Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, its storyline, or characters. However, this fanfiction is based on Naruto, and is my creation. THE GENERAL PLOTLINE WAS INSPIRED BY -brezoflower- 's story, If I Knew Then What I Know Now! Read her story too, it's awesome. XD
C O L L A T E R A L - N A S C E N C E
Second Beginnings
Chapter Six: Mercy for Past Enemies
Sakura dived at Haku, whose exhaustion caused him to stumble at the backstep, allowing her to slice a thin cut in his face. She feinted and he turned the way she expected him to, and easily caught him again.
"Water scythe," he said weakly, and the water around them rose and slashed at her, but a single swipe dispersed each of them.
"I don't want to kill you," Sakura looked at the missing-nin straight in the eye. Instead, I'll make you so weary that you won't fight anymore! She thought with grim determination.
He's open now. See, there's surprise on his face! He thinks you'll kill him…
I'm not a killer!
You have before, as a jounin and ANBU.
But that was...they were…enemies of Konoha…!
But still humans. You humans slaughter each other so thoughtlessly! Though we demonkind are none to talk in the areas of what you call murder, we at least keep civil peace amongst us.
Sakura, still pushing at Haku's defenses heavily but not hurting him severely, responded, Oh? So what of your brothers? The Kyuubi attacked Konoha and later, undenyingly battled his brother, the Tanuki.
Yuugao's voice was bitter. Someone even stronger than Kitsu-chan and the Yondaime within Naruto…he somehow wrested control of Kitsu's mind and drove him into a mindless, blackhole of chaos. The only way he could sate his sudden, uncharacteristic madness was through violence, and the ploy worked. However, that evil influence suddenly broke off the moment he was sealed into that noisy boy. As for attacking Tanuki, the memory of the Yondaime must have deemed the other a threat to Naruto and forced every move.
That's terrible! And you have no idea who controlled your brother from the start?
No. I have many thoughts though…the Yondaime expected it to be Uchiha Madara, who seeks to capture all kidnapped beasts under the guise of the Akatsuki. First, he wanted to eliminate Konoha and the Sharingan clan within, something he used Kitsu and Uchiha Itachi to do.
Do you know if Madara is still alive?
I believe so. Before the time paradox, I sensed Madara on my mountain…I was about to retaliate for the suffering of demonkind, but suddenly, there you were – an answer to my wish, falling from the sky. You see, my chakra is boundless and lacks a body…but through you and our connection through time, I can send you my chakra without damaging your body.
Ha! Seems like fate. Suppose Madara is still out there though…
Impossible. All time is suspended, waiting for six years to pass, when you are eighteen at that exact moment I sent you, for normal time to resume.
You mean, the future is frozen?
As long as you are here in the past where no one belongs.
That's amazing, Yuugao-san!
Your opponent is open now.
Haku was panting heavily now, both drenched in water, but Sakura was still wary for opportunities. When he leaned forward to create a shield of ice, Sakura whipped around him and hit consecutive pressure points down his spine, effectively paralyzing him. The said winner, soft at heart, caught him and lowered him as he could do nothing but stare at her in shock and dismay.
Sakura glanced at the unconscious Sasuke, then at her immobile rival, and assured herself that things would be okay. Now for Zabuza! As she neared her next fight, she directed her clone to take Naruto aside and heal him. Now she herself dove in and Kakashi acknowledged her in thanks with a smile. Zabuza was tough, even with the two of them battering fiercely at his resistance. But his legendary sword, the Kubikiri Hōchō, made up for his shortcomings.
From the corner of her eye, Sakura saw Kakashi's Sharingan eye blinking rapidly and the skin around it creasing with exhaustion. He'd been using it for over an hour!
"Naruto!" she called, turning her head frantically for the hyperactive blonde. He hopped up with her shadow clone, all healed and grinning. He ran toward them and joined the fray.
"You've gotta teach me that cool repairing trick," he shouted.
Sakura could only shake her head and smile a bit worryingly, knowing that Naruto could never master the art of healing. He had neither the patience nor chakra control for it…
"Let's finish this," Kakashi shouted. "I'm too old for this, but let's make an impromptu combo."
"Alright!" Naruto agreed enthusiastically. "Me first!"
"Quickly!"
They all backed away and suddenly, the bridge was crowded with many clones of Naruto.
Zabuza spat in disdain. "Annoying whelp!" He merely circled his sword in the air around him, a grey blur that offensively and defensively let fly Naruto copies into the air, which was soon clouded with the poofs of degenerated chakra. But then suddenly, there the real Naruto was, running toward Zabuza and dodging his sword. He punched and kicked the missing-nin upward, the first few stages before the Uzumaki Combo just invented. Sakura smiled in recognition.
"Alright!" shouted Tazuna, forgotten, at the edge of the bridge and surrounded by Naruto clones.
As Zabuza reached his peak in the sky, Naruto darted away. Zabuza fell at a quick speed, met with Sakura's sprint and jump. She smashed her palms together and a jade glow speared out from the cracks of her fingers.
"Hisui Kyuushuu!" (Jade Assault) She brought her still-cupped hands over her head and smashed them down in the air above Zabuza's head, in the split-second opening her palms and releasing the chakra within. It bled out in angry, jagged spears that pierced him. As Zabuza's body's traverse to the ground sped up, Kakashi rushed in to meet him with a Chidori once again.
Naruto and Sakura landed on the ground and watched equally amazed, as the smoke cleared and they leaned forward to examine their handiwork. Zabuza was an unconscious, wounded mess.
Suddenly, he stirred and his eyes shot open.
"Haku -!" he coughed, wiping the blood from his lips and feebly attempting to get up.
Sakura pushed him back gently. "Shh, he's alright."
"Sakura, what are you doing? He's the enemy!" Naruto shouted.
"Let him live. The outcome is worse," she responded, staring at the sword still gripped tightly in Zabuza's hand. I can never let Suigetsu's hands on this sword. The destruction he wrought! Sakura gripped her arm, almost feeling the pain of it tearing out of its shoulder as if it happened yesterday. In the final battle to return Sasuke to Konoha…
"What are you doing? Finish me off," Zabuza grunted, clutching his stomach. Instead, the medic-nin leaned over, firmly pulled his hand away, and passed her own over his stomach gently.
"Wha – my pain!" He stared.
"I can't heal you though," she said regretfully. "You're too dangerous, but you have to be able to get Haku and get out of here."
"What's this about?" Kakashi asked.
"Please trust me, sensei."
He nodded and stepped back, quietly pulling Naruto along, who was wise enough to listen.
Sakura returned her gaze to Haku.
"You know he's not just a tool," she said, still not looking at Zabuza."You do care for each other, like parent and child."
"What a joke," he spat. But he turned his head to look at Haku, just the same.
"Gatou is coming to kill you. He never intended to pay you for your mercenary work anyways. Just get Haku and get out of here…and…don't let anyone take away your sword." Her gaze rested on the "Decapitating Blade," gripped in his bloody fingers.
"Of course," he snorted, pulling himself up. He looked back at Sakura and hesitated. Then, wordlessly, he limped to Haku and threw the boy over his shoulder easily.
They disappeared into the mist.
After watching the mist for a moment, Sakura turned to Naruto.
"It's time to let loose," she said cheerfully. "We're going to a bad guy's hideout for a crazy, all-nighter fight."
"Will do!"
Together, they punched the air.
Kakashi picked up Sasuke and approached Tazuna. "Can he stay at your place?"
Tazuna eyed Kakashi with gratitude. "Of course."
The return to Konoha was peaceful, and compared to recent events, relatively boring. Spring was at its peak, brilliant and sunny here in Konoha compared to the wetness that was the Land of Waves.
Team Seven stood at the Hokage's office, having completed their report. "Well done," the third Hokage praised them, his weary eyes resting on Naruto affectionately with relief. "Despite the unexpected difficulties, you have coped well. After such an ordeal, I call for about a week to rest from missions, hm?" Sakura and Kakashi could only agree, but Naruto and Sasuke shared a look of disappointment.
When Sakura was back at her home, her parents done worrying over her for the hour, she sprawled onto her bed and thought disappointedly, Yuugao-san, Kyuubi-san hadn't emerged!
Don't worry, kit. He's still sleeping a bit, but I will have the chance to talk to him. Naruto wasn't under any real pressure, you know.
Alright, Sakura sighed.
Don't take this time to relax though, even though you have six years left, you still must train and be ready for any action.
I nearly forgot! Six years, huh? I better get cracking.
Sakura leapt from the bed and out her window, heading for Konoha's common training fields bordering the woods. For an hour, she passed through her exercises and daily regimen, and did serious combat with shadow clones of herself for the next two.
Sunset shaded the sky and Sakura felt herself yawning. She returned home and was startled with a giant, "Surprise! Happy birthday, Sakura!"
Dazed, she brushed away the streamers and stared beyond her parents happy faces and into the dining room, where Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke, were waiting.
"Birthday?"
"March 28! You're thirteen now."
Sakura felt herself tearing up. This was the last birthday I celebrated before I left Konoha to train…and when I returned, my parents were dead, and this house, destroyed…
"Thank you so much!" Sakura dove into their arms, glad to be their little girl again. She faintly heard Yuugao say, Just a kitten, after all, with a snort.
"We were glad to see you come back, but on the day of your birthday! I must really complain to the Hokage." This drew a laugh from Sakura as her mother encircled her in a hug, smoothing out her hair. "But come, we have your favorite food. Your teammates are here too!"
At the crowded dinner, Sakura replaced her father at the head of the table and was crowned with a wreath of the first sakura-fall that spring. The dinner was punctuated with Naruto's noisy antics, her father's corny jokes, and laughter. Sakura noticed Sasuke gazing at her with a look of relaxed curiosity, and blushed. She was soon distracted, however, by the cake that arrived. The group sang happy birthday in various off-tune keys and watched her with amusement as she looked wide-eyed.
"Make a wish!" Naruto crowed as the Haruno matriarch settled the candelit cake down in front of the Birthday Girl.
I wish...she dreamed wistfully, feeling a little foolish, that everything I have set out to do will come to pass.
Happy birthday, kit, Sakura heard Yuugao say quietly.
She leaned forward and blew out the candles amidst to cheers and clapping.
Sakura felt the fullness of her heart, closed her eyes, and wished the night would never end.
At night, her parents retiring early to sleep, Team 7 was up on the house roof in the cooling night.
"I've got to go," Sasuke said grumpily, but Kakashi pulled him down by the belt loop of his pants. "We know you'd love to stay, and really Sasuke-kun, you should agree with your true feelings for once." Their teacher said in a false-sweet humor. Naruto just roared with laughter.
Suddenly, the hyperactive ninja addressed Sakura, "How'd you learn all those neat tricks? And why do they all have to do with jade?"
Sakura sighed and shrugged, "I sit down and read Naruto. As for the names of my technique, it has to do with the color of your eyes."
When Naruto's face screwed up with confusion, she explained, "Eyes truly are the windows to a soul, the safe of chakra within. Usually, the eyes – soul – chakra, are the same color."
Their sensei perked up; he had heard the beginnings of this theory.
"However, beginning students' jutsu and exposed chakra appear the generic, sky blue. But once you find your "true" soul, your chakra signature becomes stronger, more defined. The names and techniques unique to you, being you, come naturally without thought. Of course, they could be adapted to suit someone else, but it's never the same."
This left the team in thought, Kakashi stirring with unease. All my techniques are the generic chakra-blue…have I not found the "definition" of myself yet?
As if reading his mind, Sakura said aloud, "Of course, eye colors are registered differently sometimes. Genetics don't guarantee your chakra/soul would be the same as your parents! Brown eyes – gold chakra maybe, and sometimes dark blue or grey eyes appear as light blue."
Naruto's snore pierced the air, immediately lightening the situation. Kakashi stood up, causing the rooftop to creak a little, as he swung Naruto onto his shoulder. "I'll drop Naruto off at his apartment." Before he turned to go, he looked softly as Sasuke. "Let's talk about the Sharingan later. Sakura's tied in with us…so tomorrow morning at the Torii River Bridge, okay?" Sasuke nodded and got up as well.
"Bye, Sakura," Sasuke murmured. Then he tossed her three parcels wrapped in messy, colored paper. Speechlessly, she clutched them to her and smiled at Sasuke, who flushed.
"They picked me to give you our presents, so don't think of it – more than it is -!"
But she was already, blissfully shaking her head, saying, "Thanks. I'll see you tomorrow, 'kay?" She watched his lithe form leaping from rooftop to rooftop and finally, seeing him no longer, slid into her room by the window.
So she was inside, a mature woman, so why was she feeling so euphorically young and full of butterflies and love?
It all started, she thought, with that day…
To be continued…