Author's Notes.

There it is. The last chapter in the Escort Arc (if you can call it that). This chapter was basically just wrapping up loose ends so not much happened. Also, this chapter is another short one, since not much happened I didn't want to write a bunch of useless stuff. I don't want to spoil the next chapter so I'll leave it at that.

Feedback is always welcome.

I do not own Naruto.

Please enjoy.

Chapter 7

Traveling was always something I enjoyed in my previous life, as rare as it was for me. The chance to go and see a place completely different from your home. That's what excited me.

Some people would say that the journey is always better than the destination itself, and, yeah, it was fun. But for a former Canadian who's only seen sand on beaches, the desert in the Land of Wind was quite the sight, as was Sunagakure. Despite all the looks we got from the shinobi there.

After the repairs, the journey only took a few more days, and as I had claimed, my wounds were almost completely gone on the day after the attack. The rest of the journey was rather uneventful, there weren't any more shinobi attacks and bandits know to stay clear of a pathway going to or from a shinobi village. So the rest of the trip went smoothly.

After getting the confirmation that we had completed the mission, me and Kakashi swiftly departed to make the trip back to Konoha.

The trip back was much faster, mostly due to the lack of civilian presence. For the same reason I decided to take off my sunglasses, it was just me and Kakashi after all, and Kakashi is, at the very least, good at hiding his interest in my eyes. Although not good enough for me to not notice that he wanted to ask a question.

"What is it Kakashi?" I asked. He didn't look surprised that I noticed. Wait, he let me notice on purpose didn't he? He just didn't want to start the conversation.

"Back when we were fighting Jūzō," He started, "how did you throw that water clone? Your file didn't say anything about a jutsu like that, and you didn't mention it either."

"That…" I started, "was new."

Kakashi gave me a dry look.

"What? These eyes don't exactly come with instructions!" I defended. I wasn't lying. I knew the ability existed but I hadn't known how to use it until that moment.

"What about you?" I questioned. Because I wasn't the only one who did something strange.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about." This time it was my turn to give a dry look.

"You froze."

I know why now. After I had some time to think about it, it became obvious. Rin Nohara, Kakashi's teammate who died from being stabbed through the chest by Kakashi's Chidori, the same way he killed the water clone he was fighting.

Kakashi didn't respond, I didn't expect him to, I noticed a while ago that he likes to keep to himself. But I couldn't just let this go, he might have gone through something similar in the anime but my presence here could have changed things. If he freezes again, he could die, and I can't let that happen. Him being the closest thing I have to a friend aside, he's too important to the original storyline. If he dies, in the worst case scenario, the world ends.

It was these things that made me decide my next course of action.

After three days of travel we finally made it back to Konoha. Me and Kakashi quickly made our way to the Hokage tower to deliver our in person report.

It was fairly standard. We'd tell a summary of what happened, especially anything relating to any S-rank shinobi we may have encountered. S-ranks are dangerous enough that any information on their movements is valuable, especially one like Jūzō who's known for his brutality.

After the summary we got our cut of money and then left to finish the written report which was due by the end of the week. Well, not quite.

"Is there something else Kei?"

After we got dismissed I didn't move from my spot. Kakashi sent a curious glance my way.

"Yes Hokage-sama." I started, "I'd like to be partnered up with Kakashi on missions from now on!"

"Eh?" I turned to Kakashi and sent him a look I knew he could read

'If you're not going to tell me why you froze I'm just going to have to stick around and make sure you don't die.'

He sent me a dry stare but didn't voice any objections. I looked back to the Hokage who looked somewhat amused.

He sent a look at Kakashi who simply gave a resigned nod which made the Hokage's amusement grow.

"Very well then," he said with a smile, "You are dismissed."