He just knew he would be in trouble with Tsunade after this stunt, but he just couldn't help himself. When he was younger, he graffitied each of the previous Hokage's stoned face, and it only seemed natural that returning after a long journey he would do it as though it were a ritual. Should he hear word that Tsunade-baa-san was looking for him, he would simply look the other way. Possibly run the other direction as well.
"Now that's what I call a make-over," Naruto chuckled.
His laughter abruptly ended when a familiar face stopped in front of him. She didn't seem too pleased with him either.
"Naruto, what the hell are you doing?! Did you forget what happened last time you did this? Besides, Shishou is looking for you. And she is not happy in the least," the pink-haired female stated.
He grinned and backed away, "Thanks for the advice, Sakura-chan! Guess I better start running!" Before he was able to escape, he was captured by the collar of his jacket.
She sighed at his childish antics, "Where do you think you're going? Tsunade-sama will be upset if you don't go now."
Naruto looked at her with his signature grin and scratched the nape of his neck. A distraction would be needed greatly to get away.
Nara Shikamaru flew passed them and unfortunately for him, he was spotted.
"Shikamaru! What's up?" Naruto cried out with a pleading look.
He quickly changed directions and landed near them. To Sakura he said, "Get to the hospital. Kakashi-san and I brought back a girl after what looked like an extreme battle."
Thankful for the demand, Naruto ran out of sight before he heard anything else.
"Tsunade-sama, Nara Shikamaru is here to see you," Shizune, the brunette apprentice of the Hokage, was followed in by the announced Jounin.
The chair turned from behind the desk to reveal a seemingly middle-aged blonde that didn't look a day over thirty-five, though, she was actually in her fifties. Her hair was in low pigtails that swept over her shoulders. The purple gem that was imbedded on her forehead shone from the sun's glare. She was already aggravated with the mischievous Naruto and this report wouldn't help her nerves.
"If you are here and she is at the infirmary, then where is Kakashi," Tsunade asked.
Shikamaru hoped he was right, "Stayed with the girl."
Out of nowhere, Kakashi made his entrance through a window behind the blonde Hokage. Shizune wondered how he could always pop in right as they were speaking about him. Must have a jutsu radar or something, he guessed.
"Hello, Tsunade-sama. You're looking aggravated, as usual," the masked ninja greeted.
"You left the unknown victim alone," she asked.
His smile was visible through the mask, "She's with Hinata. I don't believe she's in any condition to attack nor defend."
"Tell me about this girl and where you found her."
Sighing loudly, Shikamaru began explaining the situation, "When we were returning from our mission, there was a loud explosion. Decided to check it out since it was so close to the village. We saw two Akatsuki members running from the scene - Deidara and Tobi. We also found the girl on the ground beaten. It seems like she was in battle with the one called Deidara. I believe it was his partner, Tobi, with him."
Tsunade hissed, "Akatsuki?"
Shizune perked up at Tsunade's question.
"I took this from her forehead when I first found her," Shikamaru handed her the forehead protector bearing a thin line through the Hidden Grass Village's symbol. "Thought it would be important, considering the slashed symbol."
"A Rogue of Kusa," the woman asked no one in particular.
Kakashi nodded before setting a piece of cloth in front of the Hokage. "There were only two members there and the victim. This piece of cloak does not belong to the two members fleeing."
Ton-Ton squealed as Shizune began to hold on tighter with anticipation and anxiety.
"Are you telling me that you two brought in an Akatsuki member in my village? The same village that holds the strongest Bijuu? Are you two that stupid?! Naruto has just returned and though he's stronger, he's not able to beat them off just yet!" Her hand slammed down and for once, Shikamaru was slightly scared.
Everyone was quiet when Shizune suggested that it might be best to bring the girl here. Tsunade agreed with her first apprentice.
"You, Idiot, will stay with her at all times until we figure out what to do with her," she informed Kakashi. "Which means you will also open your home for her. That is an order."
"Hai," Kakashi gave a short nod.
Shikamaru wondered whether or not he should ask if it was a good idea to leave her with the lecher. When he remembered she was somehow involved with Akatsuki, he decided it wasn't worth mentioning. Wouldn't be so bad if one Akatsuki gang banger was hurt, right? Right.
"I do not want Naruto near her. Shikamaru, you'll make sure to keep him away from her, and don't make it obvious. I do not want either of you to mention this to anyone. That includes your team, Shikamaru. There is no need to risk this information leaking and alarming the people. You'll not leave her side again until I give you other orders, Kakashi."
Shizune asked the one question that may be helpful to them, "When can we expect her to be released?"
"Day or so with her strength and Hinata's medical skills," the sensei answered before leaping out of the window at the sight of his blond student.
For the rest of the day, Both Kakashi and Shikamaru were busy keeping Naruto from paying Sakura a visit at the hospital. That night, neither shinobi could have been more exhausted.