Betrayed

The Land of Earth fell to us with very little resistance, and the same was true with the Land of Lightning. With a full-force, no-mercy surprise attack from the Imperial Empire, our troops cut a straight path all the way from the border to the hidden villages. Once the hidden villages fell, the daimyo of the countries surrendered soon afterwards. Ninja and ordinary citizens alike fled in order to find refuge in the surrounding countries. Ishida let them. It wouldn't matter anyway since we were just going to take over the refugee countries as well.

In reply to my report to him, the Kage was elated. "I knew that you guys couldn't be defeated," he wrote to me. "Keep up the good work!" I shook my head, allowing a smile, as I read his letter. His childishness managed to seep through even his writing.

"General, General Ishida wishes to speak with you," Haruka informed me. "Shall I let him in?"

I nodded. "Bring him in. Eiko, prepare some tea." Eiko jumped into action in response.

A few minutes later and I found myself sitting across from Ishida having tea with him. He had been all smiles since the first battle had started and I was starting to wonder if his face had frozen that way.

"I'd heard that you had originated from the Eastern Empire, Ai," Ishida started with, taking a polite sip of tea. "Maybe this is why you do not touch the coffee here?"

"The coffee is fine, Ishida," I replied. "What did you come here for?"

"Again, always to the point, Ai," Ishida chuckled, "but I will comply this time without teasing you. My spies have heard a rather peculiar bit of information that I thought should be told to you right away."

"Well?" I raised an eyebrow.

"It turns out that in the light of two of the Five Great Countries' fall to the Empire, the remaining three are scheduled to form a thus-far temporary alliance in order to protect one another from our attacks. Rumor has it that even an infamous criminal organization that calls itself 'Akatsuki' will be aiding the countries."

At first, I just stared at him, then I said, "That is rather unexpected. I had assumed that they wouldn't see us as such an imposing threat until it was too late."

Ishida nodded in agreement. "It is my guess that we underestimated our opponents, no? They caved in and decided to work together so quickly as you know, though I do wonder what this Akatsuki is aiming for in this."

"Are you wanting to change our plans?"

Ishida blinked then shook his head. "Revise maybe, but not change. For now, we should celebrate the two victories we currently have anyway." He smiled at me. The look he was giving me sent shivers down my spine. "I hear that Kage-sama has requested for you to return to his side."

"That is correct. I am scheduled to leave by horseback in three days time." I paused before adding, "Why do you ask, Ishida?"

"Oh, it's nothing really," Ishida laughed. "I was planning to head to Kumogakure the day after tomorrow to give a speech of goodwill to those still stuck in the village. They are to become citizens of the Empire after all, so why not welcome them as such and put their thoughts of rebellion at ease? I had been hoping to have you come with as I believed that you, being a female and all, could show to prove to them how progressive the Empire's thinking is. A female General, who would have thought!" Ishida threw his hands in the air to further accentuate his point then calmed down and put his arms down.

"Sorry about that, Ai, but I do mean that with all my heart," he continued. "Which is why I must ask you to ask Kage-sama to allow you a little while longer in the Southern Empire. You haven't sent your reply message to him yet, I hope? I am sure he would allow it considering how close the two of you are after all."

I forced my expression to remain neutral. Staying longer in the South was not something I wanted to do, and I couldn't be sure that the Kage was doing fine on his own. Whenever I leave his side there is always a pile of headless bodies waiting for me when I return. The Kage's temper was shorter when I wasn't around, but I didn't think that I could really turn down Ishida's offer. Looking at this from a social standpoint, he had me in a corner. He was asking me to help him in calming the fears of whom would become the Empire's newest citizens. Turning him down would look bad and would worsen both my reputation and the Kage's.

I finally sighed. "I will ask him to allow an extension of my time here. I hope to be able to join you in Kumogakure in giving this goodwill speech."

Ishida grinned widely at me. I stood up with him and held my hand out to shake. "To the future of the Empire," I told him.

Ishida grabbed my hand and leaned down, kissing it. "To the future of the Empire," he replied.

"U-Um...General?"

I turned around to look at Eiko. She stood there messing with her hands, Haruka standing beside her. Both looked nervous, something that eased my own nervousness.

"Yes, what is it Private?" I said persuading her to continue.

Eiko stood there stuttering for a full minute before Haruka intervened for her. "Something doesn't feel right, General." The girl walked over to the open tent flaps, peering out into the cloudy morning sky. "We're close to the area where you and General Ishida will be giving the speech, right? Why is the crowd so silent? Shouldn't they be...yelling, or something?

"They are probably just worried for the future," I replied, pushing her away from the opening of the tent. I looked from her to Eiko trying to give them a look that would encourage them. Eiko wasn't able to look me in the eye, her wounds still not healed yet.

Ishida then walked into the tent buzzing with excitement. It stood out in the prominent dreariness of the day, not fitting for the situation. He paused when he saw me.

"Ai, you're going to carry your swords out onstage?" he asked.

I looked from him to the swords on my back. "..Why not? What if they try to revolt?"

Ishida shook his head. "You can't expect them to trust us if we don't in turn trust them. See, look at me. I'm not carrying my sword out. You shouldn't take yours either."

He gave me an expectant look, that smile of his not returning until I'd taken off the two swords from my back and had handed them to Haruka to put away. I wasn't all that skilled in ninjutsu so without my swords I felt exposed, but he did have a point. I would need to either go up there weaponless or not at all.

Eiko and Haruka followed behind us as Ishida and I walked onto "stage"-the balcony of the building that was once the Raikage's office. A mass of dirty looking people stood below us, still looking dazed by the quickness of the fall of their country. I couldn't help but pity them as they stood out in the calm drizzle of rain.

Ishida did most of the talking, me only standing there to give encouragement. He talked about the wonders of the Empire, the Empire's supreme goal, and the righteousness of the Kage. He told them that with them now in the Empire's hands that their lives would improve. So many promises were given to them that I wasn't entirely sure if Ishida would be able to follow up with them. Then he turned their attention to me.

"I actually have a special guest with me here today, allowed to be here be the graciousness of the Great Kage!" he announced, putting a hand on my shoulder. "This here is Hachisuka Ai, the General of the Inner Empire. That means that she's the head of the Imperial Army and knows all of the army's secrets." I looked at him. An odd choice of words, but alright.

He continued. "You know what else she is? She's also Kage-sama's lapdog!" At that I stiffened. The people below were murmuring quietly. Ishida's grip on my shoulder tightened, the grin he was giving me widening. "She's not all that strong you know, and she was graciously given her position as a symbol of favor by the old Kage-sama. If you don't believe me, here, see for yourself!"

Before I could react, Ishida pulled me back then flung me forward. My eyes widened as I tipped over the railing and as the faces of those beneath me stared up at me blankly. Blood rushed to my ears blocking out the sounds around me as I managed to turn and look back at Ishida. His grin was all that I saw before Eiko got in the way, gripping the cut of my black uniform.

"GENERAL!" Eiko's exclamation was the only thing I heard as the two of us tumbled to the ground. Pain shot through my shoulder as I fell onto the concrete, then my head followed bouncing on the ground. My vision went black.