Third person pov

They stood before the Hokage with grumpy and defeated looks as the barrier went up around the room. They could see the glimmering blue translucent shield through the window, diminishing any hopes they had of crashing through the glass and taking their chances free falling. The Third sighed.

"Inu, take off their bounds. They won't be able to use chakra here." Hiruzen assured, and Hidan let out a loud groan. Kakashi ignored him, starting with Ibiki, who was closest. The man stared coldly down at Kakashi, evidently not all that happy about being taken in. The Hatake didn't appear to mind all that much, undoing his wrists before he moved on to Hidan, who no longer held the shaking Shikamaru. The Nara now stood beside his two brothers, staring at the Hokage with an unwavering gaze.

"Inoichi should be here shortly. We'll have to take down the barrier to let him in." The Hokage sighed, shaking his head. "What have you boys gotten yourselves into?" He looked at them as Kakashi untied them. Sasuke's arm, awkwardly, had been tied to his side. He glared at his future sensei as he sheepishly undid the knot.

"We haven't gotten ourselves into anything." Naruto lied in a bland tone, rubbing his wrists idly as the rope fell from them. He glanced at Sasuke, who nodded and glanced at Shikamaru, who offered a shrug. 

"It's nothing to worry about. It won't harm the village." Shikamaru assured. 

"We really can't get out of here or use chakra?" Ibiki's nose scrunched up at the prospect, and the Hokage chuckled as though this were a friendly meeting. As though he hadn't had them marched in here like prisoners. 

"No, not even I can." The Hokage smiled an almost wry smile at the drawbacks. The shield was strong and would not easily be broken into or out of, but if he was inside, it left him defenseless. His men could very well leave him in here as well if they so chose to. This was just as much his prison, in this moment, as it was theirs. 

"You say you don't wish to harm the village, and yet you have an S-rank criminal with you." Kakashi piped up, eyeing Hidan with caution. The three kids seemed to groan at him observation. They knew he was an ex-criminal and cultist, but this was just insane! The inquiry was quickly getting old. Hidan was about as dangerous as a potato with a knife at this point.

"He's perfectly harmless!" Shikamaru threw his hands up in exasperation. "He hasn't slit our throats in our sleep, and is a pretty nice dude, so I don't see what the issue is!" The Nara groaned.

"Did you just call me nice?" Hidan scoffed. "So rude!" 

"We know. You're a sour and vile man who wants nothing more than to be taken seriously. We get it. It's cool." Naruto said, and Hidan rolled his magenta eyes at the boy. These brats were getting on his nerves, and fast. "Oh, and I suppose you carrying Shikamaru was just disgusting. The rudest thing you ever could have done. Oh you criminal, you." Naruto teased.

"H-Hey, shut up! I just didn't want the have to step over that brat's dead fucking body when he finally keeled over!" Hidan's cheeks turned red, and the Hokage found his eyebrows furrowing. The bingo book had described Hidan as dangerous and extremely vulgar, rude and cold-hearted, but he almost seemed fond of these kids. "He's a brat and a waste of fucking space." The ex-Jashinist insisted.

"And I have two arms." Sasuke said dryly. "Can we get to the point? What're we doing here?" He scoffed. So far all they'd done was embarrass Hidan and get themselves locked in here together. If that wasn't a recipe for disaster, Sasuke really wasn't sure what was. 

"We're waiting for that Inoichi guy." Hidan reminded, scratching the back of his neck. He didn't know much about him or the Yamanaka clan, only that they were good at all that mind shit. Sort of like the Uchiha clan with their genjutsu, only the Yamanaka could apparently go right into your brain and take the information themselves. They didn't have to torture you for it.

"I'm sure Hokage-sama has some questions as well." Ibiki looked at the Third expectantly, and the old man smiled a smile that was a little sad.

"You know me well, Ibiki." He mused, closing his eyes for a moment. He wished this wasn't happening. Konoha had just recovered from the Kyuubi's devastating attack on the village, and now this. "However, I think it's best we wait for Inoichi to arrive. I don't wish to be fed lies."

"Yeah, and-" Naruto was cut off by a loud bang at the door. He rolled his blue eyes, groaning. "I guess he's here. Someone let him in, he sounds triggered." Naruto sighed. Shikamaru snorted lightly at him. 

~

"Open the door!" Gaara shrieked, his eyes wide. They had to warn them, and fast. He was going to be here, if he wasn't already. "Naruto, Sasuke! Shikamaru!" 

"Shit, I know this barrier." Orochimaru wasn't going to outwardly admit it, but he was worried. He'd fought alongside Konoha. He'd been accepted again, even if his personality was one to be wary of. They had accepted him again, and they'd saved him countless times since his return to what was considered the good side. He didn't want to fail them now, not after everything he'd put them through.

Downstairs, Rasa's bodyguards tangled with the Hokage's, dangerous justu clashing below them and causing the building to rumble. Rasa had been very clear: nobody gets past under any circumstances.

"Gaara, do it." Rasa said, his own golden dust rearing up angrily. Gaara nodded, and the cloud of sand he may or may not have stolen from a sandbox on the way here rammed against the shimmering blue barrier. Orochimaru coughed at the grains that flew his way, squinting. But he didn't stop banging against the door, his fists infused with chakra. He didn't care how bruised he was.

They had to get in there.

And they had to get in there now.