"Here he comes." Sasuke Uchiha stared up at the approaching helicopter. "Our mark is going to be masquerading as one of SWAT members. I told the team that they had to pick whose place he took in the defense. Tony will be black-bagged and bulletproof and playing the criminal. We grab him."
Ino raised her voice over the whir of helicopter blades and Sasuke turned his head slightly to hear her. "Why? It's just a SWAT dressing down right?" Ino frowned and Sasuke nodded.
Ino Yamanaka had been his partner for a long time, she knew him inside and out and sometimes it still amazed him that she had yet to pick up any of his security measures. After guarding diplomats for so long, you hope you learn something. Sasuke had learned 13 languages, including sign language. The ability to hear, recognize and mimic accents from all over the world. Security measures against assassins from different training and countries. Every assassin had a style and Sasuke had learned how to determine what style each assassin had simply by the smallest thing. For example; their target.
Ino was an exemplary investigator. She was very good at finding and catching. If he recalled she spoke 7 languages and had at one time worked in the UN as a translator. She'd picked up on malice and evil intent in someones phrasing and successfully stopped an assassination. Sasuke had been sent to recruit her not long after.
Officially the duo had no set organization. They had badges from Secret Service, FBI, CIA and liased with organizations from around the globe. The badges they carried changed almost monthly.
"Yes but we convince everyone, including any potential hit men that this guard is in fact a high-ranking prisoner." Sasuke assumed the at-ease military stance as the wind began to pick up. Ino stepped behind him and tied her hair back to keep it out of her face. Long platinum blond hair that she was debating cutting short again. Sasuke didn't care either way, Ino was beautiful sure but not his type.
"Got it Sasuke. I'm going to do one last position check." She brought her wrist up and spoke into the mike wrapped around it. "Beta team call in by positon."
"Here and holding on point A boss."
"Here and holding on B."
"C is alive, bored and holding."
Sasuke scowled and tilted his head to speak against Ino's wrist. "Alpha team report."
"Holding on A, second position. Should I move back to first sir?"
Second position...mentally Sasuke darted through his planning. He was visible and of course his man was watching him for an answer. He nodded and released his scowl when he heard an affirmative response.
"Holding on B and you idiot why the hell were you in second position?"
"Holding on C and shut up!"
"Everyone shut up and focus, this cannot go wrong." Ino hissed. Sasuke rolled his eyes and brought his own wrist up. Being the guy in charge, he'd made sure to seem a lot more scary then he was.
"If anything goes wrong and our mark gets even grazed, you will all suffer. I will see to it personally." Sasuke dropped his hand back behind his back.
The helicopter landed and Sasuke pushed his sunglasses up to keep the wind out of his eyes. The door slid up and the SWAT teams disembarked. Sasuke and Ino rushed forward and took an arm of the the 'prisoner' and quickly pulled the man into a tight ring of heavily armed guards. One of whom was a high-ranking diplomat here on a peace mission, that was their mark.
The term made it sound like they were the assassins but calling them mark made it easier for Sasuke to stay detached. If he didn't care then in the event that he failed it didn't hurt.
The team began moving forward quickly and Sasuke kept one hand pressing the prisoners head down. He would normally have a quick, joking chat with Tony but right now anyone could be watching and waiting. Sasuke doubted anyone would attack, not to be arrogant, but because he was there it was unlikely.
Sasuke had made quite the name for himself in the business. Assassins didn't like him because more often then not he catches them. In illegal circles people often called him the Bounty Hunter. Sure he got paid well for his services but he was hardly a bounty hunter. He just happened to be extremely good at his job.
Two taps on his right shoulder. Sasuke turned his head and a SWAT member pointed to two people following them. He passed the prisoner completely off to Ino. "Get him inside I'll handle these guys." Sasuke broke away from the group. Tuning out everything he could make out the two talking with Suna accents. "Name and ID please."
"Temari and Kankuro Sabaku. We're here from Suna for the Kazekage's speech and looking for the entrance." They brought out their ID cards and Sasuke nodded. He pointed to each respective entrance and told them about the security they'd face in a quick summary.
Once he saw them walk in he disappeared through a security entrance, making sure to close the door behind him. A quick wave of his id through the scanner and the security guard, who had been getting up, sat back down.
As he made his way down the halls he clicked on his radio and heard the comforting sound of static in his ear. No gunfire - until a deafening crack sent him sprawling against the wall and ripping out his earpiece. Gunfire, and from the sound it was close and semi-automatic. Damn that hurt. Sasuke ignored it. He couldn't focus on himself right now, his team was in trouble.
"Ino!" He barked into the radio.
"Sasuke I can't talk right now." She didn't sound good and Sasuke could make out the sounds of her gun firing.
"What's happening?" He broke into a run. By now they should have made it to the courtyard where the Beta team should have picked them up. He grabbed onto a corner and his shoes squeaked and he skidded around the corner. He ran through a few corridors before the gunfire in his ear stopped. He heard a door bang open and slam closed. Did they make it into the safe room?
"Alright we're inside." Ino sighed. "Is everyone alright?" She wasn't talking to him anymore and Sasuke could hear two people groaning and a females voice telling everyone it's okay.
"What happened?" Sasuke arrived at the courtyard and saw his teams diving into the safe room. "Ino I'm coming in, don't shoot me." He threw the door open and shut it behind him just as fast.
Immediately he assessed the situation. Three people were missing. Tony and two SWAT. The rest of the team was all taking off their gear and reclining against walls or laying down on benches. Sasuke saw the medics bag open on the table and his gaze hunted for his partner. He found leaning against a wall with her vest and shirt off.
"We were attacked. Tony got hit and a few bullets hit a SWAT member. Neither are doing all that well, but the doctors says that it's really up to them whether they survive or not so I suspect they'll both be fine." Ino hissed slightly and it was only then that Sasuke realized he'd completely missed Carlie. Carlie was the teams medic and she was currently sitting on the bench stitching up Ino's side.
"Our mark? Did the mark survive?"
"Yes. He got a graze on his right side and a bullet in his left arm. Luckily it was a through and through and he can't feel it yet. Carlie already offered him something for the pain but he refused."
Sasuke threw his radio on the table and gently shooed Carlie, taking up the stitching himself. "You said one SWAT and Tony. Not one SWAT, Tony, you and the mark." Sasuke gave a reproving look and Ino stuck her tongue out. "Yes I know what you're going to say. 'It was just a graze Sasuke, I'm fine.' I won't tolerate failure and getting shot is just that. Don't do it again. Now where's the mark?"
"He's getting changed, he has a speech right after you clear him. " Ino motioned towards the back room.
Sasuke finished stitching then walked to the back room. He knocked softly then walked in. "Sir? My name is Sasuke Uchiha I'm the agent in charge of your security detail."
"I've heard." Sasuke's eyes snapped to the man sitting on the table carefully cleaning off his side. He recognized that voice from press conferences.
"Gaa--Kazekage-dono." He smiled. The red head was someone he admired quite a bit. He'd done a lot of good for his country and had been instrumental in resolving the war that had been going on the Rock country. Sasuke had been following that extensively, seeing as Ino had been posted in that country as one of the sniper teams leaders and, of course, defense of diplomats.
Ino would have only been home in another 18 months had it not been for Gaara's efforts to stop the war. Sasuke had actually contemplated sending in a letter of thanks but he figured that the man's office would be flooded enough with letters. Ino and he however had lit a candle for him while they were at the church saying their prayers for all the good men Ino saw go down.
The Kazkage smiled back. "Hello Sasuke, I've heard a lot about you."
"Good things?" Sasuke really hoped none of the bad stuff had made it to the man.
"Most of the time." The Kazekage chuckled softly. "I take it you're here to check me out, then send me on my way."
"Yes sir. I will also be the man in charge of all your security so if you need anything I am the person you consult. Also I would appreciate it if you could give me a detailed copy of your schedule." Sasuke lifted Gaara's good arm and tentatively prodded the area around the graze on the Kazekage's side. Gaara didn't react and Sasuke put a bandage over it, deeming it clear. He moved to Gaara's arm and decided it required stitching.
"I'm going to stitch this up, wrap it then you can go. In the meantime call your assistant and get me that schedule." Sasuke dug around in the first aid kit and moved to prepare a needle.
"No, I don't want any drugs. Just stitch it please." Gaara was dialing as he spoke.
"You sure?" Gaara nodded and Sasuke shrugged and started stitching.
Good god. I'm in charge of protecting the Kazekage, the man with the single most assassination attempts for his country.
Sasuke suppressed a groan.
This is not going to be easy.