Supreme Genetics - Creation of a Bloodline
Chapter 1
"I'm sorry Kakashi. I should have told you about this a long time ago, not only since you were their Sensei but also because of your special connection to Naruto. However, I'm positive that some of the factors leading to this high success rate lay within the Kyuubi's chakra that is infused within Naruto's chakra system and possible even his genetic code. And I wanted to do some more research and testing of Naruto to get a better understanding before I brought this matter to you." Tsunade whispered to the silver-haired Hokage.
"Yes you should have Tsunade." Kakashi agreed in an angry whisper before adding.
"But I can understand your reasoning of wanting to gain more information, especially when it involves the Kyuubi no Youko."
Truth be told, Kakashi couldn't blame Tsunade for her curiosity. He himself had wondered many times if Naruto and Sakura were to become a couple, what the outcome would have for the village. Now he guessed, he finally had some form of an answer to his musings. The masked Hokage straightened himself and grabbed his gavel before hammering it several times onto his desk to call for order and silence. When the room's attention was back on him, he cleared his throat.
"Danzo thank you for bringing this discovery to our attention. I believe your suggestion of marrying Haruno Sakura to the Leaf shinobi Uzumaki Naruto would prove to be an asset and be beneficial to the village."
"That is correct Hokage-sama," Danzo replied as he sat back in his chair. "We shouldn't simply pass up the opportunity to create a new bloodline. Even if their children wouldn't be gifted with a new bloodline, they will still create an immensely powerful clan. Imagine Konoha having ninja with Uzumaki's incredible chakra reserves and Haruno's almost godlike chakra control. Konoha would be a new force to be reckoned with. The potential to surpass the legendary Senju and Uchiha is right there in front of us and only needs to be nurtured into the proper direction. Yes Hokage-sama, a union between Uzumaki and Haruno is vital to Konoha's survival."
"You can't just decide this," Tsunade barked in anger. "They have lives of their own and…"
"Tsunade-sama," Kakashi interrupted her and cut her off with a stern look. "Who is in favor of Danzo's proposal of marrying Haruno Sakura to Uzumaki Naruto in order to negate the Raikage's proposal and to see the birth of a new potentially strong bloodline and clan for the Leaf village?"
"Kakashi," Tsunade hissed in shock unnerved that the silver-haired Hokage had even considered this option.
Kakashi looked once more at his predecessor and Tsunade saw a look of defeat on the man's face and a silent plea for her to hold her tongue. He turned back towards the Council and he exhaled a heavy sigh at seeing every person within the room having raised their hand in acceptance of Danzo's proposal.
"Very well, it shall be done." Kakashi said and slammed down his gavel in a show of acceptance of the Council's wishes. "We shall have a short recess while Anbu will fetch Haruno Sakura and Uzumaki Naruto. In the meantime, I will be in my office and prepare the necessary documents."
"Hokage-sama a word please," Tsunade spoke up, as she rose from her seat to walk over to the center of the Council chamber to address everyone present. And without waiting for Kakashi to yield the floor to her, Tsunade started speaking.
"I am not sorry that I have kept this discovery a secret. All of you just proved that you would rather have a new bloodline for this village to rely on than consider the damage your decision could create to those two, all of you disgust me. But," Tsunade paused briefly to gather her thoughts. "I will give my blessing to this union, even if it will be against Naruto' s and Sakura's wishes on the condition that Naruto's heritage will be made public. That boy, no I should say that man has sacrificed so much for our village during his young life. Revealing his heritage now is the right thing to do. He is finally accepted by the villagers and is even more accepted by the other Kages for his strength and bravery in defeating Pein. It is time that we finally honor the last wishes of the Yondaime Hokage and inform Naruto, the village, and the other Nations that Konoha holds the heir to the Hiraishin no Jutsu."
"That's outrageous!" "Revealing Naruto's true heritage to the villagers as well as the other nations is dangerous. Iwagakure will instantly declare war upon us for the simple reason that Naruto is Minato's son." Koharu barked.
"No they won't," Kakashi interrupted. "Iwagakure will swallow their pride because they know that Naruto could rain more destruction upon them than Minato-sensei ever could. Iwa might be a warmongering village but they are no fools."
Kakashi inwardly debated with himself whether to agree with Tsunade's proposal or not. Yet deep down, he knew that he would need Tsunade's help in controlling Sakura's explosion of anger once the kunoichi realized that the Council had decided her life for her.
"I agree with Tsunade-sama," Kakashi finally spoke up and silenced the entire room. "Besides, Naruto already knows that the Yondaime was his father. It is time for Naruto to claim his birthright and it might help sway Sakura's reaction towards marrying Naruto in the village's favor. However, I would like for everyone present here to understand this; Sakura will most likely not accept this decision lightly. When those two enter and are told that their lives have been decided for them by us, prepare for potentially having to fight for your lives. And I will also be naming Naruto as my successor to be when the time has come."
Several shocked expressions were visible on a few council members and Tsunade smirked as she and Kakashi's eyes met. He motioned with a nod of his head for her to follow and both quickly vanished to prepare the necessary documentations and have an argument Kakashi knew he'd rather avoid.
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Kakashi sat in his chair and was preparing the marriage contract for Naruto and Sakura to sign. He currently heated some wax and pushed the melting wax next to his signature on the document. He quickly pushed the Hokage's seal upon the red spot of melted wax and he sighed with resignation when he inspected the document.
"Would you like to take a look?" Kakashi asked Tsunade politely, who up until now had been eerily quiet.
She looked at him with cold eyes and snatched the scroll out of his hands and scanned the contents. She read the text and saw that this was up to a certain degree a regular arranged marriage contract that she herself had signed numerous times in the past. However, the part that had her frowning were the sections that Kakashi had added. She re-read the entire contract before finally handing it back to Kakashi so the contract could be copied several times, and stated with disbelief.
"You can't be serious about this?"
"Yes I am." Kakashi muttered and flashed through a few hand signs to copy the scroll numerous times.
"But demanding them to produce an heir within a year is unheard of?" Tsunade muttered in anger. "You are robbing Konoha of Sakura's skills in this upcoming war. You can't do that to her or to Naruto. This entire deal will be difficult enough to explain to Sakura as it is, let alone order that they produce a child immediately."
"Don't you think I don't know that," Kakashi said as he looked out over the village. "But we're at war and if we already decide their lives for them, we might as well tell them to get started with their new clan."
"I don't like this Kakashi!" Tsunade spat. "This feels like we are playing to Danzo's tune again. Even forcing the Council to agree to give Naruto a Council seat and both of them be given a sizable monetary reward as reparations isn't making any of this easier to accept. I am telling you Kakashi, this is going to come back to bite us in the ass eventually."
"Most likely," Kakashi said dejectedly before adding with a sigh. "I wasn't a very good Sensei for the two of them, was I? I had hoped I could be a better Hokage for them now, but it seems I can never break away from my past."
Tsunade scoffed, "From what I was told… no you weren't. You bettered yourself, but to put it frankly you failed miserably at being their sensei."
Kakashi could only nod his head in sad agreement, as he pulled out a bottle of sake from his desk and offered some to the busty blonde woman before saying.
"I hate that I have to do this, I mean who could have imagined that the Raikage was so impressed with Sakura's skills, as she dealt with Killer Bee and Kisame. That he would make such an outrageous proposal and threaten to pull out of the Shinobi Alliance if his wishes were not granted. I almost want to blame Sakura herself for this mess. If she wasn't so damn gifted and I am not only talking about her skills as a kunoichi and medic-nin, but also her unique gift that keep people like Naruto and Killer Bee in line when they get out of control. Those two are terrified of Sakura."
Tsunade smirked, "Yes I can agree to that. Sakura does have a rather short leash on Naruto. Don't misunderstand Kakashi, in a small sick way I'm happy and glad that those two are forced to marry each other and raise a clan. They have pussyfooted around their mutual feelings for too long and perhaps this will be the inspiration they needed for them to finally acknowledge each other. Yet I can't help but wish they could have decided this for themselves."
"I agree," Kakashi muttered and sipped on his sake before adding.
"Unfortunately, this solution will only cause another problem for the village thanks to that bloated gorilla of a Raikage."
"What do you mean Kakashi?"
"Well you see Tsunade, what I haven't told you and the Council yet, is that the Raikage put in a stipulation within his proposal in case we were to reject and deny Sakura being married off to him."
"What sort of stipulation?"
"I suppose stipulation isn't the right word, it's more of an insistent demand. He says that if we deny his betrothal to Sakura then he wants in compensation…"
An Anbu appeared in the office interrupting what Kakashi was about to say and announced.
"Hokage-sama they are waiting for you. The Council members have returned and Uzumaki and Haruno are waiting as well."
"Thank you, we'll be on our way," Kakashi said and sent the Anbu away. "I'll just tell you and the Council about the compensation demand from the Raikage at the same time, shall we Tsunade?"
Tsunade nodded, but was very curious to know what Kakashi was about to reveal to her.
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Kakashi and Tsunade came walking down the hallway and when they rounded the corner they froze to a stop, as they saw Sakura stomping on Naruto and yelling at him.
"Naruto for the ump-teenth time, stop telling me what to do. I don't like the idea of marrying the Raikage either, but if that is what it takes for this Alliance to work, who am I to deny that?"
"But Sakura-chan you can't," Naruto stammered out as her foot continuously slammed down upon him.
"Haruno Sakura! Stop this at once!"
Sakura turned and her face bore a shocked expression and she quickly pulled Naruto to his feet and forced him to bow with her in respect. "Sorry Hokage-sama, Tsunade-shishou. I didn't mean for you to see or hear…"
"That's quite alright Sakura-san," Kakashi said and walked towards the door. "We will call both of you inside in a few minutes. For now please bear with waiting. Tsunade-sama," Kakashi called over to his predecessor who was intently watching the two younger shinobi starting to bicker and fight again.
"Shishou is everything alright?" Sakura asked, as she had pummeled Naruto into the wall once more for speaking up and voicing his disagreement with the Raikage's proposition to marry her. Sakura took a step forward and wanted to place a reassuring hand on Tsunade's shoulder when the busty blonde shook awake from her thoughts.
"I'm sorry Sakura, I am quite fine. I was just thinking," Tsunade said and patted the pinkette on the shoulder.
"Listen to me Sakura, no matter what the Council has decided; you have to understand that it is only in the best interest for you and Konoha."
"Hai Tsunade-shishou," Sakura answered weakly believing her mentor had given her a glimpse at what would await her inside the Council chambers.
"Baa-chan," Naruto yelled as he sprung up from the crumbled pile that was his body. "You can't let Sakura-chan marry that old fart. She is a Konoha shinobi; she belongs here, where her friends and family are."
"Naruto shut up," Sakura growled and punched him into the wall again as she saw tears shimmering in Tsunade's eyes and Sakura accepted the inevitable that her future lay no longer in Konoha but in Kumogakure.
"Please Naruto don't make this any harder than it already is," Sakura pleaded with him.
"But Sakura-chan," Naruto said in a hurt voice.
Kakashi and Tsunade didn't hear the continuation between Naruto and Sakura's argument as they entered the Council chamber. Kakashi leaned closer to Tsunade and whispered, "Why did you make her believe that we were sending her to Kumogakure? Why torture them?"
"I never said that we'd send her to Kumo. She assumed and accepted her fate," Tsunade whispered back and she wiped a tear away.
"Okay but why are you crying," Kakashi asked in confusion.
"Because she is willing to give up her life without a second thought for Konoha," Tsunade muttered. "I just hope she will react this same way when we tell her that she has to marry Naruto and bear an heir within a year."
"Hmm, let's hope so." Kakashi replied thoughtfully and wondered how he would break the news to his two former students. He quickly took his seat and placed the scroll that contained the marriage contract on the table. He also placed two more scrolls on the table that were used to promote a shinobi to the rank of Jonin and lastly, Kakashi unsealed a set of three scrolls that were bound together by a gold robe and added them to the collection on the table.
Kakashi slammed his gavel onto the table numerous times signifying that the Council was officially back in session.
"Before we call in Naruto and Sakura," Kakashi began. "I would like to inform you all of the stipulations that I have attached to the condition of this marriage deal. Firstly, Naruto and Sakura have a right to know why they are forced into this arranged marriage. Secondly, they are required to produce an heir within a year, starting today. And lastly, Naruto as head of the Namikaze clan shall be granted a Council seat. Furthermore, both he and Sakura will receive a starting sum of twenty million ryō for sacrificing their free choice for this village. And they will receive another five million ryō for every child born in the next ten years."
"That's outrageous," Koharu barked in anger. "You already said he would become your heir to the throne of the Hokage. Isn't that enough?"
"No it is not," Kakashi said in a cold tone that left no room for argument. "Everyone here present voted for them to be pushed into this situation and you can't expect them to agree without any sort of compensation."
"But aren't they already gaining enough by announcing Uzumaki's heritage?" Koharu asked.
"What is there to gain from the Namikaze name, Fame? Please everyone here knows that the Yondaime Hokage was a simple man. He had no wealth, no council seat, and certainly no clan. All that man had was his love for Kushina, his teacher, and his students. Minato Namikaze, however, did have many enemies. The only thing Naruto and Sakura will gain from publicizing Naruto's heritage is the possibility of gaining even more enemies then they already have." Kakashi stated with disdain, as he wanted to scream at everyone present but refrained from doing so.
"I apologize Hokage-sama," Koharu spoke up again. "I didn't mean to downplay Uzumaki's, I mean Namikaze's and Haruno's sacrifice for our village by denying them compensation. I merely wanted to understand your reasoning behind these demands. Please, I am sorry."
Kakashi nodded his acceptance of the apology and studied everyone's faces before announcing.
"Now if there aren't any other complaints, it is time we call in Naruto and Sakura and inform them of the council's decision."
"Gomennasai Hokage-sama," Yamanaka Inoichi spoke up as he stood. "Would it be alright for my daughter to sit in on this part of the meeting? I believe this meeting will be a great opportunity for my daughter to finally realize the importance behind our meetings and I hope she will learn to take her life as a shinobi and future clan head more seriously."
Kakashi mulled over Inoichi's request and nodded, "Very well Inoichi-san. You may summon your daughter but make it clear to her that she is here only for observation. She has no right to speak and voice her opinion."
"Certainly Lord Hokage and thank you," Inoichi bowed in respect and told one of the Anbu stationed by the door to fetch his daughter.
"Inoichi voiced an excellent idea," Kakashi spoke up as the blond Yamanaka spoke to the Anbu. "Would any other honored clan wish for their respected heirs to attend this meeting?"
Several clan leaders looked at each other until Shikaku spoke up, "Yes Hokage-sama. I believe this might be the inspiration my son Shikamaru might require."
"Very well," Kakashi raised his arm to summon an Anbu. When the Anbu appeared next to him Kakashi spoke and watched the rest of the Clan Heads slowly raise their own hands in a show of wishing their offspring to sit in on this meeting. "Please fetch Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, Inuzuka Kiba, and Aburame Shino. Hyuuga-san what about your daughter Hinata? Would you not want her to sit in on this meeting as well?"
"I am sorry Hokage-sama but I am not entirely certain yet if Hinata is capable of leading the clan. For the time being I'd like to tutor her some more privately. Please excuse a father for wanting only the best for his daughter," Hiashi Hyuuga spoke up.
"Understood, it's perhaps better that she not attend this Council session anyway." Kakashi stated, as he signaled the Anbu to retrieve the other clan heirs.
Hiashi Hyuga raised an eyebrow slightly at Kakashi's statement but then realized that the Hokage was merely looking out for Hinata, as it would be painful for the girl to see her crush forced to marry another.
Kakashi pulled out and flipped his Icha Icha book open to read while silently praying that Sakura was in a good mood and would remember her selfless words that she had used in order to calm down Naruto outside the Council chamber mere moments ago.
The Council waited for roughly ten minutes as every Clan heir trickled into the chamber and took their seats behind their respected parent. All of them held a curious and confused expression but none of them spoke, demanding answers to their sudden summons. Kakashi slowly pushed himself out of his chair and stood and asked.
"I believe most of you are wondering why you have been summoned?" Kakashi asked of the new arrivals before he continued on.
"The leaders of your respected clans' have decided that today's meeting would be a viable tool to teach you the importance behind Council sessions. I hope all of you will listen carefully and pay close attention. In truth, the majority has already been decided, but I have decided and allowed you to sit in on this meeting because it will with no doubt affect all of you. I will say this only once but everything that is said within this room will stay here. It is not to be discussed with anyone, not even with other councilmen. You have no official say on any matter discussed and I expect all of you to keep quiet and to observe."
Kakashi then turned towards the Anbu guard at the door and signaled for Naruto and Sakura, and the Anbu guard briefly stepped outside to inform that Naruto and Sakura could enter.
"Now Naruto, remember to behave. Only speak when spoken to, got it?" Sakura warned him slightly as they entered the Council Chamber together. She unintentionally leaned closer and Naruto's back stiffened abruptly at the closeness towards her. She whispered into his ear, "No matter what they decide, don't overreact. There will be a reasonable explanation to their decision, promise me!"
Naruto nodded quickly but otherwise didn't say a word. Kakashi watched them and he wondered what Sakura had just told him. He waited for his two former pupils to reach the center of the room and when they turned towards them he stood up from where he sat and clasped his hands behind his back. The white Hokage robe hung loosely over his frame and showed it being a size too large in the shoulder area.
'I must look ridiculous,' Kakashi thought as he gathered the proper words to address them. He decided to start off with the pleasant information first, namely their promotions to the rank of Jounin.
"Welcome Naruto and Sakura," Kakashi started nervously but quickly controlled his emotions as he pressed on.
"I am delighted to inform you of one of my first orders as the Rokudaime Hokage. I hereby promote you to the rank of Jounin within the Konohagakure ninja corps. Congratulations, both of you these are your official promotion letters."
Kakashi watched the stunned expression and handed them each their appropriate scroll. After they received them and were given a chance to process this new information, Naruto bore a wide grin and Sakura was smiling as well. Kakashi cleared his throat to get their attention again.
"Now I trust you two with the rank of Jounin shinobi not only because you both have proven yourselves capable of leadership and knowledge of the shinobi arts but also because both of you have proven numerous times that you can put the need of the masses before the need of the few. Even as you were told to put the success of the mission before your friends and teammates, I am proud that you two were able to never give up your nindo in order to complete the mission. Your dedication towards your friends and teammates are commendable and I wish from the deepest of my heart that you two understand that with this promotion comes great responsibility."
He paused and inhaled to gather his strength. He looked at his two newly appointed Jounin and it twisted his heart at seeing their happy and worriless expressions before saying.
"Now my next order as Hokage will be to reveal Naruto's true heritage to the village and the other Nations."
Naruto's expression turned from one of utter bliss to one of worried confusion while Sakura's simply turned questioningly as she looked from Naruto to Kakashi and eventually settled on the Hokage.
"Gomen Hokage-sama," Sakura weakly spoke up. "What heritage? What are you talking about?"
"Sakura," Kakashi started, but was interrupted as Naruto acknowledged for everyone in the Council chamber to hear.
"Sakura-chan what Kakashi-sensei, I mean Hokage-sama means is that he is going to reveal the identities of my parents."
"What but that's great Naruto," Sakura said and turned towards her blond teammate. "Why are you so dejected? … Wait why was there a need for the secrecy from begin with?"
"My mother's name was Uzumaki Kushina," Naruto muttered and looked at his feet not giving Kakashi a chance to explain it for him. "My father's name, he was called Namikaze Minato… the Yondaime Hokage."
"Y-your father was the Yondaime Hokage?" Sakura blabbered in shock repeating the question in her mind.
"Yeah," Naruto muttered depressed. "Sorry I didn't tell you sooner."
Sakura suddenly blinked as if she was slapped in the face and frowned.
"Why are you sorry? Naruto that's great. You finally know the identities of your parents and… and your dad, he was the Hokage. I-I can't believe I am saying this but I actually envy you a little."
"Envy me? Envy me?!" Naruto suddenly growled. "Do you even know how it is to grow up not knowing the identities of your parents? Living in self doubt because everyone rejects you, except a single old man and a few bodyguards that aren't even allowed to talk to you?"
"I-I am sorry Naruto, I didn't…"
"No of course you didn't think. You hardly ever do when it comes to me." Naruto mumbled the last part under his breath and exhaled loudly. He looked up and his dejected expression turned cheerful again and he smiled.
"But it's okay. I had a chance to talk to my father and he explained everything to me. I know why he did what he had to do."
"Good," Kakashi interrupted any further conversation between his two former students. For a second there Kakashi's heart had stopped beating when Naruto's voice and expression had darkened after Sakura had thoughtlessly spoken her opinion. Kakashi had briefly looked towards Tsunade but the aged woman wore a stoned expression. Eyes settled on her two children as there was no better way to describe her relationship with Naruto and Sakura other than a mother looking after her two kids and yet her face didn't reveal any emotion.
"I am sorry Naruto but we believe it is time that your heritage is revealed to the world. If you may wish so, you may adopt your father's name and you are entitled to the few possessions that your parents left behind. These scrolls here contain their wills and your father's techniques." Kakashi said and motioned for Naruto to step closer so he could hand over the three scrolls that were tied together by the gold robe.
"Naruto I am sorry," Sakura whispered to him as he returned to standing next to her. "I really was tactless. Please forgive me."
"Sakura-chan it's alright. Now pay attention, I don't think it's over yet. Baa-chan is too tense and Kakashi isn't acting like his usual self either," Naruto whispered back and offered Sakura one of his genuine smiles that told her that nothing had changed between them.
"Please pay a little more attention you two." Kakashi addressed them. He wanted to sigh and run away and burry his head in one of his Icha Icha books but he knew it was time to literally drop the bomb on them.
"Naruto, Sakura, what I have to say next is… I'm truly sorry. No!" he raised his hand to silence them and smiled weakly. "That wasn't what I needed to tell you but me and everyone else here are very sorry for what I have to tell you two." Kakashi saw the confused expressions on both of his students and he swallowed thinking it would be best to blurt it out and wait for the explosion of Sakura's temper that was bound to happen.
"We have decided to reject Kumogakure's offer of a joint marriage between the Raikage and you Haruno Sakura."
"Whoop that's great," Naruto bellowed and bounced on his feet and turned to Sakura. "Ne Sakura-chan you don't have to marry that testosterone filled ape of a Kage. You get to stay here in Konoha with your friends and family… and with me."
Sakura's expression visibly lightened and Kakashi could tell a giant stone had fallen off her shoulders but he only regretted it more now. Kakashi hammered his gavel on his table, "Naruto would you please calm down. I am not finished yet."
"Sorry Hokage-sama," Naruto grinned sheepishly to which Sakura rolled her eyes and muttered, "Idiot."
"As I was saying," Kakashi continued. "We of the Council have unanimously decided that we will reject the Raikage's proposal but in order to do so, we are forced to take desperate measures."
"What does that mean Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked ignoring the fact that he was supposed to be quiet.
"Naruto shut up, he'll tell us if you would just stop and not interrupt him all the time!" Sakura growled.
"Uhh… thank you Sakura." Kakashi said and wondered why this was taking so long. "In order to let Kumo and the Raikage keep their faces and in order to ensure Konoha isn't open for retribution, the Council and I have decided that the only possible way to reject the Raikage's marriage offer is for Haruno Sakura to marry someone from Konoha."
Kakashi waited, expecting Naruto and Sakura to explode in their own ways, one arguing it wouldn't be fair towards Sakura to just force her to marry someone from Konoha, while the other would explode regardless but ironically both seemed in a shocked state so Kakashi decided to use this to his advantage.
"And with the help of the Godaime Hokage and her research, we have decided upon Haruno Sakura's husband to be Uzumaki Naruto. This choice was made because Tsunade's research suggests an eighty percent probability of a new bloodline being born, if these two people were to be married and produce offspring. Therefore, effective immediately, Haruno Sakura will be married to Uzumaki Naruto and as their first mission as Jounin of the Leaf, they are herby ordered produce a suitable heir within a year for the newly commissioned Namikaze clan."
A pall of silence hung in the Council chamber as every pair of eyes stared fearfully at the two people in the center. Kakashi swallowed, trying to get the feeling of doom past his throat as he watched his two ex-students. Naruto's expression was somewhat priceless, if not downright comical as the blond stood frozen in place, his mouth opening and closing like a carp trying to breathe air.
Sakura, however, gave Kakashi the hives. The pinkette stood silently next to her blond companion with her head hung low so that her bangs were hiding her face from his sight. The only shows of emotions that Sakura portrayed were the tightly clenched fists as they hung limply at her sides. After several seconds of pure silence in which a pin drop could have been heard, quiet murmurs broke out between a select few councilmen and Kakashi's trained eye instantly picked up Sakura's minute trembling.
'The shit is about to hit the fan!' he thought and started an inner monologue with himself trying to think up satisfying answers that would calm down the raging kunoichi.
"What research?" Sakura softly hissed with her head still lowered and her fists trembling minutely. And when nobody answered, her head suddenly snapped up and her normally peaceful warm jaded eyes were ice cold and an inner inferno blazed within them. "I asked what kind of research," she spat and her voice shattered the illusion of her quietly accepting their terms.
"Who the hell do you think you are? What gives you the right to perform tests on my blood, on my genes? Who ordered that these test be conducted?" She growled and her cold eyes darted from person to person inside the room only to rest on the one person she thought could never betray her.
Tsunade sat quietly in her chair, expressionless, unmoving, and unfazed at Sakura's killing intent as it flooded the room and honed in on her. Her honey brown eyes met Sakura's green and Tsunade's lips slowly parted and without a hint of regret or shame, the busty former Hokage said, "I did. I ordered a bloodline research to be done on yours and Naruto's blood."
"When?" Sakura growled and took a threatening step closer as her fists violently shook at her sides as Sakura fought for control.
"Years ago," Tsunade responded and didn't move a muscle.
"Years ago?" Sakura repeated in a hush and her eyes widened in realization, only to narrow to angered slits, as she angrily accused.
"You've planned this all this time," Sakura growled in accusation and was another two steps closer towards the Godaime Hokage.
"Sakura," Naruto suddenly spoke up in fear of what Sakura might do. He had purposefully left away his usual honorific in hopes of catching her attention quicker, while not drawing her wrath. He did however make a fatal mistake when he placed one of his hands on her shoulder to stop her from advancing.
Sakura's right arm suddenly shot up and slammed into Naruto propelling the blond young man into the wall. Naruto hit the wall head first and the sickening sound of something breaking echoed through the room and Sakura never spared him a glance. Her only response to him was a simple and angry, "not now Naruto."
Kakashi's eyes widened slightly in fear as he heard the sound of bone break and he thought Naruto's spine had shattered from the impact. As he watched the crumpled form of Naruto slide down to the ground a smear of blood on the wooden wall showing Naruto's descent to the floor where he lay crumbled in a heap seemingly unconscious.
"What do you want me to say Sakura? Do you want me to say that I am sorry? Tough luck, I won't. Do you really think your little display of strength and killing intent is going to scare me? Me?" Tsunade's voice suddenly rose in anger and for the first time since this meeting had started, Tsunade showed her emotions, as she carried on.
"You intolerant, ignorant, foolish and idiotic little girl think you can scare me? I am the Godaime Hokage, I am the last surviving Densetsu no Sannin, and you really believe I am afraid of you? Grow up Sakura, grow up and open your eyes. The world around you isn't tinged in pretty pink, there are no shining knights in armor that will come and sweep you off your feet. The world around you is a dark miserable place where nothing is given for free and everything comes at a price."
"Tsunade," Kakashi interjected carefully wondering why the blonde woman was antagonizing Sakura. And all of a sudden Kakashi felt Sakura's killing intent on him and his eyes went from Tsunade towards his former pupil he sighed while thinking.
'Good going Kakashi. Now her attention is on you.'
"Why?" Sakura growled and Kakashi thought he could see tears brimming at the corners of her eyes. "Why would you support this? You of all people know exactly what he contains and how dangerous he is! Why would you do this after you know what happened to me?"
"Mind if I ask you a question first," Kakashi asked diplomatically and decided to ask regardless without waiting for Sakura to answer. "When you first found out about the Kyuubi being sealed within Naruto, what did you think? How did you feel about it? And more importantly, how did you feel about Naruto?"
"That's not what I meant," Sakura spat at him in fury. "You know that Naruto attacked me that day and that the Kyuubi's energy hurt me. It took days for the bleeding to stop and weeks for me to use my arm properly again. You know how afraid I became of Naruto after that day."
"Quit lying to yourself Sakura," Tsunade barked in anger. "Yes, you were afraid of Naruto. You were afraid that he would lose control over the Kyuubi again, but you were never afraid that he would hurt you again. You were afraid of yourself, afraid to accept that you fell in love with a friend, a teammate…"
"A monster…" Sakura spat regretfully.
"Wha, what did you say?" Tsunade asked, wide-eyed in shock at what she just heard.
"Yes, a monster!" Sakura shouted and tears suddenly fell freely as she ranted on.
"Yes I was terrified. I finally realized why he was hated by the village, why he was called a demon, and why he clung to me and Sasuke-kun. We were the only people that ever acknowledged him, we were his hold onto his humanity, but by clinging to us, he dragged us down with him. He dragged me down so deep that I was willing to love a monster, willing to become one if needed. I was willing to give up my own humanity for his sake in order to be happy and answer the craving of my own need for recognition in his eyes. Am I not entitled to be terrified of him when one day you suddenly wake up and realize that there isn't a way back to the light? That the only way to ever become happy was to live life as an outcast, to live in the darkness, avoided by society as if you are an infectious disease?"
"And has anything changed since that day?" Tsunade asked her expression growing icy stone cold towards her apprentice.
Sakura chuckled as if she'd gone insane and attempted to wipe the tears out of her face.
"Nothing has changed and everything has changed. The nothing being that yes I do love the baka. And the everything being that you two and this damn Council have taken away my freedom of choice to decide if I want to be with him and has now condemned me to a life with a…"
"Monster?! Yeah we heard you the first time Sakura!" Naruto's voice rang out in the most malevolent tone anyone who knew him had ever heard him use.
"Naruto!" Sakura cried out as she spun around to face the subject of her rant, someone she had thought was unconscious.
"Yes Sakura, Naruto or I guess I should go by your new affectionate term for me, Monster!"
Sakura winced at the icy tone in Naruto's voice and noted that for the first time ever Naruto had not addressed her with the suffix chan attached to her name, as the pink-haired woman stammered.
"I'm, I'm sorry Naruto, I did, didn't mean…"
"What Sakura, didn't mean to call me a monster, or didn't mean for me to hear it? Because I have a feeling it's the latter that you're sorry for."
Sakura throat felt dry and tightened, as she struggled to say something but to no avail, when Naruto spoke once more the hurt, pain, and anger ringing in his voice.
"All these years Sakura, all these years you've been lying to me. I guess I really am the baka you always call me. All of these years I've wasted on you when you're just like everyone else in the village. You've hated me all along because of the Kyuubi. Even though I always wanted something more, I at least thought we were friends. But I guess that was a lie huh? Tell me Sakura, why lie to me all these years? Was it to make sure I kept my promise to bring back your precious Sasuke-kun or did you just enjoy seeing me playing the fool for any of your wishes?"
"Naruto you're wrong. Please listen to me, listen to everything that I have to say. Sasuke-kun, I don't care about him anymore I swear Naruto-kun…"
"Don't you ever call me that Sakura! Don't you ever, you have no right after what I just heard!" Naruto shouts out in an enraged tone that makes Sakura want to cry, as he continued on.
"All the pain and suffering I've endured for you just so you can be happy. Kami what a fool I am to think that one day you might love me like I love you!"
"But didn't you hear me Naruto-kun, I do love you!"
"What the Hell did I just tell you about calling me that? Even if what you say is true which I doubt, I don't want you anymore! I mean look at what your supposed love for me has done to you, you're terrified of me and you hate yourself for loving me."
"You, you don't want me, you, you don't love me?"
Naruto gave a mirthless chuckle before responding in a morose tone of voice.
"Why would I want a girl who is scared to be in my very presence and one who is absolutely petrified of what other people will think of her for being with a monster like me? And do you want to know what's saddest of all? Even though I now know how you truly think and feel about me, I still love you Sakura but what's the point? Marry me or marry the Raikage, I just don't care anymore."
"Naruto, I hate to remind you, but you aren't being given a choice on this matter. You and Sakura will be getting married today for the good of the village and that's final," Kakashi informed his former pupil.
"Fine Hokage-sama, what's one more sacrifice I need to make for this village that has treated me oh so well in my life." Naruto spat with disgust, before walking over to affix his name on the marriage document before adding.
"But it will only be a marriage in name only!"
"No Naruto, you and Sakura must produce an heir within a year."
"Baa-chan can use artificial insemination to get that task accomplished Hokage-sama. Which I'm sure takes a load off of Sakura's mind. At least doing it that way means she won't have to dirty herself by sleeping with a fiend like me!"
Just as Naruto was about to sign the document, he stopped and walked over to where he had been laying earlier and dipped the pen into some of his blood that had pooled on the floor and then signed the contract shocking everyone in the chamber by his action. Tossing the piece of paper back to Kakashi he stated without regret.
"What Hokage-sama? Signing this in my own blood seems fitting for this occasion. I mean after all this marriage is being forced for no other reason than the creation of a new bloodline for this village. And what romanticism in knowing that the marriage was sealed in my own blood courtesy of my future wife!"
Sakura who had been frozen to the spot where she was standing ever since Naruto stated he didn't want her anymore suddenly snapped out of her stupor upon hearing Naruto's final words. Looking over to him with tears in her eyes, Naruto could only level a cold glare at the girl before turning on his heels and leaving the Council chamber. Tsunade jumped from her chair and called out while rushing to get to him. She only stopped when she heard Sakura tearfully call out "Tsunade-shishou." Turning around the aged blonde Godaime walked over to her former apprentice and slapped her across the face before shouting with rage.
"I am disappointed in you Sakura, I thought better of you than this! What is your problem?"
Sakura looked at her with a stunned expression on her face.
"If you still fear Naruto, use it to get stronger. If you still love him, use it to control your fear. And when the day comes that you no longer fear the demon inside of him, you will realize that you never were in the dark. You were always in the light Sakura because you were and still are Naruto's only light. You have a power over him that many in this room wished they had. With a simple word or a warning glance you can control one of the strongest shinobi this village and this world has ever seen and if you wanted, he'd go as far as kill for you even more, he would also die for you if it meant that you would live. Tell me something Sakura what more do you want from a man who is willing to do all of that just for you?"
"I, I" Sakura stammered but fell quiet as she didn't know how to respond. All the young girl could do was walk over and sign the marriage contract, before silently following Naruto's suit and exiting the Council chamber.
Everyone in the Council chamber seemed to exhale a sigh of relief. While all the clan heirs looked around at one another shocked and dismayed by what they just witnessed from their friends and classmates. They were broken out of their musings by Kakashi banging his gavel down and announcing.
"I wouldn't get too comfortable just yet honored Council. While this marriage solves the initial problem the Raikage presented to us, it also causes another major catastrophe for the Leaf village."
"What is it Hokage-sama?" A civilian councilman asked.
"Apparently the Raikage was fearful that we would reject his marriage proposal for Sakura and him to wed. So, he put a stipulation no, that's not right, more of a demand that if we were to reject his original proposal, than another specific kunoichi of the Leaf village was to take Sakura's place at the altar. The Raikage also has made it clear that the Leaf village would suffer dire consequences should we also reject him of claiming this girl for his bride."
"Which kunoichi does the Raikage want Hokage-sama?"
"I'm sorry Lord Hyuga, but the Raikage is demanding it be your daughter Hyuga Hinata."
Authors Notes:
Happy Halloween everybody from both KingKakashi and Hefster. We proudly present to you the next update to this much anticipated story. However, please do not expect quick updates on this story because both KingKakashi and Hefster are both prioritizing with their main stories of Gone and Naruto vs Sasuke: The Aftermath.
On that note, it doesn't matter whether you are a Naru/Saku or a Naru/Hina fan, if you wish to read a good story give them a try and don't forget to leave a review.