A/N: Alrightie… due to higher amount of votes and good reasons, I think I know who Hizachi's partner would be… but you'll have to read to find out. ' Anyway, I don't think I'll insert the Sasuke's retrieval part, since there's nothing about it that I would change. Instead, I'll insert Hizachi's mission and everything else that happens in Konoha while Naruto and co. are in their mission.

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After poofing out of the Hokage's office, Hizachi wandered around town, with hands behind his head and acting as if he hasn't the slightest care of the world. Inside his head, 'carefree' was the last thing that could be found.

"I wonder who would want to go with me…" he chuckled a bit, "…Even Jounins would wet their pants when their pants if they were sent to search for Otogakure…" he sighed.

From behind him, he heard a slight giggle. He turned around and saw that it was none other than Shizune.

"Hi, Hizachi!" Shizune smiled at him while walking towards him.

"Hello, Shizune." He greeted, with a 'Shikamaru-expression' evident on his face. Shizune noticed this and decided that it would be the best option to pry the answers out of him.

"Umm… what's with the troubled face? Is there a problem?" she said as she put her hand on his cheek.

"Well, it's not something that I would call a problem." Hizachi answered with a small smile.

"Then what is it?" she asked, putting down her hand.

"I need to find a partner… a Jounin partner. The trouble is that most Jounins are out on missions." He sighed for the second time.

"A Jounin partner… that's hard to find. So, what's your mission?"

"I need to find a partner and we need to find Otogakure." He sighed for the third time.

"Otogakure… does that mean you may have to face Orochimaru?"

"I guess…"

"Now that makes matters worse. Given the fact that we are short on Jounins, and add to that the fact that there is a possibility of engaging Orochimaru in combat, I'd say the chances of finding a teammate would be near to zero." She smiled at him.

"Hey… wait a minute…" he turned and faced Shizune, "…you're a Jounin aren't you? Why don't you come with me?"

"In level, I am a Jounin, but I am also the Hokage's personal assistant. I have to help her with the management of stuff here in Konoha, especially when our fighting force is spread paper thin."

"I knew it… this is Mission Impossible…" Hizachi's shoulders dropped and his arms hung at his sides.

"Chill out, Hizachi. I'm sure you'll find a partner." She smiled at him and gave him a slight pat in the back.

"Right. Thanks." He grinned at her and puffed away.

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Elsewhere in Konohagakure

Hizachi appeared in a puff of smoke above Yondaime's stone head. He sat down before lying down. He was getting to the point where he was about to fall asleep when someone suddenly poofed next to him.

"In case you didn't know, I really hate it when someone sleeps on my head." Yondaime chuckled before lying down next to Hizachi.

"Really? Then what are you doing?" Hizachi sat up and faced Yondaime.

"Quit complaining! This is my head, I'll do whatever I want!" Yondaime laughed out loud. After a few seconds, Hizachi joined in. However, Yondaime suddenly stopped and asked Hizachi to remain still.

"What's wrong?" Hizachi asked.

"I think someone's coming."

"How do you know?"

"Intuition. Just check up on it, would you?"

"Right… Geneigan!"

Three dots appeared on Hizachi's blue eyes and he looked around with his 360 degrees vision.

"What do you see?" Yondaime asked while performing the handseals for his hiding Jutsu.

"It's Anko! Hurry up, gramps!" Hizachi transformed from calm to panic-stricken.

"I'm on it! I'm almost done!" after the last seal was done, Yondaime disappeared into thin air, but Hizachi raised an eyebrow.

"What the… You're still visible!" Hizachi yelled at his ancestor.

"Idiot! Your Geneigan is activated! It's clear that you could still see me!" Yondaime raised his fist at Hizachi.

"Right! Right! Just leave already! Anko's senses are above average! She'll sense you even if you use Genjutsu!" Hizachi said while trying to push Yondaime away.

"Hey there's no need to push me away! I can get away by myself!" Yondaime got himself a decent distance away from Hizachi before he disappeared in a poof. By the time Anko arrived, Yondaime was already long gone.

"Hi there, Hizachi-kun!" Anko waved while decreasing her distance away from Hizachi.

"Umm… hello!" Hizachi gave a little wave.

"What are you doing here?"

"I should ask you the same question." Hizachi narrowed his eyes and grinned at Anko. Anko stared back at Hizachi and noticed his newer, darker vest.

"So… you've been promoted to Jounin." She said while giving a slight tug to his vest.

"Yeah… it's so troublesome…" Hizachi sighed and sat down.

"Why? You should consider yourself lucky… extremely few people get promoted to Jounin without a test."

"In my case, I need to find a partner for my mission. The Hokage said that I need to find a Jounin partner."

"A Jounin partner? I'd love to help, but I have a mission today as well… anyway, what's so important with this mission that you'll have to find a Jounin partner. For all I know, even Class A missions can easily be handled by a single Jounin."

"Well, my mission is a Class A, but there is a possibility of it turning into Class S. She even said that the perverted hermit will follow, so I have to leave a track."

"Even Jiraiya is going? What kind of mission is this?" Anko asked, her eyes widened in surprise.

"We have to find Otogakure…" Hizachi said, void of emotion on his face.

"WHAT? OTOGAKURE?" Anko shouted and flinched.

"Yeah… and the mission could easily become Class S, especially if Orochimaru decides to fight us."

"Oro…chimaru…" Anko whispered under her breath, her fists tightened at her sides.

"What's wrong, Anko?" Hizachi asked worriedly.

"Well… it's…" Anko hesitated for a while, but shook her head and answered him, "…it's nothing."

"Are you sure?" Hizachi tilted his head a bit to the right.

"Yeah… don't worry about me…" Anko nodded slightly, "…so, can I… uhh… come with you in this mission?"

"But… I thought you still have a mission?"

"I do… but I have a score to settle…" Anko said, with anger showing up on her face.

"I understand… I guess I should go tell granny. She did say that I can pick any Jounin." He smiled at her.

"G-Granny?" Anko's face got twisted with astonishment and disbelief 'He calls the Hokage… Granny?'

"Yeah… Naruto somehow infected me with his habit." He chuckled a bit.

"I'm starting to see it!" Anko giggled.

"Anyways… I have to go now. I still need to inform granny." He waved while walking away.

"Wait!" she took a grip on his shirt, "I'll come with you."

"Alright! Granny, here we come!"

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A little later, at the Hokage's office…

"WHAT? YOU'RE TAKING ANKO?" Tsunade screamed as she hit her table, driving it halfway through the floor.

"Umm… yeah…" Hizachi said while wiping his sweat. 'I'm doomed.'

"Idiot! Who told you to pick a Jounin who has a mission?" Tsunade stomped on her half-buried desk, driving it through the floor completely, and landing on some unlucky person in the floor below… who in this case is none other than Ero-sennin.

"Umm… I don't think getting angry is a good habit… after all, you're the one who said that I can pick any Jounin I want." Hizachi raised his hands and hoped for the best.

"Well… I guess you're right… alright, you can go." Tsunade waved her hand and 'shooed' them away. Hizachi and Anko left the office and went off to start their mission. Tsunade, on the other hand, peeked down through the hole and saw Jiraiya's limbs emerging from underneath her table, with a little twitch every now and then.

"Hey! Pervert! Are you alright?" Tsunade yelled downwards.

"Y-Yeah… Aside from a broken ribcage, a broken skull, massive internal bleeding and a broken nose, I'm perfectly fine." Jiraiya replied while raising a 'thumbs-up' with his trembling right hand.

"I see. Well, I'll see you later!" Tsunade smiled and waved at Jiraiya before she walked out of her office.

"Wait, you old hag! Help me here! I need immediate medical attention!... Are you listening?... Wait!" Jiraiya shouted from underneath the table, not realizing that Tsunade has already left him.

To be continued…

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A/N: May Jiraiya's soul rest in peace… NOT! He's probably too perverted that even Death would refuse him. Besides, Orochimaru will be playing a little prank on Jiraiya, so he won't die. Please Review! I need inspiration!