Sachio Takata was his name, they'd come to find. Born in the Village Hidden in the Leaves, he'd become a Shinobi young and graduated as part of the regular forces. He'd fought in the Third Great Ninja War, eventually married, and had a son. He gave them no details, and they didn't ask.

Over the summer, his son's squad had been dispatched to the border of the Land of Fire to relieve another team, who had been guarding a nobleman and his entourage while they handled some "diplomatic business." Upon arrival, the entire group had been overrun by vagabonds and sold off to different parts of the continent, which the Leaf had only discovered after one of the captured Shinobi had been recovered by chance en route to the Land of Lightning. It had taken weeks to discover the locations of the others. The other squadmate had been killed at some point, the nobleman had been rescued, and Sachio's son had been sold to a group of mercenaries in The Land of Water.

"I knew what that meant," Sachio murmured. "The Hokage wouldn't authorize a mission to this country for a single Shinobi, and definitely not after...anyway. So I asked for an assignment on the coast, where I could be on the lookout for any news from the Land of Water. I waited for so long." He looked up and met all of their eyes, one by one. "Then I met a man who worked for one Takeru Osaragi."

Rei's mouth dried.

"We spoke casually. He wasn't Shinobi; he was just a tradesman, but he had heard rumors that the Village Hidden in the Mist was about to have a shift in power. A secret organization was forming, and though he didn't know much more, he knew that the village was beginning to destabilize, and the man he worked for was benefiting from it."

Things were starting to fall into place, and a sharp breath from Utakata brought Rei back to herself. She'd unconsciously drawn blood from his hand with her fingernails. She let go, not watching as he rubbed at his palm for relief.

"I began communicating with this man every time he came to port. Eventually, I came to communicate with Takeru Osaragi himself through writing. When I asked for information on Leaf Shinobi in the Mist, he was able to give me an affirmative answer, that one had been placed in the custody of the Seven Swordsmen." He looked pointedly at Mangetsu, whose face revealed nothing. "He sent my son's headband back to me as proof. We made a bargain; I would secure a stronghold for Mist defectors in the Land of Fire, and he would make arrangements for Bijin to come home."

Sachio's fingers scraped absently at a loose splinter in the surface of the table. "In his last letter, Lord Takeru asked me to report to this location, where Bijin would meet me with some of the organization's members in need of shelter outside the country. I had to agree to receive your group's mark before he'd arrange passage, which that little man upstairs made sure was as painful as possible." He opened his mouth for a moment to prove his point. "By the time my ship arrived yesterday, this port was buzzing with the news." He met Rei's eyes, and the edges of her vision darkened. "Lord Takeru and his wife were executed for treason, and their organization is being hunted down by the Anbu Black Ops, one member at a time."

Mangetsu released a breath that he'd probably been holding for a while and sank down into the chair across from the Leaf Shinobi. "We hadn't heard."

"Mhm. There's an active warrant out for their son. Anbu haven't located him, last I heard."

Utakata gave a strangled cry when Rei grabbed his hand again. "Why didn't we bring him, Mangetsu?" she demanded, throat almost too tight to allow words to pass. "They're looking for him! If they find him…!"

"Rei, he's the face of the foundation, now." Utakata was the one to answer. "If Koichi were to disappear, to flee the country, the remaining nobles and Shinobi on our side would crumble. He's the son of the founders, and they'll need to know that he can rebuild the organization one day."

"Besides," Mangetsu added, rubbing his eyes. "Headmaster Iwa has sworn to protect him. And Koichi's face has probably been broadcast all over the country by now. One clumsy moment, one disguise that slips, and we'd be in custody if he were with us. We can't afford to let that happen." Rei opened her mouth to respond, but Mangetsu had already moved on. "Have you been briefed on our task?"

"No, but if it involves leaving without my son, I won't be going anywhere."

Mangetsu sighed, nearly vibrating with sorrow, frustration, rage. "I don't know if you completely understand our situation now." He pressed his index finger to the surface of the table, drawing out the invisible points as he spoke. "The commander of the organization is dead. The second-in-command is in hiding. I, me, one of the Seven, have gone rogue. Members have been captured, are probably being tortured as we speak. The village is on highest alert. There is absolutely no way that we will be able to get your son out of the Mist. If he is even still alive." When Sachio just stared, Mangetsu added, "I'm sorry if it's harsh, but that is the truth as I know it to be right now. The village will be on lockdown, with no one allowed in or out until the Mizukage is satisfied he's eradicated all of us. And that will take a very long time."

They sat in silence for several moments, all of them turning the information over in their minds. Finally, Sachio spoke. "Despite what you may think of me, I am a reasonable man. I knew the possibilities when I became a Shinobi, and Bijin knew them as well. Until I know what's become of him, I will not stop my efforts. But I suppose right now, those efforts include assisting you. What is it that you need to do in the Land of Fire, and how will it help the situation here?"

Needing no further pause, Mangetsu drew a many-times-folded map from his pocket and spread it on the table between them. "We are searching for one of the Tailed Beasts. I assume you've heard of them?"

Sachio's look was withering. "Do you remember where I come from? The village nearly destroyed by the Nine Tails?"

"Right, right." Mangetsu looked back down at the map. "We've been tracking the Six Tails for the last few months. It's been tricky since we're relying on second-hand reports, but our most recent intel indicated that the Beast has not had a human host in decades. It's been roaming the Land of Waterfalls, the Mist, and most recently, the Land of Fire. We believe it to somewhere between Suisen Lake and the eastern coast."

"That covers over 20 miles of territory," Sachio said. His forehead screwed up in thought. "Hope you've got some pretty powerful sensory types."

Rei and Utakata glanced at one another. "I do," Mangetsu said. "Finding it should be the easy part, considering. It's the catching it that I'm more concerned about."

Sachio nodded. "Indeed. So you're one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. That's great, but do you really think you can take down a Tailed Beast solo? No offense, but I was in the Leaf Village when the Nine Tails attacked. It took the Fourth Hokage sacrificing himself to contain it."

"Do let my companion shake your hand," Mangetsu muttered, still poring over the map. "She'll convince you."

"He's kidding," Utakata said, keeping a firm grip on Rei's hand when she made to approach Sachio. "Rei can absorb massive amounts of chakra with a touch."

The man's eyebrows rose, impressed. "I'd ask you to prove it, but I'd like to keep what strength I have left. And you, boy? What can you do?"

"He's a skilled Water-Type sensory Shinobi." Mangetsu looked up. "When we have collected the Six Tails, we will return to the Mist and make finding information about your son a high priority. But right now, our village is on fire. We have to get out."

With a heavy, resigned sigh, Sachio stood and pulled his hood back over his hair. "I agree. We'll all depart on the barge tonight. We'll be in the Land of Fire in two days."