"Speaking"

"Thoughts"

"Jutsu"

000000000

Soruki linked her hands together and stretched her arms out above her head till she head a satisfying pop sound from her back, letting her arms down she picked up her flak jacket and put it on but not bothering to zip up her jacket as she grabbed her forehead protector and put it around her neck with a weakly tied knot to keep it there for the time being.

She stuffed her gloves into her pockets before sliding her door open and leaving her room letting out a yawn, she hadn't sensed anyone home so knew both her father and brother had already headed to their respective duties for the day, "Hmm, won't it be Kalis's first team mission today? Could try and guess what he'll be doing" she mused to the empty house grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl on the counter.

"Lets see… he is part of a five person team, leader included so that might change their range of jobs" she muttered slipping on her sandals and leaving the house sliding the door shut behind her, she felt the warm sun ray's greet her skin leaving a pleasant sensation making her smile.

She slowly started making her way down the stairs listening to the birds sing and the splash of fish in their pond before passing the wall, "But since there are five of them, it would logically make any work they do go quicker than any other team" she muttered before bringing the apple to her mouth and taking a large bite.

She swallowed the piece of apple, "Then again, their teacher is Kakashi, so the team is really only four, probably why they have a five member team in the first place" she kept walking with her destination of the main gates in mind, she had a mission today but wasn't in a rush, it was a game she liked to play with one of the people she was working with today.

She took a bite again "I think I'm going to guess they might get the regular painting contract, there's always one of them to be done, one of the larger buildings for four Genin will probably keep them busy all day" she muttered with her mouth full of apple before swallowing it as she neared the front gates of the Leaf.

"Or maybe…" she began her head filed with the images of a hissing and hate filled cat, when she was broken from her thoughts.

"SORUKI!" a familiar voice to her shouted out ahead of her as she entered the large open area surrounding the front gate where many people were going about their daily business either passing past, entering or leaving through the gate, she was slightly surprised that 'he' was able to pick her out immediately.

She sensed around finding the three figure's she was looking far standing next to the check in/out station, thanks to her sensory ability she was able to identify each one through their chakra signature.

There were three people waiting for her, two were the best friend duo Kotetsu and Izumo, she'd done missions with the two Chunin in the past so knew she could rely on the two of them for whatever they were doing today.

The final person, the one who had shouted at her when she arrived and was squad leader for their mission, was none other than Genma Shiranui, usually guarding the Hokage he was sometimes dispatched on missions when their numbers where spread thin. He had brown shoulder length hair which hung loosely around his face and wore his forehead protector like a bandanna though Soruki always mused that he was the original bandanna wearing Shinobi.

"You're late, again" Genma commented crossing his arms and moving the Senbon needle he always kept in his mouth to the other side, "And you're not even fully dressed yet" he added looking her up and down.

"I've got all my stuff with me" she complained back shrugging her shoulders, but she could feel his disapproving gaze on her, "Fiiiiiiine…" she said with a over the top neck roll before holding her apple in her mouth and zipping up her jacket then putting her long gloves on and finally putting her protector on her forehead.

Taking her apple out she stuck her tongue out at Genma before taking another bite making him roll his eyes with a sigh, "You're such a child you know, that right?" he remarked ignoring the chuckling Kotetsu and Izumo next to him "Why can't you ever act with more maturity?"

Soruki shrugged, "Cause where would be the fun in being mature, there's only one person who I'll be mature around and that's my little brother" she chuckled before throwing her remaining apple into the nearby bin, "Plus, annoying you is my favourite pass time" she said with a smile before jokingly pushing his shoulder as she walked past, "What are we doing today anyway?" she asked as she took a took a small cup of coffee offered to her by Kotetsu.

"Group of bandits have set up on a busy bridge" Kotetsu said speaking up after watching Soruki and Genma's interaction with amusement, "Gotta go clear them out".

"Awwww, again" Soruki wined thinking back to the past few times they've had to deal with bandits, "This it the fourth time this month, what is with these guys".

"Their bandits Soruki, that's what's with them" Izumo commented with a chuckle taking a sip of his own coffee, "They're at a bridge a few hours from here, they want up to clear them out then hang around a little while to make sure they don't come straight back, should be gone a day of two tops".

"Odd their sending us for this mission, it's a C-Rank level right?" Soruki asked turning to Genma who nodded.

"You'd think so, it's actually been labelled B-Rank due to it's repeat occurrence and placement, the bridge they are on is the most direct route between the Leaf and a few other lands, basically it interferes with our trade routes, there's a long way around but it takes a few days so we need to get on this right away" he said before looking to Soruki with a smug expression, "Don't you feel like an ass now for being late" he chuckled.

Soruki had shrunk into herself partly, "Kinda…" she took a small sip of her coffee before bouncing back, "But I still found it kinda funny" she chuckled.

Genma couldn't help but chuckle at her antics before sighing, "Alright, let's head out, we'll take our usual formation" they all nodded in response finishing their drinks and throwing them in the bin as Genma informed the check in/out station of their leaving before they all ran out of the gate.

0000000000

The four jumped through the trees from branch to branch, Genma was on point leaning the unit with Soruki behind him on Sensory duty with Kotetsu and Izumo a step behind flanking her creating an upside down 'Y' shape as they moved.

"Soruki, how are we?" Genma asked from the front not needing to look behind instead choosing to keep his attention forward.

"No hostiles, we look to be pretty clear" she answered from her middle position, from where she was she was protected from all sides by the others of her unit and it allowed her to give them equal cover with her sensory ability, "Hold up!" she suddenly said.

They immediately stopped knowing it would be something dangerous if she's said something, "Paper bomb trap, 6 meters ahead of you Genma" she said jumping to get ahead of him and jumping a branch ahead carefully landing on it, pulling out a kunai she gently cut a thin wire, when she did a massive log swung past ahead of her, it would if hit whoever triggered it had they not stopped.

"Good spot" Genma said jumping next to her, "Anymore?".

Soruki stood back up, "Probably, these seem smarter than the regular bandits" she answered placing her hands on her hips, "What's the call?".

"Nothing changes, we'll stay on route providing you can still spot any traps" receiving a nod from Soruki he turned to face Kotetsu and Izumo who'd stopped behind them, "Tighten up formation a bit, we're about an hour out from the bridge".

They set off again, they encountered a few more traps but nothing they couldn't take care off before they reached their destination, sitting in the trees the overlooked a wooden bridge which multiple badly dressed bandits were moving about.

"How many?" Genma asked,

"I count 23 people down there" Soruki answered.

"23's an odd number, could they have hostages?" Kotetsu enquired.

"Yeah, I spot them, other end of the bridge tied up to a tree, I can see two from here though there might be more the other side" Izumo said pointing a finger to a tall tree the far side of the bridge where some badly beaten caravaners were held.

"They might have been just caught, looks like a fresh haul they've got down there" Genma speculated inspecting the crates many of the bandits were hauling around before inspecting the river than ran below the bridge, "The current is too strong to swim to the other side" he mused.

"If their busy with their new haul they won't be ready for a fast attack, if we go in quick they wont be able to stop us" Soruki said receiving a nod from Genma.

"Good thinking, take them by surprise" he said before spotting something across the bridge, it was a smaller bandit who was completely covered in head to toe, not a single part of skin showing, "Soruki, the bandit standing on their own at the far side of the bridge, sense anything about them?".

"They've got more of a chakra presence than the others, quite noticeable in fact, an ex Shinobi maybe?" she pondered to the others.

"I want you to handle whoever that is, looks like they're the leader, cut off the head of the snake and all that" he ordered receiving a nod from the woman, the other reason was that Genma didn't like how organised these bandits seemed to be so their leader could be more of a threat that what's let on, "We'll go for the head on attack, try to keep moving but Soruki you'll push through for the leader if we get held up got it" they all nodded and got into position.

As one of the bandits placed a box down he happened to catch the glimpse of something dark dart past the bridge to the tree's turning to look fully he saw nothing was there, "Hey?" he said getting the attention of a nearby bandit, "Did you see…" he was cut off by two kunai landing in his back killing him.

The second one reached for his weapon but found shuriken peppering his chest putting him down, some bandits turned to face the commotion but only found the four Leaf Shinobi charging through cutting the bandits down before they could reach their weapons.

One of the far side hastily grabbed his bow and took aim but only found a Senbon needle spat into his neck by Genma on the bridge killing the archer in seconds.

Two larger ones with axes came around to swing at Soruki but she jumped up and over them, they followed her as she landed the other side and kept moving, when they tried to give chase they found they couldn't move, looking down they saw they had been caught in some kind of syrup but before they could do anything Kotetsu had brought around his Conch Shell Mace and smashed it into their heads.

Soruki neared the leader as more bandits tried to get in her way, she placed her kunai between her teeth as she weaved her hands to the Tiger sign, "Water Style: Water Fang Bomb"she thought, the water in the river formed together to create small pressurised projectiles that fired from the river hitting the bandits in her way killing most of them and severely injuring the others.

She dodged around the fallen heading for the leader, they readied themselves as Soruki took her kunai from her mouth, the leader when for Soruki but she easily dodged proving much faster that the other one as she cut along their side bringing them to their knees.

The leader wasn't done as they brought their kunai back around only for Soruki to grab their arm and bringing her knee up breaking the arm in one motion before swiftly kicking them away, as they stood weakly holding a kunai Soruki drove her hand through their chest, "Chidori" she muttered as sparks of electricity shot over her hand.

She pushed the leader away, the body collapsed to the floor as their head wrappings came undone showing the face of a lifeless woman, Soruki turned her attention to the bridge where the others were approaching with the two Chunin running over to free the prisoners and Genma coming straight for her, "Good one Soruki, not even an injury on any of us" he said looking at the leaders body.

Soruki rolled her shoulders before she reached into her pouch, "Ah just bandits not much we can be proud about, they simply cant stand up against Shinobi" she said finding a lollipop in her pouch and immediately plopping it into her mouth, this earned a small laugh from Genma at her actions, however, this stopped when he looked at the leaders body, seeing something glint from the pocket.

He walked over then knelt down slowly pulling out the glinting item, "Ah crap" he muttered walking over to the other, "We've got a problem guys" he said making them face him to see a bloody forehead protector in his hands and on the protector was a single song note.

"The Hidden Sound?" Kotetsu asked stepping up to look at the item, "What are they doing here?" he questioned aloud.

"Leading a bunch of bandits" Soruki mused scratching her cheek, "Looks like they are probing our defences, timing our reactions to problems in our territory" she added.

"Yeah, this way they can disown any involvement while getting info, as far as they are concerned this woman was just a rouge leading these bandits but in reality…" Genma felt he didn't need to finish his reasoning, "Let's camp nearby and see if we can catch their unit coming to investigate" he said tucking the protector into one of his jacket pockets as the prisoners took what supplies they could from the bandits and ran for the nearest village.

00000000000

That night around the camp, the four Leaf Shinobi were talking idly around a small lit fire with Soruki sensing out for anything coming, they'd disposed of all the bodies and the prisoners took what supplies they could from the bandits and ran for the nearest village after thanking the Shinobi for their rescue.

"Hey Soruki?" Genma asked from his spot against a tree as he put a new Senbon into his mouth, "It's your younger brothers first mission today isn't it?" he asked making her look up at him.

"Yeah, I have no idea what he's doing though" she responded from her spot on a log swirling a small cup in her hands, "I was actually thinking in my head about what he might be doing this morning before you shouted at me" she fake pouted making him roll his eyes.

"What team did he get anyway?" Izumo joined the conversation ripping some bread in his hands before eating it.

"Kakashi" she asked casually adding a stick to the fire, before taking a drink and making a disgusted face, "What the hell do they put in these, takes like shit".

They all laughed, "Bunch of 'Chakra boosting herbs and nutrients' they say" Kotetsu said with quotation marks, "While it may help you in battle they do nothing for the taste" he mused reluctantly taking a drink of his own cup and making a similar face.

"So they passed the bell test?" Genma asked looking into the fire.

"Yeah, just barely though, they never took bells from him but shared their food instead" she answered deciding she'd rather go without the provided drink in their rations and spilling it to the side, "How they'll work together though, that'll be fun to watch".

"Yeah, haven't they put that Uchiha kid on the same team?" Kotetsu asked downing the last of his drink and ending with a small wretch making everyone chuckle.

"Yeah, it's Kalis, Sasuke, Naruto and a girl I think her names Sakura, something like that" she answered before pulling her pouch around to check it's contents, "A pretty mish mash of a team if you ask me, only Kalis and Naruto really have anything in common".

"Actually that's a question I've been meaning to ask" Kotetsu said sitting up, "What it with your brothers name, it's just so odd, is there a reason for it?" he asked.

Soruki chuckled, she'd had this asked many a time from many different people who knew the both of them, "Well, he was named by my mother the day he was born and she was a woman of… many reasons I'll say, she taught me a lot in the time I knew her and told me many stories but the one thing she never told me was why he's call Kalis" she chuckled with a shrug.

"Any guesses?" Izumo asked finishing his food.

"Not a clue, I've thought about it for 12 coming on 13 years and nada" she said putting her pouch back and facing up to the stars above, "There is a reason and sadly only she seemed to know it, but I know that it must at least be a damn good one" she smiled.

Genma smirked before looking to the stars as well, "I'm amazed Naruto passed too, thought that kid would never become a Genin" he mused making the others look at each other in knowing, this did get Genma's attention, "What? Something you want to share".

"Nothing important" Izumo chuckled along with Kotetsu.

Soruki sighed, "Let's just say it was difficult for the kid to pass but he did it in the end" she answered remembering the night it all went down.

Genma rolled his eyes knowing he wouldn't get a proper answer from any of them but he wasn't really bothered to even try and attempt to get them to tell him anyway.

"Incoming!" Soruki suddenly said, Izumo threw his drink on the fire and they all took hiding positions over looking the road with Izumo pulling out a scroll and pen to begin taking note of what happens as four figures approached, they were all wearing dark cloaks with hoods up so they couldn't make out their faces but could tell they must be from the Sound.

They watched as the one at the front indicated for two to head into the opposite forest while they and the remaining one headed into the forest the Leaf shinobi were hiding in but being as skilled at they were they weren't found.

Eventually all four of the unknowns returned to the road, "Find anything?" the seemingly lead asked.

"Nothing, our informant isn't here" the large one responded, "There's no sign they ever were".

"Looks like she either betrayed us or they've already been disposed off" another one, the smallest said in a feminine tone.

"Our Lords not going to like this, if they're already gone that means the Leaf is still quite capable at the moment" one said in a tone Soruki would describe as spider like, it sent chills down those who were unprepared.

"It's possible" the leader who seemed to have an odd bulge coming from his back said, "But maybe they are stretched thin too, if the bandits here were wiped out and disposed off it could mean more skilled ninja are handling this those who are kept in reserve for more dangerous assignments; Jonin or maybe ANBU level, a task like this shouldn't concern them".

"That's a good point, if they have to send out more experienced Shinobi for lower missions than they are close to tipping point" the female one added.

"Indeed, let's return, I'd rather not talk about this in the open anymore" the leader said before they all jumped off likely back to the Sound.

"This is more pressing than I thought" Genma said after a short while, "Let's head back now, if this was just a test, they wont be sending anyone else back here" he informed getting a nod from the others.

Soruki felt off about this whole thing, she felt that there was more going on than a simple defence probing but she couldn't be sure what, putting a pin in those thoughts she turned around and followed the others of her team back to their camp to clean everything up before departing.

00000000000

"This is concerning" Lord Third said as he inspected the bloodied Hidden Sound forehead protector before reading the transcript of the overheard conversation that Izumo had taken, "The Sound probing our defences" he thought aloud.

"Yes Lord Hokage, we couldn't see under the hoods of the four but the didn't look or sound exactly… right" Genma said not sure of the right wording to use.

"You think they may have been altered in some way?" he asked getting an affirmative not from the squad leader, "Then it's entirely possible Orochimaru might be in play here, especially if it's the Sound involved" he said taking a puff from his pipe.

"What should we do?" Soruki asked.

Lord Third sighed, "For now nothing, until we know more we should keep this as quiet as possible; I'll bring this information up at the council meeting tomorrow but for now stay quiet" they nodded in understanding.

"The Chunin exams are coming up and the Sound will be one of the attendees, from today you four along with Hayate and Anko will have a continuous A-Rank until further notice, you'll be tasked with keeping a watch on any Sound ninja that enter this village or are a part of the Chunin exams, understood" he asked looking to each of them.

"Yes Lord Hokage" they all responded.

"Good, I'll inform Hayate and Anko of their duties tomorrow morning, for now you should all head home, I agree with Genma's theory that the bridge will stay secure for now so there is no need for a continuous presence there now, you're all dismissed" he finished putting the protector and scroll in a sealed compartment of him desk as they exited the room.

Soruki stretched her arms out above her head, "Well that was fun" she mused bringing her arms down in a huff, "A possible issue with the Sound at the Chunin exams no less, just what we needed".

"And we've got the job of watching them thought the whole thing" Kotetsu wined, "Can't I just be left on gate duty" he said rubbing his eyes.

Izumo slapped him on the back with a chuckle, "Oh come on, it's not that bad we're just watching them and it's not like you're doing it on your own" he said trying to encourage his best friend.

Genma just put his hands into his pockets, "Well whether we like it or not it's our job to do come the time, for now head home and get some proper food in you" he said walking ahead along side Soruki, "What do you think of all this?" he asked her quietly as the two Chunin decided on what to eat.

"I think there's more going on than we know, and if I'm honest I'd rather the Chunin exams were cancelled for now" she replied in a serious tone for once.

"I get the feeling, but we can't or that might damage our relationships with other villages" he said back before rubbing his eyes feeling tired, "I'm going to head home for the night, I'll see you around Soruki" he said with a wave as they exited the building.

Kotetsu and Izumo made their own way off too saying goodbye to the female Kochi, she stood in the moonlight for a while outside the building just letting her thoughts wonder, "I think I'll go surprise Kalis with me being back" she muttered to herself after small moment.

She took of in the direction of their home but when she arrived she couldn't sense him inside, knowing he would should be home this late she decided to have a search for him, she jumped around the village eventually she came to the training ground used the other day for the bell test.

She sensed him laying against a tree, she walked towards him stepping over shuriken and kunai before she got to him, he was fast asleep likely not waking up because it was only her next to him, sensing around she found multiple damaged trees likely from the few Jutsu's he could do and targets with kunai and shuriken embedded in them.

"You've been training again, huh?" she asked his asleep body, "You probably exhausted your self, you won't be waking up soon then so I'll have to get you home" she smiled picking him up and putting him on her back, draping his arms over her shoulders and holding his legs at her side giving him a piggy back ride.

She slowly waked back to their house, making a note to remind him to clean this mess up tomorrow but for now decided to let him rest, or that was the plan.

"Where are you taking me?" he asked, half asleep still.

"Home obviously" she smirked holding back a chuckle as his child like voice.

"Are you carrying me?" he asked still groggy.

"Yep, don't you go complaining about it" she chuckled unable to hold it back, "I found you passed out in the training ground, been at it hard?" she enquired now.

Kalis didn't answer just slumping against her feeling deflated, they walked for a while in silence as they re-entered the streets of the village, "Why am I not getting stronger?" he asked her so quietly she barely heard him, "Why am I not as strong as you were?"

Soruki didn't know what to say to that, it was no secret the between the two of the she was far stronger and even at his age she was an elite Shinobi already mastering the Kochi techniques, "Well I…" she sighed knowing the answer to some extent.

"You need to find what truly motivates you" she said slowly, "I became strong to protect you, after watching our clan be destroyed, I couldn't stand to lose you too, so I made a vow to always protect you, my Nindo" she sighed.

"When someone finds something they truly want to fight for, a dream they wish achieve, they become strong to achieve it, sometimes without knowing and sometimes just on instinct they will fight for it and are willing to give their lives if it means a preservation of that dream or goal; you Kalis need to decide what you truly want in this world and fight like hell to achieve it, only then will you become strong to achieve what you desire, you must find your Nindo" she said taking a breath and smiling back at him.

"My Nindo… but how will I know I've found the right one…" he asked.

"You don't search for the right one but you can't get the wrong one, you will just realise one day what it is you truly want to achieve, and then you will push yourself to achieve it" she smiled leaning her head back to bonk his head, "Don't put so much pressure on yourself, you'll just burn out, take your time, go at your own pace, you're your own person Kalis so just be that and everything will become clearer".

Kalis smiled and nodded resting into the ride home, "Thanks Big Sis" he muttered as the two siblings walked through the empty streets together, knowing that they'll always have each other.

0000000000

Just a short one to get some time with Soruki and one of my favourite character Genma who is so underused.