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"TRUCE?" Kakashi asked, his hands raised in surrender, high enough for Yuri to see them from her position behind him. Yuri contemplated, weighing her options.

Tutting, she eyed Kakashi's team. "Tell your dog to get off its foot of my team member. Then we can negotiate."

Kakashi sighed. "Naruto. Back down."

Naruto, the yellow-haired boy, scoffed in disbelief. His bright blue eyes widened in confusion, unable to comprehend why Kakashi was surrendering to these Mist Ninjas. "But Sensei-"

"Naruto!" The only girl from Kakashi's team shouted. "Do what Kakashi Sensei says!"

Yuri smiled with narrowed eyes as Naruto huffed and removed his boot from Doremi's back. The redheaded girl shot up and grabbed the Leaf Ninja by the fluffy collar of his jacket. "You little-"

"Doremi," Yuri warned out. "Not worth it," Doremi grunted, throwing the boy away from her. But Naruto was not done.

"Not worth it?! I'll show you who's not worth it, lady!" Naruto charged up to Kakashi and Yuri, determined to save his sensei from her clutches.

But he was cut short. One second she was behind his sensei, the next she was not. Then he felt it. A sharp blade dug into his neck.

"Watch your mouth." A low feminine voice spoke in his ear.

"Yuri. You wanted a deal, so state it." Kakashi ordered, his tone laced with concern for his student's safety.

The Mist Sensei narrowed her magenta eyes, her scarred brows furrowing in annoyance. She removed her katana and slotted it into its sheath across her back. She motioned for her teammates to do the same, which they did obediently.

"What is your mission?" Yuri asked Kakashi, no detectable emotion evident on her face.

"That's none of your business, lady!" Naruto pointed up to the older woman.

"Naruto, stop it." The other boy scolded.

Kakashi watched as Yuri painlessly pushed Naruto's pointed finger out of her face. She didn't want to cause any harm. "We're escorting this man back to the Land of Waves. He's a bridge builder."

Yuri furrowed her brow in deliberation. "A C-Rank Mission?" Kakashi nodded. "Don't lie to me. Why did we find rogue Mist Ninjas, dead? Don't try and divert blame, I know it was you who killed them."

Kakashi swore under his breath. Nothing gets past Yuri. "It was originally a C-Rank, but it soon turned into an A-Rank after discovering that our bridge builder here was a target."

"I see." After a lingering pause, Yuri broke the silence, her voice a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Zabuza Momochi. Have you had a recent encounter with him?"

Kakashi's eyes widened. Nothing really gets past her. He nodded with the same air of gravity. "Yes, we've crossed paths with him. A hunter-nin collected his body."

Yuri's eyes widened as she absorbed the information. A hunter-nin? But the Council said they were all preoccupied. "Impossible. We were sent to kill him. There should be no other hunter-nin in this area, especially following after Zabuza. What have you done with his body?" She unleashed her weapon once more in anger, pointing the duel-ended katana at Kakashi.

"He's not lying!" The pink-haired girl practically screamed. "A boy in a mask with blue waves on it picked him up just as the battle was finishing!"

Yuri hummed. Mist ANBU and hunter-nin wore masks with varying coloured waves. It would be impossible for a fresh genin of the Leaf to know such information unless she saw it herself.

The Deadly Lily of The Mist narrowed her eyes as she lowered her weapon. "Interesting. Why are they targeting you?" Kakashi pointed his gaze to the bridge builder. Yuri understood the gaze. "You're staying in the Land of Waves?"

Kakashi confirmed with a closed eye. "That's right."

Yuri took a moment to weigh her options. The chance to eliminate Kakashi - right here, right now - was tantalizing, but she also recognized the potential advantages of collaboration with him and his squad. "My proposal is that we travel further into the Land of Waves together. You complete your mission. We complete ours. We need your bait," she declared, sensing the bridge builder's gulp of terror. "But make no mistake—I will be watching. If your actions obstruct our mission, there will be no mercy and I will get my revenge on you."

Kakashi offered a measured nod in response. "Agreed. Let's avoid unnecessary fights."

Yuri smiled, her eyes closing as her grin grew. "Good. Let's go then." She moved past Naruto and Kakashi, motioning for her squad to follow her.

Though they were cut short Kakashi collapsed as he tried following. Yuri turned her head with little emotion evident on her face. "What's wrong with him?"

"He's exhausted. He used his Sharingan too much." The dark-haired boy explained.

The Mist Jōnin raised a brow. "Well, pick him up and carry him. He's your sensei, not mine."

"She's such a—" Naruto began.

"Watch your mouth," Doremi warned from behind him, her eyes darkened with a looming threat. The shortest leaf ninja yelped in terror.

Yuri cast a gaze over her shoulder. "Doremi. Don't threaten anyone."

Doremi bowed apologetically. "Understood, Sensei."

"Bridge builder," she pointed to the man, motioning him to walk beside her, which he did immediately — too scared to oppose her. "Your name?"

"Tazuna." He answered.

Yuri nodded. "Tazuna. You will direct us to your home. If you'd let us, may we rest at your home?" The bridge builder nodded, taking the lead with the pink-haired girl by his side. The two other leaf ninjas were carrying Kakashi. "What are your names?" Yuri asked the Leaf Shinobi.

The three genin shared a look before nodding. "I'm Sakura Haruno." The girl answered.

"Sasuke Uchiha." The dark-haired boy deeply spoke.

"The name's Naruto Uzumaki." The yellow-haired boy introduced himself with a toothy grin.

Yuri smiled, though the emotion behind it was untraceable. "Team 4, introduce yourself."

"I'm Yaragi Hoshigaki." A shark-featured member introduced himself with a tight smile.

"Doremi Arashikiri." The redhead grumbled.

"I am Sezaki Ariri." The blue-haired girl mumbled quietly.

"And as your sensei said, I am Yuri Ren."