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Mor walked to the clone and leaned against the desk as he gazed at the Ratel's Squad offices. There was a hush that lingered in the space. At a glance, everyone seemed to be working hard, but he doubted they were concentrating on what they were doing.
"Any updates?" he asked.
Ratel didn't look up from his work as he answered, "You know it doesn't work that way. We'll know when he returns."
Mor sighed. It had been two weeks since Weasel had informed them that he would announce whether they would attack the upcoming iron shipment. Two weeks later, he summoned Ratel to his office, who had been gone for half an hour. Everyone on the team was anxiously waiting for him to return. It was certainly strange to wait for someone whose many clones were still in the office.
"What do you reckon? What are they going to decide?"
"I can't say. Even if I could speculate about what Weasel might want, I don't know the Stag or the Lord Hokage well enough to know what they're thinking," Ratel replied, looking up at him. "What do you want them to decide on?"
"… I don't want them to wait. We did all the work, ran everyone ragged, and risked and compromised operations by rushing through them. If the order ends up being to wait… wouldn't that mean all of this work was for nothing?"
"I can understand that," Ratel sighed, leaning back in his chair.
"Does it bother you? To have the decision out of your hands?"
Ratel was big on control. One of his biggest directives to the team was to extend control over the anti-ROOT initiative. His clones also allowed him much greater control over the team than a standard squad leader would have.
"Of course it does," Ratel said bluntly. "There's a case for why those close to the ground might not be able to make an objective decision. I agree with you that we should move as soon as possible, but who's to say that we aren't influenced by our feelings? Some detached from the day-to-day might be able to look at the picture more clearly. Simultaneously, someone higher up who doesn't know the details and intricacies might not be suited to make the decision. Who's to say which is right? Anyway, the chain of command exists for a reason, and I trust Weasel; he'll put the best case forward."
Mor would rather make the decision on his own because, in his experience, higher-ups more often than not make subpar decisions. However, he wasn't going to say that in front of his current boss.
"Speaking of Weasel, I heard that you are both from the same Academy batch. You must've known each other from a young age," he said, making small talk.
The Ratel Squad had no shortage of one-to-one time with the boss because he was literally everywhere. The real trick was to find a shadow clone, because that meant Ratel would actually have the memories of the interaction rather than a note made by a water clone.
"Not really. Weasel graduated early. We were in the same class for one academic year—well, a few months. I barely have memories of back then," Ratel replied. "We only got properly acquainted at work."
Mor wasn't sure if that was true. Ratel previously worked at the Police Force and had connections with the Uchiha clan. A person like that joining ANBU and eventually ending up in the Uchiha sphere of influence, right under Weasel—it was a stretch to believe they didn't know each other well beforehand.
He heard a murmur and looked up to see Ratel enter the room. Everyone looked at each other because no one knew whether it was the original, who had gone to the meeting, or just another clone. But then Gojiro walked in a few seconds later, and everyone realised he was the original.
"What did he say?" Tern asked from the door of her office.
Ratel stopped in the middle of the floor and addressed everyone, from the operatives to the staff who had come out to hear him.
"We're sticking to the original plan. The coming shipment, two weeks out, will be the target of the operation. A reconnaissance squad will leave the day after tomorrow and will scout out the location ahead of time. An assault squad under Weasel will lead the field operation, along with a second assault squad supporting them. Weasel himself will participate in the operation."
A wave of cheers rose in the offices. People murmured and congratulated one another. Regardless of how anyone thought about taking the opportunity they had, everyone agreed it was a big step for the Ratel Squad. A direct action against ROOT, especially given its importance, was the culmination of everything they had done since their inception.
"I know we are all excited, and you have every right to be. None of this would be possible without everyone working hard and dedicating themselves to our mission. I'm thankful for all you've done and for trusting me with the responsibility of leading you. But let's not rest just yet and—" Another round of cheers went up, drowning out whatever Ratel was going to say. He tried to get in a word, but everyone was just happy and delighted, feeling that they had reached a milestone.
"Open the company purse!" Mor yelled from within the crowd, asking for a team dinner.
Ratel sighed but nodded. "Very well, decide the time and place."
However, another question stood in people's minds, much closer to the people in the squad. As the cheers subsided, everyone returned their attention to Ratel. They wanted to know who would be participating in the operation. In the two weeks since they had constructed the initial plan after Baizan's information, it had been finalised that two operatives, alongside Ratel, would take part in the operation.
Whoever was chosen was potentially going to be in danger because even though the two assault squads were going to be in the lead, and they weren't expecting combat, anything could happen when ROOT was involved.
"Tern and Aquilla. See me in my office, please," Ratel said and walked into his office.
The two operatives gazed at each other before following their squad leader into the office.
———
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Takuma leaned into his chair in his office. The meeting with Itachi was short; aside from the decision announcement, nothing of note happened, yet he felt drained. He didn't realise that he had been holding a sense of tension that was finally released.
"Sit," he said to the two who followed after him.
In truth, he wasn't expecting that decision. He was completely prepared for the higher-ups to say that they would rather wait it out to reduce any risk. He didn't know what discussion they had or what had gone through Itachi's head, but he liked to believe that his aggressive stance had rubbed off on them, even if it wasn't true.
He sat there in his chair for a minute before finally sitting up straight. He looked at Tern and said, "This wouldn't be happening without you, so you're coming, and I'm sure you won't have it any other way."
"That's right," Tern said with a hint of a smile. Like him, she looked relieved, and it showed on her face; her complexion was brighter than it had been in the last few weeks.
"Your Byakugan will be useful in keeping track of whoever comes to collect the shipment. We can't allow them to slip out of our grasp until they lead us right to ROOT's hideout. Your dōjutsu will allow us to reduce the risk of danger and discovery as we follow our target," Takuma said to Aquilla.
"As you order," the Hyūga said.
"Meet with the reconnaissance squad before they leave. They'll also be serving as our scouts. You'll be coordinating with them, so make sure to introduce yourself and tell them what you can do so they can include your abilities in their plan."
Even though a jōnin and two assault squads were going to participate in the operation, the reconnaissance/scout squad was the focal point because they were the ones who would lead them to the ROOT hideout. Everyone else was secondary and there in case something went wrong.
"I shouldn't need to say it, but this is a very important mission. For the next two weeks, be on your best behaviour and take care of your health. I would be more than displeased if either of you isn't able to participate for a preventable reason. Am I understood?" Takuma asked them.
"Yes, sir!"
He gazed at the two before him. He knew they didn't get along well. There was no enmity between them, but because of their backgrounds and their roles, it was normal for them to maintain some distance.
The Hyūga were the first ones to support the Uchiha in their bloodline theft accusation against Danzō, claiming that he had stolen Uchiha Shisui's eyes. Even though Takuma was at the Steam-Frost war, so he wasn't in the village when the tensions were boiling over, the fact that it had reached the frontlines and people had constantly talked about it for over a month meant it was terribly serious. And now a Hyūga was asked to work alongside a Shimura, which was enough reason for them not to get along with each other.
He had no interest in getting them all buddy-buddy, but if he could put them together in a stressful situation in hopes that they just might build a level of professional trust, he was willing to take both of them on the mission and see if that worked.
.
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The link is in the synopsis!