Chapter 32 – The End is Near

1.

Anko shook in nervous anticipation. The Kyubi was on its' way back to Konoha. She cracked her fingernails and did her best not to smile beneath her porcelain mask. She'd been itching for a good fight and was anxious to show those who doubted her skill that she did deserve her spot in the ANBU. Intelligence reports had revealed the Kyubi was on a path for a direct collision with the Leaf Village, and as newly minted ANBU, she, Kakashi, and Obito had been assigned to the left flank of Konoha's defensive force. There were a good number of older ANBU who thought the three of them were too young and hadn't earned the right to wear the mask, namely Danzo and his cronies, and Anko was ready to put them in their places; after tonight she was sure nobody would doubt her again.

She had asked to be part of the Offensive strike force, but had been told she had been labeled too green for the offensive combat position. She however, was of the opinion that the powers that be had not wanted to break her three man cell up, and while Kakashi would have been able to make it on the offensive branch, it was definitely not a place for Obito yet. That was not to say she thought the Uchiha incompetent, while that may have been true in the beginning of their partnership, she, now believed him to be quite a remarkable ninja. No, the reason she thought Obito should not be on the front line had nothing to do with his skill as a shinobi and everything to do with his never ending desire to prove himself as good of a ninja as herself or Kakashi. It was well known throughout the lower ninja ranks that their team was one of the best and praise was frequently heaped upon them, and it could not be said that Obito did not share in this glory.

Unfortunately, Obito seemed to never have gotten the memo that he was just as much an integral part of the team as either her or Kakashi and that he had made ANBU on his own merit; if he hadn't, he wouldn't be wearing the mask. He seemed to be of the mind that he'd been granted his position because of his close ties to his team and that their influence had gotten him in, which had that been the case, Itachi would be standing next to them at that very moment rather than moping about in his rock garden. To make up for this, Obito was often reckless and daring in battle, with little thought for his life or that of his teammates, he rushed into danger with no thought of safety just to prove he could. So, at this point putting him on a squad in direct contact with the Kyubi was a sure fire one way ticket for their friend to find his way into a wooden box. Anko and Kakashi had agreed they were just not ready for that, and if it meant they lost their spot on the assaulting team they were glad to give it up and defend their home.

2.

Koharu closed her eyes in pain as Hiruzen sped away in the night on his heroic pursuit of glory, and her old heart broke inside her chest. Even if she knew it was the right choice for the village, watching her one true love leave her for the last time was painful in more ways than she had ever imagined. Though she had never allowed them the public relationship he had wanted so desperately, Koharu had loved him from the moment she'd seduced him with her dancing fans; nobody before or since had been able to swing a fan or their hips like she did, and that young man hadn't stood a chance. Had the Sarutobi clan not been so prolific and honorable she would have married him and born his children at the drop of a hat, consequences be damned, but they had been and she hadn't. She just couldn't bring herself to sully his own or the good name of his family. He was already engaged and promised to the fire daimyo's niece when she'd fallen in love with him, though she hadn't known it when she'd pulled out those fans. He had wanted nothing more than to end the engagement and marry her; but she'd forbidden it. The scandal and humiliation his family would have endured was too much for her to fathom and she'd refused him time and time again; what a mistake that seemed now. They were old and grey before they were together again, when his wife became ill and succumbed to fever, and even though their best years were behind them Koharu had enjoyed the last four years they'd spent together immensely. It felt like she'd just gotten him back, and here he was leaving again, this time forever.

Steeling her will, Koharu waited silently as the last tear fell from her eyes, dried her nose and set off to find the Fourth. She had a mission after all, and she'd be damned I she failed it now. She was a shinobi of Konoha long before she'd been a woman in love, and Konoha trumped all others.

3.

Kushina's heart leapt in joy as she bundled up her newborn son. Hiruzen had just left her and though his task was a somber one, it had brought a long forgotten happiness to her soul. It would be terrible to lose the Third; he had often been a kind shoulder to cry on, and had welcomed her into the village with open arms. However, losing him, as awful as it would be, meant that she was going to keep her Minato, and despite herself, she couldn't keep the smile off her face.

Trapping the Kyubi within her son was something she and Minato had fought long and hard over, though ultimately she had given in. She had seen that they could not ask if of anyone else's child if they would not permit it to their own, and even if she didn't want to give up her own son for the ritual she knew they had no other choice. So she'd gotten herself ready to protect her baby fiercely from the prejudicial attacks he was sure to endure without his father's position to shield him. Now though things could be different; now Minato would be there for all of it. Strapping Naruto to her chest securely Kushina jumped from her balcony out into the night and headed toward the burning inferno that marked the location of the Kyubi and the meeting spot for its end.