Chapter 14: Red String of Fate

Little Falcon: I just cut my hair. From my waist length hair, it's now barely reaching my shoulder… I feel a bit light headed. Oh… sorry about that. Here's another update. Read and review please.

Standard Disclaimer: I only own the idea that's all. If I did own this series I'll be the happiest person on earth!!!

The door bell echoed throughout the almost empty mansion. Several reloading of magazines and checking of pistols broke the silence as one occupant cautiously made his way to the door, with a pistol in his hand. Lately, there have been several attacks. Each targeting the list they were holding. Not one was able to succeed.

"Yo!" their silver haired superior peeked through the peek hole like a little kid. The one behind the door, blinked his grey eyes repeatedly as if making sure, Kakashi was really on the other side. The beautiful lady with layered hair beside his superior merely shook her head helplessly at her companion's childish actions.

Finally, Neji relaxed and signaled the others that were ready for battle, to stand down as well.

"You guys are doing an excellent job, as expected," Kakashi immediately entered the mansion as the door opened. Kurenai quietly followed while watching her subordinates with a proud smile.

"What brings you here?" the guy with inverted triangle tattoos on his cheeks jumped on the sofa across the two. His large white dog, Akamaru, barked energetically now that the tension had subsided.

Ino, Tenten and Hinata approached their sempai soon after they hid their blades. Gaara, Neji and Shikamaru holstered their pistols and did the same.

"We've come to retrieve the list. The order has been given that they have finally decided who is responsible enough for such information," Kurenai crossed her legs as she informed the entire group- the guys included.

"With this, this mission is over," Kakashi received the list from Gaara casually then buried his nose back in the book he was reading.

"Does that mean that we… have to…" the blond kunoichi glanced at her lover, Shikamaru, then at Hinata and Tenten.

There was a moment of uneasy pause. "Don't get us wrong. We told you that 'this' mission is over. However, another mission was given and that still requires a joint mission between your group and theirs,"

The group released a breath they didn't realize they were holding. All except for a certain red haired guy. "What about this mission?" his tone was arrogant and demanding as always.

Several pictures landed on the glass tabletop. A boy about four or five with brilliant blue eyes and short blond hair was smiling so widely it was as if he had whiskers on his cheeks.

"Kanagi Naruki, the sole heir of the Naruki enterprise and the only eye witness to his mother's murder. His father Jiraiya Naruki was the one who contacted us for the mission," his eyes were still focused on his precious book as he explained.

"And the mission is?" his jade eyes narrowed in impatience as he showed no interest in the pictures, unlike the others.

"You guys are to protect Naruki until he takes his stand in court," Kakashi snapped his book shut and made eye contact with Gaara.

"You girls are to eliminate the people trying to kill Naruki. They call themselves Akatsuki," Kurenai gazed at her three kunoichi.

"Oi," Shikamaru finally showed interest in the topic. With his disapproving look, it was obvious what his words would contain.

"My kunoichi are trained to kill. Their mission almost always involves bloodshed. Unlike you boys, who kill only when there is no choice," Kurenai made her words crystal clear as her eyes traveled from one person to the next.

"Kurenai, that's enough," he grabbed her arm seriously. With that, the two left. The specifics of the mission were sent via e-mail.

The next day, the group arrived in front of an old Japanese manor. Its big wooden doors greeted them immediately. "Jiraiya-sama has been expecting you," a maid bowed lowly then showed them in. The wooden doors bolted shut as they entered.

A middle aged man with long spiky white hair wearing the traditional Japanese robe and hakama pants sat in the middle of the large receiving room. "Please," he gestured for the group to seat on the matted floor before him.

Even before, Jiraiya could talk. There was someone running on the corridors and was approaching them. A blond head popped from the corner. His sky blue eyes innocently staring at the new comers. "Are these the people who'll protect me?" the boy asked.

With a gentle smile, his father nodded. Soon after looking at each one of them, Naruki said "The doctor who saved me was so cool! We were able to escape from those bad guys and hide until dad came!" his eyes were glowing with admiration for that person. It made the girls smile.

"Naruki, can we grown-ups talk for a while?" Jiraiya had that tender, fatherly tone that gives a feeling of warmth from just hearing it.

"But I want to tell them about that doctor… ano ne… doctor had the same fiery red hair as yours!" he openly pointed at Gaara before the maid carried him away. "… Doctor used karate action to…" the boy was still talking even if he was already outside the room.

"Cute kid," Ino commented. Jiraiya smiled in reply.

"Kids have a way of exaggerating things. Just yesterday, someone tried to kill Naruki. Thankfully, there was someone who was able to hide him until we arrived. I never did get the name of that doctor," he prepared traditional Japanese tea while explaining.

"Danna-sama! (Master) Danna-sama!" the maid burst into the room with fear in her face. "Naruki-sama left the manor through a gap in the wall,"

"What?!" even before Jiraiya could react the people before him ran out the room in search for the boy.

"Naruki!" Hinata immediately saw the kid's blond head running away from them.

"You guys are lame! I'm going to find Doctor!" the boy mocked them by showing his tongue.

Gaara's pupils dilated then he withdrew his desert eagle. "Don't touch the kid," he pointed his gun at the man several meters away from Naruki. The others then noticed the guy pulling out his pistol.

His finger itched to pull the trigger but the guy was fast. The others barely had time to react when Naruki's attacker fell lifelessly on the ground. A scalpel buried in between his eyes.

"Gesh, I leave you for a second and you get into trouble," his heart almost stopped beating as he a voice he knew better than his own.

From the corner, a girl with flaming red layered hair walked towards the blond kid. The white doctor robe covered her sexy frame.

"Sa…sakura?!"

Little Falcon: Read and review okay?