A Little More Than This (Discontinued)

Chapter 29

Itachi and Zetsu stood in front of their leader, waiting for either a scolding or permission to go with their crazy proposition.

"So what you are saying is that you have both found a single student that you both wish to train?" Pein asked, scratching his chin thoughtfully. Both ninja nodded, waiting for an answer. "If I say yes, can you both promise that this student won't blab about anything? Or that they will join our ranks?" Pein asked.

"She doesn't know anything about the Akatsuki and we can keep it that way but we can't guarantee she'll join our ranks sir" Itachi replied confidently. "Fine. After your mission with Kisame I will allow the both of you to wonder off. But! You must abandon the teachings if I call for you. Understand?" Pein commanded. "Perfectly" Zetsu responded.

"Good, now go. Itachi you and Kisame should leave by noon" Pein sighed, shooing them from the room. Both ninja bowed and left, splitting up to pack for their 3 year journey afterwards.

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"So why am I helping you? You guys can do this yourselves!" Mei whined as Naruto pulled her along the streets with Jiraiya leading them. "I mean, all that's basically that's gonna happen is that you'll learn some super secret technique and I'll be chillin' in the background watching you" Mei continued.

"Yeah, but Pervy-Sage demanded that you come with us. I dunno why" Naruto responded, following Jiraiya through the towns streets. "I just need to speak with you Mei, then you can go home or you can stay with us if you want" Jiraiya sighed, looking for a place for them to stay.

"Oh. Here!" Mei cried, pointing to a nice looking hotel. The two males nodded and walked into the lobby area. Jiraiya settled and paid for a room and lead them up to the said room, allowing Naruto and Mei to discard their backpacks. Jiraiya motioned for Mei to follow him and the two waved Naruto back into his room before jumping from the open window.

They ran through the streets before stopping at a nice little Dango shop and took a small table in the corner.

"So, what is the matter Jiraiya-San?" Mei asked, placing an order. "I want you to know that Kakashi doesn't seem to be showing any signs of withdrawal from his motives" Jiraiya informed, waving away the waitress.

"That's fine, I think he should understand my situation if he finds out. But I don't expect him to see eye-to-eye with me once he finds out" Mei responded, smiling lightly to herself.

"Mei, I don't think you know of dire the situation you are in is! If he takes it the wrong way then he could have you arrested under the assumption for being a spy!" Jiraiya hissed as the waitress came back with the tangerine's dangoes.

"I know that! But he knows me too well! He knows I'm not a spy!" Mei hissed back, taking a bite from her meal. "He's just fragile at the moment. I've made him promise not to read the scroll of information until I leave. You should also make up some excuse to get out of the village for 3 years. Same as us" Jiraiya continued, a slight pleading time to his voice as he neared the end of his speech.

Mei nodded, and finished her meal. "I'll think of something to get me out. I'll check on Naruto before I leave" Mei sighed, standing up and paying for the meal. "I'll meet you there later" Jiraiya responded, his eyes perking up at a young pretty lady. Mei rolled her eyes and ran off in the direction of the hotel.

Upon nearing the hotel Mei sensed two familiar chakras, causing her to stop in her tracks. She sighed and performed a transformation Jutsu, running through the hotel to the room Jiraiya had paid for. She rounded the last corner to see Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki standing before Naruto.

Itachi turned to stare at her, his eyes widening just a fraction, before snarling lightly. "Get lost!" He growled, turning back to Naruto. "Step away from the boy!" Mei cried, finding some sliver of courage against her family. Kisame growled at her and grabbed the handle of his sword; Samehada.

"Get lost brat" he snarled. Mei swallowed the lump in her throat and grabbed one of her scrolls, ready to battle her father if she had to. Then, as though a light breeze had blown through the window, Mei felt a Genjustu wash over all the people in the area, including Sasuke who had just ran into the chaos.

Itachi walked over to her, picked her up, slung her over his shoulder and jumped through the open window. He took her to the roof before forcefully removing her transformation Jutsu.

Onyx eyes looked into brilliant blue eyes. "My, god. It's really you" Itachi whispered, hugging the small tangerine haired girl. Mei hugged back, tears filling her eyes as she embraced with her 'Nii-San'.

"I thought you were all dead. I even read that stupid scroll you guys gave me!" Mei sobbed, weakly pounding her fists against her elders chest. "I know, I know. Sh~" the Raven-haired male soothed, as a single tear rolled down his cheek. "It's not fair. Did you know where I was?" Mei asked, pulling out of the embrace and glaring through wet eyes at Itachi.

"I only knew for a few days, everyone else thinks you're dead, except for Zetsu" Itachi informed. "Everyone else? Everyone else is alive too?" Mei asked, looking hopeful at him. "Yes. Everyone else is alive" Itachi whispered, pulling Mei in for another hug.

"Are you gonna make me come home?" Mei asked, accepting the hug. "No. No-one is quite ready for you to rise from the dead yet. But I overheard your conversation with Jiraiya, I have a request. Let Zetsu and I train you. Three years, please" Itachi pleaded. "I think I can get away. But I dunno" Mei responded, wiping away her tears and smiling brightly up at her elder.

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Shikamaru stared up at the sky, thinking about the attack against the leaf village. He pulled a face as the sun peeked from behind a cloud.

'Where did Mei disappear to? Why did she fake falling asleep? God why is she so hard to understand!?' He asked himself, rubbing his head in frustration. He sighed in frustration as he tried to figure out the tangerines head motives and secrets.

"What's got you all bothered?" A familiar voice asked, the person it belonged to slipping into a seat next to Shikamaru. "Nothing" the boy pouted, crossing his arms. Asuma laughed and tousled his students hair. "It's a girl isn't it? Someone who's confused you" Asuma laughed, sending a sly smile to his student.

"Shut up Asuma-Sensei" Shikamaru murmured. "Ha! I knew it! So whose the lucky girl? It wouldn't be Ino. You guys can barely stand each other. Maybe Sakura? She's very pretty. No? Maybe Mei?" Asuma listed off. Shikamaru blushed deeply at the mention of Mei and Asuma roared with laughter.

"You got yourself into deep bullcrap there! She's just as oblivious as Naruto! If not more!" Asuma cried, patting Shikamaru's back. "Shut up Sensei" The boy hissed, blush layering thick on his cheeks. "Now. If I were you I'd make it glaringly blunt. You know, roses, presents, actually ask her out!" Asuma instructed, smirking at his pupil.

Shikamaru though for a second before sighing and nodding, "yes sir".