The Missing-Nin
Kyuubi
Thoughts
Kyuubi thoughts / summonings
Jutsu
Normal monologue
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Hokage's Room--
Ok, maybe if I imagine the pile is small, it will become small.
Tsunade opened her eyes and saw the mountain of paperwork towering over her.
"AUGH!", Tsunade cried out in anguish. She lashed out with her hand and swept the stack off the desk. Reports scattered across the room, carpeting the floor in a sea of white.
A soft knock sounded from the door. A pink-haired kunochi stuck her head into the room. Seeing the papers spread along the room & Tsunade rubbing her temples vigorously, she rolled her eyes. Great, she's having another one of her episodes.
"Ah, Sakura. Come in.", Tsunade whispered, her eyes still closed. Sakura stepped cautiously into the office. She had learned from past experience, when Tsunade is having a melt down, stay on your guard. "I have a mission for you and your team", Tsunade added. At that, Sakura looked up expectantly. She hadn't had a mission in almost 3 months.
"Last night, an unknown ninja broke into the tower and stole a piece of vital information. A scroll, containing a forbidden jutsu that hasn't been used since before the First Hokage.", Tsunade paused for dramatic effect before continuing. "I need you and your team to track down this ninja and retrieve the information.", Tsunade finished.
"Ok, but what do we do when we find the nuke-nin?", Sakura asked. Tsunade gave Sakura a look the she had never seen before, almost a murderous gleam.
"We'll take him, dead or alive.", Tsunade deadpanned. Sakura's eyes widened. She had always known Tsunade as a person that gave everyone a fighting chance.
"I'm sorry for saying this Lady Tsunade, but that's a little…unlike you.", Sakura stated. Tsunade's eye twitched and veins popped out on her forehead. Sakura cringed, waiting for the explosion, but instead, Tsunade took a deep breath and answered calmly, "Sakura, this is a very serious matter. If this jutsu falls into the wrong hands, it could mean the end of the end of our way of life. If this person has already seen the content inside the scroll, they will have to be destroyed to keep the information from getting out.
Sakura nodded in understanding. Tsunade flashed a tired smile. She shuffled through some of the papers on her desk and pulled out a small grey scroll. She tossed it into the Sakura's waiting hands.
"Give that to Kakashi. It's a briefing on the mission and all the information we know to where this ninja was headed. You are to leave as soon as possible. Dismissed!", Tsunade ended. Sakura bowed and headed out to find her team.
Training Field--
Kakashi and Naruto were breathing heavily. Smoking craters were scattered across the clearing and the ground jarred upwards in several places. Both ninja had minor cuts and bruises, and their uniforms were torn in numerous places. Kakashi smirked.
"Not bad Naruto. You've improved.", Kakashi commented. Naruto chuckled.
"Same to you Kakashi-sensei." Kakashi walked over to where the new chuunin was slumped over. It had been almost a year since the blond had returned to the village and he had changed his wardrobe again. He now sported a black-hooded jacket, which he always kept unzipped, with an orange swirl on the back. Underneath, he wore a dark, blood red t-shirt and Tsunade's necklace around his neck. Finally, he had a pair of black pants and the standard ninja shoes.
"I need to take a break. I'm about to pass out.", Naruto gasped.
"Tired already? Where's you're so-called endless supply of energy?", Kakashi replied jokingly. Naruto just rolled his eyes at Kakashi before crawling over to where Kakashi was sitting. The two just sprawled on the ground for a few minutes, catching their breath.
"You're doing well with those Katon jutsu. Keep it up.", Kakashi commented once his heart rate had returned to normal. Naruto smiled in thanks.
He swiftly shot up into an up-right position and asked, "Hey, will you teach me some Doton jutsu? I want to learn that one you used during the bell test." Kakashi nodded.
"Most likely, but you have to master Katon first.", Kakashi answered sternly.
"You'll kill me before then.", Naruto groaned. At that moment, Sakura jogged up to them, a smile stretched widely across her face.
"Hey Kakashi-sensei! Naruto!", Sakura called as she skidded to a stop in front of them.
"Hello Sakura", Kakashi stated, heaving to his feet. Naruto staggered up to join the two.
"Hey, Sakura-chan", Naruto panted, smiling his infamous grin. Sakura smiled warmly back.
"Naruto, I've told you already. Just call me Sakura.", she answered. Naruto shrugged before collapsing on ground.
"UGH! I've never been so exhausted in my life!", Naruto hollered with all the loudness he could muster. Kakashi chuckled to himself before turning back to see what news his student had brought him.
"So Sakura, what do we have here?", Kakashi asked as Sakura handed him the scroll.
"It's a mission Tsunade assigned us to. She said to leave as soon as possible.", Sakura replied as Kakashi quickly scanned the parchment. As he read, his face paled. Damn! This is bad. This jutsu is…is…
Kakashi's hands were trembling, and he had a look of pure terror in his eye. Sakura and Naruto exchanged a worried glance. "Um, Kakashi-sensei?", Sakura asked softly. Kakashi shook himself from his trance and looked around, as if he had no idea where he was.
"Kakashi, are you ok? You don't look out of it.", Naruto added. Kakashi smiled weakly in return.
"I'm f-fine. J-just meet at the gate in h-half an h-hour.", Kakashi stuttered before used Shunshin to fade away. Sakura shot Naruto a look of concern and uncertainty, before walking away.
30 Minutes Later--
Naruto jumped down from the tree he had landed in. His eyes widened in shock when he saw that Kakashi had gotten here before him. "You got here before me? That's a first.", Naruto exclaimed. Kakashi glared at him menacingly and started to pace.
"Where's Sakura?", he demanded anxiously. Naruto only shrugged and Kakashi huffed in frustration. A couple minutes later, Sakura ran out of the bustling streets.
"Sorry guys. There was this thing with the washing machine. It's a long story.", Sakura gasped, rubbing the back of her head apologetically. Kakashi just nodded in acknowledgement before turning on his heel and rapidly striding out of the village.
Sakura glanced at Naruto and whispered, "What's up with Kakashi-sensei?"
"I don't know, but it's starting to give me a bad feeling.", Naruto answered solemnly before be followed after Kakashi.
"Sasuke-kun, have you retreived the scroll?", a snake-like voice whispered through the boy's microphone.
"Yes Lord Orochimaru, I have the jutsu you requested. I'm on the way back now.", the raven-haired boy replied, the wind whipping past as he radily jumped away from his old home.
"Good. As long as no one follows you, then we will finally achieve our goal...the destruction of the Leaf Village, and everyone of it's pathetic people.", Orochimaru cackled. Sasuke felt a pang of regret. Even though the Leaf Village didn't offer him the power he seeked, that didn't mean he wanted everyone to die. Maybe, if I can run away fast enough, I can use this jutsu for my own power, to kill my brother. Then, no innocent people would die.
"Sasuke-kun? Are you having second thoughts about our plans?", Orochimaru hissed, a hint of distain creeping into his voice. Sasuke shook away the thought and the pity he had momentarily felt.
"Of course not Orochimaru. We will proceed.", Sasuke answered, his thoughts not matching his words. On the other line, Orochimaru smiled. Yes. Finally my plan of the Leaf Village's destruction will come to pass.
5 Hours Later--
Team 7, led by Pakun, ran into a large clearing. They were deep in the Kuriana Forest, which lay near the Rice country's southern border. The sun filtered through the trees, spreading a carpet of sunlight across the grassy floors. In the far left corner, an old well, covered in vines and dead leaves, stood boldly amongst the green. Pakun scrambled to the middle of the cove.
"The trail ends here.", Pakun stated, glancing back at the shinobi. Kakashi nodded, somewhat disappointed.
"Thanks for the help Pakun", he replied before dismissing the tracker dog. Naruto glanced around, eyeing the edging of trees carefully.
"He's right, I can't sense anything, or in this case, anyone.", Naruto confirmed. Kakashi nodded in silent agreement. For a few moments, all you could hear was the wind shuffling the leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird.
Suddenly, a large shuriken thundered out from the shadows. Naruto whipped out a kunai and raised it, blocking the on-coming star. He was pushed back, still trying to recover from the impact. They all slipped into a defensive stance, waiting for another attack. An evil cackling echoed through the clearing.
That laughter. It…it can't be……… Naruto thought.
Then, a raven-haired boy with a white robe, and a sword strapped to his back, stepped out of the darkness. In his hand, he clutched a scroll tightly. Sakura gasped and Kakashi's visible eye widened. Naruto clenched his teeth and let out a cry so demonic, it almost seemed as if the trees shuddered in their place.
"SASUKE!!"
Katon: a fire type move. Example: Fire Style! Fireball Jutsu!
Doton: earth type move. Example: Earth Style! Mud Wall!
First Copy: April 4, 2008
Edited Copy: May 17, 2008