A/n: Apologies to all for taking so freakin' long to update. We're lazy bastards. edit If some of the stuff in here doesn't make sense, I'm sorry ; It got messed up in our first upload. - ska

       And at that exact moment at those exact words all did indeed, halt. Each side of the battle was motionless, frozen by the powerful command. The genin peeked out from behind their jounin, both anticipating a sudden move. It was quiet in the side street, the winds beginning to flow through.

Suddenly a great clamor erupted as the villagers began retreating, hurrying to return their weapons to their proper hiding places. Needles flashed back into hair, knives into pockets, and daggers back into sheaths. Stands were hauled back up and misplaced items were tucked away or rearranged. The ninja watched as expressions melted from complete anger to almost a surreal calm or panicked faces.

       Even Kisho was affected by this as he whipped around, queue flying as he hurried to face the newcomer. All of a sudden his stance became less hostile and more apprehensive, standing rigid. He too seemed strangely subdued. The swish of robes announced an entrance, wooden sandals softly clacking against the wood ground. Bows came through the rows of villagers, some even descending to their knees. The fog began to part, swirling in spirals as the robes flapped loudly in the wind.

     "Psst! Kakashi-sensei, what's going on?" Naruto hissed, eyes flying back and forth at their sudden change in behavior. Suspicion was running its fingers up his spine, creating a pattern of chills that set him on end. Kakashi chuckled and turned to face the stranger as well.

    "It looks like we'll be able to deliver the scrolls in person, Naruto."

Naruto and Sakura followed him, eyes tracing through the fog.

     "Hail the Village Elder!" Two minds dimly registered shock.

     To call this man elderly was an overstatement. He could not have been much older than Kakashi himself, standing only several inches shorter than the jounin. As his two shinobi, he sported long hair in a swishing ponytail that fell over a straw hat hanging from his back. The sign of the Mist glittered in silver from the brim.

He paused in front of Kisho, who was bowed over Amaya in his arms.

         "Hibiki-sama." Two brown eyes closed as Hibiki sighed.

     "Arai, give me the girl." The boy raised his head.

     "Eh..." Kisho hesitated, glancing at the still form of his comrade that lay slung between his arms.

     "Now, Kisho; give her to me."

         It was clear that it was the same voice that stopped the villagers' rage. He sullenly handed her over, placing her carefully in his elder's arms. As she left his possession, his hands fell to his sides, useless. Hibiki swished as he turned, facing Kakashi. His serious demeanor brightened slightly.

      "Ah, the messengers from Konohagakure! Fancy meeting you in a situation such as this," he said, ignoring the sulking shinobi, "Although, you are a few hours behind schedule. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Please follow me, and we'll get your genin fixed up along with Miss Yasui here."

      And just like that, the Elder shunted them towards the hospital ward, evidently located in the large mansion towering over the village.

--

       Sakura sat in a quiet, whitewashed hallway with her eyes trained upon a single door and a frown on her face. She had been sitting there ever since both of the injured ninja had been brought in, waiting for any news their conditions.

         Sasuke's condition in particular.

         The girl fingered the ragged towel draped over her shoulders, soaking up the rain water dripping from her hair. It was as blank as the walls surrounding her, leaving no traces of comfort anywhere within its folds. Her fingers caught a loose thread, and she absentmindedly began tugging at it.

         "I wonder if Sasuke-kun will be okay..." she wondered, twisting the strand around her finger. Her features twisted into a wince as it cut into her flesh.

         'And that girl too,' she mentally added, somehow feeling guilty for leaving her out. She unwound the string and sighed. Sakura wasn't too sure on how well the doctor would treat her teammate, seeing that he'd caused irreparable damage to their goods.

         Her eyebrows furrowed, wondering where their mission stood in the current situation.
 

         A loud rip tore through her thoughts, and she jumped. A long strip of the towel dangled in the air, waving like a red flag. She hastily tried to hide the torn bit away, and just as she finished, a telltale swish froze her on the spot.

     "Ah, you're still awake?" Sakura whipped around to see Hibiki standing over her, looking concerned. She looked further to find Kisho leaning casually on the wall, his hands stuffed in his coat pockets. The calm effect was spoiled by the scowl on his face, eyebrows drawn down. She glared at him in return, ready to comment on his behavior.

"It's bad, isn't it?" Sakura blinked and saw him looking away. She followed his eyes towards the window, watching his tattered village go about their daily deeds. A small smile was playing about his lips.

         "But it wasn't always like this, Sakura." Her smart ears perked up, sensing the arrival of an important lesson.

     "Long before Konohagakure was born into existence, the Hidden Mist thrived. We were once an important trading crossroad, the center of all major trades and treaties. Those roads were what bonded the villages so many years ago."

         The smile became more of a grimace than a friendly feature.

         "However, human nature and greed began seeping into the farthest reaches of the system, and they began to revolt, feeling the want to break away from our carefully crafted peace and gain power. The Mist was the first target on their list, and they hit our weak spot: the innocents.

     "We fought with blood and sweat to preserve our once proud country from complete destruction. In ten years, our last barriers fell, and our hard earned name meant nothing."
        

Hibiki's voice cut the air with a voice that betrayed his cool demeanor, letting bitter feelings run with his words.

    "The main village had been cut down to about three-fifths of its original size, and more deaths were counted up each day. At that time, even the prospect of stepping outside to hang laundry was horrifying. You didn't know if you would live to the next day, or even the next hour.

         "Mizukage finally stood up. He could not let his people die in vengeance, alongside a dishonored name. Sacrificing the last of his ninja, he split the Mist and sent them on hopes they would somehow survive in inconspicuous villages and rebirth the Water Country."
        

Sakura sat up straighter.
        

"Hibiki-sama…if the shinobi were defeated, how could have the villagers survive? Wouldn't they have been slain as well?" Hibiki faced her, smiling again.

"It seems to have been impossible, doesn't it?" Sakura slowly nodded, patiently waiting for more.
        

"The villagers were able to hide themselves, and live on the little of the saved money sent from the Mist. That way, the small villagers were able to trade between one another. However, the money began running out, and the economy downsized.

Some villages were discovered and burned. Only several lucky colonies that still had the lingering shinobi with them survived. They worked day and night to keep us alive, fighting off bandits and finding us rations. However, hunger and violent exchanges cut them down; they were not immortal. It became apparent that more were needed."
        

Hibiki paused to take a breath.

     "And these ninja were found among the ruins of destroyed villages. Scouts found potentially capable children of all ages, and brought them back. They were trained and sheltered in return of their service to the village, along with the new found silk production in trade for food or money. Stealing from foreigners became a popular tactic for money."

         "This village of shinobi became its allay: The Village of the Rain."

     Sakura whipped around to face Kisho. The jacket garbed shinobi stared back at her, his silver eyes boring into hers. Then Amaya and Kisho weren't just thieves?

"Amaya may have overreacted, but it's not too far from what other shinobi might've done."

He let her process this before he moved on.

"Can you imagine? Most of our shinobi were found dying or suicidal.   They were willing to end this terrible famine by their own hands; we let them choose to live to serve us, or to die." The Elder's eyes grew hard at his reminiscence. It had obviously been a time of unimaginable suffering.

         "The villagers respect the shinobi for who they are, taking care of any ninja that carried the headband of the Rain, should they be wounded or in need of provisions. And from those acts of kindness, the Rain-nin came to form a bond with this village."

     The leaf ninja watched as Kisho's normally unreadable features crinkled into a small grin at the warm words that Hibki-sama spoke.

     "It was their new home. They didn't care if it was poor, dirty, or run down. They would, and, are still willing to die for the Village of the Hidden Rain: their home."

              --

Evening

          --

     'Ugh... that idiot.' Bitter thoughts crawled into Kisho's mind as he slumped down in his seat. He put on his customary scowl, irritated at both waiting for hours and being stuck with bland, white walls for company. Of course, he neglected to note the fact that both Sakura and Naruto were still waiting there with him, although none of them had bothered to break uneasy silence between them. Hostility was still weaving itself through the air, especially between the two boys. Gaze flickering over the closed door once again, Kisho sighed.

      'She wasted her chakra on that fool. I haven't seen her overreact that often.' His scowl deepened. 'That must've been some kid, eh, Amaya?'

         He shook his head, standing up on sore legs. Although Amaya was in bad condition, he didn't want to stay around the hospital wing any longer. Painful memories always resided in such places.

         Giving one last look at the closed doors, he drifted towards the exit. He'd have to deal with Hibiki's wrath sooner or later, and he wasn't about to let the prospect of it eat away at him.

     "OI! Where do you think you're going?!"

     Sakura whipped around, shocked at the sudden disruption. Kisho twitched.
     

'Damned brat.'
    

Naruto jumped up, pointing an accusing finger at the shinobi's back.
        

"Hey! You can't just walk off! Get back here!" he shrieked indignantly.

   

No answer.

    Naruto began growling, only to have his ears boxed by his irate teammate. He yelped in pain.
        

"What was that for?" Sakura hit him upside the head.

     "Naruto, you idiot! There are people resting here, and you yelled loud enough to wake the dead!" She hissed.
        

Kisho managed to let out a smirk. She was turning out to be rather interesting, unlike her fellow teammates. He shook his head, only to be suddenly knocked off his feet by some unseen force.

         "Listen to the boy; it'll save me the trouble of telling you," a sharp voice barked out, mocking Kisho's pout. A plume of smoke appeared with a pop, rising in intricate swirls. The two genin looked around him curiously, expecting an intimidating newcomer to arrive on the scene.

    "Ah...you kids. Always landing yerselves into one thing or another," the voice suddenly griped. The smoke was whisked away, and the impressive entrance was lost upon the actual person. The leaf nin gaped.

         This ninja was old! A skinny, bony, wretched, old woman! Hokage-sama looked like a newborn compared to this one. Her face was craggy and wrinkled with age. A tired, nearly dead look drifted about her lightless eyes, although her features were drawn into a cranky grimace. The old one was shorter than Kisho, who had to be...5'5".

    Kisho chuckled, the humor in his laughter obviously strained.

         "Akemi-sensei, you are too hard on us all. After all, what can mere children do to cause such a disturbance?" The said teacher began spitting out curses at his decidedly idiotic remark, which he began to return, loosing his calm presence.

   Sakura watched as the conversation progressed. Akemi, although she was one so old, had a foul temper and mouth. She watched as Kisho methodically lost his cool, looking irritated for once.

     Akemi threw her hand in the air, as if swatting bothersome gnats.

         "Pah!" She spat, stepping forward in his face.

         "Innocent children my ass! Foolhardy maybe that you be, but guiltless is high off the damn mark, you fool. Trying to worm your way out of it, I'll wager."

    "Escape? Me? Akemi-sensei, I've been nothing but good from the day we've met," he sneered, "Although I'm not the sure the same could be said about you." It was amazing how far Kisho dared to venture, even across the. After all, ridiculing the words of your sensei? Sakura shook her head disapprovingly. This guy was insane.

         His elder snarled, to which he glared back at. Obviously, team spirit and cooperation did not run well with the jounin and her pupils.

         "Humph. Good, huh? As far as I can remember you've both been a right pair a' terrors. But at least Amaya's the one with the sharper mind." Her crinkled face scrunched up even more as beady eyes squinted. Her impudent stare scanned the room for her other student. An eyebrow raised as she found an absence.

     "So...the girl went and got herself killed?"

     "Hardly. She got herself hurt though," Kisho nodded towards Sakura and Naruto, "By their teammate." Akemi grunted.

    "A pity it wasn't you."

         He gritted his teeth, silver eyes flashing in anger.

     Akemi's eyes roamed among the uneasy pair. She was not one to present oneself to as sloppy. The old woman stalked up to each of them at a time, assessing their height, looks, and probable ability, crouching to their height. After peering at them closely, she finally turned to look at Kisho, a disbelieving look on her features.

     "You mean to tell me that a mere child such as these defeated Amaya?" He said nothing.

      The woman's face suddenly wore a serious expression, dropping all sense of irritation and bitterness.

      "What in the seven hells happened here?"

         Sakura frowned, finally speaking up. Where did this old hag get off calling Sasuke a "mere child"?

"She was beaten," she said defiantly, "by Uchiha Sasuke." Although she was carrying a rare brave front on the outside, all she wanted to do was shrink away and run. The jounin unnerved her.

         A flash of light ignited in the dull eyes for a moment, but was quickly masked as Akemi regained her composure. Straightening, she turned to shoot Kisho a look.

     "Is that so? Uchiha Sasuke." Apparently, the Uchiha Clan was known more widely than the two thought. And with that being said, her thoughts took a sentimental turn.

      "I see."

Her eyes hardened.

"Amaya's become a slacker."

      But not completely.

             --

     "This is a very serious measure, a very serious measure indeed."

     "I'm sure there'll be some way to repay for the damage caused by my students."
    

"Hm...perhaps. But I doubt any money will replace the silk worms we lost. Those were prime breeding territories that were destroyed. The villagers have also been affected by this as well."

     Both the elder and Kakashi sat inside Hibiki's splendidly decorated office, discussing the troubles that this incident would cause for the Hidden Rain Village. As was said before, the mansion was furnished with fine wood and silk, standing out against the drab village. Even the room that Kisho and the remaining two of Team 7 had been assigned to until Sasuke was fully healed was quite rich.

     But there was one drawback to the large home. It had been built when good insulation was not widely available, even for the rich. Even soft mutters could find their way through the paper thin walls and doors.

     It wasn't like Sakura to eavesdrop, but her curiosity had gotten the best of her. With a little focusing of chakra, her ears became much more sensitive. She was able to pick up each and every word that Kakashi and Hibiki-sama whispered in the office a floor and a hall above them.

      She was assumed to have fallen asleep, so that they could converse under the cover of the night. Unfortunately, Sakura had been restless that evening, too stressed to close her eyes and welcome darkness.

     "What about the condition my student is in?" Kakashi inquired.
     

"Hm?" Hibiki blinked at the sudden change in topic, "Oh, he'll be fine. A scratch here, a bump there. But he'll pull through; if he's the substantial ninja you say he is."
    

Sakura snorted. Sasuke's leg was broken in several places: a few scratches indeed.
    

"Well, it'll take overnight for the doctors to fix him up properly, which is why I invited you and your team as our guests, of course."
     

Hibiki chuckled.

      "At least one of my students will be fine, although he certainly took a beating from your other student, eh Kakashi?"
    

Laughter could be heard as they both chuckled at the prospect.
     

"Yes, yes, Naruto is full of surprises."

      Sakura blinked. She turned to the sleeping form that lay on one of the fine beds of the mansion. Bristly blond hair poked out of a nightcap, signifying that her teammate was indeed the other inhabitant of the room.
        

'Naruto beat him?'
        

Then perhaps Kisho was nothing to worry about. Half the reason she couldn't sleep was fear of being throttled in her slumber. Of course, as she turned to the open window, anything was possible. She had seen the way Kisho and his jounin were attacking each other, almost baring teeth in their frustration.

Sakura observed the shadow dancing in the moonlight toiling endlessly. As punishment for stealing from the Elder's visitors, Kisho had been ordered to work. Unsurprisingly, he had followed orders without any sign of complaint.

     "Hey."
    

Sakura jumped, tumbling out of bed. Her eyes snapped over towards the window, where she saw familiar mischievous eyes looking in. She sighed almost in relief, pressing a hand over her heart. Then she instantly became alert, glaring Kisho as he leaned in on the sill, holding a wet and soapy sponge that dripped onto the floor below.
His silver eyes appeared to glow in the moonlight as the peered inside, completely dismissing the fact that he was disturbing her.
    

"What're you doing up so late?"

     "Nothing," she replied curtly. Her voice was crisp with a dismissive tone.
    

"Sure looks like something, sitting in the middle of the floor like that."
    

"What's it to you anyways?" The pink haired female snapped, loosing her composure. Green irises bored into his as she glared at him.
    

"Hey, calm down," he said placidly, straightening from his leaning position. Kisho raised his hands in defense, showing no pretense of harm. "I just need to give you somethi -"
     "What, a kunai to the head? I'd have to say no." She retorted, becoming defensive.
     

"Eh...it's a good idea, but no." A soft jingling noise was heard as he pulled out two small drawstring pouches out of his pocket. Sakura instantly recognized it as the money that had been stolen. He let it swing back and forth by the strings wrapped around his finger.

      "Hibiki-sama told me to give these to you awhile ago. I never did return them, though."
     

Sakura slowly got up to walk over to retrieve the money, but halfway up on her knees, she fell right back down. Apparently she wasn't as awake as she thought she was, but suspicion shone in her eyes.
     

"Odd time to return it, wouldn't you say?" He raised an eyebrow, pausing in his absentminded fun.
     

"What's that supposed to mean?" She frowned.
      

  "Throw it here."
     

"What!? You think I'm going to knife you or something?"

       "Yes."

     "…Fine," Kisho snorted. He gave the pouches one last twirl before letting them fly from his finger. They both hit her head, in Kisho's opinion, with a very satisfying smack. He pulled his ladder over to another window before she could retaliate, and there he returned to the task of cleaning the outside of the mansion.
        

Sakura grabbed the coins with a huff.
        

How disrespectful! Standing up, Sakura forgot her fear of being assaulted and rushed over to the window.

      Poking her head out, she glared daggers at the older shinobi.

     "Hey! You can't just throw -"

     But Sakura's was cut off as a terrible yelling rose in the thicket of the forest. Not too far off a lone ninja could be seen tearing through the trees with panicked speed. His voice was strained with urgency and fear.

     "Hibiki-sama! HIBIKI-SAMA! THE ILLUSION! THE GENJUTSU IS-"

     And like Sakura, he was cut off as well.

         But this time it was by something much louder and peculiar than a single person. A terrible noise, an earsplitting roar that sounded like fingernails on a chalkboard drowned out everything else. It was a jet engine, and a high pitched screech combined into one insanely loud noise. The mansion clattered and shook from a force unknown as a sudden beam of blue light shot from the middle of the forest, rising high up into the air like a beacon.

      It lit the entire village in a sheen of blue, lighting upon the two shinobi.
         Sakura lost her footing as Kisho clung to a window sill, taking the force dead on. She yelped as she hit the floor, coins scattering this way and that. Unbelievably, Naruto was still asleep, although he appeared to be more restless than he had before.

         A loud snapping met her ears as trees were demolished by the rapidly expanding dome of azure.

      'No way; this is...'

        Sakura's eyes shrank as the blinding light reached her pupils.

     "Chakra?"

A/N: Whee! A cliffhanger! Don't you just love those? Well, sorry for the very long delay. Complications between writers and such (skakujou: but he gets to punch me now! ;-). But we'll be trying our best to get you these chapters faster. Ooh! Look a plot is beginning to unravel! Snorts at plot. And remember kiddies! L33t Sp3ak blows.

skakujou: m1 1337 741 15 73h 5u( ' XD

Akemi - Bright and beautiful in Japanese