Don't own it!
Chapter Two: Mystery Assignment
"YOU'RE LATE!!"
Kakashi arrived at the meeting spot to receive his daily shouts from his students. He laughed sheepishly and scratched the back of his head for added effect.
"Good morning to you too," he said dropping his hand to his side.
"Master Kakashi, have you ever at least considered buying an alarm clock?" asked Sakura. "I'd be more than willing to--"
"I already have an alarm clock," interrupted Kakashi with a smile.
"Then why are you always late?!" asked Naruto annoyed.
Kakashi shrugged.
"To lazy to set it I guess."
All three genin sweatdroped.
"He might be an excellent jonin," thought Sasuke, "But he's still a complete idiot!"
"You really think that?"
Sasuke jumped at the sudden proximity of Kakashi's face. He glowered at Naruto who was on his back laughing.
"You know," started Kakashi, "It might be a good idea to keep thoughts to one's self."
"And how am I supposed to do that if you read my mind!" he snapped through clenched teeth. "I didn't even know you can do that," he added quietly. Another burst of laughter came from Naruto who was now in tears.
"What is you problem you dunce?!" shouted Sasuke angrily.
"He can't read minds!" gasped Naruto in-between laughing. "You were thinking out loud!" Sasuke went red with embarrassment and Kakashi winked at him and patted his head as Sasuke crossed his arms to pout.
"I like you to," said Kakashi sweetly.
Sakura was beyond words and had sunk into a crouch with her face covered in her hands.
"Well if that's all we can head on out," said Kakashi falling back into his laid back mode.
"Where are we going?" asked Naruto at once having calmed down and now thoroughly excited.
"Lord Hokage has a special assignment for us," said Kakashi already walking off.
"A special assignment? Awesome!"
* * *
"You look terrible," said Lord Hokage concerned when he saw Iruka walk in.
"I didn't get much sleep... again," said Iruka tiredly.
"I assume that's what you want to talk about?" Iruka hesitated as though he had changed his mind, but proceeded.
"Yes... I've been having these strange nightmares," he said quietly. "They started a few days ago- but they always seem so real! And I can't shake them."
The Hokage tapped his pipe against his chin in thought.
"What are they about these nightmares?"
"...Imako...," said Iruka with a pang of anger. "We're always children and things go horribly wrong."
"You're twin sister? But--"
"I don't have a sister!" interrupted Iruka heatedly.
The Hokage frowned.
"You can't honestly think that Iruka," he said calmly. "I remember you two were inseparable."
"That was before it reared its ugly head," snapped Iruka. "That thing- if it is still alive is not my sister!"
"You're dreams are obviously the embodiment of the conflict between your heart and mind," said the Hokage. "Something made you think of her and my guess would be you'll keep having these nightmares unless you resolve it."
Iruka tiredly covered his face with his hands and groaned.
"Imako is dead and still it leaves me no peace," he said feeling helpless.
"You know full well she's still alive Iruka or we'd all be dead. Maybe you should go look for her."
"With all due respect Hokage forget it!" he said angrily. "That thing might be in her body, but Imako is dead!"
The Hokage drew on his pipe before answering.
"It would be best if you try and get some sleep Iruka, you're not at all yourself. I'll summon a substitute to oversee you class today."
"I'll try—and please forgive me I meant no disrespect," apologized Iruka with a quick bow.
"Don't worry about it, just go."
After Iruka left, the Hokage directed his attention to the table of assignments and started to categorize the one's marked urgent.
"Oh dear...!"
The Hokage rolled up the scroll he had just read and stared at the door Iruka had just left through. He almost moved to catch up with him, but thought better of it and called for a messenger to give word to Hatake Kakashi.
* * *
"What is this special assignment about Master Kakashi?" asked Sakura as they entered the center of Konohagakure village.
"Can't tell you," said Kakashi sweetly through his mask.
"Then how are we supposed to know what to do?" asked Naruto confused.
"Why can't you tell us?" interjected Sakura.
"Because I don't know what it is yet," he said simply.
All three students fell flat on their faces and Kakashi sweatdropped. Naruto was about to say something when he saw Iruka and ran ahead.
"Master Iruka!"
Naruto jumped on his former Master's back almost causing both to fall and hugged him.
"Not now Naruto!" Iruka barked angrily.
Naruto let go immediately. Iruka had been angry with him before, but never like this.
"I-I'm sorry," he said hurt, "I was just happy to see you."
Iruka looked down at the sad boy and sighed.
"Look, I'm sorry Naruto... I have to go."
Naruto watched Iruka leave and stood still as a statue until he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"He didn't mean it, he's just got a lot on his mind," said Kakashi sympathetically. "Come on."
Naruto looked after Iruka before following the jonin with slumped shoulders. Sakura looked sad for him, but didn't say anything and followed Kakashi's lead. Not long after they arrived at the building and walked in to receive their assignment.
"Good, you're here," said the Hokage rising from his chair. "You three wait here, Kakashi if you would follow me."
"What do you mean 'wait here'?!" objected Naruto.
"Lord Hokage," Kakashi stepped in front of Naruto, "I was under the impression you wanted team 7 or I would have--"
"The whole team is asked," reassured the Hokage, "Please, I'll explain everything in the briefing."
Kakashi looked at his students and shrugged before following the old man. Naruto crossed his arms and plopped down onto the floor sulking.
"Something stinks!" he said. "First Master Iruka acts all weird and now we get an assignment without being told what it is!"
Sasuke's answer to that was to lean against the wall with his hands in his pockets and 'Hmpf'.
"Well I wouldn't be to thrilled either if someone just jumped on my back," said Sakura with crossed arms. "And Master Kakashi will tell us what we need to know when he get's back."
'Naruto is right,' said Inner Sakura, 'Something's not right!'
An hour passed before Kakashi came back out.
"Well?!" jumped Naruto at once.
"Because you were such obedient children I'll cancel class today," said Kakashi smiling sweetly under his mask. "Well meet tomorrow bright and early and I suggest you restock you're ninja gear... oh, and don't be late."
"But Master Kakashi! What's the mission?" asked Naruto at annoyed.
"Sorry, class has already been dismissed," said Kakashi with a shrug. "I'll tell you tomorrow."
"But- but--"
Kakashi vanished in a wisp of smoke and left behind three thoroughly confused genin.
Well... I know this was dull and uneventful, but I can't just jump into the action and have everyone say 'What the hell is going on here?!' ^_~ If you like gory scenes you'll hopefully love ch 4, but that's after 3. I apologize for the ages between postings but I have my hands and head full of crap I have to deal with first. That may or may not change pending on my final exam score I'll get on Monday or Tuesday. 50% I get to stay- under I get kicked out.. ANYwho...*ahem*
Later days, Imako the Demon Wolf
Chapter Two: Mystery Assignment
"YOU'RE LATE!!"
Kakashi arrived at the meeting spot to receive his daily shouts from his students. He laughed sheepishly and scratched the back of his head for added effect.
"Good morning to you too," he said dropping his hand to his side.
"Master Kakashi, have you ever at least considered buying an alarm clock?" asked Sakura. "I'd be more than willing to--"
"I already have an alarm clock," interrupted Kakashi with a smile.
"Then why are you always late?!" asked Naruto annoyed.
Kakashi shrugged.
"To lazy to set it I guess."
All three genin sweatdroped.
"He might be an excellent jonin," thought Sasuke, "But he's still a complete idiot!"
"You really think that?"
Sasuke jumped at the sudden proximity of Kakashi's face. He glowered at Naruto who was on his back laughing.
"You know," started Kakashi, "It might be a good idea to keep thoughts to one's self."
"And how am I supposed to do that if you read my mind!" he snapped through clenched teeth. "I didn't even know you can do that," he added quietly. Another burst of laughter came from Naruto who was now in tears.
"What is you problem you dunce?!" shouted Sasuke angrily.
"He can't read minds!" gasped Naruto in-between laughing. "You were thinking out loud!" Sasuke went red with embarrassment and Kakashi winked at him and patted his head as Sasuke crossed his arms to pout.
"I like you to," said Kakashi sweetly.
Sakura was beyond words and had sunk into a crouch with her face covered in her hands.
"Well if that's all we can head on out," said Kakashi falling back into his laid back mode.
"Where are we going?" asked Naruto at once having calmed down and now thoroughly excited.
"Lord Hokage has a special assignment for us," said Kakashi already walking off.
"A special assignment? Awesome!"
* * *
"You look terrible," said Lord Hokage concerned when he saw Iruka walk in.
"I didn't get much sleep... again," said Iruka tiredly.
"I assume that's what you want to talk about?" Iruka hesitated as though he had changed his mind, but proceeded.
"Yes... I've been having these strange nightmares," he said quietly. "They started a few days ago- but they always seem so real! And I can't shake them."
The Hokage tapped his pipe against his chin in thought.
"What are they about these nightmares?"
"...Imako...," said Iruka with a pang of anger. "We're always children and things go horribly wrong."
"You're twin sister? But--"
"I don't have a sister!" interrupted Iruka heatedly.
The Hokage frowned.
"You can't honestly think that Iruka," he said calmly. "I remember you two were inseparable."
"That was before it reared its ugly head," snapped Iruka. "That thing- if it is still alive is not my sister!"
"You're dreams are obviously the embodiment of the conflict between your heart and mind," said the Hokage. "Something made you think of her and my guess would be you'll keep having these nightmares unless you resolve it."
Iruka tiredly covered his face with his hands and groaned.
"Imako is dead and still it leaves me no peace," he said feeling helpless.
"You know full well she's still alive Iruka or we'd all be dead. Maybe you should go look for her."
"With all due respect Hokage forget it!" he said angrily. "That thing might be in her body, but Imako is dead!"
The Hokage drew on his pipe before answering.
"It would be best if you try and get some sleep Iruka, you're not at all yourself. I'll summon a substitute to oversee you class today."
"I'll try—and please forgive me I meant no disrespect," apologized Iruka with a quick bow.
"Don't worry about it, just go."
After Iruka left, the Hokage directed his attention to the table of assignments and started to categorize the one's marked urgent.
"Oh dear...!"
The Hokage rolled up the scroll he had just read and stared at the door Iruka had just left through. He almost moved to catch up with him, but thought better of it and called for a messenger to give word to Hatake Kakashi.
* * *
"What is this special assignment about Master Kakashi?" asked Sakura as they entered the center of Konohagakure village.
"Can't tell you," said Kakashi sweetly through his mask.
"Then how are we supposed to know what to do?" asked Naruto confused.
"Why can't you tell us?" interjected Sakura.
"Because I don't know what it is yet," he said simply.
All three students fell flat on their faces and Kakashi sweatdropped. Naruto was about to say something when he saw Iruka and ran ahead.
"Master Iruka!"
Naruto jumped on his former Master's back almost causing both to fall and hugged him.
"Not now Naruto!" Iruka barked angrily.
Naruto let go immediately. Iruka had been angry with him before, but never like this.
"I-I'm sorry," he said hurt, "I was just happy to see you."
Iruka looked down at the sad boy and sighed.
"Look, I'm sorry Naruto... I have to go."
Naruto watched Iruka leave and stood still as a statue until he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"He didn't mean it, he's just got a lot on his mind," said Kakashi sympathetically. "Come on."
Naruto looked after Iruka before following the jonin with slumped shoulders. Sakura looked sad for him, but didn't say anything and followed Kakashi's lead. Not long after they arrived at the building and walked in to receive their assignment.
"Good, you're here," said the Hokage rising from his chair. "You three wait here, Kakashi if you would follow me."
"What do you mean 'wait here'?!" objected Naruto.
"Lord Hokage," Kakashi stepped in front of Naruto, "I was under the impression you wanted team 7 or I would have--"
"The whole team is asked," reassured the Hokage, "Please, I'll explain everything in the briefing."
Kakashi looked at his students and shrugged before following the old man. Naruto crossed his arms and plopped down onto the floor sulking.
"Something stinks!" he said. "First Master Iruka acts all weird and now we get an assignment without being told what it is!"
Sasuke's answer to that was to lean against the wall with his hands in his pockets and 'Hmpf'.
"Well I wouldn't be to thrilled either if someone just jumped on my back," said Sakura with crossed arms. "And Master Kakashi will tell us what we need to know when he get's back."
'Naruto is right,' said Inner Sakura, 'Something's not right!'
An hour passed before Kakashi came back out.
"Well?!" jumped Naruto at once.
"Because you were such obedient children I'll cancel class today," said Kakashi smiling sweetly under his mask. "Well meet tomorrow bright and early and I suggest you restock you're ninja gear... oh, and don't be late."
"But Master Kakashi! What's the mission?" asked Naruto at annoyed.
"Sorry, class has already been dismissed," said Kakashi with a shrug. "I'll tell you tomorrow."
"But- but--"
Kakashi vanished in a wisp of smoke and left behind three thoroughly confused genin.
Well... I know this was dull and uneventful, but I can't just jump into the action and have everyone say 'What the hell is going on here?!' ^_~ If you like gory scenes you'll hopefully love ch 4, but that's after 3. I apologize for the ages between postings but I have my hands and head full of crap I have to deal with first. That may or may not change pending on my final exam score I'll get on Monday or Tuesday. 50% I get to stay- under I get kicked out.. ANYwho...*ahem*
Later days, Imako the Demon Wolf