Chapter 6 – Scar

"You cut me deep,
It hurt to feel,
It's taken time,
But wounds they heal."

Sarada sat next to the desk, elbow leaning down on it with her chin in her palm. It had been a restless night, and even with the time she'd swapped out with Mitsuki to take watch, she hadn't been able to sleep a wink. Between keeping one eye on Kawaki at all times and worrying about her parents, Sarada had too much keeping her mind occupied to get any real rest. Kawaki had managed to sleep, surprisingly. As soon as Mitsuki had disappeared to the top level to take first watch, Kawaki had given her one dark look – for no apparent reason – not that Sarada was keeping track of every look he threw her way – and he'd settled in to his bedroll, his back to her, of course. And he stayed like that until his breathing evened out just a little while later. She'd been able to avoid thinking about him too closely all night, her mind had mostly been going in circles about what had happened to her parents. No matter how many different scenarios she imagined she never came to a conclusion that she wanted to acknowledge. None of them ended well. And now, sitting across from him with those steely grey eyes once again fixing a glare on her, Sarada couldn't help the direction her mind took. Yes, she despised him for what happened. Even now. But she couldn't ignore that ache in her heart that she felt at the loss of his touch. Twice she'd felt it, and twice she'd tried her best to ignore it. Maybe she'd thought that after what he'd done she'd be able to separate what she felt for him – even somehow stop feeling those things altogether. Chocho had been right…before everything, although Sarada had never admitted it, least of all to Kawaki himself (mostly because he wouldn't have liked that), but she had developed feelings for him and it appeared that time and anger had done nothing to squash those feelings, much to her dismay. Sarada sighed, clearly annoyed but she continued to appear bored – simply because she refused to give him any kind of reaction. Mitsuki had gone to the upper level, sending his snakes out to scout the area and find any trace of Sasuke and Sakura and Sarada had been counting the minutes until he would return. The longer she sat under Kawaki's glare, the more likely she would be to say something they both would regret.
Giving up trying, Sarada tutted. "What is it, Kawaki? Something on your mind? Being this quiet…it isn't like you." she didn't give him a chance to answer. "Or did betraying us actually teach you to shut up for once." It hurt her to say it, to finally bring it up to him but the flash of outrage in his eyes made it worth it.
Kawaki's lips parted but she would never know what he was about to say, Mitsuki's snake had slithered through the door, drawing their attention to it. Sarada pushed herself up, heaving a sigh. "Finally."
She took a few steps before she realized that Kawaki hadn't moved. He was still in the chair, watching her with an unguarded expression now. It caused her to hesitate.

It was a moment he wasn't about to let go to waste.

Kawaki came to his feet, towering over her once again.
"Why the fuck do you look at me like that?"
It took her a moment to answer, her lips parting and closing as if she wasn't sure what to say. "Like what?"
"Like every damn thing wrong in this world is my fault alone," he exploded suddenly, breathing heavily now, "like somehow I brought this on. Like I'm some kind of demon that came here to bring about the end of days." Kawaki inhaled sharply, speaking faster and faster as he went. As if he'd waited years for this moment, and now that it was finally here, he couldn't stop himself from saying it all. "I was the one who told them time and time again not to experiment on the karma. I was the one who tried to stop Boruto from transforming. I was the one who found him standing over Himawari." Kawaki paused, his eyes going to the floor as if he was seeing it all again, "…I'm the one who still hears her screams when I try to sleep at night." Kawaki's eyes closed and he took a shuddering breath but didn't give her a chance to answer. "I escaped them because I wanted to be free. Because I wanted to not be some sick experiment to Kara anymore." He took a step closer to her, "Do you fault me even that, Sarada?"
Her lips parted but Kawaki shook his head. "I did what I needed to do, because he asked me to. Because I made that fucking promise to him." Kawaki ran a hand through his hair and his eyes fixed steadily on her, lip twitching slightly as he spoke. "And then you," he took another step closer, "I let you in. I allowed you close to me, despite every instinct in me telling me not to. I trusted you," his voice finally broke, his anger giving way to his heartache, "Because you saw through what they did to me." He looked away, as if looking at her for one second more would be too much for him to handle. "But now, you look at me the way everyone always has. With disgust."
Sarada flinched, stepping back against the cold wall behind her. She hadn't expected this. She'd expected him to stand by what he'd done. She never expected him to have been hurt. By her.

"Do you hate me now?" he whispered in a low, deep voice, "Are you finally seeing me for what I truly am, Sarada?"

Sarada squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to let me him see the answer, clinging to her pride just a little longer. Kawaki was hurting, she was sure of that now, all too clearly, but so was she. He'd betrayed her, yes, but he'd broken her heart by leaving her.
"Fuck this," Kawaki slammed his fists into the walls next to her, causing her to jump slightly, trying to get some kind of reaction from her but Sarada, like a coward, refused to open her eyes. Refused to face him. She could imagine it clearly though, him towering over her, glaring down, his anger would be in those eyes, but also that desperation to make her understand.

And after a moment of waiting, Kawaki gave up, turning on his heel. She reached for him blindly - to do what, she wasn't sure, pull him against her? - but her hand closed around empty air. Kawaki's footsteps didn't stop. She was sure he didn't look back either. She waited until his footsteps disappeared completely before she opened her eyes, blinking rapidly at the sudden tears there. She took a moment, breathing deeply as she tried to calm herself, taking off her glasses and rubbing over her eyes with her thumb and index finger, desperate to hide the reaction he'd managed to get out of her. She was embarrassed by it.

But also heartbroken.

x-x-x-x-

They were on the road again. Mitsuki took the lead while Sarada brought up the rear with Kawaki between them. She'd found them easily only a few minutes after Kawaki had gone off, Mitsuki had been attempting to speak to him, but Kawaki had turned his back to him. Sarada had ignored that and had somehow, miraculously managed to pretend that Kawaki's outburst had never happened. Mitsuki's snakes had only been able to determine that Sasuke and Sakura had been heading inland and away from the border. East from their position. That narrowed where they were headed down significantly. Since Konoha wasn't an option, the next closest safe haven would be the old Daimyo Residence. A singular tunnel ran underneath it – meant to take the Daimyo on a religious summer pilgrimage every year but the tunnel opened up about half a day's travel from the caves. So, for lack of any better options, the three of them had set out once again – travelling at full speed. She wouldn't miss her parents again. There was no way.
Mitsuki fell back slightly and Sarada understood that as a signal to speed up and meet him.
"What is it?" she asked. What they were doing was a big risk. Travelling this close to Konoha at their current speed could be a death sentence for them – while they were out of range, it only took one enemy to sense them. And yet, neither of them had said a word or slowed down almost as if they knew what she was going through.
"Something is wrong with this mission." Mitsuki said, glancing at her. Kawaki kept looking ahead. He hadn't looked at her since he'd turned his back and left her in that room.
"The footage at the lab clearly showed that your parents had been there and one of them was injured."
Sarada nodded.
"It's safe to assume that they're being pursued,"
It was the only reason they would keep moving despite being injured. Chances were high that the Ōtsutsuki they'd seen on the security camera was undoubtedly chasing after them, probably since Konoha.
"And we're walking into a trap." Sarada finished for him.
"Most likely." Mitsuki said and Sarada turned her gaze ahead as she continued moving forward. An Ōtsutsuki would be between them and her parents. Would she be able to do it? Could she fight one? She already knew what the gap in power was. She'd taken one on to cover the escape from Konoha. The ugly scar on her abdomen proved just how incapable she was when it came to them. But she had no choice now. There was only one way forward and Sarada steeled herself for what was to come.
"Kawaki-"
He didn't even waste a second in interrupting her. "Don't. If you're going to give me an out again, don't even bother. Stop saying stupid things. I already gave you my answer back at the lab."
Before she could stop herself, her lips curved into a small smile. Mitsuki's brows lifted in surprise and Sarada corrected herself immediately.
"About your mother." He began, still looking a bit surprised. "The bandages at the lookout post..."
"I was thinking about it too," Sarada confessed.
"As the most powerful medical shinobi confirmed to be alive at this point, something must have happened to her, Sarada." He said, glancing at her again, that old kindness in his eyes.
It took Sarada a moment to answer but as she turned her gaze back to the path ahead, it was obvious Kawaki's attention was on the conversation. "I agree, but my medical ninjutsu knowledge is…admittedly lacking, so there's not much I can say that would make sense. The fact that it appears that she can't use her abilities…something must be disrupting her chakra control. Maybe poison or some Ōtsutsuki ability." She was grasping at straws and she knew it but their lack of information was glaring, especially considering they were walking straight into a trap.
"Whatever. Talking won't help us now. Not until we see them and speak to them ourselves." Kawaki said. "So shut up and keep moving."
"You're right. We're wasting time." Mitsuki said, giving Sarada a small smile before going up ahead again. Automatically, she looked over to Kawaki again. No doubt she was feeling overwhelmed. Perhaps even emotional. No matter how well she hid it. Having Kawaki here was a double edged sword. He unknowingly toyed with her emotions. But at the same time, served as a distraction from the chaos in her mind.
"Got something to say?"
Sarada blinked, cheeks warming. She gave a hard shake of her head but realized her couldn't see it – he was still refusing to even look at her. "No."
Without waiting for a reply, Sarada fell back again, but there it was again – that stupid, stupid ache in her chest.

Do you hate me now?

She didn't. That was the worst part.

x-x-x-x-

Mitsuki gave the order to stop around noon. The sun was high in the sky, bright rays glinting off of the roof of the place where the Daimyo used to stay. The three of them were well-hidden on a small hill just north of the estate. The town further down the hill was deserted and had been nearly flattened by an attack. The traditional estate seemed to have avoided most of the damage with only the front door having been blow off. From their position everything seemed quiet. Almost as if the place had been abandoned for years, but she knew how deceptive appearances could be.
The snake on Mitsuki's shoulder hissed and Sarada's head turned sharply, watching as Mitsuki's face transformed from surprise to confusion.
"What is it?"
"My snakes sense four people here, excluding us. But something is messing with their senses. They're unable to tell where they are. Only that these people are close to our position."
"So, they could be inside the estate?" Sarada couldn't keep the excitement from her voice. They were here. They had to be. Her fingers dug into the grass around her knees as she glanced back at the estate. They were so close. All she needed to do was -
"Don't do anything stupid, Sarada." It was as if Kawaki was reading her mind.
"We need to check inside," she whispered, nodding as she looked between the two of them.
"Sarada," Mitsuki said, "Let's think about this."
"Do you trust me?" Sarada asked, her eyes on Kawaki, and she wasn't sure if she was hoping he would say yes but she was left disappointed regardless.
"No."
"Well, the feeling is mutual. But we need to work together. And whoever is waiting for us…well, they undoubtedly already know we're here."
"What Sarada is saying is not wrong." Mitsuki began, "Our first priority will be to determine who is in the house."
"Then we walk right in the front door," Kawaki said, shrugging a shoulder.
"Could it be that simple?" Mitsuki wondered.
"And you told me not to do anything stupid." Sarada hissed but Kawaki didn't bother to respond.
"If the enemy already knows we're here, why bother with the shinobi stuff." Kawaki told them and Sarada narrowed her eyes. "The "shinobi stuff" is our life, Kawaki. Don't dismiss it like that."
"Stop being so sensitive and you might hear what I'm trying to tell you."
"Sensitive? Me? You are being impossible." Sarada told him through clenched teeth, throwing her arms up.
Kawaki lifted a brow, clearly mocking her. "Impossible? Me?"
"Guys," Mitsuki sighed. "Please."
Sarada, finally realizing how close she was sitting to Kawaki now, quickly and pointedly shifted away. "Whatever."
"Could it really be as simple as walking through the door?" Mitsuki asked.
"They're expecting us." Kawaki shrugged again. "Might as well give them a show."
Mitsuki turned to Sarada, waiting for her response and guilt swirled in her stomach. She was supposed to be team leader. Kakashi had entrusted her with the responsibility, and here she was bickering with Kawaki like they were children.
Could they do it? Just walk right in the front door? Their luck was on the toss of a coin. Would it be her parents or the enemy waiting inside? Or, worse case scenario – her parents weren't here at all. All four people Mitsuki sensed turned out to be enemies and they were walking into a carefully laid out trap with no one coming to help them.

The risk was great. Maybe too great. But finding her parents would be invaluable. To the shinobi cause. And to her.

There was still time to escape, however. The only way they were all guaranteed to make it out of this alive.

Mitsuki's life was in her hands now.

And so was Kawaki's.

"We're with you, Sarada." Mitsuki's voice snapped her from her thoughts. "Both of us are here knowing the risks."
Sarada swallowed, looking from Mitsuki to Kawaki. His eyes, to her surprise, were full of strength, conviction. And he gave her a single nod.
"Let's do this,"
"Okay." She said, getting to her feet.

"Let's walk in their front door."

Forty-five steps down the hill and up to the door. And Sarada had held onto the hope that her parents would be waiting inside up until she stepped through the threshold and began choking on the powerful aura weighing down on her. She inhaled sharply, wheezing the breath into her lungs. Chills rose along her arms, causing her hair to stand on end. A figure stood at the foot of the stairs, cloaked and hooded but Sarada knew what this man was. An Outer. A member of Kara. The Ōtsutsuki's private army. Shinobi who turned their back on their villages long before the fall. The first time Sarada had come across an Outer, she'd been a child. It had shocked her and sickened her that anyone would betray their village in such a way. Ao had been that Outer and no matter what he'd done in his last moments, she struggled to forgive him. But Sarada was no longer a child. There was no disgust or shock. Not anymore.
"Well, not the two shinobi I was hoping for," The Outer said. "But you'll do."
The air around him shifted, and it had barely taken a breath of a moment, too fast for her to track. The space behind him was no longer empty. What stood there no was undoubtedly an Ōtsutsuki. The same light hair, pale skin and eyes. His white robes swayed lightly in the wind and his hair blew over his face for a moment before he reached up and brushed it away.
Sarada hadn't moved or breathed since he'd looked over at them but now her hands twitched at her sides, as if she wanted to reach out and grab Mitsuki and Kawaki and drag them out of there.
The Ōtsutsuki's lips parted and Sarada did reach out then, one hand blinding curling around Kawaki's wrist and the other gripped Mitsuki's sleeve. The muscles in her thighs clenched almost painfully, as if she was fighting against every instinct in her to stay there and not escape.

"Stand down," The Ōtsutsuki told the Outer in an unconcerned kind of way, "it's been a while since I've stretched my legs."

x-x-x-x-

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