AUTHOR'S
HEARTFELT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: I would just like to give my million
thanks to Blitz Magnus and Aikuchi Shikaku, who, helped me make this
fanfiction possible. Thank you so much! I wish I could repay you for
your kindness someday.
NEW
FICS!
Avenger
(SasuSaku, SaiSaku, oneshot) told in Sasuke's POV. (since May 18,
'06)
Haunted
(SasuSaku, oneshot) takes place after Chapter 307 of the manga.
(since May 19, '06)
ATTENTION
PLEASE! HELP WANTED! Yes, I haven't been improving much on
Chapter 73. So this is your chance to help me! I am in need of
a co-writer for Chapter 73. This person must have at least
a knack at writing a thrilling fight scene. Whoever wants
to grab this opportunity, please contact me via PM or via review. For
inquiries, please don't be hesitant to ask.
(From the last chapter…)
"Hey, I'm busy. You know it's tough to be elite Anbu… go ask Sai." Yamato replied, "He's at his house. Hurry and call him, it's his time off, however, he'll return to his duty in just a few minutes."
"Okay!" the blonde responded, somehow disappointed at his reply.
Then, both hung up and Naruto dialed another number.
"What?" it was rather an unfriendly greeting from another line.
Naruto greeted, "Hey Sai! I was wondering if you could come with Jiraiya, Neji and Tenten on a mission-"
"I'm not interested." Sai hung up.
(Chapter 54 – Plotting Plans)
"ARGH! SAI'S A BASTARD TOO!" Naruto exclaimed furiously as he dialed Sai's number again.
"What?" Sai again.
"Just come with us!"
"Just what is your problem!" Sai answered, "Look Naruto, I'm gonna be late for duty if I stay longer on the phone here, hey, we don't have anything to talk about!"
"It's important Sai-"
"What part in NO don't you understand! I said no, no, NO, NO, and well, let's see… NO. So hang up now!"
"Sai, it's about Sakura-chan's cure! It's for her cure, damn it! Why won't you listen to me for a sec, you ignorant bastard!"
There was a moment of silence, long enough for the two ex-teammates to regain their composures.
Sai finally spoke, "I'll bring Yamato with me. We'll have a talk later at 7 PM, at my place. Bring along whoever is concerned. There, I gave in to what you want. Now can you please hang-"
Then at an instant, Naruto hung up.
"Sai's coming! He said he wants to talk about it later at his place at 7! He's gonna bring along Yamato-taichou, too!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Sai has an excellent record in the headquarters, too. From what I've read, he's got good marks for his stealth, agility and so far, all the high-risk Class-S and Class-A missions he's been through were all successful. He is stationed as scout because he knows better what to do in emergency situations, together with Yamato." Neji implied, "It would also be good to have him on the team."
"Naruto-kun, a-are you coming with them?" Hinata asked as she twiddled her fingers.
"Neh neh, Hinata-chan, what did I say earlier? I'm much more needed here-"
"But your teammate, Sakura-chan-"
"They'll do fine without me, Hinata-chan!" Naruto made the 'nice guy' pose, "But I'll just go with-"
"No, just like you said, Naruto, we will be fine without you." Jiraiya smirked, "So you don't need to come with us later to… what's that person's name again?"
"Sai." Neji replied.
"Yeah, Sai. You don't need to come with us later to Sai's place! You're much needed here!"
"Naruto-kun, I was really planning to cook a big dinner tonight. I'll be cooking lots of ramen, too." Hinata smiled, "But I guess I'll have to move it tomorrow since you're coming with-"
"WHAT! RAMEN! LOTS AND LOTS OF RAMEN!" Naruto drooled, "NO, THEY CAN DO BETTER OFF WITHOUT ME! I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT RAMEN!
"But Naruto-kun, the mission is important, and it's for Sakura-chan-"
"Nah, I can't leave. Remember you're frequently having complications on carrying our baby, so I just can't leave you. What if I did come with them and if I did make it home safe, you will still be here safe and sound but we can't be sure about the baby." Naruto sounded a bit more sincere, "And besides, you cook ramen better than the Ichiraku's! Can't afford to miss a bowl!"
Hinata blushed at his comment.
Sai's place, 7 P.M…
Sai opened the door and in came Jiraiya, Neji and Tenten.
"Jiraiya, the sanin?" Yamato eyed the white-haired man entering Sai's residence.
"Hey, how are you doing?" Jiraiya greeted at Yamato, who was seated on the floor cross-legged comfortably, watching an action series.
"Where's Naruto?" Sai asked as he sat on a sofa across where Jiraiya, Neji and Tenten seated. Yamato was seated on the floor in front of the TV.
"Let's get straight to the point. What about Sakura's cure? What did the Hokage say about it?" Sai asked.
"The Hokage rejected the suggestion of us going to Sunagakure to seek an old man named Wasudo for his help." Neji explained, "So we're doing this whether she likes it or not."
"That's a big problem. I heard from the Ninja Management Department that Tsunade issued a command to them to get all of your information out of the database and burn it up… in public." Yamato said, "Jiraiya, the sanin, Hyuga Neji of the Hyuga Branch House and Hyuga Tenten, of the Hyuga Branch House, wife of Hyuga Neji."
The three who were mentioned were in shock. Burning of their archives in public? All those hard work will disappear in one snap of the Hokage's fingers?
"The issue was heard even by the Judicial Council. The council was shocked and tells Tsunade to hold the ordeal. They wanted to investigate what was behind this sudden decision of hers when you three have a perfectly positive record." Yamato added, "And it was strictly prohibited by the Judicial Council to all ninjas to leak out any information regarding Tsunade's decision of burning your archives. So strict that the Judicial Council said that not even to family members will they tell about the issue. Anyone talking about it in public and are caught will be punished greatly. It's highly classified information."
The three sighed in relief. Good thing there's still the Judicial Council to back them up… And the sensitive and alert elite Anbu like Yamato to tell them about it.
"Now, in my position as elite Anbu, I can't allow you to do missions rejected by the Hokage-"
Sai interrupted, "Aww c'mon Yamato, don't be an asshole-"
"AS I WAS I SAYING, SAI," Yamato stressed his voice, resembling authority, "since I am an elite Anbu and knowing that you're going to be in an unauthorized secret mission, with a team consisting of one licensed Anbu and 3 nins whose licenses are on hold, I cannot allow you to do that."
Jiraiya looked annoyed, Neji was irritated, Tenten was depressed and Sai… Sai was infuriated.
"You're going to do something outrageous. Your lives are at stake. Sai, if you were reported missing and you were caught on the mission with these civilians, the Headquarters will oust you as an Anbu, and as a jounin. In fact, the punishment will be the same thing that might happen with those three's archives. Your archives, both from the Anbu Headquarters and from the Ninja Management Department will be torn up and burnt, in public." Yamato added, "And my position as one of the elite Anbu platoon leaders will be at stake. They will know that I might've allowed you on the mission, and the superiors will turn against me and probably throw me out of position because they know that you are a friend of mine. Now, you have to think Sai, do you want to do this or not?"
"Fuck you Yamato. You're a selfish son of a bitch. You're thinking nothing but maintaining your position in the headquarters? Damn, you're some intelligent and manipulating piece of shit. I wish I've never known you. Hell yeah I'm still doing this mission." Sai, with his two fists, held his mask and broke it apart, the broken porcelain Anbu mask falling on the floor.
TBC…
---
--- --- --- ---
Yamato
reveals his true intentions and reveals if he was friend or foe. It
was a sigh of relief for Neji because he sent a Hyuga Branch House
messenger to Kirigakure to ask Haruno Kashime on the whereabouts of
her teammate, Mayonima Shio, the person cursed by Orochimaru but was
cured by the extract from the great tree of Takigakure no Sato.
Up next: Ruthless Intelligence
"Does
this mission have anything to do with the Hokage's concern?"
-Mayonima
Shio
A/N: O.o Did you just read what Sai have said? YES! STILL GOOD OLE FOUL-MOUTHED SAI! XD
Oh and yes, there will be a short reappearance of Kashime! And yes! Now, it's Shio's time to shine! He was being asked to go to Konoha by a creepy-looking Hyuga Branch House messenger! Don't worry; those who are asking if Kashime will still be making reappearances, she will. She will appear on the next chapter, and also, she will be appearing as a renewed ninja in later chapters (you do know what I mean by 'renewed ninja' right? If not, then, hahaha! You will be surprised to know what that means! It means 2 things! –wink wink-)
Reviews are highly valued!
The song Headstrong by Trapt is still available. The song will be used in Chapter 56. Tell me if you want a copy, okay?
+Releina Artemis+
