The Coming Storm

"And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what this storm's all about."

― Haruki Murakami

"P-Please. I-I told you everything I know! L-Let me go. I –AAAGGGHH!"

The barely illuminated chamber once again echoed with the agonizing screams that reverberated across the dimly lit room and its cold walls. A shout that was for all intended purposes broken and incoherent from the constant strain which had begged, pleaded, and sometimes groveled for mercy.

Unfortunately none would be found here.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such an impatient little boy." A soft feminine voice, husky and throaty japed as she eyed the pathetic quivering prey that been something akin to a plaything for her for the past few weeks, His arms and legs bound and tied to a chair as his multiple lacerations and bruises could be seen on his person while his torturer relished in her handiwork.

A task which had not been short nor quick. The man whose face had become black and puffy from the beatings he had endured let out a pitiful whimper. His swollen eyes looking up at his torturer with nothing but primal fear.

"Do you find your time with me to be so utterly loathsome that you would want to leave?" She asked, feigning hurt even as the man continued to groan.

She clicked her tongue as flawless hands snaked their way around the man's hollowed cheeks and shrunken eyes, seizing them within her callous palms as she smiled pointedly. "No, no, no. That simply won't do. You've been a very bad little boy, a very bad boy, and you have to be punished."

"B-But I d-didn't…"

A finger was placed on his lips. Silencing his incoherent stutters. "Yes, yes you didn't do it. You're innocent. Guiltless. Free of blame, sin or whatever accounts for lack of responsibility these days. I am quite aware." The women cut off brusquely as if dismissing the pointless babbles of a toddler. "And you also happen to loot dead corpses in your spare time of being a rogue nin." She scoffed.

The man paled, delicious dread filling the room as the truth was exposed into the open akin to a bad flesh wound.

Not a single person in all of fire country hadn't heard the tale. The incident that had rocked the militarist nation and sent its armies scrambling.

The Bloody Massacre, the Great Butchering, the Doom of Fire Country.

The names changed depending who you asked, but the results remained the same.

200 hundred people were dead. There corpses so badly mangled and flayed that they were unrecognizable.

And the country lived in fear.

Daimyos and Lords closed their gates and sealed their castles as armed men guarded them every waking hour.

Trade all but diminished for the most part as merchants home and abroad traveled warily and sparsely.

Bandits and highway men roamed the countryside's causing havoc and terrorizing the populace.

And Konoha scoured high and low looking for a killer, arresting all those with the slightest hint of criminal activity and taking them in for questioning.

Never to be seen again.

He was one of the unlucky few to have been caught in the act looting from a corpse that happened to be one of the victims of said tragedy whose body had been in the process of being delivered to another village for burial.

Now he was suffering the consequences.

"Ah, there it is. There's the look. You thought we wouldn't find out did you." The woman exclaimed gleefully, even as the tips of fingernails dug their way into the flesh of her captive. "You'd be amazed how efficient a well maintained information network works when given the right incentive. A few promises here, a few backstabbing there, it's quite miraculous I assure you."

"I-I didn't kill those people." He stammered as blood seeped down from his cheeks, mixing with the fleshly strewn tears that had begun to flow freely down his tattered face. "They were dead when I got there I swear!" he said frantically trying to free himself from his restraints.

The woman gave him a sullen look. "Oh I already knew that silly." Was the curt response he received as she released him from her grasp. The man's relief slowly shifting into confusion then fear at the pointed look his captor gave.

He spoke hoarsely. "I-If you know then, then…"

"Why did I prolong your suffering?" She answered with cool indifference then shrugged. "Probably because I enjoy it." Her lips contorting into a sly smirk. "Is that so hard for you to believe? Because it's true. I enjoy men like you know just as much as I enjoy breaking them apart piece by piece. Why else would one become a torturer if they didn't find something fulfilling from the profession.

He had no words for that.

"But as all good things it must come to an end. A shame really. I was starting to enjoy are time together. But duty calls and I must cut it short.

The woman stepped back, her hands clasped together in her forefront.

"Wait!" Was all the time he had to react to as the woman's no the monster before him clasped her hands together and smiled

"Yamanaka Art: Shinranshin no Jutsu!"

His world went dark.

(Ibiki)

Ibiki was no stranger to death, some would say he was an old friend to it, due in no small part to his line of work and the number of men and women who had been sent to him for specific questioning and never returned. As such it was neither a shock nor a surprise to most to learn that that he and the Shinigami were quite well acquainted. But even a friend to death could feel taken back by its brutality. And in the few occasions that it did happen to him Ibiki made sure to keep his face stoic and his nausea down.

His coworkers were not so fortunate.

"W-What the fuck!" One of his subordinates gave off a muffled curse as the others gagged and coughed at the putrid smell that had festered and permeated across the room.

The source of it being not for the faint of heart.

"Oh you finally made it? I was beginning to think you had forgotten about me" A voice spoke up, its tone jovial and carefree. "Then again time flies when you're having fun."

From a certain perspective the scene presented in front of Ibiki and the others was one that was hard to comprehend. It wasn't often that you found a women, and one exceptionally beautiful as this one, clad in a black loose fitting skirt and standard shinobi vest jacket smiling almost bashfully as blood and human excrements clung to her.

For once Ibiki was at a loss for words.

"Please don't look at me like that Ibiki-kun1 it's embarrassing." The woman blushed.

Fortunately one of his men recovered before he did.

"Y-You killed him." He had said so softly that at first Ibiki hadn't been sure if he had heard him correctly.

The woman however did and relished at what remained of her handiwork with an almost gentle fondness.

"I know isn't it beautiful." She told them, turning what had once been dumb confusion and fear into rage and indignation.

"You had no right! He was our prisoner!" His men shouted angrily and with good reason. The man who had come into the woman's hands did not die gracefully, that much was clear. Where once had been a haggard, yet healthy man was now an unrecognizable corpse – pale and lifeless, its eyes gauged out and face lined with deep scratches that no doubt came from his own hands as if he had been clawing at an invisible force none but he could see. Worse of all was that he clearly been tortured. His body riddled with burns and other physical abuse/

It was disgusting. Which made what he was about to do even more revolting.

"Shut up and do your jobs." Ibiki droned, never once taking his eyes off the scantily clad woman

"S-Sir?" One of them spoke, their eyes glossy and voice filled with disbelief.

Poor fools he thought daftly, they still believed they were working for the right side.

"You're the disposal unit aren't you?" He reminded them, adding more weight to his words then would have liked. "So do your duty and dispose of the body. It's beginning to reek up the place." He sniffed the air distastefully,

The men hesitated, but it only one more hard before before they begrudgingly obeyed, all the while sneering at the women who paid no heed to them.

"Cute boys you got." The woman smiled. She was always smiling. "A bit green though? Are they your newest batch?" Her tone curious and amused,

Ibiki stared at her long and exquisitely before giving a stiff nod. "Fresh from the academy. Some of them from the Genin corps loo if you would date believe it. The Hokage thought they would be of better use here"

The woman gave a light hum. "That's good. Boys their age need room to grow into proper men. I have a few of my own in my family. So free spirited and loudmouthed." She said her words ever so sharp.

There was a chill silence that followed.

"They meant no offence." Ibiki said, soft and hesitant.

"Hmm. I suppose not, but it's still annoying. Be sure to teach them to bite that tongue of theirs when in the presence of a lady." She said, never once losing her smile.

"Of course Yamanaka-sama." He said gruffly and that was the end of it as the mood lightened and the woman smile became more genuine.

Once again Ibiki was reminded of why he and so many others feared the matriarch of the Yamanaka clan. The Thorn Flower they saw fit to call her. She was as ruthless as she was beautiful. The embodiment of everything that was wrong with the shinobi system and a lesson that even Konoha had its secrets Dark as they may have been.

And Yukino Yamanka was only one of plenty.

"Can I assume you mean to involve yourself in the investigation." Ibiki said with little emotion.

"Good question," Yukino pondered for a moment, long blonde locks bobbing with the delicate motion. "Inoichi-kun had asked me to get involved, although he wouldn't tell me why"

Now there was a surprise. It wasn't a well-hidden truth that Yamanaka Inoichi utterly loathed his wife. Their marriage having been one of convenience and politics rather than any actual affection on their part, with it even rumored that the two hard shared separated beds, only laying together long enough to constipate the marriage and conceive a child.

Now his mentor wanted her on the case.

He wondered…

"We've rounded up multiple suspects." Ibiki said smoothly. "Each with criminal connections that may have played a part in this unfortunate tragedy."

Yukino rolled her eyes. "What you have here are scum and pickpockets. A few rogues here and there to be sure, but no one skilled enough for this level of violence.

Ibiki didn't flinch from the puzzling look her dark green eyes shot him.

She moved closer. Uncomfortably close but enough to speak into his ears.

"Liar." She whispered mockingly. "It's an excuse. A cover-up for the real culprit"

Ibiki didn't answer.

"You already know who it is or at least the higher-ups do. The low level grunts seem to think that their on a little crusade for justice, but there's more to it than that isn't there" She said, her voice filled with triumph.

It was the truth. A painful one but still the truth. He turned to his men who were in the process of dislodging the dead man from his position. It was just another one of his failings.

"Follow me?" Was his response as he gave his men quick orders to dispose of the body.

Yukino trailed behind him. He could feel her eyes burning into him, but he refused to turn around to confirm it. Whether it was from fear he couldn't say.

He led them into a separate chamber where they wouldn't be disturbed. He spoke first trying to decipher how much she knew.

"The reports given of the massacre weren't entirely accurate. Much of it has been swept under the rug and certain evidence fabricated or made to disappear entirely."

"For good reason I suppose?" Yukino responded unflinchingly.

Ibiki clicked his teeth. "From a certain point of view. What wasn't reported was that a team of ANBU had been sent to ascertain the situation and eliminate the threat. None of them returned.

It was hard to keep his anger in check when he had read the restraints. Even harder when he had some friends on that mission.

Yukino was the opposite. She seemed more amused then vengeful. "An impressive feat. Killing some of Konoha's best takes much skill."

There was no sadness in the way she said it. Only bitter logic and intrigue. It reminded him how much he both feared and hated her

"The bodies were removed, the evidence tampered and all witnesses to the event dealt with. It wouldn't do if the public learned that their nation's elite fighting force were bested by a foreign adversary." He snorted.

"So it was an outside party after all. Let me guess Iwa? Kumo? Ame?" Yukino guessed.

Ibiki stared at her blankly. "Yugakure."

She blinked in surprise. "Hot springs?"

Ibiki gestured. "Have a seat and tell me have you ever heard of the religion known as Jashin."

Yukino obliged.

(Jiraiya)

"ARRRGH! YOU BASTARD!"

It was times like these that he really, really hated his reputation.

Smash!

Oh sure it had its perks and the benefit of making idiots think twice about gutting him.

Crash!

But it also made it difficult when you wanted to have a simple conversation. Particularly with women. They tended to be fickle and put off when you were known for giving into your base urges. So much so that they normally wanted to -

"HOLD STILL SO I CAN CASTRATE YOU!"

…Yeah that. Then again his luck with women had always been complicated. A certain slug princess could attest to that. Perhaps that's why he settled for peeping and writing porn instead of actually settling down and starting a family. Less of a hassle. The only downside was that if he wasn't careful he might just end up -

"ARRRGH!"

A livid cry pierced the air, as he narrowly dodged being decapitated by the swing of a sword.

Dead.

"Wait! Wait! Wait! I can explain!" Jiraiya, Toad Sage, Perverted Hermit and One of Three Great Sannin shouted frantically, arms raised as a sword barred its steely gaze down upon him, poised and ready to strike and severe his neck from the rest of his torso.

"Creep! Degenerate! Trash! Scrum of the earth! Die you fucking pervert!" The feminine cried out, letting loose a string of profanities and insults as she lashed at verminously at Konoha's number one spymaster intent on taking his life. "Stand still and face your punishment!"

Jiraiya for obvious reason did not do that. Instead he ducked back, the blade parting away a few strains of hair before nicking him at the shoulder blades.

Suffice to say it was not his lucky day.

With it all beginning because he had accidently wandered into the women's bathhouse and had gotten caught.

'For research." He thought, trying to convince himself his deeds were justified. The swelling pain on his upper arm thought differently.

Damn that's going to leave a mark. He thought in exasperation as he prodded at the injury. Thankfully the thick layers of clothing he normally wore protected him from the worse of the damage that he likely would have suffered if he wasn't used to getting repeatedly stabbed which now that he thought about it was probably a clear sign that he should think about retirement.

Perhaps an earlier one then he anticipated as no sooner did he look up was his attacker was once again on the prowl, charging at him, clearly intent on finishing him of. .

Which would have been bad if this particular attacker wasn't dripping wet, female, and wearing nothing but a thinly veiled towel that did very little to hide her physique.

Needless to say to the toad sage was quite distracted as the blade once again came at him in attempt to gauge out his eyes.

He was not impressed.

Okay, that does it. No more mister nice guy. Jiraiya growled, as he clasped his hands together, ready to form a hand sign and put an end to this nonsense.

Sorry miss but your going have to take a long nap. He thought confidently. That was until the woman did the unexpected. Giving him a wicked grin as she removed top half of her towel, revealing a nice smooth set of –

Boobies! Jiraiya gawked dramatically, losing all sense of reason or rationale.

'The woman struck, slamming into his torso with enough force to knock the breath from him and slam him on his rear.

The toad sage bite back a curse even as a shadow loomed over him, the woman's face an avatar of death, her sword poised over her head.

Jiraiya panicked. "Hold on! This is just one huge misunderstanding!" He tried to explain frantically.

The woman scoffed. "Hah nice try! I know your type! Men like you only want one thing and it's disgusting! Just shut up and die old man!"

The sword came down as Jiraiya reached for his seals.

"PAKURA-SENSEI! STOP!"

A shrill voice screamed, halting the blade mere inches from the sannin's face.

Jiraiya sighed in relief and the woman in annoyance as she turned to face a young dark haired girl who was breathless and frantic.

"Maki?" She mumbled.

"P-Please wait." She gasped for air. "I-I think that man may be are contact."

Pakura of the Scorch Release stared in confusion.

"Huh?"

"You better start talking old man before I set you fire."

"She doesn't mean that."

"Yes, I do and the information you have better be good or you won't live long enough to regret it.

"She doesn't mean that either."

The young one, Maki looked almost abashed by her teacher's behavior, appearing to be the mature one of the duo as Pakura glared daggers at him. Clearly wanting harm, but relenting for her protégées sake."

Jiraiya sighed, wondering how it had come to this. His eyes staring grimly at the extravagant bill had accumulated in footing most of their dining experience."

The stack plates that had begun to pile was evident of that just as much as Suna's top kunoichi stuffing her face and smirking haughtily at him as she ordered more.

"Is that anyway to thank someone for paying for your meal." He grumbled, pointing at the stack of dishes.

The woman shrugged. "I consider it a fair payment for peeping on us."

This again! "I wasn't peeping!" Jiraiya exclaiming trying to ignore Maki's reddening face.

Pakura snorted. "Sure you weren't. So you just happen to skulk around the woman's bath house in your free time.

Yes! Jiraiya wanted to exclaim but held his tongue. Convincing someone you weren't a pervert by telling them you peep on woman for research on your latest porn fiction was perhaps not the brightest move.

Pakura took his silence as confirmation and looked oh so smug. Maki sighed in exasperation.

"Jiraiya-sama perhaps its best we move on. This is going off-topic and I would rather not speak of such a thing that could dare threaten out talks." Maki said, soft yet stern. Jiraiya couldn't help but be impressed and embarrassed that a child was the adult in this situation

"Of course, but you could excuse my behavior I was led to believe I'd be speaking to one of Suna's representatives, not a Genin and a glutton." He snarked.

"Who you calling a glutton asshole!" Pakura snarled.

Maki looked uncomfortable. "There were complications, but rest assured we are more than capable to conduct these negotiations."

Jiraiya wasn't reassured. It was just as his sensei had feared.

Your forces have been greatly diminished. You're your no long capable of producing quality ninja's.

It was a hard pill to swallow. He had heard the hearsays. The escalating tension between Suna and their daimyo was no big secrete, years of differences and petty japes had only seen the relation between the two diminish further. But for the Lord of Wind country to actively hinder its military force. That was another thing entirely and a grim revelations one that only went to confirm their darkest fears.

Suna's power is weaning. Very soon something will have to give. Whether it was from an invading force or some interval division remained to be soon. But the message was clear. Suna could no longer be relied as an alley. Which meant…

His throat constricted as the two woman stared at him puzzlingly

The mission was clear. If Suna is no longer useful make use of it. Turn the sand into glass..

He reached into his shirt pocket, pulling out a sealed envelope that had been written for just this succession. He gripped the paper tightly and sighed in frustration. It was times like these that he hated being a shinobi.

He took out the paper and passed it to the girls across him. Both looked at him in confusion.

He gave his best carefree smile. "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but this is more of a delivery then a sit down."

Maki hesitantly reached for the slip and pealed back its contents. Her eyes widened and she gave a rushed breath as Pakura quickly grabbed the piece of paper from her hands and scanned its contents to a disbelieving expression of shock and anger.

"T-This has to be a mistake." She growled crunching up the letter in the process.

Giving a slacked look he shook his head. "Intel doesn't lie. It's very real."

Or at least fabricated enough to make it look authentic,

"T-Then this means…" Maki said shakenly.

Jiraiya gave them a severe look. "Tell your elders that Iwa is amassing an army on your borders funded by your Daimyo. Tell them that its war."

Pakura slumped into her seat, eyes lost in thought as Jiraiya reached for a cup of tea he had yet to finish.

You're playing a dangerous game Sarutobi. He thought as he took a sip. It tasted like ash.

(Kiyohime)

I hadn't known what to expect when I stepped into the Hokage's office. But I knew it couldn't have been pleasant. The messenger who had sent for me hadn't been the most forthcoming with the reasoning behind my surprised invitation matter how much I poked and prodded so naturally I was wary.

The walk was short and my ushering in to see the old Kage even shorter. With a man as busy as the Hokage I was surprised to see him already waiting, greeting me with a curt politeness I hadn't been expecting.

"Kiyohime it is good to see you." The Hokage politely smiled. I bowed, returning the greeting in turn as he gestured for me to take a seat. Noting as I did so that his office appeared hollow and empty. With most if not all of the furnishing and carpeting having been removed or replaced.

"I see you've noticed the changes." He said amusingly, following my gaze. "Appears that man has a better knack for interior design then I could have cared to believe. Though with his reputation it almost surely his wife's nagging that is preventing him from leaving this room unfinished.

I blinked in confusion, unsure what to say or whether not I should speak.

The Hokage shook his head. "But never mind that. I believe we have some important business to discuss."

"We do?"

Hiruzen nodded. "Anko."

"Ah." I said dryly.

"You don't seem fond of her."

I crossed my arms defiantly. "She tried to feed me to a snake and led us on a survival hunt through a forest synonymous with death."

"Do you hate her?"

Did I hate Anko? That was a tough one. She was rude, sarcastic, and cocky and an overall unpleasant person to be around\, but no I didn't hate. She was just another odd ball in a village full of them

At my silence the Hokage hummed, seemingly deep in thought.

"When I assigned you to her I saw much potential in your pairing alongside young Yakushi and Inuzuka." He said, after a moment. "To make up for each of your weakness while providing an opportunity for growth and improvement."

"Hokage-sama, Anko is..."

"I am quite aware of Mitarashi's adequacies." He interrupted. "The team assignment was as much for her sakes as it was yours."

I still was unconvinced. Surely there was something more to it than that.

"But that isn't why I called you here." The Hokage said cryptically "The matter I wish to discuss is of grave importance."

I shuffled in my seat "What is it?"

The Kage took a breath as if mentally preparing himself for the words he was about to release. "I have lied to you and the village for many years. At first it was to protect our home and very lives from those who would do us harm, but as the years passed I saw that by denying the truth I only caused further division to befall us. As wise as I thought myself to be it took the death of many and repeated failing for me to see this and I wish to right my wrongs starting with you.

My head was spinning, the lump growing in my throat as I could feel the fear, anger, and regret rising from one of the strongest shinobi in existence.

I wilted and Hiruzen spoke.

"It is time I told you the truth of your lineage."

Bam!

Its been a long time coming, but its finally here. Sorry, about the late update. Life is hard.

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