Chapter 3: The Mission
A/N: Sorry about never updating! Shit happens, what can I say?
Thanks for all the reviews for chapter 2!
Please read and review(or I might not update at all!)
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The warmth of the sun embraced her form as she blinked the sleep away from her eyes. A month had passed since leaving Suna and it was late spring.
Kagome looked around at the small clearing she had found the night before, looking for anything edible to sustain her growling stomach.
As she searched the area, her eyes widened as she heard voices and quickly hid herself in a bush, leaving no trace anyone had even occupied the area.
Two cloaked figures jumped down from the trees just as she forced her body to still. There voices were deep signifying they were male and their movements and actions were cautious and silent. They were without a doubt shinobi.
Suddenly one of them began moving to her bush and her eyes widened in fear while her heart pounded wildly.
"Little one come out we can sense your presence, hear your heart, and smell your fear. Do not be afraid, no harm will come to you," the man that had been approaching the bush said as he pulled back his hood to reveal a black mask with white features and his large pale hand reached out to her.
Kagome glanced at his companion who stood behind him before her eyes slid back onto the shinobi in front of her. Hesitantly she reached out through the bush before disappearing in a blur.
The two shinobi were stunned, not expecting the girl they had found would be so frightened and agile.
Using a burst of chakra the masked shinobi appeared before her and caught Kagome in his arms.
"We are not going to harm you, calm yourself," he commanded as the girl squirmed in his grasp.
Kagome let instincts take over as the man held her. She would not give in, she had to head west. A sharp prick in her arm made her look down at the senbon in confusion before her eyes rolled into the back of her head and the masked man picked her up gently.
For a moment silence engulfed the shinobi as everyone stared at the boy with hair the color of blood.
He wore a black suit that was tied with bandages at his ankles and a long sash ran across his chest before wrapping around his waist. A belt hung along his left shoulder with the boy's hitai-ate tied at the end of it and a gourd was on his back.
His sharp teal eyes were outlined in black and on the left side of his the kanji for love was written.
Recognition lit his eyes as Gaara took in the slender form of the girl he had believed only a dream. She had become beautiful and resembled nothing of the beaten child he had once come across. She is powerful, a powerful onna to mate, a voice in his head spoke with a growl. 'Mate?' Gaara questioned only for the voice to fall silent.
"You know these shinobi?" Hakudoshi asked, his eyes slightly narrowed at his teammate causing Inuyasha to chime in.
"What the hell other secrets have you been keeping wench?" Inuyasha cried out indignantly, instigating her being a liar while also breaking the trance the other shinobi were in.
Gaara's eyes narrowed in on Inuyasha promising death while his teammates stared at their younger brother in horror and apprehension. The Konoha genin raised an eyebrow at the crude language while the Konoha children watched with fascination.
"Enough," Kagome ordered as her teammates that had been firing questions at her finally calmed. The rest of the shinobi turned their attention back to her at her sharp command.
"Gaara and I met when I was wandering Suna, he helped me, and it was before I was found. I don't know the other two," Kagome explained her eyes downcast as memories of being alone flooded her senses, her hand clenched tightly into a fist. Hakudoshi cast a concerned look at her and Inuyasha looked down ashamed of his behavior.
"Is it true Gaara?" Temari asked her younger brother disbelief in her eyes as she stared up at him. When the only response she got was a glare, Temari quickly looked away.
Suddenly Sakura spoke up, grating on everyone's already anxious nerves.
"You may have met when you were younger however that doesn't explain why you are in Konaha," she stated to both groups. "While you…," she pointed at Temari and Kankuro, to frightened to raise a hand at Gaara. "-you guys are obviously from Sunagakure due to the symbols on your hitai-ates. But you…" she glared at the Tsuki-nin who were not affected in the least at the weak glare and returned it with 10 times as much force.
Sakura bit her lip as she stared into three pairs of cold unrelenting eyes, the only girl of the groups being the most petrifying as the stormy eyes promised pain. Never had she felt such a gripping fear shake her being, 'Is this some type of genjutsu?'
"Sakura-chan, are you okay?" Naruto asked in concern his large sky blue eyes capturing her own while Sasuke, who had finally dropped from the tree, turned to look at her with an annoyed gaze, not believing he was stuck with a teammate so weak.
"I-I'm fine, god Naruto! You are such an idiot! Anyways you three aren't from Konoha either and I've never seen such weird hitai-ates, meaning that your so called village doesn't exist," Sakura stated her eyes carefully avoiding the Tsuki-nins.
Kagome blinked and glanced at Inuyasha before turning to look at Hakudoshi. "Apparently, we don't exist…" her voice became faint as she and Inuyasha began laughing and even Hakudoshi had a smirk on his face as a chuckle slipped out of his own lips.
Everyone stared at the laughing (in Hakudoshi's case chuckling) trio wondering about their sanity. Nevertheless, no one could deny the black haired blue-eyed female had a beautiful, warming laugh.
"Silly baka banshee," Inuyasha murmured smirking at the pink haired know it all. "We are from Tsukigakure, Tsuki no Kuni a country to the far west."
"Your village must be made of idiots to not inform their shinobi of the greatest village around," Hakudoshi added smoothly as his mocking glance slid over their forms.
"That's impossible! That village is a mere myth!" Sakura yelled in frustration. Naruto's eyebrows furrowed in thought as he glanced at the Tsuki-nins hitai-ates once more, for some odd reason they almost looked familiar.
"Actually, Tsukigakure is really just a village so heavily protected no outsider has ever made it in, thus making everyone believe we don't exist," Kagome stated coolly. "The only reason we are in this village is to participate in the Chuunin Selection Exams. I assume you Suna-nin are also taking part in the exams?"
"Hai," Gaara spoke up as he appeared on the ground his teal gaze locked on Kagome as she turned to him in surprise. "Kankuro, Temari it is time to go," he stated as he began walking past the Tsuki-nin. Pausing in front of Kagome his eyes glanced to meet her eyes.
"It was…good to see you again."
At those words his siblings gasped but were ignored as Kagome smirked, "I'll see you at the exams."
Sasuke clenched his teeth in anger as he watched the one known as Gaara nod silently in agreement before continuing walking. He didn't understand why he felt such jealously, all he knew was that the girl seemed powerful and was beyond beautiful. The whole time he never noticed critical lavender eyes narrowed in his direction.
"We have no reason to stay here, we should meet with sensei," Hakudoshi said to Kagome, his eyes still trained on the dark haired genin, not appreciating the ogling of his Kagome.
Kagome nodded, she could feel the gaze of the dark haired boy and it was making her uncomfortable.
Turning away with a last glance at the genin the Tsuki-nins made their way in the opposite direction of the Suna-nins only to stop as the dark haired one called out to them.
"Oi!" Sasuke yelled taking a step towards the retreating nins. Watching as they came to a stop but otherwise refused to acknowledge him, he let out a growl of annoyance. "What are your names?"
Kagome's eyes widened a fraction before she turned and smiled challengingly at him, realizing he wanted to fight them.
"How rude we must have forgotten in all the…excitement however it is rude to not state your own name first," Kagome replied.
"I'm Uchiha Sasuke," Sasuke answered only to be met with bored stares, they didn't recognize the infamous Uchiha clan.
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto and I'm going to be Hokage one day!" Naruto exclaimed as Kagome's blue eyes met his.
Kagome smirked at the blonde haired boy, she liked him he reminded her of Shippo. Noticing the pink haired banshee about to open her mouth she sent a warning glare at Inuyasha.
Seeing her threat of pain if he refused to comply and give his name Inuyasha sighed as he looked towards the genin. "Taisho Inuyasha," he said gruffly, effectively cutting off the banshee.
Hakudoshi sent an annoyed look at his golden-eyed teammate's brashness before stating his own name. "I am Kumo Hakudoshi," he said more fluidly.
"And I am Higurashi Kagome, now if you'll excuse us we must be going," Kagome finished as she turned away with one last glance at Naruto. In a swirl of iris' she disappeared while Hakudoshi sunk into the shadows and Inuyasha bounded onto a rooftop with a snort.
"Sensei," Kagome bowed in respect. Hakudoshi gave a nod of acknowledgement while Inuyasha snorted.
In Tsukigakure they had been taught by many sensei's Sesshomaru Taisho, the half brother of Inuyasha, Miroku Yokohana, the hentai monk, and Sango Kensei, the powerful taijya. However only Kumo Juromaru, Hakudoshi's older cousin, and their current sensei had decided to see how his students faired in the exams.
He had long hair that was a shade darker than Hakudoshi's and sharper more piercing eyes while his body was slender and muscled.
"In one week you are to report to the academy of Konoha where you shall register at room 301 on the third floor, prepare yourselves," he spoke softly though his voice easily reached their ears.
"Arigato," Kagome replied at once before looking around at the apartment they had rented. It was spacious with five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a kitchen, and an eating room; it was rundown but not terrible.
"This place is crap," Inuyasha stated with distaste.
Hakudoshi sighed, "You are an heir to the head of the clan and village, you've grown up in luxury, this is fine."
Kagome rolled her eyes as her teammates began bickering, 'They are such children.'
"You do not find them amusing?" Juromaru asked Kagome, lavender eyes meeting sapphire.
Sliding down to sit cross legged beside her sensei Kagome smiled, "Of course I find them amusing but they never seem to stop arguing and we need to focus, Inuyasha has been jeopardizing the mission and Hakudoshi hasn't been much help either."
"Kagome-chan your mission has only just begun. Try to enjoy Konoha while you can…it is unlikely you will be able to visit if things do not go as planned," Juromaru said.
"You lack faith in my abilities?" Kagome asked sharply, her eyes narrowed.
"No, I lack faith in none of you however I believe there is more than what appears," he responded as he turned his eyes on the still quarreling males.
Kagome pondered his words carefully as she thought back to the encounter with the other shinobi, 'Gaara…'
"Inuyasha, Hakudoshi," Kagome said causing Hakudoshi to look up from strangling Inuyasha. "When we met those Suna and Konoha shinobi…did you sense anything odd from their auras?"
Getting off Inuyasha, who began coughing, Hakudoshi frowned in concentration.
"There was something odd, the Naruto boy and Gaara their auras were-"
"Demonic?" Kagome finished causing all eyes to turn to her. "Naruto Uzumaki holds the Kyuubi within him and Subaku no Gaara holds Shukaku, they are jinchuuriki."
"So what are we gonna do about them? I know for a fact Shukaku and the Kyuubi are still unstable bastards," Inuyasha scowled as he pulled himself up and became serious.
"For now none of you will take action, you received specific orders," Juromaru spoke up his voice tense. "For now you are to be on alert do not alert the Konoha shinobi they are being…studied."
Kagome, Hakudoshi, and Inuyasha all nodded, their faces all determined. Juromaru's gaze lingered on Kagome for a second longer as he inwardly sighed, 'He would be proud Kagome-chan, you've become more than what he could've ever hoped of you...'
A/N: Some questions will be answered next chapter! REVIEW!
