Naruto woke up with a yawn, his eyes still shut tight. With some effort he managed to glance at the clock on the nightstand to his right and noted it was already early afternoon. He wasn't really surprised by it, considering how chaotic the past days have been.
Slowly he pushed himself out of the bed and walked to the window, opening it. Down on the streets it was crowded. Shinobi were marching or darting across rooftops. Civilian life for the time being would go on, until the last refugees would arrive. Initially they wanted to send them in waves, but scouts had reported reaver squads in the area.
A frown appeared on his face. 'Refugees will keep pouring in over the coming days. We'll be cutting it damn close.'
Turning around he headed towards bathroom and quickly freshened up before slipping into his comfortable outfit which consisted of dark pants and shirt, which he wore underneath his Hunter's outfit.
A knock on the door broke his train of thought. "Door's open."
Itachi entered the room and saw Naruto getting dressed. "We were wondering when you would wake up."
After strapping the kunai holster on his leg, he gave it one good tug to see If it was in place properly. "Yeah, I needed it. Where are Micheru and Kakashi?"
"Getting a bite to eat, just around the corner. We should meet up with them."
Naruto gave one last glance around the room before gesturing Itachi to lead the way. As they made their way down the corridor towards the staircase, they could see other foreign shinobi moving about. They gave the two shinobi a nod in passing, but otherwise didn't stop to talk.
"When have they been arriving?" Naruto asked.
"All morning. The Kazekage has been getting them settled here." Itachi said as he led them down the stairs.
"Apparently leader-sama has ordered the evacuation of Ame as well. An extra group of shinobi will head this way."
"Good. We'll need them."
They reached the hall and stepped out the front door, where fresh air and a bright sun met them.
Looking around, all shinobi had an air of uncertainty and anxiety about them. The older and more veteran Jonin had a grim look. They had already witnessed war and were better at handling it mentally.
Itachi guided him to the food stand where Micheru and Kakashi were conversing with each other. They noticed the two newcomer and greeted them. "How did you sleep Naruto?"
He smiled and sat down next to his fellow blonde. "Can't complain."
He looked at his teammates. Kakashi, Micheru and Itachi. Despite his initial objections, he was glad to have them along. His gaze lingered on his old sensei for a moment longer, who was talking with Micheru.
Kakashi's decision to let Naruto be free was something he hadn't expected. He honestly was unsure how to feel about it all. The man had still done little to protect him from the abuse or his 'punishment'. He needed time to think about it.
It had also thrown his mind through a loop when he heard that the Sandaime Hokage had specifically given orders to Kakashi, to leave him be. His eye narrowed, how he hadn't seen it before remained a mystery. He had loved the old man. But finding out that the Sandaime hadn't lifted a finger made his blood boil, regardless if it was done in the best of intentions.
"What's our plan for today?" Micheru asked as she looked at her teammates.
His anger slowly evaporated, turning to Micheru he gave a shrug. "Unsure. We'll see if they need our help with preparing."
"Shouldn't we be training?" She asked.
"We could, but I don't think two or three days will change much."
"I think we should familiarize more with the defenses and what to expect." Itachi suggested.
The blonde agreed with his friend. "Kakashi, Micheru, you should head towards the Kazekage and get us connected with their defense grid. We need means to communicate, and where we'll be assigned to."
Kakashi stood up, quickly followed by Micheru. "What will you do?"
He nudged with his head. "We're going to have a stroll around."
Both Kakashi and Micheru looked him but didn't offer a rebuke or remark and left for Gaara's office.
"What do you want to do?" Itachi asked as he too stood up.
"Let's take a look at Suna's defense."
x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x
"-We'll be cutting it very close, Gaara."
Kakashi stepped through inside Gaara's office where Kankuro, Baki and Temari were talking. The anbu guarding the Kazekage had been granted Naruto's team permission to visit.
"What will we be cutting close?" Micheru asked
"The evacuation. With our current estimates, the last refugees will arrive on midday of our last day." Baki's heavy voice rumbled.
"That's…"
"Can't we send them out earlier? And have others go in another wave?"
Gaara shook his head. "Reaver advance parties have been spotted on the route towards the port. We can clear them and start the evacuation, but we'll let them know what's going on."
Kakashi nodded in understanding. It was clear what the problem was. "If you eliminate their ambush, they'll get a whiff of what's going on and reinforce it."
Baki jabbed with his finger onto the map. "We have our best trackers keeping an eye on them. If the current Reaver force won't be reinforced, we can dispatch them prior to the civilian's departure. If we, do it earlier…There's no telling what they'll send to make sure we won't escape."
They all looked at the map, all having the same train of thought. It was Temari who said it aloud. "We need to hold them back until the civilians have safely reached the port."
"So, we need to hold the village for a day and a half?" Micheru asked, looking at each of the room's occupants.
"We just have to give them enough time to reach the port, board our transports and have them gain sufficient distance so that the Reavers can't catch up." Gaara said.
"What about their ability, flashstep?" Kankuro asked, turning to Micheru and Kakashi.
It was Micheru who knew the answer to that. "From what Naruto told me, Flashstep can't pass through solid objects, and is susceptible to traps and barriers. If we make sure that those are in place, they won't be able to send any troops in advance."
Baki gave a satisfied nod. "Good. Then I suggest that we keep a close watch on their scouts and eliminate the threat shortly before our evacuations are under way. It would mean keeping our trackers, and anbu in place, just in case, Kazekage-sama."
"I'll leave these preparations to you, Baki."
With a quick bow, Baki marched out of the office and hastily made his way to the anbu headquarters.
Gaara turned to Kakashi. "How is your team?"
"Well, enough, Kazekaga-sama. What we need now, is to be connected to your defense grid. Communications, etc."
Gaara gave Temari a look. "I'm certain Temari here can help you with that. If you'll excuse me, I have somewhere I need to be."
Temari nudged with her head, beckoning them to follow her.
x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x
After they were officially attached to Suna, the group reconvened at the foot of the wall, towards the end of the afternoon. Kakashi gave the other two a summary of their brief conversation with the Kazekage.
Naruto remained silent and watched with a glazed look at the refugees passing by. Some returned it with a curious look of their own, but otherwise didn't pay them much attention.
The group neared one of the elevators that was attached to the wall. It was the primary way of getting to the top fast. It had enough space for more than a dozen shinobi, along with crates of supplies.
"What are you thinking about, Naruto-kun?" Itachi asked, breaking him from his stupor.
"I'm just thinking…" Naruto slowly said, watching as the chunin in control of the elevator, closed the grated elevator door and sent them up at a comfortably pace to the top. "This entire plan is built around the sole purpose of getting the civilians to safety."
"They didn't choose this life, Naruto." Kakashi began but was interrupted by the blonde.
"-I know, that's not what I meant," He let out a subtle sigh, his non-armored hand sliding through his hair. "That means that our window of retreat is going to be incredibly small, if not downright impossible."
The group hadn't really thought of that and Micheru's eyes slightly widened at the revelation. "That's…" She trailed off.
"Yeah…"
They reached the top of the wall and stepped off. They could see Suna-nin mounting equipment and weaponry to the wall. Others were setting up supply points or medic-hubs.
Naruto leaned on the battlement. A smirk appeared on his face. "Then we should make sure we don't lose."
Kakashi patted the blonde on the shoulder. "And here I thought you lost that optimistic approach."
Naruto shook his head in amusement and instead focused his attention on the refugees that were still arriving, with more coming in from the dune sea. He could make out various kinds of shinobi as well, presumably as guards.
"Exactly. Let's keep our spirits high." Micheru chirped, a wide smile on her face.
The tense atmosphere that hung in the air, since the revelation disappeared and they broke out in light chatter, watching with mild interest at the arrival of more people.
Eventually Kakashi and Itachi decided to head back, leaving behind Micheru and Naruto, both were sitting on top the battlements, their legs dangling over the edge.
"Not gonna lie, I'm slightly scared of what my mom will do, once we get back."
Naruto chuckled, nodding in understanding. "Yeah…That's something I'm dreading as well."
She tapped with her feet against his. "What are you worried about? She basically lets you do whatever you want, as long as it's in the group's best interest."
"She still scares me!" Naruto grinned.
"The fearless 'Orodochi Ghost.' Not so fearless after all."
"Hey, I get scared!"
"You never seem it though." She tilted her head in interest, locking her eyes with his lone one.
He quietly spoke. "You should've seen me in the Taoreta Mori."
A frown appeared on her face. "I heard some bad stories about it. That you've been there before as well."
He broke off the gaze. "It was a difficult choice. It worked out in the end though."
"Is it really haunted?"
His eyebrow quirked; an unspoken question hung in the air.
"Sakura and Hinata." She spoke.
"Ah"
"Is it true though?"
"I don't know if haunted is the right word for it. More like, a resting place that shouldn't be disturbed." He softly said, feeling uncomfortable talking about the forest of the fallen.
As the sun slowly disappeared beneath the dune sea, the floodlights were turned on at the gates, illuminating the area.
Micheru realized he didn't really want to talk about it and instead steered it into a different direction. Something she had been curious about as of late. "How was it, travelling with your old friends?"
A wry smile appeared on his face. "Unbearable." He was only slightly exaggerating. The assignment in Yuki no kuni was at times a major pain in the ass, but for the most part bearable. He was glad though that the return journey had been in relative quiet, leaving him to his thoughts.
Micheru's voice caught his attention once more. "Even with Hinata?"
"Even with…What?" he turned to face her again, he wiggled with his finger. "What a strange question."
She shrugged, trying to look innocent. "I hear things…makes me curious."
He leaned forward, a sly grin on his face. "Is this…jealousy I, see?"
She spluttered, her hands waving around frantically. "N-no!"
Naruto laughed and grabbed her arm, trying to calm her down. "I'm just kidding, Michu-kun."
In response she aimed her free hand for his head, but he leaned forward, ducking underneath it, missing her mark.
"Too slow!"
She smirked and reached for his leg, pulling it upward, sending Naruto falling onto his back. "You were saying?"
He let out a painful laugh but remained in the same position, looking up to the stars that were now clearly visible. "Apparently…nothing."
Micheru followed his gaze and looked up as well. Her mouth slowly opened in awe. The night sky was truly breathtaking.
Naruto's hand inched closer to her arm but was slapped away. His 'counter' failed.
"Don't even think about it!"
"Just you wait." He grumbled in a fake pout.
Micheru slowly slid down from the cover she was sitting on and settled on the ground next to her fellow blonde, her arm wrapped around his. Her eyes were still taking in the stunning view. "It's beautiful…"
Naruto looked at her with curiosity. And only now did he notice that the pupils of her eyes were green. His eye lingered for a moment longer, exploring the rest of her face. He noted how she had an unblemished skin, something he found remarkable, considering her profession. With difficulty he tore away his gaze. "Yeah…"
Together they watched the night sky in a complete but comfortable silence.
x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x.X.x
Kakashi and Itachi quietly made their way towards their hotel room. They hadn't spoken to each other since arriving here, nor had the spent a lot of time together prior. They respected each other's capabilities, but that was as far as it went.
It was Kakashi who eventually broke the silence. "Do you realize that Sasuke is still out for blood?"
Itachi didn't immediately respond and instead looked around the streets. Eventually he spoke. "I know."
"You should stay away from him." Kakashi bluntly answered.
Itachi sharply turned back to Kakashi, his eyes narrowed. "I am aware. You should mind your own business."
"I'm just giving you a heads up. Once the war is over, he's going after you."
Itachi gave a something akin to a shrug. "I know he will."
They neared the hotel and Kakashi pulled the Uchiha to the side of the road. "I need to know why."
"Hatake-san…It doesn't matter what the reasoning behind it was."
"It does! Sasuke thinks it's because of the mangekyō sharingan…" Kakashi narrowed his eye. Anger bubbling underneath the surface. "Did you really kill your own family…Leave Sasuke behind, alone and broken…just for power? Did you kill your parents for something so petty?"
For once Itachi seemed vulnerable. His eyes darted around, as if he was looking for an excuse. His gaze eventually hardened, and he pulled his arm free from Kakashi's grasp. "This is none of your concern."
Itachi slid past Kakashi and walked inside. Leaving Kakashi to watch his retreating back.
The grey haired Jonin sighed. He had always suspected there had been more to the Uchiha massacre. Sasuke had always believed it was because of the mangekyō sharingan, that Itachi had committed the atrocities. But witnessing the Uchiha's behavior confirmed that there was more to it. Was Konoha involved? Had the Sandaime been?
When they got back to Konoha, he would do some more digging. One thing was for sure. Unlocking the true potential of the sharingan didn't require killing clan members. He knew that there needed to be an emotional connection.
He ended his train of thought and followed Itachi inside, trying to focus his mind on other matters.
This was a very short chapter, but one I felt needed to be added. Think of it like a semi/semi/semi-filler. Regardless I hoped you enjoyed it! expect the next chapter to follow in the next few days.