This is to add more to the story since you won't get much of the plot from the prologue.
And I'm not gonna add that this belongs to Kishimoto every chapter. We all know that.
Chapter 1
Present Day…
Konoha Village Gate – Midday
Izumo stretched and yawned. He and Kotetsu always seemed to watch the gate these days. It was easy work; easy but boring. All they seemed to do was watch visitors and other ninja walk through the gates.
Kotetsu sighed helplessly. "You shouldn't take this job so casually, you know?"
"C'mon, nothing is going to happen." Izumo grumbled.
"But what if something does? You never know." Kotetsu gestured at a pair with hooded cloaks that just walked through, "One of them could be – "
Izumo waved a careless hand at his friend. "Relax. Anyway, if you're always on edge like that, you're only asking for something to happen."
As the two settled back, one of the pair turned to the other and spoke with the undeniable low pitch of a male.
"They haven't changed much. They always were laid back in the Academy."
The other replied, this one higher pitched but low so no one would overhear; female. "Who?"
"Izumo and Kotetsu. I think I mentioned them to you before, haven't I?"
Beneath the hood, the female gave a small nod. "Yes, you have. I believe you refer to them as, 'those lazy bums'?"
The pair turned a corner and out of sight of the gate post. The male pulled off his hood and gave a small smile at his partner. The sunlight reflected off his Konoha headband.
"Do I? Well I think the truth speaks for itself anyway."
The two continued to walk between the rows of buildings that made up Konoha Village. The male glanced around, interested in everything. He had not been in the Village for five years. He stopped in front of a corner bookstore and peeked in. The glass reflected him, his short black hair, mask, and brown eyes.
The female stopped and looked at him. "Makoto?"
He turned from the window and looked at her. "It's nothing. I actually thought he'd be here but I guess this isn't going to be that easy."
"He frequents bookstores? You didn't tell me that. It would narrow our search area." She replied.
Her partner waved it away. "We'd be more likely to find him around the Hokage residence or somewhere else. Even if he was in the bookstore, we couldn't take him quietly like I want to."
She nodded and the two continued walking. The man glanced at her as they continued their slow pace.
"And don't call me by my name. If someone heard, we'd be compromised."
She stopped and turned towards him. Reaching up, she pulled back her hood. The sunlight reflected off her long black hair, green eyes, and a small apologetic smile.
"Sorry…'Ko."
Konoha Village Gate – Early Afternoon
Naruto stretched and yawned. The walk back from the mission was boring, not to mention that the mission was boring too. All he, Sakura, and Sai did was escort some important messenger to another village. All the way back, none of them had spoken a word. Not even Yamato, who was captain of the team while Kakashi was still in bed, had said anything to them. Naruto was sure it was all Sai. Even though he had turned out good after the Sasuke mission, he still didn't know how to act around other people. Sai caused a silence barrier between them all.
Naruto sighed. At least he's not insulting us anymore, he thought.
Meanwhile, Sakura was immersed in her own thoughts. She still had to talk to Kakashi about Sasuke but she kept it to herself for the while.
No need to trouble Kakashi while he's still injured.
Sai continued to follow Sakura and Naruto as he considered what to do. The silence was uncomfortable for him.
Should I say something? Maybe how well the mission went? But would that be too obvious?
As they passed through the gate, Kotetsu waved at them. The four turned and walked up to the gate post.
"How was the mission?" Kotetsu asked, leaning back in his chair.
Naruto shrugged, Sakura gave a small smile, and Sai just stared. Yamato sighed at his squad's lack of response, they were usually energetic and in constant conflict.
"It wasn't anything special." Yamato replied.
"That bad eh?" Izumo put in, "Well could you guys do a favor for us?"
"What sort of favor?" Naruto asked.
Izumo handed him a clipboard. "First, we've got these to turn in. And since you're going to the Hokage to report, could you drop them off?"
Yamato took the clipboard from Naruto's hands and walked off. "I'll take it in. You three can go home now. I'll report to the Hokage myself."
Kotetsu stopped the three before they could walk away. "Oh and one more thing. There were two that entered the village. Both of them hooded. If you run into them, could you find out their business?"
Naruto sighed and Sakura frowned. Sai just stared.
"You didn't check them yourself?" Sakura asked.
Izumo shrugged as he propped his feet up on the gate post's desk. "Don't mind him. He's just on edge."
Kotetsu sighed at Izumo. "Anyway, if they're just visiting on business then no need to bother them."
The three of them nodded and continued down the road. The sun was still high and life in Konoha bustled about, buying produce and other goods. The yells, smells, and the people all showed how prosperous Konoha had grown. As they turned the first corner, Naruto stopped in his tracks. The flow of people moved around the group as Sakura and Sai turned back towards Naruto.
"Huh? Naruto, is something wrong?" Sakura asked.
He's probably just hungry. Sai idly thought. Naruto had been that for much of the duration of the mission.
Naruto lifted an arm and pointed down the road. "Those two are wearing cloaks. Think it's them?"
Sakura and Sai turned and looked where Naruto was pointing. At the end of the road, two adults; a female and male; were conversing with each other.
"Um…they must be. I've never seen them before." Sakura muttered.
The three of them jogged down the sidewalk to the couple. Noticing them, the man turned towards them and smiled behind his mask.
"Is there some sort of problem, miss?" he said, addressing Sakura.
Sakura shook her head. "No, sir. We're just from the gate and it seems you forgot to check in. We just need to know your business in Konoha."
The woman turned towards the three, giving a small smile. "We're just here on some personal business; to visit a friend actually."
"Who's your friend?" Naruto piped in.
The woman gave a small glance at the man, as if needing confirmation before answering.
"He's an old friend. His name is Hatake Kakashi."
Sooooooo? How was it? Review, request, and complain. The triumverate of fan fiction.