Top Secret: ANBU Mission Logs
Chapter Four
I showed up at the offices where I showered down for the mission and got into my uniform, pulling the red and white tiger mask over my face.
I was the first female they had ever allowed into ANBU, I still remember standing in Tsunade-samma's office when she broke the news to me.
"This is more important than it seems, though, Minori-san. You are to be the very first female ANBU. I need you to be an example."
"An example?" I'd asked, confused and still in shock at the promotion. "An example for what?"
"The council. They still think that it's too risky for a woman to be in ANBU. But I need you to understand, Minori-san, some of those reason are good. I need you to understand what you're getting into."
"Okay, then tell me. What are the risks?" I asked, figuring I already had a pretty good idea.
"There are thing that can happen if you're captured – torture, and other thing. More severe than what a chunin risks. Or a jounin. And, there's no one who really moderates the ANBU. One of the councils largest fears is what your fellow team mates could do to you. Do you understand?"
"I know. I still want to do it. I have nothing to lose, right?"
I met up with the other three, already suited up, in one of the conference rooms. The walls had been sound proofed for a reason. Kakashi, Wolf, walked up beside me when I entered the room.
"Hey there kitten," he teased, purring jokingly. "How's my tigress?"
"Eager to get to work," I replied monotonously, not even glancing at him.
I could hear the frown in his voice when he replied. "Aw, you're no fun." He then changed, his aura no longer playful, but authoritative. His entire personality changed in that instant, and we all came to attention. No more games.
This was life and death.
"We are to track down a team of Konoha jounin who have been reported missing, identify why they have not returned, and to eliminate any threats if need be."
Once again, I was shocked at how little detail we got. Our last mission had been quite similar. We were given a picture of a young man, and told to eliminate him. That was it. No explanation, no reason. Just orders. I'd thrown a fit – thinking it suspicious and wrong to have to kill a boy barely older than I am (I'm 17 thank you very much) with no explanation or fair trial or any of that. Kakashi, Wolf, had given me a cold look and calmly stated that age did not matter, that if he was a threat, we were to kill him. No questions asked. No matter if he was 60, or 6.
I'd promptly bit my tongue and silently fumed the rest of the mission.
This time, I was smarter. I didn't throw a fit. I didn't even protest. Just like the others, I silently nodded. I waited for further instruction.
Kakashi laid out a map on the table, Pointing to a red highlighter dot. "This is their last known coordinates, they were sighted buying supplies at a local vending store. Hawk," he said, referring to Genma, "You'll scout ahead the area, then signal us in. If they're dead, we destroy the bodies and Dragon," he said, nodding to Nikatsu, our medic nin, "will report back to the Hokage while the rest of us track down the culprits. If they're alive, we'll escort them home. Any questions?" No one voiced any, so Kakashi put the map back in his backpack, and we left the compound, disappearing over the village wall and into the forest.
