Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Never did, never will. Masashi Kishimoto does.
Thank you so much ZeroX1999, for giving my first review. I'll be filling in on some of the things that happened. Enjoy!
Asami opened her eyes to see Naruto leaned forward from his seat and took a card from Kabuto's hand. Even Kisame had a fan of cards in his right hand, though he lay back on the chair and was had his full attention on the cards.
"Don't tell me you guys are already looking through Kabuto's collection of cards." Mumbled Asami as she stretched from her seat. She decided to take a little snooze after arriving.
"We're not." Replied Kabuto as he took a card from Kisame's hand.
Asami was oblivious to what they were doing at the moment, which was until she spotted a heap of cards on the table.
"Wait….I can't believe you guys are actually playing 'Old Maid'." Complained Asami as she took a pair of cards, from the heap, which had a picture of cows on them.
"Why? You want to join?" asked Naruto. He got a card with the picture of a farmer from Kabuto, and set it on the table with his own.
Asami didn't really know what to say at the moment and except, "Whatever."
Kisame looked relieved as he gathered the cards and put the 'Old Maid' card from his hand into the pile. Kabuto gave a smile and shuffled back the cards together.
"Just to let you know, Kabuto used to have this thing for cards ever since I met him in the Chuunin exams. However, he was still with that bastard Orochimaru back then." Explained Naruto as he took his share of distributed cards. "He could display the status of Shinobis, their missions, and stuff.."
"We kind of got bored and decided to play a game of cards." Added Kabuto.
"And you guys actually picked a game of 'Old Maid' ?" asked Asami.
"Some things in life are better left simple. The rules, the objective of the game, and…." Answered Naruto.
"Tell me one thing that's good and simple." asked Asami as she took a card from his hand.
"Our lives for instance." Answered Naruto directly.
He definitely had the attention of everyone now even though each one of them would absent-mindedly take a card from the other's hand.
"We just take missions that we're interested in, enjoy doing them, and come back with the dough. Safe from all those politics and crap the village has to offer. We don't have to mingle with to many people in the process. Like training Gennins, keeping ties with the allies, discuss what good and bad for the village, and such." Explained Naruto.
"And you used to crave for the attention from these Leaf-nins." Teased Kabuto who was now in the lead.
"What can I say. You do everything to help the very people that hated and wanted to kill you, hear the truth from a Demon inside your head, get stabbed in the back by the one of the people you hold precious, move out, taken prisoner by some cultists who think they're saving the world, life was just crazy with the whole complications and too many relationships thing back then." Expressed Naruto as he was once again the lead, down with only a card in his hand.
"Don't forget to mention that you managed to break and destroy that very cultist group from the inside out." Reminded Kisame as he thought his days in Akatsuki.
"So what's the plan?" asked Asami with mild anger in her tone. She had the 'Old Maid' card in her hand and wanted to change the subject.
Naruto whim had already finished laid back and did all the answering, "Kabuto will gather the information about the snake bastard. Talk to Baki to everything there is about each Jounin exam candidates. Try to hear any rumours around and such . I'm sure he's disguising as one of them, probably as a Grass-nin like when I was in my first Chuunin exam."
Kabuto nodded and asked, "Would you like some instant Ramen while I go out around town?"
"Yeah, thanks for the offer," answered Naruto. He noticed Asami was giving her version of the killing intent, and quickly paled. "One will do just fine…."
Kisame stood up triumphant with his trademark shark grin after taking a card from Asami's hand. Now only Kabuto and Asami were left, and she still had the 'Old Maid' card in her hand.
"I'm sorry Kisame, but you'll just have to stay here. You're definitely going to raise suspicions if you go out. And I don't care even if you're going under a Henge," commanded Naruto. Kisame wasn't the least cooperative and liked to do this his way, pretty mush like how Naruto used to, but totally to a whole new reckless level.
Kisame didn't like what he was hearing.
"You're really one bossy kid, you know that? You're just like Itachi when it's mission mode. I never really liked the idea of including Itachi in teaching you back when you were locked up in the cave prison." Replied Kisame annoyingly.
"So what? I can still kick you're butt even if Itachi never taught me." Argued Naruto.
"Oh yeah? I'd like to see you try without using his tricks and tapping into Kyuubi's chakra." Challenged Kisame.
Naruto stood up, "All I need to kick your sorry ass is just use Kaetsu's teaching and ….."
He realized his mistake in saying that name and quickly turned to Asami. She suddenly saddened as memories flashed through her mind. Even Kisame seemed to have lost his anger.
Naruto tried to speak, "I…I…I'm sorry."
'No, it's my fault." Interjected Kisame.
She tried her best to smile, "If Otou-san were alive, he wouldn't like see the both of you bickering each other up to this point. Let's just concentrate on finishing this mission. Even Otou-san never like Orochimaru when he was in Akatsuki."
"Yeah…let's just do that," agreed Naruto and Kisame.
"Tell you what, why don't you let Kisame follow me around town." Suggested Kabuto.
Naruto had a worried look on his face, but definitely didn't like the idea of fighting with Kisame ever again.
"I promised I'll look after him." Assured Kabuto as he packed up the cards.
"Hey! I'm not some toddler, you know! I'm by far the oldest compared to all you three!" exclaimed Kisame.
The rest didn't seem to pay attention. Naruto finally agreed reluctantly.
Both Naruto and Kisame had a sense of guilt, though Kabuto didn't really much understand. Back when the whole Akatsuki took in Naruto, there was suddenly an internal conflict in the group. Raiha, one of the strongest Akatsuki members in the group, decided to betray by turning convincing Deidara, Zetsu, Sasori, and the other two against Itachi, Kisame, and Raetsu. Raiha, a wanted S-Ranked Cloud-nin, was paranoid about the strength of Itachi's Magenkyou Sharingan and how Kisame and Raetsu were close to him. Raetsu, a missing-nin from the Snow, was the only one aware of such conspiracy and finally thought of a plan to get back at them.
Of course, Kyuubi realized long ago he could to torture his Jinchuuriki by simply channeling his chakra into the boy's thoughts. Kyuubi only realized this when he shared his chakra back when Naruto defeated Sasuke at the Valley of the End. Stating the truth that the boy had been denying all his life, being stabbed by a close friend, was all that Kyuubi and Raetsu ever needed to convince Naruto to join.
(Of course, the whole training and fighting concerning Akatsuki will be explained later on. For now, I can only tell you that Raiha and his gang lost, but he took Raetsu along with him. Hint: Raetsu was Asami's father. Okay?)
Kisame used a Henge and changed himself into a bald, old man that held a cane. Though the three of them knew that the cane of a disguised Samehada. Kabuto changed himself into an old woman, going out as a couple of senior citizens.
"Shouldn't you two talk with Baki first? I mean then you could know who you're looking for." Explained Asami.
"We are, just want to test that grouchy man first." Sneered Kisame as he approached the door.
"Then ask questions later," added Kabuto as he followed suit.
Just as Kisame was going to close the door, he paused and turned around to look at Asami and Naruto. He said a serious tone, "A word of advice."
"What?" asked Asami curiously.
Naruto however knew what was coming. He sneakily reached his hand into his shuriken holster.
"Now don't you two whipper snappers do anything funny while we're away." Said Kisame in an old man's accent. "I think Konoha would prefer their bed sheets clean.
If you know what I mean…"
Right when Kisame finished, he used his cane to deflect the shurikens that Naruto threw. His eyes bulged when several ice clear kunais zoomed their way towards his face. He quickly closed the door, and laughter could be heard through the corridor outside.
Both of them were still blushing red, but slowly revert back after standing there as several minutes passed.
"The nerve of that guy.." muttered Asami as she slowly stood up from the couch.
Naruto had a mischievous smile as another prank idea popped into his head. He could hear Kyuubi laugh out loud in his head, and neared Asami.
"I know a way to get back, care to join?" asked Naruto happily.
Asami already knew the sly grin that Naruto had. "Sure..."
"But for now, I think I'll just issue another order." Thought Naruto.
"And what would that be, captain?" mused Asami as she followed Naruto into the master bedroom.
"Don't get your hopes high up; we need to save the main course for the plan tonight."
Smiled Naruto as he began kissing Asami's lips passionately.
"Then I guess I'll just have to settle with the appetizer for now," giggled Asami as she kissed him back when both them were lying down on the bed.
That night, Kisame didn't get a decent sleep or even close his eyes all thanks to all those certain 'noises' that he could hear coming from behind the wall where he slept. He definitely knew what was coming when he heard the moaning and grunting. Naruto somehow managed to convince Kabuto to take the other vacant room. Once Kisame entered his room to sleep for the day, Naruto finally began his plan. He had already placed a locking seal at Kisame's windows. All he had to do then was placing another locking seal on the door. He even added a special seal around Kisame's room where sound could travel in, but couldn't travel out. This is definitely one of the few occasions where Naruto would say, "Hitting two birds with one stone."
Meanwhile………
Sabaku no Gaara stood quietly in the Kazekage Tower, the building with slight blue paint on the roof and the kanji written 'Wind' near the rooftop. He was thinking about a certain ANBU team that should have reached Konohagakure by now. He heard the door of his office open, and turned to see the two Village Elders and his siblings enter the room quietly. Lady Chio, old man Ebizou, Temari, and Kankurou bowed in respect to Gaara, though he didn't seem pleased.
"How many times have I told not to do such thing?" asked Gaara in annoyance.
Kankurou said happily, "What thing? The whole bow down thing?"
Gaara replied, "I'm your brother, the least you could do is stop teasing me."
"Yet you are also the Kazekage of the Sand," reminded Lady Chio gently. "After all that pain you've been through all your life, you deserve such respect."
"She's right. It's been six months since you've been Kazekage and saved all the lives of Suna from the Akatsuki attack." Elaborated Ebizou as he gazed at the brewing sandstorm through the office window. "The villagers including us both have realized our grave mistakes in treating you in such manner all this time."
"After all this time, you craved for attention and acceptance from them. But now, our brother seems to be really troubled by all the attention his getting. Tell me, how's your obnoxious fan club doing these days?"
Gaara hadn't paid any attention to his brother's words as he once again began thinking about how Naruto and his team were doing.
Temari leaned onto a wall and asked, "Thinking about that troublesome team again?"
Gaara looked at his sister and merely replied, "You're spending too much time with that Shikamaru. He's definitely starting to rub off on you."
"You know, I always wondered why you volunteered on being sent on delegations to Konoha." Added Kankurou as he seated himself opposite to Gaara.
Ebizou and Lady Chio however were focused on the earlier subject.
"What kind of mission has the boy and his friends taken this time?" asked Ebizou curiously. "The usual S-Ranked mission like always?"
"They wanted me to issue some documents and permission slips for them to enter Konoha before they left." Answered Gaara as he looked through some papers.
Kankurou and Temari both raised an eyebrow in interest. Kankurou comfortably leaned on the chair and gave out a long whistle.
"He never stops surprising all of us, can he?" asked Kankurou, "Entering Konoha along with his friends, I wonder how those Leaf-nins are going to react if they find out? I bet they'll be really pissed that we actually took him in along with those missing-nins."
"Taking them in was one greatest thing that has ever happened in Suna ever since the people accepted Gaara. If it weren't for them, we couldn't have reached our current financial status." Said Lady Chio seriously.
"Tell me about it, those guys take in crazy S-Ranked missions and comes back here with happy faces like they were playing some sort of game. Hunting those wanted S-Ranked missing-nins, fighting battles with hostile shinobis in the country borders, and let us not forget that they totally thrashed the Hidden Sound all by themselves." Complained Temari as she rubbed her temple like she was having a migraine.
"And they actually accept only some of the money they earn from capturing those missing-nins, and give the rest to us. From all the S-Ranked and A-Ranked missions that they've pulled, we're lucky that more customers have come and seek our help in completing more missions." Added Kankurou as he looked at the picture of daimyos (landlords) that were hung on the wall.
"They don't seek riches in their lives. Each one of them had different goals in their lives. Money and living an easy life aren't one of them." Said Ebizou.
"To watch their very own hopes and dreams crumble before them." Mumbled Kankurou as he stared down at the floor.
"To be betrayed by the very people they hold precious to their hearts." Continued Temari as she had a look of pity to the ceiling.
"To realize all they had ever done in their life was nothing more but a lie." Said Lady Chio as she sat on a chair next to Kankurou.
"To be fight back, and live a cruel life." Ended Gaara as he rose up slowly from the chair.
He pulled the drawer of his table, and took out a picture frame. It was one of the rare occasions he would smile, and one of them was after gazing at the picture.
The four of them stood together, near Suna's entrance. It was the day they were accepted into Sunagakure and each one of them wore the Suna head-protector for the first time. Kisame had rested his Samehada on his shoulders, Naruto had his arms around Asami and Kabuto's neck, while Kabuto seemed pretty embarrassed. They looked like they were having the time of their lives once again.
Just to let you know, Naruto is 18 years old. He started as Gennin at 12, add the three years, and Kyuubi's body enhancement.
I'm just new to this whole writing thing. However, the story is already made up in my mind all the way. I'm just trying to fill the missing gaps for now. The rest of the loopholes will just have to be explained later on in the coming chapters. I'll be updating at least twice a week since I have e pretty long holiday ahead of me. Please rate and review. Please! I mean 222 hits, and only 3 reviews! Help me here!