"Guy, I've got some serious news." Kakashi bolted to the hotsprings, and saw a green-suited male was not Guy. "Well damnit…"

0-0

"Hey Guy sensei?" Takamitsu asked. "When is it we're leaving the premises?"

"Not until Kakashi returns to us with information on our next mission." Guy was modest in his reply.

"And does he know where to go?"

"Yes, the hot springs just north of the main… village…" Guy had gears turning in his head. "You know what Takamitsu? Remain here. I've gotta run… somewhere..."

0-0

"Well, it's a good thing they're blended in with the crowd." Kakashi cracked his fingers and summoned Pakkun.

"Hey Boss." The dog greeted in his low toned Italian mob accent.

"I need your help to find Might Guy. He should be somewhere in this city, and he's said to be residing at the hot springs hotel."

"Hmm…" he sniffed the air. "I don't smell him close by… Wait, he's five miles north…. No three miles… Yup he's booking it here."

"Oh great he left the kid." Kakashi facepalmed on his headband.

With a jarring whip of wind, and a bunch of people scooting out of the way, Guy blown past Kakashi.

"Guy!" Kakashi shouted out. The green beast had barely caught the audio cue, and dug his heels into the dirt to stop his momentum. After burning off his speed, there was a mound of dirt at Guy's height. The locals had a series of angry glares, and Kakashi motioned his arm back the way Guy came. Kakashi and Pakkun made eye contact and Pakkun departed. "Now, we're going to have a quick chat on our way back Guy. Remember the time you had to take a break from your responsibilities?"

"No. Please Kakashi. Anything from me being written up like this again- I…" And in an instant Guy's tone performed a u-turn. "I assure you that my squad is safe and sound from any no do gooders at the Fire Temple."

"The Fire Temple? Home of civilian kidnappings, haunted by ghosts, and accessible on a five-way crosspoint between the Leaf village and three bandit camps. Why don't we just send a letter to the Raikage of where Takamitsu is located, set up a campfire, and sit around as one big happy family asking-"

0-0

"-Why haven't they come back for us yet?" Tenten asked Lee amidst a technically advanced spar while balancing a log on a thin platform.

"I do not know of this 'they' Tenten. Would you mind elaborating?" Lee's typical grammar held like a thick accent

"First Kakashi, and now Guy Sensei!" Tenten leaped backwards to the edge of the log in order to offset Lee's balance. Lee had no choice but to push forward to keep from slipping.

"Leaf Hurrica-aahh!" Lee was untimely met with the log catching momentum underneath him, and making him overshoot his attack. He planted face first into the ground a foot or two below.

"Hey, Takamitsu was supposed to spar the winner! Where did he run off to?" Tenten asked Lee.

"We have completed my regiment requirements on sparring for the day... He mentioned something about meditating at a nearby river before we had our fight." Lee's grunts confirmed his injury as minor.

"Oh come on we don't take that long do we?"

"Our first fight took nearly half an hour." Lee looked disappointed the match ended this soon.

Tenten smiled at Lee and helped him to his feet. "Come on, you've likely will have much worse injuries than that in the future."

"Certainly! But I must insist Takamitsu likely wanted to meditate alone." Lee's tone shifted to concern.

"That's what I'm worried about." Ten-

"Yes, it is a most habitual routine of his he developed." Lee-

"News to me, Guy told us specifically to stay here!" Ten-

"I was not aware we were under Guy sensei's orders! We must find him!" Lee-

"Or worse if he get's kidnapped by bounty hunters like before… Oh man… And now THAT awkward situation's raising in my head again!" Tenten internally yelled.

0-0

Takamitsu remained by a river, 2 kilometers out from the temple. From there, he dunked his bare feet in to feel the forces of the rippling current. The energy of the water developed a small static charge, which restored a negligible amount of chakra. Putting his feet close together, he felt a small zap between his ankles. Goosebumps ran up his leg as he closed his eyes. He imagined the scenery as it was in front of him, down to almost every leaf, tree limb, and grains of dirt.

From there, he brought out a fraction of mental energy to activate his Kusakegro. Within his Kekkei genkai, he lucidly placed all the feelings he felt from that device Shigeko had put him through, and tried deeply analyzing smaller details from his memories. He managed to depict a recent memory, during the walk where Kakashi and Guy fought off that group who carried a Konoha shipment of Instant Ramen…

Instant Ramen… Why would a box be guarded by 11 men for a food resource? If people were that desperate for food, the hired individuals would have rations of their own as pay… Wait… They were cloud Nin! Oh no! Why the hell was I to go on this mission? That was more than likely a hired group set out to get me!

Tenten and Lee had found Takamitsu ten minutes later, Takamitsu remaining stationary as he kept internally searching for answers. Tenten motioned silently for her and Lee to sit beside Takamitsu.

"You can't sneak up on me that easily." Takamitsu called. "Without my sight, the rest of my senses amplify, and I can notice when the blades of grass start bending."

"Takamitsu, we're worried of you getting into some sort of trouble." Tenten replied. "And under Guy Sensei's orders, we are NOT to leave the premises of the temple. Much less without supervision nor each other."

"Funny thing you mention Tenten. Look a little left of the third Oak tree."

"Stop this nonsense, what are you-"

"He has a point Tenten, look in the distance past those trees." Lee interrupted and guided Tenten's eyes."

"Oh my gosh, it's an Anbu Black Ops unit!" She intensely whispered. The masked Anbu jumped up over the tree line and landed across the river.

"I don't appreciate you blowing my cover like that." A familiar voice perked the ears of Lee and Tenten.

"N-Neji?" The two simultaneously called out.

"I've got thirty seconds and then I need to return to post." Neji jumped across the river. Immediately after rolling his mask upward, he was met with a group hug of his two original comrades.

"Neji I've missed you." Tenten was all smiles. Takamitsu felt a ping of jealousy creep up on him.

"Yes, as I have for you two. I see you three have held up thus far. Keep up the good work and I'll see you back in the village." Neji tucked his mask down and darted back for the trees to remain hidden among society once again.

"I'm psyched he's been watching over us this whole time!" Tenten was on cloud nine.

"Ehh, he's okay I guess? Haven't quite got to know the fellow." Takamitsu remained outwardly neutral, but he had a feeling in the back of his mind something didn't feel right. Like time itself felt still, or the emotions of others are almost… forced?

The remainder of the day consisted of being by the river. Takamitsu taught Tenten how to spear fish with a kunai on a stick. And while water walking would help keep the feet dry. The chakra exertion would likely deter the fish thanks to the energy output. At least, Takamitsu believed that. Lee, bless his heart, could only manage to catch fish with his bare hands. Only then he throws it high in the air for Tenten to stick a few shuriken into it's side to confirm the capture. At least it was team building, as funny a Lee's shrieks were when he managed to grab on to one. They ate well with lots of Salmon, and took care not to waste any fish they caught. Afterwards, the bones remains were lightly buried under dirt, set to decompose and help the plants with nutrients for later.