SPIRIT OF THE GLASS
PART 1:
THE UCHIHA MYSTERY
By Misty-o3
SUMMARY: "Let's just play that stupid media board we found in his attic," Naruto exclaimed. Everyone fell still and eyed the board that was lying in the table. "This will be exciting!"
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CHAPTER ISasuke was rather worn out from a mission he attended lately, so he decided to go directly home. It was just another tiring assignment but this time, he wasn't able to sleep for almost three days. Their captain was Shikamaru and they were tasked to retrieve an important scroll from the Mist Village. Sasuke never really wanted to come, but a mission is a mission. It is a test of strength. Even though it requires teamwork and cooperation, he believes that it is also a measure of one's individuality. It turned out good because in the end, they were able to reclaim the scrolls.
He rubbed his eyes roughly as he squandered from the outskirts of Konoha to his mansion and when he got there, he immediately went to his room to have a nice shower before he doze up. He pulled random clothes from his closet and after a minute, he drew off his shower curtains and opened the spray.
Sasuke relaxed himself as the droplets rubbed his shoulders when suddenly, the curtains jerked open. His brow furrowed and stared meekly the empty room in front of him. And without second thoughts, he pulled them back and continued his bath.
The incident was washed out from his memory until he finished his shower. This time he was drying his hair with a towel when he felt someone, or something, was at the other side of the door, something weird.
Of course he won't freak out! He had been living at this place for a decade, and he'd been used to the occasional supernatural and unexplainable stuffs around him. Maybe it would be good if he'll just ignore them. Yeah, that would be the best thing to do, ignore them.
The next morning, Sasuke tried to forget what happened last night. After all, he had been experiencing such things in the past so there's nothing to worry. This day would just be the same and as ordinary as every other days. And now, he would be meeting team 7 at the plaza for Kakashi-sensei wants them to do something. When he got there, the pink-haired shinobi was already sitting on a rock and patiently waiting for her teammates to arrive.
"Ohayou, Sasuke-kun," greeted Sakura as she saw him approaching. She offered him a seat next to her but the Uchiha insisted that he'd just stand up for the rest of the time. Though she's a bit disappointed, the smile in her face never faded out. After a few minutes, Naruto arrived with his stubborn objection about the tardiness of their sensei, not realizing the he, too, was late.
The Uchiha grew bored upon waiting, Sakura placed her elbows on her knees, and Naruto stopped blabbing non-sense. That went on for about an hour before their sensei appeared from a puff of smoke.
"Ah! No talking!" intercepted Kakashi as the three started to open their mouths to speak. Sakura backed-off and Sasuke sighed. "Emergency, guys! This would only take ten seconds…" He eyed his students patiently before clearing his throat.
"I'm counting," hissed Sasuke.
Kakashi smirked behind his mask and started explaining. "I was on my way here when Tsunade-sama called me up. She gave me a very important mission together with the other jounins and this would include underground crime and other syndicates…" he paused.
"Nah! I'm just kidding. Hehe. Anyway, a very serious thing happened…"
Another pause.
"And we must protect the Leaf at all cause…" The tone of their sensei's voice deepened as he pronounced each word, which made his students bewildered and at the same time, fell silent for a while.
Naruto gulped. "What's the mission all about?"
"Nah! It's a top secret. And while we are away, I want all of you to stick together. No one knew what would happen and we might as well brace ourselves. This is only what I could tell you. Meet the others up at 4 PM here, understand?"
Kakashi blinked.
"Are you tricking us or something?" asked Sakura figuratively. "Or are you serious? And what would happen to Konoha?" Sakura looked at Sasuke then to Naruto, then back again as if waiting for them to speak up.
Kakashi swooned his head down. "I'm sorry but I can't tell you. But there's nothing to worry. This is just a piece of crap! Imagine a platoon of jounins and ANBUs, we'll definitely going to win." The masked copycat laughed mischievously but the eyes of his students remained fixed.
"What is it?" asked Sasuke from behind.
"Nothing…"
"…"
"Oh, Sasuke, I told you not to worry."
"If this is just a piece of junk then why does it require the participation of the jounins, especially the ANBU? Can't they handle it by themselves? If it's nothing serious, why do you want us to stick together?" interrupted Sakura.
That's it! She got the point!
Kakashi's mouth ran dry, she's right. Of course! "But… Okay, I'll tell you what it is but swear in front of me that you won't be telling anyone. And you mustn't act hysterically, nor try to butt in. This is not your problem, anyways…"
The three leaf ninjas blinked. Sasuke stepped forward, followed by Sakura.
"He's back."
"Eh…?"
"…"
"Who's back?" they cried in unison.
Kakashi cleared his throat, which interrupted their anticipation. "Orochimaru…"
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Team 7 made sure that the three of them were at the plaza at exactly 4, though Sakura was bothered on the way Sasuke acted since Kakashi left. Whatever it was, she hopes that he's not planning to escape again.
Not now, it would be dangerous!
She tried to follow him even if it would cause annoyance for the Uchiha. She can't let him wander at this point of time, especially now that Orochimaru was on the loose. What if he'll get Sasuke again?
What if Sasuke will follow him again?
Sasuke and Sakura remained silent as they wait at the plaza. One by one, they arrived. There was Lee, TenTen, Neji, Kiba, Hinata, Shino, Choji, Shikamaru, Ino and Choji, all of them. It appeared a bit awful for Sakura seeing their faces, are they that hopeless?
They knew from the start that they were already complete, but no one dared to speak, no one.
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"We should stay close to one another."
The momentary silence was broken.
Sasuke sighed. "Aren't you going to speak up?"
This is bad, Sakura thought. He's getting a bit aggravated and she can tell that the pressure inside him is getting heavier and heavier. He couldn't just sit there and wait.
"I suggest we stay in a same house," Neji answered, his eyes flickering as he blinked. "The only problem now would be who's house are we going to stay."
All of them fell into the void of silence again. Sakura can't volunteer her house even if she wants to. She only have a place for hardly five people, no one will survive in there. Besides, she knew that Ino wouldn't be available too. They can't be sleeping at their flower shop at times like this. Neither Naruto, he only lives in an apartment for God's sake! They need someplace where there's enough space. A place where they could hide and at the same time…
"The Uchiha mansion," answered Naruto.
Of course, the Uchiha mansion! Why hasn't she thought about that? It would be a very neat place for them and she could watch Sasuke closely if he'd been planning to sneak out or something. All of them stared at the Uchiha, waiting for his affirmation. Sasuke's brow furrowed, followed by a frown.
"I'll be waiting you there at 7," he said finally.
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Naruto dragged his bag noisily at the corridor while the others tried to be silent as they could be. The noise echoed hollowly as Sasuke led the way. The moment they entered to door, they noticed that it was dark, really dark, and cold. It was quiet all around. Sasuke held a lantern in his right hand and with his left gestured the dozen to follow him.
The dark hallway, the empty staircase, the cold rooms, everything in this house sends shivers to Sakura's spine. This would be the first time she was able to step at Sasuke's house. Though when she was young she imagine how grand The Uchiha Mansion was. Still, she was not disappointed especially when Sasuke gave them their rooms. At the end of the hallway, there were dozens of rooms, left and right. The right would be for the girls, and the guys would occupy the left.
Each room was way much bigger than they expected. There were queen-sized beds, antique lamps, wooden tables, and bathrooms. Sakura eagerly opened the opposite door and saw a lake nearby.
They met up at the dinning room, though half of them lost their way back. Indeed, it was too big for them.
I wonder how Sasuke got used to this.
"No wandering at night," warned Sasuke. He gathered them up because he wanted to discuss certain rules, since this is his house. And since its not theirs, they must learn to follow.
"Why?" asked Choji curiously, even he was tempted to go upstairs and check more rooms.
"Unless you want to meet someone you wish you never did."