Let It Burn: Death [Sasuke Uchiha]

Chapter 29

Two days later the Be Fong found herself standing in the Hokage's office. They weren't alone as Ibiki flanked the right side of the desk.

"Are you ready to return to the field?" the woman questioned.

Mai actually appeared surprised, having not known this was the reason she was called to this office. She thought they were assigning another C-Ranked mission to her as another test. But the older teen wasn't complaining if the adults had made their decision.

"Seriously?"

The Hokage nodded. "Ibiki has been monitoring your training and has stated you're ready for active duty in the field. This is a team mission, A Plus-Ranked. You'll be undercover so no mask will be needed. Otherwise, you'd stick out like a sore thumb."

"When do I head out?" Mai asked.

"In the morning." The file was slid across the table for the older teen to take. "You're heading to the Land of Forests. It's a protection detail. You'll be the only one from the Land of Fire, but I am offering our services as this group passes through Konoha because those already guarding the client have received threats while on the road."

"Where were they traveling from?"

"The Land of Iron. Mifune needed to make a deal with the country regarding diplomatic relations."

"They traveled far," she muttered, further reviewing the file.

"The threat was made by members from Claw Island."

"Those two lands have never gotten along," Ibiki relayed.

"All the same, we cannot allow them to go through with an assassination attempt."

Mai took into account the ninjas she'd be working with. Two members from the Land of Stone, two from Forest, and an Iwa Ninja.

"They acquired a man from the Tsuchikage upon leaving the Land of Iron to escort them as far as Konoha. A new one has been assigned in his place to complete the mission who was nearby on another mission. But the threats have grown and they've run into some confrontations that were too close for comfort. They will leave through the port in Wave Country. I don't expect it'll get any easier when docking on the island."

"Why wouldn't they be safe in their own country one the group makes landfall?" Mai asked.

"The Land of Forests have ninja," Ibiki spoke up. "But not many. So they won't have a large number to protect their diplomat outside the Village." Because they needed the numbers to man the defenses at home. "The Village of Suga is in the center. The forests are dense. Denser than anything on the mainland, which is why travel may be slow. We have yet to know how those making the threats are moving."

A section in the report drew Mai's attention. "It's a lord's daughter who's traveling all this way?"

"Yes," Tsunade said. "Reagon has a son, but he is too young to handle mainland affairs. The oldest daughter is already married so foreign matters fall to the middle child, Kura."

"How long will this mission last?"

"By our calculations, it could take over a month," Ibiki said. "But the mission will go on as long as it must to make sure Kura returns home safely. This is important, Be Fong. The target must return in one piece or the countries will go to war."

And no one wished to see another battlefield anytime soon.

"You know me, Ibiki. Have I ever failed a mission before?"

No, she never had. But this was the first time she was back on duty. There couldn't be any mistakes.

"I'll protect her with my life."