The Trouble With Itachi [On Hold]

6; Meeting the Team

Chapter 6-Meeting the team

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“Welcome to Konoha, Sayuri-chan.” Naruto said with a smile.

Naruto had a genuine smile, so I smiled back.

When the lesson ended, a pink-haired girl with hazel eyes came down from the top benches and introduced herself.

“Hi you’re the exchange student! I’m sure Tsunade-sama told you, you’ll be staying with me. I’m Haruno Sakura.”

We bowed briefly then she noticed someone behind me, “Oh hi Sasuke!”

“Hn,” Sasuke grunted in reply. He had just got up and began walking down the stairs.

“He doesn’t seem to speak much,” I commented.

“Yeah... But he’s really nice when you get to know him! And cute...” she blushed briefly.

Suddenly a girl with blonde hair tied in a ponytail came up behind Sakura and said, “Looks like you just got snubbed by Sasuke. I could probably get a better response from him.”

“I was NOT snubbed! He was just…busy!”

The blonde girl laughed and then noticed me, “Oh hi you’re the exchange student! I’m Yamanaka Ino!” she said.

“Nice to meet you,” I replied.

“That’s enough Ino,” Sakura said, shoving Ino aside and linking her arm through mine, “I’ll show you some of the best places to have lunch Sayuri.”

She pulled me along as we walked down the stairs and I waved goodbye to Ino. Naruto jumped up and came behind us, “Wait for me! I know all the best ramen shops in Konoha.”

Sakura eventually took me to a shop called ‘Ichiraku Ramen’, after Naruto practically went on his knees to beg her to take me there.

The ramen was good, but I spent most of the time observing Naruto, trying to figure out his fighting style by the way he normally acted. I figured it would be pretty easy to take him down. He seemed like a really messy person and not very alert.

On our way back to the Academy, we saw Sasuke and another boy from our class. He seemed bored most of the time and had his hair tied back in one.

 “Hey Shikamaru! This is Sayuri, the new girl!” Naruto called to him.

“Hi, nice to meet you,” Shikamaru said to me and bowed courteously.

“Hi Sasuke-kun!” Sakura waved to Sasuke who promptly ignored her and turned to the rest of us.

“We have a mission this afternoon,” Sasuke addressed us, “Kakashi-sensei said to meet him in the usual spot instead of going back to the Academy.”

“Yes! A mission finally! It’s been so long!” Naruto shouted jubilantly, clearly excited.

“I guess I’ll see you guys later then,” Shikamaru said and we parted company.

This mission would be my opportunity to watch Naruto fight and figure out the best way to beat him and capture him.

We waited on Kakumi Bridge, located in the centre of Konoha, for Kakashi-sensei. We waited for TWO HOURS. Kakashi was a bad timekeeper.

Finally, I saw the Jounin approaching from the distance.

“Here he is,” I said, pointing to where he approached in the distance and Naruto jumped up and strode angrily towards him. They were tiny in the distance but I could make out Naruto jumping onto Kakashi’s back. No doubt Naruto was pretty frustrated for making us wait so long.

“Does Kakashi-sensei always come this late?” I asked.

“Yes,” Sakura and Sasuke answered in unison.

“Seriously?” I stared at them.

They nodded together.

Soon enough, both Kakashi and Naruto reached us on the bridge.

“Sorry about that. I heard you were waiting for a long time.” Kakashi said.

“Why do you have to do this to us all the time Kakashi-sensei?” Sakura wailed.

“I thought I told Sasuke-kun I might take a while.”

“You didn’t.” Sasuke said.

“Oh hahaha! Sorry. Gomen nasai!” Then Kakashi noticed me, “Well hello! I believe you are Asakura Sayuri, the new addition to our group! Delighted to meet you.”

I bowed to him in return, “It’s an honor, Kakashi-sensei.”

Kakashi smiled, I think. It was hard to tell through his face mask that only left one eye visible, “Oh, so polite! Why can’t you be more like Sayuri-san, Naruto?”

“Huh?!” Naruto erupted, “I AM polite!!”

“Well anyway we should get started. We have quite a way to go. Are you all prepared?”

I was always prepared. We all answered affirmatively, and then made our way out of Konoha.

“What’s our mission Kakashi-sensei?” Sakura asked.

“It’s a protective mission,” he told us, “There is a representative from the Hidden Cloud village traveling to Konoha. In fact, that’s your village, isn’t it Sayuri-san?”

I nodded.

“Cool! We’re going to Sayuri-chan’s home village! Are your parents there too?” Naruto asked.

I cast my eyes downwards. My expression remained passive, “No. They’re dead.”

“Oh,” Naruto expression dropped. Sakura’s hand went on my shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

I wasn’t affected by it much. I never knew my real parents. They were qualified ninjas, and were killed during the Great War of Konoha. This was just my superlative acting skills shining through.

“Don’t worry about it,” I smiled.

We stopped and made a camp when it was late in the night. We made good progress and were already halfway there.

“You know, Sasuke-kun lost his parents too,” Sakura told me as we lay in our sleeping bags. I already knew this. I worked for the man who killed them after all.

“Really? How did they die?” I asked, looking up in mock-surprise.

“His brother killed them. Uchiha Itachi. He’s a criminal now and part of the Akatsuki! They’re a rebel band of missing ninja. It’s a really dangerous group.”

“Wow. Poor Sasuke.”

“Yeah…how did your parents die?” Sakura then asked.

“There was a fire,” I said, remembering my 'story', “About seven years ago.”

“Oh wow. I’m sorry,” she said, “Do you think about them a lot?”

“Yeah sometimes,” I lied. I actually tried my best not to.

I know I said it didn’t bother me. But it was only because I forced myself not to care; too many painful memories. The truth was I wish I knew them. And a part of me blamed Konoha because they died trying to save this village. Feeling my eyes prickle I pushed these feelings aside. I had a mission to do.

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