Characters Gate Guard, Tsunade, Kakashi, Iruka
Summary Naruto's missing, and Iruka wants in on how to save him! Tsunade reveals that she wants him to go with Kakashi to save the boy and find Sakura and Sai. Kakashi's acting a little weird...
Disclaimer I do not own Naruto. ;;; Sadly.
"WHAT?!" Came the angry call from the Hokage's office, papers flew out the door and almost hit the person standing there. "SHE DID WHAT?!" That enraged female voice screamed from the room, there was a male voice, clearly afraid, but doing what he'd been asked to do.
Inside of the room, there was one of the two gate guards and Tsunade – the godaime Hokage. At the age of sixty she was a good-looking women, blonde hair that parted in the middle and elegantly displayed her face, in the center of her forehead was a green diamond, she had a slender neck, full breasts, yes, she was the very envy of women in Konoha; however, she was also scary-strong, especially when she had a temper. That temper was on full display at the moment, a pulse mark throbbed on her forehead as she glared out the widow. The green, tan and fishnet outfit that she wore everyday displayed her body properly, but that wasn't what was on the gate guards mind at the moment.
He was scared. Really scared. Tsunade didn't say anything for a few minutes; he was almost scared to talk to her for fear of incurring her wrath once more. He'd already had had to dodge several cases of paper and a book or two – he really didn't want to dodge anything anymore.
"So." Tsunade said, turning to look out the window, he could tell that the gambler-chick was cooling down, but only a little. He blinked and swallowed uncomfortably. "Yes Hokage-sama?" He asked, hesitant. "Tell me again what happened." She demanded curtly, still looking out the window.
He was only too glad she was doing that; he didn't think that he could have faced her at that moment. He swallowed, cleared his throat, stood straighter and reported again like a good shinobi:
"Early this morning, Uzumaki Naruto tore out of the Konohagakure gates without so much as a word of where he was going or when he planned to come back." The guard stopped to re-assess the situation, "A few hours later, Sakura and Sai came by questioning about Naruto. We, my partner and myself, were unable to tell them anything but other than Naruto had indeed left through the gates earlier that same day." He wiped some sweat off his brow, "After that they exchanged comments and requested that we should report to you that they were going to go after Naruto."
His sweat was almost soaking through his vest now, he was so scared. He'd watched, as he'd re-informed his leader about the situation, he'd seen her body tighten and he got ready to dodge again. He blinked; not hearing the door open, he didn't notice there were other people in the room until a gloved hand rested on his shoulder and a middle-aged voice called out, "Tsunade-sama, have you seen Naruto-kun?"
The guard (who had jumped at the gloved hand on his shoulder) found himself looking at Kakashi, one of the two men who'd been standing outside the door when the papers had suddenly flown out. Iruka stood on the mans' opposite, he was looking at Tsunade with worried black orbs, Kakashi looked over at Iruka, "Oi, didn't you hear? Naruto ditched Konoha." Kakashi's voice was difficult to describe, it was rough, but sad, and slightly amused. Iruka looked crestfallenly at Kakashi, "Oh… al-alright…" He said softly, looking at the ground suddenly, he bowed to Tsunade, who still hadn't said anything since Kakashi and Iruka had entered the room. He turned and started to walk out the door, his shoulders in a slump.
"Iruka."
Tsunade's cold voice ripped through him so fast that he was left with a clouded mind; he turned around after a moment and looked at Tsunade, who was still looking out the window, "Early this morning Naruto tore out of the Konoha gates. Do you know anything about this?" She still didn't turn around. Iruka thought a moment, "He seemed fine yesterday, and I haven't seen him since Hokage-sama." Iruka said truthfully, "I know Sakura went to get him this morning however." He shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know anything beyond that." He told her, turning to face her back fully.
Her face scared him, he watched her for a moment, the regained his lost composure, "What do you think happened Hokage-sama? What are we going to do about!?" He said, almost flying off into a panic, his orbs widened suddenly, "We have to find him! The Akatsuki is out there looking for him! What if they find him!?" Iruka's labored breathing filled the room for a moment. It had shocked all of the occupants that Iruka had reacted that fast to something that they had had no control over. Iruka got ready to start another semi-rant when a gloved hand placed itself over his mouth.
He felt the warmth from Kakashi's body as the jounin stood behind him, Iruka muttered and strained against that hand – but Kakashi leaned forward and told Iruka curtly, "Shut up." The chuunin's orbs widened suddenly, he looked at Tsunade for help, she had a stony expression in her eyes and he knew he'd get no help from her.
"Promise you'll be quiet and I'll let go."
Kakashi told him softly in his ear, his mouth close enough to Iruka's ear that the fabric that covered Kakashi's face brushed gently against Iruka's curved ear, a blush sprang up on Iruka face suddenly. He nodded his head and felt the gloved hand shift, then it came of his mouth and he straightened, he bowed his head; crestfallen, "I'm sorry Hokage-sama, it wasn't my place, you probably already have someone going after him." Iruka's face stung as if someone had slapped him, he'd spoken out of turn. --and to the Hokage nonetheless!-- He gulped and refused to look up at her.
"Actually, I don't."
He blinked and looked up, Iruka's mouth dropped, "What--?! You mean he's out there on his own!?" Iruka's rage returned in a flash, a hand on his shoulder tightened suddenly, drawing a hiss of pain from the chuunin. He turned and faced Kakashi suddenly, his eyes wide. He'd done it again! He blinked and looked at the floor. "S-sorry…" He said, knowing it wouldn't do any good. He blinked back tears, what if Naruto was in trouble?! He couldn't just stand here passively and act as if nothing had happened. He blinked, besides, why had Tsunade summoned them here anyway? He blinked and ventured a look back up at her for a moment, searching her wise old eyes.
"But have the team I wanted to send here already."
Iruka blinked, "What?" He asked, not understanding, he looked at Tsunade a moment, then at Kakashi, who looked totally serious. Iruka blinked again, "What…?" He asked a second time, looking from the Hokage to Kakashi, Kakashi smiled suddenly, "Do we have any leads?" He asked, his masked words easily heard, Iruka gulped. We? He thought silently, looking from the Hokage to Kakashi still. He muttered something under his breath when Tsunade told them that she had a faint idea that Naruto was heading towards Sasuke. Iruka blinked and looked up, "Sakura told him the news I assume then." He guessed suddenly, "That's why he ran off, he panicked." Iruka said, his voice firm. He knew Naruto, and Sasuke was one of the few things that could get to him faster than anything else.
"Correct. I want you two to follow him and meet up with Sakura and Sai along the way."
"What?! Sakura and Sai are out there after him!?"
"Iruka, shut up for a moment will you?"
"But--!"
"They left without permission from me, they took off about a half an hour ago – I'm sure that both of you can catch up to them."
"But--! I--!"
"Iruka, shut up! We understand Hokage."
"Why do I get to go?!"
"I thought that was obvious Iruka."
"Well...its not…"
"Kakashi?"
"Hai, Iruka, you know Naruto the best, you can track him the fastest. You have a knack for finding him."
"I do?"
"Of course, you seem to be able to find him every time he runs off."
"I…I-I guess so…"
"So, what do you say Iruka, teammates?"
"Why does that sound like you're thinking something perverted?"
"Maa..."
"Eh!?"
"Enough, both of you. You have your assignment. You understand it? No questions?"
"Yes Hokage-sama."
"Yeah…"
"Dismissed."
"Oh, Kakashi, I forgot to mention… no reading on this mission."
"Hn…"
"Watch out, keep sighing like that and you'll give Shikamaru a run for his money."
"Wait-! Tsunade-sama, what about my classe-"
"Already taken care of."
"Erm… ok-okay…"
"Dismissed!"
Iruka frowned, but he nodded his head and left the room – he had everything that he would need. He blinked, still in a daze however, the male looked at Tsunade, her back already turned to him. He was frozen, this was his first mission in a long time. His first mission since Mizuki's return to Konoha. Iruka blinked again, his body was numb, he couldn't move for a few minutes. Then a warm, gloved hand clasped his shoulder and the whisper of a masked face brushed passed his ear, "Easy Iruka, don't question; just do. You want to follow him right?"
Iruka didn't move, he blinked and closed his eyes, his chin dropped to his chest; he knew he'd lost. He wanted to find Naruto with all of his being, his left hand came up, crossing his body as it inched up, his tentative fingers found and locked with Kakashi's gloved fingers, "We'll find him… right?" He asked hesitantly, looking towards Kakashi's knowing black eye. Kakashi smiled (or, Iruka thought he smiled.) Kakashi nodded his head slowly, he silently had assured Iruka that he would find Naruto. That they would find Naruto they would find him together. Iruka gave him a weak smile.
"Alright. I believe you…"
"Good. Let's go."
"What?! You two are still here Get out of here!"
Iruka blushed suddenly and both of them vanished out of the door, towards the gates. Iruka looked over at Kakashi as he pondered Naruto's sudden disappearance. He faltered a bit, stumbling and nearly falling. Kakashi was there suddenly, steadying him. Iruka glanced up at him as Kakashi clasped his hand, "We'll find him Iruka." He said softly, his face turned towards the direction that they were going "We'll find him." Iruka blushed silently, why was Kakashi being all touchy-feely now?
Iruka had been unsettled about it before, but once he'd grown used to it; he'd welcomed Kakashi's tender words. Iruka thought that perhaps he knew Kakashi better than anyone else did, they had spoken late at night, which usually ended up with Iruka being drunk and spilling things about his childhood that under any other sort of circumstance he would have kept a complete secret. They had a common goal and that goal had a name; Uzumaki Naruto. His student who was like a son, and a student who was like a close friend.