April 09, 2008 - Hello there! Even though I posted this story some 2 years ago, I suddenly decided I didn't like the writing style of the first few chapters, and that turned into revising the entire thing. Fun isn't it?

Ya know, originally I didn't actually have any author's notes here. Honestly, I didn't know how. 0.o I'll keep my old notes where they pop up though... which starts in chapter 5 or somethin'.

So enjoy my revised version of this chapter! I'll revise the others when I feel like it... the plot line's the same, just the writing style...

Disclaimer - Me: Do I have to say it?

Everyone: Yes

Me: ... fine! I don't own Naruto. Happy now?

Everyone: kinda.

Chapter 1 and/or 2

A Mysterious Meeting

Escorting missions seemed like the most boring type of mission Naruto had ever been on. Sure, there were missions like gardening, or walking dogs, but the Hokage had been careful not to give him missions like that. She didn't exactly want a headache, or an imploded eardrum for that matter, from Naruto. Still, it was only the escort missions that she allowed Naruto's team to take on. Wouldn't tell them why. Sakura figured she just needed someone to dump them all on.

Currently, they were escorting Kanokori Kaori back to her home in the Lightning country. No one had told Naruto how long it took to get there however, and boredom was starting to kick in.

"I'm bored," he stated in a melancholy tone. "How much further?"

"Another day of walking and we should get there," Kakashi told him for at least the tenth time that day. "Then we have another four days to get back."

"Would you mind telling us why you need an escort Kanokori-san?" Sakura asked politely.

Said adult smiled. "My clan is rather powerful in the Lightning Country," she explained happily. "There are at least one or two gangs out there that would gladly hold me for ransom, if you know what I mean."

Sasuke nodded subconsciously, not really paying attention to the conversation. His mind was set on one thing: to finish the mission without drawing attention to himself. He had other plans during this mission, none that he needed Kakashi snooping on. Which was kind of unavoidable considering he was still under suspicion since returning.

That night, the group camped outside a cave Naruto had stumbled upon when trying to find a short cut to the village, tired as he was of walking. With Sasuke taking the first watch of the night, the group was sleeping soundly; all except Naruto that is. He couldn't sleep knowing there was a whole other day of walking and there could be a secret passage that no one was telling him about. It wasn't like he'd go looking for it though; he just kind of wanted to yell at them for hiding it from him.

He was about to try engaging Sasuke in conversation (which was a lost cause even as he thought about it) when he opened his eyes to see Sasuke walking away. As quietly as he could and without making too much sound, he got up and followed the other boy, using all of his tricks to keep his presence unknown to him.

Sasuke walked a bit further into the forest, just out of earshot of the group when he came to a circular clearing void of trees. With his eyes expressionless, the raven haired boy looked up into the sky, judging his time by the movement of the stars. To Naruto however, it just looked like he was stargazing.

"Maybe he knows I'm here and is stalling until I leave…" the blonde thought madly, watching from behind a nearby tree. "Still, why stargazing of all things?!"

"You know I can't stay here all night," Sasuke suddenly spoke up, making Naruto jump. "Come out and say what you want, Kohaku."

A white blur sped past Sasuke and stopped just behind him, the leaves around them barely rustling. On a closer inspection, the blur was a boy, just a tad bit taller than Sasuke. Clad in a white cloak, white hair and a miniature snowy polar bear resting on his shoulder, he truly was a white blob in the forest. Obviously he had missed the camouflage class in his school, as had most of the girls in Konoha, unfortunately.

The boy, Kohaku, turned around the face Sasuke, grinning and apologizing. And although a smile played upon his face, Naruto couldn't help but notice that he boy's eyes were white as well; white with the Byakugan, marking him as a Hyuuga of sorts. When he was done apologizing, he took out a red, circular medallion from within his cloak and handed it to Sasuke.

"Orders straight from Lady Aboshi," he said sternly, his eyes loosing their previous mirth. "We're all supposed to wear these. Apparently they hide the 'mark'."

Sasuke took the medallion and put it around his neck wordlessly, lingering only to look at the symbol embedded in the centre in orange. Then he tucked it in his shirt, the red momentarily clashing with the blue. For that split second, Naruto caught a glimpse of the design, but it was gone before his mind could register it completely.

"So it's started already then?" Sasuke asked calmly, looking at the bear on the other boy's shoulder.

Kohaku held up two fingers. "They shouldn't officially start to panic for another two weeks, but Imara heard the Tsuchikage planning a search-and-destroy mission. He doesn't know what they're searching and destroying, but it's enough to start taking precautions. Lady Aboshi isn't taking any chances this time 'round."

Sasuke nodded slightly and Kohaku walked up next to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"When it begins in your village, don't trust anyone. Not even that 'team' of yours."

And then he was gone, a flurry of snowflakes settling softly to the ground in his place. Sasuke stayed a few more minutes before heading back to the cave, Naruto dashing quickly to get back before him. By the time the raven haired teen returned Naruto was back in his sleeping bag, pretending to sleep. Only when he was sitting down did the blonde start to go over the events carefully in his head.

Even though Sasuke was on watch, he left his post to meet up with a mysterious boy in the middle of the woods. The boy knew how to contact Sasuke without going through the Hokage for his address or anything, even though he didn't have any visible forehead protector. The sound? Nah, the sound's formal ninja wear was purple and black, not white. Anything but white.

"Seriously, what kind of idiot goes around the forest in white?" he silently thought to himself, turning over as naturally as possible.

Naruto soon fell asleep in the confusion of his own mind, his thoughts swirling from one possibility to another. He continued his thoughts after Sakura woke him up for his turn at watch. If only he could remember where he'd seen the character on the medallion before, he might be able to finish the puzzle that Sasuke had left for him. Only then could he figure out the meaning of that mysterious meeting.