The blood transfusion was finished and my wounds started healing quickly again. What the hell? 

Even the nurse seemed surprised. She just checked everything and put a little bandage over where the needle went in my skin. After that, she said I could go, but I should just be careful so I don't accidentally open something up or anything.

I was back in my ninja attire and it felt nice to be in my regular clothes again.

We walked out of the clinic and I was practically bursting with energy. Mariko was out of her adult form and she was now on Kakashi's back since he didn't let me carry her since he said I need to relax.

I was walking excitedly towards the dark mist area, and Kakashi stopped me. "Not so fast, Hana,"

"What?" I turned around.

"Remember, you're supposed to take it easy. We're taking an Inn for the night," He replied.

"Fine," I rolled my eyes, and he led the way towards the Inn.

"We need two rooms," Kakashi said to the innkeeper. 

He looked apologetic, "We only have one room open at the moment. We can put another bed in the room though."

"That works," Kakashi said and he handed Kakashi a room key after writing stuff down.

"Enjoy your stay. There's also some hot springs in the back if you want to relax." 

I perked up hearing the word 'hot springs'. Kakashi started walking towards our room and unlocked it. Mariko jumped off his back and went to one of the beds near the window. I decided I wanted to go to the hot springs, but Kakashi kept saying no. He took a lot of convincing and eventually he gave in. 

Mariko and I were now sitting in the hot springs for women and she finally looked relaxed for once. I was lost in my thoughts about the entire situation, Kazuki's attitude, and where Naomi is. I hope she's okay. 

My thoughts then went back to Kazuki and I decided I'd get some information.

"Mariko?" 

She looked at me.

"So, I wanted to ask you," I started. "Who is Kazuki exactly?"

"He's my father. When we were at home, I was walking to my room and he suddenly told me that if I wanted my illness to heal, then I should follow him," She explained.

"Sorry if this is intrusive, but what is your illness?" I ask.

"I have heart valve problems. My father told me he knew of someone who could fix it and I thought it was you for a moment because he briefly mentioned trying to find someone with long, red hair," she said.

I rose an eyebrow. I think I need to keep an eye on Kazuki.

I sunk lower in the hot spring, enjoying the warmth and looked at Mariko. 

"Didn't he say something about a 'Slug Queen'" I ask.

She nods.

"I'll help you find this woman, Mariko. I don't care if we're from different villages, I'll make sure you find her and that's a promise," I said and she looked surprised. "Just know, if I'm going to help you, you have to tell me everything because if there's any critical information, it could be the key to healing and keeping you safe,"

"That's all I know. Father never tells me anything," she said. "He just told me that if I wanted to be healed, I'd have to follow him and not ask any questions,"

Now Kazuki sounds more suspicious.

"Okay, well, for now, let's just relax. We both need to heal," I said. 

She started telling me about her family as small talk. I guess they're really rich and they treat her as if she's extremely fragile and no one there knows how to heal her.

After a while, we got out and put the robes on. Our clothes were in the wash and Kakashi even put his in there since my blood stained his clothes from the day I got stabbed. We went to our room and Mariko went in the bathroom to wash up. 

Kakashi was sitting on the bed and I sat on the opposite one. I noticed his robe was slightly open and I could tell he was toned. I felt heat raditating off my cheek again and felt blood trickling down my nose. I rubbed it quickly, hoping Kakashi didn't notice.

"Hana," He said. 

Oh no. He did notice. Damnit. 

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Be careful around Kazuki. Something about him is off," He said again.

Oh, good. He didn't notice.

"I had the same thought. I think the mission is much more than just an escort..." I trailed off. I then told him about Mariko and I's conversation. 

Kakashi looked down, looking like he's trying to figure something out. 

"Hey..." I said again. "Do you think Naomi is okay? I don't know what she meant by 'meeting up' with us later.."

"I'm sure she's fine, Hana. She's smart, so she'll know what to do," He said.

There was a knock at the door and I got up to answer it. The maid was at the door and she handed our clothes to me, telling me that they're all done. They were all folded so neatly.

I noticed Kakashi was off guard for once and I smirked when a thought crossed my mind. 

"Kakashi, our clothes are back!" I said and threw his clothes at him. He jumped slightly and then rolled his eyes when he realized I startled him. 

"Idiot..." He sighed and I was irked again.

"Shut it!" I retorted and I thought I could see an outline of a smirk or a small smile. I couldn't tell because of that mask. 

"Stupid mask," I muttered.

Mariko came out and I handed her clothes to her. 

She went back in the bathroom and got changed and then I went in after her to get changed. Kazuki came back in the room as soon as I exited the bathroom and he walked over to the bed near the window. Mariko followed him and lied down next to him.

I blushed when I realized Kakashi and I were going to have to share a bed. Thankfully, the bed was a queen size, so it wasn't a tight space. 

Kakashi went in the bathroom to change and when he got out, he spoke. "We'll wake up at 3:30 because there's a better chance of avoiding rogue ninja at that time," He said.

"In the morning? You're out of your mind!" I shouted.

Kakashi just threw a pillow at my face and shut off the light.

Stupid Kakashi. 

~Time Skip~

Kakashi and I woke up at the same time and I realized I'd have to buy a new hoodie since mine has a hole in it from being stabbed.

Once we were ready to leave, I gave Mariko a piggyback ride since I was untrusting of Kazuki now. She fell asleep on my back as Kakakshi gave the room key to the innkeeper. 

"Ready?" Kakashi asks. 

"Yup," I said.

We started walking outside and it was foggy and cold. I'd much rather be under the blanket back in the room right now. 

I wished my hoodie had long sleeves. 

Kakashi decided it would be easier to travel through the trees again and I looked around, uncomfortable with how quiet everything was. It was too quiet. I expected rogue ninjas to jump us again. 

"Should I set some mist up again?" I ask.

"No, we'd need Naomi's byakugan to see through it," Kakashi replied.

"The Blood Mist is close," Kazuki remarked. 

Kakashi then stopped and we stopped too. 

"What's wrong?" I ask him.

He looked around. "I sense a powerful chakra nearby. We need to go around it,"

"It must be one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen...it has to be him..." Kazuki said, sounding worried.

"Who?" I ask.

"He has a notably strong chakra, similar to a jinchuriki. He's also young, like you guys and he wields a sword bigger than his body and it can devour chakra." Kazuki continued.

Why did this sound familiar? I feel like I may have run into this guy before.

"Don't try to take this boy on if he confronts us. You need your sensei to help or at least a jinchuriki," Kazuki added.

"Okay, let's go this way," Kakashi said and led us to an area that would take us around the chakra.

I was nervous and confused at the same time. 

"I have a bad feeling about this particular swordsman, Kakashi," I said while looking around.

"I do too, but all we can do is keep our guard up. I'm sure we're fine because this direction goes around him," he said.

"We're here!" Kazuki exclaimed. 

Mariko woke up and she jumped down from my back.

"Didn't you say she's targeted?" Kakashi asked and Kazuki just nodded.

"How do we get in then? There have to be gatekeepers past this point," Kakashi said again.

"Just get a disguise. The guards are just a couple of genin who are easy to slip past because they're not that bright," Kazuki replied.

"Let's disguise ourselves as ANBU, they'll know we can't reveal our names and it'll work perfectly," I suggested.

"That should work," Kakashi said.

We used the transformation jutsu to look like ANBU from the Blood Mist. Kazuki looked slightly nervous and it was kind of suspicious.

The gatekeepers looked in awe at us rather than questioning us. Kazuki was right. 

We saw an expensive looking estate and Kazuki put his hand on Mariko's shoulder. She flinched a little.

"We're home now. I can't express how thankful I am for you three...well two, we wouldn't have gotten back safely if it weren't for you guys." Kazuki said and pulled on Mariko to follow him. 

We turned around and I looked back at them. 

"What's wrong?" Kakashi asked as I turned back around. 

"I don't feel right about leaving them behind. I feel like we should go back-" I was cut off by a loud scream.

Kakashi's eyes widened and turned around.

"Let's go!" He said and ran back to the estate.

A guard got in the way.

"Sorry, I can't let you guys back here," He said.

"I got them, you go on ahead," Kakashi said to me and I nodded.

I ran ahead and skillfully slipped past the other guards. I had to run up six flights of stairs to follow where the scream was. 

"Hold on Mariko, I'm coming," I whispered.

There were footsteps behind me and I turned back around, knowing this person was following me. 

It was a woman who had violet hair and amber eyes. She looked like she was the same age as me.

"You better go back because you're going to make me angry if you don't," She said. 

"I'm not going to turn around. I have to save Mariko and if you're going to get in the way of that, then I have no choice but to take you down." 

The woman laughed.

"I'd like to see you try."