It's been three weeks since Orochimaru's appearance in the Leaf village. Since then security in the Leaf Village has been tightened and access in and out of the gates has been restricted.
So the people carried on their business. The Chuunin exams continued on and before long it was the final competition. One by one the competitors dropped in numbers as the Hokage sat by watching idly. He was bored. Sheer knock-out fighting was no entertainment. So he decided to change up the rules.
Whoever killed their opponent first was spared from his own execution.
There wasn't too much shock from this new rule. The Leaf genin had all the luck eliminating their competitors, that is, until the final round. He didn't have much joy in declaring it, but someone had to die, and Naruto knew neither one would go through with it.
"Konohamaru and Udon." It was said. The village protested in agony, and the two boys stared in shock. Regardless of the protesting they were forced into the arena and started to fight, sensei watching, helplessly arguing to deaf ears.
Blood stained the ground and with one flick of the finger Konohamaru collapsed in the dirt, still breathing. Udon stood over him sobbing and dropped his kunai in misery. Enraged the Hokage's eyes flared red and he shouted in frustration. "Kill him! Kill him now!"
"I. . . I cant.. He's my best friend. . ."
Eyes flaring red, the Hokage paced enraged, twirling a kunai in the palm. His demon guards jumped to the ready, circling the bottom of the arena around the contestants. Konohamaru flashed a weak grin and sputtered out a mouthful of blood. He put up his hands as if attempting a jutsu, and looked up at his friend.
"U. . . Udon. . ." He choked. "I-It's okay. L-Live. . . For me. . . Okay?"
Udon let out a pained sob before squeezing his eyes shut and hurling a kunai at his friend's broken body. The arena fell silent. "Winner! Udon!"
Udon collapsed to his knees and sobbed. Moegi came down from where the Genin waited and helped him out of the arena, leaving their friends body for the guards to handle. But it was Hikari who picked up the boys body, carefully, cradling him like a child, and took him away, drawing attention to herself from the Jonin and sensei's.
The Hokage was bored. The third day of fighting was over. With a disgruntled huff he left the arena, leaving the crowds to disperse themselves. His guards stayed and watched as the last of the villagers left. There was no one left but Shino, sitting on the edge of the Hokage's seat with his hands clasped together on his knees, brows furrowed in thought. They watched as he stood and walked down to the fighting area, and washed away the blood stained in the dirt.
Konohamaru was dead. That much she knew. But by looking over the boy's body for wounds, Hikari saw how weary the boy looked. There were exhaustion bags under his eyes, and scars lining his arms and torso. She shook her head and pulled the sheet back over him and stepped out of the room.
The village had been quiet recently. The Hokage too hadn't been showing anymore of himself then he needed to, constantly locked in his office and not coming out until the moon rose. He was quiet about his plans even to Shino, whom she thought was his high advisor.
But the Hokage wasn't in his office now.
It was easy enough to pick the lock and let herself in, and without the need of a light there was little risk of being caught.
She rummaged around through his draws, trying to be as neat as possible. One small thing out of place and heads would roll. There was nothing of any importance, as far as she could see. The only thing in the desk was the letter Tsunade wrote to the Kazekage Gaara.
There were footsteps outside the door. The doorknob turned slightly and she held her breath before quietly shifting to the spot behind the door as it opened. As it closed she shoved the intruder against the wall and covered his mouth quietly shouting obscenities in his face before realizing it was only Shino.
He merely grunted and pushed her aside. "What are you doing in here?"
Hikari snorted and turned her back. "I can ask you the same thing."
"Are you looking for anything in particular?"
"No." She thought for a minute. "I did happen to come across that letter again. I am curious as to what Gaara was planning to do before we intervened."
"Well," he hummed, "only one way to find out."
He opened the door and led her out.
The prison was dark and damp. The only sounds were shackles clinking together and water dripping down to puddles below. There weren't that many high crimes around, so the cells were mostly empty. They walked past the plain cells to an area marked RED: retired but extremely dangerous.
Only one cell was being used. The guards watching over stepped aside and bowed their heads at the demons approach and carefully opened the door. The thin sliver of light fell over a mangled Gaara, who looked even skinnier and paler, if that was possible. His outfit was different: the guards had managed to get him into an ugly green suit marked 0112. He looked up and shielded his eyes from the light.
"What do you want?" he rasped. Shino bent down to eye level and pinched the Kazekages chin firmly between two fingers.
"We want answers. And whether you like it or not you are going to give them to us."
Gaara's eyes lit up brightly and he straightened himself out. "Finally." He pulled out of Shino's grasp and stood to stretch out his legs.
They watched as he made himself comfortable. "What is it you wanted to know?"