Growing Up Sakura

I have finished CH 17 which is the tale end of Ch 7 on this site so if you've already read it skip ahead to the:

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Chapter 15: Better Suna Than Later!, Chapter 16: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,
Chapter 17: On the Road Again

“Sakura!” called Ino running through the late afternoon crowd towards a startled pink haired Kunochi, “ Where the hell have you been! I’ve been looking for you forever! You haven’t been at your apartment all weekend! Here!”


Ino shoved the small bag that Sakura had brought with her to the bar what seemed like years ago into her arms.


“I’ve been trying to give that back to you forever! You left it on the counter at the bar! Yawara and I looked for you but the bartender said you left with a tall red head. Anything interesting happen that you should tell me about forehead?” Ino said coyly smiling widely at her friend.


Sakura felt like she had been slapped. The good mood that had been delicately balanced ever since she had her new outfit designed and purchased a really nice pair of black boot sandals evaporated. For a horrible instant she was back in that room shoving Ryu off of her as he-


“Sakura are you ok?” Ino asked instantly concerned as Sakura dropped both the pack she had just given her and a shopping bag that looked to be from a shoe store. What worried her most was the blank but scared look on her face, “Sakura? What’s wrong? Sakura!”


Sakura came aware as Ino grabbed her arm and quickly stammered, “FINE! Fine, sorry, I just, nothing. I just remembered I have to go prepare for my mission tomorrow. Thanks for my bag Ino, I’ll catch you when I get back ok?


Sakura quickly picked up her bags from the street and dashed off, transporting to her apartment after she turned the corner. Dropping them on the floor she barely made it to her couch as she dissolved into tears.


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“Kakashi! My fierce rival! You’ve finally joined us!” Gai said loudly tears pouring down his cheeks like little waterfalls, “Prepare to continue our battle for-“


“Hn, did you say something Gai?” Kakashi asked turning a droopy eye to the beautiful green beast.


“Your response once again is so cool! I don’t get it!” Gai grumbled quietly continuing to cry.


“Late as usual Kakashi?” Asuma said relieved that he actually showed up this time and decided to let up a bit on Genma.


“Are the ladies coming tonight?” Genma asked winking.


“No Kurenai and Anko are still on a mission,” Asuma responded lighting a cigarette and signaling the waitress to come over. She was tall, with wavy brown hair to her shoulders and deep brown eyes. She slinked her way over the group of men and proceeded to take their orders.


“What’ll it be tonight boys?” asked the waitress smiling at the group of handsome ninja.


“Sake,” said Kakashi.


“Sake,” said Gai.


“Beer,” said Asume.


“Same ” said Genma.


“So all of you guys are ninja huh?,” asked the waitress giggling.


“Space cadet,” thought Kakashi rolling his eye and sharing a knowing glance with Asuma.


“That’s right baby. We spend our days fighting to keep Konoha and Fire country safe,” said Genma smiling lecherously at the girl.


“Or spying on people through windows,” Kakashi muttered just loud enough for Asuma to hear.


“Wow! You’re so heroic,” replied the girl batting her eyelashes at Genma. “Can I get you guys something to eat too?”


“Just some kaki-pi,” answered Asuma nudging Genma in the ribs trying to pry the jounins eyes off of the waitress.


“Some arare please,” said Genma swiveling his senbon from one side of his mouth to the other.


“Do you ever hurt yourself doing that? It looks so sharp?” asked the girl leaning over to examine the senbon and revealing an appealing amount of cleavage in the process.


“If I cut my lip would you kiss it better?” Genma asked resting his arm on the table and leaning towards the waitress with a smoldering look.


“Maybe,” giggled the girl as she turned and swayed her way back to the bar.


“How in the world do you get girls with lines like that?” asked Asuma constantly astonished at his senbon chewing friend.


“He goes after the girls on the same mental level as him,” Kakashi replied.


“At least I actually go after girls, I don’t just go through their-” Genma started then catching a deadly look from Kakashi changed what he was going to say with a gulp and finished lamely with,“ minds . . . for conversations. . . .”
Asuma and Gai both stared wide-eyed at Genma and Kakashi noticing the decidedly odd exchange.


“Has Genma been spying on you through windows while you go through girls ‘minds’ Kakashi?” Asuma asked trying not to choke on his cigarette as he laughed. He didn’t get where he was as a shinobi without being able to put pieces together.


“I-” Kakashi began awkwardly.


“Yeah, I caught him over at HQ flirting with some new Kunochi over some scrolls. Pretending like he knew anything about them. It was so pitiful. You’ll never get a girl showing off over a scroll,” Genma covered, giving Kakashi a wink.


“I guess you’re right, after all I’m here with you guys tonight,” Kakashi answered relieved to have skewed away from the truth.


“Have no fear my rival, love will bloom even when in the summer of our lives!” Gai exclaimed enthusiastically.


“Look, here’s our order,” Asuma said nodding towards the waitress that was once again fixated on Genma.


“I love how colorful the arare are this time of year!” said the waitress as she set down the men’s drinks and snacks.


“That’s right it’s almost the doll festival,” Kakashi muttered contemplating as he grabbed a handful of the snacks and expertly maneuvered them into his mouth without letting anyone get so much as a peep at his face.


“Sure Kakashi you can have some!” Genma said loudly rolling his eyes.


The motion was wasted as Kakashi expertly took no notice of his needle chewing friend and proceeded to sip his drink, making plans for the future.

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Naruto stood at the door outside of the room where missions were assigned staring irritated at the clock on the wall and wondering WHERE THE BLOODY HELL HIS TEAM MATES WERE!! Honestly, it was already 10:00am and he was ready for a mission already. At long last his team was finally going to be together again and here he was the only freaking one here!


“Yo,” Kakashi waved over his book as he poofed in front of the door beside Naruto. “Sorry I’m late I . . . Sakura’s not here yet?”


“Kaka-sensei! You’re late! But for once Sakura is even later. She’s not here yet. Do you think she forgot?” Naruto asked scratching the back of his whiskered head. “Maybe we should go find her?”


Kakashi was about to agree, suddenly worried when the pink haired Kunochi in question stepped around the corner. Naruto and Kakashi couldn’t help but stand there with their mouths open as the sight of their long time teammate took hold. Sakura suddenly looked every bit her age and no longer the timid boy crazy 12 year old. Her new outfit fit her to a T and subtly showed off the curves that the previous outfit had left lacking. Her sleeveless red shirt with the Chinese collar that still sported her family sign of the white circle went marvelously with the tight black shorts and cute little whitish pink skirt that went over it. New high heeled shinobi boots showed off her legs to great effect but would certainly serve another purpose as far as protecting her mostly bare legs, provide hiding spaces for weapons and would no doubt be quite painful to anyone she kicked with those heels. Most striking of all though was the black mask with white lining that covered her face from below her eyes to what looked like just where her jaw met her neck. All at once their Sakura looked fierce and womanly, the very picture of the perfect Kunochi.


That was what one would think of course if you hadn’t known her for years and could see the tiny lines that indicate worry or upset at the very corners of her eyes. At least that was what Kakashi thought he saw. Naruto on the other hand was all cheers and proceeded to run up to her and give her a huge bear hug, or in his case “fox hug”, and for once Sakura let him instead of punching his lights out.


“Sakura-chan you look great! Where did you come up with this outfit? And what’s up with the mask?” Naruto asked letting go and stepping back to get a better look at his friend.


“I’ll catch you guys up later, I think we’ve kept the hokage waiting long enough to get our new assignment don’t you?” Sakura asked taking Naruto and Kakashi’s hand and pulling them into the next room with her.
The two boys stumbled behind Sakura’s strong grip on their wrists but righted themselves quickly and all three went to stand in front of Tsunade and Shizune who sat behind a great big desk piled high with missions.


“So you all finally decided to show up eh?” Tsunade asked arching her brow at the three in front of her doing her part to add to the guilt. “I hope nobody needs to depend on your sense of time to survive in this mission because I might as well just sign their death warrant now.”


“Please excuse us hokage-sama,” Kakashi said humbly, “ Naruto and I were waiting just outside the door for Sakura but-“


“You mean I was the one waiting for BOTH of you!” Naruto yelled pointing a finger at Kakashi and Sakura.


“You try to blame it all on ME copy ninja!” Sakura shrieked, eye twitching above her mask.


“Enough!” Tsunade said forcefully, “I think we’ve wasted enough time don’t you?”


“Yes hokage-sama,” all three said in varying tones of voice from remorseful to justified.


“I have a very important mission to assign to you and for this mission your fourth will be Shirunai Genma,” Tsunade announced, “Genma has already been appraised of the mission and will be waiting for you with the rest of your party the west gates when I am through with you.”


“Rest of our party?” Naruto asked.


“If you’ll let me FINISH Naruto!” yelled Tsunade glaring at the young blond haired demon fox. “This is a three part mission and I don’t think I need to emphasize the importance of it in light of the news regarding Sasuke. I believe you have all been informed about his probable demise?”


Tsunade waited as the three nodded, Kakashi looking straight faced, Sakura a bit sad and Naruto defiant.

“The first part of your mission is to escort a party of four sand ninja back to Suna. One of their members has had a mysterious illness recently. I have checked on him myself and he seems to be sound in body other then some bruises but his mental state has been a bit unbalanced and he can’t remember what happened to him. It is very dangerous that someone is attacking our allies in our own village at this time and I want you all to keep a close eye on him and the rest of his group on the way back to make sure that nothing happens to them. The injured one’s name is Yamamoto Ryu, his team leader is Murakami Kenta, his teammates are Hashimoto Masaru and Hamada Takumi. After escorting them safely home you will report immediately to the kazegage. Gaara has been ill for some time and I want Sakura to inspect him and hopefully heal him. We need to cement our allies right now. The third part of the mission is to continue investigating exactly what is going on with Orochimaru and Akatsuki. There have been rumors of sightings around the borders of Fire and Sand countries and I want you to spend two weeks surveying the border to see what you can find. I have a lot of teams out there right now working on this already of course but since you’ll be in the area I want to take advantage. After healing Gaara I will send you more details on that third part of your mission. I have mission scrolls for each of you. You need to meet Genma nad the sand team at the gates by 12:30, no later. This means YOU Kakashi!” Tsunade finished up turning the evil eye on the slouching copy ninja.


“Leave now and study you missions, Sakura stay behind for a moment,” Tsunade said indicating that the others leave.


Kakashi poofed away and Naruto made his way to the door with a big grin on his face excited about getting a mission that had some meat to it.


“Sakura-chan,” Tsunade began, “I have some separate scrolls for you to study regarding the kazekage’s illness. I believe you also know the shinobi who was attacked don’t you? Wasn’t he the one-”


“Yes hokage-sama. I seem to recall meeting him,” Sakura said calmly not letting any emotion touch her voice.


“I want you to keep a special eye on him and offer any healing that he may need. I think he’s fine but this whole thing is a mystery that I have a bad feeling about and I want you to be on your toes,”Tsunade continued.


“Yes hokage-sama,” Sakura replied.

“You are dismissed, Shizune has the scrolls pulled for you and they are waiting at your desk in the hospital. Oh, and Sakura?” Tsunade said as Sakura turned to leave. “I like your outfit. It suits you very well.”


“Thank you very much Tsunade-sama. It’s a new me,” Sakura said sedately as she strolled through the doors and out to prepare for her mission.
Sakura was able to successfully remain in a mind numbing fog as she collected the scrolls from her desk and then went home to prepare for her mission. It was when she had herself completely packed and ready that she suddenly burst into hysterical tears and collapsed to her knees just inside her front door. Sobbing she slowly bent forward and leaned her head against her door shaking and trying to gasping for air. After several minutes she was thankful for her new mask because without it she surely would be hyperventilating.


“I’m so fucking stupid!” she thought, gently banging her head against the door. “ What did I think would happen he’d just disappear and I’d never see him again?”


In fact she knew deep down that’s what she was hoping for. He’d just return to Suna and she’d never seek him out again. Now here she was, supposed to be his personal caretaker or something. To heal HIM after what he did to her, and she did to herself. A wave of guilt rolled over her at her reaction. She knew the whole thing was not Ryu’s fault she could’ve stayed at the bar with Ino. WHY didn’t she stay at the bar with Ino.


“Oh my gosh, what’s he going to say when I see him? What do I say? What is Kakashi going to do?” Sakura froze at this thought stilling her crying.


“Time to grow up Sakura,” she said to herself forcibly calming her breathing, “You’re a ninja and you need to act like one.”


Slowly Sakura rose from the floor, pulling herself up on the door knob. Absently she reached into her pack for a new mask as the one she had on was currently soaked. Dry mask donned she took her pack strapped in on, made a mental feel for all of her weapons placed around her body since this was a new outfit, the layout was a bit different. Knowing that she had everything she needed physically she took a quick look in the mirror she had beside her door to check herself before she left.


“I look fine,” Sakura thought a little stunned.


With the fresh mask on it hid most of the signs of her little fit and anyone would think that she was calm cool and collected. Because she looked it she started to feel that way as well.


“I think adopting this mask was the best idea I’ve had in a long time,” Sakura thought securing her confidence and locking up her apartment.


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Kakashi poofed into his apartment and quickly got his things together in preparation for the mission. He was extremely worried about Sakura on this mission. Frankly he was worried about what he might do on this mission.


He went over in his mind exactly what he had said to Ryu when he had him under his spell.


“I will then hypnotize you once more so you do not remember me ever coming here or talking to you and the only thing you will remember is the pain of what you’re going through now so hopefully you will never prey on an innocent girl again. Oh, and you will never ever go near my Sakura again or even think of touching her or telling anyone what you did to her you sick little oversexed pervert.”


How was this going to work out with him commanding Ryu not to go near her.


“I guess it will all depend on his interpretation of the commands. Near could be 10 feet or 1 inch,” Kakashi pondered. He should have thought this out more carefully, but truthfully he never thought they would ever be on a mission together.


“I should have just killed him,” Kakashi thought pouting as he secured his pack and made his way to the gates. Despite what Tsunade had commanded, he wasn’t going to be there nearly on time for her, but to keep an eye on Sakura.


“I might have to use my Sharingen on him again to adjust the commands,” the copy-nin pondered as he made his way across the village. “This could be terribly awkward.”


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“Naruto-kun, do you know how long you’ll be gone?” Hinata asked meekly as she leaned against the wall of his apartment watching him pack.


“At least three weeks, probably more like a month and a half. Depends on how long it takes to get to Suna with this injured guy, and then how fast Sakura-chan is able to fix Gaara-sama,” Naruto replied shoving cup after cup of ramen into his bag.


“Do you think that you’ll actually be able to find anything out about your old team mate on your mission?” asked the white-eyed girl.


“No doubt about it Hinata-chan! Me, Kaka-sensei, and Sakura-chan are sure to figure this thing out!” Naruto replied with his typical confidence.


“You always have so much confidence and faith in your team Naruto-kun. I admire that so much,” replied Hinata lovingly as the blond haired shinobi stood up and put on his pack.


“I have faith in you too Hinata-chan,” Naruto said, bending over the Hyuuga and kissing her thoroughly.


“Good luck on your mission Naruto-kun!” Hinata called as Naruto straightened his pack and ran out of the apartment waving cheerfully back at his girlfriend.


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“So what exactly happened to you?” Genma asked leaning against the city wall with the sand team and toying with his senbon. He was chatting with the injured on while the rest of his team was off about 100 yards away doing a little training.


“I don’t know. It’s the craziest thing. Whenever I try to remember it’s like my mind just slides around the answer. I was on a date with this really hot girl-,” Ryu started.


“Hot girl?” Genma asked now at full attention.


“Yeah, she’s a real babe. I’ve never seen anyone quite like her before. I met her in Suna when she was on a mission there. Pink hair. She’s like right out of a porno you know?” Ryu elaborated. “Well I remember bringing her back to my room and I know that she was totally hot for me and I can remember what we did together you know, but I can’t get it out. I just couldn’t tell you if my life depended on it. Then I don’t even remember anything until Masaru and Takumi over there found me. Now I keep shaking at odd times and I can’t control it and I feel . . . unbalanced.”


“That’s really strange,” Genma said thoughtfully. “Pink hair? You can’t mean Haruno Sakura do you?”


“Yeah! That’s her,” Ryu said. “Why, you know her?”


“Somewhat,” Genma answered, “Hard not to know the only girl in town with pink hair.”


“Yeah, well one thing I am able to say about that night. I’d stay away from her cause she’s a cock-tease,” Ryu muttered bitterly.


“I would keep thoughts like that to yourself since she and her team are going to be the one’s accompanying you and your team back to Suna,” Genma said in a dangerously quiet voice.


Genma glared at the young red haired Jounin in front of him switching his senbon from one side of his mouth to the other. He was getting bad vibes from this guy and he wasn’t an idiot. He could put two and two together between what this guy just said and the way Kakashi had been acting about Sakura, he knew something bad had gone down and he hoped that it hadn’t gone as far as it seemed like it had. He wondered about how Tsunade could not have put two and two together on this. Even if she didn’t know about how weird Kakashi had been acting the past few days she should have questioned Sakura since she was the last person to see this guy and figured something wasn’t on the up and up. He needed to know more.


“Did you tell the Hokage about you and Sakura?” Genma asked forcing his voice into a friendly one.


“Tell the Hokage herself that her apprentice is a cock tease? Hell no! I just said I didn’t remember anything at all about that night. I was just mentioning it guy to guy,” Ryu said defensively holding up his hands.


“Thanks,” Genma said trying not to roll his eyes.


Sure he had more than his fair share of the ladies but they were all more then willing when it came time for sex. He may flirt a little heavy even if they didn’t want it, but it was all in good fun and most knew it. Genma got the sense that this guy was more forceful in taking what he wanted and took a dislike to him. Women were wondrous beautiful creatures and he didn’t like the idea of this guy messing with them. He decided that he didn’t like this guy and he was going to have a word with Kakashi to get some details as soon as practical.


Naruto showed up first, running over towards Genma and Ryu waving his hand in a vigorous hello.


“Hey Naruto,” Genma said monotone rolling his eyes and contemplating a full mission with the energetic Kyubi container and not thrilled by it.


“Where’s Kaka-sensei and Sakura-chan?” Naruto asked.


“Not here yet, you’re a bit early,” Genma replied.


“Hi, I’m Uzamaki Naruto,” Naruto stated happily turning to Ryu.


“Yamamoto Ryu,” Ryu replied giving Naruto slight wave.


“You’re the hurt one right?” asked Naruto.


“Yep,” replied Ryu.


“Let’s save the introductions until everyone gets here, ok Naruto? Ryu, why don’t you go over to your team and make sure everyone’s ready. I have a feeling we’ll be leaving soon,” Genma said placing a firm hand on Naruto’s shoulder and walking him away from Ryu.


“Genma! What’s up!” Naruto whined as Genma quickly released his shoulder and instead smacked him upside the head.


“Shut up dobe! Listen for once!” Genma said irritated. “I want you to keep an eye on that Ryu guy.”


“Well DUH Genma, that’s the mission isn’t it?!” Naruto said annoyed as he rubbed his sore head.

“No teme! I mean I have a bad feeling about him. I think . . .” Genma paused as he considered how much to tell the volatile young blond. On the one hand Naruto was a good ninja and he could be helpful on watching our for Ryu, on the other hand if he said too much he might take matters immediately into his own hands for the sake of his pink haired team mate with no evidence and then everything that Genma suspected Kakashi and Sakura were trying to hide would be burst into the open. With that thought firmly in his mind Genma shifted his senbon to the other side of his mouth and continued, “I think that he’s a womanizer and he might try and bother Sakura so make sure he doesn’t get too close to her ok?”


“You pervert! Womanizer huh? Takes one to know one you know. Well I’ll keep an eye out for Sakura-chan but I think I’ll watch out for YOU too,” Naruto said nose in the air and arms crossed.


“Don’t worry about me, I think someone else already has their eye on her,” Genma chuckled quietly spinning the senbon with his tongue.


“WHAAAAAT? Who!” Naruto started.


“Yo,” Kakashi greeted as he poofed between Naruto and Genma.


“Hey Kaka-sensei Genma just said someone- OW!” Naruto cried grabbing his butt and pulling out a senbon that was lodged a good in it. “What the fuck was that for!”


“Sorry, coughed,” Genma said deadpan and gave Kakashi a significant look that spoke of a needed private conference as soon as the mission allowed.


“Coughed! Damn it! I think I need Sakura-chan to heal this or I’m gonna be limping for the next hour!” Naruto whined putting pressure on the wound.


“Tough for you! Now there’s no way I can put that senbon back in my mouth!” Genma replied.


“YOU-” Naruto began.


“Naruto, why are you holding your butt?” Sakura asked as she walked up and joined her team.


“Sakura-chan! Can you heal me please! Genma-teme ‘coughed’ and stuck his senbon up my-” Naruto whined.


“I get the point Naruto,” Sakura said tilting her eyebrow. “Come here silly.”


“Thanks Sakura!” Naruto said relieved as he hopped over to his teammate and bent over a little to give her access.


Sakura placed her hand over Naruto’s wound and in a matter of seconds repaired the damage. It was always interesting healing Naruto, since the nine tails spirit always helped him to heal fast anyway, she liked to see how much energy she actually need to output for different kinds of injuries on him. Job finished she stood up and said, “Let’s get moving guys!”


“Murakami-san! Gather your team and let’s do introductions on the road!” Genma called as he Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura straightened there packs and headed down the road towards the team from sand.


“Hai!” answered Murakami as his team also gathered and joined in with the leaf team.


The teams began a simple traveling formation with the team leaders Murakami-san and Kakashi taking the lead, and the other two Naruto hadn’t met yet running with Genma in the rear, leaving himself, Sakura and the hurt guy in the middle. Naruto just made out the one he’d learned earlier was Ryu leaning towards Sakura and saying something the beginning of which he missed but ended “- you just whore yourself around huh, fondling your own team mates ass.”


To his great surprise Sakura didn’t haul off and punch him, as he would have expected, she actually stumbled a step and he saw her eyebrows knit tightly together. Naruto was shocked and extremely angry at how this guy was treating his friend, but lacking another explanation he figured she was just trying to ignore the guy in order to preserve the mission. After all she was supposed to be ready to heal the guy. Naruto decided to take Genma’s advice on this guy and he figured that until the guy need healing he didn’t need to be within speaking distance of his Sakura-chan. He would also do his best to keep the guy healthy so Sakura wouldn’t have to get close enough to heal him.


Naruto grabbed him by the elbow and pulled him a good 10 feet in front of Sakura smothering him with questions about Suna to keep his mind away from his friend.


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Sakura was so startled by Ryu’s comment she didn’t even respond. In fact she barely noticed when Naruto grabbed him not to gently by the arm and pulled him in front of her so that she was running behind the two of them while Naruto made loud constant conversation.


Sakura took deep breaths attempting to calm her recently re-agitated nerves wondering how the hell she was going to get through this mission. Maybe Naruto would keep him distracted the whole trip. God knows he can talk long enough. Fortune decided not to smile on her however because as they had continued at a good pace for nearly and hour and a half Sakura suddenly noticed a change in Ryu’s footsteps and before she or Naruto who was still beside him noticed, he fainted dead away falling at an alarming rate from the branch he had just landed on. Sakura was barely able to leap underneath him and catch him since she was following behind them. Kakashi and Murakami-san stopped immediately and Genma and the two other sand nin landed beside her immediately helping her to find a safe flat place to lay him out. Before she could even begin to muster her chakra to examine him his eyelids started to flutter open and he looked up dazed and confused.


“What . . . what happened,” Ryu asked stiltedly.


“You fainted,” Sakura said quietly nervous at their proximity. She mentally shook herself and gathered her chakra to inspect him. Tsunade was right of course, his body seemed to be in fine shape, she could see no reason why he would have fainted. “What is the last thing you remember Yamamoto-san?”


“Naruto saying something. Or asking something. Yeah he was asking me something,” Ryu answered slurring slightly.


All eyes turned to Naruto who, now the center of attention, turned a bright red and quickly closed his eyes scratching the back of his head sheepishly.


“What were you discussing Naruto,” Kakashi asked blandly, eyeing Genma significantly.


“Umm, I don’t - I mean – I’m not sure what-” Naruto stammered.


“It doesn’t matter,” Sakura cut in quickly. “How do you feel now?”


“Fine, my head felt a bit foggy there but it’s clear now,” Ryu answered smiling brightly and sitting up, “Good thing too, I hear sometimes when people aren’t thinking clearly they can assault people for no reason. I would hate to think that my foggy head could cause someone potentially permanent harm.”


It took all of Sakura’s strength not to begin to cry or punch him so hard into the ground the term face plant would take on an all-new meaning. Fortunately Kakashi and Genma came forward and pulled Ryu to his feet quickly, and if they dusted him off a little hard well, stubborn dirt stains can be hard to remove.


“I think we should re-arrange our dynamics considering Yamamoto-san’s condition. Kenta-san would you have Masaru-san and Takumi-san flank their injured team mate so that if he falls again they can catch him?” Kakashi suggested, going on at their nods, “Genma, I’d like you up front with me and if Kenta-san would be so kind he could take up with Sakura at the rear and help keep an eye on Yamamoto-san.”


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The new formation was taken up and they started off again, jumping into the tree tops.


Kakashi and Genma sped together silently in front until they had gained enough distance not to be overheard but still in sight.


“Kakashi I want to know what’s going on. I think I figured it out already but I think I need to know,” Genma asked quietly senbon laying still in the corner of his mouth.


“Figured out what?” Kakashi asked.


“Don’t give me that bullshit!” Genma started roughly.


“No I’m serious I need to know what you figured out and how. It’s important,” Kakashi answered seriously.


Genma eyed him suspiciously and then decided to answer, “First tell me if I’m right.”


Kakashi remained silent neither agreeing nor disagreeing.


“Fine, I believe that Ryu guy got fresh with Sakura and I don’t mean in the charming way like I do. I think he’s hurt her and I suspect she somehow came to you for help. I’m not sure what you did but since he apparently didn’t have bodily injuries I don’t think Sakura pounded him too hard and neither did you so you must have done something to mess with his head,” Genma concluded.


“Right so far,” Kakashi answered quietly, “How did you figure it out?”


“Come on man, I can put the pieces together! She’s at your place, you go to her place to get her clothes, that Ryu guy tells me she’s a cock-tease-” Genma was cut off in his listing as Kakashi grabbed his flak vest and pulled him closer in mid leap almost causing the two of them to end up in a mangled heap on the forest floor.


“HE SAID WHAT!?” Kakashi whisper/screamed into Genma’s ear.


“Damn it man!” Genma said pulling loose from Kakashi’s grip and irritatedly shifting his senbon to the other side of his mouth, coincidently the side that Kakashi was on.


“Tell me exactly what he said to you,” Kakashi asked menacingly.


Genma recounted the conversation that he’d had with Ryu earlier that day mentioning the blacked out bits of memory and the insulting things he had said about Sakura.


“Well it’s not as bad as I thought,” Kakashi thought out loud to himself, “but still might need to be fixed.”


“What’s going on Kakashi? What did you do to the guy?” Genma asked curious.


Kakashi glanced quickly away from Genma and scratched the back of his head, a hint of a blush might have been visible from the space between his mask and his forehead protecter.


“Kakashi!” Genma said sternly.


“Well, in the heat of the moment, it could be that I used my mangekyo on him,” answered Kakashi.


“What!” Genma yelled earning him interested looks from the ninja behind them. Kakashi turned back crinkling and eye and waving to show everything was ok.


“Shut up Genma!” Kakashi strained through clenched teeth.


“Right sorry, now you did what to him exactly,” Genma said putting another senbon in his mouth as he had inadvertently spit the other one into a passing tree.


“I put him in a genjutsu where he raped himself for each time he did so to a girl and then commanded him not to get near Sakura or tell anyone what happened,” Kakashi explained calmly.


“Damn man! Make sure I never get on you bad side,” Genma grumbled eyeing Kakashi, “Well it looks like you literally fucked his mind man. You might have to fix that before we get to Suna and they figure it out somehow.”


“I know, I know. I really didn’t expect it to affect him like this. I’ve never had something like this happen before. I’ve told people to forget things many times in past missions and I’ve never heard of any black outs or fainting.” Kakashi said worried, “I think I’m probably going to have to remove the genjutsu but I’ll need your help to get him away from the others. Sakura doesn’t know what I did and I don’t want her to find out. She made me promise not to hurt him.”


“Oh, so that’s why you didn’t arrange an ‘accident’,” Genma replied understanding dawning on him.

Silence passed between the two friends each in their own thoughts.


“Did you learn anything about that guy from his team leader?” Genma asked.


“A little. We talked a bit while we ran ahead. It seems he just passed their Jounin test a short time ago. Kenta-san said this is the first time he’s been teamed up with him he’s met him a time or two and apparently Hashimoto Masaru and Hamada Takumi have worked with him before. Kenta-san said the Ryu struck him as an ok guy, thinks with his dick too much but on a mission he’s a valuable asset. Apparently he has a knack for inventing new jutsu. Kenta-san was perplexed as to why he was sent on this bodyguard mission as usually he stays in Suna working in their headquarters.” Kakashi told Genma.


“I chatted with those two while we ran,” Genma replied. “Masaru says Ryu has some mad skills and he hopes that he’ll snap out of whatever funk he’s in. He strikes me as and arrogant little bastard. Takumi didn’t seem to like Ryu or frankly Masaru at all. He said he’s worked under Kenta for years but I really couldn’t get much out of him. I don’t think he feels comfortable talking to a leaf ninja after the ‘attack’ on Ryu.”


“Yeah, it’s going to be difficult to get Ryu by himself, and I really need to rest up if I’m going to use the mangekyo again without showing any strain. Are you in Genma,” Kakashi asked turning to his friend.


“Was there ever a question?” Genma asked smirking around his senbon.


OK my grandparents are here from New York and I must visit with them so please forgive me my short chapters! Hope you still enjoy and I will make sure NEVER to let it get that long between updates!