Third-Person POV

  "The nature of this mission is an organized search for and apprehension of the rogue ninja responsible for the Chunin Exams scandal," said Kakashi.

  Iroko crossed his brows. So, that's what this is about. But from how he said it, I guess I'm supposed to take this mission more seriously than the others. Can do, Lord Sixth.

  However, before Kakashi continued, he looked at Hisao. The nindroid nodded and Kakashi nodded back then returned his attention to Iroko and Asami.

  "But before I divulge the details of the mission ... Iroko, do you recall all the times you asked about the status of Ryuun Kitto, the rogue ninja you encountered on your very first mission?"

  Iroko blinked in confusion. "Yeah, of course. What about it?"

  Kakashi heaved a sigh, then came right out and said it. "I'm not happy to admit this, but we lied to you. He hasn't been in confinement this whole time. The truth is, he and his partner Zutsumi Ginchiyo died a month after the end of your first mission."

  Asami's eyebrows lifted ever so slightly to convey shock.

  Iroko's breath hitched. "Huh?"

  "Princess Hotaru can explain everything," said Kakashi, gesturing for her to step forward.

  "I've been sent as a representative for both the Tsuchigumo and Waterfall villages to preside over this meeting that concerns all three of our villages," she said. "What happened to Ryuun and Zutsumi was no accident. It was premeditated murder. Who the culprit is, we're still not sure, but Lord Shibuki has speculated it might have been someone from the same organization as them, that it had been done to keep them quiet."

  Iroko looked at Yuura and Hisao. "Did you guys know?"

  "N-no, this is the first I'm hearing about it," said Yuura. "I was only told minutes before you and Asami arrived."

  "Yuura did not know, but I did," Hisao said right after. Even Yuura was shocked. "I'm sorry, but I agreed with Lord Sixth to keep it from you because I did not think it would benefit you to know."

  Iroko clenched his fists tightly. "Benefit me to know...? Who decides what I should or shouldn't be allowed to know...? And why are there people out there who get to decide who lives or dies?!"

  He was livid, but more than that, he was distraught.

  There were so many things I wanted to say to him. I wanted him to see how far I'd come along because of my bonds, and maybe get him to turn over a new leaf. But now he'll never have the chance, and they don't even know who the killer is-- just like Mom and Dad.

  Kakashi spoke, "We understand you're upset--"

  "Oh, I'm more than upset!!" Iroko lashed out. "THIS IS AN INJUSTICE!!"

  He was about to storm over to Kakashi but was pulled back by the arm. It was Asami. He looked at her with eyes full of hate. She looked at him with eyes that said: Calm down. This isn't how we get answers.

  He was angry, but his clouded emotions made him realize she was right, and he simmered back down somewhat.

  "I appreciate the transparency," said Asami, "but what does any of this have to do with the rogue ninja from the Exams?"

  Hotaru answered, "There is a man named En no Mugen who was freed from Blood Prison along with every other inmate there by an organization of rogue ninjas. He's a relative of mine who converted to Jashinism--"

  "Hold up, WHAT?! Blood Prison got emptied?!" Iroko interrupted.

  "Ah, I forgot to mention that part," Hotaru sweatdropped.

  Iroko looked at all the faces in the office, full of bewilderment. "How? What happened? What about the guards?"

  "They were all killed," Kakashi said darkly, "including ... the master of the prison. The Shinobi Union are looking through candidates for a new master, but Blood Prison is in shambles and thousands of missing-nin are now roaming free."

  "Holy crap..." Iroko was dazed. "This is really bad."

  "Which is why you're being told all this now," said Kakashi. "Please continue, Princess."

  "Right. Few people know this but the Tsuchigumo clan are the keepers of an S-class Forbidden technique called Fury. Legend says it's supposedly one of the many abilities of the pagan god Jashin, alongside immortality, making it a highly valued jutsu among the Jashinists. To protect its secrets, the formula for unlocking the full power of Fury was split into three independent entities. One was implanted onto my back by my grandfather when I was a child; another was inscribed onto an idol figure and hidden somewhere; and the third was written down in a Scroll and hidden in Blood Prison. The reports say that both the Scroll and En no Mugen are missing.

  "The reason why Ryuun and Zutsumi were aiming to kill or kidnap me was to get their hands on one of the entities needed for Fury and potentially take out a well-known name in the Ninja World. The rogue ninja from your Chunin Exams and Zutsumi carried black cloths with a red circle emblazoned. It's all connected."

  "In other words," said Hisao, "the rogue ninja from the Exams, Zutsumi Ginchiyo, and Ryuun Kitto are most likely affiliated with, if not outright members of, the organization that decimated Blood Prison."

  Iroko was lost and confused among all the details. He still had no idea what this was all leading up to but luckily Asami was there to spell it out for him.

  "So," she began, "you want us to track down the rogue ninja from the Exams, apprehend him, and make him tell us everything he knows about this organization, thereby getting more information on what happened to Ryuun and Zutsumi?"

  "That's right," said Kakashi.

  "Oh, alright," Iroko cracked his knuckles. "Sounds easy enough."

  "How do we track him down?" Asami asked.

  "Asami, can you confirm you've seen the rogue ninja's face?" said Kakashi.

  "Yes, I have his features memorized," said Asami. "Recognizing him won't be a problem."

  She recalled the time between the Preliminaries and the Semifinals during the Chunin Exams when she had aided Hisao and Issun-boshi in uncovering Momotaro's identity. Just after he had tripped on her boobytrap his hood had come off, and it was the only opportunity she would have gotten. So, she burned the image of that face into her mind's eye, aware a day like this might come. This meant she would be the key to apprehending Momotaro when they closed in on his location.

  "Good," said Kakashi, then turned to Iroko and Yuura. "Have either of you?"

  Yuura shook his head. "No, I've never even been in close vicinity of him."

  "Iroko?"

  The boy was silent. He had remembered something. To his surprise, he found he could recall what Momotaro looked like. And that was because of the time when he had bumped into him after his match, just outside the washroom. It was also the moment when he had come unnervingly close to certain death. He reached for his neck instinctively as the memory replayed in his head. Asami had taken notice of this.

  "Iroko," Kakashi called out.

  "Huh? Oh, yeah-- I guess I have seen his face."

  Everyone was met with surprise.

  "Seriously? When?" Yuura inquired.

  "After my match with Itsuki. By that point, he'd already made an attempt on Lord Sixth's life and was making a run for it when I ran into him in the corridor."

  "Wow. It's a miracle he didn't kill you right then and there!"

  Iroko sweatdropped and smiled nervously. "Yup, it sure is..."

  "In that case," Sasuke spoke, "the two of you are the only ones I'll need for this mission."

  Yuura exclaimed, "Huh?! B-but what about me and Hisao-sensei?"

  "Yuura," said Hisao, "it's quite alright. If I understand it correctly, this mission is to be a clandestine endeavour. The whole team isn't needed."

  "That's right," said Kakashi. "If Sasuke needs only Iroko and Asami for this mission to be a success, then that's how it'll be. Don't take it personally, Yuura."

  Yuura sighed. "I understand..."

  He glanced at Iroko, who met his gaze with understanding. While he wasn't fond of the team being split up, he recognized that it was necessary for their success.

  Just me and Asami, huh? he thought, looking at her.

  Slowly but surely, he was learning to relax, step back, and see the forest for the trees before reacting. (Ryuun's death was a relapse, though)

  "So, how's this gonna go down?" he asked.

  "We'll be using this." Sasuke pulled out a strange-looking device from beneath his layers of clothing. It was circular with a golden rim and had a screen in the centre.

  Iroko blinked twice. "What... is that?"

  "It's a monitor," he said. "When the rogue ninja was making his escape, I crossed swords with him and planted a tracking device on him. With this, we can track him down no matter where he runs."

  "Oooooh, sugoi!! That's Sasuke Uchiha for you!" Iroko praised. "The man with a plan!"

  "How do we know the tracking device is still on him?" Asami questioned. "And if it is, what of the possibility that he could be leading us to a trap?"

  "Hater..." Iroko murmured.

  "No, Asami makes two good points," said Sasuke. "To answer the first question, it doesn't matter if the tracking device is still on him. Once I planted it on him and the next time he used ninjutsu, the device stored his chakra signature in its library and transferred that data to this monitor. As such, what this monitor is tracking is not the tracking device but the rogue ninja himself. The device can't be altered or changed unless I do it either.

  "On the second question... yes, it could be a trap. We can't do anything about that but be prepared for every possible scenario. It's a shinobi's job to expect the unexpected and be willing to take that risk. Kakashi hasn't mentioned it yet, but this mission is at least B-rank, maybe A-rank if things go awry. Are you still willing?"

  "C'mon, guys," said Iroko. "When has a high-level mission ever stopped me? Besides, if there's a chance I can get those bastards to pay for what they did to Ryuun, I'm all in."

  "I accept, too," said Asami.

  "Then it's settled," said Kakashi. "Pack your gear and make any other preparations you may need. You move out tomorrow morning."

  After the meeting, Hotaru and Iroko strolled around the Academy while catching up.

  "I'm so sorry to hear about Ryuun," she said. "I had no idea you were in the dark about it this whole time."

  "Don't worry about it," he replied. "It's not your fault and you didn't know I didn't know. It sucks what happened, but I'm gonna make it right, but getting his killer to answer for what they've done."

  Hotaru felt relieved that he wasn't letting the tension affect him. Noticing the tight atmosphere, she cheerfully decided to shift the conversation. "What a lovely place this is!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she admired the school's hallway.

  "It looks nice now," Iroko replied. "It doesn't look so nice when a bunch of superhuman kids run up the walls and shoot fireballs at each other."

  Hotaru chuckled. "I'm not just talking about the Academy, silly, I mean the entire Hidden Leaf. I can tell it was built with love and care by its founders, especially towards children. I never got to experience that growing up, because of my relation to En no Gyoja. I was a pariah in my village. People only started to respect me once I was acknowledged as Princess."

  "I hear ya, and it's the same here," said Iroko. "The Hidden Leaf may look nice, but it hasn't treated everyone fairly."

  Hotaru looked at him. "You're talking about yourself?"

  "Not just me. Naruto and Sasuke-sensei were mistreated, too. It reminds me of what we talked about all those months ago. Every good has its bad mixed up in there. How's the Princess job going?"

  Hotaru sighed from exasperation. "Exhausting. I never knew running a village could be so much work, and I'm not even handling the bulk of the duties. Ever since we allied with the Shinobi Union, it's been one thing after another. It's hard being a Princess, knowing you're loved and hated by many, you're being judged far more intently than the average person, and someone somewhere is always plotting against you."

  Iroko looked empathetic. "For what it's worth, I haven't forgotten the promise I made, and I meant it. If you need a hero, just say the word, and I'll be there."

  "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten," she smirked. "I still intend to take you up on it if need be. Besides, I've been speaking ill of it this whole time but it's not as if being a Princess doesn't have its perks. But what about you? How have you been getting along? I can't imagine being a ninja hero is any easier."

  He gave a small laugh. "No, it is not..."

  They came outside the school and found themselves walking in the playground while the sun was setting.

  "Actually," Iroko continued, "I've been struggling with that lately, the whole idea of being a ninja hero. I've always wanted to become the ultimate ninja ever since I decided to model myself after Naruto. But I had a kind of rude awakening during the last Chunin Exams which made me realize there were two aspects to that goal, two aspects that are completely separate from each other.

  "On the one hand, I want to become the strongest and the most recognized just like Naruto, and ever since I was a little kid, I've always told myself it was possible because if he could do it then so could I. On the other, I have this drive-- this need, to want the best for others, to want to save them if they need help. But the problem is that I might have to sacrifice becoming the strongest and most recognized because saving others means putting them before yourself and what you want. I know it's possible to pursue both and I want to, more than anything, but I have no idea how."

  "I see," said Hotaru. "It's a conflict of interest."

  "A what?"

  "I don't mean to put words in your mouth, but, if I understand it right, I think you're conflicted between fulfilling your personal interest and the moral responsibility you've placed upon yourself."

  "Huh... Is that right...?" he said in wonder. Hearing it put so plainly gave him a new perspective on it.

  "I can't give much help on the matter," said Hotaru, "but I think it's amazing that you're addressing the logistics of your goal. It just means that when you figure it out, and you will, you'll understand it even more deeply and profoundly than you do now."

  "Sure doesn't seem like it right now," he said.

  "You'll figure it out, Iroko, because that's who you are. And remember you can always lean on your friends and teammates for support if it gets difficult. Even the hero needs to be saved now and then. I know Asami is more than willing."

  Iroko froze in his movement upon hearing that, catching Hotaru by surprise.

  "What do you mean by that?" he asked, slightly dazed.

  "Hm? Oh, nothing serious. Just that out of your entire cell, it seems to me like the one who cares about you the most is Asami."

  "You really think so?" He said, sounding eager for an answer.

  "She did take a sword to the abdomen for you and, as far as I've observed, your interactions with each other feel more authentic than any other, like as if you've known each other for a long time. Why do you ask? Oh, wait..." Hotaru arched an eyebrow in understanding. A kittenish smile played upon her lips. "Iroko, do you--"

  "N-No!" he burst out, blushing. "It's not like that! Well, I don't think... Agh! That's beside the point!! I've never been able to tell what Asami's thinking. Yeah, she's saved me a bunch of times, but... I feel like I hardly know her, and she's never bothered to tell me anything, so it feels like she doesn't see me the same way I see her, even as friends."

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  He shoved his hands into his pocket, blushing furiously. Hotaru could tell he wanted to say more but was struggling to find the courage to say it.

  "Besides my sister and my parents," he said, "she's the one I wanna do right by the most. She's always saving me. For once, I wanna save her for a change."

  THAT'S SO ADORABLE!!! Hotaru screamed in her head.

  "Please don't tell anyone about this," he deadpanned.

  "I won't, I promise. But I wanna preface by saying it's okay for you to feel the way you do. You're 14, after all, it's only natural. And if you feel that strongly about it, I say you should ask her instead of waiting for her to tell you. Let her know you want to get to know her better, and regardless," she placed a hand on his shoulder. "if her actions are anything to go by, you shouldn't doubt that she cares about you. We all do."

  "Thanks, Hotaru," said Iroko. "I really appreciate this talk."

  "The feeling's mutual."

  ?????? The next day ??????

  It was 7 AM. Yuura stood at the main gate of Konoha with Hisao, awaiting Iroko, Asami, and Sasuke's arrival.

  At length, he said to Hisao, "Sensei, are we really just going to do nothing for the entirety of this mission? Isn't there any way we can help Iroko and Asami? I don't like the idea of just being on standby."

  "Sometimes, being on standby is all one can do, Yuura," he said, his shades glistening from the rising sun, "but if you feel you absolutely should be doing more, then ask yourself this: What is it I can do that would be to the benefit of all? What can I contribute?"

  Yuura paused to consider those questions. What can I contribute? he thought. How can I ensure my friends' safety?

  At that time, the three undertakers had arrived. Iroko looked more determined than ever, walking with purpose, while Asami's gaze was level and her posture dispassionate. Both were packed, geared up, and ready for action while Sasuke looked about the same as he did yesterday: a thick black cloak which covered the majority of his body and a ninjatō by his waist.

  Yuura smiled. "For once, he's actually on time for a mission."

  "Hey, I heard that!" said Iroko. "Besides, there's no way I could afford to be late for this mission."

  "But the others you had no problem?" Asami jumped in.

  "You know what I mean!!"

  Kakashi and Hotaru flash-stepped onto the scene a moment later. "Good, you're all here," said the Hokage. "We've come to see you off."

  "Woah, seriously?! The Hokage himself came to see us off?" Iroko was amazed.

  "My thoughts exactly," said Sasuke. "I'm sure you had more pressing matters deserving of your attention, no?"

  "Well, when it came to this mission," said Kakashi, "I thought it would be best to see you off myself. Do you have an idea of where you're headed?"

  Sasuke showed him the monitor. "The last ping was at a no man's land between the Land of Sound and Hot Water, about a day's journey north from here. He hasn't moved since."

  Kakashi looked at the monitor intently. A feeling of unease had settled over them and Hisao had caught on.

  "What is it?" he asked.

  "I know that land," said Kakashi. "It's an area of dense woodland, that goes on as far as the eye can see, making it rather ideal for an ambush spot."

  "I-In that case, we ought to go with you, no?" said Yuura. "There's strength in numbers, after all!"

  "No, this is still a covert mission," said Sasuke. "The less people the better."

  "But--"

  "Dude," Iroko put a reassuring hand on his best friend's shoulder. "It's gonna be okay. Asami and I'll be fine, I promise. I won't let anything happen to us. You have my word."

  Yuura heaved a sigh. "You know, it's considered a red flag to make such promises before a big event," he said.

  "Never believed in that." Iroko held out his fist for a fist-bump.

  Yuura returned it. "Good luck."

  "And remember to always look out for each other," said Hisao.

  "Be careful," Kakashi said to Sasuke under his breath. "We still don't know our enemy's full strength yet. If things get dicey, retreat."

  He nodded in understanding.

  They set out beyond the Entrance Gate. The sun was rising above the trees, casting the leaves in a golden light and illuminating the open road before them. As Asami and Sasuke walked on ahead, Iroko looked back at Hotaru. As she waved at him, he remembered her advice from yesterday. He waved back and then ran off to catch up with Asami and Sasuke.

  "So, how far away is the target again?" Iroko asked.

  "About a day," said Sasuke.

  Iroko sighed. "Guess we've got a long journey ahead of us."

  As soon as the Leaf was a dwindle on the horizon, the three shinobi took to increasing their speed and could be seen sweeping across the countryside, with their arms extended behind them and their legs a blur.

  Still being in the commercial district, they passed through multiple small villages, hamlets, and wealthy households, all subject to the jurisdiction of the Hokage. Iroko waved at the locals as he passed them by while they started their day, whether that involved checking on their crops, opening a shop, or simply greeting the sunrise. It was times like this it felt good to be a ninja, knowing that the local populace had them to thank for the peace they enjoyed.

  Eventually, the settlements reduced in number as they went further north until they had left them all behind, and now all that lay before them was the wilderness of the Land of Fire.

  Hours passed. At some point, it was midday and Sasuke decided that was a good time for a lunch break. Amidst the grassy pasture, they found multiple slabs of rocks they could sit on and eat.

  Each of them had brought a bento from home. In Iroko's, he had a chicken sandwich, crackers, nigiri sushi, and fruits. Sasuke's was made up of his favourite dishes: onigiri, a skipjack tuna sandwich, and tomatoes. Asami's was a turkey sandwich, mixed vegetables, and maki sushi. Of the three of them, Iroko and Sasuke had their bentos made by their sister and wife, respectively, while Asami had made hers by herself.

  Upon seeing the maki sushi in Asami's bento, Iroko's eyes lit up.

  "Woah, I didn't know you liked sushi that much, Asami! Guess it's all thanks to me for putting you on to it back at The Edo that one time, huh?*"

  "Don't compare me to you," she said. "I'm not obsessed with it."

  "Ouch. True though. I'm pretty curious what yours tastes like, though. Any chance you'd be down to exchange?" He said jokingly, holding up a roll of nigiri.

  Asami gave him that blank look again which told him nothing of what she was thinking. But, to his surprise, she said, "Sure", and picked up one of her maki rolls to give to him.

  "O-Oh, thanks..."

  He had been completely caught off-guard and was now acting a little awkward. It was unlike her to be so willing to participate in something as intimate as that. However, as soon as he ate the maki roll, his senses were overcome with delight.

  "So good!!"

  "Not bad," said Asami, having tried the nigiri.

  "Which is exactly what you said the first time you tried sushi."

  Sasuke watched the two of them from the side with mild interest while munching on his onigiri.

  "Eat quickly," he said. "We'll need to keep moving soon."

  Asami turned his attention to him. "Has the target changed positions since we started?" she asked.

  "No, he's been in the same spot, which tells me he's either settled down for a time, or this really is a trap."

  Iroko's expression fell and he got serious again. He looked somberly at his bento box, then resolve burned in him, and he ate quickly.

  Once they were done, they kept advancing through the Land of Fire, doubling their pace. A few hours later, the grass became sparse, and in the late afternoon, they reached a mountainous area with craggy cliffs.

  "Hey, d'you hear that?" Iroko asked Asami as they hiked their way up a cliffside. "It sounds like a waterfall."

  He quickened his pace, clambering up the cliff. When he reached the top, he beheld a sight that stole his breath.

  There was, in fact, a waterfall nearby. It lay in the grand and majestic valley Iroko saw before him, pouring into a lake below. Before the waterfall, in the centre of the valley, were the ruins of two statues, depicting a pair of formidable-looking shinobi, making the Seal of Reconciliation with each other.

  "Holy s#$t," said Iroko. "What happened here...?"

  "This is the Valley of the End, or what's left of it," said Sasuke. "It serves as the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Sound. It's also the site where the battle for the salvation or destruction of the Leaf Village was held between Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju, our ancestors," he said, looking at Asami. "They say this valley was the literal result of how epic their battle was and the statues down there were erected in honour of Hashirama's actions."

  "No way, this is that Valley of the End? I almost didn't recognize it! Ultimate!" Iroko was in absolute awe, but then he realized something. "Hang on, if those are the First Hokage and Madara's statues, why are they destroyed? Did someone do this?"

  "Yes, Naruto and I did, six years ago when we fought here for the second and last time."

  Iroko prepared himself for the next question he was about to ask and the answer he would receive. "Why were you guys fighting in the first place?"

  "Well, when we fought for the first time ten years ago, it was because I had just gone rogue. I was steeped in the Curse of Hatred and wanted to get stronger as soon as possible. Strong enough to kill my brother Itachi. Orochimaru had offered a means to achieve that, so I sided with the Sound Village, effectively betraying Konoha. Naruto tried to bring me back and this was where we fought. He was unsuccessful.

  "Then four years later, right after the Fourth Great Ninja War ended, I was intent on using the combined power of the Tailed Beasts to become a despot and revolutionize Ninja Society by force. I would have become the target of everyone's hatred, thus ending all wars and uniting the nations. Again, Naruto was there to make me see sense, and he was successful. I lost that fight for the better."

  Iroko sweatdropped. "Yeesh, sensei. No offence, but it sure sounded like you had a few screws loose back then."

  "I suppose I did."

  Sasuke kept moving, descending the cliff and into the valley. Asami was about to follow after him but saw Iroko still standing at the edge of the cliff, looking at the ruined statues.

  "Iroko, we need to keep moving," she said. He said nothing at first, and then she knew something was wrong. "What is it?"

  "Nothing. Nothing much," he said. "It's just... if one of us were to go rogue, what would be the reason? If we ended up like Madara or Sasuke-sensei... would we be able to return? Could we still call Konoha and everyone there home?"

  Asami opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again to think about her answer. The wind blew between them as he awaited her response, but Sasuke had interrupted them.

  "Iroko, Asami, let's keep going," he called.

  Asami gave Iroko a strange look, then turned around and dashed away. He looked at the ruined statues one last time then followed after them.

  The sun set soon after. By the time it was dark, they had reached the forest's eaves where the no man's land was between the Land of Sound and the Land of Hot Water. However, according to the monitor, the target was still deep in the forest, and it would take about half a day to reach him from their location, telling them how huge the forest was.

  Once they'd settled down, Sasuke got a fire going and they had dinner, a hare he had caught on their way there.

  "I'm going to turn in early for the night," said Sasuke once he'd finished eating. "I suggest you do the same. We're going to start up early tomorrow."

  Asami agreed. She put her bowl away and got to making her bed. Iroko, on the other hand, might not have even been completely listening to Sasuke. He had noticed a cliff, not far from their position that overlooked the forest and had been staring at it ever since.

  The view from up there must be ultimate, he thought. He looked back at his team. Sasuke was already in bed, with the covers up so only the back of his head was visible. Asami was still up, putting things away and making sure her ninja pouch was fully stocked for tomorrow.

  Iroko walked up to her and said: "Hey, I'm takin' a trip to that cliff over there. You wanna come with?"

  She looked in the direction he pointed in then back at him. "You should be getting ready for bed. You also shouldn't be going anywhere at this hour."

  "Oh, come on, nothing's gonna happen," he put his hands behind his head and crossed his legs in a relaxed pose. "Sasuke-sensei said the target's way out there and he hadn't moved since he last checked 5 minutes ago. It's too early for me to sleep anyway, so suit yourself if you don't wanna come but I'm going."

  "Iroko..."

  "If you don't want me to go, you're gonna have to stop me!" He jumped into the trees and took off.

  Parkour time. It had been a while since he'd allowed himself to let loose in an obstacle-heavy environment and relished the feeling of performing flips and acrobatics for fun. He swung through vines, bounced between trees, and backflipped off branches, all while feeling the night breeze across, all around, and through him. It was liberating.

  Just then, he caught a grey-white blur in the vicinity and realized it was Asami, having caught up to him relatively quickly.

  "You're going to get us in trouble," she said nonchalantly.

  "Hey, you're the one who decided to join me," he grinned, "but how about this." He landed on a branch to pause his movement. "Let's have a race to the top of the cliff. If you win, we go back to camp right away. If I win, we get to stay out a while longer. Whaddya say?"

  Asami tilted her head in curiosity. "What are the conditions?"

  "No conditions. Anything goes, ninjutsu included."

  She dropped down from the bough she was on to Iroko's branch, indicating the start line.

  "I'm in."

  Iroko grinned ecstatically, then got into a running stance.

  "In that case, on your mark... get set... GO!!"

  He blasted forward in a blaze of electricity from the Flash jutsu, leaving Asami behind. With every leap Iroko took, he flew leagues across the air, a streak of blue passing through the night.

  But Asami was quick to catch up to him again. She came swerving by him from behind, apparently spiralling through the air with leaves and twigs trailing behind her and it became clear to Iroko she was using some kind of Wind-natured jutsu. She almost took the lead from him, but he expended more chakra to go faster.

  "Nice try, but you'll have to do better than that!" Iroko remained undaunted. He wasn't about to lose that easily nor would he allow himself to go out sorry.

  Asami hung back for a moment, pressing her hand to the bark of a tree. As Iroko was about to pass by a tree, a branch jutted out from the main body and he ran right into it. She had used Wood Style to tap into the fungal network in the roots and influence their growth.

  Iroko fell to the forest ground, disoriented and doubled over while Asami moved past him.

  "No fair!" he shouted.

  "You said anything goes," she replied, dwindling into the forest eaves.

  Iroko got back up and formed the Shadow Clone hand seal. As soon as it spawned, it took hold of him and began to run with the Flash jutsu, picking up speed with every passing nanosecond. When it moved at over 200km an hour, it yeeted the original Iroko at a 45-degree angle. He whipped through the forest like an arrow shot from a bow and maintained its initial velocity. Moving so fast, he only had to hold out his kunai filled with Chakra Flow to cut through any branch in his way.

  He had caught up to Asami in moments, who looked up to see her teammate land beside her and assume his mad dash. They were now neck-and-neck, parkouring through the trees at the same speed. Iroko could never have hoped to have been able to keep up with Asami one year ago, but now- now, he felt like he could compete.

  The cliff was just up ahead, but then their path took a sharp descent downhill. They jumped down, following the natural descent, leaping from tree to tree, crisscrossing over each other and moving in sync. It was as if they were reading each other's minds.

  At one point, she somersaulted over his head and the moon illuminated her.

  Time seemed to slow down as Iroko found himself transfixed by her. He was lost in her gaze as she looked back at him.

  He didn't realize she had grabbed the hem of his jacket until she pulled it over a branch and by then it was too late. The speed at which he was falling had caused him to get wrapped around the branch cartoonishly until he was hanging by the sleeves. Asami left him there as she scaled up the cliff.

  "OH, COME ON!!" He tried to wriggle his way out but worried he might rip his jacket, so he spawned a Shadow Clone to unfurl it for him.

  The Shadow Clone stood on the branch and squatted, looking down at Iroko with an expression of disappointment.

  "Dude, this is super embarrassing."

  "Shut up and get me out!"

  By the time Iroko reached the top of the cliff the race was long since over.

  "Okay, Asami, you win," he said with a sigh. "Let's head... back..."

  He let his words trail off when he saw her sitting at the precipice, gazing off at the night sky and forest horizon, not having moved an inch despite him being there. It seemed she had no intention of going back right away, to begin with, and had just been playing along.

  Suddenly, he remembered Hotaru's words.

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  "And if you feel that strongly about it, I say you should ask her instead of waiting for her to tell you. Let her know you want to get to know her better."

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  His cheeks flared up. It was now or never, he knew. He breathed in and out, then went and sat beside her.

  "You've wanted to talk for a while now, haven't you?" Asami asked without looking at him.

  "What gave it away...?"

  "There was the time after our first mission last year, every time you carried a puzzled look at my actions, pulling this whole stunt so we could be by ourselves--"

  "Okay, I get it. I wasn't exactly being subtle," he steamed. Then his expression softened. "Asami, can I ask about your past? Like who you are, and where you're from? I know you said you worked in ANBU but that's all I know about you, and maybe you'd rather it stayed that way - which is fine, I guess - but I just figured I'd ask. You... you know me, so I'd like to get to know you if you'd be willing."

  He looked at her. She still did not meet his gaze, and her expression was as stolid as ever, but somehow he felt she was conflicted about what to say. He figured she would be apprehensive, just like Kazue said, and prepared himself for a no.

  What he got was a response that was different from his expectations. Very different.

  "Iroko" she began, "what... would you say... if I told you I've killed people?"

  His eyes widened.

  Asami continued.

  "Yuura never told you this, it seems, but before the ANBU Black Ops, I was part of a secret branch called Root led by Danzo Shimura. They were the ones who raised me. They taught me how to strike at the trachea before I could say full sentences, and I was made to suppress my emotions as a result of their training. I took my first life when I was 4, and it just got worse from there. Assassinations, hits, torture, infiltration, I was forced to do it all. I had to get my hands dirty for a village that would never accept me as a person, and why would they? I was-- am a monster. Someone incapable of feelings or remorse over my actions. And I accepted that. That's my world, my home.

  "I never bothered to tell you this, and I had no intention of doing so because I thought you could do without knowing about that side of me. But now you know." She finally looked at him. "So, what do you think?"

  I guess Kaz wasn't entirely wrong, Iroko thought dejectedly, but still. It doesn't sound like she didn't do it because she doesn't like me. Was she... worried that I'd dislike her?

  "Yeah, that is a lot," he said, his hands tightening into fists, "and that sucks, what you did and what was done to you. I'm sorry you had to go through that. But... I mean-- well, that's not who you are now though, is it?"

  Asami raised her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

  Iroko sighed, rubbing the back of his head out of embarrassment for what he was about to say. "I mean, here was this girl I met, who was annoyingly standoffish and indifferent, but with amazing skill in ninjutsu, a genius mind, and a team player when she wanted to be, which is more than I can say about certain people. But above all that, she went out of her way to save me. Again, and again, and again, and again. Now, at that point, I could care less about who she was in the past. That's not the version of her that I know.

  "The Asami I know is a kind and selfless person, who has a place in this world and a home with us, regardless of what anyone else says. She's not a monster, not to me, she isn't."

  A light entered Asami's eyes, and her once dull and gloomy orbs now shone radiantly.

  "I've decided I'm going to pay you back," Iroko said with a big smile. "One of these days, as thanks for having saved me all those times, I'll save you in return. Count on it!"

  She looked away.

  There it is again. That smile, so bright I can't stare at it directly.

  And you say I'm a kind and selfless person. You don't even know... how bright your light shines.

  "About what you said earlier if one of us were to betray the Leaf," she spoke. "Hopefully, it never gets to that, but if it does... if you were to betray the Leaf... I would stop you, by any means necessary."

  Iroko looked at her. He'd always been able to see her. But tonight was one of the few moments he could see her, Asami Senju. She seemed almost otherworldly to him with her white hair and pale white skin illuminated by the moon, and her golden yellow eyes glistening with resolve.

  He wondered what she meant by "any means necessary", but deep down he knew already, and in truth, there was no one else he'd rather trust to see it through.

  "Okay then. I'll do the same. I promise."

  They remained sitting next to each other in silence, and Iroko thought to himself how amazing that view was.

  ?????? THE NEXT DAY ??????

  That morning, after having breakfast, they advanced deeper into the forest. It seemed to Iroko that the further they went, the bigger the trees were getting. And the coordinates were not joking when it came to the time. It still took them hours to make it through the dense canopy. Iroko wondered if the game plan for the rogue ninja and whatever terrible scheme he had planned would work.

  But he also couldn't stop thinking about him and Asami's conversation from last night. When he looked at her, it seemed that was the farthest thing from her mind, and maybe it was, but he understood her now, which made the 'wondering' more manageable.

  As Sasuke estimated, it was about noon by the time they had reached the target's approximate location.

  They had come to what looked like the heart of the forest, for standing in front of them, where the monitor seemed to ping the loudest, was the biggest tree Iroko had ever seen in his entire life. It was massive. A single twig from it was probably bigger than Choji Akimichi and its branches were the size of buildings. At the centre of the tree was a giant, gaping hole, from which only darkness came out.

  "We're here," said Sasuke. "He's supposedly in this area."

  It was eerily quiet, save for the sound of squirrels and birds. A wind blew by, rustling the leaves.

  Even Iroko could tell things weren't supposed to feel this ominous. Where was the rogue ninja if the monitor said he was in the area? This is SO a trap.

  They huddled together, backs facing each other, and drew out their weapons.

  "Sasuke...," Asami began.

  "I know."

  "You know? You know what?" Iroko demanded. "What's going on? Talk to me, guys!"

  Sasuke answered. "We're surrounded."

  They appeared out of thin air in a haze of smoke and by the hundreds, perched in the branches and looking like shadows. Individuals clad in black with red accents, wearing a black headband that depicted the red circle Iroko had seen before. They looked like shinobi, but who knew for sure what they were? All that mattered at that moment was they didn't look like they were there to make friends.

  No words were passed and no time was wasted. They dove at Iroko, Asami, and Sasuke with ninjato, kusarigama, nunchaku, yari and what have you.

  Iroko gave a toothy grin as adrenaline began to pump through his veins. "Okay then. BRING IT ON!!"

  A/N: Things are getting crazy now.??

  * See the side story at the end of #17: The Chunin Exams.