Shadowfox

Chapter 7

Sakura Hanamoto

They were only a day from Konoha and were about to enter the path in the forests when they sprang a trap. An automatic Suiton technique rose up to drown them. Takuro was already going. Hinari sensed him molding his chakra to his chest, but grabbed his hands and halt the seal forming.

"No, the gunpowder is too explosive; if it gets out of control we're screwed." She said.

"Then what?" He asked. Hinari smiled.

"Just watch." Hyourinmaru and Yukina ran forward, leaving their horses behind. Neither had drawn a weapon, but instead formed three seals.

"Hyouton: Tezawari Hyouketsu no Jutsu!" Both cried as they plunged straight into the Suiton technique. A moment later, the rushing water turned to pure ice.

"But they're-!" Takuro was cut off when Hinari pressed a finger to his lips.

"They're not done yet." She replied. Takuro turned back to see the ice cracking and opening up enough to allow both of them through. They stepped from the mass of shining ice. Both turned around and pressed a hand to the ice.

"Kai." Cracks raced through the ice and it fell apart and melted back into water that was quickly evaporated.

"Amazing." Takuro murmured. He'd never seen anything like it.

"Impressed?" Hinari asked. He nodded. What the Takeda children could do was absolutely astonishing; he doubted he'd ever see anything like it in his life. "Right, let's keep moving." Hinari said as Hyourinmaru and Yukina mounted up again.

XxXxXxX

Hinari grinned, the journey was almost over, and she could already see the very top of the Hokage Monument.

"Finally." She heard Takuro muttered. She bit back a laugh. They came through the trees and the village spilled out below them. Behind her, the guards gasped in awe. They'd never seen anything like Konoha.

"Halt!" From the shadows crept a group of four. They were quickly identified as I & S members. "Who are these people?" They demanded upon realizing that Hinari was there.

"They are transporting very important goods to Konoha." Hinari answered. The squad wasn't Arashi's; their scents were new to Hinari.

"We're on orders from the Hokage to inspect anything going in or out of Konoha." The captain of the squad said.

"Very well." Hinari sighed. "Open up the carts and let them see what's inside!" She ordered. The guards stared at her. Williamson recognizing the meaning leaned out the window.

"Do it!" He bellowed. The guards scrambled to comply. The four ANBU began to check the over the merchandise. Hinari caught a scent on the wind and a moment later, Arashi's squad came from the trees.

"Stand down!" Arashi ordered. The four quickly backed off. "This will be the only exception to those orders. My squad will escort them to the village, you remain here!" Arashi said.

"Yes Arashi-taichou!" The captain of the lower squad saluted and signaled for the others to pull back. Once they were gone, Arashi turned towards Hinari and Takuro.

"Welcome back."

"It's good to be back after all that traveling." Hinari laughed. The caravan got moving again, Arashi remained beside her sister while the other three spread out. Hitomi was walking next to Hyourinmaru.

"I don't believe we've been introduced." Hyourinmaru said.

"I don't think so." Hitomi responded. "I'm Hyuuga Hitomi."

"Takeda Hyourinmaru. I take it you're one of Shishou's cousins?"

"Yes, her mother and mine were sisters." Hitomi told him.

"Ah, you can actually trace back how you're related." Hitomi giggled. It was true; she wasn't sure which of her relatives were aunts, uncles, or cousins, so she just called them all cousins.

"Hitomi!" Satoko snapped.

"Ah, sorry." Hitomi returned to keep an eye out, though her other eye was still focused on Hyourinmaru. He seemed to notice this and smirked slightly.

XxXxXxX

The caravan approached the gate and Hinari blinked in surprise, there stood the Hokage, waiting for them. Of course he was watched over by two ANBU squads who were hiding out in various places. Hinair smiled, she admired Konohamaru's daring to come out into the open like this. Hinari pulled on the reins and came to a stop and dismounted, and Takuro right behind her. The others came in and they all bowed respectfully. Konohamaru returned with a nod of his head. Williamson stepped out of the carriage and came forward, that's when he noticed Satoko and her crop of bright pink hair pulled into a ponytail.

Williamson studied Satoko intently. Konohamaru gave them permission to remove their masks and she did. When she did so, Williamson came a little too close to her for her comfort. He reached out to take her hand; she let him, but responded by crushing it. He cried out in pain.

"Satoko!" Arashi snapped.

"Sorry taichou." She ducked her head, but glared at Williamson, telling him to back off. Konohamaru cleared his throat and he had everyone's attention.

"Welcome to Konohagakure no Sato." He said with a bow, although it wasn't very low. Hinari swiftly translated.

"Thank you; it is an honor to meet you, Lord Hokage." He replied. Hinari translated again. She had a feeling that things were going to get aggravating since she'd be stuck with Williamson until he left. After all, he was only dropping off the gunpowder; he never said anything to an extended stay, thankfully enough. Konohamaru smiled.

"Come, let's head up to my office, we can talk more there." Konohamaru indicated the way. "Put all this in short term storage." He ordered at Williamson's guards. His main bodyguard followed Williamson, and Hinari paused to translate the order. Arashi signaled the men to follow her to find the place where the gunpowder would be delivered.

They came up to the office and Konohamaru had Kakashi bring in a chair for Williamson to sit in. The others remained standing and at attention. Hinari stood closest to the desk translating between the pair. Once negotiations were complete Hinari, glad she wouldn't have to switch back and forth between the two languages.

"Hyourinmaru, take Williamson to a hotel and get him a room." Hinari ordered. "I have something I wish to talk to Hokage-sama about." She said. Hyourinmaru nodded.

"This way." He said sharply, Williamson stood and followed the boy out, his bodyguard not too far behind.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Konohamaru asked.

"There is a spy in Konoha." Hinari said.

"And you have proof of this?"

"Yes, we ran into one of his informants when we left the village. I have no name, but I do know that he is a member of the I & S." Satoko looked over at Eiji who seemed to be fidgeting.

"Oh? Is that all?" Konohamaru asked.

"Yes sir." Satoko noticed at Eiji had taken a step back. Finally, he ran. At least, he tried to. Yukina barred the door and knocked him back. Hitomi held him down.

"Eiji, what the fuck were you thinking?" Satoko demanded.

"I-I-I-He said he was going to kill me if I didn't do it!" He cried.

"Who?" Eiji didn't speak, but began to cry. "Who?!" Hitomi demanded, pressing her glowing palm to his chest, right where his heart was. "Answer!"

"OROCHIMARU!" He screamed. "He said he'd spare my life when he attacked Konoha." Eiji said.

"When is he going to attack?" Konohamaru asked him calmly.

"I don't know. Sometime in the next two months, I don't know when exactly!" Eiji said. "But, he doesn't want to just destroy Konoha; he wants to conquer all of Fire Country. He's starting with Konoha, and then he'll move to the capital."

"Satoko, fetch someone from the Military Police." Konohamaru replied. Satoko nodded and hurried off. Some minutes later she returned with her father.

"You sent for me Hokage-sama?"

"Yes, arrest this man for treason." Sasuke hauled Eiji to his feet and gripped him tightly by the wrists.

"You are hereby under arrest by order of the Nanadaime Hokage, Konohamaru-sama." Sasuke spoke to Eiji. Eiji did not protest, he seemed rather resigned to his fate. With that said, Sasuke took him away to be held until his trial.

XxXxXxX

A week later, Eiji was publicly executed to send a message to any other spies in the village. Eiji stood on a platform in the center of the village. His hands tied behind his back. He faced the crowd with a stoic expression, he knew that if he was caught, this would be his fate, and he had accepted it. Arashi stepped onto the platform, a large axe in her hands. She was draped in a heavy cloak and a hood that hid her face. Konohamaru came after her.

"People of Konoha! This man has been convicted of treason against Konohagakure no Sato! As a lesson to his master and any other spies that may remain, we will now execute him!" Konohamaru wore a mask of calm, though deep down, he didn't want to have to execute the man, he would have simply thrown Eiji in prison if he could have, but the decision had not been his alone to make. He nodded to Arashi. She stepped forward and raised the axe as Eiji was shoved to his knees by Satoko and Hitomi; they two were also covered in a cloak and hood to hide their identities. Eiji closed his eyes and waited for the blow.

The audience of villagers were crying out in anger, damning him for his crimes, cursing him, some he knew, were probably throwing rotten produce at him, he could smell some of it as it hit him in the chest. Arashi and her remaining squad had been given the choice of executing Eiji themselves, or having someone else do it. They felt the need to do it themselves. The head captain raised the axe and steeled herself for the blow. Eiji took a final breath before death engulfed him. There was a sickening crunch as the axe cut through his neck, separating his head from shoulders. The noise from the crowd died down as Eiji's body was taken away to be properly disposed of.

Soon the crowd dispersed and the three women removed their hoods, staring at the blood that stained the wooden planks of the platform. After a moment of silence between them, Arashi handed the axe to a nearby chuunin for it to be cleaned and they walked away, discarding the cloaks as they went.

XxXxXxX

There was a thick tension hanging over the village, though Konohamaru had asked everyone present at the time to remain silent, somehow, the whole village seemed to know that they were facing war. Everyone went about their business quickly, never going out alone, and never stopping on the street to talk to a friend. It was tense, and it was frustrating.

Takuro sat in Hinari's apartment; she'd asked him over so that they could go see Tsubaki. She was in the middle of her shower. He heard the water shut off and a moment later Hinari appeared wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around her. Takuro pointedly looked away. Hinari paused in front of him, her wet hair dripping on the floor.

"That's right; you still haven't seen a woman have you?" She asked. Takuro shook his head. He looked at her, and then looked away again. "It's a wonder you haven't gotten married yet." She said, leaning forward a bit.

"Uh," Takuro couldn't speak.

"Hmm?"

"The towel, it, uh," Takuro clapped his hand over his eyes. Hinari looked down to see that the towel had come loose and had momentarily shown him everything. She blushed and fixed it. She quickly retreated to her room to get dressed. She returned again once she was dressed, but Takuro was still blushing brightly. Hinari grinned.

"Well, come on then." She said. Takuro stood up and they headed out.

They came to Tsubaki's house and Hinari knocked on the door. Tsubaki opened it and let them in.

"Haven't seen you two in a while, I was starting to think you'd run off and eloped or something." She said with a laugh. Takuro blushed again. "What's with him?" She asked.

"Uh, later." Hinari told her. Tsubaki frowned. They came to the living room and sat down. "So, how much longer?" She asked, pointing at Tsubaki's large belly.

"Soon, I hope. By the end of the month at least." She said. "Oh, would you like something to drink?" She asked. Both nodded. Tsubaki stood up, but Takuro rose as well.

"I'll get it." He offered.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, you just sit and rest; you need your energy after all." He said.

"Okay then." Takuro disappeared into the kitchen. Hinari and Tsubaki sat talking about things, Hinari telling her about the missions she and Takuro had been sent on. Tsubaki began to say something but stopped and shuddered visibly.

"Tsubaki?" Hinari stood up and approached her friend. Tsubaki shuddered again, and pain was written clearly across her face. Suddenly, the seat became wet and a small pool of water collected at Tsubaki's feet.

"The baby's coming." Tsubaki said. Hinari bit her lip. She ran into the kitchen.

"Takuro!"

"What?"

"Get to the hospital and bring us nurses." Hinari ordered.

"Why?"

"Tsubaki's gone into labor!" Hinari replied as she hurried back to Tsubaki's side. "But first, help me move her to the bedroom." Takuro and Hinari picked her up and moved her, placing her down carefully on the bed. Tsubaki gave a cry of pain. "Get going Takuro, I can only do so much for her and the baby!" Takuro nodded and ran off. "Okay, Tsubaki, just keep breathing, I'll get some stuff I'll need." Hinari rushed off looking through the house for what she'd need. She returned to Tsubaki who was obviously in pain. She helped support her legs with a large bundle of towels under each knee. Hinari pushed up Tsubaki's shirt and pulled her pants off.

"Where the hell is Asuma?!" Tsubaki demanded in between contractions.

"He's on a mission right now Tsubaki." Hinari reassured her. Tsubaki gripped a pillow tightly. Hinari needed some anesthetic; the pain was beginning to overwhelm Tsubaki now. She desperately dug through all her pockets, hoping and praying that she might find the right plant. She reached into the pocket of her jacket and came out with a leafy plant. "No way!" She cried in surprise. Hinari plucked off the leaves. "Here, eat it." She shoved the leaves into Tsubaki's mouth. The blonde woman chewed and swallowed.

"What was that?"

"Scopolamine, it's a natural anesthetic, it should be taking effect within another ten minutes since you ingested it in its purest form." Hinari said. Tsubaki nodded and ground her teeth.

"How much longer until I can start pushing?" She demanded. Hinari checked, not long now, with the way these contractions are coming, Takuro might even be late." Hinari said. Tsubaki cried out, and Hinari checked again. "Okay, push carefully, don't tire yourself out." Tsubaki did as she was told, pushing and stopping to breath. Sweat ran down her brow and dripped onto her shirt.

Hinari reached in carefully and helped the baby along. "Push Tsubaki." Tsubaki grunted and pushed as hard as she could. Tsubaki heaved a sigh of relief and Hinari grabbed a spare towel she'd brought and dipped it in warm water. She cleaned the baby off, and cleaned out its mouth and nose. Once all air passages were clear, the baby began to wail. Tsubaki gasped, she couldn't believe it, she'd actually given birth. She smiled.

"My baby," She whispered. Despite the having just delivered the baby, Tsubaki felt like she was full of energy.

"Congratulations Tsubaki, it's a girl." Hinari carefully handed the baby girl to Tsubaki. She cradled the baby in her arms and smiled.

"She's beautiful." Hinari stepped back and smiled.

"What are you going to name her?"

"We never decided, I'll wait until Asuma gets back, he said he'd be back today." Tsubaki said. They heard footsteps down the hall.

"Hinari? Tsubaki?" Takuro had returned.

"In here." Takuro entered, with a couple nurses and a doctor in tow. "You're late." Hinari said.

"Oh my, is the baby healthy?" A nurse asked.

"Looks that way, starting screaming as soon as I cleaned her off." Hinari said.

"You helped her give birth?" The doctor looked at Hinari incredulously.

"Yep, second time I've been a mid-wife, I must say, this one was a lot easier." Hinari said. The doctor blinked.

"Yuuhi-san, we'd like to take you and your daughter to the hospital just to make sure everything is okay." The doctor said.

"Okay, that's fine with me." Tsubaki said. She was too exhausted to move so Takuro and Hinari carried her out to a gurney waiting outside and she was taken to the hospital in a cart. Hinari grinned.

"Is giving birth as painful as it sounds?" Takuro asked.

"Why not ask Tsubaki, she's the one with the baby, not me." Hinari said. "I'm gonna go clean up. If you need me, I'll be at the gate waiting for Asuma, to tell him the good news." Hinari said, walking off.

"Okay then, see you later then."

XxXxXxX

Four hours later, Asuma walked through the main gate to be greeted by Hinari.

"Asuma, you'd better get your ass to the hospital."

"Why? Is it Tsubaki? Is she okay?" He asked in a rush. Hinari laughed.

"Tsubaki's fine, she gave birth about four hours ago, it's a girl." Hinari told him. She glanced at Asuma and noticed that he seemed a bit torn; she knew he had to report in, but he wanted to get to the hospital. "You can report in tomorrow, get to the hospital before she comes here looking for you herself." Hinari said. Asuma nodded and smiled.

"Thanks Hinari!" He cried as he ran off, making a bee line for the hospital. Hinari smiled slightly, she wasn't sure she'd ever seen anyone so happy before. Her stomach grumbled and she realized how hungry she as.

'What should I have for lunch?' She asked herself. Thinking for a moment, she decided to treat herself to something good, after a week and a half of eating nothing but rations and dried food, she was ready for something hot and made fresh.

XxXxXxX

Haruka sat in the restaurant waiting. She'd called up Hiro and asked him to join her for lunch. The door opened and a tall man wearing a thick heavy jacket with the hood pulled on stepped inside. Haruka stared for a moment, but then she saw the sunglasses and realized who it way.

"Hiro! Hiro, over here!" She called, waving an arm. Hiro walked over to the table she sat and slid into a seat.

"It has been a long time Haruka." He said. Haruka giggled.

"Yep, six years is a long time. How've you been?" She asked.

"Fine." He answered. A waitress walked over and gave Hiro a nervous look.

"Are we ready to order?" She asked.

"Not yet, we're waiting for one more person." Haruka replied.

"Would you like something to drink?"

"Water." Hiro said.

"Same here." The waitress walked off and the two fell into silence. A few minutes later, the door opened again and a woman with thick brown hair entered. The markings on her cheeks told Haruka who she was instantly. "Kana!" She called to the woman. Behind the woman, two very large dogs sat outside, looking bored. Kana approached the table and sat down next to Hiro.

"Hey Haruka, I heard you joined the Guard." Kana said.

"Yep." Haruka grinned. "I hear you've been doing well." Kana nodded.

"Kuromaru wanted to come in and see you, but most places don't let them in anymore since they got so big." Kana said nodding towards the two dogs sitting next to the door.

"I'll say hi later than." Haruka decided. The waitress returned and took their orders and dropped off three glasses of water.

"So, what's it like in the Guard?" Kana asked.

"It's great, except, I'm the only woman out of the twelve of us." She said.

"That sucks."

"Yeah, but some of them say that I hardly act like a woman so they forget that I am one sometimes." Kana laughed at that. "Mamoru, my partner is off with Hideki-sama. He volunteered to watch over the brat for the day so I could see a few friends." She said.

"The daimyo's son must be a handful." Kana remarked.

"Yeah, thinks he can have everything he wants. The only reason Mamoru and I were chosen to be his guards was because I was the only woman, and he had to take my partner with me." Haruka rolled her eyes.

"It seems that he does not truly care about the things he should care about." Hiro said. The two women had forgotten he was there, he was so quiet.

"That's what Hinari said. She and her students were staying in the same hotel we're in; she caught him sneaking out the front door to find a few prostitutes. She made him stay in the lobby until Mamoru and I showed up. She told him that if he didn't get his act together, Fire Country would be screwed when he becomes daimyo." Haruka said.

"She's got a point. But, I haven't seen Hinari at all since she got back, I heard a lot of people talking about it, but I still haven't seen her." Kana said.

"Nor have I."

"She's around, spends most of her time here with Takuro." Haruka said.

"Of course." Kana smirked. The door to the restaurant opened and the subject of their conversation walked in.

"Speak of the devil." Haruka muttered. "Hey, Hinari, come join us!" She called. Hinari spotted her and walked over.

"Hey guys, haven't seen any of you in a while." Hinari said.

"Yeah, I haven't seen you at all." Kana said. Hinari grinned. "Did Kuromaru or Tsukishiro say anything on your way in?" She asked suddenly.

"No, they just gave me a nod." Hinari said.

"It has been too long Hinari." Hiro said.

"It has, hasn't it Hiro. Dear god man, I can hardly see your face anymore. Hell, I don't even know what your face looks like under those sunglasses." Hinari remarked.

"It's okay Hinari, even I, his old teammate still don't know what he looks like." Haruka said. Hinari and Kana laughed at this. Hinari noticed that Hiro's cheeks were a tad pink from the comment, but she didn't say anything about it. A waitress took Hinari's order and hurried off.

Once everyone's meal arrived they began to eat, not really talking, but still enjoying themselves. When everyone finished they paid for the food and left. Haruka said hi to Kuromaru and he responded by knocking her over and giving her face a thorough washing.

"Kuromaru!" Kana snapped. He stopped and moved away from Haruka.

"Sorry." He said.

"He talks." Hinari commented.

"Yeah, most do eventually learn to talk." Kana said. "Even those foxes you run with talk don't they?"

"Yeah, they do." Hinari replied. "Well, I gotta get going, it was nice seeing you three again, see you later!" Hinari ran off.

XxXxXxX

Orochimaru couldn't believe that he'd lost another spy. But, it hardly mattered now; it was almost time to go. Just another couple of weeks and they'd be ready. He rose from his seat and walked down the hall towards the Jinchuuriki he'd been holding captive. As usual, the boy sat in the farthest corner, never speaking, and hardly making a sound. He knew that the boy feared what he was, but Orochimaru grinned. He planned on turning the boy's fear into rage and anger, the easiest way to release the demon within. Of course, the process would be sped up a bit.

Though the boy was just his Plan B in case anything went wrong, it was never a bad thing to not have him fully prepared. Orochimaru watched the boy rock back and forth in his crouched position. After a while, he grew bored and walked away. He came to a large opening deep within his stronghold where his troops were being trained. He knew that they were all very well trained and could stand up to Konoha's standard forces, but he knew there were several among the masses of Konoha shinobi who stood out. Based on his sources, the most outstanding ones all seemed to come from the same graduating classes as well. He could name off the ones that would prove the most difficult ones on both hands, fortunately enough. But still, it would make things difficult, since not only were those few dangerous, but capable of taking on many opponents all at once.

Orochimaru stared down at the troops and grinned, unlike his last failed ambition, this one was guaranteed to work. Especially since Iwagakure had agreed to help. They were still sore from their loss to Konoha's Yellow Flash in the last Great Shinobi War. Of course, they had no idea that they'd be facing the grandchildren of said man, both of which were counted among the most dangerous of the still active shinobi. The time was almost right and he was shaking with anticipation. His long snake-like tongue protruded his mouth and flicked out for a moment. It retracted back into his mouth and he laughed hysterically at Konoha's fall.

XxXxXxX

Konohamaru reached for a cup of tea sitting on his desk but stopped when the clay cup shattered, spilling the hot liquid over the desk and ruining a scroll he was writing. Konohamaru narrowed his eyes and swiveled in his chair to look up at the sun. And sure enough, just like thirty-two years ago, the sun encircled by a rainbow. 'Orochimaru.'

There we go, faster than what I've been putting up lately, for Temari Sabaku Nara who asked me very nicely to do this since she wanted to read next chapter before she goes on vacation. So, I'll have next chapter up soon, I wanna get as much as possible done before I go back to school in a month. And, I shall decide on Tsubaki and Asuma's daughter's name later, please review!

Hyouton: Tezawari Hyouketsu no JutsuIce Release: Freezing Touch Technique

Hinari could feel it; the village had become even tenser since Eiji's execution. She sat on the Hokage Monument, sitting on her father's head. It'd been so long since she been up here, it was nostalgic, but she had no time to think of such memories now. No, not when Konoha was on the brink of war, she could feel it. She could hear it, the birds didn't sing as loudly as normal, she could smell it, and the fear in the forest dwelling creatures was obvious. She knew it was coming, she knew that it was inevitable, no matter what.

All that she could do was wait, wait and hope that Konoha could mobilize fast enough to stop the invasion before they lost. Konoha wasn't short on troops, this was the most they'd had since the last invasion a little over thirty years ago. She looked up at the sun and saw the rainbow that circled around the golden orb. She was aware of the omen, she'd seen Konohamaru staring at it too, and it seemed she wasn't the only one who was familiar with it. A crow cawed and landed next to Hinari. It hopped closer and she saw that there was a small scroll strapped to its leg. Hinari recognized the crow to belong to an informant in Iwa. She untied the scroll and unrolled it, reading it quickly.

Iwa has joined the Snake. Be prepared

That was all that it said. Hinari gasped, she nodded to the bird and watched it rise into the sky. Hinari stood up and ran from the Monument headed towards the Hokage's office, the scroll gripped tightly in her hand.