After a long period of time, I'm back. I apologise to all those l made wait in my absence. Anyway, let's get on with it...

Disclaimer: l don't own Naruto

~o~

Naruto looked at his side, the form of the lazy Nara coming into view. Said boy was currently gazing out the window, a bored look plastered on his face. It made the blonde wonder if Shikamaru was ever excited about anything.

"You know, l never really got what was so special about clouds," Naruto said as he sat next to Shikamaru. The Nara closed his eyes and thought on his response as he did with most things.

"It's not the clouds themselves, even if it is. It just depends on your imagination," talk about confusing. With that Naruto wanted no farther part in any discussion involving clouds.

He stood up and decided a shower would be necessary before dinner with the rest of the gang.

~o~

Sasuke looked at the sun as it disappeared for another night. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked on as the sky began to dim. He turned on his heel and came face to face with Orochimaru. He tensed, not at all expecting the man to be there.

'How long has he been there?!' Internally, Sasuke was trying to rationalize things. How had he missed this guy's presence?

"Orochimaru," he wasn't sure on how to address this guy really so he just went with his name.

"Ah, young Sasuke, don't mind my presence, we can both enjoy the view,"

he offered, a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

"Actually, l was just about done here," he narrowed his eyes at the older man. The vibe this guy was giving off was oddly suffocating. Orochimaru smiled at him and nodded.

"Then l suppose next time," he said and Sasuke found himself nodding against his will. Anything to get away from this man. Itachi had been right as much as Sasuke didn't want to admit. He would have to be cautious from here on out.

~o~

Mito let out a yawn as she rubbed her eyes. Taking a nap before dinner may have been one of her smarter ideas, that she would admit. Now she had to get rid of the bed head before anything else.

"Oh, you're finally up," she heard Tenten speak and turned her head with a smile.

"Yeah, l had to get rid of that drowsiness beforehand," she stood and stretched her body and turned towards the shower. "Where are the girls," she asked and Tenten looked up at her.

"Probably getting ready in their rooms before dinner," the redhead nodded and walked into the bathroom.

For a while, Mito simply stood under the shower as the cold water washed over her. Her mind began to think about how she would tell the girls. Delivery was important and she had to present this case in the most unbiased way possible. She was also wondering whether she should tell them before or after they met up with the boys.

"After," she told herself deciding that the boys didn't need this problem just yet. She combed her hand through her hair and frowned. She wanted to be able to diffuse the situation but she really wasn't sure how tonight would play out.

~o~

Naruto had taken note of how his friends had been behaving and he didn't like it. Something had happened in the short time that they were apart and he wanted to know what.

The blonde could see how Sasuke's eyes kept tracking back and forth, almost expecting someone or something to pop out.

"He's paranoid," Naruto decided and he turned to Mito. His redheaded cousin had a far away look, her mind probably focusing on something she considered important.

"She's worried," he realized and he saw how her hair was tied up again, something she rarely did nowadays.

"What's with those two,?" he decided not to voice his opinion and stayed silent. He turned to Sakura and tried to focus on other things.

"What's up with Sasuke?" she asked him as they went over to the buffet. Naruto shrugged.

"So you noticed," he wasn't sure what else to say to her question. Even he didn't know this time.

"Of course l noticed, this is Sasuke we're talking about," she reasoned with him and he remembered how much she liked the emo bastard. He hung his head in defeat.

"And Mito?" he asked and Sakura looked back at the girl with an inquisitive glance, trying to decipher what was wrong.

"That time of the month?" the pinkette shrugged and Naruto shook his head.

"No, that's next week," he answered as if it was normal and Sakura looked at him like he was crazy. She swung her fist, knocking him over the head and directed a furious glare his way.

"That's not something you should know about!" Naruto didn't get what he had done to deserve this at all.

"Am l interrupting something?" Kakashi asked as he walked up to him. Sakura gave a 'hmph' before she stalked off.

"Not anymore," Naruto tried to joke and Kakashi gave a slight chuckle. " I'll wear her down soon enough," he said Kakashi just leveled his gaze on the blonde.

"Right, listen Naruto, we need to talk," the masked teacher said and Naruto picked up just how serious Kakashi sounded.

He picked himself up and walked along side Kakashi, food long forgotten.

Once they were outside, Naruto turned to his teacher, worry starting to make itself evident on his face.

"Naruto, how much has Jiraiya told you about Orochimaru?" the man asked as he put his book back into his pocket. Naruto furrowed his brow and thought on it.

"Not much, just how the guy is a shady character and may or may not be a pedo," the blonde shrugged while Kakashi studied him a bit.

"I see,"

"Do you, l mean you only have one eye in use," Naruto pointed out as he stared at the mask.

"It was a figure of speech Naruto,"

"I know,"

"Still, be careful. There's a lot about Orochimaru that you guys don't know," the man turned his back and began to walk away. He let Naruto stir those thoughts in the hopes that the blonde would be curious enough to do his homework on the creep.

As much as their parents didn't want them involved, Kakashi knew it was dangerous to actually leave them in the dark. He felt it was better to have them work from their own angle while the grown-up's did their own thing. This way, Orochimaru would have more to contend with, not just Jiraiya anymore.

~o~

Mito looked around after a while, only to notice that she was standing alone. Where had Naruto and Sasuke gone. She wasn't hungry and she really just wanted tomorrow to come so they could tour the place. She turned and came face to face with Orochimaru, his smile making her skin crawl. There was a certain celerity to the man's movements for she was sure that just a minute ago, there had been no one at her side.

This man made her wary and very self aware. She never wanted to be alone with him. She kept her eyes trained on him as she walked past him with a quick greeting. In turn, the man watched her, the acuity of his eyes scaring her a bit. Something was odd about this man.

From across the room Naruto had seen the interaction and that allowed him to make up his mind. Orochimaru had just gained his attention.