I Spy
Chapter 28
Chunin, Rabbits and Nukenin, Oh My!xXx"Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the Chunin Tournament," Kurenai said, lifting Hanabi's hand. "Hyuuga Hanabi of Konoha! Runner up, Sansho Debi of Suna!"
There was an extended roar of approval from the crowds (and somehow, it seemed to be predominantly female). Naruto was grinning brightly (standing with Sansho between him and a still chagrined-looking Hyuuga), most likely because Konoha won. Again.
Once the din died down, the genjutsu specialist turned toward the Hokage, the Kazekage, and the Mizukage (the only three Kages actually present). She bowed to them, all three nodded back and stepped over to the line of tired but relieved exam takers. Tsunade bowed slightly to them all.
"Congratulations genin, for completing the Chunin Exams," she said. "After speaking with Mizukage-sama and Kazekage-sama, we have selected those ready to be advanced to the rank of Chunin." She paused to let that sink in, then continued. "From Sunagakure, Sansho Debi is thus advanced to the rank of Chunin, for exceptional skills in defense and strategy."
Gaara stepped forward, bowed and nodded to Sansho. "Congratulations, Sansho Debi-san." He accepted a scroll from Kankuro, and held it out for the newly appointed Chunin. "You are to complete this form and hand it in to Temari as soon as you have."
Sansho accepted the scroll and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Kazekage-sama," he said breathlessly.
Gaara stepped back and nodded for Tsunade to continue. She cleared her throat. "Unfortunately, there are no test takers of Mizu being promoted this test." There was a brief, disappointed clamour from the small audience section of Mizu witnesses.
Tsunade turned and held her hand out, accepting a scroll from Kurenai. She turned to Hanabi. "From Konohagakure, Hyuuga Hanabi is thus advanced to the rank of Chunin, for exceptional skills in hand-to-hand combat, defense and leadership. Congratulations, Hyuuga Hanabi-san." She held out the scroll. "You are to complete this form and hand it into Shizune-san as soon as possible."
Hanabi accepted the scroll and bowed. "Thank you, Hokage-sama." She was visibly biting back a smile.
Tsunade took another scroll from Kurenai, and stepped over to stand before Taji and his pup Fasu. "From Konohagakure, Inuzuka Taji is thus advanced to the rank of Chunin, for exceptional skills in co-ordinated attack, use of weaponry and quick thinking. Congratulations, Inuzuka Taji-san." She held out the scroll. "You are to complete this form and hand it in to Shizune-san as soon as possible."
Taji accepted it with a small smile, as Fasu yipped happily on his shoulder. "Thank you, Hokage-sama!" He bowed.
Tsunade gave him a brief smile, and walked over to stand in front of Naruto, who gave her a tiny, hopeful smile. There was a tense pause between the two, before Tsunade smiled back and turned, taking a final scroll from Kurenai. "From Konohagakure, Uzumaki Naruto is thus advanced to the rank of Chunin, for exceptional skills in hand-to-hand combat, use of ninjutsu, quick thinking and leadership. Congratulations, Uzumaki Naruto-san. You are to complete this form and hand it in to Shizune-san as soon as possible."
Naruto took the scroll and promptly jumped up with a loud, enthusiastic cheer. "HELL YEAAAAH!"
Gaara resisted the urge to groan aloud. Naruto had no sense of decorum at all.
And up in the stands, there was a sudden, loud, echoing cheer to the blonds. "GO NARUTO! CHA!" yelled his former female teammate.
That clinched it. There would be no calming the boy down until tomorrow.
xXx
"Chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug!" chanted the gathered party crowd, as Naruto guzzled a huge jug of very potent, Suna-brewed alcohol, courtesy of Kankuro.
Sakura laughed as she watched his expression, slightly tipsy herself. The rest of the day had passed pretty quickly once the Chunin Exams were over, and now they had gathered in a bar to celebrate with alcohol, special ordered ramen and many drunken exploits. Kiba, for example, had stolen Ino away from the Kazekage (whom she'd been speaking with) to dance in the most suggestive manner Sakura had ever witnessed. And of course there was Naruto's drinking.
The kunoichi hadn't really thought he was the 'drink until you throw up' type, but Kankuro - in all his play-boy wisdom - had somehow convinced the blond that this would greatly impress his pretty date. And of course Naruto had eaten that up with all the grace of a drowning elephant.
Hinata looked like she wasn't sure if it was entirely wise to be impressed, as Naruto got more smashed with each passing minute. And down went the empty jug. Up went Hinata, plucked from the floor by her drunk date, who promptly kissed her breathless. Sakura thought she saw Tenten put Neji in a headlock.
Sakura was then distracted by the smooth slide of arms around her waist, and a chin rested atop her head. "He's acting like an idiot," her boyfriend drawled.
She snorted. "What else is new?" she asked, leaning back into his warmth. Mmm, he feels nice, Inner Sakura purred.
"Well, more of an idiot than usual," Itachi corrected. He paused as her fingers slid up and down his arm. "Have you been drinking as well?"
"Just sake, and only a few cups," she said. I think.
"Mm," was the noncommittal reply.
"Where were you?" Sakura asked suddenly, turning in his arms to wrap hers around his neck.
He gave her a brief kiss on the forehead, not really one for public displays of affection. "Observing obligations," he replied vaguely, and quickly redirected her attention. "Are you sure that was sake?"
She blinked at him. "Yes... why?" she asked, and blinked some more.
"Because your breath smells like honey," he replied bluntly.
She turned her head to look at the bar, where she had placed her drink. She frowned and leaned over, vision a bit fuzzy. "Hey, that's not a sake jug... Hey, hey, bartender!"
The man came over, brows quirking. "Yes, Haruno-san? What did you need?"
She pointed almost accusingly at the unadorned brown gourd sitting with her glass. "What is that? And when did you give me that?"
He shook his head. "The Suna jonin brought it to you half an hour ago, ma'am, remember? He told you to try it and you apparently liked it."
Sakura gasped, jerking away from Itachi to go yell at Kankuro. "That sneaky little- woah," she gasped as she swayed.
Itachi quickly caught her and nodded his thanks to the bartender, who wandered off. "That answers that. You are aware that Sunagakure is known for its brew, aren't you?"
She blinked fuzzily, and looked at him, then grinned. "Have I ever told you how sexy you are?"
Both black brows lifted at the announcement. "We're going home."
She shook her head and tugged away again (Itachi held onto her bicep firmly), stumbling to the bar. "Don't forget the Lily! He gave it to me!"
"Now you remember," Itachi muttered, mostly to himself. "Sakura-"
"We are not leaving the Lily, we are bringing the fucking Lily, Uchiha Itachi, got it?" she growled, searching clumsily for the cork for the gourd.
He sighed. "Alright. I'll have it brought home."
"Saaakurraaa-chaaaaaaaaannnnn," a familiar voice yelled, as Naruto and a redfaced Hinata stumbled over. "Ohhh, Itachi! Hi, Itachi! What are you doing to Sakura-chan, Itachi?" Pause. "And why are you a weasel?"
Itachi's eye twitched. Drunken stupidity. Oh joy. "I'm bringing Sakura home. She's drunk."
"Not as drunk as Naruto," Sakura snickered, squinting at her friend. "Hey Naruto, you have a very, very red complexicon- complex- complet... That word that means your face."
Naruto burst out laughing. "Wouldn't it've been easier to say my face?" he snickered.
"Shut up," she retorted. "You're going to get alcohol poisoning, Naruto. That stuff is strooonngg and you drank a lot of it. I was watching!"
"Yeaah, that was fun. Hey, Hinata, we should do it again!" Naruto chirped, and promptly pulled her into another kiss.
She grimaced, returned it briefly and gently pushed him away. "I think home sounds nice," she muttered. "Time to get you home Naruto-kun."
"You'll stay with me?" Naruto was asking, as Itachi expertly pulled the distracted Sakura away.
"I'll think about it..."
And their whispered conversation was drown out in the noise of the bar. Itachi nudged the door open with a foot, and lead Sakura out into the cool air. She walked mechanically, apparently having forgotten about the Suna alcohol (for which Itachi was glad).
Thankfully, he managed to get her to the edge of the Uchiha complex before she slumped, but since he was waiting for it, it was a simple matter to shift his weight, crouch and lift her up into both arms. She giggled and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. "You're so nice, Itachiii," she said sweetly. "I like how nice you are."
He quirked a brow. "I'm glad you approve of my personality," he replied blandly.
"I approve of your face, too," she told him as they walked down the street toward their shared home. "And... your..." She paused, searching for a word, and he climbed the steps. "Your mouth. Ha!" She kissed him on the lips. "I like your mouth, Itachi. It is nice. And feels nice."
"You are very drunk." He set her down on her feet, and quickly unlocked (and released the wards on) the door. She stumbled along with him, dragging the door closed behind him, and veered off toward the kitchen. He followed with a small, amused smirk. "Would you like some coffee?"
"I would like some sugar," she said, turning around and propping herself up on the edge of the kitchen table. "And by sugar, I mean kisses. Because your mouth is nice."
"Perhaps we should wait until you are more... sober," he suggested mildly, taking her hand and tugging her gently off the table. "How about a shower. Take a shower, and I will make some coffee."
She dug her heels into the floor with surprising force. "Itachi. Kiss. Now," she demanded.
"Look, it's a rabbit," he replied, pointing, and she whipped around to look. Having successfully diverted her attention, he merely followed her down the hall. "I think it went into the bathroom."
"I must find the rabbit," she replied, and stumbled toward the bathroom. She jerked open the door, looked in and pouted. "There isn't a rabbit, Itachi. It's not there."
He managed to look innocent under her suspicious glower. "Perhaps it was a sign that you should take a shower."
She poked his chest. "I'm not stupid. I'm drunk. There's a difference!"
"If you promise to take a shower, I will give you a kiss," he replied.
Sakura paused to think this over, which took a moment. Finally, she nodded. "Alright. And one after the shower."
"As you wish," he said, and tugged her into a gentle kiss, just a chaste press of the lips.
Unfortunately, Sakura was just drunk enough to forget to hesitate, and deepened the kiss with a messy swipe of tongue. And really, when she was being so insistent, he couldn't deny her. Not ever.
Sakura growled into his mouth and dragged him closer, stumbling back into the door frame. He quickly regained his balance with a hand to the wall and the other on her shoulder. Her free hand slid up his side and under his shirt, nails dragging against hard muscle, the sensation making him shiver as her tongue explored his mouth and vice versa.
Finally, though, he forced himself back with a reluctant sigh, grabbed her shoulders and turned her into the bathroom. "Shower. Then coffee. Then we can continue."
She giggled. "Okay."
xXx
Sakura woke to blinding sunlight in her face, and a blonde chattering as she went through drawers. "Really, Sakura, this isn't even your room, but half his drawers are full of your clothes," Ino chided.
"You should see my drawers," the pink haired kunoichi said automatically.
Ino tossed a smirk her way. "I can. Nice color."
Sakura flipped her the bird and pulled the blanket over her waist. She tried to remember the night before, but most of it was a blur. She did remember Naruto drinking too much, and Hinata laughing. Tenten putting Neji in a headlock. Ino dancing with Kiba. What after that? Itachi telling her that she was drunk...
Ooh, and sex on the kitchen table. She grinned and covered her face with the pillow. "Where'd he go?" she asked, voice muffled.
"Dunno. Wasn't here when I got here. He's probably training," Ino babbled. "Ah! Shorts, tank top. Get dressed, nudist!"
Something light landed on her blanket covered stomach, and Sakura peeked beyond the pillow to see a pair of green shorts and a white tanktop, with a pink bra. "Okay... Go wait in the kitchen. Don't use the table."
Ino gave her a startled look. "I think I'll go sit on the sofa," she said, paling.
Sakura snickered, and sat up as the door shut behind her friend. She quickly dressed and joined Ino in the living room, stopping to grab a cup of coffee. "You make the coffee?"
"Nope, it beeped when I was coming in the door. He makes good coffee, though," Ino replied, lifting her mug pointedly. "Hope you don't mind."
"Eh," was the only response, as Sakura sat on the other half of the couch. "Mmmm, where have the days gone." She sipped her coffee.
"Into the past," Ino replied, grinning. "We're doing tea later today. Temari's joining us, since they aren't leaving 'till tomorrow. You coming?"
Sakura paused to think over her schedule. She had night shift at the hospital. "Yeah, sure. What time?"
"Four," Ino replied.
Sakura nodded, her mind already wandering. Mention of Temari reminded her of a rumor she'd heard. "So what's this I hear about you flirting with a certain redheaded kage?"
Ino blushed. "Er..."
"I thought you were dating Kiba," Sakura said, brows lifting. "And then Temari says you're being all flirty with her brother, and complains to me about it, because apparently she thinks it's gross." She glared at the blonde. "So why did I have to hear about this from a third party? You nag and nag and nag 'till I spill Itachi-related details. The least you could do is return the favor. So spill."
"Sorrryyy," Ino whined. "I just... you know... I mean, I didn't even..." She sighed. "It was habit."
"Habit," Sakura deadpanned.
Ino winced. "I don't know what I'm doing! I mean, you're right. I've been dating Kiba. But he was being an ass, and I broke up with him, and then I was just... flirting at Gaara... er, 'sama'." She huffed, then turned to give Sakura a wide-eyed look. "And he flirted back!"
"No way," Sakura gasped, eyes widening.
Ino nodded. "Mmmhmm. I was being stupid and made a joke about him needing help in his suite, and he said he'd think of me first!" she hissed. "I was so shocked that I just... you know..."
"Did the ditzy blonde thing and continued flirting?" Sakura guessed, getting a nod. "Wow." She set aside her coffee and drew her knees up, turning to more fully face her best friend. "So then what happened?"
"Well, it was during the last exam, and one of his genin came up, so we got distracted," Ino admitted. "And then he gave me the cold shoulder after that, so I'm not even sure if I'm just imagining things, or... or whatever. I don't know." She shook her head.
Sakura considered it. "Well, he doesn't really have a lot of social experience," she pointed out carefully. "I mean, according to Temari, he hasn't really dated before. So... I mean, it could be that he likes you, and just doesn't know what to do with it."
Ino barked out a laugh. "Yeah right! Why would the Kazekage of Suna bother liking a second class Konoha mednin?"
"If you ever call yourself second class again, I will beat the shit out of you," Sakura snarled.
The blonde jerked at that, having the grace to blush. "Sorry, Forehead." She drew a breath and shook her head. "I think I'm just gonna drop it. I mean, we live in different villages, and anyway, me and Kiba are back together, so..."
Sakura nodded. "Alright... Just make sure you get what you want, alright? I don't wanna see you getting hurt. I still don't think Kiba's any good for you."
Ino smiled at her. "I know, Sakura. But... I love him. What can I say?"
The rosette had nothing to say to that, so she picked her coffee back up and changed the subject.
xXx
"Welcome to Tensa Inn, nin-san! May I get you a room?" the pretty innkeeper chirped.
Kisame nodded, his sword sealed into a scroll, and his coloring and build disguised with a henge. He looked like a slightly shorter, dark-skinned man with black eyes and hair to her, which suited him just fine. Wasn't like he didn't have the chakra reserves. "Yes, thank you," he said gruffly.
She beamed at him and lead him down a hall. "Is there anything you would like to eat?"
"Just dango," he said, and watched her walk off. Then he turned to the door and opened it. Predictably, a short redheaded boy sat on the only bed, watching the door without blinking. Kisame grunted in a lazy attempt at greeting, and shut the door. "Hey, Karasu."
"Hello, Kisame-san," Karasu replied. "You wanted to meet?"
"Yeah. About my cousin's wedding," Kisame replied.
Karasu ducked his head in acknowledgement of the signal, and quickly performed a genjutsu to disguise their words. Now all anyone would hear from the room were plans to use Karasu as a ring bearer. The room would appear dark from the outside.
Karasu dropped his henge, and stood to offer Kisame the bed. "What news is it?" he asked.
Kisame flopped down on the bed, making a face. "Apparently, Deidara's still alive," he said.
Itachi frowned at him. "Is that so?" He sighed. He should have known.
Kisame nodded. "Yeah. There's also a small group of nukenin taking refuge in the caves of Shadow Country. They're trying to assemble a copy-cat group like Akatsuki. They might prove to be a problem for Konoha, but I doubt they'll get as far."
The Konoha shinobi nodded back, turning when there was a knock on the door. He stepped back to stand behind it, as Kisame went to get his dango. Once the woman was gone, the shark nin offered some to Itachi, who took it without argument. Heh. Addict.
"How are your living arrangements?" Itachi asked after a moment.
The mist nin shrugged, returning to his boneless state on the bed. "Adequate. I've been wandering around, mostly. Don't really feel like staying anywhere. Anyway, even if I did, Akatsuki would eventually find me and I'd have to leave again. Better to stay on my feet."
"I see." Itachi nibbled on his treat thoughtfully, leaning against the wall. "I'm sorry."
Kisame sat up straight, doing a double take at the Uchiha. "What?" he snapped.
Both brows lifting, the other man shrugged. "It's my fault you're hunted. I regret it. So I apologize."
"Bit late for that, isn't it?" Kisame demanded suspiciously.
"Mm," Itachi replied noncommittally.
After a moment, Kisame figured out that he wasn't going to get anything else on the subject out of Itachi, so he finished his dango in silence and flopped back down again. "How's the girl?"
His companion set aside the dango stick and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Happy, I believe. At least, I try to make it so."
"And the gaki?"
"A Chunin, finally."
"Heh. Good."
Itachi's lips quirked. "Your concern would touch him."
Kisame laughed dryly. "Bullshit. I freak that kid out."
"I believe his words were 'that creepy, overgrown tuna fish'."
They lapsed into silence, before Kisame sat up to take off his boots. "And the other?"
Itachi didn't answer immediately, drawing his partner's gaze. He was staring out the window pensively, his amusement a thing of the past. "His sentence is life. He still hates me."
Kisame finished his task and sat up again. "Least he's safe," he said, but knew that it was a hollow comfort to Itachi. Best as he could fathom, Itachi was no longer sure what to think of his brother. He felt responsible for the way the boy had developed, but at the same time, he could not forgive him for his attempts on Sakura's life.
"She still wakes with nightmares," Itachi murmured quietly. "Sometimes she wakes screaming. Others, I don't find out until morning, and she's asleep on the couch with her team picture."
Kisame didn't really know what to say to that. What could he say? 'I'm sorry' would be awkward. 'She'll get over it' was cruel. 'She'll forget' was a lie. So he said nothing.
A few minutes passed by, and Itachi finally straightened and performed his henge. "I'll be going. The room is paid for."
His partner nodded. "Itachi..." The Uchiha didn't move, but he also didn't look at him. Kisame sighed. "Tell her I said hey."
"I will." He vanished in a poof of smoke.
Kisame sighed and tried to get some sleep.
xXx
Wrapping things up. The next chapter will be the last, and will skip forward about a year. Technically, it's an epilogue. Thanks again to Azhwi for helping me out, bouncing ideas back and forth with me and in general keeping me company while I write.
Anyway, please review!
