No rights

"Where the hell are my ANBU!"

The blonde haired, honey eyed Hokage screamed out as a thunderous BOOM rang out. Another building collapsed in the distance as Tsunade grabbed the map and starting circling areas of ambush as Shikamaru informed her that those areas were already passed, cursing the older woman grabbed her sake bottle and threw it at the wall, the smashing glass corresponding with the metal clashing in the distance.

Dawn and dusk were the most likely time for invasions, the change of guard and the trickery of the sun giving advantages to the enemy, but the rogues had attacked at noon, when the sun was high and the guards on the wall reduced for lunch. As Sakura had predicted they showed no mercy but it seemed the rogues had a hard time actually finding civilians to kill and when they did, they acted like a certain dark haired woman.

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Her dark blue eyes surveyed the two ninja's in front of her as she did nothing to prevent the predatorial smile on her face as they taunted and threatened her, tossing her braid over her shoulder she changed her stance and from under her loose tunic pulled out her weapon with one hand and with the other pulled out a white mask. Meeting their eyes that were now shifting nervously from her weapon to her mask Keiko laughed as she slipped the ANBU mask over her face, her identity didn't matter, they would die soon anyway, shifting her balance before she attacked she simply said

"You should have looked underneath the underneath"

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"Six squads are still out Hokage-sama" Shikamaru informed the blonde who banged her fists on her desk sending a crack through it.

"The Rogues have breached the walls and are in the streets" he continued as Tsunade grabbed maps and reports.

Looking over at the Hokage and her disarrayed state Sakura's stomach clenched, looking out the window she saw the smoke and dust in some areas, she could hear the clashes in the street and prayed that the civilians were okay. Whispering under her breath she muttered a litany.

"C'mon, C'mon, c'mon, hurry up"

As the ninja in the room came and went with reports and plans Sakura remained in the room, what else could she do. Just as Tsunade ordered them to go to the streets and fight, the double doors opened to reveal Danzo and two root members by his side striding into the room with a superior smirk on his face as he looked at Sakura, Shikamaru and finally settled his gaze on Tsunade.

"Ah Tsunade, seems you have gotten into a spot of trouble" he challenged her with an evil glint in his eye as he looked over her shoulder and down out onto Konoha.

"Danzo, what do you want" the blonde woman ground out through clenched teeth as Shikamaru stood in front of her and she took a drink of her sake, missing the calculating look Danzo gave her as she lowered the sake cup.

"Simple Tsunade, surrender Konoha to me and I will call off the attack" he stated relaxed as he stood safely between the two root members, unmoved by the growing anger in Tsunade's eyes and the muttered 'Troublesome' from Shikamaru.

"You bastard! You were behind this, you! I knew you were a complete and utter bastard but I never thought you would stoop this low as to endanger Konoha and all the civilians!" Tsunade cried out in anger and disbelief as well as sorrow.

"From the ashes of the forest fire grows new plants. Like a forest Konoha will bloom again stronger and more deadly under my reign" Danzo stated with a maniacal look on his face.

Breathing heavily as Shikamaru and Sakura forgotten by the side looked on in horror, Tsunade's eyes widened and she stood up straight.

"Your crazy" she accused the older man before her.

"Many thought the greatest leaders were crazy but they were blinded by selfishness, never seeing what had to be done for the greater good" he countered.

"Greater good, you sick twisted bastard. I will not let you get away with this" Tsunade shouted as she launched over the desk to attack Danzo. Quicker than you could blink the root members stood in front of Danzo, one throwing a dart at Tsunade as she was landing in front of them. Her legs suddenly buckling Tsunade hit the ground clutching her neck as she fell pulling the dart from her neck "Shit" she cursed as one Root engaged Shikamaru disadvantaging him in a short range fight as the other advanced on Tsunade.

Danzo smiling in the face of his coming triumph started to speak "As you see Tsun . . ." only to be stopped by the feel of cool metal against his throat. Forgotten by the sides Sakura had come up behind Danzo and placed her kunai at his neck "Call them off Danzo" she ordered in a cold voice, the or else left unsaid.

A scowl on his face Danzo clenched his fists at the audacity of the upstart slip of a girl.

"Loyal to the end even when missing your memories"

Smiling behind him Sakura leaned over, watching the Root members get ready to charge her and for all to hear said into his ear

"Never lost them"

As she finished those three words the Root members attacked, swivelling Danzo into Shikamaru's stunned grasp she raised a hand to stop one hitting her while raising a chakra filled leg to kick the other root coming towards her. Her foot connecting with his stomach the second Root member went flying through the wall behind him and down onto the street, returning her attention to the first ninja she began a deadly dance of hand to hand, stretching her muscles and enjoying the shocked vibes that were coming from those in the rooms before quickly snapping his neck in a sickening crack.

A startled Oomph drew her attention to see Shikamaru doubled over and Danzo running out the room, about to give chase a moan grabbed her attention and she swung her head to see Tsunade leaning against her desk sweating with her eyes half closed.

"Shishou" Sakura cried as she ran to her side Danzo momentarily forgotten as she started to send Chakra into her Shishou to diagnose what was wrong with her.

Shaking himself Shikamaru stood up and made his way over to the two women "Is she okay?"

Looking up at him determinedly Sakura responded "She's been poisoned, but its such a small amount I don't understand how it's affecting her this much . . . she took a drink of her sake, missing the calculating look Danzo gave her as she lowered the sake cup. "Shit" Sakura cursed as she reached over to grab Tsunade's sake cup and take a mouthful swilling it in her mouth before spitting it out cursing again. "Damn, Phenol"

Now kneeling next to her Shikamaru questioned and said at the same time, "Her sake's been laced, how come she didn't taste it?"

Arranging Tsunade on the ground and placing her hands over her chest Sakura began pushing chakra into her Shishou's body.

"Top medics can naturally fight poisons, but phenol is undetectable even to some one as good as Tsunade, it's deadly. Danzo must have been lacing her sake for days, the dart must have had some sort of trigger"

Shikamaru watched as Sakura covered the Hokage in her chakra, amazed by the chakra levels she was exhibiting as well as the fighting skill she had displayed, seemed Sakura had been keeping more than one secret.

Raising her head Sakura meet Shikamaru's gaze and began

"I can't use any of the normal procedures so I have to flood her body with chakra to try and burn off the poison. You need to go get Shizune tell her about the poison and tell her to come here immediately, then you have to go find Morino Ibiki and tell him there's been a hitch in the plan" she ordered as if there was no doubt that she was in charge.

"We were counting on the Hokage publicly denouncing Danzo, we'll have to fight more now, the ANBU are in civilian clothing grab any one of them you can and send them here too" Sakura continued half talking to herself as she continued working on the Hokage. Raising her head up again she looked at Shikamaru surprised that he was still there.

"Well, what are you waiting for, Go!" she barked at him, sending him running out the door as he realised there would be a lot more surprises to come before the day finished.

Merry Christmas!!!!

Well I hope that helps and please don't kill me next update will be in ¾ Days, I'm going away for the weekend. Cookie to Lasrber who guessed a possible outcome, I know Danzo is obvious but hopefully I made it a bit original. Enjoy and hopefully I'll come home in few days and find lots of reviews.

Lots of love

The Rose and the Dagger

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