Let It Burn: Life [Sasuke Uchiha]

Chapter 9

At first when Kakashi entered the Hokage's office suddenly, startling the elders present in the process, the woman merely cocked a brow at his unannounced entrance.

"Back already?" she asked.

The young man's eye never wavered from its glare. Immediately, the Kage knew something was wrong.

"We will conclude for today."

Slowly, as the group exited from the room, shutting the door behind them.

Tsunade sighed, "What can I do for you, Kakashi? I trust your mission was a success–"

"Mai Be Fong."

The name startled her. It had been months since the last time the Jounin had requested information. Figured he'd given up by now.

"What about her?" Tsunade asked. "I've given you all the information I could."

"Obviously not, since I just rushed her back to Konoha in a near death state," Kakashi said.

The Jounin watched as her face paled. Unable to hide her facial expression.

"The mission failed. We were unable to recover Sasuke Uchiha. Orochimaru and Kabuto escaped in the process, despite their base being destroyed. And to top it all off, we discovered Sai was working for Danzo on a secret Op Mission to exchange Konoha secrets with the snake to gain an ally."

"What did you say?" she breathed.

Danzo? Working with Orochimaru? He was actually willing to give the enemy their secrets.

"Did Sai succeed?"

"No. Besides, we discovered that was another cover. The real reason Danzo pushed for Sai to be on Team 7 was to eliminate Sasuke Uchiha. But that is not the reason I am here." The young man slammed his hands down on the desk. "I want to know why my missing student was there and I was not aware of it! Her rank! Anything! She was nearly killed–!"

"Which is the risk any ninja takes when they enter the field," Tsunade snapped back. The room fell silent, as the Hokage pinched the bridge of her nose. "I couldn't tell you..."

"Because of Belva?"

"Because this is a security matter that cannot be public knowledge. What she does for Konoha... there are very few who can do what she can at that level as a ninja."

"You kept her secret for years," he seethed. "You put her up against Sasuke. After everything that happened. And their history."

"I thought she could handle herself."

"She did. But forcing her to keep her identity a secret around us and face him... How did that help her situation? We're supposed to be keeping her safe. From Sasuke and the Akatsuki."

"Putting Mai in the field helped her in every way." The tension in the room was thick, neither refusing to back down. "There is so much you don't understand. Don't go making assumptions."

"Then help me understand!"

"There is no time for that now. At this moment Mai's survival is our only priority. This needs to be kept quiet between Team 7 until we decide on what to do."

"What will happen?"

"I'm not sure..."

The young man left in a huff to try and conceal his rage. Meanwhile, the Hokage was left in thought. She needed to figure out how to handle this situation. They needed to act quickly. Tsunade walked towards the window where a hawk sat, stroking its feathers.

"Bring me Ibiki."

And the animal took off into the Village.

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