All Naruto characters belong to Massashi Kishimoto. Cassandra and everything non Naruto related is mine. The story is written in play form, in Cassandra's point of view. Everything in italics is the characters thought or action.

Chapter 4. First Mission.

As Tobi and I continued to practice our fighting skills, Pein started to take an interest in us. Soon, he even started giving us low level jobs that the others didn't feel like bothering with. We were thrilled. Our first real paying mission came a few months later. It was a simple lynching. As soon as I heard, I ran to tell Deidara and Sasori.

Sasori: Really, Pein is letting you do it?

Cass: Yes! He says there is no way Tobi and I can mess it up, all we have to do is knock off some old geezer.

Deidara: Are you ok with that? Killing a total stranger?

Cass: A little. Its part of being a ninja, we are killers. There is no helping it. Besides, I want to prove my worth to you guys.

Sasori: You do your fair share around here.

Cass: It's not the same though.

Deidara: sniff I guess our little girl is growing up un.

Cass: Awww Deidara! I'm still your little girl! I'm only 11.

Deidara: Since when?

Sasori: Her birthday was last week, you idiot. Cassandra, I'm happy for you. I know you'll do fine.

Deidara:...Yeah. Go for it!

I hug them both and meet Tobi in the main hall. Zetsu is telling him not to screw up and be careful. I guess he is Tobi's father figure...

Cass: Ready Tobi?

Tobi: Uh huh. Let's go.

We waved goodbye and headed out. It was the first time I'd even been outside since I got there, six months ago. We followed our map until we arrived at an old run down shack just outside of the main Village. Tobi knocked on the door and our target appeared. He may have been an old man, but he still looked like he could put up a pretty good fight. I scanned my notes. His name was Mr. Hideki, age 74. He knew too much, and owed the Akatsuki a pretty large sum of money. Usually, Kukazu dealt with money related missions, but he had a bad cold.

Mr. Hideki: Yes?

Cass: We are from the Akatsuki.

Mr. Hideki: A couple of kids? And here I was sweating, thinking you were going to off me.

Cass: We are. my voice was cold and hard, pure business. I had practiced in the mirror for hours on my facial expression and voice tone. The old guy looked pretty scared.

Mr. Hideki: Surely a couple of kids wouldn't do in an old man?

Tobi: It's our job. Nothing personal. Do you have any last requests?

Mr. Hideki: Yes. Eat dirt!

He did a quick hand sign and we were swallowed up in dirt. He cackled manically at up, spit flying everywhere. Tobi nodded to me, and 'we' escaped from the dirt. I had to hand it to the boy, he was darn good at Genjutsu. Mr. Hideki was to busy laughing to notice, and I threw several Senbon to his vital organs. He died instantly. One thing Itachi always taught me was if you were clearly stronger than your opponent, a mercy killing would be the more respectable way to go. I took it to heart.

Cass: Good job Tobi.

Tobi: Poor old man...

Cass: It can't be helped I guess. Lets go home Tobi.

He zipped the body in a bag and burned it. After we collected the money he owed us, we torched his house. As soon as it was gone, we put the fire out and left. Once we got back to Headquarters, everyone swarmed us with questions. Tobi and I weren't really in the mood. Pein noticed and spoke up

Pein: Lay off everyone. The first kill is always the hardest. I take it you succeeded?

Cass: Yes sir.

Pein: Good. I already deposited your money into your accounts. And the cleanup job?

Tobi: Done.

Pein: Good job guys. Dismissed.

We both sulked on the balcony for a few hours. I felt...guilty.

Cass: Tobi...Do you think...we did ok?

Tobi: Tobi doesn't know. All Tobi ever wanted was to join Akatsuki, but Tobi's stomach hurts. Tobi thinks he will be sick.

Cass: I feel like we didn't give him a chance.

Tobi: Yeah. Maybe...maybe if we were really respectful...and mourned, that would be ok? Tobi knows that everyone is always quiet for a few days after a mission. Maybe they mourn too?

Cass: Yeah...I think so. Tobi, I'm not upset that I killed him, I'm upset that he didn't fight back much. I...enjoyed killing him. Is that bad?

Tobi: Tobi doesn't think so. Tobi thinks he didn't fight because it was his time to go...

Cass:...Yeah. This being a ninja thing is harder than I thought.

Tobi: Then we will have to train harder and do better. We can still respect the dead and work as ninja. That's what Tobi thinks.

Cass: I think you're right Tobi. This will all work out. I think I will go to bed now. I don't feel good.

Tobi: Tobi will make dinner if you do laundry tomorrow.

Cass: Deal.

We shook hands and I went to my room. I cried myself into a fitful sleep. Later, Deidara crept into the bed and held me against him. He comforted me until I was sleeping normally. By the next morning, I felt a little numb, but otherwise fine. Pein held off on the missions for awhile, but in time Tobi and I would both get used to it. Killing was part of being a ninja. We learned to accept that.