Anbu?
"Come to think of it, Itachi," Anko asked casually after efficiently securing the last tent stake, "before I joined, you and Shuji completed a mission together, right?"
Itachi, who was leveling the ground nearby, gave a quiet reply. "Yeah."
"This guy has changed so much compared to before," Anko muttered with her back to Itachi. "He's obviously the same age, but he acts like an adult. He was excellent before too, sure, but now he gives off a completely different feeling. Mm... he's like some old man."
"Senior Shuji just knows a lot." But what was Senior like before?
"That's fine and all." Anko curled her lip, then suddenly turned to Itachi with a dark expression. "Don't rat me out, Itachi."
"Not if Senior Shuji doesn't ask." Uchiha's answer was flawless.
"Hey, hey! You and I are supposed to be the tactical partners here, Itachi..." Anko complained. Before she could finish, she abruptly turned toward the dark woods to her left.
Itachi stopped moving, and the two exchanged a glance.
One in front and one behind, they sprinted toward where Shuji was in the forest.
"Proof."
Shuji's calm gaze swept over the four people before him, completely ignoring Wolf Mask's outstretched hand.
The night wind stirred the loose strands over his forehead, while moonlight filtering through the trees carved cold, hard lines across his face.
"I never received an order to hand the item over to you."
Behind Wolf Mask, the female ninja in the White Cat Mask, her dangerous single ponytail visible, suddenly sharpened her tone. "We are carrying out a mission. We have no need to provide you with proof! Hand over the item immediately!"
Almost the instant she finished speaking, Snake Mask and Tiger Mask, standing on either side of White Cat Mask, silently spread