Playlist: Breakdown (Breaking Benjamin), and The Quite Things That No One Ever Knows (Brand New).
Eien No Kessoku
Breathing In
Kakashi looked up into the sky. Sasuke…
He had been told by the Hokage that Team Hebi was moving into the mountains, most likely to cover their tracks. When they thought it was impossible to find them an anonymous tip was received from someone on the border. The spy reported that Sasuke's new team had entered Fire territory. However an immediate retrieval team couldn't be dispatched because the spy also noted that one of the members was unique and could identify chakra from miles away therefore pinpointing the location of any nearby shinobi. Any ninja that got near them would be noticed and Sasuke, would without a doubt, flee the country. The only option was to send in ninja with precise chakra control to serve as spies rather than the brute strength needed to defeat them. However, if Konoha could anticipate Sasuke's next move, the ninja that would have been discovered otherwise could set a trap in the awaiting area where Team Hebi wouldn't be unable to run. Then finally the capture of Uchiha Sasuke could be completed.
And hence, Sakura was sent.
The other downer was that Naruto wasn't there to help. There was no doubt that the blond shinobi would be pissed if he knew that Tsunade was plotting Sasuke's recovery without him. But Naruto had a long journey still to travel and it took at least six weeks to two months to reach Konoha. The treacherous Earth Country would be very hard to maneuver through and that would likely slow him down. But if he didn't get mutilated in there first all he was left with was the calm, simple trip into Grass Country before slipping into Fire. Sakura asked to send a message to Naruto but the only way to communicate with him now was through messenger hawks. If finding a location to send the bird wasn't hard enough, it would still be too dangerous to send a Konoha crested message where the Akatsuki might spot it.
Just then a screech echoed in the cold sky and a large brown bird flew over the pondering Kakashi. He assumed, due to its large size and sleek form that it was a messenger bird. Automatically he looked for an emblem of some sort identifying the village of origin but he saw none. The bird sailed on in the frigid winds and swooped straight into Konoha, headed for the 'birds nest' where other conveyor birds were relieved of their messages.
Kakashi sighed and pulled out his orange book. He pushed aside the messenger hawk from his thoughts. It was probably a request for some ninja protection for a small town in the west. He didn't need to be concerned. Tsunade would undoubtedly send some Genin team for a mission like that.
The snow was thinning out again. The silver haired shinobi sat quietly as the sun snuck away from the clouds and sent a wave of heat over him. Suddenly he was immersed in comfort. The biting cold was lessened greatly, his eyes shut, and he leaned against the tree.
Kakashi dove into the book. It was a little hard to concentrate with the Akatsuki running around in his mind. The fact that there had been no activity from them worried the shinobi. He was hoping that Naruto was clear out of their path and the Akatsuki were left trailing a false lead somewhere much like Konoha might be doing with this whole Sasuke ordeal. Then again, the Akatsuki could just be waiting, knowing where Naruto was headed. All they needed was Naruto to start moving. Hopefully the blond wouldn't do anything foolish before he got home.
A voice broke his chain of thought. "Kakashi."
"Damn it." He grumbled. Just when he had gotten comfortable he was being called to attention. He recognized the voice as Naruto's first sensei, Iruka. "I was hoping that I could stay a little longer before someone smoked me out."
"You're lazy as always, Kakashi." His brown ponytail blew in the wind. But Iruka barely noticed due to his tan overstuffed coat. Kakashi couldn't help but laugh.
While still sitting in the tree he teased Iruka. "You look cozy."
"It's a little big but it's better than freezing my butt off."
Kakashi chuckled. "It makes you look like a burnt marshmallow."
"Get down here…" Iruka changed the embarrassing subject.
"No. I'm very comfortable, believe it or not." Kakashi flipped a page of his book.
Iruka heard it. "What are you doing?"
"Reading."
The seemingly pure nin was hoping to trick Kakashi into coming down. "Can I come up and see?" Iruka put on a puppy dog face and begged innocently.
He imagined the expression Iruka would have after reading his pornography and found himself repressing laughter. "No." Then Kakashi peeked through the leaves and saw the brunette's face. It was a little hard to turn him down.
"…" Iruka looked away, faking a wounded expression. "Can't I come up for a minute? I'll read over your shoulder." Once again, the masked shinobi resisted going down to hug the adorable teddy bear sensei. But the straight man inside Kakashi told him a clear and definite 'no'.
"You would just complain about the cold."
"I would not!" Iruka glowered.
The shinobi sunk down, hiding amongst the ice and leaves. His silver hair poked out over the top. "Yeah, yeah…" Kakashi peered over the branches of the tree.
"So, what do you want?"
Iruka was a bit startled by the question and suddenly remembered his original purpose of coming. "Jiraiya sent something." Before he could finish Kakashi hopped down from the tree.
"It would have been nice if you'd said that first."
Iruka sighed. "You wouldn't have come down. You would have stayed up there to pester me regardless of when I told you." Iruka fumbled around in his jacket and pulled out a scroll.
"Well, we'll never know that, will we?" He commented playfully.
Iruka chuckled as he handed over the unrolled scroll. "I'll remember to try that method next time."
Kakashi's deep black eye scanned over the scroll. After a moment of thought he shut it and handed it back. "I wish he'd have started sooner."
"Why?"
Kakashi started to walk. "Sasuke's been spotted." Iruka didn't walk with him and took a moment to think on it –just as Sakura did only a day ago– then ran to catch up.
"Have they sent anyone yet?" He rubbed his hands together for warmth.
"Yes," Kakashi paused. "Sakura."
Iruka hesitated his next step forward when a flash shock and worry hit him. "Oh…" He followed all the same. "What are you going to do?"
"I'll meet Naruto half way." Kakashi's mind is a little spastic. Iruka sighed. Kakashi continued oblivious to the brunette's mental note. "You read that too, right? Jiraiya isn't there to help him." Kakashi's eye was clearly trapped in concentration. He starred ahead of him almost blindly.
Iruka pouted. "Naruto can take care of himself. Getting back home should be a breeze." Kakashi seemed to think so little of his favorite pupil.
"Are you so sure?" Kakashi rebounded. "Taking care of the Kyuubi isn't that easy."
Suddenly Iruka felt stupid. "Right…"
"A not to mention that dodging the Akatsuki or traveling in enemy territory. That isn't so fun either."
"Alright, alright!" Iruka grumbled in embarrassment. "Gosh, Kakashi… Kick a horse when it's down."
"I would kick a horse, Iruka, if it meant getting my point across to oblivious people like you." Kakashi remarked in an authoritative tone. Iruka looked at Kakashi to see of he was just kidding. When the crinkled eyes full of play showed themselves again they broke into laughter.
Naruto was moving quickly in the forest. Leaves fell all around him in a flurry and it was hard to dodge the bulk of them in the absence of moon light. After weeks of traveling and sleeping in the cold wilderness he had just gotten out of a town to restock his supplies without sleeping in a warm bed… yet again. The blonde's itching desire to reside comfortably and vacation for the rest of winter was almost too tempting to ignore. But it was very dangerous to stay in one place for any time at all especially after the events that took place in that small town he just left.
He knew that he had been in a vulnerable spot to begin with when he set foot into the remote city. He walked right into the relatively vacant street wearing a bright orange outfit with bright blond hair and a bright (not to mention loud) personality. It was hard to not identify him as Uzumaki Naruto.
He had needed supplies but, more than that, he needed a change of clothes. Naruto stepped into an old store and immediately searched for dark colors. He decided he couldn't wear red due to the obvious similarity to the Akatsuki that made his skin tingle and, because it was overly suspicious to any normal person to see someone wearing crimson, he avoided it; white and yellow were a little too inconspicuous to attempt in any place, populated or not. It was much like a beacon flashing from far off saying 'I'm here! Come kill me!'
And lastly, there would be no orange. Black seemed to be his only option which saddened him somewhat. His opinion was that a person's attire was meant to match the wearer. Reluctantly he chose a black, closefitting shirt that had a zipper from the high collar that covered his neck to the middle of his chest with comfortable pair of black pants. When he put it on he was sure that wearing such a dreary and depressing color would make him die a little inside so he grabbed a dark gray overcoat that fit him nicely and lessened the blow.
The woman at the desk complemented his selection and, after finding the right size, he bought the outfit. He found it too depressing to get rid of his old clothes himself but he had no further use for them so he asked the woman to dispose of the memorable orange outfit.
The conversation continued between them and eventually Naruto got around to asking if there was any way to send a message out of this town. She gave him a confused 'no'. Before she could question him further Naruto gave her a polite farewell and rushed out of the city.
His only worry now was that he had spent too much time in the town. It should have clicked earlier that talking to that woman wasn't a smart idea and had endangered her.
Hopefully the Akatsuki aren't headed in this direction. He hated thinking about what someone would do to that woman just to find his location. The image that stuck in his mind made him shutter more than the bracing winds did. Winter was closing in on him, suffocating him like his new turtleneck.
The sun was yet to break the horizon. The ice dripped and trickled down to the lowest leaf. But the chilling winds and lack of sunlight froze the droplet before it could fall and created icicles. The snow was at least three inches thicker than when Genma's team had fallen asleep.
Genma was the only one awake. His shift had come around again a few hours back but everything was still pitch black. The fire had been snuffed out by the air and it wasn't getting any warmer. He huddled closer to Sakura who now sat between his legs, snoozing against his chest and pinning him to the tree he was leaning against. The black haired woman slept quietly.
I should wake them up soon. He mused.
Genma looked down at Sakura as she slept. She was very peaceful and looked comfortable but her ANBU uniform had shifted during the night and the breast plate -that covered… the obvious- was askew. Genma twisted the senbon in his lips and debated whether or not to do anything about it.
After a moment he reached over her shoulder to adjust it. This isn't considered groping. He started to slide his thumb down into her shirt under the plate of metal, right into her cleavage. He fought the temptation to go deeper and started to move the metal slab.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" The question sounded like it came from an agitated grizzly bear as it was waking up. The vibrations of her voice rocked Genma's chest and he froze in fear.
Shit.
His hand was still down the grizzly's shirt.
"Genma… what are you doing?"
He slowly pulled out his hand and returned it to the safety of his pocket. "I was trying to fix your shirt."
"I don't know if I believe you. Your thumb was pretty far down there." The grizzly's voice was loosing its ferocity and Genma was able to recognize it as Sakura again.
"Ahehe…"
Sakura slowly turned around and glared at him. Her green eyes were smoldering in fury. Genma felt sweat gather on his forehead but thankfully Sakura shot up, pulling off the blanket, and merely kicked him in the shin (without her super strength).
She threw the warm blanket in his face and walked over to Akane.
"Stupid Genma…" She groused unheard.
Sakura's green eyes scanned over the sleeping woman's face. She always hated waking people up. She enjoyed the faces they made while asleep. But all the same she shook the brunette's shoulder and whispered a 'good morning' in her ear.
The woman shot up, almost knocking Sakura's head off, and started to move around the site, picking up and putting away their things. Startled, the raven haired kunoichi watched as the work she would have taken ten minutes to do naturally was finished in a whole of thirty seconds by the half asleep cleaning warrior.
"What time is it?" The cleaning warrior mumbled.
Genma answered, also getting up to pack everything again. "The sun hasn't risen yet. It should be around 6AM."
Sakura got to work. She scattered the fire, piled on snow to the ashes, leveled it, and grabbed her things. An annoying poking in her chest made her twitch and she looked down. The chest plate was still lopsided. Frustrated, she whipped it back into its proper position.
"Damn you, Genma…" Genma was about to turn around at the sound of his name but when he cited who's lips had said it he slowly turned back around and got to his work.
Suddenly Sakura turned sober. Things were going to become tougher. This was probably the best sleep they would experience in the coming months until the mission was completed. Sakura took a bag from her pack containing at least fifteen small weapons she could conceal on her person. Even though they were in Fire Country, there were still enemies they might run into and Sakura needed to be completely prepared for anything. Naruto would never forgive her if she got hurt (but he would soon forget and carry on as usual) because he cared and she knew that. She had to remind herself that they wouldn't be able to bring Sasuke back if her team was injured or weakened on the road. Any obstacles had to be overcome so that their goal could be achieved.
"We're moving out." Genma leapt onto a tree branch as Sakura threw on her coat and tied the mask onto her face. The catlike features replaced her own but her green eyes still glistened behind the white façade.
Genma glanced at Akane. She was already set. Then he looked to Sakura. The kunoichi nodded slowly and she took a deep breath like she was about to jump into water. In a flash, all three nin disappeared into the black forest. The campsite was, like the knowledge of their existence in this place, covered flawlessly in pure snow.
…
Days passed. The weather was worsening with every hour and icy needles of precipitation battered against them. Branches were covered in ice, deadly slick, but the spikes on their shoes held their footing. Their movements were never broad or energy consuming. Every step conserved their stamina. They were elite, there was no doubt. The nights passed like hours to them and the shinobi's steps did not falter. Their path was clear and set in stone, set in ice cast by the whirling skies themselves. Black flashed and accelerated into the oncoming wind as if there was no chill in their bones, as if their joints were not stiff.
"We are approaching the first sighting's location." A female voice called into the earpiece.
"You will report confirmation of our target before we advance." Genma's scraggily command resounded inside Sakura, waking her again.
Confirmation of our target… Sakura's eyes squinted in the oncoming wind. Sasuke…
The two kunoichi responded in a harmonizing "Hai!"
There were hours of running without rest. There were many days of sleeping in trees for minutes at a time. They ran in the night but even in the lightless sky their steps never slipped on the icy branches thanks to the metal spikes on the bottom on their shoes. She held in her chakra conservatively which felt more like holding in her breath. Her stomach was tight and her gloves stretched over her knuckles as she clenched a fist. She was becoming numb to the painful cold. It wasn't as important as her true goal and she was no longer concerned about if her coat would be sufficient enough to warm her. All that her mind would look upon was Sasuke.
It would be days before reaching the border of Fire Country. It was so close… Sasuke was so close. If only there was a sign-
"Genma-teichou!" Akane's voice was startlingly loud on the mics after hours of silence between them.
"Report, Akane."
Half a month, no, it had been a month of searching and racing to the edge of hope. Sakura's hope was rekindled after a month of wondering if the spy was even telling the truth.
"I sense three shinobi about three miles off."
Genma's mind was attentive. Only three? Hebi had four members… Genma spoke quickly. "Do you confirm them as our target?"
"No, I'd need to get closer." Akane's voice held some disappointment.
Confirmation of our target… Sakura grabbed the button on her neck and called into the mic. "Direction."
Akane answered confidently. "North-northwest."
Sakura's eyes scanned out. North-northwest. She reached out her chakra fingertips, only taking in and not letting any energy send a ripple into the space, a warning for their targets.
Akane spoke again while upping her pace. "Be cautious. If they sense our presence they'll flee-"
"We have not confirmed target, Akane. Do not engage." Genma's stern voice cut her off.
Sakura's chakra fingers stretched. Reach. Reach! Sakura shut her eyes very briefly to concentrate –they were moving faster, still leaping over the forest through the ice coated trees– and searched.
She reached. Then finally she touched the edge of something and her eyes snapped open.
"Genma-teichou." Sakura blurted.
The connection sounded fuzzy. "Sakura, Report."
"It's Sasuke."
There was silence over the line. Sakura waited for the reply.
"Target confirmed. Prepare to engage."
…
Sakura watched from a tree. Sitting high in its branches staring back to where they came from. She imagined Konoha this morning in this light. It was a beautiful morning, she had to admit. But they had been moving all night and there had been no rest as they ran to catch up with Sasuke.
Akane stood, leaning against the tree's trunk at the base. Her face under the mask was contorted in concentration. There was no doubt that the brunette was more skilled at finding chakra traces than Sakura, much like the member on Sasuke's squad, and her pride was severely wounded when Genma didn't believe her report but listened to Sakura instead. Now she was trying harder than ever to find out anything she could about the enemy to counterbalance her slip up earlier.
"The chakra Houdini is a woman. The other one is a guy. His chakra is massive. I'm amazed they could hide for this long." Akane slipped her hand into her back pocket and pulled out a book. Sakura almost laughed aloud when her thoughts automatically went to Kakashi. Such a simple action as pulling out a small book reminded her of that pervy sensei and his porn even if it was a book full of murderers and missing nins.
Then Akane hummed in undertone, more to Genma than to Sakura. "From what Tsunade knows the woman is named Karin. Nothing else, just Karin and she looks…" The kunoichi froze; she twitched at the sight of Karin's photo in the Bingo book.
Genma looked over. "What?"
"I'll tell you later."
"What?" Sakura repeated him. Akane clearly ignored her and Sakura turned red in the face. She hated being persistent but Akane's attitude was starting to aggravate her. She hated being left in the dark about something seemingly funny.
"Go on. Who's the other guy?"
Genma walked slowly and subtly to keep from disturbing the thinking kunoichi. Sakura watched expectantly. "Suigetsu is from Oto as well… at least I think he is. It's difficult to keep up with all of the loyalty transfers." Sakura couldn't help but notice a little insult slipped in for her to set her teeth on edge. "I know Karin is a medic of sorts. She airs on the side of mad scientist if you ask me."
Sakura thought of what the rumors had been of Sound's experimentation. "How sick…" Sakura growled. Akane didn't take notice.
Abruptly Genma chuckled. He was looking over Akane's shoulder at the picture of Karin.
"What is it Genma?" Sakura wanted to get down and see but her laziness –inspired by a certain silver haired ninja– prevented her from doing so.
Genma only laughed more. "It's nothing." Without another word Genma scaled a tree close by to sit on a sturdy branch.
There were more minutes of silence.
The brunette put away the book and returned to her thinking pose. "Uchiha's on his own a ways off towards the east." Her eyes were firmly shut.
Sakura perked up with some interest. "Can you tell what he's doing?"
"He's pissing." She maundered.
Genma turned around from his spot high in the tree. "Nani!? You can tell that from here?"
Akane ignored him and looked up to snap back at Sakura. "How should I know what he's doing, Sakura?" Akane glared at the raven haired kunoichi. Clearly Sakura was still on her bad side.
Genma wanted to laugh at Akane's childishness but he knew that it could possibly turn fatal if he were to touch on a raw nerve.
The kunoichi's flustered feathers started to settle and she spoke again. "Please tell me Shikamaru spoke to you about a battle plan because if this is as close as we can get…"
Suddenly the spotlight was on him. "He did." Genma answered coolly. "You don't need to worry about that."
"Any decent ninja can tell when a person is using a transformation jutsu. And you know Sasuke won't allow any person near him. In this forest I doubt there is anyone just walking around." The brunette retained her agitation.
"Who says I'm using a transformation jutsu?" Genma chuckled.
Akane sighed. "Whatever it is, do it quickly. I'm afraid that they'll be on the move soon." She paused again and out of curiosity placed her palm against the tree for support as she reached out with her chakra. "No, never mind… Sasuke just returned to the group and it looks like they're staying the night."
"Good. It'll take a few hours for the jutsu to be ready."
"Right." Akane abnegated her argument and sat down silently, ready for some sleep.
Sakura still didn't look as comfortable with the plan. She knew that any use of chakra would be spotted and it was a little risky to depend on Genma's technique that he had learned an hour before they left Konoha. She didn't want to take that chance for the safety of her team.
"Genma… what jutsu is it?" She whispered just loud enough for him to hear. There was no need to make Akane madder at her than she already was by disturbing her sleep.
Genma understood her wish to let Akane rest and leapt up to sit with her on an apposing branch. "Shik showed me how to overshadow an animal. But to avoid suspicion I'll switch hosts a few times in a day." He stated and then laughed to lighten the serious mood Sakura had set for him. "It'd be a little obvious to Sasuke if there was suddenly a bird hanging around him all day."
She didn't want to let up. This was an important mission to her and she didn't want any screw-ups.
"How many times have you done it?"
"Once before we left…" Sakura groaned quietly. She was right. Shikamaru probably showed him this jutsu as he was headed out the door. "But this kind of thing is my specialty."
Her anger was boiling up. This was stupid and dangerous whether it was his 'specialty' or not. She turned on her smart-ass mode. "How much chakra did you waste the first time?-"
"Sakura." He was surprised. "I know it's tricky but you don't need to worry about it. This is my mission too and I want to succeed as much as the next shinobi."
"You know this is more than just a mission for me. I'm trying to look at this logically, you have only used this jutsu once before and you're testing it again on a mission.-"
"If my decisions aren't to your liking then I'll be happy to remind you that, as the leader of this squad, I have the power to revoke your opinion and politely ask you to shove it." Sakura didn't back down at first. She didn't like the smell of this mystery jutsu and it was bound to get them killed regardless of authority.
After a moment she bowed her head. "Gomen-nasai, Teichou." She muttered; her words were drenched in sarcasm.
With that she turned around and rested against the tree to sleep soundly.
"Wake me if anything happens."
Genma glared for only a moment before sighing and dropping down. He fell in a choreographed way as his feet touched on the branches gently to redirect himself and he landed a few feet from Akane, quiet as a mouse.
He moved so he was insight of Sakura and sat down to meditate and prepare the jutsu. Sakura imagined what would happen and the idea of Genma surrounded by fuzzy animals made her snicker.
I hope this works.
I'm so tired of no action! AAAGR! But I really need to get all of this peaceful stuff out of the way... I love Genma... He's like a more perverted version of Naruto. Akane is fun too...
Off I go to write the next one!
IAmNotANut
