A/N : Here is chapter 9 including a tiny action scene (my first attempt ^^
). A great battle is coming soon...please enjoy!
Disclaimer: blah,blah,blah, zzzzzz....does anyone really read this?
WARNING: This chapter contains spoilers for people who haven't read much of the manga (I'm particularly thinking of hikariko who is still at volume 3 [ do you really want to know if Haku killed Sasuke? I think reading it by yourself is better, no?] ) Anyway for those who don't know I'll try to spoil as less as possible and explain very briefly so here we go:
-Tsunade is a woman and she's the new Hokage (The Fifth/ Yondaime)
-Orochimaru is a man who attacked Konoha's village (he held a grudge against Sarutobi/ Sandaime/ The third)
I think there's nothing else for the moment, now on with the story ^^
[ thoughts ]
Chapter 9: Soon.
******************************************************************
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' Kachan! You made it Chuunin! I knew you would pass! I'm so happy for you! '
' Ne, Kachan! Isn't it great? Ottou-sama agreed that I go to the Academy and take the Genin exam! Haha, prepare yourself I'm catching up with you! '
' Gai-san is so funny! You know, I think he's got a crush on Akane-chan~ '
' Say, Kakashi...now that you're a Jounin we won't be able to see each other very often, right..? '
'Why do you want to be part of the ANBU??? You're only 14! Their missions are too dangerous, I don't want you to do it...'
' Kakashi...I-I'm so sorry...I couldn't do anything...while you were on your mission...the village was attacked by the Fox De-demon...your mother...and Hokage-sama...they both...they fought to save everyone but they're...I'm so sorry! '
' I promise I'll always be there for you. I'll never leave your side. I promise. '
' You know, there's this kind whose both parents died fighting the Kyuubi, I think he's name was Iruka. He always seems so lonely...I'd like to try and make friends with him. Is that a bad idea? '
' Kakashi! '
' I love you too. '
' Kakashi? '
' We promised we'd be there for each other...always...'
' Kakashi...'
' ...then why didn't you come? Where were you? Why did you leave me alone...'
' You traitor...'
'...'
'I'll kill you.'
~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~
Kakashi's eyes flashed open as he felt his heartbeat go crazy. His forehead was covered in cold sweat. He sat up in bed, scratching his head.
[ Such a long time since I last had this kind of dream...]
His thoughts were interrupted by someone banging at his door. He glanced at the clock next to him. 7.20 AM.
[ Man...]
Kakashi slowly got out of bed, put some clothes on (without forgetting the mask of course) and finally walked to the hallway. No need to say he's not one of waking early in the morning. As he lazily opened the front door he fell face to face with a cat-masked man. ANBU. Though he couldn't see the expression on his face, Kakashi knew the other man was looking at him strangely for he titled his head on the side, facing silver hair messier and gaze blankier than ever.
"Hatake Kakashi-san? "
"..."
"You're to be at Hokage-sama's office in 10 minutes."
"Geez...doesn't she sleep? Or at least let other people do so? "
"You're...talking about our Hokage..." the ANBU seemed offended by the comment.
"I'm talking about me not finishing my night" he corrected, yawning and rubbing his one visible eye.
"..."
"Did she tell you why I'm appointed?"
"No. But she said you'd better not be late..." he hesitated before adding "...at all."
Any reason why Tsunade wanted to see him it seemed Kakashi'd better follow the masked man's advice.
"I see...thanks." he finally said.
The other man silently nodded and disappeared.
[ Yare,yare...I feel this is going to be a bad day ] the jounin thought closing the door.
*************************************************
Tsunade was sitting at her desk, half hidden by a pile of papers.
"What time is it?" she asked the guard posted in the corner of the room without lifting her head.
"7.30 AM ma'am."
"Good. Let them come in."
"Yes ma'am."
The guard walked to the door and adressed the two men waiting in the hall. "Hokage-sama wants to see you know."
"I must say I was surprised to see you here too" Kakashi whispered to Iruka as they were entering the room.
"Yeah...It seems there is some new about yesterday's case."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow "Yesterday? How come Hokage-sama's already been informed of that?"
But he got no answer.
"Good morning Kakashi."
"Good morning ma'am."
"Sorry to drag you out of bed this early" the blonde woman smiled.
"Huh...no,no I was already awake." Kakashi lied.
"Yes. Of course." She said, still smiling.
[ This is really going to be my day...] the jounin thought, sighing inwardly.
"Iruka, thanks for waiting. Please tell him about our previous talk."
"Yes, Hokage-sama" the scarred man nodded.
"Previous talk?" [ I see...so that's why Hokage-sama knows about it. Iruka....]
"Kakashi, I know you were going to report everything to Hokage-sama today" the chuunin said sounding half pleading and guilty "but I've been really worried about Naruto. You see, after we left yesterday he kept acting weird all the time, and when he didn't even finish his ramen bowl I knew something was really wrong" he smiled sadly.
"So he didn't tell us everything, did he? I was expecting something like that." Kakashi shook his head.
Iruka nodded. "Yes. This mysterious woman...she obviously tried to kill him."
Kakashi's eyes widened. "She tried to kill...Naruto? But he didn't look like he'd had a fight."
"That's the problem. There was no fight. You know how Naruto is, he would defend himself and fight no matter what. But he said he couldn't do anything, he couldn't move a single finger and if it wasn't for Sasuke and Sakura arriving at that time she would have strangled him to death."
Kakashi remembered his student's strange behaviour and how he kept touching his neck.
"Did she have a reason? Did he say anything else?" [ Damn Naruto...he should have told me earlier.] He was disappointed. Not because the blonde boy had spoken to his tutor instead of him, but because it changed everyhing and he would have liked to know about it. This woman was obviously strong and dangerous.
"He's not to be blamed." Tsunade's voice echoed through the room. "Naruto was shocked. He needed time to clear his mind." the fifth Hokage defended her protege.
"Does it mean I am?" Kakashi asked.
"Of course not." Tsunade smiled. "It's just that it makes everything different. Whoever she was, this woman tried to kill one of Konoha's ninja. Plus she was near the village's territories. She's a dangerous individual whose intentions are still unknown. We have to be careful."
"Yes, ma'am" the two men said together.
The fifth paused a moment before talking again.
"You may leave now Iruka. I believe you've got a class to teach now." she smiled.
"Hai, Hokage-sama. Thanks." The chuunin said before leaving the office.
"Do you still need me?" Kakashi asked since neither of them was speaking.
"No" the woman simply said. "But."
The jounin titled his head, waiting for her to go on.
"Since Naruto was the one who was attacked I think you should keep an eye on him. We have 3 main possibilities. First: this woman is just a silly murderer and the boy was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Second: she knows about Naruto having the Kyuubi within him and wanted to get rid of him for God knows what reason. And third: she helds a grudge against Konoha and attacked him because of that, and it could be really dangerous. You must remember what happened with Orochimaru not that long ago... Anyway I want you to be careful until we have more information from the ANBU team I sent in the forest this morning."
Kakashi nodded silently and she finished.
"I think there is nothing more to say. You may leave too."
"Hai, ma'am." Kakashi turned to leave.
"Oh, one last thing."
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Kakashi...is there something else you have to say?"
"...no ma'am. Nothing" he lied not turning to face her.
"Fine. Goodbye then."
Tsunade watched him leave,rubbing her chin. [ Mmmmhhh....]
*********************************************************
Kakashi was walking in the waking streets of Konoha. He still had 20 minutes before meeting with his students for training. He decided not to return home because he knew he wouldn't resist the temptation to go back to bed and it would only result in him being late once again. So instead he decided to have breakfast since he didn't have the time to before. While walking, hands shoved in his pockets, he couldn't help but think about the dream he had. The girl's voice was still echoeing in his mind as well as memories. At every important step of his life she had been there. Good and bad times.
' We promised we'd be there for each other...always...then why didn't you come? Where were you? Why did you leave me alone...'
'You traitor...I'll kill you.'
The last part of his dream wasn't a memory though.She had never said those words and he knew she was too kind to ever speak like that. But his sub- conscious had imagined her saying that because he thought she'd have had the right to. It would've been legitimate. And true. He sighed sadly while sitting at the first stand he found and ordered his meal.
***********************************************************
Sakura was walking towards the meeting spot on the brigde. She lifted her head up and concluded by lookind at the sun's position she was on time. [ It's around 8.30. I hope Naruto arrives a little late so I can stay alone with Sasuke-kun for a while. I guess Kakashi-sensei isn't a matter since he won't come before at least 30 more minutes. ] she thought smiling. As the bridge came into view she glanced hopefully around, and smiled widely as she found what she was looking for. Sasuke was leaning against a tree, arms folded against his chest and eyes closed, head facing the ground. She was happy to see Naruto wasn't around and mentally thought of the best way to greet the object of her affections.
"O-ohayo, Sasuke-kun" she said shyly, blushing lightly and looking at the ground..
"Ohayo Sakura. I almost waited."
The pink-haired girl's eyes widened in disbelief. Sasuke never replied to her greetings. He barely replied to any of her questions anyway. Wait. This wasn't Sasuke's voice. She lifted her head and was shocked to see Kakashi stand in front of her.
[Kakashi-sensei? No, this can't be...I know, this is another of Naruto's stupid jokes. Does he think I'm stupid?]
"Stop playing dumb, you baka!" she yelled at the man facing her, who raised his brows. "I'm not in the mood for..."
"Sakura-chaaaaaa~n!!! O-HA-YO!!!" she was cut by Naruto's voice behind her as he was running in her way, arms wide open. Sakura took a step aside and avoided the blonde boy's embrace, who didn't stop his course and crashed head-first against a trunk. "Itaaaaaiii...you're so mean to me, Sakura- chan" he said with his puppy eyes.
But the girl didn't even notice him and stared at her sensei.
"I-I'm sorry Kakashi-sensei, I thought Naruto was joking me..."
Why the HELL are YOU here this early in the morning!!!! Just when I wanted to be ALONE with Sasuke-kun! her inner-self shouted
"Why is that?" Kakashi asked innocently.
"Well you know...since your always late and stuff...I thought it was definitely weird to see you at this early time of the day" the girl admitted.
The jounin tried to take an offended expression but failed. After all this was true. He decided to change subjects.
"You seem to be better than yesterday" he said to the blonde boy who was still rubbing his head in pain. "You know, I had a talk with Hokage-sama this morning...and Iruka too. Well it's more like they had a talk with me." He said, still looking at him.
"I'm sorry Kakashi-sensei!" the boy pleaded "I really didn't mean to hide anything from you."
"I know, let's forget about that."
The boy's face lightened up while Sasuke and Sakura were left clueless. Sasuke raised his brow and Sakura spoke for them both.
"What are you talking about?"
"Listen Sakura. Sasuke. The woman who attacked Naruto yesterday is a very dangerous person. If you see someone who corresponds with her description you're to report immediatly to Hokage-sama. Understood?" he said very seriously. "And you're forbiden to go in this forest by yourselves." He added, staring insistently at Sasuke, who only grunted.
"Wait, wait a minute. You mean Naruto REALLY saw this mysterious woman? And have you just said he was ATTACKED???" Sakura asked in disbelief.
"That's exactly what I said."
"So...what are we gonna do now?" asked a bored Sasuke.
"Train of course" the jounin replied matter-of-factly.
"But...where?" asked Sakura.
But she had only silence as a reply.
"You don't think of going back there, do you? You just said it was dangerous and we weren't allowed to go there!" The pink-haired girl didn't understand.
"I said you weren't allowed to go there by yourselves. I'm with you. It'll be all right." Kakashi assured. Deeply he knew it was a bad idea, but he wanted to return in this forest and try to figure out the truth. He had to. His gaze turned to look at Naruto.
"Don't worry Sakura-chan. I want to go back there too. I want to." The foxy boy said with a mysterious smile, his hands clenched into fists. Kakashi smiled at him.
[Naruto...]
"It's fine with me" shot Sasuke's voice.
The three of them looked at Sakura. [ Sasuke-kun too...] "Then I guess it's decided" she finally said sighing.
Since Naruto had absolutely no sense of direction, Sasuke was the one who led them to the spot they had found him the previous day. "Here" he simply said with a light move of his head. Kakashi took a few steps forward, checking the area.
"Are you sure we came here to train?" Sakura asked suspiciously. She rolled her eyes as she got no answer [ This is going to become a habit] she thought, exasperated.
Noticing something on the ground, Kakashi knelt down and picked it up. A single white petal. He remembered Naruto telling him the woman was holding a bunch of white flowers, and then the white bouquet in front of the grave. And the black flower. What he used to believe was a silly idea became a truth to him: this woman was somehow related to the Kitana girls for sure. He had found the clue he had been searching for. Now he needed to find that woman and ask her...
"Naruto??!!! What's wrong???" Kakashi's thoughts were interrupted by Sakura's concerned voice.
Naruto was clutching his head. He seemed in pain.
"I....can feel it..."
"What? Feel what?" the jounin urged him.
"Strong....evil...chakra...it's..."
[ Could it be...Kyuubi's chakra reacting to another? ] Kakashi thought, lifting his forehead protector up and quickly checking the area around them with his Sharingan.
He suddenly heard the familiar sound of cutting objects thrown at great speed and jumped backward, just avoiding the three shuriken.
"Not too bad." A female voice echoed around them.
A young girl stood at the opposite side of where team 7 was standing. Kakashi narrowed his eyes and carefully looked at her. Shoulder-lengh black hair. Grey eyes that looked like two small full moons. She didn't seem to be older than his students. A few inches behind her, leaning against a tree was a long raven haired woman. Her face was covered by a black mask. Kakashi's heart suddenly jumped in his chest before taking his normal beating rythm again. There she was.
"Kakashi-sensei...it's..." Naruto had recognized her too. His teacher silenced him by streching his arm aside.
"You fools. You fell for it" the younger girl said "the price of your stupidity will be your death" she grined.
"The three of you stay behind me" Kakashi said to his team before talking to the two facing them.
"Who are you? What do you want from us? If you're after the kid I'm warning you: you won't put a single finger on him."
[ Naruto? Why would they be after him?] Both Sakura and Sasuke were wondering the same thing.
"Really?" shot the girl's voice. "And who's going to stop us? Maybe YOU will? Or maybe were you counting on these pathetic animal-masked guys who call themselves 'elite'?" she smirked.
The jounin's eyes widened. "You didn't..."
"I must say I got pretty bored. I wanted to play a little longer with them but they weren't entertaining enough...so I just finished them off" she replied shrugging.
[ She's not even older than Sakura and yet she killed a whole squad of ANBU by herself...this is going to be troublesome.] Kakashi thought worriedly. "You silly monsters..."
"Ha..haha...hahahahahaha!!!". The woman, who had kept silent until then burst out an insane laughing. The young one glared at the jounin.
"You dare call us monsters" she spat "after all the awful things you Konoha bastards did."
"What?" Kakashi asked incredulously. "So you're not after Naruto but Konoha..."
"Tch. We have nothing to do with that stupid looking brat" the girl said gritting her teeth.
"HEY!" yelled an offended Naruto.
She didn't even seem to notice him. "Anyway he's going to die soon, just like the rest of your ugly village" she smirked.
The other woman suddenly stopped laughing and spoke for the first time.
"Kana..." she said with a muffled voice because of the mask she was wearing.
"Forgive me, goshoujin-sama. I speak too much." The girl immediatly said.
"HEY,HEY!" Naruto yelled once again "Who the hell do you think you are??? What do you think the two of you can do against us? Yesterday you took me by surprise but today I'm not letting you go anywhere!!!" He rushed towards the shorter haired girl, kunai in hand.
"Naruto, NO!" Kakashi cried out even though he knew his student wouldn't listen to him, as he was getting closer to his target. Kana smiled widely and disappeared in a flash before reappearing seconds later behind the blonde boy, pointing his own weapon at his throat with her right hand and imobilizing him with her left one grabbing his own onto his back.
"And you're calling yourself a ninja" she said ironically. Naruto boiled with anger. He had been literally ridiculed by a girl.
[ Stupid Naruto ] Kakashi thought while looking at the woman who was observing the scene silently, still leaning against the tree, arms folded. He slowly moved his hand to his shuriken and kunai holster.
"If I were you I wouldn't" broke Kana's voice as two clones of her appeared behind both Sasuke and Sakura, holding onto them just like Naruto.
[ Shit ] the gray-haired jounin cursed himself. [ What was I thinking by bringing them here? I have to do something.]
"Crap" Sasuke struggled to free himself only to feel the pressure of the kunai on his throat harden. Her strengh was unbelievable.
"Sasuke-kun, don't!" pleaded Sakura.
"Yeah...listen to the little baby doll, sasuke-KUN" the other girl warned him, smirking. "So, what are you going to do now, sensei?" she asked Kakashi. "If you dare move, I send the three of them to hell within a second. Pretty bad situation you're in, ne?" she teased him.
But Kakashi was still staring at the other woman. She hadn't moved from where she was standing since the begining, silently enjoying the show in front of her.
"Who are you?" he asked her directly. "What business do you have with Konoha? What do you want from us?"
The woman persisted in her silence and he finally asked the only question he really wanted her to answer to. "How are you related to the Kitana family? How are you related to...her?"
"Don't you dare talk to her this way!!!" Kana yelled angrily.
But the other woman silenced her by unfolding her arms and standing straight. Kakashi took a fighting stance. He was going to save his comrades no matter what, even if it cost him his life. He would never let those dear to him down. Not any more. And he wanted her to answer his questions, even if he had to force her.
"Kana. We're leaving."
"What?" the grey eyes girl asked in disbelief. Kakashi's eyes widened.
"Don't. make me. repeat. myself." She seemed to be speaking with little difficulty.
"Sorry, goshoujin-sama" Kana said as her two clones disappeared from behind Sasuke and Sakura in a puff of smoke, freeing them. She then loosened her grip on Naruto and jumped to where her master was standing. [ Don't tell me 'it' awoke ].
"What does all this mean??!!" yelled Naruto, pointing at the two. "Are you afraid now? Let's have a fair fight!!!"
"Naruto! Shut up!" his sensei said angrily, not looking at him.
The energetic boy was taken aback by his teacher's reaction. His shoulders fell and he closed his mouth. Sakura was looking incredulously at them. Sasuke frowned.
"It's not finished yet." Kana's voice broke the silence. She put her hands before her face, palms turned towards team 7. Only her thumbs and forefingers were touching, forming some kind of triangle seal. A black cloud of fog began to form above the woman and the girl.
"No, wait!" Kakashi yelled thrusting his arm forward as if to illustrate his words with his moves. A strong wind was suddenly blowing in the area and Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke were left alone.
The three students looked at their unmoving teacher's back and then at each other. They couldn't figure everything that had just happened and the jounin's silence wasn't helping.
"Ka-Kakashi-sensei, we shouldn't stay here." Naruto ventured.
"He's right Kakashi-sensei." Sakura added." We have to report this to Hokage-sama right away!" Naruto nodded showing he agreed with her.
"Are you listening, Kakashi?" Sasuke sounded exasperated.
The man turned to face his students and looked at them blankly. He blinked and nodded.
"Let's go."
*******************************************************
"Sanae-sama, are you all right?"
The woman was breathing and panting heavily. As soon as they arrived in a safe place she tore her mask off and sat down. Her eyes had turned purple.
"Kana...the seal..." she whispered.
"Right away"
The younger girl bit her thumb and wrote some mystic signs on her master's shoulder skin with her own blood. She then clasped her hands, performed a few hand seals and put them on the spot she had been writing on earlier. The signs disappeared as they were absorbed under Sanae's skin. Her breathing rythm went back to normal as well as her blue eyes.
"Sanae-sama...what happened? Why did you stop me? Why did the seal almost break?"
"I never would have thought this kid was with him..."
"...I see. You're talking about this man, right? You know that Kakashi guy, right?"
"The former me used to know him. But the former me is dead. And so he will soon be."
"Still you didn't want me to kill him. Sanae-sama...are you sure you really want to do this?"
"Don't be stupid Kana! I've been waiting for this moment for 8 years! Ottou- sama finally allowed us to take our first moves...soon I'll take revenge from these bastards. You didn't kill him because when the time comes, I'll be the one killing him. With my own hands. I swear it. Soon..."
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A/N: Ooooookay my first attempt at a tiny tiny battle scene. Ok they more kind of spoke than fight...that's why I said 'tiny'! :p I bought the Naruto 2 game on Nintendo Gamecube and it ROCKS!!!! It's so much funny, and Kakashi's sooooooo cool in it :D lol
Bad attempt at building tension until next chapter LOL ==== Oh my Gosh what will happen 'Soon' ??? Find out in next chapter !
See ya ^______^
Disclaimer: blah,blah,blah, zzzzzz....does anyone really read this?
WARNING: This chapter contains spoilers for people who haven't read much of the manga (I'm particularly thinking of hikariko who is still at volume 3 [ do you really want to know if Haku killed Sasuke? I think reading it by yourself is better, no?] ) Anyway for those who don't know I'll try to spoil as less as possible and explain very briefly so here we go:
-Tsunade is a woman and she's the new Hokage (The Fifth/ Yondaime)
-Orochimaru is a man who attacked Konoha's village (he held a grudge against Sarutobi/ Sandaime/ The third)
I think there's nothing else for the moment, now on with the story ^^
[ thoughts ]
Chapter 9: Soon.
******************************************************************
~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~
' Kachan! You made it Chuunin! I knew you would pass! I'm so happy for you! '
' Ne, Kachan! Isn't it great? Ottou-sama agreed that I go to the Academy and take the Genin exam! Haha, prepare yourself I'm catching up with you! '
' Gai-san is so funny! You know, I think he's got a crush on Akane-chan~ '
' Say, Kakashi...now that you're a Jounin we won't be able to see each other very often, right..? '
'Why do you want to be part of the ANBU??? You're only 14! Their missions are too dangerous, I don't want you to do it...'
' Kakashi...I-I'm so sorry...I couldn't do anything...while you were on your mission...the village was attacked by the Fox De-demon...your mother...and Hokage-sama...they both...they fought to save everyone but they're...I'm so sorry! '
' I promise I'll always be there for you. I'll never leave your side. I promise. '
' You know, there's this kind whose both parents died fighting the Kyuubi, I think he's name was Iruka. He always seems so lonely...I'd like to try and make friends with him. Is that a bad idea? '
' Kakashi! '
' I love you too. '
' Kakashi? '
' We promised we'd be there for each other...always...'
' Kakashi...'
' ...then why didn't you come? Where were you? Why did you leave me alone...'
' You traitor...'
'...'
'I'll kill you.'
~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~
Kakashi's eyes flashed open as he felt his heartbeat go crazy. His forehead was covered in cold sweat. He sat up in bed, scratching his head.
[ Such a long time since I last had this kind of dream...]
His thoughts were interrupted by someone banging at his door. He glanced at the clock next to him. 7.20 AM.
[ Man...]
Kakashi slowly got out of bed, put some clothes on (without forgetting the mask of course) and finally walked to the hallway. No need to say he's not one of waking early in the morning. As he lazily opened the front door he fell face to face with a cat-masked man. ANBU. Though he couldn't see the expression on his face, Kakashi knew the other man was looking at him strangely for he titled his head on the side, facing silver hair messier and gaze blankier than ever.
"Hatake Kakashi-san? "
"..."
"You're to be at Hokage-sama's office in 10 minutes."
"Geez...doesn't she sleep? Or at least let other people do so? "
"You're...talking about our Hokage..." the ANBU seemed offended by the comment.
"I'm talking about me not finishing my night" he corrected, yawning and rubbing his one visible eye.
"..."
"Did she tell you why I'm appointed?"
"No. But she said you'd better not be late..." he hesitated before adding "...at all."
Any reason why Tsunade wanted to see him it seemed Kakashi'd better follow the masked man's advice.
"I see...thanks." he finally said.
The other man silently nodded and disappeared.
[ Yare,yare...I feel this is going to be a bad day ] the jounin thought closing the door.
*************************************************
Tsunade was sitting at her desk, half hidden by a pile of papers.
"What time is it?" she asked the guard posted in the corner of the room without lifting her head.
"7.30 AM ma'am."
"Good. Let them come in."
"Yes ma'am."
The guard walked to the door and adressed the two men waiting in the hall. "Hokage-sama wants to see you know."
"I must say I was surprised to see you here too" Kakashi whispered to Iruka as they were entering the room.
"Yeah...It seems there is some new about yesterday's case."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow "Yesterday? How come Hokage-sama's already been informed of that?"
But he got no answer.
"Good morning Kakashi."
"Good morning ma'am."
"Sorry to drag you out of bed this early" the blonde woman smiled.
"Huh...no,no I was already awake." Kakashi lied.
"Yes. Of course." She said, still smiling.
[ This is really going to be my day...] the jounin thought, sighing inwardly.
"Iruka, thanks for waiting. Please tell him about our previous talk."
"Yes, Hokage-sama" the scarred man nodded.
"Previous talk?" [ I see...so that's why Hokage-sama knows about it. Iruka....]
"Kakashi, I know you were going to report everything to Hokage-sama today" the chuunin said sounding half pleading and guilty "but I've been really worried about Naruto. You see, after we left yesterday he kept acting weird all the time, and when he didn't even finish his ramen bowl I knew something was really wrong" he smiled sadly.
"So he didn't tell us everything, did he? I was expecting something like that." Kakashi shook his head.
Iruka nodded. "Yes. This mysterious woman...she obviously tried to kill him."
Kakashi's eyes widened. "She tried to kill...Naruto? But he didn't look like he'd had a fight."
"That's the problem. There was no fight. You know how Naruto is, he would defend himself and fight no matter what. But he said he couldn't do anything, he couldn't move a single finger and if it wasn't for Sasuke and Sakura arriving at that time she would have strangled him to death."
Kakashi remembered his student's strange behaviour and how he kept touching his neck.
"Did she have a reason? Did he say anything else?" [ Damn Naruto...he should have told me earlier.] He was disappointed. Not because the blonde boy had spoken to his tutor instead of him, but because it changed everyhing and he would have liked to know about it. This woman was obviously strong and dangerous.
"He's not to be blamed." Tsunade's voice echoed through the room. "Naruto was shocked. He needed time to clear his mind." the fifth Hokage defended her protege.
"Does it mean I am?" Kakashi asked.
"Of course not." Tsunade smiled. "It's just that it makes everything different. Whoever she was, this woman tried to kill one of Konoha's ninja. Plus she was near the village's territories. She's a dangerous individual whose intentions are still unknown. We have to be careful."
"Yes, ma'am" the two men said together.
The fifth paused a moment before talking again.
"You may leave now Iruka. I believe you've got a class to teach now." she smiled.
"Hai, Hokage-sama. Thanks." The chuunin said before leaving the office.
"Do you still need me?" Kakashi asked since neither of them was speaking.
"No" the woman simply said. "But."
The jounin titled his head, waiting for her to go on.
"Since Naruto was the one who was attacked I think you should keep an eye on him. We have 3 main possibilities. First: this woman is just a silly murderer and the boy was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Second: she knows about Naruto having the Kyuubi within him and wanted to get rid of him for God knows what reason. And third: she helds a grudge against Konoha and attacked him because of that, and it could be really dangerous. You must remember what happened with Orochimaru not that long ago... Anyway I want you to be careful until we have more information from the ANBU team I sent in the forest this morning."
Kakashi nodded silently and she finished.
"I think there is nothing more to say. You may leave too."
"Hai, ma'am." Kakashi turned to leave.
"Oh, one last thing."
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Kakashi...is there something else you have to say?"
"...no ma'am. Nothing" he lied not turning to face her.
"Fine. Goodbye then."
Tsunade watched him leave,rubbing her chin. [ Mmmmhhh....]
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Kakashi was walking in the waking streets of Konoha. He still had 20 minutes before meeting with his students for training. He decided not to return home because he knew he wouldn't resist the temptation to go back to bed and it would only result in him being late once again. So instead he decided to have breakfast since he didn't have the time to before. While walking, hands shoved in his pockets, he couldn't help but think about the dream he had. The girl's voice was still echoeing in his mind as well as memories. At every important step of his life she had been there. Good and bad times.
' We promised we'd be there for each other...always...then why didn't you come? Where were you? Why did you leave me alone...'
'You traitor...I'll kill you.'
The last part of his dream wasn't a memory though.She had never said those words and he knew she was too kind to ever speak like that. But his sub- conscious had imagined her saying that because he thought she'd have had the right to. It would've been legitimate. And true. He sighed sadly while sitting at the first stand he found and ordered his meal.
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Sakura was walking towards the meeting spot on the brigde. She lifted her head up and concluded by lookind at the sun's position she was on time. [ It's around 8.30. I hope Naruto arrives a little late so I can stay alone with Sasuke-kun for a while. I guess Kakashi-sensei isn't a matter since he won't come before at least 30 more minutes. ] she thought smiling. As the bridge came into view she glanced hopefully around, and smiled widely as she found what she was looking for. Sasuke was leaning against a tree, arms folded against his chest and eyes closed, head facing the ground. She was happy to see Naruto wasn't around and mentally thought of the best way to greet the object of her affections.
"O-ohayo, Sasuke-kun" she said shyly, blushing lightly and looking at the ground..
"Ohayo Sakura. I almost waited."
The pink-haired girl's eyes widened in disbelief. Sasuke never replied to her greetings. He barely replied to any of her questions anyway. Wait. This wasn't Sasuke's voice. She lifted her head and was shocked to see Kakashi stand in front of her.
[Kakashi-sensei? No, this can't be...I know, this is another of Naruto's stupid jokes. Does he think I'm stupid?]
"Stop playing dumb, you baka!" she yelled at the man facing her, who raised his brows. "I'm not in the mood for..."
"Sakura-chaaaaaa~n!!! O-HA-YO!!!" she was cut by Naruto's voice behind her as he was running in her way, arms wide open. Sakura took a step aside and avoided the blonde boy's embrace, who didn't stop his course and crashed head-first against a trunk. "Itaaaaaiii...you're so mean to me, Sakura- chan" he said with his puppy eyes.
But the girl didn't even notice him and stared at her sensei.
"I-I'm sorry Kakashi-sensei, I thought Naruto was joking me..."
Why the HELL are YOU here this early in the morning!!!! Just when I wanted to be ALONE with Sasuke-kun! her inner-self shouted
"Why is that?" Kakashi asked innocently.
"Well you know...since your always late and stuff...I thought it was definitely weird to see you at this early time of the day" the girl admitted.
The jounin tried to take an offended expression but failed. After all this was true. He decided to change subjects.
"You seem to be better than yesterday" he said to the blonde boy who was still rubbing his head in pain. "You know, I had a talk with Hokage-sama this morning...and Iruka too. Well it's more like they had a talk with me." He said, still looking at him.
"I'm sorry Kakashi-sensei!" the boy pleaded "I really didn't mean to hide anything from you."
"I know, let's forget about that."
The boy's face lightened up while Sasuke and Sakura were left clueless. Sasuke raised his brow and Sakura spoke for them both.
"What are you talking about?"
"Listen Sakura. Sasuke. The woman who attacked Naruto yesterday is a very dangerous person. If you see someone who corresponds with her description you're to report immediatly to Hokage-sama. Understood?" he said very seriously. "And you're forbiden to go in this forest by yourselves." He added, staring insistently at Sasuke, who only grunted.
"Wait, wait a minute. You mean Naruto REALLY saw this mysterious woman? And have you just said he was ATTACKED???" Sakura asked in disbelief.
"That's exactly what I said."
"So...what are we gonna do now?" asked a bored Sasuke.
"Train of course" the jounin replied matter-of-factly.
"But...where?" asked Sakura.
But she had only silence as a reply.
"You don't think of going back there, do you? You just said it was dangerous and we weren't allowed to go there!" The pink-haired girl didn't understand.
"I said you weren't allowed to go there by yourselves. I'm with you. It'll be all right." Kakashi assured. Deeply he knew it was a bad idea, but he wanted to return in this forest and try to figure out the truth. He had to. His gaze turned to look at Naruto.
"Don't worry Sakura-chan. I want to go back there too. I want to." The foxy boy said with a mysterious smile, his hands clenched into fists. Kakashi smiled at him.
[Naruto...]
"It's fine with me" shot Sasuke's voice.
The three of them looked at Sakura. [ Sasuke-kun too...] "Then I guess it's decided" she finally said sighing.
Since Naruto had absolutely no sense of direction, Sasuke was the one who led them to the spot they had found him the previous day. "Here" he simply said with a light move of his head. Kakashi took a few steps forward, checking the area.
"Are you sure we came here to train?" Sakura asked suspiciously. She rolled her eyes as she got no answer [ This is going to become a habit] she thought, exasperated.
Noticing something on the ground, Kakashi knelt down and picked it up. A single white petal. He remembered Naruto telling him the woman was holding a bunch of white flowers, and then the white bouquet in front of the grave. And the black flower. What he used to believe was a silly idea became a truth to him: this woman was somehow related to the Kitana girls for sure. He had found the clue he had been searching for. Now he needed to find that woman and ask her...
"Naruto??!!! What's wrong???" Kakashi's thoughts were interrupted by Sakura's concerned voice.
Naruto was clutching his head. He seemed in pain.
"I....can feel it..."
"What? Feel what?" the jounin urged him.
"Strong....evil...chakra...it's..."
[ Could it be...Kyuubi's chakra reacting to another? ] Kakashi thought, lifting his forehead protector up and quickly checking the area around them with his Sharingan.
He suddenly heard the familiar sound of cutting objects thrown at great speed and jumped backward, just avoiding the three shuriken.
"Not too bad." A female voice echoed around them.
A young girl stood at the opposite side of where team 7 was standing. Kakashi narrowed his eyes and carefully looked at her. Shoulder-lengh black hair. Grey eyes that looked like two small full moons. She didn't seem to be older than his students. A few inches behind her, leaning against a tree was a long raven haired woman. Her face was covered by a black mask. Kakashi's heart suddenly jumped in his chest before taking his normal beating rythm again. There she was.
"Kakashi-sensei...it's..." Naruto had recognized her too. His teacher silenced him by streching his arm aside.
"You fools. You fell for it" the younger girl said "the price of your stupidity will be your death" she grined.
"The three of you stay behind me" Kakashi said to his team before talking to the two facing them.
"Who are you? What do you want from us? If you're after the kid I'm warning you: you won't put a single finger on him."
[ Naruto? Why would they be after him?] Both Sakura and Sasuke were wondering the same thing.
"Really?" shot the girl's voice. "And who's going to stop us? Maybe YOU will? Or maybe were you counting on these pathetic animal-masked guys who call themselves 'elite'?" she smirked.
The jounin's eyes widened. "You didn't..."
"I must say I got pretty bored. I wanted to play a little longer with them but they weren't entertaining enough...so I just finished them off" she replied shrugging.
[ She's not even older than Sakura and yet she killed a whole squad of ANBU by herself...this is going to be troublesome.] Kakashi thought worriedly. "You silly monsters..."
"Ha..haha...hahahahahaha!!!". The woman, who had kept silent until then burst out an insane laughing. The young one glared at the jounin.
"You dare call us monsters" she spat "after all the awful things you Konoha bastards did."
"What?" Kakashi asked incredulously. "So you're not after Naruto but Konoha..."
"Tch. We have nothing to do with that stupid looking brat" the girl said gritting her teeth.
"HEY!" yelled an offended Naruto.
She didn't even seem to notice him. "Anyway he's going to die soon, just like the rest of your ugly village" she smirked.
The other woman suddenly stopped laughing and spoke for the first time.
"Kana..." she said with a muffled voice because of the mask she was wearing.
"Forgive me, goshoujin-sama. I speak too much." The girl immediatly said.
"HEY,HEY!" Naruto yelled once again "Who the hell do you think you are??? What do you think the two of you can do against us? Yesterday you took me by surprise but today I'm not letting you go anywhere!!!" He rushed towards the shorter haired girl, kunai in hand.
"Naruto, NO!" Kakashi cried out even though he knew his student wouldn't listen to him, as he was getting closer to his target. Kana smiled widely and disappeared in a flash before reappearing seconds later behind the blonde boy, pointing his own weapon at his throat with her right hand and imobilizing him with her left one grabbing his own onto his back.
"And you're calling yourself a ninja" she said ironically. Naruto boiled with anger. He had been literally ridiculed by a girl.
[ Stupid Naruto ] Kakashi thought while looking at the woman who was observing the scene silently, still leaning against the tree, arms folded. He slowly moved his hand to his shuriken and kunai holster.
"If I were you I wouldn't" broke Kana's voice as two clones of her appeared behind both Sasuke and Sakura, holding onto them just like Naruto.
[ Shit ] the gray-haired jounin cursed himself. [ What was I thinking by bringing them here? I have to do something.]
"Crap" Sasuke struggled to free himself only to feel the pressure of the kunai on his throat harden. Her strengh was unbelievable.
"Sasuke-kun, don't!" pleaded Sakura.
"Yeah...listen to the little baby doll, sasuke-KUN" the other girl warned him, smirking. "So, what are you going to do now, sensei?" she asked Kakashi. "If you dare move, I send the three of them to hell within a second. Pretty bad situation you're in, ne?" she teased him.
But Kakashi was still staring at the other woman. She hadn't moved from where she was standing since the begining, silently enjoying the show in front of her.
"Who are you?" he asked her directly. "What business do you have with Konoha? What do you want from us?"
The woman persisted in her silence and he finally asked the only question he really wanted her to answer to. "How are you related to the Kitana family? How are you related to...her?"
"Don't you dare talk to her this way!!!" Kana yelled angrily.
But the other woman silenced her by unfolding her arms and standing straight. Kakashi took a fighting stance. He was going to save his comrades no matter what, even if it cost him his life. He would never let those dear to him down. Not any more. And he wanted her to answer his questions, even if he had to force her.
"Kana. We're leaving."
"What?" the grey eyes girl asked in disbelief. Kakashi's eyes widened.
"Don't. make me. repeat. myself." She seemed to be speaking with little difficulty.
"Sorry, goshoujin-sama" Kana said as her two clones disappeared from behind Sasuke and Sakura in a puff of smoke, freeing them. She then loosened her grip on Naruto and jumped to where her master was standing. [ Don't tell me 'it' awoke ].
"What does all this mean??!!" yelled Naruto, pointing at the two. "Are you afraid now? Let's have a fair fight!!!"
"Naruto! Shut up!" his sensei said angrily, not looking at him.
The energetic boy was taken aback by his teacher's reaction. His shoulders fell and he closed his mouth. Sakura was looking incredulously at them. Sasuke frowned.
"It's not finished yet." Kana's voice broke the silence. She put her hands before her face, palms turned towards team 7. Only her thumbs and forefingers were touching, forming some kind of triangle seal. A black cloud of fog began to form above the woman and the girl.
"No, wait!" Kakashi yelled thrusting his arm forward as if to illustrate his words with his moves. A strong wind was suddenly blowing in the area and Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke were left alone.
The three students looked at their unmoving teacher's back and then at each other. They couldn't figure everything that had just happened and the jounin's silence wasn't helping.
"Ka-Kakashi-sensei, we shouldn't stay here." Naruto ventured.
"He's right Kakashi-sensei." Sakura added." We have to report this to Hokage-sama right away!" Naruto nodded showing he agreed with her.
"Are you listening, Kakashi?" Sasuke sounded exasperated.
The man turned to face his students and looked at them blankly. He blinked and nodded.
"Let's go."
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"Sanae-sama, are you all right?"
The woman was breathing and panting heavily. As soon as they arrived in a safe place she tore her mask off and sat down. Her eyes had turned purple.
"Kana...the seal..." she whispered.
"Right away"
The younger girl bit her thumb and wrote some mystic signs on her master's shoulder skin with her own blood. She then clasped her hands, performed a few hand seals and put them on the spot she had been writing on earlier. The signs disappeared as they were absorbed under Sanae's skin. Her breathing rythm went back to normal as well as her blue eyes.
"Sanae-sama...what happened? Why did you stop me? Why did the seal almost break?"
"I never would have thought this kid was with him..."
"...I see. You're talking about this man, right? You know that Kakashi guy, right?"
"The former me used to know him. But the former me is dead. And so he will soon be."
"Still you didn't want me to kill him. Sanae-sama...are you sure you really want to do this?"
"Don't be stupid Kana! I've been waiting for this moment for 8 years! Ottou- sama finally allowed us to take our first moves...soon I'll take revenge from these bastards. You didn't kill him because when the time comes, I'll be the one killing him. With my own hands. I swear it. Soon..."
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A/N: Ooooookay my first attempt at a tiny tiny battle scene. Ok they more kind of spoke than fight...that's why I said 'tiny'! :p I bought the Naruto 2 game on Nintendo Gamecube and it ROCKS!!!! It's so much funny, and Kakashi's sooooooo cool in it :D lol
Bad attempt at building tension until next chapter LOL ==== Oh my Gosh what will happen 'Soon' ??? Find out in next chapter !
See ya ^______^
