So... uh... Hi. *Bows in apology* I'm sorry for the long update. School and all...

I had this all planned out but I didn't have time and my USB was gone and we had no internet for a week... Yeah.

Is my story not original? I don't know. Just asking.

Chapter 21: Interference

Konran looked up at Asuma who was still grinning ear to ear. "Really?" the blonde man asked. "So... let's hear it.' He encouraged. He stopped suddenly and stood up from his position and stayed beside the door.

"Konran-san, what was that for?" the Akimichi asked. Just at the time the door opened and the last member of Team Seven entered with a flower in her hand. She just blinked when she saw everybody in the room.

"Oh….. Konnichiwa minna-san." She said timidly. She spotted Ino grinning beside her crush, which just made her fume inside.

'Don't get angry. She's just like you, watching out for Sasuke-kun.'Inner Sakura berated.

"Hey, Sakura! You know, my team just found a cure for Sasuke's TVI." Ino bragged. Sakura sweatdropped.

"It's TBI, Ino-buta." She explained.

"That's what I said!" the purple-wearing girl defended.

Shikamaru was the one to speak first. "Konran-san, I got this from what Naruto had told Ino earlier, so this is just a speculation. As much as I dislike Sasuke for being a jerk to almost all of us and especially to Naruto, I still hope he will wake up." The Nara said truthfully, making Konran nod understandingly.

"Yeah, he's a jerk, but he's my teammate and friend." Naruto nodded.

"I wish you wouldn't hate him though." Ino pouted. "He's just so cool you hate him for it." Asuma just sweatdropped. "If I can do something, I'll be glad to do it!"

"Actually Ino, you are going to be the plan." Choji intercepted, making the Yamanaka look at him in question.

Shikamaru yawned. "Yeah, what Choji said is true. You are a Yamanaka just like your dad, and you already told us you just learned that jutsu that can invade the other person's mind, right? It could let the Yamanaka use the recipient's body for a while."

"Shintenshin no jutsu." Ino informed.

"Yeah, Shintenshin. Sasuke is in a coma-like state, from what Kakashi-sensei had told us earlier, were the mind of the patient is at rest, and the body is 'sleeping'. So I thought, what if Ino search him in his mind and wake him up? Or jolt his mind to a start, control his body till he wakes up?"

Kakashi nodded to his assent as well. "There is a study the person under the jutsu may sometimes manifest themselves, if their mental stability is good. Knowing Sasuke, he would likely have that."

The blonde sensei nodded, clasping his hands in on his thighs and leaning forwards on his chair, frowning. 'It is possible. Knowing Sasuke had seen me when he was in a Sharingan, that means he could manifest himself also in another's mind, then what would be the change? Nothing. Let's try it.'

Unknowingly, he had attracted both Ino and Sakura's gazes when they saw the blonde think. Along with narrowing his eyes, both kunoichis declared themselves as 'a fangirl of this handsome sensei'. Naruto just stuck his tongue out, annoyed that even Sakura-chan looked at Konran-sensei like he was Sasuke-teme. Kakashi just looked on amused, and a look of uncertainty flitted across his face. Asuma just snorted, annoyed as well like Naruto, though the girl was another jounin. Shikamaru and Chouji rolled their eyes, and probably Sasuke would have too if he wasn't in his state.

Ino nodded, forming her hands to the special handseal of the Yamanaka clan. "Shintenshin no jutsu!"

Ino immediately slumped over, caught by Choji.

"Let's just hope it works." Asuma said in a quiet tone.

Inside Sasuke's Mind

Ino blinked, looking left and right. "Wow." The girl said to herself. "I'm in my crush's mind. Oh well, I've got to find Sasuke-kun's 'manifestation'."

Suddenly feeling like she was being pushed out of the jutsu, her hopes went up to see her crush.

Looking around, she didn't see any sign of Sasuke at all. Not at all, though his memories were there. Curiosity getting over her, she looked at some of it, but remembered she could only read memories if she used the other Yamanaka mind-reading technique her father Inoichi had taught her.

'Oh, man! I haven't mastered the jutsu yet because I was too busy looking good to learn it.' Ino frowned, crossing her arms. "DANG IT! If I wasn't just that hung up on my clothes looking dirty I would have known the jutsu now, and I would have helped Sasuke-kun." She berated herself silently. "I should have listened to Tou-chan." She mumbled.

'I was too hung up on resting and learning a jutsu every month I didn't realize I needed it eventually. BAD INO!'

Getting control of Sasuke's body, she entered the other phase. "Okay. I can do this."

Outside

Everybody all saw that Sasuke suddenly sit up and yawn then open his eyes. Sakura and the others were going to say, 'Are you okay, Sasuke?' when Naruto suddenly spoke up.

"So.. What? Did you see the teme, Ino?" he asked, getting strange looks from everyone sans Konran and Shikamaru.

"Slap yourself and try to wake Sasuke, Ino." Shikamaru ordered.

"How'd you know?" 'Sasuke' asked, confirming his call. She followed what the Nara ordered and slapped 'himself' and even pinched his skin.

"Aside from your body's still here?" Shikamaru asked.

"-and you brushed your hair when you woke up?" Naruto added.

Both looked at each other. "You covered your mouth with your hand when you yawned."

"Wow. Observant." Kakashi complemented. He looked at the 'Uchiha'. "So, did you see Sasuke?"

Ino/Sasuke shook her/his head. "No. I couldn't see him at all. I've searched everywhere, but I couldn't find anyone at all. His memories were there, but unfortunately I don't know how to do the jutsu that makes you read other's memories."

"Try puching yourself." Choji encouraged, eating once again.

Sasuke looked affronted (which didn't look in place at the Uchiha at all). "No way would I punch my crush!" he yelled, crossing his arms into a no-no position.

Naruto gained a funny glint in his eyes. "Really? I wonder who's your crush." He slyly said, grinning.

Sakura grabbed the opportunity. "Yeah, who?"

"Sasuke-kun, duh!" 'Sasuke said in a matter-of-fact tone.

The room was silent until Choji spoke again. "Wow- *snort*- man, Sasuke, your crush is yourself? And- and- that face doesn't look right at all!" the normally quiet and reserved Akimichi guffawed.

Everybody else laughed, while Sasuke pouted. Everybody stopped at once.

"That's… not normal." Kakashi finally said, looking at his student that was actually possessed by a fangirl who was pouting. "I could see my former teammate do that, but Sasuke-no." he muttered to himself, actually itching to bring his book out. He remembered his restrictions and winced.

"Well," Konran suddenly said, after being silent throughout the conversation. "That's okay, Ino. Your chakra will run low already and you don't want to lose anymore. You can release the jutsu." The Yamanaka nodded and left her crush, Sasuke's limp body going back to his original position and reminding them how grave Sasuke's condition was.

Ino blinked and sat down, and brushed her hair. "I can't do it. Sorry." Sakura just patted her back comfortingly.

"It's okay, Ino."

Shikamaru sighed. "I'm- I'm sorry the plan didn't go well, Konran-san, Kakashi-sensei. It just turned out to be a waste of chakra." He was annoyed at himself. His plan didn't work at all.

"Hey, it's okay Shikamaru!" Naruto said in an upbeat tone. "Nobody would have thought that way to wake someone up from a coma. Besides, were genin," he pointed to himself, "and they," he then pointed at the three men, "-are jounin. If they can't find a cure, you're pretty awesome already for thinking of a way!"

Shikamaru just smiled, while the three jounin looked like they were struck by a lightning of depression. 'My confidence… and self-esteem has lowered.' The three thought in a gloomy way.

"Besides, he probably wanted to avoid Ino." Naruto quipped, grinning. "You know. The fangirls."

The Nara smiled. "Yeah." He lazily agreed, snorting. "That's the one thing Sasuke hates more than us."

Asuma, looked alarmed for a second and a fake expression suddenly showed up. "Hey, team! We still have that C-Rank, remember? Dad will kill me if we won't do that, I especially reserved the mission for us!"

"We don't have a C-Rank." Ino answered, confused.

"Yeah, we cancelled it, right?" Choji added.

Asuma sweated. 'Not that I was going to listen to their conversation, I have to really get out now! I was so smug my team could handle it, Kami, I didn't think they would fail! I rubbed in Konran's face that my team could do it. Kami, this is embarrassing! Need to get out! I need to get out!' the Sarutobi yelled in his head.

Konran smirked. He knew why the man suddenly wanted to leave. "Team Ten, come on. Your sensei wants you to have a mission, right? Go on." The genins were about to leave when the door suddenly opened.

Everybody shook their head in respect or bowed as the Sandaime went in. In Naruto's case, he just yelled a 'Hey, hokage-jiji!' which was met with shocked expressions.

"Wow. Call the Hokage an old man. Expected from a dead last." Ino said daintily, Naruto gaining a tic mark.

"I always called him that, why stop?" he shot back, annoyed.

"Hey, hey, stop." The Sandaime said kindly. "I just wanted to check on Sasuke-kun, I had heard earlier from Konran-kun's report that he was put in the hospital. I wish the by wasn't hurt, but alas, somebody made a decision to go on a mission unfit for genin." He remarked, looking at Kakashi straight in the eye.

The legendary ninja just shook his head and admitted he was wrong.

"Anyway, I need to discuss some matters with Team Seven." The Hokage clapped his hands, narrowing his eyes at his son. "Privately." He showed in hand signs.

Asuma saw the hand signs and thank the gods that he wasn't going to be embarrassed at all. "So… we're going to leave. Dad, did you put the mission on your table?"

The older Sarutobi nodded.

"Okay, team. Come on, let's go."

"Wha- Bu- Hokage-jiji!" Naruto's loud voice protested against the aging man. "We can't replace Sasuke! He's Team Seven!"

The Sandaime shook his head sadly. "It's protocol for shinobi; if one is down, there is always a sub. If you still want to go to mission and not to be labeled as genin-sub group, where if the other genin groups have a vacant position, that is only when you get a mission. Do you want that?"

Naruto looked at the ground angrily. "Sure he's a jerk, but he's Team Seven! He's better than anyone else!"

Konran just looked at his younger counterpart amusedly. That was what he said when he heard that Sasuke was going to be replaced, in exchange of Sai. Look what happened to them, they became friends. 'Well, the weirdest of friends.' He mused.

"Hokage-sama, if- this teammate of ours is only going to be temporary, right? He's not going with Team Seven all the time?" Sakura asked hopefully. 'I will kick someone's butt if we replace Sasuke-kun on our our team! Our punch them to oblivion with the sickest smile I have!'

The Hokage nodded. "I haven't gotten a replacement, but since you still want to go to missions, I will have to find someone that can match your team dynamics, or at least can get along with you." Hiruzen looked at Kakashi with a neutral expression. "Which reminds me, have you… done what you promised me that you will tell Konran-kun, Kakashi?"

The silver-haired man's eye widened. "Hai, Hokage-sama. Konran?"

Konran stood up. "So this is a private talk, huh? Sure then." He opened the door and the two men went out, Kakashi closing the door behind them. The Sandaime looked kindly at the two. "So…"

"Enough with the business, how have you been? Genin life treating you well?"

An awkward silence had befallen the two.

Konran coughed in his hand. "So… jiji said you were going to tell me something? And you promised him, too?"

Kakashi just put his hands in his pockets. "…Yes." He still didn't want to apologize. "Did you just call the Hokage as old man?" he asked, quirking his eyebrow.

"Well, he is an old man, you know. He admits it." Konran leaned back to the wall and took out a kunai and twirled it in his hand. Kakashi was just quiet, thinking where the hell have I seen that kunai twirling?

The Copy ninja sighed. "I'm sorry."

The blonde man blinked. "Huh? What are you sorry for?" he scratched his head. "If you're saying you're sorry because of Sasuke's condition, it was nobody's fault."

"No." the masked-nin disagreed. "It was my fault, I was the one who sent them on this mission, I was the one who agreed to accomplish it. Even Hokage-sama has seen that. He already gave me punishments."

"Let me guess." Konran smirked at the inquiring gaze of Kakashi. "You can't be late in meetings, your team's or his meetings. You're going to be forced to a lot of D-Rank missions." He almost laughed when Kakashi looked sadder than ever, plus the groans of agony from the genin inside. "Oh. I know the last one. Banned from Icha Icha, aren't you?"

Kakashi responded with a facepalm. "Yes, he did give me that punishment, since 'technically it's always the leader's fault.' How'd you see that?"

The other man pointed to his kunai holster and made a 'there's nothing in there' gesture. "You normally fish out your book from that holster, and it's empty. Aside from you haven't read your book earlier, and the fact that your fingers seem to twitch just to open your book, that may be the only thing that I can see Jiji giving you as a punishment."

Kakashi would have chuckled if he wasn't reminded that he had to apologize for letting this innocent man go through interrogations that wasn't supposed to be given to him. "I heard what Asuma and Kurenai did to you, and technically, I was the one who ordered them to do it. I'm sorry, really. I was so suspicious that you were some guy who just popped that day when the ninja from Oto appeared and infiltrated the village."

"I was paranoid of you were getting closer to Konoha and especially my team. So.. sorry." Kakashi looked down, annoyed with himself. 'So much for the Hatake Kakashi of Konoha, the Kopi no Sharingan no Kakashi! I got controlled by my emotions, I acted impulsively which was never like me. Everything doesn't add up!'

'He talks like Sensei, but acts like me. When he wants to do something he could be like Naruto and barge in, especially if it's about Ramen. He thinks like Sakura and Shikamaru, book-smart and tactical smart, like the Nara proved himself a while ago. His healing techniques maybe on par with Tsunade, and he smirks when I read Icha Icha. Somehow he calls the Hokage like Naruto, with jiji, and the Sandaime doesn't really care.'

'He looks like Sensei, and fast like him. Though he has red tips in his hair. It has to be him! But how could that be? Sensei already died. Is time travelling possible? Reincarnation then?'

'No, Kakashi, what the hell are you talking about? You already said it; Minato-sensei had died, we saw it. And time travelling? Who the hell put THAT idea in your head?! But… he does act like him. He acts like he HAS been Hokage- and does exercises and tasks like a true-born and made leader.'

Konran looked at Kakashi who had spaced out all of a sudden. "Kakashi?"

The silver-haired man shook his head. "No, that can't be… that's absurd." He heard him whisper.

"Kakashi?"

"Yeah…" a bored gaze suddenly was directed at him. "Did you say something?"

The blonde jounin smirked, bending a little to reach his old sensei's height. 'Never thought I'd ever be the one to bend just to reach his height. Dam*, everybody seems to be little. What the hell did I eat to be like this, anyway?'

"Uhuh. I said something." Konran nodded. "I said, I'm gay and I love you." In a completely straight face.

Kakashi's eye widened and he spluttered like crazy, even choking on his own spit. "Oh my Kami Konran-" the coughing didn't stop, and Konran made the initiative to pat the other man's back while laughing. "You- You're what?!"

"Hey, it's not true! But…" Konran wiped a tear after they both toned down. "I knew that would work. You were thinking so hard you didn't listen- oh yeah, that was priceless. Yes, priceless indeed." He snorted in laughter when he saw Kakashi glare at him. "What?"

Kakashi gained a tic mark, and gritted out, "I hate you."

'But, unlike Minato-sensei, he's the only one who has the guts to do something like this to ME.'

Kakashi went inside, sitting beside the door. The Sandaime was chatting amiably with his other students, and Sasuke seemed to twitch for a second but it was gone in a moment the masked ninja thought that he should go to a doctor or something.

"Kakashi. We were entertaining the idea of replacing Sasuke- I mean, searching for a sub for him.' The Hokage informed, gesturing towards the other genin in the room. "They said it was going to be alright if it wasn't a permanent replacement."

"And I'll test him first." Naruto said, jerking a thumb towards himself. "If he can't beat me, or at least fight like the teme, he can't join." He gladly said.

"Hey… where's Konran-sensei?" Sakura asked suddenly.

"Going to change." Kakashi quipped. "He's the only one who hasn't gotten a bath, and he lives far from here."

"And… you had?" Hiruzen asked.

'Yeah." The silver-haired man affirmed. "So.. who's going to be the sub? Have you made your mind yet?"

"No not yet." the Hokage honestly said. "But you agree to the conditions?"

"Of course, if my genin is okay with it then sure."

The door suddenly opened. "I have a suggestion." The bandaged man proposed all of a sudden, entering the room. Hiruzen and Kakashi just narrowed their eyes at their new visitor.

"Danzo, what are you doing here?"

It was tense in the hospital room when Konran went in. Almost everybody looked murderous, even Sasuke did but he just looked like he was in pain. He looked at the side when he finally saw him.

Shimura Danzo.

"Who are you, boy?" Danzo snapped, narrowing his eye. "Do you not know that we are having a serious meeting here? Show respect!"

Konran rolled his eyes. "I just entered, Shimura. I do not have X-Ray vision or even a Byakugan to know that you are having a meeting. And why are you the angry one? If anybody has the right, it's the Sandaime over here."

The Sandaime in return smiled in response. "Hello, Konran-kun. Yes, we were having an important meeting, but since you came, this would be better, as you are the joint jounin sensei of Team Seven." The old Hokage smirked when he saw Danzo fume beside.

Danzo just narrowed his eye further. "Are you…Odayakana Konran?"

Konran smirked. "Yes, heard about me?"

Danzo chose not to speak, and the surrounding atmosphere became tense once again.

'I don't trust this guy.' Naruto thought, his hand gripping his kunai pouch. 'He's so F***nig annoying, and he hasn't even talked! He suddenly barged in telling US that he has an idea to replace Sasuke. And what's with replacing Sasuke anyway? It's taking his position in the team for a while!'

Sakura as well was having trouble not to question who the hell was this guy anyway and chose to keep quiet. 'There is always a guy who will give you bad vibes. This guy's one of them! And my vibes are screaming at me!'

Kakashi was tense, already knowing the true nature of this man. 'He would probably want to take Sasuke under his wing, or blame that the last loyal Uchiha is in this condition because of me. He would probably put a Root ANBU ninja that he had in the past before it was disbanded. Personality: just like him. Cold and emotionless, the perfect tool.'

"Hiruzen." The man spoke, his bandaged arm shifting a little (that made Konran be angry inside). "Is the Sensei.. Kakashi? He is the one that is responsible of all of this, isn't he?"

Hiruzen shook his head. "Not entirely. Everybody has a fault in this as well."

"But he is the commanding officer." Kakashi was going to say something but the bandaged man shook him off. "That wasn't a question, boy."

"I thought I was boy." Konran whispered to Naruto who only laughed in return.

"Yes, he is." The Hokage affirmed, not bothering to lie anymore. "Why?"

Danzo grew angry at the aloof attitude of the supposedly leader of Konoha. He had a fault, Sarutobi was too lenient with his shinobi! "Is that so? Then I demote you, Hatake Kakashi, from elite jounin to special chuunin. This is all for your past actions and lenient acts, and for letting the last Uchiha be in this state."

"Hey!" Sakura defended her sensei. "Who gave you the authority to demote Kakashi-sensei? You're not even the Hokage to these actions, and I would know since I have read the law of Konoha!" She wasn't even sure why her real thoughts came out (Inner Sakura couldn't take it anymore) but she had to do something.

"Who gave you permission to speak in this meeting?" Danzo snapped.

"We are team seven, and I'm in it too!" Naruto yelled, getting the Root Leader's attention. "You can't just demote Kakashi-sensei, Katama-Mira-teme!" he yelled.

Danzo's eye twitched. "You do really not know who you are talking to, don't you, jinchuuriki?" He smirked when he saw Naruto flinch for a second. "If you knew whom you were talking to, you will respect me!"

"Respect is earned, Mira-teme." Naruto bit back, offended at the way he used the word jinchuuriki like he was a disease or something.

Danzo was going to stand up when a hand blocked his way. "Shimura-san, as much as I know you hate me and I hate you, we are not here to start a fight in the hospital room. If you lash out to any of my students I will tell everybody here, especially to Sasuke, what happened in the Uchiha Massacre, the truth, and whose fault it actually was." Konran whispered in a threatening voice, making Danzo's eye widen. "And I will expose every evil secret you have that may even let you be condemned to death, so to speak."

"You are-!" the Root leader whispered back, knowing that the man in front of him would actually tell them the truth. He saw the blonde-red haired man's lips twitch upward.

"Sō sō, Shimura-san. I was there that night, you know. Saved Sasuke from depression, even."

Danzo sat down in agreement, but inside, his thoughts were a whirl.

'This man… is dangerous. Unlike any Konoha shinobi I have seen he seems to have the capability to bring out his threat and bring fear to his target unknowingly. And his words earlier, he knows the truth behind the Uchiha Massacre. But he cannot prove anything- he has no proof he was there. He has no proof he knew about the truth behind everything I have done.'

'This man… I acknowledge him as a threat to my plans… But he cannot do anything.'

He smirked. "Fine. I understand. It is not my place to demote him. Hiruzen then?"

Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. "As much as I may see that Kakashi had done something wrong, it is not right to demote one of our finest shinobi. Do not let me remind you of what I have done for you not to get caught because of your past actions, in your perspective, for the village's greater good."

Danzo could only glare at the Hokage, but he knew he had a point. Returning back to the main topic of why he did come here, he looked at the senseis of the team. He threw the file that was on his sleeve the whole time towards the two genin, who just looked up in surprise.

"What the hell?" Naruto yelled, catching the scroll.

"Read it," he ordered. "So you won't whine when you meet him." He turned towards them as he was satisfied those ignorant and naïve genin were reading the sub's file. "He is capable of what Uchiha Sasuke can do. As a sub, he will be taking his place while the Uchiha is down. If ever he will wake up, he will immediately leave the team. Got that?"

"Sure." Kakashi nodded. Konran just chose to grunt a 'hn' that resembled an Uchiha. The Hokage just looked on, interested and hopeful that whoever his former rival had sent was no Root officer.

"Come in." Danzo ordered.

A young teen- near the genin's ages, but older- with whitish pony tailed hair entered, making Konran blink in shock and horror.

"Hi." The new genin sub greeted, pushing his glasses near his face as it glinted in the light.

"My name is Kabuto Yakushi, douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu."

Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu- Please take care of me

Katama-Mira-Teme- One-eyed (You know the last one already.)

A/N: Sorry guys, even I think this wasn't the best I have done, but I'm trying to improve. Tell me, does my story suck?