A/N: Second Update this week, hopefully this sets the pace for new updates. I would really appreciate reviews with any constructive criticism you may give, especially because this chapter is again un-betaed (sorry!).
I apologize for the shortness, but it is at least longer than last chapter.
"I guess you brats are well enough to not need to be here all day" Tsunade addressed Sasuke and Naruto flipping through the charts.
"It's about time baa-chan! That was taking forever!" Naruto rushed to the open window, only to crash into the latest ANBU guard stationed in their room and fall on his butt.
"Hey! What's your problem...!?" Naruto glared up accusingly, but the ANBU only titled its eagle-shaped mask in response.
"I didn't release you yet, idiot… there are certain conditions to your release, and if I find out that you don't obey them, you'll regret you hear me?" The Fifth Hokage glared at the orange-clad ninja threateningly.
Sasuke smirked in amusement but regretted it because almost immediately the Godaime's glare turned to him. "Wipe that smirk off your face because this applies to you too hothead." At Sasuke's resulting scowl she continued "Both of you are still suffering from chakra exhaustion, and the resulting injuries from the fight. Any use of charka can set back your recovery. Plus with the… problems you tend to encounter when using your charka, we would rather not risk it."
Sakura tilted her head in confusion at this "You mean the curse mark? I thought sensei had already taken care of it… and Naruto's chakra control has always been crazy, bit I wouldn't call it dangerous at any rate!"
Tsunade stared at Sakura for a second, before realizing that Sakura had been knocked out when Naruto had used the Kyuubi's chakra to transform the Toad Boss, and she was probably too inexperienced to understand the dangers Sasuke's curse mark presented, even when it was sealed. Her heart eyes softened for a second, the girl didn't know nor understand the obstacles her friends would have to go through, but she'd have to find out eventually because she was a part of their team, and they would need her support. Eventually they would talk to her, but not now.
The Godaime's eyes attained a dangerous gleam as she turned to look directly at Sakura "That's information you currently do not need to know. It's also information that is considered classified and dangerous. Consider yourself under orders not to bring this topic up with anyone. That order includes the latest incidents your team members have been involved in, including encounters with any missing ninjas. This is not something that is to be discussed lightly. Understand?"
"Ha..Hai, Hokage-Sama" Sakura stammered in surprise at the fierce tone the Hokage had used. She didn't understand what was happening, how could that question provoke such a reaction? She assumed there were things she didn't know regarding the mark Orochimaru had given Sasuke, he was after all he was a powerful defector of the Leaf and who knew what else he could do to Sasuke through the mark. But why were they being so cautious with Naruto? It wasn't as if he was a target of the Snake Sannin… and although he had really become incredibly more powerful in the past month or so, she didn't see any changes to suggest something had happened.
Sakura turned to look at her knucklehead teammate as he made faces while listening to the Hokage's instructions… could it be something from before? Something she had missed all throughout their time in the Academy and then on the same team? She wanted to know, she wanted to ask him directly, but now she was under orders not to… and with ANBU following their every move she didn't want to risk getting in trouble again.
"You'll go out and finish your missions each day, but after that you're all to return here, is that understood?" Tsunade prompted
"Hai!" Team Seven replied in unison, though internally groaning at the thought of having to come back to the hospital room instead of their homes each night. They knew better than to complain though, because Sasuke and Naruto still needed some medical supervision and Orochimaru might be planning to use Sasuke's affection for his teammates for his gain, it'd be easier to protect them with one ANBU team if they were in the same place. Besides, they were still under 'house-arrest' and their track record this past week wasn't exactly stellar.
Naruto turned back to go to the window again, just to fall to the floor once again as a result of a mighty Tsunade punch.
"Idiot! Didn't I just go over the no chakra usage rule with you? That applies for chakra-powered jumps too! Walk out the door and down the steps, and walk to wherever you need to go!"
"Ouch! But… Fine Baa-chan you win! It'll take forever to get anywhere and do anything though!" Naruto rubbed the sore spot in his head as he followed his teammates out the door.
Once Team Seven had exited the room, Eagle turned to close the blinds and Tsunade nodded closing the door behind them. When she turned back, the ANBU Squad was kneeling in front of her, Wolf at the point.
"Your kids are a handful Wolf, I don't envy you one bit, if you didn't already have grey-hair, they'd make it turn pre-maturely." Tsunade said casually, but of course there was no joking reply about how she had no idea or indignation that his hair was silver not grey. She hadn't really expected one, Wolf was not the aloof Kakashi everyone knew, not when he was on duty and especially not when he and his team were being addressed by the village's leader.
"Wolf, I trust you've made the requisite preparation to handle their surveillance while they are out of the hospital?"
"Hai."
"Very well, then. Take good care of them and report any issues back to me. Disperse!"
"Hai Godaime-sama!" The four masked ninjas behind Wolf disappeared in small poofs of smoke.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow and the still kneeling Wolf. "Is there something else?"
"Team Seven's sensei has ensured that the team won't be assigned any mission that takes them past the village walls today, with one shadow of my team each plus a fourth travelling ANBU, it leaves the fifth member available to rest for the shift." Wolf explained.
Tsunade nodded, the strategy seemed to be sound, the genin would never be left alone, a rotating ANBU would confirm that all was well, and if trouble occurred they weren't likely to be impaired by tiredness because of the rest shift. It also allowed those on the team who still needed some medical attention for their injuries enough time to receive it. Still...
"And why are you telling me this?"
"I have taken the first rest shift, however, I have had sufficient rest and you are still without your guard. Though you may be the strongest in the village, it is still safer for you to be shadowed, and it would put many minds at rest. I will stay on duty and guard you." Wolf explained in an emotionless voice
Tsunade stared at the kneeling figure. Although Wolf did raise a valid point about the increased safety that a guard brought even just by 'appearance', she did not believe that the effect would be greater at this moment. After all, she (like the genin) had no intentions of leaving the village walls. Tsunade also knew the ANBU Captain needed more rest, he was still suffering from chakra exhaustion and the old injuries that hadn't been given a chance to heal… If it was up to her, Wolf would be restrained to a hospital bed resting, but with the council and the times as they were, this 'calm' duty was the best she could do.
She could tell him, that whether she had protection or not wasn't his business or duty and that this was a temporary reinstatement and that he shouldn't forget that, but his rigid posture indicated he'd continue arguing until he could without being disrespectful or disobedient. If she refused him this duty completely, he would simply find another duty that needed to be done and do it. At least as her guard, he'd be in a position where she'd be able to keep an eye on him.
"Fine. Disappear." She finally conceded and he flashed out of visibility.
She sighed. It seemed that with the return of the mask, his Wolf demeanor had also returned. It was one of the reasons he had been retired from active duty as an ANBU Captain, it wasn't that he wasn't good. He was one of the best and his teams and mission records were proof of that. It's that it wasn't healthy or right. As Wolf, Kakashi would tend to be 'on-duty' more than he was off, and he'd take as many missions as he could ever since after Minato's death. As if the constant work or missions would drown out the pain he felt. It wasn't what Minato would have wanted for the boy he considered his son.
Of course, the public aloof persona he adopted as Kakashi was not exactly an improvement. The cheerful persona was just a mask to hide the pain and stave off the concerns or interest of others. As a jounin, he still took as many missions as he was allowed, at least until he acquired Team Seven.
The change she had seen in him when he was with his team was a remarkable from the last time she had seen him in a small village where they had crossed paths during her wandering and one of his missions. He was still very broken, but it seemed that his team were healing him. Knowing that Itachi was after Naruto and Orochimaru was after Sasuke was hurting and breaking some of the hard-earned progress that had been made.
She had faith everything would work out though. She would do everything in her power to prevent her old teammate and the the Akatsuki from tearing that team, that family, apart. She owed that much at least, to Minato, Kushina, Sensei, and the others. If she was really honest, she'd even admit she cared for them a lot herself, to let anyone tear them apart and in doing so break them down.
Leaving the hospital, she scoffed. The four of those brats probably didn't even realize how much they needed each other.
Review Replies:
Shinobi of life - Thank you for the review! That's an interesting suggestion, it would certainly follow the pattern of Team Seven's missions. I'll keep it in mind :).
