Hahahahahahaha!!! I'm very fast at updating!!! You know why? It's because my younger sister, Shirou, kept on nagging me and won't leave me alone until I update. She said she liked it better than Fox Trait. *growls*
Never mind what I just mentioned. Oh yeah, even if I put Shinkei Kajuen as my name, Kajuen is not my family name. It is a random name I picked. But I and my sister's names are real.
Almost all of the characters in this fanfic will be OOC.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Really, how many times do I need to repeat this? A-ah, this would be the last!!!
Misashi Kishimoto-san, if you are able to read this, good luck understanding my own mind as I do not understand yours. Though I think I know what direction Naruto (manga) is going, you're still too mysterious. I really admire your works but you have that I-know-it-all smile sometimes.
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Twenty-seven years later:
January 5
4:00 p.m.
Sunagakure
The possibility that she was going to murder her was still there.
"See? See? I told you about it but you didn't listen." Sakura said, beaming. "It's working out just fine."
Naruko braced herself as the jeep turned to another tunnel. "I hate people who say I told you so, directly or indirectly. And can you please stop being so damn cheerful?"
"No, I'm just happy. You will be too, when you admit that I was entirely right to persuade you to bring me with you." Sakura turned to the driver next to her. "How far, Kiba?"
"Five, maybe seven hours." The boy's cheerful smile lit his handsome tattooed face. "But it's better to settle for the night. I'll need to see the road. From here it gets a little rough." Another bone-jarring bump punctuated the sentence.
"What? This isn't rough for you?" Naruko dryly asked.
Kiba shook his head. "The government takes good care of this road. No one repairs the one into Sabaku. Not enough people to matter."
"How many?"
"Maybe a hundred? I don't remember much. I visited a few years ago, but there were more. But most of the young people are gone now. Who wants to live in a village that doesn't even have a movie theatre?" He glanced over his shoulder at Naruko, who was sitting in the back. "I don't think you are going to find anything interesting about Sabaku to photograph. There's not much there. No ruins, no important people and no tourist spots. Why bother to go here?"
"It's for the articles I'm doing for Around the World on undiscovered destinations in Sunagakure," Naruko explained. "There should be something at least. If there is none, my career is on the line."
"Don't worry. We'll find something," Sakura said. "Practically and luckily, every city in Sunagakure has amazing and uniquely designed houses. Sabaku may have sand inspired houses for all we know. We'll start from there, the houses then the plazas if there are."
"Oh? So, you are directing my shoots now?"
Sakura smiled. "Maybe. I approve of this assignment, so I can help decide. I like the idea of you shooting nice, pretty sceneries instead of having crazy idiots shoot at you."
"For your information, I like my work."
"For God's sake, you ended up in a hospital after Otogakure. How you end up is not good for you. You should have finished medical school and gone into pediatric surgery with me."
"I'm not tough enough. I knew it the night that child died in the emergency room. I don't know how you do it. And by the way, the scoop in Otogakure was worth it."
"So, why don't you tell me all about it?"
Naruko stiffened. "It's better if you just stay out of my job, Sakura. I mean it. I can choose what I want to do. I'm almost thirsty."
"You're also exhausted and drained. Even with that, you still have that obsession with that damn orange camera. Damn it, why orange? You haven't even taken it off your neck since we started this trip."
Naruko's hands instinctively cupped her camera. She needed her camera. It was a part of her. It was the last gift her father gave her before he died 7 years ago. It was her mother's camera. Though normally photographers' pick their own, Naruko immediately knew it was the camera for her before she even knew it was her mother's. They were compatible, as she reasons. After all these years, being without it would be like being blind and loosing a part of herself. But, it was useless to try to explain it to Sakura.
Sakura had always been good with human psychology too. If she didn't choose to be a surgeon, she would have taken psychology. She has that confidence that she knows right from wrong as she always tried to guide Naruko doing what she thought was right. Most of the time, Naruko could handle it. But Otogakure had shattered her, and that alerted all of Sakura's protective instincts. Naruko should have stayed away, but she missed seeing Sakura.
Besides that, she loves the bossy bitch.
Now, Sakura's older-sister mode is in full bloom. 'Time to change the subject before she becomes even more dictatorial.' Naruko said to herself in her mind.
"Hey, Sakura, why don't you try to contact Lee on your cell phone? Kiba had said awhile ago that we would be out of range of any tower soon."
Sakura was immediately distracted as Naruko knew she would be. Her husband, Rock Lee, and their ten-year-old daughter, Hanako, were the center of Sakura's existence. "Good idea," she said, pulling out her phone and searching for the number. "It might be my last chance. They're taking off at dawn for The Forest of Death to do that wilderness thing. It's the forest where we went before, Naruko, to have our school survival test. You won it with Lee as your partner, remember? Lee really likes to pass on his survival expertise to his heir." Holding the receiver to her ear, she listened intently, scowled, then sighed. "Too late already. The signal's gone. Why couldn't you choose a civilized place to bring me to?"
"I didn't choose it. I was sent here on an assignment. And you weren't invited, remember?"
Ignoring the jab, Sakura turned to Kiba, who had been politely ignoring the discussion between the best friends. "We can stop now. It's getting dark."
"As soon as I find a flat ground to set up camp," Kiba said.
Sakura nodded, and then looked at Naruko. "Don't think I've said all I want to say to you. Our conversation isn't over, Naruko."
Naruko closed her eyes. "God, help me."
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"They've stopped for the night. They're already setting up for camp." Raven lowered his binoculars. "But there's no doubt they're on their way to Sabaku. What do you want to do?"
Madara Uchiha frowned. "This is most unfortunate. It could cause complications in my plans. When do you expect the report from Zetsu?"
"An hour or two more. I sent the order as soon as we caught sight of them this morning. We already know the license plates are registered to Hyuuga Travels. Finding out who they are and what they are doing here is what's taking time."
"Unfortunate," Madara murmured. "I detest complications. And everything was going so well."
"Then remove the complications. Isn't that the reason why you brought me here?"
"Yes." Madara smiled. "You came highly recommended in that area. So, what do you suggest?"
"Dispose them since it should be no problem out here. It'll take me no more than an hour and your problem is solved."
"But what if they're innocent tourists? What if they don't have awkward ties?"
Raven shrugged.
"That's the problem with people of your ilk," Madara said. "Too bloodthirsty. It's no wonder Sasori was willing to let you go."
"I'm not bloodthirsty. You wanted a solution. I gave you my answer. And Sasori has no objection to blood. He sent me to you because he felt uncomfortable around me."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"His fortune-teller told him I'd be the cause of his death."
Madara chuckled. "Stupid puppet lover." His chuckle faded as he stared at Raven. That face...If a Dark Beast could be personified, it would have a face like Raven's. Gorgeous yet dangerous, that is what his face looks like. It reminds Madara of someone, but erases the thought from his mind. Madara could see why a superstitious fool like Sasori would be uneasy.
Seeing that Madara had said nothing further, he lifted the binoculars to his eyes again. "They're spreading out their sleeping bags. Now would be the time."
"I said we'll wait." Though Madara hadn't said such a thing, he couldn't let Raven push him. "Go back to base and come back when the report comes in."
Raven started toward the jeep parked a few yards away. His instant obedience should have reassured Madara but it didn't. Indifference, not fear, spurred that obedience, and Madara was not accustomed to indifference. He instinctively used his superiority. "If you must kill someone, Deidara has offended me. It wouldn't displease me to see him dead when I return to camp."
"He's a bomb expert. He may still have his uses." Raven started the jeep. "You're sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Then I'll take care of it."
"Aren't you curious what he did to offend me?"
"No."
"I'll tell you anyway." He said softly, "He's a very stupid man. He asked me what was going to happen at Sabaku. He's been entirely too curious. Don't make the same mistake."
"Why should I?" Raven met his gaze. "When I don't even give a damn, why should I?"
Madara felt a ripple of frustration as he watched the jeep bounce down the hill. Having Raven obey his command to kill should have brought the familiar flush of triumph. But it didn't.
Raven would have to go the way of Deidara when it was convenient. At the moment, he needed the entire team to complete this phase of the job.
But after Sabaku...
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Sunagakure – a country (let's just assume it is a country...)
Sabaku – a city in Sunagakure (let's assume it's a city...)
Kiba – He's 8 years younger than Naruko here.
Otogakure – another country
Guessed who Raven is?
P.S. I'm sorry now and in advance if the characters you like will die or will do what you don't like...I'm really sorry...
Thank you and please review...
