A Lethal Weapon (Naruto) [ALW Series Book One]

CHAPTER SIX: The Mission

Three years later…

Yusuke headed to his home in the Uchiha Compound. When he was coming close, he heard the cry of a falcon; and when he looked up at the sky, he noticed that the bird was circling over him. He frowned and turned to look towards the Hokage mansion.

“What does he want now?” He made a sign and teleported himself in front of the door to the Sandaime’s office. He knocked the door and was immediately let in.

“I have a mission for you, Yusuke,” the Hokage said and the aforementioned walked closer to his desk.

“What about?” he asked. The Hokage handed him a scroll.

“A retrieval mission,” he said. “I want you to infiltrate the town between Iwa and Kusa and bring back the scroll they stole.” Yusuke nodded. “Form a small team for your mission. Only Jounin allowed. Though, it’s B-rank, I wouldn’t risk anyone else getting hurt.” Again Yusuke nodded and turned to walk out the door. “Leave when you think it’s appropriate. Beware of ambushes.”

“Hai.”

When he exited the office, Yusuke sighed. He walked through the crowded streets of Konoha until he found himself in front of the Police Force. “Why do I feel as if something bad is going to happen?” he mumbled to himself as a frown appeared on his face. He then immediately felt someone’s presence behind him. He turned around, finding Danzou and two of his Anbu staring intently at him.

“I had a feeling I would find you here,” he said as he neared Yusuke.

“What do you want?” The Uchiha answered rather rudely.

“I think we both know the answer to that question.” Danzou smirked. “How’s Hanako?”

“That’s none of your business.” Yusuke frowned making Danzou chuckle.

“That’s where you’re wrong.” The elder stood in front of the Uchiha. “It is my business. Especially since I want her to become part of the Foundation.” The Uchiha tightened his fists. “Think about it, Yusuke. It’s a great offer, she’ll become an Anbu and—”

“I decline.” Yusuke hurried to say. “I don’t want her to be part of your organization. If she were to become an Anbu, I’d rather have her working under the Hokage’s orders not yours,” he finished. Now it was Danzou who frowned.

“You insolent Uchiha. I will—” The elder started saying until he was interrupted by an authoritarian voice coming from the entrance of the building behind Yusuke.

“What’s going on here?” Fugaku raised an eyebrow when he noticed the tension between the two men. “Yusuke?” The aforementioned turned to look at his leader.

“Why don’t you ask him?” Yusuke glared at the elder. The two companions of the man got into a fighting stance.

“Calm down,” Danzou motioned to his subordinates. “I didn’t say we would get into a fight.” The Anbu put away their weapons. “Your lack of respect will bring you consequences, Yusuke.” Danzou turned his back to the Uchiha. “I want an Uchiha in the Foundation, and I will have it.” And with that he left, leaving the two Uchiha alone.

* * *

Hanako dodged a hit directed towards her stomach as she moved to the side and lifted up her leg directing a kick to her sister’s face. Hikari grabbed her ankle and pulled her up, throwing her to the ground. Hanako landed on her hands and rolled over the place until she managed to stop and rest over her back. Hikari neared her as she chuckled softly.

“You’re getting better, Hanako,” she said to her little sister as she reached a hand and helped her up.

“But not as good as you, Nee-chan.” Hanako pouted as she dusted her clothes. Hikari sighed as she crossed her arms.

“You have been training for only four years, Hanako.” She smirked. “I have been for almost ten. Obviously, you’re not at my level.”

“Yet,” Hanako hissed and turned her back to her. “I know you’re a chuunin Nee-chan, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be at your level just because I’m a genin.” She smirked and looked at her sister sideways. “Next time we spar, I’ll certainly win.” Hanako could hear her sister chuckling and she frowned.

“We’ll see ‘bout that...” And she disappeared. It was probably time for her to leave on her mission so Hanako just shrugged and paced calmly through the training grounds. She felt a warm sensation and stopped abruptly on her tracks. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the feeling. Now, she could feel two of them, and one multiplied. Hanako frowned and opened her eyes with her Sharingan activated as she rushed towards the place where she felt them.

Hanako hid behind a tree when she noticed two people. They were both kids, one of them was near ten years old and the younger one was about four maybe five years old. Hanako jumped and landed over a large branch high on the tree. She recognized one of them to be Itachi. He was hiding behind a tree trunk while the younger boy was apparently looking for him. The girl noticed that the figure of Itachi had less chakra than a normal ninja, and she could feel a similar chakra signature a little bit far from where she was. A clone maybe?

The youngest kid found the “clone” and smiled victoriously.

“Found you!” he exclaimed as he stood right in front of him. Itachi laughed and made a sign with his hands.

“Nice try, Sasuke.” And he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

“AH?!” Sasuke widened his eyes. “A clone?! I already told you Nii-san, that’s cheating!” Hanako chuckled at their silly argument and turned ready to leave when she felt someone on the same branch where she was standing at the moment. Hanako looked up with her Sharingan still activated and narrowed her eyes when she saw Itachi staring down at her with his Sharingan activated. Hanako smirked and deactivated her Sharingan before standing straight.

“So, I guess you managed to get the Sharingan?” Hanako asked as she raised an eyebrow. Itachi deactivated his Sharingan but narrowed his eyes.

“Why are you watching us?” he asked. Hanako just shrugged and noticed that the little boy was getting far, searching for his older brother.

“I’m a curious girl,” she said. “Don’t worry Uchiha, I’m not stalking you.” She jumped off the branch and landed on the ground, the boy followed. “Anyway, I have to go. You better let your little brother find you, he’s getting too far away.” Hanako started walking until she remembered something and turned to look at him once more. “Oh, and by the way,” she started saying. “Using clones in a hide and seek game is cheating.” She smirked at his confused expression, and then started to walk away again when she heard him call after her.

“Hey wait up!” Without giving him any time to react, Hanako rushed away until she found herself in the street. She heard someone else calling for her but it wasn’t the same boy in the woods. Hanako turned to find her teammate looking at her, annoyed.

“Where were you?!” Kazuki snapped. “You’re late!” Hanako sighed and walked along with him until they met with the rest of Team 4.

“Kinda forgot we were supposed to meet the Hokage,” Hanako said earning a glare from the dark haired boy. Their sensei sighed when they arrived and gave her a disapproving look.

“So, you finally decided to come. Where were you Hanako? I had to send Kazuki to look for you.” Kaito looked at his student expectantly and Hanako lowered her head.

“Sumimasen, Kaito-sensei. I was sparring with Hikari-nee and I forgot we had a team meeting.” He sighed once again at her excuse as he shook his head.

“You could’ve waited until tomorrow, they gave you a day off after today’s duty.” Hanako looked up at him and sighed. ‘That’s because tomorrow she’ll still be on her mission,’ she thought. “Anyway, our mission is to retrieve a lost pet.”

* * *

Yusuke was worried. Worried sick. He already had enough with Danzou. He had enough of him thinking that he could do whatever he pleased. But he still was worried that he would try to do something to Hanako, or to him for disrespecting him. Yusuke knew he was capable of it, he knew he would do it.

“What are you thinking?” He heard Fugaku’s voice interrupt his thoughts. Yusuke looked at him.

“It’s nothing...” They were nearing the Uchiha compound. Yusuke knew Hanako had a mission and he was relieved that it was inside the village and that she would be accompanied by her sensei, that way Danzou wouldn’t be able to get to her.

“Yusuke, you should know by now that you can’t fool me.” The man smirked and looked at Fugaku.

“That sounds like a challenge.” He chuckled but immediately became serious at Fugaku’s death glare. “Can I ask something of you?” Fugaku’s gaze softened.

“What is it?” he asked.

“If something ever happened to me, would you protect Hanako in my place?” Yusuke pressed his lips when Fugaku’s eyes widened. The Clan leader immediately shook it away and looked at the man in front of him seriously.

“If that’d be the case...” Fugaku replied with a smile. “I would protect her with my life.”

* * *

Hanako returned home after Team 4’s mission. They had to catch a cat. A mission in which she didn’t feel happy at all, especially because after three years of being a genin she hadn’t gone out of the village. Not even once. Their missions were silly; they treated genin like some kind of errand runners or something like that. To top it all, their missions were getting lamer every time.

There was a point where she stopped cooperating with her teammates. She refused to follow a cat around for like the tenth time that week. Of course, Kazuki and Takeshi were too afraid of going against their teacher, so they ran after the cat as if their lives depended on it. Although, it was Kaito-sensei who caught it in the end after carefully building a trap.

“Tadaima,” Hanako announced her arrival by entering the house, leaving her shoes on one side of the main door.

“Okaeri,” her mother replied with a smile.

“How did your mission go?” asked her father while he sipped a little bit of his green tea.

“Well, it was easy just like all the others,” Hanako said bluntly as she sat at the table in front of him. She didn’t need to mention that everything she did was sit down and supervise the rest of her team while they pursued a poor defenseless feline.

“You are pretty arrogant to be just a ten-year old,” her father told her as he stared at her. Hanako laughed slightly.

“Maybe, but it’s who I am, so what can you do?” she said quietly causing her father to just sigh at her attitude.

“I’ve seen that you have quite improved your skills in this couple of years,” Yusuke commented putting his cup on the table. “Especially your use of the Sharingan after your graduation from the Academy; but I think it is time for you to jump to the next level. That’s why I wanted you to accompany me on my next mission. The Hokage has agreed already, it’s a simple B-rank mission. I think we should be able to handle it, and we will go along with my team.” Hanako noticed that her mother looked at her father wide eyed; apparently she knew nothing of that mission. The girl, for one, was glad that finally her father was taking into account her abilities and had let her accompany him on a mission.

“I’m ready!” Hanako told him excited. Her father smirked and proceeded to explain the mission.

“The mission is to retrieve a scroll that Iwagakure stole. According to the information they have given us, the scroll was taken to the outskirts of the village into a nearby small town,” Yusuke said, pulling out a map and showing the girl all the locations. Hanako nodded to all he said. “Tomorrow we will think of a strategy to carry out the plan when we’re all present. We will leave early and perhaps take a little time to travel so get ready properly.” Her father told her seriously, to which Hanako nodded and went to her room.

In the kitchen, the two adults remained under the stress of a silence formed by the departure of the young Uchiha. “Do you realize what you’re about to do?” The woman asked, approaching her husband.

“Yes, don’t worry. She is under the care of good hands.”

“Don’t you remember what happened a couple of years ago?” she asked furiously.

“Yes, I remember it perfectly. But at that time she wasn’t trained.”

“And now she is?” Akira inquired.

“Yes Akira, now she is,” he told her seriously, looking straight into her eyes.

“If you just want to take a daughter of yours to this mission, why don’t you take Hikari? She is already a chuunin and soon they will promote her to Jounin. She is totally capable for a mission like this one...” She tried to say but was interrupted.

“I want Hanako to accompany me,” he said finally. “It is true that Hikari is capable of these things, but that doesn’t mean Hanako is not.”

“It’s an infiltration mission Yusuke, it can be dangerous even for you…” Akira mumbled with concern.

“It’s a B-rank mission. Also, I will be assisted by two Jounin. Everything will be alright,” he said, standing up.

“A mission can escalate from B-rank to A-rank in a second. You shouldn’t take her Yusuke. I’m telling you that it is too dangerous!” Akira insisted.

“And I already said that everything will be alright.” Yusuke looked at her, trying to comfort her. “I will take care of her with my life,” he assured her. “I promise,” he finished before hugging her.

“I have a bad feeling about this, Yusuke,” she said gently, clinging to her husband.

“You worry too much, Akira.”

* * *

Danzou sat in his office, reading one of his scrolls, but he couldn’t concentrate as his mind always wandered over to a certain Uchiha. Immediately a frown appeared on his face as he leaned on the back of his chair.

“Danzou-sama...” He heard the voice of one of his subordinates and looked up to find him in his Anbu cloak, kneeling before his desk.

“Did you find something?” the elder asked.

“Yes.” The Anbu nodded. “Yusuke Uchiha is heading out for a mission on the outskirts of the village.” Danzou raised his eyebrow interested.

“And what’s his mission?”

“To retrieve the scroll that was stolen in the war by the Stone shinobi.” A smirk formed on the elder’s lips.

“Is that so?” He stood up from his chair and walked until he stood in front of his subordinate. “I have a copy of each of the village’s scrolls hidden in this building. I know pretty well which scroll was stolen, and I know that in it there’s no relevant information on the village or its secrets.” He continued to smirk as he paced around his office. The Anbu remained still in his kneeling position. “Warn the Stone shinobi. Tell them that Konoha is ready to claim its belongings. That way, they’ll prepare an ambush and crush Yusuke and his team before they get anywhere near that scroll.”

“But Danzou-sama...” The Anbu started saying but immediately shut up at the intense glare the elder gave him.

“Yusuke Uchiha is nothing but a hindrance. And in order to keep moving on, we have to eliminate it.”

* * *

Takeshi walked along with his teammate across the crowded streets of the Konoha village. He sighed and observed everything around him trying to pull out his mind from the pool of boredom in his head.

“Hey Kazuki, what if we tell Hanako to go training with us? She likes to train.” He spoke, earning a grunt from his friend.

“Why so much interest in Uchiha, Takeshi?” Kazuki asked.

“What?” Takeshi blushed slightly, thing that did not go unnoticed by his companion. “That is not true...” he said as he childishly inflated his cheeks.

“Really? Then why are you blushing?” asked the raven haired boy pointing out his cheeks, teasing him while he laughed.

“Don’t point at me, it is impolite,” Takeshi said shaking his friend’s hand.

“Hey, don’t change the subject! You like her, don’t you?”

“No.”

“Takeshi likes—” Kazuki failed to finish since Takeshi had covered his mouth with both hands. When he had finally calmed down Takeshi withdrew his hands slowly. “Are we going to look for her?” Kazuki mumbled resignedly.

“If you want to,” Takeshi shrugged, starting to walk towards to the Uchiha Compound.

“It’s you who wants to be with her!” Kazuki cried to his friend before running to catch up with him.

When they had finally reached the front of the house of the Uchiha, they knocked on the door shyly. Hanako’s father was the one who opened it to find the two young men.

“Good afternoon, sir...” Takeshi spoke shyly. “Is Hanako home?”

“Of course.” The man smiled. “Hanako, you have visits!” he called for his daughter and she came downstairs a few seconds later.

“Oh... it’s you guys,” she said when she saw her teammates standing at the door.

“We’re happy to see you as well, Uchiha…” Kazuki said sarcastically.

“Do you know them?” Hanako’s father asked.

“Of course, Dad. They are my teammates, Takeshi Komatsu and Kazuki Mitokado.” She presented her comrades to her father.

“I see, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise,” they responded both in unison. Hanako’s father returned inside, leaving her with her friends.

“And well, what do you want?” she asked, returning her attention to them.

“Well...” Takeshi spoke nervously.

“We wanted to know if you would join us in training,” Kazuki said finally, when he noticed that his friend would not have the guts to speak.

“I’d like to go, but I have a mission tomorrow and I have to prepare myself.”

“I thought that we were given the day off?” Kazuki noted.

“Yes, but I’ll go with my father to a B-rank mission,” Hanako added happily. “Isn’t that cool?” she said, this time jumping out of excitement.

“B-rank?” Takeshi asked wide eyed. “But we are just genin, B-rank missions are for chuunin or jounin.”

“I know, but Dad said that the Hokage had accepted. I’ll also be going with Dad’s team. I’m pretty sure that everything will be fine,” the girl said in an attempt to reassure his friends. “I learned a lot from my trainings with Fugaku-sama, perhaps this is my chance to put it into practice.”

“Hanako...” Kazuki began to say.

“Okay…” Takeshi said to everyone’s surprise. “Take care.”

“Thank you, I will!” Hanako said hugging her best friend and then Kazuki. Then she went back inside her home leaving her two companions alone outside.

“Why did you do that?” an annoyed Kazuki asked Takeshi who was starting to walk back to his house.

“Because she’ll do it anyway, we can’t change her mind,” he said.

“Do you know how dangerous it is?” Kazuki reminded him.

“She is strong. I know that nothing will happen to her. Trust her,” he said to his friend giving him a smile, although Kazuki noticed by far that it was fake and that on the inside Takeshi was pretty concerned about her safety. Kazuki watched as Takeshi walked away. Now the only thing they could do was wait and hope that everything would turn out well and that nothing bad would happen to the brunette.