Heyo~
Terribly sorry for the late update, my computer was giving me the worse time of my life
But here it is my lovelies, Ch 2. Please enjoy
It has been a few weeks since Sasuke had left for a mission. In our own time, he further introduced me to Sakura and Naruto. By the tone of his voice he seemed to be very annoyed to be on a team in general. Just how cooperative will he be on this mission? According to the Hokage, their mission was a standard escort mission, C-rank mission. They at most, they would of came back within a week. But now they have been gone for about three whole weeks, and now some of us are starting to get worried. I decide to go to Sarutobi-sama to discuss a search party, but I'm a bit too late.
"Hokage-sama, I apologize for my intrusion, but-" I cut myself off. There are four people standing before me, all of which were of Team 7. They came back!
"Ah, Mizuki. Perfect timing. I was just about to call for you. As you can see, the team is back from their mission. They had to deal with…... some difficulties. I would like you to investigate this," He requests and then gestures to the file sitting on his desk. I approach it with caution - a C-rank mission, being interfered with? With a sensei like Kakashi, they should of had no problem. The file, however, said otherwise.
"As you can see, this is a serious matter. You may take a team with you, just investigate this immediately." the Hokage orders.
"Right away, Hokage-sama." I leave to gather my team. I first make my way to the Inuzuka compound, hearing the barking of dogs as I approach the door. I knock loudly to overcome the loud barks. Finally, someone answers, but it's not the kunoichi that I was looking for- instead her little brother, a boy with the exact same trademark red stripes his family had, answers the door.
"Is Hana home?
"Yeah, Sis out back." the boy answers and moves out of the door frame.
Stepping into the house, I follow the wooden floorboards to the backyard, where Hana is. She seems busy playing with her dogs, tussling around with them on the floor. "Yo" She stops and wipes the spit off her face, then catches sight of me.
"Hey Mizuki, what brings you here?"
I reply, "Mission from the Hokage - we're supposed to start immediately."
She nods at me and her dogs prop themselves up, ready to go. "Sure - give me a few minutes to get my stuff."Upon reaching the gate I see Izumo and Kotetsu - both are chatting away endlessly, not really paying attention to their jobs. I let out a slight sigh. They should really take their job more seriously… But none the less, they are great ninjas, maybe they can help as well.
"Oi, Kotetsu, Izumo!" I call. Immediately stopping halfway through their conversation, they stare at me with idiotic grins.
"Hey, "Kid", what's up?" I groan. Just because they are 24 and I am 15 does not make me a kid!
"I got a mission from the Hokage, we could use a few extra hands."
They look at each other. "Awwww does the little shrimp need some help?"
This hit a nerve. I clench my fists and puff up my cheeks as I retaliate them. "Shut up your damn mouths! Are you going to come or what?"
"Sure, after all we don't want you to bite our heads off."
Just as I am about to reply, Hana clamps my mouth shut. "Alright, alright. Hurry up and get your things!"
We set off at the main gate, sprinting to the Great Naruto Bridge. Mist soon fills in the clear weather, as we pass the borders for the Land of the Waves. After what seems to be hours, we finally see a cliffside with a bridge faded in to the mist.
"Alright, the mission's objective is to secure the village past this bridge and gather information about the late Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Zabuza Momochi, and his accomplice, Haku. Rendezvous point is the base of the bridge in the village. Meet there in 3 hours. You know the drill, split!" I ordered.
Izumo and Kotetsu bolt down the bridge to the village, while I wait with Hana as she lets her ninken smell for anymore signs of Zabuza. One barks and then races off. We follow it with precaution - a swordsmen of Zabuza's skill is not be messed with, and if he's still alive, we're going to need back up. Hana's ninken suddenly stops at a marsh area, even more in mist than before.
"Hana?"
"Mizuki, over here!" Hana calls to my left. I follow her voice to a small area covered in bushes. Next to her, her dogs are sniffing a small shiny object imbedded into the ground. Dusting it off, it turns out the be a thin senbon needle. The report had said that Haku used senbon needles with his kekkei genkai… But that said his status was terminated...
Bringing my attention to the pointed side, blood was dried on the tip, meaning a battle happened. More barking rang, and Hana's other ninken found a patch of dried blood. I froze, shock at the evidence and slowly started to inwardly panic. Could one of them still be alive? This is bad, what if-
"It's Naruto's blood, they must've fought here. The blood is about three days old." Hana reports. Her dogs whimper a bit, exchanging some sort of information. "They say that the blood on the needle you're holding is from Zabuza."
"So they are dead." I conclude, looking carefully at the senbon. I let out a small sigh of relief. "Where are their bodies?"
One of the dogs licks her hand, and they run off. "Let's find out."
After moments of more sprinting, we approach a mound of dirt- one side has a normal cross to signify the dead - the other has one of the famous swords of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Kubikiribōchō. The blade still looks sharp, never dull from constant use.
"Kirigakure will come after this, but thieves could get it first…"
Hana curses under her breath. "Grave robbers… those retards..."
"They have no boundaries when it comes to stealing, Hana, and you can't put any down." We both bow our heads down in respect to the dead. "Go on to the rendezvous point. I'll go in a few minutes."
As Hana leaves me, I gather my chakra, and do a few handsigns. "Solar wind style: Fūjin's Blessing!"
A bright, blinding light is cast on the grave, and a barrier of wind circles the perimeter. As the gale spins the light grows stronger, and soon the light wavers, slowly completing the jutsu. Finally, after sometime the light bursts and a transparent barrier settles on the grave. I take in a deep breath. The report said that Zabuza freed the village from Gatō, a missing-nin fighting for something that has nothing to do with him. A true complete change of heart, even if it stopped beating it should be honored. "There, that should last for a while. " Just as I turn to go to the rendezvous point, a subtle rustle in the bushes catches my attention.
I ready my katana, and stare at the bush with caution. The rustling becomes louder, now accompanied by the sound of crushed leaves. A step forward, and in a flash, the object strikes out at me. My katana counters it, throwing it to the side. I glare at what just attacked me; a snake. A four-foot long snake rests in a coil, its dark purple scales making indents in the rich dirt. It hisses at me, darting its green silted eyes at my blade. I charge my blade with my lightning chakra, raising it up to strike down at the reptile. Right before it made contact, the snake wraps around my blade, canceling out my lightning. It bares it fangs near my face, ready to snap at my neck. With split second thinking, I grab the snake's neck and conduct a simple jutsu. "Lightning style: Claw of Raijin." My hand sparks with electricity and the snake slacks over. As I let go of it, its head detaches itself, severed from the body. I plant my blade right through the head for good measure. Only one person that uses these kinds of snakes. What would he want with Zabuza and Haku?.. I'll wait off telling the others, I should first tell Lord Sarutobi. Sheathing my katana, I sprint my way across the bridge.
The extensive run comes to an end as I near my team, all giving intel about their findings. Coming close, I put my index finger to my lips, signaling Hana to be quiet as I approach Kotetsu and Izumo, whose backs are to me. Taking one final leap, I silently land behind the duo, hands planted on each shoulder. "Boo."
They yelp in surprise, holding each other as if they'd seen a ghost. The giggle that I held back escaped my lips. The low chuckle soon turned into a high pitched squeak. "Relax you two, it's just me!" Tears form in my eyes, as I hold my abdomen.
"Relax? YOU GAVE ME A HARD ATTACK!" Kotetsu complains.
"Kotetsu… can't...breathe...dying…."Izumo mutters as the color further drains from his face. Kotetsu's arms are firmly locked around his neck, suffocating the poor man.
"Let the man go already Kotetsu!" Hana comments and playfully hits the vice grip set on Izumo. The death lock is finally released and Izumo collapses in a pant. I kneel down and sympathetically pat his shoulder. Reverting my gaze to Kotetsu, I return to business. "Dying man aside, what did you find?"
"We found village completely under control, there are soldiers patrolling the border and all the shipping supplies is monitored by several eyes, and the port master does not report about any interference with cargo. And the residents have no disputes to report, it is a peaceful community. Even they didn't see any signs of threat ever since Zabuza and Gatō have died."
"How about Kisame Hoshigaki of the Akatsuki? Have the residents seen any suspicious marine life? Particularly relating to sharks?"
"None."
"Then our job here is done."
Once again I am soooo sorry for the super late update. I'll motivate myself to do theses things on time.
See ya next week!~Grai