Reveries of Life, Love, and Revenge

A/N: Hrm… It's been…. Three days since I last updated? I'm not sure. Anywho, I plan for there to be a spark of interest in the relationships soon… but the problem is… HOW do I mesh in more and more introductions of people to work with the love-life? For example, I could talk about Alona and Orochimaru… But the problem with that is… Orochimaru isn't anywhere near Konoha (As of now…) and I haven't even introduced Alona, yet Goodness… However, I'll try to bring in some more people… and explain one we have already met.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto in any way whatsoever; even though I do wish that I could claim it as mine. However, I cannot, so… yeah.

-----------------------------------------

Chapter 2: A Mission...

-----------------------------------------

Zeo stood before the two girls, her right hand resting on her hip. Since when had she arrived…? "Must I repeat my question? About whom were you referring to?" As she had said this, the elder Genin's voice was monotone, emotionless, taking Mitsarugi by surprise. Was this the tone Zeo used every time as she spoke? That'd effect how her personality was taken… Nikko pushed up her -constantly slipping- glasses, then shot a worried look over to the, what appeared to be, paralyzed eleven year old. How were they going to cover up the fact that they, indeed, were talking about the one who was impatiently awaiting answer?

Mitsarugi was the first to speak, her voice, as it had always been, flat. "We were talking about—Argh " The girl was rammed into a tree, her eyes catching someone who had appeared to have golden hair standing in front of her before she temporarily blacked out. It was Naruto. "Mitsa-chaaaan Are you okay? "

Well, that answer was a little obvious, wasn't it?

Before Mitsarugi could return fully to her normal state, a faint, "Dobe…" was heard. Sasuke was there, too…? At last, the youngest Genin returned to normal, although she was just a bit dizzy. Naruto still is hyper… Well, that was given. Even his training with Jiraiya hasn't forced him to mature the slightest bit. "Naruto Oh, Mitsa-chan, are you okay?" Ah… So, the trio had come together. That happy, sincere voice had belonged to Sakura. That, of course, was identifiable. To answer her question in a silent manner, the eleven year old simply nodded her head, taking in the features of the three ninjas. Naruto still had the same old straw-colored hair and sea-blue eyes, but his body had certainly gotten bulkier due to his training. That made Mitsarugi wonder; what could Jiraiya possibly do that made Naruto get stronger?

Sakura was the same as she had always been, however, her hair had grown to a length that made the pink locks brush her elbows. Her emerald green eyes were always glowing with happiness nowadays, even though that simply just wasn't a surprise. Sakura had, as it always seemed, done her best to always keep her feelings quite positive, generating a good example for Naruto to follow. Hopefully, as Kakashi had always thought, Sakura's illustration would drown out Naruto's somewhat childish personality, but from the looks of it, that hadn't happened.

Sasuke, of course, had maintained a mysteriously sexy look. His features had barely even changed the slightest bit. However, the boy's body had been relieved of his boyish good looks and were replaced with more adult characteristics. For example, the once scrawny look Sasuke had let on was finished. He was certainly bulky, as was Naruto, from his muscles that were a reasonably large size. Mitsarugi, of course, had noticed his signs of aging, and took them in without a thought. He had certainly grown over the years, but his facial structure had always remained the same… well, maybe not exactly the same. As Sasuke grew, his nose become more prominent, his cheekbones giving his eyes a bit of an upward slant. That was the only feature that would always change, however. "Yes, I'm fine." Was all Mitsarugi could muster as she escaped from her dizzy and dazed state. This, of course, made Sakura smile. Oh, yes. Big forehead girl had smiled. As if in a chain reaction, Mitsarugi smiled to, making Nikko also manage a small smile, Naruto grin after that, and Sasuke smirk. That was all he ever did; smirk. The eleven year old turned back to Zeo, her sapphire blue jewels focusing onto the teenager. "…You, to put it simply."

With that, Zeo simply nodded, then also focused her gaze, but on the child. "Why?" The eleven year old shrugged the comment off, and then jerked her head over to the trio which were standing behind her. They had been listening, although they hadn't the slightest clue of what the girls were talking about. It didn't matter if all three of those Genins knew what the child and the teenager were referring to, though. They'd find out soon enough. "…. I'll talk to you later about that, but, Zeo… I'm sure we're all dying to know about you. Do you mind talking about yourself for awhile? It's not like we have anything better to do.. Well, I don't have anything better to do, that is." The fifteen year old opened her mouth to reply, but the words caught in her throat. Well, she could trust these students, right? Even if those two girls hadn't given a good opinion about her yet, Zeo just felt as if she could talk to this Mitsarugi and her friends... She didn't know why, but she just COULD.

"I don't mind."

As Zeo had said this, her voice was not monotone and emotionless. In fact, it was quite nice sounding, changing Mitsarugi's opinion once more. Almost automatically, the hyper blonde boy, the glasses wearing fourteen year old, the silent protagonist, the crazy pink-haired fangirl, and the youngest ninja went over to different spots and sat as Zeo made her way over to a boulder. White strands of her hair cascaded lightly onto her forehead as a soft breeze let in. Zeo, as it appeared, was a very pretty adolescent. She was quite slender and unlike Sakura, the teenager was somewhat curvy. Her chocolate brown eyes scanned each ninja, examining each of their facial expression. Mitsarugi's expression, however, surprised her. How could I child look so emotionless facial wise and have a personality that didn't follow up that? That, indeed, left Zeo puzzled. "Well, to start off... I'm originally from Mist." Every ninja, except Sasuke, looked up with a surprised expression. "Doesn't that classify you as a missing-nin?" Sakura asked worriedly, her face darkening.

No... Of course not, you smart one. But this was no time for sarcasm...

"Yes, and I'm fully aware of that. However, I'm being registered as a leaf ninja now, so I'll be protected if a hunter-nin comes." Zeo had said all this flatly, as if she hadn't really cared, but her voice contained a hint of sincerity and kindness in it, which made something in Mitsarugi surge. Just then, Kakashi appeared from nowhere, his hand planted on top of Sasuke's head as he used Naruto for an arm rest. "Where did you three go? When you all weren't there, I went frantic..."

"WELL, WE GOT TIRED OF WAITING FOR YOU!"

The fifteen year old ninja known as Zeo winced at this child's gutsy attitude. Yelling at a sensei like that? That was very disrespectful. "Well, I was lost in the gate of time, and..." Naruto made a face at the silver haired Jounin. How stupid did Kakashi take them for? "Yeah yeah, whatever Kakashi-sensei. Now, what mission do we have today?" Nikko and Mitsa perked up at this while looking at Zeo. Zeo had an equally puzzled face on, as if she was wondering, 'What mission?' All three of the girls stood up to go home, but Kakashi simply stood in the way. " This applies to you all, too. We are to protect a fellow ninja know as Alona Raye. She works on the advanced medical unit. There was a recent flooding in the Hidden Village of Mist, so she's out to aid wounded survivors." The white haired Genin twitched. Mist had a flooding? This early? They were just recovering from one they did have too long ago...

" When are we to go on this mission?"

Kakashi looked at Mitsarugi who had said the question. So, the rumors were true. She did look like her mother... "Today. The medical unit is issued around four."It was two 'o' clock now, so... They had two hours. That little amount of time would allow Mitsa to get some serious training in... "Alright." was all she said, then the trio walked off. The sensei simply watched as they left the premises.

Sasuke leaned back. Another annoying mission they'd have to complete... and this one would be just as tedious as when they had to protect that bridge-builder. He grunted. And he'd have to do it with those annoying girls.... and Mitsarugi. Mitsarugi hadn't really fazed as a problem to him, considering their past friendship. Only once, had she seriously hurt him... and that wasn't too long ago.

Flashback

A seven year old girl trembled in the corner of an alleyway, a gang of twelve year olds constantly kicking her small body. She didn't react; in fact, she couldn't react. This was Mitsarugi; One of Konoha's nicest ninjas. It was predictable that she wouldn't try and retaliate... and that made Sasuke mad. He stormed over to the gang, his once onyx-shaded eyes were now a crimson shade. That red-ish glow... the... Sharingan..?!

"Don't hit her again."

At this, each gang member simply laughed maniacally. Sasuke, on the other hand, stood cooly, an agitated expression planted firmly on his face. At that moment, the gang leader stepped forward, smiling. His face was grotesque; it had many infected cuts on it, and being chubby, it was rounded. This caused Mitsarugi to shudder, but Sasuke still remained cool and collected. "And what're you going to do about it?"

Mitsarugi smiled weakly as the raven-haired boy took out each gang member with ease, causing the leader to retreat frantically. However, it still didn't change the fact that Sasuke had the sharingan... "Are you alright?" The girl simply nodded and stood, her legs trembling. Yes, her one and only friend had saved her, but... he had the sharingan... the devil skill... so he was related to... "

"Sasuke...."

The boy looked over at Mitsarugi, his once cool face now converted to a kind one. He knew it was alright to act friendly around this one girl, knowing she had witnessed almost the same thing that involved Itachi. Sasuke shuddered as the man's name even arrived into his mind. While the name 'Mitsarugi' rolled off his tongue like honey, Itachi's name only came out bitterly. He nodded in acknowledgment when his name came out of her mouth and softened his gaze, as if to encourage the child to continue on. Mitsarugi tried her hardest to smile, but couldn't find the strength to. Her muscles tugged and tugged at her mouth, but no sweet smile generated. Sasuke noticed her attempt to grin at him, and simply shook his head, as if to indicate, 'It's alright. There's no need to smile if you can't.' Truthfully, the girl couldn't. Her feelings for Sasuke were torn now... between friendship and hatred... "Sasuke... I can't... be your friend anymore."

This last comment caught Sasuke off-guard. He really wasn't expecting that. "...Why?" His tone was slightly irritated, but it had also hinted sadness in it. Why was the world being so cruel to him right now?! "You see... You're related to the person who killed my parents.. I figured that out when your eyes glowed that red color... I don't want to hurt you when I go and stalk that man..." Sasuke's onyx eyes scanned Mitsarugi's very lightly shaded blue ones. They weren't feigning the truth... and that hurt him.

"Good-bye, Sasuke." was all she said before she walked out of the alleyway and back to her house, her head not even turning to look at the boy once more as she did so.

End Flashback

The twelve year old prodigy shuddered at this memory. Why hadn't he forgot it, dammit?! It wasn't like Mitsarugi had ever played a major role in his life. She was just a simple ninja who had witnessed the same experience as he had.

But WHY couldn't her forget that moment?!

She was seriously back to haunt him. When he had thought she had left him for good, and that was a good thing, she just kept reappearing. Damn, Mitsarugi... "Sasuke-kun? What's wrong?" Sasuke's head snapped to the side to look at Sakura. She was, after all, the only one other than Ino who called him by that. "Nothing." With that, he simply pushed the pink-haired girl aside, then walked home to train. Why can't I get him to notice me..? I've always tried my hardest for him to give me AT LEAST a smile, yet...

Of course, it was obvious that Sasuke had no intention whatsoever of getting together with Sakura.

Kakashi and Naruto were talking about their training as Sasuke followed behind, Sakura falling in the back. "Now, Naruto, you are NOT to goof off on this certain mission, is that clear?" Kakashi's tone was strict; that effected Naruto by a lot. "I won't goof off Kakashi-sensei! That's a promise!"

But somehow, Kakashi knew Naruto wouldn't be able to keep the promise.

"...Naruto, I trust you, but... Shall I make a reward if you're good? Yes, I will. If you're good for the whole entire mission, Naruto, I'll buy you as much ramen as you want." The fox-demon's ear perked up at this; Kakashi had successfully gotten his attention. "YES! YOU ALL WON'T EVEN KNOW I WAS THERE!" And with that, the sensei and his 'triplets' began walking home, the little blonde boy eager for the two hours to pass.

-----------------------------------------

A/N: Well, I think this chapter was better than the last one. Eh, I'll probably have the next one up later tonight. This one only took me about an hour or two to make. Ja ne!