Advocated Wars

Chapter Five

                                                                                               V

“What can I do for you, Champion?” The almost ill-gentled Mingyu asked, being somewhat self-reliant as she poured us both tea. It wasn’t something she did often, I was sure. But she was efficient enough that her lack of skill in tea-pouring hadn’t of been entirely noticeable. 

I, for one, was just glad she had dropped her ridiculous title for me. ’Lady Champion’? As if. 

“Just some regulated-procedure questioning, if you don’t mind.” I offered, bringing back my business persona. My mother had always said it came like a second-nature to me. 

The woman, who was barely older than me, giggled; quick to hide her mouth behind her sleeve. “How old are you, Champion?”

My eyebrows raised, surprised by such an informality. Surely a woman of her status would know better?

“Sixteen,” I monotonously supplied. Why would that make any differences? How did this factor into the mission?

This time, it was her eyebrows that raised. “Sixteen? And, correct me if I’m wrong, but- a jounin, no less?”

“Yes ma’am.”

The woman’s mouth curved up into a small smile, her aura changing a bit. “Well, aren’t you an impressive little thing?”

Her voice sent a chill through my body as my eyebrows furrowed. Mingyu was strange. 

And, it was only later that night when Naruto had reported he had found nothing useful did I realize: I didn’t ask her a single question. 

“This is all so…stupid!” Naruto yelled, seemingly frustrated. “How do they not know anything when their people are disappearing?”

I sat on the edge of my bed, quietly watching him rage on as I plaited my hair. There was nothing I could say to console him. 

Ever piece of information he received was useless. And, I hadn’t of gotten any. 

Suddenly, this ‘genin-ranked’ mission wasn’t feeling so genin. And, as I thought about it more and more, I couldn’t help but feeling as if I was being mocked. Buy Tsunade, Naruto, my brother- I didn’t exactly know who. But, the feeling was definitely there. 

And, it was pissing me off. 

The next day I found myself back where I had been the day before. And, the tea had been just as enticing as the day prior. 

“Couldn’t stay away from my tea, I see.” The woman lightly joked, pouring me a second cup. Today, she seemed a bit more composed- not once missing the cup. Had she practiced since my last visit?

“How are you today?” She smiled, concentrating a bit more on the job at hand, however. Which was good. 

“Good. And, you, Lady Mingyu?”

“Well, thank you.”

After pouring herself a cup, she sat across from me, idly tracing the edge of the little thing with her finger. And, for a few moments, I couldn’t help but to watch the movements. 

Her fingernails…

“Have you had any luck? With finding our men?” I was silent, analyzing her. She was so collected; calm. I felt as if I had to tread around her- as if the porcelain she was made from had shattered. And, if I weren’t more careful, she’d easily slice through me. 

“As our conversation really did go nowhere, yesterday, I’m afraid we have no leads.”

“And, your companion?”

“Investigating, now, ma’am.”

She paused to sip her beverage. 

“He’s brave, don’t you think?”

“Pardon?”

“Well, the men around here to seem to keep disappearing. And, with no leads, there’s really no guaranteeing they boy will be safe. I wonder- could you imagine what could have happened to those men?”

“No, I- Are you suggesting Naruto’s in danger?”

“Well, he is a male, is he not?”

My jaw clenched. “With all due respect, ma’am, Naruto is under my care. And, although I do appreciate your expressive concern, not a damn thing will happen to that boy; not when he’s with me.” 

Mingyu smiled, as if amused. “Then, where is he, now?”

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“Hey, you okay?” Naruto gently grasped me by my shoulders, steadying me. And, it was then that I noticed our height differences. Being just as tall as Surge, the boy definitely had me by a good few inches, if not more. And, for a moment, I almost felt inferior. 

Until I remembered who I was dealing with. 

My hand found my face, covering it so that I could concentrate. Okay? Was I okay?

“Yeah…I’m fine,” my voice sounded sluggish, clearly making Naruto doubt me. Along with my authority, apparently. 

“Maybe you should lie down? It’s still light out- perhaps I can still ask around while you rest.”

“No! No, you can’t.” My senses seemed to be blocked. My reaction time was slower. And, for a few moments, I have even forgotten why that was a bad idea. 

Naruto waited. 

Then I remembered the tea, and things slowly began to piece together. But, really, nothing was making sense. And soon, it all just made my brain hurt. Slowly, I could feel myself begin to slip away. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. 

“I’ll…I’ll protect you…Naruto.”

!~*~*~*!

Oh cliffys. The only thing in life I’m good at. And like missing school. But let’s not talk about that. 

Ugh I love this story so much and the characters I wish I could just upload everything I have but like #no