uzumaki shira | naruto

Act 23: "Ground, eat me up."

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"Now, listen carefully as I tell you the mission parameter."

Tsunade shot an amused look towards their direction. The prince, Akizuki Masahi, clung to Shira's arm. He was only a year older than them. He had eye-catching blue hair with beautiful grey eyes. He wore  a royal blue  kimono and they assumed that he was a spoiled brat just like that b—

"This B-Rank mission has a possibility of turning into an A-Rank, depending on the enemies you might encounter. The prince is to be escorted and protected until he is safe in his castle. The person after him is a prince from a rival kingdom that wishes him dead, or so from what was reported."

Her eyes landed on the mission leader. "Shira," the purple eyed girl straightened up, trying to pry the prince's arms away but to no avail. "You are in undercover as the prince's fiance. With this, you will be closer to him in case an enemy attacks. For the rest, I trust your judgement. You are to leave as soon as possible."

Team Seven nodded. "Team, meet me by the village gates in twenty." Before Shira could leave, however, the prince held her in place. Naruto and Sasuke glared, disliking how she was being handled by him. Tsunade can already feel the tension in the air.

"If you are to act as my fiance, you must stay by my side." Sakura flinched when she noticed how cold and dull his eyes were. It was only then did the rest of Team Seven noticed how lifeless he seemed. His grip around Shira's sleeve tightened. The redhead's eyes narrowed at this action.

He was clingy not because of being a spoiled brat, Shira noted. "No worries, your highness. As soon as we step out of the village, I will stay by your side until this mission is completed." She noticed the hesitance in those grey eyes and she patiently waited for his response.

"... I see."

"I will be back in ten to fetch you from the room next door."

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Sasuke hated this. Not one bit. He could still remember that mission they took with Haku as their leader. The prince wasn't like that and he was thankful he wasn't a spoiled brat. But this, just what was this? The prince was so pitiful that Shira didn't even put up her indifferent mask in front of him.

They were travelling in a civilian pace, another thing that Sasuke disliked right now. The prince and Shira were inside a carriage, for they were 'royalty' and cannot do anything strenuous. What was more, he couldn't even talk to Shira because she was the prince's fiance. Ugh, how he loathed that very word right now.

The strategy was already conveyed before they left the village and this was what Shira ordered, “I want Sasuke to pose as the fake leader and travel beside the driver. Naru-naru and Sakura, the both of you will travel at the back. Whatever Sasuke says, you will follow. As much as possible, Sasuke will remain the fake leader throughout the trip. I will only show myself as soon as you guys cannot handle the situation, alright?”

And that was it. So, right now, he was grumbling beside the driver, who inched away from his negative aura. Sure, he was happy they were doing much more difficult missions than before but having no Shira to talk to?

Forget it! He might as well imagine how he could torture the prince in one-oh-one ways. 

Moments later, he heard a rhythmic knocks coking from inside the carriage. Enemies at eight o'clock. Two Chunin level and one low ranked Chunin. Sasuke turned around and called for Naruto and Sakura. "Dobe! Sakura!" The two appeared not a second later beside the carriage.