Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Koorikage ❯ Diplomacy ( Chapter 6 )

Welcome back once again. This chapter will be a bit more laid back, as I need the break and I think the characters could use one too. They've pretty much been going non-stop since the start of this thing, haven't they? This one will let me relax a bit for a change while still advancing the plot. Woo!

 

And just as a side note, I always write these notes as soon as I start writing a chapter, and then write the end notes as soon as I finish. Sometimes it can be months in between, so that's why they're rarely if ever related. Haha.

 

 

Chapter Six - Diplomacy

 

Naruto recovered quickly, as he always did. He was out of the hospital within a day and back to training again. Sakura was worried about him because whenever he looked at her he would get a far-off look in his eyes reminiscent of the time Sasuke had escaped for good. Then he would avert her gaze completely. It was very unlike him.

She knew, no matter how Shikamaru tried to help him by rationalizing it, that Naruto felt he had failed somehow in fleeing from Sasuke. It wasn't just that he felt he failed in a mission, but that he'd failed her; failed to uphold that promise from when they were kids that he would never give up on until its realization or his death. She wanted to tell him that it was okay, that she wasn't upset at all and was merely relieved that he was all right, but she couldn't talk to him. Every time she tried he would look at her with those piercing blue eyes that she just knew were barely restraining tears and she would feel a great lump in her throat; by the time she managed to fight past it to speak, he'd already have turned and left.

She'd been spending time in the hospital with Hinata and Shizune. While there visiting Naruto, she'd observed them practicing medical ninjutsu and something inside her made her try it out. With any luck she could develop a skill for it and she could be there alongside Naruto the next time he clashed with Sasuke instead of waiting for him to come back.

As it turned out, she had quite a knack for it. She managed to catch up with what Hinata had learned very quickly and soon surpassed her friend. Even Tsunade had taken an interest in her natural talent and after some convincing had agreed to train her in her extra time. This pleased Sakura greatly, for she enjoyed learning under the older woman and it made her feel like she was truly good at something for once. Ever since her childhood she'd always looked up to someone else - first Ino, then Sasuke, then Kakashi-sensei and then at last Naruto. This was something special that she was good at and could make her own. She initially felt bad about moving in and showing up Hinata, but the smaller girl didn't mind at all. She just smiled and congratulated Sakura on her success, and said she would continue studying under Shizune. She wanted to be a medical ninja for her team and her friends just as Sakura did.

So time passed during all this, and before long it had been five weeks since the return from the mission to Yukigakure. The message that Shikamaru had retrieved off the fallen snow ninja had turned out to be an invitation for the Hokage and whatever entourage she felt was necessary to some sort of festival or ceremony in Yukigakure that would be held at the end of July - now only another week and a half away. That meant that Tsunade and whoever was going with her would have to set out in another three or four days. Sakura assumed that her new mentor would choose several highly skilled shinobi to accompany her, as the message wasn't exactly particular about what this festival was for. Her surprise was great then, when Tsunade informed her that she would be going.

“Eh?” Sakura blurted intelligently. “Why would you want me to go?”

“If I'm going to teach you to be an elite medical ninja, I can't just leave a month-long gap in your training,” Tsunade said. “Like it or not, you've got Shizune's old job until I'm completely satisfied with your abilities.”

Sakura wasn't sure if that was good news or not, and she thought she may have just been told she was the Hokage's new attendant. Having recovered her wits, however, she did not protest. She merely asked who else would be coming along.

“Why, did you have someone in mind?” her teacher asked, smirking.

Sakura was confused. “Excuse me? I…don't understand.”

“I bet you don't,” Tsunade said, still smirking. “Anyway, I haven't yet decided who else will be going. It depends on the state of affairs within the village, who's available and who's appropriate for such a mission.”

“Oh, I see. So you'll be making your decision in the next few days, then?”

“Yes, that's right,” the Hokage said. “I need to observe any candidates and then decide who'd be up for it.”

“Isn't that just another way of saying you're putting it off until the last minute?” Sakura thought. Out loud, she said, “That makes sense.”

“We're done for today, by the way,” Tsunade said. “Excellent work, as usual. You're really coming along. Your chakura control is perfect. I've never seen anyone as gifted as you in that regard.”

Sakura swelled with pride. “Arigatou, Hokage-sama.” She bowed. “I'll be going now.” She turned to leave, but Tsunade called her name just as she was passing through the door.

“Sakura.”

“Hn?” She turned her head to look. Her mentor was wearing a strange, almost amused expression.

“If you think of anyone, let me know.”

“Hai.” She left the office, thoroughly confused.

Normally at this time, she would stop by Ino's family's flower shop, but her friend was currently out on a mission with Asuma and Shikamaru and would probably not be back until the next day. This left her at a loss for what to do. She could go by the academy and visit Chouji, but she'd never gone without Ino and it would feel strange. For a moment she entertained the thought of searching through the current mission register for available shinobi who would be appropriate for the coming venture to the ice country, but the thought of doing her mentor's work for her didn't sit right.

No, there was only one place she really wanted to go, and she told herself she might as well stop fighting it and just go there. After a month and a week Naruto was still not talking to her, and it was frustrating and hurtful and infuriating all at the same time. His stubbornness was maddening, yet she knew he was doing this as some sort of self-imposed punishment on himself, and that tore at her heart. But if he would just stop being such an idiot, he would realize that it wasn't the least bit necessary. She didn't know whether she wanted to yell at him, hug him or beat him over the head with a sledgehammer.

She might settle for all three.

She found him where he always was - training by himself in the woods up and behind the Hokage monument. Hinata, who had always admired him and used to watch him when they were younger, had once told her that he liked to come up here to get away and just train in his own way for as long as he wanted. She had come to see him there several times since, and until recently he'd always seemed glad to see her. That was another part of what made the whole thing that was going on now feel so wrong.

She climbed up the hill and walked through the woods to the clearing where he trained and sure enough, Naruto was there, jumping around over obstacles he'd set up, throwing kunai and shuriken into targets attached to the trees, and practicing every fire and water jutsu he knew. She found an old fallen log and sat on it, mesmerized by his movements. It had been a while since Sakura had seen Naruto train - really train. When they trained as a team he would always hold back, and he hadn't had to go all out on a mission in a long time. Not on any missions she'd accompanied him on, anyway. She was amazed at how far he'd come. And the number of water jutsu he knew was astounding. She knew he'd petitioned Kakashi-sensei to teach him some, but she had no idea he'd learned so many. And more impressive was that the only water around was underground, linked to a hot spring a good five-minute walk away.

For the longest time she simply watched him. It was comforting in a way. This was the Naruto she was used to: determined and giving his all. As soon as she got up to speak to him he would return to that guilty, atoning shell he'd been for the past five weeks.

She knew he was aware of her presence; he'd make a very poor ninja if he wasn't. But still he said nothing and continued with his exercise. He looked so confident when he trained, and it was a shame that would all go away when he stopped. She thought back on all that had happened to make him feel this way, and a painful feeling arose in her gut. For the longest time after Sasuke's betrayal, she'd felt hurt, heartbroken, and even guilty.

But that was all because of things she'd wanted. Things she wished were different. Now, looking out at Naruto, she felt none of these things. She hadn't for some time, truthfully. She'd come to terms with the fact that Sasuke wasn't who she'd wanted him to be long ago. But seeing her teammate so torn up inside over things he had no control over did something to Sakura that she couldn't quite explain. True, she still harbored an agonizing feeling of guilt, but for a different reason than before. And that wasn't it either.

For the first time in her life, Sakura found herself feeling angry with Uchiha Sasuke.

 

-

 

He knew she was watching him; he'd make a pretty pathetic ninja if he didn't, especially since she wasn't really being discreet about it or anything. But he refused to allow it to disrupt his concentration. Running away from Sasuke was the most humiliating thing he'd ever had to do in his whole life, and he'd done it twice in the same mission. It didn't matter what Shikamaru said to try and rationalize it; the fact of the matter was he still ran away. And he'd failed to uphold his promise to Sakura-chan again…

Naruto twirled in midair and hurled another kunai at one of the targets he'd set up. He forced himself to not think about those things for the moment, and just focus on his training. If he couldn't focus, he'd never get better. And if he never got better, he could never fix things.

…

She was just sitting there. Just sitting there, watching him openly. It was more distracting than he cared to admit. He told himself not to pay any attention to her, but he was never any good at not paying attention to Sakura-chan. And the worst part of it was, he really did want to go talk to her, but still felt too ashamed to do so.

He spun once more and threw three shuriken at a target far on the other side of the clearing. They hit it, but not dead on. He growled.

She was resting her chin in her hand, with her elbow on her knees. Her eyes were partially glazed and she had a kind of half-smile on her face. To the casual observer, she probably looked like she was just daydreaming. He had the strangest feeling that she wasn't, though. He'd seen her watch Sasuke in much the same manner back when their team was first formed, and it made him distinctly uncomfortable now because he had absolutely no idea what she was thinking.

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. He stopped moving and started walking over to her. She wasn't going to go away anytime soon, and the only way to avoid talking to her would be to run away, and he was not that cowardly. He would face her, and apologize, and take whatever came after that like a man. Because he was a man, dammit. And Uzumaki Naruto did not run away from anything. Well, almost anything, he reminded himself bitterly.

She didn't straighten up or even shift her position when she noticed him approaching, and that could be a good or a bad thing. Her smile grew wider though, which confused him. Surely she was upset with him, right?

“That was really impressive, Naruto,” she said as he came within casual speaking distance. “You've really gotten better, haven't you?”

“Eh…I guess so,” he said nervously, not looking in her eyes.

“I didn't want to interrupt, so I thought I'd just watch. Hope you don't mind,” she said. She'd sat up straight now and had both hands in her lap.

“Er, no, I don't mind,” he stammered, still looking anywhere but directly at her. “Anou…Sakura-chan…”

“Naruto, how come you've been avoiding me ever since you got back from the hidden snow village?” she came right out and asked. In his surprise he snapped his stare to meet hers for just an instant, and then quickly turned away again. Her friendly tone was gone and replaced with one of…concern? That couldn't be right. But at least she didn't sound angry.

“Well, I…” He scratched the back of his head and fixed his eyes on a leaf on the ground in front of his shoes that had suddenly become very fascinating.

“Naruto,” she interrupted. He heard her stand up and take a few steps over to him. Her feet entered his field of vision and she stopped. He gulped. “Look at me,” she said firmly. When he didn't, she took hold of his chin with her right hand and forcefully raised his eyes so that she held his gaze. She was a couple of inches shorter than him, but at that moment Naruto felt about a foot tall. Words failed him.

“I don't care that Sasuke escaped again,” she stated stiffly. “There was nothing you could have done and you know that. I know that. What I care about most of all is that you and everyone else came back okay. So I want you to stop beating yourself up over it. Do you understand me?” Naruto was shocked. He imagined absently that this must be what it felt like to be scolded by one's mother. Still, he couldn't yet absolve himself of his guilt.

“But…Sakura-chan…” he tried, but found his throat constricting on any additional words.

“But nothing,” she said fiercely. Her voice was rising in volume and he could see the start of tears in her eyes. Not that…anything but that. He'd promised himself years ago that no matter what, he'd never make Sakura-chan cry.

“I can't stand seeing you like this,” she told him. She was fighting to keep from breaking down and he could see it. He was, too. “It's because of that promise you made to me, that I made you make to me…” she trailed off. He opened his mouth to say something, to say that he made that promise because he wanted to, because he wanted her to be happy, but she covered it with her left hand and he could say nothing.

“Listen to me,” she said with what little composure she had left. “You fulfilled that promise three years ago when you did bring Sasuke back, just like you said you would.” She paused for a moment to take a breath, and then continued. “It's not your fault he ran away again. There was nothing you could have done about that. I've never for a moment thought otherwise, or blamed you for it, or been angry or upset with you because of it. Do you understand me?” She repeated that last line from before, only this time it was with a much shakier voice. She didn't seem capable of saying anything more.

For a long moment he looked at her, not doing or saying anything or even daring to breathe. Both of her hands had dropped a bit and were now resting just below his shoulders, and her tears were now starting to leak and fall down her cheeks. She was begging him with her eyes to just let it all go, and as always, he could not deny her. He relaxed his muscles that had been tense for the duration of the conversation thus far, and offered her the faintest hint of a smile.

“Gomen ne, Sakura-chan,” he said softly.

She collapsed into him and buried her face in his chest, crying. He embraced her - tentatively at first, and then almost fiercely - and felt tears leaking out from his own now closed eyes. Naruto did not know how long they stood there in the clearing, but he felt infinitely better when they finally left, and at the same time it didn't last long enough.

 

-

 

Ino smiled as the early dawn twilight illuminated the gates of her home as she, Shikamaru and Asuma returned from their espionage mission earlier than originally planned. It truly was a beautiful sight. But that wasn't the whole reason she was smiling.

“I'm glad we got back early,” she said cheerily. “Now I can clean myself up and get some rest before I have to do anything again.”

“We would have gotten back even earlier if you hadn't made us stop in that last town to buy those earrings,” Shikamaru scowled. He was walking alongside her while Asuma brought up the rear.

“Oh, quit whining,” she said, still not losing her good humor. “I haven't bought anything for myself in almost four months, and they were just too pretty to pass up. Besides, it's because of me that we finished so quickly anyway.” She smirked as she reminded her teammate of that last bit.

“Tch,” was all he said. But he didn't really look annoyed.

Ino grinned to herself. Shikamaru would of course never say directly that he was proud or impressed with anything she did, but she could tell when he was. Asuma had told her after they'd completed this mission that she'd done exceptionally well, and that made her very happy, but not nearly as happy as that non-committal, monosyllabic response Shikamaru had just given her. Her teammate would never expend the energy necessary to argue with her, but he was not above griping and complaining. In that sense, his silence on the issue was the greatest praise she could receive.

A conversation she'd had with Sakura a week or so ago popped into her mind.

 

“Sakura, why is it that you still work so hard to be a ninja?”

“What do you mean?” The pink-haired girl narrowed her eyes, and Ino quickly raised her hands in defense.

“No, no, I don't mean that. I mean…what's your reason for wanting to be strong?” She was genuinely curious, and it seemed to come across because Sakura paused for a moment to seriously consider the question. But more than that, Ino was dying to know whether her friend's reason would be similar to her own.

“I want to protect the people important to me,” Sakura said finally. Ino rolled her eyes.

“I know that!” she said. “Everybody has that reason! I mean, what's the main motivation you have to be great?”

Sakura fidgeted, and Ino instantly realized that the other girl's previous answer had been an evasive one. Now she was really curious.

“Well, when I was little, it was because I looked up to you, and wanted to be like you,” Sakura started. Ino was genuinely surprised at the answer, but let her friend continue. “After that, I tried really hard because I wanted to…to impress Sasuke.” Sakura paused a moment to look ashamed, and Ino did as well. Even if things had gone differently and Sasuke hadn't turned out to be a traitor, it wouldn't change the fact that neither of them were proud of ever having such a petty, childish reason to be a ninja.

“And, even when I still had a crush on Sasuke,” Sakura went on, “My reason kind of became you again. Only this time it was because I didn't want to lose to you.” Both girls smiled.

“I remember that,” Ino said.

“When I look back now, I'm ashamed at how I used to be,” Sakura said.

“So what is your reason?” Ino asked again, not wanting her friend to dwell on her negative feelings.

Sakura fidgeted some more before finally answering. “Naruto.”

“Eeehhh?” Ino exclaimed in shock. “But how is that any different than…?”

“No, I don't mean like that,” Sakura said quickly, even though she did have the smallest hint of a blush on her face. “It's just that…Naruto's always been so strong, and I don't just mean as a ninja. Ever since he was a kid, he's never let anyone tell him he couldn't do something he wanted to do. And if they did try to tell him that, he'd work for it even harder. I can always depend on him, but even though that's true and he's always stayed my friend, he doesn't really need me anymore. So…I want to become strong, so that I can be there for him if he ever does. I want to help him achieve his goals. That has become my ninja way.”

Ino was rendered speechless. Admiration for her childhood friend swelled up inside of her, and she almost felt jealous.

“What about you, Ino?” Sakura finally asked, as the blonde knew she would.

Ino smiled, and said simply, “Shikamaru.”

“Eh? Really?” Sakura had a sly look in her eye that Ino distinctly didn't like.

“Don't go getting any ideas,” she said firmly. “I have a perfectly good reason, you know.”

“Well let's hear it, then,” Sakura said. That irritating smirk would not leave her face. Ino wanted to strangle her, but instead just sighed deeply and explained.

“Shikamaru and I have known each other since we were little,” she said. “Since our fathers were on the same team and all, and also because the Yamanaka clan and the Nara clan have always been close.”

“I know all that already,” Sakura said. “It's the same with Chouji too, and his clan.”

“Would you let me finish?” Ino snapped. Sakura threw up her hands and sweatdropped.

“Gomen, gomen! Go on, then.”

“Well anyway, we got along okay when we were kids, though he and Chouji knew each other a lot better. But when we got to the academy, I guess I started treating him pretty badly.”

“Because of Sasuke?” Sakura asked.

“That was probably most of it,” Ino replied sardonically. “But he never really complained about it. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever apologized for it, either. And when we were put on the same team, I was angry because I wasn't put on a team with Sasuke. I took it out on him and Chouji, even though it wasn't really their fault.”

Sakura giggled a bit. “I think I know what you mean. I was mad at Naruto also, even though I was put on a team with Sasuke.”

Ino laughed a bit as well at that. “And of course I let them know right from the start that I was going to be the leader of the team,” she said. “I was the best kunoichi of our class and I thought I knew everything. As far as I was concerned, I had two useless teammates, and they had to listen to me to make up for it.” She paused to take a breath and - unbeknownst to Sakura - mentally berate herself again for what had to be the thousandth time.

“And then we had our first chuunin exam. Of course by that point I'd realized that my teammates weren't useless at all, but I still considered myself the best out of the three of us. And I was really proud of Shikamaru when he did so well in his fights, and then when he was promoted when no one else was. But it was soon after that when I realized how foolish I'd been.”

“What do you mean?” Sakura asked, all joking gone from her demeanor now.

“I mean, what right did I have to be proud of him?” She said bitterly. “He was better than me, and had always been better than me, but I'd been too arrogant to see it. And he just went along with me the whole time, never arguing, never complaining, because he was too laid-back to say anything about it. If it meant he didn't have to work as hard, he didn't mind letting me think I was in charge. But he must have thought I was so foolish.”

“No, I'm sure he didn't,” Sakura said, reaching across the table they were sitting at to rest her hand on Ino's in comfort. Ino just scoffed.

“Of course he did. There I was, acting all superior, and he was the smartest of us all by far. He could be the greatest ninja in the village if he wanted to be, but he's content where he is. Sometimes I don't think he even appreciates how good he truly is.

“And after I realized all of this, I felt humiliated by the way I'd been acting for so long. I decided that my ninja way would be to make it so that none of it was an issue anymore. I would work hard and become what I'd always claimed to be, and one day I'd make Shikamaru proud of me.”

“But he is,” Sakura said. “He is proud of you. He was proud when you became a chuunin, and he was proud of you after our mission in the daimyo's castle. You know he was.”

“Of course I know that. He'd never say it, but I know. But that's not the point. What kind of ninja would I be if I got what I'd been working for and then just stopped? I want him to always be proud of me. It's my way of atonement for the foolishness of my childhood.”

 

Talking about the whole thing with Sakura had not only made her feel better, but it only served to reassure her that her chosen ninja way was the right one. As they approached the gates of Konoha and prepared to enter the village, Ino looked over at her long-time teammate, who'd just given her another sidelong glance out of the corner of his eyes, and offered him the biggest grin she could fashion.

 

-

 

Shikamaru could never really figure that girl out. Right now, she was grinning at him like he'd just bought her her own island or something. While it was a good look on her, he had no idea what she was on about and decided to himself that she must just be insane. After all, hadn't they just been arguing?

She had been very impressive in that last mission, though. The information they'd been sent to obtain had almost been compromised by an enemy ninja, but at the last second she invaded his mind and proceeded to fool his comrades for a full half hour, in the end giving them more information than they ever would have dreamed of obtaining. They even finished early, which was always a boon in his book.

But Ino's madness would have to be pondered another day, for no sooner had they walked in the village than Shiranui Genma appeared in front of them, looking as if he had some important news to discuss. Shikamaru didn't even bother to ask how the jounin already knew they were back.

“It's good that you're back early,” Genma said. “You can be debriefed immediately, and then Godaime-sama wants to talk to you,” he looked pointedly at Shikamaru.

“What about?” Ino asked. Always sticking her nose into others' business. How troublesome.

“You'll be informed if and when Hokage-sama decides that's necessary,” Genma said casually, though he looked amused. In a way, Shikamaru envied the older ninja. He never seemed to be annoyed by anything.

“Well, let's go, then,” Asuma said. “No sense in standing around here talking about it. I was going to get something to eat, so it works for me that we can be debriefed right away.”

And thus the three of them went with Genma to the Hokage's tower. The entire time, Shikamaru couldn't shake the feeling that something incredibly troublesome was about to happen to him.

 

-

 

“The teams are going to be customized for the mission,” Tsunade was saying. “With luck, they will mostly be made up of shinobi accustomed to swing assignments, but I know for a fact that Hyuuga Hinata will be going, and she's only ever been on two swing missions before.”

“Have you decided on anyone else yet?” Shikamaru asked. He hadn't been at all thrilled when the Hokage had informed him he was going to be returning to the snow village - it was an incredibly long trip and he wasn't fond of the cold temperatures, either. Still, at least he'd been there before, fairly recently, and had a good idea of what to expect.

“The only team member locked down for your squad so far is Haruno Sakura,” Shikamaru told him. “As for Genma's squad, Shizune and Hinata will be with him, and I've yet to find a fourth member to round them off.”

“Will two squads be sufficient?” Genma questioned casually.

“From what we know about the village, I think two squads will be enough. I have faith in the talents of the shinobi that will be coming. Besides, we really can't spare any more than that.”

“Orochimaru?” Genma asked.

“I wish it was only him,” Tsunade smirked ruefully. “I have word from Jiraiya that Akatsuki is on the move again. We're no closer to discerning their goals than we were three years ago, though we're fairly certain they're at least still after Naruto.”

Shikamaru had heard the word `Akatsuki' mentioned before, but had never been expressly told what it meant. He was just toying with the idea of asking about it, when the Hokage cut him off.

“They pose no immediate threat, of course, but we can't let ourselves be caught off-guard nonetheless.”

“Is there anything else we should know about this mission?” Shikamaru asked. He was anxious to go home and take a nap, or perhaps go lie on the hill in back of his home and look at the clouds.

“I've told you all that I know. It's supposedly a diplomatic affair, but the other four kage and ninja escorts from each of their villages will also be there, so it's best to tread lightly. Also, with all five kage gathered in one place, it's a prime opportunity for an assassination attempt.”

Shikamaru almost balked at that last part. Who would be stupid enough to attack all five kage at once? Even Orochimaru knew his limits. Unless, like the last time, he'd secretly allied with one or more of the other kage behind Konoha's back. Shikamaru scowled; all of a sudden this mission had become twice as troublesome.

“Unless either of you have any more questions, this briefing is over. You're to reconvene here two days from now, where your full teams will be constructed. We will then set out for Yukigakure the following morning.”

Shikamaru and Genma both bowed and left the Hokage's office.

 

-

 

Tsunade let out a great breath as the two shinobi captains left her office. Usually, they were two of the people she didn't bother to act so formal around, but she was in truth really unnerved about the whole thing. She didn't reveal to them how much she suspected treachery - not on the part of the snow ninja, who seemed all too eager to be on Konoha's good side - but on the part of the other kage. She knew she could trust the Kazekage; he would never betray the leaf, but the other three were on less than friendly terms with her village. Add to that the fact that Konoha had regained its status as the strongest of the five major villages within a year after Orochimaru's attack, and the opening for resentment was clear.

“This could get really ugly,” she said to herself. She sat down at her desk and poured herself a drink. Shizune was working in the hospital with Hinata, and Sakura was out training with Naruto and Kakashi for once, so there was no one around to yell at her for it.

 

-

 

“I don't see why you have to go there again!” Ino complained loudly. Shikamaru just snorted in response. Then two of them and Chouji had met for yakiniku, and Chouji of all people had offered to pay this time. “You guys and Asuma-sensei treat me more than enough,” he'd said.

“Don't just sluff if off like that!” she yelled indignantly.

“Why are you mad at Shikamaru, Ino?” Chouji asked simply after swallowing another piece of meat and placing three more on the grill in one motion. “It's not like he asks for the missions he gets. Only Naruto can get away with that.”

“I'm not mad at him,” she said firmly. “I'm frustrated that he's taking it so lightly, but I'm mad at the Fifth for sending him there again.”

“What's the big deal?” Chouji asked, mouth already full of the three pieces of meat he'd placed on the grill only moments before. He swallowed again before continuing. “It's not like they're dangerous or anything. Last time we didn't know if they would be, but now it seems like they only want to be our ally.”

“Well…it's not…its just that…” Ino seemed flustered and had completely lost her momentum. Shikamaru chose this moment to break into the conversation.

“We don't know for sure if that's what they want, though it does look like it,” he said. “The only real thing to worry about will be if any of the other kage decide to make a move on Godaime, or if Orochimaru has made a deal with any of them. In either case, it's nothing that the Hokage and two squads couldn't deal with as long as we have the support of the sand and the snow.” What he didn't say was what would happen if for whatever reason they didn't have the support of the sand and the snow, which of course had to be included as a possibility. Also, he didn't mention that the entire thing had the potential of being nothing more than a trap, and that Arima hadn't bought his story of chasing Sasuke at all. There was no need to worry his friends with such things.

“Oh, I get it,” Chouji grinned merrily. “So Ino's mostly just upset that you'll be gone such a long time.”

“What!” the girl in question exclaimed. “I am not!”

“You seemed awfully excited when he got back the last time,” Chouji observed, taking another bite of meat.

“That's just because I was glad he was all right,” Ino countered quickly. “You can't say you weren't worried about him too.”

“No, I guess that's true,” Chouji admitted. “But I know Shikamaru can take care of himself. And Neji and Naruto were with him, so there wasn't much to worry about.”

Ino huffed in frustration and crossed her arms, saying no more.

“This is why I never wanted to be a chuunin,” Shikamaru remarked flatly, taking a bite of meat off the grill.

 

-

 

The day of departure had finally come, and Tsunade was surveying the two teams that would be traveling with her. Shiranui Genma, with his ever-present extra long toothpick that was secretly a weapon, stood with his team that consisted of Shizune, Hyuuga Hinata, and Yamashiro Aoba. All of them aside from Hinata were quite accustomed to being assigned to different teams for different missions - “swing” missions, as they were called.

The other team, Nara Shikamaru's, consisted of Sakura, Hyuuga Neji, and Naruto (who she would have brought anyway even if Sakura hadn't casually suggested he come along). Even though this team was made up entirely of chuunin, they were all highly skilled, and three of them were familiar with the terrain they'd be visiting - something that was very important in any mission like this.

And, of course, there was the large assembly of people who weren't going, but had gathered to see their comrades off. Tsunade shook her head while at the same time chuckling fondly. One of the nicest things about missions like this that weren't the least bit urgent was the pleasant departure that went with it. She turned to speak to Genma and Aoba.

“It looks like you two are the only ones no one will miss,” she said wryly.

“The novelty wears off once you get to be old codgers like us,” Genma replied casually. “One of the greatest things about still being a kid is that you get to enjoy everything so much more.” He looked at the younger shinobi all gathered around talking to each other and a small smile worked its way onto his face.

“Heh. You're too much of a romantic,” she teased him. But inwardly she agreed with him.

 

-

 

“Take care of yourselves, you guys,” Ino was saying. She and Chouji were seeing off Sakura, Shikamaru and Naruto, but Sakura noticed her friend had looked at Shikamaru particularly in saying this.

“Aa, we know already,” Shikamaru waved her off.

“Is the ramen stand there really as good as you say?” Chouji asked Naruto. Sakura rolled her eyes. Leave it to those two to turn a farewell into a discussion about ramen.

“Yeah, it is!” Naruto said enthusiastically. “It's not as good as Ichiraku, but the ramen tastes so much better when it's warming you up from the cold weather.”

“Do they have any ingredients that Konoha doesn't have?”

“I didn't notice any, but I couldn't really ask that directly, of course…”

Somewhere along the line Sakura's attention drifted away from the conversation and she looked around. Tsunade was speaking with Shizune, Aoba and Genma, and Hinata was talking with Kiba and Shino. Neji was silently observing the latter conversation.

“Be careful, Hinata,” she heard Kiba say. “We know you can take care of yourself, but with all these different ninja from different countries, things could get sour really fast.”

“We anticipate your safe return,” Shino said.

“I think it's sweet how protective those two are of her.” Sakura jumped. She hadn't even been aware Ino was right behind her, apparently listening to the same exchange she was. She just smiled and nodded in agreement.

“She's like their little sister that they look out for,” Ino went on. “It's so cute.”

“I think they're telling Neji-san in no uncertain terms that he's to look out for her,” Sakura said, giggling a little; Kiba and Shino now appeared to be having a somewhat serious conversation with the Hyuuga prodigy.

“If it was me, I think I'd be annoyed,” Ino said candidly. “But I think Hinata really likes the attention, even if she acts embarrassed about it.”

“Oy, eavesdropping is impolite,” came Shikamaru's voice from behind them. Ino turned to face him without a hint of shame on her face. Sakura was impressed, as she'd failed to hide her own blush at being caught.

“Oh? Then what were you doing just now?” Ino asked her teammate triumphantly.

“You're standing two feet from us,” Shikamaru countered lazily. “We can't help but hear your obnoxiously loud voices.”

“He's got you on that one, Ino,” Chouji said, laughing. Sakura couldn't help but laugh herself as Ino's eye twitched and her jaw clenched, even though she'd been insulted as well.

“All right everyone, we've stalled long enough; it's time to go!” Tsunade's voice boomed over the gathering of people and everyone who was about to leave quickly checked all their equipment to make sure it was properly attached to their bodies before setting out.

Ino's ire had instantly evaporated at Tsunade's announcement and she became serious again.

“I don't have to tell you again that you have to come back,” she said firmly to Shikamaru.

“Aa,” was his response.

Then Ino did something that Sakura never would have anticipated. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Shikamaru in a tight hug, and then leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.

“We'll be here when you get back,” she said, and slowly released him.

“Aa.”

Sakura started wide-eyed at what she had just witnessed. Naruto also seemed dumbstruck. Chouji just stood there with a self-satisfied grin on his face, as if nothing out of the ordinary had taken place.

“Hurry up, you two!”

Shikamaru's voice yelling at them snapped Naruto and Sakura back to the present and with a final wave over their shoulders they hurried to catch up to their comrades through the gate that was already closing.

 

- - - - - -

 

I think that's it for this one. I was going to go into details concerning the trip to Yukigakure, but I don't think it's necessary. I'll gloss over it a bit in the next chapter.

 

Again, big thanks to my prereader, SJR, who never hesitates to suggest a semi-colon, even when using one would be inappropriate or grammatically incorrect. ^_^

 

Also, Koorikage is nearing completion. About two more chapters after this and it's done, and then the sequel begins. And that's where things really get interesting. I'm really looking forward to writing it. I'm actually impatient about it, and I have to remind myself that this one isn't done yet, and that I can't rush through it to get to the next part or it'll be nothing but crap. =P

 

Anyway, that's about it for my ramblings this time. One last thing, though. I've never been a whore for attention or anything, but it would be nice to know if people are reading this and what they think of it. I really enjoy writing it, but if no one's reading it then I have about a half dozen other projects I could be working on instead. So be a pal and leave a review, eh? ^_^