Chapter 4: The Copy Ninja

The next day, Sakura and Sasuke met up at school before the bell rang, along with Shikamaru, Naruto, Tenten, Neji (Sasuke's best friend), Hinata, Chouji, Kiba, and even Ino decided to join up. But pretty much just to see Sasuke. Kiba also brought his dog along with him, Akamaru, for a school project. All of them met up in the courtyard. "Okay," Sasuke began, "Yesterday, Sakura met a man from Sound City. His name is Orochimaru, if some remember from middle school," some of the kids started whispering, "And, the funny thing is, I didn't find out until Sakura and I run into him again at a club last night," Sakura managed to catch a glare from Ino, but ignored, "We also ran into two others that we all know from Sand City, Gaara and Kankurou. But anyway, I overheard Orochimaru talking about (and I quote) 'meeting up' with my middle school sensei, Kakashi." Naruto shot up, "What's he want to do with him?" he asked.

Sasuke shrugged, "I don't know, but I wanna find out. That's why I need everyone here to help me… Shikamaru."

"Yeah?"

"Through out the day, I need you to make a plan for the best way for us to eavesdrop on Kakashi and Orochimaru when they meet up."

"One question, though," he began, "Where will they meet up?"

Sasuke looked down and thought, "Kakashi usually likes to train at night alone, so most likely in an open area in the woods."

Shikamaru nodded, "Got it."

Then Sasuke turned to Naruto and motioned him forward. He put a hand on his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Can you forgive me for all those years?"

Naruto thought for a long time… and nodded, "Yeah… this is important. I forgive you."

Sasuke made a soft smile, "Thanks," he lifted up as the bell rang. Everyone went to class together (Remember? First block was none other than Study Hall!).

Sakura was once again with Tenten and Hinata. While they were talking, Ino walked up, but in worry. Sakura noticed, "What is it, Ino?" she asked in frustration.

Ino ignored Sakura's tone of voice, "This… Orochimaru…"

Sakura's eyebrow quirked, "Yeah?"

Ino looked up, "He's the one that took control of Sasuke… right?"

"Yeah, he's the one," Sakura furrowed, "What're you trying to do?"

Ino shot up, "Nothing! I'm just as concerned as you are about your sensei!"

"Why are you so worried about him? You never even knew him."

"I do, too!" Sakura folded her arms. Ino sighed, "He was one of my mom's favorite customers at the shop."

Slowly, Sakura became sympathetic, "W-… what?"

"Every night, before the shop would close, he'd come in and talk to my mom. I didn't know why until later. My mom and he were best friends at our age and still are. At least… until several months ago…"

"What happened?"

"My mom thought that the ANBU Black Ops were complete jerks. She never knew that Kakashi was an ex-ANBU until that night when his right sleeved was ripped."

Sakura gasped, "That was when Naruto was fighting with him for training. One of Kakashi's hound dogs mistook the wrong scent and thought that it was Naruto in disguise."

"Anyway, his ANBU tattoo was still there. My mom noticed it and shoved him out the door. But during those times, Kakashi and I were good friends. He's always telling me to be nice to you, but I was being ignorant."

Sakura looked down, "No wonder he was a bit depressed that next day,"

"That's why I'm concerned so much. I don't want hi to be beaten by the guy who controlled Sasuke for 4 years."

Then she turned around and started walking, but then stopped when Sakura called, "Hey Ino. If Sasuke or I break up with one another, you can have him."

Ino raised her head up, "Hmph… is that so?"

Sakura smirked, "I've always got a back up."

Ino smiled, "Heh… that's alright."

Sakura shot up, "Wha…?"

The blonde turned half way, "I may love him to death, but it doesn't mean that I'd truly want him."

Sakura smiled, "Well, just in case, right?"

Ino smirked, "Right."

After school, everyone went to get some weaponry, like kunai, shuriken, and scrolls. Sakura and Tenten brought their bikes to give anyone a ride if they needed it. Sasuke thought it was a good idea to at least do that, but even better if it were only a couple of people. If everyone brought vehicles, and went down as a group in the middle of the night, cops would be suspecting something. So, only 4 on vehicle, the rest on foot:

Foot Vehicle

Sasuke Sakura

Shikamaru Tenten

Neji Hinata

Chouji Ino

Naruto

Kiba w/ Akamaru

Shino

Rock Lee

Soon, everyone met back up at the school, "Alright," Sasuke began, "Shikamaru, what's the plan?"

Shikamaru spread out a scroll of what is to come, "Alright, like what happened several years ago while chasing after you, Sasuke, Naruto, Chouji, Kiba, Neji, and I had made a formation line. This will end up the same, but with more people and a few other effects.

"First in line is Kiba and Akamaru, with their sense of smell. They will make sure no one will come our way while traveling. Second is yours truly. I will be leading the pack and ask Kiba about anyone coming. Third is Rock Lee and Naruto. Now since we have more tougher people, we can place more in the front. They are the front reinforcements. Fourth, is Shino and Chouji. Back reinforcements. You are fifth. You will be, with your Sharingan, scanning the area for traps and clones. And last, is of course, Neji. He'll make sure no one is following us with his Byakugan.

"As for the girls…" Shikamaru rolled up the scroll and dug into his pocket. He pulled out a microphone and tossed it to Sakura, whom caught it with ease, "Not saying they're weak or anything, but it's best if they stayed on the bikes and listen to actions that I give them."

Sakura folded her arms and glared, "Hopefully you don't mean we're stupid, either. You forget, I was Lady Tsunade's medical nin?"

Shikamaru waved a hand, "Yeah, yeah… I know that, too."

"Just checking."

Sasuke pulled out something from his pocket: a piece of blue cloth. Although, it also had a wide piece of metal on it… with the Leaf symbol, "I wasn't sure if anyone had these anymore, but…" he clutched it, "… maybe we need to wear it again."

Sakura smiled and opened a secret compartment on her bike seat. Her red one was in there. She pulled it out and walked towards Sasuke, "You're right, I think we should."

Suddenly, everyone happened to have theirs with them. Sakura held out a hand. Ino put her hand on top of Sakura's. Soon, everyone else joined in. Except Neji. Everyone glared at him, "Come on, Neji." Shikamaru said. Neji looked at everyone, even Sasuke, who seemed very confident about this. Neji sighed and finally put his on there. Sakura smiled, "Remember, this is an important Leaf ninja, that we all used to look up to, that we are helping. Let's hope Orochimaru doesn't get in the way of us achieving our goal. Got it?" Everyone nodded.

--

"C'mon, Iruka. You can do better than that."

Iruka sighed and revealed himself from behind the tree, "Geez, Kakashi… after a whole week, you've mastered that jutsu completely."

The silver haired man jumped down from the tree he was crouching on. He put a hand on his hip, "Well, you know me. I can copy any new jutsu you throw at me."

Iruka laughed, "Yeah. 'The Copy Ninja', right?"

Kakashi nodded. And from behind his mask, it looked like he was smiling, "Exactly."

"Well, to be honest, I need to be heading back. And you should, too. It's getting late."

Kakashi passed the fact, "Nah, I'll be alright. I have some reading to do, actually."

Iruka rolled his eyes, "That paradise book is too addicting to you. I'm surprised you haven't stopped reading it after finishing it for the ten millionth time."

"It's excellent. I can't help but to read it over and over again. There's this one really good part, where a girl and a guy--"

"I don't wanna know! I'm not exactly that kind of guy, if you know what I mean."

"Right, sorry."

"Anyway, see ya tomorrow, Kakashi."

"See ya. And Iruka?"

Iruka turned around, "Yeah?"

"Come back with something new, will ya?"

He chuckled, "Yeah, yeah. Show off."

Kakashi laughed, leaning against the tree, while Iruka walked away.

Kakashi was still the toughest ninja in Downtown Leaf. If anyone faced against him, he'd always win. No matter how beat up he was. He was just like Naruto when he was a kid: he never gave up. But now, he doesn't have to admit that he'd give up because he knows he'll win. Kakashi read more of his book and began to laugh, not at the book but at his thoughts of himself, "Strange… I can face against anyone and still win. I bet I'm the toughest ninja in the world by now."

"Is that so? Kakashi Hatake?"

"Hmm?" he rose his eyes over his book, but became shocked, "You again…"

"Been a few years, hasn't it?"

"You haven't changed a bit… Orochimaru."

Orochimaru chuckled half-heartedly, "You forget, I've now learned the Self Immortality Jutsu without using another body. That's why I gave up Sasuke after helping him kill his brother."

"So you two killed him after all?"

"Speaking of which, I just saw Uchiha not too long ago. Yesterday to be exact."

Kakashi's visible eye widened, "No way…"

"Including the Sand City leaders and… Sasuke's got himself a little girlfriend." Sasuke with a girl…? That's not usual. Kakashi thought. "Sakura Haruno is her name. She's a rather intelligent young woman. I hear she was Tsunade's medical nin, was she not?"

"She… still is." Kakashi looked down, "Why are you interested in Sakura in any way?" Kakashi then pulled out a kunai, "You don't plan on hurting her, do you?"

Orochimaru laughed, "Still protective over an ex-student, Kakashi? I wouldn't be too worried. She's just…" Kakashi squinted, kunai still in hand, "… not ready yet."

"Ready for what?! What's in your mind, snake?"

Suddenly, shuffling of the trees were heard from the far right of Kakashi.

"What's your status?" Sakura asked through Shikamaru's earpiece.

"We're here, and the sight of Kakashi and Orochimaru are exactly 5 meters away, Sasuke watching ahead."

From the bike, Sakura stopped, for they were exactly where they needed to be, "Okay, we'll be up there in a minute."

"Right." Both turned off earpieces and Sakura and her group were up there in no time. Sakura squatted next to Shikamaru, "Is it okay if I go up there with Sasuke?" she whispered.

"I think it would be best if you stayed here… but go ahead. Just don't make a single noise."

Sakura nodded and crept slowly until she reached Sasuke. She lightly tapped him on the shoulder, "Sakura…"

"Hey. So what's the deal?"

"He's talking about you right now."

"Me?" she raised an eyebrow, "Why?"

"Orochimaru said 'you aren't ready' for… something. I don't know."

Sakura looked down at Orochimaru, Me?… Why me? What am I not ready for?

"It's a shame they aren't with you right now, Kakashi. Why?"

"They're in high school. They graduated and they don't need me… at least, for right now."

Orochimaru chuckled, "Oh… so that's why…"

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"So I guess that means I can just take them out of your hands, then."

"WHAT?!" Kakashi rushed up to him, kunai straight to his neck, "Don't you dare."

"Oh it's not Sasuke nor… Naruto that I care about."

Kakashi shot the kunai closer, "I don't think she'd want any of your dirty fingers on her. She's too precious."

Orochimaru laughed, "Precious? How charming for you to say that."

"She IS. Don't underestimate her."

--

"I'm going," Sakura whispered.

Sasuke shot up, "Where?" he put a hand on her shoulder, "Sakura… don't."

"Sasuke, Kakashi is our sensei. We need to help him no matter what the circumstances are."

Sasuke sighed, "Sakura… I-"

"AHH!!" Sakura was suddenly pulled out of the tree and into the arms of Orochimaru.

"Sakura!"

Orochimaru had one arm around Sakura's waist and his other hand covering her mouth, which she was trying so hard to get out of, "Well, well, what a coincidence. I talk about you and you automatically appear into my arms. How sweet…"

"Sakura…" Kakashi said with shock, "Let her go!"

"Yeah, or else," Sasuke jumped down, behind Orochimaru, "We strike."

The others jumped down, circling the pale man holding the captive Sakura. Orochimaru laughed, "How convenient. All of the kids here at once."

Suddenly, out of nowhere, sand wrapped around Orochimaru, separating him from Sakura. Although, at the last minute, Orochimaru knocked her out of consciousness. She fell to the ground. Kakashi ran to her, "Sakura!"

Sasuke looked around for the source of the sand and found it, "No offense, but weren't you suppose to be heading out back home?"

Both Gaara and Kankurou were standing on a tree. Kankurou smiled, "Yeah, until Gaara wanted to come after this guy. Luckily, he has good instincts."

"And," Gaara began, "He's the one who killed our father, the Fourth Kazekage."

Sasuke raised his eyebrows slightly and looked back to the pale man, struggling in the sand, but staying calm at the same time. Soon, a light laugh escaped him, "It was nice seeing everyone again, but I need to be going now."

"You aren't going anywhere!" Naruto suddenly shouted, "Not after what you just did to Sakura!"

"Ah, yes," Orochimaru's eyes drifted to the unconscious Sakura, "We will meet again, dear Sakura. I am positive." Then, he disappeared, out of Gaara's grasp.

After a few moments of silence, Gaara summoned his sand back into the gourd on his back. Kankurou stood up, "Well, bummer. I really wanted some action today."