Eagle One
Chapter Nine: Break and Enter
Disclaimer: Again?
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Mika held up her hand, fist up, the signal to stop, the coordinated team freezing in their tracks, she opened her fist and pointed left with three fingers and right with three more and the group silently divided up. Mika approached Neji, commander of the other detachment, "Okay..." she whispered, "We need to maintain full noise and light discipline, we're only five hundred meters from Kumogakure's first wall. Operation will begin at 0230, your detachment is to hit the left side,"
Neji nodded, "Yes ma'am," he said, "And our mission is to liberate the targets?"
"Yes," Mika said, "Remember the plan and stick to it. You have about fifteen minutes to accomplish your objective and withdraw,"
"Mika-chan," Tenten whispered, "What if we exceed our planned time?"
Mika gritted her teeth, "Then you should move on singularly to the rally point if your mission time exceeds twenty plus minutes, my detachment will provide a distraction until plus thirty to plus fifty minutes so you can get away,"
"Remember, blue means we're go, red means we've stalled," Tenten said, looking around to the other members of the squad, receiving quick nods in return.
Naruto grinned, "Let's do this," he said.
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Lee pried up the loose rock in the side of the cell, opening a small hole in the wall, the cold air outside blowing in, "Hey Sai..." he said quietly, "Any word from the Hokage on our status?"
The person on the other side was silent, his hands trembling slightly as he stood with a pained expression on his face, "I'm sorry..." he whispered, sliding a kunai into the hole. Lee blinked in surprise and caught the kunai before it fell onto the ground, "I'm so sorry..." the spy said again, "I tried to convince them... please... believe me..." the spy felt new emotion swell up in him, emotions that until a few years ago he had been trained not to feel, "If it's of any consolation.. they made it back safely..."
Hinata perked up at that, her face approaching the hole, "N.. Naruto-k.. kun is safe?" she asked urgently.
"Both of them reached Konoha with no real injuries..." the spy paused and shoved his hand as far as he could into the hole, "You... you did well..."
Lee smiled painfully, he knew what had happened, there was a chance of it all along. He grabbed his friend's hand and squeezed tightly, "Keep up your great work," he said, "Konoha needs your skills vitally, don't get caught..."
Hinata glanced in surprise at the squad leader and then shook the spy's hand too, "Goodbye Sai.." she said softly.
Sai swallowed loudly, his black eyes darting downward, "Goodbye..." he said, he quickly pulled his hand out of the hole and turned, walking away quickly, trying to keep the tears from flowing down his face but failing.
Lee grasped the kunai and stared at the kanji emblazoned on it. Hinata stared at it as well, the meaning of it slowly sinking in. The kanji insignia was 'death'.
"L.. L.. Lee-san.." Hinata said softly, apparently frightened, "D.. Don't those u.. usually say... 'hope'?" Lee sighed, breaking the kunai in half again and retrieving the two pills that tumbled out, Hinata's eyes widened, the usual medical supplies were nowhere to be seen. "L.. Lee-san?"
Lee stared at the pills in his hand sadly, his mind set on what he had to do, "Hinata-chan..." he said, "When any special forces branch of Konoha has members that are captured... they are still supplied with medical supplies in whichever manner is the most viable... until they are considered a threat to Konoha's security," he took another deep breath and Hinata's eyes visibly widened, "The captives are at first given the 'hope' kunai, to keep up their strength in case of rescue... then... if no rescue is planned on being sent... they get the 'death' kunai..." he gestured toward the small pills in his hand, "In order to eliminate the risk to Konoha... it is... our duty to remove the threat..."
Hinata's hand shot up to her mouth in a shocked gesture, "N.. No.." she said, "H.. How can they a.. ask us to d.. do that?"
Lee shook his head sadly, "If they manage to get us to talk then we will have much more blood on our hands than our own..."
Hinata looked down, knowing full well that his words were true, she silently accepted her fate, the tears running down her face, "Yes sir.." she said softly, "O.. Our lives for K.. Konoha..."
Lee shook his head, "Do not call me sir Hinata-chan.. not now.." he smiled, "We die as friends..."
Hinata nodded, "O.. Okay Lee-san.." she said. She solemnly took a pill out of Lee's trembling hand, her hand closing around it tightly.
Lee swallowed loudly, his hands trembling but his mind completely set, "Shall I go first?" he said softly. Hinata looked at him sadly and nodded her head. Lee took a deep breath, positioning his hand over his mouth solemnly, closing his eyes before tipping the pill in.
---
"Razor Three!" Razor Two yelled, "Razor One says we have to clear this entire building! Get to it, you're on point!"
"Sir!" Razor Three yelled, running down the hallway, his squad at his back, "Sir! Door ahead! Orders?"
"Button hook entry!" Razor One ordered, "Razor Three! You're up! Hit that hard!"
"Sir!" Razor Three yelled, he burst forward, spinning quickly and slamming into the door, knocking it off its hinges, "Dainammiku Entori!" he yelled, launching into the room and kicking the defending ninja inside against the walls.
Razor Two drew his chakra into his body and slammed a fist into the nearest enemy and accidentally slamming him into Razor Three, "Hey watch out rookie," Razor Two snarled, "You might be a rookie but if you can't help at least stay out of the way!"
Razor Three shrugged off the body of the enemy ninja, "Yes sir.." he said meekly.
"Hey Razor Two! Calm down with the kid, it's only his first year!" Razor Five yelled from the back of the squad.
"Shut up Five," Razor Two growled, "Stupid rookies always trying to upstage their betters,"
"All of you, shut up!" Razor One snapped, the squad quit the squabbling immediately but the squad members were still glaring at each other angrily. "You know the mission, no one gets out..."
"Yes sir!" Razor Four said, casually killing one gasping enemy nin with a kunai. The squad spread out among the halls, killing each enemy ninja they found in the garrison, the death cries of brave men echoing in the air.
Razor One frowned and looked down, his foot grazing something that felt different from the rest of the floor. He stopped and tapped his foot on it, the portion of the ground making a hollow thump, "Well what do we have here?" he muttered. He reached down and forced open the trapdoor, frowning at the occupants of the small room, the elderly and infants huddled together, shying away from the blood covered Captain.
"Don't come any closer!" a genin squeaked as he brandished a kunai, "Leave us alone!"
Razor One smiled behind his mask menacingly, "Or you'll do what little boy?" he said, stepping forward and crushing two of the traps that the genin has set, "If you can threaten me like that, you must have something good waiting right?"
"Stay away you monsters!" An elderly woman yelled, "We've done nothing to you!"
Razor One nodded, acting as if he cared about that at all. "But you're the families of our enemies... thus... our enemies as well," he smiled again, the menace pouring from his eyes. He slowly drew out his katana and stalked forward. Genin Yasou Hideki was no fool. He knew he would die... he knew he had no chance against a ninja possibly infinitely more powerful than he was... but he also knew he had to try. He ran forward, throwing several kunai at the ANBU Captain. The Captain simply reached up, snatching each individual kunai out of the air before it came anywhere near his body. "Is that all little baby ninja?" he said amusedly, "What was it that you were trying to accomplish with that pathetic display?"
"G.. Go away," the genin stammered, "L.. Leave us alone..."
The ANBU Captain shook his head, speeding forward and slamming the genin to the ground. The genin coughed, blood dribbling from his mouth. "You should have run," Razor One said, grinning wickedly, "Then at least you would have survived..."
"Never..." the genin said weakly as he formed several seals. 'I'll make you proud, dad...' he thought, 'I'll use that jutsu... to buy them a little time...' the genin took a deep breath and forced his chakra into the seals. The genin reached out and grabbed the ANBU Captain's arm tightly, "ENJOU HIDETOKERU NO JUTSU!" he yelled, the chakra flowing through his body and overloading each one of his inner coils. The ANBU Captain's eyes widened, he had never expected something of the caliber. Razor One tried to move away but found his arm still held in the vice-like grip of the genin, "Now.." the genin gasped, "It's over..." the genin's eyes flashed triumphantly for a second before they turned red, the blood vessels in his eyes bursting. Razor One couldn't move, he tried canceling his chakra flow but found that nothing would grant him reprieve, his suit started to smolder, the black cloth erupting into flame. Yasou grimaced painfully as he drew his final breath, 'Did I do good dad?' he thought, 'I protected them just like you wanted... I... did well... right?'
Razor Two and Three thundered down the steps just in time to see both ninja bursting into pillars of blue fire, the screams of the squad leader echoing around the room. "Razor One!" Razor Two and Three yelled. Razor Two paused, a small smile flitting across his face as he realized that he was now in command. "Kill the vermin," he spat venomously, pointing toward the huddled and terrified civilians.
Razor Three stiffened, his dark eyes clouding with indecision, "S.. Sir..." he stammered, "T.. They are innocent civilians..."
Razor Two growled and walked forward, slamming the rookie against the wall, "I must have not heard you right, rook..." he said menacingly, "When I order you to do something... you do it... without question,"
"Sir! We cannot do this!" Razor Three yelled, "They have done nothing w.."
The sound of the strike echoed around the room, several small children huddling closer from the fierce sound. Razor Two drew his hand back, "You must not understand the situation.." he spat as he pointed at the charred remains of the squad leader. "That used to be your squad leader, THEY killed him, you must avenge him,"
"No sir!" Razor Three yelled, "They are not our enemies!"
"YOU INSUBORDINATE ROOKIE!" Razor Two yelled, "FOLLOW MY ORDERS RIGHT NOW!"
"NO SIR!"
Razor Two growled in annoyance, pushing the resolute ANBU out of the way, "Then stay out of my way while I do it..." he said, slipping a kunai from its sheath.
---
"I always hoped I could repent for that day before I died.." Lee whispered quietly. He took a breath shakily and began to swallow.
Hinata's white eyes trembled as she also held the pill up to her mouth, her life flashing before her.
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Hinata gasped as she hit the floor, her breath coming in tortured gasps from her injured lungs. "Otousan.. I... I'm sorry... I... I can't.."
"Get up Hinata..." Hiashi said threateningly, "Get up and fight your sister..."
"I can't!" Hinata gasped, "Please Otousan! Don't make me fight her!"
"Are you scared Onee-chan?" Hanabi said quietly, her pale eyes glaring at her sister triumphantly, "Are you scared because you know I am better?"
Hinata took a deep breath and stood up again, her Byakugan staring down her younger sister's. Hinata shuddered and drew into her form, advancing slowly, "Hinata! You are an ANBU now, why do you continue to lose to your younger sister who is only a Chunin? Have you no shame?" Hiashi demanded, "You will disgrace our house again!"
Hanabi didn't even wait for her father to finish his lecture. She propelled herself forward, her short legs acting like pistons and bringing her within striking distance of her sister. "Hakke Kusho!" she yelled, expelling a small wave of chakra. Hinata dodged it easily but allowed the side of the attack to clip her side. She drew her palm back and drove it into her sister's unprotected chest, Hanabi's eyes widened as she felt the pressure but no killing rush of chakra, no pain. "You can't do it can you?" she said softly, "You're not strong enough..."
Hinata trembled, her hand still pressed softly against Hanabi's chest. She was about to surge a small amount of chakra into her palm when she suddenly saw her mother's gentle face where Hanabi's had been only moments ago. "Okasan?" Hinata said softly. "Okasan?" she drew her hand back, her eyes threatening to spill tears. Hanabi smiled, she had always known that her sister couldn't hurt her, she was just too gentle. Hinata gasped as the palm struck her on the stomach, the chakra flowing into her body and striking several vital organs. Hanabi smiled and poured the chakra in less quickly, letting Hinata feel each and every bit of the chakra she was pumping into her inner coils. Hinata fell to her hands and knees, her chest on fire, and her eyes blurry. The older girl blearily glanced upward just in time to see another blow falling toward her and roll out of the way, her upper body feeling useless.
"Stop this nonsense and finish her Hanabi!" Hiashi yelled, "We must begin your studies,"
Hinata grimaced, her sad eyes refocusing on her younger sister. She already knew what was going to happen to Hanabi if she didn't obey their father's orders immediately. "Do it Hanabi-chan..." she said quietly so their father could not overhear, "Quickly..."
Hanabi frowned, "What are you talking about Onee-chan?"
"Quickly, make the blow," Hinata whispered, "Do it.."
"Do you think I need your charity?" Hanabi yelled, "I am superior to you! I don't need you to act all sisterly toward me!"
Hinata drew her hands up as she saw her father glare in her direction. She dropped low, blocking several attacks coming toward her already aching chest and jumped up and around Hanabi, using the smaller girl to hide her motions from her father. Hanabi growled in annoyance and lunged forward, sending a chakra-infused palm whistling toward Hinata's head. Hinata smiled sadly and dropped her guard, taking the blow square to the jaw, and a quick burst of chakra later she slumped to the ground, unconscious.
---
She shivered again, her tears flowing ever faster, "I'm so sorry Okasan.. I couldn't keep my promise..." she said, "Please.. please forgive me... I.. I am just not strong enough after all..."
The door to the cell suddenly slammed open, two guards quickly jumping in, Lee's eyes widened and he immediately swallowed but the first guard caught him by the throat, taking away his ability to swallow. Hinata found herself struggling weakly with the other guard as well, but losing quickly and losing possession of her pill, it being wrenched from her hand. The guard quickly glanced at the pill in his companion's hand and dug it out of the ANBU Captain's mouth, he inspected the pill critically, his eyes amused, "Cyanide..." he said, "They were ordered to kill themselves..."
The larger guard grinned, kicking the smaller girl painfully in the ribs, "Well they're going to wish it worked by the time we get through with them..."
"Leader said we were to interrogate them for information, and not hurt them too greviously.." the other guard said.
"Well forget what leader said.. it suddenly no longer applies," the other guard said, drawing a kunai with a sick grin, "I'm going to have some fun..."
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"Mission time minus thirty" Tenten said, "Repeat: Mission time minus thirty, preparing final entry protocol,"
"Affirmative," Neji said quietly, "We all know our entry protocol then?"
"Yeah, yeah, get on with it," Naruto said in a heavily annoyed voice, "Are we going to do this or not?"
"Shut up idiot," Neji said, "And that's 'Captain' or 'sir' to you while we're on field sortie..."
"I'll call you what I want since you're not even my captain!" Naruto whispered back.
"Stop it you two!" Tenten whispered urgently, "This is NOT what we need right now!"
"Idiot..." Neji said dryly, turning to Tenten, "Anyway... are the charges set up?"
"They're set up Neji.." she said confidently, "Two grams of cutting explosive on the hinges and a breaching explosive on ground level,"
"Good job Tenten," he said, "Hopefully that will do.."
Naruto suddenly stopped, his keen ears having heard a small crunching sound behind them. "Neji! I think there's someone here..."
"Don't be stupid," Neji snapped, "There isn't anyone within two hundred meters of.." he never got to finish his sentence, the kunai hovering near his neck making him freeze.
Naruto blinked in surprise as he suddenly had a kunai pressed tightly against his neck. An ANBU Captain strode out of the bushes in front of them solemnly, her mask smeared with black to camouflage it in the darkness of the night. "Temp Two, report," she said curtly.
"All three neutralized ma'am," he said, "They appear to be Konoha nin..."
The ANBU Captain sighed in annoyance as she walked up to Naruto, tapping his hitae-ate pointedly, "If you don't take this off, everyone knows where you come from... you could invariably start a war..."
"And who the hell are you?" Naruto demanded. He was getting angry, he couldn't see who this person was to tell him what he should or shouldn't do, "And who's side are you on?"
"You're here to rescue ANBU Captain Rock Lee, am I correct?" the captain said, "And ANBU level one Hyuuga Hinata?"
Tenten nodded, frowning in confusion, "But... how did you know?" she asked.
"Don't worry about that," she said, "Temp Three, Temp Four, Temp Five, release them, they're his squad,"
Neji took a deep breath as the kunai was pulled away from his throat, "So what are you guys doing here? Aren't you supposed to be on some extremely difficult mission?"
"We were," the Captain said, "But honestly, we find that getting back an old friend of ours is much more important," she smiled behind her mask, "I know you feel the same way, correct?"
"But..." Tenten said, "Why... here?"
"When Squad Tempest was still just a rookie squad, Lee was in it," the Captain said, "He fought with us, got injured with us, and cried with us. It's a bond we just can't break,"
"Squad Tempest?" Naruto echoed, "An ANBU squad?"
"Not just any ANBU squad idiot," Neji said with awe, "Squad Tempest,"
"And what exactly does that mean?" Naruto snapped, "I'm new remember?"
"Squad Tempest is currently ranked as Squad One," Tenten explained quickly, "That means that they're the best squad the ANBU has to offer right now..."
Naruto blinked, "No way!" he said, "What are you doing here?"
Tempest One sighed, "You don't really pay attention do you," she said, "If you don't know, I'm not going to waste my time explaining it,"
Tenten jumped over to Naruto, slamming her hand over his mouth before he could say anything, "Shut up," she said, "That Captain's the equivalent of a full ANBU Elite,"
"Anyway," Neji said, turning the conversation around, "Our mission time is.. Tenten?"
"Mission minus ten," she said softly.
"Are you going to go with us?" Neji asked, "Or would you prefer to execute your own strategy?"
Tempest One thought for a few seconds, frowning in concentration. "I assume you've rigged cutting charges on the door in a three hinge, one forward, intermediate route diametric angular set?"
"No ma'am," Tenten replied, "Three hinge, one forward, staggered pattern,"
"Tempest Six!" Tempest One yelled, "Front and Center!"
"Ma'am!" Tempest Six yelled, quickly running over to his Captain.
"Go check the rigging of the explosives on the door, change the configuration to three hinge, one forward, two reverse staggered, caissons at head level,"
"Shrapnel or fire?" Tempest Six asked.
"Both," she replied.
"Yes ma'am," Tempest Six yelled, stealthily disappearing into the surrounding undergrowth.
"Just watch us work.." Tempest One said, a hint of amusement in her voice, "Breaking and entering is our specialty after all..."
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"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY'RE 'GONE'?" Tsunade yelled, "WHERE DID THEY GO?"
"We don't know Hokage-sama!" the guard chunin yelled, "We just have confirmation that they left several days ago with what looked like survival rations,"
"Damn..." Kakashi muttered, "They went after them after all..."
"Kakashi! You knew and didn't tell me?" Tsunade yelled.
"You were never an ANBU were you Hokage-sama?"
"No... never,"
Kakashi took a deep breath, "You can't even begin to imagine the bonds that they have between them. They could never just let two of their own die,"
"So that's where you think Sakura went? With them on some half-assed operation?" Tsunade asked, "There is no way even Sakura would be that stupid,"
"Maybe she's discovered something about herself these past few days.." Kakashi said softly.
"Either way, we can't risk war with the Raikage, we're already having problems with Iwagakure, we can't fight a war on three fronts, we just can't..." Tsunade took a deep breath, shakily releasing it, "I'm going to have to declare them missing..."
"I won't let you do that Tsunade-sama..." Shizune said quietly, "I can't"
"What?" Tsunade said incredulously, "You can't be serious Shizune!"
"I am.." the dark haired girl said, "I won't let you hurt my family,"
"Shizune! Who are your loyalties to? I trained you! We've been together for years!"
"Tsunade-sama.. I think of you like a mother... but right now that squad needs me to be their mother, and to do that I have to protect them against every and anyone... even you..."
"Bring me what I need to declare them missing right now!"
"No, I won't let you..."
"Shizune... a war... we're trying to avoid a war... we're too weakened to fight them... we have to sacrifice some so the majority may live..."
"I... I know Tsunade-sama..." Shizune's eyes suddenly flashed with defiance, "But I won't sacrifice them for that goal, I absolutely refuse.."
"Shizune, you don't understand the consequen..."
"NO!" Shizune yelled, "I UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES, I UNDERSTAND THAT I COULD CAUSE A WAR! I DON'T CARE! I WANT THEM BACK!"
"YOU IDIOT!" Tsunade yelled back, her face flushing red, "THIS CONCERNS THE ENTIRE VILLAGE! I WON'T LET KONOHA BE DESTROYED BECAUSE YOU WANT TO PROTECT SOME PEOPLE WHO MAY START A WAR!"
"Tsunade-sama.." Kakashi said, "What if they pull the operation off? What if it actually works? Could you live with knowing you just condemned those kids?"
"Kakashi-san," Shizune said, "Is there something you haven't told us?"
"I've called in assistance for them,"
Tsunade's head snapped up, her eyes surveying Kakashi with a tiny hint of annoyance, "And you never informed me of this, WHY?"
"I sent some of my ninken to fetch Squad Tempest,"
"TEMPEST?" Tsunade yelped, "But they're on a mission!"
Shizune nodded knowingly, "So they're going to help Lee since he used to be in their squad?"
"Exactly," Kakashi said, "They'll get them out,"
"But even Squad Tempest can't possibly beat those odds," Tsunade said, "It's the few of them against all of the ninja in Kumogakure.."
"All of the ninja in Kumogakure against Tempest and the Eagle combined?" Shizune said, faking surprise, "That much? Wow... that's horrible," Shizune smiled sweetly, "Poor guys are going to be so bored... I think Kumogakure's going to need some help.."
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Orochimaru smiled as the last ninja slumped to the ground, blood running freely down his face. The Snake Sannin grinned evilly, dispersing his chakra from the ring. Kabuto stood nearby, his face pale from fright, "Orochimaru-sama..." he said softly, "How..."
The Sannin felt a surge of power as he surveyed the small ring, "And only at twenty percent strength... the Tears are powerful indeed..."
"Only twenty percent Orochimaru-sama?" Kabuto said, apparently shocked, "But..." his eyes surveyed the scene before them, the extreme carnage before him making even him feel ill, "But... the power..."
"Now do you see why we must obtain all of the Tears before the Akatsuki?" Orochimaru said softly, "Nothing else is important..."
Kabuto glanced at the ring with newfound respect, almost fear. "The Tears of Blood are indeed powerful Orochimaru-sama..."
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"Mission time minus thirty seconds," Mika said, her hands starting to shake gently, "Final preparations..."
"I still say you should have put me on the rescue team.." Kiba muttered, "Naruto and his stupid excuses..."
"Aw shut it Kiba," Temari said, "You're just mad you can't get the credit for saving Lee!"
Kiba froze, his eyes becoming fully serious for a moment, "Shut up Temari," he said, "I have my reasons..."
---
Eagle Seven groped at the senbon that stuck out of his leg, "I'm hit!" he yelled, "Medic!"
"Eagle Five!" Eagle One yelled, "Get Eagle Seven to cover and treat him!"
Eagle Five ran forward under a covering hail of kunai from Eagle Two and dragged the injured Eagle Seven behind a low lying wall, "Damn it!" she yelled, "Eagle One! Poison! It's poisoned!"
"What?" Eagle One yelled, "Do you have any anti-toxins?"
"No sir! They're in my drop bag, three hundred meters to the left!"
Eagle One sighed and straightened up, "Hold fast Eagle Five!" he yelled, "We'll get you your drop bag! Try to keep the poison from spreading!" he threw a kunai at a silhouette and ran forward, dropping his weights resolutely.
"Eagle One! Are you crazy?" Eagle Three yelled, "What do you think you're doing?"
"Getting the drop bag!" he yelled back.
"But you're injured!" Eagle Two yelled, "And even if you weren't there's still over a battalion in that direction!"
"Eagle Seven deserves a chance to live..." he said resolutely, "I will not give up on him so easily,"
---
"And those are what?"Temari said jokingly, "Do you owe him your life or something?"
"I do.." Kiba said quietly.
"Well we all do, so don't think you have a monopoly on that," Mika whispered, "Now pay attention to the mission,"
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Tenten nodded to Neji who signaled in turn to Tempest One, "Mission time minus ten..." Neji whispered.
Tempest One nodded, her eyes alertly surveying everything, "Demolitions?"
Tempest Six nodded, "Checked and loaded Temp One,"
"Long Range initiative?"
"Ready Temp One," Tempest Four said.
"Entry team?"
Squad Tempest nodded, each flashing their squad leader a thumbs up, "All frosty ma'am," Tempest Two said.
"Let's hit those bastards hard and make them fear the name Tempest..."
"More than they already should?"
"Yes Naruto... more then they already should,"
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"Mission time minus three seconds and declining," Mika announced, "Prepare to move in,"
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"Time minus two," Tenten said, "Final preps! Repeat: We're moving in two,"
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"Time minus one..." Mika said haltingly.
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"Minus one," Tenten announced, her brown eyes anxious.
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"OPERATION BEGIN!" yelled Mika, Tempest One, and Tenten, all three shouts echoing into the darkness.
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Tempest Six nodded, turning a small dial in his hand. A bone-rattling explosion rocked the area as the first three cutting charges cut through the hinges on the doors, and a second thud reverberated as the large heavy gate slammed into the ground, "Door down ma'am! Waiting for secondary detonation orders!"
Tempest Four quickly stood, her taut bowstring twanging three times in quick succession, each followed by a muffled thump. "Guards neutralized ma'am," she said, "Three for three,"
"Squad Tempest! Move up!" Tempest One yelled, pulling a small dagger from a holster on her back. The squad leapt up as one, all of the experienced ANBU charging straight across the flat ground. Several enemy nin appeared in the destroyed doorway, the fear and confusion clear on their faces. "Temp Six! Secondary explosives are go!"
"Ma'am!" Tempest Six yelled, turning the dial in the other direction. The enemy nin froze as they spotted the caissons, small canisters with gas and metal fragments over an explosive charge. The caissons exploded with incredible force, the blast blowing the eardrums of the enemies. Enemies fell, all dead, dying, or greviously wounded as the twin explosions of shrapnel and flame slammed into their ranks.
Squad Tempest continued to sprint, trying to clear the open ground as fast as possible. Tempest One glanced up, her keen eyes finding enemy ninja trying to approach from above them. The poor fools. "Temp Four!" she yelled.
"Got it!" Tempest Four yelled. She drew three arrows in a flash, shooting all three at once and reaching in her quiver for more arrows, methodically shooting down enemy ninja. It seemed to the squad as if the sky was suddenly raining blood. Tempest Four never missed.
Tempest One leapt to the side, avoiding an enemy nin that had been impaled by an arrow in the side. The squad quickly ran into the blown gate, their boots easily carrying them through the small fires that still raged from the caissons, "Squad Tempest! Move in and secure the area!" Tempest One yelled.
"Ma'am!" Tempest Three yelled. He quickly leapt forward, his long scythe flashing in the night air.
Neji nudged Tenten and Naruto, his eyes impressed, "That would be our cue to move in," he said. The small team ran forward as well, the sounds of fighting slowly dying away. The team walked in timidly, each member glancing around at the dead all around them.
Tempest One sighed as Tempest Two gave her a quick situational report, "Thirty enemy nin killed and nine wounded in two minutes?" she shook her head sadly, "We're getting sloppy..."
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"RAIKAGE-SAMA! RAIKAGE-SAMA!" a jounin yelled as he knocked loudly on the door of his kage's room, "Please wake up Raikage-sama! We have a situation!"
The Raikage appeared, his long white hair flowing behind him, "A situation?" he said seriously, "What kind of situation?"
"Sir! We're being attacked from both the North gates and East gates! We don't even know how many there are! None of the scouts have returned sir!" the jounin screamed hysterically, "We've raised the full alert but it will take time sir! We can only assume they are heading here! You must evacuate immediately Raikage-sama!"
"Where are the invaders?" the Raikage demanded.
"They've breached into the city and are making their way HERE sir! We have to get you out of here! Right NOW!"
The Raikage frowned, his wrinkled forehead furrowing in concentration, "The prisoners.." he whispered. "They're here for the prisoners..."
"They must be ANBU from Iwagakure sir! Most likely acting on orders from the Kazangan clan! They must be angered that we have one of their main house members as a prisoner!"
"No! That isn't it," the Raikage snapped, "That's preposterous! It must be ANBU from Konoha here to rescue the two brats!"
"Regardless, Raikage-sama," the spy said, "We must evacuate you..." he tried to hide his amazement, he had been told nothing about any mission to rescue the two ANBU, he had to do his very utmost to stop from bursting out in overjoyed tears.
"Toyo... you knew nothing of this?" the Raikage demanded, "If it has gone through Konoha's chain of command you should have heard if it..."
The spy smiled, "Raikage-sama sounds as if he does not trust me... I assure you Raikage-sama... my loyalties lie to only you, none other,"
"Well the rat that crawls away from his master once may crawl away again..." the Raikage said softly, his eyes boring into that of the spy's, the black globes betraying no emotions, "And should be watched... carefully..."
"Ah, you are so wise Raikage-sama," the spy said, "I learn much from you," he gestured politely toward the door, "Shall we head on to the shelter?"
"WE will head to the shelter, YOU will stay here," the jounin said.
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"There are ANBU coming to liberate the prisoners! We have orders to eliminate them before that happens!" a Cloud nin yelled as he ran down the stairs.
The torturer smiled, "Well then.." he smiled widely at the two prisoners, their sweat soaked faces in themselves a testament to the horrifying pain they had just endured, "It was fun.. but it's over now..." he drew a sword from a sheath on his side and advanced, his face shining with the anticipation of the kill. He walked forward slowly, the fear on the two ANBU's faces reflecting in the shimmering blade. Lee glared defiantly back into the eyes of the enemy, a small smile tugging at the edge of his face, "What are you laughing at?" the guard snapped, "Have you finally snapped?"
"No," Lee said, grinning painfully, "I am laughing because you have not realized your fellow guard has had a recent change in hair color,"
"What?" the torturer said, his face drawing into a frown, "Are you insane?"
"Nope," the other guard said, stabbing a kunai into the torturer's back deftly, "You're just not very observant,"
As the torturer fell over and gasped his last he felt a final sting of shame, "Pink...? How the hell... did I miss... pink?" The last image to reach his sputtering brain was that of a soft smile and a flash of pink hair.
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"YOU WANNA DIE IN THE MUD?" Danzou yelled at the struggling recruit, "MOVE IT! YOU CALL YOURSELF A NE?"
"No sir!" the recruit gasped, "I mean... yes sir! Um... I don't know sir!" the recruit ducked under a kunai, the kunai coming close enough to actually clip away several of his hairs.
"You have the option to quit at anytime, scum," Danzou said calmly, "We don't need the weak in the Ne, go join the ANBU if you want to be slaughtered by the thousands with no purpose behind it,"
"And where are you going scum?" a Ne Elite called toward a Ne recruit that seemed to be striding away.
"My designation is Zulu Four, I am a member of the Fifty-ninth Intelligence Battalion serving under ANBU Elite Nara Shikamaru, and you are all under arrest for planned treason against the Godaime Hokage," the intelligence officer quickly drew a katana, "Any offensive or defensive move you make will be considered a threat and you will be neutralized for my own safety," the officer tightened his grip on the katana, "It'd be best if you'd just come quietly,"
Danzou chuckled, his hand moving under his cloak slowly, "Zulu One eh? So that Nara was smart enough to send you to look out for that blasted Hokage of yours?" he drew an object the officer had never seen before, a wide grin still plastered on his face, "You know what this is?" the ANBU officer didn't reply, his face twisted into a confused frown regardless. A loud bang echoed through the air, shattering the calm of the day with its blast. The ANBU officer gasped as a hole suddenly appeared in his chest. Danzou strolled over to him calmly, laying the barrel of the gun on the officer's forehead deftly, "What do you have to say now you're looking death in the eyes? Hm? Scared?"
The officer struggled to take a breath, his mind still reeling from the sudden damage, his lungs not functioning and a dull throb echoing through his chest as his vision blurred, "G.. G.. Godaime Hokage... and the ANBU.." he coughed, "These are what I die for... and I have no regrets,"
"Undoubtedly," a Ne Captain said, eying the dying ANBU with distaste, "You sentimental scum are all the same,"
"Well I would rather serve with scum then heartless bastards," the ANBU officer said, his face leering mockingly, "At least we can fight..."
"Enough fool," Danzou said, cocking the hammer on his pistol again, he smiled around at all of the startled Ne recruits and Ne operatives around him, "Let this be the first blood spilt for our new reign in Konoha!" The ANBU officer closed his eyes and a loud blast sealed his fate.
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"Sakura-chan?" Naruto yelled, "What are you doing here?"
"Not watching your backs anymore..." Sakura said softly, "Becoming my own person," she quickly wiped the dagger on her blouse, her face paling slightly as she saw the blood.
"Good job Sakura," Neji said brusquely, "I see you've already secured the packages," he walked over to the two, smiling faintly, "Hey Lee," he said gently, patting his friend lightly on the back, "Are you and Hinata-sama okay?" he asked, concern tinting his voice.
Hinata coughed painfully and turned over, her consciousness fading quickly, "Hinata-Imoutochan," she said softly.
"N.. Neji?" Lee said incredulously, as if he couldn't believe his own eyes, "What are you doing here?" He couldn't even begin to try to believe that Sakura would be there, it just didn't register in his mind.
"What do you think we're doing here?" Neji said, "We're getting you out of here since you can't do it yourselves,"
"But Neji..." Lee said softly, "Remember what you told me back in command training? 'ANBU never go back for their own',"
"They don't," Neji said softly, "But oddly enough, it just happens that WE do,"
"T.. Thank you..." Lee coughed, his strength leaving him and causing him to slump to the ground once more.
The sound of running met their ears and Neji slung Lee over his shoulders, Naruto slinging the smaller Hyuuga girl over his, "Let's move!" Neji ordered, "Tenten! Hail kunai down that corridor, if anything moves, make sure it stops moving!"
"Okay Neji!" Tenten yelled, turning and unrolling several scrolls, "Tobidogu!" Lee shuddered as blood flew and bodies thudded, his vision blurred and he fell into the soft grasp of unconsciousness.
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"He's up!"
Lee looked around blearily, not really having his eyes focus on anything. White. A sterile, unnatural smell. Fluorescent Lights. He was in the hospital. "W.. What happened?" he said groggily.
"You're back," an unidentifiable voice said, "You're home,"
Lee squinted his eyes, gazing through the haze of pain to the people assembled all around his bed, "S.. Squad?" he said, "I.. Is Hinata-chan okay?"
"That's beyond the point," another voice cut in, this one harsh and grating, "How much did you reveal to the interrogators?" Lee felt a hand grab him by the front of his shirt and hoist him up a few inches, "You told them everything didn't you?" the nasty voice continued, "I bet you told them everything!"
"Please let my Captain down Danzou..." another voice said softly, subtle menace coming from the voice, "He most likely has told them nothing..."
"But how do you know?" the nasty voice demanded, "He could have broken!"
"Then would they continue to torture him? And if so, for what purpose? Don't be absurd!" another voice yelled.
"You overstep your boundaries Shizune!"
"And maybe you don't exactly know yours, or are too stupid to follow them!"
"You impudent..."
"STOP!" a voice rang out loudly, "If you are going to argue LEAVE,"
"Yes Hokage-sama.." the voices said, one embarrassed, the other angry.
Lee blinked his eyes, trying to clear his vision and saw the familiar silhouettes dissolve into comprehendable images, "Hokage-sama?" he groaned, trying to pull his arm into a salute.
"You can rest Lee," Tsunade said kindly, "You've been through a lot these last two weeks..."
Lee felt a sudden surge of fear as he remembered the battle, his black eyes widening, "And my squad?" he asked urgently, "Are they all okay?"
A glance passed between the Hokage and Shizune, "They're... okay..." the Hokage said haltingly.
Lee frowned, able to see through the small lie, "No they are not Hokage-sama, please tell me the truth!"
Tsunade sighed, "We wanted you to concentrate fully on your recovery but seeing as you won't leave it alone, I assume we will have to tell you..." she separated a small piece of paper from the clipboard she was holding, "ANBU Elite Mika Shirotora is injured. She'll live, but she's going to be in the hospital for a little while,"
"LET ME GO!" a voice rang from the hall.
Tsunade grimaced, her irritation crossing her eyes darkly, "Your squad wishes to see you, I assume," she said. She quickly strode over to the door and poked her head out to see several members of Squad Eagle striding quickly toward the hospital room. "I guess there's no point in giving you permission to enter, seeing as you shouldn't even be in this wing of the hospital..."
"I guess not?" Kiba said, grinning happily, "We're just here to see our Captain, you won't hold that against us will you Hokage-sama?"
Tsunade sighed playfully, shaking her head and opening the door further so the squad could get in, "I guess not..."
"Lee! You're looking better!" Tenten said happily, striding up to him and giving him a hug, "You idiot... we missed you.."
Lee felt tears coming to his eyes as he surveyed the room around him. When he was alone and needed them, his friends had come and saved him, they had all risked their lives to save his own. He could have asked them for no more. "T.. Thank you... everyone.." he said, his voice breaking with emotion, "I.. I.. I can not thank you all enough..."
"Aw, come on Lee, you've saved our lives at least a couple of times, we had to at least do this for you, right?" Kiba said.
Lee shook his head, the tears still flowing down his face, "Thank you.." he said again.
"Don't mention it Lee-san," Sakura said, smiling.
Tsunade felt her heart warming at the sight in front of her and smiled, "And I thought I would make everyone happy today," she said.
"Hokage-sama?" Tenten said, confused.
Tsunade handed a small sheet of paper to each of the squad members, "As of today, ANBU Squad Fifteen, Squad Eagle is relieved of active duty for two weeks,"
"We made our time?" Tenten asked, her eyes wide.
"Yes you have, congratulations,"
"YES!" Kiba yelled, jumping into the air.
"What does that mean?" Naruto said questioningly, "Did I miss something?"
Tenten smiled, the joy slowly creeping in, "It means... that as a squad, we've reached a whole year of operation!" she jumped over to Kiba and jumped up and down with him, "WE DID IT!"
Lee collapsed back on his bed, grinning widely, "I did not think I would ever see this day..."
"BUT WE DID!" Tenten yelled happily, pulling both of them into a big hug, "We're now official veterans!"
Shizune smiled sadly, "Yeah.. good job guys.." she said.
"Come here Shizune-san!" Kiba yelled, "You're a member of the squad too!"
Shizune smiled, "And I'll always be here for you..."
Naruto shook his head as he saw the group of ANBU and one ex-ANBU hugging each other and crying, "Weirdos..." he muttered.
"Shut up," a voice behind him said softly.
"Kakashi-san?"Naruto spun around quickly to see himself staring face to face with his old teacher, "
"Hey," Kakashi said, pulling Naruto and Sakura out of the room, he looked down on them sternly, more serious then they had ever seen him, "I never want to hear that from either of you ever again,"
"But Kakashi-san..." Naruto said loudly, "They ARE being weird!"
"No they're not.." he said, "They're celebrating the fact that in a world full of death, they have remained intact... there's nothing weird about that.." Naruto just stared at him, the words slowly sinking in, "When they were first deployed, they were told that they would die quickly, just so much more useless garbage, and that they would never last the year. Well, they have, and even further than that, none of their squad has died yet... they're celebrating being alive..."
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Author's Notes: ZOMG! I'm still alive? Sorry for the really really slow chapter! I apologise! From now on I'm going to be writing shorter chapters but they most likely will be out more often so I hope to keep up the flow of the story like that! Again, apologies for the extremely and deathfully slow chapter!
SHAMELESS PLUG TIME!
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It's Never Too Late
Sakura had seen death before, had it even come so close to her that she stared it in the eyes before it backed away and she was spared, but there was one person's death that she could not just dismiss. His. She would change everything given half the chance... but what if she could? And what if it could cost her her life, even the risk of disappearing forever from the world and dying before she had even been born? She took a deep breath as she nodded, "It's never too late.."
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Yup, that's another fic I'll be working on soon that I am hoping to release later today. Check it out!
As always, Reviews are encouraged! Please review! Please. Review.
Review Replies:
Sorry for this week guys, I'm more concerned on getting this out on time so I can't really reply this time. My most heartfelt apologies.