Chapter 20

A Song for the Warrior

Sakura stood in the doorway of the armory, biting her lip as she gazed at the gleaming weaponry neatly arranged on the wall. There were shelves of shuriken, rows of kunai, boxes full of sharp senbon, another shelf with carefully arranged explosive tags. Short swords and long swords, chains, and ropes, and so much more. She took a step forward, palm sliding over the rack of gray armor vests that were custom among the ANBU. She was already wearing a slim pair of black leggings, and the same single-sleeved black shirt that showed off the ANBU sigil on her right bicep. She still hadn't reversed the jutsu, and absently touched the mark she had given herself as she contemplated her next move. The armory was quiet, tucked within the mountain walls, and lit only by lanterns that threw a blue-colored light against the weapons. She half expected something to leap from the shadows.

"Sakura?"

She startled at the irony, but only a little, and turned to see Riku standing behind her in the hallway. He was wearing his lab coat, and pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "What are you doing down here?"

"I could ask you the same," he said. Riku was not an intimidating man judging by looks alone; she surmised he had been drafted into ANBU on account of his laboratory and medical experience. He'd told her the ANBU handled their own medical needs (unless they were severely injured,) but Sakura rarely saw any of them in the hospital.

Sakura balled her hands into determined fists and squared her shoulders. "I'm going to Rain."

Riku's mouth gaped open like a fish out of water. "You can't! The Commander bade you to stay here until the mission was completed."

"My mission," Sakura said, enunciating carefully, "was always to make the antidote." She'd succeeded, and needed to get the supplies to the front line if they were going to successfully protect themselves against Hattori. "The Commander will want the supply on standby."

"But we only made enough for one batch!" he protested. It was all they had had time for.

"Which is why you are going to stay here and keep making them while I'm gone," Sakura said. "Besides, someone needs to keep an eye on Tenzo and Aoto and make sure they heal properly."

"You're the doctor!"

"Riku," Sakura said, her tone high and piercing, "I may be a doctor, but I am also a shinobi, and I refuse to sit back and wait for my friends to come home when I can be out there helping them."

"But there are bandits and rebels out there – what if you're attacked before you even make it to Rain?" he practically shrieked.

Sakura titled her head to the side, the corner of her mouth lifting in a sardonic grin. "Then how lucky it is that you will be here to keep making the antidotes." She would not be swayed. Sakura had already made up her mind – lurking danger or not, she was ninja, and she was heading for the front line.

"Is there nothing I can do to convince you to stay?" Riku tacked on desperately. "Think of how angry the Commander will be once he learns you've violated his orders."

Sakura laughed. "Trust me, Riku, it wouldn't be the first time." She turned her attention to the armor vests, searching the rack for the smallest fit available. She was certain Sasuke would be angry with her, but that temper would be short-fused once he realized she'd brought the antidote against the black salamander poison. She had ten vials. The first two had gone to Tenzo and Aoto, and the rest had been tucked away in a small padded medical pouch for safe transport.

Riku pressed his lips into a tight line and slowly shook his head. "I can't help but to think you're being foolish in this endeavor."

"Maybe," she agreed, lifting the vest off the rack, and sliding it on. She tightened the buckles at the sides, and took a waterproof pack down from the wall. It was dangerous to go alone, but she had a new skill now, and would practice wraith-mode the entire way to Rain at the expense of her chakra if it would keep her safe…

Riku shook his head again, laughed, and then shrugged. "You are a determined woman, Sakura. I'll give you that."

Sakura beamed over at him. "That might be the nicest thing you've said to me all day."

Refreshments had been brought to the ANBU guest rooms at the Amekage's palace. Kakashi picked at the tray of olives, cheese, and cold-cut meats, forcing himself to eat for nourishment purposes even though his stomach was protesting. He'd taken a solider pill prior to setting out on their mission, and already the effects were waning. He couldn't rest. Changing into dry clothes had been a small relief, but his mind was reeling over what was to come.

The quarters he'd been given were far more luxurious than necessary for an ANBU elite. The Amekage had given them the west wing – a wing typically reserved for advisors and diplomats, or leaders and rulers. Visiting shinobi were often given the south wing – a wing with smaller, more efficient, and purposeful rooms. The west wing had been another of the Amekage's grand gestures, another branch extended in gratitude for the Konoha alliance. The Amekage's army was still growing, but they had no ANBU unit of their own. It was a big deal that Konoha was coming to their aid, and the young Kage was wise enough to recognize the gravity of that significance.

Kakashi abandoned the food tray and stalked across the ornamental gold and silver rug on his way to the window. He pushed at the heavy golden tapestry, peering outside at the rose garden beyond. It was still raining, and droplets of water splashed against the pink petals of nearby peonies, reminding him of the color of Sakura's hair.

Kakashi sighed.

He wondered what she was doing back home – wondered if she was still in the lab, looking after Tenzo and Aoto. Much like himself, he knew that Sakura would find it difficult to rest… They had been apart before, especially the year-duration he'd spent in Rain after the Fourth War. Once he'd returned home and reinstated Team Kakashi, seldom was a mission the four of them didn't set out on together – there had been some, he knew. But he did not recall ever feeling this damned anxious without her.

There was a knock on his door, and Kakashi pulled his fabric mask back in place and then slid the porcelain ANBU mask down before answering.

Sasuke stood on the other side, nearly eye-level with him. "The meeting has been called," he said, jerking his chin in the opposite direction. Kakashi closed the door behind him without ceremony. Much like the shinobi, the operatives were always armed and ready for the worst and didn't make a fuss about their uniforms being weighted down with weapons. On missions, the elites rarely even stripped the weapons from their person while sleeping.

The pair walked down the heavily ornamented hallway, and Kakashi lifted a brow behind his mask. "No Ame guards to escort us?"

"I assured the Amekage her personal detail wasn't needed," replied Sasuke.

Kakashi was also surprised that Tora wasn't glued to Sasuke's side at the current moment (as the two were never found very far apart) but he chose not to remark on that topic.

"Are you angry with me for making Sakura stay behind?" Sasuke asked, catching Kakashi off guard.

He tried not to falter his footing. "Am I angry that you made a decision that keeps her safe? No."

Sasuke snickered. "Would you have made the same decision?"

Kakashi ran his tongue over the ridge of his teeth in thought. "Sakura could have made the antidote in the Amekagure hospital labs just as easily as she could at ANBU HQ," he said carefully, "but getting her here unharmed was a risk I wouldn't have taken, either."

Sasuke nodded.

Kakashi very much doubted that Sasuke was questioning his decision so much as gauging it against Kakashi's. The fact that they agreed on the topic justified what, exactly? Sasuke's selfishness for protecting his antidote-making asset– or Kakashi's desire to protect the woman he loved? They both cared for her wellbeing, but Kakashi knew that his particular brand of selfishness eclipsed Sasuke's on an entirely different level.

"Would you keep her from the fight?" Sasuke ventured as they rounded the corner for the meeting room.

"I would not," Kakashi answered without hesitation. "One does not love a bird and keep it in a cage, denying it the one thing it was born to do."

Sasuke lowered his tone in a playful yet mocking sort of way and said, "He speaks in proverbs now."

Kakashi grinned behind his mask.

Sakura couldn't recall the last time it rained so much.

The ground was soggy and gathering in shallow pools in the lower planes. The heavily trafficked areas and walking paths were nothing but mud now, and Sakura made sure to stay away from those areas as she exited the village and headed for Konoha's main gate. She'd donned her fox mask and pulled a black-hooded cloak on to hide her hair.

ANBU were the only ninja that didn't get questioned at the gate because their comings and goings were usually a private matter. This made leaving in the late afternoon easy enough, and she waved her goodbyes to the guards as she passed beyond the thresholds. She knew the path to Rain, but it was unwise to travel in the familiar direction alone, especially when Hattori's rebels were probably keeping an eye on the Konoha border. She would have to stick to the forest, taking the longer route which would add another two-hours to her trek.

If she was lucky, she would make it to the lake-crossing by nightfall.

The Amekage had changed into sage-green robes and had fashioned iridescent shell combs into her hair. She sat at the head of a long, burnished wooden table, while her most trusted advisors flanked either side of her. The Konoha operatives filed into the empty seats, keeping their masks on, and therefore appearing a little menacing and out of place among the Ame members dressed in their finery.

The Amekage welcomed the Konoha elites to her war council, and then gave the Commander the floor so he could inform everyone of their most recent discovery.

"The question is not if they will attack, but when," Sasuke finished, fingers spreading against the surface of the table.

"You say your team has counted close to one hundred rebel followers these last few weeks?" one of the Amekage's advisors asked. He was a stout fellow with a hawk-shaped nose and eyes as equally sharp.

"Yes," Sasuke answered.

"Our army is twice the size of that," the Amekage spoke.

"Yes, but your forces aren't armed with hundreds of poisonous weapons," Sasuke reminded her. "Without the black salamander antidote, you will lose men, Kimika-sama. Rain is still healing, still growing under your new and wise leadership. It would be a devastation, my lady, if Hattori were to succeed because of those weapons."

"What is it that you suggest we do, Commander?" Kimika's oldest and most-trusted advisor, a thin man with a long gray mustache, leaned forward and asked. Hawk-nose perked up beside him.

"Since Hattori's army is not formed with many, I believe he will pursue an attack at nightfall. We have studied their habits and abilities; your best defense would be to put the Konoha ANBU at the front of the line," Sasuke said.

"We are most grateful to the Konoha elites for this strong alliance, but we cannot ask you to fight for us if we are not willing to die to protect our own nation," the Amekage said in her smooth, bell-like voice. "We understand the risk involved, but our men will be on the battlefield with you and we will fight side by side, Commander."

"Hattori is young and ambitious – ambition can be a dangerous thing in its own right, but I believe our experience will eradicate the threat in no time," Sasuke said with a nod. After all, that was what the ANBU were known for. They could slip behind the lines and get a job done before it turned into a battle - but the group needed to be prepared, just in case. Especially with the danger of poison involved.

The Amekage shared a quiet exchange with the Commander of her army, and then faced the group as one. "We'll send a scouting team to the village borders, they'll alert us to any danger should Hattori attack. With any luck, as you stated, they won't be expecting you to aid us since your men have been wounded. We'll have our troops prepared for battle by nightfall."

The group stayed put for nearly another hour discussing battle strategies. The ANBU shared every ounce of information they had gleaned during their spying missions, and discussed armor that would be most beneficial to ward off poisonous weapons. When they were finally dismissed from the council meeting, the ANBU made their way to the armory to help ready weapons for the Amekage's army.

Kakashi located a box of kunai that needed sharpened, and tried not to think of the game that he and Sakura had played, serving as a safety net against the exploration of new feelings for one another. He smiled to himself regardless, finding it kind of endearing that Sakura had always found it easier to speak in the language of weapons. Blade and strength carving out a path for her emotions to trickle through. Kakashi was much the same in that regard.

Sasuke shouldered past him, grabbing a whetstone from the supply rack. "Their army is nothing to boast about," he said in a quiet tone, bordering on the line of irritation.

"They're still learning," Kakashi said. "They have heart."

"I remember when Rain ninja were ruthless and versatile. They were known for their genjutsu abilities, and now maybe only a handful can wield illusionary jutsus. Did you know they used to have one of the best assassination squads on the continent?"

Kakashi smiled behind his mask. "You forget I've been alive longer than you." Kakashi also wondered if Sasuke ever stopped to consider that his little stint with the dark side had caused some of the mass destruction in Rain. He supposed he did, which is why he was making such an effort to come to their aid now… A secret atonement of sorts.

Sasuke sat down on a wooden bench and began sharpening a long blade. The sound of steel rang out against the whetstone; a sound that had its own musical allure – waking something rudimentary in Kakashi's blood. A song for the warrior, a call to arms. Kakashi's whole livelihood had been built around that sound. He could recall the exact sound of his father's voice, teaching him a lesson as they sat around a small fire and sharpened blade after blade.

"I sent Neji out with Rain's sentry unit," Sasuke said.

"That's a good call," Kakashi said. Having the byakugan would come in handy for hidden movement.

Tora appeared in the doorway, choosing a stack of arrows with broken fletching to repair. He stood at the counter beside Kakashi, deftly scraping the old feathers off with a sharpened razor. The group worked in silence for some time, brothers in arms, efficiently knocking out the task at hand. It was easy work, mindless in a sense, but it kept them focused for several long hours.

When Kakashi was finished readying the weapons, he passed through the training arena and watched some of the soldiers sparring with one another. He recognized some of the younger warriors from his year spent in Rain Country, and watched as they performed techniques that he had personally taught them. It warmed his heart to know that they were still using his methods, that he had somehow made a difference in the growth and rebuilding of Rain's nation.

Kakashi couldn't help himself; he ducked below the mat wires of the sparring ring and picked up a training sword. Seamlessly, he inserted himself among the sparring pair, taking up the position of the attacker and wordlessly communicating to the others that they were meant to fend him off. It was two against one, and Kakashi stepped and ducked, blocking each of their blows without breaking a sweat as he challenged the young warriors. The exertion felt good. Power sang through his muscles, building and unfettering as he moved between the two soldiers.

Unbeknownst to him, Kakashi had drawn a small crowd of fellow soldiers and palace commoners that were passing by and stopped to enjoy the show. Among them was the fair-complected Amekage and her General.

"That one moves like he is Death's personal assassin," the General noted, nodding to Kakashi.

The Amekage smiled. "Yes," she agreed, "he's quite experienced on the battlefield."

"We should be so lucky," the General remarked before walking away from the spectacle. Kimika wasn't sure, but she thought she detected a note of jealousy in his tone.

"Shiori Kiba," she called out, and Kakashi turned his masked face in her direction, his practice blade catching between the cross of the two soldiers' short swords. "A word, if I may?"

Kakashi excused himself from the ring and watched as a crowd of people seemed to disperse around them. "How can I be of assistance, Amekage-sama?"

"Walk with me," she said, aiming for the doorway.

Behind his mask, Kakashi furrowed his brows, but he followed Kimika out into the palace hallways, surprised that they were so empty. Perhaps it was later in the evening than he realized.

"I know the ANBU like to keep their identities secret for the sake of the mission, but you must realize that your fighting style gives you away…" The Amekage had led him to the Great Room, pausing in front of the behemoth fireplace as she turned to face him with a charming smile. "I must admit… I didn't take you for an operative."

Kakashi only lifted his chin, staring at the Kage through the slits in his mask.

When he didn't speak, Kimika only grinned bigger. She leaned forward, placing her small palm on his forearm. "Oh, come now, Kakashi. Are we not friends?"

"Kimika…" Kakashi started, his tone low and quiet.

"You helped train me, Kakashi. You didn't think I would have recognized your fighting style?" She giggled again. She had also not removed her hand from Kakashi's forearm. "We just spoke a few weeks ago when you were here at the advising summit. Could you not have told me that you were an operative, too?"

Kakashi took a step backward as if to discourage her touch, but Kimika only stepped with him. "Afraid ANBU business is always top secret," he said. He also hadn't been drafted to the mission yet, but even if he had, he wouldn't have betrayed his brothers by divulging that information to anyone.

"Even from me?" Kimika slid her hand up Kakashi's arm, fingers wrapping around the back of his bicep. Kimika had made her interests in him known on his last visit, but Kakashi had managed to evade her advances. Kimika was smart and easy to like, but he didn't return those sentiments then, and he certainly wasn't returning them now…

"Kimika, I think you misunderstand–"

"Kakashi?"

A loud clap of thunder shook the palace walls and lightning flickered in the windowpanes. Kakashi and Kimika both turned their attention to the woman standing in the doorway. She was dressed in black from head to toe, and dripping water all over the Amekage's palace floors. Even without her fox mask in place, Kakashi would have recognized her in the dark.

"What are you doing here?" Kakashi's heart was in his throat as panic filled him from the inside out. Was she hurt? He stepped away from Kimika – hands reaching out to grip the woman he loved as if she were a ghost resurrected from the dead. "Are you hurt? Did something happen?" His hands pushed the cloak away from her head, unveiling the mass of pink hair she had tied up in a high ponytail. He longed to pull the mask from her face, to trace her cheek and inspect her for wounds. Had she really come from Konoha all on her own? He wanted to scold her for being so reckless. He wanted to kiss her senseless.

"I'm fine," Sakura bit out, distracted by the auburn-haired woman standing with her mouth slightly agape by the fire.

"What are you doing here, Kitsune?" he used her codename, pressing his fingertips into her shoulders.

"I did it," Sakura breathed, turning her face back to his. "I've got the antidote."

A little third-party drama llama, anyone? ;)

Thank you for your comments and reviews. You guys are awesome!

XOXO,
~Sparrow