First Impressions

Chapter 14: To survive

Koomahana

Mamorigami—guardian spirit

Ubume-A mother ghost who died in childbirth or died leaving young children behind, this Yūrei (Demon) returns to care for her children, often bringing them sweets

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine; you want the real stuff get off this site

Thoughts

Paragraphs are flashback

…

…

The entire hall was covered in webs, thousands of spiders littered the walls, eagerly catching escaped Kikaichu and snacking on them hungrily. The darkness worked well to hide their webs and the black clouds of insects swarming defensively around their master were soon trapped and bound in his spider silk. The young man struggled for a moment in the tight hold of the webs but soon stilled when one of the larger spiders stationed itself over his right artery, its presence alone enough of a threat. The young man evened out his breathing before staring back at him unafraid of the hundreds of spiders crawling over his body, their powerful webs clogging the pours in his skin and killing any of his insects that dared to venture out. As clan head, he wasn't supposed to use brute force against one of his own clansmen but to be fair, the boy did attack him first.

"Where is my son?" Shibi asked, voice low and dark, the young man refused to answer, despite his spiders surrounding them had left only five of the young man's insects alive; dangling them in front of him mockingly. One young spider crunched loudly on its victim; the young man gritted his teeth, like all Aburame he was attached to his insects, he'd rather fight with his fists then lose the creatures who were with him nearly since birth.

"Why have you betrayed me?" Shibi asked, a second kikaichū thrashed wildly as another spider sank its poisonous fangs into it

"You are holding back the growth of your own child," The young man snarled at him, "You are holding back the clan itself. You don't have the right to be clan head."

"Danzo knows nothing of our clan," Shibi replied, his spiders stilled in their munching of kikaichū, awaiting further orders, "Unless you told him all of our secrets." The young man snorted, his spiders told him that the young man apparently wasn't that stupid. "I will ask you one last time Shinashi, Where is my son?"

"Only your wife can answer that," Shinashi replied viciously

Silence filled the tunnel as the young man's blood splattered against the walls

"Stupid boy," Shibi said dully, letting his spiders consume the last of the kikaichūbefore devouring the young man to dispose of any secrets he might've still held within his body, "if you hadn't said that you'd have been able to see your mother one last time."

"I see you're as over protective as always," the webs filling the hall in front of him fell towards the ground like damp silk, revealing a familiar looking one eyed man with two short shadows crouching low at his feet. Water seeped across the floor like a shadow crossing a field, his spiders grumbled and hissed, a few spitting at the one eyed man, before retreating to surround Shibi protectively.

"Danzo Shimura," Shibi said dully, "Where is my son?" his largest spider shook itself out from its burrow of fine silk and shuttered further into the darkness, awaiting to ambush its newest possible target.

"He is the only thing that you have left of your wife, is he not?" Danzo sighed at him, "Am I truly so rude as to take a man's only memory of his love?"

"Yes," Shibi answered bluntly, several of his more poisonous spiders dropping from the ceiling to surround him

"Fair enough," Danzo shrugged carelessly, "I'll tell you if you live." Shibi quickly found out that the shadows at Danzo's feet were anything but human and were immune to his spider's venom, only their webs seemed to slow them marginally but the creatures seemed to learn and adapt from every attack his spiders sent at them. After one strike to his shoulder from the taller of the creature's, Shibi knew it was time to retreat, these little monsters were as lethal as his spiders.

Grinding his teeth, Shibi swore to kill Danzo if he still had his only child

…

…

The branches hit the thick ancient rock, bending beneath its old, black, uneven surface, the children whimpered and Kurenai braced herself, tears flying out of her eyes as she squeezed them shut, her body tensing to protect the children. Kakashi watched, horrified as he realized that he couldn't focus on them with his sharingan eye, there were too many branches between them, covering them just enough to make his eye useless. Then, without warning, the black rock shattered apart like an erupting volcano, the giving of earth erupted in their ears and vibrated in their bodies, tattooing itself into everyone's mind for the rest of time. Then it was as if the tree was released from its restraints, it grew through the air like a released spring, shattering through the dense cloud of black smoke hovering over the village like a suffocating blanket. Then there was blinding white-gold light washing over them, blinding everyone as it seeped into every crevices of the tree as if it was reflected off the coffee brown bark.

"Morning?" Kakashi whispered, wincing as he tried to get used to the sudden light, "but we were only in there for a few hours..."

"It was the seal tags covering the walls and pillars," Kakashi turned to see Bishido sitting just behind him, almost protectively beside Tenzo. "They act like a massive Genjutsu, distorting one's sense of time. However because they hit all five senses and are re-applied every two minutes, it was next to impossible for anyone to notice the difference. It distorted our sense of time not our sense of body speed," The copper orange fox looked at him, a strange glint of sadness in his golden eyes. "Not even we animals noticed the distortion. That is why we were all surprised when a new wave of our allies appeared randomly. They had been sent in at increments. The first wave waited two hours after we entered, the second two hours after the first, the third another two hours after the second and the fourth over loaded the tags, lifting the Genjutsu with their numbers."

"That's why the past ten minutes seemed like they were flying by," Kakashi whispered to himself, the fox nodded at him as if he expected Kakashi to make the connection.

"Tenzo will be just fine," Bishido said as he rose and shook out his thick fur coat. "Hime is healing the wounded, however she wants to do it right, so it'll be a while." All at once the branches at the top unfolded with a great snap, bashing back the jumping shadowed figures like a fly swatter. Kakashi clutched tightly to his branch, not used to feeling a tree move under him. Bishido stared at him for a moment before smirking and leaping away, a sound like laughter following him.

"But… Iruka," Kakashi said slowly, looking down at the ground, only to see a sea of black water pushing at the edge of the trunk like angry waves on a cliff face. Pulling back sharply, Kakashi tried not to feel sick at the dizzying height he just realized they were all remaining at, swallowing the bile in his throat back down to his stomach, Kakashi looked for a distraction around him. Only to realize that the branch wrapped around him kept him facing down word, leaving his hands and feet to dangle towards the dark clouds below ominously.

"Who are you?" Kakashi twisted his neck to look up and behind himself but he could only see a pair of pale feet and pink cloth. Based by the size of the feet, the person standing on the branch over him was a child. He honestly couldn't believe the irony of the situation, he a child soldier was at the mercy of a child soldier.

There were times were karma should eat a happy pill and move on

"Kakashi Hatake, Anbu Captain for lord Hokage," he answered, "are you going to leave me here to dangle or are you going to help me up?"

"What do you want?" The voice was tilted, soft and fearful, yet firm and unwavering

"...uh, to be safe from this nauseating sight?" Kakashi answered sarcastically

"...the children," he tried to look back at the child but could only see their bare feet, a small trail of blood rolling down the ankle joint, "are you... going to hurt them?"

"No, I was sent to protect them," Kakashi answered, "can you please get me to safer ground please? I don't like the feeling of dangling over open air like this and I doubt the children do either."

"what is wrong with my tree?" The child asked

"Everything brat, everything," Kakashi drawled, his patience beginning to grow thin. "First off, the other children would fall to their deaths if they were forced to remain on a wobbly branch for who knows how long. Plus its windy up here, if the freezing temperatures didn't give them hyperthermia they'd still get ammonia, both of which would kill them if their inability to climb trees didn't."

"I see," that was all the warning Kakashi had before the world was upside down

…

…

Shino cupped a few dozen of his insects in his hands, turned away from Kiba, Sasuke and Kurenai, Naruto was still sleeping soundly in Kurenai's lap, oblivious to the worried staring of the three around him. According to the insects in Shino's hands, they were in the top branches of a powerful and ancient chakra tree, it was defiantly older than all the others in their village. Just being in its branches was enough to restore their energy and heal their more serious wounds. It also made his insects shy away from feeding on his chakra, preferring the purer energy of the tree.

"Search for the maker of the tree," Shino ordered, "then find anyone with trace amounts of that scent on them."

"Dude, don't give me orders," Shino jumped, feeling Kiba sprawl against his back to look at the bugs in his hands

"Who are you talking to Aburame-san?" Kurenai asked peering over both of their shoulders curiously, Naruto was laying behind them, still sleeping soundly.

"Are those your insects Aburame-san?" Sasuke asked curiously, appearing on his left side, looking down at his palms curiously, "What kind are those?"

"My insects and yes, they're call Kikaichū," Shino said as he pushed his hands out and sent them on their way

"They're not as mean as cousin said," Sasuke whispered, watching them fly away with a curious tilt to his head

"Your cousin wouldn't have happened to have made one of my relatives angry did they?" Shino asked, tilting his head at him curiously

"I don't know the whole story," Sasuke replied with a slight irritated look at him, "He just told me to avoid any Aburame who had an obsession with spiders."

"If it is Hikaru then yes, he angered Naname, he deserved it," Shino said calmly, earning a snicker from Kiba and making Sasuke lean slightly back; Kurenai shook her head amusedly as she carefully crawled back to Naruto. Stroking the blonde's wild locks back, she watched fondly as his eyes twitched and his face pinched in sleepy irritation. Naruto took in a deep steady breath before snuggling against her knees like they were his pillow. Kurenai smiled fondly at him, letting him sleep in her lap like the child that he was, her fingers gently weaved through his locks until they came across a rough patch of skin on his scalp. Curious about the strange feeling, Kurenai carefully parted his hair and examined the location of rough skin and too her crimson gaze found a still healing wound that was shaped like the end of a lighter or match. She brushed her fingers over it gently and frowned at the flecks of skin that fell lose to reveal newly made bright pink skin still tender to the air. Her heavy sigh was enough irritation on the day-or-so-old wound to make the blonde cringe and wake up with a sleepy pout. Staring into her crimson gaze for a moment, Naruto suddenly yelped and leaped away from Kurenai, nearly collided heads with her in the process.

"Who-who-who?!" Naruto stuttered repeatedly, unable to form a coherent sentence as he pointed at her with a fearful look on his round face

"My name is Kurenai Yuhi," Kurenai smiled patiently at him, something in her chest clenching tight at the fearful look on the boy's face, "I came with several others to save the kidnaped children of the academy." Naruto pursed his lips and frowned at her, his brows pinching together as he glanced over at the three other boys nearby, all three looking at him curiously.

"Why me?" Naruto asked slowly

"You are a student of the academy," Kurenai replied, softening her features so he wouldn't feel threatened by her sudden appearance in his life, "Do I need any other reason?"

"…where's Iruka-sensei?" Naruto asked looking around him so he wouldn't have to answer her. However, by looking away from her, Naruto's eyes landed on Sasuke and Kiba, their faces pinched, blood shot and bruised, as if they were beaten up and then spent a while crying over it.

"Iruka-sensei..." Naruto turned to look at the Kunochi, starting her fearfully, "he... He did come for us right?" His voice was so soft and weak, as if the wind would blow him out of this world, "he promised... he promised to-" Naruto cut himself off as Kurenai wrapped her arms around him, he remained stiff, not daring to move or breath as she held him tightly.

"He came," the woman whispered in his ear, something wet splashing against his shoulder, "he came for you, just like he promised."

…

…

"N...Naruto," Iruka whispered, eyes half lidded and blood dripping past his lips, there was a tantto stationed in his chest. It was a miracle the chunin was still living, that kind of wound would've killed anyone else instantly.

"He's safe," Shisui answered with a wobbly smile, as he tried to pull the blade out carefully, "we got to him in time." Iruka smiled weakly, Shisui cursed as he felt the older man's pulse drop drastically. I'm losing him, Shisui thought, grinding his teeth together as he pressed both hands into Iruka's bloody side, ignoring the warmth over flowing them to stain his knees. "Come on man you gotta fight! We're still in danger here!" Iruka's smile didn't twitch or fade even as he light in his warm chocolate eyes slowly faded, "Iruka! Quite being a drama queen and fight!"

"Sensei!" Shisui flinched as three sets of palms slapped over his own hands, all glowing a faint emerald, he looked up, sharingan eyes spinning, staring in horror at the faces of the three young girls crying as they tried their best to heal their teacher.

"Sensei! Sensei! Wake up sensei!" the blonde all but screamed, tears flowing out of her eyes like rivers, "Please!"

"S-sensei, sensei," the smallest whimpered, "Sensei… sensei, don't go, don't leave us, please!"

"Wake up you over protective mother hen!" the one with purple stripes on her cheeks ordered, "Sensei!"

"Sensei!"

Shisui wrapped his arms around his legs, hiding his face in his knees; it had been a long time since he last failed in saving someone. He always thought that if he was fast enough he could save anyone, he just had to master the shun-shin jutsu, then he could get to anyone in time and save them before it was too late. That was why he always practiced the technique until he feinted from exhaustion; that was why he earned the nick name 'flash-step master Shisui'. It was all so he could save people before they got hurt, before they were taken away from this world forever—so he wouldn't be forced to tell someone their precious person was gone forever because he wasn't fast enough. Iruka was a school teacher; he was married to a retired chunin, had one child and another on the way, and over ninety percent of the students at the academy positively adored him.

How was he supposed to tell them that their teacher wasn't going to come back? How was he supposed to tell Iruka's wife and child that—His thoughts were diverted as a small pale hand gripped the edge of the bowl the branches made for him. The small hand was soon joined by another and then by a bright yellow head, then one of the little girls who tried to save Iruka, pulled herself over the edge. She tumbled over the edge with a yelp, her landing was then followed by impossibly small tan hands gripping the edge with white knuckles. The blond shook her head and quickly stammered to her feet, only to turn and pull a small black haired kid over the edge of the bowl. Once the smaller girl was safe in the bowl, the blond braced herself over the edge and grabbed something from below with both hands, struggling to pull someone else into the bowl. The little girl soon started to help the blond and together they pulled up a russet haired girl with perfectly sky blue eyes. The youngest girl turned towards him and stared, her diverted attention drew the stares of the other two. Shisui stared back at them dumbly before realizing that they could be staring at his still bloody hands; feeling self-conscious, he hid his hands behind his knees.

"I'm Inoko Yamanaka," the blonde smiled at him, sniffing as her irises swam in gathering tears, "this is Rina Nohara," she gestured to the russet haired girl, he could guess her clan based on the bright purple stripes on her cheeks. "And this is Mimi Kurama," Shisui reflexively looked down at the small girl's left arm, her clan tattoo she received when she turned one stood proudly on her creamy caramel skin. He then decided to look a little closer at the three girls, already knowing they were the same three girls who tried to heal Iruka. Inoko was dressed in a green V-neck, sleeveless shirt, its top three buttons were undone, showing off her long white sleeved shirt beneath. Her skirt was split from her left knee up to her black belt clipped tightly just under her green top. Rina was dressed in a muddy brown kimono top tied in place with her white (now blood stained) skirt that reached just past her knees; a typical female Nohara outfit. Little Mimi was dressed in a sleeveless black turtle neck with plane navy blue caprices; another typical outfit of her family.

"I'm Shisui Uchiha," he replied, staring blankly at them. Mimi smiled at him and walked over, without permission, she pushed his knees apart and sat in his lap, snuggling her face into his neck. Shisui stared down at her for a moment, bewildered as to why she would hug him. Before he could question the little girl, he felt his neck grow wet and when he heard her sniff he realized the girl was crying.

"I... Iruka-sensei," Inoko sniffed, drawing his attention back to her, "he-he said that," tears were starting to roll down her cheek and Rina grabbed her hand in silent support. "That everyone makes mistakes," Inoko's knees started to tremble and before he knew it, the blonde was clinging to him tightly, crying loudly. He honestly didn't know what to do, he's never had anyone crying on him. The most crying he's had to deal with came from toddlers or the silent, depressed ball of mush that Itachi formed when he felt like crying but refused to do so. He's never had someone clinging to him like he was a life line, crying on his shoulder like he could take the pain away. He heard a soft sniff quickly followed by a shuttering breath, looking up he saw Rina staring at them with over flowing ocean blue eyes. He didn't know what else to do, he smiled weakly and waved her over with his free hand. She walked with shaking legs, her body trembling as she tried to restrain her own sorrow. But the second she sat next to him and he gently tugged her into his chest, the damn broke and she was crying. She wasn't giving the silent tears Mimi was doing and she wasn't doing the near hysterical wailing Inoko was doing, she was going between cycles of both. A moment of quiet tears were followed by a few minutes of sobs and gasping, followed by numb induced silence. Shisui tightened his hold on the three girls before closing his eyes in acceptance, he wasn't the only one who failed to bring Iruka back.

Now he just had to make sure the girls wouldn't let his death effect the rest of their lives

…

…

He woke to the feeling of his face burning from the cold and his lungs feeling as if he was trying to breathe through a thin straw. Opening his eyes sleepily, Tenzo stared at the dark green knot-work of branches and leaves, interrupted only by small gaps of white light from beyond the dark ceiling. Moving stiffly, flinching as his back cracked loudly, Tenzo pushed himself higher on the large wooden platform he was in and examined his surroundings. However he seemed to have been cut off from the rest of the world, he had three other unconscious children in the large room with him and at the end of the farthest child was a large arch opening. Curious he stiffly pushed himself up to his feet and braced himself against the wall of tangled branches and carefully ambled towards the brightly lit entrance. Panting out of breath, which told him that he was currently in a place that had very thin air, Tenzo braced himself against the curved doorway and looked out at the place he was kept. At first he thought he was hallucinating, the grassy field he thought he saw beyond the doorway was actually acres of tightly weaved branches, upon which sat a few dozen large triangular shaped huts all formed from interweaved branches braced against thick young trees like the twelve support branches inside his own 'hut'. Between the large branch-weaved-huts were large thick wooden platforms, some looking as if they were created to dip down a little so the occupants inside could get out of the cold wind. About fifty or so feet over head there appeared to be another floor complete with its own number of huts and platforms, several large wooden spiral staircases were scattered here and there for easy access to the upper floor. There were many children wandering around on the branch-weaved floor, some slowly striding up the staircases and others socializing on the wooden platforms, some children were even accompanied by animals, both large and small. Every child he saw was dressed in the same white dress, some with hems ending about knee length and others with hems ending at the waist, were a pair of wide bell shaped pants covered their legs. Regardless of the preference, all of them wore wide thick belts tighed tightly in the back.

Am I dreaming? Tenzo asked as he took a step forward only to remember that he wasn't as light as the children and he could fall through. He jerked his foot back and looked down at his feet, as if reading his mind, the branches weaved together tightly until there appeared to be one large branch that then grew out word to form three different paths. One path curved sharply around the hut to the back side, one path went straight forward to the trunk of the tree and one veered off to the left, straight towards a flat platform containing several children. Being considerate of his steps, Tenzo carefully picked his way across the thick branch and towards the platform of children. Reaching it, all thoughts of being careful of his footing flew out the window as he found himself staring down at a young Inuzuka girl wrapped in thick torn stripes of cloths and large leaves. Two of the genin kneeling to either side of the Inuzuka kept their backs straight, their hands hovering over different places on the girl's body, glowing a gentle jade in the pale light of the morning. Laying directly opposite of the Inuzuka was a sleeping Yamanaka, hands wrapped with large leaves and threads to keep the leaves in place.

"Good morning mister," he jerked at the soft whisper, blinking he looked to the child laying next to the sleeping Yamanaka, "you've been asleep for a long time. Master was beginning to worry."

"Do you know what happened little one?" Tenzo asked softly, not wanting to distract the concentrating genin, "Did we fail in protecting you? Are we in the neither realm* now?"

"All children survived Anbu-san," the boy answered simply, pushing himself up into a sitting position, "only your team suffered a lose and even that isn't confirmed." Tenzo climbed onto the platform quietly, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling in his stomach by looking around himself again, looking out at the large seemingly endless sea of branches, huts, and platforms.

"...We're in a tree," the boy said with a sigh, "we're also about two or three miles above the village, that's why the air is so thin."

"Say what?" Tenzo asked sharply, "no tree can be that tall! It'd collapse or get cut down before it could get past two hundred feet!"

"Kakashi-sama is the one who estimated the height," the boy drawled, as if he was bored with the conversation, "and Kakashi-sama is rarely wrong, so unless your doubting his word-"

"'Sama'?" Tenzo quoted in bewilderment, "who are you?"

"...I'm Katsu Hatake," the boy answered bluntly, Tenzo stared at the boy's dark gray hair, wondering why he never thought the boy could've been related to his superior. "Oh and pinky made the tree, she created it by using a pool of natural chakra that was hidden inside the mountain, that's why this tree can exist."

"Pinky?" Tenzo questioned, the boy stared at him blankly for a moment before scoffing and climbing to his feet, the annoyed sound reminded the teen of one of the first arguments he's gotten into with Kakashi and the doubt he held about the boy's identity was whipped away.

"Man your slow," Katsu yawned as he started to walk away, "come on, I'll show you." Tenzo frowned at the boy but followed him across the platform to the other side, he watched in dumbfounded astonishment as the boy walked off the platform as if he didn't see the giant human sized hole there at the edge.

"Ah! Wai-" a branch thrust out just in time to catch the boy's full weight, allowing him to continue walking forward as if nothing in this world was wrong. Katsu paused and looked back at him curiously.

"What's wrong?" Katsu asked, tilting his head to the side dumbly, "you coming or what?" Tenzo could hardly believe that the boy was standing on a branch barely thicker then his wrist, it was a Jonin technique and he was performing it as if it was natural to him. "Come on, I don't have all day," the boy crouched at him, "I'm not even supposed to be up. If Nohara-san finds out I'm gonna get an ear full, now lets go!" He returned to walking on his path, stepping onto the wide branch weaved floor as if it was as still and solid as stone. With a twitching eyebrow, Tenzo stepped off the platform and was far more relived to see another thick branch appear beneath his feet just like the first one.

"Man you're a scaredie-cat!" Katsu mocked, earning an irritated look from his elder, "not even Kakashi-sama took this long to adapt to the branches. Just trust 'em and get over here! If you take too long we'll miss Pinky!" Tenzo took a deep steadying breath and imagined thumping the brat just for good measure, but his next step was accompanied by a vine wrapping around his ankle, nearly tripping him.

"Clear your mind!" Katsu ordered, "quickly before she drops you!" Tenzo froze, his face paling as he stared down at the vine, waiting for the branches beneath him to disappear and send him falling straight down to his death. But the drop never happened, the vine just sat there on his ankle, as if waiting for instructions, even Katsu was staring with wide dark eyes.

"That's enough princess, he means no harm," Tenzo and Katsu both turned to see who had spoken and found themselves staring at Kakashi, in his arms was a sleepy little white haired academy student.

"Kakashi-sama!" Katsu called out, his dark eyes lighting up as he dived for the older Hatake, "your friend is up! Will you practice with us now?"

"Seriously Katsu-kun? Do you only see me as stool to get stronger?" Kakashi sighed, catching the younger boy easily, "honestly now, your clan heir, surely there are better things to do then to train till you faint."

"That's what you did!" Katsu whined

"And it coast me my childhood," Kakashi reminded him, "my past is not something I wish to be repeated on you or anyone else, understand?"

"Yes sir," Katsu pouted, pulling away from the Anbu agent

"Good, now go get Kurenai," Kakashi instructed, "she has much to inform Tenzo and I about." Katsu took the child in Kakashi's arms and walked away sullenly, leaving the two adults to speak without snooping children.

"Sempai... What's going on? Are we really in a tree?" Tenzo asked

"And about three miles over the village," Kakashi confirmed, jerking his head to the side so Tenzo knew which way they were going to travel, "come on, I'll take you to the edge."

…

…

"Did we get the girl?" He asked, staring at the four commanders who were each backed by their own three highest ranking officers behind them, all of whom were kneeling respectfully before him.

"Negative sir," the closest commander answered, "she escaped into the tree with the others."

"So in other words, you caught the children and then lost them shortly thereafter?" He questioned

"The animals did a significant amount of damage to our forces before retreating with the children into the tree." The commander answered, "we had no men to retrieve the children before they were out of reach." He sighed heavily, pinching his brow tiredly. He stared at the the dozen white robed men in front of him, short only one captain because of his broken legs and fractured arms. He lost Tenzo because of his blatant loyalty to Kakashi, he lost Kakashi because of his loyalty to Hiruzen and there was a possibility that he lost Itachi as well.

"Any word of Crow?" He asked, mildly irritated with the situation

"No contact yet," the same agent answered calmly, "...Danzo-sama, are we positively sure that captain Crow is reliable?" He knew the man wasn't trying to doubt or ridicule his teaching methods but in his foul mood it certainly sounded that way.

"...There is no fault in my training regiment," he replied, "there is only the wrong candidate. His loyalty will be tested upon his return... Though it would be more beneficial if he acted as a spy for me..."

"Is that not what Yakushi-san is for?" The man asked, "he is the chameleon..."

"True," he hummed thoughtfully, "Crane, gather information on the amount of damage to the village. Falcon find any remaining civilians still within our borders and bring them back. Sparrow, I want to know who's hurt, who's dead, who's still alive and who can report for duty. Eagle, estimate our finances; I need to know how much money to spend and on what supplies. Hawk... find out what you can about the tree. Generals! Help your Commanders!"

"Yes sir!" The white coats scattered

"Sparrow," Danzo called just before his only female agent could leave. The fourteen year old froze and quickly returned to her kneeling position before him, "find Itachi. I know he's your subordinate, he listens to you the most, find him and bring him back."

"If he isn't willing to return?" She asked, voice whisper soft, a habit the women of his clan never grew out of

"If he chooses to be our enemy, you have the right to kill him," Danzo ordered, she stood and started to walk away, but before she could disappear into the shadows of the meeting room, he gave one last order. "Don't die," his voice was even softer then the young woman's and for a moment he thought she didn't hear him. The anxious second was ended when a familiar hum filled the air, three little notes meaning nothing to everyone but everything to them.

Hiruzen would have a fit if he knew who Sparrow truly was

…

…

'neither realm' often refers to the after life or world of the dead

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