So, summer break is over – I will be honest, I was just too damn lazy to do anything else than enjoying my holidays.

Chapter 58

Beta'd by Black Sparrow

Tsukiko Interlude

Tsukiko wasn't sure what she should think of her current situation, or more about her new team?... Superiors? She really had no idea what they even were to her!

Yamanaka-san, Ino-chan's father had introduced her to Anko-senpai who would apparently take over her training and education from now on. The other team member was around her own age and one of the Root operatives that she would have been turned into under Elder Danzo if the Hokage hadn't intervened… Tsukiko shivered when she thought about it. Sai was good looking, even on Sasuke-kun's level but while he looked a lot like the Uchiha heir he was ten times… stranger… Tsukiko found his fake smiles really disturbing.

For most of the day the brown haired orphan now was a glorified coffee girl. She made coffee, got take out and organized the few files that she was allowed to look at or ran errands for Anko-senpai or sometimes even for Yamanaka-san and Morino-san when they were down in the section of the building, though mostly Anko-senpai. The only upside on the whole situation was that she was spared from normal D-Rank missions because her work in the T&I division was counted as such. She had seen Ino and even Hinata weed backyards and go shopping for civilians and she was somewhat glad that she didn't need to do that

At the end of everyday when she was mentally exhausted, either Anko or Sai ran her through the wringer in a physical way. Especially dodge training was an all time favorite of the more than slightly insane kunoichi. Sai on the other hand concentrated on building up her speed, stamina and strength in the most sadistic ways he could probably think of… and that all with that creepy smile on his face. Tsukiko had to be carried home more often than not.

Oh and that was another variation of her former Academy student life, both she and Sai had moved into apartments across from Anko-senpai. Apparently this was not only for convenience on Anko-senpai's part but also a form of protection… for whom the purple haired kunoichi didn't say… though Tsukiko had the suspicion that it was for the elder kunoichi herself… and probably for Tsukiko too now that she thought about it. The brown haired orphan had soon realized that Anko-senpai was recovering from some type of injury, because whenever possible the purple haired kunoichi was doing chakra control exercises, even while working through her files. Additionally Sai didn't leave her side other than a few minutes at a time. Tsukiko had a feeling that this had to do with the whole Root situation again; maybe Anko-senpai had been injured during that?

She couldn't be sure but it really didn't matter in the end. What mattered was that while Mitarashi Anko may be certifiable insane she was a good kunoichi and also a good superior. Tsukiko hadn't known her for long, only a bit over a week but she had never belittled Tsukiko like a few of the Academy instructors had done sometimes. Though Anko-senpai liked to tease Tsukiko until her face turned cherry red she took the mentoring thing seriously even though she apparently hadn't asked for it and both Sai, who was painfully incompetent in all things pertaining human interaction and her benefited from this. Tsukiko felt content working under her, so what if her jokes were a bit age inappropriate or her slightly sadistic streak came out during training?

And Sai… well okay he was a bit harder to get used to, the first few times he insulted her with a smile on his face she really was close to tears, be it because of mortification or anger. But after a week of nearly constant insults it only elicited a tired sigh and an eye roll from her, Sai really had no idea what his words were implying.

"Come on Tansoku (short legs)."

Tsukiko sighed inwardly despairing a bit; she wasn't that short for her age, damn it!

"I'm coming, I'm coming," she called back while she picked up her pace again; they had a lot more paperwork to file.

Kakashi Interlude

Kakashi sighed while listening to his two male students squabble; and only a week ago he had thought that he had THAT behind him but no…

Since Sasuke had been informed about what Danzo had done the Uchiha had been handling the situation bad…ish. Not as bad as Kakashi had feared but what the boy was doing was far from healthy. After his talk with Shiori Kakashi had hoped that he would be able to deal with it in a more healthy way but two days after the Sharingan eyes and the bodies of the Uchiha clan had been cremated he reverted to his withdrawn self, only that this time a rather irritating habit accompanied his behavior.

Sasuke had started to look for fights.

And Naruto had just the right temper to indulge him. Behind the two Kakashi could see Sakura finishing with tiling the roof, she was ignoring her teammates and moved to the other side of the house to start with painting the walls. At first when Sasuke's behavior had worsened she had tried to intervene and break up the fights, than she had lost her patience and had become angry every time a new argument broke out… but a few days ago she had simply given up and just left the two to their antics. Kakashi could practically see the annoyed eye roll she was doing while moving the brush back and forth.

Sighing again Kakashi watched as they finished the D-Rank with a distinct lack of enthusiasm, he snorted inwardly, did they think he liked to watch them complete mundane chores? Putting his book away Kakashi let his eyes glide over the three teens, they had been getting on his nerves the whole day now, even Sakura had screeched a time or two and his ears were still somewhat complaining. He understood that Sasuke was angry and tried to cope with this in some way but to be honest right at the moment Kakashi was feeling mean. Maybe the three needed a lesson about what happened when they annoyed their team leader too much. With that in mind the silver haired Jounin herded them back to the mission office to pick up another D-Rank. On the way to their first mission of the day he had spotted the wagons of the Fire Lady, so with a bit of luck a Tora mission should already be available.

Kakashi was interested in how his momentarily not so cute students would handle THAT.

Kurenai Interlude

Kurenai felt like she had been hit with a staff or even a club. Was Asuma serious? Did he… was he really asking her to move together? Kurenai's mouth opened but nothing came out, with a nearly audible click she closed it again, slowly doubts came up in her, what was going on?

"Asuma?" she then asked unsure.

The shinobi in front of her closed his eyes while he visibly tried to find a way to explain himself to her.

"You are easy… okay that came out wrong. What I mean is that everything with you is effortless, I don't feel pressured or bound by what we have… it just feels… right."

Kurenai had nearly slapped Asuma for the first comment but slowly relaxed the more he talked and tried to explain himself. This was starting to make some sense to her, Asuma had always felt constricted by the expectations on him as the only surviving son of the Hokage, people had always wanted something from him. That was also the main reason why he had accepted the position as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, after the fall out with his father. Even after they had started to get together, Asuma had never defined what they had, never set any boundaries… and Kurenai hadn't dared to ask for any. That he now suddenly admitted that he loved her and wanted to live with her had come a bit out of the left field for the red eyed kunoichi. Not in an uncomfortable way but she still was surprised and somewhat unsure.

"Asuma… why now?"

"As you said it was really close this time… and to be honest also because of Kakashi and Shiori," the shinobi said while his one hand wandered from the small of her back to her hair.

Now Kurenai felt her eyebrows furrow, Kakashi and Shiori? Was he implying that he wanted to marry and raise a family? Alarm bells were ringing inside her head that was a bit of an extreme.

"Asuma, I'm not sure what you mean. You want what Kakashi and Shiori have?"

"Ugh… yes and no. Not exactly what they have but… they are happy. Kakashi is happy and content and finally found his place in life. Not that I begrudge him that… they make it work, so why can't we have something similar." The last part was said somewhat wistful.

"Asuma, I'm a Jounin kunoichi, I don't want to be a housewife, " Kurenai threw in.

She loved Asuma, she really did but she had sweated blood and water for that Jounin promotion, for a chance to become a sensei. Her Genin and her career were really important to her, she would NOT just give that up, not even for the man she loved!

Asuma looked incredulous at her for a moment before he chuckled and tugged a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"I would never try to convince you to give up your career; I know you love your brats. And I'm not talking about marriage and children… at least not now. But does that mean we can't just… be us? Together?"

Kurenai's mouth twitched before she giggled in sheer relief, Asuma was right, why couldn't they? Their game of hide and seek wasn't fooling anyone of their friends. There was just one last thing to settle.

"No offense to your flat but you are moving into my house." And with that Kurenai turned around and grabbed her latest flower acquisition to place it on the windowsill, life was good.