Not much to say, just enjoy!!!
Oh! It's getting to the end of the story, but don't worry! I have a sequal in mind!
Disclaimer: Naruto or any of it's characters aren't mine!
... Where is Sora-sensei??... Naruto thought impatiently as he tapped his foot lightly. He'd been waiting for about 10 minutes, and wasn't used to you being late to any ramen meeting. Kakashi maybe, but never Sora.
"Ahhh, there's my student! I was wondering where you wandered off to.."
Naruto glanced up with a pout and then glared at his sensei Jiraiya, "Aww.. What's the matter Naruto.." Jiraiya was teasing him, he had found out that Naruto was meeting up with Sora later, and decided that he'd have a bit of.. fun.
He sat down cheerily and banged his hand on the bar, "One sake, hurry it up man!" Jiraiya grinned at Naruto, and Naruto merely ignored him with a quick 'hmph' as the sake appeared quickly in front of him.
"So where's that girl of yours...?"
"NANI?! You pervert-sennin! She's a sensei!" Jiraiya shrugged, "Your choice boy... If you won't try to ask her out, then I will."
"WHAT THE HE--"
"Naruto? Gomen! I didn't know that I would be this late and--... uh... Jiraiya... Naruto..?"
It was obvious Sora came at a bad time, becauseNaruto was just about to pounce on Jiraiya, while Jiraiya was about to take a sip of his sake, so the moment she stepped in, the sake was flying at Naruto who was plummeting towards Jiraiya's lap.
CRASH
Which was immediately followed by the owner's voice, "OUT YOU TWO!" which shortly preceeded another CRASH.
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Sora stepped outside and shook her head at the two, it was remarkable at how similar they were. "Oi... You'd think you would have grown up Jiraiya."
"Well, since you've both managed to get us kicked out of the ramen house, where do you intend on eating now?" There was a moment of silence, until Naruto raised his hand with a grin. "Yes Naruto?"
"I say we go and eat at--"
"Sora! Oh there you are Sora! Please, come with me, the Hokage needs to speak with you." Iruka's voice interrupted Naruto's thoughts and Sora shook her head apologetically at Naruto. "Gomen Naruto, I'll have to raincheck for tonight's dinner. You can go with Jiraiya!"
...Oh yeah.. Like anyone would willingly go to dinner with that pervert...
Naruto let out an annoyed sigh. "Fine Sora-sensei, but you owe me a dinner, and that means YOU pay next time."
"Meh. Fat chance of that kiddo." She stuck her tongue out at Naruto and then laughed as Iruka dragged her away while rolling his eyes.
After dragging her a considerable distance away, Iruka stopped and then broke out into laughter alongside Sora. It was already dark but the world seemed bright to her. "So what does the Hokage want to speak about me with?"
Iruka frowned and shook his head, "First off, you're not speaking properly, you should have said, 'What does the Hokage wish to speak to me about', and second, I have absolutely no idea!"
"Gee," She muttered with a slight air of annoyance. "Thank you Iruka for the grammatical lesson." He grinned sheepishly and scratched the back of his head. "Well, come on, I think you'd better hurry."
Both of them walked quickly to the Hokage's and when Sora reached the door, Iruka waved. "I'll wait out here for you. Maybe we can head back to my place for some cards?"
"Sure, sounds good. It'll be quick..." She frowned slightly. "I hope.."
"Konban wa Hokage-sama!" Sora greeted him cheerfully and sat in front of him on the tatami mat.
"Good evening to you Sora! How have you been with the testing? You rushed off so quickly today I didn't get a chance to ask you!"
"Oh yes, I needed to find Sasuke-kun."
"Oh yes... Sasuke..." his eyebrows furrowed in thought as he struggled for the words to cover the situation.
"...So how is it going with his training?"
"Quite well actually, he's very talented, but kind of headstrong if you know what I mean."
A mischievous glint flashed over the Hokage's eyes, "You mean like you?"
"Why Hokage-sama!" Sora feigned shock. "I'm hurt!" He chuckled softly at her theatrical performance but it was quickly replaced with an expression of seriousness crossed over his eyes.
"Which tactics have you used in training him? The bell?" She shook her head no. "No Hokage-sama, I've actually just introduced him into the defense chakra, he has a slight knack for it... tends to get distracted though, but nothing that can't be smoothed out after some practice."
"...I see..." he was silent for a moment, perhaps a moment too long, for Sora slowly chose your own words to say.
"...What's wrong?" Silence again.
"It's just that... with this rising threat from the Akatsuki.. I'm beginning to wonder if I truly heeded your parent's warning... Perhaps I should have never sent you out on that mission."
"No Hokage-sama, you made the right choice. I'm glad you did let me, I don't belong here you know as well as I."
He lifted his weary eyes to meet her worried ones, and couldn't help but allow a smile to grace his lips, "I'm glad you feel that way Sora-chan, but please remember not to do anything rash. I do have questions about the information you gained on the Akatsuki, but that can wait until after the examination neh?"
Sora grinned almost stupidly with happiness. "Hai Hokage-sama..."
"Oh, and about your living quarters, I can't have one of the best shinobi in Konoha having to rely on the nature being kind with it's weather! I have arranged for a small apartment hear the outskirts of the village. It's really quite nice."
"Really?" Sora asked, while taking the piece of paper with it's address from the Hokage. "Wow... Arigatou Hokage-sama!"
"It was nothing... Now, remember, you need to come bright and early tomorrow for the rest of the examination!"
"Of course, I'll see you bright and early!"
With that she waved goodbye to the Hokage and turned to leave, clutching the torn off scroll tightly to her body.
Outside the Hokage's Office: Sora POV (I know, I haven't had this for a while...!)
"Oi! Sora, you ready to come over and play some games with the other Jounin?"
"I'm not in the mood for it right now, I've got to set up my apartment!"
"What?!" Iruka's face turned from shocked to thoroughly pleased. "He gave you an apartment? Doko?" (Where?)
I proudly flashed the scroll in front of his face as his eyes darted across the kanji letters. He grinned happily and slapped me proudly on the back. "Congratulations Sora! He gave you a nice apartment!"
"You know where it is?"
"Of course I do! Kakashi-san lived there for a while until he was able to make enough of his own money to buy his own; nice place."
I smiled at Iruka and then grabbed his on! You can help me find it!"
Iruka laughed and linked arms with me as we both careened backwards and forwards towards my apartment. It didn't take long to arrive, and the moment I slid the door open, my jaw fell to the floor.
It was... Perhaps the right terms would be... It would have been magnificent, except for the fact there was clothing strewn across the floors, and some old pictures that were slightly cracked still hung on the walls.
Other than that, it was truly a sight to see; two stories tall, the 'apartment' was more like a house. As I walked through the 'apartment' with Iruka trailing closely behind, I discovered extra changing screens, fresh tatami mats, running water, two bedrooms, an area where I could entertain friends, a closet, and.. well, was there really a need to continue?
The place was beautiful. The living quarters, along with most of the other rooms were located on the first floor, which left me room to think, ...What's upstairs then?...
Entranced with the house, I slowly began to ascend the steps to reach the top floor, where there was a beautifully simple room. A grin slowly crept up my lips, ... Dibs on this room...
Even though the floor was bare, it had a warm feeling to it; there were pictures of past famous shinobi, and some witty sayings painted in calligraphy on the very top region of the walls, while across the rest of the wall, there was a giant mural that someone had painted. The paint that had been used for the calligraphy and the painting were still left in a neat pile beneath an almost empty bookshelf, which naturally, caused some ideas to grow in your mind.
There was even a porch that went around the exterior of the top floor, and another set of stairs that led to the roof of the house!
"Like this room neh?"
"...Uh huh.." I muttered absentmindedly as I traced my fingers across the walls, it was a painting of a mysterious shinobi traveling through a forest, but at first glance, it almost appeared as if they were flying.
Iruka stepped up next to me and smiled. "You like that picture? Thank Kakashi-san."
"Eh? Kakashi..?"
"Yup, he painted it. He didn't show anyone except me, and now you."
I smiled inwardly, ...I never knew Kakashi was such an artist...but... why is the painting not completed?...
"Oh shoot.. I'm sorry Sora-chan! I would love to give you a proper house-warming, but I need to get back to the village, I promised Konohamaru that I'd give him a few pointers on a new technique."
"Okay! Bye Iruka!"
He grinned and jogged down the stairs, where I could hear him slide the door open and then gently shut it.
"Wow.." I murmured again. "If this is what the Hokage considers small... I'd hate to see what he considers huge!"
Suddenly I frowned, ...I might have this wonderful room.. but I still have no bed... hmm... Then grinned, for it was time to call in a few favors.
I slid open the porch door and scanned the view; I could clearly see Kakashi's apartment. "Heh heh heh..." chuckling sinisterly as I jumped down onto the ground and casually walked up to the door.
"Oh Kakashi-chan!" I called out sweetly; no answer. ...But he should be back from that mission already... he couldn't be at the Hokage's... I was just there...
Just as I was about to slide the door open, there was a loud cough from behind me; actually, several to be exact.
3rd POV:
Sora turned and her eyes widened considerably. "K-Kakashi?!" He gave her a lopsided smile, and then clenched his teeth (or so she assumed) in pain. There were several Jounin behind him, and if she wasn't mistakened, they were the same Jounin who were sent out to the mission at Hidden Stone Village; and all of them looking injured.
"Oi! What happened? Never mind, come on this way, I have some first aid in my apartment.." Sora slowly led them all to her apartment, where she hastily laid down the spare tatami mats and let them lie down.
Slowly but surely she worked her way from each Jounin to the next, until she finally reached Kakashi. Sora gently took his wrist in hand and began to wrap it. "... Hm.. I see you got an apartment finally..?"
She laughed and patted him gently on the head. "Of course! I was going to tell you, but now you've gone and ruined the surprise," Sora glanced Kakashi over, and from the way he was slouched over on the ground, sheassumed there was an injury on his back. "Shirt off."
He sighed and almost rolled his eyes at her, but after giving him a stern look, he reluctantly pulled his shirt over his head, careful not to remove his mask.
"Kakashi! I need you to tell me what happened." There were numerous slices across his back, just like all the other Jounin had, but it seemed like he not only had the slices, but someone had also burned him.
"... We were almost back... and there was an ambush.."
"Akatsuki?" Sora questioned, while patiently healing his back by sucking out his wounds.
"We don't know Sora-san; it was all dark!" one of the Jounin called out from the other end of the room.
"Hai! It was all so quick!"
"It was near impossible to see what was going on!"
"... We didn't realize that we had been severely injured until a few minutes after the ambush.." Kakashi added with a tired voice.
"Hmm..." was all Sora had to say as she slowly traced her finger across Kakashi's back; the wound was quite strange. She'd only seen it once before in her travels, and that was on the back of a dead man who had been ambushed by a member of the Akatsuki.
Sora straightened up and handed back Kakashi's shirt with a smile. "You are all welcome to stay here for the night, and in the morning you can come to the examination to report to the Hokage -that is unless you're not up to moving- however, I'm sure all of you can move quite well now."
"I'll go run over to the village and grab some ramen," She started up for the door and everyone watched as she gracefully approached it, until she added with a wink. "This one's on me, but next time you're all treating me!"
"--But Sora-san..."
"Be reasonable!!"
"...We're injured!"
"Please?"
"Nope! You're all going to be in my debt now..." Sora whipped out a scroll from her pocket and quickly jotted down all their names. "There you go. I'll be right back just hang tight!"
Just like that, she disappeared out the door, leaving the Jounin alone, and ready to discuss what had happened.
"...Didn't that shinobi... look.. familiar?" someone finally remarked after a moment of awkward silence. Katsuya's soft brown eyes hardened as he stated coolly. "It looked just like that girl who was here.. It looked like Sora-san."
Confused, no? Well, it'l all be explained in the next chapter!
Anyways, Kakashi's back, just like I promised!
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Thanks!