Finally! My exams are over! And now I've finally completed chapter nine. Took me quite a time since I was thinking of whether to stall time or just go into the main part. Of course I chose the latter… Hope you people will like it!
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(Chapter9)
Bright, blazing sun, white puffy clouds and occasion gentle wind. Definitely a good weather to stalk someone compared to getting soaked to the bone during a heavy downpour. As usual, Kakashi could be seen strolling along the road of Konohagakure, his mouth humming a tune that only god knows what song it was. Behind him were two girls, or rather, two stalkers that had been following him for quite some while. For what reasons, Kakashi did not know, but his keen sense had already picked up their presence from the time they started spying on him. And of course, he smelled something fishy.
"Well, if they really want to play hide and seek with me, I'll be glad to join them."
There was some nudging between the two stalkers when he stopped suddenly and without a warning, he disappeared in a 'poof' of white smokes while the both of them were busy with each other.
Meanwhile, Sakura was still whispering words at Hinata to activate her Byakugan. But unfortunately for the both of them, it seems that their prey had gotten away for the third time since they first spied on him.
"We'll never get to see what's underneath him at this rate we are going." Sakura sighed in exasperation. Hinata nodded in agreement. Their 'mission' had been unsuccessful so far and the reason for their failure was always the same- either they were too slow or Arashi was too fast. Both got out from their hiding places and sat down to reflect on what had happened minutes ago. Hinata gazed at the place where Arashi once stood before perking up as a thought floated into her mind.
"D-do you think that A-Arashi-san knows that we are following him?" Hinata suggested. Sakura bit her nails while racking her brains on the possibilities even though she assumed that the chances were low.
"I don't think so… he's only a genin and I don't think his senses are that sharp yet. At least not now…"
"B-but how come h-he managed to get away every time b-before I activate my Byakugan?"
There was a pregnant pause as wrinkles could be seen on Sakura's forehead.
"It must be a coincidence. Let's give it another attempt." She finally stated her decision and both of them disappears in a whirlwind of dried leaves.
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It wasn't long when they found him and were back on trail again. But this time was different. It ended faster than they had imagined it would be. It was only for a few seconds since they had spotted him and a split second before it was replaced with empty air. He was nowhere to be seen again… not even his shadow. A vein could be seen popping out from Sakura's head. Well, it seems that not only Hinata was getting tired of this repeated incident.
"I don't believe it! For four times we followed him and he's gone before we could even lay a finger on him!" the medic-nin shouted out in frustration.
"C-calm down, Sakura-chan… I-It's not your fault." Hinata reached out for Sakura's arms which were now raised above her head and fist clenched, looking like she was about to hit anybody that crosses the path next.
"Hinata-sama's right, Sakura-san. It's not your fault. After all, he's not called the copy-nin for nothing." A low voice came from behind them, giving them quite a surprise. The two swirled around to see none other than Hyuuga Neji and Uchiha Sasuke.
Both of them were dressed in their jounin uniform, with their hands crossed in front of their chests. It was months after getting their Chunin rank, Neji and Sasuke went and took the Jounin's test and no surprise, they passed and were now preparing to take on ANBU. Their bloodline limit wasn't respected for nothing. With the Sharingan and Byakugan working together, they were considered one of the best two-man's team available in Konoha.
"Sasuke-kun! Neji-kun!" Sakura exclaimed in astonishment. Hinata's mouth was slightly opened as shocked could be seen in her white eyes.
"W-what do you mean by A-Arashi-san is the copy-nin, Neji-san?"
"Hn, that means, he's none other than Kakashi-sensei, or should I say, Hatake Kakashi." Sasuke explained with the usual arrogance held in his tone, "And to think that you didn't know he was your sensei, Sakura-chan."
akue was gested, " A-Arashi-san knows that we are following him?"
"No! It's not true! I did suspect he was Kakashi-sensei, but he firmly stated that he was Arashi, and not Kakashi-sensei! How could you two just jumped to conclusion like that?!" There was a sudden outburst from the pink-haired girl but nevertheless, Neji and Sasuke seemed unaffected by it.
"Grow up, Sakura-chan. You can't always go around believing people just because they say so." There was the humiliations again, thrown straight at her, "We've confirmed it with Neji's Byakugan and I'm sure that's enough proof for his identity."
"And the thing now is that we don't know of his motives, may it be that he's spying us or even working with Akatsuki, nobody knows." The other Hyuuga added on.
"D-demo, Neji-san, you seemed really f-friendly with Arashi-kun a few days ago… Y-you should know he's not that bad…" Hinata stopped herself when she saw Neji's eyes hardened.
"That time at the memorial, it was a misjudgment. It was my bad to trust him so easily and I, as a Jounin, should have been more aware of that fact. Furthermore, when I learnt that Arashi is Kakashi, and with a probability of working with the Akatsuki, it just proves how we should not trust strangers."
"No! I refuse to believe you two! Even if he's really Kakashi-sensei, I don't think it's appropriate for you both to suspect him especially as a member of Akatsuki! He's a ninja from Konoha! You know that he won't betray us… You know it too, Sasuke! He's our sensei and I'm sure that you know he won't do that after all these years!" Sakura looked as if she's about to burst in anger and the unfazed look on Sasuke was only acting as a catalyst to it.
"Look here, a supposedly dead ninja appeared out of the blue, grown a lot younger, not revealing his identity to the village and bringing an Akatsuki's cloak with him. What makes you think we can trust him?" Neji said as he witnessed the furious and shocked faces of Sakura and Hinata respectively were replaced by one filled with horror.
"A-Akatsuki's cloak you say?"
"Indeed. We managed to search his items apparently while he was away and guess what we've found?" Sasuke smirked. "That's already enough evidence, Sakura. And you should be the one who's most clear on what will happen if this information gets to the Hokage."
"You can't do that to Ara- I mean Kakashi-sensei!"
"Hn. Too bad we already did."
"Y-you mean you already told Shinshou?" Sakura voice was now soft, a huge contrast to what it was minutes ago. Just like a lion that was baring its malicious fangs and assume a stance that screams of a possible sudden pounce had transformed into a docile and timid rabbit.
"Hai. We reported everything to her. I believe Tsunade-sama will make her decision soon." Neji answered her question. "Although it was kind of disappointing… to think one of Konoha's greatest shinobi would do something as despicable as joining the Akatsuki."
"It's not true I tell you! Kakashi-sensei wouldn't…"
"And do you have proof for that?" The Uchiha interrupted in, his expression still as smug as ever.
Silence.
"The possession of the Akatsuki's cloak speaks everything. As much as this is top secret information, we also found documents on him… documents that contain the information of Konoha's shinobi, ranking from Chuunin to ANBU and the most convincing evidence, plans for attack. "
"I-I don't believe this… Kakashi-sensei…" Sakura's lips were trembling now, her eyes filled with disbelief. Was she wrong in believing Kakashi all along? Was she wrong in supporting him?
"Although the plans did not state which particular target they're aiming at, we believe it has something to do with Konoha. You may choose to believe it or not, Sakura-chan… everything we had just said is nothing but facts." Neji added in before looking over to Hinata. "And that goes for you too, Hinata-sama."
The two were just getting ready to teleport when Sakura stood up abruptly.
"You know what? I still believe in Kakashi-sensei. No matter what you've said, Kakashi has been a shinobi of Konoha for many years. Whatever he's doing right now, nobody knows. But I'm sure he has a valid reason for his actions. After all, he has his way of a ninja. And I believe Naruto will choose to continue believing in him too."
There were no more words after the speech Sakura gave. At least not until a few seconds after, when Sasuke's brow twitched in annoyance.
"Tch. Do what deems right for you. I'm not wasting my time on an idiot like you or Naruto." And the two disappeared from sight.
"S-sakura-chan…" Hinata whispered.
"Is anything wrong?"
"I-I feel that you are right in b-believing in Kakashi-sensei. D-During that time at the memorial when I first met A-Arashi-kun, something about him made me feel like t-trusting him. It was the same way I-I feel around you guys. When Neji-kun told me k-Kakashi-sensei was in the Akatsuki, s-somehow deep inside, I still trust him. Just know that, I-I'll support you all the way, S-sakura-chan!" It took lots of courage for the usual shy Hinata to say something like that. By the end of her speech, her cheeks were tinted red as she fiddled with her fingers.
A smile graced upon the pink-haired girl lips, "Thanks, Hinata-chan. For now, I guess I'll be listening out to whatever that may happen to Arashi-kun, or Kakashi-sensei."
"I-I guess so…"
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(Hokage's office)
Tsunade was feeling really frustrated. As much as she liked to trust Kakashi, the news that the two boys brought her hours ago was disturbing her greatly. Kakashi in Akatsuki? It can't be true… As much as she would want to deny the fact, the evidence that the boys brought was enough to topple the confidence she had in Kakashi. And now they are waiting for her orders on what to do next. It was giving her a terrible headache. It killed her mood for a drink too.
Soft rapping on the door sounded as Tsunade broke her train of thoughts.
"Come in."
Sakura entered the room and stood in front of the Hokage's table.
"You look disturbed, Shishou."
"Of course I am feeling disturbed. Not to mention frustrated. It's a long story anyway." The Godaime gave a chuckle and pretended to look at the papers but in actual fact, the information was bugging her like hell.
Sakura gave a gulp, "Is this something to do with Arashi-kun?"
"You can put it that way."
"What are you going to do to Kakashi-sensei next?"
There was a pause in Tsunade's actions.
"I already know the truth, Shishou. And I believe Kakashi has his own reasons!"
"Silence! It's is not in your position to say that and neither it is for me. Those two bastards… of all times they just had to mention it in the presence of the elders. Of course the elders were shock and now it's up to them to decide Kakashi's fate. Not even my intervention could do anything to help the situation. Furthermore, with those evidences the boys possessed… I'm afraid it's not going to be an easy escape for Hatake. Trust him to be careless… that idiot."
"Demo Shishou, you still trust him right? You still believed in him, don't you?" the girl looked at her with eyes that glimmered with hope.
"Unless someone brainwashed him, I doubt he'll betray Konoha. At least that's what I hope is true."
That earned a grin from her apprentice. There was a solid knock on the door, before the door opened. It was the Elders.
"I'm afraid this girl has to go for the matter we're handling is of great delicate." The old man spoke as he came forward and stood beside Sakura.
"As the Hokage, I allow her stay. She already knew of this matter and it won't bring any harm to let her know what would happen to her friend." Tsunade ordered leaving the two aged couples with no choice.
"As you wish, Hokage-sama. After much discussion, we felt that the most appropriate way of handling this issue concerning Hatake Kakashi and the Akatsuki would be…"
"…executing him." His partner finished up.
"NANI?!" Tsunade roared out, the veins in her forehead were visible now. Her eyes were filled with untold anger that anyone who meets eye to eye with her would be reduced to a pile of goo. "How could you go to such extend as to execute him?! He's still one of Konoha's valued Shinobi!"
"That was in the past, Hokage-sama. Now that he came back to Konoha, joined up with Akatsuki, and in addition, plans of what we deduced to be the attack of Konoha and the possession of Konoha's top secrecy files, I'm afraid we had to put in such measures. It's the best we can do for Konoha. After all, it's the life of a shinobi. As long as anyone is plotting against Konoha, despite their status, we'll still have to eliminate him."
"DEMO…"
"I hope you could cooperate with us, Hokage-sama. Please excuse us." The two went out just as hastily as they had come in. Tsunade slammed her fist on the table.
"What evidence do they have that proofs Kakashi is plotting against Konoha?! Nothing than some mere pieces of paper! Damn all of these!" She shouted out. Desperation and anger writhed within her, burning her like no other flame would.
Sakura could only stand as the new information processed through her mind.
"Execute… Does that mean Kakashi will die? No… He can't die. He can't!" Tears were threatening to flow down her eyes. Tsunade noticed her fear and traumatized state. She took a few deep breaths before sinking into deep thoughts.
"Sakura. You'll be going for a mission."
"How could I go on a mission when Kaka…"
"Let me finish first!! As I said, you'll be going on a mission. Take Kakashi out of Konoha. Take him somewhere. Time length of the mission is unknown. Am I understood?!"
"Hai! Hokage-sama!" Sakura shouted back at her as new hope gushed into her. Amidst the utter bleakness of the situation, a very small, but existant ray of hope shone through, rekindling the possibility of salvaging the situation.
"You'll be setting of immediately. Go get ready and inform Kakashi of everything!" Tsunade gave the last instructions before softening her gaze at Sakura, "And be safe, you two."
"I will, Shishou. You too." With that, Sakura did a few hand seals and was gone in a poof of white smokes.
"I pray for your safety, Kakashi, Sakura."
TBC
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A/N: Sorry for the sudden development in the story… guessed it was a bit sudden : ( Please read and review! Reviews are important to me and I believe it's important to all authors out there too!