A Taste of Sabotage
Prologue
Breathe.
Don't think.
Breathe.
The scenery passed her in a blur of browns and greens as the morning sun began peeking over the leaves in golden rays. What should've been comforting, instead hurt her bloodshot eyes and made her curse the fact that morning had come. The birds were silent, letting her erratic heartbeat pound tauntingly in her ears and breathing was beginning to feel like fire in her chest.
Don't think.
The dirty journal crinkled in Sakura's tight grip as she leapt off the thick tree branch, keeping her eyes forward and her mind focused.
Breathe.
She kept tabs on the erratic chakra signatures that were no more than fifty yards behind her and a mix of desperation and nausea filled her, settling heavy in her gut. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" She whispered and two clones appeared on each side of her.
They all looked at Sakura expectantly and Sakura couldn't help but mildly stay at her grubby appearance. "Sakura?" One of the clones whispered and she snapped out of it, hurriedly giving them silent hand directions. The four of them nodded, turning on their heels and going in their separate designated directions.
That should give me enough time.
Sakura dived off to the right, landing heavily on the forest floor. Despite having wanted more Ninjutsu talent for years, it had become very apparent within her training that she specialized in Medical Ninjutsu, Taijustu, and light Genjutsu. By the time she turned twenty-two she knew there was no way around it.
Silently she ran along the forest floor, watching each tree trunk carefully as she passed them with attentive eyes. Come on, come on, there's got to be something!
When she felt no chakra signatures anymore she knew her clones were doing their job and she silently thanked them for buying her more time. There! For the first time since yesterday Sakura smiled, cutting swiftly to the right. She leaned back on her heels when she got close enough, sliding in the dewy grass into the large nature-made hole in the trunk.
Her feet hit the back of the tree with a soft thunk and she laid there, water soaking the back of her sweaty shirt pleasantly, breathing heavily. Sakura groaned, her head hitting the grass and she allowed some semblance of rest to her aching body since 4 A.M.
Her limbs were sore and had twitches in them that were never usually there. "I am not sixteen anymore." She groaned woefully, feeling quite old.
Twenty-two is not old! Her inner self berated her, reminding her she had been running since four A.M. without rest. No ninja training in the world could prepare a body for that kind of physical stress.
Sakura sighed, closing her eyes as the sound of birds began to filter through her ears over the sound of her heartbeat. Laying there, she felt lulled into a sense of calm. The serenity of the forest; the light breeze coming through the air and the soft scampering of forest animals contrasted horribly with the ache in her bones and the urgency of her instincts that, even now, urged her to run.
Why did it have to come to this? She wondered, trying for the umpteenth time to think back to when it started. Thinking, maybe, she could pinpoint the exact moment where she royally messed up. But all she got was a headache and fuzzy details and the firm voice that told her you did not mess up. It wasn't you.
Sakura groaned, sitting up. There was no time to think about the past. She opened the hand that held the pocket sized journal, grabbing a pen out of her back pouch. She flipped to an empty page. The last page.
Taking a deep breath, she started writing.
x
Crack!
Sakura whipped her head around, warily watching the opening. Quickly, she scribbled one more thing on the back of the last page and shut the journal. Crawling to the dimmest corner she dug a shallow hole, placing it inside and covering it.
Snap!
She jumped, her heart rate picking up speed as terror tore through her. It had been fifteen minutes since she stopped. The clones were definitely defeated by now, but how could they have caught up so quickly? It would've give them a 20 minute lag if her clones really did their job so it was physically impossible for them to have caught up to her. Slowly Sakura got to her feet, her fingers reaching back to the handle of her Tanto. She ran through multiple escape scenarios, calculating between the fact she had felt four chakra signals. Whoever they were they were probably strong enough to give her a hard time despite Sannin training, adding that she had also cornered herself so foolishly, like cattle willingly walking into the slaughterhouse.
All of her probabilities ended in the bloodshed.
Determination filled her eyes and she slipped into a defensive stance, unsheathing part of the weapon.
I'd like to see you try to take me back there!
A squirrel bounded by the opening, stopping in front of it to sniff the air. Sakura's shoulders sagged in relief and she sheathed the Tanto. Keep it together, girl, this is not the time to let the enemy get to your head. It glanced at Sakura with large, beady eyes and she swore they almost looked sympathetic, but it bounded away before she could think too much on it. Taking deep breaths she walked to the entrance of the tree, taking one last glance at the journal, before stepping out into the forest.
x
"She couldn't have gotten far. Wolfsbane status report!"
A group of four elite ninja were spread out, searching every nook and cranny of the Konohagakure forest within reach, but never far enough for the microphones to disconnect.
"No luck, sir. Haven't gotten a chakra signal yet." Wolfsbane's gritty voice said through the speaker.
The one who commanded the order clicked her tongue. "Keep looking! If you find anything let me know immediately. Same goes for the rest of you."
The line clicked close.
x
Wolfsbane sprang off the sturdy branch, keeping a watchful eye on the ground below him. The chirping of the birds made him stop, hand resting on the tree trunk. He scanned the area, seeing nothing but trees and more trees. He abhorred the fact that he had been dragged out of the Village for this. Why'd the stupid girl have to run in the first place? It just made her look more guilty.
Clicking his tongue he jumped lower to the ground, taking the low branches and concentrating on finding her chakra signature.
It was only a matter of minutes before he felt a flicker. It was strong and distinct in a way that he was unable to describe, but there was no mistake. He was going to one Hell of a raise for this.
Clicking the button on the side of the mic, he waited for the click as they were connected. "20 meters from target, Taipan, I can feel her. Request to detain target if spotted."
"Request granted. Take her down. Do not kill unless your life is threatened. Komodo, Tse, go find Wolfsbane. Donot let her leave this Village."
Static buzzed over the line and it went quiet.
Feeling the sudden rush of adrenaline Wolfsbane grinned maliciously, taking off at top speed towards the chakra signature.
x
A kunai whizzed past Sakura's face, slicing into her cheek and her foot snagged the branch in front of her. "Shit!" She shouted, crashing to the forest floor.
Her back slammed against the ground, knocking the wind out of her hard. Dammit! She cursed, forcing herself onto her side as she wheezed.
"Got you now, bitch! Don't you dare think about running!" Wolfsbane stopped a few meters from her, grinning at the hunched over figure of the pink-haired kunoichi. Not so tough for the supposed student of the Hokage.
This was going to be a piece of cake.
Sakura coughed, snaking her hand behind her so discretely the Jounin didn't notice. Staring at the ground she only felt his chakra signature and was glad the Gods at least seemed to have some form of mercy on her. She smirked, swiftly launching two kunai and two smoke bombs at her assailant.
Wolfsbane smoothly dodged the weaponry, grinning. "Is that the best you got? Too tired to put up a decent fight? You're nothing but a little-" His eyes widened and he let out a cry of frustration as he threw his arm over his eyes just in time.
Sakura froze in her spot as the bombs exploded. She didn't recognize the scruffy face, but the tension she felt eased. It wasn't him.
Turning on her heel she ran, feeling the flickers of three more chakra signatures on their way and getting closer, fast. There is no way in Hell they're going to take me back! She reached into her pouch, her fingers scrambling frantically to find what she was looking for. "Shit!" She glanced back for a better view, putting too much pressure on the pouch.
It snapped from her belt, spilling the contents on the forest floor behind her. "No!" She shouted, tears welling in her eyes as she saw the only picture she carried of her parents fly into the air and drift to the forest floor. She forced herself to look away, feeling a sharp stab of pain go through her as she abandoned the only supplies she had left.
"You're making this harder than this has to be, brat!" The Jounin snarled, bursting from the obnoxious smoke screen. He coughed, cursing himself for falling for such a cheap trip. His blood boiled at the thought. He had figured she would be far too tired after running so long, but guess not.
"Wolfsbane."
The rustling of leaves made him straighten his posture and he turned around, glaring at Komodo and Tse as they stood above him, watching him with impassive expressions. "Where the fuck have you two been?" He snarled.
"Clearly doing more than you have been." Komodo replied nonchalantly, his cold brown eyes following after the pink head that just disappeared from sight. "You see her first and yet you are unable to detain her."
Wolfsbane clenched his hands into fists, ready to snarl a retaliation, but Tse held up her hand. "Enough. She's getting away."
Clicking his tongue, but making a mental note to make the younger man pay later, the three moved out.
x
The yell still reverberated inside of Sakura overriding her sense with panic. She could feel the three signatures become more prominent and she opened her palm to look down at the three light bombs she managed to salvage. Gripping them tightly she sped up. Missing was not an option.
x
"Earth Style: Razor Leaf Release!"
Leaves zipped through the air at high speed and Sakura barely had enough time to jump, flipping in the air to narrowly avoid the attack. She hissed as stray leaves nicked her arms and legs, but she threw a bomb in the opening she had.
"Cover your eyes!"
"Oof!" Sakura hit the ground, keeping her head down as the loud explosion met her ears. She only waited a second before getting back on her feet and running, hearing their curses.
Tse threw a plethora of kunai and shrunken in the direction of the girl, following her despite her spotty vision. "You are not getting away!" Immediately she began to form hand signs at a rapid speed. "Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!"
Sakura shrieked, taking hits from the kunai to dodge three of the fire balls that burst into the ground, catching fire to a tree trunk and grass. She ran hard, glancing behind her and her eyes widened as she saw the last one flying towards her. No, no! Just as she jumped to the left, aiming for an unaffected tree, the fire ball caught part of her forearm, burning down to her wrist and she screamed as pain tore through her.
"You're an idiot, Tse!" Komodo barked, making hand signs. "Water Style: Water Spout Jutsu!" He stopped, a fountain of water putting out the fires before any major damage happened to the forest.
"Come on!" Wolfsbane zipped passed him, going straight for Tse.
Sakura dived behind a tree, tucking in her injured arm as she rolled, but not before throwing a light bomb at the Jounin just before she was out of sight. The smell of burning flesh made her eyes water and she bit her lip, ignoring the pain as she pushed herself to jump into a tree, leaping away.
"That doesn't work twice on me!" Tse dived to the side, just avoiding the blast as it went off, but Komodo and Wolf bane were unable to dodge it.
Sakura glanced behind her, only seeing the female following her and she patted herself on the back. Two down, one to go. She dropped from the trees behind the thickest trunk, breathing hard as she started to heal the most damage of her arm. It would still leave a scar, but that would be the extent of the damage. It was a relief when the throbbing pain turned to a dull ache.
x
"You can't hide from me!" Tse shouted as the bright light began to fade. She looked around, smiling to herself as she felt the flicker of Sakura's chakra. "You're making this too easy. Come back now and we won't charge you too harshly." She cooed.
Sakura squeezed her eyes shut, taking in tiny breaths. She could hear the woman moving about, searching for her. I only got one shot. I can do this. With renewed energy Sakura peeked out from behind the tree, seeing the green-haired girl's back turned to her and she quickly hid herself.
I can do this.
Tse whirled around, marching towards a medium sized tree. "I know you're there!" She looked behind it, only to find empty space. "Hmm.." She hummed, putting her hands on her hips.
"Over here!"
"What-" Sakura's fist met with Tse's cheek hard, sending her flying through the forest and into a tree several feet away that snapped upon impact. The forest floor shook as it crashed to the ground and Sakura couldn't help but grin.
"Down for the count." She patted her hands together.
Feeling the two chakra signatures come towards her she got fed up. Time to end this.
Facing the direction the last two Jounin were coming from she held her ground, tightening her gloves on her hands. If they wanted a fight, Sakura would give them one. She may not have her weapons, but she hoped they had better not forgotten who her teacher was.
Wolf bane's headache was finally clearing and the spots in his eyesight were no longer there. "There you are." He sneered, seeing her standing in the clearing like a defiant statue. "Finally surrendering?" He asked arrogantly, stopping on a branch high above her. He cracked his neck, puffing out his chest, looking down at her. He stood at a good height of six feet two inches and even from the short distance Sakura could see he was well built. "Your cheap parlor tricks were a waste of time."
"They weren't so cheap if you kept falling for them."
Wolfsbane narrowed his eyes. "Come now and I won't hurt you."
"I'd like to see you try."
He narrowed his eyes at her defiance, growling, "Have it your way." The man raced towards her throwing a right hook at her face. She blocked it easily, pushing it away and slamming her hand into his side. He choked, feeling his ribs crack underneath the pressure.
She smiled at him, the dirt and blood that streaked her face made her look wild. It was the knee to the stomach that caught her off guard and she dry heaved, loosening her grip on him. Wolfsbane grabbed her arm, twisting it behind her back and he slammed her against the ground, his knee pushing roughly into her spine.
Sakura grunted, mewling under the pressure.
"Had enough?" He hissed into her ear.
The kunoichi underneath him spit out dirt that got into her mouth and smiled, unsettling him. "Never." Lifting her free arm and slammed her chakra-filled hand into the dirt. It cracked underneath them, rocking the man's grip loose and Sakura shoved him away, scrambling out of the way. She leapt up onto a branch, crouching there in safety.
x
Komodo watched from a safe distance from behind a tree, glowering at his teammate's less than stellar fight. "Idiot."
x
Sakura's legs shook as she held onto the branch beneath her feet to keep herself steady. Despite keeping close check on her chakra reserve she was too tired for her body to withstand any more attacks or dish out any good ones. "I've had enough of this." She unsheathed her Tanto, standing up on unsteady legs as she watched the Jounin prepare for another attack. "I'm sorry." She whispered to her trusty weapon. In one expert throw the short sword imbedded itself through the man's leg before he could finish his hand signs.
Wolfsbane screamed, dropping to his knees.
I have to go. Not bothering to look back Sakura bounded from her tree to the next one, putting distance between her and the two Jounin she defeated. It unsettled her that only two had fought her, but she wasn't about to go hunt down the third or fourth. If they didn't want to follow her she wasn't going to complain.
Despite that a deep worry settled inside of her, scratching at her mind. It sent a cold chill through her, but she could not place what it was.
x
Wolfsbane yelled in pain, hissing as his hands shook around the wound. There would be no way to get it out without damage. He watched with cloudy eyes as the girl left and he gritted his teeth, screaming, "TRAITOR!"
x
A/N: Woooah okay here we go! In 2008 I planned to remake Uchiha Once, Uchiha Twice and here it is! I've changed this story a LOT since then and I think I've finally settled with a plot I am happy with it. This is PURELY AU and if you guys want more info tell me and I'll answer you privately, but if not then just read the fic if you want!
Another note. Taipen* is a poisonous snake. I know the code names are not original at all haha, but I felt it was best for this situation.
Anyway I hope you enjoy the remake of UOUT!
FI