The next morning, I decided to sit down with Takashi for breakfast for once. We discussed things about Kabuto, and what he must be doing right now. The topic made Takashi very sensitive, but I felt just as tense.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. I jump up to answer it. It was Lee.
Lee smiled at me, while scratching the back of his head. "Good morning Setsuki-san!"
"Oh, Lee-san! Good morning! How are you- OH! HOW DID LAST NIGHT GO?!"
"IT WAS GREAT SETSUKI-SAN! SAKURA-CHAN ACTUALLY TURNED UP AND WE HAD A NICE DINNER! SHE WAS GOING TO LEAVE, BUT I CONVINCED HER TO STAY! THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS AND THE WHOLE NIGHT WAS PERFECT! I WALKED HER HOME AND-"
I felt so happy, like we had just completed a huge mission. I gave him a victorious hug.
"LEE-SAN THAT'S GREAT!"
"I couldn't have done it without you, Setsuki-san!" Lee hugged back just as tightly.
Takashi walked out from the kitchen and stood behind me. "Well, what's all the shouting about?"
I let go of Lee, and smile at Takashi. "We finally did it!"
Takashi's smile dropped. "Did what...?"
"We finally got Sakura-chan to go on a date with Lee-san!" I exclaim.
"Oh..!" Takashi's smile returned, but then he tilted his head. "But weren't you two..?"
"Huh?"
"Nothing. That's.. good news, I'm guessing?"
Lee and I nod eagerly.
"I am so happy, I couldn't sleep last night! My heart was racing all night, just thinking about Sakura-chan!" Lee exclaimed.
I giggle and face Lee again, and look into his eyes proudly. Lee returned the expression.
"Lee-san! Lets go get some ramen to celebrate!" I suggest.
Lee grinned eagerly.
"For breakfast?" Takashi butts in.
"But uncle! I've had breakfast! This is like.. that meal between breakfast and lunch!" I exclaim.
"... There's no such thing at this hour-"
"Sure there is!" I laugh loudly to drain out the sound of his voice. "Lee-san, wait there, I'll go get dressed!" Lee nodded and I zoomed off and did just that.
"What?! Ichirakus isn't open yet?!" I complain.
"Well that is indeed disappointing! Do not worry Setsuki-san! I have an alternative!"
"You do, Lee-san?"
"YOSH! ROCK LEE'S HOMEMADE, MYSTICAL FLAMING YOUTH RAMEN!" Lee put his hands on his hips as he announced the name.
"Oh...? What does it taste like?"
"You will find out, Setsuki-san!"
It was horrible. Lee cannot cook, not even to save his life. I felt sick for the rest of the day. Lee followed me around everywhere constantly reminding me that he was very sorry.
That afternoon, Takashi gave me a special medicine ball, which tasted absolutely disgusting, but I felt great afterwards! As myself, Lee and Takashi were sitting in the living room discussing the difference between the shampoos that we use and how they're better than each others, there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it!" I announce, arising to my feet. I open the door. Susumu and Daisuke, they both looked kinda serious until Daisuke saw me, his cheeks turned pink. "Oh hi guys!"
"Setsuki, we need to talk." Susumu said, maintaining his serious composure.
"Oh? What's wrong?"
Susumu guestured into the house. We moved ourselves to my room and shut the door. Lee decided he'd sneak in too, as much as Daisuke was against it for some reason.
Susumu sat on my bed, so the rest of us sat on the floor, in a semi-circle facing Susumu.
I ask Susumu what this was about, he took a deep breath and made eye contact with me as he started to explain. "It's about Komaru-sensei.."
"Wh-what about Komaru-sensei?"
"He hasn't come back from his mission yet.. it's been almost six months now.. that's almost half a year. Surely no mission can last that long.."
"Y-you don't suppose he's..?" Daisuke spoke up, but his voice trailed off at the end. Susumu closed his eyes and reluctantly shook his head.
"We'll have to speak to Lady Tsunade.. if anyone knows anything, it's bound to be her."
"Then lets go!" I shout while standing up. Lee stood up too.
"I will come with you!" He said. Daisuke rolled his eyes at Lee, then we all headed to Tsunade's office after trying to explain to Takashi where we were headed at this hour.
As we explained our situation to Tsunade, she took a deep breath, closed her eyes and exhaled deeply through her nose.
"Look.. I have had no word from Komaru since he left for his mission five months ago."
"Six." Susumu quickly corrected her. Tsunade shot him a dirty look which caused Susumu to keep his mouth shut. For now at least.
"What exactly was his mission?" Daisuke spoke up.
"I cannnot tell you. The mission was top secret. I know you are his students and probably wouldn't tell anyone.. but I can't go blathering out details. So make do with it."
"... Not even a tiny little hint?" Daisuke pesters. Tsunade glared at him. "Is he chasing a bad guy or something? Or.. or trying to get information? Something like that?"
Tsunade turned her attention to a small scratch on her desk and started stroking it with her index finger. "You could say it was both those things combined." She rested her cheek on her other hand, she then turned her eyes back to us.
"Who is he chasing?! Is it someone dangerous!?"
"Enough!" Tsunade smacked the desk over the scratch, creating a loud noise. "I already told you I can't give any details! Stop pestering me!"
Daisuke didn't seem intimidated at all. He stepped forward and slammed his hands on her desk, staring her right in the eyes.
"What if Komaru-sensei was killed?! You're acting like we shouldn't give a fuck!"
I flinch at his words, I didn't notice I had taken a step backwards. Lee stepped forward.
"Daisuke-kun! Please do not say such things!" Lee scolded, holding a clenched fist out towards Daisuke, who completely ignored him.
Tsunade looked at Daisuke for quite some time, as if contemplating. She finally spoke. "If I know Komaru, he wouldn't have let himself be killed."
Daisuke's eye twitched with anger. Suddenly Shizune came running into the room with something in her hand.
"M'Lady! M'Lady!" She ran past us and handed her a blood stained scroll.
"What's this..?" Tsunade sat up straight and stared at it.
"A strange brown crocodile appeared in the message room, causing a ruckus to the hawks! After we managed to calm it down it said to give this straight to you, and to you only."
"Brown crocodile?" Susumu inquired. Shizune looked at us and nodded.
"Could it be.. Yuudai?!" Daisuke questioned.
"Yuudai?" Shizune asked.
Daisuke turned to Shizune. "Komaru-sensei's Kuchiyose. A brown crocodile, named Yuudai! We've only seen it once before, when he tried to teach us that jutsu.."
"I see.." Shizune turned to Tsunade. "What's it say m'Lady?"
"Let me open it first Shizune!" Tsunade grumbled, then opened it across the desk, she started to read it aloud without realizing she was doing it. "Tsunade, I have reports on my current situation. I was barely able to get this message out, without being caught. The reason I haven't been in contact is because I accidentally got myself captured by that hineous snake, Orochimaru. I'm still imprisoned, please do not send reinforcements, he has set countless traps expecting more to come. I will find a way out of here myself, somehow. If you do not hear from me again, I am probably dead. -Uchida Komaru, ps, do not tell my students about this-" Tsunade paused, realizing she was just reading it aloud. The three of us were shocked.
"WHADDAYA MEAN CAPTURED BY OROCHIMARU!?" Daisuke roared. I look out the window, at the sun just touching the top of the mountain, getting ready to set. My eyes were wide in shock and worry.
"W-We gotta go save him!" I finally speak. Susumu looks at me unsurely, but Daisuke looked keen.
"Right!" he concured.
"No. You three are not to leave the village." Tsunade said. Daisuke turns to argue, Tsunade glares. "At all. Understood?"
"But we know where he is! We can-"
Tsunade cut Daisuke off. "UNDERSTOOD!? If you keep this up I will have you under close supervision!"
Daisuke tensed, then turned to us.
"I'M NOT ABOUT TO SIT AROUND WHILE MY SENSEI IS IN DANGER OF BEING KILLED WHEN I CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!"
Tsunade stood up, punching a small hole in her desk. "IF YOU DARE GO ANYWHERE NEAR THAT MAN YOU WILL END UP DEAD YOURSELF, DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?! OROCHIMARU IS SICK, CRUEL AND TWISTED! NOT TO MENTION POWERFUL! YOU'D ALL BE DEAD WITHIN TWO SECONDS! DO YOU HEAR ME?!"
Daisuke began shaking with anger. "FOR THE SAKE OF MY MASTER, I'LL MAKE IT THREE SECONDS!" With that, Daisuke vanished.
Tsunade grimaced and turned to Shizune. "Shizune! Get someone to keep a close eye on that boy.. as for you three. Go home."
We had no choice but to leave. I was a little confused, I've never seen Daisuke act quite like that before..
As we were walking home, our conversation was quiet. We all had so much on our minds.
"The only other time I've seen him like that was when someone mentioned something about his father.." Susumu mentioned.
"His father?" I ask, Lee looked at Susumu with the same curious face as I did.
"He never really talks about him.. but.. I heard that when he was small, him and his father went out exploring.. they fell into a trap laid down by Kirigakure ninjas, and his father was-"
"Beaten to death by those bastards." We all gasp at the sight of Daisuke standing in front of us with his arms folded. His expression showed anger. "I watched him die with my own eyes..." I notice tears trapped in his eyes, trying to fall. "I was 6! Yet I remember the day so perfectly... like it was yesterday.. I c-couldn't.." He broke out into tears, I step to him and wrap my arms around him as tightly as I could he cried into my shoulder. We all felt the same pity towards him.
"I.. lost my parents about that age too.." I said, in a very soft tone. Daisuke tensed a little, the others look at me with surprise. I'd never told anyone about my past.
"You did..?" Susumu asked quietly. I look up to the stars now coming out, then nod.
"My.. village was.. destroyed.. only Takashi and me survived.. out of everyone... mum, dad.. big sis.. aunty.. Kab-" I shut my mouth. The only one who knows about Kabuto and I is Naruto. I don't want to be taunted by everyone for being related to someone so.. evil. I kept it a secret, a secret between me and Takashi.
"S-Setsuki-san.. I had no idea.." Lee spoke with shock in his voice. I shake my head.
"It was years ago, can't do anything about it but get stronger to protect Takashi, and my friends- you guys." I said, not wanting to draw attention to myself. Daisuke lifted his head and looked at me.
"I couldn't imagine the pain you would've went through.. losing just dad was horrible, but everyone in my family..? I don't think I could.."
I silence Daisuke by putting a finger on his lips. "It's fine.. I'm fine. We have bigger things to worry about." I said, trying to change the subject because I could feel a wave of emotion building up inside of me that would only get worse if I thought about my family.
"Right.. Komaru-sensei. We have to save him, no matter what Tsunade says." Daisuke said.
"What if she finds out?" Susumu asks.
"Who cares? Unlike her I'm not going to sit around and wait for the news that he was killed! We just need to find his hideout and save Komaru-sensei! If we're careful enough we might not even encounter Orochimaru."
"He has a point.." I said.
"Then.. please allow me to come with you." Lee said.
"Lee-san..."
We each went home to pack our things, I laid down in bed, and pretended I was asleep when Takashi came to check on me. After he went to bed I left a note on my bedside table saying I was called out to an urgent mission and jumped out the window, meeting the others at the gate.
Kotetsu and Izumo looked sleepy, even the ninja hound was fast asleep.
"We have to be extremely stealthy." Lee whispered. We all nodded, and snuck past the guards and ran off into the forest unnoticed.
Escaping the village = success. Next mission, to find Orochimaru's hideout.