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I was at the village gate ready to leave for Sunagakure. I took a deep breath and thought . . .
"Here goes nothing."
I've been to Sunagakure so many times already so I wasn't really excited with this mission. The only thing I'm looking forward to is something to do. I could probably arrive in Suna in less than three days if I hurry. Yeah, maybe I'll do that.
I ran along the path to Sunagakure and, though I wasn't at full speed, arrived near the desert before night fall. I decided to camp near the forest and get some rest. I'd just wake up early tomorrow so I could arrive at Suna at noon.
I prepared a fire and gathered some leaves to fashion myself a bed. As I was about to lie down near the warm toasty fire, I saw a flickering light right on top of me. It was either near the tree top or at the tree top. Nevertheless, I went up the tree to check it out.
As I was getting closer to the top, the light seemed to be getting farther. Once I was at the top the light moved farther away from me toward the direction that headed toward Konohagakure. It was fast so I increased my speed and followed it while jumping at the tree tops. This could be a shinobi from another village so my guard was up. After a while, the light plunged down toward the forest floor. I started my descent as well. It continued along a straight path for a few minutes and I wondered if it will ever stop. Suddenly, as if it could read my thoughts, it came to a halt then disappeared.
"That's it! It's gone? Gee. . " I said exasperated
But then I heard a rustle in the bushes nearby, I quickly hid behind a tree to see who were there. I carefully peeked to make sure I wouldn't be noticed. I saw 3 Hidden cloud shinobi dragging a girl along with them. It seemed like that girl was taken from her home. The girl seemed to be 10-12 years old with long red hair. Wait a minute! Long red hair? It can't be this must be some king of joke.
I went closer just to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me but the branch I stepped on broke and I fell right in front of the Hidden Cloud shinobi. I thought for sure a battle cannot be avoided I grabbed my kunai and readied myself for battle.
I ran toward the little girl to try and get her to a safer place before I engage the Cloud shinobi but when I grabbed her my arms went right past her. I was confused. What kind of jutsu is this? I quickly turned to the Cloud Shinobi ready to protect myself from their attacks but they just kept on walking and so did the girl. Almost as if they did not even notice I was there.
"What the heck is happening here?" I said loud enough for them to here but there was no response from them or anything at all.
I decided to just follow them in hopes that I would find answers. I kept a safe distance from them as I followed. I noticed the little girl was dropping pieces of her long red hair. She was leaving a trail.
"This is a smart girl." I thought.
I went a little further in front of the Hidden Cloud Shinobi to have a look at their faces. This situation seemed oddly familiar to me. I think I know this. . .
I looked back to look at the little girl.
"No! This can't be!" I fell to my knees.
The little girl is me.
"I traveled back in time? That's not even possible."
I was back at the time when the Hidden Cloud captured for me for my special chakra. Back when I first fell in love with Minato.
I decided to just go with the flow and just watch the past as it unravels right before my eyes. I was waiting for Minato to come rescue me. After a while, I sensed other people's chakra near us. Why so many people? I was only expecting Minato.
I saw 3 Konohagakure Jounin right about to ambush the Cloud Shinobi. The 3 Jounin fought the 3 Cloud shinobi one on one while the little me continued walking as if she didn't notice them fighting.
"This isn't how it's supposed to end. Where's Minato?" I was flabbergasted. Where is Minato?
The little me stopped walking and turned around. It seems she has finally noticed me. She looked me straight in my eyes.
"Everything will be alright" the little me said. But I didn't hear my voice. It was the mysterious voice of the woman again.
Right after she talked to me she was carried off to safety by the 3 Jounin who seemed to have defeated the Cloud Shinobi.
"No! This isn't right! That shouldn't have happened!"
"NO!"
I woke up breathing heavily. It was already dawn. I could see the sun peeping through the clouds. It had all been just a dream.
"It was just a dream." I said to myself. I wanted to reassure myself everything was alright.
"Sure, keep fooling yourself." It was Kyuubi again. He spoke in a sarcastic voice.
Kyuubi annoyed me. I wanted to talk back but I just thought It would be a waste of my time. I grabbed my bag and quickly headed towards Suna.
"A mission should get rid of these confusing pesky thoughts of mine."
"You can never hide from the truth Kushina." This time it wasn't Kyuubi who said that. It was me.
Even though my thoughts were still bothering me, I arrived at Suna long before noon. As I entered the village I had the strangest feeling that I was being observed. I quickly turned to catch who was watching me but there was no one. It was just the usual crowded streets of Sunagakure but I could've sworn there was someone watching me. I didn't let my guard down. Konoha's relationship with Suna isn't exactly what you would call smooth.
I made my way to the Kazekage's office to receive my mission. I entered the room cautiously and saw the Fourth Kazekage with his wife Karura right beside him.
"Ohayo, Kazekage-sama." I bowed as a sign of respect to the Kazekage
"Ohayo, are you the one Konoha sent to our aid?" replied the Kazekage without turning away from his paper work.
"Yes, though I was not informed of what specific mission I am to help you with.
He put down the pen he was holding and turned to face me.
"I see. . Well now. . . You are going to accompany 3 of our shinobi to the Land of Lightning about 5 days or less from here. You are to protect them as they collect the data they need. You must do everything it takes not to let the Cloud shinobi get their hands on them. By everything I mean, kill them if you must as long as you leave one alive. The information they may hold is crucial to this village."
His voice was dead serious. I admit I was a little shaken up. I can't kill my comrades even if I haven't met them yet! I guess I'm just going to have to protect them.
"May I know what specific data they need?" I asked out of curiosity.
"I'd rather keep that on a need to know basis. Just to make it clear, your mission is to protect the information my shinobi may hold. Focus on that."
"Forgive my curiosity Kazekage-sama but why won't you send your own ninjas to protect those 3 shinobi? Surely there are many qualified ninjas in Suna for this mission."
The Kazekage looked at me as if I didn't know what I was saying.
"There are things I need to tell you when you get back. You will only understand what I would be saying if you go with my shinobi for this mission."
"I understand, Kazekage-sama"
"My shinobi are waiting for you in between the two cliff faces north of here. I suggest you get there quickly. You may leave." Once again he turned to his paperwork.
Right when I am about to exit his office, I saw Karura's face fall and sadness was obvious in her face. I wonder what happened here. In any case I have to be careful, I'm going in a mission really close to the Hidden Cloud.
I got to the cliff faces in no time and saw three sand shinobi waiting for me. I approached them carefully. They looked like they were in their late teens.
The ninja in the middle moved forward nearer to me.
"You that Konoha shinobi they sent us?" he said.
"Yes" I replied
"I'm Arashi. These are my younger siblings and as you can plainly see they are twins." He said
"I'm Akahana" the girl in the left smiled at me.
"I'm Akira" the girl in the right bowed as she introduced herself
Akahana and Akira looked the same indeed. The only difference was Akahana had this beautiful long brown hair while Akira kept hers short.
"We are better known as the Byakurai siblings" They said in unison
"The three of us are all jounin now. I don't think you would have any problem with us. We can handle ourselves pretty well." spoke Arashi
"That is nice to hear. I'm Kushina Uzumaki. I hope we get along well in this mission."
"Indeed!" said Akahana cheerfully. She doesn't seem to run out of smiles.
"I guess we have to head out now. We will take a boat to the Hidden Mist then another boat to the shore of the Hidden Frost. From there we shall continue on foot to the Hidden Cloud." Explained Arashi.
"This is gonna be a long trip. Are you sure we can make it in 5 days?" I asked. This seemed quite impossible.
"Yeah! We can even make it in 3 days! The boat we have arranged is really fast! You'll see!" Akahana was all smiles again. I don't know what could be making her so happy.
"Let's start off then." I said
Arashi lead the way southward towards the docks. It took us five hours to get there so I was quite tired once we were on board the ship. The ship's only purpose seemed to be this mission seeing as there were no other passengers but us and the crew. We immediately went to our room and I laid down on the first bed I saw. The Byakurai siblings sat down on their beds as well. Before long the ship left the dock and I quickly realized what Akahana meant by the boat being really fast. We ate our dinner and went to bed.
The next day, we arrived at the hidden mist at noon. We went to the village to replenish our supplies. As we were walking I quietly observed the Byakurai siblings. Arashi, being the oldest and a boy, he seemed to be their leader. Akahana, was never quiet she often talked to her older brother and she was always cheerful. Akira, on the other hand, was the total opposite of her sister. She was quiet always had her head down. Something seems to be bothering her. I wanted to ask her what it was but decided not to.
We made our way back to the ship and left the Hidden Mist at dusk.
At the ship, I went in our room to rest before dinner. When I entered I noticed Akira just sitting at her bed. I walked towards her.
"Hey, Akira. What are you doing here alone? Where's Akahana and Arashi?"
She looked up at me with her face worried.
"Be careful, Kushina. Stay Alert."
"Huh? Umm okay. . ." I was a little baffled.
"I need to go." Her voice sounded like she was near to tears as she exited our room.
"That was awkward."
I didn't stay long in our room instead I headed out to go get dinner. I ate with Arashi and Akahana.
"Why isn't Akira here?" I asked both of them.
"Don't worry about her. She's probably fine." Arashi reassured me
I remained silent throughout dinner as Arashi and Akahana talked. I did not tell them what happened between me and Akira earlier and went to bed before they finished eating. Akira still wasn't in bed. I was about to sleep, I held the necklace Minato gave me.
"Oh how I wish I was with you right now Minato but I know you trusted me with this mission. I hope you're alright." I thought
Though I did not understand what Akira was warning me about I decided to take her warning seriously. There's something going on and I'm going to know what it is.