To be honest, i can't say i'm terribly happy with this chapter - rather heavy on the setting wouldn't you say? Drop a review or two telling me whats wrong. Big thanks as always to the person who patiently read through this convoluted stuff twice.

Fraudulent Realities

Chapter 2

The meeting was winding down. Given that the operation was starting off at rest hour (timing now dictated by an artificial schedule as oppose to the sun), Hisashi was quick to assign the jounin teams and explain the procedure of the mission. They were to enter the sub levels from separate points and surround the rebel out post. Once the strike team had given the signal, the other teams were to give support and provide cover whilst the strike team went in for the kill. A simple task, mused Neji as he gazed towards the ceiling, the mundane chatter of the other jounins simply washing over him. Absently mindedly, he began tracing the flight path of a fly doing loops just below the ceiling wondering what it was like to be able to move so freely. The air being fresh and breezing past you, under your wings, invigorating your spirit – like the birds in his dream. Neji even had trouble thinking up that concept, since birds, fresh air, and a blue sky were luxuries he had not been able to enjoy in a long while. Ever since the war commenced, the Hokage had deemed foreign mission to be too dangerous and only allowed a select group of ninjas to leave the village. The naturally withdrawn Neji never stood out in the Hokage's books and hence Neji had to bear with simply being in the village. Not that there was nothing to do – the Hokage provided bountiful amounts of entertainment and leisure for his villagers, the highlight being the weekly arena matches. Still, it was at times like this where Neji found himself wondering what shade of blue the sky would truly be...

But of course, work came first. Neji cast one last, lingering glance at the fly which was now flying out the window into purplish sky, and got up to leave. The meeting had formally ended and now, the teams were to head to the armory for equipment. The air, as always, smelt almost electrical, highly charged remnants of the energy from the chakra shield. It left an oily aftertaste on the tongue.

-

The fly in question soared out of the window, its buzzing wings oblivious to the hustle of the village. Its compound eyes glanced blindly at the training fields where even at such a late our, the latest batch of Konoha's youth were being turned into the perfect soldier. The sounds of the public dispatch units, reporting the latest victories in the war fell on deaf ears as the fly buzzed on unnervingly to its destination. As much as such scenes shocked and appalled Neji, the fly had seen it all too many times. A quick turn and the fly entered a sewage grating. Here, its senses seem to pick up, since a false turn in the almost endless tunnels under Konoha almost ensured that one would get hopelessly lost. The fly knew some of the facilities that the Hokage beneath the unknowing public, but it also knew that the true extent of these underground operations could only be hinted at. Unlink its other excursions into these tunnels however, the fly flew today with purpose and avoided the multitude of detours. Here, it was almost pitched black, with only a faint purple glow from the ever present chakra shield, somehow penetrating even to such darkened depths.

Many turns later, the fly felt the oppressive weight in the stagnant air lighten up somewhat as the confines of the tunnels gave way to empty space. It now flew into a place only whispered in hushed tones amongst the populace, a place were the only light was from where the chakra dome finally met the real ground – a hazy deep purple hue, a perverse light that enshrouded more than it shed. It was a place of shadow, called "The Ashes of Konoha" by the villagers – aptly dubbed for at the very bottom lay the ruins of the old village of hidden leaf, ravaged by the battles preceding the ascent. The ceiling of this place was the vaguely circular land mass that made up the village, held up by The Pillars at points along its circumference - seven columns of rock compacted to incredibly densities by chakra. The fly did not look at these colossal pillars, but it knew that carved upon each of the 30 story pillars was one of the seven tenants of Konoha as taught by the Hokage himself. Love for Nation, Loyalty, Servitude, Peace, Security, Endurance, and the largest pillar, Destiny, all barely readable in the poor lighting. On the long spiraling descent towards the ruins of the village, the fly in its own insect mind recalled the simple lines that strung all the virtues together. A litany that was impressed upon every child that was born in Konoha.

As the new born leaf loves its tree,

So are we loyal to the village.

As the leaf which nourishes its tree,

So do we too serve the village.

As the leaf that enjoys the security in its tree,

So do we too strive for peace.

As the leaf that endures winters chill breath,

So do we endure in all things.

And in endurance,

We march forth to destiny.

Such terrible a destiny, thought the owner of the fly, as the insect finally alighted on his finger after its long flight. It had descended into a dilapidated tower which had once been the seat of power in Konoha, now reduced to a decaying wreck. Nearby was once had once been a small mountain on which monuments of leaders past had stood proudly amongst azure sky. Now, those faces were smashed, horribly disfigured by the Great War which devastated the village. Gazing out at a land now forever cast in darkness, the owner of the fly bleakly took in these details for the umpteenth time. As much as the tons of rock above depressed him and as much as the accursed chakra shield dampened his spirit, it was the darkness in his mind which truly troubled him. A growing sense of hopelessness even now clutched at his heart. Turning to his companion, Aburame Shino gestured out into the purple-tinged darkness.

"They are coming for you. They have Huuygas leading them so I suggest we relocated before they reach here. There is still time." His voice sounded hollow. His resolve was fast approaching there. And his heart – he wondered bitterly if it too was as empty as the air around him. His companion glanced over, and at a glance knew that the long struggle was taking its toll on the normally composed Shino. A small grin appeared on his lips as he though of his reply.

"Ah, they are so... troublesome" muttered Nara Shikamaru, words which his lips had longed missed ever since he began leading the ragged rebellion. He clasped his arms around the back of his head and gazed upward towards the sky where clouds were – well were they would be if the blasted village was 30 stories up. "Remember that time when I failed to bring back Sasuke and was trying to drown my sorrows in ramen?"

"Yes..." came the tentative reply from Shino. While he was used to the easy going candor of his leader, this sudden light hearted mood surprised him.

"Well, back then I made some silly promise, but unlike all the other meaningless promises one makes in their childhood, this one has stuck with me." Shikamaru hated recollecting, but he guess Shino needed some idiocy to laugh at. "Guess what it was."

"You swore that no matter how bad the odds, you would preserver and perform flawlessly." Shino replied, comprehension beginning to dawn upon him. "So are you going to nag about how everyone else should be as determined and strive for flawlessness?" Mused Shino – Shikamaru certainly had changed from back then.

"Actually, I swore never to eat that crappy yellow stuff. And here I am stuck with ramen as the only food left to eat."

Shino broke into a rare smile. Ever since the rebellion began, food had been scarce, and now they lived on a huge cache of ramen which they had found in the ruins of the apartment of an old friend. Shikamaru's distaste for ramen was renowned – his grumbling complaints accompanied almost every meal.

"I'm sorry Shika. I was wrong to given in to despair." Sharing in the calm resolve of Shikamaru, Shino gazed out at the ruined village no long in hopelessness, but with steady conviction. His voice reverted back to its steady tone, a far cry from the panicked scratchiness of a few moments ago. If there was one thing he agree with that silly litany of Konoha's virtues, it was what Shikamaru – of all people – embodied even in times like this. Endurance in all things

"Nah it's perfectly alright – After all," Shikamaru cocked his head slightly towards the nearest of the seven pillars, which towered above the tower. He gave a sardonic smile of his own. "We are in the shadow of Destiny."

The laughter they shared, a tiny speck of warmth in the cold ashes of Konoha. And after a while, it too was gone, as the two friends awaited for the upcoming assault.

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