Oh yeah! You'll never see it coming. Sorry for the late update; I was making this chapter special ;) Do check out my poll based on this story :)
CHAPTER 15-The Lord
After tending her wounds, Sakura prepared for her battle. It was already dawn and Sakura knew she had to hurry because it was today that Madara was going to blow up the town.
As Sakura headed for her next destination, she couldn't stop the tears from streaming down her face. The person she cared for the most, the person she looked up to as a father, brother and teacher, was her mother's killer.
'Why?' she thought to herself. Madara was a charming man; a great ANBU, a strong-willed man and had a compassionate heart. She couldn't understand why he would kill her mother and plan on destroying Konoha; his hometown.
There was a nagging voice in the back of her head as she recalled Orochimaru's dying words.
"The lord is going to . . . destroy the whole town tomorrow . . . at noon and you can't do anything . . ."
She found out that Madara was her mother's killer. Still, why did she feel that Orochimaru wasn't referring to Madara as 'The Lord?'
She arrived at her desired destination; the old ANBU headquarters, located in the heart of the woods. It was once a majestic building. Now it was old and dirty with wild plants growing around it like a protective barrier.
She readied her katana and headed inside; it was going to be tough since Madara was the one who trained her and he knows every move she knows. However, she refused to go down without a fight.
It was dark and cold but Sakura didn't try to produce any light for she felt it would attract unwanted attention. She walked through a narrow corridor and at the end was a door. She could hear voices inside.
'You bastard!' a woman's voice exclaimed. Sakura's eyes widened. She would recognize that voice anywhere; it was her mother's voice.
Slowly, Sakura opened the door and she saw a screen; a large screen. There was a projector, that was placed on a small table, showing a video on the screen; a video of her mother.
'What is this?' Sakura thought to herself.
Her mother, Yuki, looked very angry . . . and a little hurt. Her red hair was wild and tangled messily and her green eyes shone with so much emotion. She was wearing her ANBU uniform and was carrying a long katana.
'How could you?' Yuki exclaimed. 'They're your family!'
A person stepped out from the shadows to face Yuki. The person was also an ANBU and was wearing an orange swirls mask on the side of his head; Madara. Sakura clenched her fists.
Madara chuckled darkly, 'My dear Yuki . . . if you must know, I did this for power.'
'Power?' Yuki said baffled. 'Madara, you're the soon-to-be head of the ANBU! You have people who love and respect you. Isn't that enough?'
'The more the merrier,' Madara said with a malicious grin. 'After I finish off the current presidents of the five major companies, I shall eliminate the heirs and take over all their property; the fire lord would agree with me, he does like me a lot.'
'I can't believe you,' Yuki said sadly. 'You're blinded by your lust for power.'
'Glad you finally realize it,' Madara exclaimed with fake glee. 'So my dear . . . what are you going to do about it?'
For a moment, Yuki didn't do anything. Sakura saw a tear slide down her mother's cheek. Finally Yuki spoke, 'I loved you, you know.' Sakura was baffled; that was unexpected.
'I really did,' Yuki continued sadly. Madara's emotionless mask was still in place. 'I hate seeing you like this, love. I hate the idea of seeing all my loved ones dead and lifeless.'
She paused for a while. Then she looked Madara in the eye, 'That's why I'm going to put you out of all this hatred and lust for power and protect my friends and family!'
Yuki charged at Madara but Madara dodged and whipped out six kunais and threw them at her. Yuki deflected it with her blade but Madara swiftly ran towards her and tackled her to the ground.
Yuki spat on the ground and got up. She came running towards Madara, like she was going to punch him, but when she got close she caught him off guard and kicked his legs making him loose balance and fall.
Sakura watched as her mother put up a fierce fight against Madara. Tears streamed down her face; she knew how it ended, no matter how fiercely her mother could fight.
Yuki then glared at Madara and took a few steps back. There was a closet behind her she opened the door revealing a small lever. Madara's eyes widened, 'You wouldn't . . .'
Yuki smirked and smashed the lever into pieces. Madara glared at her, 'You will pay for that.'
Yuki gave a mocking laugh, 'I don't think so. Give up Madara; you've lost and you know it. I've destroyed the lever that would have set off the explosives you set up in the city.'
'DIE!' Madara yelled and with blinding speed, he ran towards Yuki and stabbed her in the stomach.
"NO!" Sakura said shakily as she watched her mother's eyes widen in horror. But then Yuki grinned, 'You think it's that easy to kill me?'
Madara pulled the katana out of her, only to stab her again. Yuki screamed but she didn't stop grinning. Madara stabbed her multiple times and Yuki fell to the ground. Sakura couldn't hold back her tears.
Madara started to walk away but a soft and shaky laughter made him look back. Yuki looked at him from the ground, 'It's over, Madara. Your plans have failed. It will take many years to prepare such a plan again.'
'So be it.' Madara replied with a smug smirk. Yuki coughed blood. From the shadows, another figure stepped out; Orochimaru.
He gave a snake-like grin and looked down at Yuki, 'You fought well . . . but in the end it wasn't enough. Eventually, the lord will carry out his plans again in a few years time.'
He took out an empty syringe and injected in straight into the back of her mother's neck. Her mother gasped and her eyes never closed.
'I hope Kisame is here to take the body.' Madara said as he knelt beside Yuki's body.
Orochimaru nodded, 'Everything is ready, Madara.'
Madara looked down at Yuki's face and stroked her hair. Then, he leaned down and kissed her chalky lips.
Sakura threw two shurikens at the projector, demolishing it.
Then, she heard a dark chuckle from the shadows. She pulled out her Katana and turned around to face her foe.
Madara slowly stepped into the light. He wasn't in his ANBU uniform. Instead, he was wearing a dark blue suit with a white dress shirt and a red and grey striped tie. He gave Sakura a malicious grin, "Well done Sakura; you've solved your mother's case."
"Why?" Sakura asked. "WHY?"
"Just like I told your mother," said Madara. "I did it for power."
"You plan on blowing up this town. Why?" Sakura demanded. "If you wanted the companies for yourself, why take it out on the whole town. Why not just the presidents and heirs?"
"Because," Madara started to say. "This town is full of dark and painful memories. This town has many dark secrets which were leaked a long time ago. Many have forgotten yet some still remember but have put it in the back of their minds. I will crush it and start anew with all the wealth and fortune of the five great companies!"
"This . . . this isn't you," Sakura said as she shook her head. "You were never interested in wealth or fortune. Power, yes but this? This is absurd!"
"Maybe absurd is my middle name." Madara said as he pulled out a kunai from his jacket. Sakura readied her katana; fighting Madara would be extremely tough to beat, maybe impossible. But she had come this far and she wasn't going to let her mother's sacrifice go down in vain.
...x...
"Will you just spill the beans?" Naruto snapped.
It had been ten minutes and Kabuto still wouldn't talk. It was like Orochimaru was like his lover whom he refused to cheat on; it was just plain creepy and very, very annoying.
Inoichi stepped forward and took either of Kabuto's cheeks into his hands. He gazed deep into Kabuto's eyes; a gaze that could pierce anyone's soul. Kabuto started to sweat and started to look around; anywhere but into Inoichi's eyes.
Kabuto finally snapped, "Alright! She used my phone to track Orochimaru. She went to his main hideout in the wood. There's a cave behind the big boulders that fell a few years ago. The entrance is hidden by creeper plants and other forest scrubs. You'll know you're there when you smell the acid."
Inoichi smirked and pulled away. Ino looked at her father, "What was that?"
"It's a technique, a trait, passed down to us by our ancestors," Inoichi told his daughter. "I use it for interrogation."
"Or getting phone numbers from pretty ladies." Shikaku said with a smug grin.
Inoichi twitched, "Shut up that was in high school."
Ino giggled, "Dad, I didn't know you were quite flirty!"
"Trust me; your father was the most popular playboy back in high school." Hiashi said with a smirk.
"Will you two quit telling stuff about my embarrassing past to my daughter?" Inoichi exclaimed while he turned pink.
"He got rejected by your mother several times and that was the cruelest blow for someone like him, back then." Hizashi whispered to Ino. Inoichi gave them a glare.
Fugaku looked at Suigetsu and Itachi, "You two, take Kabuto back to ANBU headquarters for further interrogation."
"Hai!" They said at the same time.
The rest of them left the research room and went back outside. Hizashi sighed, "This case will now be under ANBU protection. We'll investigate everything starting right now. You go home and stay there; it's been a long night."
"No way." Sasuke snapped.
"Sakura-chan's our friend," agreed Naruto. "We want to help out." Many nods and statements of agreement were heard.
Hiashi shook his head, "I'm sorry but we won't allow it. Let's go." Everyone protested but in the end, they gave up and rode home with their parents.
The presidents put their children under house arrest so that they didn't sneak out. Sasuke was beyond pissed; Sakura was in danger and now he was being baby sat by his parents.
His phone started to buzz; it was a text from Naruto. He sighed as he opened the text.
'Teme, if I were u, I'd leave b4 ur folks say 'lights out!' Go for it, dattebayo! ^_^ P.S: I'm taking Ur car if u die. '
Sasuke smirked; he could always depend on Naruto for stuff like this. He reached under his bed and pulled something out; a sword. It was a gift on his fifteenth birthday from his uncle Madara. Although he found his uncle suspicious, he still kept it. Madara had called it the Sword of Kusanagi, a deadly sword that was once wielded by his late grandfather.
He did swordfight with Itachi when he was little but he lacked practice. However, he attached Kusanagi to his back and went over to the window.
He took a deep breath and opened the window. He had escaped a few times when he was little; to go out to play after dark. But after he grew up, he had more freedom, thus, less sneaking out. Now he felt like a kid again as he stepped out on the roof.
'Sakura,' he thought. 'I'm coming; please be safe.'
...x...
Sakura screamed as Madara drove the kunai deeper into Sakura's stomach. Sakura was exhausted and almost out of energy and Madara didn't even break a sweat; even though they fought for hours.
Madara sighed, "Give up Sakura. You've solved your mother's case. Now, you can die in peace."
"And let my mother's sacrifice go down in vain? NEVER!" Sakura spat. She forced Madara's hand, holding the kunai, away from her with so much force that it sent both Madara and the kunai fall backwards.
Sakura quickly pulled out her senbons and threw them at Madara. All ANBU's had antibodies injected in their bodies, making them immune to any poisonous attacks. She knew her poisoned senbons wouldn't finish Madara but she knew it would slow him down a bit.
Madara dodged her senbons but five senbons managed to get to him; one in the right leg, two in the left arm, one in the right arm and one in the right shoulder.
"Your aims are as flawless as usual," Madara commented. He pulled out a small dagger from his coat. "However . . . I know all your moves."
Sakura pulled out her own dagger. Sakura was excellent at close combat but Madara was better. Both moved with speed and grace. Each time their daggers clashed, Sakura would notice the tint of red in Madara's eyes.
Madara knocked Sakura's dagger out of her hand. Sakura moved back and readied her shurikens.
"Give up," repeated Madara. "And I will spare you."
Sakura smirked, "But the lord wouldn't agree to that."
Madara tensed and this didn't go unnoticed by Sakura, "What are you saying?"
"You know exactly what I'm saying!" Sakura exclaimed.
Sakura's smirk widened as she saw Madara clench his fists.
"I finally get it," said Sakura. "Back in Orochimaru's lair, he said 'The Lord' would blow up the town today at noon. In that projection, Orochimaru said 'The Lord' would eventually carry out his plan. For a minute there, I thought he was referring to you as 'The Lord' but in that same projection, he called you Madara and not 'Lord'.
Now that I look back to what you told me about the ANBU, the late head of the ANBU was the only man who had the honor of being called 'The Lord' for his bravery and strength which he had shown for this town. That's right, Madara; I'm talking about your father; your father who is assumed to be dead . . . Lord Danzo."
"Very good!" a voice boomed from the shadows behind Madara. Madara's shoulders tensed. An old wrinkled hand reached out to pat his shoulder.
The person stepped into view; it was Danzo. He was old, about in his mid-eighties, and had shaggy black hair and one single coal black eye; his right eye. His left arm and eye were covered in bandages, a mark of his ferocious battles with dangerous criminals, and he was wearing a casual black haori. He also carried a walking cane.
"See what I told you Madara?" he exclaimed. "No secrets can be kept from the Matsumotos."
"You're supposed to be dead." Sakura hissed.
"My death was faked," explained Danzo. "I have my reasons. Shall I tell you?"
"Father-" Madara started to say.
Danzo waved his hand in a dismissive way, "Hush, hush Madara! The child deserves to know . . . before she dies." Sakura clenched her fists.
"You see, I had it all; money, power, respect, EVERYTHING!" explained Danzo. "But it wasn't enough for me. I desired more. I wanted to destroy this town and take over the wealth of the five major companies, as they trusted me. But it was risky and since I was a nobleman, I could have been put to shame and my reputation would be lost.
So I faked my death; drove my favourite car over a cliff and put a decoy inside. I escaped but I kept my eye on Konoha. I watched my two sons, Madara and Fugaku, grow up to become men. Fugaku fell in love with a woman and became a successful man but he didn't have that look in his eyes; the lust for power.
Apparently, his brother did. I saw Madara train and train in the ANBU to achieve power. I felt like I was looking at a younger version of me; back when I was young! When the time was right, I confronted him and told him everything.
He is my son and I wanted him to rise on top. I promised him that he would attain power for I was 'dead' to the people and he was the only one who could succeed me. We made a deal with Orochimaru to do the dirty work for us, since he had many sub co-ordinates.
Everything was ready and perfect. Then, something went wrong. Your mother interrupted us and tried to stop us. She died yes, but she destroyed all our plans and took it to the grave with her. She figured out everything about Madara but its funny how she never found out about me. Well, at least her daughter did.
Now, today all our hard work, all our dreams, are finally going to come true." Danzo slowly rubbed the hand that was on Madara's shoulder, up and down.
"You didn't promise him anything," Sakura snapped. "All you did was brain wash Madara to turn his back on his own family!"
"Nonsense!" Madara roared. "What have they done for me? They push me around like a ball and use me for their own needs. I never got what I wanted!"
"That's not true," Sakura protested. "After you became the ANBU head, you were satisfied with the power you had! People looked up to you, they respected you. The presidents asked you for protection because they acknowledge your strength! Can't you see? Danzo's just brain washing you."
Madara was silent for a while. He looked at Sakura, who, he knew somewhere deep in his heart, spoke with nothing but the truth. Her eyes gleamed with innocence and honesty. Madara was baffled. For a moment, he thought he had everything under control. But now he didn't know what to do.
"She's lying," Danzo taunted. "She's just playing with your mind. Just finish her off!"
Madara was getting a headache. He didn't know who to listen to; Sakura, his beloved pupil or Danzo, his proud father. He simply stood there, dazed.
Danzo scoffed, "Pathetic! I'll finish her off myself!" He was quite fast for an old guy. He moved swiftly and knocked Sakura down with his cane.
Sakura shakily stood up only to see Danzo running towards her again. This time, she deflected the attack and managed to throw some shurikens at him. But Danzo was too fast; he dodged all her shurikens and punched her in the stomach.
Sakura coughed blood and panted. She was lying on her back and watched as Danzo approached her with a dagger. He grinned maliciously, "It's for the best, my dear."
Sakura wanted to dodge it but her body refused to budge.
'Is this the end?' Sakura thought to herself.
Danzo brought down the dagger to stab her heart. Sakura closed her eyes and waited for the pain . . . but it never came.
Sakura opened her eyes and saw another sword hovering above her. The sword was long and sleek with the most beautiful and sharp blade Sakura had ever seen. It had prevented Danzo's attack on Sakura. Sakura followed the length of the blade to see who the wielder was. Her eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat with both joy and shock when she saw Sasuke smirking down at her.
Me: Surprise! I love Madara though he's evil. I just don't have the heart to make him all bad. Welcome to the story Danzo!
Sui: I did NOT expect Danzo.
Ita: Same here. How'd you come up with it Psy-chan?
Me: -laughs- It just hit me randomly.
Sui: -whispers to Ita- She is hiding something.
Ita:-whispers back to Sui- I agree. I guess we'll never know.
Me: Oi! What are you whispering about?
Sui: Nothing!
Ita: Nothing at all. Please review! ^/_\^