Normal narrative and plot driven text
"Talking text, it's when characters are talking"
'Thinking text, readers see what characters are thinking'
Italic text, it's used for dreams and flashbacks
Bold text, is used when beings of higher power are talking
Bold+Italic, is used for songs
Disclaimer: Naruto is the property of Masashi Kishimoto. Any original characters shown or mentioned belong to me and can only be used with my permission.
Chapter One - Leafing The Village
The green leaves rustled on maple trees, swaying slightly by the cold night winds blowing through Konohagakure streets. Long shadows danced on earthen roads, dimly illuminated by old lantern street lights.
Every house and merchant shop door closed and locked up tight, windows that are absent of light from within are covered up with shutters and curtains alike. It's inhabitants peacefully slumbering on their soft beds and warm blankets, cozy warm air kept inside their abode by their fireplace.
All was supposed to be quiet, except for a slight disturbance happening near the outskirts of the village hidden in the leaves.
Two figures stood on the road leading to the big gates, on even bigger and thicker walls that protect the people living here. It is darker in this part of the village, with more trees and fewer houses, it's akin to a small park with benches and streetlights, flowers and bushes. Clouds converged on the sky this night, hiding the stars and moon, making it more colder in doing so. But that doesn't matter to the two figures, out here, their world was only on each other.
One was standing below the lantern street light, which doesn't offer any comfort against the chilly night air. Body heat diminishing slowly , despite the figure hugging herself and rubbing her arms. Her tear stricken emerald eyes locked onto the back of the second figure in front of her.
This figure, shrouded in cold darkness, posture unmoving, unflinching to her pleading. He is a few steps away from her light, far enough that it cannot reach him and so won't she. The winds are even colder now, the breeze blowing past them, ruffling up his white shorts, blue T-shirt and his spiky raven locks of hair at the back of his head.
"Don't go, Sasuke..." She cried weakly, emotionally and physically drained from trying to talk him out of leaving. They have been standing here for minutes, with her talking most of the time and him barely saying anything. In those few minutes, lots have been said. She was crying for him, begging him to stay, even confessing her love. Running out of ideas, she was considering going with him, leaving behind her friends, her comrades, her village. If only Naruto was here, he would surely succeed in talking him out of it. But she had to try. In Naruto's absence she could offer to go with Sasuke without a second thought.
Just as she opened her mouth to say it out loud, Sasuke looked to the side of the road but still didn't look at her. "You're so annoying." She flinched, words dying on her tongue. "You say you love me, but you don't even know anything about me." Then he looked forward once more towards the gate ahead. "You are so weak, Sakura. Weaker than Naruto, the dead last of our class. I can't stand to even look at you!" His words were like a physical blow that took all her breath from her lungs. Her throat felt painfully constricted as if Sasuke had his hands on her neck and squeezing the life out of her.
Sasuke began to move slowly at first, as if trying to shake off the numbness from standing still for long. The pebbles under his black sandalled soles grinding on the ground - the noise broke the too quiet pause between them - as he started walking. "Do everyone a favor and just quit being a ninja." Those were his last parting words.
"...Sa...suke..." Sakura barely whispered out of her too painful throat, one hand reaching out towards him in desperation. She couldn't move, her legs rooted to the ground. Her other hand was clutching on to her chest, white knuckled tight grip crumpling her red cheongsam dress trying to calm her racing heart. Her shallow breaths quickened the further away he walked away, hyperventilating making her nauseous. Her palms were sweaty, knees weak and arms feeble.
The lantern above her head began to flicker more and more by the moment and became dimmer, and big snake like eyes slowly opened at the other side of the big open gates where Sasuke was walking towards. "Kukukukuku..." a sinister chuckle came from those big serpentile eyes, it's piercing stare set upon her trembling form that sent a chill up her spine and a heavy weight on her shoulders.
When Sasuke got close enough to the gates, a huge number of snakes ascended on him from the ground below his feet. The white serpents coiled and coiled around Sasuke, leaving not even an inch of him to be seen. "The Sharingan is finally mine!" Orochimaru's gleeful voice told her, and then his cruel eyes - the only thing that stood out from the darkness – transformed themselves into that of the Sharingan.
Her light gave out at that moment, shrouding Sakura in darkness. The ground underneath her feet faded and she fell down through as the darkness swallowed her whole. A scream escaped her lips as she plummeted down to the abyss, the only thing she saw was those hateful eyes that stared at her, getting smaller the further down she went.
Eyes that were once scrunched up have snapped open in fright, green irises stared at white ceiling. One hand clutching the blanket , while the other was below her pillow, holding a kunai. She gasped for air then jolted when loud banging came from her door. Taking a few deep breaths, she pushed herself groggily out of bed to sit on the edge of the mattress and wiping away the sweat from her forehead.
More banging came from her door, this time more impatient. Sakura sighed while putting on her red slippers and standing up, going quickly to the bathroom to grab her light pink bathrobe to cover up her light pink pajamas. Looking at the mirror above the sink, she frowned as she saw her bed hair and sweaty pale face. And it's no wonder. She remembers that nightmare in vivid detail. It is not the first time she had a nightmare, since that day a year ago when she spoke to Sasuke last. The bad dreams varied, but she knows, at least she think she knows, that Sasuke was behind her, thanking her. His voice was but a whisper, before she fell unconscious. But what if that was also just another dream? Sakura wasn't sure anymore. She had so many nightmares, that it blurred the line between what was real and what was illusion, and the bad dreams always felt so real. Each and every one.
Quickly glancing at her eyes in the mirror, she noted the ever present dark circles under them, from countless sleepless nights. Even when he isn't in the village, he won't leave her subconscious mind.
There isn't any time to make herself presentable, so she sighed in frustration and hurried towards the door, the banging continuing. "Coming!" She yelled. In her haste she fortunately remembered to turn on the lights and disable the trap at the door – it has a weak thread going across the lower end of the door, so the slightest pressure could snap it, activating the explosive tags neatly arranged below the door and covered up by a welcoming carpet – then she unlocked the door and angrily pulled it open. A masked Anbu was on the other side, who moved back a step when she was unlocking the door. "What?!" She grumbled, resisting the urge to rub her eyes, because one hand was holding the door handle, ready to use as cover at a moments notice and the other hand still clutching her kunai she took from the pillow, hidden underneath the long sleeve of her bathrobe.
Her senses alert as the Anbu spoke "The Hokage wants to see you." This early in the morning? It's not even 7:00 AM! The sun hasn't risen yet.
"I'll be there." Sakura spoke quickly, it's not wise to keep her shishou waiting. The Anbu nodded and shunshied away. Closing the brown wooden door, she hurried back to her bathroom to return the bathrobe back on it's hanger, wash her face and comb her unruly pink hair. Then after quickly brushing her teeth she went to her small bedroom to change into her black shorts and red qipao dress. Tying on bandages and her shuriken holster around her right thigh, then checking out her appearance on the full body mirror on the bedroom door; tying on her Konoha forehead protector to wear it as a hairband.
Looking presentable she proceeded to the entrance hall where her blue sandals were placed, to put it on. Stepping through the door and onto the open hallway, then turning back to her small apartment to lock the door and reactivate the trap just like Tsunade showed her.
Jumping onto the railing of the open hallway then onto the roof from the second story building she was on and to the next building over, Sakura roof hopped towards the Hokage building. She enjoyed when the cool morning air blew at her when she ran and jumped, nipping at her skin and cooling her head.
Sakura guesses she should be thankful for Sasuke. That fateful night, when she considered leaving everything behind for the boy she loved, and the boy who didn't love her back. This one-sided relationship just wasn't meant to be and was bound to come crashing down.
When she woke up on the hospital bed a few hours later, it was close to morning but still dark outside. The nurse who was in the same room informed her that a passing ANBU found her unconscious on a bench and brought her here in case she was sick.
That is when Sakura realized the situation and jumped out of bed – startling the nurse a little – and rushed out the door. Despite the protesting nurse, she yelled on her way out that she needed to see the Hokage immediately.
She tried to sprint as fast as she could, but her lack of physical exercise started to really show when after a minute she started to sweat, tire and breathe heavily. Her legs burned by the halfway point to the Hokage tower, but she gritted her teeth and tried to push on despite losing speed and getting slower. Her fatigue quickly worsening she slowed down to a light jog by the time she neared the entrance. She was walking briskly inside and up the stairs, the guarding shinobi giving her curious glances as she passed them.
She reached the secretary, an auburn haired woman drinking from her mug behind the desk. "I need to see Lady Tsunade, it's urgent!" Sakura nearly yelled but her learned deference kept her in check. The secretary raised an inquisitive eyebrow as she quickly assessed the girl in front of her, forehead protector and sweaty, panick stricken face.
"State your rank, name and reason."
"Genin Sakura Haruno reporting the disappearance of Sasuke Uchiha." She said clearly, her shinobi protocol kicking in. She didn't want to say Sasuke left the village on his own will, because there was still a sliver of hope inside her that he could be saved.
"The Uchiha?" Asked the woman with both eyebrows raised now, then her gaze quickly flicked behind Sakura, on the corner of the room where an ANBU was hidden with genjutsu.
Said ANBU immediately appeared next to Sakura, startling her, and the secretary told him to go wake up Tsunade and bring her here.
After that, she directed the distraught Genin towards the waiting area consisting of a small hallway with seats infront of the door leading to the Hokage office.
Sakura didn't have to wait long before a very irate Godaime Hokage appeared with a shunshin, unlocked the door and ushered her inside. Activating a privacy seal once they were both inside, she rounded on the pinkette, sour mood from getting woken up so early.
The events went by quickly after Sakura explained the situation. Lady Tsunade sent ANBU to bring Shikamaru, the newly appointed Chunin, for a mission. The Nara picked Naruto, Neji, Kiba and Choji for this A-rank mission since there were no other shinobi that could be spared at the moment.
Sakura later found herself spying from a distance Naruto and the other hastily assembled team at the gates as they go over the formations and planning before setting off. Shame and guilt kept her from going over there and begging her teammate to bring their wayward third member back. She didn't have the right, as she was never nice to him. All she could do is cry silently and watch them from her hiding space, as they left. Praying for their safe return.
A sudden touch on her shoulder had Sakura spinning around in alarm, only to see that same secretary from before, hastily backing off a step and raising her hands in a placating gesture.
"Ah.. Sorry, sorry, didn't mean to surprise you like that. But are you all right?" She asked while looking at her tear stained face with pity.
Sakura quickly looked away from her while trying to dry her tears, "I-I'm fine..." She quietly choked out the words. Trying desperately to compose herself.
Then she saw something white presented in her line of sight. "Here." The woman offered her a neatly folded handkerchief.
"...Thanks." Sakura sighed after hesitantly taking and unfolding it. It was no use hiding it anymore. Her emotions are pretty obvious and on full display by this point.
The woman with the reddish-brown hair colour waited for the pinkette to calm down and wipe herself clean while she herself looked to the side to give her some privacy.
Once Sakura was done, she looked at the secretary, "..Um, thank you. I'll wash it and give it back." A little dusting of pink were on her cheeks out of embarrassment for a stranger to see her falling apart like this.
"Keep it. I have more at home." The woman said, with a slight sigh before looking towards the entrance of the village, where the retrieval team went through. "Your friend is the one with the blonde hair, the Uzumaki, right?" She inquired.
At Sakura's nod she continued, "He beat the Hyuuga prodigy in the Chunin exams. He's strong." Then she looked at Sakura, "If there is one shinobi who can bring the Uchiha back, it will be him."
Sakura sighed and looked slightly away from her, unable to keep eye contact, "It's a little more complicated than that..." She breathed deeply, getting more in control of herself.
"I guess, I just feel a little lost. I.. I don't know what to do anymore. Even if he brings him back, things might never be the same again.." Sakura quietly explained as best she could, and yet it still felt like that isn't the extent of her distress. Here she was, talking to a stranger who she only met for the second time this day, and yet they talked like friends. She knows she should be more wary, but she just couldn't care at this point. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. And she would have gone home to wallow in self-pity, but since this woman showed up, Sakura decided to talk to her instead.
The woman got closer to the pinkette - who was folding her hands in worry - and placed her hand on her shoulder again, slower this time. The girls green eyes looked up at her brown ones, "Well, it's no use worrying about the could've, should've and would've. The best course of action, is to be in the 'now' and plan for the future."
While their eyes were locked, Sakura hung on her every word. The woman concluded with the following, "There was an old saying, and it is something I live by. It might help you too." She looked at the girl intently while removing her hand from her shoulder and placing it on her own modest chest.
"Love with your heart," here she raised that same hand from her chest and tapped the side of her forehead, "and use your head for everything else." She smiled at the girls slightly confused expression.
"You might not understand now, but give it time, and you will get it." The woman turned sideways while lazily waving goodbye to her, "Well anyway, I have to get going. Keep your chin up and, have a good day!" She said and started to walk away towards the center of the village.
Sakura snapped out of rumination as the older woman walked away, "Th- thank you for talking with me.. and the handkerchief! um... Ms.."
The woman paused to look back at her, "Tomodachi" she smiled a friendly smile, "Hisho Tomodachi. But you can call me Tomo for short." Then she resumed walking at a leisure pace.
"Thank you, Tomo-san." Sakura half-heartedly waved goodbye, because the woman couldn't see her.
"Ja ne, Sakura-chan!" Tomo returned the wave without looking back, while Sakura blushed at how familiarly she talked with her after just the second meeting.
It was the next day that the team returned, carried on stretchers by medical-nin, while guarded by ANBU and the sand siblings from the Chunin exams. Naruto, Chouji, Kiba, Akamaru and Neji were in such a bad condition that they were unconscious. Only Shikamaru seemed to have suffered the least amount of damage by a self inflicted broken finger.
On the second day of their arrival is when visitors were allowed, and Sakura went to check up on Naruto, who to her surprise, was the first one to wake up. While she was happy that he recovered so quickly, she noted that this isn't the first time she saw him heal so fast.
Naruto, that stubborn fool kept promising her that he won't go back on his word, and will bring Sasuke back even at the cost of his life. He nearly lost his life the first time, and it made Sakura feel a deep sadness. She already lost one team member, and losing Naruto.. that would be even worse. He was the heart of the team, the bright sun that offers warmth and reassurance, and a pillar of strength and unity. She realized that now after recounting their time together as a team.
Snapping out of it when she remembered her talk with Tomodachi two days ago, her expression turned serious and determined as she looked at Naruto straight in the eyes. "Naruto, you won't have to do it alone. I will train hard and get stronger too. Then we will bring Sasuke back, together!"
Sakura knew then, that she made the right call when Naruto flashed her a smile that brightened the room and with a "Sure thing, Sakura-chan! It's a promise!" took the weight off her shoulders. She nodded to him with a smile of her own, and with the promise she made to him, left him to his rest as well as the basket full of fruit next to his bedside.
'So, this is what my heart was telling me.' Sakura understood the meaning a little more. Her heart told her what to do, so in a moment of inspiration, she will keep her friends close and try to strengthen her bonds that she has.
And now she needed to use her head for everything else.
Sakura went straight to Lady Tsunade and requested to be her apprentice. The rest from there, changed her destiny.
With a final jump, Sakura landed a few steps in front of the entrance of the Hokage's building. Three genin kids guarding the entrance snapped to attention at her arrival, attentively watching her approach. With a smile, she pulled out her identification card for them to skim over and let her pass with a nod.
She remembers hearing stories from her co-workers one time, when they were Genin. Some of them were stuck on a D-rank guard duty mission inside the village. It couldn't get any more boring then that, as far as boring missions went. Lucky for her Team 7 never received missions like that.
As she is walking through the nicely furnished hall with doors, paintings, plants and seating areas, she rounded the corner leading towards the stairs and spotted the Yamanaka heiress.
"Hey Ino!" Sakura greeted with a raised voice, so that the kunoichi who was a bit far from her could hear. Said kunoichi turned with a pleasant surprise and smiled when she saw Sakura.
The blonde waited by the stairs for her to catch up and together, they ascended to the third floor. "Hi Sakura, were you also called by Tsunade-shishou? Maybe we'll have a mission together?" Ino inquired, looking at the pinkette with hopeful light blue eyes.
Sakura looked at her ex-rival now best friend with a happy smile. Seeing Ino early in the morning already made this day ought to be a good one; bad dreams forgotten for the time being. The stair section they are in has big windows that are facing the sunrise, and the bright orange ball can be seen rising.
Ino hasn't changed her attire much these past 12 months. Still wearing her signature purple outfit consisting of a high-collared blouse and matching apron skirt. She sports this attire with bandages on her abdomen and legs, small hoop-earrings, her forehead protector worn as a belt and shuriken holster strapped on her right thigh. Her white arm warmers being absent ever since she was practicing the Healing Palm technique trying to revive fish. She complained to Sakura how the stink just couldn't be washed off after too many times handling aquatic animals. So she just decided to forgo them altogether.
What did change on Ino, however slightly, was her body gaining a lean and elegantly muscular physique from hard training. This not only sped up her developing body in all the right places – getting her a hourglass figure – but her new diet and probably good genetics made her chest grow as well. And it makes Sakura secretly jealous, if a little bit miffed at her own lack of assets. Ino's platinum blonde hair has grown out as well, now reaching past her shoulder blades and tied in a ponytail, with bangs slightly covering the right side of her eye.
Ino Yamanaka is, overall, the most beautiful kunoichi in Konoha, if at least in Sakura's eyes. The ray of sunlight coming from the windows gives her the added effect of an ethereal beauty, and it does strange things to Sakura's heart.
Because Naruto left the village to train under Jiraiya for three years, Ino was the only ray of sunshine that offered comfort and warmth these days and months. If it wasn't for Ino, it would've been lonely and sad.
Sakura noted that Ino still has the red hairclip she gifted her with..
She remembers that day when Sasuke left, and many people got hurt, not just the team sent out to retrieve. After she and Tsunade made their training program that fit into the busy schedule of the Godaime, she was given two days of only D-rank missions while Tsunade worked overtime, so that they could have training days for themselves.
When Sakura completed her latest solo mission on the first day, it was still mid-morning, so she decided to visit the hospital before reporting for more missions. But first she needed flowers, and she knew just who to turn to.
The quaint little flower shop had flowers displayed outside as well, and it just so happened that she saw Ino tending to them. With a green floral printed apron she was wearing, it did a good job masking any dirt stains, and a big leather belt that holds small handheld gardening tools.
At first, Sakura paused to think about what to say and avoid falling into a stinted or worse, aggressive exchange. Then Ino noticed her and made her decision for her, waving her over. Ino, just like the first time they met, just like she always knew her, was a social butterfly who initiated conversations as well as steering it whichever way she wanted it to go. Like a naturally born diplomat.
Sakura was surprised how friendly she was to her after everything that happened. But when Ino conveyed her regret about Sasuke's absence and Naruto's hospitalization, Sakura quickly reciprocated and expressed sorrow for Chouji as well as the others. While she was genuinely sad for them all, she felt it in her heart a desire to reconnect with Ino. Sakura didn't have the will to compete with the blonde anymore; all she wanted was a new fresh star as well as to better herself.
When the pinkette told her she came to her flowershop to buy some flowers for the retrieval team, Ino decided they should go together and helped her pick out the right flowers.
"Here, these ones are for 'Well wishes' and these added leaves mean 'Unchanging friendship'." Ino explained, her knowledge of botany coming in quite handy for Sakura. With all the flowers assembled, tied up in pretty ribbons and paid for; the Yamanaka heiress put the 'Be Right Back' sign on the door before locking it and together they went to the hospital.
It was from there that their friendship got repaired and the foundations of their bond got stronger than before. It was as if they were never even rivals.
Time passed
Sakura got invited to Ino's birthday not long after – which was modestly celebrated in the Akimichi restaurant with the Yamanaka, Nara and Akimichi clan members get together. At first, Sakura was hesitant to intrude since she felt she doesn't belong with them, but with Ino's stubborn insistence and reassurance, she relented.
Sakura wanted to give Ino a special gift, even if the Yamanaka heiress told her it wasn't necessary since she would get lots of presents from the clan members. But just like in reverse, the blonde had to relent to the pinkette's insistence.
When the day of the birthday arrived, and when it was time for the presents to be opened, Ino opened Sakura's wrapped gift first. The colorful small box contained a bottle of hair shampoo, a pink hairbrush with an interesting design and oh, what's this? A small red hairclip. It wasn't just any hairclip, it was custom made with an addon round button sized image of a Cherry Blossom. There was a small gift note dangling from the hairclip, with pretty handwriting that conveyed a message:
To my best friend
Ino Yamanaka
With a radiant smile, Ino looked up at Sakura just in time to see her pull out something from her pouch. Ino recognized the red ribbon right away. How could she not, it was her first gift to Sakura.
"Like this," Sakura said, replacing her Konoha forehead protector with the red ribbon, "we match." And she smiled, quite happy that her plan worked perfectly and without aberrations. Very pleased that she managed to make Ino's birthday more special. And to put the icing on the cake she finished with a "Happy Birthday Ino."
Ino, was, besides herself with joy. And it was all she could do to contain her squeal of happiness as she pounced on Sakura with a breathtaking hug. "Thank you, Sakura! I'll wear it always!"
The party guests smiled, some cheered while others raised glass in honor. While one cheeky little Yamanaka clan boy had to joke around, "Even in bath?"
Needless to say, it got all the guests who heard him to laugh out loud and for Ino and Sakura to separate quickly with both of them blushing. Ino rounded on the little boy and marched toward him to give him a good talking to. Which resulted in the boy to stick his tongue out at her teasingly and run away, with Ino chasing him playfully.
All in all, the whole day was cheerful and it won't be forgotten by Ino and Sakura for a long time to come.
That was what rekindled their friendship anew, and Sakura felt elated by it.
With a final step they got off the stairs and proceeded through a wide hallway that leads to the Hokage's office. Ino noticed her friend looking at her and with a small smile, "Ryo for your thoughts?" inquired.
The pinkette averted her eyes from the blonde to hide her blush; looking in front of herself she muttered, "Just remembering your birthday" with a fond tone.
Ino's smile widened and instinctively reached up to touch her hairclip, "Yeah? I told you I will always wear it. It looks good on me." Her blue eyes looked up at Sakura's hair, "Just like your forehead protector." Ino remembers how after all the guests left at the end of the party, Sakura was the last one there. With a suggestion of a sleepover, Sakura timidly acquiescenced and went home with Ino and the Yamanaka parents to stay for the night.
They stayed late, past midnight, just chatting about everything and anything, catching up on all that they missed. Sakura was sitting cross-legged on Ino's big fluffy flower patterned bed, with Ino behind her, adjusting the pinkette's forehead protector. She swapped the standard blue cloth with the red one, so this way she would wear only one hairband.
They had many more sleepovers after that, and Ino remembers them all with a fond smile.
Their reminiscing was cut short when they reached the reception area and Sakura spotted Tomodachi. The brown haired woman hasn't changed all these months; still using her two fashionable hair-clips to keep the fringe from covering her brown eyes. Wearing plain blue kimono with white trimmings, held closed by a white obi, open-toed sandals with low heels and the always applied nail polish and light makeup that keeps her from looking ordinary.
It appears that she is talking to a man who is sitting behind the receptionist desk/station. The woman turned when she heard the kunoichi approach and greeted them with a smile, "Oh, hello there Sakura-chan, Yamanaka-sama." she bowed. The kunoichi greeted and bowed in return.
"Working overtime again, Tomo?" Sakura inquired. Since day one of being Tsunade's apprentice, she walked these halls and stairs on a daily basis. Getting acquainted with fellow shinobi and civilians alike who also spent the majority of their time in this building. It was like a second home for the pinkette, and Tomodachi-san was like a roommate.
Tomo sighed, "You know how it is, my sons birthday is coming up soon and I want to prepare." She then looked at the clock on the wall while stifling a yawn, "If you'll excuse me, I really need to get going, it was a long night as usual. It was nice talking to you both." They all inclined their heads in goodbye and went their separate ways. Tomodachi going home to a well deserved sleep, and the two kunoichi towards the Hokage office.
Sakura, in moments like these, sometimes met with Tomo. Their work hours are exactly like night and day. And that was why she always saw the Hokage's secretary so out of energy while she herself is fully charged and ready for action. Night shifts, they pay better.
"Well, here we are." Ino interrupted Sakura's internal thoughts as she raised her hand to knock on the door. At the Hokage's call, they both entered.
Tsunade is sitting in front of the desk, rolling up a scroll and looking up as the duo entered the office. Shizune just finished stacking a pile of documents and also looked at the girls. They all greeted eachother as the door closed.
As the Hokage's aide went to the filing cabinets, Tsunade folded her hands on the table and smiled. "I have a mission for you, but before we begin the briefing, there are two more that need to show up."
The Fifth Hokage noticed the stiff posture and professional demeanor of her two apprentices, and with a small sigh, "At ease Sakura, Ino. You just have to wait for a bit, this won't take long."
At their "Yes shishou." Tsunade smiled wryly, took her mug of cooling herbal tea, leaned back on her comfy chair and took a sip to relax herself. Due to Shizune prohibiting her from drinking sake on the job, this is the next best thing.
Sakura then looked at Shizune, who was busy organising files in the filing cabinets and couldn't help but be reminded of Tomodachi. They are both similar in appearances and ladylike elegance, with only a few things being different. While Tomodachi is like a good village resident to her who is easy to make small talk with, Shizune is like an older sister type for Sakura.
While looking at Tsunade, Sakura thinks of her as a second mother. Of course, that only applies when they are not training or taking on the role of village leader and soldier. There are times when she needs to don her metaphorical mask and be the part.
But besides that, Sakura returns to her previous thoughts, about being grateful that Sasuke left the village, and Naruto not bringing him back. In a twist of fate, it changed her life for the better; reality slapped some sense into her and lifted the veil of fog that had been clouding her mind. If Sasuke hadn't left, then Sakura wouldn't have met Tomodachi, wouldn't have reconnected her friendship with Ino and wouldn't have trained under Tsunade the Legendary Slug Sannin. When Sakura thought about this before, she concluded that Sasuke was someone who was ruining her life by the way things were going. He was a boy full of negative emotions, and his cold aura brings everyone's morale down; In a way, having Naruto in the same team balanced things out, since Naruto is a little orange ball of sunshine.
Tsunade watches her two apprentices without trying to stare, dividing her attention between Sakura, Ino, Shizune and her mug of tea.
She is somewhat happy how things turned out. Since that day Sakura stepped into her office on her own volition, and offered to be her apprentice; although her plea was pretty close to begging. At first, Tsunade was surprised that some Genin had the backbone to even come unannounced, let alone asking about apprenticeship. No other Genin besides Naruto had the guts to talk to her without their Jonin sensei present. It took Tsunade a moment to snap out of her surprise and realize that this is actually Naruto's teammate. That girl is the only one in the entire village who has pink hair. Pink! She would berate herself for not knowing Naruto's female team member, but instead she blames it on the endless paperwork she does. It addles her brain.
And after the pink haired kunoichi layed her rather short sales pitch on the table, the ball was in her court, so to speak. Tsunade looked at Sakura in the eyes, truly looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. This girl, no ... this Genin. She who at first Tsunade has written off as a crybaby and an overly emotional lovestruck fangirl that only cared about useless things. They say that the eyes are the window to the soul, and right now, Sakura's green irises show a fiery determination as well as willpower. Add in the fact that she didn't leave the village with the Uchiha, speaks of her loyalty to Konohagakure.
The Slug Sannin noticed that Sakura's body language was starting to change as the seconds ticked by, while she contemplated the pros and cons of training an apprentice in her already busy schedule. Sakura's courage was slowly crumbling, beads of sweat appearing on her reddening face, knees weak and arms like noodles. Her posture only worsened as the corner of Tsunade's mouth upturned into a smile, but then she cut the Genin some slack and turned her expression serious.
"Sakura." Tsunade addressed her apprentice to be, getting down to business. Interviewing this prospective kunoichi, asking her questions and trying to gauge her potential. During the half hour long talk they had, the blonde Sannin got a feel for Sakura's personality, knowledge and abilities; as well as implanting the seeds of further loyalty and confidence. She wanted Sakura to understand what she is getting into, and under no circumstances can she quit until there is nothing more to teach. Tsunade won't allow it; it would just waste everyones time, resources and effort. Not to mention it would paint the village Hokage in a bad way, portraying her as a failure of a teacher.
"You either become a Legendary Sannin like me, or die trying!" Tsunade announced, on her feet, hands on the desk and leaning towards Sakura with a dead serious expression, enunciating every word and locking eyes with her. Searching her eyes deeply for any deception and waiting for the answer. She was pleased to see Sakura stand confidently again, back straight, puffed out chest, head held high and not breaking eye contact. Sakura was accepted at this point in Tsunade's mind; however with Sakura's verbal confirmation that she won't back down no matter what, sealed the deal.
Tsunade dismissed Sakura for the day so she could reorganize the schedules, as well as letting her new apprentice time to think about this meeting.
Over time, Master and Apprentice bonded during their time together. Training Sakura both mind and body, teaching her not only shinobi skills, but about life experience. It was not long after their first few weeks of training that Sakura brought Ino Yamanaka into her office to recommend as another apprentice. The blonde Hokage massaged her forehead in irritation, she really can't afford another apprentice. And she almost told her no, but she held back as she remembered what she read in Sakura's file. The Yamanaka heiress was her best friend, then this makes sense. Tsunade smirked and told Sakura that she is the one who should teach her friend everything she learned so far. After talking through the training regimen that Sakura needs to apply for the Yamanaka, both girls became a daily occurrence for her.
As the Senju looked at the chatting girls in her office now, talking with one another, she knew she made the right choice. Naruto, Shizune, Sakura and even Ino were like her family. Kids she never had. And she would wring out that Uchiha's neck when she gets her hands on him if it wouldn't upset Sakura and Naruto...
There was a knock on the door and Tsunade beckoned them in.
The door promptly opened and the new arrival walked in. Sakura and Ino took in their whole appearance. Her blue ninja sandals, navy blue pants, beige-coloured shirt, forehead protector where it should be; rested precisely above the eyebrows and keeping the fringes of hair out of the way. Well kept hime-cut dark blue hair with chin-length strands framing her face. Her most distinguishing trait? It was those featureless lavender eyes, the Byakugan, that looked at each person in the room quickly before settling on their Hokage.
She closed the door and stepped forward, bowing deeply and with a "Hokage-sama" she greeted softly.
"Ah, Hyuuga Hinata..." Tsunade greeted but stopped whatever else she wanted to say as Hinata was still bowing. It took her a second to recall the basic ninja etiquette (courtesy of the Hyuuga, who are sticklers for traditions and rules) and told her to rise and wait.
The kunoichi straightened up and moved to the side to stand up against the wall in a rigid posture, looking straight ahead. Tsunade sighed as she observed the girl, the Hyuuga are always so uptight and stoic, which is why whenever she is talking to one, it is brief and to the point. She tries to keep an open door policy ever since she became Hokage and as time went on in her village, she learned that it is hard to make small talk with the most noble clan of Konoha. They never deviate from their etiquette and rules; they also master the shinobi way of masking their emotions.
The clan head rules with an iron fist over his clan and children from an early age already undergo strict training in their Gentle Fist fighting style as well as everything the clan stands for. Seeing Hyuuga children like Hinata, masking their emotions and body always on alert, pains Tsunade. When she compares Hinata with Naruto, the difference is like night and day. Even she as the Hokage can't get involved and change the Hyuuga way, or else she might offend them and they could leave this village. She really would like to invoke changes if politics didn't get in the way; losing their largest and strongest clan is not an option as it would severely weaken the Village Hidden In The Leaves.
"Hyuuga Hinata, huh? Was she in our class Ino?" murmured Sakura as she discreetly looked at the blue haired girl.
"She was." Ino nodded, "she just didn't stand out." she whispered to Sakura conspiratorially.
Sakura can't quite remember much of Hinata in her ninja academy days. She could just chalk it up as her eyes only being for a certain raven haired boy. As she studies the blue haired girl, she sees that there are bandages on her shins; her navy blue pants not covering up her legs all the way, as well as bandages on her arms and hands, with one more on her cheek. Sakura thinks that Hinata was either hurt or uses the bandages as fashion statement like Ino.
Sakura frowns. Is Hinata going to the hospital? Is she avoiding it like other shinobi she knows, or are those wounds from hard training? She was curious, and was about to go up to Hinata and offer assistance, when there was another knock on the door.
At Tsunade's call to enter, the door opened and another kunoichi stepped in. By the look of her flushed face, beads of sweat on her skin and labored breathing, she was probably running full speed.
As the door closed she bowed apologetically to Hokage, "I'm sorry if I'm late." She straightened up when Tsunade told her to be at ease.
"Good, you arrived just on time Tenten. I think it's about time I told you why you were all called here." The blonde Sannin reached out to a scroll that Shizune offered her and put it on the desk. The four kunoichi assembled in the center of the room and stood at attention.
"What is the mission Lady Tsunade?" Sakura asked. Tsunade looked at her seriously.
"You four are conducting a covert investigation." Tsunade looked at each of them. "Each one of you are picked for this mission for your skills, abilities and knowledge."
"What are we investigating?" Sakura was with Tsunade long enough that she can talk with her freely.
Her teacher and Hokage stood up and unrolled the mission scroll on the desk. It displayed written information and the world map. "The land of Wind, Sand, Noodles and Tea," she tapped each location on the map with her finger "each had multiple missing persons report." She looked at each of them in the eyes, "Civilians and shinobi alike that were either killed or kidnaped."
The blonde Hokage straightened out and clasped her hands behind her back, as she turned around and went to the large window overlooking the village. "This has been going on for generations. As far back as the Warring States Period."
After a short pause to let that sink in, she continued, "It all started when explorers or scouts from that period stumbled upon an anomaly. It was something fascinating enough that warranted thorough examination."
Tsunade turned around to look at the assembled kunoichi and continued, "As you know from the history books, the Warring States Period wasn't just about war. It was also a time of exploration, resource gathering and expansion."
"Every civilian man, woman and child was obligated to learn shinobi skills. Even though men were the ones sent to battles, women, children and elderly who stayed back needed to protect themselves in case enemies sneak in behind the defensive lines."
"Women and children were the most important assets in every camp. For they are what supplies more soldiers for them, and those that fail to protect their territory, will be wiped out. That is why many clans with their Bloodline Limit no longer exist. Only the strongest and fittest survived."
Tsunade slowly began to pace the room, "But besides the bloody genocides that took place, new lands and islands were being discovered by scouts. These brave men who went to unknown and uncharted places in time got better equipment better suited for exploring the wilds and there they got their name, 'explorers'."
Walking back to the desk, she tapped the Land of Tea on the map, "As you all know, names change. The Land of Tea wasn't always called that. Scouts were always the first to sneak around unknown places, combing through the terrain looking for enemies. Once they return to their camp to report, leaders can send in their armies if there are enemies or explorers if it is safe. The explorers job is to traverse the new lands, sweeping through it like a comb. They catalogue all the trees, plants and wildlife. As well as hills, mountains, rivers and caves. Creating a map chart to get a clear picture of everything, and they return back to camp to show everything this new land has to offer."
"Then come the settlers. They are to build new camps in these new lands and settle in the best places the explorers guide them to."
The Sannin looked up from the map, "It is not known who discovered the anomaly first, but explorers were nevertheless involved. What they found even baffled them, so, they sent for researchers for help."
Here their Hokage had a very serious expression, "What the researchers found, on the shores of the Land of Tea, were two things. Strange trees that grew out of the sand, each a few meters apart from the other, and their upper half bent in such a way that their branches converged on the center, creating a makeshift roof. The second thing was what was below that roof."
" There was a tree that was humanoid in shape, as if chiseled up by skilled craftsmen. This shape was holding a large stone tablet that upon their first examination, had ancient language with a depiction of a crude drawing that looked like the mythical Ten Tails."
Sakura, Ino and Tenten gasped in astonishment at this revelation.
"As you know, the myth of the Ten Tails predates even the Sage Of The Six Paths. It is believed that that ancient stone tablet was the earliest artefact discovered. That started spinning tales, legends and myths. Although believers of these stories can tell the most fantastical tales, even skeptics can't fully dismiss them as just made up stories. Just when it is on the verge of going into obscurity, new evidence and discovery appears that pull them back to the debate with the religious."
Sakura snapped out of her amazed daze and asked a question that was nagging at her mind, "Excuse me, Lady Tsunade? But how do you know all this?"
Tsunade looked at her apprentice, "I'm about to get to that." then she took her mug to sip on her tea before continuing.
"Where I left off... the researchers that were sent weren't prepared for what they found. They didn't even know what that stone tablet contained, the language barrier prevented them from finding out. No one even knew what the Ten Tails was until years later when more clues were found. But as of that time all they could do was send an explorer, to inform their leader to send for slaves."
The Hokage noticed the look the girls were giving her, "Yes, sadly there were many slaves in that time period. Captured enemy soldiers, women and children. The slave soldiers were used for hard labor, the children were indoctrinated into their ranks, the elderly were killed, and the women.. well, you know what their fate is.."
Tsunade shook her head to not think about that and continued to talk, ignoring the uncomfortable look on the kunoichi, "The researchers needed slaves to help dig out these trees by the roots, intact. They couldn't get close to that tablet because thick branches were blocking the way inside this natural structure, and they didn't want to risk damaging the trees because of their unique and fascinating nature."
"It took three weeks for the lone explorer to travel from the Land of Tea to the Land of Fire to send the message to the leader. Then back to the Land of Tea with the assembled slaves and guards."
The Sannin looked at her student in the eyes, "When they returned, there was no sign of the research team nor the strange wooden structure with the ancient tablet."
She paused to sip more tea, "the lone explorer was brought back to his leader in chains, accused of treason and sentenced to death."
Tsunade sighed as she saw the kunoichi being uncomfortable again and put down the mug, "Those were barbaric times back then, and the Land of Fire didn't always have benevolent leaders."
"As the unfortunate explorer now prisoner wasted away in his prison cell, waiting for his execution, he had the liberty to have his diary with him as his last request. He used whatever time he had to write down about himself, the last he saw of those researchers, the ancient tablet and the picture of the Ten Tails, what he glimpsed of it."
"After he passed away, his diary was taken by other people, it isn't known who, historians and researchers is my guess, who tried to preserve it. But nothing lasts forever, and his diary, being made of Papyrus, is inevitably degraded over time, past the point of legibility. Over decades, historians wrote their own copy of the original diary, some were different from the others, while some were burned in accidents or otherwise. And over time, no one can be sure anymore what the original diary contained. In our own village archives, all we got to go on are small clues, old and new."
Tsunade took a long breath as she looked at everyone, "And now we are approaching the crux of the matter. I'm telling you all this so that you could see the bigger picture. If anything, it could help aid your investigation."
She tapped the Land of Tea on the map, "It all started here, on the shores of the Land of Tea. As far as we know, the researchers were the first that disappeared. Along with the anomaly, it's as if they vanished without a trace."
"On another note, our allies from the Land of Wind" she tapped the Land of Wind on the map, "allowed us in on their information from their archives regarding this particular investigation. Our two villages put together our clues, mission reports and eyewitness testimony that spanned generations."
"According to the newest Kazekage, Gaara, they also have had kidnapings for as long as the Land of Tea." She tapped each location on the map as she named them, "The Land of Sand and the Land of Noodles were a constant grievance for the Land of Wind. As civilians and shinobi sometimes go missing, other times when they set sail on the sea, they sometimes never return. Shinobi that do return, report finding and eliminating pirates."
"Pirates?" Sakura asked. "Do they still exist to this day?"
"Afraid so." Tsunade nodded. "We believe they are the main culprit to these kidnapings and missing persons report. You aren't the first team to be sent on this investigation and you probably won't be the last. When the previous Hokages sent their shinobi and spies, they also ran into pirates. Some of them returned while others were MIA and KIA, and whats more, is that many of those pirates showed skill with chakra, which makes them more dangerous than common bandits."
Looking back at the map, Sakura took a step towards it, "So with all that said," another step, "after all the information gained," and another step, "cross referencing and mind mapping," stopping in front of the desk where the map is, Sakura lifts her finger and taps the spot on it, "The Land of the Moon, is what connects them all."
Tsunade couldn't help but smirk, "Exactly."
"But wait, what about the Land of Spices?" Ino piped up "Isn't that island also involved?"
The Sannin sighed and took her tea again to take a sip, then crossing her arms while holding the mug, "Who knows..." She told her, contemplatively, "The Land of Spices has been disconnected from the world for a long time. No ship in all the elemental nations has been able to reach them, so they were left to their own devices."
"How come?" Sakura asked.
"Think about it Sakura. How many times have you ever embarked on a ship as part of your mission? Have you heard other ninja fighting on naval battles?"
Tsunade shook her head, "No Sakura, as far as recorded history, the Elemental Nations have always fought on land, or on the surface of water not far from land. Solid land battles are what ninja specialize in, while pirates have always been masters of the seas."
Sakura hummed, accepting of this fact, while thinking about reading upon pirates when she gets back from this mission.
Looking back at the map, Sakura's teacher continues, "These two islands," she tapped two green spots that is between the Land of the Moon and the Land of Spices, "are suspected of being the two pirate hideouts. The reason being is that the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind tried sending shinobi on these islands as well as past them. Both methods resulted in heavy resistance, as the diameter around this area is marked as the Danger Zone. Which means that those places have the most pirates."
"What about the Land of the Moon? What do we know about that?" Sakura inquired curiously, noticing that her teacher hadn't talked about this island yet.
Tsunade stiffened for a moment before putting the mug of tea back on the table. Collecting her thoughts and staring at that island on the map. "..Ah, yes. The Land of the Moon..."
She shrugged, snapping out of her retrospection. "Not much is known about it. No ship has been able to get close to it due to strong wind and sea currents. It steers our ships away from the island. We even tried sending the Yamanaka clan, who possessed seagulls to fly there or see from a better vantage point. But every time we tried that way, either pirates interfered or hurricanes formed."
"It's as if there is a higher power there that doesn't allow us to get close. Curious."
The Sannin tapped the Land of the Moon while looking at the girls. "This island is also a Danger Zone."
She clasped her hands behind her back and began to pace again, "But it is not as dangerous as the pirate infested waters. There are less of them around those parts and they also seem to avoid getting close to that island. Which reminds me.." Tsunade walked over to her chair to sit down, pulling open the drawer and taking out an envelope to give to Sakura. "If your investigations take you out to seas, you would need bribe money ready. There are a lot of reluctant captains who refuse going anywhere far, but my scouts found one who would."
Sakura took the envelope full of Ryo and put it in her pouch.
The blonde Sannin tapped the table with her finger while holding her chin with the other hand, "Now, you should know that all that I told you, should not be taken as fact. The real events that happened long ago have been lost to time. What we have now is the convoluted retelling that passed from different manuscripts and word of mouth."
She cleared her throat, "Getting back on track. These kidnapings are still happening and we haven't been able to resolve it. Recently, we got the newest missing person report that happened a month ago."
"That long ago? The trail would be too cold to follow then!" Ino couldn't hold back her frustration. "Not even the Inuzuka clan could find missing people like that."
"Unfortunately, these things take time." Rolling up the mission scroll, the Senju hands it over to the pinkette.
"Sakura, you will be the team leader for this mission. Your keen intellect, encyclopedic knowledge and logical thinking would be useful for this investigation. You earned this role." What the Hokage decided not to mention, is that this will also be a test for her and her team.
Moving on from the smiling, blushing apprentice, who after pocketing the mission scroll, stood proudly. "Ino, you will be second in command. Although you don't have the same skills as Sakura, you more than make up for it with your clan techniques. Besides interrogation, the Yamanaka are great for these kinds of investigations."
She then looked at the brown haired kunoichi, "Tenten, your skills with a variety of weapons and excellent marksmanship is impressive and you are on your way to become Konohas top weapons user. Because of this, you will be best utilized for long range attacks if the team encounters any pirates, and I bet on my next sake bottle that you most definitely will!"
"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune chastised.
Tsunade waved away her yelling with a chagrined expression, while Tenten scratched the back of her head in embarrassment for getting praised by her idol. Sakura and Ino snickered amongst themselves.
Then Tsunade looked at the last member of the team, noticing that the blue haired girl hasn't moved a single muscle nor changed her expression all this time. Even though the mood in the room is lighthearted, she kept her emotions hidden. Damn those Hyuuga elders!
"Hinata, I've read your file. Your service record listed 108 D Rank Missions, 34 C Rank and 5 B Rank. Team 8 always acknowledge your skills and actions in their oral and written mission reports. They seem to hold you in high regard. However, Shino Aburame is Chuunin and can't be on the same team anymore. And Kiba Inuzuka injured himself and is recovering from the last mission."
"Which means Team 8 is disbanded. But! I'm putting you in this team not only because of your skills and abilities, but to also allow you to earn a field promotion. That goes for all of you." Tsunade looks at the assembled team.
"This mission is B Rank, with a possibility of turning into A Rank. Sakura, you and your team are to go to the Land of Tea. Since the nature of this mission is conducted in secret, no one outside this room knows. This should hopefully give you an edge."
"If your investigation hits a dead end, you are to return back. If you run into pirates then you are to retreat. If retreat is not an option, then you are allowed to use any means necessary to defend yourselves. This is where your respective strengths will be useful. Look for and gather any clues you can find, no matter how insignificant. The maximum time limit for this is five months. Any questions?"
At the few seconds silence the Hokage nodded, "The mission starts now. Dismissed."
As the kunoichi turned to walk back home to pack, Sakura faltered in her step before deciding to keep walking. She wanted to ask something more but decided against it.
As she walked behind Ino through the door, she saw two adult Hyuuga men. Further down the hall, Tenten was walking at a brisk pace to get home to prepare for the mission. Moving next to Ino in the hallway, she saw Hinata amble up to those men. She didn't like the look on their faces. They have stern expressions as they looked down on the much smaller girl walking past them and they followed behind her. 'Hm, maybe they are bodyguards.' She thought. But then Ino pulled her attention as she started talking about the mission, and they strolled outside together until they needed to separate for their respective homes.
As she pocketed the scroll full of supplies into her travel backpack, Sakura felt she is ready as she will ever be.
Standing now at the threshold of the doorway, looking back at the place she is supposed to call home. Her busy lifestyle doesn't allow her to decorate and make it homey, in fact, this apartment always made her feel cold to the bone and incredibly lonely. So she spent less and less time here, and more time sleeping in the hospital, in her small office. Sometimes even having sleepover with Ino, but trying to not overstay her welcome.
This minimalist house, with it's simple and efficient layout. With it's bare minimum necessities, with it's cold walls and floors, and with its undisturbed dust, showing the houses emptiness and disuse.
It was a small modest thing, with an entrance hall where footwear is taken off to be replaced with slippers, jackets taken off to be hanged on hangers and with a medium sized mirror. After that theres the living room, nice looking couches; also dusty from lack of use, a low table with a colorful vase on it, but without any flowers.
On the right is a doorway leading to a small kitchen, while on the left is one open door leading to her small bedroom with her unmade bed. The bed she regrets sleeping in last night. Next to her bedroom is another open door that leads to the bathroom.
Sakura didn't know why she stopped outside her apartment now when her team is probably waiting for her, but there was something about that dream that unnerved her. This wasn't the first nightmare she had, oh no; she knows she had trouble sleeping since the Chuunin exams. When Orochimaru first reared his ugly head. And then the Sound and Sand invasion that turned her into an orphan. And then Sasuke...
Sakura shook her self out of her dark thoughts before she felt depressed again. There is no time to be thinking about this now.
She took deep breaths to calm herself and grabbed the doorknob. Before closing the door she tallied in her mind everything she needed to do before leaving on this long term mission.
Lights? Check. She took out and safely stored the electric fuse.
Water? Check. The water pipes are sealed shut.
Valuables? Check. The only things that are important to her, is all her accumulated ryo, and Ino's present. The money is well hidden, while the Hairband is on her head all the time.
"Alright. I guess thats everything." Sakura told herself, still staring into the dark and empty house, that cast long shadows. She questions why she is hesitating. This isn't her first mission, as she has experienced many things in her career so far.
But this is her first long term mission. And just on the day she had a nightmare. It made the hairs on her skin stand on end, whether from the chill coming from the house or a bad feeling in her gut, Sakura doesn't know for sure. But somehow she feels like this is the last time she will see her apartment, maybe even her village.
And as she finally summons her willpower to move, the door is slowly closing up. Sakura thinks if her neighbour is home, she needs to hand over her key for safe keeping. The door closes more, squeaking in it's hinges a little, the shadows getting longer and the darkness creeping in. She thinks that she would take to the rooftops to get to the meeting point quicker, while also committing her village to memory. The last of the light escapes through the door as it closes completely. The door being heard locked up from the outside, and then.. silence..
Authors Note:
~Shannarooo! I finally finished this! Although it is only the first chapter, I can still celebrate in my own way for finally finishing this and posting it.
This might turn out to be a long AN but I feel like I need to explain to those interested, how this story came to be. I'll try to compress it.
I was a regular in fanfiction sites, and was reading many stories over the years. Some were bad and some were good, some made me cry and some made me laugh. And as I read more and more stories, it was becoming harder to find good fanfics. Because I don't watch alot of different anime or movies, or read a lot of books outside the fanfic sites, my options were limited.
Animes, movies and books aren't as interesting to me anymore as an adult. It might not be just me, but my tastes in animes, movies and books are very specific. I don't like certain tropes and I don't like politics.
But getting back on track -ahem-
Finding good stories that suit my tastes and go the way I want them to go became harder to find. They were hidden gems scattered all over the web and I was looking for them like a gold digger.
There was one such gem that was so great that it stood out from the rest. It looked like one of it's kind, as no other story had a plot like that, and no other writer was so bold. Now before you yell at me how wrong I am, please allow me to just say, that I'm talking about only myself and my opinion. I know there are so many more anime, movies and books out there that are better than I can imagine. What I am trying to say, is that I haven't came across them nor experienced them yet. And that what I find awesome, might not be awesome to you and vice versa.
As to the author who inspired me, unfortunately, he deleted his story. A story that was planned to be an epic saga.
But fortunately, we talked things through and he allowed me to have his story and make it my own.
I was elated by that, and motivated to start writing and posting this fanfic. However, I will not make an exact copy of his story. I will be writing the story in my own interpretation. It will be different from his but the concept will be similar.
I will not be revealing who this writer is unless he says it's okay. I don't want to make him uncomfortable with my fangirling.
So.. yea. This was chapter 1 of this story. I Think I may or may not put too much information and exposition into my first chapter. But you know what they say, first impressions are important.
This first chapter is just a start of it's humble beginnings. And I have plans to make this story just as epic as the one that motivated me.
This first chapter should show viewers what kind of story to expect and what kind of author writes it. This story is planned to be deep and full of meanings, full of feelings. There will also be action, but that won't be the focus of this story.
Readers should also know that this is just one of my hobbies. I write this story for fun. And I am in no rush to write as many chapters as possible in the shortest amount of time. My story will be quality over quantity.
Lots of references from different places will be put in the story. Can you the reader find them all? This will kinda be like an easter egg hunt.
Anyay, I should wrap this up. Comments are welcome.
Tell me what you think of this story. Do you like it? Do you hate it? Do you have better ideas? Please let me know, I'm curious what you have to say!