Disclaimer: I own nothing... except maybe the mystery char. at the end... maybe...
Leaping from rooftop to rooftop, it only took Neji and Lee a minute to get to the Hokage Tower at the center of the Leaf Village. They looked up towards the enormous window in Lady Tsunade's office. She was sitting there, apparently waiting for them.
"Well, we had better not keep her waiting any longer," Neji said as he walked into the building.
In Lady Tsunade's office...
"Come on! Sometimes I think those guys are related to Kakashi-Sensei!" A brown-haired kunoichi was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed in front of her chest. She was not known for her patience, and the small amount she possessed was quickly waning.
"Don't whine so much, Tenten, please. I just saw them outside. They're coming," Tsunade said, walking over to her chair to sit down. As soon as she moved, Might Guy walked over to take her place.
She had been waiting at the window for the two missing ninja to appear. It was a wonder in itself that Tenten had arrived before her teammates.
Just as she said that they were coming, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in," Lady Tsunade said. Neji opened the door and said, "Please forgive us if we are late, Lady Hokage." Lee followed him into the room, remaining silent.
"That's quite alright, Neji. Now, for the details on this mission." Lady Tsunade leaned back, earning a loud creak from her chair. She grimaced slightly and began briefing them on their new mission.
"Since Guy is the Jounin here, he, of course, will be team leader. Your mission is to safely escort home two Hidden Leaf Shinobi who have been gone for the past seven years, working as our spies in the Hidden Fire Village. They have been staying with another Hidden Leaf ninja stationed there. I will send someone else for her later. She still has some things to take care of before she is ready to come home. The two that you will be escorting say that they do not need anyone to protect them... but I have known these two since the days of their births. I know everything that has ever happened to them in their lives... and I also know that there are a couple of S-rank criminals on their trails. This is not a paid mission, so you don't have to take it. I am asking this of you as a favor from your Hokage.
"I was friends with their parents. Aichi and Megumi Hanataro were two of the kindest people I ever met. They once asked me if I would like to become the godmother of their children, and I accepted their offer. Therefore, I am a partial guardian of those two. If anything were to happen to them, I would never be able to forgive myself." The Fifth Hokage looked around the room at the four ninja before her. "Will you accept this mission?"
"Of course we will!" Guy stated proudly. He flashed Tsunade one of his stunning smiles and gave her a thumbs up. "There is always enough time to help out someone in need... even if they do not know themselves that they are in need. Besides, I can think of this as a chance to help a friend. I met all three of these ninja on one of my solo missions. We got along fairly well. They provided me with a meal and a warm place to rest for the night. I will accept this mission to repay them."
"Wait a minute. Did you say these guys have been there for seven years?" Tenten asked, her eyes wide. "Why have they been there for so long?"
For a moment, Lady Tsunade was silent. Then she said, "That is a question that you should ask them, not me. And Guy... thank you. I really appreciate this."
"No thanks needed," the green-clad Jounin replied. He turned and walked toward the door with his team following close behind. Before his hand could reach for the door, Lady Tsunade said, "I want you to stay for a moment, Guy. There is another detail of the mission that I must discuss with you and you alone. You three can go and wait for him at the village gates." Her eyes were locked onto Guy and looked deadly serious.
All three of the excused ninja knew better than to defy a direct order from Lady Tsunade, especially when she was looking so scary. They all walked out into the hallway. The door closed with a small click behind them.
'I wonder what she had to share with Guy-Sensei,' Lee pondered silently as they walked outside. All he knew was that it must be important. Very important.
And quick to explain apparently. It didn't take Guy more than two or three minutes to appear at the gates. "Let's go."
Izumo and Kotetsu waved to the four of them as they headed out. They knew what the mission was. Half of the village knew...
The trip was not a very eventful one. Lee, shouting about youth and freedom and the beauty of autumn, managed to wake a sleeping wild boar which then chased the four of them down the road for about two miles before finally giving up. After those four, fear-filled minutes, the entire time was spent in silence.
The sun was just sinking below the horizon as the four Hidden Leaf Ninja walked through the gates of the Fire Village. After walking for only a few feet, a voice called out, "Long time no see, Guy."
I am going to try and update quicker next time. I have had this chapter done for... ahem... a couple weeks... pleezdontkillme!!! But I should have the next chapter up soon because I'm on Christmas break until January the fourth, 2010. Happy holidays!
