Chapter 14- Mission

Alexa's POV

We have been walking for the fifth day under the scorching heat of the weather and my eyes turned behind to see the girl gasping for air, stopping under a nearby tree. We all stopped and looked at her as she wipe another sweat.

I looked at her frail hands carefully, there were no calluses, and it was smooth. She can't be just a civilian. Kenma walked towards her.

"Shimizu-chan, want me to carry you?", she looked slightly baffled before nodding.

Kenma carried her on her back, wrapping her hands around his neck I saw a tint of red on her cheeks. I smiled until I felt four chakra signatures running towards us fast. My eyes widened at their chakra storage.

'Jonin levels.'

"Lhexi! Itsuki! Protect the client!", sensei yelled and we immediately surrounded Kenma and Shimuzu our back towards them with Kunais in hand.

I saw Iwagakure's symbol on their headband the moment they appeared as they threw shurikens at us. We blocked it and from the corner of my eye, I saw sensei battling two enemies.

A sword clashed with my kunai, smirking at my shocked reaction he tried to overpower me. I looked back to see Itsuki who had a bleeding arm fighting off another shinobi.

"Don't underestimate me!", I look back at the tall jonin in front of me who continued to wield his sword against me. I smirked at him.

"I'm the one you should not underestimate. Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu!", I yelled.

"What?!"

In the middle of us, a huge amount of water which shaped into a huge dragon shot up and attacked him. He got grazed after he managed to dodge it on time, earning me an angry vein popping on his forehead.

He began forming hand signs as I block Shimizu and Kenma with my body.

"Prepare to die! Koudo Supaiku!"

From the ground below large spikes attacked us and I barely managed to save Kenma and Shimizu from getting killed.

"Lhexi!", I clutched my bleeding shoulder as our enemy laughed.

"Kenma, lend me your sword.", I said as I look at him with stern eyes. He immediately nodded and toss me his sword up in the air, while he get a kunai for himself.

Oh fuck. I miss this.

I caught it and held it with my other hand. The enemy launched towards me sword in hand dashing towards me with such speed I twisted and turned the weapon. Just as he was about to slice through me I silently walked past him after whispering something.

"Mikazuki no Mai." (Moon Crescent)

Third Person's POV

The Iwagakure ninja stopped on his tracks to look behind him and coughed blood as he glared at the girl's back.

"You...!", before he even finish his sentence, blood leaked from his neck before it spurted to every direction as his head fell rolling on the ground.

The red-haired looked at the headless body that slowly plopped on the soil with a shocked and scared expression, his eyes turned to find the purple-eyed girl who was now gone. He looked frantically around and saw her stabbing Itsuke's enemy from the back. She immediately pulled the sword up, slicing the body in half.

Blood was everywhere on her body as her cold eyes turned towards the last enemy who was about to kill their teacher with ninjutsu. She rushed towards behind him.

"Who...?!", his two arms were cut off preventing him from performing another Jutsu and he screamed in pain as the small girl forced him on his knees.

The rest processed first what happened before they stared at the girl who cut off the screaming man's head. Silence lingered between them until the youngest child among them sobbed as she puked what she ate earlier after watching organs and blood flew everywhere.

"Kenma, carry her. We have to hurry. More enemies are coming.", their sensei ordered as she helped her injured student stand up.

Kenma gulped his saliva as he nodded and carried the small girl in his arms. Aiko eyed her student who whipped the sword, blood splattering on the trees. Their eyes met and the older one almost shivered at the amount of bloodlust her student was letting out. She slowly closed her purple eyes and opened them once again, now calm.

They nodded at each other before they jumped from a tree to another. The sun was going down and they quickened their pace before the moon rose. Inside a dark cave, they took a rest, with fear dreading their minds.

"Aiko-sensei...just what the hell is happening?", Kenma asked as he gulps water.

Their teacher only narrowed her eyes at the girl who was looking down. Aiko wasn't an idiot, she knew why high-ranked Jonins from Iwagakure were after them. One of them was a target. And she knew who it was.

Her eyes turned to her favorite student who was looking out for enemies as she squat on a tree branch slightly far from them. To be able to kill jonins in an instant, she is an excellent sword expert. She felt at ease and in danger at the same time, Alexa was with them. She killed their enemies without hesitation like she was used to it. In other words, she feared her.

She thanked Alexa for telling her to teach the boys tree walking, because if not. Their enemies would have caught up to them and have them killed. They were always had been the priority.

She remembered what she said that day they met.

"My dream for the future is to protect my friends no matter what..."

She thought that her student might become a better shinobi than Kakashi in the future.

Or a bigger threat.

"Sensei?", she was cut out from her trance.

"They're after one of us.", she said calmly.

"But who--? Don't tell me--!", they all looked at their client who was trembling under their gaze.

"Shimizu-san, please tell us...why were they after you?", the said girl bit her lower lips and brought her knees closer to her chest.

The fire crackled as Itsuki threw another wood branch on the campfire.

"Shimuzu-chan.", the boy curled his fists to a ball as he try to contain his anger.

Because their client was hiding something, they almost died.

Kenma was grateful to his female friend for saving them but, he also resents her for slaughtering people like animals. He knew if she didn't kill them, they would have died on the spot. But, to kill people mercilessly and not even flinch...he hated her for that. He finally realized she wasn't the girl he knew she was. She is a kunoichi, not a frail innocent girl.

"Don't force her, Kenma.", he was a little surprised that his rival spoke his name and did not insult him. The boy only gritted his teeth as he try to calm himself.

"Damn it."

Itsuki stared at the orange gas getting bigger or smaller at some point in time. He threw another branch in frustration, after all, they were at death's door.

He clenched his fists and sighed. He wasn't strong enough to at least hold them back to protect his team and their client. Moreover, he was saved by the girl he liked. He was shocked and surprise to finally see her true strength. He couldn't let himself get outpaced. He had to get stronger to protect her next time.

"How's your wound, Itsuki?", he gently placed his left hand on his shoulder.

"Hm. It doesn't hurt that much before.", he looks back at Aiko. "Thanks to Lhexi."

"I see."

Time was almost up for Alexa to be relieved from keeping watch. Soon she returned and Kenma stood up.

"Stay here. I left my Kage Bunshin to keep watch.", Kenma nodded and sat down with his legs crossed.

"Now that everyone is here, we have to formulate a plan."

Everyone nodded as they circle their teacher who brought out a map.

"Currently we're at least 10 miles from the village.", she pointed to a lake. "And we're here."

"Sensei don't you have a summon we can use to send our situation to Konoha?", Kenma asks.

"If she does, she would have already sent one idiot.", Itsuke explained as he sighed.

Kenma wasn't in the mood to pick a fight right now. Because they were under a dire situation wherein their lives are at stake.

Aiko noticed her boisterous student suddenly all quiet and gloomy. "Kenma. Don't worry we will all go back home.", the red-haired nodded unsurely.

Aiko was worried, her team was just freshly graduated from the academy. And their first C-rank mission turned to A-rank in an instant where it involved one Great Hidden Village. She has to protect them and choose the right decisions.

"Now. We can't go back to Konoha. Iwagakure ninjas must be waiting for us."

"What should we do, sensei?", the brown-haired male asks, slightly losing hope.

"We can't go back to Konoha they would surely ambush us on the way, if we go straight to Rice Country, we'll reach it in four days at maximum. But, our enemies might have already known the mission so they know where we are heading. And some ninjas must already be expecting for us there.", she twirled her finger on the map.

"So, here's the plan. We would take the way around if we find that they know our destination, we have to escape from them and once we reach the nearest town, we would send a messenger hawk to Konoha for backup. This is an A-rank mission. Bring our client to the borders of the Rice Country safe."

"Hai!", the two boys chorused nodding seriously except for their other female teammate.

"Lhexi?"

"Sensei...there's another way right?", Aiko looked down as her fingers clutch the paper map.

"..."

"What do you mean...Lhexi-chan?", she turned her eyes from Kenma to Shimizu who was hugging her knees.

"We'll have to force her to tell us information she might be holding and her real identity.", the three of them look at the small girl. "Or we would have to kill her if she refuses to."

Kenma immediately stood up from his seat and pulled Alexa from her collar in anger.

"What are you saying?!"

"Kenma! Let her go!"

"Kenma-kun!"

His grip on her collar tightened as he glared at her.

"You...! Don't you have conscience?!", he was angry, it was visible in his voice.

"Calm down. Kenma.", their teacher stood up holding his arm.

"The hell should I be calm right now!", he pulled his teammate higher. "She's suggesting to kill Shimizu-chan!", his blue eyes turned forward.

"Don't you care about her family who is waiting for her to come home?!", Lhexi held Kenma's arm and he felt how strong her grip was.

"Kenma.", he let go as she look back at him her eyes unfazed.

"Listen. Shimizu is refusing to give us information. The outcome of our decisions tonight may either cause or prevent war from happening.", they all looked at her as Aiko nodded. Kenma had a look of disbelief on his face.

"I killed shinobis from Iwagakure. If they learn about this--no, they might have already known. They would surely go out for revenge. Our already bad relationship may turn even worse recreating what happened during the Third Shinobi War if we don't properly find a solution. And, you all know what would happen if another war occurs again. Thousands will die.", she said the last line with a cold voice.

Kenma stepped back a little and looked down ashamed. His eyes immediately fell to the cause of their problem who had her eyes wide in shock and guilt. She fidgeted with her fingers as she bit her lower lip.

This was a life or death situation. Shimizu heard everything. If she doesn't talk, she would die.

Tears fell from her eyes as she try to wipe them when she felt someone's fingers brushing them off. Everyone was shocked at how Lhexi's personality turned in a split second. She was smiling with a warm vibe surrounding her.

"You don't trust us. Right?", Shimizu was getting lost in her orbs and she looked away. "I didn't properly introduce myself earlier."

Shimizu remained quiet, scared at the kunoichi in front of her. "I'm Takeda Alexa."

Her eyes immediately snapped towards the girl in front. "Take...da?"

Lhexi nodded with a smile.

"It looks like you know me."

The said girl immediately nodded.

"Matilda-san...", Lhexi's eyes widened and reverted to normal. "I know her..."

Lhexi noticed her getting slightly curious and turned it into an opportunity.

"She's my mom, you know.", she smiled as she tilted her head to the side.

Shimizu gasped and the other three lean to listen to their conversation.

"Really?!"

"Hm! But how did you know my mom?"

"She worked for us. But, I thought Matilda's daughter...uhm..."

Lhexi finally picked up the pieces. Her mom worked for this girl in the past. The only place her mom worked in the past was the Fire Daimyo's palace.

In other words.

This girl is the one who...

"I'm adopted."

Shimizu made an oh face before it finally registered inside her head and something clicked.

"Wait! You're...!"

"It's the second time we met, Shimuzu-hime."

'Hime?', everyone asked in their head.

"Although we did not exactly meet the first time. I guess you just found me? But, I'm grateful."

The princess's eyes shined in adoration as she finally see Lhexi's face when the moon shined upon them.

"You're beautiful...", Lhexi chuckled at her.

"You flatter me, hime-sama."

"No...really...you look so different from last time."

"Ah...you mean when I was half-dead, half-burned?", Shimizu blinked her eyes and laughed.

Aiko, Itsuki, and Kenma were baffled at how Lhexi could make her talk comfortably after just threatening to kill her earlier.

'You're doing great Lhexi!', Aiko and Itsuki mouthed.

"That's not...", Shimizu got slightly embarrassed.

"I must show my gratitude for saving me that time.", her eyes widened slightly. "Arigatou, hime-sama. Now it's my time to protect you."

Shimizu looked down first before looking up.

"Can I also call you Lhexi-san?"

Alexa blinked her eyes before nodding.

"It would be my pleasure."

The princess held Lhexi's hands as she could finally trust someone again. Lhexi eyes her teammates to come closer.

"Would it be alright to tell us, what is going on?"

They gave her time to think before she nodded and they all sighed in relief.

"The truth is, I ran away from home."

They all turned to stone and Lhexi tilted her head to the side as her team all broke down.

"Can you...please elaborate?", the purple-eyed girl was holding herself back from crushing the princess's fingers.

"Father, told me I have to marry a prince from The Land of Stone. But, I don't want to. I want to find my true love. I didn't know my actions would escalate to this."

The boys behind them only crumbled to pieces.

"Is that why, you refused to tell anyone your true identity to hide from the daimyo?", the girl nodded. "But why, do you have to go to the Rice Country?"

"My older brother is there. He's the only one who can go against Father. But, father refused me to see my brother because if he knows about the engagement he would surely stop it.", Lhexi nodded as she look back at her sensei.

They talked between their eyes.

Their sensei finally spoke, "But, if it's a political engagement, why is Iwagakure trying to kill you? They are practically egging the fire daimyo for war if you get killed."

"I don't know..."

There was an eerie silence between them.

Her purple eyes closed and open.

"We'll get you to your brother, soon."

"Hm. Arigatou. But Lhexi-san?"

"Hm?"

"Were you going to kill me if I shut my mouth?"

The rest had their ears perked up.

"That was a joke.", she lied. "I just wanna scare you off a little bit."

Just as the princess was sleeping on her lap, she felt a spike of multiple chakra signatures as they went past her seals.

"Kenma...Itsuki...Wake...up...!", the two grumbly yawned before they sat up to see Alexa and their teacher sealing their clothes as they cover the ashes with soil.

They immediately stood up and Kenma was quick to pick up the sleeping princess in his arms who was wakened in her seconds later after they run and jump from a tree to another.

"Damn it. I should have taken Genma's advice and taken a summoning animal.", Aiko gritted her teeth.

"Get yourself one once we go back.", Aiko looked towards her student who was also in the same situation.

"Yeah-pw--!!", they all stopped in their tracks and looked back to see their teacher puking what she ate earlier.

"Sensei?", Kenma asks worriedly.

Aiko waved her students off as she wipe her mouth. "Don't stop. Keep going."

They hesitantly nodded before they continued their escape and looked back now and then.

Lhexi knew something was wrong with their sensei. But what was it?

Their pace was getting slow as they get tired and catch their breath once they were able to take a break.

"We'll leave in ten minutes. Lhexi, you're a sensor, how far are they?"

"Roughly around 600 kilometers away, they'll catch up to us in no time.", Aiko punched the tree as her eyes turned to her tired students who were drinking water from a nearby source.

She blamed herself for not training them earlier.

They're too young for this.

After knowing their client's identity, their mission escalated to S-rank.

They're just a group of one jonin and three genins.

They couldn't possibly take Jonin and Chunin levels without getting severely injured or one of them dying.

Moreover, another war could happen again if the princess dies.

She wasn't feeling well and was close to puking up again. She might pass out soon, she thought. But, who would lead the team if she does?

"Sensei.", her eyes turned to Lhexi who was reading a map.

"Instead of taking the land, let's take the sea.", their eyes shot towards her.

"Your plan?"

"Here. The Kawa Pass."

"Are you sure they came here?", one person asks.

Kicking the soil from the ground another spoke. "Yeah, no doubt they camped here during the night."

"I can't wait to kill them!", the woman cracked her knuckles.

"That might not be as easy as you think.", they look at their leader. "Remember, they killed four of us within a short period."

"Heh. Those bastards were lucky. Just wait, I'll avenge our comrades."

"This is...!", everyone stood in bafflement as they welcome the cold breeze of the sea.

"The sea."

They watch over the peaceful town on a beach.

"Pretty..."

"Huh? Where's Lhexi-chan?", the red-haired asked.

"There.", Itsuke pointed at the girl who was attaching a letter to a hawk, setting it glee they all breathe in relieved.

"This is great! Now we only have to wait for back-up then we're safe."

"Idiot. We can't. Iwagakure shinobis would most likely arrive earlier."

Aiko nodded. "Itsuki is right."

"Nani?! Damn it! Then what do we do?"

"We'll have to take the ship.", their eyes flicked to Alexa who was walking towards them.

"Yeah. But, Lhexi-chan how do we board the ship?", their sensei asks slightly worried.

"What else?", they stepped back when she grinned a malicious thought in her mind.

"I'm telling you, she has multiple personalities.", Kenma whispered and they all nodded.

..........

"

Now tell me, kid, why would I let you Konoha nins, get on the ship?", a tall bulky man asks intimidatingly.

"Because I'm gonna pay you.", Lhexi announced.

"Oh. I refuse.", they were losing hope.

"Lhexi-chan, let's g--"

"Ten thousand Ryo.", Aiko, Kenma, and Itsuki had their eyes bulging out.

'We don't have money like that!', they all thought in their head.

"You're bribing me huh?", she nodded at the man's question. "But, it won't work on me."

"B-but, mister! We desperately need your help! Please, let us on the ship!", Kenma pleaded as he step closer.

"I don't want ninjas creating trouble here.", he turned around and walked away.

"One hundred thousand Ryo.", he stopped in his tracks as his fingers fidgeted.

Aiko slightly leaned to her student. "Lhexi-chan. Even if he let us on, we don't have money like that to pay him.", she whispered.

The said girl only turned around and winked.

"What do you think?", she asks the man who turned around to face them.

He was not one to just take a bribe. But, the money was tempting.

"You're interesting.", he said as he cross his arms, thinking. "But, I'm not that easy to go down."

Alexa look around from the people who were carrying bags of products and crops.

"One million Ryo.", they all stumbled on their feet as their eyes widened.

"Lhexi...!"

"We don't have that kind of money...!"

Her teammates were panicking at her carelessness.

"You don't look the one to have that money. Your friends are even sweating. You're just one of the two kinds of humans in this world."

"And which one am I?"

"You're either just smart or a whole idiot.", Lhexi chuckled and took a scroll out.

"I wonder what you can do for a million Ryo.", her eyes turned to the civilians and kids. "You can feed at least a thousand people."

The man gritted his teeth.

She knew.

His town was in poverty.

And they were desperate to save the people from hunger.

He looked down to see a bag held by the girl.

He took it and opened it, his eyes widened.

The color was draining from the faces of her teammates. "I can give you more, once we return to our village."

His eyes shifted to her.

He held a stack of money and slightly crumpled it.

It didn't revert to leaves.

It was real.

"You just have to take us to the Rice Country and that money is all yours. It benefits both of us, don't you think?"

He laughed as he place his palm on his mouth.

"I got it. The ship will take you there.", he smiled as he turn around. "Follow me."

The girl might just be an angel blessing his poor town.

They all sighed in relief when they finally sat on the deck.

"By the way Lhexi-chan, how did you get that crazy amount of money?"

She smiled and hushed him.

"It's a secret."

He smiled before looking away. Lhexi stood up when the ship finally took off and sailed to the sea.

Alexa's POV

It's getting the way I planned.

Although I lost quite a lot of money there.

I hope the daimyo refunds me for saving his daughter.

I rested my arms on the rails and inhaled the salty and cold breeze of the sea.

It feels like home.

I opened my eyes and enjoyed the view, hearing some footsteps walking towards me I smiled.

"What's the matter Kenma?"

"I just wanna Uhm...apologize for earlier."

I chuckled and shook my head.

"I'm the one who should apologize."

I can feel him shaking his hands frantically.

"N-no! You saved us, but I got angry with you. I'm sorry, really."

I look back at the red-haired kid and ruffled his hair.

"I'll forgive you later if we make it out alive.", Kenma grinned and I remembered one particular boy in my head.

I hope he's not eating ramen again.

That's too unhealthy.

Naruto sneezed out of nowhere when he was about to gulp the soup.

"Ewww!", Sakura leaned backward away from him.

"Someone must be thinking of you, Naruto.", he looked towards his sensei and wiped his nose.

"Really?! HAHAHAHA! That makes me happy!", the boy's boisterous laugh lighted up

the whole shop.

"Like someone's thinking about you, dobe.", he glared at the Uchiha.

"What you say, konoyaro?!"

"Mah, calm down Naruto. Finish your ramen first.", Kakashi pulled him from his collar.

The boy crossed his arms and closed his eyes before he opened them and ate the noodles.

Kakashi enjoyed how his cute students make fun of each other. Their teamwork was getting better than he thought.

He stood up from his seat after hearing a screeching hawk hovering around Konoha.

"Mah, my cute little genins, I have to go now."

Three pairs of eyes shot towards him.

"Sensei, you're not trying to run away from the bill, are you?", Kakashi scratched his head from his female student's question as he left some money on the counter. "Then I'll get going now.", he chuckled before he shunshined away.

"That lazy perverted old man...", Naruto grumbled before slurping for some more ramen.

"Hn."

Several Jonins arrived at the same time kneeling before their Kage as he held a paper in his hands. His fingers slightly crumpled it as he read through the letters.

"Iwagakure ninjas are after the life of the Fire Daimyo's daughter.", the Nara head explained and they all understand. "Currently, Team 13 is protecting her and is being chased."

Their eyes widened in shock but, remained still. One particular jonin clenched his hands.

'Aiko...'

"The letter says, they managed to survive from an ambush and fifteen shinobis are after them, but as you all know, they're just a team of three genins supervised by a jonin, so they would not be able to hold them off much longer. Currently, they're at Kawa Pass boarding a ship heading towards the Rice Country. Your mission is to take the princess back safely to the Daimyo's Palace. The outcome of this mission determines a possible war from happening between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth."

"Hai!", they all chorused.

The third Hokage clenched the paper behind his back.

"Save those children, this is not an order but, a request..", they nodded at the Hokage before they jumped from a roof to another.

"Hokage-sama..."

"What is it, Shikaku?"

They watch their comrades' backs turning blurry.

"They could have possibly already been...", Shukaku looked down

"No.", he looked up at the third Hokage.

"She's with them. They should be fine."

"You mean Aiko?", the Hokage remained silent.

"Damn it, this is too hard!"

"Urusai. I can't concentrate."

They were standing on top of the water on a tub trying to maintain their balance.

A Kage bunshin of mine was supervising the two.

"Kenma. You're releasing too much chakra. Itsuki, you're releasing too little."

The two nodded as they either increase or decrease the amount of chakra they focus on their feet as the princess watch them in awe.

"Sensei? Are you alright?", I sat next to sensei. "Do you possibly have a seasickness?"

"I don't, but I feel headaches and back pain these days."

Morning sickness, headaches, back pain.

"You're not on your period, am I right?"

She thought about it first before nodding.

"Now that you've said it, I think my usual days of the month have been disturbed."

So she did not have a menstrual period this month.

Wait.

Wait.

I think...!

No way!

No freaking way!

Calm down.

"Sensei, let me hold your wrist for a moment.", Aiko-sensei nodded slightly confused.

I place my index and middle finger on her wrist and checked her pulse.

Her heart rate seems fine.

Until I felt another pulse.

It was weak.

But it was beating healthy and stable.

Oh my God.

Another one to protect.

Fun.

I opened my mouth in excitement.

"What's the matter, Lhexi?"

I removed my hand and stared at her for a couple of seconds.

"Sensei, when did you have your last sex with Genma-san?"

She blushed madly and stuttered on her words.

"Uhm...t-the night be-before w-we le-left..."

I nodded and chuckled at her behavior.

But, if they had it 6 days ago, it sure wouldn't have shown signs too early.

Well, they probably had it every night.

I remember that time when I was about to call sensei from her house to hear moaning and grunts.

O fuck.

Not now.

Don't think about that now.

Anyways.

I heard somewhere before that Aiko-sensei has a low probability of getting pregnant because of her...what was that called again?

"Well, congrats sensei. You're pregnant."

She nodded her head thinking about something before stopping as she processed the words I said. She blinked her eyes and covered her mouth as tears streamed down her face.

Her hand instinctively moved to her belly and rubbed it softly.

I smiled as she let out a few hiccups and sobs.

But, this is not the time to be celebrating.

Who knows, maybe we'll die in a few days.

Haha.

Cool.