The Lost Uzumaki (Kakashi x OC)

Chapter Twenty-One: Afflictions

Steam filled the ivory room, leaving a slight condensation along it's walls. Meilani lowered herself slowly into the olive-toned onsen. A deep sigh escaped her lips, and she arched her back sharply as it came in contact with the hot water.
I might've overdone the Earth-style training. She thought to herself. The soreness in her shoulders ached, even as she pressed her back into the onsen's wall.
A clasp of thunder caught her attention.
"Rain?" She questioned. "It was sunny earlier... What is going on today?"
After her workout, she had plans to meet with Naruto. However, he didn't show up at the training grounds. He also wasn't home when she went to see if he slept in. After checking the other training spots and Ichiraku's, Mei figured he was called into an emergency mission and started training on her own.
And then, as she was getting tea, her cup broke. She wasn't sure why, but the growing energy that she sensed set her on edge. Mei wiggled her foot and dismissed it as paranoia, deciding that a soak in an onsen would relax her.
After perhaps 20 minutes, she huffed and left the bathhouse quickly. Upon walking outside she noticed the Hokage's eagle crying and circling her. Knots in her stomach, Mei headed to Lady Tsunade's office.

"You called me, Milady?" She bowed anxiously. Tsunade set aside her paperwork and looked at Mei with a hardened expression.
"There's something you should know. But I need you to remain calm and don't do anything stupid."
"Define 'stupid.' Alright fine, just tell me."
"Sasuke Uchiha abandoned the village last night. I sent Shikamaru Nara on an assignment to retrieve him, and your brother was chosen to be part of the squad." Tsunade jumped back as Mei's hands slammed on her desk urgently.
"Let me go."
"No. That is out of the question. You are still in hiding." Tsunade ignored her glare. "That is an order, Meilani. Now, I need to ask; have you spoken with Sasuke recently?"
"No, it seemed like he avoided me. I figured it was because of what happened on the hospital roofs."
Tsunade's brows scrunched together at the memory. "I know you're worried, but you have to trust your brother."

Meilani looked at the view behind her and noticed dark clouds in the distance. "Who else was on the squad?"
"Neji Hyuga, Choji Akamichi, and Kiba Inuzuka." Her tension eased at the lineup. "I also sent out a call for assistance to the Sand Village. Hopefully they'll honor the new alliance."
"So I'm supposed to just sit at home and knit until they come back?! If I'm near the village then I'm unlikely to-"
"I forbid it, Meilani. Just last week there were Shinobi spotted in the Land of Lightning with the same band as the ninja that attacked you and Kakashi. I won't risk it."
Meilani paced the office with no bother to look at Shizune for help.

"Well then what the hell is going to happen if they show up here? I've been kept out of the loop and I'm getting real sick of waiting around."
"Jiraiya said your transformation jutsu was undetectable. Patrols have been notified of the band's description and if anyone is spotted, we'll have you transform and keep your distance. I'm looking to assemble a squad to locate the island and see what's going on in the-"
"What if they find me, Auntie Tsunade? What's going to happen?"
Tsunade watched her eyes linger on the clouds with a tapping foot. "You are a Kunoichi of the Leaf. Any attempts against you is an attempt against the village."
Lady Tsunade's next appointment knocked on the door. Meilani was quickly dismissed and she immediately headed to the entrance closest to the fading dark clouds. A part of her thought about sending her summons after her, even though Tsunade would give her hell.
Sending Genin, when I'm literally right here.
It didn't matter, Tsunade's word was final.
She needed to trust her brother.

****

Kakashi knelt behind a rooftop fan with his shoulders hunched. He watched Mei numbly sit beside her brother's fractured body through the window. Her hand gently caressed his hair as he laid fast asleep. The white haired jonin hung his head, the shame he felt for not intervening sooner clawing at his chest. And now, Sasuke has abandoned the Hidden Leaf for Orochimaru. Naruto was lying in the hospital with a list full of injuries. He was debating when Jiraiya appeared beside him.
"How are they?" He asked.