The Fifth Player

The Christmas ended and it was back to work for the shovelers. There was a surprise snow storm last night so the festival was canceled today. Everyone was displeased with it, especially Ino who had her head down on her desk. She had so much planned today for Shikamaru. He was going to be the trump card for the festival since, he was able to get Naruto to accept his challenge. She didn't think he would. She guess her visit must have made it happened. That made her feel a little better but he didn't show up to class today.

His desk was empty which made her curious. Sakura felt the same way. She was excited for today since, Naruto was going to join them but since its cancel that went away. Now he isn't in school. "Could he have got another cold?" she thought seeing a bright side in this. The last time he didn't show up, she had to deliver him his homework. Iruka might do the same again. This brightened up her day.

"Good morning everyone" Iruka said entering the class. "I know your all disappointed that the festival is cancelled...the storm was unexpected so I promise to not go hard on you today...so there won't be any homework-"

"No!" Sakura said in a shocking tone.

She had got up from her chair causing everyone to stare at her with a confused expressions. She started to blush feeling embarrassed and sat back down, facing her desk. Ino didn't get why she reacted like that. She looks at Naruto's desk and it hit her.

"Wait!" Ino said raising her hand up. "W-what about Naruto...he isn't here today, shouldn't he get the work he missed"
"Well he called in sick-" Iruka states.

"But he shouldn't fall behind!" Ino stated hoping to change his mind.

"Well...maybe..I could have someone take his homework-" Iruka said.

Before the two girls could offer themselves to do it, Sasuke got up and raised his hand.

"I'll do it" Sasuke said.

There was a gasp by everyone. Ino and Sakura looked at Sasuke with shocked faces. Iruka was surprised himself and blinked a few times. "Alright then...I'll give you Naruto's work after class"

Sasuke nodded and sat back down with a sigh. Ino looked straight at him feeling irritated including Sakura. They both had the same question, why Sasuke?

It finally reached the end of class and Sasuke went over to Iruka to collect Naruto's work. Ino and Sakura waited, patiently for the right moment, in their seats. Sasuke started heading out the first door. They both quickly ran up to him.

"Sasuke!" the two said on both his sides.

"Ya?" Sasuke asked wondered why they waited for him.

Ino and Sakura looked at each other before opening their mouth.

"I was wondering-" Ino asked.

"If I could join you-" Sakura continues.

"To deliver Naruto's work" Ino finishes.

Sasuke looks at the two and continues to walk ahead. There wasn't a reply and the both took that as a yes. They started following behind Sasuke.

They began traveling to Naruto's apartment in the snow. The streets were not cleaned yet so they had to force their way through the heavy snow. Sasuke didn't seem affected while Ino and Sasuke was lagging behind.

"Hold on Sasuke" Ino said getting tired.

"We're not strong as you" Sakura states breathing heavily.

"I didn't say for you two to come" Sasuke replies.

"What!? Of course you did" Ino states waving her hand.

"Ya" Sakura agrees.

They were almost there anyway to really stop for a break. Sasuke entered the building first. Ino and Sakura both went in after, feeling exhausted. They really needed to go to the gym. Surprisingly, someone else was already inside.

"Oh..Sasuke...and Ino and Sakura?" Sara said tilting her head. "Why are you three here?"
"Deli-" Sasuke said until Ino went in front of home.

"Just delivering Naruto's homework" Ino said grinning.

"Y-ya" Sakura replies. "Since he couldn't make it today"

"I see" Sara said slowly. "And you three were told to deliver it to him?"

"Ya-" the two said until Sasuke interrupted.
"No...they just tanged along" he said and the elevator doors opened.

He went in along with Ino and Sakura. Sara also went in too. It became quite in the elevator. Sasuke felt suffocated in this small space with these girls. He felt something uneasy happening among the three.

"Your heading to your floor?" Ino asked Sara.

"I was...but..I might as well check on Naruto since he didn't show up to class" Sara replies.

"Oh really….aren't you nice" Sakura said smiling but was raging inside.

"Isn't Naruto lucky...having three of us check on him" Ino said smiling holding back her anger.

"Are you forgetting someone?" Sasuke thought sighing but let out a small smirk. The door opened, the three started speed walking out. They were racing to the door, hoping to be the first one there. Sasuke just walked at his normal pace.

Three knocks were banged on the door. The three girls were staring off intensely. They soon heard the door click open and faced the door. It opened and they were surprise to see Kushina being the one that opened the door.

"U-um hello?" Kushina spoke nervous why three attractive girls were knocking on her door.

However, she recognized Ino and the boy behind them.

"We came to deliver Naruto's homework-" Sakura answered first.

"We heard that he was sick-" Ino states.

"We wanted to see if he was ok" Sara finishes.

"Ya" Sasuke said simply not sure what else to really say in this situation.

"Well..that's great!" Kushina said in a happy tone. "Why not you all come in"

"Oh really...we don't want to be disturbing anything" Ino said.

"It's fine...my husband is out getting groceries and Naruto is in his room asleep…so I'm pretty lonely" Kushina said opening the door for them.

"Well..thank you for letting us in" Sakura said entering.

Everyone else followed, taking off their shoes. Kushina lead them into the living room where they all took their seat. She started making them tea. They all felt uneasy being here since, they having spoken to Naruto in a long time except for Sasuke and Ino. Though, it was still uncomfortable.

"I'm surprised Naruto had this many friends" Kushina states placing the tea in front of them on the coffee table.

"We are too...and thank you" Ino said picking up the tea.

"So your Naruto's mother?" Sakura asked.

"Yes and don't mind the hair...Naruto takes off from his dad" Kushina said grinning.

"But he has his mother's face" Sara states.

"Yup" Kushina said smiling and looks at Sasuke. "Your Sasuke aren't you?"
"Yes I am" he replies.

"Oh...have you two met?" Sakura asked curiously.

"Yup…but when he was little...including Ino" Kushina said looking at her. "You three were so cute together...but wait..there was someone else"
"Y-ya...Kabuto" Ino said with a frown.

"Oh yes...but there was another...wait one second" Kushina said getting up.

Both Sasuke and Ino were confused what she meant. There was only the four of them. Sara and Sakura felt left out but was interested in their history with Naruto. Kushina came back holding a picture.

"Here it is...this was before we all had to leave...we took a picture with all of you in it" Kushina said showing them.

There was Ino with that boy hair cut. Naruto was next to her. Sasuke was next to him with Kabuto right by him. They were standing near a tree but were surprised to see another kid. He was sitting on the branch of the tree. He was the only person not smiling. He had black hair and black eyes.

"wait...I don't remember him?" Ino states looking at him carefully.

"Me neither..what's his name?" Sasuke asked Kushina.

"I thought you would know...I don't have the faintest clue...he was the boy that sometimes shows up with you four though...I don't know much that happens when you five go into the forest"
"Uh weird...why can't I remember" Ino said trying very hard to have some type of memory of this kid.

"Hmm..does Naruto know?" Sasuke asked.

"Not sure...I haven't shown him this..I actually forgot I had it" Kushina said scratching the back of her neck.

"Uh...those eyes" Sara said staring intensely at it. "They remind me of someone"

"Really!?" Ino said eager to know of this boys identity.

"I can't put a name or a picture to it but...those eyes do look familiar" Sara stated forcing her brain to give her a picture.

"Well there is no point now...whoever he is...I don't think we will remember him now if we can't remember him back then" Sasuke said dropping Naruto's homework on the coffee table. "Thank you for letting me in...I'll be going now"
"Ya...we should be leaving also" Ino states placing the tea down.

"Don't you all want to see Naruto?" Kushina asked.

The four turned their heads to her, saying yes. She opens Naruto's door. His room was cleaned except the bed. Naruto was wrapped with a white bed cover like a cacoon. He was fast asleep, drooling from the corner of his mouth.

"He hasn't woken up since morning...so you should better whisper when your around him" Kushina whispers walking away.

The four entered his room felt as though, they were violating Naruto's privacy. This was Sara's first time in his room. She wanted to explore so she started to look under and in things, quietly. Sakura was heating up but tried keeping her redness hidden. Sasuke went over to his desk. Ino just stared at Naruto's sleeping face.

"Does anyone feel-" Sakura spoke softly.

"Weird...yes" Sara said while opening Naruto's dresser.

"We should leave before he wakes up" Ino whispers.

"This is-" Sasuke said opening the first drawer in Naruto's desk.

That got interest of the girls and went over to look at what he found. There was a book with cards drawn on the cover. Sasuke opened it and notice the hand writing belonged to Naruto when he was little. It was messy and wild but had many card games in it. Ino eyes widen noticing some from back then. Sasuke started flipping pages seeing so much different kinds of card games.

"Woah..these were the games we played back then" Ino said smiling.

"Except this one" Sasuke said reaching the back of it.

A huge title covered the whole page called, "The Cards hidden in the leaf". Sasuke turned the page to a description of the game.

"I can say this is my best game I've ever created...I can't wait to show it off to them..I'll be the winner or in this case, the hokage...a card game not only uses two decks but all of our decks..similar to the war game but different because instead one card its multiple cards facing each other and depending which one is higher wins….as for the character cards, whenever they appear...the two people will go and face each other...they must reach a certain number in order to win against the other...though that isn't the exciting part...this is a four way game...meaning, anyone can help the other or attack the same person twice...the winner is declared with the most cards and is called...the hokage"

"This game...is set for the that day" Sasuke said.

"For the tournament...where I thought you all left me alone" Ino said.

A mutter was heard coming from the bed. Naruto was moving in his cocoon.

"Everyone..hide!" Sakura whispered a little louder.

Everyone quickly went on their knees near the right side of this bed. Naruto quickly sat up and looked around with dizziness in his eyes. He felt like he was going to barf out yesterday's dinner. He turned to his desk and notice his book was out.

"Wait a minute, when did that-" Naruto said weakly but felt a wave of cold air hit him.

He covered himself more and laid back to sleep. He started snoring causing everyone to get back up.

"We should go" Sakura said softly.

"We should" Sara states not wanting to risk Naruto seeing them in his room.

"Ya" Ino said softly, wondering about the card book.

They all started tip toeing out of his room. They all let out the breath they kept in. Now they just want to get out of here.

"Hi, Kushina we will be heading off now" Ino said kindly.

"Oh you don't want to stay for dinner?" Kushina asked.

"Oh-" Ino said until getting nudged by Sara with her elbow. "-m-maybe next time"

"Alright then" Kushina said smiling. "I appreciate you four checking up on Naruto"

They all left the apartment.

OOO

The next day came, the festival continues. This was the second last day and things were not exciting like the first day. The card club was not getting as much students as before. Even when the popular kids were running it. This was good since, they didn't come for them but the club itself. Although, Ino didn't think it was this bad. Choji and Sara were sitting at empty tables, waiting for their opponents. Neji and Sai tried convincing people to come in.

"This sure isn't looking good" Sakura states noticing the less tickets they had.

"Not surprising, I've scouted around and most of the clubs were almost doing the same thing you guys are doing but are more interesting than just cards" Shikamaru states standing behind the table.

He had a visitor tag tapped against his jacket. He needed permission to be on school grounds so Ino ask Tsunade and begged for Shikamaru to stay and help. She decided to give him a visitor tag.

"I know….but if he was here...then things would be different" Ino said with a pout.

"Naruto is still sick so he didn't show up today" Sakura states. "So the match has to be post-poned"

"Hmmm...or my opponent needs to be changed" Shikamaru said.

"And who can fill that role?" Ino asked raising an eyebrow.

"You do have someone who plays fast in your club" Shikamaru states.

"Well...Sasuke would be the next after Naruto but don't think his personality would bring people to us" Ino said nervously smiling.

"the other person I had in mind said no so...Naruto better get well tomorrow or...I don't think this club will go into the last festival" Shikamaru exclaims.

"We will!" Ino said raising her voice.

"Then again….we can use this day to make tomorrow better" Sara spoke with a grin.

"What do you mean?" Ino asked curiously.

Everyone got huddle around Sara who started explaining them the plan she has. They all had brighten faces. A few minutes went by and Sasuke arrived to the club.

"I'm back" he said then gets a patch of new posters in his hands. "What's this?"

"Something new" Sara said with a wink. "Make sure everyone get this"

Sasuke looks at the poster and his eyes widen with shock. This wasn't like the regular posters. These were for major events. It had Naruto vs Shikamaru happening tomorrow at their location. Underneath their names were, the delinquent and the outsider. This intrigued even him on what was going to happen between the two. He made his way out and started spreading the word.

The rest were preparing for tomorrow by creating new decorations and a new set up. Sara was the one in charge since she has the idea clear in her head. Ino was her sub leader so she still gets to yell out orders.

OOO

It was close to the end of the festival and everyone was starting to talk about the upcoming fight. The word spread like wildfire even leaving school premises.

"Hmm...now this is interesting" Kabuto said adjusting his glasses, after reading the poster.

"Uh...who is this Shikamaru...We don't have information on him?" Temari states.

"Probably someone from another school" Kankuro states.

"He is" Kabuto said putting the poster down.

"So what do you want to do?" Kankuro asked.

"I can go there and shake things up again" Temari said grinning.

"No, last time was too risky" Kabuto said in a serious tone.

"Why?... because the principal from the other school got involved….please….we have everyone in this school in our control" Temari said with a smirk. "Including the teachers"

"I know very well about that...but.. they aren't who I'm worried about" Kabuto states.

"Your worried?" Gara spoke softly. "That's the first time I heard that"

"...There is a reason why I haven't meddled in that schools festival….it's because, he's there" Kabuto said clenching his trembling fists.

"Oh? Who, Naruto?" Temari asked getting curious.

Kabuto stares through the window while his glasses reflected the outside.

Flashback

"...you should really be careful...on who you pick a fight with"

Kabuto was his knees on the ground. There was cute all over his arms. He had five cards in his hands. He was breathing heavily, trying to keep his gaze at the boy with black hair on the other side of the tree trunk.

"H-How were you…" Kabuto said weakly.

"Simple….I just watched" said the boy with his hair shadowing his eyes. "Everytime you four come up here...I just watch you guys play….a pointless game"

"Gruh" Kabuto said clenching his teeth.

Cards soon started flying through the air. Kabuto watches as each card pass him. The boy turns and started walking away.

"If you try making a deal with me...you'll end up worse than this"

The boy flicks a card that pierces the ground in front of Kabuto. It was the king of diamonds. Kabuto felt chills from his tone. He got up off the ground and watches as the boy walks away.

"I'll remember that" Kabuto said looking at the kings card.

Today was going to be the first day he was starting his plan in creating a new way of playing cards. He thought starting off with the boy that always sits on the tree branch when they play here would be his first victim but he was sadly mistaken.

"There is always tomorrow" Kabuto said to himself thinking about facing Naruto tomorrow.

Flashback ended

"No...but he is the one person...that can completely destroy what I created" Kabuto spoke. "Its unlucky that he goes to Naruto's school...we could have easily taken control of it….but...we can't which is why...entering the festival was necessary...since his club isn't in it or things would be different"

OOO

A male sneeze echoes down the hallway. It came from inside the chess club. A loud thud can be heard right after.

"Sorry"

"WAHHH...Look what you made me do!" screamed a female voice.