Title: Wishes Are Free
Author: Cheza-chan
Rating: PG-13 (for now)
Pairing: KakaIru, SasuNaru
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto—oh, I wish I did—but I own Kan'you, all the characters of the Hidden Wave Village. I own the Hidden Wave Village because I created it! I own the Hidden Wave Village's special jutsus, etc.
A/N: SATURDAY UPDATES WEREN'T GOOD FOR ME!!
Omigosh! Thank you Isolde-sama for the review for Chapter Ten... (blindingly sparkles) I love you... I love you so... but not as much as I love Monica! and I will try my hardest to get better and better... (needs to hurry up and get to college so she can gets her Master's in English/Literature, and Creative Writing) Thanks goes out, also, to everyone else reviewing—Stay with meeeeeeeeeee!
And also... To answer Isolde-sama's question, I released an STD in Konoha... (waits a moment, then snorts loudly, collapsing in a fit of giggles) I would never do that, no... then everyone would be carrying... But, seriously, I think I like writing people sick. Iruka and Kakashi merely caught a cold, flu, just know it's a very severe one, because of their exchanging of bodily fluids. (snorts behind her hand)
And don't worry about the table Sasuke and Naruto violated, folks. Iruka's gonna have to go out and buy a new one. Poor, poor, dolphin... u.u
Chapter Twelve - He Who Loses Inhibitions (part one)
Sakura sat up at the muffled sounds of movement coming through her bedroom wall. "Kakashi-sensei..." she said around a small yawn. She pushed back the covers and stood from the bed. Sakura left her room and knocked on the door of Kakashi's. "Kakashi-sensei?"
Slowly trying the doorknob to find it open, the young Genin pushed. She gasped at the cold air flowing out and found her Konoha team leader lying unconscious on the bed. "Kakashi-sensei!" the girl cried, rushing over. She reached out to shake him then drew back her hand immediately, gaping at the crimson liquid that covered her fingers. "No..." Sakura shook the Jounin as gently as possible, but firmly, willing him to open his eyes. "Kakashi-sensei, please... Please!"
The body under her touch gave a sudden spasm and the man coughed. The pink-haired child stepped away, smiling, relief written all over her pallid features. Kakashi's eyes opened slowly as he reached towards his stomach.
The cloaked and hooded figure watching through the open window disappeared once the scarecrow had proven he was alive.
Kakashi coughed, desperate for a good breath of air, but sensed the girl's presence. "Sakura..." he choked out, teeth gritting as he tried to move. Whoever attacked had wanted him dead: the kunai had been lodged deeper than normal, and the shuriken almost seemed to barely breeze by his ribs. Wearing his vest might've meant less damage done, but he would've stood out too much.
"Hai, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura clasped her hands together, kneeling by the bedside, and waited for instructions of some sort.
The Jounin forced himself up and collapsed against the headboard. "Sakura... Do you think..." He glanced at the terrified young girl with weary mismatched orbs and smiled weakly. 'At least she still cares for me.' "Do you think you can... help me?" he finished in a sigh.
"Hai."
"My first aid is under the sink..."
Sakura stumbled to her feet, rushing into the man's bathroom. Kakashi drew down her mask once he knew she couldn't see, head bowed low, and took several deep and long breaths. He pulled the cloth back up and tilted his head, eyes curved in another weak smile.
The pink-haired Genin quietly asked her teacher if he could remove his top. Kakashi shook his head; his left arm was going numb from the shoulder, down. Sakura sighed deeply and pulled a kunai from the man's pouch, then raised it to his neck. She tore around the cloth, separating the mask from the shirt itself. Kakashi smiled at her actions, developing a new respect for the child. If it had been Naruto, or even Sasuke, they would've tried to see under his mask. Sakura then tore the left sleeve free and asked the Jounin to raise his right arm so she could remove the rest of the shirt.
She worked in silence to patch up her sensei, determination etched onto her features. Once through, the girl sat back with a sigh and smiled. Kakashi had managed to fall asleep during the process. She slipped quietly from the bed and circled it to get to the window, which she latched tightly. Sakura hurried from the room to the hall closet and came back with a blanket. She covered the scarecrow, then—after much internal debate—placed a ghost of a kiss to the gravity-defying silver tresses.
"Oyasumi," she whispered, backing out of the room.
Within moments, two doors had closed, and a rare moment between teacher and student—father and daughter—had ended.
Sakura woke early the next morning and became startled at the blood caking her arms and the front of her cherry blossom print pajamas. 'Kakashi-sensei!' She rushed from he room and into the Jounin's
"Yo." Kakashi waved with his right arm, Shuuha headband still up on his forehead, and both eyes curving upward with his hidden smile. "Thanks for the wraps. I still can't move my left arm though..." In a show of emphasis, he grunted as he struggled, merely ending up with wriggling fingers.
Sakura shook her head, smiling. "I'll make you some breakfast Trust me, you'll feel better."
"Honto?" Kakashi murmured, eyebrows rising in surprise. "I should get injured more often."
"Don't push your luck."
"Ah. Sakura-chan," he sang after the girl as she headed down the hall.
The Genin sighed, glad that he was back to normal, but losing patience as he returned to normal too quickly. "What?" she growled, pink head peeked into the room.
"Lock the front door," the Jounin ordered. "Close any open windows. Secure the house. Don't tell anyone what happened and don't tell them I'm home. I'm not going anywhere today for a while." 'I really don't want to see anyone, either.'
"Roger." The girl grinned and disappeared. Kakashi shook his head and picked up the Icha Icha Paradise book he had been reading, waiting for his breakfast.
§§§
The pink-haired girl had just finished locking the door to leave—Kakashi on the inside—when she felt a familiar presence behind her. She turned and smiled at Oyasa and Takai. "Sensei's waiting," the oak-haired boy smiled. "He wants us to come to the Academy; I think we have a mission."
"That's great," Sakura laughed, green eyes growing bright.
Takai snorted and looked away. "It's just a mission," he mumbled.
"We might get lucky!" Oyasa squealed, wrapping an arm around the other boy's shoulder. He dragged him down the street, then glanced over his shoulder at the girl. "Hurry, Sakura-chan! Wouldn't want to miss all the great missions."
"Hai!"
With one last glance at the house, Sakura joined then, and Shuuha's Team 5 set off to the school building. Hizaku met them at the entrance and led them to the reports room. Of all twelve teams, they were the fifth to be called in for a mission.
Iruka refused to raise his head as he searched the D- and C-ranked scrolls for a suitable task. His hands were stilled as May reached across him and picked up the blue B-ranked mission scroll. "Shuku-san!" he gasped. The woman smiled brightly at him. Iruka sighed and waited as she searched for—hopefully—the easiest B-ranked mission.
"These types of missions," the woman began. "Usually go to Chuunin, as you know, but our Chuunin are either in a classroom or working elsewhere. So... our three-man teams get them."
'Iruka-sensei...' Sakura locked her fingers behind her back, filtering out certain sounds in the room, and shuffled her feet. She'd been trying to catch the Chuunin's eye every since her team walked in, but his greeting had been mumbled, derivative of his bowed head because he had been looking for missions; now he wasn't.
"This will do." May's statement drew everyone's attention. "You're our second team to leave with a B-ranked mission," she informed them with a brief smile.
"Ara..." Oyasa's smile widened.
"As we are a new Hidden Village and still acquiring ties with others, you will travel to the Lightning Country."
Iruka's dark eyes widened and he wondered if the special Jounin had completely lost her mind. That was no place to be sending three under experienced Genins and one mere Jounin, especially when they would be traveling days and nights.
The brunette looked up, expression serious and eyes narrowed. "Take with you these parchments and bring back the signature of the Lord and the Kaze there," she instructed.
Hizaku stepped forward, taking the offered objects from the village founder, then stepped back.
"I want a thorough report when you return," the woman said firmly, a slight edge to her voice.
Iruka sighed in defeat and raised his head. The Chuunin smiled warmly and also sympathetically as their eyes—the young undercover Konoha ninja's and his—met, hoping the emotions he felt were not too obvious. Sakura snapped back to attention as May dismissed them and bowed with the others. She straightened up and walked out of the room with the rest of Team 5.
"Sakura," Hizaku sighed. "Are you up to this?" Oyasa's smile wavered as he waited for the girl's reply. Takai had his back to them all, arms crossed tightly against his chest.
Sakura glared at her sensei, green eyes fierce. "I'll be fine. Please don't feel like it's your duty to protect me."
"It is my duty," the man chuckled. "But, if that's your request, I'll respect it."
"Thank you."
The Jounin smiled, nodding, and allowed his students to pass by before following.
'I'm not the same Sakura from Konoha,' the girl told herself. 'I'm stronger... better...' She raised her hands, tightening the knot of her headband with a proud grin.
Takai noticed with the glance he'd taken over his shoulder and smirked, slowly tucking his hands into the pockets of his long black pants. He remembered the small kiss that had been placed on his cheek just a few days ago, and admired her strength at being able to do it when it was obvious she was dealing with something that continued tearing her up inside. He sighed and Oyasa elbowed him chuckling.
"Has cupid's arrow struck?" the other boy whispered. "Has my friend found love?" Sakura was far enough ahead to allow them to whisper freely without being overheard, but that was only her.
"Save it," Hizaku said from behind them, grabbing their shoulders.
Sakura turned sharply, suddenly struck with a thought. "We need to pack!" she exclaimed. "Who knows how long we'll be gone. And the sooner we leave, the sooner we can come back." She spun back around, finger raised as if pointing out something of importance, a broad grin on her face.
The Jounin smiled, shaking the boys in his grasp. "That's a wonderful idea," Oyasa stammered as he rattled. He glared at his teacher, but it was a look unlike the one Sakura had seen him wear when she had first started pushing herself too hard. The pink-haired girl giggled, seemingly off in her own world.
"I give you thirty minutes to get ready and say what needs to be said to friends and family," the brunet man instructed, releasing the boys. They stumbled away, rubbing their shoulders and muttering under their breath. Sakura saluted and headed off, away from the schoolyard they had been standing in the middle of.
"Sakura-chan," Oyasa called after her. She looked back. "We'll meet at the Naruto... the Naruto bridge...?" The boy's aqua eyes took on a puzzling look as the name of the structure finally settled in. The young girl yelled her understanding of the situation and ran all the way back to the house, not wanting to waste anymore time. She quietly entered, mindful of the man upstairs, but forgot to lock it behind her.
Kakashi sleepily listened to Sakura hurriedly pack and wondered if she would come and tell him what sort of mission she had been assigned. True to his word, he had not left the house, let alone his room, since his "daughter" left. He wouldn't be going anywhere until his left arm functioned as normal.
Packed and ready to go within fifteen minutes, the young girl sighed deeply, smiling. It was her first mission with her new team and she felt things would go great.
"Sakura-chan!?"
Or she thought they would. Her green eyes widened and she bit down on her lip, worrying. Sakura rushed out into the hall, backpack on back, and opened the door to Kakashi's room. She stuck her hand in and reached around to turn the knob, locking it. Kakashi smiled and knew she had done the same as the door closed once more.
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto continued yelling, walking around downstairs. He wouldn't be going in for his mission until later that morning. He peeked into the slightly larger kitchen. "I saw you come in here! Can we talk?"
"Not for a while," Sakura replied, having made her ways downstairs.
The blonde spun, grin wide, then noticed the bag. "Where are you going?" he mumbled, squinting at her.
"On a mission," she smiled, brushing back her light pink hair. "To the Lightning Country."
Naruto's mouth fell open and he rushed over to her, unaware that the girl took a step back. "You can't!" he cried. "You'll be gone for days and... and it... it's too dangerous!"
"I'll be all right, Naruto. Honestly." She glanced at the clock over the doorway to the kitchen and tightened her grip on the backpack's straps. "I have to meet my team at the bridge in a few, so tell Sasuke-kun and Kakashi-sensei for me when you see them." She took his hand with a pleasant smile and led him from the house so she could lock the door.
Tears came to the bright blue eyes and he savored the warmth of her touch. 'Sakura-chan...!' He energetically returned her wave as she ran off.
Sakura smiled rightly as she dashed down the crowded streets. She remembered when it was crowded, but not thriving. Now children played excitedly, flitting from store to store, hands and pockets full of candy and ninja toys. Se laughed to herself and continued onward. Hizaku and Oyasa were already there, but Takai had yet to show up. Sakura joined the pair, exhaling deeply after she'd stopped.
"Sakura-chan," Oyasa smiled, taking her hands into his own. "Takai should've been here to greet you."
The pink-haired Genin blushed. "What do you mean by that?" she stammered nervously, cheek flushed.
"Nothing. Oh. There he is. And with extra, extra baggage." The oak-haired boy waved over her shoulder and Sakura turned to see. Takai was trying to make his way toward them, but two children were wrapped around his legs. The look of intense struggled was etched onto his rugged, boyish features.
"Are they siblings of his?" Sakura questioned, blinking innocently. Oyasa nodded.
Takai stopped and reached down, grabbing the twins from his legs by the back of their shirts.
"Take us with you," the chestnut-haired girl cried.
"Yeah," her identical brother added.
"I'll bring you back a Hidden Cloud headband," Takai groaned, desperately wanting to rid himself of the pests.
"Really?" both squealed, gray eyes wide as they released his arms.
"No," their big brother snickered, hurrying to his team. The children yelled insults after him, but they fell onto deaf ears. Takai ran right by the trio of Team 5, turning to jog backwards along the large bridge. "Come on—before they try and chase me again," he sighed impatiently, scowling.
"They're cute," Sakura commented, following, but glancing back at the children.
"Bai bai, onee-chan!" the twins chorused, waving. She giggled, returning the wave.
Oyasa smiled and quickly caught up with Takai. "The family already loves her," he drawled, aqua eyes coy and bright. Teasing his friend gave him much pleasure, but it also helped relieve some of the anger and disappointment he felt over not being the one Sakura chose. For a brief moment, he betrayed himself and turned away, a vicious scowl on his face.
"Oyasa."
"Hmm?"
Takai grabbed his friend's arm, making him look back. Oyasa was beaming brightly, eyes curved with false happiness. 'You don't deserve her,' was what he thought behind his mask. He glanced back at the girl conversing with the Jounin. 'She needs someone that knows how to treat her well.'
Takai released the arm with a scoff. "Why did you concede then?" he snapped, head lowered and fists clenched.
Oyasa's smile widened and he stepped closer to the dark-haired boy, leaning so his head touched Takai's. "You're my best friend, and it was obvious who she liked," he sighed. "You know!" he exclaimed offhandedly , knocking their heads together. Takai growled, sweatdropping. "I never realized this bridge was so long."
Hizaku snorted, "You shouldn't have noticed at all."
"We're almost to the other side," Sakura stated cheerfully, rushing ahead to join her team members. Oyasa stepped over to make room; if he could have her, he'd settle for just being close to her. She smiled in his direction, then blushed shyly as she turned toward Takai.
Oyasa's smile gradually faded, then fell, and by the time they stepped onto the soil of Konoha, he now had a crestfallen disposition that was quite visible to only his teacher, and little energy to hide it. Hizaku sympathized with him for a few moments before announcing they would travel along the edge of the Fire Country; doing that would cause them to bypass the Sound Country—Sakura had suppressed a shudder at the mention of the name, remembering Orochimaru—and make their way into the Lightning Country.
It would definitely take them a few days.
'Yes!' Naruto kept his feet planted on the wooden floor as May read out their mission to them. As he had told Sakura, about an hour ago before she left, Team 8 would be called in. They were going to Konoha to deliver an important package to the Hokage. If need be, they were given permission to spend the night, but May assured them that wouldn't be necessary.
"Because Iruka-kun ranked these himself, and I trust him, you've been appointed a C-rank mission," she had said.
"Tch." Haka stuck her hands behind her head. "That's not good enough."
"Hush," Tenko whispered.
'And the whining continues...' Iruka smiled, a tick in his eyebrow, and averted his gaze to the papers before him. He'd been aware of the Jounin disrupting his peaceful sleep in the closet, but didn't say anything; he was also conscious of the progressing fever he continued to hide. It would soon come to a point where no amount of fast-talking could excuse the permanent flush to his cheeks and the strained breathing.
The redhead smiled at the special Jounin and the Chuunin, bowing. "We accept and will carry out to the mission to the best of our abilities." Her students bowed also.
"I'll be waiting for your report," May stated, handing the mission scroll over to Iruka. The young man took it while offering Naruto one last smile. It was as if he telling the boy he got that mission just for him. The blonde grinned and left with his team.
"Naruto."
Blue eyes squinted down the hall.
"Get glasses," Kaoru sighed, walking up beside the boy. He took the blonde's hand and leaned in close to whisper. Naruto nodded, grin returning. Shikyo smiled at how well they got along. Tenko waited for the last of her students to catch up then took up the rear as they left.
§§§
The trip to Konoha was uneventful and surprisingly quiet. Naruto was practically bursting at the prospect of returning home-even if just for several hours. The large, wide open, wooden gates appeared before them and the Jounins posted there came to attention. Tsunade had placed the ninjas there as a precaution. Tenko presented the note May had given her and they were let by.
Excitement quickly changed to homesickness. Naruto gripped the hem of his open jacket tightly, biting his lip. Haka noted his strange behavior; she had noticed it at the Academy, but thought nothing of it, until now. She squeezed between the blonde and her team leader. "Are you scared?" the girl hissed.
"Scared of what?" the kyuubi spat back. "This is my—Nothing's going to happen here. This is an ally Hidden Village."
Her eyebrow rose, then Haka scoffed, "Tch."
"Tenko-sensei." Naruto wanted to visit Ichiraku. "Can I have ramen?"
"Can you wait until after we deliver this?" The redhead held up the package. "The Hokage-sama's waiting."
"Fine..." The boy pouted and stuck his hand into his pockets. Shikyo, blushing, reached out and gently touched his arm. Naruto blinked then looked down at her open hand. He grinned broadly and took it, squeezing.
Pupil-less lavender orbs narrowed. "Isn't that Naruto?" Neji murmured.
Three sets of heads turned.
"Naruto-kun..." Hinata whimpered, clutching her hands together.
"Who is he with?" Kiba questions aloud, not really expecting an answer. Akamaru sniffed a few times then responded with a series of barks. "Hidden Village of Wave... Oi, Naru—Itai!" Kiba growled softly as the young Chuunin elbowed him, the shy Hinata stepped on his foot, and the genius of the Hyuga clan jabbed him in a non-Tenketsu point. "What the hell was that for?!"
"Hmm?" Naruto looked over his shoulder and noticed the quartet standing idly around a shop. He grinned and started to raise his hand in a wave until the weight from Shikyo's own hand in his stopped him. He turned his grin to the girl and began swinging their arms. She giggled, blushing.
Kiba pushed away arms and legs, snarling. He rubbed the underside of his chin where Neji's fingers had stabbed him, glaring at he nonchalant, uncaring boy.
Shikamaru waited until the Shuuha shinobi had passed before commenting. "Baka," he scoffed. "Naruto's on a mission."
"The entire Team 7 is," Hinata added in a trembling voice, hands pressed tightly against her chest. 'Naruto-kun...' The interaction between the blonde and his teammate had stunned her.
"Oh..." was Kiba's slowly drawled reply at the information he had just been given.
Neji shook his head, muttering under his breath. "Mendokusee..." Shikamaru sighed.
"Troublesome, eh?" The Inuzuka boy grinned smugly. Akamaru barked and Kiba reached back to pat the dog nestled in the hood of his jacket. "Aa, Akamaru," he said, agreeing with his canine friend.
"Let's go, Hinata-san."
Hinata gasped as Neji suddenly grabbed her wrist, and managed a small wave to her friends as she stumbled along after her cousin. Akamaru barked and jumped from Kiba to Shikamaru's head. "Traitor," the dog's best friend mumbled, crossing his arms.
"Mendokusee..." the Nara youth groaned, staring up at the canine staring down at him.
§§§
Tsunade took the item from the ANBU member she'd gotten to retrieve it, and opened it. She placed the box on the desk with a smirk and lifted the lid. The Godaime chuckled, closing it, and faced the team. "I would say this completes your mission. You're welcome to stay in Konoha, just so long as you don't... cause any trouble."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. 'Was she looking at me?'
Tsunade read the blue orbs. 'I was.'
Tenko bowed, along with her students. They left the room and then exited the building. "Can we get ramen now?" the blonde pleaded, tilting his head to stare at the Hokage monument. He smiled softly.
"Why aren't you fat?" Haka groaned, fisting her hands over her ears. The boy twitched, glaring at her.
The red-haired Jounin pinched the bridge of her nose, groaning and whimpering. "Go do what you want. Just... don't... get in trouble."
"LET'S GO!!" It was the loudest he'd been in weeks, and only Konoha brought that out in him. The girls yelled as they ended up flying behind the speeding Naruto. Tenko smiled weakly, shaking her head.
Shuuha's Team 8 made their way through the crowded town to the kyuubi's favorite ramen shop. "Pops! Six miso ramen!" The blonde fixed his forehead protector as he sat, hoping they got the meaning of the action; that they did.
"Coming up," the man stated, smiling. Naruto grinned and took a seat with a girl on each side of him. He looked around with suppressed jubilation, trying to see if anything had changed in the weeks he'd been gone.
Haka sighed, "This is not Kan'you." She laid her head on her folded arms. "I want my bread."
"Eat ramen!" Blinking, the boy squinted at her. "Come to think of it, I've never seen you eat a bowl of ramen..." The cherry-haired girl sweatdropped as Shikyo smothered her giggles. "Nani? Nani?!" he yelled, looking between them both.
"Haka is—"
"Shikyo."
"Tell me," the blonde kyuubi whined, noting the arrival of his first bowl.
"Haka's allergic to ramen."
All movement in Ichiraku halted and the wind whistled by. Naruto's lips twitched and he burst out with loud laughter. The two figures behind the counter stood stock-still. His laughter died down after the two girls didn't join in, and blue eyes slowly widened. "Are you... Is that true?!"
"Hai..." Haka groaned into the countertop. Cooking and preparing of food resumed.
"She can't touch or eat it," Shikyo explained, smiling. "Or she'll swell up like a balloon." She puffed up her cheeks, forcing back giggles. The other girl glared at her.
"I want proof."
Haka gasped, jumping as the bowl was slid in her direction.
"Eat." Naruto's mouth was set in a firm frown of determination as he held out the chopsticks. "Eat," he repeated.
"Are you really that stupid?" the girl snapped. Behind them, Shikyo smiled politely at the older girl behind the counter, accepting the second bowl of miso ramen for herself. "I can't eat ramen!" Haka yelled, snatching the chopsticks and breaking them. She tossed them on the ground and noticed the villagers' curious stares. She returned them with a scowl.
Naruto snorted and took up another set of chopsticks, returning to his bowl. "Hey!" he yelled, seeing Shikyo eating his ramen. The Hitsu child covered her mouth to keep from spitting out the noodles and soup as she giggled.
Kurenai and Asuma observed the kyuubi's behavior, the brunette smiling. "Every day," she sighed. "He grows more and more."
"Maybe he'll be the sixth Hokage," the male muttered around his cigarette.
"Maybe."
To be continued....
