Genre: Adventur, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Disclaimer: OF COURSE, I neither own Naruto, nor the characters. As you will see, the plot will be similar to the one in the manga/anime (so considere yourself warned), but because it is a slight AU (better: a 'What-if'-fic), there will be differences. This fic has in every chapter two quotes from songs. I don't own them either. BUT: the idea of this fic is mine and mine alone (at least I didn't encounter another fic with this theme; and I really tried...)!
Warnings:
1. English is NOT my native language. I really try. If it should be to unbearable, I will find myself a beta.
2. Rated PG-16 for violence (that means: there can be LOTS of blood) and maybe some suggestive language.
3. My (sometimes stupid, overcreative, strange) ideas.
Chapter One: Everybody's Fool
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Have you no shame? Don't you see me? You know you've got everybody fooled
[Evanescence – Everybody's Fool]
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"I should have stayed at home…" grumbled Genma to himself.
Shisui agreed.
"I suppose a warm bed wouldn't be too bad."
Itachi ignored his comrades. Sometimes he had to wonder how he came to be the captain of such a lazy team. Of course he didn't complain openly. Certainly there wasn't a better team out there than Team Itachi, but it nevertheless aggravated his nerves to hear their complaints. But he could understand them, to some extent. Just as they returned from a long-term mission they received another one. However, if they couldn't stand these circumstances, ANBU could do gladly without them.
"You have to stay silent; we have a mission to complete."
The success of their current mission was of utter importance for Konoha and her wellbeing. They couldn't afford to be unfocused.
On their way to the village hidden in the clouds they passed numerous woods, where they could travel through without being detected by others. The Third Great Shinobi War had ended years ago, but the relationship between Konoha and the other villages still were tense. Any unnecessary confrontations could jeopardize their mission.
Finally they arrived at their destination: a small village in the land of lightning. It was distant enough from Kumogakure so they didn't have to worry about crossing paths with Kumo-Nins. Just before they entered the village Itachi brought the team to a stop.
"Our mission consists of the capture of the defected Kunoichi Yuki Takahashi. According to our informants our target visits the local inn every evening. That's a factor which we will take advantage off. We will accommodate ourselves there and try to draw her attention to us with traditional means. If someone gets invited to her room, we will strike. Pay heed to the scroll, which we have to obtain; it's of great importance for our client. If we should fail with the traditional means we will stick to the violent ones. Any questions?
"Like always you worry too much, captain. We will get the scroll in no time at all", Genma's voice ranted behind his eagle mask.
Itachi was unaffected.
"High spirits mustn't get out of hands."
After they shed their ANBU uniform and changed their appearances accordingly they covered the rest of the road to the small village. If someone should see the three young men, they would assume that they just crossed paths with some travelers looking for a room to rent.
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"She isn't here."
"Obviously."
In the evening they entered the specific inn, as discussed. Beside themselves only few others were present. Five men, who were all around thirty, sat on a round table in the corner and laughed. On another table a redheaded and a brunet woman enjoyed their drinks while chatting amiably. No petite, black haired woman in sight.
"Patience. It's still too early."
The hidden Anbu team took a seat and ordered drinks for themselves. It would look suspicious if they sat at an inn without enjoying some sake. They didn't stay silent for long.
"And you're absolutely sure that we talk about the same Anko Mitarashi?"
Genma let out a snort.
"Seriously! She might look like wild kitten, but she's so shy in the bedroom, I wondered if it was her first time."
Shisui shook his head.
"I think Zora tricked you. Again."
"That's impossible, Zora is anything but shy. She would have to be an exaptional actress to pull it off like this."
"Maybe Zora's sister? I heard that she is almost as skilled as her older sister when it comes to appearing as another person…"
"WHAT!?"
Itachi however chose to ignore the conversation and addressed his own thoughts. At least he tried with his persistent colleges.
"Say Itachi, is there any progress with your search for a bride? Uncle Fugaku seems to be set on marrying you off…"
Shisui grin looked mischievous.
If Itachi had been someone else, he would have been rolling his eyes.
"You know pretty well why I can't do it now. I don't have the time for this."
Genma also couldn't contain his grin.
"But you sure have some candidates in mind, haven't you?"
He let out a sigh and shook his head. For him the topic was closed.
For the others obviously not.
"If you should encounter problems with finding your ideal wife, we are always ready to help out."
Anything but this, thought Itachi.
"What about Hana Inuzuka?", asked Genma.
"We are not exactly on good terms", replied Itachi.
For some reason or another Hana loathed his mere presence, and her dislike seems to know no bounds.
"Misaki Uchiha? The elders would be favourable with a matriarch from the Uchiha-Clan."
Would be an idea, if not for the fact that Itachi would rather lose his position as clan heir than marrying this hag of an Uchiha. The elders tried, but they couldn't accomplish anything.
Shisui read his slightly peeved expression correctly and thought already of a new candidate.
"Ino Yamanaka? A respected clan, if uncle Fugaku and the elders are watching out for someone with a clan background."
The Uchiha clan heir almost looked scandalized.
The girl, who chased his little brother since her time at the academy? Granted, she was over Sasuke, as most girls of her age, but nevertheless Itachi wouldn't know what to do with her.
"Let it be. I'm capable of finding a solution myself."
Until late at night they stayed, but not even a sign of their target.
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The next evening came, and they found themselves in the same inn. The same host, the same furniture, the same guests.
"Why are waiting until we have the chance to seduce her, instead of locate her now?", asked Shisui, clearly annoyed.
"Don't you see, Shisui? It's more fun this way", laughed Genma.
Itachi ignored Genma's objection and addressed his best friend instead.
"The Yondaime insisted in completing this mission as inconspicuously as possible."
They ordered their drinks and hoped, that this time they could get at least a glimpse of their target.
Few hours later it was happening.
Yuki Takahashi entered the inn and took a seat at the table with the two women. While she shed her cloak she greeted her friends with affection. Itachi, whose back pointed to the target's table, turned around again and left the observation of the target to his teammates.
"Keep quit for a while, than we begin with our mission", whispered Itachi, before he began a conversation in a normal volume.
One hour later Itachi decided that it was about time to approach the ladies.
"Shisui, a description of the situation."
Shisui focused his attention to the table of the women. And immediately froze. Genma's jaw dropped.
Itachi studied his colleges doubtfully.
"I-I think you should see for yourself, captain…", stuttered Genma. A circumstance which was highly unusual for him.
So Itachi didn't have another choice than to turn around.
He didn't know what to think at all.
There was their target, Yuki Takahashi, sitting on the lap of the brunette and kissing her passionately.
Without another word Itachi turned around again and faced his team.
"Who would have thought that you have to consider the orientation on these missions…", Shisui mumbled to himself. His mischievous attitude vanished with this realization.
Privately Itachi had to agree with his cousin. Their informants should be more thorough, otherwise a mission could take a surprising turn. Like here for example.
Genma sighed.
"I think we all need an extra drink…"
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With the – quite surprising – turn on the previous day the Anbu team was forced to come up with a new strategy. As a man you couldn't seduce a lesbian, no matter how you looked at it. But Itachi wouldn't have been Anbu captain if he didn't already have a plan. And he had one.
That's why they found themselves again at the inn, at the same table as the previous day, and discussed the last details to their new operation.
"Did I make myself clear?", asked Itachi silently when he noticed that the ladies were ready to leave.
"I think I'm leaving earlier today."
With these words Itachi took his cloak and left the inn. When he was sure that nobody saw him, he hid himself in a dark allay, where he had a clear view of the entrance of the inn.
Indeed the target left, together with the brunette. On their way to their destination they always touched each other, so it wasn't hard to guess, why they were in such a hurry. Inconspicuously Itachi followed the pair.
They agreed, that Itachi should obtain the scroll on his own, while Shisui and Genma made sure that all traces of their presence in the motel and the inn were destroyed.
Shortly afterwards the pair reached their destination: a small motel, but not as shabby and rundown as the one the team stayed in. While Yuki and her girlfriend entered the building the Uchiha heir assured himself that his chakra signature was hidden and began looking for an alternative entrance. After a while he found his chance to infiltrate the building: One of the guests in the first floor left their window open while he himself was in the shower.
When Itachi finally stood in the motel he found himself a dark corner, where he could wait until the girlfriend of Takahashi left. Itachi braced himself for long hours.
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One hour later the time has come: Itachi felt how the chakra signature of Yuki's girlfriend left the motel. Itachi waited another ten minutes before he headed for the room of his target. Cautiously he took the needed equipment for breaking a door. But instead he got his first surprise: the door wasn't locked.
That's highly unusual for a missing-nin, thought Itachi.
Did she notice his presence? Was it a trap?
He opened the door with an uneasy feeling in his gut; a kunai already lied in his hand. And then came the next surprise:
Yuki lay on the bed, sleeping peacefully, but still nude and slightly sweaty from the previous activities.
But Itachi should have noticed earlier, that Yuki couldn't sleep anymore.
He crossed the room and checked her pulse. She was dead.
Itachi took a small scrap of paper and a pen from his kunai pouch and began describing the current situation. He summoned one of his ravens and sent him with the message to Shisui.
Meanwhile he examined the room hoping for completing at least a part of the mission.
Nothing. Someone got the scroll before them.
Lost in thought Itachi eyed Yuki's corpse and all of a sudden he remembered the brunette, who spent the night with their target.
Inwardly cursing Itachi headed off in search for the scroll.
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Later Team Itachi was located in a forest while hunting the Kunoichi. Because there couldn't be any doubts about the 'girlfriend' being a Kunoichi. Otherwise the ANBU team would have cached up with her an hour ago. But they could already recognize her silhouette in the dawn.
When they finally drew – slowly – closer to her, Itachi faced Genma.
"Shisui and I will approach her from the sidelines, you will maintain this route."
Shortly after they surrounded the Kunoichi. Like Itachi's team the woman traded her previous get up with some more practical, which didn't fail in hiding her identity. She wore a black cloak adorned with blood red clouds. Her head was covered by a large cone-shaped straw hat equipped with strips of paper and bells.
"Surrender Yuki Takahashi's scroll to us", ordered Shisui behind his hawk mask.
"And why should I?"
Her voice was slightly higher than the one he heard from her in the inn.
Her chakra control must be exceptional to be able to change her own voice. We should be careful.
Itachi gave – with the movement of his hand – the sign for the attack.
While Genma whipped his weapons out, Shisui started the hand signs for a fire jutsu. Itachi also got a hold of his kunai.
But before someone could hit her she vanished.
Itachi activated his Sharingan and examined his surroundings. As Itachi already gathered, they were caught in a genjutsu.
"Kai!"
Immediately the kunoichi was in full view, but this time slightly away from them. Her straw hat lay on the ground, totally forgotten by his owner. And that is how it came to be that the face of a young woman – not older than his younger brother – was revealed. Her appearance had three features standing out: braided, petal pink hair, which reached her waist; unique shining, green eyes and a slightly larger than average forehead, although it didn't harm her appearance at all. She somehow reminded him of someone.
Suddenly they were attacked by clay insects falling from the sky. Itachi saw, how the Kunoichi retreated further. When he saw an insect exploding on a tree in some distance, he got an idea why.
"Keep away from the insects!"
They waited until all insects exploded, but didn't emerge from their temporary hideout. They would observe the situation for starters, because the insects announced the arrival of another person; maybe an accomplice.
Indeed: standing on a large clay bird was a young man, maybe in the same age group as Itachi. In the same cloak like the Kunoichi.
"Say, could it be that you magically attract ANBU? I think it was the tenth squad this month alone."
"Just shut up, Deidara. Without Kisame it's not as easy to disappear. He knows all the important contacts, I don't."
"Yeah, yeah, let's go already. They are still nearby."
The kunoichi joined the man on the bird. Within seconds they disappeared.
Itachi and his team emerged from their hideout and looked after the enemy ninja. Frustrated Shisui dropped his mask.
"The Hokage won't be happy…"
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Feeling ugly, looking pretty… Yellow ribbons, black graffiti…
[t.A.T.u. – White Robe]
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Next chapter: Lilium