his friends already.

I stare forlornly at the rapidly moving ground below me. I'm the one moving, or Sasuke is I guess. My weight doesn't seem to be any sort of hindrance for him, as he races through the tree tops quite easily.

I remember my early Academy days, when kids started to get over the cootie stage and began "liking" one another. It was obvious who the favorite was among the boys: Sasuke Uchiha, resident prodigy. Soon to become the resident emo.

I never much liked him, in any sense of the word. I didn't think he was cute, didn't giggle and whisper when he passed by. I rolled my eyes at his crowd of fangirls and turned my back on them, instead deciding to play with people like Shikamaru. In fact, I never really found boys attractive until a year or two ago. And even then I was never obsessive. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't figure out what people saw in Sasuke.

He was arrogant, uncaring and not all that good looking in my humble opinion. But girls continued to flock to him. Examples: Sakura and Ino.

Those two lost their friendship over the damn Uchiha heir.

What was so special about Sasuke Uchiha?

Even now, I can't find it. Maybe it's especially now, actually. He's abandoned the Village, and if he's going to Orochimaru it isn't hard to guess why. Like I was saying to Gaara at the hot springs. Sasuke desires power for all the wrong reasons.

Man, why'd I have to go and start thinking about Gaara?

We've been friends for less than a week, and yet I can't get him out of my head. He said I'm the reason he changed. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about that fact. Now I realize what an incredible honor it is, and what a responsibility. What's going to happen to him when he finds out I'm gone?

Oh I can't bare to even imagine the look on his face. I just can't. Without even realizing, he trusted me with something far more valuable than any material thing, or secret or anything. He gave me the responsibility of taking care of his happiness.

And goddamn it, I did the same with him!

I doubt I'd have much happiness where in going anyway, but Gaara... Dammit, I can't leave him like this!

"Oi, bastard!" I growl, starting to struggle again. "Let go of me! I'm not coming with you!"

"It's not your decision."

"Oh so you're the only one who gets to choose, Uchiha?"

"Exactly."

"I hope he kills you," I growl, kicking at him. My admittedly weak kicks do nothing and he just keeps moving.

"You have a better chance of dying by his hand than I do," he says coldly, "test subject."

I go cold at those words. What kind of horrible life do I have ahead of me? What kinds of experiments does this snake of a man have planned? Nothing pleasant, I'm sure.

He says he wants me because I'm the supposed last member of my Clan. So he'll want to test my kekkei genkai then, something I don't fully have a handle on yet.

I swallow thickly. This won't be good.

Sasuke emerges from the trees and keeps moving forward. We pass over a roaring waterfall and I catch sight of what Sasuke just jumped off of. I gasp.

First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

We're at the Valley of the End.

As Sasuke lands on the giant stone statue of Madara Uchiha, someone I doubt he even knows the identity of, someone calls out, "SASUKE! STOP!"

"NARUTO!" I shout, horror framing my face. Why did he come? WHY?!

Once more, Naruo pleads for Sasuke to come home, and let me go. He only scoffs.

It becomes painfully obvious that the only way Naruto is going to be able to bring Sasuke back is by force. But I don't know if Naruto can win against the Uchiha. He's gotten stronger these last few months, that's undeniable. But it's not like Sasuke's been sitting on his ass doing nothing. He'll have been training too. And that Chidori thing Kakashi taught him... It's a devastating move if it can even break through Gaara's sand shield.

But I won't be able to stop this fight.

Sasuke dumps me unceremoniously onto the ground and he and Naruto fly at each other, with the Uchiha demolishing the Uzumaki.

Eventually, they both make there way down to the river flowing from the waterfall, still locked in fierce combat. And I'm just sitting here, feeling useless.

The idea of going back to the Village without Naruto hasn't even crossed my mind. So that means Naruto needs to win this fight. And even if I can't use any jutsu, there's got to be SOMETHING I can do.

I look down to the water below me. The jump isn't that bad. But I can't flow chakra into my feet, meaning I won't be able to walk on the water's surface. I can swim though. Sadly though, that doesn't tell me how to get down the waterfall.

Gah, what am I supposed to do?! I'm so fracking useless right now! Why can't I just--

A searing pain blossoms in my chest, sharper than anything I've ever felt before. It's worse than the grief I felt for Masaki even.

I clutch at my chest with both hands, feeling like my heart is going to explode. What's going on?!

The familiar tide of blackness tinges my vision and I groan in protest. How many times have I passed out since becoming a Ninja? Too many. And here's one more to add to the books.

My body goes rigid as the blackness swamps over me, dragging me down into unconsciousness.

I feel myself falling not just to the ground, but over the edge of the carving of Madara Uchiha. The last thing I hear is Naruto shouting out to Sasuke, sounding like he too has lost a brother.