Now due to some current events, I'm once again in a… rut. Now what better way to vent and to mix some ideas than to go crazy a bit. So why not in one of my fic that doesn't need much planning? Enjoy.
Disclaimers: You know the drill. Go ask their parents.
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"Nobody, do you have the target in sight?"
"…Yes, Sekirei. The pathetic waste of space excused as a target is within range."
"…Good. Fraccion, are you in position?"
"Sure am, Saku- oops, I mean, Sekirei!"
"Alright, how about you, Arrancar?"
"…"
"Arrancar?"
"…"
"Naruto…?"
"…zzz…"
"OI! WAKE UP!"
"GAHHH!"
"SHHH! YOU'LL SCARE THE- AH, CRUDS! GET THAT CAT!"
xxxxx
"Hmmm… 42 D-rank missions in two weeks. Kakashi, I'm impressed. You're shaping this team up nicely."
"Yeah… whatever you say." In all actuality the Jounin wasn't quite sure how the team shaped up. Heck Kakashi wasn't sure how the add-on fits in. But somehow, the Hokage had ignored to mentionthe sudden change as well as the sudden additional, only enough to notice that Lilynette needs a separate registration. And he wasn't quite sure if he is in-charge of the team.
Other that giving them the instructions, each member is on their own. Sasuke was more into details so repair jobs were done by him. He is able to accomplish all this quickly by some unknown force in putting all things into place. Though Kakashi stays clear of being a target for a well-placed nail because he always does it begrudgingly, mumbling a 'waste of time' or two.
Naruto and Lilynette were also quick in their assignments, though the latter was initially excited before wanting it to be over as soon as possible like the former. Reasons for doing it differ between the two but the generality is to have more time to relax. That's why deliveries are finished in a fraction of the time with speeds that he knows only one teacher is crazy enough to teach.
While the rest grumble, Sakura does every chore with an air of contentment. She is probably the only one that can make the rest of the team cooperate. The Uchiha wasn't taking any orders from him and the Uzumaki was doing the same, though it is easier with the lazy blonde because Lilynette also helps in the encouragements (though how unorthodox they may be). Kakashi wasn't sure how, but in the end they pitch in with the tasks. All he can give are instructions and suggestions… orders tend to be hazardous.
All in all, he wasn't quite sure where everyone fits…, including himself.
"With all this accomplished, a higher-ranked seems to be in order." Kakashi would have expected someone like Naruto to be excited after all those menial works. But his partner was doing it for him while he just paid enough attention to realized more jobs ahead of them. The remaining members had calm expressions, though the aura is the exact opposite between the two.
"Bring in the client."
They were presented to a scruffy old drunk that would be their client. "Greetings, I am Tazuna, the-." His rude introduction was replaced by a rude recognition. "Oh… it's you three."
Looking back to his students, he found their varying range of recognition confusing. Turning back to Tazuna, "It seems you are familiar with your escorts."
"Escorts? I would use circus till I find a better picture…," which earned his team varying range of dislike, some more vocal than others. "Here is the Dark Lord, Sugar-high and Sir Sleeps-a lot. Why I- Sakura-san?!"
He though that Tazuna missed someone as she was obscured at the end of the file. But his sudden stop of offending his team by this member made him wondered. "Oh hello Tazuna-san, it seems that you are under our care once again."
"I thought you're a landlady, you didn't tell me you're a ninja."
Placing a hand on her cheek, what she said made her sound cheeky. "I didn't? It must have slipped my mind after all those chores and missions."
"Missions?"
"Yes. We are out on a mission when all four of us are not in the inn."
"Though more like chores if you asked me." Commented one slacker, though he didn't seemed affected by her reprimanding gaze.
Wanting to know how he was the only one who didn't know their client, Kakashi decided to ask the apparent instigator. "Ah… Sakura, how do you know the client?"
"Oh... He was also my client. He stayed in my inn yesterday." Was her answer, which only leaves more questions. Gazing back at Tazuna, Kakashi felt the shift in the air that warned him not to do or say anything that may warrant something worse. "Now I hope that as your escorts, you won't give any problems, won't we?"
The client gave the right answer, even stashing away his liquor. "NO- I mean, of course not!"
"Good, let's go back to the inn and get our things. Then we can head to the gate together." And just like that, she became cheery again leading the group out… somehow leaving him.
And it somehow seemed amusing to his leader. "I'll say it again: I'm impressed. You're shaping this team up quite nicely."
"Whatever."
xxxxx
After trailing along, Kakashi wondered where they were headed. The direction he was following wasn't any of the addresses of his charges. He stood outside and admired the modest yet homely shelter which Sakura affectionately presented as the 'Izumo Inn'. What surprised him was that his other students also went in. But he has no time to further investigate as they all came out ready for the trip.
But Kakashi was able to ask of how she had them as her tenants. "Oh it would take time for Sasuke to leave and return to The Castle of Never Was and Las Noche is so big that it can be lonely. So I suggested that they can stay here, for a fee of course. That and Takehito would have helped them."
He wasn't quite sure of the answer. Then again, he wasn't sure who this Takehito is and how is he related to the change of this former fan-girl. But affection and sadness were always present whenever he is mentioned to warrant a respectful silence whenever she reminisced like… a widow. Still he didn't know where this fit.
xxxxx
And it still doesn't. The Jounin had initially come up with an elaborate plan when he saw an ill-planned genjutsu of a puddle in the middle of a dry season. But such plan was thrown in a curve, courtesy of Sasuke throwing a highly volatile blast that revealed two Kiri-nins. They tried to clothesline his team with a serrated chain between them when Naruto stood in front of them. Instead of fearfully watching his sense's legacy get bifurcated, he shockingly gapped as the two dislocated their arms due to their targets firm hold.
"You ok?"
"Yeah, just a bit winded."
'A bit winded?' Kakashi expected to him to be holed by those spikes, but no signs of blood were seen coming from the holes in his clothes. Back to the two who had dug a deep hole.
"Fool… was that what you think of us?" Sasuke was holding them by the scruff of their clothes, but they give out sounds as if he has holding their neck. The glowing hands were not a comforting sight either. "Oh… how much I desire to rid this world of such wasteful use of existence… But existence has a reason, no matter how pathetic it is. So I'll give you one-"
"This will take forever. Give me that."
Hauling one twin aside, Naruto's company were witness to a startling sight (actually those above twenty were startled). Out of nowhere, a dark, endless, mouth-like abyss suddenly opened. And just as sudden, Naruto dumped him in like Wednesday trash. The finishing act was grabbing one edge and shutting the hole.
Kakashi was more experienced with the surrealism of it all but it still wasn't getting easier. He was about to ask…
"Wait for it…" So the act was not yet finished. A second or two later Naruto opened the portal again. What came out was a scream which was a pitch higher, followed by an even higher one that sent the adults shivering. He finally dragged out a weeping and shaking assassin… for good reasons as he was nearly dragged back into the hole by… tentacles.
Stomping on one did the trick as that… thing retreated. But Naruto and Lilynette just looked back confused.
"Didn't Luppi hit the bucket?"
"I think that's his sister."
"Don't you mean brother?"
"Same, difference."
Now turning to the traumatized nin, he simply elaborated the plan. "Now you give us what we need or we give her…-" "-him" "-…what it wants." And without further instructions he spilled out everything, from Gato to Zabuza, including his brother's secret stash of selected literatures (which only Kakashi benefited). This only caused the other one to try to deny anything, resulting in a headache inducing chatter between monkeys.
"Enough…" was all it needed to silence everything. The two were and have met a demon. Now they are witnesses to the rising of a new specie. Before they pass out, they can only gasp out an ominous word that will soon rival…, and maybe, surpass the other monstrosities: "…Hannya."
These two were fortunate as they no longer bear her wrath. This leaves her to the one who seemingly betrayed their… her trust. "Now Tazuna…" It would become legendary how this common bridge builder was able to weather the terrifying glare that rendered many hardened warriors to buckle. Kakashi takes comfort that Lilynette was shaking more than him. "Can we please hear your story again…, the whole story…, NOW."
And just like his killers, he told her everything. So set in the telling of his county's hardship that he didn't notice the pressure slowly decreasing. He bowed his head at the end, preparing for his judgment.
"I understand if you don't trust me anymore, but my home-…" He was interrupted when a hand held his shoulder forcing him to look up. Instead of a demon ready to avenge his misdeeds, he comes face to face with a goddess who bends down to have compassion on this mere mortal.
"Hush, now. When I accepted you in my inn, I did it remembering Takehito's belief to aid those who are in need. It is no different now, only that your homeland is in a dire state. We will help you." Kakashi was about to comment, but a sidelong glance was all he needed to keep on living.
Tazuna was about to rejoice for such mercy just as it was broken by the rest of the team.
"That's it, I'm outta here. Not part of the job description."
"I have more important things than to attend to a fragile man's weak heart." And the two polar opposites agreed once again, turning to leave back to Konoha.
Sakura only frowned at her teammates' insensitivity, but Tazuna was more vocal. "Wha- How can you be heartless?"
They both stopped. But Sasuke gave out a short but hollow chuckle. He just turned back with a superior smirk. "Exactly. I am- but a mere shell."
Naruto just have the decency to give a forlorn gaze. "Actually we're Hollow but it's technically the same."
His partner somehow didn't share his idea. "Oh come on. Where's your sense of adventure?"
"I lost it somewhere. You can go ahead with Sakura." He dismissively remarked.
"Fine! I'll kick butts and make names! Let's go Sakura!" She shouts as she stomped towards the opposite direction.
Now Kakashi was torn as his team was clearly divided. One hand is agreeing with the boys but he needs to attend to the safety of the girls… including himself. But someone seems to mediate this dilemma.
"Such an adventure we are going to have. A shame that such glory can't be shared with someone you care." This stopped Lilynette in her track. This also caught the attentions of the wayward members.
Sakura turned to Naruto with a comforting gaze. "This experience can make you stronger."
"Tsk. I don't need to be stronger." Others may mistake it as arrogance, but Kakashi detected a bit of loathing in there.
Sakura seems to agree with him, which makes Kakashi question the inaccuracy of the descriptions of their relationship. "Maybe, but you can become stronger together. To protect the ones important to you, protect yourself. Being number 1 can be a little lonely." She said, somehow a trace of sadness for unknown reason can he heard.
Naruto appeared to be deep in thought, and then he turned to his companion. She seems downtrodden, something Kakashi haven't witnessed until now. "Our first mission outside… it won't be the same."
After deliberating, he just sighed and the answer brightened Lilynette. "Fine. I'm in."
Then the moment was once again ruined by the slow clapping of one dark being. "An arousing speech, but what do you have against me? I can very well return to my domain." Sasuke said with an arrogant superiority that Kakashi was still not used to.
"Indeed." That answer alone seemed enough for the Uchiha as he turned back. "And that means that you take your little science project with you as well." And that have halted any progress instantly.
Nevertheless, Sakura continued with mock concern. He said 'mock' because the cyclops can imagine a devious smile behind that sleeve. "Oh how I wonder how long it will take to finish? Something so complex must use up plenty of energy and I don't mind you using my power source. Now where can you find another one close by?"
Her expression lit up with an idea as she turned to the white duo. "Oh! Maybe that Hogyoku then. Would you know where it is, Naruto?"
The blonde grumbled out a response. "How should I know? That glorified ping-pong is being tossed from one madman to another."
Then an act of dejection was inserted into the conversation. "Well that leaves my Jinki then. It does have enough to sustain both the establishment and your experiment. So…"
The silence that hung was very tensing to those who didn't know anything of what they are talking about. And then, this black entity strode back with a superior gait till he stood menacingly over her. Bending down to whisper in her ear, it can be heard with an impressed tone. "Well played woman… Such a heart like yours would be very valuable for our cause."
Bringing up the sleeve once more to hide the giggle: "Oh my… If I didn't know better, I would have thought you are flirting with little ol' me. Oh what would my dear Takehito say?"
For the third time, whatever moment was ruined once again. "I'll say it again: This will take forever."
XXXXX
Well until I'm bored or low on ideas… See yah.
