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Chapter 3
Promises
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The red florescent light buzzed oppressively next to the ER sign in the silent waiting room. The meager hospital staff was spread thin today: several young shinobi were recently brought in wounded, two in critical condition. Behind the door the Hokage herself was fighting to save an unconscious Akamichi Chouji, who was battling the self-destructive side effects of his clan's special soldier pills. Down the hall, Hyuuga Neji, his body still clammy from shock, writhed in pain as elite medic-nin desperately worked to repair his torn body. Nara Shikamaru, their team leader, sat nervously twiddling his thumbs…
After an eternity, the red light blinked off. Chouji was alive. Neji was alive. Shikamaru allowed himself a moment of relief before nervousness took over again. Now all there was left unknown was….
"Kakashi-san has arrived with Naruto and Sasuke-kun," a nurse reported to the Hokage.
"Good," she acknowledged and allowed a small smile to cross her lips. Good. Both of them..."What are their conditions?"
"Both have yet to be assessed, but neither seems to have sustained life-threatening physical injuries, Hokage-sama. Lee-kun arrived with them with some surface wounds and is presently being treated. They were accompanied by Subaku no Gaara, who is unhurt. Just mild chakra exhaustion."
"Hn. Isn't that just like Gaara?" his sister Temari mused more to herself than to the others in the room. Shikamaru looked up; he had completely forgotten she was there. Pushing up heavily with his palms, he stood and made to leave.
"Seems as if your mission succeeded."
Shikamaru stopped at the sound of the Hokage's voice.
"Despite everything."
Shikamaru never bothered with emotions. It was too troublesome. As the clearheaded chuunin leader, he kept his heart at bay and let his exceptional mind work. But the Hokage's words ended his mission like magic, her last comment striking its mark, and suddenly his defenses broke. A wave of dammed up self-loathing, guilt, and relief flooded up his throat and into his eyes.
"Next time," he choked back a sob, "the mission will be executed perfectly."
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Sakura walked down the corridor with a flower clutched to her chest. I can't believe Sasuke-kun's not allowed visitors. Jeez! When I asked that stupid Naruto to bring Sasuke back, I meant unhurt. Why does it always come down to fisticuffs with that boy?
Sakura was trying to get annoyed with her loud teammate and regain some semblance of normalcy. Yet in the back of her mind she knew that in the end it was Sasuke who left and Naruto who stood by her side. She shook the thought out of her head.
No, Sasuke must have had a good reason. He was upset about something and it made him irrational. But he's back and everything is okay now, Sakura convinced herself. She was starting to feel a little foolish for breaking down and begging Naruto to bring Sasuke home. You're such an idiot, Sakura. Sasuke's too clever to go do something stupid, she chided at herself.
She heard footsteps coming down the hall and snapped out of her reverie.
"Shikamaru-kun, did you come to see Naruto too?" Sakura greeted with a smile, not noticing that the newly appointed chuunin was more somber than usual.
"Yeah." Shikamaru noticed the single bloom in the konoichi's hand and surmised that it was originally meant for Sasuke. "Don't bother, I've been waiting for him to wake up for over an hour and he hasn't stirred."
Sakura's eyes went wide. "Was it really that bad? What happened?" Naruto, what did you do?
Shikamaru just shrugged and walked away. Then he paused and glanced back at Sakura, noting her choke-hold on the blossom. He addressed the ceiling.
"That guy…he puts his heart in everything, even if no one asks and no one watches. If it weren't for Naruto, this mission would have been a complete failure."
Confused, Sakura watched Shikamaru retreating back and it was a few moments before she remembered where she was going. She continued down the hall and stood at Naruto's door before silently pushing it open.
Naruto was lying in the hospital bed under a thin blanket and Sakura could just make out bandages wrapped around his shoulders and up around his neck and head. But what caught her off guard the most was the color drained from his face. She's seen him sleep—sprawled out gracelessly with his mouth hanging open—as animated asleep as he is awake. The Naruto in front of her now was expressionless. If anything he looked tired,…lifeless.
Sakura shook away the thought but her eyes rested on her injured teammate again. I guess he did go all out, didn't he? she thought, starting to feel guilty about trying to write him off just moments before. Who am I to criticize when all I could do was cry? An image of a hollow and hardened Sasuke the night he left crossed her mind. I just get in the way. I don't want to be the one who just cries any more. Sakura's brow furrowed and her eyes gleamed in steely determination as she thought about her teammates. Next time, I'll help. I want to help the important people in my life. I won't be a burden anymore. She turned to find the Hokage.
A flower lay on Naruto's bed stand.
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The sannin eyed Sasuke's sleeping form critically. They were not the possessive yellow eyes of a snake, but those of a concerned, if somewhat confused, toad hermit. Jiraiya had been specifically requested to help Tsunade seal Orochimaru's curse on Sasuke Uchiha. It was painfully obvious now that Kakashi's prior sealing was not effective, nor was Sasuke trustworthy enough to attempt another seal that required the boy's cooperation. Jiraiya understood that it was the best Kakashi could manage given his skill-level with seals. Besides, as a teacher, a self-regulated seal shows trust and helps develop mental and moral strength. But that time is dead and gone. They needed absolute containment now to prevent anymore damage to the young shinobi's body.
Dammit, kids think they're indestructible.
His mind wandered to another young shinobi whom he had previously resealed. What was this kid to Naruto? Jiraiya had just arrived that morning with news of the Akatsuki and had planned to take Naruto away to train so the brat could defend himself when he and the dangerous missing-nin cult ultimately clashed. But while he wasn't surprised that the reckless Naruto had landed himself in the hospital again, he certainly didn't expect Naruto to pass up the chance to train exclusively with the sannin.
Instead, he pleaded with Jiraiya to take in Sasuke as well. Well, 'demanded' would be more accurate, Jiraiya corrected himself. The blond said he made a promise and he couldn't go back on his word. He said he had to prove to Sasuke that he didn't have to give up his freedom to gain power. He said he had to show him that he doesn't have to be alone, that he could be strong without breaking bonds. Naruto said a lot of things, but the sannin latched on to something in particular:
'I don't care if Sasuke hates me for it, I can't stand by and watch him destroy himself.'
Kakashi had told him that the relationship between Naruto and Sasuke was like his and Orochimaru's relationship. Jiraiya knew what it felt like to be in a one-sided friendship, to be constantly seeking acknowledgement from someone who would never accept him as an equal. He knew the helplessness and the pain of watching someone you cared for desert you and walk down a path filled with darkness. Perhaps that was partly why Jiraiya was drawn to the boy. Only Naruto did what he could not: stop his comrade from abandoning Konoha, at least for now.
He looked at the resting Sasuke with a grim expression. It was against his better judgment to grant Naruto's wish; he needed to concentrate on Naruto's training if they ever hope to have a chance against the Akatsuki. But something in the earnestness in the boy's voice and eyes despite his obvious exhaustion ignited feelings he's long ignored. He would help Sasuke. He would help Naruto succeed where his younger self had failed. He would not let history repeat itself.
'Please Pervy Sennin, I can't go back on my word. That's my ninja way.'
'Mm'
He had watched the blond fall into a deep sleep before Tsunade discovered him in the hospital room and asked him to assist her in the sealing procedure.
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A single candelabrum lit a dark cavernous hall. At the end of it, a man knelt before an elevated chair, where a figure sat bandaged from head to toe save for a glossy reptilian eye. His hands gripped the armrest tightly, channeling his rage into the inanimate object. He hated when things didn't go his way.
"Kukukuku," Orochimaru forced-chuckled with an edge of insanity. "So they all died, did they? And I had invested so much in them too. What a disappointment." The contours of his facial bandages shifted as he frowned. "And there's no sign of Sasuke-kun?"
"There was evidence of an extensive battle at the border, but no bodies were found. Presumably Sasuke was prevented from crossing the border. Sasuke-kun should have been met by our liaisons by now if he made it across." Kabuto kept his eyes on a spot on the stone floor, watching the shadows dance to the flicker of the flames. Normally he was boldly causal with Orochimaru, but considering the importance of this mission to the volatile sannin, Kabuto didn't want to risk provoking him into punishing the messenger.
"I guess it couldn't be helped. I had to transfer into this form anyway."
Kabuto looked up at his master surprised. Lately he had caused such a fuss, throwing tantrums like a child since his arms were taken by the Third. Perhaps the new body was enough to quell his temper as well as the pain.
"Sasuke-kun's constitution will draw him to me again," the snake said silkily. He rested his temple on his fist as he leaned on the armrest. "And if not, there's more than one way to skin a cat, right, Kabuto?"
Kabuto stood and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Of course," he smirked.
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Chapter 4: One of Those Off Days. Team Seven is back in action and back to normal. Sort of.
Author's Note: Thanks for giving this story a chance! The timeline deviates a little more from here. Your thoughts and comments are always welcome and appreciated.
