Gone [Naruto fanfic]

#16

The next month went by in a blur of activity. Preparations for the chunin exams began to take place, and it was becoming a common sight to see Temari dragging Shikamaru everywhere(much to his displeasure, but then again, Shikamaru wasn't one for doing anything really). Temari and I became fast friends, and (much to my own surprise) she was one of the few people I told my whole story to. Her reaction was much like everyone else's: disbelief, followed by asking me if I hit my head. Before she could to bombard me with questions though, I mentioned Gaara becoming the Kazekage, and narrated almost exactly what they had done the first time she and her brothers had come to the chunin exams. That convinced her.

Some of the days passed by without much event, but as everyone's excitement for Naruto's return began to grow, my fear of what was to come grew deeper and darker.

It was almost habit for me now to ponder strategies of how to take down Deidara and Sasori in order to save Gaara as I walked to the training grounds each morning. Granted, I was still incredibly inexperienced in comparison to the two members of the Akatsuki, and even thinking about going on the rescue mission was practically handing myself over to the Akatsuki, but I did have one advantage.

I knew my opponents.

After weeks of planning, I came up with a strategy that would hopefully not involve me having to fight with any of them. But one of the deciding factors of that working was how long it would take to stop Itachi from blocking the way.

I had played shogi with Shikamaru more than once, it being one of the few things he actually liked doing with other people. I won against him the first time I played, but it was at the cost of most of my game pieces, which I knew was unacceptable. Asuma-sensei was stunned and Shikamaru was obviously surprised as well, but then he noted the issue about my lack of remaining game peices. Since then we played more often, and he taught me something new about strategy every time. Each one of his 'lessons' helped me in my scheme for the Gaara rescue mission.

My plan was fairly simple, but it also had an incredibly slim chance of working. I had to plan moves and counter-moves for every possible thing that I could imagine Itachi, Deidara, and Sasori doing.

Kakashi-sensei noticed this.

One morning while on a break from training, I had sat down next to the creek by the training ground, and began to go through my plan and backup plans in my head for the millionth time.

Kakashi-sensei sat down next to me, but I barely noticed until he spoke.

"What's on your mind?"

Startled, I turned to look at him.

"Oh, uh..." Should I tell him about what was going to happen to Gaara? How drastically would that change future events?

I decided against it, but my insides burned to tell him.

"It's nothing." I finished, scratching my head awkwardly.

"So I guess your distant looks and sudden intensity during training are because of 'nothing'?"

"What? Distant looks? What are you talking about Kakashi-sensei? I feel fine!"

But he didn't buy it.

"My Sharingan can see a lot of things that usually can't be seen, however, even the most blind person can tell that there is something troubling you." He leaned a little closer to me, and I leaned away in response.

Panic began to gnaw at my insides as he stared at me with his dark, unblinking eye.

-Dammit! If he figures it out, then that could change everything!

"Is it the chunin exams?" Kakashi asked calmly.

Breathing a silent sigh of relief, I thanked God and all of my lucky stars that he hadn't found out.

I looked away for a second.

"Sort of."

-Shoot! I completely forgot about the chunin exams!

*Yes wimp, in all the time you were 'planning' about supposedly being able to take on the Akatsuki, you forgot that Temari plans on leaving in two days and Naruto should be coming back soon as well.

-But will they still be held after the incident that's about to happen with the Akatsuki?

"You should be fine." Kakashi-sensei reassured me. "You've caught up to everyone else quickly, and you're pretty smart. I have no doubt that you'll make it to the final rounds."

"Really? You think I'll make it that far on my first try?"

"Naruto did, and he has much less going on upstairs than you do, so I don't see why not." Kakashi-sensei taped his forehead to illustrate his point.

I couldn't help but laugh, and I could see that underneath the mask Kakashi was smiling too.

"But I don't have a 'team' per se, it's just going to be me, so how will that work?"

"I'm sure the Hokage can make an exception. Or at the very least, pair you up with your sister."

"I guess so..."

Silence hung over us for a few minutes. After a while Kakashi broke it.

"That's not what's really bothering you, is it?"

I didn't respond.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." he said as he leaned back in the grass.

"Oh, and I think we're done with training for today. Naruto should be coming back soon, and I'm sure you'll want to see Temari before she leaves."

"Oh, okay then." Standing up, I walked a few paces then turned back to face him. "Thank you Kakashi-sensei."

"Mmhmm."

Racing through the treetops and on the building roofs, I reached the gate in a few minutes. I jumped down, and began to search for Temari. Turning a corner a little too quickly and not paying attention, I smacked right into someone.

-Dang that person has a hard head!

Rubbing the sore spot on my temple, I looked up and found myself face to face with Naruto, who was rubbing his own head.

We stood there for a second staring at each other, and then I groaned inwardly.

-If he's here, then that means...

"Well hello there! Don't think I've ever seen you around here before!" Jiraiya appeared behind Naruto.

I could feel Jiraiya staring at me, almost as if he had some kind of creepy x-ray vision.

-Stupid curves!

"Word of advice Pervy Sage," I snapped my head to stare back at him, "Stay away from me, unless you have a death wish." I said menacingly.

Jiraiya looked surprised. "How do you know who I am?" He demanded.

I didn't bother answering.

"Who're you 'ttebayo?" Naruto asked, still rubbing his head. Apparently I've got a hard head as well.

"My name is Amira, and long story short, I got here not too long ago, and I'm training as a ninja because guess what? The Akatsuki apparently want me too!" I deadpanned sarcastically, "And I'm also your new teammate."

"WHAAATTTTT???!!!" Naruto's face contorted into complete shock.

Jiraiya's face grew dark. "The Akatsuki?"

"Yes idiot, the Akatsuki. They sent Kisame to be exact."

Naruto was shaking as he pointed at me, "Y-You? My new teammate 'ttebayooo?" his face was now filled with horror.

"Get used to it."