Life in Konoha's ANBU by Shezza

Chapter 9: Chains of Hatred V: Reunion

Chains of Hatred V: Reunion

"Team Sigma," Shinno mused.

He sat there, his chest rested on his palm and showing very little reaction to the ANBU Squad that was surrounding him. It was a level of arrogance brought on by one of two things- overconfidence or a level of ability that far outstripped even the elite ANBU. As Naruto stared into those cruel yellow eyes, he couldn't help but feel that the latter was more likely.

"I'm surprised," Shinno said even as Komachi and Towa darted around the huge stone-faced pillars and drew closer and closer to him. "I didn't think the Hokage's personal assistant would be out and about considering what's happened to the Village Hidden in Leaves. I haven't seen a Team Sigma since the start of the Third Shinobi War."

He stood up and Komachi and Towa halted, lurking in the shadows. The elderly man's eyes flickered to them and crinkled in amusement. Naruto, for his part, straightened and eyed the man warily. He discreetly signalled his team, his fingers flying in blazing-fast code. Shinno, however, chuckled and Naruto paused.

"Oh? A flanking manoeuvre?" His face took on wry expression. "And you're going to face me head-on while your two little friends provide closed-range support and the Yamanaka runs interference? That's rude- we're still speaking."

Naruto held up his hand, his mind racing. He signalled to abort and Towa and Komachi retreated, obeying their orders and falling back to the other side of the room where Yuuka had positioned herself.

The ANBU code had been compromised.

It was a far bigger security leak than Naruto had thought was possible. This man, the leader of Sky Country- the one who had ordered an invasion against their village- had cracked the secrets of the ANBU hand code. It wasn't just that- enemy shinobi would occasionally catch a glimpse and piece by piece the other Village's would form a rough dictionary of what signal meant what. This forced Konoha's ANBU Communications Department to consistently revise, update and modify the code every few years or so. Shinno knew current ANBU hand code, the one that had only been implemented seven months ago.

Naruto didn't know how Shinno had discovered this secret. Perhaps Yugao had let more slip than she had realised. It didn't matter. Very shortly, the cruel-eyed man would never get a chance to speak of it again.

The back of his mind, the one where a voice that sounded suspiciously like Sarutobi's, pointed out that there had been no reason for Shinno to reveal his advanced knowledge of ANBU code. Wryly, Naruto wondered if the other man had just had similar thoughts to him- that the ANBU team would never be able to reveal that they had been compromised.

"I wasn't actually planning on getting my hands dirty," Shinno mentioned quietly. He stood up, his ornate robes draping over his tall and somewhat-muscular frame. "But there was something I've wanted to try, and I suppose a Leaf ANBU Squad might help me along the way."

"Go!" Naruto barked.

He inhaled, his hands blurring through a series of signs and ending on tiger, while his teammates flickered forward. Sweltering chakra formed in his mouth and he drew his head back and spat.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

A massive streak of fire roared from his mouth and shot forward. Naruto channelled chakra into the technique and kept up his attack as Komachi and Towa appeared on both sides of Shinno. They were only there for a split-second, Komachi sending a hail of deadly thin senbon and Towa throwing the very last of his explosive tags at the man's face. Naruto couldn't see Shinno from beyond the rippling air and bright yellow and orange flames but he saw Komachi backflip out of the way of something, while Towa jerked and was pushed away from the podium with incredible force.