Well, then. Now that Gato's dead, we've got to kill all of these bandits, because there sure as hell won't be anyone coming to save us. Kakashi-sensei was pretty much running on empty, I can tell. He'd been using his Sharingan from the beginning of the fight. Naruto was in pretty good shape. His wounds were already healing, seeing as they had been superficial ones in important positions. Sasuke-kun wasn't so lucky, but he still had his Sharingan, and the fact that we had spent most of our fight trapped in the ice mirrors meant he still had a good deal of chakra left. And I was pretty low, but hopefully I wouldn't need the chakra.
"Naruto! Clones, now! Throw all the kunai and shuriken you can at them! Sasuke, fire jutsu!" I yelled, taking charge as quickly as I could. They both obliged immediately, which surprised me. I thought Sasuke-kun at least would question me, but…
I could get used to that.
It was raining. I deactivated Stone Armour and Elemental Mastery, activating White Requiem as soon as the barrage of ranged attacks began to let up and rushing into the enemy. Frost appeared on the ground at my every step, and ice began to creep up on the bodies of the bandits I passed, be them dead or alive. Their skin started to turn red, and I could already see that this technique was enough to give someone frostbite it they stayed too close to me. Useful to know.
However, I mainly focused on cutting up the bandits who weren't too busy screaming at the intense cold and were actually trying to attack me. However, it was futile. My numbers were simply better than theirs. On a whim, I reactivated Elemental Mastery and began Tackling bandits as well. The added speed made what was already a losing battle for them into a slaughter.
Idly, I noticed that Naruto and Sasuke-kun were helping, not just watching, taking out the ones who I had missed, and those that had been screaming from the cold and were fine after I left the area. I could feel Kakashi-sensei's gaze on me. However, questions could wait.
After all was said and done, and all the bandits had been… taken care of, I gazed at the boys, seeing if things had changed. They had, unsurprisingly.
He Who Fights For Those He Loves
LV 18
Naruto Uzumaki
The Last Uchiha
LV 26
Sasuke Uchiha
They both had levelled up. Naruto was the same level Sasuke had been when the mission had started, and Sasuke was the same level as the masked boy. Naruto's title had changed too… What had brought that about?
I sighed. I'm stalling. I need to deal with this, now. I went over to Kakashi-sensei, who was giving me a hard look. "Sakura. Explain what that technique was, how you learnt it, when you learnt it, and who you are. Now."
I nodded. "Would you believe me if I told you I learnt it from a snowflake?"
"Something weird happened, when I killed the masked ninja. A mask and a snowflake thing appeared on the ground. I picked up both, and when I picked up the snowflake, it melted or something, and then I suddenly knew how to use the technique. It was really weird. And I think the same thing happened with the Demon Brothers. Remember how there was a claw and a stack of money left beside his body? I don't know how or why it happened, but it did. And those fire and earth techniques were ones my parents showed me. I took to them, so I started using them too."
"I believe you."
I turned, looking at Naruto, who smiled at me, then glanced at Kakashi-sensei with a determined look. "I believe her, Kakashi-sensei."
Sasuke-kun spoke up. "She didn't use the technique until after we had dealt with the accomplice, either. And I saw the mask and snowflake before she picked them up."
I gaped a little. Sasuke-kun sticking up for me?
Kakashi-sensei hesistated. "Where is the mask, then?"
I immediately pulled it from my Inventory, acting like I had put it underneath my shirt. "Here."
He took it, feeling it, before giving it back, face troubled. He went to the masked boy's body, who was still wearing his mask. He returned. "Sakura, Naruto, Sasuke. You will keep this secret. This may be some sort of trick, or bloodline. Frankly, I've never seen anything like it. Sakura, if this ever happens again, tell me."
I nodded. "Yes, sir!" I made a mental note to hide the flashy techniques if I couldn't explain them away, and I mouthed a thank you to the boys for sticking up for me.
With that ordeal thankfully out of the way, we stayed in Wave one more day, for the opening of the bridge. The people couldn't believe we'd taken care of Gato, and we were treated like kings. Tazuna named the bridge the Konoha Bridge in thanks, which was a nice gesture. I still think that the bridge should've been named for Naruto, considering how much he helped, but no matter. The travel back was much quicker than the trip there, as we didn't have to travel at a civilian's pace, and we were back in the village by the afternoon.
As we were walking into the gates, Naruto and I idly chatting while trying to bring Sasuke-kun into the conversation, we passed by Team 10 walking out. Kakashi-sensei went to talk to the gate guard, and Team 10's sensei went over as well. Naturally, our teams mingled. Naruto went to talk to Shikamaru and Choji, while Ino tackled Sasuke-kun.
"Sasuke-kun! It's been so long!" I smiled bemusedly at Sasuke-kun's utter irritation. At least this power had stopped me from being a fangirl. Ino didn't seem to share my amusement, however. "What're you laughing at, forehead? Has all that extra space in your skull finally made you crazy?"
"I could tell you, Ino. But to be honest, I don't think that you're mature enough to understand. That isn't a dig at you, so don't take it that way. Or do, I can't really stop you. To be honest, I want to stop this petty bullshit and just become friends again, but that's on you, now. Chasing Sasuke-kun like an airheaded bimbo, neglecting nutrition and training, having petty fights, that's all just so stupid. I see that now. And I hope you will, too. Boys? Let's go home, I need a shower." I began walking into the village, seeing Naruto saying goodbye. Sasuke seemed to be saying something too.
"What do you mean, she has a better chance than I ever will?"
"Because… you're annoying. Now leave me be. My team and I have better things to do."
I smiled to myself. This is what it should've been like. From the start.
