Mika's POV

I groaned as I collapsed onto the ground. Turns out, Shikamaru sensei wasn't as lazy as I was led to believe.

"Come on Mika. Get up" Shikamaru Sensei told me. I groaned. It hurt to move. I felt some push me onto my back and grab my hands. Soon enough I was being pulled up. Itachi was standing in front of me.

"Ow" I said as I rubbed my back.

"No thank you?" Itachi asked. I glared at him. Itachi and I are on a friendly basis but we are still rivals, kind of.

"You ready Mika?" Minato asked. I nodded.

"Ready for what?" Itachi asked. While Minato explained what we were doing to Itachi, I walked over to Shikamaru sensei who was staring off into space.

"Hey Shikamaru sensei, can I ask you something?" I questioned.

"I guess" he replied.

"What did my mum look like? I know you won't tell me anything, but can I at least know what she looked like?" I asked. Over the past couple of days, I had been searching for any hint of my mother with Sachi and Itachi. Kai was even helping.

"I don't think I should do this, but take this" Shikamaru sensei said. I looked over at him to see he was holding out a picture. It was worn, so it must be old. I took the photograph and looked at it. The picture was of a younger Shikamaru sensei and a girl with purple hair.

"That was taken the day I became a jonin. Your mother was already one. She actually made jonin when I was still genin. It was such a drag" Shikamaru sensei explained.

"What's that?" Minato asked as he walked over with Itachi. I smiled.

"My mum with sensei" I explained. I looked up at sensei and saw he was staring at the clouds.

"She is so pretty" Minato commented. I nodded in agreement.

"Thank you Shikamaru sensei" I said. I help the picture for him to take. He took it and tucked it back into his jonin vest.

"Don't tell your dad I showed you that. I wouldn't be surprised if he killed me" Shikamaru said. I chuckled.

"Got it" I replied.

"You kids ready?" Lord Hokage asked as he walked up with dad.

"You bet!" Minato yelled with a grin. Dad laughed.

"See you guys later" Itachi said before he walked off. Shikamaru sensei had already left. Halia barked and Akamaru responded. I shook my head at them.

"Do I want to know?" Minato asked. I shook my head again causing Minato to laugh.

"Let's get going!" dad grinned. I sighed. He embarrassed me sometimes.

??? POV

"What do we do? Word has been sent to Lord Kazekage and Lord Hokage. Do we try to break her out?" Tarou asked.

"NO! We can't risk her dying. We will wait for Lady Haruno and Lord Kankuro." I said. Tarou nodded.

"At least get some sleep. You have been awake since we got here" Miata pleaded. I looked at her face. Darci looked so peaceful, but I knew she wasn't. I couldn't even imagine the things she went through.

"Fine. But wake me up if anyone comes" I replied. Miata nodded. I grabbed my sleeping bag and set it next to the glass case. Tarou sighed but didn't stop me.

"Get some rest" he told me as he sat next to me. I nodded.

Mika POV

I laughed as Lord Hokage bet dad. Again. Dad glared at me.

"My dad can beat your dad!" Minato rubbed in.

"Yeah, but your dad is the Hokage. It would be bad if he couldn't beat my dad" I told. Minato frowned.

"Whatever. Now it's our turn to spar!" Minato said, his grin returning. Opening my mouth to answer, I was cut off by a hawk circling above us. Lord Hokage frowned.

"I've got to go. Hokage business" He said.

"But dad.....!" Minato complained.

"No complaints Minato. We can do this again tomorrow. I'll see you at home for dinner" Lord Hokage said. He kissed his sons head before he left.

Third's POV

"Naruto! I saw the hawk. What is it?" Sakura asked as she walked in Neji, Shino, Shikamaru, Ino and Sasuke.

"I received a message from the Maki clan." Naruto said. His voice was light. He was trying not to cry.

"What is it?" Sasuke asked. Naruto took a deep breathe.

"From now on, you must not breath a word of this to anyone. This is strictly confidential. Kakashi sensei and Kiba must not know. I didn't want to bring you here Shikamaru but the team needs you" Naruto explained. Everyone frowned.

"What are you talking about?" Shikamaru asked.

"They found something. In the old Sound Village. I do not know what, but I get the feeling I know. I don't have time to explain everything to you now. Kankuro and Matsuri are on their way here Then all of you must go to the sound village. The Tarou can take it from there" Naruto explained.

"That isn't a lot to go on" Sasuke commented.

"What is this about?" Neji asked. Naruto turned and looked out the window. He couldn't face them And he didn't want them to see his tears

"I think.....I think it has to do with Darci" Naruto said. They all gasped.

"She is in the sound village?" Shikamaru asked. He had missed his sister so much.

"I don't know. It might only be a clue The message said they required Sakura and Kankuro. It also said they need you right away" Naruto said.

"Good thing we can get going then" Kankuro said as he opened the door. Everyone turned to him and Matsuri

"Get going" Naruto said as he turned back around. He didn't care if they all saw his tears. If the sound village held a clue to where Darci might be, or if she is there, then he didn't care if people saw he cared for her. Everyone nodded.

"I trust you don't need a leader" Naruto added, trying to being some humor into the atmosphere. Everyone in the room gave a small smile

"Let's go find Darci" Shikamaru said before they all left. Naruto turned back to face the window. He stood up and walked right over to it. The sun had started to set, casting beautiful patterns on the leaf village.

"Come home to us Darci. We need you" Naruto whispered.