"They still had hope, for hope in the heart of men lives on lean pasture."
Chapter Two: The Land and the Sea
Eleven Years Later...
"Sasuke, wait up!"
A young, raven-haired man paused in his step, turning to look down at his childhood companion, his adopted brother. "Hurry up, Naruto, the Council meeting has already begun."
"Do you know what this all about?" Naruto asked, winded as he made his way up the steps of the fully rebuilt Hokage Tower.
"Kakashi said it had to do with another invasion from Kirigakure, there were more attacks on the lower border." Sasuke replied. "Danzo is being a coward and will not agree to sending more men for aid."
"I hate that bastard." Naruto muttered to himself.
The young men entered the tower and made their way to the council chambers where the meeting was already in session.
"Ah," Jiraiya spoke up. "There you boys are, come in."
"I see your students have picked up your habit of tardiness, Kakashi-sama." Danzo spoke up, looking displeased as always.
"Indeed," Kakashi spoke up from where he sat in the middle of the round table. "Sasuke and Naruto's constant service to the Land of Fire and this village, always makes them relatviely late to gatherings where older men will set them out on more tasks they fail to accomplish for themselves."
Danzo cast the Hokage a warning glance, but said nothing. Sasuke made sure to give the miserable elder a cold stare as he took his seat beside Kakashi. The man was nothing but a power-hungry coward.
"What's this about more Kiri attacks?" Naruto asked his mentor, from his seat beside Jiraiya.
"We've had Kiri pirates attacking the shore, they've been hired by Zentaro Kurin." Kakashi replied, his hand in his chin thoughtfully.
Sasuke stilled at the sound of that name, the name of the man who led the attack that killed his family. Long had he wished to serve justice to his family by slaying the wicked warlord that plundered and pillaged their land, and preyed upon the weak. "A simple solution, send me with my men to slay him."
"I'm sure you are aware of the risk we'd put Konoha in if we were to send our finest shinobi out to mundane fishing villages to deal with the unstoppable force of Zentaro." Danzo reprimanded Sasuke like a child, making the Uchiha sneer at him. "This village cannot afford the loss of anymore of our militia to Zentaro's sword."
"So we do nothing?" Naruto asked him incredulously. "We let that monster kill, rape and enslave our people and destroy our resources?"
"No," Kakashi spoke evenly, catching the attention of all present. "I'll send aid to these villages, no matter what the Council deems appropriate, my people have suffered enough at the hands of Kiri."
"Ah, as insubordinate as ever, Kakashi-sama." Danzo spoke. "And you'll undoubtedly send your ever faithful pup, who has no regards towards the authority of the Council or Elders."
Sasuke clenched his knuckles beneath the table, looking at Danzo evenly. "I make it a habit to follow no one."
"Except for Kakashi." Danzo pointed out.
"I owe Kakashi my life when he save me from the old tower, you fled and left countless others to burn." Sasuke said darkly. "There is no reason to wonder where my loyalties lie."
"You mind your place, boy..."
"Enough." Kakashi spoke, silencing Danzo. "I will send out a dispatch of Jonin, to fight under Sasuke to secure our shores and borders, Naruto will remain here to defend the village if a counter attack it to follow, does that meet all of our needs?"
The Council agreed, all but Danzo and his supporters.
"Majority ruled." Kakashi decided. "Then it's done. Sasuke will leave with his squad in the morning."
...
Wind blew over the shore as a young Kiri woman let the docile waves clean her bare feet from the sand. She inhaled the smell of the salt water deeply. No longer a skinny, frail child, the Mizukage's daughter had grown into a full-blossomed woman of nineteen, her long, rose-quartz hair long and flowing in the ocean's breeze, her snowy skin unblemished, her pink lips full, and her jade eyes wide and sparkling with life and curiosity... though they also carried the pain of a mother's death and a father's cruelty and indifference.
"Sakura." she heard Shizune calling her and turned her head up toward her handmaiden. "So, here you are, do you think you can avoid the banquet out here?"
"I was hoping to." Sakura replied, tossing a stray pebble, casting across the water toward the Land of Fire.
"Your father will be displeased if you're not be there to see Zentaro off." Shizune warned her. "Come, we must get you prepared, you look like a civilian in those clothes."
"A moment more." Sakura told her, keeping her gaze on the foamy sea-green waves, watching them roll and crash in a repetitive, soothing motion. Shizune sighed and came to sit beside her mistress on the white sandy beach, under the cloudy sky.
"Alright, then." the handmaiden replied. "But only a moment."
Sakura inhaled the salty air again, savoring the little time she had been given. "He'll announce the engagement tonight, won't he?"
"I should assume, all the council members will be present, Zentaro is about to depart to continue his conquest to the Land of Fire, it will be the opportune time to inform the clan lords." Shizune replied.
The younger woman wrapped the plain sage-green kimono more tightly around herself as she felt a unpleasant shiver travel down her spin, not from the cool breeze, but the thought of the life she would be forced to share with the brutal war hero.
"The man is a monster." Sakura spoke quietly, feeling a stray tear slide down her cheek, and moved to quickly wipe it away. Tears were weakness, and she had no room for such frailty living under the rule of her father, and soon to be living under the rule of Zentaro.
"He'll treat you well, though, he admires you greatly for your intelligence and skills." Shizune spoke comfortingly. "That's why he chose you."
Yes, but I did not choose him. Sakura thought quietly, her fist curling tightly against the fabric of her kimono. The moment that wicked man set sail to kill more innocents, she would flee and never return to the Hidden Mist Village. Perhaps she would cross the sea and see the Land of Fire for herself, whatever would happen she would not be bound to such a man.
"Come, we've lingered long enough." Shizune told her, rising and pulling the rosette up to her feet. "Your father will have my head if you're not looking your best tonight."
Sakura sighed in submission, gathering the basket she had filled to the brim with white seashells. She would let them all dress her up like some pretty porcelain doll and put her on display for all the greedy eyes of the clan lords and Zentaro tonight, for tomorrow she would be gone.
...
"She's late." Saku mused to himself, his sea-green eyes traveling around the banquet hall, looking for his daughter. "Forgive her carelessness, Zentaro."
"I take no offence, Mizukage-sama." the powerful warlord replied carelessly. "Your daughter is a fiery one, Saku-sama, I'm sure she just lost track of the time."
"Indeed." Saku agreed lowly. Sakura had too much of her mother in her, and the Mizukage knew better than anyone what kind of inconvenience that could be. It was only his luck that his commanding general was beguiled by spirited women, and found Sakura's defiance amusing rather than offensive.
"Ah, there she is, my lord." Zentaro spoke, straightening his posture, making the Mizukage glance toward the hall entry. Indeed, there was his daughter, waltzing gracefully into the hall with her handmaid by her side. Saku's lips formed a thin line in irritation when his child's eyes met his, she was not apologetic at all, but rather accusing.
The Mizukage snorted, atleast Shizune had done her job of painting the girl up pretty, all the eyes in the room were on the little nymph. Zentaro, himself, looked about ready to have his way with the girl right then and there, his gray eyes darkening as they traveled over her slender figure.
Sakura put on a dazzling smile as she made her way through the crowd, so eerily similar to Tsunade's fake and flattering smile, that Saku almost thought he was seeing his late wife's ghost. Zentaro grinned back foolishly as she came to stand before them, foolishly thinking that her smile was genuine and for him. Saku had to keep himself from scoffing.
"Father." Sakura greeted bowing lowly. "Zentaro-sama."
"Daughter." Saku replied.
"Sakura-sama." Zentaro spoke up, inclining his hand out for the young woman to take. Sakura obliged, slipping her white, dainty hand into his large, calloused, sun-browned palm, and repressed a grimace when the warlord's long fingers tightened around her hand possessively. "Your beauty rivals that of the sea, itself."
"Thank you, my lord." Sakura bowed her head, forcing her smile to widen even farther. "Forgive me for being late, I lost track of the hour."
"The daughter of the Mizukage, and the greatest healer of our land has no need for any excuses, Sakura-sama." Zentaro replied. "I am just glad I got to look upon your face before I set out for my voyage."
"My, Sakura is lucky to have such an understanding betrothed." Saku commented, earning a sideways glance from his daughter, who had to bite her tongue to prevent her from speaking her mind. "I'm sure she will honer her lord with a dance, for his forgiveness."
Sakura again forced her pretty smile, turning her attention from her father back to Zentaro. "Of course, if that is what my lord wishes."
"Ah, I could wish for nothing more, my lady." Zentaro replied, gripping his powerful hand around her own more firmly. The way his gray eyes traveled over her hungrily, made Sakura believe differently.
"That will be all for now, Shizune." Sakura dismissed her handmaiden, as she was led away to the small array of merry dancers. Aligning her hand with her betrothed, Sakura went through the motions of the traditional dance not feeling the thrill or merriment that dancing usually brought her. She could feel Zentaro's eyes devouring her profile, as she stared determinedly at the stone walls of the banquet hall.
The large warrior cast a shadow over her petite form, as he towered over her by atleast two heads. Zentaro's size and strength was legendary throughout the Shinobi World, with broad shoulders and arms wider than Sakura's waist. There were tales that he could crush a man's skull between his two powerful palms. Though, he was not just a brute, he was also intelligent. He was a powerful ninja, skilled strategist and natural leader; versed in languages, medicine, sea-fare, warfare, torture and the art of war... the art of killing. He was an unstoppable force.
"You smell of the sea." he commented, making Sakura tense.
"I find solace by the seaside." she managed to reply, refusing to look him in the eye.
"Ah, yes, the sea brings a sense of freedom, does it not?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yes, I suppose it does."
"It is not unnatural for a young woman of your age to wish to feel liberated." he commented lowly, letting his large hand slide from her waist to her hip when she turned into him. The healer had to control herself from sending a fist into the man's thick skull at his suggestive words and disgusting touch, and was quick to spin away from him. "You and I are not so as different as you might think, Sakura."
"How so?" Sakura spared him a glance, before turning from him, back to the other dancers. That notion nearly making her scoff.
"I too am passionate about the natural medicines of the earth, I even trained under your mother once upon a time." he told her, inclining his head toward her.
"Ah." Sakura mused, though she had already been aware. Zentaro was known for using a wide variety of poisons in battle and for torture methods. "Though, I believe we use our shared passion for much different purposes, my lord... I believe in saving lives rather than taking them."
He chuckled at her then, as if she were a child, making Sakura grit her teeth behind her lips. "Indeed, though, sometimes one must take a life in order to save others and to protect one's country... what is to be done then, my lady?"
"Strive for peace." she replied quietly, turning her head away as he inclined his lips down to her ear. Zentaro was not as noble as he would make her believe, he was not a warrior who killed only when necessary to protect his people... he was a monster who had come to enjoy and savor the deaths of others, finding a thrill in killing both enemy and innocent alike.
He chuckled again, his breath hot against her ear. "An innocent thought, from an innocent girl... How dreadful for you to be bound to someone like me. Oh, but don't resent me forever, Sakura, I can give you the freedom you desire."
She said nothing, trying to hide her disgust. The only freedom she longed for that he could grant was for him to release her from his repulsive hands. The harmonic song being played upon koto was coming to an end and she silently thanked the heavens for it. Zentaro released her, bowing lowly, but took her hand in his to kiss it formally in thanks for the dance. "Sweet, innocent, Sakura-hime... I look forward to our wedding night when I will take you to my bed." he told her against the skin of her hand, making the girl pale to a sickly shade of white and recoil her hand quickly.
Regaining her composure, she forced herself to curtsy, not hiding the hate in her eyes from him. "Thank you for the dance, my lord."
...
At dawn, the ships that the Land of Fire feared prepared to set sail. Sakura stood beside her father on the docks, to see the conquering shinobi off. The sea air whipped wildly about them, sending the young healer's long pink locks flying about in all directions.
The sea itself was growing angry, it's choppy waves green and rolling as if in protest against the blood that was about to be spilled. Sakura herself prayed silently that a storm would roll in to prevent her betrothed and his men from reaching the Land of Fire, so as to spare the innocent people they would kill and enslave.
"Mizukage-sama, this is farewell for now," Zentaro spoke up. "I will continue to conquer in your name, until then, I look forward to my return."
"Be safe and vigilant, Zentaro." Saku warned. "I've heard whispers of young warriors, trained by Kakashi Hatake himself, that have grown in power... beware, I would hate to lose both a commanding officer and son-in-law."
"Fear not, my lord." Zentaro reassured. "This time I'll bring you the Hokage's head myself."
...
"These wretched pirates!" Kiba complained, drawing his kunai from the corpse of his adversary. "They're relentless."
"We'll have to move on," Sasuke replied, cleaning his sword, taking in the sight of what was left of the plundered village they had just liberated. "Three ships headed in the direction of the North Villages, we should get there before them."
"You're injured, Sasuke." Shikamaru pointed out. "We should rest here tonight, before we continue."
"It's nothing," the Uchiha glanced at the puncture wound of his shoulder. "We have to press on."
Turning, he acknowledged his squad; exhausted, some wounded, covered in their enemy's blood as well as their own. The Uchiha sighed heavily. "Rest for now, we will wait a few hours to regroup with Sai's regiment, before we leave."
His squad dispersed then, to find somewhere to rest their exhausted bodies, leaving only he and Shikamaru to gaze at the broken state of the small fishing village. Corpses and ashes lay at their feet, the sound of wailing women and the howling wind of the sea filling the solemn silence around them.
"These are just pirates..." Shikamaru stated. "Kiri will be sending Zentaro and his elite shinobi in their wake."
"I know." Sasuke replied.
"What horrors await us then?" Shikamaru mused aloud.
"None." Sasuke told him, staring ahead into the sea, feeling the crackling power of his chakra within him. He clenched his fist and willed Zentaro across the sea. "This bastard's reign of tyranny is over."
...
...
"Where is my daughter, Shizune?" Saku asked upon entering Sakura's chambers, finding his child absent.
Shizune bowed lowly, trying desperately to keep her composure. "Forgive me, my lord, she has asked me to inform you that she has gone to a neighboring village to help heal the sick, a fever has broken out there, you see."
"Ah." the Mizukage mused, unimpressed by the blatant lie, but not bothered by it either. "She goes to seek refuge from her fate elsewhere, I see."
"No, Mizukage-sama..."
"It matters not." Saku interrupted her. "I'll let her play her little defiant game and run until Zentaro returns, there is not a place she can go that I won't find her."
"I..." Shizune began, hopelessly.
"Pray she doesn't come to any harm in her little endeavor, Shizune, then you really will have something to worry about." the cold man spoke, before exiting carelessly.
Shizune let out an exhale, staring down at the letter Sakura had left on her pillow before she had departed. "Sakura... you are foolish if you think you can escape this."
...
"You've come too late, Uchiha-sama!" the village chieftain told the shinobi upon their arrival, overwhelmed with grief. "They've taken everything, they have slaughtered our warriors, took our young ones as slaves... they went off on foot back to their ships to send them off."
Sasuke, pushing his fury and despair deep with himself in order to keep calm, taking in the bodies of innocent civilians swinging stiffly from the trees above them, kunais plunged deeply into their heart... once again another village was arrayed in blood and ash because they were not fast enough to stop the barbaric Kiri. "You say they headed back toward the coast?"
"Yes sir." the chieftain replied shakily.
"They were not pirates, were they?" Sasuke asked. "They were shinobi elites."
"Yes, it was Zentaro, my lord... I've only ever heard stories about him, but I knew him the moment I saw... He was a like a terrible giant, my lord."
Sasuke nodded stiffly, turning back to his men. "Care for what's left of your village, Chieftain, and heal your wounded... we will go after Zentaro and liberate your children."
"Thank you, Uchiha-sama." the chieftain cried gratefully. "We are indebted to you, and our great Hokage."
Sasuke said nothing, his fists still clenched tightly at the death and destruction he had witnessed. Without another word, he started swiftly ahead toward the coast, signaling Shikamaru and the others to follow after him.
"We are outnumbered, Sasuke." Shikamaru told him when he had caught up. "We could very well be walking toward our deaths."
"So be it." the Uchiha replied, his eyes flashing red.
R&R They'll meet next chapter, worry not ;)
