Chapter Eleven:

The day grew unusually warm as the sun beat relentlessly from a cloudless sky. The waves glittered in blinding flashes of light as Kakashi, Obito and Midori ran over the sea, moving parallel to the cliffs. They left enough distance to avoid the foaming swirls of waves crashing against the rocks, but were also careful to stay within the shadows of the cliffs to avoid detection from above.

They traveled until long after sunset, measuring time against the glowing eastern sky reflecting the last rays of the sun and then the gradual darkening of dusk's gloom.

The only incident to have marked their strenuous journey was a minor dispute that had broken out between them when it was decided someone had to make a trip up the cliff at regular intervals to confirm their bearings. It had included a reluctant Kakashi, a snickering Obito, an ever so sweet Midori and a volley of Kamaitachi wind blades eventually chasing Kakashi up the cliff face.

The only good that had come from the extra forced labor was the discovery of a coastal town just before total darkness descended over the land. They stopped on a stone beach in a small inlet hidden under a ragged overhang and decided to gather information. This time, Kakashi won out with the logic that Midori looked the most normal out of the three. Laughing, Obito even offered to lend her his cap. With a huff, she secured the cap on her head, jumped up to grab the edge of the overhang and disappeared over it.

Obito stretched out his sore muscles and flopped onto the floor, only too happy to be on solid ground again. "Do you think we can afford to rest tonight?"

"I think so," Kakashi replied, looking out at the black sea. Despite their unstable footing, they had made good progress. If his estimation matched the information Midori brought, they could spare a night's rest.

It wasn't long before she returned with good news. "The villagers say it takes two runners from here to Uemura."

Standard messenger runners travelled in six hour intervals. With all factors considered, the three of them could likely cover the distance in nine hours.

"I say it's decided," Obito said. "It's safer here than trying to find cover closer to the village."

Kakashi agreed. "We'll leave an hour before dawn."

"Thank the gods," Midori breathed, sitting down and rubbing her legs. After a moment, she looked up. "There's also one more thing I heard. The villagers have been seeing frequent shinobi movements in these areas for the past few days. They seem to be travelling away to the west, but it's worth being careful."

"The Hidden Cloud Village should still be north of here," Obito said. "I wonder if they're planning another attack on Konoha."

Kakashi thought it was possible, considering what they had heard from Kushina. "If so, it'll work in our favor." There was nothing like a large battle to help provide cover for stealth missions.

Midori and Obito soon lay down to rest, having decided the beach was isolated enough to rest without fear of being attacked. Kakashi stayed awake for a while longer, checking around the periphery of the small beach and the level of the tide. Climbing onto the overhang, he look up and searched for any path that led down from the clifftop. The thin moonlight only revealed a long, vertical climb with no trace of purchase. Seeing and feeling nothing strange, Kakashi finally dropped back down and joined his teammates on the floor.

.-.-.-.

They reached the outskirts of Uemura Village by mid-afternoon. Though they could glimpse towering mountains in the distance, the landscape near the coast was formed by low hills and fields of grass swaying gently in the wind. They sprinted across the fields, running close to the ground to avoid being seen, but as they neared the village, they noticed a vibrant buzz of activity and excitement. It put them on edge, slowing their pace for a moment before they realized it was a festival.

Cautious and more than a little surprised at the unexpected spectacle, they slipped into the village to find stalls lining the main streets selling food, drinks, toys and trinkets celebrating the harvest. The atmosphere was upbeat and jovial. Children ran from shop to shop wearing festive masks and adults chattered and laughed as they strolled through the streets. At a glance, one would never guess it was a village under military surveillance. Nevertheless, the three Chuunin were quick to pick up the presence of shinobi standing in the shadow of alleys or walking along the edges of the street.

"This is perfect," Midori said quietly. Villagers and shinobi alike paid little attention to the three as they walked carefully down the busy streets.

"Let's split up and gather information," Obito said. Kakashi and Midori nodded and they broke up in different directions.

Kakashi had barely walked a few minutes when he heard Midori call his name. She ran up to him, giggling like any of the other local children and shoved a mask over his face as if it was the most natural thing to do. Though taken aback for a moment, Kakashi couldn't help but be impressed, as always, by Midori's ability to blend into any sort of situation. He tied the strings of the mask behind his head and nodded in appreciation. It would allow him to move around more freely and observe the village without looking suspicious.

He watched Midori disappear into the crowds from the corner of his eyes and then began to wade through the stream of people. He opened his senses to catch snippets of conversations and absorb the emotions that trickled beneath their smiles and lighthearted words. Almost immediately, he realized these villagers were well aware of the shinobi among them. Bitterness and distrust were thinly veiled behind their cheerfulness, which turned out to be nothing less than a middle finger at the Clouds.

The Clouds, for their part, did little to either assuage or antagonize the civilians. Keeping to themselves, they watched the villagers silently, occasionally coming together to exchange a word or two and then dispersing into the crowds again.

Kakashi circled the village once and then turned his attention to the main manor that stood a little distance from the center square. The nondescript household was surrounded by a low wall but took up no more than half a block and both the main entrance and back door were left unguarded. Stranger yet was that there appeared to be less shinobi in the vicinity of the house than the rest of the village. He checked all the adjacent streets and only came across one Cloud heading in the opposite direction.

Without even having to organize a rendezvous, Obito and Midori soon joined Kakashi in the lengthening shadows of a corner just behind the manor and they compared notes, coming up with similar observations.

"They're gearing up for some fireworks near the square," Obito added at the time. "Now's the best time to pick up the scroll and leave while everyone's distracted."

Quickly deciding to do just that, the three checked their surroundings one more time before darting across the street and clearing the outer wall in one bound. They landed silently in the shadows of several robust pine trees and immediately spotted an aged man with a long, white beard dressed in traditional clothes and sprinkling breadcrumbs into a garden pond.

"That's him," Midori whispered, having heard rumors of his famous beard.

Removing the festival masks, the team stepped out of their cover with a rustle and quietly called out to Amano Masanori. The man looked up and nodded, not once appearing confused or suspicious.

As they approached the former lord, Kakashi handed him the scroll from the Third and Amano beckoned them to the polished wooden veranda running along the periphery of the main house. There, he sat down and looked between the three with a tender expression that bordered on guilt.

"Thank you for making the long journey," he said, "and I'm sorry I cannot offer you any comfort."

Amano pulled out another scroll from his kimono sleeve and the wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen with world-weary heaviness as he stared at it in his hand.

"I'm afraid half of this scroll has become obsolete," he said darkly. "This is not your fault by any means, don't get me wrong. I thought I could stop them, but the Rocks have just formed an alliance with the Clouds."

This was news to the three Chuunin.

"When?" Midori asked.

"It was made official this morning, but who knows how long it was secretly in the works."

The teammates shared glances. A formal alliance was far more significant than the occasional coordinated attacks the two Hidden Villages had carried out in the past. They could now understand Amano's burdened look.

"Sanada, my counterpart in Wind Country, will likely extend his influence to the lords in Earth Country. I, too, will do my part to pressure the Lightning Daimyo. Even if it means ending our generations-old status as a provincial lord. It is imperative you deliver this scroll to Sanada as fast as you can. If we cannot stop this alliance, the least we can do is keep it from becoming a unified front."

Kakashi accepted the new scroll and nodded his understanding. Beside him, Obito was regarding the old man with curious eyes.

"Why are you working so hard to stop this war?" he asked. It wasn't for Amano's personal or even provincial benefit. That much was certain. This province, located so far from any of the borders was unlikely to suffer any physical damage and the sea provided sufficient economic stability. Most lords and daimyos eagerly supported their Hidden Villages during wartime, if not out of fear for damages, then to vitalize manufacturing industries and exploit trade routes as the victor.

The pained look, which had initially crossed Amano's face, returned to his eyes as he looked between the three. "You are the reason," he said quietly. "Children like you. It doesn't matter what country you belong to – no child should have to fight at such a young age. No child should have to be haunted by the traumas of war. Especially not for the sake of somebody's greed."

Listening to his words, Midori thought of Iku and wished he had known about Amano and his efforts. Maybe then he would have been able to grasp a thread of hope, knowing someone was out there trying to fix the distorted realities of their world.

"I don't know what you've seen or experienced," Amano went on, "but I am so sorry. We were so close to stopping this war."

Midori took a step forward and gently took one of Amano's fisted hands between her own. He looked up in surprise and she smiled gently.

"Thank you, Amano-san," she said. "What you're doing means a lot to us and all the other children fighting in the war. Even if you aren't successful now, I'm certain your efforts will change the future. There will come a day when children can grow up in peace, not knowing what we know. It's my dream to make that happen and I'm glad to know others like you are working so hard to achieve the same goal."

"You don't need to worry about us," Obito added. "War or no war, we don't regret becoming shinobi."

Midori nodded and squeezed Amano's hand reassuringly. "We'll be sure to deliver your scroll."

The old man gazed at them and smiled in resignation. "Forgive me for my rambles. You are stronger and far wiser than your age. Sarutobi must be proud to have shinobi like you." He took a breath and stood up. "Go now. I'll show you to the back door."

Amano took them behind the house and unlocked the small door on the southwest corner of the property. Checking along the empty back street, he nodded to the three and stepped aside to let them pass.

"Thank you for your service, and take care of yourselves," he said. To Midori, he added, "You have my word, I will not stop trying until this foolish war ends."

Midori grinned and nodded. Kakashi and Obito bowed, and then the three disappeared into the darkening night.

Turning the closest corner, they ran down another empty street. It seemed everyone was gathered in the village square to watch the fireworks. As if on cue, they heard a high-pitched squeal of the first shot rising in the air behind them. As it exploded with a crack in the distance, they turned another corner and froze.

They had all been keenly aware of their surroundings – and yet none of them had felt this presence until it dropped down on them with a billow of wind.

"Fools! Ya fools!" the large man boomed. "Kids your age gotta go see the firework jewels!"

There was no doubt he was a ninja. Yet they couldn't feel a fiber of animosity or threat coming from where he stood a few feet from them. He swayed erratically to the rhythm of his bobbing head and raised his arms to the fireworks brightening the dark sky.

"Boom boom they go!" he cheered. "Don't they brighten your hearts, yo?"

At a loss, the three simply stared at the peculiar man. They saw him as the clown that he appeared to be, but their bodies and instincts wouldn't let them move a muscle. There was no question he was dangerous.

"So kids," the man went on, swinging his arms around to point his fingers at them. "What business you got with the old man Amano? Friend or foe, visiting the lord is a big no-no."

"We're from a village in the south," Midori said, hitching her voice to sound young and clueless. "Grandpa's friends with Amano-san and sent us with harvest gifts."

"Ho-ho… Is that so?"

Then he moved – and they didn't have the time to so much as take a step. One second, the man was bouncing on the balls of his feet and in the next, he was more than halfway to killing them.

Kakashi wasn't able see him. All he felt was a surge of killing intent, so overwhelming that it robbed him completely of thought. He didn't know he had even moved until the tip of the man's thin sword was drawing a bead of blood from his throat under the mask. Cold sweat broke out on his temples and along his back. His muscles were frozen. One leg was drawn back, his waist lowered, and his right hand was hovering over the empty space along his right upper thigh where his weapons holster was usually strapped. Not now.

He swore silently, unable to believe his own stupidity.

"Fools. Ya small, small fools," the man breathed quietly. His eyes, hidden behind the sunglasses, were tilted toward Kakashi's right hand. "You're a shinobi."

Midori and Obito stared, unable to move, barely able to breathe. Rarely in their years on the frontlines had they seen anyone move at this speed. It was on par with Minato – and they had never been able to overcome their teacher if he hadn't wanted them to.

They needed to run. There was no chance they could win, especially with so many other Clouds in the village.

Before any of them could move, however, they heard a voice call out from the mouth of the alley. "Bee."

The three Chuunin tensed. Obito risked a glance over his shoulder and saw another man, tall and bulging with muscles, silhouetted against the streetlights.

"Hey Brother," Bee greeted, moving only his face to acknowledge the new arrival. Kakashi could feel another droplet of blood spread a speck of warmth as it dampened his mask. Hearing the name Bee, he suddenly remembered Minato telling them about the A-B tag team he had once fought from the Hidden Cloud Village. That meant this fool of a rapper was Killer Bee, the Jinchuuriki of the Eight Tails. He could have sworn again.

"What are you doing here?" A snapped. "I called you an hour ago. We're leaving. Now."

"Brother, these are shinobi kids. They met with Amano, oh yes they did."

"Then kill them and let's go. We don't have time to waste. I'm heading out. You better catch up in thirty seconds."

"Okay Brother," Bee sang, and watched A disappear with speed and stealth that belied his heavy stature.

The three tensed, preparing to spring into action regardless of their chances of survival, but Bee slowly withdrew his sword and sheathed it. He stepped back and raised his hands to signal peace.

"Listen kiddies and listen well. I ain't gonna kill ya. Why? 'Cause I like the look in your eyes." Though his voice and movements were as moronic as ever, his words and expression were serious. "The world's big. Bigger than the borders of our countries. There may come a time when shinobi with your kind of eyes will stand with us as allies. But if our paths cross again before that, I'll beat you to dust like a cat and rat. Got it, ya fools? Remember my words!"

With that, he was gone as suddenly as he had appeared.

Obito was the first to release his breath in a whoosh and collapsed against a stack of crates lining the alleyway. "That was close."

"Are you okay, Kakashi?" Midori asked.

Kakashi nodded, absently rubbing his throat. "We should leave before they realize he let us go."

Voicing the words chafed his pride but he let training whitewash the personal sentiment and focused instead on their mission and survival so deep in enemy territory.

Each with their own thoughts, they continued on their way, soon leaving Uemura behind and heading southwest under the cover of night. They didn't speak about the encounter with Bee, but chagrin and mortification hung heavily over them as they traveled. It pushed them to run faster and longer, barely stopping to rest and swallowing a soldier's pill without complaint when they reached their limits.

.-.-.-.

They ran for two days and nights, and on the third afternoon, they stopped on the banks of a river, knowing it may be the last before they were swallowed by the harsh, dry climate of Wind Country. They were in the middle of several small countries between the borders of Earth and Wind, but the ground was already nothing more than an orange mat of clay sand and the twisted trees grew withered and barren.

The three refilled their canteens and splashed water over their dusty faces.

"You don't suppose building endurance will help us gain spontaneous speed do you?" Midori said, rubbing a sleeve over her wet face.

"I suppose it's not totally unrelated," Obito replied. "Endurance builds chakra and helps chakra control. And better chakra control makes the Shunshin no jutsu more effective."

"Do you think that ninja's speed was a chakra-induced Shunshin?" Midori asked. They all knew she was talking about Bee.

Obito shrugged. "Beats me."

"…I felt electricity," Kakashi said, thinking back on those seconds as he had often done over the past two days. He hadn't noticed at the time, but the more he played back that one instant, the more he was certain he had felt a faint flicker of the lightning element. But it hadn't been in the attack. It had been in Bee's movements.

"Lightning?" Obito said. He was thoughtful for a moment. "I've heard the Third Raikage uses something like a lightning armor. Maybe the Clouds have a way of combining electricity and chakra to enhance their physical abilities."

Kakashi turned the idea over in his mind and thought it was definitely worth looking into.

Midori groaned. "That's not fair. Lightning's Kakashi's primary element. You're strong enough already!"

"What's strong enough about being held at sword point?" Kakashi grumbled.

Midori laughed and thumped his back. "All's well that ends well. We made it out alive, didn't we?" She stood up and stretched. "Let's deliver the scroll, then head home to train. We have a lot to do."

It was Obito's turn to groan. "Not again. Can I at least take a nice long bath first?"

"You're such a geezer Obito," Midori huffed.

"You're such a tomboy."

"Say that again?"

"Shh," Kakashi cut in. He stood up straight, straining his ears and breathing deeply through his nose. Without a word, he indicated a group of dense thickets and the three grabbed their bags and slid under the cover. They silenced their breaths and concealed their presences.

Not a minute later, a large group of Rock ninjas ran past, heading east. They were gone within a second, but it was clear that they were equipped for battle.

Kakashi, Obito and Midori hid for another minute, just in case, before crawling out. They shared a look.

"Sometimes I hate it when my instincts are right," Obito mumbled, gazing in the direction where the shinobi had disappeared.

"Should we get a message to Konoha?" Midori asked.

Kakashi shook his head. "They'll know by now."

"The battle could have even already started," Obito added.

"Let's hurry," Kakashi said.


Thanks for reading.

.LinSetsu.