---11---

I was lost in thought, still trying take in what had happened just a couple of hours ago...

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‘You know you’ve just made me the happiest Uchiha alive Kasumi-Akane Namikaze?’

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‘Kasumi! Come in!’ Sakura whispered/yelled down the microphone. I flinched as her cold voice rang in my ear. I jumped slightly.

‘Uh, uh, um, yeah! I’m here!’ I stammered. I heard her sigh.

‘What is up with you today?’ she hissed.

‘Leave her alone Sakura!’ Naruto said, trying to sound angry, but that kinda failed because he sounded pretty dreamy. Day-dreaming about Sakura-chan again, hmm brother?

‘That’s enough you three...’ Kakashi Sensei interrupted. ‘Now, Naruto, do you see the target?’

‘Hai, sensei!’ Naruto replied.

‘How far away is it?’ Kakashi asked. I focused my eyes best as I could and saw the target just ahead of Naruto, too far for me to strike. I slowly edged closer, trying not to make a sound.

‘How far is it?’

‘About five metres from Naruto...’ I started.

‘...And closing!’ my brother finished.

‘I’m in position,’ Sasuke’s voice made my heart leap. I was dazed for a second, still running ahead until I heard the others charge at the target. I was still running, but I pushed my left foot hard against the ground and flew back into the target’s direction. I turned my body around and found myself with the others, surrounding the target. Naruto had seized it. I sweat dropped when I got a proper look at our target. A...cat? So much for all that build up and suspense.

Naruto struggled as the cat clawed at him.

‘We’ve got it!’ Naruto yelled triumphantly through the beating he was getting. I quickly appeared at his side and tugged the struggling cat off of him. The cat immediately relaxed in my arms and made itself comfortable. I sighed as Naruto picked himself up off the ground and began dusting himself off.

‘Remember the target’s collar should say ‘Tiger’ on it, make sure that it does,’ Kaka-Sensei reminded us.

Sasuke nodded to himself and gave me a quick smile. My heart started doing back-flips...

‘Target confirmed,’ Sasuke replied back.

‘Wow, Kasumi-chan, you’re pretty good with animals,’ Sakura smiled, appearing at my side. I grinned at her, embarrassed slightly.

‘Oh no, I think he’s just tired!’ I laughed; Sakura shook her head and tutted at Naruto.

 ‘Seriously Naruto, you can’t just snatch an animal and expect it not to attack you!’ she criticised. I shot her an angry look, but she didn’t see because she was too busy lecturing my brother. I sighed to myself, the others still didn’t know that Naruto and I are related and only Sasuke and I know that we’re together. Hopefully, no one will find out about Sasuke and me, especially Sakura. She’d kill me and then dance on my grave... *shivers* that’s a pleasant thought Kasumi...

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We watched in horror as Tiger was reunited with his mistress, a big scary woman crushed him into a suffocating hug.

I glanced at Sakura and she glanced back, probably thinking the same thing.

‘No wonder he ran away,’ I mumbled to her. She nodded and sighed.

‘Hai,’

Kakashi Sensei placed one hand on my shoulder and the other on Sakura’s.

‘That’s enough you two, I think she heard you,’ Kakashi mumbled. I rolled my eyes and chuckled a bit.

‘Really, Sensei? I think she’s too busy suffocating that poor cat with hugs than taking any notice of us,’ I muttered.

‘I said enough,’ Kakashi sighed and put his hands back in his pockets.

‘Now, let’s see, the next assignment for Squad Seven...hmm, to baby-sit for the Council of Elders...to run errands to the neighbouring village...help to dig up sweet potatoes...’ the Hokage began.

‘NO WAY! Those missions are BORING!! Give us something more important! Something different, something AMAZING!’ Naruto demanded, interrupting the Third. We all sweat-dropped. Iruka Sensei slammed his hands down on the table and stood up angrily.

‘Don’t be silly Naruto! You’re only a beginner! Everyone has to start off somewhere! When you get more experience you’ll get the better missions! You have to work your way up!’ Iruka Sensei shouted. Naruto clenched his fists in anger.

‘But we’ve already done tons of missions that were small and boring, when do we get onto the fun stuff!?’ Naruto argued back. My brother had a point. I smiled weakly at him then I nearly fainted when Kakashi Sensei whacked him over the head.

‘That’s enough Naruto!’ he ordered. ‘I’m sorry about him,’

 The Hokage sighed to himself.

‘Well, it seems that Naruto needs an explanation of what these duties are...’ the Hokage started. I sighed and switched off, I’d heard this over and over from my Dad.

It wasn’t rocket science, the lower the ninja rank you are, the less dangerous missions you do, the higher the ninja rank you become, the more action and kick-ass time you get. Simple as that. ((SIMPLES! *meerkat noise* hehehe))

I switched back on and found Naruto talking to himself about what ramen he’s gonna have for dinner...

‘Are you even listening!?’ the Third yelled. Kakashi Sensei once again apologised on behalf of my brother.

‘It’s not fair! There’s more to me than the Trouble-Making Screw-up the Old Man thinks I am!’ Naruto huffed. The Hokage smirked.

‘Well, since you put it that way, I am prepared to give you a C-Ranked mission, to protect a certain individual...’ he started. We all blinked. Naruto could be pretty persuasive! If I’m ever in a near-death situation, I’ll try asking Naruto to see if he can talk us out of it...

‘Ooohhh! Is it some Great Lord, or a Princess?’ I asked getting excited. The others except Naruto, all gave me a funny look. I blushed red and shrugged.

‘What? I just wanna know who it is,’ I pouted and then slid back to Sasuke’s side. The Hokage smiled at me and I mentally beat myself up for being stupid.

‘Invite him in...’

We all turned our heads towards the door as it slid open to reveal......an old, fat, grumpy-looking, drunk bloke! Yay! This was gonna be so fun! You guys sense the sarcasm? Okay good! ^^ No to be totally honest, I was really dreading this mission. I’m not so good with old, fat, grumpy-looking, drunk blokes...

‘Are you serious? What’s going on here? They all look like bunch of wet-nosed brats! Especially that funny looking midget, he’s got the face of an imbecile! You are joking right? You kids can’t possibly be ninjas!’ the drunk guy spat. Naruto looked around.

‘What midget, what imbe...’ he suddenly realised who the Drunk guy was talking about. Naruto shook his fists around and had fire in his eyes. He charged at the Drunk guy but Kakashi Sensei held him back.

‘I’LL KILL HIM!’ Naruto yelled struggling against Sensei’s grasp. I shook my head at my brother. The Drunk Guy snorted to himself.

‘And what about that one! She looks like a flippin’ tomato!’ the Drunk Guy spat again. I clenched my fists and my eyes set on fire too as I charged at the Drunk Guy.

‘WHO YOU CALLIN’ TOMATO!? I’M GONNA KILL YOU DRUNK GUY!!’ I roared. Kakashi-Sensei grabbed the collar of my shirt and held me back. He tutted at us as we both tried to get at Mr. Perfect Snob-Nose Drunk Guy.

‘Wrong, you two. You’re not allowed to kill the old man you’ve been assigned to protect!’ Kakashi sighed.

‘I’m Tazuna, and I’m a bridge builder from the Land of Waves. Until I am back safely in my own country, where I’ll be completing my next bridge, you’ll all be expected to protect me...even if it costs you your lives!’ the Drunk Guy said. I sweat dropped. Oh joy! Goodie! I’m expected to lay down my life for the old fart who called me a tomato! *emo corner*

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hey guys! and here it is! sorry it took so long, i just had a long holiday surfing ^^ hehe but here's the next chapter. so now we gonna start to get some action and kasumi and sasuke will have some more time...yeahh and kaka-sensei will finally learn kasumi's name! well hope you enjoy! next update will come soon hehehe arigato!