A/N: Okay, finally used up the last scenes I had (mostly) pre-written - for this section of the story (*still has 7 pages for later*). So the next chapter probably won't be out as quickly as this one was. Thank you again to my reviewers, you've been pretty fast to read and comment on the last few chapters: dk-joy, Carojen, iNsAnE nO bAkA, Tidmag, Ryu Earth, AZ89, x-smith, Auphora66, Rangerfan58, Wolfkun, Anaeria23, Marz1, Julieanna333 and cjandre.
singing ferret - can't tell you about the observed kid (unless you allow PM's on your profile) cause that would tell everyone if you were right or wrong. But your questions about the various Aburame's: right on all counts.
liliki - glad you asked. There were three prisoners in that place. *grins*
So anyway, here's the next part. *sets out chapter - runs and hides*
Code Names/Words: Akai (Itachi) means red. Shiro (Hana) means white. Kin (guess) means golden. Chairo (Chouji) means brown. Tetsu (Tenten) means iron. Aoi (Neji) means blue. Kuro (Shikamaru) means black. Momoiro (Sakura) means pink. Shinkirou means mirage, and Shinzui means core or essentials.
: On the rubble strewn streets of the once-proud Konoha, a scarred teenager watched in confusion as the little boy, his charge of less than a week, fought to hide his feelings – and failed. Naruto grinned, a giggle erupting from his throat as he cooed happily at the kitten in his arms. The child's laughter was bright, the sound ringing in the subdued atmosphere.
Iruka questioned the boy, not understanding why Naruto wanted so badly to hide the fact that the little stray cheered him up so much. His answer completely flabbergasted the teacher-to-be.
"Cause ev'ybody gets mad if I'm happy. All the time – 'specialy now. If I smile too big, they say I'm disa… dispre… uh, not being good to the Hokage. That the Old Man's dead, an I shouldn't be happy cause that's being mean to his mem'ry."
Despite his own dislike for the Kyuubi and its vessel, something twisted in Iruka's heart. Iruka made himself – and more importantly, the little blond at his side – a promise. "Never fear to celebrate good things, Naruto-chan. You must keep in touch with your feelings – no matter what else, always remember that you are human. And if you ever forget, I'll remind you." :
-0-
The younger children waited impatiently, fidgeting and whispering in their nervousness. No one had to tell them that this was the most dangerous mission their brothers and sisters had ever gone on, it was clear in everything from Sensei's fretting to Naruto's seriousness while he geared up. They were worried about their family. And it didn't help that Kiba had just brought in a bleeding woman.
The youngest children waited farther back in the room, close to the door. The older children were armed, small hands resting on weapon pouches as they listened for the sounds indicating that the traps that lined each entrance to the Sanctuary had been triggered.
A sudden sound in the hall had the low murmur of voices rising to a louder buzz, but a sharp hiss from Kiba silenced them. The slightest trace of confusion marred his features as he sniffed carefully at the air. A moment later they all heard it – quick, uneven footsteps moving their way. The children all tensed, those closer to the back reaching for the hands of the youngest ones, just in case.
They relaxed again – mostly – when the familiar 'allies' signal whistled through the air from the entrance that Neji guarded. And then they surged forward as their older comrades came through the door. They were, in many cases, bloodstained. But they were smiling. Even bouncing on their feet, in Lee and Naruto's cases.
The younger children surrounded the older ones, babbling questions ranging from 'are you okay' to 'how many butts did you kick?'. Declarations anywhere from 'we knew you could do it' to 'we were worried' mixed in with the questions until no one could distinguish any one sentence anymore.
Hanabi rushed to her sister's side, worriedly checking the older girl for injuries only to be pulled into a tight hug. Hinata whispered, excitement and pride lacing her voice and lighting up her eyes. "We did it, Hanabi. We really did it!" Hanabi laughed in relief, and that sparked a chain reaction in the fighters.
-0-
Halfway down the corridor, Kakashi pulled the two Jounin aside into another branch, waving the others ahead as he did so. Stepping into a room, they found a pink-haired girl giving firm instructions to a rather beaten up woman with curly dark hair.
As the girl turned to them, Kakashi waved her away. "They're fine, Sakura-chan. Nothing you need to treat right now, and I can handle handing them ointment for the bruises.
The girl – Sakura, Kakashi had said – ran a critical eye over the three Jounin before deciding that they could, in fact, be left on their own. "All right, I'll go rejoin Tetsu at the back entrance. That'll put two on that one, and with Aoi and Chairo on the front, we'll have plenty of time to sound the alarm if ROOT should find us." Tsume fought a snicker at the girl's obvious distrust regarding Kakashi's judgment.
Once the girl left, amused red eyes met Tsume's own. "I heard you in the hall" the woman said, holding out one hand. "My name is Yuhi Kurenai. It's nice to finally see my fellow tools."
Tsume grinned as Gai – quickly beginning to return to his old flamboyance – swept into a dramatic bow. "I'm not sure if you remember me, but my name is Maito Gai. And this lady is Inuzuka Tsume. A pleasure to see you… again."
Tsume smacked him lightly, snorting at the title 'lady'. "So you're little Miss Genjutsu, huh? I've heard the guards talking about your skill with mind tricks when they didn't think I was conscious. And I've got to say, I love some of the things you pulled on the bastards."
Kurenai grinned right back, her features turning briefly vicious despite their delicacy and the bandages wrapped around her head. "I had a lot of time to think about their punishment while I was locked up. But I have to ask" and her attention turned to Kakashi. "What is with the little girl? Where are the other adults, Hatake-san?"
The two other former prisoners turned to the Copy Ninja as well. "Yes, she's right Kakashi" Gai said, dropping his old 'rival' talk in his confusion. "Most members of the team who rescued us were children. Why?"
Kakashi looked rather sheepish under his mask, and he rubbed the back of his neck as he spoke. "Well, that's why I pulled you all aside. I thought I should explain the situation before you faced everyone."
-0-
The teenagers whooped and cheered, every one of them exhilarated by their success. "We did it, we did it, we did it!" Lee chanted, pumping one fist in the air. Sasuke's smirk seemed nearly wide enough to crack his face, and he chuckled as he returned Naruto's high five. Shikamaru leaned back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, but his eyes practically sparkled as he grinned. Even Hinata giggled, the bright sound ringing in the open room.
The teens were soon bragging to the younger children, the more hyperactive of the boys telling them tales with greatly exaggerated gestures. Naruto flung his arms out wide as he babbled. "And they were like 'argh' and we were like 'ha', and it was like 'bam' and, and… And we totally kicked butt!"
Kiba laughed. "Yeah, and then you had to get rescued."
Lee poked the dog-like boy in the ribs. "I seem to remember you needing rescuing too."
Kiba mock growled and pounced, pulling Lee into a playful headlock. The action was rough and puppyish, and soon became a friendly wrestling match. Naruto, naturally, jumped right into it, the little scuffle soon sending the three boys tumbling about the room and scattering laughing children.
They finally split apart, laughing breathlessly until Kiba, now rested but – like the others – still high off of adrenalin, snatched Naruto's hitai-ate. The blond shrieked, jumping to his feet and running after the darker boy.
Lee just fell over laughing at the younger pair as Sasuke and Shikamaru rolled their eyes and Hinata giggled again.
-0-
Asuma wordlessly offered a cigar as Kakashi slumped, exhausted, against the wall beside him. The silvered man shook his head, just leaning against the solidness of the hall.
Itachi had not been able to tell them the names of the prisoners – ROOT had simply used numbers to identify them – so it had been a nasty shock to both men to find that the 'poor bastards' they had felt so sorry for had been people that they knew all along.
They didn't know the Inuzuka woman well – they'd had a few missions with her during the war, but she had been much older than them growing up. But Gai and Kurenai… Asuma had had a crush on the genjutsu specialist as a younger man, and he knew that in their own strange way, Gai and Kakashi had been the best of friends.
As relieved as they were that their friends were alright now, they couldn't help but feel incredibly guilty for thinking them dead all these years.
-0-
The ex-prisoners stared, wide eyed and silent as they entered Sanctuary proper. It was unbelievable to them that two Jounins, one new Chunin and a bunch of children were able to do all of this. And even more unbelievable that one Genin boy had managed to begin it all. But Kakashi wouldn't have lied to them, and they had seen the children fight with their own eyes.
The three spread out, looking over the large common room with a slightly awed feeling. The adrenaline was starting to wear off now, leaving them all slightly dazed. But Tsume sniffed the air, beginning to relax as she found only the faintest traces of fear's reek – and only mild fear at that.
And then a shriek caught their attention. Running footsteps echoed down the corridor, making each of the Jounin tense until they heard a voice call out, laughter choking the words. "Come on, give it back already!"
"NO! You have to come and get it!"
"Gyah! Damn it, come BACK!"
The Jounin relaxed, smiles tugging at their lips as the two boys came barreling full tilt into the room. The darker haired teen in front held a hitai-ate in his hand, and was looking back at the blond boy chasing him. He clearly didn't see the Jounin. Tsume realized this, moving to jump back out of his way immediately – but not quite fast enough.
"Oomph!" The boy ran straight into the woman, knocking both of them back a step. He flashed a bright grin at her, calling out a quick "sorry" as he slipped around her. Then he paused, confusion in his eyes as he looked back at her, sniffing curiously. But he yelped as Naruto lunged for him, and he darted away again.
Tsume, however, was frozen in place. She had paled, eyes going wide with shock as she recognized the boy's face and scent. As the two teens raced from the room, the Special Jounin spun around, gaze fixed on the darker boy. Her voice trembled, hope and disbelief warring in it as she whispered. "No, it can't be…"
Her eyes went even wider as Naruto's shout carried back to the room. "Damn it, Kiba…!"
The woman pulled in a shaky breath, her eyes filling with tears for the first time since the night her Clan was massacred. "Kiba? Baby?"