After Pain
Chapter 2: For a Friend
Chapter 3: Anbu
Chapter 4: The Hidden Leaf Jounin
Chapter 5: A Worthy Opponent
Chapter 6: Kakashi Hatake
Chapter 8: The Right Moment
Chapter 9: The Quiet Before the Storm
Chapter 10: A Man of Many Shadows
Chapter 11: A Leaf on the Wind
Chapter 12: The Konoha 11
Chapter 13: Epilogue
Chapter 7: In the Open
"He actually attacked you guys?" Kiba said loudly.Ino sighed in frustration. She had always found him annoying but he was even more annoying now that she was fake engaged to him. She tried to remind herself that if not for this fake engagement they wouldn't all be sitting here, together, sharing information and, hopefully, planning to be useful.
"Yes," Shino replied. "He did. Please let me continue my story without interruptions, Kiba."
"Sorry."
Ino had never heard Kiba say sorry before. That was interesting.
Shino cleared his throat. "Well," he said. "After Kakashi sensei looked at that last group of insects he seemed... shocked. Suddenly, he got up and went over to the Anbu that we had captured and declared that he was going to have to kill them. One of the Anbu immediately got up - apparently he had not been tied up very well - and tried taking Sakura's kunai, but she knocked him out. Tenten then jumped into action and released the other Anbu. Kakashi sensei did fight us then, especially Tenten, and it seemed in earnest. I think that's how he wanted it to seem to the Anbu with us. We both got injured, but I am sure that if he had wanted he could have hurt us much more."
"If he hadn't wanted you to escape, you wouldn't be here," Shikamaru said. "I believe your conclusion is right, he was trying to put on a show for the Anbu, to make sure that they didn't think you were too friendly with him. He must know something about our situation here in the village. It was really the best way for him to make sure you remained clear of suspicion."
Shino nodded. "And he knows that Tenten is trying to join the Anbu and spy on them from within. He will have kept that in mind as well. He told her to tell Danzo that he was doing everything out in the open and that it was time for the secrets and lies to end."
"He said nothing to you about the insects?" Neji asked.
"Nothing," Shino replied, because he knew Neji would be annoyed if he simply nodded. He also knew that this was Neji's way of asking to see the insects, turning the conversation to the topic he found most pressing. Shino was relieved. His insects needed a break. As soon as Neji and Hinata looked at them he would feed them up and give them some chakra.
He had the insects line up in their units on the tabletop and waited for the two Hyuga to have a look. Neji looked up at him. "Please remind us which group is which."
So Shino introduced them in order, and he realized that it was not just Neji and Hinata crowding in to look, but everyone else as well. Maybe he had a touch of Kakashi sensei's love of storytelling too, because he found himself leaving the last group to the end, relishing the building suspense.
"Are you sure, Shino?" Hinata asked him when he was finished.
"Yes of course, I'm sure," Shino said, a little offended. Of all the Shinobi gathered in this room right now, all the friends, Hinata should know that he knew his insects one by one, that he gave them all individual names.
"It's just," Hinata explained, "Their chakra looks exactly like the ones that disappeared with the masked man."
There was a stunned silence, but Kiba did not allow it to last for more than ten seconds.
"Does that mean Kakashi sensei is the masked man?" Kiba asked loudly. Shino sighed. Neji was glaring at Kiba as if he wished he could get rid of him. Shino felt that he should possibly stand up for his friend, but Kiba was being stupid.
"That doesn't make sense," Shino said gently. "We saw the masked man and Kakashi sensei in the same place at the same time and-"
"Yeah, but Kakashi sensei can probably do shadow clones!" Kiba interrupted.
"Please don't interrupt, Kiba," Shino said. "If Kakashi sensei was the masked man then why would he have been so surprised? Why would he hav-"
"You said yourself it was all an act for the Anbu!" Kiba said.
"Kiba!" Neji said sternly. "Please do not interrupt him."
Shino nodded. Kiba looked angry, but he complied. Shino sighed again. How did you explain something so obvious?
"Kakashi sensei was not acting," Shino said. "I could tell that he was shocked... he even cried... and the Anbu were tied up far away at that time so it couldn't have been for them."
"It's certainly one possible explanation," Shikamaru said to Kiba, "But it's only the most obvious, and most unlikely. Kakashi has no motive to join the Akatsuki - let alone be its leader - and if he did don't you think Naruto's tailed beast would be in their grasp by now? No... like Kakashi said he's working out in the open. We can rule that out."
"But-" Kiba began.
"Listen, Kiba," Neji said impatiently. "We don't have time to spend hours discussing this one issue. I, like Shino and Shikamaru, am confident that we can rule out that particular explanation. Now, the real question is, how did Kakashi Hatake come to have a sharingan? The secret to this jutsu is clearly in the sharingan."
"That's certainly interesting," Shikamaru said. "And we can all ask our parents and sensei and see if we can find out - I'm sure someone knows something. What I'm more concerned with is the fact that we now know we can use Kakashi's jutsu to fight that masked man!"
Neji nodded, apparently not offended that Shikamaru didn't find his question about Kakashi's sharingan that important. "And actually," he said. "We probably shouldn't ask too many questions about Kakashi in the current climate of the village. We don't need to draw attention to our investigations or our close relationship with him."
"I agree," Shikamaru said.
"If only one of us researches it," Hinata said. "I could do it while I'm sitting bored at home. I don't think anyone will pay too much attention to what I'm researching and I'll just pretend I'm trying to learn more about the byakugan history..."
"That's a good idea," Ino jumped in."I think we should each focus on one thing and then next time we get a chance to meet we can report to Shika- to each other."
"You might as well say it," Kiba said. "Shikamaru is the best person to come up with our plans for us and he can coordinate with his dad."
"Yes," Neji said. "It's good to have a chain of command and since Shikamaru is our strategist he should be the one we all report to... even if we can't all meet together - and I don't think we should - we can make our individual reports to Shikamaru so he can deal with the information."
Choji clapped his friend on the back.
"Ok," Shikamaru said. "So Hinata is finding out about Kakashi's sharingan. I'm going to be thinking about ways to use Kakashi's jutsu to fight the masked man. Neji, if you could find a way to use your position on the Jounin council to find out more about the Akatsuki..."
Neji nodded.
"I can find out about the village's current security," Ino offered. "If that masked man attacks the village we need a way to communicate effectively and get word to Kakashi sensei."
"Now," Shikamaru said. "We still have Danzo to deal with. Guy Sensei was arrested by the Anbu yesterday and I've heard about five more missing people. It looks like Kakashi sensei wants to face him out in the open - we need to make sure that doesn't turn into a disaster..."
"I think Kakashi might be overestimating his own abilities," Neji said. "Or perhaps he doesn't understand the situation in the village. Perhaps he believes that Danzo's rule is shaky... that may have been the case before his return to the village, but now..."
"It's still shaky now!" Choji said. "What do you think we've been doing all this time!"
"It may seem that there is a lot of opposition to Danzo when you are in the middle of it - when you attend secret meetings against him every night - but the reality of the village is a little different. Even on the Jounin Council his support has grown since his return to the village and since Sasuke's confirmed sighting near Lee's village."
"It's not right," Ino said angrily. "He's using Sasuke to keep the villagers scared, trying to draw similarities between Sasuke and that Akatsuki Pain... he's playing on people's fears to distract them from his own unlawful activities."
"And with him as the leader of the allied forces of the five great nations..." Shino said.
"I wonder about that," Shikamaru said. "If he really had been chosen as the leader of an allied force shouldn't there be Shinobi from all those other nations running in and out of the village to send messages and coordinate with him? The village was crawling with foreign shinobi during the rebuilding and we didn't even have a good relationship with their villages back then!"
"So you think he's lying about the alliance?" Kiba asked.
"I hope he's lying," Shikamaru replied with a sigh, "Just think how troublesome it would be to try and get rid of him if he's the leader of ALL the shinobi villages, not just one."
"Hmm," Neji said, stepping towards the window. "I don't know. He might make more enemies that could help us that way. But if it is a lie we must find out... and get evidence."
"You think it would help?" Choji asked.
"Of course," Neji said. "The people who started to believe in him because they think he single-handedly brought the five great nations together will feel cheated. It may at least bring round those on the Jounin council who are still reluctant to go against him."
"Yeah, but how do we prove he's lying when we can't get out of the village?" Kiba asked.
"Someone has to get out - or to get a message out."
...
"You are brilliant, Sakura," Kakashi sensei said. Sakura grinned. It was high praise, but it really had been a much easier task than they'd expected.
"There's bound to be a trap there, either for me or for you, Kakashi sensei," she said. "Tenten couldn't say, of course, but I felt that she was trying to give me hints. And she was very reluctant to let the meeting happen that close to the village. I had to insist."
"Of course," Kakashi said. "Danzo won't want me to come in contact with anyone inside the village. Especially now that I've come out openly against him. He may even suspect that I'm trying to get near the village so I can investigate him."
"Won't that make it a hundred times harder?" Sakura said.
"I still don't get why we have to go explore all these old ruins, Kakashi sensei." Naruto spoke up. "You still didn't tell us what you're looking for!"
Kakashi sensei grinned and turned to Naruto. "Those old ruins have been used by the Anbu as secret bases since my day. Even I wasn't supposed to know about them, and most members of the Anbu didn't, but Danzo's secret faction definitely had bases outside the village. If I can just find one of them I can find even more conclusive evidence than I have collected so far in all those annoying side missions you love so much."
"Evidence for what?" Naruto said. "How is this going to help us find Sasuke?"
"Evidence of Anbu wrongdoing, Naruto. Even the Anbu have rules that they must follow. Perhaps especially the Anbu. They have a very unique position of strength in any village that must be kept in check. So if they are found to be acting outside of their limitations, especially on important matters, then Danzo and his entire organization might crumple."
"Yeah, but why do we care so much about Danzo," Naruto huffed.
"Danzo wants me captured," Kakashi said. "And he definitely wants you to use for his own ends. You must learn to pay attention to an opponent who is paying that much attention to you... or else you'll suffer the consequences for a lot longer than it would have taken to face him in the first place."
"Kind of like how you ignore Guy sensei?" Naruto said with a much wiser look than he had ever shown. Perhaps he was growing up just a little.
"So what are we going to do about this trap?" Sakura asked. "I think I should go in alone, that way at least if I get caught it's only one of us..."
"No," Kakashi sensei shook his head. "You can't get caught, Sakura. I've already sent word to the Jounin commander asking him to make a distraction for us. We just need to go in carefully, stay on the alert. But first, I think it's time to see Sasuke."
...
Tenten was becoming really paranoid. Even here inside the safe confines of a private study in the home of Hiyashi Hyuga she felt like she was being watched by the Anbu. She looked around nervously before turning to Neji.
"Did Shino tell you anything about our mission outside the village?" she asked, still hesitant to say anything.
"Sure," Neji said. "He told us everything, but he did say that you spoke to Sakura alone while he was with Naruto and Kakashi."
Tenten nodded and found herself looking around nervously once again.
"What is it, Tenten?" Neji asked.
"I asked Sakura to meet me near the village,"Tenten said. "The Anbu team leader I'm training under led me to believe that Sakura might be forgiven if she returned to ask for forgiveness and cooperated with the Anbu."
She still hadn't said anything important - or inciminating - but Neji was already furrowing his brows. "Before you go on, Tenten," he said. "Please try and remember for me. Did he say cooperate with the Anbu or perhaps cooperate with the Hokage or with the village?"
"I'm pretty sure he said Anbu," Tenten said. "Anyway I'm meeting her soon, accompanied by Anbu and I'm sure that it's a trap. I'm afraid all three of them will get caught and it'll be my fault."
There, she had said it. Now if the Anbu had heard she would find herself in some kind of hidden underground torture chamber, but that was better than being responsible for the suffering of her own friends. She wasn't sure that Sakura or even Kakashi sensei appreciated the strength of the Anbu within the village and if they underestimated the organization they may very well get caught or even killed.
Neji stared back at her for a long time. She began to wonder if he would respond at all. Maybe he was afraid they would torture her and get at her memories and find out what he'd said. She shook her head. She was being crazy.
"Please don't worry, Tenten," Neji had noticed her paranoia. "And if you are thinking of blowing your cover with the Anbu then please reconsider. Without you we may never have known about this and would not be able to help them. Now, because of you, we can act."
"So you think you can do something about it?"
"Of course," Neji said. "But I need to know the time and place you set for your meeting and, if possible, the time when the Anbu team will arrive there to lay the trap."
Tenten sighed in relief. She walked over to the map of the leaf village that Neji always kept on his desk. "I'll tell you all I know," she said, not even looking over at the window nearby. Neji was always so sure of himself and so confident in his abilities that it was reassuring. He would be able to figure something out, especially if he involved his powerful uncle.
...
Sasuke was surrounded by his new teammates. Kakashi knew that it must hurt Naruto and Sakura to see him standing there with new friends, but to Kakashi this was reassuring. Sasuke was still not so far gone that he thought he didn't need friends. He had not fallen into the shadows as much as his older brother had yet. He still understood the need for comrades, if only to help you fight and defeat opponents.
"What do you want?" he said in a sour tone. That was another good sign. His tone with his old team had not changed at all, which meant that, at least for now, he was not planning to kill them. Kakashi hoped that Naruto and Sakura would stick to the plan and let him do the talking.
"I hear that you faced Rock Lee and didn't kill him," Kakashi said.
"That idiot doesn't interest me," Sasuke said.
"Am I correct in thinking that the person who interests you right now, the person you've been tearing up half the countryside to get at is Danzo?"
"I didn't tear up half the countryside!" there was real frustration in his voice now. "I'm not some incompetent fool, I'm a powerful Shinobi! I know where he is and how to get at him and if I'd tried to make my move he wouldn't be alive. Is it you spreading those rumors about me?"
"No," Kakashi said. "I believe that Danzo himself is the one spreading those rumors."
"To make me look like an idiot!" Sasuke was fuming now.
Kakashi shook his head. "To make you look like a threat," he said. He was almost sure of this. Danzo liked to work in the dark, in secret, where no one could question his actions. Now that he was forced to act out in the open as the Hokage he would need some kind of excuse that would allow him to do what he wanted without too many questions. Fear tended to be the perfect excuse in these situations.
"Because he's too much of a coward to face me head-on!" Sasuke said.
"Perhaps," Kakashi said. "Did you meet him at all since you found out?"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"We know, Sasuke," Saskura said gently.
"I don't need your pity," Sasuke said. "And don't get in my way or try to stop me or else I'll kill you first before I get Danzo!"
"You may have heard some other rumors," Kakashi said, before Sakura could respond and turn the conversation to useless paths. "Rumors about me and my position in the village right now."
"Yeah, maybe," Sasuke said. "Your conflict for the seat of Hokage doesn't interest me."
Kakashi grinned even thought he knew Sasuke couldn't see it.
"We have a common enemy," he said. "That should interest you, much as you try to act like the same little unruly boy."
"I don't have time for this," Sasuke said, making to turn away.
"Well then, we'll skip to the point," Kakashi said. "We've got a common enemy: Danzo. We won't agree on the best way to handle him, but I will ask you to coordinate our attacks on him a little, and give me a little time, so that we don't end up in each other's way."
"I can't give you any time," Sasuke said. "I told you I'm not interested in whatever you're planning. I'm going to kill Danzo and when I'm ready and have my plan in place I'm not going to hesitate or wait for you."
"We're doing it for you!" Naruto said. "Because you're our friend. We want to give you the justice you deserve because we know what Danzo did to your brother and your whole family. We should work together on this Sasuke!"
"Oh boy," Kakashi muttered under his breath. Sure enough these words riled Sasuke up again.
"I told you I don't want your pity. Just get the hell out of my way!"
"Sasuke," Kakashi said as firmly as he could. "You're too clever to be fooled or deceived now. I have a plan to expose Danzo in the village so that instead of standing behind him and turning on you like they always do when it comes to the Uchiha you might find some allies in your quest for justice. I know that to you this is simply a matter of revenge, but when you've killed Danzo and you're left with an emptiness inside - a lack of purpose - what are you going to turn to? Are you going to let the Akatsuki use you like some kind of puppet for their own ends? You have too much pride and too much self-respect for that, I hope. Surely you're clever enough to think beyond you immediate goal a little bit."
"I don't have time for lectures."
"This is not a lecture," Kakashi said. "It's a simple request. We seek justice. Not just for you and your wronged brother, but for others as well. Instead of rushing off to your revenge again like you did with Itachi are you willing to give me just a little time - and a little cooperation - so that I can ensure all of Danzo's other victims also get justice? I just need you to create a distraction for me and be a little patient."
"What do you need us for?" one of Sasuke's companions said. "I guess you don't have as many friends and supporters as your rumors claim?"
"I am walking into a trap that I know Danzo has laid for me in order to obtain some important information. In order to get out alive - and live to expose Danzo in the village - I need a distraction that he will not be able to ignore. I need you to attack him out in the open and force his attention to you - away from my location. If you are able to get your revenge during this attack then good for you, but if not at least I will have the information I need."
"Yeah to set yourself up as Hokage!"
"Are you with us or aren't you?"
"I'm planning to attack Danzo soon anyway..."
Kakashi grinned as Naruto cheered.
...
Ino looked up in alarm. Why would Kiba come find her here, where she was working out in the open on the new village gardens, surrounded by Anbu? Why was he so stupid as to come running up to her like this: red-faced and in a state of obvious panic.
He came up beside her, panting and bent down, hands grasping his knees and trying to catch a breath.
"I need help, Ino." Kiba said way too loudly.
Ino supressed the urge to call him names. "What is it?" she hissed under her breath.
"Well, it's Hinata's mom's birthday and she always puts flowers on her grave, but her dad won't let her leave today because they say Sasuke's been sighted nearby so I promised to do it for her, so I need some flowers."
"Breathe!" Ino ordered him in disgust. He had almost given her a heart attack for this?
He passed her a list of the flowers he needed and then ran off. "Gotta go find Shino, he's coming with me. I'll be back for the flowers later!"
Ino sighed. She looked down at the list of flowers and her heart skipped a beat. It was not a list of flowers, it was a message. It read:
"Need a shadow trace quickly. Tenten will be leaving the village in two hours from the main gate. destroy message."
Ino did not recognize the handwriting but she recognized the way of speaking. It was Neji. What could have possessed Neji to be in such a hurry when there was a meeting just tonight? What was Tenten up to? Ino had to find Shikamaru.
"Go find your fiancee his flowers, dear," her mother said. "We're almost finished for the day here."
Ino nodded and walked as quickly as her feet could carry her.
...
"But I just found the three cloud Ninja!" Shikamaru said in frustration.
"What do you mean, son?" his mother asked. "Didn't you say you stopped the trace on them a while ago when all they were doing was reading records?"
"Yeah," Shikamaru said. "But ever since Danzo came back to the village no one's seen them, not even the landlord they were renting rooms from. I kept an eye out for them just in case, even if my shadow was no longer on them. They just disappeared. And no one has seen them leave the village. They're not on the official record the gatekeepers take. So I sent another shadow trace after them. I've been looking for them for days... I used up a lot of my Chakra..."
"Where are they?" his mother asked.
"Well, I'm not sure, I can just feel their chakra and I attached my shadow trace to one of them. If I use the jutsu with Ino I won't have any chakra left."
"Don't be lazy, son," his mother scolded. "If you hadn't been so lazy you might have more chakra to spare now. Go on, use the jutsu."
Ino held out her hand. "We don't have much time Shikamaru."
"Yeah, but if it was important Neji should have explained!"
"He didn't have time to explain!" his mother said.
"Do you know how dangerous it was for him to write what he did on this paper?" Ino breathed.
Shikamaru sighed and grasped Ino's hand, closing his eyes. He was suddenly transported to the room in which the three cloud ninja sat. It was as if he was lying on the ground and staring up at the clouds. except that this room was a lot more troublesome than clouds. It was a prison cell. He tried to shift his shadow, all too aware that he was using up the last of his chakra. Definitely a prison cell. And through the bars he could see the distinct cloaks and masks of the Anbu.
One of the cloud ninja kept stepping on the shadow he was currently attached to as he paced the cell. He started to feel extremely dizzy. Shikamaru released the jutsu. He found himself gasping for breath. His mother grasped his shoulder and Ino stared down at him, her eyes wide.
"They're in prison cells!" he said.
"What does it mean?" Ino said.
"I think it means Danzo was not made head of the allied shinobi forces like he told us."
"Just like you expected," Ino said.
"We need to tell your father," his mother said, still grasping his shoulders. "This information will be very useful for the Jounin Council. But first you need to set that shadow trace on Tenten like Neji asked."
"Do you have enough chakra?" Ino asked.
Shikamaru was surprised to feel that he did. His mother patted him on the shoulder. "Where do you think your father gets all the Chakra for his complicated jutsu?"
"So you can transfer your chakra to people?" Ino said, stunned.
"Hey, wait a minute," Shikamaru said. "How come you've never given me any chakra before?"
His mother sighed. "I was hoping you wouldn't need it, I still want you to stop being lazy and build up your chakra reserves, but now's not the time. You have an urgent mission."
Yeah, a mission given to him by a friend who didn't bother giving him advance warning or care to explain himself. And now he had to run around town looking for Tenten without seeming suspicious. What a drag.
...
"Naruto," Kakashi said. "It's very important that you don't let the shadow clone disappear or change back until I say so."
"Yeah, sure, Kakashi sensei," Naruto said. "Don't worry. But why do you need my shadow clone? Can't you just make your own?"
Kakashi shook his head. "Your shadow clones are superior to any I've seen," he said truthfully. "I don't know anyone, myself included, who can hold a shadow clone at such distances and for such a long time. What I'm worried about is your transformation."
"Relax, Kakashi Sensei! They'll never tell which one is my clone and which one is you."
...
"And your shadow trace is on her now?" his father asked.
"Yeah, but I just barely made it," Shikamaru said, turning to Neji. "You didn't exactly give me much time." He felt breathless even though he had been sitting down for over half an hour. His chakra was seriously drained. His mother had purposefully sat across the table from him, as if she didn't want him to lean on her and try stealing her chakra. Mothers were too hard on a man sometimes.
"I apologize," Neji said. "Tenten herself only gave me a couple of hours to act and I could not deliver the message myself. Let me be honest. I am being watched - more than usual. I believe they are keeping an extra eye on Tenten and since she is in regular contact with me the Anbu are watching me as well."
"Then they might know that she told you?" Inoichi asked.
Neji shook his head. "The Hyuga compound is safe. As is this house. I simply could not go running off through the village right after she spoke to me or it would be obvious."
Shikamaru nodded. "So you told Hinata to make up the thing about her mother's grave and tell Kiba to tell Ino to tell me."
Choji laughed. It really was ridiculous the lengths they had to go through to communicate, but at least it was possible now. Ino was not laughing. Neither was Neji.
"No, I pressed Hinata to skip her real visit to her mother's grave in order to get this information to you," Neji said. "I trust in Tenten's skill and judgement. She is certain that a trap is being laid for Sakura and Kakashi and Naruto. They must not be allowed to fall into Danzo's hands."
"Of course, Neji," Shikaku said. "You did well - all of you did."
Hiyashi Hyuga nodded. "We're running out of time, now, Shikaku. We must act soon."
Shikamaru looked up, still feeling a little dizzy. The sight of Hinata sitting by her father's side, his hand on her shoulder, made him feel even dizzier.
"We still lack clear evidence," Kiba's mother growled. "In order to gain the full support of the Jounin Council. I will remind you that we only delayed, kept our little bits of information hidden, because we can't launch a proper, full inquiry into Danzo's actions without the Council's support."
Shikamaru reached a hand out for Choji and grasped his friend's shoulder, gaining strength from the interaction. "I think I have the clear evidence we need."
A Hyuga came running in and passed Hiyashi a message. The man read it and placed it aside. "They say Sasuke's been sighted near the village. Apparently, he's looking for Danzo and he's in a murderous rage. It will be another rumor, no doubt, go on son."
"Shikamaru," Ino said, sounding worried.
"Are you alright, son?" his mother asked. Shikamaru tried to nod but it came out as more of a jerk. Was it because Tenten was moving so fast and his shadow trace was being jerked along with her? He took a deep breath and it must have sounded terrible because his mother jumped out of her seat and came to him, placing both her hands on his shoulders. It was immediate relief. Shikamaru placed a hand on top of one of hers, breathing easier.
"Has something happened to Tenten?" Neji asked.
"You shadow trace doesn't always do this to you, does it?" even Hiyashi Hyuga sounded worried.
"I'm... it's just I barely had any chakra when I set that trace on Tenten and she's moving fast..."
"But why did you allow your chakra to drain so much?" Kiba asked, leaning forward on the table.
"I had another trace," Shikamaru said. "I've been worried about those three cloud Ninja... a little suspicious that they haven't been seen anywhere. I thought... since we now have an alliance there should be more and more people from other villages coming and going, but even the three that were here have disappeared."
"They must have returned to their village."
Shikamaru shook his head. "They're in a prison cell, guarded by Anbu. I had to let my shadow trace go in order to follow Tenten, but I can lead you there, step by step."
"In prison?!"
"What do you mean?"
"Outrageous?"
"But that means that Danzo lied to us about the alliance!" Kiba said, for once coming to the right conclusion.
"We must hurry," Shikaku said. "This information must go to the council tonight. Our opposition to Danzo comes out in the open now."
"What's the plan, Shikaku?" many voices said as they crowded around. No matter what the plan was Shikamaru knew that the key element would involve him going before the council, telling them his evidence, admitting to them that he was working against Danzo and the Anbu. And if their plan should fail he, Shikamaru, would definitely be in trouble. This business was so troublesome. Couldn't they at least let him sleep for a night first before making all these plans?
...
Kakashi watched Sakura go off to the meeting place with more than a little hesitation. What if, this one time, his plans failed miserably? Responsibility was difficult, especially when so much hung in the balance.
"Where's Sasuke," Kakashi whispered in the voice of the old farmer he'd transformed into.
"He's already fighting the Anbu." Naruto said. "And they've already recognized my clone as you. It'll all work out, Kakashi sensei."
Kakashi sighed. He pulled down his hood and then raised his headband and uncovered his sharingan eye. The Anbu guarding this remote place did not seem too bothered by two old farmers passing through, but he knew they would react as soon as they saw those two farmers try to enter the ruins. It was an old fort that had been used as a rest station in Kakashi's Anbu days. It would have a lot of useful information, especially if Danzo was still using it for less than legal purposes as he had been in those days. He was itching to get at that information, but they had to wait for the right moment or it would all fall apart.
"Let's rest here and have our lunch," he said in that old man voice. They sat on the bench along the road and looked out at the fields, the ruins that they were really interested in behind their backs. Even Naruto sensed the importance of acting exactly according to plan. He was very quiet and his slow old man movements were very convincing.
"I'm building up nature energy," he explained in a whisper. "It's great for when I have to wait around like this, bored..."
Kakashi smiled. His students really had come a long way.
...
Shikamaru stepped into the room feeling relaxed and refreshed. His mother had given him a little bit more of her chakra and she had fed him a hearty meal - a feast - while they made the plans. So although it was the middle of the night he felt like he was ready for what would come.
He nodded respectfully to the members of the Jounin Council, noting the tense, tired faces.
"Well, boy, what could be so important as to call for the entire council at this time of night?" a disapproving voice said. That was his cue to speak.
"It concerns Danzo," Shikamaru said. "And the Anbu. They've been lying to everyone in the village."
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