Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or InuYasha… if I did I'd take Kakashi's mask off and finally get Inu and Kagome together!
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Hatake Kakashi sat with his free arm outstretched on the back of the bench, while the other was in front of him holding one of his beloved Icha Icha books. He was happily lazing around in random spots all over town, getting up only once he saw anyone he knew. He wanted to be alone for the day, but despite being his day off that didn't mean you didn't see him in his standard ninja attire.
His silver hair caught in a breeze as a poof was heard and a man with an animalistic mask now stood in front of him, a scroll in his outstretched hand. Kakashi's one exposed eye lingered on a few more words in the book before he looked up at the ANBU member.
"Hokage-sama's orders" A muffled voice said behind the mask. Suppressing a heavy sigh Kakashi took the scroll, and with another poof the man was gone. He wondered what such a pressing matter would be that ruined the nice, peacefulness of his day off.
Opening the scroll his exposed eyebrow raised and his ebony eye widened in surprise. Well, team seven would really get a treat. It seemed that some strange things have been happening in Tokyo city around a certain family, and they were to find the source.
Kakashi heaved the heavy sigh he wanted so badly to a few moments ago, then headed toward the bridge he always met his team before their missions. No doubt the ANBU or someone would inform the teens of their mission. It must have been a doozie if Tsunade had called them all on their day off.
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Sakura sat in her room on her bed when she heard the door bell ring followed by her mother's call for her. She half expected it to be Ino at the door, but was surprised when she found it was Naruto and Sasuke.
"Hello! Sakura-Chan!" Naruto bounced, then flashed her a quirky smile. Despite her blonde companion's distractions her eyes darted quickly to Sasuke, who she found it odd to be hanging out with Naruto. She gave them the oddest of looks, and before she could really ask Sasuke turned away. He was his usual dark and brooding self… Sakura smiled.
"we have a mission!" Naruto said happily playing with the straps of his backpack. "our orders are to pack for an away mission and meet Kakashi-Sensei at the bridge."
"oh!" Sakura exclaimed in surprise. "I thought we were off for the next few days?" She asked as she ushered her two comrades in.
"I guess not" Sasuke said shrugging his shoulders, then stepped aside shutting the door behind him.
Sakura gave a smile to both of her comrades, though she lingered on Sasuke… the man she loved since she was little, then excused herself to go pack.
It took her no time to pack a few things, and unlike Naruto her pack was defiantly not halfway filled with Ramen. Sometimes she could swear that if he could pack Ichiraku with him he would. She giggled as walked down the stairs to see Naruto and Sasuke playing Janken.
Both boys looked up with a sheepish grin then immediately stood up.
"Ready?" Sasuke asked. Sakura smiled and nodded her head. She waved to her mother as she walked down the street.
The three of them were on their way to meet their Sensei, who undoubtedly would be at least a half an hour late.
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Sasuke was a little more than miffed that his training day had been cut short because he had a mission. He needed to train to reach the strength required of him to kill Itachi.
Sasuke heard soft footsteps coming closer and closer. He looked up to see his teacher, Kakashi, walking toward them… a serious look on his exposed features.
"Your late!" Naruto and Sakura exploded in unison. Sasuke laughed. Kakashi of course would come up with a lame excuse, and again Naruto and Sakura would say "You Lie!" while pointing at them. Sometimes his comrades were a little too predicable, but that didn't happen, which sort of shocked him.
This was bad.
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Kakashi still donning his serious expression, so serious in fact that he never made any attempt at concealing why he was late, or telling them some excuse. Instead he jumped right into explaining their mission.
"Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke… this mission is important, as are all missions. But we're going into the heart of Tokyo city… It's crowded and nothing is small. We'll need to stick together until we reach Higarashi Shrine." He gave a reassuring smile to them, though the only sign of his smile was his eye crinkling in the corner, and a slight incline on his masked cheek.
"Higarashi Shrine?" Naruto asked, his expression like that of a dim light bulb. It almost made Kakashi laugh. He was about to explain when Sakura smacked him over the head and called him an idiot.
"Higarashi Shrine is a sacred shrine where people used to come from all countries to pray to the Gods." Sakura smiled knowingly. Of course Kakashi knew it was more than just that, he just didn't feel like explaining it to them.
"Well then, let's go…" Kakashi said in a somewhat unenthusiastic tone. "We have a lot of traveling to do." Walking toward the gates he sighed.
Was it good to tell them that there was a possibility that could run into a several hundred year old half demon? No, definitely not worth telling them. Better to get the shock and a laugh at the same time.
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Naruto walked for the first few minuets in silence, which was even pretty scary for him. He, Sakura-Chan, and Sasuke were walking in front of Kakashi-Sensei, who had the famous orange book plastered just a few inches from his face. It's a wonder he could sense anything coming his way when he was so into what he was reading.
Naruto turned to his sensei and crossed his arms. "Hey, Kakashi-Sensei… what are we really going to do?" He asked.
Kakashi pulled the book away to look down at the young genin. "Hnn?" He asked, not having paid attention.
"What are we really going to do?" Naruto repeated.
Kakashi laughed. "everything, and nothing at all." He answered Naruto purposefully confusing him. Naruto narrowed his eyes and scowled.
"What kind of answer is that?" Naruto's tone dissatisfied and angry.
"The kind you need to think about, Naruto" Sakura said butting in with a giggle.
Naruto decided to shut up entirely, and walk the rest of the way steaming mad, but broke out into giggles. That earned weird looks from his comrades, but he didn't explain himself… instead he walked onward.
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Sakura hung back with Kakashi, who had gone back to reading his book. She wondered how many times he'd read it. It always seemed to be the same book, or was he just that slow of a reader?
Looking up at him, her face twisted with thoughts showing on her features and she cocked her head. Surely as handsome as he seemed to be, with all of one eye showing, she was sure he could get a date, why resort to dirty books? Sakura shrugged at her own question as if answering it herself. Then padded to catch up with Sasuke, who was the real object of her interest. She always looked forward to new missions
Though as she caught up a thought dawned on her.
"Why investigation? We don't really do that sort of thing…" She trailed off, though her question wasn't really directed toward anyone she hoped for an answer.
"That's a good question, Sakura…" Sasuke said looking slightly over his shoulder at her, which sent chills down her spine and a smile to appear on her delicate lips. If only he smiled at her, it would make her even more happy.
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"We're not." Kakashi's voice came out clear than day as he turned a page.
Sasuke huffed. So like his Jounin teacher to not tell them anything of their missions. It bugged him to no end that they never really knew what they were supposed to do until the mission turned bad somehow.
"I'll tell you more once we get there." He heard Kakashi say from behind him. No he wouldn't and that pissed him off even more.
Sasuke looked beside himself to Naruto, who he hoped to break the monotony, only to find him he was just as silent as himself.
Shit.
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"Hey gramps… why did you call a ninja's? I didn't even think they still existed." Sota asked almost looking puppy dog like as he cocked his head to look at his grandfather. He hung out too much with Inuyasha while Kagome was in school.
"You did what!" Kagome burst out letting a piece of egg fall to her plate. If it wasn't him telling her friends she always had some new disorder it was something else. She really grew to dislike her grandfather lately.
"relax…" Her grandfather stumbled on his words with a laugh. "They're coming to take a look at some of my artifacts."
That was a blatant lie if she ever heard one.
"What are you up to?" Kagome asked low and dangerous.
Before her grandfather could answer her Inuyasha came strolling in the door. Inside she squealed like a teeny bopper fan at a pop concert, but on the outside she scowled.
"well, I'm off then…" she got up and headed to her room to grab her backpack. She really had no interest in meeting any ninja's, but it really did make her wonder what her grandfather was up to.
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They had boarded a train just outside of the Fire Country, and to Kakashi's relief no one had bothered them.
"We'll be in Tokyo City soon, enjoy your trip." The ticket master said as he left, having just taken their tickets.
In a matter of hours they'd be at their final destination. Kakashi had only heard of Higarashi Shrine once, but as Sakura said it was where people flocked to pray to the gods. But it was also said that a demon had been struck down and bound to the tree, later freed by a young priestess, who oddly enough came from his own time. Why the old man had called for any Shinobi was beyond him. He only hoped he didn't have to meet the half dog demon. It would put an even bigger damper on his day… aside being pulled away from the peacefulness of his day off to do whatever Tsunade had in store for him and his team.
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Authors Note: I'm very sorry if I'm not hitting their personalities on the head… even though I'm such a big fan of both shows/manga… it's still very hard to get them down pat. Also, even in InuYasha it never really says anything about what Higarashi shrine is… so I've kind of winged it.
I've had to upload and delete this thing several times already... I'm still very new to all this on this site. So, hopefully I'll get used to it soon and the progression of the story works well. I have a bad tendency to forget about things.
Question's comments and praise are welcomed. :insert funky smiley face here: