Beforehand: Well, you guys wanted a sequel. I was thinking of a sequel as well. I've thought of a new storyline that should please my current readers and may draw in new ones. I hope you enjoy my sequel, so without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, The Sound of The Leaf 2!
Chapter One: A Mission
Naruto yawned as the morning sun poured though the window. His body ached a bit due to morning laziness, but he forced himself up and into the kitchen. Already in there was his housemate and girlfriend Tayuya. She had poured herself a box of cereal and had begun eating it. As the sleepy young ninja entered the room, she greeted him with a smile and a nod, as her mouth was full of Sugar Bites. Naruto nodded and scratched his neck. He sat down, tipped the box of cereal into his bowl, and began their ritualistic morning chat.
"What's up with you?" Naruto asked the redhead girl. She chewed and swallowed her food, shrugged and smiled.
"Naruto-kun, you've asked me that question every damn morning since two years ago. You'd know if something was new. We hang out every day."
"I suppose you're right," Naruto said.
"Of course I'm right!" Tayuya insisted. As she went back to her food, Naruto couldn't help but to smile. She was extremely cute when she did that. Their relationship was still healthy after all of this time. They rarely fought, and people around the village started referring to them as Naruto and Tayuya. It was rare to see one without the other. The village had been rebuilt since the unspeakable incident. Naruto and Tayuya had become Chunin, and had taken on missions ranging from B to S. They were a team now. They had a third member. Someone that no longer resided with them, but was seen around the house on many occasions.
Naruto finished his food and took his bowl to the sink to pile onto the heap of unwashed dishes.
"You really should get on those dishes," a voice said from behind Naruto. Naruto knew without turning around the voice he heard. It was annoyingly smooth and calm.
"Blaze," Naruto began.
"Say no more my friend," Blaze said. "I realize I'm here a bit earlier than usual." Naruto and Tayuya looked at each other. Blaze came and went as he pleased. He never had a set time. Some days he'd come at noon, others he'd pop in at five in the morning raiding the fridge.
"But actually Tsunade-sama called me early this morning to tell me to deliver this message to you guys. We've got an A Rank mission in the Stone Country. Apparently a group of renegade ninja have been causing trouble and refusing negotiations. So we've been hired to stop them." Naruto pumped his fist in the air.
"Sounds like a good one!" Naruto said. Tayuya stood, put her bowl in the sink and went to shower. Naruto had showered the night before and saw no reason to delay the mission. He got into his orange jacket and pants and got his tools ready.
"Say Naruto-san," Blaze asked.
"Hmm?" Naruto answered.
"About Tayuya," Blaze said. "Do you think that she's your soulmate?" Naruto nodded without hesitation.
"It should be obvious to you of all people by now," Naruto said. "But why do you ask?" Blaze seemed to be staring off into the distance.
"No reason Naruto-san," Blaze said. He suddenly looked cheerful again. "I got a date with that cute pink-haired chick that works with Tsunade-sama!" Naruto cringed.
"You're gonna go out…with Sakura-chan?" Naruto said. "You lucky dog!" Blaze gave him a half smile.
"I would have asked her out a while ago, but…"
"But?" Naruto asked.
"But I was too lazy," Blaze said with a smile. Naruto smiled.
"Lazy? Or shy?" Naruto teased. Blaze puffed out his chest.
"I don't get shy Naruto-san! I'm Blaze Ukigaro! I am the most powerful ninja in the village!" Naruto got mad.
"But not more than me!" he defended himself. "I'M the future Hokage around here!" Blaze laughed.
"You call yourself the future Hokage and yet you forget the basic rules of combat all the time!" Naruto's mouth dropped open.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?" Naruto demanded. Blaze remained cool. Naruto watched as Blaze lifted his hands and disappeared. It had been an illusion. Naruto looked around, but couldn't see the real Blaze. Suddenly, he knew where the man was.
"Rule number one," Blaze said. Naruto cringed and braced himself. "Never trust Blaze! One Thousand years of pain!" Naruto flew to the top of his house and hit his head on the ceiling. He came crashing down. Standing above him, Blaze laughed heartily.
"Why you…" Naruto said. But before he could launch a counter attack, Tayuya appeared. She wore a big t-shirt and jean pants.
"Let's go you sorry excuse for ninja," Tayuya said.
"Aye aye, Captain Bigmouth," Blaze said. Blaze was the only one in the village that could get away with shots at Tayuya. Punishment didn't seem to register in Blaze's mind. He was like a disobedient child. And it was Naruto and Tayuya's job to take care of him.
The three ninja began their journey to the Stone Country. They didn't realize that they were being watched the whole time. From atop the Hokage's building, two figures watched the team exit the village. One had a pair of binoculars and was watching the three intently.
"He's defiantly with them," the one with the binoculars said. "Kabuto-san, how shall we proceed?" The white haired ninja watched the group leave. He smiled. Another chance to follow Orochimaru's wishes. This was his chance to redeem himself. Missions lately haden't been going too well due to independent variables, but this was simple enough.
"I didn't expect the Leaf Village to fall for the bait so easily," Kabuto said as he adjusted his glasses. "Tsunade bought my act completely. Now all we have to do is wait. It'll be some time before their in an area where we can launch an attack. Remember Yori, make sure we get Blaze-san to Orochimaru-sama." The other ninja nodded his head.
"Your wish is my command."
Tsunade sat at her desk deep in thought. She was thinking of Kabuto, who had just requested that she do a pseudo-mission to the Country of Stone. She wasn't sure what he was up to, but she felt that if he were here, his lackeys may be around. She had accepted the mission so as to get Blaze as far away from Kabuto as possible. In case Kabuto was going to follow them, she had Kakashi secretly following the group. But she had ANBU members doing their best to ensure Kabuto's movements didn't catch up with the group.
Shizune walked into the room with the requested report.
"Tsunade-sama," she said. "The ANBU are on full alert. Kabuto hasn't left the village yet. His whereabouts are unknown, and every person exiting the village is being thoroughly examined to make sure that they aren't in disguise."
"Good work," Tsunade replied. She wasn't satisfied. A ninja like Kabuto wouldn't be hindered by ANBU, especially if his goal was to escape the village. It wasn't that hard. They just had to keep their eyes peeled for any suspicious activity.
Because she was sure of his intent, and if Kabuto made it out, she could only pray Kakashi could handle his job.
She really wanted to capture Kabuto to cripple Orochimaru's forces. She knew Kabuto was vital to Orochimaru's plans, and his capture would be a good thing for the village and the world. What she was doing was sort of like stopping someone from igniting a bomb. A bomb that could set off something terrible.
That's it for chapter one. Chapter 2 is more about Naruto and Tayuya. It's focusing on the romance between them so we can get back in that mood. Well anyways, R&R! Signing out!
