It was a simple routine A rank mission.

Whilst Konoha usually avoided dealing with the ninja of neutral countries, rogue Iwa nin had started leeching off Konoha's supply routes and after the Fire Daimyo lost a shipment of precious jewellery, he demanded that Konoha take action. The Sandaime had ordered an extermination of the entire band.

Quick, tense communication with Iwa had assured them there would be no action taken against Konoha for the murder of their AWOL ninja, which was all the approval they needed.

So the Hokage dispatched ANBU Team 4, an elite but fairly new ANBU group, highly trained and skilled young ninja, each with a heavy weight in their hearts. It was the Hokage's private wish for each of the members in the team to help the others heal, counting on the private grief they each held to draw them together.

The team became an immediate success. Their skills and personalities melded together perfectly to create a team that quickly became renowned for their efficient, clean and successful mission rates, and they began to draw approval from all levels of Konoha politics.

The old mans' wish was also granted, and after only the few short months since the teams conception, he could spot an ease and tranquillity among each of the team members that had been absent for too long.

However like most good things - the Fourth Hokage's reign included - the Team's existence would be short-lived.

They just didn't know it yet…