3

They stopped their daily tasks to watch the large ships slowly docking in the harbor. There were four of them, and each had foreign shinobi standing prominently upon their prows. Tsunami stopped pulling in her little fishing net and let her hands fall to the sides of her tiny fishing boat and watched with everyone else. She was one of the first people to notice the spiraling leaf imprinted on their metal headbands.

Hyuuga Neji kept his head bowed to hide his abnormal eyes. If there was one thing he knew from his experiences working with other countries, he knew all figureheads felt intimidated by bloodline limits. On his right, his childhood teammate and probably his closest friend Rock Lee knelt, his head also bowed but for different reasons. Slightly behind and between them was the third member of their little party, the late Sandaime's grandson, Konohamaru knelt with head down. Neji had never worked with the young man before, but he knew their current Hokage employed Konohamaru directly to his office, so that had to say something for him. The last group member did not kneel or bow, but simply kept her eyes lowered respectfully and waited silently for acknowledgement from the Mitzukage. Neji knew almost nothing of her, save that she was the only member of the council Uzumaki Naruto had not imprisoned and tried for treason. There must have been another good reason behind this, but Neji was not one to pry—he simply watched.

"Shinobi of Konoha and the Fire Country, I welcome you to the Water Country," the Mitzukage finally spoke. Three heads raised; Neji's eyes remained downcast. "I received the Rokudaime Hokage's message by way of this falcon," he gestured and an attendant brought forth the striped messenger falcon that Nara Shikamaru favored for its brown-grey feathers and its abnormal speed. "I am pleased to hear that the Fire Country has taken interest in the welfare of their neighbors of the Wave." He looked at the four of them slowly, one by one, studying them. Maori Rin held her head high and allowed him to examine her. Lee was rigid with attention, fighting not to lose his balance (only Neji could pick out his twitching neck muscle and slightly shaking leg). Konohamaru tried to look dignified and impressive but merely looked meek and unsure. Neji continued to keep his head down. "I would like to be briefed on each of your missions, if that's alright with all of you."

"I am Maori Rin, honorable Mitzukage," the woman bowed respectfully. "I am the Rokudaime Hokage's official assistant, and have been sent here to oversee the efforts of these three shinobi." She gestured to the men around her. "I was also sent here on the Hokage's behalf to talk to you about organizing a peace treaty between all five shinobi nations."

The Mitzukage did not look happy at this last statement. "We've already closed our northern borders against possible enemy invasion caused by the Kazekage and the Raikage meeting here about the same thing."

"I am aware of that," Rin nodded her head. "But we do not require a meeting or final agreement of any sort at the moment. The Hokage simply wants to extend a helping hand to your country. If you are satisfied with the results of our combined missions, then you and I may discuss drawing up terms of a treaty with Fire and Sand. Is that satisfactory?"

The Mitzukage leaned back with a heavy sigh. "I suppose I don't have much of a choice?"

"Whether you agree to the terms or not, we will still be more than happy to aid you and your country," Rin explained. "That, the Hokage was insistent upon. He also says, I quote: 'If you are not ready to accept our offer to join our countries in peace, then perhaps you are still uncertain of those who wish to become your allies. Please, send word of any of your concerns, whether they be political or personal and I will reply as best and as swiftly as I can.'"

"Your leader is a strange man," the Mitzukage said.

"He only wishes what is best for his country and his people, just like you, sir."

"I see." The older man took in a deep breath. "Very well. I will think on it. In the meantime, please brief me on each of your other missions." He looked down at the three men behind Rin.

"I am Rock Lee, jounin of Konoha," the green-vested man leapt to his feet and into attention. "I have been sent with three ships of supplies and shinobi to oversee any and all improvements our ninja may give you and your country."

"I am Konohamaru, chunin of Konoha," they youngest rose to his feet and saluted and Rin stepped to her right slightly to allow him eye contact with the Mitzukage. "I have been sent to find and employ Inari, a contractor who lives in your country. The Hokage would like him to return with me to the Fire Country in order to begin construction on a second bridge that will connect our countries northern sections. He says it is in an effort to return the gesture made by your first bridge, built by Inari's grandfather, Tazuna."

Neji was hoping they'd skip the introductions. He inwardly grimaced and stood, raising his white eyes defiantly. "I am Hyuuga Neji," he said, "second-in-command of Konoha's Anbu Squad. My mission is to take my men into the country of the Bloody Mist and disband the criminal organization that hides there."

The Mitzukage blinked at the white eyes, but did not speak his mind. Instead, he simply nodded. "That is fine. Rin-san, do you and the others have places to stay?"

"We have already pre-arranged something for myself and Konohamaru," she explained, "but nothing has been worked out for the longer missions."

"I will get my men to find adequate accommodations for the Anbu and the Jounin and their companions," he said. "We'll discuss the treaty bit later, if you don't mind."

"Very well, honorable Mitzukage," Rin bowed her head.

She sighed for the seventeenth time that afternoon. Hinata watched her superior with a slight frown on her face, wondering what had depressed the usually-cheerful woman so.

"Don't worry about her," Yamanaka Ino nudged Hinata on the shoulder, making the dark-haired woman jump. "She's just worried about Lee-san."

"You mean, he was assigned to travel to the Water Country as well?" she asked.

Ino nodded. "Yeah. He's in charge of the labor group. Nothing dangerous, really, but she's still worried." The blond pointed her chin at her best friend, who was clutching a stack of papers to her chest and staring off into space, sighing her eighteenth sigh. "What about you? Neji-san got assigned to the Mist, right?" Hinata nodded. "I'd honestly be more worried about him right now," Ino admitted, "but he is a Hyuuga, so he's gotta be tough, right?"

"Right," Hinata nodded again, already lost in her worry for her cousin.

Haku peeked into the room. His sister lay curled up the way he had left her an hour ago, trembling and trying her hardest not to cry. He slipped inside, shut the door quietly, and made his way over to her bed. He climbed in beside her, snuggled under the rumpled covers, wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close. She was still and quiet for a few moments.

"Why did Uncle Neji have to go to stupid Water Country?" she mumbled finally.

"Do you remember what Uncle Naruto said? About those shougi pieces?" Haku spoke gently, quietly.

"Then shouldn't he have sent daddy?" she whimpered.

"Do you wish it was daddy who'd been sent instead of Uncle Neji?" he asked her. She shook her head and wiped her eyes furiously with the back of her clenched fist.

"No, I didn't want either of them to go," she admitted. "I don't want them to leave!"

"But they have to," he told her. "They're the strongest ninja in the village.

"Then I wish they weren't strong!" she burst out. "I wish they were the weakest shinobi in all of Konoha!"

"You don't mean that."

"I do!" she cried. "I do mean it! Then they wouldn't get sent away all the time by stupid Uncle Naruto…"

"He's only doing what he feels is right, Hana."

"Well, then he's stupid!"

"You're just upset."

"No! He's stupid!"

"Shh," Haku ran his little hands through her tangle of spiked black hair. "Let's take a nap. It'll make you feel better."

"I'm not a two year old, Haku," she choked on her words, struggling.

"Then let me sleep here with you, and you hold me," he insisted. "How's that?"

"…when you become hokage, are you going to send me on all the dangerous missions?" she sniffled.

"…I may have to," he admitted.

"Away from you?" she pressed.

"It might happen," he nodded.

"Because I'll be the strongest shinobi in the village, right?"

"Yes, you will be. And just like Uncle Naruto, I may have to send you away, even if I don't want to."

"…he's not stupid. I didn't mean it."

"I know."

"Haku? Promise me, you'll only send me away as a last resort. I want to be here to protet you, always."

"Alright, Hana. I promised you we'd be together forever anyway, didn't I?"

"I know that," she began to cry.

Haku held his dear sister tightly to him. "I promise," he whispered as her tears ran down her little round, red face. "And I'll never let anything happen to you. Ever."