Let It Burn: Life [Sasuke Uchiha]

Chapter 6

To say that Naruto and Sakura were surprised to find that the Hokage wished to assemble Team 7 again so quickly was an understatement. They rushed towards their usual meeting place to find their sensei leaning against a pillar. For once he was early. And the young man was accompanied by two other ninjas. One didn't even acknowledge their arrival.

"Sensei, what's going on?" Sakura asked.

"Mission from the Hokage," he answered. "We have no choice but to take it."

"But aren't you still recovering from your fight with Deidara? You can't tell me you've fully recovered."

"That is why he is here."

He pointed towards the ninja at his side. The young man stepped forward in his Jounin uniform. The headgear around his face struck the two as odd, short brown hair sticking up at the top, and dark, almond shaped eyes warmed in greeting.

"The name's Yamato, and due to Kakashi's condition from his fight against the Akatsuki, I will be taking over as the new leader of Team 7," he relayed. "But that does not mean me being here has demoted him in any way. We will be working together for this mission."

"Then... who is he?" Sakura asked.

"In order to even out the team in terms of strength, the Hokage saw to it that you are in need of a new teammate at the moment. This is Sai."

He was very pale, dressed in dark gear that exposed his stomach. Even his hair and eyes seemed to match the pigmentation of the cloth. Getting a better look at the quiet ninja, Naruto reeled back as if something revolting had just passed by and pointed at the ninja named Sai.

"You!" the blonde shouted.

"Naruto, do you know this person?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah! He attacked Choji, Shikamaru, and me when we were walking through the Village earlier! What the hell is your problem?"

A smile that did not reach his eyes came to the new member's face. "Sorry about before," Sai said. "I just wanted to gauge the ability of my new team member. I just didn't know how much I'd have to look after the little prick with no balls."

"What did you say?"

Sakura was quick to wrap an arm around the Genin's shoulders in order to hold him back from beating the older teen to a pulp.

"Hey!" she shouted. "He's our teammate now! Cool down!" She sobered up a bit to then address their new teammate, "But... you're not that nice."

"Really?" Sai asked. "I like people like you, friendly crones."

Instantly releasing her teammate, the Medical Ninja lunged at him instead, shouting "You, what?" as Yamato struggled to hold her back.

"Hey! Remember what you just said to Naruto!" he shouted.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The spy found themself standing back in the Hokage's office once again. They watched the woman behind the desk sigh and contemplate the file sprawled out on the desk's surface.

"This is not ideal," she finally spoke. "I do not want to be sending you out on this mission... but I am aware of what could transpire and am in need of your assistance."

The ninja listened carefully, aware of how serious this matter was.

"We have received word that Sasori, who was recently killed by Team 7, had a contact that knew of Orochimaru's whereabouts. Now that he is indeed dead it has also come to our attention that the two of them are scheduled to meet in a few days' time. This contact is in the Sound and though we have kept the death of Sasori under wraps we cannot allow this to be public knowledge until the meeting has concluded. If the contact were to know Sasori is dead, we will lose our lead."