I hope everyone enjoyed the last chapter! I hope you like this one too! And if anyone finds any errors in this, please tell me and I'll try and change them!
For the reviewer marc, about the preface and why Riz had used Tsukiyomi twice, it was because she was still learning it and therefore needed some practice with it. And don't worry about it damaging her eyes, I'll cover things like that eventually, probably closer to the end of the story.
"Ow! What the hell?" She shouted, falling off the bed again.
"Relaxed your guard?"
"I was asleep!"
"So?"
"It's my apartment!"
"Re-set your traps then."
"Bastard." He just sat on her bed.
"Did you not want to know what the Hokage wanted?"
"… You saw him all ready?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"Hm?"
"Tell me what he said!"
"Say please."
"Please." She hissed out.
"Orochimaru rubbed off on you." She growled and attacked him. She glanced at the clock and let go of him.
"Damn you Aniki! You made me late!" She jumped away and grabbed her stuff, heading for the door. Itachi shook his head and left.
Riz opened the door right after Iruka had finished taking roll and the kids immediately stopped talking when they saw her. Some glared.
"You're late."
"I realized. Did you want a quick excuse?"
"The truth."
"Forgot to wake up then." Iruka twitched.
"Fine. We're doing target training today. Since you were late, they get to practice on you."
"What? Are you trying to get me killed?"
"Okay class, we're going to go outside for target practice. Atsura is the target. If she doesn't manage to catch or block your attack and you hit her, I might not assign homework. Single file now!" The kids grinned and lined up, following their teacher outside. Riz watched them and sighed before following them.
"This is turning out to be such a perfect day."
Iruka pointed to where she should stand and she grumbled, but went over there. She looked back at the kids and groaned. Every kid had come to class that day, and they were all armed with kunai and shuriken, and they were all grinning at her.
"Everyone has written their names on their kunai and shuriken. Begin!"
"Wait! They're all attacking me at once?" She dodged the first onslaught.
"Atsura! You're supposed to either be catching them or blocking them! You can't dodge them!"
"These hellions are throwing sharp pointy objects at me and you expect me to stay in the line of fire?"
"Yes." She stared at him for a minute before sighing.
"Stupid mission. Fine." The kids came and picked up their weapons. As one was passing her, she heard him say something.
"Revenge time." Her eye twitched.
"Begin!" They all began throwing at once. One of them hit the ground, creating a small cloud of dust. They all waited for the dust to clear and began complaining when it did.
"That's not fair!"
"How could no one have hit her?" Iruka tried not to laugh as Riz began to throw the weapons back. The kids ducked out of the way.
"Let's try that again. The dust cloud was a nice touch." Iruka nodded and the kids lined up again.
"I think it should be done with limited visibility. They know where I am, so they shouldn't need to completely see me."
"And how should we do that?"
"Smoke bombs?"
"Fine." Riz grinned as she set one off in front of her.
"Newer, longer lasting, and covers a wider area than the typical smoke bomb. Begin." By the time the smoke cleared, they had run out of weapons, even after borrowing Iruka's. Again, no one had hit her. Some had hit the ground in front of her, while others were off to the side. Riz smiled and tossed the weapons back as Iruka sighed.
"All right. I want a two-page essay about aim and weapons care on my desk when you walk in tomorrow! Dismissed!" The kids groaned and ran off. Riz laughed.
"We should do that again, but have them-"
"Enough. They can get extra credit if they train with you on their own time. Then you can do what you want."
"You don't seem in a good mood Dolphin-chan! What could be wrong? Did you have a rough night?" He glared at her.
"None of your business."
"I'm shocked Ruka! Geez, I just wanted to know how long you talked to her and what it was about. It couldn't have just been about me." He blushed.
"Go ask her if you want to know so badly."
"Don't worry, I will." She left him alone and went back to her apartment to take a nap. It was going to be a long night.
The rest of the week passed simply enough. She would get the occasional student out of class for some training, mainly on target practice. She was brutal with them, but Iruka began to see definite progress. On her last day he had her stay longer and help him clean up.
"What are you doing next?"
"I have to become an ANBU." Iruka chuckled.
"It's not funny! Stupid old man is making me!"
"How can he make you?"
"He knows who I am and blackmailed me." Iruka laughed at her.
"Well, have fun. I was thinking you should be a teacher, whether at the academy or of a squad, but as an ANBU…"
"Shut up!"
"You're gonna be an ANBU?" They both glanced up sharply.
"Konohamaru, it's going to, not gonna, and you're supposed to knock before coming in."
"Sorry sensei. I forgot my bag. Are you really going to become an ANBU? That's so cool!"
"No it's not!"
"Yes it is!"
"No it is not!" She smacked him.
"Ow! Then why are you gonna be one if you don't wanna?"
"Your grandfather is making me."
"Konohamaru! What did I say!"
"Sorry sensei!"
"If you came to get your bag, I'm sure it's not going to turn up while talking to Atsura." Iruka turned away and Konohamaru stuck his tongue out at his back. He was quickly smacked by the irate teacher. Riz smirked and handed his bag to him.
"Goodbye Konohamaru." She pushed him out.
"Close one."
"Obviously. You really think I would make a good teacher?"
"Well, maybe only of a squad. I don't want to know what their homework would be. And with the way you grade papers, the poor kids will be scarred for life."
"I'll start getting perfect papers though." Iruka laughed.
"Maybe, but at what cost?"
"What are you talking about? I'm fast enough to not have to pay!" He smacked her.
"You idiot!" She pouted and looked around the room before sighing.
"I have to go soon. Have to be a stupid ANBU."
"Good luck."
"Thanks. I'll need it." Iruka paused.
"You're actually worried."
"I never wanted to be one Ruka." He patted her head.
"It'll be fine. Now go, before you change your mind." She grinned and headed out.
"Now, what good would that do Dolphin-chan?"
Riz stood outside the Keikoku* Bathhouse, wondering why the hideaway couldn't still be in a bar.
"Come on. You do have to go in."
"Yo Makoto! Actually, I was just leaving."
"You're lying. Come on." He grabbed her arm and began to pull her inside.
"But I don't want to!" He ignored her and soon she was facing a room full of masks.
"This is her." He let her go and went farther into the room.
"Wha? Makoto!" She whined and pouted.
"And you're trying to become an ANBU. Have some pride."
"You shut it."
"Why should I?"
"I mean it. Don't mess with me."
"And just what are you going to do about it?" She just grinned.
"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all…" The guy kept smirking until she was behind him, her after-image fading as she grabbed his arm. Before anyone could stop her she had thrown him upwards and tied him to the ceiling. She was walking away by the time they started to get him down.
"Makoto? Hey, where'd you go?"
"… What did you do Atsura? I was gone for two minutes tops, and you've tied the commander to the ceiling. Care to explain?"
"No."
"She doesn't have to. She's never going to be an ANBU." The commander glared at her, "Now get out." He walked off and Riz shrugged.
"Fine by me, but you might want to explain to the Hokage why. He is the one that ordered me here after all." She waved as she left the bathhouse and headed to Iruka's. She had just knocked when Makoto appeared behind her. She sighed before smiling sweetly and turning to him.
"Did you need something?"
"Hokage wants to see you. Come on."
"I can't leave just yet, it would be rude! I have all ready knocked on Rukie's door after all. I'll be there in about an hour, bye!" She brushed past Iruka and shut the door. Iruka glared at her.
"Rukie? And you should go see the Hokage if he's summoned you!"
"But I don't want to! He's just going to have me and the ANBU captain try and get along so I can be in, and I won't even have a chance to ask what he and everyone's favorite weasel talked about!" Iruka sighed.
"You're going later then, if I have to drag you myself. And why do you keep changing my name?" She hugged him.
"Thanks Rukie! You're name is fun to mess with, that's all."
"Stop it! My name's Iruka!"
"Now now Ru-ru, don't you think I know that?"
"Apparently not! And where did Ru-ru come from?" She began to lead him to the couch.
"I think you're over-reacting. Too much stress lately? Come on, tell…" she picked up a slip of paper, "Mr. Paper how you feel!" Iruka's eye twitched as he grabbed the paper and shredded it.
"Mr. Paper is dead."
"I see." She grabbed another one, "But you have yet to tell him what's wrong." Iruka glared at the paper before sighing.
"Fine. You are. You're what's wrong." She froze and he continued, "All these games, acting like almost nothing has changed, and all the secrets? I'm sick of it. I'm sorry Riz, but I can't do it anymore. I almost would rather have not known it was you. It's selfish, but I hate keeping this from everyone, especially when you act like pretty much the same Uchiha as you were about four years ago! Especially when you're not. You may try to act the same, but you're not. You've changed a lot, and try to carry all of the world's problems by yourself. That's the real reason you broke up with Kakashi-sensei, isn't it? You felt like you had to protect him from everything, including yourself." Riz put the paper back down and refused to meet his eyes.
"Stupid paper… doesn't know anything… can't even come up with anything…" Iruka hugged her as soon as he realized she was crying.
"Shh, it's ok. I'm sorry. Everything's going to be fine."
"I don't know what you're talking about. It's not like I'm crying or anything!" She started to pull away from him.
"Don't lie to me Riz. You're the one that keeps telling people it's ok to cry. You should take some of your own advise." She shook her head.
"I'm sorry. I just keep bothering you, ne?" She looked up and smiled that sad smile. Iruka smiled back slightly and picked up the paper she had abandoned.
"Well, I shared, but what about you?" She looked at the paper.
"Mr. Paper is only authorized for therapy for those that have far smaller, and most likely more easily fixed, problems. Definitely not for someone that betrayed their village, joined a group she despised, came back to said village under a different alias, see how people missed her and some to have almost never gotten over it, had assisted in the murder of her entire clan, and then has to watch her younger brother never be happy because of it and devote his life to revenge against their older brother, and watch said older brother slowly die from disease. Sorry Mr. Paper." They both stared at the paper for a minute before Iruka sighed and shifted. Riz automatically moved over to let him up.
"I'm going to get some coffee. You want me to make you some tea?" She stretched out on the couch and stared blankly at the ceiling.
"Please. I think I'm going to stop drinking, it never helped anyway." Iruka laughed and brought out the drinks, sitting in the chair across from her. He had just finished his cup when there was a knock on his door. Iruka went to answer it and Riz listened silently.
"Hello? Lord Hokage? What brings you here?"
"Is Atsura here?"
"Yes, would you like to come in?"
"Thank you. This is the ANBU captain."
"Nice to meet you. Atsura's in the living room, just down the hall." Riz groaned and flopped back down on the couch, flinging her arm across her head.
"I heard you fought with the ANBU captain."
"Correction, I tied the ANBU captain to the ceiling and left. No harm, no fight."
"You need to try and get along. He is going to be your captain."
"Again, I don't see the point. Obviously we do not get along and so there is no solid teamwork applied. Another wonderful reason I should not be an ANBU."
"I'm sure you'll find a way to make it work."
"If there is no trust within a team, that team falls apart."
"Then try to trust him."
"I'm not really the problem. I trust him to do his job, but he can't trust me." She glanced up at them, "Now can he?"
"Fine then. Truth leads to trust. Riz, meet Wei Shin." He paused as Riz glared at him, "Shin, meet…"
"Don't you dare!"
"Uchiha Riz." She glared at him as Shin turned to look at him.
"Sir, the Uchiha clan is dead except for Sasuke and Itachi."
"And Riz." She flopped back down on the couch, covering her head again. Shin was silent.
"So, you're telling me that Uchiha Riz never died, left for four years, and then comes back to the village under false pretenses, and you're okay with that? Lord Hokage, I think you need to get some rest."
"Yes. It doesn't bother me at all. If you need proof, you could always ask her brother."
"Uchiha Itachi is a criminal sir. If he was in the village…"
"Outside the window?" There was a tense silence.
"Riz, go get him."
"What? Are you planning a party or something? Seriously? Three Akatsuki members, you, the ANBU captain, Ruka, and myself all get to party at Iruka's!"
"Three?"
"Itachi, Kisame, and Konan." Iruka blushed slightly as the Hokage looked at him.
"Do you mind?"
"No, of course not." He looked back at Riz, who was peeking at him from under her arm.
"Well?" She groaned and got up, heading towards the window. She stuck her head out and looked up.
"Come on in then. Old man's orders. That includes all three of you!" There was a pause before she sighed and disappeared.
"Ruka, I might have to fix your roof later!" A second later Itachi and Kisame climbed through the window. Konan came in through the door.
"Street's empty." Riz clambered back in and pouted.
"Happy now? Ita-chan, Sushi-chan, Paper-chan, this is Wei Shin. Shin, meet Itachi, Kisame, and Konan. Everyone happy now? Good, I'm leaving." Konan grabbed her.
"This is your Hokage?"
"Yes."
"And ANBU captain?"
"Yes."
"He's not very good."
"I know that. I'm in this mess because of that. He couldn't even stop me from tying him to the ceiling. Well, now that everyone's here, I'm hungry. Ruka, do you mind if I use your kitchen? You can help." He nodded and followed her.
"Is it a good idea to leave them all there?"
"Probably not, but I'm really only worried about how Shin is going to react. I trust everyone else."
"Let's hope my house doesn't get destroyed."
"Let's hope no one comes to visit." Iruka paused as his eyes widened.
"Who is it?"
"Naruto."
"Great." She went back out.
"As lovely as this is, we need to leave. Naru-chan's on his way here, and I know this isn't going to be something he'll just ignore. If you don't mind, we could continue this at my apartment, or sneak into the Uchiha complex."
"Or we leave." Itachi and Kisame disappeared quickly and Konan walked farther into the house.
"We'll be going then. Riz, you need to report to Shin at seven tomorrow so they can assess what type of missions you'll be sent out for most often." Riz sighed as they too, disappeared. A moment later and Naruto was opening the door.
"Iruka-sensei! I'm here! Hey Atsura!"
"Naruto, you need to knock!"
"Oops, I forgot." Riz rolled her eyes.
"Well, I better get going. Tomorrow's going to be hell."
"Why's that? I know! You're going on some super-cool mission! Am I right? I wanna go!" She pushed him away.
"Wrong, and even if I was, you wouldn't be joining me."
"Why not?"
"Because it would've been assigned to me, not you. And I have to go through testing, training, and whatever else they decide to put me through."
"What for?"
"I'm an ANBU now apparently, and they need to know how strong I am, and what type of missions I would be most suited for."
"You're an ANBU? That's so cool! From now on, I'm going to focus on trying to beat you! Since you're an ANBU all ready, you must be real good, so if I beat you I'll be way closer to becoming Hokage!"
"Good luck with that." She disappeared, but not fast enough to miss what he said next.
"Iruka-sensei! Teach me that!" She was chuckling as she entered her apartment, only to be stopped by Guy.
"There you are! I have been looking for you!"
"Lucky me."
"I have come to help you train in taijutsu with a blindfold on! This wonderful idea came to me while training my team and I saw Neji wearing your ring! So let's head out now!" He grabbed her arm and began to drag her away.
"Please say this isn't going to take long!"
"That depends on you! With your Youth it should take only a day, no, half a day!" Riz groaned and gave up trying to stop him. They were soon at the training grounds.
"Lee! Such wonderful timing! You shall help Atsura here train in taijutsu while wearing a blindfold!"
"Yes sir! I shall wear a blindfold as well!"
"No Lee! You must attack her while she is wearing a blindfold!"
"Yes sir!"
"Sorry to interrupt, but I lost that fight because Neji could use jutsu, and had the byakuugan and that rotation technique."
"You will spar with Lee until you have the hang of it, and then we shall spar!"
"You're not listening! …Wait, Neji has been wearing my ring?"
"Yes! Every day!"
"Guy! What if Hiashi sees that?"
"Then he's sees a wonderful ring that had belonged to-!"
"Me." He paused.
"That's right! We must get that ring back from Neji! So we must train! Lee!"
"Yes Sir!"
"Begin!" Riz twitched and smacked him.
"First of all, I never said I wanted to train, I could get that ring back easily. Second, the training was blindfolded idiot!"
"Right. And here is a blindfold!" He tied it around her head before she objected. "Begin!"
"What?" Lee hit her hard in the stomach, shouting something about Leaf Hurricane and then ran after her. She groaned and focused on finding him. She barely dodged his next attack and twisted around as he passed her, grabbing his leg and throwing him to the ground.
"How troublesome… Stop." Everyone froze and Riz took the blindfold off to find Shikamaru standing there.
"Did you need something Laze-chan?"
"Wanted to ask you something actually."
"And what would that be?"
"Somewhere else preferably." She tilted her head.
"All right. I'll be back, maybe." She followed Shikamaru silently for a minute until they were out of ear-shot.
"Well? What did you need?" He shrugged.
"I want to know who you are."
"What do you mean? I'm Atsura, remember?"
"Is that so? That's not what I thought."
"What did you think?" He stared at the clouds for a minute.
"An Uchiha." She stared at him.
"Really? Well, I'm not sure whether or not to take that as a complement. Why did you think that?"
"How you act."
"Wait, so I act like Sasu-chan?"
"No. You act like his older sister." She tilted her head.
"And how would you know that?" He shrugged.
"Troublesome. It doesn't matter anyway, Atsura." He began to walk away.
"Shikamaru… If you believe me to be his sister, why did you come and ask me and not inform the Hokage."
"Too troublesome." She smirked.
"Right, not that it would do much good to tell him anyway. He all ready knows after all. Later Laze-chan!" She somersaulted and disappeared. Shikamaru just shrugged and kept walking.
"Guess I was right."
Riz groaned and jumped into the lake to get away from Guy. She was still wearing the blindfold and, as much as she hated to admit, she was improving. Guy suddenly grabbed her leg and threw her out of the water, making her hit a tree. He shouted something and she was flying through the air again. She twisted and landed in a tree. She went silent and focused on locating him. She jumped out at him just before he did another jutsu, tackling him to the ground and pinning him there.
"Wonderful Job!" She ripped off the blindfold and grinned as she got off him.
"Yeah. Thanks."
"Anytime! We shall train together again soon yes?" She stretched.
"Sure. Later then, I need to find Neji, if only to ask him to not let Hiashi see my ring." She waved and headed off to find the byakugan user. She eventually found him walking out of the Hyuuga complex.
"Yo! Neji!"
"Atsura. Did you need something?"
"I wanted to talk to you about the ring." He smirked.
"Come to beg for it back?" She twitched.
"No, Mr. high and mighty, I came to ask you not to wear it while you are anywhere near Hiashi, also I would love to challenge you again."
"No."
"No to what?"
"A re-match. The ring is mine."
"Don't make me steal it back."
"Try it then. I'll show Lord Hiashi it, since you seem intent on not letting him see it."
"…Watch it Neji. One day that attitude of yours is going to get shoved back into your face." She turned and stormed back to her apartment. Once there she flung herself onto the bed and disabled all her traps.
"Let someone attack me, I dare them." With that thought in mind, she fell asleep.
Deidara laughed as Riz flopped down onto his bed.
"Maybe you shouldn't have painted the walls, un." She threw a pillow at him.
"Shut it. I can find places this way."
"Why don't you just take the paint off? It can't be that hard to find your way around, un."
"Yes it can! Everything looks the exact same here and I don't want to have to constantly use the sharingan just to find my way!" Deidara laughed again as Sasori came in.
"Why those colors?"
"What I had. Besides, I like most of those colors."
"Take it off."
"No."
"Follow people around to not get lost if you must."
"As wonderful as that idea is, it's not that simple. I don't know how to take the paint off without killing myself. It should fade eventually." They both stared at her.
"Why?"
"Why don't I know? Because I made the damn thing up and never had a chance to try. It's directly connected to my chakra and if that gets cut off, then the color will disappear. And since I'm not going to die to get your precious look-alike dreary walls back, you get to be stuck with them until they fade on their own!" She flipped over and got up, running out of the room. The two sighed and went after her. They eventually found her outside at the lake.
"Riz! What're you doing, un?" They began to walk to her, but jumped back when she opened an eye and set some trees on fire; black fire that didn't seem affected by the rain. She used her other eye to put it out.
"What was that?" She glanced at them and deactivated the sharingan.
"Training. Sorry for blowing up at you two like that, but Aniki has been angry with me lately and I've been getting sick of everyone yelling at me. Did you two come after me?"
"Yes." She smiled.
"Thanks. Sorry if I worried you." Sasori nodded and began to walk back inside. Deidara went over to her.
"What were those flames?"
"The amaterasu. It's an ocular jutsu unique to the sharingan. I've been trying to practice it and advance my eyes, but I still run out of chakra too quickly and I don't seem to be getting any better."
"You just lit something on fire by looking at it, un."
"Yeah, but I've been able to do that for a while. Anyhow, let's get back inside. I don't want to miss lunch again!" They headed inside and were almost there when Konan stopped them.
"Riz, you have a mission."
"What? Really? What is it?"
"Follow me and we'll go over it with your partner."
"What? I don't want to go on a mission with him!"
"Hurry up." Riz pouted as she followed her.
"I haven't even had lunch yet!"
She woke slowly to someone laying next to her and jumped up. The man beside her shifted and blinked at her.
"Don't move so much, it's hard to sleep." He mumbled.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was passing by and decided to visit un! Sasori did too."
"… Sasori's here too?"
"Yeah, he's in the living room. Got mad at me for lying next to you, but you're the one who disabled all the traps, so I figured you wouldn't really mind, un." Riz groaned and flopped back down next to him.
"You guys know you shouldn't be here, right?"
"Why not? We're not doing anything wrong, un!" Riz threw a pillow at him.
"Quiet! And it doesn't matter, if anyone finds you here you're dead!"
"We can handle them, un!"
"That's not the point. I wouldn't let you harm them anyway." Deidara threw the pillow back.
"Then it would be your fault, un!"
"Quiet Deidara." They both looked up.
"Sori-chan!" Riz jumped on him and hugged him.
"Hey! I didn't get a hug, un!"
"Probably because you were in her bed and loud. Let go Riz." She pouted.
"You're no fun. I haven't seen you in almost a year now, and you won't even hug me?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"I'll hug you, un!" Riz glared at him.
"No. You're the one that snuck into my bed."
"At least your boyfriend didn't see, un!"
"I don't have a boyfriend idiot."
"You don't? What happened to him?"
"Broke up obviously. What else?"
"Why?"
"Are you really that interested Sori-chan?" He didn't answer her.
"I wanna know, un!"
"Didn't we tell you to shut up? It just wasn't working out, ok?" Sasori shrugged and left the room again. Riz and Deidara followed him.
"So why did you two decide to come visit me?"
"No reason."
"Liar, you always have a reason."
"I told you, we were nearby and decided to-"
"Shut it. I want to know the real reason."
"That is the reason."
"Yeah! We were worried about you, un!"
"Worried? Why?"
"Overheard Itachi saying people knew about you." She smiled.
"Yeah, but they're fine with it." She frowned, "Sasori, Deidara… Are you two going to attack Konoha after more bijuu are collected? Along with the rest of the Akatsuki?"
"That is the plan."
"Right… I'm going back to bed now. Later…" She flopped back down on the bed and tried to ignore them. Deidara climbed back into the bed next to her.
"We weren't going to attack you, un."
"Does it matter? I'll be fighting for Konoha no matter what." She laughed dryly, "I guess that makes us enemies." It was silent for a while.
"… I'll fight with you, un." Riz shot up and stared at him.
"What?" He grinned.
"I'll be on your side. I don't want to fight against you anyway, un."
"And just how are you going to manage that? They'll find out and you'll be caught. They will kill you Deidara."
"I'll show them a bang, un!"
"Quiet!" she hissed out.
"We'll be fine Riz."
"We?"
"I won't attack you either." Riz just stared at the two of them.
"You two are crazy." She shook her head, but smiled regardless, "Thanks."
"We just have to make sure no one finds out, un!" Riz began to reply when Deidara covered her mouth with his hand.
"Someone's there…" he whispered. Riz didn't move and Sasori and Deidara watched the window and door. Sasori relaxed first and looked back to see a bright red Riz and Deidara still covering her mouth.
"Deidara… What are you doing?"
"What are you talking about, un? I was being quiet!" Sasori pointed to Riz.
"You have mouths on your hands Deidara. Did you forget?" Deidara froze before slowly turning and gently pulling his hand away.
"Oops, sorry about that-"
"KYAA!" She shoved him away from her, making him land on the wall. Sasori went and grabbed him.
"We're leaving now." They disappeared moments before someone appeared in the window while another came in through the door.
"What is going on here?"
"Makoto?"
"Why did you scream?" She paused.
"Sorry, I had fallen off my bed onto some kunai. It shocked me awake and I screamed. I guess I had forgotten the room wasn't sound-proofed." She smiled apologetically.
"You're not wounded."
"I healed myself all ready. They weren't that deep. I'll make sure to sound-proof the room again, okay?" The ANBU in the window nodded and left. Makoto looked at her skeptically.
"Why don't I believe you?" She shrugged and laid back down.
"Beats me."
"Don't forget to meet Shin at seven." She waved him off.
"Don't worry about me." He glanced at her cautiously again before leaving. Riz sighed before turning back over and closing her eyes.
She woke up at seven the next morning. She just stared at the clock for a minute before she realized she was late. She shrugged and padded off to take a shower. A nice, long shower. She was toweling off when there was knocking on the door.
"It's open!" She called with a yawn. Shin and Makoto entered and glared at her.
"You're late."
"No I'm not. I can't be called late until I actually get there. I am becoming late right now."
"You were supposed to meet me at seven. It is now eight-thirty." She ignored him and went into the kitchen to make breakfast.
"Are you hungry Makoto? I can make you something."
"No, thank you."
"Got it, not going to accept with the captain right there. I'll make you something anyway. Shin too."
"You have no time to do that. Follow me."
"No. Maybe you don't understand this, but I never wanted to be an ANBU, never have, never will. So I am not going to automatically follow your orders, and I am certainly not going to skip a meal for it. I've skipped enough meals in the past thank you very much." She began to rummage through the fridge. Shin grabbed her arm and began to pull her away. She glared at her arm and quickly stabbed his hand. He pulled the kunai out and threw it at her, automatically getting into a defensive stance. She started to get into an attack position when she realized what he was doing and growled.
"I am not going to prove myself to you in my apartment! If you want to test me then you will have to wait! Now get out!" She did a wind jutsu and pulled a wire to open the door just before both Shin and Makoto flew out. She glared at the door before turning and punching the wall separating the kitchen from the living room. She sighed and grabbed a can of milk before heading out the door.
They had her spar with a few of the other ANBU, retrieve well hidden objects, infiltrate heavily guarded area with the "guards" on high-alert, escort someone that was seemingly useless into enemy territory, before finally torturing her to see if she would disclose any information to them. By the end of the day, Riz was exhausted and saying she was irritated was an understatement. Instead of heading straight to bed, she wrote some notes and left them on a few doors. Twenty-one doors later and she flopped onto the bed with a smirk, anticipating the morning.
Itachi woke up to someone dropping into the bed next to him and a small smile tugged at his lips.
"You're back." She nodded slightly and shifted closer.
"That difficult?" She shook her head.
"No, not really. It was working with that snake that was difficult." Itachi chuckled.
"He couldn't have been that bad."
"He tried molesting me multiple times and slithered into my tent when I was asleep to get into my sleeping bag." Itachi stiffened.
"Did he now?" She smirked.
"Don't even. I doubt he'll ever try that again. Besides, I need him for my plan tomorrow."
"Plan?" She laughed.
"You'll see." She left and went to find Pein.
"Yo! Coon-eyes!" He turned and glared at her.
"What do you want?"
"I thought I would actually involve you in a game I'm going to play with everyone tomorrow."
"No." She smirked.
"So you like my colorful walls then?" His glare worsened.
"No."
"If you and everyone else play, then I will try my best to figure out a way to remove the paint, or at least fade the colors some."
"… And just what is this game?" She grinned as she began to explain it to him.
As soon as everyone woke up they were called into a meeting. As usual, Riz didn't go. She just waited in what could be called the living room. Her grin grew as everyone appeared there one-by-one, each with different levels of shock on their faces.
"Well? Sit down at a piece of paper and write your name on it. Hurry up or I'll add a new rule to the game."
"And what rule would that be?"
"Since I'm sure Coon-eyes told you the traditional rules, the added one would be you would have to kiss, and a good kiss at that, whoever you go into the closet with." She smirked as everyone sat down and wrote their names. She passed around a jar to put the slips in and counted them to make sure all eleven were there, including hers.
"Wonderful, now I'm going to call each of you over here to pick a name. I'll be watching to make sure you don't cheat, and if you pick yourself you will have to choose again. Okay? Good." She activated her sharingan, "Sori-chan?" He walked slowly up and grabbed a paper quickly. Looking at it briefly to make sure it wasn't him. His eyes narrowed at Riz as he sat down. This process repeated for almost everyone when she called their name.
"Clay-chan. Aniki. Sushi-chan. Paper-chan. Hidan. Zetsu. Snake. Kakuzu. Coon-eyes. And me!" She pulled out the last paper and tilted her head before shrugging. Okay! Sori-chan, you're first!" Sasori walked into the closet as he read the name.
"Kakuzu." Everyone watched Kakuzu shake his head.
"I quit."
"I'll give you 500 Ryo." Kakuzu got up and follow Sasori into the closet. The door clicked shut and the pair heard a lock slide into place and a buzz of chakra seal them in.
**Note: 100 Ryo is now equal to $1**
They stared at each other for the entire seven minutes. The door opened and they walked back to their seats and sat down calmly, making Riz frown. She quickly cheered as she called the next name.
"Clay-chan!" He shot a glance at Riz as he read his paper.
"Itachi." Itachi glared at Riz and she smiled.
"Go on." He got up and stalked into the closet, Deidara following closely behind him. Itachi didn't even bother looking at Deidara for the seven minutes. He just closed his eyes and leaned against the wall until the door opened. Riz was pouting by the time they sat back down.
"Your turn Aniki, back into the closet with you."
"Leader." He went back into the closet and leaned against the wall again. Pein followed him silently and did the same as the door closed. Riz just glared at them when they got back out. She went into the kitchen and brought out sake for everyone, nearly forcing it down some of their throats.
"Hopefully that makes it more interesting. Sushi-chan, you're up."
"… Zetsu." The plant man walked into the closet and grinned while waiting for Kisame.
"You are not allowed to eat him!" Riz shouted as the door closed. As soon as the door opened Kisame jumped out and sat back in his spot. Zetsu following soon after.
"Paper-chan?" she walked into the closet.
"Sasori." He calmly followed her and after seven minutes of silence, they came out and sat back down.
"Hidan?"
"I got f***ing Kisame!" she stomped to the closet and waited as Kisame sighed and followed him. Everyone heard Hidan bragging about Jashin and explaining why Kisame should worship him as well. They heard a thud just before the door opened and Kisame walked out. Hidan followed while glaring.
"Okay… Zetsu?"
"Orochimaru." The snake-man paled, but followed Zetsu in anyway. Seven minutes later and they came out and sat down silently.
"Snake-man, don't bother sitting down, you're next."
"Konan…" He hissed out, licking his lips. She walked calmly into the closet and he followed. There was some shuffling noises and a rustle of paper before the door opened and Konan stalked out, followed by Orochimaru, now sporting some new cuts. Riz smiled.
"Kakuzu."
"Deidara, and I want an extra 500 Ryo for this."
"Only if something interesting happens."
"1,000 Ryo for that."
"750."
"1,000 or nothing."
"Look, you're going into that closet one way or another. Either you can get 750 Ryo for something interesting, or nothing happens and you get nothing. Make your choice." He didn't move and Riz launched herself at him, throwing both him and Deidara into the closet and shutting the door. Deidara just stared at him before being pushed against the walls and roughly kissed. He tried to push the greedy man away, but to no avail. The door opened and Kakuzu pulled away before going up to a madly grinning Riz to collect his money. Deidara stood there in shock as she went up and pulled him out while laughing.
"Okay! Coon-eyes!"
"You." She blinked before smiling.
"Well? Are you coming or not?" She jumped backwards into the closet and waited for him to slowly make his way over. The door closed and he didn't move. Two minutes later and she pouted.
"Well? Are you going to do anything? At all?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I refuse to." Another minute or two and she smirked.
"Fine then, I will."
"What?" She leaned up and kissed him before he could say anything else. A minute later she pulled back and laughed at the look on his face. The door opened a minute later and Pein rushed out and sat down. She grinned.
"My turn anyway! I got Hidan!"
"F*** that!"
"Too damn bad! What are you? Scared?"
"Fine!" He stomped in there and the door closed. After a minute he began to try and convince her about how wonderful Jashin is. She banged her head back against the wall and groaned. After about four minutes of this she grabbed him and pulled him down to kiss him. A minute or so later and she let him go and smirked.
"Finally got you to shut up." The door opened and they both stepped out. Hidan speechless for once. She rolled her eyes and waved people off.
"Okay, you can go now. I know this has been just complete torture for all of you." Most of them disappeared instantly. Itachi and Kisame stayed behind.
"What?"
"You kissed them?"
"So? No one else did anything fun except for Kakuzu, and I had to pay him!"
"You kissed them." Itachi glared.
"Would it make you feel better if I said they didn't kiss me back?"
"No."
"Damn. I'm going to go work on the walls now." She ran off before Itachi could comment any further on the issue.
I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter! Don't forget to review!