The Mission

Sorry for taking so long to update everyone! I didn't realize school would have such a hold on me x.x To be expected of Year 12 though! But finally I bring you the second chapter! I was running low on ideas for a bit (grrr .. I hate writer's blocks ). Feel free to make suggestions for chapters though! D And THANK YOU TO ALL MY REVIEWERS! 3 Sorry to have kept you guys waiting. Keep reviewing! Reviews make me happy 3

Disclaimer: I do not own Uchiha Itachi, Mitarashi Anko, Hatake Kakashi or any of the characters from the Naruto anime… Masashi Kishimoto has dibs on them (one day… I'll buy them off him!)

The two shinobi waited by the gates of Konoha, with Anko trying to ignore the Uchiha boy to the best of her ability. Although she had managed for the first ten minutes of waiting, she couldn't stand anymore after that.

"Hey baa-san! Stop ignoring me! Are you really that annoyed?" Itachi taunted haughtily.

Frustration became more apparent on Anko's face as each second passed, yet she continued to try and ignore the young child with every ounce of energy that remained.

It didn't last long.

"You fucking brat! Can't you tell when someone wants to be left alone?" the snake apprentice roared, giving the Uchiha boy a sense of satisfaction.

"Mitarashi-san, you gave up way too early. Honestly, I thought you were beyond these childish pranks."

There was nothing more than Anko wanted to do than to super fly kick Uchiha Itachi all the way to the Country of Wind and leave him in the desert with no way home. Unfortunately, she couldn't. Instead she grit her teeth in frustration and glared at the child.

"I hate you," she spat, venom dripping in each syllable.

"Awww, that's not very nice Mitarashi-san." Itachi pouted, putting on another act of innocence. His hands were in his pockets as he shifted the dirt around with his open-toed sandals.

I don't care if it's nice or not, Anko though to herself. It's gonna take all that I have not to injure you during this damned mission.

Finally, their third team mate had finally arrived. With his masked face with his forehead protector draped over his left eye, he radiated a somewhat mysterious aura. He was well known in Konoha Sato, with a reputation worthy to succeed the "White Fang". His name: Hatake Kakashi.

He approached Anko and Itachi with a friendly smile hidden beneath his mask.

"Yo," he greeted with a hand raised in the air.

"Hey."

"Hi."

Neither of the two changed their attitude with the arrival of their third team mate. They remained unwilling to co-operate with one another. The atmosphere was heavy between the two young ninja.

Anko and Itachi stood several feet away from each other, not speaking a word to each other. Instead, they both glared at one another, causing discomfort among their third team member.

"Errr… are you two alright?" the silver haired shinobi asked the two.

"Yeah we're fine," they replied in unison. After realizing that they answered at the same time, the two glared at each other intensely as if they were trying to assassinate each other through eye contact.

Their third team-mate eyed them curiously once again, sighing after realization that this mission would be harder than it seemed.

"Well, just to remind you two again, we three were selected as a team since most of the Jounin are out on other missions, they paired my up with you two, since you are both the most outstanding chuunin left."

And to my misfortune, that little brat had to be one of the top three left… Anko thought, as she nodded to show she comprehended what the masked, silver haired teenage boy said. Ah well, at least I have a spunky guy to calm my nerves during the mission. She looked at her team mate up and down approvingly. Who would have thought that she would get to work with the highly adored Hatake Kakashi?

"You do know what our mission objective is, right?" he asked them both, with a slight look of concern on his face.

"You might have to explain it to the kid again though," Anko said crudely. "He's just a kid after all,"

"Don't go underestimating me you old hag!" Itachi spat, glaring at the back of Anko's head as she turned around. Kakashi looked at them both and scratched his head, and went on to explain their mission anyway.

"The mission assigned to us is to fin out information about a small group who call themselves 'Akatsuki'. They seemed to made of various missing-nin from various villages. We don't know what their objectives are but they are seen as a large threat for the safety and well being of other nins." The masked shounen paused briefly and looked at the two. "You guys got it?"

"Yeah, I got ya," Anko answered, as she put on her cream coloured backpack and started walking towards the gate.

"You might have to repeat it for her later though Hatake-san. Old ladies tend to forget things," Itachi chirped cheekily, loud enough for Anko to hear. After that he put on his own backpack and headed out as well with Kakashi following them from behind.

"By the way, I was appointed team leader for this mission," Kakashi spoke up while following them from behind. "So, unfortunately for you two, that means you two have to listen to me."

Anko and Itachi continued to walk ahead without a word escaping from their pursed lips.

"My first order for this mission is that you two don't quarrel. We're working as a team, and that means that we all need to work together. This is a one-man mission."

The two continued to walk in silence. With a final sigh, Kakashi shook his head and walked along in silence.

After a few days of travelling, the team finally arrived at their desired location. They hid themselves amongst the trees. The teenage Kakashi felt as if he had been babysitting the pair of them for a month. Although Itachi was barely a teenager, he expected him to be more mature. Secretly, he saw Itachi as his Uchiha replica: a young prodigy naturally blessed with talent and mastering sharingan at the age of 8. Kakashi briefly caressed his forehead protector which was hiding the last gift of his friend, and turned to see the two arguing once again.

"Shut up you fucking little brat! We're meant to follow Kakashi-san's orders here, not do whatever you like. He's the jounin around here after all!"

Mitarashi Anko, Kakashi repeated her name inside his head. Undeniably, she was a beautiful young girl. There was only an age gap of two years between them. He couldn't deny that he found her attractive in more ways than one. Despite her constant cursing, she was a strong and independent girl. He liked that about her. Kakashi only wished that she'd stop arguing with the Uchiha and pay a little more attention to him.

"What makes you think I was going to go against his orders you old hag! Why don't you learn to control your foul mouth and focus for a change?" Itachi argued back, fuelling the fire.

"Ok you two, that's enough! We're here to gather about an organization that goes by the name 'Akatsuki". Don't underestimate them! One wrong move and we can be dead within seconds." Kakashi instructed them to go to separate listening posts around the area.

There weren't many of them of them around. There was only a pair of shinobi dressed in black cloaks with red clouds patterned across it. They didn't look so dangerous from where Itachi was standing. Their faces were hidden beneath large cone shaped hats.

Don't let my guard down ey? He thought to himself. How tough can they be? They haven't even noticed we're he-

"LET ME GO!" Anko screamed, as one of the cloaked ninja appeared behind her suddenly.

"ANKO!" Itachi yelled and chased after her, ignoring Kakashi's order's to stay behind. Within seconds, the four had vanished from sight.

"DAMN IT!" Kakashi screamed throughout the forest. How the hell did I let this happen?

Without wasting another second, the lone shinobi summoned a few of his companions, including a small dog named Pakkun.

"Pick up their scent and take me to them, Pakkun."