Did i promise an action packed episode last week? Surely, you are mistaken...OK so I did, and this isn't action packed at all >_
"Shikamaru, I thought you said you wanted to keep an eye on Ken?" Temari asked as Shikamaru, Chouji, Ino and herself walked down a road flanked by vast plains.
"I do, and I will."
"He's not in our group."
"I understand, but Naruto has a special solo mission, that he is being trusted with alone. He loves these, so I knew he'd sign on in a heartbeat."
"What is his mission?"
"He'll be watching Ken like a hawk, and reporting to me daily."
"How will he-" Temari stopped as Shikamaru flipped a kunai around his finger, then suddenly halted it's circular path to catch it by the blade. It was branded with the Fourth's symbol. She nodded and kept walking.
---xxx---
Shikamaru, I'm not sure why you don't trust Ken, but I won't let you down. If there is something strange going on, I'll figure it out. Naruto said as he held a fist in front of him, looking slightly down.
"Naruto-san, what are you thinking so hard about?" Ken asked as he smiled. Hinata stood slightly further away from Naruto than Ken did, but Naruto hadn't seemed to notice.
"Oh, nothing, Ken-sama." Naruto smiled. "Hinata, you're shivering, are you cold?"
"No, Naruto-kun, I'm fine." Hinata said as she forcibly stopped shivering.
"Hinata-san, you should take Naruto-san's jacket if you are cold. We wouldn't want you to be sick if we got into battle."
"I'm really ok, Kentogatta-sama. Don't worry about me. Thank you though, Naruto." Ken leaned closer to Naruto's ear.
"I could leave the two of you alone for a moment, if you wish, Naruto-san." He stood back up, speaking aloud. "Oh, and Hinata-san, please, just Ken. My full name is much too formal."
I can't let Ken out of my sight! Shikamaru gave me strict orders…But I really need to talk to Hinata! She's seemed really distant since I got back!
"Naruto-san, Hinata-san." Ken said as he stood up. "Here may be a good place to stop for the night. The sun went down hours ago, and we haven't seen anything at all. I'll go gather some wood for a fire. I'll only be gone for a few minutes." Ken smiled as he waved and walked off the path into the forests around them.
What do I do?! Naruto thought quickly. Got it! "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto shouted, and his clone appeared. "I'll help you, Ken!" the clone shouted as it ran into the woods.
"Hinata, is something-" Naruto started, until she dove into a tight hug around his chest, her eyes closed, and her head buried into his chest. "Wrong?" Naruto finished, slightly shocked. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, standing in the middle of the road.
"Oh, Naruto…"
"Why have you been acting weird lately, Hinata?"
"Naruto-kun, you used to tell me every time we talked, I was acting weird, back in Konaha." Hinata said as she smiled, still refusing to let go.
"Well, like…strange as in different."
"People were around, Naruto. I was nervous because I hadn't seen you in so long, but now that we're finally alone all that nervousness just flew away."
"Oh, I get it." Naruto smiled as he held her close. Footsteps, displaced leaves, and broken twigs could be heard, and Hinata quickly released the hug as Ken walked back into the clearing, bearing an arm full of logs.
"I'm back, Naruto-san, Hinata-san. I have wood for the fire."
"Thanks, Ken-sama." Naruto said with a broad smile. Hinata was blushing profusely.
"Thank you, Kentogatta-sama."
"Hinata-san, please, Ken. My full name is much too formal." Ken said with his typical smile.
---xxx---
"Sasuke-kun, Kankuro-kun, it says here that the seven-tailed is a master of stealth and deception! It will be incredibly difficult to find him, I think!" Lee said.
"That's probably why I'm assigned to him, Lee. Not much will escape the sharingan."
"I wonder what type of ninja his jinchuriki is!" Lee said as he looked into the mid-day sky. "If he is stealthy, he will not likely be willing to fight in the open! That will make the fight much less enjoyable if I must spend half my time looking for him."
"Lee, we don't want to fight them, we want to protect them. We are going to be fighting akatsuki for him."
"That is correct! Sasuke-kun, you truly are a genius!"
"So I've been told, Lee."
If you are such a genius, why was Itachi able to kill your entire family?
"What was that?" Sasuke said as he stopped.
"What was what, Sasuke-kun?"
"I heard a voice…"
"I didn't hear anything." Kankuro said as he put a hand to one of his scrolls.
You're family died because you were too weak…
"There it is again! Be quiet! Sharingan!" Sasuke said, and his eyes changed into the familiar pinwheels. He looked around the marshland they walked through, revealing nothing.
"Sasuke-kun, what do you see?" Lee whispered.
'Lee, shut up!" Sasuke said angrily.
You are an avenger, Sasuke Uchiha. You cannot defeat him, and take your revenge in your current state. You must become stronger, you know what you must do, Sasuke…
"What the hell is that…" Sasuke growled.
We will talk again, Sasuke…
"It's gone…" Sasuke said after a few long minutes.
"What were you worried about?" Kankuro said as he stood up straight.
"There was a voice…I know there was."
"I never heard anything, Sasuke-kun! Are you feeling alright?" Lee promptly placed a hand on Sasuke's forehead, only to have it slapped away.
"I'm not sick, Lee, there was a voice!"
"We didn't hear anything, Sasuke."
"Just forget it." Sasuke said and started walking.
---xxx---
"So, what do you know about our target, Kakuzu-sama?" Ken asked with a smile as the two crossed a river delta. Kakuzu walked on in silence.
"Kakuzu-sama, you have been very quiet. Is something wrong?" Kakuzu remained silent.
"Kakuzu-sama-"
"SHUT UP, KENTOGATTA!" Kakuzu said angrily as he stopped walking. "There is no need to talk constantly, you are wasting your breath."
"You forget, Kakuzu-sama, I am not a real human. I have breath to spare." Ken smiled. "And please, call me Ken, my-"
"SHUT UP. I DON'T CARE IF YOU THINK IT'S TOO FORMAL." Kakuzu turned to face Ken. "Listen to me, Kentogatta, you are to be silent unless you have something pertinent to say. I give you this command as a senior member and the one given the task of babysitting the new member."
"Yes, Kakuzu-sama." Ken said with a broad smile.
"And stop smiling, it irritates me. There is never anything to smile about when you smile."
"Because you make everything a problem, Kakuzu-sama. If you just let everything float away like a cloud, or a wave on the water, you wouldn't be so angry all the time." Ken's smile failed to cease. "I'm not sure if I could stop smiling if I wanted to."
"You aren't a person, Kentogatta, you're a sword casting genjutsu. You could stop smiling anytime you want."
"So you do remember, then." Ken smiled, and Kakuzu sighed as he kept walking. "And please, call me Ken. My full name is much too formal." Ken smiled, Kakuzu scowled, and the two walked on.
---xxx---
"So, Sasori-sama, do you think the new one-tail jinchuriki is beautiful? They say she is the sister of the former container, and the fourth Kazekage."
"Well, Deidara, you know that our conceptions of beauty vary greatly, because your view is wrong."
"Art is something that is created and gone in an instant, Sasori-sama."
"Art is something that passes the test of time beautifully and gracefully, Deidara, and for that reason, I would have to say she will not be beautiful."
"Why is that?"
"All things human must come to an end."
"Does that mean that you too, will come to an end, Sasori-sama? Perhaps your idea of beauty and art is incorrect, if you yourself can't pass that test."
"Are you trying to piss me off, Deidara?"
"Of course not, Sasori-sama." The two continued to walk along a road with a large savannah on either side.
"Well you are, so stop it before I kill you."
"Sasori-sama, you wouldn't kill me just because we disagree on what art is, would you?"
"No, but I will kill you if you get arrogant and fuck up this mission like you usually do."
"Taking a few minutes too long shouldn't be considered fucking it up, Sasori-sama."
"I hate to be kept waiting, you know that. I let you do these battles on your own because you beg and plead. If you take too long on this one, or let the Jinchuriki get away, I'm going to kill you."
"No need to worry, Sasori-sama. I brought an extra large batch." Deidara smiled as he put a hand on a large blue bag at his hip.
"Just do it quickly. None of your games, Deidara."
"Of course, Sasori-sama."
---xxx---
"Pain-sama, why do you let that Kentogatta use your name? It is so disrespectful."
"What does it hurt, Konan? He is respectful in actions and sufficiently respectful in words. I don't see a problem."
"Very well. Are we headed for Kumogakure first?"
"Yes, I believe the eight-tail will be the hardest of the two we are responsible for. I want to capture them as soon as possible so we can return home."
"Yes, Pain-sama."
---xxx---
Itachi and Kisame walked through a wooded area late into the night as the moon rose overhead.
"Itachi." Kisame said suddenly.
"Yes, Kisame?"
"It is likely that Kentogatta will be with the nine-tailed brat."
"And?"
"He intervened before, what are the odds that he will do so again?"
"If he intervenes, we will have to kill him. The mission is of far greater importance than any member's life."
"I can agree to that." Kisame said with a wicked grin.
---xxx---
"Lord Raikage, the messengers have returned. It will not be long before all the Kage's have gathered." Denrei was kneeling in the Raikage's palace as he sat behind a massive desk.
"Very good, Denrei. Did you take care of the other matter I asked you to?"
"Of course, Raikage-sama. The granddaughter of the first Hokage has been alerted, and plans to attend."
"Excellent. Never before has their been a summit of the Kages…Let Akatsuki try and survive."
"Lord Raikage, there is one other matter to attend to in the same topic."
"Go ahead."
"Iwagakure and Sunagakure are completely on our side with a mission to wipe out akatsuki, but Kirigakure has some reservations. As it turns out, Amegakure has asked to attend the summit as well. While they do not have a Kage, they are one of the more powerful minor villages. An emissary from that village met up with our messenger on his return voyage."
"Very well. Kirigakure will have to be convinced, and Amegakure is welcome. Make sure they arrive as soon as possible. If they request it, dispatch a guard to aid them in the protection of their leaders on their way here. Make sure fully furnished living quarters are available for each Kage, and at least a dozen aids each. See to any other preparations as you see fit, Denrei."
"Yes, Raikage-sama."
"Denrei?"
"Yes, Raikage-sama?"
"Triple security during the day of the summit. Double it as long as any Kage's besides myself are here."
"Yes, Raikage-sama. Anything else?"
"Any word from Sasuke-kun?"
"No, Raikage-sama."
"Very well. You are dismissed, Denrei." Denrei nodded, then left.
OK I hope this was at least good at moving the story along, even if it didnt have fighting. *sigh* Next time guys! Review, please! I hope you enjoyed. See ya soon!
