Kyoko in Naruto Shippuden

Sasuke, "Yup, it is as I had suspected."

Ino looked at the sample curious, "So, it is an animal?"

Sasuke pointed at the marine animal that was changing colour in one of the bowls, "That is a blue ringed octopus. One of the most poisonous creatures of the sea."

Shikamaru grunted, "And since we are land bound no one has any antidote on hand for the poisoning."

Sasuke nodded writing down the findings in paper and handing it to Ino, "Yes, get a mind read done on the owner first. Then check the others as well."

Chouji, "Did you get the clue from the scars on him? Those ring like scars that look like ring worms."

Sasuke, "Honestly it is a long shot, but if there is something I learned from being around Kyoko, then it is the fact, nothing is impossible."

Ino gave a wry grin, "I am pretty sure she gave that term a new meaning, Sasuke - kun. I mean the number of people who can use wood release has increased among the ANBU."

Sasuke, "Yes, the biggest denominator being the Godaime approves of them as she is the Head of the Senju."

Shikamaru, "Thank you for the help, Sasuke - kun. This will make the investigation easier."

Sasuke eyed him, "Is there something else bothering you? You look more distracted than normal."

Shikamaru sighed, "It is just some of the things we found among Danzo's bases. Most of the kids used were clan kids. Just how bad is our village's security that no one, literally, no one noticed anything."

Ino pursed her lips, "Yes, it has bugged me too. It was like a literal slap in the face to have our failure being brought into the open like that."

Chouji looked down, "Dad has been blaming himself for failing the clan though everyone has been telling him it is not his fault."

Sasuke sighed remembering his own father's reaction, "Emotions can be very unpredictable and cruel to oneself. The best we can do is remind them it was the traitor who took advantage of our trust in him. We trusted him and he stabbed us in the back."

Ino sulked, "I know but sometimes I can't help but wonder, if Kyoko - chan had not figured out the corruption problem then, would we still be foolishly ignorant to our Clan member's pain and sufferings?"

Chouji patted her back, "Good thing she did find out then."

Sasuke eyed them then stood up, "I have to head out now but before that, here."

Shikamaru, "What's this? Sasuke, you can't just do this, can you?"

Sasuke smirked, "It is late. You need a break, you three have been doing investigation after investigation the last few days. The doctor's orders, now go and relax. The case will still be here tomorrow morning."

Shikamaru, "Night already? Fuck! We came here in the afternoon."

Chouji, "Guess we really are more exhausted than we had originally thought."

Ino grouched, "If someone is actually telling a Nara, of all people, to take a break then that means we have been over working."

Sasuke, "Ino - chan, catch."

Ino caught a small container, "What's this for?"

Sasuke pointed at her eye, "For the dark under eyes."

Ino, "Thanks."

Sasuke watched them leave and then turned to the window through which he could see the night sky. The stars had already come out and he had promised his parents to have dinner with them tonight. Both Naruto and Kyoko were dealing with high level missions outside the village though the premise was different. While his fiance excelled in making friends and allies left and right, Kyoko - chan excelled in collecting information under everyone's nose. Sasuke still has not figured out what technique she uses to do that and now he no longer bothers. To be more specific, he has his own plate filled with trouble to bother dissecting one of his oldest friends.

Naruto, "Nagato - nii, Konan - nee, look the seal is ready. It took a few days but now the plants that require sunshine can grow with this."

Nagato, "Let's see how well this works, shall we? There is a greenhouse that was prepared for you."

Konan, "This should be interesting."

Sakura, "Konan - san, remember the request you made? I have finished deciphering some of it."

Konan, "You have?"

Sakura nodded, "We can go over what I and the group you recommended found out."

Konan, "Wonderful! I am pleased to hear a positive update."

Sakura, "It was not easy that is for sure. The language is very old and even though we have translated it, I am unsure if this is the proper translation."

Konan, "Something is still better than nothing and research can always be continued for affirmation."

Itachi watched as his younger partners were working on their own respective fields. Naruto and Sakura had grown over the years from the two toddlers that followed Kyoko and Ino around like lost ducklings. They were now very confident young adults taking action of their own accord and searching for answers. Itachi gave a hum as he enjoyed the treats that were locally made, cloud buns they were called. Little white fluffy and soft buns with either jam or cream filling inside, it was not the same as dango but it was becoming a second favourite sweet. He half wondered how Sasuke and Kyoko were doing, he hoped they were not getting into any sort of trouble.

Itachi snorted to himself, 'It is ironic how the most hyperactive member of Team Seven is the voice of reason. People would think it was Sasuke and Kyoko who were the logical ones, they could not be more wrong.'

Deidara eyed him, "You are strange one, un."

Itachi smiled sweetly, "Thank you, Deidara - san. I take pride in it."

Deidara huffed, "I can't believe you let them run around like that, un. Yes one of them is the cousin of the leader but still."

Itachi, "Family is family, my new friend."

Deidara, "Sure, sure. Weirdo!"

Itachi gave an impish grin, "You chose to go on a date with this weirdo."

Deidara squawked turning red, "I am not on a.... This is not a.... You are crazy, un. That's saying something considering I am called the crazy bomber."

Itachi smirked, 'I can see why Koko - tan enjoys teasing others so much, this is fun. Perhaps I am a little crazy.'

Crane, :I learned something very interesting.:

Kyoko looked up from her work, :Do tell.:

Crane, :Kabuto is working on opening a trade with the Land of Lightning.:

Kyoko muttered, "So he is. Somehow I am not surprised, he was always one of the smartest people I know."

Crane, :Pity he betrayed us.:

Kyoko nodded, :I found something interesting too. Turns out the kids here volunteer to become experiment subjects in exchange for power.:

Crane, :Explain!:

Kyoko, :Most of the kids here have either lost their parents or are treated horribly by the adults around them.:

Crane, :So they want power for revenge on those people?:

Kyoko shook her head, :It is not that simple Crane - san. Even with the artificial boost there is no guarantee that they will survive the process. It is more of an instinctual defensive behaviour instead of an offensive one.:

Crane, :Is that so?:

Kyoko hummed, : I am pretty sure they know they will not receive ultimate power or God - like abilities. They just do not want to be caught in a vulnerable position again. It is a terrifying situation to be in.:

Crane sighed, :I suppose I cannot begrudge them for throwing their life away for an experiment that has a high chance to fail under those specific circumstances.:

Kyoko, :It may not look like a good reason to us but to orphans it is a very big deal.:

Crane, :You are thinking about Naruto, aren't you?:

Kyoko looked at the kids around the village, :I just saw how he could have ended up if the Sandaime Hokage had not adopted him.:

Crane, :It is a possibility.:

An announcement came through the loud speaker, "Orochimaru - sama has returned from his mission. Repeat: Orochimaru - sama has returned from his mission."

Kyoko, "The big boss is here."

Orochimaru, "We have a visitor."

Jugo, "Leader?"

Orochimaru, "Find them and bring them to me."

Suigetsu, "You got it boss. I still don't like your orange masked buddy though."

Orochimaru, "Yes, yes, I heard your suspicions. Unfortunately my dear children that is the harsh reality of life for you. You have to work with people you do not like to get things done."

Kyoko, :By the way, I figured out where they kept the ANBU corpses and replaced them with fakes.:

Crane deadpanned, :Of course, you already did that.:

Kyoko, :Either I have gotten really good at not being caught or Kabuto has become sloppy. But yes, yes I did complete the secondary objective.:

Crane, :The children use the wilderness to go in and out of the village. We could use it to our advantage too.:

Kyoko, "Great! Let's do it tonight then."

Jun, "What are you two planning?"

Kyoko looked sheepish, "Oh! Well, I have been craving rabbit meat lately so we were thinking about heading out to the forest later on."

Jun sighed, "Fine, but I want some too."

Kyoko, "You got it."

Jun, "Make sure Jugo does not see you carry rabbits in. He does not like it when anyone touches those critters."

Kyoko, "Right! Right! Hide the catch, I can do that."

Jun waved them off and the two disguised children grinned as they stealthily headed to the forest area. The kids going to the wild area were nothing new however, as many have gone there to collect berries, vegetables, mushrooms, rabbits etc. Kyoko and Crane had gone at different intervals with other kids to leave messages for Inu who knew what to look for about the current mission. Now they would be heading out to decide if they should continue the mission or head back first as one of the objectives had been completed.

Inu, "Did you snoop around when no one was watching?"

Kyoko, "Who do you think I am? I do not snoop. I leave that to my clones."

Sloth, "Should we return to the village or carry on the mission?"

Crane, :Perhaps, we can send it with a summon then we can focus on the mission to capture Orochimaru.:

Inu, "Scramble!"

Kyoko jumped just as the ground exploded, 'Guess that answers that question.'

Jugo stood up inside the crater, "Well, well, well, Konoha nin in the snake lair."

Kyoko, "Haven't seen you in a while."

Jugo grinned, "No wonder you felt familiar. Koko - tan, back for a re - match?"

Suigetsu, "Seriously?"

Kyoko, "What if I am?"

Jugo, "If I win, you are coming with me. Our leader really wants to study you, especially your brain."

Crane, 'Of course he does.'

Orochimaru, "Indeed I do. How nice of you to come to me, my dear."

Kyoko, "Sure, sure but if I win, I am taking Orochimaru with me to Konoha."

Suigetsu (⁠ノ⁠ಠ⁠益⁠ಠ⁠)⁠ノ, "Absolutely not! How dare you try to kidnap our leader."

Kyoko pointed out, "But he had no problem kidnapping children before. He even kidnapped Naomi - chan too."

Orochimaru felt a tick mark on his forehead, "I suppose but kidnapping is what I do."

Kyoko, "You do not have a monopoly over who kidnaps who. That is very entitled Orochimaru."

Orochimaru took a deep breath, "I am also not discussing anything with you. Jugo, make sure to defeat her while I deal with the rest of the ANBU."

Orochimaru made a summoning seal and snakes appeared attacking the ANBU members forcing them to move back. Kyoko and Jugo meanwhile started to clash as well both of them calling on their nature chakra to aid them. Suigetsu decided to leave the girl who was now no longer in disguise to Jugo and decided to battle one of the ANBU. Crane and Jugo clashed with their swords then separated and clashed again. Crane was annoyed the mission could no longer be carried on he understood not everything could go according to plan.

Kyoko, "Oooh! Your nature chakra techniques have gotten stronger."

Jugo, "Thank you and your plant summon technique is more diverse than before. These are carnivorous plants, are they not?"

Kyoko, "Yes, yes they are. Did you know that these plants grow in the deepest part of the Forest of Death?"

Jugo, "Well I certainly do now."

Kyoko, "Yeah, it was a pain getting their sample for the summon technique. It kept trying to eat me."

Jugo gave a grin, "And people call me the crazy one. You are on par with me girl. Hey, if I win, we are getting married."

Crane, "ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

Kyoko twitched, "You are not my Dad Crane - san. Anyway, if I win you have to become my consort and join me in Konoha."

Inu, "Heaven, give me strength and hell, give me patience. I need both to deal with today."