Chapter 22:

"Good morning!" the happy brown-eyed Hokage said as the two supposed teammates entered her office. "I trust that you both got a good night's sleep last night!"

"Why?" Raxiel asked, bewildered by her happy-go-lucky attitude.

"Because if all goes correctly, the next four or five nights you'll be sleeping outside in the forests of the Land of Fire."

Naruto put his hands behind his head. "Really? What is this mission you're sending us on?"

Tsunade glanced at Raxiel. "I'm taking it you agreed to be his partner. Very well then, I'll go ahead and explain it. There is a man by the name of Matsu who is going around in the Land of Fire, trying to kill all of the leaders from different villages and etcetera to become one himself. He's caused riots in the Land of Grass (which is where he is from), and has even stirred up a few men to follow him, making him a very vicious man. Just a few months ago, he came to the Land of Fire, and he's been blackmailing businesses, making businesses become bankrupt one by one. Your job is to get him to tell you where his hideout is in the Land of Fire. That way, we can take care of this man and his group once and for all. You'll be traveling to a small town right on the border to where the Land of Grass meets the Land of Fire. There's a small restaurant that's famous for serving people – men in particular – with geishas. It's been said that Matsu goes there often. Raxiel, you will be escorted by Naruto to this place and will be there disguised as a geisha, and so therefore, your job will be to serve him, and somehow you will get him to spit out where this hideout is. Any questions?"

Raxiel's eyes were as wide as saucers. Naruto's face had a bored expression. Tsunade couldn't help but smirk at the two.

"I'll take that as a no," she finally said, breaking the silence.

"W-Wait, Tsunade. Me? A geisha? I don't even know the first thing about it."

Tsunade's eyes lit up, once again, with excitement. She bent down and opened up a drawer. Then pulling up two heavy books, she placed them on the table in front of her. "And that's why I'm sending you off with these books. They explain everything about the proper etiquette of being a geisha. Just read them while you're on the road, and you should do fine. I've even got all of the necessary items you'll need for the wardrobe. Looks like you're all set! I'll give you a map of where to go, and you can set off tonight. I'll be expecting you back at the most three weeks from today, understood?"

"Wait -!"

"Yes, Tsunade! We're off as soon as we're prepared!" Naruto cut in, picking up the books that lied on the desk in one hand and grabbing Raxiel's arm with the other, pulling her out of the tower before she could ask any more questions.

Raxiel jerked her arm away from his grasp. "What was that for?" she snapped at him.

Naruto frowned. "Raxiel, I saw that look on your face when we were in there. It was the 'I'm-getting-out-of-this' look."

"You're darn right it was!" Raxiel said lividly. "You expect me to –"

"Raxiel, come on! How bad can it be? This will be a chance to prove ourselves."

Suddenly, Raxiel knew what he was doing…

He was trying to win approval…

And she was going to ruin his big chance if she didn't do this mission.

Giving up with defeat, Raxiel sighed. "What time are we leaving?"

Then suddenly, she couldn't breathe due to the arms that were wrapped around her in a big hug. "Do you mean it! Are you serious!" Naruto exclaimed.

Raxiel started coughing for air. "Yes, I'm serious! But you'd better let go of me, or there won't be any mission for us!"

"Oops… Sorry." Naruto quickly let go of her. "Uh, right! So the time! We leave at six! See you at the hotel!" Soon Naruto was skipping away with joy.

And Raxiel was left with the biggest fear she had ever had…

She was going to be a geisha…

XxXxXxXxXxXx

"Hey! We're here!" Naruto excitedly shouted as they made their way past the gates and into the small village know as Exhibit-A.

As Raxiel looked around, she noticed that the village was quite smaller than the one she had been living at for the past four or so months. "So, Naruto, where do we go first?" Raxiel asked him, amused with her surroundings.

Naruto soon took out a map and held it in front of his face for him to read. "Next, we should go to the restaurant (Exhibit-B) and get you signed up so you can be there when he comes."

Raxiel's eyes quickly shifted onto him. "You'll be there, too, right?"

Noticing her tenseness, Naruto put the map out of his face and quickly smirked at her. "To accompany you there, yes. Any other time, I'll be waiting outside so no one gets suspicious."

Raxiel's eyes widened. "Out…side?"

Naruto couldn't resist the urge to burst out laughing form her expression. "Aw, come on, Raxiel! Nothing's gonna happen to you. You'll have a kunai in our 'back pocket,' in case something does go wrong."

Raxiel smiled at him with the remembrance that she was going to be armed with a weapon… or maybe two… "That's right, Naruto! I forgot all about that! Thanks!"

Naruto frowned. "Yeah, just don't forget them when you're in there."

Nervously, Raxiel started to laugh at his statement. The past five nights she had spent outside with him in the forests, she had grown to like him as a friend even more. Although sometimes he was rather annoying, she tried to see past that flaw, and soon, they were both getting along pretty well. He had even helped her out with trying to get the "being-a-geisha" disguise down properly. At night, when they'd stop to make camp, Raxiel would serve him and try to use the proper techniques that a geisha would use. He corrected her on some things, and now, she felt that she was ready to try her luck at it.

"So, where is this place?" Raxiel said, now gaining her confidence back.

Once again, Naruto looked at the map. "Looks like it's two blocks away. Let's get there and fast; I'm starvin'!"

"Same here!" Raxiel said. Quickly, they made it to the restaurant and went inside.

"I hope all goes as planned," she thought to herself. "Especially in the situation I'll be in. There's no telling what could happen."

Raxiel's thoughts soon started racing in her mind…

Fear…

Red…