ARC1: The Beginning
CHAPTER 3 - Ruins of Tokyo
I was standing by my air bike as I was cleaning it with a handkerchief from all the dust, my cloak folded over on the seat. I looked back with a smile and saw many other teens like us around Sasuke and talking to him all at once. I smiled again and shook my head as I continued polishing my bike.
"Hey Sakura," said Naruto. I looked up and saw Naruto coming up towards me. "So it's really you too, huh?"
I nodded, standing. He was taller than me now. "Yeah. What have you been up to now?"
Naruto looked back at all his friends. "Just trying to keep everyone together," he answered. "And you yourself?"
"Traveling," I said, patting the handles on my bike.
"That's your air bike?" Naruto asked impressed.
"I gotta get around somehow."
"Man that's so cool!" Naruto said, admiring the futuristic bike. "I haven't seen technology this good since the 2150's! You know, me and the gang's lived out here for four years yet everything we have that's motorized isn't as high tech as this."
"That's too bad," I said with a half smile.
"You think you can fix them? We could use another mechanic," Naruto suggested.
"Sorry. I'm not got at repairing," I replied. I looked back and saw Sasuke. "It's good Sasuke woke up from his coma."
"Coma?" Naruto asked.
I glanced back at Naruto. "Yeah. That's what Sasuke and I both assume. It's the only logical explanation. He got run over by a car and went into comatose."
"Well.... not exactly, Sakura," Naruto said with a nervous expression.
"What do you mean?" I asked, worried.
Naruto sighed. "Sasuke in a way... is dead. That Sasuke you see there," he said, both of us looking over. "That Sasuke's just a.... copy."
"Copy?" I asked shaking my head. "What do you mean? That's insane."
"The body is a copy," Naruto said, correcting himself and his statement. "Before the nuclear war got to Tokyo, me and the guys sorta.... saved Sasuke's mind in a... computer program."
"You what??" I asked bewildered. "That's a stupid idea!!"
"It worked didn't it?" Naruto said with an amusing smile. "It's still the same Sasuke either way."
"I guess," I said, having no argument with that. "But does Sasuke know that?"
"As far as I know, not yet," Naruto answered. "I don't think anyone will be telling him any time soon. There's no need toas Neji and Shikamaru puts it."
"Neji and Shikamaru, your two friends right?" I asked with a smile and crossed arms.
"Oh yeah, I never got to introduce you to the gang!" Naruto said overexcited, as I remembered him. "That guy with the brown messy hair and the dog; that's Kiba. He's one of my good friends. And that's his dog Akamaru."
"They look.... loud," I said.
"Yeah," Naruto pretended to agree, to get on my good side.
"Kinda like you," I replied oblivious to it's insulting tone, as to which Naruto sweatdroped.
"Anyway," Naruto continued, pretending I he didn't hear that. "That guy with the black ponytail is Shikamaru. He's real lazy."
"Isn't he one of the guys that helped rebuild Sasuke?" I asked.
"Yeah. Neji says Shikamaru's smart but, I just don't see it," Naruto shrugged. "That other guy with the longer hair is Neji. He's like the eldest of us, but only by a year. They say he's a genius when we were in school back then."
"I see."
Naruto nodded. "When Neji and I ran away for shelter, he brought along his cousins and his best friend. Hinata is one of the cousins. She's the girl in the wheelchair." I nodded, seeing her. "Hinata's little sister is Hanabi. And Tenten, the girl with the buns in her hair is Tenten, Neji's best friend."
"He must really care about them," I said.
"Well that'd explain why I let them all stay with us," Naruto said. "But like Neji would give me a choice."
"Who's the little boy?" I asked, noticing one more stranger.
"Oh, that's Konohamaru," Naruto answered. "He's like an adopted little brother of mine in a way. I found him on the streets and let him in with us."
"You're really generous with this home of yours."
"The Shelter? It's a big place," Naruto said, the both of us looking towards the manhole in a distance. "My dad and I made that a long time ago for fun. It's like a giant underground cavern, so it can house all of us. So when the time came when me and the others needed to find a safe place to stay, I figured this place would be okay. And I guess we started calling it the Shelter after a while."
"Your dad," I said. "I miss my dad," I said with a small laugh. "It's been a while since I've thought about my parents."
"Now that you mention it," Naruto said. "It's been a while since any of us have thought about our parents. We're all kind of orphans in a way. Kiba's parents are most likely gone. And Hinata's and Hanabi's mother passed away a long time ago. Their dad died in the war."
"That's horrible," I said, feeling sorry for little Hanabi.
"Neji and Tenten are orphans too," Naruto mentioned. "They won't explain how, but I guess that's what makes them best friends." Naruto looked at Shikamaru. "Shikamaru's parents are divorced. Near when the war was in process, both parents wanted to take Shikamaru with them, but in the end he decided not to go with either of them and decided to stay and watch us."
"If it's okay to ask, what about your dad, Naruto?" I asked him.
The boy looked to the side. "My dad died. He told me to get away to the shelter while he tried to save other people on a bus with a bomb inside. He died in the explosion."
"I'm sorry," I apologized.
Naruto quickly put on a smile. "Doesn't matter now, though. We're all tough. Otherwise we wouldn't have been able to survive out here for so long."
I nodded. "That's true."
"All of us have roles in this thing. Hinata's the cook, Neji's the mechanic sorta, Kiba and Akamaru sniffs out fresh food, and Shikamaru is the technology expert. Tenten's tough too, so she also goes out on raids to the city for supplies when we're running low."
"You guys have this all sorted out don't you," I smiled.
Naruto looked at his friends, them reacquainting with Sasuke and or just meeting Sasuke for the first time. "And I guess in a way, my role is just simply keeping everyone together as a family." He turned his head towards me. "So how 'bout it? Sasuke told me you're a medic. We could use a doc around here."
I thought about it. It'd be nice to stay with friends. It'd be nice to be with friends in the first place. "Sure. It'd be nice to settle down for once."
"Sweet!" Naruto said, punching the air. "Wait 'till everyone hears about this!"
I laughed. "You're still the same, Naruto."
Naruto grinned. "It helps to retain some told traits of your childhood."
"Apparently in your case you've retained all of them."
"And you haven't," Naruto remarked with crossed arms. "See here's my theory: how are all us.... clashing teens are able to tolerate each other, without adult supervision, and without killing each other?"
"Oh how I long to know the lost answer to that tugging mystery," I said sarcastically.
"Sasuke also said you've grown onto sarcasm," Naruto mentioned. "But the answer is, just being a teenager."
"I don't follow," I replied.
"Here's where my genius shines, Sakura," Naruto grinned. "We need a balance of this. Light and dark. Yin and Yang. Cherry Medicine and high caffeine soda-"
"Get to the point, Naruto."
"Mature and immature."
I rose my eyebrow.
"We all need to be mature to understand that times now really do mean business. Yet we all need to be a bit immature to actually be sane and have some kind of alternative than to just, the end of the world or whatever. You know, make an adventure out of everything so we can enjoy life."
I starred at Naruto. "I may not know you too well but I know you're not smart enough to say something like that."
"Good you agree because I don't know whatI just said," Naruto nodded, only for me to sigh.
'I'm staying with all these guys.... man.'
--
"Here's your room," Tenten told me, showing me an empty cavern here in the Shelter. It showed three lantern slots and a mattress and a small table. "Sorry it's so small."
"Who cares? I've got a room," I said pretty happy, making Tenten laugh.
"You'll fit in here just fine, Sakura," Tenten assured.
As far as I know, here's the deal. No one knows I'm a princess except for Naruto and Sasuke. And no one knows Sauske is a robot except for me, Naruto, and, well, everybody else. I know I'm getting myself into something.
As Tenten left, I threw my coat onto my mattress. I laid on it, feeling totally and terribly comfortable. "Geez I haven't felt this good in a long time..."
"Is it safe to come in?" Sasuke's voice asked, knocking in the side of my door, well, door-cave frame. I've only seen one door down here, and it's that soundproof lab thing.
"Yeah," I said, sitting up. I saw Sasuke. It was now I realized he was a robot, since Naruto mentioned it. Doesn't look like one. Didn't feel like one. Technology these days, I'd swear he was just a clone. "So how are you adjusting?"
"I should be asking you that," Sasuke said. "I know just about all these people in this sewer."
"Shelter," I corrected.
"Yeah. Naruto calls it the Shelter. I call it a sewer."
"Childish," I said in a high voice.
"Hey, it's in a manhole, it has a weird smell, it's a sewer, and I'll say what I want," Sasuke said in his defence.
I smiled. "But yeah, I'm fine," I said as I unpacked my bag. "Your friends are nice. You're lucky to have them."
"I guess," Sasuke shrugged, watching me unpack my small belongings. He noticed the white polar bear plush, which he narrowed his eyes at to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. "You still have that?"
Sasuke looked down at the plush. "Yeah. It's one of the only things I was able to escape Harubia with during the war."
Sasuke starred down at the toy with an emotionless face, remembering his last day, when Naruto covered for him at school so he could spend the day with me.
"So now what?" Sasuke asked.
"You tell me," I said, lost at what to do. What does one do in an underground shelter, anyhow?
"KIBA GET YOUR MUT OFF MY HEAD!!" Naruto's voice bombed in echoes. Sasuke and I exchanged confused glances and we went out of my room and to the main room. We saw Akamaru tugging at Naruto's hair, Kiba trying to pry Akamaru off.
"What's going on?" I asked, having thought it was some urgent thing. In this case I guess not.
"This happens alot," Shikamaru informed us, appearing through another cavern. "Naruto and Kiba are always in some stupid fight, this being one of them."
"So it seems," Sasuke said, watching the scene.
I heard a picture flash go off and looked down, seeing the Konohamaru boy taking an instant picture. "I don't know about you guys but I'm kinda enjoying this. It's one of the only funny things down here."
"A 1990 Instant Frame Camera," I said, seeing what Konohamaru was holding. "Can I see that?"
"Sure," Konohamaru replied, handing it to me as I knelt down.
I inspected the contraption with my black leather gloves. "It's in such good condition. This thing should be over a century year old and it still works."
"We got that for him on a raid," Tenten informed me from behind.
"Raid?" I asked, lost at terms again.
"Into the city," Tenten said, looking up at the exit to the Shelter. "When we need to go for supplies, a group of us go out and gather the things we need. On Konohamaru's birthday he wanted an old vintage camera."
"If this fossil isn't vintage I don't know what is," Hanabi muttered, starring at the camera in my hands.
"Where'd you guys find this?" I asked, looking at it up and down.
"If I'm right, Naruto found it in the ruins of the Tokyo Museum," Neji said, seeing Kiba and Naruto still fooling around.
"Can you find more things in the city?" I asked.
"If you want you can come with us on the next raid," Neji said as I handed the camera back to Konohamaru. "Some sectors of Tokyo are unstable so it's best you not go alone."
I think I have experience with 'unstable cities'. "Alright then."
"Just be careful alright?" Sasuke spoke up, spooking me slightly. "I still remember you being that vulnerable little girl."
I gave him a confident smirk. "Well I'll just have you know Sasuke that I'm stronger now. And if you wanna see for yourself you can come, too."
"He's gonna what?!?!" Naruto spoke up from his fight before Akamaru tackled him down.
"I don't see any problem with it," Shikamaru said to Naruto.
"Wait what?" Sasuke asked, having a late reaction.
--
"So this is Tokyo," I said as we walked though the ruins of the city. I was wearing my cloak again. Here in our group right now we had me, Sasuke, Neji, Tenten, Naruto, and Kiba. The others stayed behind to watch Konohamaru and Hanabi.
"We'll split up here," Neji said. "Kiba, Sasuke, you two go off for food. We need the basics."
Kiba nodded and Akamaru barked in agreement. "Got it."
"Naruto, Sakura, you guys go in search of some drug medicines and medical supplies. We're running low. Sakura you're in the medical field aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Then Naruto shouldn't be able to mess this one up," Neji said, only for Naruto to make a face.
"Hm?" I asked, blinking my eyes.
"Last time we sent Naruto out for medical supplies he brought back a gummy roll-up instead of bandages," Tenten said with her hand on her forehead.
"Shut up!" Naruto said with a vein as I made a small smile.
Neji sighed. "Meanwhile Tenten and I will go look for any more technological remains or parts. We'll be needing those. Everyone understand?"
"How come you always go paired up with Tenten, eh Neji?" Naruto asked with a grin, only to make Kiba snicker.
Tenten blushed as I let out a breath. "Go," Neji said to the two boys in a deathly tone that could kill. At that, our three groups set off for what we needed to gather.
--
"Medical stuff, medical stuff," Naruto said as we went up to a run down hospital. "You know what we're looking for, Sakura?"
"Neji said the basics, so I think I do," I said. The skies were real gray, and the city was so run down. It was very common in this world of ours but, I had had some hope that Tokyo would be better, since I had a bond with this place.
"Man," Naruto said, seeing the entrance to the hospital blocked by a giant boulder. "Now what?"
I made tight my right leather glove. "Stand back."
"Eh?" Naruto asked, lost.
I held my fist back then punched forward to the boulder. It started cracking until it crumbled to smaller pieces, small enough that we could get past it.
"Let's go," I said, jumping over some.
Naruto's eye twitched as he stood there, mouth wide open. "W-WHAT KINDA PRINCESS ARE YOU TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT?!?!"
"Are you coming or what?" I said in an impatient tone.
"C-Coming!" Naruto called, running over. He clearly did not want to get me mad after what he just saw. "A medic and a fighter. Just what we need," Naruto said with a sigh, predicting in his mind all his future injuries that'll be caused by his pink-haired friend.
--
"I think this is enough," Sasuke said to Kiba.
"What makes you say that?" Kiba asked.
Sasuke made a face, looking at their findings behind them in their bag. It was almost as tall as Sasuke.
"Fine fine," Kiba said, standing up. He noticed Sasuke's quietness. "So, new guy, how do ya like the future?"
"Not so much," Sasuke replied with a face and his hands in his pockets. "Everything's changed, even Sakura."
"Sakura," Kiba repeated, wrapping up all the food they found. "From what Naruto told me, you and that Sakura are pretty tight."
Sasuke said no reply.
"Another Tenten-Neji," Kiba sighed. "Oh well. You'll both fit in here just fine."
"NARUTO!!!" shouted my voice from a distant.
Sasuke and Kiba both looked in the same direction.
"Sakura," Sasuke said in a whisper.
"Oh geez. Naruto must have done something," Kiba groaned. "Akamaru sniff out their scent!"
Akamru barked and started running towards a direction. "Come on, he'll lead us to Naruto and Sakura," Kiba said to Sasuke, who nodded and followed with no question.
--
"NARUTO!" I shouted as I felt the foundation of the hospital began to shake. Some of the ceiling had crashed down onto Naruto.
I ran over to where he was, trying to dig my way through to get to him. "Naruto you still there?" I asked, removing boulders.
I found Naruto and he coughed as I removed a giant boulder over his chest. "Agh... thanks. I needed that."
"You alright?" I asked, looking at some of his scratches as I helped him out of that mess.
"Peachy," Naruto answered, honestly feeling fine. "But something's here. Something caused that."
"I know," I nodded, letting go of Naruto so he could stand alone. "We're not alone."
We heard a swift land of feet and we both turned around. We saw three men, all wearing the same thing. It was an odd choice of clothing, but they each had this forehead protector with a music note on it.
"What are those guys doing here?" I said out loud, knowing they weren't good news.
"I don't know but let's get outta here!" Naruto shouted, the both of us running. Suddenly they appeared in front of us, having run as fast as sound. Both Naruto and I skidded to a stop.
"So fast," Naruto said, surprised.
I looked around and picked up one of the boulders. "Take this!" I threw it, and it gave us a little time before they could get out of there. I knew they were capable of surviving something like that. "Alright, we don't have much longer 'till they come after us again."
Naruto and I started running towards the exit. However, before we could get out one of those guys grabbed Naruto, causing me to turn around in a fighting position. However, I saw the man had an iron weapon to Naruto's neck. Like some kind of knife.
"Sakura!" Sasuke called out. I looked, seeing Kiba, Akamaru, and Sasuke arriving at the scene.
"Oh man," Kiba said, seeing Naruto's position. "Who is this guy? What's he doing here?"
"That's what I'd like to know," I said, clutching my hand and hearing my leather glove tighten. I tried to make up some kind of plan in saving Naruto. First off I focused on the weapon.
I licked my lips and lifted my fist. I punched the ground, starting a mini earthquake. The earth cracked towards the man and he jumped up with is knife, throwing Naruto out of his way. My punch had reached the hospital grounds and crumbled down the rest of the foundation.
Sasuke and Kiba watched in awe, totally not expecting that. Naruto sat up from the ground and rubbed his head before giving me an estranged look. "Since when can you do that?!?!"
I ignored that and focused on the man. I ran at him and continued trying to land a punch on him, but he somehow started dodging every one.
'He's quick,' I said, punching the ground having missed him. However, I saw him do something with his hands and when I finally punched him, he turned into a log in a puff of smoke.
"W-What?" I asked, suddenly feeling a cut in my arm. I jumped and grabbed my forearm, seeing a trickle of blood on my glove. Just a cut, but, just what did this guy do?
"So much speed," Kiba said, watching the scene.
"That's because he's not human," answered Neji's voice. The others looked and saw Tenten and Neji arrive. "That man, he's not like us. It's a miracle Sakura's able to stand this long against him."
"Well Sakura's not like us either," Naruto remarked, still sitting on the ground due to his wounds.
"Ah!!" I shouted, falling backwards and crashing into a building.
"Sakura!" Sasuke shouted, having been watching the entire match. The mystery man with the music note on his forehead walked towards me with that knife weapon.
Sasuke's eyes hardened and suddenly they turned red and black. He ran at an enormous speed and towards the man. His speed caused a dash of wind to hit the others behind him.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire!!" Sasuke shouted as he performed similar hand signs before breathing out a full burst of fire from his mouth. It hit the man and just as fast as it happened, Sasuke ran towards me and jumped up, holding me bridal style.
"Sasuke," Naruto said in a whisper, seeing the strange behavior by his friend.
"Him too?" Tenten asked as Sasuke landed on the ground without a scratch.
When Sasuke opened his eyes again though, they were black again. He looked down at the unconscious Sakura with a confused look. 'How did I just do that...?'
"We better get back to the Shelter," Neji advised with no clear explanation.
"But-"
"Now," Neji ordered. Everyone obeyed and started running back towards the wastelands.
