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Chapter 1: A Message from the Iris
Silky pink hair flowed as the wind blows in the streets of Konohagakure, Hidden Village of the Leaf. The streets are packed with people in the mid-day of the village. Children running. Old people talking by the side of the road. Friends suddenly seeing each other through the crowd. It's a normal afternoon for the people of Konoha. The woman stood out in the crowd because of her rose-coloured hair. Many people greeted her with a smile as she gave them her own, her emerald orbs shining with glee.
"SAKURA-CHAN!" A loud voice shouted the name of Haruno Sakura, all turning their heads to a blonde man in orange and black jumpsuit. Uzumaki Naruto waved eagerly as he grinned widely. Hatake Kakashi, in his mask, gave his companion a bored look and took out his favourite book.
"Naruto! Kakashi-sensei!" The kunoichi turned around to be greeted by a big hug from his teammate and a 'Yo' from her former teacher. "How was your mission?"
"Meh. Nothing interesting happened. It was soo boring. Ne, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto said as he gestured his hand.
"Aa" The Sharingan-wielder said without removing his eyes from his beloved book. The jinchuuriki sighed and looked back at Sakura.
"How's work in the hospital?"
"Hectic as always. But I can keep up. As I always do" Sakura replied as they walked down the streets heading to the Hokage Tower. They talked and talked and stopped when they reached the building. They went up to the office of Konohagakure's leader and knocked on the door. A woman with short black hair opened the door. "Konnichiwa, Shizune-san"
"Konnichiwa, Sakura, Kakashi, Naruto" Shizune greeted. The three shinobi entered and stood in front of a desk.
A blonde-haired woman busily signed papers and said without looking up, "I assume you've done your mission well because I can see Naruto making a bored look"
"Hai, Hokage-sama" Kakashi replied, putting his book inside his pocket. "I will submit a written report in two days' time"
"Okay okay" Tsunade looked up and gave them a quizzical look. "No missions for now. You will be informed if there are any"
"Baa-chan! Give me a mission! This is boring!" Naruto whined, gaining a glare from Tsunade, a sigh from Kakashi and a smack from Sakura. "Sakura-chan! Why did you do that?"
"You're acting like a kid!" Sakura shouted, raising her hand to smack Naruto again. But she stood still and left her fist hanging, wide eyed. A very familiar presence paralyzed her in her spot even though it was kilometres away from her; a presence so familiar despite not having a tint of feel from it for years. 'Nande?… Nande ima? (Why? Why now)'
"Sakura?" Tsunade called out to her apprentice in curiosity. "Daijoubu? (Are you alright?)"
'Why is he back? What happened? Why now after 8 years?' The pastel haired woman thought frantically as she faced the window overlooking the gates of Konohagakure. "He's back…"
"Who are you talking about, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked, slowly facing where Sakura was looking. Standing still with wide eyes made the others all the more curious of their actions. With his better connection with the bijuu inside him, Naruto's heightened senses realized whose presence it belonged to. "Sono teme (That bastard)…"
"Who are you two talking about?!" The Hokage demanded, shouting. "Sakura! Naruto!"
Naruto started growling and the Kyuubi's chakra slowly emitting from his body, alerting everyone inside the room. "I'm gonna kill that bastard! How dare he bring his face here after disappearing like that?! I'm gonna kill him!"
"Naruto!" The jinchuuriki faced Sakura and looked at her with wide eyes. Closing his eyes shut, he went out through the window and jumped from roof to roof. Kakashi immediately followed him and went out. Tsunade faced her apprentice, waiting for her answer. "He's back, shishou… He's back"
"Dare? (Who?)" Tsunade asked with a stern voice. Shizune stood still in her place confused, holding Ponpon tightly in her arms. "Sakura, answer me"
"Sasuke… Uchiha Sasuke is back"
In front of the Konoha's Main Gates…
A cloaked person stood still just in front of the gates of Konoha, guards surrounding him. He remains unfazed and unknown because of the hood covering his head.
"Reveal yourself!" One of the guards shouted. But the cloaked man remained still. They pointed their kunais at him though they did not move an inch, being wary of the danger they can feel from the man. Then a cry caught the guards off.
"SASUKE!" A booming voice shouted. The man fell, Naruto holding him by his collar. The hood fell, revealing a man of raven locks and handsome features. A man of revenge. A man who threw everything to get the power he needed. A man who only cared for his selfish reasons.
Uchiha Sasuke
Survivor of the Uchiha Massacre. Brother to Uchiha Itachi. Student and murderer of the Sannin, Otogakure no Orochimaru. Member of Team Taka and Team Hebi. Former member of Konoha Twelve. Former member of Team Seven. Student of Hatake Kakashi. Best friend of Uzumaki Naruto. Former crush of Haruno Sakura.
A traitor. An avenger.
"Why are you here?! Why are you back?! Why did you disappear?! Answer me!"
"..."
"Answer me! After all those years, we tried to take you back and then you'll disappear for 4 years! Now you come back here without saying anything?! We thought you died! I was so worried! Sakura and Kakashi-sensei, too!" Kakashi pulled Naruto away from Sasuke, trying to calm the boy down. ANBUs surrounded the fallen man and Tsunade, with Shizune and Sakura, and the rest of the Konoha Twelve came soon after. Naruto gave his medic friend a sad gaze and looked away. "... Gomen (I'm sorry), Sakura-chan"
"It's alright now, Naruto. Everything's alright now..." Sakura told him, patting his shoulder and giving him a fake smile. Naruto lowered his head, almost parallel to the ground. He's confused. He doesn't know what the right thing to say is. His promise to Sakura that he himself will bring Sasuke back was never fulfilled and then the man they've been looking suddenly appears in front of them after a 3 years long disappearance since the news of his brother has been received.
Tsunade stood in front of the two and said to Sasuke, "State your purpose. Why are you here?"
"… I've finished my goal. I've killed Uchiha Itachi" Sasuke replied in his low husky voice as he stood up, the ANBUs securing him. Everyone in the vicinity stared at the man in surprise. They have not heard any news from the Akatsuki nor their movements. Hearing such news caught them off guard.
"When was this?"
"Three years ago"
"Where were you for the last 2 years? And you haven't answered my first question"
"…" Sasuke remained silent, making Tsunade sighs in disappointment. Motioning her hand, the ANBUs attached chakra limiters on the man's wrists and ankles. The Hokage stared at Sasuke, wondering why the man is not struggling or such.
When he was about to be taken away, Sasuke cursed under his breath and snapped his head towards Tsunade. The elite guards stopped when the Sannin raised her hand. The young sharingan-wielder opened his mouth and spoke, "... I've killed Orochimaru 5 years ago and soon after that I formed a team to search for Itachi. I found him and I was able to avenge my family. But I fell unconscious after my fight with him and upon waking up, I found myself captived by the Akatsuki... A masked man revealed himself to me as Tobi. He told me the truth about the Uchiha Massacre"
"I see you know. But if your purpose for coming here is to kill the Elders. You're too late, I'm sorry. When this issue was revealed to us, the Council and I decided that they are to be executed. Even though the Uchihas themselves have a fault on this, the Elders' action is unjust and beyond forgiveness" Tsunade told him, crossing her arms over her chest.
"That was my plan if I was released soon after I was told about this" The Uchiha murmured. "They recruited me but that wasn't my plan at first... I planned to come back here to receive the punishment I deserve. But..."
"But?"
"... I did not get away from Akatsuki by my own. Unknown to everyone, there is another member of Akatsuki besides the remaining seven members. He's the one who helped me. I don't know how but he knew of my plans. In exchange for his help, which he suddenly imposed, he wanted me to relay a message. Besides my first purpose, this added to the reason of my return"
"Who is this member? What is his message?" Tsunade asked, more of an order, in curiosity. Sasuke paused, not answering immediately. He stared at his former girl teammate and Naruto. For a few seconds, Sakura and Sasuke's gaze locked. But the medic immediately reverted her gaze and closed her eyes shut. Sighing, the last Uchiha opened his mouth to speak but still staring at Sakura.
"His message is...'I'll come and take it from you. Wait for me, Sakura '" Sakura lifted her head, facing the man who spoke, with wide eyes and quivering lips. "... He called himself...
... Haruno Shoubu"
Everyone stared at him then at Sakura, who dropped her hold off Naruto and walked a few steps and past her teacher. The people in the scene simply watched the frozen cherry blossom of Konoha, waiting for her to move. Then Sakura said in a shaky voice. "...Shoubu...?"
'Nee-chan!'
'Okaeri nasai (Welcome home), Sakura-nee'
'Un! Daijoubu (I'm fine)!'
'Sakura-onee-chan, teach me how to throw a kunai! Onegai (Please)!'
'... As long as you're happy and safe. Gomenasai... Sakura'
'... Hontou ni gomenasai (We're very sorry), Sakura... He's gone'
'He's gone because we weren't there beside him'
"NO!" Sakura shouted as she crouched, clutching her head and tears falling from her emerald eyes. Everyone was startled. "You're lying! You're lying! You're lying!"
Naruto reached out and held the crying Sakura, not knowing what to do. She continued to cry, clutching and shaking her head of pink locks. Suddenly, red flame-like chakra enveloped Sakura's body and Naruto let go of her immediately, startled and hurt by the unknown chakra. Yamanaka Ino, Sakura's best friend, saw this and immediately ran towards her friend but was stopped by her teammates, Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Chouji. "Sakura! Get a hold of yourself! You can't let it get to you! Sakura!"
"No! You're lying! Shoubu is dead! The man who appeared to you isn't Shoubu! He can't be Shoubu! Shoubu is dead for almost 14 years! Shoubu is gone! He's dead! You're lying! I don't believe you!" Sakura, still crying and clutching her head, continued shouting. The chakra continued to grow and grow. The ground underneath the crying medic cracked. Then two figures appeared in front of Sakura, their backs facing Tsunade and the others. "... Tou-san?... Kaa-san?"
"Sakura, list-"
"Why does he know Shoubu?! Only the clan and Ino know about him! Why is he saying that Shoubu is alive?!"
"Sakura, dear. You have to calm down. Control yourself, Sakura. Listen to me" The purple haired woman said as she tries to calm her daughter. Haruno Nemuya had a painful and guilt-filled look in her face as she reached out her hands to Sakura. "Please"
"Tell me he's lying! Tell me! Shoubu can't be alive! He died because I wasn't beside him! He's dead! Gone!... I've been living my life for both of us. Because of me, he died... I was too late and too weak..." Sakura glared at her parents and then pointed and gave Sasuke an angry look. " You come here telling me that Shoubu is alive?! Like hell I'll believe you! LIAR!"
Seeing that her daughter will not calm down, the other man, Sakura's father, took out a long red-beaded necklace underneath his yukata. Haruno Kouyu threw the necklace around Sakura. Before the necklace hit the floor, the dark-pink haired man murmured, "I'm sorry, Sakura… I'm sorry for lying to you…"
"Tou-san?" Sakura questioned him. Upon hitting the ground, chakra strings from the necklace latched at the Hokage's apprentice. The red chakra slowly disappears and, without warning, Sakura fell unconscious. Out of instinct, Sasuke caught the fallen medic, not aware that everyone is staring at him. The stoic faced man looked at the sleeping woman in wonder. Sakura changed so much, as well as Naruto. But the medic in his arms had developed drastically, in comparison to his loud-mouthed friend. The weak girl he used to save during their genin years wasn't there anymore. Her monstrous strength, almost surpassing her teacher, and medical knowledge, on par with the renowned medic Sannin, is known to most, if not all, shinobis in the world, gaining her a page in the Bingo book. He was in deep thought when Naruto, in his usual loud voice, said the name of the pink haired lady.
"Sakura!" Naruto kneeled beside Sasuke and held Sakura's hand tightly. Tsunade calmly, but with worried eyes, placed her hand over Sakura and checked for any problems. Figuring that Sakura simply fell asleep, the Godaime face her apprentice's parents.
"What happened?"
"... It broke" Kouyu murmured, the necklace in his hands. The beads all had a crack on it.
"We would like to ask for an audience with you, Godaime, the members of Team Seven, Uchiha Sasuke and Yamanaka Ino" Nemuya said. "We will tell the secret we have long been keeping"
"We beg all of you to keep everything a secret. You'll all know in due time. But please do not speak a word on what happened here or what is it that you've heard" Bowing his head, Kouyu humbly requested everyone and his wife followed. Everyone did not know what to do. Everything suddenly happened without warning. "We beg you... for the good of everyone"
"We will" Tsunade said, nodding at the confused group behind her. "But I need to know everything. Haruno Shoubu, the chakra earlier, the meaning of the message... and my apprentice, Haruno Sakura"
"Hai" The couple bowed their heads, hiding their welling up tears. And repeatedly thanked everyone and Tsunade. "Arigatou gozaimasu… Hontou ni arigatou gozaimashita"
Watching the parents of Sakura made Tsunade's heart hurt. She doesn't know what the secret is but it's as if the information the Harunos are about convey meant the world to them and a painful truth that, probably, had crushed their family. The Hokage have not seen her student so desperate or in such despair. Sure, Sakura is emotional, short tempered and full of feelings. But the hurt and sorrow Sakura showed through her earlier outbursts appeared as the weakness of the young medic's high wall of barrier for her emotions. Shoving the thoughts away and remembering her position as the village's leader, Tsunade faced the group behind her with her strong and calm mask.
"Guards! Secure the perimeters of Konoha. Arrest anyone suspiciously wondering the walls of the village. Akimichi, Lee, Tenten! Join the guards. Nara, Aburame, Hyuuga! Roam around the village and look for anyone suspicious that's within the walls. Ensure the security of the people of Konoha. Report to Shizune after your search. Report to me after one and a half (hour). Yamanaka, come with us. You seem to know a great deal about this issue. Uchiha, you hold Sakura. That way this idiot..." Tsunade points at Naruto. "...will not pounce at you. But. If she's hurt, even a scratch, I will torture you. Hyuuga, Inuzuka. Watch him and make sure he doesn't run off. Kakashi, hold onto Naruto and make him calm down. Haruno-san, please follow me to my office"
Before rushing towards her office, Tsunade gave Sakura one last look of concern. Who is Haruno Shoubu? What is his connection to Sakura? What is it that he wants from her? Is it the chakra earlier? And what is that chakra that gives of the same force of power like a bijuu? With this questions swirling around her head, the Slug Princess proceeded to the Hokage tower, the eight concerned people following behind her.
To be continued…