Chapter 4 - Kidnappings
It was a few days since Alanna had been seen upon the training ground. News had traveled from the outside of the village about disapearences of ninjas from many different villages, including Konohagakure. Tsunade had become worried; it seemed that the kidnappings were very well planned. Each part of the plan was well thought-out; a previously captured ninja was used as bait to lure in others, and those who tried to help, fell pray to the trap and they too went missing.
Something needed to be done, but Tsunade saw no other way to solve this but to risk more shinobi and try and catch the kidnappers in action. She had suspicions about who was doing it; it was trademark for Orochimaru's victims to disapear like this. She was hoping that he hadn't started up some of his old human experiments.
She had thought up many ideas of how to solve this, but the only available option was to send out others to try and find out for sure who was causing the disapearences. She looked to her assitant Shizune, "We need to send out some shinobi... we will need a tracker, combat medic and two others with quick reflexes... whom do you suggest?" she asked.
Shizune grabbed the register, "Well there are a few trackers left in the village... We don't have many combat medics; Two are genin in training, I'm your assitant, and the other is still recovering from her last mission. As for the others, you have a lot of choice," she replied as she placed the register in front of the hokage.
The hokage scanned the papers... there were so many eligible canidates; Yet so much talent that could be wasted if the mission fails. "How can I force any more shinobi to take such a risk Shizune?"
"You have no choice... many other shinobi will unwillingly and unknowingly be pulled into the trap if we don't find a way to stop it," she replied.
Tsunade nodded, "You're right. Bring the top ten candidates we have here. If any of them are going to take this risk I want it to be their choice and not because I forced them to."
Shizune nodded, and looked to the register again. "I shall return shortly," she replied, disapearing.
Back in the apartments Alanna appeared by Azami's window and tapped lightly to catch her attention. In her hand was a colorful snack box with steam raising up, obviously some fresh hot treats.
Azami laughed lightly and opened the window to let her friend in. "See your getting around more," she stated.
"Yeah, a little." Alanna said slipping in, "and I thought you'd want a snack."
Azami smiled, "Who would turn down free food?" She laughed again.
Alanna chuckled and placed the box on the bed before opening it.
Azami smiled and grabbed a snack and took a bite of one. "Yum!" she stated happily.
"Ran into Kakashi today," Alanna started conversing after snagging a treat for herself from the box.
"Oh?" Azami asked. "Where at?" she added.
"At the ramen house earlier today," she answered taking a large bite. "He was wondering if you wanted to know how his new training session turned out."
"Oh yeah!" she laughed lightly, "I think I could predict the outcome though... his students are so predictable," she added as she took another bite of her snack. "Hey wait..." Azami started, 'Does that mean he was looking for me?' she added in thought to herself.
"He said that by the time they reached him there was only one left. So he just tossed it at them and made them fight for it," Alanna chuckled.
Azami laughed, "Should of seen that coming... I bet Sakura won, Sasuke wouldn't eat a sweet if he was dying of hunger," she added.
"Well that's his loss."
She nodded in agreement as she finished the last bite of her snack, "And Sakura's gain," she added.
Alanna laughed and pulled out a dumpling from the box.
Azami sighed lightly as she looked around her room at the very many pictures upon her dressers and the painted walls, all her own doing. "So... what do you think is gonna happen?" she asked. "I mean like, when our next mission comes up?"
Alanna's shoulders slumped down; she had hoped to avoid that question. The thought had been weighing heavily on her mind as well. "I don't know... But they shoudn't seperate us; I won't let them."
"Teams are permanent, but people get sent off on certain missions apart from their team sometimes too, depending on what type of skill is needed. It's not like it hasn't happened before," she replied.
"Azami... if anything were to happen to you... I don't know what I'd do..."
"I know... but I have an advantage of being a combat medic ninja remember? I'll be fine," she replied.
"Yes... I know... but," Alanna went to take another bite of her dumpling, but set it down; she had become too upset to eat.
Azami rubbed her temples for a moment, "We can't do much about it..."
Alanna then took a hard determined bite out of her snack, "Well, no matter where they send you I'm coming! Whether I get punished or not I'm not loosing you too!"
"A fifth member would only put us in more danger Alanna," she reminded.
"Someone has to protect you. Who knows how much trouble whoever you're stuck with can get in to. And with my forest sight you can avoid trouble before it even hits us."
"Yes, but your not the only ninja who can see distances remember that," Azami replied, "And stop making me sound like a lost child."
"I'm not going to stay here like and old weed. My roots aren't here like yours."
"Well you can't go intefering either," Azami added.
All of a sudden a huge cloud of smoke appeared between the bickering girls. "I hope I'm not interupting anything." A voice said as the fog quickly cleared.
"Oh Shizune!" Azami stated happily, she was one of the other few combat medical kunoichi. "What is it?" she asked, looking to her quiet curiously.
"Lady Tsunade has summoned you to her office. There's an important mission that she wishes to discuss."
Alanna jumped up off the bed, "Am I summoned as well?"
Shizune thought this over, a volunteer would be better then forcing someone. "You can come if you like," she replied.
Azami nodded, "Alright, let's go then."
Alanna performed several hands signs and disappeared from the room. Reappearing just a few minutes later in the fifth hokage's office.
Azami appeared soon after, looking around at whom else had been summoned.
Several other high ranking combat shinobi and medical ninja popped up into the room aswell, including Kakashi. Whatever mission this was it must be serious to involve so many.
Azami rubbed her head, what in the world was going on? She looked to Tsunade as Shizune finally reappeared. Perhaps they would be informed now?
"Listen up. Whatever happens, nothing leaves this room," Tsunade said in a strong, commanding tone.
The other shinobi agreed with a respectful bow.
Alanna glanced around. What could this possible be.
Carefully the two two senior ninja explained the scenerio of the mysterious kidnappings and what a previous team had managed to learn from a narrow escape.
"So, if I have this right... You want four of us to figure out who's doing the kidnappings by putting ourselves in this danger?" Azami asked. She wasn't shy about speaking up when others wouldn't.
"I'm afraid it is our only option." Tsunade answered plainly.
"I'll volunteer then," Azami replied.
"As well as I," Alanna spoke up immediately.
Azami glanced to her, but said nothing.
Tsunade nodded, "We have our medical ninja, as well as a scout. We need a tracker and another volunteer..." Tsunade looked to all the shinobi infront of her, waiting for someone to speak up.
"I am willing to volunteer myself Lady Tsunade," Kakashi spoke up suddenly.
Tsunade nodded, she needed one more volunteer; the other shinobi did not look so sure of themselves at all.
"Now why is everyone so sappy like this?! There's nothing to worry about now that I'm here!" a loud, boastful voice suddenly boomed throughout the room.
Kakashi's head lowered in embarrasment. "Oh no not him..." he muttered.
A tall man with a black moptop haircut dashed out from the crowd, "Lady Tsunade and Fifth Hokage, never fear for I shall lead this team to victory. You can count on me!" His teeth gave off that odd glimmer it always does.
Azami sighed, Gai was a good shinobi, but always too over active... especially when Kakashi was around.
Tsunade nodded, "Alright, you four it is. Prepare to leave, you will be off in an hour," she stated.
Alanna nodded, besides wanting to be with her friend Azami, she wanted to get out of the village as much as possible.
The other shinobi bowed to her; releaved that they didn't have to go on this dangerous mission and left as fast as they could.
Kakashi glared at Gai.
Azami looked around as the others disapeared, "Anything more we need to know Tsunade-hime? Now that you know which of us is going that is?" she asked; she would want as much information as possible.
"Yes. Our sources have led us to believe that the perpetrators are most likely shinobi from the Sound village. Orochimaru's minions. I want you all to be careful for, like him, they're all crafty and dangerous."
Alanna felt her blood begin to boil. She was glad she volunteered for this mission, despite having two 'questionable' partners.
Azami nodded, "Understood." She looked to her fellow companions momentairily, "Time to pack," she sighed as she put her fingers together and disapeared in a swirl of orange.
Alanna, instead of following her, turned and walked away to the door.
"Where're you going?" Kakashi asked, wondering
"I've got some errands to run. See you in an hour."
Kakashi nodded, "As do I," he stated, disapearing in a light gray color puff of smoke.
Gai grinned at Tsunade before he left the hokage's office for his own business.
What do you all think so far? Any guesses as to what is going to happen? Or perhaps you have a suggestion or comment for us? Leave a review to let us know!
