Warning: This chapter is a time skip, showing events that happen over time. It's long. I don't own Naruto.
Edit: Sorry guys it looks like my line breaks were deleted the first time. Hopefully it's fixed this time.
Chapter 43
The clamor of fighting fills my ears as I look for our target. A stray kunai whirls past and a quick duck allows it to fly over my head without hindrance.
The taste of calmly controlled cinnamon flitting to and fro behind me gives me reassurance. He won't let anything hurt me that I couldn't avoid. We've done this enough times already that I should know this by heart.
The fight continues as I scan the trees for the one pulling the strings. My senses extended, finally locating the robust Nin hiding amongst the upper trees boughs watching me. I hurl a kunai his way, quickly following after.
Of course he dodges out of the way once he realizes I have found him.
He's been a squirrely target if I've ever heard of one.
He's been downright annoying if you ask me
Good thing I didn't then isn't it?
The man makes to escape once again and I rapidly channel chakra to my legs for a burst of speed, cutting him off. This was the plan...the Captain takes care of the troublesomely sturdy clones and I follow the real thing.
Too bad he can't just Sharingan them all, but we need a nicely destroyed battle scene. It should give some notoriety to our names.
The target by himself isn't all that strong…it's the fact that his kekkei genkai allows him to create several clones that are neigh impossible to destroy that's the real challenge.
We end up in a standoff, just staring each other down and I take in his features for confirmation. Each clone has a slight variance on the real thing, but this guy seems to be the original. He has the short sandy hair typical of the southern region, with a deep tan and dark eyes to match. His stance is tall and I have to incline my head up to see his face. The large birthmark covering his entire lower arm provides all the conformation I truly need. None of the clones ever carry his birthmark.
As I study him in our little stare down, he does the same. I'm sure he is internally laughing. I mean all he sees is a thirteen year old little girl. For once I'm not wearing my ANBU mask so he can actually see my entire face.
Should be quaking in his boots then…
Shut up.
I know I definitely look way too young to be taking on a man of his caliber, but he better watch out. I've been training day in and day out for ages.
Looking straight into his eyes I can see that my own eyes unnerve him a bit. Last time Shisui dropped in for an update he told me they look uncanny. As if I was 'looking into his soul and could see everything.' I can't blame him, I still barely look in the mirror.
A sudden movement catches my attention and I deftly block the kunai headed my way.
"Wha' a lil' girly doin playing wit such sharp toys. She should go back to moma's apron." How dare he bring my mother into this! "Nowa jus step away real kindly and I'll not hurt yous pardner too much."
Itachi must be giving his clones a hard time if he's trying to get away without killing us.
Yeah…you saw what he did to that little boy…He'd have no problem doing that to us.
Let's get him
In response I charge, flickering at the last moment behind him. Drawing back my rapidly drawn kunai I strike with chakra enhancing my limbs. Unfortunately he spins around and blocks it in time. Thought the surprised look on his face from my strength is a little satisfying.
I snap out an ax kick to break our standoff, back handspringing away when it misses. During my retreat Bao, as his dossier states he goes by, flies through a set of hand seals. The tiger seal tells me to expect fire in some form and sure enough a split second later a hearty stream of blue fire heads my way.
However he has no idea that I've been training with Uchiha nearly all my life and boy do the Uchiha love their fire jutsu. I flicker behind his back once again just as the fire would have reached me. Three hand signs later and I spit water at him just as he did fire.
Yeah it worked! You know we shouldn't tell him that we're trying out new jutsu on him…might irk him~~
Yeah, but everything has to be tested eventually.
The water stream is a little weak, but it does exactly as I hoped. Bao's fire is extinguished, and in surprise he sucks in a breath.
A little tip I learned from Sasuke, never breath in when doing a fire jutsu.
Just as expected Bao starts to violently cough as his throat is seared by his own jutsu. Eyes watering he lashes out at me just as I end the water jutsu. His blow catches me right in the solar plexus and sends me careening into a tree.
Not as bad as one of Naruto's hits, we'll survive.
Before I really catch my breath he is on me and a taijutsu battle begins. I notice the difference in our strengths immediately. He is stronger…but I am faster. He lands a hard hit to my jaw that makes me see stars and I retaliate with a snap kick to his knee.
The blow glances off, but proves to enrage him as he decides to full body tackle me.
My body hits the ground hard and instantly he has me pinned by the shoulders.
"Any las' words girl?" He spits the words as one of his hands goes to my throat to hold me down and the other travels to a hidden pocket, producing a kunai as if by magic.
"Yeah…bye." I barely manage to croak out the words as his hands cuts off my air.
Almost daintily I reach up with a free hand for his face with the intention to push some of that 'dangerous' chakra through his brain. At the last minute I pull back my senses so I don't feel his death…This means I don't feel his move in advance.
He jerks away from my outstretched hand, causing it to instead land on his throat.
Thick red liquid rains down toward me coating my hand, my face, my clothes… His body goes limp as does his grip.
I squirm out from under the dead weight—
Hehe dead weight—
and blink blood out of my eyes…Well that was unexpected…I hit an artery in his neck and the thin skin there burst just like—
One of those apples we practiced on
Oh my Kami, I think I'm going to be sick…
Why, we've killed before.
Yeah but never this messy. I. Don't. Like. Killing.
Much more satisfying this way.
A noise startles me out of my self-disgust. Flashing stepping away, I'm mid movement before I realize it is just my Captain. Immediately trying to cancel the jutsu before it even begins, I forget about the little side effect of doing that.
I find myself falling through the air as my aim is thrown off terribly and I land myself about 30 meters in open air. I catch several branches on the way down, using one to right myself and flip to land in front of my highly amused team leader.
He has seen how off my aim can be when I'm not concentrating. Like the Uchiha before him (Shisui), Itachi has had to come find my lost ass a few times. Actually this was one of the tamer unexpected trips. Sometimes I still end up the furthest me chakra can take me before running out.
And that trip keeps getting longer the more chakra we accumulate.
Landing I check him over visually as I do all my teammates after a fight…not a scratch as usual. He looks over my VERY bloodied appearance then turns his pure red, slightly genjutsued to cover the tomoe, eyes to the scene of my battle. He takes in the details and I know that under the genjutsu his sharingan eyes are recreating what happened.
After his perusal an eyebrow is raised in my direction at the mess.
With repulsion lacing my voice I answer the unasked question, "mission accomplished, Taichou."
The village looks the same as it always has. A sprawling mass of buildings surrounded by lush green forests. Civilians and Shinobi alike trapeze through the streets, safe within their home…
It's beautiful…
I feel like I've never really seen it before. The view I have as I sail over rooftops is perfect, showcasing all of the village's good aspects. Unconsciously I tail the Black Cat as Little Pup, soon to be promoted to full ANBU and receive my permanent codename.
I can see Hokage Monument standing sentinel over the glorious Konoha. I may be biased, but this village is the most beautiful I've seen in our travels.
Hokage tower zooms into view after a tight corner and like every good ninja, we enter through the window.
Tsunade-Sama doesn't even glance our way, as though she knew we were coming at this exact time. I can barely tear my eyes away from the window anyway, so it doesn't matter too much.
We could have been standing in her office for an hour for all I know before a cleared throat drags me away from the window. Meeting the Fifth Hokage's eyes I'm glad she can't see my expression. I'm sure I look like I want to jump out the window and explore.
"Welcome home. Glad to be back?" She asks with a neutral expression.
"It's beautiful," I say because there is no other word for it.
Movements flow smoothly, one blending into the next. An arm is raised as the leg is bent. Fully extend…then pull back…turn slowly…brush past.
Now faster…
The familiar kata relaxes me and helps me get my mind ready for the day. With the sun just barely peaking up over the horizon we have a long day of traveling ahead.
Just like every morning since he discovered that Shisui taught me the kata he created, Itachi moves with me. Together we mirror each other's movements exactly in the slow tai-chi exercises at the beginning of the routine.
Back to back I can barely feel his presence, but I know that he's moving clockwise to my counterclockwise. Only once in the very beginning did we run into each other and that was probably my fault.
Since then we've practiced it every morning, steadily moving closer until we are nearly touching like today. Sometimes I swear I can feel my back warm from his body heat we stand so close together.
The kata gets faster and we move further apart as we make sharper and wider motions.
Gracefully we turn towards each other as the kata calls for and begin the strike-and-dodge portion. Today I'm defending. It only gets faster from here on out.
Eventually we are blurs of motion.
Strike, retreat, duck left, roll out of the way…
The best part is coming up…
As one we run towards each other. Meeting in the middle we both lift up a foot. Enhancing my own with a tiny amount of chakra I push off of his raised foot as he does the same.
In a move that defies physics we run up, using each other's feet as springboards we go twenty paces. The pure force of our steps is the only thing that propels us. I have to augment my steps with chakra to keep up with his force. He on the other hand has to shorter his steps to meet my smaller strides.
On the last step we push off and begin to descend in impressive backbends. While climbing we had pull eight kunai out and readied them.
Twisting mid-air so we fall back to back the kunai are released.
The ninth kunai is released to alter the direction of the eight so as to hit a blind spot, but in a different turn of events I hit his and he hits mine. It was something new I wanted to try to make the ending more dramatic and difficult.
Another flip lands us several paces away facing each other. Immediately my head snaps around to see if we hit all of our targets.
Panting heavily I count sixteen kunai firmly lodged in all the targets.
"Hn, we were off a quarter centimeter on that last one."
"Who cares this was the first time we tried that! It was awesome!" The kata always leaves me in a good mood, but today is looking positively terrific!
"Shisui would have kittens if he could have saw that."
"…Hn." Don't think I can't see that smirk. You're happy it worked too, you too-serious captain.
"AAAAAARRRRRRGGG"
The lightening courses through my body, burning my feet as it escapes into the ground, tearing a scream from me on the way out. It seems to last forever before it cuts off. The lightening must have been the only thing keeping my legs strong for as soon as it ends I go crashing to the ground.
Scratches litter my body in carefully executed patterns, each deliberately placed with cruelty. I lay face down in the dirt, gasping for breath. While no bones are broken, yet, each cut feels like it's burning.
Blood slowly seeps down my body, soaking into my clothes, permeating the earth…
Footsteps…
The enemy draws closer…
"Well, well, well. Finally caught you with that last one huh? About time too. You sure like that body flicker don't you?" The playful tone is completely at odds with the words, but I'm in no shape to say otherwise.
No even a twitch of my finger is possible…full body paralysis prevents everything but breathing. I can't even prevent the foot coming towards my stomach at full speed.
The force of the kick rolls me over to face my opponent.
Long red hair tied back with an equally red cloth and a Kiri headband frame a face full of sharpness. Razor sharp pointed teeth rimmed with blood—
Our blood! The bitch bit us!
set just under even sharper obsidian eyes. In her traditional hakama and loose shirt she looks like a demon from another time.
A maniacal grin splits her face, showcasing the razors in her mouth.
"What? Don't tell me we're done playing already?" She pulls a pout that chills my blood. "But Kiba barely got to play at all." My eyes widen in fear.
Kiba…
The twin double-bladed swords she wields. Each is thin with two deadly spikes protruding from the sides; one at the top pointing outward and one at the bottom pointing inward. Every inch of the blades are sharpened to lethal proportions. The edges flicker with lightening as she channels chakra into them, making them sharper than the norm.
Correction these are the sharpest swords in existence
Right…
What are the odds that the first Hunter Nin to come after our alter ego would be from Kiri?
That's where we are supposed to be from
Yeah but why did it have to be—
Ringo Ameyuri, I know who she is.
Yeah, but she's a member of the—
I know!
…seven swordsman of the mist…
Yeah what are the odds? She even said that when she found us. I mean come on there are only two swordsman left that even follow Kiri anymore.
I have no more time to argue with myself as Ringo decides to get physical. After sheathing one of her Kiba she bodily lifts me to my feet by my shirt and looks me in the eye. I start to circulate my chakra faster.
"And here I thought you would be more fun…" She's still pouting, still playing with me.
Pulling some chakra to the surface of my skin burns, but has the desired effect of shocking her into letting me go.
As I drop I get just enough strength in my arms to break my fall somewhat…the paralysis must be wearing off the more I circulate my chakra.
"You Bitch!" I can see the burn on her hand from my chakra and the fury in her mad eyes. Stalking towards me she grabs a handful of hair and tugs me to my knees. I let out a yelp at the pain that is soon silenced by the current of electricity she passes through me.
All awareness of my limbs returns as the current continues.
Over and over she shocks me, my screams filling the air involuntarily.
Inspiration hits and I edge my hand towards her nearby leg. With much, much more effort than normal I call forth the 'harmful' chakra and barely touch her shin.
A loud crack is heard and the electricity abruptly stops.
Another yell splits the air, followed by a few choice swear words.
In the distraction of her now broken leg she lets go of me. Crawling forward I put as much distance between us as I can. Panting I plan my next move.
"I will kill you!" Her declaration rings out with deadly intent…I wish Itachi was here, damn man is going to come back from a simple mission to find my severed head.
No! I will not allow that to happen!
Putting my plan in place I wait until she charges, then I activate the wires I had set up at the beginning of the battle. They spring into place, trapping her within a razor sharp chakra enforced net.
I barely take the time to see the trap spring before I start to stumble away. A good kunoichi knows when to retreat and that time is now.
Barely a hundred feet away a force lands in the middle of my back, knocking me to the ground and flipping me over.
No way she got out of that so fast! Her leg is broken she shouldn't have been able to move that fast!
"Nice try, but I'm done playing," the manic look from earlier is replaced with an even more insane one.
No!
She draws a kunai, an odd one that has a blade that curves inward, a Kiri special…
No!
Slowly, like she's enjoying every minute, the blade descends closer and closer. Abruptly she changes direction and points the blade towards my eye…closer and closer.
I struggle with all my worth, but she doesn't budge. The blade comes closer…
No!
"We will not lose!" Inner's strength flows through my limbs and an odd calm fills us.
With unnatural strength Inner pushes Ringo off, sending her flying into the trees. Following like a wraith Inner pull our body over to the enemy. Drawing chakra to our arm she slaps a hand onto Ringo's shoulder, liquefying the entire shoulder joint. The scream echoes.
She will never be a swordsman again…that's enough Inner
"No she will die!"
What?
Inner bodily pick up Ringo, violently pushing her against the only tree in the clearing. With one hand Inner holds her up, with the other she jams one of the Kiba into the liquid shoulder.
No stop it!
"You will pay!"
The other Kiba enters the other shoulder. Ringo is now attached to the tree in a grotesque crucifying.
No stop Inner, don't kill her. She was only doing her job! Give back my body!
"Our body."
Inner isn't listening. With the curved kunai Ringo used on us Inner lifts it high. Standing just under Ringo Inner slits her throat.
The blood sprays down, dripping over our hair and forever staining my soul.
Stepping back, Inner observes her handiwork while I try to look away, trapped in my own mind.
Another chakra signature comes flying our way at breakneck speed. Itachi lands in the clearing, also covered in blood and gore. He takes in the crucified hunter and the kunai in our hands.
"I should keep this kunai, it's a Kiri special, and it will fit in with alias." She stands to walk us towards the stoic man who says not a word. Just as she pulls even with him she stops. "This ought to kick start our reputation. One of the seven swordsman will be noticed immediately."
At the end of her sentence she pulls back putting me back in control. I feel the tears coming fast, but before they have a chance to make it out blackness consumes me…
"Why haven't you woken me for my watch?"
I nearly jump out of my skin at the quiet question. Turning to look I see my captain sitting up from his spot across the room. Guiltily I rub the back of my head and let out an 'oops.'
"Have you been studying all night long?"
Caught red-handed!
"AH….yeah…I just couldn't put it down!" At his blank look I continue. "I've been researching different plants that act as healing agents. If I could just figure out how to make an antidote we wouldn't have to go find a medic every time we get poisoned."
"Hn"
My Kami I have never hated a word so much.
Turning back to my research the words blur together for a second.
"This is the third night you've been researching." Another monotone statement has me turning back to my captain.
"Yes, but I'm almost there." Another turn back to my work.
"You need sleep." Turn to Captain.
"I'm fine." Turn to work.
"I doubt it." Turn to captain.
"I'm fine." Turn to work.
"…" silence
Turn to captain….no captain…now where could he have gone, surely he didn't just up and leav—
Woah!
An invisible force picks me up and tosses me on the bed. Sitting up and moving my rapidly growing hair out of my face I see Itachi packing up my research.
"Hey!" A glare is sent my way so fast I flinch. The glare says in bold letters GO TO SLEEP, CAPTAIN'S ORDERS!
Sigh "Yes Taichou."
"Shi—I mean Uchiha-san, where are you taking me?" Being dragged down the villages empty streets at two in the morning after just getting in for a report is not high on my lists of things to do. I'm still wearing my uniform covered in dirt and grime. I would kill for a hot bath right about now.
"Uchiha-san, this looks suspicious and I would really like to get to Kakashi-senpai's flat to take a shower."
"Why do you have to stay at his place when you're in town? It's so rare you're here I'd rather have you all to myself, Princess." The goofy grin I missed is plastered all over his face as he continues to pull me down the road by my arm.
"Because Hatake Kakashi is the legal guardian of Little Pup…and Tsunade thinks you might kidnap me…kinda like you are right now."
His laugh echoes off the empty street but he provides no answer.
Just going to go with it…I have missed him terribly…plus I'm getting a good view of the village. Usually I'm hidden away in Kakashi-sensei's apartment almost immediately upon return to the village so there is no chance to be found out…not the Guy-sensei didn't almost have a heart attack when a beautiful young woman was lounging on his rivals couch at eight in the morning when he burst in for a new challenge.
"Really, Shi, where are we going?"
"You'll see."
A few minutes later and he abruptly stops, pulling me close to his side he flickers to an unknown location.
Once the slight disorientation of being transported by someone else fades I take in our surroundings. White walls, white ceiling, white bed…
"Are we in the hospital?" Why in the world would he take me here? No one's hurt are they?
Before I have a chance to go into a panic about hurt friends he shushes me and quietly pulls me out the door and down the hall.
We pass identical rooms and identical halls, twisting around corners seemingly at random. At one point we duck into another empty room as a nurse doing rounds passes. As soon as her footsteps fade we are back in motion.
A glass wall on our right seems to be the destination as Shisui speeds up giddily. Stopping in front of the glass he just stares at me in anticipation.
Warily I look into the room beyond to find…the nursery? I send him a weird look, but he waves me off and points directly in front of us. Following his finger I see a tiny baby, obviously just born a few hours ago. There is the tiniest tuff of a soft red color on the head and the entire body is wrapped in a contrasting light blue blanket.
A little baby boy.
Studying him further I see his deep even breaths raising his tiny little chest. He has one hand with tiny little fingers free and grasping at air in his sleep.
This must be the most therapeutic thing in the world.
Wondering what to call the baby I search for his name plate.
Haruno…Isamu…
"His name means courage you know…"
I nod my understanding, but find it impossible to take my eyes off him.
Little Isamu…Little Isa-kun…my…
My baby brother.
"He's so little…so innocent…so perfect," I will protect you with everything I have.
Another one to add to our list of precious people.
I turn towards Shisui for thanks but he only throws an arm around my shoulder and tells me the mother is doing fine. We stand there staring for a good long while before deliberate footsteps draw our attention down the hall.
Itachi and Kakashi stroll towards us, joining in on the observation. No words are needed, just a silent promise to protect Konoha's newest addition.
The water pours down, scalding hot from the shower head. The soap suds trace a path down my face, my arms. They trace the same path a very different liquid did just hours ago. For a moment my eyes blur and I see the red again.
No get off me!
Furiously I scrub at my hands, harder, harder…
Why won't it come off?
Maybe if I scrub harder?
No…wait…that won't help…it never helps…
The water is freezing by now. Or maybe I'm just numb. This happens every time I have to make a kill. I spend all the hot water washing the soul off my hands and when I get out I'm clean, ready to kill again.
It's a little messed up, but…I'm only fourteen… a child in the eyes of the civilians. Heck I'm a genin technically, a child in the shinobi world too.
And I've killed so many…tonight made an even 100. Usually the village would throw a celebration on the night a Nin makes their 100th kill. To celebrate the ninjas resilience, but in truth it's an excuse to get drunk and forget 100 dead faces. Most Nin take a decade or two to get to 100, but a year and a half? Too soon.
Although I must not be the only one who has this problem…it's just the second I get in the shower I feel dirty. I'm fine the second before I step in and the second I step out.
I think Itachi does the same thing sometimes. After a particularly messy mission he too disappears into the nearest shower for an hour or better.
Though we never say a word about it.
Hour's up
Water off…towel on…head high…
A small incision, only two inches long and a few millimeter deep. Just enough to draw blood.
I put down the kunai and gather chakra to the opposite hand, closing my eyes as I hover over the wound. Thinking calming, healing, thoughts I try to guide my chakra into sealing the cut. Without a definite jutsu this is pretty hard.
Tsunade-Sama's notebook assumed the reader knew the mystical palm technique so everything starts after that.
Shouldn't be too hard, just, like, the opposite of the harmful chakra.
Delving deeper I feel out the cut on my palm with every scrutiny I possess. A slight tingling starts at the edges of the laceration and I hone in on it. My chakra seems to be acting as microscopic stiches, pulling the skin together and mending the tear.
Pulling a bit on the chakra, it acts like a string and laces up the cut nearly instantly.
With a sigh I open my eyes and lean back against the tree behind me. Looking to the sky I can see it only took me about an hour of intense analysis to heal this time. I can see why medicinal breakthroughs are so few and far between, figuring this stuff out from scratch is hard.
Reaching for the kunai I find that it has disappeared.
An object slams down in from of me with great force, creating a loud thump that makes me jump a little. The object was a thick book. The slammer was my Captain.
His hand is still on the book's back cover, showing me just who was responsible. His body is tensed, ready to spring into action as though we were in the middle of a battle. Burning crimson eyes meet mine for an extended second before he whirls away, leaving the book. Curiously I turn the book over.
'Techniques and Theories on Modern Healing Techniques'
He got me a book on healing! Quickly I flip through page after page, kunai long forgotten.
Something tells me he was angry.
I got that feeling too. I wonder what the problem was…
"It's deep."
"…"
"Will probably scar."
"…"
"There's no small amount of poison."
"…"
"Please say something."
The water runs red as I re-soak the cloth. Squeezing it out I bring it back to the gash. It runs from shoulder to hip, jaggedly crossing the entire expanse of his back. Blood still slowly seeps out, some of it tainted black with poison.
Gently I wipe away the new blood, careful not to apply too much pressure. With most of the blood removed I can see the wound for what it really is. An ugly rip across smooth flesh. Uneven strips of flesh are torn away from the main wound. All caused by a dull blade.
All caused by me.
"I'm sorry."
"…It's not your fault."
Yes it is…but I don't say anything. How can it not be my fault? The entire plan was my idea. In order to get ahold of the scroll I let myself be captured. It wasn't part of the plan. The plan was to go in undetected, but we didn't know that they had a sensor Nin.
We were separated and I got cocky…
I thought if I was captured I would have a better chance of getting the scroll. Shinobi plan zwitter-field. But I forgot one important detail. Never act without informing your teammates.
Itachi thought I had truly been captured, and like the hero he is he came to my rescue.
In the end the scroll was easy to get ahold of in the chaos my captain created, but not before he took a hit for me. The blade itself was duller than a butter knife, but the man wielding it was strong enough to force it to cut.
I didn't even notice he was wounded until we were mid-flee and the enemy yelled to 'follow the blood trail.'
Stupid…
And now here we are…stuck in a damp cave licking our wounds…
"It's not your fault," I don't say anything and he tries to turn towards me. Putting a hand on his unhurt shoulder I hold him still. His skin is warm, warmer than it should be…
Fever is setting in.
"I need to remove the poison…" In an effort to keep him appeased I speak aloud. Reaching for my bag I sift through until I find my newly acquired herb stash.
Picking through the bundles I pull out several needed, putting the rest away.
How will you crush them?
…Looks like I have no choice. One leaf at a time, I place them in my mouth and chew. Spitting them out into my hand I mix the foul tasting concoction on my palm.
"This will sting, but should help draw out some of the poison."
Bit by bit I rub it over the gash, wincing when he does. Once his back is sufficiently covered I place the damp rag over the back of his neck, maybe it will help keep him cool.
You know we could—
Yeah I was thinking it too, but—
It might be the only way to—
Yeah but we've never tried it before—
No time like the present.
Gathering courage I put my new plan of action into place. With a quick water jutsu learned for my alias I re-fresh the water in the bowl. Gathering chakra to my palm I place it in the water and pull, creating a lumpy glowing bubble around the appendage.
"I'm…going to try something…It will hurt, but tell me if it becomes unbearable."
"…Hn."
Close enough. I place my glowing bubble against his back.
And push…
The water enters the cut via pores and races through nearby veins. Keeping a tight hold on each water molecule causes a sweat to break out on my face. He gives a little jump in pain, but I have to ignore it. Anything shoved into a wound has to hurt.
I can feel the poison in his blood. It is thicker, stickier, blocking the way of his white blood cells. I mentally grab for the sticky blobs.
Pulling my hand away the bubble goes with it. This time is glows darkly around the bits of poison floating within. Tossing the dirty bubble aside I make another and try again.
It seems to be working…slowly.
I can only get ahold of small amounts of poison on each pass and it takes much longer than I expected, but after a dozen or so passes his blood is as clean as it's going to get.
And we have very little chakra left…
"Are you okay? Does it still hurt?" I ask this is a small voice in an effort to not startle him. "I've removed most of the poison. The rest will have to be broken down by your body's defenses."
No answer…
"Taichou?"
No answer…
I start to panic. Quickly I hop over him to see his face. His eyes are wide open and he's bitten through his lip…To keep quiet against the pain I guess. His eyes, now the gentle black I hardly ever see, meet mine and he gives a long exhale.
"It's not your fault." His voice is rough and quiet, stronger than I would expect but still quiet.
"…Yes it is… If I hadn't—"
"Did you get the scroll," he cuts me off uncharacteristically.
"Well yes but—"
"And we are both alive?"
"Yes but you're hurt—"
"So it's a mission accomplished?"
"Technically, but not unscarred."
"I'm shinobi, scars come with it."
"Yes but it's all my fault. I made a mistake—"
"We both did. You didn't inform your superior of your ulterior motives and I didn't trust my partner to handle the situation. We have both come out in one piece—"
"Not really, you're missing a chunk—"
"More or less in one piece, and we will become stronger for it." Surprise colors my face as he continues. "I panicked when you got captured and acted rashly. I was no better than a genin."
"…I think you fever is talking…"
"Sakura…" His use of my real name causes my eyes to widen. He's never used my name before. Not even when I was 'alive.' "…you may be right…"
He's totally not going to remember this in the morning.
"Wait…What?"
"My mother wants to meet you."
"…Okay I'm confused…How does she even know I exist?"
"Mother is a very…astute woman. She knows enough about ANBU to realize I didn't scare away the last trainee," I give him a look at this. As if he could scare me away. "Plus she found one of your hairs on my travel bag."
Oh…must have been from that time I used it as a pillow….
"She assumed that meant I was working with Kakashi-senpai." What? My hair is much longer than his. "Mistakenly I said otherwise and now she wants to meet my new partner."
Even if we have already met
After all this time, NOW she wants to meet me? Maybe he can play the secret ANBU card? No…wait… the heads of the seven great ninja clans of Konoha all have ANBU clearance because an outrageous amount of their clansmen are members. If he were to refuse to introduce us she would know that he was doing something other than regular ANBU missions.
No choice, let's go!
You just want to see Mikoto-Sama again
Yes
"Dinner is at seven at the compound. We have no choice in the matter…She used the fact that I'm never home and that Sasuke is in hiding against me…"
I laugh at his monotone delivery. Even the great Uchiha heir can't say no to his mom. From the slight glare I take it he doesn't appreciate being laughed at.
"Alright," chuckle, "I'll be there right on time." With a nod he sweeps out of the room in typical shinobi fashion.
Okay now just to find something to wear…
This proves harder than one would think as a few hours later I have just finished getting ready with five minutes to get to the compound. A simple yukata I usually use as a civilian disguise is the best I can do.
A quick flash step puts me just outside the Uchiha compound. It looks as imposing as always. The gates are guarded by the same guard that always seems to be there. I pass him with a courteous nod and enter the compound. Identical houses interspersed with family owned buildings greet me.
It's just like the first time I was here.
Although I think we stand out even more.
You're right. Our white hair is a severe contrast to all the black and browns…and there're staring. Looks like Mikoto-Sama told everyone that their heir's partner was coming to dinner…
Speaking of I better hurry. Quickening my pace I head towards the mansion-like house at the end of the street. Before I even get to the front door it is opening, revealing my captain in plain clothes. It is so odd to see him outside of a uniform I stop and stare a moment.
Sometimes I forget I work with Konoha's most eligible bachelor.
His loose kimono is in the traditional dark blue of the clan with a black obi and I'm sure his crest is on the back. He steps back to allow me entrance into his home and as I pass him I sense more than see his smirk.
I place my sandals in the shoe box and follow him into the dining room. An odd sense of déjà vu hits me. I'm here to meet my teammate's family for dinner, but this time my teammate is a different Uchiha.
Mikoto-Sama is just entering the room with a steaming plate as we enter from the opposite side. Placing it down she notices us. Her eyes look happily at her son before switching confusedly to me.
"Mother this is my partner Hatake Ayame." He uses one of my code names on missions. Surprisingly enough the only code names he ever gives me are flower names. Although the 'Hatake' part is new.
I give a bow and a demure greeting as expected.
"Itachi why didn't you tell me that your partner was such a pretty girl." I can hear the underlying 'why didn't you tell me she's a girl!' "It is very nice to meet you Hatake-san. I wasn't aware that Kakashi-san had a daughter." This is more a question than a statement.
"He doesn't, we're distantly related on his father's side." The excuse we gave Guy-sensei when he burst in that day.
"Oh that makes sense, I thought I was behind in gossip for a moment there. Please, sit, make yourself at home. Dinner is ready just let me put it on the table." With that she sweeps out of the room with all the grace of a true princess.
Meeting Itachi's eyes I shrug and he gestures to a seat at the table. Taking his place at one of the ends I sit to his right automatically.
Mikoto-Sama hustles in just a second later, practically pulling her husband along. He too looks surprised to find another female at his table, but he is better at hiding it. Introductions are given again and dinner commences.
"So tell me Hatake-san, how old are you?"
"Fifteen, sir."
"Hn. Same age as our other son Sasuke. Were you in his graduating class?" And so the interrogation starts.
"No sir I graduated a bit early." Let him make what he will of that.
"Is that so…" Uh oh…that sounds suspicious.
"That's quite an accomplishment Hatake-san." Mikoto-Sama to the rescue. "Itachi-chan here graduated early as well. You two make a good match." What is she talking about?
"Mother." His almost sharp reply confuses me.
"Oh come now Itachi. This is the first time you've brought a girl home. I have a right to tease you about it."
My face flushes red at her implication and she just laughs at the look on my face.
"I mean you're nineteen, it's about time!" Even Fugaku-Sama cracks a smile (read: smirk) at this but all I can do is blush ten shades of red.
Itachi looks ready to retreat and I send him a look that says 'don't abandon me!' Deftly changing the subject to the state of the police force I'm spared further embarrassment.
The rest of dinner goes smoothly save for a few veiled inquiries about my past. Soon Itachi is ushering me out of his home before Mikoto-Sama can make another odd comment. At the door I turn to wish him goodnight and prepare to flash step back to Kakashi's apartment.
"It was an honor to be your first Itachi-Sama." I quickly flash away but not before I see the deadly glare. The second I arrive at Kakashi's I fall over laughing, making my sensei look at me like I've lost it.
He's not going to speak to us for a week
Totally worth it…
"Where are we going?"
…
Of course no answer, when is it ever that easy?
Never, the man is more stubborn than Naruto and is capable of staying silent for days…
"Come on Taichou," I think he is starting to hate that name. "I know for a fact that our latest intelligence should put us near Suna, not Iwa." Iwa is a dangerous place for Konoha Nin. After the last war they haven't really forgiven us.
"New intel came in while you were sleeping." Of course, everything exciting happens when I sleep. "It puts us on a mountain pass on the edge of the land of Earth."
"Alright, so who are we after? Or is this an information gathering mission?"
"We are to investigate the rumor of a beast terrorizing the hot springs in this area." A lump forms in my throat at the monotone statement.
In the past couple of months a few 'beastly' experiments of Orochimaru's have turned up Each and every single one was dead. Lived and dies through failed genetics…But maybe he finally got one to work.
After sabotaging Kabuto's lab that one time I thought it would take longer to recreate his work. My thoughts spiral down, deeper and deeper into a kind of despair I hadn't seen in a long while. What if's keep popping up, clouding my perception of the world.
I know for a fact that the mountain pass we're on is beautiful. It's one of the few places with lush vegetation in Earth. We skirted the edge once on our manic flee from Konoha to Ame a few years ago. I remember that even though I was exhausted beyond belief, I was still transfixed by the ever blooming flowers and magnificent waterfalls.
All I can see now are muted colors and dull rivers. So many people visit the hot springs. If one of Orochimaru's' creatures got loose up here the results would be horrific.
Eventually we come to a glistening pool of water, steam gently curls from the surface. The pool is surrounded on three sides by tall, luscious oaks. By now the sun is just lowering under the peak of the mountain, casting the enclave into a premature twilight.
I must have been staring for Itachi breaks in with, "The intel says this is the most common spot for sightings of the beast. All sightings have been at night around midnight so we have a few hours. You can relax some if you would like."
The world must be off its axis if the Black Cat if offering me time to relax during a mission.
Maybe he could sense you going bonkers over the Beast.
The offer is just so odd that I end up staring alternatively at the spring and at my captain. To make a point he stalks (because he can never just walk) over to the pool and removes his sandals. Sitting down (once again too gracefully to be male) he puts his feet in and ignores me.
Well I guess he was serious
Shrugging and following his lead I remove my own footwear and, to take it ever further, my armor and weapon pouch as well. Walking to the edge I ignore my team leader and dip a foot in.
The water feels heavenly and soon my entire body up to my neck is submerged. I hardly care if my skin tight under-uniform is still on, it's a bitch to get off anyway.
The heat begins to seep in and relax muscles I had forgotten could relax. Drifting over to a seat carved into the springs edge I lean my head back and basically become goo.
A few minutes later, or an hour I'm not sure, I sense a disturbance in the water. Cracking an eye open instead of leaping to my feet I see Itachi has also ditched his armor—
And his shirt
And he mirrors my position on the other side of the pool.
We spend a great deal of time in companionable silence, soaking in the natural minerals and unwinding. Only once the fireflies come out do we get out of the water.
Like flexing a muscle my chakra rises to the surface and flash dries my clothes. The lingering heat keeps me in a sleepy haze as I replace my armor and weapons.
Giving Itachi a contented smile in thanks I'm rewarded with a tiny one in response. Not even a smirk, an honest to god smile. My smile becomes a grin at this rare treat.
He doesn't smile often, but when he does it is so innocent you can't help but smile back. It lets you know that there is still good in the world if a man this dangerous can smile like that.
Sliding back into business mode we both conceal our chakra and jump into the trees for coverage.
And we wait…
The wait is long, but not uncomfortable. The steam is still curling about the air, casting a peaceful spell over us all.
It has to be just before midnight before anything happens.
A rustle puts me on edge.
Scanning the area movement catches my attention on the path leading to the springs. A rhythmic clacking underscored with a quieter tapping reaches my ears…two sets of footsteps.
Two figures materialize…one taller…both male…Looks like a grandfather and his grandson out for a late night swim…false alarm.
Sliding my eyes over to Itachi I see him leaned back against the trunk of the tree, one foot dangling over the edge of his branch. He's still hidden, but just barely.
I raise an eyebrow at his relaxed posture. Something must be wrong with him. Silently I move over to his branch, stopping just in front of him and placing a hand on his forehead to check for fever.
Hmm…doesn't feel warm…
His larger hand comes up and removes mine. His mouth starts to move without sound. I lock in on his lips, reading his words.
'Happy sixteenth birthday'
Huh? Is that even today?
It is.
Oh
"Geeze Ero-sensei, you sure pick odd places to go to."
I freeze, eyes wide, hand still captive to my captain. I know that voice. It's a little deeper, but how could I forget it.
Shakily I turn towards the pair I dismissed on the ground, my hand slipping from Itachi's.
Blonde hair shining in the moonlight, blue eyes that catch and scatter the light, ridiculously orange jacket.
Naruto…
The other is Jiraiya obviously. They seem to be talking good-naturedly.
"Didn't you want a quiet place to celebrate tonight?" Jiraiya's words break my spell and I drink in Naruto's presence. Even if I'm not allowed to talk to him this is still the best birthday present I have ever received. All day, the mission, must have been a ruse. He fabricated an entirely believable mission to let me witness this.
"Yeah," Naruto's voice takes on a pain filled tone and it takes all I have to not just jump down there and hug him. A hand on my arm grounds me and I stay put. "You know she would be sixteen today." My eyes get even wider. He remembered my birthday.
I see Naruto's large form crumple a little at the shoulders. It only lasts a moment, but I see a tear before he violently turns towards the pool. "It's not fair!" He bellows out in pain.
"I know Naruto, but one day you will see her again." Jiraiya looks right in our direction as he says this. He knows I'm right here and his words are a promise.
My lower lip trembles with emotion as Naruto sighs sadly and runs a hand dejectedly through his hair. Digging through his pouch he pulls out a piece of paper and a candle. Carefully folding his long legs under him he sits and gets to work on the paper.
After several silent minutes he has an origami boat which he places the candle in. Lighting it he sets it adrift in the water and looks to the sky.
Just a little to the left and he would see me. I'm right here Naruto.
"Happy birthday Sakura-chan!"
Ho Lee Chit! That's a long chapter. Over 9K words and 21 pages. It is just tidbits of what happened over the years. I may have skewed the age gap between Itachi and Sakura, but I like this one better (4yrs). Let me know what you think. Next chapter will continue the story after this time skip. Can I call it a time skip if I showed bits like this? Maybe I'll call it a time skim because I skimmed over a lot.
