Chapter 23
Tsunade sighed and glanced over the determined looking ninja. "I wouldn't usually feel comfortble sending so many of you, but I trust Kakashi's judgement. For all his faults, he is an excellent stratigist and if he needs reinforcements then so be it. Once he group is seperated, I expect action to be taken quickly, and reports to be handed in for all teams. I have already breifed Team Captians, and it is up to them to give you the details. You have two months at most." She flicked a hand towards the door, the other already searchng for her sake. As expected the group filed out without any further questions for her.
Tsunade sighed. The mission had better have been damn worth it. Not only for the women imprisoned, but also for her apprentice.
"You'd damn better have looked after her Kakashi."
888
Naruto slunk casually into the dimly lit bar, immediately ordering the strongest stuff they had, and in the lowest voice he could and slunk into the shadows. It wasn't to drink rather to keep up appearances. It would be easier for people to disregard him if they thought he was a troubled man, likely drunk already, trying to drown his sorrows. They were everywhere in bars, they were like advertising gargoyles.
He did find himself filling the glass though, again and again, to keep up appearances. It seemed that any ninja that came here spoke in code, or really did come here to drink. He could only hope that Sasuke had more success, and wouldn't be too angry when he came back home drunk.
The journey was a slow and lonely one, and for reasons he couldn't place Naruto found an empty echo settle inside him at the sight of his and Sasuke's temporary shared home.
He didn't want to leave here. He didn't want to be alone.
He tumbled through the door, catching the wall to keep from falling completely. He kicked the door shut behind him.
"Sasukeee-kuunnn..." He called as loudly as his suddenly uncooperative voice could. "Sasuke."
The dark haired man sighed at the state his companion was in and grabbed his arm, pulling his towards the sofa. "Sit down, knucklehead."
"Sasuke-kuunnn..." Sasuke found himself pulled onto the sofa, directly on top of his blonde boyfriend. Sasuke sighed and put his arms out to support his weight.
"Find out anything?"
"N-noooo..." Naruto hiccupped and began to cry. "I'm so sorry Sasuke-kun."
"Heh, dobe." Sasuke gently stroked the hair out of Naruto's rather upset face. "I didn't find out much either. We're going to have to sneak in on meeting where Kakashi isn't included. Tomorrow, I'll sneak into the house before they begin and see what I can find." Sasuke reached over and pulled a blanket off the back of the sofa, settling it on top of them as he gently lowered his weight down. He kissed Naruto's cheek. "For now we should get some sleep."
"Ooohhhhkkaaayy..." Naruto placed a wet, sloppy kiss on the corner of his mouth. "Love you Sas-gay!" And then giggled at the joke.
Sasuke did too. "You too, dobe."
888
Sasuke was gone before Naruto woke up, hung over, the next morning. He'd found that he ought to check out the place early; they had a pattern of discussing confidential matters before everyone was fully up and about, and Kakashi couldn't risk eavesdropping. In his place, Sasuke had left a note, with a reminder of where he was and to take some damn aspirin.
Naruto did as he was told and flopped back down on the sofa, burrowing his nose in the blanket that was still covered in Sasuke's scent. He may as well just go back to sleep.
He was snoring again when Sasuke returned, completely oblivious to his sudden appearance of chakra. Sasuke sighed and sat down beside him, lifting his head to rest it in his lap. He fidgeted, fingers stroking restlessly through Naruto's blonde hair as he fought the urge to wake Naruto. They couldn't do anything until the reinforcements arrived and they met with Kakashi and Sakura anyway. Still, that wasn't happening fast enough.
Only if they were lucky would the reinforcements arrive today, so he had to hope that they were moving quickly. They'd known some of the details and risks of the mission when they'd accepted it, but those risks were a lot higher when applied to his pink haired friend, and even more so since she was probably not aware of them. Of course, they'd hidden that part of their plan from Kakashi...
They'd have to be warned about tightening their henges and their back-up story, Sasuke realised. If they realised who they were, the danger would only get all the worse. There was no way that they could risk that. But that meant that Sakura would not be able to protect herself. Kakashi couldn't let her out of his sight.
"Naruto." He shook the boy's shoulder. "Naruto."
Sigh. "NARUTO."
"Hmmm," The blonde boy stirred slightly. "There's no need to shout."
"Hn."
888
"C'mon guys, we're almost there." Shikamaru called behind him, turning to be met with mainly focused ninja, and a puffed out trio of Choji, Ino and Kiba.
Great. Two of them were from his own team!
"You guys need to train more..."
"Hey!" Kiba yelled. "Shut the fuck up, Jonin."
Ino bristled. No one insulted Team Ten! "If you'd stop smoking, maybe you'd be Jonin too!"
Tenten laughed. "Really? 'Cause Shikamaru smokes."
Ino flushed. "And I've damn told him not to."
"Yeah, it's like we still have Asuma." Choji added in sadly. All three of them fell into silence. They'd probably never get used to the missing slice of their team, or at least wouldn't until they found someone to fill the role of their Sensei. The loss had hit Shikamaru the worst. Ino and Choji had him to lead them, but there was no one to lead Shikamaru.
"Let's get moving. Asuma would have wanted you to give missions your all, and dance in the springtime of your youth." Gai's voice lacked enthusiasm to let his respect for the deceased man shine through, and so Team 10 (minus Asuma) followed.
Despite their fatigue, the group sped up, and soon found themselves entering inhabited land again; a small village where they had been told that they would find Naruto and Sasuke. The stopped short of the actual a town, and henged themselves. They also hid any signs that the were from Konoha in their backpacks. They had been told that the enemy knew that Kakashi and Sakura were from a ninja town, as well as all their 'details'. They weren't supposed to be from Konoha however, and any signs of the hidden leaf would be met with suspicion at best.
As they found once they got there, it was a very good thing that most of the ninja would be moving on to other places within a couple of days, because there was no way in hell for everyone to fit comfortably with Naruto and Sasuke. They had two bedroom and a lounge to fit everyone into,and neither were anything close to large. Even fitting all of the ninja in standing up was a squeeze.
"Quiet!" Kurenai called softly, and all of the ninja knew to do as they were told. Mothers were scarier than most Kunoichi because they knew exactly how to reprimand and make someone feel about three years old. It was a real ego hit. She turned to Naruto and Sasuke. "What needs doing, and when will Kakashi and Sakura get here?"
"We can't easily get organised without them, but we can start dishing out tasks now. I don't know how long it will take them to get away, but we can begin work here immediately. Other locations will have to wait as Kakashi is the best informed. We only have approximate locations."
"How long do you think it will take them to get here though?" Tenten asked.
"I'm sure that they're being kept by something important."
888
Golden light trailed in through the gap between the curtains, landing directly on top of the angel Kakashi held in his arms. He'd have to wake her in a moment. She'd never forgive him if she woke up to find him gone. For the moment though, all he could do was stare at her relaxed features as she slept, and her beautiful naked limbs entwined with his. The light hit her hair, casting hints of gold in the pink locks and a warm glow over her pale face. He sighed. This moment would be ruined if he had to leave.
It was nearly lunch time however, and he had already allowed himself to sleep through most of the morning, and watch Sakura for the rest. He had to get up...
"Sakura," He turned her to face him fully, pressing light kisses against her ear and neck and jaw. "Sakura."
"Mmmm..." Sakura let out a soft sigh as her eyelashes flickered open and her half open eyes found Kakashi's silver hair buried against her throat.
"I have to go to a meeting." He murmred. "Unless you have anything important to do..." He nibbled her jaw, dark eye fixed on her green ones. "I suggest that you stay in bed and wait." He winked (or at least she thought he did). "You might find it worth your while."
Sakura snorted. "Not if you keep talking like your negotiating with a hostile enemy I won't."
He kissed her, hard. "How 'bout now?"
"Don't bother going at all."
The look on her face almost made him forget but...
"I have to, sorry." He smoothed her hair behind her ear. He leaned his face to her now bare ear, his breath tickling it.
"You don't have to," She grumbled, burrowing her face back into her pillow. "I'm going back to sleep. Get going before I kill you.
Kakashi laughed, and wisely did as he was told.
A/N - Whew, I know that was short, but I am trying to update quicker, particularly since nothing happened in the last chapter. I am trying to scoot things along with the plot now, so that's why things are getting quite jumpy.
Thank you to: Temarilyn for reviewing! Only one review :'( It's all alone you meanies!
Temarilyn - *cookie* Thank you for reviewing, and I updated as quickly as I could, thank you for the feedback.
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