Author's Note: Thanks SGL and Smile34 for continuously reading the chapters! I'm building this story up slowly. Hopefully, for those of you who have patience to read it through, this will be a worthwhile fan fiction. I'll do my best! Please let me know what your thoughts are on the way the story is progressing. I might work some of your ideas into the story. )
Chapter 3 The Briefing
The Red Ribbon
By Enkie
Genma peered into the Briefing Room. It was still empty; he was fifteen minutes early. The Briefing Room was a stark and windowless rectangular space, with fluorescent lighting and gray cement walls that gave off a severe atmosphere. A simple desk sat at one end of the room, facing lines of hard benches. The Briefing Room's design had dual purposes: the uncomfortable furnishings kept the shinobis alert, and the windowless thick walls prevented prying ears from eavesdropping. He sat down on one of the hard benches that lined the far wall, and patiently chewed on his toothpick. He liked arriving early for the briefing, that way his mind was calm and collected, ready to receive details of the mission and to formulate a working plan. His mind possessed nowhere near the same amount of strategic brilliance as that Nara kid, but he'd like to think that he was more than competent. After all, he DID survive all of his A-class missions without suffering any visible scars. Even Kakashi has an ugly one running down the left side of his face. He paused, then thought incredulously, but yet he STILL has hordes of women chasing after him! He shook his head and gave up on his vain attempt at understanding the logic of the opposite sex.
"Oi, Genma," Hagane Kotetsu nodded towards Genma solemnly as he briskly entered the room, his usual mischievous mirth replaced by a seriousness seldom seen. He was an unpredictable man with an explosion of blue-black hair. A hideous burn scar ran across his face, but it did little to diminish the charm of his jocular character. Kamizuki Izumo came in close behind, stifling a yawn and lazily waving his hand in sloppy acknowledgement. His slight build and slothful demeanor deceptively hid the dangerous man underneath. They were close childhood friends who had been through everything together and would defend each other until their last breath.
"Oi, Kotetsu. Oi, Izumo. What are..."
"Ohhaiyo everyone!" Genma's words were abruptly cut short by Shizune's cheerful greeting. He snapped his mouth shut and quickly stole a glance at her before he nervously settled his gaze on something imaginary on the empty wall to his right.
Kotetsu and Izumo gathered around Shizune familiarly. After several missions together, they'd developed a friendly rapport. Her jubilant personality and gentle healing were invaluable assets to the team, especially when dangerous missions could last for weeks and eat away one's spirit. Her smile brought out the softer side in them and made them just a pinch protective over her, even though her fighting ability rivaled, perhaps even surpassed, their own.
"Oi, pay attention. Stop messing around. This isn't some Sunday picnic." Genma rudely interrupted their conversation. He was annoyed at being excluded, especially where Shizune was concerned.
The small group whirled around to find the Hokage already seated at the briefing desk, her face an expressionless mask. The three of them hastily seated themselves. Momentary stillness passed as the Hokage surveyed each of their faces, pausing when her gaze fell on Shizune. Once ascertain they were paying proper attention, she cleared her throat and began.
"Ohhaiyo, everyone. As you may know already, this is an A-class mission of utmost importance. Relations between Country of Fire and the Ash Country soured over the last year and had now turned hostile over supply route ownership disputes. Hitori Shuji-sama, our strategic diplomat who was sent to Ash Country for negotiations two years ago, went missing last week and his family is trapped behind enemy lines. Your mission is to locate Hitori-sama and bring his family back safely. The priority of the mission is to bring back Hitori-sama alive; his family is of secondary concern. If absolutely need be, you are to abandon the others. I fear that he… Vital information concerning Ash Country will be lost if you do not succeed in this mission."
Tsunade paused and moved the team's attention towards the map behind her. The map displayed terrain information from Country of Fire to Ash Country. Her slender finger glided over the glossy map surface as she explained the mission in greater detail.
"You are to rendezvous with reinforcements at Rain Falls, located at the outskirts of the Ash City. With a small team like yours, you'll attract less attention. But as soon as you retrieve the target, I'm sure a fleet will be in pursuit. You are to hand over Hitori-sama to the reinforcement team and to act as distraction bait to lead away the pursuants. You may use his family members as additional bait." Tsunade's eyes glinted as she finished her briefing.
"Ano…excuse me, Tsunade-sama. Use his family members as bait?" Kotetsu inquired in shocked incredulity.
"You heard me right. There are four family members, his wife, the eldest son and two younger daughters. Use them as bait if you need to. But I do stress, only if you need to." Her voice softened a tinge, "Kotetsu, these are troubled times. We are under threat from so many…the Atasuki, Orochimaru, Sound Village…just to name a few. They are but four lives, if sacrificing them means we can gain strategic advantage over Ash Country and other constituents, in the end, we'll be saving many more lives. The supply routes are our lifeline from the South. I fear that war is imminent, and we need those supply routes open to win. Am I making myself clear?"
Kotetsu nodded in grave understanding.
"Does anyone else have any questions…or objections?" Tsunade's eyes scanned the rest of the party. Izumo scratched his knee and shook his head. Genma chewed on his toothpick thoughtfully, already formulating a tentative attack plan. He studied Shizune's back silhouette, frowning at her rigid posture. She sat silently with her back straight, her hands rested on her knees in clenched fists.
"Good. I trust in your ability to get this done efficiently. In this scroll, you'll find more detailed information. You are to leave within the hour." She turned to them, her tone lowered dangerously, "And one last thing. Do not fail me."
After the Hokage left the room, Genma chewed on his toothpick pensively. Something didn't feel right, but he did not know what. The last thing the Hokage said…it seemed as though it was meant for Shizune. He quickly dismissed his suspicion as pure paranoia. It can't have been meant for Shizune, she's our medic nin for blood's sake!
"Oi, Genma. Are we going to sit here forever?" Kotetsu snorted loudly. Genma looked up to find the rest of his team at the door, waiting for him.
"Uh, yeah. Let's go. We'll talk about the plan once we're out of Konoha." Striding with authority, Genma joined his teammates.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, the nagging feeling persisted.
The four jounins huddled in a circle at a secluded spot outside of the still-sleepy Konoha Village. The mission scroll laid sprawled open between them as Kotetsu, Izumo and Shizune regarded Genma expectantly. Assuredly, he laid out his plan.
"The journey to Ash Country's borders will take two days—we will have to travel south through Country of Earthafter that, it's about another day's time to Ash City. We will rest at these points. To be safe, we should scout around the Rain Falls area and familiarize ourselves with the terrain layout before rushing into the city. This way, we'll be able to act as effective distraction bait and not interfere with the reinforcement team's escape route. If we get separated, travel northwest towards Country of Wind, follow its borders, then cross over the gap in Country of Earth to get back to base. Here and here are safe resting points, the nins from the Village of Sand guards this passage and will give us sanctuary if need be. However, because Tsunade-sama has cautioned that Hitori-sama possesses vital information, I'm sure Village of Sand will be interested as well, it's best if we avoid those points if possible. There is no telling when allies may turn into enemies."
Genma's brows furrowed in distaste as he remembered the joint attack between the Village of Sand and Orochimaruon Konoha. The wind doth change quickly once the Sands found their own Kazekage murdered by Orochimaru. Trusting fickle opportunists is a fool's gamble.
His team nodded grimly in agreement. Impressed by his thoroughness, no additional questions were raised. They quietly audited their weaponry and supply.
With the morning sun still pale, the team set out south towards Ash Country. The forest was unusually quiet, not a single stir disturbed the leaves, save for high above in the cloudless sky, a singular crow circled above them. Taking it as a bad omen, Genma's left hand subconsciously touched his right breast pocket where the red ribbon was kept.
Guardian angel, give me strength.
As if reading his thoughts and laughing at his futile prayer, the crow gave off a shrilling shriek and disappeared into the southern sky.
To be continued…
