Suzume wouldn't call collecting intel particularly challenging, just unpleasant. Being a kunoichi gave her a way to collect information that her male counterparts couldn't, a way that's taught to all kunoichi when they enter the Academy, the art of seduction. Honestly, it wasn't even planned, not that time. When entering the village, Suzume planned on playing the part of an innocent young girl to collect information, but the minute she sensed chakra that couldn't belong to a civilian, she quickly aborted that plan Putting on a quick henge to make herself look a few years older, she approached the ninja and went to work.
That was how she found herself in her current situation; an Iwa nin lying on top of her, half-naked, and in the enemy base. It wasn't exactly according to plan, but Suzume was never one to shy away from an opportunity when it presented itself. Besides, she had sent the signal that backup was needed just in case.
She barely paid attention to the ninja on top of her, instead, making her plan of attack. Thing would be more difficult without Itachi there; she'd have to worry about any ninja trying to escape, but she didn't sense than many ninja within the base. There were seventeen to be exact and none of them had any alarming chakra signatures. Only one, who was probably the leader, than might take her more than a minute to dispose of.
The only real downside to her plan was that she knew Itachi would be furious with her. She quickly decided that was a problem for future Suzume.
Deciding to get it over with as fast as possible, Suzume captured the ninja's lips with her own to prevent a scream and plunged a kunai into his chest. He landed on top of her and she moved from beneath him quietly, laying his dead body on the ground.
She dropped her henge, back to a thirteen year old in her Anbu attire and donned her mask. Suzume pulled a small summoning scroll from her bra and without wasting time, harshly bit her thumb to draw the necessary blood. The second she dragged her thumb across the open scroll, the paper disappeared and cool metal was pressed into her palm.
Now Suzume was amazing at taijutsu, adept at ninjutsu, and was above average at genjutsu, but bukijutsu, she excelled at bukijutsu. Put any weapon in her hands and she was scary, but put her specially crafted scythe into her hands and she became a monster. It was double bladed, measuring six feet in length, and each blade was three feet long and a foot wide at the base. The weapon itself was black as night, making it easier to be covert when sneaking up on an enemy.
Despite the fact that the weapon was a foot taller than her and her arms were rather short, Suzume manipulated it with ease. People could swear the weapon was an extension of her own body with how easily she wielded it.
Sending wind infused chakra through her body, Suzume was off. She had the element of surprise on her side, not to mention she was a master of the silent kill. Her kills were merciless, slicing through everyone she came across, not so much as blinking as her blades dripped with blood. When on mission she was no longer Suzume Namikaze, younger sister to Minato Namikaze, friend to Asuma Sarutobi, lover of ramen and the sky, no, she was Sparrow, the battle hardened Anbu. She was the ninja who made her first kill at six years old, who didn't let it faze her because the completion of the mission was more important.
The kills might not have affected her now, but they would, they always did. However, once again, that was a problem for future Suzume.
The building itself was two stories high. Suzume had been on the first floor with the ninja, and the large chakra signature was on the second floor. She wanted no time in making it to the second floor once the first floor was complete. It would only be a matter of time before the remaining ninja realized something was wrong, the eleven chakra signatures from downstairs were gone after all.
The man room upstairs was guarded by two ninja that Suzume had no problem disposing of. Knowing that the four ninja inside the room were no doubt aware of her presence by then she didn't bother with subtlety, instead choosing to blast into the room and take out the three weaker ninja before they even had a chance to attach.
"There have been rumors circulating of a ninja matching your description; a Konoha Anbu with a bird-like mask who wields a double-bladed scythe. Some people are trying to implement that if you're seen the mission is to be aborted." The remaining ninja commented easily and Suzume put her guard up. Despite what he had seen, the man was at ease which only meant one thing, either he was an overconfident fool, or Suzume underestimated him. She was hoping for former to be true. "It's rare to find such a blood-thirsty bead hidden in the leaves."
Not sending any traps, she launched herself at the man. He countered her blade with a hatana and no matter what maneuvers she used, she was unable to land a hit on him. That was when she felt the rise of his chakra signature.
He had his signature suppressed and because he was surrounded by weaker signatures, his slightly larger one seemed reasonable and she didn't dig further. A stupid mistake. Suzume thought, angry at herself for not being more careful. The level of his signature now easily matched that of a jonin, a much larger difference from his chuunin level one from before.
"Weren't expecting that were you?" The man taunted, a smirk on his face as their blades clashed again. "I expected more from you, this is disappointing."
Suzume internally smiled at his words. Was he more powerful than expected? Of course, but he was also being overconfident. He was assuming Suzume was fighting at her full power already, a deadly mistake.
Faster and with more strength than before,s he swung her scythe forward. The ninja moved to block, but the force of her swing was too much and his katana broke. Suzume saw the fear on his face, but didn't have time to dwell on it as she rotated her wrist and the second blade sliced him in half.
She didn't look at the bodies as she left the building.
…
Suzume could feel the anger radiating from the Uchiha as she appeared in front of her teammates only a few yards from the base, covered in blood.
"I cannot believe you." He said, his voice bordering on a growl.
"I had a chance, I took it." Suzume replied simply, not wanting to deal with Itachi rage, not at the moment.
Itachi didn't get mad often, he was the biggest pacifist Suzume had ever met, but when he did get angry it usually had something to do with her. Due to the Uchiha getting mad on only rare occasions, when he was mad, he was furious. At that point, after slaughtering seventeen inja, some younger than her, the last thing she wanted to do was argue with her teammate.
"It was reckless." Itachi hissed back, getting even angrier at Suzume's indifference. Kait stayed away from the two, having witnessed a fight between the two before and not wanting to get caught in the middle of it.
"What's reckless is you arguing with me in enemy territory. My actions were necessary. This is neither the time nor place to argue, and as the captain of this mission my order is for us to begin making out way back to village." Suzume knew this wasn't the end to their argument, but she also knew Itachi wouldn't fight after her pulling out the captain card. Besides, he knew she was right; the middle of a mission wasn't the place for an argument.
"Are you hurt Sparrow?" Kai asked timidly, approaching Suzume. If their team would be described in terms of a family dynamic, she would be the older sister, Itachi the protective younger brother, and Kai the baby. Ironic since he was actually older than his teammates. He was always cheerful and trying to make everyone smile, seeing his teammates fight put him on edge.
"I'm alright Rabbit." Suzume said kindly, already regretting letting Kai see her and Itachi fight.
The trip back to Konoha was silent. There was a palpable tension in the air and Kai was unfortunately stuck right in the middle of it. No one spoke unless giving a warning. Suzume couldn't help but be frustrated.
She had completely the mission with no complications; she couldn't understand why Itachi was so angry with her. Had it been reckless? Perhaps a little, but if there had been any real threats she would have regrouped with the team. She had given the signal that she needed backup, it wasn't her fault Itachi and Kai showed up when it was over. As it was, she had been perfectly capable of taking on the ninja herself. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Everyone was treating her like a child.
Back in the village the team reported back to the Hokage, Suzume giving a general rundown of the events and the three quickly went their separate ways. A more detailed report would be submitted by each member.
At home she quickly changed out of her bloody clothes and got herself clean up. Knowing that if she slowed down, gave herself time to think, to stir, to imagine, the faces of all those she killed would assault her. She left her apartment as fast as possible, finding herself at her brother's front door.
Without knowing per usual, Suzume waltzed into the house and her senses were immediately assaulted with the smell of food. She couldn't help but think she picked the perfect time to arrive. Her brother's wife was an amazing cook, something Suzume took advantage of whenever possible.
"Suzume-chan!" Kushina squealed happily when she noticed the young girl. Suzume was crushed in a tight hug from her sister-in-law and couldn't help but laugh happily. This was exactly what she needed to keep her mind occupied.
The two girl's relationship started out a bit rocky at first. Suzume, still pretty young at the time, didn't want to share her 'dear older brother' with the 'scary tomato'. Eventually, they became as close as sisters, something they both relished in, Kushina having no family and Suzume having no female family.
"It's good to see you Kushina-nee!" Suzume responded happily, returning the bone breaking hug.
"You came just in time for dinner! I'm almost done the curry." Kushina said, dragging the girl to the dinner table and practically forcing her to sit, not that Suzume was complaining.
"I thought I heard a bird fly in." Minato said cheerfully as he walked into the kitchen, a smile on his face.
"You heard right." They chat happily for a few more minutes before the food was ready. Dinner at her brother's house was always fun. At some point either Suzume or Minato would make a teasing comment about Kushina's hair to which she would angrily yell at whoever said it and then Suzume would make a teasing comment about wanting to be an aunt which would have both Kushina and Minato blushing.
Suzume took a mental picture, knowing that soon they'd be at war, and happy times like that wouldn't be plentiful.
