Chapter Four

Dove had no idea how she fell asleep that quickly but she guessed it had something to do with her not being able to catch a healthy dose of sleep for quite some time. Since she wasn't startled awake by either of her companions nothing interesting seemed to have happened during her nap.

When she woke up Fox was sitting on a chair near her bed his gaze not wavering from the door, even though he had noticed her waking up. She saw Shikamaru still sprawled across his bed obviously finished with his part of the report and now deeply sleeping. Hanabi Hyuuga was curled under her blanket, her hair all over her face.

"Already awake?", Fox whispered, his soft murmur penetrating the silence.

Dove yawned before answering. "That was more sleep than the whole last week together."

He knew that of course, being the Head of ANBU and everything he was one of the first to actually see the mission rooster. He also was one of those that had a say as to which agent was to go on which assignment even though he still had to bow to the Hokage. Which -being who he was – of course never really happened.

Dove had to say that she was pleasantly surprised when Slug entered the room with a tray of light food and a whole can of hot coffee. The Medic nodded in her direction. Dove and Slug went all the way back to the beginning of their careers. Not only in the ANBU and MedUnit, mind you, but all the way starting with their childhood Petty competitions about boys and fashion included. As she was handed a cup she grinned under her mask and scowled at the thought of not being able to remove it for a long time. Not even during their little midnight snack, since Hanabi was in the room. The girl was probably the only one in the room that didn't know of her identity. Fox knew, she was under his command for ages, even before he actually got promoted. Shikamaru just knew. Raven was another ANBU Captain and hang around T&I for a relatively long time in the beginning that they both knew each others minds like she had taken a wlak through it. Which was not the case, considering she hadn't been in the department long enough back then to be set on a case like his. Especially not for an ANBU evaluation. Anko Mitarashi did those most of the time ans she also knew her father had his hand in there. At least before the war had started.

Slug might know, but she wasn't too sure if members of the MedUnit only got details of ANBU agents if they were lying in front of them on a metal table during an operation or if she was briefed beforehand to the mission of the valures of each and every member of the squad she was about to join. At least Dove was sure who was behind the mask of Slug, since one of her T&I relevant missions had requiered for her to get information on the paintolerance during torture – especiallly mental pain – of the Medics. She wasn't the least surprised when Slug had taken the session in stride, without complaining, moaning or yelling once. There was some gritting of teath, sure, but it was way less obvious showing of pain than most of the male Medics did. Some even started crying. Considering they had Shinobi training before that was just pitiful. Not that Dove minded continuing the torture. It was a mission after all.

She sat up in her bed, leaning against the wooden wall behind her. No matter what she had missed during her sleep she was sure to get an update from her Captain every minute. Being the unpatient person he was – not that he ever showed that since his promotion – he had probably only waited for her to finally wake up and be ready for another briefing. She tried drinking some of her still hot coffee, but somehow she couldn't decide how to do it. It had occurred just now that she noticed that she wouldn't be able to just lift away her ANBU mask. Noticing Fox looking at her she frowned.

"What?"

She was pretty much sure that he grinned under his stupid mask. "Haven't been on any long lasting ANBU assignments lately, have you?"

"You should know, Captain-Commander!", she nearly snarled. He just chuckled weakly. And just how he knew. Since Dove was one of the ANBU agents that usually stayed in Konoha itself she hadn't been out of the village for any missions that required her to take any foods or drinks while wearing the mask in a while. She had been at the first ever briefing where her commanding officer – which was Hawk at the time, even though he was no Captain himself – had shown her the trick how to feed and water herself with this stupid thing on. She hadn't dwelled on that though, since she just knew that wouldn't be necessary for her. Every mission she was on up until now only lasted so long, and she never really needed to use that stupid technique.

Basically everyone that was in ANBU was seen as invincible. Monsters that came and went and left nothing alive that they wanted to see dead. They were assassins for the biggest part and as such should be feared without any limits. If ANBU member went undercover for missions they changed their looks and therefor never really had to wear their mask. No hiding their faced since nobody would know who they were anyway. All other tasks were usually fulfilled in such a short time that drinking or eating wasn't needed. They would just slip through guards and whatnot and finish the mission. If they had to track somebody down, they would just flank each other, trusting to keep their identities in the group. Two would guard while the other would eat and drink. Nobody would be the wiser. But this..this was different. A guarding mission wasn't too unusual for the Black Ops. But normally it would not take spans of months to reach another Hidden Village for a Kage Summit or whatnot.

"Want me to help out?"

Fox whispered words broke her out of her musing. She numbly nodded. Years back she would have been embarrassed to have him teaching her. But time did change things. Some even for the better. He took her mug out of her hand and put it back on the table, Slug sliding up to them.

"Care if I join? Never really had to wear masks before.", she said with confidence, already sitting down beside Dove.

"Sure, Slug."

Fox nodded to himself. As a Medic Slug wouldn't have gotten around to this hiding stuff yet. Especially not since she had such a high position in her Unit. The only time he saw her with her mask on was during her inauguration into ANBU, which MedU was a part of. After that she acted as a trainer of sorts while fulfilling minor missions as a normal Medic Nin, outside of the Black Ops' walls.

"The basic trick is to divert the attention somewhere else. If that does not work create a minor illusion to suit your moves."

Afterwards Fox demonstrated exactly what he wanted to tell them. A shadowy haze seemed to engulf his face as he lifted the mask of it, not much, just enough to loudly slurp his coffee. He then arranged everything back to its prior state and gazed back at the door. Dove noticed that Raven was missing.

"Both of you know that you're way better with genjutsu than me. Be creative. But don't play around to much and risk getting seen. Understood?"

His eyes – even though they were technically hidden – seemed to stare right through Dove as he faced them once more.

"Yes, Sir.", they replied in unison.

"If you happen to be in a fight and you notice your mask slip or it breaking apart under the battles strains you might use another trick. It actually isn't as much of trick as it is an improvement to our battle armour and clothing.", he said as he lifted his arm, showing the hem of his cloak. Suddenly the texture just seemed to shift, runes flowing from inside the sleeves to the outside.

"In cases of true emergency you can activate the seals that are sown into every part of your clothing. It's actually standard since a few years, even though it was not as good as it is today. There are seals engraved in your masks as well. If the seals are active and it gets removed forcefully it will continue to hide your identity. Of course that will only last as long as you still have chakra to back it up."

Slug was practically floored by this statement since she never had heard of this. Neither had Dove but she had ridiculous things thrown at her practically all the time during T&I. Saying that, she didn't really mind but was curious as to who developed this idea. She would research that later on. If she remembered.

"Why didn't anyone tell us this when we entered the Black Ops?", the Medic asked sounding a bit miffed. It would have been quite nice to know something like this earlier on in her career.

Fox must have been smiling coyly behind his mask the way his voice was resonating.

"New agents usually get too used to their titles and overestimate themselves in a fight. They exhaust themselves too fast and relax with knowing the hidden secrets of being ANBU. That's why we don't tell them, didn't tell you. Beside that, there's always the point that new recruits tend to spill stuff like that to in the public without meaning to. It wouldn't be good, would it?"

Both nodded. Until Slug caught onto something.

"Wait. Secrets. As is plural to secret. There are more than just one?", she whispered more to herself than to him but he just shrugged signaling the end of that conversation.

Dove prepared a low level illusion, ready to finally get some caffeine into her blood. Actually – she mused – she should be glad that she was wearing a mask. She didn't want to know how tired she looked. Being out for missions – ANBU and Non-ANBU – the last three weeks with minimal pauses in between left her with little to no chances of sleep. The moment Anko had stepped up to her, handing her the scroll that Raven had left for her in T&I – and yes they could indeed trust Anko that much – she knew time for sleep would not be near. Reading the mission parameters had taken ages. Way too many files sealed inside the scroll. Since the major point of her joining in on this mission was to gather intel Fox had made sure that she was fully prepared for this task by giving out all the information he had of this world and its inhabitants. And fuck that were loads of information crammed together. She had no idea how he got his hands on this but she was grateful that he did. It made her job a tad bit easier. At least something.

Smiling into her mug she went back to uselessly leaning against the wall, watching her team members. Not that they did much more than her, mind you. Fox was still sitting on the chair next to her, staring the door down. Slug was reading a small book and taking notes every so often. Shikamaru Nara was still sleeping, same for Hanabi Hyuuga. Dove wondered where Raven was, especially because it was obvious that the Captain wanted for him to return. Otherwise he would have an other occupation that glaring at the wooden door across the room.

"How late is it anyway?", she wondered out.

"Barely past four in the morning. Considering the time we arrived you slept around five hours.", Fox answered without looking at her. He was used to answering questions like these since he was the one that stayed awake till early morning. Which was, as far as she knew, the way he always started off a mission. Not going to sleep the first night and instead pondering how everything started out for him or his team. Since he was a Captain nobody except the Hokage herself had a right in telling him off, but sometimes a fearless soul spoke up and asked him to please go to sleep, otherwise he would just tire himself out far too soon. Rookie-failure. Never tell him to stop, or you get to hear a monologue about his deeds. Not that it was a bad monologue. It was well reasoned and actually quite short but a Shut up! would actually be enough in a situation like this.

Retreating from her thoughts Dove looked at Fox. Straight back, stiff shoulders. Something was amiss. She just didn't know what.

"Where's Raven?", she bluntly asked. It wasn't her Captain that answered her though. It was Slug.

"Trying to analyze the exact make up of the wards, that are positioned around the school grounds. He's taking his time though.", she commented without looking up from her book.

"Wasn't he sent out to only scout the perimeter of the grounds, not analyze the wards?"

"He sent me a message earlier, saying he extended his scouting a bit.", Fox put in.

Oh. Well, that explained why he was still missing.

"Did he say when he wanted to be back?"

"He's an ANBU Captain.", he shut her up. Trust in his abilities. There is no one out here that could put a scratch on him.

Dove knew Fox trusted Raven. Not only with his skills. Fox would put his life on the line if it was necessary. The old dispute from years back when he was still a Missing-Nin. Most of their generation had forgiven him, Fox was the first to welcome him back, promising everyone that the revenge seeking boy he once was had changed into a trustworthy Shinobi. Not many believed in that but who could resist that smile? Not her, that was for sure.

The opening of the door wok her from her day dreams of a dazzling grin on a handsome face.

Raven walked in as if he owned the room – which in her opinion he always did, no matter where he was. The arrogance of his clan deeply imbedded in his bones, even if he didn't want to show that.

He sat down at the foot of her bed, his elbows on his knees.

"'The boundaries cannot be broken through by somebody who holds ill intent towards the school or its inhabitants.'", Fox stated, his eyes trained on his Second-In-Command.

Raven shook his head.

"Dumbledore is a fool if he beliefs that. These boundaries cannot detect ill intent, they are not made to do that. They are not even meant to keep someone out unless being activated."

Dove joined in. "What if you activate them though?"

Raven looked at her and then back at the ground.

"They can only be activated by the acting Headmaster and only in times of emergency. Its not as if they rise walls or anything and I have seriously no idea how they will work. I have never seen anything like them. I suppose once they are activated they will build a sort of barrier of some kind."

"The Headmaster wrote in his notes that they are always in a semi-active state.", Fox broke in.

"That's true. Due to that one won't be able to cross the barrier by any method of traveling connected to magic. It may only be crossed by foot or carriage.", Raven nodded. "Additionally they keep those out which are not of magical nature. Misleading them. Confusing them. Part of that includes a ..", he drummed a bit with his fingers, searching for the right word," illusion. Non-magical people may not see the castle, only...ruins, as far as I gathered."

"They are a weak defense.", Fox concluded.

"Yes.", Raven agreed. "The headmaster will know who crossed the barrier though. Maybe we can work with that."

Fox tilted his head thinking. Dove only leaned against the wall behind her again.

"Any ways to cross the boundaries without being noticed?", Shikamaru added in, obviously being awake the whole time. Dove hissed. He always did that. Lazy idiot.

"Not that I saw anything, no.", the Co-Captain said.

"There is a house near the village though.", Slug commented. "It has no visible opening from the outside, there is no door and the windows are neither broken nor open. Well..they weren't."

Doves head swiveled towards her. "You broke into a house?"

She barely shrugged. "Yeah."

Fox coughed to get back on track. "So?"

"The inside is trashed as if a wild animal had a go. There is only one way into the house though and that is through a door, leading into a tunnel. From the direction it went I would guess it would lead into Hogwarts, or somewhere on the grounds.", she finished.

"I'll ask the Headmaster if he know something about that the next time I see him.", the ANBU Captain-Commander sighed taking a mug filled with coffee.

"Wait.", Raven suddenly interrupted. Everything stilled. He moved towards Slug, angling his head a bit. "Did you cross someone on your way here or back?", he asked her.

She denied, shaking her head.

"You..you got this smell on you. It reminds me of this Lupin-guy.", he grounded out.

Fox turned his head to her breathing deeply in and out. "Smells like Inuzuka."

Dove tried to take in the smell as well, but with her nose neither being as sensitive as a Jinchuuriki's nor her being close enough to Slug she couldn't judge it herself.

"Maybe he owns a dog?", came a humorous attempt from Shikamaru. Dove didn't want to snort but between that and a full blown laugh at four in the morning she decided for the unladylike snort. Slug joined in with a light chuckle and even the Captain could be heard laughing really softly.

"You said the house was vacant but destroyed, looking like an animal did it?", Raven got back to topic, not that he had even strayed from it.

The Medic nodded. "That's what I thought when I looked at it." She looked at him. "What are you thinking?"

He stared at the floor thinking. "I'm not sure. Captain?"

Fox crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I will confront Dumbledore next time I see him. Which should not be too far off."

"Speaking of that. What are the plans for the future?", Shikamaru questioned, sitting up and rearranging his ponytail.

The ANBU agents also turned towards their Captain waiting for an answer.

He thought a moment about it and then answered, his voice having a low humming quality to it.

"We will collect all knowledge we can about the grounds and immediate environment and wait until the Order contacts us. Should not be too long I imagine." He heaved a sigh. "For now I would advice for us to catch some sleep. We have a bit of work cut out for us."

"That means you will have a look at the school yourself and sleep tomorrow?", Raven guessed, straight to the point. He knew how Fox worked having been his partner in crime most of his career. The Head of ANBU just scratched the back of his head – as much as he could through the cloak anyway – in a sheepish manner. But he did not deny it.

"You should not be awake all night! You will just tire yourself out senselessly.", Slug admonished him, her hands on her hips. Dove could just imagine how her eyes had started to sparkle dangerously behind that mask.

Fox stood, a good head taller than her looking down at her with his arms once more crossed in front of his chest. "Are you telling me what to do, soldier?", he whispered, not fully meaning it.

She just shifted her weight from one leg to another not backing down.

"Yes.", she hissed. Slug knew he was thickheaded but she also knew that if she would not step back then he would give up after a while. He knew that too. The joy of being team mates for years.

Dove watched the battle of minds with amusement. Of course it was four in he morning but she did not mind. With the coffee she was awake enough to enjoy what was going on.

"Just sleep.", Shikamaru murmured before heeding his own advice and falling back onto his bed like a dead weight. Fox heaved a sigh and pushed Dove to the side a bit, fully ignoring her growl.

"What do you think you're doing?"

He threw the blanket over himself to cover his body against the cold.

"Just listening to our teams Medic."

"Why are you in my bed though?"

"I'm the Captain."

"Its still my bed!", she gritted her teeth. Not that she minded sharing a bed with him. She had done that often enough. Not in a romantic or sexual way. Pure business-relation. Just the fact how he had claimed that place as his was what annoyed her.

"Go to sleep, Dove.", he sighed trying not to rile her up more than he had already done. He was arguing with her enough back at home and hoped he would get a pause from that while being here. It was futile. He just knew. What he didn't know was why he just went along with her bitching. It happened all the time and he never really was in the mood to actually take part in it but someone...it raised their spirits. Maybe it brought back a bit of their happy personality which vanished gradually during the war. But mindlessly arguing seemed to make them smile more. It was...peacefully.

"Fine!", she snapped a last time before she complied and slid down beside him.

Slug and Raven took to their own beds but before they could fall asleep they noticed the faint shimmer of the seals as Fox closed down the room for the night.

As they searched and researched and prepared for everything and nothing time seemed to speed up. The days they had planned to spent for preparation were drawing to an end. But they wouldn't have needed any more days any way since all the information gathering was nearly completed.

Most of the ANBU agents were out on their own with only Slug left in the room, studying some boo or another. Shikamaru was writing up yet another report as per request of the Captain and Hanabi found herself sitting bored on her bed. She was neither allowed outside nor did she want to train in the room as she feared she would damage the interior beyond repair. Yes, she was proud of her families techniques and no, she would not like to explain them to the owner in the case of destruction. Bored as she was she studied the only ANBU member close enough to her to actually do so. With the hood of her cloak still up and the mask neatly in place Hanabi had absolutely no idea how Slug looked like. The only thing she knew was that Slug was female and her voice was like any Medics. Soothing, quite low and always steady. She really hoped that Tsunade would allow them to give an overview over basic abilities since that would give her something to ponder about.

She had heard from her sister about the likes that joined ANBU in the first place. Driven by desperation, loneliness and broken beyond recognition. Especially now after the war the number of Black Ops members had shot skyhigh. Too many Shinobi didn't have the ability to just return to their original jobs and searched shots of adrenalin by joining the squads. It was another way out since everybody knew that out of ten agents nine would not return home. Considering how high the mission requirements were it was nothing to be surprised about. ANBU had two different sides. First the sunny side. ANBU is the most professional unit in all of Konoha and even outside considered overly dangerous. What was started by ANBU was ended by ANBU. Only the strongest of the strong joined the Black Ops. On the other hand though...you couldn't escape your time in ANBU. It haunted you. Kakashi Hatake was an agent in his youth which stunted his social skills to mediocre levels. Hanabi was sure she would never join in on them. She even had a rather deep talk with her sister Hinata. Beside that she had heard rumours like every normal Shinobi had. Maybe they could kill any given enemy with only a movement of their hands – not that she believed that – but never settling down because of restlessness...she did not know who would choose such a lifestyle. Having talked to Fox last night and hearing him speak at the initial meeting on the roof she was sure he was way more professional than any other Shinobi she had ever met and hearing that tone in his voice that just screamed 'be obedient' made her believe he was a candidate for the title of Hokage but somehow this feeling of depression..

Hanabi was ripped from her thoughts by a knock on the door. Waiting for Slug to open it she stood up with a straight back showing everyone how much of a Kunoichi she was.

"Yes?"

A muffled voice answered. "Dumbledore has sent me with further information."

Slug sent a short look to Shikamaru who stood up himself and went to the door. Slowly opening it he took in the look of the tall dark skinned man from the night a few days prior.

"Kingsley Shacklebolt.", he recalled and the man nodded his head. He entered he room once he noticed the Nara taking a small step to the side. He looked around the room not seeing anyone else except the one called Slug and the blind girl.

"The others are busy but I think it would suffice to state your matters to me. You may sit.", the man – or more of a boy, Kingsley thought – said.

"As Dumbledore mentioned", he began after taking a seat at the table, Slug opposite him, "He thought about the date of the meeting and your visit to the Headquarters of the Order. He has finally set a date. The meeting will be tonight and every member of the Order shall be present. That way you will get feeling as to how the Order operates. Have you made choices for the guards that will be accompany you and Miss Hyuuga?"

Shikamaru leaned against the wall facing Shacklebolt.

"The Captain and I both decided on two of the agents to join us, yes. It will be him and Dove.", he informed earning a look by Slug. She should know the reasons why both of them would go. Dove was a member of T&I and as such it was her job to gather information while Fox was the Head of the mission and as such should represent the guards. He also seemed to be the only one to keep Hanabi under control.

Kingsley nodded. "I will Dumbledore of this. Prepare for someone to pick you up at six tonight. It will most likely be Moody and Tonks, but I cannot be sure about it." He stood abruptly. "I'm sorry but I must get going, I still have work to do."

"Goodbye."

With that he was dismissed by Shikamaru and left the room, the feeling of suffocation finally leaving him. He didn't know why he felt like that but he guessed that the masked one gave off this aura of danger that left him breathing for oxygen hoping to come out of the room alive. Why didn't the man and the girl notice it? Were they so used to it, that they didn't even feel it? To say Kingsley Shacklebolt was happy to apparate away from Hogsmeade was an understatement.

"Why did you emit such a Killing Intent?", Shikamaru asked Slug as soon as the man was out of the room. The female agent merely shrugged with her shoulders, obviously amused with the result of her little test.

"Fox wanted me to find out how they would react if they weren't in a tight knit group. And as all of us could see he grew gradually more uncomfortable.", she reasoned her book laying forgotten in her lap. "His heart rate accelerated, his breathing hitched and he practically shot out of the room."

"Like every civilian does.", Shikamaru mentioned. Of course he had noticed that.

Behind her mask Slug pursed her lips. "They shouldn't be civilians though. From what we have gathered, as you know, they already had a war going on and people like Shacklebolt are working in active duty for the ministry trying to protect the people around them. So for him to cower like a lowly Genin is not what I expected."

"What do you get out of that?", Hanabi asked, her curiosity piqued. Slug turned to her her head tilted at an odd angle.

"That they are not ready to fight yet. That's the information I get."

"Which means more work for us. Not only preparing ourselves but also them for the upcoming battles.", Shikamaru added, his arms crossed in front of his chest and a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth.

Soon after Fox, Raven and Dove entered the room. All of them were caked in mud and leafs. Hanabi really did not want to know what they were doing. Even if it was only training. The Nara of course came straight to the point without leaving the Captain a chance to breath.

"Shacklebolt came here declaring that by tonight we would get the chance to sit in on a meeting of the Order. Two wizards will pick us up and bring us to the Headquarters. Estimated time was said to be six o'clock."

Fox gave a curt nod not intending to ask any more as he could guess what else was said. He turned to Dove beckoning her to come to him. She complied and he guided her out of the room into another one, quickly sealing the place. Sighing he removed his mask and the hood. Dove follow his example.

Ino Yamanaka inhaled deeply enjoying her mask-free face.

"About time.", Naruto mumbled with a yawn.

"To get rid of the mask?", sh asked cheekily. He just rolled his eyes.

"To get the date set. Took them long enough." He then looked at her and for the first time he saw what state she was in. Her face was quite pale not yet back to its natural colour. Her hair had somehow lost most of its vibrant blond tone and was stringy. Not that that was a wonder. Ino didn't have a chance to set it into a proper ponytail for the last days as it was constantly hidden under her hood. Beside that she seemed to have recovered well from her lack of sleep. She looked quite relaxed now that she got that mask off her face and could finally breath freely.

"So. What's with us and the empty room?"

Ino's eyes roamed the bare walls taking in every dent and splinter that poked out of the wood.

"I just wanted to go over details with you without having Hanabi or Slug -", he started.

"Sakura. I know that its her behind that mask. Alone the fact that you chose her beside Sasuke and me to be part of the team states just that. Add in the fact that she's our teams Medic … well. Everyone who knows you could guess who she is.", the blond Kunoichi explained, not at all frightened by the glare he leveled at her.

"Alright. You don't need to shut that out, Ino!", he whispered, a bit miffed that he was that easy to see through. He pushed his hands into his pockets and continued. "Yeah well. Since she does not know who you are.. she doesn't, does she?", he looked questioningly at her stressing his last words. Ino tried to just shrug it off but a chuckle escaped her lips quite unwillingly.

"No, she doesn't. She isn't hanging around you and Sasuke as often anymore, especially not since she joined the MedU. Practically sucks up her time. And she doesn't wear a mask there."

"So being there and here with the same title..", he finished her thoughts and nodded to himself.

"Back to the topic, Captain.", she ushered him.

He sheepishly scratched the back of his head, a small smile coming to his face. Ino had to smile to. It was always like that. If he smiled – which had gotten quite rare – then it just seemed to catch you and pull you along for a ride. Sasuke had said that too, and that had to mean something. It brought back memories of the time before the war had started, when everything seemed just so easy and free. When people hadn't died left and right. When you didn't wake up because of those nightmares. When the reality itself hadn't become a nightmare you had to live through.

Looking into Naruto's eyes she could see just how hurt he was. How much pain and suffering he had gone through, especially when he lost people that were precious to him. It hadn't helped when he joined the ANBU forces. Didn't help her either. It was like digging in a wound. But the resulting pain let you forget. Sometimes. Always.

"Anyway. Talking to you in private seemed the best. Shikamaru and I talked the day before yesterday while you were out. We decided it would be best if you and I went with him and Hanabi for the meeting."

"I don't see why you would get me away from them just to tell me that."

Naruto gazed at the wall behind her.

"I also talked to Sasuke. For meetings such as the upcoming one and for the guarding we will have to do...both of us agreed that it would be best it I planted a seal on ...you. On each of the teams members. In cases of emergencies and such … things."

"Uhm." Ino was truly baffled. "Well. Where's the problem? You already got my blood for your other seal. What else do you need of me?"

"It would be permanent.", he explained. "No choice of ever getting rid of it."

She gulped heavily before trying to reason with him. "The seal you father used -"

" - for his Hiraishin were different. I'm not using his seals, my Chakra Control isn't high enough for that. I changed the basic outline a bit. He was able to put it on Kirabi during the Third War. But Bi told me it was gone after the fight. I am no idiot when it comes to Fuinjutsu, but I'm unable to do that.", he told her trying not to jump to deep into the matter of Sealing knowing it would just annoy her. "Since my ability span does not seem to cover that Sasuke and I discussed further ideas and thought that safety comes first. It would benefit our lives later on as well. I would be able to reach every place you were at. Not matter the circumstances."

Ino barely nodded still processing what he had told her. Getting a seal permanently engraved into her skin. She shook her head smiling at him mischievously.

"Shouldn't be worse than our ANBU tattoos. Right?"

The joke didn't seem to lift the mood in the room though. Naruto still stared at her while she started to shift her weight from one leg to another. His gaze could do that to you.

"I will apply it to area around your tattoo. If you didn't know that it was there you wouldn't be able to see it. I promise."

Ino grimaced a bit at the thought but easily got rid of her cloak throwing it to the ground beside her. Due to her her wearing her uniform – since half a week – she had her arm exposed. Naruto pulled out a cartridge filled with ink and blood – he had it pre-mixed in cases of emergency – and a brush he had securely stashed inside his hip pouch.

"I'm not sure if it will hurt, Ino. I'm sorry if it does.", he glanced at her, her eyes only focused on his hands that were applying the mixture onto her skin in the form of skillfully drawn runes. There weren't as large as the ones he had drawn for the transportation but rather intricate and small, none bigger than the nail of her thumb. He soon had finished the circular pattern on her upper arm and it started glowing a light blue, burning into her skin. It did not seem to inflict pain though as Ino's face showed nothing else than curiosity.

"That's it?", she asked when the glow had subsided.

Naruto nodded. "Yeah. That's it."

He noticed that she was relieved. Everybody would be. Seals were fascinating but also highly dangerous. He was glad that she trusted him enough to let him put his sealwork on her body.

"Well. I hope you don't just show up in the middle of the night now.", she started joking again. He had to stifle his laughter.

"I wouldn't try.", Naruto said, his hand placed over his heart. Joking like that seemed to light up the shadows. "Let's go. Or they will start spreading rumors about us."

Hours later the four chosen ones were ready to depart. It was six o'clock by now and nobody had shown up. Fox had talked to them earlier again making sure they understood the plan. It was easy actually. Behave and don't do anything stupid. He said that more to Hanabi than the others but it was always good for them to know as well. Ten minutes past deadline. Still nobody around.

"Incompetent...", they heard Hanabi starting to mutter and Dove was just starting to think along those lines when two people popped up from nowhere right beside them. A crack-like sound accompanied their arrival that startled even the trained Shinobi. Not for long though and not a moment after they came Tonks and Moody felt the faint pricking of cold metal against their throats.

Tonks lost every bit of colour her face held and Moody's jaw tightened considerably.

Shikamaru and Dove had taken the initiative while Fox had crossed the arms behind his backs, feet spread shoulderwide. A commanding officer. Hanabi had wanted to help but he just could not compete with them speed-wise.

"Wha-What?", the female Auror started but was interrupted by the knife that dug a bit deeper.

"Silence." Was her answer.

Fox had mustered them the whole time. It were the two Kingsley had spoken of, even if it seemed that the woman had a different hair colour today. And it seemed to change rapidly to a mousy brown. Interesting. Moody just stared at him not budging an inch.

"Let them go, they're clean."

"And white like a sheet.", Dove said her hand moving away from Tonks' neck. Shikamaru complied as well, now standing beside Fox again. Even Hanabi had lost her rigid posture, a smirk gracing her features.

"We've come to -"

"- help us find the Headquarters, yes.", the Captain interrupted Moody. He wanted to get that part behind him. "You're only two, though. How does that work?"

Tonks still looked distinctly ruffled when she answered him. "We'll move two times. That's the best way."

Fox nodded but soon an idea sparked in his mind. He turned his head to Shikamaru who had an eyebrow raised without him having said a word. Of course the Nara would already know of his plan. Fox motioned for his friend to take over the conversation from her on and stood back.

Shikamaru coughed a little to gain the attention of the wizard in witch in front of them.

"You will only take me and Miss Hyuuga. The other two will have their own way of travel to the desired destination. Do not worry about it.", the brunette told them, face straight even though he knew it would be the first time Fox would use that method without knowing where to go while also taking someone with him at the same time. No stress.

"If you think so. Just don't let anybody see you. It's a secret hide-out for a reason.", Moody grounded out, his gnarled hand holding his wand tightly. "How long will it take for you to arrive?"

Fox didn't answer. Instead he signaled something for Shikamaru.

The Nara then turned back to Moody. "It won't be a problem."

The old Auror stared at the young man. "That didn't answer my question."

"It won't be a problem.", Shikamaru stated again without changing the tone of his voice.

Moody nodded gruffly.

Tonks fidgeted a bit but decided to speak up once more. "We need to link our arms."

Hanabi didn't react at first but then swallowed her pride. At least for now. She stood beside Tonks, not really trusting the grizzling old man...not that the young woman seemed very competent either.

Tonks just smiled and hooked her arm around the girls, still thinking she was blind.

"That alright for you?"

"Yes."

Shikamaru gripped Moody's shoulder, not wanting to get too close to him. He cast one last look at Fox who angled his head a bit.

"Hold tight.", was all Moody said before they plopped out of view, the crack accompanying them once more. Dove turned to him, her posture telling him she was confused.

"What now?"

Fox snaked his arm around her waist, making her snap her head around to the offending appendage. "Now you have to hold on tight.", he whispered before his chakra started flaring. "We're test-running the seal."

Nymphadora Tonks was one of the youngest member of the Order of the Phoenix. She thought she had seen both weird and rare things. But when they arrived in the shadows opposing the row of houses on the other side of the street she was taken by surprise when – in a golden flash – both of these mysterious cloaked people stood beside them. As if they had never left their side. The shorter one – she thought she remembered something like Dove – seemed to clutch her partners arm in a vice-like grip, not standing as upright as a few seconds ago. Looking to the blind girl at her side Tonks noticed how pale she looked. Apparating side-along for the first time was said to give you some sort of motion-sickness and the girl certainly looked sick.

"You alright?", she asked but didn't think the answer would come out in a hiss.

"Do I look like I'm -", Hanabi snarled but was interrupted halfway by a cough coming out of Fox' direction. She glared in his direction. Tonks guessed that her hearing was enough for her to recognize were the voice had come from.

"Yes, I'm good.", the girl now said, every trace of anger vanished.

Tonks lifted an eyebrow before stepping up to Moody who was fishing the little piece of paper Dumbledore had given them out of his pockets.

"Read that. All of you.", he ordered and they did. She knew what they would find on it.

The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.

Looking at their faces she could imagine what they would see. How the battered old house would fade into existence, squeezing itself between number eleven and thirteen. The grimy old windows would not allow anybody to look into the house and the chipped and faded wooden door didn't seem as welcoming as a hide-out should. All in all it looked broken down but they really needed the house for their purposes.

"That's it?" The murmur came from the boy. Shikamaru. He stared straight at Number Twelve with his eyebrows scrunched together. "How does the illusion work?"

"Quiet!", spoke the paranoia out of Moody while he pushed him towards the door. "We can discuss this inside." The other three followed, Fox having a hand on Hanabi's lower back. As a guidance, Tonks thought.

After Moody had opened the door he led them through the barely lit hallway all the while hissing "Careful where you thread." and "Keep your voices down." even though they didn't say a word or strayed from the route he walked. Tonks marveled at the silence of their footsteps while she clumsily stomped the whole way. And just a moment before they reached the entrance to the kitchen it had to happen. As always.

She ran against the stupid troll-legged umbrella stand, effectively knocking it over. She mentally started groaning as it fell, knowing what havoc she had caused. Strangely enough she didn't hear any clattering and as she opened her eyes – not even knowing when she had closed them – she saw Fox holding the thing upright, as if it hadn't been falling before. He seemed to study her from his position. After that he swiftly turned around, following Moody's trail on the threadbare carpet and through the gloomy hallway.

Tonks gulped, not sure what she was supposed to be thinking. She shook her head and started walking again until they reached the kitchen door.

They entered the room and were welcomed by most of the Order. Nearly every member was there. As soon as the door had opened the Weasleys stared at the entering people, taking in Shikamaru and Hanabi who strode confidently with lots of pride. They were told it would be four guards coming but somehow only two were here.

Dumbledore was sitting at the head of the long wooden kitchen table, smiling when he saw the Shinobi. He stood and bowed while the Order members just blinked owlishly.

After they had chosen some seats Dumbledore started to speak, fully ignoring the whispering and murmuring that had entered with them.

"Well, well. Now that we have all come together I'd like to introduce each other." With that the old man gestured down the table, towards the person right beside Shikamaru. "Beside those that you had the chance to meet we have Dedalus Diggle." He switched to the other side, oblivious to the stares towards his guests. "Elphias Doge, Emmeline Vance, Sturgis Podmore and Mundungus Fletcher. Over here we have the Weasley's – Arthur, Molly and Bill – Hestia Jones and Sirius Black.", he finished. "Would you like to introduce yourself?"

Shikamaru nodded his head while standing up and bowing slightly.

"My name is Shikamaru Nara. During my stay here I will be mediator and consultant as well as adviser of this mission. I won't be guarding the castle. My part is being the bridge between you and the guards helping with misunderstandings.", he introduced himself.

Molly wanted to say something about his age when Hanabi stood up and the mother hen stared at the girl following every of her movements.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Hanabi Hyuuga, of the main branch of the prestigious and powerful Hyuuga Clan. My father is Head of Clan and my sister is heiress. Being in the position I am in, there is a need for me to increase my political and diplomatic skills and take them to a new level. That is my reason for being here. To learn and to represent."

Shikamaru smiled. She had listened to Fox quite well.

"Am I allowed to ask a question?", Remus Lupin said, the curiosity visible in his face. "I wondered about that since the last time we met."

Hanabi inclined her head, showing her approval.

"How old are you?"

"Fourteen.", she answered.

An uproar seemed to rip through the room. Molly Weasley looked quite disapproving. "Who chose for a girl as young as you to come on such a dangerous mission. Not that you", she gestured to Shikamaru," are any older. Beside your young age you're blind!", the redheaded woman furiously ranted.

"What?", Hanabi screeched. "Blind? I am not blind!"

That quickly shut them up.

"You're not?", Tonks piped.

Hanabi turned to her, her finger pointing at her Byakugan. "Those are the eyes my Clan is famous for! They are a proof of my heritage. Many people have died to gain those eyes but none could overwhelm a Hyuuga!"

Shikamaru put a hand on her shoulder tying to sooth her, but she had just started to build up a rage.

"If you said that to anybody else but me they would have you arrested! Undermining the pride of my clan like that! You idio-" A hand over her mouth shut her up. Like her everyone's eyes moved to Fox whom you could only see the mask of. Over half of the Order member were sacred as they had only seen masks like that on Deatheaters. But Dumbledore's and especially Moody's calm faces told them otherwise. They settled down again an waited for the mysterious man to introduce himself.

"Excuse her behaviour. Those who have Bloodline Limits like this one are seriously proud of it. You can be happy it is her and not the heiress or her bodyguards you have spoken to.", Fox low voice rumbled and Tonks found herself mesmerized by it once more. The Captain then moved closer to the table, bathing in the dim lights.

"My name is Fox. I'm the Commanding officer for this mission and Head Guard.", he said staying were he stood but moving his hand away from Hanabi's face, having already calmed her down with his action. She knew she had to behave now.

"You will be the man responsible for protecting the school. My children?", Molly interjected, anxious to know the answer, wanting nothing more than the safety of her family.

"That is correct."

"They told us, that there would be two of you here tonight.", spoke Arthur.

"That is also correct."

While he answered Dove moved out of the shadows and into the light, pushing her hood back a tiny bit. "I am Dove. I am Third-In-Command.", she explained, not really wanting to go deeper into her position during this mission.

"What about your others companions?", Arthur question further, curious as to who else was here.

Fox turned his head to Shikamaru, opting for him to speak.

The Nara complied. "There are two others. Raven and Slug. I don't think that you will see any of them here in the Headquarters since they are responsible for the preparation in and outside of the castle and Hogsmeade as well as the train station. The closest they will come is Kings Cross Station."

Arthur thanked him and sat back.

"Thank you.", Dumbledore said, happy that everyone got along this well. "There is other information we need to share, I think. Have any questions arisen since our last meeting?"

A sudden smirk formed in Shikamaru's face. He propped is elbows on the table and leaned on them. "Captain Raven noticed something quite peculiar." He gazed at Lupin and noticed how the man seemed to stiffen under his stare. "It started out as an aura, one might say. But later he also noticed a canine like smell...Mr. Lupin?"

Remus blanched. He didn't want total strangers to know his secret. Not like that. Dumbledore saw how he acted and took over for him. "Remus has a … condition. I hope that's not a problem for you?"

"If we know what that is I can give you an answer."

"I'm a werewolf." Remus stared at his balled fists. "I was bitten when I was just a child."

Shikamaru frowned. "It spreads by bites?"

"Only during the full moon. That's when we...transform. Only then the bitten person will be infected.", Lupin explained, not happy having to have shared that fact about him.

"You are not dangerous during the months, only during full moon...", the boy repeated, muttering more to himself than to the others. "It is no problem, no.", he told Dumbledore as an answer to his previous question.

"That is good. Indeed.", the wizened wizard smiled. "Furthermore I am curious as to the response to our request. Has Lady Hokage agreed for you to share information?"

Hanabi listened up, hoping to finally getting some answers.

"She as agreed for Captain-Commander Fox to give away as much information as he sees necessary.", the Nara nodded. The attention seemed to divert to Fox who spread his legs a bit further and crossed his arms in front of his chest. He seemed to wait for something. Silence enveloped the room.

Until Bill decided to state his question.

"Who exactly are you?"

Sirius snorted at the blunt question. Not that he didn't want to know too...

"We are Shinobi."

"What does that mean?", Tonks asked having turned her whole body towards him, fidgeting under his gaze.

"It means we are warriors. We are payed for a mission – like this one – and we do what is asked of us. We are mercenaries, to put it bluntly. But we also are proud. Our group consists of a Chuunin – which is … an already experienced fighter – a Jounin – which is an Elite – and four ANBU members."

"So you kill for money?", McGonagall spluttered, not sure if she had understood that correctly. Hoping she had misunderstood.

"Assassination will only be executed by Jounin and ANBU agents.", Fox confirmed. The Order members paled at the thought.

"But our mission is to guard the school and the student body. We won't kill anybody since that was not requested by Mr. Dumbledore.", he put in, trying to avert the attention from one topic to another.

It seemed to work.

"What are your core abilities?", Moody chimed up, his gruff voice penetrating the newly established silence.

Fox thought a moment, not sure how to explain it in the best way.

"Dove is proficient in ...torture and interrogation." He rolled his eyes as the gasps broke loose. "It is her chosen profession to gather information from different resources, including humans. On the other hand we have Slug, who is a Medic, a healer. She is one of the best in the whole of the Elemental Nations, having studied under the Sannin Tsunade. The two of them are our more … defensive Shinobi. Raven and myself are the offensive forces of our team. If there should be any danger to the school we can take it out efficiently. While Raven likes to use a sword he is also proficient in hand-to-hand combat and long range fighting. As for me...I can do whatever you wish me to do.", he said trying not to give away to much information. "They call me a one-man-army."

"Any weaknesses?", Moody dug deeper.

"None that you need to know about."

"How will only the four of you guarding the whole school?"

That question came from McGonagall.

"That shall be a trade secret. Any other things you need to know?"

Nobody said anything, some even shook their heads.

From then on the meeting turned back to other matters related to Order business. Dove and Fox had both vanished back into the shadows of the room while Shikamaru had listened to everything said. Hanabi was thinking of the new information. She didn't know much about T&I, so she couldn't be sure who Dove was and there were many Shinobi good with swords in Konoha, so Raven seemed out of the equation too. But Slug and Fox... Hanabi was pretty sure by now that Slug was Sakura Haruno as she was the only apprentice besides Shizune that Tsunade had thought. And 'one-man-army'... damn. She wished she knew who he was.

An hour later and the meeting came to an end. Dumbledore looked to Molly deciding to speak about the one other theme they had yet to talk about.

"Mr. Nara. Sirius and Molly have agreed to house you here in the Headquarters if you wish to do so. It will help you to be near the Order at every given time. It will also help you to immerge into our culture."

"I agree.", Shikamaru nodded. "I have taken the possibility into count yesterday evening. Fox and I agreed that Hanabi and I should stay here together with one of the ANBU agents while the other will return back to Hogsmeade overnight and return tomorrow morning. Only if that is alright with you, of course."

Dumbledore inclined his head while Sirius just grinned, happy to have a full house. Molly looked from another and heaved a small sigh. She turned to Hanabi and Shikamaru.

"The two of you will have to help with cleaning, I'm afraid. The house is not in its best state but we try..."

"That should be alright."

Hanabi narrowed her eyes. She had heard more than enough of Shikamaru's laziness. He would probably hide somewhere and sleep while she had to clean out the house. Oh, joy!

Smiling widely Dumbledore clapped in his hands.

"Alas, it is getting late. I think the meeting has come to an end. I must go back to Hogwarts I'm afraid. Notices will be send out with the date for the next meeting."

With long strides he walked to the door, turning around once more facing Shikamaru.

"Welcome to the Order, my dear friends. And good night."

Tbc

A/N:

Sorry for the wait but I seriously had no time at all. I wrote that down since yesterday so if you see anything that worries you just write a review. I'm frick'n tired write now and being sick doesn't help at all so yeah...I will edit the text in the next days and an AN-Edit will follow.

Thanks for the reviews from the last chapter. I'm always happy if a new rev comes in, so don't hesistate.

Oh another thing. I actually cut the chapter short, and I know not much happened but I didn't want you to wait any longer. So the next chapter will be shorter, should be up sooner and will include Hanabi being used as a slave. Muhaha.

I hope you liked the chapter. Till next time. Please review.

Taka.