Suddenly in front of them, a kunai exploded. Shiori and her companions closed their eyes as they shielded themselves from the blast.

When it rains, it pours, thought Shiori even though it wasn't raining. If she had any control over the weather at all, she'd make it monsoon. It was the only thing missing from this scene. As the dust settled, Shiori and her two escorts stood motionless and tense in the center of the path surrounded by dense forests, miles away from the nearest village. Before them stood three masked men and their leader. Her rejected suitor, the man who had proposed to her just two days ago, come to kill her.

"Shiori," came the emotionless voice of Danzo, "we've orders from the Fire Daimyo to eliminate you." Shiori's guards, Yamanaka Takuto and Hyūga Meroko, leapt in front of her with raised kunai.

"Danzo," shouted Takuto, "you must be mistaken. To think the Fire Daimyo would order the assassination of his own sister is madness." Shiori wished she could believe that.

"We are currently escorting Shiori-hime to her magistrate seat in Kitamachi under orders from the Fire Daimyo." Danzo and his henchmen remained unperturbed. "It is not my position to question the Fire Daimyo's direct orders," said Danzo, narrowing his eyes at Shiori.

Shiori narrowed hers right back, recognizing the razor sharp censure behind his words. It had been her brother's wish for her to marry Danzo, his favorite Leaf shinobi. Shiori recognized the move for what it was, a ploy to keep her under the Daimyo's thumb through Danzo. Ever since Shiori's father had passed and her brother elevated to Fire Daimyo, the two had rarely agreed on policy or administration. Or marriage. While she felt friendship towards Danzo, she could never accept him as her partner in life. His actions always appeared to have a second motive, and she never felt that she could truly trust him. She hadn't for one minute believed that his proposal was anything more than her brother's ploy. Refusing Danzo's offer had only incensed her brother and resulted in her magistrate assignment to boring, backwater Kitamachi. As she'd feared all along, the assignment had been a front for her brother's more sinister intentions. Boring Kitamachi was sounding better and better.

Shiori's thoughts were interrupted when Takuto's voice entered her head. "Shiori. We need to get you out of here."

"Have you spoken with Meroko?"

"Yes. Meroko and I agree that as soon as Danzo or Root makes a move, we should escape. You are to follow me. Meroko will be our rear guard."

"There are too many of them, and there's no way we can outrun Danzo - I fear that you and Meroko will be overpowered having to guard me. And without my kekkei genkai, I'm less than useless."

Shiori's kekkei genkai was really the cause of all her problems. Ever since she discovered she could produce and was impervious to flame, her brother had feared her. She couldn't blame him for having her sealed. The daughter of a Fire Daimyo, a family which hadn't produced a shinobi for centuries, is suddenly blessed with a fire and earth kekkei genkai. Who wouldn't see that as some divinely inspired right to rule the Land of Fire? Not that she wanted to. But many advisors and shinobi thought she could do a better job. "Don't bother shielding me. If the Fire Daimyo's orders are to have me killed, you should not interfere and risk his anger - or your life."

"We're with you to the end, Shiori."

Danzo began to speak. "Yamanaka Takuto. Hyūga Meroko. Stand down and return to Konohagakure. You have no part in this."

Meroko's grip tightened around her kunai. "We've protected Shiori for this long. We will not abandon her now!"

"Then you betray your village and face Shiori's same fate." Danzo raised his arm. "Get them."

"Let's go!" shouted Meroko. Two of Danzo's men launched themselves in pursuit. Takuto grabbed Shiori's arm over his arm and took for the trees. Though Shiori was never trained formally as a shinobi, she had learned at least enough to run for her life. "Takuto! Where are we going?"

"Meroko and I think the best plan is to press on to Kitamachi!" Shiori shook her head. "That won't work. Kitamachi is a full day away, but I fear Danzo will catch up to us at any minute. We can't shake him. We can't simply run blind."

Takuto knew she was right. "Any ideas?"

"I have one, but you won't like it. If we travel west and cross the border into Amegakure," explained Shiori, "Danzo and his men will not follow us. Danzo would dare extend the conflict there. Especially after the leaf's border treaty with Amegakure."

Takuto shook his head. "Out of the question. Amegakure has the strictest border patrols I know of, and were we to encounter Rain shinobi, we'd be captured or worse."

Shiori clenched her raised fist in opposition. "We would not have to travel through Amegakure for long, and as long as we stick close to the border, we can easily slip back into Konohagakure. I agree that our ultimate destination should remain Kitamachi. I have both friends and supporters there who can offer us some protection."

Takuto looked unconvinced. "Very well. But we will stick as close to the border as possible and retreat to Konohagakure at the first sign of trouble. If Amegakure learns of our presence, it will be a diplomatic disaster."

"Takuto!" shouted Meroko from behind, "two of Danzo's men have disappeared on either side! I think they're planning to outrun and block us!"

"How about Danzo and the other Root shinobi?"

"I believe they're heading straight for us, though they may be waiting for the two others to stop us, dividing our attention from both the front and the rear."

Takuto cursed under his breath. "Then we'll keep Shiori between us at all times. Let's switch places. I'll fend off Danzo and the second Root member, while you break through the Root shinobi barrier. Our immediate goal is to pass through the Amegakure border." Meroko's eyes widened in surprise, but said nothing. As soon as the two shinobi switched places, Danzo's men appeared from either side. "They've caught up to us!"

"Let's finish them quickly Meroko, before Danzo catches up! Shiori, once Meroko and I have these two distracted, run ahead of us and continue towards the border."

As the two Root shinobi closed in, it became clear their initial target was Meroko. "Ninja art, Jukenpo!" shouted Meroko as dealt a series of blows to one of the Root members, wreaking havoc to his chakra paths. Suddenly, the second Root shinobi appeared from above. Before he could land to a hit to Meroko, the Root shinobi was immobilized in midair. Meroko turned her head to witness Takuto's mind control technique restrain the airborne shinobi. "I can't let you have them both Meroko! Where's the chivalry in that? Shintenshin no Jutsu!" The Root shinobi's eyes widened as Takuto supplanted his subconscious. "This one's stalled for now!" came Takuto's words from the mouth of the Root shinobi. "Shiori, keep running!"

Meroko's opponent jumped back to distance himself and block Shiori. The Takuto-controlled shinobi countered him with clashing kunai. "Shintenshin no Jutsu," Danzo interrupted, "a poor choice for this fight." The Root shinobi disappeared for a moment, only to reappear next to Takuto's limp body. So fast! thought Meroko. Even after I've disabled so many of his chakra pathways!

"I've fought beside the Yamanakas in battle. Your body is defenseless as long as this technique is active, leaving it susceptible to attack." The Root shinobi unsheathed a blade to strike. Takuto withdrew from his root opponent, but not fast enough to miss the Danzo's blade graze his chest. Taking advantage of the Takuto's withdraw from the Root shinobi, Meroko gave the shinobi a killer blow to the heart with her gentle fist. "Hold on Takuto!"

Before Meroko reached Takuto, the Root shinobi took off in pursuit of Shiori. "Meroko," gasped Takuto as he attempted to stand, clutching his chest. "Follow Shiori!"

"Too late." The third Root shinobi suddenly appeared behind Meroko, poised to strike with his tanto. Meroko jumped back to dodge the impact as Danzo appeared, racing forward past the action.

"Takuto!" shouted Meroko as the Root shinobi attacked again with his tanto, "Danzo's headed toward Shiori!" "Leave it to me," said Takuto between clenched teeth, flinching from the pain as he began to run. Pressing forward, he could hear the blood-curdling screech of metal against metal.

The tree line separating Konohagakure from the Amegakure plain was in sight. Shiori ran towards faster than she had ever dreamt possible. Every step she resisted the urge to turn back to check on her escorts. However, she knew she would be less than helpful and run the risk of throwing away their sacrifice. She steeled her heart and pressed on, only then to spot a Root shinobi blocking her way, kunai raised. Shiori stopped, realizing somehow that running would be useless.

"Shiori, it's over," came a voice from behind. Shiori turned to see Danzo, and all thoughts vanished. Danzo walked forward until he stood before Shiori. His eyes were unreadable. It was perhaps the one thing that had always unnerved Shiori the most about him, but never to this extent. He raised a kunai to her throat. "Things didn't have to end this way, Shiori," said Danzo softly.

A small wave of guilt and sympathy rippled through Shiori. Danzo, despite his role now, had been her friend. She assumed that he proposed at the urging of her brother, but never considered that it might actually been his wish as well. Still, as much as she respected Danzo, she could never marry him. "I'm sorry, Danzo," Shiori stated calmly, searching his eyes. "If it does have to end this way, please, spare my friends, if it's not too late."

Danzo's eyes suddenly darted from hers, sensing a motion behind them. "Shinranshin no Jutsu!" Takuto appeared, and leapt to the ground as he ensnared Danzo in his jutsu. Danzo's eyes widened and his body went rigid.

"Danzo!" shouted the Root shinobi. "I'll take care of this." The root shinobi charged for Takuto. Before reaching him, Danzo came down on the Root shinobi, impaling him with his tanto. The Root shinobi died instantly. Danzo's body straightened and once again turned rigid.

"Takuto! Shiori!" called Meroko as she emerged into view. Shiori ran to her. "Meroko! Are you injured?"

"Not as badly as Takuto, but I'm out of chakra from that last fight. My Byakugan's no use to us now."

Shiori's brow furrowed in concern. Meroko was mostly unscathed, with the exception of a few scrapes and tares, but there was no doubting her exhaustion. Meroko would need time to rest in Amegakure before traveling to Kitamachi. Probably a full night's rest. Shiori shuddered at the thought of a night behind enemy lines without Meroko's Byakugan for lookout.

"Takuto," called Meroko, "have you captured Danzo?"

"Yes," gasped Takuto, "but not for much longer! I'll withdraw my jutsu, and you-"

"That won't be necessary," said Danzo as he sheathed his tanto. Takuto's eyes widened in disbelief. He fell to his knees. "How did you - but - my jutsu . . ." Danzo turned to face Takuto. "Your jutsu failed. I was out of your range."

Meroko gasped. "You killed your own Root shinobi? What's going on?!"

Shiori met Danzo's stare. "Danzo? You planned this?" Danzo continued to stare at her in silent affirmation. For the first time, Shiori thought she did see something in his eyes. A mixture of anger and longing. He took one step toward her.

"You stay away from her!" shouted Meroko as she charged Danzo. Moving faster than any of them could comprehend, he delivered a blow to Meroko's stomach, knocking her backwards into a tree. "Meroko!" called Shiori as she ran towards Meroko and dropped to her knees next to her.

"Don't misinterpret my actions as weakness. Hyūga, you are out of chakra, and Yamanaka is gravely wounded. Your lives are in my hands now." They knew he was right. "You can't fight. But can you walk?"

"What?!" gasped Meroko.

Danzo turned his back to them and began walking. "Take her to Kitamachi through Amegakure. I assume that's your plan. I will say that you escaped to Amegakure. Be swift, before more of the Fire Daimyo's assassins reach Kitamachi."

"Danzo," choked Shiori as she raised herself to stand. "I'm sorry." Danzo didn't stop or look back. Shiori, Takuto, and Meroko looked on as Danzo disappeared from sight.

"He must care about you a lot, Shiori," said Meroko between coughs. Could that be true? For the first time since Danzo's proposal, she felt regret for hurting him.

At Hidden Rain Headquarters . . .

Two shinobi sit side by side on a tiled floor in concentration. Their eyes are closed and their hands held in tiger signs. "Kanzo. Did you feel that?"

"Yes. Three intruders, one with powerful chakra. I will alert Lord Hanzo." Kanzo vanished.