Neji and Kiba went to the hokage tower with fearlessness, like any other missions they attend to; with concentration and willingness; with the belief that they can accomplish the mission assigned. But after seeing the hokage; the slug sannin, smile her rare but mischievous smile, their perspective about accepting this mission slightly change.
But it didn't stop there, the hokage laughed hysterically in front of them; and she really laughed hard. This, now brought the two shinobis great discomfort. Fear and confusion can be seen in their eyes. After quite sometime, the laughter that filled the room slowly died down, causing the both of them to look at each other's eyes.
Kiba looked at Neji 'do you know what's going on ?'
Neji just shrugged his shoulders 'I am as clueless as you right now.'
Seeing that both shinobis are now confused and slightly frightened, Tsunade proceed to explain their mission with her creepy smile still on.
"I know that you are fully aware that both of you will be assigned as partners in this mission …" she paused for a moment to laugh "and partners you shall be" she finished off with a smirk. Kiba was abot to question the hokage but Neji beaten him to it. "lady Tsunade, what do you mean about what you just said?" "Oh Neji, I will be explaining your mission to you and Kiba in just a few moments. For the mean time can you try doing a female pitch voice?"
Neji was more than confused "I'm sorry to be rude, lady Tsunade, but may I ask why do you want me to do such a thing?" "Enough questions for now, just do it!"said Tsunade slightly getting annoyed. He just sighed in defeat. He know well not to upset the sannin. He looked at Kiba, seeing his partner quite interested about the situation. Sighing once more, he began focusing imitating a female voice. He had done it once, trying to distract a perverted enemy. The only difference is that no one else witnessed him, but right now, he had the hokage and an Inuzuka to be intrigued in imitating such a voice. "Neji, I'm getting impatient!"huffed the hokage. Not wanting to upset the hokage any longer, he began.
"Is this good enough for you, lady Tsunade?"
The two other witness stood in shock. Who else wouldn't be in their situation; to find out that one of the most skilled and promising male ninja of your village and your friend can somehow produce a voice that is far more angelic than any other girl; a voice that can cause many boys to fall in love with him. Indeed it was shocking.
The silence was broken by Kiba's loud outburst of laughter that seemed to be a match with Tsunade's while the hokage herself is once again smiling that smile.
"Dude, never thought you got that feminine side of yours. It almost made me doubt your gender and think that you're…" Neji shot a 'continue and you'll die' death glare, but unfortunately his glare wasn't acknowledge by his partner. "…a girl." Neji seemed to have reach his limit; activating his byakugan, he now manage to scare his partner.
"N-Neji, I-I'm just joking, chill!" Kiba said pleadingly. But his pleading just seems to darken the deathly aura surrounding the Hyuuga. "You had your fun, dog boy. Now it's my turn." Neji was about to strike the boy when Tsunade suddenly stop them.
"Nicely done, Neji. Your voice was truly heavenly and can be easily recognized as a woman's, but I recommend you to keep on practicing. Although it's quite obvious that this is not the first time you've done this, am I right?"the hokage complimented calmly. Having seen Kiba once again trying to hold back his laughter, he chose not to answer the hokage's question and tried to change the topic for the sake of not being humiliated more.
"So what is the importance of this imitation to our mission" Neji asked, hoping that it would distract the hokage. Lucky for him, it did manage to change the topic. "Oh, Hyuuga for your information this imaitation of yours is, let's just say one of the keys that will unlock the success of this mission." Tsunade answered.
Then after some seconds of silence passed, she began to explain (finally) their mission.
"Well since your face is completely gesturing that you both are now eager to know what this is all about, I think I'll just explain it to you as briefly as I can. There is an unknown poison spreading throughout the fire country; and Konoha is the lucky village to be chosen to investigate and stop this. Unfortunately for you, I , as the hokage of the leaf, have chosen the both of you to partake in this mission…" Kiba was about to interupt, when she continued. "and before you even ask why not anbu it's because there were rumors that those anbus or any skilled shinobi who tried to investigate the matter never had once the chance to return to their villages…" she can now sense the fear ssurrounding the two men. "but don't worry, I thought about this thoroughly and my plan migt just work."
"So what is our part in this mission then?" Kiba asked having his curiosity level up.
"I was just getting to that part. You and Hyuuga would go undercover as a traveling couple that will have to stay at the village; where it was said to be the manufacturing and storage area of the poison, because of the wife's, that means Neji's, condition. That condition will help you snoop, sneak and gather information around the village with no suspicion; and if the exact manufacturing and storege location has been pointed out, you will have no problem in stopping the spreading of the potion. But there is a catch, you should be able to accomplish all of those things within 9 months or else it would cause the failure of the mission."
"This condition, that I will be having, what will it be and why does it seem to be very important for the success of this mission?" asked Neji.
"Hmm… for the condition, it is really simple to guess what it is. Let's see… what condition best describes a person who has morning sickness, strange cravings, mood swings, and will look like she has eaten a beach ball that will last nine months?"
Kiba was once again trying to refrain himself into laughter when he realized 'the condition his partner has to face. He recognize it quickly due to his sensei's former condition that matches up to the one being described by the hokage. He slowly looked at the Hyuuga, careful not to earn a glare, but to his surprise, it seems that Neji didn't know what 'predicament' he will be seeing the Hyuuga still thinking very hard. This made his laugh burst.
"And I thought you were a genius, still haven't guessed yet?" when he received a no his laughter doubled. "Dude can't you see?, the hokage wants you to go undercover as an expecting mother!" The brunette(neji) suddenly froze.
"E-expecting m-mother, like a pr-pr-pr…"he can't even say it!
"Yes, Neji like a pregnant lady" answered Tsunade with a trimphant smirk on 'oh truly his expression is priceless! Hmm maybe I can pull something similar to the Inuzuka and see whose is funnier'
"And Kiba, you will play the role of a loving father-to-be to your wife who is with child, meaning if Neji pretends something on his role like being moody, you, instead of picking up a fight must 'love and understand the mood swings of your beloved wife" after being said, Kiba looked like he has seen a ghost and Tsunade was once again smiling. 'his expression is entertaining to see but still Neji's was better.'
Neji being back from his trance asked. " B-but I can't still see why we have to play these roles."
"Well you see, Neji, if somehow you both get caught trying to sneak around their village, you can easily excuse youself with simple explanations like 'my wife is/I am craving this' kind of excuse so both of you wouldn't be suspicious; unless you can't correctly act out your roles" she said, quite content and proud of her plan .
The two, still quite shocked, nodded in agreement. Even though the plan shocked them to almost fainting, they had to admit, it was a good, almost full proof plan that goes accordingly well to their situation.
"We will be communicating through letter only to be not detected as suspicious by the vilagers. So are there any more questions?"
"I would like to know how will umm how will my stomach expand ?" Neji asked, a bit embarrased. " Glad you ask, I have created a special cloth that can be used using chakra only. This is also one of the reasons as to why I chose you. You have great chakra control so using the cloth will be easy for you. On how to use the cloth will be thought to you tomorrrow."he nodded.
"Is that all?" the two nodded.
"Very well, both of you will be leaving on the day after tomorrow. By that time I hope that you can act out your roles very well I wish you good luck and success to your mission."
They afterwards left the office. "Well that was fun" still smiling Tsunade thought to herself. ' I wonder if tomorrow will be as entertaining as it was today'