Ino Yamanaka sighed as she stood at the cashier counter to her parent's flower shop. Though she was a chunin and should have plenty of mission to keep her busy. Her talents were not in high demand right now like her teammates Shikamaru and Choji who were both busy with missions of their own. They were still their generations InoShikaCho but being from a family that was not battle orientated or full of tacticians left you without work for some days. That being because most Yamanakas need have someone watching over their body as they used their family abilities. Though there were some that were good at tajustu and ninjustu or did not need someone watching over them .
There was her cousin Fu who was very talented when it came to fighting without the use of their family techniques. She did not see him offer as he was also always working with his partner Torune she believe his name was. Then there was her dad who could use almost all the family Justus without leaving his body or need someone to watch his back all the time. Finally there were those like herself who had gone learned a second set of abilities outside of their family's area of expertise that being the medical ninjustu she learned under Tsunade. However hers was not at the level of say Shizune or even Sakura (who many say might surpass Tsunade herself one day) thus she was third apprentice of Tsunade in abilities as well as order of which she started her apprenticeship.
Not only were thing slow for her as ninja but even thing here as a botanist in her parent's flower shop things were going slowly.
'I wonder what Sakura doing right now? Is she still acting weird like she was that last time I saw her?' the blond thought looking out the front door window.
It had been almost a year now since she had first went missing and a few weeks since she saw her with all those new abilities she had learned somehow. Thinking about she still could not believe that she drew a sword at her own best friend/rival like she had.
"It was like she was there physically but mentally her mind was not all there" Ino thought out loud.
"That mostly because it was not at the time that you saw her" Shizune said as she entered the store.
"Huh Shuzine-sempai? What bring you here today? Care for some flowers or maybe help in dealing with Tsunade-sensei" her junior said rather shocked to see her here as well as answer an question she did not realize she asked out loud.
"I am here for some Sakuras" she replied.
"Of course just like me go get them" Ino said.
The young Yamanaka went about getting the flowers for her senior (Sakura and Shizune having started their training before her) and handed them over. After that she got her mother to take over the shop for her saying that she was going out for the moment.
Yet what had just taken place was actually a rehearsed situation that she was informed of doing whenever important news on Sakura had found out about. There were quite a few people who were interested in her oldest friend's current status and did not have her best interest in mind thus they came up with cover story to hide any information from reaching unwanted parties. However Shuzine of all people coming to Ino asking for some Sakuras seem like dead giveaway of there being new information about the person who was named after them. This would be the case if Shizune did not come by every week buying some. The one detail they were hoping would throw people off was that Shizune would only ask for more then one Sakura when there was something in regards to the MIA chunin.
Meanwhile at the Hyuga Estate….
"Hiashi you must doing something about your daughters as it was bad enough that you broke with tradition and started teaching Neji despite him being in the branch family even if he nephew. Now you are let the potential heirs to the Clan study and/or alter the Gentle Fist style" a old Hyuga elder said.
"There nothing wrong with what my children are doing nor is there anything wrong with what Neji had been taught by me over the years. He the most talented Hyuga to have been born in awhile as not only has he learned two Main Branch moves on his own but has improved upon them in ways that no one else has done before. Even Hinata who is in the Main Branch has yet to figure out how to completely use Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms despite having been taught the traditional way. Though despite this she had made advancements in other areas even creating a few new Justus of her own. While Hanabi seem to be following in the footsteps of her sister and cousin by seeking out training from Gai though I think she only accepted his training in order to summon to get on the turtle summoning scroll he has" Hiashi said.
"Summoning! Why would a Hyuga especially a main branch member want to summon anything. Hanabi was such model Hyuga when she was younger but now ever since that month she had gone missing she seem to have followed in her sister's footsteps" the elder said disappointed.
"What's wrong with me trying to expand my horizons?" Hanabi asked shocking both her father and the elder as she just seem to appeared in their blind spot.
"How many time have you been told not to do that" the elder spoke out clearly upset.
"To many but then maybe it you that should learn something new as everyone here other then Sis and Neji are just too easy to sneak up on" Hanabi said sighing as even her father was easy to sneak up on when he was distract by an elder.
"Just how did you learn to sneak in a Hyuga's blind spot like that as you must tell us for it would be of great benefit to the clan" the elder told her in rather demanding tone.
"Like I would know as it must be one of the thing I learned during that month I can not remember" she said with far off look in her eyes for a moment.
"Great there she goes spacing out again! It was bad enough that her older sister has crush on that Uzumaki boy but now Hanabi seem to have gotten one on some boy too as well number of other weird quirks like
becoming almost obsessed with turtles of all things" the elder said.
"What wrong with turtles! They are amazing creatures that people do not give them credit for" Hanabi yelled as bad mouthing turtles would piss her off in similar manner that someone insulting ramen would for Naruto or possibly Naruto from Kohonamaru.
Seeing as Hanabi would at this for awhile Hiashi was going to use this time to get away at least until Kakashi walked up being guided by Hinata.
"Here is my father but appears we do not really need him as Hanabi here as well" she said.
"Thanks for your help away" he said as he still had to wait though until Hinata's younger sister finished her 'why turtles are so great' tirade.
They had get Guy to let Hanabi sign the turtle summoning contract and find the root of her obsession with turtles soon. Thankfully the two youthful ninja's sense of fashion or the flame of youth was not rubbing off on Hanabi yet despite all the time she spent with them. For that was the last thing Konoha needed was third youthful ninja as two were enough. However rather then speech on being youthful when she saw something unyouthful being done or wearing that strange green outfit . She would give speech on the greatness of turtles when they were put down. Yet managed to insult turtle and do something consider to be unyouthful with the three of them around and you were in for it.
At the Ninja Academy…
Iruka Umino one of the head instructor sighed as some of the student in his current class remained him of some of his favorite students from the past years. Two in particular being Naruto and Konohmaru, with his connection to the Sarutobi mostly being related to them both being close to Naruto.
'I wonder what Naruto is doing right now and if he managed to find Sakura yet' he thought.
Remembering back when Kakashi had put them up for the Chunin Exam after only a year of being genin. He thought that both Naruto, Sasuke and especially Sakura were not ready yet they all proved him wrong. With Naruto being Gaara who until them seem unstoppable seriously injury or even killing everyone in that every had the misfortune of coming in contact with him in a battle.
Though Naruto want the acknowledgement of others he wonder if he was aware of the impact that he had on the lives of so many others by just being around them. The latest person to have their lives changed by him at least indirectly was Hanabi Hyuga. Sure he had no proof of Naruto meeting any main branch Hyuga personally beyond Hinata. However there was no doubt that the younger Hyuga Heiress sudden interest in Naruto and ramen after her being MIA for a month meant something had to have happened involving her meeting him or another person who life was changed for the better because of him.
Just then he heard a knock on the door to his office and told the person to come in.
"So ummm…Yamato was it? What can I do for you today?" Iruka asked curiously as the Jonin in question came in
Though he had an idea as to why he was come here today though and that was to find out something new about Naruto mostly likely.
"Actually it's the other way around this time as there something that I need from you" Yamato said.
"Huh what could I possibly do to help you as you are most likely refers to a mission" the Chunin asked
Despite having taught at the academy for almost a decade he did have over 500 completed mission (though only 102 were above B rank) so he was not putting down his own abilities but from just the impression Yamato gave off he was sure this mission he wanted help with was mostly likely A or even S rank.
"Actually while this a dangerous mission its something that only you have a chance of carrying out as has to do with two former student of yours from a few years back" Yamato told him.
'Former students….he could not possibly mean Naruto and Sakura could he' Iruka thought as if it was a student that only he had chance of reaching then the possibility of it being Naruto was rather high.
So agreeing to help him Iruka left with Yamato hoping that this mission did have something to do with Naruto.
Though as the team to recover Naruto, Sakura, Rin, and Ryo were gather up. There were people that did not have their best intentions in mind gather together as well.
"Ah Fu what is?" Danzo asked as the young Yamanaka arrived in his office.
"As order I have been keeping a close eye on my cousin Ino and have something interesting to report" he said.
As for how Fu was keeping his eye on his cousin well that was being using their family telepathy in manner where he was able to spy on other Yamanakas with them knowing about. Trust that no one would abuse the family's telepathy ability lead to many members not able to defend against one of their own spying on their minds. Though this could only work on certain members of his clan that did not have level of ability in their family justu that could rival his own or Ino's father.
Fuu then reported to the Danzo that there was possibly a new development with Sakura and wanted to know how to continue since the truth surrounding what was going on with Sakura and Naruto was consider one Danzo's biggest issues to be dealt with at the moment. Since getting rid of those two would not only get rid of two possibly Hokage selection but also sully the reputation of Tsunade and possibly help him get the title of Hokage.
Author's Note:
The title for this chapter is called Gathering Team Naru, Saku, and Rin because I could not fit Gathering Team Naruto, Sakura, and Rin Together as the title
I would like to thank:
thedarkpokemaster, RANMACAT, NaruSaku fan 100, Saiyan Videl fan 99, Narudevilfan, and Ryan 9901 for reviewing my story.
Kayla for reviewing Chapter 01
Safire Ranmako, PheonixFarwind, Ryan 9901, rochchen, Saiyan Videl fan 99, and charmeloen80 for adding this to their Story Alert List.
SirPlushie, Safire Ranmako, Dragon Wing Gundam, , Illusive Dawn, Blue-Huntress, Ryan 9901, Narudevilfan, bretmccully, rochchen, soil-fanboy, EvilDaveCanada, and Saiyan Videl fan 99 for adding this to their favorite story list.
GameDemonKing and yugioash for adding me to their Author Alert List.
longsilver777,SusyxLilium, and jo beast master elf for adding me to the Favorite Author List.
