Apathy

by berry5tz

Fugaku thinks he has parenting down perfectly. Minato doesn't believe so. Sasuke has lost interest. Due to a traumatic event, Sasuke has given up on his father. . Can Minato and Naruto help the Uchihas?. Alternate Universe. Ninja universe. Profanity. Some child abuse (Not explicit)

11. LIfe of a Genin Pt 2

A/N: I hope you enjoy this second part. One more to LIfe of a Genin then it is onto Snakebite.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Naruto is the work of Mr. Kishimoto. I own nothing but the plot of this fanfiction.

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Life of a Genin (Pt. 2)

Friday, May 13th at Orochimaru's New Main Base

Kabuto woke up only a day earlier but even after twenty-four hours passing away. He found that his mind and body still felt the same. He was still wishing that he was unconscious. He could feel every hit that he had taken from that run in with the Leaf ninja last Friday and now here it was a following Friday late morning. He was sitting up in bed looking down at his hands. He was tired of lying in bed but was afraid of what would happen once he had fully recovered. Orochimaru didn't take failure well. The only person that received leniency from Orochimaru, was, Orochimaru, himself. Kabuto knew that once he had recovered from his wounds. He would then receive new ones thanks to his failure. He shuddered at thinking of what was coming. His mind instantly taking him back to yesterday.

When he had awaken on Thursday, Kabuto was greeted with the appearance of his master, Orochimaru standing at his bed side with his arms crossed. The posture alone promised nothing good could be expected, but it was the look in Orochimaru's eyes that told Kabuto to behave himself right now or the pain coming will be much worse. The man was clearly irritated and it didn't pay to be a smart ass now. Kabuto cleared his throat softly as he made to speak.

"I'm sorry my lord."

The leader of chaos shifted slightly at these words. He wasn't in the mood to hear apologies. He wanted to cut into Kabuto and if he didn't need him so much right now he would have. This thought aside, Orochimaru spoke up curtly.

"Kabuto….you know that I'm not a man that enjoys failure. You do understand this right?"

"Yes, my lord. I will take whatever punishment that you deem fit."

Kabuto was looking down at his hands not wanting to see the angry tyrant's eyes. For Orochimaru this was weirdly pleasing to him. He could feel himself beginning to lose the fire that he had a second ago. Still, he wanted Kabuto to be fearful of him. Orochimaru believed that to have and keep control of others. You had to make them fear you. Then you could have them do whatever you wanted and think whatever you wanted. So he would not allow Kabuto any freedom of fear. Ever.

"Good to hear, Kabuto. Because I am very displeased right now with you. All I can say to you is that you had better hope that my wrath subsides by the time your injuries heal." Otherwise, you will most likely be spending an additional week in the infirmary when I'm done with you."

Orochimaru shrugged his shoulders at the end and Kabuto's eyes widened slightly at those words from his master. He involuntarily shuddered as he spoke.

"Yes, my lord."

Orochimaru was now intensely looking at the medic. Kabuto found the weight of the leader's gaze far too heavy to bare and immediately ducked his head in shame and fear. This reaction pleased Orochimaru.

'I will go easy on you Kabuto for this reason alone. You never fail to submit before me and by doing so you acknowledge my power and control over you. Still, for now I will let you believe that you are going to get the beating of your life from me. Simply because I love to see people cower before me. After all, this is the least you can do for me since your failure has set us back.'

A smirk appeared and suddenly the topic was over and done with. Orochimaru was now ready to proceed with the real reason he has come to see his subordinate. He now moves to sit in the chair next to the bed. Sitting down with an air of contentment. Orochimaru begins.

"Kabuto, I want you to pay close attention to what I'm about to say to you."

"Yes, my lord." Kabuto had snapped his head up in an instant.

"I have not given up on the idea of gaining a Jinchurriki of my own. The potential benefits and power I will gain from extracting its prized Biju is far too much to ignore or dismiss. Yet at the same time I want to get even with the Leaf village for interfering into something that was none of their business to begin with. I will need your help with this step eventually."

Kabuto heard the words, I will need your help and immediately made the foolish assumption that he was off the hook. It was the next word 'eventually, that shot him back down to earth in a hurry. Orochimaru found his second in command's responses amusing. He wanted nothing more than to play around with the man's emotions some more, but alas, he needs to keep focused on the topic at hand. With a soft sigh that makes Kabuto look again at him. Orochimaru continues.

"I haven't been able to get pay back against Itachi yet and now the damn Hokage thinks he can walk all over me too. This has to be dealt with, Kabuto. I won't continue to tolerate this blatant disregard for my title of Sannin for one thing and for another I don't like these continued intrusions into the Land of Rice Patties by the Leaf. We need to put an end to it."

"What do you have in mind my lord? I will do whatever you need done to see your wishes are made true."

A knowing smile spread across the snake man's face.

"You told me once that the merchant turned governing official, Umeko Kanata has had dealing with the Leaf in the past have you not?"

"Yes, sir. He had hired the leaf to escort him to the land of waves a couple of times."

"Excellent. I will be needing his assistance in the near future for what I have in mind for the leaf."

Kabuto cocked his head to the side confusion clearly written all over his face.

"Sir, may I ask why him?"

"You don't get it now but you will when I'm ready to begin. I promise Kabuto that you will be able to help me implement my plan of revenge against the leaf soon enough. For now work on healing that body of yours. Your punishment can't be given until then and the sooner we can get past the little matter of discipline the sooner we can began getting the final steps together."

"Yes, my lord." A dejected Kabuto answered.

Orochimaru got up and gave his subordinate one last look before leaving. Once at the door he stopped just long enough to present one more little jab at the cowering man behind him.

"Oh, and Kabuto, don't try to use anything to suppress the pain when the time comes for your punishment. I do want to at least get some enjoyment out of your suffering."

Kabuto thought he was about to cry but, he kept up a solid façade and answered his master without a wobble or a sob in his voice.

"Yes, my lord."

Orochimaru laughed light heartedly as he turned back towards the door and slipping through closed it softly all the while keeping up that infuriating laugh. Kabuto found his eyes had closed at the end of the memory and the shudder that racked his body only moments earlier did so again. He wasn't looking forward to what awaited him. No one ever did.

Training Ground #7 in Konoha

Sasuke dodged a fist from Naruto and prepared to aim one of his own. The grin on the orange clad boy's face was making this more of a game than an actual match. Nevertheless, Sasuke was determined to keep a deep centered focus on his actions and reactions in this fight. He countered his friend with a jab of his own to which, Naruto caught the fist easily. This made Sasuke swing his right leg up to kick Naruto in the side. Naruto immediately let go of his friend and jumped back just missing being hit. Sasuke' foot swung on passed him as, Sasuke was driven nearly around in a tight circle by his own momentum.

The two ran around in a circle looking for an opportunity to strike. They stopped when they had come full circle and were once again standing where they had been before. Sasuke swiftly made hand signs that was followed by his hand coming up towards his mouth and his chest expanding. Naruto had seen this enough times to know what was coming next.

Sasuke released the fireball that he had gathered within and let it fly towards his friend. Another grin spread across Naruto's face as he leaped high into the air and launched six shuriken at his team mate. Sasuke was forced to stop and defend against the incoming attack. His hand which held a kunai moved rapidly deflecting the sharp weapons. The shuriken went flying off in different directions and sticking into the ground away from their intended target.

Naruto came to land in the same spot as before. Right in front of Sasuke. He was hiding his feelings behind an impeccable stoic demeanor. This only made Naruto laugh at this point. He knew that his friend was the serious type; but this was definitely over the top even for him.

"You know, Sasuke if you wanted to dance. You should have just said so. I thought we were supposed to be sparring." Naruto said teasingly.

He meant this to be a joke and laughed at it, but Sasuke only came at him with a kunai in hand. A very determined look on his face. Surprised that he would get this response out of him, Naruto swiftly grabbed his own kunai and blocked the attack that was made. Now standing facing each other more closely with kunai pressed against each other. Naruto spoke up.

"Hey, Sasuke what's going on? You are looking ultra-serious this morning what gives?"

Sasuke made a grimace but didn't look away. For the past week Sasuke's father has been preaching to him about the importance of not letting down the Uchiha name. It was the same speech that was given the day after graduating the academy and every day since then. Sasuke was tired of it, but there was a part of him that wanted to try and please his father. His father has been making an effort to include him as a member of the family. Sasuke felt like he needed to do this thing that was asked of him even if he had fully intended on being the best ninja he could be anyway.

"We need to take our training seriously, Naruto. This is the first time we are training since we became Genin. The past week has been nothing but D-Ranks and I don't know about you but, I want to show Kakashi that I'm ready to do more than just D-Ranks." He replied evenly.

Naruto gave him that 'oh yeah' look and said.

"You have a point there. I guess I should get more serious too then. I don't want to do D-Ranks forever."

Sasuke nodded his approval and the two pushed away from each other and prepared for what they would do next.

In the distance, Kakashi and Takara were standing side by side each other watching the two young men spar. It had been decided early on that when a determined winner of the match emerged. The winner would then take on Takara. Both Kakashi and Takara were watching the fight with intensity.

For Kakashi, this would be the first time in over six weeks since he has last seen the two boys fight. He had helped them both prepare for the final exams at the academy along with Itachi and Jiraiya. Jiraiya had made the comment that both boys were going to be great ninja in the future. They worked extremely well together. To the point, that neither one had to speak of what they preparing to do next in battle. They seemed to have an almost telepathic connection. Kakashi had remembered agreeing with the Sannin's keen observations. Sasuke and Naruto's team work was flawless together, which begged the question. How would they fare once a third member was added among them? Being their sensei, Kakashi knew that it was his job to make sure that the third member fit in as seamless as possible. There could be no flaws in that seam.

The Hokage had done the initial work for him when he chose Takara. Now Kakashi would have to see for himself how his students did sparring against each other. With Takara, Kakashi wanted see just what the girl could do. This would be the first time seeing her in action and even though her profile told him what to expect from her. It is not the same as actually seeing the young girl in action. He also knew that both Sauske and Naruto have fought with and against Takara back at the academy. So they already knew what their team mate was capable of.

Thus, it was one of the reasons why Kakashi was having the boys fight first. He needed to see how much they had improved since that time helping them prepare for the exams. These two were always fun to watch because they never stopped improving. In the end, Kakashi would have both of Takara's team mates spar with her. Kakashi was just as interested in how each of the boys interpreted the fight with the white haired girl.

Another reason for this decision was that both boys were very protective of their team mate. He wanted to see if they would take her seriously in a fight or simply roll over and not really give their best effort. If this was the case, Kakashi knew that he had to try and break this habit immediately. It wouldn't do none of them any good if this was the attitude among the boys.

Takara looked now and then from the fight to their sensei. Again she felt that she needed to show him that she was capable of being here. It was stupid really. She had thought but, she couldn't make the feeling dissipate.

'I know that Kakashi sensei wants to see how my brothers and I do against each other. He has never seen me fight and I know for a fact that he has seen both of my brothers' fight. Having them fight first is probably in his eyes a chance to see how well they have improved since last he saw them. For me, it is more like torture. I'm so nervous right now and of course, when I'm nervous then I need to pee. AAArgh! I'm so juvenile!' Takara looked up at her sensei as if hoping that he hadn't heard her thoughts.

Her nerves were getting the better of her. She let out a sigh when she saw that their sensei hadn't noticed her. When she finally looked over at the field before her. Takara saw that the fight was just about over and it looked like she would be fighting Naruto. Her big brother Naruto, was a bit of a trickster. His clones were a pain in the rear to have to deal with. A sarcastic remark of 'Oh, joy 'resonated within her mind to which produced another sigh and a pinch at the bridge of her nose this time. Kakashi noticed her at her first sigh and knew that she was nervous but, he said nothing then and he wouldn't now either. Instead he remained focused on the fight before him.

As they fought, Sasuke couldn't help thinking back to what his brother and he had talked about the day before. The mentioning of D-Rank missions to Naruto, had Sasuke going back to that conversation. It wasn't planned but here he was thinking about it. Even after he had said that they should be more serious about this spar. Thus, he wasn't observant when Naruto's clone managed to get behind him and slam his foot into Sasuke's back. The force of the roundhouse kick sent Sasuke violently to the ground. The sudden loss of air being forcefully pushed out of his lungs had Sasuke rolling over onto his back. An immediate surge of pain shot through his chest when he tried to take a breath. He clutched at his shirt, as he tried to sit up right wheezing as he did so.

Naruto was a little annoyed and didn't bother to hide it.

"Damn it, Sasuke. I thought you said that we should take this spar seriously. I don't know what you started thinking about; but it clearly isn't this fight. Get your head in the game before I manage somehow to beat your butt for the first time."

"Y—yeah you're r-right. Sorry. Just give me a minute t-to ca-catch my breath."

"Alright then but no more thinking on whatever you were thing about. I need you here with me in this spar right now. Then after the fight you can go off back into dream world. Okay?"

"Yeah, and I wasn't daydreaming either."

"Whatever, Sasuke just pull yourself together before I beat your ass and brag about it."

The grin had returned once more and this time even Sasuke couldn't help but let a small smile appear. In the distance the other two members of Team Seven looked on.

"Sensei?"

"Yes, Takara?"

"How long will you allow them to continue? Until one is down and unable to continue or, until you have seen enough to be able to determine a winner?"

This made Kakashi look away for a moment from the fight and look at his other student curiously.

"Why do you ask?"

Takara shrugged her shoulders a little as she spoke.

"I don't know why really. It's just that everyone has a different way of doing things. At the academy, Hideo sensei never allowed us to go any further once he could see that one opponent was taking more of a beating. I guess I'm just curious as to what you're going to do."

Kakashi eye smiled at the girl and that made her tilt her head slightly in confusion.

"You will see soon enough, Takara. I won't let it go so far as to end up becoming a bloodbath, but I won't stop this fight prematurely either. Outcomes can change in an instant. The person that is looking like the underdog can suddenly surprise you and pull ahead and defeat his opponent. So unless there is obvious injury or both are starting to become frustrated with one another. I will let them continue."

Takara looked relieved.

"I see. I think Hideo sensei only did what he did because we had issues within our class that, he really didn't like at all. He never liked the way some of the class fought and warned us all often."

Kakashi turned back towards the fight. Things had turned during the course of the battle between the two young men and a winner was beginning to emerge from the struggle. Kakashi continued to talk as he watched the finale play out.

"I agree with you there, Takara. Your class definitely had its problems. Ah, you had better start preparing to go in. I think a winner is beginning to emerge."

Once Sasuke had gotten his body back to normal. The two boys went at it again. This time Sasuke didn't allow his mind to wonder off onto anything else. Naruto had his full attention this time and the results were not long in coming.

They had started the fight at the beginning with mostly taijutsu moves but after Sasuke got slammed into the ground. The second round of the battle became a battle using ninjutsu. Sasuke was using his fire release of course, while Naruto brought his wind style skill into play by using his 'wind blast' technique first. He pushed Sasuke away every time he tried to get close to him with blasts of wind chakra. Feeling like they were just spinning their wheels, Sasuke waits for an opportunity to get close and use taijutsu once more. Naruto was feeling impatient with the battle and gave into the temptation of just meeting Sasuke head on. The two come at each other with force and slam their forearms into each other. They back away just enough. It is at this point that whoever moves fastest moves first and will clobber the other guy.

Naruto is fast, but Sasuke is still faster. He lands two punches into Naruto's face that send Naruto sliding back a few feet. Undeterred by the action, Naruto counters with a drop kick. Sasuke counters by back flipping and the charging forward as soon as his feet hit the ground. Naruto blocks the next attack of Sasuke's which turns out to be a forceful thrusting of his arms with hands clasped together into the air with the intention of bringing them down hard onto Naruto's head. Sasuke comes down hard onto Naruto's raised and brought together arms instead.

The force of the hit makes both young men grunt and wince a little too, but neither are about to call it quits yet. The orange clad ninja tries to bring his knee up between Sasuke's legs to smash into his groin and this causes Sasuke to counter by hoping back a step before the knee can reach him and without even needing to think about it. He launches in to a roundhouse kick. Naruto is sent to the ground hard. He gets up swiftly and is met with a fist coming towards his face. He is able to block in time and it is at this point that both young men back away from each other. They stare each other down for a few seconds each trying to figure out what should they do next. Naruto decides that it is time to end this fight by using a new technique that Kakashi had only taught two hours earlier. It was dubbed 'wind senbon.'

These senbon were thrown from each of Naruto's fists as his arms bend at the elbow and swing back in a pumping motion and then come forward in quick session. The senbon would leave the middle three knuckles of each fist. This was something new for Naruto to work with and new for Sasuke to counter. This one technique changed the way they fought each other; however it did not change the outcome that Kakashi was now seeing.

The senbon were once again airborne and Sasuke continued to dodge and counter using fireball jutsu. He was carefully timing the shots as well as, keeping the size of the fireballs uniform. He made them the size of a cantaloupe fruit. When Naruto seemed to be able to adjust his attacks with weapons. Sasuke knew that he had to adjust as well. The two young men danced around the other while attacking or countering. This was until Naruto decided to use his multi-shadow clone jutsu. He had back flipped and when he landed he was already doing the hand signs for the now infamous jutsu. A series of five white clouds appeared along either side of Naruto that materialized into perfect clones of himself. As soon as, they were summoned the clones swiftly went to surround Sasuke. Sasuke knew what his friend was up too. Naruto had planned to surround and then hit Sasuke with a barrage of wind senbon all at once.

'I love how you keep coming up with new ways of challenging me, Naruto and to think that father wants me to give up my friendship with you.' He thought a bit angry.

Sauske allowed the clones to rush around him in a circle with the real Naruto. Timing was everything for both boys now. As soon as, Sasuke was blocked in. All of the Naruto's made their attack. The senbon went flying from the fists of each of them and soon there was a cloud of smoke that completely covered where Sasuke was. When it dissipated. Naruto let out a low cuss word. He was had. Sasuke had tunneled underground and before Naruto could react. Sasuke returned the favor from earlier and slammed a foot into Naruto's back sending him to the ground. The force of the hit was just as strong and made Naruto play out the same reaction that his team mate had earlier. He was sitting up and clutching at his jacket. Despite the pain he was in, Naruto gave a small smirk at Sasuke.

"I-I see y-you liked what I did e-earlier h—h-huh?"

"To be honest, Naruto. It was all I could think of when I came up behind you. It was the most logical choice."

"Ah, ah I see. I-I'm rubbing off on you."

"Don't go around telling people that idiot. Then everyone will believe that idiocy is contagious."

Naruto tried to laugh but with the wind being knocked out of him it was proving to be not only hard to do but painful too."

Kakashi started walking over towards the two boys. The winner has been determined. Sauske was knocked down once. Naruto was on the ground twice. The winner was obvious to him. Takara obediently followed alongside their sensei smiling. She was just happy that there were no injuries in this fight.

"Nice work you two. Sasuke, you will be fighting Takara next, but first take ten minutes to catch up with yourself."

Takara stepped forward already sending healing waves of chakra in preparation of healing.

"Yes, let me heal both of you first. It wouldn't be a fair fight if you are already tired and I'm still fresh."

Both Naruto and Sasuke came and stood before their team mate. Takara raised both hands directing them at the chest of each of her brothers. Closing her eyes momentarily she focused her chakra. Then both of her hands began to glow with the green light of healing chakra. She was amazed that Sasuke was able to keep fighting even after such a hard blow. She quickly healed them. Replenishing their chakra levels. Kakashi stood and looked on at the healing while thinking.

Takara's profile speaks of a Kekkei genkai that is psychic in nature. It also says that this tiny girl possesses a massive amount of chakra. This is typical of a lot of clans carrying a Kekkei genkai. In battle, Takara is known to favor genjutsu. She is a close to mid-range fighter with excellent skill in both genjutsu and ninjutsu. The profile also went on to say that she has perfect control of her chakra which was why she was given the go-ahead to become a medic Nin. In conclusion, her profile said that within a few short years, Takara will be able with her Kekkei genkai and chakra to regenerate whole limbs. I can't even imagine that now. Right now she can rapidly regenerate cells that have been damaged in battle faster than any of the students at the academy. Tsunade was amazed at the girl's progress. I still remember her coming and telling Sensei and Kushina about this one day. She believes that Takara will be an excellent help in just a couple more years. It amazes and I will even admit scares me because she is only nine years old right now. There are others that can heal almost to that level but, they had to wait far longer before they could even get to a point of regenerating cell but never limbs. Takara will be able by the time she is twelve to either heal the body completely; or tear it apart with the knowledge and skills she will have in her arsenal. I will have to be careful and mentor her well. For that kind of power can go to anyone's head and cause more harm than good.'

He then looked over at the two male students he was also responsible for and sighed and closed his eye.

'Sasuke will also have to be carefully mentored as well. The Sharigan is no joke either. Once he becomes cognizant of the true abilities of the Sharigan and has fully mastered it. Sauske could become just as much a problem as Takara could. Naruto on the other hand, needs to be kept in check otherwise, he will become over confident and do more harm to himself than anyone else.'

Kakashi opened an eye that showed a bit of weariness and concern. He saw his team looking expectantly at him. They really couldn't see much of his face but, already in the short time they have all been with him. They have learned to read his mannerisms and posture to figure out whether he was thinking or just daydreaming. It creeped Kakashi out. This was his first genin team and he never thought that they would learn to read him so well and so fast. Wanting to get past the feeling of awkwardness in a hurry. Kakashi raised a hand and making a fist of it. Brought the fist up near his masked mouth and made the obvious sounds of a person clearing his throat. This made his little band of followers even more eager to hear what he had to say. They knew he had been thinking about them. So what was Kakashi sensei about to say?

"Sasuke….Takara, I want you to begin your spar when you two are ready. Naruto, come with me. We will go and stand over by the tree line and watch them."

"Right." Naruto concurs then turns to look at his team mates.

"You two had better do your best. Sasuke no more daydreaming and Takara don't pee out here."

Sasuke snorted at the statement and Takara laughed a nervous laugh that made Sasuke and Naruto chuckle which only embarrassed the little girl. With a red face she immediately turned and went a little further into the field to take a stance for the upcoming fight. Sasuke followed her out making distance appear between them as he moved away from her. Their team mate and sensei started back for the tree line at a jog. Once everyone was situated, Sasuke made the first move.

Sasuke rarely ever started a battle with fire style. He preferred to start with taijutsu. It was a way of warming up and getting a feel for the mindset of his opponent. Whether or not they were over-confident or if they were scared or even as Naruto had said of him today. Were their minds somewhere else other than right there in the moment? Whatever it was, Sasuke could take full advantage of the emotional state of his opponent. However, Sasuke has fought Takara before and Takara is more like him. She rarely ever drifts off and is never fearful enough of any opponent to lose control and panic. So this is why Sasuke launched into phoenix flower jutsu immediately. He knew that she would have to counter his attack and hopefully if he could distract her long enough. He would be able to get in close from behind and knock her out and end this quick. The longer the battle went on the harder it would be to gain victory.

He found himself cursing mentally as she started fending off his attack.

'It's times like these when I wish I had my Sharigan. Then I could be an even better opponent for her. I have won against Oddball, but it can also be said that I have lost to her too. Father would never approve of this happening.' Sasuke found himself thinking.

Takara was also having an internal monologue. She threw back at her team mate four shuriken laced with poison. A poison that was meant to slow Sasuke down but not kill him. She wanted to end the fight just as quickly as he did.

'Sasuke isn't the kind that will give up easily. Both of my brothers have a never say die attitude. It's just one of the things I usually admire but right now I know for a fact that this trait they both share is going to be a pain in the butt. I need to end this quick or we could end up here all day.'

Takara felt herself sighing even as she and Sasuke were both preparing their next attacks.

'I should go with a genjutsu next.'

"Shit. Sis is going for genjutsu. MOVE, SASUKE, MOVE!

Takara tried to get her brother entranced to believe that he was trapped in very deep mud up to his waist making it impossible to move. She was successful in getting him trapped, but she knew better than to celebrate just yet. She began to run swiftly towards him. However, Sasuke was strong enough to break the spell and move swiftly away to regain distance. He again used his fire release and created a huge fireball and launched it quickly.

Both Kakashi and Naruto were quiet and intently watching the fight. Both of them following each movement being performed by the combatants with a sense of eagerness.

"I think that my team mates are trying to finish this fight early, or at least this is what they both want anyway." Naruto surmised.

Kakashi didn't take his eyes away from the fight as he responded.

"I have to agree with you, kiddo. Sasuke and Takara are similar in their mind set. They take it seriously from the start and try to assess their opponents early on. Here they both know that they are determined and will be completely focused on the task."

"Oh, so you're saying that I don't take fighting seriously?" Naruto asked incredulously.

Kakashi now looked his brother in the eye.

"I'm saying that you have a penchant for wanting to show-off at times and that can get you in trouble."

This exasperated Naruto.

"Kakashi, I fight seriously especially when I'm fighting either the Bastard or Oddball. You can never let your guard down around those two and yeah, you're a Jounin and all, but you better watch your step around Sis. She will surprise you, if you let her."

"I'll be sure to heed your advice, bro."

They went silent again and continued to watch. It was now becoming apparent who the victor was going to be in this match.

By now both Sasuke and Takara were seeing the end of the match themselves. Takara had managed to dodge Sasuke's fire release attacks and countered with two kunai thrown with moderate force. She wanted to spin a genjutsu with the kunai making them look like there were six more so that Sasuke wouldn't be able to tell which ones were the real ones and the others just an illusion that would pass through him harmlessly. She didn't do it. Fear was the reason. Takara was afraid that her team mate would make a mistake in which ones were real and that would prove fatal. Her psychic abilities have grown recently and she had been working on a genjutsu that could be used with weapons. This particular attack she calls simply 'blade trick'.

Sasuke saw that moment of hesitation in her just before she launched the weapons. Kakashi and Naruto saw it too. Sasuke was disappointed but, he understood why Takara had hesitated. Still, he wished that she would have followed through with it. It would have been a nice challenge and he was sure that he could counter it, but there was no time to worry about it. He quickly countered the weapons thrown. It was time to end this fight now. To do this, Sasuke needed to pull his team mate in close enough to switch to taijutsu. He began by throwing a smoke bomb to hide what he intended to do next.

Takara was forced to stop and assess the situation. In the meantime, Sasuke produced one clone of himself and using the earth style head hunter jutsu made it go underground. Then he sent rapid paced fire balls through the smoke where he was currently standing and then several feet away in another direction. He needed to keep his team mate distracted by trying to keep up with where he was within the smoke, so that she didn't notice the his clone's advance.

Takara stopped as soon as Sasuke threw the bomb. She had to quickly assess the situation. She knew that her brother was probably planning on way-laying her the moment she charged into the thick smoke. So this wasn't an option. She felt his chakra spike momentarily and then return to normal to only have it spike again and see fire balls coming at her at rapid speed.

'These are a diversion. He doesn't want me to be able to pinpoint his exact location.'

A clone of her own was produced and she decided to have the clone go first and find her brother. The clone would most assuredly be taken out as soon as it arrived; but it would allow Takara to know exactly where her brother was hiding within the smoke. The clone headed to where it believed that Sasuke was actually hiding. Takara figured that if the clone found him it would alert her when it began attacking. If the clone would not make the right guess or her brother had attacked before the clone. Then the sound of the clone disappearing would be heard not to mention the telltale sign of white smoke that all clones give off and immediately tell Takara that the clone found Sasuke's location.

The clone went to the right and threw a shuriken in the direction it thought Sasuke was. Takara could begin to see movement now within the thin vail of the fast dissipating smoke bomb. She could also see the clone and her team mate fighting. Sasuke had launched a rapid secession of punches as the clone made the mistake of getting in to close. It was no match for the barrage of fists and 'popped'. Takara saw its white puff of smoke against the light grey color of the smoke bomb that was now just about spent. It was only then that she realized that something was coming up behind her and it was moving fast. Takara berated herself mentally for the second time, as she made to turn and defend against her brother's clone.

'I should have known that he would sent a clone after me. This is unforgiveable, but I will think over this more later. Right now I need to defend against and terminate this clone before my brother gets the drop on me.'

Moving with only seconds to spare, Takara dodged the clone of Sasuke by mere inches. The clone had launched himself into the air its body horizontal with the ground. One knee was bend back while the other was stretched out in front of it to hit Takara. The clone missed and went passed her. It landed swiftly and elegantly like a cat upright and on both feet and was charging again. Takara made her move and went airborne. Straight up, Takara went and launched a series of shuriken at the clone. The clone dodged the attacks by whipping out a kunai and deftly sending away the metal weapons in every direction. An easy landing back to the ground and a launch of earth-style mud made the clone trapped as it tried to dodge being stuck and failed as, Takara was only a few seconds faster. She now threw a kunai that sealed the clone's fate. The weapon struck its target squarely in the forehead and the clone 'popped' instantly.

Takara looked around quickly looking for her brother. He had dispatched her own clone. So where is he? She turns around as she feels a presence off to her right. Sure enough there Sasuke stood. She also realized that they were much closer than she had anticipated. In her fight with his clone, Takara had forgotten a golden rule when on the battlefield. Always be aware of your surroundings and where you are within it.

Takara didn't have to time to wonder how the hell he got to her so fast. Because he was now showing her. It shocked her at the speed at which he could move. She had yet to master such a high rate of speed herself and now that she realized her own mistake all too late. There was no other option now.

'I have tried to avoid this, but there is no getting around it now. Taijutsu it is then.' Takara thought as she prepared to defend against her brother's incoming attack.

Sasuke had leaped up and forward propelling himself at her in a high jump kick. He could have smirked as he nearly always did when he and Naruto fought, but with Takara it was different. Takara never bantered with him about being a better ninja than him. That was something that he and Naruto would do. Instead he smiled a small smile as he was coming now and saw the determined look in her eyes. She was throwing her arms up in a defense as he thought.

'You fought well sis. You have certainly grown. I can honestly say that, you have earned my respect and Naruto's as well. You aren't like most of the girls that were in our class. You challenge both of us and make us strife to be better and I can see we do the same for you.'

Sauske lands the kick against a well-placed set of arms that are braced together to stop the attack. An excellent block. However, Sasuke moves swiftly to counter with a spinning high jump kick with the side of his foot hitting the side of her head and knocking her to the ground.

The hit to the ground made Takara feel a little dizzy. Strangely she felt good about it.

'I did my best and next time my best will be even better.'

Kakashi and Naruto jogged up to the two teammates. Sasuke extended a hand to his sister who took the hand and was pulled up back onto her feet. Naruto got there first and immediately gave his sister a hug.

"You were really awesome out there, Oddball. I think you had Sasuke scared for a few seconds there before the bastard side of him took over near the end."

Sasuke didn't even try to deny it. He knew that he could hide his feelings from most people but not these two that stood before him now. He simply shrugged his shoulders.

"Yes I have to admit it, but don't either of you say anything to anyone about this or, I will have to spread something about you two that I know." Sasuke said teasingly.

Naruto was about to say something when their sensei came up to them in a slow walk. Kakashi allowed Naruto to outpace him to his friends and team mates and had slowed down to a walk. He wanted to replay the enter fight over in his mind one time. In order to be clear on what he told his students about their match. Now that he knew what he wanted to say he wasted no time about it.

"Sasuke that was some sharp thinking on your part at the end. Nice execution of the final round. Takara, you did well. You stayed in the fight and assessed accurately Sasuke's moves until that last round. You both need some work on a few minor things but over all a good match. Naruto, you also did well. I've already told you what you need to work on in the future."

Naruto wanted to ask the question that has been nagging him since they came out here to train.

"Yeah, you guys were great out there, but what I really want to know Kakashi is when are we ever going to train against you? I bet you would like to go at least hand to hand with each of us."

Kakashi snorted.

"Soon, Naruto but for now let's take a break and head into the village for lunch. Everyone did bring lunch money with them today didn't you?" Kakashi looks around at his students. "I don't want to have to pay for your meals every time, especially yours, Naruto. You don't eat a meal. You gorge."

Takara giggled at that. It was true though, her brother ate like a pig at times.

"Hey, hey now I don't gorge. "

"Then what do you call it, idiot?"

"I call it satisfying my hunger, but I don't gorge!"

"Whatever, just try not to draw attention to yourself when you eat today. People are always staring at our table and at you in particular."

Naruto couldn't even counter that one. People did like to stare at the table they would sit at no matter where they ate. He gave a defeated sigh and Kakashi gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder as he said.

"Alright, team let's head on into town. I believe last time we did this it was Naruto that got to eat at his favorite place. This time it will be Sasuke's."

"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Naruto shouts enthusiastically.

With that Team Seven was on the move and walking at an easy pace away from the training ground.

Seeing the Unexpected on Ninth Street

An unexpected water main break at school made for an early weekend for Sakura and her three friends. Isamu, Fumiko, and Karoi along with Sakura had decided that this was a perfect opportunity for the girls to catch some lunch at their favorite restaurant and just hang out for a few hours before each had to head home and get an early start on homework. The final exams for the year were coming up and they wanted to unwind a little before the pressing need to return to studying came upon them once more.

They were heading towards Eighth Street. Once they passed this block they would be where they wanted to be. Ninth Street and that heavenly little café called the Willow. The food they served there was to die for and each of the girls salivated just thinking of their favorite dish they would soon have there. As they walked, the girls were completely oblivious to the crowds of people around them. They were far too busy chatting away as they made their approach.

"I can't believe that Tsubasa asked you out, Karoi. You of all people!"

"Hey! What is that supposed to mean, huh?" Karoi angrily retorts.

"It means that we are all in shock that someone would find you attractive dear."

"Don't be a wise ass, Isamu. I'm just as good looking as you, you know."

"She doesn't mean on the outside, Karoi." Sakura interjected sympathetically. "You're just as pretty as any of the rest of us."

"Then just what do you mean, Isamu?"

"I mean that when it comes to manners, Karoi, you can be a bit of a….hm, how shall I say this? A bit of a bitch?"

Fumiko laughed out right at that answer and Karoi shot her a dirty look. This only made Fumiko shrug her shoulders while still laughing. Sakura decided to give her fuming friend a better and more diplomatic answer.

"Karoi, you tend to scare the opposite gender with the way you are so demanding and you tend to get a little bit pushy about having your way is all. You just need to remember to tone it done a bit and a lot more guys would want to date you."

"Damn and here I thought you idiots were my friends."

Karoi wasn't truly mad any more though and proved it by putting her hand to her forehead as if she were about to faint. Then she let out a giggle which made the others join in.

"I'm just messing with all of you. I know what you meant from the start and yes, Sakura, you're right. I do need to tone it done when I'm around the guys. Still, I think that if they can't handle my attitude than the hell with them. Tsubasa, has my respect so far because he isn't afraid of me."

"I don't think I will ever understand you, Karoi. You're just too weird." Fumiko says shaking her head.

"Yeah, yeah and yet you still love me right?"

"Yes, you're my best friend. All of you are!"

Meanwhile….

Heading in from the opposite direction was Team Seven. They had come from Blossom Street and turned onto Tenth Street. Like Sakura and her friends, Sasuke and his team were busy chatting their way towards Ninth. The difference was that Team seven would shoot beyond Ninth Street and head farther down towards Fourth from there they would turn right and onto Shuriken Avenue. The hotspot for shinobi and the more adventurous at heart among civilians.

Thus it was here that Sasuke was bringing his team for lunch. An area that surprised his team mates but not his sensei. Kakashi has been to Shuriken only a few times and that was to buy some gear he needed for different missions. Most of the time he frequented other shops closer to home. He has never eaten there either until, Itachi had taken him there. Itachi took him to a restaurant that served food from other lands. He was sure that, Sasuke was taking them to that same restaurant now. A place called Western Star, if memory serves him right.

It was Naruto, who being completely ill at ease with the silence between he and his team mates decided that there would be enough with the silence and time for some talk. He wanted to know something in particular that was bothering him anyway since the match between him and Sasuke had ended. Now would be the perfect time to bring it up.

"Hey, Sasuke what were you spacing about during our fight?"

"None of your business."

"Ah, come on, Sauske don't be that way. What was so important?"

Takara also chimed in.

"Please, if you don't mind big brother? At the academy, you never let your concentration slip once. So I'm curious too."

Sauske sighed and shoved his hands into his pockets. Looking down at his feet he began to answer.

"I was thinking of Itachi and what he was telling me yesterday about D-Rank missions."

"Really? What did he have to say?" Naruto said curiously.

"He explained to me the importance of them and I have to admit that once he did. I felt a little foolish for not seeing them same way much sooner."

Naruto became pensive as he said.

"My mother let me have the lecture too. I can't say that I liked it much but, she did have a point."

"What did she tell you Naruto?" It was a curious Takara that asked now.

"She said that if I ever wanted to follow in my pop's footsteps then I had better get the stick out of my ass and behave. People will remember the brat that gave them trouble over a simple mission and won't want me as their leader when I'm older. She said that they will say, I remember that kid and he didn't feel that helping me out was worth it. So why would I want him to be leader of this village? So he can ignore the very people that cry out to him for help?"

Naruto shrugged his shoulders absent minded.

"What momma said made a lot of since though it stung a bit to hear her put it that way. What made it hurt even more was the way she said it. She sounded so sad like she knew from experience or something. I don't know, but I have decided not to be a jerk anymore about D-Ranks and just do them. I don't want to make her sad and say to people look at the ass I raised."

Kakashi perked up and reprimanded his charge.

"Naruto, language."

"Yes, Kakashi."

Takara was now curious about what Sasuke learned.

"What exactly did Itachi say big brother?"

"He said that D-Ranks teach through experience shinobi character."

Kakashi found himself nodding his head in agreement. He wanted Sasuke to tell more. There had to be more. Itachi learned the lesson from Kakashi after all. So Kakashi asks.

"Do you care to elaborate on this?"

Sasuke looks like it's a bother to him, but he complies.

"He said that missions at any level are difficult no matter how simple they seem on the order sheet. With D-Ranks it teaches us that clients and the situations they bring teach us to control our emotions. They teach us to handle both well and improvise when we need too. He said that in every mission there will be the unexpected and we need to be able to traverse these as easily as we walk up the side of a tree."

"Anything else?"

"Yes, he said that you can learn to throw a punch. You can learn battle strategies. You can learn powerful ninjutsu, but only working a mission can you learn from experience in how to deal with people and the situations that come with them. He said that D-Ranks help us to build the foundations to good shinobi character."

"Wow….that's deep. Go ahead, Itachi!" Naruto chimes in.

"Did you understand any of that moron?"

Yes, bastard I have. Don't start with me already."

Sasuke let out a chuckle and Takara did as well. This made Naruto then look over at Takara. He wondered if Iruka had anything to say about D-Ranks. It was a safe bet that he had said something if, Takara asked him about D-Ranks.

"Hey, Oddball, did Iruka tell you anything?"

"Yes, he did, Naruto. I didn't even have to ask him about D-Ranks".

This confession brought out laughter from her team and sensei. Takara blushed a little at the response but continued on.

"As soon as, he knew that I was about to go on my first one. He sat me down and lectured about it. I swear sometimes I feel like I'm at the academy still even though I graduated."

"You mean that you haven't gotten used to that by now? I'm shocked at you, Sis." Naruto replied with an amused look.

"Naruto, I could spend a lifetime with my guardian and never get used to that side of him."

By this time the team had reached Ninth Street and had started walking down the block. They were still chatting away. When they had passed a café directly across from them called the Willow. They never bothered to look across the street to their left. If they had they would have seen Sakura in what appeared as a trance like state and her friends standing there looking at her with worried expressions. They never were aware of the girls except for Kakashi. He had never met Sakura, but right now he was seeing something in her that made him understand that this was Sakura Haruno. The bane of Sasuke's life and the nemesis of Takara. When he was given Takara's profile from the Hokage, Kakashi had read about the constant friction between the two girls. He then made a beeline to Iruka since it was Iruka who had all his team in his class room through most of their years at the academy.

Needless to say, Kakashi wasn't happy with what he had learned and right now he could feel the hair on the back of his neck stiffen. There was that unmistakable love sick expression on her face as she watched Sasuke move along within the crowd. It was a look of pure desire mixed with a bit of adoration. It was making Kakashi's stomach twist especially since he knew of the girl's background. The love sick expression then morphed into pure hatred as, the pinkette's eyes shifted over to Takara. The bloodlust was there and that was it for Kakashi. His mind had been reading the expressions as if he were reading a book. He had read enough from this girl named Sakura. It was making Kakashi's blood to start to simmer as he thought.

'This one could be trouble down the road from now. From what Iruka has told me about this Sakura, I need to keep a wary eye on my students. She may not be a threat to them herself, but she could certainly try and get help to do some serious harm to them. Unfortunately, there are people in this village that would help her too, if she asked. It's no secret that there some ninja that don't like the idea of Naruto or Sasuke becoming Genin. Give them any excuse and they will try and harm the two boys. I can see right now that Sakura still has an obsessive look for Sasuke yet, but for how much longer?. Olds* isn't a joke. People who have this illness can explode with rage and determination to kill a person that they once loved and now realize that they have been rejected by. It is also known that a person with OLDS can also potentially harm another person that is falsely or not, believed to have stolen the love interest of a person with OLDS. I believe the saying goes, if I can't have you nobody will.'

These thoughts prompt action from the Copy Ninja. Kakashi doesn't say anything to his students; but makes a point to stand directly in Sakura's line of sight with a serious threatening look of his own. Normally, Kakashi would never do this sort of thing, but he was responsible for his students. He is also very close to two of them and the one he isn't is slowly becoming so. He will defend them against any threat even from a deranged twelve year old.

He gives Sakura his more menacing threat and is mildly surprised when the girl actually has the nerve to challenge him with an even more intense stare now meant for him. Kakashi answered by lifting the headband that covered his Sharigan. The red eye slowly spun taking into memory the look of this girl for future reference. The evil intent that the girl was now showing him.

The street across from him became temporarily empty of any other people. This is an opportunity for Kakashi. He allows the eye to work further by showing the girl the way he will kill her as, Kakashi spins a genjutsu just for the pinkette. Her friends aren't looking at him anymore but at the pinkette. The reaction he earns from her is a slight recoil but not the full blown fear that he would normally get from an opponent. This is as he fears. Sakura is in deeper with this illness than even she understands. Kakashi plays the scenario through one more time through the genjutsu. This time he gets exactly what he should have gotten the first time. He stands there staring her down for few more seconds; but he has made his point now.

Sakura somehow manages to come back to her senses and knows he means business, as she diverts her eyes sharply away from his. It is only then that, Kakashi turns away from her. Satisfied that his warning was received, he moves off while pulling the headband back down over his eye. He quickly catches up with his team. They hadn't even noticed that he wasn't still directly behind them the whole time. He catches a look back one last time at the girl to see that the trance she had been in was broken. Her expression is completely blank now. Even her eyes show no emotion. It creeps Kakashi out a little but, he says nothing to his team of the incident. They move on down the street and are lost within the crowd and from Sakura and her friend's sight.

Sakura's trance like state was broken and it is, Isamu that reaches out a hand and touches the pinkette's forearm to get her attention. In that moment, Sakura realized just what has happened and another shudder goes down her spine involuntarily.

"What the hell was that all about?" Karoi inquires while watching with anger at the ninja that was leaving with his team.

"Yeah, that masked ninja was creepy. Why was he looking at you like that Sakura? Do the two of you know each other?" Fumiko asks with a little fear in her voice.

"No, no we don't. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to space out like that just now."

Sakura was trying internally to fight back against something that her friends couldn't see. Something that Sakura had become terrified of. Inner Sakura. Inside, Sakura is reeling from fear. She has just stared down a Jounin no less, with the true intend of killing him. It wasn't her that was doing the staring down either and that was what scared her even more. Because for a brief period of time, Sakura had lost control. Control that she had firmly come to believe that she had. Worse still, Sakura knew that she will replay this day over in her mind several times in the weeks and months to come.

They had just reached their destination when she swore she heard Sasuke's voice. The sound snapped her head around so fast in its direction. She was surprised to see him and even more so when she saw who he was with. What happened next happened so fast. A surge of pure joy at seeing her beloved and then having that followed by pure hatred when she saw the white haired girl. The girl that had been her nemesis for so long. In that moment of seeing the girl, Inner Sakura, made her presence felt and known once more. All the work Sakura has done to repress this monster undone in an Instant.

'Look! Didn't I tell you all along that this would happen? The monster hissed angrily. 'Didn't I? That bitch is walking next to OUR Sasuke! Sasuke belongs to us and as soon as, we were thrown out that bitch took her opportunity. All that bullshit about their just being like siblings was nothing but a lie, Sakura. WE MUST ACT NOW!'

Sakura almost started to run across the street and tear into Takara with everything she had. She still trained at home and in secret. She had always told herself that it was just so that she could protect herself from hoodlums and worse but it became clear why she had really been doing the training. When she saw their sensei stand forth in front of her, Sakura could feel the rage growing. She could hear Inner Sakura screaming a violent scream of death and hatred for their new found enemy. Inner Sakura returned the glare with an even more violent one wanting the jounin to know that she wanted to kill him. He returned it and then some.

Sakura had never seen such an intense glare given by anyone. He had only a single eye showing and yet if the other would have been exposed to her, Sakura knew that this gaze would have terrified her even more. It was full of rage and desire to kill. She could feel Inner Sakura wanting to go to the next step which would have been to launch them across the street at them, but then the Jounin beat them to it.

For a brief moment but what felt like much longer than this, Sakura saw the man killing her in a most horrific and violent way. He was ripping out her intestine after first thrusting through her gut with a hand glowing with electricity. A move she has never in her life seen. She then realized that what she was seeing was actually a genjutsu because her friends, which she knew where right next to her on both sides weren't responding to the attack. She couldn't see them but she kept feeling their hands touching her trying to shake her out of it. It was then that she broke the genjutsu with the help of Inner Sakura. This also allowed Sakura to regain control of herself because of the fear that replaced the rage.

Sakura knew and understood that she had been under the spell of a genjutsu but what happened before that, she didn't have a clue. She had never seen a person exude the type of aura that was coming from that masked man. What she had been seeing was what is known as 'killer intent'. Sakura didn't know what it was called but there was no mistaking what it meant and Sakura swiftly diverted her eyes away as a cold shudder ran down her spine.

Isamu had thought that her friend was becoming ill when she saw the shudder and reached out a hand to gain her attention as, Sakura wasn't responding to her friends calling her name. They now began to form a semi- circle around her to try and protect her. They thought they needed to protect her from the creepy ninja. They didn't understand that what Sakura needed protection from was from something much more sinister than a ninja at any level.

For so long now Sakura has been able to keep the monster within her at bay. She had her doctor and her friends by her side and most important of all, her parents. They have been instrumental in Sakura being able to win this fight for so long, but she was slowly realizing that this premature and foolish of her now. The war was far from over and that it may never be over. She felt like crying when the voice that she hated to hear more than anything began to whisper with amusement at the back of her mind.

'Sakura, it's been awhile hasn't it? I know you don't miss me, but I promised you that I would never leave you. We want the same things always and the bitch that we despise most has put herself right where you always knew she would try and do. Soon, Sakura, Soon and I will be able to help you get what you want and if not. Then we will kill them together. You and I.'

Sakura shuddered like she was cold.

"Sakura are you okay? Maybe we should take you home instead?" it was Isamu again. Her voice was sounding worried almost scared.

"No." Sakura said it louder and harder than she meant too. "No, I don't want to miss out on this lunch date with all of you."

'I need all of you right now.' She pleadingly thought.

"It was that boy again wasn't it?" Karoi demanded to know. I saw him with those other ninja. It was him again."

Karoi was still angry. Angry because she felt powerless. She couldn't stop the pain and sadness Sakura went through every time she saw or thought of that dark haired boy. She wanted to beat him up this Sasuke, but Karoi knew this would never happen not in a million years. So she slammed her foot at a slight angle at the ground. Her foot hit the ground with the heel of it still off the ground and dust went up. Sakura looked at her friend and seeing the anger and hurt on her friend's face for not being able to help her right now. It somehow gave Sakura strength. Strength she desperately needed right now. She placed a hand gently onto Karoi's left shoulder.

"Karoi, he didn't do anything. He was just walking down the street with his team. He, he didn't even see us. So it's okay. It is like I've told you before. He was never the problem. I'm the one with the problem remember? I'm the one that is sick, but I'm going to get better because I have you and Fumiko and Isamu. I'm going to get through this."

Sakura gave her a smile. The brightest smile she could give. Looking around at all three of them, she could see that this made them feel some relief. Fumiko then stepped and hugged her as she said.

"You're right Sakura, you will be alright because we will be here for you always."

A Call for a Meeting

Several days has passed and it is now the first day of June. As if to herald June's arrival, a messenger hawk is flying swift and determinedly towards Konoha. The bird is carrying a messenger back pack made specifically for the bird. Around the bird's neck he is wearing an amulet given to him from his handler back in the Village Hidden in the Clouds. Kumo was on the move. They had sent a human messenger some two weeks prior into the Land of Fire to meet up with Konoha. The man had come to the gates of an outpost along the northern border. When he was questioned by the sentries, the man told them of his errand. The sentries would not permit the messenger entry into the Land of Fire but, they said that they would pass along any message given. The messenger had been warned that he may not be trusted to go all the way in and if that was the case. He was to give the message and the package to the sentries and return home as soon as possible.

The sentries had let the messenger go and kept their promise. They deliver both the message and the contents of the package to the Hokage later that day. The Hokage first looked at the opened package and reaching for it, dumped the contents out onto his desk next to the message. An amulet with a thunder bolt was engraved into its crystal surface. The crystal itself was blue like the sky in color and the thunderbolt was silver. This amulet was sent along with the letter. The amulet meant that Minato will need to send a message back in response. The amulet will protect his messenger as it comes near Kumo's barrier shield. The amulet sends an identifying signal to the barrier's operators and thus allows the bird entry. The same thing can be said for how Kumo's messenger was able to gain entry into Konoha. Minato picked up the amulet and stared at it for a moment thinking.

'I was beginning to wonder when the Raikage would want to meet. We've had intermittent communications but neither side has been truly ready to comment to anything yet. I guess the time has finally come.'

He places the amulet down and then his eyes shift to the letter itself. The message was already spread out before him. It still showed signs of having spent the trip getting to Konoha being rolled up within the canister on the bird's back. The edges still curled up slightly as it lay on the desk. Minato picks up the letter and begins to read it.

Greetings, Lord Hokage of the Leaf

I hope that you and your family are doing well. I have met with my advisors about a possibility that now would be a good time to meet up and discuss an alliance between our two villages and nations. I trust that your village is pleased with the gift we sent you some time ago? I do hope so. Takara Yoshida comes from a very prominent clan like the Hyuuga clan. I would also like to point out that the one called Orochimaru has been quite busy lately and I wish to put a stop to him and his plans before he starts messing around with my people. I believe that you feel the same. I have heard that some of your team has had a run in with the monster and it didn't go very well. The possibility exists that run-ins will increase in the future. There has been a delegation sent by the Sound to the Land of Earth. You and I both know what this means.

I hope that the gift we sent to you has been beneficial to your village. She should be at an age now were you can begin to see her potential. I hope she has helped you in seeing how sincere we are about not only this alliance but, also for the incident a few years ago with the Hyuuga clan. I deeply regret that decision that I made then, but I have no regrets about this alliance.

On the following page contains a list of possible meeting sites for you to choose from. If you like any of them than we will meet at the one you have chosen? If none appeal to you, Lord Hokage, than feel free to list your own possible choices for consideration. We shall only have one squad from our elite guard go with us to the location site and of course no one is to know about this other than you, advisors, and those going with you. I will do likewise.

Please let me know within the following five days. So I know whether my gut instincts are right or not about the timing of this meeting.

Raikage of the Cloud

Minato placed the letter back down onto his desk. He brought his arms up onto the desk making his elbows bend and act as props so that his hands can fold under his chin with the fingers interlaced together. A pose taken of a man in deep thought.

'Orochimaru has been a problem for this village for some time, but it hasn't been just us alone. He has been busy messy in people's lives wherever he goes. I do need to address this problem not only for the sake of my own village, but also because this doesn't bode well for us in the long run. Most people know that Orochimaru is from the leaf. It doesn't matter that he no longer wears our headband. He is listed in the Bingo book. Furthermore the Raikage is right. We need to make a move towards this alliance now. If the Sound is able to convince the Rock Village to join them in an alliance it will cause a shift in power. It may only be a slight shift but if, others decide to join in on Orochimaru's bandwagon. It can only spell disaster for those who chose not align with him.'

Minato closes his eyes at this point. He rubs his temples trying futilely to stop a headache from coming on and the task is impossible due in part to the endless stream of thoughts that are concerning to him. After less than a minute of trying to ease the tension within his skull, Minato returns his hands back to their previous position under his chin.

'The other point that the Raikage made in this letter makes me feel a little uncomfortable. Takara Yoshida, is on my son's team. This was in part my own doing. I couldn't see her getting a fair chance with anyone else any more than my son and his best friend, Sasuke. All three were destined to be on the same team no matter how I looked at it and having Kakashi be there sensei was the best choice for all of them including, Kakashi. Still, I haven't talked with Iruka about her since the incident that got Sakura Haruno expelled.'

The leader of the Leaf leans back now in his chair and allows his arms the freedom to rest on the armrests of the chair. His eyes shift upwards toward the ceiling still in thought.

'I have never been fond of taking people as gifts. This has never sat well with me and I have made sure that Takara didn't end up in the hands of some of my more eager doctors and scientists that were practically salivating to get their hands on her for research. Research. Sometimes I think that word is misleading.' He sighs and closes his eyes as he continues. 'Minato, enough about this topic of science and ethics. You need to take a look at the second page of the letter and see what the list of options are. This meeting must happen and like the Raikage, I believe the time is now.'

The Hokage had made his choice of sites and confirmed it with his advisors. They had agreed with his selection and a messenger hawk and been prepared for flight and sent out with a reply to the offer. Fast forward to now June first of the calendar year. The messenger hawk from Kumo was now nearing his destination. It hadn't been an easy flight. Only twenty miles out from his village and the hawk met up with two mated pair of wild hawks determined to protect their nest from the intruder. The messenger was swift and strong but so were these two and with protective instincts fueling their need to kill or chase off the intruder strong. The messenger nearly didn't escape the pair.

The fight with the two hawks was fast, furious and ended with the messenger having an eye shredded by a talon, but he was alive and he was now here. The best part was that he would be able to get help for his wound and much needed rest. The messenger was now well into the Land of Fire's territory. It would take another hour of flight before he reached the interior of the village. He continued his advance with strong wing beats. Whenever he could catch the air currents he would do so. This gave the hawk a chance to just soar and rest his wings from constant flapping. After a while the messenger sensed that he was getting close as, the amulet from the leaf village that he was wearing began to glow. Sure enough at ten miles out the invisible barrier that surrounds Konoha lit up briefly and went invisible once more the amulet around the messenger's neck had done its job of glowing brightly with the same signature pattern as the barrier. The barrier allowed the messenger entrance into the grounds of Konoha.

He moved faster now that he was close. Soon very soon now and he would finally be able to succeed in his mission and get help.

Itachi was heading to the Hokage Tower. The intense expression and determined movement of the young man showed that he had something to tell. Itachi had taken on the request of his clan Elders to report to them of his father's doings. He was having some trouble with getting the Intel due to the fact that his father didn't include him in everything that he did. Itachi had to do a lot of hustling around and keeping low at the same time. He has just finished speaking with the Elders of the latest Intel and now he was headed to the Tower. To report directly to the Hokage and give him the same news. He moved swiftly along the rooftops. The faster he got this done the faster he could head back home and to his studies of leading his clan. Itachi's father didn't know what his eldest was up too and Itachi wanted and needed to keep up the appearance of being a good son. As far as, Fugaku knew right now. Itachi was home studying clan rituals. Therefore Itachi needed to be quick with this report but also accurate as he had done at the secret meeting with the Elders.

A sharp piercing cry made Itachi look up while running. There over his head was a messenger hawk. The bird looked as if it was beginning to tire. Itachi's Sharigan investigated the situation for him. Magnifying and bringing the bird even closer into view. Itachi saw why the bird was showing fatigue. He had been in a fight most likely with another hawk along the way. The messenger gave another burst of speed and flew on passed him and Itachi didn't need to follow it to know where the bird was headed. He picked up his own pace. Maybe if he was lucky he would be able to learn of what news the bird had brought and from where.

Minato had just finished working out one of the plans for the village's agreement with Kumo when there was a knock at his closed door.

"Come in." He replied as he put the pen down and placed the papers back inside the folder.

Itachi walked into the office and closed the door behind him softly. He turns back towards his leader as he hears him say.

"Greetings, Itachi. What is on your mind?"

Itachi walks up and then bows respectfully before he speaks.

"Greetings Hokage, sir. I have come to deliver the latest Intel on my father and his group."

"Ah, I see. Come and sit and tell me the report."

Itachi obeys his leader and ambles over to the chair in front of the desk. Once seated he wastes no time and begins.

"Father and his second hand man, Yashiro have managed to convince one of the social elite to back them in their coup. The man's name is Eito Chiba from the central district."

Minato's face which up to this point held a pleasant expression now held a frown. The Chiba family was one of the strongest families within the leaf's elite. Worse, Eito had expressed displeasure in the past over the government's handling of different issues. He was a well-liked man and held up highly within the community. Minato found himself sighing.

"Has anyone else joined the group?"

"No, however there is some talk in certain circles that there may be others willing to join."

"What is Fugaku using to sucker these people into joining him?"

"The usual. He promises that they will be given a seat on the council and that they will also have the opportunity to increase their profit for their businesses. Once he has gained control of the village, my father will share his connections with them that are outside Konoha."

"I see. How far along would you say before Fugaku makes his strike?"

"It will still be a while yet. The reason is because he has to be careful about who he approaches with an offer. He also has us watching over his shoulder."

"Does he suspect you?"

"No, sir not yet at least and I will work hard to make sure that he doesn't' either."

"Good. Is there anything else I need to know about his operations?"

"No. Father is willing to work this one slow but steady. He continues to have pep talks with his group and to make sure that they are all still loyal to him."

"No one is weakening?"

"No, sir the bonds they feel with him are strong. They believe that he is right and that this is the only course of action that they can take."

"So then the efforts that the Elders of the clan have taken in trying to teach everyone what is at stake isn't working?"

"I'm afraid not. Those that believe in what the Elders say are standing firmly with them. Those that believe that my father is right are remaining loyal to the cause. They aren't willing to budge."

Minato leans back in his chair. His mind running over what he has been told. He then thinks of Sasuke and Mikoto.

"How are your mother and brother doing? He hasn't hit Sasuke yet has he?"

This question makes Itachi frown. The word being yet made the emotion show on his face and Minato found his own frown deepening.

"Father has been trying to play everything down. He still doesn't like my brother, but he has been trying to keep up this act that he wants to turn over a new leaf sort of speak. He is trying to get my brother to believe that he is changing and for the better. He knows that the Elders will come down on him very hard if, they learn that father has been abusing Sasuke. Vows that he made to them over the marriage with my mother aren't for show and even my father knows this. If he hurts her or goes back to harming Sasuke, the Elders will disown him from our clan. Some of those following him now are there because they think the Elders are just worried that father will become too powerful. They also believe that the Elders have grown soft and are willing to sacrifice the clan for convenience. They say that the Elders are trying to put a leash on father. They don't understand that the Elders can and will do more and if it is learned that Sasuke was being abused by father after their warning him. They will disown him and banish him from the clan."

"I see. I would-."

Minato is abruptly cut off by a knock on his door. He looks directly at the door and then at Itachi as he says.

"Itachi, remain here. I believe that a messenger as arrived from Kumo."

Another knock on the door. This time a little harder than before.

"Come in." Minato commands.

The door is opened and in comes a Chunin with a scroll in her hand. She stops when she sees that the Hokage already has company. She is quick to begin her apology.

"I'm so sorry sir. I did not know that you would have company so soon."

Minato waves a hand dismissively.

"It's quite alright. What do you need?"

"Oh, here is the letter from Kumo. The Raikage has accepted the site for the meeting."

The Hokage reaches out a hand to grab the scroll. The Chunin is quick to hand it over to him and then back away a step. Minato opens the scroll and sees a brief message has been written. He reads it quickly.

Greeting, Lord Hokage of the Leaf,

I have received your request and after much arguing with my advisors. I have finally got them to understand that the site is a good one and I will be fine leaving with just my guard. I will see you in Tea Country at the site of Cider Springs on June Twelfth at nine O'clock in the morning.

I am sure that this will be only the first meeting. Then again who knows? We may be able to get everything settle in one go. I would like that very much. I look forward to seeing you than. Take care.

Raikage of the Cloud

Minato rolls the scroll back and while he does so, he addresses the Chunin.

"Good job, Sorano and tell the deciphering team likewise. Also I understand that the hawk has been injured in getting here. Make sure that he is taken care of and send one of our own hawks back with the reply of it is confirmed. Tell him of his own messenger hawk as well. We will be letting the bird return home again as soon as he rested and well."

"Yes, sir."

The Chunin bows again and then turns and leaves swiftly. Minato looks again to the scroll as the door is closed before him. Itachi quietly waits for his leader to speak. He doesn't have long. After deliberating over something internally, Minato looks up at Itachi.

"Itachi….there is a good bet that your father will learn that a message has arrived. Can you dissuade Fugaku and his group that the message sent wasn't about the meeting? Fugaku knows that Konoha and Kumo are going to eventually meet over an alliance. I want to stall him for as long as possible, but being that he is the head of the military police there is no doubt in my mind that he will eventually learn of it. Hopefully the time he does will be the same time everyone learns of it too."

"I get it. You want the alliance to have already been made by the time father knows the truth of the matter."

"Yes, once it is done there will be no chance for him to try and stop the negotiations. Since they will have already happened. Well that's my plan anyway, but you know how hard it is to keep things hidden around here."

"I do, but don't worry sir. I have father believing that I will support him because of my brother. It has never been a secret between us just how much I care for Sasuke. As much as father hates him. He has been carefully trying to use that bond we have as brothers to keep me by his side. He really believes that I will support him in this farce of his. Because he is always telling me that he would never leave Sasuke without the clan. This said, father will not stop just because the alliance has already been made. There is no doubt that he will try to break it."

Minato nods his head in agreement. He knew the man they were talking about too. Fugaku won't be deterred that easily.

"I understand, Itachi. Once we have this alliance. The Raikage will come and help us even if we are in trouble from our own people. He will not allow the coup to take firm hold. IF that should happen then the alliance we made will be destroyed and Kumo will be on her own once more."

"Don't worry, sir. We will win against this and every other adversity that we are hit with. This is a village of survivors."

Minato smiles a bright smile.

"That we are, Itachi. You had better get going now. You don't need Fugaku's watch dogs telling him that you came here to see me unbidden."

"Right. I'll talk with you later."

Minato nods in agreement and Itachi gets up and bows. Then he turns and leaves closing the door softly behind him. Minato suddenly shifts gears in his mind.

'I need to know more about Fugaku's followers. Itachi has provided me a list of names of all the conspirators within the Uchiha, but now with Eito Chiba, climbing on board Fugaku's ship. I need to expand my knowledge of the other players in this game of insurrection. I also need to learn how Takara is doing. Kakashi has told me of her progress as a Konoichi, but I need to know how she is doing as far as fitting in amongst the civilians here. I can't show up at the meeting and be asked about Takara and her welfare. I will have to say that I don't know? Not an option here. I think it's time I called in Iruka.'

With that thought in mind, Minato hits the button on the machine that alerts his secretary of his call. The answering call is immediate.

"Yes, sir?"

"Eri, please send for Iruka. I need to speak with him right away."

"Yes, sir."

Minato leans back in his chair once more. He thinks of Orochimaru and the villages in the Land of Rice Patties that he has already infected. Then of the Sound heading for Earth Country and the Rock village. Finally of his family and of Fugaku's and sighs rubbing his hands over his face. Anger is slowly building deep within him due to his frustration. So much is happening and instead of Fugaku remaining his friend and ally as in the now seemingly distance past. Fugaku has managed to put himself in the center of it all.

'All these things are happening in the world and you have to be the ass you are, Fugaku and cause us even more with all your bullshit. I am beginning to see the two of us moving ever closer to a day of reckoning and I would be lying if, I said that I wasn't waiting in anticipation for it.'

---

Olds is Obession Love Disorder. You can read about it in healthline. health/obsession_love_disorder#diagnosis. that is the address. I'm sorry that I can't just link it for you. If the site fails to load just Google it. I'm sure you will be as shocked as I was at how closely Sakura fits the diagnosis.