IMPORTANT: For my old readers, I have changed the names of several of the OCs because they were causing confusion. A full list is in the A/N at the bottom. For this chapter, the only change is that Uiriamuson Izaberu is now called Musuko Najimi.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Once the information had been recounted, Itachi spoke up.

"She's right that I probably knew Kisame best – between myself and Suigetsu you know a lot about him. As for Madara, I don't like her hints that he isn't actually Madara but it wouldn't surprise me if it was another person who somehow managed to get their hands on a Sharingan."

"Well the only thing we can really do now is wait for replies from Taki and Kusa, and the main forces of whoever allies themselves to us for this war," Mikoto observed.

Chapter 32 – Takigakure

"Where is Takigakure?" Najimi asked as they left Konohagakure. "I thought it was one of the better-hidden villages."

"It is," Shino acknowledged. "As its name suggests, the entrance is hidden behind a waterfall. We only know of its placement because Naruto went on a mission there several years ago." Akamaru barked and Kiba nodded.

"Yeah – he had great fun, without us as usual," he whined. "But this time we're the ones that get the fun while he's stuck behind a desk in that office of his. I'm glad I didn't get Hokage now – it's too much work."

"If you were Hokage, Konoha would be run by dogs," Shino pointed out.

"What's wrong with dogs?" Kiba demanded, not denying it. There was no point – his friend knew him too well.

"While useful on missions, they lack the means of communication to be able to effectively lead a village. Why? Because they can only be understood by shinobi who are closer to beast than man," Shino said, adjusting his glasses as they ran.

"Not everyone likes dogs, either," Najimi added, carefully avoiding that she was one member of that category, although there was obvious reluctance in her behaviour around Akamaru, who was quite content to run next to her.

"Well they should," Kiba declared.

"You are biased," Shino informed him.

"So are you!" Kiba retorted. "You and those bugs of yours…"

"Now you are being hypocritical," the Aburame said. "If everyone should like dogs, then everyone should like bugs. But they do not. Why? Because not everyone likes the same animals. That is a fact of life and one you must live with."

"Both are useful," Tsukihana interjected. "Regardless of personal feelings towards them, that cannot be denied."

"Correct," Shino agreed. "But some people are too hot headed to realise that."

"Hey!" Kiba exclaimed, stung.

"I did not say I was talking about you," Shino pointed out. "But you have just proved that I am correct. Why? Because your exclamation was an admission of guilt."

"Oh, shush," Kiba sulked. Akamaru whined alongside him.

"Do you ever think before you speak?" Nami asked him disapprovingly. He glared at her.

"I do, too!"

"Be quiet," Shino scolded. "We are here."

"Yeah," Kiba said, suddenly serious. "This looks like the place."

The massive waterfall thundered down from the cliffs, and the young ANBU surveyed it curiously.

"We have to go through there?" Nami asked.

"I hope you youngsters can swim!" Kiba declared before diving straight in, followed by Akamaru. Shino sighed.

"He will never learn," he despaired quietly, before leaping in himself, the ANBU hot on his heels.

They swam through a series of underwater tunnels, thereby avoiding the currents created by the waterfall, until the water became calm again. The light once again brightening, they concluded that they had arrived and headed up to the surface.

"Konoha ninja!" Shibuki exclaimed as they emerged from the water. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"

The younger ninja took their time to observe the leader of Takigakure, who had obviously realised their approach if he had been waiting for them. His black eyes were caring and his long brown hair was tied in a low ponytail. On his hip was a small flask. It was obvious that Takigakure had not experienced the conflict of the major hidden villages.

"You are aware of the criminal organisation, Akatsuki, are you not?" Shino asked, blunt and straight to the point. Shibuki's eyes widened.

"Perhaps this is not something that should be discussed out in the open," he said. "Follow me." He led them into a simple hut, where he hung the flask on his hip onto a hook on the wall. "Please, make yourselves comfortable. Would you like some refreshments?"

"No, thank you," Shino said, cutting off Kiba. "I'm afraid this isn't a social visit, as you may have gathered. Once we have delivered our message we need to return to Konoha."

"I see," Shibuki sighed. "Akatsuki, was it?" Kyo nodded. "Yes, I know of them. One of their members was originally from this village – Kakuzu – and we suspect that they're the ones that were behind the disappearance of Fu. She was our Jinchuuriki – the Nanabi. I heard they'd been lying low these past few years. Are they resurfacing again?"

"Sounds like it," Kiba said. "We found Uchiha Itachi last month. Naruto-"

"Hokage-sama," Shino interjected. "We're on a diplomatic mission, Kiba."

"Hokage-sama pardoned him after he gave us loads of information on Akatsuki," Kiba continued. "Add in Sasuke's recent reconnaissance mission and we've found some worrying things."

"They've conquered Kirigakure, Iwagakure and Kumogakure," Najimi informed Shibuki. "And we have reason to believe that Konoha, now the only hidden village with a Bijuu, is their next target."

"So Hokage-sama's sent us here to ask if you'll help us," Kiba finished.

"I remember Naruto," Shibuki said. "He, Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi helped me out a long time ago. I still haven't repaid that debt. We also lost the Bijuu Konoha entrusted us with. After everything we owe them there's no way I can refuse to help. Takigakure may be a small village compared to other shinobi villages, but we're still ninja." He paused. "I'll need to make arrangements; because we're so small I can only spare a handful and I'll need to make preparations…" He trailed off, thinking.

Kiba fidgeted in the silence, Shino unable to quell it with a sideways glare behind his thick lenses. It wasn't that Kiba didn't see it – they'd been teammates and good friends for their entire career – the Inuzuka just couldn't stand silence, staying still, or diplomatic missions. Akamaru was only slightly better, as he resorted to licking his paws as if cleaning them, despite his recent swim.

The ANBU members, of course, had no issue with sitting as if statues. Even under Naruto's slightly more relaxed regime, they still had to be experts in behaving however the situation demanded.

After what felt like an eternity to the ever-impatient Kiba, and merely a long time to the other Konoha ninja, Shibuki stood.

"I can spare one immediately, as a promise of aid," he decided. "It will take me a while longer to sort out the rest of the force I can spare, but we will arrive as quickly as possible."

He reattached the flask to his hip and gestured for them to follow him as he headed to one of the houses nearby, knocking on the door. Moments later, it opened.

"Shibuki-sama?" the girl asked, stepping out.

"This is Akina," he informed his companions, before turning back to her. "We are on the brink of war," he informed her. "I have promised Konoha our aid and would like you to go with these ninja now while I finalise preparations."

"War?" she asked, before checking herself. "Of course, Shibuki-sama. I would be honoured." He smiled at her.

"Thank you," he said sincerely, inclining his head. "I am sure Shino-san and the others will fill you in as you travel."

"Yeah, we will," Kiba proclaimed, Akamaru punctuating his statement with a bark.

"Diplomatic mission," Shino reminded him quietly. "Please try to behave."

"It's fine, Shino-san," Shibuki laughed. "After Naruto all those years ago, I've come to expect at least one louder ninja in any Konoha group."

Shino couldn't deny that.

"I'm ready," Akina said, having disappeared back into her house to grab some supplies, by the look of the leather bag now slung over her shoulder.

"Then we should leave," Kyo said, offering a bow in Shibuki's direction. "Thank you, Shibuki-sama."

"Are you sure you can't stay for some refreshments before you leave?" he offered, but Shino politely declined, overriding Kiba, who had opened his mouth to say something along the lines of 'food!'. Akamaru whined slightly but they turned to leave, Akina leading them out of the village and Shibuki waved.

"I'll bring help shortly!" he promised as they dived back into the passageway.

They resurfaced outside of the waterfall and clambered onto the bank, shaking themselves off in a bid to dry their clothes and hair slightly. This was all nullified as Akamaru shook his own fur, immediately drenching everyone that stood too close to him, primarily Kiba.

Akina chuckled slightly and, after a few handsigns, they were all dry again.

"A trick we've all learnt," she explained modestly. It made sense in the Konoha ninja's minds. There was no reason to walk around drenched – it would only betray the entrance to the hidden village, which such a small shinobi community could not afford.

As they began to head back to Konoha, they surveyed their new companion critically. Her hair was cropped short on the left side of her head, and was only slightly longer on the right. It was jet black, with several red and blue streaks included. Her eyes were blue, with tiny specks of black if inspected closely enough. Her dress was a pale blue, with a scarlet under-layer peeking out on one side, and sleeveless. Under it, she wore a full body mesh armour, with her headband attached to the front of her chest. If they had to guess her age, they would assume that she was around sixteen.

"I am Adonis Akina," she introduced herself as they ran, clearly aware of their observations. "A Chuunin of Takigakure."

"Inuzuka Kiba, and this is Akamaru!" was proclaimed loudly, to Shino's long-suffering sigh.

"Aburame Shino," he said quietly. The ANBU neglected to introduce themselves, but that was overlooked by their new companion, who obviously understood their desire for anonymity.

"And this war?" she asked instead. Kiba jumped in before Shino had a chance to stop him, not that it really mattered. Kiba would be Kiba, after all. He was awful at diplomacy and was likely sent to Takigakure because Naruto knew the leader well enough to know that he wouldn't mind the slip-ups his loud former classmate would make.

Nonetheless, he did clarify a few things, to Kiba's annoyance. But if the dog handler couldn't explain things concisely, then that was his own fault.

It did not take them long to reach the gates of Konoha, only a few hours, and they were greeted at the gate by Yuki, Tsukiyomi and Sayuri.

"Our escort, right?" Kiba asked, yawning obnoxiously. "Do we really need one?"

"Hokage-sama's orders," Yuki murmured, turning in the direction of the Uchiha district. "He is awaiting you at Sasuke-sama's residence."

"Are we the first?" Shino asked. Tsukiyomi shook his head. "Suna and Ame have already pledged their support," he said. "Their representatives are staying in the Uchiha district, as our newest guest will be." He eyed Akina, who ignored him.

"I knew Shibuki would come through," Naruto beamed as he caught sight of them. Akina bowed low to him.

"It is an honour to meet you, Hokage-sama," she said. "Shibuki-sama tells us all of your brave deeds in saving Takigakure from Suien."

Naruto chuckled. "Yeah, I remember that. My teammates helped, though." He gestured at the nearby sofa. "Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha, formerly Haruno, Sakura. Oh, and Hatake Kakashi-sensei."

"I should have known you'd become a legend there, too," Kakashi sighed. "It's impossible to forget you."

"Unfortunately," Sasuke muttered, smirking.

"Hey!" Naruto exclaimed. "Come on, let's get you settled in," he said to Akina, leading her out of the house and his old classmates, who were now discussing his various exploits loudly, and not always in the best light.

Okay, I wasn't going to update this so soon because I still have a few more chapters to write until they're all written, which was my aim, but now that Naruto's ending tomorrow, I've decided to post this now. Hopefully it won't be too much longer before I can resume regular updates on this fic again, although deadlines are attacking me at the moment so bear with me a little longer.

I've also put up a rough MSPaint design for Itachi jr on deviantART (tsarinatorment). There's a link to it on my profile. I'll replace it with a proper hand-drawn one once they're finished.

New names:
Fukai Taiki (originally Burakku Kurisotufuaa)
Hochō Wana (originally Peisu Rebatsuka)
Hochō Yuri (originally Peisu Suzanna)
Hōzuki Hotaru (originally Hōzuki Hanabi)
Kohaku (originally Anbaa)
Musuko Najimi (originally Uiriamuson Izaberu)
Shirasei Genzō (originally: Shirasei Deidara)
Shiro Tomoko (originally Howaido Jenifaa)
Tsukiko Hisuke (originally Tsukiko Kisame)
Tsukiko Yorusuke (originally Tsukiko Hanabusa)

Thanks for reading!

Tsari