AN: I thought for a long time about making this the last chapter in my fan fiction. It isn't, but in remembrance of the support I got from my friends to continue writing, I think it would be appropriate I stop here until I finish writing Susake's retrieval mission. Regular updates are postponed until then.

Loyalty to the Leaf:

The three gathered their courage and made chase after the spy to the Bridge. Knowing that their opponent outmatch them, they trusted in the reliance the Leaf held in its defences. The Bridge stretched over a large fault in the Earth's surface, one that few shinobi risked jumping and almost none could climb out of. Thus the access of the bridge became a land mark of defence and a critical strategic point of the utmost significances. For if the bridge where to fall or be taken by the enemy then that sector of the Leaf would become a fault in their defences and a crack in their amour, just as the crack in the Earth's surface; it would be a fault in the Leaf's guard.

Argies, who knew he could no longer rely on his abilities, hoped pensively that this sector of the Forest held its own garrison of shinobi; Shinobi that could surround Kabuto in an entrapment that would not rely upon Argies and his companions to seal the rear.

Naoki, who knew so little of the Leaf by his short time there yet remembered so much of what he shouldn't know as related to him by the Sand's intelligence department in preparation for the Invasion, preserved his wanting for this moment. He knew with this mission he could reveal his intentions to be that of an ally, and as ambassador of the Sand, he could finally spark a friendship between the Fire and Wind.

Hatari, who was a greater mystery of all the others and leader of the current mission, sadly bit away at her temptations. As Konoichi, a ninja raised to be a spy, she had marvelled over the details she found whispered about Kabuto. His mission history as a mole was clouded by many half-truths, events that had been a shame to the ninja fooled by his deception but occasions Hatari drooled over. She refused to let a simply mission interrupt her opportunity to… misbehave with her eternal affection.

The three split, formation snare, they wanted their radius around Kabuto to prevent his escape to only that of the bridge; each summoning up their strongest will and greatest techniques to avert Kabuto's retreat.

Hatari removed her weapons from their holsters at her hip; Shining chakra down their strings, turning their spinning glory into cutting edges. She began to swing her weapon into the air whistling with technique, Kabuto will not pass this way. Weapon arts and Experience was Hatari's tool of obstruction this mission.

Argies knowing his blood mist jutsu was a danger to him and his team, fell back on his old tact; traps. Skilled in his preparation of trap making he unsealed a large reel of ninja wire, scattering kunai through the trees in his pass, with each thump of metal into wood dozens of paper bombs were strung up by the ninja wire attached to his kunai. Kabuto will not pass this way, entanglement and explosives were Argies jutsu today.

Naoki who had summoned up his greatest weapon even before the others, did not run so readily ahead. Now within the Leaf, he gathered his wit and sent his vision of destruction before him; his Arts of pain and suffering. His steady pace matching his comrades, now slowed to a stroll through the green Leafs and deep brown woods of the Forest. Taking in the shady hue of the freshly stripped bark, the scent in the air, seeing up to the distant blue sky that seemed to stretch for ever, he pondered the resulting mayhem his beast would cause on gazing around at the destruction it left behind. The trees were shattered and the canopy of the forest collapsed in pattern headed towards the bridge and Kabuto.

…

I was nearing the bridge when I heard the loud crashing of tees. I jumped up into a tall tree and look up into the sky at the horizon, scanning for any sign of smoke. The crashing wasn't coming from behind me, Kabuto couldn't be setting off my traps already, and there was no smoke ahead. These heavy rumbles of trees falling vibrated through the ground like small Earthquakes; extending the sound of large slow timbering hulks colliding with the Earth with dreadful thundering crashes and momentous power. The trees are not being felled by paper bombs. I began to fear what was ahead; not just a gut feeling of fear that should be hushed away to press on, but a fear that was meaningful and wise. Accepting this fact I could not force myself to confront Kabuto; to rush ahead with eager ambition to capture or stop him at the bridge would be foolish. My precipitous actions slowed and I felt myself slip into the darkness, peering eyes out like a phantom of shadows I would act as the silent assassin assessing when my target was vulnerable to attack.

Cautious and tempered with the frightening groans of the Earth as more trees quaked louder as I neared the bridge, I saw Kabuto battling an unnatural Beast. Black as my hiding place, it's mass a dominating manifestation of horror in the greens of the forest and Leaf. Its power was undeniable, in force and in its overbearing atmosphere it told all to fear it. The darkest dread; it appeared to be an Oni that took the shape of a wolf, a phenomenon I had read about recently from a folk legend's story book. Since Yuu accused me of being possessed by the spirit of an Oni, I began to take the folk stories a little more seriously. At first I laughed the idea off, because Yuu was supposed to be a serious ninja and relative of the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire, but then I reconsidered because Yuu was a serious ninja and representative of the Land of Fire's Daimyo. If he believed Oni were real and, as he said, encountered them on his travels, then there was no reason to doubt that Oni were real and as a ninja a threat I should expect to face and battle against. This particular yokai(ghost) story revolved around the reputation of wolves as respected animals. Unlike foxes, cats and weasels, wolves and dogs have no ability to do evil or be mischievous; they were not tricksters, they respected honour and abided by it. The yokai I saw fighting Kabuto looked to be like the Tale of the mountain ghost wolf, 'Yama-inu'

Yama-inu is a spirit wolf who hides in the mountains stalking travellers who cross the trails of their pack grounds. These strange demon dogs will attack those who dishonour their trails in anyway, including those who trip while walking. This is why the folk lore cautions those who travel the mountain passes not to fall while walking, instead you should stand fast and walk upright and the wolves will not pounce on you and rip you to shreds. The yokai are also known to help lost travellers find their way back to where they are going, if you pray for help and show respect and honour, a spirit wolf will guild you to a familiar path.

Reading about these Oni was another interest I took up, but seeing an Oni with my own eyes was hard to believe. I did not expect them to be this big, and this wolf had strange appendages that appeared to be wings that it used to balance its attacks. With every misplaced paw another tree fell, with the swish of its tale more of the sky imparted sunlight to the freshly ploughed Earth. It was an abomination to reality; even though it held a shocking horrific beauty its nature was paranormal. In Kabuto's attacks it was able to shift out of reality becoming a two dimensional shadow on the ground, sometimes only partly, and in an instant rematerialize to bite at Kabuto. It was somehow able to be concrete yet intangible, pulling itself out of shadows to attack as if it were coming out of the earth and re-joining it whenever Kabuto retaliated. It could only be described as the Darkest Dread, I was glad I was not facing it.

Kabuto handled the beat quite well. Despite the demons speed and power Kabuto could avoid every attack and even though he was unable to land a blow he tired the spirit out. Vanishing like dust in the air the monster was blown away by the wind and in its place Naoki stood.

"So you have defeated my beast" Naoki's voice burnt my ears, was he really that powerful? "I will have to battle you myself" I cannot believe this, is he really so great as to command demons under his control. My face turned red with a jolt of hurt pride because I believed I stood a chance against him in battle, our journeys together seemed a false truth now. 'He could have killed me so easily I…' I bunched up my hands into fists. 'I need to become stronger'

I readied myself; it was time to come out of the shadows.

…

Argies stepped out of hiding seeing his chance to become stronger. Directly headed for the bridge Hatari appeared swinging two yoyo's strung from chakra threads, like a new found puppet jutsu she swung the yoyo's like projectiles that she could return to her hands with ease. Naoki formed his hands into a series of hand seals and brought a blaze of wind and earth jutsu to the battle grounds.

With the battle renewed Kabuto opened his mouth to distract the three from combat even as it commenced. Hatari blocked the bridge providing mid ranged support while Naoki and Argies fought in Taijutsu and Ninjutsu. Knowing that Kabuto's objective was to cross the bridge they wouldn't chance a break in attack for him to escape with the scroll.

The spy in purple darted another wind and earth justu skilfully spun by Naoki, before blocking the attacks from Argies. Using this opportunity of close combat he challenged their observations "Don't you get it. Those weren't ninja from the land of Iron at all, their leader isn't about to give up their location for anything." Argies gritted his teeth in his efforts to break Kabuto's defences while Kabuto sought to break Argies will. "They were spies from the Land of Fire, Leaf ninja who infiltrated the land of Iron in order to gain access to this map detailing their location." Hatari made a dismissive click of her tongue hitting her weapons at Kabuto to dart him from nearing the bridge. "You see, the reason why the land of Iron has been hidden for so long, is that no one including those that reside within its borders knows where it is. It is under an infinity seal, making those that pass its boundary forget. The mastery of the seal is so powerful that even a drawn map is erased; essentially even material objects forget its location." Kabuto tapped the scroll that stuck out of his vestment, his fingers lingering on the seal itself now stamped with a new symbol "Only the Kage seal could protect this scroll from their infinity seal, and since a kage seal can only be made by a Kage whilst within their own lands while of its lands it would have been impossible to make one…. Meaning their Kage was the only one who could create this scroll, the key to entering there city. Unless their kage was placed under a genjutsu like the one your ninja Itachi Uchiha possesses"

"Your story seems far stretched Kabuto" Hatari voiced mockingly "If the Land of Iron is so impossible to find, how is it that Leaf ninja were able to enter its boarders to use a genjutsu on its Kage?"

Kabuto jumped back away from Argies reach and arched his back "I haven't fought like this in quite a while, being a spy can be so degrading at times. You wouldn't believe the things they make me do, so unbefitting of a shinobi" he pressed his fingers to the lenses of his eyes and answered Hatari's question "The Land of Iron is known for its skilled anti ninja" Argies repeated the words 'anti ninja' in wonder before returning his focus back to a battle ready stance "But very few shinobi lands know of their spy networks. Few, like the Land of Fire and some others know of which of their shinobi are actually Iron ninja spies. This is why catastrophe is seen as opportunity and disaster to the skilled shinobi leaders like your Hokage, either the 3rd or your present kage discovered an Iron ninja spy and replaced them. Then they continue as normal hoping that the spy receives a message with further instruction from the land of Iron. Eventually their replacement spy, a ninja from the Land of Fire, will gain access to the Land of Iron and if fortune smiles meet their Kage."

Naoki smiled, pausing in ninjutsu battle to ponder the reason in Kabuto's words "Catastrophe is seen as an opportunity to cause your enemy disaster. The Land of Iron infiltrating other lands with a spy network makes themselves vulnerable to betrayal and invasion. Using their lands neutrality as an opportunity to spy with diplomatic immunity, has actually resulted in a weakening of that immunity. For their lands are only diplomatically immune because no other lands know where they are, spying has damaged that strength."

"Good Naoki" Kabuto adjusted his glasses and cocked his head to glare at the Sand ninja "Your ability to draw out a meaning in the simplest of explanations, will not go unmerited. As for your estrange comrades, I don't feel I can warrant them the same gratitude"

…

In the Leaf I had taken up listing all their many defences, at first it mildly grasped my attention but with the mission-less days continuing unendingly I began drawing up plans. As a ninja artist of the Sand, being the ninja who escaped their boarders unnoticed, I couldn't help finding activity for my idle hands. The Ninja Village of The Leaf; guarded by 3 walls and barrier seals, with only one visible road exiting the Village but as I knew from Gaidra's secret path not the only means of escape. Their barrier seals meant that no ninja could enter into the village unnoticed, or leave without sounding alarms. The fact that these Barriers were separated by rings, walls encircling the whole village, meant that each barrier provided an early warning before an enemy ninja could ever even enter/exit the main populous of the Village. I wonder how such barrier seals were made, the Leaf was unique in this knowledge of seals incorporated into defence. From my understanding they held tight bonds with the Land of Eddies, a people known for their Fuuinjutsu; it is possible this technique was learnt before their bonds were cut when the Land of Eddies was destroyed during the Shinobi wars. Other than these great barrier seals the Leaf Village has no other defences I can see. They lack any air defences, ranged and anti-siege, the only asset they can rely on are their walls, their trees and their Shinobi.

During the invasion they secreted away their civilians to hiding, in a way of defence it wasn't much of a retaliation but I believe since they rely so heavily on their shinobi that it is a means of uplifting their moral before combat. To be able to defend their village Knowing their families are safe, to know that defeat means certain death for your loved ones, this was the shield of the Leaf; comradery.

Yet, now fighting within the Leaf for their Village I feel a resentment build within me. Summoning my beast should have awaken an alarm and call to arms. The destruction left in its wake, the booming impacts felt throughout the earth and the Leaf, couldn't possible go unnoticed. The sector ninja guarding the bridge we were defending, where are they? Surly even if the Leaf has failed to come avert this leak in intelligence, they would hear and act. Guards assigned to protect this area of the forests they are so named for, failing in their duty to act.

This drew on my suspicions that this mission was a farce, but to what end would such a mission be assigned?

…

"Exactly what interest do you have in the scroll Kabuto?" I engaged Kabuto, giving rest to Argies who so far had battle the sound ninja alone with the aid of Naoki's ninjutsu and my own Shuriken jutsu (projectile art jutsu). "Don't tell me you've taken a liking to the Land of Iron, do you and Orochimaru want to buy a cottage there and consummate your love?" I winked before back handing Kabuto across the face, the slight delay in his shock providing an opening in his taijutsu, although I wish I took the opportunity to wound him with a kunai instead. However there was little room for that and the threat of a kunai shines out more brightly than a slap.

Kabuto spun away "Hmm" placing a hand against his cheek he smiled "huh, look at that you managed to hurt me. I would never have guessed a shinobi of the Leaf could do such a thing to a ninja like me"

"What's wrong Kabuto" I buffed my insults "Gotten too used to men that you can't handle a girl" seeing as they work against Kabuto I might as well perfect my offensive jutsu.

"…"

"Hang on?" Argies interrupted Kabuto's reply with a question on his frown "What do you mean by 'ninja like you' I'm only a 12 year old Chunin, of course I couldn't hurt you you jerk!" His attitude seemed affronted by Kabuto's smug, as was shown in his raised fist and readiness to renter combat, but I ushered him off with a wave of my hand. Kabuto was my opponent now, Argies will have his chance later.

"Tsk tsk Kids, wait a moment Argies Daddy is busy" Kabuto turned back to face me, but his eyes widened and he took a step back in shock by how close I was to him. Losing focus as the eased sense of combat rushed from his now pale face, his hand stuck in slow motion in reach for his kunai which was exactly what I expected. I brushed a hand over his body, the jolt of surprise and tremor in his bulk brought a smile to my face.

"Why do you look so surprised Kabuto" Offensive jutsu successful

He brought his kunai up still mesmerised in my action and his last reaction. "You, why did you…" The shock on his face quickly replaced itself with determination on seeing the item I had in my hand; the scroll of Iron.

"Don't worry Kabuto, I was just checking to see if they were still there." I shock the scroll in my hand to signify a totally different meaning "And the most important member of all for most man." I giggled "You should be happy it's still intact. Everyone knows your Orochimaru's favourite puppet. I was just wondering, since you're a puppet were you as smooth down there as most dolls?" I leered with my victory, strapping the scroll to my hip and resting my hand.

"Celebrating Already?" Kabuto rested both his hands on his hips, regaining some charm from my assault of his 'kunai and smoke balls' "You asked before why I needed the scroll, and yes it's for Lord Orochimaru but not for what you think. Lord Orochimaru desires the Totsuka sword of souls, the sword famed for its ability to trap the souls of those it cuts. The Land of Iron has been a prized destination of consideration in our search for this famed weapon of both Bukijutsu and Fuuinjutsu. Talents that mash together so well yet are almost never used" kabuto's voice mocked with a sad tone. Naoki seemed ready to attack once more with a wind earth jutsu but I again waved my comrade off. This was still an opportunity to gain intelligence from our enemy, and, while we had the scroll we risked very little other than Kabuto's escape. Not that we could capture him anyway.

"And so you would start a war for your Lord Orochimaru?" Naoki offered up his words instead of a mighty jutsu, leaning on my will to gather information. Perhaps he was resting on the idea that I knew what I was doing as team captain.

Kabuto kept staring at the hand I rested against the Iron scroll, so I kept my hand there. He continued to speak calmly while I guarded the scroll at my hip. "It is true that divulging the location of the Land of Iron would cause conflict, and I'm sure many people would pay top price to prevent or plunder that opening."

A long apprehensive pause followed before anything more was said, I wondered why was Kabuto was so attentive of the scroll on my hip and both my comrades shifted their heads in questioning angles of the same curiosity.

"*Sight* Very well" Kabuto exhaled heavily like he had given up waiting any longer. I readied myself for attack but he put up a hand asking me to postpone my actions "Please wait, I don't want anything to happen to the scroll, Lord Orochimaru wouldn't be very pleased. Don't remove your hand from that Iron map, if you do it will explode"

"What!" I thought back to when I first found him manipulating the seal on the scroll with wax and another insigne. "Is that what you were doing to the scroll before my comrades arrived?"

"What are you talking about Hakari?"

Kabuto smiled confidently, shifting power once again into his hands. Even though we have the scroll we are still at a disadvantage if this is true. "What your captain is trying to tell you is there is no way you are leaving with that scroll"

"…And how do we know you're telling the truth?"

"Well, that's the interesting thing about stealing from the enemy." Kabuto leisurely prattled on like he was teaching a lesson. "You almost never know what risks you're taking until you commit the crime." He rested a finger against his lip, looking quite philosophical as he did it. "You probably want to know what I did to the scroll, and if you studied Fuuinjutsu you could absolutely tell it's cursed. You see, I was afraid the scroll would be recovered and I would be overrun and have no choice but to escape. However it turns out the Leaf just doesn't care enough about this silly map, or the fact that I infiltrated their village a 5rd time so easily. If I had known that I wouldn't have cursed the scroll with a Fuuinjutsu which explodes when not in contact for less than a second"

…

Hatari tightened hear hands around the seal on hearing this sombre news. My mind reflected back to what she did. 'Why did she grab his man hood? I know it was just a brush but what for?! His dangerous and I could hardly even touch him, yet she managed to do that and recover the scroll! Is it some kind of ninja technique, no that's terrible! What if a ninja tries to use that against me!' I shook my head of the idea because we were in combat facing an enemy, even if we had reached a stale mate.

Kabuto was explaining the finer points of his Fuuinjutsu, marvelling in his own brilliants. We were forced to listen because there was very little else we could do while Hakari figured out our next move. I saw no problem in just grabbing the scroll and making it back to the Village, but before I could suggest that very course of action Kabuto caught my attention with a stabbing comment.

Kabuto's scowl came over me and I felt the sinking glare he directed like a foreshadowing resentment. "They say the land of Mist is rumoured to be the origins of the group called the Akatsuki. Isn't that where your guardians went missing? Now I wonder, is it because your guardians are captured or is it because they are part of the rogue shinobi organisation? An organisation which hires itself out to contend in intermitted wars between the Rock and Mist. The Akatsuki are known for their great talent in causing chaos and conflict, it is even said they want more wars so that they can charge more for their hire. Now With all that said, does that mean you are a spy or merely another orphan of war…left behind?" The smirk on his face made my tempered blood want to act, but I crushed my hands with angered frustration knowing he wanted me to attack. A hostage would make an excellent bargaining chip in order to gain his hands on that scroll, even with what little good a ninja like me would make as a hostage… after all I could be a spy.

In my rage filled mind, bordering on unbridled retaliation, I hear Naoki call out in my defence. "I don't know what to make of this organisation; my Village tells me that they are mercenaries responsible in part for the Invasion of the Leaf, one of their members being Orochimaru. As for Argie's guardians, I cannot say of what part they play in these rogue ninjas' plans. However, I reject the idea that my comrade of the Leaf is a part of any organisation who would sell their loyalties." I could not help but feel shock in the sudden change in Naoki's demeanour, his trust and defence. "I identify with Argies loyalty to what is just" His last words unfastened a strap hardening my heart and instead of a hurt pride I felt an assurance from the Ninja who was so much stronger than me.

"Funny you should mention that Naoki" I returned to my anger, how dare Kabuto attack my comrades character like he did mine. "What with your history of disregarding mission orders for your own agenda. Are you truly telling me that you don't hold some grudge against both Leaf and Sand, some deeper intension. After all, they were so quick to hand you up on a silver platter to the Leaf as condolence after the Sands contribution to the Invasion"

Hatari defended Naoki with a chuckle, as I bit away on unformed words having no means of contradicting Kabuto myself. "If you're trying to imply that my unit is corrupt, you have an odd way of doing it. How do you know so much anyway Kabuto, a spy like yourself is skilled in infiltration and recognisance yet I do not believe Orochimaru would want you to gather so much information… especially not about a few stray ninja."

Kabuto's attack was in part a validation of his facts, of where all his accusations amounted from. "I was able to read your mission assignment even before you were sent to collect your unit. A spy under deep cover cannot afford even the slightest detail to go unchecked, which is why I looked at your ninja file too. Hatari Mittsu"

Hatari shows little reaction before responding "There is nothing uncommon for a surname to be a number"

"No there isn't my dear. What is uncommon is out of all the things I mentioned, that was the one you found most misplaced" I must admit Kabuto's response perked my ears and cast suspicion towards our Team captain, as I'm sure was intended.

I could be a pessimist and wilfully fall into Kabuto's trap, or I could disregard everything he says as a lie just like the accusations he directed at me.

Hatari felt no need to justify herself instead re-joining the assault. "Shut up you jerk!" She whipped her yoyo's around in an effort to capture or possible with the chakra strings dismember Kabuto but kabuto withdrew "Just what's it says in my ninja file anyway?"

Kabuto now backing away, continued to rope us into his ploy of disheartening our comradery "A little testy aren't you Hatari, for someone who's lived in the Leaf Village all her life you have numerous unique skills. Some that no ordinary Leaf ninja would have, and from you ninja file I understand that this 'development' was quit sudden" Kabuto smirked "After the death of your whole squad you really grew as a Shinobi, I guess they were only holding you back or might it be something else… hmm?" Just what was he implying? That she killed her squad, no, was it that she trained harder in order to overcome the tragic loss? If his trying to imply that she is a spy as well, I'm at a lost for the connection his making.

"Enough of this Hatari!" Naoki's voice boomed with irritation and a very influential command entered his words "His only stalling us while we still hold the scroll, even if it is booby trapped it is still our mission to return it to the Leaf."

"Aagh but Naoki" Kabuto's voice rung out with pleasure. "You're forgetting one thing, the ninja who holds the scroll will only have one hand with which to preserve themselves with, and I will be following that ninja at every turn looking for my opportunity to remove that hand from the equation."

"Then I will take the scroll" I felt the prominence in my voice vibrate out of my grasp before I could stretch out and amend them, but it is right. I am the least of use in this mission, being the weakest by experience and with the exclusion of my blood jutsu a ninja with no ninjutsu. I will be the sacrifice.

Hatari looked down at her hip, at the scroll she still had her hand too, and gulped assessing the situation. "If you will wilfully take the scroll, and I have no orders against it, then I will allow this. My quarrel is with Kabuto and I will gladly accept my hands free in order to argue with his chase and objective"

"I too will gladly accept this challenge, to guard you with the fines ninjutsu's the Sand has to offer. This is a duty I contentedly take onto my hands, to unify the partnership of Sand and Leaf, Wind and Fire!"

"How touching…" Kabuto slithered his words into our minds to speak ill of our decision, but I had had enough of his venomous words. Taking the disarming scroll that was handed to me I made for the straightest path to the Leaf, fully accepting almost certain death if I let go of the explosively charged mission item.

…

Deciding instead of being a burden to his team, he will help them with the worst of duties. Knowing full well the absents of his blood mist handicaps his team and makes him a liability, Argies Arges accepts onto himself the difficulty of his mission and flees in sight of his enemy. Along with this treacherous mission he also takes it into mind that when he returns to the Leaf, he can only hope, they will know how to remove the seal that condemns its victims no escape. With less than a second away from his grasp, the scroll would explode, meaning even in a hasty drop down a mountain side he would still risk losing a hand.

But!

With the hand of his fellow comrades his journey to the Leaf Village stretched by unmolested, inconsequential and without retribution from Kabuto. In defeat Kabuto made no effort to retrieve the scroll, unable to break their will of camaraderie of loyalty of friendship and their devotion to the Leaf Sand and Iron.

All three determined to show their Loyalty to the Leaf!

…

Returning to the Leaf, the scroll still pressed firmly in my hands, I was rushed to the Seals department. Finding myself within the building even before I could identify my surroundings, I was taken underground. I gulped wondering if it was to conceal the resulting explosion on removing my hand, so many thoughts speed through my mind but to ease my cognisance I recollected 'This is the third mission I've been on'. It was a trivial fact, but somehow knowing that this was only the beginning of my life as a ninja far removed the idea that it would end here.

My hand was placed on a dais and fresh blood was poured over it. I felt like I was entering a ritualistic sacrifice with me the offering, but no, they told me with the blood supplying the scroll with living chakra I could remove my hand. Delicately I did and there was no fizzle or sparks.

"Return to the Hokage's office, you still have a mission report to hand in" Dazed I complied.

…

The Hokage had brought us in to personally debrief us on our mission, I listen to Naoki begin his side of events, the Hokage asked him to relate the story first hoping for an insight from a representative of the Sand. It may have seemed like the polite thing to do, but I believed she wanted him to layout the setting for us so that we do not betray any details about the Leaf to a Shinobi of the Sand.

"To be honest Lady Hokage, from the beginning I felt there was something strange about the mission" Naoki began.

"Oh?" Tsunada raised an eyebrow, sitting on the edge of her desk in a more relaxed lean rather than actually applying her full weight. Without her Hokage gowns she was a more open laid back Leader, as opposed to the strict stern hearted faultfinder she presented to me on most occasions. "How so Naoki Yamane?"

"For various reasons Lady Hokage, reasons I later dismissed as mere happenstance." Naoki hummed for a moment thinking back to the early mornings assignment, before returning to answer the Hokage "The fact that you assigned me, although I appreciate the confidence in my ability, to a mission that detailed the nature of a covert and selectively skilled ninja. In that our mission began by posing as ninja who weren't on guard against attack, instead we were to be watching the emissary of Iron while appearing to be simple off duty ninja. I was doubly at a disadvantage for a mission such as this, being a ninja not of this village and having no previous experience as an incognito agent. I would have stuck out to the enemy as an obvious target and I was beginning to fear that that was your intention, to kill me off and blame it on my willingness to join the Leaf on ninja assignments."

The Hokage wafted the air with mildly amused laughter. "I suppose that would have been quite the plan, but I fear us Leaf ninja do not work that way. What else in your mission struck you as strange for a Sand Shinobi?" I was beginning to wonder if this was actually the intention of the mission to begin with, I remembered sensing that tension in Naoki and wondering if I should fear it too. I arched an eyebrow at the Hokage's quick dismissal, and waited for Naoki's reply.

"Yes I…I came to that conclusion as well, that I was perhaps seeing too far ahead and stretching my mind to off print conclusions. Yet a ninja must always ready themselves for such things, which is why when we made chase after Kabuto I began to wonder again if I should fear a deception. How was it that of all the ninja assigned to guard against the possibility of an assault, we three were the only to make chase of the assailant? Surely a ninja Village as Large as your own would have Jounin and Anbu better equipped for the mission assigned, a mission that required tracking and retrieval of the Iron scroll. Yet on our mission I was the only member of my unit who had any ability to track a target and continue the mission, why is that may I ask Lady Hokage?" Naoki remained formal, but it was apparent in his tone that he still had some doubts about the Hokage and Leaf's intentions. I couldn't blame him, in his mind he was still surrounded by enemies just like I felt when I was within the Sand.

"Yes that was quite unfortunate for your first mission in aid of the Leaf." The Hokage took a deep breath and heavy sigh "if it was not known by now, you should be able to tell we are very limited on the Shinobi we have available. The Leaf is still strong and capable of defending its self if need be, but we had to take on more ninja missions to recover wealth lost in the aftermath of the invasion and due to the repairs and improvements we had made. Please continue, I know the debriefing staff has all the details and I will revise them later, but I would like to hear what you have to say as ambassador of the Sand."

"Very well Lady Hokage" Naoki tilted his head in acceptance of this, showing a reverent sign of respect for our Kage. "Again in the mission I questioned what the true point in its undertaking was when I summoned up an extremely powerful and destructive jutsu yet no ninja came to investigate. Not even ninja assigned to the area of the bridge"

Tsunada stood up from her position on her desk, her assistant straightening in preparation to assist the Hokage in anything she may want. The Hokage's office was missing something, the usual assistant Shizune wasn't there; perhaps busy with some other task, in her place was a Chunin level guard. "I see, that is a fine point but we have protocols for such things. Rushing towards threats isn't always the best of actions. It could have been the beginning of an assault that could not be faced head on, expending shinobi lives senselessly. It could have also been simple a distraction from an even larger attack. This is why the Ninja in the Village did not come to your aid, and the ninja guarding the bridge did not leave their post. Instead a single ninja would be sent, a ninja specialising in sentinel type detection. Our Villages Byakugan is often used in such a task because it means no confrontation before further information is gathered of the threat. That was why no aid was sent to offer support before we could identify the level of danger to the Leaf, and when identified we found the target not to be Kabuto."

"Not Kabuto?" I stepped forward, now that I had spoken out of turn, addressing my question directly to the Hokage even if it began as an exclamation of confusion. "Lady Hokage…" I choked on my words, it felt strange to address her in such a way but still I found no other substitute; Grandmother Hokage felt like an insult even though that was the formal address of a Hokage 'Grandfather' and Lady Hokage was no better an address, almost signifying that a Lady Hokage was obscured. "My Lady 5th" I began instead "If I may, what do you mean by the target not being Kabuto?"

"Well Argies" Tsunada folder her arms and leaned back against her desk. "When our sentinel unit searched after the destruction Naoki was causing, the alarm raised by the amply provided impacts, they discovered the foe you were in pursuit of was under a henge(disguise jutsu) and not truly Kabuto." In my disbelieve I stammered and stuttered, so the Hokage offered enlightenment to clarify my doubt. "Who better to frame for treachery than Orochimaru and his subordinates? Fortunately that deception comes at a high price and our Sector guards were able to capture the Henged crook"

I shook my head of my astonishment "Wow I see. Well My Lady 5th the only question I have that remains is, why did Hatari assault Kabuto's nuts?" I looked to Hatari instead of the expression on the Hokage's face, she probably didn't know the answer anyway but I was interested to know just why?

"My Lady?" Hatari stepped forward as I stepped back, she was rushed to explain herself or rather to be chanced the ability to avoid explaining in front of the Honourable Hokage.

"Answer the boy's question Hatari Mittsu, I'm sure we are all eager to know" The Hokage mused, I was beginning to enjoy our Lady Hokage.

"Well, My Lady." Hatari began, clearing her throat with her hands pressed against her sides. It must have felt like the most awkward gauntlet for her to run. "You see My lady" Hatari smiled with a sudden confidence I am sure is false "I was practising my offensive jutsu. It's a form of combat psyche My Lady, in essence to confuse or intimidate your opponent. It's a technique I learnt in part from my time working in the interrogations department." 'O…k, where is this going!' My eyes budged. 'Maybe I don't want to know!?' "Perception of self, it a method they use to extract information from less wilful prisoners. The concept is easy to grasp. Everyone has a perception of who they are, and when that perception is contradicted the person does everything they can to reaffirm that they are who they see themselves as. The application for the use of information extraction, or in my case distraction, is much more complex. In order to distract your target you must present a threat to their perception of self that is plausible to them and believer-able to those around them. In other words you have to make them believe that everyone sees them not as they see themselves. Which is why I accused Kabuto of being Orochimaru's sex salve" Hatari did not blush on the mansion of this, but I did, she instead remained composed as if she were giving a very serious lecture. I admit I am intrigued. "Even though the Kabuto we were chasing was only a henge, it still remained as a perception of himself and the person he was acting as. It meant he felt compelled to rectify the confusion that he was Orochimau's puppet, and as such his initial objective to protect the scroll became lost in his thoughts. When I reached for the scroll of Iron, whilst assaulting his under regions, instead of grasping to prevent me taking the scroll he thought instead to pull free a kunai to reaffirm his ability to protect himself. His objective became instead of retrieving the scroll for Orochimaru, to in its place saving face and proving he was a man of his own free will"

"I see" Tsunada blushed slightly but remained professional no matter how bogus the whole story sounded. "Well I'm glad we have such well thought out tactics under the Leaves loyalty" The Hokage waved her assistant in. "Direct these ninja to the debriefing room and pay them each a sum of A rank mission worth"

We followed the man out the room closing the door behind our leave, in the back of my mind I wondered who really attacked the embassy of Iron if it wasn't Kabuto at all? Those techniques I don't think are used by many ninja, only a select few medical ninja know how to breathe toxic poison, but if not Kabuto… who?

…

"Well Kabuto, is everything they said true" The Hokage Turned from her position at her desk, and confronted the Shinobi in purple. "Did they really assault your nuts?"

"Yes, My Lady" Kabuto bowed with his hands on his lap, standing by the now drawn curtains of the Hokage's office, very glum and dissolute about the situation he was placed in.

"Oh come on Kabuto, don't feel so down… come here and I'll show you how to have a little fun" Tsunada puffed away in a cloud of smoke and in her place Orochimaru was laying on the Hokage's desk in a very sexual pose, his tongue extended far out of his mouth licking at his lips perversely.

"Lady Hokage!" Kabuto puffed away and instead Shizune stood arching a fist up and gritting her teeth.

The slug on her shoulder sucked in its eyes to avert them from the detestable sight "Mistress Tsunada!" It too exclaimed in distress.

"What was it that Argies said that time?" Tsunada puffed back into existence again "'Come on you guys', I was just having a little fun" Tsunada chuckled before jumping off her desk and seating herself instead into her Hokage Chair. "Well, now that I've had my fun, what do you have to report?"

"Argies is Loyal to the Leaf, he was the one to take on the burden and risk of the scroll" Shizune reported, her voice mission orientated now overcoming her embracement. "He shouldered a self-sacrificing determination to complete the mission even though it offered him no certainty of his safety on completion. Naoki is defiantly not spying for the Sand, although his knowledge of the Leaf is suspicious, he shows a genuine want to ally our nations. His did not abandon the mission when I lost their unit, showing that even though we did not know of his abilities he wilfully continued a mission that was a danger to him. The only Shinobi that still remains suspect is Hatari. I accused them all of being spies, but Hatari was the only one who had no account or desire to deny my accusations. This could be as of her explanation of Perception of self, perhaps she is immune to the tactics I used to draw on their doubts because she uses these same tactics herself and knows what to avoid… Or"

"Or She really is a spy and we have much to fear from her" Tsunada interrupted but Shizune shook her head in solemn agreement.

"Aren't you… disappointed My Lady?" Shizune questioned on the hum in Tsunada's voice "After all My Lady, you did design this mission specifically for her"

"It is hard to say on a single mission if a shinobi is a plant" The Hokage turned in her chair to face the door glaring at it in deep though. "What can you say of Hatari's chakra and stamina Katsuyu? Is it normal for a shinobi of the Leaf?"

The Slug on Shizune's shoulder un-popped its eyes which were still partly absorbed in its body from the horrendous sight of a Orochimaru henged Tsunada "Mistress Tsunada, I could see no change in her chakra to draw suspicion on her as a seals or body stealing henge this early in our investigation, yet that technique of her projectile arts is strange in itself of a Leaf shinobi"

"Yes I agree, it is one of the many reasons why we are investigating her as part of a string of possible infiltration shinobi here within the Land of fire"

"*Knock Knock" emanated from the door resulting in the Hokage and her party going silent and Katsuyu hiding in Shizune's clothing, much to Tsunada's assistance dismay.

"You may enter"

"Lady Hokage, I am sorry to intrude" It was Hatari, returning from her debriefing but for what reason?

"No, come in" the door opened to the allowance and Hatari entered to bow politely to the Hokage.

"I do apologise but there was something I wished to discuss with you in private away from my missions assigned team." Tsunada tilted her head for Hatari to continue on "Well Lady Hokage, I believe that Argies Arges is not to be trusted as a Shinobi of the Leaf."

"Where has this come from Hatari? Explain yourself!" Tsunada demanded, slapping her hand against her desk, becoming rather upset because she thought she had finally abolished the doubts in his loyalty.

"My Lady" Hartari bit at her lip but pressed on "When meeting with Argies to begin our assignment, I believe I interrupted him in the process of doing something unlawful or perhaps even prohibited. You see Lady Hokage, when I first met him he made an effort to give the impression that he was unprepared for the mission. Yet, when waiting for him to get ready I took it upon myself to investigate further in my suspicions. What I found was his mission gear and uniform wet with the morning's dew and hastily discarded. It seems in pretence, when I knocked on his door to begin our mission; he discarded his clothing so that he could greet me with the ruse that he had just woken up. When in reality he was up before morning in his mission gear liability for surreptitious unknowns"

"Well, that is certainly interesting" Tsunada folded her fingers together and rested them in front of her face. Contemplating what to do with Argies she waved Hatari out with a promise "Thank you for bringing this to my attention, I assure you we will be watchful of our shinobi… and all the missions to come."

…

"You took your time in getting here." Hatari brushed the leaf off her shoulder; it had come to settle on her while awaited her true comrade. "I fear my news isn't pretty, they suspect I'm a spy of Iron"

The younger shinobi came closer to his comrade who was surrounded by a garland of leafs, but he kept his distance "To travel at an arm's length from an ally, concerns me, when the lone star I trust falls into denser woods, the thickets add to my path and my mind wonders through the darkness seeking your silver light" Taking out a kunai from a pouch he pulling up his sleeve and cut out from his shoulder a symbol he hid from the light.

"There is no need for that" Hatari pulled up her sleeve. "Your identity is not the one that needs to be verified" She removed the shining metal seal and formed her hands into a seal of Bird and Snake. The metal burnt and twisted in her hand changing into a symbol 'Liberty', she looked into the hand of the younger ninja and his metal seal turning into the same symbol; 'Liberty' "See, neither of us are captured… although I believe in future we should take stricter practices into account, the Leaf cannot be allowed to know…" Hatari tittered on the boarders' of paranoia and unease, her senses heightened now more than ever. Ever since the mission was handed to her she began to feel watched, and above all else, she began to feel vulnerable again.

"What is wrong sister, I have never seen you so cautious before" The younger shinobi pulled free his weapon out of sealing, his subversive partner has always had a better instinct for danger. "I do not sense anyone…" He paused listening to the wind, but heard nothing ominous worth earning his alarm.

"I can't tell you not to worry." Hatari's form took on a battle ready stance even though she felt nothing nearby other than her worries. "Now that they doubt my loyalties they might be on to us, but we cannot allow that to disrupt this mission. True it would be wiser to leave the Leaf now, but with all the time invested on this campaign, I will not let my potential capture hinder it"

"But sister?!"

"No, this is far more important than me!" Hatari returned the seal to her fresh wound, cauterising her flesh with an advanced wind-lightning style jutsu; stopping the bleeding with a fine near invisible burn. "If I am captured let it be an early warning for you to leave the village, brother" She bit her lip, reminding herself not to let her emotions conflict with her mission.

"I understand, what…what do you have to report?"

Hatari let a neutrality return to her voice. "It's possible that they know I'm a spy from Iron, the mission was detailed with too many preferences which were excessively precise to be by chance. An envoy from Iron carrying a debilitating peace offering, they wanted me to retrieve and destroy that scroll no matter the cost. An act which would have proved I was from the land of Iron, but I can't be so easily fooled. The details offered on my mission assignment were that the scroll was from our Kage, the land of Iron has no cage, which meant I didn't feel compelled to expose my identity. They will probably run a similar test in a few months time, but I managed to slow that progress by casting doubts on another ninja. They will stop investigations for now; they know I'm too hot from the fire to be caught so soon after their trial."

"Who is the other ninja you provided them doubts of" The younger ninja resealed his blade, but still cast a cautious eye from left to right

"Argies Agers, one of the three they assigned to assist me on my mission. I believe they already hold doubts in him" Hatari smirked a lingering and wicket half smile. "It will be easy to manipulate and enforce their suspicions"

"The blood user?" The younger ninja grimaced but slanted his eyes regardless the familiarity of the name. "I know of him, this will defiantly be interesting and I believe I can assist you in casting a shadow of doubt over the Chunin… after all He has already befriended me" Almost against his will the younger ninja grinned even though he scorned his quick betrayal.

"Good!" The words stretched from Hatari's mouth, the sound of it vibrating a chill down the younger ninja's back.

"Loyalty to the Blade."

"The crescent of our Honour"

"Powered by our Might"

"The storms of wind and lightning's light"

…

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