Chapter 17 – The Sign of Life

Disclaimer: Naruto and its characters do not belong to me

Previously on Secret Keeper: After completing the first task of the Trials, Team 7 have found themselves participating in a timed treasure hunt...with two Byakugan users as their opponents, not to mention the Doggy Duo...

As it turned out, there was a lot of hiding places at the Academy. Not to mention, the slight complication of having no idea what they were looking for.

"There's nothing here – we should head for the training ground." Sakura sighed, once they'd gone through the classroom twice.

Naruto grinned weakly.

"Well, we knew there was a chance it wasn't here." he shrugged, before stiffening.

"Naruto?" Sasuke asked, reaching for his notebook.

Naruto shook his head slightly.

"Might be nothing, now. According to Iruka-sensei, we need to check a training ground that share's a number with one of the competing teams."

Sakura hummed.

"Well, the ribbons were at 8, but Team 3 are also competing, and that's our next stop..." she trailed off.

Sasuke groaned.

"Don't tell me, grounds 5 and 7 also have items?"

"Might be worth checking..." Sakura sighed.

Naruto nodded.

"I'll have some clones check."

As it turned out, there were items hidden on all three training grounds. Having the advantage of training ground 3 being 'home territory', it didn't take long to find a ground of yellow coins, featuring a picture of the sun, hidden near the memorial stone.

"Wonder if Kaka-sensei hid these?" Naruto hummed as Sasuke updated his log.

"I don't think so. Personally, I wouldn't have even thought of hiding them here." Sakura huffed, glaring at her coin. "I mean, it's so disrespectful!"

Sasuke hummed in agreement.

"Not like we could move them, though. One of the clues could be the stone." he joined Sakura in glaring at the coins, before sighing. "So, where next? 5 or 7?"

"Oh! If I'm right, we should find something green at 7." Naruto grinned.

"Another clue?" Sakura brightened instantly.

"You bet, dattebayo! Kurenai-sensei just told her team to look for where the colour of life meets the number of completeness." Naruto shrugged.

"Let's go, then. If we hurry, we might even get there first." Sasuke smirked.

Thanks to Kakashi's new training regime, Team 7 were able to not only beat Team 8 to the training ground, but they also managed to find the green leaf tokens and head off to training ground 5. A fact Sakura was determined to hold over Kiba later. Something both boys were in full agreement with.

Halfway there, Sasuke stopped.

"Hang on a moment. There's seven items, all sharing a theme, right? So far, we've found three: a purple ribbon, a yellow coin and a green token. We also know there's a blue item somewhere. What's the chances they're based on the rainbow?"

Sakura frowned considering.

"Fairly high, I mean, the ribbon is dark enough to possibly class as indigo..."

"Ano, Iruka-sensei just said we should look for a fast fruit." Naruto hummed.

"A fast fruit?" Sakura yelped. "What on earth is that supposed to mean?"

The boys shrugged helplessly.

"We should keep going. Do we know what we're looking for at 5?" Sakura sighed.

Sasuke consulted his notebook.

"No. We don't have a location confirmed for blue, and there's still one more edible item along with the, er, fast fruit. Plus one other item, always assuming blue isn't one of the edibles." he shrugged, before heading off again.

"Hey! Naruto hissed, as they were moving through the Village. "Team 5's just gone into Higurashi's."

Sakura blinked.

"They wouldn't hide something there, would they?" she asked hesitantly.

"It's possible...Higurashi's is high quality, most shinobi shop there when they can afford it. Maybe we should wait and see?" Sasuke mused.

Agreeing, they quickly made use of Kakashi's training: Hiding In Plain Sight. Naruto became Naruko, a pretty, busty, blonde out enjoying the sun and some window-shopping with her friend, Sakura, who let her hair loose and used a mild henge to alter her clothes. Sasuke, however, simply moved up to the rooftops.

They didn't have to wait long before Team 5 came out, high-fiving, and heading towards the Academy. Seeing this, Sasuke dropped down beside the girls.

"Shall we go, then, ladies?" he smirked, offering his elbows, causing both of his teammates to go red.

"T-teme!"

"Sasuke-kun..."

Sasuke's smirk widened.

"It looks like a red berry's hidden at this stop."

"Right." Sakura nodded, before hurrying towards the weapons shop, her 'innocent girl' persona in full force. "Ohayou, Tenshu-san!"

The man behind the counter smiled brightly back.

"Ohayou! Here for the berries?" he asked.

"Yes, please." Sakura nodded.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed.

"Do the weapon prizes for the Trials come from here?" he asked.

The shopkeeper, if possible, brightened further.

"They do indeed."

"Kuso! I know we were aiming to win anyway, but now..." Naruto whistled, eyeing the shelves eagerly.

"Well, here's your berries, and good luck!" the shopkeeper smiled, passing them to Sakura.

"Thank you!" Sakura smiled, before leading her team back outside.

"It's got to be a rainbow." Sasuke muttered, taking point.

Sakura nodded.

"That 'fast fruit' still isn't making sense, though. We only have orange, blue and violet/pink left."

"Maybe the 'fast' aspect refers to the location?" Naruto hummed.

"In what way?" Sasuke frowned.

"Well, hawks can fly fairly fast, and if you go five miles to the south, there's rapids. Not to mention all the speedsters."

"Speedsters?" Sakura asked curiously.

Naruto nodded.

"Hai. Have you seen how fast Gai-sensei can run? And, Kaka-sensei isn't a slough, either, when he's got a reason. Then, you also have the Nidaime and Yondaime Hokages..." he trailed off.

"We should probably check the Hokage Monument anyway," Sasuke nodded. "It is a Village Icon, after all."

Sakura hummed softly, before breaking off to check the surrounding bushes.

With the help of Naruto's many clones, it took little to no time to find the hoard of pink buttons hidden in the hollow tree. Then, it was off to the Hokage Monument.

Reaching the summit, they were greeted by the sight of their sensei perched on a small rocky outcrop, nose buried, as usual, in his book.

"Ah, good, you're here." he eye-smiled, before actually closing his book. "I was hoping to catch you guys. Excellent work with the clones, by the way."

"Hi, Sensei!" Sakura chirped. "Got a clue for us? Or just some advice in general?" her eyes narrowed slightly.

Kakashi chuckled.

"You're learning! But, yes, I do happen to have a clue for you three." he jumped up, straightening. "Ahem, the first is hidden last. Well, make of that what you will, I guess. Ja ne!" he shrugged, before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

Sakura blinked. Twice. Before a slow smile formed.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I bet that's blue."

Naruto's eyes narrowed.

"No bet." he deadpanned.

Sasuke hummed.

"So, I take it 'fast fruit' is orange?"