Chapter 54: Lead By Following

"Good morning, Kiba, Akamaru, Shino, Sasame," Yugao Uzuki greeted her team. The Chunin trio was waiting for her just inside the village's main gate, as usual. And, as was frequently becoming the case, the Jonin was late. Kiba frowned at her in annoyance, though the other two Chunin seemed unconcerned.

"You're late again, Yugao-sensei," the animalist ninja informed her, "Have you been spending time with Kakashi?"

Sasame chuckled at that, and their teacher had to struggle to keep her small smile in place.

"Why would you ask that?" Yugao asked him.

"Because Kakashi is always late, and it looks like you're picking up a similar habit," he answered.

"I was visiting the memorial," she explained truthfully, rather than cover it up like her paramour, "As I usually do, before going on a mission."

All of the teens perked up at that.

"Does that mean we have a mission?" Shino asked, his impassive voice failing to cover his increased attentiveness.

"Yes."

"It's about time," Kiba exclaimed, "Wouldn't you say, Sasame?"

"I…" she struggled to find a political way to phrase her views, "I do not disagree with Yugao-sensei and the Hokage allowing us time to adjust to our new team. But all the same, it will be good to have a real mission."

For the past two months, Team Yugao had spent most of their time training together, and performing minor D Rank missions in the Village. Their leader had said it was important for them to become comfortable with one another, both socially and as a shinobi unit.

"Kiba and Shino, you two already know each other, and by all accounts work quite well together. But Sasame is not Hinata and I am not Kurenai; and we will need to find a new rhythm as group," she had told them.

"So what is our mission, Yugao-sensei," Sasame continued.

"Nothing to get too excited about," she prepared them, "It is only a C Rank mission. There is a ranching community near the edge of the Land of Fire that has been having cattle and sheep poached almost nightly for the last two weeks. Our job is to stop the thefts."

"I presume this is the work of bandits," Shino suggested.

"Probably," Yugao frowned slightly, "but the contract does not specify."

"And there is one more thing," she took a breath, "Kiba Inuzuka will be in charge of this mission."

"Me, sensei?" he barked in surprise. Sasame looked just as shocked. Akamaru glanced at his partner in expectation.

"Yes," she answered.

"The three of you are all Chunin," she explained at their expressions of doubt, "But only Shino was any substantial leadership experience. So on most C or B level missions we are assigned, I will place one of you three in charge. For our first mission, I am appointing Kiba the leader. He and Shino are still more familiar with one another, which should make things easier, and Kiba needs the experience more than Shino does."

"Sensei, what precisely do you mean by leader?" Shino pressed.

"As soon as we leave the village, whichever of you is chosen becomes the head ninja of the squad," she clarified, "And the other three squad members, myself included, will be expected to follow his or her orders as such. You may also feel free to address me as a peer instead of as your teacher. You will remain in charge until the mission is complete, or until I specific tell you that I am resuming command."

The insect user nodded. Sasame looked intrigued, and Kiba grinned. Yugao handed the mission file to the canine trainer, and then stepped past the wooden wall surrounding the ninja city. Her charges quickly followed suit, and then Sasame and Shino shifted their attention to their temporary boss.

"OK, it looks like we're heading west," Inuzuka told them after glancing through the paperwork, "It should take us about two days to get there, so lets move out."


Akamaru's loping gate decelerated to a trot as he sniffed at the air. He slowed to a cautious walk, growling slightly. The human warriors braked as well, tensing at the canine's aggressive posture.

It was just past noon on their second day of travel. Team Yugao was still a good hour from the settlement that had hired them, when Akamaru reacted.

"Looks like we're gonna have company," Kiba noted, drawing a kunai. Shino shook his arms, loosening the sleeves, causing a handful of anxious insects to appear around the cuffs. Neither of their female teammates made any aggressive moves.

"Nice doggy," a snide voice tried to placate the ninja hound. A lump of unidentifiable meat emerged from the trees, landing in front of Akamaru. The canine scooped up the odd morsel, and swallowed it in a single gulp.

"Good, we're friendly, see," the owner of the voice emerged, as did his cohorts. The fourteen thugs were thin, almost dangerously so, but otherwise well appointed for bandits. As they appeared, Akamaru fell to his belly. Yugao appraised the speaker's battleaxe with interest.

"This is a toll road," the leader informed the travelers, paying more attention to Yugao and Sasame than to the men. But his troops were not so oblivious, one pointed at Kiba's headband with a look of concern.

"We will require 100 Ryo worth of cash, goods, or… services," he leered at the Kunoichi, "from each of you."

"On whose authority?" Shino asked quietly, sounding like his inquiry was curiosity rather than a challenge.

"Whose authority?" the bandit chuckled, "Why, mine, of course. Do I take it you cannot or will not pay?"

He swung the weapon off his shoulder. Though not as large as Sakura or Tsunade's weapons, the axe possessed a substantial blade, razor sharp and polished to a mirror finish. Inside of the grey, steel outer edge there was a ribbon of a reddish metal. Opposite the blade was a spike, partially hollowed out to reduce the total weight of the weapon. The vocal thief pointed the axe at Shino. The Aburame clan ninja lifted his head, allowing the bandit to see the Leaf shield under his hood, covering his forehead. The previously confident rogue took a step back. He finally noticed Kiba's headband as well. At the same time, Akamaru suddenly spit out the drugged venison, and stood back up, growling loudly.

"Perhaps we could negotiate?" his voice did not betray the fear in his eyes, "100 Ryo might be too high. Would twenty be more in your price range?"

Yugao drew her katana from its concealed sheath. Needles bonded to threads slipped into Sasame's waiting fingers.

"Oh forget it," the bandit decided to show some backbone, and shouted, "Just kill them!"

He swung his axe cleanly overhand, and with more skill than the Leaf warriors would have suspected. The axe came perilously close to severing Kiba's right arm, but the youth slid back. Akamaru snarled, and leapt forward. The giant dog caught one of the rogues by the shoulder, crushing his collarbone. The canine shook the man like a rat, knocking two of his fellow thieves away.

"Good idea," Sasame noted the dog's actions. She flicked her wrist, burying four spikes into one bandit's chest, and two more in his neck. The thread user twisted her hands, and the lines wrapped around his body, cutting deep into his flesh. She then flung her arm sideways, and though she lacked Akamaru's size and strength, she was able to slam the ensnared corpse into another of the attackers. Neither man got back up, and she drew her threads back.

"Yugao-sen…" Kiba stopped in the middle of the honorific, "Get behind them so they can't escape."

With a slight grin, the Jonin nodded. Her katana flashed, and the neck of the bandit she was fighting sprayed blood across the dirt. She disappeared in a cloud of dust and leaves, reappearing on the other side of the main group of brigands, who had arrayed themselves against Shino and Kiba. Before the furthest of the renegades could turn to face her, her weapon sliced again, carving swiftly through vertebrae and ribs. A second warrior fell as he turned, her katana bisecting his right lung.

Shino took the opening offered by Yugao's actions. He gestured, and a line of insects flew out from under each sleeve. He ran through a quick set of hand signs, and the bugs reacted, shooting out like spears. Two of the rogues were impaled, but the beetles and flies did not reappear from whence they entered. Instead they burrowed out through their victims' mouths.

Kiba's fingernails lengthened and hardened, and he swiped at the bandits' leader. The axe-wielding thief stumbled back, pushing one of his men into the path of the attack. The younger Inuzuka clawed out the man's throat. Kiba lunged at the bandit chief again, but again the coward dodged back, sacrificing another of his men. But this time he waited, and when Kiba's claws buried in his man's arm and stomach, he swung the axe at the dog ninja's neck. The Chunin was no fool either, and he hefted his victim to block the blade. The fang marked youth tried to use the body to twist the weapon away from its user, but the axe slipped cleanly free of the dead bandit's ribs. Unfortunately, his other remaining man was facing Sasame, and that rogue's left arm had been bound tightly to his side by the young woman's threads. The other bandit danced and pulled; trying to prevent the Fuma Kunoichi from wrapping any more cords around him.

"Man, you picked the wrong group to rob," Kiba growled and chuckled at the same time. He, Akamaru, and Yugao all closed around the mouthpiece of the thieves, while Shino held back, keeping an eye on Sasame.

"Sasame, stop," Kiba suddenly said. The young woman looked surprised, but complied nevertheless. Yugao studied him, wondering what he was going to do.

"Go," the dog trainer told them. They froze, expecting a trap.

"Get out of here," Inuzkua's voice was touch by pity and disgust, "Run as far away from here as you can. And remember if the Leaf Village ever has to send shinobi after you again, you will die."

The few rogues still alive were confused by the statement, but were not about to look a gift dog in the mouth. As thieves the started to flee, Yugao stopped them.

"Leave the axe, if you please."

Though it sounded like a request, the bandit was not foolish enough to treat it as such. After a moment of hesitation, he threw down the blade, and resumed his escape. The former ANBU agent confiscated the weapon, storing it in a scroll.

"Yugao-sensei, why did you do that?" Sasame queried.

"Oh, I just didn't want them to be able to hurt anyone," the purple-haired woman said quickly yet blandly, "Shall we go?"

"Yeah, I suppose even if we dealt with their raiders, we better tell the ranchers," Kiba agreed.


"I'm sorry, but what do you mean 'you've dealt with our bandit problem.'?" the mayor of the town frowned at the four shinobi in confusion.

"We were attacked not too far from the town," Kiba said again, sounding equally perplexed, "They won't be stealing your livestock anymore."

"There seems to be some sort of misunderstanding here," the civilian looked nervous to be contradicting the far younger ninja.

"Bandits have not been stealing our animals," he explained sheepishly, "Wolves have been our animals."

"Wolves?" Kiba asked for 'his' team, "Like wild animal wolves."

"Yes." The elder nodded vigorously, "They sneak in three or four times a week, and drive one of the herd to the edge of the fence, and then…"

"Eat it," Kiba finished, and the old man nodded.

"And you haven't been able to deal with them?" Shino probed.

"We tried. But there are too many of them. The scare our dogs, and jump our fences. Some of my people are decent archers, but at night we can't match their senses. We don't have any jutsu, or enough men to patrol all the ranches."

He sighed, "That is why we needed to hire you."

"Alright," Kiba stood up suddenly, "We'll take care of your wolf problem."

Shino and Yugao exchanged a look as the four shinobi exited the bar/inn/general store. Once they were outside, and approaching the edge of town, Sasame slowed, and turned back to look at their teacher. Yugao shook her head, and the younger Kunoichi shifted her focus to the mission leader.

"Doesn't this seem odd to you?" Shino asked before Sasame could speak.

"Not really," Kiba smirked, "Wolves are lazy and smart, just like humans. Show them an easy, reliable way to get food, and they'll keep coming back."

"Are we going to have to kill them?" Sasame asked, concerned.

"Probably not," Inuzuka told them, "We should be able to do this without hurting them. We can scare them off, and make them not want to come back."

"That would be good," their teacher voiced her opinion for the first time since leaving the Hidden Leaf Village.

"How do we scare them?" Shino pressed.

"Bright lights, loud noises, explosions, maybe a Genjutsu of a larger predator like a bear or a lion," Kiba shrugged, "It shouldn't be that hard."


"Is everything ready to go?" Kiba asked, when they regrouped. Using their noses, he and Akamaru had led the team to the burrow a few miles from the village. Shino's scouts had confirmed the pack was still asleep in their den. Kiba was amazed when the insect user informed him there were almost thirty members to the pack. While Shino continued to keep watch, Kiba instructed Yugao to prepare an illusion of a larger predator group. Then he and Sasame spread out into the forest, carefully positioning smoke bombs and explosive tags according to the strategy Inuzuka had planned. After they were all in place, Kiba started the sequence.

The first set of paper bombs detonated, fulfilling the first two objectives. The noise roused the wild canines, while the explosions felled line of trees, creating a wall between the village and the den. As the wolves came out of the cave, already yipping nervously, Yugao began signing.

"Illusion Arts: Doom from the Past Jutsu," she whispered, and as she did, a deep, screeching roar emerged from the forest near the explosion. A half second later, there was a loud crash, and then another. The wolves began milling about, and one of the larger males bit the tails of the more panicky females. Another loud step, and a reptilian head emerged from gloom. The creature looked down at the canines, and let out another hungry bellow.

"A T-Rex?" Kiba asked.

"It gets the job done," Sasame watched the Genjutsu with a touch of awe. Sure enough, the wolves were in full alarm, and broke for the woods, further away from the ranches. The phantom dinosaur pursued.

"Shino, round two," Inuzuka ordered. Without acknowledging his teammate, the Aburame clan shinobi signed for the remote trigger jutsu. As the wolves passed by a certain set of trees, the flash bombs went off. The pack splintered, splitting up to avoid the bombs. The tyrannosaurus continued in the direction of the largest group of fleeing wolves. Continuing to watch them through binoculars, Kiba told Shino and Sasame when to activate the explosives to continue to drive and separate the canines.

"That should keep them running for a while," Kiba said smugly, "I guess that means it's time for phase two."

"So how do we make sure they do not return?" Yugao asked her new protégé.

"Simple," the feral Chunin grinned wider, "We mark the territory as our own."

"What?" Sasame turned bright red, "You mean, like go to the bathroom all over the woods."

"Do you have a problem with urinating in the wild?" Yugao asked. Sasame didn't answer, and she couldn't meet her teacher's eyes.

"That's OK," Kiba tried not to laugh at her, "Akamaru and I can handle it."

"The more scents we have the better," Shino noted, also familiar with animal behavior, "And we can also cover a wider area."

"It does seem to be the wiser course of action," Yugao agreed.

"Yugao-sensei, you would…" Sasame was shocked. Even when working, Yugao Uzuki was like a noblewoman is her manners and bearing. The younger Kunoichi could not wrap her head around the idea of her teacher 'spraying' trees.

"If the mission calls for it," the Jonin did not appear annoyed by the prospect or the question. Sasame sighed, and bowed her head.

"Alright," she said softly, rubbing her hands together, and looking down. The young woman sighed expansively, and then lifted her head with a determined look.

"Let's get this over with," she insisted, but quickly added, "You know, before the wolves come back."


"So, that is it then?" the mayor asked, after Kiba explained what they had done, though for Sasame's sake he glossed over certain specifics. By the time the four shinobi had finished their task, it was approaching dusk. They had returned to the settlement to report their success.

"Yeah, they won't be coming back," the feral youth answered confidently. Then he yawned loudly, not bothering to cover his mouth or turn away.

"So who do we talk to about renting a couple of rooms?" the Chunin leader asked.

"Well, I own the inn," the elder answered, nervously, "Does that mean you intend to stay the night?"

"Yeah," Kiba informed him, and also his team, trying to see if their sensei approved, "Between the bandits, and the wolves, not to mention the travel, it's been a long day. So I figured we could get a good night's sleep here, in real beds, and then head back tomorrow."

"Very well, then," the leader of the settlement sighed in defeat, "Follow me."

He began to haggle with Kiba as he guided them upstairs.


Kiba sat straight up in bed. For a second he was not sure what had awakened him. Akamaru had also raised his head, and was staring at his partner. In the room's other bed, Shino was unmoved. The small digital clock between the beds read twelve sixteen AM. Just as Inuzuka was beginning to think he had woken up on his own, it happened again.

"Aaaawwoooo," another howl pierced the night.

"No way," the Chunin hissed, "Shino, wake up."

The insect user roused without any indication he had been sleeping, or had even heard Kiba speak.

"What is…" the query was cut off as a third wolf cry echoed over the town. He nodded his understanding, and threw aside his blanket.

As the two young men and the dog scrambled into the hallway, Yugao and Sasame exited their room as well. Kiba and Yugao nodded to one another, and the team dashed down the stairs, and out the front door of the inn.

It took them only five minutes to reach the scene, but by that time the wolves were long gone. But they had left behind their calling card, the remains of the two larges bulls they had consumed.

"This seems to be retaliatory," Shino noted, as his insects examined the carcasses.

"What now?" Yugao prompted Kiba.

"I guess we'll have to do more than frighten them," Kiba said grimly, drawing a kunai.

"We'd better get moving," he told them, "Before the trail gets too cold. They might have moved to a different den."

Akamaru picked up the scent easily, and the five Leaf warriors ran through the woods after the wild canines. At first they moved in silence, but then Sasame spoke.

"So, what are we going to do?" she asked quietly.

"If they are this firmly entrenched," Kiba answered sadly, "We may have to kill them."

The large white hound let out a quick bark.

"We're getting close," Kiba translated, "They might be a little sluggish after eating, but watch yourselves anyways."

The shinobi entered a small clearing at the bottom of a low rocky outcropping. They skidded to a halt, as they recognized the wolves had stopped, and had them partially surrounded. The largest of the canines regarded them from the top of the stones. She had silvery grey fur, and was larger than Akamaru, or even a full-grown bull. But most strikingly, instead of two eyes, she had five, each one a different color, two sets on either side, plus one in the center of her forehead. She watched them impassively, not showing nerves like the rest of her pack.

"No way," Kiba said again, this time with wonder, "A Hunt Spirit?"

"A Hunt Spirit?" Shino asked, readying himself for a fight.

"A minor demon. Weak enough for a human to potentially fight," Kiba explained, recalling his clan's lore, "Still impossible for a mortal to kill, but that's rarely an issue. Hunt Spirits are generally benign, and unlike most demons they aren't unaging. They only live about eighty years."

"If they have a finite lifespan, they must reproduce," Yugao observed.

"Yeah, all Hunt Spirits are female, but they reproduce with normal wolves. Most of the cubs are normal wolves, but once every couple of decades another Hunt Spirit is born."

"You said they were benign," Sasame prompted, eyeing the monster warily.

"Well, they're call 'Hunt' Spirits for a reason," Inuzuka continued, sounding slightly unsure, "Generally packs lead by the demons only hunt for food, and larger prey at that. They don't bother livestock, or humans, unless the humans pose a threat."

The she-demon appeared to nod as he explained.

"Then why are they attacking the ranches?" Shino asked.

"I don't get it either," their temporary leader agreed.

"Kiba, can these demons speak?" Yugao asked, observing the lupine spirit's reactions.

"No, but they can understand humans at least as well as any of our dogs," he answered.

"Then it is possible you could understand her," their teacher posited.

"I don't know," Kiba sounded unsure, "It's not like I can talk to just any dog. Their language isn't quite as formalized as human speech. I can talk to Akamaru because we've spent so much time together."

"Then what about Akamaru?" Shino took the next logical step, "Is it possible he could understand her and act as an intermediary?"

"It's worth a try," the dog trainer admitted. Then he looked up, and addressed the wolf demon directly.

"Do you want to talk to us?" he said simply and cleanly. The Hunt Spirit nodded.

"Why are you taking the human's animals?" Kiba tried to phrase the question in terms he thought she was most likely to understand. She barked angrily. Kiba frowned and tilted his head. Akamaru yipped softly, and put a paw over his snout contritely.

"We didn't really get that," their appointed commander looked chagrinned, "About the only thing we got was 'stolen'."

"Did the humans steal something from you?" Yugao prompted. Again, the spirit answered with a simple nod.

"What would those people want to take from a wolf?" Sasame put in, confused. The demon howled, and the other wolves began snarling. Despite the angry reaction of the rest of the pack, the matriarch's vocalization was one of sadness and regret.

"Baby?" Kiba understood that quite clearly, "They stole your cub?"

The Hunt Spirit nodded again, this time obviously saddened. The other wolves began to whimper. Sasame gasped, and Kiba looked angry.

"That explains why the mayor was anxious for us to leave," Shino noted.

"But why? Why steal her child?" Sasame asked.

"They probably want to sell her," Yugao speculated, "In certain circles, a demon can be quite valuable. Especially an infant."

"Come on," Inuzuka ordered fiercely, "We've got a contract to complete."


Kiba threw open the door to the inn, hard. He had considered kicking it in, but decided that was overkill. Behind him, Yugao, Shino, and a still nervous Sasame formed a barrier between the wolves and the villager who had been awakened by the clamor. The Hunt Spirit and two of the larger males had accompanied the Leaf ninjas back into town. Akamaru had guided them.

"Kiba, why didn't you or Akamaru notice this scent before?" Sasame asked curiously.

"We generally tune out unusual scents, unless we are looking for something in particular," he explained, "Otherwise, every time we left the village we'd be distracted. You guys better wait out here."

The large hound shuffled through the door, his nose to the floorboards.

"What are you doing?" the mayor demanded, stumbling down the stairs. He appeared more worried by the ninja than frightened of the wild animals outside his building.

"Finishing our mission," Kiba growled, following his partner. Akamaru stopped at the blocked entry to the cellar. He yipped, and scratched at the door.

"Are you sure?" the shinobi asked.

The canine barked again, louder, and Kiba heard scrambling below.

"Open it," he demanded.

"I will not," the older civilian tried to affect outrage, "What right have you…"

He was cut off, when Kiba leaned in close, snarling, "Open it, or I will."

The shop owner quickly took out his keys, and undid the lock. He was knocked aside when Kiba violently opened the portal. At the bottom of the stairs sat a wolf of no more than three months. Its right rear leg was chained to the wall, and it was muzzled. It stared at Kiba, its five different colored eyes bearing a mixture of anticipation and fear.

The ninja and his dog walked carefully down the stairs, not wanting to startle the young spirit.

"It's OK," Kiba said gently, extending his hand for the canine to sniff, "We're going to take you back to your mother."

The infant demon seemed to understand them, and relaxed. Kiba removed the gag, and then the chain. The cub started to climb the steps, but it was weak, and slid back. Inuzuka carefully lifted it in his arms, and carried it up.

"No," the mayor protested, grabbing at him when he reached the main floor, "You can't…"

"WOOF!" Akamaru's thunderous bark caused the old man to fall back in surprise and terror. The ninja hound stayed carefully between his master and the mayor, growling quietly at the thief. As they crossed the threshold of the inn, the pup licked Kiba's face. The ninja stopped just before the Hunt Spirit, and placed her baby in front her, before backing away slowly. The she-wolf sniffed the cub, then gently pressed her face against the smaller canine's. Finally, she nodded at Kiba, then gently picked up the cub by the scruff of her neck. The two males howled, and as the three of them ran past the border of the township, the rest of the pack joined them.

"What have you done?" the mayor cried in disappointment. Then he turned angry, "You idiots, that mongrel was worth a quarter million Ryo!"

"We did the job we were hired to do," the team leader responded tersely, "Now that she has what she wants, the Hunt Spirit intends to take her pack as far from here as she can, so that you won't be able to try this again."

"Or benefit from her keeping bears or other packs away," Sasame added sourly.

"Well…" he faltered briefly, the glared at them again, "That wasn't what we hired you to do. We're not paying."

"You creep…" Kiba started to reach for the mayor, who cringed and took a step back.

"Kiba," Yugao interrupted him forcefully. Inuzuka froze up, and she informed him, "I am taking back command."

He nodded, already realizing his mistake, and she added more evenly, "I have something to teach you now."

The Chunin stepped back, and the Jonin stepped forward.

"I would not recommend that," the former ANBU agent told the civilian, conspiratorially, "That decision will spell the end of this community."

"What is this, good ninja, bad ninja?" the mayor sneered, "Do what I say or I'll release my rabid minions on you?"

"Of course not," she said pleasantly, "There is no need for violence. No, you have already spelled your own doom, and the contract you are about to throw away is your only salvation."

"You see, any mission involving demons or spirits is automatically classified A Rank, or higher," she explained politely, "But you lied to us, and this was classified as a C Rank mission. Therefore it would be well within our rights to invoke the fraud penalty of the contract. Now, I would be inclined to write this off as a misunderstanding, and a learning experience for my team. But if you refuse to pay, the Hokage will be less likely to take my recommendation, and I will be less likely to give it."

"But you aren't planning to pay in the first place," she held up her hand to interrupt him, "Which means breach of contract, and the nullification of the confidentiality clause. So when we contact the local governor about this little dispute, we will be well within our rights to inform them of your intent to traffic in demons. Of course, there would have to be an investigation. "

The ranchers who had gathered to watch the spectacle paled, and began to quickly drift away. They all knew how serious the penalties for that crime could be.

"In the end, between the penalties on the contract, and the fallout of the demon trafficking…" she trailed off letting his imagination fill in the blanks.

"We're going to head out now," she said, "I don't think it would benefit anyone if we were to stay. We will be billing you as per the agreement you signed, it is up to you how you handle the tab."


"That was pretty cold," Tsunade chuckled as the Jonin finished her report, "Kakashi taught you well."

Uzuki inclined her head, blushing slightly from the praise.

"There is one other thing, Lady Hokage," the younger woman put forth, "Something more important than those hijinks."

Yugao took out her weapons scroll, tentatively.

"I was not certain, but I thought it might be…" she trailed off, leaving the statement unfinished, "But I expect you will know for sure."

The purple-haired shinobi brought out the axe she has taken from the bandit, and placed it on the Sanin's desk.

"Is it…"

"Yes," Tsunade answered, growing as nervous as her junior, "The Syphon. But not the original, it's one of the duplicates."

The Hokage regarded the weapon with fear and disgust. She went through a quick set of hand signs, and the weapon reverted to a bar of moderate quality steel.

"But that's almost worse, isn't it?" Yugao prompted, "If it was the original, at least that would me he was dead. But this must mean…"

"Tell no one of this," Tsunade ordered abruptly, cutting off the Jonin's speculation. Then she softened slightly, "On second thought, tell Kakashi. But do not let it go beyond you two. Do I make myself clear?"

Yugao nodded, and quickly took her leave. And for some time after, Tsunade continued to regard the metal cylinder with an expression of thoughtful worry.