This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Naruto, which is trademarked by Masashi Kishimoto. Everything aside from the original characters are created from the wonderful mind of Kishimoto.
Most of the following unrecognizable are original characters of mine, please bear with me I am still in the process of making the character profiles for an even better visualization.
Comments, suggestions, criticism, even just simple messages are welcomes, please feel free to message me anytime.
Thanks for reading!
Chapter 16:
Kazuhiko was waiting outside the porch of the Sarutobi clan house playing with the fire on his palm. Few days had passed since Asuma'e funeral and everyone was slowly returning to their usual routine, as shocking as his death might have been, it did not come as a surprise, especially in their line of profession. However, his death wasn't taken lightly and they knew they won't sit still until the odds are evened.
Even now sitting their nonchalantly playing with fire a prepared pack ready for a mission lay behind the screens of his door, it's only a matter or time before the lazy bum genius of an apprentice under Asuma approaches him.
And approached him Shikamaru did, that afternoon where he was still lying on the porch watching the skies just like he used to do with Misaki and Akihiko.
"Kazu-nii you have a visitor" Konohamaru greeted as he escorted a reluctant looking Shikamaru.
"Ahh, thank Ko-chan." Kazuhiko dismissed his younger brother, but apparently that younger Sarutobi did not seem to catch on.
"Hey I heard the Hyuga sisters are training at the fields today" Kazuhiko began.
"Why would I be interested in that?" Konohamaru asked, confused.
"Didn't you have a crush on that younger Hyuga girl, whats her name Hana-" Kazuhiko didn't finish his sentence in favor of dodging a shurinken.
"STUPID NII-CHAN" Konohamaru exclaimed, his face completely red as he stomped off to get as far away as possible, but also to probably watch Hyuga Hanabi.
Both Shikamaru and Kazuhiko chuckled at the younger shinobi's antics, before the atmosphere became serious once more.
Shikamaru looked up at his feet garnering the courage to speak, Kazuhiko may still be mad at him, of course he had every right, half the reason why Asuma died was because he was fighting while protecting them, but he knew he had to do this.
"What took you so long?" Kazuhiko began noticing the turmoil in Shikamaru, who looked at him incredulously.
"I've been waiting for you for days, what took you so long, to think you were considered a strategy genius" Kazuhiko groaned playfully before smirking.
"What's the plan" Kazuhiko asked with fire burning in his eyes, and Shikamaru smirked, yes he did like a fool spending a long time thinking on how he would speak with Kazuhiko, and here he is already expecting him.
Shikamaru discussed his plans to Kazuhiko who listened zealously, asking questions and voicing suggestions as they went.
"So who is going to be on team Shikamaru?" Kazuhiko asked as they finished plotting their strategy.
"The hokage might not approve so I'm taking as minimal as possible who would be willing to risk going to this mission." Shikamaru said.
"They're your teammates from the old team Asuma right?" Kazuhiko guessed.
"Yeah, I haven't talked to them yet, but I'm sure they're going to be in on it. I wanted to talk to you first" Shikamaru confessed. At his statement Kazuhiko raised his eyebrows, of course he was honored, but still curious.
"Why is that?"
"I figured after Kurenai, you of all people have the right to get your revenge" Shikamaru revealed with a solemn look on his face.
"It seems you didn't know old man Asuma quite well, because in his eyes, blood or not we stand on the same ground in his eyes" Kazuhiko reassured Shikamaru.
*_-+% =o#$*_-+% =o#$LINE_BREAK*_-+% =o#$*_-+% =o#$*_-+% =o#$
Tsunade stood next to Misaki making sure to hide their presence in the bushes. It had been the unholy hour and yet they were both standing there in the middle of the cold.
"Are you sure he is going to come Misaki?" Tsunade asked glaring at the girl she still considers as one of her apprentice because even in this cold, she did not seem to be slightly teethered.
"I am sure, Kakashi may not show it but he values his values, and Asuma was one of his oldest friends, he would not sit take his death lightly, besides that, an information he recently found out from my mom will assure his attendance for this trip." Misaki explained
"Yeah, Kurenai was pregnant, poor child wouldn't even know his father" Tsunade muttered.
"Not really, we will make sure he knows how great their father is, it's our duty as bearers of his memories" Misaki revered, recalling her memories with the jonin.
"Ummmm, Tsunade-sensei?" Misaki asked sweating bullets.
"How can you stand the cold?!" Tsunade complained.
"Oh, I trained in the Land of Iron for quite sometime, compared to that, this is nothing" Misaki explained looking thoughtfully at the night skies remembering her training days in the lands outside konohagakure, especially the memory of the first place she has trained in, the land of iron.
Misaki removed herself from her reverie when she finally the envoy they had been freezing for, had arrived consisting of the old team Asuma, Shikamaru, Ino and Choji together with Asuma's closest nephew, Kazuhiko.
"Thought you'd never show up" Misaki greeted as the party of four finally gained visual on them.
"What are you guys doing here?" Shikamaru asked, not freezing, not faltering even if the hokage is between him and his revenge.
"We should be asking you the same thing" Misaki countered, raising an eyebrow.
The two parties stood against each other in silence until Kazuhiko placed a hand on Shikamaru's shoulder, nodding, letting him know that he stands behind him, whatever his decision may be. Turning on the lighter to stare at the flames one las time, as if the flames gave him some sort of magical confidence.
"Hokage-sama, if you don't mind we have to set a few things straight, so we would like to continue with out mission with this group. Moving on knowing that we could have done something, I wouldn't want to live a crappy life like that" Shikamaru announced.
Tsunade looked to Misaki who silently nodded in response.
"As the hokage, I wouldn't allow you to proceed with the mission" Tsunade began and already Misaki can see the wheels of their head turning on how they would be able to bypass her.
"-Without a captain" Tsunade finished with a knowing smirk, giving Kakashi ample time to make his presence known.
"That was impressive, predicting I would be here Tsunade-sama" Kakashi praised walking towards the group.
"I didn't" Tsunade motioned to Misaki.
"I didn't either, all I had to do was eavesdrop" Misaki revealed with a sly smirk.
"Even in this kind of situation you prove yourself tardy" Tsunade scolded.
"Nah, he's been there for quite a while, he just wanted to know what they have to say" Kaede appeared, explaining Kakashi's reason for being late. When Kakashi lined up with them, Tsunade gave them all a good once over, seeing only determined faces.
"Alright, fulfill your mission and don't let the Akatsuki get away this time" Tsunade ordered, earning her a couple of yeses.
"Kakashi-sensei, what about Naruto" Shikamaru asked, to which Kakashi showed his bandaged arm.
"He doesn't need me at this point, besides I'm leaving him in pretty capable hands" Kakashi hinted and Misaki smirked.
"Good luck everyone, make your sensei proud, and Kazu-chan, make sure to come back alive, I wouldn't want to have to tell Tenten you died a lame death because of something as petty as the Akatsuki getting to you" Misaki smirked and instantly, that lifted Kazuhiko's mood.
"You wouldn't have to" Kazuhiko said with a thumb up.
Kaede didn't say anything to Kakashi, but everybody respected their boundaries as they both stared at each other, as if a psychic conversation was going in between them, it looked lame, just staring at each other with nothing to say, but the atmosphere surrounding them was so intense, it felt like the skies listening to the m sun's promise of return.
Tsunade, Kaede and Misaki watched them leave just as the sun rose in their direction, hoping that they would come back with the same number they left.
Misaki sat cross legged on the bench Yamato erected, watching as Naruto trained his butt off, digging up craters that would make the moon envious. She had arrived earlier in Kakashi's place to observe Naruto's progress and to tell him Kakashi's instructions to continue training in the direction that he is already in.
Sometime during the training, Sakura arrived bearing ordered from the fifth hokage.
"Eh, Kakashi-sensei already left with team Asuma on the Akatsuki mission" Naruto exclaimed, looking towards Misaki who sat leisurely on the bench, now reading a book.
"Oh, did I forget to mention it, my bad" Misaki smiled her angel innocent face, rubbing the back of her head.
"So what did the hokage say?" Yamato inquired.
"She said we are to be the support team, but in order to do so, Naruto must complete his new jutsu immediately, within 24 hours to be exact" as Sakura mentioned the dead line, Misaki smirked, it was the ideal training condition for Naruto, like his body was designed to endure urgency and overcome the pressure of the situation. No one beats Naruto when it comes to determination, and looking at her twin, he already has his game face on.
Wordlessly, Naruto approached the bench and gobbled down, Sakura's super effective and equally disgusting food supplement. Chuckling, Misaki handed him her tea.
"Here, this should help keep it down" Misaki offered and Naruto drank it, with equal fervor, then continuing his training with twice as passionate and twice as fervor.
*_-+% =o#$*_-+% =o#$LINE_BREAK*_-+% =o#$*_-+% =o#$*_-+% =o#$
"Futon: Rasengan!"
"Suiton: Ripping Torrent!"
"Hurricane Vortex Jutsu" Naruto and Yamato yelled as they combined their technique to amplify the effect, in order to be able to block and extinguish the enemy's jutsu giving Misaki the split second she needed to cut everyone loose and bring them to a considerably much safer distance, as they, the support team took the front lines.
"Sorry, we're late" Naruto said
"We didn't mean to keep you guys waiting" Misaki smiled at both comrades and enemy, standing defiantly.
"Perfect timing" Kakashi sighed.
"Thanks for the support" Chouji added.
"Sakura, Misaki, Sai and Naruto," Ino exclaimed in relief.
"It was all thanks to Misaki's technique, or we wouldn't have been able to locate you in time, much less get to you." Sai explained.
"Compared last time, transporting five individuals was a piece of cake" Misaki cringed, remembering the physical toll it took on her body the last time she transported a huge mass of people.
"I've never seen you this beat, this enemy must be pretty strong" Yamato commented at Kakashi's tattered form.
"This might be the perfect chance for Naruto to test his jutsu" Misaki remarked, looking at the said enemy, swinging her sword and taking up a stance next to Naruto.
"Shikamaru and Kazuhiko?" Naruto asked, not once taking his eyes off of his enemy.
"He's probably still fighting with the other one, I want two of you to go to his aid, preferably a medic and a long-distance fighter" Kakashi ordered and summoned his trusty Pakkun,
"Alright, Sai and Sakura, follow Pakkun's lead and support Shikamaru and Kazuhiko" Yamato ordered.
"What's this unorganized gang trying to do? Now there's more hearts for me to take" Kakuzu laughed, ticking Naruto even more.
"From here on, this guy is ours" Naruto said, stepping forward.
"We're off" Pakkun announced.
"Naruto, Misaki I leave it to you!" Sakura bid and left together with Sai.
Kakashi explained Kakuzu's battling prowess in the shortest, most elaborate way before Naruto looked to Misaki who nodded leaning her katana lousily on her shoulder. Naruto created two shadow clones, and that, together with Misaki charged towards the enemy.
Kakuzu smirked at the outward recklessness, attacking with this thread like tentacles. He managed to hit one shadow clone, making it disappear into a puff of smoke, and managed to wrap himself around Misaki.
"Now to harvest your heart" Kakuzu buried his tentacles inside the Misaki's chest cavity, and everybody watched in horror until Misaki disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Didn't think you'd actually fall for a cheapskate trick like that" the Naruto clone, who was in fact Misaki announced as she fell from the skies. Everyone was shocked to see the Naruto clone turn into Misaki. The transformation and the transportation happened so fast and so seamless, that only Kakashi's sharingan was able to keep up.
"How did she?" Ino exclaimed in relief and confusion.
"That kind of technique, performed so seamless and in perfect timing," Chouji marveled.
"How were they able to pull that off, I have never even seen them train together, much less perform that feat." Yamato inquired.
"They grew up together, to the point that they know each other probably more so than they know themselves" Kakashi enlightened.
"Raiton: Thunder god's wrath!" Misaki swung her sword towards Kakuzu sending massive blades of lighting towards him, cutting most of his massive tentacles. Misaki landed on the ground, doing a few summersaults backwards to stand next to Naruto.
Kakashi looked at the twins, feeling the amount of pride swell in, they weren't just charging, they were assessing their enemy.
Naruto and Misaki once again exchanged knowing looks and Naruto created three shadow clones this time, then proceeded to amass the ingredients for his new jutsu.
The environment was immediately flooded with a high-pitched sound created by the technique.
This time only Naruto charged with his clones.
"Futon: Rasen Shurinken"
"I'll help too!" Chouj tried to follow, but Misaki blocked her with her katana.
"I would advise against it" Misaki said, her face, smiling, but her eyes solemn.
Of course, all of them sweat dropped when Naruto's Rasen Shurinken died before it reached its target.
"Yamato-taichou!" Misaki called out, running towards Naruto who was quickly becoming a prisoner of the Akatsuki, probably the worst scenario they could ever land on, is a jinchuriki landing in the hands of the Akatsuki.
Yamato responded quickly and distracted Kakuzu with his Moukton Jutsu, just enough for Misaki to severe the thread like tentacles and snatch her brother away,
Yamato didn't stop with just a distraction and pushed Kakuzu further, creating a greater distance between the two groups.
Once Naruto was assured safety, everybody else pointed out the weakness of the jutsu, and its obvious risks, with Chouji ending in:
"You'll get a hit with that justu, not with this enemy" he said, but despite that Naruto stood and insisted to have another shot and take the risk himself, even though they were at an advantage and without any urgency to take drastic matters.
After a short discussion between the two superiors, Kakashi and Yamato have begun to formulate a plan that would end the battle as quickly as possible without the trouble of putting anyone at risk.
"Misaki, your unrivalled when it comes to speed, think you can sever the masks behind him from his main body. Then you, Yamato and I will have to deal with a heart each to end this battle" Kakashi ordered.
"I'm up for it, my main concern is you, you're pretty banged up, think you can still do it, the advantage is on our side with numbers, we don't need to take unnecessary risks" Misaki answered back.
"She's right senpai, it would be better If I took care of the other two hearts" Yamato offered.
"Nope that doesn't make it any less risky" Misaki sweat dropped, at the kouhai eager to show his senpai what he is made of.
"No, I'll take him alone" Naruto ended his silence stepping forward.
"Misaki is right Naruto, we're not really constrained to take unnecessary risks here," Yamato tried extinguishing Naruto's rashness.
"You said, I was the only one who can surpass the Fourth Hokage, I know, teamwork is importance, but please, this is a risk I'd like to take alone" Naruto pleaded their superiors and Misaki observed his stance, he wasn't seeing Kakuzu as just his opponent for today, but the embodiment of a lot of things, the Akatsuki and their hounding presence on his existence, and another challenge in his way in saving Sasuke.
"I put my trust in you to get by this challenge, just as I always have placed my trust in you in everything" Misaki said, placing a hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"What do you say Yamato?" Kakashi asked, and Yamato agreed to at least give Naruto this chance.
With a determined look in his face Naruto stepped ahead of his teammates and just like before, created a couple of shadow clones and attacked Kakuzu head on with a rasen shurinken on hand, attacking head on.
Everyone was shocked when Kakuzu formed a web like structure consisted of his thread like tentacles and used it to…fly? Above Naruto, killing him and his shadow clones with ease.
Or so they thought…
When another set of Naruto's barraged from behind him and struck him with the newly formed rasen shurinken point blank.
Both blinding and deafining, it all happened in a blur, so fast and so vague, but everyone knew the ending.
A Kakuzu hovered before them, midair, as he suffered the agonizing effects of the result of applying nature transformation on the fourth hokage's original rasengan.
"The blast is coming" Yamato said as the impact reached incredible heights as they had to prepare themselves for the physical aftermath of what Kakuzu now suffers.
And suffered he did, as he died at the hands of tiny million blade like chakra.
The enemy had fallen with a single sweep from Naruto's new and still unfinished technique.
As the dust settled, Misaki was the first one to cater to her twin, who despite winning was still lying on the ground.
"Good job Naruto" Misaki congratulated as she helped Naruto to sat up, a duty soon taken from her by Chouji, who had praised his victory, together with Ino as Misaki busied herself with healing not only his battle damages, but also the damages he incurred during training.
"You're not like Shikamaru, but I guess you're pretty smart too" Chouji complimented as Misaki continued healing him, assisted by Ino.
"Don't compare me to Shikamaru" Naruto said.
"Yeah, compared to Shimakaru he is a dumbass" Misaki joked earning a laugh from the rest of the group.
But Misaki swelled with pride, not only did he defeat the enemy all on his own, he was able to defeat his limits creating three when he knew his limit was only two, the image of him achieving his dreams growing clearer in each passing moment.
"There, why don't you rest a bit more as we regroup" Misaki finished with Naruto playfully ruffling his unruly blonde hair knowing that he won't be able to fight back or complain.
"Misaki, Kakashi-senpai is looking for you" Yamato called the red head.
"Yeah, Ino, Chouji I'll leave him in your hands for a bit" Misaki left the little group to go to Kakashi as he double tapped Kakuzu.
"He fought with the First Hokage, how many hearts have he stolen in pursuit of a longer life" Misaki pondered, taking out and uncoiling a spare sealing scroll. Concentrating her chakra, the golden chains sprung from the scrolls encasing Kakuzu like a mummy and pulling his entire body inside the scroll until the all that is left of him is a swirling symbol encased in a seal that can only be from the Uzumaki clan.
"Misaki, that justu" Kakashi began whilst Misaki pocketed the `scroll.
"Back when Jiraiya took us with him to bring Tsunade-sensei home, Jiraiya taught Naruto and I the rasengan, when Jiraiya just simultaneously handed me this scroll" Misaki showed the scroll with the swirling sigil that she received years ago, already worn and torn from Misaki's excessive studying.
"It only makes sense now, the reason he had for giving it to me" Misaki contemplated before putting it back along the other scrolls. Misaki opened another empty scroll and wrote something on it real quick, that before his eye can even catch up to what was written Misaki had executed a reverse summoning technique and the words she had written lost from his sight forever.
"Well then, let's get going, we should really check in with Shikamaru and the others to see how they are going," Misaki beamed.
Kakashi however stayed behind and watched as the red head who looked more and more of her mother with each passing day. Guess Jiraiya left out the part that those sealing techniques only work on individuals who can utilize the adamantine chakra, a chakra unique to the members of the endangered Uzumaki clan.
Misaki jumped from Kakuzu's pitfall and saw in the horizon, four figures coming towards them.
"There they are!" Misaki cheered, at the sight of the other half of their team, scathed, but whole, and in this business that's already something to be thankful for especially since they did go against members of the Akatsuki, that being said, Misaki looked back towards Naruto's whose hand didn't recover from the technique earlier, despite her medical attention.
*_-+% =o#$*_-+% =o#$LINE_BREAK*_-+% =o#$*_-+% =o#$*_-+% =o#$
"Good work everyone, the imminent danger has passed, but the threat of Akatsuki, still remains so don't let your guard down" Tsunade received the team of shinobi in her office together with Kaede and Shizune.
Kaede looked intently at Kakashi's form, battered and beaten, clothes in shreds, although it was a miracle that he returned from an intense mission not severely weakened by his sharingan, but the fact that he was down to the last threads of his clothing meant a whole lot.
"All in all, the mission went relatively smoothly, we have two more Akatsuki members down, we have one at the coroners and we returned without parts of our anatomy missing, although I recommend Naruto Kakashi and Kazuhiko to spend a few more days resting inside the hospital" Yamato recommended.
"Also, you might want to take a look at this at the coroners" Misaki handed the sealed scroll to Tsunade who only needed to look at Kaede to relay her order.
"Alright then, I order you to take a few days off rest your minds and your bodies, dismissed" Tsunade concluded and dispersed did the team did. Those who were recommended for a few more days inside the hospital were escorted by Misaki and Sakura.
"I told you Sakura-chan, I'm alright-"Naruto insisted but the girl with the pink locks was having none of it as she beat Naruto into submitting using the almighty strength she inherited from her master.
"It's the first time in a very long time that I saw you two this beat up" Misaki commented as she walked with Kakashi and Kazuhiko and either of her sides.
"Well, we weren't really up against normal opponents" Kakashi simply said.
"Yeah, they packed a pretty mean punch too" Kazuhiko added.
"Well at least you two made it out whole, I imagine Asuma would be patting your shoulders by now, complimenting you both how you did a great all the while lighting a whole new cigarette. Come to think of it a lot of Sarutobi men smoke, good thing you didn't pick up on that habit" Misaki jested at her friend, who simply smiled at her.
"Now let's get you guys checked out before your better halves come running in scolding at you for not being extra careful" Misaki smirked, making both men cringe at just the thought of it.
Misaki stayed with both men until Kaede arrived with a grim look on her face.
"Kakashi, Misaki, you have to see this for yourselves" Kaede called. Kakashi and Misaki look towards each other, before nodding and following Kaede.
"What's this about?" Kakashi asked as they walked towards the corners.
"We found out something about Kakuzu that you would need to hear" Kaede answered, opening the door to find that Yamato had joined Tsunade inside.
"Although the autopsy is not yet finished, but as we examined the corpse, we figured something out about Naruto's new jutsu, The damage this fellow sustained was caused by something totally different from the usual barrage of hits" Tsunade began.
"What do you mean?" Kakashi was the one who voiced the unified question that ran in their heads.
"It means that Naruto's jutsu severed every chakra network connecting his body, that's why Naruto was able to take him down with a single shot, despite the fact that he had multiple hearts" Kaede elaborate, shocking both Kakashi and Yamato. However despite the news of how strong Naruto's justu is, despite being incomplete, Misaki crossed her arms as she went into a deep thought, thinking why they had to bring them to the coroner's to discuss the jutsu.
"His chakra network?" Yamato uncharacteristically stuttered.
"A condition like this is simply unimaginable, especially since Futon: Rasen Shurinken hasn't reached it's full potential as of yet" Kaede added.
"Exactly, rather than an offensive attack, this jutsu works more like a poision. Creating microscopic attacks and inflicting it at a microscopic level, assuming that the wind chakra transformed into tiny infinite needle like blades as it was introduced to rasengan, attacking every and all cells inside his opponent's body" Tsunade explained.
"Man, what a technique" Yamato deliberated.
"Hmm, a poison, rather than on definite attack, it is a barrage of little attacks" Kakashi mused.
"Quite a contrast from its progenitor, but you wouldn't call us here to tell us that am I right?" Misaki said with a probing smile, leading the two older females to sweat drop.
"Kakashi, this new justu, this Futon: Rasen-Shuriken, forbid Naruto from using it again" Tsunade finally ordered in a much more serious note.
"It's that serious?!" Yamato exclaimed.
"The same conditions that lead Kakuzu to his death now inflict Naruto's hand, the same hand which he used to wield the rasen-shuriken with" Kaede revealed. Everybody took a moment to sink in the revelation of the double-edged sword of a jutsu.
Misaki thought deep a hard weighing the possibilities, if it was any other person, they'd know what's good for them and stop using the justu altogether, but this jutsu, this was Naruto's imprint all over it, his very DNA and heritage, it would be ambitious to assume that he'd stop altogether considering using the jutsu as one of his options.
"So that means, unless he somehow learns to wield it by its namesake, he would soon lose the ability to mold his chakra" Misaki clarified and both Tsunade and Kaede nodded grimly.
"If his own cells disconnect from one another, no amount of medical justu neither mine nor Tsunade-sensei would be able to cure him" Kaede answered. Silence, none like any other silences that lingered in the coroner's room befell them. It was the sort of deafening silence and all they could hear is doubt, guilt, pity all directed to Naruto.
"Well if it's Naruto, I'm sure he won't stop until he figures out a way to do just that, so we have nothing to worry about" Misaki assured.
"Misaki this is grave, this isn't some sort of chakra over exhaustion like Kakashi's everytime he overexerts his sharingan, we're talking total incapability to use chakra here!" Kaede accentuated.
"Mom, this is Naruto we're talking about, remember the kid who stole the scroll of forbidden seals and learned one of the techniques there. I don't think forbidding him will be of much use" Misaki enlightened everyone of her mindset, and it's as if the air was lifted around them, lifted by the strength of how much a sister can trust her brother.
"Well if that is all, I have to get going, I have to check on Kazuhiko, he left without saying goodbye to Tenten, and I bet right now she found out about his arrival and is bashing his head in with some sort of cool weapon" Misaki waved goodbye.
When Misaki returned to Naruto and Kazuhiko's room, Misaki lingered by the window to look at the stars.
"He's getting stronger, do you feel that, he's getting closer to you dad, and he's very close to you Sasuke" Misaki whispered to the wind, hoping, wishfully thinking that it would carry her message across, of the pride she had for Naruto's achievements despite the hardships. '
"Get ready, because he'll get there, even if he has to crawl and claw his way there he will." Misaki dared with a smirk.
Meanwhile, one by one everyone began to leave the coroner's until it was only Kaede and Kakashi left. Kaede who had not looked at Kakashi since he had arrived, much less spoken a word to. Kaede turned her back and placed on her medic uniform to continue inspecting the Kakuzu's remains.
"Is there a problem?" Kakashi casually asked as Kaede began her inspection like Kakashi wasn't even in the room.
"Why would you say that?" Kaede replied nonchalantly, in fact too nonchalantly to even be considered believable.
"You didn't answer the question" Kakashi strolled the edges of the examination table to get closer to Kaede.
"This isn't really the time to discuss this Kakashi" Kaede grumbled under her breath.
"When do you prefer to discuss this then? Remember when you wanted to avoid your grief from your mission and left the village altogether" Kakashi retorted. Kaede stopped her ministrations and slammed her tools on the table, her hands practically shaking.
"Ino was here earlier, reporting Kakuzu's bodily functions focusing on this thread like limbs and how he extended the longevity of his life by taking possession of other people's hearts" Kaede began. Kakashi noticed Kaede began to shake, and approached her closer, caressing her arms, comforting her as she held back her emotions.
"I'm guessing she also didn't leave that part out that he almost collected my heart" Kakashi voiced out, at the mere mention of the possibility of Kakashi dying Kaede breaks down and wraps her arms around Kakashi, burying her face in her shoulder.
"I know, it's part of the job, we are fortunate to have gotten this far, but Kakashi the thought of losing you, I can't even imagine it" Kaede sobbed on Kakashi's shoulder, he hadn't told anyone, but in those times where in he thought it would definitely be his last, flashes of the people he was about to leave presented themselves before him, people he did not want to leave. He was afraid, not of dying but of having to leave them frightened him, and he knew he didn't have to say the words to Kaede, but she knew what he felt.
"Lives are short, and as a shinobi, considerably shorter, so let's treat our days like it would be our last" Kakashi pulled back at an arm's lengths, arms still wrapped around Kaede as he looked her in the eyes.
*_-+% =o#$*_-+% =o#$LINE_BREAK*_-+% =o#$*_-+% =o#$*_-+% =o#$
Kazuhiko was admitted in the same room as Naruto and to say that they created a ruckus was an understatement, with Naruto being scolded by Sakura and Kazuhiko being whipped by Tenten with a fan, to say that it was an amusing sight was also an understatement for Misaki, who sat as the only source of silence in the crowded room.
"Hey you guys!" Ino greeted cheerfully carrying a basket of flowers from the Yamanaka shop followed by Shikamaru and Chouji.
"We wanted to thank you guys for helping us," Ino said placing down the flowers.
"Yeah, it would have been in a pinch if it wasn't for you guys" Shikamaru sincerely said, although he was forcing his body language to do so otherwise.
"What's all this noise about" Tsunade entered with Shizune and Tonton to check up on the noise and the patients themselves.
No later than a few minutes, Kaede and Kakashi entered the room, clearly not expecting the occupants in the room.
"Misaki, mind if we talk to you for a minute?" Kaede asked, suddenly nervous about something.
"Sure," Misaki answered with a smile, looking at her expectantly, unmoving from her seated physique.
"Alone" Kakashi added making everyone pause whatever that was keeping them busy to observe the almost awkward exchange. Misaki just stared at them curiously before shrugging her shoulders and following them out the door.
"That looks pretty serious" Shizune worried.
"What do you was that about?" Naruto whispered very loudly to Sakura.
"It's none our business Naruto" Sakura whisper scolded back and even though they had judged Naruto for being nosy, they had gone completely soundless, trying to pickup what the part of three were talking about.
"Misaki, Kakashi and I were talking… about the wedding…" as the words left Kaede's mouth, everybody, except for Tsunade and Shizune piled up against the door to press their ear on it.
Meanwhile unbeknownst to the eavesdropping party, Kakashi, Kaede and Misaki stood outside the door.
"Wedding's going smoothly, the dress has been finally taken care of –"Misaki was cut off by the look that Kakashi and Kaede shared, it was…well everything. Misaki's words was caught in her throat at the sight before her, No skin contact was made, but their eyes, pinned to each other's she found no other words to describe it, but it was everything. Like a connection, probably on the level of understanding she and Naruto shared, but on a completely different connection. Misaki's heart felt engulfed with a warm blanket when Kakashi reached for Kaede's hands to encase it in his. Her small surgical precise hands encased in his war seasoned ones.
"After what happened to Asuma and what almost happened to Kakashi, we decided to make the most out of life, so we decided to move up the wedding date…to next week" Kaede beamed, breaking her eye contact with Kakashi to look at Misaki and her reaction.
But before Misaki can react, a loud exclamation of a "WHAT" that could have only came from Naruto before the door came crashing down between them. The dust to settled to find everybody inside the room, apart from Tsunade and Shizune on the floor, looking like a thief caught in the act, more so frightened when Kaede began to shake and veins began forming on her forehead.
"What the hell are you guys doing eavesdropping" Kaede growled.
"It might be best if you guys start running by now" Misaki advised donning a million ryo smile.
"Run,Run RUN!" Naruto yelled, and everybody scampered off Kaede following them close behind.
"I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with that woman" Kakashi chuckled with Misaki and Tsunade.
*_-+% =o#$*_-+% =o#$%$%$W$FIN*_-+% =o#$*_-+% =o#$*_-+% =o$
Viola! Chapter 16, phew, sorry for the late update, things didn't work out with the laptop I was using so it left, but anyway, I'm very sucky with promises so I'm not going to make one this time except perhaps that this fiction will be finished, I just don't know which course of time it's going to take.
But anyway, things are going to begin to pick up from here one, and also just a teaser, we'll be moving to the angle of the story where it would be more on Sasuke soon… I hope, fingers crossed.