A/N: Much thanks to Jaganthunder and XRulerofChaosX for their kind reviews! It is people like them that inspire me to continue! (Because without them I probably would have quit by now).

Chapter Three: Akatsuki and Iruka

Just outside the gates of Konoha, two small figures were rushing through the trees, baggy black robes adorned with blood-red clouds fluttering behind them like banners announcing their arrival. They were both young twins, around the ages of ten, and both wore black masks that covered half of their faces. Judging from their scratched out headbands, they were both missing-nin from the hidden village of mist. In the Ninja Bingo books, they were referred to as Gin and Gina, the Treasure Twins. The boy with the short silver hair was of course, Gin, and the girl with the curly silver hair was Gina. Both possessed rather large, bright golden eyes, uncommon among missing-nin.

"Gin-kun, you smell that?" asked Gina, sniffing the air as they flew.

"Yeah," replied Gin, narrowing his eyes, "Leave it to me."

Gina smiled underneath her mask and leapt off to the side, disappearing into the trees.

Gin halted and landed on a thick tree branch, fingering a kunai in his pocket. As he expected, three Konoha ninja appeared on a branch behind him. He sniffed. Two were, without a doubt, jounin and one was of chuunin rank. He suppressed a smile. He would be able to take the chuunin down easily.

"Who are you? Akatsuki?" asked a voice behind him.

The smell of steel increased in the air. . . Gin thought. Looks like they took out their weapons. They smell. . . fresh. . . those weapons haven't touched blood before. Business must be slow for Konoha nin.

Gin remained motionless, fingers still touching the hilt of his weapon. Cold steel met his throat. He glanced over his shoulder at a man with unruly silver hair.

"Hmph," Gin smirked, "Hatake Kakashi, I presume?"

"Gin of the Treasure Twins," drawled Kakashi, one visible eyebrow raised, "Maa, where is the other?"

"HERE I AM!" a voice behind them called enthusiastically.

"IRUKA!" Anko's voice followed.

Kakashi risked a look behind him and narrowed his eyes dangerously. Holding Iruka from behind with a long sword to his throat was Gina, grinning underneath her mask.

"We're one step ahead of you, Hatake," chuckled Gin, relaxing his shoulders and crossing his arms.

Iruka nervously watched Gina from the corner of his eyes, frozen in position with weapon in hand.

"What's a chuunin doin' out here with the big, bad jounins?" mocked Gina, laughing shrilly.

Iruka gritted his teeth and frowned in annoyance, glaring at the missing-nin behind him.

"All konoha-nin have been ordered by the Godaime to search the area," answered Kakashi, eyes still locked on the hostage situation.

Gin's eyes flashed and he tilted his head to one side, regarding the Copy-nin curiously.

"Searching for what?" asked Gin, "Or should I say, searching for who?"

"You know, who we're searching for, silver gaki," sneered Anko, "Because you're here for him, too, right?"

Gina laughed again, "Sugoi, sugoi! This is getting interesting, Gin-kun!"

Her laughter echoed through the forest.

"Looks like we'll have to take care of these trashes first, Gina-chan, " said Gin, "Take out the chuunin first!"

Kakashi glared as a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead, revealing his nerves.

"Hai, hai!" Gina cried, her grip tightening on her sword.

There was a flash of steel and an explosion of blood.

"IRUKA!"

Naruto stopped his movements and crouched low to the ground. He turned his head and stared at the shadows between the trees. Something wasn't right. Something was different. What was this atmosphere?

"Naruto," Sasuke landed beside him, "What are you doing? We're supposed to be searching. Don't hold the team back, dobe."

"Urusai! Sasuke-teme!" shouted Naruto angrily, fingers waving accusingly.

"Don't tell Sasuke-kun to shut up, Naruto!" growled Sakura, cracking her knuckles as she appeared in all her "double personality" glory.

"Agh! Calm down, Sakura-chan!" cried Naruto, waving his arms in surrender.

"Well, well," a familiar voice chuckled amusedly, "For ninja trained under the legendary Copy-nin Kakashi, you three sure do suck at stealth."

They wheeled around on their heels to find Kurosuzu Oboro towering over them with his hands on his knees.

"AAAAGGGGH!" screamed Naruto, grabbing his hair with one hand and pointing at Oboro with the other, "K—Kurosuzu Oboro!"

Sakura flinched and jumped back, reaching for her weapons. Sasuke did the same, dropping into a defensive stance. Naruto continued to panic.

"Eh? What's with your reactions?" asked Oboro, blinking, "I didn't mean to insult you—but to take it so seriously—"

"Kurosuzu Oboro! We are placing you under arrest for crimes against Konohagakure on orders of the Godaime, Tsunade-sama!" Sasuke cut in authoritatively, "You are to surrender immediately or face the consequences!"

"Sasuke-kun is so cool!" squealed Sakura from behind, shattering the dramatic moment. Sasuke's face fell and he winced in irritation.

To their surprise, Oboro merely laughed, "You guys are cute!"

"Eh!" cried Naruto, blinking in confusion, his shoulders slumped and his face blank, "What's so funny?"

Suddenly, Oboro stopped laughing and his face became serious. He looked to his right and frowned.

"Somebody's in trouble," Oboro muttered, "Why are they here?"

"Nani?" team seven chorused.

The white-haired man leapt away and sped off into the trees.

"Damn it!" Sasuke cursed and jumped after him.

"Ah! Matte!" cried Naruto, springing away with Sakura at his heels.

"IRUKA!" Kakashi shouted, "Don't just stand there!"

Gina stumbled back with a shriek of pain as Iruka slashed at her arms with his kunai. He spun and flung the throwing knives at her throat. Gina yowled like a cat and flipped back gracefully, dodging the kunai. She landed on all fours, wincing as a fresh wave of pain seared through her bloody hand.

"Gina-chan!" cried Gin, stunned, "How? How did a chuunin move that fast?"

"Iruka is a master of the basics," said Kakashi, a tinge of pride in his voice, "Don't underestimate Konoha-nin!"