The Girl Under the Mask-Kakashi x OC Romance

Chapter 30

I'm already on Chapter 30?! Like when the fudge did I get this far? I feel like I just started writing this story last month. I'm not sure if I should feel old or accomplished because time flew by so fast.

Kakashi took me over to a mat in the corner and sat down cross-legged, pulling me down with him. He didn't let go of my hands once we sat, a softness in his eyes.

"Are you allowed to tell me the mission?" He asked.

I nodded my head. "Tsunade figured I wouldn't feel comfortable keeping anything else from you considering what's happened, so she said I could."

"Do you want to tell me the mission?" Kakashi then asked. I took a deep breath "I won't think differently of you no matter if you do or not." He added in.

I squeezed his hands, knowing he wouldn't lie to me when he said that. But there was still fear he wouldn't be happy knowing the rest of the details.  "I am to travel to the Land of Iron." I told him, keeping my tone as steady and confident as possible.

"Wait..the Land of Iron...but they are a Samurai nation. Shinobi have no business in the Land of Iron."

"That is why this can only be my mission. It seems a prominent and influential figure in the Land of Iron isn't as kind and good natured as he would seem. By day he offers shelter, a home and protection to weak and battered women. His 'kindness' is known beyond the borders of the Land of Iron and has even used money out of his own pocket to hire Samurai to rescue women in foreign countries seeking protection."

"And this man has been sentenced to death? What has he done to fall so far?"

"The women go to him while they are damaged and frail with the hope that they'll leave one day strong and ready for a better life...except these women don't leave...at least it's not the intention...over the years a handful of lucky women have managed to escape over the years, reporting their story to the first member of a hidden village that would help them."

"What are they saying?"

I sighed and shook my head sadly just thinking about it, "he makes his true profits by prostituting the women...that's how they 'repay him'. Tsunade says every village these ladies have come to have sent undercover ninja in to investigate, and they all confirm what they've told us."

"If they've already sent ninja in, why haven't they done anything about it."

"Like I said, he's a prominent figure and he's hidden his dirty deeds well under the eyes of the Samurai. Telling the Samurai what they should have known and should be doing will only insult them. And if they send in just anybody else to handle him, they'll find out it was an assassination by a ninja, and all they'll know is that we went after the angel of their nation. But me-well you can vouch that I pack one hell of a disguise- and once I get close to him I can make it look like a heart attack. It will be an innocent and natural death and a war between Shinobi and Samurai will be avoided."

"How can they be certain that'll end it?"

"His daughter-who has had no hand in this-has helped him running the shelter, and his goonies are nobodies. So his daughter will take over the shelter while his men won't have enough power to keep the underground operation running."

Kakashi had been rubbing his chin in thought as I explained the details of my mission. "In this situation, I can understand the Hokage's resolution...but why would you think that would make me think less of you?"

I scratched the back of my head nervously, "maybe I was worried it'd make you think of me as another killer from the Keisan...I never cared for the woman I was and...even though there are a lot of broken and exploited women counting on this...I hate being that woman again. I thought I put her behind me...told myself if I ever killed another person it would be in Itatsu's defense and that's it...and if I am having those thoughts about myself, then why couldn't you?" I confessed.