The air in the village was bleak; stagnant with the smell of rain. Lightning streaked through the sky with a ferocious intensity, illuminating the earth beneath it. Everything seemed to be frozen in time, as if the earth was holding its breath. Everyone could feel it.
On the windowsill sat a young Shizune, eyes lighting up with each stroke of lightning. She loved watching storms. They reminded her of how the most spectacular things could come from nothing; she really admired the idea.
On the days her uncle Dan was on missions, Shizune would play with his Shogi set or go to the park to play with the other children; but today she preferred to sit alone. The rain calmed her mind; its like she was melting. Her world blurred into the pitter patter.
In the midst of watching the rain fall, a rather unnatural commotion commanded her attention. Villagers ran into the street and crowded around a small parade of shinobi. It wasn't uncommon; recently more and more of these things were happening, despite the war's decline. Shizune understood what it was.
Somebody's dead… she thought to herself quietly.
She craned her neck to see who it was, but the effort was wasted. All shinobi looked the same to her. She returned to her sitting position, only to be roused back up again at the sight of a tuft of white hair that was unmistakably recognizable.
This can't be right… she thought, Jiraiya-sama isn't supposed to return for a few weeks yet…
As she watched Jiraiya push through the crowds, she noticed something else. Through the rain, she noticed that he was carrying someone in his arms. Someone clutching to him as if their very life depended on it. Someone with long blond hair pulled into ponytails that were all too familiar. Shizune's stomach dropped and all the blood fled from her face at the realization.
'W-Why is Jiraiya carrying Tsunade-sama...? Why are so many people crowding around them? Then this means..."
This can't be happening..
Shizune bolted through the door, unfazed by the rain, and ran toward the woman.
"Tsunade-samaaa!"She screamed in her direction. As Jiraiya turned around she noticed something she could not see through the window.
Tsunade was covered in blood.
She froze as Tsunade's sunken eyes slowly met hers. "Shizune...I'm..." Tsunade muttered. Shivering from the cold rain. The blood that covered her body making bright red streaks in Jiraiya's white hair.
"What's going on?! Where's uncle Dan!" Shizune burst, not even letting her finish; tears flowing freely from Shizune's eyes. Tsunade just stared at her. Trembling at the memory. Jiraiya responded cautiously, "Shizune-chan, we're in no position to talk about this right now. Tsunade—"
"No! What happened?! Where is my uncle!? Tell me right now! " Shizune couldn't keep from screaming at him. His face told her everything, but she refused to hear it.
Then, a voice came from behind the crowd.
"Shizune-chan."
The Third walked up to them, placing a hand on her soaked shoulder. "This isn't where you should be right now. The ANBU will escort you back inside. They will tell you everything. Right now Tsunade-hime needs to recover from her injuries, so please be a good girl, okay?" A sad smile across his face. "Jiraiya-chan, you are to take Tsunade-hime back with you. She is to be relieved from active duty until further notice." Taking a step closer to his students, he added, "I'm sorry I've failed you..." And with that he turned and walked toward the Hokage residence.
As if on queue, an ANBU officer appeared and begun ushering Shizune in the direction of the apartment. She tried to turn back to protest, but did so just in time to see the other two shinobi on the same mission carrying the bloody, lifeless body of Dan Katou through the crowd.
A/N: Yay! 2 is up! Next chapter will be wayyyy longer, I promise!