Yuno POV
While I and Ayumi were still arguing, Hashirama ordered us to calm down. We were still waiting for our final partner to come for the operation we were going to carry out. When Hashirama concluded his words, the room fell silent as we all turned our heads towards the front door and heard it open.
We were all looking in that direction. A woman with long white hair, dark eyes, and bangs that covered the scar on her right eye had entered.
She had only just entered, yet you could immediately sense the strength of her chakra; it was insane. You can sense it coming off her like a fragrance; the only people known to have this type of sensation are Hashirama and Madara, as well as Lady Mito, but that's because she's the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails. The only thought that sprang to mind as I studied her was
Who exactly is she?
The sound of Hashirama's voice stopped my thoughts of curiosity and wonder over the strange women's presence.
"It's great that everyone is here," Hashirama enthused.
Everyone continued to look, knowing that she was the final teammate we had been waiting for.
"Everyone, I am delighted to welcome your final teammate for your mission."
"Everyone welcome Masako Futuba," Hashirama exclaims.
"She was born in the land of the Springs region."
She had chosen to live in Konoha to care for her daughter." Hashirama explained everything to us.
"All right, the mission, please," Ayumi remarked impatiently.
"Patient's.". "Ayumi!" Tobirama rebuked.
"Now then, everyone, calm down," Hashirama adds, his face concerned.
"Wait, I heard you were an entertainer in your Village, I say turning my gaze to Masako.
"Great, now an entertainer as well, what else is there?" Tobirama's irritation spilled out on the tip of his tongue.
Everyone looks at him, notably Masako, but no one says anything.
"Who else is going to join this mission now?" "A chef"? Tobirama inquires sarcastically.
"That's enough Tobirama," Hashirama states firmly.
"Don't you think that's a little harsh?" "? Ayumi nods her head in agreement.
"Tobirama and everyone understand this, Masako is a performer, but she was also a ninja in her village." "Despite her injury, she consented to assist on this mission."
"She Just will be of great assistance," Hashirama explains it to everybody.
"Also, she is now a member of the hidden leaf, so you will treat her as one of us rather than as an outcast."
"So that introductions are done, and everyone has arrived."
"Now, let's get to the main part, which is the mission." "Which I require the four of you to carry out."
"You will, and you must do so."
"Does that make sense?" Hashirama expressed himself solemnly.
In unison, we all speak in agreement,
"yes"!
"You will be tasked with delivering these two scrolls to the Hidden Sand Village."
"Make certain that the black scrolls reach the hidden sand safely." "Is that understood? In a serious tone, Hashirama explained.
"Yes, sir," we all replied once more.
"Okay, prepare tonight and meet at the entrance gate tomorrow at dawn "..
"Then set out; it should take you about three days to reach the Hidden Sand," Hashirama informed.
With that, we all began to make our way towards the front door, until I came to a halt because I had a lingering question in my mind.
"If I may ask, is it all right with you, Lord?
Why is it so critical that we transport these scrolls to the Hidden Sand"?
Everyone else came to a halt after I asked my question and looked to Hashirama for an answer.
There was silence for about five minutes, which added to the sense of unease. "Perhaps I shouldn't have asked in the first place. I thought, apologizing profusely.
"It's fine if it's not something we need to know.
"I only ask out of concern for the fact that none of us here have ever been to the Hidden Sand Village."
"Also, the scrolls are the only thing we have."
"You asked us to deliver both scrolls, but you didn't give us a map with directions."
"How are we supposed to carry out the mission you say we must complete if we don't even know how to get there"?
It was still quiet after I explained my concern.
I kept my head down because I couldn't move even an inch. My entire being was absolutely petrified. It wasn't Hashirama who scared me this time; it was the fact that Tobirama was still in the room and we were both breathing the same air in the same place. Come on, Yuno, you need to get over your fear. How are you going to be dealing with Tobirama for three days if you're always gonna be afraid around him? My mind was racing a thousand miles per second because one, it was still silent, and two, Tobirama is the type who, once given an order, doesn't ask any questions and just goes. So I'm questioning not only his elder brother but also the Hokage, so Tobirama will most likely give me a hard time.
Filled with fear and anxiety, it was quickly changed once hearing Tobirama's voice. Instantly my head lifted turning in his direction. With surprise that was visible in my eyes.
"The Uchiha lover is correct for once Lord First", he spoke with absolutely no emotion in his tone or eye's
just with his arm's crossed looking straight ahead into Hashirama's gaze.
My eyes couldn't seem to stop blinking. Did I understand correctly? Aside from the part where he called me an Uchiha lover, he agreed with me on one point.
"That's a first," I muttered to myself. My gaze then shifted from Tobirama to Hashirama as he began to speak.
"You're right, Yuno,"
"To put it simply, you have someone on your team who can lead you to the Hidden Sand."
"As a result, I didn't think providing a map was necessary," he explained.
"We do," I say? It's another first for me and Tobirama to speak at the same time.
"Well, you three have Masako," he said, motioning with his palm in her direction.
As the three of us turn to face her,
"You made fun of her as an artist, yet this entertainer has visited practically everywhere there is to travel."
"Including the Hidden Sand."
"That's why I invited her to join you three on this mission."
"You three are to follow her lead
"Normally, I'd send other shinobi, but because what's in the scroll is so vital, I need Tobirama to go as my representative, because I can't just up and leave the village," Hashirama explains.
"I had shinobi assigned as bodyguards at first, but both were suddenly injured on their last mission three weeks ago."
"They're both still recovering."
"We're also currently investigating the cause of what transpired."
"That leaves Yuno and Ayumi to act as Tobirama's bodyguards and ensure the scroll reaches the Kazekage successfully." Hashirama stated as he ended his explanation.
"Finally, before I forget why the scrolls must be handed to the Kazekage, I can explain why, but I'd prefer to make this a surprise for you."
"The Kazekage should explain the reason to you when you arrive in three days."
"All I need is for the scrolls to arrive safely and for you to return with an answer from Lord Kazekage."
"Do you have any further questions?" Hashirama inquires, his customary bright smile on his face.
"No sir," I answer respectfully, bowing.
After we were given our mission and everything was in place. We all returned to our respectful homes to prepare and get ready for the official beginning of our expedition, which was scheduled to begin at dawn. As I exited the Hokage's building, I was greeted by the lovely light above, with its mesmerizing crimson and orange engulfing the entire sky. I felt so peaceful as I walked, staring up at the magnificent scenery.
"I suppose the sun sets early here, huh?"
I hear a voice, and my gaze is drawn away from the lovely scene to where the voice has spoken. Looking to the side, I noticed Masako standing near me; I believe this was my first time hearing her speak. Her voice didn't sound like I imagined it to, and it didn't match her appearance. It was gentle and nice. Meanwhile, her demeanor was icy, menacing, and harsh. After all, you should never judge a book by its cover.
"Is it still sunny where you're from?" I wonder, my gaze fixed on her.
'Yes, it's just five o'clock here and the sun is already saying goodnight," Masako laughs as the sun fades out of sight and the dark blue color of the night sky takes over.
"really! "It's only five in the afternoon over there"
"How were you able to tell the time so quickly?" I inquire.
"When you're a traveling entertainer who has to travel to different places, you come to learn how to pick up on how to do certain things," Masako responds softly, but with a smile on her face. " I get what you mean".
On our journey home, Masako and I continued our talk. Until we came to two roads in the village that diverged in opposite directions. Once we arrived at the crossroads, we had to go our own ways. We both came to a halt to stare at one other and say our goodbyes.
"Well, Yuno, this is where we part ways for the time being," Masako adds gleefully, pointing left to the crossing.
"Your right," I agreed, nodding.
"It was great meeting you; I've only been here three weeks and haven't made any friends yet," Msakao says.
"It was also a pleasure to meet you."
"I'll see you at daybreak then, have a good night," she replies with a smile that seemed both sincere and deceptive at the same time.
I couldn't separate one from the other. but opted against presuming anything and said good-by. As a result, we parted ways, Masako to the left and me to the right.
It was after seven o'clock when I finally got home. My body was so tired from the day that I simply wanted to bathe in the tub and go to bed.
"Finally, I'm home," I said sleepily as I walked through the front door.
"Look who finally returned," someone said to me as I walked in and shut the front door. Looking ahead, I could see Izuna.
"Oh, Izuna, are you really still here?" I was taken aback.
"Of course, I wasn't about to leave my five-year-old nephew home alone after his mother went out the house early in the day to return when it's almost eight o'clock at night," he remarked as he rose from the sofa.
"Relax," I urged.
"What exactly do you mean, relax?"
"Can you tell me what happened to your hands?"
"Why are they wrapped in bandages?" he asks, clutching both of my hands.
"Be careful," I warn, expecting to feel pain when he grabs my hands. But, strangely, there was no ache.
"Huh?" was all that came out of my mouth.
Then I look up and groan, "you sound exactly like my mother."
I had entirely forgotten that I had even hurt my hands.
"Wait, what?" Izuna inquired, worried. Ignoring my Mother remark
"It's nothing; it just doesn't hurt as I expected."
"What do you mean by that?" he asks as he pulls his hands away from mine.
"I mean, I unintentionally burned them before," I say, not really concerned.
Izuna's mouth just drops open as his expression becomes bewildered.
"There's nothing to be concerned about," I reply.
I didn't want to tell him what had happened. At the same moment, my thoughts wandered back to the conversation i had with Lady Mito.
"I'm already healing," I told myself.
"What was it?" Izuna asked.
"I'm already healing," I reply as I lift my head and make eye contact with him.
"Lady Mito mentioned I was already recovering when I went to the hospital today," I stated as I began to remove the bandages from both of my hands.
The hunch I had was correct once all of the bandages were removed. My hands were entirely healed; they were as if I had never burned them in the first place.
"How is this even possible?"
Wait, I don't have time to worry about this right now; I need to rest up for tomorrow. I had forgotten Izuna was still here until I realized he was just staring at me blankly.
"There's nothing to worry about for the time being," I reassure him.
"I have to get ready and go to bed, good night, Izuna."
"Thank you for everything," I said gratefully as I walked by him to begin getting ready for bed.
"OK," he responds, still confused but getting over what happened.
Yuno, good night "He says this as he walks towards the front door.
"Haru also ate and took a bath."
"He's asleep now, so don't worry," Izuna added, smiling.
"Thank you very much, Izuna," I said.
"Oh, before you leave, I have a mission tomorrow that will make me leave for three days."
"So I need someone to watch Haru while I'm gone," I say as Izuna is about to walk out the front door.
"Don't worry, you know you can always count on me," he added, smiling and gripping the doorknob.
"Night, Yuno," he said.
He then left. Lowering my hand that was waving goodbye and my smile, I always feel so sorry towards Izuna, I feel like such a terrible friend with what I put him through. I shouldn't be worrying, but I should strive to treat him better because he works so hard to look after me and Haru. I should get some rest before my mission tomorrow. I thought to myself, reassuring myself. Before going to bed, I went to check on Haru.
As I entered his room, I noticed him sleeping. He seemed to be becoming more and more like his father by the day. I tucked Haru in and kissed him on the cheek. whispered
"I love you."
Then I went to the bathroom, took a wonderful hot bath, dressed, and went to bed.
The next morning, an hour before dawn, I awoke, dressed, and was able to prepare food for Haru to eat for the next three days. No insult to Izuna, but he just likes one dish to cook, and I don't want Haru to eat the same thing every day. After double-checking that everything was in order, I waited ten minutes for Izuna to come to ensure that Haru was going to be cared for.
When Izuna arrived, I checked on Haru again and kissed him farewell. I bid my goodbyes to Izuna and departed towards the Village's big front gate.
When I arrived, I looked around. I appear to be the first person to arrive. I'm shocked because Tobirama is normally the first one. I ponder to myself
"ARE YOU READY FOR OUR MISSION TODAY, YUNO?" Someone starts to shout ahead at the top of their lungs.
I noticed Ayumi and Tobirama coming towards the entrance together as I peered in the distance.
"Why are you already so loud?" Tobirama asks, sighing.
"Ayumi, Tobirama," I murmured, seeming to be relieved to see them.
"Tobirama I'm shocked because you're always the first one to arrive for big events like missions and such "I retorted sarcastically.
"I'm shocked you showed up; don't you have an Uchiha brat to look after?" Tobirama retorted.
"Huh"? "Who are you calling an Uchiha brat?" I said, surprised.
"I'll have you know that Haru isn't some Uchiha brat; he's my kid," I snarled.
I'm terrified of ever speaking back to Tobirama, but not when it comes to my baby.
"That's exactly my point, he's your son," Tobirama stated unequivocally.
"Are you kidding me? You may say whatever you want about me, but talking about my son is unacceptable!" I yelled violently as I prepared to punch Tobirama.
Then the two of us began bickering back and forth.
"Are you trying to disturb the entire village with your yelling?" Tobirama asserts aggressively.
"Um... "Perhaps you guys should calm down and focus on our mission," Ayumi worriedly suggested.
"Shut up!" Tobirama and I both yelled.
At that point, neither I nor Tobirama could move or talk. I wondered why I couldn't move or speak. Tobirama was probably thinking the same thing.
"That's enough from both of you."
"Stop acting like children and concentrate on the task at hand."
We were allowed to move again after that. Masako was right behind Tobirama as they looked together. She continued to speak softly, but she appeared and sounded terrible.
"You're correct," Tobirama responded.
"You instigated it," I murmured, my lips pursed.
Tobirama responded, "Are you seriously this immature?"
"You infuriate me," I growl back viciously.
"What are you now, a dog?" He spewed.
"Anyway, now that we're all together."
"Let's go; it'll take us around three days to get to the Hidden Sand," Tobirama said. We're moving on from our minor squabble.
"Right," the others agreed.
"Move out." Orders Tobirama
Finally, our mission began, but I had no idea how much danger and betrayal I was in for.