Seika and Satori woke up, their senses alert. Someone other than them was in the room. Seika looked up quickly, his hands on his kunai, ready in case the violence had invaded Yogensha's home.

It was one of the girls. The racer, he thought, blinking at her. She just stared at them.

"Good morning." Seika managed, smiling but confused.

"Hi." She replied. Her voice high and soft not scared.

"Can we help you?" Satori asked.

"No."

"What are you doing in our room?"

"Watching you. Mom sent me to wake you for breakfast."

"I see. Well, you were up late last night. Shouldn't you still be in bed?" Satori asked.

"No. We don't get a lot of visitors. Mom said this was special."

Satori considered that and continued to smile at the notion of children, of home life and his future with Yukino. But rather than fall back into reverie or worse, fall asleep, he sat up. The girl just continued to watch, and he was now feeling conspicuous.

"Well then, if I'm to get up, you need to step out and let me get ready. Why don't you go help your mother with breakfast?"

"Will you guys wear your uniforms again?"

"Yes." Seika said. "We're here on official business and need to look the part."

"Good." She said and turned to leave. As she opened the door, cooking aromas entered the small room, and they sniffed a few times. Then they inhaled deeply trying to sort through the smells. There was that bread again and…coffee?

Swinging his feet to the floor, Seika rose and began to put on his jonin uniform. Satori did the same. They holstered their weapons and tied their forehead protectors. Satori put a senbon in his mouth and a few minutes later, the two ninjas strolled downstairs and went directly to the kitchen. Dorina was busying herself over a stovetop while two of the children, including their morning visitor, carried things from kitchen to dining room. There were heaping platters of food, cooked vegetables and fresh fruits.

"Good morning." Seika said, announcing their presence.

Dorina turned and smiled at him, her face looking pretty in the soft light coming through window. Seika estimated the time was just after six in the morning, and he liked the notion of the sun coming up and being there to watch it. Before he knew it, one of the carved ceramic mugs was placed in his hand, steaming, and the smell of coffee caught his attention. Taking a sip, he recognized, a fine brew, similar to one he preferred back in Konoha, and with that he gave his hostess a quizzical look.

"My husband is the protocol officer." She said with mock seriousness. "He checked out some things when you first arrived. He knew you would be here for a while and wanted to make you feel welcome and comfortable. It wasn't hard to bring those details home. Satori, would you like some coffee or juice."

"Juice is fine, thank you."

"Still, I appreciate the effort." Seika replied. "Let me help. What are you making?"

She gestured to a large pink bowl filled with a batter like substance and explained. "It's a spiced bread, filled with apples and berries. If you want to help, hand me that jar."

The ANBU member turned to his right and saw an open jar filled with a yellow powder. He lifted it, took a whiff, and handed it over quickly. "That'd clear out your sinuses."

She laughed as she took no more than a pinch and then sprinkled it around the bowl. While he sipped the coffee, he watched as she tossed in some dried herbs and then something that looked like dark brown berries. He grabbed a whisk and insisted he be allowed to whip it all together while she finished with whatever was still bubbling on the stove.

Satori was never much of a cook so he stood back while Seika helped out. The children ran in and out of the room, all sneaking peeks at their guests. Satori noticed them and peered down at them. A grin spread across his face and he made a sudden move that ended up scaring the kids and they took off screaming with joy down the hallway. The house was full of life and it sounded like a happy one. More than ever, Satori wanted to end the violence, today if possible, and preserve this feeling.

"You seem comfortable here." Dorina noted as she lifted the pot off the stove and set it aside to cool. "The children seem to have taken a certain interest in you, Satori."

Satori knelt down to one of the girls, who stared intently into his eyes. He smiled at her before responding. "I've always been good with kids."

The colors of his eyes swirled and then revealed its new color as he activated his Sekigan. Now, the child's interest had really been piqued.

"You'll make a good father." Seika said.

"Father?"

"Yeah, my girlfriend is pregnant with our daughter, Hitomi."

"That's a nice name, but you're practically a child yourself." Dorina said.

"That is true." Satori said standing back up and leaning against the wall.

Dorina noticed that Satori was thinking back with the face he was making. She didn't mean to sound like she was criticizing but she could see how one could take it that way. "I'm sure you'll make a wonderful father. You're in a line of work that promises to keep people safe from harm. I'm sure your daughter will grow up to appreciate that and admire you for it."

Satori smiled at her. Dorina's attention went back to Seika. "Stop stirring and put that in the kiln." She said pointing to a square metallic box wit ha variety of buttons on in. He did as instructed and then she reached across him and hit one oval blue button. The kiln hummed to life. "We'll be able to eat shortly. Time to go chase my husband out of the bedroom." With that, she gracefully moved past him and out of the kitchen.

Seika finished his coffee but held on to the mug, hoping for more with the meal, and wandered toward the sounds of laughter. The children were trying to wrestle Satori down to the ground but were so far unsuccessful. It looked like Satori was having more fun than the kids were.

Two older people sat at their places at the table watched benignly. They each wore something akin to caftans with embroidery around the shoulders. Neither seemed perturbed by his presence.

They introduced themselves and started asking Seika questions about life in a ninja village. Neither had ever left this country, which reminded the ANBU jonin just how different every society was. And they were one of the first generations doomed to die off prematurely. His heart went out to these people.

As he answered their questions, Yogensha hurried into the room, quickly putting up his hands to indicate now was not a good time to try and tackle him. He looked rested, but his yes kept moving and he clearly had some information. Satori noticed this as well and stopped playing with the children. They objected slightly but nothing more than an "awww."

Seika gave Yogensha a look, but he shook his head with a small smile. Nothing urgent then, Seika concluded. It meant his father was still loose.

Dorina had returned to the kitchen and was taking the bread out of the kiln. As she entered, holding the bowl in gloved hands, the children shrieked in unison and scrambled for their seats. There were two spaces between the youngest son and Dorina which Yogensha indicated was for Satori and Seika. They took their place. Everyone started chatting, grabbing plates and bowls, filling them and passing everything with practiced ease to their left. The two ninjas followed suit, making sure to sample a little of everything. When Seika wasn't looking, his mug was magically refilled, bringing a smile to his face.

"Where are you going today, Father?" the youngest boy asked.

"Today, Seika, Satori and I are headed over to Shi." Yogensha said as he sprinkled some powdery substance on the spiced bread. "We've been looking for someone, and I understand he might be there."

"Is he lost?"

"A very good question." Seika answered. "I don't think so."

"Then he's hiding." One of the girls said.

"Maybe." Yogensha said, looking carefully over at Seika, who gave him a neutral look and shrugged his shoulders.

"What will you do when you find him?" Another child asked.

"That's an even better question, one I don't have an answer for yet." Seika said.

The conversation drifted onto other subjects, with the children telling their father about accomplishments at school. Clearly, the country's problems had kept Yogensha from home for stretches of time, and now both Satori and Seika felt a bit like intruders, taking the children's father away on a wild goose chase. But it was necessary, to ensure there'd be more time for the family to live in peace.

The two ate, keeping silent for the moment and letting the family carry on. The food was hearty and flavorful. Dorina beamed at their effusive compliments as the meal ended and the children began clearing plates. Seika and Satori wanted to help, but Dorina insisted they and Yogensah take a few moments to organize themselves before running off again.

The grandparents remained in their seats, staying out of the way, but were looking less than happy. No doubt they knew what was really happening around the country and maybe even that Seika's father was the quarry. He couldn't tell from the way they acted, but clearly something was troubling them.

"Why Shi?" Seika asked when they were finally alone in the front room of the house.

"Because there was another murder. A farmer near where we were yesterday."

"Was it Hyosetsu?"

"No, nor the journalist." Yogensha said. "A man turned on his wife."

"And my father?"

"Not seen at all."

Seika looked at him in confusion. "Three murders in almost as many days? What's going on?"

Yogensha shook his head sadly. He clearly had no further knowledge.

"How is the Council holding up?"

"Not well." Yogenshaw admitted. "From what I gather, they're at a total loss how to stem this thing."

This thing, to Seika, sounded like an outbreak. Something that spread like a disease. But murder wasn't contagious.

Dorina came into the room, holding a large box that she handed to Seika. "Some leftovers of the bread and some of the other food. You seemed to like it, so better this than rations."

"And coffee, my only." Yogensha said.

"I was getting to that." She said laughing. "With two hands I can only handle so much."

The girl who woke the Jonins came out from behind her, it seemed, with a thermos nearly half her size. Satori reached down, took it from her, and with his free hand tousled her hair. She grinned up at him.

"They all like you." Dorina said proudly.

"They don't know me too well, then." Satori said with a grin. "You have a terrific family, Dorina. I can't thank you enough for letting us visit."

"And you'll come back." She insisted.

"Absolutely." He said. And with that, the men were out the door. The three of them saddled the horses and Dorina came up to her husband and took him into her arms. They embraced for several seconds. When Yogensha finally got up onto the horse, he seemed happy and wistful at the same time. They turned the horses around and took off heading directly at the rising sun, letting the house and its precious contents fade from sight.

Aoba and Yukino walked into the Council chamber, taking a moment to let their eyes adjust to the dimmer lighting. The Council seemed not to have moved, sitting at their table.

"Good morning, Councilors." Aoba called out as he approached. He felt it necessary to project a stern voice, letting the Council chamber's acoustics work to his advantage. No stranger to the stage, he was going to put on a one time performance that he hoped would inspire these people. They didn't have time for an extended run. "Getting straight to things, I want to strongly recommend you order curfews around the country, lock down all transportation, and urge people to stay home. I know this will affect the economy, but so will this senseless violence. If people let quarrels turn into fights or fights turn into riots, then the damage to your economy will be much, much worse."

Aoba paused, letting his words sink in and studying Kazuko to gauge a reaction. He didn't meet the Jonin's eyes.

"He's right, Kazuko-sama." One of the men said from behind them.

"Act." Another said.

"They won't listen." Kazuko said to no one in particular.

"You need to sell it to them as the best course of action." Aoba said firmly.

"And if they reject my orders?"

"We'll take this a step at a time. Give the orders, set the curfew time, and see what happens. Once we see if they listen, then we can redeploy your peace officers to any hot spots. My team can help enforce the curfew."

He disliked the notion of involving his team further but felt he had little choice.

"I will try. Let me compose something for the broadcast."

"Of course." Aoba agreed, sensing an overdue victory. "But keep it brief. And be quick, please."

Kazuko seemed to shuffle out of the room, seeking solitude in which to prepare his message. Aoba turned and got positive reactions from the several members of the Council. One had even summoned an aide, and he could hear the orders to prepare for a country wide broadcast.

Good, finally some activity.

Yukino looked over her shoulder, then at Aoba, and then motioned toward one of the monitors. The jonin leader walked over, keeping his distance, and listened to the murmurs.

"It broke up on its own?"

"No, someone dropped the spokesman and everyone scattered."

"Not like them at all, usually a hardier bunch."

"May I ask what's going on?" Aoba asked, keeping his voice even.

Chikako looked over his shoulder, stiffened a bit at the jonin's presence, and then gestured to the screen. "Here in the city, there was a protest rally."

"What were they protesting?" Aoba asked.

"You, actually."

"I see."

"Well, the speaker was whipping them into a frenzy and suddenly he fell over. Not dead or anything, but knocked out. People just scattered, ending the event."

"What caused his collapse?"

"Seems to be a concussion from a stone."

Aoba blinked at that. So they were throwing rocks now? He watched the feed on the monitor and saw the replay. The stone hitting the man at the base of the skull, the man falling forward, off the podium and into the crowd.

"Aoba-sensei!"

Junshin entered the chamber at a run. His uniform was dirty and his face was streaked with what Aoba hoped was mud. The former Rock ninja jogged to him.

"A riot has broken out. It's like it's alive, growing by the second."

"Is the Council in danger?"

"The building is secure at the moment, but if the mob grows any larger, I can't guarantee the situation won't change."

"Head back out there and help Kaida and Gintokin to keep them under control. Kazuko is about to order something short of martial law. That should help. If you need me and Yukino, call for us."

With a nod, he headed back outside and Aoba watched him, concern now overwhelming any sense of momentum he may have felt minutes earlier.

Three murders sparking a protest was understandable, but a riot was something else entirely.

"Hitotsu is on fire!"

Aoba turned and saw some councilors running to a screen to the right of him. He and Yukino exchanged glances and approached the monitor, which showed tongues of flames rising above a cluster a buildings.

Hitotsu was a city.