The hands of the Hokage

Let me update this one as well, since I am throwing a new fic online...

Hope you enjoy! Please review. 

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Ibiki sighs and walks towards the coffee. It is a lonely table in the Mission Room at the moment. That is fine. He craves coffee. Not people. He pours himself a cup and brings it to his lips. Black coffee, that is how he likes it. 

He takes a sip and closes his eyes. Yesterday was a strange day. That doesn’t mean that today is going to be strange. He smiles softly and nods to himself. Today will be a good day. He has no meeting with the Hokage planned and he doesn’t have any prisoners to interrogate. 

“How are you feeling, Morino-sama?” 

Ibiki opens his eyes and glances to his left. A white mask is staring at him. He blinks and frowns, bringing the cup down. “Why are you here?” he asks. The ANBU shrugs and moves next to him. There are other ANBU members. One of them is even sitting on top of Umino Iruka’s desk. “Why are all of you here?” he asks.

“We know all,” the man next to him simply says. 

Silence fills the room. The usual Shinobi have nervous looks on their faces. Umino Iruka is trembling a bit and biting his lip. He rises from his chair and waves at Ibiki. “Morino-sama, could I have a word with you?” he asks. 

Ibiki grunts, nods at the ANBU member next to him and walks over towards the teacher. He nods at him, brings his cup to his lips again and takes a gulp. He swallows and brings the cup down to Iruka’s desk. 

“Do you have any idea why there are members of the ANBU here? Is there something wrong in Konoha?” Iruka asks. He fiddles with his hands and glances at the ANBU member still sitting on his desk. 

Ibiki frowns and turns towards the ANBU member. “Why are you here?” he asks. He narrows his eyes. The other said that they know all, but about what? What do they know?

“If you need us, Morino-sama, you know where to find us.” The ANBU member brings a hand to his forehead and nods. “Do not hesitate to call out on us.” He jumps to his feet and places a hand on his back. “There are at least ten of us who can go against one, if you understand. You are ours, Morino-sama.” The other ANBU members in the room grunt. 

Ibiki swallows. As far as he knows, there is no threat. At least, not from outside of Konoha. There is a personal threat inside the village. From the Hokage personally. To him, yes. Surely, that is not what they are talking about. 

“We understand that your mind works in strange ways. Perhaps this situation is what you need at this moment. But if you realize that you don’t need it, call us. We will back you up.” The ANBU members grunt again and disappear. 

Ibiki blinks. He raises his cup and takes another sip. His drink must be spiked. Yes, that is the only explanation. Better drink another gulp to get it all in his mind and make him forget about everything.

“Is there an outside treat going on, Morino-sama?” Umino-san asks. 

Ibiki shakes his head. “No.” He downs the last drops of his drink and rolls with his shoulders. “There is not.” He nods at the teacher and turns around. He is telling the truth. There is not an outside threat. At least, nothing that would concern the teacher. 

There is a personal threat going on. The Hokage versus him.