One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Tenmai raced along the tops of the trees, hurrying towards the border of the Wind Country, eager to go home. She was able to help Konoha with their Missing-Nin problem, taking out a greater part of the army with her knowledge of jutsus. Before she left, she made sure to heal the injured with Tsunade, taking great care of the severely injured. Her 'grandmother' bid her a farewell as she made her way north to Takigakure, the home she hasn't seen in years. Tenmai was nearly in tears as she took in what had happened to her village while she was away. She spent a week in both the villages, helping out all she can.
As she landed on the ground to take a breather, she was ambushed by large vines shooting out of the ground. They grabbed onto her limbs before she could do anything, dragging her down into the ground as a man and woman with Akatsuki robes walked into the clearing, a smirk on the man's black and white face. The woman tucked her light purple hair behind her ear as she gazed down at the limp kunoichi.

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Gaara was beside himself in worry. He had not heard from Tenmai since she left and had received a letter from Konoha saying she disappeared almost a month ago. Shibuki received a similar one from Takigakure. Tenmai has not been spotted in weeks. Gaara was regretting not sending anyone with her. As the two men sat in the Kazekage office, a small bird flew in through the window and landed on Gaara's desk. It lifted its leg up to reveal a letter to the Kazekage. Removing the small scroll from the birds leg, Gaara read the letter. Anger washed over his features as he jumped out of his chair. Shibuki eyed the young leader, curious as to his reaction.
“Gather the others. The Akatsuki have her.” Gaara told him, calmly.
“Of course, Gaara-san.”
Shibuki ran out of the office to get everyone. Naruto and the others had stayed in Suna on Tsunade's orders. They were to stay and help them by any means necessary. Gaara gazed out the window, worry evident on his face. How could he have been so stupid? He knew the Akatsuki was after her, he understood why. She was extremely powerful. If they had her on their side, they would be unbelievably strong, that is, if she allowed them to corrupt her. In just a few short minutes, everyone was gathered in the office. They were wondering what was going on since Shibuki forego the details.
“The Akatsuki have Tenmai.” Gaara told them, gazing out at his village. “They want her for the power she possesses. Her father has been searching for her ever since he found out she was still alive. They have her now and have threatened to kill her if I don't hand myself over to them. They know that she was given the mission to protect me with her life. She won't allow it. They are just outside the village, waiting for us to meet them. Will you go with me, in case a fight breaks out?”
Gaara faced the ninja in the room. They were all deep in thought, scared for their friend. Shikamaru had an arm over Temari's shoulders, the Wind Mistress near tears for her friend. Sakura had small rivers running down her face. She had grown close to Tenmai when the woman was in Konoha. Sasuke placed a hand on the small of Sakura's back, his thumb rubbing soothing circles to calm her. She was shocked at the affection, but leaned her head on his shoulder. They all looked around at each other.
“We'll go.” Naruto assured Gaara, sticking his thumb up. “Believe it.”
“Thank you.” Gaara whispered.

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Just outside the village, Zetsu stood facing the main gate, waiting anxiously for the Kazekage to make his appearance. A woman stood behind him, her face hidden by the high collar of the Akatsuki cloak and a black mask, her slashed forehead protector, bearing the Waterfall insignia, displayed proudly on the top of her head. Tenmai was wrapped up in vines next to the woman, knocked out cold. It didn't even look like she was breathing.
“Here they come.” Zetsu hissed, a smirk rising up on the black side of his face.
“Good.” said the mysterious woman, placing herself before her partner.
The group stopped ten feet from them, their eyes on the bound Tenmai behind them. The purple hair woman smirked under her mask, as she drew a sword out of her coat. With a swift swing, the head of Tenmai rolled off the body, down the sand dune, and to the feet of Gaara. A scream erupted out of several of the mouths as Shibuki fell to his knees, watching the decapitated body of his beloved cousin, fall over, vines releasing the lifeless corpse. Gaara couldn't move as he looked down at the head before his feet. His mouth was open in shock and terror. Zetsu was grinning widely at the look on the Kazekage's face. He made to step towards the group, but the sword of the woman beside him swung up to stop his advance.
“She was so fragile, so easily broken, and now Kitaro can continue his quest for power without having to worry about his daughter stopping him. Tell me, Gaara-sama, are you angry? Are you in utter loathing of me right now, for taking the life of your beloved fiance? Gaara-sama, show me your anger.” she demanded, holding her sword aloft.
The sand shifted around the Kazekage, his anger controlling it. A wave of sand rose up and plowed over to the woman who swiped her sword at it. The granules fell like raindrops around the two Akatsuki members. Gaara glared at them, anger radiating from his body. He made to launch at them but Shibuki went flying past him, landing before the woman.
“Stop this.” he demanded.
“And who are you to tell me what to do, Shibuki-san? I am no longer a part of Takigakure, so you cannot order me around. Now, get out of my way before I force you to.”
“Never, Atashi.”
“So be it.” Atashi whispered.
The wind picked up around the two and lifted Shibuki up. Tentacles of sand wrapped around his body, tightening, trying to suffocate him. They pulled him down into the ground. His gaze drifted to his wife, a sad look crossing his face before the sand swallowed him up whole. Mika had tears running down her face and made to run at Atashi, but never got the chance when the sand started to pull her under as well. Her screech caused everyone to turn, giving Atashi the opportunity to lash out at Gaara. Ropes of water wound around his body, preventing his from summoning the sand, knowing what would happen if the water mixed with it.
Atashi advanced on the Kazekage, removing her robe as she went. As it fell away from her body, they took in her appearance. She wore a mask, black with deep purple and lavender flowers on the right cheek, and a black Chinese fighting outfit under the robe. The fighting outfit was much like the mask, deep black with purple and lavender flowers going up the side. She wore deep purple pants, bound at her ankles by bandages. She doesn't wear Shinobi sandals, but, rather, thin, comfortable fighting shoes, deep black as well. From the eye hole of the mask, bright blue eyes watched Gaara, curiosity shining in them.
“Tell me Gaara-sama, what did Tenmai mean to you? If I hear a good enough answer, I'll kill you immediately so that you may be reunited with her. If you refuse, your torture will be slow and painful, not the least bit pleasurable. So, Gaara-sama, what do you say?”
“What does it matter how I felt? She's dead. It's not like I can tell her now.”
“Feed my curiosity.”
“She was....a unique woman, always ready to defend others. I cared for her, more then anyone else. She meant a great deal to me”
“Did you love her, Gaara?”
“I don't know. I wouldn't know what love is.”
Atashi did the most peculiar thing, she stroked the kanji on Gaara's forehead, a sad yet happy look in her eyes. Gaara winced at the contact, not in pain, but because of the electricity that seemed to run through his veins. Her fingertips ran down the side of his face, across his cheek, and lightly over his lips. His eyes fluttered close. He couldn't understand what was going on. His body and mind didn't want to fight against her, the woman who killed Tenmai. What spell was she putting him under? He felt the water binds fall away from him so he jumped back, away from her.
“What are you doing, Atashi-sama? Why did you let him go?” Zetsu yelled, walking up to her.
“Be quiet, Zetsu, you have no right to yell at me.”
“My apologies, Atashi-sama, but I am merely wondering why you would let your bounty go?”
“I have no further use for him.”
“But he must be killed, my lady.”
“Zetsu?”
“Yes, Atashi-sama.” he stepped forward to stand beside her, bowing slightly.
“Tell them who I am.”
“Yes, Atashi-sama.” Zetsu looked at the group before him. “This is my lady, Atashi-sama, second in command of the Akatsuki, former ninja of Takigakure, and the end of all of you.”
“Well said, Zetsu.” Atashi said, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. “But you messed something up.”
“What do you...”
“I am not the end of them, but of you.”
“Atashi-sama...”
Before he could finish his sentence, a sword swiped at him. Jumping back, it managed to knick his plant-like head. Atashi stood there, sword pointed at him, ready to kill. A wild look was in her eyes as she glared at him. It was so heated he had to suppress a shudder. The others were confused as to why she was attacking them. Atashi swung her sword, getting closer and closer to her mark. Vines would shoot out of the ground at her, but she dodged them. Her speed picked up. Disappearing from view, she came up from the ground behind him and sliced him across the back. One of the vines grabbed hold of her ankle and threw her towards the group. She landed, crouched, beside Gaara. He gazed down at her while she met his gaze.
“Why are you fighting against him?” he asked, taking a step away.
“I will not kill you, Gaara-sama, but I will take his life.”
“Liar!!” yelled Naruto from behind her.
A wall of wind wrapped around the ones behind her. Two bodies encased in sand rose from the ground within the barrier. As the sand unwound from the bodies, Shibuki and Mika stumbled out, instantly grasping hold of each other. Zetsu watched Atashi do this with wide eyes. His partner, his leader was betraying the whole Akatsuki! He went back up the sand dune to stand beside the corpse of Tenmai. He gazed down at it. The skin was sinking in, melting off of the bones. It began to twitch and, it a mass of sand and water, exploded. Zetsu jumped back in shock as the others looked to the source. The head that was before Gaara followed suit, exploding just after the body. Atashi's eyes widened as her fingers twitched. Two stings of chakra flowed back into her body, coming from the spots the body parts were at.
Gaara felt anger lash through his body as he grasped his head in pain, falling to his knees. Atashi noticed this out of the corner of her eye. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she pushed chakra into his body, calming him down. Removing her hand from his shoulder, she sheathed her sword and made her way to Zetsu. In a burst of speed, she launched at him, summoning chakra into her hand. Kakashi and Sasuke both noticed that it looked an awful lot like the Chidori.
Throwing her arm forward, she threw the chakra into his face. The Venus fly-trap around his head, closed around her arm. She yelled in pain as the acid-like juices within ate at the skin of her arm. Some of it spurted out, splashing across her mask. It wound up getting into her eye. Using her other hand, she drew all the poison out, but not before it caused some damage. With another yell, she forced a blast of chakra to blow Zetsu head apart. His body fell with a thud as Atashi landed on her knees. Blood poured from the many burns and cuts on her arm. Zetsu managed to bite down on her hand, teeth marks visible.
The wind barrier fell and the group plus Gaara, ran forward to the fallen Akatsuki member. She ran her hand over the cuts and burns, green chakra surrounding them. She was breathing deeply, having used a lot of energy to kill Zetsu. Sakura knelt next to, helping Atashi heal the wounds. Naruto and Kakashi stood behind Sakura, ready to attack if Atashi tries to harm her. Shibuki, Mika, and Sasuke stood off to the side while Lee was by Gaara's side. Gaara knelt next to Atashi, wondering why she killed her own partner.
“Who are you?” he asked, forcing her mask covered face to look up at him.
He noticed she wouldn't look him in the eyes, or more so she couldn't. The poison Zetsu sent at her had blinded Atashi, making her completely unable to see. She blinked constantly, as if trying to get more of the poison out. It didn't do any visible damage to her eyes, just caused her not to be able to see.
“You will come quietly with us to Suna.” Gaara told her, grabbing hold of her uninjured arm.
“Not yet.” she whispered. “There is one thing I need to do, Gaara-sama.”
Using the last of her strength, she forced them all away from her. Drawing from her chakra reserves, she began a long series of hand seals. After a full minute, she slammed her hands onto the ground. The sand began to rise up and water from a pouch on her hip met the sand. A shape began to form. It became a replica of Atashi. No breath came from it's lips, no pulse from it's neck, it was lifeless in every sense of the word. It bore no forehead protector, though, or Akatsuki ring.
Atashi rose up from her kneeling position and drew her sword. She proceeded to slice off the head of her clone. It did not disappear when she did this, showing that the jutsu she used was far more advanced then anything that they had ever seen. Atashi went to Zetsu's body, took his forehead protector and Akatsuki ring, and returned to the others, placing the items in a pouch on her hip. Gaara placed his hand on her shoulder, making her face him.
“Let us see your face.” he demanded.
“As you wish, Gaara-sama. You may remove my mask.”
Gaara nodded his head, though she couldn't see that. Placing his left hand on the mask, he hesitated. Something deep inside of him was scared to see who's face lay beyond the mask. Shaking his head, he gently removed the mask from it's position on her face. As he looked down at her, the light purple hair she had darkened to the deepest black and her blue eyes whirled around, the color becoming equal to her hair. Gaara's eyes widened as he pushed away from her. The mask fell from his hands as the ones behind him gasped in shock.
“Why?” he choked out, unable to believe who stood before him. “Why have you betrayed us?”
“I will explain everything, Panda-chan.” she whispered.
Before them all, though they couldn't believe it, was Tenmai.

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The ultimate cliffhanger!!!! Stay tuned!