Disclaimer: I can't be bothered saying anything witty. I disclaim Naruto.
I only realised the NIGHT BEFORE a whole week was up since I lasted posted, that I actually hadn't written the next chapter yet. Oops. That's what I get for posting the next chapter of Flying With Blood Stained Wings a few days early…*sweatdrop* But I managed to do it! It's VERY not late!
Sasuke growled fiercely at Haku, who glowered back. The sheer tension between the two was stifling. Sasuke took a deep breath.
"Haku-"
"No."
"But Haku-"
"I said no."
"B-"
"NO, NO TOMATOES!" she screamed.
Sasuke pouted. He didn't see why Haku-nee was so against having tomatoes for dinner. They were the best.
"Why!" he demanded like a bratty toddler. He had spent too much time around a certain Uzumaki…
"You had them for breakfast, and lunch! Not to mention those dried pieces for snacks! Enough is enough!" Haku stubbornly crossed her arms over her chest.
'Hey, how about ramen? Ramen!" Naruto cried, getting a glare from both Haku and Sasuke.
"Don't you start Naru-chan, ramen is not only unhealthy, but you want to have it every single day!" yelled.
…
…
…
"Ramen with tomatoes?" Naruto suggested, planning to compromise.
"Deal." Sasuke said quickly. Haku's face had turned red.
"HOW IS THAT BETTER?" she cried, pulling the roots of her hair out.
"It makes the ramen healthier and stops Sasuke eating plain tomatoes." The blonde said logically. Haku looked at his with suddenly emotionless eyes, before turning and calling in the direction of the boys' tent.
"…ITACHI-NII!"
Itachi stuck his head out of the flap. "Hai?"
"HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH THESE TWO, ALONE?" she begged for help or at least some advice.
"Easy." He replied smoothly. "Mangekyo Sharingan!" his eyes became bloody and swirled rapidly. Both boys paled.
"On second thoughts, fish with rice sounds lovely Haku-nee." Sasuke choked. Naruto nodded madly.
"Agreed." The blonde whispered. Haku smiled angelically.
"Thank you Itachi-nii!"
"Hn." He replied, disappearing from sight once again.
Kimimaro looked over from where he was playing Shouji with Gaara, who didn't bother to acknowledge the dramatic events. I hope they aren't like this during missions…the white haired boy thought nervously.
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"Ok, everybody had better pay attention. I'm not repeating myself." Itachi ordered with all the authority of a commander. "Haku, Naruto and Sasuke, you are Team One. Kimimaro, Gaara and I are Team Two."
"Itachi-nii…why are you sticking me with the brats?" Haku grumbled dejectedly.
"Team One are the first, attention grabbing attack, and Team Two will be the stealthier back up offence." He explained. "Gaara and Kimimaro are naturally quieter. While it is true Otouto can be relatively silent as well, his Katon may be of use for Team One."
"So, Naruto, Sasuke and I will attack the Kumo Genin and you three will take out the Sensei?" Haku clarified. Itachi nodded in the affirmative.
"Hai, thankfully they are fresh out of the Academy, so should not pose too much of a threat. Experience comes from battle, not just training."
"Hai Itachi-nii/Aniki!" the blonde and the youngest Uchiha said in unison, saluting like soldiers.
Itachi faced the quieter two boys. "Gaara, I want you to focus on getting possession the stolen jewel. Our client made it very clear its return is to be our highest priority. It is a lost family heirloom, and has been missing for generations before being stolen brought word about it." Gaara nodded. Itachi scanned the Kaguya contemplatively.
"Kimimaro, I would like to assist me in taking out the Sensei. I am curious about your battle abilities." He decided.
"Hai." Kimimaro replied, bowing his head in respect. Itachi shook his head in disbelief.
Mother gets pregnant only once after me, and somehow I end up with five younger sibling figures harassing me relentlessly…Kami, kill me now. What have I ever done to deserve this?
…
…
…Besides killing Shisui…and the clan…
…
…and torturing Sasuke…and- you know what, never mind…
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Tanaka Mai of Kumogakure puffed out her cheeks in annoyance at her teammates. Kinjo Joben and Yoshida Michio were at it again, wrestling like children in the mud. The lilac haired girl watched in irritation as Michio pushed Joben's face into the damp dirt, staining the boy's dark blue hair a filthy brown. Their Jounin Sensei, Mori Tadao, stood with his hands on his hips, glaring at his male students. This was their first C-rank mission, and already they were acting so immaturely!
"Joben ,Michio, stop that right this instant or I'm sending us all back to Kumo!" he threatened. Michio was quick to leap off his downed teammate, redoing his short, light orange ponytail, as it had become skewed during the fight. Joben pulled himself off the ground and attempted fruitlessly to brush the muck off his clothes. He scowled at Michio with angry brown eyes. Michio glared back, with his unusually yellow irises flashing.
"Guys, you are both such bakas! How the heck are we gonna get the package to the client if you keep this up? It's ridiculous!" the girl screeched.
"Shut up the fuck up Mai, I'm sick of this guy's shit." Michio sneered. Joben snarled.
"It's not my fault you can't take anything but a misplaced compliment asshole. Including a punch."
Just as the two were preparing to attack again, Mai whipped out her Sai and held the weapon threateningly.
"Stop whining like Academy students. This is reality – learn to survive in it or you'll die." She told them icily.
"Now, calm down, all of you!" Tadao-sensei yelled. "We are a team. Learn to act like it or you'll all be going back to the Academy at this rate!" he growled.
Mai snorted. Her pride refused to consider that possibility, her blood was too noble for such a thing. Her father's great aunt was the former Daimyo's wife! Her violet eyes, darker than her hair, glinted as she glared at her teammates, daring them to cross her.
Tadao-sensei sighed in defeat. "Come on, we had better hurry up or we'll miss the drop-off time."
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Gaara was positively smug. He looked across at his companions with a satisfied smirk. The suckers had to walk for days, only stopping to eat and sleep, while he floated leisurely on a bed on sand. And he wouldn't let them on it.
What a little traitor.
"Are we there yet?" Naruto whined, again.
"No." Itachi replied stiffly.
"…how much longer?" the blonde complained.
"We should be in the Kumo Ninjas' path in a few more hours. We will have time to prepare and go over the plan once again." The elder Uchiha monotoned, but they all picked up the hint of a warning overlapping.
Naruto sighed in frustration. He wanted some action already! Itachi and Haku always got all of the fun.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, they arrived. They hastily set up traps and revised the plan.
'Ok, listen up. Your opponents most probably have low-Genin skills and experience. From what I have seen during training, Haku is already low to mid-chunin level. Gaara, Otouto and Naruto are closer to high-Genin, an impressive feat for ones so young, and you Kimimaro are mostly unknown, but I would rank you as high-Genin/low-Chunin as well. However, battle situations vastly differ from spars among friends. Be on your guard, all of you." Itachi ordered, slipping into his Captain mode. These kids needed experience, and fast, who knows if and when Orochimaru might come into their lives, now that their little group was on his radar.
"Hai Itachi-nii." Haku bowed her head softly in understanding.
"Fine…" Naruto grumbled.
"Ok Aniki, I promise." Sasuke told his brother reassuringly.
"Hai." Gaara nodded stoically.
"I swear Itachi-san." Kimimaro bowed low. Naruto gave him a funny look.
"You're still calling him '-san'? Come ON Kimimaro, you know don't have to."
"At least it isn't Itachi-sama anymore…" Sasuke muttered. Itachi couldn't help but agree. That was a strange experience.
"I apologise…Itachi." Kimimaro said insecurely. Haku gave him a pointed look.
"…Itachi-nii." He amended, earning nods of approval and a thumbs-up from Naruto. Kimimaro sighed in contentment. How was it possible for his life to have changed so much in such a short time? He still was not fully used to the sunlight…
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Kimimaro sat with his arms crossed in front of his legs, leaning against a rock wall. He stared blankly at the ground, not really seeing it anymore. Darkness shrouded him within his cage, keeping him company. The small enclosure he had lived in for as long as he could remember was tiny, only 4 feet wide and 10 feet in length, along the wall. He pulled another bone from his shoulder blade, forming a sharp blade. He knew that if he tried, he could probably escape his prison. But where would he go?
This place was all Kimimaro had ever known, and he was too scared of the unknown to even really consider leaving. He flipped the bone in his hand and went back to carving a haunting face into the rock, so he wouldn't be so alone. The boy briefly lost his grip on the pointy white knife, and it slipped, slicing his arm as it fell.
Kimimaro touched the warm blood leaking from his arm, wincing at the pain. He frowned. Why am I the only one to live like this? Why me? It isn't fair! Is it this…eternally damned blood? His brow wavered and his lips trembled. He brought his injured arm to his chest and slumped in defeat. How he despised himself. Even amongst his own clan he was feared for his blood…what evil, disgusting blood it must be. No, Kimimaro didn't want it anymore, he had to get rid of it!
The sickly pale boy reached frantically in the darkness for his bone dagger, and held it above his skin, momentarily frozen. His hand shook and he began to lower the blade slowly. He couldn't do it.
He was such a coward.
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Hatake Kakashi had become a lot quieter of late. His comrades gave him concerned looks and asked if anything was wrong, but even his eye-smiles were painfully fake. He had resigned from the ANBU seemingly without warning, and had begun spending even more time at the memorial stone. It wasn't healthy. The guys took him out for drinks, and Sarutobi Asuma, the Sandaime's second son, was often charged with delivering the wasted Jounin back to his apartment. Maito Gai took hours off from his own training time in order to seek his rival out and challenge him, only to be turned down every time.
Only the Hokage knew the cause of the Copy-nin's depression. Not only was his future student –as was decided immediately by the Council-, Uchiha Sasuke missing without a trace, his Sensei's son was gone as well. Kakashi knew he should have been there for the boy more, or maybe the right words were been there at all. But Naruto looked and acted so much like Minato-sensei he could not stand it. It hurt too much. In ANBU, from the shadows he had watched the boy grow up. The Uzumaki's life had been hard and lonely, but Kakashi had consoled himself by saying that he would request for Naruto to be on his future Genin team, and then the boy would never have to be alone.
He hadn't even realised the consequences of his decisions. By leaving a mere child in such…hopeless isolation, was it really a surprise he was gone? Maybe he had run away from the hatred. Maybe he had been kidnapped because there was nobody there to protect him. Or maybe he had already died…no, Kakashi refused to consider that. The blonde had too much spirit to disappear from the world, even if he had disappeared from Konoha.
It's not like many people missed him anyway.
The Uchiha on the other hand, even now had candles burning in the town square. People sniffled and cursed the Demon for taking their prince. Rumours spread like wildfire and became increasingly ludicrous as time went on. Just the other day, Kakashi had overheard some gossiping old ladies talking about how "the damn fox stole the last Uchiha to use as a sex slave and produce Sharingan-Demon spawn, creating an army that would invade Konoha."
Firstly, they were CHILDREN. Secondly, they were both GUYS, how the hell is this army made exactly? Did one of them miraculously drop their male anatomy and sprout a uterus? Honestly. And that isn't even getting into the whole NARUTO IS NOT A DEMON thing.
Kakashi sighed in irritation; he was so distracted he couldn't even concentrate on his precious Icha Icha! He snapped the book shut and Shunshined to the roof of the Hokage Tower. He needed to speak with the Sandaime.
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The Sandaime Hokage looked at the three newly minted Chunin in front of him. Hagane Kotetsu, Kamizuki Izumo and Umino Iruka stood patiently along the wall. He had planned on giving them a B-class mission, but their Jounin Captain had sent a message explaining that his wife had gone into labour and he could not leave her side. As Sarutobi Hiruzen, he was happy for the man, but as Hokage, he rubbed his face in frustration. All the other Chunin teams were already out on missions and there was NO WAY he would send a Genin team. However the mission was not nearly high enough to require a squad of Jounin!
This was the moment Kakashi chose to appear at the window, lazily taking in his surroundings.
"Ahh Kakashi! What a pleasant surprise…I have a mission for you." The Sandaime said with a grin.
"Good day Hokage-sama, but if I could have a word-" the silver haired man began.
"This Chunin squad is in need of a Captain, and you're perfect for the job!" The three Chunin had wide eyes, they were getting a mission with the legendary Copy-nin! Sharingan no Kakashi! Their Captain should knock up his wife more often.
"But Hokage-sama, if I could just-" Kakashi tried, without success.
"This is your mission, I am sure it will go off without a hitch. Dismissed!" the Sandaime waveed them away.
Kakashi sighed. Might as well it this over with as soon as possible, so he could finally get some answers. He met the team outside of the Hokage's office, opened the mission scroll and scanned the contents.
Apparently an extremely valuable Ruby was stolen from a minor Daimyo by a team of Kumo Ninja, ranks unknown. Konoha was given the mission to return the jewel to the Daimyo, by any means necessary. Thankfully Konoha did not have an alliance with Kumogakure, or conflict would break treaty. He closed the scroll and turned to the anticipating Chunin.
"Meet at the village gates at daybreak tomorrow." He told them cheerfully.
"Hai!" they chorused.
The Sandaime pulled his pipe up to his mouth. I'm sorry Kakashi…even when you ask, there is nothing I can tell you.
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"Ojiji-san!" a high voice squealed happily. He turned and knelt down beside his granddaughter, ruffling her short brown hair.
"Hey Aiko-chan! How is my special girl today? Where's your Kaa-chan?" he asked the three year old.
"I good!" she smiled, "Okaa-san is wif Obaa-chan! Dey tawkin." The girl informed her grandfather. He straightened up and watched his daughter's youngest child of three skip towards the kitchen. They weren't poor exactly, but they were not wealthy either. At least, not since his great grandfather had lost the family's greatest heirloom in a bet. His gambling had not only cost him the precious Ruby, but also the social security of his family, and ultimately even his own wife had left him. But soon, soon when the Ruby was returned, everything would become as it always should have been. His granddaughter would never have to wear second-hand clothes, and he could spoil her as he wished he could.
Yes, he knew that hiring a Ninja not aligned with any village could be dangerous, but he was more concerned that a village would try to satisfy a Daimyo over a retired carpenter. And he had heard that this Uchiha Itachi fellow was very talented, although young. When he had contacted the Shinobi, he had been assured that the boy had others who would take the mission with him.
He would pay them when he had the jewel, and the Uchiha had seemed confident enough that he soon would. He ran a calloused hand through his greying hair and followed Akio-chan to the next room.
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"Where the heck is he!" a man cried, who had hair reminiscent of a dark palm tree.
"I don't know Kotetsu." Izumo replied in a bored voice.
"He should be here by now!" Kotetsu insisted.
"I know Kotetsu." His friend said in disinterest.
"It's unprofessional! I expected more!" the indignant man exclaimed.
"Hai." Izumo agreed blandly.
"Damn you Izumo. Iruka, aren't you annoyed?" Kotetsu demanded, turning to their other teammate.
"Well…I hear he is quite infamous for being late to everything…" the Chunin with a scarred nose added hesitantly.
"But it's been two and a half hours!" Kotetsu growled.
Iruka sighed. Just then, Kakashi arrived on the scene with a loud poof.
"THERE YOU ARE!" Kotetsu screamed, "Where the hell were you!" he demanded with a glare.
"Well, I was on my way here and I saw what looked like a flying child on the horizon. I went to check it out, but it was only a bird." He explained with an eye-smile. They all sweatdropped.
"Whatever, let's just go." Izumo said irritably, striding towards the gate. Kotetsu gave their 'Leader' a last look of disgust before following his long-time friend, Iruka right behind him.
"Coming Hatake?" Izumo called.
"Hai…" the silver haired Jounin sighed. Well, he thought, let's get this done quickly. He jumped to meet his temporary squad and pulled out Icha Icha.
Naruto…Sasuke…what happened to you?
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Itachi froze his movements and check again. Yes, the approaching chakra signatures remained the same, although they were still a great distance away. Damn, he groaned mentally, just what I needed. Why the hell did Konoha Ninja's have to be in the area? And Hatake Kakashi at that…I can't let them see Naruto and Sasuke! He realised.
"Sasuke, Naruto, come here." He ordered.
"Hai?" they asked curiously.
"Change of plans, you both cannot participate in the coming fight." He informed them, waiting for the eruption.
"WHAT!" they both yelled. "WHY?"
"Because Shinobi of Konoha are close. They would try and take you back if we encountered them." He reasoned with the boys. With no success.
"So what? We'll tell 'em we don't want to go back, they can't make us!" Naruto said with determination, holding his whiskered face high.
"They won't listen Naruto." Itachi pinched the bridge of his nose. " They will think that you are either lying or have been brainwashed. They probably will think you are at the least runaways, if not being held against your wills. I am sure both of you are wanted back in Konoha, Sasuke for being an Uchiha and you for being the Jinchuriki." He told the blonde.
"But, but-"
"No buts. Not to mention what they would do if they found out you were travelling with me…I am still a criminal and a traitor to them, and that is not something your names should be associated with." Itachi stated firmly, only just able to resist putting his hands on his hips.
"Aniki…what about Gaara? He is the Kazekage's son…" Sasuke began, before trailing off.
"…Gaara is what?" the elder asked blankly. Sasuke blinked.
"The Kazek-"
"YOU KIDNAPPED THE KAZEKAGE'S SON AND I NEVER KNEW?" Itachi yelled, yes yelled. Oh dear Kami. He felt like an idiot now. The Jinchuriki of Suna…was the Kazekage's son…it made sense…but why, why him? Itachi could already feel his hair greying.
"It wasn't kidnap! More like a rescue! Besides, they think he's dead, 'cause his Tou-teme sent him to be killed." Naruto tried to reassure the almost hyperventilating thirteen year old. Sasuke sighed, there was once a time that seeing Itachi like this would have meant the end of the world…now, not so much. Itachi took a deep breath and regained his composure.
"…Well Gaara can't go either then! If his description is put out it'll be very bad. The last thing we need is Suna after us." he decided.
"What if they recognize Haku-nee's and Kimimaro's Kekkei Genkais?" Naruto asked, a little anxious for their safety now.
"It is possible, but they would not know who they are, only what they look like. Besides, if everything goes to plan we will avoid them completely. The odds of our missions overlapping is very scarce."
"But we still can't do it." Naruto pouted.
"Hai."
"…Itachi-nii you're even more of a teme than Sasuke, you know that?" Naruto commented in an offhanded fashion.
Sasuke gave the blonde an emotionless look. "Who do you think I learned it from Dobe?" he asked rhetorically.
Itachi glared. "Otouto." He warned.
"Aniki." The younger replied.
Itachi snorted. "Hn."
Sasuke looked away. "Hn."
Naruto was looking back and forth between them. "…I'll never understand Uchihas." He said more to himself than anyone else, but still received to nearly identical 'stares of death'. He whimpered a little.
"Sorry…" the blonde muttered. Just a bit sensitive…sheesh…
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Tadoa of Kumo gave his students an exasperated glare.
Michio flung another Shuriken at his annoying teammate.
Joben gave his orange haired attacker a superior smirk as he dodged.
Mai spat profanities and threats at the two idiots.
Itachi motioned for their group to split up.
Sasuke nodded and fell back, veering to the right.
Naruto sighed in disappointment and followed the younger Uchiha.
Gaara pushed Shukaku out of his mind; he was not getting blood today. He went with Sasuke and Naruto, disappearing from sight.
Haku sped up to Itachi's right, sharing a glance.
Kimimaro came to the older Uchiha's left, his emotions locked away. He was ready to battle again. As much as he denied it, his Kaguya blood craved it.
Iruka laughed at Kotetsu's impression of Maito Gai. It was a bit mean, but far too funny.
Kotetsu flashed his teeth and stuck out a thumb while nearly popping out his hip and screaming "YOUTH!"
Izumo rolled his eyes at his childhood friend, wondering if he had changed at all from when they were kids.
Kakashi discreetly tucked away his book, as not to cause alarm.
They were there.
Phew, wrote it all in limited time! The Ninja from Kumo are OCs, just in case anybody wasn't sure…next chapter, confronting Konoha…what will happen?
-TITM