'Shit-shit-shit-shit-shit! I'm gonna be late!'
The young woman slammed the door of her car, wincing at the loud bang, but paid it no more mind as she started sprinting towards the intimidating building a few yards away from the parking lot.
"Coming through!" she shouted and evaded a couple of people, who were totally oblivious to her internal-and soon to be external-panic attack. She covered the remaining distance at record time and almost burst through the double doors of the building, swiftly checking her card and throwing a bright albeit quick greeting to Masrur, the security guard.
She flew up the stairs, throwing 'good mornings' here and there. She hit the button of the elevator and impatiently tapped het foot as she waited. The moment the door opened, she jumped inside, selecting her floor along the way and willed the machine to go faster. Or make the clock go slower, whichever was easier.
The familiar 'gling' of the elevator rang, marking her desired floor and she quickly flew out of the uncomfortably packed space as soon as the door was open. She made her way around desks and people alike, missing half of the greetings sent her way and dropped her bag on her own desk before throwing herself in her chair
"I-I made it!" she pated before realizing that one of her teammates was already there and was smirking at her in amusement. She coughed in her hand to break the awkward silence and straightened her hair and clothes before turning on her computer. For a few minutes he said nothing and the young woman dared hope that he would let the subject of her almost tardiness drop.
"Ne, pinky. What's the deal with you today? Slept in?"
Sakura groaned. She wouldn't be spared of his teasing after all. "Good morning to you too, Judal."
"Seriously now. What were you doing last night?"
"I don't think that's any of your business."
"Oh, come on, Pinky! We are a team aren't we?" The bastard had the nerve to smirk.
"Unfortunately for me, we are. Isn't it about time that you filled for a transfer to another department, Judal?" she shot back with a forced smile.
"Planning on getting rid of me so soon, Bubblegum?"
"Three years hardly counts as soon. I assure you though that I'll live, even without you around."
"You know you love me."
Sakura smiled. "Of course I do." She smirked inwardly at his expression. "The way a snowman loves the sun."
"You….." he said, pointing an accusing finger at her. "Are so mean."
"You'll survive, you overgrown baby."
"Good morning guys!" Their little dispute was interrupted by the loud arrival of the third member of their team.
Naruto walked in the office with a bounce in his step-which usually meant that he had ramen for dinner the previous night-and dropped his worn backpack on his desk before flashing Sakura a bright smile. "Good morning, Sakura-chan!"
The young woman smiled back. "Morning, Naruto."
"Hey!" complained Judal. "Why does she get a separate greeting and I don't?"
Naruto snorted. "Start wearing red lipstick and killer form-fitting pants and you might stand a chance." He winked at Sakura, though she knew that he was just fooling around with Judal. Having grown up in the same neighborhood, in houses right across from each other, Naruto was Sakura's brother in all ways but blood. After all, after that awful prank some kinds had played on her during elementary school, Naruto had taken it up on himself to protect her since she had no older siblings. He filled in the role of older brother perfectly, if you asked her.
Judal's eyes widened. "What the hell, Uzumaki? Are you gay or something?"
Naruto almost chocked on his saliva. "That's not what I meant, you freak!"
"The pot calling the kettle-"
"Quite down, probies. It's still too early for all this noise."
"Good morning, boss!" said Naruto enthusiastically before his features were overtaken by confusion. "Hey, wait. Probies? We've been working as active Field Agents for the past three years!"
"Yeah, morning Uzumaki." Sinbad dropped in the chair of his desk, throwing his head back and rubbing his temples, completely ignoring Naruto's complaints.
Sakura rolled her eyes at the picture. "Really, Sinbad? Is that how a Special Investigations team leader should look like?"
"Not in the mood for a lecture, Sakura." he answered, without even moving his head to look at her. "Got too much of a headache for that."
The young woman snorted. "How you became an active Field Agent, a team leader at that, is beyond me."
"Charmed my way into it, princess."
"Very funny, Sinbad. Very funny."
"So, Sinbad…." started Judal. "How many did you toss back last night?"
Sinbad raised a tired eyebrow. "Now, Judal, is that any way to talk to your superior?"
"Superior my ass."
"Well, unless you want your ass sitting behind a desk filling paperwork for the next two months, I suggest you zip it. Bring me a couple of painkillers while you are at it."
"Touché, boss."
"I knew you would eventually see things from my point of view." commented Sinbad, smirking at his annoyed agent.
"That's called authority abuse, you know."
"Your point, Sakura?"
The young woman stared at him for a couple of seconds before sighing and shaking her head. "You know what, never mind."
"Glad that we agree."
"Special Agent Sinbad!"
The man groaned at the sound of his name and rolled his chair around to look at the man calling him.
"Can't a team leader get some peace and quiet around here?"
"Chief Sarutobi requests your presence in his office immediately."
"If this is to give me a lecture again-"
"It's a red alert, sir."
Immediately sobering up, Sinbad shot up from his chair. "Red alert?"
"I'm afraid so."
The purple-haired man looked at his team, his previous relaxed attitude replaced by a high state of alertness. "I want all three of you in Chief's office in five. Move people!"
In practiced synchronization, all three members of the team were out of their chairs, following their team leader as he ran up the stairs to the Chief's office for their briefing. The other agents made way for them to pass, seeing the expressions on their faces. They reached the office and Sinbad didn't care to knock before entering.
"Team present and alert, Chief. What's the situation?"
The older man turned his chair around and studied the young faces of his most unique team. Naruto was impulsive and stubborn, Judal was brash and had with issues with following orders, Sakura usually overthought things and many a time allowed her feelings to do the thinking instead of her brain. As for the team leader, Sinbad was a bit irresponsible and took things too lightly. They were dysfunctional and they were the best. Each of their weaknesses was countered by their individual strengths. Where Naruto was rash, Sakura was levelheaded and sensible. Judal, with his cold calculating mind was excellent at containing the young woman's sentimentality and Sinbad had the amazing ability of keeping each one of them in line and working as an absolutely synchronized living organism.
Yes, Sarutobi Hiruzen would never truly understand the inner workings of this unique team but he wouldn't have them any other way.
"Not half an hour ago we received a distressed call for help from First Sergeant Hyuuga Hiashi. In his message, he stated that his wife and eight-year-old daughter have been kidnapped. Apparently, the kidnapper is a very capable hacker. He has taken control of First Sergeant Hyuuga's computer and is talking to him with a distorted voice while having the office under complete electronic surveillance. According to the First Sergeant, this man has requested two million dollars to be transferred to an overseas account in exchange for the lives of the wife and daughter. Should he not manage to gather the money or make any attempt at contacting anyone for help, they will be delivered to him dead."
Sinbad nodded gravely and Sakura could swear that his mind was already running a mile a minute. The young woman turned her eyes to Sarutobi only to notice that the laugh lines around his mouth had deepened even though a smile was absent from his lips.
"How did the First Sergeant manage to send the message? With the hacker in control of his computer, wasn't contacting us dangerous to his family?" asked Sakura with a frown. If the kidnapper had hacked into the computer, any messages sent or received would be open for his eyes to read. Even if sent through a different account, it wouldn't be that difficult for this guy to trace the source back to them.
"Sergeant Hyuuga sent us an encrypted message using a military-developed code that allows high-ranking officers to send out messages without compromising missions or human lives. It was designed for emergencies and ladies and gentlemen, we do have an emergency in our hands."
"No worries, Chief. We got it from here. We're going to get Sergeant Hyuuga's family to safety and bring this scumbag to justice."
"I trust that you will, Sinbad. First Sergeant Hyuuga holds many extremely important files that can seriously compromise Konoha's safety and we cannot know what more this kidnapper will ask for. This is a delicate situation and I trust that you will handle it with as much discretion as possible."
The purple-haired man nodded curtly before turning to his team, who were standing behind him perfectly lined up, waiting for orders.
"Grab your gear. We're rolling."
XxxOxOxOxxX
"Alright, Sakura what do you have for me?"
"The Huyygas live uptown but their neighbors haven't seen them all day. The wife's mother has been calling since morning but there has been no answer and little Hinata was reported absent from school today. The little girl's blind."
Sinbad nodded. "Judal?"
"Alright. I traced the phone line Sergeant Hyuuga's assistant gave us to the KSJMB."
"KSJMB?" asked Naruto.
"Konoha and Suna Joint Military Base. Keep up with the acronyms, Uzumaki. First Sergeant Hyuuga is the one running the business there along with First Sergeant Sabaku, who is away at the moment."
"So, he can really transfer this kid of money overseas?"
"More if he needs to."
"Our hacker will have to pass five security check points to get to Hyuuga's office. Theoretically, those can only be opened by certain passwords that only those working at the base possess. There are 10.000 people working there right now. It is going to be impossible to trace the hacker by finding out who used those check points the past 4 hours." continued Judal.
Sinbad nodded. "By the time we finish downloading that list of names, Konoha will either be short two million dollars or the Sergeant's family will be dead."
"It has to be someone on the inside. That base is being protected by both Konoha and Suna forces." offered Sakura.
"Wait a minute." started Naruto thoughtfully and all heads turned to him. "The hacker could be using a virus. Sergeant Hyuuga said that his office is under electronic surveillance and that this guy has control of his computer. It only takes a simple virus or any other program of that kind to achieve."
"So, one of the most secure Military Bases was taken down by a simple virus?"
"It can be sent to a user in the simplest of forms. You could be just checking your inbox and unknowingly downloading the virus to your computer."
"What do you think this is Naruto?"
Well boss, my best bet would be a Trojan virus."
"A Tro-what?"
"A Trojan virus. Keep up with technological progress, Judal." Naruto smirked at that. "It is a program that once downloaded in a computer opens a gate and allows the hacker to take control of the system."
Sakura was thoughtful. "This still doesn't explain how his in control of the machine."
"They can do everything if they are good enough. We are talking about a guy that managed to break through a military base's system without setting off any alarm. Trust me, Sakura-chan. This guy is good."
"How is he able to watch the Sergeant?"
"A simple webcam can do the deed."
"Ok, listen up." All three of their heads turned to Sinbad.
The purple-haired man stood from his chair and pulled his gun out of his drawer, securing it on his belt. "Judal take Naruto and go search First Sergeant Hyuuga's house. I want everything on Hyuuga by the time I get back."
"On it, boss."
"Sakura, you are with me."
"Right. What will we be doing, Sinbad?"
"We are going to pay the Sergeant a visit."
TBC
Guess who is back to writing NarutoXMagi Crossovers!
How are you guys? Wow, it's been a while since I wrote anything for this fandom. I've been a bit busy with an Ao No ExorcistXNaruo Crossover I am writing but I've been wanting to write something about our favorite JudalXSakura pairing for a while now so…here it is! This story probably won't have more than 2-3 chapters but I might consider starting a series, though not immediately.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I promise I'll update quickly. Your reviews make me happy and fuel my desire to write so please READ AND REVIEW!
Lots of love!
