The White Flash

One Woman Army

            "Go back to the estate, she says. Not happening, I say." Angered grumbles left tight lips. Shinobi code of conduct dictated that orders of senior shinobi be followed without question; unless the situation called for a judgement call. That is exactly what had her searching through the nearby base. There's something wrong here. When faced with uncertainties, a shinobi must always prepare. The timing of the entire groups disappearance can't be a coincidence. One base, maybe two being completely abandoned can be pardoned. However, according to what Kohei said before he followed after their sensei, none of the other bases were occupied. None. If the group was spread out then the contacts of the Miyuki family would have spotted them.

            Itsuki Chimon was a former Konoha shinobi. This wasn't a coincidence. For the group to disappear right before they came here. Not to mention Itsuki Chimon sure did let himself be found quite easily. Alone. None of it was adding up.

            Searching the base from bottom to top was taking two hours, that only steadily grew. With the pack running around the many rooms, Ayumi searched the room that seemed to handle the messages. Considering the fact an angry Jounin hasn't sniffed her out and delivered a hard punishment, they were still on the fugitive's trail.

            Various scrolls were skimmed through and thrown to the side. Unimportant messages to other bases and families of the members. Coming to the last of stored scrolls, she took a step back with her hands on her hips. "If I was a secret document; where would I be?" Emerald scanned the room, looking for any hidden chamber sealed with some kind of tag yet found nothing. "Shit." They probably destroyed them already. Hands found a windowsill, looking over the complex base. Streaks of different colors raced about, from room to room and over rooftops. Uhei caught her attention. The bandaged ninken was a streak from the trees. Further than he was asked to search.

            His auburn fur came back into sight at the entrance. Something dangling in his mouth. Riddled with feathers and a strap of leather. Is that? The door behind her was pushed open soon after by Bull. The entire pack filing in. "Uhei, is that what I think it is?" Quickly moving to meet him, she squat down as the animal was placed on the ground. Just as she thought. A messenger bird with an undelivered letter.

            "Doesn't look like it was ever officially released," Uhei informed, "I scared it when searching the room."

            "Good work!" Pulling the scroll from the carcass's back, she broke the seal. "These guys have been extremely careful with their messages. I find it hard to believe that a message was just left undelivered." One knee on the ground, she spread out the scroll. "I think Squad 8 popped up before he was expecting them." Emerald moved over the contents. All words jumbled and thrown out of order.

            "It's coded," Bisuke said.

            "It's the standard coding used by Anbu shinobi." The nonsense faded from her vision, words that were scrambled and messed about making themselves known. A puzzle that just needed to be put together. In her travel pouch was a pencil. Marking the scroll with circles and arrows to bring about the message in its correct order. "If I just use Cipher K and rearranged it by order of Cipher B..." It took a good half hour before the pencil was set on the floorboards. Useless kanji were scribbled out, others circled, and arrows directed the placement.

The time has come for us to take what is ours! The Leaf is here and they're hunting for me. Do not sacrifice yourselves to protect me. I will turn myself in. I will not go easily.

Do not fear. You know what you must do. Follow my father, he will lead you to Fukui. You have sworn your lives to this cause and your lives will be needed. However, your families will live for the better in the world we will create. We have known no peace for years; why should the rest of the world?! We will take advantage of this war! We will use this as an opportunity to bring ourselves fortune! Enough to make us untouchable by any nation!