The Next Day, Seven Days Until Chunin Exams
"UP AND AT THEM LAZY- oh. You're up already." Tayuya flounders like a fish out of water. It is uncommon for her to actually find me awake this early in the morning. Or in general, I spend a ridiculous amount of time sleeping ever since my training with Orochimaru started.
"I'm even packed and ready to go. Crazy right? You can put the bucket of water down now." Dodged a bullet there. I get a devious idea. "Better yet use it on Sasuke!"
"No need for that. She got me up first." Sasuke idly says from out in the hallway. My plans have been foiled! I stride out into the hallway while muttering about ruined schemes. "Whoa. What's with the new look?"
I'm wearing my new attire. A long black coat with dark green trim around the edges and a matching dark green shirt beneath. I have a black hood pulled up on my head and a vibrant crimson scarf wrapped around my neck. I also have a pair of black shinobi pants and standard footwear. I even have my hands covered by a pair of dark green gloves. I have my mask strapped onto my belt, there is no point in wearing it yet.
Also, I'm covered in bandages. It took me a half hour to get all wrapped up. I had to wrap everything. Chest, back, arms, legs, hell I even wrapped my neck in case I lose my scarf. I'm taking zero risks. I'd rather sweat ridiculously than risk being recognized. The only thing visible is my face and even that will be covered once I put my mask on.
"I'm rather memorable due to my scarring and features. Mainly the scarring. I needed to hide those so I had the Spiders make me this. I think I look intimidating. Bad ass."
"The Spiders made that?" I suddenly have extra weight on my back. "Mmmm... So soft. So smooth."
Sasuke is openly staring at me. Tayuya is hanging off of my back, she's pressing as much of her body against mine as she can. "Alv... Alvarcus? Is this... uh... normal?"
"Unfortunately it is. I gave her one shirt made by the Spiders. One. She won't leave me alone, she's constantly asking for more or trying to touch me. Honestly I worry for her sanity." This is getting ridiculous, it is time for extreme measures. "Tayuya, either release me or I zap you with a lightning jutsu."
Her arms clamp down around me which has the added bonus of pinning my arms to my sides. "Can't do that if you can't make hand signs." She rubs her face into my back. "Can I have your coat?"
"Final warning." She responds by rubbing her face quicker and harder.
ZAP
Electricity courses into Tayuya's body, jolting her off of me. "Fun fact of the day: I don't need to make hand signs for a few jutsu. Thankfully that is one of them."
"Fine. I'll just take it later when you're asleep." Tayuya huffs in anger and stomps down the hallway. "Come on. We should be leaving."
Sasuke and I follow her to the front gate. It is more of a trap door, this isn't the main Sound village it is one of Orochimaru's bases. There is no way Orochimaru is stupid enough to have Sasuke and I parade around the public Sound village.
Speaking of Orochimaru, he's waiting by the exit for us.
"You're leaving for the Chunin Exams." He unnecessarily states. We all know what we are doing. "I expect a good show from you both. I can't wait to see you two in the finals. It promises to be memorable." I roll my eyes. We've covered this stuff weeks ago. "Now, put on your masks. You should not take them off at all, only when needed. From this moment forward, Alvarcus's code name will be Green and Sasuke's will be Red." Simple enough, our masks depict that fairly well. "I know you two will pass, make sure that you show what you can do. Dazzle the crowd."
"Sure thing. Can we go now?" I eagerly ask. I finally get to be out from under Orochimaru's thumb for a little bit. It promises to be very refreshing.
"Impatient. Go ahead, I will see you when you return." Orochimaru graciously steps out of our way with a grand flourish.
Tayuya, Sasuke and I walk out the gate. We stand in the sun for a minute, basking in it's warmth. We're not in it enough, Orochimaru keeps us confined underground.
"Come on, let's go." Tayuya takes off towards the Land of Grass. She sets a rather slow pace, by slow I mean she's walking.
Sasuke and I share a look. We've run all the way from Konoha to the Land of Tea before. "You want to walk to Grass?" Sasuke asks in mild disbelief. I don't blame him, I thought the point of us leaving almost a week early was to get there way ahead of time.
"You want to run to Grass?" Tayuya dryly retorts. "Hate to break it to you boys, but I'm not a stamina freak like you two."
"It will take days to get there at this speed." Sasuke irritably tells her.
"Unless one of you two wants to carry me, we're walking. There is no way I'm running all the way there and that is final. I'm the leader of this mission, I set the pace. I make the rules. Deal with it."
Sasuke turns to me. I can feel the thoughts forming in his mind. Thoughts I don't like. "No. Hell no."
"But it makes sense. It was her idea!" Sasuke pleads to me.
I glare at him, the effect is lost because my face is covered. How unfortunate.
"Just think how much better your spy network would be with a few more days to prepare. We would have more information on all the gennin participating. Isn't that worth it? You won't even be tired thanks to the Jiongu."
I step in front of Sasuke, forcing him to stop. "I'm sorry, did you not see her practically molest my back earlier? And you want me to willingly carry her for hours? Are you insane?"
A weight settles on my back. Please no. "Great idea! It's perfect, I don't have to run, we get to Grass sooner and I get to snuggle with this amazing clothing." Sure enough, Tayuya is dangling off of me.
"You know what! Fine! If we're doing this I'm setting the pace." Sasuke nods in agreement with my demand. "Tayuya, hang on." She wraps her legs around me and I help hold her up with my arms. This is ridiculous, I can't believe I'm doing this. "If you fall behind, just yell or something." I say to Sasuke.
I sprint off towards what I believe to be Grass. Sasuke is right beside me. Tayuya is currently rubbing my shoulders with her hands.
"So nice. I simply must have a coat like this."
"OI. Miss leader, you need to make sure I'm going the right way. I don't want to get lost due to you being distracted." She doesn't respond to my words, she's enamored with my coat. It is time to bring out the big weapons. "Make sure we get to Kusa and I'll give you another shirt."
She crushes me in a hug. "You mean it?"
I'm not even surprised that worked. "Yes, now make sure I'm going the right way and I'll give you one once we get there. Deal?"
"Deal!" She eagerly agrees. "Follow this road for a long time, I'll tell you when to change course."
"Good." I blandly say. She hasn't stopped rubbing my clothes at all. This is going to be a long trip.
...
Eight Hours Later
"You're from Otogakure?" One of the two gate guards says in disbelief. "You sure?"
"Look at the headbands dumb ass." Tayuya bristles at the guards tone. "No shit we're from Oto. Here for the Chunin Exams. You know, the ones that your village is hosting?"
"I'm sorry, it is just that... well..." The guard trails off and doesn't finish his sentence.
"That the idea that I carried her all the way from Oto is ridiculous and rather embarrassing for her worth as a kunoichi?" I drawl out in a bored tone. That's right everyone, I carried her all the way up to the gate. Then I dropped her on her ass right in front of these guards. Serves her right.
"Well yeah, but I didn't want to say it like that." The gate guard replies sheepishly. "Isn't she supposed to be your jonin escort?"
I hang my masked head in shame. "Yes, yes she is. I hate that she was chosen, she drives me crazy. Wakes me up by dumping water on me, insists I get her new clothes, and her voice is annoying."
"Green, we are here on business. Talk with the Kusa nin later." Sasuke reprimands me. He's right of course, I should be more professional when we are trying to get into another hidden village, but this guard understands how crazy Tayuya is. He empathizes with me, knows my burden.
"Fine, fine. You're a slave driver Red." I turn back to the gate guard. "Do we need to fill anything out?"
"I've already filled out the paperwork while you and the guard had your bonding moment." Tayuya says in a perfectly level tone. Uh-oh, she is mad. I might have to sacrifice another shirt to calm her down. "We can go in now. They've kindly provided us a general map too. Restaurants, tourist stores, and our hotel." Tayuya boldly walks right past the two guards and enters Kusagakure with her head held high. "Come on, I'm tired. We're going to the hotel first, then you two can do whatever you want."
I fall in step beside her. "You're tired?" I can't believe her. "I carried you here. You wanted to walk! Walk! How ridiculous."
Tayuya rolls her eyes. "Oh shut up. You know you enjoyed it."
"How would I possibly enjoy lugging you across country?"
She turns her head to face me with a gleam in her eyes. "You're a guy."
"That doesn't explain anything."
Tayuya drapes herself across my back, pressing her whole body into mine. She sensually whispers into my ear, "You didn't like me doing this? Pressing myself against you? Rubbing against you?" Oh Kami this is so embarrassing. Is she coming on to me? "Don't think I didn't notice where your hands were the entire time. I didn't expect you to be an ass man."
"I didn't mean to!" I quickly stutter out. "Well I did, but not in that way! I needed to hold you up somehow!"
I hear a snicker from off to our sides. "Green, I didn't know you and Tayuya were a thing. How long has this been going on?" Great, even Sasuke is joining in on teasing me.
I'm thankful for my mask right now, my face is a brilliant shade of red. "WE'RE NOT A THING! Ahem. We're not a thing." Oh Kami, I'm acting exactly how Sasuke did when I teased him over Ino.
"Not yet." Tayuya purrs into my ear. She releases me and saunters ahead of us with a scandalous sway in her hips. Sasuke's and my eyes are riveted to her form. Tayuya looks over her shoulder and grins. "Come on boys, we have a hotel to get to."
I ignore how suggestive that sentence is and say to Sasuke, "Never mention Tayuya and I again and I'll never bring up Blondie."
"Deal." Our eyes never left her.
I can't believe it, but I'm actually looking forward to the return trip. I didn't think about it before, but she's right. It was oddly pleasant in a strange way. The closeness, the warmth, the contact.
Ah crap, I'm going through puberty again.
...
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