Summary - Undercover Rank A missions arent meant to be easy. Especially when they involve Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto. With no choice, two ninjas embark on a mission that might just change their lives forever.
Disclaimer - Neither I, Mitzuki, nor Momoko own Naruto, or any of its characters. Although we kinda own Mitzuki and Momoko - inspired by various characters.
Note - This chapter has been reworked and improved.
Chapter 1 – Targets Spotted – Amongst the Leaves
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The leaves rustled slightly as a breeze nudged them gently. It was quiet. Or so it seemed. As another breeze blew past the leaves you may have thought you heard a sigh, but a breeze can't sigh can it? Maybe you would consider this, but as a normal civilian you'd most likely ignore it and toss it aside. As a ninja however, this small sigh of wind could mean the difference between life and death. Strange, isn't it? Hard to realise that such a small thing could mean so much…
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Tanaka Momoko sighed again, a wistful, heavy sigh. This had to be the most boring and troublesome mission she had ever been on. She didn't care that it was probably the most important too, nope, not Momoko. For her, anything that involved an uncomfortable sitting position, a sore rear and her brain melting, was troublesome, and she wasn't going to take it much longer, it was all she could do to keep herself occupied trying to race the leaves she plucked to the ground. Ah, so Spitfire had beaten Hurricane? The yellow ones have to be heavier, then... The completely pointless thought bought an even louder, more annoyed sigh to her lips; half a sigh, half a groan... interesting combination.
"Momoko, shhh!" an exasperated voice came and assaulted her ears as another breeze hit her face, ruffling her messy hair and throwing her off balance slightly. She struggled in her perch on the ragged branch as the voice continued.
"Stop sighing, and groaning!" definitely exasperated, "you know this mission means everything to the Master. If we get caught because of you, I'll, I'll -"
"You'll what?"
Momoko had recovered her balance and turned to glare at the speaker. Kamio Mitzuki was her best friend, but that didn't stop her from considering her a real pain sometimes. It was always about the mission. The mission had to be carried out perfectly, to the letter, every time. It didn't matter to Mitzuki that they'd been sitting in silence on tree branches for the last 6 hours, oh no, of course not; be it wind, rain a blizzard or eternal hail, even a combination of all the above and a hurricane besides, the mission came first, before personal comfort at any rate. It didn't matter that Momoko's butt was starting to call for a feather pillow, threatening a rebellion or complete and utter abandonment when she needed it most. No, definitely not.
Momoko frowned, her patience wearing thin, "Come on, I'm waiting. You'll do what exactly?"
It was Mitzuki's turn to glare. Her eyes narrowed dangerously, an aura of minor malice radiating amongst the leaves, causing them to twitch slightly.
"I'll tell the Master you really enjoy doing you know what, and that you wouldn't mind doing it three times a day instead of two. In fact it would be an honour for a number as large and pretty to the eye as five, would it not?" Mitzuki raised a hand to her ear mockingly pretending to listen to Momoko's non-existent answer. "Maybe more? Let him decide you say? Yes, you're right, he does deserve the best."
Momoko's eyes widened in fear; her voice finally found her as she choked out her response, understanding the full extent of the threat.
"No, you wouldn't, you couldn't….you wouldn't….would you…?" she stuttered nervously.
"Would, could, would and... oh yes... will!" Mitzuki smiled sweetly, folding her arms and tilting her head to the side slightly, an imitation of innocent confusion evident, "What's wrong Momoko chan? Mitzuki chan thought you enjoyed it ever so much!"
"You know full well I don't, I never have and never will!" spluttered a more than distressed Momoko. How she succeeded in achieving the anger and annoyance in nothing louder than a whisper was beyond Mitzuki, but she smirked slightly, enjoying the show,
"But wasn't it just last week? You raised your hand to your head and said you'd be heartbroken if you could never do that again? If I remember rightly you almost broke down in tears."
"No, I said I'd rather have my leg broken, than EVER do that again!" corrected Momoko in annoyance. "But you got one thing right. I really felt like crying after that..." Momoko was leaning back against the main trunk of the tree, looking ever so slightly depressed as she contemplated.
Mitzuki was leaning forward on her knees, a determined look of shock on her face, as if this was new to her; it would have looked realistic had it not been for the overly persistent smirk sliding to her lips at intervals."So you don't like giving the master his daily fo-"
"Don't say it! I get your point, I'll be quiet. Happy now?" cried Momoko covering her ears with her sleeves and scrunching her eyes closed as though in the midst of a nightmare.
Mitzuki grinned cheerfully,
"Yup, of course I am. Although I never thought I'd have to resort to blackmail, just to keep you quiet. Must be a first." She raised a contemplating finger to her chin and looked back up at the canopy of dancing green light above her.
Momoko gritted her teeth.
"You did last week, remember?"
Mitzuki shook her head slightly in mock confusion before her face alighted in a pretence of enlightenment; she hit herself on her forehead lightly,
"Oh yeah, how could I forget?"
She shifted in her position slightly, trying to find a comfortable seat on the mud coloured branch. Having succeeded and shifted an array of jade leaves from her view, she then turned her head back to the busy streets that could clearly be seen from her position amongst the leaves. Momoko shook her head in disbelief. Mitzuki was the most hyperactive person she had ever known, and she was always amazed that the girl could carry out spy missions, without uttering a word for days if necessary. She just didn't seem the type, and despite having known the girl for more years than she cared to remember (no it wasn't an excuse that she couldn't remember them... she just didn't want to... yeah, that was it) she was still being amazed by her resilience. Not that she was envious, no, she had no idea how Mitzuki had so much energy, but she didn't want to know her secret anyway. Momoko liked her way of life, and enjoyed nothing more than lying down on the grass to gaze at the scenery and admire all the green life breathing around her. She prided herself on having a good knowledge of her surroundings, but knew that Mitzuki thought her habits a waste of time.
Mitzuki glanced at Momoko out of the corner of her eye. She had no idea how Momoko could be so laid back when it came to B or A ranked missions, or any mission, of this much importance for that matter. She didn't even know why Momoko had decided to become a ninja, she could have done many other things for the Master. Maybe that's the reason why she had become a ninja? Just to avoid the other things. Still, exercise just didn't suit her. She's a person who would be good at a cloud watching job, if it existed mused Mitzuki as she watched Momoko twiddle the hem of her jacket between her fingers, bored as before. Tongue poked out fractionally in concentration, she was now trying to zip her coat up, missing the two sides numerous times and looking more murderous with each failed attempt.
Mitzuki sighed lightly, and grinned sheepishly as she saw Momoko glare accusingly at her. She started mouthing 'Sorry, my bad,' but as her eyes caught the very treasure they had been seeking, her mouth dropped open and she stared back at the streets ahead in surprise. Noticing the expression, Momoko turned her head to look in the same direction trying to spot what Mitzuki was so captivated by. Her face split into a slightly evil grin as she saw what they had been looking for, literally waltzing ahead of them, like a turkey waiting for plucking.
Over the grand, tall and seemingly impenetrable walls of the hidden village, and in the slightly dusty bustling streets of cheerful civilians and ninja, a flash of orange and blond could be detected. From their position in the trees both Momoko and Mitzuki could see one of their targets, skipping about like a madman. Maybe he'd lost his brain or taken one too many shuriken to the head... or maybe he was just a relatively normal person who'd consumed too much sugar, who knew?
Mitzuki smirked slyly, "Target spotted."
"Yeah... but where's the other one? You know the one with the blue hair?"asked Momoko curiously.
"And a face like someone sucking on a melon for too long?" added Mitzuki, her eyes full of laughter.
Momoko nodded.
"I thought they went everywhere together," she looked thoroughly put out and took on a classic emo pose, head dropped on her arms in despair.
"They do," replied Mitzuki, pointing to a figure beside the orange one. Momoko's head shot up like a jack-in-the-box on crack, eyes looking almost bloodshot in the obvious relief that the mission maybe, just maybe, was over. Mitzuki continued, smiling at her companion's desperation, "That's the other one we're looking for."
"Oh, I see," grumbled Momoko, though her face looked marginally cleared. She pouted, sticking out her lower lip as she followed the progress of the two targets. "I wish I'd known that Snake Dude meant dark, navy blue hair." She folded her arms looking vaguely exasperated. "I was looking for baby blue or something bright like the blond kid. If I'd known, I'd have spotted him too." It was a weak defence to being beaten spotting twice, and she knew it.
Mitzuki grinned, her eyes focused on the boy with a shock of blond messy hair, dressed in orange and black shinobi clothing. To be honest he stuck out like a sore thumb, could he really be the right one? But then again the mission scroll's depiction of the target supported the boy. 'Often found dancing around like an idiot on drugs, this ninja has a love of ramen, and despite his appearance is relatively strong. He possesses required skills and once again, despite his behaviour and clothing, IS a shinobi, no matter how hard it may be to believe. Key points: 'Hair Colour' – Blond, 'Clothing' – Chiefly orange and black.' The scroll was right; no matter how hard it was to believe, THAT was him.
"Forget it, we've found what we wanted to find, we now know that the kid's still a genin, or maybe a chunin who doesn't follow the dress code. The other's a chunin for sure."
"Yeah, I guess," muttered Momoko, glancing at the second boy, who had dark navy hair, and wore a blue shirt, long white shorts, along with a chunin jacket, which was slightly too large for him. From what Momoko had heard, upon his return to his home village, this one had returned to wearing a similar style of clothing as he had before his departure. It matched the description. It had to be him. Besides that, he was with 'Target A.' "At least this means I can get out of this tree," she added rubbing her rear as she stood, her bottom singing songs of rejoice; she cracked a few joints in her hand as she stretched letting out a contented groan. "That feels much better!"
"Hey, we're not out of the woods yet, you know." Mitzuki winced at the unintended pun before continuing, "there's still them to keep an eye on," she hissed, pointing towards two ninja standing at the entrance to the Hidden Village. The gates dwarfed them, leaving an impression of complete inadequacy.
Momoko raised an eyebrow as she spared a glance at the two shinobi, before looking back at Mitzuki questioningly.
"Yeah, and?"
"At least wait until we get out of ear shot." She sounded exasperated again.
"Aww, come on, what are they gonna do, we're way stronger than they are!" Momoko had started flexing her muscles and powered her chakra slightly, as though trying to prove her point.
Mitzuki rolled her eyes and poked Momoko's arm, hard. Momoko let out an annoyed hiss, stepping out of reach.
"Shinobi rule number one, 'Never underestimate your opponent," recited Mitzuki, a deep frown of disapproval on her face.
Momoko shook her head, raining her hands in disbelief,
"Well my shinobi rule number whatever, is this: 'if I know I can handle 'em I aim a big old kunai or two right up their ass-"
"That's quite enough of that!" interrupted Mitzuki firmly. "This was a 'spying mission' doesn't that get through to you? Spies aren't seen or caught. Nor do they shove graet big kunai up the enemies' ass- ass er, butts, just to prove they can do it." Momoko hid a smirk; Mitzuki never liked to use 'inappropriate' language. "Anyways, come on! We gotta get back, or we won't be on time!" she added grabbing Momoko's sleeve and pulling her silently through the trees.
"In time for what?" asked Momoko as she leapt from branch to branch, trees rushing past her vision, the wind attacking her ear drums.
"Don't you know what time it is?" returned Mitzuki glancing back at her smiling slightly, an unpleasant glint in her eye.
"Judging by the sun's position, about….um, let's say 5 o'clock. Why?"
"Don't you do something, oh, so special at 6?" asked Mitzuki, waiting for the realisation to hit Momoko.
"I don't think so. Hmmm, let's see…5:30 wash dishes….6:00 it's the f-" Momoko's eyes widened in horror and she almost lost her footing on the tree branch. Flailing her arms wildly she chocked,
"No! Anything but that!"
"That's right! Glad you remembered, Momo chan. It's the Master's foot massage!" grinned Mitzuki, glad that she had cottoned on so quickly. "Oh no you don't!" she added tightening her grip on Momoko's sleeve as she tried to turn back, causing her to drop painfully on an already sore rear, which screamed in protest, promising a life of eternal damnation for its owner.
Tears streamed down Momoko's face as she was dragged to face her doom; both were swallowed by the flurries of leaves, though the screams of the prisoner remained for a stretch of time. Far behind them a blond haired ninja raised an ear as he tilted his head to the side like a canine, before shrugging and continuing his battle of the brains with a particularly unruly strand of noodle in his ramen bowl.
"Nooooooooo….."
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Her voice slowly died away, leaving an echoing silence behind her.
Momoko frowned as she felt Mitzuki's grip relax on her hood. She'd bounced along in Mitzuki's wake for the past however many minutes, her bottom being on the receiving end of a particularly hard smack each time, as it connected with whatever surface material they were passing over.
"I never would have guessed you were the oldest." She muttered acidly, as she pulled a large splinter from her trousers, wincing a little.
Mitzuki simply smiled, cheeky and knowing.
"And I never would have guessed your sun reading and time skills were that bad."
Momoko turned to face her, an eyebrow raised; curious despite her sour opinion of her friend at that moment,
"What d'you mean?"
"Well, my dear friend, if you'd paid attention when we learnt how to use the sun to tell the time, you'd have known that at that moment in time it was in fact 6 o'clock already." Mitzuki replied in an annoyingly superior way, ruffling Momoko's hair "I was just messing with you." She giggled, "Oh you should have seen the look on your face!"
Momoko's face turned red slightly, hot from her embarrassment of being outdone once again,
"I still can't believe you're older than me…"
"Well I am, I was and I always will be, so get used to it," answered a smug Mitzuki.
Before Momoko could retaliate and start the argument she was longing for, a creak, long and sinister, made both of them look at the mansion they had been standing in front of.
The place looked both grand and decrepit, and vaguely like it was haunted. Momoko felt a tingle in her spine as she shivered slightly from the aura of chakra the house was radiating. Every person's chakra had a signature which made it recognisable to other shinobi, and boy, did Momoko wish she didn't know this one as well as she did. Malicious and snake like, it curled and twisted its serpent body around them, invisible, unreal, yet still trapping them in its coils, it fangs promised an ever prison.
Mitzuki who was usually oblivious to such things also looked a little put out, her cheeky, cheerful attitude, dying away into a solemn sense of duty and grudging respect. Her face impassive and unreadable, eyes slightly glazed over. She glanced at Momoko whose shoulders had slumped. She now had her arms wrapped around herself and any twinkle in her usually radiant defiant eyes had been put out in that moment. Mitzuki put an arm around her shoulder, attempting a weak smile when she noticed her friend jump slightly,
"I guess that means we're supposed to go in, eh?" she said winking, "let's not stare at it all day and do as it wishes, yeah?"
Momoko nodded slowly and stumbled to her feet, tottering behind Mitzuki as they walked down the crumbling steps, and passed through the door. Despite the darkness enclosing them Momoko still found enough spunk in her to whisper a comment, as the door slammed behind them,
"My butt hurts..."
A following crash indicated Mitzuki toppling over in surprise and a sinister laughter rose above the heavy air. Like the voice of a starving snake... and then...
there was silence.
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Chapter 1 by Kamio Mitzuki
A word from the author:
Well I hope you liked the chapter, I find the first chapter to always be hard...Momoko chan should have written it, but...
Anyway, that's it, please read the next chapter by Momoko chan, it's great!
Hugs and Huggles from,
Mitzuki