You know what, I've always loved cartoons and animation, so much so that I wish I could be drawing a comic of this story instead of explaining it, but so goes the talents i was given heh. Please review if you're given the chance xD thank you.
BTW in this story I've decided to make Kabuto somewhat sadistic and insane so I am changing the rating of this fic to M and posting this warning that scenes involving him may be somewhat gruesome read at your own caution (I don't plan on doing too many of them but I'm just warning you right now that this chapter does contain him in a more....disgusting manner"
Anyway here's Chapter 8 The mission's begin.
"So any idea why they targeted your village?"
The old man sighed as his granddaughter set the tea she had just made on to the table. "I wish I could tell you Master Sarutobi, but we have nothing of significance here, we have no money, our stock is low and we rarely have enough to warrant a trip to the capitol to trade, we have nothing but our guts, blood, and sweat to survive. Our village would have been destroyed and ravaged if you hadn't been passing through."
Leaning back in the chair, Konohamaru shut his eyes, crossed his arms and put his feet up on the table as he began to mentally put everything together in his mind. "This doesn't make sense; the old man is right, from what I've seen this village has nothing worthwhile, and even though I've heard of men growing restless from no women or food, those guys were too well coordinated to be a random attack...what do they want? the land? the positions?..." He opened his eyes and stared at the old man. "I'm sorry what did you say?"
"Sorry my lord, I was just curious though, why did you choose this route to get back to your village? I've been to the leaf village at least once in my younger days and I've never recalled any ninja passing through this area, we're not even positioned on any strategic route between any of the major villages."
"I was merely returning from a village on the border and was detoured here."
"Even so, we're a small village deep in the woods of this country; we're not even known to exist by the nations' leaders."
Konohamaru chuckled and took a sip of his tea. "I'm the grandson of the Sandaime, and he once took me with him on a diplomatic journey and just so happened showed me this village along the way, as a safe haven should I ever need to find a place to rest or escape."
The old man eyed the young ninja curiously. "I see, I remember the third as a jolly fellow who held his loved ones in high respect. He was also very good friends with my brother when he was still alive and leading this village." He pushed his tea off to the side, put his elbows on the table and folded his hands. "My brother was a good man, he always felt we should go to Konoha or the capital and ask for jurisdiction and protection, he felt it was in the best interest's of the village."
He stopped drinking and slowly looked into the eyes of the old man. "But…this village isn't under the Daimyo or Hokage's protection…"
"That's correct…my brother never made it to the capital" His eyes became narrow as he stared the ninja down.
"Shit!" Jumping up Konohamaru barely avoided the three kunai that were now sticking out the chair he had been sitting in. He landed gracefully and stood tall, his shoulder pointing towards the old man, glaring at him. "What the hell do you think you're doing you old bastard!"
"Doing what my brother should have decided" He stood and reached into his pocket. "He always talked about prosperity through trade and protection from the border guards. He often went on about how the Hokage and the Daimyo had given us a choice, a Choice to decide whether we would accept jurisdiction from the fire capital or one of the smaller countries that we border here in the north. Unfortunately…" The old man pulled a small cloth out of pocket and looked down at his feet as he tied it to his brow. "My brother had the wrong idea about our little village."
"What are you talking about?"
"What am I talking about? Didn't that powerful grandfather of yours teach you any manners? Don't interrupt your elders' boy" He looked up revealing the Hia-ate he now bore upon his forehead. "I'll admit that the leaf and fire are a powerful combination that works towards peace and unity, however why should our small village be restrained to being nothing more than a province that becomes nothing more than a trading post, or a blip on the map. No I met someone who promised me power, promised our village more prosperity than the Leaf and Fire ever could."
Konohamaru grunted and threw a confident fox like grin at the old man. "So you think joining Otogakure is the answer? They're broken and fragile, Orochimaru is dead and Sound clings together by a small thread as the remnant of their soldiers fight amongst each other for leadership." He laughed wryly as he switched into a defensive stance. "You're in over your head old man. You can't beat me, no matter how much ninjutsu that snake bastard tau-" He clutched his stomach in pain and fell to one knee sharply.
"It was relatively easy to subdue such a renowned ninja like yourself young Sarutobi." The old man was smug as he spoke his thoughts aloud. With one hand gripping his cane and the other sitting behind his back, he walked up to the young ninja who was now throwing up uncontrollably. He bent down, grabbing his scarf and throwing him against the wall of the small house. "Listen up kid, our people have long been forced into this seclusion because of the wars your damn countries cause, back before the age of organized government our people were a prominent tribe of nomads. Then that damn bastard Hashirama of the Senju clan, a man who filled the forests with lies and false promises of a peaceful way of life came along, and because of that son of a bitch our once great clan was destroyed and betrayed in a single night. He is the sole reason we are a secluded people, an impoverished people" Using his chakra he threw the weakened ninja hard to the ground.
Coughing and spewing blood Konohamaru struggled as he tried to stand up. "What's wrong with me, where the hell did my chakra go" he looked at the broken tea cup that lay on the ground "damn it how could I have been so blind?"
"Lord Orochimaru promised our village will get our revenge, the leaf village will die in a great fire that resembles the pain and suffering our clan has endured and Lord Kabuto carries on the will of the snake lord."
"You're fucking psychotic, half the shit you're saying doesn't even make sense you son of a bitch! First you speak of wars? Then you speak of the ancient conflicts?" He fell to the ground in great pain as the old man kicked him hard in the gut. "What the hell did you do to me? Why is my chakra drained?"
"I suppose I could say that your coming through here was truly a sign from the gods, you provided us with a test subject that would make Lord Kabuto most happy. His toxins and poisons are on such a high level that Konoha, even with their great hero, will be powerless to stop us."
"I will kick your ass you son of a bitch"
"Hmph, you'll be lucky to survive the night" He raised his left arm as five ninjas appeared behind him immediately. "Take him to die with the others."
"You'd better hope Konoha doesn't know the location of this place, our Lord would much rather not have to destroy such a well placed lab."
"Don't worry my lady, you can report to the master that all is safe and secure, this brat was one of a select few who knew the location of this place. I assure you Konoha won't be sniffing around here."
The woman, whose face was hidden behind a purple cowl, grabbed the old man around his neck and lifted him off the ground. "For the sake of your village and your family Mr. Hayato, you had better hope my master feels as confident as you and Konoha does not show up here. We have come so close to subduing the Sage and guaranteeing the destruction of that village, should our plans be hindered and failure comes to happen I will kill you myself, whether my master wishes it or not." She released her grip on Hayato letting him fall to the ground as he gasped for air. "I will make the village pay for what they did to him and that bastard fox child will pay for everything he did that wretched night."
The sound of the heavy wood door ricocheted off the walls of the cellar causing the prisoner's to get up and look out of the bars that held them isolated in their cells. "Where should be put this bastard?"
"He's a dangerous one, orders straight from the Sound ninjas say we have to keep injecting this kid with one of the masters poisons' every two hours"
"Hmm let's put him in cell four, that'll keep him isolated eh?"
"Alright here hold on to him, I'll get the door" The guard propped the sick ninja into the arms of his partner.
"Damn it this kid is heavy for his size." He sighed as struggled to hold the young ninja up "if the boss wants him dead why not just cut off his head or something"
The sound of the lock clicked and the heavy cell door was swung open with a loud creaking noise. "Well I guess this kid is some renowned ninja from the leaf. He supposedly trained alongside the Sage of Myobokuzan and even learned some of his jutsu. The boss figures the Lord Kabuto will be very happy to have such a powerful test subject at his disposal"
The guard that had opened the door reached down and firmly grabbed the ankles of the unconscious ninja. "Alright just toss him in there." With a heave ho the two guards tossed Konohamaru into the cell, his head hitting the far wall. The guards walk out of the cell and lock it tightly behind them.
"What do you think that stupid bitch will make tonight?"
The second guard laughed at his partners words. "Probably that disgusting stew again"
"Ah well, she's a sight to look at, at least."
"I agree, I wouldn't mind taking her to bed with me" The guards laughed loudly and obnoxiously as they were unaware of the glare they were receiving from a quite broken old man in cell five. As they shut the heavy door to the prison, the old man looked over to the bloody and beaten ninja.
"Looks like you're the one to get me out of here...Konohamaru Sarutobi...."
"He's late..."
"No kidding" Raidon didn't bother to hide the sarcasm in his voice; just because he and Leiko were teammates and had bonded with Hiroshi and Gina, it didn't mean he liked her for any reason, after all she was still a bitch who was cocky, arrogant, and seemingly self-centered.
"But he said be here at seven sharp and it's now eight"
"Once again Leiko, no kidding"
She grunted at Raidon and Hiroshi as they just stood there, leaning against the building with their eyes shut and arms crossed. Turning around she spotted Gina sitting in the shade of the building with her sketch pad drawn out across her knees and with great concentration she was sketching deeply into her pad. She sighed as everyone seemed to be perfectly content with him being so late, or maybe they were just able to accept that moaning about wouldn't bring him there any faster. Looking forward she watched as Sakura-sensei seemed to be in a trance like state, a small smile graced her face and if you listened closely you could hear her lightly chuckle as though she knew something the rest of them didn't. Fed up with the silence she began prodding Sakura for information. "Sensei...do we really have to wait for him to show up? I mean...you're here right?"
She smiled and acknowledge the girls' presence as she turned around and met her gaze. "Unfortunately he is really your only sensei, I was just assigned for...more ceremonial purposes or maybe emergency purposes I don't know, he is probably the most revered ninja in the world"
"Tch somehow I doubt that sensei"
"Doubt it or not, you have to wait for him to show up and then we can get your first mission"
Leiko crossed her arms and huffed. "How can you be so calm and patient waiting for him? Don't you ever get sick of waiting for him? I mean he was late yesterday too"
"Leiko just shut up about it!" She turned around and stuck her tongue out at the angry Raidon, he had finally showed he was irritated at all the waiting as well.
Sakura laughed and explained how she had such patience. "Our sensei was always late too, it's probably just a bad habit he picked up from him, after all our sensei was always lying and completely putting us off for a good two to three hours"
A voice interrupted them, causing everyone's attention to shift towards the new person. "Here I thought you would have learned to have a little respect for me all these years" Kakashi laughed lightly and scratched the back of his head. Walking in stride with him was the stoic faced Naruto.
Sakura chuckled and bowed graciously to her old teacher. "You always did have a bad sense of time Sensei"
Naruto huffed and Leiko could have sworn she saw a small smirk on his face...if you could call it that. "Good you all were here on time right?"
Raidon was the first to reply. "Yea no thanks to your slow ass, you jerk...just where the hell were you this entire time?"
He was forcing a smile as both Sakura and Kakashi knew all too well. "I was visiting an old friend, my mentor and the only father figure I ever had."
Not one to miss what he felt was an opportunity, Raidon continued. "Someone who could stand your assholish personality? When do we meet the unlucky idiot"
Sakura turned to scowl at Raidon sending him a look that made him shiver, she was however, a little late on the subject. "Meet him? Oh you can't meet him, you see he's a bit under the weather"
Though he had been a bit frightened from Sakura's look Raidon was still just a young kid with a really poor social concept when it came to tact. "What aren't we could enough someone who would be stupid enough to teach you?"
Kakashi mumbled something as he stared at the rude kid. "Now wait a minute here..."
Naruto sighed and started walking into the mansion. "No that's not it, he's dead, died a horrible death trying to protect me and this village after he was sent on a mission he should never have taken on his own, such a fool as he was"
"Naruto! Jiraiya would ne-" Sakura's words were brushed off as he disappeared around the corner. "Naruto..."
Kakashi walked up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Let it be for now...I'll talk to him later, you know how much he misses him"
She nodded and in a split second he was gone, a trail of leaves and dust were kicked up in the air caused by his quick departure. She turned and looked at Raidon and immediately he wished he hadn't opened his mouth. "Let's go, inside all of you!" Gina and Leiko had gone in quickly while Hiroshi, struggling to contain his laughter at the frightened look on his friends' face followed them in. Raidon, completely afraid to turn his back on his sensei was crawling slowly, his back hugged tightly against the wall, towards the open door. "Get in there before I have to force you in there...." Not willing to push his sensei's anger any further he moved as quick as his feet could take him and all this with an angry Sakura not far behind.
"And so for your first mission you guys will be assigned to help Mr. Sakaki and finish building his barn before the first winter's chill."
"As you wish Lady Hokage" Shikamaru bowed and turned around motioning for the students to follow him. He expected no problems until he heard the ever familiar sigh from Tsunade's direction. He turned around to see Kisho had not moved save for the fact that his mouth was now agape and his arms were crossed.
"I'm sorry you old hag, I must have heard wrong. It sounded like you said we're going to build a barn? Clearly this could not be what you said, because I came here to be a freaking ninja! Not some stupid carpenter!"
Tsunade looked at him with disgust and sighed. "What's your name kid?"
"A leaf bitch like yourself isn't worthy of hearing my name"
Shikamaru shut his eyes and furrowed his brow in frustration, he knew Tsunade was staring at him viciously and angrily that he had yet to have any control over the kid. "Kisho, whether you like it or not, this woman is the Hokage and should be treated with the respect someone of her stature deserves, Lord Kazekage would tell you the same."
"Tch, I'm just saying that I want a harder mission. I'm not going to learn anything by building a barn"
The look on Tsunade's face was one of a passive nature, Shikamaru noted that it had no lines or visible distortions that would signal what exactly she was thinking. Without even flinching she reached inside her jacket and pulled out a small flask. She unscrewed the cap and took a huge gulp of her sake. "Lady Hokage, now isn't the time for that..."
"Shikamaru...I gave up a long time ago, no more...no more Naruto's...I am not going to yell or react" She took another swig. "Don't......care"
Kisho looked over his shoulder to see Shikamaru shaking his head in frustration, just what the hell is in that bottle? "Look are you gunna give us a better mission or do I have to force you?"
The sound of loud laughter came from the hallway on the other side of the door as the entire room save for Shikamaru, Tsunade, and Iruka turned around and looked at the door searching for the new voice. "You? Take down a Kage?" The door slammed open to see Naruto on one knee laughing hysterically and uncontrollably as his face turned a dark shade of blue from lack of air. "Hah! Who-hahahaaa! Who is this kid?"
Shikamaru sighed and eyed the second flask of liquor, that had appeared out of nowhere, most likely from one of Tsunade various pockets or hiding spots, sitting on the table that the instructors sat behind before deciding that if he got drunk then he might end up with his own hangover. He turned around and looked towards the corner to see Temari visibly doing her best to get rid of said hangover. "Naruto...this is Kisho Shonji, Gaara's personal recommendation for the Furikata Project"
Sakura had worked her way over to Temari, apparently she has some medical magical sensor that senses the victim of a hangover, and handed her a cup of steaming tea filled with different herbs of medicinal use for hangovers. Tsunade grinned from ear to ear as she took another swig of her flask. "Just like I taught her! Such a pride and joy for my student"
Hiroshi and Raidon stood off in the corner looking as bored and uninterested as ever, while Leiko and Gina had worked their way near their sensei both curious what Shikamaru sensei meant by this 'Furikata Plan'
Kisho however...well he was, as Temari noted, raised by Rikku Shonji an outspoken councilor of Suna. "Who the hell are you whisker face?"
Naruto stopped laughing and immediately had a confused look on his face. "Whisker face?...I don't get it"
"Tch are you some kind of moron? Learn to show respect to your betters!"
Naruto had shut his eyes, his hand on his chin, mumbling over and over. "Whisker face...Whisker face....."
Kisho grew frustrated. "Hey jackass!" He reached into his pouch and grabbed a Kunai "I'm talking to-" He had thrown his shoulder back and was in the middle of his throwing stride when it felt like his elbow had hit some kind of barrier. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the stupid blonde ninja was behind him, his right hand grasping his elbow and his left holding a kunai to his neck. "....You"
The Jounin in the room stood still watching the scene unfold, a couple with their hands in their kunai pouches. Meanwhile the genin were....to say the least shocked at what had just happened. "Hey kid...do you always talk big and attack so recklessly without determining your enemies' strength and skill set? Because I've already killed you a hundred times over." He smirked wickedly causing Kisho to shiver in fear. "And I'm not even trying...learn to control that fire inside you, it's a huge flaw...that can become a great strength." The room which had been deathly quiet was slowly being filled with a wicked, yet lighthearted, laugh. "Kakashi impersonation number two is a success!!" He put the kunai in his pouch and stood up straight resting his fists on his hips and smiling proudly.
Shikamaru shook his head and opened a pouch on his vest pulling out a carton of cigarettes. Tapping the bottom of the package a couple times he pulled the loose one out of its carton with his teeth and put the carton itself back in his pocket. "Jackass"
Sakura turned her attention away from Temari and sent a cold and icy glare at Naruto. "You idiot Kakashi was never that insane! Stop playing around before I kick your ass!"
He frowned and hid his face in the collar of his cape while mumbling. "Tch, I'm sure you'd rather like it if I took care of yours"
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!?"
"Nothing!!"
"Naruto" He turned towards the table to see Iruka leaning back looking like he was napping, Shizune had shut her eyes and had a facial expression that said after all these years of insanity she was resigned to just letting things happen as they did.
"Hey there you old codger" He winked at her and grinned. "Looking as gorgeous as ever with your fake appearance, maybe you should teach Sakura so she doesn't continue to get ugly"
"Owowowowow" He rubbed his head over and over as he tried to dumb the pain residing in his skull from the vicious punch he had just received from his pink haired friend.
Tsunade took another swig from what was now a fifth visible flask of sake, where the hell did she have them all hidden?!? "Hokage...I don't want it, take it already"
"I decline as usual granny" Temari glanced over at him with an almost sad and pitied look. As far as she could remember all this stupid brat ever talked about was becoming Hokage and not losing to Gaara and now all he seemed to be was...an asshole.
"Damn it..take it"
"No"
"I said take it"
"Nope"
"TAKE IT ALREADY YOU UNGRATEFUL KID!" She threw her flask at him only to watch him catch it.
"Thanks!" He gave her a thumbs up. "I needed a drink" He took a swig of what was left in the bottle.
She focused her eyes and cursed at how the liquor was affecting her vision. After all...Jiraiya was dead, but for that slight moment with the thumbs up and the offering of thanks for the drink...she thought she could see him in the silhouette of the boy...she shook her head free of the thought and resigned herself back to the melancholy mood she had been in before he showed up. "Shikamaru you have your orders."
"Yes ma'am"
"I'm telling you, how can anybody be calm with what he just did?!? I mean I was watching him and he just disappeared!"
"What are you yelling at me for Leiko! How the hell am I supposed to know?!?"
"I'm not yelling at you Kameko, I'm just freaking out!" She took a deep breath and looked over at at Hikaru and Kisho "So who are those guys?"
"Tch there from Suna, I guess Ame and I have to team up with those two for some sort of 'improve the villages' crap. Hikaru isn't so bad but that Kisho kid...he creeps me out."
"What do you mean?"
"He's just well...an asshole, he's prone to violence quickly, he hates everything about the village and makes everyone know that, it's almost like he's purposefully trying to make this whole plan fail. In addition he's scary good for his age. He can't beat Shikamaru-sensei or anything but I could feel the chills down my spine yesterday as he tried over and over again to attack Shikamaru when we were training, his attacks have power, he's just somewhat stupid."
"Hmm" She kept her focus on him. A moment ago he was scared out of his wit when Naruto-sensei had put his kunai to his neck, but he had already calmed down and seemed as though he was ready to fight.
"Anyway forget that idiot there's something I want to know"
Leiko turned back to Kameko with a look of wonder on her face. "About what?"
"How is Naruto-sensei!!" The most tomboyish girl, closely followed by Leiko, was now squealing like a lovestruck little girl. "I mean he's so dreamy and strong! It must be so cool to have him as a sensei!"
"Tch, he's been nothing but an asshole to us since we first met him and not only that he's sadistic like, all he does is toy with us"
"Really? But he's such a hero"
"I don't know how such an asshole is so respected by our sensei."
" The stories I've always heard from mom and dad were how he constantly protected the village and his comrades."
Leiko frowned as she remembered the conversation with her father the night before.
"Heh, Naruto Uzumaki...I can't really explain it to you Leiko but understand, he has something in his life that causes him great pain and has brought him misfortune at times, but he overcame all that. He has had to fight tooth and nail for everything he's gained and believe me, he is truly a hero. It's because of him I'm alive today."
"I owe him greatly for everything he's done for the village Leiko and to let you know, he wasn't always as brutish as you've been led to believe...Something happened a few years ago that changed him...maybe you can help Sakura-sensei in bringing the old Naruto back."
She looked over to see Sakura pulling on his ear in a mother like manner to show disgust at the behavior he was displaying.
"Hey Hiroshi"
"Yea?"
"What do think of those two?"
"Am I supposed to think anything about them?"
"That kid for no reason at all tried to attack Naruto-sensei, it's like he became so angry with him he just mindlessly attacked a Jounin"
"Weird huh, didn't you do the same thing yesterday during the test?"
"Shut up"
"Tch I'm just pointing out the obvious"
"Yes you're rather good at that aren't you"
"I try to use intelligence when I evaluate a situation"
"No really you can shut up anytime."
"Whatever" Hiroshi leaned back against the wall and eyed Kisho with a curiosity "Hey Raidon"
"What?"
"We should keep an eye on that kid, I get this bad feeling from him for some reason"
"I know what you mean"
"I know it'll be hard for you, but you can't always look at Gina and long that she'll return your feelings"
"Shut-Shut up I do not!!"
Hiroshi smiled slyly. "Don't what?"
"I hate you"
"Could you imagine Gina or Leiko growing and looking really sexy in a few years?"
"Shut up!"
"Oh well we'll just have to check out Sakura-sensei while we wait for our classmates to grow the essential parts of a woman."
"You're sick! Stop joking around and be serious"
"Alright, alright I'll stop....but Sensei's butt really fills out nicely in those shorts."
"Pervert, you're twelve years old we're not supposed to be interested in girls yet, now be serious and focus!"
"Says the guy with the crush on Gina"
"You know what...fuck you"
"We're too young to be thinking of that kind of stuff Raidon"
"Bastard..."
"Okay we need to be serious now alright?"
"You..."
"Oh hey look!"
"What?"
"The way the morning sun is shining through the window and reflecting of Gina's face makes her look really cute doesn't it?"
"I'm not talking to you anymore"
Shikamaru turned around and began walking casually to the door. "Alright kids, let's go"
"I'm not building some fucking barn!"
Shikamaru stopped and turned towards Kisho, their eyes met and a stare down commenced. "Five bucks says Shikamaru wins"
"Naruto Shut up!"
Shikamaru stared at him coldly and realized quickly he wasn't going to back down, sighing he held up his hands and started forming seals. Kisho, having already been a victim of these several times before, smiled and started to quickly walked towards the door. "Alright building a barn it is! Let's go teammates!" Anyone with the knowledge to spell the word 'the' knew that he was faking his excitement. As he approached the door he stopped next to Leiko and the two met eyes.
Temari walked up next to Shikamaru and noticed he was channeling his chakra and staring intently at the two students. Was there something Shikamaru knew about this girl that he hadn't told her about?
"Who the hell are you?"
Leiko took a step forward and closed the gap between them so that their noses were almost touching. Neither one seemed to blink as they stared at each other intensely as if they were about to fight. "My name is Leiko Fukushima, who are you?"
"Kisho Shonji"
"And just what makes you so special that you can go around acting like the king of the world" It was more a statement than a question
"Unlike you Leiko, I actually have a role to play where as you are nothing more than a bug I will squash"
"I'd like to see you try it you sandy asshole"
"You've got some guts. You and I will have to fight sometime" Kisho turned and left with Hikaru in tow.
Kameko looked back and forth between Kisho's disappearing form and Leiko. Did Kisho...from what little she knew of him it almost seemed like he recognized Leiko's abilities in his own strange way. "Kameko let's go, I don't him out of my sight"
"Yes sensei" She said goodbye to Leiko and took off after the group
Gina walked up and put a hand on Leiko's shoulder. "Hey, uhm...are you alright?"
She turned and smiled at her. "Yea, why do you ask?"
"Uhm...you're legs are shaking"
She looked down to see her knees shaking like her teeth would when the weather was cold. She bent over and rested her hands on her kneecaps trying to steady them. "He..there's something weird about him Gina, something that scares the crap out of me."
"Hey kids come over here so I can give you your mission"
"Hell no! No way, I am gunna have to refuse this mission"
Iruka slapped his forehead and sighed. "Naruto, you're squad isn't ready for anything other than a D-rank mission and this one just happens to be the highest paying one we have. Now stop acting like your twelve again and do your job"
"This isn't some normal D-rank, you all set this up, you manipulative bastards"
Tsunade, now tipsy from the eight flasks of sake she had drank, was working on number nine. No matter how much she has though, she takes pride in being called manipulative. "As Hokage Naruto, I get to decide what happens and what doesn't, and I have decided that this is the best job for your squad."
"No it isn't you decided this because your a grudge holding hag!"
"Tch no matter what you say I don't make decisions based on grudges."
Furiously he turned and walked up to Sakura getting into her face. "You planned this didn't you! I knew that you couldn't learn to leave things be"
"Don't get mad at me Naruto, I put the job in because Tsunade ordered me to hand over administration of the hospital and focus on teaching these students. That alone will take a day so that I can show the senior medical staff my files and information they need to keep things running. I didn't say one thing about giving this job to these kids"
Hiroshi turned to Raidon. "Do you get the feeling we're being used for something?"
Raidon nodded. "There is definitely something going on that we don't understand"
"Look I'm not doing this, give it to another squad"
"No, Team Nine will accept this mission and complete it per my order. This is non negotiable"
"Tsunade..." He clenched his teeth and swallowed his anger.
She turned and looked towards the genin. "I apologize that Naruto-sensei is an immature punk who once had a goal" She turned back to him and eyed him angrily "Now he's nothing more than a fool who needs directions"
"Uh..."
"He's a brat" She cleared her throat and sat up. "Team Nine your job is to do yard work around Sakura-sensei's house, clean up the house and watch her daughter Aika."
"Lady Hokage" Hiroshi was the one to speak up "If we're training to be in life or death situations and fight why are we doing normal house work for our missions?"
She smiled at his politeness. "Well these missions are part of growing up, it's all about working together to get things done and learning the teamwork to succeed in missions. Now I know it's boring but you wont be doing any actual fighting for probably a month. These jobs help mold your teamwork so that in a fight you can fluidly work as a team becoming, instead of four ordinary genin, a powerful ninja fighting to protect what's important to him"
"Tch, why the hell can't they chase after that stupid cat like we did"
"Because I already gave that mission to Neji's team"
"Figures"
"Shut up and get going Naruto, you've wasted enough of my time today"
"Tch whatever"
"Etsu have you received any word from Konoha yet?"
"I am sorry my Lord, but we have yet to hear from Lady Temari"
"Alright, you are excused" The female shinobi bowed and took her leave. Gaara stood proudly atop the Kazekage's mansion letting the wind blow freely across his body and watching as his people ran around going about their daily business. "Yuka, have you learned anything new?"
Yuka was, to say the least, his most trusted confidant and soldier, after his siblings of course. She was his guard almost twenty four hours a day, something which he didn't necessarily mind. Everyone in Suna knew about a bodyguard so dedicated to the Kazekage that it had become some sort of game to see if they could spot him or her as he walked down the street. She was always one to stay to the shadows and her appearance was a mystery and a guessing game among the people. There were rumors she was a beautiful young woman who was not only his protector but also his lover, others say it is one of Kankuro's puppets ready to strike at the first sign of trouble. Either way Yuka always stuck to the shadows and only a few high ranking shinobi knew of her and work ethic. In the past three years only Gaara had seen her face outside the mask.
"I don't think they're moving yet my lord, but whoever is in charge of this whole thing is too damn smart. When things come to pass I can't help but fear we'll lose a lot of people."
They were standing side by side, both looking over the village. "I wish I could confidently say that this man behind the scenes truly existed but all evidence points that everything that's happened was either coincidence or someone on the outside. I just don't know"
"My lord after everything that happened with Yuura a few years ago no one would blame you for investigating everything" She turned towards him and put her hand on his shoulder.
"I don't want to get too close too early, if I do then these last two years of work would have been for nothing."
Yuka smiled at him beneath her mask. "My lord don't forget that you too need to relax every once in awhile, I don't stand here just so you can take a hit for me or Kankuro or Touma, my job is to give my life for yours and if you relax for a few minutes then you know that I am ever vigilant and will protect you should the need arise."
"I am not worried about my life Yuka, I am worried about my comrades, my friends, my family. If we can't discover the leak or the mole then we stand to lose everything" He turned towards her and looked her straight in the eyes. "I can't look that man in the face if anything happens to even one of my people. I love this village and I love each and every member of it, we need to find out what's going on and we need to do it thoroughly."
Those eyes...those were the eyes she had fallen in love with, the determination, the caring. This is why she would die for this man, whether he willed it or not. "Whatever happens my lord I will stand by you"
He smiled and raised his hand, taking a strand of her hair and running his fingers through it, much to her enjoyment. "So loyal and dutiful as you have always been, I am grateful my dear friend; but remember, that you are not bound to me, remember to seek happiness and keep your life balanced Yuka."
She was blushing furiously at the moment as he looked at her passively and caring, she probably would have fainted by now if it wasn't for the mask that hid her embarrassment. "My lord nothing brings me more joy than ensuring your safety, even if I hadn't sworn to protect you, I have a job to protect this village and without you the Sand will be destroyed."
"My Lord Gaara"
The Kazekage turned and greeted the councilor. "Baki"
"Forgive the intrusion Gaara."
"What intrusion?" Baki looked around to see that Yuka had already disappeared and had seemingly left no trace she had even been standing there a minute ago. He was one of a few of the Hierarchy that Gaara trusted and so he knew that when he was alone there was a good chance Yuka had come out of hiding to speak with him. It had become a sort of defense used by Gaara to confuse anyone who may have heard a second voice or seen a silhouette of another person. Baki knew that there were ninja's within Suna that wanted to see him and peace loving ideals thrown out, but who was in charge and how many were with them was dangerously unknown.
"Of course my Lord, I just came to escort you to the meeting. Lord Rikku has grown impatient and is angrily demanding your presence now, he isn't too happy about finding out Kisho was sent to Konoha as part of your agreement"
He smirked and walked up to Baki. "Then let's hope he doesn't figure out that you're the one who suggested I choose him in the first place." Baki laughed heartily as both men entered the mansion and descended the stairs."
"Master Kabuto"
The snake lord held up a finger signaling his underling to wait as he grabbed a vial of orange liquid that sat off to his right. He then grabbed a vial of clear liquid from his left and brought both bottles up to his face closely as he very carefully put precisely one drop of the orange into the clear vial. "Hmm no negative reaction, this is good" setting the orange vial down he reached for a stir stick and at a solemn pace he stirred the the contents carefully until they resembled an amber color. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a cloth and cleaned the the stick of any dripping chemicals. "Alright then" setting the stick down on the table he reached for a syringe and put the tip in the vial pulling on its cap and filling it up to the top. "Success! Well so far anyway" he turned and grinned evilly at the woman in the chair as she struggled mightily against the straps that held her tied tightly to the chair, the blindfold that covered her sight and the gag that allowed her to only mumble obscenities at her captor.
"Irah Fruhnin ikel dohu"
He walked leisurely towards the woman "Now, now my dear don't blame me that your stuck there, after all I needed test subjects and my wonderful friend who lives in the sand gave me a nice handful of you to use. I should thank him for his delivery of such a young and strong specimen. Now do please calm down or else I may not get it right on the first try"
"Refrece e!"
"No I can't do that, how would I know the reactions of my potions and toxins! Now be a good girl and calm down." He grabbed her arm and held it tightly to the arm of the chair as she tried her best to scream in pain from the strength and force he was using to keep her pinned. "Now this will be quick and painless my dear." He put the syringe in her shoulder and released the liquid into her arm. "See now was that so painful?" He let his grip go from her arm and revealed the dark bruise that was in the shape of his hand. "Alright Riu, what have you got for me? It'll take a few minutes for the results so I might as well kill some time"
The sound ninja Riu, a man who wore sunglasses and had his hia-ate tied securely around his forehead, kneeled and bowed his head. "Yes forgive my intrusion Master, but Akira sent word that they have captured a high ranking ninja from Konoha, she is certain that no one had knowledge of the route he was taking and is sure that no one from the leaf will be able to find him for quite some time. She awaits your orders"
"A high ranking ninja?!?" He gasped and smiled joyfully like a child. "Is it Kakashi? Tell me it's Kakashi!"
"Uhm...I'm sorry my lord it is not the sharingan user"
"Damnit why not?" he sighed "Oh well might as well tell me who it is then"
"It's Konohamaru Sarutobi"
"Oh really?" He put his hand to his chin and grinned as he scratched the bottom. "This is exciting news! A powerful test subject in his own right. Alright tell Akira to keep him healthy and checked until I send for him. I want to make sure he is a healthy and well treated subject so that I can use him multiple times on the final touches of my toxins"
Riu nodded and stood up to his feet, just as he did he heard the sound of shattering glass and immediately looked towards the chair that the 'subject' was tied to. "My lord she..."
Kabuto sighed and walked towards her. "She's reacting violently and throwing up blood and bile, this is most unfortunate. The toxins were too potent and probably caused the intestines and organs to either explode or burst infecting the other areas of her body." He sighed and pulled out a scalpel. "No need for her to suffer anymore" He quickly and violently severed her head from her body and watched it roll on the floor. "Riu I want her head put on ice so I can examine her brain later, meanwhile get a couple of men in here and transport the body to the autopsy room so I can examine what happened."
"Right away Master" Riu turned around flicked his cape behind him as he took off down the corridor of his masters mansion.
"Alright I want you four to go into the woods and cut down the trees to gather the fifteen bundles of wood we'll need for the frame. I want you guys to remember that you are ninja's and if you work together it should only take you about five hours to gather everything we need." Shikamaru took a puff of his cigarette and blew the smoke towards the students causing them to cough as they brushed the smoke out of their faces. "If you guys take any longer than five hours, for every minute you're late you'll be earning an hours worth of training in addition to the actual building of the barn tomorrow"
"Hey stupid! just how long are we going to be stuck here"
He sneered at Kisho, as it was only ten o'clock in the morning and he'd already had his fill of the kid two hours ago. "It shouldn't take more than four days to finish the barn, but we signed a two week contract, so we are staying here until Mr. Sakaki either says we're done or our contract is up. Now get going I'm starting your timer in one minute, you're to go to the center of the forest, examine the trees and make sure the ones you are cutting down are healthy but old. These are the ones who are in the final stages of their life and can no longer produce the nutrients needed to reproduce and are beginning to die. Don't try and just guess which ones or cut down some random tree, I have shown Temari-sensei the signs to look for and she and I will be nearby, if you're unsure of something ask us and we'll help you, but the choice of cutting it down and if you're right will be yours." He raised his arm and pointed to the tree line. "Now go"
Temari watched as the four genin took off into the woods and as predicted they split up into two groups almost immediately much to her disappointment. "Shikamaru, who was that girl before?"
He started walking towards the tree as she matched him step for step. "Leiko Fukushima, my prized student in everything when it came to pure god-given talent and the worst when it came to being a teammate. She has a long ways to go with the ever glaring chance she may amount to nothing and yet, she has the most potential of anyone in the last five years, in fact she has the skill set to become Hokage."
"Is that why you put her with Naruto and not with us?"
He chuckled. "No I just wanted her out of my hair and suggested she be teamed up with the only person who could tolerate her in-sensitiveness."
"So that Naruto brat...he seemed different"
"Tch he is different from the last time you saw him. When you guys were dealing with your rebellions we came under attack and were outnumbered three to one, Naruto alone pretty much saved us." She happened to glance down to see he had clenched his hand into a fist and was visibly upset by the situation. "unfortunately I miscalculated and my plans went to hell. Using his talents effectively that guy is really a one man army, however he can also be a loose cannon."
"What do you mean?"
"In the middle of the battle I received news that the right flank had been overrun, holding that area was essential because the allies we were able to send word to were coming from that direction. If we got cut off they would have been massacred. So I sent word to Naruto and the men under his command to make their way to that position to counterattack and hold it until the reinforcements came." He cleared his throat as he pulled the cigarette from his mouth. Putting it out he opened a pocket on his vest and put the butt in it. "I also sent the second medical team there prior to the report, a team which Sakura was a part of. I didn't what was happening until I felt the ground shake and heard men screaming for their lives. Luckily none of our men were killed, though a few were wounded, they were able to make it back to the command safely, however they reported that Sakura had been overwhelmed and a couple of grass ninja were about to make the killing blow when Naruto arrived and if you haven't guessed it already, he quickly let his anger consume him and his seal cracked for the first time since Pein's attack on the village."
"So he let the Bijuu take over?"
"Not completely, he let out enough to go on a rampage but the seal is still as strong as ever. Like I said though, he went on a rampage and began killing anyone and everyone that came near him, unfortunately Sakura was recovering at the camp when she woke up and overheard what was happening. When no one was looking she snuck out and made her way to him and when she got there she ran straight towards him screaming at him to stop because he was showing no mercy to anyone. As she got there he attacked her and clamped on to her shoulders sinking his nails into her flesh." He sighed and pushed a branch out of his way as they entered the woods. "I don't know what she did but she got him to recover before he killer her and he saw what he'd done. To say the least he was horrified. He originally joined ANBU and seemed fine until he went on a mission three or four months ago. Only his partner and Lady Hokage know what happened, but whatever did he came back even more changed and angry than he had been. Since then he's been wandering around like Old Jiraiya did keeping his distance from her and I learned from Kakashi that he's also suffering from severe headaches and nightmares which cause him to develop a high fever and make him sweat in an almost inhuman manner."
"Nightmares? Maybe he should talk to Gaara then"
"Tch he's become a really stubborn guy, he'd never ask him for advice"
"So if he's been trying to stay away from her, how come they're working together now?"
He smirked. "Tsunade came up with the idea after we came to the conclusion of the preliminaries of this project. The numbers didn't add up right and one sensei was going to get four students and since he's been acting like an asshole and a child she used his loyalty to Konoha and called him back, she then guilt tripped him into accepting the assignment and working every angle she could to get him under control. As you saw yourself things aren't exactly going according to plan but are working well enough for now"
"So what's the big deal of getting him to work with her? I understand it in one sense but this seems rather excessive"
"Sakura's been waiting for two years for him to come home and be the Naruto she fell in love with. We all just got sick of waiting and decided to remind him he has responsibilities as both a father and her lover."
"Wait a minute...they have a kid?"
"Yea Aika, she's about a year and a half"
"Now things are coming together"
"Indeed. Anyway we should probably catch up to them before they start to cheat and think we're not watching" With that both ninja's started jumping along the trees.
"Kazekage this is outrageous!" Rikku pounded his fist on the table "How dare you take my son for your stupid program! You know I've never supported this heart to heart relationship we have with the Leaf and now you go and send my son there for your little treaty? You've overstepped your line Gaara!"
"Show the Kazekage some respect Rikku! You should be honored my brother choose your son among one hundred different genin to go and represent Suna among our allies." Kankuro yelled back.
"They are just that! Allies, nothing more than a ceremonial position until we can stand on our own again! We have recovered from the rebellions and the attack by Akatsuki and should now conquer a village like Konoha while they are weak and not be all buddy buddy with them!"
"How dare you suggest we attack them! They were our only friends and a major resource as we rebuilt our forces for the past few years, they could have retaliated when Orochimaru betrayed us but didn't! We have no right to abandon them in their time of need. Without their aid we would never have crushed the rebellions as quick as we did! You are nothing but a war mongering bastard and undeserving of your position councilor!"
"Kissing your brother's ass as always Kankuro! I at least did my part to earn my position unlike you who was born into the line of the Kage"
"You son of a bitch!"
"Enough!" Baki stood up and pointed at each councilor to quiet down. "You are men of Suna! Not wild barbarians, now let your Kazekage speak his word!"
Gaara looked around at his advisers and eyed each one of them carefully until he rested his gaze on Rikku's angry visage. "Councilor you have every right to be upset with my decision, but what I say is final, you have undoubtedly earned your place among this council and I will not question that position, however you must learn to accept the decisions I make and be satisfied with them in your own way. Kisho was chosen to go because of his skill and knowledge, I decided he would be a good representation of our village."
"Damnit Gaara!"
"The issue is closed Rikku" Baki glared at the councilor until it was clear that he understood his yelling and whining was going to do nothing on the subject at hand. Angry at the situation Rikku stood up and stormed out of the room. "Now we've had more reports that prisoners and other ninja have started to go missing during prisoner transfers and missions. What makes this unusual is that they all seem to be ambushed as though someone knows exactly where they will meet and when they will be there."
Leiko marveled at the size of sensei's house. "Who would of guessed that Sakura-sensei lived in a place like this? It's so beautiful!"
Gina looked around and marveled at it herself. "It really is a nice place to live, it's so roomy and cozy"
Raidon nudged Hiroshi and chuckled. "Hey I bet this place is probably a mansion compared to whatever piece of junk Naruto-sensei lives in, hell I bet the moment he first stepped in here he could only wish he lived here!"
"Alright you maggots!" Naruto announced begrudgingly. "You job is to have this place cleaned inside and out by the time Sakura-sensei returns. Work as a team and you'll be done in no time."
"What are you going to do?"
"Me?" he sat down on the couch in the living room "I, my dear Leiko, am going to take a nap since I don't get much sleep anymore"
"What the hell? How can you be such a great ninja with how lazy you are?"
He scoffed at Raidon's angry accusation and laughed it off. "Raidon I've been fighting for my life since the day I was born, even now I am fighting, I think I have earned myself a little shuteye." He yawned loudly and obnoxiously to make sure the genin heard it loud and clear. "Alright then, the tools for the garden are in the closet by the door, the cleaning accessories for the house are in the closet near the kitchen and the baby is upstairs in the master bedroom. I hope one of you knows how to change a diaper"
"Why?"
The sound of crying started filling the house as Aika made it known to the world...she needed a new diaper. "Good night children"
The genin just stared dumbfounded at their sensei. "What the hell? I don't know how to change a diaper! I'm an only child"
"Me too"
"I am as well"
Leiko, Raidon, and Gina all turned and looked at Hiroshi who took a couple of seconds to realize exactly why they were looking at him. "Ah crap...fine I'll change the stupid kid"
Raidon laughed at his friends' misfortune until Leiko started pushing him towards the door. "Raidon you'll go outside and start pulling the weeds from the garden"
"Who the hell made you the queen?"
"I am in charge because I am not only the most talented in leadership, but I have the list that Sakura-sensei entrusted to me"
"Isn't a leader not supposed to be completely worthless?"
"Shut up!"
"I've decided that I don't want to go out to the garden."
"Naruto-sensei said we have to work together!"
"Yea? Well I don't remember agreeing that you get to call the shots!"
"Uhm Raidon?" Gina tried to get their attention with her soft spoken tone. "Leiko?" She watched as they both argued back and forth. Gina sighed and grabbed her bag and mumbled to herself. "I guess I'll go clean the study."
Leaving Leiko and Raidon to their argument she grabbed the feather duster and a broom from the closet and walked through the kitchen and into the study that sat in the back of the house. The minute she entered the room she couldn't help but stare at all the pictures and work's of art that graced the wall and the desk. There were pictures that looked like Sakura-sensei's old team with Naruto-sensei, that grey-haired ninja from this morning and some other weird guy as well as different pictures of her and Naruto-sensei growing up through the years, there were a few with the Hokage and Naruto as well as one with a blonde haired girl and other people and then there was one on the desk with her holding a baby in her arms whom Gina assumed was her daughter. With all of them however there was something strange that didn't escape her eyes.
"They both look so happy in all of them..." as she marveled the photos she came to a dead stop at one that looked to place both sensei's at around fifteen or sixteen years old. "It's...him" She saw the ninja in black with dark hair and those same dark and lonely eyes, the one who had given her the drawing. "He called himself Sai right?" She pulled out the scroll and examined the lines and brushstrokes that were the mark of an artist. As she studied them she noticed how they had a unique curve to them and had a different style and meaning that she hadn't seen in other works of art. She looked up and noticed that some of the paintings on the wall bore the same style of stroke and creativity. "So this man knows Sakura-sensei? But how?" She turned her attention back to the photo. "They were teammates? Then that means that Naruto-sensei knows him to?" She rolled the scroll back up and stuck it back into her pack.
"Maybe if I am very careful I can learn something else about that black-haired ninja and how he knew what my dad looked like." As she let her curious and bold side take over, she walked over to the desk and opened the lower right drawer. As she carefully shifted through all the loose papers in the drawer she noticed that they all seemed to be old medical reports talking about some sort of poisonous chakra but didn't go into too great of detail. As she grabbed the last few sheets in the drawer she noticed a leather bound journal resting on the bottom and conspicuously towards the back of drawer. Gina smiled wickedly, something that no one has ever seen or expected her to do, as she concluded that its conspicuous location clearly meant that it was a private item. "It won't hurt if I take just a tiny peek right?" She grabbed the journal and carefully slid it out and set it on the desk. She then propped herself up in the soft leather chair and undid the tie keeping the journal sealed. After looking around one more time to make sure no one was looking she carefully opened it to the first page and began reading.
"Dear unborn child,
This is your Aunt Ino writing this first entry. Your mother is still recovering from her wounds here in the hospital and man they are severe, she's lucky to be alive and even more lucky to learn that not only are you still alive but, just the fact that she is pregnant with you! It's so exciting that after everything that has happened in the past few months that a little bit of light is shining brightly through all of it. That's right you are that bright light. When your mother found out she was having you she was overjoyed and excited, after all none of us even knew she had gotten this close to your father! But as you will learn scary situations can cause people to do things like your mom and dad did. After all there were ninja's from other villages trying to destroy us and it was your father who beat them back. Unfortunately your mom was hurt in all the fighting and even got in the way of one of your dad's attacks. So she is still recovering from her injuries. I know you won't understand this for a long time but your dad has a scary power that can cause him to forget who he is, but that's not why I'm writing this to you. I am writing this to help you learn who your dad is and why he is a man we all love and care for. You see when your mom found out she was having you she was really excited and happy and so were all of us, so we went to tell your dad and he was really happy to hear that you were okay but he has been sad ever since the battle and ever since he hurt your mom. He's become scared for both of you and has decided it's better off you don't know who he is or anything about him. All of us, your parents friends, have decided to let him have his space and leave him alone for now, but there is no way we're never going to let you know about how cool and awesome your dad really is, so when the time comes and if your dad isn't around we'll have your mom Sakura show you this journal so you can learn all about the most awesome, caring, and loving friend in the world and your dad, Naruto Uzumaki.
"No way..."
NOTES: Sorry the Chapter took so long and I know it isn't up to quality but I hope I did a good enough job for all of you to like it! Anyway I really needed to get it out because 1. I needed to get you guys a new chapter to read! And two I am a bit perturbed at the newest release in the manga xD anyway
Read and Review. Thank you!