A/N: Thanks for clicking! Just a few notes to be aware of. This fic begins more or less approx. 2 to 3 years after the end of the war. Sakura and Ino are 18 and Tenten would be 19. Any issues or warnings will be addressed at the beginning of each chapter. Thank you.
The pairings will be SakuraxSasori, TentenxHiashi and InoxZabuza.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and I don't make a damn thing from writing this work of fiction.
Chapter One
"OH SHIT!" Ino groaned as the yellow spew splattered onto the floor and the new sandals she had bought just last week. This was all Forehead's fault for demanding that she cut their lunch date short to help out. Was it so much to ask for them to be allowed a decent meal? At this rate they'd end up exhausted and be of no use to those they were trying to care for. Today should have been her first day off in a month. Instead of catching up on sleep, she had been dragged in due to another dozen villagers coming down with illness.
No one knew exactly what type of bug or virus it was. All she did know was that so far over a dozen people had passed away from it. Most of them had been elderly and not in the best of health. If it was only taking out their old she wouldn't be so worried. Not a single person that has contacted the strange virus had been cured. The first person to come into the hospital with the case of a bleeding stomach was lying in critical condition. For the last month, patients had been strolling in, never to leave. Ino was positive that the only reason the elderly were the only ones to pass so far was because they were already weak before catching it. Not even the few shinobi that had come in were getting any better.
"Ino, we are going to need you in section four tonight. We have three critical that aren't looking to survive until morning. I would take them but we just had another six people check in after getting sick." Sakura spoke from behind the blonde, hearing the weariness in her own voice. She didn't need to inform her best friend that another two just passed on, one a four year old child.
"Alright, Mr. Watashi just finished getting his bath but the aisle needs to be cleaned before someone slips. Also, Mrs. Himura hasn't been able to keep anything down all day." Ino saw Sakura's nod of understanding. Once they got to the point of not being able to keep food down, it was only days before they were put on critical watch. "Oh, Mr. Himura refuses to get a bed of his own but he has begun showing signs also. I couldn't convince him but maybe you can. He doesn't wish to leave his wife."
"I'll see what I can do." How could she convince the man to leave his wife's side? There was a chance the two were now spending their last few moments together. "I'll try to order him a bed placed next to hers, it's the least I can do."
"Okay." Ino didn't envy Sakura at the moment. In the morning, she was going to have to inform the couple that the next phase of the virus was clearly going to put the wife in a section of the hospital that the man could not follow or visit. Within a few days, the wife will no longer be coherent enough to understand what kind of pain and suffering her condition was doing to the man that had remained at her side for over forty years. What would it be like to lose someone you really loved? Seeing the two, she wondered if it was worth it. What would it be like to love someone that deeply?
Sakura wiped her hands nervously as she walked to speak to the couple. Her stomach was still a mess from having to deal with the distraught family of Inuzuka. Kiba had broken down learning that his sister had contracted the same fate as so many others. The older female had fought bravely to keep the symptoms from being noticed by her family. Kiba had found her passed out in their home and rushed her to the hospital a hour ago. Sakura had ran the diagnostics test to discover the same toxins were slowly destroying her organs. There was no cure and no amount of pleading from her friend could help.
Things were eerily quiet in the compound. Hinata was tempted to be unlike herself and start screaming at the top of her lungs just to scare away the foreboding atmosphere. The moon was high in the sky, it'd be full in a few days. An ominous feeling ran along her spine as she walked further down the hall. She never liked this, but she had made it a point to always say goodnight to her cousin before going to bed each night. Each time she visited the shrine it always made her sad but gave a reason to keep strong.
As she approached the open doorway, her ears picked up the faint sound of coughing. Was someone sick? Along with the cough came a retching sound and it was coming from inside Neji's room. It couldn't be. Not another person, she had already taken three from her clan to the hospital this week. Not being a med-nin, all she could do was volunteer to help tend to the sick. That hollow cough, she'd heard enough to know there was a reason it sent shivers down the spine.
Her heart stopped as she practically slid into the room to see who was inside. It was late and she was normally the only person up this late. Sitting in front of the shrine was a form she easily recognized from the back. "Father?"
"Hinata, what are you doing up this late?" Hiashi turned his head to greet his eldest, only to have the next wave of pain lance through his lungs. He couldn't stop his throat from clenching and trying to relieve the pressure. There was no disguising the dark crimson fluid that rush out of his mouth and into the handkerchief.
"You're sick." Not her father too! She rushed forward, seeing his shoulder shaking from the tremors that racked his body. "You're in the second stage. Why didn't you say something?"
This was the reason he had decided to suffer in silence for the last week. The word in the village was that there was no cure for the disease. Whatever had visited their home wasn't something they'd ever seen before and nothing could be done for him if he did decide to go to the hospital. "There is no cure and I would just be another doomed soul for them to fuss over. I'd rather remain here with my family."
"Bu..but," She didn't know what to say so she took a seat next to him. Placed on the mantle under his picture was Neji's headband. She knew her father would never agree to go to the hospital and his pride would never allow her to convince him that it was for the best.
"I have already left instructions with the elders. I know you'll do me proud, Hinata." He reached out to place a hand on top of hers that were folded tightly. For the last five hours, he had remained in this spot, allowing his mind to think back upon his life. There were moments in which he thought he could have made a better choice or done something differently. In the end he was proud of how his children had turned out and he was content with his end. Content but not happy, happiness was something he had denied himself. Perhaps, the best thing he could do for his firstborn was to grant her the best piece of advice a father could give. "The Uzumaki boy, how are things?"
Was her father asking about her love life at a time like this? They should be discussing how to go about beginning his treatment and how to get him better. "I…it is not good. H…he s..still has feelings for Sakura."
"You are strong, Hinata. I understand well how nothing hurts worse than losing someone you love, especially when it is someone you are in love with." Hiashi gave an affectionate squeeze, feeling for his child. The loss of a love, it was a pain one could never truly forget or accept. However, he didn't want her to make the same mistakes as he once did. "Let me give you some advice. There will come a time when even you will question what is most important to you, it is something we all must do. I can only tell you that if you were to ever give up on the one you love, it will be a choice that you will always regret. If you love him, fight for him. Never let him walk away."
Letting go of Naruto wasn't something she would ever do. Hinata knew that right now he was confused about his own feelings and she was more than willing to give him space and time. Walking away wasn't in her. She had known from the first time she saw him that he was the one for her. It was comforting but odd to hear that kind of advice from her parent. He had changed, become more withdrawn and sad since the end of the war. Neji's death had shaken them all but as he stared straight ahead, she couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking about. His eyes had a distant look to them and he sighed as his hands tightened. It was then that she noticed that he was holding something in his right hand. "What is that? In your hand? Was that mother's? Is it broke?"
"No, it is simply incomplete." He opened his palm to look down at the silver pendant. The charm was in the shape of the Hyuuga clan symbol but the interior was hollowed out.
"It looks different, like some of it is missing. Why is the sign hollowed out, where is the core?" Hinata had never seen it before.
"It is the heirloom that is passed down to the first born son of each generation. It was given to me by our mother. I was instructed that the other half was meant to go to my wife by my father." Hiashi could still recall his father explaining the significance behind giving it to his spouse. It was meant to represent the faith and hope he had in his spouse. For her to wear it meant that she accepted the responsibility of carrying on the Hyuuga line. Giving it to his wife was an announcement that he recognized her as the future of his clan, his hope.
"M…m…mother, I never saw her wear it." Hinata was sure she had never seen her mother wear the jewelry. The only type the woman had ever adorned was her wedding band. The harder Hinata thought about it, she was sure that at some point in her childhood, her mother had also stopped wearing that as well.
"I did not gift her with the other half. Instead of doing as my father instructed, I honored my mother's dying wish. It is tradition that it be worn until death so she handed the second piece to me the day before she passed." At the time he hadn't been sure what to do with it. It had remained in his dresser until that day. "She instructed that it was to be given to the woman that I loved above all else. I remember asking her what that meant, she told me that I'd understand one day. I almost gave it to your mother but something kept it in my possession for years after I was wed."
Hinata wasn't sure how to take the news that her parents hadn't been in love. Well, it seemed liked her father was admitting that he hadn't been in love with her mother. She had known that their marriage was arranged but for the most part, they had seemed happy. "I..if Mother wasn't given the piece then where is i..it?"
"Gone. I did as my mother requested. It was given to the woman I loved above my clan, my family and my own life." Hiashi clenched the pendant in his hand, retrieving only the smallest amount of comfort from it. "I should not burden you with the sins of my past, Daughter."
"I..it's alright. Th..thank you for telling me. But Father, where is she, this woman?" Hinata pitied the fallen man at that moment. Only someone that had known him for a long time would be able to look beyond the bored expression to see the hurt and despair that he was trying to hide. This was a burden that still weighed down his soul.
"Gone as well. I have made many horrible choices in my life but none that I have ever regretted so much. I foolishly sent away the best thing one can hope to find in this life." He didn't want to burden his children with his mistakes. He had been able to correct the mistake with his brother and his nephew. However, "Some mistakes cannot be fixed, remember this."
"Thank you, for telling me." Hinata was grateful for the chance to speak to him. It helped to understand the man that had raised her. "There is always hope, where there is life. I'll make you some tea."
Was there hope? A part of him had never given up on finding her again. Not a day didn't go by where he didn't look for her face among strangers. Only twice he had felt his heart respond to an image. Both times were when he'd caught sight of his nephew walking with his teammate. A girl that greatly resembled his one regret but it was too late for another chance. A chance to make things right? As pain wracked his body, he wasn't so sure. His time was running short.
He took a deep breath and looked back down at the silver reminder. If there wasn't a chance to amend for his mistake, he wanted to think that he could go happy. To ask that he be buried with his half. That way, perhaps in death, he would be reunited with the one who he had gifted the other.
Tsunade studied the three kunoichi standing before her. All the plans had been made and all that was left was to find three that were willing to undertake this mission. She had thought long and hard before deciding on these three but there was no more time to spare. The urgent missive she had received from the Land of Rice demanded that she take immediate action to deal with this threat.
"Thank you all for coming on such short notice. As I am sure you three are exhausted." She leaned back in the chair seeing the nodding heads with dark circles under each eye. "I'm afraid I must ask each of you to do more than you already have. I have a very difficult mission that I feel confident only you three can accomplish. Before you ask I will inform you of the latest news. Ino, Sakura and Tenten, you may be this world's last hope."
"What do you mean, Sensei?" Sakura felt defeated as the woman folded her hands and leaned forward on the large desk. What kind of help could she be on a mission? Her arms and legs were about to give out.
"All the scrolls you see upon my desk are reports from all of the other nearby lands. It seems that no one has been left untouched by this disease. The deaths are starting to grow and they are all begging me for help. Sadly, I have tried everything within my expertise." Tsunade didn't have any clue on how to prevent getting the disease or curing it. This strand worked its way directly into the bloodstream and within hours invade all of the organs. The sad part was by the time a person realized that they had been infected, their organs were already beyond saving.
"Are you saying there is nothing we can do?" Ino fought the urge to let the tears fall. All those sick people, if their Hokage gave up hope then what could they do? How could she face them knowing that all she could do, would be to watch them die?
"Not exactly. This is why I summoned you three. Tenten, your former group has carried out many retrieval missions in the past and your skills as a shinobi are top-notch. Ino, you have abilities that will be a great asset and Sakura, I know you have what it takes to accomplish the task that I set before you. I know I can trust you all to do whatever it takes to do as I ask." Tsunade addressed them firmly and waited for each to acknowledge the trust she was about to place with them. "I wish to show you something."
All three waited as the blonde Hokage placed a miniature scroll upon the desk and rolled it open. Sakura leaned forward, "Half a scroll? It's torn."
"Cut actually and it's not half a scroll, this is only a fourth of it. Come closer and I want you three to examine and memorize the details of it because it will be vital for your mission." Tsunade opened her drawer to retrieve a leather bound journal and place it next to the scroll. "With each hour that passes, each land is losing their people so I will make this brief. This here is a diary of a former medical shinobi that use to serve the Leaf Village. His name was Saito Adamaru and thirty years ago he disappeared and was never heard from again. Upon learning that he abandoned the village, his rooms were searched for any clues to his whereabouts, nothing was ever found. Twenty years after his disappearance we received a letter, along with his diary."
Tsunade tapped a finger on the cracked leather, "It was a letter of apology. He regretted leaving his home and warned us about a disastrous plot. You see at one point Adamaru was working on a draught for the hospital. Something that could dispel all poisons from the body and help regenerate cells. However, he was chastised by the Third Hokage for testing it on others before it was approved. The first batch killed many and he took the formula with him when he ran. Needless to say he was never found again, nor the formula he had originally created."
"Wow, what did his letter say? What warning?" Sakura could see the benefits of such a formula. It could save many lives. She was a skilled med-nin but some things not even she could heal. Natural ills and some diseases were a part of life.
"After his abrupt departure he found a partner, we don't know who, he never gave us that piece of information. However, in his diary he wrote that instead of fixing that formula, the next one he created had the opposite effect. Upon entering the blood stream it began to infect the living tissue until it eventually killed the host." Tsunade saw the confusion on Tenten's face. "It's the very disease that has begun to spread here."
"So, why would this guy apologize for making it and then spread it around?" Ino didn't get it. If he felt remorse he should have gotten rid of the formula.
"He didn't. When he realized the effect it had, he stopped making it and decided to give up on his work. In his diary he describes how the disease was already in his bloodstream. In his letter he mentioned that there was a chance that his old partner may have memorized the formula."
"So, it's the old partner that created the formula and is now spreading it. Wait, if the creator of it was killed by it then what are we going to do? I mean you'd think that if there was an antidote for it, he would have made it and saved his own life." Tenten assumed that was the most sensible thing to do.
"Indeed but Adamaru was killed by his own disease. I believe he allowed himself to die because of his guilt. All is not lost you see. Right before his death he wrote down the formula on how it is created and also, how to reverse the effects. Being destroyed by his own guilt he did not wish for the formula to fall into the wrong hands, so he divided up the four pieces and gave one to a nation for safe keeping. This way if his former partner ever tried to use it, the cure would be available."
"Great, so you need us to go fetch the other three pieces? Just tell us where they are." Sakura felt all signs of fatigue leave her after hearing the news. There was a way to beat this thing.
"I can't." Tsunade mumbled under her breath seeing their eager faces. "The piece you see before you is the one that was originally given to Suna for safekeeping. After discussing the problem with the Kazekage, he happily had Temari deliver it personally. I'm afraid the other three pieces aren't where they should be. Even the one that was once stored here was taken."
"Then what are we supposed to do? Do we even have a clue as to where we should begin searching?" Sakura balled up her fists at being presented with such a hopeless assignment. "We don't have time to waste scrambling around in the dark."
"I know this, don't you think I've thought about every possible outcome? The antidote is within our grasp yet time is of the essence. Which is why I have enlisted help from an old friend of mine. What I am about to tell you stays in this room. There was a time when we knew exactly where the other three were located. Which is why I need you three to go back to that specific time frame and retrieve those scrolls."
"What? What are you suggesting, Lady Tsunade?" Tenten digested all of the information into a boiling stomach.
"Simple, in order to guarantee that we get our hands on the other three pieces of the scroll. I'm going to send you three back in time."
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