A Taste of Sabotage
Chapter One
Blood splattered thickly on the wall, spreading out in streams that stretched over the expensive wall fan with a distinct gold trimming that no longer held the same value it once did.
Moonlight filtered in through the only window in the room, highlighting the gore that spread over the walls and seeped from beneath the body that once held an eventful life. It soaked through the edge of the pillow case, spreading through cotton futon underneath him. The man's neck was bent back at an odd angle, the flesh of his neck sliced open. The blood on his face was beginning to dry, backing on his lips and the underside of his chin.
A shadow stayed clear of the light, hovering just to the left of the body. It stared down at the man who's eyes were left wide open, staring back at him with a glossy gaze. His mouth was left in a soft 'o' exclamation, as if he'd seen a ghost, or worse, a demon.
The shadow flicked the blood off the blade, placing it back in its kunai holder. It turned away, leaving the room as silently as it had entered. The only thing left was a single strand of pink hair.
x
Four days later.
x
Exhaustion clung to the eyelids of the prestigious medical ninja's eyes as she squinted against the artificial light of the room that was now giving her a headache. She listened to the clock tick-tock obnoxiously behind her on the other side of the wall, but didn't bother reading it to remind herself that it was now edging closer to four A.M. and she should be at home, asleep by now.
"I've almost got it!" She swore to herself, promising she'd try just one last time (which she had also promised herself three hours ago).
Sakura crouched behind a row of viles, eye level to the green liquid that filled them all a quarter of the way. She focused on the middle tube, her tongue curled over her lip in concentration as she dropped a single dosage of a clear liquid into it. "Come on… work me!" She watched with bated breath as the concoction fizzled and turned a welcoming light blue. "Yes! The reaction stabilized!" She shrieked, triumphantly throwing her fists in the air.
It was a quick jot down in red ink, underlined several times for anyone else to know not to change it, that finished the poison research that her respected teacher, Tsunade, had given her weeks ago. There was nothing like an antibiotic break through for a poison to end the night on a good note. Finally, Sakura knew she would be able to sleep peacefully (and sleep in with no regrets). "I'm sure she'll be pleased with these results!" She folded the paper, attaching it to a clipboard for it to remain Hokage's eyes only, with Shizune as the exception.
She grabbed the cap to the vile, just about to put it on when the door swung open hard, slamming into the wall with enough force to crack the plaster.
"HEY!" Sakura whirled around, scowling fearsomely at the intruders. "If you chip that you're-" Her expression melted into a look of pure horror.
Seven Jounin piled into the room, many more standing outside of the doors to prevent her escape. They stared at the pink-haired medic with steely, unforgiving eyes, all of them were armed with visible weapons.
"What is this? This is a private room you can't just barge in here!" She shrieked, standing in front of her research threateningly. Her heart was beating a million miles a minute. She could feel it in her throat and her mouth had suddenly gone dry. The tension in the air was downright murderous and Sakura's mind could not find a reason for this sudden moment.
The tallest man in the middle stepped forward, unfazed by her words. He spoke clearly and with conviction, "Haruno Sakura, under the orders of the Hokage, you are hereby under arrest for the murder of Takehiko Ueda."
x
"Mnn…" Sakura's eyes fluttered as she came to, grimacing against the headache that pounded in her head. She blinked wearily, her eyes adjusting to the dimly lit room easily. "Where…?" She uttered in a horse voice, mouth dry. She sat up on her elbow, squinting. The room was a little bigger than her own at home. It sported a dresser in the corner, with a chair sitting to the far right near to the door. A light breeze tickled the back of her neck and Sakura tilted her head up to look at the window that was right above the bed, covered by curtains that blocked the light, but not the fresh air wafting in.
Panic stirred in her gut and she clutched the clean sheets. Clean? She looked down, startled. It took a short moment of breathing exercises for her to calm down. If the sheets were clean that meant she was safe. Somehow, by whatever must be smiling down at her, she had managed to get herself to some semblance of safety. The though was less comforting than she thought it would be and her attuned hearing made her aware of the soft noises coming from outside of the room. They were more whispery, so they had to be far enough away. Kitchen, maybe?
Despite the throbbing in her head and the fear in her gut, she felt no real threat from this place and that was the only thing that kept her from climbing out of the window and running away. Whatever this was, she needed it more than she needed the harshness of the outside world. Holding her head in her hand she let out another soft groan. "Where's a pain killer when you need it…?"
What scared her the most wasn't the new surroundings, but the fact that everything up to this point was fuzzy. She remembered running- lots of it. Her body had been shaking, pushed far beyond its usual limits and after being off the field for so long it was not a surprise the physical work had been too much for her. The wounds hadn't helped either. Jarred by the sudden recollection of the fight with the female Jounin she looked down at her arm, surprised to find it loosely wrapped. Automatically she reached out and touched her cheek, her fingers grazing a smooth bandaid instead of skin.
The noise outside started to escalate and a loud clang! resonated through the house as something (a pot, Sakura guessed), smashed into a solid object. "NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE YOU'RE GOING TO WAKE HER UP!"
Sakura flinched, her hands skirting over the bed as if there were weapons she could grab, warily watching the door as she heard the disgruntled mutterings and stomping getting closer.
The door swung open and Sakura closed her eyes against the sudden light. "Augh! Could you close the door please?!"
"Sorry!" A feminine voice chirped apologetically, the door clicking shut softly.
It took a moment before Sakura could look up, squinting at the person who entered the room. "Oh no… dammit, Katsuo, I knew you would wake her up! Tsk." The woman muttered to herself irritably, clicking her tongue. She placed her hands on her wide hips, looking back at Sakura with a warm smile that held no trace of her anger.
"Um…" Sakura closed her mouth at a loss for words.
"How'er you feelin' hon? I would say that's a close call wouldn'tcha?" The woman was short. Her cheeks were as round as her belly and she had thick thighs that could most definitely kill a man. Freckles adorned her face, spreading from her cheeks to her ears and down to her neck beneath the collar of her shirt. Auburn hair framed her face in thick curls, tied up into a high, messy bun. Her smile was sweet, so unlike the way she had acted just a moment ago. She crossed the room, stopping beside the bed.
"Uh... I guess?" Sakura's face contorted in confusion and the woman laughed heartily.
"You sayin' you don't remember? You came wandering into this town all torn up and dazed like you were on something. One of the children called out to you when they saw you, but you collapsed before you couldn't say anythin' back to 'em. Scared the little ones, didja."
"I…" Looking up at this woman's face, the honey-coated voice did nothing to help the struggles of Sakura's mind. Her mouth flapped like a fish gasping for air and, finally, she just opted to look away. There was something about the woman that made her feel small, like a child again. Maybe it was the unorthodox kindness, or the fact that she was talking to her as if they had been friends their entire lives. Whatever it was, Sakura couldn't pinpoint it, and it frightened her. Her head throbbed again and she groaned.
"Hon?" The woman tilted her head, knitting her eyebrows together worriedly.
"I-" Sakura fisted her hair in her hand, whimpering. "I… I have a headache."
"Oh! Let me get you something for that I'll be right back." The woman left the room and, to Sakura, her footsteps were much louder than she was used to, jarring her headache even more. She pulled her knees closer to her, resting her head in between them as she shut her eyes and tried to focus on the whisper of the wind against the curtains.
It was a moment before the woman returned, nudging Sakura gently in her shoulder. "Here, take this."
Sakura reluctantly lifted her head, taking the water and single white tablet gratefully. She swallowed it in one go, nestling back into the pillow with an exhausted sigh. The water was settled on the floor and Sakura closed her eyes as she waited for the medicine to take its effect.
"Its good to see you up. I didn't know how long you'd be out for…"
Sakura cracked open her eyes, turning her head a little. "How long have I been out…?"
"A day and a half."
A day and a half. It wasn't bad, normal even given the circumstances, but she had still been careless. She wasn't fifteen anymore, she was twenty-two and this was unacceptable. She sighed, running a rough hand through her oily, tangled hair and she made a noise of disgust when she pulled her hand away.
The woman put a gentle hand on her shoulder, taking her frustration wrong. "Honey you're okay. Given your injuries that was to be expected it's nothing to…" She stopped herself, unsure of how to word her next words. Ninja should be used to this, right? Her eyebrows knitted in confusion, but she squeezed her shoulder and spoke gently, "Come on, you must be hungry. Would you like a shower while I make lunch?"
Sakura nodded her head, looking up at her gratefully. "Yeah… that would be good, actually." With her headache gone Sakura pushed the sheets off of her legs, throwing them off the side of the bed. There was no need for her to stress out about what she hadn't done and what she was potentially going to do after. Right now, she needed this. Even if she didn't know who this woman was, she needed something gentle and stable, and she would not ruin that.
Azami, satisfied, moved out of her way. "There are towels and new clothes in the bathroom already, take as long as you want."
It was a relief to hear those words and all she could think about was a warm, sudsy, shower. "Thank you, Miss, I really appreciate it." She said.
The woman laughed. "Please, call me Azami." She wiped her hands on her apron, holding out her hand. "Forgive me for not introducing myself earlier. You are…?"
Sakura hesitated. She could lie. Would it bring harm to her if she told her her name…? No. Sakura pushed that thought from her mind, scolding herself. Now she was being too paranoid. Even if Konoha was after her, they would never hurt civilians. That wasn't the Konoha ninja way. Mustering up her best smile, she spoke in a voice that was stronger than she felt, "Sakura."
They shook hands and Azami grinned. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
x
The lukewarm spray seemed to bring back every ounce of lost energy as it unwound the tension in her muscles and soothed most of her physical aches. Water pooled at her feet, swirling down the drain in a mix of dirt, grass and blood. She found it hard not to think of what Tsunade might've ordered the village to do now. Were there search teams looking for her? Had they put a bounty on her head? Was she an official nuke ninja now? Sakura closed her eyes, shuddering at the thought of being erased as head medical ninja and, instead, being a nuke nin.
It would be a disgrace.
She reached for the shampoo with her good arm, struggling to get a good amount in her hand before rubbing it into her hair. It was tricker than she expected it to be. Soap got into her eyes and she was sure she accidentally ripped out two clumps of hair while trying to get her fingers through it. Sakura whined in disgust at the strands of pink hair that were on her hands. She had let her hair grow out to a modest shoulder length, but it was beyond her how she used to take care of such long hair as it was giving her so much trouble now.
She sighed, conditioning her hair and taking a comb to it. Even if Konoha was still searching for her, she considered, they wouldn't cross borders and make trouble without consent from the other villages. The thought gave her less reassurance than it should've, even though this was probably the safest she'd been in years.
She tilted her head back, letting the spray wash over her hair. In flickers the haze in her mind began to lift as she felt more awake and a little more energized. Behind the lids of her eyes she remembered the soft voices of the kids just before she collapsed. She remembered the feel of the bark underneath her fingers as she dragged herself through the forest, the sun beating down on her back and the exhaustion and pain that pulled the colors into a mushy mix of browns in greens. Her sense of time had stopped and when she had crossed over the border, she hadn't even noticed.
And here she was.
Sakura frowned, scrubbing herself down with a cloth. Despite what had happened, she found herself longing to be back in Konoha. Back before any of the craziness started… Sakura closed her eyes, the soft hiss of the water spray lulling her. It was just like that she imagined the bustle of the town beneath the little window she would open in her bathroom to let the steam out and the occasional twitter of birds that would make her smile. She could see the fogged sliding doors she would step out of to see the beauty supplies she had had since childhood lining the creme counter. Too expensive bath salts and cremes she'd bought with her on money to use on her time off and nothing more, but items she nevertheless had always hoped would give her a head start if Sasuke possibly ever came back.
The funniest thing was, just when she had started to lose hope, he had come back. After seven long years Uchiha Sasuke had come back to the village, spouting a change that had been kept confidential and, since his return, he had been place under house arrest until Tsunade and the council decided what to do with him.
It was a situation that had gotten mixed results- the majority of the village irritated and refusing to believe the nuke-nin could have changed, while some were a little more lenient, a little more willing to let him make his dues to see if he could come back as a citizen, but to Sakura it had been thrilling to see him in the village again.
He was tall, a lot more muscular than he had been when he left the village at the tender age of thirteen, but his hair (that beautiful blue-black) and those cold, cold eyes were always still the same.
It-he was mesmerizing.
Except, this time around, he would say hi to her when they passed on the street and her body would betray her as her heart fluttered when he spoke in that smooth voice that made her knees shake and her dreams fill with heat that covered her with sweat when she awoke. It was torture. And when she would speak back, her voice would always manage to crack when she would respond with a cheerful, "Good morning, Sasuke-kun."
Despite the years she had grown without him, forced herself to forget the crush, it had come back with full force. All the years of handwork undone with one step in the village. She had felt ashamed, angry even, until she remembered who she was- who she had become and all she had felt, then, was confident.
This time she would be enough.
Yet she wasn't.
Which was entirely silly and Sakura knew this. She was Tsunade's student and one of the head medics of Konoha. She was respected and highly regarded by the villagers and she had become a force to be reckoned with. Strong, incredibly so, and smart. Smart enough to be second behind Shikamaru. Yet, in spite of it all, Sasuke still did not look at her the way she dreamed about for so many years and it still managed to crush her heart.
Ex-teammate, acquaintance. That's what she saw in his eyes when he looked at her briefly when they passed each other in the street. She was enough to say hello to but not enough to ask out for a single date.
No matter how many recognitions she had or had skilled she was, that was the extent of their relationship.
But now it was all gone.
x
Sakura shut off the water, stepping into the steamy room that left her shivering. When she glanced at the counter it stood empty except for a single bar of soap. The realization left her strangely empty and she stood, paralyzed to her spot. The likelihood of her ever going back home was slim. She would never see her apartment, her parents, or her friends ever again and tears prickled at the corners of her eyes.
It hit her hard in that brief second. It was like a punch to the gut that left her breathless and aching. Sakura sank to the floor, wrapped in the white towel that Azami had laid out for her. She clutched the top, bending over as all the emotions she forced herself to forget, to not feel while she ran, came back in a rush. The inevitability of it all hit her like bricks. How if she didn't fight she would be forced to just run, and run, and run for the rest of her life. She gasped, shaking as the steam seemed more suffocating, and the room felt far too small.
This is what it meant to be a ninja. It was not just fighting for your village and keeping true to your own nindo. It was the weight of all the villagers that unanimously counted on you when you left the village. The weight of every kill you had to make on a high ranked mission, the possibility that anything could go wrong at any moment and if you were dealing with other ninja, who were possibly just a little more skilled, you would be so very screwed despite the rigorous training your teacher put you through for your whole life. It was the massive weight of lives after lives you're supposed to protect or dispose of and the fact your teammates count on you to bring your very best to the plate every single time. It was also the weight of failure when missions went array or your team broke up and it felt like a little part of you went with them and never really returned.
Sakura's lip quivered hard, feeling the weight of everything at once, and she cried.
x
Her dirty, ripped clothes were laid out on the back of the chair in the guest room. Sakura liked the loose t-shirt and skirt that went to her knees that Azami gave her. She strangely felt in home in clothes that did not bear her clan symbol on the back. She had nothing to be proud for now.
She ventured into the rest of the house, good smells wafting from the kitchen and her growling stomach decided the destination for them. Warmth enveloped her when she stepped into the room, her mouth watering at the sound of fried food sizzling in a skillet and, what smelled like meat, cooking in the oven.
Azami looked up, startled. "Oh! Wow, didn't hear you come in. Guess that's what ninjas are like, eh? We don't have any of those in this family so everyone's loud as an animal and you'll know when they're near." She shook her head, going back to flipping the korokke.
Sakura cracked a smile, laughing softly. "Sorry, I wasn't trying to startle you. I don't even realize that I'm walking quietly anymore. When you live in a whole village of ninja its something you stop thinking about." She padded over to the side of the kitchen counter, watching Azami cook with interest. Sakura wasn't much of a cook herself. If she could have it, she would probably eat canned fruit for the rest of her life!
"I don't blame you. Must be all that training, yeah?"
Azami turned off the right burner, setting the korokke onto a plate and pushing the skillet onto the back burner. She bent down, pulling out a tray of roasted meat that was cooked to an incredible golden brown.
Sakura sniffed the air, humming softly as her mouth water. "It smells really good."
"I'm glad you think so! I figured you'd be hungry after what had happened to you."
Sakura stiffened. It was like the elephant she thought had left came parading back into the room, stomping around and blowing its trumpet as it destroyed everything in its way. She swallowed, looking around the room. "Definitely am." She agreed. Her eyes landed on the door and it was only then she noticed the tiny hand clutching the wood, one eye peeking out.
"Ah…"
"Why don't you come in Senko? Its rude not to greet the guests." Azami didn't look up from her meal preparing.
The child squeaked, hiding briefly before she slowly edged into the room. She was no more than five years old, her two front teeth missing and she had eyes the color of dark chocolate. Senko's hair was a light brown, fluffing around round cheeks in untamable waves. She looked at Sakura with fear edged in curiosity and she refused to get closer to her. "Hello." She whispered.
Sakura blinked, strangely sad by the reaction. If she was the child that had called out to her, she didn't entirely blame her, but none of the kids in her village treated her this way. They were always over joyed to see her, asking her about her work and what else she would be doing that day. She knelt down, giving out her most charming smile. "Hello, Senko, my name is Sakura. Its nice to meet you." She held out her hand.
Senko's lip quivered, but she placed her smaller hand into Sakura's, shyly shaking her hand. She was the first to rip her hand from the shake and Sakura swore she was going to bolt to her mother with the way she looked at her like she had contaminated her. So, she was pleasantly surprised when she stayed, edging closer to Sakura carefully like you would with an animal you were unsure would attack you or not. When Senko stopped in front of her, unharmed, it seemed to give her enough confidence for her to reach out and touch the edge of the new bandages around her forearm.
"Are you a bad guy?"
"Senko!" Azami shrieked from the kitchen, glaring over at her child.
"It's okay." Sakura soothed from the floor, her eyes never leaving Senko. She looked down at her arm, imagining the gruesome way the healing burn contorted her once scar-free body. Many responses ran through her head, but Sakura shook her head. "No," she started slowly, gently laying her fingers on her arm. "I'm not a bad guy. I've just gotten myself into a big mess, that's all. But I'm gonna fix it and everything's going to be okay." Saying it out loud sent a shiver of optimism up her spine.
A flicker of understanding seemed to register on the child's face, but it was gone when Azami spoke. "Okay you two, time to set the table. Senko, go find your father and tell him dinner's ready."
The safe moment shattered and Sakura stood up, watching Senko dart from the room and she walked around to where Azami stood. "May I help with anything?"
Azami shooed her away with her hip, holding the plate of korokke. "No! You're a guest here and, beside, you shouldn't put pressure on that arm of yours."
"If you say so…"
Sakura reluctantly moved out of the way, feeling guilty as she watched Azami bustle back and forth. Back at home she would've taken full advantage of this, leaving the dirty dishes in the sink or just getting take out and leaving the trash to mold until it got so bad she had to throw it out and scrape the gunk from the dishes that she did manage to use whenever she was at home. Watching Azami set the table, Sakura could only see the image of her mother setting the table with elegant vigor, nagging at her to "help her out since she was home so little". Her father was the cook of the family, but her mother always knew how to make a great dessert.
She blinked, and the image was gone. Only steaming hot food left in its place.
A/N: Man. This took a lot longer than I wanted it to… I meant to bust this and Chap 2 out very fast, but life got in the way and it took FOREVER for me and my beta to actually be on at the same time o_e; but here you are! I hope you enjoy. Sorry for all the "oc's" running amok. They'll be gone eventually & the canon cast will over take the story, I promise.
I also wanted to ask my story followers a question. Would you guys prefer I put the honorifics on the names or no? Because I've been purposely leaving out "chan" and "sama" and "sensei" stuff but if you guys would PREFER to see that please let me know!
Thank you for sticking with me and reading this chapter! You're favorites / followers / reviews are SUPER appreciated and I love you all dearly!
FI