Disclaimer: Chibi writes "I own Naruto" on a piece of paper. A kunai with an exploding tag pinned said paper to the table. Chibi gasps in horror then grabs the kunai (with everything attached to it… yes, including the table) and hurls it from the balcony. An explosion shortly followed.


A/N: SASUKE! WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT EXPLODING TAGS IN THE HOUSE? YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT TABLE, TEMEE! Chibi sighs. That bastard… Grrr. He doesn't even know how to follow house rules….

Anyway, here's chapter 8! Thanks for the reviews… You keep me writing! I love you guys so much…. But hey, enough of the sappiness and on to the fic!


Filling the Void


Chapter 8: The Beginnings of Possessiveness


"We have a D-class mission today."

Disbelief and annoyance met the announcement.

Sakura sighed. "What is it this time?"

"Our furry little friend ran away again…."

"WHAT!"

Naruto was obviously sick of playing hide and seek with the blasted animal. And no, he didn't hate the cat. He was irritated at the fact that he was doing another low-level mission that didn't exploit his fighting prowess. And to have this mission again? His career path was practically going in circles. And so, he stomped up to the jounin instructor.

"Sensei, we need to talk."

His tone of voice left no room for arguments, and Kakashi wisely followed the boy. While walking, the older man tried to break the tense atmosphere.

"Oi, thanks for yesterday."

If one listened closely enough, one could have heard the cogs and gears shift in Naruto's head. The blond stopped and slowly turned towards his teacher, his face a picture of pure mischief and self-assured victory. The gray-haired man started to sweat. The vulpine grin was just too intense to ignore.

What now?

The jounin hastily constructed make-shift plans for both escape and damage control, should there be any need for them.

"Ne, Kakashi-sensei…" Ah, a voice dripping with what seemed like honey. Kakashi was instantly broken out of his paranoid preparations.

"You owe me big time, don't you?"

He knew it! He just knew it…

"Hmm… Maybe..." He made sure his voice sounded nonchalant.

Expectant silence stretched on.

And then, "We'll talk about this later… For now, finish the mission."

Kakashi sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. It couldn't be helped. He was on the losing side from the very beginning.

Naruto's grin only widened; if that was even possible.


Team Seven was staking out in the forest, looking for any sign of their target. They prepared small traps and trip wires here and there to aid them in the search. Sasuke sat on a high branch and scanned the area.

Nothing here…

He wanted to focus on the task at hand, but there was a nagging feeling of unrest in his gut. He just couldn't stop feeling bothered.

Kakashi dragged Naruto off again. What for? It seems he's been doing that a lot lately…

Sasuke conveniently forgot that it was Naruto who dragged the other off this time.

What the hell were they talking about? What happened yesterday? Why was Kakashi thanking him?

More questions plagued the young Uchiha's mind. He had heard every word. Apparently, the two didn't go off that far. And who knew Sasuke would use his shinobi techniques to eavesdrop on a conversation that seemed so unimportant?

Sasuke descended from his perch and hid behind another tree. He knew Naruto and Sakura were just behind him. The team had successfully located the cat.

A light buzz sounded in his ear.

"How far are you from the target?" Kakashi's voice queried.

He felt resentment course through him, but he quelled it. To accomplish the mission is the top priority.

"Five meters… I'm ready anytime," Sasuke answered quietly.

"Me too," two voices echoed.

"Go!" The signal was given.

The three genin lunged at the target, Naruto giving out a battle cry.

"Gotcha!" the hyperactive blond caught the cat in his arms.

Kakashi appeared. "Good job, you three. Now let's head back."

Naruto stared long and hard at his sensei. Kakashi caught the look and sighed. "I'm gonna go ahead to file the mission report. You guys catch up, okay?" With a soft poof and some smoke, he vanished.

None of these escaped the watchful eyes of the Uchiha.


Iruka sat on his desk, classifying the missions and filing the accomplished reports. He came across a C-rank mission and smiled, remembering the events earlier.


Kakashi suddenly appeared in front of his working area. Iruka blinked and noticed a folder in his hand.

"You're submitting the report early. This is a surprise…"

"Actually, I only used it as an excuse."

"Eh?" Iruka looked at the jounin, totally clueless.

"Naruto would probably be yelling about a higher-ranking mission later…"

The chuunin sighed. Naruto was just so… well… Naruto.

Kakashi's hand stroked the dolphin's face. "I need a favor…"

Iruka was blushing. How cute. "'Kashi! I'm working!"

The scarecrow smirked beneath his mask. "Ah, what's this? My sweet little Iruka's having naughty thoughts!" Iruka's blush went from pink to outright red.

"Hmm," Kakashi went into a thoughtful stance, "I would have liked to ask for something like that, but there's something else…"

At this, the academy teacher snapped out of his embarrassment. His curiosity always won out.

"Could you allow them just a teeny-weeny C-rank mission?"

"…"

"…"

"YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT?"

The masked nin was covering his ears. It would be a shame if an elite jounin like himself wasn't able to foresee that assault. And as always, Kakashi never failed to meet people's expectations.

A chuckle came from the doorway. The pair turned to behold the Sandaime Hokage making his way to their location.

"Hokage-sama," the two acknowledged their superior.

"What seems to be the problem, Iruka-sensei?"


Of course, they told the Hokage; and with much thought, he agreed to Kakashi's request. Iruka was floored to say the least. They were still children!

But they were shinobis, too… As his lover pointed out.

He smiled faintly and went back to segregating the scrolls on his desk. That fact still wouldn't stop him from worrying, though. He sighed.

"Don't worry too much, Iruka. I'm sure they'll come home safe. I have faith in their abilities."

Iruka turned to his right and regarded the wizened old man. "Hai, Hokage-sama."

I just hope everything will be okay… I have this weird feeling…

Iruka went back to his work without another word.


The Third took his hat off and placed it on a table. He sighed, as many have been doing so lately. He suddenly looked haggard; as though his age was finally catching up to him.

The afternoon sun filtered through his window, and he felt compelled to look out to the village he had sworn to protect. It was peaceful, their village was. Well, as peaceful as a shinobi village could get, that is.

It had been what, twelve years? Yes. Twelve years since the last catastrophe it suffered.

His gaze landed on the famed mountain ranges and focused on his late successor. His lips lifted, caught between an amused smile and a sad one.

"You would've been proud of him."


"NO, NO, NO! No, thank you! I want a more incredible mission! Find us a better one!" the Number One Loudmouth of Konoha was pissed at the prospect of having a baby-sitting mission.

"You idiot! You're just a rookie! Everyone has to work their way up!" Iruka yelled back. In a slightly calmer voice, he continued, "And besides, you're in no position to demand such a thing."

Sarutobi tried to keep a straight face while explaining the ranks and distributions of duties in the ways of the shinobi. It was always amusing to watch how Naruto reacted to everything.

They're so much alike…

He finally finished his speech with, "You just recently became genin. D-rank missions are perfect for you."

"Hmm… Last night I had pork ramen… I think miso would be good for…" Naruto mumbled to himself.

"Hey, listen!" Iruka reprimanded him.

Sandaime smiled to himself. It was obvious that Iruka cared so much about the boy.

"I apologize…" Kakashi was playing into his role quite nicely.

"Sheesh! All you do is give those lectures! But you know what? I'm not the same trouble-making brat you still think I am!"

With that, Naruto turned his back on the Hokage and his Academy sensei, only to face Kakashi and glare at him.

Sarutobi caught Iruka's eyes. It's time.

After hearing what Naruto had to say, he was sure that the overprotective sensei had finally agreed with his decision.


Sarutobi's smile never wavered. He repeated his words.

"You would've been proud of him…"


Sasuke was relieved that they were allowed to have that mission; even if it was for that senile old man who dared to call his Naruto super stupid.

I'm the only one allowed to call him names like that!

Sasuke didn't bother to analyze whatever it was he was on about.


"Okay, if you want it that much. I'm giving you a C-rank mission… That is, to protect a certain individual," the Hokage said.

The blond's face lifted into an excited grin.

"YEAH! Who? A feudal lord? A princess?"

"Calm down, I'm about to introduce him. Hey, could you come in?"

An old man armed with a bottle of sake entered the room.

"What's this? They're just a bunch of super brats, especially the shortest one with the super stupid-looking face. Are you sure you're a ninja?"

Naruto looked puzzled for a moment. He snapped when he realized the old geezer was talking about him.

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

Kakashi held on to his student's shoulders. "What's the point of killing the person we're supposed to protect? Idiot!"


Oh, that's right. Kakashi also crossed the line. He called Naruto an idiot. Sasuke tensed as he remembered that particular scene.

I'll show him how to place his grubby paws away from my Naruto!

The genius genin snapped out of it. What the hell am I thinking?

He forced himself to pay attention. Naruto was, again, screaming bloody murder at their client for refusing to acknowledge him.

"I said stop, moron," their sensei reprimanded him, making sure he couldn't get to Tazuna.

Sasuke's eyebrow twitched. He did it again… Kakashi-sensei… He growled under his breath.

Sakura noticed this. "Sasuke-kun, daijoubu?"

"Hn."

Sakura looked hurt before flashing a smile. "Okay, then. Let's go!"

The group moved on along the path, Kakashi at the end of the procession.

Naruto lagged a bit to match the older man's pace.

"Oi, Kakashi-sensei…" Naruto whispered, discreetly calling the other's attention.

"Hm?"

"Thanks for today!" He quickly hugged the jounin before skipping nearer to his teammates.

Just as fate would have it, Sasuke decided to look back at that precise moment. He almost stopped in shock. Sasuke didn't even break his stride, but Kakashi saw everything clearly.

Ah, the beginnings of possessiveness.

He grinned under his mask.


A/N: Heeheehee! Another chapter done! I hope you liked this one… Whew! I really had a lot of things to do in school… Papers, reports, and all that shit… Ah, well. Kakashi's sooooooo cool, ne? (He's my husband, but I happily share him with Iruka. We all get along. XD) He knew it all the while! Sasuke can't get away with following them all over the place without him knowing…

In any case, I hope you had fun in reading this chapter. If you did, you'd be ecstatic to read the next one! I'm not spoiling you, though. Heehee! I'm bursting to tell you all about it! The title is mmmmppphhh…. Sasuke places a strip of duct tape over chibi's mouth. (Sasuke: Don't tell them.) MMMMMPPPPPHHHHH!


Replies:

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BD: I'm hurrying! Well, here it is! Heehee! I hope you like this too! Thanks for the review!