Satori sat in a chair in front of the Rock Jonin's desk. A Rock medical officer stood behind Satori with a syringe. The Rock Jonin sat behind his desk watching Satori's responces. Satori looked straight ahead and spoke with a stream of consciousness detachment. He was obviously under the influence of a chemical substance.
"Place of Birth?" The Rock Jonin said.
"Konoha." Satori replied.
"Parents name?"
"Genma and Yashira."
"Sister's name?"
"Tenten."
The Rock Jonin looked at the medical ninja.
"He's ready. Keep the serum at that dose."
The medical officer nodded and The Rock jonin returned his attention to Satori.
"What is your current assignment?"
"Special operations in Earth Country."
"What is your mission in Earth Country?"
"To seek and destroy a biogenic weapon."
"How many others were part on this mission?"
"Two."
"Their names and rank?"
"Chuunin and Medical ninja Yamanaka Ino. Chuunin Angirineko Tsuku."
"What is the defenses of Konoha?"
"I don't know."
The Rock Jonin leaned forward and studied Satori's face. He was uncertain whether Satori really doesn't know, or if he is able to hold something back.
"Increase the dosage."
The medical ninja leaned forward and injected more serum into Satori's neck.
"Let's begin again." The Rock Jonin said. "Name?"
"Shiranui Satori."
"Place of birth?"
"Konoha."
"Rusu, I assure you that all Konoha wants is the preservation of peace."
"Ah…peace. Or course. Then how do you explain the fact that a Konoha team launched an unprovoked attack on Rock territory less than fourteen hours ago?"
Junshin and Tenten looked surprised while Danzo kept his expression neutral.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Danzo said.
"Then let me explain. Jonin Shiranui Satori, Chuunins Yamanaka Ino and Angririneko Tsuku attacked one of our villages in a brutal assault, and killed over fifty-five men, women and children."
"What evidence do you have of this?" Danzo asked.
"We have all the evidence we need…we have Shiranui Satori."
"Is he alive?" Tenten asked.
"The Rock Union has not yet decided how to respond to this latest provocation. But rest assured we will respond."
Rusu and Danzo stared at one another for a moment before walking away from the Leaf team. Danzo and his team backed off a bit.
"Is there any truth to what he is saying?" Junshin asked.
Danzo considered for a moment before answering.
"Satori and the others were sent to…investigate reports of a biogenic weapon. It is possible they have been captured.
"If Satori has been captured…the Rock will not hesitate to use any means available to obtain information from him…including torture."
The door at the far end of the room opened and a blindfolded Satori is escorted into the room. His hands are manacled. The Rock Jonin nodded to the guards and they leave.
"Shiranui Satori…"
"I demand to see a neutral representative as required by the Leaf-Rock treaty." Satori said.
"Of course."
He removed Satori's blindfold and Satori reacted almost as though in pain as the lights hits his dilated pupils. Obviously he had been blindfolded for awhile. He squinted and blinked as he gradually adjusted to the light.
"We have already sent a request to the Waterfall Country. They assure us they'll dispatch someone immediately."
The Rock Jonin circled Satori, studying him closely. Satori looked tired and worn. The last few hours had not been pleasant. Although, he didn't appear to be under the influence of any drugs.
"I hope you're feeling better now that the drugs have worn off. I dislike using drugs but it is the most effective way of getting information."
"I can't imagine what information I have that would be meaningful to you."
The Rock Jonin smiled then looked down to Satori's hands.
"Please, let me remove those restraints."
He released Satori from his restraints and Satori involuntary rubs his wrists, which have deep bruises where the manacles had cut into them. The Rock Jonin gestures to a chair.
"I understand you're a student of History. Did you know that the Earth Country boasts some of the ancient and splendid ruins in the world?"
Satori sat down. He was trying to understand the Rock ninja's technique, not wanting to fall into a trap. But knowing that conversation is the way to his opponent's own weakness; something he knew that he must do if he were to survive.
"I know the burial vault of the First Tsuchikage are said to be magnificent."
"The burial vaults of the First and Second Tsuchikages contained unimaginably beautiful artifacts made of gevonite, a rare breathtaking stone only found in the Earth Country. But most of those objects are gone.
"What happened?"
The Rock Jonin slightly smiled and shrugged.
"What happens to impoverished societies, the tombs were plundered, priceless treasures stole…a few were preserved in museums, but even those were eventually sold to pay for our war efforts."
"That war cost you hundreds of lives, left your population weakened and miserable and yet you risk war again?" Satori said.
The Rock Jonin's eyes burned at the remark.
"How easy for you to judge us. Our country is hardscrabble and famine is still a threat."
Satori glanced around the room.
"And yet there seems to be enough to maintain a well outfitted and well fed…ninja corps."
"It is the Shinobi which is the hope of the population. Let's not waste time about issues we can't resolve. Would like to tour the Tsuchikage Burial Vaults?"
Satori stared at him.
"Even though they've been stripped of funerary regalia, the tomb paintings are extraordinary. Any student of History would be thrilled. Not to mention being a Leaf ninja in the tombs of the Tsuchikages."
"What I would like is to be returned to my village."
"My dear fellow Jonin. You are a criminal. You have been apprehended invading one of our facilities. The least that would happen is for you to stand trial and be punished. I am offering you the opportunity for that experience to be…civilized."
"And the price for that opportunity?"
"Cooperation. We need to know the defenses of Konoha."
"You've injected me with drugs. You must know that I have answered every question truthfully."
The Rock Jonin shook his head sadly. The Guards enter the room. They pull Satori to his feet, he struggles, having no intention of making anything easy for them. But they are able to snap the manacles onto his wrists again and then secure them to a bar on the ceiling. Satori finally stands with arms stretched over his head.
"Wasted energy. You might come to wish that you hadn't wasted it in such a futile action."
"Torture is expressly forbidden by the terms of the Shinobi Convention governing the treatment of prisoners of war."
The Rock Jonin ignored Satori's demand.
"Are you in good health? Do you have any physical ailments I should know about?"
Satori didn't answer. The Rock Jonin took an object from his desk and held it in front of Satori's face. It's a kunai with a jeweled handle.
"Beautiful isn't it? It's made of gevonite. You can see why it's so highly prized."
The Rock Jonin began to cut away at Satori's uniform.
"From this point on, you will enjoy no privileges of rank…no privileges of person. From now on I will only refer to you only as 'human.' You have no other identity."
The Rock Jonin stripped away all of Satori's uniform, leaving him naked and vulnerable. A scar is visible on his upper chest, suggesting a recent incision. The Rock Jonin walked out of the room and closes the door behind him.
