Much to my depression, I own nothing. -sits in corner and begins to sob-

Inaria: You know, Nyroc, if you keep that up the mortals will think they're hearing voices...

-glares- So?! They're mortals!

Inaria: Then they'll be rushed off to the asylum...

What's you're point?

Inaria: Then they won't be able to read your stories anymore...

-scowls resentfully- ...stupid water faeries...

"Those who are powerless want power; those who have power want it not."

Chapter two:

First Impressions

Motaki looked over as her team mate spoke the words. They stood for several long moments, examining the engravings on the gates. The marks were subtle, barely there. But time could do little to wash away their presence.

"Let's go," the girl ordered, adjusting the mask that covered half of her face. She stalked over to the small desk that was located to her left, just inside the gates. One of the men looked up from a game of tic-tac-toe when she approached. Confusion danced across his face as he examined the forehead protector that hung from her neck, obviously unfamiliar with the symbol.

Lakota and Zyc walked up to stand behind her, masks also adorning their features. "Hidden Shade, unit seven. The Hokage requested an audience with the first available unit."

The leaf shinobi nodded, flipping his make-shift game board over and scribbling the entry on his list before pointing to his left. "Follow the main road until it stops and hang a right. Then it's the third building on the left."

"Thank you."

The trio rounded and began to make their way through the large village, ignoring the odd stares that the people freely gave out. "This place is huge." After several long, silent minutes, Lakota's soft voice startled Motaki and Zyc out of their visual exploration.

"Yeah," was the only response he got. He glanced at his comrades.

Zyc was walking with his eyes closed, face turned up to the sky. Motaki's eyes held a vacant look as she stared into the open air. She glanced over at him, their eyes locking for a long moment. Concern once again touched his semi-concealed features. "It's hurting, isn't it?"

Motaki felt Zyc's gaze instantly upon her as soon as the words left Lakota's lips. She looked away to help shoulder the pressure and nodded once, staying silent. She didn't want them to hear her voice crack. Both of her team mates returned their gazes to the ground.

"So, why are we here, again?," Zyc's question broke the uneasy silence.

Lakota rolled his sapphire eyes as he attempted to begin to explain their mission for the sixteenth time that day. "Remember, smart one? We're supposed to deliv--"

"We're here," Motaki said, cutting him off. She didn't break pace as she began to climb the steps.

"It always creeps me out the way she does that. It's like she's fearless, just going on without stopping. Sometimes she reminds me of a ghost," Zyc muttered to Lakota. He made sure to stay at least five steps behind his kunoichi friend.

"No argument there. But I thought she always acted kind of like a snake, ne?"

Neither one was paying attention to their surroundings until both were 'clothes-lined' by an irritated Motaki. Her contemptuous obsidian glare held them still. "I heard that," she growled. She knocked softly on the door before them (another detail both boys had missed) and was greeted with an equally soft, "Come in." She twisted the doorknob and opened it silently as the trio stepped inside. All three bowed respectfully before approaching a desk that was positioned directly in front of a set of great bay windows.

"That was fast," the blonde Hokage murmured, putting aside her paperwork.

Motaki smirked underneath her mask. "We get that a lot."

"I guess you do."

Motaki's eyes held a vacant expression as she examined the Hokage's gaze. 'She's so... apprehensive...' the thoughts traced the edges of her mind. She blinked and pulled a scroll from her weapon pouch. Handing it to the Hokage, she explained briefly, "Everything you need to know is included. You will need to read it by the time that we leave in three days."

Tsunade nodded briefly and accepted the scroll, setting it aside. "So, before we begin, shall we introduce ourselves? You may call me Lady Hokage or Tsunade, whichever you prefer," she spoke, turning to face the red haired member of the trio.

"Kaitseiga Lakota. Chuunin Medic," he stated, pulling down his mask. He flashed her a smile and turned to the other boy of the trio.

Zyc sighed, removing his mask as well. He opened his pale lavender eyes, which had been closed before then. "Hyuuga Zyc. Chuunin Weapon Master."

Tsunade smiled, "Welcome back." She turned to Motaki.

The girl opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted when the door banged open behind her. She flipped her head around in time to see a blond haired boy burst into the room, followed by a girl with short, bubblegum pink hair. The boy shoved past her and slammed his palms down on the desk, beginning to rant about a mislead trail and a dog and some other bunch of nonsense, but it had lost her attention immediately. As soon as he had touched her, she felt a stinging jolt shoot through the Hex Seal that was tattooed on her back, and closed her eyes tightly to hide the pain.

"Kestes amada?" Zyc's soft voice rang through her head, asking if she was alright. She nodded stiffly, rolling her shoulder blades. Opening her eyes, she noticed that a vein in the Hokage's forehead was threatening to pop, as was the case with the pink-haired girl. Tsunade's irritated voice immediately shut him up.

"Uzumaki, how many times must I tell you to knock before entering my office?" It seemed more like a statement than a question. The Uzumaki boy's cheeks tinted a dull pink color and he looked away, obviously embarrassed, and muttered a quiet apology. Tsunade turned back to Motaki.

The girl spoke politely, "Jonin Rogue Alpha. My name is irrelevant at the current moment."

Tsunade's eyes narrowed slightly, but she let it go. She turned back to the Uzumaki boy, "So, Naruto, what exactly were you saying earlier?"

'Naruto' immediately resumed his rantings, then began to complain about being the only genin in his age class and many other irrelevant topics. Motaki sighed heavily and interrupted him when his mushed sentences broke.

"Lady Hokage, may we be dismissed?," she asked cooley, ignoring Naruto completely. Tsunade nodded in response. The three Shade ninja bowed politely before turning to exit. Nauto grabbed Motaki's arm in one swift movement, holding her back. This annoyed her more than the electric shocks that were coursing through her Hex Seal. She didn't bother turning around to face him.

"What," It was a demand, not a question.

"What is your problem?," he growled.

"I'm not going to waste half of my day waiting for a break in your rantings. It's really not a difficult concept to grasp," came her curt reply. She could hear Naruto's heartbeat quicken with anger.

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

That's when she snapped her cool. Motaki shook off his grip and slid off her mask before whipping around to meet his sapphire scowl with her own obsidian glare.

"I'm Uchiha Motaki of the Phantom Elements."

A look of shock came from her answer before she stepped out of the silent room.

Like? No? Review, please. I don't think anyone reads my work, so it would help if I knew that people did. So just take those ten seconds and click that little button for me.

Inaria: Also, we'd like to give a shout-out to GuardianMariner, the ONLY person who felt like reviewing. Thank you very much for that.

Yup. Thanks to the ONLY person. Not even Inaria reviewed.

Inaria: -adopts a look of shock- H-Huh? W-What do y-you mean? Of c-course I reviewed!

Yeah. You and the dust bunnies.

Let me know how you liked it. I'll try to have the next chapter up by the twentieth at the latest. Keep reading and reviewing!

-Nyroc