A/N: Hello! So, I'm trying my hand at a new category as I have recently become very addicted to Naruto. I will note upfront that this was something I wrote just for fun, and decided that since I finished it, maybe there was someone out there who would enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. :) I am definitely no expert on Naruto, the Japanese language or culture, so I forewarn you that I have probably made things up and gotten some things very, very wrong. I tried to incorporate the Fourth Shinobi War, but as you will notice later on, I definitely shortened it to make it work for the story. My focus here was a Kakashi/OC romance, a Sai/OC friendship, with a little Naruto/Sakura mention on the side.
I'm a huge fan of any Sakura and Kakashi story, but I really struggled to write them together so I ended up inventing a new female character. I realize many people have done the 'seduction' kuniochi storyline, but honestly, it was the only type of character I could imagine that Team 7 could even need since they are all so bad-ass in their own respects.
I will add that Jiraiya is still alive and Sasuke doesn't get too much mention in the story since I couldn't really work him in properly. I also did quite a bit of research, and yes, I know that specifically 'poison users' don't exist in the Narutoverse, but, if they did, I would guess it would be an Earth, Water, and Yang combination. That's the basis the story is formed under, or else, I would have no OC to play with...I hope you enjoy the story, please leave a review letting me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and am only playing with the characters for the sheer joy of it!
"Naruto, why do you always have to be so stubborn? Come on, we are going to be late!"Sakura yelled at Naruto as she tapped her foot, arms crossed, at his doorstep.
"Sakkkurrraaa, hold on, I'm coming ok. Now where did I put that other shoe?" Naruto started to mumble to himself.
Sakura just rolled her eyes and grit her teeth. "NARUTO!"
"Found it!"
With a slam of the door, Naruto was finally outside of his apartment tugging on his Shinobi sandal in his typical orange and black outfit.
"Alright Sakura-chan, I'm ready. Let's go see what Baa-chan wants this early in the morning."
Sakura started to seethe as they walked down his stairs, "Early? Naruto, it's 11:00 in the morning on a Wednesday!"
Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "Ah, right, sorry Sakura-chan."
As they made their way from roof top to roof top, they finally arrived at the Hokage's office. Kakashi was waiting for them outside the door and Shizune holding a stack of papers in one hand.
She sighed in relief, "Alright, now that everyone's here please go in. Hokage-sama is waiting for you."
Everyone silently filed into the office, save for Naruto who, immediately upon seeing Tsunade behind her desk screeched at her "Baa-chan! What's all the fuss about so early in the morning? I haven't even had my ramen yet."
Sakura slapped Naruto upside his head.
Tsunade snickered "Thanks Sakura."
Sakura smiled, "Anytime Shishou."
Tsunade shuffled her papers about until she found a particular scroll and sat it in front of her. "I've called you here today to announce some important news. Team 7 will be going on a mission to depart this evening for Stone country to intercept a group of Stone ANBU that will be delivering a very important scroll to an enemy of Konoha that could put our nation's safety at risk."
Naruto fist-pumped at the news, "YES! A mission, finally!"
"Naruto! I'm not done!" Yelled the Hokage.
Naruto's face fell, "Sorry baa-chan."
Tsunade continued, "Once the scroll has been intercepted and obtained, I need it to be delivered to the enemy that Stone intended it for. His name is Saito Chitori. He is an S-class missing-nin of Lightning and extremely dangerous. He will be well guarded and I need him to believe that you are the Stone ANBU he was intended to meet with. He will be exchanging information with Stone about a forbidden jutsu that we cannot allow to get into enemy hands. However, it has also come to our attention that this man has a library of forbidden jutsus that he sells at the right price. We have to send someone in to get close to him, to find where he is storing these scrolls so that you may recover them and bring them with you."
"Who's going undercover then?" It was Sakura this time with the questions, but finally, a valid one.
Tsunade sighed, "Every one of you are recognizable as a legend of Konoha and if you are under a henge to try and disguise yourself, Saito will be able to detect your chakra use. So that's why I'm adding in two of my elite ANBU special black ops to accompany you on this mission. Shizune, send them in."
Shizune turned to open the door and motioned for the individuals.
The first individual that stepped in they recognized immediately as the Hyuuga prince, Hyuuga Neji. Behind him, was an unfamiliar woman, strikingly beautiful with waist length golden brown hair and hazel eyes. Both were decked out in ANBU gear, completely covered in black from head to toe with their white masks hanging on their hips. Sakura's eye widened a bit in recognition of the woman.
"Team 7, you already know Neji, and this is Takora Kinuko. Neji, I believe this is the first time you are meeting as well?"
Neji nodded and nodded respectfully towards Kinuko, "Hai, Hokage-sama."
Tsunade smiled briefly at the beautiful ANBU woman she had employed for this mission, knowing full well that Team 7 along with Neji would be able to take care of this woman she called friend.
"Kinuko, this is Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi. I'm sure you are aware of their reputations…" Tsunade chuckled and Kinuko smiled softly, nodding towards all of her teammates for the mission.
"Kinuko will be going undercover to determine the whereabouts of the scrolls and will not be involved in the scroll exchange. She has already done reconnaissance on the compound Chitori is staying in and will brief you on it before you arrive. Kinuko is an expert at chakra masking, and her bloodline limit allows her to get out of sticky situations, particularly when they involve male Shinobi. She won't be detected as a kunoichi, but she's going to need back-up when the time comes for extraction that Neji won't be able to provide alone. Particularly, if she can't get close enough to use her bloodline limit on Chitori's guards she will be overwhelmed. Kinuko has confirmed that Chitori is surrounded by at least chunin and jounin rank shinobi. Kinuko, as discussed, your mission is to find the location of the forbidden jutsu scrolls and assassinate Chitori. The rest of you, it's your mission to protect Kinuko and provide for extraction when necessary. Chitori is an S-class missing nin, if Kinuko finds herself in trouble I'm expecting all of you to intervene immediately."
Neji nodded respectfully, but was wondering, however, what Kinuko's bloodline limit was as he had never heard of the woman prior to this mission, and he was an ANBU captain.
"Good, I'm glad that's clear. Here's your mission scroll," Tsunade pointed towards Kakashi who took it quickly, "Team 7 you will be led by Kakashi, and Black Ops will be led by Captain Hyuuga. I also want to note, that I didn't bring you all together out of sheer chance. Kinuko is veering away from her ANBU specialty and I'd like to get her acclimated to working with a team. I've chosen the lot of you due to your leadership skills and I trust that you will show Kinuko what true teamwork and acceptance means. I hope you all become good friends, as I intend to pair Kinuko together with you in the future. Good luck, you're dismissed."
Everyone started to file out of the room, but Tsunade called out quietly, "Kinuko, Hyuuga, stay a minute."
Everyone cleared out until the two black ops stood side by side. Tsunade stood and put her hands on her desk, "I know you two don't know each other and Kinuko, I know you've never been under anyone's command, but I expect you two to work together."
Kinuko frowned but nodded, "Hai, Hokage-sama."
Tsunade snarled to Neji's disbelief, "Cut the crap Kinuko, we're friends, you don't have to stand for ceremony in front of the Hyuuga, he's used to Naruto calling me Baa-chan for Kami's sake!"
Kinuko chuckled and glanced at Neji, "Hai Tsunade. I promise I'll behave for the mission."
Neji stood there quietly, just observing the conversation.
"Hyuuga, I expect you to take care of Kinuko. Undercover missions for Kinuko don't typically involve S-class missing nin of this caliber surrounded by other highly trained Shinobi. I don't want anyone losing their life for these scrolls. Kinuko is a very close friend of mine. Are we clear?"
Neji nodded again, "Hai, Hokage-sama."
Tsunade smiled again, "Good, dismissed."
Neji and Kinuko walked out silently, their strides in sync. "It's nice to finally work with you Neji-Sama. It's an honor."
Neji kept walking and glanced at Kinuko, his eyes lingering on her full, pink lips that looked soft as silk. She was beautiful, but her lips stood out strikingly against her face.
He smirked a bit at her comment, his ego ever inflating, "It's nice to meet you as well Kinuko-sama. So you are from the Takora clan? My Uncle does business quite a bit with Takora Shira, I'm surprised we haven't met."
Kinuko hummed softly in thought, "I'm the first of my family with my particular bloodline limit. As you know, the Takora's aren't known for having one. I have been…kept under wraps so to speak. My specialty usually means I'm sent on ANBU missions alone."
Neji nodded, understanding that she wasn't willing to say anymore on the subject at the moment.
At his silence, Kinuko turned, "I'll meet you at the gate at 5:00 pm."
