The Raikage walked through the market place. It wasn't particularly warm that day. She looked up at the dark clouds. A storm is coming she thought to herself. It was been three days since the leaf shinobi came to their village with the warning of her assassination. Three days since they imprisoned that shinobi. She closed her eyes. This was her trial. She was the Raikage after all. If only for her namesake, she must pass through the coming storm. She opened her eyes with new determination. "I must talk with our captive."

Above her on the roof a lone figure sat in the shadows. Sasuke had been following her for three days. So far he had seen no sign of her 'assassin', for the matter anyone. Where were her bodyguards? Sasuke thought to himself. It did not matter whether the threat was real they should still be on alert until they knew the danger was over. At least that would be protocol in Konoha whether Neji liked it or not. "I should be back there now, we don't have time for this." He said quietly to himself.

Meanwhile in Konoha

The Sixth walked to his usual post during midday. Staring out over the rail he stared at the village taking in the site. Reminding himself what he needs to protect. He then heard a knock at the door inside. He sighed and walked back inside to his desk. "Enter." He said in loud voice. A tall man entered. He wore the standard Jounin uniform and wore black shades. The Sixth look up. "Shino, I see you are recovering well." He smiled at the expressionless man.

"I want to go search for Kiba. We don't know that he died. More likely he is being interrogated." He said in a calm voice but Neji could sense the emotion behind it.

Neji stood up from his desk again. "I swear Sasuke's attitude is ruby off on everyone now a days." He smiled to himself before looking at Shino. He was much taller than Neji so Neji had to tilt his head a little higher. "You know the situation as well as I do. I can't spare anyone to go after Kiba and you are in no shape to go after him yourself." He turned his back to him at this point. "All missions non related to the defense of this village have been cancelled." Neji said in a stern voice.

Shino nodded and understood. In the past, even in times of war Konoha did resume some of their daily missions to not appear weak to the other villages so not to invite unwarranted attack. The appearance of strength is just as important as having strength. But in the current situation, things have changed. Konoha has thrown appearances out the window. "However," Neji continued catching Shino by surprise. He thought the conversation had ended. "There might be someone who is not under my authority yet that could help, an old sensei perhaps. And since your injury you have been put on inactive duty I have no power over you technically." He turned and smiled at Shino. "Now go, I have much work to do." Shino smiled as well and bowed before leaving the room. He had a woman to find. Thinking of the old team, he wondered where Hinata was, he had not seen her in while.

He walked down the street and just past Saitou walking up the street to meet the other genin. Hinata had given them the day off from training that day. He was going to enjoy every moment. Ever since she resumed teaching them she had pushed them harder than he had ever experienced before. This was the first day off in a week. Iori and Batou were waiting by the noodle shop by the time Saitou got there.

"About time Saitou." Iori complained. "You're late as usual." He ran his hand through his hair. "Come on I'm hungry lets get something to get now." Batou just nodded and took his stool. Saitou rolled his eyes and took a seat next to Batou. Batou now sat between the two other shinobi. Great he thought to himself. The three ordered and got their bowls.

"Well some of us are actually busy." Saitou leaned forward. "I have responsibilities unlike some people here do." He glared at Iori and Iori glared back. The two continued to banter on and on. Taking breaks between insults to eat. Despite the insults Batou knew that the two have come to respect each other through the course of the training.

Batou finished his bowl and had an annoyed look on his face. He missed Naomi and Tapion. They knew how to control these two egos. Must have been some special training Sasuke-sensei and Hinata-sensei taught them. He laughed picturing that image of Naomi and Tapion scribbling notes while the two senseis lectured them on egos. He missed his comrades. Then he looked over to Saitou. "Saitou, where is Hikari today? I thought she was going to meet us today." This made Iori stop and the realization that she was not at the shop yet hit him as well.

Saitou smiled. "She said she was busy today. She never showed up when it was just her, Tapion and me. But this was the first time she gave an explanation. I think we're finally getting through that shell of hers." He laughed leaving his two new teammates puzzled.

Just as Saitou was laughing at his own thoughts, a girl was running on the other side of the mountain with the carved Hokages. She looked over and saw three kunai approaching fast. She slowed a little and jumped to the side avoiding the blades. She got down on one knee panting heavily. Suddenly an older woman appeared in front of her. "Good Hikari you were able to see the attack coming." Hinata bent down to face her. "You train harder than the others but why do you hold back?" At this point she was sitting on the hard rock over looking the village. Hikari was also sitting. "You insist on training on the off days but never reach your limits. Why do you hold back on your bloodline?"

Hikari finally recovered her breathing and looked at her sensei. "Because I wish to keep my sight the way it is. If I keep using it, my eyes will become as black as the night sky." She stared at her sensei before standing up again. "I'm ready." Hinata nodded. This conversation will have to continue another time. She dusted off her pants and the two began to spar once more.

The countryside

Vidina stood between two great trees that seem to touch the sky itself. He looked on at his two students standing in the middle of a patch of grass. He smiled. Naomi was doing well with the training, mastering every task he threw at her. Tapion on the other hand surprised him. He was not as strong, skilled or fast as Naomi but he always bested her during their sparing sessions.

Out on the field, Naomi smiled and prepared her attack. She formed several seals. "Bunshin no Jutsu" And three more Naomis appear out of a puff of smoke. The three copies and the real Naomi started to surround Tapion. Tapion was quickly glancing at all four trying to figure out the real one when the one from behind jumped at him with her fist flying toward his face. Tapion countered but as soon as he touched her she disappeared into a cloud of smoke. The front and side ones attacked as well and met with the same end. A cloud of smoke surrounded Tapion at this point.

"Great, this was her plan from the beginning." He said to himself. Naomi was waiting outside the smoke cloud. Suddenly Tapion shot out of the cloud at Naomi. She easily avoided the attack and was about to counter with her own move when she noticed another Tapion coming out of the smoke.

She looked at the one in front and realized it was a just a clone and jumped up high in the air. Tapion just looked up at her as she jumped on him. "Got you." She pinned both shoulders and sat on his chest. He smiled at her and then disappeared in a cloud of smoke. At that moment she looked up as Tapion did a diving tackle causing both of them to roll a few feet ending with Tapion on top.

"Got you." He smiled looking down at her. He soon got up and offered a hand but she shook her head and got up herself. At this point Vidina walked out from underneath the shade smiling.

"Well done Tapion. You were able to use the clone to your advantage." He looked over at Naomi. "Sometimes too much thinking will only complicate things." She let out a hmpf. "I restricted your sparing to only using the Bushin technique to show you that the most powerful technique is not always the best. A simple use of a clone can turn the tide in a battle. Now come dinner is ready. We will hike for two days before the next training exercise."

Tapion just shrugged and followed Vidina back to the camp. Naomi wiped her brow and watched him for a minute before following.

Later that night after dinner Vidina had gone to sleep early leaving to two young shinobi sitting by the campfire. Tapion was holding a stick playing with the fire. "Sure is quiet tonight." He looked over at Naomi. She nodded in agreement as she tilted her head up to look at the night sky.

"It's only been a few weeks but it seems like forever since we've seen the others." She brought her knees closer and held them with both arms.

"Do you miss your dad?" Tapion dropped the stick and looked at her.

"A little, he trusts me though and knows I wouldn't do anything foolish." She smiled at him. "Like running away and training with a close friend on some sort of secret mission." They both laughed at that point. "How are you?" Tapion closed his eyes and didn't say anything. Naomi moved closer and rested her head on his shoulder.

The Cloud Village

Naruto laid in his cell just staring at the ceiling wondering how long he was going to be in there. He heard someone enter the room on the otherside. "Well I'll be, it is you." Naruto tilted his head to look to see who it was. A tall orange haired man approached the cell bars. "It's been over 6 years since I saw you last and yet you still haven't changed." He touched the cold bars of the cell. "Still getting into trouble I see."

"Not as much as you think." Naruto sat up in his bunk. "Ichigo, so they fill you in on the situation or do I have to do it for them."

"No they did, and I have to say walking up to the Raikage herself and saying she's going to die was not the smartest move." He took the chair away from the wall and sat facing Naruto. "You're lucky to be in the cell and not dead." Both of them just started laughing.

After five minutes they finally stopped. "It was a dumb move wasn't it? But more important question does she believe it?"

Ichigo shook his head. "So far security remains the same before you decided to show up. So my guess is no." Naruto shook his head. "Listen we know about the current situation with the hidden leaf village. I think all the villages do. Why would he send you on this mission when he has every shinobi on a defensive line?"

"Fools," Naruto shook his head. "Because the one who has ordered the assassination is our enemy. He seeks to frame us for the death of your Raikage and securing this village as an ally."

"An ally? But no one has approached us to make such a proposal." Ichigo began going through his memory.

"He doesn't have to. I only know him from reputation but the leader is smart and very dangerous. After her death you will seek them to help in the defeat of the leaf village." At this point the Raikage emerged from the shadows.

"But how do we know this is not an attempt to do the same? Come with a warning and when I die, frame them and in doing so secure our allegiance to your side in this conflict." Ichigo immediately stood up to greet her. Naruto was at a loss for words.

"You don't know that. I can just say that you have to believe me."

A/n: sorry for the delay, life's been crazy. I'll try and get the next chapter up as soon as possible.