It wasn't very long before Hikari pushed open the door to the Hokage's study, but to Kuro, the silence that had stretched on felt more than it had been. Mere minutes felt like it had been hours, broken only by the sound of Hikari's footsteps inside the room, approaching the desk, himself, Tsunade and Shizune, who was still standing to the side, failing at hiding the unsettled expression on her face from what Kuro had said mere moments before. Even though he was furious, and felt the anger deep inside himself, it didn't take much to keep that blank mask upon his face as Hikari spoke up, cutting to the chase and asking about the mission.<br/><br/>Hikari read the scroll first, or rather she took a quick glance over it, getting the details she needed, the basics, before holding it out to him. Reaching out, he took it from her, and he too looked, but only enough to get the information that was absolutely necessary. Reading every word seemed pointless, and took too much time. Especially when he wanted to get out of that office as soon as possible, away from the nosey Tsunade, who seemed to take it as a hobby to get into his business. He knew it was her job to keep the village safe, and he knew what she thought. She might not think that herself personally, but he knew to the whole village, what he was posed as a threat. Because unlike the rest of the village, heck, nearly 98% of the whole population, Shinobi included, didn't even know that he hadn't even originated in Konoha. He'd been an orphan, a baby found in the middle of a bamboo forest, underneath a large and foreboding looking tree, and brought to the village, and then adopted by the Uchiha.<br/><br/>After putting the scroll back on Tsunade's desk, he glanced up, Hikari asking the question that he was thinking. Tsunade glanced at Shizune for a mere second, before shaking her head. "Nothing else. Just be careful, the scrolls in question are extremely important, and are more likely than not being guarded closely." Hearing this, and taking it as a sign of dismissal, he turns around and walks away, exiting the office and making his way down the hall. He didn't have much to get ready, as he usually kept what he needed for missions in one general area of his room. No, instead, he wanted to think.<br/><br/>If Kakashi was tailing him this closely, already, then he didn't have much time. Before long, it would be back to like it was before when he was younger. Once he'd learned how to walk, hell, when he began crawling, the Anbu had been around every corner, watching, waiting, for some sort of wrong move. And if that was how it was progressing, if he was going to be watched like that again, he needed to leave, sooner than later. He knew that he'd promised to stay until Hikari's birthday, but now he was beginning to think he wasn't going to be able to keep that promise. Nothing was more important than getting out of the village without being caught and even more important than that...he didn't want to have Hikari find him. He had a suspicion she was starting to think things, and he couldn't allow any more of that. She had enough on her plate, without having to worry about him.<br/><br/>Usually, he didn't go anywhere but back to the compound when he had a mission, to get ready and then leave but now he had a reason to divert from his usual. Turning down a different path, he walks down the road, ignoring the looks he was getting from the villagers who were around. Right now he had no time to spare them even a glance. He needed to get this done, as quickly as possible, before getting back to what needed to be done then.<br/><br/>Changing direction, making a left turn down a lesser used road, which was more like a path than that, he soon found what he was looking for. Though his footsteps were near silent, he made it so that his presence was known, and his quarry soon realized he was there. Kakashi turned around, and before he had any chance to speak or do anything, Kuro spoke up. "I don't know what it is you were assigned, but I do know one thing. You're following me, or rather, keeping close surveillance on what I'm doing. Or should I say, closer? I've noticed that you have been butting in a lot more lately when I've been around her, and you know exactly who I mean." He steps forward a few more steps, the blank expression starting to melt off of his face, being replaced by a mixture of annoyance and irritation. "Don't even try to deny it, I'm right and we both know it."<br/><br/>He pauses, to let it sink in, and right before Kakashi could speak, he continues. He knew he was interrupting the other, and he could see the way it was making the other, older Shinobi uncomfortable. "So let me just say this once. I know what you're up to. And if you know what's best, I suggest you keep that information to yourself. Don't even try letting it slip to Tsunade, or you'll be the one having to keep an eye on his own back from now on." Stepping away, he gives a slight smile, and a wave. "Keep that in mind, will you? It's no threat."<br/><br/>Turning around he heads back from the way he came from. "See you around Kakashi." Without another word he heads to his house, doing what needed to be done for the mission that was in store. After gathering the needed supplies, he leaves the compound without a word to his parents, which would have just been his mother anyway, and he saw no need in doing such a thing. She wasn't even his actual mother, so why should he pretend to care when he didn't? And besides, even though there were several other people out and about, none of them said anything to him, except for one.<br/><br/>"Hey, Kuro." A very familiar voice came up from behind. Kuro didn't even turn around to look at Ryuu, who had called out to him. "Are you going on a mission?" Silence. "Hey, it's rude to ignore people that are talking to you..." So, the idiot was following him, huh? Kuro quickened his steps, but Ryuu did the same as well. "So, what are you going to do? Something cool? You are a way high rank, so it must be something cool." Why the heck was he following? And another thing, he never got this into what he was doing, so what was this all about anyway? "Are you going with Hikari?" A twitch formed over Kuro's eyebrow as he grew more annoyed. Remaining quiet though, ignoring every statement and question thrown at him by his brother, Ryuu followed despite this. All the way to the gate even, and stood with him as he waited for Hikari to join up with him.<br/><br/>While they stood there, for the first time during the last fifteen minutes, Ryuu remained silent. That was until he saw Hikari approaching them, and he got all happy, waving to her as she came closer. "Hey, Hikari! So, you and Kuro are going on a mission? He didn't tell me that but I kind of guessed that was the case. You guys go on missions together a lot." He gives a smile, a faint blush on his cheeks. "How are you doing today?" He gives a smile, but before she could answer, Kuro steps forward, slightly shoving him to the side. "Are you ready to go?" Giving a look, he glances to Ryuu before stepping forward a little more, next to then past Hikari, towards the open gate. "If you want to talk to him real quick, that's fine. I'm going on ahead."<br/><br/>Without saying anything else, he passes through the gates into the forested area outside the village, going a steady pace. He wasn't going to start moving to fast without her, and besides, this mission had no time limit. His own did, but for now, he had to think. About the mission at hand, and what he was going to do about his own. Should he speed things up, or should he stay with the original? It was going to be a hard decision, and if he chose to leave sooner, there were things he'd have to change. Sighing, he looks up at the tree tops above, letting his eyes follow a bird that was flying from branch to branch. A small smile formed on his lips, as it decided to come down towards him, and, being extremely bold, perched upon his shoulder, despite him moving. He was okay with this, and remained quiet, enjoying the silence around him.