The Singularity-Uchiha Shisui Fanfiction

35.

   The walk back to the village was quiet and filled with tension. Tsunade led Rin back to her desk before she sighed, rubbing her temple. "I've been a fool—" she tossed a file from her drawer to Rin, who caught it deftly.

  The file of Yakushi Kabuto. The defector from Konohagakure.

  "Orochimaru is playing a game from beyond his grave," Rin noted, "it isn't your fault, shishou."

  At that moment, there was the sound of tapping upon the window. A pigeon was outside, its beak rapping upon the glass. Tsunade opened the window and taking the pigeon's message, which was tied to its leg, she allowed it to fly off. Rin watched Tsunade's reaction as she read the piece of paper.

  "More bad news," Tsunade muttered as she crumpled it in her fist, "there are reports of individuals carrying Cursed Seals and rampaging throughout the Land of Water. Kirigakure has requested our assistance."

  Rin's eyebrows knit together.

  "Are you going to send the ANBU?" Rin asked.

   Tsunade massaged her temple, gritting her teeth. "We're running low on forces...but with the treaty with Kirigakure...it will be a pain to refuse them, especially if Orochimaru had created these experiments—"

  "Send me," Rin said, stepping forwards, "if it's the Land of Water, then I have the elemental advantage there—"

  Tsunade nodded, but her eyes were guarded. "I can't send you there alone—" she said, standing up, those brown eyes authoritative, "I will assign you with a team to take care of this problem." She turned to the door, "Come out!" She barked as the door opened and about five jonin dressed in the Konoha flak jackets kneeled down before the Hokage's desk.

  Rin recognized Shisui at the head, those onyx eyes stern and professional. He looked like a completely different person than the joking young man he was before.

"You will accompany Team Shisui to Kirigakure....understood?" Tsunade asked, her eyes boring into Rin's.

  Rin bowed, "Hai, shishou—"

  "Good."

  Tsunade folded her hands as Team Shisui filed out of the door before Rin heard Tsunade's voice, "Rin....be careful—"

  Rin turned to look at her master, smiling a bit, "Hai."

  The door closed.

*******

  Rin watched as Shisui debriefed his team on the mission, his posture straight and every gesture filled with gravity as he asserted the weight of the mission. Due to the lack of forces, they were sent to do a mission that should have had more manpower. He was a natural born leader—Shisui— and Rin saw that as he slung his own pack on his shoulder and made a hand gesture.

   "Let's go!"

    All of them teleported to the edge of the village before pushing chakra into the soles of their feet, leaping into the trees and speeding quickly through the forest.

  The trip was silent as they made it out of Konoha and towards the Land of Water—each one of them looking out for the enemy. Rin felt a tug of nervousness in her stomach. She had seen what Kabuto was capable of in the other timeline.

  Shisui was completely silent as he ran beside her, his eyes focused ahead, his stance alert.

Rin dropped her gaze, feeling a bit abashed. She knew it was a mission, but a foolish part of her didn't want him to act like a stranger towards her. It just seemed so strange...the young man who constantly tried to make her laugh was now as silent as stone.