I couldn't believe it.

This seriously can't be happening. I had just gotten settled into my new home in Suna and now I might never be able to go back.

I felt tears welling up in the corner of my eyes and unconsciously clutched Keno closer. I heard Gaara talking in murmurs to Baki in the next room. Ever since the disastrous Chunin exam, Baki had become Gaaras second closest confidant. Apart from Kankuro. But Kankuro would never be here again, I thought. Last night Gaara had explained everything to me. Suna had been attacked by Sound. Orochimaru once again rearing his ugly head after more then three years of silence.

Kankuro had been killed.

Over half of the village was destroyed and the few civilians that survived the take-over were not being treated very well. A sound ninja was not generally known for his hospitality.

Gaara walked into the room, his head hung down so dark shadows covered his eyes.

"Gaara? Baby? What's going on?" I whispered, placing Keno on the floor so I could sit next to him on the couch. "Are we going to war?"

Gaara stiffened and looked up. "Right now we're still trying to get them to release the civilians. Tsunade said any surviving citizen of Suna could stay here."

"And?" I whispered.

"There has been no answer back."

A tense silence filled the room as we both watched Keno chew on the side of a coffee table. I heard a soft crying noise coming from next to me and looked up to see tears streaming down Gaaras face.

"Oh baby." I murmured, tucking his head on my shoulder. "Gaara, it's going to be okay."

But I knew I was lying to him.

It wasn't going to be okay.

Anbu Headquarters: 11:17 pm

Tsunade cleared her throat and looked around. She was standing in the middle of the Anbu common room. Here Anbu came after missions to chat and drink coffee. No one wore their masks so Tsunade could see all of their faces. In the corner she saw Iruka and Kakashi, Wolf and Dolphin, standing very close and appearing to be in a bit of an argument.

On the other side of the room, she heard the loud shouting of an overly excited Kiba as he proudly flexed his muscles for an unimpressed Hinata. Dog and Butterfly.

Shino and Sasuke appeared to be staring each other down from opposite couches, both sipping white Styrofoam cups of coffee. Bug and Raven. There was a spot of blood left on Shinos white Anbu vest.

It was hard to imagine these people as killers in a situation like this. She watched as they all talked and laughed, sharing stories of missions and their alternate lives out of Anbu.

She spent a few minutes just staring at them, memorizing their faces. Because she knew, after tonight, after she told them the news and handed out new mission assignments…

Some of the happy faces in the room right now would be gone forever.

Sasukes eyes flickered up and met hers. And as if on que, all the other Anbus became silent. Looking up at her to see what she had to say.

Tsunade swallowed the massive lump in her throat and started her debriefing.

"As many of you are aware, two nights ago at roughly 3:45 am, our allied village Sunagakure was attacked by the Sound village. So far the civilian casualties are up near 1500. That is almost 70% of the civilians living in the village. Contact with the leader of the invasion force has failed. All we know is that Suna is currently under the control of Sound." She paused here to take a breath. "The Kazekage is here in the leaf village. He was here for diplomatic measures before the invasion and left his older brother, Kankuro Subaku, in charge. Kankuro has been reported dead. Right now, our main objective as an allied village is to found out what was going on in that village. You, as the elite are tasked with this job."

All around the room, Anbu were losing their smiles to be replaced with hard eyes and mouths. Work time was here and they waited patiently for their assignments.

Kakashi had grabbed Irukas glove covered hand and was squeezing it gently. They looked worried.

"I understand that all of you are used to regular mission assignments and are all placed on teams. However, we are entering a war time and theses things must be changed. Teams will be moved around and missions are going to be changing. We can no longer spare Anbu for guard duty." Tsunade stopped talking, allowing anyone with comments or questions to step forward.

Kakashi and Iruka walked up.

"Hokage sama," Kakashi said. "What about our children? As you've probably noticed, there are several couples in Anbu. Who will watch our children if both parents are on missions without compromising our identities as Anbu?"

Several people nodded their heads including Kiba and Hinata who had a little boy.

"As Hokage, I have made the decision to drop all secret identity factors for war time. All other ninja will know exactly who makes up the Anbu. With such a threat as spying, we cannot afford to let in a spy dressed as Anbu because we can't identify him."

A shocked silence filled the room. Never before had an Anbu been asked to display their identity in public. Before anyone could say anything Tsunade spoke again.

"This being said, I have created specialized areas for Anbus to drop off small children on their way to missions. It is being run by very trustworthy shinobi and I hope you will feel comfortable letting the village watch your children while you are gone." Tsunade nodded when no one said anything. " Alright then. If you could please come up and receive your mission scroll when I call your name."

And with that she pulled a folded piece of paper from her pocket and read the first name on the list. She handed the shinobi his mission scroll and said good luck. And with that, the nameless, faceless Anbu left. Tsunade hoped she would see him again.

But she knew that she might not.

War was upon Konoha. And Tsunade didn't know if Konoha could win.

Hi guys!

I'm super sorry that I haven't updated in FOREVER!

I've just been really busy with the baby and am suffering from severe sleep deprivation.

But it is about 9:30 on Christmas night and I am updating for all of you readers out there who stuck with me and are waiting.

THIS ONE'S FOR YOU GUYS!!!!

This chapter is mostly filler while I am typing the next chapter.

I PROMISE TO GET IT TO YOU SOONER THIS TIME:)

Please please pleaseplease review for my Christmas present!

You have no idea how happy it would make me!!!!!!

Next chapter up soon.

Lots of love,

DEATHinPINK and baby Larka.