I'm only Human

AN: 'Allllllllllllllo everybody!! Back again with another update. Not quite as long as the last, but I hope you all enjoy!

IMPORTANT: If anyone asked for a chapter update emailed to you, please remind me, or if you would like a chapter update emailed to you please tell me and leave me your email! I would love to do it!!
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A wary sigh escaped the young mans mouth as he leaned over the shogi board. He moved his piece and heard a curse from the other man in front of him,

“Check Mate.” He drawled in a bored fashion. Neji’s eyes narrowed on him slightly before he sighed.

“Good game.” He finally said. Shikamaru shrugged and leaned back on his elbows, observing the Hyuuga genius before him.

“I know you didn’t come here to play shogi all afternoon.”Shikamaru said loosely as he regarded Neji calmly waiting for his reply. They were on one of the few breaks Tsunade allotted their teams since her orders of constant surveillance. The Hyuuga clan member nodded gravely after a long silence had passed between them.

“No…though I wish it was just for pleasantries.” He replied quietly. Shikamaru quirked his eyebrow up at the comment but decided he would question that later on.

“Go on.” Said the Nara clan member.

“Whatever Akatsuki member that had been spotted, or whatever movement Jiraiya had heard of, they are no longer in the vicinity of Konoha.” Neji started, “I was also able to intercept a messenger crow to the Hokage from the Kakashi-Sai team.” He continued. Shikamaru actually smirked leaning up,

“We’re all turning into a regular bunch of criminal nins aren’t we.” He said. Neji shook his head refusing to be amused by the comment before moving on,

“They’ve been following Sasuke’s trail…and they said he’s been traveling with another since he’s left Konoha.”

“Naruto?” Shikamaru asked, though he knew it couldn’t be that simple. Again the Hyuuga shook his head,

“However, the scent is similar to Uzamaki’s.” Neji said, he handed Shikamaru the copied scroll. Shikamaru looked over it briefly before tucking it away, his face set and focused. Things were piecing together.

“He’s leading him on.” Shikamaru started, “He’s going somewhere else, he’s set a trap for Sasuke, and leading whoever was sent after Sasuke also in that trap so his own plans would be left un-hindered…” He trailed off, the number of sceneries running through his mind, each on improbable as the last,

“And Akatuki’s movements…were only a rumor or more likely they had come and left. They were looking for Naruto.” Shikamaru glanced up to Neji. The Hyuuga clan member narrowed his eyes grimly,

“Whose set the trap for who? And how fooled do you think the Uchiha could be? He’s not an idiot.” Neji hissed angrily

“Neither is Naruto.” Shikamaru replied in turn, “He’s planned out every step, every consequence, every turn to the most minute detail, from his training, to taking the robe and scroll…”

“You don’t think he’s dabbled in jutsus that require a living corpse do you?” Neji questioned. Shikamaru twitched his eyebrows down thinking before shaking his head slowly,

“…No…he would only do something to his own body…no one else’s.” Came his soft reply. He stared at the finished shogi board his thoughts swirling madly through his mind. Naruto’s techniques. What he had learned over the years. Changes in his behavior. Changes in his demeanor. All the information that had come in since he’s left. This person Sasuke was with now. His eyes snapped upward,

“It’s a clone.” He said out loud, the Hyuuga twitched at the outburst, and his eyes widened a fraction,

“A..clone? It can’t be that simple.” He replied disbelieving. Shikamaru shook his head,

“It’s not that simple. You know how he can spread his chakra separately; you’ve witnessed firsthand the difficulty of distinguishing the real Naruto with any of his clones. You don’t know until they’re hit.” The Nara explained,

“Then this ‘someone’ Sasuke has followed is probably an exact replica of Naruto himself…there’s defiantly more to this..for being able to withstand such distance separations for not disappearing under an attack...Would there be anyone who would know of what kind of jutsu’s had been put in the forbidden scrolls he used?” Shikamaru asked looked at the Hyuuga. Neji had listened to the explanation thoughtfully before nodding once.

“I think I know who we could ask.” He whispered standing smoothly,

“Jiraiya-sama was the Fourth Hokage’s teacher, and one of his closest friends. As well as Naruto’s own teacher.” Said the Hyuuga genius waiting as Shikamaru stood next to him, a long wary sigh escaping the others lips. A slight smile twitched at Neji’s lips knowing that looking for the Toad-sannin would be quite ‘troublesome’ in Shikamaru’s own words. Shikamaru nodded and before another word passed between them they disappeared looking for the legendary hermit.

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“Suna. I’m sure of it.” Kakashi heard Pakkun say as he bounded ahead of them through the drops of rain. The storm had finally let up, before it would have been impossible to move through the onslaught of rain. At hearing the location Sai’s eyes widened a fraction before narrowing in anger.

“Gaara.” Sai said under his breath. The Sabaku was the only other person Naruto had ever intimately let close. Though he was friends with many he rarely let his façade fall. Sai had been one of the few who knew about the relationship at first between the Kazekage and Naruto. Naruto took whatever missions he could…all of them in fact to Suna, and the Kazekage had come to Konoha quite often as well. Sai pushed faster ahead, his thoughts on a one particular day at first seeing the two of them together.

Sai was on his way to try and urge the young man from his rigorous training…hoping the idea of some sort of companionship for dinner would cheer the young blond man up. Even as emotional deficient Sai was he knew Naruto suffered much. He could feel the familiar chakra rippling from the training ground, but instead of the normal intense pulses that he had come to recognize, they were sporadic peaking and waning before driving upward once more. His eyes narrowed in concern and he moved faster towards the open field. He was expecting to see his teammate hurt or out of control of his chakra. He took note of the destroyed field, his eyes flickering around the expanse of land then they widened at spotting the Kazekage already there with the blond, the tan face held in the pale hands, thumbs rubbing under the cerulean eyes, the young leader leaning forward whispering what seemed to be words of comfort. Sai felt his stomach drop before something like fire ripped up through his chest at the sight and lodged painfully in his throat. Was he too late once more? He watched as their mouths locked and what seemed as knowing fingers trailed up over years of hardened bodies. Narrowing his eyes in rage he disappeared. He had been too late. Again.

“…they lovers?” Sai was pulled from his thoughts with Kakashi’s words. His jaw tightened even more,

“Yes.” Sai said finally. Though they didn’t last very long, Naruto’s heart still yearned for Sasuke, and the Kazekage knew it. The relationship had ended relatively calmly. That was three months ago. He knew Kakashi’s eyes landed on him questioningly but he only pressed forward even faster and buried the memories and his emotions as far down as possible.

Kakashi exhaled quietly turning his attention forward as they moved like the wind closer to their goal. The relationship dynamics that Naruto held with his peers and teammates were all so delicate. His personality itself was something anybody could fall in love with. He glanced at Sai. As hard as the trained nin kept his feelings hidden, the fact he was the one who double crossed the council, just to be the assassin on the Naruto and Sasuke retrieval showed how much he felt for the fourths son. Kakashi let his eyes take in their surroundings, the large trees began to dwindle down into scrublands as they moved and it wasn’t long before they turned into the immense almost impenetrable desert where if one got lost the certainly wouldn’t survive. Darkness had settled deeply around them, and the moon was high in the sky. Pakkun panted lightly, sitting back on his hunches surveying the land.

“You did good.” Kakashi said softly giving the little pugs head a pat before releasing the summoning jutsu. If needed he would call him back, but as of right now, he knew where Sasuke was…and whoever he traveled with.

“If we keep moving we’ll surely get there before dawn.” Said the grey-haired jounin, the rest from the storm had been a nice reprieve but he knew it had cost them time.

“We will get there before dawn.” Sai insisted before taking off among the dunes, his steps light against the sand. Kakashi followed after him,

“If he had wanted you Sai, you would have had his heart by now..” Kakashi murmured under his breath. Sai felt his blood run cold as he heard the words from his partner. Lowering his eyes he let his chakra dance through his body helping him in moving even quicker, Naruto deserved someone better then the Uchiha, someone who wasn’t a traitor. Someone who would care and love him for he was.

“He doesn’t deserve him.” He whispered finally. Kakashi internally sighed; he took in their surroundings the forests leaving his sight altogether very shortly. His gaze shifted to the north catching the glint of something above the ground, he slowed down just slightly but whatever it was, was no longer there. Slowly he turned his attention back to Sai and caught up quickly, his gut twisting unpleasantly not sure of what to make of what he had seen.
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A sharingan eye watched the two as they move into the distance, the mask covering his face move slightly as the figure scratched at his chin, his body in a squatting position on one of the large dunes surveying the area.

“My my…arn't we all having fun now.” The voice said under his breath in a bright fashion before he too melded into nothing.

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TBC

AN: Sooooooooo...yeah, I know it's kinda 'filler' but it's needed i promise!!! I hoped you again enjoyed I should get the next update out within a few weeks (end of the school year and exams so you might get it sooner the later cuz I'll use th angst to help with my anger management XDD)Well, onto all the awesome reviews (I love you all!!)



spanish74: Thank you so much! Yeah, Sasuke's pretty pissed off, he will..if Seiko lets him. There is still so much to talk about! Yes..you are very correct! I'm glad someone picked up on it. And I'm totally flattered ^////////^ thank you so so much!

AngelicChaos: hehe like i explained, Seiko's a special clone, actually not really a clone, he is Naruto's soul in part. Yes..someone does need to get there and knock some sense into the blonds head..i totally agree!! Thank you so much I hope i delivered again!!


Sneakyfox: Yeah...you woulnd't belive how many times i've changed this plot and ideas that have come through because of reviewers and what not. I have a plot idea on the actual Word document...that needs to be totally re-written now...lol...i know how some writers have an idea completly thought out..almost chapter to chapter..but i seem to work best when I don't have a true plan and i let the ideas flow..so I'm I cna't wait to see how this unfolds too!! Yeah their will be a little more that soon as well, and maybe just a little..very little smut just quench some thirsty smut-whores out there (i would be one. XDD I'm dying to writing *something* a bit dirty for this,) Alright..now i'm rambling...@~@, thank you thank you! I will certainly try!!!


heartlock: ^______________^ I'm really glad it does! I'm trying really hard to not stop the surprises and keep everyone wanting more! I hope i didn't disappoint! Thank you and I hope you enjoyed this one as well!!

Suzieuchiha: Thank you thank you thank you SO MUCH for pointing that out. For how many Naruto fanifcs i've written i make the stupidest mistakes -sighs in defeat- thanks again ^^ i'm glad you pointed it out!! I have no idea where I got it either XDDD just one of those things..I guess I got tired of reading Naruto fanfics that had him running away, and being so powerful and whatnot. He becuase too...perfect, and we all know he's not...and I like the fact that Sasuke is after him now instead..maybe thats why..hmm.. I hope you enjoyed this update truly ^^


Sa-Chan: Thank you very much! I had hoped it would!! Hehe..there will be a little bit more Gaara ofter this, because he is a key element of the story. Thank you thank you I hope i didn't disapooint you with this chapter!! I know it's only like a filler ^^ I hope you enjoyed!!


airhead622: I'm trying i'm trying!! It takes a long time to get these kinds of things together you know!! hehe. But i am happy that you've enjoyed it so much!!!But no dying!!! I can't lose a reviewer!!! -breathes air into-..no dying!! This one is probably just as bad...oh noes..no tears either!! -offers tissue- I promise theire will be more!! I haven't quit!!

Gwyllion: Thank you so muhc! I know this update maybe not so much -winces- No...not good. Naruto is never up to any good...-sighs-. Thank you so much!! Hope you liked this update!!!

Robyn: Thanks!!! -blushes- Wow..I'm on a fav list -dance dance- danke once more, i hope i didn't disappoint!!

...Ari Ari -fans face like Uruhara-san-...what an amount of reviews..wheeeeeeeeew....please keep them coming..I'll update sooner!!! Exams or no!!!