Game of Shadows by Adrian King1

Chapter 109

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor The Gamer. I own nothing, really.

Cover Art: Kissuli.

Chapter 109

Eiji walked, barely managing to keep his mood between calm and absolutely furious. At least then and there he was alone, thankfully. There was no escort, and he could move at his own pace through the streets of Konoha.

He'd sent a clone to his team with instructions to train and talk with Temari. There was new information to process that would affect some of their plans and ideas regarding the Sand, after all. It was basically keeping them busy though. In the meantime, his mind swung between what he wanted to do and what he'd soon need to do. It certainly kept his mood from being good, even in his own village with its cheery and full of life sights.

Slowly, as he walked, that perception changed. There were less people around as he continued moving, which made sense. He was getting closer to his destination, after all.

Soon, there was nobody in the streets but him.

Eiji approached a specific house then, but as he reached the door, he looked around. 'That one doesn't look that bad,' He mused when one of the buildings got his attention, setting the twins on a debate on if that was actually a good house or not. He let out the smallest of smiles as he heard them discuss the topic with utmost seriousness. He knew at least half of that was just to humor and distract him, but he appreciated it.

Eventually, his knuckles hit the wood in front of him.

It didn't take long for the door to open.

"Eiji, welcome back," Sasuke said, slightly surprised but still managing to say that without sounding so. To say the boy was grinning would be an exaggeration, but his eyes told Eiji everything he needed to know. As far as he was concerned, this was the warmest of greetings. "Everyone's here already. Did something happen?" He asked then, showing a hint of concern in his voice as he made space for Eiji to walk in.

Giving him a reassuring smile, he looked around the Uchiha house, doing his best to avoid looking at owner for a long moment. Then he sighed, there was no point avoiding the issue, was there. Although, he'd much prefer to only have to say things once.

"Let's go so I can tell everyone, yeah?" Eiji said, getting a stiff nod back and pursed lips from Sasuke. Obviously, the Uchiha had picked up that this wouldn't be precisely a happy meeting.

"Eiji!" Naruto all but shouted as soon as he walked into the dinning room, where everyone was already sitting around a big table. It wasn't a happy greeting, that was for sure. He could see it on the blonde's face and on everyone else's. They were worried. He wondered if that was because of him calling all of them to Sasuke's place or because of how he looked.

"Or both," Kage pointed out.

"Get it over with, ok?" Shikamaru said, resting his head on his palm. He almost looked like usual, if not for the frown that marred his features. "We know you have something to say, so... out with it."

"I'll be leaving soon," He said, watching as everyone's expressions fell. "I probably won't be here even for a week. Things... got crazy really quick."

"Iwa, huh?" The Nara asked, and Eiji nodded. "We know. My father said, some of us are likely to get a mission over there, or in the Land of Earth, at least. They've been telling Naruto that he probably will be sent to Suna."

That was news to Eiji. Not the first part, since that had been part of the file he'd been given. But the Jinchuriki being sent to the Land of Wind wasn't included there. It didn't take him long to figure out though. The blonde would be perfect to work with Gaara, probably, and he could hold his ground if anything happened. It was also probably so that Eiji himself would be even more likely to get involved in case of emergencies.