Another Chapter
By: Missysillivan
Summary: After winning the battle against Orochimaru, Sasuke and the Konoha Shinobi have gone their separate ways once more. Now, only days later, it has finally been revealed that war is on the horizon and the future of Konoha is looking grim. Strangely enough, Konoha's victory is held in the palm of a traitor and now its up to a hand full of qualified ninja to find the missing ninja and bring him back to help save Konoha, or else, the grand village will fall. (Main SasuSaku; Minor NaruHina, NejTen) (Some OOC; a lot more will appear in later chapters)
3.19.08 Edit! New Summary!
A/N: And I'm back. I'm saying right now, there has been a decline lately in reviews. Just making that fact known. You know, the more reviews I get, the faster I update. haha. Its true. Now, to the sad news.
Yesterday morning I received news that my great-uncle died from double pneumonia after being hospitalize with a brain anyurism. Its been kinda hard and on top of that, I start school again tomorrow, so I won't be able to update the next week or so. Yeah...anyway...
On with the story! Oh, is it just me, or are the chapters getting longer?
Disclaimer: Rose are red. Violets are blue. I don't own. You don't sue. However, is kidnapping and forced acquirement of a manga/anime legal?
Chapter 26: Just This Once
Sakura let out a groan at the persistent pounding on the front door of her apartment. She sat up slowly, letting out a hiss when pain shot through her chest from moving awkwardly.
"Alright! I'm coming!" She yelled at the door as she made her way towards it. There was a sound from the room across from her own followed by silence. Sakura all but ripped the door off the hinges as she hissed a "What!"
Naruto cowered back before chuckling nervously. "O-Ohayo, Sakura-chan."
"What. Are. You. Doing. Here?" Sakura crossed her arms, albeit it painfully, over her chest and glared at the blonde. "It's six in the morning."
"I know and I'm sorry!" Naruto exclaimed as he waved his hands in front of him as if it would ward off Sakura. "I just came by to tell you that I was going to Otafuku Gai (1) for two days with Pervy-sage. We're leaving in about an hour and I just wanted to say bye before I left."
Sakura's calmed down and her features softened. "That's sweet. Thank you." Sakura moved slightly and opened the door wider for Naruto. "Come in for a little bit while I make myself some coffee."
"'Kay." Naruto walked in and led the way to the kitchen. He took a seat on the counter beside the refrigerator and watched Sakura move around the kitchen, making her coffee. "Eh, is Harumi staying with you?"
"Yeah. She's asleep in the spare room right now." Sakura replied as she glanced at the blonde. "Meaning, quiet down."
"Gomen Sakura-chan." Naruto chuckled.
"So why are you two going to Otafuku Gai?"
"I don't know. Jiraiya just said that I was going with him for two days. If it was just more of his research then I don't think he would bother taking me along."
"Maybe he wants to teach you something or have you help him with something."
"Maybe."
Sakura leaned against the counter across from Naruto and studied him a moment. "Are you okay?" He seemed sad and slightly let down.
"Just thinking." He replied solemnly.
"About Sasuke?" Sakura questioned without thinking.
Naruto only nodded before looked into her jade eyes.
"Don't worry. He's coming back. He promised." Sakura smiled reassuringly and then move to make her coffee.
"What's with this promise you keep talking about?" Naruto asked confused.
"When I was in Sound, Orochimaru had asked me to heal his arms and help Kabuto with the experiments. In return, I would get the chance to bring Sasuke home. I initially refused, but in the end agreed to heal his arm for the simple price of Orochimaru giving up Sasuke if he wanted to leave Sound of his own free will. Sasuke and I got into an argument about him coming home and after some events took place, he promised he would come home after Itachi was dead and no longer a threat." Sakura replied, summing up the deal.
"I just hope that this time he really does come home." Naruto said softly.
"He will. Don't worry." Sakura replied with her own promise behind her words. "And if he doesn't, then I'm going to kill him." She added nonchalantly, causing Naruto let out a bark of laughter.
Naruto nodded to himself before jumping off the counter. He walked until he was directly in front of Sakura before taking her coffee and taking a gulp.
"Hey! If you wanted some, you should have told me." Sakura snapped as she took the cup back.
"That's okay. I just wanted a taste." He laughed before walking towards the door. "I'll see you later, Sakura-chan."
"Hai. Ja ne, Naruto-kun." Sakura finished her coffee and set the cup in the sink as the door closed behind Naruto.
She let out a sigh and then moved to her bathroom to take a shower and get ready for her breakfast with Tenten.
-----
"I think we're taking after Naruto."
"Kami, save us all."
The two friends burst into laughter while the red head raised an eyebrow in confusion.
Tenten swivel in her seat to face Harumi, who was sitting on the other side of Sakura, and then smiled pleasantly. "Sakura-chan tells me you are a medic."
Harumi nodded but didn't say anything.
"Interesting…" Tenten glanced towards Sakura who was looking at Harumi in a concerned fashion. "You must be talented."
"People say I am." Harumi's large, green orbs turned to the elder girl in a timid fashion.
Tenten grinned at the fact that she got the girl to say something. The only thing to come out of her mouth since Sakura and her had met up with Tenten at Ichiraku was a simple "ohayo".
"So, where's Naruto? Isn't he normally here by this time, sucking the place dry?" Tenten questioned Sakura.
"He went to Otafuku Gai with Jiraiya-san." Sakura replied with a sigh. "He said that Jiraiya-san asked him to tag along but for reasons unknown. Everyone knows what that town is famous for-"
"The Fun Fun Street kanrakugai?"
"-and the women. It wouldn't surprise me if Jiraiya-san just brought him along for the two days so spy on females." Sakura continued after Tenten cut in.
"That sucks." Tenten took a bite of her miso ramen before letting out a sigh. "Okay, I need advice."
Sakura and Harumi both turned to the brunette with a raised eyebrow. "What kind?" Sakura asked with a grin.
"So you know that Neji and I have been dating for some time. Well, the other day we were talking about something completely random when some people walked past us and started whispering stuff, thinking we wouldn't hear, but the problem is, we're shinobi and have really good hearing, so we heard it all. They were saying stuff like 'She's not good enough for the Hyuuga clan' and that 'Neji is an embarrassment for dating someone like her'. Now I ask, and for your info I don't care what they have to say because I am completely happy with how my life is, but why in the hell would someone think that about me?" Tenten explained quickly.
"Maybe they are just jealous because you guys are in love and they aren't." Sakura answered after a moment. "You're a respectable ninja with skills that few surpass. I don't believe that there is anything other then your attitude at times to make people suspect that you're a bad person for Neji to date."
"I agree with Sakura-san. You are a very nice person."
Tenten and Sakura were shocked that Harumi spoke.
"She speaks." Tenten pointed out bluntly.
"I know."
Harumi just rolled her eyes. Tenten completely forgot about her "problem" and began firing questions at light speed at the girl, wanting to know more about here. Harumi sighed and answered the as fast as she could while Sakura sat in the middle laughing.
-----
"Do you sense him?"
"Hai, he's to the south east of our position."
Onyx eyes narrowed greatly as he stood, followed by his team. "Pack up, we're leaving."
The three shinobi didn't question their leader's orders and immediately packed up the camp, making sure to leave no trace that they had even been there. Once set, Sasuke started towards the direction that Karin had informed him his brother was in.
'Southeast…that's Fire Territory…Konoha…what are you doing there?'
-----
A knock on the large, solid door pulled the blonde away from her work. She gave permission to enter and only raised her eyes to see who had entered. The familiar red head tilted his head in respect to the Godaime before taking a seat before her desk.
"They have all arrived."
Tsunade sighed and completely sat up to look at the young man. It was only now that she noticed he was completely dressed in the formal Kage garbs. "Has the meeting started?"
"Soon."
She sighed once more before standing. Tsunade grabbed the traditional hat from her desk and placed it upon her head. Gaara watched the woman as she straightened herself out before heading towards the door with the red head behind her.
They walked to the bottom floor of the hokage's mansion where the large meeting room was located. They entered the simple room and all attention was pulled to the Hokage herself. She was the only Kage that was not wearing the formal outfit. She took her seat at the head of the table while Gaara found his spot to the right of her. ANBU lined the room, making sure that nothing would happen. They did not want a repeat of what happed only four years earlier during the Chunin exams.
Tsunade looked around the table. The five great Shinobi Nations Kages were all present, each with their own personal advisor standing behind them. Even Shizune and Temari were present and behind their respectable leader.
"Thank you all for coming today. I realize that for some, it was a long journey." Tsunade started as she sat up straight and watched everyone carefully. "Approximately two weeks ago Orochimaru was killed and Otogakure was destroyed. The Kazekage and I have spoken on the matter, and we have decided that the best course of action is to go in and destroy any labs that have been left over from Orochimaru."
"And what of the county? Rice Field Country has poised a threat for several years now. What are we to do to them?" Amber eyes snapped to the elderly man who was the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure no sato. (2)
"That is what we have come to discuss. Konoha's ANBU can take care of the labs. In this instance, I believe that Rice needs to become a neutral territory monitored by the nations. There are still rogue ninja there, and we need to be sure that it doesn't rise to power like it had with Orochimaru." Tsunade replied.
"And how are we supposed to monitor it if one of the five nations has issues with another nation?" The Raikage, a middle aged man with a bad attitude, sneered. (3)
"I believe that we should write out a set of laws that we all agree on and will enforce on Rice Country. The daimyo is a weak man who only allowed Orochimaru to build a hidden village because he was worried about losing power over the country. If the Five Nations approach him with the set of laws that must be followed, then he will have no choice but to accept it." Gaara answered in turn. "It would only make sense that we allow them to live on without taking completely control of their country, but at the same time, leave laws to ensure that they will not go against another country."
There was silence for a moment before the Mizukage spoke up. (4)
"And what would these laws include?" It was almost as if he was expecting them to not be able to come up with anything.
"Simple. Rice can not make any alliances and may not have a hidden village. We can allow them to have shinobi, because it would be wrong to take away any protection they may need in the future, but they can't hold any of the tests, however they may participate in the exams. It will be rules such as that to just ensure that they will not poise as a threat." Tsunade replied.
"If I may ask, who was it that took down Orochimaru?" Tsuchikage asked with a chuckle and a grin.
"If you must know, Uchiha Sasuke, but it was also a joint effort between Konoha and Suna." Tsunade replied with a sigh.
"You mean that traitor to your village?" Mizukage ridiculed.
"Yes, I mean that traitor to this village." Tsunade replied in a tired voice. "A team of my best shinobi and the Kazekage himself, as well as a team of his own Sand shinobi, had gone into Sound and were able to take down Orochimaru as well as a large portion of his experiments."
"That is very interesting…" All eyes moved to the Raikage, who had a hand on his chin in a thoughtful manor. "However, I will require time to think this over and decide if it is really worth it-to join up with you all…"
"In six months time we will reconvene here once more. In that time, Sunagakure and Konohagakure are planning on sending in ANBU to clean out what is left behind from Orochimaru. In six months, we will decide what the appropriate course of action will ensue." (5) (6)
"Very well. In six months then." The Tsuchikage stood with a warm smile on his face. "If we are done, I would like to be getting back to my country."
"It is done, unless anyone else something more to bring forth." Tsunade replied with a glance around the table. Silence was her only answer. "Then I deem this meeting adjourned. If you would like, I came set up accommodations for one more night and you can get a fill nights rest before traveling."
"Thank you very much." The old man smile before leaving the room with his advisor. The two other Kages nodded in thanks and farewell before leaving as well.
Tsunade dismissed the ANBU before leading the way back up to her office.
"That went better then I thought it would." Shizune commented once the door was shut behind the two Kages and two advisors.
"Yes. But did you notice the glares being sent back and forth between the Mizukage and Raikage?" Temari snickered.
"Those two have always had issues with each other." Tsunade sighed as she took her seat.
"So now what?" Shizune asked, but her question seemed to hang in the air.
After a moment of silence, Gaara turned his head towards the older woman. "We wait."
-----
"I'm going to warn you right now, I tend to get unexpected visitors at random hours, who don't always use the front door." Sakura giggled as she, Tenten, and Harumi headed back to her house.
"Is that who was at the door this morning? A random visitor?" Harumi asked confused.
"Oh yes. The most random of them all." Tenten laughed.
"Stop that." Sakura scolded Tenten before turning to Harumi. "It was Naruto this morning. He came by to tell me he was leaving."
"Oh." Harumi blushed lightly as they continued.
"So, when are you able to train again?" Tenten asked.
"I figure once the pain goes away. Why? Miss me already?" Sakura teased.
"Not likely. Just didn't want you to fall to far behind because then it won't be fun kicking your butt in sparing." Tenten replied with an air of smugness.
"Please, you only won that time because I fell of the tree dodging your attack and I sprained my ankle." Sakura snapped.
"Yeah…sure…"
-----
It was night time by the time the group crossed into Fire Territory. It was safe to say that the leader was ready to just dump the team and go on ahead. He was tired of Karin and Suigetsu's annoying and relentless bickering. They sounded like school kids!
"Enough!" He finally had snapped.
"Yeah, ass hole." Karin snapped her head to the side with her nose pointed in the air.
"Why you-"
"I said enough." Sasuke said dangerously. "We'll camp here for the night. There isn't a village around here for miles. We should be fine."
"Okay, Sasuke-kun!" Karin moved to set up her sleeping mat while Suigetsu and Juugo went to collect fire wood and food.
Sasuke jumped up to a high branch in one of the trees circling the clearing and looked out towards the direction that Konoha was in. You couldn't see the great village from this far away, but if he activated his sharingan and squinted, he was sure he could just barely make out the Hokage Mountain.
In the back of his mind, Sasuke noticed that the guys had come back and that Karin and Suigetsu were at it once more, but for once, Sasuke just left them alone, not really caring what they did to each other.
Just this once, Sasuke was wishing that it was Naruto and Sakura down there arguing while Kakashi stood off on the side lines watching with amusement only seen in that one onyx eye.
Just this once, he wished that things were different, that his nii-san never changed and took his family way from him, that Orochimaru never came back to Konoha for the sharingan he possessed, that he never deflected.
Just this once he wished that he was just some average ninja. Not some prodigy that everyone had expected so much out of. That his tou-san had said "that's my boy" too him as well as too Itachi.
Just this once, he allowed his mask to drop while no one was looking, and let his emotions over take him.
Just this once.
-----
Sakura sat on the couch reading one of her medical journals that she had received from Tsunade the day before she was released from the hospital while Harumi was in the kitchen making a snack. After they head breakfast with Tenten, the trio had gone back to Sakura's apartment and talked some more before a messenger had found the weapons mistress and summoned her to Tsunade's office for a mission. Sakura had decided to give Harumi the full tour of Konoha, which took all day. After that, Sakura had dropped the girl off at the hospital so she could see her brother before going home.
Harumi had just arrived back at the apartment, the time being nine forty-five.
Now, they were taking it easy. As Sakura continued ready, she noticed Harumi freeze out of her peripheral vision. Then she felt it. It was nothing more then a flicker, but she felt it.
"Don't even think about it Hatake." Sakura snapped annoyed as she watched the gray haired jonin come around to the front side of the couch while pocketing a kunai. "You know, I'm pretty sure there are laws forbidding you from entering a home without permission and attacking the owner."
Kakashi shrugged and then took a seat beside the medic before pulling out his smut novel 'Icha Icha Paradise'.
"How did you break in this time?" Sakura asked as she studied the man. "I made sure to lock all of the windows and doors."
"Roof."
Sakura looked up at the ceiling and then back to Kakashi. "How?"
"You forget there is a sky light in the master bathroom." Kakashi replied lazily and without looking up from his book.
Sakura rolled her eyes and settled back into the couch. "I always forget the sky light." She mumbled to herself.
By this time, Harumi unfroze and timidly wandered into the living room. She took a seat on the couch and turned on the TV while eating her snack.
"So why are you here?" Sakura finally asked.
"Just thought I'd drop by." Kakashi replied.
"Why?"
"Can an old instructor not drop in on a student every now and then to see them?"
Sakura had to hold back a smile at the irony of his words seeing as though he really did drop in. "Not when that instructor is you."
"Not nice."
"But its true. You like your silence and peace and quiet. You don't seek out anyone unless there's a good reason for it or it in some shape or form will benefit you." Sakura sighed. "The whole team is like that. At least Naruto is starting to learn how to knock on my door."
"Now you're just stereotyping."
Sakura raised an eyebrow and gave her old sensei a look. "How am I stereotyping?" Then she grinned and spoke in a tone that you would use when talking to a baby. "Did little Kakashi learn a new word today? Such a good boy."
Kakashi rolled his eye and gave Sakura a pointed look. "I'm not a dog you know."
"I'm sure you could pass as one." Sakura replied in a sarcastic tone.
Harumi continued to watch their antics. They were amusing. One wouldn't have figured that they were student and teacher by the way they acted. Maybe good friends, but never student and teacher.
"Just once, is all that I ask for. Just once you would knock on the door without coming through my bathroom skylight." Sakura sighed while Kakashi shrugged.
"Do you know why Jiraiya asked Naruto to go to Otafuku Gai with him?" Sakura suddenly asked.
"No. Jiraiya just told me that he needed to check on something in another town and that he was bringing Naruto with him." Kakashi replied, finally looking away from his book.
"Oh…" Sakura looked back down at the medical journal while Kakashi studied his student.
"You think something's up?"
"I don't know. Naruto just seemed to be off when he came to see me this morning before leaving."
Kakashi nodded his head and went back to his book while Harumi finally turned back to the TV and Sakura read her medical journal.
'Now I know what she meant when she said she gets random visitors.' Harumi thought to herself.
-----
"Tsunade-sama, we've received word from Jiraiya." Tsunade looked up as a decoder woman rushed into the room.
"Let me see it."
"Here."
The lady thrust the decoded letter to Tsunade who grabbed it from the lady.
Tsunade-
It's exactly as we thought. I wasn't planning on seeing them here, but I did. Thankfully Naruto was in the store next door to the stand. We're coming back tonight. I suggest that you put the patrol on high alert.
Jiraiya
That hokage furrowed her brows and cursed.
"What is it, Tsunade-sama?" The woman asked anxiously.
"Nothing." Tsunade quickly scrawled out a note and handed it to the decoder. "Give this to one of the shinobi patrolling and tell them to pass on the word to all others who are patrolling the wall." Tsunade commanded.
"Hai, Tsunade-sama."
The woman left briskly, heading straight for the wall. However once far enough away, took a quick glimpse at the note before ripping her eyes away from it fearfully.
Stay on high alert. We're at the start of a war.
-Godaime Hokage Tsunade
-----
Sakura shifted in her bed before finally giving up and getting out of bed. It was a little after one in the morning she noticed as she passed the clock on the wall of her living room. She went into the kitchen and grabbed her pill bottle. She took a pain killer and then sat down at the kitchen table in the dark. She didn't know what was bothering her.
Maybe it was the fact that she was so used to having Sasuke there with her while she slept, or that after coming back to Konoha, it didn't seem like anything had happen. Sure shops were ruined and there was still some rebuilding going on from the invasion, but apart from that, the village looked untouched and it seemed like the villagers didn't even acknowledge that anything had happened only a short month and a half ago.
Was it really only a month and a half? It felt so much longer to her. It felt like months on end that she was stuck in Oto, but when she thought back to Sasuke, it didn't seem like long enough.
Sakura let out a sigh. This was getting annoying. She was losing sleep just because her mind, and inner, refused to believe that being back in Konoha was just some dream and she was going to wake up, only to find that she was still in Oto and Orochimaru was still alive.
Just once she wished her brain would take a rain check and go on vacation without her.
She got pulled from her mental rant when there was a soft tap on the front door. Letting out a loan groan she stood and moved to the door. She looked out the peep hole, only to find Shikamaru on the other side.
Feeling slightly exposed wearing nothing but short shorts and a tank top under a worn cotton robe, Sakura pulled the robe tightly closed over her petite body before opening the door.
"Shikamaru? Its one in the morning. What are you doing here?" She asked, only now noticing he too was only wearing his pajamas, which consisted of sweat pants and a baggy t-shirt.
"A messenger came to my door saying that Tsunade demands we come to her office within ten minutes, even if it meant coming in nothing but a bath towel." Shikamaru replied with an irritable undertone. One up on sounding his usual lazy and annoyed.
"Why?" Sakura asked confused.
"I don't know. The messenger just said to grab you and go to the office." Shikamaru replied.
"Fine. Let me pull on some sweat pants."
Sakura left Shikamaru standing in the door way and ran back into her room. She pulled on some sweats over her shorts and then quickly wrote a note for Harumi before leaving with Shikamaru after locking the door.
The two raced down the empty street and made it to the mansion just in time. When they entered, the two spotted Naruto and Jiraiya conversing in the corner of the room while Kakashi was standing in front of Tsunade's desk. Said woman was pacing back and forth behind said desk while Shizune was looking a bit frazzled.
"What's going on?" Sakura asked as she and Shikamaru stood beside Kakashi. "I thought you weren't going to be back for two days?" She then said to Naruto.
"You three were called in because a situation has arisen." Tsunade replied as she let out a solemn sigh and finally took a seat. "I know that you are still healing, Sakura, but this isn't really going to affect you all that much for the time being. In fact, this doesn't really affect you guys for a while…I hope…"
"What do you mean, Tsunade-sama?" Sakura asked confused.
"We are going into a war with the Akatsuki, that I don't believe we are going to be able to win without some major help." Tsunade's amber eyes bore into three shinobi before her before Sakura took a step forward and slammed her hands down on the desk.
"WHAT!"
(1): Otafuku Gai: "Homely Woman Town" Located approximately 12 kilometers from Konoha is Otafuku City, home of the Fun Fun Street kanrakugai (pleasure quarter). It is marked by many hotels and entertainment venues. This was Naruto and Jiraiya's first stop on their journey to find Tsunade.
(2): Iwagakure no sato/Tsuchikage: Earth Country's (Tsuchi no Kuni) hidden village is Iwagakure no sato (Hidden Rock Village) and is run by the Tsuchikage (Earth Shadow). Earth is one of the five great nations.
(3): Raikage: Lightning Country's (Kaminari no Kuni) hidden village is Kumogakure no sato (Hidden Cloud Village) and is run by the Raikage (Lightning Shadow). Lightning is one of the five great nations.
(4): Mizukage: Water Country's (Mizu no Kuni) hidden village is Kirigakure no sate (Hidden Mist Village) and is run by the Mizukage (Water Shadow). Water is one of the five great nations.
(5): Sunagakure: Wind Country's (Kaze no Kuni) hidden village is Sunagakure no sato (Hidden Sand Village) and is run by the Kazekage (Wind Shadow). Wind is one of the five great nations.
(6): Konohagakure: Fire Country's (Hi no Kuni) hidden village is Konohagakure no sato (Hidden Leaf Village) and is run by the Hokage (Fire Shadow). Fire is one of the five great nations.
I only posted these because someone had asked about them. She was new to the Naruto world and didn't know everything. See, aren't I sweet? haha. Please excuse mistakes. I only quickly read it over. I didn't really check it for any errors. Please review. I love reading what you guys think!
missy