Life in Konoha's ANBU by Shezza

Chapter 42: Status Quo

Kanoshi was a large city that had been built on one of the Great Plains of the Land of Fire. A large river, drawing water all the way from the mountain ranges of the Land of Earth, flowed down from the north-west, and it cut close to the city, bringing with it the trade of the western nations. Small towns had been built around the river, supporting the burgeoning mercantile economy, and usually a constant trickle of carts and carriages would travel to and from the river docks, bringing in supplies and passengers.

Now, the carts and carriages had stopped. The twinkling stores were blotted out by huge plumes of smoke that rose from the Land of Fire's Capital City and the outlying towns, and large files raged uncontrolled. A shimmering barrier of dark purple enclosed Kanoshi itself, trapping in the occupants of the city as they the army of the revolutionary Kazuma began its attack.

From the vantage point several kilometres away, at the edge of the tree line of the nearest forest, the black-ops operatives- codenamed Team SPARK- crouched at the very top of the foliage of the trees. They all wore dark robes and blank silver masks. Their leader, designated SPARK I, held a pair of binoculars and he watched the beginning of the Land of Fire's Civil War with the quiet sense of achievement.

It had been a difficult mission. Team SPARK had had the support of several other squads at the very beginning of the operation, but that support had dwindled as Konoha had increased patrols its patrols and tightened its internal security. The other teams had returned back to the Village, leaving Team SPARK behind in the deep recesses of the Land of Fire's forests to fend for themselves.

It had been hard avoiding patrols, gathering supplies from nearby drop-points and continuing to run their operations.

Much of their success was due to one of the freelancers that Kazuma had hired. Team SPARK had been initially dubious of the orange-masked man, and even SPARK IV, their best sensor, hadn't been able to get a read upon them. Nonetheless, the man's strange techniques and unique knowledge had allowed Team SPARK to travel around Konoha unheeded. The freelancer had also had contacts deep within the logistical chain of command, and as such they had been able to implement several successful false-flag operations incriminating Sarutobi's latest protégé.

Kazuma was mad, and his idea of a 'Jinchuuriki army' was just as bad. That didn't really matter to SPARK I- his orders had never included the need for Kazuma to win, so long as the revolution weakened the Land of Fire and Konoha as a whole. SPARK I's hands flashed, twisting into a silent non-verbal code that only he and his team knew of.

: Status on Alpha and Bravo :

Spark IV answered. : Bravo has moved away from priority target, seeking secondary target-3: He paused, tilting his head in the air. His loose brown hair ruffled in the wind behind his mask. : Location of Alpha remains unknown :

SPARK III answered that for them, her hands moving rapidly. : Sentry indicates presence of Alpha in sector S-4-G of city. Verifying... : She paused, angling one of her remote spies in for a closer look. : Chakra presence confirmed, visual presence confirmed, olfactory presence confirmed – Alpha has left priority target :

SPARK I nodded in confirmation. : Begin the operation : He signed.

On the tree branch above them, SPARK V clapped his hands in a seal. With SPARK II and SPARK VI maintaining a very sophisticated barrier technique, only the members of the black-ops team could feel the sudden surge of chakra that flowed through the air. SPARK V didn't make a sound, but the strain on his body was nonetheless quite visible. He stood in that position for a few moments and then nodded.

Next to him, the blank-masked SPARK III signed on her brother's behalf. : Infiltration complete- the Palace has been breached. Gas canisters deployed – the Bunker has been neutralised – No life signs :