The White Flash

Gotta See! Gotta Know!

            "To be honest, I really don't understand. It seems that there were opinions that, with the final exam being suspended, no one should pass this time around." Tsunade was saying. Positioned behind her new desk and flanked by Shizune and proctors of the Chunin Exams. "But I hear the late Sandaime highly praised your matches. It seems he intended to recommend the two of you for Chunin. The lords of other lands who observed the fights and the proctors were of the same opinion as well... In that case, it's not my place to say this or that about it. From now on, strive to perform in a manner that is worthy of those headbands. Congratulations! As of today, the two of you are Chunin!"

Emerald irises moved to her partner, a heavy sigh leaving his ribs as he rubbed the back of his head. "What a drag."

"Come on, Shikun!" With a grin, she smacked his shoulder, "we've levelled up!" The vest was form fitting and heavy. From now, they were leaders. Responsible for their comrades and ensuring the completion of missions with minimal casualties. It's been a while. Since she last been on a mission. Now she was qualified for B-ranked missions.

"With our military strength as it is now, the two of you should be ready to step up," Tsunade recaptured their attention. "More will be asked of you and your squads than your comrades. I expect you to fulfill your duties to your upmost abilities."

The duo stood straight, "yes ma'am!"

"Wait just a minute." An aged voice came from the entrance as the door creaked open.

"Geh!" Ayumi tucked herself behind Shikamaru as Homura and Koharu walked inside; racking her brain for anything she could have done recently that would cause them to show up. She's been gone up until recently. There was no way she could have done anything. Still, she held Shikamaru's bicep with both of her hands and peeked an eye around his side.

"Hatake Ayumi is to be kept from missions for the next two weeks," Koharu informed.

"What?!" Ayumi jumped out of her hiding place and threw a finger at them, "how come?! I haven't done anything!"

"You forget," Homura looked to her, "this is a punishment Hiruzen, himself, assigned to you because of your escapade during the exams."

Escapade? Thinking back, it took a minute. However, images of her and Gaara stumbling upon a research facility floated in her mind. Mouth opening in a silent 'oh' she dropped a fist in her palm. "That's right."

"This again?" Tsunade sighed, "this isn't the time to worry about petty punishments. We are down on our military strength. I have seen Ayumi's skills, myself, right now we cannot afford to keep her from missions."

"You have not been in the village, Ayumi has a running reputation of sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. However, during the Chunin Exams, she showed a Genin from another village secret passageways through our village." Koharu folded her hands in front of her, "this is one thing that we will not back down on. This punishment must stand."

"I've read the report." Elbow on the table, Tsunade rested her chin on the back of her hand. "Danzo got rid of the entrance, did he not? With Konoha's current state, I can't afford to keep any shinobi from their missions. We can revisit the idea of this punishment when the village is stabilized."

Aside from the sound plan Tsunade was presenting, the years of piled irritation had obviously reached its peak. Koharu shook her head, "this was the last order by Sandaime to Ayumi. This is not something that you should overrule."

Arms crossing over a flak jacket, Ayumi turned her head with a mumble, "technically Jiji's last order was to find Retsu-san."

"Sh!" Shikamaru whispered, a flat hand hiding his mouth from their view, "you're not going to help yourself."