AN: I'm putting this up early as a thank you to those who are taking the time to read my story. I appreciate the feedback that I've been getting and the encouragement. This is actually the most chapters that I've managed to get though in any of my stories. I know, I'm horrible at committing to my stories. I'm sticking with this one though. This one is supper long, at least for me, so don't expect the next chapter to be too long or get posted real soon.
AN2: I apologise for the other story that got posted in this chapter. My friend, who was helping me out as I was unable to get on the computer, accidently placed the wrong document here. Sigh...I'm gonna go chew her out now...how could you not tell that what was here didn't fit?
The real chapter:
"Come on Naruto, I know you can do better than that!" Suki said, her breathing slightly heavy. "You're so much stronger than that, think smarter, move faster." The older Ninja said, both provoking her student and giving advice. The only response she received was an angry growl from Naruto.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." Naruto said, making several clones of himself, all of which disappeared along with the original into the forest surrounding the training area.
"Clones, that's not very creative Naruto." Suki said mockingly putting her hands on her hips like a scolding mother. "Better do something interesting with them." She added.
Her eyes scanned the area, trying to find the blonde-haired boy and his clones. Hum…he was doing a good job of hiding. 'Ah,' she thought, spotting two of them 'Looks like he's managed to keep the other three hidden from me. Wonder if he intended me to see those two?' Sensing something coming at her from the opposite direction, she got her answer. Suddenly Naruto came plowing into her with a strong punch followed by a well-placed kick. With that, Suki disappeared in a puff of smoke, along with four of the clones Naruto had created. How had she done that? Now he and his last clone stood there, trying to think his next move through.
Naruto cursed, realizing he'd been tricked. He'd never realized how annoying his own technique could be. Suki was nearly as talented as he was when it came to creating clones. 'Wait,' he thought, as something occurred to him 'I only made four clones…' Just then, something sharp could be felt pressing against his neck. "Looks like you lose." He heard his own voice say as the weapon was removed, the training session over.
Turning he saw himself looking back at him, a smug grin on his face. The image slowly melted away and there stood Suki, the smug grin still on her face. "Well now, you did quite well until you let me get so close by forgetting something as simple as the number of shadow clones you created." She said in a scolding voice. Naruto simply glared at her, knowing she had won fairly and he had made a mistake.
"Hey, don't be so upset." Suki said, all smugness gone. "This is why we train, especially with those who have greater knowledge than us." She added, a kind smile crossing her face.
Naruto nodded, already having learned from his mistake. It was not one he would make again(well, he would try, we all know Naruto better than that).
"I just wish, for once, that I could actually beat you." He said in a frustrated tone.
"Keep training and learn my weaknesses and you will." Suki said in a serious tone "You are very strong Naruto, it just takes time to concentrate that strength into something more controlled. You are still learning and will always be learning." She said "In fact you've taught me a thing or two." She added with a wink.
"I…what?" Naruto asked
"You've taught me some new ways to use my shadow clones." Suki said, "I guess it's not that I didn't know how to use them effectively but you've reminded me, even if it's used in a simple way, it can be effective. Besides, the way you use your shadow clones is fairly unique because so few Ninja have the chakra to keep that technique up."
"Ah…so I've taught you to use shadow clones better?" Naruto asked. Before Suki could respond, Naruto said, "I must be really good if I'm showing an excellent ninja like you something."
Suki just rolled her eyes "Naruto, I still just beat you with your own technique. Don't get so cocky. Thinking you're better than others only makes you weaker." She said sitting down against a tree and drinking some water.
"That's good advice." A voice said as Kakashi appeared in a puff of smoke.
"Kakashi-sensei." Naruto said in greeting. Suki just waved.
Kakashi just raised his hand in greeting. "I should have known I'd find you two together. Tsunade-sama has asked team Kakashi to come to her office. She has a mission for us." He said
"Alright!" Naruto exclaimed, "Granny Tsunade had better give us something good."
"I guess I'll see you later then Naruto. Good luck on your mission." Suki said, giving the boy a wide smile.
"Tsunade-sama requested that you join us Suki." Kakashi added, almost as an afterthought.
"Oh, I see." Suki said standing up. "Guess I'll be staying with you then." Suki ruffled Naruto's hair as she walked by him to follow Kakashi to Hokage tower.
"I see you're all here. Thanks for coming on such short notice." Tsunade said, looking over all the Ninja in front of her.
"Usually I would give this type of mission to a more experienced team but I think you all can handle this." Tsunade said "Things have been very stretched around here so I'm depending on you."
Team Kakashi nodded their understanding, Naruto saying something about being ready. "We have a spy in the Akatsuki organization who will be needing escorts back to the village in order to insure his safety."
"Master, if we have a spy in that organization why would we pull him?" Sakura asked in the most polite yet questioning voice she could.
"He feels that he is close to getting caught or possibly has already been caught so we are pulling him for his safety and for whatever information he was able to gain." Tsunade said, answering her student's question.
"In addition to the four of you I'm sending Suki for extra support. I understand that she has been training with the three of you." Tsunade said, indicating the three younger members of the team. "I hope that means you all will treat her with the respect she deserves."
Looking at Suki and Kakashi Tsunade continued. "This is your first mission since returning to the village Suki. Usually I would test the waters a bit more but we simply don't have the time. I trust you will be ready for this and follow the lead of Kakashi. If this goes well I'll bring you up to regular status, you'll be assigned missions regularly and your probation period will be over. Is this understood?"
"Hai, I will do my part Tsunade-sama." Suki said with great respect in her voice.
"Alright, I'll give the details to Kakashi. You are dismissed." Tsunade said.
Once outside Kakashi turned to his team and said "I want you all to be ready to go by sunset tonight. Meet at the front gates and don't be late."
Nodding to this Sai, Naruto and Sakura all headed toward their homes. Suki was just about to head out herself when Kakashi stopped her.
"Suki, I'd like to go over the details with you; if you don't mind." He said, "It won't take very long. You'll have plenty of time to get ready."
Suki was a bit surprised, wasn't she supposed to be acting as a subordinate to Kakashi? "Of course Kakashi, I don't mind at all." She said. The woman didn't show it but she was nervous. She hadn't seen Kakashi in years and, although he didn't know who he was truly with, her stomach did a flip at the thought of having to spend time with just him.
"I know a quiet tea shop a few streets over. Why don't we go there to discuss the mission?" Kakashi said, already walking in that direction.
Suki wasn't sure what to say so she walked in silence beside him. Her long braid swung behind her, swishing back and forth. Her nerves receded, little by little, as she walked with the older jonin. His presence was familiar, comforting to her in a way.
Once they had entered the teashop and ordered Suki decided to break the silence. "It's an honor to work with you and your team. I hope I'll be of assistance." She said.
"Oh, I've got no doubts about you Suki, I won't have to worry about you at all." Kakashi said, with what she assumed was a smile. "That's why I'm going over this with you. You're not on this mission to be baby sat, even if Tsunade will be asking about your performance. I'm treating you as I see you and that's a capable jonin whom will help me lead if necessary."
Suki nodded at this. Kakashi was someone she had great respect for, hence her fear of being alone with the man. Kami forbid she got caught, he'd be the one who figured her out. In her own way, Suki was flattered.
"Now, let's get down to business…."
Naruto sighed as he sat waiting for Kakashi and Suki to show up. He, Sakura and Sai had all arrived either early or on time and were now waiting for the two older Ninja. They were not at all excited that Suki was late; no one needed another team member who was perpetually late. The sun was now below the horizon and the sky rapidly darkening. What exactly had Kakashi been thinking? Suddenly a voice came from behind them "Oy, what's got all of you so down?"
Turning around to see the voices owner, they found Suki sitting on the wall behind them. She sat there swinging her legs in a very childish manner. Her hair was in two braids today, only adding to the childish effect. Naruto just glared at her, angry that she was acting so casual about being late. Letting out a giggle she said, "Don't tell me you're upset about Kakashi being late. You'd think you'd learn to just show up late too."
"How did you know about Kakashi-sensei being late?" Naruto asked
'Because I know him better than you might think' Suki thought to herself. Laughing she said, "I've been warned by some of the Ninja around the village."
To her relief the three younger Ninja shrugged this off and turned to wait for their leader. It wasn't much later that Kakashi showed up and received the grumblings of his students. Together team Kakashi headed out into the night.
"Suki, tell us a story about Suna." Naruto said, getting bored as they walked down the moonlit path.
"Naruto!" Sakura said hitting him on the shoulder. "That was rude!"
"Ouch, Sakura-chan do you really need to hit me that hard?" Naruto wined
"A story would be nice; it's so quite out here." Sai commented "That is, if you don't mind Suki-san"
Kakashi stayed silent as they walked. He noted how close the other four already seemed. Even though she had not been around for long, Suki had gained the trust and respect of his students. Yet, she managed to keep the relationship causal, really more of a friendship than anything. They didn't even call her sensei when she clearly had been playing teacher to them when he couldn't be there. It was curious to him, how quickly and efficiently she managed to fit in.
"I guess I could tell you a story." Suki said quietly "I'm not really sure what to tell the story about though. I'm not really a good story teller anyway."
"Do they have any interesting legends in Suna?" Sakura asked
"Hum…there are quite a few legends in Suna." Suki said, thinking as she walked. "Oh, I know the perfect one!"
"Alright, let's hear it then!" Naruto said excitedly.
"Ok, this is the story of the spirit sands." Suki began. "The people of Suna like to tell the tale of what they call the spirit sands. They say these sands are both blessed and cursed by the spirits of the ancestors."
"Wait, the sands hold the spirits of the ancestors?" Sakura asked
"Yes, and like the ancestors themselves, it is both good and evil." Suki said continuing, "They say this special sand blows across the desert and is never found in the same place twice. Some say that when they became lost in the desert it was this sand that guided them home. The wind picks ups around them and the sand began to swirl about. Some just became calm and suddenly knew the way. Others say it has taken the form of an older couple. Some have seen the old man, others an old woman whom they believe to be his wife."
"Wait, are you saying this sand helps people?" Naruto asked
"Yes, it's guided many a lost soul home. One young boy said that the old woman took his hand and walked him back to his village. When he turned around the thank her she was gone."
"I thought you said that this sand was cursed?" Sai asked
"Oh, it is." Suki said in a scary voice. "You see, all these people whom it helped were good people. They say this sand has attacked evil people. Thief's have been found dead after unexpected and unexplainable sand storms struck them. They say it is the ancestors protecting the land, good and bad want the people to survive and continue the proud traditions."
"Spirit sands? Yeah, like that's real." Naruto said rolling his eyes
"How would you know Naruto?" Kakashi asked, "They have a similar legend about the woods surrounding Konoha." He commented, "The third Hokage told me, once, when he was a child, he became lost in the woods. An old woman appeared out of nowhere and walked him home. Before he could thank her, she was gone. Later, his mother was showing him pictures of his grandmother and he recognized her as the woman who had brought him home. The thing was; she had been dead for years." Kakashi ended the story with a mysterious tone.
"Oh, wow." Sakura said with a smile on her face. Suddenly the smile broke into a yawn. Stretching her arms above her head, the pink haired konochi looked up at the stars. The moon was just coming out of its new phase and was just a small sliver in the sky; by now, it had already set. It must have been one in the morning; they had been walking for quite some time.
"Kakashi, don't you think it's time we stopped and rested for awhile?" Suki asked, seeing the tired looks on Sakura and Naruto's faces. "It wouldn't do for us to be dead on our feet tomorrow." She said
"Hum…I guess you're right." Kakashi said, seeing how tired his students were. "Let's find a place and get some sleep." He said, coming off the path and into the brush surrounding the area. Soon enough the group found a place to sleep and all of them were out within a short time of lying down.
Suki was dreaming, a pleasant dream about when she had been a little girl. Her mother was in the kitchen baking and she was running around excited about the cookie dough she had just helped mix and the warm cookies she would soon be enjoying. A smile crossed her face as she dreamt. Suddenly her mouth turned down in a frown and her forehead creased.
Her dream had suddenly changed. Whatever it was was rather upsetting to her because she began moving in her sleep. "Sauske." She moaned; a tear slid down her cheek. The rest of the group, except for a certain silver haired jonin, missed all of this. He gave her an odd look. How did she know Sauske? What was she dreaming about that made her so sad?
After another day of travel, the group was approaching the rendezvous point. The sun had just set behind the horizon when Kakashi began to speak. "I want you all to be prepared. We will reach the meeting point shortly. This could very well turn into an ambush so be alert." Everyone nodded his or her understanding. "Should be find ourselves in a battle situation I want Naruto and Sai to team up, Sakura, stick close to Suki, we don't want you getting hurt, you are our only medical nin. I'll come in where ever needed."
"Hai."The group responded, understanding Kakashi's instructions.
The place was quite when they arrived at the meeting spot. Something definitely felt wrong. Then they spotted the body, hanging in one of the trees. "Is that…?" Naruto began.
"Everyone, be ready." Kakashi said, searching the landscape. Suddenly an explosion rocked the area.
Sigh…I hope the whole spirit sands thing wasn't too corny. That type of story is universal so I thought it fit well.
I hope you know I am receiving great joy in keeping everyone in the dark about Suki. Don't worry, I think some answers are coming soon. I've been dropping lots of hints about where she fits into the Naruto story. Who knows…maybe you'll figure it out before team 7.