I have no rights to Naruto.

Enjoy.

0o0o

They sat in a circle, the pink haired girl scowling at the foolishness of the orange clad baka and how he kept boasting about how great he was and would be the next Hokage.

"Dobe." The scoff from the black haired Uchiha, made her hackles rise. Quickly she slapped the blond baka to the ground, growling. "Don't annoy Sasuke-kun."

"AAAH Sakura-chan."

She ignored the indignant wail, focusing on the handsome black haired boy in front her. "Umm . . . Sasuke-kun ... um would you go on a date with me?" she asked hopefully, her eyes full of stars.

Up above them their silver haired sensei sighed, would the girl ever learn, she was just setting herself up for pain. Seeing Sasuke roll his eyes and clench his fists he knew the answer would not be pretty, Sasuke's patience was thin enough today after escaping his rabid fan girls. Closing and pocketing his beloved orange book he stood and jumped down to the ground. Just in time.

"What kind of ninja . . ." He put his hand on the boy's shoulder, silencing him and giving the trio a hidden smile, shown by his eye crinkle he explained. "Sorry, I'm late, my apartment got flooded, I had to swim for it but then realised I forget Mr. Ukki."

"LIAR!" The shouts of protest from his two extrovert students made him smile, they were so easily distracted. Or perhaps not, he could see the thoughtful looks in his little pink haired student's eyes and how she glanced at Sasuke, the dazzling smile she gave him when he looked her way made Kakashi rethink that thought. Tapping his finger against his mask covered lips Kakashi hummed and hawed, ensuring he had their attention.

"You had a good point Sasuke, do you know the different types of ninja's that exist?" he questioned lightly sitting down on the ground his back against the tree.

"Ah that's easy Kakashi- sensei, genin, chunnin and jounin. . . oohh ooh wait, there's also ANBU and the Kages!" Naruto said excitedly, pumping his fist in triumph.

"Missing – nin" was the add on from the stoic Uchiha, his face determined, his mind focused on one in particular.

Brushing it off Kakashi looked at all three and giving them an eye crinkle said. "You have the basics."

Sakura tilted her head in thought as the two boys looked slightly confused. His smile unseen Kakashi waved his hand in a 'listen up' gesture and began to explain. "You have many different types of ninja's, you have the dependable – the soldiers - who without them nothing would get done and you would have no ninja force, you have the specialists – those who abilities and talents are centred on one aspect."

"Like you and your jutsu's, and Kurenai- sensei with her genjutsu's."

Kakashi nodded his head in agreement to Sakura's statement, continuing. "You have of course, the killers – the S-class and dangerous ninja's that pose a threat, you have Commanders- those who make the decisions, both good and bad, they are your leaders, your captains, they both command and earn respect." He raised his hand to stop Naruto. "Yes like the Hokage. Finally you have the Legends – like Yodaime, the First, the Sannin, ninja so powerful they are known among the ninja country, they are both feared, respected and reverend."

"Like Death."

Kakashi, held back his surprise, realising it shouldn't be too much of a shock that Sasuke would know of Death.

"Who's Death?" the loud demanding question came from Naruto who was waving his hands wildly for an answer.

With a small chuckle at his antics Kakashi told them. "No one knows Naruto, that's the point. No one even knows what country he is from. But missing nin, S-class criminals, any one causing problems or deemed a threat are killed, no sign left, no idea who ordered the mission – there was just Death, the death of those who were only highlighted as problems for a few days before they were killed."

He watched the three sit there in thought - waiting, counting how long it would take. Not long.

"Why would he do that! No one would know what a great ninja you are!" Naruto screeched appalled at not having people know how good he was, not having them respect him.

"Dobe!"

"Teme!"

Kakashi shook his head, those two were so quick to name call and fight, he watched as they threw insults, the same one they had been using for the last two weeks since he had met them. "Naruto, Sasuke sparring – work on your taijutsu, both of you. Sakura you need to build up your stamina . ." He trailed off; the two boys had run off the moment he told them to spar but his little pink haired student was still sitting in the grass, a deep look of concentration on her face.

"Sakura?"

Her emerald eyes looked up at him deep in thought, fiddling her fingers together as they rested in her lap. "No one will know when he dies will they? Or what he did . . the real person I mean."

Kakashi felt . .proud at her little insight, nodding at her words, his head tilted as she went on.

"That must be hard, no one knowing what you are doing, the risks you are taking. It's very brave, putting everyone's safety, your country's safety before your own. I think . . . I think that's real bravery, real strength. To do that and get no recognition, to expect none." She gave a sheepish smile and bobbed her head, blushing as he looked down on her.

"Well, I better go make sure Naruto hasn't hurt Sasuke-kun." She smiled and ran off to join the boys, leaving a smiling, thoughtful Kakashi behind.

There seemed to be more to his little pink haired student than just boy craziness, it made him smile and be hopeful, maybe there was hope for his entire team.

-x

For three days no one had seen hide nor hair of Ibiki or Sakura, after Newt had informed him of Sakura's whereabouts he had rushed off, the team at the graveyard the last to see them, Team Kakashi realised their Sakura was a clone when she had simply gone poof, Squirrel arriving to tell them the truth. Letters left on his desk, correspondences and important information left for him disappeared, no chakra signal or residue left, no traps triggered, nothing, it was like a ghost was coming in and taking his stuff, it unsettled the ANBU slightly, but they put it down to Ibiki being Ibiki.

Now gathered in the Hokage's office the ANBU captains, Team Kakashi, the rest of the Konoha 12 and their sensei's waited for Tsunade to speak as she riffled through her documents and in hushed voices spoke with Jiraiya. In their own hushed voices they talked amongst each other wondering.

"Forehead's been hiding for days."

"The Commander hasn't been to Headquarters."

"Do you have any idea why we're here?"

"Troublesome."

Snapping the files down on her desk Tsunade growled at her team mate. "Pervert." Making everyone sweat drop at the realisation that their serious conversation had been far from serious. Grapping her cup of sake Tsunade took a long sip before straightening and finally turning her attention to the full room of waiting shinobi, her honey coloured eyes serious as she spoke.

"You all know the threat Maharani presents, he has destroyed one of our own and gotten into Konoha undetected. I want to know everything, you have had more than enough time to get enough rope to hang him, I want this bastard taken care of, I . . . "

She trailed off, her eyes widening in surprise, the thankfully empty cup of sake dropping with a dull thud. Startled, everyone in the room turned as one, shocked as their eyes fell on the two figures that stood in the doorway for a moment, a terrified Shizune looking at them from behind before they walked into the room and stood before Tsunade.

The smaller figure, small compared to the second shinobi next to him was dressed totally in black, black armour, black hood and black ANBU mask, the clothes slightly looser than normal to allow for easier movement – the Shadow of Konoha.

The taller figure was also dressed in black, the standard black ANBU clothes covered by a black hooded robe that did nothing to hide the white skeleton mask he wore – Death.

"Maharani is our prey." The deep and deadly tone left no room for argument, Tsunade's eyes narrowing.

The shinobi in the room were astonished and fearful. Team Kakashi, Anko, Wren and Squirrel recognised Sakura, an uneasy feeling crawling up their spines as a terrifying thought occurred to them as they looked at the legendary Death. The ANBU and teams with their senseis took a respectful step back at the presence of two such deadly figures.

As one they took off their hoods and masks, the hisses of surprise and gasps of shocks echoing through the room as Ibiki and Sakura looked at the Hokage with a look of vengence, their eyes blazed in their determination, promise and hatred, taking out their katanas they laid them on the desk, Sakura starting and Ibiki finishing.

"Where ever the Shadows fall, there will be Death."

In unison the whole room shuddered, a chill sweeping the room. The promise, the threat heard by Kami and noted, there was no where on earth that Maharani could hide from the Shadow or Death. He was going straight to hell.

O0o

Dia Duit,

Yes it is short but I felt if I added any more I would lose the impact.

Please review and let me know what you think.

Lots of love,

The Rose and the Dagger x x xx