A/N thanks for the reviews again, impressions, suggestions and comments are always welcome. It's going to be a decent story, but not overly long. The later chapters will get slightly longer to accommodate more action/story.

Chapter 4: Black on silver. Black on Black.

It was late, it was dark, it was raining and the deck kept moving under his feet. Not ideal conditions for a ninja to work, but he'd do his best. The rain actually helped in his task. Crushed charcoal had been mixed with fish oil and applied to his hair, and rain was helping rinse the grains of coal out, the fish oil locking in the dark tint. This method made his hair heavy enough to sit down, over the left side of his face covering his tell tale Sharingan and scar.

The trade mark green jacket and swirl top had been abandoned in favour of a simple three quarter sleeved top, and three quarter length trousers, both black. Even the face masked had gone, folded down to make a collar. The scrolls and other supplies would be carried on his waist sack. Nobody had seen his face before, so the combination of simple clothes, new hair colour and style, and no mask should be enough to cover him.

Han had remembered team 14 well. They had gotten on a ship to the land of water for sure, but he was certain they hadn't returned yet. Using the night in Han's to assess the mission thoroughly, clearly Hinata's team went in under the pretence of an easier mission, and found themselves embroiled.

As it stood, it was imperative that no information of the Leaf village's involvement got out. If team 14 had given up any info then he was to eliminate anyone who could pass it on. Only thing he could hope for was some luck. That the team was alive, and who ever held them, hadn't already communicated with their leaders.

More "if's" than Kakashi was used to. As he walked over the deck and approached the main mast he thought about how Neji had wanted to come. Tsunade knew he wasn't capable of this. The recovery sure, but against the kind of odds Kakashi would be facing if he had to fight? And what if team 14 were already dead? Neji could not have handled that.

In no time at all Kakashi had scaled the mast and was resting on the balls of his feet on one of its beams. At this time of night only three people were up top, a skeleton crew to ensure a safe journey with no surprises. Even in this darkness the ninja could make out their shapes, though they could not see him: black on black against the darkness of the sky.

Morning came and the newly changed Kakashi decided it would be a good idea to remain in his quarters until the ship docked. The less people who noticed the change the better. Cabins aboard these kinds of passenger ships were far from luxurious, but for a ninja they were easily comfortable. Wooden support bed against the wall with a thin layer of bedding, the kind of bedding that allows you to almost feel the wood underneath.

There had been no port hole in Kakashi's quarters which was something he couldn't say he was happy about. The Arbitrary was moored mid afternoon on the fourth day since the copy ninja left for his mission. When the captain came knocking on each of the doors to announce their arrival- as if the big ringing bell wasn't clue enough- he found that Mr Takahe was already gone.

As far as sea side towns go they all tend to be somewhat samey, they all had a main district full of the rich and powerful people who'd capitalised on the ports resources, and a market area of a lower class, but sterner heart. One fed the others life styles, and in return the rich ensured that business remained good.

Kakashi couldn't help notice that it was always the people in the lower class who were happy. Fisherman and Thatcher's, the tradesman who work for their livelihood, all seem content. The richer more prosperous merchants, well sure they had their luxuries and pampering, but they were eternally worried about losing such graces. Kakashi thought this was fitting, you earn a living off of exploiting other, then you should beware.

"Ramen? Aye, that we do. Which d'you fancy?" The store holder was a stocky well built young man, the kind of build that suggests heavy physical labour. Kakashi gazed at the menu, it was nothing compared to Ichiraku and this guy sure was no Ayame, but it'd do.

"Seafood please," He chose.

"Ah, fresh as ye'll get that is, bring it in me self, I do" Flashing a grin the fisherman come ramen man disappeared into the kitchen.

After some late breakfast the hunt for team 14 would begin. Hinata-kun had picked up the weapons smith and started on her way back towards this port. Somewhere in between they were intercepted. It's been five days since then, so he'd have to work out a travel radius that excludes this port. Finding them wouldn't be the hard part. Extracting them would be.

"So where ye off to?" a bowl of ramen slid into view, and Kakashi looked up to see the toothy grin again. Coins exchanged hands and the ninja readied his chopsticks.

"I think I'll travel the country, see the sights. I've heard you have some beautiful hot springs." With that he finished the conversation and sampled the food.

It had taken him almost two whole days to reach the port, when he arrived it was late into the evening, so late that there was no one left at the docks at all. Nothing he could do about that yet. All he had to do was wait until the morning, find the foreman and ask him then.

Until then he could use some sleep, he'd find a quiet motel and stay out of trouble till then. Using his Byakugan Neji scanned the signs in the area looking for a suitable place to rest. Two streets down should do.

Deactivating his Byakugan he made his way through the alleyways towards a building that looked nothing like an inn from the outside. Least ANBU wouldn't suspect it, he thought bitterly. Before he could continue that line of thought footsteps caught his attention.

Neji exhaled and then spun, the blue chakra done of Heavenly Spin repelling the blade and his attacker. A simple mugger with dirk, Neji noted. The man's face was hidden by a shard of one of the crates he'd be tossed through by the Hyuga defence. Hoping that his traps would at least slow whoever was pursuing him down, the Jonin reached his destination and pushed open the door.