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Leifazu's POV (Western Plains of Irminsul - Terra)
Leifazu yawned as she drew near camp. A seal made for them by Ikam made it a breeze to find each other, even in this foreign land. Though she hadn't expected this mission to get as crazy as it had.
First, their group arrived in some strange, nature-infested land and were separated. Now, it seemed that not only were their enemy shinobi present, but their extra hands seemed woefully ill-equipped. It was enough to finally kill Leifazu's good mood. She enjoyed her new womanly body but not it was likely she may lose it soon. However she felt some level of hope as she crossed a barrier. Mishiro may have been a crusty bitch, but she was an expert at barrier ninjutsu as well as a near master of Fuijutsu. Even in the middle of the wild, she could make a basic camp into what seemed to be a fortress.
Her luggage seemed stirred by the chakra they walked through. The woman offered a pained growl and shifted awkwardly on Leifazu, who sighed in annoyance as she lowered the woman onto the branch, allowing her to breach consciousness as she did. Leifazu was fine with giving her a moment. Saving her had been quite the ordeal after all.
Enemy Shinobi being present was unexpected and worrying, to say the least. Enemy Shinobi could best an experienced Iwa Jounin and still seem ready to go was more of an active problem. The man there had defeated Suzumebachi with relative ease and likely would've finished her off if not for his foolishness.
Leifazu had been patient at the moment. The temptation to fight strong people had always been a drug to Leifazu. When death was an inconvenience, it was easy to enjoy a battle to the death. The back and forth, the struggle, the savage adrenaline rush upon victory, or the flooding despair of defeat. It was beautiful…
Leifazu's last death had not been such. The two Akatsuki members, even individually, were on another level. And had played with her before her death. But that young man seemed powerful but green. Leifazu was sure she would've won, and it would've been a fun battle. A close struggle would've been nice… but Leifazu had been told to bring back their help alive. The fight hadn't been worth the risk then. But…
Mishiro was certain to be infuriated upon learning there were enemies present. Certainly, the overprotective woman would react instinctively. Almost certainly, they would ride out to slaughter them. And when they did, Leifazu planned to have a sweaty and bloody close encounter with that bowl-cut man.
"Where am I…" Suzumebachi's tired voice sounded out. Now fully awake, she hesitantly addressed Leifazu. It certainly made sense; they were supposed to be muscle. And she had been defeated. In the shinobi world, failure was rarely tolerated well… "I lost…" she spat bitterly.
"That you did," Leifazu said with a smirk. "Disappointing, to say the least…"
"That was no normal Genin; how could any rookie be that powerful!" Suzumebachi swore to herself. "The second I can stand, I shall hunt him down and show him the consequences of looking down on the Kamizuru Clan…"
"You can cope later, for now stand. I was getting tired of carrying your carcass. Especially in this environment…" Leifazu asked tauntingly as she stretched.
"It was a fluke; he had a strange technique, and the next time I encounter him, I'll ensure he suffers!" Suzumebachi swore angrily. "Besides, I am light, and from what I saw earlier, your strength is no minor thing."
"You mean you're built like a little boy"? Leifazu taunted as she purposely left an arm under her considerable bust. "And carrying deadweight through this savage land is no small task."
Suzumebachi wisely chose to be silent. Indeed, she did not realize how close they were to safety. A proud woman like herself likely would've been more defiant if so. But she discovered she was "depending on Leifazu's kindness," she realized silence likely would aid her well for now. "I apologize. We weren't truly expecting enemy forces in general. My guard was down. The Kamizuru Clan will not disappoint again."
"See that you don't," Leifazu said with a roll of her eyes. "While you have been getting some beauty sleep. I've been lugging you around, fending off, and escaping from oversized critters. It's good we're turning in for the night; otherwise, we'd likely be fighting all night."
Leifazu was not even bluffing about the dangers. She had seen all matters of beast and terrain. It would be good to remind these Kamizuru fools they were mere help and out of their league…
"I see. I assume that chakra was some kind of barrier. Do we have a home camp?" Suzumebachi asked noisily as the two women leaped slowly over the multiple small strands of the river. As they did, they drew closer to a large plume of smoke rising into the sky. While Leifazu played the hero, and Suzumebachi a punching bag. It seemed Mishiro had gotten things done.
"So Suzume," Leifazu started.
"Suzumebachi."
"T'was what I said," Leifazu complained. "Either way, where are your two clown brothers? I had expected to find the lot of you together."
"Oh, those fools," Suzumebachi said with a shrug. "Separated like the rest of us, I wouldn't be surprised if they are dead. Weaklings like them would fall to a shinobi of the caliber I fought or particularly fierce animals."
Leifazu noted the lack of concern for her own family but cared little. The two marched in silence as they drew close to camp. Four massive tents were erected around an even more enormous bonfire. At the bonfire sat Mishiro, patiently enjoying the warm flames as she watched a kettle hang near the fire. As they drew close, the kettle whistled shrilly. Leifazu stopped as Suzumebachi somewhat collapsed to her knees. Both ready to deliver their news to their leader.
"We have important and potentially dire news," Suzumebachi panted out. Clearly, even with their rest, she had yet to fully recover from her loss.
However, Mishiro ignored them both, quickly drawing her katana from her kneeling position and using it to lift her kettle from the flames. Her other hand drew a scroll, which unfurled and summoned a lovely small table, a nice metal tray with a cup of sugar cubes, and two more simple stools. Leifazu used to women's proclivities barely reacted, sitting automatically and waiting. Suzumebachi, perhaps exhausted and stunned by such, sat frozen until Leifazu lazily gestured for her to sit. She did so as Mishiro slowly unsealed a set of cups and poured one for each. She slowly and precisely dropped a couple of cubes into her saucer before offering it to the others. Leifazu, with a sweet tooth well known, gestured for about five. While Suzumebachi took them, they still needed clarification.
Mishiro shrugged at the woman before she set down the cup of cubes, grabbed her saucer, and took a deep sip of her tea. She then finally spoke.
"Update me, Leifazu."
"Well, I did as you asked, and while looking, I sensed a big chakra signature. When I arrived, it became clear what I sensed was our little friend here, barely conscious and about to be finished off by enemies." Leifazu started to explain. She stopped, however, to put a hand over Suzumebachi's mouth when she went to interrupt.
"Enemies? From who?" Mishiro asked with a raised brow.
"Aye. Apparently, the little miss head of the Kamizuru clan got defeated by a mere Leaf Genin." Leifazu said with a giant smile.
Suzumebachi pried off Leifazu's hand to interject. "That was no mere Genin! Those Leaf Hippies have always been strangely strong-" Suzumebachi was interrupted as Mishiro suddenly was behind her. She slammed Suzumebachi's head into the table to silence her.
"Leaf shinobi?!" She asked seriously, chakra and killing intent leaking from her. "Did you get a name?"
"R-rock Lee…" Suzumebachi said, barely audible with her face on the table.
"Indeed, it seems we have some unwelcome guests present for this mission. Genin rarely travels on their lonesome; I suppose he could've been unlucky, but…" Leifazu was interrupted as Suzumebachi forced her head up to speak clearly. "A shame it isn't one of our targets. Would've been enjoyable…"
"It seemed to me there must be more; the animals and boy seemed to be expecting an ally. At the very least, a Genin squad should be expected." Suzumebachi said.
"A Genin squad that holds Genin capable of besting Jounin? Combine that fact with an unknown Jounin sensei, and you have quite the troublesome quarry." Leifazu watched with open amusement as Mishiro hummed to herself and walked off in apparent thought. This allowed Suzumebachi to rise again, looking as nervous as she was furious.
"Where are you, siblings?" Mishiro demanded as she still seemed somewhat lost in thought.
"That's the strangest thing and partially why I thought they were dead. Members of the Kamizuru Clan can accurately track each other for miles. And the two would be smart enough to find us on their own. However, if there are mysterious shinobi afoot, I wouldn't be shocked if they met their match." Suzumebachi informed.
"Unlikely~!" Leifazu sang, more than a tad bit excited to get their secret in the open air.
Mishiro sighed at her subtle approach being ignored and turned to face the two. "Indeed, we have seals on all three of you. It doesn't allow us to track you, but it will notify us should one of you perish. This is a precaution my Love takes with all business deals. That being said, the two are certainly alive."
"When did you?!" Suzumebachi asked incensed.
"Boss likely did when he first met you." Leifazu casually answered. "Besides, even for Jounin, the wildlife around here can be quite the handful." Leifazu offered. "Perhaps they merely are camping out the night? Basic survival skills teach shinobi how to treat a night out in the wild like the hell it is. Better to camp out than move and navigate in pure darkness."
Mishiro hummed again as she grabbed her saucer and sipped her tea deeply as she turned back away. "We shall leave them be for now. If they die, they are much too useless to live anyway; of course, Suzumebachi-san, we will reimburse you in such a case. In the morning, we shall send Leifazu to seek those two out. Meanwhile, you and I, Suzumebachi-san, shall investigate nearby clans to see if we can find one fitting of the Kamizuru Clan."
Leifazu inwardly cackled as he and Suzumebachi nodded.
"Well, now that the two of you have updated me and received your future marching orders, perhaps it's time for me to offer my own information," Mishiro said with a more snotty tone as she sat back down with the two.