Kotori tightly gripped the railing as she watched her kids emerge from the thick tree cover.

Ryoku had Daichi on his back while Kikumari had Mimi half slumped over hers. Both were making a break for the tower while another team was in hot pursuit. Kotori could make out the Oto symbol on the other team's forehead protectors. One of them was crouched behind some trees, doing some sort of jutsu.

Whatever the Oto shinobi did, it was invisible to her eye. However she could see the affect it had on her team. Ryoku seemed to have hundreds of tiny cuts on him. The light armour he wore underneath his shirt protecting him from most of it. However she could see there was a fresh cut bleeding on his cheek and all the tiny rips in his sleeves. Kikumari was completely exposed and her light pink fur was stained darker with blood. Whether it was hers or Mimi's was hard to tell.

Kakashi had his forehead protector lifted and was observing through the sharingan. "Each sound wave sends out hundreds of slices of chakra."

Kotori's hands flew through her seals and she aimed a lightning arrow at the genin from Oto, ready to release at any time.

"If you release that arrow, your kids will be disqualified," Kakashi warned her.

She refrained from rolling her eyes. "I'd rather a disqualified kid than a dead one."

However she waited, not wanting to truly intervene unless needed. This was Ryoku's time to prove himself. She knew it would destroy his confidence if she stepped in now. Her heart was in her throat the entire time; Kotori hated seeing her kids hurt. The urge to step in front of them to protect them had never been so strong. Ryoku's hands flew so fast through his seals that Kotori couldn't make out what he was doing until thick walls from the earth rose up, creating an overhead tunnel between them and the door.

"Mud Wall can block the jutsu," Kakashi said, sliding his forehead protector back over the sharingan. "They'll be fine from here."

Kotori let the lightning arrow fizzle out in her hands. She rushed down the steps all the way to the bottom level to greet her team as they entered the tower.

Already, medics were rushing towards them, putting both Daichi and Mimi on gurneys. Someone was calling for a vet to be brought in for Kikumari as they attended to the poor ninken. Trusting her team were in good hands, she focused her attention on Ryoku, who was still standing in the middle of the chaos, a shellshocked look on his face.

"Sensei, it's all my fault."

"Listen to me," Kotori gently reassured him. She tried to slowly coax him away from the door and over to the medical bay. "You did the best you could. You saved your comrades and got them back to safety."

"You said not to go after the teams from Oto and I didn't listen. They were so much stronger than us. Those aren't ordinary genin."

Kotori beaconed for one of the medics to come take a look at him. The cuts were all superficial wounds at best and were healed within minutes. However he looked shaky on his feet. Kotori suspected he had pushed himself to his limit to get his team back to the tower.

Ryoku handed over an earth and heaven scroll from his pocket. "I want to continue to the next round. It's a tournament, isn't it? I won't need a team."

The doctor shook his head. "Chakra exhaustion, I wouldn't recommend continuing."

"I want to fight," Ryoku stubbornly insisted.

Kotori shook her head. "A good shinobi knows when to conserve their strength and try another day. Do you really think you can fight with no chakra?"

Ryoku closed his eyes, clearly frustrated. "No."

Kotori managed to escort him to the hospital and then proceeded to do the worst thing anyone could do to a stubborn teenaged boy. She sent a clone to get his mother to meet them. Ryoku gave her dirty looks as Natari tearfully fussed over him.

"Traitor," he mouthed.

Kotori simply gave a small smile. She liked Natari; she reminded her a little of her own mother. Ryoku's father had died in the nine tails attack and his civilian mother tried her best, although it was clear she worried over him. A situation that Kotori was able to empathize with.

Daichi's parents were the next to arrive, screaming at her for allowing their son to be injured. Something they believed wouldn't have happened if Aoba had been the jonin leader for the exam. Kotori didn't bother to correct their misplaced anger, offering what little reassurances she could. Their son was injured and they were lashing out at the only person they could. Dealing with the parents was always the hardest part, especially when one of the kids was injured never mind the entire team. Fortunately Kotori had enough goodwill from the Nara and Yamanaka clans that they trusted her judgement when it came to Ryoku and Kouta. But Kotori would take tears or anger over indifference any day. At least those parents cared. Her third clone to Mimi's father went ignored and had to fetch Tsume instead.

Kotori lingered around the waiting room for news. She fidgeted as she kept an eye on the three rooms. As the hours crept by she was given updates one case at a time. Ryoku was admitted with a severe case of chakra exhaustion, but that was only so the hospital could keep him under observation. Most young shinobi did not know the meaning of the word bedrest. To be fair, most older shinobi didn't understand it either. Daichi's surgery was successful and the doctors were optimistic they could release him in a few days. Mimi would need multiple surgeries to repair the damage she had sustained to her spine. It was unknown if she would ever fully recover and be able to continue her career as a kunoichi.

Her usually bright pink eyes were downcast as Kotori sat in the chair next to her, squeezing her hand while the doctors deliberated over the best course of action. There was a knock on the door, drawing their attention. Anko looked sheepish as she stood there.

"Kotori, I, uh, need to ask you something."

Kotori followed her outside the hospital room. She crossed her arms and lifted an eyebrow as she waited for the favour she knew Anko was about to ask.

"I need you to redirect as many birds into the forest as you can. There's been an incident and we believe Orochimaru has infiltrated one of the teams."

Kotori felt the blood drain from her face. This had to be a sick joke. Orochimaru in Konoha? He had fled the village when she was twelve and news of his human experimentations spread shortly after. Kotori could remember the horrified and hushed tones the adults spoke in as they tried to keep the truth from the younger shinobi. The few snatches she had caught from her birds - people mutilated as their bloodlines were studied, others who had been put through poison and weapons testing, women forcibly implanted with embryos - had been the source of many nightmares. Anko would never joke about something like that. Kotori had heard about how Orochimaru abused his former student, how he had experimented on her and then left her for dead. She could see the fear and anger on Anko's face. She knew only too well what it was like to have your former tormentor show up in your village.

Kotori grimly nodded as she flashed through her seals. "I'm on it. I'll let you know if I find him."

No sooner had Anko disappeared out the window did she see Hinoki rushing down the corridor toward her.

"Kotori-san! You were - "

"Right?" Kotori snarked, feeling validated.

"Don't let it go to your head. I want you tailing those bastards from Oto. Don't let them out of your sight. They're up to something."

For the second time that day, Kotori split herself into clones. She left one in the hospital with her students while another followed the Oto jonin leaders. The real her regrouped with Anko's team, helping them sweep the Forest of Death. Orochimaru had managed to flee, but it wasn't until Kakashi's team made it out of the exam two days later that they learned his true purpose; he was after Sasuke.

Kotori was officially recalled to ANBU for the remainder of the chunin exams as extra security after that. She and Genma were partnered to do the morning patrol shift. The sector they were assigned in the eastern quadrant was quiet. Most of the people were still asleep. Only a few shopkeepers were awake, slowly preparing for their day. Kotori and Genma lingered on the rooftop of a bakery owned by a retired ANBU. The old man and his kind wife usually left fresh pastries and tea for whoever was on duty. They quietly ate as Kotori used her birds to scan for any suspicious activity. So far, the only illegal activity was a plumb looking rabbit she caught stealing lettuce from the Sanada's vegetable garden.

Kotori watched as a brilliant, blood-red sunrise crept over the horizon. "Red skies in the morning," Kotori murmured, stretching as she stood up.

"Don't tell me you believe that nonsense," Genma said. "If the sky was red every time blood had been spilt, we've never see blue."

"I suppose with everything that's going on, I feel more unsettled than usual."

There were too many coincidences at once and it had everyone unnerved. They quickly finished their tea and went back to patrolling their quadrant. Up ahead they noticed Yugao and Satoshi standing on a rooftop, speaking with Tenzo.

"Hey look, it's our former friends," Genma joked.

The two of them changed paths to go say hello and exchange any news. Kotori knew Team Ro had been hot on the trail of Orochimaru before he had all but vanished into thin air.

"I'm a little worried - " Yugao was saying. "He didn't come home at all last night. That's not like him."

"And he was trailing Baki?" Tenzo asked. His arms crossed as he intently listened to her.

"Yeah. He felt there was something off during the preliminaries about the Suna team. I wish he would have let the ANBU handle it."

Tenzo nodded in greeting at them. "Hawk, can you have your birds scan the area for Hayate?"

"Yeah, give me a moment." None of her chakra birds had eyes on Hayate which made things a little difficult. She directed a few of them to fly over the village, doing a sweep. Kotori didn't even know what area of the village he was in. Of course, if he was tailing Baki he was probably taking care to cover his tracks.

"I see Baki with his team in training ground sixteen. No sign of Hayate, although he's probably using a cloaking jutsu."

"I can't even sense his chakra in the village," Yugao added.

"I'm sure he's just concealing it," Genma told her.

However Genma exchanged an uneasy glance with Kotori. It wasn't like Hayate to cause Yugao to worry like this. He was always quick to let her know when a mission was expected to run late. Especially one within the village. It was easy enough to send a clone or have someone deliver a note.

Chika dee dee dee

Kotori felt a horrible sense of foreboding as she did the bird seal and found the chakra bird calling out to her. Hayate was lying on one of the rooftops. Please let him be injured, she thought, don't let him be -

But no, there was no rise or fall of his chest. Hayate was covered in blood with a horrible gash across his chest. Her bird crept closer, trying to listen for the beat of his heart.

Kotori shakily released her jutsu, her heart pounding in her ears. She felt sick to her stomach as she looked up, seeing Yugao's hazel eyes intensely starring at her from behind the cat mask.

"Did you find him?" Yugao urgently asked her.

"Yes, I - "

Yugao must have heard it in her tone because she started shaking her head, frantically cutting her off. "Where is he? If Hayate needs my help - "

Kotori thickly swallowed, she knew this news would destroy her friend. "I'm so sorry - "

Yugao let out an anguished cry, her hands instinctively covering her face despite the mask. Her broken sobs tore at everyone's hearts. Yugao was always so strong, so composed. Satoshi tried to put a comforting hand on her shoulder, but Yugao immediately shrugged him off. Kotori managed to wrap a comforting arm around her friend as Yugao cried into her shoulder.

"We'll go retrieve him," Genma quietly offered.

Yugao shook her head. "I"m coming too. I need - I need to come too."

Kotori shared an awkward glance with Tenzo, unsure if this was in Yugao's best interest. No one should see a loved one cut down so brutally. However Tenzo gave a brief nod. At the very least, Yugao would not have to face this alone. They would make sure of it.

"He's at Kikyo Castle."

xXx

Hayate's funeral was a quick and gloomy affair.

Kakashi starred up at the grey clouds, hoping the weather would hold. He listened to the same meaningless words uttered at every service. Kakashi had a dark feeling there would be more funerals by the end of this tournament.

His eyes kept being drawn to Yugao who was standing between Genma and Kotori. Her entire body trembled and he was quite certain Genma was the only thing holding her up in that moment. Kakashi's heart ached for her. He could only imagine the pain she must be in. He lived his life in fear of that very pain. Avoiding it, rejecting it, pushing it away. He remembered the terrible agony those few minutes when he thought Kotori was dead. How his entire world felt like it was collapsing in on him. At least he had been able to bring her home in the end. It was the only solace he had. A solace that no one could ever give to Yugao because Hayate was never coming home.

As people filtered out of the cemetery, Kakashi shoved his hands in his pockets and walked over to offer his condolences. Yugao had always been a good friend to him, even when he didn't deserve it.

She was still standing between Genma and Kotori, with Tenzo and Satoshi close by. Kakashi awkwardly approached the remnants of his former team. Tenzo made eye contact with him, acknowledging him with a brief nod.

"Yugao, I'm sorry," he offered. The words felt inadequate.

She gave a tight smile that didn't meet her eyes. "Thank you."

Finally, the grey clouds opened up and a heavy rain fell over them.

"Let's get you back to my place," Kotori gently suggested, coaxing Yugao away from the freshly engraved name. "Out of the rain before you catch a cold."

Yugao nodded her head, allowing Kotori and Genma to guide her away from the cemetery.

"Why don't you come with us?" Satoshi asked him. "I'm sure Yugao would appreciate the support."

"Ah - " He found himself making eye contact with Kotori, seeking her permission first. After all, it was her place and she might not want him around.

However she gave a little shrug. "He's right."

With that, they darted over the rooftops to Kotori's building, none keen on staying out in the rain and getting wet. Once inside, Tenzo pulled him aside before they could enter Kotori's apartment, allowing the others to go in first. In the past, he and Tenzo had been on the same page and Kakashi could easily guess what he would say. It was what made them such an effective team. Those days were long behind them. Tenzo remained unreadable to him now. Kakashi tilted his head, curious where this would go. Would Tenzo tell him to leave, that his presence was not welcome? Would he warn him away from speaking to Kotori as Genma had done?

"I heard you're taking Sasuke out of the village tomorrow? Do you need a teacher for Naruto?"

The offer caught him by surprise, however made logical sense. Tenzo was one of the few people in Konoha who could properly train Naruto without losing control of the nine tails. Perhaps Kakashi would take him up on that offer in the future. For now, the plan was that Ebisu would work with him for a few days on the basics while Jiraiya observed before taking over. There was something off about the seal on Naruto's stomach and Jiraiya was one of the few who could possibly fix it.

"Thank you, but Jiraiya has already offered."

Tenzo gave a curt nod before opening the door and entering Kotori's apartment.

It was comforting to see that Kotori's place hadn't changed much over the years. There were only minor changes; a few new plants on her windowsill, some teal throw pillows on her couch. She had replaced photos of them with photos of her friends and new team. Fortunately there were no signs that she was dating Aoba. The other man's presence was missing from her apartment. An obnoxious bouquet of wilting flowers sat on her windowsill, the only indicator of a potential love interest.

He sat down in the armchair, joining Genma, Yugao, Satoshi and Tenzo in the living room. He could hear the kettle whistling in the kitchen, Kotori was making tea for her guests.

"We're going to kill Baki and avenge Hayate. I don't know what the hell Suna is playing at," Genma was assuring Yugao, "But they won't get away with it."

Kotori joined them, putting down a tray of six teacups and some snacks on her coffee table. Out of habit, he reached for his favourite. The one with the outline of lovebirds sitting in a tree, their bodies pressed together in the shape of a heart.

"And these guys from Oto - " Tenzo was shaking his head. "Not much is known about village sprung up out of nowhere. They seem to be in league with Orochimaru though."

"They're a bunch of mercenaries Orochimaru recruited to create his own village," Kotori quietly said. She had curled up on the couch on Yugao's left side. "The other jonin leader was one of Gyoku's men."

"What?!"

"Fuck, seriously?"

"Are you alright?" Kakashi couldn't help but see the way she shrunk into herself once she ended up the centre of attention. Kotori didn't normally shy away from people, especially a group she knew as well as the people in her living room.

"Of course I am." He could hear the lie in her words. "I informed the Hokage's office, but they didn't think it was important."

"Perfect. We have a village full of sadist bastards led by Orochimaru," Genma sneered. "Supported by Suna while our strategy is to wait and see."

Tenzo crossed his arms. "We have a captain's meeting tomorrow with the commander. I'll bring up these concerns."

"I wouldn't hold your breath," Genma said. "The jonin assembly wasn't impressive."

None of the jonin were content with the Hokage's inaction. Kakashi couldn't believe it himself. They should be preparing for an invasion. There was enough puzzle pieces on the board to see the picture and it wasn't pretty. Suna had betrayed them and were aligning themselves with Orochimaru who wanted to see Konoha destroyed. Everything pointed to something happening at the final exam and it centred around Gaara and Sasuke's match.

"I've spoken to my mother myself," Satoshi confessed. "She gets more stubborn with age. The Hokage keeps holing himself up with her, Homura-sama and Danzo-sama. They won't even listen to Masato-san or Shikaku-san."

It was a bad day when the Hokage would rather listen to his old buddies than the men he had acting as ANBU and Jonin Commanders.

"Kotori, do you have any idea what Shikaku's planning?" Genma asked.

Kakashi was curious of that as well. It wasn't like Shikaku to sit quietly. He had also been absent during the jonin assembly hosted the day before.

"I actually don't know him that well," Kotori admitted. "But he's probably doing what any clan leader would do right now; organizing their own evacuation. Most of the major clans have underground bunkers or some sort of emergency plan. Especially after the nine tails - It's the residential areas around the stadium I'm concerned about. There's a lot of civilians and none of them are affiliated with clans. Even the chunin aren't being told. If we can't contain the fighting, they won't have any warning."

Yugao spoke up for the first time. "We need to evacuate them. It's our duty as shinobi to protect them."

"I'll speak to the commander," Tenzo promised. "At the very least I can convince some of the other captains to help. Kakashi, can we count on you to be late for Sasuke's match?"

Kakashi waved his hand. "If necessary."

"From the intel we could gather, they're waiting for Gaara and Sasuke's match to trigger something. We could use the time between everyone going to the stadium and Sasuke's match to evacuate the area, but we need time." Tenzo shared a meaningful glance with Kakashi. They were among the few who suspected what was sealed inside of Gaara. "Kotori will send you a message once we've secured the area."

"I'm proctoring the match," Genma said. "I'll stall it as long as I can. But if you're too late the Hokage might disqualify him."

"He won't," Kakashi said. "If we're right that Suna has something planned, they'll insist on waiting for Sasuke."

There was a knock that interrupted them. Kotori stood up to answer it, finding Aimi, Raidou, Shiori, Asuma, Kurenai and Aoba on the other side. Suddenly her tiny apartment felt too small for the group that had come to see Yugao.

Aoba kissed Kotori's cheek before she leaned into his embrace. Kakashi felt his insides run cold as he looked away. This was what he wanted. He repeated the mantra over and over again.

"What are you doing here?" Aoba asked him, possessively wrapping an arm around Kotori's shoulders.

"He's friends with Yugao. I invited him." It was Kotori who spoke up in his defence. There was a soft warning in her tone, and Kakashi tried not to feel too happy that it was directed at Aoba and not him.

"I was heading out soon anyway."

Aoba seemed uncomfortable by his presence in her apartment and Kakashi didn't want it to become an issue for Kotori. He put the teacup back on the tray and bid his goodbyes. He used the window in the stairwell of the apartment to escape to the rooftop.

Kakashi stood still for a moment, observing the village muted by grey tones. The rain had stopped, although the dampness lingered in the air making it feel thick and humid with the summer they had been having.

"You never got over her, did you?" Yugao quietly asked from behind him.

Kakashi ignored her question for one of his own. "Why are you out here?"

"I needed a bit of air. I know everyone means well, but it's a bit stifling." She sounded tired. Her eyes were red rimmed and puffy, but no longer had any tears. Just an emptiness in them. "I left a clone, should be a while before they figure it out."

"In my experience, you have about ten to twenty minutes."

She didn't respond for a long time, seemingly lost in her thoughts. She closed her eyes as she let out a soft sigh. "You know, I used to think you were an idiot for leaving Kotori. But now that I know how badly it hurts to lose the one you love - I think I get it now."

"I wish you didn't," he said. Because Yugao deserved better than to know that pain. It was one he wouldn't wish on any of his comrades. "I'd rather you still thought I was an idiot."

"Oh, I still do." She gave him a ghost of a smile. "Cover for me a little longer. I'm going home."

AN: Yugao :'( My poor baby girl. They did her dirty. She doesn't even get her revenge on Baki in canon!

Easter egg: I rewatched the scene where Yugao finds Hayate. There's actually 4 other ANBU with her, although they don't look how I picture Kotori, Satoshi, Genma and Tenzo, but artistic licence :)