Part 2 – New Job
Manhattan Island, New York…
Classified Location…
Sasuke and Sakura were escorted by a single guard down a long hallway with TDI KRISS Vector.
"Where do you think we are?" Sakura asked.
"Don't know," Sasuke said, "And honestly I don't really care. Back when I was in the service, I used to go through this kind of thing all the time."
"Someone that can hit anything with a gun," Sakura asked, "Why am I not surprised?"
"Navy," Sasuke said, "Four years."
"We're here," the guard said as they arrived at a door, he squeezed past them, and touched a small brick on the wall which caused the door to slowly open.
Inside was a small table with eight chairs, as soon as Sasuke and Sakura stepped in, the door shut behind them, and Sakura jumped against Sasuke while Sasuke put his arms around Sakura's waist.
As the door closed, Sasuke and Sakura looked at each other, "Sorry," Sakura said as she pulled away from Sasuke, "I don't know what came over me."
"No I'm sorry," Sasuke said, "It's my fault too."
A second door opened which caused Sasuke to reach for his gun, but as he reached down, he found his P99 missing.
"What?" Sakura asked.
"My gun," Sasuke said, "They took it."
"Good thing they removed it," Naruto said as he entered the room with Hinata behind him, "Don't think you'd want to pull a gun one someone…"
"That can crush me like a can," Sasuke said, "Naruto Uzumaki: the ability to summon unlimited strength. I've read your file, and I'm impressed," Sasuke held out his hand which Naruto shook.
"You read my file?" Naruto asked.
"I make it a point to know who I'm working with," Sasuke said as he turned his attention to Hinata, "Hinata Hyuuga: the ability to tell the future or find elements that cannot be found without a microscope."
A third door opened which revealed Shino and Tenten, "Indeed," Shino said, "Sasuke Uchiha: the ability to alter the path of a bullet in flight bullet until they strike the target," he walked up and shook Sasuke's hand, then turned toward Sasuke, "And Sakura Haruno: the ability to create any inanimate object using the pink energy unique to her alien species."
"It seems we've all done our homework," Naruto said as he shook Shino's hand, "Shino Aburame: the power to make any inanimate object explode with a simple thought," he then looked over at Tenten, "Tenten: the power to alter her DNA to match the strength, speed, skin-color, and heightened senses of any large feline in the world."
"Good to see you know each other," Kakashi said as he entered.
"Sir," Sasuke said as he stood at attention.
"Don't stand at attention," Kakashi said, "You're not in the Navy anymore frogman. Please sit."
"Frogman," Naruto asked as he looked at Sasuke, "You were a SEAL?"
"Ex-SEAL," Sasuke said, "I'm retired. Spent two years with Redwood."
"Mercenary?" Shino asked.
"Got to pay the bills somehow." Sasuke said.
"Indeed," Kakashi said, "And massed a small fortune from it. But right now you'll kill anyone for money."
"That mobster back in Hong Kong has killed more men in one year than I did in both my entire military and mercenary careers combined." Sasuke said.
"Mercenary's not a bad job actually," Sakura said as she looked over at Sasuke.
"One you could use," Kakashi said as he looked at Sakura, "You've been living in homeless camps for most of your life. Been dealing with rough gangsters trying to extort money. You killed your first time when you were fifteen, you hid it from those thugs. You're well loved by that community."
"And I love them," Sakura said, "I'd die for them."
"You nearly did last night," Kakashi said, "If it weren't for this man," he pointed at Sasuke, "You're reckless."
"Sounds like it." Naruto said.
"You have no reason to talk," Kakashi said, "How many people have you killed in your pursuit of revenge over your dead friends."
"How much of that shit has gotten onto the streets, and killed so many," Naruto asked, "I'm doing the job the cops should be doing in the first place."
"Harsh." Hinata said.
"Once again," Kakashi said, "You care about that neighborhood you lived in more than anything. Over the past two years you've organized the systematic beatings of every major gang member in Seoul to keep one neighborhood safe."
"I had every right," Hinata said, "Every last one of those thugs have extorted, maimed, and or killed several important people in that neighborhood."
"She has a point." Shino said.
"And I know you're going to make your point," Kakashi said, "About how you've used your powers to wipe out every last person with ties to the terrorist cell that wiped out your friends in that attack in Mumbai."
"How many others did they kill besides my friends," Shino asked, "Their hands are covered in Indian, Jewish, and Christian blood. They deserve it."
"We all have valid points to justify our actions." Tenten said.
"Indeed," Kakashi said, "Like killing poachers?"
"My actions speak for themselves." Tenten said.
"You have saved multiple species of large felines," Kakashi said, "Save for the fact several of those poachers paid for that."
"Who cares," Tenten asked, "Those animals have every right to live."
"You all have pasts that most people would arrest or shoot you for," Kakashi said, "You were each handed a file before you came in. You do the job we have, and you'll receive everything that was outline in the files you were handed when you met me or the General that recruited you."
"I'm in," Sasuke said, "I suppose it can't hurt to see if we can do anything."
"Good," Kakashi said, "U.N. President Tsunade has given you ranks on this," he looked up at Sasuke, "Congratulations Uchiha, you just made Major."
"Major?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes," Kakashi said, "A new rank and a codename," Kakashi pointed toward a small slot in the table which deposited a card which Sasuke picked up, and examined the name written on it.
"Name: Sasuke Uchiha," Sasuke began, "Rank: Major. Codename: Gunslinger?"
"Seemed appropriate," Kakashi said, "As did the other codenames."
Several cards came out of the slots in front of the five others.
"Thickskin?" Naruto asked.
"Pink Sapphire?" Sakura asked.
"Sightseer?" Hinata asked.
"Shocking," Shino said, "Bombardier."
"Felinea," Tenten said, "Why am I not surprised?"
"The people that wrote these are Marines, not poets," Kakashi said, "I'm afraid we all have our orders. I'll assign a Liaison to monitor your progress."
"A babysitter?" Sasuke asked.
"Basically," Kakashi said as he leaned back in his seat, "I think you'll know what to do next."
"Very nice," Sasuke said, "Now can I have my gun back?"
"You'll get it on the way to the helipad," Kakashi said, "I hope what they said about you in the Navy was true."
"What you've heard," Sasuke asked as he stood up, "Sir, you've only heard a tenth of it."
On the way to the helipad, one of the guards handed Sasuke his P99 back, which he slid into the holster on the side of his belt.
"I have to ask," Naruto said as they walked up to the Osprey waiting for them on the helipad, "Why a P99?"
"The P99 is designed for safety," Sasuke said as the six boarded the Osprey, "It's already a safe pistol, with one tweak, you can turn a P99 into a gun that only operates when you fire."
"Seems simple," Naruto said.
"For a time, it wasn't," Sasuke said, "Eventually I found a way to make it work."
As they were flying over New York, Sasuke looked back, and smiled, "What are you smiling about?" Hinata asked.
"It's funny," Sasuke said, "I've been to New York so many times, and yet I still can't stop but think about what my parents would say if they were with me."
"I know how you feel," Shino said, "I still wonder what kind of people my parents were."
"The U.N.S. Konoha's ahead Major," the pilot shouted back into the cabin.
"The Konoha," Sasuke asked as he walked up to look through the cabin to see a large aircraft carrier with two runways, "Who's the Commander?"
"That would be Commander Ino Yamanaka," the pilot said as they approached the aircraft carrier, "There she is on the deck," the pilot pointed to a young women very close to the age of him and his new team.
She was about five foot four, she had long blonde hair, skin close to being pale, and she was wearing a United Nations officer's uniform.
When the VTOL touched down on the deck of the Konoha, and Ino walked up to greet them as they walked up to her.
"Commander Yamanaka," Sasuke said as he stood at attention in front of Ino.
"At ease Major," Ino said, "This way please."
Ino led the team to a small area to levels below the deck of the ship where a makeshift command deck had been set up.
"This is where we'll be working?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes," Ino said as she walked up to a large table, "This is your primary work station. This is the D.S.I. or Direct Service Interface. It has a direct link to the ship, and your phones," Ino took their phones, and placed them on the table.
"Thanks," Sasuke said as he took his phone back, "Now I know why they took them from us."
"Yes," Ino said, "Back to the D.S.I., this thing had direct link to facial recognition, intelligence reports, and real-time intelligence with the C.I.A., N.S.A., MI6, and every other three-letter intelligence agency in the world."
"I'm impressed," Sasuke said as he tapped on the screen, "This loaded with everything we need to start the investigation?"
"Yes," Ino said as she pulled up a picture of the crime scene, "Using eyewitness, and security camera footage, we've reconstructed a recreation of how the crime went down."
The footage showed a man about five foot nine wearing a grey hoodie, blue jeans, and some simple sneakers walking through the courtyard carrying a small blue backpack.
"Let me guess," Sasuke said as he pointed to the man wearing the hoodie, "This is the terrorist?"
"Yes," Ino said, "So far we've been unable to determine what kind of bomb it is. MI5 and MI6 have sealed off the area, and are still investigating."
The man in the footage dropped the backpack, and walked out of the courtyard, the footage then skipped ahead three minutes later when the backpack exploded.
"Looks like a pipe bomb," Sasuke said, "I saw a ton of them in Afghanistan which were made into improvised land-mines."
"That your professional opinion?" Ino asked.
"I don't have a professional opinion," Sasuke said as he pointed at the made-up crime scene, "Because we don't have access to that crime scene. We need to get a look at that courtyard. I bet one of us could get a good idea what was used in that bomb," he then looked over at Hinata.
"He's right," Hinata said, "I bet if I got a good look at that crime scene I could figure out what was in the bomb."
"Our new aircraft should get you there in under four hours," Ino said as she pulled up the schematics for a special VTOL capable of 1200mph flight speed, modeled after the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk save for the thrusters on the wings, "We have another aircraft carrier in the Bristol Channel where you can take a helicopter the rest of the way."
"I'll send along one our best pilots," Ino said, "You find anything, report to me."
"Before we go however," Sasuke said, "I say we see our accommodations first."
"Of course," Ino said as she signaled a six foot pilot, and signaled him to show the team to their room.
The pilot escorted the team down three levels, and ushered the six of them through a small doorway which branched off into six rooms.
When they entered, they saw their names above the doors, and as they entered they found boxes of things that they realized were stolen from their houses.
After setting themselves up, they got dressed in United Nations blue-camo uniforms, and walked out onto the deck of the Konoha where Ino was waiting next to the VTOL with a single pilot, and some flight gear.
"Major," Ino said as she put her hand on the pilot's shoulder, "This is Lieutenant Sai, he'll be taking you to England. I'll be in contact over your phones. Call me if anything comes up," she then held out a small item, "By the way, you might need this."
Sasuke took the item to reveal that Ino had handed him a small badge which identified him as a certified U.N. Investigator, "Yes ma'am," Sasuke said as he zipped up his G-suit saluted Ino, and turned to Sai, "How fast you think you can get us to London?"
"Fast as you want sir," Sai said as he climbed aboard the VTOL.
"By the way," Sasuke said as he grabbed the nearest helmet, and climbed up the ladder behind Sai, "What do you call this hybrid?"
"Hyper Aeronautic Warfare Kraft." Sai said.
"There an acronym for that?" Sasuke asked.
"Not yet." Sai said
"How about the H.A.W.K.?" Sakura asked as she climbed in behind Sasuke.
"I like that." Sai said.
"So do I," Sasuke said as he looked at Sakura, "In fact, I was about to say that."
"Great minds." Sakura said.
"I was thinking the same thing," Sasuke said as he secured himself into the navigator's seat.
"No you weren't." Hinata said.
"She's good." Sai said.
"Why do you think the U.N. hired her?" Sasuke asked.
As soon as everyone was aboard, the H.A.W.K.'s canopy slid backwards to cover the cockpit, "Alright," Sai said as he checked several panels, "K.A.D., this is Whiskey 2 requesting permission for takeoff."
"Copy Whiskey 2 you are cleared for takeoff on deck one." the tower said.
"K.A.D., confirm call ahead to U.N.S. Avalon?" Sai asked.
"Affirmative Whiskey 2," the tower said, "They're standing by to receive you, and the V.I.P.s, and they're preparing an Osprey. Whiskey 2, you have the sky."
"Copy K.A.D., my sky," Sai said, the soldier on the runway saluted Sai who saluted back, then checked on the rest of the H.A.W.K., "Fuel, check. Navigation, check. Thrusters, check," he then turned around to the crew, "Everybody ok back there?"
Everyone raised their thumbs, "I guess that's a yes." Sasuke said.
"Yes sir," Sai said as he activated the thrusters, "Hang on."
Sai flipped the cover on a small button on the console between him and Sasuke, and pressed a triangular, orange button.
A female voice came over the console, and spoke, "We have thruster ignition," the voice said, "Launch in 3… 2… 1… Ignition."
The H.A.W.K. rocketed forward, causing everyone in the cockpit to be pushed so far into their seats, they could feel the metal in the frame.
"K.A.D.," Sai said as the force returned to normal in the cockpit, "We are away."
"Alright," Sasuke said as he input the commands to find the U.N.S. Avalon, "Destination set. We're good."
"What kind of gun did you use during your time as a frogman Major?" Sai asked.
"HK416 Lieutenant," Sasuke said, "Always used an M203, a laser-sight, flashlight, and a dual-stage scope."
"I used something similar," Sai said, "Save for the M203."
"No one understood why I liked the M203," Sasuke said, "My response was always the same. It's served my country well for years, why should I change what I use on my weapon?"
"I think I get that sir." Sai said.
Guess what happens next…