Pairing: eventual Kakanaru; some SasuNaru, some KakaTenzou

Rating: PG-15

Disclaimer: All characters depicted in sexual situations in this post/fanfiction/fanart (including material in the comments) are fictional and are intended to be and considered to be by the author of said material of the legal age of consent in the United States state of California, regardless of what age these characters may be in the material they are derived from. Also, song is "Storm" by Lifehouse.

Notes: I did make the Whirlpool Village have the Kansai dialect; but it won't play much of a part, but I thought I would mention that it is a true dialect. Un-betaed.


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How long have I been in this storm?
So overwhelmed by the oceans shapeless form.

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Arriving in Iwagakure at around two o'clock am the following morning they were both panting and tired from having not taken a break for camp that night. Neither had felt tired and by the time they had they were a half hour outside of their destination. Both had felt the press to get there sooner rather than later, the thought of all those people trapped in buildings and systems such as what Keiko had just been through pushed them forward. None of those people deserved the way they were being treated, and since the operation was illegal Keiko was one to take responsibility of making sure it was stopped. The guards allowed them in on viewing the identification cards, The Lion was uncomfortable as he wasn't used to walking through the front gate to a city. They still didn't speak to one another, but were instead led directly to the Tsuchikage's office.

Upon entering the two were slightly tensed. As their alliance with Earth Country was pending, they had to handle this cautiously and carefully. All nodded at one another, then the Fire Country's Hontokage spoke.

"I'm here regarding the corrupt businesses," The Kage before him nodded and Keiko continued, "Fire Country succeeded in infiltrating the system of warehouses, however the position was compromised. Since then we have regarded all information and concluded that Namikaze Keiko and ANBU Operative Lion will lead the system to its destruction." The Tsuchikage narrowed dark eyes at him in thought before speaking.

"The systems are ours to deal with; however your assistance would be greatly appreciated." The tones held a note in them that Keiko couldn't quite interpret. It wasn't threatening, he could be sure of that. Desperation sounded correct though. Keiko nodded, knowing full well that to argue this point could get them turned back to Konoha with a failed mission. The Kage before him made a motion with one hand and the doors opened to reveal a Jounin: the one that Keiko knew well. Kaya was her name, though her family name was one he didn't remember. He nodded to her, the eerily thin female voice floating through the air.

"Ah, Namikaze-san." The Lion eyed this new woman, unsure of whether she could be trusted, but as Keiko responded with his normal apathetic tone, he relaxed and allowed his eyes to wander. The conversation that followed just exchanged information related to the infiltration and what Earth Country already knew.

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The waters getting harder to tread
With these waves crashing over my head.

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The Lion and Keiko were settled into a hot spring bath an hour after they arrived at Iwagakure. The Lion's removed mask was only within Keiko's presence showed dark eyes that matched his dark hair; his likeness to Nara Shikamaru was slightly daunting, but it was obvious that they were not related. Keiko spoke only once they had soaked for a while.

"Did you notice anything about the Tsuchikage? Or Kaya for that matter?" Keiko's tone was thick: thoughts of this were at the forefront of his brain, also the problem of the shady businesses being run and Earth Country not doing anything to reveal the perpetrators was thrusting itself into the matter. The Lion thought. The Kage had seemed distracted, especially once Kaya entered the room. Kaya, The Lion figured, must be an integral part of whatever was going on. Perhaps it was as simple as a love affair; perhaps it was something as complicated as treason. He spoke.

"Tsuchikage-sama seemed distracted; once Kaya entered the room it only seemed worse. Kaya is the Hontokage, correct?" Keiko's abrupt nod gave him the answer he knew already. Then the blond turned towards him, blue eyes twinkling.

"What is your true name?" The Lion blinked. What an odd boy this was: to think that Danzou-sama might still have records of who they had been was ridiculous. Why would he keep something like that hidden from his followers? In any case, his 'true name' wouldn't matter especially to him, as he didn't relate to it in any way.

"I suppose I do not relate myself to any name. Even 'Lion' is only a codename." Keiko's head tilted to the side, blond locks hung in damp chunks off the side.

"But the Hontokage has a name. Why should you not? I don't find it very fair that Danzou-sempai is with-holding such information. I suppose his followers would be different if they had names, though." Keiko turned back to face out, sapphire eyes still dancing. "I do think that Kaya has something to do with this whole ordeal. We should be careful in the future."

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if I could just see you everything would be alright.
If I could see you the darkness would turn to light
And I will walk on water, and you will catch me if I fall

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Five days later and something happened that drastically changed the motion in which the mission was going in. A subdued pace of meeting ANBU and falling into a rhythm of creating plans and blueprints was making The Lion jittery, where as Keiko seemed used to waiting for others to make a move. Keiko's relaxation ended up showing that even a Hontokage can make slip-ups.

The day dawned bright; Keiko was up and dressed, kicking at The Lion's foot, while cursing at a scroll that wouldn't come unraveled. The Lion groggily sat up, only to get a wildly flailing elbow connecting to his cheekbone. He blinked and frowned as Keiko's face brightened considerably.

"We leave to get the first business destroyed today. Finally, we're getting somewhere." The Lion proceeded to scrub his face and get dressed, wondering how it was that the Hontokage could be such a kid at times, but otherwise be completely stoic. The Lion was ready to go, the scroll was burned, and they headed out the door. Meeting up with the others was easy enough, Kaya wasn't present, but then again she hadn't been for any of the planning either. Suspicious as that should have been, they thought nothing of it. They headed out.

It was half a day out in the blistering heat, rock surrounding them on all sides that they were ambushed. Keiko had called for an all halt, a kunai with an exploding tag whistled through the air, the kunai whizzed right through Keiko's blond hair. Sapphire eyes burned brightly behind his mask, all shinobi reached for weapons. The tag exploded the rock, shrapnel fell around; dust hid the attackers. Three experienced shinobi fell within seconds: one sure hit from the assailants. Keiko dodged left, going back to back with another of the team: the one ANBU left other than himself and The Lion. Sharp metal collided with metal, footsteps sounded as The Lion backed into his two allies. The dust settled; the attackers had fled. It was at this moment when Keiko understood the severity of this mission. It was crucial to get this member of the ANBU through: otherwise all blame would fall to The Lion and himself. It would be a perfect set up for chaos. War would ensue. They would turn back. Keiko spoke.

"We will return to Iwagakure. Leave the bodies, we can retrieve them later." The ANBU looked at the downed men then gave a nod to Keiko. They worked their way back to Iwagakure. It was devastated: buildings were abandoned; there were dead citizens and shinobi alike. The clash of battle was long since quieted. Keiko took stock of their surroundings. No one alive was around them, but there were some there. Iwagakure was a big city: something of this nature would have had to come from someone who knew the city well. The remaining ANBU voiced the thoughts of the small group.

"Kaya…"

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And I will get lost into your eyes
And everything will be alright, and everything will be alright.

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They moved through the destroyed city in a small wave, but sure enough: resistant shinobi were scattered, overwhelmed but alive. Keiko's look was grim, he invited the shinobi to combine forces with him and they would return to Konoha for much-needed back up. Some agreed without hesitation, liking the sound of being in league with the Fire Country's Hontokage, while others were hard-pressed to nod their heads. The Lion did not judge these men and women harshly; he would have been just as reluctant to seemingly abandon Konoha in the same situation. In the end they had a group of eight, which suited Keiko fine; no one had felt obligated to remain in the ghost city. The group made their way to the Tsuchikage's office, wondering if the Kage had been evacuated, assassinated, or kidnapped. Keiko threw open the door, the Tsuchikage sat with his hands folded in front of his face.

"Namikaze Keiko-sama, thank Kami." He breathed a sigh and Keiko strode forward. Kunai up and pointed towards the Kage he spoke.

"What is the meaning of this?" The Tsuchikage's eyes cast down, like a scolded child. It was only after a moment that the man spoke.

"Kaya left me alive so that way I could talk to you. I am not on her side, but I have been forced to keep this quiet until now." Keiko waited patiently. "Kaya is the leader of this 'movement', all of the businesses. They kidnap shinobi and citizens and sell them to other countries to use as militia, slaves, whatever is needed." The seven others were listening. One started to question the Kage, but Keiko silenced him with the wave of a hand. The Tsuchikage continued.

"Kaya is the only reason why these businesses can run in such a way. She has many followers: more than even I could have guessed. She plans to take over the shinobi villages." Within a moment Keiko backed up, eyes wide. Words flew from his mouth.

"Get out now, it's a trap!" The Lion signaled a split, and the remaining seven went in two different directions, Keiko backing towards the door. The Tsuchikage looked at him with a saddened expression, shifting to stand. Keiko pleaded with him.

"Please, Tsuchikage-sama, you don't need to do this." The Kage's resigned voice filled the room.

"There's no other way." The man stood as Keiko made a hand seal. A wire tugged, setting off a series of exploding tags and bombs within the tower. The seven had barely made it outside. They looked back, The Lion's eyes darkening at the thought that Keiko could be injured. A displacement of air beside him made him alert, but when he drew his weapon the familiar voice sounded.

"Friend." The Lion relaxed, turning his head to see that the Hontokage was not harmed. Keiko looked grimly back at The Lion, then at the group behind his friend.

"I apologize; I should have seen it sooner. I should have attempted to get your leader out of danger." Sapphire eyes stared hard at the dirt, seemingly ready for harsh criticism, yet none came. The shinobi were quiet.

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I know you didn't bring me out here to drown,
So why am I ten feet under and upside down.
Barely surviving has become my purpose
'cause I'm so used to living underneath the surface.

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The ANBU headquarters were quiet. The Hokage was asleep soundly in his bed and Konoha seemed to be in a pleasant lull as businesses were closed and the citizens were at home for the night. The sound of footsteps was brought on the wind: a messenger was on her way.