"Ne, Ne, what do ya guys wanna do, -bayo?"
Naruto asked. Kakashi had already left them, saying something about paperwork's about the team. Sakura shrugged her shoulders while Sasuke 'hn'ed like he usually does when he's too lazy to answer. The blonde pouted. Why are his teammates so unresponsive, dammit!
"Ooh, let's go eat ramen!"
He suggested and he inwardly cheered when Sakura said a yes while Sasuke shrugged his shoulder this time. Naruto was about to prance away like a little girl when Sakura grabbed his elbow and stopped him from going anymore. "Ah! Shikamaru! Temari-san! Look who's back!"
The pinkette waved over. The aforementioned duo stopped and looked at her and whatever she was pointing at. The Uchiha merely scoffed. "Those moronic c—" Sakura elbowed him on his side, shutting him up. The latter winced and glared at her. Stupid Sakura and her brutal ways, he thought in frustration.
The Nara widened his eyes and exclaimed, "Is that Naruto?!" The blonde smirked. Hahaha, he's that unforgettable, huh?! "Did you just come home then?" The Nara casually asked his friend. "Nope~ I got home yesterday, ttebayo!" Sasuke shook his head. Can Naruto be any louder than he already is? "He he, has your idiocy finally left you? And have you changed? Well?"
Sakura scoffed. "No, he hasn't changed at all." Which was followed by Sasuke snickering. "The dobe didn't change at all. He might have gotten taller but he's still a moron." Naruto's face bursts into red and glared at Sasuke. "What did you say, teme?!" Sasuke glared back. "You're definitely hard of hearing. You must be older than you look, usuratonkachi."
Naruto was about to pounce on him but Sakura held him back. Meanwhile, Shikamaru and Temari sweatdropped at the scene. Definitely, both Naruto AND Sasuke haven't changed at all. "Hey, Naruto..." The blonde stopped struggling in Sakura's hold and looked at Shikamaru. "Are you going to take the Chuunin Exams this year?"
"Chuunin Exams?"
"The only one in our class that hasn't been made Chuunin yet... is you." There was silence for a few seconds before the Nara's words registered in the blonde's mind. "EHHHHHHHH?!" Naruto exclaimed in disbelief. How couldn't he when everyone had left him behind!? This is so unfair, believe it!
"Then, then, are you a chuunin, too, Sakura-chan?!" The pinkette nodded with an apologetic look. "Plus..." Shikamaru chirped. He was liking this, that's for sure. "Neji from the year above us, Kankuro of the Sand and Temari here are Jounin." Naruto blanched. Wait, Sasuke hasn't been mentioned yet.
"What about ya, teme?" The blonde asked his other teammate. Sasuke smirked, knowing how frustrated Naruto must and will be after he informs the dobe. "I was recommended to take the exams for ANBU but I declined. Currently, I'm a Jounin like Temari-san over there."
Again, it took a few moments before Naruto can register what Sasuke said. "WHAAAAAAT?!" Shocked, he turned to face Temari and Shikamaru again. "Then, then, what about Gaara?!"
After getting over the initial shock about Gaara being a Kazekage, Naruto bid his farewell and jogged back to hi— their— their apartment. He stood in front of it and just stared at it, somehow thinking that maybe, just maybe, someone would open the door there and a certain redhead would greet him.
He just stood there, staring at the knob, and waiting. After a couple of minutes have passed, he sighed in sadness, grabbed the knob and turned it around, pushing the door open. "... I'm home." He could hear her voice, even though she wasn't there anymore.
"Welcome back, Naru-naru. Did you play with Kiba and the others again? Don't you even find it troublesome?" A sad smile appeared on the blonde's lips. Yeah, he could still hear her voice even though it's been two and a half years already. Her voice will always be present in his mind, he could never forget it. Not a single moment did he forget it.
The coldness he felt as he entered their home made him shiver. He couldn't remember a time when this apartment was this cold and empty and depressing except now and when they had that argument. Their apartment had always been so warm and welcoming... and homey and full of love. Now, now, it's so cold. Undeniably cold.
The whole place was covered in dust but it was considerably clean. There was just dust everywhere. Every step he takes, memories of this place keeps flooding in. Memories of when she was still here with him. When she was still by his side. The silence was deafening and he hated it.
He hated silence. He absolutely hates it. It reminds him that she wasn't here anymore, that she was no longer by his side. He knew it might take a while to find her and bring her back and he's sure that they will succeed but he just couldn't accept the fact that he's. Alone. In. Their. Apartment.
The feeling of loneliness keeps haunting him. Sure, there are friends there to support him but it's just not enough. They just couldn't compare to the support of a family. The support she gives him. It was a different feeling. His friends are there, supporting him, just being there for him.
While she was there since birth. She was the reason why he hasn't gone mad yet. He heard a water drop and stopped. He turned to face where the sound came from and flinched when he realized it came from her room. He raised his hand and took hold of the knob, having second thoughts if he should enter.
Deciding that he should, he entered. What surprised him, shock him was the fact that this room was dust free. It was clean. When it was supposed to be dusty for having its only occupant gone for two and a half years. It was untouched, actually, everything was in place from the last time he saw this room.
So why? Why was this room the only place clean?
"YOU'RE LATE!"
Naruto and Sakura exclaimed while pointing at Kakashi, Sasuke merely scoffed in the background. Couldn't they just get on with it? "Be on time, Kaka-sensei! This is our first mission as a new team! Be happy!" Naruto complained, making Sakura sigh.
"Hey..." Kakashi held up his hands in defense. "... I have a reasonable reason. I was busy finishing the paperwork for the new team." The blonde gave him the look, making Kakashi sweatdrop. "Ugh, let's just let it go, Naruto. He can't help it if his face is devoid of any positive emotion."
"Sakura is right. Shishou is only happy when he's peeping on women shamelessly."
Kakashi deadpanned. I'm losing my dignity considerably fast considering Shira-chan isn't here to beat my ego down. Are they purposely doing this? The silver-haired jounin narrowed his eyes at his former students. Could they actually be doing this on purpose? ... Nah. They wouldn't do that... would they?
He inwardly sighed. His attention averted when he saw a hawk flying towards the Hokage building. Hm, I wonder what's going on.
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Team Kakashi stood in front of Tsunade. "Hmmm... That mission... No thanks!" Please don't talk so selfishly. Lady Hokage will get angry at me, not you, Naruto. Kakashi thought with slumped shoulders. Why is that Naruto always complains about the simplest of things? "Eh? What kind of response is that, well?!"
Tsunade was obviously annoyed. Sasuke glared at the back of the blonde's head. Are you trying to get us killed by your stupidity? he thought in annoyance. Seriously, couldn't usuratonkachi read the atmosphere here? The Hokage was seconds away in destroying them.
Sakura was quick to put the blonde in a headlock. "S-Sorry, Shishou! I'll be quick to straighten him up!" Cha! Naruto you moron! You don't know how terrible Shishou can be! Sakura thought while reprimanding him. "The third was more... sensible than you..." Naruto pouted and muttered. "What did you say?!" Sasuke facepalmed.
Naruto hasn't really mentally matured at all.
"TH-THIS IS BAD! GODAIME!" A woman barged into the room with Tsunade looking past Team Kakashi. "THE SAND'S KAZEKAGE HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED BY AN ORGANIZATION CALLED AKATSUKI! We just received the message!" Everyone's attention was suddenly on her.
The previous easy-going atmosphere from before quickly becoming tense from the grave news.
The Akatsuki were making their move.
"It seems that the Akatsuki is making their move..." A figure from the dark corner emerged, a sinister smirk plastered on his face. "... Shira-sama." Kabuto informed the fifteen year old teen sitting down on her bed, her trusted spear shining beside her bed. Her hair had become shorter at the back because of a training incident and is now reaching her nape.
Her hair in front was still in its original state, reaching her hips. She wore dark red pants (bordering on black) and covers it with a dark blue cloth from her waist to her hips; which was secured by a purple rope belt. She wore a white long sleeve shirt, opened at the torso. She wrapped bandages around her chest down to her stomach.
The redhead teen stood up from her sitting position and stared down at Kabuto. "And this concerns me how?" The sound of her voice sent shivers down the gray-haired teen's spine. It sounded so cold-blooded, so merciless. It seemed as if she didn't know what emotion is.
"Were they not trying to recruit you these past few months?" The female teen scoffed and grabbed hold of her precious spear. "I'm not foolish as to join their organization. I have my own personal goal and they will merely get in my way." In a blink of an eye, she swung her spear. A few seconds passed before a few strands of gray hair fell.
"Do not speak of those fools again, Kabuto."
He inwardly smirked. She'll make a great pawn on his board. "Of course, Shira-sama." She was a complete puppet, that's for sure. Or... that's what he thinks.
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"Alright, Team Kakashi, I will tell you you've new mission. You are to go to the Sand, find out the situation and relay it back to Konoha. After that, follow the Sand's order and back them up." The situation suddenly changed. She knew this was going to happen but didn't know when. How did she know? That's her secret.
She also knew who the possible culprits could be. Tsunade has her own resources. "Kakashi." The Hatake raised an eyebrow. "I need to talk to you for a minute. Alone." Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto looked at each other in confusion, asking each other if they knew what she wanted with Kakashi.
"The rest of you lot, leave." Upon hearing the urgency, Iruka pushed the trio out of the room quickly, leaving Kakashi and Tsunade alone. "What is it, Lady Hokage?" Tsunade sighed, wondering if she's making the right decision. But Kakashi has to know this. He needs to.
Tsunade opened her mouth and revealed the information that was supposed to be a secret, only known to her and Jiraiya. With each word she spat out, Kakashi's eyes slowly widen in disbelief and betrayal, however, relief was the biggest thing that was glimmering in his eyes.
"Do you understand how severe this information is, Kakashi?"
"Yes."
"Do not tell anyone. If you do, it will jeopardize the mission."
"Understood." He was relieved. Like, really, really, really relieved. "Now, this is from the information sent. We might have a clue as to who among the Akatsuki you guys are going against. Listen carefully." Kakashi inwardly smiled.
So... it was that... I'm comforted by the fact that it wasn't what we thought. I'm relieved, Minato-sensei...