Double The Pleasure Double the Blond Chapter 17 - Chapter 20, a naruto fanfic

Double the Pleasure Double the Blond

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto, he belongs to Kishimoto.

This is a continuation of Blonds-verse, Blonds Have More Fun.

Chapter 17

Outside Stadium

Ino went to her knees as the last of the invaders fell. She took several breaths.

"Lady Ino?" the fox summon asked in concern.

"You and the others may go Taz. And thanks." She said. The eight foxes went up in puffs of smoke. She was gathering herself to move again when she heard Lee's shout.

"TENTEN!"

Ino's head whipped around and she saw that the would-be weapons mistress facedown on the ground.

"TenTen! TenTen!" Lee screamed as he slid across the ground on his knees, he was about to grab her but Shikamaru stopped him.

"You could do more damage moving her." the Nara said.

Ino knelt next to her and felt for a pulse. It was slow. "She's unconscious." She said. "Chakra exhaustion."

Ino shook her head. "Lee." She said and waited until he looked at her. "We need medic ninja here. We can't move her without a stretcher. The brace she was wearing that allowed her to move was fed by her chakra." Ino explained to the taijutsu student.

He nodded and was gone at an impressive speed.

"Sakura." She called to her friend whose green eyes seemed far too wide and innocent for what they'd just done.

"Do you have any soldier pills?"

Sakura shook her head, sweat rolling off her brow.

Ino looked at Shikamaru who held up a bottle and she smiled. "Always prepared." She took them from him and popped one in her mouth then insisted Sakura and Shikamaru each take one.

"I need to catch up with my husband. You both stay with TenTen and once Lee returns you can catch up…"

"You mean to go on alone?" Shikamaru asked with a raised eyebrow.

Ino nodded, but Sakura gasped, "Pig, you'll be outnumbered!"

Ino gave a grin, "Don't worry forehead. Naruto's not too far and I'm going to be using a technique he showed me after we were married. You wouldn't be able to keep up anyway."

Ino winked. "See you soon." And she was gone in a yellow flash.

Elsewhere

Naruto dragged Gaara out of the wreckage. He sighed as he felt the red head tense and managed to shove him aside as the sand erupted from the ground.

"Come on already." Naruto muttered and when he looked at Gaara and saw the irises were pure black and the pupils had become a gold star.

"Shukaku." Naruto muttered as he did a series of flips and twists to avoid the sand and watched as it soon raced back towards Gaara and surrounded him. "Not good."

He looked up for Haku and found him gone. "Really not good."

Stadium, Kage Box Rooftop

Zabuza watched as Anko attacked Orochimaru and the snake sannin avoided her attacks. His vision was getting bleary as he looked to the Hokage being supported by his summon.

His gaze went back as Orochimaru kicked Anko away and she skidded to a halt at the feet of the Hokage.

"Kukukuku!" Orochimaru chuckled. "You might have prevented the third coffin, but you won't stop what happens next Sarutobi-sensei." Orochimaru spat as he began to work his jutsu. Around him his special unit the Sound Four took up positions after killing the nearby Anbu and they erected a barrier jutsu that Orochimaru himself created.

"And now this is going to be the end." His hands sped thru a series of seals and the coffin lids exploded open to reveal the First and Second Hokage's

"You sick bastard!" Anko said from her knees one arm clutched to her ribs.

"You disrespect the dead. How low can you go my former student?" Sarutobi asked sadly and Orochimaru gave him a sick twisted grin that gave the older man all the answer he needed and he prepared himself.

"And we won't be interrupted by the pathetic Anbu. My barrier jutsu will see to that." Orochimaru said as the animated corpses stepped forward.

"Has it been so long?" the First spoke.

"You've gotten so old lil' Sarutobi." The Second said, his voice holding a hint of laughter and warmth at seeing his former student.

"And you're both here because of my disappointment of a former student." Hiruzen said as he looked upon his predecessors.

Orochimaru snorted. "How touching. I didn't bring you back to reminisce like a clutch of old women." He stood behind the dead Hokage's and inserted a kunai covered with runes into the base of their skulls both men whose eyes moment ago had been sparkling with life and humor became blank.

"Destroy Sarutobi!" Orochimaru ordered, his grin feral and speaking volumes.

Shelter

Kiba went to his knees blood leaking out the side of his mouth as his eyes suddenly lost focus.

"Kiba, you idiot." A familiar voice said.

He looked up to see his sensei come in with a group of civilians. She looked at Iruka who was escorting the students from the academy. "Is this everyone?" she asked moving towards her student. Iruka nodded. "The evacuation is complete."

Kurenai helped Kiba move against the wall. "You proud, stupid…" she growled as she checked him over. "You should still be in the hospital." Kurenai scolded her student.

Kiba gave a groan as she checked him over. "You idiot." She said again noticing the splints on his arm and leg as well as the heavy bandaging around his torso.

"Getting pretty forward, aren't you sensei?" Kiba hissed in pain.

"You stay put. I'll get a medic…" Kurenai began but Iruka shook his head. "The doors are sealed."

Kurenai hissed. "But what about the hospital and patents?"

"Locked down. It's being protected by the Inuzuka clan as we speak." Iruka said.

Kiba chuckled. "I almost pity the invaders." He winced then coughed up a gob of blood.

"Sensei…I think…" the Inuzuka heir began but was cut off by his sensei.

"Don't speak; you foolish boy. Save your strength." Kurenai looked at her student.

"Heh…that's me. One part brave, three parts fool." Kiba's said as he struggled to breath. "That Suna kid…he's…"

"Save your strength Kiba." Kurenai said. She looked around. "Where are Hinata and Shino?"

Murmuring and muttering was her only answer as everyone realized that the other Genin had vanished.

Naruto looked at the sphere and shook his head as more and more sand erupted from the ground. "Gaara." He said sadly. You are making it very hard to keep you alive. I don't want to see another friend die. Naruto thought remembering Neji already taken from them.

Now, where the hell did Haku get to? He thought unaware of the tendril of sand coming up behind him.

Chapter 18

Naruto just managed to leap away when he felt something touch his leg. He looked to see a tendril of sand like a snake and he knew Gaara was back in the fight as more sand exploded from the ground and he saw the red heads eyes were closed. "Aw shit!" Naruto used a building to springboard up to a rooftop and looked back and wondered when Gaara did the sleep jutsu that allowed Shukaku to take over. I swear Gaara I'm going to fix your seal and you won't have to wait for someone to remove the demon before you sleep.

Naruto could only watch as the avatar body of Shukaku formed and Naruto looked at the wall that was only a hundred yards away. It might as well be one hundred leagues. Naruto thought upset that this time the battle would take place in the village and not in the forested area like it did last time.

Oh well. At least Sasuke isn't here and Sakura is safe as one can be during the invasion. And Ino's… his thoughts were interrupted seeing the giant sand demon with Gaara on its head like a pimple.

Shukaku let out the maniacal laugh and Naruto used the flash step to get behind it and peppered the giant posterior with kunai loaded with explosive tags before using the flash step again. As Shukaku turned it was like he let a massive fart go as the tags went off and some one had lit a match as the area rained burning sand.

Narut gave a grin at this and watched as the back of Shukaku had a hard time reforming and he might feel guilty later, but right now his battle with Gaara had become dangerous and Naruto couldn't afford to lose this battle.

"Its time." He uttered as he watched the giant sand demon finally regenerated the damage he'd done. His hands began to move in the familiar pattern of a summoning jutsu. He grinned at Shukaku whose gaze he met.

"SUMMONING JUTSU!"

Ino's flash step brought her within range and she cursed seeing Shukaku.

"Ino."

She turned seeing Haku. "What are you doing way over here? Aren't you supposed to be helping Naruto?" Ino looked at the dark haired youth they'd saved from death.

Haku looked down and Ino got a really bad feeling at seeing this and what Haku said next had her gut clench and not in a good way.

"I'm sorry."

Ino managed to avoid the ice senbon needles and looked at Haku in disbelief. "Why?" she demanded as she drew a kunai as she looked at the dark haired boy.

"What I am doing brings me no happiness." Haku said sadly as another volley of ice senbon formed and launched at the blond.

"Then why? I thought you were Naruto's friend!" Ino said as she avoided the attack but kept herself from attacking. Something is really wrong here. Ino thought as she heard an explosion in the distance and looked over her shoulder and saw Shukaku was damaged. Hang on love. Ino thought as she focused on Haku once more who leapt to street level and Ino was forced to follow him only to find herself surrounded by Oto ninja.

"I'm sorry Ino. I had no choice." Haku said regretfully and Ino could hear the pain in his voice at what he was doing.

"So am I." Ino said before she was in motion once more and soon the air was filled with blood, screams and bright yellow/purple flashes.

Kage's Box-rooftop

Zabuza felt life leaving him and cursed the past month when Orochimaru and his sidekick got the drop first on him and then used him to get Haku. The obedience seal that was on his back prevented him from doing anything less than following the man's orders. Zabuza remembered the seal he helped put on Haku and the tears in his own eyes as the young man who he saw as a son became a tool for the traitorous sannin. If he could have gone against the man he'd bury his sword in the man's back right now he would have.

Zabuza dying from the venom of Anko's snakes watched as the Hokage and the Jonin fought the animated corpses of the past Hokage's. Anko was getting the most punishment as she was finding it hard to breath with cracked ribs.

The Third Hokage was being kept protected and upright by his summon and Zabuza felt a burning sensation and he knew he didn't have much longer. Haku my adopted son, forgive me. He silently sent even as his fingers gripped the handle of his sword and ignoring the pain from the seal on his back he struggled to his feet. I can't make it right…but I can make it even. He thought taking a shaky step towards the battle taking place.

Ino was down to her knees as she looked on as the second wave of Oto ninja arrived before the last one from the first group fell under her assault. Damn it. I don't have time for this. She thought even as in the distance she could hear the roar of her husbands summon.

Haku watched as Ino struggled to get back to her feet. This isn't right. He'd been fighting with himself as the battle first started and he'd fought the seal, which was racking his body with pain as he fought the orders he'd been given.

When the new wave arrived he went to his knees as he fought the orders even more. Forgive me Ino…Naruto. You were my first friends and this is how I repay you. He thought as tears slipped from his eyes behind his hunter nin mask.

The Oto ninja reached Ino even as she was marshalling herself to fight on. The first ninja didn't reach her however as he was sent flying back into his friends by a palm strike.

Ino while on her knees looked up and blinked. "Hinata?"

The Oto ninja got back up but their only warning was a loud buzz as they were engulfed by a swarm of kikai insects, a very large swarm.

Ino looked up even more to see Shino standing on the rooftop right above Haku, his shade covered eyes she could tell were burning with anger.

Before she could say something Hinata turned towards Haku and her Byakugan was blazing. But it wasn't to Haku that the heiress spoke. "We ran into Shikamaru and Sakura and Lee. They are with the medic's tending to TenTen and sent us ahead."

Ino nodded as she got to her feet and looked at Haku. "You're going to tell me why, or am I turning you over to Hinata and Shino to escort to Anbu?"

Haku remained silent. The seal preventing him from betraying his new master and he hated it. With no choice Haku created an ice mirror and vanished.

"Damn." Ino muttered. It was the look on Hinata's face that worried her.

The smoke cloud cleared from the summoning and Shukaku stepped back at who was revealed.

Naruto standing on top of Kyuubi's head grinned as the fox narrowed her eyes. "Tell me we can leave him spread over the countryside." The Kyuubi's voice sounding not at all happy at seeing Shukaku who backed away several steps.

"K-K-Kyuubi! It's been awhile." Shukaku stuttered. Even as insane as he was he knew when he was outclassed and had no hope of winning.

"Not long enough you wannabe transvestite. Seriously acting as the boy's mother."

"If you can beat up Shukaku and avoid hurting Gaara, I'd say go for it." Naruto finally answered her question. The Kyuubi gave a very feral grin and then roared before charging, her nine tails trailing behind her, as she became an orange blur.

Shukaku had a moment and he used it to its full effect. "Mommy!"

Kage's Box-Rooftop

Orochimaru was laughing as Anko was being outclassed by the former Hokage's and the old man was basically out of the fight, only throwing a jutsu to prevent Anko's death.

He brought his hands up to prepare his own jutsu when he let out a scream and his eyes landed on his arms where they'd been severed just above the wrists. He looked to the side where Zabuza went to his knees with a chuckle. "No more patty cake for you." The former swordsman of the Mist said before face-planting into the roof, dead.

Chapter 19

Anko rolled to the side and her eyes widened in surprise seeing Zabuza take Orochimaru's hands and her former mentor go to his knees in pain and shock at the surprise attack.

Anko watched as the Hokage dealt with his former mentors and predecessors first with a kage bunshin assault of seven Third Hokage's appearing and trapping the dead Hokage's, then using another jutsu as two monkey's appeared and before she could blink they became two swords that she'd never seen before.

Enma grabbed the monkey-blades and with speed belaying his size decapitated the trapped Hokage's and as the bodies hit the floor they transformed two dead Oto ninja even as their heads bounced several feet away. Anko recognized them as two of the Genin from the second test.

She looked on as the barrier flickered and the Sound Ninja that had been the four corners rushed towards their fallen ruler.

Any time now. She mentally complained to the Anbu who had been watching the battle after losing several of their number trying to cross the barrier.

Spitting a gob of blood Anko hoped it ended soon as her ribs were killing her.

"Hinata?" Ino asked seeing the other girl's shock.

"He's got some sort of control seal." Hinata said as Shino joined them. "He wasn't in control of his actions."

"He seemed pretty much in control to me." Ino said with a growl. She blinked as a thought struck her and leaping to a nearby rooftop she looked in the distance and sighed in relief seeing the giant nine tail fox treating Shukaku as a foot sack, keeping the sand creature in the air with a simple tail flick. From her place she saw the speck of blond atop the Kyuubi's head and sighed in relief.

She heard a gasp and turned to see that Hinata and Shino had followed her to the roof. She couldn't help herself and grinned. "Don't worry, Naruto has everything under control."

Even Shino couldn't keep his surprise from showing as his eyebrows shot up.

"N-Naruto-kun?" Hinata said and her shock was evident. Let the Hokage and the sensei's deal with explaining things. Ino thought; even as she watched her husband and the Kyuubi dealing with Shukaku.

Ino turned her attention to Hinata. "You said there was a seal of some kind on Haku?"

It took her grabbing Hinata's shoulder before the Hyuuga heiress responded.

"Yes. It's similar to some of the seals my clan used early on before they agreed to the Caged Bird seal." Hinata said. "It's a slave seal of some kind and from what I saw with my Byakugan it was causing Haku pain."

Ino frowned at this. When the hell did it get applied? There were many questions that Ino didn't like and the changes were becoming to numerous for her to fix. First Choji doesn't become a ninja, then Neji is killed. Temari and Kiba are badly injured, and Haku is enslaved.

"What?" she asked realizing that Shino had been talking to her.

"We need to get closer. Naruto might need help." The Aburame heir said.

Ino nodded not that she thought her husband needed help, but to stop him if he got too mad and with Kyuubi there it could take some heavy bribery.

"Let's go." Ino said popping another soldier pill knowing that she would be sleeping heavily when this slowed down enough.

"WHOSE A BITCH NOW!?" Kyuubi snarled as the giant sand demon curled into itself to offer some kind of protection.

Naruto could see Gaara flopping about and hoped his friend was okay. Shukaku looked like he was about to be ill with the amount of airtime he'd gotten.

"I-I su-surrender!" the sand demon screamed.

"Kyu-chan that's enough." Naruto said and winced when Kyuubi made no move to catch Shukaku and watched as the female fox actually smirked as Shukaku hit with an earth shaking impact.

Naruto leapt from the Kyuubi's head and landed at eye level. "No more tormenting Gaara. I'm going to fix his seal properly and remove the mad monk that is sealed with you."

"Wh-Why are you doing this?" Shukaku asked shifting about to bring Gaara close to the blond.

"He is and will be my friend. He's going to need you when he becomes…"

"Kit." Kyuubi warned.

Naruto nodded. "Let's say he's important to me." he then got serious and looked the sand demon right in its nearest eye. "If you fuck with him I swear I'll let Kyuubi deal with you." He took Gaara as the sand began to collapse and the blond saw the look in Shukaku's eyes. "You win brat…now fix us." Shukaku said withdrawing into the seal. Naruto sighed ignoring the Kyuubi's muttered phrasing about "fixing" Shukaku. Before Naruto could say anything Kyuubi spoke up "I'm returning as well kit. Your mate is nearly here and she's not alone." Kyuubi said before dissolving into a red mist and vanishing before Ino arrived followed by Hinata and Shino.

Her embracing Naruto tightly told him that she was worried. A groan had the pair separate. "He's alive?" Ino asked for confirmation. "Not how I imagined it would go, but he's down and I'm going to fix his seal. Keep an eye out for any trouble and if you see Haku…what?" he asked seeing his wife's look and the tenseness of Hinata and Shino. "What happened?"

Anko with the help of Enma was with the Hokage watching as Orochimaru was guarded on his escape. Anbu was going after him, but she managed to stop all but three that leapt after the former Sannin of Konoha and she could only watch as one of Orochimaru's guards turned in the air and spat a gob at the three pursuers. It opened like some kind of net and engulfed all three Anbu. Anko winced when she saw that it wasn't a net but looked organic and it was acidic as soon as it connected and wrapped around them they were dead before they hit the roof, not enough of them was left for identification.

"And that's why you don't leap after a snake." Anko said to the other Anbu who by their postures looked sick.

"You two, get the Hokage to safety. You three…" Anko looked around. "Find my teammates. I think the Uzumaki's went that way. Bring them back to me in one piece." Anko said and the Anbu leapt away.

"I can give my own orders Anko." The Hokage said as Enma passed him to the Anbu, the Third Hokage. She gave him an un-repentant grin and a shrug that pulled on her injured ribs. "Grab power when you can and wield it like a club." She checked her watch Ino and Naruto had given her the day they made Chunin. "Ibiki should have Danzo and the others dealt with. I must say using the invasion to weed out Root and the other traitors in the council is…"

The Hokage gave her a wink and she looked around the stadium. My brats were of course right start to finish. Maybe I can take them gambling. Anko thought. The loss of life in Konoha had been minimal and the snake Jonin knew it was because of two blond Chunin and the ideas they had pushed through her to the other Jonin.

I just hope they are okay.

Haku looked back at Konoha and a tear slipped from his eye. He turned hearing a sound. Seeing the masked figure he said nothing. Two more figures arrived and a man that Haku wish he could kill the man appeared. "Sarutobi got lucky. But Root cannot be destroyed."

"Lord Danzo, we really should move." One of the Root agents said.

"Yes." Danzo looked at Haku. "Take us to Orochimaru. I'm sure he'll like his new present."

Haku's eyes landed on the sealed casket, the glass top allowed him to see that Danzo had liberated Sasuke Uchiha and the former Genin was in stasis and being carried by four Root agents. "Move out." Danzo ordered.

Haku looked back at the place that had promised him a home and ignored the pain of the seal on his back for as long as he could. "I'm sorry." He whispered and leapt away.

Chapter 20

He opened his eyes, amazed that he was alive. Turning his head was agony but he thought the pain was well worth it. Sitting in a chair next to his bed was the woman he thought had killed him.

"About damn time you woke up. I gave you the antidote yesterday." Anko Mitarashi said once Zabuza made eye contact with her.

"The seals were removed by the way. It was a good thing Naruto's been studying seals."

Zabuza nodded, his mind still focused on the fact he was alive. "The invasion?" he rasped out.

"Minor damage to the village, but it was contained and we lost some Anbu and Chunin." Anko said.

"The Hokage?"

Anko smirked. "Already back doing paperwork. He's fine, his back has been fixed for now and he's dealing with the traitors."

Zabuza closed his eyes for a moment. "Haku. He's got a seal like mine. He…"

"Is missing in action, most likely Danzo took him with him in his escape." Anko said. "Already a pursuit squad is after them." She told him hoping to ease his worry.

Zabuza felt tense as Haku's seal was more elaborate than his. "And the brat?"

Anko laughed. "Who do you think is leading the pursuit squad?"

Fire Country Border

"We can't cross over." An Anbu said as Naruto looked at the direction the trail had gone. "We have no idea what forces are waiting for us."

Naruto growled. I lost Sasuke last time and this time its Haku. His fist clenched tightly.

"Uzumaki…"

"Return to Konoha." Naruto ordered. "We'll inform the Hokage and he can set the Hunter Nin division loose. Its time they earn their keep."

One of the Anbu laughed at that.

"I can't believe they took the Uchiha."

Naruto shook his head. Anbu are a bunch of gossips.

"I bet they didn't know the full damage done by your wife." The cat masked Anbu said and Naruto chuckled. "What can I say Yugao-chan. Ino is a tough act to follow."

The cat masked Anbu shook her head and they continued back to Konoha. Only Naruto would know who I am other that my team, Hayate and the Hokage.

"I prefer if you would use my codename while I'm in uniform Uzumaki-SAN."

Naruto nodded. "Sorry. Still getting used to being a Chunin. Other than Weasel and Dog, you were one of my guards growing up that I could trust."

Yugao nodded. "Lets get you back to your wife. She's probably worried where you got off to."

Naruto shrugged. "I didn't tell her."

Around him the four Anbu shuddered. "As a married man, I can say that was a mistake." Hawk said.

Naruto knew he was right, but when he heard of the pursuit squad, he had demanded to be on it. The Hokage in the hospital at the time had done one better and put him in charge.

"Let's go home." Naruto said silently vowing he'd rescue Haku and he wouldn't end up like the Uchiha had in his past life.

Yamanaka Household

"Mom, you need to calm down." Ino said as she poured herself and her mother some tea. "Getting upset isn't good for the baby."

Izumi sighed as she tore apart a napkin. "Your father promised me he wouldn't get hurt."

"And he didn't." Ino said. "It was a flesh wound. He's helping out the Hokage. His upper arm is wrapped up and he's got full use of his arm."

Izumi sighed then looked at hr daughter. "And where is Naruto? Was he hurt during the invasion?"

Ino shook her head. "Naruto was fine when I last saw him. The Hokage needed to see him, knowing my loving husband he's somewhere in the village."

You better be in the village Naruto-kun. Ino thought as she and her mother talked about the Chunin exams.

Hokage's Office

Hiruzen Sarutobi winced as he settled back into the heavily padded chair. While his back had been healed it was still tender and would be for a couple of days.

He looked at the various reports that had come in during the invasion and the reports of the injured; which were thicker than the reports than the dead which while it would be rough at the hospital for a while. I am too old to play around like this. I know Jiraiya would do this, and be totally miserable…but there is another I can choose. The Third Hokage thought of his last apprentice and knew it would take something special to bring her back. Snapping his fingers her began to laugh at whom he was going to send on the mission.

Serves them right. It will be payback for teasing me all those times. He thought as he continued to cackle and write up the mission to give to a certain pair of blonds who took advantage of an old man with images and innuendos that left him unconscious on the floor in his own blood.

Training Ground 7

Sakura Haruno was working on her chakra control when she felt the arrival of her remaining teammate.

"Hey Shika." She said while focusing on balancing on her finger and thumb while doing a one armed handstand.

The answering sigh told her she was right.

"Sakura." Was the mumbled reply and she heard him approach and when he came around and sat down in front of her. Even upside down she could tell there was something big on his mind.

"What's up…side down?" she said with a snicker.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes at the bad pun. "Do you think this team is cursed?" he finally asked.

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked while retaining her balance.

"I did some checking on past Team 7's." Shikamaru said as he ripped up some grass. He held up a finger "The original Team 7 was with the Third Hokage and his teammates the councilors Danzo, Koharu and Homaru. While they didn't have a bad end they did lose their sensei early in their lives." He held up a second finger. "Then the Third Hokage's team, which later became the Legendary Sannin. History shows that while they are all around Orochimaru became a traitor, Jiraiya has become a wandering hermit and no one in Konoha has seen Tsunade since the end of the Third Great Ninja War."

Sakura nodded at this as Shikamaru held up another finger. "Team 7 consisting of Minato Namikaze who became the Fourth Hokage, Hiashi Hyuga and Fugaku Uchiha. The only one still alive today is Hiashi Hyuga and he's retired to be a full time clan leader."

Sakura paused as she thought about what Shikamaru was saying.

Holding up a fourth finger he continued. "Team 7 under the command of Minato Namikaze while successful during the war with Iwa lost two members at the end. Obito Uchiha and Rin Inuzuka. The only survivor was Kakashi Hatake."

Sakura winced seeing a very scary pattern.

"Then there was Team 7 under Kakashi. Originally it was you, me and Sasuke Uchiha and we saw how that worked out." Shikamaru said before holding up a fifth and final finger. "Then we replace Sasuke with Haku and are starting to gel as a team until the end of the Chunin exams…so I raise the question, is Team 7 cursed?"

Sakura lost her focus and balance when a voice answered "Perhaps."

She turned from where she fell. "Anyone tell you not to sneak up on someone when they're training, Kakashi Sensei?"

A chuckle was her answer. "As a matter of fact I said that to my sensei several times. He used to enjoy scaring me. I was far too much of a wild card when I was younger. To egotistical." He crouched before his two remaining students.

"And you forgot something in your calculations," Kakashi said giving the Nara genius his patented eye smile.

"And that would be?" Shikamaru asked.

"We've been hit by the Team 7 curse twice so its out of the way and we can focus on making this team better and get Haku back from the clutches of Orochimaru."

"Are we strong enough for that sensei?" Sakura asked sitting up. The three of them formed a pyramid.

"Not yet, but soon. Are you two ready to work hard?" Kakashi asked.

"Troublesome." Shikamaru mumbled and nodded his head.

Sakura smiled. We're coming for you Haku. This Team 7 won't end in tragedy.

Naruto entered the Yamanaka home well after dark. He had been to see the Hokage and filed his report and then was told that he and Ino were leaving with Jiraiya tomorrow for a mission to find Tsunade. Sarutobi had been disappointed with Naruto's reaction.

Shaking his head he closed the door and turned to get a kick to the stomach.

"And just where have you been?" Ino hissed in the darkness.

"Working for Jiji." Naruto groaned. This was not the kind of touch from his wife he had been looking forward to when he told the Hokage he was going home to the tender caress of his wife.

The answering growl told him that she wasn't happy with that answer and he managed to catch her wrist before her hit connected.

"Come here." He said pulling her in and holding her.

Ino sensed something was wrong and asked.

"Haku is with Orochimaru as well as Sasuke and Danzo." Naruto said holding his wife.

Ino sighed and buried her face into his neck. "Kiba is in critical. He lost a lot of blood during the invasion." She told him. "TenTen's going to be sidelined. She messed up her chakra network as the brace drained her too much under combat conditions."

Naruto held her. "Well it's a good thing we've got a mission to retrieve Baa-chan starting tomorrow."

Ino jerked her head to look at him. "We?"

Naruto smiled. "Yup. Seems Jiji thought it would be punishment. I didn't tell him that I know where she'll be."

Ino laughed. "So when do we leave?"

Naruto shook his head. "Tomorrow. Right now there is only one blond female I want to think about."

Upstairs Inoichi awoke only to find his wife's arm around him. My parent senses are tingling…You two better not be violating anything of mine again.

"Sleep." Izumi said and Inoichi knew his wife while unconscious could still beat him into submission. Closing his eyes he prayed that the baby when it came wouldn't take after its big sister Ino.