The Reunion Part 2
"Where's your team, Itachi?" Tsunade asked while Itachi gave her his full mission report (with the exclusion of trafficking).
"Natsuki has returned home to continue her recovery and Dairuko is out training somewhere in the woods." Itachi replied.
"I see... mission complete, well done. You are dismissed." Itachi bowed and left.
'Where are you two?' Itachi thought to himself when a certain white haired Sannin appeared.
"Hey, Itachi." Jiraiya greeted then noticed Dairuko and Natsuki weren't with him "Where are Dairuko and Natsuki? Wait, let me guess. Now that Dairuko isn't really her brother she has realised that she has deep hidden feelings for him and as a result they are currently on a date."
"... No..." Itachi stated.
"Well a guess is a guess, so where are they?"
"I don't know."
"What do you mean 'you don't know'?"
"I'll explain somewhere more private."
Itachi and Jiraiya walked to the most secluded area in the village... The Uchiha District.
"You sure about this, Itachi?"
"Yes, it's the most private place in the village."
"I thought you... you know."
"That's my own house. I'm fine with being here, just not there."
"Alright. So what's going on?"
"We have reason to believe that someone in the Hokage Tower is compromised."
"What do you mean compromised?"
"As in they part of a human trafficking ring or at least under the employment of the person who runs it."
"Did you bring this up with Tsunade?" Itachi remained quiet then said.
"She is a suspect."
"What?"
"Someone of great power and influence is part of it and the Hokage has both of those things."
"But, Itachi, c'mon you can't seriously believe that it would be Tsunade can you?"
"Unfortunately yes... it is our job as Konoha's Mobile Unit to protect Konoha from all threats both foreign... and domestic."
"I understand... seems I've trained you three well."
"Almost... Dairuko won't accept the possibility of it being Tsunade-sama and Natsuki... I don't know about Natsuki."
"Alright... give them time. They'll come around just watch."
After walking away from Itachi and Natsuki, Dairuko returned to Konoha and walked to the grassy plains where he'd been sitting for hours deep in thought.
'What if they're right and it is Tsunade... would I be able to- no, it's not her. Natsuki is wrong this time.' Dairuko thought when he felt a presence behind him but when he looked there was no one there.
"Probably just my imagination... while I'm here I might as well get some training done." Dairuko was about to start training when he felt another presence. This time, he knew where they were and threw a kunai into the tree they were hiding behind. "Alright let's make this quick 'cause I'm in a very bad mood. Who are you and-Hinata? What are you doing here?" Dairuko asked as he picked Hinata off the ground by her jacket.
"Ano... I-I saw you just sitting here and thought you might want some company... gomen." Hinata explained.
"No it's ok, Hinata just don't spy on me next time." Dairuko put her down.
"I-i'll be going now." Hinata bowed and began walking away.
"Hinata, wait!" Dairuko called out and Hinata turned around "I was about to train, would you like to join me?"
"H-hai." Hinata replied with a smile.
During training Dairuko stopped and watched Hinata, the light breeze really complimented her Gentle Fist technique. Dairuko had never seen the Gentle Fist in action before and it was quite a marvel to watch. Hinata caught Dairuko watching her and began to blush and stopped moving.
"Oh, don't stop on my account I was watching your form." Dairuko said and Hinata nodded then continued. 'Her stance needs some work and her footwork...' Dairuko noted then got back to his training.
After a few hours Dairuko and Hinata stopped and just sat on the grass.
"Dairuko-kun." Hinata said.
"Yeah?" Dairuko said.
"Why were you sitting here all alone?"
"I just needed sometime to myself is all."
"Hai."
"What were you doing all the way out here?"
"I wanted to train alone."
"Ah, well, some constructive criticism; your starting stance and footwork need some work. I'll have to spar with you to find any other points of weakness."
Hinata had never been told where her weak points were, just that she was getting it wrong. "Let's spar."
"Wait. What?" Before Dairuko could explain that he didn't mean now, Hinata was already in the motion of attacking him but he dodged and created separation from Hinata. Dairuko looked into her eyes and what he saw was shocked him. Whatever was in her eyes before that attack was gone now, all he saw was fire in those white eyes. "The Will of Fire..." Dairuko said to himself "Alright, Hinata come at me with all you got!" Dairuko took his stance and the two ran towards each other...
Natsuki had come back to Konoha and just planted herself in bed. She sat there for hours going over this past week. She couldn't understand Dairuko or how he got so attached to his mother in just a few days. Both Dairuko and her saw this day coming when they'd find his birth parents, but she always assumed they'd both be dead or deadbeats who weren't ready for a child. Now one of those deadbeat parents turns out to be one of the few ninja Natsuki admires.
"Dairuko you baka... you stupid baka!" Natsuki screamed into her pillow.
"What did he do this time?" Ayame asked.
"How did you get in?"
"You left the door wide open."
"Ah shit, I did."
"What's wrong?"
Natsuki sighed then explained everything to Ayame.
"Wow..." Ayame said.
"I know it's childish but..." Natsuki trailed off.
"Not at all."
"Then why do I feel so bad?" at that moment Dairuko walked into the room.
"Oh, you're alright..." Dairuko said.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Natsuki asked.
"The door was open." Natsuki looked at Ayame who hung her head in shame.
"What happened to your clothes?" Ayame asked.
"Sparring."
"With who?" Natsuki asked.
"Hinata... now if you don't mind I'm going out, dunno when I'll be back."
"Bye, Dairuko." Ayame called.
"Seeya." Dairuko said and left soon afterwards.
Dairuko sat in the bar, borderline drunk, when Ayame walked in and sat next to him.
"Hey, Brownie... whoa I won't lie to you, I've called many woman that but you are the only person I meant it seeing as you look as delicious as a brownie." Dairuko slurred then realised it was Ayame. "Oh, it's you."
"What are you doing here, Dairuko?" Ayame asked.
"What's it look like, woman? I'm enjoying my drinks so please join me or leave me be."
"Well if that's the way it has to be fill me up."
"Yoish, that's what I like to hear... drinking buddies are the best especially when they're cute."
"You're drunk."
"You're sexy." Dairuko smirked and Ayame sighed then chugged down sake, wincing. "You don't drink much, do you?"
"Not particularly."
"You're like Itachi in that sense... poor man can't hold his liquor, neither can Natsuki."
"Why would you say that?"
"You're kidding me, the one time we all got drunk Itachi couldn't speak any sentences and Natsuki was found on the roof screaming her lungs out."
"I find that hard to believe."
"When have I ever and I mean EVER lied to you?"
"Tell me then, what happened to you in that drunken state."
"Oh, I got laid by two gorgeous women whose names I can't remember."
"You are such a man-whore, Dairuko."
"A what? No, no I'm not."
"Yeah I believe you." Ayame said then went for the bottle but Dairuko grabbed her hand before she could take it.
"Why are you here, Ayame... someone who doesn't drink walking into bar... did Natsuki send you?"
"She didn't have to, Dairuko."
"Bah!"
"Dairuko, we both care about you."
"Yeah right."
"You don't have to believe me just please let's go somewhere else."
"I'd suggest my place but that obviously isn't an option."
"I'll get you a room."
"Ugh fine let's go." Dairuko slowly got up and followed Ayame but grabbed the bottle of sake before actually leaving.
Natsuki had just got out the shower and got dressed, her hair still wet when there was a knock on the door. Natsuki answered the door and Itachi stood in front of her.
"Oh, good evening, 'Tachi." Natsuki greeted softly.
"Hello, Natsuki... may I come in?" Itachi said.
"Yeah sure." Natsuki then walked inside while Itachi closed the door. "Would you like something to drink?"
"Some tea would be nice thanks."
"Sure thing."
Once they finished their tea, Natsuki asked the obvious question.
"Why are you here, Itachi?"
"I'm checking on you... you and Dairuko had a bad argument earlier."
"Bah! Not like it's any of your business or anyone's business."
"That is where you are wrong, Natsuki, a wise partner of mine once told me that teammates are safety nets for each other."
"She sounds wise."
"She is."
"Did Dairuko send you?"
"He didn't have to send me, we both care about you, Natsuki."
"Gimme a break." Natsuki got up and left the room "You can let yourself out, Itachi."
"I understand... goodnight, Natsuki." Itachi promptly left afterward.
Itachi walked through Konoha that night where he bumped into Ayame.
"I take it you didn't win." Ayame said.
"She won't listen to reason just yet and what of Dairuko?" Itachi asked.
"He's too drunk to even remember what we spoke about I reckon."
"He'll remember."
"How do you know?"
"Dairuko's drunken memory is impeccable... he'll fix this. Just trust him."