'Thoughts/Signing/Written Words'
"Speaking"
"Seal Symbols/Words"
Flashbacks
Disclaimer: I own nothing from Masashi Kishimoto. Enjoy!
Chapter 8
When Team Ro was finished eating, Hound and Fox returned to the shadows. Neko leaned forward to gently tap on Sora's shoulder to let her know that they were done. As Sora picked up her head, she was glad to see that the only things left on the table were empty cups and empty skewer sticks. Finishing the last bits of her tea, Sora placed her cup down and asked, "Are you all ready to go?"
Neko and Crow nodded their heads in confirmation. They exited the booth and went down the stairs. Seeing them coming up towards the counter, Momo asked, "How was the food?"
Sora nodded. "It was delicious as always, Momo-san."
Momo smiled. Giving Sora the burgundy wooden box, Momo said, "Feel free to come by the house when you're free, Daimyo-sama."
Sora nodded in agreement and paid for the food. "Thank you, Momo-san. Please give my thanks to Mato-san as well."
Momo nodded, "Will do."
They said their farewells and Sora exited the building. She made her way back to the busy streets and stopped in front of a shop. Underneath two opened windows were small potted yellow wildflowers and roses. Behind the roses was a bonsai tree with her company's logo in the middle of a dark ceramic pot. Wrapped around the base of the tree were the words 'Not for Sale' etched into a wooden plank. On the roof of the shop was a pastel purple sign with blue and yellow flowers. The words 'Yamanaka's Flowers' were painted on the sign in deep pink.
Entering the bell-shaped doorway, Sora paused to look around the shop. On the floor to her left were more potted flowers. Some pots had little pink florets that were poking out from dark green bushes, while others were blue. To the right of the shop was a large, refrigerated display case with shelves. On the shelves were assembled bouquets complete with colored tissue and a bow. On the floor were buckets filled with fresh cut flowers.
Sora walked closer to the display case only to pause when she heard a tiny voice squeak, 'Water. Must have water.'
Sora turned to her left and saw a smaller bonsai tree potted in a teal-colored pot. Like the one displayed in the front, it too had a 'Not for Sale' sign.
Sora looked at the register counter hoping to find a worker. All she saw was an empty counter and a tall shelf that displayed different colored boxes and ribbons. Sora began looking around the store for a watering can. Her eyes lit up when she saw one behind the potted rose bushes in the corner of the store. Sora went towards the watering can, ignoring Team Ro's curious stares. Glad to see that it still had water in it, she picked it up and went towards the bonsai tree.
As she poured the water into the pot, the tiny voice sighed in relief, 'Thank you.'
A voice called out from the front entrance, "Hey lady, we aren't hiring. Put the watering can back down."
Sora's lips twitched. Placing the watering can beside the bonsai tree, she said, "Hello to you too, Santa-kun."
Coming behind Neko and Crow was a fourteen-year-old boy with auburn hair tied into a ponytail. He was dressed in a navy short sleeve top with matching pants. Along the ends of the shirt and pants were silver trimmings. Completing the outfit was a pair of white socks tucked inside a new pair of sandals. Wrapped around his neck was his forehead protector.
The young teen's eyes widened when he saw who it was. He quickly ran to give her a hug. Voice muffled against her chest, he exclaimed, "Sora-nee!"
Sora laughed and wrapped her arms around him. As they parted, Sora raised an eyebrow at his choice in wearing civilian clothes. "You're looking quite handsome today. Dressing up for someone special?"
Santa's face reddened before quickly shaking his, "N-no. What makes you say that?"
Sora gave him a knowing smile, which made him reddened even more.
A blonde-haired man had just entered his younger cousin's flower shop, only to pause when he saw two Anbu agents. Worried about his son, he called out, "Santa-kun?"
Seeing his dad, Santa grinned, "Hey old man!"
His father grimaced at being called old. 'I'm just barely in my 30s,' he thought.
As the two Anbu agents parted slightly, his eyes caught a glance of a familiar ruby colored hair wrapped into a bun. "Sora-san?" he asked uncertainly.
Hearing him, Sora stepped out from behind Neko and Crow. She smiled and bowed at him, "Good afternoon, Inorou-san."
Giving Sora a look, Inorou addressed to his son, "Santa-kun, you're free to go. I'll take over until your uncle comes back."
Knowing he was being dismissed, Santa quickly gave Sora a hug. "I'll see you in bit, nee-chan."
Sora gave him a squeeze, whispering, "See you soon." Santa turned towards the front of the store and exited.
Now with his son gone, Inorou looked between Neko and Crow then back at Sora, looking for an explanation. Sora felt her face heat up from the intense stare Inorou was giving her.
She fiddled with her sleeves and muttered, "I was chosen."
Inorou's eyes widened in surprise before giving her a big smile. "Congratulations."
Sora returned his smile, "Thank you, Inorou-san."
Inorou walked behind the counter and asked, "Would you like your usual?"
Sora nodded. "Please."
Inorou gave her a soft smile. "Go look around while I prepare your order."
Sora thanked him as she went towards the display case. Crouching down to look at the cut flowers, she picked a white rose in wonder. She always thought it was quite interesting that while she could hear plants talk, she could never hear them die. This contrasted greatly when someone died.
Feeling Inorou coming closer to her, Sora straightened up and smoothed the back of her yukata. She turned around and saw him stopping beside her. Inorou handed the bouquet to her and she reached out to accept. In the middle of the sea of blue periwinkles, forget-me-nots, and Hyssops was a single red poppy. The flowers were wrapped inside white colored tissue paper and tied with a red ribbon.
Sora was about to pay for the bouquet when Inorou shook his head. "This one is on the house, Daimyo-sama," he said with a smile.
Sora's eyes widened. She was about to object until Inorou suggested, "If you feel like you must pay, you can come and visit us when you aren't doing your Daimyo duties."
Sora softened her eyes and nodded. "Thank you, Inorou-san."
As they made their way out of the flower shop, Sora led Team Ro back towards the busy street. Kakashi narrowed his eyes when Yugao appeared next to him.
She signed to her captain, 'On the rooftop, three buildings away.'
They watched as an unfamiliar Anbu watched the crowded streets. The Anbu was dressed in the standard Anbu uniform and had a painted porcelain mask that Kakashi had never seen before. Kakashi narrowed his eyes. 'Who are you looking for?' he thought.
As the group made their way over the Naka River, Kakashi's eyes widened when he saw the unknown Anbu lock onto their location. Kakashi signed to Yugao, 'Formation B now.'
Shisui and Tenzo tensed when their captain and teammate suddenly appeared in front of Sora. Sora looked at both Hound and Fox but did not comment on their sudden appearance.
'They found the tail,' she thought as she turned left from the main street and into the tree line.
As they entered the forest, Kakashi tensed as the unknown Anbu started to come closer. He was about to engage when he felt the chakra signature of their pursuer disappear.
Kakashi frowned. Addressing Yugao, he ordered, 'Stay with the Daimyo.'
Kakashi left while Yugao stayed with the others. Reaching the location of where the unknown Anbu was, Kakashi looked around for any sign of struggle or any indication that someone else was there. The only thing he could detect was a faint smell of sweat. Whether it had belonged to the unknown Anbu or someone else, Kakashi could not say for sure. Seeing nothing else, he frowned and returned to the others.
When Kakashi neared his team, he froze as he saw where they had stopped. Standing to the left side was Neko and Crow, while Yugao stood on the other side. Sitting in front of the memorial stone with her legs tucked underneath her was Sora.
Kakashi remembered a memory he had forgotten long ago.
It was raining heavily. Every five minutes there was a loud roar before a flash of light ran across the sky.
Not caring that he was soaked, a fourteen-year-old Kakashi was walking towards the memorial stone. He was dressed in his Anbu uniform, but his mask was looped by his hips. As he walked closer to the memorial stone, he heard a cry. Not just a soft cry either. This cry was filled with much pain and sorrow.
Thinking he should come back another day, Kakashi was about to turn around until a flash of light illuminated the path before him. Just for a quick second, he saw a flash of ruby.
His eyes widened, 'Tomoe-san?'
Kakashi quickly went towards the memorial stone, hopeful. He hid himself on the tree branch next to the memorial stone. He was shocked to find a girl about his age holding onto the memorial stone. She was supporting the upper half of her body with the stone, while the rest of her body was laid out. Her feet were bare, and her kimono was stained with mud. Her wet ruby locks fell down her shoulders each time they shook.
With each uncontrollable sob that came out, his heart cried out alongside her.
Telling himself that he should leave, Kakashi tried to move his body but found that he could not find the strength to do so. His eyes widened in shock when he felt something hot run down his own cheeks. He brought his hands up to his eyes and realized that he was crying.
'A shinobi must never show any weakness,' he repeated to himself as he tried to convince himself to stop crying.
He was unsuccessful. If anything, the tears came down harder.
Kakashi was brought back to the present by Sora's voice. "I'm sorry I'm late," she said softly as she placed the bouquet of flowers in front of the memorial stone.
Sora sat back down on her legs. Reaching into her sleeves, she pulled out a burgundy wooden box. "I brought your favorite sake. Just don't let grandmother catch you," Sora said as she opened the box to pull out a golden bottled sake.
Reaching into her sleeves again, Sora pulled two small white porcelain cups. She placed them next to the bouquet of flowers. "Here's one for you," she said as she poured the sake closest to the bouquet, "and here's one to share with your friends." Sora filled up the remaining cup before placing the bottle beside it and sat back down.
Looking up at the memorial stone, Sora said, "I hope you're well." After a few seconds Sora smiled sadly at the memorial stone, "Don't worry about me. I am managing the best I can. Tree Leaves is still in business so that's good."
Tracing the leaf patterns on her yukata, Sora muttered, "I have something to tell you." Sora paused a bit before whispering, "I was chosen to become the Daimyo." Sora eyes twinkled when she remembered how Tana and some of the delegates had cheered when Lord Todiyori had announced her as his successor.
Sora laughed, "I know. It surprised me too. Today marks a full week I've been officially the Daimyo. The work involves a lot of paperwork unfortunately. Luckily, Lord Todiyori and the other delegates have been kind enough to show me the ropes." The first day in office consisted of just paperwork that needed to be amended and approved immediately. No one had gone home that day.
Sora smiled at the memory. "I think you would've liked Lord Todiyori. He kind of reminds me of grandmother. Strict and stern, but still full of life."
Sora sighed and slowly got up. Sora reached out her hand only to pause before touching the edge of the memorial stone. She whispered, "I love you to the moon and back."
As Sora turned around with Team Ro following her, Kakashi stayed behind to look at the memorial stone just a bit longer. 'I wonder,' he thought as he reached out his arm to touch the stone.
For just a minute he had thought Sora was going to touch a specific name. Underneath his fingertips, etched on the stone was 'Uzumaki Tomoe'.
Somewhere deep in a tall, concrete building with no windows and only one entrance, a little red light flashed above a door. Etched on the stone door was the number '40'.
Wearing his forehead protector like a bandana over his head, a nineteen-year-old was sitting on his desk finishing up his report. He frowned when he heard a knock on his door.
"Come in," he said.
The door opened to reveal one of his staff members. "Room 40 just lit up, Commander. Yamanaka-san is already in the room."
Room 40 was their highest secured interrogation room, usually reserved for high profile enemies. As soon as an enemy nin had entered the room, their chakra was immediately cut off and were immobilized. In order for his staff not to be affected, he had to be in the room with them, or be personally keyed into the room by the Hokage.
The Commander of Torture and Interrogation nodded. As he left his office, he thought about what had occurred earlier this month.
His staff had just finished clearing Interrogation Room 40 when a shinobi appeared into the room. He was unconscious on his back. On his left shoulder was an Anbu tattoo. What was odd was that they were not wearing a mask, and their packs had been left opened. Scattered beside his body were different items, ranging from kunai to storage scrolls.
"Out," the Commander ordered.
His staff quickly scurried out of the room, closing the door behind them.
'Did someone drop him off?' the Commander asked himself. 'If they did, how did that person get in here. I didn't even sense them.'
As the Commander looked at the Anbu's packs, he realized that they were empty. After taking inventory of items strewn across the floor, he frowned. 'His forehead protector is missing,' he thought.
Usually, all shinobi are required to always carry their forehead protectors with them, unless told otherwise by the Hokage.
'Why would Anbu be in here though?' he asked himself. 'Unless they're posing as one of our own.'
Frowning, the Commander proceeded to restrain the Anbu just in case. As the Anbu slowly awakened, the Commander asked, "What is your shinobi ID?"
The Anbu did not answer. The Commander narrowed his eyes, "I will ask once more, what is your shinobi ID?"
The Anbu stared blankly up at him. The Commander frowned. 'It was if there was no life behind those eyes.'
Seeing the Anbu's mouth clinch, the Commander moved to stop the Anbu, but he was too late. The Anbu began to convulse then quickly died. 'A suicide pill?' the Commander thought.
The Commander had the body sent to the Analysis Team. In a few hours, the Commander heard a knock at the door, "That better be you Inoichi."
A blonde-haired, blue-eyed man entered the office. Inoichi Yamanaka was the lead for T&I's Analysis Team. When the door was closed, the Commander activated a privacy seal. At his Commander's nod, Inoichi reported, "There was no pill casings found in his mouth or digestive tract to suggest there was a suicide pill. His toxicology report came out negative as well. What we did find was that something had burned his entire oral cavity, and his brain had been liquified."
The Commander narrowed his eyes. With no lead to go on, they could not investigate any further. "I'll inform the Yondaime and Bear-san."
Inoichi nodded and left the office.
The Commander sat back on his chair and sighed. In cases like these, anything related to Anbu, both active and inactive members, Bear had to be informed. 'He is the Anbu Commander after all,' he thought as he reached over to rub his left shoulder.
The next two weeks, five more Anbu agents appeared the same way inside Room 40. All with their packs emptied, and masks and forehead protectors missing. All died the same way.
'This is the seventh one,' the Commander thought as he was brought back to the present by the bright flashing red lights above Room 40. The Commander placed a chakra covered hand in the middle of the door. The lock unclicked and swung itself opened. He was greeted by Inoichi, who was standing over the body.
"Something's changed," Inoichi said when the doors were closed. "This was the only thing I found next to his body." In his hand was a white porcelain mask with a single red stripe. Inoichi continued, "His pack hasn't been emptied and I found his forehead protector inside it."
The Commander asked, "Which village?"
Inoichi stated, "Konoha's."
The Commander narrowed his eyes, "A poser?"
Inoichi looked at his Commander, "Not possible. You're not going to like who it is."
As the young Commander went closer to the body, his eyes widened, recognizing the shinobi immediately. 'Sho?'
Sho has been one of their long time staff members for about four years now. He was responsible for running a few errands between the T&I departments. As far as the Commander knew, Sho was just a Chunin and not on the Anbu roster.
"There's more," Inoichi continued. He flipped the mask to show his Commander. There was a glowing seal in the middle of where the forehead would fit.
The Commander asked Inoichi, "It hasn't been activated?"
Inoichi nodded in confirmation. The Commander asked, "Was there a suicide pill?"
Inoichi shrugged, "I haven't had a chance to look before you came in."
Crouching near the unconscious body, the Commander reached down to tilt Sho's head back. Forcing his mouth opened, the Commander's eyes widened. There, on the back of the tongue was a seal.
The Commander strengthened his hold when felt Sho beginning to stir underneath his hands.
As Sho blinked, he quickly froze when he realized just who was holding his face. Grinning menacingly directly at him was Ibiki Morino. "Glad to see you're awake, sleeping beauty."
Sho gulped.