The Invisible Killer

The hospital was quiet. No sound could be heard but the beeping of the ANBU member's heart monitor. Kiba and Hinata sat outside his room, waiting for Tsunade. They had been told that she would want to talk with them. Hinata held Kiba's hand tightly, not caring that passing nurses and doctors were looking at them strangely.
After about 10 minutes, the Hokage swept in, her eyes alight with anger.
"Who did this? How could this happen!?" she almost shouted it out as she looked in on the injured ninja. "I want you to show me where you found him." She turned to the two scared chuunin.
Kiba nodded. "Near the woods on the other side of the village. We were…training there." He glanced at Hinata as her cheeks reddened. She let go of his hand slowly, so as not to be noticed.
With that, the Hokage span around, barking at the other two to follow her, and they sped off to the woods.

*

Gaara sat on the edge of Shikamaru's spare bed. He had removed his gourd and placed it in the corner of the room. However, he couldn't sleep, and not just because of the suspicious noises coming from next door…
He felt unsettled, something wasn't quite right in Konoha. And what was that weird feeling he'd had earlier, on his way to the village? The feeling he was being watched.
He shook is head. Paranoia isn't good for me, he thought to himself.
A thud from next door and a girlish giggle (Temari or Shikamaru? He smirked.) made him turn to the door and leave, but not before he picked up his gourd again. Just in case…

*

Tsunade shook her head, looking down at the blood soaked snow. Hinata and Kiba stood awkwardly next to her, not knowing whether they should leave her alone or not.
"Kiba." She said, suddenly looking up at the boy.
"Hai, Hokage-sama?"
"I want you to go and find Shikamaru and the Kazekage. I also want Naruto, Sakura, Shino…anyone you can find, any Chuunin you can think of. Hinata, you go with him. When you locate them all, have them report to my office straight away."
Hinata nodded, and both she and Kiba ran in the direction of the village.
Tsunade tutted, looking around at the deserted area. There must be some sort of clue as to what happened here? She was sure she knew who was responsible though. A noise behind her startled her, and she span around.
"Hello Tsunade." A tall grey haired man stood behind her. "Looks bad. Maybe it's a good job I showed up."
"Jiraiya."
He smiled at her. "Need some help?"

*

Kiba and Hinata split up, each running in opposite directions. Kiba ran into Naruto and Sakura almost immediately. He quickly explained the situation as they ran onwards to find the others.
Hinata, meanwhile, had run straight to Tenten's house, knowing Neji would be there. Sure enough he was, and agreed to come along. Tenten already had a mission scheduled in an hour, and so stayed behind. Next stop, Shikamaru, who lived not far away. On the way there, they found Gaara, walking slowly along the road towards them.
"I think Shikamaru is a bit…busy…with my sister." He said to the two ninja.
"Well he'll have to be un-busied." Neji said, going onward to Shikamaru's house anyway. Hinata and Gaara followed behind.

*

Tsunade settled herself behind her desk, Jiraiya sitting on the window ledge behind her. After a while, Kiba, Sakura, Naruto, Shino, Choji and Ino appeared in the room, swiftly followed by Hinata with Shikamaru, Temari, Neji, Lee and the Kazekage.
"Twelve of you! Great…" Tsunade looked grim. "As you know, an ANBU has been attacked. I'm sorry to say he died a few minutes ago. There was nothing that could be done, his injuries were too severe. However, I have managed to deduce who it was that attacked him by those injuries…"
Iruka running into the room stopped her.
"Hokage-sama! The ANBU who was attacked this morning…his family has been found dead. They were heading back to the village after leaving for a holiday…"
"Who found them?" Tsunade shouted, shocked.
"I did." Kakashi entered the room, looking dishevelled.

*

The watcher saw all the events unfold. Not too much longer now. Winter will be over, Spring is around the corner. Could the village hang on until then? Until he was ready? The snow was melting under his feet, as he settled himself in his normal spot. He could feel the air around him buzzing with energy, anger…And that smell. That faint smell of death.