Chapter 29

Under Your Nose

"Alright everybody, look alive." Nai crossed her legs as she sat atop the gates into Kanoha. No one could see her and no one knew she was there. She watched quietly as the people stopped pouring in and the gate closed.

"Commander?" A voice floated into her earpiece.

"What?"

"Are we undercover on this?"

"No. But wear your cloaks. People can know we're around, but we need to look like spectators."

"Gotcha. Hear that guys? We're on the down low."

A few "yeah's" and "alright's" floated in from a few people, along with some laughs. Nai rolled her eyes, "Ok people, let's get to the arena."

A man in a wolf mask appeared next to her and they moved to their destination together, "Do you really think we're needed?"

The woman sighed, "To be honest…yes. At least just in case."

The man then grabbed her arm, stopping her movement. He lifted his mask so she could see his face, he was a nameless teammate from way back when, and still, his name didn't matter. "Nai, are we protecting you? Or the village?"

Nai harshly stepped away from him, "Do you really think the Hokage would do this for me? You were there when he put me out! That old man is covering his own ass."

"It's for the village too…"

She scoffed, "That may be true. But trust me. I'm not in that equation."

The man nodded solemnly and put his mask back on, "I'm sorry."

"For what?" she snapped.

"For not helping you back then."


Kakashi wasn't even really paying attention. Actually his mind was on a certain woman who had left the house early in the morning without a word. He knew she had a job to do, and he knew she didn't like it. But something just felt…off.

An explosion made him look up, "That's good Sasuke. One is enough. We did so many yesterday so you should be fine."

"Should we head to the arena?"

Kakashi smiled under his mask, "No. I think we can fit a little more practice in."

Sasuke smirked, "She's going to kill you if I'm late."

The older ninja chuckled, "I doubt it." He put his hands in his pockets, 'she'll be too busy fussing over the Hokage.'

"I'm going to kill that idiot."

The Hokage chuckled as he heard her angry murmur. He kept his eyes on Genma down below who was going over the new fight order with the ghenin. "He'll get here. He'll make it by the skin of his teeth."

The kunoichi sighed, "True. He wouldn't risk this for Sasuke, it means a lot to both of them."

The old man nodded and the Kage next to him stole a glance at Nai. It was about the fifth time in as many minutes. She grimaced behind her mask but bowed nonetheless, "Do you need something sir?"

"No. Just admiring a soldier." He turned back to the match and paid the woman no more mind.

Nai also turned her sight back to the match, but didn't flinch, as her mind seemed to fall into a haze and her surroundings turned black. Arms wrapped around her from behind and a cool voice whispered in her ear, "My precious mouse."

It was only then that uneasiness and fear settled inside her, "W-what are you doing?"

His hands roamed her stomach and moved lightly over her chest to her shoulders where he relieved her of he cloak and revealed her black tank and shorts. He snapped off her armor from her torso and arms, piece by piece.

"I wonder… if I have enough time to make love to you before my plans fall into action."

She gasped as he said this and threw her head back as he moved his hand between her legs. He took the opportunity to remove her mask.

"S-sensei…don't."

"I find it hard to believe that you deny me."

"Because this is wrong!"

"You didn't deny me in your dreams."

"Stop!" Everything flashed and she was dressed, mask, armor and all. "What do you plan on doing?"

The snake smirked, "Retrieving what's mine."

"Where are you?"

"Right…under…your…nose."

"Nai. Nai are you ok?"

The woman eyed the Hokage's chuunin, who was whispering in order to hide her name, "I don't know, to be honest."

The young man looked severely concerned, "You were standing awfully still. You didn't say anything about any of the matches so far."

She looked shocked, "So far? What match is this?"

"The second to last one, Shikamaru and that girl Temari. Isn't he your god son?"

She nodded, hiding her fear filled face behind her mask. 'I missed almost a day's worth of matches in that little amount of time?' she asked herself. She then looked over the ghenin in the arena then turned back to the chuunin, "And Naruto?"

"He won. As to be expected." The Hokage spoke up.

Nai looked down into the arena then glanced at the Kage next to her own, he looked down into the arena as if he didn't care. If the kunoichi remembered correctly, the girl fighting with her godson was his daughter.

Shikamaru stood straight and stared at the blond across from him. He put his hands in his pockets and sighed, "Alright, I think I'm done."

Nai ran her hand down her masked face, "He would. …Idiot."

Genma landed between the two and the ghenin dropped his shadow hold on the female, "You what?"

"I'm done. I give. I'm tired." Shikamaru stated like he was talking to a child.

Somewhere in the stands Asuma growled, "This is ridiculous."

Kurenai laughed, "Who can you blame?"

"His father. And Nai" he added as an after thought.

"It was an excellent match though."

"Whatever."

Genma shook his head, "Alright." He raised his arm high in the air, "Match to Temari!"

Nai sighed but smirked nonetheless. She stole a glance at the skybox holding the nobles of different lands. Her perfect eyesight allowed her to see her brother, visiting with Ami and Omi. He was smiling and shaking his head.

It only took her a few minutes to regain her on-edge feelings from not too much earlier. She still didn't have an explanation for that vision, or for why Sasuke was late. He was with Kakashi but…

Her body tensed as an abnormal amount of leaves swirled around the arena. Catching on took her a minute but when she did, her mask hid her bright smile. It was strange how cool the two of them actually looked, appearing back to back.

Sasuke looked up into the Kage's skybox and smirked. Nai knew it was directed at her. 'You're late.' Was her thought to him.

'I know.' Was his answer.

Kakashi smiled and put his hand up, "Sorry for being late."

Sasuke peaked around his father and sensei, smirking at Genma, who smirked back.

"Your name kid?"

"Sasuke. Sasuke Uchiha."

Kakashi rubbed the back of his head, also glancing at the sky box, giving the masked ANBU who he knew was Nai, an apologetic look before turning back to Genma, "I know we showed up all flashy and the like but…was he disqualified?"

"No. This is the match everyone has been waiting for."

The child rolled his eyes, "I bet it was."

"Well, my job here is done. I'm gonna go play the good dad and watch with everyone else." He walked away towards and entrance to the stairs.

Nai held her breath as the Hokage adjusted his position in his seat, "You may go."

She knew it was addressed to her and she ran as fast as she could to the stairs that lead to the box. Her eyes landed on Kakashi and she immediately ripped off her mask and hugged him tight around the neck.

He chuckled, "Like we didn't sleep together in the same bed last night."

When he didn't get and answer he pulled her off and got a good long look at her face, "What happened?"

"He's here."