Chapter 4: The Hanging Tree









So, do you have any idea of where we might be heading to? Choji asked Ino. Ino and Choji were in the flower shop, Ino tending to the flowers, and Choji was lounging around, every now and then helping Ino.

No idea, Ino murmured. Sakura should be coming soon, and we'll discuss it.

Choji considered this for a moment, then had his hand back in the potato chip bag again. But uh... *crunch* do you have anything in *crunch* mind?

Ino didn't turn around. I dunno.

Choji grumbled a bit, then sat down. Even if I did, Ino started, I can't say a word, too many spies around here...

Choji nodded in agreement, and Ino promptly cursed.

she muttered audibly and sucked her thumb, oozing crimson from an ill-fated grasp of a rose stem. You'd think, Ino growled, With all of my training, I'd be able to avoid sticking my damn finger on these thorns.



Choji instantly knew he said the wrong answer and cringed, but Ino's outburst didn't happen. He warily cast an eye towards Ino, gazing at her bloodstained hand.

she said, Your right... and went back to arranging bouquets.

Choji mentally sighed, and looked out the door. He might as well be just staring at the wall any ways, the haze was so thick he couldn't see more than three feet out. He hated this smoke and fog, it just... irritated him to the point of rage. It was like he was already sent to hell and everyone else lived.

A shadow appeared, approaching the door, and Choji strained to get a better glimpse of it.

Hey, Ino, someone's coming... I think it's Shino... But the hair isn't there...

Ino looked up from her work and peered outside.

I don't know. It could be one of them. Watch your mouth.

Choji winced at the mention of the Konoha Special Police, his one true nightmare in this defiled home place of his.

Head's up... Ino warned, pushed back her chair, got up and went to the counter.

Welcome to Yamanaka's... you stupid big headed girl, where have you been?!

Choji breathed a sigh of relief.

It got dark and I had to stay with Shino, Sakura replied dully.

And you're wearing his jacket because...?

Because it gets cold at night and he was being nice?

Choji had to admit that Sakura looked a lot cooler in Shino's jacket than she normally did.

Ino sighed, and relaxed her shoulders. Her momentary anxiety had passed. Well, next time, force him to come home. You had me worried sick, and just where the hell is Shino?

Sakura shrugged. I dunno, maybe he wandered off somewhere-

Bong.

Everyone in the room froze.

Bong.

Not good. Choji said finally, and got up to go outside. It's the bell... Ino murmured, looking awed. They're gonna kill someone...

Sakura stared out the door, her face in a deep fright. Let's go... she said finally, and with Choji leading the way, they exited the shop and joined a steady crowd of people, walking towards a large tree that loomed in the distance, shadow visible even in the heavy, dense screen of smoke.

They had no choice. It was either go to the tree when the bells rang, or be reprimanded severely. Sakura scanned the crowds to see if Shino was anywhere, but the former ANBU captain was nowhere to be found.

Do you think it's Shino? Ino asked quietly. Choji shook his head. No. If it was Shino there would be an outright battle, he replied sagely, shaking his head.



It's Ebisu-sensei's wife and children, said a flat voice behind them. Choji's shoulders jerked as he poorly attempted to prevent the instinct of turning around.

No way... Sakura whispered. Shino nodded his head sorrowfully. His wife and children attacked one of the KSP's when they were beating Ebisu up... they were sentenced death, as expected.

This matter-of-fact tone of Shino's about someone's life, as if it was nothing, raised Sakura's ire as she hissed, Stop acting like it's nothing! and threw a mean look at Shino, who merely raised his eyebrows.

The tree came into view, and a large crowd of people stood silently in front of a raised platform, where seven shinobi's stood, with a short, squat man in Hokage's armor sat in front.

The four of them glared at the man, the one who dared call himself Hokage, who raised his hand needlessly for quiet.

A pretty woman, her dress torn up in several places, battered beyond recognition, stood on a stool alongside three children, with the noose of a rope tied around her neck. Sakura didn't look up in the high loft's of the tree, and refused to see the skeletal bodies of those who had resisted the 6th Hokage's reign.

Shino stared at one of the seven ninja's behind the Hokage. The Konoha Seven, they were called, and were high ranked criminals given amnesty and a high ranking position of the Hokage's personal guard. This shinobi Shino was gazing at in particular, was an S ranked criminal whose name is Koroshiya Yanbo, and he, in Shino's point of view, the most foulest thing ever concieved, and the most terrifying, excluding Gaara. His eyes were near white, with a small yellow iris and an even smaller pupil that never changed shape. His skin had a dark, weather-worn look of leather, and his face exhibited some of the most wildest mania Shino has ever seen, his mouth etched in a never-ending psychotic grin; his teeth were sharp and jagged, and had fangs canines around the country would envy. Shino didn't have to look hard to see Yanbo's weapon of choice, the crimson, fiery katar, dangling from his fists like an added appendage.

Katar's, or, more commonly known as punch-blades', were highly rare and valued as much as gold, for there were extremely few blacksmith's in the surrounding countries that knew how to make them. They were valued even above a life in the world of a ninja, and Shino had no doubt just how Yanbo acquired the weapons.

Yanbo was known for his slaughtering techniques, and his no mercy attitude. His claim to fame, Shino remembered, was his massacre of the Hidden Rain Village, so there was little doubt of his strength. But that wasn't the only reason Shino had his eye on him.

He had killed Yuuhi Kurenai, Shino's sensei, mentor, and tutor.

Shino frowned, then shook his head, dissipating all thoughts.

So far however, he remained somewhat stable, though Yanbo had an unnerving habit of licking his katar every now and then, searching for that one speck of blood he thought he missed.

He saw Hokage's hand waver for a moment, then brought it down on his lap. Yanbo kicked the stool out from underneath Ebisu's wife, and Sakura flinched and looked away. Then Yanbo proceeded to kick each stool out from the children, starting with the oldest, then the next oldest, and finally, the younger one, barely seven.

That's the sickest thing I've ever seen... Choji muttered underneath his breath. Some people stirred to this statement, but luckily for Choji, every one of them were thinking of the same thing.

Then the Hokage flicked his wrist, in an arrogant gesture of dismissal, and the crowds melted faster than an ice cube in the desert sun. The four of them walked back, when Ino nudged them to look in her direction.

The Konoha Seven and the Hokage were gone, but one man dressed entirely in black was kneeling in front of the recently executed victims.

Poor Ebisu-sensei... Sakura said sadly.

... Yeah... Choji agreed solemnly.

... Should we talk to him? You know, about leaving with us? Ino asked.

Shino said, and shifted his weight. But I'm afraid I cannot. I have a tutoring session with Hyuga Hinabi that I am late to. Choji, go over and take him out for ramen.

Heh? Why me?

Ino said, Food will help take his mind off this, at least, for a little while.

Eh... alright.

Shino turned to walk away, when Sakura asked, Shino, when should we meet to discuss this more thoroughly? And where?

Shino paused, and didn't look back. Tonight. At the memorial,

He turned his head back. No one but me visits it anyways. and walked off.

Ino and Choji gave extremely guilty looks to one another, and Sakura turned her eyes to the ground.

Okay, Choji, go talk to Ebisu and take his mind off this thing, Ino, come on, we have a shop to run. Ino took charge and gave out meek orders, which Choji whole-heartedly agreed.

Sakura was still looking at the direction Shino went, losing him mere moments of his departure in the haze, and Ino shook her head.

Stupid girl, she likes to get hurt, she realized.









----





We are only a day's away from the destination.

An older girl shouldered her fan, as she spoke to her two team-mates. One merely frowned, his dark hair standing on end.

Never thought we'd see Konoha again. he mused.

Well, if the reports are true, it's not the same. You know the mission, correct?

The elder boy waved his hand. Yeah, yeah...

The girl nodded, and hesitated. Finally, she looked at the youngest member of the team.

Ready... Gaara?

A flicker of his eyes told her the answer.