The rain is full of ghosts tonight
Kakashi's face stayed impassive behind the ANBU mask. It had been a while since he was send out as ANBU. Technically he had been dismissed from service but then once ANBU always ANBU ne? The dismissal basically just meant that he was not on active ANBU roster. Most missions did not require the mask. This one might.
"The locals insist that it is cursed. Haunted by some sort of demons" Tsunade said in a dismissive tone of voice. Apparently she was not awfully convinced by that theory.
"That forest is Rain and River territory though. Why is it Konoha's concern?" he asked, arching an eyebrow behind the mask. She did not have to tell him. If she gave the order he would go of course. She might though.
"True...the people going missing in that forest are Konoha and Suna people though. Neither Rain nor River. So they do not care obviously. They also have not given permission to investigate stating that it's hardly their problem if we cannot keep our merchants save from burglars" she said displeased.
"Yes...'burglars'...It caused issues already. The alliance with Suna is still fresh. We cannot affort distrust on either side."
Burglars probably wearing Rain and River headbands ne? Kakashi thought. Neither Rain nor River were particularily delighted about that alliance between Suna and Konoha. It was understandable since they were tiny countries squashed between Suna and Konoha. It would not be surprising if these ghosts and demons haunting that forest were in fact shinobi trying to feed into the already existing suspicion many in both Konoha and Suna still harbored towards the other.
"It's a combined mission. I do not have to tell you that this is very important. You will meet your contact here" she said, pointing out coordinates. He took a look at the coordinates memorizing them and then bowed quickly before disappearing.
True to it's name Rain had greeted him with rain. It had been a rather wet journey in general since River was ...well...full of rivers. Kakashi had not been dry for at leat 24 hours. The difference between Rain and River was just that travelling through River you got wet from below whereas travelling through Rain you got wet from above. He reached the coordinates after 2 days of travelling. It was not inside the forest but close to it. Close enough to get a first look and that look was not exactly what he had expected.
Tentatively he approached the forest edge. If you could call it that. The trees looked like an army of ghosts. All white and scrawny. No leaves, nothing green in sight. It was eery and smelled of death.
"Maa... might go with that 'cursed forest' theory after all ne?" he mumbled to himself and pushed the ANBU mask aside to get a better look with the Sharingan. When he opened it the world shifted into this mixed view he maybe never would get truly used to.
"Hm..." he said and closed it again. Nothing. At least nothing obvious yet. Now all he could do was waiting for his contact. Maybe Suna had more information.
