Painless (A Naruto Fanfiction) [Completed]

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Mission

"Due to recent events, your team for this mission has been adjusted slightly. I hope that this will lead to more beneficial results, seeing as the mission is of the utmost importance."

As she attempted to keep her gaze locked on the unfamiliar face before her, Kazue's eyes kept flickering to the side despite herself. This was their team? Just the two of them and their team leader, who apparently was busy taking care of something at the moment?

"I'm sure that all of you have heard of the upcoming marriage between the Fire Daimyo's son and one of the princess' of the Crescent Moon," the jounin continued, idly taping his fingers atop the table before him. When both of the genin facing him nodded their agreement, the man moved on. "We were alerted of a problem early this morning by the embassy from the Crescent Moon. In concern of the good relations between our countries, they choose to alert us instead of the Daimyo in hopes of dealing with the problem. Everything you hear, here, is to stay a secret. Even just the slightest knowledge could lead to major conflict."

Once again, the duo nodded their understanding.

"The princess has disappeared."

Kazue stiffened, her eyes going wide.

"Disappeared? She was kidnapped?"

Biting her lip, a comforting gesture despite the fact that no pain came with the action, she spared the shinobi who'd spoken a short glance. Neji's eyes were settled on the speaker, seeing as unlike her he seemed to be having no problems paying attention to the matter at hand. Of course, for him their arrangement was simply a matter of convenience. Why should Neji be bothered enough to break his cold expression over the matter that they'd been declared engaged by their families. It was still under-wraps, of course, seeing as there was no need to make a fuss of it at their young age, but the idea was there none-the-less.

Yet, despite the fact the two of them hadn't shared a word since the decision, he seemed as calm and stoic as ever.

"We don't believe so," the man replied. "She left behind a note and her bodyguard seems to believe it was by her own free will."

At that same moment, the door leading into the meeting room was shoved open, a familiar red-head appearing in the open space. Kazue could only stare at him in disbelief as their last encounter in the Forest of Death flashed through her mind. It was the Moon shinobi from the exams.

"I believe her exact words were..." he began, shooting Kazue a greeting grin. "'I'd rather die than be married to that pig. If you never see me again, it'll be too soon. Go to hell, Saichi.' Strangely, Saichi-kun doesn't seem all that torn up abo-"

"Shut up, Raiden," a female voice cut in, her hand cuffing the playful red-head over the top of his head. "He's just as worried as you are."

"Really, I thought he looked a bit relieved. You know, cause his crush wasn't mar-"

"Raiden!"

"You're right! How can I be thinking of Saichi-kun's crush right now?" he announced, suddenly crossing the room and stopping in front of Kazue, completely ignoring the slightly overwhelmed look on her face as he snatched her hand from her side and held it just high enough so that it was even with his chest before clasping his other hand atop it. "There's a beauty standing directly in front of me and I haven't even acknowledged it! My apologizes, I would die a th-"

"Dammit, Raiden, we have a mission to focus on! Quit slacking off!"

"Ow!"

Raiden instantly dropped Kazue's hand as he raised both of his to nurse his head, a rather pouting expression appearing. Fuming, his teammate dropped the hand she'd used to bash him over the head.