Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Naruto.

sorry for such a long wait! -laydee kai

Konoha's Deadly Blossom & Copy Cat

Chapter Five

Silently the two ninja followed their leader as they leaped through the trees. The three of them were heading back towards that caravan that was being protected by Konoha's Team Seven. The two guards had been on the first mission that was sanctioned and now they were hesitantly returning.

"I'm not so sure about this," the smaller of the guards whispered to the other.

"Me either. But that doesn't matter," he motioned with his head to the back of the man that they were following. "He is, so we follow."

The small guard sighed and nodded. There was nothing that he could do. He had an order and he was going to follow it. Plus, he wouldn't leave his leader unprotected.

- - xXxXx - -

The sun was setting and the caravan slowed in order to make camp for the night. They were getting close to the destination. One more day and they should arrive.

Sakura sat quietly around the camp fire. The three of them had just completed a sweep of the area and set a few traps around the camp site. Kakashi and Naruto were setting up the tents while Sakura sat there lost in her thoughts. She pulled her legs in and crossed them while resting her hands on her knees. She sat ram rod straight and she dove deeper into the silence that surrounded her. Her breathing evened out as she pushed her chakra out around her taking in every living thing near.

She felt Kakashi and Naruto finish their task and sit near her. They ate in silence as she swept the area again.

Her eyes snapped open. "We have visitors." She said calmly.

"How many?" Naruto asked as he watched her.

"Just three. Two are the same from the attack but one is different—familiar signature though."

"Who?" Kakashi questioned.

Her lips pulled at the edge. "An old friend."

Her eyes settled on a small clearing that led to where they were camping. She didn't move from where she was which was a good sign to her teammates. They weren't a threat. These visitors weren't hostile. Naruto felt the signature enter the clearing and laughed.

"Well I'll be damned! Shibuki!" he jumped up from his place and went to great his friend.

The two guards jumped out in front of him when Naruto approached. He stopped and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Guards? I see you have taken the responsibility that was yours then." He said with a smile.

"Hai, Naruto." His said returning the smile. He waved his hands at the guards, "I told you there was nothing to worry about. It's good to see you Naruto."

Shibuki walked through his guards to embrace his friend. When they pulled away, Shibuki glanced over his shoulder and looked at the carriage and separate fire across the way. His eyes narrowed into a glare before he turned back to his friends.

"We have much to discuss my friends."

Naruto followed his gaze and nodded. He motioned for Shibuki and his guard to follow him to the fire. Naruto took his place beside Sakura again as the other three did the same.

"It's good to see you again Sakura, Kakashi." Shibuki greeted.

"Same here." Kakashi nodded.

Sakura smiled warmly at Shibuki. "What brings you here Shibuki? It seems a little odd of a time to spring a visit on us. We are on a mission."

"Well you see, that is the reason—your mission." He cleared his throat. "I do believe that you have been misinformed about your client and mission."

"Please continue." Kakashi prompted after no one spoke.

"Well, I have a feeling that this will be a little bit of déjà vu."

"Déjà vu? You mean the Hero Water has been taken again?" Naruto asked.

"Hai. But this time they sent more ninja in to steal it. We have been following those who took it. But they were a little smarter this time. As soon as they got out of the town, they passed it off to someone else. Who in turn passed it again. Your client over there is the fourth pair of hands it has been given too."

"That lying piece of shit!" Sakura growled. "I knew it!"

Shibuki and his guards were taken back by her outburst. They didn't think that it would be this easy to convince them that their client was lying to them.

Kakashi leaned over and placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder trying to calm her down. Naruto's eyes glanced over to the other site to see if they had heard her—all was still.

"We have had our doubts with this mission. We think the only reason the Hokage sent us on this mission was because it could turn out to be more." Kakashi explained.

"Do you have any leads as to why they have taken it?" Sakura asked after a deep breath.

"Hai. We believe they are trying to bring it to Orochimaru. He is one of the only people I know of who could drink the water and not suffer the after effects of it."

"It makes sense too… I mean with the location we are taking them too. A small town in the Rice Country." Naruto added.

"If that's that case, then we can't let Orochimaru get that water." Said Kakashi.

"Then we should have no trouble retrieving the Hero Water from you?" Shibuki asked.

"None at all, Shibuki. Give me a minute and you will have what belongs to you." Sakura promised in a growl as she gracefully rose from her place.

The five men watched as she silently strolled across the space between the camps. Naruto sighed deeply and got up to follow her. Kakashi rubbed the back of his head and followed suit.

"Where are you going? I think she can handle getting something from the likes of them." Shibuki spoke.

"Oh, she can. It's just that I don't think Ibiki would get much information from a corpse." Kakashi said as he walked pass them.

Sakura pounded on the door to the carriage. There was no answer so she pounded louder.

"Hey! Fat man! I need to talk to you." She yelled.

There was a grunting noise in the carriage as he rummaged around his small quarters. A small light flicked on and the door cracked slightly.

"What do you want? I am sleeping." He snapped.

Kakashi and Naruto flanked Sakura. Her hand twitched towards her sword on her back. Kakashi caught her hand and held it. She turned to look at him and he shook his head.

"There's no need for blood, Sakura-chan." He said softly closing the distance between their bodies.

She searched his eyes and the fury in hers started to dissipate. She nodded. She tried to calm herself before answering the man.

"We need to talk to you. We have just received some new information concerning this mission. I want to share it with you and your men." She said through her teeth.

The door swung open and the little man walked out in his night clothing. "What info?"

"Wake your men." Kakashi suggested.

"Get up!" the short man roared. "Now!"

The men sluggishly rose from their bed rolls around the camp fire. Rubbing their eyes they walked over to their boss.

"What is it boss?" one asked.

"Our ninja here have some new information that they would like to talk to us about."

Naruto looked at all the men in front of him and stepped forward. "We have info on the ninja who attacked us."

The little fat man's eyes widened and Naruto laughed. At that moment he was reminded of one of his toad summons. He shook the laughter from his system before he continued.

"As a matter of fact, two of them and the leader of their nation are sitting right over there at our fire. They have shared something that is quite interesting with us."

The boss started to take small steps backwards. His back found the side of the carriage and it prevented him from sneaking any further away. He cautiously slid to one side as he tried to look around the angry ninja in front of him.

"Wh-what is so interesting?" he asked.

Kakashi leaned over so he was eye to eye with the little toad like man. "It seems that we now have the proof that you are lying to us." His eye crinkled as he smiled threateningly at the man.

"P-p-proof? I am the client! I'm not lying t-to you! They are!" he began rambling. "Don't you see that they are trying to take my heirloom?"

"Oh, nice try. But you see this isn't the first time this has happened. But we were there the last time it happened and we stopped it, and this time we are going to return it. Hand it over." Naruto spoke.

"No! It's mine!" the man squealed like a pig. "Men! Stop them!"

The men fell into defensive stances and eyed the three ninja. Sakura met their glares and sent back one of her own.

"Don't make me laugh." She sneered.

The men faulted in their steps and looked back and forth from each other. Sweat began to form on each brow as they weighed their options.

"Sit." She snapped.

They froze. Sakura's body shuddered in anger.

"I'd listen to her," Kakashi warned. "Or I could let her go?"

The three large men plopped themselves down on the ground. They refused to make eye contact with the man that use to be their boss. He glared at the men that were supposed to be his guard. Slowly, he turned back to the ninja in front of him. His mouth was cotton dry.

"I-I'll cut you in on the money. They are paying me a hefty amount of money to deliver this package." He stammered. "All you have to do is get me there. You can just take care of those three over by the fire and we can leave now. As fast as you want."

Kakashi felt the tension in Sakura's body. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. He knew that if she wanted to get out than she could; however, he hoped that his presence would calm her enough to where she wouldn't want to kill this man.

"You must be out of your mind." Naruto answered for everyone. "We would never betray our Nation or our friends. You really screwed yourself when you wanted us to be your guards."

Naruto walked over to the man and pinched an area on the back of his neck and he immediately hit the floor. He repeated this three more times on the men that were sitting as per Sakura's order. Naruto left Sakura to Kakashi and went in the carriage to find the Hero Water for Shibuki.

Sakura turned inward and let Kakashi's arms wrap around her. She thrived from it. The feeling of him holding her. It calmed her and soothed her almost instantly. He gently kissed the top of her head.

"Shh." He soothed as he felt her relax and the tension melt away. "You did good not to kill him."

"Thank you, Kakashi-kun." She said softly.

"Anytime." He said kissing her head again.

Naruto emerged from the carriage with a box in his hands. His nose was wrinkled in disgust.

"Man, not only did he look like a pig but he lived like one! That place is a disaster—coming from me that is really saying something!"

Sakura giggled a little at the expression on her friends face. She buried her face deeper into Kakashi's chest and wrapped her arms around his waste. He gave her a tight squeeze and she sighed. He kissed her on the head and she looked up at him.

"You know I can't believe that I never saw this before." She said with a smile.

"I'm just glad that it has been brought to both of our attention."

She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed his chin. "Ditto."

The two broke their embrace and walked back to the camp fire. Sakura stood behind Shibuki as he inspected the Hero Water's container. It seemed that none of the mystical liquid was missing. Shibuki sighed in relief.

"Thank you my friends. As always, we appreciate your help." Shibuki said beaming at his friends.

"We are always happy to help friends." Naruto said returning the smile.

"Shibuki-sama, shall we be on our way?" the larger of his guards spoke up.

"Ah, short and sweet I guess." Shibuki answered. "But I guess it's for the best."

"Hai. We have to pack up the four lumps and bring them back." Naruto agreed.

Shibuki extended his to his three friends. His two guards rose from their seats and flanked their leader. They nodded to Team Seven. And just like that, they left. Naruto turned to look at the four men who were passed out just a few feet away.

"I guess we need to get them loaded up." Kakashi said.

"I wonder how fast those horses go?" Naruto asked.

"This should be an interesting trip home." Sakura laughed.

- End of Chapter -