It Tells a Tale

Dedicated to Yuun-Chan and Sabaku no Sarah-Hime

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was so long ago, but somehow, the memory imprinted in my mind just wouldn't seem to fade away.

Shinko was outside improving her Taijutsu; I was sitting on a swing nearby. It was a clear summer day; I laughed as Shinko tripped over the shuriken I aimed at her feet, but she continued on without much fuss. Shinko's like that, peace-loving as always.

Shinko is what you might call a pessimist; she has her own theory about how one day, she would die from a broken heart. The truth is that's absolutely impossible. Why? The answer is simple; Shinko doesn't love. She has never loved anyone; I doubt that she ever will. Shinko came across the Akatsuki by pure chance; imagine, a twelve-year-old orphan girl, wondering about the streets, and gets taken in by Itachi.

I am just the opposite; happy and normal. Well, if you consider being an S-ranked Akatsuki Missing Nin normal. I am more skilled than Shinko in Taijutsu and have a whole lot more stamina. At least, that's what my sensei told me. Shinko uses Genjutsu more because she is somewhat the believer of conquering from the mind theory. I just like the beat the hell out of people. Now don't get me wrong, if you don't bother me, I will probably leave you alone.

Shinko continues to practise her Taijutsu moves; but somehow, her charka seems a little different from before, tense, and even a little hostile. I got up from the swing and started to walk towards Shinko. She attacked me with a Taijutsu move, which I blocked with ease. I push her down onto the ground, holding a kunai at her throat; but not before I catch these words:

"Yuun, someone's here."

I straightened my body and listened carefully. Sure enough, a presence is not far from us. Shinko quickly picked herself up from the ground. From my right eye, I saw Shinko's hand reach into her shuriken holster.

"Who's there?" I blurted out before Shinko could stop me.

A slim figure materialized from behind the rolls of spruce pine that surrounds the training ground. His eyes apathetic and indifferent; and the aura surrounding his slender figure emitted nothing but pure hatred, darkness and ignorance. This is the first time that Itachi has stepped out into the daylight after he's been appointed the new Akatsuki leader.

"I recommend that you disarm yourself this instant," his voice cold and distant. Shinko dropped the shuriken in terror and dread. "You've been appointed a new mission of assassination." He stated blankly.

Shinko let out a tiny gasp; she has never been assigned an assassination mission before. Her usual mission includes things from spying and information retrieval to kidnaps and interrogation. Itachi smirked at this.

"This mission, however, will not be like any other ones you've done before. This time, you've been assigned to locating and successfully eliminating the Legendary Sannin. I expect that you will carefully plan and achieve this goal. You may begin your mission now," he alleged before disappearing into the now misty atmosphere.

"Jin, I suggest that you show yourself before I slit your throat open," Shinko remarked with annoyance.

"You'll have to find me first," a voice boomed over our heads.

Genjutsu, I snapped at myself. No matter, Shinko will tear him apart at this mind game.

Shinko moved fast; all that were left of her was a mahogany blur before she was holding a kunai directly in front of Jin's throat.

"Whoa, little lady; I mean you no harm," Jin laughed nervously while looking down carefully at the gleaming kunai.

"I assumed that you've been spying for sometimes now?" Shinko asked, closing the distance between the weapon and Jin's throat. "You heard what Itachi-san directed, we're leaving here, now!" she emphasised on the last syllable.

Jin looked threatened and fearful. I spared him a quick smirk before leaping after Shinko.

We've been speeding like this for hours; and in the rain, this isn't exactly what I'd call the best transportation route.

The rain continued to shed needlessly upon us. It wasn't too long before we stopped just outside the front gate of the Konohagakure. The sights of my abandoned home sent continuous shivers down my spine; we tried to open the front door, but were unsuccessful.

"You don't open the gate like this," a figure appeared behind us, he approached us after dodging some shurikens Jin aimed at him. He knocked a few times at varies places on the wooden gate; the doors swung open slowly, "Welcome to Konohagakure," he smiled before disappearing into the thickening mist.

The streets of Konoha were almost empty. Everyone was inside, retreated from the seemingly hostile white haze; sparing the few that hastened their steps across the once bustling streets of Konohakagure.

We stalked into a nearby tavern. The house was nearly empty, except for the manager who busied about the counter, drying varies teacups. He immediately took notice of our presence and greeted us warmly.

"Hello, what can I do for you?" He asked.

"Two rooms, please," Shinko replied in the happiest voice she could possibly muster.

"That's two keys for room 219 and 230," the manager responded, dropping two keys in Shinko's hands.

We strode up the oak stairwell. Jin took the key to room 219 and left. Shinko unlocked the door and carefully checked down the vacant corridor. The door squeaked open, allowing us the sight of two beds and an empty table with a dimly lit oil lamp placed upon it. I sat down on one of the beds and cautiously examined our new surrounding; not the best of places to stay, but at least it's homely enough.

The night went by quite peacefully; no disturbance of wondering villagers or hostile assassins. It wasn't after eight that I woke up, only to find Shinko already at the table, examining some documents.

"What are you doing?" I asked sheepishly.

"Good, you're awake. Get dressed, we'll be leaving shortly," she lifted her head up slightly so her voice projects. But seeing that I have a degree of difficulty to understand her, she explained further more. "We are going to be attending the Konohagakure's Jounin Exam."

I dressed into a pair of satin black capris and a scarlet Japanese-styled tank top. From the looks of it, Shinko was ready hours ago, dressed in her long red silk pants and velvet black turtle neck t-shirt.

"Hurry up, Yuun. We've got to get to the Registration Table before nine," she told me rashly as she snapped her katana and shuriken holster in place.

"I'm coming, don't be so impatient; and what of Jin?" I enquired casually, doing the same to my weapons.

"I'll leave him a note; and by the way Yuun, do not display any of your skills that our Akatsuki sensei has taught us unless it is absolutely necessary," Shinko warned gently.

"Yes, yes; I'm quite aware of what the situation would become if they gain the information that we're Akatsuki assassins," I assured her once more.

"Alright, but be careful anyways. We've got to go if we want to make it on time, and remember, if anyone asks where we from are, just tell them the Hidden Village of Rain, and hopefully, they'll leave us alone,"stated Shinko.

"Yes, I understand. Now let's go," I extorted.

For the next little while, Shinko and I just simply walked around the Hidden Konoha. The village was a bustling center, the village I've abandoned so long ago.