The seven-member impromptu team gathered around the smoldering fire pit the next morning and discussed the merits of each of their inputs on how to move forward on the mission. There was no leader of the team per se, but Sasuke held the unofficial post as he had the most connection to each of the three groups represented: the Leaf shinobi sent on the mission, the rescued shinobi from the Koshosuru clan, and the two ex-teammate kidnappers.
"The first thing we need to do is confirm who it is we are dealing with," said Sasuke.
"Agreed," Neji stated. "One of you two will need to go along if for nothing else than confirmation we are dealing with the right people." He nodded towards Juugo and Suigetsu.
"I have a better idea," said Suigetsu. "I think all of us should head to the home of these so-called elders…"
"Even just to scout it out?" asked Ino. "Seems like overkill to me. Plus with seven of us, we'll be much more detectable."
"Will you let me finish?" Suigetsu demanded. He rolled his eyes and looked at Sasuke. "I don't need another one of them, y'know?"
"Go on, Suigetsu," prodded Sasuke flatly. He knew exactly who Suigetsu was referring to and he wasn't going to get sucked into the merits of Ino vs. Karin and the attributes they did or did not share.
"Like I was saying, they are expecting us back with the twins," said Suigetsu. "We'll just pretend that we've captured them. But we won't hand them over. You three can then barge in and confront the elders who sent us on the mission."
"We could help, too," noted Sumato. "We'll just pretend that we're knocked out, but as soon as you guys make an appearance, we can stand up and join you. Are you ok with that Kanja?"
Kanja nodded at her brother. "We can help read what the true intentions of these people are as well."
Sasuke deliberated for a second. Suigetsu's plan just might work...and it would be quicker. "Let's do it."
"What's the timing?" asked Neji. "We obviously can't all enter the area at the same location – it would be too obvious."
"Juugo, will you draw an approximate lay-out of the site we will be going to this afternoon?" asked Sasuke.
Juugo looked around and picked up a stick that was just about the right size. He drew a rectangle inside a larger rectangle into the dirt on the ground. "The main entrance faces south, but there are smaller entrances to the north and west as well." He marked the locations on the map.
Juugo closed his eyes for a few brief seconds and listened. "The birds tell me that there are no storms pending. The weather should remain like this for the remainder of the morning. I would suggest that the four of us walk through the main gate as if the mission had been successful. There is a small outside meeting place here….," Juugo stated as he pointed the stick in his hand towards the west gate.
"They didn't seem to be very trusting," said Suigetsu. "I would guess with good weather, they would meet us here rather than invite us inside."
"The three of us can converge on this location…but Neji and Ino, make sure you keep your eyes and ears open in case this ends up not being the meeting place," said Sasuke. "I'll take the west gate. Neji, you come in from the north and Ino, you follow the four of them in from the south."
"Hai," Neji and Ino said together.
"We will plan on the convergence happening approximately ten minutes after the four of them go through the main gate."
Sasuke looked towards the twins. "Are you two sure you are up to this?"
"To clear our name? Absolutely," Sumato said. "Frankly, this whole 'let's attack the Koshosuru twins' thing is getting kind of old."
Sasuke ruffled Sumato's hair. "I know what you mean. Well, hopefully after this, the world will leave you two alone for a little while. Especially when word gets around how the kidnapping victims themselves were part of the team to end the threat against Konoha."
Kanja let out a huge smile.
OlOlOlOlOlO
"May I help you?" asked an older gentleman greeting the two shinobi-looking men who had just approached the main gate.
"We have business with the elders who live here," said Juugo in a very formal tone.
The servant looked at Suigetsu and then Juugo who was carrying two large bundles on his shoulders. "One moment, please."
Suigetsu and Juugo stood there in silence until the servant came back.
"The two elders are in, but they ask that you wait for them in the west courtyard until they are ready for an audience," said the servant who then opened the door fully. "Please come this way."
Juugo and Suigetsu followed the servant towards the western side of the compound where they remembered speaking to the two elders before.
Just as we thought, Suigetsu thought to himself. The plan's right on target.
When they arrived at the covered patio, the servant invited them to sit. There were beverages already prepared and they were free to help themselves. Then he disappeared back into the mansion.
"Hey you guys, I'm going to let you out of these sacks," Juugo whispered to Sumato and Kanja. "The coast is clear, but stay still for now.
He looked at the brother and sister as he took off their sacks. They looked at him and he looked back, but no additional words were shared.
"Is it done?" came a question from the direction of the house. It was an older woman, definitely of an age where she could be called an elder. "Did you first go in the direction away from this village to alleviate all suspicion as we discussed?"
The twins quickly closed their eyes and feigned unconsciousness as the voice got closer.
Juugo turned to face the woman, who was coming out of the house followed by the older man who had given the mission to kidnap the twins.
"Hai, M'Lady," said Juugo.
"Are they still alive or did you need to kill them?" asked the male elder as soon as he spied the two young shinobi passed out on the ground in the courtyard.
"They are alive. It wasn't too difficult to take them given the circumstances...and once we gave them that drug you gave us, they have been out like this ever since," answered Juugo.
"We heard that was quite a ruckus you caused earlier. The Hyuugas are none too happy about their compound being damaged, not to mention the fact that you interrupted a great celebration being held there," said the female elder.
It was then that Sasuke, Ino and Neji had started to silently find their way to various hidden locations near the outdoor courtyard. Just as they had planned, each had come in from a different entrance and each of them had different obstacles to avoid so they weren't detected.
The first thing Sasuke heard upon arriving was the statement about the damage to the Hyuuga compound and the interruption of Naruto and Hinata's wedding. He saw who Juugo and Suigetsu were talking to, but their backs were turned to him as he approached the location. It was when he actually heard the voices that he finally realized what exactly had been going on. His first impulse was to immediately jump into the situation, but thankfully, he hesitated. Because he knew he was usually too impulsive, he decided instead to take a deep breath and wait a few seconds before he acted.
"Now that you have what you have asked us for, can we get our money?" asked Suigetsu.
"You will most certainly get paid. You have earned every penny," said the female elder. "Homura, will you take these two into the house before you...take care of the problem? We wouldn't want to chance someone seeing or hearing no matter how discrete we are."
Yes, the two elders who were now talking to Juugo and Suigetsu were none other than Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, the recently exiled elders of Konoha.
"What do you mean...'take care of the problem?'" asked Juugo. "You told us you wanted them alive and to only kill them if we could not control them."
"What we do now is none of your concern," said Koharu, the female elder. "Homura..."
Suigetsu ran between the elders and the twins. "I'm sure you can understand why we would not fully trust you," Suigetsu stated. "If you please, the payment before you touch one hair on these two."
"How dare you," said Koharu. "Who the hell do you think you are?"
"That's just it, " said Suigetsu with a smile slowly spreading across his face. "Who we are doesn't matter...and we don't care who you are."
With their identities absolutely confirmed, Sasuke decided that he could wait no more. He made a faint bird-like sound and swooped down to the edge of the courtyard.
"Sasuke Uchiha!" shouted Homura as soon as he saw the raven-haired shinobi jumping towards him. His shout was surely enough to raise the alarm with any other shinobi these two might have protecting them. The situation would now become a battle unless these two backed down immediately.
Juugo and Suigetsu didn't hesitate for a moment. They instantly noted that Sasuke (with Ino and Neji not too far behind thanks to Sasuke's signal) was now making his move. It was time to end the charade and do their best to support their ex-leader. Their first inclination was to continue to stand between the twins and the danger threatening them.
When Sasuke landed on the ground, he didn't say a word at first. He figured that just by making his appearance, that these two elders could figure out they were now in trouble. They were elderly after all and they would not be fighting.
Three shinobi who were employed by Koharu and Homura ran into the situation and were quickly dispositioned by Sasuke and Neji with only one or two strikes per person. It was a joke how mismatched the two sides were.
Even though their buffer quickly disappeared, Koharu and Homura did not move to make an escape. Calmly, yet deliberately, Koharu slowly made for one of the chairs on the patio and casually sat down despite the current situation. Homura moved to her side and stayed standing.
Sasuke's eyes, which were already red, examined them closely. They did not even attempt to avoid Sasuke's gaze which quickly caught them in his genjutsu.
Sasuke then motioned for Juugo and Suigetsu to allow the twins to stand up and quit pretending to be passed out.
"Sumato," Sasuke said aloud. The young shinobi understood he was being beckoned and quickly made his way to Sasuke's side. "Tell me, what have you read during this altercation."
"At first, confidence, curiousity. They are the type who think they are in control at all times," explained Sumato. "Once they started talking to Suigetsu and Juugo, I sensed the need to be careful. And once you arrived, there was fear and resignation. Sasuke, what exactly is going on? Who are these people?"
"These are the people I hold partially responsible for the death of my brother Itachi as well as my entire clan who they ordered him to kill," said Sasuke. "They treated his patriotism as a pawn and used it to their advantage. They also claimed the Uchiha clan was about to rebel against Konoha."
"Oh my!" said Kanja, her hands covering her gaping mouth in surprise. "Just like what happened to us!"
"Yes, which is why I needed to find you two and make sure you were safe. Things didn't turn out very well for the Uchiha. Even though their exact strategy changed from my story to yours, and they didn't try to eliminate your clan, I have no doubts that if you had been delivered to them, you two would have been killed."
"But why, Sasuke? Why would they do this?" asked Sumato. "What have we done?"
"You have done nothing to these two," said Sasuke. "However, as you have already been told, your natural gifts are indispensible for both your clan as well as the Leaf village. What better way for them to get revenge for their banishment? They were always highly influential in the government. Their third shinobi teammate was none other than the Third Hokage himself. Their team leader was the Second Hokage. They have always been in the know of the most sensitive and secret information of the village. They didn't take it very well when they were finally stood up to and told to get out."
"So what now?" asked Ino who was now among the group in the covered courtyard. "The Leaf punished them and they go and pull a stunt like this."
"They can't be trusted," said Neji.
Just then, Koharu let out a wail and went limp. Homura fell from his standing position to the ground.
"Sasuke!" yelled Neji. "What the hell did you do?"
"It wasn't me!" yelled Sasuke. "They must have done it themselves!"
"Desperation," said Kanja. "That was the last emotion from both of them."
Ino ran over to the downed elders and quickly looked them over. It only took a few seconds before she found the culprit.
"Here," she said holding up a small needle attached to the smallest of reservoirs. "They could have easily kept this hidden in their robes."
"I see," said Neji. "Cowards to the end."
"No, I wouldn't say 'cowards'," Sasuke disagreed. "It is virtually impossible for shinobi with their track records to ever be called cowards. I'd say it was more like...sore losers. They were so used to having their own way that when it eventually didn't, they didn't know how to cope."
"So now what?" asked Suigetsu. "This little escapade is over...so now what?"
"Now we head back to Konoha...all of us...and we take it from there," said Sasuke.
Suigetsu looked at Juugo. There were no objections.