The Kunoichi Code
Chapter 2
The Kunoichi Only Corridor
(I don't own Naruto)
XxXxX
Naruto was confused.
Okay, he is nearly confused on almost everything…
Let me rephrase that sentence.
Naruto was confused where his teammate, Sakura, had gone.
There, is that better?
No? Well shut up then…
Anyway, after a brutal training sensation, searching for the Fire Daimiyo's wife's cat, Tora, (who had scratched Naruto in the face several times. Something that Sasuke didn't mind and watched amusedly with a smirk on his face) and eating a large helping of Ramen, Naruto was content to crawl in his bed and sleep as much as he wanted to.
However, the way that Sakura had that distant look in her eyes and sad expression that adorned on her face, Naruto couldn't help but wonder what was 'Kunoichi Protocol. Black Dove' meant.
"Sasuke!" Naruto whined to his teammate, who he had dragged to search for the female teammate in and around town. "Where do you think Sakura-chan could go?"
Sasuke twitched, though he kept his calm façade as he responded with his usual 'Hn.'
Which Naruto responded with a pout, but neither the less, he continued talking animatedly, talking about various hiding spots like under the beds or in a tree.
Geez, for someone who wants to be the Hokage, he sure is clueless.
"Shut up Naruto," Sasuke growled, irritated on how the blonde haired ninja was acting.
"What if she has a lover? Yeah, and he's like in a different ninja village. And he's a criminal. Oh and maybe he's married. Yeah and then he—"
"Naruto. Ami said Kunoichi Protocol: Black Dove. I'm sure that doesn't mean that Sakura is having an affair." Sasuke rolled his eyes, slightly amused on his predictions.
"Umm, did you say Black Dove?" Naruto whirled around, while Sasuke calmly turned around. See there's a difference.
"Hanabi? Hanabi Hyuuga?" Naruto asked, cocking his head sideways.
It was Hanabi Hyuuga, proudly wearing her Konoha Hiate on her neck, like Hinata. She was wearing a simple training black tank top and underneath was a fish net shirt. She wore khaki pants with a kunai pouch strapped to her thigh.
She had grown up since two years ago and was a Konoha Chuunin at age ten. She had stepped out of the dango shop the two teammates passed and heard Sasuke say about the oddly colored bird.
"Yes. Is there anything special about it?" Sasuke quietly asked, his hands stuffed in his pockets.
"Nothing special that you should need to know. Where did you hear that?" Hanabi asked, fiddling with her long raven hair.
"Ugh, Ami told Sakura-chan about this bird that she had missed or something like that. She said something about protocol?" Naruto answered, oblivious to the glare that Sasuke shot him since he had given away information carelessly.
"Thank you, Uchiha-kun, Uzumaki-kun," Hanabi said, bowing slightly. "I shall take my leave now."
And turning around, she darted through the streets. Unknown to her, Sasuke and Naruto were tailing her from the shadows.
Stalkers…
XxXxX
"Troublesome."
Shikamaru sighed, sitting up as he was lying against a tree trunk.
"It's our free day, Chouji. I don't want to ask Hokage-sama for a mission when we have a break. Why can't you be like Ino? She's spending the whole day shopping and pampering again. At least she gets the point of a break."
"Come on Shikamaru. I need to get a few missions pay check so Pa and I can hit the new barbecue restaurant down the block and I don't want to do it alone." Chouji said, puffing his cheeks out.
"Fine," Shikamaru sighed, standing up. "But next time, you're doing it alone."
"Thanks Shikamaru," Chouji smiled gratefully. "It's only a few C-rank missions around the village. Nothing big."
"It's still work."
"True."
The two friends continued to walk in silence, not an awkward silence, but a comfortable silence.
"Hey Shikamaru, do you mind if I check if Ino's home?" Chouji asked, as they passed the Yamanaka flower shop, which was next to the Yamanaka household.
"Why?" Shikamaru asked, not bothering to open his eyes.
"It's been awhile since we've been on a mission together as Team Ten, don't ya think?"
"Ino's probably not home. She went shopping."
"It won't hurt to look." Shikamaru didn't protest and the two walked (Shikamaru with his eyes closed) towards Ino's house.
"Hey, Shikamaru?" Chouji hesitantly asked.
"What?"
"Ino's key is still in the lock and the door's wide open." Shikamaru snapped his eyes open and he did saw Ino's key in the door lock and open.
"Do you think she was kidnapped? Ino is part of the Yamanaka clan?" Chouji asked, his eyes frantic and worried.
"There's no sign of struggle or a fight," Shikamaru said, closely inspecting the door. "She probably got called on an important mission or there was a sale and she forgot."
"If you say so…" Chouji said, still worried about the whereabouts of their other teammate.
"How troublesome. If you want, you can just ask Hokage-sama about it when we get there. I'm sure she'll know." Shikamaru yanked the key out of the lock and threw it inside before closing the door.
The two had continued walking to the Hokage Tower, but at a much faster pace than before, aware that Ino might be in danger.
"Shikamaru! Chouji!" The two whirled around and spotted Kiba; grinning widely while waving exuberantly, and Shino; aloof and still, hands stuffed in coats pockets.
"Oh, Hey Kiba, Shino!" Chouji greeted politely, before glancing around confused. "Kiba, where's Akamaru? Aren't you always together?"
At Chouji's question, Kiba jutted his bottom lip forward and boyish face former into a pout.
Though the others couldn't tell, they could imagine Shino rolling his eyes as he answered for him.
"Kiba had to take Akamaru to the vet during lunch when he ate some rotten sashimi."
"Anyway," Kiba said, his mind still on his nin-dog. "Where are you two heading?"
"Hokage Tower," Shikamaru answered simply, his hands behind his head.
"Do you mind if we come? Shino and I want to get a mission approved." Kiba asked, elbowing Shino in the gut.
"Sure, but we have to hurry up. I think that Ino's missing."
"What?"
XxXxX
"What do you mean that we can't go in?" Rock Lee demanded at the female Anbu. "We must see Hokage-sama to report our mission results!"
Rock Lee and Neji Hyuuga had just came back from a two month long mission in Mizukagure, talking to the elders and the Mizukage about a truce between Konoha and Mizu. As soon as the mission was over, they were instructed to tell Tsunade about the outcome of there mission when the secretary told them that she was over there, pointing at the hallway where two female anbu were currently standing guard.
The two calming walked towards the hall, but as they were just about to enter, the two anbu stepped in front of them, telling them that they were permitted inside.
Now Lee was yelling at them, demanding for him and his teammate to let them through while Neji was calmly analyzing the scene silently with calculating eyes.
"Look. You two aren't allowed inside. Whatever you mission's results, it can wait. This is much more important," The one on the left said, making Lee grumble and walk away from the two anbu.
The two did not walk away from the tower, but instead were sitting in the chairs in the waiting area near the hallway, staring at the hallway as if it was the devil himself.
"Neji-kun! Why don't you think they won't let us in?" Lee asked, glancing at the Anbu.
"I'm not sure. Let's wait and see who are they letting in. They said they weren't allowing us in. They must be allowing someone else in," Neji answered quietly, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"Sugoi, Neji-kun! You're really smart since if you notice that," Lee praised him and Neji inwardly cringe, knowing what was coming next.
"YOU'RE GLOWING WITH THE POWER OF YOUTH! GAI-SENSEI MUST BE SO PROUD OF YOU! NEJI-KUN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BORROW A PAIR OF MY YOUTHUL SPANDEX?" Lee yelled, making the anbu glance his way.
"No Lee, I really don't," Neji sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose and closing her eyes.
"Bushy Brows? Neji? What are you guys doing here?" Naruto asked as he appeared in front of the two, Sasuke trailing behind them.
"Nothing, Naruto-kun. We were supposed to tell Tsunade-sama about our mission results and Tsunade-sama is currently in that hallway, which the two anbu won't let us through. They said we're not permitted in so we're waiting to see who's allowed in," Lee said, his voice dropping into a regular indoor voice.
"Ahh, come on Bushy Brows, you know that they will let me through. Everyone loves me," Naruto bragged proudly.
It wasn't a lie though. Ever since he had defeated the Peins, whose real name was Nagato, and convince Nagato to bring back the people he killed back to life, he was a hero. Even though he was a jinchuuriki, everyone seemed to love him and treated him with respect.
As Naruto swaggered (yes, he really swaggered) towards the anbu, Neji and Sasuke weren't even paying attention to him.
"Hyuuga."
"Uchiha."
"Hyuuga."
"Uchiha."
The two evenly glared at each other, milky white and obsidian eyes clashing together as Lee didn't pay them any heed as his attention was solely concentrated on Naruto.
"Excuse me, if you'll just let me through," Naruto said, trying to edge his way inside as the two were blocking the entrance.
"Sorry, Uzumaki-sama (Naruto beamed at that and his head t seem to get even larger) but we're not allowed to let you through." The one on the right said.
Naruto's face fell at the words and Sasuke stopped his glare fest with Neji enough to see Naruto's shock and disappointment and let a smirk grace his face.
"It's not fair…I'm the one who saved their lives…Not even letting me through…Not telling me a good reason…." Naruto mumble as he trudged towards the trio.
"Why are you two here?" Lee asked as the two sat on one of the large green couches.
"We were looking for Sakura-chan ("THE YOUTHFUL CHERRY BLOSSOM?") because she mysteriously disappeared when Ami said something about protocol and black doves. When we were talking about that, Hanabi, you cousin, asked if we said about black dove and she raced off. We were tailing her but she had to do a D-rank mission with her team so we just went here, seeing if Tsunade-baa-chan knew where Sakura-chan is," Naruto explained, his previous bad mood gone.
"Hn." Neji simply said as Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
"Hn." Neji glared at Sasuke, who had "Hn-ned' right after him.
"Hn."
"Hn."
"Hn."
"HN." Sasuke smirked as Neji's glare became intense. Capitals, italics, bold face, beat that!
"It's like the battle of the prodigies!" The four looked around and saw Tenten giggling into her hand, wearing her black kimono top and green shorts. There were no weapons in sight (in sight, she probably had a katana strapped on her thigh or a pack of kunai in her bra or something like that) as she was wearing her civilian clothes, though her hair was still in her twin buns.
"Youthful Tenten-chan! It's such an honor to see you after two months!" Lee joyously cried out, as Neji simply nodded in acknowledgement.
"Hey Lee, Neji! It's great to see you again! You too, Sasuke, Naruto," Tenten said with a smile, cheerful as ever.
"Whatcha guys up to?" She asked, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet.
"We have to see Tsunade-sama but she's in there and the anbu won't let us in," Naruto whine, his brows furrowing.
Tenten just arched her eyebrows as she glanced at the two anbu.
"Wait a minute," She told them, jogging to them and having a quiet conversation with them as the four tried to hear what they were saying, though the only got snippets of their conversation.
"…is this…happening…again?" They heard Tenten say and the anbu on the left answered.
"…last night…..only…..missions….level…..actually…almost went to four, almost five." They couldn't hear the rest of the conversation and pretended they weren't eavesdropping as Tenten walked towards them.
"Guys, you won't see Tsunade-sama, Sakura-san, or some of the Kunoichi for awhile. I suggest that you forget about the corridor, it's nothing to your concern. Please, don't try to go inside or figure out what's happening. It's for the best," Tenten rushed. The minute she was done she sprinted inside the corridor, leaving the four confused.
However, though the four were still confused and wanted to know more, they did leave the Hokage tower, there mind pondering ideas on what was inside the corridor.
"What if it's a male strip club?"
-Thwack-
"Just shut up Naruto."
XxXxX
After several D-rank missions, Hanabi Hyuuga was free to leave. She was inwardly cursing her sensei, though outwardly she didn't show that she was upset as she respectfully bowed before she barreled towards the Hokage Tower.
It was already late in the afternoon when she was allowed to leave and couldn't help scold her for missing the black dove and had to hear it from a shinobi. She had learned about the code two years ago when she made Chuunin, briefly learned about it from her older sister and her academy teacher and she missed one of the most dark, obvious signs.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid," She muttered as she passed Sasuke and Naruto, her sister's crush.
"What if it's a male strip club?" She heard Naruto say as she sighed. She wondered what her sister saw in him. Sure he was strong and loyal, but seriously! Why him? Why did her sister have to like some like him?
"Just shut up Naruto." And for once Hanabi was happy that an Uchiha was there as Naruto ceased his rambling and soon they were out of sight as she drew near the Hokage tower.
"Watch out!" However, Hanabi was slow to react as she ran into someone and they both toppled to the ground.
"Sorry, Nara-kun." She apologized, scrambling off him.
"Troublesome," Shikamaru sighed as Chouji helped him of the ground.
"Hanabi? What are you doing here?" Hanabi looked around and saw that her sister's teammate's, Kiba and Shino, were also there too.
"Nothing that you need to know, Inuzuka-kun," She told him hurriedly as she tried to squeeze pass them and to the entrance to the tower.
"You can't see Tsunade-sama, the guards aren't letting anyone through" Shino told her quietly but Hanabi just shook her hair, her chocolate brown locks wildly flailing around her.
"Maybe you can't, but I know I can," Hanabi said, trying to push Chouji out of the way.
"What are you talking about?" Shikamaru asked, not really interested but more out of habit.
"Look, it's not for you to know so just forget about it," Hanabi told them , running towards the entrance as Chouji stepped out of the way to let her through.
An: The second chapter is up! I'd like to thank
Cute Amy
U987
Deadpeace6868
Etphonehome10
For reviewing, putting this story on alert, or putting a favorite on it. Please, review, it makes me happy!
Also, I want to get a better summary that would grab your attention. I don't know whether this one does so does anyone has an idea or is it fine the way it is?
Lots of Love, Azusa-Angel!
Please Review!
Or You'll Find Yourself Without A Belly Button In The Morning…