AN: Chapter title: Trust Part 1

"Does anybody know why we're meeting so early?" Ino still searched in vain for the missing Sakura as she asked. Hinata may had been absent but the others had all been waiting in the same room they had all been gathered in last time only this time a large table dominated most of the space. The redecoration made it just as terrifying to be in the Hokage Residence as last time.

"No clue." Shikamaru honestly had no idea. He settled in his seat as he tried not to think about why they would be here again.

It was easy to be worried, to let it consume your thoughts if you weren't careful.

The Nara was trying to avoid exactly that by focusing his mind on anything else.

'We're not in trouble.' If they were in trouble his father would've been off this morning, shown something was off, but Shikaku Nara had only been awake to see his son off like always. An ANBU Black Ops agent had surprised both but the masked Shinobi had only told him that there would be a change in his schedule today.

He had followed the masked Shinobi here, had been the first to arrive.

Shino had arrived next, then Kiba and Akamaru, followed by Choji, and Ino had been last. So far.

Sakura was still missing.

'Did she sleep in? Or did she not get any sleep at all last night?' Shikamaru glanced to where Ino was seated next to him. 'And it looks like she really doesn't know where she's at either.' If Ino was acting, there would be a tell. She honestly had no idea where her best friend was at.

It was enough to worry the Nara.

'Where could she be that the ANBU haven't just brought her here already?' The only idea that made sense was that this meeting was about Sakura. Something had to have happened to her last night. 'Did Naruto's clones do something to her? Did she run off?'

He didn't know her well enough to predict her. He couldn't ask Ino either.

If he told her he thought Sakura was in trouble, that she could be in danger, Ino wouldn't hesitate to leave. She had just gotten her friendship with Sakura back and wouldn't risk losing it again. She would scour the entire village trying to uncover what happened to her, step on any toes she thought she needed to, and be bullheaded enough that she wouldn't stop until she found her.

'There's got to be another reason. If something happened to her, there would've been an alert. And if the clones did it, there would have made a scene. Everyone would know as soon as they had her. So they can't have her.'

He glanced to the empty seat at the table. One of two. The head of the table was empty, was reserved for one man and one man only.

There had to be more to this than he knew.

'She'll be here.' He couldn't worry. He had to think it was a certainty. He didn't know her well but he could call Sakura Haruno someone more than an ally. He didn't know if they were friends but…

"Man. I can't just sit here." If the situation was different, Shikamaru was sure Kiba would be up and out of his seat with those words, Akamaru perking up from where he had laid down on the table. The ninken hopped into his unzipped jacket a moment later. "If we're waiting for her, can't we just go and find Sakura?" The Inuzuka clearly wanted to head for the door.

"I'm with you." Ino seemed to only barely stop herself from getting up and leaving. "I know her favorite spots, can track her down in like an hour."

"We shouldn't leave." Shino spoke up from the end of the table opposite the Nara. Kiba was seated next to him. The empty chair for Sakura was on the Inuzuka's other side.

"Nobody told us we couldn't." Ino seemed done with thinking it over. She was up and out of her seat with a determined light in her blue eyes. She looked across the table to the Inuzuka. "You want to help me find him?"

"Beats sitting here." Kiba was out of his seat next, brought his fist into his hand. "If you can't find her, I'm sure me and Akamaru can."

The door opened and drew all of their eyes.

"Look who I found!" Anko Mitarashi was standing in the doorway with a hand on the missing Sakura's shoulder. The pink haired Genin looked exhausted like she always did when they first met up. On a second look, the girl actually looked more exhausted than she usually did.

It would be nice to say she looked terrible.

Her eyes were red and, judging from how Kiba sniffed the air, the concern that covered his face, it was from crying.

Anko's smile was paper thin as she pushed the Genin into the room. No, she guided the girl barely on her feet around the table to her seat. She barely seemed to realize where she was at. Sakura was awake but seemed to be in a daze, wasn't able to do much than go where she was gently pushed towards.

"Who knew she had keys to her sensei's place?" Anko patted her on the shoulder with both hands, set her upright in her chair. Her yellow eyes swept over the younger Shinobi. Her smile dropped off her face when she met the blue eyes across the table from her. "Make sure she gets some real sleep after this."

The older Kunoichi didn't stay any longer, was back out the door before any of the Genin or Chunin could think about questioning her.

Anko met the others outside the room. Yugao, Tenzo, and Ibiki. All four of them would wait for the Hokage.

There was a frown on her face. There was no need to hide what she was feeling, no need to twist her face into some other expression.

Sakura Haruno brought up uncomfortable memories for the older Kunoichi. The state she found the Genin in was something she was familiar with.

The way the girl was broken was familiar.

She had been the same after Orochimaru had-

She didn't hide the wince that came with the memories. The lack of memories in truth, the static that seemed to scream across her skull. The static had only come recently. A sign of something fraying but she couldn't know what. Even thinking of it was like trying to hold water in her hand.

It was slipping already.

The way the girl was broken was familiar.

She had been the same after Orochimaru.

She didn't need her new senses to know the girl was broken, that the girl was adrift. They just confirmed the turmoil she was going through, how broken she really was.

Even if their situations were different, she could understand what it was like to be alone. Even if Kakashi Hatake would be back, it didn't change what the girl was going through. Taking on this mission to report on the Jinchuriki's army had only worsened it all, had surrounded her with constant reminders of Naruto Uzumaki.

The blonde had tried to kill her after all.

The blonde had tried to control her before that, treat her like a doll.

Even as Orochimaru's true colors were revealed, he hadn't begun his defection by trying to kill her. He had left her alone after-

Another burst of static screamed across her skull.

"Where was she?" Ibiki's question distracted her from the pain. It was already slipping away.

"Kakashi's place. Looked like she spent the night there." Her yellow eyes were focused on the man. "You terrified her last night."

"…I didn't mean to do that." The scarred Shinobi sighed, rubbed at his forehead. "I'll watch my temper around them from now on." He could only shake his head. Disappointed at himself more than anything. "A damn rookie blunder."

"Rare to see you mess up." Anko was careful when it came to poking the side of Ibiki's face, careful with her nails turned claws. "You sure you're not overworked yourself? Need a vacation boss?"

"All of us could use a break." Ibiki lightly batted her hand away, was set to endure another round of poking from a grinning Anko.

"Breaks are a luxury we can't afford. At the moment, not even Genin can avoid an extra work load. Until the village stabilizes, we'll simply need to endure." Tenzo's focus was beyond the group even as he spoke, a hand laid on the wall next to him. He was likely following the progress of the Hokage.

"Not even the injured are excused. Hayate has been attached to the Mission Assignment Desk, part of the group dealing with the clones." Yugao's relief at the assignment had been tangible the day she had heard of it. The mission had kept Hayate from worsening his injuries or his sickness since he had been nearly killed by that Shinobi from the Hidden Sand.

Since Sasuke Uchiha had saved his life.

"Lucky him." Anko figured it was headache worthy. The regular Legionnaires were efficient but likely just as grating as dealing with the Praetorians and their attitudes.

Tenzo's eyes turned towards the end of the hall, drew the eyes of the other three Shinobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped down the hall, was accompanied by Danzo Shimura. Despite the age of both and the present of a cane for one of the Shinobi, neither had made a sound.

"The names you've given me will be dealt with." Danzo didn't seem concerned with any of them hearing his words. It spoke of the trust that Hiruzen must've placed in them.

"Discretely." Hiruzen stressed the single word. He was resolute in whatever decision he had made but it pained the old Shinobi. "Their survival is preferred. Some of the more high value targets have already been retrieved by Enma, are secured for now on Mount Hugao."

The news caused not only the eyes of the Shinobi waiting for the Hokage to widen but even Shimura was surprised. He couldn't even conceal it, his single eye one of stunned shock.

Mount Hugao. The home of not only Enma but the entire race of notoriously picky monkey summons that the Hokage was contracted with. Nothing was allowed on or off that mountain if not by the will of Yama. Enma may have carried the title of Monkey King but Yama was the undisputed ruler of the mountain and all of its inhabitants.

The ancient monkey was also infamous for his stubbornness and for how difficult it was to get him to do anything for anyone. Civilian or Shinobi. Not even the Hokage had ever been able to call him as an ally in battle.

And the Hokage had somehow managed what many would deem impossible in Yama working with the Hidden Leaf.

Whatever deal the Third Hokage had made with the ancient monkey, there was no telling what he had to offer in exchange.

The Hokage seemed to recognize the looks on their faces. A soft chuckle filled the hall for a moment.

"Don't worry for me. Enma has already done enough of it. That and lecture me for how foolish I was to speak with Chief Judge Yama without him." The aged Shinobi continued on his way to the meeting room. "Believe me when I say this: Yama's help came at no terrible cost for the village."

To the village. Not to himself.

Whatever cost he would have to pay for Yama's aid was left unsaid. They may never even learn what it had cost the Hokage.

"We'll speak more on this later Danzo." Hiruzen clearly deemed whatever discussion between the two older Shinobi on halt for now. "Tenzo, Yugao, you will accompany me inside and take command of the squad once they're done here. Anko, Ibiki, consider your assignments unchanged. There is more than enough work for you two already."

Affirmations followed his steps, Danzo departing down the hall the same way the two had come, Anko and Ibiki leaving the opposite way after a brief bow to the Hokage's back, and Tenzo and Yugao falling into step behind the Shinobi as he opened the door.

The Third Hokage stepped into the room with the two new Jonin assigned to the squad.

Even knowing it was coming, even knowing he would be here, it was still difficult to manage.

The second time was no easier than the first.

The air in the room completely changed when the older Shinobi stepped inside.

"Good morning." His steps carried him to his seat at the table, the two ANBU Black Ops acting as Jonin shadowing his steps. Neither seemed to give any of the other Shinobi in the room more than a glance. "I'm sure you all want to begin your day as soon as possible but I believe this meeting was necessary. It concerns your mission after all."

Tension. Apprehension. Worry. The younger Shinobi weren't able to conceal what they were feeling from the learned eyes of the Hokage.

"This is not a reprimand. I simply wish to discuss something with all of you before the mission continues." It was important to bring an end to their concerns before they could distract them, drag them into the pits of self-doubt.

"I understand that we've asked much from you all, are unfortunately in a situation where the village cannot provide the leadership and structure we normally would. For that, I thank you all for playing your parts so well. You are credits to your Clans and to our Shinobi Corps."

His smile was earnest. The pride in his voice the same.

"But there is still room for improvement."

"I have read the reports and, while the information you are gathering is important, you are neglecting each other in pursuit of it. You are all Shinobi of the Hidden Leaf but you act as individuals, as factions, instead of as a unit." The Hokage's words were met with confusion.

He lifted a hand to prevent any immediate responses. Shikamaru and Ino closed their mouths just as they opened them, Kiba was set to speak but held his tongue.

"Ibiki brought up concerns I myself had, thought could be resolved without my intervention. It was a mistake not to act sooner when I noticed the divides between you. When this opportunity was presented to the village, I didn't think it was necessary to involve myself. Your Jonin-sensei were your squad leaders, the possibility of any of you coming to harm was low with Naruto out of the village with Jiraiya, and some of my most trusted Shinobi were responsible for watching over you. With all of that in mind, I thought my own involvement would be too much, would serve as no more than a distraction."

"I regret that now. I regret not offering you the guidance I myself received from others: You must trust your comrades. You must work together. If you find yourself unable to rely on each other, that you second guess telling your comrades of your worries and concerns on a mission such as this, the enemy has already won as they have divided you."

The Hokage looked around the table, met each of their eyes.

"You must work with each other. Trust each other."

His advice was simple.

His eyes roamed over the younger Shinobi in front of him, gauged how well each of them took to his words.

'Trust?' A part of her couldn't believe it would work, that it could change anything.

She was still trapped in this mess.

She could feel it all but burning against her leg now.

The scroll from Kushina Uzumaki. The scroll that Naruto would be looking for when he returned. That he would find missing if she couldn't get it back before he came back to the village.

Her blue eyes swept over the room.

Shikamaru and Choji had her trust but even they didn't know.

Sakura couldn't handle something like this, not with everything else she was dealing with.

Kiba was more of a stranger than a friend. Shino was even more of a stranger.

How were they supposed to help her?

How was anyone supposed to help her get out of this mess?

"Lord Hokage?" Ino's question was met with a nod from the Hokage, a sign for her to continue. "If we're supposed to trust each other than I have something to say." She couldn't hesitate, couldn't give herself a chance to talk herself out of it. If she didn't do it now, then when? "There was one other thing we grabbed from his office on the day we went in." Ino reached into her ninja pouch, withdrew the aged scroll she had taken from Naruto's office. The seal was broken. "It's a letter from Kushina Uzumaki: Naruto's mom."

Ino hadn't told anyone, not even Sakura, about what was inside the scroll. At least, she hadn't told anyone until now.

Horror.

Panic.

Even guilt.

They swept through the group at large.

"W-Why did you take that?" Shikamaru couldn't look at it, couldn't bring himself to even touch the scroll in front of them.

"I thought it was important." Ino didn't know what else to say. "I didn't think it would be something like this. I wouldn't have taken it."

Shikamaru closed his eyes, brought his hands together.

"We just need to get it back before he comes back." Shikamaru focused on the problem at hand. "No one knows you two were inside his office. We just need to get it back." He had to focus on what he could fix.

Sakura only stared in absolute horror at the scroll. Her green eyes didn't hold a hint of exhaustion as they met Ino's own.

"Ino." She was terrified. It was so clear in her voice.

"I believe I can handle this." Hiruzen spoke, drew their shocked eyes to him. His smile was gentle, reassuring. "It's no trouble even at my age."

The Genin and Chunin weren't the only ones surprised at the Hokage's words. His two bodyguards immediately stepped to his side, dropped to a knee.

"Lord Hokage, should you directly involve yourself in this?" Yugao spoke what they were both thinking. "We can return the message without issue."

"Of course you can." Hiruzen knew he could assign such a task to either of the two, to Ibiki, to Anko, any one of them would accomplish it by the end of the day. "But I believe this show of trust must be rewarded." He turned his eyes to the rest of the room, offered a smile. "Allow me to assist you, even if only slightly, on your mission today."

Who could deny an offer like this from the Hokage?

"They're going to be late." Hinata released her Byakugan after her brief search proved that the rest of the Tribunes were nowhere near the tower. They wouldn't be arriving anytime soon. She turned to the Praefectus Castrorum. "Is your message so important it can't wait?"

"It comes from the Legate." The sealed scrolls had been delivered to him by a Centurion of the Sixth Cohort. The fact he had used the seal to travel to his side, that it had been done at the Legate's order, showed how severe the situation must be. "My orders were clear: Deliver all messages to the Tribunes. Without delay, without exception."

Her pale eyes narrowed.

Her own message from Sasuke remained with the others, wouldn't be opened until the rest of the Tribunes had gathered together. The Praefectus Castrorum had insisted, claimed he was following the Legate's orders to him to the very letter.

She was sure he was "creatively interpreting" his orders. It was a habit she knew from Sasuke's notes, part of why he had lost so much of the power of his position in the Land of Waves.

She didn't voice her thoughts. The Praefectus Castrorum still saw her actions as sadistic, as uncalled for. Even if he still failed to provide a solution of his own, he condemned her own.

She spared a glance towards the bound messages. The Praefectus Castrorum had gone so far as to assign a pair of Praetorians to guard the chest he had them stored in. It was a blatant show against her. He thought it would intimidate her, that their red eyes would frighten her.

He didn't know anything.

Her devotion to Naruto was stronger than anything he could imagine.

Her love for him was her drive to push forward, to do all she could to see his dream realized.

His fury was nothing compared to the fury she would hold against herself if she ever failed him.

AN: 4/6 chapters for this update.