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Rating: T
The Path of the Cursed and the Forsaken
Eleven
"Tsunade-baa-chan!" she will never admit it, but hearing the brat call her that is always comforting. At the moment, however, it only promises more headaches. Even as Naruto comes bursting into her office, wild-eyed and shaking, she knows that this is going to end badly.
She can always tell.
"Hai, Naruto-kun?" she asks as she shifts through the mountainous pile of paperwork.
"Sakura-chan isn't back and she still hasn't made an appearance! You have to send someone to look for her!" she sighs, setting the papers in hand aside.
"I have, Naruto. Several times. No one has found anything yet." It hurts to lie, it really does. She has someone out pretending to be looking for her 'missing' student but that isn't what worries her.
Sakura hasn't been seen at all.
There have been no mentions of a pink-haired, green-eyed girl in any place. The only thing that has been spotted, the only thing that has been out of the normal, is the six-foot wolf and the child that has been spotted from time-to-time with two members of the Akatsuki – something she has not told anyone about. That would not go over smoothly. She only hopes that child isn't the one Sakura is looking for or she will have a shit-load of problems to go through to retrieve the said kid.
But Naruto, on the other hand, isn't taking no for an answer.
In fact, he is standing before the Hokage's desk with clenched fists and feverous eyes. She is ignoring him again, something that he can't stand. So much, in fact, that he can feel Kyuubi's power whirling a storm up inside of him.
"Tsunade-sama," he breathes in slowly as her head shoots up in shock, "Sakura-chan must be found. I don't care how long it takes, but don't stop sending people after her."
He doesn't bother mention that, if necessary, he will take matters into his own hands. He turns, leaving before his baa-chan can say a word. Nothing can be said.
She's lying to me. I know she is! He feels Kyuubi brush against his senses, soothing him without a word and nods to himself.
He doesn't know why Tsunade is lying to him or what the purpose behind it is, but he knows it has to do something with Sakura's disappearance. The one thing he failed to mention to his friends and allies is the fact that demon-enhanced senses give him a hand over them – he can sense when someone isn't telling him the truth.
And Tsunade didn't only reek of liquor but of lies.
And it's starting to piss him off.
I'll just figure this out myself, he pushes past the ninja at the front of the Hokage Tower and sweeps right into the street without a backward glance. He keeps going, head held high and fuming on the inside. He doesn't even see Sai as he walks past him, doesn't hear Shikamaru calling out his name and that followed by his trademark 'bothersome', or Kiba yelling at him.
So what is the plan? Kyuubi's hauntingly deep voice curls around inside him, questioning with great amusement.
I…don't know…yet. A laugh is his answer and then images appear. They are random, out of order but the message is clear. It couldn't be clearer.
But the risk is great.
I could be branded…as…a traitor. That weighs down on him, pulling at his thoughts and his loyalties.
How can it be so if you are doing it out of your loyalty to a friend? A way to bring one back whom has gone missing is no betrayal unless those who feel betrayed are stupid…is it possible that some breeds of human are stupider than others? He nearly stumbles over hi feet in shock at the question, laughter bubbling up in his chest.
He has partaken in hundreds of missions in the near eighteen years of his life.
He has done many dangerous things.
He has disobeyed orders.
What should stop him from doing what he wants now? He lost Sasuke to power and now Sakura…
"N-Naruto-k-k-kun," he looks up at the long-haired Hyuga heiress and smiles.
"Hinata-chan, how are you?" he beams but on the inside he is going over possible paths of action even as he carries on a conversation about the day and how missions are going.
They walk together, him and the Hyuga. He remembers his battles with Neji, her protective cousin who is a year older then her. He is glad that they are getting along.
"Eh, Hinata-chan, have you heard anything about Sakura-chan?"
The Hyuga girl frowns, brows drawing together in thought. Her head tilts to the side, arms folding across her chest.
"Now that you a-ask, Naruto-k-kun, I haven't since s-she went missing. Have y-you heard anything?" she implores and he shakes his head.
"No, baa-chan says she hasn't heard anything yet, either." Mentally he rants about the lie that is and the sinking feeling in his stomach only makes his worry even more.
They split at the top of the street and he heads for his apartment. He locks the door behind himself and stares at the mess that is his home. He pulls his headband off, holds it loosely in his hand.
It brings forth images of Sakura and Sasuke, of Kakashi and Jiraiya, or hard days training. It brings a hollowed out ache in his chest.
He tosses it on the table as he enters his bedroom, grabbing a bag as he goes. He stuffs a few pairs of clothing in it, some food, a water bottle, and a medical kit (something Sakura beat him with until he started carrying one on himself). Then he eyes the window.
Are you certain, kit? The deep baritone of Kyuubi's voice holds concern and he smiles. The fox-demon has been the closest thing to a parent he can think of – besides Tsunade and Kakashi. But they don't give him the advice, the comfort, or the wisdom the fox does. He mocks him when he messes up, praises when he does something right. He lends him power when he can't stand on his own and doesn't give any when he has his own.
That is a bound he refuses to let the Akatsuki sever.
Not today, not tomorrow, or any other fucking day of any damn year.
He goes about his room, grabbing weapons and scrolls and ninja-related foods like soldier pills and blood stoppers. Those things can sure be handy when it comes down to hand-to-hand combat. And then he looks down at himself and the blaring orange of his outfit.
Sakura has managed to keep out of sight and she has pink hair. That's kind of hard to miss. But she somehow managed to vanish, not leaving behind a trace. And Naruto is determined to do the same – hell, if his pink-haired teammate can vanish with pink hair then he can get rid of anything that will set him apart…and that means his beloved orange clothing.
And that means repacking his clothing.
With a sigh, he pulls out anything orange or colorful. All the while, he mutters about killing the soul for the love of his sister – not crush. That fell a long time ago, those romantic feelings he once harbored. Now he only has a found spot, a bound between family – like he has for Sasuke, Tsunade, Kakashi, and Jiraiya…and Iruka. There is nothing in the world that can replace his family.
And there is that curious feel he gets when he is around Hinata. He can't explain it, not in actual words, but it makes him feel light on his feet but heavy at the same time. Hot skinned but alert.
And as he continues to pack his clothing, he thinks about the things he'll leave behind. His ramen, for one, is not coming. Instead, he packs small foods – and hunting tools. That would be better, if nothing else. Bread, cheese, and other cured meats – ones that do not have to be cooked – go into the scrolls as well.
After checking he has everything he needs, he casts a look at the darkened window. Then he looks down at his new outfit and mourns. Standing all in black, he feels naked with the comforting orange but it is a sacrifice he can make for his friend. Black pants, fishnet top, black jacket over the top. Black boots – his sandals are in his bag.
He slings the bag onto his shoulder, casts one look at the discarded headband on the table, and thinks over leaving a note before shaking his head. That wouldn't do. If Tsunade gets an idea to his thoughts, she'll be pissed.
Infuriated and hell-bent on getting him back.
So he goes out the backdoor, lands lightly on the ground, and dashes through the streets. Necklace nestled in his shirt, it is the only thing that will be a constant reminder that he is not betraying his home and friends. That he is doing this out of love and sense of loyalty for friends and family.
He is not a traitor.
But on the inside, he feels just like that.
It makes his chest hurt.
It makes his eyes burn.
It makes his resolve strengthen as one wet trail on his face dries and a new sense of purpose comes to mind. How can he possibly be Hokage if he can't find his friends? How can he be Hokage if he can't keep one promise?
A Hokage's word is stone – even if it means dying to see it accomplished.
And as future Hokage – he will find Sakura and bring her home. One day he will do the same for Sasuke but Sakura is far more important.
He readjusts the strap of his backpack as he leaps back in the air, eyes set on the looming wall a good hundred feet ahead of him. His eyes narrow in concentration as he suppresses his already masked chakra.
Fifty feet…
His heart beats inside of his chest as he darts between buildings, staying out of the air. He feels nervous, as if hundreds of eyes are focused on him. It makes him sick to his stomach.
Twenty-five feet…
He passes by a few homes he knows. The lights are off in some and on in the others. He can feel the sweat on his palms. He can hear the blood rushing in his ears.
Fifteen feet…
With one powerful push, he sails over the wall with enough force to not be seen. He lands in the trees on the other side, shaking. He forces himself not to look back as he leaps farther into the forest, leaving behind his home with a silent promise –
He will not return unless he has Sakura with him.
He will have her at his side, smiling and laughing.
She will be there with her knowing eyes gleaming with a hidden joke.
She will be healthy if a little less-for-wear then when she was back in Konoha.
She will be back where she belongs.
She will be with her loved ones.
She will have done whatever she set out to done.
She will tell him the truth.
She will tell him why she left.
As he leaps through the forest, he thinks of what he can possibly do. He thinks of where he should head and what to do. He thinks of the places she wouldn't go – Suna is the top of the list. That would be followed by the Village Hidden in the Mist and a few other places she is well known in.
But why not go to such a place? It would be the last someone would look. She has hidden herself, somehow.
It's so easy!
Of course, if she has changed her appearance to do this crazy task she set herself on, then it would make sense to go to places like this! But now he can only ask himself this: Which should he go to first? Suna or Mist?
Defiantly Suna. Kyuubi's laughter bounces in the background, warm and comforting despite the troubles he knows will fall upon him in the days to come.
Well, hello at last. It has been twenty odd days since my last update and I know you all are so happy to have read this and so unhappy that there isn't another chapter after it. For those who stuck with me till now, thank you. For those who didn't - you don't know what you're missing.
Anyway, I thought I'd do a chapter in someone else's POV for once. I choose Naruto for two reasons - one being he is Sakura's friend and, two - well, it's on my profile. I can't really think.
Lov3N3verLasts: You asked for the chapters to be longer – well, I hope this works. Getting beyond five pages is one hell of a task for me. Anyway, it's longer than the other chapter, which I am really happy about, and I hope you liked it. Should I try other POV's more often for this chapter or just keep to what I have and add one or two every every now-and-then?
Review,
I need answers...AND CHECK MY PROFILE
~CideanForever~