Yay! Another chapter! Sorry it's been so long, but I suddenly lost all my inspiration for this story. Luckily, during an exceptionally boring math class, I got some [hopefully] brilliant ideas. ;P

Let's hope writer's block doesn't get dropped on my head again.

Chapter 3

Disappearances

"What happened to the other two ninjas?" asked Harry.

Hermione replied, "They're probably on patrol around the castle or something. They are here to keep us safe, you know."

After dinner, Harry followed the other Gryffindors to the portrait of the fat lady. Hermione and Ron were Prefects so they had to guide the first years.

"The brave at heart will stand apart." Harry vaguely wondered why the password was an actual phrase this year, but dismissed the thought as he entered the common room.

To his surprise, Cat was standing in the corner by the doorway. But there was another Cat jumping from wall to wall. And another one at the top of the stairs!

"What the hell?" Seamus Finnegan exclaimed.

Cat suddenly looked up at the Gryffindors. Quickly, she finished setting up the unnoticeable surveillance system and her doppelgangers disappeared in a puff of smoke. Harry was too bewildered to see her speak into a radio headset.

Harry glanced up to ask the bodyguard how she could be in three places at once, but she had disappeared.

By then, Ron and Hermione had arrived with the first years. "Why are you lot just standing outside the portrait hole gaping like dumbstruck first years?" asked Ron. Then, glancing back at the new Gryffindors behind him, added, "No offense."

Dean Thomas answered, "One of them new ninja guards was in here."

"So?" said Hermione. "Whoever it was probably just wanted to check out the place."

"Yeah, but there was three of the same ninja…Cat." Harry had finally shaken off the last of the shock.

For once, Hermione had no explanation. "Well…I…maybe she…"

Ron gasped dramatically. "Hermione actually doesn't know something! The world must be ending!"

"Oh, shut up Ronald!" Hermione snapped back. "I don't know of any spell that can do something like that, but there's no use wondering now." She started shooing the Gryffindors into the common room.

In the Bodyguards' Room

"Shit."

"What, Cat?"

"The Red House's students saw me and two clones. They're not suppose to know anything about what we can do yet. Did you have any trouble, Frog?"

"Nope. I had a couple clones set up surveillance in the Yellow House and nobody was there. Nobody saw my couple hundred setting up in the halls, either. I'm surprised, though. Do you know how big this castle is?!"

Before Cat could reply, Hawk and Deer walked in.

Hawk reported, "Headmaster Dumbledore has something to request of us."

"Send him in." Deer opened the door to allow Dumbledore entrance into the room.

"Good evening, Headmaster."

"I am afraid it is not a good evening, Cat. In fact, I fear it to be a very grave evening."

"What? Why?"

"It appears that one of our students has gone missing."

"WHAT????" All four of the ninjas were in shock.

"How could this happen? We were on patrol the entire time!" exclaimed Deer.

"Wait, when exactly did this occur?" asked Hawk.

"The disappearance seems to have happened rather recently." replied Dumbledore.

"Then we can just check the surveillance cameras. Where was this?"

"I believe it was in the Hufflepuff common room." Upon sensing the confused airs of the four ninjas, he clarified, "The yellow house."

Working quickly, Deer pulled up the video from the beginning. However, the quality of it was really bad. "What is wrong with this camera?" Everybody in the room turned to look at Dumbledore.

Casually glancing about the room, he replied, "Well, the magic in this castle interferes with electronics. I am actually quite surprised you can even get that clear of a video." His tone of voice was airy, as if he didn't care very much at all. Of course, this was not true at all; he simply had much confidence in the four teenagers.

Muttering darkly, Deer worked at clearing up the video. "So troublesome."

Shooting a sharp glance at Deer, Cat turned her attention to the screen. Gradually, the picture became slightly more focused. Suddenly, all four of the ninjas stiffened.

"Did you all see that?" asked Cat, unintentionally slipping back to speaking Japanese. "That slight black flash…?"

"Yea I did. It was a black cloak… with red clouds…" replied Hawk.

"Might I ask what you are discussing?" Dumbledore asked in that infuriatingly mild way of his.

Glancing at each other, the four ominously answered, "Akatsuki…"

"A-kat-skee? What or who is that?"

Hawk, taking a slight lecturer's tone, defined the term, "Akatsuki directly translates into 'dawn' or 'daybreak'. It is a criminal organization of S-Class missing-nin and is the most wanted group in the entire shinobi world. Their main goal is to collect all of the tailed beasts for their plan of world domination. Akatsuki is widespread, spanning several countries with agents in various places."

"I don't quite understand why such a group would have an interest in my students, though."

"Neither do I. The status of all the tailed beasts are known. There should be no reason for this kidnapping, unless…" Cat trailed off.

"Unless what?" Frog impatiently asked.

"Unless… this has nothing to do with the Akatsuki goal at all. This kind of behavior is not typical of them. Right, Cat?"

"Correct, Hawk. This could be an outside attempt by one of the members to… demonstrate their power, I suppose."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Frog went to see who it could possibly be. "Who's there?"

"It's Professor McGonagall. I need to speak to Albus." After a questioning glance towards Cat, Frog opened the door to allow McGonagall in.

"Yes? What is it, Minerva?"

"It appears the missing student has returned." Her statement was met with shocked exclamations throughout the room.

"This is a rather odd occurrence. Don't you think so?" Dumbledore directed the question towards the ninjas.

"If I may, Cat, it seems that your theory has been proven correct."

"How so, Deer?"

"Well, it seems to me that the kidnapping was simply a display of power—to show that he is able to get through our defenses. Kind of like a warning that he can defeat us."

The occupants of the room mulled over this new revelation for several moments before Cat spoke up. "Didn't you say that you had something to request of us, Headmaster?"

"Ah, yes. Although the student has turned up, I would feel much better if you could teach the school some ninja basics."

"That is a good idea. However, all we can teach them is taijutsu, or hand-to-hand combat. Anything else requires chakra."

"Actually, Cat, the magic in the students serves the same purpose as chakra. They simply don't know how to use it without the help of a wand, much like our jutsus." Seeing everybody else's questioning glances, Hawk revealed that he had used his Byakugan earlier to look for threats.

"Hmm… I suppose we could teach them a few basics, then. Nothing too difficult; it will probably just be academy level."

"Splendid!" Dumbledore clapped his hands together. "Minerva will deliver the class schedules to you tomorrow, then." With that, he and McGonagall left the room.

"We'll discuss what to teach them tomorrow. For now, let's just keep a steady patrol. Frog, can you keep several clones patrolling the castle while you sleep?"

"Don't insult me with a lack of faith in my talents! Of course I can!" Frog's chest puffed out with pride.

Chuckling, Cat replied, "Of course. Sorry to doubt you. Surveillance should take care of everything else. Tonight, just get a good night's sleep."

"No problem there." muttered Deer. On that note, everyone went to their respective rooms, awaiting the next day.

I feel happy with this chapter. I really do. I had a hard time deciding where to go with the plot at some points, but I worked it out. Until next time!

-itatsukyoashira