My Brother's a Jinchūriki!

Chapter Sixty-Nine- Assault on the Abe Estate Part Three

"You're late." Yuuri scowled beneath her mask at Kiri and Natsumi as they joined the rest of the team beneath an archway, hidden in shadows.

"Look, I told you on the way over what happened." Kiri rolled her eyes. "That girl will be valuable once we get her back to the Leaf. The Intelligence division can go through her memories and find anything useful."

"I know." Yuuri turned her face away, furrowing her brows. "That's the reason I'm not going to lecture you much."

You kind of just did. Natsumi kept silent with an inaudible sigh. Still, she's being more gracious than I've ever seen her.

"Alright." Yuuri looked over her subordinates. "We hit the castle now. Remember, we don't know what to expect in there, so be on guard." She crossed her arms. "Now, Lord Hokage wants us to try to save as many people as possible. While I... respectfully disagree, we're going to follow his orders. Our goal is to secure the Lord and his family." Her eyes rested on Jiro. "Don't kill indiscriminately."

Jiro chuckled. "Yes, yes. I'll behave. You can trust me."

"...Right." Yuuri let out a short breath. "Additionally, I don't want there to be a lapse in communication. Set your radios on maintained mode so you don't have to keep pressing the button. If someone's found something, you say so right away."

"And, if we encounter resistance?" Jiro tilted his head to the side and shrugged. "Perhaps... some guards or mercenaries?"

"You don't have to ask for my permission to eliminate threats." Yuuri narrowed her eyes. "Kill whoever stands in the way of our mission. I don't care who it is as long as the mission is successful."

"Of course." Jiro smirked. "How silly of me."

Natsumi shuddered slightly, then focused back on the Captain.

"We'll each use a different point of entry and work our way through. Be as thorough as possible, and look for the missing staff and villagers as you go. Try to not separate from your partner if you can help it." She paused and glanced at Natsumi from the corner of her eye. "Oh. And, if any of you are wounded or fall behind, don't expect anyone to wait for you or save you. This is the ANBU. You pull your own weight, or you die. Any more questions?"

It's almost like she's hoping that I die. Natsumi clenched her hand in her pocket. Well, I definitely don't plan on it. She can't get rid of me that easily.

She let out a slow breath and relaxed her hand.

Besides, I have my special mission from Lord Third. She glanced at Kiri. I'll have to break off from her once I find the Prince, but there's no harm in staying together as long as possible.

"If there are no questions..." Yuuri paused, then turned the dial on her communicator to adjust the settings. "Move out."

The group separated immediately and Kiri and Natsumi slipped into the castle through a window on the west side. They glanced around the empty study and walked silently around to search for anyone, then glanced back at each other.

"Nothing." Kiri mumbled. "No signs of any traps, either. I guess no one was anticipating any company."

Natsumi nodded and looked around.

Now, if only I could figure out where the Prince was. If someone does realize we're here, and they become hostile, he could be in danger.

"Wondering where the Prince is?"

"H-Huh?" Natsumi glanced up at Kiri. "How did you...?"

Kiri winked behind her mask and bent slightly as she spoke quietly. "Lord Third told me about your special mission before the official briefing. My job is to provide support for you and give you the opportunity for a rescue."