Colors of Life and Death series
Truth in Dreams
by Songbird21

Chapter 24

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Tenten stared at Sasuke as though daring him to say something that would give away his reasons for avoiding her while Jiraiya looked back and forth between the two, trying to figure out what the tense atmosphere was all about.

Jiraiya cleared his throat. "Alright everyone. Although this is only meant to be a reconnaissance mission, our target is an abandoned Akatsuki base so there is chance of running into them. I want everyone on high alert at all times. Understood?" Noises of agreement sounded throughout the group and he nodded his approval. "Let's go then."

They had been traveling through the treetops for nearly an hour when Jiraiya moved closer to Tenten. He knew if he wanted information she would be the more forthcoming person. "Will the problem between you and Sasuke hinder this mission in any way?"

Tenten blinked in surprise." How did you...?"

"It wasn't a difficult thing to see."

Tenten sighed. "I don't think so," she replied with uncertainty. "He's been avoiding me since the wedding yesterday. Sakura said, he told her it wasn't something I did but..."

"It's not a good enough answer—is it?" Jiraiya asked with a comforting smile.

Tenten shook her head.

"Don't worry. Boys can be kind of fickle at his age. If you two were good friends I'm sure he'll come around eventually."

Tenten smiled appreciatively. "Arigato."

"It's a shame your other team mate couldn't join us. What's his name again?" Jiraiya asked in the hopes of getting her mind off of the situation with Sasuke.

"Neji. And he's on another mission. They needed the byakugan and he was the only Hyuuga available," Tenten replied with a shrug.

Jiraiya frown slightly. "Figures. We really could have used that ability on this mission."

Tenten nodded in agreement and they continued on their way.

Sasuke moaned sleepily as he wandered off to find a place to relieve himself. He heard some strange sounds coming from his right and went to investigate. When he saw Naruto practicing he frowned. "If you're too tired to fight tomorrow don't go expecting me to save your pathetic ass."

Naruto looked up from where he had been taking a break on the ground. "Gimme a break. We probably won't even see any enemies." He got to his feet and grinned. "Check this out." He stood, taking a moment to finish catching his breath, and made the rabbit seal. He vanished and reappeared mere inches away from his target. His triumphant smile only lasted a moment, however, for he promptly passed out and crumpled to the ground from exhaustion.

Sasuke smiled wryly and shook his head. "Dobe." And with that he hauled his little brother up by one arm onto his shoulder and dragged him back to camp. He was rather impressed at Naruto managing a passable hiraishin so soon (Not that he'd tell him). I just hope he doesn't try to use it in battle yet.

Through half lidded eyes Tenten watched Sasuke as he lowered Naruto onto his sleeping bag. Trying to ignore the tumultuous feelings swirling around in her stomach she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Naruto woke up to a world that was much much too bright. Shielding his eyes he slowly sat up, wincing from the sore muscles he'd made for himself the night before. It wasn't much of a problem though. He simply focused healing chakra to the places that hurt and the only thing left was some minor stiffness.

Jiraiya poked his head into the tent. "Oi, Naruto. We're leaving in half an hour, so hurry up and get dressed."

Naruto frowned. "Yeah yeah." He got dressed and walked outside with a yawn.

Sasuke folded his arms. "About time, dobe."

"Piss off, teme," Naruto grumbled.

Sasuke saw Tenten headed his way and spoke up quickly. "We should get moving right away. I'll be the scout." He ignored the dejected look on Tenten's face and quickly ran ahead.

Jiraiya frowned but nodded in agreement and they followed after Sasuke. Once they caught up to him Jiraiya matched his speed and ran next to him. "Don't bypass the chain of command because you want to avoid talking to Tenten. Got it?" he said in a voice only audible to Sasuke.

Sasuke's face reddened a bit. "Ahn," he muttered.

Two hours later the team arrived at the abandoned Akatsuki base. "Alright. We're going in groups of two. Naruto and myself will be team one. Sakura and Lee—team two. Team three is Sasuke and Tenten."

"Nani?!" Sasuke protested.

Jiraiya ignored him and continued. "Alright. Let's move out."

Sasuke moved next to him. "Jiraiya-sama," he said quietly. "Please change me..." he began.

Jiraiya held up a hand. "Before you even ask. I will not change teams. If you can't leave your personal problems out of the mission then you have no place being a ninja."

Sasuke frowned but nodded. "Hai, Jiraiya-sama."

As Tenten followed along silently behind Sasuke she tried thinking of an excuse to get him to talk. She knew if it was mission related he'd have to answer. It wasn't really the same as having a conversation with him but she'd choose almost anything over the uncomfortable silence that drenched the air around them. "Do you think we'll run into any trouble?"

Sasuke bristled a bit at her question. He had been hoping she would continue to stay silent so he wouldn't have to talk to her. He could have kissed the headset he was wearing as it crackled to life.

"Sasuke-kun. What's your status?"

"All quiet here, Sakura," Sasuke reported.

"Okay. Out," Sakura said before signing off.

Tenten sighed as they continued walking. She wanted to ask another question but she felt as though the moment was somehow lost now.

Jiraiya had been pleasantly surprised by Naruto's concentration on the mission. Not once had he had to put up with anything annoying. "You take that room," he said as he pointed at a door to their left. He went inside the opposite door.

"Sure," Naruto confirmed cheerfully—but once inside he frowned. The room he was in contained nothing of any real interest. He sighed and wondered for the hundredth time why they were even bothering with the place.

Tenten's eyes scanned the room she was in. Nothing looked interesting until she saw a set of six tarnished kunai hanging at face level on the far wall. She walked over to them and gingerly pulled one from the case. "You poor baby," she said as she frowned at the shape it was in. An idea crossed her mind and she smiled. "I'll take all of you home and polish you up," she said happily as she began taking down the others. "You'll be as good as..." she tried to pull on the last one but it seemed to be stuck. She put the others on the floor and use both hands to pull with all her might. Once she managed to pull the top away from the case she heard a click and her eyes widened in shock as part of the wall began to slide away.

Kisame cocked an eyebrow as he noticed the sealed scar on the back of his hand had reopened. "Itachi-san, we have a problem," he said, holding up his hand to show Itachi the blood.

"Indeed." Itachi thought for a moment. "Inform the Leader. I'm more than enough to deal with whoever the fool is."

Kisame gave Itachi a lopsided frown. "You could let me take the time-killer assignments once in a while, you know. I'm bored as hell."

Itachi did not answer but simply stared at him with cold eyes.

Kisame sighed in defeat and left for their active base. Itachi looked in the direction of the abandoned one. This should be interesting.

"Sasuke-kun! Come here!"

Sasuke lifted his head from the box of papers he had been rifling through and silently prayed that whatever she wanted was mission related.

He entered the room where Tenten was and his eyes flattened into a curious glare. "What the hell?"

"I think I opened it when I pulled on this kunai," Tenten explained, indicating the object in question by pointing to it.

"Jiraiya-sama," Sasuke said into his headset.

"Jiraiya here."

"Tenten found some kind of secret passageway. Should we check it out?"

"What's your location?"

"East wing—somewhere in the middle."

"Go ahead, but be careful. Keep me informed and leave a marker on the door leading to the hallway. Naruto and I will be there shortly."

"Roger."

"There could be weight sensitive traps on the stairs. We should be careful," Tenten warned.

Sasuke nodded. Pleased with himself for being able to put aside his personal problems for the mission.

Tenten tied a rope around her waist and handed the loose end to Sasuke. "Here—I'm gonna go down first to make sure it's safe."

Sasuke suddenly felt very unsure about this plan. "But..."

Tenten gave him an odd look. "What?"

"I..."

When Sasuke didn't continue Tenten shook her head and sighed. "Just make sure you don't let go, okay?"

Sasuke nodded dumbly and held the rope tightly. Be careful, Tenten.

Sakura and Lee ran quickly along the shabby looking hallways. "They would be on the side of the complex completely opposite us," Sakura complained.

Lee laughed. "At least they found something, so that makes this mission successful." He gave her a thumbs up and his usual grin.

Sakura smacked her palm to her forehead. I love him—I love him—I love him... she chanted in her mind in order to quell the urge to hit him.

"Okay, I'm down!" Tenten shouted up the staircase.

Sasuke let go of the rope and it snaked its way down the stairs as Tenten rolled it up.

Tenten flipped the switch on the wall next to her and light filled the room she had descended to. "AHHH!"

Sasuke came thundering down the stairs—taking them three at a time. "Tenten, what is...?!" He didn't finish his sentence. He couldn't. What was before his eyes had made him lose all ability to speak.

Jiraiya and Naruto arrived at the stairwell entrance just in time to hear Tenten's scream, with Sakura and Lee only seconds behind them. Jiraiya was down the stairs first, caught a glimpse of what was in the room and suddenly stopped Naruto's advance at the bottom of the stairwell.

"Hey!" Naruto protested.

Jiraiya's face was grave. "You don't want to see what's in that room—trust me," he said as he continued to hold the boy's shoulder. He leaned sideways a bit to allow Lee and Sakura through.

Naruto glared. "So they can handle it but I can't?!" he said while pointing an accusing finger at the retreating backs of his comrades.

Sakura came back around the corner, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Naruto-kun...please listen to him. You don't want to see this."

Naruto's glare intensified and with a sudden burst of strength and speed he shoved his way past his friends. As soon as his vision rested on what they had been talking about his eyes widened, and his mouth fell open. Why?—Why in the name of all that's holy...hadn't he listened to them?

...TO BE CONTINUED

(Dives into the RPR and locks it up tight, posting Fatal Wolf as a guard)

Hi everybody. ((cough)) I'm sorry it's been so long. Many things have been sucking up my time. Not the least of which was Anime Boston. The next update will come much faster. And as always, please remember—I WILL NEVER ABANDON THIS FIC!

I know I'm evil leaving you there, but it was too perfect to resist. I'm already about 500 words into the next chapter so you won't be left hanging for long.

And before any of you ask—NO I will not be bringing Minato back to life.

See you guys soon,

Song