The Turning Point
Arriving at the famed Rainbow Glacier Sakura thought it was an extreme miracle that neither she nor Sasuke had suffered severe frostbite or hypothermia. After insisting that Sasuke take his cloak back so that neither of them would completely freeze to death, Sakura led the way towards where they thought the Rainbow Glacier was.
Getting lost a few times seemed inevitable and Sasuke cursed the frozen wasteland which inhibited their vision and muscle movement. Standing at the very edge of the seven glaciers Sakura and Sasuke could see Doto placing the hex crystal into a mechanism in the centre of the glaciers which promptly activated and began to light up the ground in the shape of a snowflake. The glaciers began to reflect different colours and Koyuki watched them completely transfixed.
"I don't see Naruto" Sakura muttered to Sasuke as both ninja crouched behind a smaller glacier so as not to be seen.
Steam began to burst out from hidden pipes around each of the glaciers which had stopped reflecting colours. The snow began to melt quickly and water began to flow out of crevices and formed a strong stream.
"What's going on? Why is it warm all of a sudden?" Sasuke asked shrugging out of his cloak still keeping a close eye on Doto.
"I don't know it's really strange" Sakura replied removing her own cloak.
"What is this? The Kazahana clan's treasure is nothing but a heat generator!?" Doto said enraged and seized Koyuki by the throat.
Digging into her ninja pouch Sakura coiled her hand around her kunai and poison senbon needle. If she could get close enough and find a spot his armour didn't cover Sakura knew Doto's chakra absorption techniques wouldn't protect him against a fast spreading poison in the bloodstream.
"Hn wait I see the dobe" Sasuke said pointing in the direction of a small snowmobile which carried their teammate and the director of the Princess Gale movies.
"Koyuki!" Naruto called out, jumping off the fast moving vehicle and running straight for the princess.
This can't be good, Sakura thought and Doto let out an angry cry at the appearance of Naruto, he quickly threw Koyuki on the ground and made a quick series of hand signals, "Ice Style Black Dragon Blizzard!"
Throwing his fist forward Doto released a black coloured blur which quickly took on the form of a dragon. The body seemed to stretch on for metres as the creature obtained bright red eyes and sharp fangs. Setting its sights on Naruto the dragon flew forward and slammed into the blond boy smacking him into the air with the back of its tail. Upon contact the jutsu quickly dissolved and the dragon disappeared. From their position Sakura and Sasuke saw Naruto fall from high into the air to land face first on the hard ground covered in a thick layer of ice.
But just as quick as he had been knocked down Naruto was back up and looking determinedly at Koyuki hell bent on saving her from Doto. The chakra absorption contraption that had been placed on his stomach began to seep out orange coloured chakra which amazed Sasuke and Sakura. Doto too had noticed that his device seemed inadequate which only fuelled his hatred of the obnoxious blond boy. Taking a few tentative steps forward Doto quickly broke into a run straight for Naruto who was still regaining his balance and slammed his fist downwards. In a replication of one of Sakura's punches Doto hit Naruto under the ice and into the freezing cold water below.
"He can't stay down there for too long or he'll freeze to death, we need to use that part from the chakra armour of the snow ninja's to crack Doto's" Sakura whispered to Sasuke and pulled the purple object out of her pocket and handed it to him.
"Hn right. I'll use the Chidori" Sasuke said taking purple chakra piece and activating the Chidori in his right hand, the sound of birds chirping echoing off the glaciers.
"I'm going to see if I can get Naruto out. Koyuki seems okay over there" Sakura called to him as Sasuke set off running towards Doto tearing up the ice on the ground.
Sakura ran towards the edge of the water where Naruto had been thrown in and panicked when she realised how deep it actually was. I can't even see the bottom and with all his clothes on who knows how fast he's sinking, Sakura thought worriedly and half considered jumping into the water. Peering closer into the murky depths the pink haired teen's thoughts brightened a little when she noticed a glowing orange light. Naruto's chakra had fully broken through the barrier of the chakra absorption device.
"CHIDORI!" Sasuke yelled pushing the purple chakra stone closer towards Doto's armour seal and adding his right hand bearing the Chidori for extra force.
The seal began to fracture under the pressure and Sasuke pushed harder knowing it was almost fully broken. Sakura quickly realised that because both his hands were occupied Sasuke was rendered defenceless as all of his energy was directed into chakra balancing the Chidori and getting it close enough to break the armours seal. Doto had obviously come to a similar conclusion himself as he extended his arm backwards and hit Sasuke across the face throwing him backwards.
Before he could hit the ice glacier behind her Sakura caught Sasuke and tried to steady herself for a non-critical landing. Rolling into the glacier seemed like a much better option than smashing straight into it and aside from a few cuts and bruises both came out unscathed. Sakura groaned a little and opened her eyes to see Doto striding towards Koyuki angrily cursing her father and the Kazahana clan for deceiving him.
Sakura moved fluidly towards the usurper and the princess stepping in front of Koyuki and grabbing Doto's wrist in a painfully tight grip to prevent him from striking her.
"Problem?" Sakura asked smirking at Doto who glared at her viciously.
"Out of my way brat" Doto demanded and attempted to strike Sakura with his other hand but Sakura reefed his wrist backwards pulling his whole body over to one side. Reaching for her senbon needle laced with poison Sakura had a clear shot for a main artery which would transfer the deadly poison around his body in minutes.
Unexpectedly Doto managed a powerful leg sweep knocking Sakura off her feet and onto the ground, the senbon needle falling into the icy water. Before she could reach for any other combatant against the tyrannical man, Doto had pinned her down with a forceful throat grab and began constricting Sakura's airway.
"Stop it! Leave her alone!" Koyuki cried hysterically but Doto chuckled manically.
Shakily Sakura moved her hand on top of Doto's wrist and attempted to wrestle his hand from her throat but her body decided to put all her energy into trying to gain gulps of oxygen and Sakura's hand went limp as she began gasping for air.
Suddenly the ground began rumbling loudly and the water began to turn a bright orange colour. "What is it now?" Doto asked relinquishing his grip on Sakura's throat as he turned his head to investigate.
Seizing her chance Sakura pushed Doto off her completely and scrambled away from him. Before he could even register what had happened Sakura had gathered the chakra into her right fist and decided to pay Doto back for the prominent bruises she now had around her throat.
"Back off!" Sakura said angrily and drove her fist into the side of his face.
Naruto burst out of the water surrounded by hundreds of shadow clones intent on finishing Doto off himself. Sakura quickly motioned for Koyuki to follow her back to where Sasuke was. Having recovered from Sakura's attack Doto had created his dragon jutsu again except this time there were two. The dragons swept over the Rainbow Glacier taking out large chunks of ice from the ground and then began destroying Naruto's shadow clones by morphing into a large twister and ripping the clones out of the sky.
Sakura, Sasuke and Koyuki shielded themselves from the strong wind which ripped across the frozen ground. When the jutsu had cleared Naruto remained standing with another clone beside him and a ball of chakra resting between himself and the clone.
What jutsu is that? Sasuke thought as Naruto and his clone began to run towards Doto, the sun which had now begun to rise hit the glaciers and reflected the light making it seem as though the spinning chakra tails of Naruto's jutsu were the colours of the rainbow. Doto struck at one of the Naruto's in front of him but it disappeared promptly leaving the real Naruto standing and holding the full ball of chakra in his hand.
"Take this, Rasengan!" Shoving his new jutsu into the breastplate of Doto's chakra armour which held the chakra absorptions seal, Naruto broke through it completely and the force of the blast sent Doto catapulting into one of the Rainbow Glaciers.
The ice fractured and broke instantly when Doto's body fell to the ground damaged beyond repair. Immediately the whole area around the Rainbow Glacier looked like a scene from an idyllic spring day filled with running water and flowery meadows. The film crew made happy exclamations about making the Princess Gale movie in 3D and a scene from Koyuki's childhood with her father was triggered to play in the middle of the glaciers.
Naruto grinned and lay back on the grass watching the scene and Koyuki's tearful reaction with tired joy. Kakashi too seemed pleased by the outcome of the mission having settled his score with Nadare and arriving just in time to see his squad working together to defeat Doto. Sakura and Sasuke sat side by side as Sasuke examined the bruises on Sakura's throat gingerly and tried to keep his thoughts from straying to Naruto's growing power.
Sakura preferred to stare at the ground instead of watching the scene playing as it reminded her too much of her own parents and their situation, healing the bruises around her throat Sakura was grateful that they had completed the mission successfully and that Koyuki seemed to have learned something from the experience.
A few days later and a message to surrounding lords and leaders were dispatched to announce the coronation ceremony of princess Koyuki Kazahana as the rightful queen of the Land of Snow. The film crew decided to stay and film for the ending of the movie which meant Team 7 were invited to the coronation as honoured guests. The ceremony went off without a hitch and Sakura was pleased that the Land of Snow had a ruler who would invest everything she had into the country.
"Thank you all for what you did for me, especially you Naruto you taught me not to give up on my dreams which is why I'm still going to be an actress" Koyuki explained at the official lunch in the newly built Kazahana palace.
"Are you sure you can manage running a country and being an actress?" Kakashi asked.
"Sure I mean why not it's my dream and I'm doing it for Sandayu as well. I hope he would have been happy with the way thing turned out" Koyuki replied looking a little sad.
"Don't worry princess, Sandayu would have been happy you made the right choice" Naruto said grinning and Koyuki smiled, "You're right, I do have to meet some of the leaders who have travelled here but please enjoy yourselves"
Spying the banquet table Sakura left her team and went to help herself to some food. The traditional dishes from the Land of Snow varied and Sakura happily picked up a plate and began spooning interesting looking components onto her plate. Taking her food Sakura began to walk amongst the different lords and leaders hearing bits and pieces of conversations, some complained about the catering and ceremony while others talked of business plans and alliances. Stopping to help a small child who had dropped his snow cone Sakura couldn't help but overhear a conversation between two lords.
"It's horrendous I tell you it seems like I get more of them sneaking across the borders every day. Missing ninja are become a serious problem for a lot of countries Lord Gorou"
"I'm afraid I'm all too aware of the issue Lord Osamu. You should have seen the commotion this woman made in my palace two days before I travelled here" Lord Gorou replied shoving a pastry into his face.
The talk of a woman who Sakura presumed was a missing ninja had her interest. The child long gone with a new snow cone Sakura busied herself at the dessert table lingering close enough to hear the rest of the conversation.
"She was so instant practically demanding that I help her find her husband. Disappeared mysteriously according to her, aliens I suspect" Lord Gorou mocked and Lord Osamu snickered as both moved beside Sakura to access the dessert table.
"What did you do? Osamu asked cutting himself a generous portion of cake.
"I sent the impatient bitch away; who did she think she was demanding something from a lord? From the Leaf Village too I recognised the headband. There wasn't much to her other than her green eyes and light red hair. Why are all the ugly females' ninja?" Gorou laughed and swallowed a caramel tart in one mouthful.
Sakura stabbed her fork into the wooden table and stared at her untouched food in horror. It didn't take a genius to work out that this Lord Gorou was talking about her mother. After all how many other female ninja were there with green eyes and red hair from the leaf village who were trying to find their missing husbands? This lord had refused to help her distressed mother who was clearly still very much alive and still searching for her husband. Sakura shook with anger and tried to focus her breathing so as not to do anything irrational.
"I hear the Land of Tea takes more missing ninja than anyone these days. Must be their corrupt leadership system trying to win favours with rouge ninja, but I hear most of it turns into gang warfare" Lord Osamu commented absentmindedly.
"Well she can go there for all I care. If she's lucky maybe a gang boss will take pity on her and make her his play thing. That'll make her forget about her 'abducted' husband" Gorou replied and let out a brutish laugh along with Lord Osamu.
Sakura could feel herself losing control and for once she didn't care, she was sick and tired of having to keep herself in check and not let her emotions get the better of her. The stress and confusion of the Chunin exams and the complications with Itachi Uchiha and the power of her Inner were overwhelming on their own. But to hear this lord bragging about refusing her mother who had risked everything for her family and then spoke about her in the most derogatory manner sent Sakura over the edge.
Shoving Lord Osamu aside roughly Sakura seized Lord Gorou by the collar of his ridiculously decorated robes and brought him to eye level with her.
"My mother came to you for help to find my father and you refused her. Then you call her a bitch and a gang boss's play thing right in front of me. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't shove my kunai into your chest, cut a huge hole and rip out all of your vital organs huh?"
"W-what are you talking about you psychotic girl!? P-put me down do you know who you're dealing with!?" Lord Gorou sputtered and looked around frantically for some help.
"Well it seems like I only have one option then" Sakura said calmly and reached for her kunai knife not sparing a glance at the shocked crowd that had formed around her. Lord Gorou began to yell and struggle as Sakura held the knife to his chest to begin the incision.
"Let's get rid of him completely. He thinks he can talk about our mother like that and live to tell the tale again. How is he going to do that without his major organs?" Inner encouraged happily and Sakura nodded.
"Sakura what the hell are you doing!?" Kakashi demanded as he, Sasuke and Naruto pushed through the crowd led by Lord Osamu.
Kakashi quickly disabled Sakura's hold on Lord Gorou who fell to the ground and wheezed loudly as Lord Osamu helped him. Sakura lunged for him again in a moment of hysteria but Naruto caught her by the wrist and banded his arms securely around her waist preventing her from doing it again. Sasuke looked at her through cautious eyes and Kakashi frowned at his student.
"Mind telling me why you've attacked a lord who has a strong alliance with the Leaf Village?"
"It's because she's a complete savage and surely a disgrace to the ninja of your village. I'd call for her immediate dismissal!" Lord Osamu said to Kakashi angrily.
"I'm not a savage and you best keep your mouth shut unless you want the same promise I made your disgusting friend. Kakashi-sensei that man refused to give my mother the aid she needed to find my father, he then insulted her honour as a ninja and a woman all in front of my face" Sakura explained trying to keep her voice from wavering.
"But Sakura-chan your parents are back in Konoha remember your mother had that bad cold and you had to see her before we left?" Naruto reminded her and Sakura let out a defeated sigh.
"My father never came back from his A ranked mission, his squad said he had disappeared into this air and he was still missing when we left for the Land of Waves. When I came back from the second round of the Chunin Exams my mother had left a note telling me she had gone to find him and that I was to conceal what had happened from everyone for as long as possible"
"I see why you're angry now believe it!" Naruto said and glared at Lord Gorou who straightened himself up with the help of Lord Osamu.
"Sakura you should have said something" Kakashi began to lecture her but Sakura shook her head vigorously "I would never go against my parents' wishes sensei but I guess there's no point in hiding it anymore"
"Well I for one am glad I refused to help that disgusting woman especially knowing her daughter is a complete savage with no regard for social standing or respect of any kind" Lord Gorou sneered at Sakura as he adjusted his ridiculous robes.
Sakura growled loudly and lunged for the lord again but Naruto tightened his grip around her waist and succeeded in restraining her. "Sakura-chan it's not worth it!" he tried to reassure her as Sakura struggled against his hold and considered using her monster strength to break free.
"It is Naruto it is so worth it for whatever I may lose you didn't hear what he said. I thought both my parents were dead and my mother is alive and he refused to help her when she needed it! Who knows if my father is still alive and now I don't know where either of them are!" Sakura said feeling tears of frustration gather in her eyes.
"Right I'm going to rip this guy to shreds right here!" Naruto said angrily releasing Sakura and pushing her behind him.
"Naruto stop all of you need to cool off and remember why you're here!" Kakashi said feeling pity for Sakura but trying to keep a handle on the situation.
"Hn he's right dobe" Sasuke added and Sakura looked at him in shock. He's standing up for that pigheaded man? You've got to be kidding me how could he do that after everything I confided in him?
"You're too slow. I'll handle it"
Before Kakashi could intervene Sasuke thrust his arm forward twisting his wrist and broke Lord Gorou's nose. The man let out a painful shriek and fell to the floor clutching at the appendage which had now begun spurting out blood. Sakura smiled gratefully at Sasuke who smirked and gave a curt nod in reply. Kakashi looked at his team unhappily and hit Naruto on the head to stop him from laughing.
"I won't forget the three of you" Lord Gorou managed to say before he was whisked away by Lord Osamu to find someone who could fix his nose. Sasuke shrugged at the threat stuffing his hands in his pockets, Naruto resisted the urge to laugh again and Sakura rolled her eyes. The crowd began to disperse and Kakashi overheard their mutterings about 'reckless Leaf Villagers' and 'irresponsible ninja' and sighed.
"Sakura why didn't you report this to the Hokage? You could have gotten into serious trouble for withholding information like that?"
"I'm not going to betray my family because of my ninja duty. I know exactly what will happen, if my parents don't return to the village within a certain time frame they'll be classified as dead. No search parties or anything people will just forget about them like they don't matter. But they matter to me and they've done so much for our village! But they'll be classified as missing ninja and a disgrace" Sakura explained feeling annoyed with the whole situation.
"I understand Sakura but you shouldn't have done what you did. Neither should have Sasuke or Naruto. Lord Gorou is a very powerful man for all his stupidity and that one action alone could potential put our alliance in danger. You need to keep your emotions in check" Kakashi said seriously and Team 7 shifted uncomfortably.
"But on a lighter note nice hit Sasuke and it's good to see the three of you have connected well as a team. I'm proud of you all"
Sakura began to laugh as did Naruto and even Sasuke chuckled a little. Kakashi informed them that they were due to depart the next day with the film crew back to Konoha and encouraged them to enjoy the rest of the lunch. Before Sakura could follow her teammates she felt Kakashi's hand on her shoulder.
"Sakura you do realise I'm now obliged to inform the Hokage of everything you have told me"
"Has there been a decision on who will replace the Third?" Sakura asked nervously.
"This I think you'll be pleased to hear. I don't think she'll be lenient with you but at least you can explain to her what happened and maybe she'll understand like I have" Kakashi said smiling under his mask.
"She? Who is it?"
"Lady Tsunade"
"L-Lady Tsunade is the new Hokage?" Sakura asked wide eyed.
"Yes she is the news came through yesterday actually. I think she'll do a fantastic job I mean she was the Third's student and one of the Sanin. I thought you'd be pleased Sakura considering she gave you all that valuable assistance with your experience at the hospital" Kakashi said.
"Yes of course I'm pleased, Lady Tsunade will hopefully understand my position. If you don't mind I'd like to tell her what happened myself before anyone else can" Sakura said and smiled a little.
"I thought you would want that but just remember that if you don't tell her when we return I'll be forced to" Kakashi said and moved towards a pretty looking serving girl over near the buffet table.
I am so dead; Tsunade-sama is going to kill me
Hi guys!
I'm sorry about the late update my computer has been having some problems and I think I'll need to get a new one soon. *Sigh* Anyway I hope you enjoyed the chapter and that concludes the Land of Snow Arch! Next chapter will sort of act as a bridging between the Land of Tea mission so I have a lot of ideas planned for that!
As always please review/follow/favourite if you like anything you've seen ^^ I'll try and respond to any questions you have provided you have an account and I can actually message you back :/ Anyway I'll see you all next Wednesday [if my laptop doesn't die!] xxx