"Hokage-sama, we've lost another ABNU member." The masked shinobi teleported into the Hokage's chamber.
Tsunade slammed her hands on her desk, quickly rising from her chair. "What? Another?"
The rabbit-masked ABNU member continued shakily, he didn't want to be the next dent in the wall. "H-Hai, Abe Fusachiko hasn't been seen since returning from her last mission, the previous night. Reports say she usually frequents the Hot Springs after returning to the village."
The Hokage seemed fully enraged now. She slammed her hands on her desk again, causing its wood to splinter. Shizune gasped and took a step forward, putting Tonton down.
"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune begged with concern.
Tsunade seemed to have calmed down, and she gave a curt nod to dismiss the ninja in front of her. He teleported the heck out of there.
Teams Gai, Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai were gathered together on 'Training Ground 7'… minus their respective Jonin.
"So … who's going to do it?" Kiba brushed off a leaf that blew onto his face.
"Do what?" Naruto asked, still not understanding the mission brief.
"Be the bait." Shino answered matter-of-factly.
Cutting off any further questions, Shikamaru cut in. "One of us is to go to the Hot Springs and try and get infected with whatever this is."
The shinobi exchanged glances.
Shikamaru continued, "Then we'll track them to the destination victims keep disappearing to."
"Lady Tsunade said most victims have been females…" Hinata trailed off, getting quieter with each word.
Ino huffed and stood with her hand on her hip, "I'll do it."
The others quickly abandoned their selfish sense of relief, and turned it to concern. Sakura was the first to speak. "But Ino, we don't know what will happen!"
Ino tried to lighten the mood, "So you're worried for me 'Forehead Girl'?" She remained composed on the outside, but truthfully, Ino was fearful too.
It was a long walk for Ino, from the locker rooms to the actual spring. Luckily, she was the only person visiting today, and the only to visit in the last three days. She dropped her towel and slowly made her way to the edge of the bath.
"Well, here I go I guess." Ino thought as she took a step into the water. She tried to let all her worry evaporate with the rising steam, as she let her body sink lower and lower into the bath. Ino coughed, and quickly pulled her mouth above water. She must have accidently swallowed some of it… or something.
Ino cautiously finished getting dressed, and breathed a heavy sigh of relief, perking back up. She knew she'd be fine. As she smiled walking out of the building, she was greeted by her fellow shinobi.
"How do you feel?" Chouji asked putting down his bag of chips. If it meant Ino's health, he could wait a few minutes to eat.
Lee gave her a thumbs up as she answered, "I'm fine. Maybe it's just a coinciden—" Ino tried to finish but couldn't. An image of a stranger filled her mind, and she thought about him with great interest. An hour ago, the most relaxing thing on her mind was the bath, but now…
"My…arm hurts." Ino whispered wide-eyed, clutching her limb.