Country of Eskon - Japanese military support base

Naruto

I drove the rover through the gate, hitting a bump on the way. Sai, who was passed out in the passenger seat, jolted awake from his nap. I don't blame him. We were up at four in the morning, patrolled through a twenty-mile radius of a town (filled with hills) twice then taking two hour car trips to and from the place.

"I wasn't asleep," the sniper said, grudingly.

"I was, sir," Shikamaru said bluntly in the back, his head still tilted back with eyes still closed.

I stopped the car suddenly and the fool threw his head forward before opening one eye completely annoyed with me. A sudden white head appeared behind Shikamaru and yawned. I smiled when the dog licked the back of the bomb expert's head, causing him to double over.

I'm gonna give that dog a treat later.

The door to my side opened, "Sir!"

I saluted the soldier and gave him my pack, "Everything normal around here?"

"Not a peep, sir!"

I nodded, "At ease."

I walked around the car towards my resting quarters. I was beyond ready to slip these combat boots off and lay in bed for the rest of the afternoon. I have some reports I need to do to send to the commander of the region but I have an injured deputy to do that for me. His legs are injured, not his hands. Sakura promised he will be back on duty by tomorrow, it's been almost a week already.

I opened the door to the eating place only to find the said couple sitting at the dining table with their heads down talking urgently to one another.

I tucked my thumbs into my weapon belt and stalked over to them.

"Not gossiping about me now, are we?" I said.

Sakura looked at me, here eyes widened in surprise, "Not necessarily."

I raised an eyebrow, "Oh really?"

"We were to thinking about how to tell you that there's a medical service team coming in tomorrow at 13:00," Sasuke said, earning a smack from the head medic.

I dropped my hands, "Wait, how long have you known about this service team?"

"A good week now?" Sakura said as if trying to see if putting the reply in a form a question will relieve some of my anger.

Uh, nice try.

"And you didn't think not telling the leader of this entire base about it was a good idea?!"

"Hey, hey!" Sakura raised her hands. "In my defense, it's a medics' problem. I didn't want to involve you in any of it because it would be more unnecessary stress on you and your men. And since I'm the head medic of this base, I thought it would be best I take care of it on my own."

I closed my eye a bit, letting my frustration settle down a bit. What she said did have a point. Between not having Sasuke active and taking care of this entire country under control, I didn't have time to be dealing with a few doctors coming in from Japan.

But for some reason I have a gut feeling that Sakura is hiding something from me.

And I don't like it if someone is hiding something from me.

"You deal with it then, Sakura," I said to her then to Sasuke flashing a white envelope, "I just received a new mission from the commander. We leave tomorrow morning at 3:00 sharp, be ready and get some rest now."

Sasuke stood up and saluted, "Sir."

I took a few steps, my back facing the couple then stopped.

"Sakura," I called to her over my shoulder.

"Hm?"

"The phone number of the head doctor," I zeroed in on the pinkette, "I want it."

Minako Soga's Apartment - Tokyo, Japan

Hinata

I can never understand how calm and collected Mina can be. We had about three days before we have to get on a private military plane and leave for Eskon. Hanako-senpai and I had almost all our things packed but this morning we both get a text from the resident saying that she has yet to get ready.

This happens every single time the five of us take a trip somewhere. She's the last one to pack and always gives all of us anxiety.

So at around eight this morning, Hanako-senpai picked me up and we headed over to her house. She hides her extra key in the mailbox and we kinda intruded without her consent. Mina wasn't angry at us probably because she was still half asleep but there was definiately some annoyance behind her blank expression.

"Hina, did you find her black shorts?" Hanako-senpai was in Mina's huge walk-in closet. Already being from a rich family, I can't imagine how rich this damn resident is going to be when she becomes a more experienced doctor. Her own damn closet is as big as the two bedrooms of my own apartment!

I was busy folding some of the clothes into her luggage. The doctor herself was making lunch for us in the kitchen and watching some TV at maximum volume so we don't drag her into this. She should count herself lucky that she has such good friends otherwise she won't be able to to survive in life.

Except her chocolate cake. She can make these bomb cakes that literally kill your taste buds.

A giant pile of clothes suddenly attacked my face, knocking me backwards onto my butt.

"That was unnecessary, Senpai," I growled peeling the t-shirts and blue tank top off my face.

"Did you find out who's on the Special Forces?" She completely ignored my comment.

I shook my head, "I only got a description of what the captain should look like when we land in Eskon International Airport."

"And what did you get?"

I opened my mouth to answer but then stopped myself. I've read the binder three times already and each times when I turn to the pages talking about the Japanese soldiers that are at the base. Everyone but the five on Special Forces had picture, name and ranking. There was a completely other page asking for me to make copies about not disclosing who's on the team information.

I got a single description that the captain is about six feet with short spiky blonde hair and pure blue eyes.

The moment I read that, my entire body froze over. I immediately pictured the same smiling face that caused my entire chest to swell in complete pain but at the same time, anticipation.

The last time I ever associated myself with him it was to tell him goodbye. At that moment I appeared to be completely cold, a heartless wrench who doesn't care about what happened to him.

The moment I sat down in the car I broke down. My older cousin was almost terrified when he got in. He had to drive a good two miles before he stopped to soothe me.

I just never got around to ever planning how I'd feel if I did ever meet him again.

"Wah...She's so good at spacing out," my ears twitched once at a voice suddenly very close by.

"Did you say something stupid, Senpai?" A more blank and uninterested voice added. "It's either that or I think she might have fallen in love with my tank."

My vision suddenly cleared; revealing the said item of clothing laying in my hands.

"It's not even pretty either," a hand suddenly flashed in front of my eyes. "Hinata~ if you're going to fall in love, at least at something prettier. Like me!"

I twitched with annoyance before turning my head to side where Hanako-senpai was crouching with a mischievous smirk.

I simply jammed the shirt square into her face, "There. It wants to make out with you."

As the older doctor fell on her butt, I only heard the clank of spoon against a bowl followed by a, "I still want that back though. Wash it after you're done."