Chapter 8:

For the first time in a long time, Kakashi was there first. He leaned back against the wall, resting his head and closing his eyes. He really shouldn't have stayed with Naruto all night. Well, should he have? He didn't know. But still, he was tired. He yawned slightly, reaching into his pocket to pull out his Icha Icha book instinctively. Even though he wasn't going to read it, it made him feel more comfortable.

As he lay against the wall, his book that he for once was not reading in his hand, Kakashi thought. Mainly about his team. One held a demon inside of him, was loud and obnoxious however seemed to appeal to everyone that met him. Damn him and his stupid annoying charm. Then there was the silent victim, constantly focusing on his quest to kill his brother. It worried Kakashi that he still hadn't let that go. He could understand, of course, but revenge was never the answer. He knew that for a fact. And then you had the pink bubble gum princess, who was now most likely residing in a prison cell somewhere. She was kidnapped, right under everybody's noses and they slipped out without anybody knowing? Even without the extra security? Then again, Kakashi thought, he really should have gone with her. Well, should he? I mean, there was no point in escorting someone to find someone to train with. Maybe if he had relented and just went on missions…

There was a loud crash and it sounded as if someone had burst through the door downstairs. Kakashi didn't react. If he knew that type of sound, which he was highly accustomed to, then it could be one of two things. Gai was here, or Gai was here.

"Yosh! Lee, I am impressed! You came third!" Gai's booming voice travelled up through the floor and right into Kakashi's eardrums. He sounded like a lawnmower mixed with a chainsaw mixed with a megaphone. Kakashi winced slightly as the 'Gai Clone' continued.

"Yosh! I thank you Gai-sensei, but I do not understand, how did I come third!?"

"Well-" the voices were getting closer now, and soon his peace would be interrupted. Five, four, three, two, one…

The door flung open, revealing a beaming Gai, an equally beaming Lee and a dishevelled and tired Tenten, who was currently residing on Gai's back.

"If it isn't my most youthful rival Kakashi!" Yep, the voice was definitely worse up close. Much worse.

"Yo," Was the Copy Nin's standard greeting. Gai winced slightly.

"Gah! Damn you Kakashi and your hip coolness!"

Tenten rolled her eyes, but she soon let out a shriek of surprise as Gai got into his 'nice guy' pose; his bright smile probably giving more light off then the sun. There were no lights in the room.

"As I was saying Lee," Gai began still beaming like a crazy lunatic. "You see, I came first, but your most youthful teammate Tenten came second!"

Gai turned around to expect Tenten on his back but saw her on the floor instead, rubbing the back of her head. Gai beamed once again. "Yosh! You are already for youthful exercises, and after a hard long run! Yosh! You are truly and inspiration to the powers of youth!"

Tenten sweat dropped and rose slightly, giving a slight wave to Kakashi, who gave her a polite wave and a sympathetic smile.

Meanwhile, Lee's eyes filled to the brim with tears. "Gai-sensei," He managed to croak out. "I have failed you! But I shall become stronger. I will do one thousand one handed push ups and if I cannot do that I will run around Konoha's perimeter 40 times!"

"That's the spirit Lee!" Gai yelled, his eyes filling with tears of joy.

"Lee!"

"Gai-Sensei!"

"Lee!"

"Gai-Sensei!

"Lee!"

"Gai-Sensei!"

"LEE!"

"Gai-Sensei!"

The two then embraced passionately, tears of joy cascading down their faces. Kakashi and Tenten sweatdropped. Eventually the pulled away and Kakashi let out a sigh of relief. But that quickly ended.

"Yosh! My eternal rival, shall we get this most youthful meeting underway to steal back your student from the jaws of defeat!?"

The Copy Nin had decided. He should have never invited Gai.

"Okay," Kakashi said shaking his head a little as he leaned back against the wall. "Take a seat or stand, doesn't matter which."

Tenten nodded and took a seat, while Lee took the seat next to her. However, Gai just frowned slightly, before his booming voice deafened everybody once again. "Kakashi, you think you can best me!?" Gai leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms. "I shall best you in this manner most befitting. I challenge you to a battle of endurance. Whoever stays leant against the wall wins! Do you agree!?"

Kakashi cocked his head to the side slightly. "Sorry Gai, did you say something?"

Gai's eyes became wide and his face became downcast. 'Damn that Kakashi!' He thought, 'With his hip and cool ways!'

"Ahem."

Someone briskly knocked on the door, and stepped in. Kakashi gave her as warm a smile as he could muster. "Ino? Come in and take a seat."

The blonde surveyed the room. Great, Shikamaru wasn't there. That made things slightly easier. The circle of chairs made it easy to pick a spot. Since she didn't know anybody here yet, she decided to take the seat opposite Tenten. The brunette shot her a small smile, which she returned in kind. Rock Lee's smile, however, was blinding. He stood up on the chair, never mind his injuries, and exclaimed "Yosh! Who is this fair maiden!? Is it someone to help us return the lovely Sakura back to the village! How glorious! I am Konoha's Green Beast: Rock-"

He was swiftly cut off as Tenten whacked him on his uninjured leg. The result jarred the bushy browed teen and sent him backwards, falling over with a loud clunk.

Ino laughed. "Thanks for that," she said smiling at the brunette girl. She waved her off.

"No problem. Say, I think we met in the Forest of Death. I'm Tenten. Ino was it?"

Ino nodded, extending her hand. As Tenten did the same, she added. "It's a pleasure to meet another kunoichi besides Sakura and Hinata." They shook hands and exchanged warm smiles.

"Troublesome."

Ino snapped her head around to see Shikamaru leaning against the door frame, doing anything in his power to not look at the blonde bombshell. He wasn't succeeded, as his eyes flickered over. She scowled and crossed her arms, giving a loud huff and turning away. The lazy Genin muttered something about 'troublesome women' and walked into the room without an invitation. He took a seat as far away from everyone as possible, spilt down the middle between Tenten and Ino. Said brunette looked from the lazy Genin to the blonde bombshell. This intrigued her, but she was interrupted as Lee stood up from his injury, ready to shout his introduction to Shikamaru, but he was quickly yanked down.

"Lee," She hissed. "You don't need to introduce yourself to everyone."

"But you do," The bushy browed Genin argued, and she scowled.

"I don't shout!"

"I heard you down the hallway," Shikamaru interrupted gesturing to Lee, who beamed.

"Then you know I am the Green Beast of Konoha: Rock Lee-"

"Oi bushy brow, shut up!"

Everyone turned to see Naruto, with a shy and pale Hinata standing behind him. Kakashi, who had been watching the whole altercation with the other Genin scowled when he noticed the Hyūga heiress. "Naruto, Hinata is supposed to be resting, what is she doing here?

Naruto smiled. "Sensei, Hinata wants to come. I carried her here, even though she said not to. She will help find Sakura; believe it!"

Kakashi peered round the orange clad boy to see the shy Hyūga heiress blushing at Naruto's loudness, but she quickly nodded to affirm his point.

Kakashi shot his blonde student another glare, before gesturing them to sit down. Hinata sat down next to Lee, and Naruto sat opposite her. Once again, Lee tried to introduce himself.

"Hello my fair maiden! You are related to one of my eternal rivals yes? Wondrous! I am Kono-"

He didn't get very far as the combined offense of Tenten and Ino, the blonde punching him in the crotch and the brunette hitting the back of his good leg. He once again collapsed backwards.

"Lee!" Gai's voice boomed as he rushed to his student's side, trying to shake him from his stupor. Shikamaru sighed. This mission was going to be troublesome. He cast a glance at Ino, who had now sat back down and was casting a glance at him. They both shot each other a glare and turned away quickly.

Hinata was looking quite appalled at the outburst of the two girls, her pale eyes wide with shock. The blonde next to her however, was rocking on the floor holding his chest and trying to stop laughing.

Hinata did have to admit, it was a bit funny, and she let out a small giggle.

She then felt a hand on her shoulder. "That's the spirit Hinata!" Naruto yelled, earning a sharp glare from Ino. He rubbed his head sheepishly and smiled a foxy grin. Hinata blushed at the contact that she was getting from her crush and she was relieved and saddened when he withdrew to sit back down, still wiping the tears in his eyes.

As Lee finally woke up and embraced Gai in a crushing hug, Kiba and Shino walked in. They surveyed the area. "Well, bye!" Kiba announced and went to walk out, when Shino rested his hand on his teammates shoulder. With a sigh, Kiba muttered a greeting and plopped down next to Naruto, with Shino sitting opposite him, right next to Shikamaru.

As Lee spotted yet more people to introduce himself too, Tenten shot him a withering glare and withdrew a kunai from her pouch. He gulped, but hobbled back towards his seat and sat down with a dejected plop.

Kakashi rubbed his hands together, and walked over to just outside the small circle of Genin. "Okay, now that we're all here, let us begin-"

"Hn."

Naruto swung around and smiled brightly. "Sasuke!"

Said raven haired boy leant against the doorframe, a hand on his bandaged head. "Sasuke, you didn't need to come." Kakashi said.

"I wanted to," Sasuke retorted, wincing slightly at the pain. He walked as fast as he could with a concussion and took the only seat available. Between Ino and Tenten.

The blonde shot a glare at Shikamaru, before she put a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, leaned in, and purred. "So, what do wanna do after we get Sakura back?"

Shikamaru clenched his hands and teeth unconsciously. Ino smirked when she saw this, but that quickly dissipated after she was pushed away with a growl from the Uchiha.

Shikamaru couldn't help but smirk.

"Right, can we begin now?" Kakashi asked, waiting for an interruption. When none came, he continued. "So, I presume all of you know the main reason why we're here? Sakura Haruno, my student has been kidnapped." There were murmurs of acknowledgement. "Well," the Copy Nin began rubbing his hands together. "I will give you the mission brief."

Naruto leapt up, and pointed an annoyed finger in the copy nin's face. "Sensei, why bother planning? We need to hurry up and go!"

Ino facepalmed. "Naruto," Shikamaru began to explain. "If we finish the plan, we can get going."

"Well, that'll take-"

A mug that was sat on the table connected with the blondes head. "Hey, Sasuke!" Naruto yelled. The Uchiha smirked. "You bastard!" he yelled once again. Tenten facepalmed.

"Okay guys, settle down. The sooner we get this down the sooner we can leave." Kakashi tried to interfere. Both boys nodded.

With a sigh, Kakashi began to explain the backstory to the mission.

"To review, Sakura was taken in the woods surrounding training field 13, 14, 15 and 16. We have reason to believe that the ninja that kidnapped her were heading to the town of Orochiasu, which hosts one of the biggest markets In the Land of Fire. You all get that?"

Everyone nodded eagerly, earning a smile from Kakashi. "Excellent. Now, we shall get on with the strategy." All of the Genin turned to Shikamaru on instinct. The lazy Genin sighed.

"So troublesome," He muttered, but closed his eyes and got into a thinking position. After a few moments, his eyes flew open.

"You have a plan?" Kiba asked.

"As if you even needed to ask," Shikamaru smirked. "We shall travel in two different groups to reach the target. We will need a fast moving team to scout the area and the perimeter of the town, while a larger group will head into town and scout out that area. The scouts will send one of their men to rendezvous with one of the other groups men and swap information. When we gather enough, we strike." He drove his fist into his hand for effect.

Kakashi gave a sly smile. The Copy Nin, while being the highest ranking member of the small group, allowed a Genin to take control. He and Gai shared a smile and a knowing look. Out of all the candidates for promotion to Chūnin, Shikamaru had the greatest chance. This mission would definitely determine that fact.

"So, who's going in what team?" Tenten asked.

Shikamaru paused for a moment, his eyes closed in concentration. Soon, they snapped open. "If I may, Kakashi-Sensei," The brunette asked for his approval. The silver haired Jōnin nodded.

"Okay then. I suggest me, Shino, Ino and Kakashi-sensei take up the role of the scouts, excluding us from most if all combat. But of course, that is most probably not the case. The rest of you will be the group to enter the town-"

Of course, the lazy Genin was expecting interruptions, but he wasn't expecting Ino to put her hand up. "I want to go with the group that's heading in the town."

Shikamaru pinched the bridge of his nose. "No, you would be better with me-"

"No, you are wrong. I am more useful with the other group. Take Kiba instead."

Kakashi had to admit, Ino was not suited for reconnaissance, in skills and personality. "I have to agree with her Shikamaru, it doesn't make sense." The lazy Genin shot the Copy Nin a withering glare, which he responded with a small smirk.

"Fine," He relented, "Kiba; you come with us. Ino, you can go with the others."

Ino smiled triumphantly.

Gai, who had been weirdly silent, stepped forward and went into his 'nice guy' pose. "My friends, this will be a most glorious battle for victory! We shall bring back the Lady Sakura and dispose of the evil heathens that dare threaten our very existence-"

This went on for about twenty minutes, Lee staring at his Sensei adoringly, and everybody else either cringing or covering their ears.