--Later--
Ryume: -on Kasaigaru's back holding onto Risu- How long until we get to the Leaf Village?
Kasaigaru: Around five minutes.
Ryume: Good. Thanks a lot Kasaigaru
Kasaigaru: Anytime -runs faster until he's in the training fields and cuts through it. He keeps running- Ryume, go and save a room for Risu at the hospital-
Ryume: Right. -jumps off and ninja runs to the hospital, taking short cuts by running on rooftops. She finally reaches the hospital and barges towards the front desk-
Nurse: Ryume! You're actually in one piece! -looks down at Ryume who's clutching her side and stomach from pain- Well...Almost.
Ryume: I may be in one piece, but Risu isn't! I need the emergency room as soon as possible! NOW!
Nurse: Oh, yes, of course. -she walks out from behind desk and down the hallway. She turns into a room and talks to the doctors. She turns back to Ryume who's sitting on a bench, still holding her side and breathing heavily.- Do you need a room too?
Ryume: Take care of...-huff-...Risu first...-huffs and tries to get up-
Nurse: No, no, you need to stay put.
Ryume: -opens mouth to argue but is interrupted as a scream is heard downstairs.-
Woman: I BEAST!! HELP!! A BEAST!!
Kasaigaru: -suddenly appears and walks into room.- Hurry!!
Nurse: Right. -motions to the doctors to take Risu-
--Later--
Ryume: -is sitting in a room waiting as a doctor wraps her side up. She hisses in pain, as the doctor accidentally presses down on her broken rib as he wraps- Am I done yet?
Doctor: Yeah. Don't do much but walking and sleeping for a few days though. You took some Serious blows. Your body needs time to rest.
Ryume: Sure. -stands up- Where's Risu?
Doctor: ICU. Room 167.
Ryume: Thanks. -walks out of the room in search of Risu. Suddenly out of freaking NOWHERE, Ino comes hurtling down the hall towards Ryume-
Ino: RYUME!! Is it true?? Is it!! ANSWER ME!!
Ryume: Easy Ino. Is what true??
Ino: IS MY SISTER REALLY DEAD!! -tears fall down her face-
Ryume: No. But she's not exactly dancing on rooftops either.
Ino: Where is she??
Ryume: ICU. Room 167. I'm actually going there now bu... hey!!
Ino: -had run off to get to the room-
Ryume: -Thinks; I was gonna try and warn her that Taiyou was probably there ready to rip any intruders to shreds but I guess she didn't think that was important. Oh well. -walks down the hall towards Risu's room-
--
Doctor: -lifts Risu onto a gurney and hooks all of the machines that monitor your vitals. They were all flat-lining- Get the electric paddles.
Nurse: -pulls the paddles out and sets it up quickly and hands it to the doctor-
Doctor: -places the paddles on Risu chest- Clear! -presses the buttons on the paddles and a current goes through Risu, making her jerk. The monitors are still flat-lining- Up the voltage.
Nurse: -turns a knob on the machine and nods-
Doctor: -Puts the paddles on her chest again- Clear! -he presses the buttons, Risu jerks and the monitors still flat-line- One more time. Come on! -presses the buttons and Risu jerks again. The monitors suddenly go haywire with readouts and Risu takes in a deep breath and then goes limp. The monitors go back to a normal readout for a heart rate-
Nurse: -yells to other doctors and nurses- Okay we need an IV on this girl, oxygen mask on her face or tubes in her throat to keep her breathing! ICU now! -Risu is rolled away to the Intensive Care Unit where they get an IV on her to get her fluids and they put two tubes down her windpipe into her lungs to help her breathe normally-
--
Taiyou: -is running with Naruto on her back-
Naruto: -sees the village. Thinks; be okay Risu...
Taiyou: -suddenly jumps and lands on rooftops taking short-cuts towards the hospital-
Naruto: -when he sees the hospital he jumps off of Taiyou and runs inside. He grabs the arm of the nearest nurse- Where is Risu Yamanaka's room??
Nurse: Risu is in ICU.
Naruto: -eyes are blank-
Nurse: The Intensive Car Unit. No one but family is allowed to see her right now. Unless you are family or one of Risu's parents say you can see her, you'll have to wait.
Naruto: -gapes at her-
Taiyou: -appears at Naruto's side-
Naruto: -mumbles- We can't see her...
Taiyou: -eyes blaze- I am going to see Risu.
Nurse: I'm afraid that's not possible.
Taiyou: What would you say if I said that I could demolish this hospital in less than a minute?
Nurse: -eyes widens and she gulps- I'll take you to her room right away. -turns and walks stiffly down the hallway, up an elevator and to the right- Here it is. Go right on in.
Taiyou: Thank you. -pushes the door open and walks in. She sees Risu laying on the bed with tubes inside of her and IV's in her arm- Oh my God...
Naruto: -goes rigid at the sight-
Taiyou: -walks over to Risu's bedside shrinks a little bit till she's about as big as a large cat and jumps up beside Risu and curls up and closes her eyes-
Naruto: -grabs a chair and pulls it up to Risu, sits down in it, and grabs Risu's hand- I'm sorry Risu...I'm so sorry... -he lays his head down on Risu's bed and begins to sob-
-Meanwhile-
Ryume: -tries to take a step to walk to Risu's room but stops as her side goes numb and she collapses, holding on the bench armrest for support. Thinks; Dang it. I still can't walk. I really need to strengthen up more. -she hears footsteps behind her and looks back to see Shikamaru- Oh, Shikamaru, hey.
Shikamaru: -looks strangely at the position Ryume's in- Uhh...Do you need some help?
Ryume: Oh, no I'm fine. -releases grip on the bench and tries to stand again. Another throb of pain shoots up her side and she bites her lip in pain as tries to stand. She turns back to Shikamaru and manages to talk- So what bring you here?
Shikamaru: -shrugs casually- Just reporting for Tsunade about how you and Risu and Naruto are doing. You know where Risu's room is?
Ryume: Yeah I was just on my way down there.
Shikamaru: Seriously?
Ryume: Yeah...why?
Shikamaru: Nothing. Well let's go. Ill even walk slow for you.
Ryume: Not funny Shika.
Shikamaru: Don't call me that, especially in public -sighs- women.
Ryume: Well let's go. -she limps towards Risu's room and turns inside to see Ino and Risu and Naruto...-
Naruto: -looks up from Risu's bed to see the people in the doorway. Mutters- Hey Ryume...Shikamaru...
Ino: -doesn't look up but stays where she is at the foot of Risu's bed-
Shikamaru: How is she?
Naruto: -without tone- Stable.
Shikamaru: That's good. When do you think she's gonna wake up?
Naruto: -snaps- I don't know, I'm not a freaking mind reader.
Ryume: Jeez, it was just a question.
Naruto: -snorts and takes Risu's hand again-
Shikamaru: So what exactly happened?
Naruto: She sent all her chakra into me because she thought I was dead. It killed her then we brought her back.
Shikamaru: -nods- I need to tell Tsunade immediately. -leaves the room-
Ryume: -tries to pull up a chair to Risu's bed, but searing pain stops her- Naruto, help please.
Naruto: -sighs but gets up and drags the chair over to his so that Ryume can sit down-
Ryume: Thanks...-sinks into the chair-
Naruto: Welcome...
--A LONG while later--
Risu: -dreaming- She is standing in the middle of a forest and she hears screams coming from everywhere at once. She spins and runs towards every scream trying to find her friends. "Where are you!!" She screams to the forest. No answer but the pain-filled screams. She runs through the forest weaving through the trees when she finally comes to a clearing. IN the clearing is Itachi and Yupiteru and not to mention the whole Akatsuki clan. They are each standing next to a tree and on each tree one of Risu's friends and mentors are tied. Naruto, Sakura, Ryume, Rynn. Rika, Kakashi, Neji, Shikamaru, Sasuke...EVERYBODY is tied to a tree. And they are all bleeding profusely. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU MONSTERS!!" Risu screams, leaping at the nearest tree, the one with Ryume on it, and tries to undo the knots binding her friend. Itachi comes around from the other side of the tree and kicks Risu full in the ribs, making her fly 10 feet away. She struggles up and leaps at Itachi. Suddenly she's suspended in the air unable to move. Itachi whispers, "Watch this." Then he snaps his fingers and every person tied to a tree screams and then they are ripped apart by some unseen force. Risu screams,"NOOOOOOOOO!!" and tries to struggle against her invisible bond but she can't even move a finger. Itachi then goes over to the tree where Ryume once was bound, scoops up some of her blood in his hand and smears it all over Risu's face listening to her screams of pain and loss. Itachi whispers, "You've failed Risu. And the price of failure is death of your friends.: Risu screams, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" -suddenly she feels herself being shaken and her throat feels like it's been coated with sandpaper. "Risu!! Wake up!!" Calls a voice. Naruto's voice. Suddenly her hearing kicks in fully and she hears screams. It takes a minute for her to realize that the screams were her own. Once she realizes it, they stop.
"Risu?" Says another voice. Ryume. Risu opens her eyes and sees Ino, Ryume and Naruto standing around her bed, leaning over her and their expressions filled with worry.
Naruto: Risu? Can you hear me? Are you okay?
Risu: -manages a nod and coughs-
Ryume: Here. -hands her a paper cup of water-
Ino: Risu?? Risu oh my God are you okay??
Risu: -nods again and gulps the water-
Ryume: Can you talk?
Risu: -thinks about the question and then...- I think so... -her voice is really raspy-
Naruto: -sighs in relief- What was wrong?? Why were you screaming??
Risu: A dream... a really bad dream... -she begins to shake hard-
Naruto: -puts his arms around Risu, hugging her to him. Murmurs- it's okay... it was just a dream...were here...
Risu: -buries her face in Naruto's jacket and cries-
Ryume: -rubs Risu's back. Mutters- It's okay... it's okay...
--It's Nighttime--
Ryume: -falling asleep while sitting up on a backless chair. She yawns and rubs her eyes.-
Naruto: -hasn't moved from Risu's side-
Ryume: We should probably get some rest... Naruto.
Naruto: -snaps up- Huh? Oh, yeah, I guess... But... I don't wanna leave.
Ryume: -smiles- You don't have to. -tries to get up out of chair-
Naruto: What do you mean??
Ryume: -grins- Sleep here for the night. I'll make sure to tell the nurse that you'll be in here.
Naruto: You'd do that?!
Ryume: Sure. Why wouldn't I? -leans against Risu's bedpost as she tries to walk, gritting her teeth in pain-
Naruto: Let me help -gets up-
Ryume: -motions him to sit back down- It's fine. Just stay here with Risu. I'm fine. -limps out the door-
Naruto: -stares after her until she's gone then turns his gaze back to Risu who was sleeping. Then he mumbles- Risu... How can I ever forgive myself?
--
Ryume: -lets out a heavy sigh and collapses onto a bench in the hallway of the hospital.-
??: Need some help?
Ryume: -looks over and sees Kasaigaru walking down the hallway.-
Kasaigaru: I was coming to get you, you took a little too long..
Ryume: Oh, sorry about that. It's just that I was really worried about Risu and Naruto looked so upset.
Kasaigaru: How about you worry about yourself for now. -walks next to Ryume so she can get on his back- Don't' worry I won't run or walk fast.
Ryume: Thanks. And you know that's impossible for me to worry about myself! You of all people should know that by now. –laughs-
Kasaigaru: -grins- Got that right. -walks out of hospital and to Ryume's apartment.-
--
Risu: -wakes up but doesn't open her eyes. Thinks- Naruto is probably sitting right next to me. How can I face him knowing that he nearly DIED because of me? -done thinking- -opens her eyes slowly-
Naruto: -jumps up- Risu? You awake? You okay? Do you need anything??
Risu: -whispers- I feel fine. I don't need anything.
Naruto: You sure?
Risu: Yeah.
Naruto: How do you feel?
Risu: -thinks about how to answer this then whispers- I feel like I've been completely deflated then stuffed back up again. My skin feels like it's about to burst. Like a plump berry.
Naruto: -eyes widen-
Risu: -laughs weakly- It's okay. It doesn't really hurt. It just feels...funny.
Naruto: F...f...funny...?
Risu: Yeah...
Naruto: You died...died...and you feel...FUNNY?!
Risu: I know...awkward.
Naruto: -shakes his head- What am I going to do with you?
Risu: What am I going to do with you??
Naruto: Huh?
Risu: You went and got yourself captured. Then you went to go get the demon sucked out of you THEN...YOU WENT AND GOT ME ALL SCARED THAT YOU WENT 'N DIED!! -she was practically yelling by the end and she had tears in her eyes. Then she mutters- And it's my fault...
Naruto: You think it's your fault?
Risu: Prove me wrong.
Naruto: Risu, it's totally my fault!
Risu: What?
Naruto: If I hadn't been so careless or been just a little faster or stronger I wouldn't have gone and made you think I was dead and then YOU wouldn't have gone and killed yourself!! Trying to save me!!
Risu: Will you stop sayin' I killed myself?? Cause I didn't. I'm here talkin' to ya aren't I? How in the world could I have die if I'm talking to ya?
Naruto: Risu, you died.
Risu: Then how am I alive?
Naruto: -mutters- They had to shock you three times Risu. You weren't breathing and your heart wasn't beating and everything. You were...dead...
Risu: -eyes widen then she starts laughing hysterically-
Naruto: Risu? What in the world are you laughing about?!
Risu: -barely managing to talk through laughing- I just thought...that...that...that I don't remember...I don't remember...what heaven looks like!!
Naruto: -gapes at Risu- Wha...??
Risu: -abruptly stops laughing- I either don't remember heaven or I don't remember Hell. One or the other.
Naruto: -shakes his head- Risu, I think you've gone crazy.
Risu: You don't think that's funny?
Naruto: No...not really.
Risu: Party-pooper...
Naruto: WHAT??
Risu: You...are a party-pooper.
Naruto: Risu...I think you need some more sleep...
Risu: NO!! No I'm fine. I feel great!! I bet I could walk even! Then we can get out of here and get the Akatsuki bastards who tried to kill you!! Sounds like a plan. Let's go! -flings her covers off and swings her legs out of bed-
Naruto: I don't think this is a good idea. Risu, you're getting loopy. Crazy. You're talking nonsense. You need a few hours more of sleep-
Risu: I'm fine! -hops off the bed- See? -starts to walk but right after the first step her legs turn to jelly and she falls to the floor-
Naruto: -catches her right before she hits the ground, picks her up and puts her back in the bed- Told you. Now...sleep!
Risu: Your no fun...
Naruto: Good. Sleep.
Risu: Fine. -closes her eyes and in a few minutes is fast asleep-
Naruto: -Thinks; Did she really mean to go after the Akatsuki??
--
Ryume: -taps foot impatiently with her arms crossed, eyes closed, and leaning against the wall outside Tsunade's office-
Sasuke: -who's also leaning against the wall, smirks- What's up with you?
Ryume: I wish she'd just hurry up...
Sasuke: Hn. That's strange. The always patient, calm and polite Ryume is now finally getting impatient?
Ryume: -manages to stop tapping foot. After a while she puts on her Anime Cramp and finally lets out a sigh- Isn't she just supposed to be checking her?
Sasuke: Since you're so eager to find out, lets just go in -reaches for the doorknob-
Ryume: Ah! Wait!! It's okay! Really! I can wait!
Sasuke: -smirks. He just loves to see Ryume like this- Are you sure? -says tauntingly-
Ryume: -looks at ground and mumbles- Y-yeah... I'm fine. Sorry if I got annoying.
Sasuke: -chuckles slightly and releases doorknob- When are you ever annoying?
Ryume: -grumbles and goes back into her old position on the wall-
Sasuke: -smirks again and goes next to Ryume mumbling- Idiot...
Ryume: -hangs head down in defeat-
Sasuke: -chuckles again-
??: Having fun are we?
-Ryume and Sasuke look down the hallway and see Kasaigaru and Hikuro-
Ryume: Oh, hey guys. -raises eyebrow- Although its an odd combination of you two together
Kasaigaru: I happened to run into him. It seems he's going to be on the mission too.
Ryume: Mission??
Kasaigaru: -mumbles- Oops... Well, yeah, once we go into Tsunade's office, she'll tell you.
Sasuke: -stares at Hikuro the whole time-
Hikuro: -puts on Anime Cramp- Do you need something?!
Sasuke: -looks away- Hn.
Hikuro: -growls- Jerk...
Sasuke: Tsch.
Hikuro: -Anime Cramp grows bigger- Man, does EVERYBODY hate this guy?!
Ryume: -suddenly looks at Hikuro and turns pink, then finally looks away-
Hikuro: Oops... Uhh... I didn't mean it like that. But he's still a jerk-face.
Sasuke: -says quietly but loud enough for Hikuro to hear- Stubborn ass...
Hikuro: -Anime Cramp grows even bigger and he launches himself at Sasuke-
Ryume: Hikuro! Will you cut it out?!
Hikuro: -halts as the door suddenly opens. Everybody looks towards the door-
Shizune: uhh... Well I guess it was a good thing I interrupted, right?
Hikuro: No! It WASN'T!
Shizune: -flinches and back off-
Ryume: -sighs in relief and enters room-
Sasuke: -ignores Hikuro's glares and follows-
Kasaigaru: -hesitates before entering and thinks; Why do those two have to be on the same the mission? And with Ryume? Oh god... This isn't going to be good. -sighs-
Risu: Ryume!! HEY!!
Tsunade: Will you quiet down?! You've been loud all morning!
Naruto: -grins at his friend and they high five-
Ryume: She can't help it. She's been in the hospital for, what, two weeks? Not her fault.
Tsunade: It actually is...
Kasaigaru: -interrupts as Risu opens her mouth to argue- Moving on!
Tsunade: Right. Anyway I have a mission for you guy-
Risu: -cuts her off- WHAT?! A MISSION?! ARE YOU KIDDING?! I HAVE OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO THAT!! FORGET IT!!
Ryume: -sighs- Yep, good to have ya back, Risu-Chan.
Hikuro: Is she always this loud?
Ryume: I guess you can say that...
Tsunade: -getting irritated- And what's this so called IMPORTANT thing you have to do?
Risu: uhh...errm...
Ryume: -thinks; Oh no! We can't tell her we're going after the Akatsuki! I have to think of something before she gets suspicious!-
Tsunade: I'm waiting.
Ryume: That's the thing! We DON'T have anything important to do... right Risu? -glares at Risu-
Risu: -looks at her confused and opens her mouth to argue but Ryume interrupts-
Ryume: We'll do it!
Risu: WHAAAAAAA-ARG!!
Ryume: -covers her mouth- Well, how about I cool off this baka, here? Kasaigaru, can you get the information to me, please?
Kasaigaru: Sure, whatever. -thinks; Very clever, Ryume...-he's obviously aware of what's going on-
Ryume: Thanks!! -rushes out of room with Risu struggling in her arms- You too, Uzumaki!!
Naruto: -jumps in surprise at her sudden change in personality- Y-yes ma'me!
Ryume: -lets go of Risu once she's outside- Before you start punching me to death, let me explain why I did that! I already know that you want to go after the Akatsuki, okay?
Naruto: How do you know?!
Ryume: I have my resources.
Naruto & Risu: -give her blank stares-
Ryume: -sighs- Anyways, listen, if we don't tell anyone that we're going after them, they won't let us, right?
Risu: Us??
Ryume: -puts hands on hips- Yeah, I'm going to let YOU TWO by yourselves. Sure. But listen think about it. If they question us once they find out we left the village, we won't have a reason unless we tell the truth and get our asses beat. Soooo, if we go on a mission OUT of the village, and once we finish it, and if they find catch us, we'll have a reason to be out of the village. Getting it now?
Naruto: So... We accept the mission, accomplish it, then keep going after Akatsuki?
Ryume: And that way no one will catch us. If they do, we can just tell them that we were doing a mission. That's enough proof right there.
Risu: But what if they know we're off course?
Ryume: I make Kasaigaru 'poof' away and say we got lost.
Naruto: -looks at Risu and they both grin- Ryume, you're a smartass!
Ryume: Gee, thanks. -sarcasm in voice-
Risu: So we gonna go or what?? I wanna GOOOO!!
Hikuro: Shut up.
Risu: -punches Hikuro in the face, knocking him down- So we gonna go? Does he have to come??
Ryume: -smacks forehead-
Hikuro: -jumps up- Your dead. -lunges for Risu-
Naruto: STOP! -jumps in between Risu and Hikuro and puts Hikuro in a full nelson-
Ryume: Guys cut it out.
Risu: -pulls Naruto of Hikuro- Come on Naruto. Kill him later. We gotta a mission.
Sasuke: I case you've forgotten, we don't know what the mission is.
Risu: That could be problematic.
Ryume: Baka.
Risu: Let's go see what it is then!! -ninja jumps off to Tsunade's-
--At Tsunade's--
Tsunade: Your mission is to go into the forest. The directions to the place I need you to go are in here. -holds up a scroll, then hands it to Ryume- I need you to go there and see if the small enemy training dojo is still there. If it is, come back immediately, enemies can still be there. If it's destroyed, make sure that it is completely deserted then come back. Clear?
Risu: Yes, ma'am.
Everyone: -nods-
Tsunade: Go.
--At the gates--
Risu: -snags the scroll from Ryume and opens it- Hn. This map makes NO sense.
Naruto: -looks over- Risu your real smart... -turns the map around in Risu's hands to make it right side up-
Risu: -blushes- I knew that. I was just checking if you knew.
Naruto: Sure you were. Where are we going?
Risu: Follow me! -jumps off into the forest-
Naruto: -follows-
Hikuro: -looks at Ryume then says sarcastically- You sure pick great friends. -jumps off to follow-
Ryume: -sighs- This is gonna be one helluva trip.
Kasaigaru: Somehow I think we'll survive.
Ryume: -grins- You coming Sasuke?
Sasuke: -grins- Right behind you.
Ryume: -jumps off-
--LATER--
Ryume: -watches as Hikuro and Naruto and Risu continue to fight and sighs-
Sasuke: -sighs with Ryume and they both hang their heads down-
Naruto: Oh yeah!! Well I bet I can beat you Any day!! -puts his fist to Hikuro's face in a gesture of a challenge-
Hikuro: HA!! Yeah right! Bring it on weakling!! -brings his fist to Naruto's face also. They're still running too-
Naruto: -stops and faces Hikuro-
Hikuro: -also stops and puts on a smirk, pissing Naruto off-
Naruto: -raises his fist to punch Hikuro-
Ryume & Risu: -suddenly come in between the two and at the same time, hit them on the heads-
Risu: -sends Naruto flying-Cut it out!! As much as I don't like that guy, we need to finish this stupid mission so we can go after Akatsuki!
Ryume: -simply brings her hand down hard on the top of Hikuro's head and he groans in pain, rubbing the top of his head, which was hanging down. Ryume sighed and knelt down to his eye-level- Come on now, Hikuro. You really need to learn to get along with my friends, all right?
Hikuro: -looks away stubbornly and crosses his arms in front of him-
Sasuke: -lands beside Ryume- Forget it, Ryume. He's just acting like the child he really is.
Hikuro: -jumps on his feet and raises a fist- What was that?! You're asking for it, you jerk!
Ryume: -raises hand to hit him again but stops in midair as Hikuro puts his hands to his head. She puts down her hand and smiles as she shakes her head.- Hikuro... What am I going to do with you? -laughs shortly and walks away to get everyone ready again to keep moving.-
Hikuro: -turns pink as he looks away and puts his hands in his pockets- Tsch. Whatever…
Sasuke: -glares at him but then also walks away-
Ryume: All right, guys! Like Risu said, lets get a move on and get this over with.
Sasuke: -mumbles under breath- Finally...
--They all finally start moving again and finally reach the dojo which was in ruins.--
Risu: Well then, looks like they're making our job easier! The dojo's deserted.
Naruto: Now all we have to do is check to see if no one's around! This isn't so bad!
Ryume: I guess... But just make sure to stay cautious. Hey! Guys! Come back here! -sighs as Risu and Naruto run to the dojo and start scanning the area.-
Sasuke: Just let them do whatever they want. -puts hands behind his head, closes his eyes, and leans against a tree in the shade-
Hikuro: -whispers to Ryume- He's probably too lazy to do the work himself-
Ryume: Hikuro!
Hikuro: -shrugs- Just sayin.
Ryume: -shakes head and goes to the dojo with Hikuro walking beside her-
Hikuro: So if no one's here we... what?
Ryume: Go find the Akatsuki so Risu and Naruto can take their revenge on them. -explains to him what happened while looking under rubble and empty rooms in the dojo-
Hikuro: So why are you here?
Ryume: -stops and looks at Hikuro like he's crazy- Because they're my best friends and who's going to be there if they get hurt? Besides, I have some unfinished business with a member of the Akatsuki... -eyes go dark and her fists clench-
Hikuro: Ryume...?
Ryume: -sighs- Don't worry about it. It's my business and mine only... Well... actually... Sasuke's too... -looks into the clearing where Sasuke is still against the tree-
Hikuro: -confused- Well, I guess I'm just a helper to all of you guys, right?
Ryume: -laughs slightly- Yeah, I guess.
Hikuro: -shrugs- Whatever -walks out of dojo and waits for everyone else to come out-
Naruto: ALL RIGHT!! No one's here! That means we can go find the Akatsuki!
Ryume: Yeah. And the bonus is that we finished this quickly, so we have more time.
Risu: More time??
Ryume: Yes, more time. We can't be gone for days looking for them. So we need to find them quickly before Tsunade sends someone to find us.
Risu & Naruto: Oh...
Ryume: -apologizes- Sorry to bring your hopes down. But I guess that just means were even more determined, right? -tries to cheer everyone up-
Sasuke: -thinks; At least she's trying to cheer everyone up...
-Everyone agrees with Ryume and they all finally search for the Akatsuki-
Risu: -is talking to Naruto while jumping through the trees-
Naruto: Hey Risu?
Risu: Yeah?
Naruto: Why isn't Taiyou with us?
Risu: -suddenly stops- Shit! -straightens up and then puts on this really weird high voice- TAIYOU!!
Naruto: -coves his ears from the highness of Risu's voice- What are you doing??
Risu: TAIYOU!! -suddenly there's a puff of smoke and Taiyou is sitting on Risu's shoulder, ordinary chipmunk size- Sorry Taiyou. Forgot to call you earlier. Anyway you missed the boring part. We're going after the Akatsuki.
Taiyou: Wonderful. I was waiting for you to call. Have you found them yet or what?
Naruto: No we haven't.
Taiyou: Then keep moving.
Risu & Naruto: -nod and continue jumping-
Naruto: That was weird Risu. How did you call Taiyou all the way from the village??
Risu: Back when I first found Taiyou we found out that if I pitched my voice right, she could hear me from just about anywhere. Took a while for me to perfect the pitch though. And anyway, she can only hear me from a few miles away. I'm surprised she heard me actually.
Taiyou: I wouldn't have if I hadn't been listening intently for it.
Naruto: Wow.