A/N: Hello strangers, probably thought you'd never hear from me again huh? I don't blame you one bit. God, is there anyone out there still reading this? Well, anyways...Sorry for the extended absence, my life has been non-stop chaos. How so, you ask? Well, since my last update I've gotten engaged, finished up my final semester of school which entails living at the hospital, and planning said wedding for next month. So, I do apologize for making you wait. I hope there are a few of you still out there that are still following this story but I won't hold my breath. I've been perusing the website and the new stories are abysmal at best. Anyways, here's the latest update. Hopefully it'll keep you until I can upload another chapter.

Chapter 55: On the Edge of Hell

1200 hrs

"Tighten the tourniquet!"

"Quik-clot, where's the QuikClot?"

"He's going to bleed out if we don't get him some blood!"

"I've got it, roll up his sleeve!"

"Fucking rain is washing the QuikClot out. Are we there yet?"

Screaming.

"Give him some morphine—"

"No," Sai said. "His heart will stop. Stick him with a pen."

"I can't get the IV in with him moving like this," Toiki said with a knee pinning Setsuna's arm. "Hold him down!"

Sai pushed everything he had into his birds. His chakra was nearly gone—boiling tar pulsed through his pathways causing double vision. Not that he saw anything before him though. Instead it was fire, blood rushing through ringing ears, Atlas gasping for breath. Copper in his mouth and iron filling his nose. Zulu squads' screams as they burned alive.

"Commander!" Sai jolted glancing over his shoulder.

"How long until we reach the port," Hebitsu asked. His only good arm holding a blood bag as high as he could manage.

"ETA 1 mike," Sai faced forward and opened his radio seal. "Shindou, do you copy?"

"Loud and clear, Commander," Shindou answered. "What's happening?"

"Get Ame's medical teams ready, we've got four wounded—three severe. We'll be landing in thirty seconds."

"Copy that."

The rain relented for a brief moment, and through his shot vision Sai saw the Chamber of Commerce appear. A decent sized, but rather plain looking building—a standard rectangle three stories tall, but the top floor was filled mostly with large glass windows overlooking the port. It sat roughly twenty meters from the edge, a little close for comfort, but defendable considering the amount of shinobi present.

The double doors burst open from Shindou and his team along with a group of medics. Sai brought the birds in to land, and instead turned it into a controlled crash as the birds hit the ground in front of the medic teams and skidded another ten meters before bursting into ink.

Gravity reclaimed them, and in his exhaustion it took everything Sai had to twist and help catch Setsuna. His reward was jarring pain lancing through his knees as his and the Hyuuga's weight met the concrete. A stretcher was beside them a breath later, two medics pulling the Hyuuga on while a third began injecting various needles into him, spouting off medical lingual Sai was too tired to comprehend.

They moved seconds later, three others stretchers following at a break neck pace immediately after, and disappeared inside. Sai didn't move. Allowing the rain to beat against his body, he stared at the blood slowly washing off of his hands, and willed the needling cold to numb him all the way through.

But it didn't. Couldn't.

Akido's body going limp, growing smaller as they climbed into the air. Sojin screaming unintelligible things trying to go after him—the pain burning within his eyes.

Sai's hands trembled.

It was there—all of it—seared into his memory. Another death. Another notch etched into his conscience. Another weight added to his guilt.

"Sir," Shindou stood before him. His face formed in Hyuuga fashion, but the question in his eyes was undeniable. "We seem to be missing one."

A breath heaved from his lips, but no condensation plumed. His hands ceased their shaking. There it was—the numbness he'd been waiting for.

Sai stood arthritically. He met Shindou's eyes briefly, before his mask turned and he headed for the building. As he passed the Hyuuga he pushed a head band into his chest.

"KIA."

A choked exhale whispered chased after him, and Sai's back stiffened.

"Your orders, sir," Shindou asked softly.

"Blue team is on perimeter duty. Everyone else rest as much as possible."

"Where will you be, sir?"

"Alone."

"In one of the offices on the third floor. I need to reestablish contact with Control."

"Somewhere I can't see your faces."

1210

"Well," Naruto collapsed into his chair, "that was…"

"Bad," Sasuke said. "It was bad."

Shikamaru glanced at the accused man sagging in his chair and gave a nod, the muscles in his neck aching from the strain of standing before thousands of people. "Every bit of what they say about Kensatsu is true. That man plays hardball and wins 99 percent of the time."

The three sat in silence. The first recess had been called after Kensatsu had argued—and won—to have Sasuke's claims dismissed. He'd then proceeded to grill Sasuke with perfectly polished questions, the kind that pried just the right amount of information out but left the answers ambiguous enough for the imaginations of those holding judgment to form conclusions that were in no way beneficial to them.

To sum it up—Kensatsu was beating them.

"So how do we win," Sasuke asked.

"Time is our biggest ally in this," Shikamaru said. "The longer this trial drags, the more of our story we can tell."

"So our next move?"

Shikamaru looked at Naruto who said, "Convince them you're not a traitor."

1215 hrs

The third floor was empty much to Sai's surprise, but he was also grateful. His soggy footfalls echoed off the walls and ceiling as his head robotically turned back and forth looking for any signs of life. Either side was lined with massive glass panels giving those working a view of the port on one side, and village on the other. Except now both burned, filling the day stuck in perpetual dusk with a red glow. Row after row of cubicles and tables he shuffled past held shadows created from destruction and death.

A lull in the downpour caught Sai's attention, and he came to a stop before a window observing the harbor. Black smoke roiled from the waters as soaked wood, tar, and oil burned—and for a moment the cries of the wounded rose from the make shift triage on the first floor giving life to the burning shipyard.

No, not life. Death. The twisted wrecks groaned with the sounds of a thousand wretched souls, churning within the smoke bemoaning their fate.

The torrent of rain resumed, and Sai's eyes shifted to the glass where rivulets and wind railed against it. He stared at the pale reflection watching him with transparent eyes, and his hand rose towards the glass.

A burst of light filled the harbor as what appeared to be an oil cache exploded, but Sai didn't focus on that. Instead, he stared at his wide eyed reflection where a moment ago something else stood behind him revealed by the burst of light.

His chest tightened against his saturated shirt, a numbing cold sinking into him as he shifted his sight over his shoulder.

Nothing.

A breath escaped him, and he blinked when he realized he was shaking. Could it have been a trick of the light? Of the shadows?

Sai surveyed the darkness lurking everywhere around him.

No. Something was there. Hiding, watching, waiting to see what would happen next. Something, he realized looking at his trembling hand, he had no control over.

He clenched his fist, and glared at the shadows undulating around him to the beat of the fires outside. It didn't matter. So what if it lurked near him, should he be so surprised? He knew what he was expecting when he came here.

Squashing the remaining feelings, Sai strode to the far end of the building with gritted teeth. "Weak," he muttered sitting down cross-legged. "Weak and compromised. That's what you are."

A leather bundle rolled out before him with a snap followed by a massive scroll. Dipping a brush in the inkwell, Sai's face contorted. His brushstrokes fell heavy and fast but clean and precise.

"In Root, you have no name." Sai followed invisible lines on the scroll.

"You have no feelings." His brush pounding headache from chakra exhaustion began to recede along with the aches of a body pushed to the limit.

"You have no past." Akido's face faded. The Hyuuga estate began to cloud. Zulu squad started evaporating.

"You have no future." His brush paused, an image of Samui laughing behind a hand in an attempt to conceal it.

"There is only the mission." Her image faded, but as she did she leaned forward pressing her lips against his. "There is only the mission."

She faded into the darkness of the room, but the phantom touch throbbed on his lips. Pressing his lips together he whispered, "There is only the mission."

"That's not true."

Sai's eyes opened to Konan standing at the edge of the darkness, a gaze caught somewhere between pity and sorrow watched him while one hand rested on her belly. Next to her stood her second-in-command—Hanshou wasn't it?

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop," Konan said stepping forward. "I didn't want to disturb you."

Sai's eyes dropped to the seal before him completed and dried. How long had it been since he'd finished?

"What is it you need," Sai asked pressing his thumb and forefinger into his eyes. The process of which elicited a chain of aches from his body.

"We came to inform you of our intentions," Hanshou said. "As well as ask you of your own."

"Intentions," Sai looked up frowning. "You mean demands."

"You forget you're a stranger in a different village," Hanshou said.

"And you forget my men and I saved your lives not even an hour ago," Sai tore the seal off the scroll and stood. "So put your dick away before you get embarrassed."

"You—"

"Enough," Konan snapped at Hanshou. "Yes, he's a foreign shinobi. Yes, we are making demands. But he also saved our lives, commander. That counts for something. However, before that I believe you'd like a status update on your men."

Sai shrugged with his back to her as he placed the seal on the wall. "I would've received one during the next shift change."

He wasn't trying to be distant or cold hearted. It'd been a trying day. Every movement hurt, his headache had returned, and his body felt like lead. He really didn't want to talk to anyone right now.

"Would you like to hear it since I'm here," Konan asked.

"I'm sure I'm going to hear it anyways."

"All three of your men are stable at this time," Konan said. "The most severely wounded, Setsuna-san, is still alive but in critical condition. I'm afraid he won't be able to contribute any further to the mission."

"I'll decide that," Sai grunted. He finished hanging the seal and stepped back. "What about the others?"

"The team leader, Sojin-san, is suffering from a concussion and temporary blindness from straining his eyes," Hanshou said. "Mizo-san is suffering from a lower leg fracture and perforated eardrums. Banno-san has a lower spinal injury."

Sai put his back to the wall and slid to a seat. Tilting his head back he closed his eyes and tried not to grimace at the pain as he rearranged the teams. After a moment he asked, "How long until they're functional again?"

The silence that answered him made his stomach turn. He opened his eyes to find Konan withdrawn and Hanshou looking frustrated.

"Mizo-san's leg can be healed within a couple of hours," Konan said. "We can't do anything about his deafness though. Everyone else suffers from injuries that would require at least a week of steady treatment."

Sai's brow came together, "Are you fucking with me? Have we not risked enough for you? Have we not sacrificed enough? I don't care how tired or overworked your medics are; send a few to heal my goddamn men. Because the way I see it, we're the only thing standing between this village and total annihilation!"

"It's not that simple," Hanshou growled. "Coming from a bigger village you don't understand."

"Understand what?"

"We're an isolationist nation," Konan said. "Our medical ninjutsu is years behind everyone else. The most our medics can manage is mild bleeding. Most of our healing processes are technology based."

"Our healing is slower than any other country's," Hanshou said, "but the trade off is our treatments are more complete and solid."

Sai stared without really seeing them. Mild bleeding? This lifted them into a whole new level of screwed—every injury they incurred would add to the likelihood of the mission ending in failure. They needed every able body available which really meant one thing. In order for them to be at maximum fighting capacity they'd need to dig in and heal.

The mission was losing control—Sai could see it unraveling before him. And the longer they waited the more the mission shifted from search and rescue to siege fortification.

"Do what you can for my men," Sai said finally shifting his thousand yard stare to the people before him. "I need to contact mission control and give them an update."

Konan and Hanshou shared a look.

"Before you do that there's something else we have to say," Hanshou said.

1237 hrs

Shino appeared via shunshin, the normal ninja approach amplified by Justice making it seem as if he appeared out of thin air—rewarding him with a less than decent shriek from Boar who stumbled back into the wall.

"Dammit, Shino-san," Boar clutched his chest.

"Didn't we tell you Night Angels to stop doing that," Hare asked patting his chest.

"My apologies," Shino said dipping his chin behind his collar. "I forgot. I have some documents for Tsunade-sama."

Hare grunted and turned to open the door, only for it to open on its own. Black hair drawn up in a spiked pony tail and lead by a scarred stare appeared in the doorway.

"Ah, Shino. Tsunade is unavailable at the moment," Shikaku said. "My legs could use a stretch, care to join me?"

Shino's chest solidified, but he kept his shades fixed on the Jonin Commander, "Of course."

The floor had been reserved exclusively for the Hokage and, a quarter ways to the right, the jury consisting of clan heads. Shikaku took them left, and over the din of the crowd sandals were the only noise exchanged between them while they traveled the upper ring. Autumn was in full force now, and the days took on the appearance of perpetual evening while the weather mimicked Yin and Yang as best it could. Where the sun touched gentle warmth flowed, and where shadows stretched a sharp chill stung. But Shino wasn't sure if the cold striking him now was due to the weather, or the presence of whom he stood in.

Finally, Shikaku brought them to a stop and leaned against one of the pillars staring across the stadium. A match pulsed the dim back for a brief second before it was replaced with a trail of smoke.

Shino said nothing, moving to the stone railing and placing both hands on it. The silence he could hold his own against. After all, his clan was nothing but the silent type save for a few. It was once the conversation began that had Shino worried.

"I take it those are the doctored files proving the Uchiha's innocence," Shikamaru said.

"Correct," Shino answered.

A chuckle slipped from Shikaku and his head gave a half hearted shake. "You're honesty is almost unnerving."

"Not enough so to keep you from asking questions I'd wager."

"You're right," Shikaku's smirk faded and he folded his arms. "It's been awhile since we received an update."

Shino's gut twisted, and his face went cold. "We lost contact shortly after our teams entered Ame although we were able to ascertain it was under attack."

"But we already knew that," Shikaku said. "And I find it hard to believe with three Uzumakis working on communication seals, we still haven't reestablished connection."

"Perhaps I was on my way here to inform Tsunade-sama our communications were back up."

"Then shall I inform Tsunade we've reestablished communication?"

"Shouldn't you take this document to the jury," Shino asked holding up the scroll.

Shikaku snapped his fingers and the Anbu Commander appeared beside him. The masked man plucked the scroll away, though his eyes stayed on Shino for a moment and he felt the silent apology within.

The scroll had just lifted from his fingers when the murmurs of the crowd rose, and Shino's eyes shifted to the side. Across the stadium the Clan Heads had reentered their box, and at the front was Tsume. Her eyes locked onto Shino and face twisted into a snarl.

Shino's hand fell to his side as his head rotated back to Shikaku. The man stared smirking at him, smoke from his pipe curling up around his face giving him a frightful visage in the shadows of the stadium.

"What's the meaning of this," Shino asked.

"If you can't figure it out then ask my son—he'll be able to tell you," Shikaku stepped away from the rail and opened a door leading to one of many of the private resting rooms. "Now, the scroll has been delivered and the Hokage is busy. So how about that mission update?"

1245 hrs

"You realize this decision is completely out of my hands, right?" Sai stared at Hanshou across a table. On it laid a map of underground passages. "The chances of this actually going well are next to nothing."

"Konan is absolute on this," Hanshou said and gave a sigh. "She refuses to leave everyone behind."

"Even if we manage to evacuate everyone—and understand this is a massive if—what about you and your men? They'll be eradicated. And twenty foreign shinobi are hardly a defense for nearly two thousand defenseless citizens."

"Trust me, commander, I'm fully aware. Our hope is once the citizens are free we can break through the enemy and escape across the bridge."

"That bridge was left intact for a reason," Sai said. "They want to attack you there. You'll be walking into a massacre."

"Don't you think I know that," Hanshou said rattling the table with a fist. "It's not my decision. It's our leader's, and we swore an oath to protect blood and land from any aggressors. Yes, we will probably die—but we'll die fulfilling our duty."

Sai felt the frustrated hopelessness radiating from the Anbu commander and decided to drop the subject. Turning his gaze back to the map he said, "Let's go over this one more time."

Hanshou started from the beginning, but a commotion at the stairs caught their attention. A second later Stork appeared followed by multiple members of the medical team, yelling orders and demands.

"What's happening," Hanshou asked.

"It's Lady Konan," Stork said. As the words left his lips a stretcher team appeared from the stairs with their leader riding it, covered in sweat and moaning. "Her water broke."

1250 hrs

A dust mote could've been heard crashing to the ground in the silence that followed Shino's mission update.

"Let me see if I understand this," Shikaku said with his eyes closed. "Konan is demanding we help evacuate her entire village or else she'll stay behind with Nagato's body?"

"Correct," Shino said. "Initially we'd planned to extract Konan and leave a barrier around Ame as a form of protection. However, the rapid invasion into the village has made this option no longer available.

"Then extract Konan by force along with the body," Shikaku said.

"That is something I doubt Konan would be pleased about," Shino said.

"Or we could just confiscate the body and leave everyone behind."

"That's something I highly doubt Naruto would be pleased with."

"I could care less about what pleases him," Shikaku said. "The war has started with this attack, and having a devastating weapon so close to the enemy is unacceptable. Konan is in no position to make demands, especially when the extraction team offers so little reinforcement."

"You realize you'll be condemning an entire village—thousands of people—to death if we don't do something," Shino said.

"Yes, I realize that. I also realize we can't leave behind something that could effectively destroy any chance of us winning this war. I gave the green light on this because Naruto has a personal stake in this mission, but more than that I cannot leave the Rinnegan behind to fall into enemy hands."

"So that's it then," Shino growled. "The Rinnegan is more important than innocent lives."

"One village or the entire world," Shikak glared. "It's hardly a debate. It's unfortunate, but this is reality. The mission remains as is; both Konan and the body leave with the extraction team, or just the body."

"Shino," Jihibiki's voice cut into Shino's argument, "we have massive problem."

1255 hrs

"Where are you going?"

Sai glanced over his shoulder from the top of the stairs at Hanshou. Once Konan and her medical entourage had passed and entered the only office on the third floor, he'd turned on his heels and headed the opposite direction. Hanshou stood in the middle, looking torn between following Sai and going to his leader.

"It would appear we're going to be stuck here for the foreseeable future," Sai said. "I don't know about you, but I'd prefer to have some kind of protection against the enemies infesting this city while we wait."

"Our troops will provide protection," Hanshou said.

"And in the process be whittled away. In the event we go through with your plans you're going to need every ninja you've got. Go be with your leader—leave the defense to me."

Sai didn't wait for a response and descended the staircase. When he reached the second floor landing he found Akido leaning against the wall with his arms folded.

"Weren't you ever taught it's impolite to eavesdrop," Sai asked walking past him.

"I like to make sure I have all my facts straight," Shindou said shrugging. "Are we actually going to follow through with their plan?"

"I'm not sure yet," Sai said. Shindou said nothing, but Sai could feel the dissatisfaction radiating behind him. "You disagree?"

"My opinion doesn't matter. We'll do what we're ordered. I'm more curious how our Commander plans to provide defense of this position with so little chakra and rest."

Sai stopped and turned to Shindou, behind him ninja lay on cots, desks, or even the floor trying to get as much rest as possible before the next battle. The talking had come to a lull though with the appearance of Sai, and he could feel the attention of nearly 800 shinobi tune into his conversation. Nearby the members of Red and Yellow teams stood, but Shindou raised his hand.

"Are you assuming," Sai asked. His voice barely covered the distance between the two.

"No sir."

"Good," Sai turned back to the stairs. "Call Blue team back in."

"But I can still see you're exhausted," Shindou said. "My Byakugan may not be able to see you're chakra, but I don't need it to see the obvious signs of battle fatigue."

Sai's voice echoed up the stairs, "Call Blue team back in. It's going to be the last time you get any rest until the mission is over."

Once he was done outside it would be a catnap and then ginseng tea. He was so busy going through checklists he didn't notice the screaming until he rounded the landing to the first floor, and when they finally registered he froze.

His eyes strained into the distance but the first floor had vanished, replaced with a dark lit courtyard and dancing shadows. His body wracked at the smell of black smoke mixed with roasting meat, raping his nose and knotting his stomach. He pressed his eyes together, trying to block it out but it didn't go. Instead a roar rose up, along with an unbearable heat and Sai slammed a hand against his mouth to stop his scream. He stumbled back and knocked against the wall, the sudden jolt bringing him back to reality.

Tasting blood in his mouth he unclasped his hand and slumped into the corner. Precious seconds ticked by, and eventually his jerky breaths were replaced by ragged sobs.

1312 hrs

If the rain was cold he didn't feel it. His entire field of vision consisted of a hazy grey with the echoes of water everywhere. He leaned out from the wall and stared through the sights of his Windsinger down the street. Three breaths passed his lips, and when nothing moved Sai lowered the weapon and placed a tag on the wall. A second later a burst of chakra activated the seal.

Thirteen down, one more to go.

His footfalls splashed down the street and returned to him from the fog as muted echoes. His body tensed and Windsinger rose to the semi-ready position. He'd passed the line of hidden Ame shinobi guarding the perimeter, and pushed out into no man's land. Here, an eerie pall hung between the buildings along with the fog, broken by the sound of explosions every few seconds in the distance. It was as if the entire city was holding its breath in anticipations for what was to come.

Something moved to his right, and Sai twisted his body. An explosion resounded in his ears and it took him half a second to realize the movement was from his reflection in a storefront's window and the sound came from his heart.

Sliding a hand down his face, Sai began turning when a deep cold settled across his back. His eyes widened at the familiar feeling, and his body stopped. There was only one way to describe the feeling sinking into him—one thought he could associate with it.

Sai looked back at his reflection, and behind him stood a tall figure in a tattered cloak. Its clay-colored face grinned as their eyes met.

Sai couldn't move—from what he saw or the consuming cold he wasn't sure, so he watched the reflection. Another grin revealed jagged teeth, and an emaciated hand came forward and rested on Sai's shoulder. Where it touched disappeared from his senses. Like it never existed. But it wasn't just that—it was like half the burdens placed on him vanished as well. It felt almost…good.

Sai let out a longing breath and realized it didn't plume in the damp air. The rain had stopped, or at least he thought it had until a small sting struck his hand. He looked down to find small balls of sleet bouncing off his chest and forming a ring around him. Yet a few feet away the street's endless puddles rocked and rippled as they grew.

"Are you real," Sai asked once his eyes returned to his reflection.

The figure didn't respond, and instead reached forward with an gnarled finger. Sai's eyes cut to the side, waiting to see the hand reach past him. But nothing came into view, and when he looked back the apparition poked him in the chest.

His heart skipped a beat, and the creature grinned as if feeling it.

"What do you want?"

A grin was Sai's answer as it began tracing its finger on his reflection's chest—leaving a trail of frost in its wake. The design slowly circled around winding in on itself until the hand fell away.

Sai's breath caught at the symbol of their clan staring back at him.

Tearing his eyes away he looked up in time to see the apparition swinging its raised tanto down on him.

"Commander!"

A body slammed into Sai and his world jerked sideways causing him to go limp, and he hit the pavement without bracing. The sound of his mask grinding across the ground reverberated in his ears for a few seconds before it was replaced with multiple metals clashing and death cries.

"Sir, are you alright?"

A groan escaped Sai as he sat up and blinked through the spinning vision. The Hyuuga crouched in front of him slowed into focus, "Renai."

"Yes, sir," he said standing and offering a hand. "Can you move?"

A resigned breath escaped Sai and he took the hand, "Unfortunately." Eyeing everyone he added, "I believe you were ordered to return to the base."

"We were," Renai said.

"Yet here you are."

"Chance encounter we crossed paths on our return."

Sai stared at the team leader for a moment before giving a dismissing nod, "Get your team back to base, captain."

Sai started to move down the street, but the sound of four extra pairs of feet caused him to look over his shoulder, "Captain..."

"As luck would have it, the next seal point is on the way to the base," Renai said.

It wasn't, and Sai stared at the blank faced Hyuuga. "This is insubordination," he said.

"New orders, Blue team," Shindou said. "Commander says return to base immediately."

"Gladly," Renai said signaling to the others.

"However, as second-in-command I want you to disregard that and escort the Commander until his sealing is complete."

"...You want us to ignore our orders?"

"For the Commander's sake, yes."

Renai frowned, "I hope you have a perfect explanation."

"He's exhausted and not in his right mind," Shindou said. "I know you're one for following orders, but make an exception. He's our ticket out of here. If something happens to him odds are none of us will make it home."

"….Understood," Renai said. "What are his coordinates."

"So punish me when we get home," Renai said slapping Sai's shoulder and moving past him. "And you're welcome."

Sai watched Renai take point while Hyororito, Toiki, and Satomi fell into diamond formation around him, resulting in him shaking his head muttering, "Stubborn Hyuuga."

1330 hours

"Nobody can know," Shino said.

The faint humming of the chakra fueled technology around the command center was the only response.

Who could blame them? Knowingly withholding information from their superiors was a huge offense, regardless of the contributions they'd made to the village. Judging from their expressions Jihibiki and Renge seemed to be on board, but Karin was another story. Her face was the epitome of confliction, and if she went into public it'd only be a matter of time before someone found out.

It wasn't that Karin was weak willed, but it was safe to suggest her family was her biggest weakness. Namely, Naruto. The very idea of keeping secrets from him caused her pain. It was endearing—but it was also potential information breach...

"I suggest you remain in the house until the worst has blown over," Shino said looking at Karin.

Karin stared at him, and without asking why read his emotions.

Worried. Anxious. High Risk. Information leak.

Karin's lips pressed together but she nodded; Shino's worries weren't unfounded. "From what I've heard Naruto-nii-sama is taking a beating at the trial. It'd be best to remove distractions."

"I'm glad we can agree," Shino said. "If Nara-san finds out about Konan's labor I have no doubt he'll pull the plug on the mission. It's imperative we keep this under wraps—"

Shino froze, and immediately the others went on edge. All at once all three heads turned to the corner of the room.

"Jihibiki-san, I believe your security is a little lacking," Shino said.

"No," he replied, "We just weren't expecting to be undermined like this."

"Believe me when I say I take no pleasure in doing this," the Commander said morphing out of the shadow. "The very thought of doing this leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, but my orders come from Tsunade-sama."

"That brat is so untrusting that she had to send a spy," Renge said.

"Shikaku's idea no doubt," Shino said.

"Correct," the Commander replied. "You understand the repercussions for withholding information?"

"And you understand the repercussions if we don't," Shino said.

"I'm well aware. But our village takes priority."

"How can you so easily make that decision," Karin asked.

"There's a reason I'm in charge. It was too much to expect you to set aside altruistic ideals in this kind of situation, you're still young after all."

"You realize we can stop you," Jihibiki said.

"I've no doubt you could," the Commander replied. "Which is why I've taken precautions. The Hokage and Jonin Commander are being informed as we speak. Expect to hear from them soon."

A light pop echoed around the room as the Anbu Commander's shadow clone dispelled. Karin felt dread flood her body, and she turned to see everyone looking just as pale. After a few breaths though, Shino turned to Jihibiki.

"I believe we have a few contingencies to activate."