Chapter 6: Ignorance, and a mission.

Edit; 11-24-09: Okay, didn't change much, just had to make sure it wasn't inconsistent. I'm working on the next chapter right now; but I gotta tell you, I don't think I'll have it out til sometime after thanksgiving. I have to help with preparing everything. I'll try to get it done tomorrow, but that'll still leave me the rereading and fixing out any grammar or errors. I promise I'll try to have it out before December, and to get chapter eight out before Christmas. Leaving authors note.

A/n: Sorry it took so long, but I've been really busy with moving and unpacking and with life in general. *Bows* Please don't kill me. I promise the next chapter will be out sooner. I'm also planning on having the next chapter being longer than the others. *Bows again*

Warning: Nothing much for this chapter.... I don't think there's much, if any swearing either.... it's rather boring.

Disclaimer: As I said in the previous chapters; I don't own anything, except the plot. Don't sue me; I don't have any money as it is.

On to the chapter.

I slowly opened my eyes only to be greeted with darkness; the sun had yet to rise. I stifle a yawn and sit up mildly stretching. A quick glance at my alarm tells me it's only four fifty two. I groan loudly before falling back against my pillow. I still don't have to get up for another two hours to meet Sakura-chan. I let out a heavy sigh and probe my mind for Kyuubi; I needed to talk to the damned fox. I knew she could help me. She seemed adept at knowing what was going on before I did myself.

It takes me a few minutes but I finally manage to get a growl out of her as she slowly awoke. 'What kit? Do you have any idea what time it is? Why're you awake?' She fired off quickly stretching inside her cage within my mind. 'Weren't you having pleasant dreams only a few hours ago?' I heard her mocking tone and fought back a growl. It didn't really surprise me that the fox had been peaking in on my dreams.

I rolled my eyes and shifted against the wall to make myself more comfortable, my back was still killing me, even though Kyuubi had made sure to heal most of my wounds already. 'I needed to talk to you.' I answered leisurely, enjoying riling the demon up a bit. It was always fun, sincesheseemed to enjoy doing the same to me. 'And of coarse I know what time it is.' I looked at the clock once more, just for effect. 'Four fifty five.' I said teasingly. I heard her growl lowly again, in warning. Well, someone woke up on the wrong side of the cage.

'If you woke me up to play games, I won't be especially happy, kit. It takes energy, and chakra to heal all the wounds you seem apt at receiving. ' She said; her voice rumbling within the recesses of my mind. I roll my eyes and look up at the ceiling.

'No, Kyuubi, that not why I woke you up. I actually have something to talk to you about.' I took a few seconds to sort out my thoughts, taking a few heavy breaths to help calm my jittering nerves. 'I'm so confused, Kyuubi, about everything. Especially about Sasuke; he keeps acting so different. I wish he could just act the way he was before I left to go train with Jiraiya. Now he seems to hate me even more, or think that he has to force himself to care about my well being.' I frowned when I heard her chuckle amusedly. 'What?' I asked irritably.

'You are so very young and naive kit. You were training for two years with the Sage. People change in that time, you changed. You can't expect them to all stay the same. I'm sure if you think hard enough on it, you'll soon figure out why the young Uchiha boy is acting different towards you. Also, I am certain that he does not hate you, nor feel the need force himself to care; that I know to be genuine.' She said, calmly, and with more seriousness then I've heard from her before. 'Now, let me go back to sleep. You should be getting ready to leave as well. Wouldn't want the young pink haired Kunoichi to be left waiting, now would we?' her voice rang mockingly.

I looked at the clock and nodded, I had at least an hour before it was time to meet Sakura-chan, so I had best get ready. Though; I still hadn't gotten any real answers. I would wait until later to ask again.

XxxXXxxX

(Third person)

The blond haired ninja slowly made his way towards the bridge his teammate had said to meet at. Once he was within a few feet of it he frowned, scanning the bridge, spotting not only the pink haired girl, but also their other teammate, Uchiha Sasuke.

He stopped in his tracks, his face slightly heating up as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked at the ground. Of coarse the raven had to be there, he should have known that Sakura would have invited him as well. The young girl looked up and smiled as she saw the hyper-active ninja coming their way. She waved at him enthusiastically, though not entirely oblivious of the way he held himself while continuing his trek their way.

She eyed him as he stopped next to her and smiled brightly, his eyes never looking over to the other boy as he started to ramble on- she knew he was faking it. They made their way towards a small clearing, to eat breakfast- she had asked both boys to come early so they could eat properly. Sakura studied Naruto under her fringe curiously. He was acting differently from normal; by now he would most likely have started some miscellaneous fight with Sasuke- which obviously meant the Uchiha hadn't taken her warning seriously enough, and had hurt the blond again. Not that she wasn't happy about the fact that he wasn't fighting: It just wasn't like him- and she could see how he had this defeated look around him. She then cast her eyes towards the young Uchiha who was frowning forwards, his eyes continuing to narrow by the minute. She then frowned; so the raven haired boy was as aware and as confused as she was about the orange clad boy's behavior.

"Shut up, dobe. Your endless chatter is making my head hurt." He growled, obviously trying to riel the young blond up- to get him to acknowledge his presence. The young Kunoichi's mint green eyes widened when she looked back at Naruto and saw hurt flash across his face- and had to restrain herself from inflecting some serious bodily damage to the smoky eyed teen. He didn't retort back, or argue, though, as it seemed Sasuke had hopped he would, if the deepening of his frown was anything to go by. He just looked away, and after a few moments started talking again. Though this time it was obvious that the blue eyed boy was forcing his cheerfulness.

Sakura observed how the ravens brow furrowed even further and he glanced nervously towards the other boy from the corner of his eye. She again looked back towards Naruto –all this looking back and forth was going to make her dizzy- and a small smirk graced her lips as she stared into those Cobalt blue eyes. The emotions flashing there were amazing as he looked at Sasuke- unaware that she could see him doing it. The blond was falling for Sasuke and he probably didn't even know it- there was so much love and adoration there, along with confusion and hurt. A plan started formulating in her mind when she scrutinized Sasuke to confirm once again that he had similar feelings- she had done it before, but now she could see that he knew. Though he was hiding them better than the blond, she could still see them as they waited for Kakashi-sensei.

Her smirk widened ever so slightly as she shifted apart from the two a few meters, she was going to need to speak to their Sensei if she hoped to get anything done about them; she concluded, as she watched Naruto take one glance at the empty space between him and Sasuke and move farther away. She shook her head, which snapped to the side when the silver haired ninja suddenly appeared. Late as usual.

"Yo!" He said, smiling slightly. "Sorry I'm late, but-"

"Sensei, can I talk to you for a minute?" Sakura asked faux sweetly, cutting off his lie mid sentence. He looked at her, seeing her smirk, he felt slightly doubtful about agreeing- he could see that sinister glint in her eye. He just nodded and looked at the other two questioningly, only to raise an eye brow when he noticed how far apart they were. He hummed quietly, and then fallowed the pink haired girl as she moved a little way away from the two. This might be interesting.

Sasuke watched as they walked away inquisitively. The pink haired annoyance was obviously up to something; though he was much too preoccupied with how to handle Naruto right now to think about it for long- he just faintly hoped that it wasn't her plotting his doom for the insult towards the other boy a few minutes ago. It was annoying him immensely that the dobe was intent on ignoring him. He cast a short glare at the blond haired ninja. He didn't understand what was bothering the other boy so much as to cause the Usuratonkachi to go as far to ignore every insult he shot at him. The young Uchiha was certain it wasn't about the kiss on his birth-day…. So what could it possibly be? He couldn't still be upset about last night? The raven had hoped that he would have realized that he wasn't pretending to care.

He shook his head, causing the raven locks to sway slightly, catching the younger boy's attention for a second, a faint blush crossing his cheeks and nose. He hurriedly looked away and look suspiciously at Sakura-chan and Kakashi-sensei, wondering what they were up too, they kept glancing back over to him and the Teme; it was starting to irritate him. They were planning something, he just knew it.

To make matters worse, whenever the grey haired man looked at them, he seemed to have this odd gleam in his visible eye, one the blond was sure he had seen before; he just couldn't place where. After about ten more minutes of that the other two finally walked back over to them, the older man giving them both a sinister smile.

"Alright, we'll go over the plan for this mission, and then we'll head off." He nodded to them once, his smile disappearing, but that odd gleam still shining. "Sasuke, Naruto, you two will be holding up the rear, keeping an eye out for anyone who might be fallowing behind us." He took a few seconds, smirking again, as the information sunk in. A pout formed on the blonds pale lips, of coarse Kakashi-sensei was going to stick him with the infuriating Teme."Sakura and I will be taking the lead. As you already know, we are tracing a lead on one of Orochimarus hideouts. If, in fact, this is the place Orochimaru is hiding, you are to refrain from doing anything else after confirming that it in fact is, and report back to the village, do I make myself clear? If we run into any trouble, and are separated, you are to head back to the village." He gave pointed look to both Sasuke and Naruto. They nodded simultaneously, causing Kakashi's smirk to widen indistinctly. "Good. Let's move out." With that they headed north.

Leaving A/N.

A/N: So, I apologize again, for the long wait, and the boringness of this chapter. It will get better I promise. Also, I'm going to be posting a poll or this story, so go and have a look at that. Still desperately needing a beta if anyone's interested just send m a PM. Also, sorry for the minor cliffy, but it's needed, or the next chapter wouldn't have been long enough, and it just felt right to end there.

Critiques welcome; flames are also welcome. Just send me a review, I'm dieing here.