Shisui's ever present smile faded slightly on seeing his newly blooded genin enter their designated training field. With a glance he could see how tired they were. He doubted they had slept much. In truth, they hadn't since their attack on the camp. The nightmares after their first time were never fun for any ninja.

"Yo!" He shouted, revealing himself by hanging from a tree upside-down. "So we're not taking a mission for the next few days. It's mandatory that Genin take a five day break after their first C-rank mission. These," He continued, flicking a card at each of his team, "are also mandatory."

"A psychiatrist?" Hana asked, reading the appointment card.

"A Yamanaka psychiatrist?" Hari added apprehensively.

"That's right. It might be part of the job but no one ever said killing is easy, even for ninja. I'm not great dealing with the whole feelings thing and since that's often the case with Jonin we have people specifically trained to help with it. And yes," He said before Hari could interrupt. "She's a Yamanaka. But she's also a professional and nothing you say in your sessions will be heard by anyone outside of you and her." He paused for a second. "Unless you say you're going to turn traitor or something. Then she kind of has to tell the Hokage. But that's it."

"But-" Hari tried to interrupt.

"Yes, I know your families are close, Hari. She still won't say anything. If she started airing your dirty little secrets to people who actually know you rather than just strangers from her clan as it would be for the girls, well that would be an even greater betrayal, wouldn't it? Also, did I mention it's mandatory?"

Hari sighed in defeat and pocketed the card.

"Good!" Shisui exclaimed before dropping from the tree and sitting down. The blood rushing to his head was starting to make him dizzy. "So since I lucked out and got all your appointments scheduled for this afternoon, we're going to go over the mission as a team and go over what went right and what went wrong. Let's start with... Firebug."

Keika looked up at Shisui expectantly.

"Nice work with the surprise attack! Taking down all of the guards at once was a masterstroke, though giving them time to alert the others not so much."

"Time was needed to find... vital areas." Keika said quietly.

"Hmmm. Going for the throat and detonating immediately would silence them instantly. That would be the best course of action when trying to keep things quiet in future. Other than that, good work." Shisui praised her.

"Next up: Hana! Quiet and clean. Nicely done." He praised again, the dog training girl not quite knowing how to take praise for murdering people in their sleep, remained silent. She supposed that was what the psych appointment would be for.

"And lastly, Hari. You were a bit early but good job taking down the leader. As for what happened in the tent-"

"I made a mistake." Hari interrupted.

"Not what I was going to say. Also, seriously, stop interrupting me. There's a reason I'm running this show and not you, got it?" Shisui admonished him before continuing. "Yes, you let your guard down. That was bad. Did that wound hurt?"

"Not as much as Hana's sutures." Hari grumbled.

"Would you quit bitching about that, needle dick?!" Hana shouted in his ear as she swatted the back of his head. "I told you, I'm a vet, not a medic!"

"There you go." Shisui said, ignoring Hana's comment. "Good old-fashioned negative reinforcement. You make your mistakes now when they won't kill you. That way, when we start on actual important missions, you don't make those stupid mistakes!" He finished smiling.

Hari's eyebrow twitched at the word 'stupid' but said nothing.

"So did you figure it out?" Shisui asked.

Hari still didn't say anything but looked at him with a confused expression.

"He asked for mercy. Would you have given it? If you had maintained the upper hand, all three of them at your mercy. Would you have let them go?" He looked to the other two and stood up. "I want you two to ask yourselves that question as well. In our line of work, mercy can be the most beautiful thing in the world. Giving some poor soul a second chance can save you from going mad when the constant bloodshed gets too much. But never forget mercy carries its own risks. That cowardly thug could run and end up making a decent man of himself. Or he could join up with another group and go right on back to terrorising honest folk. Or he could dedicate himself to ruining you like you ruined him, though this outcome is more common with enemy ninja then it is run of the mill bandits, it still happens. In the field, it's up to you to decide who deserves their second chance... and who doesn't."

A sombre atmosphere surrounded Team 4 as they contemplated Shisui's words. That is until that atmosphere was abruptly shattered by Shisui himself. "SO! We've still got a few hours before you three need to see the shrink. Let's get some sparring practice going!"

-(-)-

Five months passed. Five months of training and boring D-rank missions broken up by the occasional boring C-rank mission. It had been an uneventful period in the career of Team 4. Aside from a few brief, one-sided scuffles during said C-rank missions, nothing of note happened. Having already learned Tree Walking under their respective clans' tutelage, the Genin were introduced to the Water Walking exercise – an advanced chakra control exercise that doubled as a method for walking on the surface of a body of water – and eventually reaching the point where they could spar with each other while standing on a lake.

While the chunin exams were approaching, it was a certainty that Team 4 would not be participating. In fact, no Leaf Genin would be participating. The host for the exams this time would be the Hidden Rock, and no jonin sensei would be stupid enough to send genin to a village that was just barely on the outside of hostile. If they tried, they would be dragged to Torture and Interrogation to find out why that jonin was trying to kill their students.

So since they had a further six months to prepare for their trial to become somewhat respectable ninja, Team 4 were given a chance to take a further step up, mission-wise. Their sensei had told them they were being given a special mission by the Hokage himself. Thus we rejoin the three genin as they try their best not to look nervous as they sit in the waiting room outside of the Hokage's office.

"Hokage-sama will see you now." The receptionist called dully, prompting Hari to immediately dash towards the close door of the office before hastily checking he looked presentable. Respectable.

"Man, needle dick! Someone might think you were nervous or something!" Hana laughed as she joined him at a more measured pace, Keika trailing behind.

"Sh-sh-sh! Don't call me that in front of Hokage-sama, okay?" Hari asked, more flustered than his team had ever seen him.

"Aww, does needle dick not like his pet name?"

"IT'S NOT A-" he abruptly cut himself off as soon as he realised he was yelling before continuing in a whisper. "It's not a pet name and it's... you know, not proper to be so informal in front of Hokage-sama so... please, Hana?" Hari asked, pleading in his expressive green eyes.

Hana had to admit he had a point. She sighed before nodding her head half-heartedly and motioning for him to open the door.

Their sensei Shisui Uchiha was waiting for them on the other side, standing at attention in front of the third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, looking uncharacteristically serious. The atmosphere was tense, making the genin on edge, which wasn't helped by the door they just walked through seemingly shutting of its own will with a heavy thud.

As the genin looked at the pair of highly accomplished ninja seemingly having a stare-down in the middle of the room, Sarutobi's glare snapped in their direction, freezing them in place. That was all that was needed to get the three to line up and stand at attention before bowing respectfully.

They continued to bow. Scared to do anything else.

One second.

Three seconds.

Five.

Sarutobi burst out laughing! A split second later, Shisui couldn't hold it any longer and joined in. "Haha! There really is nothing like teasing the youngsters, is there Shisui-kun?" Sarutobi asked, mirth dancing in his eyes as he moved to sit behind his desk.

"No there isn't, Hokage-sama." Shisui agreed, his trademark smile returning to his features.

As he collected his pipe and tobacco from his desk and set about preparing it, Sarutobi noticed the genin in the room were still standing at attention by the door. "At ease, genin." He told them, "You'll have to forgive an old man his eccentricities, I'm afraid. I don't get much time for fun nowadays so I have to take it where I can get it, you understand."

Seeing the genin relax for the most part and enter the room proper, he continued. "Shall we get down to the details of your mission then?" Seeing the genin look to Shisui first and giving a nod of agreement to him put a small smile on the old man's face. 'Good. They understand chain of command quite well already.'

Getting Shisui's agreement, Sarutobi started to explain the mission. "This will be a B-rank target acquisition/eradication mission. Here is the identity of the target." The Hokage pulled out a file containing a photograph of a man who looked to be in his early thirties. Long, light brown hair framed a weasel-like face that showed an all too genuine smile. "His name – or at least the one he goes by – is Jitsu Shin. He is a civilian criminal operating in eastern Fire Country as a con artist. His recent string of major successes have earned him the nickname 'Fu' and have also granted him the attention of the Fire Lord. Your mission will be to apprehend Jitsu Shin, preferably alive but that is not a requirement as his crimes have been significant enough to see him executed."

"With all due respect, Hokage-sama, apprehending a civilian would be a C-rank mission at best." Shisui interrupted as politely as he could.

"That is true. However, it seems that he is somehow quite well informed and is in fact aware he is being targeted. Most likely he has someone working for him in the capital who can warn him in advance. And since he is now a man of some means he can afford to hire protection. Competent protection." Sarutobi stressed.

"Ninja?" Shisui asked.

"Most likely." Sarutobi admitted. "Shin is not a fool. He knows full well a single ninja of any rank is worth at least ten men. We believe he is in hiding until things blow over so he can start his activities again."

"Do we have any leads as to his location?"

"The photograph was taken only a day ago in Zaimoku-gai to the south-east. The man who provided it stated the target was headed north. It's possible he could be headed for the border of Hot Water Country, hoping to eventually reach Lightning Country where our forces can't travel. We currently have good relations with Hot Water and you might be able to petition them for assistance if you feel it is necessary. However, if Shin gets as far as Frost Country, you are to break off pursuit and the mission will be considered a failure. Understood? Does Team 4 accept this mission?"

"Hai, Hokage-sama!" All four members of Team 4 chorused as one.

Sarutobi nodded, satisfied. "Good luck to you. Dismissed."

-(-)-

For this mission, the team packed light. Not even bothering with packs, everything was held in storage seals to allow for faster travel. With full capability of Tree Walking and the added agility training the genin had been doing, they were able to move at three times their normal speed leaping from tree to tree. Breaks were only allowed for two things: letting the Haimaru triplets catch up to the team (conveniently allowing a brief rest for the genin who needed it at times) and to stop at a village to see if they could find anyone who had seen the target. It had been a long night and day of travel and they had covered around half the distance to the border of Hot Water.

They had also gotten lucky.

Jitsu Shin may have been a cut above most common criminals, knowing to protect himself well but unfortunately for him he wasn't so sharp that he would avoid comfortable lodgings or drinking establishments so as to keep a low profile. It had been as easy as asking (and occasionally threatening) inn staff about Shin and the team would know they were on the right track.

They wound up entering a village a mere handful of hours before their targets had left. Knowing that the target would stop for the night, they did the same. Starting out again at dawn, they reached the location of the target in the late morning. Early enough to see said target leave the village with an entourage of two men.

Two men wearing headbands that showed a Konoha insignia with a line slashed through it.

A subtle change in body language. Shisui spotted it. He realised they had been made.

"What do we do, Shisui-sensei?" Keika asked quietly after the three men had left hearing range.

"... We give them a head-start. Things could get dangerous so best we do this away from the town."

"Those were Konoha missing-nin." Hari observed.

"Good! We get to take down a crook and a couple of traitors! This mission is great!" Hana exclaimed.

"They're former ANBU." Shisui informed them instantly putting an end to Hana's good mood.

"You recognise them, Shisui-sensei?" Hari asked, hoping for some intel on their opponents.

"Eh, call them friends of a friend."

-(-)-

A/N: And we're moving forward at a faster pace. Team 4 are a somewhat experienced unit out on their first truly dangerous mission. How will they fare? Will they thrive under the pressure? Or will they crumble against their superior opponents?! Tune in next time to find out!

Also, if anyone guesses who these mysterious ninja are, I'll be surprised. Jitsu Shin is an OC. 'Jitsu' and 'Shin' both mean 'truth', 'Shinjitsu' meaning 'sincerity'. So it being a fake name, he basically called himself 'Truthy-Truth the Truly Truthful'. The nickname 'Fu' can be added to 'Shinjitsu' to make 'Fushinjitsu' which means 'insincere'.

Apparently. I mean I don't know a lick of Japanese. This was all worked out with a shitty online translator. But I thought it was fun.

Thanks for reading!

UPDATED MAY 2016: Minor tweaks.