Chapter 7

Who's the Missing Nin?

A/N So here is the next chapter thank you to all of the reviewers. Especially those who have given me their thoughts on the story I would love to hear what you guys think is going to happen.

Damn it all, these Anbu aren't going to let me off with a simple 'because I don't feel like taking it off.' Karma remembered the looks he got when he was in the Hokage's office, it was like the Leaf were trying to look straight through his mask. He hadn't liked that feeling and he was starting to feel it now. It was an anxious feeling that told him everyone in the room was waiting for his answer. Few people have seen what lies beneath this mask since it was put on. With that thought he crossed to the door and answered the question that had been left in the air waiting.

"Because my dear Leaf I want two people on each guard duty and I will be the other person on first watch." The room grew quiet as the Sand Fox had walked out of the room into the forest. The Hawk seemed to glare at the empty space he had left behind, and then seemingly tired of glaring at nothing followed the other Hunter nin's example and walked out into the forest.

"Well that was troublesome," The man who had been wearing the owl mask stated, before he received a whack on his head from the girl who had been wearing the tiger mask. He then starting to back away, hoping that he was only going to receive one slap.

"Shikamaru stop being so damn lazy!" The blonde headed girl announced while stalking the man around the room. "It's unattractive," The girl finally stated when she cornered him.

Temari sighed as she watched the display remembering a time when she used to hit the Shikamaru every time he had said troublesome. Good times, Good times, at least it got out some pent up aggression. Continuing to watch the display she began to wonder about how easily the genius of a partner she had been caught up in his own web. Even though Karma appeared to be one of the genius' of the Sand Village he stilled showed some of his rash thinking skills. The thinking skills that he had gained in the Leaf village and those skills seemed to becoming more and more apparent as the mission wore on. She began to think it had nothing to do with Sand being under attack, but being so close to his former friends.

With Karma

Karma was sitting in a branch a few trees over from where there camp was set up. I almost slipped up just now, A pain shot through his palm as he began to squeeze his fingernails into it. I have to remember not to do that again. Embracing the small amount of pain he leaned his head against the column of the tree and closed his eyes. The weight at the end of the branch sank down a little as the Hawk anbu appeared. Karma peaked open one of his eyes and stared into the glaring eyes of the other nin.
"What's your problem?" He asked with a calm voice.

"Those are my nins in there and I don't need you to undermine a decision that directly concerns the welfare of them and my village." The hawk stated while looking down at the fox.

"Do you really care for your village that much that you would challenge my authority over me telling the other nins to take their masks off?" The Fox challenged. When he finished his statement he slid down to the ground below the tree, knowing that the other nin would soon follow. When the Hawk dropped down on the ground next to him he continued. "Besides it wasn't fair for my partner to have them know her identity and not know theirs."

"Then why didn't you take off your mask as well?" The hawk asked innocently.

Walking over to lean against one of the trees he continued. "Because there are some things that should remain unseen."

"Is your face so horrible that you won't show it to anyone for fear of rejection?" The Hawk inquired while mirroring the fox's movements.

"No, however I like to keep things private and not announce it to the world." Karma stated in a deadly calm voice, while gazing unflinchingly into the Hawks eyes.

"Then maybe you are a missing nin," Before Karma could interrupt him, the Hawk continued. "From one of our enemy villages, or even from my home village Kohona."

Becoming impatient with this interrogation Karma interrupted the Hawk before he could continue. "What's stopping me from calling you a missing nin from sand? You could have easily stayed behind with your colleagues for a few minutes just enough time for Temari to see your face. However you choose to come straight out here just like me. So you could very well be a missing nin from Sand hiding under a Leafs identity."

"If I was a missing nin from Sand do you believe I would have confronted you about you being a missing nin?" The Hawk questioned and waited for an answer from the other man.

"Then tell me old wise one which village you think I am from." Karma started to play wise ass with the Hawk knowing that he may have very well fallen into a trap. However there was always a way to fix things and Karma happened to be one of the best at mind altering jutsus.

A/N So this chapter was really more of a conformation between two of the characters instead of revealing who was behind the masks. But I promise next time you will know who is behind which mask. The next update will hopefully be up on my birthday early in the morning. Have a good Memorial Day weekend!

-Roxanne