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Dark Lotus	By : PeachyKeen83 Category: Naruto > General Views: 1187 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
�You really should have let Sakura look at you.�
She opened an eye, smoke curling out of her nose as she sighed, a frown marring her previously relaxed features, �Going to make this a habit Scarecrow?�
�Naruto�s rather upset with you,� Kakashi said, turning a page in his Icha Icha as he sat against the screen separating him from Nekomata in the bathhouse again.
�And I should care why?� she asked coldly, taking another draw off her cigarette, contributing to a tense silence, �He�ll get over it, or he won�t. I didn�t become a ninja to be liked.�
There was another tense silence, one that lasted long enough to annoy the already irritated kunoichi, and she glared at the screen, tired of him just sitting there like a peep with no real announced purpose, �What exactly do you want?�
He held his place with a finger, turning his head as he addressed her question, �You�ve surely realized that the rest of Hatsu�s team is going to attack the village directly once they figure out what�s happened.�
�I assure you I took that into consideration,� she said, pouring herself another cup of sake, �I�m also aware that the villages are going to want to evacuate once they find out about it. Seems like we�re backed into a corner at the moment, doesn�t it?�
He could hear the sly smirk in her voice, and frowned, �You�ve gotten us backed into a corner. Do you have any suggestions, or were you planning on getting drunk again?�
She chuckled, staring at the rough wood of the ceiling, �You�re the leader on this mission. You figure it out.�
His brow raised, unseen, �I really think since any attack on the village would be your-�
�I�d expect them to wait until the villagers began leaving, and then they�d try to pick us off by using them as decoys. Keeping that in mind, I think it best not to mention the fortunate departure of Hatsu this afternoon to the village elders. The less they know, the better off we are. We very well can�t sit here and wait for them, so we need to flush them out,� she replied matter-of-factly, putting out her cigarette.
�How would you suggest doing that?� he asked, glad they were on the same page.
She got out and leaned back against the smooth, cool stone around the spring, �There�s another shipment of gold leaving tomorrow.�
�Genma and Sakura will stay behind and look after the village then,� Kakashi said, turning back to his book, �You, Naruto, and I should be more than enough to take them out.�
She stood and dried off, getting dressed and obscuring herself with the cloak again before she opened the screen, seeing he was already standing. He flipped the book back to his page, beginning to walk back to the inn. She easily caught up with him, and he noticed the slight limp and stiffness in her gait.
�Genma said you were hurt pretty badly,� he said conversationally, no longer reading the words on the page.
�You�re a bad liar,� Nekomata said, both of them stopping, Kakashi slightly behind her, forcing her to look over her shoulder to speak to him, �Genma�s a lot of things, but he�s not a rat. I know you�re not concerned for my sake, so I�ll save telling you not to worry. I�m more than capable of taking care of it in the morning, so don�t worry your assumedly pretty face over it.�
He caught a glimpse of her eyes, glad that they�d lost none of the intensity he remembered, �What time is the shipment leaving?�
�Dawn. You should have asked that first instead of trying to piss me off,� she said coldly, beginning to walk again.
He shook his head, �Shihasu-�
�Kakashi,� she said firmly, stopping again, �For once in both of our miserable lives, please do something I ask. I may be inclined to return the favor.�
�If you�re not one hundred percent in the morning, Genma�s going in your place,� he said, sighing as she flipped him off and continued back to the inn.
xxxx
Sakura finally found Naruto sulking on a rooftop, and sat down beside him, seeing he was glaring daggers at the cloaked figure they spotted heading out from the hot spring, �You know she wouldn�t be on this mission if she couldn�t help us.�
He glanced at her, �It�s not that Sakura. I just think she could have used different tactics is all.�
�Well, did you at least get a good look at her?� she asked, watching him raise a brow.
�Well, I really wasn�t paying much attention to that when she was getting the crap beat out of her, and after that, I wasn�t looking at her really,� he said somewhat embarrassedly, �Only thing I can tell you is she has white hair.�
�Like Jiraiya-sama, or is she old?� Sakura couldn�t help that she wanted to be the first to see Nekomata without the cloak; if she did, she�d have the juiciest story when she met with Ino next time.
�I think like Pervy-sage,� he replied, �I mean, unless she uses some kind of jutsu like Granny Tsunade, but I don�t know.�
�Kakashi seems to trust her Naruto, and he�s never steered us wrong before,� she said gently, standing back up and dusting her backside off, �Tsunade-sama trusts her too.�
Naruto watched her leave before watching the sunset, thinking everything over.
xxxx
Genma had been looking through a stack of maps for hours when he finally felt the form behind him, �There�s more caves in this valley than all of damn Earth Country.�
�It�s getting late,� Kakashi said, pulling over a map and glancing over it, his other hand in his pocket.
�You were obviously successful,� he smiled, glancing up at his long-time friend, �By the look of your face, she gave you a stern talking to.�
�You�d know best how she is,� Kakashi replied blandly, �I take it you didn�t find anything helpful.�
�Big fucking negative on that one,� Genma said, leaning back in the chair to chew thoughtfully on his senbon for a moment, �They could be in any cave system from here-�

He pointed to one series of caves that branched out like an animal burrow, complete with several entrances, exits, and false chambers, �To here.�

He pointed out another series, that weren�t quite as elaborate, but just as troublesome, �If these were any other Shinobi but Iwa nin, I�d say go in and drag them out in pieces, but . . .�
�They�d have the advantage if we did that,� Kakashi nodded, �Flushing them out is going to be our best option.�
�Naruto going to be okay with your decision?� he asked, giving him a skeptical look.
�He�ll act like he is if he wants to go,� he replied, stuffing his other hand into his pocket, �I�m not particularly concerned about it.�
xxxx
�Hey! Where am I supposed to sleep?!� Naruto yelled, seeing Nekomata stretched out on the bed, fully cloaked.
�In the floor, on the table, in a chair, with Sakura, in this bed, wherever you want Chibi. I don�t care, just stop yelling. God damn, you�d think it was a big deal,� the older ninja growled, turning towards the wall and making sure the cloak was around her, �If it bothers you, I�ll go sleep in Genma and Kakashi�s room and leave you and Sakura to fend for yourselves.�
�It�s alright Naruto, I�ll sleep there,� Sakura said with a contradicting look on her face, starting to get up.
�No Sakura-chan, stay there, I�ll sleep next to it,� Naruto said snidely, having to dodge a kunai thrown at his face, �Hey!�
�I�d appreciate it if you keep your insults to yourself, you childish, weak-minded little prick,� Nekomata said coldly, getting up, �I�d actually prefer to sleep somewhere else, but thank you for your willingness to get along Sakura.�
She walked out and slammed the door, and Naruto looked over and saw Sakura glaring at him, �What?�
�You are such a dumb ass,� Sakura growled, turning over and muttering in an annoyed fashion.
Naruto caught the phrase �tactless moron�, and settled down to sleep, feeling just the slightest bit guilty.
xx
�You really should have slept.�
�And you really should mind your own business.�
Kakashi walked over and sat down next to Nekomata, watching the sky slowly turn from deepest indigo to a slight gray, �Did you sleep at all?�
�A bit,� she replied, �I don�t sleep well on missions. Or anytime actually.�
�Thanks for breakfast,� he said referring to the pot of steaming green tea and bowl of miso with udon he�d found waiting for him when he�d gone downstairs in the inn.
�Got bored,� she replied, brushing it off, �I don�t think we�ll have anything to worry about until we pick up the goods after selling the gold. Personally, I�d rather not have to guard a bunch of barrels of grain and bolts of cloth while trying to keep Iwa nin off me.�
�We can�t come back with nothing,� he said, resting his arms on his knees, �Besides, knowing you, you want to fill barrels with exploding notes and just add to the scenery around here.�
She snorted, sarcasm dripping in her voice, �Never knew you were such a joker.�
He ignored the biting comment as he looked over the frost-covered village, hearing the familiar sound of a cigarette lighter. Turning his head and he saw that she�d lowered the hood. The side of her face he could have seen was obscured by long, sweeping bangs, though he did get a good look at her ear and her neck before he looked forward. He had sat down on the side with his Sharingan, or he would have gotten a very good look at her.
�Are you that curious to see if I look the same?� she asked, an edge of amusement in her voice.
�No, I was trying to remember when you started smoking,� he replied, feeling her turn her head and continuing to look ahead at the sunrise.
�Mmmm,� she hummed, looking thoughtfully at the houses below them, �A long time ago. Around the same time you stopped being punctual.�
There was a silence between them that neither seemed to want to break, until it was forced upon them by a door opening behind them. Her hood was quickly raised, and Kakashi turned, seeing Naruto standing there behind them, looking sleepy.
�I suppose we�re ready,� he said, getting up and taking out his book, �You two should get the wagon ready while I talk to Genma and Sakura.�
Naruto frowned, turning around to comment on his former sensei�s laziness, when he realized Nekomata was gone too. He ran over to the edge and saw her standing up and beginning to walk towards the village elder�s home, realizing she�d jumped off the building to do so.
xxxx
There was obvious movement behind the dense foliage around them as they made their way steadily towards the trade town, Nekomata and Kakashi sitting in the driver�s seat of the large wagon, the mules pulling it flipping their ears constantly.
�They seem used to it, don�t they?� Nekomata asked, commenting on their apparent lack of fear, even as the noise and movement became obvious.
�What are they doing?� Naruto asked, his eyes closed as he scowled, confused.
�They�re baiting us,� Kakashi said, continuing to read his book, �And yes, it is odd that the mules aren�t reacting more. Then again, I bet these are the same ones that go with every shipment.�
Nekomata chuckled, �I bet they stop where we�re supposed to be raided on the way back if that�s the case.�
�Probably will. When we get to town, remember that we only have three hours for recon before we can pick up the supplies,� Kakashi said, giving Nekomata a sideways glance, �So no drinking.�
�I really don�t drink as much as you seem to think I do,� she said, elbowing Naruto in the back of the head as he snickered, �And stop being a brat and watch what�s going on behind us.�
�Damn your elbow�s pointy!� Naruto growled, rubbing the back of his head, �I am watching you damn hag, not my fault nothing�s happening.�
�Both of you be quiet,� Kakashi said, slouching down farther in the seat, �You�re ruining the nice morning.�
xxxx
�Why isn�t Hatsu the one reporting to me?�
The rough-looking ninja scowled, obviously angry, �He hasn�t came back from his scouting mission. We think those damn fire ninja killed him.�
�I hope you�re not planning on doing anything to retaliate until I get my goods,� the voice said smoothly, tenting well-manicured fingers under a chiseled chin.
�Naw. You�ll get yer damn gold. We�ll get rid of those filthy Konoha shinobi, and then be back in business as usual,� the ninja said, obviously the new de facto leader of Hatsu�s group, �What you gonna do when the villagers decide to leave?�
�That�s simple,� the voice said, a sinister leer creeping over his face, �Pay them with their stolen goods to stay and mine it for me.�
�How charitable,� he scowled, thinking to himself that if they weren�t desperate, and being very well paid for this job, that he would have felt bad about the whole situation.
xx
Sakura boredly leaned back against the window frame she was sitting in, Genma sitting in another one not ten feet from her, �You really that big of a man whore, or is it just idle boasting?�
Her blunt question caught him off guard for two reasons. One, it was Sakura, and two, they�d been sitting in silence for the past ten minutes, �Have you been thinking about that this whole time?�
�No, I was just thinking about Naruto being uncomfortable around Nekomata, and then that made me think of Kakashi hinting that you two were former teammates, and then that made me wonder if you really were that big of a man whore.�
�I prefer expert lover, actually,� Genma said jokingly, raising an eyebrow, �I�ve had my share of women, and I�m good at what I do.�
�Says who? You or your conquests?� she asked, rolling her eyes.
�Have you ever known Anko to admittedly sleep with the same man more than twice?� he smirked, seeing her cheeks start to turn pink, �There�s your answer.�
One of her eyes twitched, and she turned her head to watch the forest again, trying to get the tantalizing images of Genma�s rumored proficiencies out of her head.
xxxx
�Two o�clock. Don�t turn your head Chibi!� Nekomata hissed, making Naruto jump slightly.
He was apparently getting used to his new nickname, even though at six two with his brawny frame it really didn�t fit, �Then why did you open your mouth?!�
�Hush,� Kakashi said, glancing that way, �Doesn�t fit in, does he?�
�Neither does the one at five,� she said, able to look around freely underneath her hood as they unloaded the gold, �You sure I shouldn�t change?�
�Not until we get this unloaded. Around here you�ll cause more of a stir if you show yourself,� Kakashi said, noticing that there were few women around, and those that were around were covered from neck to toe with clothing. From what he remembered, Shihasu had been of the �got it flaunt it� school of thought, as were most kunoichi. With that in mind, it wasn�t a good idea to have a member of their team facing incarceration for indecent exposure of something ridiculous like her collarbone or her elbow.
�I do know when to blend in you know,� she said lowly, her hood turned towards him.
�Fine, just make it convincing,� he said, hearing a muffled sound coming from behind the hood, and then watching it lower, black eyes turning towards him, black hair piled on top of her head in an appropriately elaborate coif, �Your sarcasm is well noted.�
He was referring to her face, which was rather plain looking. Naruto stared at her, obviously disappointed for a moment before he realized it was Henge. She wasn�t likely to stand out looking like that; in fact, she made them stand out even more since she now looked like she belonged there. One of the bank workers came out and took the box of ingots from her hands after a low bow, and she smiled graciously, shooting a pleased smirk at Kakashi and Naruto before she went in to trade the gold for money.
�Hello there, I hope your trip here was pleasant,� a well-dressed man said, a pleasant smile on his rather handsome face.
�It was pleasant enough,� Nekomata said, taking off the cloak to reveal an ao dai with an elaborate chrysanthemum pattern that hugged her generous curves, �Quiet uneventful given talk in my uncle�s village.�
The man took the cloak and eyed her appreciatively for a moment before speaking, �So you�re a visitor? Perhaps while you wait I could show you around.�
�I really must look after the trading. After all,� she lowered her voice and leaned towards him, giving him a coy look, �There are supposed to be bandits and ruffians about.�
He gave her a smile that most women would have merely thought of as being seductively dark, but it made Nekomata take notice, �There are. Maybe you should rethink going back with the goods, and stay here until the danger has passed, Miss . . .�
�Ume, and that won�t be necessary. After all, those two men with me are supposed to be ninja,� she said, wrinkling her nose in a delighted sort of way, �It is rather exciting really, one of the reasons I came along. Am I to presume that you are the manager of this establishment? Mister . . .�
�Giman,� he said suavely, taking her hand and kissing the top of it, �And yes, I am. Let�s go to my office and discuss . . . Business, as it were.�
She giggled at the brush of his lips, a blush creeping to her cheeks as she allowed herself to be led back towards the rear of the building.
Naruto watched her leave with Kakashi, and sighed, �Great, she leaves us to do all the work.�
�Come on, we�ve got three hours to do recon while they get the supplies ready,� Kakashi said after he�d gotten their credit ticket from the man that had taken the gold.
xx
�I thought there were three of them?�
�One wasn�t a ninja, just some stupid girl,� another man growled, watching the two shinobi leave the building, �You recognize either of them?�
�Naw, you?�
�Nope. Don�t know anything about fire-nin. Just that they think they the greatest.�
�Come on; let�s get back to the meeting site and report. Not that there�s much to say. Looks like one spoiled rich girl, and two ninja that aren�t worth a damn. I mean, the one�s obviously green, and the other only has one eye. Shouldn�t be that hard of a fight.�
- 7
- 8
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Dark Lotus