Caught in the Fray

(Sorry for the shortness)

Purpose…

That’s what had always searched for…wasn’t it Rei? You understood me the best didn’t you…

Kosuke lay on top of the Hokage monument thinking. He looked up at the sun, his eyes squinting in the process. The image of a black-haired girl, smiling flashed before him. He could feel tears swelling up in his eyes.

I’m sorry…

He sat up. “I’m so sorry Rei…Please forgive me…”

- - - - - -

Sasuke ran his fingers through his hair. He looked at the boy in front of him. Kosuke was too absorbed in the scene of the forest around him, the water fall they were on top of and the clear water pool below. It reminded him of someone. He and Sasuke had traveled to a little spot in the forest for training. Sasuke had told them they would try different martial arts styles to be a well-rounded fighter.

“Kosuke.” Sasuke’s voice snapped his from he thoughts. He looked at the older ninja, tilting his head curiously.

“Yes Sasuke-san?”

“What do you know about chakra?”

“Well…chakra is needed for ninjutsu, genjutsu, and some taijutsu. As well as…”

“No.” Sasuke cut him off. “The seven chakras of the body.” Sasuke started to circle the boy. “Today, we’re going to open your third eye…”

“My third eye?” Sasuke stopped and looked at Kosuke. Quick as lightning Sasuke struck Kosuke in the forehead with two fingers like his brother used to do. Sasuke pulled his fingers away and smirked as Kosuke rubbed the spot, pouting a bit. “There is your third eye. It is the Chakra of awareness. When the eye is open you are more perceptible, you can read body language, sense emotion and in some cases predict certain events such as movement, events or attacks…Premonition if you will”

“This is going to help me how…?” Kosuke raised an eyebrow.

“When you have the eye open, training will be at least ten times as fast.”

“And how do I open my…third eye…?”

“That, Kosuke, is the hard part of this training…” Sasuke grinned and jumped from the waterfalls height, softly landing on the water below using chakra. Kosuke frowned before following.

“What do I have to do?” Kosuke asked, trying to balance himself on the waters surface.

“The first step is to clear the mind of all thought.” Sasuke began walking to the waterfall, Kosuke following behind him. “To do that we must prepare the body to prepare the mind.”

Kosuke sighed. “You want me to sit under the waterfall don’t you?” He mumbled. Unknown to the two raven haired ninjas down below a pair of green eyes watched intensely.

- - - - - -

“What do you think?” Tsunade sat behind her desk looking at the grey haired. Kakashi crossed his arms.

“I’m not quiet sure…He gave off a strong aura…a strangely familiar one…” He gazed out the window at the busy town down below. “What do you have on your mind?”

“Hm…” Tsunade looked at the unfinished paper work deep in thought. As she was about to reply to Kakashi an annoyed look crossed her features. She looked at the wall behind Kakashi and scowled. “Come out, there’s no use hiding…” Kakashi looked over his shoulder expectantly. A sudden whirlwind of sand revealed Gaara with a blank look on his face.

“And what bring the Kazekage to Konoha?” Kakashi said not really surprised.

“Were you spying on them?” Tsunade looked at him curiously. Gaara nodded. “And your sure you don’t recognize him?”

“I do recognize him, but not from Suna.” Tsunade arched an eyebrow. “A couple of years ago…While I was on a mission in Kiri…” Gaara stopped for a moment directing his attention to the large doors to the office. A soft tapping at the door was heard.

“Tsunade-sama!” Shizune’s voice was heard muffled by the door. “We have a problem!”

“Enter.” Tsunade said standing up from behind the desk. The door was swiftly opened and Shizune walked in. “What is it Shizune?” Shizune walked up to the desk and laid down a bloody Konoha headband.”

“What is the meaning of this…?” Tsunade’s eyes looked into Shizune’s.

“It was left with a note…” Shizune handed her the scroll which also had some blood stains. Narrowing her eyes, she unrolled the parchment and began to read.

“This is…”

- - - - - -

His body had gone numb a while ago. The clouds in his mind cleared. He was no longer aware of surrounding. Kosuke sat under the water fall motionless, his mind now on a higher level.

A boy in a black cloak stood near by, hidden in the bush, peering at the unaware Kosuke. So this is where your hiding eh?

As he took a step forward he stopped. Another person made himself know. Sasuke landed on the pool of water like before. Walking over to Kosuke silently. Kosuke’s eyes snapped open his meeting with Sasuke’s.

“Good now we can begin training.”

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Neji Hyuuga was a patient man. He never acted out, never blamed anyone falsely, and never got enraged…but this. Tsunade’s eyes down cast, unable to look at the disgruntled man. Her office nearly destroyed, papers scattered everywhere, her desk broken in two, holes in various places on the wall. She however was not angry. She couldn’t be. In the middle of her office was Neji on his knees, his face red from anger and tears falling down his cheek.

Gripped in his hand tightly was the bloody head protector Tsunade had received earlier. She wanted to consol him. She herself knew the pain of losing the one you care for.

“I’m sorry Neji…” She rubbed her temple.

“What do they want?” Neji said curtly.

“They want the eyes of a main branch Hyuuga…the council has already refused.” Neji’s eyes narrowed and his fists clenched.

“Then allow me to gather a team to retrieve him…”

“We can send a team but you cannot…” Neji growled, glaring up at the blond woman.

“You won’t let me retrieve my own son…?”

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Sun rays entered through the window and landed on Sasuke’s face. The uncomfortable sunlight caused Sasuke to stretch his legs. He stilled when he felt two legs entangled with his. Opening his eyes slightly he spotted a head of black hair resting on his chest. Sasuke sighed, unconsciously stroking Kosuke’s head. Looking over to his alarm clock he saw that it was already ten o’ clock.

Yawning he slowly slipped out of bed, leaving the Kosuke in the bed. Taking one more look at the boy Sasuke headed down stairs toward the kitchen. Groggily he searched the refrigerator looking for the orange juice. He then remembered that his new house guest had finished it.

“Do you normally let the boy sleep with you?” A deep voice came from the corner of the kitchen. Sasuke’s body stiffened. Turning sharply he spotted Gaara sitting on the counter in boxers and a t-shirt with a carton of milk in his hands.

“Do you normally drink another person’s milk straight from the carton…?” Sasuke said lowly. Gaara shrugged and gulped down the rest of the milk, tossing it in the trash.

This is the Kazekage…?

A sudden poof of smoke erupted in the middle of the kitchen. Both men looked at it like it was the most common thing in the world. Out of the smoke stood Kakashi. Sasuke quirked an eyebrow. Kakashi sported his jounin vest and head protector over his sharingan eye.

“I thought…” Sasuke started but was cut off when Kakashi started talking.

“Sasuke, you’ve been requested for a mission.” Kakashi said with no emotion.

“Tsunade-sama said I didn’t have missions for the next couple of month’s…”

“This is a special request by Hiashi-san…it seems one of the young Hyuuga have been taken by Akatsuki…” Sasuke’s eyes widened before they narrowed. “There’s no way in telling that Itachi was involved…”

“I’ll be ready in five.” Sasuke said while heading toward the stairs, leaving Kakashi alone with Gaara.

“I suppose you have no problem with watching little Kosuke-kun?” Kakashi looked at Gaara. Gaara blinked before jumping off the counter and disappeared into the large mansion.

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A low groan escaped from a small body tied to a tree. His clothes slightly bloody and ripped. A load sigh resonated through the darkness of the forest. “What the hell were you thinking Zetsue? Naruto-sama is going to be pissed.” A low feminine voice sounded worried.

“Don’t worry Izumi…” Came a nonchalant smooth voice. Naruto-sama will never find out…I just need to do this.” The male of the two walked over to the boy tied up to the tree. Putting his hand on the boys chin he lifted his face and gazed into the milky white eyes. “They’re just so beautiful; I can’t wait to posses them.”

“And what, pray tell, makes you think they’ll just surrender them that quickly?”

“Trust me; I always get what I want.” He grinned.

(I had the second part of the last chapter written down for some time now…I had just forgot. Um…sorry.)