Kento made a big show of peering into his wallet before sighing and shaking his head. "Never mind," he mumbled to the inn owner. The man gave the three genin a look full of pity but said nothing; business was business, and he couldn't go around giving handouts to every person he felt sorry for.

Aisa and Michiko fixed worried expressions on their faces. "What are we going to do?" Michiko asked in a lowered voice that purposefully carried to those around them. She wanted someone from the organization to hear them, after all.

Aisa scanned the room subtly, picking out threats and possible targets. "There," he suddenly breathed. "We've got one watching us."

Neither Michiko nor Kento look around, trusting Aisa. "This was the last place we could've maybe afforded," Aisa raised his voice again, still playing at their fake whispers. "Let's just find somewhere to sleep tonight and continue tomorrow morning."

Kento frowned but nodded, and Michiko wrapped her arms around herself, purposefully shivering once. "Okay," she mumbled. "Let's go."

They headed toward the door, and Aisa nodded once when the girl he'd spotted started following them. They made a show of briefly hesitating before leaving the warmth of the inn before ducking out into the dark street, the light of the inn creating harsh shadows before the door closed.

"C'mon," Aisa murmured, heading down an ally. "She might not approach us until being sure we're actually on the streets. Or they might—"

"Hey, look what we've got here."

"Or they might do this," Aisa sighed. "Don't worry."

The three genin pressed a little closer together as two men approached. "We saw you flashing that money in the inn," one said, stubble long enough to create a wispy mustache.

"Yeah," the other man, shorter and stockier, agreed. "And you see, there's a price for sleeping on our streets, too. So hand it over and we can all have a nice night."

The genin glanced at each other, then Michiko spoke. "But... but this is all we have," she protested, voice wobbling. "What are we supposed to do without it?"

"What do we care?" The one with the wispy mustache asked, then pulled out a long and thick knife. "Now, give us the money and we can all have a pleasant night."

Another glance at each other and each confirmed the other's suspicions. This was a test. They had eyes on them, carefully watching every move they made.

Aisa took the first action, pushing Michiko back, depending on Kento to read his actions. This was all an act after all.

Michiko was the young, defenseless girl, whom these boys had to protect. Kento caught on immediately, grabbing Michiko and placing himself in front of her defensively.

Aisa threw the first punch, careful to dodge the swing of the silver blade that slashed down through the air, but also careful to hide his true skill. Playing the part was easy enough, as he'd seen his brother in a very similar situation one too many times.

Aisa's attacker swiped the blade back and forth. The second man advanced to attack Kento and Michiko. Michiko screamed, playing her part of damsel in distress well, as Kento pushed her back and kicked back his opponent, pretending to become agitated and overcome by fear.

Pain swelled in Aisa's arm as he intentionally slowed his reaction time and allowed the man to cut into his arm. The girl's eyes were on them.

It wasn't hard to assume her next actions. The team was here to infiltrate. Seen as kids, they would be easily taken advantage of. The best way to create compliance in that situation is by way of gratitude and debt. Any moment now, the girl who had followed them would intercept. She just had to believe they needed her help. That was her way into manipulating them to join whatever undercover ranks preyed on poor street kids to do their dirty work for them.

"Get her out of here!" Aisa yelled. She would involve herself before the group had a chance to split up. Kento made solid eye contact with Aisa and nodded, making a grab for Michiko's hand.

Aisa threw another punch at his attacker, then noticed Kento's pursuer flat on his back. In the blink of an eye, his own attacker was on the floor, knocked out cold. The girl stood behind the man on the ground, gripping steel nunchucks in a tight fist grip.

Aisa stood defensively in front of Kento and Michiko as the girl analyzed them, making no attempt to hide her intentions.

"I'm Sid. You must be new around here," she said, reading their well-acted defensive behaviors.

Kento, Aisa, and Michiko shared unsure glances before Kento spoke. "Thanks for the help, but we had it handled."

Sid snorted, pointedly eyeing Aisa's arm, the cloth of which was slowly being stained red. "Right," she agreed. "You'll be lucky if that doesn't need stitches." Aisa shifted so the cut was out of her view, but purposefully winced. Michiko and Kento sent him carefully crafted looks of concern.

"Yeah? And what are you planning on doing about it?" Kento asked aggressively. "We don't have the money to pay for any of your "kindness," so your time was wasted, sorry."

Sid walked toward them, kicking one of the men in the side along the way. "I didn't do it for your money," she sneered. "If that was the case, I would have let these idiots take it before stealing it from them, as I just proved myself more than capable of doing."

Yeah,  Aisa thought. Because this was a set-up and those were your men. But instead of voicing those thoughts, he replied, "Then what do you want?"

"I'm a part of a group of people who aren't a fan of seeing kids go hungry on the street just because of the greedy bastards on the other side of the river," Sid replied. "So you can come with me, get some food, and have a roof over your heads, or..." She glanced back at the men and shrugged, letting the situation speak for itself.

The three genin drew closer together as she walked past them, shared another look, then hurried after her retreating back.

They had their foot in the door. And soon they would knock the door down and complete their mission successfully.

***

I stood in the shadows, blending in almost too perfectly as I studied the tactics my genin were using to lure their target out. They were smart. Playing the part so well as to allow minor bodily harm and relinquishing pride to snuff out the enemy. The teamwork was impeccable.

I smirked, not surprised in the least. With Aisa's street experience, Michiko's cunning imitation of a weak damsel in distress, and Kento's ability to manipulate and comply on demand, this infiltration mission was exactly the type of mission my team was designed for. And they did not disappoint.

I trailed a couple hundred meters behind them, noting six men who followed behind, but also out of sight. Part of the organization, I presumed. To keep an eye on their newest recruits.

I frowned as I watched my genin enter a building. According to the intel I'd gathered thus far, the wealthy people on the other side of the river were in league with the small criminal organization of bandits. Between the high taxes and and occasional bandit raid, this side of the river was suffering. The other side, on the other hand, were safe from the bandits, and using the raids as an excuse to raise taxes, claiming that the increase was for the funding of guards for the village's protection.

So what had my genin just gotten themselves into?

As curious as I was, I had my own side of the mission to attend to. Questions would have to wait until later.

***

The genin observed their surroundings as they walked through enemy territory. It was all very simplistic actually, nothing elaborate and grand. Nothing at all from what they had expected.

They entered a dank, musty room that was dimly light, just enough to make out figures but not faces. "There are three free bunks over there," Sid said, pointing over to the other side of the room. "Rest up, I'm sure you've had a long day. I'll find you three in the morning."

Sid disappeared. "What--" Aisa started to speak but Michiko cut him off with a look. Not yet.  They walked to their bunks in the corner of the room, and Michiko put her hands together, making signs hidden from the rest of the room. An uncomfortable pressure settled on them and Michiko said in a low voice, "It's to protect from outside ears. Cashile sensei taught it to me. If we keep our voices low, no one should be able to hear our conversation."

Kento nodded, "Smart thinking, Michiko."

Aisa laid a hand on Michiko's shoulder and smiled. "Yeah," he agreed. "So what do you guys think of the layout? It's a bit..." Aisa closed his eyes and resisted the urge to wince at the painful familiarity. "It's a bit like my old home in the land of waves. And judging by looks, it doesn't feel like enemy territory. Am I being biased here?"

Kento shrugged. "A little, but I see what you mean. Look around you? All these kids don't look much older than us. My instincts are saying that these guys are not our enemy. So we'll talk to Sid tomorrow, grasp the bigger picture, and decide what course of action to take then. Aisa, you take the first night watch. Wake me up in two hours and I'll take over. Michiko, you'll have the last shift."

"Mm." They nodded in understanding.

"Also," Kento added after everyone had settled down, "Good work today, team."

***

"Breakfast." Sid woke the genin, tossing an apple, orange, and nectarine at the three who, after a brief, silent argument, snatched up one each. Kento crunched into his apple, jealously eyeing Michiko's nectarine.

Aisa slid into the personality of an over eager younger child easily. Sid had "protected" them last night, and a child who hadn't picked up on the subterfuge would be trusting of and feel indebted to the older girl. "Hi! Good morning! Did you sleep well? Thanks again for last night, that was awesome! But why were they after us, and why were they mean, and why are prices so high even though the food and hotels aren't good on this side of the river, and why isn't anything nice on this side of the river even though it isn't on the other side, that not fair, there's clearly enough money to make this side nice, or at least nicer, or at least not as bleh! It's so different from our old village, but our village was smaller and everyone knew each other, but it burned down and most of the people died, so we had to leave...but it's okay because you helped us! But—"

"Okay, slow down," Sid snapped, not unkindly. Aisa studied her closer, which had mostly been impossible in the dark last night. She was a thin girl, shorter than Cashile but taller than any of the genin. Her face was thin and pinched to match her thin, strawlike hair plastered to her skull in thin braids. She had a thin nose, thin lips, thin fingers. She reminded Aisa of one of those thin dogs bread for racing that he'd seen the rich walking back in the Land of Waves.

"Why'd you help us?" Kento finally asked after it became apparent that Sid wouldn't be responding to Asia's rambling.

She stopped abruptly and wheeled around. "Honestly?" She studied the three, then jerked her chin up at Aisa. "Jibber Jabber over here hit the nail on the head. It's not fair. The rich people on the other side of the river raise taxes to fund their lifestyle while claiming it's to protect us, but they're just draining us and leaving us as sacrifices to the bandits, and it's not fair. And you know what? We're going to stop it."

"How?" Michiko prompted, sharing hidden, wide eyed glances with her teammates.

Sid turned back around, squaring her thin shoulders. "We're going to have a revolution."

_______________________________

Well, life has been kicking us in the ass apparently.

So end of school rolls around, exams went fine, I'm hype to get back to writing and be done with school, and realize... Supes has a whole more week and a half of hard exams.

So that gets down! Whoop whoop time to write! Haha jk Supes needs to have surgery. (Correction, Supes had surgery and is currently dying)

Time passes. Time to write? Lol no gotta get a job (send money need help college is expensive) (Amen).

Okay lord of job apps sent in? TIME TO WRITE! Haha no you gotta go referee Regional Midwest Chanpionships.

Time to write now? Pls? Sure. Actually no get very sick for a week first.

Okay now can I write? Yeah a little, but wait you have a hard weekend of reffing so that's gonna interrupt.

Now? Yeah but you also have to work and don't forget that your brother and mother are going to California so get ready for that!

Basically sorry? Because we wanted to write sooner and thought we would have time but life is strange sometimes.

(Side note right before I got sick I got to go to a dark park with my friends and will the college student who works there had a telescope and we got to see Jupiter and Saturn (and it RINGS) and Venus and then all the normies who aren't d e d i c a t e d left and my friends and I pestered Will and learned all about constellations and star hopping and made him show us the moon and Messier objects and we tried to see the lagoon galaxy but the full moon made it too bright but all the same it was m a g i c a l.)

Anyhow sorry for how long it took :( we are bad authors :( but it's hard to write this and we're planning but hopefully updates will come out a little faster soon?

Anyway COMMENT COMMENT COMMENT FOR inspiration!!

gaara119

Supes is driving so basically she wants to say comment! Sorry for taking so long updating! And don't text and drive! Hahaha comment!!!

^ Supes here, yeah basically haha. Done driving. Going back and forth between writing this and writing scholarship essays because #needmoremoney #collegeisexpensive #surgerymeansnojob 

Comment, Vote, and Fan!

Ja ne!

Insomniac_Lullabies