In the middle of Sasuke's fight, feathers began to fall from the sky.

I stare up in confusion, a yawn on my lips. Then I suddenly sit upright as realization strikes me. I make the handsign hurriedly, releasing myself from the genjutsu.

I glance to my right and see Hideaki. "Good," she nods at me, "You released yourself too."

"What's going on?" I ask, confused as she stands up.

"An ambush," my sister says, standing.

I look up at her, shocked. "But--" she meets my eyes, and I cut myself off at what I see in there. Her eyes were cold, hard, distant. This wasn't Hideaki, my sister. This was Hideaki, the ninja, the ANBU.

"Onee-san?"

"Come on," she grabbed my hand, dragging me upright.

"Where are we going?"

"To find your Sensei," she said, running up the stairs with me.

We find Sensei next to Kakashi with his hand through someone's chest. "Ah, Fuzen," he smiles, "Nice of you to join us."

My sister grabs him and pins him against the pillar, sending a kunai towards a ninja sneaking up on us at the same time.

"Must we always meet this way?" Sensei asks in a jocose manner.

"You protect her," my sister hisses, "I swear to God, if something happens... It's you who will pay."

Sensei glares back. "She's my student," he replied, shoving her off of him, "I think I can handle it."

"Well, knowing your track record..."

The emotion in his eyes goes from mild annoyance to rage, a rabid anger that clawed at whomever it was aimed at.

"Shut up," he ordered, "Shut the fuck up."

My sister, nineteen, ANBU, stared into Sensei's eyes, seventeen, former ANBU, and backed down. "I'm needed elsewhere," she glared, "You better..."

With one last glance towards me she reaches into her pouch and pulls out a mask, sliding it on and spinning away. I frown. I didn't get a glimpse of what mask she wore. She followed the rules to a T, even around me.

"Your sister sure does care about you," my Sensei observed, shoulders still tense from the confrontation.

"Uh...yeah," I agree.

"C'mon," he ordered, "Daisuke and Shun should find their way to us eventually... If they didn't fail to break the genjutsu."

"Shouldn't we go find them?" I question.

"No: if they're awake they're strong enough to find their way to us. If they're not awake, they're safe. No one would strike down a helpless genin," Sensei explained. "Now duck."

I do what he says without hesitation, throwing myself to the ground. There's an ugly sound as his blade ripped through the ninjas throat.

"Where did you get a kunai from?!" I exclaim, "You didn't even reach into your pouch!"

"I didn't get a kunai," Sensei muttered.

"But then... How...?"

He turns away, and I glimpse the glint of a blade on his forearm and hand. "What kind of weapon is that?!" I exclaim, staring in awe.

Sensei glances down, flexing his wrist once again to hide the blades under his sleeves. "Nothing in particular," he mumbled. "Usually used for assassinations."

I stare at him, concerned. He seemed so... Closed off, all of a sudden. Defensive. Had the argument with sister shaken him up so much?

But there's no time to think, because there's more ninja to fight. I quickly make several handsigns, and suddenly the hoard of ninja running towards us slow down, running into each other and stumbling over nothing. Sensei and Kakashi sprint past me and cut through the ninja easily.

"That's quite the student you have there," Kakashi smirked, "Pretty adept a genjutsu, that one."

"You're telling me!" Sensei laughs easily.

There's a pained yell from behind me and I turn, only to see the ninja crumple to the ground, leaving Daisuke standing behind him.

"Thanks," I grin.

"You can thank me with a kiss," he offered.

"In your dreams!" I retort.

"One day, Fuzen!" He promises as Kakashi and Sensei return to us.

"Good work Fuzen, Daisuke," Sensei nods, "Where's Shun?"

"Last I saw he was taking Mizuko to the medic bay," Daisuke said, "He must still be down there."

"Alright, fine. We've been here long enough: if he was coming he'd be here," Sensei said. "C'mon. Our mission is now search and rescue. Find any hurt ninja or citizens trapped under rubble and evacuate them."

"You don't think that... That we should go get Shun?" I ask.

Sensei looks agonizingly over his shoulder as screams begin within the village. "We need to help," he said, "But we need our team, you're right. Daisuke, Fuzen, your mission is to find Shun and rendezvous with me. Go!"

We spring away together, immediately searching Shun out. We avoid enemy ninjas as we try to sense his chakra.

I see Kiba and pause. As much as I disliked him, Kiba could help. Daisuke and I run towards him.

"Kiba!" I shout.

"What do you want, Fuzen?" Kiba asked, just the barest trace of hostility in his tone.

"We need you to find Shun's scent and tell us where he is! Please!" I beg.

Kiba glances between me and Daisuke before nodding and sniffing the air carefully. "Scents coming from there," he pointed towards the medic bay, "And I smell at least three other people with him," Kiba warned.

"Alright. Thank you Kiba!" I shout, already bounding away.

"Thanks man," Daisuke throws over his shoulder.

Then we were off.

***

When we found Shun's chakra, we also found Shri's.

"Fucking fag! Abomination! God hates you! God will strike you down! I'll kill you! It's the will of God!" Shri's eyes were wild, hateful, crazy. "Mizuko! Come out and confess your sin before I destroy you! There's hope for your soul yet!"

Shri's teammate, Katasho, stood beside Shri strong and silent, arms folded and staring at the door as though his gaze alone could break it.

I hide behind the corner again. "I think he's insane," I say in a matter-of-fact tone.

"You think?" Daisuke mutters. "So is Shun in there?"

"Must be."

"But how could Shri know that Shun is gay?" I ask, "And why is he so... upset... by it?"

"No idea," Daisuke admits, "Unless..."

"What?"

"Well, you've seen how Shri and his other teammate treats Mizuko, yeah?" I nod. "Well, maybe they're not talking about Shun. Maybe they're talking about Mizu."

"Their own teammate?"

"He's a complete ass, Fuzen. Evil. It's not that he's mean; he's completely twisted, geddit?" Daisuke whispers.

"I know," I reply, "It's just... They're teammates, y'know?"

"Yeah, it's messed up," he agrees. "Alright, we need to get Shun, but it looks like he barricaded himself and Mizu in that room judging by how it's still standing despite Shri's pounding," Daisuke muses.

"It looks like we'll have to take Shri and Katasho out," I observe.

"Mm," Daisuke nods, "Once Shun knows it's us he'll probably provide backup."

"Alright. So what's our plan?"

___________________________

Sorry it's short, but I wanted to get a quick update in tonight before exams!

How you enjoyed and hope you hate Shri so much more now!

Comment! Vote!

Bye!

gaara119