Disclaimer: As much as I may like Naruto, it is not mine no matter how I wish it ;

To all who reviewed – Thank you all so much! Not that I do not want to update, but I had many things to attend to. Well, my results were quite bad, but at least now I can definitely get into a university :D. Thank you for your patience if you are still reading Converging Paths

(And yes, it has been edited again --)

Chapter 4: Mobilisation

With practiced ease, the lone figure executed a double kick at the thick trunk of a tree and flipped back, landing on the ground a good ten feet away and readying herself at a fighting stance. Imagining an opponent in front of her, she dashed forward. Leaning her body towards the ground, she allowed her momentum to push her hands towards the ground. With her hands as pivot, she launched into an overheard kick from her back, creating a backward arc.

Finishing that move, Reiko stopped to catch her breath and brushed away some stray hair from obstructing her view. She looked around the deserted training ground, grateful for the comfortable silence enveloping the area.

After all, no sane person comes to train at two in the morning.

She launched herself into the air and landed on the top of a tree, her face looking up at the moon.

Her hair flowing behind her as the gentle night breeze enveloped the area, she sighed, remembering the scroll she received…

Jounin Hikari Reiko,

Due to current political and military situation, we regret to inform you Konoha Jounin Command has revoked your status as a nin-on-leave.

Assignment of your duties as a reinstated Jounin will be handed to you at the Administration Building, meeting room B3 at 0900 hours tomorrow.

She sighed again, running her hand through her brown hair…

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Tsunade looked at the monthly reports, her face blank.

"What is it, Tsunade-sama?"

The Hokage looked up at her assistant, eyes hinting that she was think quickly, "Shizune, we're looking at a thirty percent increment of bandit raids on the merchant convoys coming in and out of Konoha."

Shizune stood there quietly, waiting for her to continue.

Tsunade took out another file, and flipped a few pages before continuing, "Medical supplies have dropped as a result." She stopped for a moment and took out another file. "And there has been a twenty percent increment of skirmishes coming from our outposts along the border."

The blonde woman closed all three files, and stood up.

"Bandits are not uncommon, Shizune, however, in the last month alone, many of these convoys which were attacked did not make it here. They were either destroyed outright or forced to turn away from their original destination."

She moved to the window overlooking Konoha, one hand on her chin as she looked out. Shizune stayed at her spot, watching the Hokage in silence, waiting for her to make her point. Though the Hokage might be bashful and brutally honest at time, she is one of the sannin, and her intelligence is not to be disputed.

"Many convoys do have their escorts, and it is not uncommon for these bandits to be repelled. What we have here are organised attacks with some purpose in mind."

Tsunade turned around to face Shizune, her face still unreadable as she continued, "I have noticed, Shizune, despite the effort by whoever is coordinating this, that there is a certain theme to these seemingly random attacks. "

She looked outside the window as she spoke, her voice firm, "We are looking at the careful erosion of our ability to wage war, Shizune."

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A Jounin entered the already-filled room, hand holding up an orange book as he held up a half-gloved hand in greeting before taking a seat near the end.

"Hatake Kakashi."

It was more of an acknowledgement than anything else, and he nodded to the officer in charged of this briefing. He tucked the book into his pouch and was about to lean back on the chair into a more comfortable position when he froze.

Reiko!

True to his awareness, the brunette, now wearing the forehead protector on her head, walked into the room. The room suddenly quieted, numerous pairs of eyes focused on this newcomer. Most of the Jounins in the rooms had never seen her before, and almost all of the ninjas in the room had the same thought: What is she doing here?

The officer, once again in his monotonous voice, acknowledged her presence, "Hikari Reiko."

She nodded and looked around for a seat, eyes widening for a moment as her emerald orbs caught the silver-haired Jounin. She turned away quickly, settling for a seat near the front of the circular room.

He felt cold despite the lack of breeze in the room.

"Alright, let us get down to business." The officer cleared his throat and announced.

"Standard protocols applies here, so that means the information about to be given to you is classified, and none of it will be known other than the occupants inside this room as of now, understood?"

A series of murmurs and nods affirmed their responses.

The officer walked to the board, and pulled down a detailed map of the Country of Fire and its nearby geographical features.

"We are facing an unknown enemy as of yet."

Kakashi managed to avoid chuckling. Typical of him: straight to the point.

"He or she, or better, for the purpose of this briefing, let us coin this nameless enemy as 'it'."

A few Jounins could not help but grinned at the deadpan delivery from the briefing officer. He ignored the grins

"It has been sending attacks against merchants carrying medical supplies to Konoha, and those who were responsible for getting them, masquerading as bandits."

A slight pause.

Hidden implication: Somebody is trying to strike at Konoha discretely. The officer did not say it out loud, but Kakashi knew that most of the Jounins in the room already got to the same conclusion as him.

"However, these raids were too effective and well-planned to be done by bandits. Moreover, according to…our sources, this increased rate of 'bandit' raids only applies to merchants and traders moving to or from Konoha."

He paused to let the situation sink in, before continuing, "For now, you will concern yourself with what was told. Intelligence is trying to find out more, and you will be informed accordingly."

He looked around, and spoke again, "Before we hand out individual assignment, there is another matter that needed to be attended to."

Kakashi leaned back and closed his eyes, knowing what was coming.

There is only a few reasons why he would say that, and I'm sure it is about…

He looked over at the Reiko's back, his guts feeling cold again.

I'm sure you do not wish to see me around, no?

A sad smile played over his features, though the mask obscured it, even if anyone was watching him.

"We have a S-ranked mission directly linked to this briefing, and is strictly voluntary. Only one ninja would be utilised, rest of the information would be given to the one would volunteers, as per S-rank protoc-"

"I will take it."

A single hand was raised up, his uncovered eye showing boredom as a lazy grin could be seen under his mask.

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Haha, I am prepared to be stoned for such a long-delayed update.

XD