Mask of Deception
By: Kisu
A/N: WHEEEE! I'm on a roll…too bad I'm behind in all my readings. T__T
Disclaimer: Naruto doesn't belong to me. If you sue, I'm dead broke and you can have…my sister! XD
Chapter 3: Mission
"One more year." Sasuke murmured as he looked up at the sky. The warmth of the sun shone down at him and the breeze rippled the grass he was laying on. The sky was a beautiful blue and it white fluffy clouds lazily drifted past. He had just finished his Jounin exam. It had been harder than the last. But among those people, Sakura had not passed.
"Being Jounin wasn't meant for me." Sakura had told him. "I've never kept up with you and Naruto." She turned around, smiling brightly. "I think I'll become a medic. It's what I do best."
"Sakura." He mumbled as his arm came up to shield his eyes from the bright sun. His eyes closed and he small frown graced his lips. "Naruto. You sure take your time to return, dobe."
- - -
"Naruto will be 17 years old today. He'll be devastated when he finds out he missed the Jounin exams." Iruka sighed as he leaned against a tree. Kakashi sat on the branch above him and looked down at him from reading his book.
"Did you hear?" Kakashi asked. "Hidden Sand also hosted a Jounin exam. It was to prepare for the coming battle. A lot of Chuunin passed."
"Was Naruto on the list?" Iruka asked, quickly. Kakashi shook his head slightly.
"But there was one from the Sand that was passed by flying colors. Satoh Uzutaro." Kakashi reported. The Chuunin defeated his opponent in less than five minutes.
"Five minutes?" Iruka's eyebrows shot up and he stared at the Jounin. "That is impossible!"
"I heard that they are considering him to be boosted up to an ANBU." Kakashi said. He closed his eyes. "I'm very interested in meeting this person. I hear his level is right under Kabuto's."
"I hope Konoha will be prepared for them. They train differently from us." Iruka sighed. "Fights to the death and the children are raised with blood on their hands."
"That's why we have to preserve our village, Iruka-sensei." Kakashi drawled. "This is the only village where lives are happy. Our shinobi is happy."
"Mm." Iruka nodded in agreement. They stared out from the shade to the bright sunlight that illuminated the village. "Konoha is where many people call home."
---
"Uzumaki Naruto." The voice came from the door and the figure that was practicing his taijutsu on the smooth wooden floor made no acknowledgement to the speaker. Kabuto pushed his glasses up from his nose and smiled. "Does Konoha know that you are here?" Getting a little irritated from a lack of response, he stepped into the room and walked up to the back of the young man. With one hand, he clasped down on his shoulder and before he could blink, he was down on the ground with a foot on his chest.
"Gomen. It's reflex." The boy said, softly. He offered him a hand and removed his foot. Kabuto stared at him and cautiously placed his hand in his. The boy pulled him to his feet without using any muscle at all. He was the same as remember but he was taller and slender. A soft air surrounded him and his golden hair had gotten long. The boy was too pretty.
"You are Uzumaki Naruto, right?" He asked, noticing the Hidden Sand forehead protector he wore around his arm.
"Iie. You're mistaken. I'm Satoh Uzutaro." He replied, giving him a pleasant smile. "Nice to meet you." He bowed. "Sorry about the throw. I guess I was concentrating too hard."
"Uzu." They turned to look at the person who stood at the door.
"Lord Gaara." Uzutaro bowed his head in respect. The boy walked through the door and stepped within a few feet from Kabuto. The boy looked healthy. The dark lines around his eyes were hardly noticeable and there was some color on his skin. Even more so, he was taller and leaner. Kabuto hid his nervous feelings as he stared at the boy. Dangerous. He repeated in his mind. Satoh Uzutaro and Gaara was a pair that was a deadly combination.
"Kabuto." Gaara greeted him. "To what do we owe this pleasure?" Those light green eyes of his seemed to stare straight into him. Kabuto laughed lightly and nodded to Uzutaro.
"I was just introducing myself." He said as Uzutaro smiled and nodded in agreement. He felt relieved and bowed again. "I should be leaving now. You look well, Lord Gaara."
"Thank you." Gaara replied. Kabuto smiled and walked out the dojo. After a few moments, Naruto shifted his weight and walked next to him.
"I don't like him." He said, staring at the entrance. Gaara placed a hand on his arm and stared at the door.
"He's Orochimaru's right hand man. His most loyal weasel." Gaara told him.
"Is that so?" Naruto asked. "If he stands in the way, I will have to kill him." Gaara turned his gaze to Naruto, who was radiating off a vibe of death and Gaara squeezed his arm. Naruto's expression suddenly relaxed and a warm smile crossed his face. "Kabuto eh? He was very friendly."
"Yeah." Gaara nodded.
"Gaara!" Temari ran into the dojo. "Orochimaru has asked to see you!" She exclaimed. Gaara stared at her and narrowed his eyes.
"Kabuto must have reported to him." He frowned.
"Should I come with you?" Naruto asked, quietly.
"No. Just stay here and practice your taijutsu." Gaara smiled. "I'll deal with him."
"I'll be there if you need me." Naruto told him. Gaara nodded and walked out the door with Temari next to him.
"Do you think he'll find out?" Temari asked quietly.
"No." Gaara replied. "We will play the fool. He needs my strength too much."
"But you have to be careful, Gaara." Temari said with worry.
"Arigatou, Temari." He said as he stopped and met her eyes. Temari blinked and smiled. "I'll go on ahead."
"Hai." Temari said. Gaara turned and walked down the hall. "Gaara. You've opened your heart." She whispered, her eyes bright with happiness. Unoticed, a figure slipped past her in the shadows and followed Gaara.
---
"Kazekage-sama. You called for me?" Gaara asked, bowing in respect. Through his eyelashes he stared at Kabuto who stood next to the decaying snake.
"I see you are doing well." Orochimaru smiled. "Are you ready? We move toward Konoha tomorrow."
"I have trained and mastered the demon within me." Gaara replied in a monotone. "I await your orders, Kazekage-sama."
"Excellent." Orochimaru sat back and placed a hand under his chin thoughtfully. "I have heard about a certain companion of yours. His name is Satoh Uzutaro. I missed the Jounin exams but I am certain that he has the ability to become ANBU."
"He has become ANBU, Kazekage-sama." Gaara told him. "However, he will stand by my side. He owes me a life debt."
"A life debt?" Orochimaru looked on with interest.
"I saved his life." Gaara said.
"Oh." Orochimaru glanced at his servant and Kabuto dove forward. Gaara stood motionless for the strike. It was too early to show him is true abilities. Orochimaru smiled in satisfaction but soon the smile dropped when he saw the scene in front of him. Someone had intervened and was blocking Kabuto's punch. The person kneed Kabuto in the gut and pushed him back with a sharp palm attack to his chest. Kabuto flew back and landed in an undignified heap, breathing heavily.
"I must insist that you stop attacking, Lord Gaara." The figure said, looking up. Orochimaru's eyes widened.
The resemblance was uncanny. From the sharp blue eyes to the golden hair, but everything else was different. His features were slimmer and there weren't any scars on his face, except for one that cut across his right eyebrow.
"And you are?" Orochimaru prompted.
"Satoh Uzutaro." He bowed. "Lord Gaara's bodyguard."
"Satoh? Do you belong in a clan?" Orochimaru asked.
"No. My family is dead." Uzutaro replied, smoothly. There was something about his tone of voice and his blank blue eyes that showed that this one didn't hesitate on killing. Orochimaru was pleased.
"Congratulations on becoming an ANBU, Satoh Uzutaro." He said, finally. "I will began bringing troops to Konoha tomorrow. Gaara, I want you and Uzutaro to leave one week before the mission."
"The war on Konoha?" Gaara asked.
"Yes and one more." Orochimaru replied. "The assassination of the Hokage."
TBC…T_T