ANBU training, does in fact, get worse in the form of sleep deprivation training. Aka a Nara's worst nightmare. I'm going to get so many disappointed looks from Uncle Shikaku when I get home and he sees my dark circles.

Sleep deprivation training is filing papers ad nauseum all fucking night long and getting the ninja equivalent of an air horn blown in my ear every time I start to drift off. This doesn't account for the glaring lights and the air horn blowing when I make a mistake on the paperwork either. Then we're sent off to regular training with no sleep, just for this to happen all fucking week. In short, hell.

I pay more visits to Weasel ("Ferret, damn it!"), because sleep deprivation and sparring with Rhino don't mix. I'm fairly certain both Jackal and I have been reduced to tears multiple times but, well, I'm having a difficult time remembering what happened towards the end of the week. I learned more jutsus, though, so that's a plus.

I'm half falling asleep when I get my tattoo, the pain the only thing keeping me awake. I stumble my way back to my team's barracks and immediately fall asleep, not even bothering to take off my mask or shoes.

Hawk is shaking me a awake in what seems like minutes. I blink blurrily at his admittedly creepy mask. "Mission," he says shortly. "Get ready."

I nod, and make my way to the bathroom. Slipping my mask off, I wince at the imprints I see in the mirror. After I freshen up, the mask goes back on.

Rhino and Hawk are waiting for me when I get out of the bathroom. Jackal exits the other bathroom shortly after I return. "We're assassinating a minor noble from the Earth Country. This would normally rank as a B, if not the need for absolute secrecy," Hawk begins to brief us. "Lynx, any strategies?"

I hum thoughtfully. "I'd say get him in his sleep. Stop his heart. But for that, we'd need a blueprint or something so we don't waste time wandering around."

"Blueprints for large manors are usually kept off site in local universities or large libraries," Rhino pipes up.

"Hang on," Jackal throws in, "what noble are we assassinating?"

"Hoshinori Torihito," Hawk replies.

"Oh, he's the one who lives near and is a frequent sponsor of the Earth Institute of Engineering and Art!" Jackal says in realization. At our questioning looks, she gets flustered. "What? Earth Country architecture is really cool." She flaps her hands in embarrassment.

"So, most likely, the blueprints for his manor will be at the college," I surmise. "Jackal, since she can pass as an architectural major and knows what to look for, can infiltrate as a student and get a look at them to guide us to the bedroom of Hoshinori."

"Right. Lynx, you'll be the one to make the kill, since you have mastered using lightning to stop a heart." Hawk orders. I nod in response. "Rhino and I will wait outside to be backup, and Jackal will be your guide."

It takes the better part of a week to make it to Earth Country. Jackal takes off her mask before we enter and she's obviously a Yamanaka, what with her pupil less blue eyes and golden blonde hair cropped in a chin length bob. She then henges into a nondescript brunette. Jackal saunters off with a wave.

She comes back an hour later with a victorious grin and a roll of blue paper. "So," She says as she unrolls the blueprint, "there are six bedrooms in the inner sections of the manor. My bet is that Hoshinori's is this one." She points at the largest that opens up into an expansive garden area.

"I'll check that one first, but we need to make sure he's not holding a party or something tonight." I say.

Jackal smirks as she puts her mask back on. "Already checked. He's not."

"Any whispers of Iwa-nin in the area?" Hawk speaks up.

"Nope," Jackal pops the p.

We wait until midnight to make our move. I slip into the manor, Jackal directing my movements over our coms. I boost myself onto the ceiling with chakra in a terrifying imitation of a lizard. I pass over the heads of two samurai guards. I stop to listen to their gossip. Intel, I justify.

"I can't believe Hoshinori-sama doesn't trust his security to us," one of them grumbles.

"Shh," the other responds, "you don't know where those snakes are."

I feel the blood drain from my face. Hoshinori brought in extra security, security that samurai refer to as snakes. Ronin or shinobi, then. Shit.

I scurry away. "Captain," I hiss into my com, "we have a problem."

"What?" Hawk growls back.

"Hoshinori hired extra security that his samurai aren't a fan of."

Hawk comes to the same conclusion I did. "Shit," he swears under his breath. "Continue the mission, Rhino and I will be ready to back you up should you need it."

I'm in the garden next to Hoshinori's room, now. I slip up onto the roof and sink my awareness into the shadows. No life forms besides Hoshinori. I push aside the dread building in my gut and slip into the room, pulling shadows around me and weaving a very effective genjutsu.

I approach the bed, so far, so good. I lay my hand on his chest and he doesn't even stir. I run through the handsigns and channel lightning chakra though to his heart. His body jerks. The ground rumbles underneath me and I leap back. With no time to confirm the kill, and Iwa nin leaps from the ground from where I was standing earlier.

Three more crawl from the earth. One checks Hoshinori's pulse and swears. "He's dead," she growls. The four Iwa nin turn on me.

"You're dead, Konoha," the first one growls.

"Sure," I drawl as I flee to the courtyard.

I ignore the howl of "coward!" as I call for backup. Just as the Iwa team follows me into the garden, my team lands beside me. A smirk lights up my face beneath my mask.

The next time in Ashes to Shadows

Yoruka fights, doesn't deal with human interaction all that well, and discovers ANBU isn't all that it's cracked up to be.