Title: Plushie no Jutsu
Chapter: Two – Changes
Series: Naruto
Author: Miali
Genre: Humor/Romance
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, I wouldn't be doing this, now would I? (I forgot this last time… )
A/N: And so it continues. I'm not exactly sure how long this is going to go on… I suppose it all depends, really. Also, Sasuke is not gone, neither is Naruto. (I haven't decided if Sasuke has come back, or never left yet.)
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Tsunade mumbled and rolled over in bed. Sitting up she groggily covered her eyes momentarily with her fingers, rubbing them in small circling motions. Sliding her feet from her bed, she touched the bare soles to the ground and shivered before walking toward her dresser and changing for the morning. Taking a sip from a marked water bottle (2), she placed it inside her bag with the scrolls and made her way to work, mumbling about lack of sleep because of stupid jounin.
Upon arrival at her office, Shizune immediately inquired about the Hokage's state of health. Tsunade promptly explained she hadn't slept well, and proceeded to summon the closest ANBU, who appeared silently, red and white porcelain cat mask in place.
"Tsunade-sama."
"I need this delivered to Hatake-san, immediately. Inform him I am too busy to deliver it himself, and all instructions are enclosed." The cat nodded and Tsunade grinned evilly before sending Shizune down to the mission room with a paper explaining Kakashi's absence for the next few weeks. The paper further explained that a substitute was necessary for the further learning of Kakashi's three genin.
The fifth Hokage propped her feet up onto the desk, knocking off some papers before closing her eyes and relaxing. Her plan appeared to be going smoothly. Now, she just had to wait to pick up the prize.
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Kakashi opened the door of his apartment to find an ANBU member standing on his front porch. He rubbed at his exposed eye and picked up the scrolls. Nodding to the cat, he stepped back into the small apartment as the figure disappeared.
Locking the door behind him, the nin placed the second scroll on the nearest countertop and opened the first after a casual glance at the tag containing the short message from the Hokage. Reading over the brief mission summary he quickly packed his things and made his way from the apartment in the direction of the gate.
Something worried the more skeptical nin in Kakashi's mind. Why would no one be allowed to see me perform the jutsu, he wondered, and in a short amount of time, he was on the road to the main gate of Konohagakure.
The jounin was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't catch the stumbling chuunin until the man was on top of him. A clear blue eye looked up at a chocolate-haired schoolteacher who was resting in the middle of Kakashi's rib cage.
"Maa… Good morning, Iruka-sensei." There was little happiness in the jounin's statement; the two hadn't been on the best of terms since the spat at the chuunin exams. The sensei in question immediately blushed and stood, chocolate eyes opening in alarm, and he bowed politely, before gathering his supplies.
"Very sorry, Kakashi-san," the teacher bowed quickly again before hurrying off in the direction of the academy, avoiding further interaction with the jounin. Kakashi stood and brushed the dirt off of his uniform, watching the chuunin disappear down the road. Beginning his leisurely pace toward the gate, he deviated slightly from the main road.
Standing against the wall of the city, concealed within the shadows, Kakashi cast another look around to make sure no one was watching him. A pale, gloved hand reached toward his scroll pocket, removing the small green roll. Opening the scroll, he studied the contents for a moment, before beginning the jutsus necessary. A few hand seals later and there was a puff of pale blue-gray smoke, and Kakashi disappeared.
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A/N: Alright, so it wasn't much longer, I apologize. I'll do better! I promise!
(2) – Reference to Imbrium Iridum's fic Chibi'd. Go forth and read!