Chapter 7. Dirty Tactics
Sakura stared at her reflection on the pond. It had already been a week and Tsunade had not tried to talk her into participating in the Kazehime trials anymore. She had spent almost a week AWOL, staying only inside the old Uchiha compound. Temari and Gaara had already left for Suna a few days earlier and she was relieved that aside from a sidelong glance and expectant stare as a parting gift, nobody had mentioned a word about her candidacy nor her refusal of it. Either Tsunade had kept it under wraps or they had expected her refusal.
Sakura was extremely grateful and obedient towards the Godaime Hokage, but her inconsideration of what she would feel when suddenly forced to swallow the idea of potentially giving up Konoha and her future in it, was a bitter pill for her taste.
"I knew I'd find you here, Sakura." She gasped slightly as she turned her head, catching a familiar glimpse of her first love's raven hair and onyx eyes. He was wearing a black shirt with the Uchiha insignia and gray cargo pants. His hands were tucked in his side as he stepped towards the edge of the dock and took a seat as well. Sakura noticed this and she felt sad, knowing full well that her mind was making all this up.
Sakura felt her elation slowly dwindle, realizing that Sasuke was in fact not in Konoha, but still out there, possibly lost in another dimension or wandering around the outskirts of whatever village he may be in now.
"You're not really here, are you?" Sakura said, keeping her eyes on the water as she sent a trickle of chakra on its surface. Sasuke turned to look at her, his eyes boring its way on the side of her head but she stubbornly refused to meet his eyes.
She heard him chuckle, and she felt her heart slightly skip a beat, if it was even possible.
"Physically, I'm not. But right here, and here, I know I am, and you know it." He pointed to her heart and mind.
"I must be going crazy." The Sasuke-esque stranger (she was not gonna admit that this was indeed the real deal) shrugged and made a rock skip on the surface of the water.
"You aren't. But this must mean that I'm the one you wanna see the most." Sakura's eyes bulged as she tried to deny his accusations to no avail. He instead laughed and patted her hair, something that Sakura thought would only happen in her wildest dream. Though Sasuke did poke her forehead when he left on his mission, he had not at all insinuated anything that pointed towards feelings aside from platonic ones when regarding her and she had the habit of daydreaming about him.
"Why are you here in the first place? And honestly, how the heck did you get here from nowhere?"
"I told you already, maybe it's because you wanted to see me so badly." Sakura stood up and turned her back on him while beginning to walk away, with no intention of stopping or looking back when he spoke again.
"You should accept the candidacy given to you Sakura. You aren't giving up your future in Konoha, you are merely going to begin another one. The Kazehime trial is an ancient event, one that all Kages and Clan Leaders honor, they are bound to it, just as much as we are. Your blood isn't what matters to you, there's something else stopping you. Is it me?" She whirled around and glared at Sasuke or whoever this impostor.
"Shut up. You know nothing, Sasuke. Don't go on being so arrogant because it isn't like you, also, bad move with the hands, my Sasuke lost his arm 2 years ago. And he isn't here at Konoha, nor is he coming back anytime soon, so drop the facade." She said angrily, her hands clenched tightly into a fist and hot tears threatening to spill over her emerald eyes.
A hand wiped away the little tears that spilled over, and she was engulfed in a hug that was warm and she felt sobs rack her body even more knowing that her version of Sasuke would never really be capable of comforting her as normal as this.
"I told you, I'm your Sasuke. I'm the one you would have wanted Sasuke to be. And I know everything, coz I'm always with you." She gave a muffled reply and he patted her head comfortingly.
"Sakura, think your decision over. There is a guarantee that you won't make it to the final round and you'll be eliminated."
"But what if I do get pass through? What then? I'm not ready for that kind of responsibility. I'm not right for it." Sakura countered back, as she let herself free from his hold.
"You are right for it. Don't take me into consideration. Don't let your emotions decide, follow your mind. You're intelligent, and smart. Sakura, choose what's best for Konoha, don't be selfish, not this time..." Sakura pushed Sasuke away, her eyes brimming once more with tears as she let all the pain deep within her explode.
"I was never the selfish one! I never left Konoha for a silly revenge plot! I never chose to stop serving my village even when it was hard! I didn't complain when Kakashi and you and Naruto left me the fuck alone in here, with nobody! I pushed my damn self to the point of exhaustion to be a better person! I never stopped protecting Konoha! And I'll be damned if anybody says I'm selfish! Fuck it!" Her outburst was followed by a loud wail as she screamed out all her frustration, not noticing that Sasuke's image was beginning to disappear slowly. He knelt beside her fallen form as she tried to reel in her emotions.
"Exactly Sakura... So don't let this time be any different. Konoha will not be able to avoid a power struggle if Suna thinks you are dishonoring them. There's something more at play here. Think! Gaara told you he wasn't going to take this lying down, so he won't. Don't be blinded Sakura. Duty always comes first."
With a gasp, Sakura suddenly opened her eyes, still sitting on the edge of the wooden platform, her feet dangling just above the water surface. She had been caught in a genjutsu. Cursing, she leapt to her feet and took note of her surrounding. Nothing was out of place, not a single one, except for her. Sighing, she stood up and headed out towards the village, her mind in turmoil not noticing two pair of black ninja sandals and a pair of eyes watching her movement.
Sakura was surprised when she arrived into the main road. Literally everywhere, she could see banners of celebration hanging around.
'What the heck happened while I was gone?'
Approaching a middle-aged man who was busy putting up lanterns, she asked what the celebration was all about.
"Didn't you know? Hokage-sama ordered for this as a farewell party to the chosen kunoichi who will participate in the Suna trial. It's customary." Sakura was confused. Tsunade would not let this happen unless she was sure Sakura was going to accept or if... Dread filled Sakura as she thanked the man and rushed towards the Hokage Tower. She had said no, and the fact that Tsunade did not confront nor asked her to change her mind meant that someone must have taken her place. Ino, was the new clan head and couldn't be sent. The Yamanaka clan were not simply someone you could sent out for their bloodlimit was special. Tenten was unavailable, the Nara, Akimichi, Inuzuka, and Hyuuga clan all had bloodlimits that were only found in Konoha thus they couldn't have sent one. No other kunoichi was available, either too young, or married. Almost like lightning, as she neared the Hokage Tower, a weight settled in her stomach. She had an inkling of who it could be and she hoped she was wrong, she didn't want Naruto to suffer another heartbreak nor have someone he loved taken away from him. With inhuman speed, she pushed open the door to the Hokage's office.
Tsunade stared at the outside, her face impassive as she silently waited for a sign from Kakashi and Naruto. She knew that what they had done could prove to have repercussions, one that nay only lead to then getting more and more unable to get Sakura's affirmative.
"Tsunade-sama, I'm s-sure Naruto-kun will b-be able to exe-c-cute the mission without a problem. I've heard that the new fog jutsu that the Jutsu and Weapons Development Team made had shown promising results of putting a person unknowingly under g-genjutsu." Tsunade turned around to face the pear-eyed Hinata, her hands nervously wringing each other. They had planned for this for the past week and they had monitored that Sakura had indeed no intention of leaving her position. The genjutsu fog was plan B and she hoped it worked or else there was not just one but a clan that would start an upheaval.
"If it fails... You do know you'll have no choice Hinata. You'll have to go." Hinata nodded her head, understanding that there was no choice but this.
"I will. In regards with my Byakugan, I will accept the cage seal that will prevent our secrets from being taken. Father understands this and Hanabi is already the clan heiress, I am dispensable to the cl-" Almost like on cue, the door opened and spitted out Sakura, her face red from running and her face set in a grim line.
"Shishou... Why are you planning to announce the candidate? I didn't agree yet!" Tsunade gave Sakura a cold look before turning to Hinata.
"Don't be presumptuous Sakura. You chose to decline and we've asked Hinata to take over. She has agreed and so has her clan." Hinata meekly bowed her head.
"What about Naruto?! She can't participate in that trial! It's risky!" Sakura said, her voice quivering with anger and frustration.
"I h-have already t-talked with N-naruto-kun. He'll b-be okay e-even without me." Sakura felt her world still as she thought over the conversation that Sasuke impostor and she had. She was being terribly selfish indeed, and her refusal was costing not only her best friends, but as well as the Hyuuga clan. She knew that although it was unkind to Hinata when she was a kid, she had become loved by her clanspeople. Aside from that, precautionary measures would be taken to ensure the Byakugan does not fall into the wrong hands and she would have to receive the seal.
Her mind went to overload and in red flashing signs, five words flashed through her mind.
"Don't let Hinata do it."
Tsunade silently smirked, feeling both triumphant and ashamed. But things had to be done, even if it meant playing dirty.
AN: So, there's that haha. To clarify things, Sakura was caught in a genjutsu which made her talk to Sasuke and she heard what she really wanted to hear from the person she wanted to hear it from. Sasuke has always been her goal and the idea of getting herself into the trials and possibly engaged or promised to Gaara was not a good one for her that she failed to notice that Gaara was not bothered despite his open disgust for interference by his council.Hinata and Naruto was a part of the ruse. You may be asking why Naruto could just agree to sell off Sakura, if you remembered, he was involved and aware of the Kazekage's plans meaning he knows what's happening and why it's important and why Sakura has to be a part of it. Also, other reasons will be explained in the next chapter so stay tuned.Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. all rights belong to the rightful owner.
