Wassup people

Sorry for the late update, I had quite a few tests this week that were a pain in the butt.

Also a few family problems here and there, but that's my problem not yours, so enjoy zee chapter.

Two days had passed, since the second stage had started, subtle screams could be heard, as the second night grew to a close. I had been assigned for night duty, along with Kotetsu and Izumo, whom had been just sleeping the entire time. They really need a discipline lesson. How on earth did they even become chunin? As I walk into the part of the tower where they are stationed, I see them sleeping on the floor - and they're both hugging their pillows. How manly. Let's see how should I wake them up… Aha! I gather some chakra, forming a current of electricity at my fingertips. In a finger-gun, I shoot at the sensitive spot of their necks, a powerful alarm clock.

"What the- Mizuki!" They groggily complain.

I stick out my tongue and say, "That's what you get for sleeping on the job!" I take off for my hourly patrol around the station. Halfway through my sprint, I take a break in a tree. A shadow crosses over, blocking the moonlight. I look up to find 3 ninja, Sound genin. They glare coldly down at the surrounding area, as if searching for prey. The female genin notices me staring, alerts her team, and they jump off, back into the forest. Oh. I better get to the entrance.

Just then, a group of ninjas arrive right as I reach the entrance, looking extremely worn out. They show me the two scrolls they have, and I wave them through. Wow, they look beat… I wonder what they've been through… If anything, those Oto ninjas look like trouble. I don't trust any nin from Oto, they are sketchy.

I hear a thump to my left, I slip a kunai and whirl around to the sound, only to have it blocked by Anko. She exclaims, "Gosh, Mizuki! Look before you attack, will you?" I apologize and lower my kunai. "Anyways, I've just had a really troubling report from some chunins. A group found three ninjas dead, but with very little blood. But the strange thing is they don't have any faces..."

This is serious. "Where are they?" She leaps off into the trees. I follow after her, and we land in the middle of the huge forest. Three bodies lay motionless, scattered throughout the small meadow.

Anko uses the handle of her kunai to poke at one of the bodies. She tilts up the head to show me, and I stifle a gasp as I see the blank whiteness that has replaced the ninja's face. "Who do you think caused this?"

She shrugs. "Can't be so sure, but the most likely suspect is…"

"Orochimaru?"

She nods, and I grimace with disgust. I heard tales from the ninja here, about the legendary Sannin. Orochimaru had become a traitor in order to study Forbidden Jutsu, taking innocent people for his experiments. Transforming them and himself into a monster. My thoughts are broken by the screech of a blade cutting through the night air. "Come on!", I exclaim, leaping towards the sound of the blade. Anko follows on my heels. Deeper into the forest sits a figure, with pale skin, long black hair and most unnerving of all, his pupils were thin slits. Just like a snake.. "Oh, you found me…" He chuckles softly.

I take out a kunai and a few shurikens, ready to throw them. "Monster." I mutter. Right behind me, Anko tenses. I'm about to gather my chakra for the Hanketsu, when Anko stops me.

"Mizuki, go report directly to the main tower. The Hokage must know about this. I'll deal with Orochimaru."

"But you-"

"GO! Just… leave this to me"

I nod and race off towards the main tower, 2 miles away. I hope she's okay…. Few minutes later, I pound on the door, and someone who I don't recognize opens it. I barely manage to say, "Orochimaru…...in…..Forest….." before I sag against the frame, completely out of breath from my sprint. I dimly see the person call for someone frantically, and there's a whole blur of motion. Black spots dance in my vision. Okay, okay. I am never going to run that quickly again. I collapse, only to have someone catch me in midair. I look up, and am slightly surprised. Finally, Izumo and Kotetsu are actually on duty!

"Oi, Mizuki, you okay?" I try to say something, only to have my vision completely black out. I barely feel Izumo carrying me to somewhere, presumably a medic, while Kotetsu runs off.

I wake up at the sensation of someone patting my cheek. "Mizuki!" I blearily look up, and see Anko. "Finally! You really did have me worried there for a second."

"Anko! What happened to Orochimaru!" Her expression becomes sullen.

"He escaped. But luckily, no one's injured too badly." Good. I feel stupid right now, lying in a bed while everyone's out there fighting against Orochimaru and his forces.

"Eat." Anko slides a tray towards me. A plate of salmon onigiri, a small dish of dango, and a cup of water sits on top of it. I just then realize how hungry I am. I haven't eaten anything since lunch.

"Thanks." I scarf down the food, feeling immediately better.

"Haha, you should've seen Izumo and Kotetsu, they were frantic. Your friend Hana was giving them the beating." Heh, thank you Hana. "They were muttering something about payback, though. Any idea what they meant?"

I shake my head. "Just up to their usual tricks, I suppose. Anyways, I better get going. How long was I out?"

She responds, " A couple hours. The last group just finished 15 minutes ago. But you're not supposed to attend the prelims, right? Or the third stage?"

"Yeah, I'm not required to. But then I have no idea what to do. A show might be nice." I smile and slide out of the bed. A thought occurs to my mind. "Oh - one more thing. PLEASE don't tell my parents about this. They're gonna freak out, and I'm never going to be able to leave home again without at least a squadron running on my heels."

"My lips are sealed. I'll tell everyone else who knows about that request."

"And who exactly are those people?"

"Oh, about every person in this building who knows you're an ambassador." I groan. Which basically means every single teacher or official.

"Come on… give me a break - all those people?"

"Don't worry. You were pretty fast… Kotetsu found one of Orochimaru's snakes right behind you, but it escaped…" Damn. That bastard Orochimaru.

"Well then, I better go find the idiots." I take a step, and am relieved to feel perfectly fine."Thanks for the food again, Anko-sensei. I owe you some dango!" I pat her shoulder and leave the room, heading outside. Kotetsu and Izumo are standing at the entrance, actually armed with their weapons for once. I sneak up behind them, and sling my arms across both of their shoulders. They yelp in surprise.

"Thanks for the help, guys! I honestly owe you guys."

"No problem, "Kid". It's good to see you up and out of bed." Izumo responds.

"Ha, you know me. I can't stay still."

Kotetsu jokes, "Gosh, Mizuki, you're heeeaaavvvvyyy. Laying it on thick on the mochi now, are you?" I slap him playfully.

"Oh, be quiet!" He laughs and glances over at Izumo.

Izumo summons a bubble of water over our heads. They are really bad at this. Before the two could escape the drench, I slipped out, sliding to the side. I bring up a kunai and send it through the mass of liquid. Its case pops and a wave of water crashes down on Izumo and Kotetsu. "Pfft, well that plan backfired, didn't it?" A small giggle escapes as I back up towards the hallway.

Wiping the drops of water off his face, Kotetsu curses, "Damn it, we almost had her!"

"Tch, don't think you've won, Mizuki! Come on!" Izumo leads a chase after me. I take that as my cue to get myself out of here. I turn on my heels and sprint to the nearest open window. Stopping in a skid, I plant my hands on the frame of the window and jump out, aiming for the group below me. "We'll get you back some day!"

"In your dreams!" And I bolt off to the Inuzuka residence. Might be a bit early, but the two idiots wouldn't dare set foot in Hana's territory. I lightly knock on the door, setting off a whole chorus of barking. "Oi, Akamaru, Kiba! It's Mizuki!"

The door opens with Kiba holding back his pup, and Hana awkwardly standing at the door frame. "Sorry, they've had a long night."

"They're not the only one…" I mutter.

"So what brings you here?"

I smile. "Got some news. But let's talk somewhere else." I look at her. She's still in her pajamas, and her hair's all messed up. "On second thought, how about you get dressed and eat something?"

"Ah, yeah, come in, I'll be quick. I'm supposed to attend the third stage, since, you know, I'm a medical ninja." She says and quickly runs up the stairs to the side.

I step in, and an adorable white dog pounces on me, licking my cheek. "Whoa!" I yelp.

"Akamaru! Come on…" Kiba groans.

"Don't worry. He's a little adorable furball." I pet his soft fur on his back, feeling against bandages. "Hrm? What happened?"

"The prelims, Naruto packed a pretty hard punch." Kiba complains rubbing the patch on his cheek, with a pout.

"Hey you tried, okay? Besides, he released his 'air' on you, so can't really blame you." Hana appears right behind him, fully dressed and with an onigiri in hand. "Let's go, Mizuki!" We race off into the forest. "I have to be at the hospital within thirty minutes, just saying."

I respond, "Not a problem. This will only take like ten minutes." We stop at a small clearing. "So!" I turn to face her. "First of all, this is required to be an absolute secret, understood?"

"Sure... but why are you telling me?"

I shrug. "It's too stressful to handle by myself, and I trust you and your judgement. And my parents are of no help, always going on about honor and loyalty and training…."

She leans forward. "So what is it?"

I look around to check for anyone, then lean in and whisper in her ear, "I'm assigned as an Anbu."

She exclaims, "WHAT?!" I immediately place my hand over her mouth.

"Shush! I'm not supposed to tell anyone. No one in my clan even knows about it, except for my parents." She nods, wide-eyed. I lower my hand. "Anyways, I've heard horrible stuff about the Anbu, and I'm sort of nervous…."

"I think you are more than capable for the missions, and I'm sure you have nothing to worry about." True, - "But why do they want you to join?"

I lower my voice. "Probably because of Hanketsu. It can be the one of the greatest weapons in battle if you know how to use it..."

She studies me. "I guess they want to start while you're still young. You already can use it pretty well already, right?" I nod. "Well then, I guess you are going to have a lot of work from now on."

I mutter, "Yep, and I don't think I'm going to get any breaks…"

Hana sympathizes, "I'm absolutely positive that you can handle it. Anyways, I gotta go now. Lot's of genin to heal. Bye!" She tosses over her shoulder, "Don't worry, you'll do fine!" I wave, and she speeds away, leaving me behind.

Side note that I should of said right in the beginning of this story, but my aim for the story is to not interfere with the real plot too much, cuz to me that is stupid. Anyhow, you will only see interference in certain parts and none of them will change the course of the actual plot.

Anyways that's all and see ya, suckers!(Not)~Grai