Chapter 5

The ANBU Wolf

Iruka watched in silent amazement as Chuutetsu navigated the rigging of the ship to adjust a rope or a sail – whatever the captain directed him to do. The dark-skinned man moved with such a fluid grace that it made the Academy Teacher feel almost jealous. Earlier, the medic explained to Iruka that he'd worked on similar ships in his youth – before his calling to medicine – and how it was something that never really left your muscle-memory once it was learned.

Iruka sighed and pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders when an unexpected breeze shot across the deck. He couldn't believe they were back on the water so soon after their last trip, but if it meant catching up with whoever took Kakashi, then he was glad to do it.

The ship lurched to one side and the contents of Iruka's stomach did the same. OK- so maybe glad wasn't exactly the emotion he was feeling right now. A low groan left his lips. He may be named after a dolphin – but Iruka was not a fan of boats – and never had been. Give him solid ground under his feet, and the full trees of Konoha above his head, over the ever changing, always unpredictable waters of the ocean any day.

"Here – this will help."

Iruka looked up to see Crow offering him a small flask and he frowned "I don't see how sake will help at a time like this."

The masked ANBU chuckled, and firmly pressed it into his hand. "It isn't sake, Iruka-sensei."

Curious, despite himself, Iruka flipped the cap off the flask and sniffed at its contents. His nose was greeted by the surprising scent of ginger. He looked back to Crow – certain his disbelief showed clearly on his face. The man crossed his arms and chuckled at him once more.

"Did you think I'd try to poison you, Sensei? You may not be ANBU – but you have proved useful. Having you at your best can only help our mission."

Iruka flushed with embarrassment under the impassive gaze of the porcelain mask. He wondered if the masked ninja ever got tired of the inaccurate assumptions so many made of them. He drank deeply from the flask, recapped it and handed it back to Crow.

"Thank you, Crow. I know you couldn't have been too happy when the Hokage saddled you with me on this mission."

Crow placed the flask back into his pouch and sank to a sitting position in one fluid motion. Obviously he didn't have a problem with the movements of the boat. The eye-holes of the mask came in line with Iruka's face. After a moment where Iruka felt as though Crow were measuring him against some unseen ruler, the leader of the retrieval squad spoke.

"ANBU don't question the Hokage's choices – ever."

The statement seemed so simple – yet Iruka felt there was more to it than that. "Even when you know they're wrong?"

Crow took a deep breath and placed his palms on his knees, a position that Iruka had learned meant he was as relaxed as an ANBU ever got on a mission.

"Iruka, one of the main vows taken as ANBU is to follow orders without question. And it is also the hardest vow to keep. However, as any member of ANBU will tell you, there are reasons for every order the Hokage gives. And just because we might not understand why we're being ordered to perform a certain task – it becomes quickly apparent that the Hokage is always right in the long run."

Iruka sighed. He'd heard this line of logic before. "Are you trying to tell me you never question your orders?"

This time Crow laughed outright. The sound surprised Iruka just a bit.

"I'm human, Sensei. Of course I question the orders from time to time – but I still perform the task without fail. That is what ANBU is."

Iruka knew his face showed his skepticism. Crow pointed to the tattoo on his left upper arm.

"Have you ever thought about the symbol of the ANBU, Iruka-sensei?"

Iruka stared at the design – which every member of Konoha recognized as the mark of the ANBU. It was comprised of two dark red lines – the center one vaguely circular in shape with a tail, while the second line wrapped around one side of that center mark.

"Isn't it a stylized version of Konoha's leaf symbol?"

Crow shook his head. "Not exactly. The center marking represents the Hokage's will of fire...while the line underneath is the protective hand of the ANBU."

Iruka furrowed his brow and looked at the mark once more. He tipped his head to the side and widened his eyes when he saw what Crow was describing. He looked back into Crow's face.

"Iruka, no one is allowed to join ANBU unless they accept one basic concept – above all else, the ANBU are an extension of the Hokage's will of fire."

Iruka placed a faint smile on his face. "Crow – I continue to be amazed with just how complex you ANBU can be."

Crow bowed his head slightly and pushed the hood off his head, revealing thick chocolate brown hair. He ran his fingers through it, rubbing his scalp as he went. Iruka couldn't help but hope he'd remove the mask next – instead he faced him again and chuckled.

"Iruka-sensei, are you trying to figure out who I am?" There was an almost teasing edge to his voice.

Iruka blushed and scratched at the back of his head. "No...no, I'm just...well..." He bowed his head in defeat. "Was I that obvious?"

Crow laughed again. "No more then anyone else who spends time with us."

Iruka looked back into Crow's face and grinned. "Guess I'm human too."

Crow stood up and offered a hand to help Iruka rise as well. "Feeling better now?"

Once Iruka was at Crow's side he realized his bout of seasickness was gone. "Yeah. Thanks."

Crow nodded once and moved toward the bow of the boat to join Bear on watch. Iruka smiled and waited for Chuutetsu to finish in the rigging.

-- --


Tsunade stared across her desk at Ibiki Morino and knew he was very close to losing his temper – something that most people did not live to talk about. Still, she was not most people.

"Stand down Ibiki!" She leveled her most devastating glare at the T&I expert and, for a moment, thought she'd lost her touch – but slowly Ibiki lowered his steely gaze to the floor.

"Yes, Hokage." His voice rumbled out of his chest, making it quite clear to Tsunade that he was still angry.

She couldn't blame him. After all – he knew she wasn't telling him everything. Tsunade sighed and leaned her elbows on the desk and folded her hands under her chin.

"Ibiki, what we are about to discuss is beyond classified – is that clear?"

The interrogator's brow furrowed. "Yes, Hokage."

She pushed herself back in her chair and made a series of hand signs to activate the ward seals she'd set around the office weeks before. Ibiki's expression changed to one of curiosity. Tsunade released the hidden catch on her desk and removed the scroll that would explain some of what was troubling Ibiki. She placed the document on the desk, rolled it open, and leaned back in her chair again. Ibiki met her eyes with a silent question and she nodded once.

Ibiki moved to the desk and turned the scroll so he could better read the characters. Already knowing what was detailed on the document, Tsunade watched Ibiki's reactions instead. He remained relatively unreadable – until he reached the section that she knew contained the name of the alleged leader of the planned uprising in Lightning Country. At that point, his face lost all pretense of calm and he snapped his head up to meet her gaze, looking surprised.

"Kurogane...Hatake?"

Tsunade nodded. Ibiki returned his attention to the scroll and finished reading the document before standing up again to address her.

"This explains what the bastards from Lightning said to Naruto."

It was Tsunade's turn to look surprised. "And just what did they say to Naruto?"

Ibiki pinched the top of his nose and closed his eyes. "That they wanted to take Kakashi back."

"Dammit!" Tsunade tipped her head until it leaned on the back of the chair and she was staring at the ceiling. "Have a seat Ibiki."

She heard him pull a chair closer to the desk and sit. "Are you about to tell me Kakashi Hatake is not a member of Konoha?"

Tsunade smiled and looked Ibiki in the eyes once more. "Ibiki, you grew up with him. What do you think?"

"Hokage, it doesn't matter what I think. I need to know the facts, please."

Tsunade sighed. "Very well. Kakashi Hatake was born and raised in Konoha – making him a full member of this village."

Ibiki narrowed his eyes. "But..."

She frowned. "But...his parents were not from this village. Sakumo Hatake moved here with his pregnant wife six months before Kakashi was born. They were originally from Lightning Country – but I assume you'd already figured that much out."

"And how does Kurogane fit into this puzzle? Is he Sakumo's father, brother, cousin or uncle?"

Tsunade raised her eyebrows at Ibiki's ability to see to the heart of the problem. "Brother. The two had a falling out that led to in-fighting within the Hatake clan, the incarceration of Kurogane in an asylum, and the official disbandment of their clan – on the orders of the Raikage."

Ibiki grunted in acknowledgment. "Older or younger?"

Tsunade blinked. "Pardon me?"

"Was Sakumo the older brother, or the younger?"

She narrowed her eyes, trying to fathom where Ibiki was headed with these questions. "Sakumo was the older brother. Why?"

Ibiki rubbed at the back of his neck. "From what the scroll detailed, and from the fact Lightning seems eager for Kakashi's return, my first guess is Kurogane wants to remove all threats to his apparent rise to power."

Tsunade frowned. "Then why not have him killed instead of captured? What's your second guess, Ibiki?"

Ibiki's gaze turned hard. "My second guess is that Kurogane is truly insane and sees Kakashi as a substitute for his dead brother. And if that's the case – this could one of two ways...either he wants Kakashi at his side to witness his rise in power in order to validate it – or he wants to make Kakashi pay for the years he spent in the asylum."

Tsunade grimaced. "I don't like any of those options Ibiki."

"I doubt Kakashi is all too fond of them either, Hokage."

-- --


This latest jutsu was one the Wolf had never experienced before – and truth be told – it was one he hoped to never experience again. Every muscle in his body was on fire. No – not on fire – just frozen in a state of inaction that sent signals to his brain to make him think that his skin was on fire. If he wasn't in such agony, he would have been impressed with the elegance of the jutsu. After all, it made it impossible for his brain to communicate effectively with any of his muscles – rather efficiently making him unable to move so much as a finger while wrapped in his captor's chakra.

Still, Wolf wasn't one to simply give in to any means on constraint – no matter how foolproof they seemed. So he began to systematically test his control over every muscle in his body – starting from his toes, and working his way up his body. If he could just find one area where the hold was weak, he may yet be able to break this powerful jutsu.

Wolf chuckled within the recesses of his mind. It wasn't as though he had anything else to do at the moment. He wasn't even a tenth of the way through his work when a part of his mind recognized he was no longer alone in the small room. With great difficulty, Wolf concentrated his awareness away from his task, and focused as best he could on the conversation around him.

"You're sure this is him?" The speaker's voice held an underlying edge of doubt to it.

Wolf felt a new level of agony when his hair was gripped in a tight fist and his head was pulled back to allow full view of his unmasked face. He wanted to glare at the two men now in his view, but that particular level of muscle control was still beyond him. Still, he took the opportunity to size up his visitors.

The one whose hand even now held his head up was the same bastard whose toxic chakra was entrapping him. His violet eyes held a look of amusement in them, and his long black hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail. Wolf burned the man's features into his memory – vowing to himself to make the bastard suffer at least as much as he was once he caught up to him. He'd take great care to make sure this man was never able to put another person through this torture again.

The second man was a stark contrast to the first. His hair was short-cropped and a light blond. His skin, though nowhere near the color of those back in Hyoukai Yobou, was still far darker then the others. His eyes were the color of a new leaf – a far subtler shade of green then some he'd seen over the years – and they moved constantly, scanning every inch of him as the first man held him steady. This one held the look of an aide more than a fighter, and Wolf filed that bit of information away for reference later. After all, once he was free he'd need details on what exactly was going on here, and who better to learn that knowledge from than the one who likely had to organize all the dirty work.

The aide sighed in relief. "Yes – that's definitely him. The sharingan is the clincher. Is there any way you can clean him up a bit before we bring him to Kurogane? You and I both know he won't be too pleased if he doesn't at least look like his brother at first glance."

Wolf's head was pulled back farther, until he had a direct view into the bastard's violet eyes as he leaned over him. "I'm sure we can manage something. It appears this is nothing more then a tea-stain."

The hand tightened in Wolf's hair, causing a growl of pain from his throat, and a short laugh from his tormentor.

The aide's voice held no humor in it. "Remember not to damage him farther, Akuma. After all, you can hardly chock it up to self-defense this time, can you?"

A sigh from above him preceded the response. "No-I suppose not."

Wolf's hair was released, and his head painfully fell back to his chest. Akuma. So the bastard has a name. When he heard the two leave the room, Wolf returned to his previous task. He needed to find a weakness in this jutsu before they returned to clean him up. It would likely be his best chance for escape...and revenge on Akuma.

-- --


"You realize where we're headed, don't you?" Bear's voice reminded Crow just why he hated having the man on his team – he always managed to sound imperious, even though he wasn't the leader. He supposed it was to be expected when dealing with a Yamanaka.

Crow did his best to remain impassive with his response. "Lightning Country."

Bear crossed his arms and looked over the ship's railing. "Don't you find that the least bit curious?"

"Bear – it doesn't matter if I find it curious or not. What matters is that we succeed in retrieving Wolf – without threatening the alliance between Leaf and Lightning."

"I know you're thinking back to our last dealings in Lightning."

Crow's voice lowered and made his anger obvious. "I'll remind you once more to stay out of my head, Bear, or Lightning will be the least of your concerns."

Bear tensed under the full impact of his words and bowed his head. "Forgive me, Crow. I meant nothing by it. It won't happen again."

Crow resisted to urge to say anything more, and moved back toward where he'd last seen Iruka chatting with the medic. The academy teacher had an uncanny way of relaxing him that might just keep him from following his urge to toss Bear over the railing.

His target was deep in a conversation with the medic by the time he joined them. He chose to listen for a bit, as the two men compared schools of thought on numerous inane topics, before he'd make his presence known. When the topic moved to talk of the medic's first meeting with Wolf, Crow coughed quietly and lowered himself to the deck. Iruka's face spread into a smile, while the medic's took on a look of guarded curiosity.

Iruka greeted him. "Ah, Crow, I'm glad you could join us. Chuutetsu was just telling me about how Kakashi managed to find his way to his hospital."

Crow nodded in silent acknowledgment, and he noticed the medic relaxed a bit after Iruka's warm greeting.

"Go on, Chuutetsu." Iruka placed a hand to the medic's shoulder and Crow noticed the man relax even farther.

"Like I was saying, Iruka, I only met Kakashi after he was brought in for treatment. But I can tell you what I'd overheard the cadre say about his...apprehension."

Chuutetsu's eyes glanced toward Crow, as though expecting him to react badly to the fact Wolf needed to be taken to a hospital against his will. He merely shrugged. After all – if there was one thing everyone understood about Kakashi Hatake, it was that he hated going to a hospital, no matter how badly injured he was.

Chuutetsu sighed and continued his story. "They said a patrol boat found him floating in the deep waters, clinging to a piece of driftwood and looking for all intents and purposes as though he were already dead. The local cadre pulled him onto their boat and confirmed there was no pulse. They'd thrown a blanket over the body and figured they'd just pass him on when they returned to shore.

When they were about to hand him over to the coastal patrol, Kakashi surprised them all by lunging at them with a wild look in his eyes. He overpowered six of the cadre before the medic on duty managed to sedate him, and then they brought him in for observation. That's when I was assigned to him."

Iruka seemed shocked. "But you said Kakashi had no pulse when they brought him on board. How could they have missed that?"

Chuutetsu shrugged. "My junior had a theory that the coldness of the section of deep water he was found in may have suppressed his vital signs, making those who found him think he was dead. When he slowly warmed up under the blankets they'd covered him with, the vitals would have come back as well. It also explained why the numerous injuries he'd suffered didn't do him in."

Crow saw the logic in that, but needed to ask his own question. "When you say he overpowered them – did you mean that...or did you mean dispatched?"

Chuutetsu's face took on a sickly pallor that Crow knew wasn't caused by the lurching of the boat. "I saw the bodies of the cadre members. Three had their necks broken, two had fractured skulls, and one...one had a hand-sized hole in his chest."

Iruka gasped and looked toward Crow. "He was able to do that when he was so obviously injured?"

Crow snorted. "He would have done more otherwise. I'm assuming at the time he mistook your cadre for the bastards who were chasing him?"

Chuutetsu took a deep breath. "Kakashi said as much in one of our conversations. He seemed genuinely distressed that those men were dead."

Crow nodded his head. "He would be. He wasn't on a mission – there was no reason for their deaths."

He saw the expected look of shock on Chuutetsu's face at his words – but saw only a look of understanding on Iruka's, and his respect for the Academy Teacher rose another notch. Iruka's voice ended the awkward silence that followed.

"Chuutetsu, you spent a lot of time with Kakashi. In your gut, do you think he meant to kill those men?"

The medic looked at his hands and then back into the teacher's face. "No – I don't. He wanted nothing more then to go back home from the moment I met him. Only after I got to know him better did I recognize he wanted to keep the violence following him from reaching our shores."

Crow nodded. "Wolf has always tried his best to keep the innocent from being caught in his battles."

Chuutetsu's brows furrowed. "How long have you known Kakashi Hatake..err..Wolf?"

Crow was glad for the mask he wore – he didn't mean to let on that he had personal dealings with Wolf...but something about the conversation made him want to validate the choices made by his former team captain. "I was in his third ANBU unit."

Chuutetsu turned toward Iruka. "Is it just me, or was that not really what I asked?"

Iruka chuckled. "Actually, it tells me quite a bit. ANBU units are only allowed to stay together for one year. Probably so they don't grow used to any one method of completing tasks. Is that an accurate assumption, Crow?"

"That is correct, Sensei." He wondered how the teacher found that bit of data out.

Iruka continued. "If you were in Wolf's third unit, that means you've known him for over ten years?"

Again, Crow was thankful for his mask – as he was certain the surprise from so accurate a declaration was showing on his face. He'd need to talk to Iruka about it later. He nodded once to confirm the statement. Chuutetsu's next comment caught him even more off guard.

"I'm glad Kakashi has someone like you to watch out for him."

Crow's muscles tensed. That was pushing it too far. He stood up abruptly, startling Iruka and Chuutetsu. Crow glared down at them. "Wolf does not need anyone to watch out for him...not now...not ever. To say other is not wise."

He turned and walked away from them, his plan to relax backfiring, as he felt every muscle in his body on edge from their discussion. Crow scanned the deck for somewhere – anywhere – that he might find some privacy, and cursed the fact they were stuck on the damn boat. He tipped his head up and found what he was looking for.

Using chakra to keep his footing, Crow scaled the mast until he found the secluded spot in the rigging he'd spotted from below. Making sure no one was watching, he pushed his mask to one side and took a series of deep breaths, trying to calm his frayed nerves. It didn't work.

Crow reached into one of his pouches and withdrew the one thing he knew would allow him to calm down. It wasn't until he placed the long, slender senbon between his teeth that he was finally able to relax. He stayed in the rigging, chewing on the familiar needle-like weapon until he regained control of his emotions. Only then did he return the senbon to his pouch and slip his mask back over his face – returning to the world of the ANBU.

Crow returned to the deck in time to relieve Locust from watch. This mission couldn't end soon enough for him.