Aha! Here it is! Another chapter finally :D
So I suppose I should give you guys a spoiler for the wait. It's not a plot spoiler, though.
From here on out until further notice, every other chapter will switch POVs. This chapter is Sasuke's POV and then the next chapter will be Minako's POV. If anyone was any questions, feel free to let me know and I'll answer to the best of my ability as to not spoil anything, though.
Thank you guys for reading ;)
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The raven haired Genin side-stepped the Chidori, throwing two kunai at the other enemy who started to come at him with a low chakra-dosed Rasengan. The young male activated his Sharingan, leaped in the air and threw a fireball jutsu at the two older men.
'Dammit! Substitutions!' the boy thought as the silver-haired Jounin came from behind him and placed a kunai at his throat.
"Tch" Sasuke growled, "This is so stupid!"
Kakashi released his hold on his student and sighed, "Look, Sasuke, I know you're getting impatient but-"
"Impatient?! It's been two weeks already and we have heard nothing of their whereabouts! Meanwhile we just do the same fucking thing every day with no results."
"No results?!" Jiraiya stepped up to them, "I'd say you've done a lot better than the first day, kid. Remember Kakashi? He couldn't' even dodge me! Had to see Tsunade at the end of the day."
"Shut up." Sasuke grumbled, "You're a Sanin, of course I couldn't dodge you when you go full power on me."
"Watch your mouth kid." Jiraiya growled, "I don't know why I bother teaching you. You're so predictable and boring."
"Unlike Minako?" Sasuke knew that this was coming. It was almost every day that Jiraiya would say something that contrasted Sasuke and Minako. It showed just how much the Toad Sage truly cared about the girl.
However, the Toad Sage still hated Sasuke's guts and would constantly stab at him that Minako was so much better at 'this' and 'that'. Sasuke wasn't used to this sort of treatment and it was starting to really piss him off.
"Yes." Jiraiya spoke finally, "Minako was unpredictable. She started out stupid about any subject but once you hit a good teaching method, she's as sharp as a tack!" the man smiled as he thought about her.
Sasuke growled in the back of his throat, angry at his sensei and mumbled, "Sorry to disappoint you."
At this time, his curse mark started to flare up again and it glowed a fiery red.
Kakashi stared at his student solemnly, "Sasuke . . . How about we go see Anko again, hm?"
Sasuke cringed, "No thanks. I can handle the mark on my own."
"Sasuke" Jiraiya, "You'll never be able to suppress that thing on your own. Let people help you, will ya? Stubborn brat"
The boy closed his eyes tightly, "I don't need to see Anko again. I'm fine! Let's just keep training."
Kakashi and Jiraiya glanced at each other but nodded simultaneously.
The silver-haired Jounin got out a piece of paper, "What's that?"
Kakashi smiled under his mask, "It's chakra paper. It's paper from a tree that has been given chakra since it was a sapling. The paper will be able to tell you what elements you can manipulate."
Sasuke groaned, "But I already know them! I'm fire and lightening, remember?"
Kakashi gave Sasuke the paper anyway, "Just do it, Sasuke."
The boy tsked but let the paper absorb his chakra anyway, making the paper wrinkle and burn away immediately.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes at the two sensei, "See?"
Kakashi nodded, "Yes well now today I'm going to teach you how to perfect the Chidori. Not even I have been able to do so but you are an Uchiha. Perhaps you'll have better luck than I did, hm?"
"Perfect the Chidori?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "How?"
The two sensei smiled at him.
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Tsunade sat in her office, her hands on her head and her elbows on the desk. It was just two weeks ago that Danzou had come to her office and spoke with her.
(Flashback)
"Princess Tsunade, we need to talk" the elder spoke seriously.
Tsunade glared at the man, "What do you want?"
The elder glared with his one eye right back at her, "We need to label Minako Uzumaki as a missing nin. It is too late for her. She has chosen her path."
"What?! What gives you the right to say such things in my presence?! I will do no such thing to her! Minako is still a ninja of the Leaf Village and it will stay that way until the day she comes back home!"
"Tsunade" the man chastised her, "You must think logically. Homura and Koharu have already agreed with me."
"I refuse to label her in such a way."
"And why is that?"
Tsunade smirked, "Because one day Minako Uzumaki will be Hokage!"
Danzou was silent as his eyes narrowed with frustration, 'This will be harder than I thought' the man blinked.
"Very well. We will give her one month and if she doesn't come back to the village by them, she will be labeled as a missing nin and be put to death on sight. Am I clear Princess Tsunade?"
The fifth Hokage huffed at him but the man continued, "And as for Sasuke Uchiha, he needs to be quarantined in the village. You know just as much as I that Orochimaru is still after him and if Minako had chosen not to go, it would have been the Uchiha boy."
"What are you trying to say old man?" Tsunade was getting impatient, "Just get to the point!"
Danzou almost smirked, "The Uchiha desires power and if the boy were allowed out of the village to search for the fox brat, who's to say that he just won't betray us as well to search for the power to kill his brother?"
The Fifth Hokage growled threateningly at the man, "Sasuke would never do that! He wants Minako back just as much as everyone else in the village does!"
"Does he now?"
"What?"
Danzou smirked, "Isn't the Uchiha the one who drove the fox away in the first place?"
Tsunade gaped at him, "H-how do you know that? And don't call Minako a fox!"
"I have my ways, Princess" Danzou frowned once more, "That is why I am ordering you to not let Sasuke Uchiha out of the village and not to let him participate in the next Chunin Exams. If he participates in the exams, he'll be one step closer to just escaping Suna and running off to the Sound like he planned at first to gain power!"
Tsunade's face contorted into rage, "Do not order me in my own office! I am the Fifth Hokage you bastard! Sasuke Uchiha will be allowed to participate in the exams and Minako Uzumaki will not be killed on sight if found! Do I make myself clear?!"
Danzou glared at her, "You're making a mistake, Princess Tsunade."
But before she could yell at him again, he left the room. When he left, Shizune entered the room, terrified at the Hokage's killing intent.
(End of Flashback)
Now the fifth Hokage was getting more worried by the day. If Minako didn't return in two more weeks, she will have no choice to send the order and she knew it or else Danzou will just send the order anyway behind her back.
'Why did you leave, kid? I thought it was your dream?'
A single tear fell onto the Hokage's desk.
'Please return. You have to return'
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Sasuke now walked through town after training. He didn't really understand why he had to perfect the lightning jutsu. It was fine just the way it was, he thought.
While the Uchiha was in his own thoughts, a certain pink-haired girl came in to step with him, "Hey Sasuke"
The raven –haired boy glanced at his teammate, "Sakura."
Sakura smiled at him, "How's training going so far?"
Sasuke glared at the ground and shrugged, causing the girl to giggle, "Oh Sasuke. Not going too well huh?"
It wasn't as if Sasuke liked the girl but he didn't exactly hate her either. Sasuke understood that Sakura liked him but Sasuke had no interest in her romantically. He was too concentrated on Minako, anyway.
Sasuke shook his head and decided that he should think of something else, "How's yours going?"
The girl lit up suddenly, 'Sasuke's asking me how my training is going?! Cha! Maybe there's hope after all!'
"It's great! Although lady Tsunade can be pretty rough. It's intense training but Lady Hokage says that if I keep progressing at this rate, I'll be a qualified medic ninja in no time!"
"Cool" Sasuke mumbled. Sakura's eyes sparkled with her usual school-girl love.
'At least she's actually getting somewhere. I feel as though I've learned absolutely nothing'
But then Sakura's face grew sad and Sasuke had a feeling he knew why, "I wish Minako were here. It's quiet without her."
Sasuke nodded as a response.
"Yeah." Sakura said awkwardly and started to play with her hair, "So where are you going now?"
"I don't know. Maybe Ichiraku's."
'Did I really just say that? Or is that Minako speaking through me because she can't be here herself?!'
"Ichiraku's?" Sakura was even more confused, "But I thought you didn't like ramen?"
The boy sighed. Minako already knew the answer to this question. It was one day after a mission when Sasuke finally agreed to go with Minako to Ichiraku's because he was just hungry and that was the only reason. Minako had ordered five bowls of beef and pork ramen where Sasuke had their special tomato based ramen with pork. He would never forget Minako's disgusted expression, it almost made him laugh it was so comical.
Sasuke let a smirk grace his features, "Sometimes."
"Hm" Sakura seemed to be thinking, "Well. . . Would you mind if I went with you?"
Sasuke glanced at her, 'Shit. She's learning how to not ask me directly.'
"Whatever" he said instead and Sakura almost jumped in excitement. Once they reached the ramen bar, they ordered their dinner and ate in silence until a familiar voice came from behind them.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here? Are you two actually out on a date?"
Sasuke turned to see Shikamaru behind them and pulling up a chair to sit next to the Uchiha.
"Hey Shikamaru!" Sakura greeted him and Shikamaru smiled at them.
"No. We're not on a date. Sakura is merely sitting next to me while we are both eating and that is all. Is that all you wanted Nara?"
Shikamaru smirked, "Actually it's not. One miso ramen please" he asked Teuchi, the ramen bar owner, "The Chunin Exams will be held again in about two months. I was curious on whether you two were going to try out for them again? All of the rookie nine and team ten I heard are trying again and the sand siblings too."
"No."
Shikamaru and Sakura gaped at the Uchiha and Sakura frowned, "Why not Sasuke?"
The black-haired boy finished his ramen, "Finding Minako is more important."
Shikamaru sighed, "You know Sasuke, if you became a Chunin, then you'd be more qualified to go out on your own to search for Minako via Lady Hokage's permission. I know you want to find Minako but it's going to take some time. We all want her back, you know."
Sasuke glared at his empty bowl, "Finding Minako is my main priority right now. It's my goal and I won't stop until she's back in Konoha . . . . But I can see your point Shikamaru. I'll think about it."
Shikamaru nodded, "Right. But just remember Sasuke. We all miss Minako and are trying to find her. It's not just you."
Sasuke got up, paid for his meal and walked away into the night back to his apartment.
Shikamaru sighed, "Man, what a drag."
Sakura nodded, "You got that right. I hope we find her soon. He doesn't realize it but he's changed so much already. He actually talked to me and asked me how my training was going today! I think he's becoming more open or something."
Shikamaru nodded, "It could be that since Minako is gone, Sasuke is having subconscious feelings and reactions similar to Minako's behavior. In other words, he misses Minako's presence."
Sakura stared after where Sasuke left them, 'Oh Sasuke'
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The next few days, more and more people started to see the difference in Sasuke Uchiha's behavior, even random villagers who didn't know him.
Sasuke would go early to train with Kakashi and Jiraiya, each lunch at Minako's apartment and keep the place clean and stocked, train some more, walk with Sakura on his way from training, and then he would eat dinner at Ichiraku's with or without Sakura sitting there with him. The routine was bland and boring but it kept the boy somewhat sane.
Today was no different except for the fact that Jiraiya wasn't at the training grounds. It was only Kakashi.
"Kakashi? Where's Jiraiya?"
The silver-haired Jounin stared seriously at his student, "There has been some news of where Orochimaru could be hiding Minako. Jiraiya went to investigate."
Sasuke was pissed, "What!? Why didn't you guys tell me?!"
Kakashi held up his hands in defense, "Easy there Sasuke. It's just that . . . well . . . we don't think you're quite ready is all. Besides, the Chunin exams are coming up again soon"
"I don't give a damn about the Chunin Exams! I need to find her!"
Kakashi blinked sadly, "Well to find Minako, you must get stronger and to get stronger, you will participate in the Chunin Exams. You have no other choice but to do this"
Sasuke looked away, grunted and muttered, "Fine. But next time, I'm going no matter what."
His sensei nodded.
"So when are the Chunin Exams? I wasn't exactly listening to Shikamaru when he told me about it."
Kakashi took out his little orange book and put a hand in his pocket, "It's in a month. I heard all the Rookie nine, Guy's team and the sand siblings are going to try again as well. But this time, the Exams will be held in Suna."
"Yeah." Sasuke glared at the man, "So aren't you going to teach me anything today or what?"
He shook his head, "Just continue on what you were doing yesterday on perfecting the Chidori."
Sasuke growled and walked away.
"Sasuke! Where are you going?"
"Home. I'll work on the Chidori there." With that, Sasuke stuffed his hands in the pockets of his white shorts and walked back into town.
However, he wasn't going home like he said he was going to.
'This is so stupid. A waste of time. Why am I even bothering working so hard on something that won't help bring her back? It's ridiculous! I should be out there with the perverted Sanin searching for her instead. But no, of course not! They'll think I'll do something stupid and not come back or something.'
Sasuke huffed when he realized he was standing in front of an old battered door now.
His eyes softened, 'Her apartment once again. Why do I always end up coming here?'
He opened the door and stepped inside to wander again just like every other day. Sasuke walked through the kitchen, the small living room and finally her bedroom and sat on her bed. He stared at their Team picture that she had in a frame and took it off the desk, holding it in his hands.
Sasuke stared at the picture for so long, it seemed like hours, 'Why am I even acting like this? I feel so guilty but that isn't me. I should be getting stronger and going out to look for Itachi, not Minako. But here I am, sticking around wandering her apartment and waiting for her to come back home instead.'
"Mina" Sasuke grimaced and grit his teeth, "Why is it always you that makes me feel so vulnerable and weak?"
He narrowed his eyes and squeezed the frame before setting it back on Minako's bedside desk, "I won't lose you to him."
Sasuke stood up and walked out of the apartment, clutching Minako's headband that was still held in his pocket.
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The Rookie nine and team ten watched Team seven's training grounds as Sasuke Uchiha was being trained by both Kakashi and Jiraiya. They watched as Sasuke kept getting beat down but no matter what the injury, he kept getting up to charge once more.
It was so unlike him.
"Why doesn't he hide and attack from a distance?" asked Ino, "He's going to get himself seriously hurt!"
Sakura watched Sasuke a moment longer until she smiled at Ino, "He'll be okay. We should really get back to Lady Tsunade though, Ino. As my own apprentice, you want to get stronger too, right? Ino-pig?"
The blonde girl glared at her best friend, "Shut it, Billboard brow! Fine" she whined, wanting to stay and watch Sasuke train some more, "I suppose you're right."
As the two girls took their leave, the only ones left watching were Kiba, Shino, Hinata, Choji, Shikamaru, Tenten, Neji and Lee.
"I-I hope he doesn't hurt h-himself too bad" Hinata stared apprehensively as Sasuke was hit by Jiraiya.
Tenten snorted, "Ah he'll be fine. You got to admit, too though, he's trying pretty hard."
"Spring forward with the power of youth, Sasuke!" Lee shouted a cheer.
Neji rolled his eyes, "He seems different than when we went on Minako's retrieval mission. He seems more . . ."
"Hungry?" Choji suggested and Shikamaru almost face-palmed himself.
"Nah, he's more of a prick, I'd say. Right Shino?!" Kiba laughed and Akamaru yipped as Shino remained silent and reserved.
Hinata gasped, "D-don't say that Kiba!"
"Oh come on Hinata! You know it's true!" Kiba laughed at her red face.
Shikamaru sighed, "Neji's right. Sasuke has changed but for the better, I think."
Choji stopped eating his BBQ chips, "What do you mean, Shikamaru?"
The Chunin placed his hands in his pockets and smiled as Sasuke actually landed a hit on both the Sanin and the copy-ninja.
"He's more determined. More set on finding his friend no matter what the cost. That's a true Konoha Shinobi over there and I'll be proud to fight next to him any day."
The group smiled and smirked but Kiba decided to ruin the mood, "He's still a prick though."
The group all nodded until Shino finally spoke, "Perhaps instead of watching Sasuke, we should all prepare ourselves for the Chunin Exams."
"Oh yeah" Choji chuckled.
"Yeah" Kiba nodded, "Come on guys, let's leave Mister High and Mighty to himself and train so we can kick his ass" Akamaru barked happily.
Neji closed his eyes, "Come on team, let's go."
As they all left, Sasuke, Jiraiya and Kakashi took a small break.
(Flashback to earlier that day)
Jiraiya joined the copy ninja and the Uchiha at the training grounds, walking towards them slowly. Sasuke's eyes lit up in hope, "You're back. Did you find her?"
Jiraiya looked away with a miserable expression on his face, causing Sasuke's shoulders to drop with disappointment, already knowing the answer.
Kakashi sighed, "No evidence of her whereabouts?"
The older man shook his head and Sasuke grit his teeth and furrowed his brow, "Well what are we waiting for then? Let's resume training already"
The two sensei gazed at Sasuke with undisguised pity but chose not to say anything. It would only make the kid angrier.
(End of Flashback)
After their lunch break, Kakashi examined Sasuke's new perfected Chidori and deemed it ready for the Chunin Selection Exams.
Sasuke smirked, "This time I'll become a Chunin for sure." He tapped his pocket thoughtfully, 'For the both of us.'
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R&R
Sorry it's kind of short lol
Plus, if you haven't noticed already, all of my chapters in this story are named after songs.
Disclaimer! I do not own any of the songs.
If you have any thoughts about next chapter's title, however, please let me know what you think would be best for Minako's POV in the next chapter. Who knows? I will mostly likely use a song title one of you suggest.
