AN: This is the prologue to The Soaring Hawk. It is IzuKo. I really hope you enjoy it.
The Soaring Hawk
Prologue
Behind that smiling carefree face is a killer. No one seems to notice as you walk easily down the street, joking amiably with your friends. They don't notice the silent step and battle toned posture of your body. You are nothing but a tool. A tool to be used to kill; one that does not dull nor break.
Your a destroyer.
A destroyer of lives.
A creator.
A creator of corpses.
You kill so others may live.
Your blades are your best friend.
You don your Hunter uniform, at night.
And by day your a laughing chuunin.
You manage the gates of Konoha.
What they don't tell people is that the two of you sitting there are Hunter level. You could stop anyone you felt didn't need to enter.
The ANBU worship you.
The children idolize you.
And the rest fear you.
And him...
He gives you respect, love, admiration. A warm body next to you. A way to feel alive. He who sparks something deep inside you to keep you going. It is so deep, you wonder if he isn't just a part of you.
He is the reason for your existence.
For him you feel love, adoration, respect, borderline obsession.
That is why...
You will fight to the death to have him standing in Konoha beside you again.
0o0o0
The Soaring Hawk
"Kotetsu Hagane is missing."
Tsunade's clipped words rang through the ears of Izumo Kamizuki.He'd adorned his Hunter uniform, thinking he was going to be depriefed.
A Hunter is the highest level attainable to a shinobi. They were the strongest in all aspects. They assured that missing ninja's were dealt with accordingly, along with attacks on the village such as the fight with Sound and Sand a month back. They either gave up thier previous lives to devote thier entire being to Hunter status, or lead double lives.
Izumo Kamizuki was the top Hunter of the five. He was Taka, the Hawk. He was the hero everyone looked up to. They looked up to him, and in desperate times he was looked towards to lead them. He was in charge of assuring the Hokage's safety. He killed so others could live. And right now his world was crashing down on him.
Outwardly he kept his cool, fighting down the rage of emotions that threatened to break his firm control on his powers. He stared coolly out of the slits in the porcelain mask displaying his Hunter status and keeping his true identity known. His voice was cold as he parted his lips for words. "Explain."
A pained look flashed across Tsunade's amber eyes as she reached into a drawer on her desk, released a blood seal, and pulled out a single sheet of paper. She gently placed that normal looking paper on her desk before the Hunter before her. A sudden fear crawled up the blonde's spine. This man in front of her could easily match her in a fight, and best her. With the information she was telling him, it may set him off.
Izumo picked up the paper, carefully watching as Tsunade's body posture grew rigid, tensed as if for a fight. His eyes dropped, scanning the words written in neat calligraphy across the white sheet.
Hunter Taka, we have taken Kotetsu Hagane into our custody. He will be entered as a criminal to our Terror and Interrogation Unit. As I'm sure you know, Otogakure's methods are less humane than that of Konohagakure's who are known to have the most ruthless Terror and Interrogation Unit of all the Five Great Shinobi Nations. In return for this captive we will trade
you for him. I'm sure the chakra signature in this letter will be enough to find me. Come alone or he will be killed.Kabuto Yakushi
Izumo's hand had curled around the paper, all but shredding it. He folded the paper, slipping it into the pouch at his waist. He forced himself into apathy trying to rationalize the situation. Izumo voiced a question lightly his tone devoid of emotion. "How do they know?"
"I don't know." Tsunade's voice was tight, edgy.
"I will be," Izumo's voice faltered for less than a second, "retrieving the captured shinobi."
Tsunade's eyes grew grim. "I was afraid you were going to say that."
The blonde woman motioned to the two Hunter's that were with the Hokage at all times. The two sprung silently from each side of the Hokage, lunging towards thier comrade. Each grabbed an arm, one pulling a katana to his throat. There was a poofing noise as his would be body disipated into smoke. Moving faster than the two nin in the room, he appeared behind them. He already had pulled his most familiar weapons out, two kodachi he named Kurohyou and Shirotora. He turned a hilt on the base of each of their vulnerable skulls.
He twisted his body to face Tsunade. She rose herself to full height, sighing. "I also figured you'd do that.You leave me with no choice," Tsunade's finely boned arm flicked out suddenly, "Scatter, shinobi!"
The amber eyed woman's voice rang loud in Izumo's ears as he formally dismissed her. He nodded briskly, turning his back to the Hokage which showed his respect and gratitude towards her. It wasn't everyday you turned your back to someone who could kill you.
Izumo made several hand seals, left in a bout of smoke and appeared in another at ANBU headquarters. He strode into the supplies room. He swiftly grabbed a field med-kit and an advanced med-kit. He grabbed a survival pack. It contained several MRE's, an odor dampening salve, twelve shuriken, fifteen kunai, a blanket, a change of clothes, matches, flint, and several different seals, all in waterproof bags.
He went back to his apartment, grabbed a few special weapons. He filled out the mission papers, and left.
His back quickly retreated from Konoha, hoping to return to it with his lover by his side.
TBC...