Chapter 14: Unwelcome News

Ten Years Ago Continued…

Stepping over the threshold of their new home together Kakashi and Yue were immediately met with a gruesome scene. Empty bottles, Clothes, and sleeping bodies (lacking their clothes) were flopped all over the house. Kakashi had left to get more alcohol for the housewarming party, but he could tell that the alcohol was no longer needed since the party had all passed out.

"What are we going to do about them?" Kakashi grumbled. "Shouldn't they have gone home if they were this drunk?"

"Can't be helped." Said Yue with a chuckle. "They were waiting for us to comeback, and they did help us move all day. We should just let them sleep."

"No way! This is our first night together. Do you know how long I have been waiting for this?" whined Kakashi.

"I have been excited for this too." Said Yue trying to pacify the annoyed Kakashi. "We should at least help them get home then."

"Can't we just throw a bucket of cold water on them?" Kakashi grumbled as he hoisted a drunk Guy onto his back. On his way out the door he spotted one of the carts they had used to move their stuff earlier. Kakashi deposited Guy into the cart, then went back inside and brought out a drunk Genma, followed by Ebisu.

"Kakashi! You can't pack them up in a cart like they are pieces of luggage!" Yue exclaimed sounding somewhere between scorn and amusement.

"Why not? This is more convenient that hauling them one at a time back to their homes." Kakashi smiled mischievously. "This way I can carry three at once, and be back home sooner to have my way with you."

Yue giggled. "I guess you have a point. They aren't going to be happy if they wake up and find that you are hauling them around like baggage though." Kakashi merely shrugged and set off with his first "haul" of drunkards. Yue let out a small laugh again watching Kakashi heading off with their three friends slung in the back of a cart. Looking back at the rest of their charges she sighed and created a shadow clone. I guess I better take Kurenai and Anko home, thought Yue. Hoisting one of the girls on a shadow clone, and the other on her own back Yue and her shadow clone set off taking the drunk girls back home.

On her way back home Yue was stopped by one of her fellow ANBU members. "Lord Hokage wishes to speak to you immediately." Said the ANBU ninja.

"I understand." Said Yue and followed after the ninja to the Hokage's mansion. Yue had a bad feeling about what was to come at the words of the Hokage. Pushing aside her unease Yue stood before the Hokage, awaiting her orders.

"Yue, I am assigning you to a new mission." Said the Third Hokage. "We have received news of Orochimaru and an alliance of rogue ninja that he has gathered together. They are calling themselves the R-Alliance. Your mission is to infiltrate their ranks and learn all you can about the alliance, and if the opportunity should arise I want you to eliminate Orochimaru."

"For this type of infiltration mission a pair is usually assigned. Will I be assigned a partner for this mission?" asked Yue.

"I'm afraid I cannot send you with a partner this time." The Third answered. "The alliance is very cautious about accepting new members. Suspicion would arise if two ninja were to join at once. Unfortunately, you will have to do this alone."

Yue was sure that there was something more to the mission than the Third was letting on. This type of mission was usually given to only the most experienced members of the ANBU, and while she was a high-ranking officer, she was definitely still young and inexperienced in comparison to some of her seniors. "My Lord, if I may be so bold, is there a reason why I am being sent on this mission? Missions of this importance are given only to the most experienced officers. As I do not quite fit into that category am I to assume that this mission will be relying on my particular skills?"

"Your senses are accurate as always." The Third replied. "Because of your particular chakra nature you have the highest chance of succeeding in this mission. Also,…" The Third hesitated for a moment. "This mission will take place back on your home island at the now abandoned Light Village."

Yue felt as if the floor had disappeared beneath her feet. Although she had been very young when she escaped the village, nightmares still haunted her from the carnage she had witnessed on the island. "I…I understand sir." She managed to say finally. With this final piece of information Yue knew that her happy life with Kakashi was going to be put on hold, and perhaps never come to pass. "Sir I have one final request."

"I have a feeling I know what it is going to be." Sighed the Third Hokage. "It has something to do with Kakashi, am I right."

Yue nodded her head. "Kakashi must never know what I have been assigned. He would chase me to ends of the earth to try and stop me. Kakashi can't handle another death either. It would break him. You have to make me disappear from his memory all together. Please allow me to put a seal on his memories of me." Yue asked, fighting hard to hold back tears.

The third Hokage looked solemnly back at her. "Are you sure you want this?" He asked. "You know what this means if you do that right. He will have no knowledge of you ever existing." Yue sadly nodded. "Also, what if the seal fails? Strong-minded people like Kakashi can often break seals. What do you think will happen if he breaks the seal and you are gone? He could even end up hating you for it."

"That is a sacrifice I will have to bear." Said Yue. "I will not put him through the anguish of losing another person close to him."

"You speak as if you are going to die on this mission." The Third quietly responded.

Breaking formality Yue looked at the Third with pleading eyes, "Grandpa, you know as well as I do that there is a strong possibility that I will not make it back alive. Even if I do manage to make it back, it will be years before it happens. Kakashi is impatient. He would search to the ends of the earth till he found me, or it killed him. He has had more than enough pain in his life. I will not add another one to the list."

The Third's gaze softened. "If that is what you want I will respect your decision." Said the Third.

Yue wiped away the few tears that had managed to escape, then looked back at the Third with a determined look. "Give me just three hours alone, to say goodbye to him. After that I will place the seal on him and will need a squad of ninjas to help me move Kakashi's belongings back to his old house."

"Understood" agreed the Third. "As the Hokage, I must warn you against doing anything that will jeopardize your mission." He said with a knowing look. "As your grandfather however, I want to tell you how happy I am for you and Kakashi taking this big step. I only wish I could have watched you two grow old, and start a family together one day."

Yue smiled sadly. "I have one final request Grandpa." Said Yue. The Third Hokage nodded, willing her to continue. "Please keep my house the way it is. No matter what happens, I want that house to stay standing as a reminder of Kakashi and my happiness."

The Third Hokage readily agreed. "On my honor as the Third Hokage, and your Grandfather, I promise that house will always remain untouched and ready for your return."

Yue nodded and leapt from the Hokage's window. If there were only three hours left with Kakashi, she was going to make them count.