Chapter 52: Ramen Before a Mission

I walked along the road of the village hearing that yesterday evening Shikamaru's team and Naruto's team were able to defeat two of the Akatsuki members. Checking at the hospital no one was there nor Naruto at his house, so I had one place left to check.

"Ah you're such a pain!" I heard someone yell from behind the curtain smiling to myself, there he is.

Pushing the curtain open at Naruto's favorite ramen spot I stopped short seeing Kakashi hold out food for Naruto to eat saying quietly, "Did I interrupt something?"

"Yuna!" Naruto yelled beaming towards me as I smiled back seeing the pale boy Sai stare at me while I stared back before saying, "You must be Sai."

"Yes, and by the name Naruto yelled you're Yuna." he said with a smile as I nodded sitting beside Sakura as she said, "Kakashi-sensei I'm surprised you weren't landed in the hospital after a huge mission like that."

"So, is that how people see me nowadays?" he said hanging his head defeated as I laughed replying, "I think you're cool Kakashi-sensei."

Looking back up he turned to Sakura saying, "I didn't use my Mangekyo Sharingan this time but if you all hadn't arrived in time, I would have had to use it for sure."

"You'd be lying in the bed for weeks, I'm sure." I said as he nodded looking towards Naruto saying, "Naruto, you've definitely gotten stronger, you're equal to me, maybe even stronger but keep in mind the greater the jutsu you use the greater the risk you take."

Frowning towards him I looked at his bandaged arm, just what did he do that was so powerful I wondered.

"Kakashi-sensei… don't worry about me, I know my body best besides I'm going to be Hokage one day you know?" Naruto said with a bright smile making me smile too.

"Naruto!" I heard tensing as Reno came barreling into the room falling against Sakura who punched him into the ground saying, "Watch where you're going idiot!"

"Reno..." I mumbled smacking my forehead as he stood up ignoring Sakura looking at Naruto saying, "Glad to see you're back in one piece… you guys too."

Sakura and Kakashi looked towards him offended while Sai just continued smiling saying, "I don't know who you are."

Reno and I decided to stay to eat since he was leaving on a mission shortly with Hayner, Lee, Neji and Tenten finishing my bowl of ramen while Kakashi kept feeding Naruto.

"Thanks pops, just give the bill to Kakashi." Naruto said happily watching Kakashi freeze up saying, "What!?"

Walking out I stopped short besides Naruto seeing Konohamaru who perfected his shadow clone hearing Naruto say in a serious voice, "So, you've finally learned to do the shadow clone… then let me see how you've improved."

Looking between them, I tilted my head as Reno leaned his elbow onto me saying, "Isn't that the little kid who has a crush on you."

Narrowing my eyes to him I pointed to Moegi who had hearts in her eyes staring at Reno saying, "I'm not the only one who has a kid crushing on me."

He made a face at me but we stopped looking towards the two Konohamaru clones who put their hands together saying, "Here I come big brother Naruto!"

In a puff of smoke, they transformed into two naked girls saying, "Sexy two-girl jutsu!"

Reno fell seeing blood pouring out of his nose while my eye twitched seeing Kakashi shake beside me, and Sai seemed completely unfazed.

"So that's you're new move!?" Naruto said excited watching Sakura slowly walk towards Konohamaru as he said, "How was that Naruto?"

Before Sakura got to him though Moegi had punched him in the face sending him flying as Udon looked towards him saying, "Konohamaru are you okay?"

"Moegi why did you do that..." Konohamaru asked defeated as she swung her fist saying, "Why would you do such a jutsu in front of us ladies!?"

Smiling at her Sakura turned to Naruto saying angrily, "Is this what you two do when you hang out together?"

"Well, this jutsu makes for a good diversionary tactic… besides you could say this is a serious competition between the two of us." he told her nervously making me shake my head.

Sakura shook her fist at him yelling, "You shouldn't be escalating things like this, you two are the only ones who would fall for such a jutsu."

Looking towards Reno I shook my head hearing, "You guys seem to be having fun as usual."

Narrowing my eyes, I stared towards Jiraiya, he'd also fall for this too seeing him begin to talk to Naruto as I kneeled poking Reno saying, "Aren't you supposed to be leaving?"

Quick as a flash he stood up running to the gates seeing the blood from his nose flow behind him yelling, "Crap Hayner and Neji are going to kill me!"

Hearing footsteps approach I turned seeing Shino standing a distance away as I walked towards him hearing him say, "We are being summoned for a mission."

Standing in the room besides Shino and myself were Hinata, Kiba and Akamaru as Tsunade looked towards us all saying, "Thanks for making it hear so quickly, you all are going on a very important mission finding the whereabouts on one of Orochimaru's bases."

Tensing up I looked down, could this be our chance to find Sasuke or worse Orochimaru himself looking back up as Tsunade said, "We only have a general idea of where the hideout could be, but your team is the best trackers. Yuna, I would have sent Hayner, but he left on an important mission already and you'd be a good defense to them should it come to it."

"Right." I said as she gazed at all of us saying, "Kakashi will join you all as team leader, I will debrief him shortly, make sure you're at the gate by sunset."

"Understood." Shino said beginning to walk out as we all followed him seeing the others leave to get ready while I said, "Do you think we'll run into Sasuke?"

"Not likely, the hideout has probably long since been abandoned now." Shino said making me frown hearing him say, "But it's possible we can find clues as to where he might be."

"Yea you're right." I said giving a smile as we both went our separate ways to get ready.

Standing by the gate besides the others I pat Akamaru's head as he nuzzled into my hand smiling as Hinata said, "I don't think we've been on a mission together in a long time."

Tapping my chin, I smiled saying, "I think you're right, don't worry I'll have your back no matter what."

She smiled nodding as we heard footsteps seeing Kakashi starting to walk towards us hearing Hinata say his name.

"Is everyone ready to go?" he asked making us all nod seeing his serious face as he said, "I'm sure you've already heard about the mission."

"Yes, it is to pinpoint the hideout that's thought to belong to Orochimaru." Hinata said as he replied, "Yes with all your abilities it should not be very difficult to do… and Yuna I'm glad you're helping too."

Giving him a thumb up I said, "I'll do my very best."

"First, I'll get a head start and release my parasitic insects to search the area where chakra is in the highest concentration." Shino said hearing Kiba said, "Akamaru and I will do the rest, his nose will pinpoint their hideout."

"Once we find the hideout, I should search out the enemy's chakra using my Byakugan right?" Hinata asked hearing Kakashi say, "I'm counting on you guys."

"If this is Orochimaru's hideout, is it possible Sasuke could be around?" Hinata asked watching Kakashi nod as she said, "So does Naruto know about this?"

"If Naruto knew about the mission, he would force himself to come and after the last mission he needs rest from his injuries." I said seeing Hinata blush nodding sheepishly as Kakashi replied, "That's right, Naruto has not been told about this mission."

"We should get going, it's better if we stay in cover of night." Shino said as we all agreed beginning to head out seeing Shino's bugs begin the trek ahead of us.