Decaying Bluebells

Arc XI - Shy

Disclaimer: Don't worry. I'm violating Naruto and the characters in this. They'll live. Hopefully.

Warning: Uh... does this count as angst?

Beta: Kalafina94

Beta: silverseed

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Interlude - Omniscient - 5

It had been a while since they declared Yagura dead. It wasn't long afterwards that Mei took up the mantle of Mizukage.

Currently, she was sitting nervously at her desk. It had been weeks since she sent out her messenger and tracking team, and she had received a reply a few days ago. The ones she was hunting down had informed her they would return to speak directly to her.

They were scheduled to meet her that day.

At that very time.

Mei let out a soft breath, and there was a knock at her door.

"Come in," Mei beckoned, placing down the papers she had glanced over.

The door opened and Mei stood up from her desk, her eyes softening.

"Hn. I see you've changed a few things already."

Mei smiled warmly. "Appearances aren't the only things that have changed. Welcome back. Zabuza... Haku."

. . .

. .

.

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Tsunade walked around her office, her eyes dark as she paced. The ones before her stood stiff and straight.

Tsunade let out a soft breath, coming to a stop behind her desk as she looked at each of them. "This will be a difficult mission. I'm ranking it S."

No one spoke, but Naruto was brimming with excitement.

"Not only because you will be dealing with a known S-ranked criminal. but because you will be watching for treason of the Leaf," Tsunade said gravely.

Naruto and Sasuke froze, while Kakashi's eye narrowed. Yagura remained impassive, and I clutched my hands into fists.

"Wh-What do you mean?" Naruto asked, disbelief clear in his voice.

Tsunade let out a slow breath. "While you, Sasuke and Kakashi were out of the village, we came across sensitive information, not only regarding the Akatsuki, but about a man of the name Danzō."

Kakashi looked surprised. "Danzō. You don't mean.?"

"I mean," Tsunade confirmed grimly. "Decades ago, Danzō controlled an elite division of the ANBU. It was. horrible. My predecessor was disgusted by the division and when peace finally came about again, he immediately ordered the group disbanded. Sandaime Hokage went to each known base of the ANBU division and watched each and every one of them burn. Danzō assured Sarutobi that the division was gone, and that was that. However, it has come to our recent attention that Danzō. lied."

"And? What's so wrong about an extra ANBU division?" Naruto demanded, clearly disliking the idea of someone betraying Konoha.

"This division does not fall under my orders," Tsunade snapped. "It follows Danzō's orders only, and much more. it's barbaric. It utilizes war orphans, forcing them to bond with one person, then pitting the two against each other in a fight for survival. It's designed to kill the emotions inside and turn them into mindless, apathetic, obedient drones. Furthermore, it seems that Danzō has been utilizing this division, ROOT, for his own purposes. It was he who leaked information regarding Leaf's security to Orochimaru in the first place in the invasion. And you remember how well that turned out?"