Just realised the plot's gonna be a bit twisty... °_°ll sorry for taking so long...

"Ora ora," Tarumi Mei sighed. "Don't put that mask on Misetsu. You are to travel with me as an *, not hunter nin."

Misetsu reluctantly took off her mask. One of the elders, huffed and not so subtly commented to his neighbour that despite their Mizukage being a female, it did not mean that their hunter nin had to have females as well. "After all, men are the mightier * are we not?"

Misetsu scowled. 'Next time that old geezer needs a healer, I'll mix some poison in his food. Women lesser * indeed! I'll show him.'

Mei soothingly patted her. Ao, stony as ever didn't comment, and Chojuro? He smiled and whispered something that trailed into an apology at the end. "That old man's a few years behind isn't he?" There his downcast face panicked. "Ah, I'm sorry for assuming you didn't like him. I didn't mean it. Please don't tell Mizukage-sama I said that!"

Misetsu reassured him that what he said would always be just between the two of them before quickening her pace after Ao scolded them for walking too slowly. "Youngsters walk so slowly these days. Hurry up!"

They got close in time to see their Mizukage slap him for calling her old. Ouch. Ao-san, please check if your words may have double meanings before you say them. Those hits look painful.

"I'm going to kill you!"

"Ah... Mercy Lady Mizukage! Mercy!"

Linebreak/

All the way, Ren couldn't help voicing out his excitement and eagerness for the conference. "I'm so honoured to be choosen as one of your *s Lord Tsuchikage! I will not disappoint you!" He yelled again for the fourth time in an hour. Akatsuchi hummed tolerantly. Kurotsuchi on the other hand, exploded.

"Hey! Ren, I know you're excited and everything, but will you shut up!" Ren looked down frowning.

Happy thoughts. Happy thoughts. Akatsuchi smiled, listening to their argument and refusing to give into the inner voice that told him to bash their heads together for some peace and quiet. Happy thoughts. A nerve twitched.

Linebreak/

The four Kumo nin ran in silence. Earlier, Ay had briefly explained what would be going on at the conference, where they were to stay, and when it would end. Questions answered and satisfied, no one saw the need to talk.

Linebreak/

Tsuande stared at the two. Seijuro looked as if he had beaten someone up. Kai looked as if he had been beaten up. What had happened in the time it had taken for Naruto to squeeze his way inside?

"I don't know what happened, or why, but I need you two to work together for the next few days." She admonished the twins. "Normally, I wouldn't take you two along, but Shikamaru's still in training and his father's recovering from his last mission."

Kai smiled, rubbing the giant bruise on his cheek. He passed a stack of papers to her. The papers contained information on the recent activities the other Kages had been complaining about, as well as the general data and statistics needed during the meeting. So this was what Kai had been up to the past few days, flitting around the place like a hummingbird, grabbing logbooks and hounding others for paperwork. Seijuro had probably been the one who had sorted out the mess and created a much shorter list.

She looked back up. "Good work, are you two ready? Meet at the North entrance in five minutes." Kai gave a thumbs out and immediately jumped out the window. His brother gazed at her steadfastly. "No insult meant Hokage sama, but why us? With Shizune already going, all you need is for two more people to act as bodyguards, like chouza-san, or even Inoichi-san."

Tsuande sighed. "True, but a few days ago, shortly after I received the message to have another Kage summit, a message from Gaara also came. He said to bring the two of you along as well. Even the number of bodyguards we were allowed to bring had increased." Her eyes flashed. "Are the problems we are currently experiencing have anything to do with your past? You and Kai still refuse to say anything about it. And apparently, so do your friends." Seijuro stared impassively back. Saying nothing, he turned and left.

Tsunade stayed motionless for a few seconds before unfreezing. 'So it is true. That brat still continues to clam up even when this problem can affect us all. And apparently, it' has to be getting worse for one of the others to call for a meeting. With three bodyguards nonetheless.'

Then another thought struck. 'And who called for it?'

Linebreak/

Not wanting to lose more days waiting for the sandstrom to pass and then struggle to reach the land of iron in time, Gaara and his bodyguards had set out two days earlier. Misaki was rarely seen for the whole trip. Lagging behind or expertly blending into the surroundings, one had a greater chance of glimpsing her from the corner of his eye then trying to spot her. With the exception of rest stops. Then she would stand in plain sight, silently observing everything and swallowing her food in seconds.

Gone was the sly flirty girl, and in her place was a cold stern woman. No one knew what had happened during the week the famous six - Misaki, Seijuro, Kai, Misetsu, Uno, and Ren - had disappeared. They had came back each different. Misaki had done a one-eighty personality change, and although she was still a helpful spurring buddy with Temari, their training and battles had become more aggressive, as if Misaki had taken to releasing the pent up aggression that never showed through her fan.

Temari looked at her fellow kunoichi worried. Whatever that had happened, she was sure it had something to do with the problems they had now. She just hoped that the rest would know what to do about it.

This post was last edited by hun***@gmail.com at 2017-4-15 01:54