Chapter 7

Disclaimer: Naruto doesn't belong to me!!!! ( wish it did, though. Then Itachi, Neji, Kakashi, and Sasuke would be all mine!!! MWA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!)

On with the Story:

Somewhere Outside the Stone Village:

Kisame mumbled angrily under his breath again, watching Itachi with the sharpness of an eagle. These past few days had been absolute hell; and that was being nice. Not once had Itachi allowed them to stop, not even to kill someone.

Ohh no, they killed while they moved. Yes, as in if someone was in their way while they were walking, Kisame'd whip the katana out and slice their head off, then trot quickly to catch up with Itachi, who had already killed their companion. It wasn't exactly pleasant having to deal with his hunger pains either; if Kisame didn't know better, he would have deemed Itachi anorexic a long time ago. Of course, now Kisame knew that Itachi could go as long as a month without food, he could move on bloodlust alone.

Even as an s-ranked criminal himself, Kisame couldn't help but feel paranoid about the... thing he was traveling with.

In any case, after the fiasco in the Hidden Stone Village, Itachi had traveled with his eyes constantly narrowed in anguish. Not once did his lips loosen from the tightened state they were in, instead they were constantly rigid, just as his other facial features were.

While Kisame pondered his thoughts to himself, Itachi was thinking about his. The fact that he had been informed wrong was most troubling... there was obviously someone either within the Akatsuki who was trying to fool him or the nameless shinobi was just too clever. ...too clever...?... hn... Itachi had to force himself to stop thinking about the shinobi, in fear of losing control of his temper.

Scratch that; Itachi wasn't afraid of anything. No, but when he didn't have complete control over his anger, sometimes the sharingan could go... 'out of whack'. He couldn't afford for that to happen at the moment, and in his veins he could feel himself getting closer and closer to the nameless shinobi. Somehow, the rest of the Akatsuki had found out about Itachi and Kisame trying to kill the nameless shinobi, and although it was usually against their way; they helped.

Not that any one of the them would ever admit it, but the fact that one ninja could kill numerous S-ranked criminals, stirred fear into the back of their minds. One member of the Akatsuki was able to come up with a name for the shinobi, but it was a name that Itachi was not familiar with:

Shibahara Sora

The name didn't strike any remembrance in Itachi's mind, and although the information was essential in finding the nameless shinobi, it didn't give him much to work with. The name could be used for a man or woman, and there were most likely plenty of 'Sora's' around. Yet again, Itachi hadn't told Kisame of his plans causing him to grumble minutely.

Itachi could feel Kisame's curiosity without even having to use his sharingan; Kisame wanted to know where they were headed for next, so he could control his stomach's relentless growls. Itachi scowled deeply at the thought of telling Kisame of where they were going, he would most likely frown upon it since it required no slaughter.

Itachi's strides stopped without warning, causing Kisame to growl deeply. Kisame scanned the sign above them quickly, and glared at Itachi, but said nothing. They were at the archives, something that Kisame had vowed to never enter, since it often required a thought process. Don't get him wrong, Kisame was a very intelligent guy, he just chose... to ignore anything that called for more than fighting techniques.

Again, Itachi's strides began, leaving Kisame outside the doors, still glancing doubtfully at the building. ...What's Itachi thinking? The archives?... does he know who the nameless shinobi is?... this seems pointless... I'll just wait out here and make sure there aren't any 'interferences' ... Kisame had to refrain from chuckling; yes, he hadn't had a good slaughter since the Hidden Stone Village, and since then... his bloodlust had only increased.

Konoha Village: Sora POV

"Oi! Yukiko-san! It's... it's so handsome! You made this in such short time?"
"Twas nothing my dear!" Yukiko proudly smiled as she handed the yukata over to me. Ifrowned and shook my head.

"Yukiko-san... this is too much.. you must allow me to pay you someway..."
"Pay? For what?! You saved my son's life, and for that I owe you my world."
"...I still don't think that's enough... you must allow me to repay you."

Yukiko shook her head and 'tsked', "Nonsense, take this yukata and give it to whoever you planned on! Perhaps if you really must... I can use some help in 3 or four days. After the Chuuin examination, yes?"
"Hai! Oh... domo arigato Yukiko-san!" Ibeamed at her, and bowed politely before retreating out of the store.

She had completely fixed up Naruto's yukata! No longer was it a tattered old piece of scrap material that was unfit to even call clothing. No, now it was a handsome gray and was fit for the Hokage! I sighed blissfully and tucked it under my arm, '...now I'll have enough money to buy myself a decent yukata!...' Just as this thought crossed my mind, I saw a group of Jounins assemble in the front of the village. I instantly sprinted to the front, just to see Kakashi delivering orders to the group of them. Suddenly I remembered that the Hokage said he would assemble the group of Jounins to carry out the mission of helping Hidden Stone village, and I frowned.

Normal POV

"...and remember... any chance that we are in the village... you must travel with a partner... the Akatsuki travel in pairs, so it would be foolish to travel alone..."
"...Kakashi... are you going to Hidden Stone Vi--"
"--Sora. Go home now." Sora restrained from rolling her eyes and instead narrowed them.

"Now hear me out Kakashi.." She poked her finger to his chest and glared into his eyes, "You know I deserve to go out there... don't you dare try and tell me otherwise.."

Kakashi's eyes softened and he gently removed her hand from his chest and held her hand in his, "Sora... you know you aren't supposed to..."
"Oi! I thought you would know me better by now Hatake. You can't just tell me not to." The moment she addressed him as Hatake, Kakashi knew he was in trouble; the only reason Sora ever called him by his last name was when she were pissed. And seeing her pissed was never a pretty sight.

"Listen to me, you should know best that I can't abandon that village in their time of need!" He hugged her carefully, not sure if that was how he should react or not, "...shh... Sora... just stay here... help with the Chuuin examination..."

Sora let out a reluctant sigh and parted from Kakashi, "Whatever. Okay, go help 'em out.."

Kakashi nodded stiffly and then turned to the rest of the Jounins or chuuins surrounding him, "Well... let's go.." He jerked his thumb forward, and as if on cue, all of them disappeared from sight. Sora's shoulders sagged slightly and she leaned against the stone statue for support.

Inside Voice of Sora:

voice 1: '...all you have to do is follow them from afar... they'll never notice...
voice 2: '...are you kidding me?! The Hokage would find out and she'd be dead!'
voice 1: '...obviously you've been reading the wrong scrolls... you can go there, and get back before those bozos even reach the village...
voice 2: '...you prove a good point... but she'd still wind up getting slaughtered...'
voice 1: '...and?...'

Park (wherever it is in Konoha): Sora POV

"Ugh!" I shook your head while rolling my eyes... ...stupid voices... always confusing me...

"Are you alright Sora-sensei?"
"...mm? I'm fine Sakura.." Sakura frowned slightly and sat down next to her, staring up into the tree. "I thought about what you said..."
"Good to know someone's out there listening."
"If you think life's short, than why do you bother being a shinobi? You could spend your day doing whatever you wanted if you weren't a shinobi!"

I chuckled lightly and squeezed my knees together, "Well.. being a shinobi is what I like to do... and I get to... I get to do what most people dream of doing!"
"Then why didn't you just go follow them? Isn't that what you want to do? Go help those people in the village?"
"Hey! How'd you know what their mission was!?"

Sakura grinned knowingly and winked, but didn't say a word. I pouted, "Come on, please? Can't I know?"
"Only if you tell me what ranked shinobi you are!"
"Keh.. you've been hanging out with Sasuke and Naruto too much haven't you." At the sound of Sasuke's name, she blushed instantly and shook her head. I grinned knowingly and closed my eyes, "You kids talk too much in the village, knowledge corrupts... Just remember that Sakura."

I sat up straight and acting like a dog, sniffed the air lightly, causing Sakura to glance at me in an odd manner. "Are you alright Sora-sensei?"
"...That smell..." Yes.. that smell... only one person you knew had such a grotesque scent of hot springs that radiated around them... only one person you knew that had that odd nose scrunching scent of...

"...Jiraiya..." I muttered dryly; even though he wasn't near me, I always did have a way of knowing that he was near. Maybe it was my womanly instincts, maybe it was his smell... or maybe it was the fact that about a dozen women wrapping towels around themselves were racing away from the direction of the hot springs.

"Hoooo boy..." My facial expression darkened as I suppressed the urge to punch a wall, "Excuse me Sakura, but I have some... business to attend to."
"Ah... alright Sora-sensei!"

Sakura waved goodbye to me, and the confused expression on her face was more than obvious. ... why would Sora-sensei act like that just because Jiraiya-san is here?... She shrugged it off and made herself content with dreaming of her new spring yukata that she was planning on wearing to the festival.

Meanwhile, I had already located Jiraiya near the springs, with Naruto close behind him, and although I couldn't see Naruto's face, from his tone of voice, it was obvious he was disgusted.

"Oi! Pervert-sennin! Why do you always do that?!"
"Ahh.. come come Naruto, you are too young to understand the great qualities of--"
"--being a pervert?..." I interrupted his sentence before he could finish it.
"Eh?! Sora!!! So good to see--"

WHAM

Hot Springs: Normal POV

"You idiot! How many times have I told you not to go by the hot springs and peek at girls?! Ai! I'm going to tie you to a tree and chop your hands off so you won't do such sinful actions!" Sora held her fist to his face, as if daring him to move, and he let out a reluctant sigh.

"Oi. Sora-chan, thought you'd get it by now!"
"What?! That you're the biggest hentai I know?!"
"Me?" Jiraiya pointed innocently at himself, which proved to be quite difficult since she had her legs pinning his legs to the ground, one hand holding back both his arms, and the other hand threatening him with a punch.

Sora cocked an eyebrow at his response, and he grinned cheesily, "Oi.. what have you been eating Sora? You're so fat now."
"Yeah? Well you're quite a porker now. Have you been hanging out with Tsunade too much? Betting away money and then insisting on pigging out?"
"Hey, I've been a good sennin!"
"I'm sure you have been..."

Sarcasm dripped from her tone of voice, but Sora let Jiraiya out of her hold and then smiled at him. "How've you been old friend?"
"Hmp... after that nasty hold? Not too good.."
"Pft... don't you dare lie to me Jiraiya."
"Okay, okay... I'm fine. Came back to see if my student practiced anything I taught him in the last few years."
"Eh? Student? I thought you didn't take on--"
"Things change."

It was Sora's turn to be confused; he took on a student? But who would he take on? Suddenly it all connected, and a look of amazement spread across her features as she pointed incredulously at Naruto, "Naruto?!"

Jiraiya nodded with a smirk and patted Naruto (a little bit too hard) on the head, as he bragged proudly.

"Yeah, he's a great kid... but I see you haven't done much with your teaching yet?"
"I don't teach Jiraiya."

The intensity in Sora's voice for that moment shocked Naruto slightly; he never really heard her so serious, but for Jiraiya, he just knew to back off her 'touchy' subject. Jiraiya let out a yawn and patted his stomach, "I need some ramen! I haven't had a good bowl for a long time!"
"Oi!! Me too!" Naruto nodded his head ferociously in agreement, but Sora merely shrugged her shoulders, "Nah, I've already had some. I'm full."

Naruto opened his mouth as if to complain, but Jiraiya quickly grabbed Naruto and snapped his hand over Naruto's mouth, "Right then! We'll be going now right student?"
"MM MMMM!!!" Naruto's reply was muffled by Jiraiya's hand, and was quickly rushed off with Jiraiya. Sora smiled lightly at how similar they were and turned to begin on her own plan.

Sora POV:

Screw what the Hokage says, screw what Kakashi says, I was going to the Stone Village, and that was final. I knew I would have to miss the Chuuin examination once I left, and the Hokage would most likely ban me from helping with the spring festival, but this was something that I felt so strongly for, that I was willing to give that up.

I remembered when I was younger, someone told me that if I didn't stand for something, I would fall for anything. I'd never forgotten those words, for those words had led me to be the person I was today.

Normal POV: (man, I switch POVs a lot! he he he he)

Meanwhile, Sasuke was pondering his own thoughts concerning Sora. ... She's obviously strong... I can admit that... far stronger than Kakashi... Far stronger than any Jounin in Konoha... Sasuke paused in his thoughts and glanced down the street, only to see Sora strolling calmly about 50 meters ahead of him; his mind was made up, he would ask her.

"...Sora-sensei..."
"Eh? Sasuke! Ah-- what brings you.. here?" Sora stopped walking and glanced at him from the side of her eyes, his features were as tense as they were earlier this morning.
"Well?" Sasuke was silent for a moment, but answered, "Teach me. Teach me how to become the strongest there is."

Sora faced him squarely, and tried to determine if he was serious, ...well no duh he's serious you idiot... he's always serious... "Why the sudden interest Sasuke..?"

Again, he was silent, and didn't reply, leaving her to sigh reluctantly. By accepting to be his sensei... right now? ... Sora wasn't sure how to answer for once in her life, so she glanced away from him. "Sasuke... you do know that I'm not the strongest, nor am I the fastest or smartest. You also know that by asking for me to be your teacher, is leaving your life in my hands."
"Hai.."
"And you don't mind?"
"...Of course I mind..."

Yet again Sora was left with an awkward silence draping across both her and Sasuke. She stood there for a good three minutes, waiting for him to say, "Forget it.." but he never did. He just stood there looking like his monotonous old self. Sora rubbed her temple and let out a sigh before smiling warmly at Sasuke.

"Fine then, but you'd better know that I'll work you 'til you're nearly dead!"

A small smirk found it's way to Sasuke's lips, "...I was hoping you would say that."
"Hah, well, so long!" and with that, she turned and began to leave Sasuke, which obviously confused him. It was ritual that when a student was accepted by a teacher, the sensei would set up the first training date, but Sora was leaving? But he couldn't just run up to her and ask.. no.. he'd do what he usually did; follow until he found out the answer.

"Oh and Sasuke?"
"..eh??" He paused in his steps, slightly surprised that Sora had addressed him.
"Don't follow me." He opened his mouth as if to reply, but she placed her finger over his lips and cocked her eyebrow.

"I mean it. Don't even talk about me... Just trust me on this alright?" I winked at him and turned on her heel once more, just in time to miss his slightly tinted cheeks.

...why won't she let me follow her...?... Sasuke followed Sora's figure with his eyes, but she quickly melted into the crowd of people. He quickly straightened his shoulders and closed his eyes; he was a man of honor and would not speak of this again. Ever.

He slowly opened his eyes and glanced around him, nothing had changed; nothing ever changed. To him it was boring. The same thing day after day; Sakura obsessing over him, Naruto threatening him, Kakashi smart-mouthing him, and his brother's memory... burning him.

A piece of trash flew by him, and he caught it with his hand. He glared down at the paper and crumpled it angrily, diminishing it to a minute ball. Somehow, in the back of his mind, Sasuke knew that his life would never be the same now that he was Sora's student.

The feeling was mutual.

Rock Village: Normal POV

"Arigato Kakashi-san!"
"...No problem..." Kakashi mumbled with a smile on his face; the villagers were exceptionally friendly, and were grateful for any bit of help they could manage to scrounge up. Currently, Kakashi was helping to rebuild the village, and it was a tedious job, considering many of the villagers were too frightened to return.

Heck, Kakashi couldn't blame them, if the Akatsuki attacked Konoha and burned it down to the ground, he would feel slightly doubtful to return.

"Oi, Kakashi! Stop goofing off and help me with this lumber! We have to dry it and cut it up before sundown."
"...Alright... I'm coming Taro..."

Kakashi strode lazily over to the young 20 year old who was currently glaring daggers at Kakashi. Taro was one of the most dedicated members of the Hidden Stone Village, but he was also one of the most temper-proned men Kakashi ever had the pleasure to meet.

"You lazy bum! Flirting with the townfolk?! I ought to assign you double watch for that stunt!"
"...hey.. remember.. we're here to help you..."

Taro let out a sigh and ran his hand through his ebony hair, "Fine, just help me with the lumber then, okay? I'll take double watch."

Kakashi cocked his head to the side, but shrugged and began to help Taro chop up the wood and let it sit in the sun to dry. Taro's face glistened with sweat, and his tan broad shoulders were almost bronze in the lighting of the late afternoon. After a good hour of chopping wood, Kakashi and Taro both let out an exhausted sigh and retreated to the shade of the trees to rest for a moment.

Kakashi leaned against a tree, while Taro laid down face up on the grass. "Hey... Kakashi... you live in Konoha right?"
"...yes..." Taro grinned and sat up straight to face Kakashi, "Then you know Shina-chan?"
"...I'm not familiar with anyone named Shina..."
"But you're a Jounin, you should know her!"
"...So she's a shinobi..?"
"God damn it, yes!"

Kakashi had to refrain from rolling his eyes; even though Taro was an honorable, respectable man, his temper... one in a million. "She was here about 4 months ago... said she was passing through and she helped our village in our time of famine! Amazing girl I tell you."
"...4 months ago..." Kakashi repeated quietly and then played it over in his head as if in a vain attempt to recall any thoughts that connected Konoha to the Hidden Stone village in the last 4 months... Of course, Taro continued telling heroic tales of this Shina, allowing Kakashi's mind to drift into his own imagination.

Taro painted a very clear picture of the girl; apparently she had platinum blonde hair and hazel eyes. She was loud and sometimes obnoxious. Even though the sun was nearly set, and he knew that the wood should be brought back, he didn't bother to interrupt Taro.

This was the highest Taro had ever spoken of someone, and from his tone of voice, he missed Shina greatly, like a brother misses his sister. Suddenly, Taro snapped his fingers in front of Kakashi's face, "Oi, you weren't listening to a word I said, were you baka?"
"...of course I was.. let's bring the logs back neh...?"
"Alright."

Taro jumped up from his position on the ground and stretched his arms out, he performed a stretch that reminded Kakashi of a cat and then leapt across the clearing and began shuffling back to the village with logs, with Kakashi following close behind.

Wonder who the mysterious Shina is?

All will be revealed later:)

Please Read and Review!!!