Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN Naruto, its world or affiliations. However let it be on record that no matter what anyone says: Naruto Belongs to Sasuke just as Sasuke Belongs to Naruto.
Author's note: I'm Here! LoL Well a new chapter that is, sorry it took a while. I had life to deal with and such but my inspiration was always there, in my head and grew to this, this. Not sure how long the next one will be but I'm working on it. Some OOC-ness, maybe some misspelling and other fluffiness. Enjoy!
'Thinking'
"Talking"
New Day pt2
After getting to know their green thumbs for quite a bit, they finished and were given praise by the little old lady who was grateful on her well-done garden work. Bidding the lady good day, Kakashi lead the group to a nearby house that looked to be someone moving away, what with the boxes of stuff outside.
"Morning" Kakashi greeted to an older man in a sweater vest and greying hair carrying a box that is labeled 'kitchen stuff'.
"Good morning"
"You needed some help today?"
"Yes please, the moving van should be here in half hour and I have yet to move the major furniture" Swiping the sweat from his brow, the old man sat in a chair and took out a handkerchief.
"No worries, sir" Sasuke said politely
"Yea, we'll have all your stuff packed and ready to be shipped before the van drives in. You just relax and leave everything to us" Naruto said, Sasuke nodded and Sakura smiled. The old man waved to them to do as they please, Naruto turned to his teammates and thought, a finger on his chin.
"5 seems fair, don't you think Sasuke"
"Yeah, Sakura: you pack what's left. Naruto and I will get the heavy duty stuff"
"But"
"5 clones in 3, 2, 1"
Poof!
"Alright everyone, you all knows what to do so get to it" Cheer rang all around and everyone got to work. Sakura stood to the side, shocked on how quickly it was thought up and shook herself out of it, making the hand signs for 5 clones and ran inside to begin, dodging a couple clones as they carried a desk outside.
"Hmm" Kakashi watched
"Those kids of yours are quick, how long you've been with them" The old man asked, wiping sweat off his forehead.
"A while now"
"Well, whatever you are doing with them, keep it up" A Naruto clone appeared by the old man with a cold water bottle. He thanks him and drank the cool liquid as the clone bowed and left to finish on the work.
"Hmm" Kakashi watched as clone after clone went in and out of the house, carefully putting down whatever item they are carrying. Soon everything is out of the house and on the lawn, ready for the moving van.
"Hey old man" Naruto yelled from the doorway.
"Yes" said old man
"Where's your cleaning supplies at?" The old man took a drink and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"If none of you packed it away then it should be in the closet"
"Naruto?" One of the Sasuke asks
"5 more and we'll be done before the van get here" The real Sasuke crosses his arms and smirks
"Loser buys everyone lunch" Naruto grins
"You got it, teme"
Poof!
"Go!"
All the Naruto's and Sasuke's ran in the house and each grabbed whatever they can to clean with. Sakura, having dismissed her clones and is sitting in the shade on the grass, sipped her water and waited with Kakashi on the side.
Once in a while you'll hear the shouts of 'Dobe' or 'Teme' coming from the house and a couple blurs passing the door quickly.
Soon an engine could be heard coming, Kakashi and Sakura turn to see the moving van coming to view. The minute it stops in front of the house did the boys rushed outside and the clones popped away
"Done" the originals shout out at the same time
"I win!" said together again.
"I win"
"No I win!" and so on and so forth they banter back and forth while the old man went to greet the movers. Kakashi and Sakura watched the boys yelling at each other on the sidelines and Kakashi sighs as the argument got more intense.
"Boys"
Nothing
"Boys"
Nothing again and Kakashi sighs.
"My treat" and that got something because the boys stopped their yelling and turned to their sensei.
"Help with the loading and I'll treat everyone for lunch"
Not to be told twice, the boys each made 5 more clones and hopped to it.
Sakura sighed and lightly laughed.
"Boys, no matter who they are, they think only with their stomachs" Kakashi nodded and they both watched as all the furniture and boxes got loaded on.
OOOOO
Bidding the old man goodbye, the 4 left and Kakashi took up the rear as he watched the other 3 strike up a conversation.
'With their enthusiasm, stamina and quick thinking, I'm beginning to think that we should of taken on more missions today. I bet not even Tiger will stand a chance at evading these 3 in the afternoon'
Going unnoticed by his students, Kakashi started planning for tomorrows missions and while that is happening, the 3 Genins discussed their meal plan and once again, Naruto is denied his ramen.
"But why, Sasuke?" Naruto whined
"Because dobe" followed by nothing else and that got Naruto riled up a bit.
"That's not a good enough reason, teme! Why can't we have ramen?"
"I think it's because Sasuke is trying to get you to eat more healthy food then just ramen, Naruto" Kakashi answered.
"But ramen is healthy, it has 3 of the food groups in there: noodles, meat and veggies" Naruto pointed out as he counted his fingers. Sasuke sighed and rubbed his temple, Sakura whistled away while Kakashi looked stumped for a second then:
"Hmm. He's got you there Sasuke" Kakashi shrugs one shoulder
"You already had ramen yesterday dobe and that's enough for this week"
Naruto sputtered:
"What?! No it wasn't!? I had only 2 bowls and you know it. 2 bowls and nothing because you freaked out over something that Sakura and Ino implied and ran away, dragging me with you" This got Kakashi's attention as he crept closer to the boy's conversation.
"Really Naruto and what did Sakura and Ino say to 'freak' Sasuke out"
"Well, you see-" An arm wrapped around his neck and cover his mouth while another arm went over his torso, being held close to a body behind him. Naruto didn't squeak a sound as he already knew who it was and rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"Nothing, nothing at all" answered Sasuke as he started backing away "Excuse us for a minute" and dragged Naruto away from hearing range of the other two.
"Hmm" Kakashi hummed then turned to Sakura whose head is tilted to the side watching the boys.
"Sakura?" She turned to Kakashi. He gestured to the boys in question.
"Um, yesterday we saw them at the ramen stand and so stopped beside them. Ino said that they looked like they were on a date because of how they were dressed and Naruto laughed while I defended Sasuke-kun. Ino made a good argument on the date idea and I thought it was too but with someone else instead of Naruto. They mysteriously disappeared with money on the table for the 2 bowls of ramen right after that comment" and turned back to the boys, watching as they seem to be in a deep conversation.
"Did Naruto seem fazed by the notion of being on a date with Sasuke?" Sakura shook her head
"He laughed and said that Sasuke would rather date us instead of him"
"And what was Sasuke's reaction to all this other than disappearing"
"I don't know actually, I wasn't paying attention much after Ino blurted out the date part. Except that Naruto took Sasuke's bowl and Sasuke didn't get mad like he usually would"
"So before Sasuke would of?"
"Sasuke-kun would of knocked his lights out if Naruto tried to steal his food of anything"
"Hmm"
~Meanwhile~
Sasuke dragged Naruto far so no one would hear. Naruto sighed when Sasuke finally let him go and turned to his dark haired roommate, crossing his arm over his chest.
"What" Naruto said in a bored tone
"Don't go blabbing to everyone about what happen yesterday"
"Why not, I thought it was funny"
"It's not funny, it was embarrassing"
"What's the big deal, Sasuke? It's not like its true anyways and who would believe that you were on a date with me, I certainly didn't" Ok that stung Sasuke a little more than he thought it would.
"It's just; I don't want people to get the wrong idea, ok"
"Thought you didn't care what people thought"
"I don't but think about it, Naruto: it's a miracle that Sakura and Ino are ok with the thought of us being on a date but what about the other hardcore fangirls?" You could see a light bulb going off in the blonde's head "If they heard about it, I think they won't be as lenient as Sakura and Ino, you get what I'm saying?"
"I'll be dead before I walk out my door?" Sasuke nodded as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"We'll just keep it between us, ok, you, me, Sakura and Ino since I don't think they'll say anything to the other girls"
"What if they do?" Naruto asks, looking towards Sakura a little worried on what might happen to him if the girls say anything. Sasuke looked at Naruto and felt his chest ache just a little at the expression on the blonde's face and stepped closer, nudging him. Naruto turned his head back to Sasuke.
"If it makes you feel better, I'll have a talk with the girls" Naruto's eyes lit up and the ache in Sasuke's chest turned into a flutter.
"Really?" Sasuke smiled and nodded.
Naruto laughed "Ok then"
"Let's get back, we still have to have lunch first then finished our afternoon missions" Sasuke started to walk off but Naruto's hand on his shoulder stopped him and turned.
"Ramen?" Naruto held his hands out, begging with wide puppy dog eyes staring back at Sasuke. Sasuke, having being hit full forced with that look before and knows the power behind those blues, stepped back and turned his head so he can keep his composure and stick with his decision.
"Nope, not today" and kept turning his head when Naruto came into his view, trying to change his mind.
"Nope, not gonna happen, Dobe" Sasuke walked away with his eyes closed back to where Sakura and Kakashi stood.
"Stubborn Teme" Naruto pouted and followed Sasuke who open his eyes and turn back to the blonde.
"You're stubborn too but I'll make you a deal" Naruto stopped. "If you stop bugging us on getting ramen every meal of every day and behave until next week, I'll treat you to as much ramen as you want" Naruto drooled at the thought and then smiled.
"Really, you mean that?"
"Only if you stop bugging then yes" Sasuke turns and is about to keep walking but-
"Thank You Sasuke! I promise, I swear to stop bugging! Yay!" Naruto jumped on Sasuke's back and nuzzled his neck while squeezing him in a hug. Sasuke, knowing it would happen, suppressed his smiled and pretended to be mad.
"Hey get off! Get Off Naruto!" and swung around and around trying to dislodge the blonde off his back but at the same time relished in the feeling of being appreciated.
Sakura and Kakashi watched in amusement at the two boys as Sasuke tried to get Naruto off his back and Naruto holding tight and nuzzling his neck and back.
"Ah, I get what you meant Sakura" Sakura look to their sensei "They are really close, like best friends but I don't think they know it yet" Kakashi turned and walk away, leaving Sakura to turn back to the boys, smiling.
"They do, they just won't admit it to anyone else" Sakura whispered as she too left to follow Kakashi.
Sasuke stopped and looked to the 2 leaving. Making sure their back is turned, Sasuke turned his head to where Naruto is still nuzzling and held Naruto's legs to his side as he allowed the blonde to nuzzle his cheek for a few seconds. Squeezing Naruto's leg to let him know he can get down, Naruto nuzzled one last time and climbed off, smiling at his dark haired roommate before he too left. Sasuke watched as Naruto caught up with Sakura and Kakashi with a small smile.
'I don't care what people think but I'll be damn if I let anyone else see our moment, it belongs to us and only us' Nodding to himself, Sasuke jogged to catch up as well and ruffled Naruto's hair when he did and got yelled at for it.
'Our moment and only our moment'
OOOOO
Lunch passed, afternoon came and that saw to the 3 Genins lounging about in the forest around the village, waiting on their sensei who said he'll be right back.
Sakura sat on the ground leaning against a tree while Sasuke sat leaning on another tree across from her with Naruto laying on the grass with his hands behind his head and chewing on a blade of grass nearby.
However;
Unknown to Sakura, the 2 boys on the ground floor are actually clones and the originals are asleep in the tree high above. I do believe they are sleeping away their full stomachs as they ate too much during lunch and will be of no use if they don't nap it away while they wait.
Of course Sakura knows nothing of this and so started a conversation with the boys below:
"What do you think he meant when he said 'Tiger' earlier? Is that code word for something or a pet name of an animal? Sasuke"
"Hn" grunted
"Naruto"
"I think he meant a pet that we have to locate and retrieve for a distressed owner"
"Very good Naruto, you figured it out" Kakashi said, appearing near Sakura. 'Naruto' and 'Sasuke' stood up and brushed away any dirt from their clothes.
"Now, get the real guys down here and we can start" Sakura whipped her head at Kakashi then back at the 'boys' who are smiling and did the release hand sign, poof away. When the puff of smoke cleared did the boys jump down and Naruto waved while Sasuke stretched a little.
"Those were clones? How come I didn't sense it?" Sakura said a bit miffed that she didn't know and crossed her arms.
"You were ahead of us and didn't notice" Naruto said as he yawned and stretched. Sasuke nodded and turned to Kakashi.
"So Kakashi-sensei, who's Tiger"
"Your next mission" and tossed a bag to Sasuke. Sasuke caught the bag and open it up as Naruto walked over and looked over Sasuke shoulders to see what's in the bag.
"Eh?"
"It's communications equipment. You will need it for this mission so put them on" Kakashi told his crew and pulled out his book to read while waiting, not giving any more instructions on the equipment.
Not needing to be told otherwise, Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto took each one and put it on: an ear piece that connects to a voice communicator around the neck. Sasuke adjusted Naruto's just like Naruto adjusted Sasuke's and Sakura watched with a little smile at the two.
'So cute' Sakura thought and when the boys turn to her, she gave a bigger smile to them and turned away when Naruto blushed and Sasuke turned pretending he did no such thing.
"So, this mission is in fact locate and retrieve a pet. The owner is of course in distress about her lost pet and will pay a generous amount if we return her pet quickly as possible and without harm. Last known location is 23 degrees southeast of here. She is fast and well resourceful as this is not the first time she went missing. You 3 are on your own on this one, I'll be trailing behind just to obverse and once your target is captured, we'll head to the Hokage's Office. Ready?" The 3 nodded. "Go."
All 3 took off together in the direction Kakashi gave them, testing their communications and once all is working, Sasuke took lead. However they failed to do one thing:
"They didn't even ask what kind of pet they'll be looking for" Kakashi sighs and shakes his head, picking up the bag and attaches the last of the comm. to his ear and neck.
OOOOO
Once they were far enough from Kakashi, Sasuke halted everyone and shuts off his radio, gesturing to the other 2 to do the same.
"Ok, now that Kakashi is far enough back we'll plan what needs to be done. Sakura, use your chakra to scan the area for a small animal and when she's located any, Naruto you'll send out scouts to each and all to confirm whether it's a wild animal or domestic. I'll lead and both of you will alert me if you know for sure which pet it is"
"Sasuke, Kakashi-sensei didn't say what kind of pet we are looking for" Sakura said.
"I noticed and we didn't ask either. So we are going to figure this out on our own and to do so we need both of you working together, ok?" Sakura and Naruto nodded.
"Good, start now and we'll keep going the direction Kakashi said and wing it from there" Naruto started laughing.
"If they told me that one day Sasuke Uchiha will be winging a mission, I'd laugh so hard in their faces. Come on then, wing man, let's get to it" Clapping Sasuke on the back and nodding to Sakura, Naruto got ready. Sasuke counted off 3 fingers and when it got to 1, all three turned their radios back on and headed out.
Sasuke lead the way through the tree tops.
Sakura spread out her chakra to scan the area as far as her chakra can let her.
Naruto made clones to each and every location pointed out by Sakura.
Kakashi stayed far behind, observing and studying each Genin
"There!" Sakura yelled.
"It's Fast!" Naruto clones yelled.
"Don't lose it" Sasuke yelled.
So all 3 were in pursuit of a fuzzy red blur zig zagging the forest floor trying to dislodge the 3 from following it. Under brushes, looped trees, jumped over streams but it was of no use, they were gaining on it.
Suddenly a sharp turn and it doubled back but one of Naruto's clones was ready to catch it as it jumped.
"Yes!" Naruto yelled and fisted pumped the air. The cat tried to swipe a claw at the clone's face but the clone scratched the right area and the cat went putty in its arms, purring.
"You must be Tiger, great to meet you" the clone said.
"You caught her Naruto, great job!" Sakura said when the 3 stopped in front of the clone holding the cat. Naruto stepped closer and petted the cat, earning a purr. Picking up the cat up from the clone, Naruto released the jutsu and it puffed away, while still petting the cat as she cuddled with Naruto.
"Aw, she's so cute" Sakura cooed and scratched under the cat's neck.
"Great work everyone" Kakashi appeared having seen the whole process and is very impressed.
"How did you know it was a cat?" Kakashi walked over and leaned down to see the cat better or more like the little bow clip on its left ear.
"Teamwork" Sasuke said.
"Plus you said pet and so far this is the only pet I picked up on my scans" Sakura added.
"Scan?" Kakashi straighten up when he confirmed it's the right cat.
"Yeah, Sakura used her chakra to scan the areas we passed when you told us the location and I checked out every single one with my clones as scouts" Naruto said quietly as the cat is now snoozing in his arms.
"Very impressive work guys" 'Almost Chunins levels too' "Well, let's head back and give the owner the good news. After this you all deserve to have the rest of the day off but tomorrow, there will be a lot more to do then we did today" Kakashi told the crew and they all walked out of the forest with smiles and smirks of satisfaction.
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