Ch. 42

Cry Me a River

"Tsunade!" Tsunade didn't react to the familiar voice as she continued down the hallway heading for her next area of interest. The exams were only three days away and there were a few more things that needed to be finished before they started. The red head finally drew level with her, joining her as they walked down the hall with confidence, knowing where they were going like the back of their hand.

"I'm busy. What do you want?" demanded Tsunade as they paused at security door. They both placed their palms on the wall barrier, and it let them through.

"Here's the list of things you needed done. Have someone check them over when you get a chance. Have you had a chance to test the ovum?" asked the young woman. Tsunade didn't answer as they paused past the barrier, the blonde reading through the list of things as the red head waited patiently. Finally, the blonde blinked and looked up, face deadpan.

"You really think I have had time with how busy we've been?" she asked dryly. Moriko frowned slightly, as if sensing something not right with the answer.

"That wasn't an answer, that was a deflection," she pointed out, now more serious. Frustration flashed over Tsunade's face.

"I'm busy enough right now without you adding to my plate!" she snapped as Moriko's expression morphed from suspicion to dawning understanding, horror crossing her features. Tsunade caught the look on her face and looked away with a scowl, cursing, knowing her attempt to obscure the truth hadn't worked. For a moment they stood there in that hall not saying anything in the tense silence.

Finally the Uzumaki spoke.

"I can't have kids can I?" she asked firmly as Tsunade crossed her arms defensively.

"It's too early to tell. I need to run more tests." She deflected, refusing to watch the red head's expression. The red head turned and left, clearly not buying the explanation. Tsunade sighed as she rubbed her face tiredly.

…

Later that day

The three Moriko clones in Hiruzen's all froze at once as if receiving a message. Hiruzen paused what he was doing as he took in their frozen forms their eyes wide with shock and horror. He had tried to ask her what had happened but had been brushed off by the clones, stating that it had nothing to do with the village and was a personal concern. Hiruzen worked, but he was distracted all day, sneaking looks at the abnormally quiet clones the rest of the shift. It wasn't until he got home later did he manage to get a straight explanation from the young woman. She just calmly worked on her calligraphy as he waited for an explanation.

"I asked Tsunade earlier today if she had had time yet to experiment with my eggs. She kept prevaricating and deflecting my questions. I guess that makes sense with the coming battles we are expecting. After all, it's not a good idea to send ninja into fights with bad news," she said clinically, eyes distant and face calm as she worked at the kitchen table. Hiruzen looked up to meet Jiraiya's horrified expression.

The toad sage made a clone to seal the house shut before he plucked the brush from the young woman's hand, pulling her out of her seat so she could stand. She did so dully, not meeting his eyes. He stared down at her, face creased with worry before he pulled her into a crushing hug. His face creased with worry as he felt her start shaking, the choked sobs catching as she tried to stifle them in a bid for self-control, struggling to repress her reaction while in the arms that made her feel the safest in the world.

He began to stroke her hair, unminding of his teacher as he murmured soothingly to his long-time student, companion, and friend. She finally gripped him back, her grasp tight as her restraint was lost. Her wails of pain were muffled by his chest and the thick white hair that hung over the man's shoulder from where he had bent over, thick arms wrapped around her head and back for her to shelter in and vent her grief.

Hiruzen watched, unable to look away and unable to leave despite the intimacy of such a moment. They were practically family at this point, and he didn't feel out of place watching as her screams and sobs were muffled in Jiraiya's chest. The sage had closed his eyes, gripping her tight as he let her ride the wave of her emotions, not trying to cheer or halt it, but just letting her get it out of her system. It wasn't until her ragged breaths turned to hyperventilation that the man moved, pulling back enough to free the young woman's face from his chest.

"Shh, Moriko, look at me. I need you to start calming your breathing, ok? That's it, start to follow mine," he said as he cupped her cheek and stroked her cheek gently with his thumb, trying to get her attention. Her snotty tear-streaked face was dazed as she started to come back to herself, struggling to follow his instructions. He smiled despite his worry.

"There you are. Come back to me. It's going to be ok. Everything's going to be ok," he murmured soothingly as he breathed deep and purposefully, getting the young woman to follow along. She did so with spasmodic hitches as he gently soothed her hair from her face.

"That's perfect. You're doing very good. Just like that," he murmured as he straightened and pulled her back in a tight hug, gently swaying them. She clung to his shirt, face a mess as her eyes slid closed in the soothing hold as he pet her hair, another arm tight around her. Hiruzen pursed his lips as his brilliant mind started going over potential solutions to this problem. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that he would find a way to fix this problem.

…

Itachi frowned as he stood in the doorway of Moriko's room at the Sarutobi compound. He stared at the pile of blankets that was curled up on the bed in the corner near the wall. This was the fourth day she had been like this, sleeping or remaining in bed and it was making the young man's skin crawl, seeing her so listless. The Hokage had told him three days ago about the coming invasion and that he was to remain by the woman's side during the coming fight. The man had looked worried, representatives expected to start arriving in the village in a week. Ryusuke came down the hall carrying a tray of food that tickled Itachi's nose as he paused in the doorway to stare at the lump of blankets and pillows as well. He sighed quietly, face worried as he moved inside and set the food on her desk.

"Come on Moriko, it's lunchtime," he murmured gently to the bundle. The blankets shifted but didn't move and Ryusuke sighed softly before picking up the lump of blankets. A head of red hair was revealed, revealing a listless young woman bundled in blankets and the Nara didn't hesitate to settle her on his lap. Itachi brought over the low table so that the tray was easily accessible, and the Nara nodded in thanks before picking up the soup spoon and blowing on the soup.

The young woman closed her eyes and nestled her face into the other man's chest. Itachi couldn't muster his usual annoyance when seeing such things as he used to, more concerned than anything. She was deeply depressed, and there was a large battle upcoming. His stomach was in knots thinking about it, and seeing her like this. His red eyes lifted to meet Ryusuke's and the Nara paused, seeing the question in the other man's eyes.

Did the Nara know what was going on with her? His eyes were sad as he signed back 'SSS class secret.' Itachi breathed in deep before letting it out slowly, frustration rising. So Ryusuke knew what was going on with her then. Itachi cursed quietly in his head as he watched the Nara coax Moriko into eating, peppering her brow with a kiss every now and then between bites. She seemed content by the affection as it seemed to bring her back to herself with every careful cajoling and gentle jostle the Nara made.

Itachi watched them as the Nara seemed to coax her into the present, her eyes finally alert enough to focus on the large man holding her. A type of longing and desire filled her eyes as she stared at the Nara and the man's eyes darkened as he gazed back gently stroking her cheek. Itachi felt like a pit had opened in his stomach. It was as if there was a chasm of distance between him and the woman he loved, and for whatever reason she wouldn't let anyone bridge that gap but Ryusuke. He felt his chest constrict with a mix of panic and pain, agonized by the fact that she didn't see what was in front of her, how much he loved her, how much he had always loved her.

His fists clenched different emotions warring with one another. This was the most mentally present she had been in days, and in her eyes, he had seen the sorrow in them begging to be comforted. By the way her gaze was lingering on Ryusuke's lips, he suspected the type of comfort she might look for soon. He breathed out as a plan started taking place in his mind, a way to make it clear how he felt, a way to open her heart to him. He would bridge this gap between them, and ensure her safety with the coming battles.

...

Hiruzen sighed tiredly as he got ready to leave the office for the day. A black scroll dropped onto his desk, the office automatically locking down as the seals placed sensed Shadow's presence. Hiruzen froze mid-reach for the scroll as a further seal activated, a barrier springing up around the Hokage's desk to keep the Anbu from seeing inside. From a pool of darkness, Shadow rose, now towering over the grave Hokage. Hiruzen's eyes widened in shock as blood dripped from the creature's claws.

"There has been a complication. Someone has leaked information on my little tree to the elemental nations. I tried to suppress it, but it was too late, had traveled too far," said the creature before it held out a bloodied bingo book. With shaking hands, Hiruzen took it to read the entry, dread nearly freezing him in place as he read. No bounty, just a flee-on-sight order, a moniker already on her first entry, and far more information than he would have ever liked out there where anyone could see it. Hiruzen rubbed his face anxiously as he felt the beginnings of a tension headache beginning to build. He cursed quietly as he reread the entry, flipping over the book to find it was a Mist bingo book. His jaw clenched.

"Mist… Zabuza… Zabuza Momochi… it must have been him," Hiruzen hissed. Shadow made a dismissive motion.

"He and the rebels have just finished winning the civil war. I believe it was one of his confidants who put the information out without his consent, for fears the Demon of the Mist is more loyal to the little tree than his country. He is the new Mizukage and is rushing here to make amends as we speak. He brings a small but powerful force with him," said Shadow as Hiruzen began chewing on the end of his pipe in thought.

"Traditionally, we've never had good relations with the Hidden Mist. If he's coming to make amends, bridging a gap that has existed between our nations, this might actually work out in our favor, though losing the element of surprise with Moriko's status is a disappointment. How do you think this will affect the invasion?" Hiruzen asked as Shadow hummed thoughtfully, his form wavering as if about to take a new form. Hiruzen frowned. He had noticed that Shadow's form had started to waver at times, with increasing regularity. He pushed the thought away to focus on what the being was saying. One crisis at a time.

"Konoha has been losing a significant number of ninja over the years without Danzo's Root sowing discord in the other nations to keep them too busy to bother with Konoha. At the same time, Danzo's past actions cut into a significant portion of potential ninjas that could have gone to the regular forces and has already created a number of enemies that have been rising up over the years under the banner of neutrality. In the end, without Danzo there to keep up his ruinous work, he made the situation for the Leaf worse in the long run.

"The numbers of ninja we have lost have been significant enough for Lightning and Stone to take note of. Suna's economy has still been tanking and the Wind Daimyo has been sending the mission request you have been refusing to other villages now instead of turning back to the ninja in his country. Suna is still invested in the invasion, one way or another. I believe the Raikage has agreed to be here for the invasion with a small force, but I believe he will decide whether they will attack or not depending upon how we handle the invasion. If we are as weakened as he believes, then he will attack.

"With the new Mizukage rushing here to make amends, I believe the Mist will most likely aid us in the attack, but if the Mizukage Zabuza senses the chance to defeat such a dangerous threat, he will seek to cut down the little tree. Fear is his main motivation at the moment, respect and appreciation a quick follow-up. The Raikage might join the invasion if he deems the newest player for Konoha too much of a risk to let live. We might need a secondary deterrent to keep him from joining the fight, or a preemptive deterrent. As for the newest village, Hidden Sound is in contact with Hidden Rain. Sound is working to get Rain to dedicate a number of ninja to the invasion. Kusa and Waterfall will not aid the Leaf. The best you can hope from this situation is neutrality," said Shadow as he summed up the situation as Hiruzen sighed.

"Well, the situation has only improved at this point. At least the hospital and the seals are finished. An invading force from Suna, Sound and Rain. A small potential force from Lightning, and a potential ally from Mist. Any word on Onoki?" said Hiruzen as he summed up the situation as Shadow sank into a seat, the old Hokage picking up on the increase of humanlike mannerisms the creature had started to emulate over its years of spying.

"On the fence as usual. He's been offered to join the attack but hasn't said one way or another. I will have to leave for Stone soon to learn of the Fence sitter's reaction to the news of my little tree. I won't be available to keep an eye on the coming forces to give you an exact start time for the invasion. Remain vigilant. In the scroll there are further details on Sound's and Rain's forces," said the being as it rose, gesturing to the scroll on the Hokage's desk. For a moment his figure wavered again and the Hokage's frown deepened, sensing that something else was amiss as the being swiftly departed.

The headache was in full swing, the throbbing zinging across his scalp as he grimaced, the barrier around his desk falling as he rubbed his temples. An Anbu appeared swiftly to clean the blood off the floor that Shadow had left, another appearing by his side, hands already glowing green with healing chakra. He sighed in relief as the headache abated, but it couldn't wipe the heavy thoughts from his mind. With this new development, Hiruzen doubted that Shadow would be back in time to spy on the would-be invaders for a start time for the invasion.

At the worst possible time, Moriko had just received devastating news right before a major battle. Her guards had been worried by her drastic change in behavior, but Hiruzen had told them she had received poor news recently. Worried himself, Hiruzen had called for Inoichi to work with her and to assess her mental state. Sending depressed ninjas into battle was dangerous, immortal or not. She could still die, though it would take quite a bit to put her down. Depression was a chemical response, she couldn't have pushed through this right now if she had wanted to, and with her unique biology they had done so little research on, the typical antidepressants they prescribed ninja hadn't worked in the least, in fact making it worse. Despite this, they needed her and she would be deployed into battle when needed, they had no other choice.

Jiraiya was finishing up a few of the last touches to their contingency plan, in case Konoha couldn't hold under the might of three attacking forces at once, and there was the potential that Mist and Lightning would join in to the invasion. On top of that, now there seemed to be something going on with the Shadowy being that had started to take over more and more duties as spymaster for the village, and it couldn't have happened at a more critical time.

Right now, there was the possibility that two more groups would join in on the fighting that they hadn't originally anticipated. And his Ace in the Hole Moriko's cover had finally been blown. It was a gamble trying to use Moriko and Jiraiya as potential deterrents but as Hiruzen thought it over, there was only so much he could do in this situation. Look weak and they would be attacked. Look too strong, they would be attacked. Hiruzen needed the Uzumaki back on her A-game, and he needed to speak with his two remaining students for very different reasons.

AN: Sorry it's been a while, guys! I've been busy with school and a new job. Hope you all have been well! Just a heads up I updated Ch. 39, 40, and 41. If you are confused you should probably catch up on the changes there. And if you will remember in the Wave Arc, Moriko was sent on a side mission to the Ruins of Uzu for some reason. Now we are starting to get a few clues!