It has been a while since I wrote anything. I guess my inspiration is a troublesome woman to get a hold of. Anyway, 2 weeks have passed since my last post, so here I am. I really lost my edge –not that I had any, to begin with- yet that thing is somewhat troubling. Just one chapter for this week, my dear readers –if anyone bothers to read.
RabidDog I am almost sorry to hear that from you, yet I think that you are right. Too many cliché. I guess I will scrounge the bottom of the tin can of my ideas (don't expect me to have actually a barrel of ideas) and see what I have.
I don't own Naruto. Got it?
"So here you are, Jiraiya."
"Tsunade? What the he-"
SLAM!
The Toad Sannin flew in a graceful arc from his hideout facing the woman bath house, although his landing was not-so-graceful. His binoculars and notepad were left alone to face the Fifth's anger.
Shortly after she was done with the whole hideout, which involved an accidental 'collapse', Tsunade landed near the small crater she had caused, and yanked free the unconscious Jiraiya from it. A couple of chakra – enhanced slaps and he was awake.
"Still the same pervert. At least this makes you predictable."
"I was researching!" her captive protested.
WHAM!
"And the same lame excuse" she scowled, and dragged the yet again unconscious Jiraiya to the ANBU interrogation room.
Naruto, Sakura and Shikamaru were waiting outside the building for some time since the Fifth entered, dragging Jiraiya. Naruto's mischievous nature flared, despite the whole situation, just enough to snap a picture or two. He had to do something to relax his nerves. Even though the Fifth had assured them that the sealing process was harmless and did not impose the lives of Sasuke and Tayuya in danger, he was still worried. He kept pacing in small circles until Sakura forced him to sit down. Sakura was fidgeting frantically, and Shikamaru… just gazed at the clouds running along the midday sky.
The door opened and the Fifth stolled out, followed by Jiraiya, who was nursing a huge bump on his head. "Was that really necessary, Tsunade?"
"I felt like it" was the simple answer.
"At least you could take responsibility and heal this!"
"And you should take responsibility and apologize to the women in the bath house"
"Point taken"
"Granny Tsunade! Perverted hermit! Everything went well, right?" Naruto blurted out .
"Naruto!" the two Sannins cried in unison.
"Yes, everything is fine, and DON'T CALL ME GRANNY!"
"Yeah, whatever. Where is he?" Naruto beamed impatience.
"He will come out in a few minutes. Just don't tap him on the soulder, OK? He will be sensitive there for a few days."
Naruto was already gone. The Fifth sighed. "Sakura… tell him when you catch up, and please don't let it be too late…"
"AAAAAAAGHHH! Naruto, you idiot! What the hell you hit me for?"
….. Too late…
"NARUTO!" Sakura roared and ran after him.
"Where is my protégé?" a voice vacant of interest asked behind the Sannins.
"With them. Same advice for you, too"
"No need, Hokage-sama. I didn't intend to tap her anyway".
"A wise choice, shithead. Were you always that smart?"
'And here we go again… she looks and behaves like mother in almost every possible way. Except the swearing. And the hair. Ant the flute-'
An idea flashed in his brain. If the red haired trouble had something to keep her occupied, like a flute to play, she would be at least tolerable. And after her sealing, she could not use her pwer over the sound waves as she used to. He was running some calculations, but he was interrupted by a sharp pain in his neck.
"Hey, shithead, are you daydreaming on your feet? Come on!"
'I definitely need to get her something to keep her mind elsewhere' Shikamaru thought, as he was rubbing his sore neck.
"So, here we go again."
"Yes".
"Are you sure we went in unnoticed, Itachi? Last time they noticed us, we were unable to succeed."
"I am sure. Now, we must locate and capture the Nine-tails container. We will need to change our appearances, Kisame. Your sword is well-known here among the ninjas, after our little visit."
"Oh, I am NOT leaving it, if that is what you are getting to."
"Suit yourself. Just try to hide yourself from the ninjas. The Inuzuka clan and the Huyga clan will get you right away, so don't come near. Aburame clan can sense you too, but they are somewhat isolated. You must be careful."
"And you?"
"I don't carry a sword around, if that is what you ask."
"Itachi!" Kisame's patience was running thin.
"I have to short out some personal affairs."
"Fine. Just don't forget our true objective. A second failure in a row will not be tolerated, and you know it."
Itachi just jumped down from the great wall. Security was still loose around the village. The ninjas were spread too thin with all the missions and guarding all this vast expanse was near to impossible. It seemed that the Leaf had not recuperated from the combined Sound and Sand attack.
Hinata was ashamed beyond she could ever bring herself to. She had confessed to her crush, all in a slip of tongue and the heat of the moment. Could now she face the person she looked up to anymore? Things were sure to change from now on. Yet, she couldn't tell if it would be a turn for the better or worse.
The door to her room slid open, revealing a Huyga branch family member. She half expected this; after all, word was sure to spread, and she knew that Naruto would surely spill the beans, even if his intentions would be pure and kind. She seriously doubted that her father would accept this.
"Hinata-sama."
"Yes?" 'Here it comes'. She mentally braced herself.
"Hokage-sama requests your presence to her office. Immediately."
"Hokage-sama?...Fine. Thank you" what could the Hokage want her with such haste?
The Huyga bowed and slid the door close. If it was the Hokage… surely it would be for a mission. Even her father wouldn't go that far. She began preparing herself and made her way to the Hokage tower.
She knocked the door and waited for a reply.
"Come in."
She entered the room. Her team was already there, but Kurenai was not.
"Good time, Hinata. Now that we are all here, I will explain the details. You are to do some reconnaissance to one of Orochimaru's hideouts in the Fire country. It is abandoned, as far as our intel and the girl are concerned. Yet, it is no harm to be sure. I want you to go there and investigate, and find what you can. Your team is a scouting team; it should be no problem for you. If you encounter any opposition, do not take any risks. Just retreat, and let us know. We will do the rest. Understood?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama" came Shino's reply. The boy adjusted his shades, and continued: "As far as I know, Kurenai-sensei is away on a mission. We are still one member short."
"Yes. And for that, I have to say two things: Shino, you will be the leader. And BRAT!" The Hokage threw a kunai on a ceiling tile, causing it to drop down, along with a certain blonde knucklehead.
"OUCH! Granny Tsunade! That hurt!" he protested loudly, rubbing his sore head.
"You heard me brat? You will be tagging along!"
"The so-longed-for mission?" Naruto's eyes were burning bright. Tsunade smiled. He looked so much like her small brother. "Yes."
"YAHOO!" the blonde ninja was as noisy as ever, and turned around to go to his house and pack, and he glanced at his new teammates: that creepy guy, Shino, that annoying Inuzuka kidm and a tomato-faced…
He stopped dead in his tracks, his face colour matching hers in an instant. That meant that….
"Is something wrong, Naruto?" Tsunade's face was a bit worried. She looked where Naruto was looking…. Two tomatoes in one room. 'Now, that's odd' she mused. She knew – as everyone else did, besides Naruto – that Hinata had a major crush on the boy, but said boy himself was absolutely clueless. It would be her that blushed, and probably fainted, but now the boy was showing the same "symptoms". Then, just maybe…
Her worried expression was replaced by a smug smirk. Kiba seemed oblivious to the whole situation, and Shino… well, it was Shino, masked beyond all comprehension.
"OK, that is all. You are to leave in three hours time. Dismissed."
The team Kurenai left, with Hinata dashing first through the door. Naruto stood motionless until they left, and turned to the Hokage.
"Ehmmm, Hokage-sama" – Tsunade's eyebrow rose – "maybe I can get another missi-"
"Nope."
"But-"
"No. It was YOU who wanted a mission so badly, to the point where you infiltrated my own office. And now that you have this mission, which is going against Orochimaru, you want to pull back? Isn't that against your way of the ninja?"
Naruto took a few steps back, shuttering and moving his arms frantically. "I don't pull back.. I mean, I just want another mission-" He was cornered, and he knew it.
Tsunade's glare silenced the loud ninja, who sighed and got out of her room, looking crestfallen. A small smile rose to her lips.
"Good luck, brat."
She sat behind her desk, looking at the never-ending stacks of paperwork. 'Maybe with some sake, I could-"
Her trail of thoughts was cut short, as a whirlwind of leaves appeared before her. She expected to see the leader of the ANBU but the person who stood before her was beyond her worst thoughts.
She stood up immediately. "What is the meaning of this, Uchiha Itachi?"
A/N: I do believe this is a "cliffhanger". Well, maybe not a good one, but it is one nonetheless.
Haraio, thank you very much, yet NaruHina is going to pass through an ocean first. I generally do not believe in overnight love. Well, maybe that is just me. Same for ShikaTayu. Now you will all see my twisted mind to its full glory :P.
I will try not to focus on just one pair, though Shikamaru and Tayuya will be the central theme.
