Minato's Daughter

Chapter 18 - Dispatched to Sunagakure

Miyuki

"Good work."

I looked up at the Fifth Hokage, my face covered by my mask. Months after I had left the village, the Third Hokage who had been re-instated as the Hokage, sent ANBU to find me. They brought me to a secret meeting point where he had given me a new ANBU uniform, sword, and mask, this time in the mold of a dog to replace the one that I had destroyed the night I had died.

"I don't think I'm fit to be in the ANBU again, Lord Third," I told him, looking at the mask and familiar uniform before attempting to hand it back to him.

"I know you have gone through a tremendous amount of loss in your life but I also know that you overcome it, making you stronger each time. I'm sure Minato had given you the same reason when he asked you to join the ANBU, but I am in dire need of those that I can trust." He explained, refusing to take back the uniform. "Danzo and his Root have been trying to make moves against me, in order to create more chaos. More than likely to steal the Hokage title for himself. You know what will happen if he becomes Hokage, don't you?"

"I can't come back," I repeated. "I can't lead Team Ro again. My failure to protect the Fourth Hokage should be enough reason for you to have doubts on my ability to protect you."

"His situation was impossible. At your skill level back then, there was no way that you could have saved your father or your mother," He said.

I winced, feeling the string of his words.

"However, if that's what is stopping you, why don't I make you a proposition?" He said, peaking my curiosity. "You don't have to serve me in Team Ro, work with other ANBU, or live in the village. You can complete the missions that I need completed outside of the village."

"Is there really any need for missions outside of the village?" I asked him, unconvinced.

"Of course, I always need someone to gather intel," He replied with a reassuring smile.

I couldn't help but nod in agreement. He placed a hand on top of the new mask.

"From this day, as long as you serve in the ANBU, your name shall be Sora."

"Does something trouble you, Lady Hokage?" I asked her.

While I had served under the Third Hokage for years, following his death, I now served Lady Tsunade. I guess Lord Third must have left a record or note behind, informing the next Hokage on my background, skills, the deal he and I had made, and ways to summon me. I was surprised though, that Lady Tsunade hadn't attempted to change or modify the deal Lord Third and I had made.

"There's a squad I sent to Sunagakure, to help the emergency dispatch sent by their village. However, I've received two bad omens and I'm just worried," she told me, crossing her arms.

"There's a team coming back tomorrow. We can send them immediately after Team Kakashi," Shizune said.

I felt my body tense at Kakashi's name. It had been about 15 years since I had seen him. Last I heard, the Third Hokage had taken him from the ANBU and made him a squad leader, only for him to fail two to three of the teams on their first day. I was surprised that he had a team now as I was sure he would keep failing the team over and over again.

"Sora, I'm well aware of your deal with the Third Hokage, however, this is a special circumstance. I need you to join the squad I'm dispatching today to the Hidden Sand," Lady Tsunade ordered me.

"I'm sorry, Lady Tsu-..."

"I believe that it's time for you to return to your village," she said, cutting me off. "It's time for you to take off that mask and resume your life as Miyuki, the daughter of the legendary Fourth Hokage."

I couldn't help but clench my hands, feeling them shake. While it was true, fifteen years had indeed been a long time to be away, I wasn't sure how to feel face to face with Kakashi again. Would he even remember who I was? My hand automatically went up to the heart necklace I wore underneath my uniform. Lady Tsunade noticed this.

"It seems that you're afraid of running into someone so how about you go to Sunagakure to aid and support them, away from team Kakashi and the team I'll dispatch tomorrow. I'll let the Hidden Sand know that your identity and presence is to be hidden from the other Leaf shinobi. Would that be good enough?" Lady Tsunade asked me, sighing.

"Yes, my lady," I responded gratefully.

"Alright then, it'll take you three days to get there so I want you to leave now."

I nodded and just as I was about to open the door to leave, someone quickly opened it, slamming it directly into my mask. I felt my mask fall off as I clutched my head in pain.

"Well, look who it is," a familiar cheerful voice greeted.

I looked up, wincing in pain and froze when I saw Master Jiraiya standing in front of me. He grinned as he placed a hand on my shoulder.

"You were alive after all!" He exclaimed. "You know, you look like the female version of Minato. It's terrifying actually, how similar both you and Naruto look like him."

I just stared at him before picking up my mask from the floor. I secured it back on my face before giving both Lady Tsunade and Master Jiraiya a small bow, leaving the room. I began my long journey to Sunagakure, sighing. Why did I have to run into dad's former sensei?

Three Days Later

I ran through the desert, finally seeing a glimpse of the village's gates. I heard the guards on duty waving and I was grateful that Lady Tsunade's message had been sent and delivered quickly.

"You're Sora right? The Konoha ANBU sent here to assist us?" The guard asked.

I nodded in response and they quickly guided me to the Kazekage tower. They asked me to wait and eventually, a man named Baki came and explained the need for someone to help with clearing the village gates as many paper bombs had been planted by the Akatsuki before their attack. I nodded and began to work closely with the Sand shinobi. They asked me multiple times if I wished to take off my cloak, however, I refused. If for any reason I was to run into Kakashi, I wanted to make sure I would be well hidden.

"I think we got rid of the last paper bomb," the Suna shinobi next to me said, wiping his face.

"There's no way the Akatsuki would have been able to place all these paper bombs here on their own," I told them. "They had to have inside help."

I could see that the Sand shinobi around me were wary of my words and I realized how it could come off as an accusation. I quickly apologized and restated what I had meant and they all seemed to relax a bit, but I knew that deep down, they were focused on other matters like their missing Kazekage. I felt a warm breeze blow the hood off my head as I turned to face the village gates. If the Akatsuki were bold enough to go after the Kazekage in his own village, would they go after Naruto next?