AN:/ Thank you Remzal Von Enili (Naruto of the Winds) for this idea! Sorry it took so long to get out, but I wanted to do this properly. So, anyway, on with the story!
-NTS-
"Alright team 7, you've been cleared for a simple c-rank espionage mission. Your target is the former Daimyo of Rice country. You are to watch his manor for three days and report back. This is a no-action mission. If you are discovered you are to pull out immediately. Understood?"
"Hai, Hokage-sama."
"Hai, Hokage-jiji."
"Don't make me regret this, Naruto."
"I won't let you down."
"I think you mean, 'We won't let you down Hokage-sama.'" Sakura says with a bow.
"Dismissed." They bow and turn from his gaze.
"You are to meet by the Northern gate in an hour, packed for a weeks trip."
Their reply is cut off as the door closes behind them.
"I hope the council isn't letting you bite off more then you can chew." Sarutobi muses to himself as he puffs on his pipe.
-NTS-
The walk was long and boring, even though they made it to Rice country before nightfall. Once they arrived Kakashi taught them 'camping' jutsu. He justified this by saying that they didn't want to stay in the village, since that would draw too much attention...or some such rot. They grumbled about learning mostly useless jutsu, but were secretly glad to be learning anything from the lazy sliver haired man. So they learned small elemental jutsu's...how to start a fire, how to obliterate traces of the fire, how to hide the smoke, how to cover their tracks, how to camouflage their sleeping bags, where to put their food to keep it from wild animals, and other such wilderness necessities.
The first day of their three-day scout, was spent together roaming the boarder of the mansion. They learned how many people were in the house, their positions and relation to the former daimyo. They learned how to hide their chakra, and how to tell where people were when you couldn't see them by extending a thin layer of chakra out from their bodies. Kakashi had them pick the four points that they would be watching. They had to state why they thought those spots would be important to watch, and who would be best suited to watch them. In summary, Kakashi actually taught. And Naruto flourished. He was second to learn all the jutsu, except the fire making one but only because Sasuke already knew it. When they returned to their camp they decided on who would go where.
"Kakashi-sensei should watch the South Front Gate. It's the most heavily guarded and the easiest place to be spotted. You have more experience so you'll be better there." She says turning to her teacher. "Sasuke should watch the East Gate, He's gotten good at the camouflage jutsu and the forest on that side would help blend him in better. I should watch the West Gate because it leads to town, and if I'm spotted I can pretend to be a lost traveler or a villager out looking for herbs."
"What about me?" Naruto asks bouncing.
"You...should watch the North Side."
"But...there's no gate there."
"Exactly. If you watch the North Side there's no way you could mess this up."
"Rrrrrrggggh!" Naruto plays his part, lunging for her.
"Now Naruto, what Sakura means to say is, that watching the North Side is very important. We need all of our bases covered, and we wouldn't want anyone sneaking up on us from the back unnoticed. We can't afford to leave anywhere unguarded. Right, Sakura-chan."
"Hai, sensei."
"Mmm...Well, okay I guess..."
"Good it's settled. Sasuke will take the East, Sakura the West, Naruto the North, and I'll cover the South."
"Hai."
"Now get some rest."
-NTS-
The thing I really hated about the North Side was that it was so far from both the East and West Gates. The South Gate was the main entrance, and the East Gate was about a quarter of a mile from it. The West Gate was just over a quarter of a mile from the South Gate, and the East and West Gates were about equally far from each other. But the North Side was about a mile away from the East gate, a little less then a mile from the West gate which means it was well over a mile from the North Gate. Did I mention this place was huge?
My worry was well founded on the second day of our independent watch, the third, and final day of our three-day mission. The manor was on the top of a Mountain. It wasn't high enough for a constant layer of snow, but wasn't anywhere near small enough to be called anything less then a Mountain (Yes with a capital 'M'). The South Gates road leads to a major business trade route, while the West Gate's road lead to a prosperous farming village about halfway down the Mountain. Samurai, coming and going in regular predictable patterns, frequented the East Gate's path. The lonely abandoned North Side had a well-worn path along the edge of the eight-foot fence, most likely from the patrol that passed by every half hour. There was about ten feet of clearing from the edge of the worn path, and then a small line of trees before the plateau dropped off into a steep valley. About a thousand yards down the Mountainside there was a huge worn clearing. Its purpose was unclear and when we investigated it the first day it was shrugged off as a dried up lakebed. There was a path about five feet wide that ran from the bottom of the lakebed to a river at the bottom of the valley. We deduced this was a tributary that only came into use during the rainy months.
Well, I was bored, sitting around and counting the time by the passing of the guards so I made a Kagebunshin and began sneaking down to the clearing. When I finally arrived my "Oh-shit-somethings-about-to-be-destroyed-and-it's-going-to-be-blaimed-on-you" sense started prickling in the back of my mind. But I was in the middle of a forest; the only 'something' of any value was the Daimyo's manor at the top of the mountain. I didn't think if I was being attacked, that I'd run UP the mountain, instead of DOWN the mountain, so I ignored it. Remind me not to do that again, okay?
So there I am, running around playing Detective-Ninja when I heard a strange "slooshing" sound. I glanced around cautiously cause that sense I told you about was getting more persistent now. Looking down I noticed a HUGE scale lying in the lake bed. I picked it up and examined it closely, ignoring my senses when all the sudden the "slooshing" turned into a grating sound. I glanced toward the river to see a giant snake making it's way towards me. Atop his head stood a tall, pale man with long black hair and some strange purple cord wrapped around his waist. My panic sense was now going crazy and the destruction sense was more of a 'you-waited-too-long,-it's-inevitable-now'. I jumped quickly into the tree line hoping against all common sense that I wasn't spotted. Thinking quickly I made a clone and dispersed him so the clone watching the North Side would know to book it the hell out of there. The Man's destination was obvious and we were under non-interference orders. In the second it took me to process the hour and a half of watching the guards pass, the Man atop the snake was no longer atop the snake. He was standing on the far end of the clearing, the closest he could be to the Manor without being in a tree. He looked at the snake and said:
"Get rid of our guest."
Goosebumps covered my skin.
-NTS-
"Sasuke. Naruto missed the last check in. Since you're closer to his point, please go make sure he isn't sleeping on the job or something."
"Hai."
-NTS-
In the time it took you to read that, I'd had my ass handed to me...by a fuckin' snake! Okay...so maybe it took a little longer then that, but definitely by the time Sasuke learned I wasn't at my post, I'd had my ass handed to me by a snake. I was just about to get swallowed alive when a thought struck me...the Angel Arm!
I discovered, after my brother's death, that as long as I was the one who called on it, it would obey me. I could call it up and put it back without firing it...or an ounce of pain! And with practice I could vary the amount of energy put into it to vary the explosion size. I did all of my testing out in the desert while I was trying to use the last of my energy...anyway, my point is the Angel Arm was my last hope!
So I whipped out my gun and began concentrating. The light forms, the cover pops off...the black energy quickly forms a perfect sphere around the catalyst...light floods the area...the gun fuses with my arm...and grows into it's true proportions. The snake paused, warily, eying the strange thing pointed at it. A gun made to fire pure physical energy... I made careful observations as to the Snakes weight, height, mass, length, and calculated out just how much energy it would take to destroy it and nothing else...BOOM!
-NTS-
"Naruto's not at his post..." Sasuke says into his walkie-talkie.
"Roger that. I'll be there as quick as I can. Sakura, hold your position. Stay alert. Sasuke, wait for my arrival."
"Hai."
"Hn."
Sasuke wondered what the dobe could be doing. He wandered into the shallow tree line as the guards made their way past. He glanced over the edge of the plateau and saw a giant snake in the dried up lakebed. It appeared to be approaching someone in red...Red? Naruto! The snake opened it's gaping maw and was about to swallow the dobe whole, when Naruto pulled out that silver piece of his...the snake hesitated and Sasuke watched with bated breath, Sharingan spinning...Kakashi HAD told him to wait for his arrival...
-NTS-
The ground rumbles under Kakashi's feet. Worried, he pickes up his pace. He locates his students fairly easily. Sasuke had lost his concentration and his chakra's flaring like crazy. Naruto...is beat to a pulp and lookes absolutely exhausted, barely able to stand on his own two feet. And there's something...different about the blond...that's it! There's a patch of pitch-black hair peaking out at the bottom in the back of his blond locks.
"Naruto...what happened?"
"Kakashi...sensei..." Naruto says warily turning to face them. "There was this giant snake...and a man. The man went up to he Daimyo's manor and the snake was ordered to kill me...but this four tailed fox came out of nowhere and dragged the snake back towards the river. It was really weird...I wonder if HE had anything to do with it?"
"What? Kakashi-sensei!" Sasuke yells indignant. "He's lying! There was no fox! He-"
"Sasuke. Be quiet."
"But Sensei!"
"Go find Sakura. We need to regroup and get out of here."
"But Sensei! He's LYING!"
"Sasuke. That was an order."
"Hn. Stupid fucking spider. Who does he think he is anyway?" Sasuke mumbles to himself loud enough for us to hear it loud and clear.
Naruto watches him go with worried eyes.
-NTS-
Stupid Naruto. Lying about that power. Stupid Kakashi for believing him. Him over me! They're just fucking spiders trying to eat all the butterflies. Filthy human trash. I'll get that power. It'll be mine eventually. First I'll kill my brother...then all the other spiders crawling around on this planet. That's it, I'll make an Eden so beautiful, so perfect...just you watch!
-NTS-
When Kakashi and I reach Sasuke and Sakura, silence reigns. Kakashi clears his throat and everyone glances at him.
"Everything appears to have calmed down. Now, we can either continue our mission, or we can return to Konoha."
"Sensei?"
"Yes Naruto?"
"Either way, don't you think we should find out what that man did first?"
"That's...actually a good idea, Naruto."
"Harrumph."
They all extended their senses into the manor...only to feel nothing.
"What does it mean Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asks trembling. "There were dozens of people in there...where'd they go?"
Kakashi is silent for a moment then, "We need to look inside."
I look at him. "They're probably dead." I warn my teammates before they have a chance to put the camouflage jutsu up. Sakura looks nervous. Sasuke, indifferent, and Kakashi's surprised at my insight. "I mean, that guy with the snake was dangerous looking. If I'd had to fight him, I'm sure I would have been dead before you even noticed I was gone. The snake itself kicked my ass...and he wouldn't have snuck in the back if he had good intentions..."
"Naruto's probably right." Kakashi says somberly. "You don't have to go inside if you don't want to." Sasuke just 'hn'ed and I've already got the Jutsu up. Sakura looks indecisive before gathering her courage and putting up the jutsu. Sasuke follows suit and Kakashi nods.
We stick together, for the most part. What no one knew was that I had already sent clones ahead to scout out the manor. Bodies littered the house. The cook lay dead in the kitchen; the butler by the door, and the former Daimyo was found brutally torn apart in his bed. Mercenaries and Samurai were spread all throughout. No one touched anything and we quickly left back towards Konoha.
-NTS-
Stupid Naruto bitched and moaned until he could get a bathroom break, and I followed him. A clone walked up to him and handed him another gun before disappearing. Naruto examined it closely before putting it in his bag. I could feel my eyes narrow into slits before I angrily walk back to the team, leaving Naruto to pee.
-NTS-
I wandered off from the group, claiming the good old bathroom excuse. I could feel Sasuke's eyes on me, but my clone was exhausted and didn't have the energy to go much further. He handed me the gun, Knives' gun and popped out of existence. I held the gun for a moment, memories plaguing me, Sasuke's recent use of the word spider and his reaction towards the Angel arm...it was...disturbing to say the least... Could he be? The snap of a twig broke me from my thoughts. With a shrug I shoved the gun into my backpack and after it was back in place, I pulled the zipper to my pants down. I heard Sasuke retreat back to the rest of the team and sighed. This could be a problem.
-NTS-
A few hours later they stopped just into fire country to take a rest. It had been a long day, first being bored with watch duty, then being scared senseless, the death and carnage that was the Daimyos manor, and then the long walk back to Konoha...although Naruto's wounds had healed, he was still exhausted, and had been walking the last stretch half asleep. They used their camping Jutsu and were asleep very quickly. Kakashi kept watch.
-NTS-
Hn. And he calls himself a ninja. Any ninja that can be taken out by a sleeping jutsu while on guard duty is pathetic. Sasuke thinks as he sneaks over to Naruto's bag. Inside is his ticket to power. The gun...his gun...
Naruto wakes five minutes later with a start.
-NTS-
Something was off...I glanced over to Kakashi's post, but he's asleep. Sakura was as well, but Sasuke was nowhere to be seen. A thought struck me and I quickly checked my bag to see Knives' gun gone...So Sasuke had stolen it and run...why did he spare us...me? The only thing Kniv-Sasuke, could want with that gun was destruction. I had to stop him. So I left our sleeping instructor and followed Sasuke's obvious trail, obliterating mine as I went along. Did this child learn nothing? Or was it on purpose? Did he want me to follow him? Was he leading me out, away from the others so he could kill me? Would I be able to stop him again? This time I didn't have Meryl and Millie to fall back upon. This time I really was all alone.
Worrying was getting me nowhere. I picked up my pace and reached him in no time at all. So distracted was I, that I didn't notice that I'd been followed till much later...
The gun goes off, wasting bullets. There go five whole salmon sandwiches...
"Sasuke." He twists around, surprised. Not expecting me then. Geez is he stupid? He points the gun at me and I grin sardonically, ah, positions almost reversed. At least I know he wasn't expecting me. Maybe he doesn't know I'm-
"Naruto."
"Sasuke." I say slowly. "That's mine."
"But it isn't! You stole it from the former Daimyo of Rice Country, didn't you?"
"Are you telling or asking, Sasuke?"
"Why'd you lie about this to Kakashi?" He asks shaking the gun on 'this'.
"That's not any of your damn business, Sasuke-teme."
"Yes it is! You've lied so much to him! There was no fox to come save you! You used your gun to kill that snake! I saw you! You can't fool me like you did Sensei!"
"Sasuke..."
"Shut up! You lying filth! When I find my brother I'll KILL HIM! With this! And if you take another step closer I'll use it like you did this afternoon!"
"Sasuke, the Angel arm-"
"It's time I've gotten my revenge, brother." He spits.
"Sasuke!" I can feel him gathering his energy. Oh lord, this is going to hurt. I wince and close my eyes, accepting the inevitable...a moment passes...nothing changes. I peak open an eye...Sasuke's face turns red.
I laugh.
"I-it's not funny! Damnit! Why isn't it working! I'm gathering chakra just like you did!" I fall to the ground clutching my sides.
"I-I'm so-" relieved. I know my laughing's moved into hysterics, but I can't seem to stop. I can't believe I thought Sasuke was Knives! It's just too funny for words! Sasuke's gun is out of bullets so he comes over and kicks me in the side.
"Why didn't it work?" He asks angrily glaring at the gun like it did something wrong.
"It's a...Kekkei genkai." I say as my laughter subsides.
"But you thought it might work for me..."
"I'm an orphan, dumbass. I don't know who my parents are. For all I know mum was an Uchiha and she's why I can use it."
"No way."
"Yes way. Now, can I have it back?" He glares at it some more.
"I could still have use of it..."
"Tell you what, I'll make you a gun that won't remind you of your failure here tonight, if you promise not to use it against me or anyone in Konoha. I'll even teach you to shoot."
"Well...I suppose that'll be alright..." He says tossing it onto my chest. "Let's hurry up and get back to camp."
"Why was sensei asleep?"
"I put a sleeping jutsu on him." I freeze.
"There's no way..." Looking back over the last half hour...I had been followed...but why hadn't he interfered? Was he...observing me?
-NTS-
The rest of the trip home ran smoothly. There weren't any more giant snake or crazy bandits, no more clones bringing me potentially dangerous items, and Sasuke kept his kleptomaniac hands to himself.
A few days later Jiraiya begged me to go with him on a training trip. All that was left was getting the Hokage's approval. We'd be gone for a week and I'd learn all the pervy-sage's ultra-secret jutsu...or so he told me. I didn't believe him for a second, but spending time with someone who knew my parents would be nice.
"I'll approve," The gray haired man says leaning back in his char. "But one thing you and Jiraiya must realize is that Team 7 comes first. If they receive a mission and I think you'll be a necessary asset, I'm going to request they retrieve you."
"Hai, Hokage-sama."
"I wouldn't dream of putting them at so severe a disadvantage, Hokage-jiji."
"Of course you wouldn't." He says with a smile. "Your week begins tomorrow."
"Domo."
-NTS-
Three days later team 7 gets an out of town mission in the area Jiraiya said he'd be training Naruto.
"Your first objective is to retrieve Naruto. Once he's with you, you may proceed with your mission. Is that understood?"
"But why Hokage-sama?"
"Teams are in threes for a reason, Sakura-chan."
"We understand, Hokage-sama." Kakashi says mildly glaring at the pink haired Kunoichi. Questioning the Hokage when he's in one of his 'teamwork' or 'the will of fire' moods is never a good idea.
-NTS-
The next day Team 7, minus Naruto, arrives at the small peaceful village. They check into a hotel and begin the search for the Sanin and their elusive teammate. They find them near a river, 3 miles south of the town. Naruto's standing on the water, he flashes through some hand signs and a small whirlpool begins forming a few feet from where he's standing. Jiraiya looks on with pride and approval.
"Now. How could you combine the two? Remember you're creating a waterspout."
"If I begin with the whirlpool and then use the first jutsu to pull it up...?"
"That's one way. But consumes way too much time, while you're casting the second jutsu your enemy will be able to take advantage. There's a simpler way. Think of the hand signs as seals, since that's what they are...you can cut and paste them as needed..."
"Sorry to interrupt." Kakashi says taking a few steps forward.
"I take it you need him for a mission, Kakashi?" Jiraiya asks, his facial expressions closing off somewhat.
"Yes. The Hokage 'okay'ed extra time afterwards for your training trip."
"Alright. You heard him bozu. Let's head back to town for now. The sooner you finish, the sooner we can get back to work."
"Hai, Ero-Sennin." The walk back to town was silent.
Well...it would have been if Naruto had stopped theorizing about how to combine the seals to make it both swirl and rise to make a waterspout. Jiraiya encouraged his questions and so everyone was stuck listening to them ramble on until eventually they slipped into some geek-code. Kakashi recognized the accent, connecting that Naruto had spoken this 'language' on numerous, strange, unconnected occasions. He continued trying to piece everything together, with little success, until they (finally) reached the town.
Jiraiya went off to do his thing, and Team 7 decided on a lunch break.
-NTS-
I was quiet as we ate, only half listening to our mission assignment. My thoughts were stuck on the waterspout.
"There's a swordsman..." Kakashi's voice mumbles. "Terrorizing the town...our mission to...located to the north...must be careful...listening, Naruto?"
"Of course I'm listening, Kakashi-sensei. There's a dangerous swordsman terrorizing the town. His base of operations is north of the town and it's our mission to bring him in for questioning. We need to be extra careful because Intel thinks he's one of the seven swordsman of the Mist, like Zabuza was."
"I'll be damned. You were listening."
"Of course I was." I say with a foxy grin. The table falls silent as we continue with our meals...if I put the ram seal next to the monkey seal and then...yes that might work...
-NTS-
Since the town was reputed to have the worst tasting water this side of Mist no one noticed our water was tampered with. We managed to make it all the way to the enemy's hideout before falling prey to whatever was in our drinks. Sakura was first, probably because she had guzzled the water down, saying something about filling her stomach so she could eat less. Just as Kakashi realizes what's going on, it's too late. He was going to tell us to pull out, immediately, but before he could open his mouth he and Sasuke both were paralyzed. I worry about this for a moment before I too can no longer move.
A tall man steps from the shadows. His long silver hair nearly reaches the floor and the sword at his waist is almost as long as he was tall. Menace radiated off him in waves. Sasuke and Sakura pass out from fear. He gloats about how smart he is, how perceptive he is to notice Konoha ninja after him. I was thinking he was more paranoid then perceptive and that we were a three man Genin cell not hunter nin. He orders his henchmen to take us to the main room and they drag us, none too carefully, to the specified area. When we get there, I begin to notice a faint tingling sensation in my hands and feet. I look over to Kakashi, but he shows no signs of being able to move. Sasuke and Sakura are still out cold.
The man tells us he's one of the seven swordsmen of the mist. Hah, as if we didn't have our own intelligence about him. By the time he's revealed his super secret evil plan my hands and feet aren't tingling anymore. The feeling has moved up to my chest, stomach and back and I'm sure by the time he's decided what he's going to do with us, that I'll be ready to kick some butt. I glance over to Kakashi, but he's still not even twitching. A few minutes later I take in a slow steady breath and am glad to feel my muscles in working order. The swordsman, he told us his name (Seth or Roth or something but I wasn't really paying attention) finally decides to kill us (well duh, what did he think he was going to, let us go? I suppose one can always hope). Perfect. He chooses to kill me first be cause I seem to be a disgrace amongst fighters. 'Really?' he mocks. 'What fighter runs around in a bright red coat in the middle of summer while on a mission?' Too bad he doesn't know Red in the language of flowers symbolizes unyielding determination.
Just as he moves towards me, I surprise him by whipping out a kunai and slamming it into his arm. I was going for his hand, but at least I didn't hit his heart, or neck, or anywhere else that would kill him. He jumps back and growls in pain and anger. I smirk, glad to have gotten a hit in my split second of surprise. He pulls out his sword and I gulp. It's even longer and pointer then I thought. My little Kunai seems pathetic in comparison...five minutes later It's all I can do to just stand on my feet and dodge the bastard. At this point I'm trying to buy some time until Kakashi's poison wears off. I take a second to see if he's showing any signs of movement, but his eyes are wide and full of fear...probably for my safety. I can't even tell if his hands are tingling, and I bet he's so worried he wouldn't notice even if they were. I've got several scratches and cuts along my arms and legs. My hands are bloody from doing flips to get away and pushing off the glass and rock covered floor. Really, we're inside, you'd think they'd clean their hideout a bit more often. I'm covered in sweat and blood and although the smaller cuts have healed I'm feeling woozy from the blood loss. Sephy laughs at me and congratulates me on lasting this long. I close my eyes with a sigh. I really can't keep going like this. I sway lightly and a heavy thump on my thigh opens my eyes wide. Of course! Why didn't I think of it sooner? Because it's my life I'm whittling away, I suppose. But if it's just a little I should be fine...
-NTS-
Jiraiya sat snuggled in between two beautiful ladies with four firm gems peaking out curiously at him. A glass of sake was in his hand and a half empty bottle sat on the table in front of him. Normally at this point he'd be working on his fourth bottle but something was bothering him...something didn't feel right...it was wrong and driving him nuts! With a murmured apology he gets up, pays for his drink and tips the ladies before stumbling out onto the street. Something about their mission was bothering him. He was worried and couldn't enjoy himself when it was poking him in his brain every thirty seconds. He'd go check on them, assure himself that everything was fine, and then he'd come back and spend a ton of money on women and booze. Yes that sounded absolutely perfect.
-NTS-
I take another, hopeful glance at Kakashi-sensei, but he's still paralyzed. I can see his fingers (FINALLY) twitching but it's going to be another ten minutes, at least, before he's capable of movement, and I don't think I can last that long.
With a suffering sigh, I pull out my piece and take aim. Just a little energy, we need him alive after all...the transformation begins and a familiar, unexpected, voice's gasp jerks my attention away from my aim and I realize half a second too late that I've lost my grip on the little Physical energy I had started putting into the gun. My "Oh-shit-you've-done-it-now" sense starts screaming at me as the energy moves in the only direction it can...out. It seems my 'no-aiming' has managed to hit the houses main support...and did I mention it was a three-story house? No? Well it is...was.
Jiraiya moves quickly and grabs our target. I book it out of there and Kakashi's motor skills are finally (magically) back. (Just what game is that lazy bastard playing?) My arm returns to normal as I'm running and I inconspicuously slip my gun back into its holster. With the Samurai out of the way my sensei's have moved their focus to me...I can feel their eyes examining every visible inch of my skin. More then once they check my eyes. And if that wasn't annoying enough, something feels...off.
-NTS-
"Was it a dream?" Kakashi whispers to Jiraiya.
"I think, Kakashi-kun*, that the exploded house says otherwise."
(*used to be slightly condescending.)
"I think you're right. We need some answers." Just as they open their mouths to question the blond, the boy passes out. "D'ya think he did it on purpose?"
"To avoid answering questions? Of course."
A girly shriek from the destroyed house pulls their attention away from their mysterious student.
"Crap. Sasuke. Sakura." Kakashi mumbles to himself almost panicking.
"You really are a bad teacher. How'd you forget about half your team? Really Kakashi?"
"Don't panic Sasuke, Sakura! I'll have you out in just a minute!" Kakashi calls while biting his thumb. A few hand seals later, Pakkun sits obediently at his feet. "Please go find my students locations, and let me know where they are." The dog barks and trots off. Kakashi sighs while Jiraiya laughs.
Once Sakura's paralysis finally wears off, they begin the long journey home.
Jiraiya, being the bigger, stronger, bad-er of the two adults, is forced to carry Mr. Seperoto while Kakashi carries Naruto. Hours later the gates of their beloved home come into view.
Kakashi takes Naruto to the hospital, he's got sever chakra exhaustion and his arm's been rubbed raw. They don't expect a full recover for a week, at least.
Jiraiya takes the prisoner and Kakashi's students to the prison. They learn how to check a person into the jail after a mission. Once they are done there they make their way to the Hokage's office. Kakashi, surprisingly enough, is waiting at the door.
-NTS-
"So that's what happened?" The Hokage asks puffing on his pipe. "Congratulations Team 7, your mission is complete. You are dismissed."
Sasuke and Sakura bow and leave. Kakashi and Jiraiya stay behind to report more.
"His arm turned into a gun you say? And it brought down a three-story house? Hmm..."
"Hokage-sama?" Kakashi questions carefully.
"Let us go visit the child."
"But sir, he's not supposed to even wake for at least three days. Sever chakra exhaustion-"
"I think he'll surprise you, Kakashi."
-NTS-
When they arrive, the hospital is in chaos.
"Just, WHAT, is going on in here?" The Hokage asks drawing everyone to a standstill.
"Oh! Hokage-sama! The De-Uzumaki brat's gone! We're searching the whole hospital as we speak, but so far he's nowhere to be found. And it seems he's left us a present…a 'mural' on the observatory windows. If you can even consider that shit, art." She says mumbling the last bit to herself.
"Hmm. Kakashi, go find Iruka. He knows Naruto's hiding places best. Jiraiya, start looking!"
"Hai." They chorus as they turn to leave the building.
Kakashi dashes off but Jiraiya sighs.
"He's already ruined my day once...why waste anymore time? If he weren't mostly okay, he wouldn't have made it out of the hospital, and wouldn't have left that gift. Besides who said that he's hiding from them? He's probably just in his apartment...bah. Woman's bath here I come!" He mumbles to himself before giggling like a maniac.
-NTS-
Hours later, Naruto's still in his room, munching on a box of 32 delicious glazed goodies. The ninja running around outside looking for him don't bother him at all...
-NTS-
AN:/Alright! It's a little over 13 pages in Word and well over my 5k minimum I set for myself to please those of you asking for longer chapters. Again, Thank you Remzal Von Enili for the request. I've got a few more small pieces planned thanks to some brainstorming, but if you've got a request, feel free to shoot me a message. I can't guarantee it'll be as long as this piece, but I sure will try. R&R and let me know if you see any mistakes.
YR