I do not own Naruto or Venom/Carnage
and then darkness
sealed away and forgotten
Chapter 6. Ninja Days
"Tayuya order up, table 13" Teuchi called from the kitchen.
Tossing her hair over her shoulders Tayuya wiped her hands on a towel. "Got it." Walking over to the pickup window she grabbed the food tray. "Ugh people actually like this" She said her nose wrinkling cutely as she took in the contents of the plate.
"What you don't like squid?" Teuchi laughed as he took in her expression. "Just get it over to the tables."
"Fine." she muttered as she walked away.
"And remember to smile" He shouted after her.
She gave him the finger as she walked away. Teuchi's amused laughter following her as she put on a fake smile and walked out into the restaurant.
As usual the place was packed, weaving her way through the lunchtime crowd she brought her tray over to the table and began to place the plates of food on the table.
~Yesterday~
"So kitten you said you were looking for a job?" Anko commented while she and Tayuya ate breakfast alone. Naruto had left early in the morning to meet Kakashi and Kurenai had just left to meet her team.
"Yeah." Tayuya muttered as she idly poked at her food.
"So what were you gonna do?"
"I don't know probably find work at a store or a restaurant. Why are you already tired of caring for me? I knew you would" She spat out as she glared at Anko.
"Hardly." Anko grinned at her "But Kurenai wants to make sure your taken care of in case something happens to us." Anko said quietly. "We have friends who would be glad to have you if that happened, but I doubt you would go."
"Oh"
"So lets go find you a job?" Anko said cheekily. "how about you dance on some tables?" Smirking she ducked the hail of cutlery that followed her remark.
~Present~
And she had ended up working here. Damn it I need to get started on my mission. At least I'm out of that house. Id go batshit crazy if I had to stay there.
"So are you new here?" Looking up she gazed into the cocky expression of a black haired young man. Sitting next to him his friends were giggling to themselves as they lounged in their seats. All of them had katana's prominently displayed and were dressed in expensive clothes.
"Here's your food." she said pointedly, slapping their bill on the table one of her eyebrows twitching ominously. Turning around she walked over to another table.
Pulling out her pad she began to take orders.
"I can't believe it!" an all too familiar voice came from the front of restaurant. Coming through the main entrance was a familiar blonde haired figure closely followed by two others. "THAT was our first mission!"
"Calm down Naruto not every mission is exciting. Some are very boring. A ninja must complete his tasks remember." Coming in behind the three was another familiar figure who sent a chill of fear through her.
"Kakashi-Sensei will all our missions be like that?" Sakura asked as she walked closer to Sasuke.
"Ahh No. But missions like those help cover your living expenses. Well do these for a while so you can get some better gear before we do anything more dangerous." Kakashi explained as he followed the trio to an empty table. Despite being able to eat upstairs he and Naruto preferred the atmosphere on the bottom floor of Ichiraku's. "And well use the time to train so it serves two purposes."
"But we were looking for a cat. A CAT!" Naruto moaned as he took a seat.
"But it was our first successful mission as team 7." Sakura gushed.
"Sakura we've only done one mission." Naruto groaned.
"But it was successful" she continued.
"Sensei we are training after this right?" Sasuke asked tonelessly.
"huh oh yeah sure well do some training." Kakashi muttered from behind his book.
Walking over to the group Tayuya didn't bother to act friendly.
"Oi Shithead what do you guys want?" She asked.
"Hey Tayuya, tell Teuchi I want my usual." Naruto said sitting up.
"Got it, what about you pinky" Tayuya said as she wrote down Shithead Usual.
"I'm not ready yet, Sasuke-kun what are you getting." Sakura asked sweetly.
"Tempura, green tea" Sasuke tonelessly answered.
Sasuke?
"So shithead who are your friends?" Tayuya asked.
"Oh this is my team. You know Kakashi, this is Sakura Haruno, and the moody one over there is Sasuke Uchiha. Guys this is Tayuya."
"Hi, so how do you know Naruto." Sakura asked as she scooted a bit closer to Sasuke.
Perfect the Uchiha brat's on the same team as the shithead. This might just work out after all.
"I'm staying with his family for a while, so Pinky you ready to order or should I go get you the kiddie menu."
"Ill have the same as Sasuke" she replied sweetly while her inner self loudly screamed. BITCH!
"Ill have some Miso soup" Kakashi said as he turned a page on his book.
"all right it'll be a few minutes don't go nowhere." Turning around she walked away without another word.
"Naruto she lives with you? how do you stand her."
"I don't want to talk about it" Naruto muttered as his cheeks went a bit red.
Walking back into the kitchen Tayuya put up her orders on the spinning wheel. Luckily for her she already had practice being a waitress. A year ago she had been sent out to find and kill a traitor and if feasible kill his contact. She had identified the bar where he met his contact and gotten herself a job there as a waitress.
A week after she had started working there the spy had shown up. His contact had been some old man with long white hair. A few drops of poison in their sake and the situation had been resolved. When last she saw them the spy had been dead and the old man was nowhere to be seen. Despite looking for him she hadn't been able to find the body. It had been the only snag in an otherwise perfect mission. Strangely Orochimaru had seemed more amused than angry when she told him what had happened.
Giving herself a mental shake she went back to work.
oOo
"All right so I think its time to start to our very first team training session." Kakashi said as he led his team into the woods around Training ground 7. "Here's what you'll be learning." Walking forward he went up to a tree and kept walking right up the tree until he was standing on the trunk. "This will help your chakra control, as well as being a useful skill."
Jumping down he faced his team. "This is a relatively simple technique to learn, you simply release chakra to your feet and use it to climb the tree. Too little and you won't be able to maintain your grip, too much and you will break the bark and fall. So pick a tree and get started Sasuke. Sakura Naruto come with me."
Obediently the two followed him leaving Sasuke alone.
Gazing up at the tree Sasuke placed one foot on the tree and focused his chakra. He pumped chakra into his foot until he saw the bark crumple. I see so that's the upper limit. Grinning he began the exercise in earnest.
"Kakashi-Sensei where are you taking us." Sakura asked as she followed along behind Naruto and Kakashi.
Coming to a halt Kakashi pointed to a nearby tree. "Were here. Here's your tree go ahead Sakura. Naruto will be joining you soon."
"OK" putting a determined look on her face, Sakura walked up to her tree.
"Naruto let me get a look at your weight seals." Kakashi asked as he sat down on the forest floor.
Bending down Naruto undid the latches on the weights and handed the cloth bands to Kakashi. "Here you go."
"Ah I knew you unsealed them, why didn't you just take them off." he asked as he pulled a small wooden box from his vest.
"I was worried you'd find us if I just took them off, its really hard to drop them quietly." Naruto said as he sat down as well.
"I see, that was well thought out, though you could have used them as distractions if one of your clones had dropped them somewhere else." Opening up the box Kakashi pulled out a brush and a small bottle of ink.
"Yeah, Hey Kakashi Gramps said to ask you about the advanced uses of the Shadow clones."
"Oh did he?" Kakashi muttered as he began to rewrite the seals with swift sure motions. "Well your not ready for those yet, I'll let you know when you are. Here." He pushed the cloth bands back across to Naruto.
"Thanks, hey do you think I should teach Sakura and Sasuke the Shadow Clone technique?" Naruto asked as he pressed both hands to the cloth bands. Focusing he ran chakra into the newly written seals. As chakra activated each seal the weights began to visibly sink into the ground.
"Ah that might not be such a good idea Naruto. Neither Sasuke or Sakura have the chakra reserves to use it effectively. They don't have your reserves." He added placing a slight emphasis on the last two words.
"OK. Actually I was wondering something else? When I was in the Hokage building for my test." Naruto glanced around furtively as he tied back on the weight seals. "I had a really hard time climbing the walls, I thought it was just nerves but I could climb trees without any trouble before. Do you think I'm losing some of my chakra control?"
"Actually Naruto the Hokage building is built to suppress and distort chakra. There are only a few places where you can use chakra normally. Its a passive defense against enemy ninja. It takes a while to get used to the effects."
"Really I never notic-"
"Kakashi-Sensei! Kakashi-Sensei I did it." An excited voice called out from above them.
Looking up the two saw Sakura sitting excitedly on a branch high in the tree. She waved happily at the two on the ground.
"Good Job Sakura. Now come down." Kakashi called. Instead of walking down the tree Sakura opted for simply hopping down from her perch. Landing with a flourish she raised her hands overhead. Naruto and Kakashi clapped politely.
"Ah alright then. Lets move on to the second stage of this exercise." Kakashi said before punching the tree next to him, sending a gentle shower of leaves down on the three. As the leaves fell he reached out and caught two pocketing his book in the same movement. "Here" he said pressing a leaf against each of their foreheads. "Concentrate."
Naruto and Sakura closed their eyes and focused on the leaves. Feeling chakra running through the leaves Kakashi pulled his hands away. The leaves remained stuck to their foreheads.
"All right open you eyes." He said pulling out his book again. "Now I want you to practice tree climbing while keeping the leaf on your foreheads. Its easier to run up the tree than walk. I want you to walk up the trees, not run. So walk up and down the tree. Any questions?"
"Yeah how long are we going to do this?" Naruto asked.
"A while this is an important exercise especially for you Naruto. And it will help you build your chakra reserves Sakura." He added looking at the pinkette.
"OK. Umm sensei where is Sasuke." Sakura asked.
"Hes practicing tree walking too, hell join you two later."
"Wow so hes even more advanced than us?" Sakura asked excitedly.
"No actually hes at stage one of this exercise Sakura, but he should catch up in a few days."
"But Sasuke is rookie of the year. Shouldn't he be more advanced than us."
"Sasuke's overall abilities put him at the head of his class, but you two are more advanced in this particular field."
"How come?"
"Naruto you already know this so why don't you get started while I talk to Sakura." Kakashi said.
"Hai." turning on his heel Naruto walked away from the two.
"Sit down Sakura time for a quick lesson." Kakashi continued. "You can put the leaf down for the moment."
"Yes sensei." Sitting on the ground she took up an attentive pose.
"Ok... Right now you have the best chakra control in the team Sakura. Do you know why?"
"No."
"Its because you have the least amount of chakra. Do you understand?"
"Umm I think so. Because I have less chakra its easier for me to control it. Right."
"Very good. Also in addition having to having less chakra you also have excellent chakra control. You learned tree walking almost instantly. It took Naruto a few days to learn it. It should take Sasuke only 2 days at most."
"Wait does that mean Naruto has more or less chakra than us? Because if Sasuke has more chakra and better control he would still learn faster than Naruto right?"
"Naruto actually has a great deal of chakra, its why he has to work so hard on his control. But Naruto does actually have more chakra than Sasuke." He didn't add just how much more chakra he really had. Almost 4 times as much as Sasuke if he had to guess. "Do you have any questions."
"Is there a way for me to increase my chakra reserves faster?"
"Several but well get into those later. Now why don't you go and join Naruto, I'm going to check on Sasuke."
"Yes Sensei." Dusting herself off she picked up her leaf and began the exercise.
Whistling to himself Kakashi retraced his steps until he got back to where Sasuke was practicing. Hearing a yell he walked a bit faster. He spotted Sasuke land on the ground with a thump.
"Yo." he called out.
Breathing heavily Sasuke turned his head in the direction of his sensei. "Sensei"
"Lets see it again Sasuke." Kakashi asked.
"Fine." Squaring himself up Sasuke approached the tree again. Placing his foot on the trunk he concentrated and then swiftly moved his other foot to join it. Laboriously he shuffled up the tree slowly until he was a few feet of the ground. Suddenly the bark under one of his feet broke and sent him back to the ground where he landed heavily.
"Ah. Stop for now Sasuke." Kakashi called. Once he had his students full attention he began to explain the technique in more detail.
oOo
"Excellent work Shino." Kurenai commented as Shino finished demonstrating on of his family's more advanced jutsu's that he knew.
Off to one side Kiba and Hinata sat watching the demonstration with wide eyes. After a moment Hinata began to clap. Shino's demonstration had awed the two young genin. The foursome were sitting in the large training ground that was behind Kurenai's house. It was seldom used for a variety of reasons mostly due to the eccentricities of their particular family.
Having known the boy for several years now Kurenai was pleased with his progress. "Shino sit down now. I have a few questions. Come and sit."
Obediently Shino walked over and took a seat next to Hinata and Kiba, "Yes" He asked quietly.
"Shino have your Kikaichu finished their imprinting of Kiba and Hinata?"
"Not yet I wished to ask their permission."
"That was very kind of you. Will you ask them now?
"Yes." Turning to his team mates Shino held out a hand and summoned two of his insects. Opening his mouth he began to speak but closed it again. His brow furrowed as he tried to find the right words.
"Shino would you like me to explain." Kurenai asked kindly.
"No, a moment please." he answered curtly. Even years of associating with Naruto had not cured him of his habit of using as few words as necessary. Taking a deep breath he started again.
"These are the Kikaichu. They are the mark of our clan. Imprinting is the process by which they come to know our friends and allies. I would ask that you undergo the imprinting."
"Shino-san umm what does that mean?" Hinata asked shyly.
"They will feed on your blood." Shino answered tonelessly.
"B B Bloo- Blood." Hinata asked her face turning white as she imagined the process.
"WHAT! your going to feed us to your bugs." Kiba yelled as he scooted farther away.
"Yes." Shino answered as he lifted his arm causing the other two to move even further away.
"All of you sit down." Kurenai snapped. " Kiba Hinata. The amount they need is tiny. A drop or two."
"What but he said." Kiba began. But one hard look from Kurenai shut him up.
"Shino perhaps your choice of words was a bit... undiplomatic." She pointed out as she looked at the worried expressions on Kiba and Hinata.
"My apologies. But they seem frightened now, I have erred."
"Perhaps, Shino why don't you demonstrate on me." Kurenai asked as she held out her arm palm up. "Watch closely you two." She added.
Nodding Shino held out his arm again. Hinata and Kiba watched in horrified fascination as a single bug flew from Shino's sleeve and landed gently on Kurenai's palm.
Pulling out a senbon from her dress Kurenai pricked her thumb letting a small bright red bead of blood well up. Crawling up her thumb the Kikaichu approached the blood and drank for a moment before returning to Shino.
"That's it?" Kiba asked skeptically.
"Yes" Shino answered.
"So are you two ready?" Kurenai asked.
"Yes. Shino-san Sorry." Hinata bowed her head a bit as she spoke. Taking out a kunai she made a shallow scratch on her palm and held it out to Shino.
"The mistake was mine Hinata. I apologize." Shino bowed his head, and gently took the proffered hand.
"Oh whatever lets just get it over with. Come on Akamaru you too."
"Bark!"
"What?" Kiba turned towards Akamaru.
"Bark Bark!"
"No they can't get rid of your fleas. Can they?" Kiba asked as he and Akamaru finished their conversation.
"With Akamaru's permission they can" Shino nodded to Kiba.
"Oh well sure lets go then." Putting his thumb in his mouth Kiba bit down drawing blood. He held out the bloody digit to Shino. Akamaru then repeated the process on himself biting his own paw. It was the work of seconds for the Kikaichu to gather what they needed.
"Kiba-san your hand." Hinata spoke up.
"Huh?" Looking down Kiba noticed that that his thumb was bleeding profusely. "Ahh what the hell why didn't anyone say something." He quickly stuck his thumb in his mouth but pulled it out again almost immediately. Off to the side Akamaru calmly licked the tiny cut that he had opened in his leg.
"Kiba-san let me." Grabbing his hand Hinata wrapped a short length of gauze expertly around his thumb.
"Thanks Hinata. Your real useful aren't you." Kiba beamed at his teammate.
"Indeed." Shino chimed in.
"That was very well done Hinata." Kurenai added.
Bowing her head Hinata blushed at the unexpected praise, her fingers nervously wringing together. But to Kurenai it seemed like the young girl was glowing.
oOo
"Naruto Sakura. Come down. Were done for today."
"Kakashi-Sensei." Turning around in surprise Sakura halted with one foot in the air. Which looked fairly odd seeing as how she was hanging upside down in the air. Turning a bit she walked down the tree. Naruto near the bottom of his tree simply dropped the rest of the way.
"So can we go home now Kakashi." Naruto asked as he walked over.
Brushing away some sweat from her face Sakura joined the two.
"Come on you two lets go find Sasuke." Kakashi said as he led the two back ignoring Naruto's question. Sakura pushed ahead and ran forward to find him.
The trio found Sasuke sitting with his back to a tree, covered in dirt and sweat. His head resting against the trunk.
"SASUKE-KUN!" Sakura shouted as she ran over to him. Sliding down on her knees she reached out a hand and tried to shake him. But before her hand could reach him his hand shot up and intercepted hers.
"What?" he asked coldly. One eye opening and glaring at Sakura.
"I just wanted to see if you were OK."
"I'm fine." He then turned his attention to Naruto and Kakashi. "I was taking a break sensei."
"Let her go Sasuke and come here." Kakashi said. Reaching into his vest he pulled out a small envelope from which he then pulled out some paper cards."All right you three come here. Each of you take one of these." He held out the cards.
Taking a card Sakura held it up to the light. "Kakashi-Sensei what are these?"
"These paper cards are made from special trees that are raised with chakra. By running chakra through them well be-"
"Ahh it lit on fire!" Sakura screamed out jumping back in fright and shaking her hands."I was just holding it I swear!" she said looking around guiltily.
"Calm Down Sakura. That was supposed to happen" Kakashi said his voice perfectly neutral.
"They're supposed to catch on fire!" Sakura asked disbelievingly, making the cyclopean jounin chuckle.
"Not exactly. They tell us what your elemental affinity is. When you run chakra through the paper it reacts. Each affinity reacts with the paper in a different way. If your affinity is water the paper gets wet. If its earth it turns into dust. Wind cuts the paper. Lightning crumples it up. And-"
"Fire lights the paper." Sasuke finished. As he spoke the paper in his hands caught on fire. For a moment the fire reflecting in his eyes gave him a demonic appearance.
"So that was supposed to happen to right?" Sakura asked weakly.
"Yes. Looks like the two of you both have fire affinity. That's good its a powerful element."
Sakura beamed at the praise. Sasuke however looked a little displeased. "Sensei do ninja only have one element?"
"No its not uncommon for a jounin ninja to be able to use three elements. But nearly all jounin have at least two. So Naruto lets see yours."
The three turned to look at Naruto. Taking a deep breath Naruto let it out. "Here goes nothing." he muttered as he ran some chakra into the paper. Instantly the paper tore itself in half. The individual pieces flying away in a swirl of motion.
"Wind."
oOo
"You can go home now Tayuya." Teuchi said glancing at the clock mounted on the wall.
"oh really gee thanks." She remarked snidely as she hung up her apron. "So when do I get paid?"
"End of the week. After that you get paid every two weeks like everyone else. And I;m docking you for any thing you break." he added as he went back to his cooking.
Flipping him the bird Tayuya walked out of the restaurant. "Stupid fucking-" She continued cursing as she walked back to what was looking to be her new home until Orochimaru called her back. She was so angry she didn't pay attention to where she was going.
"Fuck!" she finished. Glancing around she felt a deep twinge of annoyance as she looked around. She had wandered way off course. She had actually gone the wrong way. "Damn it" turning around she went back the way she came.
After walking a ways she turned back on to the street that would lead her Home. Hearing footsteps behind her she turned around.
"Oh hey Tayuya." Naruto said as he walked up behind her. "So how was work?" he asked politely. He was still a bit leery of being alone with the volatile girl.
Sparing him an appraising glance Tayuya arched an eyebrow. "So what are you so happy about?" she asked as she noticed the slight smile on his face.
"Nothing. I mean we kind found our affinities today." he said. "I mean our elemental affinities." He clarified.
"So spit it out. What you learn?"
"umm mine is wind."
Wind. This little bastard has wind affinity. "And that means what exactly?" she snorted.
"Its the type of jutsu ill be able to use the easiest and learn the fastest. Plus Kakashi said its the strongest close range affinity. Apparently its pretty rare too. Kakashi said he'd have to find me a tutor."
"huh. Well whatever lets just get home. I'm tired of talking." she said.
"OK" together the two walked home together in a companionable silence.
oOo
"Kiba, Shino tomorrow be here at 8 and we'll go ahead with our first team training session. Hinata would you mind staying behind a moment? There's something Id like to discuss with you." Kurenai said as she dismissed her team for the day.
"Yes." Hinata said quietly.
"Shino Kiba one last thing. Kiba when you get home tell Tsume that Id like to speak with her regarding your future training. And that its been too long since she visited."
"yes Sensei."
"Shino?" she asked knowing he'd understand her question.
"Ill let them know." Shino replied a trace of real warmth in his voice. Kiba heard it as well.
"well then Ill see you both tomorrow." with a smile she dismissed the two.
The two male members of team 8 then turned and left. For a few moments the two walked in silence. Remarkably it was Shino who chose to speak first.
"Kiba" he began his voice uncharacteristically emotional. "Naruto is kin to me. Your problem with him need to be resolved. Or our team will suffer."
"My Problem is with him not you. Drop it Shino." Kiba snarled.
"No. Challenge him to a duel. Settle this matter once and for all. Find out who really is the stronger between the two of you."
"What!"
"..."
"Shino what are you talking about I'm stronger! Everyone knows that!"
"Are you?"
"Of course I am!"
But Shino was silent and refused to speak any more. The two parted ways soon after that. Shino's mind calm knowing that he had played his part. Kiba's mind in conflict as he walked home.
oOo
"umm Sensei am I in trouble?" Hinata asked shyly as she sat down at Kurenai's kitchen table.
"Of course not dear. I just thought you might like to talk." Kurenai said as she put down two cups of tea.
"Thank you." picking up her tea she sipped at it. "Its good" she commented happily.
"Thank you dear. Sugar?"
"Please." Hinata held out her cup and Kurenai dutifully spooned some sugar into her tea.
"Hinata how are things with your family?"
"Fine." Slumping down a bit she stared into her teacup.
"I see. Are you and Neji very close?"
"Neji is very... I he's."
"He's very stern. But he has a good heart. Is that what you were trying to say?"
"Yes."
"Do you ever train together?"
"No. Father trains Hanabi... and me."
"Hinata look at me, does your father train the two of you equally." Kurenai asked seriously.
"yes."
"Really" She let the full force of her gaze settle on the girl.
"No. He only trains my sister. He says I'm weak. That its shameful that a member of the branch family has surpassed the main House. That Neji is a-" Once she began speaking the words began pouring out of her in a rush.
"Shush dear." reaching out a hand Kurenai placed her fingers gently over Hinata's mouth stopping her.
"Neji is a genius. At least that's what Guy tells me. But do you know what Neji told Naruto?"
"Neji knows Naruto?" Hinata asked in surprise.
"Yes the two are good friends. He told Naruto that the reason hes a genius is because he worked very hard. He sweated and bled for it."
"But I'm."
"You aren't him Hinata but that doesn't mean you are not strong. You aren't alone. Now finish your tea."
"Yes Ma,am."
The two finished their tea in silence, the only sounds the soft clink of cups and silverware and the whisper of the tea as it was drunk. But eventually the tea was gone and the two sat quietly.
"Hinata you love my son don't you." Kurenai stated into the silence.
"I I I" Hinata's face began to turn an interesting shade of red as her heart rate shot up and she began to hyperventilate. Finally just before she could pass out she managed to nod.
"I see. Do you know what Naruto intends to become?"
Hinata shook her head.
"He is going to be Hokage." Kurenai stated regally. "So let me ask you this directly. Are you worthy of being the next Hokage's wife?"
"I. I. I not yet!" Hinata shouted.
"Good. Now Listen." At her words Hinata's eyes glazed over a bit and her expression became a bit slack. "Become stronger, prove your worth. First to yourself. Then to others and finally to Naruto. Take strength from love. Take pride from friendship. take everything you have and turn it all to power!"
"I will!" Hinata stood up her eyes blazing.
"Excellent Hinata."
oOo
"Were home." Naruto called.
"Get out of the way shithead I need a shower. I smell like food."
"hey you could have just asked me to move."
"I just did." Hinata and Kurenai heard a loud crack.
"Oww."
Hearing them come closer Kurenai and Hinata turned towards the doorway but only Naruto came into the kitchen.
"Hey Mom oh Hey. Hi-Hinata right?" Naruto said as he walked in.
"Naruto how was your day." Kurenai said as she got up and hugged her son.
"It was fine." Naruto murmured as he returned the hug. Breaking the hug he waved to Hinata who was standing silently.
"So what's up." he asked as he walked over to a cabinet to get a glass for a drink of water.
"Just some girl talk." Kurenai calmly stated.
"OK. Ill get out of here then" Placing the glass back on the shelf he started walk away.
"Naruto!" Hinata called out sharply.
"Yeah." Naruto turned around curiously.
Standing tall (figuratively speaking because her legs were shaking and she was hunched over) Hinata clenched her hands behind her and straightened up.
"G-Good Night Naruto" She said with only the slightest wobble. Off to one side Kurenai smiled proudly.
"Night Hinata. Night Mom." waving at the two he walked back to his room. He had a room now. After passing Kakashi's test and Tayuya moving in he had gotten his own room. Actually all that they had done was put a bed in the room where he kept all his stuff anyway.
Flopping down on his bed, he was asleep in moments.
oOo
"INO! Get these things off the flowers." Brushing the hair out of her eyes Ino got up from where she had been checking the planters. "Yes mom." Sighing loudly she got up and walked out the back door of the shop. Once she was outside she began to look for the item she needed.
"where is it? Ah there it is." Grinning in triumph she picked up the large ceramic box. Handling the box easily she carried it back into the shop.
"Hurry up Ino we have to open the shop soon." Ino's mother called from inside. Elbowing the door open Ino stomped her way to the center of the shop.
"Geez mom I know." she answered back.
"Don't take that tone with me young lady." Ino's mother snapped. Ino's mom Kasumi looked markedly different than her daughter. Ino had inherited her fathers straw colored hair and blue eyes. Her mother however sported soft brown hair that was now tinged with gray and deep dark eyes. Now those eyes were scrunched up in annoyance as she watched over her daughter.
"Sorry." putting the box on the ground Ino bent down and checked it for any damage. Satisfied that everything was OK she stood up again. Closing her eyes she focused on blanking out everything around her. In her minds eye she stood in a huge empty space.
Ino began to move her hands into seals. As she did she cast her awareness out into the world. The first thing she felt was the sharp bright spark of her mothers mind. As she cast her mind out farther, she touched the minds of people in the streets outside. To her senses it felt like a liquid wave of light as people noticed each other, touched, laughed, lived. A glowing river that was the collective consciousness of Konohagakure the village hidden in the leaves. She let herself swim in that light before drawing herself back to the shop.
Finding her mother again she dismissed her from her sight and delved deeper, wider, smaller. As she did small tiny sparks began to appear. Each one tiny but there were many, and they filled every corner and surface her mind could see.
Come home She called with her mind. Home food rest. She sent her call out not with words but with emotion, colors, images. And something heard her.
Responding to her call something in the shop stirred. Every plant in the store began to move as if stirred by wind.
And then shapes began to appear. Small and black they crawled out from underneath leaves and out of flowers. Flying and crawling they came. Soon columns of insects were gliding towards the box at her feet. She kept calling them until every last tiny spark had been gathered into the box.
"Is that all of them?" Kasumi asked as she examined one of the flower beds. "I don't trust those things. I bet they eat the plants too."
"MOM! Shino bred this hive just for us. If he says that they only eat other insects then they ONLY eat other insects."
"tch"
"I can't believe you mom. We've been using them for 2 years to keep insects away." Picking up the ceramic box she took it outside.
"I Can't believe her." she muttered as she got a bottle of water and a small paper bag out of the small dresser in the shop's backyard. Opening up the bag she took out half of a soldiers pill. Crushing it between her fingers she mixed it with the water in the bottle. Giving the bottle a good shake to mix it well, she poured it into a hole in the top of the hive.
The chakra infused water would keep the Kikaichu fed for a week. That and the insects they fed on at night would keep them well fed and healthy. As she stared at the box she thought back to how she had gotten them.
oOo
2 years ago ago on her birthday Shino and Naruto had given her presents for her birthday. Naruto had given her flower seeds and promised to go shopping with her. Shino. Shino had given her a box full of bugs.
It hadn't been a good moment. She had hurt his feelings when she had cringed away. But then he had shown her what they did. Kikaichu who had been bred to protect flowers and plants. She had been elated. He had spent over a year breeding selecting and culling his own hive to create them for her.
She had always felt that she deserved all the good things she had received in life. She was a good person she did nice things. But that day was the first time she had ever felt unworthy of a gift. That someone had devoted so much time for her sake had humbled her. For the first time in her life she had been at a loss for words.
She had cried.
"Hey Ino whats up." A familiar voice broke her reverie.
"Hey Sakura, Not a lot, you?" Ino asked as she turned around and spotted the pinkette.
"Nothing I was coming to get some flowers for my Mom. What are you doing?"
"Just some chores, follow me I'll ring you up before we open." Ino said running a hand over the hive.
"Sure."
The two friends entered the shop together.
"Aunt Kasumi good morning." Sakura asked as she entered.
"Sakura how are you? We haven't seen you in a few days." Kasumi exclaimed delightedly
"I've been busy. My sensei has us pretty busy." Sakura commented ruefully. "He gave us today off. But we've been doing missions every day. Chasing cats, walking dogs, weeding. I had dirt embedded in my skin. My skin Ino! And then we train in the afternoons. All Afternoon."
"Wow Sakura. Our sensei just leaves our training to our dads. He says well get to team training later."
"But your dads are all on a team together right?" Sakura asked "So it works out right.?"
"Yeah. My dads all happy that were the next InoShikiCho." Ino ranted as she threw up her hands in frustration. Sakura giggled. "So what kind of training have you been doing."
"We've been doing tree walking a lot. Target practice and some teamwork drills where we try and get these bells. Oh and guess what? me and Sasuke both have fire element affinities. I've even learned 2 fire jutsu." Sakura held up to fingers proudly.
"Wow Sakura who's your sensei, all Ino told me was that you were on the same team as Naruto and that boy you two like. Sosuke." Kasumi asked from the counter.
"Mom its Sasuke." Ino corrected.
"Oh right so who is your sensei Sakura."
"His name is Kakashi Hatake. Hes got this weird silver spiky ha- Aunt Kasumi?"
Kasumi eyes were wide. "The son of the white wolf of Konoha. Sharingan no Kakashi is your sensei?"
"umm yes is he famous or something?"
"Yeah mom is he."
"Yes he is. His father was the white wolf of Konoha. And Kakashi was the student of the Yondaime Hokage himself. Kakashi is widely acknowledged as one of the most powerful shinobi in Konoha. And he has never ever taken a genin team."
"Wow Sakura that's your sensei?" Ino asked excitedly.
"I don't know is there more than one Kakashi in this village." Sakura asked doubtfully.
Kasumi couldn't help but laugh at Sakura. "There's only one Sakura. I know hes a little strange but trust me, he's a good man too."
"Ill take your word for it." Sakura answered doubtfully.
oOo
Kakashi sneezed.
"Bless you." Sarutobi said handing Kakashi a box of Kleenex. "Alright here you go here's the pay for this weeks missions." He handed three envelopes to Kakashi.
"Thanks."
"So how was your first week Kakashi." Sarutobi asked as he lit his pipe.
"Huh oh it was good." he said from behind his ever present book.
"Sigh... Kakashi report on your teams status. Or I won't give you this" Sarutobi held out a small orange book an evil grin on his face.
"Is that?" Kakashi's visible eye expanding comically.
"yes this is the next Icha Icha book. Icha Icha Violence. Print number 00000002"
"What do you want to know?"Kakashi asked the expression on his face not unlike a starving man staring at a feast.
"Several of the council members have expressed an interest in the development of Sasuke. Has his Sharingan awoken yet?"
"Not yet but I feel that its close. I'm hoping to draw it out soon. His skills are top notch but hes hesitant to work as part as a team."
"Hesitant? Not reluctant?"
"Yes hes so used to standing alone that working with a team is disconcerting to him."
"I see. Anything else?"
"Yes. As we suspected hes obsessed with killing Itachi. But I think that its no longer the same desperate drive as before."
"That's good what about the rest of your team."
"Sakura is developing well. Surprisingly she has a fire affinity just like Sasuke. I'm still trying to find a niche for her."
"And Naruto"
" You already know what his skills are. Hes getting along fairly well with his team mates. And hes proficient in the Shadow Clone jutsu. How about you tell me next time you teach him something like that." He added.
Sarutobi chuckled. "I thought you'd be proud of him"
"I am more than I could have ever imagined. Did you know he has wind as his affinity. Just like Kushina. And he looks just like Minato."
"I know."
With a bang the door to the Hokage's office. "HEY OLD MAN! were sick of these missions If I have to catch the damn cat one more time I'm going to mail it to AbuDabi!" Naruto shouted as he stormed into the Hokage's office.
"Oh Good morning Naruto. And Sasuke?"
"Good Morning Lord Hokage." Sasuke stated formally.
"Good Morning Sasuke. What brings you two to my office?"
"Yes why are the two of you here." Kakashi asked as he sat reading his book. Glancing at his desk Sarutobi noticed that Kakashi had already switched the Icha Icha paradise books. He spared an annoyed glance at Kakashi.
"I came to discuss a personal matter. When I arrived here I ran into Yuhi."Sasuke stated his voice calm and even.
"I came to get a better mission Gramps. I'm tired of all these stupid missions. Were ready for a real mission."
Smiling indulgently Sarutobi turned to Kakashi. "So do you think they're ready Kakashi?"
"Yes we are" Kakashi answered his voice firm.
Off to the side Naruto grinned at Sasuke who smirked and gave him a nod back.
"I just happen to have two C rank missions that just came in. Kakashi go ahead and pick one. "He slid two folders across his desk to Kakashi.
After giving the two folders no more than a cursory look Kakashi picked one. "Well take this one. Naruto go find Sakura. Tell her to pack for a week long mission. Well meet at the west gate tomorrow at 8." He snapped out quickly. "Don't be late." He said amusement and pride evident in his tone.
"All Right! So whats our mission?" Naruto exclaimed happily.
"Escort. Naruto were going to be protecting someone. Sasuke did you need to speak with me or the Hokage."
"The Hokage."
"Ill see you at the west gate tomorrow then. Lets get going Naruto." waving goodbye the two left the Hokage's office.
"So Sasuke how can I help you?" Sarutobi gave the young man in front of him his full attention.
"I need all the information you have on my brother."
oOo
AN: Thanks to my Beta's Whitedragon17 and Psudocode Samurai, without whose help and inspiration this story would never have gotten off the ground. Both are amazing authors and I highly recommend all of their fics. And thanks to all my reviewers.
AAN: If you think I made a mistake or have a suggestion or an idea, Please PM me or leave it in a review.
P.S. For all those of you wondering Venom and Carnage will be showing up very soon.