Chapter Thirteen: "Destiny Calls To The Rebels"

"Sometimes The Truth Doesn't Want To Be Seen.
And Those Who Know, March To Be Forgotten.
But There Is Always One Who Aim To Save The Lives of Those Who March —
Even If It Means To Lose Their Own In The Process."
—To Save the Man Who Lives to Die—
— The Start of a Chaotic Team —

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The unruly group of adventurers — erm, the Empire Destruction team soon found themselves in a widespread tent in front of the Elder — or pineapple juice in Naruto's mind.

The Elder ushered them towards the food and drink placed on the table. After a rapidly eaten meal, they began the conversation.

"So about the prophecy, Elder?" Sakura queried.

"Yes, yes." The Elder clapped his hands. "There is a story from long ago about great powerful people who will fall from the sky to end the evil reign of the Empire. It goes on forever, but the main part is this:

The Bringer of Death Who Bears the White Flame,
The Red Kitsune Fanned by the Twin Fans of Flame
And She Who Holds the Moon in Her Palms.
Will End the Empire's Reign."

The Elder suddenly started coughing roughly into a fist, his shoulders shuddering with the force of it. He hurriedly beckoned one of the maids forward — she assumed by the tray in their hands. The maid knelt and passed him a small vial, which he quickly uncorked and drank in a single gulp. Noticing the curious gazes, he smiled and said, "This is a healing potion. It is easy for me to get ill since I am old, but I have no serious disease. I make this myself. I can teach you, should any of you have this ability." He eyed Hinata before nodding his head with a grunt. "I see, I see." Then he glanced at Sakura and rubbed his chin before going back to Hinata. "The pale-eyed one would be better suited to the craft, but if you don't mind learning basic potions, I guess you may learn those, Great One." He said to Sakura respectfully yet with a faint trace of pity.

"Tch. I don't have the ability?" Why did that gaze piss her off? It was like she'd failed calculus all over again.

"No, no, I would never suggest that! It is simply that your nature is too chaotic and healing magic requires patience and a calmer nature…" The Elder coughed lightly and averted his gaze.

To the side of her Naruto and Kakashi snorted, stifling their laughter as she glared at them. "I am very patient and nice! Okay?! Forget it." Going back on topic, and saving her ego, she continued the prophecy talk. "So you think we are the chosen ones from a prophecy that says we are destined to destroy the world-enslaving empire that could travel across galaxies and use magic? I mean, that was our plan, but good to know you support us."

"We can help you train to restore and increase your mana reserves. I have heard from Rigurak and the other imprisoned ones that you have great power, but I see you need help. The way you walk isn't balanced and your breathing is shallow. You probably don't know how to circulate and regenerate your spirit."

"Holy psychic. Am I that bad?" Sakura sighed. Dammit! She suddenly regretted not taking martial arts or gymnastics as a hobby in her youth.

"I see you may need a few moments to digest what you've eaten and heard. When you finish your thoughts, come follow me outside the tent and I can show you where you will train and then we may have a proper meal. Please take all the time you need, there is no rush." The Elder briefly glanced at the lone Uchiha in the corner of the tent then looked away, smiling at Sakura's group and exiting the tent with the other plant folk. Now it was just the usual trio and the abandoned Empire officer.

With that, Kakashi, Naruto and Hinata mulled over the information while Sakura conversed with her other self. Meanwhile, off on the side and stuck sitting in the corner, Sasuke merely listened and kept his silence. He still didn't know why they hadn't killed him already.

While Sakura had her world turned over by her alter ego, saw magic and survived a demon ambush in a prison full of dark mages, she wasn't one to believe in prophecies as much. It just meant that someone really wanted the Empire destroyed and they fit the bill. Even if the prophecy was about them, it didn't take away any of the hard work and sacrifices that they had to go through so she didn't want to give any credit to some prophecy that aimed to take away her influence in making her destiny. If her suffering was prophesied, if she had to lose her family and her own planet, all to tear down the Empire, then she had a bone to pick with God.

Prophecies may predict, but they didn't make anything happen. People did. Then again, she also hated feeling manipulated so maybe she was thinking about this too much. She just didn't want anyone saying the prophecy was what made their fates — or what did that mean for her dead parents? For Naruto and Hinata's?

Alter Sakura chimed in: Prophecies are interpretations provided you don't have the power or opportunity to change them. It's like the chicken or the egg. We're going to save our world by destroying the empire anyway so don't get all philosophical on me. You were a business major remember? So just focus on the results.

Damn it, I know that. And stop dissing business majors! I just hate the feeling like someone is manipulating me. And before you say more, I understand that the feeling is very common and I can't live in a vacuum. I just don't like it.

Well, you've always been like this, Self, so I'm used to it. I know you won't abandon people just because you hate some force predicting your actions. Unlike the other Selves, you are the dominant one and thankfully sensible.

You know, we need to discuss those other Selves in detail when we have time. All I got was we have one is apparently a Berserker who acts like an AI for war while the other is simply evil. I could feel them, but it was hard to keep my consciousness for long.

You got it~ One's a bitchy Athena-type war goddess wannabe and the other is like our evil sister who just hates every living thing as all who live are hypocrites. I prefer you even if you're an idiot and kinda not all there. Your love life sucks so it's boring watching you.

I appreciate the approval, but now I need to duct tape your stinky mouth.

Well, go on to training with the old man! We have time to talk about past lives and origins when you're not a walking target with the power of a kitten.

Sakura sighed. Yeah, yeah. I should sue for verbal abuse. Satisfied with the conversation, she finally had time to address the dark-eyed elephant in the room. "Hey, how are you feeling? Want some bread?" She tossed him one of the rolls from the table. While the Elder was very accommodating towards her and her friends, he didn't acknowledge the Uchiha once. Even if he was supposed to be a part of the prophecy, it seemed the plant folk didn't like talking to Empire officers even if they were left for dead in a desert. She couldn't blame them.

Sasuke caught the roll with a soft grunt before staring at it. He asked, "Why did you help me? We are neither allies nor friends. I've tried to kill you."

"And I definitely almost killed you. But you saved my friends in the end, so we're cool. How-ev-er," Her voice lowered into an evil tone. His face scrunched up in confusion from her quick switch between sweet and merciful to glowering and dark. Before she could fully get into her villainous monologue and mysterious act, her friends ruined the moment as Naruto gulped down juice like crazy while he talked with his mouth full.

"Like she said! You saved us so we're friends!" Naruto said cheerfully. Hinata held her face in her hands and shook her head as Naruto ruined everything. She could already sense what Sakura wanted to do.

Sakura eyed his idiotic face with concern. How did they go from reconciled enemies to friends? When, for that matter? Where was the dark and tense atmosphere she was going to use to make Sasuke feel indebted to her and reveal his secrets? Stupid Naruto! Good cop, bad cop, remember?! On the surface though, Sakura smiled with restrained rage. "We're friends on a conditional basis."

This time Kakashi spoke up, "Oooh! What a good demon! Yes, he must offer up half of his life-span and the secrets of his clan to gain our help. It is enough he is already under contract with you so it a mercy he lives at all."

"What? No!" Sakura rubbed her temple. "I don't need half of his life! Besides, he looks like he's in his twenties so he only had a few years to live if I did that!" Wasn't the life expectancy of Empire citizens like 30 or something?

"Wow. You're killing him off so easily. I guess even if he is an Uchiha, he is rather temperamental so he wouldn't have a long life anyway…" Kakashi nodded his head to the wrong part of the topic and Sakura punched his arm. Of course, he just laughed it off. "If you want to train your body, we can use the arena —"

She forgot he was bad at reading the atmosphere. "No! I'm fine. So please stop talking for a minute." Sakura sighed again. Man, she was looking forward to being intimidating. Where did these guys get their wits from? They needed to buy new ones!

Ditching her original plan, Sakura faced the Uchiha once more, but this time got up and walked over to him. Standing over him, she offered her deal. "Your life is already in my hands, but here's the thing. You don't look like a bad guy since you helped my friends out past the terms of our contract. And your brother was civil even if he did dump you with us, for whatever reason. We need information and you have inside info. Also, even if the prophecy is crap, you're still in it and having you on our team would be a great help regardless. So I'll be straight with you. My offer is this — join us to destroy the Empire or I'll have my great demon teacher here toss your ass to the next town miles away." She held out a hand. "Deal or no deal?"

Sasuke looked up at her with scrunched brows, but his lips looked close to trembling. Even if Sakura hadn't offered the deal, he was ready to beg her to join them. Not only did he have to catch up to his brother, he didn't have the strength to do both that and avoid the Empire. He remembered her power and he still could feel a strange bond between them. No matter what, he couldn't afford to let her go without learning more. He took her hand. "Deal. I, Sasuke Uchiha, agree to the terms. In return, I will also prove my worth in joining your cause. There is a great evil in this land, greater than ever imagined, but now is not the time to speak of it." He got up and kneeled with his head lowered. "My life is in your hands." A white glow encompassed them like a halo of power before it faded in a second.

Sakura blinked in surprise. So even if she didn't try to conjure another contract, since he was already bonded to her, the contract had expanded. She could faintly hear the whispers of the contract's terms in her mind if she focused on it. When she looked at Kakashi, he only winked and gave her a thumbs up. So she concluded, "So shall it be."

Sakura shook their still-joined hands. "It's a deal."

Sasuke blinked at their joined hands before shaking it back. "Yes."

The two held each other's stare for a timeless moment, unaware that they were thinking the same thought:

She/He feels familiar.

And with that, the new team formed — a team that will change the course of history forever.

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They ate a bit more before leaving the tent to find the Elder. Once outside, the Elder waved to them from across the collection of tents and smiled, this time distinctly acknowledging Sasuke as well. "You are now with the Great Ones. I sense your bond."

"You can see contracts?" Sakura asked.

"I am quite skilled in such things of sight. Demons aren't the only ones who connect to the soul." The Elder clapped and suddenly the scene in front of the tents was overlaid with a vision of green fields. "As our honored guests, our training area is open to you." The Elder smiled with pride. "Welcome to the Land of Peace."

The group looked on in amazement. Thick green grass carpeted everything as far as the eyes could see. Rolling hills broke the sky line and a massive lake lay at the bottom of the hilltop they stood on. Even Kakashi and Sasuke looked taken aback. This was a stark contrast to the desert they once stood on! Sakura turned her amazed eyes towards the Elder and said, "This is beautiful, but how did this — teleportation?"

"No, I am not so skilled. This is part of the magic that also keeps our village hidden from sight. Here is our training grounds for warriors and mages, and others who practice their crafts. For now, you will have this place to yourselves in private during a certain time each day. It is like a demon's mind space but powered by the shared communion of the land and our spirits as a whole."

Kakashi suddenly appeared in front of the Elder and grabbed him by the collar, "How do you know of the demons, plant folk Elder?" He narrowed his eyes like a curious cat and Sakura knew that look. He always caused trouble with that look.

The Elder only kept smiling and said, "Because a Great Demon once helped us form this place thousands of years ago. Although we do not remember their name, we have survived this long because of it."

"Interrresting. I must meet this demon one day. Not a lot of us like to share our secrets." Kakashi's tail playfully swayed, but he dropped the Elder gently to the ground. Sakura sighed in relief.

"If I should ever find out I will tell you, Great Demon." The Elder smiled and bowed his head before facing the humans. "Now, chosen ones. I will need to assess your abilities first then provide my services. Shall we begin our training?"

Sakura smirked at the unbridled excitement in the Elder's shining eyes. For a pineapple, he looked quite…vicious. They reminded her of Rigurash's eyes when he started treating her like some god back at the prison. Even if she was new to this world, even she could tell that Plant Folk with a secret training ground and affiliation with great demons were not normal. Hmm…No wonder Kakashi broke his 'good demon streak'. The Elder didn't really give them time to rest up. He must have really wanted to see them fight. What the hell did Rigurash tell him?

Whatever. This was better. Naruto and Hinata wouldn't want to waste time anyway, no matter how much Naruto complained. Sakura sent him a fierce smile of her own and said, "Let's just do it."

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Bonus Episode:
*Filler Episode Time!*

*Time: Before they found the plant folk village after Hinata discovered she could communicate with ghosts*

Three humans and a Great Demon grew bored walking across the desert. They had only just started walking after they found the ghost town, but Naruto considered it his duty to kill the boredom. For the sake of his best friends, of course. He said, "Yo Hinata. Soooo can you see ghosts now?"

"Ugh. Really? She's obviously scared of that fact, idiot!" Sakura scolded as she whacked him across the back of his head. Naruto was just as bad as Kakashi when it came to consideration. "Apologize to Hinata-chan meanie!"

"S-Sorry, Hinata-chan!" Naruto rubbed his head with a pout. "I got so excited about the idea of being ghost hunters that I forgot how scary that must have been for you. I'm really sorry."

"No, it's fine Naruto-kun." Hinata wiped sweat off her brow as she blocked the sun from her eyes. These eyes were such a pain. Sure, she was terrified about hearing ghosts, but now she was just irritated that these pale eyes of hers were so sensitive to the sun. She loved her eye color, but it was starting to feel like a burden to have them. So what if some fantastical Hyuuga clan shared her eyes — she didn't want to be a ghost hunter! "Wanna trade powers? I can deal with the demon fox and you can finally confirm if ghosts are watching you pee at night."

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Naruto wailed as he thought about it. Crap, a lot of people died, right? So what if a bunch of them were perverts who watched him while he slept and ate and used the bathroom? What if there were a bunch of pale faces staring at his crotch and he could SEE that? Oh god! He shivered. Then a dark thought came to mind as he imagined those same perverts in the bath with the ladies and he panicked. He quickly turned toward his pale-eyed friend and held her shoulders with a concerned look. "I'll try to find an exorcist immediately! But I don't know how to cast spells so if any guys are bothering you in the bath, I can keep watch for you and block their view with my body —"

This time, both Hinata and Sakura whacked him in the back of the head. "You idiot! What are you suggesting?! Pervert!"

Kakashi snickered at the blonde boy's misfortune. "How daring, Naruto. You should meet with the lustful demons for tips —"

"SHUT UP KAKASHI-SENSEI!" The women roared.

And so, the men were lectured about privacy and respect while they walked. Naruto regretted not keeping his mouth shut. Even silence was better than getting nagged! He pouted, "I'm not a pervert…Really guys, I just wanted to keep the ghosts from peeping I swear…"

It was a long walk.

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AUTHOR NOTE:

Ciao Ciao!

Thanks for reading the latest in Sakura's D&D advent — Ahem. I mean, epic Empire Destroying Mayhem! As a bonus, I added a "filler episode" scene at the end to add to the comedy adventure bad ass vibe (and play homage to Naruto's infamous tradition of filler episodes). Should I keep this as a thing? Lmk!

As always, thank you to the fabulous BellaBabe42 for beta reading during these busy holidays!

I hope everyone had a peaceful new years and christmas and and etc (Does Konoha have their own holidays? I just thought about it).

Please review and eat chocolate or strawberries or both! Best combo ever.

Much Love,

WitchySkies

P.S. May the coming year be full of happy adventures.