Disclaimer: Once again, I don't own Naruto.
As you can tell, no one replied, so Haruka will still be female. I hate Mondays…
Chapter 4: Mission
There were many missions they had taken varying anywhere from D to B. Three D, five C, and one B. All four of them were surprised when the Third assigned the B rank mission. "You're giving us a B-rank mission?" Shisui asked, incredulous.
"Yes, Is that so surprising? You three are all geniuses in your own right. You'll be fine!"
"I don't think that's what he means, Hokage-sama." Riku responed. "We're merely Genin. Why give us a Chûnin level mission?"
"We've fallen short on Chûnin to fulfill all of the B-Rank Missions. Since this is our best Genin team, I'm sending you three to complete this mission."
"I'll do it." Itachi said. He looked at the other two.
"If he's in, I am, too!"
"You said three? What of Haruka-sensei?" Riku asked with a frown.
"We are also short on qualifying Jônin, so we have to have her on an A-Rank mission." That caught all four of them off guard.
"You expect us three to go on a mission alone?" Shisui demanded.
"You're asking too much from a Genin team, Hokage-sama!" Haruka cut in. "I have faith in my team, yes, but they haven't the training for a B-rank mission, much less one without their teacher!"
"Don't worry, they'll be accompanied by an ANBU member." As he spoke a man with silver hair and a black mask that covered his nose and mouth appeared beside him. His head band was tilted over his left eye. "Joining them will be—"
"Kakashi-sempai!" Riku cut in.
"Yo, Riku! Long time no see!" Kakashi said with a smile.
"I see you two already know each other." The Third said. "This is Hatake Kakashi, he'll be working with you three for this mission."
Itachi looked the newcomer over. Kakashi the Mirror Ninja. He was eight years older than the three of them, yet he was famous for his stealth and speed. This was going to be interesting.
"I guess I'm in." She said at last.
"Hooray! Let's go!" Shisui yelled. Shisui is jealous of Kakashi. Not good.
"Don't you want to know the mission?" The Hokage asked, amused.
"That would be helpful." Itachi retorted. She's a lot nicer to Kakashi than she is to the rest of us… Itachi thought, slightly jealous. It had taken about a year for her to start trusting them, yet she seemed completely at ease with this man. Sure they probably had a past relationship, but still, she was their comrade not his. When did I start to think like this?
He looked at Shisui who was watching Riku and Kakashi converse about the mission. The mission was to rescue a group of women from a bandit strong-hold and they were discussing battle tactics. When did I.. start to like her and stop thinking of her as…my enemy? He looked at the sad look on Shisui's face. When did I start thinking like Shisui?
"Something wrong, Shisui-san?" Riku asked, noticing the look on his face.
"N-nothing!" Shisui said and smiled at Riku, who returned the smile, unaware of the fact that she was breaking the poor boy's heart. And his, too. He figured.
They left the building together. "Let's get our stuff and meet at the front gate at dawn tomarrow." Kakashi said cheerfully.
"Yes, sir!" All three responed.