A/N: Hiya! Sorry for the totally late update! I've been so busy that I just never had time to be able to sit down and write... No excuse but still. Just so you guys know, I have not abandoned this story.
Also, sorry for the shorter than usual chapter! This one is more of a filler chapter to get you guys up to date to what has happened. The next chapter is currently being written up and will most likely be uploaded later on tonight, so please enjoy and let me know what you think!
"Hey, Naruto!"
Throughout the village of Konoha, a single small figure darted around in search of a blonde individual. Passing by the villagers, the civilians all were able to catch a glimpse of the blur and allowed a small smile on their face as they took in the form of one of the new rookies, Kagome Higurashi.
Said Kagome stopped for a full second to decide where her blonde friend could be at this time of day before her eyes brightened in realization. Snapping her fingers, she let out an "Of course!" just before disappearing from the villagers' eyes altogether.
Appearing in front of Naruto's favorite ramen stand, Kagome grinned wolfishly before pushing the flap aside and exclaiming, "There you are!"
Not receiving a response, Kagome's eyes opened in shock as she took in the sparse restaurant. "Wha-?"
"Naruto isn't here," A voice drawled out lazily from behind her. "He's actually away from the village on a mission with his team."
Kagome turned around and came face to face with Shikamaru. It's been a few weeks since the first training session with Kikyo-sensei and Kagome was slightly ashamed that she has barely been able to hang out with her friends since then. She's just been so tired after the training and unlike the other teams, her team has been in training mode from basically dusk til dawn. It's exhausting!
"Shikamaru," Kagome muttered before a smile appeared on her face.
"Hello to you too, stranger," Shikamaru deadpanned before smiling back. He walked past Kagome to sit on one of the stools before turning his head to the side to address her. "Since the knucklehead isn't here to treat ya, I might as well do it. Besides," He drawled out as he turned forward and nodded to Teuchi-san for his usual, taking note that Kagome silently sat beside him, "I haven't seen hide nor hair of you until tonight. What's up with that?"
"This is possibly the only night my team and I have been completely free," Kagome said as she watched Teuchi and Ayame get to work on their orders before turning to her friend, "and, to be honest, that's only because Kikyo-sensei had to go out of the village for the day. Something about 'priestess duties, and 'don't worry about it.'"
Shikamaru sighed as he listened to the girl he's known for basically his whole life. Since graduating from the Academy, he's seen all of Rookie Ten but her. It's disconcerting to him as he's been so sure that with her being so attached to Asuma-sensei, he would have seen her trying to get food from them.
Though, thinking on that particular subject now, Asuma has been quite distant from them despite being able to work them to their bones. He's being their sensei but it seems as though he is making sure not to be too close to them.
"Kagome," Shikamaru spoke up after a moment of silence, "Have you seen or talked to Asuma-sensei since that first night after graduation?"
The question was innocent to other's ears but to the two sitting side by side, it weighed down more than they could believe. Kagome had paused mid way in eating her next mouthful of ramen before placing her chopsticks down with a sigh.
If she was being honest, Kagome knew that her absence and silence was hurting not only her friends but her Asuma-nii as well. Kagome was so caught up in what her sensei was teaching her team that she hasn't even thought of visiting her own brother and she knows that its been almost a month of basic radio silence on her end.
"I haven't," Kagome whispered, ashamed in herself.
Shikamaru hummed before slurping the last of his ramen up. He stood from his seat and placed his payment down next to his bowl. Turning to Kagome, he tilted his head and realized he's never seen Kagome look so forlorn and tired. Sighing, he placed a hand on her shoulder to make her look at him. Once he got her attention, he offered an encouraging smile "He's on the top of Hokage Tower. From my observations, he's gone there every night and it seems he's been waiting for something."
Kagome listened to what her friend said before a smile blossomed on her face. She stood up without finishing her meal. "Thank you so much, Teuchi-san! I'm sorry I couldn't finish but I have somewhere to be!"
Turning to Shikamaru, Kagome grinned before disappearing from her spot towards the one place she should have been this whole time.
"Tch, such a drag."
However, the smile on the boy's face as he walked away and towards his home said something else altogether.
Asuma sighed as he sat upon the bench that he frequented often. "I don't know why I spend all my time here."
"Maybe it's because you've been waiting for a certain person to show up after almost a month?"
Asuma's eyes opened at the new voice as he turned his head and caught sight of his favorite Genin. He watched as she walked slowly over to him, her head slightly bowed and her eyes shadowed by her bangs. He knew that walk; she's done it every time she felt ashamed or embarrassed.
"Kagome," Asuma sighed as he waited for her to be in front of him, "I take it that you've been focused on your training?"
"Kikyo-sensei has been working us since our first day but," Kagome paused to raise her head to look at the most important person in her life, "that doesn't excuse me for never coming by to see you."
"It does when you are now considered an adult. Kagome, you now have an obligation to our village and in order to be able to fully protect it, you must hone your abilities. Kikyo is the perfect kunoichi to help you, even if I wish it were me," Asuma spoke softly to the girl. He watched as she sighed before he walked towards her and enveloped her in a hug.
Kagome relaxed in his embrace and smiled to herself. If there was one thing Asuma was good at, it was making her feel completely better and safe. "Thank, onii-chan," Kagome whispered.
"Anytime," Asuma answered gruffly back before he pulled away and smiled down at her as she laughed up at him.
It was definitely worth waiting even if he knows that it will probably be another month before Kagome was awake enough to seek him out once more.
Kikyo stared at her students from within the Hokage's office as he debriefed them on what was going to head.
"A mission? Since when do we go on missions?" Bankotsu's voice filled the air as he glared at his sensei and in turn, his current Hokage.
"The reason why you are needed for this mission is simply because I have been notified that Team Seven's current 'C-ranked' mission has been recently brought up into a high B and they are not suited to finish this mission without help," The Hokage informed the team.
"But how are we to be able to help? There is no possible way for us to get there - at least, not in time," Kagome answered alongside Bankotsu as Hakudoshi stood next to their sensei watching the scene unfold like it was a very interesting tennis match.
Kikyo sighed as she saw that her two students would continue in this line of direction should she not step in. "Any other team would be willing to step into your shoes just to be able to take their first official step outside the gates of Konoha. What is stopping you three - or, more like you two - from wanting the same? This is what shinobi do," Kikyo said sternly to her students.
"If you are to leave now, you will be able to catch up to them in little to no time at all," Sarutobi spoke up once more as he knew the team was done discussing their slight reluctance in accepting the mission. "This team was chosen because of the fact that despite your titles of Genin, you are much more skilled than that despite lost memories," The Hokage continued.
Kagome winced at the reminder that though all three went through the same thing, two of them was able to hone their skills in a way that she hadn't been able to.
"Alright then, team," Kikyo turned to the three with a serious glint in her eyes, "meet me at the Konoha gates - prepared."
"Have you done what I told you?" A deep, raspy voice spoke in a dank and dark room.
"But, of course milord."
"Good… It is time to finally meet my team once more. Prepare yourself, Alpha."
Nothing else was said before a gust of wind picked up out of nowhere before disappearing completely.
Okaaaayyyy! Now be on the look out for the next chapter because I plan on updating that one as soon as possible and this next one should definitely be a lot longer than this one! :D
Also, tell me what you think on what I should do with Zabuza and Haku! I've seen many stories where they allow the two to live but there were a few that actually followed the actual storyline so review and let me know what you want to read!