They had said goodbye as Kakashi was leaving for a mission. He felt a little disappointed he was being sent out before Naruto would leave, but it couldn't be helped. He'd likely be gone by time he'd return. The mission was kept from him as it regarded Orochimaru, which in turn meant Sasuke. Team Eight were more than willing to take the mission.
"Shouldn't Naruto know about this?" Hinata asked "I know he has said he isn't bound by that promise but..."
"Yeah!" Kiba agreed "I bet he still wants to find him. He's never given up on anything especially not people. He's probably still thinking of ways to 'save' him"
Kakashi was a little impressed that they knew him that well. Sure they'd become good friends but he didn't expect that much attention to have been paid by the teens. Not including Hinata of course.
"Naruto doesn't need to know. It could very well be a dead end and he has other things he needs to be doing" Kakashi said "are we ready?" He asked
"Yes!" They said together and they all took off.
Kakashi hoped he didn't encounter Sasuke. He was officially a rogue and while Kakashi had confidence he would do what was required he still had that irrational slither of guilt for failing Itachi. And if he could help it he'd like to avoid being the one to kill the youngest Uchiha. They approached the area Shino's bugs had stopped at, letting Kiba and Akamaru take over. Kakashi tried to work with the Inuzuka's as little as possible, it just made him sad and he would rather not have those feelings on mission. But, seeing Kiba and Akamaru always had him wondering if his Mother had her own dog, as Kiba did, as many of them did. The bond they had was always something that had bugged Kakashi, because his Mother married his Father and died while bringing him into the world he never had the opportunity to raise a dog. It was never enough to cause deep emotional pain but she was his Mother and he couldn't help but wonder. After his Father died Tsume convinced her Father to allow him to train some pups, giving him this only connection to his Mother and her clan. But nobody had ever given him information on his Mother, not even his Father. Talking about her was hard for him and he was away a lot for his own missions...
He shook his head and focused on the mission. While Team Eight talked about proving themselves equal with Naruto and Shikamaru. If Sasuke was there he knew what he would have to do, and he couldn't expect it from Team Eight. He'd take responsibility for failing to see just how far Itachi's actions had drove Sasuke to this. He knew he had issues and he was cold but he had never thought he would try to kill Sakura. In the two and a half years they'd worked together he had always had her back. Protected , so it had surprised him when he heard the whole story from Yamato. And now he was a danger to the village. With or without Orichimaru's influence, there was no way to know if he wouldn't come to try an finish off what he had started if he succeeded in his revenge.
"We're close" Kiba said as Akamaru stopped and let out a soft growl "I don't smell Sasuke" he informed Kakashi
"Alright. Hinata?"
"Yes!" She nodded immediately activating her Byakugan before turning to look around before a small gasp left her.
"What is it?"
"There are hundred of chakra signatures up ahead... but they're all dying out one by one" she ran ahead
The hide out looked more like a prison, hundreds of cells lined the walled and each floor. Bodies were everywhere... as if they had all fought each other.
"It's like a fighting ring" Shino said
"Was Sasuke here?" Hinata asked horrified
"I don't think so" Kakashi sighed noting all of them had curse marks "this looks like a selection... Perhaps Orohimaru has replaced the Ninja he lost Three years ago"
Kiba looked up to him eyes burning
"Bastard" he growled fists clenched at his sides and Kakashi couldn't blame him. He and the entire squad had almost died
"You survived it. Even with the curse marks they possessed, you came out alive. I wouldn't worry about anyone he could send next" Kakashi reassured him with a similar statement he had made himself earlier when the team were talking about proving themselves while Kakashi had stayed in his own head. A small click made its way to Kakashi and he readied himself to move, inpressed to see the teenagers had done the same before he needed to warn them. He used his earth style to protect himself underground as he felt the place blow over him. Relieved to still sense the teens chakra above him he waited out the explosions.
-
The hideout was ruined and any evidence was useless now. When they had all come out safe Kiba immediately caught scents that ended up being a dead end upon the clearing of the men and women in the crystals also with their own curse marks, before being killed when the crystal release broke apart. At that point they had no choice but to retreat home. They camped in a forest and Kakashi left them to talk amongst themselves about their frustration. He looked up as shadows crossed his vision as Hinata sat next to him.
"Hello" he nodded and she smiled sweetly at him. Really, Kakashi thought, how could this sweet girl be a ninja? He never understood the clans rules on their people becoming Ninja, some people were just not cut out for it. And Hinata's temperament was a clear sign she was too kind to be expected to kill people. He supposed thats why he liked Tsunade. If she could help it she keeps people who clearly aren't cut out for it clear of such situations, hence her being on a specialised tracking team even after becoming a Chunin.
"Something on your mind?" He asked and her blush immediately took ober the majority of her face. Ah, Naruto, he thought smiling. Poor girl he wished he could tell her that it would never happen and she shouldn't waste her time. He suspected she would never try to let him go if she wasn't explicitly told by him... and she was too shy and timid to make her own move. Kakashi remembered her guilt too, she had never stood up for him, never even tried for fear of the consequences from her Father and her inability to actually talk to him.
"How... How is Naruto?" She stammered
"He's better, he can't use that Jutsu again but he bounced back pretty quickly, no doubt off to learn more from Jiyraiya" Kakashi said cheerfully ignoring the twist of grief he felt at not seeing Naruto for a while so soon after his return. It wouldn't be long, he told himself. Just a few months
"I'm glad... he's going to go far, and I don't think he is close to being done" she said her voice laced with adoration and Kakashi nodded.
"I agree"
-
When he returned Naruto had in fact already gone. Feeling his mood drop considerably he went to his spot and pulled out his book only to groan at Ino and Shikamaru on the bench below his perch.
"Come on Shikamaru!" She huffed "we never do anything as a couple and Sakura wants to go on a double date. I haven't seen her and Lee together and I really want to spend time with them! Please?"
"It's too much of a drag. You're all loud, I'd rather sleep" he sighed and she glared at him
"Look we're going to be married eventually, don't you think we should at least try to be a couple. We will eventually have to commit"
Shikamaru opened his eyes and glared at the sky
"Look you knew what you were getting into. If you don't like it go tell your Dad it isn't working for you. I don't do dates, I don't do couple get togethers, I don't do much of anything" he shrugged
Tears filled her eyes as her fist clenched at her sides
"I have a duty to my clan. But are you really not going to even try to like me? Our whole lives we're just going to..." she closed her eyes and turned away as tears escaped. Shikamaru groaned and sat up
"Ino.." he sighed and hung his head as he rested his elbows on his knees "You knew this... you said you were okay with it"
"I was-am, I just- we will have to step it up and people will expect us to be a real couple and our... wedding night" she bowed her head her voice shaking "so a double date was a good... transition" she shrugged and turned to face him
"I won't be like him" Shikamaru said calmly "and I won't grow to love you like that Ino. I know you could for me but-" he shook his head as she sat next to him her eyes wide with both panic and hurt. "If you think you have a future with Sai I suggest you take it because I won't be the one to make you happy, it won't matter how much time we spend together"
"But... it can happen" she said her voice sounding so small "arranged marriages can work, and we have met plenty who fall in love later"
"Not this time. Not with me" he shrugged and turned to look to her "You know my family won't blame you of you had your Dad refuse. And I think your Dad would be glad to as well"
"Why won't you?" She asked
"And have to find a reason to explain to my Mother?" He scoffed "no thanks. This is the path of least resistance"
"I do-" she cut off and took a deep breath "I don't want to let him down" she admitted
"Have you met your Dad?" Kakashi turned and decided he'd read later "You could never do wrong in his eyes" Shikamaru scoffed and Ino's choked out laugh was the last thing he heard before going in search of Guy. He knew he'd come searching to check on him now Naruto was gone again, might as well get it over with on his own accord. A terrible decision for his lack of energy right now.
I know this isn't much, sorry! But I had become entirely engrossed in another story in my little spare time I have these days.
