18 • Stuck in Thought
Staring at the calendar situated next to the front door of the house, I frown as my mind races. How long has it been? The days, weeks, months, years all just seem to blur together of wake up, train, go to school, complete a small errand for Dino, train, and sleep.
There are some memorable moments, mostly with the Brats and Uchiha, but I hardly spend much time with them that it's all overshadowed by my work in ROOT. It's an uncomfortable revelation to have, to know I'm slowly being consumed in something I never wanted to be a part of.
I'm, what, eight-years-old now? I've been in ROOT since I was three. That's five years of routine and habits and indoctrination. That's five years of being shaped and molded into a weapon, a tool, a thing to be used when deemed fit.
That's five years I'm never going to get back or be able to erase.
Bright side Sakura, look on the bright side. What's your goal?
Bright side my ass, it's looking pretty fucking dark. What good is learning at a high and more demanding curve than my peers, when I'm just using it to better train the Brats so they have a high chance at survival?
I may not know Danzō's plans, have absolutely no idea why he wants me to be close to them, but it doesn't take a genius to think of the worst possibilities. There's my first theory of eventually dragging them into his little illegal army. My second (and least favorite) theory of having someone close to kill them off. And my third theory of using me to manipulate them for his benefit.
I'm leaning towards Theory One. Why else would he want me to subtly train them? I have my own reasons for going along with it, such as wanting to give them more tools to survive with.
Which, thinking on it, I should probably really start on making contact with the Yamanaka and Inuzuka Heirs. The earlier the training, the better. Plus, the Inuzuka Heir is gonna take some time to calm down.
Had I made contact with Naruto later than I did, he'd be even more energetic and difficult to teach. But since I have experience with Naruto's enthusiastic self, the Inuzuka shouldn't be too much trouble.
The Yamanaka Heiress though, she'll be difficult on the basis that her clan is all about reading people. I've faced the Nara Head though and she is a child, so I should be relatively fine. Maybe. As long as I don't meet the Yamanaka Head. Then I'll need to reevaluate my chances.
Humming idly under my breath, I decide that's not a problem for me to currently concern myself with. Future Me will take care of it. Present Me is almost late for lunch with Hinata.
ʕ •̀ o •́ ʔ
Danzō stands in the shadows, over watching a one-on-one training session. His eyes stay focused on the student, watching for every twitch and shift. He looks into blank green eyes and feels a curl of a smile on his lips.
Haruno Sakura wasn't meant to be more than another child shoveled into his organization, just another number. But she was too wild, too rash, too bright to be another number.
He meant to kill her after their first meeting. He has no need for a weapon that'd potentially turn on him. He has no need or want for failure.
But hearing that she made quite the impression on the jinchuriki? Well, now. That's potential. He can work with potential.
He has to commend her stubbornness, however irritating it was. It took far too long to get her to bend, to see things his way. But faced with possibly being tossed back to her father, it was easy to see which was the lesser evil. Unlike her father, who left her broken and bloody, he made sure she was healed and given multiple chances, choices.
Not that she actually had any, but it's so much easier to make someone dance to your tune when it seems like they do.
From there it was just a process of slowly breaking her down. There's something very satisfying in seeing someone once so bright eyed now dull, in seeing loyalty.
There were, rather unfortunately, bumps in the beginning. She was very determined to inconvenience him in any way possible. A few extra corrective sessions and twisting words straightened that out though.
The girl probably doesn't realize it, not with how often she plays pretend outside of headquarters, but she's nothing more than a broken puppet.
No matter how much she makes her eyes bright and shine with life, she can't hide the dark dullness that lies within them from him.
Haruno Sakura is dead, and all that's left in her place is Operative AB-86
He'll have to keep her routine and training strict to keep it that way, make sure it sticks. But that's fine. It just means a more polished weapon for him to use. Perhaps he should look into making more polished weapons.
ʕ •̀ o •́ ʔ
It's one of those rare days where Itachi and Shisui are able to accompany us. It's been so long since the Brats have been able to see the two Uchiha, Sasuke especially since they live in the same compound and still never sees them.
I was actually expecting him to get a little jealous and angry at having to share his brother but it seems I was wrong. He seems to be really happy at having his brother around and spending time with friends. He does stick close to Itachi though.
Shisui stands at the edges, making sure to keep everyone in sight. While the children of Konoha generally walk around on their own once they're at least six-years-old, we are still children. Even worse, we're a group of Clan Heirs. I'm the odd one out since Naruto's jinchuriki status makes him important.
Seeing how everyone is sticking by Itachi, there isn't much to really be looking out for. I trust Itachi to be more than capable of looking after everyone. I'd be with them, but this morning's training has really taken its toll on me.
The exhaustion is getting easier to deal with, but having time during the afternoon to rest only makes it come back with vengeance.
"Are you not getting any sleep that you keep on yawning like that?" Shisui asks, looking at me with a smirk curling at the corners of his lips. It doesn't hide the underlying concern though.
"I'll have you know, I get the recommended eight hours of sleep every night," I snip back easily, deciding to keep to myself the fact that my weekend training focus on being awake for several days.
"I'll believe that when you stop yawning and taking naps so much," he rolls his eyes, leaning back and dropping the topic. "I swear, you're like a Nara-reincarnated or something."
I can't help the violent snort and subsequent laughter at the irony. Nara? No. Reincarnated? Yes.
"Or something," I agree after calming down, ignoring his curious look.
Silence falls between the two of us. It's not uncomfortable but there's a knowing tension to it. I've already made it clear that I'm aware of the stress and rising tension within the Uchiha Clan. I have theories on what it's about but would like some confirmation. Being so close to Dino as I am, Shisui and Itachi (because even though we haven't discussed anything, I know Shisui told Princess everything) are reluctant to give me any facts.
"My neighbor is thinking of changing all the flowers in her garden," he starts unbidden. I furrow my brows in confused thought but nod to show I'm listening. "She says that she doesn't like the way it makes her house look."
He pauses and I wait, trying to pick apart his story. Either this is about the clan, or his neighbor really is planning on changing her gardening plans and it somehow bothers the curly-haired ravenette.
"But she's also really fond of the flowers she has. Sentimental value and all that. She's been debating about it for almost a year now, somehow always changing her mind before she can go through with it."
"Must be really important to her," I muse. "Why doesn't she just move them around so they look better or replant them somewhere else?"
"Not sure what goes on in her mind, but I know it's not that simple."
It's gardening, it's not exactly supposed to be complicated.
"So the problem is, wanting to plant something different but not willing to give up what she currently has?"
"Essentially, yes."
I'd he wanted a genuine discussion about flowers, he should have brought this up to Naruto. That boy has one hell of a green thumb. He could take care of his own vegetable garden if he decided to have one.
Now that's something to bring up with him later. It'd be better than being continuously kicked out of stores or purposely sold bad food.
Tucking the idea for later, I begin to turn over the problem in my head.
"Does she have any seeds of the flowers she currently has? Any newly sprouted?" I ask, an idea growing in my head.
Shisui doesn't answer right away, narrowing his eyes in thought. Slowly he nods, looking at me with a raised brow, questioning.
"She can take the seeds and baby sprouts to save for later. Find a place to replant and keep them without it being in her garden. That way, she isn't getting rid of all of them and still keeps the sentimental value."
He stares at me, looking almost bewildered, and I stare back completely confused. His mouth moves like he's trying to talk but no sound comes out. Finally, he huffs a small laugh and grins at me.
I am still confused.
"That might not be too bad of an idea," he reaches over and ruffles my hair much to my protest. "I'll talk to Itachi about it."
Princess? Why would he talk about his neighbor's gardening problem with-
Oh.
I…am an idiot.
And really tired if it took me until the end of our talk to figure it out.
"Glad to be of help," I sigh, internally embarrassed but trained enough not to show it.
ʕ •̀ o •́ ʔ
I had no plans of writing Danzo's pov - literally came out of nowhere