Author's note: Sorry yet again for the huge delay. Work has been killing my sanity, literally. For those who mentioned this, I referred to Konan as Tenshi, or Angel. She is know as the Angel of the Akatsuki, and it made sense in my head that if Itachi didn't know her name, he would refer to her as Tenshi. Okay, everyone, please read, enjoy and review, just please don't flame me. These last few weeks have been murder.
Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Naruto, even thought Naruto and Itachi are freaking awesome!
Early the next morning, Naruto began packing his stuff into his back pack. Hinata, still in her pajamas, was helping him and making sure he didn't forget anything. They were both silent, but it was obvious that they were nervous.
Hinata yawned as Naruto shut his backpack. "I just hope the new team leader will show up on time."
Naruto laughed, "Yeah, that would be a bad sign. Sakura giving our new leader a concussion for being like Kakashi-sensei."
"How long do you think Sai will last before he's smacked?"
"At least a day. I'm going to give Sakura the benefit of the doubt and hope that she has matured while we were gone. What will Tsunade-baachan have you do while I'm gone?"
"She is giving me today off, but will put me through my paces until you get back. She also mentioned giving my share of the bounties on Sasori."
"That could be interesting. Just don't go on a shopping spree with it."
"Naruto-kun! You know I would never do that!" Hinata mock-scolded him. She stood with her hands on her hips, staring at him.
"I know, Hinata-hime," Naruto contritely replied. I couldn't resist. She looks so hot when she is upset! "I trust you to do what you think is best."
"Maybe I'll start getting baby stuff with it," Hinata mused out loud.
"Yeah, that would be... What?" Naruto nearly hit the ceiling. "Are you really..?"
Hinata laughed, grateful her little prank had worked out and lightened the mood her husband was in. "If I am, it's too soon to tell. But it wouldn't hurt to be prepared, especially after that night we had in Suna. Baby things just seem like a worthwhile investment."
Naruto laughed at that. She had gotten him good with that comment. "I needed that , Hime. A reminder for why we do this. It's so we can protect everyone else who doesn't have our abilities. Now, let's just see how this mission goes. I wish you were coming with us."
"It's a one-time thing, don't worry, Naru-kun. Tsunade-sama just want to see what my medic abilities are at so I'm not caught unprepared on a mission and one of my teammates pays the price. That is why Sakura is going with you this one time."
Naruto nodded as his stomach growled. "Shall we have some breakfast before I go meet my temporary team?"
"Yes, but we are not having ramen for breakfast."
"But Hina-hime..."
"We can have ramen when you come home. I'm in the mood for eggs and toast."
Haruno Sakura waited at the main gate, staring at the note in her hand. 'Haruno Sakura, you have been assigned to a temporary team under Jonin Yamato. You will meet the team at the main gate tomorrow morning at seven am for an A-rank mission which is estimated to take at least four days. Yamato-taicho will give you the mission briefing when you are on your way. Senju Tsunade, Godaime Hokage.' Sakura sighed, having arrived twenty minutes early hoping to make a good impression on the team captain and teammates.
"Wow, looks like some of Neechan's lessons stuck in our heads."
"Like how to never be late, always set your clock ten minutes early? She wanted to make sure that Kakashi-sensei's bad habits didn't rub off on us."
Those voices sound familiar, Sakura mused. She turned her head and saw a tall blonde guy in a black and orange jumpsuit and a young woman in a sleeveless lavender yukata with long dark hair walking towards her. Is that Naruto and Hinata? Wow, Naruto has grown up. When did he get so tall?
"Naruto, is that you? When did you come back home?" she called out.
Hinata gritted her teeth at Sakura ignoring her. Back off, you pink-haired banshee of a fan girl! Naruto is mine, and I don't share. Naruto noticed how she was starting to clench his hand.
"Relax, Hime. I'm your husband, remember?" he whispered to her. Naruto then turned to Sakura, "Hey, Sakura, long time, no see. You haven't changed a bit. Hinata and I got back over a week ago but were sent out almost immediately on a mission to Sunagakure. Baachan assigned you to take Hina-hime's place for just this one mission so she can see what her medic skills are."
He didn't call me -chan, and he calls her hime? Since when did Naruto act like this to Hinata? Sakura was a little confused. Naruto was so different. He's grown up, a lot. "So, who is our other teammate?"
"He is this really odd kid named Sai," Hinata answered her, starting to finger the chain on which she wore her engagement and wedding rings. "Danzo-san claimed that he is ANBU level, but Naru-kun, Shikamaru, Chouji, and I were able to easily defeat him using teamwork and simple tactics/ He seems to use drawing as a ninjutsu, and that is all we know of his skills."
"So, you are my new teammates, Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuuga Hinata?" a smooth, emotionless voice broke in. The pale-skinned teen who had attacked them the day before was standing there.
"Dude, why are you showing off your stomach?" Naruto asked. "You are so pale you are giving someone an easy target." (A/N: Has anyone else realized that?)
"I never thought of that. Thank you for pointing that out, but orange does have that ability to hinder blending into your environment."
"I dare you to be able to hide successfully from four squads of ANBU wearing nothing but pure orange for a whole day. It was a great way to train my stealth skills," Naruto shot back. Okay, this guy appears to have no social skills at all, but give him some time. He appears to at least be willing to work and get along with others, unlike Sasuke. This will be fun. You are now my new target, Sai, until you develop a sense of humor.
Sai them turned to Hinata, "Will you not be coming with us? You aren't wearing proper shinobi attire."
"You are correct. I will not be coming with you for this mission. Tsunade-sama wants to see the extent of my medical skills, so she has assigned Haruno Sakura to the team for this mission. I came here to meet you and out temporary team leader, while Kakashi-sensei is sick with the measles."
"Did you forget something, Hina-hime?" Naruto mock-pouted.
"Of course I didn't. I also came here to say goodbye to my Naru-kun," Hinata teased and gave him a kiss on the lips. He is mine, and you can't blame a girl for wanting to let others know.
Sakura's jaw nearly hit the street when she saw the display. Since when did the spineless princess get so bold?
"Do you two routinely treat your teammates like that?" Sai asked.
"Naruto burst out laughing while Hinata blushed and replied, "No I just treat my boyfriend like this. We've been together for almost three years now, since before we left Konoha to train under Jiraiya-sama."
Sai nodded. "I understand now." He didn't.
"Wait, you two were going out before you left the village?" Sakura demanded.
"Yeah, you were with Shizune at that medical conference," Naruto explained, "We didn't want to attract any attention, so we kept it quiet."
Sai turned to Sakura, "Wait, you are a girl? I thought you were a boy with how flat you are..."
Sakura's face turned bright red and she screamed, "I am a girl!" She was about to pummel him when three quick jabs sent her on the street. She looked up at see a furious Hinata standing over her.
"Sakura, it is obvious you haven't changed at all. Why else would you so readily want to beat up a teammate right before an important mission? So what if he insulted you? Prove you are a true ninja, and reign in your emotions."
"That is true." Everyone jumped at the sound of a new voice. A guy wearing standard Jonin attire, brown hair, black eyes, and his hitai-ite having sides that protected the sides of his face was standing next to them. "Often you can see someone's true character with their reactions, especially when they are insulted. I am Yamato-taicho, and I am taking Kakashi's place as the head of this team until he recovers from the measles."
"Kakashi-sensei has the measles?" Sakura asked.
"He does. Didn't you hear us when we said it earlier?" Naruto asked.
"So, Sai, Haruno Sakura, and Uzumaki Naruto, lets get on our way. Time is running out," Yamato said.
Hinata politely bowed, "Nice to meet you, Yamato-taicho. I am Hyuuga Hinata, the third member of this team."
Yamato nodded, "It is good to meet you, Hyuuga-san. Let's go!"
He took off, and Sai and Sakura quickly followed. Naruto paused for a moment, and quickly taking a hold of her necklace, removed the engagement ring and placed it on Hinata's left ring finger. "So all of these guys know you're spoken for. Love you, hime, and I promise I'll return home safe." He then took off, leaving Hinata at the gate alone.
"Good luck, Naru-kun," she whispered, and returned to the empty apartment to get some more sleep.
Naruto quickly caught up with his team. He was stuck in between Sakura and Sai, much to his discomfort. Every now and then, Sakura would shoot glares at Sai, obviously still annoyed about his comments.
A few hours later, they stopped at the edge of the road. Yamato turned toward them. "I know that only Naruto knows the details of the mission. A few days ago, Hyuuga Hinata defeated a missing nin known as Sasori of the Red Sand, and he informed her that he has a spy in Orochimaru's organization and was going to meet them at the Tenchi bridge tomorrow. Our mission is to take Sasori's place and get information out of the spy. We are also instructed to capture the spy if at all possible."
"We aren't going to find Orochimaru's base?" Sai asked.
"It is not our priority. Our goal is to obtain information about Orochimaru and Uchiha Sasuke so we can retrieve Sasuke. If we were attempt to retrieve him now, we would be running around blind and fail in that mission, which would most likely result in our deaths. We will play this smart. Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi told me about your connections to Sasuke. I understand your desire to free him, but you can't do anything for him if you are dead."
Naruto nodded, "I understand. As much as I want to get him away from that creep Orochimaru, I also want to make sure we can get him home successfully."
Sakura gaped at him, "Naruto, what the heck is wrong with you? We need to get Sasuke back as soon as possible, before Orochimaru takes his body! If we have the chance, we need to take it."
"Sakura, we need to play this smart," Naruto retorted. "We won't do anyone any good if we're dead. We need information, we can't just rush in blindly."
"Like you are one to talk. You have always done that!"
"I was thirteen then, plus a little on the stupid side, you don't need to point it out anymore than you already have, Sakura. I've grown up and learned a lot since then." Naruto gritted his teeth to keep from saying anything else.
"Why do you want to return him to Konoha? He is a traitor, who willingly abandoned the village and went to Orochimaru. I have taken his place," Sai stated.
"We don't abandon anyone," Naruto said, "I know what Orochimaru will do to Sasuke, and I can't just leave him to that fate. Besides, you haven't taken Sasuke's place. That team was dissolved. Make your own place with us in this team, Sai. Create bonds with us so that we'll go as far for you that we go for Sasuke."
Sai looked at him with his emotionless face, "That is an interesting way to put it. I have not taken Sasuke's place, I must make my own. I can be my own person, not fit into a prearranged spot. I will consider your idea."
"That is very true, Naruto," Yamato said, nodding his approval. "We are all different, so all of us can do different things and fill different places. Someone I knew once in ANBU used to say the same thing."
Sakura stayed quiet, eyeing Naruto. Wow, he has matured. I know that he and Hinata are together, but can it last? Why is Naruto with such a quiet girl? She is so wrong for him. I'll show him how much I've improved, and he'll drop her like a rock.
Back in her apartment, Hinata sneezed. I have no idea why, but I have suddenly decided to not hold back at all when I spar with Sakura. Naruto-kun, watch out.
Naruto caught Sakura's glances. Oh, great. Don't tell me Sakura is going to go fan girl on me. I just want to make it home to Hina-hime with my sanity intact. This is going to be one long mission.
A/N, take two: I'll see when I can update next. I'm in the mood for Fullmetal Alchemist right now. Don't worry, I will never abandon this story! My new goal is to update once every month for both this one and the Nameless Six of Suna. Thank you so much everyone!