Disclaimer: I, Lady Sass Sas, hereby disclaim all rights to anything Naruto related.

Also 2 i/c is short for second in command. xXx

Prologue

"Everyone ready?" a chorus of assents crackled through the earpiece.

The compound wasn't very big which in and of itself was surprising. The ANBU captain frowned under the mask. For what was supposed to be in operation shouldn't the compound be even a bit bigger. Holding back a sigh they jumped forward to the last tree and made a signal for the other seven operatives behind, to stop.

"You all know the plan. Fail to follow and it's your neck on the line. And not by the Hokage herself but by me." And without looking back she leapt silently to the ground and quickly made her way over the wall surrounding the compound.

The moonlight cast a silvery glow over everything and produced shadows for cover if needed but this ANBU didn't. As the door was reached they put their ear to it to listen for any movement inside. A minute went by. The frown deepened. Something wasn't right. There should be some sound. Glancing back at other squad captain the captain made a slight signal by minutely shaking her head. Don't follow.

Silently trying the handle and watching and listening very closely for any movement or traps, the door opened with the quietest of squeaks. The movement was cut off as soon as the squeak sounded. The person held very still, waiting. No sound, no movement. Nada.

Bringing a hand up to the receiver one their neck, intel. was given very softly and quietly, "Something's not right."

"What do you mean?" a masculine voice answered. That voice was heaven.

"There should be people around. Everything's way too quiet."

"You're right."

"And another thing. Jump to the next tree in front of you –just you- and look out. Tell me what you see,"

Out of the corner of their eye, they saw their 2 i/c jump to the next tree and crouch, looking intently over the compound, taking everything in again.

"It's small. For the operation they're supposedly carrying out, they would need a bigger place." The frown could be heard in his voice.

"Exactly." Sighing silently the captain turned back to the task at hand, "Don't follow me in. Only move when I give you the go ahead," and with that, the door was yanked open and the ANBU clad figure disappeared through the door. The two teams awaited her command.

Creeping down corridor, making sure no noise emanated from the movement, the ANBU captain had all their senses in gear nearly going into overdrive. Their body was on high alert. They had lost contact with the team five minutes into the place which was not terribly convenient for giving orders or receiving updates but the mission had to be completed no matter the cost.

Turning right, they came upon the first door in the complex so far bar the one used for gaining entry. Cautiously they put their ear to the door and listened. Five minutes of this and all that could be heard was dripping from the other side. Most likely water from a burst pipe but nothing would surprise the captain. After three years of working in ANBU and coming across various scenes and encounters, they had basically come to expect anything unexpected.

Twisting the handle they slid into the room and then froze at the sight greeting their eyes.

Shit.

Of course, the first room the captain came to would be the one used for torture. The dripping sound was the blood currently draining from a fresh corpse. Walking slowly over to the hanging body, they felt for a pulse; you didn't have to be a medic-nin to know the woman was dead but hey, why not make sure?

Bringing their fingers to the receiver they again tried to contact the teams but all they got was crackling. Sighing in frustration they turned back to take in the room and then proceeded to sweep it, searching for any useful files or clues that could make the job easier.

But that would be too lucky, right?

Leaving the room and going back the way they had come they went straight forward, down the left side of the T junction. About 10 paces in they felt something against their left ankle before they heard the snap of a wire. Freezing, the captain looked down at the now snapped trip wire.

Fuck.

Taking a deep breath they brought their head up to face the direction they were headed just in time to dodge several kunai headed straight for their person. As they fell to the floor they caught sight of the exploding tags on the end of all of them. Their eyes followed the kunai and realised what they were headed for. Scrambling to their feet they flew back the way they had come; the entrance wasn't that far away…right? Plenty of time to escape before getting blown up or burnt, right?

Sprinting, they kept gaining speed but then the explosion sounded and the heat was fast on their heels. Then their ears caught the sound of the roaring flames and their eyes then caught the glow. If the captain hadn't been trying to escape their impending death, they probably would've taken the time to observe the elegant flames in their moment of glory, but as it was, they were finding it hard pushed to outrun it. The flames had already started to lick the back of the ANBU armoured vest.

Crackling sounded in her ear before the second in command's voice reached it.

"…answer me, damn it! Are you there? Are you alright? Need backup? Hello?" his voice rhyming of the questions in a slight panicked voice that only those closest to him would hear.

The captain brought their hand up to their neck in a bid to answer but all that got out where the panting breaths.

"Captain! Are you alright?"

Dragging in a deep breath, they managed to respond," Get…the…team out…of…here. Leave…..me…here." Thank god for short hair…. They thought as the flames continued to lick at their back.

"What's going on captain?"

"Get. Out. Of. HERE!" the captain shouted.

The team on the tree's watched as the captain burst through the door. They watched as their captain looked up and gave the signal to run. Their second captain was about to go and get her when they heard a deep rumbling and then a blazing fire shot out through the doorway and engulfed the ANBU captain lying on the ground. And then they proceeded to watch the compound explode and then crumble inward on itself.

"SAKUUUURAAAA!"

Well, there you have it. The prologue to my first ever story. Give me reviews or don't, I don't really care.

Lady Sassy Sas xXx