III

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Arc III Chapter 9

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"Captain." Fu knelt. His porcelain ANBU mask hid his face. Next to him stood Torune, his partner.

Asami turned her head and clicked her tongue. Disdain and disgust greeted Fu.

Asami loathed their presence as if they tried to backstab her, which was indeed within the realm of possibility.

Asami distrusted them since the first time they met, an intelligent decision . She never trusted them and her attitude never changed. Despite their continuous cooperation, despite several mission together, Asami remained guarded.

Danzo ordered them to observe Asami, and even to take more drastic measures if necessary, which was easier said than done. Dealing with her proved to be a difficult task.

Any attempt on her life was outright suicidal, their success rate dubious at best. Every ANBU knew, don't mess with the little princess. It will end badly.

Asami proved her worth. She soundly beat her ANBU instructors during the selections, an impressive feat for a newbie. Outwitted and outfought, her instructors suffered a series of embarrassing defeats. Asami passed the selections with bravura and entered their ranks.

Their little princess demonstrated her skill in the following months. Asami, the epitome of merciless efficiency, versatile. A sharp scalpel when finesse was required, a sledgehammer when brute force was necessary.

Rumours testified such. Survivors told him about their mission last winter.

Their squads got trapped near the northern border. Superior Kiri forces encircled them after heavy fighting and cut off their retreat. They suffered heavy casualties, their squads reduced to a shadow of their former self.

Many ANBU were killed in action. Many were wounded. They stood with their backs against the wall, their chances of survival marginal.

But they survived. Under Asami's leadership, the survivors broke out of the encirclement and returned to the village.

Asami formed the rearguard and engaged the pursuing Kiri-nin. The battle ended in a massacre. Kiri forces were decimated, eradicated. Their blood stained the snow crimson.

Certain events, however, overshadowed Asami's success. Her comrades suspected her to be responsible for their deaths, but her involvement was never proven. The survivors kept silent about that night.

Her actions earned her the grudging respect of ANBU veterans. They despised her and her methods, but their respect was genuine.

Asami rose through the ranks and assumed a position of authority. The girl was a force to be reckoned with, feared and respected. Violence and brutality lurked beneath her innocence. Her cute smile deceived. Asami was neither cute, nor innocent. Her hands were covered in blood.

Asami was strong, extremely strong considering her age. Her strength was terrifying. Fellow ANBU already compared her with ANBU legends such as Kakashi, or even Itachi.

Asami wore her favourite colour, black, a black kimono decorated by a playful floral pattern of gold and silver. Her attire was perfect, immaculate. Bloodstains were her major concern.

Asami didn't fear death. She feared bloodstains as they ruined her clothes. Blood was infuriatingly difficult to remove.

Fu was convinced Asami got her priorities wrong. He wasn't the only ANBU who thought so.

Her attire ignored written and unwritten ANBU regulations, but Konoha didn't care as long as she delivered results. Asami delivered.

Her sense of fashion even earned her an entry in the bingo book. You didn't meet a kunoichi clothed like nobility on the battlefield every day.

Asami acquired a flee-on-sight tag and a lovely moniker. They called her the Black Princess. The name fit her.

Fu never understood why Danzo tried to recruit her for Root. Asami was the worst choice possible. Eccentric, irrational, moody. Her personality didn't suit Root, but her talent was considerable, her strength undeniable.

The fact stood, Asami was an excellent kunoichi. She was made of sterner stuff and her chakra shielded its mistress. Her purple barrier protected her, turning her into a walking fortress, impervious to most attacks.

How were they supposed to bypass her defence? Fu had no idea. They required more information.

He witnessed once how her shield cracked. Her defence wasn't impenetrable, but what came next surprised Fu. A bone fragment, a purple rib blocked the incoming attack before disappearing.

He reported his findings to Danzo. His observations unsettled Danzo to a degree he had never seen before. His attitude towards Asami changed completely. He grew concerned about her power and her ambitions

Asami finally acknowledged their presence. "Surprise, surprise, who do we have here?"

"Danzo's little watch dogs, I hope you had a terrible day. What does the senile man want now?" Asami loathed them with a passion. Their presence wasn't welcome, but the hate was reciprocal.

"And where is your friend, the albino artist? Does he have a free day?"

"Rest assured, we are by no means Danzo's watchdogs. We merely have close ties with him due to our past. We remain grateful for his guidance", Fu countered, but subterfuge and deception weren't his strength. Root ANBU were terrible liars.

Asami shook her head, her disappointment obvious. "Fu, please don't do such things. You are centuries too young to play these games with me. You can try them when you are older."

"A lie doesn't become truth the more often you repeat it. I know you work for Danzo. I met him once and I don't trust him. My answer remains the same, no, I don't intend to join Root. I am not interested "

"So what do want?"

Fu looked up. "The Hokage sent us. He selected you for a special mission. He orders you to return to Konoha as soon as possible."

Asami clicked her tongue. "As soon as possible?"

Fu nodded. “The Hokage requested your immediate presence.“

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