Chapter 43

Sasuke,

A mission has come up, but this one does not have a time frame. I am not sure how long I will be out there or if I will have already returned before you to Konoha. Stay as long as you need, but do not wait around for me if you need to leave again. It's possible I may even see you out in the field if our paths happen to cross. But please don't blow my cover. This is an Intel mission and I will be undercover.

Love, Mai

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She left the ANBU mask and headband back in Konoha so to not give away who she was while moving through towns gathering information. Even her uniform that would normally sport the symbol of the Be Fong Clan was long forgotten in her home. She wore only black with a thick scarf wrapped around the neck just reaching the lips to keep out the growing cold the farther north she traveled. It took two weeks to finally find a solid lead. And another two capturing rogues so to make some money on the road and prove herself taking them to bounty stations. Then there were the times where she'd aid villagers performing mundane tasks. Some of her profits went towards those less fortunate during her travels, keeping just enough to get by on her own. It was another week till she came face to face with what she was looking for.

Traveling through a forest the weather was rather gloomy and no one was out, looking up at the clouds and knowing it would rain sometime in the next hour or so. That was when she felt the shift in her surroundings further down the path. Mai didn't stop, adjusting the belt to be sure the short knives were in reaching distance should they be hostile when rounding the corner. There was a man standing further away in the center of the road, the Be Fong not stopping until they were feet away.

"You've been searching for us."

His voice was deep behind the mask he wore. It was a stark white color with slits for the eyes as she caught sight of his yellow eyes. There was an even smaller slit near the mouth. He wore all black and didn't reveal any skin with a tattered half cloak that wrapped around the shoulders and fell off to one side, revealing shoulder plates on the opposite shoulder and elbow. The combat boots on his feet were tailor made for those that lived in Rock Country. But what stood out the most was the shocking orange hair.

"Why?"

"I've heard good things about you during my travels," Mai answered.

"Our movements are secret and non-existent."

"Then tell that to my contact who told me news about you after a few hours of drinking."

It was hard to read him with the mask, but Mai was cautious either way. Even if this man was alone there was no telling what kind of strength or power he possessed.

"You're implying we've grown sloppy."

"In a sense, yes."

"Who is your contact?"

"No need to worry about him."

"And why is that?"

"I'm sure you don't need me to tell you what happened."

Turning in the said rogue managed to fetch her a hefty sum of money. That seemed to intrigue him a bit. That a complete stranger would cover up their tracks where they failed to.

"Why are you helping us?" he asked.

"We're both rogues. Unlike the other groups and individuals that have been exterminated because they grow reckless and greedy forcing them to stand out, I like your methods a lot better. Let's be honest, we're all trying to survive, and being ninja without a Village is not easy. So I like my options better with you. You don't kill without a reason."

"And what makes you think I'd allow you to join so easily?"

"I didn't think it was going to be easy. But I can offer you something that may sway your mind. Besides, I did eliminate the one person who knew of your movements through the mainland."

The space behind the Be Fong became disturbed. A blade became pressed against the side of the neck in a threatening manner to prove that the older teen had been conversing with a clone. Not the real individual all along. That the man managed to best her.

"And what would you be offering?" he wondered.

Gathering enough strings together they formed an invisible dome around Mai's backside just pressing against the tip of the blade to the neck. It expanded quickly, throwing the rogue backwards through the air and into a tree. He quickly righted himself, brows narrowing on the older teen as she turned to face him.

"A force field," he deduced.

She nodded.

"And what jutsus, pray tell, do that?"

"It's a Kekkei-Genkai."

"Never heard of nor seen something like that."

"I didn't expect you to. I'm the last surviving member of my Clan off the east coast of the mainland. It's a lost ninja art that has luckily been passed to me."

"And why would you offer it to me? Someone with that rare of a gift would be prized in a Village."

"It would, but I am no one's puppet."

He watched her carefully from behind the mask. Neither of them moved from their spot as if sizing the other up. Mai didn't dare to say anything to interrupt his judgment of her before he finally spoke,

"What is your name?"

"Sena."

"Last name?"

"I don't go by it anymore."

He gave a short nod. "Very well, come with me."

They left the path completely, traveling into the forest for hours in silence. When the sun was finally beginning to set, they came to a cave high in the mountains out of touch and reach of any wanderers. Mai walked behind him because she wasn't his equal in this case. She had figured out early on that this was the leader otherwise she wouldn't be allowed around their hideout. No lower member could just bring in a new member without the approval of those above them. That's not how things worked. When they finally came to an opening the Be Fong was mildly surprised to find eight rogue ninja mulling about with a fire pit in the center, watching as the smoke escaped through a small hole in the ceiling. All of them paused upon seeing the man was not alone. Some stood instantly, others reaching for weapons for security. Mai didn't react to show that she wasn't a threat.

"What the hell, Beon?" a young man growled.

They all wore masks, even those that had not been wearing them upon her entry quickly set them into place so to hide their identity. Smart.

"Calm down, Akihiro." The man stepped out of the way further to reveal their newest member to them all. "This is Sena. She's been tracking our movements for some time now. I met her on the road."

That didn't seem to settle them in the slightest. "And how do we know this isn't a trap," a female voice spoke up. "She's been tracking us, right? Why?"

"She removed a rogue that knew far too much about us."

The Be Fong knew she was at a disadvantage here. The space was small and there wasn't enough room for her to move around freely with the Chakra Strings should things go south. But she had been in worse situations before and chose to remain calm. They were all looking at her.

"You'd be surprised how much information a person can say when they are drunk... and think someone's interested in them," Mai finally spoke.

"We don't know you."

"And I don't know you. I've only heard rumors, but I was interested enough to seek you out."

"Why?" the young man from before asked.

"I've been alone a long time. I don't fight for a Village. I've been watching your operations and it intrigued me."

"Why?"

She looked at every one of them before answering. "Carnage. Bloodshed. Power. Those are things I do not want and it isn't what you stand for. Rarely do rogues actually try to help those less fortunate and only take what you need. You're not Akatsuki. You're not bloodthirsty. Not looking for revenge... as far as I can tell. So I was curious as to who you were."

"Why aren't you like the others?"

"Why aren't you?"

"She has a Kekkei-Genkai," Beon broke the tense silence. "Something that will benefit us greatly."

"What, no trial?" a man from the back of the group questioned.

"That will remain for the field. As of this moment there is nothing to prove." His eyes scanned them all. "Remove your masks." None of them spoke a word nor followed the order. "Do it."

Mai scanned all of their faces. None were over the age of thirty and only two looked to be related, with their dark hair and striking green eyes. She recognized none from the black book, which was a relief realizing for the time being there was nothing to worry about. Even Beon as he turned to face her for the first time, with very defined facial features that were tad bit intimidating.

"Your trial is tomorrow morning. We are leaving for the day to head north and deal with a situation. You will take point, Sena, to prove your worth."

The Be Fong had a long mission ahead of her.