In order for this mission to work I had to make it so Itachi's bunshin could give him live feedback, rather than transmitting information when it died. Let's just say Itachi's awesome like that ok? Sorry if this chapter gets a bit confusing, I may have missed some line breaks.
There will be no pairings for awhile, if ever. I didn't think that sentence would stir you all up so much!
Once again Sasuke had curled up on my bed in the middle of the night. He should really stop doing it. My paranoia may just end up getting him killed. It had been bad enough when we were at home, but now…
But now it was, to my surprise, around midday. I woke to see him practicing a new kata. Konan sama must have taught it to him the previous day.
"Keep those elbows in." I commented once he'd finished. He jumped, obviously not noticing that I was awake.
He smiled, "I know, I know. Yesterday was my first practice in ages!"
'Itachi san, I need you to go on a mission with Kisame. Meet him one kilometre East of here, as soon as possible.' Leader hurriedly interjected. This must have been of some importance.
"I need to go now Sasu chan, be good for Konan sama." I said needlessly.
"Come back soon Niisan…" he replied, looking a little saddened.
I nodded and left instantly. I covered the one kilometre in no time.
When I found Kisame, he was sitting on the roof of a two-story building, a hotel as it happened, studying what appeared to be a map. "Within this building is a scroll which holds important information. We must retrieve it at all costs. I think it's in the room below us. It's well guarded, so be careful." He added, finally looking up at me.
I nodded, creating a few bunshin to further scout the situation in the hotel. One sat at the window of the room we assumed it to be in. Another entered the hotel in a normal fashion, but not before it henge no jutsu'd into a normal citizen. No doubt my Konoha headband would attract suspicion. Not to mention it would mean I was a ninja. I had to appear as an ordinary citizen.
I quickly found that the view from the window was blocked. Whether coincidentally or purposefully was yet to be ascertained. Either way it meant we'd have to enter the room blindly. There was most like to be traps about.
"What room number is this?" I asked. I noticed Kisame hadn't done anything to help the mission effort at all. Obviously this was another test.
"Twenty… four." He muttered, returning to his map.
My disguised bunshin, which was in the reception area, walked up to the receptionist and asked, "Are the occupants of room twenty-four in at the moment?"
The man ran his finger down the list in front of him, "Yes, two of them went out very early this morning, but two still remain. Strange they could fit four people into that room… Anyway, they're upstairs, fourth door on the left."
"Thank you." it said, following his directions. It knocked on the door and waited for the occupants to hopefully deactivate the traps. Not likely.
Back on the roof, I brought Kisame up to date, "There are two people in this room, but its possible the other two in their unit have the scroll. Apparently they left first thing this morning. My clone is positioned on the outside of the door-" I stopped speaking when my clone vanished in a cascade of crows and two ninja exited the room via the window.
Quickly I surrounded them with more bunshin but the two shinobi disposed of them quickly. Clearly they were of jounin level. Keeping this in mind, I activated the Mangekyou Sharingan. The kunoichi made a deadly mistake by looking up into my eyes. Instantly I trapped her in a genjutsu. She froze up, unable to move.
Meanwhile, Kisame was dealing with her partner, who had so far managed to dodge all of his relentless attacks, though I didn't think Kisame was trying all that much. My suspicions of this being a mere test were aroused once again. But, my attention was fully returned to the battle at hand when the male ninja managed to inject chakra into his partner, breaking my genjutsu. This could go on all day, I had to finish this quickly and take the scroll. To do this I'd have to Tsukiyomi them both.
I did so, knowing I'd pay for it later. Seventy-two hours of torture for the both of them, lasting perhaps five minutes in real time.
"Find the scroll as fast as possible." I said and Kisame obliged. It took him exactly 80 seconds, I was counting every single one.
"Got it Itachi san!" he exclaimed triumphantly. I released the genjutsu and felt my legs uncontrollably give. But Kisame caught me before I hit the ground. "Leader sama will be impressed Itachi san." He said, carrying me like a parent may carry a weary child. He could easily manage it, being about twice my size.
Looking back, I think it was this particular fight which concreted our trust. Kisame realised I'd fight with him, not against him. It was at that moment that I was completely at his mercy and killing me off didn't even seem to cross his mind. I couldn't believe that it had only been just over a week since 'that' day. Well, eight days to be exact.
I'd blacked out before we got back, knowing that I'd wake up in that futon, with little Sasuke worrying over my health again.
shifty eyes It's eight days now ok!