Mission: Fight to Survive

CHAPTER 12

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters.

Thinking

'Signs to communicate.'

"Speaking"

A/N: This story will contain POVs from other characters too.

Hey guys! I'm back, and this time with a Shikamaru and Kakashi Interlude! This will also be a short chapter since I only want to have a brief summary of their three-year training period before moving on to the other characters.

Ahead we go!

Kakashi POV

I rub my face and sigh as I fall back onto my bed. My team has officially split for the next three years, and honestly? I'll miss them – not that I would admit it, of course.

I stare at the ceiling, thinking back to the Invasion. That Jounin from Sand almost got one over me.

That won't do.

I'll have to sharpen up. Having kids to look after should've made me sharper, but instead it made me softer. Pathetic.

I sit up. Maybe I'll ask Tsunade-sama to put me back in ANBU for these three years.

That way I'll be able to keep an eye on Sakura, too.

Out of all three of them, the one I worried about most was her. Haruno Sakura.

When I first read her reports, I was disgusted. A civilian who wanted to become a kunoichi was fine. Rin was the same. But a civilian who wanted to become a kunoichi because of a boy? I never thought she would get this far.

But then something happened in their third year.

She changed, apparently. Her hair was cut, her dress replaced by practical clothing. She was working harder; she trained with Sasuke, trained in the medical arts, apparently also learned Genjutsu under Iruka.

She was the top Kunoichi when they graduated so she was put with Sasuke and Shikamaru, who barely passed because working hard was 'too troublesome'.

But her teammates were clan kids. Clan heirs. She trained herself harder and harder each day, trying to catch up. She reminded me of... well, of a harder-working Rin.

Everyday Sakura would balance training, then her job at the Hospital and healing the boys since they would invariably end up hurting themselves.

But she would work herself to the bone, wake up earlier and continue studying and training, barely giving herself time to recover.

Sakura still found a way to be happy and cheerful, keeping everyone's spirits up.

I can't help but laugh remembering her threats.

To Sasuke she only had to mention Ino's name to get him to do something, and Shikamaru had to hear his mother's name before he moved.

They worked well together. Hopefully, they would be the same after these three years too.

I sigh. This is going to be a long three years.

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One year later

"You summoned me, Hokage-sama?" I prompt after standing in the office for two minutes.

I wait for another minute as Tsunade-sama downs a glass of sake.

"Hokage-sama, it's two in the afternoon. Should you really be drinking?"

She glares at me, "Today is the only day both those sake-hiding women have a holiday. Every hour is happy hour."

"You summoned me?" I remind again.

She tosses a file to me. "Solo mission. A-Rank. Client will be at the gates in an hour."

I open my mouth to say something, but the door opens and in comes –

"Sakura!" Tsunade's eyes widen before narrowing. "What are you doing here?"

My former student crosses her arms, "Tsunade-sama, it is two in the afternoon. Should you really be drinking?"

Tsunade glares at her. "Who's the Hokage?"

Sakura sighs and shakes her head. "Note to self," she mumbles, "get Shizune-senpai to change the hiding spot."

She notices me and tips her head in acknowledgement. I'm in my ANBU uniform and my chakra is muted, so she wouldn't know who it is.

I nod once and she continues to Tsunade's desk. She places the notebook that is in her hand and flips to a certain page.

The have a quick conversation about some antidote or medicine or something before Tsunade says, "Wait, it's your day off. Why are you studying?"

Sakura shrugs. "I like to?"

I smile behind my masks. She's still the same as she was.

Tsunade shakes her head, amused. "Gods, Sakura, you need to take a break."

"I'm only studying, not actually training!"

"Nonetheless, you need to take a break."

"Tsunade-sama, you've been trying to get me to stop for a year now. I'm not stopping. Thank you for helping me with this, but now I have to go."

She picks up her notebook and walks out, leaving Tsunade to groan before drinking straight from the bottle.

"That girl will be the death of me," She mutters.

I resist the urge to snicker. "Look on the bright side, Hokage-sama. Now you won't have to deal with an incompetent student."

Tsunade's reply to that is throwing a stapler at me. I flee from the room before it hits me.

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Two years later

I feel a foot on my back, and I suppress a growl. My ANBU team leader – Izumi – Lion is taking all her anger out on me.

Before I left the ANBU, we had a huge fight about a mission, and we hate each other now. Of course, Hokage-sama didn't know and assigned me under Lion's orders.

She's milking the situation as well as she can.

She makes me work harder that the rest. It. Is. Annoying.

"Come on, Wolf, surely you can do better than that." Lion taunts me.

We're doing finger pushups and this petty animal is making me do it on one hand.

And she's applying more pressure by pushing me down with her foot.

I wonder if this is how Duckling, Lazy-Ass and Pinky felt when I was training them.

...Nah, I wasn't that petty.

I refuse to let Lion win. I complete my thousand pushups and feel her foot leave my back.

"Tired?" She smiles sweetly, noticing the sweat drenching me.

Putting on my cheeriest voice, I reply, "Nope! Are you?"

"No."

"Oh, good. But you're getting soft, Lion. I know a Genin who does more pushups than this."

I mentally shudder at the thought of Gai and Lee.

Her finger twitches and I can practically feel her desire to stab me. Raising her voice, she calls out to everyone, "Come! We're going through Training Ground 44!"

I laugh, just to piss her off further.

"Something the matter, Wolf?"

I reply in a light voice, "No, it's only that my former students can clear that forest. On their own. Blindfolded."

"Yes, but we're doing this without our sight, smell and chakra." Lion says.

I hear suppressed groans from my teammates.

"Well," I shrug. "I suppose that's the closest to a challenge you'll be able to come up with."

Lion walks up to me, and I can hear the sneer in her voice, "You have a better training plan?"

"Matter of fact, I do."

"Well, what is it?"

I cross my arms casually, "But I don't think you'll be able to handle it."

"Wolf, you have three seconds before I report you to Hokage-sama."

"A more intense version of Might Gai's training." I chirp.

All the others groan again.

"Enough!" Lion commands. "Go ahead, Wolf, you're in charge of this training session."

"Okay," I nod. "Alright, everyone, let's begin with five thousand crunches."

"Gai's gone soft," She snorts.

I arch an eyebrow as everyone starts lying on the ground. "What are you doing, you idiots; the tree is over there."

Those groans of pain are like music to my ears.

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A few months later

I stand stiff at the edge of the training ground, my fists clenched tight.

Tsunade and Sakura have another training session, but being the Hokage, she has an important meeting after this, so I'm here to take Sakura to the Hospital after their training.

It's a little concerning that Tsunade is sure Sakura will have to get to the hospital, but seeing what they're doing, I don't blame her.

Tsunade put up some kind of medical block on Sakura's arm, and Sakura has to try to get past it.

I have no idea how she'll do it, but she's trying.

Sweat drips from her as she groans and grunts, trying to... do something.

After a long time, she falls to the ground, her fingers clenching at the ground angrily.

Tsunade uncrosses her arms, "I think that's enough for today, Sakura-"

"No," She interrupts. "I can do this."

She clenches her fists and shuts her eyes, tight. There's a tense silence for a minute. Two. Then she gasps and I see her hand glowing a dull blue.

I grin. I knew she could do it.

Then her nose starts bleeding, and she collapses to the ground.

I rush forward and scoop her up into my arms. Tsunade nods and I shunshin to the hospital.

"Stupid girl," I mutter to myself. "You just have to push yourself to the brink, don't you? Idiotic... idiot. No sense of self preservation."

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Shikamaru POV

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One Year Later

"Come on, Shikamaru, a fresh Academy student can do better!"

I suppress a groan as my mother 'motivates' me to run faster.

She's taken over my training till Anko gets free and it is absolute torture. Worse than Kakashi's.

Ugh.

I duck as a kunai flies over my head. "Kaa-san, Kakashi used to do that when we were thirteen!"

The next kunai cuts a bit of my arm.

I sigh. Fuck my team for making me so sarcastic. I could've just kept my mouth shut and taken it.

God, these three years can't go by any faster, can they?

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Two Years Later

"Have you seen his face?" Ino rambles on about some hot dude she saw on a magazine as I sigh mentally.

I'm stuck with her for the next few hours because of this Ino-Shika-Cho dinner thing our fathers started when they were young.

Choji and I used to ignore her and have idle conversations about something or the other, but, well, he isn't here.

"Shika, are you even listening to me?" Ino glares at me.

I look her dead in the eyes as I reply, "Not even a little bit."

She growls and begins a huge lecture about how I never used to listen to her, and that I'm a bad friend, blah blah blah.

"...this is all because of Forehead! She corrupted you! She's horrible! First, she steals Sasuke-kun, then my best friend, then she lets my other best friend die." Her voice cracks at the end.

My eyes narrow, "She didn't let Choji die. She tried her best after working herself to the bone every day. Sakura saw them take Sasuke, she made the team, she came as backup and saved so many other lives while you did nothing but bitch about her."

I place my chopsticks down and stand up. "I'm going out for a walk." I announce before leaving.

I shove my hands into my pockets and walk down the dark road.

My mind goes to what my teammates would be doing. It's late but not late enough. They'll probably have finished eating dinner.

I snort. Who am I kidding; they both will be training right now. None of them know when to stop.

I sigh.

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A few months later

"Hokage-sama," I greet, entering her office.

Tsunade looks up from her paperwork, looking frustrated. "What?" She snaps, then realizes. "Oh, it's you."

She absently tosses a file to me. "Details are in there. Now, go."

"If you don't mind me asking, Hokage-sama, how's Sakura?"

"Mission."

"Sasuke?"

"Mission."

"Kakashi?"

"Mission."

"And-"

"Leave. Now."

I bow, amused, and leave.

I open the file and take a look at what the mission entails.

"Meet the client at the gates in half an hour, escort him to the border. That's it?"

I shrug, "The easier, the better."

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I hate my life. I fucking hate my life. I hate Tsunade for giving me this mission. I hate Kakashi, Sakura and Sasuke for helping me make Chuunin so I could get this mission. I hate this mission.

I. Hate. Kids.

The client forgot to mention he had two children with him. I clench my fists in my pockets as the boy is stuck to my leg and the girl shoots questions about my life as a ninja.

I am one question away from traumatizing all three of them.

One. Goddamn. Question.

She opens her mouth and I stop walking.

"Okay, that's it." I say, glaring at the three of them.

I look down at the boy, "Kid 1, off me. Now."

He grumbles but gets off, "My name isn't kid 1, it's Toku."

Ignoring him, I turn to the girl, "Kid 2, you need to stop asking questions before you attract enemy ninjas."

"My name's Anya!" She chirps, twirling her hair around her finger.

Finally, I turn to the client, "Sato-san, get your children under control."

He laughs nervously and beckons to the kids with his hands. They skip to him, and I sigh.

"Listen, all of you. We're heading away from Konoha, so we might get attacked. First thing you have to do is not panic. I will handle it. Kids, stick to your father. If you run off, you'll get k – hurt. Sato-san, hold on to your children and make sure they don't leave your sight. Kid 1, stop clinging to me and Kid 2, no speaking. Got that?"

All three of them nod and I exhale. I twirl a kunai around my finger, and we continue walking.

Barely five steps later, I gesture to them to stop walking and be quiet.

"Tou-san, are we going to get attacked?" Toku whispers excitedly.

His father shushes him. I bury my hands in my pocket, letting my posture loose.

There's only one chakra signature, but it seems strong. It's approaching... approaching...

"Boo!" A man yells, jumping out of a tree.

Anya and Toku scream, and I raise an eyebrow, my hand clenching around a kunai.

He seems like a regular bandit.

He turns to me with a disturbing grin on his face. "It's just you guarding them?"

I shrug nonchalantly. "Maybe. Who are you?"

He seems like a weirder Naruto. I feel he'll introduce himself, nonetheless.

"I'm Akira! You are...?"

"Shikamaru," I reply. "I suppose you won't just let us walk away peacefully?"

He shakes his head, "Nah. I've got orders to kill that dude and his kids, and I kinda need the money. Sorry, though."

"That's okay."

I smile as my Shadow Clone creeps up behind him, gesturing for the kids to keep their traps shut.

"No hard feelings?" Akira offers.

I nod, "No hard feelings."

Shadow Clone Me presses a kunai to his throat. "Well, that's that."

I narrow my eyes as Akira's grin widens. I whirl around and see two – by their chakra signatures – Genin level bandits holding a knife under the kids' necks.

The client is frozen in shock as another bandit step out from behind him, a kunai pressing into his head.

I resist a smirk. I raise a hand and say, "Close your eyes, kids. This is gonna get messy."

I activate an explosive tag I placed a distance away, and while everyone was distracted, I use my shadow and hold everyone in their places.

Making sure the kids' eyes are closed, I walk over and slit the bandits' throats before turning to Akira. He's resisting my shadows.

I let him go and charge, my Shadow Clone dispelling. He aims a punch at my head, but I catch his wrist and punch his stomach, grabbing his head and slamming my knee into his nose.

He groans and jumps back, pulling out two kunai. I throw a barrage of shuriken at him, and he deflects most, still getting scratches on his face by a few.

He growls and leaps toward me, swinging his leg at me. I duck under it and take hold of his foot. He loses balance and falls to the ground. I twist his foot and break his ankle. He screams and I hear whimpers from behind me.

I let his foot drop and throw a kunai at his head. It goes straight through; Akira's glassy eyes fix on me before the light leaves them.

I turn and walk over to my client. I arch an eyebrow at the children. "I told you to keep your eyes shut."

They both are staring at the dead bodies with eyes wide with horror.

Why? Why do kids never listen? That's literally all they have to do.

I kneel in front of them and gently turn their heads to me. "Hey," I say softly. "Don't look at them. Don't think about them. I know how it feels to see it happen, but don't dwell on it too much. Okay?" I smile softly.

They still seem traumatized, and I sigh mentally.

I hate kids.

"Anya-chan, didn't you have questions for me?"

She nods slowly.

"And Toku," I turn. "Get on."

He stands still for a moment before getting onto my back.

After a long walk of silence, the kids start talking.

Upon reaching our destination, Sato smiles gratefully at me and hands me two scrolls.

"I don't know what this is but see if you can make use of it. And I apologize for not telling Konoha about my children. I hope the scrolls will pay for it."

I thank him, tuck the scrolls away and head back home.

A few more months and I'll get Kakashi, Sakura and Sasuke to suffer with me.

Sakura's much better with kids anyway.

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Poor Shika.

I personally hate kids myself, and the clinging has happened to me. It is not fun.

And I know this chapter is very short and not that great, but I just wasn't able to write anything good.

Anyway, two more interludes and we'll move on to Shippuden!

Fav, Follow and Review!

Bye!

Kristy...