A/N: Sorry for the long update time and the somewhat small chapter. At least the story's moving forwards.
Chapter Twelve: Secret Mission?
"Okay, first of all ... You two know about our newest missing-nin, right? Kakashi-san and Iruka-san?" Naruto looked between them expectantly.
Shai and Gaara both nodded. Shai had read about their newest missing nin in Sunagakure's newspaper, quite a long while back. Gaara probably knew ... Just because it was Gaara.
"Right ... Well, we know where they're hiding, and we've convinced the Hokage to let them back into the village if we can convince the two to return." Sakura nodded proudly. Obviously, it had been her that had set up the entire argument.
Shikamaru sat up intently. They seemed to have an entire speech planned or something! "And we're planning on a surprise attack. If we can coax them out, and maybe talk to them, then we could get them to return to the village peacefully."
Everyone nodded around the table. Even Gaara.
"Okay ... Well, I suppose I could help ..." Shai looked over at Gaara, and he nodded in agreement. He looked down at her out of the corner of his eye and subtly poked her; a signal that they needed to talk privately.
"Uhm .. could you excuse us a moment?" Shai got up and smiled apologetically to the seven as Gaara dragged her off to the back of the shop.
"I need you to read the mission scroll."
"What? Now?"
"Yes."
Shai rolled her eyes and held out her hand, "Fine."
"Not here. Back at the house. Set up a rendezvous with them or something. I have to go."
Shai nodded, "But where's the scroll?"
"Check under your nose."
Gaara leaned in and pecked Shai on the nose before disappearing in a swirl of sand.
Shai sighed and slumped against the wall. Gaara sure was difficult sometimes! Chuckling at the riddle he'd left her with, with good purpose, she headed back to the table.
"Oi. Where'd Gaara go?" Naruto Shikamaru cracked open an eye as she returned, only a bit surprised that she'd returned alone.
"Uhm ... Nowhere. Look guys, I got to go. Could we meet up later? Like... In an hour or so? It's ... Four right now, so ... How about at five, five-thirty we meet ... Uhm ... I dunno." Shai was speaking at incredible speeds. She really wanted to find the scroll and read it.
"Lets meet at the cliffs! Under the fourth's head!" Everyone groaned at Naruto's suggestion.
"Why there? You always suggest there!"
Before another argument broke out, Shai butt in with, "Sounds good, see you there in an hour-and-a-half! Ja!" Shai quickly dashed out of the shop and ran as fast as she could, back to their temporary home.
She quickly opened the door, surprised to find it unlocked, and darted into her room, waving a quick hello to Temari.
Shai shut the door behind her and began to think frantically.
If I was under my nose, I would be ... Under the bed? Nope.' Shai shook her head and stuck out her tongue as she sat on her haunches.
'The pillow?'
'Uhm .. Nope.'
'The ... Oh! Right here.' Shai looked up on top of her shelf and quickly took down the scroll Gaara had put there for her. She unrolled it and glanced at the clock. She had an hour left.
Infiltration Mission
To complete this mission, you are to gather information about the missing-nins Hatake Kakashi and Umuino Iruka. Any information is to be reported to Sayami Jiiru of Sunagakure. When Sayami gives the okay, you're to take out the two missing nin's in anyway possible.
Pictures of the two are provided in the scroll.
It is possible that they've changed their appearances or may be using genjitsu, so be on guard.
Shai gasped as she read and re-read the scroll. She closed her eyes, counted to ten, rubbed them, then opened them before reading the scroll a third time.
She decided that she really wasn't hallucinating, and what she was reading was the real deal.
She finally understood why Gaara had been in such a rush. She scrunched up her nose and unravelled the scroll fully and looked for the pictures. She didn't find any in the bulk of the scroll, so she checked the tubing that kept it in a nice little roll.
Having found nothing, she put it back together, placing the scroll in one of her hidden pockets. She sighed dejectedly andslumped down onto her bed to think for a while.
