Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed chapter 1! Thank you jennku, yyh-ygo-fma, and aniwolfgirl for reviewing! Reviews make me so happy! So, all my readers, please review! Now, on with chapter 2!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters; just those of my own design.
Chapter 2
Her surroundings shifted rapidly, signaling to her that this was indeed a dream, and she was now in a decimated part of town, leaning against Choji and looking at Kakashi who was buried up to the chest in stone rubble. She had feared the worst when the Deva Path launched the nail at him, but was relieved to see that he was still alive.
"Ayumi! Choji! Don't let Choza's death be for naught! Get the information you have about those two paths to Tsunade now!"
"But Kakashi-" Ayumi began.
"NOW!" Kakashi cried.
The two quickly obliged before turning and heading towards Tsunade's location with the help of Katsuyu, who had healed her wounds. As they both moved as fast as they could, Ayumi heard something shifting behind them and looked back to see the Asura path launch a missile at them.
"Choji! Watch ou-" Ayumi began to cry before gasping as the missile disappeared at the hand of Kakashi's kamui.
She stopped in her tracks, pulling Choji with her before beginning to run towards Kakashi, despite lingering pain she felt from her wounds shooting through her body as she felt the last of his chakra fade.
"Kakashi! No!" She screamed out as she moved towards him, feeling time slow down severely as she ran towards her beloved.
He smiled at her softly and whispered, "You…saved me…. now I…saved…you…"
Her eyes widened as his head tilted back and he died before her eyes.
"NO!" She shrieked while reaching for him.
As the first rays of sunlight shone through the thin curtains of Kakashi's bedroom, Ayumi began to stir; the dream slowly beginning to fade from her mind. She rubbed her eyes lightly and rolled over, trying to remain asleep but she quickly opened her eyes when her hand landed on a piece of folded paper and not Kakashi's still sleeping form.
She sat up quickly and blinked sleep away from her eyes before beginning to read the note:
Ayumi, I apologize for being gone when you read this. I was called urgently to Tsunade's office concerning a mission to Suna. If what Jiraiya-sama said about the Akatsuki was true all those years ago, then I fear that the Kazekage, Gaara, has been kidnapped. I will return to you, Ayumi. I love you. – Kakashi
The hand holding the note scrunched it up quickly. She was furious that Lady Tsunade did not think to send her as well. Tossing off the covers off rapidly, she climbed out of bed and dressed. As she exited the apartment, she thought of what she would say to the Hokage when she arrived at her office.
Tsunade sighed contentedly to herself as she finished another small cup of sake. She reached to pour herself another cup before getting back to work when suddenly Ayumi burst into her office.
"What on earth do you think you're doing?" The Hokage exclaimed as Ayumi slammed a fist down on her desk, her journey to the office had only fueled her anger as she mulled over the situation.
"Care to explain why I wasn't sent on the mission with Kakashi? We've been paired on nearly every mission since his team was disbanded nearly three years ago; how is this any different?"
Tsunade stared calmly at Ayumi before speaking softly, "You should not let your emotions get the better of you. While you would have been an asset on this mission, however-"
"Then why wasn't I sent?"
Tsunade glared at her for interrupting her, "However, you are needed elsewhere," she picked up a fairly large green scrolls, "You have a mission to Ishigakure."
Ayumi straightened up and steeled her emotions, "And a C-rank looking one at that. Can't you give it to a genin team? Or maybe a chunin?"
The Hokage sighed, "It's a B-rank because of the turmoil in the daimyo's village. Now, this scroll is a peace treaty between our lands. It has been revised based on suggestions by both parties but needs final approval. Get the daimyo's approval and bring it back for approval on our end and finalization. Leave immediately and be careful."
Ayumi nodded and took the scroll, "Yes, Lady Tsunade," she bowed deeply, "And forgive me for my irrational behavior."
"If it gets you out of here, then fine," Tsunade replied before sighing as she left.
Not too long after the kunoichi left, a loud knock was heard on the door followed by Gai, Rock Lee, TenTen, and Neji entering the room.
"For the love of Kami, please tell me Ayumi didn't see you?" The Slug Queen questioned, exasperated.
Gai shook his head, "You really upset her, didn't you?"
The woman nodded before sighing, "We've received word from Sakura that Kankuro is healed and resting, but, by morning, they plan to leave out in pursuit of Gaara. I want you four to go as back up. And please, don't let Ayumi find out."
Gai nodded, "Understood," he turned to his team, "All right everyone, let's go!"
With an enthusiastic reply only from Rock Lee, Team Gai headed out for Suna.
Before dawn the following morning, Kakashi and Pakkun were scanning the area of Kankuro's battle with Sasori in hopes of finding anything.
"Any luck, Pakkun?" Kakashi questioned.
The small dog shook his head, "No…nothing."
As dawn broke in the small canyon, Kakashi turned in time to see Kankuro arrive with the help of Sakura, Naruto, Lady Chiyo of Suna, and a few Suna shinobi.
"Is there anything else you can tell us about your battle, Kankuro?" Kakashi asked.
The young man nodded towards a large boulder, "That nearly crushed Sasori, have you checked it?"
Pakkun trotted over to it before barking a bit and calling from the backside of the boulder, "Hey, Kakashi! I found a scrap of his cloak!"
The team of shinobi moved around the boulder to see Kakashi crouch and pull out the piece of cloth from beneath the large rock.
"Good work, Pakkun."
The dog nodded before Kakashi looked at the others and stated, "All right. Now that we have a way to track them, we can head out once our back up arrives."
"Back up?" Naruto questioned.
As if right on time, Gai's team leapt down from the top of the canyon and in amongst their allies and friends, smiling as they did so.
"See, my youthful team! I told you we would arrive before my rival departed!" Gai exclaimed to a partially out of breath team.
"Brushy brow! TenTen! Neji! Look at you guys!" Naruto shouted.
Before they could reply, however, Kakashi stated, "You can catch up with them on the journey, Naruto. Right now though, we need to begin heading out."
"I'm going with you," Kankuro stated while stepping forward before wincing and gripping his side and coughing.
"Kankuro, you need to rest," Sakura stated, giving him a concerned look.
"Yes," Lady Chiyo agreed, "you need to rest Kankuro-san. We'll be fine."
"Yeah, Kankuro," Naruto cheered, "I promise you that we'll bring back Gaara and kick those Akatsuki's guy's butts for taking him!"
Kankuro, who seemed unsure at first, was reassured when Naruto promised him, "Fine, fine. I'll go lie down."
The Suna shinobi helped him away before Sakura noticed that Lady Chiyo remained behind, "Lady Chiyo? Will you be coming with us?"
She nodded to Sakura before looking at Kakashi, "If the son of the White Fang will allow me. I'd like to deal with my grandson."
Kakashi nodded before looking at them all, "All right. Let's go, but remember everyone: be on your guard."
They all nodded to Kakashi before following Pakkun, who lead the way towards the Akatsuki members and Gaara.
The sharingan user of the group stayed ahead of the rest and even with Pakkun as they travelled.
"Hey, Kakashi. What's bothering you?" Pakkun questioned, speaking quietly so the others would not hear him.
The man shook his head slightly, "I was sad yet surprised when I didn't see Ayumi with Gai's team. However, this mission is dangerous…perhaps its better if she's not here…"
Pakkun nodded, growling slightly in agreement, "Ahh, the joys of a shinobi relationship."
Kakashi shook his head while chuckling slightly, "Sure, let's call it that." 'No matter what, even if I'm with her on a mission or not, even if I know she's home in the village, I worry for her safety.'
Ayumi sighed as she leapt quickly from branch to branch towards Ishigakure. She travelled through the night, only stopping to take a few soldier pills so she could keep her pace as she travelled. She should arrive in the Daimyo's village in a few hours, a journey most shinobi would do in two days, but she wanted to get back to Konoha as quickly as possible.
'Perhaps if I return quickly enough, Tsunade will send me out to aide Kakashi,' a part of her hoped, but she knew the woman wouldn't do so.
As she travelled, she thought about her mission and recalled the part about the local gang that made this mission B-rank.
'They wear the kanji for "pain" on headbands on their forehead. Posing as kind shinobi to get close their victims. A small group made up of various rogues with a leader named Goumon Kurushimi…that name…. Why is it so familiar?' She thought to herself.
She pushed the thought from her mind as she spied the village several hundred yards ahead of her.
'Oh well…probably just saw the name in the Bingo Book somewhere…'
