The three sought after males stood in silence, trying to think up their next move. Neji’s screams and threats went unnoticed, except the one about licking Naruto all over, which made Naruto shudder all over and break his train of thought. With time limited, Kakashi came up with the most effectual solution to their problem.

“With Neji’s betrayal, it becomes all too clear that we aren’t safe anywhere. No one can be trusted and nowhere is completely safe. Even if we wait until first light, someone will see us, and either try to eat Naruto or inform someone that is hunting him. The most obvious solution is to ditch Naruto and save ourselves.” Naruto’s eyes shot open at hearing Kakashi suggest they leave him to be eaten. He opened his mouth to voice his argument about Kakashi’s plan, but kept his mouth shut when he heard Kakashi add, “But we can’t abandon a team mate, it isn’t the ninja way.”

Naruto let out a sigh and shook his head, of coarse Kakashi wasn’t going to abandon him. The first thing the one eyes ninja taught him was to protect his teammates. It was a lesson Kakashi believed in deeply. As Naruto scolded himself mentally for thinking his teacher would let him die, Kakashi’s eyes met Keiji and they shared the same thought. They’d protect the boy, but if things got too hairy, they’d toss him to the sharks and turn tail and run. Kakashi believed that teammates should never abandon teammates, but he never said teachers couldn’t do it.

“Since we’re basically screwed,” Kakashi continued. “I think the only solution is to fight.” He punctuated what he said by slamming his fist into his open palm. Cool, laid back Kakashi had left, enter tough, take action Kakashi. He was sick of running, he’d fight these crazy kids that wanted Naruto as a meal. Take them all out and get the respect he deserved. Now all he needed was his Rambo headband and he was good to go.

“Hold on, are you telling me that that the two of us should take on twenty something crazy ninjas, with our only back up being one lame quack? Are you nuts, Neji nearly had me down his throat before you guys jumped him. No way am I taking on someone like Garaa or Shizune when they want to eat me like sushi. You and the quack can fight, I’m hiding somewhere without drooling mouths hovering over me.”

Said ‘quack’ remained quiet, letting Naruto continue on. He hoped this was going somewhere, because they didn’t have time for grandstanding. The paranoia of their situation was setting in and the bug eyed looks Neji was sending them made his skin crawl. He shuffled his feet and waited for someone to decide their next location.

“I thought you wanted to fight?” Kakashi said coyly.

“I was before empty eyes over there nearly had me staring down his tonsils.” Naruto jabbed his finger towards Neji, who was staring back at Naruto intensely. He was so close to his prey it was intoxicating for him.

“This will be different, we’ll catch them off guard,” Kakashi explained.

“Not all of them. One of them, might spot us and the next thing we now, they’ll swoop down, open mouth and pluck me up in their jaws.”

“Their crazy stalkers, not birds, Naruto.”

“Doesn’t matter, I’m not taking any chances.” Naruto made a pouting face and tilted his head to the side in defiance. He was sick of coming a hair near to being eaten. Hinata, Ino, Ten-Ten, Neji, Sakura, Anko, Blond-haired-sand-chick-with-the-big-ass-fan, all had been breathing down his neck and come so close to sending him to a digested end. He was going to stand here as long as it took to get what he wanted.

“ENOUGH!”

The bellow shook everyone, even Neji, who for the first time since being caught took his eyes off Naruto. Bent over, red faced and panting was Keiji. The young man of great mental skills, but little battle experience had finally had enough. These two great ninja’s who were supposed to be the best were squabbling like little children. Couldn’t they see the danger they were in or were they too busy thinking of cool names to call their latest techniques? Here’s a good one both could use, the act like spoiled nins while crazed freaks stalk them. Not too catchy, but it sums everything up nicely.

“I’ve got a dandy idea, do you want to hear? Well do ya? Huh?” Kakashi and Naruto nodded without thought. Keiji had a big psychotic grin that showed every tooth in his mouth. He put an arm around each ninja’s shoulder so he could tell both men his idea. “Here’s what I think. We head to the Hokage office and I dump both of you there and go home. Let her deal with our mouth-watering problem. Then I can get to go home and live my life without ever seeing either of you brain dead oafs again. Comprende?”

No arguments were given, mostly out of terror of the psychiatrists hovering on the edge of a mental breakdown. Hopefully, if any of the stalkers spotted them, they’d see Keiji first and rethink going after Naruto. The Stalkers were crazy, but the nearly crazy Keiji looked scary enough to snap even them out of their crazed state.
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June 2
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