Chapter 9~

As always: Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, neither do I own any other of Masashi Kishimoto's works. I only own my characters which have been incorporated into the story!

It's early in the morning.

6:54, to be exact.

Father had woken me up around 5 o'clock, to go over the plan he had once more.

"Don't make yourself suspicious. Protect Gato. Eliminate Tazuna if you have to. Stop that bridge from being built."

That's what he had told me, in a nutshell. But of course, just like everything else Father requests me to do, it's easier said than done.

The team that I'll be joining for the mission is called Team 7. Father had given me fact-files on each member with their general information, as well as their medical record. I had received their sensei's information as well, but there was little to be known about him, oddly.

I dropped my silken travel bag onto the floor of my bedroom, right next to my nightstand. I lowered myself to my knees in front of said nightstand, and did the usual procedure that I was oh-so familiar with.

I reached my hand in. Tugged out the fake end. Grabbed the container of pills. Set the piece of wood back to where it had been before.

I'll really need these pills.

I just knew it.

I zipped open the 2nd pocket on my bag and stowed the container away there. Slowly, I lifted myself up again and picked up the bag. I flung it over my shoulder and walked out my bedroom door, turning around to lock it quickly so that my brothers wouldn't be able to tear the place apart.

I made my way down the staircase and into the large entrance hall. My Father wasn't anywhere in sight, but then again, we did say that I was to leave at 7.

I shuffled towards the full-body mirror to the right of the door leading outside. I stopped before the mirror and stared at my reflection.

A light brown, sleeveless dress with a quite large slit cut into the fabric along my leg was what I wore. Underneath it I wore black spandex shorts that reached just above my knee, and a pouch around my right thigh. My eye-searing hair was still short, but now it at least grazed my shoulders. I had tied my hair back into a choppy ponytail. My fringe framed my face, and just behind my ear was the blue flower I always wore.

A 'Forget-Me-Not'.

Ironic, isn't it?

How I wished that certain people would forget me. How I wished that I were someone who people would see on the streets and then forget about immediately.

But life doesn't work like that.

Life is hard and unfair.

Life doesn't care; and Life waits for no one.

But life is funny.

It can crush your dreams and hopes one day, and then lift your spirits the next. Life seems short when you're enjoying yourself, but then feels like it's much too long when you're not happy. It's a cruel game, but we all have to play it. Right?

Just then, I was snapped out of my thoughts by a hand landing roughly on my shoulder. Immediately, I turned my head to look back, and made eye contact with my Father.

Straight away, I turned around and bowed to him, looking down at my feet to avoid meeting his gaze. Without a word, he faced the entrance door and unlocked it, opening it for me. I scurried out onto the porch, and turned around to say my good-bye's once I was outside.

But by the time I had turned around, the door was already shut in my face.

With a sigh, I hopped down the porch stairs and walked out of the gates, but not before glancing over my shoulder one last time.

I was nearly at the gate of the village, but I was already exhausted.

Don't get me wrong, my house wasn't on the other side of town or anything, but I had the stamina of a 3-year-old.

With the back of my hand, I wiped the light sweat on my forehead off. I looked straight ahead, and slowly, the large gates were coming into view.

I stopped in my tracks, and looked down at the floor.

This wasn't going to be a C-Ranked mission, like it's supposed to be. I knew it. I just did.

Father wouldn't have sent me out here and planned all this if it wasn't.

But more importantly, I was going to meet him now.

Right then and there, I felt my stomach do a flip and the want to throw up took over me.

Maybe I should just turn back now?

I mean, I've never been to Academy, so technically I'm not supposed to even be able to take part. After all, it was my Father who was able to arrange this due to his position in the Police Force.

And technically, I'm just tagging along because my Father convinced them I was 'picking up some custom weaponry for him because the import and export was cut off'.

So I should really just leave; right?

No. That wasn't an option.

Father would send me right back here, but with a bruise or two on my face.

I clenched my eyes shut for a moment, and sucked it up.

Opening my eyes again, I began walking determinedly towards the gates. The closer I got, the larger the gate became, and the closer I was to him.

Soon, the gate was in full view, and so were the 5 people in front of it, staring at me as I approached.

I hate being stared at, which is hypocritical as I usually stared at people, too.

As soon as I got within 5 meters of them, I stopped and stood there, taking everything in.

The first person who caught my eye was a girl with bright, pink hair.

Sakura Haruno.

Ninja Registration number 012601. Born on March 28th. Graduated at age 12. Parents are alive. A good student. Smart. Weak in hand-to-hand combat. No major medical records other than the average check-up. I think me and her have some things in common, so maybe we might get a long.

I then looked at the person to her right.

Naruto Uzumaki.

Ninja Registration number 012607. Born on October 10th. Graduated at age 12. Parents are deceased. A Troublemaker. Easily provoked. Grades below average but passed the Genin Exam with flying colors. Landed himself in the hospital a couple times, but nothing life-threatening. We've met before, and I'm sure he remembers, but I can't say it was a pleasure ever meeting him.

Next, was a man with spiky hair behind him.

Kakashi Hatake.

Ninja Reregistration number 009720. Born on September 15th. Graduated at age 5. Promoted to Chunin at age 6. Parents deceased. Other information and/or Medical Records are inapplicable. He looks like an old, bored man. But the only thing 'old' about him was his hair color.

Then came the actual old man beside Kakashi.

Tazuna.

The 'Great Bridge-Builder'. And the man who I was supposed to hinder, or kill in the worst case.

Then, I tried moving my stare to the next person.

To him.

It took all my will-power to do that, and I finally made eye contact with him.

As soon as I did, I was met with an expression which I had known he would have once he laid eyes upon me.

An expression of horror, shock, anger, and disgust all at once.

Sasuke Uchiha.

I hope this wasn't too boring, but I promise to make the next chapter better!

Please review and let me know what you think!

It'd mean the world to me!