Shattered (#1 in Shifting Series)

Trouble in the Land of Lightning

Sarah was so embarrassed.  It was one thing for someone to put together that her and Kakashi were together - a lot.  It was quite another to have someone bust in on you while you were still in that person's bed!  Of course, it would be Naruto that would do the busting.  He always had an uncanny knack for stumbling across things completely by accident.  To add insult to injury, he was her BOSS and knew that they had been together when she was supposed to be working.  God help me, I might never live this down.  She could almost hear her best friend, Melissa, laughing her ass off if she had seen what just went down.  She sent a narrowed eyed look towards Naruto.  Damn, why the hell didn't he knock first?!

She was upset enough that she set the skillet down on the stove a little harder than necessary.  She cringed and when she cast a glance towards the two men, Kakashi's eyes met her own.  The expression in them was one of apology.  It wasn't his fault, why did he feel bad?  It was Naruto's fault for barging in like a bull in a China store!  Her face heated up as she forced herself to look away and go to the fridge, pulling out eggs and bacon.  Talk about awkward and he said he was going to tell Shikamaru and Hinata about it!  She'd never be able to look Hinata in the eyes again after that!  They had just started being friends of a sort but now... She moaned inwardly. 

Kakashi watched as Sarah moved around the kitchen and rummaged through the refrigerator.  She was clearly upset and embarrassed.  He regretted not following their standard practice of leaving before the sun rose but who could have known Naruto would barge in the way he had done?  Her face was red as the smell of bacon cooking drifted his way.  He had wanted to wait until she had unlocked her powers to come out with it, but... she wasn't as helpless as she had been when they first started seeing each other.  He supposed this was just the push he needed to tick up his timetable.  He almost smile - almost - thinking about how he could fully claim her now.  It was the only reason he didn't reach out and slap the back of Naruto's head in compensation for the embarrassment he had caused Sarah.

"What was so important that you had to find me immediately?"

Naruto put his hand on the back of his neck, "Oh yeah.  There is some suspicious activity going on in the Land of Lightning.  I was going to ask you to join up with the investigation team I sent there a few months back but... All things considered; I can ask Might Guy instead."

Kakashi raised his eyes to the ceiling for patience.  If Naruto had sought him out, it had to be something important.  He rarely called him in for missions.  "What kind of activity?"

"Someone has been stealing Shinobi bodies.  The team has been tracking them, but they seem to always be one step behind.  I thought maybe, considering the past, you might have better luck at catching up to whoever is behind it and make sure it isn't someone trying to do a Reanimation Jutsu or something."

Kakashi stilled at the words.  Reanimation Jutsu.  That could be very bad if that was what has happening.  They had almost lost the war because of that particular Jutsu.  That was something he did not want to see happening again.  He narrowed his eyes slightly, "I hate to ask but is Orochimaru still being watched closely?"

"I already checked him out.  He is still behaving himself according to Yamato."  Naruto confirmed, to his disappointment. "Whoever is doing this isn't on our usual list of suspects.  The Raikage hasn't had any better luck tracking them down, which was why they had requested our help.  They're skilled to have eluded even Octopops."

"I'll go," Kakashi responded reluctantly.  "If someone is trying to do a Reanimation Jutsu, we need to stop it immediately before something happens."

"Thank you, Kakashi Sensei."  Naruto glanced towards Sarah then lowered his voice, "By the way, why are you two skulking about like a couple of teenagers?  I mean, you both are like old.  What's the big deal?"