Nami was wondering what in the Elemental Nations the old man (commonly known as the Third Hokage) smoked, because surely he was simply under the influence and he did not mean to tell her what she thought he was telling her and her twin, right?

… Because there was no way that this was coming to them, two fresh academy graduates, right?

"So, Nami, Satsuki, do you two agree to a humble old man's proposition for you?"

"Old man?"

"Yes?"

"What the hell do you smoke? Because usually, just-graduated academy students get boring, regular D-rank missions, not ones that require them to lug around cages with the Akatsuki in them. So obviously, you are not in your right mind if you are giving this to us. Right?!"

Nami was, at that moment, incredibly grateful that she had an identical 11-year old twin that often has the same thoughts as her. And by often, she meant always.

"Just a little something that helps me deal with all the stress that comes with being Hokage and having to run an entire village with an entirely unhelpful council," the Hokage replied, quite cheerfully. "So, Nekono twins, what do you say? And when you answer," the old man continued, cutting off Nami's protest. "Please do keep in mind your mother's reaction to all of this if she ever finds out you ever said no to a mission that would immediately jump you to jounin, at the very least. She's already mad enough that you two put off graduating as long as possible and could have easily made it into ANBU, but chose not to."

Both twins instantly paled, to the interest of the Akatsuki, who were all observing this scene with various degrees of interest.

"Alright, old man, we agree. Mom would've killed us if she found out we said no, and I rather enjoy living and I vaguely get the impression Satsuki does as well,"

"Great!" The old man clapped his hands as a sign of happiness, but it was really the signal for the ANBU to put chains on their ankles. Oh, they noticed alright, but they were kind of in a daze because they were told some rather shocking news.

The Nekono's shook themselves out of their stupor, and, noticing the chains again (before, they simply registered it in the back of their subconscious), they followed the chains path, which eventually led to the cages.

They stared for a minute before they each had a question.

"Wait, how does this get us promoted to jounin? Cause I want to fail it. That way I won't have to listen to Naruto's complaining…"

"Hold up, what're we supposed to tell our friends? They'll get suspicious. And if they didn't, well, they're morons, which I'm pretty sure they're not. I mean, Naruto is about half the time, but Sachi and Sasuke won't."

They both pretend not to notice how Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of his little siblings.

The Hokage starts to answer their questions, until they're both (apparently) hit with the same question.

"Hey! How come Riko doesn't have to be a part of this?!" They both yell out in anger, pointing at the Third Hokage in an accusatory fashion.

The Third puts up his hands, trying to placate them (and having very little success), he is (quite gratefully) saved by the lighting up of their clan marks, of which all Nekono's are born with.

He chuckles genially, waving aside their questions while smoking his beloved pipe once again.

They glare at him. "Well?!" They demand in unison.

"Run along, you two. That's your mother if I'm not mistaken, and she was quite the promising Kunoichi at your age. And if I'm not much mistaken, she lived up to that promise on the battlefield. In fact, when she had her own genin team, I'm quite sure she scared them into obedience."

They open their mouths to speak, but are interrupted by the glowing of their marks once again, and brighter this time.

They pale, knowing what this means. Their mother is pissed and the wisest thing to do when she's pissed is to try to appease her as best as you can. And I'd she sends you to the hospital, well, be glad it's not to heaven or hell.

They pale even more so when one of the ANBU steps forward and informs them, "I can certainly prove that, what with me being on her genin team and all."

They glance at each other before doing what is undoubtedly the smartest move of all:

Turning tail and running home as fast as they can.

The Third Hokage simply chuckles at them, smoking his ever beloved pipe. His good mood lasts until his secretary brings him his daily paperwork. He sighs, thinking that one day he'll die doing paperwork.

Back at home, the Nekono twins know that he is suffering, and relish in the fact.

"You two! Clean your rooms! They're filthy!"

They sigh. They'll live their life away cleaning their rooms.

But for now, they have to figure out how to live with the Akatsuki behind them for…

"How long did the old man say this was for, anyway?" Nami asks.

Satsuki groans, and so does Nami.

They could very well be stuck doing this for years.

And at this point, Nami would've gladly become an ANBU instead.

Really, so would Satsuki.