Chapter 8
"Raito, open this door." There was no answer. Sasuke banged on it some more. "Raito!"

Haku looked at the door. "Shouldn't we let him in? I'd rather not have to replace it."

"Nah, he'll be fine. Go fish."

Haku drew a card. "Damn. Do you have a three?"

Raito handed over the card. "Nobody's home!" she yelled when the assault on her door didn't let up.

"Raito, open this door or I'm breaking it down!"

"No thanks, we don't want any make up. Any fives?"

"Raito, I already have that set."

"Right, I knew that. Ok, I know you have a ten, hand it over."

Haku handed the card over, and Raito laid down the set.

"You have to come out some time!" Sasuke yelled angrily. "Just open the door."

Raito looked at the moniter, which showed Sasuke in front of the door, looking rather miffed. "You know, if we don't open it soon, he might just break it down. Any eights?"

"Go fish. Do you think we could coerce Shihizuki into opening it?"

"You really want to wake up a hardcore insomniac just to answer the door? Are you really that suicidal? Despite what you say, I know you have a four. Hand it over."

"But-but I love the four. It's my best friend."

"I thought I was your best friend?"

There was no resisting Haku's "cute face" over something so inconsequential. "I suppose I could part with it... if you gave me your seven."

"But you just gave me this seven."

"I know, but I need it back. That seven messed with the wrong people, so I need to teach it a lesson."

Haku handed over the seven, and Raito gave him the four.

"Raito, this is the last time I'm asking you to answer the door before I go get a screwdriver."

"You don't have one."

"You searched my apartment?"

"No, but you didn't give Cathy from down the hall one when she asked. Either you have a grudge against Cathy, which is impossible, because it's Cathy, you couldn't find one, or you don't own one. Based on your response, I'm guessing that you don't have one."

"... I don't think I've ever had such devoted stalkers before. Which is saying something. I kind of expected this kind of behavior from Raito, but you too, Haku? And Shihizuki?"

"Shihizuki is sleeping at the moment, actually. Ok, fine, I guess I can let you in."

"Humph."

Raito opened the door, revealing a pretty much empty apartment. On the floor were some cards, and Haku. In the background there was some music playing.

"What do you mean you expect this kind of behavior from me? It's my turn, right?"

"Yep."

"You're a girl, and you know too much about everybody."

Sasuke was referring to the amount of stalking they had done recently. It wasn't actually that bad, given that they were providing protection detail and had been pretty subtle about it. He just assumed, rightly, that they were doing it all the time, he just wasn't aware of it.

"Five? Since being subtle isn't working, I guess we'll have to let you in. Kakashi heard that Orochimaru was in the area, and looking for you. We're actually here on protection detail, hired by the Hokage. We were keeping this a secret because we were asked to, unless something like this happened. The Hokage doesn't want people to know about it."

"Go fish. Recently Kakashi's suspicions were confirmed, as well as our own. Orochimaru left evidence that he was here, and attempting to sneak into the Chunin exams. While it would have been great if you guys hadn't dropped out..."

"... at the same time it's a tiny bit safer. Not by much, but if he comes after you..."

"... it can't be called fair, no matter how you look at it..."

"... but had you gone into the Forest of Death..."

"... the next part of the exams..."

"... if he had faked your death..."

"... which he could have easily..."

"Will you two stop finishing each others' sentences? It's really annoying."

"Fine. No one would be able to stop him. Since he's the leader of the Sound Village, something like that would give him grounds for war, and already he's amassed allies. If they were to strike, this village wouldn't stand much of a chance. There are at least five different teams that have motive to attack, not to mention their leaders. Are you following, or are we going into too much detail?"

"What? Who is Orochimaru and why is he coming after me?" Sasuke hated that he didn't know what was going on with himself, much less that Raito and Haku did. "He's the leader of the Hidden Sound Village, that has nothing to do with me."

"Didn't, now it does. He wants the sharingan, but he can't go after Itatchi because... I'm not exactly sure why. Regardless, he's decided to target you, as well as the entire village. He wanted to become Hokage, but was denied, so now he holds a grudge. He also wants to learn every jutsu, and he developed a few of his own. If I remember correctly, among these was one that allowed him to become immortal by taking over the bodies of other people."

"Stupid body snatcher," Raito muttered.

"... So you're not stalking me because you like me," Sasuke concluded.

"I think you need to go now, you're not fully comprehending what we just told you," Raito suggested.

"I think you might be right. I'll just leave then..."

Shihizuki yawned as he came out of his room. He stretched, and looked at Raito and Haku who had just finished their game. "Who was that just now?"

"Sasuke, we told him about Orochimaru."

Shihizuki nodded, and yawned again. "Wait a minute, Sasuke knows about Orochimaru? Wasn't that bad?"

"Meh, it was bound to happen sooner or later."

Cathy balanced her laundry basket on one hip while she walked down the hall. The old lady stopped when she noticed Sasuke, who still had a vacant look on his face.

"Sasuke, love, are you ok?"

"Oh, hi Cathy. I'm fine. Do you need help with that?"

"Oh no, I'm fine. Cute girl, that one, but I don't trust her," Cathy said, nodding at Raito's door. "Some strange people came by the other night, shady people, that lot. My old ears couldn't catch what was said, but it was very suspicious. Cathy just wouldn't want to see you get hurt."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Cathy made a habit of sitting out in the hall, knitting in an old rocking chair and keeping track of what was going on in the buildings, and was a notorious gossip as well. She had a kind heart though, and was always saying nice things as well as looking out for people.

Especially Sasuke. He disappeared into his apartment.

"Excuse me, but I'm looking for someone named Raito Shino, and I appear to be lost," a man who appeared to be in his twenties but sported grey hair said. He wore black clothes with silver trim, and glasses. "I was wondering if you knew where she was staying?"

"And who might you be, young man?" Cathy asked.

"My name is Abel Nightroad, I'm a traveling priest. I was passing through town, and I heard she was here, so I thought I would stop by and say hello." The Father smiled. "Unfortunately, I seem to have forgotten where she lives."

"I think you've got the wrong building, love. The only Raito here is around thirteen years old, and I'm not sure what her last name is."

"Is she around this tall and blonde?" Father Nightroad asked.

"Well, yes... try that door right there," Cathy replied hesitantly. She had no idea why Raito would want to see a priest, but to each her own, she supposed.

"Thank you. In return, I'd like to help you with that basket, it seems rather heavy."

"Well, poppet, that's a generous offer, but I'm fine. Good luck with that one," she said, nodding at Raito's door. 'God bless the soul who tries to convert that fiery little thing.'

"Thank you." The traveling priest knocked on the door, and patiently waited for an answer.

"FATHER!" and was promptly glomped. Haku shook his head at Raito's antics, and Shihizuki had no idea who this guy was supposed to be. His numbers were missing, leaving only a name.

"It's good to see you again too, and Haku. I'm afraid I don't recognize him."

"Shihizuki," he introduced, holding out a hand for the older man to shake. "I'm a friend of Raito's."

Said girl let go of Abel. "What are you doing here in Konoha? I thought the Church didn't involve itself in our affairs... you know what, let's talk about this later. You haven't eaten yet, have you?"

"You always were perceptive," Abel said sheepishly. "I don't want to impose..."

"And you're too polite. Come on, let's go get some lunch. Wait, you wouldn't mind if I invited a friend, would you? He's not on our team, but we've been asked to watch out for him."

"That's right, ninja are usually in teams. I didn't realize they were this close, though, to keep each others' constant company."

"We're different from normal ninja, and there are forces at work that call for constant guard. Not that your presence isn't reassuring."

'It makes me wonder who this guy really is that he would be a priest, yet no numbers, and Raito would say something like that. Raito hasn't complimented someone that honestly since I've met her...' Shihizuki thought. "Were we going to get Sasuke and go, or stand around and chat in the hallway all day?"

"That depends on whether or not Sasuke would like to go, wouldn't it?" Raito retorted. She knocked on Sasuke's door.

"What do you want now?" he asked irritably.

"Lunch. We're buying. Are you coming or not?"

"Sasuke doesn't exactly have the sunniest of dispositions," Haku told Abel. "But we're kinda stuck with him anyway."

Shihizuki nodded in agreement. "He's kind of a princess too."

Sasuke's eye twitched at the last comment. "I'm right here, you know."

"Yep."

"It's kind of hard to ignore the presence of 'the incredible Sasuke.'" Shihizuki could honestly say he didn't care what Sasuke thought of him, and therefore had no qualms with making fun of him.

"Ok, you three stay here, Father and I will have lunch. We'll see you when we get back."

Thank you, Haku and Shihizuki, for giving Raito's father a bad impression of me,' Sasuke thought sarcastically. By this point, the two of them had already left, leaving Sasuke, Shihizuki, and Haku in the hall. "You two made me look bad in front of Raito's dad," he accused.

Shihizuki had an idea that was less than honorable, but then again, he never did care for that kind of thing. "What of it? You don't have a reason to want to impress him."
Haku caught on to what Shihizuki was doing immediately, and kept his mouth shut. He didn't particularly like Sasuke either, much less as a potential boyfriend for Raito. As her best friend, he felt that he had somewhat of a responsibility to filter boys that were completely unworthy. As of yet, Sasuke was still on that list, so he wasn't about to contradict his team mate.

"I..."

"Unless you happen to like Raito." The look on Shihizuki's face as he said this was nothing short of demonic, malicious intent. Haku's expression wasn't nearly as scary, but it wasn't exactly reassuring either. Sasuke had to rethink the wisdom of letting them know that he liked Raito. If they wanted to, he was sure they were capable of making him experience unholy terror, and from the look on Shihizuki's face, they wanted to.

"So what's the real reason you're here?" Raito asked while stirring her ice with her straw. It was a habit she had, one that annoyed the heck out of Haku.

"I can't just stop by to say hello?" Abel asked, looking innocent. Raito didn't buy it.

"Nope. Not with the things that are going on here. I'd understand if you were passing through and needed a place to stay, if it wasn't at a time when critical information was just gathered. I take it this has something to do with Orochimaru?"

"I'm not at liberty to say much, especially knowing you, but yes, it does have to do with Orochimaru." Abel paused with his ramen half way to his mouth. "Why do I get the feeling that I just said too much?"

"Nah, you're just confirming what I already knew. He's planning an attack on this village, in the near future. Is he really getting to be that powerful that he has the Church concerned?"

"That's what I'm here to confirm. The Village Hidden in the Sound, as you probably already know, is a very secretive place, and I've been asked to gather information on it. You wouldn't happen to know anything, would you?"

"Is there a place I don't know anything about? I've never been to the Village Hidden in the Sound personally, and I'm not sure how relevant the information I do have on it is, but I'm willing to share if you'd be willing to shed some light on my own situation. If you're able to, that is. If not, no hard feelings."

"I almost forgot that you've been just about everywhere there is to be. Now that I think about it..."

"I should have been one of the first people that you asked?"

"No, I was going to say it explains your weird taste in music."

Raito mentally face palmed. She had forgotten what, exactly, it was like to be around the priest. "Thanks," she said sarcastically.

"Anytime!"

XXXXXXXXXX

"The Hokage is splitting up Team 7 for a bit, but we're to keep an eye on Sasuke as usual. Where's Father Abel?"

"He has other things that he needs to do right now. Turns out even they are concerned about Orochimaru. There are some rumors going around, sure, but I didn't know the Church was actually going to take them that seriously."

"Anything we need to be concerned about?" Shihizuki asked. He didn't know why this church was so important, but Raito seemed to be putting a lot of weight on it, so...

"I don't think so, Father said we shouldn't worry about it, and I'm not inclined to get involved. Church stuff is not my thing."

Shihizuki nodded, not really wanting to get involved himself. "Anything else useful?"

"Orochimaru is definitely planning on attaching Konoha. Not sure when as of yet, but it's definitely going to happen. Shihizuki, this information needs to be kept to ourselves, Father wasn't supposed to tell me me anything, and I don't want to get him in trouble."

"I understand, I'm not stupid."

"Sorry, most people would want to tell someone to protect the innocents, not that I in any way condone your attitude towards this. Which reminds me, in the event that the Akatsuki come in an attempt to kidnap Naruto during the chaos, which isn't their style, but all the same, Sasuke absolutely can not get close to them. If that happens, we'll execute a code three, agreed?"

Haku and Shihizuki nodded. Both of them knew about Sasuke's past and the Akutsuki already, as did Raito, obviously.

"It will be nice to have some free time now. The Hokage made it clear that while Sasuke is with Kakashi, we won't need to protect him. Which means..."

"We'll be able to explore other possible job options. Excellent. After Orochimaru comes, is there a place in particular you'd like to go, Shihizuki? Between the three of us, you've probably traveled the least..."

"Anywhere?" Shihizuki asked dubiously.

"Well, not anywhere, per say, but pretty much, yeah. Want me to go get a map?" Raito asked, somewhat pleased by Shihizuki's reigned in enthusiasm. To pretty much anyone else, it would have been invisible, but Raito and Haku made a point of knowing Shihizuki to their best of their abilities.

Shihizuki nodded, and got up to retrieve it. Haku looked at Raito seriously. "You aren't going to have a problem leaving Konoha, are you? I know you've grown attached to a certain neighbor who lives across the hall..."

"I'll get over it. I can't afford distractions anyway, remember?"

Haku gave Raito a look. "Love isn't a distraction."

Raito blushed the tiniest bit. "I don't love him. He's just one of those people that if I'm not careful, I could place him in front of..." Raito's expression sobered, and she looked at Haku seriously. "I can't allow myself to get too attached. There are other things that need to come first."

"Raito, you have to be one of the most difficult people I have ever met. I'm half tempted to just tell him for you." Haku was entirely serious, but there were no real intents to do something that would hurt his best friend. Most of the reason he said it was for the reaction.

Everything about Raito seemed to harden. "No. Leaving Konoha is for the best, don't make it any harder than it has to be."

Haku didn't like this, but was forced to accept it. It was obvious that Raito was not budging on this this, no matter what he said. The only conclusion that he could reach was that it had something to do with whatever it was she was protecting that she also refused to tell him about.

It was getting really annoying by this point, but there wasn't much Haku could do about it. If he pushed it any further, Raito would start treating him with formal iciness, not something Haku wanted to go through again. It was as far as he had pushed her, so far, for a good reason. Raito was very good at pushing just the right buttons to make a point while not quite hurting. The insults, as guarded and hidden as they were, still stung.

The topic was officially closed when Shihizuki came back with a map, and both of them let it go. Shihizuki was aware that something had happened, he knew Raito and Haku fairly well by now, but didn't say anything about it. He knew by now that no matter what he did, he wasn't going to get straight answers out of either of them.