V7 CH1
You cannot go!
2 years later...
Saori Nara scanned the area below her, as she stood high in the shadows of the trees. She closed her eyes as she listened to the shifting of the leaves. The world around her was slowly moving. Saori opened her eyes as they refocused upon her target. The creature was camouflaged on the bark of a tree opposite from her position. It was wasting away in dreams - not expecting an attack to befall it. Normally, the large ten-foot lizard traveled in groups. This one was confidently alone.
Saori brought her hand up to carefully touch the bark of the tree. She lightly thumped the wood. As suspected, the leader of Team 2, Ryu Yuhi, formed out of the tree. "Are there any more of them," she softly asked him.
Ryu's red eyes shifted to the reptile as it stirred. He wanted to do this quickly. They were in a dangerous situation. It was a B-rank mission. The area around them contained poisonous, carnivore lizards such as this one. They had managed to slip into the breeding grounds undetected. "Yes, quite a few of them. Six, to be exact. My chakra is limited, Saori. I can't keep using genjutsu to trick these things. We have to be swift and get out of here before it alerts the entire herd. Daiya's charged and ready." He slipped back into the tree.
"Understood," Saori said as she unraveled Rose, her puppet. Saori formed hand seals quickly. Her shadow moved down the tree and towards the other tree opposite her. The shadow started to snake its way up the bark. Saori froze. The lizard leapt off of the tree suddenly at her. She let her hands go as it came towards her with its mouth open, sharp teeth exposed.
The lizard ran after Saori as she tried to move backward using Rose as a shield. Its jaws chomped onto the puppet; breaking and ripping away wood and clothe. Saori took the chance to use a substitution jutsu to get away. She watched the lizard tear into Rose from a few trees away. That could have been me.
Ryu leapt from his hiding place and shot four kunai at the animal's sides to cause its attention to be diverted. The large heavy-set lizard lifted its head towards him. Ryu had nowhere to run as the creature spit its toxic saliva at him. He covered his face to prevent it from getting into his eyes. The saliva burned his clothes as he landed on another tree branch. He had to keep it from burning his skin. Ryu started to push the saliva off of his clothes with a kunai.
The lizard thrashed about trying to bend the kunai so it could get free. Ryu opened his canteen. He poured water all over his body to help wash away the poison.
Saori whirled around as she saw six other lizards moving towards them. The one that the team was trying to capture had alerted them. She quickly leapt to retrieve Rose. "Ryu, there's more coming!"
Ryu shook his head free of the water as he put the canteen back onto his waist. "Great, that's all we need. Daiya!"
Daiya dropped from an upper branch. He stood with a serious gaze upon his face as he watched the lizard hiss at him. He was almost fifteen-years-old. His outlook on life had changed. He reached behind his body to open the cylinder case on his back. Daiya took out six long metal rods. "You're noisy," he told the creature.
The lizard kept spitting toxic saliva in all directions as its herd responded to its anger. The other six lizards were advancing. Daiya threw a rod at the lizard making all of the racquet. "Saori, I need you to be the bait for the others. Make them angrier."
Saori formed hand seals. Rose turned into a clone of herself. "Good to know these things aren't too intelligent," she said about her clone missing its side. A chunk had been taken out of the puppet.
Ryu, Saori, and Daiya leapt off. Picking fights with poisonous lizards was not their idea of a good time. It was highly dangerous. If they let one of them get away, it could alert more - forming a chain reaction. They had to end this soon.
Ryu formed hand seals as a lizard chased him around the area. A clone popped next to him. His clone moved away to gain the attention of another lizard. Saori was running for it with her clone, also. Ryu smirked. It was the worst game of cat and mouse he had ever played.
Daiya jumped backwards into the air as he avoided a lizard snapping at him. He threw wire around a tree branch to secure his target. Daiya planted his feet on the bark of another tree before he shot himself towards the reptile. The lizard curved its spine to try and take his arm off. Daiya moved his other hand to shoot the wire at the lizard's throat. The wire wrapped around its neck. As the creature's snout pushed his arm, the wire straightened causing the reptile to strangle. Daiya turned his body slightly to kick it in the throat. He came tumbling onto the hard wood of the branch. He grimaced as he felt the bruises. Daiya threw a metal rod at the lizard. The sharp end of the rod lodged into the branch with a thunk.
Ryu used his chained scythe to wrap around a branch. He grabbed a hold of it and swung his body around as the lizard jumped. As he came around, Ryu kicked the creature's back. It slammed into a tree. Ryu watched it slump to the branch.
Saori planted her feet onto the bark. She glued her chakra and ran up the side of the tree as an angry lizard chased her. She ran as fast as she could to keep it from biting her ankles off. Out of the corner of her eye she saw two lizards leaping at her. They had trapped her!
Saori's heart raced as one lizard managed to throw its weight into hers. She tumbled off of the tree as she fell. The lizard behind her opened its mouth as it leapt after her. Saori's clone came out of nowhere. It blocked the lizard's attempt to bite. The lizard fell with her as Rose came back into full view, falling behind her.
Ryu used his chain to wrap around two legs of two separate lizards. He planted his ankles into the bark as their weight took effect when gravity resumed. "Not today," he said as the lizards dangled hissing and snapping.
Daiya flew at Saori. He threw a rod at the lizard below her. The end of the rod went through the creature's back. He caught Saori and slid on his feet. The lizard's head fell to the ground. "Two dead- Four alive. We were only asked to bring back one."
Saori stood with Daiya. She hugged her teammate. "Thank you," she said.
"I wasn't going to let it eat you," Daiya said. He looked up to see Ryu dragging the two lizards he had caught. They had kunai lodged in their bodies. "I'll take care of the last two. Saori, step away." She moved aside. Daiya shot an electrical current at the first rod with the still angry lizard that was thrashing. Its eyes went wide as he electrocuted it. He glanced at the last lizard. "You're next." Daiya sent a huge electrical current towards it. It, too, smoked and fell lifeless to the ground. "Done."
"How are we going to carry six lizards back," Saori asked. "Each of them must weigh fifty kilograms/one hundred and ten pounds. Also, what about the other herds who might pick up the scent?"
"We can manage. We have to. I know we were only asked to retrieve one of these things, but if we come back with six, it'll prevent anyone from having to come here for a while. I'm trying to prevent someone else from getting hurt. A villager won't be able to pull off what we just did. Whose to say one of these creatures won't bite a child that gets too close to the woods? Or an elderly person attending to their garden on the outskirts of the village? It's more than just a mission," Ryu said. He was trying to prevent someone from dying. The reptiles were growing in numbers. They had started to enter the village.
"He's right. We have to protect those that aren't able to," Daiya said. "I can carry three of them by myself. It's not a problem."
"Weren't you injured?" Saori looked at Daiya. He only stared at her. "We have to put ointment on Ryu's burns before we do anything."
"My injuries aren't that bad," Daiya commented. "They're only bruises. At least they didn't take off my arm, or leg."
"We need to gather them. Saori, get the ointment out. I'll carry two if you can manage one. Put Rose in the scroll sensei gave you," Ryu instructed as Saori nodded.
Team 2 walked through the village slowly. The weight of the lizards was taking its toll on their bodies. They were getting odd looks from a few of the villagers. "They caught six of them," a woman said flabbergasted as she put her hand over her mouth. "Oh, my goodness! So many," an elderly woman said as her grandchild hid behind her.
The doctor of the village ran as fast as he could when he heard the news. He was surprised and excited all at once. Just as he made his way through the gathering crowd, the villagers shouted, "Hooray for the ninja of the leaf!" The crowd cheered and praised the three before them.
Daiya stood embarrassed at the praises they were receiving. Had they accomplished something that spectacular? A man pushed a cart towards them. He told the team to drop the dead weight of the lizards and would take the liberty of hauling them to the clinic. Daiya lifted the three lizards over his head and threw them into the cart. The man bounced with the added weight. "He carried three of them by himself? Wow, he must be really strong. I wonder if he had a girlfriend," a girl around his age commented. Daiya only glanced in her direction. The girl caught his eye and squealed in delight.
Ryu and Saori added their lizards to the pile. "Well, we need to get checked out. And after we do, a nice relaxing bath would be great," Saori said as she rotated her shoulders. She had picked up one of Ryu's habits.
"You three are amazing," the doctor said as he came forth. "We only employed you for one. Six is beyond our expectations. I don't know how we can pay you for all of them."
"Our deal was one, Doc. Count the five as an added bonus. We don't go back on our promises," Ryu said. He was satisfied with being paid for one. It was teamwork that had brought them the extra lizards. They worked well together despite their differences.
The doctor bowed low to the ninja several times. "We are forever in your debt. These lizards will help us make the antidote needed to save those who are bitten. You three have gone beyond our hopes."
Saori glanced behind her to see Daiya watching a troupe of girls. He was getting looked over by them quite heavily. She cleared her throat to get his attention. "We're going to go take baths, Daiya." Daiya turned around with his face beet red as a girl made an audible comment about his naked body. "Geez, how annoying."
Ryu laughed as they moved through the crowd. "That's cute, Saori." She blinked. "You've picked up a bad habit of Daiya's." Saori placed her hand on the side of his face and pushed.
Ryu poured the tub of water over his head. He shook it off. "How are your bruises," he asked Daiya as his friend soaked in the large tube.
"They hurt, but the hot water is helping," Daiya answered as he turned his body to test his theory. "Ryu, why were those girls talking about me earlier?" He watched Ryu sneeze from the soap on his face.
"You honestly don't know?" Ryu washed himself off. "You're not the same physically, emotionally, or mentally when I first met you. You're taller, muscular, and confident, unlike before. They were eying you because of your sex appeal." Daiya's head flipped around. "You're attractive, Daiya. Girls have been following you around for the past year. You're just too distracted to notice."
"I am not attractive," Daiya said as he looked away. Ryu got into the tub. The seventeen-year-old spiky haired boy laid the back of his head on the side of the tub.
"Do you honestly think you aren't? What attracts Yanagi to you?" He waited.
"My soul," Daiya said knowing the answer right away.
"If it were just your soul than you two would only be friends. She thinks you're handsome. The more you and she grow, the more bonded the both of you become. You can't tell me you've never envisioned Yanagi taking a shower."
Daiya's eyes went wide. In his mind he saw his girlfriend washing her hair with the water steaming and droplets falling onto her skin. Daiya's heart thump-thumped in his chest as Yanagi's hands moved down her torso. He crossed his legs quickly and threw a bar of soap at Ryu. "Shut up, Ryu!"
Saori yawned as she sat at the low table drinking hot tea. She saw Ryu walk towards her in a kimono. Saori smirked as she shook her head. There was in imprint on Ryu's face. "You couldn't just leave him alone, could you?"
Ryu sat down. "He was wide open," he said with a smile. "Ooh, tea." Ryu sipped it slowly.
"What were you teasing him about this time," Saori asked. A woman placed saucers on the table. She bowed to Saori as she sat a plate full of skewers on the table.
"Daiya doesn't think he's attractive. He's never noticed the girls who've been following him around. I had to wake him up."
"He's not conceited. Still, it makes me wonder how he views himself. His ego is mainly based on his training. He's gotten to be mildly aggressive, because of it."
"Remember when we took our fourth mission to the seaside? We were walking down the street and some guy threw a woman out of his house along with a small boy? Daiya was all over him in a matter of seconds. It took Sasuke and me both to get him off of that guy."
"Yes, but you have to view it from his eyes, Ryu. Daiya doesn't do abuse on anyone, for any reason. He defends those that can't defend themselves. We didn't know the situation with those people and didn't have to. Daiya's instincts were correct. That's why he doesn't get into trouble with sensei," Saori said as she munched on a skewer stick. "Where is he anyway?"
"He took a walk to spare me from his fist," Ryu said with a laugh.
Daiya sighed as he glanced at the small shops. He was trying to decide on what to buy Yanagi. They had been gone for a few days. As he picked up a toy, he heard shuffling behind him. His head flipped around to see three girls abruptly stop. What Ryu said is true. He put the toy down to move on. The girls were following him. Daiya started to walk faster.
The girls kept following him until he managed to duck in front of a large man. Daiya formed hand seals in front of his body. He transformed into Yanagi. Daiya watched the girls search the crowd for him. Once they were out of view, he went down a side street. He put his hands in front of his body again. Daiya turned back into himself. He blinked. A little girl around the age of seven was watching him. He ducked low as the girls who were following him previously came into view. He put his finger to his lips.
The girls looked around constantly. "Aw, where did he go? He's so cute!"
"He got away from us that easily," another girl pouted. "Hey kid, did you see a tall, strong guy wearing a gray vest with metal on it around?" The little girl shook her head. "Come on, you guys. He might have gone that way," she said as she pointed off.
Daiya leaned forward to make sure they were gone. "Thanks," he said lowly. The little girl smiled at him gently. Not you, too. Sure enough, the little girl was swaying her body as her eyes kept on him.
"Will you play with me," she asked.
"Only if you tell me your name," Daiya said as he stood up.
"Yuzuyu," she said with a smile. "What's yours?" She swayed constantly as the boy looked down at her with his light gray eyes.
"Daiya."
Yuzuyu held his hand as they walked down the street together. She leaned into Daiya as they looked at various vendors. "What is Yanagi like," she asked.
Daiya glanced down at the girl. "She's happy, sweet, caring; um... she trains hard. She has pink hair and gray eyes with the sweetest smile."
Yuzuyu laughed. "You're in love with her, aren't you? Only my dad talks that way about my mom. What does Yanagi like?"
Daiya lowered his head as he thought. "She uses butterflies in her techniques. So I would have to say she likes bugs, but is afraid of frogs. She always wears a butterfly barrette in her hair."
Yuzuyu blinked. "Daiya, I know an old man that makes jewelry. He doesn't have a shop here though. Let's go see him!" Yuzuyu kept her hand clasped with his as she led him away.
Ryu stood with his back to the wall as he listened to Sasuke in their room. Saori had gone to find Daiya. He sighed. "So that's it, huh?" He closed his eyes. "I was wondering when it was going to happen. So I finally get to take a mission with Firebird."
"I don't want it to be known where you're going, Ryu. It's an A-rank mission. You need to leave as soon as you can. Go back to Konoha and meet up with Shikamaru and Onari. You have time to confront Saori - just don't tell her the details." He watched his student take it all in. "I'm sorry to have to cut your resting period short. It's urgent."
"I know. Let me spend some time breaking it to her. I haven't parted from her until now," Ryu said as he stared at the floor. This mission was serious - he could get hurt. All three of them could. His orders were to stop Hire's brother who had managed to break out of jail. Ryu left Sasuke.
Saori leaned against the wall outside of the inn. Her eyes looked over Ryu's from. "What kind of mission?" He was already re-dressed and ready to leave. "I wanted us to go out to eat together."
"I can't tell you the details, Saori. I'm prohibited. All I can say is Onari and your father will be with me. It's an important mission," Ryu said choosing his words carefully. "I'm sorry to leave this soon. I have to go. I promised Sasuke."
"Ryu, it's serious, isn't it?" She looked at him with sadness in her eyes. She reached her hands up to touch his face. "I want to go with you."
"You can't, Saori."
"Why? I don't want you to go into a dangerous mission on your own! We're a team!"
"It's my mission - not yours. I won't have you chasing after me, Saori. You cannot go! I forbid you to try and sneak off," Ryu said as he watched the plans form in her mind. He placed his hands on her arms to make her look at him. "I mean it. If you follow me, it's over," he said seriously. Saori's eye widened. He walked off.
Saori turned her head to see Ryu disappear from her sight. If I follow him, he's going to breakup with me? But- We're a team! Saori's heart flopped in her chest. Ryu...
Sasuke turned around to acknowledge the door opening behind him. He saw the shocked expression appear all over his older son's face. "Hi. You weren't expecting me, I see."
Daiya's eyes softened. It was two years ago he had been adopted by Sasuke Uchiha and his family. He cared for the man as much as a real father. Daiya went over to his dad and hugged him hard.
Sasuke lifted his hand and placed it on top of his son's head. "You've only been gone a few days. So you guys completed your mission?"
Daiya nodded. "Dad, girls keep following me," he said as he looked up at his father. Sasuke only stared back. "Ryu said something about it being due to my sex appeal."
Sasuke brought his hand to his mouth. He coughed. "That's somewhat on target," he said looking away. He figured he was going to have to have this talk one day. And to think I was dreading this sort of thing with Takeru. "What do you know about boys and girls um... differences?"
Daiya was caught off guard. "They're physically different - but not in strength. They're faces are different and more emotional - but Takeru is emotional. Onari isn't, but she's not a boy. She's a girl." Daiya rambled for some time about his thoughts on the matter.
Sasuke let him finish. He rubbed his temples. "We have to have a father-son talk, Daiya." Daiya looked at him rather stumped.
Shikamaru Nara blew smoke out of his mouth as he flicked his cigarette. He stared at the stars. "By now, Ryu should be on his way. I want you to listen to him, Beautiful. He's more experienced. Be cautious."
Onari stared at Shikamaru as she sat next to him on the roof of the apartment building where he lived. "Shikamaru wants Onari to listen to Ryu. Ryu knows more than Onari. Or so Shikamaru says."
Shikamaru inhaled then sighed. "This mission is important. If we don't stop Nattoku, someone could die. He's out for revenge, Onari. It's an ugly matter."
Onari stood on the roof. "Onari will wait for Ryu at Ryu's home." She disappeared.
Ryu moved through the dark forest swiftly with his backpack. His mind flashed to Saori and her reaction at what he had told her. He sighed. It can't be helped. It was the only way not to fight with her. Saori would have followed me if I hadn't of been firm. It's my mission. She has to understand that.
He didn't want to hurt her feelings. It wasn't his goal to make her not trust him. Ryu felt bad about how he had parted from her. Saori was attached to him as he was to her. He touched down momentarily. Ryu scanned the forest. The only sound he heard was the rustling of the leaves. His red eyes searched for any signs of movement. He felt as if he were being watched.
Ryu brought his hand up. He created the illusion of still searching the area s he took off. Ryu flew through the trees at high speed. Why would anyone try to follow him?
A figure dropped out of the tree. He stared at the illusion of the boy in front of him. "He's wearing the headband of the fire country. Should we follow him?" The man looked over his shoulder at his superior officer.
Kakumei smiled with a light smirk. He approached the illusion. He sliced through it with his tiger fork. "We follow at a distance. Do not approach. If the girl is alerted, she could summon the phoenix," Kakumei answered.
The man took off as Kakumei did to follow the youth from the fire country. "It was lucky to find that bumbling fool from the snow village. He spilled information as if a dam had been broken."
Ryu entered the village like a thief in the night. He ran along the streets of Konoha swiftly. Sasuke failed to mention where Shikamaru and Onari were waiting for him. Just as the thought entered his mind, a figure stood in the road ahead. He slowed down to see her yellow eyes piercing through the darkness.
Onari watched calmly as he recognized her. Ryu appeared more adult now that he was getting older. Onari was now fourteen-years-old and her body frame had changed drastically. She wasn't petite and thin as before. No, Onari was well toned and her height had shot up to where she was six inches taller. Her hair was flowing behind her. It was so long that it went past her rear. "Onari waited for Ryu, but Ryu was not at the apartment. Onari came to see if Ryu had shown."
Ryu stood catching his breath. "Your vocabulary is better. At least it shows you've been using the cards I made." He glanced at the dark, closed shops. "Where's Shikamaru?"
"Shikamaru is waiting at the roof of the Nara apartment," she answered. "We are to leave as soon as Shikamaru sees Ryu." Onari put her hands in front of her body. She poofed.
Ryu pinched the top of his nose as he closed his eyes. "So much for a break," he said. Ryu poofed also.
Shikamaru stood with Ryu and Onari on the roof his home. He flicked his cigarette as he spoke. "We are tracking a prisoner who has broken out of jail. He is highly dangerous and powerful in more ways than just sheer force. Nattoku has gained allies in prison and is seeking out those contacts, along with his own. We have to find him and take care of the situation. Onari is to take direction from you, Ryu. This is her first A-rank mission. We are to keep out of sight near civilization.
There is no way of knowing who is watching us and where. Both of you are to keep your guards up. If Nattoku uses force, we are to kill him on the spot." He saw the uncertainty in Ryu's eyes. "These are direct orders from the Hokage, Ryu. If you are serious about becoming an ANBU, you need to learn to follow orders - no matter what they are."
"Does the Hokage think after two years that Nattoku's anger has lessened over his fate," Ryu asked no one in particular. "He's out to start a war. He wants to rid the earth of the Inuzuka clan."
Shikamaru breathed in the night air. "Yes, that's all very true. Kiba's clan has been notified. They have been instructed not to leave the village under any circumstances. And as for the question buzzing around in the back of your mind, Hire knows, too. We leave now."
Hire walked slowly next to Areku as they made their way through the forest. Despite the sunlight peering through the trees, she felt a cold chill across her shoulders. She glanced at Areku. He was walking erect wearing his casual clothes and not his normal training vest and outfit. Areku glanced at her. Hire found herself grabbing onto his arm. She leaned into him trying to get warm.
Areku noticed she was chilled. His keen eyes saw her shoulders shake. "Hire, are you cold?" Ever since her life had been turned upside-down by her brothers' deaths, Hire had become skeptical about certain matters. She chose to lock herself in her dorm immediately after training and missions. It wasn't healthy.
"Only a little," she answered as they kept walking. "Areku, how is your clan? I know they were kind of looking forward to battling Nattoku now that he's escaped prison."
"They're fine. I think everyone's managing to live right now - except the elders. They seem to believe your clan backed off due to Nattoku and your father being caught." Areku sighed. "My grandfather has been excited ever since we got the word from the Hokage. Ever seen an old man try to run swinging his walking stick in martial art moves?"
Hire couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sorry, Areku. Your grandfather sounds comical." She held onto her sides as she pictured the old man beating her brother upside the head with a stick.
Areku became serious. "Hire, are you sure your father died of a heart attack? I know that's what someone told you, but your father wasn't that old. There has to be something else."
Hire thought of her strict father in prison trying to figure out the charges against him. "Areku, he might have worried himself to death, or fought with someone in prison. That could have made him have one."
"Yes, but the prisoners are closely watched and confined most of the day. There are only a few instances where they come into contact with each other," Areku stated. "Nattoku saw your father as a threat because he was the one who made the final decisions. He knew of your brother's plans. He couldn't have acted without Yakedo's approval. He was the head of the clan."
"Father sent Daiji to consult with our allies in the north. I didn't mention it to the proctor who came to ask questions the other day. All I know is the direction of our allies. I don't know where they are, per say. Nattoku knew I wasn't to be trusted with information such as that. Daiji's orders were always to wait for Father and Nattoku no matter where they went. Since neither of them showed, Daiji has been in hiding. He's not stupid to think they were caught. He will still follow the plans they laid out!"
Areku felt the chill Hire had earlier. "What are you saying?" He saw her worried expression.
"It means your grandfather may get his wish now that Nattoku is loose! Daiji could be here any day! We have to tell Kiba sensei!"
"This area is so lush and green. It makes me want to lie down and take a break, Daiji. Why did your father and Nattoku not come partake our hospitality as you did? We had such marvelous feasts in their absence," Kanoko said as he made smoke rings with his pipe. His group of fifty men was taking a break as he sat on a nice boulder.
Daiji looked out over the field. He glanced back at Kanoko. Kanoko was in his early forties. The man was formal, yet cruel to the point. His father's friend was a native of the Grass country. "I have no idea. I have my orders in case something happens to my father. And furthermore, if your area weren't so hard to get to, it wouldn't have taken me a week."
Kanoko smiled as he blew smoke from the corners of his mouth. "My apologies, son of Yakedo. If we were so easy to get to, our enemies would have finished us off by now. Still, we gave your father two weeks to show when you arrived. Don't tell me he's run out on us?"
"No, he wouldn't have done that. Nattoku would have taken extra length to insure he didn't back out. There has been no word from either of them in two years. Which means, I was right to hide. Someone knows of our plans against the Inuzuka. They were found out," Daiji said seriously. "Whoever has put them in prison is going to regret it."
"And who would have informed the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village of such a plot? Yakedo has always managed to keep his affairs under his thumb. It's troubling to know he's slipping up at his age," Kanoko said. He rose to crack his back.
"No one else knew. No one else was told what the plans were until the day we left. Only Nattoku and I knew the full details." Daiji caught a ladybug in his hand. He let it move over his fingers.
Kanoko emptied his pipe onto the ground. He snuffed the fire by rubbing it with his foot. "It seems not even your family members are to be entrusted with valuable information."
Daiji knew it had to be one of the three younger siblings that told the Hokage. "It would seem that way." He squished the ladybug with his fingers. Kanoko looked at him with disapproval of such an act. "Luck is for cowards who do not want to face reality." Daiji walked off to signal the men to get a move on.
"I say let the boy come if he thinks he can challenge the Inuzuka clan," Matozo, Areku's grandfather said. He stood up waving his walking stick. "I may be up in age, but the fire still burns!"
Kashira put her hands on her father's shoulders. "Father, let's not be too hasty. You're scaring Areku half to death." Not to mention embarrassing Kiba and I.
"You act just like your mother. Always telling me to sit down and behave! I will not be silenced so thoughtlessly, Kashira!"
"Matozo, sit down," Riniya said angrily with her hands on her hips. "I can't fetch the others for more than a few minutes and look at you! You're embarrassing our clan! We have a guest!" She kept nagging him until he sat down.
Hire blinked her eyes. She brought her hand up to stop a smile from spreading across her lips. Areku's family was interesting. She glanced at him. He was sitting leaned forward with his hands clasped and hanging between his legs.
"The decision isn't about whether to stop them from coming, or not. They will come. We need to focus on how to approach the situation. The Hokage can only do so much. We don't know the size of the army they are bringing," Kiba said as he stood.
"Nattoku wishes to finish us off based on his own aristocratic morals. The army won't be small, I can assure you of that. Their only objective is to hit us hard and fast. Can we really hold off a large sized army," Shizayo asked. "They want to kill everyone - not just what we stand for. Our children are not safe!"
"I understand your worries, Shizayo," Kiba said trying to calm him down. "Everyone's child is in danger. Even my own," he said as he looked at Areku. His son saw his concern. "Yet, we are to set an example for them as their parents. We must not approach this without confidence. If we have no faith in ourselves, our clan will fall."
"And in saying that, do you think it's wise to have that girl here? She is the traitor amongst them! She's a target," Onoku snapped, as he, too, confronted Kiba.
"Leave her out of this, Onoku. If she hadn't of told then we would have been attacked blindly two years ago," Kiba said as he stepped forth. The other man gritted his teeth, growling.
"You're a fool! She may have thought it would help us, but because of it, we will be attacked harder with warning. Traitors are lower than dung in any clan," Onoku said. "She shouldn't be here!" His eyes looked dead at her. Hire tensed and froze.
Areku moved in front of her. "Whether she's here or not, is not your choice. It's mine. Your cruel gaze goes no further unless you want to feel my claws." He stood his ground as the man turned around fully.
"And who is she to you, Areku? Are you planning on fighting everyone that objects to what must be?" Onoku moved forward with a few others. "This is not settled by far. I won't adhere to an enemy in any form."
Kashira walked between Kiba and Onoku. She turned her head to acknowledge the men. "Hire is under our care. You owe her your allegiance whether it suits you, or not. She has given up her life to her clan to make sure ours continues. Do not throw insults so casually at my son."
"The Inuzuka cannot win a battle with others if they cannot solve the ones with themselves," Matozo said as he placed his hands on his walking stick. "Don't be so alarmed, son-in-law. Sometimes my brain works correctly," he said with a toothy smile.
"Father is right. All of you act like men for a change. I would suggest coming up with a plan," Kashira said. She left the room annoyed at their childishness.
Shikamaru Nara moved through the trees quickly as Ryu Yuhi and Onari followed him to the edges of the fire country. He had been appointed Onari's leader for her first A-rank mission. The Hokage had entrusted him to get the job done. Ryu had also been chosen due to his advances with his genjutsu training and teamwork abilities. He glanced back at Onari. "How are you doing, Beautiful?"
Onari was on Shikamaru's left. Ryu was on her right beside her. She didn't know much about the mission she was given - only that she had sworn to take directions from Shikamaru and Ryu. Ryu as more experienced than she was. She would let him show her the ropes.
Ryu's main mission was to protect Onari since she was inexperienced. He had promised Daiya and Takeru a long time ago that nothing would happen to her while he was around. The mission to take down Nattoku, Hire's brother, was a lengthy matter. It involved the past as well as an old comrade. He suspected it wasn't going to be long before Nattoku found his brother, Daiji, who had been hiding the entire time. Rats value their skin more than anyone does.
It was some time before they stopped to get further instructions from Shikamaru. Onari stood next to Ryu. The older boy was watching her out of the corner of his eye with his arms crossed.
"All right, Beautiful, I want you to watch yourself. Nattoku is an advent mud user like Hire - but much more advanced. This is not a training exercise. This is for real. I want you to pay close attention to where you are and what is around you at all times. Do you understand thus far?"
Onari's mind sorted everything out. Her serious gaze never wavered as she answered Shikamaru. "Onari will be careful. Onari will listen to Ryu and Shikamaru. We are to take Hire's brother with force," she said matter-of-fact.
"That-a girl. You're a lot sharper than you let on," Shikamaru said. "We'll stay in the trees for a while. We're going to make a visit to Yakedo's old shipping business to see if we can dig up anything on where Nattoku is headed."
Saori Nara walked with Daiya to where they were meeting Yanagi in the training grounds. She sighed as she closed her eyes. She wanted to know where Ryu was, but Sasuke had told her it was classified. She hated that the most. She felt as if Ryu wasn't going to come back.
Daiya put his arm around Saori. He leaned his head to hers as they walked. At first when Saori had been put on his team, he had been less than thrilled. He only knew her as the hot tempered, loud-mouthed Nara girl that couldn't stand for herself to be wrong. Now things were much different. Saori showed a lot of concern over her team and what missions they took. She fought to keep both he and Ryu safe. "Saori, he didn't want to leave, if that's what's bothering you."
Saori shook her head. "It's not that. I know Ryu takes separate missions from us due to his age. He's trying to show more responsibility so he can be an ANBU. He really wants to join."
"Then what is it," Daiya asked as he saw the sadness creep across her face.
"His last words to me were, 'If you try to follow me, it's over'. He threatened to break up with me if I left to protect him," Saori said. She couldn't look at Daiya. She felt ashamed. It wasn't something you wanted to tell another teammate - that one's romantic life was in trouble.
Daiya stared straight ahead, annoyed. He couldn't believe Ryu had resulted to something such as that. "I'm sorry Ryu's turkey brain said something his beak couldn't hold back," he said with no emotion.
"Daiya, do you think... Ryu really wants to break up with me? We've been going out for a long time. What if he doesn't want to be around a puppet girl anymore," Saori said sadly as they stopped. "What if he really wants to try dating other girls. Ryu's genjutsu reputation is preceding him. Others are starting to notice."
Daiya lifted Saori's chin to look at him. "That isn't true, Saori. Ryu has never wanted to be with anyone, but you. You're the only girl whose stayed with him despite how he messes up and puts his foot in his mouth. Don't think for one moment that he would cast you aside like that."
Saori's eyes softened. She brought her hand up to cover her eyes from Daiya's view. Her heart swelled in her chest. She had been thinking nonstop about what Ryu had said since they left their last mission. "Thank.. you," she said as she choked.
Daiya couldn't help to see a girl cry. Saori rarely broke inside. She must have been really concerned about him. Daiya hugged her. He put his hand on the back of her head like he did Yanagi when she was upset. "It's okay, Saori. Ryu doesn't mean anything he says unless he says he loves you."
"He's never told me," Saori admitted. Daiya's eyes widened. "I... haven't told him either. My mom said girls shouldn't tell a guy first, because it would make him feel uneasy. I don't know if Ryu is ready to hear those words yet."
"Ryu isn't ready for life itself," Daiya said blandly. "Yanagi was the first to tell me. Although, I have to admit I've never told her either. It's just... she knows. I don't know how to explain it."
"I know what," Yanagi said as she walked up upon her boyfriend holding her best friend. Yanagi blinked. "Did something happen?"
"Ryu threatened to break up with Saori if she followed him on a top-secret mission," Daiya said.
Yanagi walked over. "Saori, I don't think he meant it. It was his poor way of getting you to stay safe. He should have been blunt and told you he wanted you to remain so." She petted her friend's head. "Come on, let's go wash the tears away," she said as she tugged Saori along.
Saori looked back at Daiya. He followed them into the restaurant. "This place looks strange," Saori said as she saw how the wooden tables were all painted different colors. There were strange paintings on the walls that were colorful and bright.
"It's a new eatery Gin's cousin opened," Yanagi said as they sat down at a purple table. "They have all sorts of exotic dishes from other countries that you can try." She smiled at Daiya as she sat next to him.
"That sounds interesting. Takeru would love this place. In fact, so would mom. She loves to cook. Maybe she could pick up some recipe ideas from here," Daiya said.
Saori turned around. She raised her hand to wave at Gin. "Hey, Gin! We weren't expecting to see you here! What's up?"
Gin Akimichi walked over to her friends. She was wearing her long brown hair loosely around her shoulders and back. The outfit she wore was a green short skirt with brown sandals followed by an open neck pink top. She smiled at them. "Yanagi said she was going to get you guys to come in one day. I was just looking over the menu myself for my parents."
Yanagi looked over the menu with Daiya. "Gin, what do you recommend trying? It says we can try anywhere from 5 - 15 different small dishes. Prices range from 4 ryo a dish to 10 ryo a dish. Wow," she said. "Some of these are expensive."
Gin leaned forward to look at the menu on Daiya's side. "Why not try everything? Nanuka won't mind. She won't charge any of you because you're friends of mine," Gin said with a soft smile. "It's a good way to get business. If you like what you sample than you can bring your families back."
"Really? That's wonderful," Yanagi said with a goofy smile she picked up from Masaru. "If you hadn't of said that, I was going to make Daiya pay for Saori and me!"
Daiya turned his head slowly to look at her. Yanagi mouthed the words, 'I love you' and kissed him quickly. She was kidding. At least, Daiya hoped she was kidding. It would deplete his finances in one day.
Gin walked off to tell her cousin, Nanuka, that she had friends to treat.
"Gin's a sweet girl. Idai would fall for her caring attitude in a heartbeat," Daiya said bluntly. He saw Yanagi and Saori look at him oddly. "What'd I say?"
"You don't know," Saori asked. She leaned towards him with a whisper. "Gin is in love with Idai."
Daiya's eyes widened. "What?" Gin Akimichi had been in love with Idai for two years? He couldn't believe it.
"Saori's right, Daiya. Gin never got the chance to confess to Idai before... before he left," Yanagi said carefully. "Her confidence has been peeking over the past year. I want her to be able to tell him if... he comes back." Daiya's eyes averted. He was getting sad. She put her hand on his back. "Be happy. At least Idai now has another person who cares for him - he just doesn't know it."
"Yeah," Daiya said as Gin came back with a tray of dishes filled with small, wonderful delights. "What is all of that?" He saw deserts, pastries, meat dishes, soufflé's and different types of breads.
Gin set the heavy tray down on the table. "These are from other countries around the world. I thought you guys might want to try these the most. Each one is suited to your personalities," she said with a smile. "I figured Yanagi would like this bread because it's soft and full of flavor," she said as she passed the plate to her. "I picked this souffle out for Daiya to try. I know you don't eat a lot of soft food, but it's light and not too sweet. Saori, I had Kanuka give me one of her apple pastries for you. It has sugar sprinkled on the top. If you guys approve of these, I'll bring out some more from four other countries." Gin headed back into the kitchen to fill her parents orders.
"Wow, this is so heavenly," Yanagi said. "Daiya, try this bread. She put it into his mouth. Isn't it really good?"
Daiya chewed it. "Yeah, it is. This souffle isn't half-bad. Gin sure knows how to pick out things that we would like." He offered some to Yanagi and Saori.
Saori bounced in her seat. "Man, this apple pastry is so good! I would die if my mom made these every day. I'd have to drop off of Sasuke's team due to weight issues!"
Gin came back with Nanuka. "This is my cousin, Nanuka. She runs the restaurant with her husband. Nanuka, these are my friends, Saori, Yanagi, and Daiya."
Nanuka smiled at the kids in front of her. "Pleased to meet all of you. If you guys like what we have thus far, please spread the word! Some people are hesitant about trying new things, but we aim to please. I brought some cups out for you guys to have something to drink. Gin is going to bring back two different teas. Help yourselves," she said with a smile. Nanuka went to take someone's order.
Gin placed the two small pots of tea on the table. "The first tea has a hint of cinnamon in it. The second one is a bit powerful. It's peppermint tea."
"Gin Akimichi, you're spoiling us. If you don't stop this instant, we'll be expecting it from now on," Saori said as she sipped the cinnamon flavored tea. "Oh, Ryu would love this."
"Aren't your friends supposed to spoil you once in a while," Gin asked. "I have to go now. It was nice seeing you guys. Please tell your parents about Nanuka's new place!" She ran off to take her orders home.
Daiya stared at the plate of food before him. "I wonder where Idai is." Saori and Yanagi stopped eating. He closed his eyes. "I haven't heard from him in two years. Does he hate me?"
Yanagi lowered her cup. "Daiya?" He wouldn't look at her. She moved his face so she could see his eyes. "Idai does not hate you. You're very dear to him. No one has heard from him. It isn't just you."
Saori slammed her hand on the table. Yanagi and Daiya jumped. "No more sadness, Daiya Uchiha. It's bad enough I was doing it. Idai would never forget you! He's probably dealing with something really terrible." She sat back and resumed trying another dish. "Eat up. If we send it back, Kanuka might think we don't like her food."
Kakumei stood on the branch of a tree with his partner. "So this is the hidden leaf village. It doesn't look like much," he said as he chewed a stick between his teeth. "The Hokage probably has no clue to what he has in his grasp," he said referring to the phoenix.
"What do we do now," his partner asked as he looked over the area. "We can't approach. We would be spotted on sight."
"It's ignorant to think I don't know that," he said with a threatening voice. "We are to make sure the girl is here. That fool from the snow village gave us one detail to look for: Sasuke Uchiha." He smiled with a playful sneer.