(Sorry for the rather short chapter, and no, I'm not dead-cough-cough-wink-)
Last Chapter:
Minato's pancaked face was lifted up from the wooden furniture, "Iruka, do you have some change right now? The ramen is calling."
"I'll just be in the corner…" Tenzo faded into the walls.
Paperwork, the god of insanity.
Chapter 8: Surprise, Surprise!
A day later, Sasuke was back on his feet racing across the forest canopy. It had taken a decent amount of time to accomplish tree walking, his body was below his standards. He had slept late into the morning, missing the chance to go where ever Team 7 went (Which area did they decide to wreck in the first place?).
Leaves whistled in a hypnotizing motion, dancing amongst the tree tops. Sadly, a trail of debris and destruction littered a path to Tazuna's house. It's those mer… mercenar…
Nine Tails?
They're planning… to take the bridge builder's… family hostage. Kurama murmured sleepily.
Where are Rin and the others? Sasuke turned on his heels, heading back the way he came. Branches creaked, sensing the Uchiha's worry.
Kyuubi dug his snout deeper into it's tails, Don't know, don't care. Now… leave me alone… not a morning fox, brat.
Sasuke secretly thought to himself, whoever caused this much damage must have been a fool, or was confident in his or her powers. He soon discovered it was not one- but two warriors Gato hired.
They were lingering by Tazuna's house, exchanging words at the door as Sasuke got close enough to hear. There was one man sporting bluish white, shoulder length hair. A katana was strapped to his waist, around a loose blue jacket, "What do you say, Waraji? Should we knock nicely?"
Waraji possessed a hairstyle nearly resembling Temari, except having three clumps of hair than two. He wore a traditional kimono, but the top half sat around his waist, revealing a spiraling tattoo, "Heh heh, thought ya never asked Zori," unsheathing a long sword. Before anybody had to pay for property damage, Sasuke sprung out of his hiding place. He threw a Kunai, dislodging the sword from Waraji's hands.
"A runt," Zori looked back.
Pride bruised, Sasuke retorted, "I… I'm not a runt, I'm a shinobi!" Pointing at his headband for emphasis. Dangit, Naruto instincts.
"Hm? A ninja child? Tsk, tsk. Waraji, he doesn't seem much like a challenge," Zori stated flamboyantly, "Shouldn't really waste your time with him."
His partner picked up his blade, "I'm going to kill him and make his blood splatter."
"Fine, have it your way, you've better be done though once I'm finished with our first priority." Zori smashed the wooden door open.
"Get back here you-!" Sasuke's blow was blocked by Waraji's sword, the Uchiha's Kunai scraping the rough edge of the weapon.
The two rivals locked eyes, "Now what fun would it be if my opponent ran off? You're making my blood rush already!" Sasuke kicked off of the sword, blowing a ring of dust with his cat like landing.
O.O.O
Kakashi silently read the "Tales of a Gutsy Ninja", scanning the book thoroughly over and over. He hung under the bridge, laying comfortably on a metal beam. Unfortunately, his ANBU senses were screaming of an ambush at Tazuna's house.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu…" The signature poof and a second later a clone bursted out of the smoke, "On it."
Rin impatiently dropped down to Wolf's level, "Kakashi, when are you going to take your lazy bum and come up and help us?"
"Ah… but Rin," Kakashi slowly flipped a page, savoring the agonized feelings Rin threw off, "If you are suddenly attacked, where would the element of surprise go?"
"Uh, Rin-sensei… I can't lift this beam. Wait, where's Rin-sensei?!" Sakura yelped in fright.
Fox growled, "She must be the most annoying kunoichi who ever walked the face of Konoha!"
"You gotta love her," Wolf mused, turning to another page, "Before she becomes all traumatized, you should go back up there with a cover story."
Rin playfully shoved her captain into the water below, "Oh, sorry, I dropped a screwdriver on accident and needed to get it back, Sakura!"
Naruto eyed his sensei skeptically, "Does it take a few minutes long for a Special Jounin to retrieve a screwdriver?"
"I'm scared stiff of getting wet!" Nohara declared, signifying the conversation was over.
The Namikaze mumbled, "Last time I remembered, you were able to use water jutsu…"
O.O.O
Waraji was charging... like a bull.
Sword partially unsheathed, Sasuke barely dodged a killing slice by leaping into the air. Vaulting off of his opponent's head, the Uchiha used the entire force of his hands causing Waraji to lose his balance.
The game of cat and mouse continued for a while, Sasuke finally kicked Waraji in the stomach, his heel slammed against flesh.
"You… you…" While his opponent dealt a messy blow, Sasuke ran across the wall and launched straight at Waraji's neck, "PUNK!" Managing to put one arm up in defense, Sasuke's right shoulder was dislocated, Kunai slipping out of his grasp.
They tumbled across wooden planks, their adventure being broken when Sasuke slammed back first into a wall. The house rippled with the sudden impact. His throat was pinned to the wall seconds later, "Any last words before I gut you?"
Sasuke smiled, "Actually, two: Think again." He gave his left hand a violent jerk, Waraji's feet swept under him and he fell. The sound of head to ground impact vibrated through the on lookers.
"You're too easy to overcome, tch."
"I… can't believe it," A woman softly spoke. Sasuke carefully released the Ninja Wire and delicately extracted himself from the Uchiha sized dent he created.
A circle of smoke bloomed at Sasuke's feet, "I suppose you've had no trouble here?" An ANBU geared Kakashi asked, lugging Zori on one shoulder.
"Nope, not at all."
O.O.O
"Heard Gato is gonna hire another two for a worthy sum of cash," A mercenary plopped down next to his partner, watching the bridge being built from afar.
"That old sack of potatoes treats money like candy, what's it now?"
"I think the group's part of "Akatsuki" or somethin. Aren't they a shinobi organization? Oh, hey Iwana." The incompetent shark hooded shinobi briskly flew past them, "I don't really see what's the rush with ninja, speeding everywhere like squirrels."
His partner replied, "That's what happens when you go through war. Time is of essence."
"Gotta agree with ya on that one."
O.O.O
Sasuke's heart stopped. Barely stifling his pained gasps from being heard. The Uchiha slowly backed away from the mercenary group he was spying on.
The Akatsuki.
The Akatsuki.
Were coming.
His sensitive ears was suddenly jolted by a terrified scream, "SAKURA! Naruto, don't move!" Rin barked, "We're dealing with two S-ranked Missing-Nin!"
Scratch that.