Chapter 4: Bloody 'Mist'
-As the world outside sleeps, a plot is underway to use blood as a rallying cry.-
-Hidden Mist, Mizukage's office, Time: 0-dark-25, 2 days-
Night had already fallen outside her window as Mao looked up from her desk, but while she was certain that everyone else was asleep, she still hours to go and miles of work ahead of her. As Mizukage, much of her time was consumed signing papers and looking over reports, mundane tasks which took up 90% of her time. In fact, for most of the Kages, their entire tenure was made up of nothing but rubberstamping orders and looking over daily reports but to her that was something she hoped to have chronicled when she finally stepped down as Mizukage, she only wanted to be cataloged as an over-glorified paper-pusher.
'If living in peace meant that I was only to be labeled the Mizukage who just signed papers her whole time then it's a price I'm willing to pay.'
Mao had never imagined being the Mizukage, much less being in the Hidden Mist at all, and her family line having played a factor. Their Mother was Shitakina Hoshigaki; the daughter of Kisame Hoshigaki wielder of Samahade or SharkSkin, and one of the most infamous traitors of the Hidden Mist. If not for her mother never knowing him in her youth, most likely Mao and her siblings would never have been born.
She had fought in the Fourth Great Ninja War, it was also during his time that she learned of her father, and it was after the war that she returned to the Mist, Samahade in hand alongside her husband, Sonsamaru, a samurai from the Land of Iron. After handing Samahade over to Mei Terumī, Shitakina was ready to accept any punishment to make for her father's past sins; but was merely ordered to 'enjoy herself'. She wanted nothing more to do with war, something her husband wanted just as much. The two merrily settled down, she working as aide to the Mizukage, while Sonsamaru was asked to serve in the Hunter-nin, assigned to hunt down a few rogue members of other villages. Not long after...Zikito, Mao, and their younger siblings came along, her mother had taken great pains to hide the truth of their line till they were old enough. When they were turned fourteen, Zikito and Mao were finally told the truth about their ancestor: Kisame Hoshigaki.
After that they both were driven to see to it that the family name would never suffer such shame again. That was the moment the two siblings decided to become as powerful a shinobi that they could be. She was serving as an aide to Intel Corps, when her brother was made Head of ANBU, she remembered how he was back then: He was mindful of his duty, loyal, and always made time for the family, after making ANBU chief, every Sunday, he made sure to check in with everyone...he was always smiling, a joke here and there, and he hadn't changed, even with all the training...he was still her caring and loving big brother. Until...that last mission...eight months ago...
'You weren't the same...never the same after that...that last op he sent you on.'
Mao's hands stopped writing, no longer concentrating on her work, her mind delving into what she knew of that day, she had seen her brother just two days before leaving on the op; top-secret only need-to-know, him and a dozen others, were assigned to the mission, he told her it seemed like a simple mission, something he and the others couldn't handle. Yet...only 3 came back. He never spoke of it to anyone, and no official report existed, of the op. She never really had a chance to talk to her brother about, since three days later, the fifth was removed from power, and the power vacuum began.
Mao leaned back in her chair, despite her hopes, she knew that history would remember her differently, as the Mizukage who took over after the previous one was labeled a traitor. Time seemed to have pass slowly for her and her brother, his being investigated along with all who may have had a hand in Unity's coup, the only reason she wasn't suspected is because of her having almost nothing to with either him or the pervious Mizukage for months before that, and her position was, at that time, in no way connected to anyone on that list of Unity spies. After his expulsion, the Mist was in chaos, people were suspicious of each other and respectable individuals were being charged with heinous crimes against multiple villages and countries, Zikito led what was left of the ANBU, what at that time were his personal squad-mates from his time in ABNU's ranks.
The few remaining heads of several departments convened an emergency meeting to decide who would take over as temporary Mizukage, being one herself she was surprised when they elected her as Mizukage, that was 8 months ago, but it felt like years.
"This job's going to kill me!" From reestablishing squads to managing the Villages new infrastructure, she had not had a day of rest since becoming Mizukage. Still weary from the day's encounter Mao sat back up in her chair and resumed her work.
'Please I just want this night to be uneventful.'
THUD!
Mao thought she was just imaging it, when she felt a thud, she glanced at her desk to see if it was moving or that something had fallen, but nothing did. "What was that?" standing up; Mao Looked outside her window, and saw a smoke rising into the night sky.
XxX
Time: 11:05 p.m.
Zikito had just put away his gear and changer out of his garb, night had already fallen by the time he had made it to his flat. His day had been full of stuff he just wanted to forget: The elder's accusations, his sister's lecture, and to top it all off, he had somehow misplaced his ANBU mask.
'If anybody finds out I lost my mask, I'll practical have my head handed to me.'
Every ANBU member had to follow two rules at all times: when the possibility of capture is present, make sure you can't be taken in alive and Never lose you mask. The night had already set on the village and searching on a moonless night, would probably prove fruitless indeed, with sigh of discontent, Zikito made his way to his window and gazed out upon the village.
'I can't shake it but…something about tonight feels ominous.'
Uncertain why, but still tried Zikito walked to his bed and resolved to search for his mask in the morning.
XxX
45 minutes later
A silent thud, went unnoticed by anything in the room, even the dust went on, undisturbed. A moonless night and lightless room were a shinobi's bread and butter, his task would be accomplished, in total darkness. The shadow crept slowly to the prone form on the bed just in front of him, with silent steps he slowly inched towards his targets, though the covers were over his head, the assassin knew who was there.
'And his death will bring us one step closer to unity.'
Raising his sword to deliver the killing blow then the sheets collapsed, the shinobi didn't hear someone behind him, didn't see the scythe missing from its hooks, and didn't feel it cut into his body…until it was too late.
XxX
Zikito delivered a swift slice to the man standing in front of his bed, his body falling in two pieces. Zikito didn't relish the kill, whoever this guy was he was certainly skilled, somehow he entered a secure room, made no noises, if it weren't for his senses, he might have succeed. Still sanding over his would be assassin, Zikito looked the ninja over, as if scrutinizing his appearance.
'Minimal gear, only two weapons, nothing loose or excessive, this guy is no rookie but a highly skilled shinobi.'
Reaching for a rag on his nightstand, Zikito carefully cleaned the blood off his scythe, by mere memory, leaving no light source to indicate that someone was alive in that room.
'Don't know who this guy was affiliated with but he must have been from a top-class village…to…'
Zikito thoughts slowed to a halt as he ran through his memories.
'Wait! We have an accord with all major villages and the smaller villages wouldn't have anyone with the skills to cross an ocean, infiltrate their village, without having someone-'
Zikito's blood ran a little cooler then he'd of liked at his next thought and quickly moved to confirm his hunch. Turning the body over, Zikito looked upon the face, though dark, he recognized him as being a member of ANBU, pulling off the headband, he felt the crest; four symmetric downward indentations, The Hidden Mist symbol. Alarmed, Zikito searched the body for anything that might give clarity as to a motive. Finally, he uncovered a set of orders, detailing his assassination:
"It has been brought to my attention the entitled, Zikito Hoshigaki, has been linked to several offenses, which have been aiding our enemies."
'What?! Who ordered his?'
Reading down quickly, he finally arrive at a name. Ziktio quickly grabbed his ANBU attire and scythe, disappearing from his room, and headed for the office of the man who signed his death warrant: Ryo Tengi.
XxX
Hidden Mist Village, office of Ryo Tengi, time: 0-dark-15-
Ryo sat behind his desk, void of paperwork or any that may have been work related, instead only a small lamp and book were the only present. His day was done but he could not go home just yet, so instead of doing nothing he decided now was the time to catch-up on some reading he had been putting off for far too long. His office wasn't very big but still gave one the impression of being in the presence of a high-ranking official, his desk, and by extension himself, was always in view caused by the room's shape and dimension. Ryo's Mist bodyguards had already left for the night, seeing as his home was only a five-minute journey from his office, he saw no reason to keep them here any longer than necessary.
Drip!
Ryo that he heard something but dismissed it and returned to his reading.
Drip!
A small red spot suddenly appeared on his desk from nowhere, taking his attention off his book, to focus on it.
Drip!
Another drop this time on his book, the page he was reading. Closing the book, Ryo sat back in his chair, his expression stoic and cold.
"Zikito"
A man was setting on one of the couches, in full samurai armor, his scythe by his side, and a fresh cut on his finger.
Hey guys first timer here so excuse if grammar sucks, I try but some words and expressions, tenses are lost to me. Also this last part continues on in the next chapter so read on and I hope you all have enjoyed the story thus far.