Scarlet Justice - ep. 70
"Atomic Energy"
[Hidden Sand Joint Mission: Prologue]

I wake up to the smell of eggs.

"Hey. Gaara made all this for us before he left. Weird kid."

I join Temari at the large and finely crafted meal table in the dining room. This certainly looks like a village head's home. The crystal bowl in front of us is filled with scrambled eggs, dotted with crystals of salt and pepper. There are also some other spices mixed in there as I take a few spoonfuls and drop them onto my plate.

"This is a typical morning. I might mention something offhand about how I'd like an omelette for breakfast, for example. He'll get up and make a couple. That's how he is."

"It's nothing like what I'm thinking, hopefully."

"Nope, nothing like that. He genuinely likes doing this stuff for us. Definitely changed a whole lot since the exams and coming back home. I was worried about him doing too much and trying to like, make up for all the stuff he did. But he's been taking care of himself, working hard on missions, doing his best to be helpful. The old memories don't just go away, though."

"Yes." I take up a forkful of eggs and chew. Delicious.

"He doesn't have the trust of everyone yet, and the old losers on the council are trying to take advantage of him. It only makes sense. He spent a long time terrorizing the village and being a huge menace to society. People are coming around here and there, but it'll be a long road. He understands, though. And I'll be here for him."

"As long as you don't smother him too much."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean that older sisters have a tendency to be overprotective."

Temari rolls her eyes. "What the hell? Why wouldn't I want to protect my little brother?"

"Why, indeed."

"You're a weirdo, you know that?"

"Mm."

"How are the eggs?"

"Superb."

"Right. Anyone who can cook like this is worth protecting."

I smile as she sips her tea.

We take a walk through the village and towards the designated meeting place for the council meeting. The Hidden Sand looks about as I expected it to look: a village divided between the elite and impoverished, so starkly that you can tell who's well off and who isn't by glancing at them. The working class is, as usual, trapped in the middle, working towards a future that is greedily siphoned away by the rich each day.

"It's gotten a bit worse since my father died," Temari says. She has a new outfit on today, with much more purple all around. The pink sash is a nice touch as well. Very elegant. "Not much we can do about it. He was barely keeping us above water on his own, and Gaara was part of his whole schtick to create elite soldiers so that we could raise funds faster on better paying missions. But you saw how that went."

"Mm."

"I'm one of the people running point right now. Not as the village head, of course. Funny thing is...well, you know what I was saying about Gaara at breakfast?"

"Yes."

"He's at the top of the list for successors. By a mile."

"You don't say. I suppose that aside from you, he's the strongest shinobi in this village. Or at the least, has the potential to be."

"Yep. Already got his promotion to chuunin based on that. Speaking of promotions, I don't know exactly how to react to the fact that you're a jounin now. It didn't register until I woke up this morning. I knew you were pretty skilled, but holy shit. Congratulations, by the way."

"Thank you. What about you?"

"Chuunin. Got my wings the moment they found my dad, they were that eager to turn things around. I take it they would have promoted me anyways, but all the official stuff...that needed some clearance that you don't just get based on people's word. You probably know about that by now, though. So I don't have to tell you not to get intimidated by a bunch of old men sitting in a circle and glaring at you."

"I have enough experience with that. Being leered at by fossils."

"Hoh. Then this should be cake for you. Oh yeah...what about that thing a month or two ago? The kidnapping?"

"You mean with Sasuke."

"Yeah."

"It's been resolved." The information is supposed to be classified, but...well, Temari put herself out there for me a few times already. She's worthy of trust. "There are some interesting details."

"No kidding. You'd think that they would be celebrating the guys who chased him and that Sakura girl down, but it's basically been nothing. You weren't involved, were you?"

"As a matter of fact, I was. The data is supposed to be kept close to our chests, but I was running point."

"So you've been jounin for a while longer than I thought. But why would they...?"

"The kidnapping story was a cover. Orochimaru tempted Sasuke before his death, and it led to...that incident."

Temari blinks and starts to process what I've been telling her. Her eyes widen and she looks at me with sympathy. "Oh, god. Oh, Lili...sweetie, you can't be serious. They did that to you?"

"It's not something that would reflect well on the village, so...that's largely why we covered it up. There was time to, and it lined up with the invasion of the Sound..."

She shakes her head. "That's so...I mean, did they give you anything for it?"

"A big enough bribe. But that's it. Our involvement has been redacted."

"That's bullshit...I don't know how I would handle something like that happening to me. Not well, obviously, but..."

"The less I tell you about their arrangements, the better."

"Yeah, I don't want to spend the whole day pissed off. You're a real trooper, you know that?"

"It's been said enough times."

"Clearly not."

We make it to our destination, a building with a luxurious looking front and several guards outside. They bow at the sight of Temari and allow us inside, where we're escorted by a Sand kunoichi to the meeting room. It's as I expected: a bunch of men sitting around a circular conference table with an opening in one section. Temari nods to me and takes her seat. The sensei I saw during the exams - Baki, if I remember correctly - is here as well. The men all have those head coverings that are both fashionable and practical in this desert climate, but they also have the look of snobs. I'm sick of them already.

"Welcome to the Hidden Sand," Baki says. "We decided to have our meeting here for various logistical reasons."

"They decided you weren't worthy enough to stand in front of the statues of the past Kazekage," Temari says lazily.

"Temari, please."

"What. It's the truth. Let's not bullshit the people who are here to help us in our hour of need, sensei."

"..." Baki sighs and nods. "That much is reasonable."

"Your customs are your own," I say politely. "If it is more pleasing and comfortable that you observe them, then I can accomodate you. This goes for the mission as well. I'll make an attempt to grant the wishes of the Sand, within reason."

"Within reason? And who are you to say something like that?" one of the old idiots asks.

"Well...much more than a simple guest, I would say."

"You're certainly haughty for someone who hasn't reached puberty."

"That makes two of us, then."

Temari stifles a laugh and Baki coughs.

"You've got some-"

"More than just some nerve. Let's get things started, since we've decided to discard civility early on," I say, interrupting a potato-shaped old blob. "According to my schedule, the mission is set for tomorrow. Reconnaissance for the area around Mitsurin District, more specifically."

"Something like that," another old idiot answers from directly ahead of me, at the other end of the room. "You'll be sent out with a team of fine young kunoichi. Their jounin instructors are out on missions of their own and won't be back for a while."

"Not an issue. I can babysit for a few days." There's something else coming, of course. Not like these fools could resist. Temari catches my eye, and she makes a face while nodding towards Baki. Baki in turn traces a shape on the paper in front of him with a finger. I raise a brow and don't indicate an answer either way. It's going to depend on what comes next.

"Babysitting. Is that what you call it?"

"I don't know. You are aware that I'm a jounin and have other things that I could be doing, are you not?"

"Well. Seeing as you're doing such a good deed by babysitting our young shinobi, I'm sure you can spare a bit more kindness to a village that's currently...down on its luck."

"I did say I would grant your wishes within reason. What would you like from me?"

It's a simple thing, really. The Sand paid certain officials under the table to secure this mission on several levels: top level personnel, mission conditions, and information restrictions. Knowing this, I know what's going to come up next, and I know exactly what I'm going to ask for in exchange.

"We would like for you to waive your rights to the mission rewards, and other associated earnings that might come along. It's been discussed on the upper levels between the two villages. We can compensate the Leaf in other ways, of which you are free to choose."

Predictable. "In the interests of stronger bonds between our two villages, I can accept that with a condition attached."

"What might that condition be?" Baki asks curiously.

"There's an interesting piece of property called Sawano Point, to the south of this village. The value would come in at far less than this...B-Rank mission, I believe. I'll add about twenty percent onto the mission pay for each of my three companions, as a show of good faith."

"Sawano Point? Out of the question," the potato says firmly.

I shrug. "Minami Station, then."

"That's also-"

"Neither of those are off limits, actually. I talked to the Sugita House before I got here. Now, you've got a few options at this point. You let me stake my claim on the unlisted, unconfirmed reward at the end of this mission, which doesn't seem ideal for many, many reasons," I say as sweetly as possible. "You can give me Sawano Point and Minami Station, or choose one of them - they'll be in the hands of the Leaf at that point, which is more comfortable for you lot. Or...I can turn around and go home, leaving you to complete this mission on your own. That doesn't sound ideal, especially because I'll have free reign to arrange purchases with the Sugita Family and take those precious pieces of land right from under you."

The room is silent enough that I can hear everyone's breathing.

"Let's be clear, here. The only option you really have is deciding how sore I'm going to leave you at the end of this little escapade. So make it easier on yourselves, and choose what you're going to give up before this mission starts."

"What'd I tell you?" Temari says, leaning back in her chair. "I said to prepare something for when Leaf came around with a counter. Of course, you also chose to fuck around with the actual Scarlet Viper - who you knew about already - so there really wasn't anything I could do for you."

"Gentlemen, we should prepare an offer in good faith while we have time," Baki says. "The mission to Mitsurin District is of great importance and time-sensitive, which is why we asked for this level of assistance in the first place, and assembled a team with a particular set of skills. This is crucial for the future of the village."

"It means stop dicking around and make the lady a good offer," Temari adds.

"Temari..."

She waves him off and he sighs.

There's muttering between the group of petty old men for a while, and I wait patiently. Temari makes a strangling motion towards herself and Baki tries to scold her with a stern expression from afar.

"Sawano Point, then," the prepubescent one from earlier announces. "Along with a thirty percent bonus for the mission."

"Fine time to find your balls," I shoot back. "Twenty five."

He grits his teeth before nodding.

"Rest assured, your little ones will be in good hands. Thank you very much for granting me an audience with you," I say with a bow. Temari and Baki follow me out of the room, and we gather together.

"You could have been gentle in there," Temari says as the door closes behind us.

"I could have, yes."

She shakes her head. "Well, I can't blame you either way. I'd praise you, but it might get sensei hot under the collar."

"Forceful negotiation like that is an art form in and of itself. Clearly, we were unprepared for the caliber of shinobi we had called on," Baki admits. "While I won't say something like 'well done', I can't exactly be angry with your actions earlier."

"That much will do."

"Piece of work, eh?" Temari says with a smile.

"Indeed." Baki hands me a scroll. "The relevant data and profiles for your team, as well as the meeting place. Equipment is listed. I don't know if you need any extra data, but just ask and it will be provided as soon as possible."

I open the scroll and scan it quickly. "I should have everything I need. The threat level from the bandit groups hasn't changed, has it?"

"Not according to reports. There may be one or two camps in the vicinity, you'll know them when you're within range. Ideally we shouldn't need to engage, simply move in and collect the necessary samples, record data, and then return to the village. But of course, everything is at your discretion."

"One of the things you gave up for the sake of the mission's success," I say.

"Yes."

I close the scroll and put it into my back pouch. "Then I won't abuse your faith in me. Prepare a team or two to dispose of corpses just in case. We can't be too complacent in these times."

"I heard from Temari that you had a dry sense of humour at times."

I shrug. "She's not wrong about that."

"Try not to harass your team members too much while you're out," Temari says, smirking. "Though...I guess I should be telling you to watch out yourself."

"Oh?"

"It's better if I leave it as a surprise. Good luck, Red. I'll have Gaara cook us something nice for when you get back."

"Are you sure that's wise?" Baki asks.

"There's nothing wrong with Gaara's cooking. And I'm not abusing him, if you're implying something. Big sisters should be encouraging, yeah?"

He sighs. "We will see you later, Captain Kobayashi. Please be well."

"Of course."

I leave at the same time they head back into the conference room. Everything is settled, so...it's time to meet my team. I wonder what Temari was getting at, exactly. Another girl like me, maybe. Hm. I wonder what that will be like.

"They should be gathering in that spot very soon."

I've decided to get a good look at my team before formally meeting them, using a nearby roof as a vantage point. My legs dangle comfortably off the edge as I wait. From memorizing the scroll earlier, I have a good idea of what our combat capabilities are. We should be quite safe at many different ranges, and there are a number of useful skills at our disposal. Combat should be trivial for the most part. I just have to take their personalities into account.

A team with four girls sounds nice, though. Hopefully my temporary teammates are cute.

The first girl arrives at our meeting place, which is in front of a local delicatessen. She smartly double checks her equipment and glances at one of the big clocks nearby before letting out a breath. A bench is nearby and she takes a seat. Comfortably early and organized. She has fair skin and dark hair, tied into two tails that go behind her back. The tips are dark green, an interesting combination that reminds me of someone I've seen before. Her outfit consists of a close-fitting black top with no back or sleeves, a white sash around her waist, and dark leggings.

"..."

I can't shake the fact that I've seen someone like her before. Well, the most important part is that she's a beauty. Hopefully we get along well. I watch as she smiles and waves to someone she knows, her brown eyes sparkling in the light.

The next girl hurries along towards the first, and they share a hug after meeting each other. From her movements, I can tell that she's on the shy side. Those types are fun to tease sometimes, but with this being another village, I can't go too far. This one has messy, light brown hair that runs over her shoulders. Her eyes are a dull red, which is an alluring feature in itself...and that kimono of hers, or what looks like one at least, is novel. Her hands are completely hidden by the long sleeves, which gives away her identity to me based on the mission data.

"..."

The designated meeting time is nearly here. The third member is...

"Wow, wow, wow! Looking real good!"

"Makoto! Stop flirting and get over here!" the first girl yells.

"Sorry~! Couldn't help myself!"

A girl on the taller side rubs the back of her head sheepishly as she approaches the other two. Her hair is dark brown, the same as her eyes, and is tied back into a ponytail. I can clearly see that her skin is tanned, due to the fact that she's wearing essentially nothing on her upper half. Just the village's standard combat vest and wrappings around her chest. Not that I have an issue with that sort of thing, I mean. Certainly a visual treat. Very bold, though. The miniskirt is an interesting touch too, and I can see as she shifts that there are shorts underneath. A genuine tomboy then, complete with some visible muscle on her arms and legs. Interesting.

Since everyone's assembled by now, and on time for the most part, I think I should make my appearance. I body flicker down to the street and approach casually from a visible spot in the marketplace.

"Is...that her?" the first girl asks. "Baki-sensei said that she had red hair."

"Huh? Aiko, there's no way that midget...I mean, she's a hottie, but..."

"Makoto, hush."

"Are we ready for our trip down south, ladies?" I ask as I stop in front of them.

"We...we should be," the second girl says quietly. "Are you the sensei that's...leading us?"

"I am. Please, allow me to introduce myself properly. I am your mission leader, and jounin of the Hidden Leaf Village, Lilith Kobayashi." I give the girls a respectful bow. "Address me as you feel comfortable, but Lili is perfectly fine."

"It's very nice to meet you, Captain Kobayashi. My name's Aiko Mishoto, a genin of the Hidden Sand." Aiko smiles and bows politely.

"My name is Suketsune Temko...also a genin of the Hidden Sand Village. It's nice to meet you, Captain Kobayashi, ma'am." Suketsune puts her sleeved hands together and bows.

"Makoto Hibana, genin. Hi." She lazily waves at me.

"Makoto, seriously. Be polite," Aiko scolds.

"So, Lili, how long have you been at this shinobi thing?" Makoto asks. I have to wonder what it is I did or said in this short time. Her tone has changed considerably, and there's very little of that playful air from before.

"I would have to say about a year and a half now, give or take. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, interesting. I guess that's longer than most people would last after buying their way in with daddy's money."

"Makoto! What are you doing?" Aiko asks, horrified.

"..." I say nothing and let Makoto continue.

"I'm not doing anything. I just, you know, wanted to see how much experience the princess here has before she leads us into danger. Money's no substitute for skill, you and I know that well enough, Aiko."

Some sort of personal issue with wealthy people. From what Temari's shown me, I don't have much reason to question their resentment. I'm not deserving of that scorn, but...it might be for the best to let this go. At least for now.

"Cryin' shame," she mutters to herself. "Someone that good looking..."

"Captain, I'm sorry about that. Makoto, she-"

I raise my hands towards Aiko. "It's fine. I don't understand the reasons for it, but I'll let it go."

"You don't have to worry about me flying off the handle, Captain," Makoto says with a biting tone. "The mission is the mission, and this is for the village. For all the people who don't have enough to get by."

"Makoto...please, it's enough," Suketsune pleads gently.

"Yeah. Sure, I get it."

Makoto is too...expressive to lie about her intentions. She wants to get to the mission and complete it. It's possible that these three were told something else aside from what was in the mission request, but that's not any of my business right now.

"We'll do final equipment checks and then go over mission protocol. Our destination will be about a day and a half away at normal operating speed. Let's begin, ladies."

"Ma'am," they reply in unison.

I finish looking over the equipment, explain the mission details, and go over our routines. Aiko is paying attention as much as she can, while Suketsune quietly listens. Makoto puts her hands behind her head and closes her eyes. She's listening, of course, but still doing what she can to deny me some respect.

Of course, she can't resist cracking one eye open on occassion to check me out. No wonder Temari seemed so smug a few hours earlier...I could pass for a straight woman standing next to Makoto.

"Um, Captain?"

We've finished our small meeting and are ready to head off. Aiko gently leads me away from the rest of the group.

"Aiko, is something wrong?" As I look at her, something clicks. Ah, so she's...no wonder I kept thinking those things. She looks so much like her mother. But that's something we can talk about later, hopefully.

"I...just wanted to apologize for earlier. Listen, if there's anything-"

"Aiko, calm down. Alright? It's fine. I meant that. I'm not upset."

"Makoto...she had a hard life, and everything. I know it was wrong for her to do that, to just bully you because you came from money. I have a rich friend too, so..."

"Do you, now."

"Yeah. She helped me a lot after...a certain incident. Really, she's like my sister. Or, more than just like."

"I understand the feeling very well. I was born an only child, but gained quite a few sisters myself."

"Yeah? That's really nice to hear. So...um, if I can-"

"Aiko! Stop, seriously," I say with a smile. "I mean it, or I really will get upset this time. You have nothing to apologize for, nothing at all. Okay? Take it easy."

"Sorry."

"It's okay." I take her hand and pat it gently. "Makoto and I will deal with our personal problems in time, but I can tell they won't get in the way of the mission. If they do, well...I suppose you'll have reason to worry then. But," I say with a finger raised, "that will be dealt with at the promised time. So leave it be for now. Promise?"

"I promise, ma'am."

"Good."

"Everything alright over here?" Makoto says as she walks up to us. Her brown eyes move back and forth between myself and Aiko.

"Everything's fine," Aiko says. "I was just talking with Captain Kobayashi about the mission and stuff. Nothing to worry about, Makoto."

"Sure. If you say so, Aiko. We ready to go?" Makoto says as she looks at me.

"We're ready. All you have to do is follow my lead." I pause a moment. "You...don't know who I am, do you?"

"It won't matter who you are or might be if you hurt Aiko."

"Ah." I nod. "Understandable. It's alright, Miss Hibana. You'll learn in time. Shall we?"

She nods back, and we call Suketsune to us before taking off for the Sand's main entrance.