Chapter 20: Mission

Itachi sighed as he once again patched up Hikari's injuries. The skin slowly stitched together under his glowing fingers. He had long ago learned how to drown out the pain, five years of dealing with it would make anyone immune. Finally he finished and lay down next to his wife for a well deserved nights sleep. Hikari rolled over to face him, her tank top showing off her bare shoulder.

"Ne Itachi-kun," she said softly.

"Hn?"

"How do you think the kids are doing? It's been six years since they left after all. Do you think that they're still alright?"

Itachi reached out and stroked her shoulder with his fingers. "I think the fact that we are still alive is a good judge on whether or not Orochimaru got them. Other wise I couldn't say, though knowing those four like I do I'm sure that they're just fine."

"You're right," Hikari said as she rubbed her stomach with her right hand. "I suppose I'm just being neurotic."

Itachi chuckled and kissed her lips before pulling her closer. "Go to sleep Hikari."

"Aa," Hikari answered. "Oyasumi-nasai, Itachi-kun."

"Oyasumi." He was about to close his eyes and fall into slumber when he suddenly caught sight of something on Hikari's right shoulder that made his blood run colder then ice. His trembling hand reached out and he just barely brushed her skin with his fingers.

"Itachi?" Hikari said. "Is something wrong?"

Itachi snapped back to reality quickly and removed his hand from his wife's shoulder so he could reach around her back and pull her closer. "No Hikari," He said. "Go to sleep."

"Aa."

Just before sleep claimed him Itachi couldn't help but pray that what he saw was caused by chakra and nothing else. Soon he was fast asleep and the full moon reflected off of his and Hikari's flesh; the small white scar on the corner of Hikari's shoulder several shades lighter then the rest of her normally flawless skin.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Ne, ne Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto whined. "When do we get to leave? I'm tired of doing the same old thing all the time! I wanna go on a real mission!"

"Quiet dobe," Sasuke said as he sharpened his kunai. "Your voice is grating on my nerves."

"What did you call me Sasuke-teme!"

"Boys please," Hinata said softly. "Sakura and I are trying to make dinner."

Sasuke suddenly forgotten Naruto turned to face the Hyuuga heiress with a wide grin. "Ne, Hina-chan," he said. "Can we have ramen? Please?"

Hinata giggled and shook her head. "Sorry Naruto-kun but tonight we're having curry rice."

Naruto pouted for a moment but it didn't last long. "Hey Sasuke-teme!" he said. "Do you wanna spar while we wait for dinner?"

Sasuke didn't answer at first. Instead he blew some of the filings off of his last kunai and placed it in his pouch. Finished with his weapons he stood. "Aa," he said. "I always enjoy beating you."

"Hey!" Naruto said. "I beat you just as often, if not more, then you beat me!"

"Whatever you say, dobe."

"What did you call me Sasuke-teme!"

"At least go into to training room!" Sakura broke in. "Hinata-chan, Rin-sensei, and I don't want to have to clean up after you again."

"Aa." Sasuke said as he strapped on his kunai holster and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Oi, teme!" Naruto said. "Wait for me!"

XXXXXXXXXXX

Dinner was as rambunctious as always as Sasuke and Naruto did their best to out do the other without being smacked by their female teammates. Whoever ate the most food the fastest with the fewest whacks was the winner. Unfortunately for the two boys Sakura and Hinata didn't seem to care about to rules of the game.

"Ow!" Sasuke said after his wrist was once again hit by Sakura's spoon. "That's cheating! You can only hit me after I do something really bad."

"And who exactly is the judge of what is 'really bad' and what's not?" Sakura asked as she piled more rice on her plate. "Hinata-chan could you…?"

Hinata smiled as she ladled some curry onto her friend's plate.

"Me and Naruto!"

"I see," Sakura said as she scooped some curry rice onto her spoon. "Well I'm afraid that Hinata and I don't play by those rules."

Just then Naruto yelped and rubbed his head in pain while Hinata smiled again and set aside the wooden spoon she had held in her hand.

"See?" Sakura smirked and Sasuke grumbled. "Now please calm down and eat like a normal person."

Two seats down the table Rin chuckled at the corner kids' behavior. She turned slightly and whispered to Kakashi. "See what you would have missed if you were eating with your nose stuck in that disgusting book?"

Kakashi merely whimpered and gazed down at his twitching hands pathetically. "Please, Rin," he said. "It's been two hours already. Please can I have it back now?"

"No!" Rin said sternly. "You spend entirely too much time reading them as it is, you pervert. Like I said before; you may have them back once you have gotten over your addiction."

"But Riinnnn," Kakashi said. "I want to know what happens next."

"How could you not know what happens next?" Obito asked. "You've only read the book a million times in the last two years."

"Yes but each time you learn something new!"

Rin scowled. "You are disgusting, Kakashi-hentai."

"Obito," Kakashi whispered urgently. "Isn't there anything you can do? She's your wife."

"Sorry dude, once a woman has made up her mind there is no changing it," he paused for a moment to gulp down some water. "Speaking of wives, when does Kurenai get back?"

Kakashi shrugged as his fingers tapped against the table. "She should be back any time now. If she got all of her shopping done that is."

At that moment the door to the Konoha-senshi's ikken'ya opened and a soft voice called from the entry hall. "Tadaima, mina."

"Okaerinasai," Kakashi said as he appeared in front of Kurenai where she stood in the lower genkan to remove her shoes. "How did it go?"

Kurenai shrugged. "As well as could be expected."

"Did you learn anything new?" Kakashi asked as he helped his wife step up onto the tatami mats.

"I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, Kakashi." Kurenai said with a soft smile.

"I know, but I was worried while you were gone," he frowned behind his mask. "I hate the idea of you being out there alone."

"Kakashi," Kurenai said in exasperation. "I know my limits and besides, it isn't like I haven't done this before."

"I know but-."

"No buts, I'm fine. The due date isn't for two weeks yet."

"Aa," Kakashi finally relented. "But I still worry."

"You didn't seem worried to me."

"Shut up Obito," Kakashi said with a glare. "You and I both know you can't see any of my emotions."

"Only because of that stupid mask," Obito said back. "If you didn't have it I could read you like an open book."

"You wish."

"You wanna start something?"

"Anytime dobe."

"Teme!"

Kurenai and Rin sighed and whapped their respective spouse on the head. "And sometimes we wonder where Sasuke and Naruto learned their antics." Rin said as she rolled her eyes.

"I don't," Kurenai said as she glared at her pouting husband. "By-the-way, where is Midori?"

"She and the twins are taking a nap in the nursery," Rin answered as she picked up a stray sock from the middle of the floor. "How did that get there?" she mumbled.

"So did you pick up any clients?" Obito asked.

"Yes," Kurenai said. "There where two men that need escorts. One is to the wave country; just a C-rank job but the other is almost an A-class. That man is wanted by the Honshu clan and is willing to pay whatever it takes to get to the River country."

"How long will the jobs run?" Kakashi asked, still worried for his wife's health.

Kurenai frowned. "Both jobs could last anywhere from one to six weeks."

"Well without it being certain we will only be able to do one," Rin said. "You and I can't go because of your baby and I know that Kakashi won't want to leave, so the only one left is Obito and he can't do both."

"I'll take the second one," Obito said. "It'll pay more."

"Wait," Kakashi said a smirk spreading across is face. "I know a way where we could get both done."

"How? Do you plan to use kage bushin?" Obito rolled his eyes.

Instead of answering him Kakashi turned to face the dining room where the corner kids where still eating. "Oi, you four," He said. "I'm assigning you your first mission."

"Yosh!" Naruto shouted as he leapt from his seat. "When do we leave?"

"Dobe," Sasuke said as he shoved more curry into his mouth. "You don't even know what it is yet."

"Shut up teme!"

"Tomorrow," Kurenai cut in. "Your mission begins tomorrow."

"In that case we better hurry and eat so we can be properly briefed," Sakura said and the others nodded in agreement.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Oi," The old man said as he stared at his 'escorts'. "Do you really expect me to put my life in the hands of these brats?"

"Brats!" Naruto said. "I'll have you know tha--."

"I assure you that they are very capable of handling this mission," Obito said with a grin while Naruto tried to pry his sensei's hands from his mouth. "They are very well trained."

The man glared but nodded slowly. "Listen here!" He said as he turned to face the kids. "My name is Tezuna. I am a bridge builder of ultimate renowned, and until we get to the wave country where I will complete my next project you four will be expected to protect me even if it costs you your lives! Is that understood?"

"Aa," Sasuke said, taking charge. "We give you our word that you will arrive safely at your destination."

"If I don't kill him first," Naruto muttered only to whine as Hinata elbowed him in the side.

"Well, if that is all then I believe that you should get started," Obito said as he patted the girls on their hair and shook the boys' hands. "Do your mission well and we expect a full report when you return."

The four corner kids snapped to attention and gave their sensei a stiff salute. "Hai, Obito-sensei!"

"Well, see you in a few weeks then, ja ne!" and with that Obito disappeared from sight.

"Let's move," Sasuke said as he whipped around with his hands in his pockets. "Hinata you're forward scout, Naruto rear. Sakura and I will take the positions next to Tezuna-san incase anything should get through."

"Hai," The others said before they took up their assigned positions.

XXXXXXXXX

"It's been five years since we first arrived here, brat," Baki said as he and Kyo watched their student's train. "Do you think that they have improved enough to have any hope at all?"

Kyo nodded without turning to face the older man. "My sister and I have suffered some rather harsh blows but it's nothing that we haven't over come."

"I think she is still afraid to let it go," Baki said. "She is to worried about injuring her friends then she is about honing her powers."

"It's only natural," Kairi said as she came up behind them. "The poor girl has lost her sight."

"It's been five years already!" Baki said.

"That doesn't change the fact that she has no idea what is happening in her palm when she starts a fire. For all she knows she could set the forest ablaze."

"I understand all of this but she has had more then enough time to put all of that behind her."

"She is a kind and gentle girl," Kairi said. "It is only natural for her to set aside anything that could harm those close to her, even if they are her powers." She turned to face Ichigo and Gaara where they sat resting next to the river.

Gaara said something and Ichigo laughed as she rested her head on his shoulder, her unseeing eyes dull even in the noon sun.

"There must be some way to restore her eyes," Baki said thoughtfully.

"The only one who would even have a chance of helping her after so long would be Tsunade-sama and she has been missing for years." Kyo said. "Besides, I doubt even she has the power to do anything now."

"Things are well as they are now," Kairi said sternly as she began to move away. "You would do well to remember how well she has improved over the years instead of how well she still could."

Baki and Kyo sighed and turned away from the sight of Gaara holding Ichigo's left hand as she formed figures of fire with her right.

Kaliea: There you go, another chapter. Sorry it's so short. Please review!

Review Answers:

Danny-171984: Thanks! Keep reading!

Susakuru: Is this okay?

Lulala: Yay! Another tally for the nin scroll liker people!

Darkmousy-15: Thanks! That's a really great compliment!

Tears like Crystals: I'll do my best! Thanks for reading!

So-kun: Nope, I meant Sandaime. Remember, my story is an AU and when this nin scroll was written (It was given to the corner kids by Itachi and Hikari remember) Yondaime was very much alive and Sandaime was dead. In this story the Kyuubi didn't attack until almost two years after Naruto was born.

Dragon Man 180: Like I told So-kun, this story is AU and the leaf nins who wrote the scroll didn't know about Shukaku at the time it was written. Thanks for the review!

Kaliea: Thanks soo much to all of my reviewers. It really makes my day do read what you all write me (hinthint) Keep reviewing and I'll keep writing! Till next time, ja ne!