Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!
Author's note: First day of school! I'm finishing this small chapter this morning before the bus arrives, so that's why it's so small. But I'll probably update again later or tomorrow. Thanks for reading! As always, reviews are welcome!
Café Conundrum
Kakashi woke in the middle of the night to find Gai groaning besides him. There are two types of groans in this world, those that express enjoyment, and those that were made from a pain welling inside. Gai's groan sounded like the latter. "Gai! Wake up!" When Gai curled up into a ball on his side and refused to open his eyelids, Kakashi walked over to his friend's sleeping bag. Laying a hand on the body, he gently shook him awake. Gai shot up from bed ready to defend himself with a kunai. "It's just me. I got worried, you started groaning in your sleep." The sharingan user took this time to notice that sweat soaked the top of his teammate's shirt. "It's nothing, just a bad dream." Kakashi, still a little reluctant to help, asked awkwardly if he wanted to discuss the topic. Gai turned around to go back to sleep. "No."
A few hours later they started on the trail again. At the rate they ran at, they would be in the land of Earth. "Let's slow our pace to walking." Said Kakashi, while stepping down from the branch of a tree. Gai slid down the tree and landed next to his comrade. "How do I look?" Questioned Gai. Kakashi glanced at the ninja in tattered, worn clothes. He combed his black hair back into a small ponytail that hung a little above the nape of his neck. The usual sheen, gone, replaced by dirt. His teeth no longer sparkled either, but instead shined a dull yellow. "Good, what about me?" Kakashi's grey hair, instead of sticking up like normal, clung to his face like after his showers. He wore an eye patch instead of his headband, and the clothes hung rather loosely on Kakashi's skinny figure. Gai scooped some dirt in his hand and flung it at the other jounin. "Now you're ready!" He said, giving one last thumbs up.
The other villagers, used to the travelers passing through their land, paid no attention to the disguised forms of Maito Gai, and Kakashi Hatake. "Kaito, I'm hungry." Kakashi (codename Kaito) peeked at Gai. These words were the code words for the first place the scroll might be found. "Okay Ryuu. Let's stop in that café over there." The two adults entered the small café and immediately saw why this place could withhold the scroll. Instead of wood pillars to hold up the building, the pillars, made of metal, expanded all the way up to the roof. They chose a seat in between the entrance and the backdoor. "What can I get for you two?" "2 Teas and a cinnamon bun." The waitress nodded and hurried towards another table. "I'm going to use the bathroom." Said Gai, casually. Kakashi picked Gai to search this place because it was small, and the taijutsu master would clear the premises in seconds.
"Anything?" Kakashi asked over the cinnamon bun. Gai lifted his right index finger and drew a small circle on the wooden table. The code action meant yes, "But not exactly what we need," Gai said. Kakashi just ordered for the check to come when he noticed the bar tender staring at his customers. Kakashi bit the tip of his thumb to warn Gai of the bartender's suspicion. "This tea sure is good." Said Gai, trying his best to fake the traveler's accent. "I know, my ma used to make tea better than this though."
"Could you two come over here?" Asked the bartender. Gai and Kakashi glanced at each other. "Of course. Is there something wrong mister?" The bartender put a hand on Kakashi's arm and guided him to the back of the café.
"I think you have something of ours." He said while taking out a concealed knife. "Woah, we're just travelers. We don't have anything." Kakashi tried bluffing but when three more men came in, he knew there would be no easy way out. The lights flickered out, and a scream could be heard.
What exactly did Gai find? Who are these people that the dynamic duo are about to fight? Who screamed? Will Gai's illness get in the way of the fight? Will they make it to retrieve the scroll and bring it back to the Village Hidden in the Leaves? Tune in next time for the thrilling fight between the leaf ninja and the café attackers.
