"What" Yami questioned Naruto being fed up after he kept side glancing him almost the whole trip .

'Funny, but the more I look at him , the more he does kinda resembles Sasuke ... sorta sounds like him too ' Naruto thought with squinted eyes glancing at the newest member.

"Just so you know , I don't swing that way "

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!" Naruto exclaimed shocked with wide eyes while thinking 'I TAKE IT BACK HE'S SOOO NOT SASUKE'

"Well with you side glancing me most of the trip , it concerns me a little "Yami replied while smirked coldly.

Sakura caught off guard sniggered a little behind her hand with Yamato looking back amused.

"I'M NOT GAY" Naruto still wide eye replied pointing at him.

"To each their own, Uzumaki I don't judge... you're in a safe space " Yami replied still smirking while holding up his hand

Sakura kept sniggering behind her hand trying to contain her laugher with Naruto's reaction towards Yami's teasing.

"You shut up!" as Naruto exclaimed red face while crossing his arms and walking a little faster to be away from the new member's teasing

Yami kept his smirk as he watched Naruto walk next to Yamato , Sakura seeing as this is her chance with figuring Yami out decided to ask a few questions.

"So Yami"

"Yes.."

"When did you start being shinobi I don't think I've seen you around the village"

"2 days ago ...I was trained outside the village trying to hone my skills before becoming a shinobi"

"You must be pretty skilled then"

"I find my strength adequate...a person can always become much stronger "

Sakura look intrigued with his answer

"What about you ...I heard you were the Fifth Hokage's apprentice " he asked

"Oh ...yeah.. Lady Tsunade really helped built me up since I became her apprentice " she answered proud about what she accomplished

"You must be pretty talented if the Fifth Hokage accepted you as her apprentice " he said while complementing her

Sakura shocked at the complement turned a little embarrassed replied while waving her hands " uh oh not .. really but thanks anyway."

"hn if you say so "

As they continued walking with Yamato being glad with how the team are interacting each other and Naruto still a little irked that he was teased about his sexualities , which turned out pretty well in his opinion with what could've gone horribly wrong .

The hot springs

The scene changes with Yami , Naruto and Yamato all sitting on the men's side of the hot springs

"Aah ...now this is a much better to get to know each other" said Yamato relaxing in the water

"Don't you men think " he continued while giving Naruto a death stare , standing up real fast while being a bit scared of the stare he replied "In a hot spring if you say so !"

"Huh look at that ...seems Naruto is a boy after all " said Yami while smirking

"OKAY FIRST OF ALL... I AM NOT COMFORTABLE IN THIS SETTING AT ALL!" Naruto exclaimed clearly embarrassed with his words reaching Sakura side of the hot springs as she thought embarrassed sitting with a few women on her side " Come on, Naruto ...lower your voice will?!' as the women giggled.

2 days later

Team 7 arrived about midday at the bridge and hid in the bushes , where they saw a figure on the bridge likely being the spy , as Yamato disguised as sasori's puppet Hiruko approached him when got closer as the figure spoke Yamato figured out his identity pretty quickly,saying the secret phrase when he turned completely Naruto and Sakura was shocked at who it was and Yami affirming Danzo's speculation on who the spy was , with the figure being Yakushi Kabuto .

As Yamato was question Kabuto about Orochimaru's whereabouts and plans, a rustle in the bushes alerted the two with all tension rising they were relieved it was only a rabbit that hopped out , as they continued finishing Kabuto reach out expecting something to be handed over to him Yamato seeing as this is the perfect time to strike took out his kunai but before he could do any Kabuto was caught in Orochimaru's snake with him standing behind Kabuto, shocked that he was easily caught but still had time to jump next to Yamato.The three were shocked to see Orochimaru here at the rendezvous point all coming to the conclusion that Kabuto was followed.

All three was on guard the moment the Snake Sannin showed up, getting ready they saw Kabuto charging up an attack but not expecting him to cut through Yamato's disguise , realising it's a trap Yamato tried to jump away.

"MULTIPLE STRIKING SHADOW SNAKES TECHNIQUE!!" Orochimaru called out his attack with multiple snakes coming out of his right sleeve just as the snakes caught him and one biting him in the neck Yamato quickly substituted with with wood style.

"you're not ..lord Orochimaru are you saying this isn't " Kabuto asked

"Sasori ? no ,Kabuto it's definitely not ...all this time as his subordinate... and you've yet to see the man's face? " said Orochimaru

"He always hides it behind those weird puppet of his ...such a dreary fellow" Kabuto replied

"So you're were just pretending to under sasori's spell ...while secretly under Orochimaru's jutsu " Yamato questioned Kabuto with a hard stare

"Wrong, lord Orochimaru removed that problem long ago ...it's just that lord Orochimaru and I sharing a common philosophy...I'm with him of my own free will, now who are you? " Kabuto responded smugly at the end with his own question

"Patient Kabuto all will be revealed in due time starting with ...the three baby rats hiding behind papa rat here " said Orochimaru

Signalling the three behind him they jumped to action with Yami and Sakura on the side and Naruto in the middle being positioned Infront of Yamato.

"Well now... isn't this a pleasant reunion and I see you've brought the nine tails child ... excellent I've been waiting for such an opportunity to see which one is stronger ...

Naruto ...or..Sasuke "