Feminine Wiles

Tied Together

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After a few minutes Naruko was set on a stretcher and transported along with Kenshin and Ivan. Des and Cleo joined the group once they entered the forest and acted as lookouts ...

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"I see there was an attempt on Naruko's life." Hiruzen remarked as he and Danzo strolled out of the hokage tower.

Apparently, a fool tried to kill her when he recognized her saber tooth tigers and realized she was Vixen who tricked him into giving her valuable information that crippled his sponsor's business. It was pure chance that the businessman happened to come to request a mission. In the chaos caused by Naruko's move into the hospital and the medical team from Iron arriving he saw the three tigers protectively following the blonde on the stretcher. Of course, he checked to see if she was guarded and thought she wasn't. The idiot didn't know how ninjas worked ... you don't see them unless they want you to ...

"I should've been there." Danzo said feeling a mix of anger and guilt. Though nothing happened to Naruko he couldn't help but feel the way he did along with a strong urge to assist in torturing those who brought harm to Naruko. Most notably being Kabuto, Orochimaru and even the businessman who was caught before he even got passed the door to Naruko's room.

"You did everything you could and if I'm right you stood guard nearly everyday, which is not allowed for those who are retired remember? Plus you shouldn't have been anywhere near the room since no one knows that you're related to her." Hiruzen reminded quietly with a sense of amusement. All Danzo did was huff and think back at what has happened over the last weeks ...

Flashback

"My grandpa will be back soon? YAY! Is Naruko with him? Are they alright?" Sebastian asked excitedly as he followed Danzo through town to go to the gate where the group would arrive.

"From what Tsunade said your grandpa is injured, but he will be fine and ..." Danzo took a breath more to calm himself rather than preparing to tell the young boy what was going on. "Naruko is in critical condition."

Sebastian's eyes widened with concern, "Critical! Will she be alright? Does she need a special doctor? Grandpa said she had a condition that can be very dangerous if it gets out of control. Is that what happened?"

Danzo stopped in his tracks and put his non bandaged hand on the hyperventilating boy's shoulder, "Calm down, Sebastian ... Naruko is getting help. The doctors from the Land of Iron will be here moments after she gets here. She will be alright." He said softly as the boy calmed down ... really the speech was meant to calm Danzo down, but it worked on both of them.

As the gate came into view the elder scooped up the child and held him with his good arm and jumped onto the roof of a nearby building. They had to move out of the way as a team of ninjas came from both sides of the gate. A team from Konoha raced out of the gate and split up to help with two tasks. One task was to restrain the prisoners and lock them up. The other and more urgent task was to help the team from Sand to the hospital for mediate attention.

The elder nodded in approval as he overheard all the ninjas referring to Naruko as a civilian and not an ally. The village agreed to uphold her desire for anonymity and they were sticking to it. In the chaos Danzo spotted a true civilian passing the gate just in time to spot one saber tooth tiger. There was something about the way the man's face changed from shock to anger that set Danzo on edge. He filed it away for now, but he promised not to let him near Naruko or anyone who could be a threat for that matter ...

"There's grandpa and Naruko! Can we go see them?" Sebastian asked as the ninjas all but disappeared at their fast speeds.

"Yes let's go and see them at the hospital ... hold on." Danzo jumped from roof to roof with the boy secured by his arm. They made it just in time to see Naruko whisked away on the stretcher.