Love Stays

by Heartaker

Chapter 8

Tsunade looked up as her assistant and long-time friend Shizune walked in, dressed in what looked like a red cat suit, a red smooth fur coat thrown on over it-her long black hair hung back in shiny curls trailing down her back, and her dark eyes were hidden behind a pair of stylish shades. She stopped in front of Tsunade, who had one fine blonde brow raised in amusement-

Shizune then placed both her hands on the table and leaned forward-giving Tsunade a crooked smile. Tsunade moved back, today she was wearing a coal black silk button down blouse, and some matching slacks. Her long blonde hair was pulled back over her shoulders-her make-up a soft black charcoal bringing out the brown of her eyes.

"I see the Honeymoon went well, hmm?" Tsunade inquired. Shizune plopped down on the desk and laughed lightly. "It was-but I missed you. What's been up Oh-Mighty-Gondaime?" Tsunade rolled her eyes, then smirked. "We have two opening acts for tonight's concert- 'Hidden Village' and 'Artificial Sweetner'" Shizune tapped her chin with one long highly polished red nail- "Never heard of them, they're new I'm guessing" Tsunade nodded. Shizune crossed one leg over the other, and fixed Tsunade with a level gaze. "What are you up to?"

Tsunade looked pleasantly surprised, but it was ruined by the wide grin that spread across her pretty face. "Who me? I'm not up to anything-I just think a little competition is what this Industry needs-and Konoha Records ain't the best Record Company in all of Asia for nothing-you know." Shizune continued to stare at her-she opened her mouth to say something, but the door to the office burst open and a man with wild white hair, and more fur on then what was necessary strutted in. Tsunade bristled and her fists clenched tightly. Shizune's eyes glittered.

"Jiraiya! Back from Alaska already!" She pushed herself up and off the desk and ran into his arms-he laughed. "Yeah-It was the warm season!" Tsunade snorted, and went back to her documents. Jiraiya let go of Shizune and looked over at Tsunade. "Hey Babe-I missed you!" He roared, making Tsunade grit her teeth. "Get out..." She hissed, her pressure on the pen she was holding tightening. Shizune looked alarmed. "Tsunade..." She ventured cautiously. Jiraiya frowned and took a mighty (BRAVE) step forward.

"I think we need to talk-"

SNAP!

The pen in Tsunade's grip broke and burst splattering ink over the documents on her desk-she was in a rage.

"I WANT YOU TO GET OUT OF MY OFFICE NOW! OR I WON'T BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT I DO TO YOU!"

Shizune's eyes had widened to saucers, her hands held up over her mouth in silent shock. Jiraiya sighing sadly, gave Tsunade one last penetrating look then walked out. It was deathly quiet. Shizune lowered her hands slowly, then took a step forward-but she stopped suddenly.

One shiny crystal tear had slide down Tsunade's cheek, dropping off to mix with the ink on the desktop.

HiddenVillageTheLeafArtificialSweetner

"We don't have all day Naruto, pick a damn dye so we can get the hell out of here before somebody sees us!" Surprisingly Gaara shouted, clutching the fabric of Naruto's bright orange shirt. "What about dirty blonde, or..." He trailed off picking up a bottle of black dye, the same color as Sasuke's hair and eyes. "Alright I got it" He said following Gaara up to the check-out line where Iruka and Chouji were waiting. They were hours away from the concert, and they still had to meet up with Tsunade, she had contacted Iruka yesterday and told him that they would be going on after some girl band called- 'Artificial Sweetner' they weren't too pleased.

Iruka was standing with his arms crossed, a tight look on his face. His previously deep brown hair was dyed purple and hanging down brushing lightly over his shoulders, neck and face. He was wearing a pair of black and brown tinted shades, and was dressed in an impeccable all black suit, a suede brown trench coat thrown on over it. He looked very important, and intimidating-and if Naruto didn't already know it was Iruka he would have never guessed.

Chouji who was standing next to Iruka grinning cheerfully, was wearing a pair of tight blue jeans, and a all white dress shirt, with a black tie. His brown hair was tucked in under a suede white hat, his eyes covered with blue shades.

It was very odd and quirky, and that was how they were all going to be dressed. At the moment Gaara who had dyed his hair blue, was wearing a pair of blue jeans, with a red dress shirt and a black tie, the hat he was wearing was red also-he was holding a pair of red shades loosely in his hand, using his other hand to shove the protesting Naruto forward. "You didn't have to push me! I was going!" Naruto turned to the check out lady who had been staring warily at the intimidating looking Iruka-who was at the moment ignoring everyone and everything. Naruto was dressed in a pair of ripped jeans, he was wearing a bright orange dress shirt, with a black tie, he was the only one who wasn't going to be wearing a hat, but he did have a pair of orange shades.

"Come on Naruto-we have to dye your hair then meet up with Tsunade at the stadium" Iruka said in a no nonsense way, leveling Naruto with a strict gaze-that screamed- 'Hurry up, or I'll hurry it for you!'-Naruto gulped then nodded quickly paying the lady. They walked out the store. Man Iruka is taking his role to seriously. Naruto grumbled to himself-but he smiled none the less.

HiddenVillageTheLeafArtificialSweetner

"Oh dear..." Hinata whispered as her, Sakura and Ino watched a whole fleet of girls race down the street, holding up posters and signs bearing the name of the popular J-rock band 'The Leaf'

Ino sniffed. "I remember those days like it was only yesterday-remember Sakura, those girls use to be us!" Sakura rolled her eyes. "They still are..." She mumbled ignoring the wistful look in Ino's blue eyes.

They were dressed and ready to go!

They all decided to go for the rebel school girl look.

Hinata was wearing a grey, black and white plaid mini-skirt with a silver silk top, buttoned all the way to the top. Her hair was up on the sides of her head in two tiny pig-tails that stuck out creatively, the rest of her hair fell around the sides of her face and eyes in a bang.

Sakura wore a pink, white and black plaid skirt with a soft pink silk button down shirt, her hair was up in two curly pig-tails, the rest falling down her face in a bang much like Hinata's.

Ino was dressed the same, except she was wearing a yellow, black and white plaid skirt, with a yellow silk button down blouse, her hair up in two straight pig-tails on either side of her head, the rest of her hair was the same as Hinata's and Sakura's.

"Did you check the time?" Ino asked turning to Sakura, she nodded.

"Yup, we have to get down there now-to set up the instruments that the label let us borrow"

She then grew silent, Hinata and Ino looked at her expectantly. "I want us to do well tonight you guys-so I need to know that the two of you are ready, ready to go all the way" Ino smiled brightly, "I am! This was my idea anyways why wouldn't I be down?" She said laughing, they then turned and looked at Hinata who was giving them both a warm smile. "I'm in...all the way!" They cheered and glomped each other into a group hug-then had to back out the way quickly before they got trampled by a mob of screaming 'Leaf' fans stampeding down the street.

HiddenVillageTheLeafArtificialSweetner

Tsunade looked to see 'The Leaf' and there manager Kakashi walk up to her.

All four of them were wearing tired and strained looks on there faces, a moment of utter confusion passed over Tsunade's eyes before they relaxed back into there usual cool brown.

She crossed her arms over her chest, Shizune stood next to her chatting it up on her cell phone. "Gondaime, didn't think you were going to make it-you always make up some excuse not to come" Kakashi drawled in a lazy voice, resting his hands on the back of his head.

Tsunade smiled a very scary smile, that made them all shrink back and away from her, without even realizing they were doing it.

Neji turned his head having heard approaching footsteps...

"So who is this group that's going to be opening for us?" Sasuke asked in a bored voice, looking up at Tsunade from the dark bangs of his hair. She looked past him and smiled, "Here they are..." She said trailing off a little, a outburst on the tip of her tongue-luckily she managed to hold it in.

What the hell! Is this some sort of joke! Why are they dressed like this!

Iruka, or shall we say Mr. Crow stepped calmly forward. His eyes looking pointedly away from Kakashi who was staring at him intensely threw the eye that wasn't hidden behind the mask.

He threw out his hand, Tsunade took it. "Hello Ms. Gondaime, I'm Mr. Crow. You met with my group a few days ago-you needed to speak with us I remember, you said that we wouldn't be going on first, care to tell us why?"

Tsunade blinked at the business like air the friendly Iruka had now taken, and smiled secretly to herself. Ah. Now I see what there up too...smart move-Mr. Crow-

"Yes I remember-your handshake is so firm." He smiled lightly, but it was as false as his demeanor. "I thought that the ladies should go on first, you know the whole 'Ladies First' and all, your not too angry are you?" She crooned in a voice of false sweetness. "Not at all" He let go of her hand and stepped back. Kakashi was still staring at him. It was starting to make Iruka a little nervous, but he managed to keep his cool.

Neji, Sasuke, and Shikamaru were regarding the group with hidden interest.

Naruto, or shall we say 'Kyuubi' was standing next to Gaara, or shall we say 'Sandman' he had one arm propped up on his shoulder, a look of intense arrogance on his face. Threw his glasses he was staring at Sasuke who was staring right back at him, his black eyes searing holes into his skin. Man Sasuke is really burning me-I'm gonna have to go out for air if he keeps looking at me like that. "What cha lookin' at?" Kyuubi sneered in the voice of a typical punk. Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "You look familiar" He replied. Naruto's heart quickened in his chest. "I ain't cha boyfriend if dats what ya' think, man, besides..." He trailed off lifting up his head a little. "I'm kind a interested in this new girl group, 'Artificial Sweetner' sounds sweet don't you agree?"

Sasuke snorted and looked away.

Chouji, or shall we say 'Doughboy' laughed gruffly. "He's not into gals 'Kyuubi' you know that!" Kyuubi shrugged, and then smirked as he leered at Sasuke, who gave him a wary look. "It's cool-I mean I go both ways, so it's not really a problem" Sasuke stiffened, and looked like he was going to punch Kyuubi in the face. Neji grabbed hold of his arm. "Ignore him-he's just trying to rile you up" Gaara lifted his head up at the sound of Neji's voice. "Smart move, we're rival bands after all-I think it would be good to stay as far away from each other, so accidents don't occur" Neji gave him a hard glare, but refrained from taking the bait. Shikamaru was just watching the proceedings with a lazy gaze-his eyes seemed to linger on the form of Chouji.

Something ain't right, and I intend to find out what it is before this night is over with.

He turned his head.

Nothing more was said after that.

HiddenVillageTheLeafArtificialSweetner

"Okay there goes the Gondaime, she's about to introduce us!" Ino squealed grabbing hold of Sakura's arm and squeezing it. Sakura winced in pain, but continued to let Ino grip onto her arm.

Hinata was standing calmly to the side, watching as the stadium 'Elite' filled up. Which made Hinata's eyes widen in amazement, it seated thousands, and every seat for as far as she could see was filled. The audience seemed to shiver with impatient anticipation. Girls were already screaming, and nothing had even started yet. She turned back to the stage to see Tsunade walk out.

HiddenVillageTheLeafArtificialSweetner

Tsunade walked out onto the huge stadium stage, the screams were deafening-she was sure her ears were going to bleed. She stepped in front of the mic, and held her hand up for silence. The crowd hushed, random lights bursting, thanks to people holding up video cameras, or taking shots of her. She frowned. Then smiled, and stared out among the thousands of people.

"Hello and welcome to 'The Leaf's-Coming Home' Tour we hope you will enjoy the show-and be patient, because we have two opening acts before 'The Leaf' graces the stage" There was a stir of disagreement, Tsunade held her hand up again. "I am sure you will enjoy them-these are two new acts-who happen to be so good I signed them on the spot-The first group, is a group called 'Artificial Sweetner' enjoy"

She bowed to the applause and stepped off the stage.

HiddenVillageTheLeafArtificialSweetner

Ino, Sakura, and Hinata stepped onto the stage.

The lights almost blinding them.

A tremor of shock ran threw the crowd.

Then someone shouted; "SAKURA!" at the top of there lungs-which could be no one but Rock Lee, jumping up in down in the audience waving his arms frantically in the air.

Sakura ignored him, and got into her position-but there was a small smile on her face. Ino strapped on a Electric Guitar and took her place next to Sakura, Hinata next to her also holding a microphone, but propped up on the keyboard in front of her.

"Hello!" Sakura said into the microphone, no one said a word.

Sakura looked nervous for a second.

"Alright...We're 'Artificial Sweetner' My names 'Blossom'-The girl on the Guitar is 'Bubbles' and the girl on the keyboard is 'Buttercup'! You may not be interested now, but I'm sure by the end of the song you will be!" She stepped back, the audience was still quiet...watching...waiting. Sakura nodded to Hinata, who nodded back.

She then cracked her knuckles, and started across the keyboard, Ino picking up on the tune and following threw. Sakura eyes set, wrapped her fingers around the microphone, and starting moving her body back and forth to the beat. The crowd who had been silent in shock, seemed to come out of a trance, like the catchy beat of the song was dragging them by the ears out of it. The crowd started to move with Sakura, in tune to the beat.

Everyone is convinced that that

"thing" they're searching for is in the future.

But how many people have realized that

"it" is actually in the past?

I can't even guess.

Sakura swayed slightly, then Ino and Hinata joined in with her on the chorus-by this time the crowd was up and cheering.

I saw the end of an era with my own eyes.

But I didn't want to know that it's my turn next.

They smiled at each other, relishing in the screams of the crowd. They had starting to sway rhythmically in unison to the beat of the song, Sakura grabbed the mic off it's stand, and started across the stage-Ino and Hinata rocking behind her.

If, after simplifying it a bit more, you think that

"it" merely connects and arranges memories,

then wouldn't everyone already have

"it?"

I want you to realize that.

I saw the end of an era with my own eyes.

And in truth,

I actually do know that it's my turn next.

She stopped and stood in between Ino and Hinata as they played out the beat on the keyboard and the Electric Guitar-there eyes were closed and they were lifting there heads up and down and from side to side. There hair swaying, Hinata then leaned toward towards her mic-her soft voice transformed into a more edgier one, that sounded like silk sliding across the skin.

You'll find me, won't you?

I'm betting that you'll find me.

Hinata then walked forward, and still swaying in unison they walked to the front of the stage, each holding a mic-the beat playing behind and around them-by now the crowd was wild, loving how intense they played out the song-They could see Rock Lee, Ten-Ten, Temari, Kiba, Shino, Aya, Mizuki and a whole crowd of other people, cheering them on and screaming at the top of there lungs. They sung it out in perfect unison.

I saw the end of an era with my own eyes.

But I didn't want to know that it's my turn next.

They posed, and the crowd went wild jumping up and down as the song played out to the end-the lights and the smoke that billowed up behind them diminishing. They were breathing heavily, and sweating openly,

They pulled themselves out the pose, and bowed and waved at the crowd. "They love us!" Ino said looking out and taking in the thousands upon thousands of people cheering for them. Sakura smiled throwing her arms around both Ino and Hinata's shoulders pulling them close.

"We did it!" She whispered.

To Be Continued...

'Duty'-By Ayumi Hamasaki

-The whole scene with Tsunade and Jiraiya was a spur of the moment type thing, but there is some history behind those two in this story, so there is a reason as to why Tsunade reacted the way she did.

-Also the Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup thing was also spur of the moment. Think of it as my sorry excuse at humor.

-The scene between 'The Leaf' and 'Hidden Village' had me laughing, I wasn't even going to have there confrontation play out like that-but I'm glad I did-it was a very important scene. Which will play out throughout this story.

-Gosh I love Rock Lee!

I was going to have there whole disguise thing draw out, but where's the fun in that?-before the concert is over there covers WILL be blown-

Sorry about the wait, I had to think about how I wanted this chapter to turn out, I personally think it turned out well!

Next Chapter- The Concert Part Two!