I know I'm amazing and the story has a serious plot right now! I'm so proud of myself.

Next chapter please enjoy the conspiracy!

Masaki Osore, Kaguya Kasui, Ki Uddo and Aisu belong to Masako Bakuto

Caroline and any other made up temporary characters belongs to moi

Sashimi belongs to Sashimi-Hiryuu

Mei Terumi and any other Naruto related things belong to Masashi Kishimoto

From the word go Mei had become the tyrant of Sashimi and Caroline's lives. Training was done in secret underneath the Mizukage's office in the underground passages. The Elders who were well acquainted and in full support of Mei allowed this.

"If you are to become great kunoichi you must train like your life depends on it!"

And Mei's smile has become the most terrifying symbol too. She could issue death threats with it and you could never tell when she was serious.

"Most shinobi take 5 years just to become genin – you only have months to train to become the standards of chunins!"

Her tyrannical voice and deceiving smile drove the girls into overtime. Sashimi was right under Mei's wing as she discovered she shares the same Kekkei genkai as her. Boil release.

Caroline on the other hand has been training hard in animal summoning and ninjutsu. They both trained hard in genjutsu.

The trouble was both girls seemed to not favour taijutsu and Kenjutsu – both their weaknesses and Kenjutsu was the basics of most Kirigakure shinobi skills. However they had good aptitude in genjutsu and ninjutsu was just fine. Mei pushed them to become masters in both to make up for their lack of close combat skills.

"Kintaro! Listen to me please." Caroline begged.

A yellow gold tiger stood adamantly before Caroline. It had already been a week and each time she called upon the creature he refused to co-operate.

"I thought you loved animals what is wrong?" Mei mocked her.

'Kin' Caroline thought.

'Please help me out.'

However Kin only watched her painful persuasions fall on death ears. She had something in her she hasn't found.

"Listen child. I do not work with children. I am prince Kintaro son of King Kai of the Tigers. Stop wasting my time."

Though Caroline appeared quiet and shy she had pride and did not like being talked to in such ways. She had endured it for the sake of getting Kintaro to train with her but she had had enough.

"You listen and you listen well Mr Prince of Tigers. I am Princess Caroline daughter and prize jewel of the Yotsuki clan in Kumogakure. You oppose me with that attitude and I shall show you pain!"

Mei and Sashimi stopped what they were doing – jaws dropped to the ground. It took them sometime to clock the situation. Both were impressed.

Kintaro whimpered at the sudden retaliation and bowed his head. Caroline snapped out of it and became very apologetic.

"Gomenai, Gomenai I'm not usually this upset but I've been training so hard to become a kunoichi you see – it's really stressing. All I want to do is form a bond with the animals of the other worlds. Will you work with me?"

She bowed to the tiger whose red swirled stripes glowed.

"Since you asked so sincerely..." Kintaro began but was hushed by a grateful hug.

"Progress. Finally." Mei sighed.

"How many candidates are there?"

"There are four. I hear that the shinobi of Kirigakure a pushing forth their strongest and most popular shinobi to take the title. Many are split in bands and groups supporting their favourite candidate – it's all up to the elders now – whoever impresses them the most I guess." Ki Uddo told Osore this information casually as they sat in front of a dango store as unmarked travellers.

"Their names are?"

"The first candidate is Hiroto Hozukawa, second Masaru Kawamura and third Takashi Ichori." Ki Uddo revealed.

"The fourth?" Osore demanded.

"I did not find out the fourth candidate all I know is that she's female."

"Female – how surprising. Well done Ki I'll leave the rest up to you." Osore said to the woman dressed in a dull kimono pretending to chat to the man beside her who was also in similar clothes.

"As you wish Osore."

Aisu walked off casually – she was off to spy on the first candidate, Hiroto. She changed attire in the alleyway into a black Anbu suit and she was off in the shadows. No one could spy as well as Aisu in all of Kirigakure.

She smiled to herself happily. She was much a solo person and the thrill of watching those without being noticed was something she took pride in. When spying she had the tendency to fall into a girlish persona so unlike her normal exterior attitude.

"I spy with my little eye a short blue haired man with a brain the size of a water flea." She points at Hiroto and giggles to herself,

"He's rather cute but too much of a baka to go out with."

She continued spying on him. Hiroto was rather egotistic and was confident in becoming the next Mizukage trying to win support through his charisma.

"If he keeps talking that way I swear I'll see his head inflate." She would say to herself and giggle in girlish glee.

As he went home she made note of where he lived. She went to the extent of watching his window and laughed and gagged as he pulled out obscene magazines.

"How much longer shall I stay?" She playfully asked herself. As soon as she said this his lights were out and he was fast asleep.

"It would be so much easier if I could kill him myself. However Osore wouldn't be pleased – if only I had some poison with me. Ki Uddo usually is well equipped..."

In the end she returned back to the main meeting point of the men and met Osore in the alleyway and greeted him with indifference.

"So?"

"He'll be an easy target once we get him alone – he likes surrounding himself with many people, I suggest the ploy of women to lead him off." Aisu returned to her steely tone of voice and dark attitude.

"Good you shall be the ploy."

Aisu scowled –

'That's what I get for being the only female in the group.'

The next day Mei gave the two girls a gift.

"A flute and...?" Caroline began,

"An ocarina?" Sashimi finished.

"These instruments are made of metal that channel chakra. I think it will encourage your genjutsu abilities."

"Really? But I wasn't all that musical..." Sashimi was doubtful,

"Previously, but now your practically a goddess musical abilities must be in your line of work now." Mei said with a mocking tone and smiled sweetly at Sashimi who only scowled back with icy eyes.

"I love music but I've never tried a flute, this could be fun Onee-san." Caroline encouraged.

"That's the spirit since I'm going out for the day. So by the end of the day I expect to see a possible genjutsu." Mei said.

Both girls were dumbstruck then burst into fits of begging and pleading putting forth how hard it would be by themselves – but Mei would have none of it. She believed in them greatly so she let them be.

'They'll have to realise their potential sometime.'

She always thought that – and this was their chance to advance on their own. Besides Mei needed to have free time so she could ensure support for her campaign. She was well known among people but not everyone truly knew that she wanted to be Mizukage. Ever since Yagura died the shinobi of Kirigakure had been in chaos not knowing who to follow and what to do. The elders were slow in appointing a new Mizukage and rumours that Yagura had been controlled during his reign was spreading fast among the shinobi.

Mei was smart – she didn't want to openly put forward her position to anyone. Rather she wants to show people she is capable and uses more under handed means to get what she wants. She had already swayed the elders and now she sought out the heads of shinobi divisions such as Hunter-nins and Medical-nins and finding the best shinobi in the art of Kenjutsu to praise. Supporting people was how she campaigned and she was really persuasive.

As she walked the streets of Kirigakure she noticed one of the candidates Hiroto.

'He's such a fool there's no way he'll be chosen in the end.' She thought.

As soon as she passed him she felt a kunoichi's presence. Just as her back faced Hiroto's she heard a female voice whisper in his ear,

"Come with me."

It was none of her business but she was curious - the woman got under skin so she followed them closely while being casual. Hiroto was led by the brown haired beauty (not as beautiful as her she thought) to a secluded part of the village. Hiroto being the baka he was did not suspect a thing, but Mei did. She settled for a seat behind an old house's tattered gates to watch the show.

'No-one will really miss him' she thought with a cynical smile.

Hiroto was soon surrounded by three other men, two she recognised as ex-members of the seven ninja swordsmen of the mist. But she noted the one who had the Masaki clan yin and yang emblem on his back. She did not recognise the man very well but she was surprised - was he a survivor?

As the one in white attire brought a bony sword Mei replayed that thought,

'He's the one who killed them.'

She listened carefully to the men as they surrounded a defenceless Hiroto with their swords that she took note of as well as the men. The man from the Masaki clan had a serrated edged katana, the man in white clothes who, when he turned around, Mei noticed the red dots on his head.

'The sign of Kaguya – weren't they slaughtered by Kirigakure shinobi?'

The Kaguya had a sword made of bones – part of his Kekkei genkai. The other man with glasses and short brown hair and in forest green cloak was holding a classic western style sword – only there was a green crystal on the hilt. The female took off her attire revealing blue cut clothes and kodachi with a clear blade like ice.

"What do you want?" Hiroto said cowering, even Mei could smell his fear.

"Likely candidates of Mizukage will be in our way. You simply need to be removed." The Masaki clan man spoke.

"I can back down! Please just don't kill me – I can support you even join you..." Hiroto was blubbering.

'Such cowardice as a shinobi he should be ashamed of himself. 'Mei was disgusted.

"If he became Mizukage he would make a great puppet Osore." The man with glasses suggested.

"So his name is Osore – Masaki Osore eh." She whispered to herself.

"Screw that I want to cut this guy open!" cried the Kaguya.

"A puppet would be nice but I won't follow my old friend's footsteps just in case I fail like him in manipulating a Mizukage." Osore stated.

Mei picked up on this – Was Yagura really being controlled? If so who was this "old friend" of Osore.

"What death would be acceptable?" Osore speculated.

"Organ damage, he does drink a lot so how about the Liver?" The female suggested.

"Leave that up to me then."

"I don't get to slash him?" the Kaguya said outraged by his lack of participation.

"We are trying to make these deaths seem natural Kasui – be patient your time will come." Osore said calmly and the Kaguya backed down.

They all stood back except the man who opted to kill Hiroto. Hiroto was on the floor crawling back watching the man's hand constantly. It started to glow with chakra,

'A Medic-nin I see.'

THUMP
UMPH

The medic-nin had used his chakra control in one hand to damage Hiroto's liver in one hit – he was a strong one. Hiroto's limp body was writhing in pain.

"Slow and painful deaths are my favourite." The woman commented with a sadistic grin.

Mei had seen enough. She was in danger – serious danger. Do they know she's a candidate? If so she must prepare herself. As for Caroline and Sashimi they had some way to go.

"Welcome back Mei-sensei." Both girls bowed.

"Well." She waited expectantly.

"We have been successful!" Sashimi said triumphantly.

As Mei sat down comfortably on a chair she listened to the girls' duet. As the melody played in her ears her brain began to slowly blackout and she was falling asleep. She did not remember being tired whatsoever but before she knew it her mind had closed and she was in a dreamlessly deep sleep.

CRACK

She was wide awake her back aching. Before awaking she felt like she was falling she didn't know why until...

"It worked Caroline, it worked!" Sashimi cried and hugged the girl beside her who too was beaming.

Mei was on the floor her chair had fallen over. It clicked in Mei's mind.

"I'm so proud of you two – see you must have confidence in your skills."

"Sorry we had to tip the chair - falling gives the dreamer a kick to wake them up." Sashimi said apologetically.

"It's a clever genjutsu - not something anyone would try to expell as a genjutsu." Mei stated proudly.

"Mei-sensei is something wrong?" Caroline questioned.

"Does it seem like that?"

"Kin noticed – you are distracted." She stated innocently.

"That tiger is a smart one – better than that arrogant Kintaro." Mei laughed lightly but dropped her smiles into a serious face.

"Kin's right something is wrong – I'm in danger. There is a group who seem to be targeting candidates to become Mizukage and one of them is a Masaki. I believe he's the one who slaughtered his clan."

The two girls were silent. They sensed the severity of the situation and something dawned on Sashimi.

"Then we'll fight. We can surely drive them off with the support of other shinobi can't we?"

"Better yet we'll kill them ourselves." Caroline spoke quietly but harshly. This was the second time she surprised Sashimi and Mei.

"You're right we might have to get rid of them ourselves – It's not the first time the Mizukage has been targeted. The last Mizukage was apparently being controlled and men tried to assassinate him - namely one of the seven ninja swordsmen, Momochi Zabuza." Mei spoke informatively.

She continued to explain the members and what she had seen. Their weapons, their appearance and the speculations she had made about them. The girls listened attentively.

"You see this is really dangerous – possibly out of your league. I really don't want to endanger you girls so if we come across them soon you might just have to leave me to deal with them myself." Mei said admittedly.

"We would never do that! We are the Mizukage's escorts." Sashimi protested.

"We may be in training but we will make sure you become Mizukage and put an end to Kirigakure's chaotic situation. If we make you Mizukage you will become almost untouchable." Caroline supported Sashimi.

"We will train every day until the encounter so make sure you keep yourself out of trouble." Sashimi wagged her finger at Mei playfully.

"If they're trying to be secretive about the deaths then they won't make a big scene to try and kill you." Caroline continued.

Mei couldn't disagree with the girls and their loyal spirits. They were right – if she kept incognito until the public decision in three weeks she should be fine. They could do this.

Another long chapter neh? Please review! ^^

I hope you're all enjoying the plot - please do tell me if it's getting boring ok

Kin: I want a bigger part...

Oh shush you - right now Caroline and Sashimi need to put their kunoichi skills to use! The Four Swords of Destruction must be crushed! Can they do it?

Kin: I don't know - they're are much more experienced, more sadistic, and more powerful.

Kin stop being pessimistic! All we need is luck! Luck must be on our side. You know what I'm so excited I'm telling you all there's gonna be a fight!

Kin: Really!

Yes really. Everyone get ready for the next chapter!