Just in case some readers are unfamiliar with the Naruto world, here are a few terms that might come in useful.
shinobi - ninja
Taijitsu -physical fighting
Genjutsu - illusions and spells
Ninjutsu - stealth skills
A Mile In His Shoes : Uchiha Sasuke
Chapter 1: Redemption
"Uchiha Sasuke, last heir to the Uchiha clan." The Hokage, a stern woman named Tsunade, stood before the assembled village with Sasuke in front of her. Of course it was to be a public affair. They were on the broad stairs that led into the Hogake's palace simply for the sake of letting the whole village see him. After his capture or rescue (however you looked at it) Sasuke had been expecting such a public exhibition. "You are guilty of treason against Konohagakeru. Your decision to follow Orochimaru, a known missing nin, the infamous traitor sannin, was a decision based on nothing more than your petty desire for revenge. You did not think about the welfare of the village. You didn't think about the lives of your fellow shinobi. You didn't think about the pain you would cause your own Cell. You have proven yourself untrustworthy. Can you defend yourself?"
"I have no defense." Sasuke would not beg. Not even when he knew he was in the wrong. Not when Sakura stood behind him with her hands clasped hopefully in front of her. Not with Naruto's mouth pulled into a thin, unhappy line and his hands fists at his sides. Not with Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke's Cell leader, with his one visible eye narrowed. He would not beg in front of them, even though he knew it meant his death.
The Hokage put a hand on one hip and scowled at Sasuke. She certainly was a change from the Yondaime Hokage. Tall and proud, the Godaime Hokage was one of the legendary sannin. She had been Cell mates with Jirai and the infamous Orochimaru, but she had risen to the envious position of Hokage - the leader of Konohagakeru, the Village of Hidden Leaf. "The lose of your clan at the hands of the your brother was a blow to our village. That you would follow Uchiha Itachi in his way of betrayal puts a damning light on your family. What have you to say for yourself?"
Sasuke looked up and met her eyes. "I have no defense." She could, she should kill him. She was more than capable of it. He wouldn't fight. He deserved it.
The Hokage snorted and spoke more softly. "You are an asset to this village, Uchiha-san. I'm afraid I can't give up on you just yet." She took a deep breath and turned to face the assembled village. "I have decided. Uchiha-san will be allowed to stay. He will not be persecuted. His punishment is in my hands. You are all dismissed."
Her words didn't go over well. The crowd was angry. They began shouting and waving their fists in the air.
The Hokage stared at the angry crowd until they grew still and silent. When she spoke, her voice was an angry whisper. "Do you defy me?"
No one dared answer.
"Then you will accept my judgment. It is you who elected me Hokage. The Uchiha bloodline is too precious to be lost for a," She glanced at Sasuke meaningfully. "Bad decision that will not be repeated. You are dismissed!"
This time, the crowd obeyed and before long the gathering was gone and only the members of Cell 7 remained. "That wasn't wise." Sasuke told the Hokage. "You can't trust me."
"I don't. But your blood IS too valuable to lose. Killing you would be a waste." Her eyes were hard. "You will redeem yourself to the point where I can trust you. If I have even the faintest idea that you're loyalties waver a second time, I will have you executed. You will be listed as a missing-nin and I'll have the ANBU hunters searching the world for you and if - IF - you manage to elude them," She leaned over menacingly. "I'll order Kakashi to take your life." She turned sharply and strode away.
He would never earn back the trust he'd once enjoyed. The betrayal was too great.
"Sasuke? Hey, Sasuke." Sakura put her hand on his shoulder. "Come on."
Slowly, Sasuke looked up.
Sakura smiled at him. "You look terrible. You should take a bath and get some of the dirt and sweat off."
Naruto was tapping his foot impatiently and shouted that he was hungry. "Come on. Come on! It's been hours sine I've eaten and you look like a skeleton, stupid! It's time to eat."
Just like that? Time to eat? Time to wash? Like nothing had happened? It wasn't that easy.
Kakashi-sensei, his face mostly covered by his ever-present mask, moved forward and crossed his arms over his chest. "Time to prove the strength of the Uchiha clan. Stand up."
"I'm tired." Sasuke said, dully. "I'm so tired."
"Stand up."
And Sasuke stood. With Sakura and Naruto on either side of him, Sasuke started walking. He wasn't thinking as he walked. When the rain started falling, he barely noticed it except that the ground turned to mud and squished over the soles of his boots and in between his toes. They weren't invisible. While the village had obeyed the Hokage and left the gathering, they whispered to one another and glared at Sasuke as they passed.
"Just walk." Naruto told Sasuke, softly. "They'll stare and whisper. They'll yell at you and they'll try to hurt you. Keep walking. Keep your head up."
If there was one person who knew how to survive the distain of the villagers, it was Naruto. "I can do this. You don't have to walk with me." Because Sasuke knew that his Cell's reputation was damaged by his crime. They would suffer for what Sasuke had done, especially if they chose to show him public support.
"Ah," Kakashi slapped a hand onto Sasuke's shoulder. "But we have to see that you make it home safely. The Uchiha reputation will protect you from an outright attack, but… why take chances?"
"Home?" Sasuke didn't want to go back to the Uchiha Compound. Anywhere but there. He'd see them all, again. He'd see the spirits of his family. His grandmother's pleading eyes and his mother's demand that he avenge them. They would know. They'd know he'd failed in the most miserable way. He'd become just as much of a monster as Itachi.
Sasuke shuddered and tried to pull away from Kakashi's hand. "No. I won't go back." His eyes flew up and he saw, through the pouring rain, the high walls of the Uchiha Compound near the center of the village. The tall stone walls and narrow windows. The old, gnarled apple tree just barely peeking over the top of the massive wall. The tree Itachi had climbed to pick an apple for Sasuke. The tree where he'd seen Itachi kiss his sweetheart for the first time. Itachi had taught Sasuke his first taijutsu in the shade of that tree. "I won't! Please… not there." He would rather go back to the holding room, the prison beneath the Hokage's palace, with the rats and the bugs and barred door. Nothing but a bucket to relieve himself and nothing to look at but his shackled feet and his manacled hands.
"You will." Kakashi's voice, like his hand on Sasuke's shoulder, was hard as steel. It made Sasuke stop struggling at once.
It seemed that they walked forever until Naruto gave Sasuke's arm a squeeze. "We're here. Home."
Home, Sasuke saw when he raised his eyes to look, was not the Uchiha Compound. Instead, it was a very small house like any other ordinary home in Konohagakeru. It had a good sized front yard and a fresh coat of white paint. The front door was open and a recognizable figure stood there, surrounded by light from the inside. He stepped out into the rain and smiled down at Sasuke. "Welcome home, Sasuke-kun. I'm glad you've come back safely."
How could anyone stand up to Iruka-sensei's smile? It made Sasuke want to burst into tears with guilt. Instead, Sasuke pulled carefully away from Naruto and Sakura to bow respectfully. "Thank you, sir."
"Well, what are you all doing in the rain? You'll catch your death's out there." Iruka-sensei made a welcoming gesture. "All of you inside and get yourselves warm. I have hot soup and tea. Sakura-kun, you stay, too. Your parents wouldn't thank me for letting you walk home in weather like this."
Sasuke didn't move. "I don't want to be a bother, sir." Sasuke bowed his head to Iruka-sensei and tried to take a step back, but the teacher laughed.
"Stay where you are. What kind of man would I be to let you wander away in the rain? We have plenty of room. Right, Naruto?"
"Right!" Naruto took hold of Sasuke's arm and tugged at him. "Come on. Get in. I'm soaking!"
Sakura politely refused Iruka-sensei's offer. She was expected home and it wasn't a far walk. She would be by in the morning to visit. Kakashi-sensei also bowed and turned around. He had things to take care of. He, too, would visit later.
Reluctantly, Sasuke allowed himself to be led into Iruka-sensei's home. It was warm and clean. The living room, kitchen, and dining room were all in one large, open room. There was the smell of food and smoke from the fireplace. Naruto could be heard in another room rummaging around in something. There was a woven rug on the wooden floor and paintings of different landscapes on the walls. The living room had a sofa and few chairs gathered around a low table. The dining room was nothing more than a small square table with three chairs. The kitchen was modest. A stove and oven, a sink and some cabinets. There was a small refrigerator in the corner and a door to the left of the stove.
It wasn't the first time Sasuke had been in Iruka-sensei's home. The first time had been long ago. He'd been there before - a time he didn't want to remember. A time when he could only smell blood…a time when his brother's soft words echoed in his mind. Iruka-sensei's home was the same as Sasuke remembered it. The man didn't change much. It had been more than two years since… that time.
Sasuke dragged himself out of his memories and remembered his manners. He bowed to Iruka-sensei and muttered a thanks for inviting him in. He knew that there wouldn't be too many in the village who would even want to be seen speaking with him.
"I'm sorry." Iruka-sensei's voice brought Sasuke's attention back to him. His eyebrows drew together when he looked at Sasuke. "Whatever you had to go through with Orochimaru, I'm sorry. I'm glad it's over and you're home."
It wasn't over. He was still marked by the curse, three black marks on the side of his neck, and Orochimaru was still on the loose. "Sir, I'm serious. You don't have to trouble yourself for me. I've survived alone this long. I'll manage on my own."
Iruka-sensei shook his head. "Naruto's in the bedroom. I only have two, I'm afraid. You'll have to share."
"Share?"
"Are you hungry?" Iruka-sensei neatly side stepped the issue. "As I said, I have food and a hot drink."
Sasuke didn't belong there. He knew he didn't. "No, sir." He hadn't felt really hungry in a long time. "I want to wash."
"I understand." Iruka-sensei looked sad. "You're too skinny, though. You've lost a lot of your muscle."
Had he? Sasuke hadn't noticed. He'd thought that it was Naruto who'd grown. "I'll eat if you want me to."
"No. If you're not hungry right now, that's understandable. But in the morning, you'll have breakfast with us. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
Naruto suddenly burst out from the door in the kitchen. He took Sasuke's arm and gave him an encouraging pull. "This way. You can bunk up with me. Iruka-sensei gave me a great room." Before pulling Sasuke away, Naruto paused to hug Iruka-sensei. It seemed strange. Sasuke wouldn't have done it. He didn't even like touching other people. Naruto did it so easily, though.
Great the bedroom might have been, but not big. Compared to what Sasuke had been used to at the Uchiha Compound, the bedroom was little more than a closet. There was a little bed and a striped rug on the floor. There was a wooden dresser under the window and a bushy potted plant on the dresser.
"This is…yours?" Sasuke didn't move from the doorway. It didn't look like he thought Naruto's room would look. It was impeccably clean. The floor was swept. There was no dirty clothes thrown on the floor. The bed was neatly made.
Naruto seemed to understand and he laughed, giving Sasuke a poke in the back. "Go on. Get in. Yeah, it's mine. Don't look at me like that. Iruka-sensei gave it to me. I'm not about to make it a mess." He took off his vest and kicked off his boots, then sat on the bed and stretched out his legs. "Sit. I don't let just anyone in here, you know."
Sasuke sat on a chair near the window. "I thought you had an apartment."
"I did. The old Hokage gave it to me since no one would take me in. It's better here. We'll have to get you a bed. I'm sure Iruka-sensei will think of something. He always does. You'll need to get the things you want from the Uchiha Compound and Iruka-sensei will make you do chores, but it's not bad. You'll like it here."
"I think they'll kill me."
Naruto's easy smile vanished and he scowled at his lap. "You did some awful things."
"I know."
"Come on. I'll show you the bathroom. You smell like a wet dog."
Six months later-
Every night, Sasuke forced himself to stay awake as long as he possible could. It was a habit he'd developed as a child, waiting for his big brother to return home from this mission or that. Later, he would stay up studying for exams and, after Itachi's betrayal, he stayed up out of fear of falling asleep and witnessing his brother's crimes in his nightmares. Living with Iruka-sensei and Naruto hadn't changed Sasuke's habit. Only the nightmares had changed.
"Kakashi-sensei says you'll wear yourself out if you don't start sleeping more." Naruto muttered as he buttoned his pajama shirt. Unlike his normal bright orange clothes, his pajamas were plain, dark blue with white buttons. The legs on the pants were hemmed up. They had once been Iruka-sensei's. Although he was respected in the village, Iruka-sensei was not a rich man. Hand-Me-Downs were common in his home and Sasuke had to share his clothes with Naruto. It only made sense, Naruto and Sasuke had quietly agreed. Iruka-sensei was kind enough to take them in. Why should they burden him by having him buy clothes for two when they could make do by sharing? They were about the same size so it made sense with the exception that Sasuke refused to touch Naruto's orange jumpsuit and Naruto wouldn't think of putting on Sasuke's shirt with the Uchiha emblem on the back.
It almost made Sasuke laugh to think of how horrified his father would have been to know Sasuke wore cast-offs from the poor village teacher.
"I can't sleep." Sasuke, dressed in his own faded blue pajamas, sat cross-legged on the bed Iruka-sensei had given him with a book on his lap. It was one of Iruka-sensei's and Sasuke had read it three times. He wanted a new book, but he couldn't bring himself to go back to the Uchiha Compound for either the books of his mother's library or the money he knew was hidden there. "I'm not tired."
"Suit yourself." Naruto said, doubtfully. "You always do. I'll find you asleep with that book still on your lap in the morning and Iruka-sensei will yell at you for staying up all night, again." He crawled into bed and snuggled in , curling the blankets around himself until he was nearly cocooned and only the top of his spiky blonde hair showed. He did the same thing every night, as if he felt some undeniable need to shield himself. "See you in the morning."
Not too long after that, Sasuke heard Naruto's familiar, soft snoring.
The room he shared with Naruto was small. It was roughly the size of a closet in the Uchiha Compound. There were now two beds, one on either side of the room, a rug between the beds, and a single window. That was it. They had a few other, little things, of course. Clothes neatly folded on chairs at the end of each bed. A few books and a shinobi's usual cache of weaponry and scrolls. It was modest, but it was home.
The house was quiet. Sasuke could hear crickets singing outside the open window and soft voices of people who went about their business. The clock on the little table under the window that separated Sasuke and Naruto's beds ticked steadily and it was that ticking that Sasuke would blame for lulling him to sleep every night.
Dreaming, Sasuke found himself on his knees in the darkness.
"Pretty." Cool, dry hands stroked Sasuke's cheeks. "My pretty. Aren't you beautiful? So perfect." The hands roamed into his hair, delicately touching his ears and the back of his neck. When those awful fingers brushed against the curse mark on the side of his throat, Sasuke felt not pain but a glowing warmth. "Look at me, pretty shinobi. Look at me."
Sasuke didn't want to. He was afraid of the voice. He wanted to be home. He wanted mother to be sitting in her study lost in some book. He wanted father to be worrying about the apple trees in the garden not bearing fruit. He wanted Itachi to swing him in his arms like he used to.
"Look at me, my Sasuke."
Orochimaru was not ugly, but he made Sasuke cringe. The pallid skin and inhuman eyes, the long tongue that slipped out of his mouth all made Sasuke tremble. Worst of all was Orochimaru's soft, silky voice.
"Yes." Orochimaru laughed, never taking his hands away from Sasuke. "Be afraid of me, but only me. Perfect in everyway." He laughed and his hands tightened on Sasuke's face. His long fingers dug into Sasuke's skin until Sasuke cried out. There was a wrenching, tearing sensation. Such pain that Sasuke thought he would lose his mind.
His face was off. His face was in Orochimaru's hands. A limp, wilted mask of bloody skin.
Orochimaru kept laughing and held up Sasuke's torn off face against his own. It grew to fit Orochimaru's head. Orochimaru smiled with Sasuke's lips. He blinked with Sasuke's eyes. When he laughed, it was with Sasuke's voice. "I have what I wanted. You can die, now."
Sasuke woke in a cold sweat, panting heavily.
The crickets still sung. The moon hadn't moved, much. Naruto still snored.
Sasuke inhaled to calm himself. It was a nightmare, just like all the others. Orochimaru was always stealing his face.
The book had fallen onto the floor from Sasuke's lap while he'd slept but Sasuke didn't immediately move to retrieve it. Instead he sat and stared at Naruto's peacefully sleeping back. The blanket cocoon had fallen apart and Naruto lay sprawled on his narrow bed. He looked comfortable and at ease. Was he plagued by nightmares? Did the demon inside him, Kyuubi, haunt his dreams? Surely… it must. Yet, Naruto slept on without so much as a twitch to signal any disturbance in his sleep.
Sasuke envied Naruto. He was so much stronger than Sasuke would ever be. How Sasuke had ever thought Naruto was weak was a mystery.
The sound of a knock on the front door drew Sasuke away from his thoughts. He frowned. No one would visit so late unless it was important. On the other hand, if it were an emergency, the visitor wouldn't have bothered knocking. Kakashi-sensei would have just snuck in. It couldn't be Sakura. She wouldn't be so rude as to come after dark.
Sasuke left the bedroom after stopping to put on his bathrobe. Unlike most everything else Iruka-sensei had been able to give them, the bathrobe was new. It was also a match to Naruto's. Dark green with a black belt to hold it closed, the bathrobe was sturdy and warm. It was not stylish or a fine make. It was the first gift anyone had given him since his family's mass murder.
"You don't have to." Sasuke had told Iruka-sensei when he and Naruto had been given the robes.
Iruka-sensei brushed Sasuke's words aside. "Humor me. It's not as if they're expensive." He blushed a little at that and Sasuke knew Iruka-sensei had gone shopping at the discount racks at the store. It wasn't fair. He was the best sensei in the village. They ought to pay him more. "Really, you and Naruto could afford to buy better ones for yourselves if you took the time to go shopping. You two would walk around in rags if I let you."
"Then let me repay you. You shouldn't spend your money…"
Naruto pushed passed Sasuke and eagerly snatched his robe from Iruka-sensei's hands. He hugged it as if he were a child. He rubbed his face against it. "Thank you! Thank you! It's the best!"
In the light that shone in Iruka-sensei's eyes, Sasuke saw something that surprised him. Iruka-sensei was happy. He was glad to spend money on them. Even if it meant he had to do without, Iruka-sensei really wanted to do this which meant he wanted to have them around. Sasuke took hold of the green robe and quietly thanked Iruka-senei. After that, he never protested when Iruka-sensei wanted to give them something.
Sasuke didn't answer the door because Iruka-sensei was already there when Sasuke went into the hallway. Curious, Sasuke stayed in the doorway and listened.
"It's late for a mission." Iruka-sensei spoke softly. "You couldn't have come in the morning?"
"I need to deliver it to the Cell leaders when Godaime Hokage gives it to me. If her schedule doesn't suit you, take it up with her. Is Hatake-san here?"
"I'll see that Kakashi gets it." Iruka-sensei held out his hand for the message scroll and the messenger handed it over without question and left quickly. Without turning around, Iruka-sensei said, "You heard, Sasuke?"
Sasuke abandoned his silence. "I did. I'll wake Naruto."
Iruka-sensei smiled. "You're a good boy, Sasuke. Thank you."
It made Sasuke pause. "Why do you say that?" It wasn't the first time Iruka-sensei said that. "I'm not good. Everyone knows it. After what I did, how can you even pretend?"
"You made a mistake. A very bad mistake. But, you're only thirteen. You're a child when it comes right down to it. You regret what you did and you won't do it again." Iruka-sensei looked sad. "As for what everyone knows, everyone knows that Naruto is an evil demon. Do you believe that?"
"No. Of course not."
"Then I suggest you make up your own mind about Naruto and yourself. 'Everyone' is not always right. Go on and get Naruto."
"Yes, sir."
With the scroll in one hand, Iruka-sensei left Sasuke in the hall and made his way back to his bedroom. Before he closed the door behind him, Sasuke heard, "Kakashi…come on. Get up."
Kakashi? Sasuke stared at Iruka-sensei's closed bedroom door and frowned. Since when had Kakashi started spending the night?
Naruto, rubbing his eyes and yawning through his words, stumbled out of their shared bedroom. "What's going on? I heard voices."
"You sleep like the dead." Sasuke commented, idly. "We have a mission. You might want to get dressed."
"Does Sakura-chan know?" Naruto asked, suddenly wide awake.
"I suppose not. We can fetch her on the way to the Hogake's palace."
At that moment, Kakashi strolled out of Iruka-sensei's bedroom, buckling his vest and adjusting his mask. "Hello, sleep-heads. Get what you need. We're off as soon as I've had some coffee."
Naruto scowled blackly. He looked at Kakashi as he went into the kitchen, then at Iruka who stood awkwardly in his bedroom door, blushing slightly. Naruto looked back at Kakshi, then back to Iruka. One could practically see the dots being connected. Light dawned in his eyes and Naruto's mouth fell open. He gaped at Iruka-sensei. "Hey! Hey! When….? What…?"
Kakashi laughed. "Tsk, tsk. Iru, you're neglecting your parental responsibilities if Naruto doesn't know what…"
"You shut up!" Iruka-sensei's face couldn't possibly get more red. "He knows! Look, Naruto, I wasn't keeping ah," He gestured at Kakashi then at himself. "I wasn't keeping US a secret. It just… happened."
No. It didn't just happen. Everyone in the whole village knew about the scandalously bold affair. Iruka, the modest, sweet natured sensei had snared the most eligible bachelor in Konohagakeru. One of the most feared shinobi in the world was finally settling down. Almost everyone in the village had seen them going out to dinner, painting Iruka-sensei's house, and doing the grocery shopping. It was hardly a secret. No, what had 'just happened' was Kakashi spending the night.
Naruto turned his shocked expression to Kakashi where it became a glare. He looked like he would say something, but suddenly grabbed Sasuke's sleeve and pulled him back to their bedroom. They got dressed without saying much of anything and only when they were ready to leave the room did Naruto say, "If they get married, do you think it'll be Hatake Iruka or Umino Kakshi?"
"You think they will? Get married, I mean."
That made Naruto scowl deeper and he fiddled his hitae. "Kakashi's not good enough. Old pervert."
"They've been dating for almost five months. Iruka-sensei must seethe good in him."
"Iruka-sensei had worse judgment than I'd thought. Come on. Let's go."
Outside the Hokage's office, Sasuke was surprised to find another Cell waiting. Cell 9, Gai-san's Cell, all looked up as soon as Cell 7 walked in. For a moment, they stared at each other. Gai-san, naturally, was the first to break the silence when laughed boisterous and began shouting to Kakshi about something with his expressive movements while Kakashi did his best to ignore him. The rest of Cell 9 was a bit quieter, though Rock Lee could easily start yelling at any moment. Hyuuga Neji stood with his arms crossed over his chest and an arrogant glare at Cell 7.
Sasuke could remember a time when he'd felt superior, too.
Tenten was the most bearable of her Cell and smiled politely at Cell 7. She, like Neji and Lee, was a year older than Sasuke. She was thin, almost as narrow as a boy. Her dark hair was tied up in two buns on either side of her head. While she chatted with Lee, her fingers were twisting thin strands of thread into intricate, spider-web patterns. She would look admiringly at what she'd done, then let the strings fall apart and rebuild.
Lee, with his stark black hair and wide, round eyes, was a memorable boy. He laughed at something Tenten said, then gave a brief look at Cell 7. He smiled charmingly at Sakura, but did not start proclaiming his everlasting love. He'd grown passed that.
"Hey, hey," Naruto poked at Sasuke's arm. "You all right?"
"Fine."
"You're staring at them."
Sasuke took the not too subtle hint and looked away from Cell 9. He waited patiently while Kakshi and Gai-san bantered and while Sakura and Naruto bickered. When the Hokage's assistant finally opened the office door and asked them all to enter, Sasuke obediently followed Kakashi in. The two Cells filed into the office in two straight lines with their Jonin at the head of each line. Once they stood before the Hokage's desk, they formed up into one straight line and waited for her to speak.
Tsunade had been made Hogake of Konohagakeru when the previous Hokage had died. She was a buxom woman with long blonde hair and a no-nonsense attitude. She didn't speak for a long while, just kept signing this paper or that, handing each finished one to her quiet assistant.
Everyone waited patiently…everyone but Naruto. He tapped his foot and grew red in the face at the effort of keeping his temper. It didn't last too long. "Hey! Ba-chan!"
"Twenty-eight seconds." She absently threw her pen and struck Naruto on the forehead. "I was wondering how long you could hold out. Now, to business. Thank you for coming so quickly." The Hokage smiled all around and her eyes passed over Sasuke with barely a flicker. He still was under suspicion, but an important mission would go a long ways to proving his trustworthiness. "I apologize to you both, Kakashi and Gai, for sending the messages so early, but this mission is going to be a long one and I wanted to get all of you started as soon as possible."
Two cells for a single mission. That wasn't customary.
"Let's just hear the details, Tsunade." Kakashi said to the Hokage.
"Show some respect, brat." The Hokage told him, crossly. "Anyway," She picked up two scrolls, handing one each to the Cell leaders before she unrolled a third one. "Those are maps to the destination. The mission is a request from the headmaster of a school in a neighboring nation. He fears a civil war and worries for the safety of his students. You have three weeks to judge the security of the school." She looked down at the scroll on her desk and ran her finger down the writing as she spoke. "This is to be an observation mission only. There must be no harm done to students or faculty. In fact, the client states that it would be for the best if your presences is not discovered."
"Three weeks?" Naruto was the first one to speak and stuck his hands in his pockets and slouched to show his displeasure with the assignment. "What do we need three weeks for?"
For once, Sasuke agreed with Naruto. Three weeks for just for a security check on a school? "A week, tops." It was almost as good as an insult. In fact, just Cell 7 should be able to do it in a day or two which begged the question, why were they being paired with Maito Gai's team?
"Apparently," The Hokage answered, watching both Cells. "The client believes there is simply too much work to be done in a short time and has therefore stipulated the three week time period. How you use that time is up to the discretion of your Cell leaders."
Neji spoke up for the first time with his arms crossed over his chest. He was never one to mince words. "Why is this a double mission? Why two cells when one could easily carry out the mission parameters?"
"Again, the client's request, again, he seemed to think this is too big for one Cell when I told him each Cell had four members. He paid for two Cells." The Hokage assured him. "Besides, this is a B-rank mission so it won't hurt for you to have back up. How you arrange the duties and responsibilities of the teams is up to your Cell leaders."
"Of course," Kakashi said, his fingers lingering on his favorite book. "A little security never hurt anyone and I'm sure my Cell can make use of these other ones." He wasn't quite insulting about it, but Neji bristled and even the good-tempered Tenten scowled at him. Lee, for all his rashness, said nothing but waited to see what his sensei would do.
"No!" Maito Gai threw a fist into the air, dramatically. "You will see! It is your cell that will have to follow the lead of my most extra ordinary cell! How dare you suggest that your Cell - thought bright they are in their youthful glory - are in anyway superior to mine!"
After he'd finished, but before Kakashi could reply, Tenten reached out a hand to Sakura. "Nice to be working with you. I'm sure we'll get on well. Maybe we should talk about Cell dynamics later and figure out how best to work everyone."
"Good idea. Naruto's not exactly suited for espionage, but he's a real powerhouse in a crisis." Sakura took the offered hand and the girls shook. "Sasuke makes up for it, though."
"Neji's good at observation, too. You can't ask for more brute strength than Lee. So, is yours always like this?" She indicated Kakashi.
"Yup. Yours?"
"Oh, yes. Usually worse. He's showing restraint today. Good work, sir." She smiled with pride at her sensei.
Gai matched the proud smile easily and gave Tenten a thumbs-up. "Thank you"
The Hokage smiled. "At least I know two of your Cell members will be sensible. There is little expected danger, but as the mission will take place within a known zone of terrorist activity the high ranking was justified."
It was sounding more and more interesting as the Hokage spoke, but Sasuke didn't let himself get too excited - unlike Naruto who was practically bouncing up and down with pent up energy - because there were always catches. Simple missions always turned into life or death missions so a B-ranked mission would turn into…what? A-rank with possible end of the world scenario? That could be interesting.
"It will an extended mission," The Hokage told them. "There are no expected enemies to battle with. However, it is in a land reasonably far away. Going at full speed, it will take you one week to get there. All in all, you'll be gone for a month. The client has paid half in advance, you will collect the second half of the payment after the mission is completed."
The mission was accepted with Kakashi's mute nod and Gai's loud exclamation that they WOULD succeed.
Sasuke struggled to maintain his dignity and not smile. He was happy to be leaving Konohagakeru. Happy that for a month he wouldn't have to deal with the hateful glares and whispers. Happiest most of all that he wouldn't have to look at the Uchiha Compound every time he left Iruka-sensei's home. He'd come to hate the place over the years. Even in the past few months of living under Iruka-sensei's roof, Sasuke couldn't escape the Uchiha Compound. It was a giant, squat monstrosity that was visible from almost every point in the village. Sasuke's ancestors couldn't have thought that their ego inspired home would be nothing but a horror for the last of the Uchiha's.
Maito Gai-san smiled broadly and slapped Kakashi on the back. "We'll make a fine team, my best rival! And our Cells will bond even closer together. To bond and work together is the greatest goal of any man!"
"Excuse me?" Tenten said, rather pointedly.
"And woman, of course!" Gai added without missing a beat.
"Gotta watch him." Tenten said to Sakura. "Tends to forget women exist."
"Now, now," Gai laughed, a bit more nervously. "I wouldn't forget my dear kunochi, one of the most skilled of all Konohagakeru, the lovely flower of womanhood. You would be impossible to forget."
Again, Tenten addressed Sakura. "If he didn't talk like that to everyone, I'd think he was a dirty old pervert."
Sakura sniffed. "I KNOW mine's a dirty old pervert."
"Hey." Kakashi didn't sound as insulted as he should have been.
"She's right." Naruto scowled. "You don't deserve Iruka-sensei."
The Hokage cleared her throat, drawing attention back to herself. "You have three weeks starting from the moment you arrive. Use any methods you see fit within the parameters. Dismissed."
To be continued…