A woman knelt behind him, clad in her Anbu equipment, her captain standing beside her, the fierce, snarling visage of the wolf mask looming over her.
"I see." He drawled.
"They will not act...not for now. Not until the Daimyo's business with us is sure to be concluded."
Oddly, it was far more irritating to Sarutobi the fact that his student's contemptuous actions had just saved him and Konoha from the need to use immediate, drastic force, rather than hearing about the Uchiha's plans in the first place.
He'd never let him live this down...
"Orders sir?"
Kakashi's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
He took in a breath, breathing out the smoke from his nostrils. "Leave. I'll need a few hours to think on this then we'll reconvene."
Both Anbu nodded with Itachi soon standing to leave and following her captain out.
The older man sucked down a deep breath, inhaling the smoke. 'When its not one thing its another.'
-0-
At the third day, when they were getting ready to leave Iwa, with all of the horses and men that were to make the two day ride to Konoha, the gennin team was able to, by and large, stand on their own power thanks to the powers of healing chakra that the medics had administered under Orochimaru's watchful eyes.
The trail of a white, discolored scar went down Kyofu's temple and, while Ryoko's scars were well hidden under her clothes they were still there.
Naruto's arm, while not in a cast, was still very much injured, braced inside of a layer of tightly wound bandages to keep the bones still.
"How far is it to Kiri?" He asked, standing at the village gates.
"Aww...is little princess thinking of going to visit his Haku-chan?" Ryoko took the moment to tease again.
Naruto glared. "Its not like that! I'm just curious is all!" He genuinely was dammit!
Haku giggled. "About five or six days travel depending on the winds and how calm the sea is."
"Don't encourage him, he might try to go visit."
Naruto nudged her, rather hard with his elbow. He could normally take teasing and be a very good sport...
But those looks he could feel burning a hole into the back of his head from a certain silent killing master were starting to get unnerving...
Haku tossed a look to all the Daimyo's men mounting up and saddling the horses behind them. "How long for you all to reach Konoha by horse?"
"Two or three days." Kyofu said, twirling a kunai a bit farther away as she watched the comings and goings.
Haku nodded. "I've never ridden a horse before-"
"Don't!" All three kids said as one, startling her.
Evidently her idle curiosity was some kind of deep transgression...
Ryoko cast a look around. "Where's Shark face and Kimimaro-san?"
"Kimimaro said he wanted to read something on some of Iwagakure's known clans." She shrugged. "Kisame-sensei's probably giving Mei-sama a headache somewhere."
Ryoko trailed her eyes upwards. "You know...the sexual innuendo joke there is just too easy. I'll let it slide."
Kyofu and Naruto snickered as Haku blushed.
"Th-they wouldn't...that's not-" She was stuttering as bad as Naruto remembered Hinata doing sometimes.
The clopping of horse cloves on cobblestones brought their attention back around, where Koutou sat on the black horse, looking down on them with a gentle smile. "Saying goodbye to friends is important but we've got to get ready to leave. Mount up soon."
The gennin nodded with whispered words of ascent before the Daimyo moved his horse a bit further towards the gate to give them some semblance of privacy.
"Guess this is goodbye for now huh." Ryoko scratched the back of her head.
Haku smiled sadly. "It is. It was nice meeting you all."
"Likewise." Kyofu said, bowing respectfully. "I hope we can remain friends for a long time."
"Me too I guess."
"Of course we can." Naruto put in for his two teammates, smiling brightly. "Why can't we?"
Haku smiled gently at him, nodding. No doubt believing it to be the simple naivete of youth.
Naruto knew different though. If they could meet on a bridge, nearly kill each-other, and he could still consider Haku a friend, them parting ways on such good terms as now meant they'd stay friends.
"Its time to leave."
The gennin found Orochimaru riding up to them. Unlike Koutou, the snake had little qualms about getting right in their faces with the horse and interrupting their little goodbye. "Mount up." He demanded.
The two girls moved to obey, Naruto was about to do the same when-
"Naruto-kun."
He turned and was surprised to feel the press of lips against his cheek.
He rubbed the spot of wetness blinking up at the taller girl. "What was that for?"
"For being so sweet." She laughed before pushing him towards the horse, ignoring Ryoko's exaggerated cat calls. "Bye!"
Naruto waved.
When he got on his horse he shivered though...
Why did he suddenly feel as though his life expectancy was to be cut significantly shorter?
-0-
"Hey man I brought you some bean frie-" Kisame paused.
Zabuza was pouring blood over his weapon. Lets' get you nice and sharp' He chuckled gleaming, filed teeth bared in a psychotic grin as he eyed the weapon, unholy flames emerging from his murderous gaze.
"Looks like you're busy." Kisame edged away. "I'll come back later."
-0-
When they lingered by the gate, not immediately leaving Kyofu leaned towards their teacher. "Sensei...what are we uhh...waiting for?"
"Patience." The Sannin replied by way of answer. "You'll see soon enough."
Soon enough, was ten minutes later and though all were surprised, no one could be more surprised than Naruto himself who watched as none other than Kurotsuchi, two Hi-no kuni Samurai at her flanks, rode up beside them. Judging by the extra sacks and bags along the flanks of all three horses, the girl was carrying quite a few supplies. Her face was a mask of barely contained disdain, as her horse trotted up to Koutou's side, Orochimaru and the gennin at her back.
"What's going on?" He hissed, leaning forward.
Orochimaru spared him a glance over his shoulder. "There was something of a deal made. Kurotsuchi will be fostered by Magojiro-dono for the foreseeable future."
"What?!" Naruto hissed, eyes widening. Onoki loved his granddaughter more than anything. The man wouldn't trade her away even if they offered him half the continent on a silver platter.
What the hell had happened?
Before he could think on this anymore though he heard Koutou's voice trailing back towards them as he addressed Iwa's princess.
"If ever you feel you need to rest my girl don't hesitate to ask."
"I'll be fine." She barely kept the snarl out of her voice. And by barely its at a level just below seething. "You'll need to rest before me."
If Koutou was at all put off by her scathing tone he didn't show it, smiling gently before he gave the order to march.
Soon enough, they were leaving Iwagakure behind them and Naruto was wondering just how much this had just changed...things!
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