Naruko: Shut up and start the chapter.
United I Stand
Chapter Thirteen: A Sudden Mission: Go to Team 10!
"Another mission? Already?" Anko said in disbelief as she looked at the Hokage. "It hasn't even been an hour since we got back."
"Yes. It is pretty urgent. Team 10 has encountered some trouble in during their mission and they will need all the help they can. With Team 7, Team 9 and Team 8 going on important missions tomorrow and the other teams currently on their own missions, Team 11 is the only team that is able to go," The Hokage said.
"What is the mission?" Anko asked.
"A group of Ronin have been terrorizing some villages in Hi no Kuni for a while now. Each shinobi team we sent out there was defeated and killed. They call themselves the Shichinintai," The Hokage explained.
"The Band of Seven?" Anko said. "Wait…I heard about them. They were a group of powerful samurai from Tetsu no Kuni. I thought they were beheaded or something?"
"That is what we've heard but unfortunately, we were mistaken," The Hokage responded. "For a while, we didn't even know we were dealing with them but when a shinobi returned near death, he was able to confirm us that they were the assailants."
"So you sent Team 10 to stop them?" Anko asked.
"No, they were sent on an assignment to gather Intel for a target when that shinobi returned here. He and his team had just met with Team 10 at that village before they were attacked," The Hokage explained.
"Shit…Well, Alright…I'll go grab the rugrats and Inoichi," Anko said with a grumble.
"Inoichi is currently on another assignment I had assigned for him before I summoned you so he won't be able to join you on this mission," The Hokage said.
"Really? We ju-Oh fuck a duck. Alright, I'll go gather them up!" Anko said.
'I guess Dango is going to have to wait for later…' Anko thought bitterly.
"Then…I'll prove it somehow," Sakura whispered. "I'll prove it to you that I mean everything that I said. I don't know how but I will…I promise."
"I look forward to seeing you try Haruno," Menma simply replied.
"What a wonderful oath," Anko's voice said from behind, which prompted both Sakura and Menma to turn around and launch kunai at her. Anko caught them both with her index finger after ducking them and twirled them around.
"Nice reflexes kiddos," Anko said with a smile.
"What are you doing here?" Menma asked.
"The Hokage has us going on an important mission to help Team 10," Anko explained. "I got lucky that I saw you with my 20/20 vision." Anko winked but seeing the serious expression on Menma's face made her sigh.
"We just returned an hour ago..." Menma said.
"I know but orders are orders," Anko said.
"Tch…I'll gather my siblings," Menma told
"No need. Just replenish your wares and head to the gate. I'll snag them. Besides, they can't be far," Anko said before she vanished in a swirl of leaves.
Menma snorted and said "Well…Looks like the welcome home is short. I better prepare."
"Yeah…I guess you should," Sakura replied before the two stared at one another. Menma stared down at her emerald green eyes and tensed for a moment before gave her a nod goodbye and started to walk away.
Those eyes…He couldn't let himself be drawn in by them.
Not again.
"Menma!" Sakura shouted once he got a good distance away.
He turned around and gave her a curious look. "We may not get along but I don't want you to die before I can fulfill my promise so come back safely. I'll be here!" Sakura shouted at him.
Despite the words, Menma could hear the serious and worry in her voice which made him chuckle.
'Worried for me? Never thought I'd see the day,' Menma thought. Instead of replying vocally, Menma turned around and continued to walk but raised his hand in a lazy wave before putting his hand into his pocket.
And if had turned around again, he would have seen Sakura smile in relief.
Naruko and Fu were in the middle of cuddling on the bed, just basking in their new…whatever it was they were in, when they heard a knock on the window. Both Naruko and Fu looked up and shrieked in horror at Anko peering through their window, her face pressed up against it with a wide, goofy smile.
Anko let out a hearty laugh, which was muffled by the closed window before Naruto busted into the room with kunai. "What's the problem?!" Naruto said as he looked around before he saw Anko, immediately put together the issue and laughed as well.
"Look at it this way, at least you two weren't getting it on," Naruto said as he waggled his eyebrows only to duck a pair of kunai thrown at him. "That was close," Naruto said with a cheeky smirk.
Once Naruto let Anko in, they all sat in the living room but Anko was looking at Hinata's unconscious body curiously.
"I asked her out on a date. She said yet and well…She fainted," Naruto summed up.
"O-Okay…." Anko replied. "Well, reason I am here is because we got a mission."
"What? We just got back!" The trio shouted, which caused Hinata to stir.
"W-What? What's going on?" Hinata mumbled out.
"Hey, you're awake," Naruto said with a bright smile.
"Mhmm…W-What was the shouting?" Hinata said.
"I was just telling the my Gaki trio that we have another mission," Anko said.
"B-But they ju-" Hinata began.
"I know, they just got back," Anko said with a sigh. "You think I like ruining shit like this kids? Cause I don't but Team 10 needs some help and we're the only team that can get them what they need."
"Team 10…That's Shikamaru, Chōji and Ino, right?" Naruto recounted.
"Nice job kiddo," Anko replied with a grin.
"Well hell, looks like we have to help them," Naruko said.
"Y-Yes…I do not wish for a-any of our friends to perish…" Hinata said.
"Damn it, Hinata-chan, when I come back, we'll go on our date okay?" Naruto asked.
"O-O-Of course," Hinata said with a stammer and a blush but there was an adorable smile on her face that made Naruto grin.
Just then, Inoichi appeared in the room and said "I should have expected you three would be here."
"Hey Inoichi-sensei. You bummed about this mission too?" Naruko asked.
"I wish I could be but I'm bummed about another mission," Inoichi said with an apologetic smile. "Fu, the Hokage said you and I are going on a mission for some Intel. I was originally supposed to do this alone but the Hokage figured that having you with me will show you Konoha does things."
"I-I see…" Fu said as she looked to Naruko, who looked mighty disappointed. Fu leaned over to kiss her cheek and said "I'm sorry Naruko-chan…I hate to leave you and my other new teammates but if the Hokage wants it, no sense in denying it…"
Naruko shook her head and took Fu by the face and kissed her softly.
Hinata looked stunned.
"I'll explain in a second…" Naruto said.
The two broke apart and Fu stood up walked to Inoichi and said "Let's do this Sensei!"
"Sorry guys but I'll keep her safe. I promise," Inoichi said as he grabbed Fu's shoulder and with a swirl of leaves, they were gone.
"So things happened between Naruko and Fu during our last mission," Naruto said as Naruko blushed.
"How o-odd…So to make sure I-I understand. You, Menma-kun and Naruko-chan are the original Naruto-kun but now Naruko-chan is taken? Does that mean you're all taken?" Hinata asked.
"Nope," Naruto responded. "We may share a soul but lately, we've all had different wants."
"G-Good…I-I would have felt really guilty if all of you w-were with Fu-san…" Hinata said.
"Don't be," Naruko said with a grin. "We share the same lifespan and soul but there are some differences between us."
"And while Fu is cute…" Naruto said. "I don't know, I just don't have an interest in her like I do you but I mean I guess I do since Naruko likes her…This is all a work in progress but I say, while we're share the same life force and soul, we are different in some ways so treat us as our own person?"
Hinata blushed deeply but nodded. "I'm glad to see you two are as c-confused as I am," Hinata commented with a small smile.
"I mean, we've only had this going on since like…three weeks?" Naruko asked Naruto, who shrugged in response.
"Honestly, the days just blur together…" Naruto replied.
"While I am deeply amused by this," Anko said with a stare that showed her own confusion. "We need to get a move on."
"Oh right," Naruko said.
"Man…I'm guessing you already told Menma because he's not here, right?" Naruto asked.
At Anko's nod, Naruto sighed. "Damn it, there goes our tradition…"
"I know, I'm so bummed," Naruko said.
"I'm sorry?" Anko and Hinata asked in unison.
"We'll explain but let's get a move on, yeah?" Naruto asked.
Anko and Naruko nodded and Naruto turned to Hinata and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Our house is your house. You can chill here until we get back if you want to. And when I come back, you and me are having that date."
With a wink, Naruto began to pull away but the red faced Hinata caught his shoulder and boldly kissed his cheek, which caused Naruto's face to redden to the point that steam came out his ears.
"That's a new reaction," Naruko noted in amusement while Anko let out a laugh.
"F-F-For luck." Hinata said with a smile.
"T-T-Thanks…." Naruto stammered back.
Naruko saw Anko tilt her head curiously as a faint smile appeared on her face before her sensei shook her head and said "Let's get a move on!"
"R-Right!" Naruto said. "S-See you later Hinata-chan!"
"Bye Hinata-chan!" Naruko said.
"Later Pearls!" Anko said before the trio walked out. The second the door closed, Anko said "She's so going to faint."
Seconds later, there was a thump, which caused Naruto to look through his window only to see Hinata on their couch, unconscious again. "Jinx…" Naruto said to Anko, who stuck her tongue at him.
Naruto frowned and stuck his tongue back at his sensei.
Naruko watched for two minutes as the two continue to stick their tongues out at each other and merely sighed before she focused her thoughts to Menma and said 'Menma…Inoichi-sensei is not going to be on this mission and we instead may have to deal with Anko-sensei and Naruto being a bunch of idiots…'
"Kami help us all," Menma replied.
"Guys!" Naruko said.
"Hm?" The two replied while glancing at her.
"The mission," Naruko said.
"Oh yeah," The two said in unison before they said "Jinx, you owe me a coke!"
Naruko sighed again but funny enough, she smiled as well.
What a strange but happy life….
Rain: And that is the end of this chapter! So we're jumping straight into another mission. I got a huge inspiration boost with where I wanted this fic to go and yes, I am borrowing the Band of Seven for this fic. Why? You'll see. So until the next chapter…
Sakura (United): Be safe Menma….