-May 9th, 348 NE-

-Kirigakure-

-Mizukage's Office-

Mei narrowed her eyes at her subordinate. "What do you mean, 'appeared'?"

"Just that, Mizukage-sama," Ao replied. "At no time did anyone enter or leave the basement – I have confirmed that with multiple teams who were observing the building. Nonetheless, between the time I left to report and when I returned to observe, a second person was there."

"And it wasn't a clone of some sort?" Mei pressed.

"Definitely not, Mizukage-sama. It's difficult to pick out details through the layers of seals Kuushou put up, but the second person remained even when he left the premises, far beyond the known range his seal allows him."

Her eyes cut over to Itachi. "Is it possible he was lying about the limitations of his seal?"

"It's almost certain that he's lying about it in some capacity," Itachi replied calmly, "but there has never been a single indication that aspect has ever varied since the day he was sealed."

"Not only that, Mizukage-sama," Ao said, cutting back into the conversation with a small frown at Itachi, "but the second person is not an elemental clone, and if it were a shadow clone the chakra signature would be the same – this second person has a completely different signature."

Mei nodded slowly. "Alright, I'll accept – for now – that it really is a second person. The question becomes how they got there."

"There's only one entrance to the basement, and there's no sign that any ninjutsu was used that would allow them to pass through the walls or floors. The likelihood that they slipped past the teams watching the house are minimal at best, and it would have had to occur during the narrow window of my absence." Ao bowed his head apologetically. "For now, we have no explanation."

"Keep working at it," Mei ordered, scowling. "If the Bijuu has a way to slip people into my village undetected, I need to know about it. I also want to know immediately if a third person shows up."

"Yes, Mizukage-sama," Ao said, bowing.

"Moving on, Kuushou has informed me that he will be departing the village to meet with Ino Yamanaka in two days, and has agreed to let a squad of ninja accompany him. Ao, I want you leading that squad, and you may take whoever you like with you."

"Yes, Mizukage-sama," Ao said, bowing again.

"Shinichiro," Mei said next, turning to Itachi, "I expect you to keep your ear to the ground about any movements from Konoha and Akatsuki in particular. We're preparing cover identities for Kuushou and Ino Yamanaka, but if word gets out that we're playing host to a Bijuu, I would expect to see some reactions from them."

"Yes, Mizukage-sama," Itachi said, mimicking Ao's bow.

"Dismissed," Mei said, turning her attention back to the pile of papers on her desk.

~Scene Break~

-May 11th, 348 NE-

-Kirigakure-

"Right on time, Hoshi-san," Ao said, nodding to the cloaked and masked ninja who had just appeared near the gate. The other members of his team, only aware that they were escorting one defector to meet with another ninja looking to defect, studied the new arrival curiously. Other than the relatively short height, there were no hints as to the ninja's age or gender.

"Of course, Ao-san," the distorted voice replied with a nod. "If your team is prepared, we can set out immediately."

"We are," Ao confirmed, turning towards the open gates.

Without another word, "Hoshi" sped out of the gates, setting a fast but reasonable pace for a ninja that quickly ate up the distance. Ao noted that Kuushou was heading in a direction that would place him on the coast of the Land of Water's main island within three hours at their current speed.

The journey passed with little conversation. Ao's team had been instructed to avoid prying into the defector's past or identity, and Ao himself was more interested in studying Kuushou's chakra so that he could better understand how his strange aura worked and what its purpose was. Kuushou himself seemed perfectly content to travel in silence as well, responding to the few questions he received with terse replies or stony silence.

Ao motioned his team to readiness as Kuushou began to slow, scanning the area more thoroughly as if searching for something. Another ten minutes passed before Kuushou finally pointed to a building in the distance.

"There," he said. "They should be waiting in the building. I need to approach alone while I establish my identity and theirs; once I've confirmed that, I'll bring them out and we can head back to the village."

Ao frowned slightly. While far from an unusual request when dealing with paranoid – or properly skittish – ninja, he didn't like the idea of letting Kuushou so far out of his sight, and especially out of the range of his Byakugan.

"I'll accompany you part of the way there," Ao countered, motioning for his team to remain in their current position.

Kuushou didn't reply for a moment, but eventually nodded his assent.

Ao finally stopped roughly a hundred meters away from the abandoned farmhouse, leaning against the lone tree and motioning Kuushou forward calmly. Internally, his mind was racing.

The farmhouse was completely empty. Not only that, but there wasn't a single sign that anyone had been near the place in years, let alone someone waiting there for days or weeks.

He watched as Kuushou strode forward, paused ten meters away from the house to make a series of signals, then entered and closed the door behind him.

He watched as Kuushou entered a small cellar, pulled a scroll from underneath his cloak, and unsealed a body. A body that perfectly matched the description of one Ino Yamanaka.

He watched as the air between Kuushou and the body shimmered for a moment before the body of one Ino Yamanaka abruptly stood, brushed dust off of the cloak that covered her form, and smacked Kuushou on the shoulder playfully.

He watched as the two strolled out of the farmhouse to meet him. He watched as they rejoined his team and began the trek back to Kirigakure.

He watched, and he wondered.

~Scene Break~

-Same Day-

-Kirigakure-

-Mizukage's Office-

"Not possible," Mei said flatly. "No living thing can survive being sealed like that. It's been proven hundreds of times in hundreds of different ways."

"Up until five hours ago, Mizukage-sama, I would have agreed with you. However, the fact remains that Ino Yamanaka's body was sealed in a scroll for a minimum of three hours and that she has suffered absolutely no ill effects whatsoever from the experience. You spoke with the girl yourself!"

Mei didn't have an immediate reply to that, instead slumping back in her chair and rubbing her forehead tiredly. "I suppose she's the mysterious second person that showed up two days ago?"

"I am certain of it, Mizukage-sama," Ao said, nodding. "Not only does she match the physical dimensions, but her signature is quite distinct."

"Well, we know how she got there, at least," she muttered lowly. Her eyes widened, and she looked over at Ao. "She's a Yamanaka."

Ao shrugged. "That was the only explanation I could come up with as well, Mizukage-sama. We know next to nothing about how their techniques work, but if they can disconnect from their own bodies to that extent, it would explain how she could survive that where no one else could."

Mei nodded distractedly, one hand absently playing with a strand of hair that spilled down her front. "We're already warned her about using any mind techniques while she's in the village without our expressed approval, but I'm wondering if we've underestimated just what she can do."

"As long as she remains within her own body, I don't believe we have anything to worry about."

"From what you just told me, she wasn't in her body for an unspecified length of time. If she was hiding in Kuushou during your trip out to 'retrieve her,' who's to say she couldn't have been hiding out in someone else's?" Mei bit out.

Ao paled at the implications, then slowly shook his head. "It's possible," he admitted, "but I don't think she was. The Byakugan was able to see the transfer when she moved from Kuushou to her own body, and I have never noticed that happening before. At the very least she has never done that where I could see it, and that covers a significant span of time.

"Besides," he added, "if Konoha had that sort of ability at their fingertips, they would have been able to ferret out any secret they wished. Given their recent misfortunes, it's safe to say that they can't." Despite his words, his tone was more than a little smug and amused.

Mei snorted and relaxed. "That's true enough," she agreed with a smirk.

~Scene Break~

-May 20th, 348 NE-

-Konohagakure-

-12:30 PM-

"Ame Protectorate? What the hell kinda crap is that?" Kiba barked angrily, crossing his arms and leaning back in his seat. "We're the ones who were trying to make an alliance with Taki, and we're the ones who lost ninja taking out Iwa for what they did to them. Where the fuck does Ame get off just swooping in and- and- doing this crap?"

Kiba's loud words barely penetrated the din of conversation in the Akimichi-owned restaurant. From what Shikamaru could pick out, most of the ninja at the other tables were having similar conversations and shared Kiba's sentiment more often than not.

"Troublesome..." Shikamaru sighed. "Ame is obviously angling to replace Iwa as the fifth Great Village," he muttered. "The Land of Rain has been making strong overtures to the Land of Waterfall for months now, ever since Taki was destroyed. In retrospect, we should have seen this coming."

Chouji shook his head. "Maybe you could, Shika, but I've never heard of a ninja village forming a contract like that. I always thought that it was one village per country, and that was it."

"The village system has only been around a century or so, and it's changed quite a few times already," Shikamaru said, resting his forehead on his arms and speaking into the table. "Besides, there were already unspoken arrangements where certain countries send the bulk of their missions to certain villages; Ame's just making it official."

"Well, why don't we just- uh... hey, Hinata," Kiba said awkwardly as he cut off his rant. Chouji cleared his throat awkwardly, and Shikamaru lifted his head off the table to examine Hinata.

The Hyuuga looked better than she had earlier that month – the dark rings around her eyes were mostly gone, and she was no longer wandering around in a daze, barely acknowledging the world around her.

On the other hand, she was far from her old self.

"Chouji, Shikamaru," Hinata greeted them, nodding to each in turn. Her eyes swept over Kiba for a moment before moving on, and she acknowledged neither his words or his presence.

"Why don't you join us, Hinata?" Chouji offered, going so far as to stand and pull out a chair before motioning her to sit.

"Thank you, Chouji," she replied, bowing slightly, "but I do not have time. I must return to my training."

"Uh, Hinata," Kiba started, shifting nervously. "Look, about what I said about Ino... I didn't- I mean, I'm sure she's-"

Hinata finally focused on Kiba, her expression growing cold. "You have made your opinion quite clear, Inuzuka-san. If you wish to believe her dead and Naruto a coward, that is your right."

Kiba winced. "Hinata, I didn't mean it like- I said I was sorry. It's just, I lost two cousins when that jinchuuriki attacked, and-"

Hinata's expression grew even colder as she interrupted him. "That does not mean I wish to hear your opinion again, Inuzuka-san," she said, her posture stiffly formal. "The only reason Naruto could have possibly had to abandon his duties was to protect Ino. When they return to the village, I am sure that both of them will be more than happy to listen to your opinion then."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked out of the restaurant, not sparing them another glance.

Shikamaru sighed as he watched her go. When word had come down that the entire outpost had been obliterated and everyone there lost, they had all assumed that meant Ino as well. The only bit of hope they had had come over a week later, when Ino had been officially listed as missing-in-action, a stark contrast to the killed-in-action of every other ninja posted there.

Then there was the situation with Naruto to consider. Shikamaru was still trying to wrap his head around that one, even if he hoped that Hinata had the right of it and that Naruto and Ino would come strolling into Konoha any day now, some amazing tale of subterfuge and death-defying escapes at the ready. Even the reward for any information regarding Naruto's whereabouts gave him hope, even as he wondered when that would turn into a full-fledged Bingo Book entry.

No, what worried Shikamaru the most was the timing. He couldn't find a single explanation for how Naruto could have possibly known about Ino's situation, nor could he explain how Ino could have managed to escape where so many other, more skilled ninja failed, or why she would hide rather than make contact with allied ninja, or how she found Naruto or Naruto found her, or how no one else had seen them, or how- Shikamaru sighed; he had a lot of question and precious few answers.

The circumstances surrounding Naruto's disappearance hadn't looked particularly good in the beginning, either. Several ninja posted at his position died from wounds consistent with the Rasengan while Naruto himself was nowhere to be found. It wasn't until a team of Inuzuka tracked his scent and found a significant amount of his blood that suspicion was shifted away from him and onto enemy action.

They'd found some other things at that location as well, but not even his best attempts to pry the information from his Dad had revealed just what those things were. All he knew was the end result: Naruto was not yet listed as a missing-nin and Ino's state was "unknown" rather than dead.

In some ways, it might have been kinder to let Hinata think they were dead. As it was she had become obsessed with the idea of finding them herself and was spending almost all of her time training to that end. Her teacher seemed to be helping her every step of the way, though Shikamaru hoped that was simply to guide her and make sure she didn't take it too far while acting as a sympathetic ear. After hearing about the fate of Hatake-san's own genin team, he wasn't so sure.

And Kiba, being his usual brash and impulsive self, had said just the wrong thing at just the wrong time to just the wrong person. The Inuzuka clan had just finished the funeral rites for five of their own – two of which were Kiba's cousins, both close to his own age, who had been posted in the same doomed outpost as Ino – when Kiba had overheard Hinata say something about Ino and Naruto coming back.

"Dammit, Hinata!" Kiba scowled as he wiped his tears away. "She's gone, just like everyone else who was there with her! If Naruto hadn't run away, he'd be telling you the same thing! The only thing we can do is-"

Whatever he was going to say after that was lost as Hinata attacked him, giving him a broken nose and a black eye and earning herself a sharp reprimand from both her Chuunin Commander and Hatake-san. She was lucky she hadn't done any more damage, or it would have been much worse for her.

Shikamaru sighed, lowering his head back to the table. Troublesome just didn't seem enough anymore.

~Scene Break~

-May 21st, 348 NE-

-Hokage's Office-

-4:00 PM-

"The information placing him in the Land of Lightning was also a false lead," Shikaku sighed. "Although with the two jinchuuriki there, it would work towards his goal to head in that direction."

"It also would have made sense for him to pursue Akatsuki, or to make contact with Gaara," Sarutobi countered, "neither of which have happened."

"Not entirely," Inoichi disagreed. "We know that he was concerned with the type of seals used; that's why he was so focused on helping Gaara and pursuing Fuu. Setting aside the more damning explanations for his lack of contact with Gaara, he at least knows that the One-Tailed is not coming to further harm. The same could be said for Akatsuki, since there was no indication that Fuu's seal was like Gaara's, or that the other jinchuuriki were similarly distressed.

"Killing the Four-Tailed jinchuuriki also limits Akatsuki's threat level, since it will be years before the new jinchuuriki is a viable threat. That leaves four jinchuuriki that, as far as we know, he has yet to encounter. Two of them are known to be in Kumo, one in Akatsuki's grasp, and the last speculated to also be under their control, but not confirmed," Inoichi summed up.

"Hence, Kumo," Sarutobi said with a nod. "I wasn't arguing against that possibility. We just need to keep in mind that there are multiple directions for his goals to take him. We still don't have a solid plan for when we do locate him, either."

Shikaku sighed, running a tired hand through his hair. "That's the troublesome part. He didn't exactly leave Konoha on the best of terms, but he hasn't been outright hostile, either. It's in our best interests to ensure that he remains at least neutral in regards to the village since he possesses a great deal of information that could be used to hurt us. Not to mention there are certain... personal issues that we would like resolved," he added delicately, shooting a glance towards Inoichi. Inoichi's jaw tightened, but he didn't say anything.

Sarutobi opened his mouth to say something, but his words were abruptly cut off as he began coughing, the fit lasting for several seconds before he got himself under control. Shikaku and Inoichi exchanged pained glances at the reminder of the former Hokage's deteriorating health.

"You already know who to send," Sarutobi said carefully, a small grimace on his face as he wiped his mouth with a cloth and rubbed at his chest. "Why are you hesitating?"

"I can't send just those two, even if they'd agree to go in a heartbeat. It needs to be a proper tracking team, one with enough speed and power to make it out of enemy territory if it comes to that." Shikaku hesitated a moment, then added. "And because I don't know if it's worth even trying. The odds of the Bijuu actually feeling enough attachment to the village or the ninja we send to meet him seem... slim."

"I see," Sarutobi said, nodding thoughtfully. "I think you're right, but I also think you're forgetting an important factor; given our understanding of Kuushou, he wouldn't have bothered to send a message to Inoichi either."

"You're talking about Ino," Inoichi ground out, a guarded expression on his face.

"I am," the former Hokage said. "For all that she hid vital information from us to protect Naruto, we must also acknowledge that some of his actions only make sense if he were concerned about Ino's reaction, or was even directly influenced by her. The message letting us know she was still alive and in his care is but one example of that."

"Or he could be holding her hostage," Inoichi growled.

"To what end?" Shikaku asked. "Besides, 'Ichi, you were the first one to point out his obsession with fami-"

"Don't!" Inoichi snarled, his face twisting angrily. He immediately shut his eyes, holding up a hand in apology as he slowly got himself under control. "Just... don't."

Shikaku sighed, but dropped that line of conversation. "We still need to talk about Suna," he said instead. "Ame's deal with the Land of Waterfalls puts us in a difficult position, since the direct routes now technically pass through another village's land. It's at least two days to go around, both ways, which will cause significant delays with some of our work with Suna.

"I've sent messengers to Ame to sound them out on rights of passage, but so far there's been no reply. The Land of Waterfalls has been similarly silent on the topic of why they entered into such an agreement with Ame instead of Konoha or Suna or both.

"The Wind Lord has also been making threatening demands towards the Land of Earth; he isn't taking the loss of his ninja village well. Then again, with recent events he is in no position to back those threats up."

Sarutobi snorted. "He was doing everything he could to drive Suna out of existence. He can hardly act surprised when they decide to abandon him first, especially when the Earth Lord offered them a king's ransom to do it." He shook his head. "That said, Baki still hasn't revealed just how they found proof that the Wind Lord was actively sabotaging his own ninja force.

"I'd suspected the 'financial troubles' the Land of Wind was experiencing were overstated, of course, but to actually prove that the Wind Lord was intentionally driving large sections of his own country into poverty, and to do it blatantly enough that he couldn't just sweep it aside, was a masterstroke."

Shikaku nodded. "Baki's being unusually cagey about that. I suspect that he may have intelligence resources still in play within the capital that he wants to protect as much as possible. It makes the most sense, at least. As for the proof itself... even Kiri and Kumo have agreed to blacklist the Land of Wind after that. No village trusts him to respect their ninja after hearing everything he pulled on his own village, and the rapidly brewing civil war just adds all the more reason to stay away. Now that he no longer has ninja to quietly eliminate opposition, we're projecting that he'll be deposed – and likely dead – within the year."

"How is the reconstruction of Iwagakure coming?" Sarutobi asked, shifting the conversation back to the original topic.

"Much faster than projected. Which in itself is a good thing, but the reason for it... concerns me."

Inoichi looked up at that. "How so?"

"Gaara," Shikaku replied tersely. "He's accomplishing tasks by himself in hours that would take whole teams of ninja days or weeks to accomplish, and all reports indicate that he's getting better."

"And you think it's the Bijuu," Inoichi guessed.

"It almost has to be. Prior to the Chuunin Exams – in fact, in the entire history of Suna's jinchuuriki – none of them ever showed anything beyond the ability to freely manipulate sand. Now, over the course of a couple of years, he's progressed to reshaping mountains? It's far too fast to be accomplished solely on his own."

"And there's still been no sign of Naruto contacting him? Or even appearing in the area?" Sarutobi asked curiously.

"None."

"Has Jiraiya-sama checked his seal to make sure it hasn't been tampered with?" Inoichi asked.

"Not within the last few months," Shikaku replied. "Jiraiya's been trying to round up information on Akatsuki as quickly as possible, and Gaara's been working on Iwagakure full time from the moment the ink dried on Suna's new contract." He snorted wryly. "They're still arguing about the new name, since Sunagakure no longer applies and nobody wants this to just be the second coming of Iwa. Last I heard they were leaning towards Tsuchigakure."

"Has Jiraiya-kun found anything yet?" Sarutobi asked.

Shikaku shrugged. "Yes and no. He's confirmed that Deidara of Iwa and Kisame Hoshigaki are members, but Kisame recently dropped out of sight after entering the Land of Grass and Deidara hasn't been seen since he attacked Gaara during the invasion. Jiraiya hasn't been able to come up with anything about the other members, their numbers, or even where they operate from.

"On the other hand," Shikaku continued, "his last report mentioned that he'd come across a stash of information concerning Akatsuki's original group, including their observations of battling the various Bijuu when they were free. The records are incomplete, but he is going to compile what information he can get and include that in his next report. In theory, that will better prepare us to face any jinchuuriki we encounter."

"Or Naruto," Inoichi added quietly.

Shikaku sighed and nodded. "Or him."

~Scene Break~

-June 1st, 348 NE-

-Kirigakure, Mizukage's Office-

-11:00 AM-

"He wants what?" Mei asked flatly, her voice filled with disbelief.

"He wants to take a mission, Mizukage-sama," the ANBU replied stiffly.

"And did he say why?"

"Not directly, Mizukage-sama. He strongly implied that he wished to procure additional funds, however."

Mei sighed and rubbed her forehead, trying to fight off the impending headache. Kuushou's presence had been a great boon to her village in many ways - the hospital was practically empty for the first time she could ever remember, for one thing, and she had three ninja who would be mastering the Rasengan within the month - but some of his quirks were starting to wear on her.

To start with, the Bijuu and the Yamanaka girl were consuming nearly ten pounds of food every day, an amount that outstripped even the most physically active of her ninja by a considerable margin. There was absolutely no explanation for it, and neither of them showed any signs of gaining the weight or muscle mass they should have.

As if that weren't odd enough, there was the Yamanaka girl's constant training to consider; if she wasn't squirreled away in the basement of the house, she was outside in her Uma mask challenging anyone and everyone to a spar or, barring that, engaging in a physical training routine that would drive most of her ninja into the ground.

Mei had pulled the reports about the girl from the recent Chuunin exams and compared it to what she was seeing now. There were some startling changes, not least of which was that her chakra control was struggling to maintain B-rank, down from a solid A, while her reserves had shot through the roof to border on S. Even assuming she had trained every moment since the Exams like she was training now, the difference was just too pronounced.

And now the Bijuu who had point blank refused to even consider acting as a ninja in any capacity wanted to take a mission.

Mei shook off her musings and motioned to her ANBU. "Bring Naruto here," she commanded.

~Scene Break~

-Same Day-

-Mizukage's Office-

-12:00 PM-

"It's a perfectly reasonable request," Kuushou said, leaning back in his chair. "I hardly see how there's a downside for you, since you'll get the standard mission fee when we complete the mission."

"I'm more curious about your sudden change of heart," Mei shot back. "Not to mention the fact that you will be acting as a Kiri-nin during the mission, which could be used in a number of ways to damage my village's reputation. Without understanding why you want to do this, I'm inclined to refuse."

Kuushou nodded as if he had expected that all along. "To be frank, while we could use the money to shore up our funds, it's the experience than I'm after. Ino and I can only go so far in spars, and we need to face ninja in the village to truly be certain that we are prepared for what is to come."

"And just what would that be? Is there a threat to Kiri that you haven't revealed til now?"

Kuushou blinked at her for a moment, then smirked. "I was speaking of our eventual confrontation with Akatsuki. Given Ino's connection with myself, it is inevitable that she will become involved; I merely wish to make sure that she emerges from that event victorious."

"Victorious," Mei repeated incredulously. "You honestly think that a girl who hasn't even been an active ninja for two years is going to win against the host of S-rank ninja Akatsuki has in their ranks."

"Well, not yet, obviously," Kuushou replied, that damn smirk growing wider.

Mei closed her eyes for a moment, refraining from rubbing her temples or otherwise indicating her annoyance with the situation.

"And just what type of mission were you intending to take, then?" she asked after a few moments.

"Missing-nin elimination. As I recall, the Land of Water's many isolated islands are a favored hiding place for missing-nin."

Mei studied the Bijuu for a moment, wondering if he was angling for something by taking the conversation in this direction. "There are islands that have no civilian population and are generally left alone, that is true. We hardly allow missing-nin to remain unmolested, however."

"Which all but admits that there are likely missing-nin to be found, if one were to go looking for them."

"Assuming I agreed to let you take such a mission, how do you plan to complete it?" Mei pressed.

"Ino and myself will go out, locate missing-nin, kill them, and return to collect their bounties. Simple."

Mei immediately shook her head. "At the very least I expect two Kiri-nin to round out your squad. I'm not going to have unaffiliated ninja operating on their own within my lands." Seeing him about to protest, she raised her hand to silence him. "That is not negotiable."

A frown crossed his face, then he nodded. "Very well, we can live with that. I will not be under their command, however; they will be observers, nothing more."

"And I can live with that," Mei returned. She fell silent, tapping her fingernails rhythmically on her desk as she considered the Bijuu's proposition. "In exchange for five percent less of the mission fee, Kiri also gets first rights to any scrolls, equipment, or other items carried by any missing-nin you eliminate. The squad leader assigned to you will make the determination in the field."

Kuushou thought for a moment, then replied, "Ten percent."

"Seven."

"Eight."

"Done," Mei said. "I will have someone bring you the latest copy of the Bingo Book, and a squad will meet you tomorrow morning to begin the mission."

~Scene Break~

-June 2nd, 348 NE-

-Kumogakure, Market Square-

-12:00 PM-

"And lo, the Sacred Flame did descend from the Heavens to smite those that threatened the sanctity of our newly founded village! With flames of purest white, as white and pure as snow upon the highest mountain top, was evil cleansed from the land!"

"Ugh, don't they ever get tired of spouting this crap?" she heard a ninja mutter on her right. She kept her gaze focused on the edges of the crowd that had gathered below, doing her best to focus on her job and filter out the words coming from the group of cultists gathered to the side of one of the central market squares in Kumogakure. The other citizens were going about their business while giving them wide berth, most not even sparing them a glance.

"And lo, the villagers did cry out as one, giving praise and thanks to the mighty being who had saved our very souls from the perfidy of evil! They cried out, saying, 'Oh Sacred One, She Whose Fire Shall Burn Eternal, we pray to bask in the warmth of your protection from this day forward!

"And lo, did the Sacred Flame hear our righteous plea! With the Twin Flames did She mark the very boundaries of our village! And then She spake, saying, 'Whosoever dwelleth within the heart of these flames shall fear no evil, for should any seek to harm those under My protection, they shall be burnt unto ash ere the first blow doth fall!"

"So Sayeth The Flame," the small crowd chanted in unison.

She was unable to fully suppress her shiver at those words. Once, long ago, she thought they were the most wonderful words in the world, spoken by the nicest people she'd ever met.

"And the Sacred Flame spake further, saying, 'Let not those within my embrace stray from the Way of the Flame. Let it be that ye shall never raise a hand against thy brethren, for no higher crime doth exist in My sight!"

"So Sayeth The Flame."

They always smiled at her, played with her, gave her little gifts whenever they saw her on the street. Not a day went by when she didn't meet one of them, and she quickly found herself looking forward to meeting them.

"And the Sacred Flame spake further, saying, 'To those within My embrace shall I grant a Guardian, My Brother, and in each of his eight arms shall be a shield against the arrows of thine enemies and a sword to strike fear into the hearts of thine foes, and he shall watch over thee all of thine days'."

"So Sayeth The Flame."

And then, when she was nine, she'd found out what they really saw then they looked at her.

"And the Sacred Flame spake further, saying, 'And to light thine way when darkness doth shroud the land, I shall choose a Holy Vessel, who shall nurture My Fire within her heart as a babe is nurtured within the womb, until at last I return to thee."

"So Sayeth The Flame."

The so-called sermon abruptly diverged into new territory, and all of the ninja observing the gathering from various points around the square were suddenly paying a great deal more attention.

"Rejoice, my brethren! The time of the Sacred Flame's return is at hand! The Holy Brethren stir upon the land, and even now men tremble at their works! Iwa, the rock that sought to crush our spirits, has been laid low at their hand! Konoha, the tree that sought to shroud us in shadow, has been burned low by the faintest shadow of Her Flame and now trembles at the slightest breeze! Suna, who sought to drag us into the depths, have fled before the merest mention of Her wrath!

"And Kiri, abandoned by their own Guardian as unworthy, will soon drown under the weight of their own sins! And then, at long last, shall the Holy Vessel bear forth the Sacred Flame once more, and then shall we bask in the comforting warmth of Her Flame forever after!"

"So Sayeth The Flame!" the crowd chanted with significantly more enthusiasm.

One of the nearby ninja turned to her from his position on the roof, a wry smirk on his face. "Congratulations, Yugito!" he said sarcastically. "It's a demon!"

~ End Chapter ~

A/N: Needless to say, they have a slightly distorted view on events.

Not a whole lot of action, still, but a glimpse into the shifting landscape of the Elemental Nations and some insight as to how people are dealing with Ino and Naruto's abrupt departure. Virtual cookies to the first one who figures out just what went down with Suna and the Wind Lord; it'll become obvious next chapter, though.

And no, I haven't forgotten about Tsunade and Kushina.

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for all the reviews!