Summary: Eyes glistened with a golden hinge, blood dripping out of her nose. She would save them, even if it killed her. Slight SI. Third War Era. OC
….
Chapter 2: Masked
"The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed." ~ J.K Rowling, 'The Prisoner of Azkaban'
...
She was skidding across the dirt, a look of irritation across her face as she regarded her opponent and regained her footing half out of breath. The other woman was smirking at her, eyes gleaming with mischief. Blue eyes narrowed as she dusted herself off before letting out a small sigh. "Fine, I give. That's enough physical therapy for today." Her hand rubbed the sore shoulder, the other woman let out a heavy sigh as she met the teen half way.
"You need to keep pushing yourself Mitsuko or else your body will never fully recover." Onyx eyes gave her a stern look.
Mitsuko pulled her long locks out of the falling pony tail as she shook her head. While the woman was right she still had to take it easy. Lady Tsunade had half threatened to kill her if she damaged herself too badly during retraining. "You know I have to." Her voice was flat as she regarded the older woman who huffed at her.
"For kami's sake Mitsuko I'm a medic, I could heal you if you reinjured something." She groaned out while examining the girls shoulder. The blonde gave her a dark look as if to say yes she knew that.
"I have my orders Kaoru, and you have yours." She muttered something almost insulting under her breath before giving Mitsuko an all clear.
"Your shoulder didn't take any substantial damage so you should be fine. Just avoid heavy lifting for the rest of today and tomorrow. And will meet here again tomorrow evening for another round of Physical Therapy." The medic told her in a droll tone. A moment later the dark eye woman slipped a raccoon shaped mask over her face and vanished from the hidden field.
A sigh escaped her lips as she watched the woman leave. Mitsuko pulled her hair over her shoulder and braided the length before tying it at the end. She headed back towards the village after that. Her brother was expecting her presence right about now.
She had one more month to build back her strength to be able to return to the mission rosters. Shaking her head she thought about the last month. They had released her from the hospital with the stipulation that she'd come for a week to week checkup and that after a month of light activity she could start using chakra again. As expected her chakra control was shot and she'd need to rehabilitate her body to be used to using it again. The physical therapy sessions were as expected once a day with Kaoru for a long as she could go. Today was the longest they'd gone since starting, and Kaoru was as feed up with her slow progress as she was.
Finally after a ten minute walk she was back in the populated portion of the leaf village and out of Anbu training grounds. Mitsuko headed towards the Hokage's tower for an after report of her PT session. But mainly it was so her brother could check up on her. He had been very busy getting settled into his new hat. "Good morning Namikaze-san!" The secretary called from her position behind the desk. A bowed head of acknowledgment and then Mitsuko was heading towards the Hokage's office.
Team seven was gathered in the office. "Oh, I can come back later?" She questioned as she looked for her brother. He made motion for her to come in. Mitsuko closed the door softly behind her.
"Nonsense, I was just going over mission details for a patrol coming up." Her brow raised at that.
"A patrol? Why?" She wondered while joining the group.
"To ensure everything is still quiet on the border. Technically the mission isn't for another few weeks since we are still waiting on the last rotation. We are actually looking for someone to fill Rin-chan's spot. Lady Tsunade put in a request for Rin to stay at the hospital." Minato told her showing a list of chunin who could replace Rin. She took it from him scanning over the names.
"Congratulations Rin-chan." A promotion at the hospital meant she wouldn't likely be sent out to the field anymore. Mitsuko wasn't going to argue that, one less thing to worry over.
"Thank you Mitsuko-chan. I just wish I'd be able to accompany these two to make sure they were okay." Rin admitted with a sad smile. Mitsuko laid a hand on her shoulder.
"You'll just have to trust your teammates to look after each other then." She offered a bright smile to the medic. Her brother cleared his throat to regain their attention.
"How did you training go this morning?" He questioned taking the list from her hand and placing it back under a stack of papers. Her face contorted with disgust at the mention of training this morning.
"Kaoru wiped the floor with me, but I lasted forty-five minutes longer than yesterday so that's good right." Rin beamed at her.
"Yes that's great news Mitsuko-chan you're making progress." With a small clap of her hands Rin smiled brightly at the blonde. She grumbled under her breath.
"Mitsuko, Kushina told me to see if you could help her with something today at the house?" Her brother's voice broke through her grumbling.
"Yeah sure, no problem. I'll head over now if that's okay?" He nodded his head, she gave a light bow to show respect to her Hokage and then left. Those four were up to something, the boys had been unusually quiet.
….
Mitsuko took a deep breath, she needed to gather her thoughts. She hadn't thought about those things in months but perhaps now she needed to reevaluate her plans. Pondering what to do next she let escape the breath she had been holding. Fingers tapped her shoulder blade. With a slight turn of head she was face to mask with her captain.
"Hawk-tachio?" Her tone confused, the man sighed before holding out a clay mask
"Our squads got an emergency mission. I have to pull you early." She nodded her head slowly while putting the mask on.
"Hai tachio, details?" Her loose strands of hair were then secured into a sleek high pony. She still needed to put her uniform on but that would only take a second. He shook his head, that didn't bode well with her. With a nod of understanding later and a surge of chakra she was back in her apartment.
Once fully dressed she met her squad at the top on the main entrance. Raccoon was by her side instantly. "Mouse are you good?" She nodded her head at the woman.
"Alright let's move!" Hawk-tachio called over their heads, the five man squad was off.
They didn't stop for hour's practically soaring through the treetops. Mitsuko was grateful that endurance was the first thing they worked on after release. At almost two months out of the hospital after having critical injuries and this being the first time for her out of the village she was pretty impressed with herself for how well she had been keeping up. Raccoon passed a canteen towards her once the stopped. "Good job, you're doing better than expected." She quipped, Mouse huffed at her.
"You know as well as I that I'm almost back at a hundred percent." Raccoon snorted taking the canteen back once the younger girl held it up.
"I'll believe it when I see it." She stated in a haughty tone. Mouse shook her head, her body language portrayed confusion.
"Do you know what the mission parameters are?" Raccoon shook her masked face before glancing over to where Hawk was going over something with Stag and Sparrow. He glanced over at the two women before motioning for them.
Mouse accepted Raccoon's hand and allowed the fellow konoichi to pull her to her feet. They half sprinted to where the other three stood. She slid in between Stag and Hawk looking down at the map of what appeared to have been a rather large estate. "We believe the owner of this estate is harboring a fugitive who has stolen sensitive information from the village. It's our job to infiltrate the estate and find the traitor. Mouse you've been pulled discreetly, as far as anyone is concerned you're not yet off medical leave. Understood." Which meant she'd have to be extra careful, no one could know they had been here.
"Hai, tachio." She nodded her head, taking the scroll he held out to her.
"Inside the scroll contains your disguise, since you are the specialist here you get to do most of the dirty work. Once the rat has been discovered and the documents secured you get out of there. Stag will then stage a fire and sabotage the manor. Our orders are to make it seem like the information was lost. Understand?" Mouse and Stag nodded their heads at the orders.
"Sparrow you will keep an eye on the rat, we cannot allow him to escape or be burned. Once we have him captured myself and Mouse will escort him back to the village for questioning. Raccoon you are supposed to head to the town to gather intelligence but if anything happens..." Raccoon knew the orders not spoken. Anbu had learned something from Hatake Sakumo's untimely death. After orders were given and responsibilities divided out Mouse looked through the scroll containing her disguise. Well this was going to be annoying.
…..
She held a kunai to his throat. Her eyes narrowed dangerously, she had the documents stolen but his words troubled her. "I swear I was following orders." His voice was quivering, unfortunately he wasn't getting any sympathy from her.
"Whose orders?" Mouse demanded, touching the blade harder to the spot drawing a little blood.
"I can't say." This time she almost cut into him, a sharp pain droned in her temple and she could feel a tingle in her eyes. Luckily they were concealed. Hawk and Sparrow appeared before them, Stag staging the finally steps of the deception. Raccoon was with him.
"Show us your tongue." Sparrow spoke in deadly flat tone. The man's face went white.
"What, no!" Mouse pressed again with the tip of the blade.
"You are in no position to argue. Now you heard him." Begrudgingly the man stuck out the muscle. Sparrow was in his face next, his hand pulled at the man's tongue. He then looked towards Hawk, his body language tense.
"He has the seal." A seal they'd seen twice before, once on the tongue of Sparrow himself and once on a child that tried to kill Mouse. Sparrow's tone was tense.
"Damn." Hawk grumbled scratching his chin. Stag and Raccoon approached then, they took one look at his tongue before turning their masked faces towards Hawk. They couldn't allow this back into the village. Sparrow was the only one with this mark that could be trusted, and he didn't even have it anymore. Now they were just building a case.
"Sparrow kill him." Hawk finally spoke, his order clear. Sparrow pulled his katana out of its sheath. The man held his hands up.
"Wait don't kill me. Don't you want to know who I was taking those too?" The man eyes glance back, to who he knew held the scrolls. Mouse's blade tightened in her grasp she did not like the sound of this.
"Tell us traitor or your death will be antagonizing." Sparrow threatened, the man gulped. The katana's tip pressed into the man's stomach.
"Their plan's to help Hanzo the Salamander get rid of a small rebellion faction. A team was going to aid him pretending to be Leaf Anbu." Sparrow's blade ran through the man's gut. Mouse let him fall to the floor. He deserved to suffer.
"We don't need trouble with Ame Hawk-tachio." Someone pointed out, but Mitsuko hadn't focused on who; she was too busy trying to map out a plan.
A little while later after the squad had set up camp to go over what they uncovered Mouse excused herself from the group for a moment of privacy. Mouse pulled the mask over her face to sit on top of her head before summoning a small hummingbird. "Mitsuko-sama glad to see your better." The bird spoke, its wings buzzed with movement. She watched closely and bladed feathers could almost be picked out.
"Thank you, Hansuke. Do you think you could deliver a message for me?" The bird fluttered around her face never stopping.
"Of course Mitsuko-sama." She smiled, a determined look in her eyes.
"Wonderful, I need you to seek out Jiriaya-sama and inform him that 'there is a chance for rain, but a salamander must first be slain' that exact phrasing, can you remember?" The bird's head nodded in acknowledgement. His beak pecked her cheek before she watched him fly away.
Mouse pulled the mask back over her face, she headed back to where her squad had made camp. There was no fire with how close they were to enemy territory. Just four anbu agents sitting in a small circle under the moon's lighting. "Hawk-tachio what are we going to do with this new information?" She questioned while sitting next to Stag. The man beneath the Hawk's mask let out a sigh.
"I think it's time we brought our suspicion to the Hokage's attention." Hawk's tone left no room for arguments, and who would argue it was well past time that the deceiving's of what was thought to be a well-respected elder were brought to light.
…
The mask made a nice clanging sound as it hit the back of her closet, shoes had been discarded at the door. Her body ached from what happened to be the longest three days of her life. Jiriaya had received the message and went to check on his spy network in that part of the world, while in Ame he discovered a plot between Hanzo the Salamander and what appeared to be rogue anbu agents to kill a rebellion faction imagine his surprise when he found his three Ame orphans as the leaders of this group.
Safe to say he was not amused. Hopefully this would solidify his already low opinion of the elder, because she knew he's come to the same conclusion as her squad. That was why she had picked him for the message, one because he's understand and two because she knew he was more likely to put the pieces together.
Mitsuko was sprawled out on her bed when a knock echoed off her window. She glanced over and saw a dog mask wearing anbu. A gesture of enter was made but other than that the girl did not move other than to place a privacy seal on her bed. Dog joined her on the bed, he sat crossed legged leaned against the wall. Once comfortable he removed his mask.
"I think I was just recruited for something bad." Mitsuko sat up then and there staring at him dead on.
"What? By who?" Kakashi had been told of her suspicions long ago when he first considered joining anbu. She wanted him to be prepared in case someone ever tried. So he told her the story of what could have been a recursion mission. A test so to speak.
"Hawk-tachio is going to want to hear that. But thankfully that will be beneficial to the investigation." One might she add started by a comment Jiriaya had made to Minato once while she was in ease dropping range. Another reason why she thought him best to deal with the Ame situation.
"Glad to be of service Mitsuko-san." His voice drawled out in sarcasm. She blinked tersely at him and the pushed his shoulder sending him back into her pillows. Kakashi glared at her momentarily.
"So are you finished with your anbu duties today?" He shook his head then slipped the mask back over his face.
"Sorry I have to get back, I'm on guard duty today." She made a face at him, like her brother actually needed a guard.
"Whatever, I'll see you around then." With the dismissal he was gone. Mitsuko sighed once more, closing her eyes for a moment. She needed to think.
…..
Blue eyes blinked twice before they looked up at the red headed female curiously and then back towards the cake. Had she forgotten someone's birthday again? Mitsuko was surprisingly good at not remembering the birthdays of her fellows. Minato was giving her a look, or at least a shadow clone was. She couldn't really tell. The teen gave another look towards the decorated birthday cake.
"What's with the cake Shina-nee?" The blonde girl question almost obliviously. Kushina let out an exasperated groan.
"It's for your birthday, which you spent it in the hospital remember?" Hands placed on her hips she sassed the teenager. It was a rather funny look if you asked Mitsuko, because at nearly seven months pregnant Kushina looked very interesting with an irate look and hands on her hips.
Instead of the comment she wanted to make at her figurative sister she settle with something not as sarcastic. "Thank you Shina-nee, I had forgotten." Minato gave her an approving nod before refocusing on the Uzumaki princess.
"I figured. There was going to be a surprise party this evening but since you came by early it totally ruined the surprise." Kushina was pouting? That's right the woman had been trying to throw her a surprise party for almost as long as they've known each other.
"There's always next year Shina-nee." Mitsuko responded dryly, the woman beamed at that. Minato shook his head.
"Well since the surprised is ruined can we go ahead and give Mitsuko her gift?" Minato asked the red head affectionately. She frowned for a half second before agreeing.
"Sure I don't see why not, but you have to act surprised tonight." She gave a thumbs up in acknowledgement to Kushina's statement.
Minato pushed himself off of the wall where he had been leaning watching the scene unfold. He hurried out of the small kitchen and Kushina made motion for them to retreat to the living room. The two ladies got comfortable on the couch leaving enough space for Minato to sit between them. A second later he returned with a small wrapped box.
She accepted the box as he placed it in her lap before sitting on the coffee table so he and Kushina could both see her reaction. Mitsuko unwrapped the box delicately like she does with all gifts until she was down to the white box the gift was placed in. A beautiful music box was inside, it reminded her of something she could barely remember as if it was from a dream. "I remember the first music box you had, it had been a gift. When you were a baby you fell asleep every night to its lullaby before it broke. You were devastated." Minato smiled at her, because the memory felt fresh not something that happened seventeen years prior when he was a boy.
There were tears in her eyes, she remembered that box it had help with her recurring nightmares. Had been one of the only things to help. She grasped for his hand with her free one. "Thank you ani." His smile only widened.
"Open it Mitsuko." Kushina spoke softly, her heart light with joy. Mitsuko let go of her brother's hand to deal with the box carefully. She opened it slowly a cheerful melody filled the air around them but what caught her eye was what appeared to be a necklace.
With great care she place the box beside her and pulled out the oval shaped pendant. Surprise filled her eyes as it opened to reveal a picture of the three of them from many years ago. Minato was engulfed in a hug first, she let him go after a moment and repeated the process with Kushina.
"Thank you, I love you both so much." She whipped the tears from her eyes then held the necklace towards her brother.
"Help me with this please?" He nodded his head and took it from her motioning for her to hold up her hair. Minato pulled the necklace from around the front before clasping it in the back.
"Got it." She dropped her hair and then hugged him once more. This time afraid to let him go. Mitsuko couldn't imagine the world were her brother wasn't with her, she needed him and his almost wife more than they would ever know.
…..
When Kakashi and Obito returned from their border mission they brought back a very interesting creature. A creature that apparently tried to kidnap Obito and could seemingly pop out of everywhere. Mitsuko only knew about it because she had been on guard duty when the boys came in to report on their mission. They had ended up not taking someone to substitute Rin's place. Besides some on the leaf ninja already there hadn't returned home.
"We brought one back for examination, but Obito scorched the rest." Kakashi finished the report with that. Mitsuko didn't know what to think of that. Because it reminded her of something from one of the nightmares. She's tried to get more out of the boys later.
"Alright, you are both dismissed. Go home and get some rest." The boys both flickered out of the room after that, neither needing be told twice.
Minato opened the mission report and began reading. He made motion for Mouse to reveal herself. "Take a look at this and tell me what you think." Mouse took the file on what was down in Investigations from him. Her eyes made quick work to scan and decipher the words.
Mouse handed him the file back, her eyes widened behind the desk. She slapped a privacy seal down on his desk before speaking. "Madara!?" Her voice was pitched, she was scared.
"Was the last thing it said to Obito before dying." He elaborated quickly. Mouse laid her mask on his desk, she knew her brother didn't want to have this conversation with the mask but with her. Mitsuko ran her fingers through her scalp.
"But why Obito? What connection does he have to Madara?" She ignored the throbbing in her temple, if this was the punishment for saving his life she would accept it full on.
"I need you to do something for me." He made a gesture to the mask. She nodded her head shortly picking the clay back up but she didn't put it back on yet. Mitsuko listened to her orders carefully, which a quick by your leave the mask was back in place. Minato shook his head as his sister disappeared, this wasn't how he planned today going. There was also something about sending his little sister to do they grunt work that made him feel slightly unnerved.
Mouse gave a sign to the Anbu guarding the entrance of the Uchiha district. Lizard made an angry hand gesture back at her and she sighed before responding quickly. One more set of hand signs later she was through the gate and discreetly making her way to the main house. She watched two little boy run across the back yard. Patiently she waited for her target. Uchiha Mikoto came out of the house, a rather exasperated look on her face.
"Boys come inside for lunch." Her son stopped in his tracks at his mother's tone, a slight bow of his head he turned to the other boy. Itachi led the other boy back into the house. Just before Mikoto come follow after them Mouse appeared before her crouched. The way all anbu were ordered to appear before clan heads or their spouse.
The Uchiha matron was startled by the presence of the anbu. What could they want? "Uchiha-sama, Lord Hokage request any and all files on Uchiha Obito." The women's dark eyes narrowed. What could Minato possible want with those, especially going through such a formal route? She shook her head before replying.
"Of course Anbu-san. Just a moment please." Mouse slipped back into the shadows as Mikoto disappeared into the house. Ten minutes later the woman reemerged through the doorway. She held a file under her arm. The Anbu reappeared crouched just like she had originally, Mouse stood slowly.
"This is everything we have on clans' member Uchiha Obito." Mikoto reluctantly handed over the folder, she was going to have words with Kushina about this. Why did Minato think it was a good idea to bother the nearly full term woman like this?
"Thank you Uchiha-sama, the Lord Hokage apologized for any inconvenience this has caused you. We however needed to discreet with this matter." Mouse explained politely just like her brother had ordered. Mikoto's facial expression smoothed over at that, she nodded her head in understanding.
"Alright, thank you Anbu-san." Mouse took is for face value and dismissed herself.
She shunshined to the Hokage's office, kneeled before him and then handed over the file.
"Everything the Uchiha clan has on member Uchiha Obito. Also Mikoto-sama didn't look too pleased to be dealing with Anbu." Minato nodded his head absently at her, he had already started looking through the file. Mouse disappeared into the wall knowing him well, he wouldn't be up for talking until he found what he was looking for.
Nothing was how she thought it should be. Everything had changed all because she saved that boys life. And you know what, she'd certainly do it again.
XOXOX
So this is the next installment and yeah it's probably rushed but that's more of the point. Mitsuko meddled with time so everything falls in a differently alignment now. Things are different because Madara never got his hands on Obito. With Minato as Hokage for a good foreseeable time she has more freedom on how to make sure they all live. The Danzo thing is a set up for things to come and needed to be in this chapter, just like the mention of the Zetsu thing. I promise it will all make sense, just give it time.
Also on another note, if the timeline or the facts seem messed up or backwards. It's been a very long time since I've seen Naruto from start to finish so bear with me okay? This story is also going to be on the scale of very AU so yah.
The comment made about Sakumo will be explained eventually, so if it seems odd for it to be like that I promise I have a plan for that too.
Alright let me know what you think! I love hearing from you guys! And to the reviewer from the last chapter, thank you so much for taking you time to leave me a comment. It really means a lot to hear that people like what you write.
Any and all spelling errors or grammar mistakes are mine. So apologies in advanced.
Thank you everyone for reading!
Sincerely, La'Rae
Music inspiration for this chapter
Simple and Clean -Mree
Don't Fear the Reaper(Re:imagined) -Denmark+Winter
Running Up that Hill- Placebo
I Started a Joke( Hanson)-ConfidentialMX