Chapter Five

There are too many! Damn it, I'm finished! Shadow thought frantically; eyes widening.

Clang! The metallic sound came loudly as Shadow felt something warm on her face.

That's weird... she thought her eyes still shut tightly closed. This smell... it smells oddly like... BLOOD?

That's it! Am I bleeding? Or am I imagining this and I'm already dead? She opened her eyes but what she saw surprised her. It was Sasori standing over the sound kunoichi's body. Several kunai protruded from her back and her eyes were like brown buttons.

"You rang?" Sasori asked smirking. "It looked like you needed help."

Shadow closed her eyes as a vein popped on her chibi. "Yes. Actually I did... Thank goodness you came in time," She said returning the cool expression and staring through Sasori's eyes.

His eyes were a black pond. Not a ripple or a small trace of emotion in them. A blank stare was all there was, and it kind of spooked her. "We need to get going again," Shadow said tearing her gaze away from the red head, and looking instead at the ninja's bodies. "We need to leave before we get anymore unexpected and unwanted visitors."

"Right."

The two headed back to camp hiding all remains of them being there carefully and quickly. They headed out again stopping about four miles away and instead of setting camp just sat down and took a long, yet alert nap.

The partners woke by noon and immediately started off again. Finally, FINALLY they got to the village. Shadow sighed in relief that at least now there was a huge town filled with people to hide behind, should any more enemies appear.

They headed to the center of the bustling town, passing many yelling merchants, trying to persuade people to come and buy their items.

"Hey you, young man," said an old man, walked towards Sasori. "You thinkin' 'bout marrying that young lass soon? If so then you've come to the right place. You have." He waved at his shop, the kanji for "Jewelry" printed on the flap overhead.

"Oh no, we aren't a couple," Shadow said quickly ducking her head as a blush appeared on her cheeks.

"That's so cold my dear, wasn't our plan to marry this spring?" Sasori asked, smirking and holding Shadow's shoulders in mock tenderness.

Shadow glared at him as she elbowed him hard in the stomach (which he was able to block) and she quickly slipped out of his grip. She began walking a faster pace than before to the Kazekage's "palace". They got to the Kazekage's large sand castle like home by late afternoon and were guided straight to his personal office.

"Gaara, good to see you. Or should I say Great Lord Kazekage like I do with Naruto?" Shadow said smiling at the familiar young red head.

"It is unnecessary. Shadow it's good to see you too. And you, Sasori," he smiled and said in his familiar raspy voice as he nodded respectfully to Sasori, waving his hand in a motion meaning to sit down.

They sat on large sky blue cushions on the floor, as he took a seat behind a small table in front of his desk and lacing his fingers. "So it looks like Sasori gave you the message right? It really wasn't expected but as you know, Naruto, he forgot to tell you the other part of the mission. He made sure to send a messenger to me so I could tell you in person what's been going on." He looked between Shadow and Sasori, and then continued. "As Naruto told you, there have been spies around here who had impersonated some of our own warriors. ANBU, no less, and several attempts have been made to, ehrm, assassinate myself and Lady Tsunade."

"So what do you want me to do?" Shadow asked.

"I would like for you and Sasori to go to the Village Hidden in the Grass, going as a daughter of a well-known hot spring owner's friend, and your story will be that you had come to learn the ehrm... Interesting... Yes, interesting ways of how to become a masseuse and such. But while there you need to find ways as to how to get into their Record Halls, reclaim information; then get out of there and head to the next place I'm sending you to."

"So this is more like several missions at the same time, huh?"

"Yes; as soon as you're finished in the Grass village, we need you to go to the Sound Village, and possibly the Village Hidden in the Clouds, if you haven't collected enough information. Alright?"

Sasori and Shadow answered in unison, "Yes sir."

Gaara smiled, "Right, then you are dismissed."

As they left the room Gaara chuckled to himself. "I suppose you were right Naruto. They really would make a cute couple. They are so much alike. Maybe a little too much for comfort..."

Edited: August 7, 2012