New Lives

Chapter 10

Jirobou nearly dropped his ramen, nearly... "You're going to Amegakure!?"

"Well, the #! fat-#! can hear. Yeah, I'm #! going to #! Ame!"

Sakon and Ukon looked at each other in shock.

"Man, Tayuya, you must really like that little #!"

"That's none of your #! business, freaks."

Kidoumaru spoke up, "Well, I'm glad, Shikamaru needs someone to help him, and besides, this way we won't have to listen to her mouth!"

Everyone slid back several feet to avoid getting caught in the crossfire when Tayuya attacked the Spider-Nin, but she just shrugged, "Bite me, Spider-#!"

"I think it's nice that you care enough about this guy to go with him into another country."

Tayuya glared half-heartedly at Jirobou, "Nah, I just want to get the #! out of this #! hole."

"Suuuuuuuure!" Sakon and Ukon smirked simultaneously.

"So, when do you have to go?" Dosu asked.

"In a few hours, we're leaving with the group from Amegakure who came for the exam."

Everyone was stunned, both by Tayuya's imminent departure and the fact she spoke an entire sentence without cursing once...

...

Everyone had gathered to bid farewell to Shikamaru and his attache, and several to bid 'good riddance' to Tayuya. Six Konoha ninja serving as guards had been appointed for Shikamaru's protection, though most agreed Tayuya could defend him as well as at least three Chuunin.

"Bye, Tayuya!" Jirobou waved, "Remember to watch your language!" He ducked back into the crowd for safety as she glared at him.

The team from Amegakure was ready to leave, they had, after all been stuck in Konoha since the civil war.

Kankurou walked over to Maki and handed him a scroll, "This has a few good techniques I didn't have time to teach you, jan."

"Thank you, Kankurou-Sama!"

"And, there's this..." Kankurou smiled and removed his hat, then took Maki's and set his own on the boy's head, "Here, wear it well."

Kidoumaru noticed someone he'd been waiting to talk to, and walked over to the tall ninja."Are you Maki's Sensei?"

The man glared at him, "You must be Kidoumaru. Maki delivered your message. You have no right to criticize my teaching methods."

Kidoumaru returned the glare, "And you have no right training ninja if you can't even teach them basic survival skills. They had no idea of the dangers in the Forest of Death! They didn't even have a medical kit for God's sake!"

"My student's inadequacies are none of your concern."

Kidoumaru's eyes narrowed dangerously, "Only a poor teacher blames his students."

The battle of words was about to degenerate into blows when Shikamaru stepped between them, "Let it go. Both of you."

Kidoumaru drew back a bit and snarled, but walked away.

...

"Be careful, all of you." Yoshino and Shikato hugged their son and the woman fussed over him, "Did you remember to pack clean clothes?"

"Yes, mom."

"And your scrolls?"

"Yes, mom."

"Be sure to..."

Tayuya stepped in, "Don't worry, I'll keep his lazy #! in line. He'll be fine."

Shikamaru blushed at being portrayed as a helpless weakling, but he could be a bit... Lax in taking care of himself.

"I'll miss you, Shika." Kidoumaru shook his hand.

"And what about me, am I #! chopped liver?"

"I'll miss you too, Tayuya. But I won't miss your mouth!" Kidoumaru doubled over as Tayuya hit him in the stomach, "OW! That really hurt!"

"Sissy!" Tayuya snorted, "Can't even take a #! punch!"

...

Eventually they could no longer put off the inevitable, and they exchanged goodbyes once more, before leaving.

Kankurou always felt guilty going to the hot springs, after all, he was from Sunagakure, where such use of precious water was a luxury. He removed his towel and prepared for a long, relaxing soak.

"I was right, you are well-endowed, Kankurou-San."

Kankurou blushed and his left eye began to twitch. "Sai..."

Sai smiled as Kankurou slid into the soothing waters, How could I not have seen him before? He felt his fists starting to clench, but considered Sai's emotional limitations and tried to relax, It was a compliment, I think... "Errrr, Thanks."

Sai nodded politely, "How is your work?"

Kankurou closed his eyes and leaned back against a large rock, "Boring, half the time I don't even have to come in. But it's worth it, jan."

Sai looked past him, Kankurou turned to see Suigetsu walk over to the spring and unceremoniously jump in, splashing them all with water. "Hey, who are you?"

Kankurou moaned slightly, "I'm Kankurou, we've met, remember, jan?"

Suigetsu squinted and stared for a moment, "Man, you sure look different without that outfit."

Great, there goes my relaxation, I'm bathing with a lunatic and a robot.

"How's the wife?" Suigetsu asked. "

Wonderful."

Sai looked at him innocently, "Are you whipped yet?"

...

Konan walked down the stairs of the palace she and Pein had once shared, past the numerous armed guards, and into the laboratory. Misumi Tsurugi looked up from his work, stood and bowed.

"Konan-Sama."

Konan walked over to the tubes and looked into them, "How long?"

"Any day now."

Konan stared at the occupant of the first tube, naked, ghostly white, deceptively frail looking, and strangely beautiful, he slept with that eternal look of stoicism on his face. My, you are attractive, aren't you, Itachi?

Itachi's eyes fluttered open and regarded Konan and his own surroundings with curiosity, then turned to look towards the tube beside him, and the blue-skinned figure within. The tube began to open, and he stepped out weakly.

"Welcome back." Konan stated simply.

"You brought me back then." Itachi's voice was cold and measured, "My eyes, I can see again..." He walked over to Kisame, unconcerned with the others in the room or his own nudity, "I see Kisame has returned as well."

"Can you activate your Sharingan, Itachi?" Misume asked, it had been a concern. Misume had been a major part in the previous operation, but most of the knowledge had come from Eiichiro and Pein. Itachi closed his eyes, and opened them again to reveal the brilliant red of the Sharingan eyes of the Uchiha clan.

To Be Continued . . .