Land of Rivers
Dawn painted the sky in faint hues as the forest slowly came alive with noise. Early birds chirped, setting out in search of breakfast.
A large, plump insect also began its hunt as the sun climbed higher. Spotting a cluster of green leaves ahead, it quickened its pace.
Just as the insect reached the leaves, poised to enjoy its morning meal, it felt a sudden tightness around its fat body, followed by the bewildering sensation of being lifted into the air.
Twisting its head, it saw a majestic bird gripping its corpulent form firmly in its beak. "...It's over," the insect thought despairingly. "Can't even let a guy have his last breakfast."
"What a fat worm. Who gets this one?" the magnificent bird mused, carrying its prize back towards its nest. Peering at the chicks inside, their mouths gaping wide in anticipation, the mother bird felt a brief moment of indecision.
Her dilemma didn't last long. A swirl of sand materialized around her and her brood. By the time the mother bird sensed the danger, it was too late. The sand snaked around her leg like a viper, yanking her and her chicks down from their perch.
"Now that's a plump bird, Gaara," a blonde kunoichi remarked, eyeing the captured avian.
"Haha, nice one, Gaara! Go catch a few more," said a ninja with purple markings painted on his face, taking the unfortunate birds.
"Mind your surroundings, Gaara," cautioned a ninja clad in the standard Sand Village uniform. "We're approaching Kikyō Town. Don't do anything that might cause misunderstandings with Konoha."
"Hn. I know, Baki-sensei," replied a red-haired ninja with dark circles around his eyes, a large gourd strapped to his back.
After Gaara moved off, another kunoichi in the group quietly spoke to the blonde one. "Gaara… he seems different than before."
"Yeah," the blonde kunoichi agreed, a pleased expression on her face as she watched Gaara's retreating figure. "People change."
"He hasn't been the same since the Chunin Exams," the ninja with face paint added with a smile. "He wants to be acknowledged by everyone now. I like this version of him much better."
This group was none other than the negotiation team dispatched from the distant Land of Wind: the Jonin Baki, Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, and the kunoichi, Juan.
Initially, the Sand Council hadn't intended to send Gaara and his siblings. However, upon learning of the mission, Gaara had insisted on going.
Baki had observed Gaara's transformation firsthand and had some inkling of the boy's motivations. Therefore, supported by Baki's own request, Elder Chiyo had made a last-minute change to the roster, adding Juan, who had participated in the previous negotiation attempt, to round out the five-person team heading for Konoha.
Sakura slowly blinked her eyes open as an insistent tickle roused her from sleep. Unsurprisingly, the first thing she saw was the slightly infuriating face of a certain red-haired girl.
"Ngh… How do you have so much energy? Aren't you sleepy at all?" Sakura mumbled, batting weakly at the grinning girl.
"Get up! Time for breakfast!" Karin continued her relentless harassment.
"Any word from Captain Hayama?" Sakura pulled the blanket over her head, her voice muffled.
"Yep! Captain Hayama said the Sand ninja are already just outside of town," Karin replied, tugging at the blanket.
Sakura shot upright abruptly, knocking Karin onto the tatami mat with a surprised yelp.
"Oww…" Karin clutched her nose, tears welling in her eyes as she looked pitifully at Sakura.
"Ah! Sorry, Karin!" Sakura apologized quickly, already dressing with practiced efficiency. "Are Naruto and Sasuke up yet?"
"Naruto's still asleep. I'll go get him," Karin said, wiping her eyes before dashing out of the room.
By the time Sakura had washed up and arrived in the dining area, Captain Hayama was already there.
"Morning, Captain Hayama."
"Mm," Hayama Shirakumo acknowledged. "The recon squad has spotted the Sand contingent. They should arrive here shortly."
"Thank you, Captain Hayama."
"It's nothing. Just part of the job," Hayama replied, maintaining his usual business-like demeanor.
"He's so rigid," Sakura thought, observing him. "Hope I don't get stuck on too many missions with him in the future."
After breakfast, a ninja wearing a standard Konoha flak jacket arrived to inform Sakura that the Sand delegation had reached the town.
Sakura led her team, following the messenger to a designated room where they met the five travel-worn Sand shinobi.
"Hey! It's Gaara!" Naruto exclaimed loudly upon entering.
"...Uzumaki Naruto." Gaara's stoic expression shifted subtly at the sight of the blond.
"Haha! Didn't expect it'd be you guys coming!" Naruto grinned, scratching his head as he started to walk forward.
Sakura quickly put an arm out, stopping him. "We're still on duty, Naruto. No unauthorized actions."
Although Sakura privately thought Naruto's greeting was harmless, a mission was still a mission.
"Greetings," Sakura began formally. "I am Chunin Haruno Sakura of Konohagakure, assigned by the Fifth Hokage to welcome you." She produced the scroll Tsunade had given her and presented it. "This verifies our identities, personally signed by Lady Fifth."
Across from her, Baki accepted the scroll and offered one in return. "And this is ours. As we haven't selected a new Kazekage yet, it bears Elder Chiyo's signature for the time being."
This exchange was a standard procedure, primarily to prevent impersonation, especially in diplomatic affairs. A third party posing as one nation to provoke another could easily incite war.
After both sides examined the scrolls and confirmed their authenticity, Sakura spoke again. "Will you be resting here for the day, or do you wish to continue your journey immediately?"
"Let's keep moving," Baki replied without hesitation. "Delays invite trouble. The sooner we reach Konoha, the better." His tone shifted slightly. "Though I must say, it's quite surprising to see you've already made Chunin, and are even leading this escort mission."
"Haha, you flatter me," Sakura demurred politely. "Since you've decided to depart now, let us be on our way."
"Mm," Baki nodded curtly, no longer wasting words. He signaled his team, and the four Sand shinobi fell in behind Sakura's group as they headed out.
Baki was unaware of the deal struck between Danzo and Chiyo; perhaps only a handful of individuals in the entire Sand Village knew. Before their departure, Chiyo had simply instructed Baki to keep the Konoha escort ninja away from Juan, ensuring they had no opportunity whatsoever to interact with her.
Baki wasn't a fool. From Chiyo's warning, he inferred that Juan possessed something Konoha desired—something crucial to these negotiations—and that Konoha's escort team, led by Sakura, was likely tasked with retrieving it.
Sakura, meanwhile, was already strategizing how to accomplish her true objective. She had only confided the mission's real goal to Karin. With Karin's unique sensory abilities, detecting lies would be simple. If Sakura could just steer the conversation correctly and extract some useful information, perhaps she could find the proof Tsunade needed.
Of the five Sand ninja, Sakura mused, only the kunoichi named Juan was part of the previous negotiation team—Master Tsunade told me that much. So, she's the target...?
Konoha - Undisclosed Location
In a dim, subterranean space – once the headquarters of Root, now largely abandoned since the organization's official disbandment by the Third Hokage – a lone figure stood. Bandages covered most of his body, and one eye was missing. It was Danzo Shimura.
"The mission was a failure," a masked ninja reported, kneeling before Danzo.
"Reason," Danzo uttered, the word clipped.
"The target proved unexpectedly strong," Kou stated concisely. "They seem to possess some form of immortality."
"..." Danzo remained silent for a moment. "Is the target's location still known?"
"Yes. Under surveillance."
"Where are they now?"
"Kikyō Town."
"And the Sand delegation?"
"Also Kikyō Town."
"..." Danzo fell silent again, weighing the implications. His original plan had been to eliminate the assassin beforehand, thereby lowering Tsunade's guard, clearing his own name of suspicion, and simultaneously framing the Sand. But the assassin had proven more capable than anticipated. Not only had finding them taken considerable time, but the attempt to eliminate them had ultimately failed.
Now, Danzo felt hesitant to act rashly. With the Sand negotiation team so close, he couldn't simply order an attack on them – that would undoubtedly infuriate Chiyo, pushing her further into Tsunade's camp and strengthening the very alliance he sought to undermine, an alliance Tsunade championed with the lingering influence of the Third Hokage behind her. Even if Chiyo lacked concrete proof of Danzo's involvement, Tsunade was already wary of him. An open confrontation now would be disadvantageous, especially with the Third's legacy still supporting Tsunade.
Yet, doing nothing and allowing the Sand delegation to reach Konoha was only marginally better than open conflict. Once they arrived, they would inevitably present evidence clearing their village of the assassination attempt on Tsunade.
To divert Tsunade's focus from himself, Danzo needed to definitively prove Suna's innocence before they could do it themselves, thereby subtly clearing his own involvement. But time was rapidly running out.
While Danzo didn't fear Tsunade, he acknowledged that the Hokage held more power. If Tsunade became determined to move against him, he wouldn't emerge unscathed. Therefore, Danzo urgently needed to fade from the Hokage's immediate scrutiny. But as long as the assassination incident remained unresolved, he wouldn't find any peace.
Danzo felt no remorse for ordering the initial hit on Tsunade. In his mind, it had all been for the good of the village. Tsunade's current willingness to renegotiate with the Sand only reinforced his conviction that his ruthless methods were justified.
"Continue surveillance," Danzo commanded finally. "Find an opportunity and eliminate the target before the Sand delegation reaches Konoha. You are authorized to utilize any necessary personnel. Dismissed."
Now, it was a race against time. Danzo versus the Sand delegation.