Naruto Shippuuden: A Time to Love

Satori and Tenten sat in the Ichiraku ramen shop eating lunch.

"Another mission?" Satori asked.

His twin sister nodded. "We're headed to the Waterfall Country. It'll take a few days to get there but Lee and Gai-sensei will probably want to race there and we'll be there in half the time. I have to meet with the rest of my team soon." She looked at the clock on the wall. "In fact, I should hurry up and get going. I guess I didn't realize how much time had passed.

"I guess I had just gotten used to having you in my squad." Satori said getting up reaching for his wallet.

Tenten reached over and gave her brother's hand a sympathetic squeeze.

"It's alright. There'll be other times that we'll be in the same squad again." She said.

Satori nodded. "I am curious to see who their putting into our squad. We'll need somebody to take your spot on the team because we always run in an eight man team for these missions as of late. That's if the entire group is sent on a mission."

He pulled out some money and set enough down to pay for both meals.

Tenten strapped her large scroll to her waist and placed a kiss on the side of Satori's face.

"Bye, Nii-san. See you when we get back."

The siblings parted ways.

Satori was walking through the streets when Aoba appeared next to him.

"Tsunade-sama has asked for us." He said.

Satori sighed. "At least she didn't get me while I was eating."

The two leapt into the air and headed for the Hokage mansion.

Aoba and Satori arrived to see that the other five members of their squad had arrived. Uzuki Hanako, Yohaku Junshin, Zaihou Gintokin, Kusa Seika, and Sohma Yukino. Yukino's flat tight stomach was beginning to show the first signs of pregnancy.

"You're late." Tsuande said.

"I was eating." Satori said.

"What else is new?" Tsunade retorted.

Satori took his place along side of Yukino and Aoba stood next to Satori.

"Modified team four reporting in, Tsunade-sama." Aoba said.

"You're not all here." She said.

Satori leaned out a bit to see his teammates. He counted seven people.

"Um, there are seven of us. Granted my sister isn't here due to another mission but other than her, we're all here."

"There's one more." The fifth said.

"Who?"

Then there was a knock on the door.

"Ah, here she is now." Tsunade said. "Come."

Satori looked to Aoba. "You ever notice when we're talking about someone when they're about to be introduced they always knock at that time?"

"I have noticed that." Aoba said.

"Okay, just making sure it wasn't me." Satori said as he turned around to see who was coming in through the door.

The door opened to reveal a girl with shoulder length gold hair and dark eyes. She wore a black tank top with a red butterfly on the back. Her forearms were covered with red net arm socks that cover the back of her hand and went to her elbow, black capri's with red trim and black sandals.

"This is Hitodama Kaida." Tsunade said.

She glanced at the team and walked up next to Hanako. She didn't stand as close to her as the other seven did and Hanako noticed. She looked at Kaida and then down to the space between them, acknowledging the wide space between them. Then Hanako noticed the facial expression on Kaida's face. It was a look of slight fear, more specifically, shyness. Hanako recognized the look and smiled. She returned her attention to Tsunade.

"Now that we're all here now. I'll brief you on the mission."

She stood up and opened a map on her desk. The eight ninjas moved in closer to see the map. This is the Sunset Country.

"Wow, really struggling for names, eh?" Satori asked.

Tsunade looked up at him, not appreciating the interruption. Yukino elbowed her boyfriend in the ribs.

"Ow." He said as he cradled the spot where he was struck.

"The country was discovered by the Beigun clan around the time that Konoha was formed. They colonized the area and even helped other clans settle into their own countries. Shortly after the Beigun arrived, another clan entered the country wanting the country to settle down into. This clan was called the Shokei. Both clans had a history of antagonism that stretched for hundreds of years. They quarreled over small strips of land, rivers, and cattle. The skirmishes never led to full war, but harsh feelings have continued to cause conflict between the two clans. By contrast, the leaders of both clans chose to cooperate and build a colony together. It was an unprecedented display that must have been intended to influence both clans. If that was their intent, they failed. Hostilities between the two clans continue to this day."

"If I recall," Junshin said, "the Beigun are pretty hostile to everyone."

"True, Junshin." Tsunade said. "They have antagonized a fair number of other clans and countries."

"How did the joint venture turn out?" Hanako asked.

"Surprisingly well. Contrary to all expectations, the joint country grew prosperous. At first there was conflict, but that almost immediately gave way to social and political harmony. It's a bit similar to when the Senju clan and the Uchiha clan joined to create Konoha."

"So what does this have to do with us?" Seika asked.

"Some time ago, a team was dispatched to the country to study the new society to see if there were lessons that could be learned and then applied elsewhere. Heading that delegation was Kusa Sagashi."

Seika's eyes widened. Granted Seika was his alias from his real name but Kusa was his real family name and Sagashi was his father. He could feel all eyes focusing on him.

"Representing Konoha, he worked with medical, educational and anthropological research teams from the country. He discovered a disturbing trend."

"They were living shorter life spans." Hanako said snapping her fingers. "I read that same report. The researchers had only a few generations to work with, but their studies showed a steady and chartable trend. If things remain unchanged, the two clans won't live long enough to reach puberty and reproduce, let along run a country."

"Luckily Konoha was able to help." Tsunade added. "Kusa Sagashi informed Konoha Medical. A counteragent was developed, and then tested for some time on five volunteers from the country. When things looked promising, the volunteers were returned to the Sunset Country and were placed in final stage quarantine."

"Sounds like things were going well." Junshin said.

"There's more. Sagashi returned to the country recently to represent Konoha at its centennial celebration. The quarantine was scheduled to end as a part of the festivities. However, before the first event, one of the test subjects murdered another and escaped from confinement. Reports show Sagashi following the murderer out of the building and he has not been seen since."

Everyone reacted to that. Everyone except Seika, who seemed to have been replaced by a statue.

"The Shokei clan have formally complained to Konoha that Sagashi and Konoha are behind the murder. Our job is to go there, find Sagashi and determine what is truly going on."

"Tsunade-sama," Hanako broke in quietly. "Is there any evidence that Konoha harmed the test subjects, however inadvertently?"

"Nothing concrete that we've been shown. The other three test subjects appear fine, according to the reports from the Konoha ambassador."

"Does anyone have a clue where Sagashi might be?" Junshin asked.

"No, Junshin." Tsunade said. "It's assumed he's still in the country, but that's all we know."

"Could Sagashi actually be after the murderer?" Satori asked. "Acting when the locals didn't?"

Tsunade paused and thought about the question, measuring it against what he knew of the man. "Kusa Sagashi is a brilliant tactician and Konoha adviser, but he is not known for directly interfacing with local civilians. Instead, he'd be more likely to advise their peace officers."

"Have the Beigun also complained?" Junshin asked.

"Not yet. Before you leave I want you, Kaida to read up on the two clans. Hanako, I want you to review the medical findings. Seika and Satori, I want you two to begin searching for Sagashi as soon as you arrive. Gintokin and Junshin I want you two to help maintain the peace. Yukino, you will accompany Aoba when he speaks to the country's leaders. You can plan accordingly as things progress. Leave as soon as you are ready. Dismissed."

The group began to leave.

"Yukino, a moment please."

The Sohma girl waited as the rest of the group left. Seika hadn't really moved from his spot. Tsunade knew that he was troubled by this so she walked Yukino to the door as she told the young soon to be mother her reasoning to keep her a bit longer.

"Yukino, this will be your last mission before I put you on maternity leave."

Yukino almost objected but Tsunade put her hand up before she could say anything.

"I can't allow your unborn child to be put in harms way. The only reason I'm putting you on this mission is because your expertise can be useful. I know Satori will give his life to protect you but there'll be times when he's not around. I want you to be careful on this mission."

Yukino nodded before leaving the room. Tsunade turned her attention to the still standing Seika.

"Seika, you can still ask to be relieved from the mission." Tsunade said gently.

"No, Tsunade-sama." Seika said, his voice tight. He was clearly trying to control his emotions. The relationship between his father and him was a complicated one since the death of Seika's mother. Sagashi was left to raise the youngster alone. Seika had turned out well, but it was clear Sagashi could take little credit for his son's success."

"Very well." Tsunade said. "The mission can always be adjusted once you learn more."

Seika nodded before leaving.