"A-a m-mission?"

"Yes."

"Oh, well how long will you be gone?" Hikari asked her voice cracking a bit at the end.

Itachi shrugged. "I don't know, but it's supposed to be short you know? I'd give it two weeks maximum."

"Are you going alone?"

"No, Kisame is tagging along too," the seventeen year old replied.

"Okay then be safe. Don't forget-"

"Don't worry, okay?"

"Okay." She opened her arms.

Itachi's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Don't just stare at me come on!" She grinned brightly.

"O-oh!" He went in to hug her a blush creeping on his cheeks.

"Take care!" Releasing the embrace she waved to him as he left the room.

"You took that surprisingly well."

"I really didn't have much of a choice. I can't just tell him not to go on missions." Hikari shrugged going back to her bed.

"Hiiiikkkkaaariiii."

"Fucking hell," she muttered. "Deidara what?!" She shouted.

"Leader-sama is calling for you!"

"And he just had to send you didn't he?!"

"Oh, is it solo?"

"Yes."

"Well that's unusual." Hikari frowned. It seemed easy enough to her, almost too easy.

"What's the catch." Hikari narrowed her eyes.

Pain sighed and locked his eyes with her. "No questions asked."

Hikari scowled and turned on her heels, making sure her hair whipped him in the face as she turned away from him.

Pain blinked as her hair strands stabbed him in the eye. "You leave tonight."

Hikari raised one finger in particular but went to pack nonetheless.

"This seems too easy, I'm kinda worried."

"You worry too much."

Hikari repeated his words in a mocking tone. "Fuck off.

" No thanks."

"I wasn't asking you little shit."

Mangetsu stuck out his tongue at her.

Hikari's jaw dropped. "W-what?!"

Mangetsu burst out laughing.

"I look absolutely ridiculous." Hikari said looking at herself in the mirror.

"Hmm, I dont know, you look kinda cute."

"And I can't move for the love of everything I hold dear." Hikari tried twisting her waist around but the Yukata she was wearing didn't allow much movement.

"I look like a twelve year old."

"Yeah, you do." Mangetsu gave her a sly smile twirling her pigtails around.

"I should probably have an up-do or something."

Mangetsu shook his head with a smile. "Sure, by all means go ahead."

"And that's all you need to do."

Hikari scowled at the old woman in front of her. Seriously? This is why she, a Heiki, was called upon.

Her eye twitching with annoyance and a vein popping up in her forehead, Hikari crossed her arms underneath her chest and tried to not kill the woman on the spot instead.

Hikari only agreed to this mission because Pain made it specific that she would get 100% of the pay all to herself. After all she needed to restock on daifuku and chocolate, maybe a bit of dango.

Still she couldn't believe she travelled four hundred kilometers to kill this old woman's soon to be daughter in law.

She was 'invited' to a traditional wedding by the old lady because she was a friend's daughter who unfortunately died a long time ago.

She was supposed to either poison the girl without leaving any traces, or make it look like an accident. Anything that didn't scream 'I don't approve of her and now I want you to kill her.'

Hikari already had her plan set.

She'll make it look like a heart attack. It would be easy since she was informed that the poor soul had heart problems.

The poor baby was just a bit too nervous and it had such an effect on her heart to the point of cardiac arrest.

Hikari pulled out one of the syringes she was planning on injecting the poison with and filled it with air instead

This would take her absolutely no time.

"Hi! I'm Yuki!" Hikari beamed at the bride to be as she entered her room.

"Ania! Nice to meet you!"

"Ania-san I heard you were extremely nervous! In my clan we always perform a massage to brides before their wedding to help calm them down!"

"Oh! Yes that would be such a great help! Please if it's not too much trouble."

"No problem! If you would just lie on the bed over there and take your shoes off. This won't be a minute." Hikari smiled. The girl seemed so nice. She felt nice.

But Hikari didn't have such morals. As an assassin, she's not allowed emotions. Her loyalty is to the one who pays more.

She doubted this girl had that much hatred in her heart as her mother in law did.

"Okay."

Hikari watched as she laid face down on the bed. Taking out the syringe, she approached her victim and sat down beside her.

Taking the girl's feet in her hands Hikari pushed the air shot under her big toe nail swiftly in one quick motion.

Checking her pulse, Hikari closed her eyes when she felt it nonexistent.

Her job was done here.

Hikari sighed as she walked along the road. In order to get to Amegakure she had to pass by Konoha. She really felt like making a stop there.

Just as she was about to make a decision she got an abrupt call from Pain. Hikari blinked in surprise before answering it.

"Moshi, moshi!"

"Are you near Konoha?"

"Yes, about half a day or so." She wasn't in a rush. She wanted as much time off from that crazy gang as she could afford. "I was actually wondering if-"

"Good."

Hikari deadpanned. She wasn't even finished!

"Wait for Itachi and Kisame there."

"Oh sure! Wait wha-"

"Our kyubi capturing mission starts in two days."

"Yeah but-"

"Your mission will be the capturing, I heard that you were onto something."

"I'm not-"

"And so I end this." The small hologram went dead.

Hikari frowned, then raised her eyebrows in surprise. "What the hell just happened?"

"Where am I supposed to meet you?"

"There's a tea place two shops down from a ramen stand. You-"

"Ohhh ramen!! Is it delicious?!"

"Hikari!" Kisame shouted.

"Gomen, gomen." She smiled sheepishly at them both. "Okay the tea place."

"Three o'clock sharp."

"Yes sir! So about that ramen..."

"Good god this is amazing." Hikari moaned as she chewed the ramen.

"Right?!"

Hikari was startled by the sound of a cheerful voice talking to her.

"It is." She looked to the source of the sound and made a sound of surprise when she saw a blond in her face.

She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion before turning away.

"Can I have more please?" They both said at the same time.

Hikari looked at the cheerful blond again and realized it was Sasuke's teammate.

It would be really bad if he remembered her.

"I haven't seen you before! You see I know everyone in the village and I can't seem to recognize you."

He doesn't. Good.

"Say say! What's your name."

"Hikari."

"Nice to meet you Hikari-chan!"

Chan?

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto!"

"Yes nice to meet you." Hikari said hesitantly.

"Are you visiting someone? Maybe I could help."

"No. I'm here because I'm sight seeing." She went back to her bowl.

Naruto made a face at her and Hikari sweat dropped.

"Sight seeing? Here? I don't know, you probably picked the most boring village ever." Naruto rested his chin on the counter.

"Oh you think so?"

"Well yeah! I mean it's so small and everyone is mean."

"Don't let it get to your head, kid. It's people's nature to be mean."

"But! I don't even know why they're mean to me!"

So him especially?

"Like I said. It's people's nature to be mean. Wanna know a little secret?"

He immediately perked up.

"Come closer." She motioned for him then whispered in his ear. "It's either because they're afraid of you or jealous."

"Wait really?"

Hikari just smiled and winked at him going back to her plate.

She didn't miss the slight blush and the huge smile the boy gave her.

"I'm ready for the bill old man!"

Ichiraku came over with his bill. The look on Naruto's face made her peak over his shoulder in curiosity. That kid sure ate a lot of ramen.

"I don't have enough money!"

"I can't keep any more tabs Naruto."

Naruto sulked and Hikari did something she never expected.

Looking at him with the corner of her eye she slipped him the money he needed to pay and a little more.

Naruto looked up at her startled with sparkling eyes and tears pooling at their corners.

Hikari frowned at that expression had no one ever been kind to this boy? It was unlikely given the fact that he's the fourth hokage's son. She was sure everyone in Konoha loved the yellow flash. Honestly they'd be idiots if they didn't know. The resemble is uncanny.

Hikari gave him a smile before putting her index finger to her lips. "Shh."

They were late. Hikari has been sitting in the tea place for fifteen minutes. Getting hit on and receiving suspicious looks.

Her annoyed expression was probably the only reason no one approached her anymore. She was lucky for the most part.

No one she knew or knew her saw her the past two days.

Granted with help from Mangetsu to avoid certain places where Kakashi might be.

For the most part, lady luck was favouring her. However, she wasn't sure if she liked her that much now.

She'll probably give her two teammates a piece of her mind when they get over here.

She tapped on the table waiting and waiting until they finally walked in.

Kisame pushed Itachi towards her. "You go deal with her."

Itachi gave him a look from underneath his hat then looked at the annoyed brunette giving them both death glares.

"Hi?"

"Do you two have any idea how long I've been waiting?!"

"Hikari-san-"

"Do you know how close I was to actually barge in a get the kyubi myself do- don't shush me!"

"Hikari-san calm down!"

"You said three o'clock! It's been thirty minutes where the hell were you?!"

"I'm sorry I had to rest on the way!"

Hikari shoulders sagged and her expression turned into one of worry.

"Are you feeling alright?"

Itachi nodded.

Hikari sighed and banged her head on the table turning everyone's attention to her.

She glared at all of them making them turn away.

"So what's the plan?"

"Here's what we got so far." Kisame began.

Hikari tensed as she heard Kakashi's voice outside.

Itachi gave her a knowing look.

"No, I'm just waiting for someone. I'm waiting for Sasuke."

Hikari gulped and Itachi sat up a little straighter.

"Well that's new, you arriving first."

Sasuke's voice rang out in their ears.

"Only on some occasions."

"I was planning on buying some sweets, but now it seems pointless." Sasuke activated his sharingan.

They were already gone once Kakashi looked over to them.

Hikari clicked her tongue in annoyance. No one could see them now, but she couldn't exactly mask the dango sticks.

"I told you it was a bad idea to just order." Hikari gave Itachi a pointed look.

He stayed quiet, making Hikari worry a bit.

"Let's go. They're onto us."

"No shit, sherlock."

"I'm just saying you guys look like pancakes." Hikari shrugged.

Kisame gave her a dirty look.

"I should probably disguise you guys instead. You look really suspicious right now."

"Hikari-san, focus."

Hikari frowned. "Sir, yes sir."

"It's been a while, Asuma-san, Kurenai-san."

Hikari stepped closer to Kisame. "Is he feeling alright?"

"I can't tell if his brain is fried or not."

"Huh." Hikari furrowed her eyebrows. Whatever Itachi had planned it seemed at the top of his head.

"You were originally from this village? Why did you come back?" Asuma, Hikari assumed, asked. "You seem to know of us, were you a shinobi of this village?"

Hikari felt like her brain cells were about to die at any moment. In fact they were slowly dying.

"Wait you are-!"

"Oh there it is!" Hikari cheered sarcastically. "And oh look at that, Itachi-kun's taking his pancake hat off."

Kisame laughed and shook his head.

"And now a bit of wind to whip his hair around. Wh-Why is he resting his hand on the zipper? If the zipper just opens up and his hand jerks down that would be really embarassing."

Kisame choked on laughter again.

"Hm no doubt about it, it's definitely him. Uchiha Itachi."

"You figured that out all by yourself?" Hikari said getting all the attention diverted to her.

"Well since you guys seem well acquainted with Itachi I guess we should introduce ourselves too."

"Hey don't put me on the spot like that." Hikari grumbled in annoyance and let go of her mind manipulation allowing the two jonin to see her.

"Hoshigaki Kisame." Kisame took his hat off.

"Yeah maybe you should've kept it on."

He sent her a dirty look.

"You just looked better with it." she shrugged. "Name's Hikari! Nice to meet you "

"Hikari, no."

"No?"

Kisame shook his head.

"It seems to me we were bound to meet eventually," Asuma said. "Now I have to take you on."

"Itachi-kun you don't seem very welcomed here." Hikari chimed in.

"Hoshigaki Kisame, I've heard of you! You're originally a Kiri shinobi, a daimyo killer. You're wanted for suspicion of causing destructive activities among other tribes. The water tribe is searching for you. You are S-ranked criminals in the bingo book!" Kurenai said looking at him.

"Wait! How come you take all the credit for killing the daimyo?! I the one who did it!"

"Because you were a seven year old back then. We couldn't have people searching for you already now could we?"

Hikari pouted and crossed her arms over her chest.

"You're pretty brave Itachi, coming back here after the incident you caused."

"Am I getting ignored?" Hikari scrunched her nose.

"Asuma-san, Kurenai-san please don't interfere with my affairs, you'll only get yourselves killed," Itachi said nonchalantly.

"Yes, yes I am."

"And how exactly are you planning on executing your words? Either something's wrong with the way you think, or you're way too full of yourself." Asuma said.

Itachi made eye contact with both Hikari and Kisame, silently telling them to get ready.

"It really would've been better if you hadn't come. So what's your goal here?"

"Ano sa, this guy's really getting on my nerves. Does he have a death wish?" Hikari asked.

Itachi sighed. "Leave Kisame to this." He turned to his partner. "Just keep them out of the village, and don't do anything too excessive, I know how Your work can be."

"It's been decided then." Kisame smirked taking Samehada off of his back.

"Now wait, what about me?!" Hikari looked at them both in confusion.

Kisame went to attack Kurenai but was blocked by Asuma.

"Impressive."

"Hikari-san you stay on higher ground."

"Hai, hai." She jumped up onto a tree, and sat down. Planting her chin on her palm she watched as the battle went down.

Stupid leaf shinobi attacking Itachi with genjutsu. Hikari face palmed.

And now Kisame almost tore his opponent's arm off.

He didn't even unsheath Samehada.

This was too boring for her. She sighed in expaseration

"You're late Kurenai!"

Hikari blinked when she found both Itachi and Red eyes in front of the tree she was on.

A few things happened, she was unaware of, Itachi kicked Kurenai then..

Her attention diverted to Kisame's fight as he got injured. "Huh, not bad."

Kisame scowled and put up a hand sign.

"Suiton:-"

"Shuikodan no jutsu!" Hikari got down from her place on the tree on blocked the jutsu in less than a heart beat.

Mangetsu unsheathed, Hikari pointed it at the new comer.

"Leave him to me."

"You just got here?" Asuma asked.

"No, I've been here for a while, but now let's put an end to this."

Hikari made a water clone just as Kakashi made a shadow clone.

"Stabbing someone in the back?" Hikari taunted.

Itachi turned to look at both of them. "Hatake Kakashi."

"Now I have a reason to show off my jutsu! It's time to dance!" Kisame said. "With the exception of Itachi-san, a well known person has the sharingan too, copy cat ninja, Hatake Kakashi."

"As I thought, there were two suspicious people at the tea shop. I never thought it would be Uchiha Itachi and the mysterious Kirigakure shinobi, Hoshigaki Kisame."

"You know my name? Well I'm honoured." Kisame chuckled.

"Are you asking for death you weakling? Got anything to say before we fight?"

"This is the Samehada isn't it? One of Kirigakure's seven shinobi swords." Kakashi threw Hikari a discreet look, she was sure nobody noticed.

Kisame cackled. "Oh now there's some slicing to do in this direction."

Hikari held out Mangetsu in front of him to block him for going any further.

"Kisame, move it." Itachi finally spoke out. Everyone looked to Itachi in shock.

Hikari understood, why he suddenly spoke up in that way.

"If it was only one, sure it would end quickly. However we're up against more, we finish them off and more will come. This will take too long. Remember our mission, the reason why we're here. Getting injured shouldn't be an option."

Kisame backed down only slightly, but enough for Hikari to sheath Mangetsu again.

"So then, may we ask why you're here?" Kakashi asked, backing down too.

"We're.. Looking for something."

Hikari frowned. Calling a jinchuriki something didn't suit her well. But they couldn't appear human at the moment.

"Looking for something?" Kakashi shrugged. "What's that all about?"

"Naturally,-"

Hikari felt the air tense again and put her hand on Mangetsu's hilt, waiting.

"- if it were me up against you, not Kisame, this would take no time at all."

"Itachi-kun." Hikari warned.

"Suiton: Suijinheki! Ninpou!" Kakashi's jutsu was so quick Hikari couldn't keep up, but then again, so was Itachi's.

Hikari's eyes widened when Itachi was behind Kakashi.

"Kagebushin?!" Kurenai cried out in shock.

"You use the sharingan remarkably, as expected of you Kakashi-san."

Once Itachi's kunai stabbed Kakashi, he turned into a puddle of water.

"Nice going Kakashi!" Kurenai zoomed towards Itachi, and Hikari blocked her.

"Now now this isn't fair now is it?" Hikari smirked a ring now dangling from her sharp canines.

"Get away from them they're copies!"

Hikari mentally counted down before the grenade detonated.

"Did the clone just explode?!" Asuma's surprised voice rang out in Hikari's ears.

"Keep your guard up! This man became an ANBU leader at thirteen!" Kakashi stood up after the explosion.

"Is that all he got?"

Hikari scoffed. Were these people genuinely idiots? She looked over to Itachi.

For the first time in her life, Hikari felt scared when she looked at him. The expression he had on his face. The emotions that rolled off of him, she was surprised she didn't just faint. "Itachi-kun," she whispered worriedly. Something wasn't right.

"Kakashi-san, you posses an Uchiha's eye. It's suitable for your body and yet you don't have any of our blood in you. Do you know why the Uchiha clan is the most powerful and feared of all?" Itachi closed his eyes.

Hikari tensed. No, not now. Not when he was like this. She could already tell how tired he was. It's not like she could do anything about it but...

"Met me show you the power of a true Uchiha!"

Kakashi's eyes widened. "Both of you quick close your eyes!"

Hikari bit her lower lip and clenched her fists. Don't interfere, don't interfere, don't interfere.

Kakashi kept his sharingan eye open but closed his other eye.

He can't deflect a Tsukiyomi with a sharingan. But it wasn't like Hikari could just tell him that.

"Under no circumstances do you open your eyes! The only way to fight this is probably with another sharingan. I might be the only person who can deflect this. If you look into his eyes, it's all over!"

Hikari was itching to knock them all out and get the hell out of here. Itachi shouldn't use the Mangekyou now.

"It's true, another sharingan user could challenge me. But this eye has a special power, only an Uchiha can deflect this."

Kakashi collapsed. Sat up, growled. "It's not over yet."

Kisame whistled. "I'm surprised he's still alive. That's the jutsu that breaks one's spirit right?" He turned to Hikari for confirmation.

Hikari nodded, her eyes never leaving Itachi. He has to be alright. Right?

"Itachi-kun, you should be more careful if-"

His hand movements had her stop.

"Stubborn ass Uchiha," she muttered.

"You're looking for Sasuke aren't you?" Kakashi growled.

"No... We're after the fourth Hokage's son."

Hikari's eyes widened.

Naruto?