I apologize for not updating in a while. College has had me extremely busy. But I plan to update this way more often now that my mojo is back. :3 constructive reviews are seriously awesome, and as an author I'd like to make my readers happy. So feel free to leave some idea's, or even some grammatical fixes in the reviews. It's been a while since I've wrote, and I'm a little out of practice. So ANYWAYS here is the next chapter. I shall be updating every Sunday. Perhaps more often since I have a five hour break between classes next semester coming up -_- joy . . . HOWEVER I WILL be posting the next chapter up either tonight or tomorrow, in an apology for my absence. And I shall include a bit of ItaSaku in it as well. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Now. ON WITH THE SHOW!
Disclaimer: I own neither Naruto nor Mulan.
I sat underneath the tree of my name sake. Sakura. I am not even deserving of such a name. Such a beautiful and elegant flower, and here I am the clumsy wilting blossom. I had come outside, feeling trapped within the confines of my room. My mother and granny Tsunade had just gotten home. I preferred to be out lost within my own self inflicting thoughts, rather than to hear the whispers throughout the house. Ones that were obviously not meant for me to hear, but inevitably would reach my keen ears. It was some time that I found myself staring up at those sakura blossoms, as petals fell silently to the ground beneath them. Kissing the earth one last time, as they settled upon it in their last attempt at beauty on this earth before their demise. My father interrupted my dark thoughts as he sat next to me, his walking cane placed in-between us. He stayed silent for a moment, perhaps pondering his words.
"My, what beautiful blossoms we have this year." It took all of my self-control not to snort at the man. He seemed to take in my disgruntled appearance. He looked up, pointing his finger just above me. "It seems that we have a late bloomer." He turned to look at me, his visible eye crinkling with love. "But I will bet you, that when that flower blooms, it will be the most beautiful of all." I hadn't even the chance to respond, before loud thunderous drums echoed off the walls of our garden. My father jumped to his feet, his body going tense.
"Father what is it . . ?" He turned away from me, and began to walk away without looking in my direction.
"Sakura, stay inside." He left me behind, without any explanation. Concerned and curious I followed behind him, wondering what on earth could be going on. Grandma Tsunade caught me following him. She stopped me, and understanding my obvious questions, she motioned inside towards a low wall. Realization ran through me as I went towards it, placing my small hands on top of it. I pulled my weight up, fighting against the gravity below me as I poked my head up over the wall. Before my eye's laid the imperial army. My heart was pounding against my chest, and I could hear the blood rushing in my ears. No . . .
"Citizens! I bring a proclamation from the Imperial City! The Huns have invaded Konoha! By order of the Hokage, one man from every family must serve in the Imperial Army. "
A murmur of no's echoed my very thoughts throughout the crowd of people surrounding the army. "The Chow Family! The Yee Family!" A young man walked up to the man on the horse who was reading off the names. I scrutinized his appearance. He was wearing round black glasses, and a bandana with the Konoha Crest upon it.** The young man stood in front of him.
"I will serve the Hokage in my father's place." The young man walked away bravely, though I could see his entire body tense as he walked back into his own home. The man with the glasses went back to his list.
"The Haruno Family!"
NO! "No!" I couldn't watch him as he walked over to the man to accept his scroll. I ran out from behind the wall blinded by my own panic. My father bowed, about to reach for the scroll.
"I am ready to serve the Hokage." My heart fell into my stomach. Blind with rage and uncertainty I ran up to them.
"Father you can't go." He spun around, whipping his silver hair about. His visible grey eye filled with anger and was that a bit of hurt behind them?
"Sakura.." He warned. I could not just stand here and watch this injustice go by. I looked up at the man, who was staring at me in disbelief. "Please sir my father has already served …"
"SILENCE!" I was cut off by his sudden outburst. I could hear my mother shifting uncomfortable as we were making a scene. He looked to my father. "You will do well to teach your daughter to hold her tongue when in a man's presence." He sneered at me with disgust in his eyes. My father didn't even turn to look at me again.
"Sakura you dishonor me." Those words slapped me in the face. I had already done this twice today. Had I forgotten my place in this world? I bowed my head holding back the tears that threatened to pour out of me. Instead I bit my tongue, and walked away as the man turned back to my father finally handing him the scroll that would seal his fate. "Report tomorrow at the camp."
I could hear the disgusting man continue to read the names off the list behind me as I made my way back to my room where I could sit in silence to sort out my terrified thoughts. "The Chu Family! The Chang Family! The Yong Family!"
Later that evening as I walked down the hall, I caught my father in his bedroom out of the corner of my eye. He opened his closet revealing his armor from the previous war, his walking stick out of hand. I hid behind the paper door, watch him with one eye quietly. He unsheathes his katana, practicing his techniques. At first he swayed like the breeze moving in calculated fluid motions, but the moment he put his bad leg back down he fell. Clasping onto the pillar of his room, and gasping for air he held on with a concerned look on his face. I knew that look, as I had seen it many times in the young men when they left off to war. He was signing his death. I ran back into my bedroom, shutting the door behind me. I didn't leave until dinner.
At the dinner table we all avoided each other. Eating in silence, avoiding eye contact. My mother's face was solemn and I could see her inner conflict. I watched and waited, just waiting for her to say something, anything. I looked to granny Tsunade. She held back her words as well. Were they going to just sit back and watch him leave? I finished pouring everyone's tea. No one even acknowledged that I had refilled their cups. I took my cup hoping a sip of tea would perhaps relax my nerves. As I sipped it, I opened one eye to look back again at my father. He ate in silence still yet, not even attempting to make what was possibly our last meal together meaningful. If I lose him, I don't want to have any regrets later about this moment. It wasn't fair to him. He had served in the army already, and had paid his dues. The army knew that he had been injured . . .
"You shouldn't have to go!" I snapped, slamming my cup down against the table. Hot scolding tea spilled out onto my soft hands. I didn't even feel the pain.
"Sakura!" I wasn't about to allow him to put me down again. "There are plenty of young men to fight for Konoha!" My eye's met with his as the flames in both of ours danced. He gave the answer and noble man in Konoha would,
"It is an honor to fight for my country and my family". I almost threw my tea at him. Almost. "So you will die for honor." I scoffed.
"I will die for what is right." There IS nothing RIGHT about this! "But if you . . "
"I KNOW MY PLACE!" I snapped out of my thoughts and jumped in my sitting position. His words had never been so harsh towards me. He was always quiet and calculating. He always gave me justified reason, and calculated responses to my questions. "It is time you learned yours." I stared at him in disbelief. The tears threatened to break from my eyes at any moment. Both my mother and grandmother looked away from me, silent as ever. I jumped from the table and ran out to our garden the tears on my face mixing into the rain. I found our dragon statue, and climbed inside of it, in an attempt to keep myself from getting drenched as the hot salty tears ran down my face. These would be my last memories of my father.
I saw my mother's and father's shadows dance among the window of the room we were just eating in. He went reach out for her, in an attempt to embrace her. I watched as she moved away, her hands flying to her face. She's crying. She ran out of the room. I saw my father stand there for a moment, before leaning over to blow out the candles. The image of him vanished, just like it seemed he would vanish from my life. I laid my head back down onto my knees, the tears resurfacing. I was ready to give up all hope. If he had only had a son, my brother would be going to war right now. A young man would have a better chance of surviving. But no, they only had a daughter. Something suddenly clicked in my head. But what if he DID have a son. The son could fight in his place. I thought of how I didn't even know who I was today. How I felt so lost in this world. I will only continue to bring heart ache and dishonor on my family, as I have already done today. I got up, pulling myself out of my self-pity. I would not cry anymore. I could not sit around and watch as this injustice befell my father. He was worth so much more, than I myself am to this world. I ran through the rain to my ancestor's shrine, lighting incense and placed it upon the small dragon incense holder. I quickly prayed asking them to watch over me.
I ran into the house, then quietly snuck into my parent's room. They were both asleep. I reached over my father's side, silently grabbing the scroll. He snored, and my I held my breath, not daring to move. As I realized he was not awake, I walked silently over to his armor. Looking over my shoulder at the two sleeping forms, I had finally made up my mind that this was the right thing to do. I silently took the hook the armor was sitting on, and removed it slowly. A small metallic clang rang out. My father snored again, almost causing me to drop the entire set of armor. Now is NOT the time to be clumsy. I put the scroll in my mouth, biting down on it in order to hold it in place; as I then grabbed his sword. Silently backing up out of their room I made my way to my room. I undressed quickly, starting to bind my chest. I then attempted to put on my father's armor. I slid into the slightly too big pants, and shirt. I stared at the armor for a brief moment, trying to figure out which part goes where. I stared at myself in the sword, green eye's staring back determined. Holding my thick pick hair in my hands, I slid the sword across it. My hair fell to the floor in a silent promise to myself that there was no turning back now.
After fumbling around with different parts of the armor, and finally getting them on I made my way to the stables. Upon seeing me my horse lashed out, trying to kick me as I grabbed his reigns.
"Shhhhhh, it's okay it's me." Hearing my voice his ear's perked up, clam settling over him. I looked over my shoulder, as I walked him out of his stall. Goodbye mom, dad, Granny Tsunade. One last surge of courage surged through me as I jumped onto my horse.
"YAH!"
Tsunade woke with a fright. Something was wrong. She got up, something telling her to look into Sakura's room. Without even thinking about why, she ran to her room. Sakura wasn't there. Tsunade ran a hand through her hair. She ran into her daughter's room. "Sakura is gone!"
Kakashi awoke with a start, pushing himself up. He stared at the cherry blossom on his night stand. Jumping up out of bed, he grabbed his walking stick. He felt his wife get up behind him as well, but he was already at the door to the closet. His armor was gone. Panic and hope both mixing through him as he prayed that she had not left yet he ran through the house, making his way to the front gate of the house. He stumbled in his haste as he reached the outside, splashing into a puddle. The rain pouring down upon them all as Tsunade and Rin caught up. Rin bent down and put her hand out to Kakashi helping him up.
"We must go after her, she could be killed!" Rin's face was sick with worry. Her normal fiery eye's dull, as the rain reflected against them. Kakashi put his arm around her, pulling her close in attempts to comfort her, but perhaps also himself. "If I reveal her, she will be." Kakashi felt Rin shiver in his arms, turning her face away. Tsunade looked away from the couple, thinking about where Rin had hid her Sake.
"Please ancestors, watch over our Sakura."
Somewhere on her horse, galloping in the pouring rain; Sakura sneezed.
The great ancestor of the Haruno family awakened suddenly from his statue. He Looked at the small dragon statue with disdain. "Mushu awaken." The statue shakes and smokes as it is brought to life. The little dragon stretched outwards, his golden eye's looking around the room, iris's adjusting to the dark.
"I live! So, tell me, what mortal needs my protection, Great Ancestor. You just say the word, and I'm there."
"Mushu . ."
"And lemme say something, anyone who's foolish enough to threaten OUR family, vengeance will be MINE! Grr ... arrgh ..." the dragon begins to make himself seem fierce, his claws raised above his head, teeth poised in a threatening position.
The great ancestor annoyed by the dragon's antics clears his throat. He then points to the statues around them, signaling Mushu to pay attention. "Mushu! These are the family guardians. They ..." The great ancestor awaits his response with a pointed look. The dragon slumps over in slight defeat.
"Protect the family."
"And you, O Demoted One ..." The great ancestor sneers"
"I ring the gong." The dragon slumps a bit more, his red scales seeming to dull.
"That's right. Now, wake up the Ancestors ..." The little dragon sighs, standing up with his gong in his hand. "One family reunion coming right up." He begins to bang on the gong annoyingly loud, pacing back and forth "Okay, people! People! Look alive! Let's go, c'mon, get up! Let's move it! Rise and shine! Y'all way past the beauty sleep thing."
The ancestors of the Haruno family rise, anger apparent on all their faces. "I knew it, I knew it. That Sakura was a troublemaker from the start."
"Don't look at me, she gets it from your side of the family!"
"She's just trying to help her father!"
"But if she's discovered, Kakashi will be forever shamed. Dishonor will come to the family. Traditional values will disintegrate!"
"Not to mention they'll lose the farm!"
"My children never caused such trouble; they all became acupuncturists!"
"Well, we can't all be acupuncturists!"
"No! Your great-granddaughter had to be a CROSS-DRESSER!" The several Ancestors continued to argue, their voices ringing even louder. "Let a guardian bring her back!"
A heavy man suddenly grabs Mushu and swings him to a statue. "Yes! Awaken the most cunning!"
Another man yanks Mushu into his own hands, swinging him to another statue. "No! The swiftest!" they began to play ball with him in their hands, as they each argued over which guardian to use.
"No, send the wisest!"
"SILENCE! We will send the most powerful of all." All the ancestors looked to their great ancestor, his gaze silencing anyone who objected.
The little dragon laughs, preening himself as he walks over with confidence. "Okay, okay, I get the hint. I'll go." The entire shrine echo's with laughter, as all the ancestors laugh in his face.
"Well, y'all don't think I can do it! Watch this here!" His little face was full of determination, as he swung his head back, a tiny flame reflecting off of his red scales as it shot across the room/ "Ah-hah! Jump back, I'm pretty hot. But I don't have to singe nobody to prove no point." The great ancestor looks at him in annoyance, holding up his hand to motion for him to be silent. "You had your chance to protect the Haruno Family."
The heavy man spoke up. "Your misguidance led Haruno Thang to disaster!" A man in the corner held his decapitated head in his hand, looking pointedly at Mushu. "Yeah . . Thanks." Hiding his remorse, the dragon stood up as tall as he could.
"And your point?
"The point is, we will be sending a REAL dragon to retrieve Sakura." The great ancestor was officially tired of the dragon's antics. The dragons head spun around so fast, his neck cracked. "What? What?! I'm a real dragon!"
"You're not even worthy of this thought! Now, awaken the Great Stone Dragon!" The look on the great ancestors face left no room for argument.
"So you'll get back to me on the job thing." The dragon's remark wasn't a question. The great ancestor throws the gong at him, hitting him in the face, coughing him to fall off of his perch and onto the floor. Grabbing the gong, the little dragon marches out of the shrine, grumbling under his breath.
"Just one chance. Is that too much to ask? I mean, it's not like it'll kill you." Mushu came upon the stone dragon. "Yo, Rocky, wake up! You gotta go fetch Sakura! C'mon, boy! Go get her! Go on! C'mon!" the dragon's gold eye's perceives the stone dragon as he remains asleep. Annoyed already, Mushu climbs up the stone dragon, dragging his gong with him. " Hello? Helloooo? HELLO! " Rage filled his entire being, the fire in his belly steaming up. Without though he slaps the stone dragon across the face with the gong. The statue's ear pops off, landing in Mushu's hand. Mushu quickly panics trying to place the ear back onto the statue. Mushu feels a rumbling below him, hoping that the stone dragon is awakening. The entire statue collapses, Mushu pops out from under the debris.
"Uh ... Stoney? Stoney ...?" He picks up the statues head. "Oh, man, they're gonna kill me!"
"Great Stone Dragon! Have you awakened?" Mushu jumps in his scales. He holds up the statues head above him over the bushes.
"Uh, yes, I just woke up! Um, I am the Great Stone Dragon! Good morning! I will go forth and fetch Sakura! Did- did I mention that I am the Great Stone Dragon?" Mushu spoke nervously.
"Go! The fate of the Haruno family rests in your claws." The great ancestor's voice rang out over the garden.
"Don't even worry about it. I will not lose face." The statue head becomes suddenly heavy for the little red dragon. It starts to lean backwards, pulling him down with it. As the dragon tries to regain composure, he falls back; rolling down a hill. "Ow, ah, my elbow. Oh, oh, I know I twisted something." He sits up, looking at the statue head. "That's just great, now what? I'm doomed, and all because Ms. Man decided to take a little drag show on the road." The cricket comes into view, sitting in front of Mushu. The little red dragon's golden eyes land on the little bug, prepared to make it his meal.
"Chirp." The dragon becomes outraged.
"Go GET her! What's the matter with you? After this Great Stone Humptey Dumptey mess, I'd have to bring her back with a medal to get back in the Temple!" He stops and pounders this for a second. " Waitaminute! That's it! I make Sakura a war hero, and they'll be begging me to come back to work! That's the master plan! Oh, you've done it now, man." Mushu begins to run in the direction he knew Sakura would be in. His connection to her through ancestry leading hisway.
"Chirp."
"And what makes you think you're coming?"
"Chirp"
"You're LUCKY? Do I look like a sucker to you?"
"Chirp."
"What do you mean, a loser? What if I pop one of your antennae off and throw it across the yard, then who's the loser, or me?"
"Chirp." Deciding to make the cricket his breakfast, Mushu chases the cricket out of the garden.
I sat a few miles outside of the camp feeling nervous. I mean, I have PINK hair. Why this didn't concern me before is unfathomable. It's okay I just have to act like a man. It's not so hard ne? Except that being a woman of my age, I hadn't really been around many men. . . I turned to my horse.
"Okay okay how about this." I cleared my voice, trying to make it deeper. "Uh, hey there, where do I sign in? I see you have a sword there. I have one to. They're very manly and . . . " The horse whinnied loudly, sounding almost as if it was in a fit of laugher, rolling along the ground. My eyebrow twitched. Khan was silenced when my shoe hit him in the face.
"I'm working on it okay!" Khan stared at me pointedly. It seemed as though his eyes stared at my hair. "Oh who am I fooling? It would be a miracle to get into the army!"
A large flame rose from behind a rock, a large dragon shadow flickering across the rock behind it. "Did I her someone ask for a miracle? Let me hear you say ahhh." I screamed, ducking to my knee's, putting my heads over my head as though that would protect me from the loud deep voice.
"Close enough!" I started hyperventilating. "a ghost. . ." I squeaked. I heard Khan snort behind me in agreement.
"Get ready, Sakura, your seventeen halation is at hand, for I have been sent by your ancestors to guide you through your masquerade. So heed my words, cause if the army finds out you're a girl, the penalty is death!" I sat up, hearing the fact that my ancestors sent this voice.
"Who are you?" I said unsure. My voice cracked. I sounded like a lost child. I AM a lost child.
"Who am I? WHO am I? I am the guardian of lost souls! I am the powerful, the pleasurable, the indestructible Mushu." The little red dragon crawled out from behind the rock. I stared at him in shock. Clearly this is some sort of sick joke?
"Ah, I'm pretty hot, huh? " Khan getting over his shock, jumps on top of the little dragon, stomping all over him. I pushed Khan away, looking at the now crumpled dragon.
"My ancestors sent a little lizard to help me?" I said with amusement. It took all my self-control not to laugh at my bad luck.
"Hey, dragon, DRAGON, not lizard. I don't do that tongue-thing." He proceeded to slither his tongue out in example. I was at a loss for words. Clearly this being wasn't kidding. "You're ... um ..."
"Intimidating? All inspiring?" His golden eye's looked up at me with pride.
"Tiny!"
"Of course! I am travel-sized, for your convenience. If I was my REAL size, your cow here would die of fright. Khan snaps at the dragons offending pointing finger. "DOWN, Bessy. My powers are beyond your mortal imagination. For instance, my eyes can see straight through your armor. HE CAN SEE WHAT? Without thought I slapped the creature.
"Alright! That's it! Dishonor! Dishonor on your whole family! Make a note of this." He turns towards a cricket I hadn't seen previously. "Dishonor on you, dishonor on your cow, dis-" Oh no!
"Stop! I'm sorry! I'm sorry. I'm just.. nervous. I've never done this before."
"Then you're gonna have to trust me. And don't you slap me no more. You clear on that?" I nodded, prepared to listen. "Alright. Okey-dokey! Let's get this show on the road! Crickee, get the bags!" He turns to Khan " Let's move it heifer!" I snickered as I saw my horse's ears go back, as his mouth snapped next to the little dragons head. This was going to be an interesting day at least.
And since the next chapter is going to be extremely long, and full of our hot commander Itachi, I shall leave you with this as I start typing out the next bit. Sorry this part it so much like the movie. I happen to love this scene and I wanted to keep it. However from here on forth the story shall take a much different turn. ^-^ So here is the last chapter that will follow the movie so closely. The next chapter will be posted either tonight or tomorrow. But I am however going to start writing it now, as soon as this posts. thank you for those who have waited.
** The man on the horse was Ebisu, the man who watches Konohamaru in the beginning of Naruto. He will be replacing Chi Fu,
