The tale of Mayumi

Chapter 43 - Back in Action

Mayumi spun lazily in Kakashi's desk chair, balancing a kunai on the tip of her finger. "You know," she mused, "I'm starting to forget what the outside world looks like."

Kakashi, who was knee-deep in paperwork, didn't even glance up. "You were literally outside an hour ago."

"Yeah, but it's not the same," she groaned, tossing the kunai at his desk where it landed perfectly upright, piercing through a particularly thick stack of mission reports. "I miss real missions. The thrill, the danger, the violence."

He finally looked up, raising an eyebrow. "You just described things you actively complain about when you're on a mission."

Mayumi huffed. "That's beside the point."

Kakashi sighed, leaning back in his chair. Truthfully, he had been keeping her close, not because he doubted her skills, but because—well. She had returned from another dimension, and he wanted her to have time to adjust. But, as always, Mayumi was restless.

It was time.

"...There is something," he admitted.

Mayumi immediately perked up. "A mission?"

"A high-risk mission," he corrected.

Her grin widened. "Even better."

He exhaled slowly before pulling out a scroll and sliding it across the desk. "Infiltration. There's been some suspicious activity near the Land of Rivers—an organization smuggling experimental weaponry. ANBU's been investigating, but every time we send someone in, they get detected immediately. Their sensory network is unlike anything we've seen."

Mayumi unrolled the scroll, scanning the details.

Kakashi continued, "Your ability to suppress your presence makes you the perfect candidate. No one will sense your chakra because you don't have any. You'll move undetected, gather intel, and report back."

Mayumi's grin turned devilish.

"So basically, you need someone sneaky, who can float over traps, break into top-secret facilities, and be an overall pain in the ass to enemy shinobi?"

Kakashi smirked. "I can't imagine a more fitting job."

"Finally," she groaned, rolling her shoulders. "I was about to start rioting."

He gave her a look. "You already did."

"Okay, yeah, but now I have sanctioned violence."

Kakashi shook his head with a fond sigh. "You leave at dawn."

Mayumi saluted. "Aye aye, Captain Hokage."

⸻

Mission Start

Mayumi crouched atop a rocky ledge, scanning the heavily guarded compound below. The place was crawling with shinobi—at least twenty, all wearing masks, moving in creepily perfect sync.

A normal ninja would struggle to get in.

But Mayumi wasn't a normal ninja.

She took a slow breath, activating her telekinesis. The moment her feet left the ground, she grinned. Floating weightlessly, she maneuvered over the perimeter, silent as a shadow, not leaving so much as a footprint.

The first obstacle? A rotating sensory unit.

She hovered mid-air, just inches away from their patrol path, watching as two shinobi paused, their chakra flaring as they actively scanned the area.

...And found nothing.

Suppressing a laugh, Mayumi drifted right over their heads, flipping them off as she did—because why not?

Step one: Flawless.

She made her way to the main structure, landing lightly on a rafter. Below her, a group of shinobi gathered around a set of very illegal-looking scrolls.

"Shipment leaves in two days," one of them muttered. "Lord K's orders."

Mayumi tilted her head. Lord K?

Interesting.

A second voice spoke. "The weapons will be transported through the canyon pass. No interference expected."

Mayumi grinned. Oh, you poor, delusional fools.

She pulled out a small scroll and began sketching the layout with quick, precise strokes. Then, as silently as she arrived, she floated out.

⸻

Mission Accomplished

She returned just as the sun was rising, slipping through Kakashi's window like a professional.

He was at his desk, of course. Because of course he was.

"Miss me?" she smirked, tossing the intel onto his desk.

Kakashi sighed, rubbing his temples. "You do realize there's a door, right?"

"Boring," she shrugged.

He flipped through the scroll, scanning the information. "This is... incredibly detailed."

"I am amazing."

He chuckled. "And humble, too."

Mayumi plopped onto his couch, stretching. "So? Was I right? Best spy you've ever had?"

Kakashi leaned back, studying her. "Let's just say... I might need to reconsider how often I let you out of the office."

Mayumi beamed. "That's all I needed to hear."