Chapter 21: Hide and Seek

And here's chapter 21. Sorry about how little I've gotten to update, but life has been busy. This chapter is a bit fluffy for my taste, but oh well. :) Next chapter will have Arashi's first mission as a Chuunin leading a group on a C ranked mission. Learning experiences aren't always fun.

Thanks to everyone who reads, follows, favorites, and reviews! You're all lovely. :)

Oh yes, and I mentioned that I made a tumblr on a whim. I will be adding drabbles and oneshots to it, so if anyone's interested in drabbles that won't make it into the main fanfiction, head over there and check it out.

Chapter Summary: Adolescence brings many changes and Arashi could live the rest of her life without ramen and be happy for it.

Song: Bats for Lashes - Siren Song

Chapter 21: Hide and Seek

Arashi signed to Itachi ~Coming our way.~

~How far?~ He signed back.

~Ten meters. Closing in.~

The shinobi stood with their backs against two trees as they evaded their target. The air was perfumed with pollen from the forest and the only sounds that could be heard was the soft shuffling of the leaves in the wind and footsteps as someone drew near. No birds sang and nothing stirred. It was almost eerie, as if they could sense the tension thickening in the air.

~Fall back?~ She asked.

~Wait.~ He replied.

Arashi chewed on her lips. The signature was drawing closer, albeit slowly. It was clear that he was not sure where the two Konoha shinobi were. If they fell back now, then it would buy them more time.

He'd probably get lost, too. The kunoichi mentally grumbled.

"Brother? Arashi?" Sasuke called out - no more than ten feet from her position. "You'd better not be cheating with jutsu!"

Arashi was involved in a heated match of Hide and Seek.

Oh, sweetie.. You're telling ninjas not to cheat.

Itachi and Arashi exchanged a look.

The kunoichi picked up a rock and threw it away from their location. It protested with a dull thud when it hit a tree.

The boy's eyes widened and he pivoted around, "There!"

Sasuke raced toward the sound.

Arashi watched the boy's back until he disappeared behind several more trees. Once she was sure their position was secure, she looked over to Itachi. His eyebrow was arched just a fraction.

She shrugged, innocently.

The corner of his mouth quirked upward in amusement.

Any moment now, he should figure it out.

Sasuke's signature stopped and started on its way back to their location.

He knows we're in this area. He's a smart kid.

~Coming back. Knows we're here, but not exactly where.~ She signed to Itachi.

The Uchiha nodded and signed back, Follow my lead.

He created a clone and she followed suit. His jumped into the trees and her clone followed after it.

~What is your plan?~ She tilted her head to one side.

He motioned for her to wait. She nodded.

Their silent conversation was the most they had spoken since before her match with Satoshi.

Originally, when she went to the Uchiha compound, she planned on stealing Itachi if he was free that evening so that they could go to a cafe to catch up. It had been about a week since the Chuunin Selection Exam ended and all of the foreigners were gone. She hoped to spend some time with him since ANBU was no longer as busy.

Sasuke had his own plans for what his brother was going to do that evening and thus she found herself pulled into the affair.

Not sure how much fun he's having, though.

She peeked around the tree and watched him look around. For an Academy student he was doing well masking his presence. He controlled his breathing, made sure he stepped lightly, and she could almost feel how hard he was straining to hear something to give away their location. Only the occasional frustrated mumble slipped through his lips and then he would return to being as quiet as possible.

Naruto would probably sound like an elephant stampeding through here right now..

Sasuke's signature flared with annoyance. He knew they were around, but no matter how many trees he looked behind he never found them.

One of their clones cleared its throat and caught the boy's attention. This time he did not sprint toward the sound. He looked around once more and then slid behind a tree to conceal himself.

Oh?

Sasuke waited another moment and then hid behind another tree, closer to their clones.

Taking his time and trying to sneak up on us? Good idea.

Several minutes passed before Sasuke managed to plant himself a mere few feet from the clones. Arashi watched, intently.

Okay, what now, Itachi? She wondered.

Her friend's clone exposed himself - just for a second - and Sasuke pounced. He latched onto his older brother like his life depended on it.

"Found you!"

Poof!

Sasuke was left coughing in a cloud of smoke.

A snicker tore itself from her, but before it could turn into a full blown laugh Itachi covered her mouth and pulled them behind a different tree.

Sasuke looked toward their real location. Her moment of weakness gave them away. The boy was about to investigate, but Arashi's clone giggled and drew him in the wrong direction.

That was close.

Itachi held her against him and watched as his brother faded from sight in pursuit of their decoy. In all of the years Arashi knew him, she had never been uncomfortable with his presence until now. Everyone that knew her knew she was a 'hug first, ask their name later' type of kid and that lack of concern for personal space carried over into her preteens then to now. Itachi never even blinked when she would throw her arms around him to give him a quick squeeze. They shared food together, she told him every silly thing that came to her mind while he listened patiently, and he had seen her at her worst. They watched each other grow up to this point with nothing less than unquestionable mutual friendship.

Without a doubt in her mind she knew that he knew her better than anyone else - and for some reason he still put up with her.

It was that understanding that made her not-so-platonic feelings toward him painful. He had the makings to be one of Konoha's uttermost best. She felt overwhelmed with the newness of just being a Chuunin. He was going to one day be the head of a clan of elite ninja. She would consider herself lucky if she managed to earn Fugaku's proposed position on the Police Force. There was nothing he touched that he was not good at, whereas she was good only in support niches. He was destined for greatness and she was almost certain she would be forgotten.

In the face of all of that, she could not understand why she was worried about whether or not he thought she looked pretty in purple or if he liked the scent of the body wash she used. Thoughts like those were pointless, but they continued to bombard her.

A part of her resented it.

She wanted to be comfortable and assured of her position in his life. She wanted to feel at home in her skin once again. She wanted to feel at ease in his presence instead of being plagued by self doubt.

No matter how much she tried to wish for it to go back to how it was before, she knew it would never be the same again.

The sensation of his signature pressed against her back and his arm wrapped around her waist made chills run up her spine. She wished she could become a part of that warmth, even if she would only amount to a spark and nothing more.

She tried to push those thoughts from her mind.

Awkwardly, she pulled away from Itachi, "Sasuke's signature is pretty far off now."

Itachi nodded.

Arashi sat down and leaned against the tree behind them. Itachi joined her. Everything was quiet once again.

It should have been a companionable silence, but she felt tense. She hoped he could not tell that she was a little off around him. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and then looked away.

He's been even more distant, himself.

"How do you perceive chakra?" Itachi asked in a soft whisper.

"How do I perceive chakra? You mean, how do I sense people?"

"Yes."

"Well, everyone feels like a um, hmm," she thought for a moment, "It's like sensations and currents. Every signature is different and they all flow in their own way. If I concentrate and really focus on specific ones, then I can tell a lot more about them - I mean, depending on distance, too. When I was little, everyone felt basically the same - like lights or flames - unless I was close to them or knew them really well. Since Ibiki Sensei started making me work at tracking people with it, the things I can tell started becoming more, uhm," she tried to think of an appropriate word, "Refined? Like, I can tell if someone has a natural affinity and which Land they're from. Quantity of chakra, too, but all of this stuff can be overwhelming. Sometimes it's like an overload."

"Hmm."

"During the Chuunin Exams, when I walked into the room with all those shinobi from other Lands? Yeah, that was overwhelming, and," she trailed off and picked at the end of her scarf, "A lot to take in."

She had never explained what it was like to him. He never asked.

Is he trying to break the tension or am I just talking too much like usual?

Arashi was not sure how to read the situation. It was around the time that he discovered her scar that things changed. She apologized about keeping it a secret, but the words felt flimsy to her.

"Thank you, by the way, for noticing and thank you for understanding." She swallowed over the lump in her throat before she continued, "I didn't mean to push you away. I honestly don't know what I would do without your friendship," she wanted everything to be right between them, "I talk too much, don't I?"

"I don't mind listening to you," Itachi pinched her nose, "And there's no need to apologize. I feel it's my responsibility to look out for your best interests, but we all keep our own secrets and fight our own battles at some point."

She blinked and regarded him. He was growing up and gradually leaving boyhood behind. She could still see the gentle creature he was when they first met when she looked at him, but there was much more to him than that. Perhaps he had never quite been just a boy.

At a loss for words, she changed the subject, "What's up with you and my nose, anyway?"

His lips quirked again and he looked away.

"What? Are you seriously not going to tell me?" She squinted at him, I'm supposed to be the coy one.

Several moments passed and he still did not respond.

"Well," Arashi huffed, "You could tell me if you just think my face looks weird or if my eyes cross to look at your hand went you flick my nose or grab it."

His signature flared.

"Funny, huh? Your signature always gives you away when you find something about me amusing." She looked away and muttered, "Probably the only reason you're still friends with me is because you like to laugh at my existence."

He snorted and shook his head.

"I'm a mess of a person. I get it."

She was not sure why she was trying to guilt trip him. It never worked. When he decided he was not going to address something, he simply did not talk about it. The attempt was still fun, though.

Sasuke's signature started on its way toward them.

"You're both cheaters!" the boy yelled.

I don't know if I should feel guilty that no one told him I'm a sensor type or laugh at his expense.

She signed to Itachi, ~Split up?~

He nodded.

She turned to jump away, but he caught her arm and tapped her nose once more.

Arashi's eyebrows shot up, but before she could question him any farther he disappeared with a shunshin no jutsu.

Is he.. what? I'm so confused right now.

"I'm not having fun anymore!" Sasuke whined.

Arashi touched her nose and tried to gather her thoughts.

Well, um, anyway. She pushed the confusion away, That boy's about to have a fit.

She felt sorry for him and she needed a distraction from the confusing thoughts pressing on her mind, "Sasuke-kun!"

The boy's signature froze, "What?"

"I'll help you find your big brother. That sound alright?"

"This isn't some sort of trick, is it?" Sasuke called back. "Where are you, anyway?"

Arashi stepped out from behind the tree and closed the distance between them, "Itachi's really not fair to play games with, so I think we both need to look for him."

"You can look with me if you want," He looked up at her with his big, dark eyes and then away from her in embarrassment, "But I don't need your help."

"I'm sure you don't," she crossed her arms. "But I bet we'll make a good team."

He liked that response, "Okay. We'll act like this is a mission. Do you think we should split up?"

She hummed as she considered it, "Well, I'm just a medic ninja, so I think maybe we should stick together. You might have to look out for me if anything goes wrong. Medics are always at the most risk during a mission, you know."

His eyebrows knit together and then he nodded in understanding, "Okay. Follow me and don't get in the way."

Her cheek twitched, Don't get in the way? Seriously, kid? No reason Naruto takes swings at you.

She brushed it off and followed behind him. If the boy was not as cute as he was, then she might have taken offense at his already over-developing ego. It was hard for her to be annoyed at something with giant eyes, spiky hair, and an attitude bigger than its body. Otherwise, she might have already punted Naruto down a street on some of his more trying days.

Arashi had a hunch the two boys were more alike than they would ever want to admit.

The kunoichi knew where Itachi was. He did not go far when they split up. It would be an easy task for her to point toward his location and send Sasuke scurrying after him, but she wanted the boy to believe that he was the one that found his brother. Not that he needed his pride stroked anymore.

I'm betting he's the popular kid in class.

Another signature came into her range and her lips thinned into a line.

Shisui?

She had not seen Shisui in a while - not surprising since both he and Itachi were busy with their ANBU duties during the Chuunin Exams. He found Itachi's signature and stood near him.

Is Itachi being summoned for a mission or something? Or are they just talking? He might need to cut this game short. She frowned, "Sasuke-kun, did you hear that over there?" She pointed toward the two signatures.

"Yeah," the boy lied. "They have to be over there."

"Lead the way."

Sasuke quietly made his way over and paused to glance over at Arashi. Itachi and Shisui were on the other side of the tree, but she shrugged to feign ignorance. The young boy steadied his breathing and ran around it.

"Found you!"

Arashi joined the three boys.

There was something about Shisui that was grimmer than usual. He was always a little more carefree and playful than Itachi, but at that second he looked tired or perhaps worried.

She assumed it was related to a mission.

His expression shifted to a friendlier one when he saw her, "Oh? Arashi-chan? Been playing with Sasuke-kun?"

She nodded.

"Well, I'm sorry to interrupt the game, but I need to borrow Itachi for a little bit."

"Yeah, I thought it might be something like that," Arashi replied.

Sasuke pouted. Intensely.

Itachi's eyebrows knitted together in sympathy, "Sorry, Sasuke. Another time?"

"I can play with you a little longer," Arashi offered.

The boy ignored her and continued to pout at his brother.

Of course. That kid's all about his older brother. The only reason he agreed to play with me was because it was a way to play with Itachi. She rolled her eyes. Not that I'm jealous that I practically don't exist to the boy or anything.

Itachi glanced at her, "Later?"

"Of course," she smiled.

"But you said you'd play with me all evening, brother," Sasuke whined.

Itachi poked his forehead and the two older Uchiha shunshin no jutsu'd away.

Well, that was abrupt. She looked down at the boy, "Do you want me to walk you home or anything?"

He shook his head, "No. I'll just go train or something."

"Alright. Be safe, Sasuke-kun."

Arashi spun on her heel and started on her way back.

She had a lot to work on. If she stayed the way she was, then she would be left behind by her friend. Her first goal was to ultimately help people. Being able to mend wounds and save lives was her driving motivation and nothing would ever change that, but she could not ignore her other desires. She wanted to someday walk the same path as Itachi in order to watch his back and to be of some use.

If she could manage to become a Jounin and if Fugaku kept his word, then she could do just that - if Itachi chose to leave ANBU and join the Police Force in the future. She did not see a reason why he would not. Most people in ANBU either died or retired after a certain amount of years with the organization. She hoped Itachi was the retirement type.

She did not want to imagine her life without him in it.

Becoming a Chuunin was hard enough, but a Jounin?

She frowned.

That will take me years, I'm sure of it. I'm not one of those people that can shoot through the ranks.

Whether she managed to join the Police Force or not, she knew she could still pursue her dreams of being an exceptional medical ninja. Her father would see to it that no matter what she would have a place at the hospital to fill if she wanted it. That was her original plan, after all.

She touched the scarf around her neck, thoughtfully.

Being this conflicted was a new experience for her. Life was much more complicated than she liked.

Well, I'd better get to work at getting this Chuunin thing down so I can start working toward Jounin soon. Otherwise, I'll never earn that spot on the Force.

If Naruto was asked to explain how Arashi always knew where he was, then the boy would have answered with one of his theories. Since he first met the kunoichi, he started to notice how weird it was that he could never hide from her. She always found him - faster than any other person was able to find him.

He was convinced that her ability was beyond that of jutsu.

She had to be a sage or a wizard of some sort.

Therefore, it did not surprise him when she appeared behind him at random times. She had a knack for catching him in the middle of his pranks - which forced him to hone his skills even more. He had to strike fast and discretely when she was around.

This time, however, she was not the one who found him.

Arashi was engulfed in a book. Not a text book or a piece of literature that could be considered educational. The kunoichi was reading a novel that claimed to be romance but so far had shown itself to be what it really was - smut.

She was so invested in a particular scene that she subconsciously brushed off Naruto's signature. She was sitting on a roof, taking a break from researching fuinjutsu and medical ninjutsu. He was supposed to be in class.

"Neh, Sis, when are you taking me out for ramen like you promised, you know?"

Arashi squealed and hid the book behind her back.

The boy squinted at her, "What are you reading?"

Oh no! Change the subject!

"Nothing!" she replied. "Anyway, ramen?"

"Yeah. You told me you'd take me out for ramen, but you've been acting weird ever since you started ignoring me, you know."

She grimaced, "I didn't start ignoring you. I got promoted to being a Chuunin and it was very hard to earn that. Besides, you were supposed to be studying really hard, too."

"I have been! Y'know! Nonstop! Like all the time!" The boy proclaimed.

She slipped the book into her medical pouch, "What about all of the classes you've been skipping?"

He crossed his arms and threw his nose up, "Yeah, whatever! I don't like any of those people!"

"Not even Iruka-san?"

"No way! Y'know, all he does is yell at me!"

She sighed, "I dunno. He seems like a pretty nice guy, y'know? He probably just gets upset because he cares about how you do in class. You should give him a break."

The boy scrunched his face up, "Whatever."

Her lips thinned into a line at him, "Well, I did say I would take you out for ramen."

Naruto's face lit up and he forgot about his distaste of his classmates and instructor.

In truth, Arashi hated ramen. Despised. She acquired a taste that loathed ramen. The smell of Ichiraku's ramen made her stomach turn - all because that boy wanted to eat there all the time.

"But first, there's something I wanted to talk to you about."

Too excited to care, he leaned forward with bright eyes, "Yeah? Like what? It better be quick because I'm starving, y'know!"

"You know that old lady named Chiharo that you were messing with a few days ago?"

"That old hag and her stupid cats?"

"Yeah, I just so happen to know that old hag and her stupid cats," Arashi tried to sound stern. "If you want me to treat you to ramen, then you'll come with me to her home and apologize for upsetting her."

The boy's expression soured like he just caught a whiff of pure sewage.

Naruto was not happy at all.

Arashi walked by his side through the streets on their way to Chiharo's home. The boy refused to look at her. His face was still soured and he drug his feet with every step. It was like a tantrum without kicking and screaming.

He's my little brat, I guess.

She tried to not get frustrated at him. No matter how much she tried to be around for him, she had things that always took most of her time. She had her own family, she had studies, her project, her friends, missions, and her career to tend to. Despite her intentions to be there for the boy, she knew he was alone most of the time.

He had no friends in class, he had obvious issues with authority figures because of the lack of one in his personal life, and when he went home he was alone. She could not fix that.

Still, when Naruto looked up to the Hokage Monument and his eyes fell on the face of the Fourth Hokage, she could see the aspiration in the pools of blue.

His hero is his father and he doesn't even realize it.

She hated that it was kept a secret from him.

Arashi ruffled his blond hair and grabbed his hand in her own. He squinted up at her like he was embarrassed she was treating him like a kid, but after a moment he walked even closer to her and the grip of his small fingers around hers was firm.

"I'm not trying to be mean to you by making you apologize," she watched him from the corner of her eye.

"Then why?" he mumbled.

"Because if you're going to be my Hokage some day, I want you to be a good person." She explained. "You have to start living to a higher standard now if you want to be someone that can lead this village."

He looked down at his feet and nodded.

"I'd expect Kazika to apologize, too, because he's my brother. You're also like my brother, y'know."

He squeezed her hand and nodded again, "But, Sis, the hag's mean."

"I know she is," Arashi laughed, "But you're going to be better than that, aren't you? You can't just respond to someone's bad attitude with an equally bad attitude. That makes you as bad as that person."

"Neh, but, Sis, y'know that doesn't make sense to me."

"It will with time. Trust me."

"I just don't want people treating me like I'm a monster or something, y'know."

She sighed, "People are really stupid, but it won't always be so bad. Just hold in there and I know you'll eventually find people that see you for who you are. Like I do!"

Her encouragement coaxed a grin out of the boy, "Okay, Sis! Let's go talk to that hag so I can eat!"

ughh.. ramen. I don't exist in Sasuke's world, Kazika is busy practically worshipping a foreign shinobi and swinging around a very dangerous tanto, and Naruto uses me for free ramen. I feel so special.

As soon as the two of them set foot on Chiharo's property, she appeared in front of her home with a broom in hand. Her eyes were narrowed as she sized the two of them up. She waited for them to explain themselves.

Naruto looked up at Arashi with pleading eyes.

"Well, here goes, Naruto-kun," she nudged him forward.

"I'm sorry, Ha-"

Arashi cleared her throat loudly.

"I'm sorry, Chiharo-san," Naruto ground out. "I won't mess with your cats or your fish anymore."

The old woman stared him down coldly, "You'd better not, boy, or I'll feed you to them next time."

Naruto squeaked, "Eh?!"

Arashi grabbed his shoulder and steered him away, "Alright, we'll keep that in mind!"

"You've got your work cut out for you if you're trying to keep him in line, girl!" Chiharo called after her.

She had been intimidated by that old woman since her first mission. Ibiki was not far off when he said that her mind was slipping in her advanced age. She hoped that seeing the crazy in the woman's eyes would spook Naruto into understanding he should not mess with people. He was small, young, people disliked him and there was no way he would be able to tell if he was making the wrong person mad.

If someone seriously hurt him, she knew she would end up in prison.

Once they were at the end of the street and safely away from Chiharo's home, Arashi released the breath she was holding.

"Neh, Sis! So, uh, y'know, since I apologized, can I have two bowls of ramen?"

"Um, yeah, but you might end up making yourself fat on all those noodles."

He looked at her like he thought it was a brilliant idea.

"But, since you did the right thing, I guess I'll let you have an extra bowl. Just don't expect me to carry you around after you're done stuffing yourself."

"Does that mean you'll carry me there?"

"Do I look like a piggyback service to you?"

"Yeah! Ichiraku's!" Naruto cheered from Arashi's back.

I can't believe I always give in. It's those eyes of his or something.

"Okay, we're here. Slid on off and order your food."

The blond jumped off her back and scrambled onto one of the stools. Arashi slid onto one beside him and looked at the menu. If she went the rest of her life and never ate ramen again, then she would be happy.

If I didn't bribe him, I'm sure he would never eat vegetables. Well, besides the little bit in the ramen he's obsessed with.

"You're the best sister ever!" Naruto yelled in excitement.

"Naruto-kun, use your inside voice," She poked his ribs.

He squealed and squirmed away from her.

Now to watch him eat his own weight in noodles.

Her thoughts drifted away. The next thing on her agenda was to step up to leading a group on a mission. Nothing serious, but she wanted to try her hand at a C ranked mission. It would be very different without her sensei, Akio, or Daisuke, but she was determined to advance. Without experience, she would never grow.

And that's it for chapter 21. Ahhh, fluff chapters. Oh well, had to catch up with Itachi and Naruto. It wouldn't be appropriate if Naruto stopped being a part of Arashi's life. Just as Naruto's life was about the bonds he struggled to form in canon, Arashi will end up following roughly the same kind of path. It's bonds with other people that bring the most happiness to one's life. Also, Naruto is cute and kinda fun to write.

Anyhoo, thank you to everyone who read this and I hope it was enjoyable. If you have any suggestions, criticisms, questions, or opinions - feel free to share them in a review. I love feedback and it serves as an excellent motivator. :D

534667lc: :) Thanks for the review! Arashi was 13 (not far off from 14) when she became a Chuunin. She had roughly two years of training under Ibiki, so she wasn't quite a rookie when she was promoted. Fugaku's offer is quite generous. Too bad we all know what happens to the Uchiha clan. lol Not that Arashi has any clue what's coming. Anyhoo, thanks once again for the review and I hope you enjoy this chapter!