Part I The Rising
Unrest. The world outside is stormy. People are nervous, they know that war is upon the village. They wonder what will happen. Will we be safe? Who will protect us? Will we be strong enough to handle this?
I wonder the same things myself. And for the second time in my life I feel completely helpless. I know the he is behind this and the resentment boils over inside me like hot water under raging flame.
I keep wondering how it got this far? It seems just yesterday we were all just naïve thirteen year olds without a care in the world. Were did we go wrong? What happened? Where did all of this hate come from?
God I wish things weren't the way the are now. But there's nothing I could do about it now. I get up from my little thinking spot to go in the kitchen and start a pot of coffee. Naruto finishes his training around 5 and comes directly over to have some evening coffee and some cigarettes. I know they're supposed to be bad for you and all that jazz but honestly when you've seen the kind of shit I've seen you'd smoke to, and maybe keep a fifth of rum underneath your bed. Just Sayin!
After starting the coffee I went back into my room and lifted up the mattress. I took out the bottle of rum and threw down a couple of swigs. "At least its almost five," I thought. I heard the sound of my front door opening and shutting. Naruto must be here. So I put the bottle back in its hiding place and make way to the kitchen where I find Naruto watching the coffee drip. His blonde head turns when he hears me enter the room.
"What's up scary spice?" He says sarcastically.
"Wow your so fucking funny. How was training? You look like someone beat you up for money." He really did though. He was wearing a white shirt with ripped off sleeves that was covered in burn holes, mud, and some blood spatter. And his orange pants didn't look any better.
"Well I just love it rough." He said with a little smirk. " You look nice though, did your hair get pinker?"
"Is that a trick question?" I ask, with a weird look on my face.
"Probably, " he replies. (The coffee stops brewing)
"Yes! Hey you got the gritts Sakura?" He asks as he breaks out two mugs and starts to pour.
"Yeah Marlboros ok?" I ask?
"Sure is," he responds.
"Alright I'll go grab some from my room I'll meet you on the porch." I walk back into my room and open the nightstand drawer and grab out two packs of Marlboro Blacks. Then I step out onto the porch. Naruto has set up both mugs on the table and he sits in the chair on the left. I take my place in the adjacent empty chair. I place his pack on the table in front of him and then I take a cigarette out of my own. I put it in my mouth and light it up. Man the burning tobacco tastes so rich, and it relaxes me making me forget some of my problems just for a minute.
"Hellooooo beautiful! How about that lighter huh?"
Damn, I was in such a trance I forgot all about Naruto.
"Shit, here you go." I toss him the lighter. He catches it and lights up his own, takes a couple puffs and then sips his piping hot coffee.
"Did you train today?" He asks.
I take another drag then a sip of coffee.
"Early this morning before I hit the hospital." I sip my coffee again
"You smell like you've been drinking"
"We delivered a still born today," I mumble. Around Three pm we had a young woman go into premature labor, and the baby just didn't make it. The young girl held the little boy for two hours until his heart stopped beating. Damn she just couldn't stop crying. I know its "just a job" for me but that shit messes you up so yeah I'll drink it way, along with all the other bullshit that's happened.
Naruto shook his head. "I'll drink for that, why don't you bring the bottle. I'm in the mood to cover up some of my problems to."
I get up to retrieve the bottle from its hiding place and then come back to the porch. I unscrew the top and dump some into Narutos' mug and then I move my hand and put some in mine.
"Shits fucked bottoms up mother fuckers!" Naruto says and then he takes a deep swig of his spiked coffee, as do I.
"Amen to that." I whisper.
"Are you going to the war room next week?" Naruto asks.
I take a deep sigh. "Unfortunately I will be there."
"Well It's definitely not going to be fun," Naruto states. We've gotta face the facts though, war is coming and we need to have a plan if the village is gonna survive this.
I'm staring at my cup now, definitely a little buzzed. "This is so fucked up, I can't believe this is happening."
Naruto leans forward his deep blue eyes lock with my jade ones. "Sakura everything will turn out ok in the end, you've just gotta believe it."
"Will you stop saying that shit!" I snap. "It's not going to be ok, you know he's never going to be one of us again he's gone!"
He's staring at his hands now. "I just know." He whispers.
Fuck it he just wont let that shit go. The rest of us have moved on. Sasuke is at the point of no return. When the war comes he will be wanted dead not alive. Naruto just cant let it go, he cant let go of what Sasuke used to be.
Naruto lights another cigarette. "Should we finish the bottle?"
"I'm down for that." I say and I pass the bottle to him.
He takes a big gulp and passes it to me. Its getting late and I have a feeling we're both going to get smashed. I take a big swig and the liquid burns my throat. I lean back, my head swimming and all my problems slowly getting outta mind. No doubt this is one hell of a life.