Let It Burn: Death [Sasuke Uchiha]

Chapter 42

Tsunade was wary when Ibiki entered her office one afternoon with a stack of files in hand. No doubt they were regarding the rogue crisis going on beyond the walls, but it was his expression that was unsettling. He placed the items on the desk for her to look over.

"I take it our missions have been less than successful," she finally spoke up.

"We have yet to gather any real information on the matter," Ibiki answered. "Whoever this is, is cunning. They are able to move around our best ninja and hide in the shadows, covering every step they make so we can't track them."

The news on the serial killer was now reaching the smaller lands and were causing them to worry and panic. If the Kage Villages couldn't hope to exterminate this threat, then how could they face off against them? They would be the first to fall should the killer make a play for power. All were worried that a copycat Akatsuki was on the rise once more. It was taking everything in the Kages powers to maintain the peace and reassure others that it had not come to that yet. That they were doing everything humanly possible to right things. But there was only so long that could go on for.

"We need her, Lady Hokage," he stated. "You cannot deny it."

And Tsunade knew that was what the man was getting at by coming to discuss the matter with her. "There are plenty of other ANBU and Phantom Ninjas who have yet to be put into the field for this mission. Choose someone else."

He sighed. "I know what you're trying to do. Convincing Be Fong to become a mentor to Academy students. And while it may be a good idea to try and utilize her brain and skills so others could possibly follow in her footsteps, she is not yet at that point in her life where she's ready to take on that task."

"And when will she be? When she has another near-death experience or this time loses a vital limb permanently? Will then be a good time?"

"You want to bench one of our greatest assets to the Leaf."

"You know exactly why I am doing this!" Tsunade snapped. "Her medical records are always perfect. Mentally, physically, no ninja is perfect after witnessing half of the things she has out on the field. What if one day we push her too far? Put her on a mission where she cannot bring herself to 'recover'? What happens if after all those years of repressing these emotions and memories Mai's mind finally snaps and she descends into insanity? Then she is no longer an asset or even a person. She'll be nothing more than a shell of what she once was. I'm trying to save her."

"I know." The statement baffled the Hokage that he would still put this up for discussion. "But the situation is only getting worse out there regarding the rogues. This person who is killing them... I fear that when all of those without a Village are exterminated, they will go after ninja and other nations. Because what if after all this killing it isn't enough and they need more bloodshed because they are bored. We have no idea who this is or where their mental stability is. We have no leads, our trails are running cold, and they always manage to be one step in front of us.

"You know I wouldn't ask you to put Be Fong on this mission if I had another option. But we are out of time and the bodies only continue to pile up. Hopefully, she will be able to get us something to go off of so we can hunt this criminal down. I'm well aware of her bluffs during examinations, but we can't just allow her to sit inside these walls and do nothing. I'm surprised she's managed to follow orders for this long and actually took time off without pressing the matter.

"You want her to become a mentor so she's distracted from wanting to be placed in danger. You want her to develop a connection with those in Konoha more so she has a reason to stay around more often. You want to preserve her mental stability. You want to protect her because not only is she your greatest asset and you've seen what happens to those that have witnessed too much being in the medical field. For someone her age she has seen enough to last a lifetime. But the problem with being one of the greatest assets we've ever seen only means that others come to rely on her more. And that is the problem, Lady Hokage. Phantom is relying on Be Fong to extract much needed information because no one else can after four months since joining the search. She is the only one skilled enough for the job."

He had the woman stuck between a rock and a hard place. Ibiki spoke the complete truth as much as she wished to deny it. She had known it was only a matter of time before this issue was brought to her attention. Only a matter of time till Mai would try to be brought into the picture. But Tsunade was so close to convincing Mai to become a sensei and now this threatened to thrown a wrench into her plans. What if placed on this mission and upon returning the position was outright declined without any chance at an argument?

"Very well... bring her in," the Hokage caved.

But she had to protect her people from this growing threat should this murderer become bored. And possibly target those that were innocent.

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Mai saw the hawk circling overhead, finger tapping against the cup of tea in thought. "What is it?"

Without turning to look, Kakashi joined her side at the doorway before noticing the bird flying away back towards the Hokage building.

"Another mission has come up it seems," she answered, taking another sip.

"I thought you were on leave for another two weeks?"

"Plans change."

As he went into the kitchen to finish cleaning up the lunch they had been sharing together, after a long morning of training, Mai retreated to the shower. She dressed in uniform and strapped on her gear. She found the Jounin in the living room when attaching the ANBU mask to the weapons belt.

"You're welcome to stay as long as you like," the older teen said. "Just be sure to lock up when you leave."

"I think I'll leave as well. Yamato wanted to talk to me about something anyway."

They parted at the end of the path when coming to the Village. The Be Fong making her way swiftly towards the Hokage building and walked through the halls. Shizune smiled in greeting, standing from her desk to open the door and allow the ninja inside. Mai paused for a moment, noticing that the woman was not alone in the room as Ibiki turned from the window.

"Please close the door," the Hokage ordered. Approaching the desk, the older teen stopped on the other side, standing at attention. "We have a mission for you."

"Is it regarding the serial killer?"

"Possibly." That made Mai's brow cock slightly. "On the northwest border we have received word of a band of rogues that has formed. They have been active for nearly a year but their activity is limited. From reports they were as far as Rock Country two months ago. Where they are heading exactly is unclear, but they are now close to a Kage Village and I want you to investigate."

She slid the mission report across the desk for the Be Fong to pick up and examine.

"They call themselves, No Face. They wear masks that obscure their features, so no one has ever managed to get a positive ID on them. One can speculate where they are from based on their jutsus, but even so a person is allowed two once becoming Chunnin, possibly more when becoming a Jounin, so that only narrows our search slightly."

Mai nodded. There wasn't much in the file. "What do you want me to do with them when I'm done?"

"Report back here in some way. Whether by bird if you are unable to leave their presence or return to this office to give your report. If they do not pose a threat... I will allow them to continue on if they don't step out of line in some way. Though I cannot speak for the other Kages should they look into this matter themselves. But if they have other motives, we will move against them. I'll have Ibiki build a team to track and exterminate them."

So it was up to her to decide their survival. "Understood."

"There is also another possible outcome to this mission," the Hokage spoke up before she could leave. "They are a group of rogues and with this serial killer out there... they may become the next target. Just be careful and aware if you accidentally run into them. This is an Intel mission. However, it could turn into something more."

"I'm aware, but all the same, I will complete this mission to your liking."