41. It's odd, but I've been thinking also about what to do with the time jump to Shippuden. Theoretically, with the Pain Assault over and the Kazekage Rescue Arc underway, we're already in Shippuden territory, but I haven't had enough time developing Sasuke, Naruto and Kakashi yet.

Especially Naruto, whose training with Jiraiya pre-Shippuden is never really clear anyway. Sakura has too many side projects to not have developed in her own time, but if she's already at Shippuden levels, everyone else has to hurry along too.

Dear Rafafalafa (Guest),

From your review, I think it'd be too much to expect you to have made it here. If you ever do, I hope the style has grown on you! I do get that some don't like the one sentence per paragraph. Still, I like it that way and would feel that it fits many characters. Also, I am slightly saddened that you didn't like the implication game, but it is how the character thinks – so they are, even without emotions 'magic mythical monkey' s ;) Thank you for spending the time reviewing.


They're technically having downtime, playing a waiting game. Gaara can't say he likes it, but no news is considerably good news.

He's concerned but not overly, and Naruto's presence is a comforting one, along with the rest of the entourage from Konoha.

The two Uchihas, Itachi and Sasuke have assessed and marked out two possible locations in bordering countries, the Land of Rivers and the Land of Rain.

Itachi already pre-marked the various Akatsuki hideouts he knew of on the map – as far as anyone was aware, should he himself be kidnapped, the trail would narrow down the hideout in use to be either.

In their presumed spare time, the siblings spend much of their time catching up with each other, alternating training with getting accustomed to Suna. Gaara isn't quite sure what to make of the closeness of their sibling bond.

Even he and Temari… or Temari and Kankuro for that matter cannot quite reach that degree of closeness

Albeit needing a henge to remain discreet, Itachi-san henges as Kakashi-san for most of the time out of their residences, he still goes out a lot. With Sasuke-san beside him.

There is no issue even when it appears to some personnel that there are two Kakashis around in the village, but the number of reports, and occasions and the maybe, enviable nature of that situation. For it to be an almost accepted fact that where Sasuke-san is, Itachi-san is too.

No, he's not sure what to make of it at all.

The Kazekage, for the most part, understands that the situation is both delicate and complicated. With Naruto's assurance that the former Akatsuki member means no harm, Gaara is fairly content to leave the Uchiha siblings alone.

With Naruto and Kakashi-san, Gaara has his hands full trying out simulation after simulation based on the information provided by the elder Uchiha. Expecting either a large frontal assault requires preparation that the flood of Naruto clones is useful enough with; though Kakashi's proposed problems poke many holes in the plans.

That same unflappable determination that he experienced while 'working together' with Naruto for the Chunin exams propels them forward, even as he has the village paperwork to deal with. On the first day, Naruto re-taught him how to make a Shadow Clone so he would still have the memories of what paperwork were stamped.

Now on the tenth day of their stay, the winding knot of tension in his chest is easing. He should be on guard, he knows that.

But with the added certainty that the Konoha group brings, and the awareness that the Honoured Siblings have come back to the village from their fishing spot, he can't help but feel that Suna is ready.

Sakura-san and Chiyo-baasama get on like a house on fire, borrowing Naruto's vocabulary, and Tenzo-san is a reliable ninja. Reliable in that he's present, just unnoticeable enough.

Perhaps what a ninja would be like if he were trying to stay under the radar. Still, very useful in helping the sensing team find water.

Tenzo, unlike Sakura then, is unpredictable. He comes and goes, but just as Gaara entrusts the medical facilities of the whole of his village to Sakura whom Naruto values, he can only choose to similarly trust Tenzo, who Naruto explains away as someone whom the medic trusts.

The Konoha spirit of trusting, is an interesting study.


"Sakura-sama, a letter has come from Konoha for you."

The lady medic is in the midst of tying her fringe into a small bundle at the top of her head, and she nods, "Sure, open and read it to me. I'm going to get into my scrubs."

Tenzo shakes his head, "It's marked classified."

She arches her eyebrow, "I'm sure even our Suna bird handlers have given it an eye over. If there was something not meant to be read, it would have come via Itachi-san's crows."

Turning around and pulling on green scrubs, Sakura continues, Tenzo can just barely hear the smile in her voice, "Besides, I trust you, Tenzo."

The wood-user mentions offhandedly that she shouldn't, even as he breaks the clasp on the scroll.

"Tsunade-sama wrote to remind you that you're not supposed to carelessly share your medical techniques. Also that you should offer to help reorganise the hospital. She also expressly directs that you should not leave the village to engage any of the Akatsuki members. Shizune-san has added a small note that requests you bring home some Suna poison samples for her personal use."

Sakura hums in assent.

"You'll have to pair with Itachi-san, then, Tenzo. Either that, or we will wait for the enemy to draw near so that we can use our original plan. As much as possible, we don't want Itachi-san to be seen. He is still meant to be a spy for them. If he aids us in killing Sasori, it will put him in a difficult position."

She nudges the door open with her foot and moves towards the wards, stopping by the washbasin to wash her hands.

"But is that not the main test, Sakura-sama?"

As she half leans on the push doors to the patient rooms, she hums again.

"Perhaps. But we cannot let him fail that test. I cannot risk that. We cannot risk you."

So perhaps, it is her that does not trust Itachi. And perhaps it is also her that does not trust Tenzo. Still, there is nothing to be done about any of those. No matter what Tsunade-sama orders, she cannot comply so easily.

Tenzo draws back slightly at her words, but he replies quietly that "No. Instead, Sakura-sama, it is you we cannot risk."

She laughs.

"You jest, Tenzo. Once Chiyo-sama and I learn from each other, we will be able to risk that. So in this, you are wrong."

Leaving the conversation at that, Sakura steps through, her voice offering greetings muffled by the swinging door.

Tenzo withdraws to their quarters, perhaps aware that the hospital is not a place where he is welcome; perhaps also that the hospital is where Sakura is at home.

"Home is where the heart is. Once, sensei asked for the key to my heart. If you need to ask, then the key cannot be yours."


Naruto is hanging out on the living room couch toying with his Rasengan when Sakura comes home. It gives off a soft light in the semi-darkness.

She smiles gently and he allows his swirling ball of chakra to dissipate, smiling back happily. "Welcome home, Sakura-chan! What did you do with Chiyo-baa? Learn anything cool? I'm so good with the Rasengan now, I stayed up practising while waiting for you!"

His teammate only winks in reply to the front half. Naruto can't quite help the way the words all tumble out because Sakura listens and she doesn't mind.

At that sunny thought, he winks back in reply, "And cute hairstyle today, Sakura-chan! I didn't realise that you had a forehead as big as your heart!"

Again, his remarks slipping from him before he can help it. The blonde can't help but feel that if Sakura were more different, she might have taken offence to his comments. Still, Sakura always takes the sentiment behind his words more than the actual content.

"Oh?" she tugs off the rubber band, allowing her long fringe to come back down. Her voice, carrying a teasing lilt, "Cuter than Sasuke's bedhead hair?"

Naruto presses his index finger to his chin, pretending to think. "Hmm…" He whirls around, looking toward the staircase, before yelling, "Oi! Sasuke, Sakura's home!"

With noticeable noise, their other teammate stumbles down the staircase, "Oi I was about to sleep you silly…"

Naruto puts down his finger after a moment and declares that "Of course, Sakura-chan is cuter," just as Sasuke welcomes her home too, and announces he's off to bed.

The younger Uchiha is almost at a loss by the unrelated announcement before he blankly reaffirms that "Of course between you two Sakura-chan is the cutest. Why is this a question? Goodnight you two…"

Sakura blinks at Sasuke's retreating back, before swinging herself onto the couch. "This is odd… I think Chiyo-sama must have dosed me with a hallucinogen. Naruto-chan, can you get Tenzo for me?"

Her eyes slide shut as Naruto hurries over to her in confusion and concern. "Sakura-chan, you haven't brushed your teeth yet!"

When Sakura isn't perfectly responsive, he scrambles upstairs to find Tenzo-san, careful to avoid a panic. The jonin is predictably still awake and answers his knock by the fourth.

"Tenzo-san, Sakura-chan asked for you," he says like his Sakura is awake, "She said Chiyo-baa gave her a hallucinogen."

He's dressed down, in just the blue uniform and without his jacket or his happuri-style forehead protector. Despite the casual attire, the older male only nods like a stilted wooden person, silently and swiftly moving towards the steps without a sound.

A 24/7 ninja, huh.

"You should rest up, Naruto-san. Practising the Rasengan must take up a lot of your chakra."

Naruto flashes the man his best sunny smile, taking the dismissal as anything but that. "You saw? I've been practising, and I have so much chakra. Sakura said so a long time ago, so don't worry about me."

Their exchange in the corridor draws Kakashi-sensei out from the room sensei shares with Naruto.

"What's up, Naruto? Tenzo's right, off to bed with you." And he takes this dismissal, eyes skipping over Kaka-sensei's closed, scarred one to meet his open one.

"Alright, sensei. Since Sasuke's already slept, I suppose I can too. Tell Sakura-chan not to sleep too late okay?"

Both of sensei's eyes match, closing into his signature closed-eye smile.

"Maa, our medic of course knows how important sleep is."

Still, Naruto lingers at the top of the staircase long after the adults traverse down.


It's not as if Tenzo cannot sense the Kyuubi jinchuuriki. Though his wood clone tagging seeds are still nestled in the threads of the whole team's sandals, it's impossible for him to not know the young boy is at the top of the stairs.

His chakra signature is bright and unmuted, coupled with the wooden structure of the house, least of all the slight peep of blond hair that remains even as he and senpai hurry downstairs to find Sakura-sama.

Tenzo shakes her gently, calling out to her while watching her slightly glassy eyes.

"Tenzo, what have Sakura and the elder been doing?"

She's breathing evenly, though the entire situation has the faint air of surrealness to it. Some of her chains are manifested, which he knows from experience Sakura doesn't do.

Kakashi-senpai sparks a small light between his fingertips, bringing them up to her eyes. Both share a look as her pupils dilate. "Sakura-sama has been helping at the hospital, but the elder has been dosing her with Suna poisons to build up an immunity. Naruto said Sakura talked about a hallucinogen. It will just take time to wear off."

"Well, then all is good. No fever right? And she isn't in distress, we'll see how she is tomorrow."

"But senpai, I wasn't dosed," he begins to protest.

"Chiyo-sama may be senile, but she's more likely to have forgotten about another to dose, rather than hurt Sakura. Gaara-sama wouldn't stand for it, I'm sure. And Sakura is a good medic. You should have more faith in her."

At that point, the girl's eyes have slid over to them hovering over her. She makes a small sound, of perhaps assent or amusement, before yawning.

One chain wraps around his wrist sluggishly, and Tenzo imagines she smiles.

Kakashi ruffles her hair before turning to go back. Sakura doesn't stop him, another chain instead digging about in her pocket behind her, eventually proffering a vial.

"Oh, is this why you called me down?"

If not?

The chain around his wrist vibrates lightly, as if laughing. He stretches his hand out to take the vial.

"I understand, I'll take it and stay home." The chain, its end flattened into a holder then moves towards him.

That exchange complete, he slips his arms beneath her to lift her, only for her chains to bat him away lazily.

No need.

So he too, rests on a couch for that night, leaving their room empty. Her chain stays on his wrist.

While the Lady Haruno doesn't, or cannot explain, Tenzo can assume more than enough. For example, while the hallucinogen reduced motor control, it could potentially cause unintended movement.

Similar to pathogens that cause ants to draw attention to themselves and increase the risk of being eaten; the hallucinogen was interesting in that while the movements are uncoordinated and jerky, they are not particularly harmful. No sudden lunging or falling.

He grows a couple of restraints to prevent her from rolling off the couch before settling to rest, noting an imperceptible nod. Then, he administers the hallucinogen to himself.

A slight fog registers in his mind along with a couple of Sakura-sama's chains weighing him down onto his couch.


Tenzo, therefore, is surprised to wake up and find the living room positively filled with wooden sculptures, while his arms are cocooned in Sakura-sama's chains.

He's slightly giddy, but the hallucinogen's effects appear to have worn off.

Seven hours.

Tapping his bare feet against the wooden floorboard, he sends chakra into the structure of the house, reabsorbing his sculptures into the original wooden skeleton, leaving the stone interior with multiple pockmarks.

"Mm, I thought your sleep improvised sculptures were very good, Tenzo."

He yawns, unable to cover his mouth, and Sakura's chains then dissolve out of physicality.

"I guess Chiyo-sama wasn't lying after all. And we've only done the chemical poisons based on organics. Even with sleep enhanced metabolism, you only stopped your building about an hour ago, Tenzo."

He steps over to the couch, absorbing her wood block restraints into his skin. "But Sakura-sama, how can you differentiate between sleepwalking behaviour and the hallucinogen induced actions?"

"Hmm, well in REM sleep," she yawns and stretches, "Usually the body's muscles are too relaxed to move. You don't have a history of sleepwalking, neither do I. Therefore, the hallucinogen relaxes certain nerve clusters that control some voluntary movement but activates others. The answer is that I can't tell, but we can guess."

Tenzo pads across the living room, filling up the holes he accidentally made. "Sakura-sama, do you really believe Sasori of the Red Sand will use any of the poisons Elder Chiyo is dosing us with?"

The older Uchiha descends the steps, silent, though his fire-natured chakra heats up the wood under his feet.

"Sasori rarely kills with his poison, he'll complete his battle with his puppets. I would think he uses it to play."

Sakura only hums in reply, "Tenzo, we should go and find Chiyo-sama together today. I'm not the poison expert, after all."

They wash up quickly, one after the other. Itachi has set out breakfast by the time they come back down, tomato and cured meat sandwiches.

He takes his to go, making hot tea to drink at the table while Sakura eats quickly.

"What will you and Sasuke-chan do today, Itachi?"

The Uchiha shakes his head, "Kakashi-san said he was going to try and teach Sasuke something. I suppose if senpai doesn't mind, I would learn with him. As you know, Naruto-kun is upgrading his Rasengan, I have been told Jiraiya-sama is due to arrive within the next week to check on the Kazekage's seal. There is not much for me to do."

"No news from Konan-san?"

"I can send a crow."

Tenzo frowns as he makes for the kitchen with the dishes. He manipulates the water coming out of the tap into washing the plates and one cup, reducing the sound of the water splash.

"Please. Tenzo and I will be at the hospital the whole day. Do also keep Naruto-chan with you all. It's too quiet."

He blanches and releases his control before shutting off the tap.


"Ne, ne Kakashi-sensei, I want to learn your super cool jutsu too!"

Itachi trails behind the three of them, amused and wondering how senpai would handle Naruto-kun.

After all, Naruto is not too dissimilar from Sasuke.

"What about Minato-sensei's jutsu? I thought Jiraiya-sama was coming to test you on it."

Itachi smiles. Diversion tactics.

"Yeah, but ero-sennin is gonna take a whole week! And I wanna learn with Sasuke. I already promised him I'd teach him how to do the swirly ball too."

The sensei arches his eyebrow, turning to look at Sasuke who has his arms crossed and a light blush across his cheeks. "Is that so?"

"Yah Naruto, I told you I'd teach you after sensei teaches me."

"Yeahhh but I'm bored!"

Kakashi-senpai ruffles both of their heads, and they both stay. "Well, I'm glad to see both of you getting along marvellously. But I think it may be a bit difficult because I'm going to teach a lightning release technique."

The blond's face scrunches up in thought, and Itachi nearly laughs. Chakra theory must not be his strong suit.

His attention returns to Sasuke who, while thinking is a little less confused looking.

"A long time ago, Naruto, Minato-sensei was trying to teach me the Rasengan because he wanted to add an element in. I still can't do that, because the Rasengan swirls too much. So the technique I'm teaching Sasuke is actually a step up from something I've already started him on. "

With that, Kakashi pats Naruto's head a few times. "Not to mention, without the Sharingan, Naruto-chan, the Chidori is dangerous to use when attacking someone else."

Itachi watches as senpai's eyes slide sideways to meet his, before closing into an eye smile. "So keep working on your Rasengan, okay?"

Naruto is clearly dissatisfied with the explanation, but he takes it because Sasuke gives him a discreet wink.

A promise.

"Fine sensei… But my Rasengan is totally better than yours!"

Sasuke pouts. "Sensei then I want to learn the Rasengan instead!"

Senpai wilts, dramatically pressing a hand to his chest, "Sasuke how could you? You're my only student with a Lightning Nature that I can pass my signature technique to!"

"Sensei, we're the only team you've taken, what are you talking about…"

"Hey hey, sensei, what about Sakura-chan?"

There's something dark and concerned in senpai's eyes before it closes again into the catch-all smile.

He's surprised.

"I'm sure if Sakura had the time, she would pick up some of Tenzo's techniques. But they're too busy with the hospital and poison things. Besides, Naruto, Sakura is our medic. The Chidori is a short-ranged technique."

The voice carries a trace of a reprimand, and it has the desired effect – for Naruto nods without looking sullen.

Itachi smiles just as Sasuke looks back at him. He blinks meaningfully and Sasuke smiles back at him. That's enough.


And another chapter done! Well, looks like I did manage it in time. I can't promise regular updates, but I won't be disappearing within the coming months at least. After this, I think I'll write something to relax instead of a full 3/4000 piece. So if you all have any suggestions/want-to-sees, leave a review here or on Links.

After that, I'll have to start rewatching the battle, and think about what to do with Gaara's seal since canon never did it for us.

Thanks for reading,

Kayo.

note: sorry for the sudden update (I hope these don't spam inboxes), but I caught a typo and figured I'd better fix it.