I decided to post another chapter early. I partly wanted to do that because I'm kind of irritated, but I also wanted to do it because I wanted to share some good news. I found the rest of the chapters in a separate file buried on my hard drive. So, I will not have to rewrite the rest of it from paper. That will save me a lot of time. Of course, this arc was already written so I'm just going to go with it, but I won't have to do as much work for the final arc. Meaning, that it will come out faster than what I thought would happen. So, yay! Good news! Let's get on the chapter.

THE WILL OF FIRE

PART TWO

Chapter 37 - The mission is a go

After being ejected from the Ninja Cat Village; Team 7 followed Timithson to the rat's fortress. It was unsettling to be so kicked out like that by a client. It was not how it was supposed to go. Particularly from an old ally of the Leaf. However, they had to shake it off. They could worry about the rude old cat later. They had a job to do. It was time that they got to it.

Timithson stopped just short of the fortress. He allowed the group to stare in awe at the old building. It wasn't so much a fortress as it was a castle! It must have been centuries old. One could almost imagine what it was once used for. Now, it was a ruin of it's former self. Clearly, the current occupants had no idea how to keep it up. Either that or they didn't care. Then again it was doubtful that the rats actually built this place. The proportions were all wrong. Windows and doors were too large and the height was all wrong. It couldn't have been built by the rats. It must have been built by humans! Now the rats presided over it's slow death. It was truly sad. This building must have been breathtaking in it's day. Now it was falling apart. How the mighty have fallen.

If Timithson thought the same way then he didn't show it. In fact, he seemed rather uninterested in the structure. Instead he was all business. "This is the Fortress of the Rats. Our most hated enemy." His voice carried a hint of a hiss as he spoke. "Disgusting, isn't it?" Before they could respond he continued on. "Alas, I can do nothing about it. I can neither take the collar for myself or destroy this vile thing! Our treaty is quite clear. We cannot interfere. Even if they have not honored their word. We must stay our hand. Hold back and hope that they change their minds." He ground his teeth. "They have no honor. Their word means nothing. Yet, we must kowtow to them. It's unacceptable!"

He closed his eyes as he tried to recenter himself. He let out a sigh as he intoned. "I trust our elders. I believe that they doing what is best for us. We cannot afford war. Not anymore. Not when our numbers are so low." He reopened his eyes then said. "If I had my way then I would be joining you on this mission. Helping you take back what is ours. All while killing as many rats as possible. The rats would be punished for their transgression!" He sighed again. "Alas, I cannot do that. It is not what Grandfather wants. He has given his word. He will not break it. Not for a collar that is. No matter how precious it is! I must respect his wishes and obey his word. I will leave this all in your hands. So don't screw it up!"

They stared at Timithson in disbelief. They did not know that he was the Elder's grandson. Now that they knew it all made sense. Timithson ranted and raved just like the old cat. He was almost just as rude to boot. It was conceivable that he may end up like him one day. They were blood after all. A fact left out by the senile old cat. He introduced Timithson as just another cat under his command. That was the farthest from the truth. The collar was for him. This was all so very personal. The attack hit far too close to home for him. He would not easily forgive them. That was not the nature of a cat. They held grudges better than anyone else. To have to hold back now must have been killing him. But Timithson would not disobey his grandfather. It was not in his nature. He would hold back and let Team 7 do all the work. Even if it killed him. It gave them a new respect for both Timithson and his Grandfather. This couldn't have been easy.

"We won't. You have my word, Great Timithson." Sasuke assured. Naruto and Sakura nodded in agreement.

"Good. Then I leave it in your hands." They started to leave but were stopped by him. "Wait a moment." He brought out a set of rat tail and ears for each one of them. "Take these. They will help you on your mission. The rats may be treacherous but they are also idiots. They will believe that anyone with rat ears and tail are rats. Even if they look human." They took the items but were not convinced. "Only rats are allowed to enter the fortress. Humans would be attacked on sight. You would be dead before you could find a way in. This is the best way to get in. With it you can walk in the front door!"

Naruto was dubious about this. "There is no way that this could work! There is no way that they are this stupid! I'm not wearing something this stupid!"

He knew that he was stupid. This was what the client asked him to do. It was a part of the mission. He should obey, but he couldn't. He kept thinking of his father and what he would do if he found out. If dad finds out about this then I'm dead. He'll make sure that he has pictures. No way am I putting up with this! His father had many spies. He would find out about this and get a picture. Then he would never live it down! He was no fool. After what happened in the land of waves there was no way that he was here unescorted. There was at least one ANBU out there right now, following them. He couldn't detect them but he was certain that he was there. Watching, waiting for that moment. Then it would all be over. His father would have the picture of a lifetime. No way did he want a part of it! He was not going to wear those ears!

Of course, Naruto told his teammates none of this. He feared that they would start laughing at him. They didn't understand. They couldn't understand. They didn't have a shutterbug father with an army of minions at his disposal. They couldn't know. They just thought that he was acting like a jerk. While neither of them wanted to wear it they weren't complaining. This was part of the mission and an order from a client. They had to do it. How they felt about it didn't matter. Naruto was unforgivably rude by carrying on like this. Sasuke had it. The Ninja Cats were a valued extension of his clan. He would not allow this to continue any longer. Sasuke pulled Naruto to his face then glowered. "Stop this right now! YOU will WEAR it. You hear me? You will! Or so help me, I'll tell your mother!"

Naruto paled. "Not that!" A second later he grabbed the ears then put them on. "Fine! I'll do it. Just don't tell her, okay?"

No one responded to that last remark. Instead, they moved on. Team 7 finished 'getting dressed.' Once they looked enough like the rats it was time to go. Timithson bowed then disappeared. Leaving them to find a way to get that collar back. It was in their hands now.

Naruto hated the way the others looked at him. They honestly seemed to think that he was being a baby! To them it was just a stupid outfit. For him it was a disaster waiting to happen. His father would catch wind of this. Then he would never live it down. He did not want to wear the accessories. Alas, he was backed into a corner. Wearing these ugly and embarrassing rat things were a part of the mission. The client expressly asked for it. Claimed that the rats would fall for the disguise. He had little choice but to do as they asked. For it was be far worse to not to. He had to pretend that he was rat.

It was not going to be fun.

Naruto tried to make the best of it. After losing his argument he pretended that he actually wanted to wear the wretched things. Like it was the others who had to put on the breaks. He had to save face. Even if no one truly believed him. At least it made him feel better.

"What are we waiting for? Let's get out there and get this done!" He demanded. "What are you scared that the rats will see our disguises?" He snorted. "Come on now! You know that they aren't that smart! The cat-guy said so. It must be true!"

They didn't believe him for a second. Sakura interjected. "Naruto, you dummy! It's Timithson! Not cat-guy! Show some respect!" She growled. "Geez, you're such an idiot!"

Sakura launched in on a full fledged rant. Poor Naruto didn't know what hit him. He looked like a wounded puppy. Sasuke started to feel bad for his 'brother.' Sure, he deserved it but she didn't need to be so mean about it. He was just being Naruto. He was provably afraid of something that his father would do. Not that it mattered. It was a part of their mission and he had to deal with it. Just like the rest of them. He shouldn't have complained.

Naruto did give Sasuke an idea though: They could use these disguises to walk in through the front door! If the rats really were that stupid then they would fall for it. If they weren't then they would be dead. Unless they used shadow clones! Then there was little risk. It was time to test his theory out.

"It's worth trying out." He finally said. Grabbing their attention. "If they really are that stupid, then they'll fall for this. If they're not then we'll have to get creative. At least we'll know not to take a frontal assault." He shifted his tone. "Naruto, put that on then create a Shadow Clone. See if it will get past the guards."

A moment later a shadow clone ran towards the draw bridge. The rats seemed to take no notice as he passed through the gate then returned to their position. The mission was a go.

Well, that's it for now. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!