Ch. 30 The Bear's Shadow

Don and Mikazuki traveled nonstop for a whole day and when the night of the next day came, they finally camped someplace and rested. Mikazuki had Don make a campfire and they sat down and ate some food.

"Don, you've been quiet this whole trip, is something the matter?" Mikazuki asked.

Don looked up at his companion through his mask. "No, things are fine."

"You know, out of all the ANBU I have known or learned about, you are one of the most interesting."

"What do you mean, I'm not that special. I'm your typical outcast and deserter as well as a traitor and I got what I deserved; I was killed for it."

"What are you hiding Don? Your file suggests that you were once an outgoing ninja and something happened after your father died."

Don grunted angrily at him. "What was that about not prying into my past? Besides, what are you hiding behind that stupid mask of yours; aren't we supposed to be partners?" he replied.

"Heh, I'm an ANBU, secretive is what I'm all about but if you must insist on finding out what I am hiding behind this mask, I'll show you." Mikazuki took off his mask to reveal a man in his early twenties. He had black hair that covered his head like a lion's mane. He had black eyes to match his hair.

"Now that I have shown you my face, show me what you are hiding behind your mask."

"What would be the point? You read my file; you know what I look like." Don replied.

Mikazuki drew a knife, "Would you rather me cut it off?" he smirked at Don.

Don took off his mask smirking back at him.

"That's better." He looked at Don's face. "I still don't get why Tsunade favors you for missions like this, I have seen better ninja, ninja that you would never even hope to match in caliber."

Don snapped his finger and a couple of earth bombs popped to Mikazuki's side. "Watch your mouth Mikazuki-san; I'd hate to have to kill you."

"As would I." he replied pointing up to Don's throat. A shadow clone stood behind him with a knife to his throat.

With a wave of Don's hand the bomb's disappeared as did the shadow clone.

"How much longer until we reach our destination?" Don asked.

"We are about a day away if we continue our current pace so you need to get some rest for tomorrow. However Don, there is something I think you should know, something that only a select few such as me who are deep within the government know."

"And what would that be?"

"Danzo has the Sharingan. No one is allowed to know. I don't know what Danzo is up to but it isn't good."

"My father used to confidentially tell me things top secret that he knew when he was still alive and active in the most elite circle of ANBU. The group he was in knew things like this and he always talked of Danzo with much concern. Danzo has always hated my family and in the shadows, he was made countless failed attempts to wipe out my entire family. I wonder if he was behind my father's assassination."

"I don't know Don; however there is another thing Tsunade did not tell you in the letter. Since you received that letter from Tsunade promoting you ANBU, you were automatically sent to fill in your father's spot in the elite circle of ANBU that is why you were partnered up with me."

"Interesting. Tell me, does Konoha look to me in much promise?" Don asked in a low voice.

Mikazuki looked at him sternly. "I can't tell you for sure, however I have a decent idea. Shortly after you deserted Konoha Tsunade went through a hellish meeting with the elders and other leaders of this village. A line was drawn and everyone took sides. You made quite a commotion among them. Half of the crowd wanted you dead for your treason; they blamed your father and his possible teachings to you. The other side with Tsunade countered their arguments which kept you alive. However one main reason that Tsunade brought up that everyone there knew that kept you alive, even I knew of this reason."

Don's expression was calm but inside his mind were a million things swirling about.

"Relations between Konoha and Suna were rapidly dwindling. Sure Tsunade and Gaara were on good terms with each other however leaders from both villages were not on the same page as the two Kage. We all knew it, if nothing was solved, then we would be in danger of another attack in the coming six months, after the chunin exams, we feared Suna was going to break all ties with us and attack the village once more. If it hadn't been for your surprise appearance then things would have gotten out of hand."

"So I provided the link between the two villages, because of me joining Suna and them seeing my abilities, they then had little reason to go to war with Konoha."

"You catch on quickly kid." Mikazuki laughed.

"So what are we going to be looking for exactly?" Don asked.

"I don't know, for starters, we need to eavesdrop on the meeting and get an idea of what is going on. From that we can make our next steps."

Don leaned against the log he was sitting on and went to sleep. Mikazuki watched him for a few seconds and then watched the fire. "The outcast is nothing more than just a bear's shadow now."