Disclaimer :I do not own Naruto

The Hush of Mist Above Crimson

Chapter three

-ISHIMARU-

Light. As Sakura came to her senses she woke to a vibrant orange glow filtering though her eyelids. She groaned in annoyance and opened her eyes upon realizing she had came out of her covers during her sleep and was exposed to the merciless sun. Turning, Sakura noticed a very handsome face. Sasuke appeared to have turned and rolled over during his sleep. He was so close Sakura could feel his even breathing against her pale skin.

She froze, then started at him for a bit, marveling at his delicate features, but of course, thinking about his reaction when he would wake, she inched back awkwardly.

A short gasp escaped her rosy lips when she backed into Naruto. Frustrated Sakura sat up, chilled morning air hitting her face.

After she stood, Naruto exhaled loudly and rolled into where Sakura once lay. She looked back and shook her head.

'Mm...what's that smell?...' Naruto smiled, tossing around in his sleep. After noticing the tempting scent wasn't a dream he shot open his eyes, super hungry. Sakura looked over to him when he sat up.

"Good-morning Naruto." She quickly went back to frying some eggs she discovered in a birds nest close by.

Sasuke sat silently beside her, bored now that Sakura had politely turned down his offer to help.

"Smells great!" Naruto grinned, walking over to his bag to grab his things so he could get ready. "I'm going to wash up in the river, don't eat without me!", and then he ran off.

It was quiet while Sakura cooked, just the two listening to the spitting sounds of the pan. Sasuke watched her for a moment, before staring into space again.

"Sasuke, could you please reach into the front pocket of my bag and grab the pepper?" Sakura asked, only briefly glancing over to him.

"Uh, sure."

When breakfast was finished Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura were ready to go. They had stored their things in a tree near camp, for when they would pass through again to return to Konoha. The trip to Mist seemed like more of an outing since the three assumed they would be back before sundown, but like may other things in their lives, it still remained an uncertainty.

Sasuke pushed the boat from the shorelines sand and rocks, them jumped in himself, joining the other two shinobi.

They arrived in Mist at around ten-thirty am.

Sasuke walked up from the beach after tying the boat. They were finally there.

"So, we split up now." Naruto said.

"Right, but we meet in the village center in about forty-five minutes. That would be the Mizukage's main building."she pointed vaguely above the sandy slope.

"Got it, and at least, try to be on time." Sasuke watched the two nod.

They separated from there and found three main parts of the shoreline where they could gradually proceed to the center of the city. By now, each one of them had a perfect mind picture of Ishimaru's appearance. They studied the picture carefully, memorizing every facial feature so not to be fooled by a disguise. In the photo they were given, he wasn't exactly facing the camera. His blue eyes looked cold and angry and his gaze was directed to the side. Ishimaru's hair was blond and lengthy (to the back of his knees), and was kept neatly behind him, tied back with some kind of red, satin rope. He was certainly not aware that a photo was being taken of him, but he appeared on-edge, perhaps suspicious of another presence.

Sasuke walked casually down the streets of Mist.

It had changed.

That was the first thing he noticed when he entered the city- kirigakure was different. His eyes darted around him, scanning the faces of the busy people for Ishimaru.

Nothing so far.

Sakura looked at her surroundings in bewilderment. The city was crowded like usual...the buildings hadn't changed. Confused, she glanced around herself again. That's it. Almost everyone in the village was going in the same direction- towards the center.

'Why? What for?' She asked herself, watching the remainder of the villagers through their store windows working hard, feeding fires, chopping wood and rolling dough.

"Excuse me sir, where are you taking that?" Sakura asked, jogging to keep up with a man carrying two baskets of fresh fruit. He looked at her strangely, still walking.

"To the Mizukage of course."

"Is that where the others are going as well?" When he replied she asked again, "What does the Mizukage need all this for?"

The man slowed down slightly.

An older woman beside them cut in with a bitter voice. "It's for the banquet tonight."

Sakura turned to her, surprised, trying to keep up with their rushed paces.

"Banquet? Are they still celebrating his new position as head ninja?"

"No," The woman responded hastily. "It's for Mizukage-sama and his men only, like every other banquet."

Momentarily, she forgot all thoughts of Ishimaru. "And how does the village feel about this?"

"We don't really have a choice." The man whispered loudly, as if someone would hear other than the old woman and Sakura.

"Ever since this 'Yukio' became Mizukage, Mist has slowly began to crumble."

"It is the unfortunate truth." The woman added. "We are not sure whether to blame this on the council and committee members for putting him in a place of power, or Yukio-sama himself. I have heard he has connections...If we keep having to supply for all of these banquets of his our people will starve! It's only a matter of time before all that is left of our prosperous water country is a shadow of the equal government we once had."

"It's a complete absurdity." The man shook his head in exasperation diluted by a growing fatigue.

Sakura wanted to help but she probably didn't have anymore impact on this city than they did in this situation. When the head was corrupt, it was the rest of the body that suffered.

Remembering her task, she thanked them for their time and stopped walking to let them continue on.

She stood there in deep thought as a number of people rushed around her.

After a few moments, she turned around and hurried against the crowd. Sakura needed to backtrack.

Naruto-like Sasuke-never really found it strange that nearly everyone was walking the same way. He guessed it was coincidence. Right...

Actually, he was too focused to even notice the change.

'Ishimaru, Ishimaru, Ishimaru...' He repeated over in his head. 'Where the hell are you?'

He searched the city's troubled faces for the man's distinct features. Those piercing blue eyes were a good start.

After about ten minutes of no luck he decided on going for more general characteristics.

Long. Blond. Hair.

His gaze glided over the people rushing by as he stood there. Leaned up against the side of an old bakery, behind the side walk, facing the street.

Naruto's eyes drifted shut...and then he saw it. A flash of blond pass his half closed eyelids. They quickly shot open again and he frantically looked both ways, then hurried after the person who had walked by him.

Someone with low-back blond hair in an elegant coat as black as charcoal walked fast ahead of Naruto. The stranger kept their back turned to him.

"Hey! Hey you!" He called, catching up to them.

They turned around and immediately Naruto's face dropped in disappointment. This was not a boy like he had expected but a young lady, probably around his age or a bit older. She had lightly tanned skin, glossy blond hair and a mischievous heart shaped mouth. She turned around with surprised green eyes under thick lashes.

"Oh, sorry." Naruto apologized uncomfortably. "I thought you were someone else."

"That's fine." She smiled. "Though may I help you with anything? I might possibly know who you search for."

Naruto paused to think for a second. "Actually, have you seen..." He pulled out something from his pocket and handed it to her. "This man."

She examined it closely before her lime eyes widened noticeably.

Sasuke sighed, trudging over to a fountain to formulate an official search plan while sitting on the cold cement edge.

It had been twenty minutes already and still no Ishimaru. 'Perhaps he was already found.' He told himself, taking off the slight guilt of failure. He ran his fingers through his nave hair, standing. 'I should ask around.' He hopped off the fountain and disappeared into the streets.

An unlit figure watched Sasuke closely through unusual burgundy eyes, from a shaded area behind the fountain. He smirked blood thirsty, and whispered into a small headset, hidden behind bone-straight hair- the same startling color of his eyes. "They're here."

"What business do you have with him?" The young girl curiously asked Naruto, holding on tightly to the picture.

Something was wrong.

She made an effort to suppress whatever she was feeling but her voice still sounded rushed.

"I'm sorry miss but I can't share that with you. I don't even know your name." Naruto laughed at the truth in his statement.

"Right, uh, my apologies." She reached out her hand and Naruto shook it. "Ta-I mean, Akina." She answered with a small smile, impatient about her unanswered question.

Naruto ignored that she didn't give her last name. "Uzumaki, Naruto." He grinned. "I'm a Jounin from the Leaf."

"Oh..." She drew her hand back. "Why don't you have a-" My business here is supposed to remain undisclosed so we removed are headbands."

"Right." She said, understanding completely. "Who's we?" The girl questioned innocently, her arched brows raising slightly under her blond bangs. They shot out like daggers on each side of her face.

"Me and the two others who were assigned here, but that's not important," Naruto shook his head to throughly brush off the irrelevant thought. "Who is Ishimaru Aro, and where can I find him?"

She stiffened, then slowly began.

"Ishimaru. He is one of Mizukage-sama's most trusted men. He stands behind him with only the most elite, though he is used for his mind and not his power. He is no longer a ninja." She wrapped her black coat tighter around her and handed the picture back to Naruto. "He is most likely in the government building, I am sure it would be best if you stayed away from him." She concluded, averting her gaze from the young man in front of her to the thickening fog that had been settling on the ground around them for some time.

A sign it was time for her to go.

"Thank-you so much!" Naruto smiled appreciatively. "It was nice meeting you, thanks again for the help."

"Not a problem."

He waved his good-bye and started running towards the center of the village-the Mizukage's place but also the meeting spot of the konoha team members.

Akina continued walking down the sidewalk, letting her confusion show after the eerie fog dissipated. Doichi...

She put both hands in the warm pockets of her coat, feeling out the slim metal plate against cloth. She frowned, tracing the outline of the sand symbol with her tanned finger.

'Is leaf a possible ally, or will they become an interference?'

"Sakura," Sasuke stood to greet her. "Any luck?"

"No." She replied, frustrated with herself. "What about you?"

"Nothing, I searched the eastern areas of Mist straight to here and I never saw him." Sasuke didn't look at her when he spoke, but he heard Sakura sigh.

"I guess it's up to Naruto, he should be here soon."

--ten minutes later--

"Oi! I'm back!" Naruto, ran up to his teammates who were now rested on a near by bench.

"You're late." Sakura stated, annoyed. "We were this close to coming and looking for you." She demonstrated with her fingers.

"But it's okay I'm late. I know where to find Ishimaru."

This got their attention and Naruto was more than happy to share the information he gathered with the two.

.x.x.x.x.

"He's associated with the Mizukage?" Sakura asked when Naruto was done.

"Yeah, that's what I was told. He's the Mizukage's right hand man or something like that." Naruto shrugged.

"Do you think that this Kage could have possibly had something to do with Azamaki-san's murder?" Sasuke said, considering the idea.

"If for some reason that's the case, our job might be harder than we had expected..." Sasuke furrowed his brow and Naruto got a look of fear, masked by determination to face whatever it was that would keep them from carrying out this mission. "We should go now before the banquet thing Sakura told us about starts."

"I agree. We wouldn't want to ruin anyone else's fun." Sakura added, standing from her sitting position on the bench.

"Good, let's go."

Sasuke led them rapidly towards the large building of the Mizukage. They were nodded at by the guards as a sign of letting the three pass. Security in this city seemed to be unusually tight.

After being taken down a number of hallways they arrived at two large red wood doors. They were pushed open from the inside to reveal an isolated desk in the center of the room, with the Mizukage seated comfortably in it and two Jounin standing on each side behind him.

Sakura took quick note that these ninja were elite.

His face was darkened by the intimidating traditional Kage head piece, but you could see his lips curve into an all too sweet smile before he spoke.

"Ohayo." Yukio greeted them in a raspy voice.

Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto heard the doors close behind them.

"Ohayo." They responded formally, bowing in respect.

"State your business here." He ordered.

Sasuke and Naruto looked to Sakura who stepped forward, showing she was going to speak on behalf of the three.

"We are from Konohagakure, and were sent here by the fire shadow to bring back Ishimaru Aro. He is being questioned for relations to the murder of your previous Mizukage- Azamaki Komotaro."

They watched, expressionless, as the Jounin behind him squirmed uncomfortably and muttered among themselves. The piercing violet eyes of one of them fell on Sakura sending chills up her spine. She stepped back in the row with Sasuke and Naruto when there was no immediate response.

The Mizukage looked up, his eyes clouded as he inwardly contemplated something. After a few moments, Yukio raised his hand to hush the ninja behind him. "I give you permission to remove him from the city on these terms only: I need to be notified if he is found guilty and that you return him within two weeks time. He is not a prisoner but a suspect I presume so treat him as such."

"That is correct." Sasuke answered. "Thank you for understanding."

"Demo, Mizukage-sama!" One of the Jounin whispered desperately, visibly struggling to contain some mix of emotion. "We need Ishimaru here. Who knows what they will do to him if they take him, he's not even a-"

"Silence." Yukio hissed, infuriated about the outburst. "We have nothing to hide in this village, do we not, so why not let him be questioned." He spoke with his gaze on the three before him, who stared in suspicious confusion.

The man behind him apologized before taking his place again.

"And in fact," The Mizukage continued, regaining his almighty composure. "Azamaki-san was my brother so if it helps with the investigation I see no problem."

Sakura exhaled sharply at the shock while Sasuke and Naruto stood still in silent disarray. Why hasn't an investigation already been conducted?

The Jounin's faces were unreadable except for the one who was responsible for the scene. He started at the floor, troubled and angry. Perhaps he knew Ishimaru well.

Naruto observed one Jounin in particular who had long blond hair and Sakura's jade eyes. Akina seemed to be purposefully avoiding his eyes after she noticed his awkward glance in her direction. She hadn't expected him to actually come here.

"Bring Ishimaru to me. You, from Konoha, may wait for him outside."

The three bowed again while Naruto- as instructed by his team mates- struggled to keep quiet. So many questions were running through his head as they walked outside of the room to wait by the door.

.x.x.x.x.

Back in the office, the Mizukage turned to one of the ninja behind him. There were only three now, accompanied by Ishimaru who had pleading eyes rested on Yukio. "What are you doing? If you let them take me they could torture me and then they might-" He paused, straightening instead of leaning down to Yukio's height in his seat. "How do you know they won't return here?" Ishimaru applied the last part like it was some kind of threat.

"They will not return here. Tell them the truth, you did not kill my brother. Do you want to seem suspicious though? This is..." The Mizukage sighed. "for the best."

.x.x.x.x.

Naruto brought his head back to bump it impatiently on the wall outside. He leaned up against the hallway with Sasuke sitting knees up on the floor beside him, accompanied by Sakura.

"What's taking them so long?"

"I'm not sure." Sakura whispered, actually becoming slightly worried. "Shouldn't someone have came out with us to get Ishimaru?"

The three became quiet.

Sasuke voiced their thoughts; "Unless, the whole time he's been in there."

Just then, the large doors opened and Ishimaru slowly walked out to face them.

"Sorry for the wait."

Inside, Yukio turned his cold stare to another Jounin behind him. He had deep red stick straight hair and piercing burgundy eyes, appearing to be in his twenty's.

"Nikko."

"Yes."

"Nyoko."

"Yes my lord."

"I need you to do something for me." He waited, quickly re-thinking the consequences of the order. " I want you to go after them and... kill Ishimaru."

"But Mizukage-sama." Nyoko objected. She had the same hair as her twin brother, Nikko, but her eyes and hair were both a vivid violet. "Ishimaru will return within the time-"

"No. He withers under pressure and if he slips during interrogation it could lead to torture and he would rather spoil our plans than face his own death. We knew Konoha would come so it' is time to take action."

"Yes Mizukage-sama. Sorry for doubting you."

Yukio straightened in his seat. "You are forgiven. I want Ishimaru dead and no one else- that means keep the members of Konohagakure alive- we do not need more trouble. Have no witnesses. If he is heavily guarded, take him at night. Understood?"

"Hai." They both responded with curt nods.

"Excellent. Now before they get too far ahead of you, go."

End chapter three
Thank-you for reading. Reviews are much appreciated.

-Autumn fortress /x/