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Part One: Shinigami of the Mist
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The hidden villages within the Elemental Nations all acted independently of one another. There had been or currently were treaties between some of them. But treaties were formed and broken just as quickly for the shinobi world. Their bread of butter was deception and killing for their respective village leader after all. How much can you really trust someone who swore loyalty to another? But what do you do when the difference was calling upon help from your "ally" or risking destruction of everything you care for? Even when said ally was whispered to be a bloodthirsty demon hidden within the mist off the coast.
Sakura sat sprawled out on one of the two chairs that sat in front of the Mizukage’s desk with her sword, Kiba, leaning against her inner thigh between her legs. Chojuro was next to her in the other chair sitting straight and practically at attention. It looked like the most uncomfortable way to sit in an already uncomfortable chair. While Kisame lounged on his side on the chaise lounge as he chewed on his nails seemingly without a care in the world.
The door to the office opened and her dad, Zabuza, waltzed through with a bored look like this was the last place he had expected to be after receiving the same summons by their leader that the rest of them did. He looked at Kisame already on the lounge and huffed before pivoting to lean against the wall off to Mei’s side.
The Mizukage, Mei Terumi, dipped her hand underneath her desk as they all felt the privacy seals activate surrounding the room. Her cold blue eyes raked over each of them as she gestured a hand to her advisor, Ao, to begin.
Ao cleared his throat, “As you all know, we recently signed a treaty with the small hidden village of Taki. They sent a messenger hawk requesting assistance. It seems the little skirmishes with Iwa are no longer little. Iwa has amassed squadrons on the border demanding that Taki surrender and become a part of the Land of Earth.”
Zabuza rolled his eyes, “That’s pretty ballsy of them.”
Mei nodded, “It is. And we have a treaty to uphold. They are asking for help since their next action would be to send out their jinchuriki and I don’t think anyone wants to deal with a battle between two or three of them.”
Sakura grimaced at the thought of the utter destruction that the human weapons were capable of.
Mei continued, “I have been asked to send adequate assistance and I believe I know just the team to send.”
The smirk on her face did not give anyone within that room hope.
“I am sending a single four man squad consisting of my legendary swordsmen.”
Chojuro shuddered as his body stiffened and horror flashed across his face. Kisame barked out a laugh while Zabuza groaned. Sakura didn’t move as her mind immediately started running calculations on strategy and outcomes.
She looked up to lock eyes with Mei, "Parameters of the mission?”
Mei’s smirk softened but not by much, “Travel to the mainland, head through Fire and Hot Water until you reach the Taki border. I want you to observe before you engage. Strike Iwa hard and fast. I want a massacre worthy of the Bloody Mist. You have one month before I wonder if you failed.”
Sakura nodded, “Accounting for travel time and scouting, we shouldn’t need the full month.”
Mei nodded, “I don’t expect you to. Make contact with their leader but make sure he knows that you don’t take orders from anyone but me.”
The sharpened smiles, one hidden behind bandages, grew in excitement at the blatant permission for a free for all battle.
-O-
Sakura was sitting on the floor in her small bedroom sorting through uniforms and supplies she would need to pack when a figure took up space in the open doorway. She glanced up quickly even though she knew it was her brother, Haku.
“How many pairs of back up uniforms are too many?”
Haku chuckled, “Knowing you? All of them.”
He joined her on the ground and started folding her clothes and placing them in the evergrowing piles that would be sealed within a storage scroll on her person. The swordsmen did not carry packs since it would interfere with carrying their swords.
They worked in silence for a while until Zabuza came in with a box of pizza and soft drinks. By this point Sakura had started sealing away everything for a long and bloody mission while leaving out the things she would need in the morning before they left. She took a piece of pizza and leaned back against her bed.
“So do you think I’m ready?”
Haku stayed quiet as his eyes took them both in.
Zabuza was in a pair of sweatpants and a sleeveless shirt without his bandages for once, “Ready in what way?”
She shrugged, “For battle. Like a real battle. I know I’m now a Jonin but it was recent and I don’t know…”
Zabuza put his half eaten slice back in the box before leaning in towards her with narrowed eyes, “Don’t you dare do that.”
She blinked owlishly at the anger in his voice, “Do what?”
“Let the insecurities win. You are a Jonin of the Mist. You are one of four legendary swordsmen. You are a one man army if you choose to be,” Zabuza flung his arm out pointing behind himself, “Mei is not sending out four shinobi to die to appease a treaty. She is sending out the equivalent of four armies to win. I expect you to let your inner shark out like Kisame always tells you to do in spars and devour them whole leaving nothing to bury.”
Sakura smiled, “You really think I’m an army?”
“I think you outgrew my teachings a long time ago and have been indulging me for father-daughter bonding time or whatever mushy shit you force onto me.”
Her smile grew wider showing her sharpened teeth, “You love my mushy shit.”
He nodded, “Don’t tell anyone.”
Zabuza went back to eating and so did Sakura with a smile on her face. Haku continued to watch them both before he whispered, “I’m going to tell everyone.”
Sakura laughed as Haku leaned out of the way of the stuffed animal thrown at his head. Zabuza looked down at his now empty hand with a scowl before looking next to him at the small mountain of various stuffed animals realizing where his weapon had come from.
“Disappointing, “Zabuza mumbled much to the delight of his two kids.