Chapter One - Orders

As they reached the outskirts of the forest Sakura noticed a slight change in her teamleader's posture. He seemed more alert than before, his ever present slouch had vanished, even his precious novel lay no longer in his hands. Kakashi's gaze was now watchful and he walked upright, tense.

These changes in his behaviour went unnoticed by Naruto, who was still whining about having been hit across the head by Sakura. She however mimicked Kakashi unconsciously and fingered her kunai nervously, waiting for whatever it was that Kakashi seemed to have noticed before them.

Naruto was mumbling something and padded his head gingerly, looking for bruises, when Kakashi silenced him with a warning „Naruto!" The Kyuubi-Container instantly fell silent and gave his companions a questioning look, before he, too, took out a kunai.

Kakashi noticed how alarmed his former students were. He stopped in his tracks and held his hands up in a reassuring gesture. „Relax, there's no one around."

Naruto goggled at the older Shinobi and Sakura gave a frustrated growl. „What were you playing at then?", she asked, facing Kakashi, hands on her hips. „You looked dead serious! We all know you only put your porn away to fight!"

Kakashi rose his eyebrows, looking scandalized. „Now, now Sakura, it's not porn, it's called ..."

„Yeah, yeah I know, 'Adult literature' or whatever you call it", she emphasized the words by putting quotation marks in the air with her fingers, „So, what had you so uptight?"

Kakashi considered her for a moment, as if contemplating to continue the porn-argument, instead of explaining what was going on. Then: „Alright, you two. Listen carefully. Behind this forest", he gesticulated to where the trees gave way to a vast, muddy landscape, that was so thickly covered in fog, you could hardly make out more than 20 feet, „lie the plains Tsunade told us about the day we left for this mission."

Sakura's face instantly lit up. „That's great! Why didn't you tell me earlier?", she exclaimed half amused, half reproachful. „I can't wait. I'll need your help though. Most of these plants are rare, even here. Six hands will be better than two." She turned around and started to rummage in her bag, taking out phials and a small, old-looking book.

Kakashi sighed. He knew she'd be too excited for her own good. Unwillingly, a small smile found it's way to his features at this thought.

„Ok, Sakura, just...just hold it right there and let me finish."

He didn't mean to sound harsh, but this was important. Without waiting for Sakura's retort, he continued. „To collect all the plants Tsunade needs, we will have to go deep into the marshes. This area is huge and uncivilized. The civilians around here know not to enter it. Travelers try to take ways around it if possible. We however will have to go right through it. As we're shinobi and more capable than the average person, we won't be in any serious danger as long as we are careful and travel only by day. I still want you to keep your eyes open. Stick within eyesight of one another."

Naruto crossed his arms. „The last time you gave us that order, we were thirteen, Kakashi."

Naruto had left out his customary 'Sensei' on purpose, Sakura knew that. She, like him, didn't like to be treated like a child. They were both jounin after all.

„Don't be difficult Naruto, if I tell you to stick together, you do as you're told."

Now Kakashi definitely sounded harsh. He rarely played out the 'I'm-your-captain-card' at all. Well, with Naruto from time to time maybe, but only because the yellow-haired chaot could be a right pain in the...

Sakura's thoughts were interrupted by Naruto, who defended himself, and more sensible than she would have thought possible.

„Don't give me that, Kaka-sensei. I know you're not telling us something. We're a team. You're not doing us a favour by keeping things to yourself. If there is some sort of danger out there I'm not letting Sakura enter the marshes, at least not until she and I know everything there is to know."

Sakura ignored Narutos overprotective behaviour. „He's right Kakashi. We're not your students anymore." She didn't want to sound accusing. She knew Kakashi wanted to do the right thing. But she also wanted to know what had him so...unnerved.

Kakashi stayed silent. He seemed to ponder his answer carefully. Rubbing his chin, almost looking tired, he said: „Before we left Konoha...Tsunade warned me about the marshes. She had received reports from villages in this area. There are..." He hesitated then, choosing each word carefully. „There are funny rumours around here. Stories of disappearances. Unusual ones."

„What do you mean by unusual?", Naruto asked. „Disappearances are always unusual, aren't they?"

„Every year a handful of people find their end in the marshes. Kids get lost, travelers drown, people collect herbs and don't return." He threw Sakura a meaningful look. „But in the last months there have been...incidents. Don't ask me what that means, I don't know. All I know is what Tsunade told me. And she said that what alarms her most – and I agree with her – is that people here are frightened. And extremely so."

Sakura and Naruto had fallen silent. Kakashi looked over to where the fog whitened the air. „I want you to stick close to Naruto, Sakura. Consider him your bodyguard for the time being. You will need his help collecting plants anyway. Naruto, you are not to leave her side, and also", he looked Naruto straight in the eyes, meaning business, „you will listen to what she says. Sakura is in charge as long as you are on your own. As a medic she knows more about areas like this and is more likely to recognize dangers."

Naruto looked taken aback. Since when did Sakura need a bodyguard? Sakura was outraged. „Are you going to tell me why I suddenly need special protection?"

Kakashi's answer was a flat „No." He continued, ignoring Sakura's murderous glare. „I will scout the area for sheltered places, caves, somewhere we can stay the night. Do not suppress your chakra signatures, I want to be able to find you quickly if necessary. Follow my orders, I will not tolerate you two being stubborn."

That said, Kakashi flexed his muscles and with a glance at Naruto and Sakura that simply said 'Let's go' he was off.

hello everyone!

this is the first story i ever wrote and i'm nervous as hell :D

I'd really appreciate some reviews: tell me if you liked the story or if you hated it, tell me you read it because you couldn't sleep or because there was nothing on in tv, tell me if my english is okay (i'm from germany, so all kind of funny mistakes are possibly out there for you to point out), tell me whatever you have to say about it

thank you and enjoy