Blood and Silence
CHAPTER TWO
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Location: The Getsukage's office. Shizuki, Ken, and Aki are being informed of their new mission
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The Getsukage is busily reviewing documents on his desk, when Shizuki and her team appear in front of his desk.
"You sent for me, Father?" Shizuki asks, kneeling down on one knee in front of the Getsukage. Although he was her father, he was still the mighty Lord Getsukage, so she has to show respect and formalities in public.
"Hm," the Getsukage nods,"Shizuki, I'm sure you're aware that you are one of the best shinobi's in this nation. Which is why, even though you're still only a chuunin, I will be assigning you an A-ranked mission. I know you work well as a team with Ken and Aki, so they will be your escorts on this mission." He pauses to let this sink in.
Shizuki exchanges worried glances with Ken and Aki.
"So here's the deal. I'm sure you already know that many of the Grand Councilmen of this village are bitter towards the fact that the Moon Country is not recognized as one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations. Well, that's all soon going to change. We've heard that the Wind Country has a new Kazekage, a boy about a year older than you. We've heard he's a powerful shinobi, but none the less, he is still just a teenager and we can use that to our advantage. You and your team will be disguised as exiled shinobi looking for a place to stay. Once you've reached the gates of Sunagakure, ask them for permission to become a citizen there. When that is accomplished, Shizuki, you are to build a relationship this Kazekage and gain his trust. Use him to gather government information on the Sand Village, such as the strength of their shinobi and if they have any exploitable weaknesses. Report this information back to me at the end of the mission. Am I understood?"
"I don't quite understand, Father. What sort of relationship am I to build with this Kazekage?" Shizuki asks.
The Getsukage's face turns serious. "To put it simply, Shizuki, you are pretend to get close to him. Pretend to have feelings for him; do whatever it takes to gain his trust. Once you've done that, you will exploit that trust and use him as source of information."
"I see.. " Shizuki says quietly, lowering her eyes.
He turnd and said to all three of them, "Now, am I understood?"
"Yes, Father." Shizuki obeyed.
"Yessir, Getsukage-sama!" Aki and Ken said in unison.
"Good, you are dismissed. Your mission starts tomorrow. You will be staying in Sunagakure for approximately one month," the Getsukage said before returning to examining the papers on his desk.
---Scene Switch---
Location: Shizuki and her team are walking outside the Getsukage's building.
Ken and Aki sometimes call her Nee-sama (or Big Sister) b/c they look up to her, NOT b/c they're her real brothers.
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"Damn! An A-ranked mission already?" Shizuki complains to no one in particular.
"Well, look at it this way, Sis: you'll be only Chuunin in the whole village to have an A-ranked mission on your ninja profile," Aki says, in an effort to cheer Shizuki up.
"Yeah, and plus, you'll have us with you!" Ken says, grinning. "Also, like Getsukage-sama said, you're one of best shinobi in the village. No one's ever been able to beat you in battle before."
Shizuki gives a small smile. "Thanks, guy. Yeah, you're right. No point in getting all worked up about it now, the mission's not even til tomorrow. We should get a good rest tonight."
---Scene Switch---
Location: 5 days later, near the gates of Sunagakure.
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Shizuki, Ken and Aki are walking across the sandy wasteland; gates of Sunagakure just up ahead in the distance. It had taken them 5 days to get to Sunagakure: 1 day getting to the Wind Country's border, 2 days crossing the desert, and 2 more days getting lost.
"FINALLY!!" Aki exclaimed and he threw his hands in the air as they neared the gates. "I was beginning to think we weren't even gonna make it to Sunagakure, let alone complete our mission!"
"I agree with Aki. I'm covered in sand, and its even starting to get into my mouth," Ken said as he spat on the ground a few times.
"Quiet. Someone's up ahead," Shizuki said as she spots a figure in the distant.
The figure slowly came into focus as the three of them walks closer to the gates. It appeared to be a sleepy-looking guard.
"Hey, what the hell are you kids doing here?" He confronted them, growling.
Shizuki stepped forward, with Ken and Aki close behind her. "We're exiled ninjas and we've been roaming the desert for a few days. We were wondering if we could stay here as guests until we can find a permanent place to live," she said.
"Looking for a place to stay, eh?" the guard scratched the back of his head. "Well... you'll have to see Kazekage-sama and ask for approval. I'll take you to him after you pass through a routine security check inside the gates. Follow me." He opened the village gates, and lead them in.
Good, Shizuki thought, the sooner we meet this Kazekage, the sooner we can get started on our mission.
---Scene Switch----
Location: the guard is walking with Shizuki and her team in the Kazekage building
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They had passed the weapons check and are now walking with the guard in a hallway inside the Kazekage building. He suddenly stopped at a door marked with the kanji for Kazekage. He opens the door and motions for them to go in.
Shizuki's eyes widened in shock when she saw the Kazekage.
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