Chapter 9

Disclaimer: Do you own Naruto? Because I don't.

It was finally Monday morning and Team 5 was about to start training after the weekend break. Ayato sighed, today was the day he will finally see Jayne again after his talk with the hokage. He will pull her aside after the training session and tell her everything he has learned.

Shisui and Itachi showed up right on time. There was still no sign of Jayne. Ayato started to get nervous with a mixture of anger. She shouldn't still be moping around. I doubt she still has a fever.

"Have either of you seen Jayne at all this weekend?" Ayato asked.

Itachi shook his head and Shisui said no.

"Let's go get her," Ayato immediately started walking towards the orphanage. I swear, if she is in bed!

"Hold on, we are going to her house?" Shisui asked following him towards the village.

"Yeah, the orphanage."

Itachi and Shisui both suddenly stopped. Ayato looked back to see why.

"Jayne's an orphan?" Itachi asked a bit shocked.

"Wait, you didn't know that?" it was Ayato's turn to be shocked.

Shisui face palmed, "Oh my God that makes so much sense. She's never once talked about her family. It also explains why she knows Nanami snores. Nanami is an orphan too."

"Nanami is her roommate," Ayato says.

This time Itachi was the one to face palm, "I feel so dumb. That explains their strange relationship."

"Alright, let's keep going," Ayato said and continued to lead the boys to the orphanage. When they finally arrived the old lady who owned the place greeted them.

"Ah, Ayato, what brings you here today?" she asked.

"Is Jayne here?"

"Nanami said she was out camping," the old lady smiled.

Ayato growled, I should've known. "Is Nanami here then?"

"Yes let me go get her," she disappeared into the orphanage.

"How did we not know this?" Shisui asked, still stuck on the fact that they didn't realize she was an orphan.

"I don't think anyone else does besides Nanami. Maybe Yuna and Hana since they are her closest friends," Itachi said.

Nanami appeared from inside the building.

"Shisui and Itachi too? What do you guys need me for?" she blushed at having so many cute boys in her presence.

"Did Jayne say where she was camping?" Ayato asked.

"No, I haven't seen her since the morning she had the fever. I heard from my teammate, Momoka, about the camping," Nanami said.

"Where can we find this Momoka girl?" Ayato asked.

"The Tanemura shop!" Shisui answered.

"Alright, lead the way," Ayato said, this time Shisui was the one leading the team through the village. Ayato never had a need to go to the Tanemura market since Rina always packed meals for their teams on missions. Even after they became Jonin and were no longer a team, Rina would make him some packed food to take on his missions.

The Tanemura market wasn't too far away from the orphanage so they got there pretty quick. When they arrived the tan skinned Tanemura boy was there.

"Junpei, is Momoka here?" Shisui asked.

"No, my sister isn't working today. What do you need her for?" Junpei asked.

"Have you seen or heard about where Jayne is?" Itachi asked.

"No, I would have remembered if I saw her. But I do remember Soryu mentioning at our last training session that he studied some maps with her a couple days ago," Junpei seemed deep in thought trying to remember. While his teammate, Soryu, was the smartest in the class, the same could not be said for Junpei. They help balance each other out.

"What the hell was she doing studying maps?" Ayato murmured.

Junpei looked confused, "Soryu told us that your team was studying different parts of the world so you'd be more knowledgeable for missions."

Ayato started to get a bad feeling, "Where can we find Soryu?"

"Hyūga compound," this time Itachi answered.

"This feels like a wild goose chase," Shisui sighed.

"It might be," Ayato said more to himself than the others.

The Hyūga complex was on the other side of town. Ayato picked up the pace. This bad feeling inside was growing larger and larger every second. At the gates of the compound stood a Hyūga guard. If you wanted to contact anyone inside the house you had to talk to him first.

"Is Soryu Hyūga in?" Ayato asked.

"I will retrieve him," the Hyūga guard said.

They waited a few anxious minutes until Soryu walked through the gate. Ayato noticed the only thing Hyūga about the kid were his eyes.

"What do you guys need?" Soryu asked sleepily like he just woke up.

"We heard from Junpei Tanemura you studied some maps with Jayne. Do you remember what she was studying?" Ayato asked.

"The Land of Water."

Ayato rubbed his temples, Shit. Shit. Shit. "Taki Island?"

Soryu seemed a bit confused, "Yeah."

"GOD DAMMIT!" Ayato flung his fists into the nearby wall, smashing a large hole into it. The two Uchihas and the two Hyūgas stared wide eyed in shock at his reaction.

"Ayato-sensei?" Shisui was a bit timid to call out to him.

"We need to get to the Hokage," Ayato said starting to leave. He first turned back to the two Hyūga staring at the whole he punched into their compound, "just send me the bill."

"Abby, wake up," Kin shook Jayne's hammock. "We are arriving in a few hours."

Jayne stretched out her stiff arms, "What day is it?"

"Monday. Why?" Kin asked.

"Just trying to keep track of the days," Jayne said.

It wasn't a lie, but Monday did mean something. Monday was when her team would get together for training and they would realize she was gone. What they would do once they figured it out is more what she worried about. Would they come after me? Or maybe they will let me be? No I doubt that. Ayato-sensei will be so angry he'll punch a hole in a wall.

"Are you thinking about home?" Kin asked.

"How did you know?" Jayne asked.

"I can read you like a book. You wear your emotions clearly on your face. Which is why I'm helping you. You won't find anyone better than a pirate to teach you how to lie," Kin said confidently. "I can also give you a few tips on seduction too. Female ninja have to be good at that kind of stuff," Kin winked.

"Er, no thanks," Jayne blushed as she thought back to the few "girls only" classes she had to go through at the academy.

"That makes me wonder, do you have any boys back home?" Kin teased.

"I have my teammates and sensei," Jayne said.

"That's not what I mean. I mean do you have any boyfriends?" Kin asked.

"No! And why did you make boyfriend plural?" Jayne blushed deeper at the topic of her non-existent love life.

Kin laughed, "Fine, no boyfriends, but do you have any crushes?"

Jayne's face was as red as a tomato, "No!"

"You lie," Kin narrowed he eyes as she smirked. "You are a thirteen year old girl. If you don't have at least three crushes then you're not doing it right."

"I don't have to have three!" Jayne snapped.

"So two?" Kin asked.

Jayne paused for a moment then said, "No."

"Yes you do, you paused. Who are they?"

"Why does it matter? It's not like you will ever meet them!" Jayne pouted.

"What makes you think I won't? Maybe I will stalk you back to your village."

"That gives me more of a reason not to tell you their names! You will stalk them too!"

"You do realize you've admitted twice now that you have a couple crushes? Now you have to tell me their names."

Jayne was saved by a knock on the door, "Ladies, get on the deck and start working. We need to prepare to land in an hour and a half. The waters are going to start getting rough from here." At these words Jayne quickly ran out the door and onto the deck.

She looked out across the ocean and saw the choppy water. Icebergs peaked out above the ocean only showing a fraction of their true size. The crew was scrambling around and pulling different ropes to steady the ship for the huge wave that was about to crash into it. Jayne grabbed onto a nearby beam and braced herself. The wave crashed into the boat making it shake violently through the water. Water splashed from the ocean and onto the boat creating puddles all the way to Jayne's feet.

Jayne looked around urgently trying to figure out a way to help. She wasn't strong enough to help pull the rope. There had to be something else she could do. She looked down at the water that was rising on the deck. She thought about all her training by the lake. She formed a hand sign as she focused on both the chakra in the water and her own, merging them together as one. Once she felt the water in sync with her movements she flung it off the deck. The water floated up off the deck and followed her hands towards the sea. Once the water was back in its place she tried to force it further away from the boat to keep more waves from crashing into it.

"Wow, Abby, that's incredible!" Kin came up behind her.

"I don't have enough stamina to do this much longer. It takes up a lot of chakra to control this much water," Jayne said. She was already starting to feel tired. She's never tried to control this much water before.

"It's okay. These men travel through these waters all the time. This isn't anything they aren't used to," Kin placed her hand on Jayne's shoulder to say it was okay for her to stop.

Jayne released her control from the waves a let out a deep breathe, "I need to train more."

"You can keep getting rid of the water that comes on board if you want. I just don't want you to ware yourself out. Training in moderation," Kin smiled.

Jayne nodded. That was a good idea. She made it her task to get rid of the water that came onto the boat. She would wait until a good amount of water came on then she would work to fling it back into the ocean. What was supposed to be an hour felt like days as the waves constantly crashed against the boat. The men were yelling orders and grunting as they used all their strength to keep the ship moving. Once they broke through the choppy water it became quiet again. The Ocean once again had its smooth sound and the men could finally relax. Jayne moved to the edge of the boat and looked out across the ocean. She could see the snow covered land ahead. I finally made it, I am at Taki Island. Now I just need to find the frozen waterfalls.

Shisui and Itachi followed Ayato as he stormed into the Hokage's office. Shisui had never seen him so angry. Was it even okay to just storm into the Hokage's office like that?

"Ayato, you ass, you can't just storm in here whenever you want," Hiro Sarutobi stood next to where his father was sitting. He glared at Ayato.

"Stay out of it!" Ayato snapped. Shisui had learned by now that Hiro and Ayato hated each other with a passion.

"You're teaching your student's your bad habits. How will we ever have peace if there are three more of you terrorizing the town?" Hiro smirked.

This made Shisui angry, "Ayato-sensei is a great sensei! We wouldn't be here if it weren't for an emergency!"

The Hokage sighed as he did every time he heard Hiro and Ayato argue, "What is your emergency?"

"Jayne ran away. She's gone. I think she has gone to Taki Island in search of Zabuza," Ayato said.

Shisui felt the room turn deadly serious. He knew something was up with Jayne but he didn't realize it was this bad. She was not just gone from Konoha, but the country. Why did she run away? Who is Zabuza? Why does she need to find him? Why Taki Island? What even is Taki Island? Shisui's head was swarmed with questions. He glanced over to Itachi who seemed just as confused.

"Ayato, why in the world is one of your students seeking out the demon of the Mist?" Hiro seemed to be the most confused person in the room.

"Are you absolutely positive?" the Hokage asked.

"Yes," Ayato clenched his fists. "I've come to ask you if you would allow my team to go and retrieve her."

The Hokage was silent. He seemed too deep in thought. Now it was Shisui who was clenching his fists. Why isn't he saying anything? Why is it taking him so long? Is he not going to let us go after Jayne?

The Hokage finally spoke up, "Ayato, do you think if she were to find Zabuza, she might be happier there?" Everyone in the room stared wide-eyed at the hokage. He continued, "She will be in her own element, where she is truly from. If Zabuza really did have such a close relationship to her father, do you think he would harm her? He might take her in to protect her for her father."

"Zabuza is a murderer! Jayne is not safe with him even if he says he will protect her. He will probably use her as some kind of tool for his schemes and she won't even realize it. With Jayne so eager to learn about her family, he can easily manipulate her." Ayato yelled.

The Hokage was still silent. Shisui's knuckles were turning white in his fists. I have to say something.

Shisui knelt in front of the hokage, "Hokage-sama, please let us go after Jayne. I don't know all that is going right now, but I do know that Jayne belongs here with us."

Shisui felt Itachi move to kneel besides him, "Jayne is our teammate and we will do all that we can to get her back."

The Hokage stared down at the two Uchiha boys kneeling before him. Their sensei seemed a bit touched at their actions and the Hokage felt it too. How could he say no? The bond between teammates is one of the most important things to a Konoha ninja.

The Hokage spoke up, "Alright. I'm giving you the mission to go and retrieve Jayne. Do it quickly and bring her back safe." He then turned to Ayato, "Use discretion when searching for her. I don't think Zabuza would harm her if he finds out she is a Kushinada, but he is one of few. If the wrong person finds out about her, her life will be in danger."

"I know. We will get her and be back without any problems," Ayato said. "It will be done as quickly as possible."

"Alright, you are dismissed. Leave in an hour." The hokage said.

"Hai," Team 5 said in unison.

"Let's go get ready." Ayato said and led them out of the building. "You boys will want to pack some warm clothes for when we get to Taki Island and -"

"Excuse me, Ayato-sensei," Soryu was standing outside waiting for them.

"Hyūga, if it's about the hole in the wall just send me the bill and I will pay for it once I get back," Ayato said, seeming to be in a hurry.

"That's not what I am here for. Jayne is gone right? By your reaction I was able to figure out that much. I also know that where ever she has run off to, I helped her find. When we studied the maps we figured out routes to the docks and how to get to the frozen waterfalls of Taki Island. I know exactly what routes she will take. I feel guilty about being a part of her disappearance so I would like to come and help you find her," Soryu seemed determined.

"You don't need to do that. You didn't know what she was doing," Ayato said.

"But I want to. My Byakugan can also help when we are looking for her."

Ayato sighed. Its true Soryu would be a big help in looking for Jayne, but he couldn't just take away the kid from his team. "Who is your sensei?" he asked.

"Nozomu Nikaido."

Ayato started laughing, "Haha, Nozomu. That won't be a problem then. He will definitely let you come, but you do have to ask permission first. We will meet at the gate in an hour. Don't be late."

"Hai," Soryu bowed then took off to get ready.

Shisui pouted, "Why does Soryu have to come? I mean, he could just draw out her route on a map."

"You don't want Soryu to come?" Ayato raised an eyebrow.

"Not really," Shisui crossed his arms.

Itachi sighed, "Soryu is Shisui's love rival. We saw him give Jayne a flower once."

"Shut up, Itachi!" Shisui grabbed his arm and started pulling him away, "See you in an hour." The boys were quickly out of sight.

Ayato shook his head, Kids…

A/N: I hope you are enjoying the arc so far! If there is any confusion about anything just ask and I will do my best to answer without spoiling anything. Zabuza may or may not appear in the next chapter. But it will be soon!