Artes animi.
Disclaimer :I don't own Naruto.
An :just a reminder that I still didn't decide with who Sakurai will end up (not necessarily from konoha) with so if you have any suggestions please either pm me or review . Thank you.
Chapter 14.
The night has already fallen by the time the surviving anbu returned to the village.
Sakurai walked out of the Anbu Hq his eyes barely open.
They walked back in one day instead of three as to bring the wounded back as fast as possible.
The result was an utterly exhausted Anbu operative who barely walked toward the compound.
However even through the exhaustion and haze his sharp mind still worked, trying to come up with his next actions and whether or not he should take it.
He walked into the compound which was brightly lit and approaching his uncle's house he opened the door and walked in.
His aunt was sitting in the living room with a cup of tea in her hands and sipped the warm drink. Her eyes which were focused on a small book in her lap raised up and a smile appeared on her face.
"Welcome back Sakurai" she said with a smile.
The Anbu operative only nodded slightly and wobbled to his room on unsteady feet.
Deciding not to disturb him, Tomoyo Yamanaka returned to her reading but a small smile was now on her face.
Sakurai walked into his room and fell on the bed hid eyes closing instantly, his exhausted body finally relaxing.
And on the next day after a night full of dreams about his fallen comrades and especially Bear, all of his doubts and he finally decided on his route of action.
"Yes" he thought with a clear mind "It was time to approach Shimura Danzo."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Unfortunately Sakurai learned it was much easier said than done.
While approaching Danzo was technically nothing difficult, the man was hardly hiding after all.
No, the problem was that the shadow of Konoha just as his nickname implied was a very notorious man with quite the doubtful reputation.
He was very aware of the tension between the hokage and the commander of root and as such had no wish to be associated with the man openly.
Sakurai sighed deeply as he worked his brain to find a way to contact the man without actually approaching him himself. He didn't even want to imagine his uncle's reaction if he would learn he is associating with the shadow. The memory of his uncle's devastated reaction when Danzo took Yamanaka Fu.
Suddenly his eyes grew wide and he smacked himself mentally. For all his said brilliance he could be rather stupid sometimes and miss the obvious.
"I am such an idiot" he muttered "The answer was always in front of my eyes..." without any further delay he walked out of the room and after getting ready and some small talk with his uncle and aunt the silver haired Yamanaka walked out of the house, hopping he will be able to meet the other Yamanaka before he will have to head to Anbu Hq.
He walked slowly, enjoying the warmth of the sun and as he closed his eyes enjoying the soft rustling of the leaves and the sounds of children laughter he, he bumped into somone.
"I am sorry" he said automatically opening his eyes and beating himself up for not being more careful only to be met with the yellowish eyes and firey hair of the man he was looking for.
"Fu!" he called surprised "Thank God! I was looking for you" he said a smile appearing on his face.. Maybe luck was on his side.
The redhead Yamanaka looked at the older shinobi with something akin to a surprise "You were looking for me Sakurai Sama?" he asked curious "How can I help you?".
Sakurai snorted "Just don't start with this Sama business..." he said before his face morphed into a serious expression "As for what I need from you.. I need a favor" as he said he scanned the boy's reaction.
"Of course" the boy said "It will be my pleasure".
Sakurai nodded "I need you to arrange me a meeting with Danzo sama..." he glanced both sides before continuing "I need it discreet".
To say Fu was surprised will be a an understatement. He knew how the Yamanaka patriarch felt about his master which why the last thing he expected was to be approached by the man's nephew and adopted son. But even more so the young Yamanaka couldn't belive his luck as he knew the shadow was interested in the prodigy.
Leaving his face blank as to not alert his clansman to his eagerness.
"I will talk to Danzo sama... It will be up to him to decide" he answered.
A smile appeared on Sakurai'sSakurai's face "Thank you Fu... You can't belive how much you've helped me" he said before turning and heading to Anbu Hq leaving a very happy boy behind him.
"Poor poor Fu... If you only knew how much you actually helped me" Sakurai thought as he mulled over the thought he found in the boy's head which helped him to answer a problem to which he previously had no answer.
Now that he knew that Danzo was interested in him he had no longer needed to fear that he had nothing to offer to the man back which might have been a problem.
"Helped indeed" he muttered under his breath "Lady luck is really on my side" and with his now elevated spirit he headed to the Anbu Hq his long white hair failing in the wind.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Kakashi stood near the fresh monolith in remembrance of the fallen Anbu its stone hard and glistening with a blank look on his face.
It wasn't the first time he lost a friend and a comrade.. But he never actually got over the pain and emptiness which always accompanied the loss.
He sighed deeply "May your eternal slumber be pleasant..Goodbye Haruto" he muttered before turning his back to the grave and meeting face to face with his team.
Bear and turtle stood there silently paying respect while Raven looked deep in thoughts.
"Hmm" he cleared his throat to get the attention of the group and when they all looked up at him he smiled under his mask before continuing "We suffered a great loss yesterday.. A loss which will not be easily forgotten" he sighed deeply "Tiger was an integral part of the team and his loss I am sure hurt us all" he paused making sure he had their attention "However we are shinobi.. And more than that we are Anbu which means we are critical to the security of the village and as such the hokage already decided on his replacement." he turned to the side.
"Please welcome Cat" he said gesturing at the figure who appeared as if out of nowhere.
The cat masked Anbu took of the hood of the trench coat reveling long purple hair. Moving her right hand she took off her mask reveling her to be a young woman with small nose and black eyes, her face was angular and her futures soft and if not for her gray armor she could have been mistaken for a noble.
But Sakurai noticed her eyes.. A hardened eyes of a warrior. This woman was a trained fighter.
"Nice to meet you" she said softly "It is an honor to serve with the illustrious team Ro" a smile graced her Futures "My name is Yugao Uzuki"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
He walked silently his eyes only half open as he enjoyed the slight breeze.
He passed the marker which was bust with people and turned to the right toward the clans district with an intention to go home and rest a bit more.
But as he passed near the Nara district with the angular wavy sign emblazoned on the gates he paused.
It was quite some time since he last visited his uncle in his home and while it wss quite early there was still a chance the man would be home.
With the new direction the silver haired half Yamanaka walked through the gates and toward the his uncle's house.
The people he encountered nodded to him in greeting and he answered them with the same courtesy.
It wasn't long before he found himself in front of his uncle's house and was surprised to see the man seating outside on the porch his legs under him and he looked attentively on the shogi board in front of him.
Opposite him, on the other side of the table another man was sitting his dark hair which gave the impression of being some exsotic plant gave away right away he was another Nara.
Sakurai didn't know all the Nara.. Far from it. For even though he himself was half Nara his relation to some of the clan's population was so far it could hardly be called blood relation.
"I should've known" Sakurai said his eyes twinkling in amusement "That you will be here lazing off" he finished a small smile on his face.
The older man looked up at him with surprise and a smile split his features "Sakurai!" he said warmly "It's so nice of you to come and visit me!" the man exclaimed "Please come here... It was quite some time since you last came here".
The boy obeyed and approached the man inclining his head to the other Nara in greeting.
"Oh!" the black haired tactican caught himself "Where are my manners?" he asked rhetorically "Sakurai this is Hideyoshi Nara... An avid shogi player and an old freind." he turned to the other man "Hideyoshi this is my Nephew Yamanaka Sakurai" he introduced them.
Sakurai moved forward extending his hand "It is a pleasure Nara san" he said with a smile his stormy grey eyes locking on the man.
The man smiled back his black eyes scanning the boy for a long moment "The pleasure is mine Yamanaka san" he finally said.
"Well" Shikaku smiled "Now that the two of you know each other.. It is time for us to continue our game Eh Hideyoshi?"
The man nodded "Very well... I will defeat you Shikaku... I will" he said with determination.
Turning to his nephew the Nara locked eyes with him "Sakurai why don't you go in? Yoshino is there.. Go drink something she will be happy to see you. I will be along shortly" he told the young shinobi.
"Of course" the boy said and bowed slightly before entering the house.
His Aunt was seating near the table her long brown hair falling on her back and moved from side to side as she moved animatedly while telling the woman in front of her about some story.
The other woman was tall with light brown hair cut short and her hazel eyes were focused as she listened fascinated by the other woman's story.
On the small carpet near the table under the heavy cuckoo clock a boy was lying on his stomach a book opened in front of him as he read carefully.
Sakurai smiled as he watched his cousins head suddenly falling before he woke up dazed and turning on his back he closed eyes and fell asleep.
"Aunt Yoshino" the boy said with a smile "It is a pleasure so see you" he greeted her.
The woman jumped in surprise and turned a stern eye to him "Sakurai" she said sternly "How many times do I have to tell you not to sneak on me" she looked him darkly in the eyes, but a second later a smile broke through her stern facade.
"It is truly good to see you" she said softly "I was really worried".
"Thank you Aunt Yoshino" he replied.
The other woman turned to him "Ah you must be Yamanaka Sakurai.. The boy Yoshino likes to talk so much about" she said with a smile "I am Kumiko Nara.. The wife of Hideyoshi Nara and the girl there" she said pointing at a young girl seating in the corner and reading "Is Katsuki my daughter".
Sakurai turned around to where the woman Kumiko pointed and was surprised to see a girl seating there.
She was young around his age.. Maybe younger, her hair while as black as any Naras was slick and was pulled back by a ponytail.
Her hazel eyes were deep in the book she was reading and Sakurai walked toward her, curious as to what she was reading.
"Quite the material you're reading" he said with a smile "The art of deception by lord Tobirama... Is it homework?" he asked now truly curious.
The girl looked up at him her face unreadable "No" she said simply "I am just fascinated by lord seconds works".
"How curious" he said "So tell me Nara san.. Do you know what lord second thinks is the most important for a successful deception?" he asked a small smile dancing across his face.
The girl's face suddenly changed from boredom to interest her eyes burning "You.. Are you too interested in the works of Tobirama sama?" she asked.
"I own a copy of every single book he ever wrote Nara san" he said with a smile "I am a great fun of his".
"Wow" she said in awe "I never met anyone who was so interested in lord seconds work like me!" she squilcked with delight "My friends think I am a nut case for caring about books more than jutsu... Even if those books were written by the second hokage"
He smiled at her adjusting his hitai ate "They just don't understand that knowledge is power.. The more knowledge you have the better you can counter your enemy... With enough knowledge and preparation even a weak person could defeat a powerful shinobi" he said "However you still didn't answer my question.. Or maybe you just don't know " his amusement was visible.
She looked at him as if offended "Of course I know!" she protested vehemently "Lord Tobirama says that it's the most simple that makes it more difficult to break! And most people won't even suspect if it's something simple" she huffed and raised her nose up.
They continued talking about other works and stuff but finally Sakurai sighed "I am sorry Nara san" he said with a smile "But I have some stuff I have to do.. So I will bid you farewell" he said as he got up.
The girl nodded with a small smile on her face and bid him goodbye.
Not loosing any more time the silver haired boy said his goodbyes to his uncle and aunt he left the house.
He walked toward the small clearing in the woods where he was regularly meditating and training when somone suddenly bumped into him.
Before he was able however to seesee who it was and apologize the person vanished and he only found a small note in his pocket.
Slowly opening it his eyes widened at the one and half lines written there in a neat and beautiful handwriting.
"Tomorrow night an hour before midnight the forest of death "
A smile appeared on his face as he read the content again before he crushed the note and swallowed it.. He finally had a direction.
End of chapter 14