Early Spring, Konoha Village, Hokage's Offices, 12:30 pm

Wondering where Rock Lee was to be taking his briefing, and curious what mission the Gouken-stylist would be undertaking in this dire time, we look through each of the many briefing rooms. Starting with the Hokage's private offices, and search digiligently... to no avail. In fact, we don't see sign of the Hokage, or of Team Gai's other members. If Rock Lee had a very important mission, surely he wouild be assigned as part of his team? That was what the Godaime Hokage had indicated earlier in the da.y. We had hoped that we could follow Neji, TenTen, or Gai-Sensei to the meeting, and therefore take stock of the situation as it unfolds.

We pass the Mission Assignment Room, and the Hokage's private office.

With some regret, after an hour of searching, we almost give up on our search for the Hot-Blooded' Chuunin. Then, it occurs to us: What if they are in the Black Room? That is the only place we would not really want to go, as all those seals give even us pause (not to mention the heebie-jeebies). Rock Lee's reaction to the location did indicate suprise...

With a grimace and a sigh, we decide that would be the most likely location. So, we shortly find ourselves passing down the same hallway that Maito Gai and Hatake Kakashi had just barrelled down just a few short hours ago.

Our last brainstorm proves correct, as we come upon the entirety of Team Gai, and the second Hokage to be blonde, discussing matters just outside the entrance to The Black Room. Good. It looks like we made it just in time.

So, do you all understand the reasons why you have to take this mission with the strictest of secrecy? the lone Sannin of Slugs ask the Team.

A dissapointed exhalation leave us. It seems that they have already finished discussions, and are now just about to go about their assigned mission.

Jounin-Sensei Maito Gai answers not with the sheer bravado and nearly humourous antics he is known for far and wide. Instead, he simply nods, voicing a inarticulate grunt of acknowledgment. His rough hands are bundled in grim fists at his sides, instead of flamboyantly assisting his affirmation, as they might otherwise.

Chuunin Rock Lee, the favored student standing of Jounin Gai, standing at his side, is discovered with a somber expression, instead of the normally-blazing enthusiasm that has carried the Chuunin so much farther than anyone else of ohis generation would have expected. We almost hadn't recognized him, as his manner is so different from how we had seen him just a short while ago (even if he is still a near-copy of his sensei...).

He looks almost... smaller for that lack. His mouth is a tight line drawn across his face, and his unusually-round eyes are looking down, instead of meeting anyone else's gaze.

Chuunin TenTen is in full serious mode, with her brown eyes matching the look in her once-proclaimed-idol own eyes, as she nods her own acceptance of the seriousness of the mission. She is dressed in that new fighting outfit that she had designed herself just recently, and already has her weapon scross secured across the small of her back. She also seems to be carrying a hip pack already bulging with items.

No doubt, she has already sequestered several more weapons about her person, already prepared to leave once the briefing had completed.

Jounin Hyuuga Neji stands across from the group, off to one side. Trying to read his blank expression, we can't tell if he is taking this mission as seriously as his team, but we can be sure that the young Jounin of the Hyuuga Clan would fully realize the implications that has the others' reactions so subdued. If any ninja would be radically affected by this condition' as reported by the Hokage, it would have to be a Hyuuga, with their advanced bloodline-based abilities.

Neji's arms are crossed in front of him, as we might recognize of his usual behaviour, but the way his hands tucked into the large sleeves of his Jounin attire say something else about his apparent lack of concern.

We turn back to the singular person of the Hokage as she states her acceptance in a strong, yet flat tone. She crosses her own arms in front of her, taking a stance that shifts her weight onto her left leg before continuing. We have already sent the other teams their missions, and they also will be starting their missions early tommorow. Finally letting her features soften, she allows them some kind words, gesturing kindly with lift right hand. Take the rest of the day off from your regular duties. Rest. Go see your friends; it may be a while before you seem them again.Thank you for your generosity,Hokage-sama, but we will need the time to prepare, as well as gather some supplies. After politely turnin down the kind offer, Jounin-sensei Maito Gai turns towards the far end of the small hallway, and starts striding towards the stairwell that will lead up to the main foyer of the Hokage's Offices compound.

Lee, TenTen, Neji. The broad shouldered Jounin-Sensei gestures with his right hand to indicate each in turn, in military fashion. Come on, we should be on our way.

At the prompting, the young protectors of Konaha turn as a group, and follow their Team Leader. Even wrapped up in their own thoughts, they file in perfect lockstep behind their Jounin-sensei almost without consideration or thought; long years of training from tender years lend unthinking coordination to their movements.

If they only knew what they were in store for, they might have taken up Tsunade's offer, instead of rushing so hurridly to commit to the Hokage's mission... Ah , well.

Early Spring, Konoha Village, the skies of Konoha, 3:30 pm

After letting a resigned sigh express our feelings, we leave that dreadful hallway as quickly as possible.

Taking to the empty skies above Konoha, we let our gaze take in the grand sight of hundreds of llives going about their daily routines as we wheel as a hawk might.

Mothers and fathers taking thier chilldren on shopping excursions, picking up needed things, or buying that new toy that had just come to the local mecantile exchanges from abroad.

Simple young men and women enjoying a clear spring day together.

Small squads of Academy student ninja-to-be taking laps, studying in the fields, or practiciing shuriken throwing, all the while thier graduated seniors watch over them. The Chuunin instructors, sometimes satisfied with thier progress, sometimes exasperated with a troublesome student's antics,are always carefully guiding their charges on the path to becoming Leaf Ninja.

We watch this for hours; such small lives struggling with normal concerns (for those living in a Hidden Vilage, anyway).

We even can see many Leaf Ninja in active duty wear now are discreetly patroliing various areas inside Konoha proper, as well as maintaining watch at its borders...

Another might simply see these crack troops as going about their own daily business, or on their way to missions outside of Konoha. . .

. . . Excepting that, on any given street, we see those ninja are never out of line-of-sight of at least two other ninja.

. . . Excepting also, that, upon giving closer attention to detail, we find all three are also covering a differing arc of the street, road, or path that they are currently treading upon, and that at least one hand of each ninja is free at all times, and in perfect view of the one of the others on the causeway.

So, even now, Konoha has taken appropriate steps for suspicious outsiders. As expected of the once-most powerful of Hidden Villages, their immediate response is sharp, and professional.

It will be dissapointing to them to find that they are already too late.

Now, after a scant few hours, it seems that even the civilians of Konoha, having once been ninja themselves, or having lived with one for most of their lives, are picking up those patroller's unspoken anxieties.

Mothers gather their children closer to their sides, while they themselves match step with their husbands, instead of lagging behind, or strolling ahead as they might otherwise. When families stop at a small stand, or decide upon entering a store, Husbands position themselves between the family, and those who are still walking down the causeway.

Boyfriends place their shoulders alongside the shoulders with their girfriends, ostenibly to drape a spare arm over them, but allowing for a furtive, hopefully subtle glance to take stock of who was outside of a shop as the young pair enter, or who might still be there when they exit. A ninja can never be too careful; and even if they only stayed in the program' long enough to pick up some basic self-defense, Konoha's Academy stresses situational awarenes highly.

Girlfriends notice their boyfriends getting the doors for them more often, and while they find that sweet, and gracefully enter the proffered entrance or exit, once through, they use the moment given to carefully take stock of those whose fashions might be enough out of date to represent an outisider, or those faces that haven't been around for a while. A Kunoichi's eye for fashion, even for one who never graduated, can be a very particular thing.

They might not acknowledge that they are doing so, but subconciously they are taking closer care of themselves and those close to them. Nothing may have been annonced or discussed, or even hinted at, per the Hokage's commands, but the increased presence of Leaf Ninja on the everyday walkways of Konoha gives them a hint that something has changed for the worse.

We smirk with closed lips. Something will change, and who can say if it will be for the better, or the poorer?

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Sweatdrops Wow, where did September go?

Okay, it's shorter that ususual, but I decided to get this posted up so as to not delay further; it also felt like a good place to cut it off', even with it being a bit short. Sorry about the lateness, and I will try harder for next chapter.

Riye Link Reue - Very insteresting questions/statements on how this condition will effect the various namesake characters in the series. You've definately hit upon some of the ideas I wanted to engender in this story - how can Ninjas ninja' without any Ninja powers, or ones horridly out of control? (Dang, think I used that word a bit overmuch!) It might force a revolution in the world's balance of power.

(And, BTW - I don't mind multi-reviews for differing posistions/questions/statements at all, Heheh. )

Magus Black - I'm glad that I'm getting such postitive responses. Due to the normal content' of FFnet for Naruto, I wasn't all that sure my story, which focused more on the classic' elements of the Naruto storyline (action, drama, comedy), while not focusing on the namesake character himself, would be seen as worthwhile.

Andivar - Well, good point on Naruto - I had felt my characterization of him was a little too obvious' or generic. I'll have to put more work into showing his comparitive maturity next time. Thanks for the Read!