Mystic

By Chiemi

Sasuke guarded the client. Three days and still no Naruto. Even Sakura seemed distracted. She didn't chase him around nearly as much, and while Sasuke appreciated that, he wondered did it really take Naruto's possible death for Sakura to admit she thought of Naruto as a friend? Sasuke turned his thoughts back to the village. Who would baka sensei have to tell about Naruto? Who would worry? Sasuke never really cared to think about that before, being as he disliked Naruto, but...Sasuke knew the ninja's world of death, but many didn't. Is that why they would treat someone with such hate? Why did everyone hate Naruto?

"Sasuke kun! Sasuke kun! Inari's mom let me use her baking stuff, so I made you cookies! And some other stuff," Sakura yelled at him hearts swimming around her. She ran up to him and sat a basket down in front of him.

"Sakura, why do you hate Naruto?" Sasuke asked.

"Well, because he's annoying. All he does is try to show off something he doesn't have. He can't do anything and he's just so annoying! Even my mom hates him," Sakura told him, happy to be talking to Sasuke. She didn't really think about what she said because she had never thought about it.

"Hn." Sasuke looked at her before standing and leaving.

"Sasuke kun! Where are you going?" Sakura asked standing. He didn't answer. Sasuke really couldn't stand anyone from the academy...they all were so annoying.

"OWWWIEE!!! OW, OW, OW, OW!! It HURTS!" Naruto yelled. Haku walked into the room and looked at him. Naruto looked back. Haku stared with an innocent gaze. Naruto pouted.

"You shouldn't have been trying to get the ramen. I told you we put it up there so you couldn't get to it. It's not my fault you sprain your ankle coming down. I told you, Ramen is only for lunch! For dinner, we eat food," Haku told him.

"Haku, I really wanted to eat miso ramen. And besides, my ankle is throbbing so bad right now! Can I at least get some ice?" Naruto whined. Haku nodded and left the room to get an ice pack. Naruto grinned and looked up at the melting ice hanging above a light.

"Step one completed. Boiling water, on schedule!" He grinned.

"What are you talking about?" Haku asked walking in.

"Nothing, nothing," Naruto said, giving a fox grin.

"Sure...later today, the...doctor will be by to look at your ankle. It's not healing as fast as it should. It might be broken or out of place or something. Behave in front of Itachi sensei, okay? Because he...is not the nicest person, okay?" Haku asked.

"Okay. Hey, Haku, Are you sure Itachi is a doctor? I mean, he just more...dangerous then that to me," Naruto scoffed. Haku smiled a fake smile and turned away.

"Stay here. I'll bring you your food," Haku told him.

In the kitchen, Haku poured some food out into a bowl and a few small side dishes. He paused for a moment.

"Please, don't let Master Uchiha hurt Naruto," He murmured. He looked up when a sinister voice started laughing behind him. His eyes widened.

"Don't worry, Haku, right now, I'm just doing an examination," the voice stated.

"Hokage, from sounds of it, I think Uchiha Itachi has been found," Kakashi murmured. It was the evening with a high moon in the sky. The Hokage did not respond, but leaned back in his seat. The wind outside followed his direction. The he stood and faced Kakashi.

"Kakashi, this is too dangerous for first timers. However, I will not fully turn this mission over to the ABNU just yet. I will let you be responsible for the return and search of Naruto, unless they find him. I will also leave you free reign of the rest except... your team may not fight Itachi," The Hokage told him, pulling the pipe free of his mouth.

"As you wish, Hokage," Kakashi said.

"Dismissed." Kakashi disappeared.

"OW, OW, OW, God, could you please be easier with it?" Naruto asked. Itachi looked up at Naruto. Naruto went silent. Haku moaned inwardly.

"It's probably not broken, but I still am going to wrap it and you're to stay off of it for three to four weeks. If you try to go against this, you will just have to stay in bed longer. I'll come back in a couple days to see how it's progressing," Itachi stated coldly. Naruto nodded, still not daring to say anything more, but willing enough to glare.

"Good," Itachi said. He stood, petted Naruto's head like a dog, and stared down at Naruto's horrified face.

"When I come back, if I see you haven't walked on it, then I might be able to lessen those weeks to 1 to 2 weeks. But if you did walk..." Itachi's smirk lead Naruto's mind to fill with all sorts of images. Yet, it did not stop Naruto's glare to even remotely lessen.

Itachi picked up a bag and turned and left to the kitchen.

"Haku, he killed my ankle!" Naruto whined, turning puppy eyes on him. Haku stare at him.

"He barely touched it!"

"Then why does it feel like he shoved 16 bolts of lighting up my ass?" Naruto asked. Haku glare.

"Sorry. Butt."

"Probably because that was how bad your sprain was, Naruto. I'll go get you another ice pack," Haku told him. Haku entered the kitchen to find Itachi in a happier mood then he had normally was.

"I scanned him. I found it. Now is the time. Haku," He said sharply and suddenly addressing Haku.

"Yes, Master Uchiha?"

"Don't let that boy leave or you will pay the consequences."

A/N hey, sorry this one came out SOO slow! I signed up for two too many classes. I really can not take all my normal ones with these two, but I'm tryin'. So that is why I am late. I am sorry, minna san! But please don't let that stop you from R&R! So please do! You guys give me hope! ï