Day 9

While team Ukiyo was preparing, Sasuke was worried that they wouldn't be able to defeat the new Orochimaru. He had Sasuke's body now! Powerful Jutsu combined with a mind that knows how to use it is a bad combination for an enemy. Sasuke tried to rest, but his mind was too active and he wasn't able to take a quick nap. He lay in his old bed, staring at the ceiling. He should've thought about his consequences.


While Sasuke tried to rest a bit before the Team headed out, Kiba was gathering his items for the trip ahead. He grabbed extra soldier pills for Akamaru along with his regular assortment of ninja tools like paper bombs, kunai knives, shuriken, and smoke bombs. Ration bars were also necessary. Kiba grabbed a few extras, just in case he got hungry on the way.

As soon as he was done packing his food, he met Ino and Hinata by the gate. They were the first ones there.

"Hey, Hinata. Hi there, Ino," Kiba said, nodding at the two.

"Um… H-Hi there, K-Kiba…" the timid ninja said.

"I never thought we would be partnered in this together, dog-breath," Ino remarked.

Kiba glared at her. "I still can't figure out how you hold kunai properly, with those man-hands of yours…" Kiba replied.

Ino turned redder than a tomato. Hinata just giggled nervously. Ino glared at her, making her mouth shut quickly.

Kiba, however, kept right on laughing. Hinata smiled.

Just then, Akkei showed up.

"Hi there," Kiba said politely.

"H-Hi Akkei…" Hinata added, nervous as ever.

Akkei nodded. Everyone looked at Ino. She had put on mittens.

"…Why do you have mittens on, it's the middle of June…" Akkei asked.

Ino just sniffed and turned away. Kiba mouthed "don't ask" before bursting into snickers.

Lee and Tenten showed up next, giving a questioning glance to Ino before shaking their heads and sighing.

Tenten whispered, "Kiba, did you make another remark about Ino's… um… large hand problem?"

"Of course not," Kiba responded. "I would never do such a thing!" His voice dripped of sarcasm.

Tenten sighed.

Kakashi and Sasuke showed up, finally.

"I made him hurry, since he's always late," Sasuke said.

"I don't understand why everything has to be on time…" Kakashi said, mostly to himself.

Everyone sweat dropped.

"EVERYTHING MUST BE WITH 100% EFFORT, KAKASHI-SENSEI! WITH NO DISCIPLINE THERE IS NO ORDER!" said the over-active shinobi in the green jumpsuit.

This time, Kakashi sweat dropped.

"Let's just go, it's no big deal anyways. He was on time and that's what matters. Come on," Sasuke said, ending the fun.

"He's right, we should get going," Akkei agreed.

They all began walking.

"Lee, if you start singing the song you sang last time, I will smack you," Tenten said flatly.

Lee's eyes went wide. "Come on, Tenten! Let me sing the song! Just one verse! Pleeeeeease?" Lee begged.

Tenten looked down, thinking about the Pros and Cons. "…Okay, but just one verse," she answered, putting extra emphasis on "one."

"Yes!" Lee exclaimed, pumping his fist. "Okay everyone, join arms!"

No one did that. Lee grabbed the arms of the two people next to him, which happened to be Kakashi and Akkei.

"Join in anytime if you know it! Ahem…" Lee said, clearing his throat.

"WEEEEE'RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD, THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ!"


After 3 hours of the same song, you start to go a little insane.

"…BECAUSE, BECAUSE, BECAUSE, BECAUSE, BECAUUUUUUSE! BECAUSE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS HE DOES!"

"LEE!" the group yelled in unison.

Lee stopped and looked a little frightened. "…I lost track, was that more than one verse?"

"I kept track…" Tenten answered, whipping out a notepad. She opened it and flipped through pages and pages of tally marks.

"According to this, you sang through the entire song… one thousand nine hundred fifty seven times," Tenten replied with an annoyed face.

"Ha ha…whoops. My bad, everyone!" Lee said, scratching the back of his head.

"Maybe we should make camp, it's getting dark," Ino suggested.

"…Hey, maybe we should make camp guys!" Kiba said, completely ignoring Ino.

The aforementioned kunoichi glared in annoyance.

"That's a good idea, Kiba," Kakashi said honestly.

"Y-Yes, good thinking, Kiba-kun," Hinata added.

Team Ukiyo all sat down, making a circle. Ino sat outside the circle, still not talking to anyone. The unrolled their sleeping bags and a few had ration bars before bed.

"Fire Style: Fire ball Jutsu!" Kakashi yelled after making a few hand signs. A small fire ball formed, setting a conveniently placed pile of twigs on fire.

"I-I'll take first watch, guys…" Hinata suggested.

"Okay. I'll be second, Lee is third, Kakashi is forth, and Akkei is last," Kiba said. They all nodded in assent.

Everyone lay down except Hinata, who had activated her Byakugan.


Day Ten

After an uneventful night of rest, the team started packing first thing in the morning.

"We should hurry, Orochimaru will be switching bases soon," Kakashi said.

Everyone nodded.

"I also need to know everyone's strongest Jutsu, in case in comes to it," he added.

"Mine is the Mind Confusion Jutsu, sensei," Ino said.

"Wolf Fang over Fang for me," Kiba said.

"Mine is a Cloud Style Jutsu named Head in the Clouds Jutsu. It's a clever name, if you ask me," Akkei said oh-so-modestly.

"My strongest is Weapon Scroll: Unleash," Tenten said.

"Mine doesn't have a name, it's just a taijutsu combo combined with Gentle Fist..." the timid Hinata said.

"My strongest would be the Hidden Lotus [Reverse Lotus]," Lee concluded.

Kakashi nodded. "If anyone is wondering, my strongest would be the Lightning Blade, or Chidori," Kakashi said.

As the group discussed, a certain man took notes, completely unnoticed by the group. "Heh heh heh… So foolish, saying the strongest Jutsu you can perform as if it were nothing…"

The man stopped and chuckled to himself. "Oh, Kakashi-sensei, you really haven't learned a thing…"

To be continued…

AN: Sorry it took forever to update. I thought I'd change the mood and make a more light-hearted chapter this time. I hope you enjoyed!