The Fox, The Badger and the Vampire
Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto and company, Rox, Mirage and Elisa are mine, but that and a buck will get me a cup of coffee.
AN: Like my other works, graduation is at 16 years old. Don't like it don't care. This is my fanfiction.
Chapter 4
(Fire Daimyo's Castle)
Rox stood behind Naruto and Elisa, the big man was leaning against his staff, while their sensei, Mirage was listening to the Fire Daimyo's majordomo.
"It is imperative that the princess reach her destination. The treaty is nearly run out and she much be presented to the Earth Daimyo's court, or fighting will break out once more."
Mirage sighed and nodded her head. "We understand this…"
"I don't think you do. I mean, sending a genin team in place of experienced Jonin, really. You Ninja are taking this job way to lax. I think we would be better off using Samurai."
Mirage bit her tongue, knowing fighting with the man would be pointless.
"No. I think it would be best if you returned to your Hokage and had him send a proper escort of experienced ninja." The Majordomo said, his snobbish attitude was getting to the three Genin.
"I assure you my team are worth any Jonin the Hokage would send." Mirage said. Which was true. No Jonin had the power of any of her team.
The Majordomo wasn't convinced. "I don't think so. Return to your village. I will inform the Daimyo that your Hokage isn't taking the safety of his daughter seriously. Perhaps we will need samurai, or to renegotiate a deal with a different village."
Naruto was insulted. "You mean like the other ninja your hired outside of Konoha before, for the last several attempts?"
The man looked at Naruto.
"Yeah, we read the reports. You hired a Jonin and three Chunin from Konoha the time before that and didn't bother to inform them of the previous attempts."
"How dare you." The majordomo said.
"I dare a lot. Of course being alive is the biggest insult." Naruto said.
Mirage smirked. "I think it best we speak with the Daimyo instead of his chambermaid."
The majordomo looked pissed. "The Fire Lord is a busy man, and he doesn't have time to see lowly ninja that…"
"I believe I do have the time."
They all turned to see the Fire Lord in his robes of office standing there.
"My lord…I was unaware that…"
the man ignored the majordomo and scanned the group. "Hello Naruto, you've grown."
The blond smiled. "It has been four years." His blue eyes twinkling. "I see you've got another idiot."
The Fire Lord laughed. "I do seem to go through majordomo's. his grandfather served me when I was a boy. Alas he seems to lack his grandfathers skills and abilities."
The Daimyo waved the team to follow him, ignoring the sputtering of the majordomo they left behind.
"So, Hiruzen has sent you and your team to aid me."
"Yeah, and the file was missing a lot of info." Naruto said. Mirage had shared what she had learned from a contact with her team, the reports were not favorable.
"You have someone here in the castle feeding information to the bandits."
The fire daimyo sighed. "I am afraid you are right. I am not sure who to trust. But my majordomo was right, time is running out. My daughter must stand before the Earth Daimyo and his court before the new moon, or our treaty will be dissolved."
"Why is it important for her to be there?" Elisa asked finally.
"She is to be there to welcome the Earth Daimyo's son home. They will meet and court. Should they approve they will wed. the treaty is only for them to meet."
Rox who was shuffling along asked, "And someone really doesn't want this peace between Earth and Fire to happen. Any suspects?"
"Too many I'm afraid." The Daimyo said.
They entered the Daimyo's private wing, his guards stopped. "Interesting looking teammates you have Naruto." The Daimyo said.
"They are my friends." Naruto said. "They saved me."
"And you saved us." Elisa said taking his hand.
"Pretty girl." The fire lord said, his eyes studied her for a moment then he shook his head.
"That's not possible."
"What's not milord?" Mirage asked. She had a clue, but wanted to see what the Daimyo would say.
"I could have sworn I'd met you before."
Elisa shook her head. "I don't think so." She pursed her lips. "You might have met my sister…" she looked at Naruto who shrugged.
"No, she would need to have been born nearly sixty years ago. I met a woman that looked like you when I was a small boy."
Elisa and Naruto shared a look.
Rox snorted. "Is that all?"
"Stow it rock head." Elisa hissed.
The Daimyo didn't hear the byplay as his gaze was on the figure approaching. "Ah, my daughter. These ninja are to be your escort."
The girl was slender, willowy in her build. She had coal colored eyes and night black hair.
"Really father. They look even more vagabond than the last group that tried." She said haughtily.
Team Mystique said nothing. "Very well father." She said with a resigned sigh. "I will get ready, but I think I'll be back after another failed attempt."
The princess wandered away to get ready.
"I'm sorry about that. She used to be excited about this, but after the fifth attempt she's become disillusioned about ever getting there." The Daimyo explained.
"Milord." They turned to see the Majordomo approaching carrying several papers.
"Milord…these ninja didn't fill out the proper papers. They can't be used….this is…"
"I know this boy." The Daimyo said.
"And we do not write down our skills abilities and what weapons we carry for no one." Mirage said coldly to the Majordomo. "That information is not even given to the Hokage."
"This is highly irregular." The domo said. "How do we know we are getting the proper…"
"Enough." The fire lord said, and took the papers and to the horror of his Majordomo ripped them up.
"I have personally paid the Hokage. He knows my request and he sent a team designed to handle this. I don't need to know what they can do. With Naruto here, I know they will do the best job."
"Thanks old man." Naruto said and the Majordomo sputtered at the way the blond addressed the fire daimyo.
"We'll be at the gate awaiting the princess." Mirage said wiping the smile from her face.
"Very well." The Daimyo said and looking at Naruto and his team. "Good luck my boy."
"Feh, we don't need luck." But Naruto smiled at the Daimyo, ignoring Rox's comment. "We'll get her there, even if I have to carry her myself."
XX
The trip was already half an hour in and the princess was whining from atop the horse.
Rox held onto the reigns while Naruto and Elisa were on point and rear guard duty. Mirage walked on the other side of the horse, they all were ignoring the girls whines and instead had their senses ready.
"Rox."
Naruto called.
"Got 'em." The man mountain said. "Sensei, take the horse."
Mirage took the reigns from him. "How many?" she asked.
Twelve…no…nineteen." Rox said as Naruto and Elisa moved in closer. Naruto's features were more feral and Mirage knew he was using the kitsune abilities he'd absorbed from the fox. "They aren't trying to hide too well. I caught a whiff of them." Naruto said as his features relaxed, the canine teeth shrunk and the whisker marks lightened.
"We've also got a group of six coming up from behind, they've been with us since we left the castle." Elisa said.
"How do you know that?" the fire lords daughter asked.
Elisa smirked and held up her hand showing a large rat. "Spies are everywhere princess."
"Ew." Was the girls response as the rat climbed up to Elisa's shoulder.
"Rox, shelter." Mirage ordered and the princess found herself in a dome made of dirt and rock.
"LET ME OUT!"
"Pipe down." Naruto said. "We'll let you out after we've killed the bandits and those following us."
The princess wasn't convinced and continued to yell for them to let her out.
Mirage sighed. "I think between her and the Majordomo we've discovered the spy."
"My ryo's on the court idiot." Naruto said. "He wanted too many answers."
Elisa nodded with her lover. The princess hasn't had time to send word, where as the domo did."
"Your thought's Rox?" Mirage asked.
"I think we're between two groups with different agendas." The big man said. "Explain."
"Those behind us are the princess's choice. Those coming from ahead are with the Majordomo." The blind teen said.
"Suggestions?" Mirage asked.
"Destroy all but one from each group, you interrogate them and we find out what's going on behind the fire lords back." Naruto suggested.
"Very well." Mirage leapt to the top of the dome and took a seat.
"Remember children, one of each." She said as they heard the group from ahead of them getting closer.
"Yes sensei." They said and Mirage watched as Rox sank melted into the ground as if it was water. Naruto smirked and gave Elisa a kiss before becoming more feral looking, his hair becoming longer like a mane, and he leapt to the trees.
"Boys." Elisa sighed and dissolved into mist.
"Let me out." The princess whined.
"Oh be quiet." Mirage growled as she began to shapeshift. The form she chose was for combat. It was gray skinned, with scales, black eyes, with an elongated muzzle with fangs and wicked bone spikes on the arms, the hands with wicked claws. Her students years ago dubbed this form "The thing with Teeth".
Let the games begin. Mirage thought as she leapt up into a tree, ready to pounce on anyone that came close to the earth dome that wasn't one of her students.
AN: Truth and Consequences next time.