Chapter 26: Off to Look for the Fox
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One of the Leaf is found missing as word of their return is ordered by the Hokage.
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Start date, January 14
Naruto woke up, with the light from the sun shinning in his eyes. He slowly opened his eyes, but quickly closed them. He let out a moan as he curled into a ball. He frowned as he stretched out. He rolled over to his other side and looked into the room. He blinked, finding he was in the hospital again. He rolled his eyes as he kicked the blankets off and sat up. He grabbed hold of the IV stand and walked to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. He looked in the mirror, seeing new bruises on his face. He glanced to his fingers, noticing his nails were claw like. He gave a shrug and let out a sigh as he moved back to the door. He opened it slightly, seeing two people in the room. He shut it when they looked at him.
He moved back as the door open up and a women walked in. He looked away as she smiled down at him. She reached out to take his hand, but he stepped back. She grabbed hold of the stand and caught his wrist. She pulled him out of the bathroom and made him set on the bed. The bed tray was moved over his lap. He found an assortment of food laid out. He was given a spoon and a bowl of soup placed in front of him. He ate slow, not looking at the people in the room. He flinched when a nurse sat next to him and started to brush his hair. He felt a connection made from the kyuubi and sensed the fox yawned before it spoke.
"I would think they are starting to believe your ploy."
"Yah, but I want to get out of here. I fell like I am cursed to get hurt. Are you sure you cannot get the seal off."
"I have tried many times and I cannot. I need more time to study it. We will come up with a plan. You need to get better before that time comes."
Naruto frowned as he pushed the bowl away. He grabbed a slice of toast and pulled it apart. The two in the room walked out, shutting the door. They glanced to each other before moving off to their other duties.
-captured-
Kakashi reread the letter from Tsunade calling them back. He let out a sigh as he stood up from the table in their room. He looked to Kurenai, Gai, and Asuma.
"I will get an appointment set up with the lord to let him know we are being called back. When I get back, I guess we will call a group meeting to tell them."
He turned around and walked to the door. He glanced where Jiraiya's bed was, narrowing his eye. He saw the man's bag was there, but the futon was rolled up. He looked to the group.
"Have you seen Jiraiya-sama?"
"I have not seen him the past three days." Asuma said
The other two shook their heads no. Kakashi looked back to the man's bag and moved towards it. He picked it up, finding it empty. He closed his mouth, not wanting the string of cusses to escape. He looked to the three.
"He's gone. He must have left in the last few days, but go search for him just incase. I'm going to talk to the lord."
He dropped the bag and walked out of the room in a fast walk. The other jounin got up to search for Jiraiya, hoping the man was still in the city.
-captured-
Jiraiya looked back, narrowing his eyes. He did not sense anyone, but had a feeling he was found out. He took off through the trees to cover more ground. His clothes were different. He now wore thick pants that were black. His shirt was a dark gray, with his jacket a dark brown. His pack was large, for he knew all the supplies he had, he would use. He stepped down on a new branch, before jumping to a new one. He now wore boots. He did not wear his hitae-ate. He stopped after a few hours of traveling and rubbed the back of his head. His hair was now cut short, even the sides. He pulled a wool cap on his head and rubbed his hands together. He cussed, wishing he was in Konoha, where it would not be as cold. He let out a sigh, watching his breath fog up the space before him. He dropped his pack and pulled out some food, quickly eating it. He did not want to stay in one place too long.
He pulled out a map he pinched from a Moon ninja. It was very detailed and only a month old. He knew he was still on his projected path. He narrowed his eyes as his gaze fell on claw marks that mark where the capital of Fang was. He estimated it would take him a week to get out of Moon territory and into Fang and another week to two to get to the capital, if he ran into any trouble. He knew he could make it to Fang in shorter time. He folded up the map and put it back in his bag, stuffing his trash in a smaller pocket. He shouldered his bag and took off, adding chakra to his jumps. He thought back to letter he sent to Tsunade about keeping their relationship from Naruto longer. He wanted to keep the boy's trust longer. He knew he would be in trouble with the women, once she finds he went out on his own. He smirked, thinking of the pain he will be in.
-captured-
Kakashi nodded his head to the lord of Moon before sitting down. He let out a sigh, causing the man's smile to drop.
"What is it Kakashi-san?" the man asked
Kakashi looked at the man, his eye in his ever lazy state.
"Our Hokage has called us back home. I know you would like to have us longer, but we are needed."
The man nodded and leaned back in his chair.
"I understand. It will take a week to get a ship ready for you. It will give you and your group plenty of time to prepare for the trip home. I believe you can tell your Hokage that the first of trading fleets will come in the next month with goods. I will also do what I can to get back the boy."
Kakashi nodded.
"She will be happy to hear that, and many others. I do have some bad news. It seems Jiraiya-sama took off to get the boy back."
Shock went across the man's face. He stayed quiet, looking down at his desk.
"I will send a team to retrieve him."
Kakashi stood up, putting his hands in his pockets.
"I would advise against that."
The man looked up.
"Why would you say that? I would believe your Hokage will not be happy he went on his own."
Kakashi nodded his head.
"True, but it will save you problems by not stopping the man. He is one of the Three Sannin, the Frog Sennin. He is very strong and knowledgeable. He can take care of opponents in matter of seconds with the least effort. I knew this might have happened, but I am actually surprised it took him so long before he left. He is after all, sensei of the boy. He knows something has happen to him, since none of the frogs can find him. We believe he might have been recaptured."
The man let out a sigh and nodded his head.
"I will send out a warning to keep away from him. I will send word to you when the ship is ready."
Kakashi nodded and walked out. He stopped at the door and turned to the man, seeing him thinking.
"It will be wise you keep the boy's relationship of the Hokage a secret, even from the boy. It is to protect him."
The man looked up and nodded his head.
"I will. I hope the best for the man and the boy."
Kakashi nodded and walked out of the door, heading back to the hotel. He let out a sigh, thinking of the punishment Jiraiya would be in.
End date, January 14
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