MISSIONS VS MORALS

The broken promise

What the hell? Was the only thought that ran thought Shikamaru head. This man couldn't be serious, there was no way. Yuuko closed the tent flaps, leaving the three of them in darkness.

Yuuko put a hand in his pocket and pulled out a lighter. "Sorry, my lighter died on my last week, so I borrowed yours. I hope you don't mind." Yuuko exhaled a large cloud of smoke before speaking "Right right, I'm sorry I didn't even give you a reason to WHY you are the transaction. Simple, we are just asking for the payment the Hidden Leaf owes us."

"what owes you? What the hell are you talking about? And how the hell are you?"

"I told you im-"

"Yuuko Yukoni, yea I got that part buddy. Now, Why does the Hidden Leaf owe you anything?"

"Right, well as you very well know my group is from the Land of Assassins, we are the unofficial keepers of the peace. And believe it or not, WE are the good guys. You see, my friends and I, our job is to keep the Nation's most dangerous ninja away from civilians villages."

"Congratulation, do you want an award for that?" Temari interjected. She was over this man whole walk around the issue technique. Does he really think they can't sense that's something off?

"No, but as I said, we are owed. Now Weapons would be nice, but as I think about it compensation would be better. I mean for all the dangers I and my men put yourselves through to make sure these killers don't get out wreaking mayhem in the streets, doing the unwanted dirty odd jobs other countries are too cowardly to handle themselves. You'd think the other nations would be more grateful."

"And you think you're just owed that?" Shikamaru eyed him, trying to figure out this game.

"Well yes, it was a written agreement actually."

"written agreement?"

"Yes, between Hiruzen Sarutobi and myself." What?! Why would the Hokage make any deal with a person who works in the lands of Assassins? and not only that but a backward man with his OWN sense of justice" Hmm, I can tell this information is before your time, do you younger generation know anything about your country hidden past?" Temari and Shikamaru said nothing " I'll explain before the tension between the Sand and the Leaf escalated, the Hidden leaf was in-no pun intended- deep waters with the Land of Waters."

"Land of Waters?" both jounin shared a glanced, as they listened to the Yuuko information.

" Sarutobi had doubled back of a few promises he had made the Land of Waters Daimyo. So in return, the Daimyo cut off any trade to the village Hidden in the Leaves. They lost food, clean water, and extra supplies. Ideally, it wouldn't have been so hard for your village if it hadn't been for the Nine-Tails attack that happened a couple of years earlies. The village was still under reconstruction, supplies, food and water were in high demand. And the Hokage had to feed his people."

"And you're telling me they couldn't ask another village for help?"

Yuuko laughed.

"hmm, with the way relations were run between the villages they were by themselves. Sarutobi knew he had to do something, but not many people would help. You know, given the risk of a counter-attack for a man who didn't always keep this word. So he requested help from the land of Assassins, who contacted me. Let just say we did a few dirty jobs, killed a man here, framed a royal there and threatened a few lives and then presto! full trade with zero restrictions was granted." as he clapped his hands together dust filled the air. he waited for it to settle before he continued. "we lost good men, husbands, brothers, sons. No to mention the cover-up for those killings cost a good penny, how else are you going to keep the scared and scorned mouths closed?

" Hmp, so now we are in your debt."

"A mans word is his bond, is it not."

" But why ask for it now? And why go through all this trouble?" voiced Temari. the risk just didn't seem worth the hassle. " Do you really think you're about to get away with this unscathed?"

"Why yes, actually I'm glad you mentioned that. Now, don't get me wrong i'm just like the next man, I don't want conflict, believe me, my job is to END all conflicts. I had asked Sarutobi numerous times to give me what he owes. And he was just about to do it- But then You and your people killed him during the attack on Konoha."

"Me?" Temari voiced curiously. How could he know she was apart of the attack that happened years ago? She never wore her headband while she was on missions- a basic way to save your identity and life if you ran into the wrong people.

Glass grey eyes looked to Temari. Yuuko couldn't help but wear a smile on his face at the look of her confusion.

" Well, could you imagine my surprise when my men went through your things that they'd find a sand headband in your possession? Not to mention a very very important Scroll involving the Sand and land of Lighting. It looks like you guys have some recent incidents causing a major stained in the relationship. one would say...war worthy. With signed and sealed information like that. Not just any ninja has the responsibility to carry information like that. So that tells me, you're one of the higher-ups closets to the Kazekage? i might even say, his right-hand women. I mean your name was on the document too, Temari of the Sand."

Smartass. This man was really rubbing Teamri the wrong way. She stopped pressing any further, she couldn't risk it.

" That was a lovely story, and your deductive reasoning skills are impressive. But that still didn't answer the question of why the hell you're going through all this? you know this won't end well for you. so you'd might want to double back and reconsider." Yuuko walked over, cigarette still in his mouth. his foot pressed down on the metal sticking out of Shikamaru leg. "Argh...bastard."

" fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice shame on you, fool me three times well…Now I have the right to have it out for that man right?" boy this guy was a character and a real pain in the ass. " look I didn't want this to have to come to this but, fair is fair. I lost great man, supplies, and most importantly MONEY. Still, I put my men to work, horning my word. it may be an unfair justice, but its still justice. I hate that it had to come to this.'

"So what is your plan? A simple trade-in or a life for a life?" Shikamaru cutting the bullshit. He's toying with them, and he knows it. One of them is as good as dead, and he needs to figure out quickly who, so he can find a way for both of them to get out of it alive. he already knew he was a target because he was from the Leaf, but knowing Temari identity...now that made it even worse. it's not like he could lie and say she was just some women caught in the crosshairs.

"At first, that was what it was going to be. I contemplated killing you, but I tried getting my hands dirty, it's time for someone else to take the heat if you ask me. My plans HAD to change when we got an extra captive on our hands. What I thought was going to be a real pain in my neck was actually my saving grace!" Yuuko kneeled between them. he reached over and dragged Temari by the shoulder to bring her closer. " You might want to hear this. But how does starting a war sound?"

"w-what are you saying, are you crazy?!" Retorted Temari.

"crazy no, practical yes. Everyone knows wars are the best way to make money when your men or professions is in high demand. Why wars for Assasianis is a field day and a PAID day. Nations don't want to lose their own men if they don't have to. Let's be honest time has been little borning since the chunin exams, and with all these fake-real alliance agreements."

"what your suggesting ins completely crazy and will not happen!"

"As you said yourself, you can't trust a person from the land of Assassins, especially one with my sense of justice." he took another drag from his cigarette. the tips of his fingers were starting to turn the color of ash. "Now I've come to you two tasks. its simple one of you will be framed for killing the each other. it's really a brilliant plan! despite what you say you are Shinobi you have a duty to your nation to protect it at ALL cost. so the Leaf crossed the Sand or the Sand the Leaf. however, you want to word it. Do you honestly think a crime like this a go looked over? an attack on the representative is an attack on the Nation itself. and let's not be dumb and act like Nation don't go below the belt to get even when they feel they have been wronged."

"You're batshit crazy."

"Call me what you want. I promise a good murder can change all that peace -alliance crap. Now, I don't know about you. But I'm beat. You have 24 hours to decide. I'll be checking up on you two tomorrow to see how progress is going, remember you only have 24 hours."

Reviews

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