Novocain for the Ninja Soul
Written by: Mikami
WARNINGS: Graphic violence, profanity and sex. These are adult people doing adult things. Get lost, kiddies. You have been warned.
Chapter 2: Somewhat Damaged
I got my head but my head is unraveling
Can't keep control
Can't keep track of where it's traveling
I got my heart but my heart is no good
And you're the only one that's understood
—The Perfect Drug, Nine Inch Nails
The night was warm and muggy as the clouds descended from the heavens to weave misty fingers through Konoha's trees and buildings. The stringy, black wires that tied the structures together barely registered through the swirling gray. A scatter of citizens dotted the streets, unwilling to stay cooped up inside and many choosing to wear as little as possible without being indecent. No matter how stifling the air seemed to be, a few outdoor venders had decided to stay open for a little longer, waiting to catch the last gathering of business.
Naruto followed suit in the heat of the evening and found himself wandering toward one of the outdoor grill stands. Like Ichiraku, Kazu's grill 'Bonanza', was easily accessible for passerby's and boasted the fastest and tastiest snacks on a stick. And to wash it down he provided a good dose of exclusively-made sake.
"Haven't seen you around in quite a while," came the warm reply upon Naruto's approach.
"I can't tell if you mean that in a good or bad way," Naruto said with a grin. "But I know you appreciate my business, Kazu, so I'll let it slide."
"So you drop by every other day when you're not off hacking enemies to pieces," the rotund vender said offhandedly. "Big deal. I've got a steady flow of customers even when you're out for weeks."
"Sounds like I should take my ass over to Ichiraku."
Kazu laughed heartily and turned a row of morsel-filled sticks with expertise. He wiped his blackened fingers on a hanging rag beside the grill and grabbed a zucchini to chop. Naruto's grin widened as he stopped at the booth and took a seat in front of the vender.
"Ichiraku serves tasteless sake," Kazu snorted. "That's why they're only known for their ramen and why your ass is here tonight. I know you, Naruto. Every time you come around it's for a drink."
"Don't make me laugh. I can get something better and cheaper somewhere else," Naruto replied matter-of-factly.
"You keep saying that but you don't believe it."
"As usual, you're cocky as all hell."
Amusement littered Kazu's eyes as Naruto reached into his pants' pocket and pulled out his wallet. They've had the same old discussion for as long as he could remember and he knew Naruto's nature wouldn't allow the humored familiarity to go to waste. The tall blonde ANBU commander pushed a couple of bills toward the vender and sat back to cross his arms.
"Well, I'm here aren't I? Make with the drink."
"Hah," Kazu swiped the money from under his nose and retreated back to fetch a ceramic bottle from among the others in storage. Upon returning, he set it in front of Naruto, along with a cup, and leaned against his counter leisurely.
"You came back late," the vender stated.
Naruto shrugged and poured his cup to the brim. "Got a little sidetracked, that's all."
"Knowing you, you probably got lost on the way back."
"Oh fuck off."
Kazu expelled a string of laughter and smacked the wooden counter, causing the knife and vegetable pieces to jump. As Naruto lifted the cup to his lips, the fox-like smirk on his face beamed.
"No really, we did get sidetracked," the ANBU insisted with a chuckle. "It wasn't my fault though. There was a lot of pissing and moaning from Ino about being filthy after the job was done. Nobody said hunting for scrolls in the rain and getting ambushed was going to be sunshine and lollipops. We were called back so soon but on the way we passed a hot spring. I guess I caved after she threatened to tear off my balls."
"What is with you and getting told off by kunoichi?"
"You wouldn't be saying that if you knew Ino."
An arched eyebrow was aimed in Naruto's direction as he eventually forgot the cup and chose to take hearty swigs from the bottle instead. Kazu turned back momentarily to pile three barbeque sticks on a plate and place them in front of the ANBU commander. Sometimes it was difficult to tell if Naruto was laughing about the truth or being the bullshitter. Nonetheless it was always in good humor.
"Anyway, we were called back early because the trial period of Tsunade's new toy started a week ago," said Naruto, after cleaning an entire barbeque stick in one go.
"Yeah. I heard about that too."
"Kiba won't shut his hole about it. Keeps going on and on about how he was being scheduled for the bot trial."
Kazu gave Naruto a look of confusion before grabbing an eggplant to quarter.
"Never mind," said Naruto with a quick wave of his hand. His other reached into his wallet again and pushed money for a second round of sake.
It was on boring nights like these and after long, exhausting missions that Naruto chose to sit into the early morning and kick back. He would be able to talk with Kazu for hours, mostly resulting in conversations about his missions—which would turn into slurred, incoherent speech once Naruto had gotten his fill of sake. He also wasn't the only one to stop by; he periodically showed up with Shikamaru and Chouji. They'd allow themselves to drink to hell and back and Kazu hadn't minded their alcohol-induced company one bit.
"Where are the rest of your friends?" he asked, retrieving another bottle.
"Chouji's been gone for three days to Rain. Some small gang uprising. Shikamaru just said this heat makes him lazy."
"He hasn't stopped by in a while. Do you reckon he's putting off the drink?"
Naruto laughed loudly before taking a large gulp. He wiped his mouth messily with the back of his hand and bent languidly over the counter.
"When he's not drinking, he's sucking on a smoke," said Naruto, wiping his nose. "He's been doing it ever since Asuma died. Most people like to say it was a homage taken too far but Shikamaru just says—and I quote—'it's nothing more than a result of life's ruddy predicaments'."
"What can I say, you gotta do what you gotta do."
Naruto shrugged carelessly and took another swig. "I'd rather have this…"
Resting his chin on his hand, he put the cool ceramic bottle against his forehead and exhaled slowly to release the tension in his shoulders. His eyes closed for a second and reveled in the sticky heat of his skin and the circulating warmth in his bloodstream.
"The asshole went ahead without me," Naruto had mumbled suddenly. He didn't see what else Kazu was turning on the grill but he knew the silence painted another perplexed expression on the vendor's face.
"He should've told that old bag to wait until I got back. I'm surprised she's letting the Council dick her around. I told her if this meant that much to her, who cares what a bunch of dried old men have to say," the ANBU commander declared before another swig. "Anyway, that's not the point. Point is that Neji should have done something—not show up, feign illness, feign death…or not…maybe death would be good…"
A vacant and lopsided grin crawled its way onto Naruto's face as he trailed off. Although Naruto was never a lightweight, at the rate he was going, Kazu could see the sake start to take its course since he appeared to be the picture of relaxation and carelessness.
"How considerate of you to admit," a terse voice suddenly spoke.
Over Naruto's shoulder, Kazu spotted the silhouette of a tall, lean frame looming to the side of the blond ANBU.
Naruto didn't bother to turn his head. "Speak of the devil."
"In a way my death would likely benefit you, perhaps pushing you higher in the military hierarchy while taking into account the minimal number of ANBU commanders," Neji stated in the driest of tones.
"Oh it would, wouldn't it?"
"You really should put that thought to rest."
After swallowing a mouthful, Naruto swiveled in his seat and presented his comrade with a shameless smirk. Despite the humidity, Neji was dressed in his usual robes; his sleeves reaching past his wrists and his pant legs extending toward his ankles in an impeccable state of attire. Naruto wanted to snort loudly at the way he always looked so polished and stoic. Another dose of sake warmed his throat as his eyes fell on the folder tucked under Neji's arm.
"It's good to see nothing's changed," Naruto said with a leer. "Your reputation as a workaholic precedes you to a point where it's mind-boggling."
"And your habit of forgetting to complete standard paperwork when required is pitiful at best," replied Neji flatly.
But Naruto only grinned and put his hands behind his head in an unhurried fashion. "All in a day's work. Besides, what should really matter is the completion of the job. Paperwork can kiss my—"
"Says the ANBU commander that was already reprimanded more than once on late reports."
"Were you naturally born with that stick up your ass or did you have to insert it when you got to a certain age?" Naruto said, blatantly ignoring him.
He could tell through a mist of amusement and drink that his long time comrade wasn't impressed but then again, the sky was still blue. Naruto gave Kazu a humored glance as he continued to grill, to which the vender shook his head lightly and began tending to more of his late customers.
"You're the only one that actually takes the work home," said Naruto, turning back to the Hyuuga scion. "It's almost offensive."
"Offensive as your refusal to re-evaluate your methods? I think not. I do what's required to keep order in how the mission results are processed. For you who lacks the capacity to handle a painfully simple task is not my problem."
"Ah yes, the reliable pathway of routine," Naruto rolled his eyes in boredom.
A sardonic smirk suddenly split Neji's lips. "You have no authority to criticize."
"Like I give a shit…"
The derisive laugh came from Naruto before he waved at Kazu for a third bottle. Neji's smirk hid a smidgen of amusement at their sporadic banter—a habit they developed since their induction to ANBU years ago. He watched the other commander take another bottle from the vendor's charred hand and sit back again in relaxation.
"You must get tired of it," Naruto said to him. "The no-spontaneity thing."
"Spontaneity is a luxury that's rarely afforded by higher ranking officials."
"I wasn't talking in that context. I meant life in general. Accounting for the last decade or so, I can safely conclude that you're the most boring person I know."
"You seem to retreat to that same old declaration whenever a questionable comment is directed at your aptitude to run things," Neji replied mockingly. "It pisses you off when a comparison is made between you and any other commander that follows protocol."
Naruto glared at him as the liquid burned down his throat. Setting down the bottle with a loud clink, he pointed a finger at Neji. "Oh, don't you start changing the subject around."
"Wasn't the subject spontaneity? I was making a point that your 'spontaneous' way of not turning in paperwork in due time raises questions about the suitability of your rank," Neji's smirk widened.
"And we're back to discussing work again," Naruto muttered into his drink. His eyes drifted toward Kazu for a moment and despite the vendor's other activities, he seemed to be keeping an intent ear on the conversation.
There was a minimal lift from Neji's eyebrow as his smirk turned back into its perpetual straight line. He exhaled slowly through his nose and peered at his comrade with mild annoyance.
"You already know why Tsunade couldn't wait for you. There's no sense in continuing to whine," said Neji, tonelessly.
"Yeah, I know."
"Nothing of note happened."
Naruto suddenly sat up and turned his whole body toward Neji. A spark of interest lit his features as one of his fingers unconsciously tapped the ceramic.
"How did the suits work?" he asked eagerly.
Neji shook his head slightly, setting down his paperwork and crossing his arms to lean against the counter. "They passed the first test and surprisingly without fault on the premier evaluation. However, the trial isn't going to be finished for a long time, you can rest assured."
"Sakura said the same thing," Naruto replied. "She told me Tsunade was expecting glitches and so was she. But going through the program was harder than initially thought."
"I see."
"She said she fought you."
There was a strange shift in Neji's demeanor and it caught Naruto's eye as his comrade uncrossed his arms. However, his facade remained unreadable as Naruto averted his attention back to the clear, alcoholic depths. He swirled the bottle and rested his chin in his hands, uninterested in Neji's silence.
"I heard she left early but she knew Tsunade wasn't going to be happy," Naruto continued, running on a bleary tangent. "Anyway, it's not like Sakura had time to stick around. She had a lot of shit to move out of Sasuke's apartment and wanted it to be done before he came back from that espionage mission in the Earth country."
Naruto let out a dry laugh. "What a fucking waste… Some people waste too much time with the wrong person."
"I really don't see the purpose of such an admission," said Neji, tiredly sweeping a hand across his temple. "Since her resignation from the suit project, there was no reason to utilize her and seeing as how she's more focused on needless, personal problems and not duty is just further proof. If that's the best excuse for leaving the facility test, the project is better off."
"I'm not surprised to hear that from you," Naruto responded with a smirk.
"Good. It saves me the trouble of listening to one of your outbursts."
"Pain in my ass—it's only been a week and she's been camping out at my place, still looking for her own apartment. I'll give it another week before she moves back with Sasuke because she'll miss fucking him."
The grain of the wooden counter was piercingly clear in Neji's vision even without the aid of the Byakugan. As Naruto's humored but resentful tone filtered through his ears, his gaze narrowed and his jaw stiffened. He didn't have a clue as to why Naruto chose to rant about what was obviously private. Stuffing down his rekindled exasperation, Neji narrowed his eyes at the blonde ANBU member.
"You're not being a reliable person by divulging things you shouldn't," he remarked sarcastically.
"Maybe not," said Naruto, drawing a circle with the spilled sake on the counter. "She talks to me and I say everything she loves and hates to hear, but things never change. Maybe she should talk to somebody of the same brand as your indifference. That might knock some sense into her."
The deliberate and embittered urge to laugh exploded harshly in Neji's chest. There was nothing more than a poisonous impulse spreading through him quickly at Naruto's unwitting words, which were completely ignorant of everything that had transpired within the past couple of months. The cynical roar fired up his lungs and Neji resisted the vile desire to at least crack an indignant smirk.
"No, it wouldn't," was all he could utter.
Naruto peered at the Hyuuga curiously and opened his mouth in angry protest as Neji suddenly grabbed the sake bottle in his hand and downed the last two-thirds of it in one go. Setting it down on the counter, the alcoholic smolder trailed hotly into Neji's bloodstream as he reached into his pocket and pushed a couple of bills toward Kazu. The blonde ANBU commander then watched his long time comrade stalk off into the night with his paperwork tucked neatly under his arm.
It began to rain in the wee hours of the morning, way before the sun bothered peeking its first rays into the distant horizon. It started as a light drizzle, then gradually turned into a musical pour as the water droplets themselves remained invisible within the ebony night.
Upon reaching his personal quarters at the Bunke residence, Neji's endurance to work rarely fizzled out at this time. On numerous occasions Naruto had accused him of the dreaded clutches of routine but such a thing was an aid and not a handicap. He was used to sitting through the twilight hours with only a stack of work to keep him company. When he attained the Jounin rank, the workload increased but strange as it may have seemed to others, Neji had fully accepted without complaint. It was obvious that the higher a ninja rose in rank, the greater the responsibility.
It was almost three o'clock in the morning and he'd already finished more than half of the report. Looking over his previous notes only reminded him of the bruise still ailing his side and whenever he pondered on it, his ribs pulsed in unison. Neji set down his quill and moved a completed page to the pile of reports.
Among the folders he brought home from the head office was a confidential mission overview given to him by the Godaime. Earlier that afternoon, she passed by in the hall and handed him the red folder before disappearing into a meeting with the Council. Neji hadn't looked at the information until that night and discovered the outline of an S-rank assignment.
The blocky letters of 'S-rank' and 'ANBU' stood out against the off-white parchment. This was probably the second time he chose to look at it, willing himself to be immersed despite the official briefing in Tsunade's office later that day. The details were simple and the intentions crystal clear. As a commander, Neji was to head the three-man battalion in a mission to assassinate the famous Fukao Gennai, an entrepreneur power-player who ran the largest shipping business connecting the northern ninja countries. There was speculation in the past that regular commodities weren't the only things he shipped—but also slaves. The ANBU was to be dispatched to the Waterfall country, which was one of Fukao's bases of operation.
Neji looked over the team he'd been given and the names included on the separate sheet were Inuzuka Kiba and Yamanaka Ino—two of the rowdiest personalities among the ranking Jounin. He could only sigh and sweep tired fingers over his forehead as he grudgingly decided to find out the reasons for the Godaime's choices later.
The oil lamp bathed Neji's workspace in a glowing pool of light. He kept the window of his room open to welcome the soothing patter of rain as the curtains rustled by the window frame. In the past, it was usually this time when Neji would hear a light tapping on the shoji in the seating area of his quarters. As the sound would beckon him, he'd vacate his work and head out of his bedroom to find a body sliding through the doors without an invitation. Then he'd greet her with a frown, knowing she took her habitual route over the Bunke residence's wall and through his private garden.
Until now, Hyuuga Neji was robbed of an explanation as to why Haruno Sakura featured in his life at all. The attempt to purge all essence of her was a task more difficult than he realized. While it was simple to conclude that she was the one avoiding him now, thoughts and memories alone created his own private, mental hell.
Neji sat back in his chair, feeling nauseated by Naruto's little tangent. He'd been perfectly content in being oblivious about her latest activities involving the Uchiha. A garbled surge of disdain rumbled through his gut and Neji pursed his lips tightly. For awhile he concentrated on feeling thoroughly annoyed with Naruto to replace the unpleasantness.
The mess she left behind and surrounded herself with was the product of her own restless and frivolous nature. She consumed Neji, devoured him as soon as she found that grain of weakness he possessed. There was always a strange spark flickering in her emerald eyes—it told him she specifically knew he was only a man and not above carnal pleasure. She'd take and never give, because of reasons involving things she desperately desired from Sasuke but never attained. And so she took in out on Neji at her leisure. However, the mystery of why she chose him was still up in the air but that thought only caused further repulsiveness.
I want to break you…Sakura had said that once; a moaning whisper in his ear, followed by the warmth of her breath and the slickness of her tongue along his earlobe. She brought him to the brink of his resistance and she'd revel gloriously in the moment that he snapped. He was aware he was giving her what she wanted but during the time it hadn't mattered. The magnetic arch of her body into his hushed the better part of his protests and brought a flood to submerge his defiance.
Neji rose from his chair and dragged a hand through long, dark locks. A vicious clouding of emptiness and loathing began to well up within. He had risen too quickly and was rewarded a painful flare from his ribs. Expelling a cough, Neji walked over to the bed where a roll of bandages and tape lay on the nightstand. He made quick work of opening his haori and unraveling the present bindings. Peeling off the medical tape from his side earned him a pathway to shortened breath.
His side would have taken less time to heal if it wasn't for the swipe she took at him during the trial session. She always seemed to be causing him trouble one way or another. Neji dropped his hand to his side, unwilling to peer down at the yellow and purple mess.
Naruto's accusation of his inability to be spontaneous was completely wrong. But pursuing something as impulsive as Sakura was a mistake in itself—a mistake with perks and a malicious result. Their little 'arrangement' began as an unprompted incident that suddenly became a string of frequent trysts. She'd come to him, teeth practically bared and hungry but her demure composure would stay intact, choosing instead to mentally count how long he'd be able to say no before she got her way. Neji didn't remember when things got out of hand. As time progressed he'd foolishly grown accustomed to her presence and without a thought on his part, she abandoned their 'arrangement' for her default lover, Uchiha Sasuke. The part that angered Neji the most was that he foresaw it and his body still couldn't say no to her—the unbreakable, impenetrable, impassive Hyuuga Neji.
Their encounters were only supposed to be the unquestioned act to satiate a craving: the 'no-strings-attached' agreement and the understanding that it could end whenever she felt like it. Neji had known from the beginning—why had her decision to go back to the Uchiha affect him so?
The musical lift of her voice, the jaded look in her eyes, her pure unblemished skin and the warmth that her body left on his sheets…
Neji drew in a long, ragged breath to calm down the sharp piercing at his side. Closing his eyes, his head swam ruthlessly with the image of her. It was taunting at best, causing a familiar starvation to ride up the length of his spine. His mouth was suddenly dry and thirst prickled on his tongue as he managed a strangled swallow. The pitch of her moaning voice sounded faintly in his ears and drew the image of hooded green eyes incinerated with lust. The memory of her insistent grip on his hand triggered the convergence of sensation along Neji's hips and throbbing warmth created an unbearable headiness. As the stiffening length below the hem of his hakama became more apparent, his fingertips recalled the silky terrain of her thighs when he had held them apart, spreading her wider and making wet trails with his mouth toward her aching, pulsing core.
A hand unconsciously slid down his abdomen, slipping deftly into his hem. Neji inhaled sharply when all five of his fingers closed around long hardened flesh. A rush of anger and pleasant agony collided inside him as his stroking grip tightened. He hated her and this vicious infatuation. He loathed that it pleased him to run his tongue along the soft, wet ridges between her legs; to flick mercilessly against the warm bundle of nerves above her opening and hearing her whimpered approvals above him.
His hand had increased in speed, pumping up and down in sync with his hips. Neji bit his tongue, determined to keep his silence as incoherent pleasure hurtled around his stomach. He remembered the way her fingers would slide into his hair, sobbing for him to continue, while raising her pelvis to meet him for more sensation. After thrusting two slick fingers inside her, she'd cry out and beg him for another—three fingers, spreading her entrance and dragging a sadistic pressure along her inner walls.
Neji gasped harshly as the wave of orgasm crashed into him and plunged his senses into oblivion. In the following desperate seconds, his grasp tightened fiercely as helpless thrusts prolonged it to the point of pain. As he released himself into his hand, he could only hear Sakura's illicit screams ring in his head as she peaked.
I want to break you…
Perhaps she had.
"It's quite unusual for you to hold off your regular barrage of questions against the make-up of the squad," Tsunade spoke with a peculiar note to her voice. She hadn't glanced up from the red folder when she sensed the Hyuuga's arrival in her office. Her hazel irises slid toward the clock on the wall and sighed, knowing that if Neji was on time, the other two were bound to stroll in late.
"I figured I could give you a chance to explain yourself and your choices this time," said Neji plainly.
The side of Tsunade's mouth perked upward as she finally put down the folder and crossed her fingers neatly over it. "You're being interesting today."
"Indeed."
Neji's dry tone was offset by the office door opening, to which two bodies stepped through without shame. Neji hadn't bothered turning around and instead appeared wearier at the presence of his squad members.
"Sorry for being late," uttered Ino, striding toward the desk in a hurried fashion.
"Yeah, there was a huge accident on the street and I had to detour around the crowd," added Kiba with a scratch of his head. A large Akamaru trotted behind him in a chipper mood.
Tsunade sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I don't know why you still bother with excuses because I honestly don't care as long as you get here on time."
Kiba and Ino exchanged glances as the Godaime radiated a hounded demeanor and one could only guess it was because of the additional pressure from the Council. Days ago, Soudai had stormed out of the training facility, pointing a threatening finger at both Shizune and Tsunade with his notebook in tow. Nobody knew all the details but they were sure it involved Tsunade's annoyance of Soudai consistently breathing down her neck when it came to glitches in the training program.
The Godaime waved the three ANBU toward the seats in front of her desk and picked up two additional folders to hand to Ino and Kiba as Akamaru sat himself on the floor. Neji had brought his along and was skimming the overview once again.
"Now then," she uttered rather tiredly. "I've called a meeting this afternoon to fully brief you on the upcoming S-class mission. I'll keep it sweet and simple."
Ino already had the folder open in her lap and was quickly filing through the photocopied documents and photos. One picture represented a fairly well-dressed middle-aged man surrounded by four burly associates as he exited what appeared to be a high-class burlesque establishment.
"Fukao Gennai," stated Tsunade.
"That filthy rich shipping guy?" Kiba asked incredulously.
"None other," said Ino, and then under her breath added, "The old man is serious pervert competition for Jiraya."
"The past year has provoked investigation of Fukao's enterprise and it's been under speculation that while he maintains the exterior of an honest business, he's been known to dabble in the transportation of slaves; such a thing is quite lucrative," Tsunade continued. "The unfortunate come into his possession as victims of war, captives of battle, kidnapping and the like. While the network of the trade is impossible to follow, it's important to initiate a successful start by knocking down one of its contributors."
"To put it simply, the mission requires us to assassinate him," supplied Neji.
"Fukao is known for his constant movement and abundant schedule. With the help of Waterfall's authorities, we were able obtain his upcoming destination; one of his main bases of operation—Waterfall itself. It turns out there was a delay in processing the delivery for one of his biggest clients and he'll be arriving in the main city tonight to review the problem. However, he probably won't be staying long due to a jacked up schedule, which gives us little time for action. Your departure is set to be within the next hour and by timing, you should be able to reach the city by tonight."
"You make it sound like a damn walk in the park," frowned Kiba, flipping through the rest of the photos. "Have you seen how much security is protecting his ass?"
"I appreciate the assessment, Kiba," replied Tsunade, deadpan. "As a covert mission, clean, simple and silent is expected from your proficiency. Also, enclosed within the file is a copy of Fukao's impending agenda upon his arrival. I've been informed that while leisure is never apart of his schedule, he will never hesitate to find time."
"Seems straightforward enough. If anything, we'd be coming home the day after tomorrow," said Ino.
Tsunade stood up from her desk and made her way around to the front, where she casually leaned to face the ANBU team. "There's one more aspect of the job. Waterfall wishes a retrieval of certain information regarding the network of slave trade. Ino was appointed to the squad for this purpose."
Neji remained unreadable as Tsunade's last statement was directed at him and the unspoken questions dancing in the air between them.
"Ino's Shintenshin will allow for the recovery of information in the company of Fukao's closest associates," Tsunade said, turning her attention toward the kunoichi. Ino sat up straighter as the Godaime nodded at her deftly.
"This is going to be a get-in-get-out kind of deal," Kiba acknowledged his blonde comrade. "Work them good and fast and then fly on out of that big boy's body."
Ino rolled her eyes heavenward and huffed, crossing her legs in annoyance. She wasn't deaf and she clearly demonstrated her resent for Kiba's version of Tsunade's words. Out of the corner of her eye she spied on their competent squad leader and a grimace erupted on her face. There was always something unsettling about Hyuuga Neji she couldn't quite put her finger on to this day. It made her wonder fleetingly why Sakura continued to toy with him for as long as she had.
"I'll keep that in mind," she said, giving Kiba the sourest of smiles. He waggled his tongue at her between the points of his canines as Akamaru barked smugly. The withered look he received from Ino widened his grin and he reached down to scratch his partner behind the ears.
"Questions?" Tsunade asked, eyeing each member of the team.
"Nope," said Ino.
"Nada," added Kiba.
Neji was quiet as his fingers flipped through the documents and pulled out a copy of Fukao's schedule upon arrival. He was a true businessman and it was hard to imagine that he found time for rest at all. Collecting both the agenda and the clearest photo of Fukao Gennai, Neji folded them neatly and stuck them in his robes.
"Alright then," said Tsunade, uncrossing her arms. "Dismissed."
The three ANBU got to their feet and made their way toward the office door.
"Don't start the bot trial without me," Kiba called back to the Godaime.
"Oh relax. It's not until next week," Tsunade replied briskly, flicking her wrist to shoo him out.
When they reached the outside hallway, Neji briefly turned to his teammates. "I want both of you to collect your equipment and to be at the front gates in an hour's time. We'll need to start moving quickly to cut a day's trip into half. Tonight's reconnaissance is needed if the mission is to be executed by tomorrow," he said formally.
"No problem, boss," Kiba replied in a casual voice. "Akamaru can get me there in a third of that time but I don't know about you two."
"Uh huh," droned Ino, walking past her teammates. Kiba shrugged offhandedly at Neji's stoic facade before they both headed for the exit.
The head building appeared to be empty that day, save for the few officials making their way through the halls and various Jounin and Chuunin coming in to file reports. The reception in the foyer was also lacking—the receptionist had chosen a much more interesting activity that involved an erotic novel of a nature more graphic than Jiraya's long running series.
"Oh, it's you," Ino's voice echoed loudly from the front of their group.
"Nice to see you too," was the equally sarcastic reply.
As the blonde kunoichi halted and placed haughty hands on her hips, Kiba and Akamaru swerved around to keep from bumping into her. It wasn't until Neji followed suit that he was suddenly thrust into Sakura's presence. At the obvious widening of her startled eyes, his remained stony and aloof, brushing past her with collected ease. His peripheral vision, however, was clear cut despite his averted irises when he managed to catch the stiffening in her posture and the way Ino's mouth lifted between a scowl and a smirk, recognizing the unexpected tension in the air. Nonetheless, Neji continued past the office's glass doors without a crack in his manner.
The afternoon sun sat in the sky with a vengeful blaze and ahead of him, Neji heard Kiba's moan of complaint before he mounted Akamaru and departed toward his home. Meanwhile, the Hyuuga launched himself to the top of a nearby roof and began to speed off along the wire lines.
Her abrupt appearance still made his skin crawl in ways that disturbed him. Swirling, unnamed emotions filtered into his system to concoct a disagreeable mixture inside. Sakura had always been easy to read and no matter how hard she tried to seem impenetrable, Neji would see right through her attempt. He returned back to existing around her just like it was before their strange affiliation and he treated her no different. At the same time the look in her eyes proclaimed a hidden spark of fear, which puzzled him.
Konoha flew below his soaring feet and Neji managed to shake his head from troublesome thoughts, choosing instead to focus on the mission ahead. Leaving town, even for a day or two, was probably better for one's mental state. An existence was easier to be lived out when an objective needed completion—no distractions, no emotions, just purpose. It had been his last comfort.
The hour's time that the three-man team agreed on passed by fleetingly in preparation for the mission. They each took into account that one needed to travel light in order to reach their destination with speed. Ino chose her standard form of weaponry but decided to stock more on shuriken than kunai, to which Kiba was the opposite. Even with the addition of Akamaru, there was no worry concerning the momentum of their journey. The squad met at the front gates as planned, with Neji being the most punctual. As he made the last assessment of the equipment, Kiba crouched beside him as Ino wiped a sheen of sweat from her blistering forehead.
"This mission isn't going to take very long," Kiba stated again, looking up at Ino with eyes squinted against the sun. "I don't know why you have to bring all that crap."
"I'd rather have more inventory than to suddenly figure that I've run out of ammo," she countered.
"You only need a handful if you have good aim and since you're taking all that, it's mostly likely the opposite."
"Whatever."
Neji sighed inwardly, wondering if he'd have to listen to their reckless squabbling for the next two days. It wasn't that he had not performed in missions with Kiba and Ino before, it was the fact that it was three of them without the aid of a mediator—a fourth team member who would be someone like Shino or his cousin Hinata.
"We ready to go?" Kiba asked, swinging a leg over Akamaru.
"Yes. Everything is accounted for," Neji replied. He secured his kunai holster and shuriken pouch and led the team through the threshold of Konoha's gateway. As the three ANBU burst into a sprint, they were unaware of the figure running to toward the gate behind them.
Sakura gasped tightly and came to an abrupt stop. Her lungs welcomed the gulps of air as a hand rested on her heaving chest. Her previous shouts to tell him to wait apparently had not reached his ears. The ANBU team in the distance vanished quickly among the trees and disappointment flooded into Sakura's stomach. Her mouth was dry and her throat was sore from yelling. Bad timing was always her forte and she bit her lip in resentment to her foolishness. Two days was what she heard from Tsunade. Two days more and she'd attempt again to reach him. As Sakura sank to her knees to sit back on her feet, she peered as far as she could beyond the trees, willing him to turn back.