Chapter XV: The Leaf's Investigation
Nori Senju slams her fist against the table loudly. The windows behind her slightly crack once more before shattering completely. Shizune panics, the black-haired apprentice hurriedly cleaning up the fragments of glass littering the carpet.
All twelve of the Anbu Black Ops members in front of her had their respective masks off, their heads held down in shame. Their captain, an older man nicknamed Hideo, squints a little. Sweat runs down the man's head as the Sixth Hokage continues lashing out.
"How the hell could you all just let this happen?! This is the worst display of incompetence in the Anbu's history!" Nori booms. Hideo bows his head at the Hokage once more, trying to explain without further angering the livid woman.
"Lady Sixth, I beg you, forgive this discrepancy. When we arrived at the warehouse, we didn't have much to go on. The enemy had completely disappeared, and all we managed to retrieve were Gaara and Kakashi's gravely wounded bodies," he replies. Nori scowls and grits her teeth in anger.
"If the enemy disappeared, why didn't you task your backup squad to track them down?!"
"There were... complications along the way."
"Complications?! Like what?!"
"Well... some sort of undetectable bomb went off and incapacitated the backup squad on their way to the warehouse. We ourselves found no trace of any enemy in the village, so we don't know who could have placed any bomb there. Somehow, the enemy knew they were coming, milady," Hideo replies. At this rate, a few more wrinkles would be sure to appear on the veteran's face.
Nori raises her fist, ready to slam it into desk again with utter frustration.
"Unbelievable! And where the hell is Konan?! Surely, she'd have made her way back here before you did!"
". . ."
"Well?! Where is she?! She was supposed to aid Kakashi and Gaara before you all even got there!" the dark-haired woman screams.
"Lady Hokage... when Kakashi awoke, he informed us that she was on the enemy's side. She's the one who defeated Gaara and himself. He also told us that the Akatsuki's Nagato was there, lending her backup."
Nori's eyes widen at the revelation.
"She...what?! I never knew that she was... Damn it all to hell!" She slams her fist into the desk again, cracking it.
Sasuke suddenly appears next to her, tightly grabbing the Hokage's wrist.
"Enough."
The Anbu squad present immediately pull out their weapons and surround the Uchiha.
"You little bastard! How dare you treat the Hokage in such a manner?! We should have you court-martialed for treason!" one of them yells out at him. Shizune quickly steps in front of Sasuke to separate him from the angry men.
"Okay, let's all just calm down,please!He was just trying to help," she tells them reassuringly. The Anbu members slowly lower their weapons, looking at Nori. Hideo raises his head, also looking over to Nori.
"It's your call, milady. Is Sasuke Uchiha to be punished?" he asks. Nori sighs and shakes her head, holding onto her slightly bruised wrist. Sasuke backs up, bowing his head with respect.
"Sorry. But yelling and hitting everything in sight won't help us at all," he says. The Hokage looks over at the Uchiha.
"Yes, you're right, Sasuke. It's obvious that something real bad's going on around here... something more than just Orochimaru's typical games. I just want to know what that is."
Hideo nods in agreement.
"I desire the same thing, of course. If Konan and Nagato are just doing someone else's dirty work, who could be leading them? Orochimaru?" he asks.
"Not likely. Orochimaru is ambitious, but he has nothing to do with the Akatsuki anymore. Besides, we don't even know if those two are even still in the Akatsuki," Sasuke replies.
"So be it. I want every last one of you to conduct an extensive investigation on this whole mess. Search everywhere insideandoutside of the village. Thoroughly question every person you come in contact with. There's no telling if there are any more spies hiding in the village. We'll rat the bastards out," Nori says.
Sasuke, along with the Anbu members, nod at the Hokage.
"Hideo, you are to split leadership of your squad with Sasuke. I'll appoint dozens more of our best Anbu to join you shortly. Your rendezvous point will at the gate leading into the Forest of Death. I'll give you all half an hour to prepare. Once everyone is accounted for, search everywhere and everything. I wanteverysingle leaf checked until we find something. Is that understood?" she asks.
"Yes, Lady Hokage!" the Anbu yell in unison before leaving in a puff of smoke. Sasuke stands there, smirking a little.
"To organise a platoon this big must mean that this is some very serious business, Lady Nori."
Nori smiles before biting down on her fingernail, just as her mother Tsunade would occasionally do.
"The safety of the village is at stake. As the Sixth Hokage, I have to ensure the village is prepared for anything, Sasuke. Now go," Nori replies.
Sasuke nods before quickly leaving the room. Shizune sighs out loud, realising she was holding her breath during the entire intense exchange. The younger woman pouts as she looks over to her master.
"You know, milady... ever since you became Hokage, nothing but trouble has-"
Nori suddenly towers over the brown-haired assistant, cracking her knuckles. An unforced error on Shizune's end for sure.
"What are you saying, Shizune...?" the Hokage questions lowly, a large vein appearing on her forehead. Shizune laughs both hysterically and nervously as she bends down, picking up more glass fragments.
"N-nothing, ma'am!"
Nori sits back in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest.
I don't know what the hell's going on around here, but the Leaf is ready for anything... just keep watch over me, mother.