Review Response

Ookami88: I would Sasuke biting the dust either, but we have to wait and see. To early to say at this point.

SuNrIsEmAsSacRe: Here is more!

DriftStar: All in due.

Patriot-112: Thanks I didn't really think that the story would turn out sad, but its great none the less.

Rexard: Same to you about the sad thing and more feed back would be great.

Quote of the Day: Sometimes you feel other people's pain worse than your own. We're armored against our own troubles. We can't afford to give in to despair. Then you see someone else struggling, and it breaks your... heart.-Sean Stewart

Chapter 8: While You Were Gone

The amber colored liquid burned as it made its way down his throat. The fire water that ran down his throat offered a temporary distraction. Usually he didn't drink, but right now he could care less. Once the the liquor settled in his stomach he attempted to placed his shot cup on his ever growing pyramid of cups, right now he was trying to finish the third row which would make it three cups. Which now brought his total to twelve. Since the the whole glass thing the bartender was using plastic since all his glass was destroyed. Candles were spread all around the bar since the light bulbs blew to. Wood covered where the windows were keeping the rain out. The man's usually tan face was red, his eyes had trouble focusing on anything. The doors of the bar opened and in walked from the rain the person many people thought to be the strongest Jonin in the village. The son of the White Fang Kakashi Hatake. He scanned the loud and crowed bar. People were still celebrating Naruto's departure. He spotted a open stool, which happened to be next to the man trying to put his glass on his pyramid without knocking it down. He reached the stool and sat down glancing at the obviously wasted man next to him.

"So what'll it be son?" the bartender asked Kakashi.

Kakashi turned to the bartender. He was an older man. Probably in his mid 50s. But he looked like he was still in good shape. His collared shirt looked like was about to rip at any moment, all he need do is flex. Whatever color his hair was in his youth was now white, which was combed back. A beard covered his face, not a thick one though. A scar ran from under his right eye, it ran down his cheek, neck and disappeared into his shirt. Another scar ran from his left temple and into his hair above his ear. The man had to have been a ninja, and had probably seen more then his far share of battles.

"Give me the strongest stuff you got."

"No way kid. You look like you'll drink yourself under the table. You get scotch." the bartender told Kakashi in a gruff as he went to get Kakashi's drink.

Kakashi didn't bother arguing. He just wanted a drink. He had returned to the village almost ten hours ago. He spent three hours in the Hokage tower report his failure to Tsunade. Needless to say the Hokage didn't take the news to well and went on to start downing her sake. Kakashi took that as permission to leave. The meeting only last about an hour, but then he ran into the village council who demanded for him to retell his report to them. Kakashi spent the next two hours retelling his mission, and answering the council's questions, mainly Danzo's questions which where many. After that he was allowed to leave. When he made it home his apartment was a mess. Rain was still pouring in through his broken window. After cleaning up all the glass and covering up the window, and throwing out all the things the rain had messed up, thankfully his prized Icha Icha collection was unharmed, he came to the Kunai With Chain to unravel.

"Don't you think that you've had enough Iruka?" Kakashi asked the man next to him without turning to face him.

Iruka's "concentration" broke and he missed placing his cup which caused his hand to bump against the rest of the cups knocking down his incomplete pyramid.

"Damn it." Iruka cursed.

The bartender returned and place a cup in front Kakashi.

"There you go sorry if it don't go down as smooth as it should." the bartender told Kakashi.

"Why wouldn't it?" asked Kakashi bringing the cup to the hole in his mask.

"I don't know if I got all the glass out of my booze." answered the bartender as cleaned a cup with a dishtowel like it was no big deal.

Kakashi paused when the cup reached his lips. Contemplating if he should drink his beverage. After a moment he brought the cup to his lips and down the whole thing. It burned but he didn't mind it warmed him up a bit.

"So your Sakumo's kid right?"

Kakashi looked at the bartender.

"How would you know?"

"I used to know your father, we were pretty good friends. We used to make quite a team. Shame what happened to him." the bartender said to Jonin.

"Barkeep get me another." Iruka told the bartender, despite being drunk his speech seemed like the only thing that wasn't impaired.

"No way kid. I shouldn't have given you as much as I did in the first place. I think you've had enough." the bartender told Iruka

"I'LL TELL YOU WHEN I'VE HAD ENOUGH!" Iruka shouted as he slammed his fist on the bar, causing everyone in the bar to stop what they are doing and look at Iruka.

Kakashi was a bit shocked. Never had he ever seen Iruka this angry. He must be taking Naruto's departure really hard. Kakashi couldn't really blame him, Naruto was like a younger brother to Iruka maybe even a son, and he was gone.

"Iruka you've had enough go home and get some sleep you need it." the bartender told Iruka in a calm voice.

"What I need is another drink." Iruka answered back clearly angry he was not getting another drink.

"Iruka calm down he's right you've had enough." Kakashi tried to reason with him.

"Stay out of this Hatake!" Iruka snapped, surprising Kakashi.

"Iruka if you don't calm down and leave I'm going to have to throw you out." the bartender warned Iruka.

Iruka just stared at the bartender almost as if he was daring him to throw him out. Then the bartender snapped his finger and two people appeared seemingly out of nowhere grabbed Iruka's arms and pinned him face down on the bar. Iruka cursed as he struggled to free himself from people pinning him. No one tried to interfere with what was happening not even Kakashi. The bartender walked around the bar. When he made it to Iruka he removed his kunai pouch and his waist pouch, a drunk ninja was bad, a drunk ninja with weapons was something the bartender didn't want to experience again. Once he was sure Iruka had no more weapons on his person he nodded to his two bouncers to release him. Before Iruka could retaliate the bartender grabbed him and placed him in a choke hold and started to drag him toward the door. All the while Iruka struggled in vein against the bartenders grip. Despite the bartender age his strength had not left him so he was easily able to drag Iruka as if he weighed no more then a child toward the door.

The rain was not coming down as hard as it was when it had first started raining, but still Shizune wondered if it would ever stop. She walked down the empty streets of the village, an umbrella shielding her from the rain. Hardly anyone went out anymore because of the rain, and those that did only did so if they really had to. When Kakashi had returned to Konoha and gave them the bad news she was devastated as was the Hokage. As soon as Kakashi had left the office Tsunade started drinking, Shizune tried to comfort her mentor, but all her attempts were met with a glare and threat. After about half an hour of trying to slow if not stop her mentor's drinking Tsunade finally kicked her out of the office. Shizune decided to get some work done to distract herself. Time seemed to fly by, much to her disappointment. The work actually worked in distracting her. Now no matter how hard she tried her thoughts kept on returning to Naruto.

The sound of the rain pelting he ground and her umbrella, her heels clicked on the wet ground. Those were the only sounds that filled her ears. Until shouting caught her attention, the shouts were coming from her right from a bar. She stopped her trek home, curiosity claiming the best of her. After a moment the doors to the bar flung open, and a person came flying out. He hit the floor with a thud, splashing water in every direction.

"And don't come back til you get your damn head cleared boy!" a large man yelled at the downed man before returning inside.

Shizune watched the man groan and try to get up only to drop back down. Shizune made her way toward the man. When she reached him she knelt down and tried to help him.

"Are you alright?" she asked as she helped the drunk man.

Shizune helped the man stand. He was clearly not able to stand on his own, as he used her to keep his balance. Through the dark she tried to see if she could recognize this man.

"I'm.. fine." the man replied as he tried to steady himself.

Shizune recognized the voice.

"Iruka-san? Is that you." Shizune asked wanting to be sure it was him.

Iruka lifted his gaze to look Shizune in her eyes, at least he tried to. His eyes refused to focus on anything.

"Shizune...san?" Iruka whispered trying get his eyes to focus.

Shizune put Iruka's arm around her neck, her umbrella now laying forgotten next to her. She held on to his left wrist with her left hand, and wrapped her right arm around Iruka's waist.

"Come on we need to get you out of the rain." said Shizune as she lead Iruka to her apartment, since she didn't know where Iruka lived.

Shizune struggled with Iruka as they climbed up the stairs to her apartment. They were both soaked, and Iruka kept mumbling about Naruto. Saying things like if he had just befriended Naruto sooner things would have turned out differently. After finally climbing the final step they slowly made their way to Shizune's door. Shizune let go of Iruka's hand to fish her keys out of her pocket, not noticing Iruka's arm slipping from her shoulders. Before she could even take her keys out of her pocket she felt something touch her butt. Shizune's eyes widened as she looked to her should only to learn that Iruka's hand wasn't there anymore. A blush started to spread across her face.

She turned to Iruka about to criticize his perverted actions, but when she saw his face her words died in her thoat. His face was void of all emotions. His eyes were half closed his lips slightly parted. Clearly he didn't know what his hand was currently resting on. She quickly returned her attention to opening her door. When the door open she quickly returned her keys to her pocket and placed Iruka's hand back on her shoulder, and lead him into her home, closing her door with her foot. Her apartment's windows were boarded up like everyone else in the village. She had filed a trade request to Suna for glass. It would cost the village quite a bit but it was necessary. She lead Iruka to one of he chairs in the dining area and helped into a chair. When she was sue he wouldn't fall off she entered her kitchen to lit some candles. She knew her home well enough to not bump into anything but with Iruka in her home it was best to see. When she lit the candles she returned to her dining table and place one in the center, before heading to her towel closet in the hall. She grabbed a towel and quickly made her way to her room. She stripped herself of her wet clothes and dried herself off as quickly as she could. After she dried herself off she changed into some dry short shorts, and an over sized shirt.

Shizune returned to to find Iruka in the same place she had left him. Iruka's eyes watched as the small flame on the candle dance in front of him. Shizune walked next to Iruka. He had the look of a man who lost everything. Shizune opened her mouth to say something but closed it when she realized that she didn't have anything to say. After a few more attempts she decide that his health came first.

"Iruka-san, you need to get out of those wet clothes or you get sick."

She was met with silence.

"Iruka-san?" she tried again.

Again Iruka did not answer. He only stared at the candle. Shizune was starting to get impatient. She opened her mouth to speak again, but Iruka finally spoke.

"It's my fault." Iruka said in a whisper.

"What?"

"It's my fault, that he left."

Shizune now knew what he was talking about. Shizune sat down in the chair next to him.

"Iruka-san it's not your fault."

"Like hell it isn't!" Iruka shouted, startling the medical ninja.

"When my parents died I was alone, sad, angry. When I first learned that Naruto was the container of the fox I hated him," Iruka stared at his hands. "I saw him as the monster that took my parents, not as the hungry and sad little boy that he was. I even joined in when they stoned him, beat him, I even join the villagers that went out to look for him and kill him."

Shizune gasped. For the short time that she knew Iruka he was a kind caring person. To learn that he also hated Naruto it shocked her. Iruka sniffled returning Shizune's attention to him.

"But then one day I found him just after some villagers had finished beating him. When they left I say it my chance for revenge." tears started to fall from Iruka's eyes, " but when I saw him there I didn't see a monster. I saw a little boy, beaten bloody, barely breathing." tears where falling freely now as Iruka continued, "it was then that I told myself that I would treat him with the respect he deserved. I told my self that I would try to make it up to him. Now when it really mattered I did nothing. I never told him I was sorry."

By the time Iruka had finished Shizune had tears of her own rolling down her cheeks. There was silence. Then slowly Shizune reach for Iruka's hands and took them into her own. Iruka slowly turned to look at the woman to his right.

"Iruka.. its not your fault Naruto left."

"Your wrong. I was one of the people who hurt him."

"But you did something that many ofthem didn't."

Iruka looked at her confused. He couldn't figure out what she meant by that. Shizune decided to answer him.

"You changed. You may have seen Naruto as a monster, you may have hurt him. But you changed, you tried to make right the mistakes you made, which is more then what can be said for most of the village." Shizune told.

Iruka didn't know what to say. Iruka tried to think of something to say, but before he cold his head started to hurt. He withdrew one of his hands from Shizune's and brought it to his head as he closed his eyes in pain.

"The alcohol is starting to get to you. Come one we need to get you dry so you won't get sick." Shizune told him as she helped him stand and led him to the bathroom, grabbing a towel from the towel closet on the way.

"Here dry yourself off I'll try to find you something to wear." Shizune told Iruka as she closed the bathroom door.

Iruka slowly started to remove his wet clothes. Thankfully his boxers weren't that wet. By the time Iruka had finished drying himself Shizune knocked on the door. Using he wall to steady himself he move to the door and opened it. Shizune blushed as she looked at him. He was thankfully wearing his boxers when he opened the door.

"H-here this is the biggest clothes I have. H-hopefully they'll fit you." Shizune said with a slight stutter as she handed him the clothes. Iruka took the clothes.

"Your boyfriend's?"

"No I don't have one, they're mine, I like clothes that are to big for me. Come back to the living room when your done." Shizune told him before she left to the mentioned room.

Iruka didn't bother closing the door as he dressed. The clothes fit him, barely. He figured they were bigger on Shizune. He stumbled out of bathroom using the wall as his support. When he made it to the end of the hall he saw Shizune sitting on her couch waiting for him. Iruka's head flared in pain again, his headache increasing every moment. He carefully walked toward the couch through the dim lighting. Shizune watched in mild amusement as Iruka stumbled toward her. She decided to meet him halfway. She helped him to the couch and sat down.

"Lay down." she instructed him

Iruka practically fell on the couch. then he laid down, resting his head in Shizune's lap. Shizune blushed once more. She had a big couch he could have laid down without laying on her.

"Now what?" Iruka asked is brows showing his pain.

"J-just relax." Shizune told him as her hands began to glow green.

She placed her hands on his head, and Iruka immediately felt the pain in his head lessen. Iruka sighed as he closed his eyes, enjoying the relief Shizune's touch brought. For a moment he was content. He felt nothing, only Shizune's touch. All his troubles, his worries just disappeared along with his headache as Shizune massaged his head. Shizune tried to focus on he task at hand, no pun intended. She has treated people in far worse condition, so treating a simple headache was a breeze. But the sighs and small moans that Iruka was making were a bit distracting. Not to mention that she was the one causing the moans, causing her blush to increase slightly. Shizune looked at Iruka's face, she admitted to herself that Iruka was pretty handsome. She neve really got to have a good look at him before, but now she see how good looking he is.

After about ten minutes she let the glowing in her hands diminish until it was gone. She was sure that she had relieved Iruka of his headache. She would have to deal with his hangover in he morning, but she would cross that bridge when she got to it. She was about to move Iruka's head off her lap so she could some sleep, but his hand shot up to grab her hand.

"Don' go." Iruka whispered, his eyes still closed.

"I don't want to disturb you. You'll be much more comfortable when.."

Shizune's speech was cut short when Iruka brought her hand down and nuzzled it with his cheek. Shizune didn't know what possessed Iruka to do that, she concluded that maybe it was the alcohol still in his system.

"I'm comfortable with you here, your presence is soothing." Iruka whispered again this time opening his eyes to look into hers.

"Please... I don't want to be alone." Iruka pleaded.

Shizune saw the pleading in his eyes. All she did was nod not trusting herself to speak. Iruka smiled and closed his eyes, quickly he returned to his slumber. Shizune remained awake for a few more minutes. Her hand that was not being held was absentmindedly stroking Iruka's hair. Her fingers lightly moving through his brown locks. Slowly sleep began to take her. She leaned her head back against he sofa and closed her eyes. And for at least this one night these two wounded souls found comfort in one another.

The three of them were on their knees, their heads touching the floor as they awaited their punishment. When they had returned to the village they went directly to ROOT HQ. Their master Danzo was a terrifying man. His anger was never shown the way normal people would usually show anger. When he was angry he showed it through his actions. Right now Danzo looked at the three ninjas in front of him. They had returned from their mission without the Nine- Tails, and to make matters worse they did not kill it. Danzo was not pleased, and when he was not pleased people got hurt.

"Explain to me again why you did not chose to chase the demon across the border." Danzo said as he sat in a throne like chair in he main chambers of his hidden base.

Sousa did not lift her head as she spoke.

"Danzo-sama, Hatake-san had made it clear that we were to return to the village. We where only following orders."

Danzo was silent. Then he stood up and slowly made his way toward his three ninja.

"Tell me Sousa is Kakashi Hatake a ROOT ninja?" Danzo asked in a calm voice.

"But Danzo-sama..."

"Is he a ROOT ninja?" Danzo interrupted Sousa.

"No." Sousa answered as fear gripped her heart with its ice cold fingers.

"Are Kakashi Hatake's orders carry more importance than mine?" Danzo asked as he stopped in front of the three bowed ninjas.

"No Danzo-sama" Sousa answered again.

"Do you know what the penalty is for failure?"

"Yes, but Danzo-samaif you give us on more chance I'm su..."

"Failure is no tolerated at all." Danzo once again interrupted.

Sousa was scared, Not only for herself bu for her teammates. Despite the way she was raised and trained, she love her teammates. They were like her family.

"Please Danzo-sama I beg your mercy." Sousa begged, but she knew it was useless. Danzo never granted anyone that luxury.

Danzo stared at them. His one working eyes looking over each one.

"Very well Sousa. I will grant your team mercy."

Sousa could believe her ears. Had she heard right? Was he really showing them mercy. She was going to thank Danzo, but then she heard a snap.

Danzo snapped his fingers and one of his ninja appeared before him kneeling in respect. Danzo held out his hand and the ninja unsheathed his katana from its sheath and placed it in his master's hand. Danzo held the blade in front of him. Sousa slowly raised her head and looked at her master. Danzo then maneuvered the blade so he was holding it in a reverse grip. He raised the blade and brought it down. Sousa closed her eyes waiting for the blade to pierce her flesh. But instead she heard the blade pierce he stone floor in front of her. Danzo released the sword, as it now stood on its own.

"But Danzo-sama... you said... you would show us mercy."

"And I am. Rise Sousa."

Sousa slowly stood.

"Take the sword."

"Danzo-sama..."

"Take the sword." Danzo repeated.

Sousa reach and gripped the blade. Tears were slowly starting to leak from her eyes as she gripped the handle and pulled the blade from the ground.

"The penalty for failure is death. Were it any other time I would have the three of you killed in the most painful ways possible. I would have personally made sure that your suffering would have lasted weeks." Danzo said as he began to head toward to exit of the chamber.

"But people with skill Sousa are difficult to come by. This is your punishment. You will be the one to end your teammates lives."

Sosa's blood turned to ice in her veins. She was to kill her teammates, no her family. She had known her team since they were first now she was to be the one to end their lives.

"But.. Mercy.." Sousa said not sure what else to say.

Danzo stopped in front of the door.

"I told you I am showing mercy. This way you can assure those two get a swift death, which is more than they deserve." Danzo said as a ninja opened the door in front of him.

"Am I not merciful Sousa?" Danzo asked not bothering o tun around.

Sousa did not answer. Her tears ran freely down her face as she looked at her two teammates, no her two brothers who were still bowed.

"Am I no merciful?" Danzo asked this time in a louder voice that demanded an answer.

Sousa had never hated Danzo before. But right now the hatred she was immense. But there was nothing she could do. Danzo owned her, she could do nothing to him.

"Yes Danzo -sama." Sousa said her head lowered.

"Good when you finish with those two dispose of them. Then return to the barracks until you are needed again." Danzo said as head exited, the ninja closed the door and returned to the shadows of the chamber.

Sousa looked at her brothers, who were now sitting cross legged in front of her. Sousa couldn't bear to look them in the eyes as she slowly made her ways behind them. The blade dragged across the floor, her sobs accompanied the blade's screech. She stood behind Ryoushi and slowly raised the blade.

"At least I'm glad it you who will end us. At least you will end it quickly. Thank you Sousa, good bye." Ryoushi said as he closed his eyes one last time.

"Farewell Sousa." Kemono also said closing his eyes.

Sousa's sobs echoed through out the chamber as she readied the sword.

"I'm sorry." Sousa choked out.

Then with a cry of anguish she swung the sword.

4,531 words. Why do my chapters get longer! Well whatever sorry for the wait. This chapter was supposed to be about more people, I didn't think the Iruka and Shizune part would take that long, and I was going to introduce a new character but the chapter got to long. Well the reason This took so log is because of two things. The first is Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep. All I can say is I FUCKING LOVE THIS GAME! It blew my mind. Those of you that are Kingdom Hearts fans need to play this game. That's all I'll say about that. And the second reason id Valkyria Chronicles 2. The game is great, Sega did a good job on this. I cant wait for the third game. Again nothing really to rant about. And I though I would tell you why this story is rate M. The reason that I made this story M is because it give me more freedom to write what I want. My story will contain bad language, blood and gore, dismemberment, death, and maybe a lemon or two. I'm still not sure about the lemons. If you guys want a lemon or two I could write them in, but only if you guys want them. I'll get start on the next chapter right away. And a new poll question. This one is pretty straight forward.

SASUSAKU or LEESAKU

Well there you go pretty straight forward right? Poll closes Oct. 23 get your vote in! The next chapter will have another question. And I will reveal the identity of the Shikyokage. Any final guesses before you find out, send me your guess as well as your review.

Well See Ya Squall Leonhart Out.