Chapter 62

Beta'd by Black Sparrow

Anko Interlude

Anko quickly swallowed down the last of her Dango before she walked into the room that served as the Root command meeting room. Even half a year ago she wouldn't have dared to dream that one day she would be part of such a meeting. That she would be trusted with information like this… though to be honest now that she could see the actual magnitude of betrayal and corruption that was right under everybody's noses Anko was somewhat disillusioned about this so called 'honor'. Of course as a T&I member she had been more than aware of the darkest part of the shinobi work but hell, at the moment she felt more like the cleanup crew than a trusted member of Konoha. Was that what the others were feeling too?

Shaking her head Anko's mind returned to her first thought, her inclusion in the shinobi ranks had begun even before Kakashi had gotten rid of that stupid seal. It had all started with the lunch in the Hatake household when Kakashi had decided that he wanted her to meet his family. From that point on she had noticed how she had slowly been included in Kakashi's circle of close friends and trusted comrades. Anko probably shouldn't have been surprised that this behavior had swamped over from her private life to missions.

It wasn't like there had been a sudden flood of requests for her to be part of missions; she was a T&I kunoichi, something like this was literally impossible if they weren't at war… but Raido and Genma, who until that fateful lunch she had known only from passing in the halls, had started to request her as T&I backupif it was needed and the location wasn't further than a day away… Anko had to admit that it had felt gratifying. Genma had also turned out to be not only a phenomenal drinking partner but also willing enough to let her crash at his flat if it was the closest place after a night out.

Tenzo on the other hand wasn't somebody she ran missions with, for that their specializations were too far apart, but he still took the time to talk to her when he was in the T&I building. At first glance he seemed like a comparatively well-adjusted shinobi that had no problems socializing with his colleagues… but with time she noticed that his calm and slightly distant attitude was only a facade that hid a slightly dorky and awkward personality that probably hadn't changed much since he was a teenager. Anko had to suppress more than once the urge to tease him. She heroically refrained, after all he wasn't poking at her public mask so she probably should return that favor, no matter how cute she thought his awkwardness was.

Coming out of her thoughts Anko surveyed the room, Inoichi and Kanden Ayasa were already seated and had two large scrolls unrolled between them.

Kanden Ayasa was an interesting kunoichi, she was a former ANBU captain, one of the few surviving ones that had fought in both second and third Great Shinobi Wars and was one or two years younger than the Sannin. The officially retired kunoichi had been placed in charge of the Root operatives that hadn't been selected for apprenticeships and their training while the rest of the Root Command was scrambling to deal with all the different tasks the illegal division had taken care of. On the left side of Ayasa-taicho sat another two formerly retired ANBU agents that had been placed in the new Root Command. They were bent over another set of scrolls while they held a conversation with half aborted hand seals that Anko had no clue of. One thing was for sure, they had to be of the intelligence division; at least that was Anko's opinion. They somehow, Anko suspected pure skill and knowledge behind that, since being introduced as coworkers have avoided telling her their names. And in the last few days she had more than once met up with them to go over details she couldn't place. The purple haired kunoichi snorted inwardly, she had thought herself to be a relatively experienced Intelligence operative but what those two had been showing and teaching her since she became a part of Root had left her fumbling like a wet behind the ears Genin. Oh well, at least they weren't in her face about her shortcomings.

So while Anko and the two retired T&I members, analyzed the details, Inoichi-san took care of the bigger picture, he coordinated with the regular ANBU, the Hunter nin corps and the Jounin commander to distribute missions and untangle 'the Mess', as Anko liked to call it. The poor Yamanaka clan head had been pulled from his well-deserved 'retirement' that had started a few years back and meant reduced hours in the division. Well now he was back to full eighteen hour days.

Said Yamanaka looked up and nodded at her before motioning at one of the scrolls in front of him.

"Anko, I was just talking with Ayasa-taicho about the missions Danzo had planned to Kiri…"

Anko just nodded and took the chair across from them while Inoichi explained what he had in mind to prevent a spilling over of the internal fights in Kiri to Konoha. What he was proposing was devious, efficient and would cost Konoha next to nothing. With a feral grin Anko nodded before adding her own ideas, there was a reason why she had always looked up to Inoichi.

Kakashi Interlude

That evening Kakashi took the time to run an ANBU sized perimeter check while he left Tazuna in his students care and Bull to watch over his brats. To his relief he couldn't find any other ninja in close vicinity. What had him concerned was the fact that they had been confronted by two Mist ninja who notoriously worked with other missing nin together, preferentially with other Mist missing nin. And tomorrow they were entering a region with A LOT of water… with a deep sigh Kakashi shoved the worrying thought aside, there was no helping this now, they would see this mission to the end. He just hoped that Shiori would forgive him; him being grounded from other missions to lead a Genin team had made him even more antsy than he had truly realized until now. And this morning he had been more willing to take a risk than strictly necessary. Sighing again Kakashi rubbed his nose and called himself an idiot, he really needed something to take that damn urge off, endangering his students was definitely NOT okay. The moment he returned from this mission he would take a hard and fast A-Rank mission to get his adrenalin craving out of his system, Asuma would surely be willing to take his brats for a week.

Shiori Interlude

During the first three days of the Wave mission Shiori felt the departure of her husband and his Genins the most. She had become used to them spending the mornings at the house and joining her family more often than not for breakfast and lunch, sometimes even dinner and now the house felt empty. The group of opposing forces had quickly learned how to occupy Hinako-chan and readily gave a hand when Shiori needed some help around the house. They were all good kids. Yes, all of them had their faults and problems but in their defense it was more than likely that those were also reinforced by their teenage hormones.

Sighing Shiori leaned back in her chair while she listened futilely for the noises of clashing kunai or encouraging shouts from Sakura and Naruto. Staring down at the forms and bills that had to be finished until the day after tomorrow, Shiori finally gave up, it was too silent for her at the moment. With Hinako playing with her friends at the crèche the house had become nearly deadly silent and she wasn't used to that anymore. So after gathering her paperwork Shiori quickly checked her appearance before she made her way to Mariko's, maybe there she would finally be able to finish that dreaded paperwork.

For once Shiori didn't enter through the back entrance but came through the front door, she had enjoyed walking through the bustling streets and was feeling curious about how full the teahouse would be on such a busy day.

She was greeted by Ai at the door. With a small smile she walked through the space between the tables and nodded at the familiar faces that sent her quick glances and friendly waves. Taking in the atmosphere Shiori refrained from talking, with the exception of a few murmured whispers it was nearly silent in the teahouse which was somewhat strange for a normal day but sometimes it happened and everybody kept only to basic interaction throughout their visit. This time it was probably a direct result of the stress everybody was under at the moment. Content that everything seemed to be in order the blue eyed woman walked upstairs into her bureau, yes coming here had been a good idea.

An hour and a half later Shiori was finished. Satisfied she stretched her arms above her head before she made her way down the staircase, she was sure that there had to be a spare uniform left somewhere that would fit her, she was feeling in need of exercise today. But before she could arrive on the floor that contained the changing rooms she became witness to a shouting match between two of her workers. For a moment she stood there with her mouth agape before she shook her head and determinedly made her way to the pair, she had no problem about them releasing their pent up anger but not in Mariko's staircase only a thin wall away from her customers!

"What is going on?" she asked coolly when she had reached the two.

Both blushed before they stammered at her presence.

A young waitress appeared behind them and said, "Fuhiko-san and Sayuri-san have broken up a few days ago."

"Oh boy," Shiori sighed before nodding. "Very well, go talk to the headwaiter; Sora will assign you two different times and floors so that you won't be in each other's vicinity until you have cooled down."

"Yes Shiori-san," they mumbled before practically fleeing.

"Thanks…"

"Suzuki. I'm new."

"It's nice to meet you Suzuki-chan, or do you prefer san?"

"Chan is fine," the bubbly green haired teenager answered before she vanished back onto the first floor.

Shiori felt a bit bad that she had neglected her work so much that she didn't even know the names of her latest employees; she would have to do something about that and sometime soon. With a last glance at the door where Suzuki-chan had vanished Shiori continued her walk to the changing rooms.

An hour later Shiori quickly stepped out of the tea house for a short break. She had been right, waiting on tables and doing a short tea ceremony on one of the traditional tables had been good for her. Shiori hadn't realized how much she had missed this. Being a mother and helping her sweet little daughter taking her first steps in life was wonderful and she wouldn't change it for anything but there was a reason why she had opened up this tea house. It was also great to get back in touch with her customers, it felt gratifying to her that her hard work and expansion of the tea house was so appreciated by the lethal portion of Konoha's populace.

"Inoue-san?" a voice asked behind her.

Turning around Shiori came face to face with Asuma, Team Ten trailing behind him.

"Sarutobi-san, good afternoon," Shiori answered politely but was interrupted before she could continue to say anything.

"Inoue-san! It's good to see you. I haven't seen you in a while!" Ino exclaimed behind her sensei before stepping closer to her.

"Hello, Ino-chan. Finished with training?" Shiori asked friendly and skillfully ignored Ino's question.

"No, just a D-Rank mission," Ino said with a slightly annoyed expression.

Shiori's face became somewhat sympathetic though she couldn't completely suppress the amusement she felt.

"Painting fences?" Shiori prompted them; she had noticed some white color on Chouji's sweater and Ino's skirt.

"No, walking dogs," the disgruntled Yamanaka answered. "We just had a run in with a freshly painted house wall."

Shiori's eyes flickered to Asuma who badly hid his laughter in a cough which just prompted all three Genin to glare at him.

To diffuse the situation a bit Shiori spoke up again, "But I'm being rude, Shikamaru-kun, Chouji-kun how are you?"

"Fine Inoue-san, if a bit hungry," the Akimichi answered cheerfully.

While Shikamaru's answer was only a deep sigh and slight grunt, apparently he was even too lazy to answer her in a full sentence. Though Shiori wasn't so sure if his non answer had been a good idea because Ino promptly planted her elbow between his ribs.

"That's rude Shikamaru! You could be more polite to Inoue-san!" the blonde kunoichi nagged before she promptly dropped into a small bow in front of Shiori. "My apologizes Inoue-san."

This time Shiori couldn't suppress the laughter, "It's fine, Ino-chan. I'm not offended. I have encountered enough Naras in the last few years to know better." At the last part she winked at the pretty young girl.

Ino giggled in reply while Shikamaru just sighed again and scratched his head, his 'troublesome' was nearly inaudible.

"… it was good to see you again Inoue-san but I fear we have to get going," Asuma interjected before Ino could say another word.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to keep you from anything. It has been nice to see you again."

"You too Inoue-san," Asuma and Ino answered simultaneously while Akimichi just grinned and Shikamaru sighed again.

With a last wave Shiori stepped back inside the tea house while Team Ten continued their way down the street.

Asuma Interlude

"I didn't know you knew Inoue-san," Ino promptly asked as soon as they were out of hearing distance of the civilian.

Asuma just looked at Ino somewhat disbelieving, who DIDN'T know about Shiori in Konoha.

"Right stupid question," Ino mumbled before she perked up again. "But she smiled at you and not just her normal polite smile." At the last part the blonde looked inquisitive up at him.

Inwardly Asuma sighed deeply, why did he have to have a Yamanaka on his team again? Oh right… tradition.

"Is that so," he tried to deflect halfheartedly.

Asuma knew better than to really try to hide this from his students because that would only draw the attention from Shikamaru and while Ino could be annoying, Asuma really didn't want Shikamaru interested in solving a puzzle.

"Do you like her?" Ino asked curious.

Asuma couldn't help but blanch at that thought, yeah no, he really wasn't suicidal.

"She is a friend Ino," Asuma finally conceded.

"Then why did you say Inoue-san and she Sarutobi-san?" the blonde persisted, "That's not what friends call each other."

Now even Chouji looked interested, great just great.

"Ino leave it," came the sudden interjection from Shikamaru.

"But…"

The blonde kunoichi now looked unsure, she may be a stubborn teenage girl but she was also a Yamanaka and so knew better than to ignore a warning from a Nara, no matter how lazy she thought Shikamaru was.

Asuma sighed again, he would have to give them a bit of the truth just to head of further questioning from them.

"Shiori is a civilian Ino, what do you think would happen if it ever came out that she gets along and is friends with a couple of Jounins."

At that all three Genin blanched, having grown up in a Clan they were a lot more aware of the dangers of having a civilian weakness.

"Oh… right," Ino said somewhat subdued.

With a last glance backwards at the three Asuma lit a new cigarette that had been a bit too close for his comfort.