Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

She’s drinking tea on the veranda, bundled in a warm blanket, when the bough of a nearby tree creaks loudly. Sagi listens. Then she frowns and makes a beckoning motion. Several seconds later Kabuto appears and kneels on the engawa beside her, dressed in full ANBU uniform. Sagi’s frown deepens at the sight of him. He’s not due back until the end of the week; he should still be on his mission.

“Urgent report for you, Meikage-sama,” he says lowly. Struck with an ominous premonition, she gestures for him to speak.

“It’s intelligence I acquired in central Fire Country. Movement in Konoha. They've put out an internal BOLO for a man matching the description of the S-rank threat you assigned me to monitor. As per your order, all significant information regarding him is to be reported to you immediately, so I came in spite of the locale. I apologize for interrupting your rest.”

Sagi’s bad feeling is instantly validated. “What? she demands. “He’s made a move in Konoha?” But it's far too soon. How can that be? Is it because of Danzou’s recent execution? Or did she throw things off by having Utakata reach out to Nii? She’d known it was a gamble, but she never thought he’d be provoked into movement over it…

“From what I can tell, no… it’s not quite that. Our last estimate places him in western Water Country, one of his usual locales. The problem is, apparently, that Uchiha Itachi has gone missing on a mission to track him. They're doing everything they can to locate him; it seems the BOLO was issued in case he's been killed or taken prisoner.”

Sagi stares at him. Then she lifts her hands to her temple and begins messaging her head. Heavens, she hadn't even thought of it, but that does make sense, doesn't it? Now that Danzou is gone, Hiruzen and the Council are on the outs. Tsunade has a free hand, the full picture, and a former Akatsuki spy in her pocket. Without the geezers there to tie up her resources and harass her for political clout, of course she would deploy Itachi. She's got a jinchuuriki to protect, after all.

Sagi kicks herself. She’s been so occupied with the problems of the village that foreign affairs had been completely gone from her mind. She can't believe she's overlooked this—that she's failed to examine the possible repercussions of Itachi rejoining Konoha in this timeline. What an unthinkable blunder.

“All right, new orders for you and Silver unit,” she decides after several moments of furious thought. “Continue to monitor the masked man's movements. Deploy additional men to look into Itachi’s disappearance, but be subtle—I want no more than two agents on it. Set up a rendezvous with Red unit and ask them to brief you on their Akatsuki reconnaissance, but do not interrupt their work to do so. Go and meet them in the field. You may delegate these duties to your team as you see fit.”

“Understood.”

Sagi slits the top of her thumb and runs through a set of hand seals. “Here, take one of my birds,” she says as her summon appears with a puff of smoke. “You'll never be able to contact the Reds otherwise.

Kabuto holds out his arm; the egret hops forward and then perches on his shoulder. Then he bows his head, rises, and shunshins away. 

Sagi is left on her lonesome, but she doesn't waste time. She gathers her tea and stands. Then she heads for her closet with a mission of her own in mind.

She's writing out a note—well, a letter, really—to leave behind when she senses a presence at her window. Shisui enters a beat later, but pauses when he finds her dressed in field gear. Not her usual field gear, either, but her Lady of the Lake ensemble. He regards her with surprise.

“Are you going somewhere?”

“Yes,” Sagi admits. No point denying it when she's been caught in the act. Unfortunate; she'd hoped to leave before too many people found out. But then again, Shisui is high-ranking enough that he probably would have been one of the first informed anyway. “I'm just finishing up some instructions before letting the Commanders know.”

“Wait. Aren't you still on leave?”

“That’s why this is the perfect time. The village is still set to operate without me. This is my chance to take care of things while I won't be missed.”

“That's not what I mean,” Shisui says sharply. “I mean you’re taking this time off for recovery. Why are you going on a mission before you've been cleared for duty?”

His tone is reproving, but it lacks the inimical edge she’d become accustomed to in this timeline. Sagi blinks with surprise. Then a little smile plays across her lips.

“It’s been almost ten weeks since I went on break, Shisui. I need to move around a bit or else I'll get stiff.”

“That isn't the point, Sagi.”

“Come with me to see the Commanders, then,” she says amiably, because, well, he isn't wrong. Feeling better is one thing, but being better is another. “I’ll get temporary clearance from ANBU medical while we’re there. If there aren't any abnormalities with my health, I’ll proceed with the operation as planned. If not, I’ll arrange for someone in Special Forces to take care of it.”

“If that's an option, why go yourself at all?”

“Mm. It wouldn't be ideal—more of a stopgap. But I'd rather nip this in the bud, if you understand my meaning.”

Shisui regards her with pursed lips, but ultimately acquiesces. Once Sagi has finished her letter, they head towards the other end of the compound.

“Ah,” the Jounin Commander says when Sagi appears in the doorway for the first time in weeks. “Meikage-sama?”

“Good morning, Arashi. I’m glad I caught you. Is Takuto still in the building?”

“Here, Hakuro-sama,” the ANBU Commander answers, appearing as if from nowhere. He must have sensed her approach. “I’m glad to see you in good health. Is something amiss? If I recall, you’re not due to return until next month.”

“Yes, and I’m afraid the matter requires my immediate personal attention. I've come to hand over instructions after a quick check-in with medical.”

At this, both men shoot approving glances at the Gatekeep. Clearly they know who’s responsible for checking their Meikage’s headstrong charge. Shisui looks back at them knowingly.

“I suppose this must have something to do with Captain Kabuto flying through like a whirlwind earlier?” Takuto remarks thoughtfully. Not for the first time, Sagi is struck by how unalike he and his daughter are. How did such a mild man manage to father a spitfire potty-mouth like Tayuya?

“Yes, in fact. I have the details in a separate scroll for you.” 

“I see. In that case, I have an idea about what he might be up to. My thanks, Lady Hakuro.”

Sagi meets with a medic and is eventually cleared for light duty, though not without a strict warning to avoid pushing herself. She reassures her entourage that her task is mostly diplomatic in nature. If things go according to plan, she won't be doing more than travel.

“Something to do with Kiri, then,” Shisui deduces upon hearing this. “No wonder you're dressed like that. You're headed to Water Country.”

“Hush,” Sagi chides him. “Don't say that out loud. I’m about to swear you all to S-ranked secrecy.”

All eyes in the room swivel towards her in alarm. “S-ranked, my lady?” Takuto asks worriedly. Shisui regards her with similar concern. High-ranking though he is, the only member of the General Forces who should be handling S-ranked secrets is the Commander. He's only an exception because of the unnaturally high clearance that comes with being one of the Meikage’s last remaining clansmen.

“S-ranked secrets for S-ranked threats,” Sagi answers as she closes the exam room door once more. “Now, I take it that you've all heard of the jinchuuriki…”

When they return to the annex they find Sasuke sitting on the engawa outside Sagi’s office. His look of boredom instantly melts away at the sight of her.

“Neesan!” he exclaims. “There you are. I was waiting.”

Sagi takes one look at him and remembers her forgotten appointment. “Ah, the bandit alliance…” She knocks a knuckle to her temple. “Right, you were coming over to ask for advice today. It completely slipped my mind.”

“Did something happen?” Sasuke asks, eyeing both her outfit and Shisui with curiosity. “I thought you were still on leave for a while.”

“Yes, something has, unfortunately. But I've been cleared for temporary light duty. It’s just a quick diplomatic trip.”

“Oh…” Sasuke casts a doubtful look towards Shisui. Shisui responds by lifting his shoulders in an exaggerated shrug. But he doesn’t voice any protest. “...You're really well enough to go?”

“Really. I’m not of a mind to cause you more unnecessary worry, little brother,” Sagi answers with a gentle smile. Sasuke, convinced by her tone of sincerity, nods once and doesn't pry. Ah, he really is a full-grown ninja now, she thinks fondly.

“I’ll look over the maps with you, Sasuke,” Shisui offers as she climbs up onto the engawa. “I ran a similar campaign in my early jounin days, too. Funny how that works out, eh?”

“What, really?”

“Yeah. Bandits in eastern Fire Country. They were super well-entrenched, and they had cut deals with almost half the local authorities…”

Sagi collects her supplies while he and Sasuke begin discussing the reach of Akari no Kuni’s outlaws. The Hikari-nin guarding the Path of Lamps function as a strong general deterrent, so the brigands are inherently less threatening than they might have been otherwise, but evidently that hasn't stopped them from making trouble in the countryside.

“This is the first time you've commanded several squads at once, isn't it, Sasuke?” Sagi notes as she ties a length of silk gauze over her eyes like a blindfold. “Wow. Somehow when I wasn't looking, you rose in seniority just like that.”

“Well, I’m skilled,” Sasuke answers, matter-of-fact. Shisui laughs at him, as he often does when delighted by his temerity. But then he shifts his attention to Sagi. 

“You're still going to hide your Sharingan?” he asks curiously. “Even though everyone knows?”

“Everyone in Hikari knows,” Sagi corrects, then smiles wryly. “And some folks in Konoha, of course. But even if rumors have circulated enough for people in Mist to suspect, there’s no need to go out of our way to confirm anything.”

“I suppose there’s still the eyesnatcher to consider, too,” Shisui remarks. His tone becomes considerably more subdued.

“Yes, the Byakugan thief… We're friendly enough with the new administration that I hope they wouldn't make a move on me, but I'd rather not tempt fate. If Hakuro and Sagi are still separate identities across borders, it's better to preserve that for as long as we can.”

Now fully kitted, Sagi hops down from the engawa again. Sasuke takes a moment to examine his sister's costume once more. Looking at it now, he can't help but be impressed. The cloth is draped and flowing like white reflections over blue-gray water. The sleeves in particular are quite eye-catching. Even if they have minimum bulk—they're made of the same light gauze around her eyes—they’re so voluminous that it’s practically a boast. No shinobi wears sleeves that long unless they're trying to show off.

“Won't all that fabric get in the way of your weapon, though, neesan?” He can't imagine how annoying it would be to untangle a naginata from that after each attack.

“Hakuro presents herself mostly as a ninjutsu-type while abroad,” Sagi answers with a small smile. “I even copied the Kirigakure no Jutsu just to throw them off. Half the village thinks I'm water-natured.”

“Better you than me for sure.” Shisui makes a face. “Off-nature ninjutsu is such a pain to use.”

"Oh? As if you can't do it, too.”

“But not as fast as you, neesan,” Sasuke points out cheerfully, completely as if gloating over his own merits. Sagi regards him with amusement.

“I've had a bit more time to practice, little brother. If you give it a few years’ focus, I’m sure either of you could match me.”

“But consider this, Sasuke.” Shisui puts a hand on Sasuke's shoulder with a grave look. “It doesn't matter that she’s faster.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I mean she still can't beat my shunshin, that's what,” he says, and then drops his somber face in favor of winking mischievously. “And if she hasn't done it by now, even after learning all my secrets, that means she'll never surpass my talent with the Body Flicker.”

Sasuke, looking quite offended, begins squaring up for an argument in her defense. But Sagi nods in agreement. “Yes, that is true. I’ve come close, but I've never surpassed you. It’s the difference in our strides, like as not... I’m sure Sasuke’s shunshin will eventually outstrip mine, too.”

After all, now that her brother has spent some years in his growth period, Sagi has definitively become the shortest Uchiha of them all. Just the thought of it makes her smile. In all her lives, her little brother has never been taller than her before. 

Sasuke forgets to quarrel with Shisui and instead regards her with shock. “I’ll have a better shunshin than you?”

“I expect so. Your taijutsu, too. Technique can go a long way, but at the end of the day I can't beat the physics of a smaller body.”

Sasuke lapses into astounded silence, apparently having never had the thought that he might physically overpower his sister some day. Sagi and Shisui regard him fondly. 

“There are a few candidates to succeed the Meikage, but maybe in a few years’ time we’ll add you to the pool, too,” she remarks lightly a few moments later. Sasuke, already off-kilter, drops his jaw outright. Sagi smiles as if she hasn't just dropped a political bombshell on his head.

“Me?” Sasuke asks, astounded. “But—I—I’m already the Uchiha head, aren't I?”

“Half of high command are clan heads,” she points out. “Don't worry. It’ll be a while before that happens. I’ll wait until you’re promoted before I say anything officially.”

Sasuke gapes at her again, and Shisui laughs at him—again. But Sasuke is too startled to care. For a jounin of the General Forces, there's only one position left to promote into.

“Who else is in the running? For Meikage, I mean,” Shisui asks her idly, as if it doesn't involve him. It's Sagi’s turn to laugh then.

“Oh, I'm sure you could guess. The ANBU Commander, the Jounin Commander…” she answers breezily. “...the Head of the Guard.”

“Me?” Shisui is instantly alarmed. “But I—but I’m the Gatekeep. You made me the Gatekeep specifically to keep me out of intervillage politics. You can't just turn around and say I can be the Meikage. That's the most political job in the entire village!”

“But there's no need to keep hiding you. Konoha already knows the Uchiha are in Hikari.” Sagi chuckles deviously. “And truth be told, Arashi’s started hinting that he wants to retire. Poor fellow isn't coping too well with Intel's restructuring… I think he wants out of the hot seat.”

“What, and you think I'll take it from him?” Shisui squawks indignantly. “You want me to juggle the General Forces and a baby at the same time? Two babies? You can't make me do that. Tamaki’s gonna give birth soon!”

“But that is entirely your own fault, isn't it, Shisui?” Sagi rebuffs cheerfully. “I told you to stop knocking up my spymaster. Bet you regret it now, don't you?”

Shisui sees the glint in her eye and realizes she's only half-joking. “Spiteful much?” he decries, aghast, and then turns at once to Sasuke. “Sasuke, show me the maps. You need to ace this assignment and become the Jounin Commander as soon as possible. Preferably before this petty asshole makes me do it.”

“Yes, you should,” the petty asshole agrees. “As much as fun as I'd have promoting Shisui, right now all of my successors are older than me. I’d much rather the hat passed to a junior instead.”

“Holy shit, neesan,” is all Sasuke can say in reply.

Smiling brightly, Sagi responds by clapping her clansmen on their backs and declaring her departure. The boys are sufficiently distracted; Sasuke bids her a shell-shocked farewell, and neither of them remember to eye her with concern. Good, she thinks, and then flickers away.

Chapter Text

The snow brings a strange visitor. Clad in light colors, and she blends seamlessly into the environment; the on-duty sensor is the only one who spots her. But once he points her out to his colleagues, they can tell at once she's no ordinary traveler.

“Hey,” says one of his fellows after enhancing his vision with ninjutsu. “Isn’t that a Hikari shinobi?”

“What? That can't be right. We haven't seen shinobi from Hikari since the rebellion. ”

“No, it's definitely a Light-nin. I can see her hitai-ate,” the sentry says, and then begins describing her. “Kunoichi, short-medium height…” he squints. “Dark hair. Can’t make out too many of her features, though… it looks like she’s walking blindfolded for some reason.”

Two of the chuunin beside him pause. Then the older one asks, “What’s she wearing? Can you tell her rank?”

“No, I can't. She’s not wearing a uniform. Looks like personal equipment.”

The pair exchange glances, and their colleagues regard them curiously. The other chuunin speaks.

“She doesn't happen to have enormous sleeves, does she? Like, as bad as an Iwa jounin, but on both arms?”

“What? What does that—oh. Yeah, she does. Now that I look closely, they are two-layered. Pretty ornamental… hang on, is that silk?”

The pair of chuunin are scrambling before he finishes speaking. “It’s the Lady of the Lake!” the elder yells, alerting the rest of the guards on the wall. “Send for Mei-sama! It’s Lady Hakuro!”

Several of the sentries recognize the name and burst into chatter. But despite the call for the Mizukage, no one seems to be anticipating an attack. The scrying shinobi furrows his brow. “Lady who?”

“Lady Hakuro! You know, Hikari no Hakuro? The agent from Hikarigakure who supported our coup?”

“I wasn’t part of the rebellion. I only rejoined the village after the Yondaime was deposed.”

Another sentry butts in. “Oh, man, you'd have to see it to believe it,” he rushes to explain. “She can throw around mass attack ninjutsu like it’s nothing. I’ve seen her shadow clone shuriken more than fifty at a time. She knows so many jutsu—I don’t know if there was ever a situation she didn’t have a technique for—and once she wiped out a whole party from the Hunter-nin Corps by electrifying a lake! It was nuts. That’s how she got the name—that and her outfit—Lady of the Lake. The old regime printed it in the Bingo Book, and after that got published, no one ever tried to fight us on water while she was around.”

This shinobi is clearly a ninjutsu specialist himself, if the stars in his eyes are any indication. Still, fighting the Mist Rebellion on dry land only? If he isn't exaggerating, that can’t have been easy. Depending on the placement of objectives, it might have even been tide-turning. Perhaps it had been; it would explain why she seems so famous.

“Where is our hawk?!”

“It’s not back yet, someone sent a message earlier—”

“Crap, seriously? Of all the—

“Should we send a runner? Who’s got the fastest shunshin?”

A plethora of shinobi speak up, but in all the hubbub they don't manage to designate a messenger. A pair of gray sandals touch down lightly on the wall before they can.

“No need,” says the Mizukage. A few seconds after she appears, a large white egret swoops down and perches on her outstretched arm. “She told me she was coming.”

“Mei-sama!” the sentries gasp and begin scrambling to stand at attention. Even a few years into the new reign, life in the Bloody Mist is still recent enough that many eyes are wide with fear. But Mei merely smiles at them. Slowly, the tension on the wall begins to dissipate.

Hakuro arrives at the gates soon after. At this point the snow, which has lightened considerably throughout the morning, comes to a stop; in fact, a crack opens up in the gray clouds. Then a sliver of sun lights up the road behind her. The effect is remarkably cinematic. A ninja of the Light indeed.

Mei bows to her in greeting, which Hakuro returns at equal depth. Then her lips lift into a smile.

“It’s wonderful to see you again,” she greets softly. Her voice is both higher and lighter than the scrying shinobi had expected. It’s certainly not a timbre that would suggest she’d slaughtered hordes in service of the rebellion, anyway. But what’s most incongruous about her, he thinks, is how short she is. The Mizukage is at least ten centimeters taller than her.

Mei returns the salutation warmly. “The pleasure is all mine. It has been some years since we last met, hasn't it? I’m happy to see you again, Hakuro-sama.”

The greeting is sincere, but Hakuro doesn't miss the calculating glint behind the smile in Mei’s eyes. For some reason it pleases her. Maybe she’s relieved that the Fifth Mizukage hasn't let her guard down after assuming office.

“Please, there’s no need for that. Call me as you did before.”

“Are you sure? It wouldn't befit someone of your status, would it?”

Fishing for information already, she thinks with delight. The rumors have indeed made their way to Kiri. 

“I insist,” Hakuro answers, neither confirming nor denying any implications about her status. Mei smiles again. Maybe she’s pleased, too.

“Then you must do the same with me, Hakuro-san.”

“Of course, Mei-san.”

At once the air shifts. The sense of stiff greeting fades. A friendlier atmosphere rises to take its place; pleasant surprise fills the air, of the kind that occurs when a long-absent comrade returns unexpectedly.

“You've rebuilt better than you were before,” Hakuro exclaims when they begin walking through the village. The infrastructure is far more complete—and polished—than it had been during her previous visit.

“Yes, we’ve been working hard. Ah, there they are,” Mei says, and then makes a summoning gesture. Hakuro spots a familiar pair of shinobi standing by the main road. The Mizukage holds out a hand as they approach. 

“Hakuro-sama, may I present my aides Ao and Choujuurou?”

Hakuro laughs. “Present? After all the fun we’ve had together? Please.” She addresses them with familiarity. “It’s good to see you two again.” 

“I’m honored that you remember us, my lady,” Ao greets with a formal bow.

“W-Welcome, Hakuro-sama.”

Now united with a full retinue, Mei begins guiding their guest on an impromptu tour of Kirigakure. Hakuro is slightly touched by how trustingly she points out locations. She doesn't hesitate even when naming the security-critical structures.

“You must come visit Hikari someday,” Hakuro decides as they near the end of the excursion. “So we may repay your hospitality.”

“We’ll surely take you up on it,” is the delighted reply. “Perhaps we can organize some manner of exchange program.”

The tour ends at the administrative building, where Hakuro is invited into the Meikage's office. Ao holds the door open.

“I fear the Great Elder won't be able to pay his respects to you in person,” he apologizes as they enter.

Hakuro’s voice takes on an apologetic note. “Oh, I couldn't trouble him to do that. Not when the visit is so sudden.” 

“Yes…” Mei seats herself behind the desk. “We’re more than happy to receive you, but I must admit your coming has caught us by surprise.”

Authority falls over her like a mantle. The Mizukage folds her hands together and pins their guest with a piercing stare. Hakuro is, once again, strangely delighted. 

“I apologize for my rudeness. I did not know that I would be coming until just earlier myself. Something’s happened, you see… I received a report.”

“Something to do with us?”

“Yes, in fact.” She takes a moment to glance around with her doujutsu. When her inspection reveals satisfactory privacy, she continues quietly, “I wonder if you've heard anything regarding our man of mutual interest.”

Ao’s eye sharpens at these words. Mei frowns.

“No matters of note have made their way to me. He’s not approached the village in any capacity—if he had, we would have known. There’s an entire security squad dedicated to countering time-space ninjutsu like his.” She makes a fist. “Kiri will never drop its guard against him again.”

“I see.” Hakuro is too much of a shinobi to show outright surprise, but the pensive pause that follows is quite telling. “...Well. That eliminates my first theory.”

“What did you suspect?”

“That he was making a move on the jinchuuriki. Utakata-san’s still carrying out that favor for me, so I wondered if we hadn’t accidentally provoked him.”

“Could he not be targeting the other villages first?”

Hakuro purses her lips. “It’s not impossible… but it doesn’t seem likely. Our information has placed him here in Water Country, and targets immediately approachable from this location could only be in Kiri or Konoha—barring access to very specialized means, there’s no way he could reach Kumo by sea. But since my agents report he’s avoiding Konoha, and he hasn’t shown himself here… Well. It doesn’t seem to me that the jinchuuriki are the objective.”

“Have you actually managed to keep a tail on him?” asks Ao. He seems impressed.

“Intermittently. He’s slippery, but we’ve got a good read on him.” She’s sure it drives him crazy, too, the way her ANBU are always popping up around him in seemingly random locations. But truth be told, given the extent to which she's invested in his surveillance, it's actually not that difficult to keep eyes on him. If they lose him, she has enough manpower to simply return her agents to standby posts near his main bases. Between them and the Red Team observers, reacquiring his trail whenever is only ever a waiting game. After all, he seems to check on the Akatsuki members—both openly and surreptitiously—with at least some frequency.

“Let us pay a quick visit to the Intelligence Division,” Mei decides after a moment’s consideration. “I’d like to check in with one of my agents.”

Hakuro readily agrees to this. Upon arrival, she courteously places herself in a corner of the public reception area and declares she'll wait there. After all, allied or not, there are some places that outsiders simply shouldn't go.

“I'll remain to accompany Lady Hakuro,” Ao says after Mei has relayed her arrival to a messenger. Mei nods in approval.

“Very well. I’ll leave it to you, Ao. Choujuurou?”

The Mizukage departs in short order, and silence falls in her wake. Then it stretches. Strange, Ao thinks. The Lady of the Lake is usually sociable. 

Intrigued, he gazes at her from the corner of his eye. At first glance she seems simply lost in thought, standing with her arms crossed and head tilted. But after another minute or so he wonders if she's not watching him. It's impossible to tell with her eyes covered, though.

For just a brief moment, Ao considers looking. A single glance with the Byakugan would be more than enough to finally confirm—or refute—the rumors about this high-ranking Hikari-nin’s identity. Not that he's in doubt—it’s quite obvious, really. Surely she doesn't think she'll be able to hide it forever…

Then he pauses. Of course she doesn't think that. That's why she's watching him: she wants to see if he'll look.

“It's been some years, but you've hardly changed since I last saw you,” Ao remarks with a small shake of the head. 

“Oh? Do you think so?” 

“Yes. You are as sharp as you ever were, my lady.”

Hakuro's lips quirk into a smile. “I’m flattered. I hope you, too, will remain unchanged. Please continue serving the new Kirigakure well.”

Ao can't help but feel there’s some kind double-meaning behind those words, but he’s prevented from replying when a pair of haggard-looking intel-nin enter the lobby. Hakuro hears their conversation and immediately diverts her attention.

“Man, I just can't keep any of it straight,” the one on the left is complaining. “What the heck was she doing? We’ve already split her responsibilities twice and it still doesn’t work like it did with her.”

"I'll say... Mizuchi really was incredible."

“When you say Mizuchi, are you referring to a woman named Tamaki?” Hakuro calls out as they pass. The pair of intel-nin are taken aback and pause. They glance at Ao.

“This is Mizukage-sama’s honored guest, Lady Hakuro of Hikari,” he offers in explanation.

“Oh, Hakuro-sama!” the short-haired one says in recognition. He and his colleague warm by several degrees. “I don't know if you remember, but we worked together very briefly. It was right before we retook the village.”

“Were you perhaps responsible for managing the scouts? I don't believe I ever caught your names.”

“That’s right. Wow, you really remembered,” the short-haired one replies. “I’m Mida, my lady. That’s Sadai.”

“It's a pleasure to see you again.” Hakuro smiles. Then she asks, “Being that you work in intelligence, am I correct in deducing that you were once colleagues with a former Kiri-nin named Tamaki?”

“Yes, that’s right. You know her?” Sadai takes on a contemplative look. “I guess she’s made a name for herself in Hikari, then.”

“She certainly has. She’s frighteningly competent, isn't she?”

“Oh, man!” He lets out a groan. “Frightening is definitely the word for it.”

“We used to work with her under the old regime, so we took over her work after she left. It’s been an uphill battle ever since,” Mida laments. “I wish she’d defected later. She could've joined the rebellion instead of going to Hikari.”

“Hey, if you know her, maybe you can convince her to come back, Hakuro-sama,” Sadai suggests. His tone is carefully light, but she has the sense he's not half as glib as he’s pretending to be. Clearly they're suffering from Tamaki deficiency here, too… She feels a slight pang of empathy. But only a slight one.

“Sorry, but she’s ours now,” Hakuro declines, trying not to sound overly cheerful about it. She doesn't quite succeed. “She’s a Light-nin for good. We’ve tied her down.”

“She got married?” Mida looks surprised. “Whoa. When did that happen?”

“It’s been a few years now. She's got kids and everything.”

“She can bring them with her!” Sadai waves his hands. “Kids, spouse—hell, we’ll take her pets, too, if we have to. It’d be worth anything to get Mizuchi back.”

Hakuro is amused now. “I’m not sure it would work out.”

“Why not?” 

“Well… she’s not Mizuchi anymore. She’s Uchiha.”

This declaration is met with looks of pure shock. Even Ao seems taken aback. “Uchiha? Isn’t that the Meikage's clan?”

“Yes. Her husband is Head of the Guard… that's something like a cross between Military Police and Barrier Corps,” she adds when she sees confusion.

Mida is instantly stunned. “I’ve never heard of anyone climbing that high through marriage,” he says.

“How is that possible?” Sadai splutters at the same time. “She can’t have—she’s from the bottom caste. She’s like us.”

Hakuro’s voice becomes gentle. “There are no castes in Hikari. All are free to marry and have families as they choose.”

Mei returns to the room with Choujuurou in tow. “Someday Kiri will be the same,” she declares, apparently having overheard their conversation. “It will take time—social divides that deep don't heal immediately—but we’re different from the Bloody Mist. We’ll never live like that again.”

“Mizukage-sama!” 

Mei regards the intel-nin warmly. “I see you’ve been entertaining my guest in my absence. Thank you very much.”

Mida blushes. “N-Not at all, Lady Mei.” 

“We are the ones who must thank you, Lady Mei,” Sadai adds. Hakuro finds his tone quite earnest. She doesn’t know how Kiri’s elite have received Mei’s ascendancy, but clearly the lower classes are on her side.

Ao eventually dismisses Mida and Sakai, and the entourage begins making its way outside.

“Thank you for waiting, Hakuro-san,” Mei says as they walk. “I’ve spoken to my agent now. Unfortunately, he’s only confirmed what I told you earlier.”

“I see—” Hakuro replies, and then stops dead in her tracks. Startled, the party from Kiri halts as well.

“My lady?” Ao questions. Hakuro responds by shooting nearly vertically into the air. “Hakuro-sama?!”

Heedless, the Lady of the Lake hits the apex of her jump with one arm outstretched. When she lands on the railing of a bridge overhead, she has a white bird on her shoulder and an unrolled missive in her hand.

“She looks w-worried,” Choujuurou remarks when he sees the way her shoulders stiffen. Hakuro turns towards them with sudden urgency. “Uh… uh-oh.”

In just the same moment, a ninja comes sprinting out of the building they've just left behind. “Mei-sama!” he calls, and then whispers hurriedly in her ear when he reaches her.

“I’ve just received a warning from one of my agents,” Hakuro informs once she rejoins the group, holding up a note. Kabuto’s handwriting, normally so neat and tidy, is slanted with haste—clearly he had known not to waste time. Still, even with that prompt action, a summoned bird has no means to outspeed space-time ninjutsu. Sagi wouldn’t be surprised if their man is on the doorstep at this very moment. 

And indeed, Mei’s response is grave. “What a coincidence. Someone’s just crossed our outer perimeter.”

Hakuro grimaces and turns to her bird. “Bring Kabuto here,” she whispers before thrusting her arm into the air. The egret takes flight at once, winging its way westward. Then Hakuro faces her companions. “I trust you won’t protest if I give him a greeting.”

“Certainly not. Your coffers for our cooperation,” the Mizukage answers. “It was our deal, and he is our common enemy. We will support you in any way we can.”

“Thank you,” says Hakuro, and then vanishes.

Sagi looks for the boundary ward with her Sharingan. When she finds it, she slashes a kunai across her forearm and summons an entire flock of egrets. Good thing it’s winter, she thinks. This would be extremely conspicuous otherwise.

The birds take off in all directions, searching for the intruder. Sagi, meanwhile, reaches up and takes off her blindfold. Then she uses it to tie the bulk of her sleeves back. Even if her opponent has a Sharingan of his own, she’s not going into this confrontation with even the slightest handicap.

“H-Hakuro-sama!” a young man’s voice calls out. Choujuurou appears and runs up to meet her at the edge of the water.

“Choujuurou-kun?”

“Lady Mei’s sent me as, um, reinforcements,” the teen says. “I mean. N-Not that I think you’ll need me or anything. You're really strong, so… I’ll just do my best to, uh, stay out of your way. Hakuro-sama.”

Despite the situation, Sagi can't help but smile. Normally she’d worry about bringing a companion into such a fight, but someone like Choujuurou is perfect. Strong enough to take care of himself and realistic enough to pull back when he can't… She could use a teammate who knows how to help without being a hindrance.

“Thank you for coming, Choujuurou-kun. I’m heartened to have one of the Seven Swordsmen at my back.”

It’s only about a minute more before one of Sagi's birds flares its chakra. The two take off in its direction at once. As they grow closer, however, something in Sagi’s sense is strange. She furrows her brow; then her eyes widen, because there’s not one chakra signature ahead—there's two.

It happens in a flash. Before she can even open her mouth in warning, she hears the mighty blast of a ninjutsu activation. Choujuurou glimpses a wall of black fire before Sagi seizes him by the arm. Her face is full of panic, and the pattern in her red eyes shifts. It's the last thing he sees before a burst of golden chakra envelops them.

“Shit!” Sagi says, and once he’s found his feet again Choujuurou realizes that the dark flame has caught on the edge of her garment. She shears the fabric off with a kunai and chucks it away from their golden bubble with frantic speed. 

“What is that?” Choujuurou asks, stunned, as a black blaze begins consuming the world around them. The trees, the snow, the grass beneath it… even the water on the river is burning. The only thing between them and the fire is a strange cage of chakra, centered on Sagi. He’s never seen anything like it before. It looks almost like bones.

“That’s Amaterasu,” she answers, breath heavy. Her fingers, still clamped around his elbow, are shaking. “A flame that never goes out. It can't be extinguished. Not until it burns everything it’s meant to burn.”

“A jutsu like that… exists?”

“It’s an Uchiha technique. I can't use it, though. I know only of one person who can.”

Her calm gradually returns. It's confirmation, at least, that Itachi isn't dead. It's also an interesting development. Amaterasu on this scale indicates a very sincere attempt to kill someone—like as not, the very same someone that they've come to confront. And that’s even more fascinating, because these two had once been collaborators. They'd slaughtered the entire clan together, him and the masked man. 

Tobi, Akatsuki calls him. Madara, he calls himself. But neither is his true name.

“Uchiha Obito!” 

Yes, that’s Itachi's voice. No mistake; she’d recognize it anywhere. But there’s something unfamiliar about it. Sagi's eyebrows crease. She's never heard the likes of it from him before.

She has to wait until the fire has burned far enough away to move. Only when she’s confident that she and Choujuurou are safe does she drop Susanoo's shroud. It's unfortunate she had to use it; even forming just the ribcage is a massive drain. Supplying it with enough chakra to ward off Amaterasu is even worse. If a battle of attrition lies ahead, it won’t go well for her.

But her worry comes to nothing. There’s no fight when they arrive. In fact, there isn't anything at all. No trees, no rocks, no people—just cinders ringed with hellfire. Neither Itachi nor Obito are anywhere to be seen.

“T-They’re gone,” Choujuurou says. But his tone is tentative, and Sagi’s reply is instant. 

“But not dead.”

She knows at once that it isn't over. Itachi’s voice is still echoing in her ear. This was not a suicide attack, and that shout was not made in victory. No—that shout had been pure fury. Fury, frustration, and fear.

She stands there for several more moments, looking over the destruction while Choujuurou waits behind her. No matter how many times her Sharingan roves over the field, she cannot find any clues. What has the power to make Uchiha Itachi howl like that? What was the cause behind that raging desperation? 

Sagi doesn't know, and the ashes don't tell her.