Chapter 3


The redhead watched from the shadowed corner of the classroom as the students filed in and chose their seats. There were only eight upper level chunin present, but the small, even number was to Soriya's liking. Mentally, she matched the faces with the files from her roster sheet, gaze lingering curiously on Sakura Haruno. As a genin, the strawberry-haired kunoichi had been Kakashi's student. Any protege of his would likely be brilliant. She moved on to Hinata Hyuga. Unlike the other girls who were engaged in random chatter, Hinata stayed silent, glancing around the room uncomfortably. The dark-haired girl started visibly as her pale silver eyes settled on the hidden jonin.

Can't sneak an illusion genjutsu past the Byakuygan.

Satisfied, Soriya dispelled the Shadow Concealment jutsu. The girls' giggles cut off abruptly as they focused on the silent kunoichi. She was tall, graceful, and exotic-looking, with thick hair cascading down her back in a crimson fall, jeweled sticks precisely placed to keep long locks out of her face. Without saying a word, Soriya knew she had their full attention. She introduced herself.

“My name is Soriya Kanzin. I'll be your jonin instructor for this course.

“I've read your personnel files and understand that you've already received training in the so-called 'womanly arts' of flower arranging, cooking, music, dancing, and so on. Such knowledge is vital on missions where you may be required to assimilate into the general population for the purposes of intelligence gathering. However, this course goes beyond those basic espionage skills.” She stopped to look each kunoichi in the eye.

“Some of you will never use many of the skills I teach. Others among you will rely on them throughout your careers. Whether you choose to employ these techniques as shinobi is entirely up to you. Here in Leaf Village, we are granted some latitude in declining certain types of missions. However, you must all be able to recognize these tactics--and counter them, if necessary. They could someday be used against you, your teammates, or a target you are trying to protect. The information I impart to you may save your life, or the life of someone important to you. Please take it seriously.”

Intrigued by her words, the chunin gave her their rapt attention. Encouraged, Soriya elaborated.

“First, we will cover the basics of human reproduction and sex education. This includes birth control methods and your options should such methods fail. Take good notes,” she advised as groans sounded. “This is not a rehash of the health course required for the medic-nin. The last thing a kunoichi needs is to get pregnant during a mission. You've got to know all the tricks. Mixing contraceptive potions, influencing your chakra to prevent conception...and if those fail, how to mix abortifacient potions. These last can be used as assassination tools as well,” she intoned neutrally, waiting for the shock to appear on her students' faces. She was not disappointed to see Sakura take the lead in asking the question.

“Excuse me, Soriya-sensei? Do you mean that we might have to use a potion like that to...kill...an unborn baby?” she squeaked.

“One never knows what situation one may find oneself in, Sakura,” Soriya remarked coolly. After a moment, she relented.

“But, no. I doubt the Hokage would ask any of you to wield this potion as a weapon. However, you may be called on during a mission to ascertain whether such a potion has been administered, or to prevent its use. Such intrigues are not unheard of in countries with hereditary rule and complicated lines of succession. You must be able to recognize the signs of such tampering, if required.”

The faces before her relaxed slightly. Soriya continued outlining the course syllabus.

“We will continue with the, ah, ins and outs of sexual intercourse and masturbation.” She laughed inwardly as eight faces turned varying shades of red. “You should know how to seduce a target in order to solicit information. It is quite often the simplest method we utilize. It requires no torture or killing in most cases, and is the usual modus operandi of deep cover agents.”

The girls' eyes widened as they stared at Soriya and made the connection.

Yes, that's it. Welcome to my world.

“But, you cannot effectively use this method without some practical experience. And I would strongly advise against 'faking it', or making it up as you go along. With many targets, this would be unwise and even dangerous. Therefore, I will assign you 'homework' in this area.” She shaped quotations with her fingers. “It's up to you to complete it as I will not be checking your bedrooms at night, or spying on you.” She smirked at that. “Contrary to popular belief, I do have something of a life.”

The class giggled nervously. Soriya smiled wistfully.

They're all so young...

She cleared her throat. “Consider these assignments 'hands-on' training, if you will. The practical exam will be given in the field soon enough,” she remarked with a knowing smile.

The expressions on the students' faces were varied. Some looked rather green, while most just seemed embarrassed. One or two appeared openly interested.

Just about right, Soriya thought, briefly recalling her own training.

“Lastly, we'll cover assassination methods. Poisons, concealed weapons, and specialized genjutsu will be examined in detail. I can also show you a few tricks using controlled chakra bursts into the brain or heart to simulate a stroke or heart attack. Not all of you will have an aptitude for this type of attack. For most shinobi, it requires close physical contact with the target, and precise control of offensive chakra, to remain undetected. It is a rare skill, even among jonin. Done correctly, it will result in the death of the target, without fail.

“Most medic-nin would have no hope of repairing the damage caused by this technique,” she nodded at Sakura, who was the most proficient medic-nin present. “It is within the realm of possibility--barely--that a healer of Hokage Tsunade's caliber might be able to save the victim's life. However, the quality of that life would be in grave doubt.” Soriya paused, assessing her students. They eyed her with a wary respect.

No one's run screaming from the room yet. It's a start...

“That just about covers the course outline, I think. Are there any questions?”

When nobody raised a hand, the jonin nodded. “Then let us begin.”

Walking to her desk, Soriya picked up a stack of handouts, dividing them amongst the chunin. Moving to the overhead projector, she touched an index finger to the first plastic film. Using a subtle hand sign to focus her chakra, the kunoichi called up the data imprinted on the sheet. She began, “Here we see a diagram of the reproductive system of the human female...”



Hours later, Soriya sat at her desk, chin in palm. She considered her first day as a teacher. It had proven refreshingly uneventful. Though she found the male chunin, with their surging hormones, amusing. For supposedly sly shinobi, they were embarrassingly obvious. She was actually grateful that she couldn't read minds directly without physical contact. The telepath was quite certain she didn't want to know exactly what some of them were thinking.

Soriya had given them roughly the same speech as the kunoichi, regarding the purpose of the course. The course outline was essentially identical, the focus merely different. For the men, she planned to emphasize recognizing and countering techniques enemy kunoichi might use. It was unlikely a male shinobi would rely on seduction as a tool. Sexist, but generally true. There were just not enough women in positions of power to warrant such tactics.

Stretching to work the kinks out of her neck and back, she stood slowly. Gathering the next day's completed overheads, she locked them securely in her desk. Her left hand moved through the signs of a subtle jutsu, trapping the lock. Good to keep in practice. One-handed jutsu were very tricky and required exceptional control to master. Satisfied that anyone tampering with the lock would receive one hell of a migraine headache--complete with nausea--Soriya strode to the door. Darkening the classroom with a flick of the light switch, she felt the presence of a familiar mental signature.

“Yo.” Kakashi ambled toward her, right hand stuffed in his pocket. In his other hand, he held an open book. “How was class?” he drawled.

She studied him, eyes glinting with mischief as she noted the title of his book. “Still reading dirty novels, I see.” She lifted an eyebrow and smiled. “It comforts me to know that some things never change.” Leaning toward him, she lowered her voice, “You know, I thought the second book in that series was better. Particularly chapter thirteen.” Winking cheekily at him, she turned to walk down the long hallway, clicking her boot heels as she went. She knew it would draw his attention to her long legs.

He was always so much fun to tease.

Kakashi's eyebrow rose with Soriya's offered opinion of his reading material. Imagining her reading the referenced chapter caused his face to flush. Fortunately, most of it was covered by the dark fabric of his mask.

Coughing slightly, the silver-haired shinobi pocketed the book, then nonchalantly followed the kunoichi down the hall. He walked slowly, to better appreciate the view she presented. But then, she'd always appealed to him, on many levels. If he were honest with himself, it was the main reason he hadn't been able to retain objectivity around her.

Well, they were both older and wiser now, he supposed. Where had she learned to walk like that?

“Hey, Kakashi!” Genma's voice sounded behind him. The elite jonin paused, noticing that Soriya had turned back as well. Feeling inordinately pleased for some reason, he waited expectantly for Genma to catch up.

“I see you're already putting the moves on the new sensei, eh, Kakashi? You always did work quickly.” He elbowed the Copy Ninja in the ribs, oblivious to the sudden annoyance in the normally placid shinobi's eye.

“What do you want, Genma?”

The handsome jonin ignored the question, smoothly rolling his senbon toothpick to the corner of his mouth. Sidestepping Kakashi, he focused on the beautiful kunoichi instead.

“Soriya, Soriya...don't waste your time on a guy like him. Kakashi's always 'cool as a cucumber'. You should ask someone a bit more hot-blooded to show you a good time.”

Soriya's voice was cool as she replied, “Oh? Did you have someone in mind?”

“I just might be available,” he offered, smiling, “if you're interested.” He moved closer, rolling the senbon from one corner of his mouth to the other.

The kunoichi's lips turned up in a dark smile. There was something in her eyes that Kakashi didn't like. A lack of emotion. Emptiness.

“Genma...” he cautioned, suddenly uneasy.

Soriya tipped her head back slightly, gazing up at the brown-haired shinobi through long lashes. “No offense,” she told him in a low, mocking tone that implied the opposite, “but I don't think you could handle me. Go find some other girl to play with you.”

Disregarding the warning in her tone, Genma chuckled, reaching out to wrap an arm around her waist.

Soriya moved.

Snapping her left hand out to grab his wrist, she yanked him toward her. Her right hand gripped his throat like a vise, slamming the startled shinobi back into the wall. Gleaming eyes bored into shocked brown ones.

“Do not. Touch me. Ever.”

Chakra flared, causing the kunoichi's long hair to lash the air in agitation. Her grip tightened on Genma's throat. His free hand desperately clutched her wrist, trying unsuccessfully to break her hold. From where he stood, Kakashi could see her pupils dilating.

“Soriya.” The Copy Ninja's tense voice sounded in her ear. He was careful not to touch her. “Let him go, Soriya. He's an ass, but a harmless one. I think he's learned his lesson.”

Heart pounding, the kunoichi relaxed her fingers with visible effort, allowing the red-faced shinobi to breathe. Slowly and deliberately, she leashed her chakra, forcing it down. Crimson hair settled around her like a cloak. She stepped back suddenly, releasing the astonished man. Genma collapsed against the wall in relief, drawing huge lungfuls of air.

“What is your problem, lady?” he gasped. “Are you some kind of monster? I was only playing around!”

“Shut up, Genma,” Kakashi snapped, eyeing Soriya warily. The beautiful jonin stood unmoving, face pale, eyes shuttered. When she spoke, her voice held no emotion.

“That's exactly right. I am some kind of monster. You'd do well to remember it.” She turned on her heel and continued down the hall to the balcony exit. Her feet made no sound on the wooden floor. Opening the door quietly, she slipped outside.

Kakashi turned an exasperated eye on Genma. “That was foolish. What were you thinking, trying to grab her?”

The man shrugged, embarrassed. “Honest, Kakashi, I didn't know she'd freak out like that. The other kunoichi don't seem to mind. If they're not interested, they just swat my hands and send me packing. She really tried to kill me!” he exclaimed, hurt.

Kakashi sighed. For someone who had as much experience with women as Genma did, the man could still be remarkably dense on occasion. Shaking his head, the silver-haired ninja advised, “Remember that she's only been back with us for a short time. She's probably not familiar with your...er...particular brand of charm. I'd give her a wide berth, if I were you.”

“Don't worry,” Genma vowed. “You deal with her. I wish you luck.” Turning to leave, he halted suddenly, glancing back at the Copy Ninja. “By the way, Kakashi... If she kills you, can I have your dirty book collection?”

Kakashi snorted, waving the recovered shinobi away.

Sobering, he walked to the balcony exit door. He needed to find Soriya. Following the sweet, honeysuckle scent that seemed to linger wherever the kunoichi went, he tracked her to a deserted corner of the large balcony.

She stood, elbows braced on the wide stone railing, hands clasped tightly. Unwilling to startle her, he allowed his feet to scrape the concrete as he approached.

“It's okay. I'm not going to attack you.” Her tone was bitter. “Though I don't expect you to trust me. No one else does. With good reason, it seems.” She sighed heavily. “Is he okay? I didn't intend to lose it like that. If you hadn't stopped me—” she broke off, muttering, “Ibiki-sensei would be furious.”

“Genma's fine,” Kakashi assured her. He let the reference to Ibiki Morino pass. He would get to the bottom of that mystery later. “He's been rejected by kunoichi before. You were just more thorough than most at expressing your disinterest. He'll have a healthy respect for you in the future.”

“Respect. Heh. I think you mean fear.” Her voice was filled with self-loathing.

Kakashi shrugged noncommittally. After a moment, Soriya turned to him.

“It's hard to be feared by everyone. Natsu and Emiko didn't fear me. Although...” her eyes glistened, “perhaps they should have. They trusted me. Trusted my power. But in the end, I failed them both.” She closed sorrow-filled eyes, confessing, “I miss them, Kakashi. I needed their trust, their unshakable faith in me.”

“You are not alone, Soriya.” He stepped closer to her. “I don't particularly fear you. You've given me no reason to do so. And I want to trust you. But you are keeping me at arm's length. Why? What are you afraid of?”

Deflecting the question, she countered, “You don't know enough to fear me. Not yet. But eventually, you will. Besides, could you really trust someone like me?” she queried, disbelief evident in her voice. “Knowing you could keep no secrets from me if I wished it?” She stared at him. “I don't believe you.” Gray eyes dared, begged him to contradict her. Tears gathered at the corners of her lashes when he failed to answer. They did not fall.

Kakashi stood perfectly still. He took a breath.

Can I do this? Do I have the strength?

Staring into the kunoichi's pain-filled eyes, he came to a sudden decision. Fervently hoped he would not regret it. Carefully removing his fingerless gloves, he tucked them away. Slowly, he raised a hand to the head band slanted over his left eye. He had to know what was going on in her head.

“What are you--?” Soriya's voice trailed off. She froze, barely breathing, as Kakashi offered her his gentle mismatched gaze. Reaching for her face with bare hands, he cradled her jaw, fingers skimming the slender throat. Her pulse jumped in response to his touch. She inhaled sharply, twin tear tracks spilling over her cheeks.

“Do you know what you're doing?” she asked, voice low and shaky.

Brushing his thumbs lightly across the wetness, Kakashi entreated softly, “Let me in, Soriya.” The Sharingan began to spin lazily, black flecks rotating in the red iris of the Copy Ninja's left eye. “Help me understand.”

Her eyes darkened, though she did not respond. He gambled. “Please, Suki. Let me help you.”

Though braced for a strong reaction, he was not entirely prepared when the kunoichi's luminous eyes flashed like lightning. Suddenly drowning in the ebony of dilated pupils, he was bombarded by a flood of memories.

A ten-year-old Suki's shaking hands gripping a kitchen knife as she and Yori hid in the attic, Yori's parents screaming in unison below. Flashes of Soriya at the Academy. Her camaraderie with Natsu and Emiko as they trained and sweated together. The Hokage's serious face speaking to her in Yori's workshop, Ibiki Morino standing impassively off to one side, arms crossed over his chest. Soriya, white-faced with pain, clutching her broken arm to her chest, warily crouching before a silent, tiger-masked ninja. Morino's face sneering at her, “Again. Not good enough. I can still sense your chakra. Heal her,” he commanded to someone outside her field of view.

Dimly, Kakashi felt Soriya's hands overlap and tighten on his own, pulling him deeper into her mind. The dizzying rush of images slowed as the telepath summoned a memory and harshly forced it on the masked jonin.

Soriya, dressed in a sari of silver-trimmed turquoise, crept quickly down a pillar-lined corridor. She took care to keep to the shadows, using stealth to hide her presence. Sudden panic gripped her as the screaming began again. She forced the feeling down and hurried as fast as she dared, to the dungeon steps. She could practically taste the waves of fear and pain pouring off Emiko from below. How long ago had they captured her? What should she do? Were Soriya and Natsu compromised and in danger at this very moment?

Calling on the power of the blood-bond she'd purposefully created with Emiko, the kunoichi risked a precisely controlled stream of chakra. Following the strong tide of emotion back to Emiko's roiling thoughts, Soriya reared back from the overwhelming sensation of all-encompassing agony, almost losing the tenuous connection. Her mind could barely grasp the horror of what had been done to her teammate, her friend.

Pinned naked to a table by several long blades, the young kunoichi was covered in blood. The fingers of both hands had been badly broken, and one eye was completely swollen shut. Abruptly, the woman's ragged screaming subsided to a weak, choking cough, bringing more blood to her battered lips. She could barely draw breath. Soriya sensed Emiko's chakra was completely drained, likely from trying to heal the grievous wounds her torturers had inflicted. She had no reserves left.

Stifling her horror, Soriya touched the woman's mind with surgical precision. “Emiko.” Her mental voice betrayed her shock and grief.

“So-Soriya?” The reply was faint, as though she were very far away. “I didn't—didn't tell him anything.” Emiko's broken body struggled for breath and strength. “Help me. I can't hold out...much longer. End this.”

Soriya's head snapped back, shaking from side to side in agitated denial. “No. No! Do you know what you are asking? I can't. I won't!”

Emiko's mental signature vanished as a jagged scream erupted once more from the dungeon. Empathic waves of pain washed over Soriya, driving the kunoichi to her knees. Bile rose in the back of her throat and she gagged, swallowing harshly. Emiko's anguished thoughts surged back.

“Soriya, please! Think of the mission. As you love me,” she begged, “release me!”

Soriya crouched, hands gripping the stone floor hard enough to break fingernails. The pain focused her, and she drew a shuddering breath. Steeling herself, she sent a razor-thin stream of chakra down the connection to Emiko's mind.

“Forgive me,” she whispered, as she forced the power to concentrate along the chakra nerves traversing the Circle of Willis arteries at the base of the brain.

She thought Emiko sighed faintly in relief.

Closing her eyes, Soriya's jaw clenched. Power surged, bursting the nerves and blood vessels simultaneously. The brain hemorrhage was immediate and massive. Head bowed, the telepath stifled a sob with the back of her hand. Still connected to Emiko's consciousness, she watched helplessly as her friend's life quietly ebbed away.

Harsh cursing erupted from the dungeon below. Swallowing rage and grief, Soriya struggled to her feet. Ruthlessly suppressing her chakra, the kunoichi slipped silently back down the hall to her chambers, eyes burning with unshed tears.

Yukio Ryuji.

He would endure a very special torment for every moment of Emiko's suffering.

She, Soriya Kanzin, swore it.

As the memory gradually faded, Kakashi became aware that Soriya no longer gripped him. Tears long restrained flooded down her cheeks, over his hands, trickling down the skin of his inner wrists. She uttered a single, choking sob, placing both palms against his chest to push him away. He refused to allow it, shifting an arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. She resisted at first, stiff in his arms.

“Soriya,” he whispered, cupping her cheek, “it's okay. I've got you. Just let it out.”

The gentleness in his touch and voice crumbled her resolve. The kunoichi's forehead dropped to his shoulder as heart-rending sobs forced their way free from her throat. Trembling hands fisted in his vest. Feeling her knees buckle, Kakashi lowered them both to the ground. He held her tightly as she cried, as though he could keep her anguished, shuddering form together by sheer presence alone.

A riot of emotions swamped the Copy Ninja. Shock. Grief. Tender protectiveness. Perhaps some deeper emotion he was not prepared to name. He pushed those feelings aside for later introspection, focusing on the deep, furious anger he felt for what she had endured.

It's a miracle she's even sane. Emiko's death is only part of it. I must speak with Tsunade as soon as possible. Something about this whole mission stinks.

Finally, the kunoichi's choking sobs eased, and she slowly pulled away from him. She did not meet his eyes. “So. Now you know the monster I truly am. I killed her. For the mission. Because I knew that if I didn't, both Natsu and I would be in danger.” She spoke harshly, damning herself.

“You released her from horrific suffering, Soriya,” Kakashi corrected gently. “She was dead and she knew it. You merely spared her some pain at the end. I understand this is no comfort to you, but it meant everything to Emiko. She trusted you enough to ask it of you. Trusted that you would be strong enough to do it, and live with yourself afterwards.”

“Ha.” There was nothing amused in her tone. “I've lived with it, yes. But perhaps that's only because I've been extraordinarily lucky. You don't know...” Her eyes closed wearily. “And I can't go there. Not yet. Not even for you.” She hung her head, hair falling forward to veil her expression.

Kakashi's fingers tipped her chin up. He wanted to see her eyes. “Don't hide from me, Soriya. There is nothing you have done that will make me turn away from you,” he vowed, willing her to sense the truth of his words.

She raised red-rimmed, glorious eyes to his own. All at once, he was very aware of the honeysuckle scent that permeated her hair and skin. His pulse sped up and he swallowed. With a kind of bemused surprise, he realized he desperately wanted to kiss her.

Just as he thought it, her eyes widened and she inhaled shakily through parted lips. Too late, Kakashi remembered he was touching her. His gaze dropped to her mouth, captivated, as a pink tongue moistened the full lower lip. She swallowed anxiously; the reflexive motion shattered his self-control.

Pulling her to him, Kakashi tangled his fingers in silky red hair. Drawing her face closer, he could feel her heart thudding madly, competing with his own.

“Soriya...” he breathed.

Slowly, she reached up to the mask covering his nose and mouth. He held perfectly still as she hesitated, gray eyes wide. Wordlessly, Kakashi pressed his face into her palm, urging her to continue. Delicately, she tugged the thin fabric down, luminous eyes never leaving his own. He inhaled her scent unimpeded, leaning in until their noses touched. Gently, he traced a path from nose to cheekbone and back, lips trailing along the curve of her jaw to the corner of her mouth. The sound of her shallow, uneven breathing, combined with the petal-soft touch of porcelain skin spurred him onward.

Tugging lightly on her hair, he tipped her head back, granting him better access. She made a noise low in her throat, lids fluttering closed. Greedily, he drew her lower lip into his mouth, sucking gently. A moan escaped her and she pressed into him, arms wrapping around his neck. He could feel the rapid rise and fall of her breasts against his chest. His own breathing was none too steady.

Delicately, he probed her mouth with his tongue. She tasted sweet. Like mango, he decided, intensifying the kiss. His eyes closed as she responded, tongue sliding against his own. Suddenly, his need for her was urgent, the kiss turning volatile. Panting for breath, he broke away from her mouth, nibbling a path down her jawline to the slender throat. Scraping teeth lightly along her pulse point, he laved it gently with his tongue. She gasped, body arching into him. His hands shifted to her hips, holding her tightly against him. He was losing control, he knew. Had lost it the moment he touched her. Still, he couldn't bring himself to stop.

“Soriya...” he groaned as the kunoichi's fingers tangled in his hair. The intensity of his desire threatened to overwhelm them both.

The sound of his voice, ragged with passion, snapped Soriya back to reality. His concern, coupled with fierce passion, and another, deeper emotion bombarded her. The rush of sentiment was just too much. It scared her, almost as much as her own overwhelming response. Breathing heavily, lips swollen from his kisses, she reached for control, struggling back from the silver-haired shinobi.

Perceiving her distress, Kakashi loosed his hold reluctantly. He stared at her distraught visage in concern.

“Soriya?”

“No. I'm sorry.” Her voice broke. “I can't.”

Recognizing, but not understanding her fear, he reached for her.

“Tell me what's wrong.”

She scrambled back from him, uncharacteristically graceless.

“I'm sorry, Kakashi. I just can't. I can't handle this right now.” She stood shakily, passing a hand over her eyes. “Maybe ever. I'm sorry.”

He sat back on his haunches, breathing heavily, hands on hips. It seemed he had broken through her defenses, and now she was in full retreat. The passion that flared between them was genuine, but she was not mentally prepared for it, he realized. Sensing it would be unwise to press her, he opted for a temporary strategic withdrawal.

“Soriya. I'll let you go for now, but I won't give up,” Kakashi warned. “I can't. Not knowing you want me as much as I want you.” She flinched and he continued. “Run if you need to, but remember that I am an excellent tracker. I'll catch you eventually,” he promised.

She stared at him, gauging his sincerity with wide eyes. Then, without another word, she placed a palm flat against the stone railing, leaping out over the edge of the balcony.

Kakashi heard the kunoichi's boots land lightly, but when he stood and peered over the edge, saw no sign of her. Pulling up his lower mask, the Copy Ninja repositioned the headband over his left eye, concealing the Sharingan once more. Willing his racing pulse to slow, he eyed the surrounding trees.

“Show yourself,” he ordered calmly.

A breeze shuffled the leaves of a large oak overlooking the opposite end of the balcony. The next moment, a figure wearing a white ceramic mask painted to resemble a wolf's face dropped to a crouch fifteen meters from Kakashi's position. Dressed in the black leggings and sleeveless tunic favored by ANBU black-ops, he carried a katana strapped to his back. A gray leather vest and metal bracers served as armor. The wolf-masked shinobi rose and faced the elite jonin without speaking.

Kakashi opted for the direct approach.

“Are you shadowing me, or Soriya Kanzin?” he asked bluntly. When the man did not reply, he said, “I see. Both of us, then.”

The operative spoke. “We have been instructed to send you to the Hokage directly. I am not permitted to answer your questions, except to say that she expects you at any time.” His message delivered, the masked ninja leapt back into the trees and disappeared.

Heightening his hearing, smell, and vision, Kakashi scanned the immediate area, but detected no covert presence. He smiled darkly.

So, Tsunade. You got my message after all. I can hardly wait to hear what you have to say. He snorted. Particularly about what just happened.

He sighed, cursing his momentary lapse of control, but not its actual result.

Soriya...

He could still taste her on his tongue. He wondered where she had fled to. Who would she seek to help sort out her confusion? Certainly not Yori and Izumi, whom she seemed determined to protect.

Who, Soriya? Who will you run to? Who do you trust?

Banishing that line of questioning for another time, Kakashi carefully reviewed Soriya's known history. He was convinced Tsunade knew more than she'd told the kunoichi about her parents' disappearance and the Itasukis' murders. He'd bet money that Soriya's mysterious assignment was directly linked in some way. He shook his head in mild annoyance.

“Tsunade, what kind of game are you playing?”

Deciding he'd given the ANBU operative ample time to report, the Copy Ninja gathered his feet beneath him, leaping into the trees. He headed north, toward the Tower in the distance.