Trust in the Future

The leaf village was recovering from the fight. The sand ninja had returned to their home country and were about to vote for their new kazekage. In Konoha business was doing well. ANBU were returned to their previous missions and Genin squads took more missions outside the village.

Currently Team seven and Team eight were waiting in the mission office to get their C-Rank mission. It was a joint mission where a chunin squad was overkill and a genin squad was too weak. Reading through the mission data Kakashi noticed the job for each genin. They were to secure the civilians in preparation for an S-Rank mission executed by Team Cobra.

Said team had just arrived at the hokage office two levels up and were receiving their orders.

"According to you, Itachi Uchiha slaughtered the clan on the behalf of the Konoha elders, am I right?" Tsunade asked.

They nodded, gesturing for her to continue.

"To effectively solve the crime committed by the elders we have to find Itachi and investigate his mind. Capture him alive. His partner is optional but kill him if you have to. Good hunting."

Team Cobra left the building. Moving out they headed for the last known location of Itachi while Team seven and team eight evacuated the nearest towns. Echo set up a sniping position about a mile away from the ambush. He zoomed into the clearing where Fox and Duck stood. Cherry was covering his six as he concentrated his sensors. "I've got two subjects on the move, heading for you now, Fox. Keep in mind that the bullet will need up to 2 seconds to reach the clearing."

"Got it. Kisame is your priority one. Target Itachi second."

Below Duck and Fox prepared to meet them. Duck would capture Itachi while Fox would try to convince Kisame.

They both pulled out their swords as the Akatsuki duo entered the clearing.

"Look, the leaf has sent his ANBU after us." Kisame smiled.

Itachi didn't say anything but he had a weird feeling.

Duck stepped forward. "On behalf of the Hokage, you, Itachi Uchiha, have been summoned to speak against the Konoha elder as a witness of the Uchiha massacre."

Surprisingly Itachi didn't resist the arrest. He seemed to be happy about it. Kisame was another story. The shark man was surprised at his comrade surrendering so fast that he was caught in Duck's genjutsu before he noticed it.

"We have to move, there are a lot of bandits coming our way."

Duck got distracted that was all Kisame needed to snap out of the illusion.

"I'll shave your life!" The man shrieked as he jumped with his sentient sword risen above his head.

Suddenly it was pulled out of his hands. Whatever had hit it had left a hole in it as the sword died.

Kisame was shocked by the loss of his sword but he still had a vast number of jutsus up his sleeve.

Echo reloaded. Behind him Cherry was fending off a few bandits and nuke nin. The sniper fired another shot at Kisame but didn't remain behind his rifle to watch the hit. He pushed himself up, grabbed a pair of tonfas before he attacked the nearest bandit. Flipping the weapons in his hands he took out two bandits by one swing, before he dodged another attacker. He swiped this one off his feet before he rammed his tonfa into his opponent's chest. The next attacker tried a vertical sword strike but they couldn't cut through the titanium tonfas as Echo crossed them above his head. Turning the weapons he winded the sword out of the enemy's hands before he drove his elbow into the man's gut. The man gasped for air as he collapsed on the ground. The police officer dropped his weapons and got back behind his rifle. Realigning the shot he looked down at the clearance. His shot had hit Kisame in the stomach. It had slowed the swordsman down long enough for Fox to take him out with a Rasengan.

Duck was cuffing Itachi and the team prepared to return to Konoha.

Halfway back they met Teams eight and seven. Sasuke couldn't believe what he saw as Team Cobra led his brother into the clearing. "Brother!" he shouted. Hugging his older sibling he cried. "Why did you leave me?"

Suddenly Team Cobra was engulfed in a golden light. They started to dematerialize as they looked at the jonin.

"Looks like it's time for us to go." Echo said.

Kakashi looked at they sadly. "Thank you, for everything. Trust in the future, right?"

"Good luck with it. Take care of your students." Duck said.

And with that Team Cobra dissipated into nothing.

Kakashi and Kurenai realized that they were still waving.

"Where did they go?" Naruto asked.

"We will see them eventually. ANBU appear and disappear. No one but them knows who is under which mask." Kurenai said, looking into the sky.

They reappeared in the street they were before they left. Time seemed to have stopped as slowly the ANBU gear they wore dispersed in a shower of golden sparks, leaving them in exactly the same clothes they wore when they entered the rift.

Naruto shook his head. "Wow, that was like an extensive flashback."

"Yeah. By the way, that Kumo incident, did it took place here?" Sakura asked.

Sasuke shook his head. "No. Hizashi only faked his death. He was undercover with my mum before they separated. Amegakure had captured him. Nagato returned him to us while he signed the alliance treaty."

Erik opened his timer. "There are peace talks planned for tomorrow. Kumo sends a delegation to speak with the council."

Sakura was deep in thought. "It was another dimension, we can't be sure if it is bound to happen here. Let's just be near the Hyūga compound as a precaution."

Erik was gearing up. They day of the peace talks were up. As a neutral party Task Force Cobra was present. The 13th Platoon was patrolling the village and Metal-Team was protecting "The Chief". He himself was hanging around the Hyūga main house. None of them had told anybody of their suspicion. He had equipped Naruto, Sakura and Naruto with the same uniform he wore. With the balaclava and the goggles no one would suspect them being ninja. He had given them the light version so they could still fight their way without any handicap. The lieutenant listened to the peace talks on the radio. He had briefed his boss about the possible attack. CQC-Units stayed near the hokage tower and field agents were trailing the other Kumo-nin around Konoha. BloodSquad had an "appointment" with Hiashi during the day.

Every soldier and agent was on high alert. Two drones were in the air to watch the Compound and the hokage tower.

Sergeant Kelly was sitting in her armed ambulance. In case the abduction couldn't be prevented she and the armored division were to pursuit and rescue the hostage. Erik had sent her a list of possible targets. On the top of the list was Hinata. Since Naruto and Sakura were an item the Hyūga heir had become more arrogant. She was like: I am from the mighty clan and I will get what I want.

Her sister had a bad influence on her. Hanabi had fueled the hate her older sister held towards Sakura into a bright forest fire.

The chief opened the talks. All units were ready to engage if needed. Metal team had non-lethal ammo as they were in an enclosed space with friendlies around them.

Erik patrolled along the southern wall of the Hyūga compound. While Team seven watched the area on the chakra level he had deployed his heartbeat sensor. While ninja could suppress their chakra signature there had been no one who could hide his heartbeat unless they were dead. Also he had his infrared filter so heat signatures could be spotted. So far nothing had been out of order. Other units didn't notice any extra activity in their areas. The talks went smooth. But still it was suspicious as most topics were about trade and military access.

The hokage was about to call off the meeting as the Chief convinced him to go on. She had a feeling that something was about to happen.

Erik stopped as his sensors flared up. There was a low heat signature, left overs from somebody climbing over the wall. He checked his heartbeat sensor and compared it with the drone's video feed. FLIR showed a person sneaking around the main complex. However it was not sure who it was. They couldn't engage unless the abduction took place.

Hiashi sat in his seat uneasily. He had a bad feeling about this meeting. He trusted his gut feeling that had never betrayed him. He felt a little safe as he knew that the 13th Platoon was patrolling the city. Lieutenant Winston had earned his trust especially when he had convinced Nagato.

Suddenly he had an uneasy feeling in his mind. He looked at his arm where a seal flashed. Someone had entered Hinata's room and this one wasn't a Hyūga nor did this one wear one of the permission seals. "Lady Hokage, there is a breach of security at my compound. I have to attend this matter immediately."

Tsunade nodded. "You are excused."

As the Hyūga clan-head stormed out a squad of soldiers joined him.

Erik looked through the broken window of the warehouse. He had chased the kidnapper to this location as he was the only one who could follow without being detected. He switched to night vision as he checked the room for any traps. Team seven went to cover the main escape routes while the soldiers set up a perimeter to prevent any innocent involvements.

Tactical entry teams waited at several breaching points. Hiashi wanted to attack now but Erik had convinced the man to let his platoon handle the abduction.

Breach charges were set at the doors and windows and grenades were primed. Smoke would cover the entrances and flashbangs would distract the kidnapper.

"Entry in three.." Erik counted down. "Two.." "One, GO! GO! GO!"

The charges blew the doors inwards. Units stormed the warehouse and secured it. Erik stepped forward and confronted the ninja. He wore the headband of a Kumo-nin. He had grabbed Hinata and held a kunai at her throat. Hiashi stood directly behind Erik. "Release my daughter!"

Erik held the man back. "All units, activate laser." Red laser beams cut through the smoke. Several dots appeared on the cloud ninja's body. None of these endangered Hinata.

"No one has to die today. Release her and we can talk about this like civilized people."

The Kumo just pressed a seal on his arm as he laughed. "You have no choice than to let me go. We hold your hokage hostage."

Erik logged into Metal-Teams video feed as he put their sound on loudspeaker. A projector set up by a soldier displayed the four feeds onto a nearby wall.

The Kumo delegation tried to attack but Frost rammed the first one off his feet by slamming into him with his shield. Truck smashed his pistol's muzzle into a cloud ANBU's mask, shattering it before he pulled the trigger. The taser shot electrocuted the man. Grinch lifted his shield to block an incoming sword before he jumped to the side so Sandman had a clear shot. The sergeant sprayed his shotgun's load into the room, knocking most opponents out with the beanbags. Two Kumo ANBU got a hold on Tsunade and the kidnapper smiled. But just in this moment the buxom swung her arms and knocked both attackers against the table before putting both of them in a headlock. Having their faces pressed against the woman's enormous breasts they passed out.

A cloud jonin charged at Sandman, trying the laser circus jutsu. However the man's googles blocked most of the light, leaving him stunned a few seconds but still shorter than the jonin expected. The soldier ejected the mag which he threw at the ninja. Frost took the chance to fire his gun at the man's gut, knocking his breath out and leaving him down holding his stomach.

Grinch was holding his shield with two hands as he hold off a cloud chunin. Luckily his armor diverted the lightning away from his body, protecting him from the nasty effects of being electrocuted. The shield was another effective weapon against the kunai and shuriken.

The clan heads had jumped up but they decided no to interfere. Metal-Team had the situation under control and were clearly victorious.

At last the ambassador was the last one standing. He fixated on Metal-Team, not notiving the Chief as she grabbed him from behind in a chock hold and cut off his air supply. His head was pressed into her large cleavage so he quickly passed out, too.

Erik looked back still looking serious while Hiashi had to hold back his snicker.

"Now, what were you saying again?"

"I..."

He didn't talk further as he unsure about how to proceed. The adviser had said that this operation was to ensure Kumo's military strength. His plan was to be fail-safe. Now he was standing here. His escape routes were blocked, and their Plan-B had shot back at them, too. The only way out was a political fall out. "I was never with the delegation. I control them. None of them will be linked to me. You just killed cloud's diplomats. That will result in war!" he tried to play his last card. But even this was countered as Erik simply stated. "Metal-Team used rubber shots. The whole delegation is alive. Also we have video proof. Your Raikage will be enlighten to hear that one of his advisers planned this behind his back." The ninja was taken by Kelly and Morgan. Both put their weight on his shoulders to hold him down while they cuffed him. "Tango down, hostage secured."

Erik nodded as he contacted the Chief. "Ma'am, hostage situation cleared. No casualties."

He turned towards Hiashi. "Hyūga-san, would you mind accompanying Team seven and Hinata to the hospital? I have to deliver this one to Ibiki."

"My pleasure, Winston-san." Both shook hands before they left.

The 13th Platoon was already transporting captured Kumo nins from all over the village to the T&I department. This was going to be a long day.

Hiashi was walking behind Team seven. He used his Byakugan to secretly read the paper the soldier had slipped into his hand at their hand shake.

Your clan council is planning a coup d'état. I have nothing solid but the pattern resembles strongly the was it was done in the Uchiha clan. Hospital, Room 105. Codename Rainbow will wait for you.

The man focused chakra into his palm, effectively destroying the paper with his chakra nature. After delivering the children at the entrance he headed for the rendezvous point.

He opened the door and entered the dark room. Closing it behind him he switched the light on. He gasped. Codename Rainbow was no one else than his own wife!