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chapter four

Sasuke and Kakashi both appeared at the door at the same time, each carrying backpacks and in their training outfits. Well, Sasuke in a sort of training outfit. They both had ninja tool belts strapped to their thighs and handed one to Sakura as well. She did the same and nodded at them. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah," Sasuke said as Kakashi closed and locked the door behind them. Kakashi made the tiger symbol with his long fingers, and suddenly random spots of grass started glowing. When he brought his hand down, he looked at his students, who were both watching him confusedly. "Had to set up more traps." He said.

Sakura rolled her eyes and turned to start walking. "If you're coming, let's go. If Naruto wants to come, he'll meet us at the gate, but we're wasting time. Sasuke shouldn't even be here, I didn't take him into my calculations."

Sasuke sighed loudly, faking an emotional injury. "I just want to help you with a mission and honestly I'm feeling so unwanted right now."

"This isn't a mission, this is me going to get a summoning contract. And you are unwanted, I came here for Kakashi, not you." Sakura knew her voice was cold, but she couldn't bring herself to change it.

"Geez, I don't know what to say, Sakura, Sasuke," Kakashi said, looking between the two of them. "It's clear you both have a lot of pent-up emotion."

They both turned around and hissed. "Shut up, Kakashi."

When the group reached the gate, they saw Naruto there, rubbing his eyes. He was still in his pajamas and looked around at each of them incredulously. "Where are you guys going so late at night?"

"It's not a mission," Kakashi spoke quickly, coming to a stop in front of the youngest student.

"Well no duh, my dad doesn't assign missions to a bunch of five-year-olds." Naruto deadpanned, crossing his arms. He got a pout on his face. "Do I have to come?"

"No," Sakura replied. "We'll only be gone for a few days, and I already left a clone to fool my parents. Think you can keep the clones up for us if they, you know, go poof?"

"You guys better not die without me," Naruto warned. It was definitely a threat, he would kill them if they died.

"Someone should probably stay and protect the village while we're gone, I guess." Sasuke reasoned. "Leaving the village alone while there are still dirty snakes out there probably isn't a good idea."

Naruto brightened up, giving the three of them two thumbs up. "Yeah! I'll henge a few of my clones just in case yours don't hold up. Cool! Go do your not-mission, and I'll take care of the village for ya, 'ttebayo!" His eyes were suddenly very droopy, and the boy yawned, looking exhausted. "It's too late... at night... for this... anyway..."

The three of them exchanged glances. Their bodies were still toddlers, of course. Sakura was lucky she'd practically slept all day. Sasuke had done something similar, because his father tended to tire him out. Besides, just being Naruto must take a lot out of the poor kid, with all the energy he was constantly using. Kakashi made a shadow clone pick up Naruto and carry him home, and then the three of them were off.

There wasn't really much to say about the journey, the three of them were awkward and silent. Even Sakura, the social butterfly of the group, couldn't find anything to say. The few times Kakashi tried to start up a conversation, it didn't go well either. If Sasuke said anything to Sakura, she shut him down with blunt, short answers.

The only notable thing about the travel was one time.

"Sakura, why are you avoiding me?" Sasuke asked. He was leaning against a tree, and Sakura was seated next to the fire they made. Kakashi was out getting wood for the fire since Sakura had gone last time, and Sasuke had gone the time before. "Don't deny it, either, I see you doing it. I'm not an idiot."