Chapter Ten—Mysterious Queen

"My Lady…it's here…"

Stepping through the bodies of the decaying holding a bloodied sword in a gloved hand, a silent figure weaved with an eerie grace before kneeling down beside a body surrounded by shadowed outlines. Drawing back the hood and mask that covered her features, emerald regarded the face of the dead, a slim hand appeared and touched the person's face gently, flickering eyes filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry it had to be you Tsukasa." Reaching down, she searched the contents of the clothing, and withdrew a small container. Opening it, she tilted it to allow fragments glowing white to land in her open palm.

"These fragments are much larger than the rest." A male observed crouched nearby.

"Tsukasa was the first to capture the broken pieces. Unfortunately…he chose to try and usurp my throne with his little power."

"These are the last of the known remains of the jewel here. Towards the northeast the demons have grown stronger."

Standing emerald lifted to turn to the northeast, a sense of resignation filling her. "The Fire Country." She acknowledged.

Shifting, a smaller person dropped next to the male. "Lady, you know you do not have to return there."

"I must. I am obligated to honour the invitation given by the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf."

"Returning is crossing a dangerous line." The male commented lightly. Turning her emerald gaze over, green clashed with green for a moment before she allowed a small smile to rise up. "I know the risks. I will do what is necessary my friends, can I count on you?"

"Always." They responded immediately. Smiling she rose and turned away drawing her mask and hood up to conceal her face. "Let's go on, we must see this finished soon." Sheathing her sword she took the reins of a tall mount prancing lightly and spoke a soft word to the restless horse before swinging up as the shadows stirred. Glancing over to meet amber shining in the darkness she turned her horse to the north as the group around mounted swiftly. "To Konoha."

"To the Hidden Leaf village, we ride!"

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"It was a nightmare, those creatures wouldn't let up on the attack, it was like they were tireless, or driven by complete madness. They were frothing at the mouth and screaming in horrible tones, it's a wonder we managed to escape…"

Listening to the breathless report given by a rookie chunnin, Tsunade glanced to the side as she saw Naruto immediately issue orders in the ANBU sign language, and noticed that he placed those he trusted the most to find out the situation. Giving a nod to the chunnin, she leaned back. "We'll take a closer look at this report. Return to your squad, go home and rest."

"Thank you Hokage…" bowing the ninja left. Looking over Naruto's eyes shimmered. "Demons again." He scowled. "They're becoming a problem."

"Yes…one even we seem to be having difficulties handling…" Tsunade murmured resting her chin on her laced fingers as she leaned forwards. "The level of attacks have increased dramatically within the last year…"

"We received reports that those attack levels have dropped in other countries." Naruto looked outside the window with a thoughtful expression. "Gaara said he didn't have that much troubles with these demons…"

"I wonder why…" Tsunade muttered under her breath. Naruto ignored her remark continuing. "But he did receive a visit apparently, from a few strangers…" he glanced over his shoulder. "They didn't stay long however, just passed through, collecting something, a shard of a jewel."

Tsunade sat up. "He didn't stop them?"

"He didn't see any need to. The supposed leader with them gave the utmost respect to him. She made small inquires, but nothing too obvious, just asking about the surrounding area into the Fire country."

"She's coming." Tsunade's eyes sharpened.

"Yeah…I just don't know when…" Naruto blinked suddenly. "Hold on…"

"What is it?"

"Ah…one of my bunshins just caught up with the teme." Naruto tapped his foot and hummed under his breath. "They found the remains of that group of demons…"

"The remains?" Tsunade repeated.

"Nasty work here…" Naruto muttered to himself as his eyes scanned back and forth as if he was there and seeing it before him. "Whoever did this knew what they were doing. It looks like the demons were attacked from all around, an ambush. Arrows first by the marks left on the bodies…then the attackers came in with frontal attacks; there are slashes all over the bodies, deep, made to kill with one or two strokes." He paused and blinked. "That's interesting…"

"Sasuke…" Naruto began, but stopped. He was silent for a moment before he turned around with a blank look on his face. "The bodies were burnt and on each body there was a Sakura blossom left." He paused. "There's no evidence of how large this group was to do this."

"None at all?" Tsunade's brow furrowed with worry. Naruto stared outside before he bowed his head. "Sasuke and the others will take care of the remains and report back after they've done a sweep of the area."

"You're securing it?" Tsunade lifted a brow.

"No." Naruto murmured to himself. "Going out to welcome our guests…"

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"Slow your paces here."

Drawing reins, the mounted group came to a slow walk passing through the trees at leisure forming a diamond formation. For a moment the forest was silent before a horse snorted and half reared at the front as shadows suddenly passed through the trees and landed around them.

"Hold up!" A curt order came. Sliding from the shadows of the forest, giant wolves stepped up tensed staring up around at the ninja's perched around them before a softly spoken command made them relax.

"Peace Konoha nin." A male sounded before raising a hand to draw back the hood that concealed his face. "I am Akio Kimusa of the Moon nation. We come bearing no ill will."

Dropping from a tree a tall male with a mask of a fierce wolf over his face folded his arms. "Last time you came alone Kimusa."

Akio gave a nod glancing around to the ninja's surrounding them. "The circumstances are different this time."

"You're entering Konoha's boundaries. State your business."

"That is ours to keep ANBU until I have spoken with the Hokage." A soft voice sounded as a white horse pushed forwards bearing a slight figure on its back. Drawing his own steed to the side, Akio bowed his head to the concealed female. Lifting a pale hand, she reached into her cowl gently pulling away the black cloth had masked her face. Her eyes glowed from within the hood out pinning the male standing directly in her path. "I believe I'm expected for a long over due meeting…"

Stirring restlessly a ninja leapt down and pulled off the fox like mask bearing sharp blue eyes and bright blonde hair. "We're here to escort you to the Hokage's tower. The Fifth is waiting for you."

Amber eyes regarded him for a long moment before she tipped her head to him. "Lead on then." She murmured. With a sharp gesture the ninja's leapt off. After a moment's pause the white horse followed, the wolves coming after protectively with the last of the mounted trailing as they entered Konoha.

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"They're here…" Naruto drew back from the window as the door was opened. Tsunade looked up expectantly as two men with ANBU masks walked in and silently positioned themselves at the side. Stepping in afterwards, a familiar face glanced back before bowing. "Lady Hokage, may I present the Queen of the Moon nation?"

Standing, Tsunade watched as a slight figure stepped into the room on silent feet and her eyes widened slightly at the sight of the giant wraith following. Looking over the other female, she took in the cloak that covered the other female's entire body. "It's an honour to receive you Majesty." She bowed deeply with great respect, but paused when the female lifted her hand to forestall her. "Please…don't. I dislike formalities."

"Well then," Naruto piped up. "May we see your face?"

Akio shot a sharp look over and looked to protest, but fell silent at the suspicious glance Tsunade slid at him. After a tense moment, the queen sighed. "Unfortunately, at this time, it is a forbidden thing. I cannot reveal my true features until I have finished my mission."

"You're…mission?" Naruto repeated. "And exactly what would that be?"

"I will explain…" she paused. "But I'd like to do it with reasonable privacy."

Naruto gave a rueful chuckle. "Lady, this is reasonable privacy."

She turned her head fractionally to the two ANBU standing at the wall. Naruto nodded in understanding. "They'll stay, they're clans of the Uchiha and Huuyga." He glanced at them as they slipped off their masks, revealing Neji and Sasuke.

"First," Tsunade voiced. "I think introductions are in order." She looked to the depths of the queen's hood. "I am Tsunade, fifth Hokage of Konoha. At my side is the future Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, there on the left is Neji Huugya, and on the right is the sole survivor of the Uchiha clan, and current leader, Sasuke Uchiha."

"It's an honour to meet you." The queen murmured. "You may call me Hana." She paused. "Two years ago, I took up the Moon's nations throne. At each coronation, the bloodline is given guardianship over a sacred crystal that is apart of our bloodline…and our lives. That jewel, is the purity of our nation, and it is that object that had thus kept the demons from breaking free into the world."

"But it was broken." Sasuke guessed shrewdly.

Hana nodded slowly. "Unfortunately. It was the night of a dark moon, the city was attacked…and under the circumstances…the crystal broke. I was unable to prevent that situation, and the cause of the fragments from scattering over the countries with the breaking of the demons. Since that occurrence, I have been travelling to collect the fragments, and repair the damage and hopefully destroy the demons…"

"That is a hard burden for you." Tsunade observed. "Surely it must be difficult with all the demons."

"There are only five major demons that are necessary to worry about." Hana replied. "Like the demons here, they vary in strength. So far, we have been able to destroy three of the five. There is one problem however. These demons are capable of creating shadow forms of their essence, I believe one of your chunnin's ran into a select form earlier…"

"You were the ones to destroy the demons?" Neji asked.

"They were in search of the crystal, by invoking the power, I was able to draw them away from your ninja's, and set up an ambush for them." Hana answered.

"Clever." Naruto mumbled. "So you came here to find the fragments?"

"The last remaining pieces are within this country." Hana lifted up her shoulder in a regally delicate shrug. "And the Kazekage of the Hidden Sand mentioned that the level of attacks within this area were unusually high."

"Gaara." Sasuke shot Naruto a look. The blonde scratched the back of his head giving a sigh. "It's nice to know Gaara is thinking of us…" he muttered.

"He offered to send help with my escort, but I did not think it was necessary." Hana informed them. Naruto blinked. "You turned down the help?"

"There is no point of having ninja's die uselessly for a trouble that is not their own." She replied in a low serious voice. "I will not let any other spill their blood at my expense."

"Even if it's offered?"

Turning to where Sasuke stood, she hesitated. "What are you offering?"

"Assistance." He merely replied watching with intent black eyes. For a moment, she gazed back, the amber in the depths of her hood glowing eerily before she looked away. "If that is what you wish Uchiha."

Nodding he glanced to Naruto, the blonde looked thoughtful. "I'll join you as well. I'm curious of this…" he glanced to Tsuande. "We'd be able to get information from Kakashi and Erosannin."

Tsunade nodded. "Very well, but I expect reports."

"Don't you always?" Naruto teased good-naturedly. He gave a foxy grin to Hana. "With your permission Majesty."

She regarded him. "I'll be in touch." She replied softly. She touched the great black head of the wolf sitting silently at her side. "Kage will appear if I need you."

"A ki wolf." Naruto narrowed his eyes. "I noticed there were others that didn't enter the gates."

"The ki wolves are my protection on this land. Kage however…" a fondness entered her quiet tones. "He is my partner."

"Is it only your nation that has the tie to these wolves?" Naruto asked curiously.

"Only my bloodline." She answered as she turned away. "Until later." She whispered as the three suddenly disappeared. Surprised Sasuke and Neji immediately went after them, only to reappear in moments. "Gone." Neji announced.

Tsunade frowned. "How is that possible? You did have guards stationed didn't you?"

"Two." Sasuke confirmed with a dark look. "Neither remember a thing within the last half hour."

"Interesting…" Naruto mumbled. "I wonder…a jutsu?"

"Perhaps." Neji spoke slowly. "The queen…she is very powerful…"

"What do you mean?" Tsuande asked.

"I tried to see her features with the Byakugan, but it was impossible. Something was shielding her." Neji frowned. "And I sensed the faintest of chakra from her before it disappeared."

"Do you think she was trained in any way to be a ninja?" Naruto asked curiously.

"It's possible…"

"But there's an air of frailness around her…" Tsunade murmured more to herself than to the males as she stared out at nothing. "One that…" she fell silent before she looked to the males. "Make sure that you don't lose sight of her while in her presence." She ordered with a steely glint to her eyes. "There's something more to this than we first thought."

Nodding the three exchange glances before they all disappeared to leave the Hokage to her thoughts. Leaning back Tsuande tapped her hand uncertainly. "It couldn't be…" she murmured to herself. "Could it…?"

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