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Lee finished another round of physical therapy and stepped in the bath to soak for a while. His place was quite and the bath a custom made spa was quite relaxing. He had a lot on his mind given all they knew about the village attacks. Earlier today he asked Naruto what was known about Ami. No one had seen the woman since Tori used her to infiltrate the village.
Satisfied with his soak Lee toweled off and changed into a tee shirt and shorts. With nothing but time on his hands he headed out the door to grab some groceries and prepare for dinner. Out on the streets he passed several vendors and one stood out in his mind.
"Hey TenTen," Lee called out to the brunette behind the counter of a small weapons shop.
"Lee!"
"I was just going to pick something up for dinner," Lee said.
"Oh…I would join-
"Oh no I was going to eat alone I just happened to pass by here and I was just thinking of the old team and all," Lee said looking at some of the weapons on display.
"Some day I might take over a shop like this. It is fun talking to all the people about the different weapons. We get quite a bit of tourist nowadays," TenTen said placing several odd shaped shuriken on the shelf.
"Then I might open that dojo," Lee said.
"You know they are building a memorial for Neji," TenTen said sounding a bit more cheerful than she felt.
"Yes I hear it is a park of some kind around the Hyuuga neighborhood," Lee said.
"Maybe I'll take a walk around there and visit," TenTen said.
"Yeah…Have you heard anything about Ami," Lee asked.
"No," TenTen said.
"I just haven't heard anything from her in weeks so I figured maybe she would have at least said something to you. You know girl talk," Lee said.
"Women do talk. There are so many couples and things going on like babies and such," TenTen said.
"So why should we be single TenTen," Lee asked.
"I thought you were with Ami," TenTen questioned.
"Friends we are just friends," Lee replied.
"Friendzoned…As for me you know how I feel. I'm not ready now and I don't know if I'll ever be ready to let go of Neji," TenTen said. There was always the treat of tears but not today. She had cried enough and it wasn't one of those days for her. TenTen was feeling good but her facial expression may not have shown it.
"I'm sorry…I shouldn't have said anything," Lee said.
"No it is fine the more I say his name the less he's forgotten right," TenTen said.
"Yes," Lee replied.
"Well there is also Hinata, Shino, Kiba and Chouji who are single right alongside us so who cares," TenTen said smiling.
"I wouldn't count Chouji amongst us," Lee said.
"Chouji has a girlfriend," TenTen asked surprised.
"I've seen her a couple of times with him after training sessions. She is a foreign Kunoichi from Kumo I believe," Lee said.
"Kumo…Eh. Well I guess I need to go hang out with Ino and the others some more and catch up with all the gossip," TenTen said.
"Oh well I should get going it's getting late," Lee said.
"Take care Lee," TenTen said.
"You do the same," Lee said and left the shop.
000
Naruto had delivered his report about the weapons warehouse earlier today and was satisfied with the majority of the response. Overwhelmingly the other villages wanted to seal or destroy the weapons warehouse to avoid that type of warfare. They all agreed that this would be a major peace keeping operation, however no one could agree just who owned the rights to the weapons.
The weapons warehouse was deep in the heart of Otogakure territory. No one claimed to have started it but it was likely a remnant base of operations left over from Orochimaru. The current investigations into Tori's group lead them to the place but it remains unclear what her group intended to use the weaponry for if at all as it was mostly left unguarded and easily taken over by Sasuke's group.
Kakashi read through the report and sat it on his desk. Naruto sat down opposite the current Hokage in the quite Hokage office. It was late afternoon and most of the work for the day had been distributed.
"Not a bad job," Kakashi said.
"There are a lot of other hot spots in the Otogakure. Places that have been abandoned that are harmful and dangerous and it has been years in some instances," Naruto said.
"I understand. As expected of Sasuke he really came through with this find," Kakashi said.
"How did our security fail," Naruto asked changing the subject.
"You mean letting the woman Tori escape," Kakashi asked.
"Did you let her escape," Naruto asked.
"No one let anyone escape. She had help and we failed to detain her but that doesn't mean she got away. Shino has-
"It is just frustrating that everytime we get a handle on her group within the walls of this village something goes wrong. It feels wrong and the village can't be called safe," Naruto said.
"I know," Kakashi said. He had no excuses these were the worst times of his career not being able to do a thing against an enemy who was always seemingly two steps ahead of him.
"I don't mean to drag you down-
"It is my job Naruto as will someday be yours I need no excuses. I must protect the people of this village with my all. I will have this solved for the village no question about it. For now I have to live with the mistake of not having enough security on her," Kakashi said.
"We'll find her again," Naruto said.
"We know where she is," Kakashi said.
"So there must be a plan to bring her in again," Naruto asked.
"Yes and this time it involves eradicating the Nightmare Jutsu completely," Kakashi said.
"Alright I like how that sounds. Maybe it is better that she is still out there spinning her webs so we can catch all of her monsters…spiders or whatever," Naruto said.
"Something like that is what we hope. Naruto it is time that you take over and the job is yours don't you think," Kakashi asked.
"All I ever thought of all these years was to be Hokage. It hasn't changed. I know I want to be Hokage if that is what you are asking me. Nothing has changed. I still want the job and I know that the party will be worth it when the times right. Right now is not the time to change leadership. Everyone knows this and they are still looking up to you Kaka-Sensei," Naruto said.
"Looking at the history the Hokage title has been turned over in times of distress many times over. If I were to turn it over to you now what difference would it make the people are already lined up to follow you Naruto," Kakashi said.
"I have patience," Naruto said.
"I am telling you that you should expect to take over soon," Kakashi said.
Naruto stood up and walked to the door, "I gotta get home."
"Tell Sakura I said hello," Kakashi said and waved Naruto away.
This was going to be a long twenty four hours for him. Kakashi had operations going on in several villages all at once. It was his hope to catch several key players off guard all at once in different places and go in for Tori at the right moment.
Kakashi stood up and stretched. He thought about what to do in his down time before all the chaos would happen and smiled. Walking the Hokage tower he gave a message to a secretary that he would be out for a while and went on walking right through the gates down the street.
It took Kakashi only a few minutes to make it to Might Gai's place but it seemed like an eternity with all the passersby stopping him every few steps to talk about this or that. He hadn't seen Gai in a while but felt a little guilty for ignoring a friend because of all his work lately.
Gai was in his wheelchair watering plants in the front of his home when Kakashi walked up. It was a far cry from his usual exercise rituals. Kakashi would never get used to the sight of his friend in a wheelchair.
"Hey Gai just stopping by in the Neighborhood for a moment," Kakashi announced.
"You want to just talk politics this time," Gai asked.
"How's gardening going," Kakashi asked ignoring the question.
"Turns out I am not so bad at it," Gai said.
"That's good," Kakashi said.
"I've been cooking a lot lately. Maybe you'd like to stop by sometime for some of my all time best curry," Gai said.
"All time best. Sounds great," Kakashi said taking a seat on the bench just outside the door.
"There isn't much to do lately so maybe you could wheel me-
"No."
"But I haven't even-
"No."
"Fine Kakashi but one day we will resume our challenge," Gai said.
"I am the Hokage. I've already proved to be the leader of the village and recognized," Kakashi said,
"Well the people still like a man in green. Take me on the streets and we'll see who burns with the power of youth," Gai said.
"The people do not like your green jumpsuit Gai. You have no fashion sense," Kakashi said.
"Why do you pretend to hurt my feeling," Gai asked.
"What kind of question…nevermind can I come in for a visit or am I to stay outside all day," Kakashi asked.
Gai invited Kakashi in and the two had snacks and conversation for an hour before Kakashi headed back on the job. It was nice for Kakashi to see his friend whom he hadn't seen in a while. Now work demanded his time.