"You will depart immediately. They will not expect you. Nor, I imagine, will they welcome you." The masked man had replied, "You will go to Konoha and you will meet with the Hokage." His cold grayed eyes settled onto Maki, "You will stay there and share your findings of the Bansentennin with them until they are satisfied. You two will return here, in case the village is attacked again."<br/><br/>"Now go." He said, waving them off dismissively.<br/><br/>The journey to Konoha was arduous, considering how tired they had all been. Any other day and it would have been a walk in the forest. A squad had stopped them a mile outside the village, a dozen kunai aimed for them before they recognized the Tanigakure seal. The trio entered the great gates of Konoha, greeted by wide open streets and massive buildings. Where Tani had been cramped and constricted, Konoha was large and free... (http://youtu.be/3oaBaIYH568) a true<strong>city</strong>under the shadow of the Hokage monument, visible from even the gate on the opposite side of the village. From left to right, the first, the second, and the current third. The village's hidden nature had long ago been abandoned, but it was a veritable fortress and home to some of the world's most powerful ninja.<br/><br/>Guarded by their escort, the Tani ninja were brought through the streets, passing by what appeared to be the hot springs.<br/><br/>Inside... Tsunade closed her eyes and smiled, saying, "You know the best cure for a hang-over, right?" She opened her eyes and leaned in close, "Don't quit drinking."<br/><br/>The Hokage's granddaughter was a woman of vices- gambling foremost, but also alcohol. She was mostly carefree except where her little brother was concerned and though lusted after by most of the men in the village, few... if any, could have claimed to have won her heart. Even the one who pined after it most, that white-haired pervert.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Elsewhere... to the west, far across the forests and the rivers, past the mountains and into the dunes... the village hidden in the sand lay nestled in a valley.<br/><br/>A man in dark robes, with spiky hair and an effeminate face, was reading a small scroll. Beside him lay the green Kazekage hat, its matching robes hung up on the wall. His narrow eyes went over the small words before they drew to a woman kneeling before him, "A man resembling your old friend has snuck into Tanigakure and caused... a bit of trouble."<br/><br/>The woman was dressed in an all-black body suit with a bunraku cap, her shoulder-length hair poking out the sides and back, "Old friend? I have no old friends..."<br/><br/>"The one you exchanged those poisons with." The young man said. He was her lord, yet easily ten years her junior, "They know about your association. I'm sure of it. They think he's one of ours."<br/><br/>The woman turned her head, "He isn't?"<br/><br/>"No." The Kazekage replied amid a sigh, "Not if he's gone and done something as drastic as this. The old truces have about expired. Any excuse will be good enough to start a war again. Our gold, most likely. Heh... if only they knew how little there really was." He began to speak more to himself than to the older woman, "If they knew that we've grown too large for the desert. That we can barely even feed our own people... The Land of Rivers is a rich country, no?"<br/><br/>The woman seemed impatient but dared not speak. After all, though he was young and untested- this was her Kazekage, the Second's only son and heir to his legacy. "If there's going to be a war, Sunagakure will need its full strength against Konoha." He said at last, getting to the point, "I need you bring back my sister. I swore an oath to the Second to protect her as her brother... But I also swore an oath to the village as their Kazekage. If she refuses-"<br/><br/>"I understand, Lord Kazekage." The woman said, bowing. She knew what he was about to say, and so spared him the pain of having to say it. He was still young... not even a veteran of the war- he hadn't learned yet to kill his emotions as she had. "No one knows her better than you do." He said, "You taught her- you should know how to find her. Will there be anything you need?"<br/><br/>"No, Lord Kazekage."<br/><br/>"Then go, Chiyo-sama."