A Path Worth Retracing
Summary:
If someone had told him two days ago that with this next mission he'd run into her again, he'd shove a knife down their throat. If someone had told her two days ago that going to that club would reuinte her with him, she'd sing from the rooftops. Where do we begin?
Author's Note:
All right, so I just recently started watching Naruto, and I am no where near finishing the series. Like, at all. So I'd really appreciate it if you'd bear with me, and if some minor things are off, I apologize. I just absolutely adore the series so far, so I'm trying my best to keep it semi-inline. Thanks for your patience, its greatly appreciated.
Rated M - lemons will be noted before and after making them easier to avoid for those who don't like them.
Disclaimer:
I, unfortunately, do not own anything but the plot to this story. Naruto and Co belong to someone that is not me.
A Parth Worth Retracing
Prologue
Sakura yelped as the ground beneath her feet gave way, causing her footing to be thrown off. Feeling a scream tear her throat as her body lost its balance and was propelled backwards, it was then that Sakura felt herself falling over the cliff behind her. So this was it? Her first A-Rank mission, and this was all she was capable of. Barely registering Naruto's cry - as if that helps anything, idoit - Sakura made an 'umph' sound as her momentum was abruptly stopped. Looking up and meeting the dark eyes of Sasuke, Sakura smiled in gratitude at their locked arms.
"Stupid girl, don't be so reckless." Sasuke growled as he pulled Sakura up, "We still have a job to do, and you're no help if you're flinging yourself off cliffs. Naruto and I don't have time to save you, too."
Sakura blushed at his harsh criticism, but he was right after all, "Sorry." She mumbled, but he was already gone - back into the fight.
Glancing around and looking for Miyu, the young girl she was assigned to protect. Spotting her standing all alone in the middle of the crude circle she, Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke, and Naruto had unconsciously formed, Sakura quickly ran over to her, assuring herself that her little slip-up hadn't caused any harm to befall the seven-year-old. Reaching the hysterical girl, Sakura gave her a once over smiling to herself when she realized Miyu was fine.
"Sakura." Kakashi stated, always calm. "There's someone behind you."
Whirling around and immediately placing herself between the child and her opponent, Sakura narrowed her eyes at an older woman. Scantily clad in a short brown kimono-ish thing that came to about halfway down her thighs, Sakura couldn't make out her face that was hidden behind a mask reaching up to her nose, identical to Kakashi-sensei's. The woman kept her light brown hair in a high and slicked-back ponytail, with long bangs that covered one of her brown eyes. With her tight chest-armor, Sakura knew a frontal attack wasn't going to work. Eyes roaming for her concealed weapon, Sakura felt herself tense at the woman's smirk. Then, in one swift motion, the woman had pulled seven long silver daggers with a golden symbol at the base of each out of her black arm guards, and linked them all at the core, forming a circle of knives. She knew these weapons, and only one person could link them all together like that.
"Akane." Sakura spat, "I should've known you'd be in on this. Attacking your own niece like this - this is your sister's daughter how could you?"
"That is none of your concern." Akane remarked casually before pulling her arm back and launching the daggers at Sakura. Turning and grabbing a tight hold of Miyu, Sakura quickly yelled out a warning to her comrades and jumped into the nearest tree, narrowly dodging the lethal weapon.
"Sakura," Miyu cried, "I'm scared."
Turning to shush the young girl's escalating cries, Sakura smiled, "I know, Miyu. But it's going to be okay, I'm here and I promise I'll protect you, okay?"
Miyu nodded, "Okay."
"Sakura!" Naruto called out to her, "Look out behind you!"
Eyes widening as she turned around to see what was happening, Sakura cursed as Akane's weapon was flying back toward her. Thanks to her concentration on calming Miyu down, she had failed to notice the weapon's boomerang effect. Seeing as it was too late to dogde, Sakura scooped up Miyu and crouched down, draping herself over the girl. Bracing herself for the impact, Sakura bit back a scream as the tips of a few blades flew over them, and sliced into her back. Glancing up once she felt the weapon leave, Sakura saw Akane preparing to leap for Miyu, thinking fast she called out to Sasuke.
"Sasuke, take Miyu!" Sakura yelled as Sasuke came running over. At his nod, Sakura gently pushed Miyu off their branch and into Sasuke's waiting arms.
Not long after Miyu was safely with Sasuke, did Sakura feel the impact of a body thrown into hers. Hands flying to her throat to try and pry Akane's hands from her windpipe, Sakura struggled for breath and yelped as her injured back was violently shoved against the trunk of a tree. Fighting back inconsciousness as the lack of oxygen began to take over, Sakura quickly began a hand-motion for her jutsu - allowing her to slip out of Akane's grasp. Gasping for air, Sakura spotted Akane's weapon resting on the ground beneath her. Immediately jumping for it - knowing Akane will follow - Sakura narrowed her eyes as she wrapped her fingers around of the blades and winced as the blade cut into the palm of her hand. Spinning on her heel, Sakura lodged the blades into the tree trunk behind her, catching Akane's throat inbetween two blades.
"Move and I'll kill you." Sakura whispered.
Akane laughed, "Please little girl, we both know you haven't got it in you."
"Sakura," Sasuke called, "We need your help!"
Nodding though she couldn't see him, Sakura gave Akane a swift kick to the stomach, before hitting the pressure point on the back of her neck with the heel of her hand, efficiently knocking the woman unconscious. For now, at least.
"Anyday now, Sakura." Kakashi called.
Rolling her eyes Sakura turned around and saw Sasuke practically bending over backward to protect Miyu from an assault from what looked to be like a very large male. Naruto - being as reckless as ever - had performed the shadow clone jutsu and was taking on two males as well. Kakashi-sensei was about to finish off his opponent, in about a move or two. Watching for a moment, Sakura smiled when both Sasuke's and Kakashi-sensei's opponents fell.
Way to go, guys. This is going to be a piece of cake.
Nodding toward Sasuke as she ran to grab Miyu, he gave her a sideways glance as he ran to go help out Naruto. When she reached Miyu, Sakura smiled sadly as the young girl latched onto her side almost immediately, refusing to let go.
Poor Miyu, I hate to put her through something like this.
"Sakura, get Miyu out of here." Kakashi instructed, preparing to fight an awakening Akane.
"Right." Sakura nodded. Scooping up Miyu, Sakura placed the girl on her back and began to run toward the Hidden Leaf Village. Red dress flapping behind her, Sakura yelped as a new body was thrown against her and she lost her balance as Miyu was torn from her back. Screaming for Kakashi and the others, Sakura drew her own blade and prepared for her own attack. Hopping up onto her feet, Sakura screamed as a knife was thrown and lodged itself into her calf, quickly yanking the blade out and tying her ninja headband around the bleeding wound, Sakura stopped cold.
Lying dead on the ground was Miyu, another knife lodged in her back - blood still pouring from the fresh wound. Eyes widening as realization set in, Sakura charged at the murderer. Hearing nothing but the clashing of their blades, Sakura finally managed - after what seemed like forever - to pierce a blade in the man's chest. As he fell to the ground, Sakura wasted no time in yanking off the man's mask and finally let the tears she didn't know she was holding, fall.
It was Jiro, Miyu's father.
Disgusted at the sight, Sakura turned back toward Miyu and felt a lump rise in her throat. She hadn't been able to save her, Sasuke was right - she really was worthless. Walking over to the young girl who she had become so attached to in these last six months, Sakura bit back her tears as she pulled the knife out of her small back. Tearing the bottom of her red dress off, Sakura wrapped the wound even though she knew the effort was futile. Hearing a choking sob tear from her throat, Sakura reached over and pulled the girl into her arms. Brushing her midnight black hair out of her eyes, Sakura gently shut her emerald green eyes forever. Standing up, Sakura looked up to see Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi just arriving. Watching the play of emotions on their faces, Sakura mentally flinched.
I wasn't strong enough to protect her.
Not meeting the gaze of her sensei or her comrades, Sakura placed Miyu on the ground and picked up her bloody teddy bear. She had never let that thing go, not through all this choas, Miyu had somehow managed to hang onto this stupid bear Sakura had given her three weeks ago. A new flood of tears fell from her eyes as Sakura secured the bear within Miyu's cold hands. Placing a kiss on the girl's forehead one last time, Sakura stood back up and walked away without a word.
Sasuke watched the raw emotion portrayed on Sakura's face, not knowing what to do. He wanted to scream at her for letting this happen, yell at her for getting attached, but most of all, he wanted to tell her she did well, and that he was proud of her. Watching as she kissed Miyu's forehead, Sasuke's eyes widened as he watched her turn away. Barely hearing Naruto's useless cry of, "Sakura, where are you-" Sasuke mentally thanked his sensei for placing a hand on Naruto's shoulder, effectively silencing him. Watching Sakura's retreating form grow smaller and smaller as she walked on withoout looking back, Sasuke was sure of one thing:
Somehow, he knew that she wasn't coming back.
End.
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Hey everyone, so how is it? Short, I know - but this is just a prologue. Don't worry, chapters will be much longer. I'm sorry but I don't know any jutsu names, and I don't know the names of their knive-thingies, so I hope you like it. A bit depressing, I know - but trust me, the next chapter will be so much more fun. Plus, this'll all make sense soon, I promise.
Please, read and review!