The leaves rustled slightly, which may seem like no idea, but a shinobi's ears hear differently. To them, the leaves could be anything, from tossed shuriken to the passing of another ninja.
If someone had to make a guess, and if they indeed guessed the latter, they would be rewarded justly, for indeed, a ninja had passed.
To the normal eye, one would see nothing, just a rustle here, a movement there. Nothing conspicuous. But a shinobi would see blurs of black, a set of feet, maybe hands as well. One blessed ironically with a bloodline trait such as the Byakugan or the Sharingan would see a figure clearly, flitting from branch to branch, settling down ever so gently, not making a single sound, and then taking flight again. A pair of feline-like amber eyes and messy grey hair would be among the most distinctive features among this strange youth, as he seemed no older than 19. A high traditional collar reached to just under his chin, and was trimmed with red that struck down the middle of his shirt, fastened at the chest with two brooches. A forehead protector was tied loosely around his neck, but as to what clan he belonged to was unknown, for his swift movements. What was remarkable about his outfit was that one side of the shirt was black, and the other was white, which applied to the long sleeves he wore under it, the black long sleeve under the white short sleeve and vice versa for the other side.
Another flash of pale skin, and he was gone, only to settle down on another branch for split seconds, and then depart it again.
Black shorts fell to his shins, clutching to the leg at the hem so as not to be baggy. A shuriken holder was on his left leg, signaling that he was left-handed, or just preferred to reach across his body to obtain a weapon of choice. Black fishnet shorts slightly poked out under the black ones, and traditional shinobi sandals covered the rapid feet, which were constantly in motion as of late.
As he moved through the trees, something stirred within him. In the darkness, a pair of eyes appeared, long and slender with yellow pupils.
"It seems that it is time…"The youth moving through the trees was traveling quite smoothly when suddenly, he clutched his right shoulder and broke pace by slipping on a branch. Quickly recovering, he landed on the ground feet-first, but the pain erupting in his shoulder was evident to see. Trembling slightly, but not making a sound except for gasped breathing, he sat under a tree, massaging his shoulder gently to try and make the pain go away.
"No…" he whispered in a breathless tone. "Not…here…"
From out of nowhere, he snarled at nothing in particular, showing off slightly pointy teeth, yet white nonetheless. Shaking more violently, he gasped for air as the pain in his shoulder increased. A deep laughter came out of the thoughts in his mind, and suddenly, everything went black.
"Sasuke-kun! Where are you going?"
It was midday in the bustling Hidden-In-Leaves village, and the day was a reason why. Today was Tanbata, the traditional holiday of romance, and the villagers and ninja were preparing by setting up decorations and activities for that night's festivities.
The voice came from Sakura, a spirited Medical-Nin who was now shouting after a black-haired young man who was walking in the opposite direction. He turned around at the mention of his name, his black eyes glinting in the summer sun. The body language he displayed was one of sheer nonchalance: hands shoved in pant pockets, slouched position, careless swagger. He was all the makings of an arrogant man, yet he was one of the best that the village had to offer. The last surviving member of his clan, he had something to prove. Ever since he returned to Hidden-In-Leaves a mere two years beforehand, free from Ochimaru's curse under mysterious and unknown circumstances, he had been more laid-back than he had been when he had lived there.
"I'm going to the Hokage, if you don't mind," he stated simply, turning to leave again, but was stopped abruptly by the pink-haired Med-Nin appearing in front of him.
"You have work to do, you know. This festival won't benefit from slackers like you," she retorted, hands on her hips. The comment brought a smirk to Sasuke's face, and the corners of his lips turned upwards slightly, signaling his amusement. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he looked her squarely in the eyes.
"I'll be back in an hour or so. Besides, it's urgent." And flicking Sakura's nose, he left swiftly, leaving Sakura baffled. After recovering from the slight stupor that Sasuke's departure had placed her in, she started yelling.
"Sasuke! Get back here, you fool!"
Giving up, she walked back to the clinic, thinking as she went.
He sure has changed. After he killed his brother, it's as if this heavy burden was lifted from him. He's so carefree and relaxed, not to mention a pain in the ass as well.
Smirking at the comparison to the sulky preteen Sasuke and the happy-go-lucky jounin he was today, she entered the double doors of the clinic and was swept away in her profession.
Bent over his desk, the Sixth Hokage was lost in his work. He stopped every now and then to scratch his head and to brush the blonde hair out of his eyes. Every now and then he would pick up the chopsticks next to the documents and plunge them into a large white bowl, pulling out ramen and devouring it with the ferocity of a starving child, which resulted in miso drops falling onto the sacred texts.
The door opening abruptly shocked him, and he promptly fell off his chair, the chopsticks clattering to the floor.
"Aaaaiiiiieeee!"
All was silent, then a warm laugh erupted from the doorway. Sasuke was standing there, laughing so hard that he was propping himself up against the doorframe.
"You are so easy to scare, you big chicken!"
Grumbling, Naruto returned to his desk, hunching over his work and refusing to look up. Sasuke walked over to the desk, picking up the chopsticks and twirling them in his fingers as he strode. With a flick of his wrist, they were embedded into the wall behind Naruto, but he never flinched.
"You trying to kill me?"
"If I wanted to kill you, wouldn't I have done it by now?"
Naruto thought about this for a moment, then sighed. "I suppose, but then again, I am so talented, maybe you just can't."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He proceeded to pull the chopsticks out of the wall and replace them in the ramen bowl.
"You know, we've got recent sightings of a youth in black and red. Think it could be---?"
"No way. You and I took care of them. All of them."
The two contemporaries looked at eachother softly. Scratching his whiskered cheek a little, Naruto grinned. "Those were some fun days, eh?"
Sasuke nodded. "Yeah."
Both were silent for a minute, then Naruto spoke.
"Whoever this kid is, find him. We don't want any trouble. It's been peaceful for so long…"
Sasuke nodded. "I understand. I'll notify Neji and his guard." He made to go for the door, and stopped at the threshold.
"By the way, Naru-kun, the emissaries from Hidden-In-Sand have arrived. And you spilled some miso on that text on forbidden arts."
Noticing the latter, Naruto's jaw dropped, as Sasuke left with a chuckle.
"I'll guess I'll just send them in," he said, as the sounds of his footsteps faded down the hallway, only to be replaced with three more sets. They stopped in front of the door, and opened it casually, striding in.
Naruto was busy trying to blot the miso from the papers, and so he failed to notice this foreign trio. Someone clearing their throat soon solved that, as he looked up again. Realizing who the visitors were, a broad grin broke out on his face. Getting up, he strode over to them, and clasped the first one with a huge hug.
"It's great to see you!"
"Get off me, Naruto."
A deep, emotionless voice spoke from the figure, and Naruto backed up a little, grinning sheepishly at the Kazekage that stood before him, about a head taller than him. His cold green eyes surveyed the shorter Fire Shadow with mock contempt, and as always, his arms were crossed. A huge gourd adorned his back, held on with a broad leather strap that raced from around his left shoulder, across his stomach and around his right side. The blonde-haired woman that accompanied him sighed and ran her fingers through her long hair in exasperation.
"Gaara, that is no way to talk to our host, not to mention the Hokage!"
Gaara turned to her, a slight smile on his face, and flicked the shaggy red hair out of his eyes swiftly.
"Alright, big sister. Just playing around."
The final person out of the trio chuckled and patted the scrolls on his back absently. He looked different without his kabuki makeup on, and without his cat ear hood on. The second eldest of the three made to embrace the Sixth Hokage warmly.
"Naruto. It has been a while."
"So it has, Kankuro."
Naruto and Kankuro parted, and the fox demon host now turned to the blonde.
"Temari-chan, you are growing your hair out!"
The elder of the siblings blushed and looked at her shoes. "You noticed. Do you think Shikamaru-kun will?"
Naruto smiled warmly. It was no secret what those two had for eachother was nothing less than love. No wonder Temari had requested to visit on Tanbata. He merely nodded.
"He loves you no matter what, Temari-chan. And you look beautiful, long hair or short hair."
Temari giggled, then turned to her brothers.
"You two would NEVER say that to me!"
Kankuro looked at his younger brother, and they both exchanged looks. Gaara looked back at his older sister and smiled, a rare thing for the Wind Shadow to do.
"Elder sister, your beauty is something unspoken."
A collective gasp came from Temari accompanied by a look of shock. "That is..the nicest thing you have ever said to me."
The Kazekage merely kept smiling, but it was soon gone when his sister bear-hugged him, sobbing.
"Oh, Gaa-chan I love you so much!"
"Don't go all soppy on me now!"
Kankuro and Naruto merely laughed at the two. It seemed like everything was going according to plan.
The boy awoke under the tree, having only blacked out for half an hour or so. He gingerly felt his shoulder, which seemed to be alright, and made to get up. Suddenly, four blurs raced before his eyes to appear in front of him. Jounin from Hidden-In-Leaves.
The first one, a young man with long brown hair loosely tied in a ponytail at the middle of his back and strange white eyes spoke.
"What business do you have in Hidden-In-Leaves?"
The youth stood up, looking the Jounin square in his eyes, which suprisingly madethe latterflinch at the hardness in the former's eyes.
"I am visiting an old friend."
"I don't believe you."
"Suit yourself."
"Are you any relationship to Akatsuki or its sympathizers?"
"No."
The white-eyed Jounin turned to the others and nodded. "You can stay here, but be warned: ANBU will have its eyes on you."
Ao nodded, as the Jounin turned away. "Wait!" he said, and he stopped.
"What do you want now?"
"I want to know your name, if it isn't too much to ask."
The Jounin once again exchanged glances with the others, then stuck out his hand. "Hyuga Neji. Jounin of Hidden-In-Leaves. And yours?"
The youth shook his hand. "Hatake Ao, Jounin of Hidden-In-Mist." He motioned to the dark blue band around his neck, with the silver plate bearing his clan's mark. Neji was taken aback.
"Are you in relation to Hatake Kakashi?"
Ao laughed heartily, his eyes flashing with mirth.
"THE Kakashi? No, can't say that I am."
Neji nodded, and turned away from Ao.
"Good to meet you. Enjoy your stay."
With that, he and his crew disappeared, leaving Ao behind. When they were far enough away, the boy made a couple of katas and a cloud of mist appeared around him. When it settled, he was still there, but cloaked in a familiar black and red cloak. Black hair instead of grey hair fell to his shoulders, shaggy and messy, and the same amber eyes glared out from behind it. The Hidden-In-Mist band was replaced with a Sunagakure band around his neck inside his robes.
"Too easy," he said, and the demon inside him agreed.
Gansaku Shimei, 'Fake Name', the last surviving member of Akatsuki, was here to seek revenge on what had been wrought upon his clan, and to finish off what they had started.
