Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Demon's of Konoha ❯ Tani and the rescue ( Chapter 22 )

Tani stepped out of the portal and took a deep breathe inhailing the fresh crisp fall air. The leaves were gently falling from the trees as they blew in the wind in front of her. The wind was blowing gently taking some of Tani's hair with it. Walking through the few trees into a clear open field where flowers and grass grew Tani made her way to her ancestral home, she hated, that she had to leave Hinata behind yet knew she had no choice. These matters needed to be taken care of now, and Tani needed to establish Hinata as her successor right away.

 

The paperwork she had to do was disconcerting and showed potential signs of anarchy. That was something that wasn't tolerated. If she had waited until she could bring Hinata she would have had to wait at least another year and a half for the gate to the Demon Realm to open. The only way you were able to travel via the teleportation jutsu was if you were a full-blooded Demon. That was part of the reason the official paperwork was important, because when Hinata became a full-fledge demon and she wasn't listed as a successor she would be hunted and killed on sight.

 

As she neared closer to the house Tani noticed something that escaped her in the beginning. No matter how much closer she got to the house, there were no children outside playing. This was a not common for the Raccoon Race. The kids were encouraged to play and be children since they were forced to grow up to be adults' way to soon. This was a direct rule from their leader Shukaku himself as he and Tani were forced to grow up to protect the clan. They vowed that the new generation of children will be children. This had been in effect for over three hundred years when Shukaku first came into power.

 

Hurrying up to the house as fast as she could Tani ran the rest of the way to the ancestral home, hoping to find out what was going on. The house was a good five stories tall, allowing the demons to live without having to show their human forms. Quickly knocking on the door Tani only waited a moment before the door opened revealing the family butler, Jeeves.

 

“Lady Tanuki, thank god you're alive.” Jeeves said with a look of relief on his face. The face that he was even showing emotion spoke volumes about the man. Tani had tried for a millennium to get him to show signs of feelings. They tried pranks, kindness, anger, before they finally reached acceptance. No matter what they did Jeeves would not smile or break his composure.

 

“What the hell is going on Jeeves, where is everyone.” Tani asked at the unnatural silence that filled the house. The house had been filled with laughter for many years and that was the way the siblings wanted it. Something was going on and Tani didn't want to know what it was, but she didn't like it whatever was that caused of the silence.

 

“Lady Tanuki, there has been an order bringing things back to how it was when you and Master Shukaku were raised in the house.” Jeeves answered watching the emotions relay across Tani's face. “The children are now miniature adults and everyone is scared to oppose the decision. The last few people have tried were killed as an example. Everyone is forced to obey the whims of the counsel. Lady Tanuki, they think you are dead.” At hearing that they thought she was dead Tani whipped her head around and looked at Jeeves once more with shock in her eyes.

 

“I've been filling out paperwork and sending it with a summons. What the hell is going on? Who would attempt to declare me dead? Where is every one?” Tani asked her eyes in a mad glint. She knew for a fact that her summons delivered the paperwork as there was no way that he couldn't. There was things that were impossible even for a demon, and this was one of them.

 

“The high counsel is convening in ten minutes in an attempt to request a battle royal for leadership of the Raccoon Race. Someone must have stopped the paperwork from being entered. They are declaring you and Master Shukaku unfit and with the paperwork not properly filled out they have a case. Lady Tanuki you should stop them. Save our race Mistress please.” Jeeves said in a deep bow.

 

“Who would break everything we tried so hard to build Jeeves?” Tani asked watching Jeeves as she straightened from his bow. “Why would someone want to go back to the old ways? It makes no sense the only one who hated the new way was Uncle Ryuunosuke, but he shouldn't have any power at all. Who is doing this?”

 

“It is Ryuunosuke as you think. He claimed temporary leadership as head of the counsel. Because of his bloodline and power he has went by unchallenged. Please hurry mistress he's petitioning the High Counsel as we speak to get declared Leader or initiate another Battle Royal knowing he would win. Please hurry Lady Tanuki” Jeeves said in a deep bow holding the door open for his mistress. It wasn't so much that he was trying to get rid of his mistress, but he didn't want to see the race back to the way it was when he was younger.

 

Catching the emotions in his eyes Tani went through seven hand signs before disappearing completely out of sight making Jeeves wonder if she had even left by door. “Help us madam, you and Master Shukaku have done more for this clan than anyone else. I would gladly follow you anywhere.” Jeeves said as he closed the door hoping that his Mistress would make it in time.

 

Tani arrived in front of the summit building, not stopping to admire the new additions to the white two story building. Inside was the neutral ground where all of Demon Realm met, including summons. When it was just a matter among the clans or requesting a Battle Royal the Boss Summons were not required to be there. Tani could only frown as she ran up the stairs as fast as her kimono would allow her wondering why the High Counsel was seated on the top floor.

 

Once at the top Tani seen a group of people looking at the door fearfully as to what was happening inside. “Move it I have a meeting to get to” Tani said in a loud stern voice, making many to look at her. Eye's widening in recognition people began to part a path to the door, clearing the way for their mistress.

 

“Lady Tanuki's back we are saved” was muttered among the clan as they began to bow in signs of respect. Swiftly as word passed Tani walked in front recognizing some of her clansmen with her head held high, giving some small nods to those she knew. In front of the door was a single clansman holding a spear guarding it against the people wanting inside? Tani took perverse pleasure in seeing his eyes widen in fear. As she stepped closer though she seen him take a deep breathe then prepared himself for the confrontation. “You are blocking my way please move.” Tani said in a voice that demanded results.

 

“No one is allowed to disturb the counsel once it is in progress. Not even you Tanuki” the clansman said tightening his grip on the spear as if to ward Tani off. He knew he should have stayed in bed this morning when he saw her walking towards him.

 

“Under whose orders do you think to achieve this?” Tani asked under an undeniable sweet voice. She really wanted answers on to who would dare disrupt her from a meeting when she knew Shukaku wasn't in attendance.

 

“Our Lord Ryuunosuke's orders are quite clear. Anyone found disrupting this meeting will be punished by death.” The guard stated bringing his spear closer to his body as he awaited Tani's attack. He waited to see her hold the dreaded staff that he had heard so much about only to see her move her arms up and cross them just above her obi.

 

“Ryuunosuke has no power in the clan. You dare to go against your mistress and second-in-command to Lord Shukaku himself and yet will listen to an old, jealous demon. Ryuunosuke has no right to even command a flea, and yet you support him instead of the rightful leaders. Go in peace” Tani said as she moved her arm swiftly before clasping back together in front of her obi.

 

The guardsmen didn't have time to prepare himself as Tani had quickly decapitated him with the blade she held in her obi. Normally she would have used a staff, but that would have taken time she didn't have. Kicking his body out of the way Tani pushed open the door to enter into summit and stepped inside knowing that she would temporarily be in shadows as everything was that surrounded the High Counsel.

 

“How dare you interrupt a meeting of the High Counsel? On what authority do you have to interrupt this important meeting?” A gruff voice called out from the table that Tanuki knew was there. This wasn't the first time that she was there and this certainly wouldn't be the last.

 

“On the authority of being the Second-in-command of the Raccoon Clan, it's rude to have a counsel meeting without alerting either Lord Shukaku or myself. On what grounds Ryuunosuke do you believe you have the authority to abuse the clans' power?” Tani said walking away from the shadows and into the light of the room.

 

“Lady Tanuki, we were under the impression that you were dead.” Ryuunosuke answered from the far end of the table. His white mustache and beard covering much of his face hiding his clenched jaw. His hands hidden in the sleeves of the long deep blue formal kimono that he wore to the meeting, but Tani knew that his hands were tightened into fists. His white eyebrows knotted in rage as he glared at Tani. “That matters not since you have neglected your duties to the clan, and with Master Shukaku sealed we need a competent leader. For that alone we are requesting a Battle Royal.”

 

`Just a question Ryuunosuke, since this is the first time that I have been hearing these accusations, I would like to know as to what grounds you are basing this on. That is of course if it would please the counsel.” Tani said with a small bow to the people at the table, after all she was around her peers and some of a higher standing than her showing respect was always something she did.

 

“I think that we all would like to know what proof you have brought to the counsel Mister Ryuunosuke. I really hope that you aren't bringing us into a useless family matter.” A red-headed woman wearing a combination of red, yellow and black sitting near the head of the table replied in a sarcastic voice. “I would like to know what you thought was so important that you had to jump the chain of command and call this meeting. There are reasons that this is considered a High Counsel meeting. Jumping command like you did without proper reasoning will not go unpunished.”

 

“If it pleases the counsel I would like present my case now.” Ryuunosuke said watching others nod in agreement at the table. “As the counsel is aware Lord Shukaku had been sealed inside of a child almost seventeen years ago, and as such it is not unknown for paperwork and decisions to come back later than normal. Instead of picking up the slack and stepping up Lady Tanuki had disappeared around the same time and hasn't been seen from until today. We, of the Raccoon Clan, believed her to be dead. With no communications to the clan or anything she had disappeared. We had sent a few search parties to find our missing leader but it came to no avail. It is only after every available option had been done that we called for this meeting.”

 

“Alright Lady Tanuki you have heard the charges what do you have to say about this.” Another person with deep blue hair matching blue eyes said from the other side of the table with a smirk on her mouth. She along with a few others was fond of the Leader and knew information that Ryuunosuke did not.

 

“I would like to report that I have been doing the paperwork as needed to help my brother out in his time of need. If Ryuunosuke said he never seen any paperwork that is because I am not required to file paperwork with him. If you will check the records department here in the summit building you will find that they are dropped off every Friday by Gyousei my loyal retainer. There is no chance of Gyousei disobeying my orders, for he is the son of Jeeves, our butler.” Tani explained watching Ryuunosuke's eyes narrow as she told how her paperwork was done and without his knowledge. “Also it is not required for me to be present to drop of my paperwork; it just has to be done just a counsel approved party.”

 

“Then Gyousei must not have delivered the paperwork as you say. If you had sent it to the counsel of the clan we would have been sure to make sure it was done properly for you, and that everything was filled out correctly.” Ryuunosuke replied wondering how he was going to get out of this one. All of his reports said she didn't fill out her paperwork making his claim undisputed. “I should hope that if something like this happens though, you might consider a successor someone who might know the ropes.” Ryuunosuke said with a glint in his eye. He was sure he could get the successor position at least. He is the third most powerful demon in the clan after all so it is only natural that it shall go to him.

 

“I really hope that that wasn't a slight on Jeeves's family Ryuunosuke. If anything the High Counsel present knows about them which are none of the clans' counsels business. Now as for the other thing you have addressed I am glad that the counsel is assembled today because I have chosen a successor in my steed should something happen. Here and now I would like the counsel to know that Hinata no Sabaku shall be my successor should something happen. I have been training her for the position in the years I have been gone.” Tani said watching in interest as the people were talking amongst themselves before Ryuunosuke jumped to his feet in outrage.

 

“This is preposterous. You are giving the position to a mere human. I will not stand by for this, what power she possibly possesses that makes you think she will be able to handle the clan.” Ryuunosuke leaned forward on the desk his fists clenched tightly in front of him. There was no disguising his disgust and anger at hearing this.

 

“Ryuunosuke remember your place you are questioning not only one of your Clan Leaders but also a member of the High Counsel. You are already in trouble for a fraudulent display of power, then attacking another member of your own clan. You have no right to declare anything. For that alone you shall be put to death. Now please Tanuki, explain to the soon-to-be deceased why she shall be a good successor.” The lady at the head of the table sitting in an elaborate throne said her eyes hidden by the bangs of her blonde hair.

 

“As you wish Kami-sama, it is an honor to be in your presence” Tani said in a deep bow showing her deepest respect for the woman at the head of the table. Kami-sama herself only showed up to the meetings when she felt like it and had final say when she did. “Hinata no Sabaku has answered and passed the one of the hardest of Water Master Tests: Salt water. The only thing more powerful at the moment is abyss water, which she hasn't had a chance to test against. She passed with flying colors and didn't draw power from outside sources. She has captured seven of Orochi's heads and is searching for the eighth. She is doing better than most demons have done in their life” Tani said glaring at Ryuunosuke. “My request still stands with her as my successor. I have fled the necessary paperwork with the counsel and only await my brothers' signature. She will be a good successor and has already signed the Summoning Scroll.”

 

“Very well than Tanuki, of the Raccoon Clan you are dismissed. This counsel is adjourned and Ryuunosuke you must come with me” Kami said from the head of the table. “I deliberately came down for this meeting, since I don't normally show up. For wasting my time your death will be painful.”

 

Everyone walked out of the room leaving a petrified and shaking Ryuunosuke who found himself unable to move from his chair. Tani exited the room and was soon surrounded by most of her clansmen but was unable to answer any questions at that time. In that moment Tani had disappeared from the Demon Realm.

 

-0o0o0o0o0o0-

 

Itachi and Kisame were sitting in the Midway Teahouse drinking some tea as they enjoyed a day off. The day before Leader-sama, or as he was sometimes called Pein-sama, had them apprehend some weapons from an arms dealer that was selling to the newest hidden village. The Hidden Village of Sound was the newest village and they had come to find out that Orochimaru was the Otokage. Since his defection from the Akatsuki Pein-Sama hasn't come out and had Orochimaru killed just yet, but he wasn't making things easier for the newest Kage. In fact Itachi had occasionally wondered if Leader-sama enjoyed going out of his way making Orochimaru angry, Itachi knew that he sure did.

 

The tea house was located almost on the border of Fire Country. Outside of the tea house is the road that leads directly into Konoha and the Leaf Hidden Village. If you look to the North though you will see that the road breaks into off into three directions. If you continue to go north you will head towards Water Country and the Mist Hidden Village. If you go towards the West you will go into Wind Country and Suna Hidden Village. The East is Earth Country and Iwa Hidden Village. Midway Teahouse is truly midway to different countries and surprisingly Kisame's favorite place to eat at.

 

The welcome they received was a lot warmer than anywhere else they have been. It was obvious that they knew they were considered missing ninja's and had a high bounty on their head. This was an area that was declared neutral territory although it was never spoken. No one wanted to cause trouble here and everyone was treated the same no matter who you were. If you could pay and were respectful then you had a place to eat at. There were only a few times in history that the Midway Teahouse had any problems and those people that caused the problems were never seen or heard from again. Some people say that the teahouse had mafia connections, but Itachi was beginning to suspect differently.

 

It could be the blush on the woman's face that ran the teahouse at the sight of them. Or even the way she ran into Kisame's arms the minute he arrived that Itachi suspected that his partner took care of the troublemakers. The woman though had dark chocolate hair and matching eyes and at first looked to be in her early forties.

 

On a closer look Itachi noticed she had lines drawn onto her face making her appear much older, along with some latex on her face appearing to give her wrinkles. Her makeup was expertly done so that to a normal person you would never know she wasn't what she appeared to be, and even with a trained eye it was near impossible to tell. One thing Itachi was good at was noticing the near impossible, with his students he had to be. Taking note of his observations and how she acted around Kisame, Itachi would almost guess that she was around his twenty-two years of age. Kisame his partner was twenty-three and had once mentioned that he only dated younger girls. Itachi was beginning to suspect that he found Kisame's younger girl.

 

Taking a sip of his tea Itachi felt his communicator buzz to life. “A-ANBU-san, w-why d-does t-the H-Hokage n-need t-to s-see m-m-me?” Itachi heard Hinata's soft voice in the communicator. Realizing she was stuttering Itachi took note that she wasn't around anyone she knew. Ignoring Kisame's flirting in front of him Itachi began to wonder about his student.

 

“W-where a-are w-we m-meeting H-Hokage-sama, D-duck-san i-it l-looks l-like w-we a-are g-going t-to the m-mountain instead” Itachi's brows tightened at he mentally thought about the layout of Konoha. `Sarutobi would never meet anyone over by the Hokage Mountain. I don't even remember a Duck in the ANBU. The only thing over there is an old abandoned building, but who is this Duck person.' Itachi though setting his cup down on the table as he listened for more information that Hinata might give.

 

“H-Haruka H-Hyuuga?” Itachi heard Hinata ask before she went on “there was an H-Haruka-san t-that l-liked a-at t-the H-Hyuuga c-compound w-when I d-did. I w-was w-wondering if y-you w-were h-him, o-or s-someone e-else.” `Good job' thought Itachi as he slowly drank the rest of his tea. `She giving out clues and information on whom she is talking to. By the sounds of it she suspects she is being led into a trap, and I have to say I agree. But to what purpose I wonder.'

 

“W-what is t-this b-building f-for? I-I've n-never s-seen a b-building b-by t-the m-monument b-before.” `Wow I was correct the building was where they were leading her to, but still for what purpose. Wanting to talk back to Hinata, Itachi didn't though incase the person she was talking to knew she was relaying information. `I wonder who else is listening to this though.' Itachi thought as he reached into his kunai pouch checking its contents, making sure he had everything he would need should he be forced to rescue her.

 

“H-hello” Itachi heard Hinata call out. `Great she's where ever they took her to, and this is the time I didn't think to establish separate communicators' Itachi thought `but Hinata's stronger than this. There is no way she won't be able to get out of this. She might be trying to find out more information.'

 

“W-what a-are y-you t-talking a-about, I d-don't k-know a-anything?” Itachi heard through the communicator only to be met by several minutes of silence. Itachi would love to know what was being said on the other side and what they were questioning her about. “M-my o-ointment, w-where d-did y-you g-get t-this. W-who a-are y-you? W-what d-do y-you w-want w-with m-me?” `Her ointment' Itachi thought as his eyes widened significantly not realizing his partner and the woman were looking at him. `Which ointment did they get? If any of her ointments fell into the wrong hands then that would definitely be bad.'

 

“Who ever receives this, Danzo is filling the chamber I am in full of gas. He wants the ingredients for one of my ointments. The walls are sealed and chakra isn't working to break the walls. The gas has a chakra suppress or in it, part of it seems to have a paralysis in it. Sad thing is the only one he could have gotten the ointment was from Sakura Haruno. I must look into the connection between the two.” Itachi heard through the communicator before a almost silent pop was heard. At that sound Itachi knew that Hinata had destroyed the communicator.

 

Itachi's grip on the cup he was holding shattered in his hand as he slammed him palms on the table pushing himself up.

“Itachi what's wrong” Kisame asked noticing the look of pure malice on Itachi's face. Looking up wit his jaw clenched Kisame also noticed that Itachi's sharingan was in full activation mode. “Itachi your sharingan is activated what is going on.”

 

“Hinata's in trouble. Someone got one of her ointments and is knocking her out trying to get the information they need. She just came through the communicator and actively destroyed it meaning she was about to pass out. I will catch up to you later Kisame” Itachi said before disappearing in a murder of crows heading towards Konoha.

 

“Sweetie I have to go” Kisame said talking to the owner of the shop. “I shall hopefully return later once this is taken care of.” Kissing the woman on the top of the head Kisame ran out the door chasing Itachi's chakra signature, not stopping to take any breaks along the way.

 

Itachi felt Kisame's presence when he landed on the branch that Itachi had just moments before materialized on. Kisame was panting heavily his hands on his knees before he stood up and gave a toothy smirk. “What's the plan?” Kisame watched Itachi raise an eyebrow in his direction before answering the unspoken question. “The girl doesn't see me as a monster and helped Haku. For that alone I am in her debt, and Kisame Hoshigaki doesn't let a debt go unpaid.”

 

“Alright I've tried getting a reply from some other people about rescuing her and didn't hear anything so it looks like it's up to us. The building is two miles up and used to be abandoned but apparently it isn't anymore. She said the person who had her taken hostage was Danzo, and he was the commander of an ANBU squad known as ROOT. They were supposedly disbanded years ago but that appears to not be the case. We go in rescue her and get out without being noticed. I don't want Konoha alerted that we were here although I will let Sarutobi know that I am not happy” Itachi said his face hidden in shadows.

 

“Alright, let's rescue us a healer, although it would be easier if we could make a huge ruckus.” Kisame said as he grabbed the handle of his sword. “We're not alone, someone will appear in 3….2……1” Kisame muttered before swinging his sword in front of him only to see an ANBU agent dunk under the swipe of his sword.

 

“Kisame stop” the agent said taking off his mask revealing his black hair and pale grey skin. He was wearing the normal ANBU uniform with his sword strapped to his back. “What are you guys doing here? If you had been caught by someone else you would be in a fight right now.”

 

“We are rescuing Hinata” Kisame said with a smirk at seeing his unofficial brother. “Now what the hell are you doing here Zabuza where's Haku?”

 

“No time to answer that now, what's wrong with Hinata?” Zabuza asked eyeing Itachi. He had never met the older Uchiha personally but if the kids were vouching for him and he was traveling with Kisame then he was alright in his book. Didn't help they had a common interest in Hinata.

 

“She's been kidnapped by Danzo and we are going to rescue her” Itachi said. “It's a basic snatch and grab mission. So let's go.” Itachi said as he jumped off his branch landing onto another heading towards Hinata's last location. Swiftly the trio began jumping through the trees silently each a master in the ninja arts being careful no not make a sound or betray their presence.

 

They stopped in front of the building still safely hidden in the shadows of the trees watching the two guards standing at attention in front of the door. “How are we going to get through now, Itachi?” Kisame asked as he watched the two guards as they appeared to be talking to each other.

 

“We are going through the front door. Be prepared to take out the two guards.” Itachi said moving through a few hand signs before taking a big breathe of air into his chest. “Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu” Itachi called out blowing the air he was holding through his fingers creating the biggest fireball anyone present has ever seen. Swiftly jumping after the ball of fire Itachi followed its path to the door. The guards that were in front of the door each jumped to the side only to have their throat slashed before they could move. Dropping the bodies at their feet the duo followed Itachi as he walked through what was left of the charred door.

 

“This must be the chamber Hinata said she was gassed in” Itachi said before looking around and noticing no one was there. “Her chakra signature is still strong. But where is she?” Itachi asked mostly to himself before he felt a strong chakra spike that felt briefly like Hinata's. “This way hurry” Itachi said as he followed the spike further into the room.

 

-o0o0o0o0o0o-

 

Hinata felt Tani's return more than hearing her trying to communicate with her. She could feel the chakra coursing through her body replenishing her energy, destroying the chakra depleting agent in her body. Moving her head in an attempt to open her eyes Hinata forced her eyes opened and noticed she was sitting in a chair with both her arms and legs strapped down and felt something heavy on her head. Without completely opening her eyes she looked out the sides of them first to the left then to the right. It was to her right that she seen something she hoped she wouldn't have. Wires that she could only assume was coming from the thing on her head were attached to what Hinata surmised as a wall transformer. `High voltage, low current they intend to electrocute me. Like hell they will Tani I need power now, I'm not fully recovered.'

 

`I don't have a lot at the moment but I can do this' Tani replied as he deactivated Hinata's chakra restrictors. `You only have a few minutes before it won't work anymore so hurry up.'

 

Chakra coursed though Hinata's body as she felt her body kick the rest of the poison's out of her system. Focusing the chakra to her arms and legs Hinata lifted up and broke the shackles holding her down. “Hey she's breaking out let's get her.” One of the guards said to the other as they rushed to the girl. “Danzo should be here in a few minutes so we just have to strap her down again so he doesn't have out heads.”

 

“Fools you dare attack a fellow shinobi of the leaf. My name is Hinata no Sabaku, remember it well for I shall be the one to kill you.” Hinata said her voice, commanding. Bringing two fingers in front of her face Hinata focused her chakra to her eyes. Instantly everything looked in monochrome except for the water she could see coursing through their bodies. “Come to me, as I call you. By the power of a Water Master I command that you come to me.” Hinata said as her chakra spiked as the water that was flowing through the guards bodies moments before began bursting holes in an attempt to reach the Water Masters hand. Smiling softly after the water filled her hand Hinata added some chakra to the ball and threw it as hard as she could at the door shattering it in the process only to find Itachi, Zabuza and Kisame on the other side.

 

`Hinata I have to seal your chakra again. Rest now, the Calvary is here we will talk once you have rested. I'm sorry I wasn't there to help when you needed me.' Tani said as she swiftly resealed Hinata's chakra. Slowly color returned to Hinata's eyes as she caught sight of her teacher, with a small smile on her face she began to pass out knowing that Itachi would catch her.

 

“What did she do Itachi? I've never seen any jutsu's that does something like that.” Kisame said with awe in his voice as he looked at the bodies on the floor each drained of water and most of their blood. “I wonder if she could teach me that.”

 

“I don't know Kisame” Itachi said as he lifted Hinata up higher in his arms insuring he had a good grip on the girl. “We got what we came for; let's go before someone else notices the chakra surge.” Together the three began to walk into the main part of the building to run into two people they didn't expect.

 

-0o0o0o0o0o0o-

 

 

Sasuke was wiping the sweat off his brow accepting a glass of water from Haku when he felt it. That was a chakra burst he would recognize anywhere, especially since the fight at the bridge. “That's Hinata's chakra” Sasuke said reaching his hand under his tall collar to find his communicator was missing. “Damn I can't believe I forgot my communicator. That's it, Haku find Naruto I'm going to help Hinata.” Sasuke said as he jumped onto the nearest roof and began

 

“I'm coming with” Haku said as she matched Sasuke's pace. “Hinata saved my life, so if she's in trouble I will be there to help. So don't think you're getting rid of me that easily.”

 

`She's got guts I will give you that.' Sasuke thought with a smirk on his face. “Then see if you can keep up” Sasuke said as he pushed more chakra to his feet running faster than he was before. `That should have lost her' Sasuke thought before he looked to the left and seen Haku matching him step for step with a look of determination on her face. Stopping in front of a building with two dead bodies near the door Sasuke noticed the intense burn marks that surrounded the area. “Someone was here before us, be careful and watch your step” Sasuke said activating his sharingan as he stepped into the building. Reading some senbon in her hands Haku followed behind looking around cautiously for signs of an attack.

 

“What are you doing here Sasuke” Itachi called out of the darkness walking towards the two carrying a sleeping Hinata in his arms.

 

“”I felt her chakra from over at the compound and came to investigate. I didn't realize I wasn't wearing my communicator when I left so I have no idea what's going on. What happened? Why is Hinata passed out?” Sasuke asked his voice full of concern.

 

“She was knocked out with a paralysis gas and a chakra suppressor. Come we are headed to the compound so she can rest, and I don't think all of us will fit in your apartment.” Itachi answered as they headed back the way they came before. “I shall meet you there” Itachi said disappearing in a shushin taking Hinata with him.

 

“We can't be found here” Sasuke said as they were at the entrance. “People will soon be here to investigate the chakra surge. Everyone meet up at the Uchiha compound. If you need to henge into me, Haku can show you the way I need to find Naruto. But first” Sasuke created a clone and watched it as it ran out the door “the clone will distract the girls away from the complex but I suggest you hurry as I don't know how long it will take them to catch him.” Without doing a hand sign Sasuke disappeared, only to be heard by the cackling of thunder as it left.

 

“I know the way and will be right there in a few. I will try to do damage control” Zabuza said as he donned his mask looking like a normal ANBU agent. Feeling his radio come to like Zabuza continued “go I got this” before talking in the walky-talky.

 

“Don't worry Uncle Kisame I got you covered” Haku said before putting lacing her arm with her uncle. Casting a thick genjutsu Kisame appeared to look like Sasuke Uchiha in every sense of the word. “Let's go I want to get there to see if Hinata shows up, but run fast Sasuke has a horde of fan girls. If we get separated I can't hold the genjutsu as well.”

 

“Then lets get going although Haku I'm glad to see you came to help your friend” Kisame said tugging on the end of his nieces braid. Seeing Haku was always a pleasant surprise in his book and since they were almost to the complex without anyone's suspicions Kisame felt the need to tease his niece.

 

“Why wouldn't I help her? After all it's the Momochi-Hoshigaki way and we don't turn our backs on friends.” Haku said with a small smile that Kisame matched.

 

“Very true kiddo, now let's go help your friend” Kisame said as they disappeared into the compound thankful they weren't stopped or followed like they had feared. Instead everyone was mostly going the other way trying to follow the Sasuke clone instead of watching the rooftops seeing Haku and another Sasuke pass by.