The Lost Souls
Chapter 29, PART FOUR
"We will Race to Konoha, by Playing... Tag." Kakashi announced
and everyone looked at him quizzically and like he lost his head.
"Nani Sensi, what do you mean?" Sakura asked as she looked at him.
"Aa Sakura this is no children's game that you are thinking about. This is... Well let me show you." Kakashi stated as he tossed a handful of kunai's out, Sakura dropped to the ground as it soared over her head.
"Kakashi, what was the meaning of that!" Ino bellowed as she pulled grass out of her blonde hair.
"It's tag, just a little more violent, if you scratch someone with your kunai they are it, or if you land your seal on them they are it. The goal is to get to Konoha without being tagged or the tagger." Kaakashi said and everyone nodded.
"Go." Kakashi called and all the ninja scattered. Sakura remained standing in the clearing with a confused Team Hebi. She sighed and started walking into the tree line, they followed without much fuss.
"Kakashi-sensi, likes to play little challenging games. Everyone will be racing to get to Konoha first and hunt each other that they will all be tagged. So staying back is smarter if not the best thing." Sakura stated as she calmly dunked under a tree branch, she walked over the roots and upturned trees, with Team Hebi behind her.
"Oh Sakura, why aren't you participating?" Kakashi asked as he appeared in front of her, she climbed on the large red wood tree and stared down at him with an icy glare.
"They are stupid. Obviously they will race to get there first, eventually they will stop and pick each other off, they will all eliminate each other, while exhausting themselves. Then all I have to do is walk through the gates." Sakura stated without much emotion.
"You ruin all my games." Kakashi said with a frown and he pulled out a kunai.
"But it won't be that simple." Kakashi said and lunged at her, she dropped to the ground ad hid behind the huge tree, Kakashi blurred above her and she dug her claws into the bark, she flipped her body up and stood beside Sasuke.
She glared at Kakashi and pulled her own kunai out. She launched it at her sensi with incredible speed but she didn't aim. Kakashi noticed her terrible aim and didn't both to move as the kunai missed his ear and logged itself into the tree. He smirked at her and started to lean forward when complete shock took over His body. He glanced at his cheek that started to bleed, he felt the small line of blood and looked at the smirking girl.
"Your out Kakashi-sensi." Sakura said in a cocky tone, as she leaned on one leg, and her long pink locks blew behind her.
"Sakura... " Kakashi stated as he pulled the kunai out of the tree and looked it over, seeing if he'd missed something.
"I insert my Chakra into it, just like how I cut veins and cause internal damage." She said and she grabbed another kunai and showed her chakra on it and around it. "I can adjust the width and length, the person will over look it." She stated and pocketed her kunai and held her hand out for her other kunai.
Kakashi handed her the kunai and then walked ahead "Even though I'm out, I can still cause trouble!" He chorused and she glared at him before smoke took his place and the forest was quiet once more.
"Wow Sakura-chan that was amazing!" Suigutsu said and before the pink haired girl could reply an outraged scream came from the left side of the forest, they all looked in that direction and saw a furious Naruto running up to them.
"DID YOU CALL MY SAKURA-CHAN... SAKURA-CHAN?" Naruto yelled angrily and Sakura glared at him, before he pushed her back and prepared to fight the surprised Suigutsu.
"Hey Naruto." Sakura called sweetly and he turned around to face her, he looked at her smile and swooned before her unexpected fist knocked him into the air and on his butt.
"Sakura! That hurt..." He whined and she scowled at him.
"Naruto, don't call me yours. I'm not a damn possession." Sakura growled at him and he spewed out apologies as she moved forward jumping over fallen trees and avoiding low branches.
Team Hebi followed with small smirks, all besides the gloomy Karin who still hadn't gotten over how the other girls jumped on her attitude and defended Sakura. Sasuke walked beside Naruto and Sakura, he watched the forest and all the Chakra's springing around with his crimson eyes.
They finally arrived thought the gates and met tired looking ninja, they all had a small wound somewhere that represented that they had been it or gotten out.
"Well Sakura won." Kakashi said and team Hebi looked confused.
"We traveled with her, you know!" Karin complained loudly, and drew three pairs of vicious eyes to her, as well as the boys uncaring eyes.
"I know, but I got all of you when you weren't paying attention." Kakashi stated and Suigutu looked at his wrist, while Karin looked at her shoulder, and Juugo looked at his collarbone. Sasuke looked around his body and didn't find a scratch, he looked at Kakashi quizzically.
"Yes Sasuke I didn't get you." Kakashi said with a smirk.
"Why?" Sasuke asked his tone emotionless and cold.
"Because, Sakura already did." Kakashi said and motioned towards the mark on Sasuke's neck. Sasuke looked down and his eyes widened, he saw a thin line of dried blood and a small area of broken skin, he wondered when she had done it.
Flashback.
Sakura pulled him on to her and stared into his eyes for a moment, she sighed and content as he moved down to kiss her, before he could do so she out a manicured finger to his lips and smiled at him, she slipped out of his grip and her sharp nails trailed his neck.
End flashback.
'She seduced me. Hn.' He thought to himself and smirked at the deceitful girl, he had to give her credit, he hadn't even noticed.
They continued though the gates and into the village, Sasuke looked around and noticed that things hadn't changed much. Some things were updated or stores had gone out of business and were replaced by new ones. He noticed how everyone greeted Sakura and Naruto and how many looked at him skeptically but happily.
"SAKURA!" A unfamiliar voice called and the pinkette turned around to see a brown haired man standing in front of her with a rose, she gave her a dashing smile and handed her the beautiful flower.
"There is a mascarade ball tonight, and I was wondering if you would be my date?" The man stated and she looked at his name tag and then looked back at his face, she heard Ino boo the man slightly and Hinata swoon at the romance, while Tenten threw insults around and cursed men for their sexist tactics.
"I would love to but I already have a date." Sakura said and looked at the man with a gorgeous smile and sorry jade eyes. He swooned and walked away with a few compliments.
"Sakura you need to teach me how to do that." Ino whined and looked at dazed boy who stumbled away.
"I'm sorry Ino I can't teach you, how to get attractive boys to talk to you." Sakura stated and smirked as her best friend caught her insult and hissed at her.
"I have no problem getting attractive men to talk to me but I can't twirl them around my finger like you can." Ino stated and glared at Sakura.
"It's easy, just smile, wink occasionally if you like them, or give them innocent looks if you don't." Sakura said and shrugged her shoulders not really sure how to explain it, she didn't want men to track her down and ask for dates and propose it just happened.
"Show me." Ino complained and Sakura looked at a cute black haired boy who was tossing an apple up and down. Sakura walked over to him and smiled at him before she gently touched his arm and he melted in her hands.
"By any chance could you tell me the fastest way to the Hokage's tower?" Sakura asked and the boy started stuttering how to get there and offering to take her.
"I'm sure with how great your descriptions were I can find it by myself." Sakura said and thanked the man before she walked back to the large group and walked beside a gloomy Ino and bored Tenten.
After a ten minute walk they reached the Hokage's building and we're inside the woman's office. She greeted them with a lopsided smile.
"Hello! Welcome back, it's been so long!" Tsundae slurred and Sakura attempted to take the bottle out if her hand. The woman didn't comply and Sakura ended up breaking the bottle.
"I have important news over the files." Tsundae said and everyone looked at her with anticipation. She breathed a few times and Sakura swore that everyone could hear her heart beating within her chest.
"
Tsundae spit it out!" Tenten said as her patients was tested and she grew grumpy.
"Oh yeah! The Elders looked over it and want Sasuke dead." She stated and Sakura's eyes widened.
"The bad news is... The third Hokage had another file on it and ensures Saftey towards Sasuke, and more of the story." The Hokage said and Sakura pieced it together while Naruto blew his top.
"Shut up!" Sakura yelled and sat on the corner of Tsundae's desk, she looked at everyone and stated.
"The Fifth Hokage is drunk. The good news is that Sasuke should be safe and the story of the file is complete, the bad news is Sasuke is in endanger now. So keep on guard and when Tsundae sobers up we shall go visit the elders." Sakura said and looked at the Hokage with a small glare.
"No need were here." Danzo said as he stepped in and the Shinobi cleared a path for him. All of their eyes remained on the older man, tension filled the room and Sakura placed her hand to the Hokages forehead and began taking away her drunk state. By the time the Elders had linked up in front of The Hokages desk, Tsundae was fully somber and Sakura moved to her side.
"Tsundae what is the meaning of the Uchiha's return. Did you know of this?" Homura asked in a quiet fragile female voice.
"The Uchiha is accepted in Konoha and will go unpunished of his crimes. I did know about his return." Tsundae said and looked at the Elders with anger.
"He is an S-ranked criminal as well as his delinquent team! He will not be left to roam this village and exploit our secrets and terrorize the villagers." Koharu said in outrage.
"Terror? You didn't terrorize the village enough when you sent a Konoha ninja to kill the Uchiha clan... " Tsundae yelled and slammed her fist on the desk her eyes wide in rage and her body shaking with power. Sasuke's eyes widened in shock and looked at Sakura who stared at him with a sorrowful look.
"W-What are you talking about Tsundae? Are you accusing us of the Uchiha Massacre?" Koharu asked as he glared at the woman.
"Have you let these children poison your mind?" Homura asked and started at Sakura and Naruto in fear.
"The only mind I'll be poisoning is yours." Sakura hissed out her eyes already turning t green and black, but we power swirling within herself. The woman stepped back at the threat and examined the girl with cautious and fearful eyes.
"Sakura relax." Kakashi said from behind her, the said girl glanced over her shoulder and nodded hesitantly and then focused her eyes back on the elders.
"Maybe this file will remind you of your crimes." Tsundae stated as she held out the file and showed them the mission report that Danzo had filled out and the other two elders had signed. Their eyes widened and Danzo cursed inwardly.
"That is a forged document." Danzo spoke up for the first time in a while and looked at the group of Shinobi with quizical eyes, and back at the Hokage with a daring gaze.
"No it is not. It makes sense to." The Hokage said and Sakura whispered to her as the young girl could tell that Sasuke was about to explode with the secrets.
"Itachi Uchiha killed the Uchiha clan because the Konoha Elders believed the Uchiha clan was gaining to much power and would overrun the current system. They were afraid of change and decided to eliminate the threat. Using Itachi who had been the Uchiha's ANBU spy as a double spy. He didn't betray his family... He had grown up and war and if the Uchiha were to overthrow the leaf then we would be in another war. Itachi wanted to keep peace, so under Konoha's order he slaughtered the clan." The Hokage said and Sakura looked down having gone over the information many times.
Many gasps sounded from the room and she could feel Sasuke's eyes glaring holes into her body. He remained quiet and processed the information.
"In return for Itachi killing off his clan, his younger brother was saved. Sasuke Uchiha." The Hokage said and glared at the council.
"This secret will stay in this room, and Danzo you will be removed from the council and banished from the leaf village. Koharu and Homura, you may stay as Elders, the third believed that you were pressured and threatened." The Hokage stated and nodded to the two fearful people.
"I will not be banished from my home. I saved us from another war." Danzo sneered and attempted to snatch the folder.
"You killed an innocent blood line and drove them to near extinction. You sent an innocent man running, and a little boy chasing after him for revenge. " Tsundae said in fury. She started to close the file before a flash of black snatched it out of her hands. Sai stood beside Danzo, the file securely in his hands.
"Sai!" Sakura yelled and he looked at her with an apology playing in his deep eyes and she looked at him with betrayal and hurt embedded in her own.
"As Sasuke came back to his old home, I went back to mine. You replaced me with a criminal. Yes some of the crimes weren't his fault but others, like murdering people and following Oruchimaru we're his choice. He's far from innocent." Sai said and the room looked down slightly and Sakura hung her head, everyone kept their eyes on the pink haired girl.
"Your right..." She said quietly with a bitter smile before she looked up, a promise for death and sorrow radiated in her eyes. "But then again, neither am I." She said and in a blur of pink she appeared before him and drove a kunai through his right abdomen, and snatched back the file. She appeared beside the Hokage once more as Sai groaned in pain.
She had driven him into the wall and punctured the handle of the kunai through is body, lodging the first inch of the weapon into the wood wall, he was stuck. She looked at Danzo with anticipation, the man stared back at her with interest.
"What are you?" He asked as he watched her face break apart before it cracked back together and she looked human again.
"I'm an outcast, just like my best friends. Just like the Kyuubi vessel, and the S-class criminal. Just like the green spandex wearing idiot, and the overly smart yet lazy genius, and the girl that hides her insecurities behind her conceded act. Just like the Tom boy that can kick anyone's ass with three weapons, and the heirs that won't ever be good enough for her father, and the destiny prone boy. The same as the boy that talks to dogs, and fat kid that eats everything, the teacher that finds herself at the bottom of the bottle and the sorrowful Sensi that has a hidden past. I'm the same as them, we're all different. Just some of us have more differences and more riding on us than others." Sakura said her eyes burning with determination.
She felt invincible and rebellious. Sakura looked at Sasuke's hurt eyes and gave him a small glance before her eyes switched to Danzo, waiting for a fight. He turned and left the room, Neji and Tenten following him while all the other ninja's dispersed outside of The Hokage's office.
"How could you not tell me!" Sasuke yelled the second Sakura stepped outside, she looked at him in shock and sputtered to say something but nothing would come out.
