"You almost died, you should feel something about it!"

Anko almost screamed this time. I had almost died. It hadn't done anything for me. I still felt the same. I had survived so it shouldn't matter.

I knew Anko hated this. Ever since mother had moved her from interrogations to doing mental evaluations she's been cold and sour towards my mother. It suited Anko better though, and I had a feeling she was secretly loving it. Getting to pry into other people and their feelings. Getting to ask all the questions she wanted and hide behind her job. She wasn't scared to ask questions and she wasn't bothered by the answers. It was the perfect job for her. I felt it. She was doing a decent job as well. It didn't take her many sessions to find out that I didn't respond well to the harsh version of conducting these sessions. I had a problem with authority and I appreciated it when she treated me as her equal.

"So close to dying and you're pretending like nothing has happened."

I knew it would end with her thinking I wasn't fit for missions. Then Naruto would revoke the decision, I would have a new mission within a few days and then I'd end up here again.

"Want something to drink, some water?"

She was provoking me. Wanting to see a reaction. I wouldn't give her one.

"You're supposed to be invincible, everyone says you are. Then you're almost taken out that easily."

It had been a close call, and I had misjudged the attackers. I should have been prepared. I should have known better. It was a lesson that had almost cost me my life. Some are close calls, but you learn from them and you move on with your life.

"Give me something to work with."

She was growing more frustrated by the second. I was keeping quiet to see her sweat, but I would end her misery.

"Everyone, not me. I know my life is fleeting. I've come to terms with the fact I'm not granted another day. It could be during a mission, it could be a darned tick bite. I'm not immortal, I've never thought of myself as invincible. Death is natural in our profession. I can't have a breakdown just because it almost happened to me."

I crossed my arms and leaned back in my chair. Defensive. Everything about my body language and I could see Anko giving up. She jotted down something in her notes and looked at me. I would probably read the report later tonight if I couldn't sleep. It didn't feel like a night where I would sleep. Not much in any case. I might just as well spend the night getting my hands on those papers. I couldn't wait to read about what mental trauma she thinks I'm dealing with.

The mission had left what she would call some mental trauma. She just wasn't asking the right questions. Almost dying seemed refreshing in comparison. I rubbed area over my right collarbone, I was tired and wanted to go home. I had a bad feeling about this mission for a reason.

A few hours travel from the Konoha boarder

A few years ago this had been a desolated area. Now it was booming. It was a real city with lots of life. I had eventually recognized thee team assisting us as the team that used to babysit me from time to time. They hadn't commented on it and even introduced themselves. They didn't seem like the kids they used to be. They were more hostile and cold. Most likely painted by years in the field. I can't imagined it helped the case that they used to babysit me and I had already risen above them in rank.

I had noticed that the hostility and hate from the Academy lingered. There were few who took joy in others progressing. Everything was a competition and everyone wanted to win. I wasn't in the race. I didn't want to compete. I took everything at a daily basis. I accepted the missions and shinobi promotions I was offered. I never asked for them, they were given to me and I couldn't help it. I wouldn't under build my talent so that I wouldn't step on a few toes. They should be able to accept that we were all different.

About an hour from the city Satomi and I had changed to civilian dresses. For this town that consisted of a corset and dress. I wasn't familiar with the corset but it was already bothering me. It was wrapped so tight around me I wasn't able to move freely as I should. It restrained me and I didn't like it when I wasn't able to fully protect myself. It didn't help that the mission was supposedly risk free, I didn't trust it one bit.

The deal was that Satomi and me were just passing through. Two friends traveling needing a meal that just happened to be at the eatery our goal frequented. We were equipped with earplugs. We were both given earpieces. The boys had rented a room upstairs and would be monitoring us over audio. Once we had finished eating Satomi would retire to our room to have a nap, tired after our long travel and heavy meal. That was when I was supposed to strike, find a reason to start a conversation with the man.

It had worked seamlessly so far. Satomi had just climbed the stairs. Our goal was sitting by the bar smoking. Clearly there wasn't a smoking ban around here. I praised myself for stealing cigarettes from grandfather-Nara. I never intended to smoke them for pleasure. The grownups seemed to ignore how well a cigarette worked to start a conversation. Kakashi would have a fit if he saw me fish one out of my purse. He'd tell my parents and they would have an even bigger fit. Kakashi would keep his mouth shut if this worked out.

I searched through my pursed and sighed heavily. Silly me, I had forgotten a light for my cigarette. I got up and moved over to the bar. My hair lose for the occasion covered my bare back. The hem of my navy blue dress reached my knees, the cleavage on the other hand. Also something my father would throw a fit over. We needed to pass me off as older than I was. Children weren't supposed to hang out at bars. He'd be too suspicious. I played the role as adult perfectly, with Kakashi's help I was also dressed for the role.

"Silly me."

I approached him holding my cigarette out. I sat down on the chair. With the cigarette between my lips I leaned closer to him. He opened his lighter and I draw my breath through my mouth as I had seen grandpa-Nara done so many times, and Shikamaru on a few occasion when he thought no one was looking.

The smoke instantly entered my lungs. I should keep it there before I blew it out. I didn't want him to know that this was the first time I was smoking. I needed everything to seem naturally.

The bartender moved over and asked if I wanted something to drink. I leaned over to the target again and with a sweet smile I asked him if it was too early to drink. I had to admit that his smile was charming. His face square with high chiseled cheekbones. His eyebrows were thick and dark, not matching his short dirty blonde hair. He matched the description. We had all agreed that this was the man we were looking for. He told the bartender I would be having the same as him.

It wouldn't be the first time I had been drinking. Fugaku, Shikamaru and I had already tried it. Fugaku had stolen wine from his mother, Shikamaru beer from his father and I had found some booze with my father.

The liquid burned on my lip and I smiled as I took the first sip. This wasn't a drink, this was vodka with ice. I smiled and tried to pretend that the taste didn't bother me.

"You're not from around here, are you?"

He looked over at me, he addressed me this time.

"No, my friend and I are passing through. She's getting married next year so we're having our last adventure before she settles down."

I took another miniscule sip of my glass. Try to act naturally. Taking on the personality and history of a character came naturally to me. I was good with charades. I was good at acting and I could be anything I needed to be.

"A last hurrah!"

He looked at his own drink. He didn't seem suspicious of me. I was just some stranger visiting his town. I couldn't help but to wonder what he was thinking about me. Why he was so important that Naruto was spending so many resources on me just having a trivial chat with him.

In the hotel room Kakashi was propably upset and worried. I had never done such a mission with him before. He didn't know how it worked, how I worked. He was probably worried this would get out. That I would slip on the mission, smoking and drinking.

"Something like that, for her and us."

I leaned back and my hair danced over the edge of the chair, curled from my braids. A child and already taught to play on the primitive sides of men. Not that the women got away any easier. Jealous could be more disruptive than being turned-on.

"Why just this town?"

I stumped my cigarette, finished with it.

"I don't know really, my friend decided the travel route. I just follow."

I laughed and he didn't seem too pleased with my response. Shit, I was dead if this didn't go as planned. I would be blamed, I had been warned about not doing my best. I had lashed out at Naruto. I couldn't come home having failed the mission. I still had to have in mind that this man had managed to kill everyone Naruto had sent out. How could he, he was strong. Sure, but I could fend him off alone and I had a back up consisting of six people ready to attack as soon as I said the word.

"So you view yourself as more of a follower?"

I nodded, this character could be a follower. She could be the complete opposite of me.

"Only people who are worth following."

The man leaned in closer to me. A playful smile present on his face.

"What about me, would you follow me?"

I laughed and threw my head to the side. Looking him deep into his eyes, pretending to contemplate it.

"I don't even know you."

I knew enough about him. He wasn't in my book worth following. He had killed Konoha men and the made him the enemy.

"I know you, it feels like I've known you forever, like I've waited all my life for you."

I smiled and bit my finger while I continued to look into his eyes. I didn't know if he being a flirt would be something Naruto viewed as important intelligence. He'd be able to make people prepared for a smooth talker. It took more than smooth talk to win shinobi over.

He leaned ever closer and grabbed my arm, looking me deep into his eyes. I was now playing the role of woman just visiting but becoming charmed by an exotic local she just happened to meet in the bar at the place she was staying. She's kind of a decent girl who doesn't do things like that so she's also a little shy and hesitant.

"Why don't you follow me to my room?

Nothing has to happen."

He added the last part when I moved slightly back and didn't give an immediate response. I was going through my options while pretending to be startled by his proposal. I could see it coming when he asked me about being a follower.

I could turn him down, then he'd certainly become suspicious of me or shut down completely. He was a good looking man, he'd injure his ego if I turned him down. He reached out and whisked some hair out of my face placing it behind my ear.

I'd take him on a one to one battle. I viewed myself stronger than him. If thing got out of hand I could protect myself. This mission was important. If we were alone it would be easier to use my eyes on him and I'd know more than just what a conversation could. "Only you can do this." This must have been what Naruto had been talking about. He must not have had the courage that this was what he wanted.

Motel room

She's moving, she's going somewhere private with him is what the team should have said. Kakashi, Shikamaru and Fugaku had removed their earpieces when the man had started flirting with Inokoto. All three had their own reason. The other team had no problem listening to it as they weren't personally involved with Inokoto.

They knew going alone with this man was the last thing she should do. She was doing this herself and she needed to learn that she wasn't flawless. Everyone else needed to learn that she wasn't flawless. The generation above them talked about her as some sort of God and they needed to see that she wasn't any different than them. They wouldn't speak a word unless they heard the safe word. The look they gave each other told them that they were all agreeing. They wouldn't say anything before they heard the safe word. They'd just continue to write down everything she said, which was showing she wasn't a good character.

Even when they heard the thud of her body they kept quiet.

Motel room, one floor up

I hadn't noticed him moving, I had been too busy taking the room in and planning for escape routes to notice he had slipped behind me. He moved quicker then I had expected. I managed to turn around before he hit me, successfully knocking me out.

I woke up on something soft, hands tied above my head, legs stretched and tied and my mouth gauged. I wanted to fight the rope, scream and squirm as I woke up. I felt my forehead wet and sticky. Blood, drying blood. I had been out for a while. I noticed I was lying on my stomach. Didn't know the team beneath was having a show out of my misery. The gauge in my mouth was easy to spit out.

"You know, I use to wear my hair in French braids?"

This had gotten out of hand to say the least. I was calling for help before something irreversible happened. Statistic told me something like this was bound to happen sooner or later, I hoped for not this bad and much later.

My voice wasn't clear, it came out weak and mumbled. The worst of my confusion had driven off, but I still didn't feel comfortable. Especially not when I felt him push my locks aside and open my dress. I knew I should have fought him, but it would be useless. It would only end up hurting my hands and legs, the rope was chakra infused and wouldn't open unless it was cute open or he decided to open them. He took his time opening my corset. I waited for my back up. They should have been knocking at the door by now.

"I wasn't joking when I said I feel like I've known you for all your life, that I've been waiting for you."

I felt so weak when he had taken my eyesight away, more so than tying me up. I wished I was as experienced and talented as my father. He wouldn't have ended up in this situation. He would have known better and had it happened he would have been able to defeat him and protect himself. I was lying there, letting this monster do whatever he wanted to me.

"It's odd isn't it, that they fear you so much. You must feel isolated at home. You're only a tool to them. Hadn't you had your family you'd lost all your humanity years ago."

He was up on his feet again, I could hear him.

"Who is it that you're loyal to? I know you Konoha nins, all about the town, your comrades and teammanship. Out in the field you're all best friends and so good at working together. What happens when you come home, before you're rushed off to another possible deadly mission?"

I didn't want to answer him, even with my mouth free from what must have been a rag. I would sub come to him and answer.

"They shun you, they envy you and try to bring you down, they talk about you behind their back."

He was on the bed again, I hadn't heard him moving and gasped out of surprise.

"You know it. You feel it. They treat you like crap and send you on another mission."

He pulled the tape off my ear that contained the microphone. I couldn't see what he did to it, but I could be certain he had destroyed it. Then I had nothing, this was the end of me. In a dirty motel bed, killed by someone Naruto told me was harmless when I had my team with me.

"They expect you to die for them, but where are they now? I know you've already said your codeword. I know they should have been here. Is it possible that they're letting you suffer?"

He leaned over me. I could feel his breath on my ear.

"I'm going to tell you a secret now that the microphone is gone. I trust you, trust that you won't tell your beloved Hokage. All the shinobi he told you I had killed, they're alive. He kept sending them, ended up sending better and better shinobi and I had so desperately wanted for him to send you. I was so thrilled when I heard he was. You took so long, I waited and waited for you to accept the mission. I know you have spies within the Hokage Tower, but I have better ones. I've never killed Konoha shinobi before. They've all come willingly."

I now struggled against the ropes. I had learned from a toddler that you never abandoned your city. You give it your everything, even the most valuable you had to offer, your life. I struggled to believe that good men and women had decided to give up and leave with this man. I couldn't believe that he wanted me to do the same. He knew who my father was, he had given everything he had for his city. He was the symbol of fighting through hardship and staying loyal.

"I have so much more to offer them. Haven't you noticed that casualties are higher and higher? No one has commented on it, have them?"

He must have straightened his back again, because he wasn't so close to me anymore.

"It's because they've left willingly. They're not dead, they haven't died in missions. There's so many of us, from all the lands. People who are tired of being used, being disposable. Fighting for peace, isn't that silly? It is, because it isn't what you're fighting for. You're fighting for the elite, protecting trade and commerce so that they can grow their riches. I have to admit, Konoah isn't the worst. Still there's a huge difference between rich and poor. You're too young and entitled to have noticed it."

Something cold hit my mid-back. It took me by surprise. It wasn't a question what it was, it soon broke my skin and I could feel my blood escaping through the cut.

"You've heard the story about the two brothers, the snake and the crow. I'm sure you've heard it, the story about how the oldest brother protected his little brother. How the town turned him into a snake, how the oldest brother let them because he was tied to his land. When redemption came for the oldest, the snake brother emerged his miserable snake form. He had become free of all his burdens, he flew off as a strong hawk. He was finally free because he wanted to end his town."

I had felt him carved the picture, the snake lashing for the crow. The snake tearing and out flew the hawk. I knew it was the story of my family. I had tried to shut my ears and rather focused on the pain in my back. The man pulled the strings on my corset as hard as he could and tied it. For the first time I could remember I screamed out of pain on a mission. He ignored me and adjusted the rope on my legs, I figured out why when I felt his hands under my stomach. He flipped me over on my back, I bit my lip to stop the screaming. The wound was throbbing greatly. I could feel the blood flow down the non-absorbent fabric of the corset only to be soaked up by my dress and the sheets.

"Then came you."

The blade was just beneath my collarbone now. It wasn't cold anymore. My flesh and blood had heated it to body temperature.

"You know you're the product of force. Your parents never wanted you. It often happens, people have babies they never wished for any minute, any second of the day. What's special about you is that you were wanted by Konoha. They forced your father to have a child, and he complied. He was loyal to his town and followed their wishes. If he didn't they'd kill your uncle. Your mother, oh, sure has Konoha screwed her over. Like they screwed over everyone in the war. They hardly teach you about it in school, they want to pretend like it never happened. That two generations are suffering because they're greedy and wanted to end someone bringing them peace and happiness. They don't want you to know that, Inokoto Uchiha Yamanaka."

He pointed his knife to the family crests he had carved as he spoke my name.

"Come find me when you're ready. I know it'll be you, and I wait for you. One day you'll open your eyes and see what a sham all the lands are. We'll welcome you, and perhaps we can end this system together."

He smeared something in my wounds. I screamed again. It felt like he had poured acid over me. It burth, I felt my skin mysteriously shutting. He dug his hand beneath me and pulled the zipper. He had expected me to scream. He knew it would happen and that my team would be able to hear me this time.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Hope you're enjoying the story! If there's something you don't like, or if you have any ideas for the story, don't be shy about it.