The Plan
Hiruma was the name of the woman being escorted through the gates of Konoha by ANBU. Under the orders of Kakashi she was to be taken to the hospital for evaluation for her wounds then led to interrogation as a person of interest in a case. Several people ogled the brunette out of curiosity but there were a few looks of recognition as well.
Her evaluation listed her as healthy and nothing seemed physically wrong with her besides the wounds she suffered just outside the village. ANBU guards along with Ino escorted her from the hospital to the mind investigation unit.
On routine patrol duty Izumo noticed the woman and wondered what all the security is for. He was told nothing but senses it has something to do with the Nightmare Jutsu case everyone is working on.
In the interrogation room Hiruma tapped her fingers on the desk. The interrogator a masked ANBU was already losing patience before he even began.
"So talk," the masked man began. It was a bit unusual for the ANBU to be interrogating a captive inside the village but he was prepared to follow orders. These special orders made since given how little they knew about their attacker's impersonation capabilities.
"Not much for small talk that's alright but let me start there with that day. I was locked up in that prison you see. For nearly three years I spent my days there. The whole time I was in the village," Hiruma said.
"Clearly we're talking about Kusagakure," the masked man asked. The prison in Kusagakure was notorious and criminals rarely escaped. It would have been a hellish three years for a woman like her he thought to himself. She seemed frail not at all like a strong Kunoichi should be.
"Where else," she sneered.
"We have no reason to believe a word you say but I do want you to tell me everything anyway perhaps you can include any information about the criminal named Kota," the masked man said.
"A lot of things that were rumored to have happened became confirmed in those three years. Criminals talk and people let their guards down in prison. They are not afraid to share things that would otherwise stay classified. I learned a lot and that information became valuable," Hiruma said.
"Do tell this valuable information," the masked man urged.
"Like I said they are not afraid to share but I on the other hand will take some convincing," she said.
"What do you want?"
"Let me go," she replied.
"You know we can not," the masked man said folding his arms. This was going to be a tough interrogation. After several hours work he turned his report in to the Hokage tower.
000
Later at the Hokage office Kakashi explained a little of what is going on to a group of Jounin including Izumo and Naruto. Kakashi came up with a plan to send a team to the area Hiruma indicated during her interrogation.
The mission group came to a tree that Hiruma indicated in her interrogation. The woman claimed to have woken there after escaping. Supposedly buried in the ground the group would find scrolls they needed to remove the Nightmare Jutsu.
The team turned up empty handed.
000
The second mission to recover intelligence from Hiruma's interrogation was being discussed in a room full of Shinobi in the Hokage tower when two ANBU interrupted. Kakashi had the group wait in his office as he led a masked man to a side room. In the room Kakashi listened as a masked man explained the status of Sasuke.
"Shino's team reached his hideout this morning," the masked man explained.
"I see and has our message gotten to him," Kakashi asked.
"Yes. Shino was able to convey what was going on to him. Sasuke is on board with the plans," the masked man replied.
"Have Shino and his team report to this office as soon as he returns," Kakashi said dismissing the masked man.
Kakashi returned to the group inside his office as the masked man left.
"Everybody your attention please," Kakashi commanded the Shinobi who sat around the room, "As some of you may be aware of Sasuke has left Konoha."
Murmurs went around the room.
"We'll assemble-
"Let me finish," Kakashi said holding up his hand and continuing, "Uchiha Sasuke is now recognized by the Gokage as well as the Otogakure leader. We will lend support and resources if needed. They will have help to disassemble any and all of Orochimaru's research facilities that still remain. S-Class criminals will be dealt with. It is a cleanup mission of sorts backed by the Daimyo's and Gokage."
"Any connection to the Nightmare Jutsu case or the interrogation of Hiruma," Naruto asked.
"The details cannot be shared at this time," Kakashi said.
"I understand," Naruto replied. He understood that whatever Kakashi knew he wouldn't share with the general group but would let Naruto know when he could.
"I've kept my strongest Shinobi close to home as you've all recognized by now," Kakashi said pausing to gauge the response of this team, "There is a reason for that. First I must add that we are also saying goodbye to Ibiki who has left with a team after Sasuke to be of assistance to the Otogakure leader advising him on how to deal with the criminals."
"Sasuke is essentially alone…was this completely his decision," Naruto asked. He had to make sure that everything was clear to him.
"I am aware of his past. There are certain diplomatic moves that must be made to ensure the peaceful development of the Otogakure and I will not discuss it at this time," Kakashi said.
Murmurs passed through the group. It seemed like they wouldn't get the answers they sought so easily. Things were classified after all.
"That is the reason we've been kept in the dark," Naruto asked.
"Yes," Kakashi said looking at the confused shinobi and continuing, "A move to draw the enemy out. None of what is said leaves this room. The less information that flows the better. Yurika can explain more of what we found."
"Yes, Rokudaime," Yurika came to the front of the room with a scroll in her hand. She had worked hard deciphering the latest messages they lifted off Tori's henchmen.
"Go on," Kakashi waved.
"Our squad has poured over the messages found on Tori's group. They were all encoded. Surprisingly their method of sending messages used birds. The unusual thing is the birds were clones of one bird. It wasn't until we found the original bird that we found the nest with scrolls like these.
Tori is capable of using a sealing jutsu similar to the one used by Orochimaru to control his victims. Members of Team Iya seemed to be under that jutsu according to these scrolls."
"And there are others," Kakashi spoke up, "Seems she is trying to build up a team. Or more accurate to say she has built up a team and is adding to the membership. These Shinobi are not ordinary. There is a reason she is choosing her targets."
Sakura glanced at Naruto who continued to do his best looking cool, detached and unfazed. His look mirrored Kakashi's and she knew the two were busy thinking. She couldn't shake the feeling that Naruto knew what was going on. Much more so than even she knew.
"There are other things they need to focus on namely the next attack. Another team will take over the village operations. There are teams dispatched to investigate what is left of Orochimaru's lairs.
What do we know of the women who were targeted by the Nightmare Jutsu in the other villages as well as our own," Kakashi asked.
Silence followed.
"I am getting tired of not knowing the answers to the most basic things," Kakashi said angered. Truthfully he was more upset that someone managed to infiltrate the village and pose as him. He couldn't share everything because the more information that flowed the more likely they would become an open target once more.
"Being kept in the dark myself I have to agree with you," Sakura said. She couldn't help but worry about her friends.
"We have teams working on the sealing jutsu," Kakashi continued ignoring the previous comment, "For now we will not let any of them out of our sights. None of them leave the village. Tori whose body was stolen in the past is under intense security."
"What do we do for now, what is our objective," Sai asked.
"Sai go home and keep a watchful eye on Ino," Kakashi said.
"But if I may, there is no mission no directive and everything is so scattered I'm not sure-
"Protecting your wife is your mission. There is a reason why she is considered a target so no arguments go home," Kakashi said.
"Understood," Sai said and left.
"Everyone else I will call when the time is right. Genma and Naruto stay behind everyone else dismissed," Kakashi said.
Everyone left and Sakura hung back looking from Genma to Naruto.
"Um, should I stay," Sakura asked.
"Yes," Kakashi said.
"I think he would be better use-
"No arguments," Kakashi said.
"No," Sakura said. There wasn't time to argue so she just let it go.
"You would think she would be delighted that she gets to spend so much time with you Naruto," Kakashi joked as Sakura blushed.
"Well," Naruto shrugged and grinned. Truthfully Sakura had more than enough to do with the pending birth of the Nara child. The fact that it could happen at any moment when they were in the middle of this attack didn't sit well with anyone. Ino insisted they keep a celebratory vibe about them as they awaited the birth. It would be a part of her family as well.
Kakashi continued giving final instructions to Genma.