All's Fair in Love and War
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Rating: T
World: 4th Shinobi War

Author's note: I know, okay? I know. Until I get my shit together, enjoy this new fic because I can't help but write a million things all at once.

I

"Sakura! Are you alright?"

Sakura looked up from where she had the Zetsu clone in a choke hold, her free fist glowing blue with destructive chakra. Akimichi Tobiko burst through the tent flap, followed by two other shinobi on guard duty. When they saw Sakura's position, understanding dawned.

"The spy," Tobiko growled, immediately on high alert.

Sakura turned back to the intruder. "That's right. He was posing as Hyuuga Neji using an advanced transformation technique. Somehow, he was able to copy Neji's chakra signature well enough to fool our sensors."

The Zetsu clone sneered. "Don't think that it ends here. There are one hundred thousand copies of me running around. You never know who might be an enemy lurking in your midst."

Sakura's expression darkened at his smirk, his teeth dyed a dark green from his blood. "Unfortunately for you, your usefulness has just run out now that I know your secret. All that's left is a physical examination."

The Zetsu clone glared at her. "Little bi—"

He didn't have the time to finish his insult because Sakura's fist connected with his face, effectively snapping his neck and killing him instantly. A moment of deathly calm befell her as she stared down at her handiwork. As a medical ninja, she rarely dealt death to her enemies. When the occasion called for it though, her methods were usually more brutal than others'. This was war, and mercy shown to an enemy was out of the question. Sakura pulled herself up and dusted off her pants.

"Tobiko, please let Shizune know that I eliminated the spy. We'll run an autopsy on the corpse to see what we can learn about his transformation technique," Sakura said, already returning to her makeshift desk and rearranging the supplies scattered in her short skirmish with the clone.

Tobiko nodded, his expression grim. "You two. Bring that body to the lab tent and be quick about it," he barked at the other two guards.

The guards hastily acquiesced, already moving to lift the clone's corpse and carry it out of Sakura's tent. Tobiko disappeared through the tent flap and suddenly the office felt much emptier without the large man occupying it. Alone with her mess and smatterings of green blood, Sakura clenched her fists and allowed herself a moment of anger.

I can't believe he killed so many Jounin medics before we figured it out.

It was unacceptable. They'd lost five top healers this morning all in the course of about two hours. Never mind the fact that no one could figure out how to differentiate the Zetsu clones from those they impersonated; no one had even seen 'Neji' murdering shinobi left and right.

Sakura rubbed her eyes. The only Jounin medical ninja left were Shizune and a middle-aged couple from Iwagakure. Advanced medical ninja were a rare commodity, but outside of Konoha they were a dying breed. Most medics were trained enough to act in emergencies on the field, but few were able to perform intensive surgeries under time pressure for complicated injuries. The few that could from the five villages were all but eliminated this morning. While still technically a Chuunin, Sakura's level of skill matched the best Jounin medics because she'd been trained by the Godaime Hokage and had perfect chakra control. Unfortunately, she was the exception to the rule. The rest of the medical staff was composed of Chuunin, whose training was still largely incomplete, and nurses, who were mostly unskilled in medical ninjutsu but had knowledge of general healing practices. Hell, at this point they were even sending over Genin to perform any tasks that didn't involve healing with chakra.

How can such a small hospital force ensure the health of the entire shinobi alliance?

Sakura ruminated over that depressing thought as she made her way to the lab tent on autopilot. When she arrived, Shizune was already there and directing the two guards to lay the dead Zetsu clone on a stainless steel examination table.

"Oh Sakura, are you alright?" Shizune asked, immediately going to her younger counterpart and giving her a concerned once-over.

Sakura managed a wry smile. "Yeah, fine. I got him before he could get me."

"How did you know he was posing as Neji?"

Sakura frowned. "It was obvious that he wasn't the real Neji when he thought Tonton was a person instead of a pig." Everyone in Konoha knew about Tsunade's beloved pet pig.

Shizune shook her head. "Unbelievable. Who knows how long this would have gone on otherwise?"

The rhetorical question hung heavily in the air for a moment. They'd been lucky that the Zetsu clone had inadvertently given himself away, and they knew it.

"Well, aside from a cracked skull resulting in severe brain hemorrhaging, the body seems to be intact," Shizune said as she and Sakura returned their attention to the still cadaver awaiting their examination. "I suppose I should thank you for not punching a hole through his stomach."

Sakura's lips curled up in a grim smile. "Tempting as it was, I didn't want my office covered in green slime."

"Let's get started then, shall we? I imagine you and I will be here working on this for most of the day."

Sakura nodded and the two women set to work.

The hours ticked by and Sakura's hunger was becoming a ravenous beast with a mind of its own. Her hands were slicked with dark green blood, and she suspected with no small degree of revulsion that it would take a good amount of effort to get it out from under her fingernails later. Shizune had departed after an hour to tend to more injured shinobi rolling in, leaving Sakura to work on the autopsy alone. Kana and Kentarou, the medic nin couple from Iwa, could not sustain their chakra output to heal every patient in need of medical attention alone all day. Sakura felt guilty about not being able to help out, but figuring out the mystery of Zetsu's transformation technique was a top priority for the greater war effort.

After all this time, they hadn't learned much other than the fact that the makeup of the clone's internal workings more closely resembled a plant's than any mammal's, something which disturbed Sakura in a way that she could not quite place. Despite the fact that this body clearly did not belong to Neji, if Sakura closed her eyes and merely examined it with chakra she would never have been the wiser. It was as if he'd become Neji in every way, which was a phenomenon Sakura had not previously thought possible. Even his eyes bore the same complex interior design as a typical Hyuuga's, although Sakura doubted that the clone would have been able to activate the Byakugan beyond the physical resemblance. No matter how good a transformation, there was no way that bloodline limit could be copied in such a manner.

No one said this was going to be an easy egg to crack, Sakura thought to herself as she washed and disinfected her hands in a portable sink. Casting the corpse one last glance—it was cut clean down the middle with its strange insides naked to the world—Sakura exited the tent and instructed the guards on duty not to let anyone who wasn't Shizune or herself pass. Then she made her way to the mess hall to grab a quick meal.

"Sakura, there you are. I was just about to send someone to fetch you," Shizune said as Sakura entered the mess hall. "You haven't had anything to eat since this morning."

"Yeah," Sakura said, her stomach taking that time to growl embarrassingly. "Guess it's about that time."

Shizune grinned, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. She looked worn out and sleep-deprived. Sakura imagined she looked no better. The two women passed a couple rows of tables occupied by a few stray late eaters to get to the food line. At this hour, most people had already scarfed down hasty meals and returned to work so they made it to the front quickly. Sakura chose the tofu dish and Shizune chose the chicken dish.

"How was the body count today?" Sakura asked between bites. It was bland and a little undercooked, but she figured that the taste of her food didn't really matter in a war setting. At least there was food at all.

Shizune put her utensil down and stared at her food. "Of the ones receiving new treatments, about seventeen are still in critical condition. So far, we've lost eight. It's going to be another long night to save the others."

Sakura immediately lost her appetite. "That's already nearly twice as many dead as three days ago," she said, aghast. "How can that be?"

"We lost five Jounin medics, that's how. I'm not going to lie to you, Sakura. This is very bad. I received word earlier today that the Edo Tensei ninja are pushing back our front line. Some of the Zetsu clones have taken to infiltrating the ranks disguised as friendly shinobi. The only reason they're being rooted out swiftly is because the divisions are kept small enough that everyone knows everyone else's face and duplicates are easy to spot. As the central medical camp, we have the best lab medics and surgeons on hand while the field medics man the front lines. I'd say another infiltration is imminent, if it hasn't already happened."

Sakura let the ugly truth wash over her. "There's got to be something more we can do. This can't be the end of the line. We have to find out the secret to that transformation technique. If we can just find a way to discern the clones from the real thing…" She trailed off, knowing all too well that such an answer would not come to them easily, if at all.

"I've already sent for reinforcements. The top field medics should be arriving here over the next day or so."

"That will mean less support out in the field though."

"I know that," Shizune said, sighing. "But we need them here more than the soldiers need them on the front lines where they'll be targeted and killed off first. I know you were hoping to return to the Third Division soon, but I'm afraid you'll have to stay here. I'm sure I don't need to explain why."

Sakura shook her head, her mind reeling. "Yeah, I know. I wish Lady Tsunade were here."

"Me too, but that's not an option at the moment. She's a Kage, so she has more pressing responsibilities in the field."

Silence fell as they picked at their food. Sakura would have given up long ago, but the tickle of hunger in her stomach reminded her that her body needed nourishment even if her spirit wanted none of it.

"Come on, let's get out of here," Shizune said, rising from her seat and taking her tray to the waste bin.

Sakura followed suit. "I'll take over for now. You should get some rest."

Shizune shook her head. "Not until we bring those patients on the edge back from the brink. I could use your help with it though. Kana and Kentarou are taking a break after working all last night and today."

Sakura nodded numbly. "Of course. I'll resume the autopsy later."

They departed the nearly deserted mess hall, ghostlike as they made to face the forces of death head on once more.

Shī entered the alliance headquarters' main meeting room in response to his summons. He'd just returned from a scouting mission for the Fifth Division, averting what would have been a crisis leading to a bloodbath had the enemy's ambush been successful. In the heat of the moment he'd had to participate in the hand-to-hand combat, but it was a somewhat welcome feeling after being relegated to the sidelines all this time.

As the bodyguard of the Raikage, Shī was known in his native Cloud as a formidable shinobi not only for his acute sensory perception, for also for his quick thinking and swift attack style in battle. A genjutsu expert, he preferred to sneak attack his enemies, place them under illusion, then deliver the killing blow from the shadows. This in contrast to his partner, Darui, who couldn't help but make a grandiose entrance and practically announce his position and next attack with a flourish of fancy footwork and flashy lightning. It was no wonder that Darui and A enjoyed competing with each other in their free time, much to Shī's exasperation. While he had nothing against roughhousing and sparring in general, people in their positions had a certain image to maintain as leaders, especially A.

"Shī, there you are." Ao, his superior in the Sensory Division, turned to face him when he entered.

Shī bowed in greeting, a formality ingrained since childhood. Even though Ao was a Mist shinobi, they were on the same side in this war and had to cooperate. Shī didn't mind working with him, in truth. Ao was efficient and a strong leader, and Shī had come to respect him a great deal in a short time for his experience and skill. Ao held down the headquarters with a team of three Jounin sensors keeping tabs on the allied forces' movements through the use of a special barrier. The rest of the division was composed of mostly Chuunin and a few Jounin scattered among the ranks of the shinobi alliance, helping to weed out the enemy and curtail surprise attacks.

"Shī, I understand that you're a gifted medical ninja."

Shī turned to the room's other occupants. The speaker, Nara Shikaku, regarded him with a hard look only made more intimidating by the scars stretching across his face. His partner, Yamanaka Inoichi, sat on a cushion against the far wall with his eyes closed and a metal helmet on his head. Shī pressed his lips together at the sight of the Konoha shinobi.

"Yes, sir," he said with cold decorum.

"There's been an incident at the central medical camps," Shikaku went on. "A Zetsu clone impersonating a member of the Hyuuga clan infiltrated the site and slaughtered five Jounin medical ninja before he was discovered."

Shī narrowed dark eyes at the news. He knew for a fact that Ao had dispatched one of their members to the medical camps to screen incoming patients, so how had this clone gotten past that line of defense? He and Ao had hand-picked the members of the Sensory Division, so he knew they were worth their salt.

"Apparently, our on-site sensor couldn't distinguish the clone from the real deal," Ao clarified. "There's currently an autopsy happening on the clone's corpse, but it doesn't look like we've learned anything significant yet."

"You're sending me there," Shī deadpanned. "With so few capable medics on hand, we'll need as much support there as possible."

Ao sensed Shī's displeasure at the thought, but he kept his expression schooled. "You're a Jounin level medical ninja and a sensor type. You're an ideal candidate to work directly with the captain of the Medical Division."

Shikaku nodded. "Shizune is one of the most skilled medical ninja Konoha has ever seen. I'm sure you know her by reputation at least."

Shī remained silent. He knew about the Konoha medics, all right. The Godaime Hokage was renowned as the world's greatest medical ninja since the Shodai Hokage, who happened to be her grandfather. And the Hokage's apprentices were just as notorious for their developing talents. Konoha had a monopoly on the best medical resources and talent, a fact that they held no qualms reminding the other countries about as often as possible. The mastermind behind the Edo Tensei technique was also a former Konoha medical ninja. Shī clenched a fist.

Damnit.

"Yes, I know of her," he said, keeping his inner thoughts to himself. If Shī was one thing, it was a stringent abider of protocol and hierarchies. "Will I be going alone?"

Shikaku scrutinized him for a moment, and Shī decided he did not like that look. This man was in charge of strategy and tactics for the entire shinobi alliance, a genius tactician and war veteran. Certainly, he lived up to his reputation and could deliver concrete results, which was enough to make Shī adhere to his leadership without question. But he didn't have to tolerate the man on any other level.

"No. We'll be sending over two others with you, also Jounin level field medics. Any more than that and our soldiers will be too severely compromised. The three of you will depart together as soon as they arrive here and report to the central medical camp for training."

Shī nodded his acknowledgement and turned to Ao. "If that's all, I'd like to pack my things and be ready to leave as soon as possible."

"Of course, you're dismissed," Ao said, shooting him a significant look.

Shī turned to leave but Shikaku's voice stopped him. "Shī, I'm sure this goes without saying, but I'd like to remind you that we're all in this together. The village denominations are superfluous at this point as we work toward the common goal. Keep that in mind as you undertake this new assignment."

"Yes, sir," Shī said, his voice polite but cold. "Please excuse me."

Shī walked out of the office at a brisk pace, his blonde hair ruffling in the small wind he created with the motion. Making a beeline for the quarters he shared with Ao, he made quick work of packing, making sure to take only the essentials. After about ten minutes of the sound of rustling clothes and zippers, he went to the bathroom to retrieve his toothbrush and stopped to examine his reflection.

Dark eyes stared back at him and took in the dirt and scratches on his face from the earlier bout with the undead enemy. If he hadn't been there, the Fifth Division would have been obliterated. He was more useful in the field, of this he was certain. But duty compelled him to help out where he was most needed, and right now that was in the medical tents. Ao's words from the day they formed the Sensory Division returned to him then. Deep down, Shī knew that as a rare sensor type, he was in a unique position to positively change the outcome of this war. He would have to find a way to play on this advantage while lending his medical abilities where they were most needed.

It was a noble calling and one that had saved the lives of countless allies and friends over the course of his short nineteen-year lifespan. He was as good at saving lives as he was at taking them. It was for his lethal versatility that he'd been chosen as the Raikage's personal guard despite his extreme youth. Darui was fourteen years his senior and the Raikage could have been his grandfather, but Cloud knew talent when it came along.

Still, the idea of working directly with Konoha medical shinobi was irritating. It wasn't that he felt a personal animosity toward Shizune or any other specific individual—they were, after all, in this war effort together. Rather, it was the influence of Konoha on the greater shinobi world that he disdained. Most of the enemy had originated in Konoha, and the mysterious masked man held a century-old vendetta against his old hometown. It bothered him to think that Konoha's problems seemed to have overflowed and infected the rest of the shinobi world in a sense. Shī would do this without complaint because it was his responsibility as a shinobi and a medic besides, but it would be purely a professional endeavor. He would do his job and try to ignore the fact that he'd be working closely with more Konoha shinobi than before.

Never taking his eyes off his reflection, Shī lifted a hand to his face. It began to glow green and pulsate a bit with his chakra. In one slow sweep of his face, all evidence of injury was erased. All that was left was the sweat and grime, but that would come off in the shower.

Time to leave, he thought to himself as he quickly stripped and blasted the freezing shower water.

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