~*****~
Morning broke, streaming through the window and burning against my eyes. A sleepy yawn tore through my lips before I sat up with a delighted groan. Pops echoed from my spine with that perfect stretch upwards. "Good morning~" I chime before starting my morning routine. Shower: Check. Breakfast: Check. Banging on Kakashi's door: Check. With the sleepy Jonin up, the two of us exited our house. "You're still as lazy as ever, aren't you? It took forty-five minutes just to wake you up."
"To be honest, I got used to waking up by myself whenever I wanted to." Kakashi explained sluggishly.
I giggled and threw my arms over my head. "Think I should get an apartment? I certainly make enough for it." I ask. "Not to sound like I don't want to live with you anymore."
"Well, whatever would make you happy. Don't be surprised if I crash on your couch every other week." Kakashi yawned and pulled out the latest book of Icha Icha. "Have you finished reading it yet?"
"Yes, oh my gosh, could you believe that ending? Do you think Jiraiya will put out a new book anytime soon?" I ask curiously.
Before I could get an answer, Naruto's screaming echoed over the quiet atmosphere. "There you are!" Naruto cried. "You two are late!"
"Finally, Sensei, Ren." Sakura sighed.
"Yeah, uh, sorry about that." Kakashi apologized lamely.
"It took way too long just to wake him up, otherwise we'd be earlier." I explained as I jut my thumb at the older Jonin.
"Hello! This is our first new mission as a new team!" Naruto scolded us. "Couldn't you be just a little excited?! Kakashi-Sensei, you haven't changed a bit, have you?"
"Already you're annoying." Sakura whined as she covered her ears.
"You're telling me, I'd rather hang out with the Yukimura than listen to the screaming every five seconds." I agree as I cross my arms over my chest. "Seriously, don't waste your breath. You know he's always so mopey looking. Like he's got a big stick up his butt." I turned my gaze upwards as the screech of a hawk echoed through the street. 'A messenger hawk from Suna? Hm...' "We should get going, I don't think Naruto will like it if we delay this any longer." I tease.
"You've gotten way too snarky, Ren! We're gonna take this outside if you don't chill with the teasing!" Naruto complained. I giggled and held out a peace sign before looping my arm around his neck.
"We are outside, ya dummy~" With another shriek of annoyance, Naruto tried to give me a noogie. He didn't succeed.
~*****~
"Oh man, it'll feel so good to be on a real mission again." Naruto sighed as we strode towards Tsunade's office.
"Listen, whatever kind of mission we're given, just take it, and don't complain about it." Sakura explains.
"Don't sweat it, those days are over." Naruto grinned.
"I hope so," I breathed out as I palmed my forehead.
"OUT OF THE WAY, OUT OF THE WAY!" A decoder shrieked as she blasted by us.
"What was that?" Sakura hummed.
"WHY DON'T YOU WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING!?" Naruto bellowed. "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!" Kakashi and I shared a look.
'I fear something may be terribly wrong with Shukaku... As violent as he is, he needs a host as to not cause this world any more horror...' Ameonna sighs. I rub at my belly absentmindedly.
Once we finally receive a mission, Naruto's already acting like his old self. "HUH?! Escort duty on a caravan!? Come on!"
I breathed out a pained sigh and slouched. "What, have you got a problem with that?" Tsunade asks threateningly.
"Since you're asking, yes! Lousy C-Rank mission, it's beneath my dignity." Naruto explained pridefully.
'Seriously? Didn't we just get through telling him to just shut up and accept the mission? Tsunade is going to tear me a new one if you keep acting like this....' I rubbed at my temples in annoyance. "Naruto, your skills may have improved. But mentally, you haven't matured at all." Iruka explained painfully.
"Naruto, I've chosen an easier mission to start with to break you in. You and Ren have been gone from us for a while." Tsunade explains.
"WELL WHO SAYS WE WANT AN EASIER MISSION?!" Naruto asks angrily. I slam my fist into his cranium and grind it down until he's at my feet. I slam my heel against his skull and simply stare up at Tsunade.
"Sorry about him. I'll make sure he keeps his trap shut from now on." I explain as I grind my heel in harder.
"The details of your mission are here." Tsunade explains as she slides over a paper.
"Right," Kakashi hums and steps forward to grasp it.
Naruto huffed in annoyance. "I miss the Third Hokage," He groaned. "That old man was smart. He knew what he was doing.
"What did you say?!" Tsunade growled angrily.
"Shut your mouth!" I snapped and raised my foot and slammed it back down. Naruto let out a pained groan as I stomped him into the ground.
"Lady Tsunade," The decoder from earlier cried as she burst into the room. "Terrible news!"
"Now what is it?" Tsunade sighed.
"An emergency dispatch from the sand." She breaths.
"Huh? The Sand?" Naruto asks as he lifts his head curiously.
"Where is this dispatch?" Tsunade asks.
"I deciphered it as quickly as I could." The decoder hands over the results.
Tsunade gazes at it for a moment before narrowing her eyes. "What the--"
"It can't be--" Iruka gasps.
"No way," Shizune echoes.
"What is it?" Naruto asks. "What's happened?"
Tsunade lifts her gaze to us. "It's the Kazekage of the Sand. It seems he's been taken prisoner by the Akatsuki.
'We must aid the Kazekage, Ren-- We have to.' I bite at my thumb as Ameonna stirs within.
"You mean Gaara..." Naruto whispers. "So they're back again..."
"We've been studying them. We know more about the Akatsuki than any other village. Therefore, the Sand Village has officially requested our help." Tsunade explained.
Shizune gasped in shock. "You're not suggesting that Team Kakashi--"
"This is urgent," Tsunade cut her off. "I haven't time to form another squad. And besides, we have someone here who's actually fought the Akatsuki."
My gaze traveled up to Kakashi. "Yes, but even so--"
"All right." Tsunade once again cut her off. "Team Kakashi, I'm assigning you a new mission. You're to go to the Sand Village at once. Find out what's going on there. And keep us informed. You're to remain there and follow their orders. Give them any backup they need."
"Ma'am." The four of us nod our heads.
~*****~
We met at the gates with our travel bags. "Twice in just a few days, what are the odds?" I ask Sakura as I tighten my hands around the straps of my backpack.
"At least you get your exercise in," Sakura hums.
"All right, let's go!" Naruto declares happily.
"Be back soon, milady." Sakura smiles at Tsunade. "We won't let you down!"
"Good." Tsunade affirms, and we take our leave.
We're not even a few steps in before Jiraiya leaps down. "Hey there!" I whine and palm my forehead. "So, off on a mission, Naruto, Ren."
"That's right!" Naruto confirms passionately.
"Yep." I hum.
"Well, good for you. But more importantly, I've got some disturbing news." Jiraiya mentions as he passes us by and approaches Tsunade. "The Sands Kazekage has been--"
"Yo, that's our mission Master Jiraiya." I call loudly. He casts a glance back at the four of us, and Naruto swells with pride. Jiraya leans in to whisper into Tsunade's ear. The two whisper with one another before walking back over to us.
"Naruto, Ren, I want a word with you two." Jiraiya mentioned as he lured us to the side.
Naruto and I shared a look of confusion. "What's up?" I ask curiously.
"Listen to me, now." Jiraiya started as he gazed down at us. "You be careful around those Akatsuki, you hear?"
"They've all been out looking for us, right?" Naruto asked. "Well, this way they won't have to look very far."
"It's true you've come a long way, Naruto, Ren. But training doesn't mean a thing if you get reckless, and blow your cool. Naruto, you still have a bad habit of losing your head, even now." Naruto bit his lip as he looked towards the ground. Jiraiya leaned down and grabbed his shoulders. "Naruto, never use that power. You know what I'm talking about."
Naruto lowered his gaze. "Yeah, I know..."
Jiraiya turned his gaze on me and leaned forward to whisper into my ear. "You know what to do if he loses control..." He breaths. I nod quickly and turn on my heel.
"Kakashi, Sakura, Naruto- Let's get going." I call behind me without looking back. "We've got a long way to go, and frankly, I don't want to let the Akatsuki get too far."
"Right," Sakura called and followed after.
"Got it," Naruto mirrored. I exchanged looks with Kakashi as he appeared at my side and turned my gaze onto the road ahead.
'Whatever happens, we'll definitely save you, Gaara...'