Chapter 1:
Sand bit at his skin as he walked through the desert sand storm. His bare chest battered and beaten with small cuts that covered his body. He slowly walked hell-bent on revenge. He looked ahead of him the sand blurring his vision. 'I wont die like this.' The one thought that remained in the young mans head as he tried to recover from earlier events. Contaminated blood covered his body as it tried to harden to his moving form. His aqua eyes remained void of emotion as the thoughts of revenge entered his head. Pushing his crimson red hair out of his face he stopped. The sand danced around him no longer touching his delicate skin. Reaching into a pouch strapped around his waist he pulled out a small orb. Holding it in his palm he looked down at the blue colored ball. "It wont be long now, they think they can break me. We will just have to wait and see. Wont we Lord Shukaku." A small emotionless chuckle left his mouth. The sand storm intensified at the gesture but not one sand partical landed back on the boy.
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"Sakura get in here!" An older woman's voice rang through the small tavern. The few customers that set in the dining area looked up at the blond women at her sudden outburst but after seeing her expression they shrugged it off. The woman stood behind a counter that was just right of an old wooden staircase. Her hands moved up to her hips and she tapped her foot a few time before yelling again. "Sakura didn't I just tell you to get your ass in here?" The older women was most definitely pissed at Sakura's absence. After a few whispered curses escaped her mouth she heard light footsteps coming from up stairs. Shortly after a beautiful young girl with short pink hair jumped down the stairs. Emerald eyes of innocence landed on the blonde woman.
"Sorry momma I was-" She was cut off by a wave of the woman's hand. Her once angry scowl slowly fell off and a grin sneaked across her face. She locked eyes with the girl and instead of words she jumped her eyes to a nearby table that had old dishes on it. A sigh escaped the pink haired girl and she skipped over to the table. Her maids apron swam around her long exposed legs and the short skirt that rested under it blew around her rump. Picking up the plates and cups she took off towards the back room. A small wash tub laid on the floor and taking a seat on the stool she picked up a rag and begin her horrible task of cleaning. She could barely finish before her mother's voice rang again. She got up and walked through the door that deposited her in the main room. "Yes momma?" Her sweet voice came clearly through her plump pink lips.
"Baby would you go take the orders of those people over their? Ask them if the need an ale or something. They have been in here chatting for some time and haven't ordered anything yet." Sakura nodded in response and walked over to two men sitting just next to the taverns entrance.
"Hey can I get you men anything, possibly an ale or maybe something to eat?"
"Ah, yes I do believe I would like a cup of ginsing tea. Please." He looked across the table at his partner who nodded a no. The older of the two men looked up at her his pale white eyes landing on her. "I ordered, are you going to stand there or fetch me my refreshment?" His voice bit back at her this time. 'How disrespectful' She thought to herself knowing much better than to speak up. With a quick bow she spun on her heels and walked into the back room. Walking past the was tub she walked up to an old wooden barrel. A single iron nozzle rested in the side of the barrel, and after retrieving a cup she filled it up with the greenish brown liquid. She walked back out to the table cup in hand.
"Here you go, Mr" She paused for a moment, "Um, excuse me but I never caught your name." She place the cup on the table in front of him. He picked it up and took a sip. His face drew back from the cup with amazement spread across it. After regaining his composer he looked back at her and spoke,
"I am Hiashi Hyuga Duke of Elminhide estate. Think you for the tea. You are dismissed." Sakura began to get irritated by how rude this man was, Duke or not. She bowed once more and walked away. She walked back up to the counter where her foster-mother was pouring ale for some drunks. "Momma anything else before I go back to the dishes."
"No dear you are good to go. I'll handle the front for now. Go on and finish up in back." She didn't need anymore convincing. She pushed her way through the old oak door that led to the back room. she assumed her place on the stool and got back to the main task at hand. After completing the dishes she walked back out and noticed that sun had started to set. It's once bright rays slowly dimmed as it fell under the tree line and out of sight. The tavern wasn't full anymore the men from earlier along with most of its guest had retired home or were already up stairs in their rented rooms. She walked up to the counter and saw her mom sitting in the old wooden chair with her head in her arms as she slept lazily on the counter. She walked over to her and was about to wake her up when two men came in dressed in their steel guard uniforms. One stopped at the door while the other came up to the counter, He stopped on the other side and laid a sheet of paper on the counter.
"Have you seen this man, ma'am?" The guard stood there pointing down to the paper. A young man with short messy hair was poorly drawn on it. His eyes were circled heavily and it made him look like a raccoon she couldn't help but hide a giggle. She examined it a little bit more and came to the conclusion that she had not seen him.
"No sir I haven't, but I will keep a look out for him. May I ask why he is being hunted?" Her fingers traced over his outline as if to physically remember his appearance. She looked up at the guards eyes and awaited an answer.
"Six counts of murder and theft of government property. He is assumed dangerous so please keep your safety in mind and tell us if you catch wind of him. We believe he may be headed this way and are informing the residence of the area. Keep the poster and please tell others of this mans evil deeds." She looked back down at the picture and noticed a tattoo on the mans forehead, 'Love what an odd thing to have tattooed on ones face.' She looked back to the guard and gave him a half-hearted smile.
"Oh I see, well then believe me if I see this man you will be the first to know." With that the guard was satisfied and made his exit. On the way out Sakura gave the two men one more smile and a quick wave. After the guards disappeared she turned back to her mother and gave her a soft nudge. The blonde lifted her head off the counter and looked up at Sakura. "Momma its time you went to bed I'll stay up and do night shift. It doesn't look like Ino's gonna come in anyways."
"Thank you my dear." The woman stood up and hugged her. Pulling her close to her chest she pulled back only so she could give Sakura a quick kiss on the cheek. After the hug ended she begin to walk away. On her way up the stairs she turned back to her and spoke, "Night honey."
"Night momma." The only reply she got was the sound of foot steps as Tsunade walked to her room.
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The sky had darkened and the young red-head had made his way out of the sandstorm and into the safety of the treeline that bordered the desert. Tall tree's surrounded and the cloak the canopy casted over the ground made it seem darker then what it really was. Walking down the dirt road he stayed alert for sounds that may indicate enemies. His eyes scanned the road and the forest that laid on both sides of it. He walked for some time before he started to feel the effects of blood loss and fatigue. Slowly his walking came to a halt and he fell to his knees. Pain rippled through his body and he looked down at his stomach. He pulled his hand away from his ribs so he could look at his wound. The blood had quit pouring but it was still open and raw. Blood coated the surround area and infection was possible. He slammed his fist into the ground anger flooding him. "Fuck! I can't die like this. I gotta keep going." He stumbled to his feet and took a few more steps before crashing to the ground. He screamed with anger. "No! Shukaku don't abandon me... i'm your devoted servant and your leaving me to die!" His screams rang through the forest. animals from all around could be heard fleeing as more screams came out. "I need you..." The red head pushed his self back up. He tried to remain in control of his body but it didn't want to comply with his demands. Standing back up he made his way to the closest tree. Leaning his body against it he pulled the orb back out. "I got this for you... why wont you help me?" The blue orb was glowing with some kind of unharvested power. He stared at it his vision drifting to black. "Why wont you accept this?" His voice came low his anger suppressed. He slid the orb back into his pouch and reached down to his leather boots. Pulling out his Sica (A Sica is a large curved dagger that was used by the Illyrians, Tharcians, Dacians, and Ancient Rome.) he brought it up to his arm and slid the blade down across his skin. The slice was clean and shallow but plenty of blood came out. "Epanafora"(Greek for Restore.) the word fell from his mouth and light surrounded him for just a second before fading away. The effects of the spell healed all of his minor wounds including his self inflicted one but for every positive it done their was a negative. He felt pain shoot through out his muscles.
He slid down the tree his Sica falling from his hand. "How can I be so weak, why do you not help me. IS THIS A TEST!?" His anger came back to him. He laid against the tree for a while before his vision faded completely black and he passed out.
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Most of Sakura's night was silent except for the occasional traveler that came in for a drink and a warm meal. She had stayed up well past midnight before locking the front door and retiring to her room. She walked into her small room a single candle set on her desk that rested next to her hay stuffed bed. After slipping her cloths off she climbed into the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
The sun peeked in through he single window which earned a moan from Sakura. She rolled over onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. Slowly she drug her self out of bed and quickly got dressed. She slid on a green silk sundress that matched her eyes and brown sandles. Walking out of her room she made her way down stairs where she greeted Tsunade. "Good morning momma." She walked up to the old woman and gave her a quick hug. "What are our plans for the day?"
"Well first me and you are going to enjoy some pork and wheat porridge. Then if you're not busy would you go and look for some black berries we are in desperate need of some and our next shipment wont be here for another two weeks." She waved her daughter over to a table where two bowls of porridge set along with fresh milk. They took their seats and made small talk as they enjoyed their late breakfast. Most of their guest were out working or still asleep so no one had bothered them for their services through out the meal. Once they finished Sakura grabbed a basket and said goodbye to Tsunade as she walked out of the door.