The old decrepit three story building looked like it was about to fall under the weight of the six people who stood on the roof focusing on every way to them around the snowy landscape. The west slowly moved up to a higher peek and the south moved down a deep cliff side as we all peered over from a small hill hidden in a small set of trees but it was wide open.
No real way to hide and get closer but we were close enough for me to see that they were all on the roof and none were hidden inside.
Deciding to split again as they may not know about the other three.
Kakashi was going to go to the princess in hopes she is still alright and protect her but before he made a thick mist cover the area as they know we can do that and give the others a chance to split up and stay hidden.
The mist quickly moved from the treeline as it shifted towards them alerting them all.
Hiding in it I moved around the building, Asuma headed to the north side as Choji and I headed south, Shikamaru and Ino stayed on the east side but moving closer to the middle to be there if needed.
They know about me and Choji so we will be the distraction as Asuma hits them from behind, we ran in and Choji tossed a giant shuriken to show where we were but we continued to run so we are not a target. A man's chakra moved from the east to face us and started to mold some chakra while lightly nudging the other man that was facing this way as the others tried to keep there position.
Kunai shaped Ice spikes came at us in a wide arch, as they appeared in the mist I moved in front of Choji and used my water to block, I stopped all from hitting us besides one that lightly scratched my leg and we started to move again but I could feel Asuma about to jump up from the other side so I pulled out paper bombs attached to Kunai and threw them at the ice man.
One guy blocked them with his own as it blew up in the sky making a few others move our way including the sexy women as I felt her shift closer to the edge.
Just before Asuma jumped up two men on the east side jumped into the mist with no fear while the man molded chakra again sending two big polearm like ice shards at us as we jumped out of the way just in time as they were hard to see and they embedded into the ground with speed.
We continued to move around when I could feel one of the two that jumped down mold chakra in the mist as they headed towards us knowing where we were, Asuma was now on the roof as he moved around fast but I could feel from here the women just ignored him as she leaned more over the side, so he was just fighting three.
The fog was starting to get clearer without Kakashi as I saw the one molding chakra head our way out of mist, pulling his hand to his mouth he was about to spit something at us when he froze mid run. Shika caught both men in spot and Ino ran in as she appeared out of the mist and Choji turned to help his friends. I looked up, the mist disappearing at an alarming rate.
The women who was leaned as far over as she could spotted Choji as I watched her eyes follow his moves before they landed on me as I looked up and a small smile crossed her face.
She was looking for me personally, I felt so happy about that.
She tossed Kunai at me as she jumped down making me bound backwards a couple times moving me from the others. She landed in front of me as the mist was moved down to our waists and just our legs were unseeable.
She had both swords drawn as she walked towards me slowly like we were alone in the world.
"I was waiting for this rematch"
"Oh, really?" I said in a flirty tone making her a little flustered. She ran at me as I ducked under a swing and blocked the other with my water, I jumped back again as she swung out, we started to move towards the steep cliff side as she moved me farther from the others.
She went to jab me with her right as she swung her left, I jumped up and my feet lightly landed on her left sword and I quickly stuck my chakra to it like a tree before I kicked backwards pulling it from her hand as I continued in a circle having it head towards her head, she ducked as she spun and moved away making me turn it into a back flip.
Kicking it into the air mid flip before I landed on my feet, the sword spinning as I caught it in the air and held it perfectly a big smile on my face that I just did that. "Hmm" my smile turned into a smirk as I spun it in my hand "nice" I mumbled as it was so very light even if it looked heavy.
She lightly glared at me as she moved her remaining sword to her center and took a whole new stance. I spun it again as I looked down at it, I am better at hand to hand but I was so glad I took a couple sword classes. She ran at me and I blocked as we got into a real sword fight, she was better at it then me so I was mostly on defense but the smile did not leave my face because I was having so much fun, making her look at me in a way I could not understand.
I was in the zone I forgot about watching the others when our swords locked and we pressed into each other, my face came so close to hers as we used our strength to push each other "damn, of course you smell good" I mumbled, shocking her and giving me a moment as I spun her sword away from her and I went to slash out but she jumped back in a flip and got some space.
Her cheeks were a little red and seemed flattered before she shook her pretty head and glared.
We moved back into it and it felt like I was dancing with her when I felt him and her eyes landed behind me, I shoved chakra into my feet as I ducked just avoiding the big sword as it moved above my head before I pushed off and flew into the air and spun to face him tossing her sword down the cliff side hoping it gets lost. I pulled out many Kunai and whipped them at them but they moved out of the way and stood back to back unhurt.
As I descended she gave a glance to her boyfriend as I threw down a smoke bomb with speed and made three clones as my feet hit the ground in a roll to avoid some kind of projectile. My clones circled the smoke and tossed Kunai at them as they blocked them listening to the sounds around them. I watched their swings and tried to get in some shots but they were completely on perfect defense and it was hard to get a real shot in.
Snapping me out of it and making me jump out of the smoke as Choji was headed for me fast, I watched as his spiky ball form ran into my smoke making my clones poof away and I watched as the two of them went flying over the snowy cliff side, sprawled out like stars as they spun, their weapons went flying.
I watched as they vanished a stunned look on my face as it reminded me of a cartoon and a small giggle escaped my lips as Choji stood up in normal form. My laugh started to come out as I know they will be fine, Ninja's are a squishy body and yet they can fall for miles and never get hurt.
Choji smiled at my joy as I faced him, I moved passed him and patted his shoulder in thanks as we headed to Shika and Ino who I could see clearly pretty far from me, we had really moved far from the building.
The two men were tied up at the feet of them and I looked towards the building as a few pieces of dust fell off the sides, Asuma was walking from inside it heading towards them, I sat down in the cold snow when I got next to them and Asuma chatted with the men. He also had that skill of getting information from people without them knowing as my smile slowly grew and wrapped my arms around my legs.
They continued to say how he would not get anything out of them and yet they gave us everything we needed and they call me dumb.
They gave a few snide remarks that we wont be able to take down Aio and his two strong underlings and talked about how we wont find them but we already knew.
I heard a cracking noise as I looked behind me we all watched this place slowly crack as pieces were falling. We all got quiet and watched the three story building collapse under its own weight as it fell and dust and snow blew up from the bottom, it was rather cool looking.
I did not get to rest long as we all ran off towards the X lost in the biggest mountains in the land of snow, it will be a long run as we moved in silence.
My black shirt was riding up making me realize the top I wore under it was really better then this, Ino looked my way with a small inquisitive smile as I adjusted it "I think it is to loose for movement" I mumbled and she nodded as she checked out my outfit.
"You do look more like a ninja in it"
"Says the girl who wears purple" Shika spoke up from in front of us making me smile.
"What I can't also look good" she yelled out making me chuckle more as her glare faded and she smiled at me "I love purple" her eyes scanned my hair before we locked eyes "such a pretty color" I smiled at her taking it as a compliment for my eyes.
We started to move to higher ground as we made our way up the start of the mountains and I watched the cloudy sky as the sun slowly moved with us. Moving to an open area I got a good look and we were getting so high I could see far and wide of the snowy world looking so beautiful, such a amazing sight.
Moving I could see two tips disappearing into the clouds we still had a long way to go as we moved on a big plateau heading for a gap between them when I felt the chakra head our way as I called out and we all stopped moving. Two men stood standing on some rocks on both sides of the gorge.
The man on the right looked at us with a cocky smile as he sat down and swigged on something he was drinking, his legs hanging over the side as he adjusted his big dark gray coat with fur on the hood before he waved the bottle at us in front of his head that was covered in a beanie like hat "I was wondering if you would show up here" he laughed out taking another swig.
Looking at the second as he stood in a graceful but proper way his hand on a small dagger hanging from his small rope belt as it held his heavy black cloak shut. His dark black hair almost covered the dark eyes that stared at us with caution unlike his teammate. Both chakras were strong but looking at them I don't think one of them is Aio, must be the underlings we were told about.
"They seem to know where they are going" The calm one spoke up "almost right to us"
The other one stood up with a sigh "we must have some stupid followers" before he chugged what was left and tossed the bottle near us, no one moved as it smashed on the ground in front of us as he smirked before he jumped down about twenty feet away the snow poofing as he landed into it and not on top before he took a lazy stance while looking at us like we were nothing.
The world was calm for one second and then all at once the one slammed his hand into the ground as the other turned his hand at us from up top to rock and a powerful wind knocked me backwards as lightning that did not hurt but hit me confusing my mind for a moment as I came to in a snow bank.
Ino was beside me as the electric buzz faded while we stood up.
Asuma moved in so fast his fist weapons glowing with chakra. We went to move back in but both Ino and I were knocked back again, the wind was so strong this time snow got down my pants making me cold. Looking over it was just us, Shika was squated as he tried to get someone into his shadow as Choji watched and Asuma tried to get in close with the cocky one.
We quickly got on our feet as the wind blower pulled out his small dagger and headed to Asuma with such grace he turned on us again and moved his hand up as again some wind knocked Ino and I down keeping us out of the fight, "fuck" I mumbled sitting back up. He did not even need hand signs for that.
Asuma got close to the lighting one as his fist knocked the wind out of him but lightning ran through him like Asuma stuck his weapon in a plug making him jump back looking a little startled.
Choji stayed in front of Shika when we tried to get up again and he blew us back into the stupid snow drift making Ino make a loud noise "fuck" I tried to move the snow around me but it was not as easy as water before I got up and pushed my chakra into my feet when his hand was back on us I dug it into the ground as the wind blew around me but I stayed standing, Ino getting up and following my move.
He shot to boosts of wind at us but we stayed still before Ino pulled tossed weapons at the wind guy as she moved next to the boys. I ran in close water covering my fists as it spun around with such speed and they noticed with a small glance as I came in fast to the wind guy and Asuma joined me as we headed to him quickly. We were almost in range when the cocky one stood in front of him and I was blown back again as lightning went through me, blocking my vision for a second.
I was glad that I electrocute myself pretty frequently.
Asuma was blown back also and we both landed on our feet watching the wall of Electricity move in a dome around both of them, it blocked the weapons and kept us at bay. He did some hand signs and out of the dome came three lighting shaped wolves, one headed for Choji one to Asuma and one to me. Choji got hit and was down for a second as I tried to dodge but it would not stop following me so I dropped my water in case and let it hit me once I saw Choji getting on his feet albeit a little shaky.
It hurt slightly but I stayed on my feet and covered my hands again ready to get back in. I watched as they both easily avoided everything, the shadows, the weapons, Asuma and I are close fighters and that sucks we can't hit the lightning guy so I focused on the other.
Peering at Shika I moved near them as I tossed some Kunai at the cocky one to get him to back off from Asuma for a second before I dropped a Kunai next to him, I ran in doing hand signs and my whip was in my hand, He tried to blow me back again as I paused and stuck myself he moved from me with such grace he could be flying, when my whip went to hit his leg he paused just out of reach and did some hand signs.
In the same second a ball of wind surrounded my head as it dug into my shoulders with such pain and I noticed I could not breath as I dropped to the ground but I could tell what I wanted to do was successful. Shika noticed and moved his shadow up the wire attached to my body from the kunai and used my whip to get real close, so the wind guy was now stuck in place.
I tried to calm myself down as I could not breath and could not hear and barely see with my eyes. Moving my hands to it I cut them slightly, covering with water I tried to cut into it but it was not working as I was starting to panic, as smoker I can't hold my breath as long as I should.
I felt the lighting go through me again, this wave did not hurt but I could tell it was made to confuse as my vision started to see black spots.
Suddenly the pointy tip of Asuma's blade appeared just under my eye and poked my face slightly and the wind bubble literally popped, I could feel the spot start to bleed as I tried to catch my breath, he had already got between us between the electric one and I was glad to see the other was still trapped but his friend made sure to protect him from everything they could throw at him.
Shika's chakra was slowly fading he wont be able to hold him to long.
Standing up a little shaky, I looked and thanked Asuma who nodded at me, smoke still in his mouth making me smile, unsure how he can do that.
This man had an impenetrable electric shield while keeping us at bay with fucking harry potter style wolves we need to avoid. If you can get passed the shield if you touch him he can give a small electric shock and he was pretty fast. My water fists are completely useless and my whip will only get me hurt making me step back and think.
Shika scratched his noise making the other do it to and I could not help but smile at that.
Ino could not switch with the one in the shadow for some reason and the other would not stop moving so she hung back and made sure to protect Shikamaru while Asuma and Choji tried to attack one or the other.
I decided to be an annoyance instead.
With a smirk I moved along the edges of this plateau gathering snow into balls and I just started to throw them at him. I continued to move around them in a spot across from the guys. Snow balls were easy to make and he dodged them well, unlike Kunai I wont run out of snow.
They did not speak up and were kind about it but it was obvious they have no idea what I was trying to do.
I just wanted to make his head turn once in a while making sure I stayed directly in a line to Asuma.
He needed to dodge everything I threw so I just continued to move looking like I was moving with no point. He needed his real attention to the jonin and to free his friend from Shika so he started to just forget about me.
That was when I started to fill the snowballs with my spikes.
Making a few I went and threw them all at once the second he needed to avoid Asuma and they got embedded into his back with strength as he winced and glared at me. But looking back gave Choji an opening to try and squish him like a fly in his big hands, I quickly mind fucked him as he went to move out of the way and that gave Asuma an opening to take out the calm one.
Choji touched him and got electrocuted but it Freed Shika and Ino to fight this one now, he was only down for a second as they blocked the path to him as he slowly stood.
One down as we moved into a small semi circle and surrounded him, he was about to say something with a smirk when a loud noise was heard through the mountains. I backed up keeping an eye on him I slightly looked down the cliff side, I could see a small poof of snow way near the bottom. We were very far away but the air was clear and it stood out.
He rolled his eyes "there is more of you?" he was clearly out numbered but he was not scared, he was even half drained of chakra trying to keep Asuma at bay.
I wondered if that was Kakashi and where this Aio was as I backed up more just to keep an eye down there when the noise happened again and a small amount of snow fell off a small peak not far away, glad it did not turn into an avalanche.
Asuma peeked my way and nodded at me, I understood it as I should check it out.
I am the odd man out of this group but he did not treat me like I was useless.
I was about to run off when the biggest smile cross my face as I pulled out my snowboard "Is that what I think that is" the enemy mumbled as I dropped it on the ground "I heard one was stolen" he stared at me "I wanted one" he glared at me and looked like he was about to steal it back but Asuma blocked his way to me.
I guess he knows that bastard from last time.
I stood on it and pushed chakra into it, it moved forward as I fell on my ass making a few giggles emerge from not only me, the enemy just scoffed with a bit of a laugh.
Understanding I stood on it and stuck my chakra to it before lightly pressing I moved forward with a tiny bit of speed before I jumped over the cliff side and fell far and landed onto some soft snow, I was nervous at first and started to go too fast so I turned to stop but I just moved sideways, I was not used to this.
I lightly moved back and forth getting my bearings when the noise occurred again.
I got serious and just headed straight for the area, going so fast while boosting it with chakra I was going the fastest I have ever gone and it was amazing, the very steep mountain side made this the craziest snowboarding experience of my life.
The faster I went the bigger my smile.
Halfway down I stopped pushing in chakra so the sound of the motor stopped and I could get closer quietly as I wont lose my speed.
I flew over a few jumps and got some good air, being a ninja made this so much easier with my muscle and flexibly I was moving the way I always wished I could.
I just smiled as I moved back and forth just enjoying this time, a small giggle escaped my lips.
Getting closer I could see it was Kakashi and by the looks of it a women, I was to far to truly see but I saw him duck and roll as the women turned her back to me, I noticed a perfect spot as I came in fast and squatted slightly getting ready for a jump. I flew off the hill straight for her as I flipped my board in my hands and went to bring it down onto the back of her head, she turned slightly to late as I smashed her in the side of her face.
"Player number two has entered the game" I mumbled with a smile as I slid onto my feet as I landed, my board flying from my hands and she went face first into the ground, slightly afraid I broke it but I focused on the women with a quick glance around.
The area was cleared of snow the brown brush of grass in most of this area was all that could be seen, the two tiny trees that unfortunately was in the area were splintered to nothing.
Kakashi looked at me as she stood up while grabbing the back of her now bleeding head "that was quiet an entrance" he joked at me making me smile at him while she glared at me.
She fully stood up, some blood from the side of her mouth, her half buzzed hair hung long on the right side. Unsure if it was paint or tattoos, two black lines showed under her pretty gold eyes and a circle spot under her mouth. She wore a full body black suit, a small gray tube top sat over it on her small chest and a thick brown wrap around her waist slightly looking like a skirt.
She stood with pure intimidation I was impressed and when she flashed her chakra it was so strong with bloodlust that I had to glare at myself because I started to shake.
"This is Aio" Kakashi spoke up making me look at her confused.
"Man I thought Aio was a guy"
Then she glared at me with everything "I am a guy" he spoke as he wiped away the blood, his voice was deeper then I thought and I just stared at him shocked.
"I am so sorry" I actually meant it.
My eyes kind of landed on his lower half as this jump suit was tighter then Guys but that really pissed him off "fuck off pervert" that made the biggest proud smile cross my face, for some reason that made me so happy but it pissed him off even more.
He used one hand and did three fast signs before huge balls of water came at me quickly, he hated me.
I barely dodged as it was too quick and one splashed just by feet as it burned me, it was incredibly hot. Making me slide and stop and head back the other way avoiding another, boiling water worried me but his focus on me gave Kakashi an opening.
Kakashi chased him slightly and they moved so fast as I backed up and picked up my snowboard without my eyes leaving them and slid it back into my scroll, by feeling it it seemed fine but I don't want it destroyed like the trees. I watched as two people sized balls of water splashed into each other, kakashi's was normal water but he at least blocked the other, sadly the splash back slightly hit me and burned parts of skin under my shirt.
I wonder if boiling water was a hard thing to do.
He went and made Kakashi duck before he did a hand sign and slammed his hand down as a double wave of hot water spread out and came at me. We both ended jumping up in the air to avoid it but he was on me so fast and I went flying backwards just barely avoiding the wave as the splash of water burned my toes again as I slid backwards in the grass. But Kakashi was in front of me blocking the obvious chain attack he was about to inflict on me.
He made slurs about us being leaf ninja and how it was stupid we were here as this was not our land, it made me think for a second but the princess did hire us. I am now a mercenary? Nothing-alien-ninja-mercenary, what is next?
He was so angry that we ruined his carefully made plans and how long he has been patiently waiting to start it. He ran at Kakashi and I swear he growled.
I moved farther back, so he is it, once he is down this is over.
Aio was behind Kakashi so fast but he moved just as quickly blocking his physical attack with a Kunai before shoving it into his side but Aio just turned into an exploding clone of boiling water.
Kakashi moved real fast to get out of the splash zone but I was unsure if any of it landed.
They had moved a bit to fast for me but I saw him move under the ground as he headed my way, I jumped back and pointed and Kakashi quickly moved and slammed his hand to the ground and it moved like water in a big land wave making Aio stop moving under the ground for a moment before he started to chase me again underground making me jump around and move my water to my ankles just in case making me pause to let him grab me.
He cut his fingers but then exploded again, my feet were covered in my own water so it did not hurt me but it made him grow from water behind Kakashi, he went to stab Kakashi but the real one was behind Aio as both slashed out at the same time as the clone dispersed and Kakashi jumped backwards to avoid water but this time there was blood.
He glared at his blood and did some fast handsigns he started to grow as I jumped back worried and Kakashi stepped back before he exploded, I watched as tons of water flew out and went to cover this whole area as I went to jump away but I knew I wont make it away as I went to try and block what I could with my water.
I was suddenly in the blackness of Kakashi's dome but this time Kakashi stood next to me "oh your in here this time" I said with a small joke in my tone.
He nudged my arm and I watched his chakra flash and he moved underground just like Aio did but it made me smirk when an idea hit me and I made a clone to look like Kakashi as the dome slowly fell apart, glad to know he is not trapping me this time.
Aio glared at me and my clone as I took a fighting pose and Kakashi slid his hands in his pockets, he was already mad we avoided his big attack as it shortened his chakra but the casual Kakashi made this weird guy growl again, he was about to run at us when the real Kakashi pulled him into the ground with just his head sticking out as I tossed Shuriken at him, it got close and slightly cut his neck drawing some blood.
Kakashi was behind him and went to get his head when he vanished. I was unsure how he got free but I could see his chakra from behind me as I hit the dirt when bubbles of boiling water came at me, then I rolled onto my back as I blocked the last with my water but it covered me like water does moving over my own and splashing my chest and abdomen making me hiss in pain.
I quickly got up but Kakashi kicked him into the air before he was again behind him in the air while kicking him again, I recognized this move and I tossed down all my left over spikes where the guy will land and backed up.
A few more fast moves before Kakashi was above him and Kicked him in the chest so hard making Aio fly to the ground with such speed and force as he landed on my spikes while making a big creator.
Kakashi landed between us with his back to me while Aio slowly rolled over while shaking, my spikes deep in his back and a couple fell out making him bleed, Kakashi moved fast as I turned away, I am still not good at this as I cringed while his chakra faded.
I did not face him as he walked towards me "can you walk back to the city?" I was unsure how long he had his eye out, he made a noise and said yes as he moved next to me and sat down on the grass. "Is she okay?" I sat next to him and he nodded with a yawn.
"Ya, I ran into him after I found out she was fine" I nodded and told him about the two way up near the clouds, he was about to get up but I told him it was almost over when I left.
"This is over now" I mumbled as I lied down and watched the cloudy sky he joined me looking tired as very weak snow started to fall around us.
"So you got to use your snowboard"
I smiled and spoke wistfully "ya, it is awesome, you need to try it"
"Maybe later" I nodded as the sun was maybe an hour from sunset.
"This is a long interesting day" I mumbled as I pointed to the sky at a cloud that looked like a small dick as I giggled like a child, he made a noise like something caught in his throat, I enjoyed this mission for some reason as I smiled at the falling snow in the quiet for a moment before I heard his small icha giggle making me look his way but his mask was in the way unsure what caused it.
I ended up leaning on my arms and looked at his face, his eye spotting me with a smile before it completely closed "I wont say it" he spoke looking half asleep as I stared the snow fall before I understood and I started to laugh as I stuck my hand out in the falling white stuff, he giggled with me as I lied back and did not say another word.
I could see the others from here as they came near the bottom of the mountain jumping like fleas and were headed our way. I slowly stood and moved to the feet of Kakashi "they are here" he opened his sleepy eyes and sat up as I reached my hand out and he took it.
Ino saw we were slightly burned and was excited to try her hand at it but I told her most of mine is under my clothes and I can't strip out here.
So she got me to agree to let her heal me when we get back to the snow village, there was no way I would say no as the burning feeling sucked.
We made it back just after nightfall, everyone of us so tired and she let us stay in the same rooms and got her cooks to start cooking again. Kakashi just grabbed an apple and headed to his room, I was almost tempted to join him as was the others until we smelt the amazing food perking us up.
She was glad we fixed the problem and handed a big package of money to Asuma who will give it to the Hokage and then she will pay us as they get a cut.
After I was full I hit my room and stripped again even to lazy to turn on the light and just passed out.
It was a nice morning and they all ate, I barely touched the food but I downed five cups of her coffee, she had a fancy kind where they ground it and then made it carefully one mug at a time, she had a person just for fucking coffee and I thought I made a good cup.
We left once the sun was fully up but we had a while to run and I think we all just want to go home.
I don't mind the snow but the kids hated it, the men however did not have one complaint so I was unsure if they did or not.
We paused for lunch on a perfect place with some small but steep hills and I pulled out the snowboard now we were free to waste time again, everyone had a turn and I was so glad when Choji fell on his ass just like I did before I explained how to stay on it while moving it.
Asuma did not try but all the kids did as they boosted around even Shika gave it a go, I also took a turn we had a lot of fun.
I did not think Kakashi was going to try but when we started to clean up he pulled it from my hand.
I had already explained how to stand and move so he did it like he was a snowboarder his whole life.
He ended up doing a jump like I did over a small ramp like snow bank as he did a spin in the air "fucking guy is good at everything" I mumbled crossing my arms, Asuma lightly chuckled and agreed.
Kakashi heard me and looked at me with a smile making me smile back, he actually seemed to have fun as he just moved around making my smile bigger.
We made our way back to the boat for a long as ride back to the main land, I remembered as we pulled away and I looked to the land worried, Asuma was nearby and looked my way "did you forget something?"
I nodded with a small ashamed smile "the truck"
I scanned the book shelves quickly, mumbling things under my breath. "Do you need something miss?" the older gentlemen at the counter looked my way at my noises.
I smiled at him and looked around, there was only one other man here "Got anything like Icha icha that is not Icha?" The other man dropped what he was holding and bent down with a red face as the worker looked my way a little stunned.
"No" he spoke up a little nervous.
I sighed and headed for the door "sorry to bother you" I waved as I left, I had spent to long in there.
Walking out into the warm weather, the smell of the ocean was wonderful deciding to head to where I said I was going, the dock towns awesome hot springs. I got close as I walked up the steep hill and paused in front of the big building making me sigh again.
The place was beyond packed, it hurt my head just looking at the chakras as I stood there debating if being clean would be worth going in there.
I turned as I noticed Ino was headed my way "you left for this place like an hour ago, how are you still just standing here?"
I gave a sad look "the place is overly full" I faced the building again.
"Shoot I wanted a bath"
"Ya" I sighed out "you are gonna have to deal with a dirty me as it is not worth it" I turned to walk back towards the inn we will be staying at, she made an annoyed noise but turned and followed me.
We all shared a big empty room, I hated these inns, it was the kind where they had thick and soft mats rolled up sitting on a shelf wall with nothing in the room but at least they were cheaper.
I was wide awake and it was probably like four in the morning as I snuck over the the open windows and moved out to go sit on the two story roof.
The inn sat on a bit of a hill as I looked over the dimly lit town, the moon was bright and almost full in the clear sky from here I could see it reflect on the ocean, the wind was light as I sat in my normal top but still wore the ninja pants.
I just enjoyed it when I felt Asuma shift around, not long after he was suddenly in front of me as he stared at the ocean "morning" he smiled.
"Morning" he looked down at me and shifted over with decent space sitting down.
"Can't sleep?" he asked and nodded "same" he looked at the smoke in my hand and lit his first one of the day.
I never spent much time with him, he is now nothing but Kurenai's guy so we never spoke much before even if he was the first real ninja that was nice to me but because of that we sat in awkward silence.
His smoke moved around on his lips as he looked my way "I found out that even though you saw us in that alleyway no one ever found out, so I wanted to thank you"
I smiled "that is not my place to tell people"
However everyone has known about both of you basically since I got here.
He seems to be as in denial as Kurenai making me hold back a laugh but my smile was big but let them stay there for now, if they are not ready for people to know.
We had a small chat about her and the look in his eyes was the cutest thing, I want someone to love me like that.
Once we stopped talking her up it got awkwardly quiet again.
"Was the old Hokage your grandfather?" I know they had the same last name.
"My father" I was stunned by that as he was quite old, he seemed to notice and slightly laughed.
"He was wonderful" I quietly spoke.
"Ya, he was" I peered at him but I could not see the resemblance easy but Asuma had a nice beard so his face was covered.
Not wanting it to get awkward again I said the first thing that popped in my head.
"What's the most ridiculous fact you know?" I asked trying to start a conversation he looked my way like I was being strange, I prefer this one over the one I used to get.
I just made a small happy noise, I decided to start it "carrots can slowly turn you orange if you eat enough"
He looked at me startled "really?" he gave a small smile and took a breath of his cigarette "for me, it is the fact that an alien just told me that"
I lightly laughed as I watched his cigarette slowly burned away taking a breath of mine before I flicked the ashes off as it sat in my hand "I could never hold a smoke like that"
He smiled my way "I am so used to it, I forget it is there"
"Ah to me it is always impressive when people can do that" after that we held a decent friendly conversation before Kakashi was suddenly next to us.
"Did we wake you?" I asked, he did not answer.
"I think we did" Asuma joked out "I have told him before he should get ear plugs"
"You have them here?" I looked at Kakashi as he took a spot near my feet "seriously get some" Looking at Asuma "I wake him all the time, no matter how quiet I try to be" he just smiled as he looked between us with a strange glint in his eye.
I ignored it but I can see how it sounds like I sleep in the same bed or something, I just watched the ocean and pretended he did not just think that way. Would be an awkward conversation and perhaps that glint was not what my mind went to.
We lightly chatted as we watched the sunrise and I felt like I made a new friend.
We spent the day running besides the moments Choji wanted to eat, I started to feel like I was with Hobbits.
What about second breakfast and elevensis, or even afternoon tea.
I mostly enjoy eating but man that kid loves to BBQ some meat, I found out he carry's it like normal and it gave me an urge to get Hayashi to make one of the food stasis scroll's he has used before for this kid.
We stopped for the night in a second small town and I was happy to be there over sleeping in the woods.
I was able to sneak off and check out the tiny bookstore they have here. This time I walked in and asked the women at the desk but she had no idea what Icha Icha even was so I had to search myself.
I was there for maybe twenty minutes when I finally found something with a dirty but cheesy looking couple on the cover in a weird position.
I almost laughed as the obvious wind blowing the hair and shirt off the man. Giving a small glance I found two pages with dirty moments at least and decided to buy it and read it later if it was even worth giving it to him.
Walking into the bright warm sun I smiled but looked over and saw kakashi down the road as he spotted me, I looked back at the obvious way I walked out of the book store. "Find anything?"
I nodded not wanting him to know as he walked closer "ya, I found a...A..." he paused and stared at me "you know when something happens and you need to figure it out"
He looked down at me blankly "a mystery?"
I nodded "ya that's the word" as I pointed at him with a smile on my face.
He looked at me with actual fondness "sometimes you seem smart and then you say something like that" I just laughed, I nodded at him as I rubbed the back of my head and then we started to walk in step, I was far from hungry as that kid keeps me full so I did not know what to do as me and Kakashi just walked in no real direction.
The next morning was so humid making me run in my shorts as it was just to hot to wear the pants but I was glad to find out I like wearing the normal leaf outfit if I am ever stuck wearing one.
Flying through the forest felt wonderful and like home but I was overjoyed when I saw the big looming gates.
I was almost skipping as we walked into the village Ino and I so excited as we chatted loudly, I felt funny like I was being deeply watched as I gave a quick glance around when I noticed a man way down the left side road.
He was old man with a cane, he was covered in so many bandages making me wonder what happened to him but his chakra and unleaving eyes made me nervous. I faked a smile to Ino and moved so Kakashi and Asuma were blocking his eye line to me as we headed to the Hokage tower.
We were there far to long but I got so much pay and I headed straight home for a shower and bath. I brought the book into the bathroom while leaving it cracked slightly so the steam would not fill up and curl the pages as I made sure to get clean before I put in the plug and switched it to bath as I filled it with my shampoo and got ready for a long sit.
I read as I sat there, hoping it was worth the money.
I read a little over halfway before I got out, got dressed in clean clothes and just flopped on my couch. I finished it quickly as it was thinner then most, It was better then I thought but worse then I hoped.
The plot was weak like a bad porno without much substance hence why it was so thin, the people were boring with no real personality but the sex was pretty good that it almost made me nervous.
Icha really is a gem in its field, way better then this but this was something.
I grabbed a pen, opened to front cover and wrote inside 'this is pure crap, but you need a book break' and on the back cover 'wow you made it to the end, the main man sucks huh but he can find his way around a kitchen, go back to Icha fellow pervert' he will know it was from me.
Passing his place and he was not inside so I smiled, doubt he was hiding as I landed on his windowsill prepared to break in but it was wide open so I quietly snuck in. Landing in his kitchen I walked over and placed the book on his table with a kind smile on my face at the reversal of roles.
I turned to leave when I heard a strange noise, like someone was searching for something.
I peered into the living room and the noise did not fade, I moved fast and quiet looking into his bedroom "hello" I whispered but it did not stop. Walking in I was alone but his bedroom window was open and I leaned over his bed as I peered into the alleyway outside. There was a man there digging into some garbage cans, I smiled feeling stupid and headed back out while giving a glance around his perfectly clean bedroom.
I noticed two framed pictures, I was curious and got closer the first was him, Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke making me smile as I bent over and looked at them, he looked so happy but the kids almost made me laugh, it was a funny picture and really showed their personality and team dynamic.
Peering at the second I actually laughed out loud at the tiny and slightly angry but also bored Kakashi, it was strange to see him with both eyes but he still wore that mask. He looked like he really did not want to be there. My eyes moving to the cute man with the blonde hair and I noticed Kakashi copied him in his other team picture making me laugh again "fucking copy ninja" The girl was the cutest thing before my eyes landed on the boy with the goggles "he must be the one he talked about" I smiled at him.
I was about to stand up when I looked at him deeper and my smile dropped.
I moved closer and picked up the picture.
I don't know why but I feel like I have seen this boy before.
I know I have never seen this picture before but there was something about him. I squinted my eyes trying to figure it out. I just stared when I felt Kakashi land in front of his building making me carefully put it back and head to his bedroom window.
Leaving a book is one thing, snooping is another.
He even moves fast up stairs.
Landing in the allyway I just ran away "why does he use his door and not mine?" Moving onto roof tops now I was far enough away to not be seen if he looked out a window.
I thought back on the boy and it started to just feel like daja vu and maybe that was all it was so I just let it go and my mind focused on the fact I think all of them are dead, I know the boy was and I would have met the girl I am sure, plus the blonde one was damn fine and I think that was the face of the forth, rock ain't perfect.
I paused and looked back at the faces on the stone and it did look like him before my eyes landed in the direction of Kakashi's home even if I cant see it and just looked in sadness.
This man has been through to much, surprised he is still level headed and mostly sane from all of it, then again every ninja is a little strange as Guy flashed by in my mind.
I had a strong urge to go back and hug him and never let go but I just continued on my way.
I bought tons of meat and headed to the training grounds, summing Alaska, we moved around the nearby forest getting better at just being together.
I lied on the ground as she ate next to me before she curled in between my arm and body and we just lied there as I watched the clouds.