The rain pouring down does not quite hide the three soggy ninjas standing in the forest talking. But it goes a long way towards hiding their conversation from any who might listen.
"You aren't actually going to do it, are you?" asks the man wearing a mask.
"Well I was paid to do it," replies the Mist ninja. "And I am technically a trained assassin, not to mention if I don't do it, Danzo will kill me. So I probably should do it...but it would be like killing a kitten, and I really don't like killing kittens. So maybe I won't do it."
"But…?" prompts the masked woman.
"But like I said, if I don't kill him, Danzo will kill me," says the Mist ninja. "And after that he will just get someone else to kill the kid."
"I'm assuming you have a point with all this?" asks the masked Man.
"Yes," confirms the Mist ninja. "I am going to make it appear for all intents and purposes as if I actually intend to kill him. But I will only hurt him badly - badly enough that it looks like I tried to kill him, but not badly enough that a medical ninja couldn't save him."
"I'm guessing that's where we come in?" says the masked woman.
"Yes," says the Mist ninja. "I have run into this boy many times on the battlefield. His team doesn't not have a field medic. If my plan is to succeed, then I need two things. The first is a rescue team for the boy and his team. The second is a skilled medic."
"And that's why you turned to us?" guesses the masked man. "We can provide both." He crosses his arms. "We don't work for free. Especially with this kind of job. What are you willing to give us in exchange for our assistance?"
"I was hoping you would accept the advance fee Danzo gave me," says the Mist ninja. "I don't want it. Besides, if my plan works, then Danzo will be exposed for what he really is."
"You know," says the masked woman. "You could've said so sooner."
Itachi Uchiha sits on the front steps of her house eating a stick of dango. She is unaware of it, but sitting there, swinging her legs with her eyes shut in bliss while wearing her ANBU uniform, she looks rather silly.
Ah, well. Thinks Shisui. She's a girl, so she can get away with it. Shisui walks up to Itachi and sit down next to her. "Enjoying yourself?" he asks.
Itachi opens her eyes in surprise and turns to stare at Shisui like she didn't even hear him approach. "How long have you been here?" she asks, wide eyed.
"I just got here," he says. "You really are oblivious to everything when you're eating dango, aren't you?"
Itachi blushes bright red and tries to hide her dango.
Shisui laughs and asks, "How are you getting on in the ANBU?"
Itachi stares down at her stick of dango. "I hate having to kill people."
"What are your teammates like?" asks Shisui.
"They're okay, I guess," says Itachi. "They thought I would be easy to scare, since I'm so young. But once I proved them wrong they accepted me pretty quickly."
"Have you found anything that will help us stop the coup?" Shisui asks, lowering his voice.
"No," whispers Itachi. "Have you?"
"I heard that Shikaku Nara stood up to Danzo on your father's behalf at the last council meeting."
Itachi looks up in surprise. "He did?"
"Yeah, he did."
Itachi smiles, hope shining in her eyes. "Maybe the answer lies with the other clans, not the Hokage or the ANBU."
"That's what I was thinking," says Shisui, grinning. He stands. "Well, I have a mission I'm supposed to be going on, so I'll see you in a day or two."
"Now, Naruto," says Iruka. "While I'm gone you'll be by yourself, so make sure you eat properly, go to bed on time and don't stay out too late. Try not to get into any trouble. There's some money in that drawer if you need to buy more food-"
"I get it, Iruka niisan," interrupts Naruto. "I'll behave!"
Iruka is still worried. Naruto is only five, after all. "I'll be gone for at least a week. I don't want to return to find you've gotten yourself into some kind of trouble or gotten sick, or hurt-"
"I never get sick," says Naruto cheerfully. "And I heal really fast! I'll be fine Iruka niisan!"
"Okay," Iruka finally relents. "I better go. I'm supposed to meet my team at the gates soon."
"I'll come with you!" says Naruto. "And then I can wave like crazy and yell encouraging stuff at you when you leave!"
Iruka has to choke back his laughter at that enthusiastic statement. "Alright, but no trying to follow me!"
"Yes, Niisan!" says Naruto, saluting seriously.
Naruto and Iruka make their way to the village gates, Naruto trying to match Iruka's steps exactly. When they arrive at the gates, Iruka's teammates start giggling.
"Cute," says Izumo.
"Iruka has a shadow!" teases Kotetsu.
Naruto looks down on the ground. "Everyone has a shadow," he says, confused.
"They meant you are my shadow," says Iruka, sighing.
"Huh?" Naruto looks even more confused. "How can I be a shadow?"
"It's a figure of speech," says Kotetsu. "It means you're following him around and acting like him."
"OH! I get it!" Naruto smiles and nods, more pleased with the fact he actually gets the joke than with the actual joke.
"If you're finished mucking around," says Shikaku sensei. "Can we get on with this troublesome mission?"
"Oh, right," says Iruka. "Sorry, sensei."
The team heads out, and Iruka turns to wave to Naruto. Naruto is jumping up and down, waving his hands around like a crazy thing.
"BYE IRUKA NIISAN!" Naruto yells. "BE CAREFUL!"
"This is a C Rank, the worst we'll run into is bandits!" mumbles Kotetsu. "The kid's got nothin' to worry about."
Naruto doesn't stop waving until Iruka niisan is completely out of sight. Then he turns and runs to the park to find Hinata. When he arrives he finds her chatting to Shikamaru and Choji, who play with them sometimes. It's been a week since Naruto started living with Iruka, and he already has 3 friends. Well, one best friend and two sort-of friends, but still.
"Hi, guys!" Naruto calls as he runs up to them.
"Hi Naruto," says Hinata.
"Oh, hey Naruto," says Choji.
"Hi," says Shikamaru, sounding bored.
"Iruka niisan is on a mission," says Naruto. "So we can pull a bigger prank while he's gone! Who's in?"
"I am!" says Hinata instantly.
"That's too troublesome," says Shikamaru. "I don't want to."
"I don't think my mum would want me pulling pranks on people," says Choji. "Sorry, but I'm not in either."
"I guess it's just you and me then, Naruto," says Hinata.
"Aw, I wanted to pull a big prank!" Naruto sighs.
"We can still pull a big prank," says Hinata. "We just need to plan it very carefully first. How long is Iruka san going to be away?"
"About a week," says Naruto.
"Then let's plan it today and tomorrow," says Hinata. "Then we can pull it off on Wednesday."
"Okay!" says Naruto. "What should we do?"
"I don't know," admits Hinata.
The two children sit down in the grass and start combing their brains as hard as they can for ideas.
"Who should we prank?" wonders Hinata. "If we know who to prank, figuring out what kind of prank will be a lot easier."
"Hm…." Naruto screws up his face in concentration.
He and Hinata lie in the grass for hours, racking their brains for a likely victim. Naruto has barely notices the time pass and is surprised when his stomach starts clamoring for food.
"We better have lunch," says Hinata, giggling. "Before your tummy turns into a giant ravenous wolf!"
"How would it do that?" asks Naruto, confused.
"It can't, silly!" laughs Hinata. "Let's just have lunch."
"Okay," says Naruto, sitting up. While Hinata and Naruto were thinking, Shikamaru and Choji had gone off to find a spot to watch the clouds.
Hinata and Naruto sit in the grass and happily munch their boxed lunches. While they eat, Naruto looks around at the people he can see from his position at the edge of the park. Seeing something that catches his attention, Naruto starts giggling.
"What?" asks Hinata. "Did you think of a prank?"
"No, but I thought of the perfect people to play one on!" he giggles.
"Who?" Hinata's eyes are shining in anticipation.
"See that police man over there?" he point to the Uchiha policeman who is patrolling past the park. "Doesn't he look grumpy?"
"Yeah, he does," agrees Hinata.
"They all look so grumpy all the time," continues Naruto. "Why don't we liven their lives up a bit?"
Hinata grins evilly. "You know," she says. "I always thought the policemen would look better with mustaches."