Ch-2: The Curse of Love

“Tsunade!” Jiraiya yelled, focused on the now shut eyes of the 5th Hokage, who sat diligently at her desk.

Tsunade stood in a burst of motion, thrusting her hands onto the desk below with a loud bang, “While I’m the 5th Hokage, you will address me as so! Meaning, its Lady Tsunade to you, my friend,” She shouted just as strong, eyes narrowed on Jiraiya.

Kakashi lifted his hand, “Now, now,” he intervened. “Listen, Lady Tsunade, we know your stressed, and we’re very sorry about that. But let us go on the mission instead of Naruto. You’ve over worked him. He needs a break,” Kakashi offered thinking of his stressed student.

“That’s right Tsu-Lady Tsunade,” Jiraiya corrected. “You’ve worked the kid to the bone! He never complains, and always goes on your ridiculous missions with success! But the only time he asks for a day off, you refuse him that little get away?!” He swung his arm in front of himself, then to the side.

Tsunade sighed, sat back down in her chair in a huff, and swung around to face the windows, “I’d love to give him a break,” She said, bringing hope into the men’s eyes (or eye). “But I cannot allow it,” this made their faces fall. “As you know tomorrow is the day Uchiha Sasuke left the village to go to Orochimaru,” She stated as she stood, and glided to the window. “He cannot get his hopes up on bringing that criminal back to the village. Its just not possible.” She inquired roughly.

“And you think a mission will take his mind off the criminal?” Kakashi injected as a back fire.

Tsunade looked down to see Naruto enter the building, “Precisely,” she turned, and sat back in her chair. Twisted to face the two men once more. A glorious smile on her face, like she had just won the lottery, (which isn’t likely in her case).

Jiraiya was about to tell her off, when a knock was heard on the door, “Come in,” Tsunade said cheerfully.

The door opened with all eyes on it, “Good … morning,” Naruto announced as he entered the room with ease. He walked passed the gray haired men, and went straight for Tsunade’s desk. “Grandma Tsunade, I’ve been thinking about the mission, and if its mandatory, I will be happy to take it,” Naruto acknowledged, leaving Jiraiya and Kakashi speechless.

Tsunade moved her body to take a look at their faces, which held a pleading no figure. She returned gazes with the blond before lifting her smile once more in a pleasant gesture, “Thank you Naruto. I’ll see you tomorrow morning sharp. Just as the sun rises.” Tsunade gestured for him to leave.

Naruto bowed his head so shadows would cover his eyes, and turned for the door. He stopped as he opened the door twisted to face the three, and bowed. There was a light click as the door shut, and glares were presented Tsunade’s way, “You two are excused as well,” she shooed them with her hand as she whirled around in her chair toward the windows she does from time to time.

~*~*~*~

Shimono’s hands were balled into fists, his knuckles turning white, face tense, and eyes filled with rage toward the older boy genin, “Take that back!” He practically screamed at the boy, who had criticized him on his ability in tai-jutsu.  

“What for?” Zoku countered, with his hands on his hips. “Its not even possible for you to make a scratch on me.”

He would have attacked the blueish-black haired boy, had it not been for Sakura interfering, by standing in the middle of the two, “C’mon! You two shouldn’t fight. We still have to train remember.” she kept her eyes on both genin.

“Sakura-sensei is right!” Momo added. “Why can’t you two just work together now and then?” As she said that, Shimono relaxed his arms and plopped down on to the ground.

He sighed, “Your right, its not worth it,” Shimono looked up, eyes half lidded for the suns raise were bright on his face.

Sakura paraded over to the sitting boy, and picked him up by the arm for him to stand, “Like I mentioned earlier, we still have training to accomplish today,” She said as she sent Zoku a displeased look.

“I was just taking a break, but I’m calling it a day,” he announced as he tugged his arm away from Sakura’s grasp, and leaped off.

“Shimono wait!” Momo yelled, buy it was too late, the red head was not going to change his mind. She turned her head to scowl at Zoku. She stalked her way over to the older genin. “What is your problem? Shimono is a great shinobi.” Momo said as she pointed a finger in Zoku’s face.

Zoku shut his eyes, “Its not my problem if he acts that way.” He said directly. Momo tried to punch him, but Sakura laid her hand on her shoulder, making her relax quickly.

She sent Momo away, and knelt right in front of Zoku at eye contact height, “Zoku,” she began. “Shimono’s a nice boy, you should try and get to know him. Maybe he’s just like you,” She smiled a small, but bright smile.

Zoku immediately looked at her fiercely, “Like you would know anything about me!” He shouted in her face. “I’m leaving.”

Zoku walked off leaving Sakura and Momo to themselves. They sat there for a few seconds before Momo decided to break the silence, “This is going to be tougher than we thought,” she laughed as she glided down to the ground.

“Yeah,” Sakura agreed. The pink haired shinobi quickly shot herself up off the ground, “We still have to train!” She ran to Momo who bounced to her feet. “You go after Shimono, … and I’ll try to reason with Zoku.”

~*~*~*~

Naruto paced back and forth on the outskirts of the village, where a path was set for runners, “I’m sorry Sasuke,” he said as he looked up to the clouds, as if to see an answer to his dilemma.

The blond continued to pace with his head toward the sky, and as he was thinking something hit him flat in the chest, knocking him over onto the ground with whatever hit him.

He felt movement in between his legs, and quickly opened his eyes to reveal the boy he had met earlier with Sakura, “Z-zoku?” he questioned, putting a hand on the back of his throbbing head.

Zoku stood up and dusted himself off, “You shouldn’t be standing in the middle of the path.”

Naruto made an embarrassed face, “Hehe, sorry, I guess I was spacing out … .” He said as he got up and dusted himself off, as the younger genin had.

“No kidding,” Zoku commented as he was about to take off down the pathway again, if it had not been for a pressure on his hip. He fell to his knees suddenly, and grasped the spot on his body that caused him pain.

Naruto rushed to his side, “Zoku?! Are you alright?” He asked worriedly, with his hand on the youngers back.

~*~*~*~
FLASH BACK:

“It will last for two years. If I know really know you, you will not open your heart for a while. Am I right Zoku?”

“…”

“Well, if you wish to live, get rid of the curse within two years. Or else, it will eat you whole. Engulfed in darkness. Is that what you want?”

“Hnn … ahh!”

*Snicker* “Well, I shall leave you.”

END:
~*~*~*~

Zoku huffed, as the pain subsided, “Let go of me. I’m alright,” he answered the blond in a harsh tone. The blueish-black haired genin raised himself slowly off the ground.

“Hey! Maybe you shouldn’t move, you blacked out for a minute there,” Naruto said cautiously as he watched the younger try to walk away.

“Zoku!” Sakura yelled as she made her way through the tees. “Are you alright? Your limping,” she noticed him holding his hip roughly.

“Leave me alone, I’m fine,” He stated as he hobbled passed his teacher.

“Please,” Naruto pleaded as he grabbed the wrist that was not currently holding a throbbing hip.

Zoku eyes shot wide when Naruto grabbed on to him, but his pride would refuse him the luxury of assistance, “Let go! I said I’m fine,” He snatched his wrist away from the older boy.

Sakura rushed in front of Zoku, “You may not like it, but we are going to treat that wound!” she hollered at him, arms to either side so he couldn’t get passed.

As Zoku was about to retort, Shimono and Momo came running from the direction of the gates of Konoha were located, “Sakura-sensei! I got Shimono to return!” Momo waved happily, but when seen Zoku in pain, she immediately rushed to Sakura’s side.

“What’s up?” Shimono asked curiously worried, as he spotted Zoku.

“First we’re taking Zoku to the hospital,” Sakura announced as she stepped closer to Zoku.

“Get away!” Zoku growled as he grabbed a kunai from the side pouch on his leg. “I told you, I don’t need treatment.” He backed up a bit, but forgot that Naruto was still kneeling back there.

The blond, seeing an opening, wrapped an arm around Zoku’s waist, and with the other, grabbed the hand with the kunai, “She said your coming weather you like to or not,” He whispered as the kunai dropped from the youngers hand.

~*~ To Be Continued