Hanabi Hyuga led the captive back to her sensei. She was covered in dirt from head to toe but, oddly content with her work today. For more than an hour they had chased their quarry through the woods. Countless times they had closed in only to have their target escape as if he was playing with them and perhaps he had been.
Genma was waiting for them by a tree gazing off into the distance and didn't notice his teams approach until they were almost on top of him. He blinked as if his thoughts had been far away and glanced at his watch. "That took you a while."
"He's smarter than he looks," Hanabi deadpan coming to a stop. Her hand was nuzzled as the nine month old puppy demanded attention which she happily gave.
"Alright, we'll just hand him over to his owner and we can rack up another successfully completed mission." He started to walk away followed by two of his students and the dog while the third member of the team Akeno hung back. "Is something wrong?" Genma said turning to face his lagging student.
Hanabi had noticed that Akeno had been quiet all day and in fact had been quiet since the village had been raided. Now he fixed his sensei with a determined gaze and asked, "When are you going to let us do a real mission?"
Genma sighed and moved his senbon to the other side of his mouth. "D-ranked missions are real missions. They provide valuable income to the village and I have done well over a hundred myself. Remember you're still genin and not even three months out of the Academy yet."
"Then how come we're the only team that hasn't done a higher ranked mission. Hell Sarutobi and Uchiha teams killed a Missing-nin on their last mission," Akeno snapped.
That caught Hanabi's attention. This was the first she had heard about it.
"The only reason they fought that Missing-nin was because they disobeyed orders. They are very lucky that they didn't get themselves killed and that only happened because the man was already severely wounded."
"Why were they given a better mission than we were?" Akeno demanded.
"You're not ready for them yet," Genma tone said the conversation was over.
Takeo and Hanabi had been standing back watching the exchange while attempting not to look like they were. Both were embarrassed for their teammate. Then he suddenly rounded and pointed an accusing finger at her, "This is your fault. We are being punished because the last heiress got herself killed?"
"What are you talking about?" Hanabi allowed her anger to show, simultaneously angry that she was being compared to her departed sister and not liking the way he had referred to her.
"Think about it," Akeno snapped. "Why do you think we haven't seen any real combat? It's because your clan doesn't want you to get hurt."
"That's enough Akeno. The only thing you're doing is showing why you're not ready for a higher ranked mission," Genma cut him off losing his laid-back attitude.
Hanabi was stunned by her teammate's venomous words and was surprised how much they hurt. This was someone she wanted to be her friend and she could not understand why he would say such a thing. She was the Hyuga heiress. She was not coddled.
Genma continued, "Clearly everyone's had a rough day. I'll hand in the dog and give you your pay tomorrow. Go home and get some rest. Meet at the normal spot at the normal time tomorrow."
Akeno stormed off without saying another word and Takeo was at her side in a second saying, "He didn't mean it. He'll apologize tomorrow," and with that he chased after his teammate.
Left alone with her sensei she tried to ask a question but the words were caught in her throat and she couldn't even turn to face him.
"Hanabi, it was just dumb luck that they were able to kill Kabuto. They shouldn't have even tried."
Kabuto she had heard of that name. He was supposed to be the second-in-command of Sound. How was that possible unless, was that the power of Ranmaru's kekkei genkai? Even considering that everyone on those teams was an early graduate like herself. It was amazing that they could take out somebody of that caliber, even if he had been half dead. "They really took out someone that strong?"
He must've read something in her voice, "I thought you knew. Everyone's been talking about it."
"No," was her simple answer. Unspoken was the bitter thought who would've told me? "I'm going home." Handing the makeshift leash over to her sensei she left without looking back.
By the time she arrived home her shock had turned to anger. It was both irrational and unbecoming of her but, the heiress couldn't help it. Only half aware the young genin arrived at the door to her father's office. Not knowing if he was in his office she flung the door opened and froze. Her father's dark eyes pinned her in the doorway and at that moment her anger fled and was replaced with shame as she remembered her appearance and realize she must look every inch the petulant child.
"Can I help you?"
The older Hyuga's tone was all the rebuke Hanabi needed as her face turned red. "Excuse me father but, can I ask you something?" He waved her foreword and she hesitated for a second not knowing exactly why she had come here. Closing the door behind her she stepped foreword and asked the first question that came to her mind. "Have you made any requests regarding my training?"
Hiashi rubbed his eyes wearily as he put the paper he was reading facedown. "Hanabi you are an amazingly talented young kunoichi. Somebody I will be honored to hand the clan over to one day and despite that I wish you were still at the Academy."
"What?" The younger of the two whispered.
"I do not intend to coddle you. I merely want you to be more developed when you take on more serious missions. Considering your natural talent and how hard you were trying to graduate early that wasn't going to happen. A month before you were to graduate I approached the Hokage and discussed my concerns. She allowed me to select your team so that they had potential but would most likely need several years to realize it."
Hanabi's eyes were fixed on the floor as she tried not to wince at every word. Her vision blurred for a second and she realized she was about to cry. Biting her lip she forced out, "Thank you." Turning she left the room feeling sick not even hearing her father's call to come back. Stumbling into her room she leaned against the Shoji screen and removed her Hitai-ate from her forehead. After a moment she flung it across the room and stumbled to the closet.
Although her world seemed to be falling apart she had enough forethought to dig out her pillow to stifle her sobs. She cried. She cried longer and harder then she had at any other time in her life. She cried for many reasons, because of her father because of her team and for the sister she had lost but, most of all she cried because she had no one to turn too.
"At least this narrows the field down." Tsunade muttered leaning back in her chair.
Jiraiya side, "You're falling into his trap."
"Excuse me," she raised an eyebrow in question.
"Right now you think Danzo is trying to build support for a coup, right? You already know where the Hyuga would stand. I am presuming because of what I just told you you're also including the Aburame clan in the same column but, the evidence is pretty circumstantial."
"During the attack I put those two clans in the same defensive positions. If one of them abandoned their post to steal the file they could back each other up," Tsunade added annoyed at her old teammates attempt to read her mind, even if he had been right.
The pervert shrugged, "All right but, I still think your making it way too complicated. Danzo isn't exactly known for his elegance"
"That doesn't matter," she cut him off in midsentence. "Remember he does care about this village too even if it's different than the way we do. It's not like I can cut the allies down between good and bad people. If people believe I'm not leading the village correctly they will act to protect the village they love as would we."
"You have done a fine job leading the village. Your grandfather would be proud. When you came into office the village had just been attacked and almost destroyed. Then there was that trouble with the samurai and then to top it off you've had this low level war going on. Despite all that the village is still strong."
"If enough bad things happen under one leader people start to blame them, even if there is nothing a leader can do about it." She snapped at him annoyed that he would bring her grandfather's memory into this.
Jiraiya crossed his arms and snorted, "That doesn't mean they'll follow Danzo. The problem you're having is you think he thinks like you."
Tsunade raised her other eyebrow, "Explain."
"If you were planning a coup, you would try to build support for it before hand to make it seem legitimate. Danzo doesn't care about that. He would just make sure to be your successor or control your successor. Once the office was his it wouldn't matter if you were assassinated under mysterious circumstances. If you want to find his allies I wouldn't necessarily look to the clans but to the people who would appoint your successor."
"The Advisory Council," she supposed it was a possibility but, as a matter of course she had Danzo routinely followed. None of those three had any communication with each other. It was possible they might use intermediaries but that would be risky. "Then why steal the file at all?"
Jiraiya shrugged and headed toward a window and she slowly spun in her chair to follow him. "Well look at it this way. A few days ago you trusted both the Hyuga and Aburame. Today you know one is neutral and you're questioning the other. He's neutralized two of your allies with one move, not bad."
"So if it wasn't a member of the Aburame clan who broke into the room?" She asked crossing her arms.
He squinted and leaned closer into the window, "Again you have to think like him. He sees his subordinates as pieces on a board so he wouldn't think twice about sacrificing one. I'd bet you're gambling debts that the person who did it is dead. Investigate the casualties on the day of the attack and I'm sure you'll find one of them had the skills."
She nodded to herself mentally constructing a list of people she could spare to investigate. "You know you would have been a good Hokage Jiraiya."
Her old teammate's laughter filled the room. "Not in a million years. When you gather intelligence as long as I have, you become good at getting into other people's heads besides the hat would ruin my hair." Despite herself she smiled at the mental image that thought conjured up. Then he turned to face her. "I want to be assigned to the group that's attacking Orochimaru's hideout."
For a second Tsunade said nothing understanding why he was asking but knowing she couldn't allow it. "Sorry I have another mission that only you can do. It's about the hostages I need to confirm that the toddler contains the Nibi before we can proceed with this alliance."
"The Nibi, they're serious about this. I'm sure I can get back in time before the attacks though."
She shook her head sadly, "Danzo might try something while most of Konoha's force is occupied with the attack. If he does succeed in assassinating me I need you to carry out some final orders."
He leaned against the window interested, "And what are these orders?"
"If I'm assassinated I am hereby ordering you to assassinate all members of the Advisory Council along with Danzo." To Jiraiya's credit he didn't even blink.
"Can't you get someone else to do that like Kakashi?"
"He is on a team trying to find Danzo."
"Then call him back. If you think Danzo is going to try something he'll want to be nearby so he can assume power quickly."
"We can't be sure of that."
"Tsunade he's one of us. Please I need to be the one that stops him."
He met her eyes and for all the years she had known Jiraiya she now saw something in them that she had never seen before. Despite her better judgment she caved. "Do you realize that's the first time you ever said please to me," She sighed. "If Kakashi can get back in time I'll order you to go." Jiraiya smiled sadly and went back to looking out the window. She hesitated for a moment wondering if she should leave him to his thoughts but, then she realized he was staring at something in particular. "What's so fascinating out there?"
"Oh, from this window you can see into a gym and there is a woman's aerobics class in progress."
"What," the growing respect she had for her teammate evaporated instantly and she growled out, "do you know what defenestrated means."
"No should I?" He asked distractedly as he leaned closer into the window.
"Let me show you," in one swift motion she stood picking up her chair and throwing it at her teammate she sent both of them crashing out of the window.
Naruto slowly made his way through the darkening streets of Konoha. He had only intended to spend a few minutes with Moegi in her hospital room but had ended up spending more than an hour with her. After that he had started walking with no particular destination in mind. Half of him wished he would run into Konohamaru on the street and the other half wished he didn't.
For the first time in his life he didn't want to train and at the same time he wanted to be doing something. Eventually he ended up helping a young couple patch up their shop. Compared to when Sand and Sound had invaded the village had gotten off light but, there still was damage and not all of it was from the fires.
Rounding the corner to his apartment he paused seeing Jiraiya leaning against his building. Coming to a stop in front of him he muttered, "How'd it go?"
The older man shrugged. "She wanted to know how somebody could break into the room; you pretty much figured that out. Their fixing the hole now so it won't happen again but, that's a little like apologizing to the dead."
Naruto blinked at the strange comment before shrugging it off and adding, "So, what do you want?"
"I have to do a quick mission. So, I can't help you with your training idea right now. I'm meeting up with those hostages to confirm one of them is who they say he is. I'll be back before the big mission though."
"What are you talking about?"
Jiraiya eyed him curiously, "Sorry I thought you knew. Konoha along with Kumo will attack and destroy Otogakure in a few days. Your team will be participating although I don't know what exactly you'll be doing."
"But Kakashi sensei isn't here. Who's going to lead?" Naruto asked confused.
"Well," Jiraiya crossed his arms and assumed an exaggerated thinking pose. "One of your teammates did become a chunin during the last exam. So he'll probably be in charge."
"No way, I am not taking orders from Sasuke."
The old pervert laughed and threw an arm around his shoulders. "Well maybe he'll be lucky and you'll get assigned to my team."
"Since when do you go on missions?" He was half joking in his travels with the man he had learned that he did actually work hard sometimes.
"You wound me. Do you not remember all that training I helped you with and don't forget the old hideout of Orochimaru we took out last year."
"I remember I did most of the work," he was starting to feel better just having the old man around.
"I just wanted to see how far you had come. Now get out of here and get some sleep you're going to need it when I get back." The man playfully shoved him and walked away.
Naruto watched Jiraiya leave until he turned the corner. Then he started to climb the stairs feeling his depression start to close around him again. Reaching the top floor he paused when he saw a shadowy figure apparently sleeping in his doorway. He approached them cautiously when he suddenly realized it was Konohamaru with his jacket wrapped around him like a blanket. He nudged the boy awake with his foot and was surprised when he smiled up at him.
"Take a look at this." His friend tried to stand but his leg apparently had fallen asleep and Naruto had to catch him before he fell. Straightening himself Konohamaru held out a water balloon and to his surprise it started to stretch and within a few seconds it burst. "I told you I would do it."
He smiled at his friend writing off his quick learning to his excellent teaching. "Alright I'll show you the next step tomorrow. I want you here bright and early."
"Yes sir," Konohamaru saluted and then added handing over Naruto's coat added, "Thanks for lending me this." Even in the dark it was obvious he was blushing from embarrassment.
Ruffling his friend's hair he told him to get some sleep. When he was in his apartment he collapsed into his bed with a smile. His friend hadn't mentioned the incident. Somehow Naruto knew he never would because it didn't matter to him and that was oddly satisfying. He tried to tell himself that there was just something in his eye.
Defenestrated: to throw something or somebody out of a window. Thanks go to the author extra type for introducing me to the word through her story Dregs Ninja.
Authors note: That was a long wait for a not that spectacular chapter. Sorry but, some of you will be happy to hear I'm off to finish Assassins in the Snow.