Izumi's POV
"Anyway..." Tenzo Sensei said with a hand pressed to his face, "From now on the five of us are off on a mission... but look at you..." He remarked with little enthusiasm, "There's no time to toss you all in a cage and get you used to each other, so introduce yourselves.
Ya know, I really wish he was kidding... I shook my head lightly as I gave the two boys a look, Best of luck to the two of you...
"Naruto Uzumaki."
"I'm Sakura Haruno."
"My name is Sai."
"And, I'm Izumi Senju" I looked especially closely at this Sai. He seemed interesting to put it mildly, but it was too early for me to have any solid opinions about the boy.
"Well, now that we know each other that's the end of that." Yamato seemed satisfied with our introductions as he continued with the more important task at hand, "Now, I'll explain our mission." Naruto and Sakura drove their sour glares at Sai to focused stares at our new captain, "From here, the five of us will proceed to the Tenchi bridge. There we will intercept the spy the akatsuki has in Orochimaru's organization and bring them back." The anbu explained tactfully, "This is a chance for us to find out about Orochimaru and Sasuke Uchiha."
I flinched slightly as I heard his name and reached my arms around myself to try and hide my unease. Ever since that danged genjutsu I'd been more than touchy about the young Uchiha. I had thought that I was over everything that had happened between us, but with the way I was currently acting... I had lost confidence in that. It had gone from a sold fact in my head to a hopeful hypothesis at best.
"We can gain a valuable source of information which may lead to formulating a plan to simulate a plan to assassinate Orochimaru and take Sasuke back. So, keep focused." Yamato's tone was firm as he went over the serious details, "We will assemble at the front gate in one hour! After sorting out equipment, we will depart!"
. . .
"I really just can't stand that asshole, Sai!" Naruto exasperated as he, Sakura, and I walked together after the meeting, "Why is he taking Sasuke's place...?!?" he fumed making a face liked he'd just eaten something bitter, "Four people is enough for Team Kakashi!"
Sakura was silent for a moment merely giving the blond a sympathetic look, "He's definitely very vulgar..." she agreed managing a small smile, "But, don't you think he resembles Sasuke somewhat? His face, his voice..."
"His chakra sure isn't..." I muttered softly feeling a bit surprised at how annoyed by the notion I was, "Their chakras aren't a single bit alike."
"I've been wondering for a while now..." Sakura gave me a curious look as I blinked a bit by her sudden intrusion to my spoken thoughts, "You can sense chakra more than a normal person, right? How exactly does it work?"
I blinked again before answering to her questions, "Well, I guess it's more like their life energies as opposed to their chakras..." I admitted placing a finger to my chin in thought, "The first time I used the Seikatsu it's like a part of it is always active, but it doesn't seem to deplete any of my chakra either... I don't know it's kind of hard to explain... Everyone's life energy is kind of a different color or a different combination of colors I suppose is the best way of describing it. For example, Naruto's life energy is yellow and it's very warm, and Sakura's life energy is pink and if I had to describe the way it feels... It's just very feminine and just genuinely very lovely..." I paused a moment stuffing my hands in my pockets to hide their endless shivering, "Sasuke, on the other hand." Not just my hands were shaking now as I thought back to the last time, I'd seen the Uchiha's life energy, "It's blue and purple. It's dark and brooding. And, it's far more intense than anything else I've ever seen before."
"And, Sai?" Naruto seemed intrigued as though trying to prove something.
I thought again, "Well, I can't say since I haven't seen it specifically, but if I had to guess... It's probably white and very ambiguous. He just seems like the sort of person that very hard to read."
"See that just proves it!!!" Naruto announced suddenly causing Sakura and I to jerk a little at his sudden intrusion, "Sasuke's way cooler... No... He's just better!!!" he decided on his own.
Sakura smiled and giggled a bit as I couldn't help but smirk all the same, "You're right..." She admitted, "Sasuke is somewhat cooler than Sai."
"What do you mean 'somewhat'?! Sasuke's way better!!!"
. . .
It was finally time to meet up at the village gates and as was expected both Naruto and Sakura were wearing bitter expressions once more. I looked at Tenzo Sensei for a moment as we exchanged weary faces, "Right then!" he managed as he turned his face forward once more, "Team Kakashi Departs!"
We hadn't been walking very long when I noticed just how much Naruto was checking Sai out. I was about to say something when... "What is it?" Sai questioned Naruto's stare.
"I guess they are a little alike... The voice too..."
"Please, stop staring at me..." Sai said in what must have been his usual stoic tone, "Don't make me hit you."
"Every damn thing you say just pisses me off more!!!" Naruto roared clenching his fist as the dark-haired boy.
"I don't have any malice towards you."
"Liar!" Naruto accused with a pointed finger.
"I'm just trying to put on that kind of attitude."
What does that even mean? I wondered as I stared at the boy a bit myself. He was definitely curious...
"Aha! You do have malice!" Naruto declared before letting out a growl as he went on, "Why the hell are you here?!? All you do is piss people off!!!"
I sighed turning to our captain as he sighed himself, "Hey, Hey!" He put in gently giving the blond a stern look, "Don't say something like that in front of your captain, Naruto... Teamwork and cooperation are the most important things in a team. I thought Kakashi already taught you that. Someone like you in a team with the great Kakashi... What's with you?" He asked Naruto.
"It's because he's not a member of Team Kakashi!!!" Naruto objected pointing once more at the other boy, "The other member of Team Kakashi is... Sasuke!!" I gulped lightly weaving my fingers together at his mention. I was once more starting to feel the hole that the young Uchiha had left in his wake. Everyone else was silent as Naruto glared at Sai whose gaze remained vacant as ever, "This guy is... Just taking Sasuke's place. Someone chosen to fill the gap." He argued, "I'll never consider someone like him as a team member!"
I felt the tension rising as I held my hands together even tighter. Sai smiled, but as with before it was empty, "Well... I'm glad you think of me that way." He said sounding almost genuine as he continued, "I wouldn't want to be likened to... The weak shit-for-brains Orochimaru's clone who only cared about power and ran off to Orochimaru betraying the hidden leaf."
Holy frick frack... I shivered taking the chance to hide behind Tenzo Sensei, "I'm scared..." I muttered softly peeking over the brown-haired man's shoulders, "Does that guy have a death wish, or what?"
"You bastard..." Naruto was about to attack Sai when a hand in front of his face halted his actions.
"Truly, the most important thing is teamwork." Sakura interjected suddenly, "Sai..." She called her attention to the dark-haired boy, "Naruto... Since he doesn't know you that well... He just said too much... I'm sorry..." the pink-haired girl apologized for her teammate's actions, "Please, forgive Naruto..."
"Sakura..." Naruto mumbled softly.
"Mmm..." Tenzo Sensei hummed turning his head down feeling a touch of relief wash over him, "I'm glad at least one of you is responsible..."
"I feel like I should take offense to that..." I said under my breath before remembering who we were talking about, "Ya know what... You're right she probably is the only responsible one.
"Think nothing of it." Sai answered Sakura's apology.
"Well... That's good..." Sakura smiled at him thankfully before sending her fist directly into his face.
"Then again I could be wrong." I admitted with a slight shrug of my shoulders.
I managed to get this chapter out in time! I wasn't sure I was going to since I was out of town most of the weekend, but I did the thing. Also only Izumi's POV this time. It felt strange to change it in the middle, so I just left it this time. I'll try to write from another character's perspective next time probably... I really don't have much to say today, so until next time!
-- Amy