A/N: Thank you for that very humbling and appreciated review Cathy (I've pm'd you). Yay- Fanfic fixed the issues with tracking traffic stats! Anyways, happy reading x

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto. This story is purely a work of fanfiction.

Nina- is my original character (I do own her)

Chapter 15

"The medic core check out, and so do the Anbu operatives."

"Good. Thank you Shikaku. Have you seen Jiraiya?"

"No."

"That fool. I can't wait much longer."

Tsunade stood at the window, arms crossed. "See that those missions are assigned to the teams I have suggested."

"Understood."

Tsunade stared out the window and overlooked the village. Jiraiya hadn't come to her last night and she hadn't received any correspondence to explain his absence either. It would only be a matter of time before the Elders graced her office demanding to know the details of the investigation. On one hand, both the medic core and Anbu division could return to full operations. However, on the other, it just further confirmed that this all involved Orochimaru and Kabuto.

With no update from Jiraiya's toads, Tsunade's anxiety was growing and her patience was lessening by the minute. Time wasn't something they should afford the likes of Orochimaru. She would have to act soon.

Shikaku knocked and stuck his head in.

"Millady, we're ready for you. The teams have started assembling and are awaiting your orders."

"Fine."

Dammit. She was the Fifth Hokage not Jiraiya.

"Shikaku, see that this is delivered as a matter of urgency."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Achoo! Achoo!

"Are you alright Pervy?"

He rubbed his finger across his nose and sniffled. Wonder who was talking about him? Maybe it was Tsunade?

Naruto had seen the Sage's many perverted facial expressions and this was definitely the one where he was thinking about Granny.

"Ew. Would you just train me already?"

"Alright. Alright. Pay attention to Gamariki."

The training was taking considerably longer when they'd hit a clash of personalities between the pair. Naruto was objecting to training based on appearances, which of course Gamariki didn't take too kindly to. It wasn't something Jiraiya could just dismiss either. Naruto needed to learn how to effectively break a genjutsu.

He probably should have informed Tsunade, but he doubted she would act too hastily. Or at least he hoped she wouldn't. Intel took time. Orochimaru had countless hideouts. It wasn't a straightforward task. And Kabuto was as slippery as they came. Jiraiya had sent out a second toad to attempt to locate him.

Nonetheless, if Tsunade chose to not wait, the worst to occur would be Kakashi returning to the village earlier. It'd cut short the getaway for him and Nina, but it couldn't be helped in times like these. Oddly, Nina was safer in Rain country than at home, and Tsunade was right. Kakashi was a body, that given the circumstances, the village needed him more than he needed leave.

"Argh. I don't get it. Make more sense Gamariki."

"No offense Lady Tsunade, but a D rank mission, really?"

"Yes, Shikamaru. I have my reasons. All I ask is you to complete the missions assigned to you. Is that understood?"

"Right."

After his son and three-man squad, made up of some newly graduated genin, Shikaku gave an audible sigh. "Apologies Lady Tsunade."

"Never mind. A D-rank is hardly a challenge however, the new graduates will be. It won't be long and he could be assigned a team of his own."

Shikaku was an intelligent man and knew that wasn't the only reason. Shikamaru was usually compliant and chilled. The walls of the Hokage Tower had meant that they overhead part of the altercation between him and Sakura yesterday. An idle mind was of no benefit to the almost Jonin. He needed a sense of purpose.

Protect the King.

Shikamaru fiddled with the lighter in his pocket, tuning out the rambling of the three excited kids who trailed behind him. What a drag.

The mission was very basic, as to be expected being a D-rank. Locate a missing pet for some old person and return it. He had three fresh genin who were, judging by the topics of conversation, even more immature than Naruto.

He could have done with the company, however it would be wasteful to have both him and Temari on the same team. That, and protocol.

She was his grounding totem at present. Although, he'd mostly accepted what was, he'd allowed his emotions to get away from him yesterday. Rather than lecturing him, Temari had laid next to him on a hill and passed time cloud watching. The simple things in life.

One. Two and… three. Three Anbu operatives. Three sets of eyes on him. Something was definitely going on. It hadn't been a passing whim to ask him if he'd had any dealings with either Orochimaru or Kabuto.

"Sasuke?"

"Hn?"

"What did Tsunade-sama want with you yesterday?"

"Oh that? Nothing much. Checking in to make sure I was prepared for the Chunin exams."

"That's good. I wonder what's going on."

Sasuke took pause to look over Sakura. She was tired. Dark circles were beginning to form under her eyes. They were normally a bright emerald green, however they were dulled.

"What makes you say that?"

She swallowed the mouthful of sweet dango. "Well, the whole medic core had to undergo a review. But that's the thing, it wasn't a normal review. We were asked about our recent whereabouts and accessing of the archives and personnel files."

Even Naruto would have been able to put the puzzle pieces together and come to the same assumption. If he was being questioned about any recent interactions with that pair, and there was an inquiry regarding personnel files- there'd been a leak.

"And it's normal, you know? For Kabuto to come to the hospital from time to time, that is. He brings up the orphans for a check-up. Just, it didn't make any sense because they weren't asking the normal questions for a review. And then when I saw Shikamaru leading you into the Hokage office I was worried that it may have been something to do with Orochimaru."

Sakura couldn't bring her eyes from her lap where she was fiddling with her fingers. She wasn't suited to confrontations, least of all with Sasuke.

"Konoha is my home. Itachi wanted to protect it and so do I."

Her breath hitched and her eyes flung upwards to his. Home. And her eyes fell back to her lap. She'd been right to defend him yesterday.

It wasn't just a matter of wrong and right. Sakura had been careless in the early days of Team 7. She hadn't understood Sasuke at all, or Naruto. She'd been fortunate to have grown up with two parents. How could she possibly understand the extent of their loneliness and suffering? And whilst true, for a number of years she'd been a foolish child chasing a crush; it was irrevocably more than that now. Explaining it was difficult. Never the right words without sounding like that same naïve little girl.

They'd changed. Gotten stronger. Matured.

Shit. Work.

"Lady Tsunade is going to kill me. Sorry but"-

"Go."

Sasuke smirked. He'd spent years denying her affections. He really had been blind.

He needed to get stronger. If Orochimaru was a threat, he needed to prepare. He'd failed to locate Jiraiya and Naruto, and Kakashi was still on leave. How annoying.

"If I cannot do one thousand hand walks, then it will be one thousand push ups!"

"Oh, hi Sasuke."

"Lee. Want to train?"

As expected, Lee's eyes gleamed with eagerness and he threw out a thumbs up. "Oh yes. Let us see who is stronger!"