Mio bambinos,
Hope everyone is well c:
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Slow but steadily, Kakashi was working on the never-ending pile of requests, approvals, a mountain of documents. He glanced to his Icha-Icha book. Before his temptation could devour him, there was a knock on the door.
''Kotetsu reporting!''
'Come in.''
''We've tracked the people that have come into the village. If you remember, we had two shinobis that were held as captives at Otagakure. ''
''Yes, I remember. I'm assuming they've resettled in well?''
''Well yes, but that's beside the point. I've been retracing their tracks and based on the system logs, it was only after they re-entered, we had cases, but this is just an assumption though.''
''Thank you for your hard-work, notify the hospital.''
''On it.''
.
.
Stretching her tensed limbs, Sakura rested on her sofa. ''Damn Naruto, he battered me black and blue.'' From her peripheral vision, she detected a figure by the window. A single knock. An ANBU. Sakura slid open the window.
''You've been summoned immediately by the Hokage to relocate to the hospital.'' Without question, she darted for the door.
''What?'' Sakura ejaculated. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
''It's just as you heard. Kotetsu reported to Hokage-sama and notified us as soon as possible.''
''So essentially, they're the carriers?''
''Yes.''
''And at this moment, they're roaming - free - in the village.'' Sakura face-palmed, dragging her fingers down her features. Just when you think everything is starting to settle down, something must rupture the process.
''Shizune-san, please send some medics to find the two shinobis.''
''Yes, that will not be difficult as they've been removed from their posts and ordered to stay in-doors for a while.''
Sakura nodded in response. ''The retrievers - they must wear the PPE equipment to avoid contamination. As soon as they are brought in, seclude them in the hospital chamber. I'll do a VFR sample test.''
''Yes, Sakura-san.''
.
.
Settling on refining his tools, Sasuke was located at TenTen's weapon store, only to find Naruto already there. He is no different from a leech; a cockroach- just has to be everywhere and somewhere.
He eyed his katana attentively, not sharp enough.
Leaning against the ledge, Naruto groaned, ''How much longer are you going to stare at your katana? Leave them to TenTen, she knows what she's doing.'' TenTen chuckled uncomfortably.
He held out his katana to her direction, ''I'll leave them to you then.'' TenTen smiled in response, ''leave it to me.'' She clutched it gently from his grasp and commenced her work.
''Sakura is leaving tomorrow, are you going to see her off?''
A nosy TenTen glancing up for his response.
''...''
''Yeah, didn't think you would.'' He reached for his pocket, pulling out an Earth scroll. ''I was meant to give this back to her, but I didn't get the time to. Give it to her, will you?'' Sasuke suspiciously eyed the scroll in Naruto's hand.
''What are you doing with an Earth scroll?''
''Studying.''
''Studying, you?''
Naruto elbowed him aggressively in response. ''Pack it up bastard.''
''Return it yourself.''
''No can do, I have a scheduled appointment later today.'' He threw the scroll at him, forcing him to catch it mid-air. Sasuke sighed audibly. He glanced down at the scroll, brushing his thumb against the edges. A part of him wanted to throw it in the next bin he sees and head home, yet another wants to make a bee line to her house.
The sound of hurtling heels enclosed the streets, an uproar of mumbles and orders interrupting their conversation. The three individuals diverted their gaze to the sudden congestion in the streets. A hurdle of individuals enveloped in white hazmat suits.
''What on earth is going on?'' TenTen queried. No-one replying because they were all as perplexed as each other.
''Looks like they're from the hospital.'' Eyeing the individuals carefully, Naruto recognised a familiar set of eyes from the hood. ''Shizune?'' Taken aback from the call, her eyes followed the voice. ''Naruto-san'' She greeted, keeping the space between them evident. Naruto leaned up from the wooden table. ''What's going on?''
''We've found the two individuals that brought in the disease.''
''What?'' TenTen and Naruto exclaimed in unison.
''Long story short, it was a deliberate act of the Otagakure with a particular intent to bring the illness into the village.'' Unable to stay any longer, Shizune-san nodded with a farewell and returned to her colleagues.
''Those Ota-bastards! I'll kill them myself!'' Naruto barked, his rage building up like deep water currents, his fist balling in spite. Sasuke creased his eyebrow in irritation, a look of great bitterness swept across his face. The situation seems to be getting graver by the day.
.
.
The two shinobis were secluded in separate neighbouring rooms. Shizune, Sakura, Kakashi and a few other immediate individuals watching them from the camera room.
The man troublingly looked around the white empty room, nothing accessible other than a bed and the intercom speaker mounted onto the ceiling. ''What's going on?! Why am I in here?''
''I've already told you everything that happened at Otagakure!'' The other retorted from the connected room.
Shizune clutched the PA microphone. ''It's Shizune speaking, Assistant Head of the Konoha Hospital.'' The two individuals quieting down, she continued. ''Taichi-san, Souta-san. We need you to tell us, again, in detail, what happened at the Otagakure. Right up to the moment you were returned.''
Fidgeting, Souta started the explanation. ''Well, we left for our assigned mission for the Sunagakure, but we were taken in by the Otagakure after being caught espying.''
''Essentially, I thought we were prisoners. But they fed us, gave us new clothes. At first, we were sceptical because that they were too nice.'' Taichi continued.
''You let your guard down in an enemy base?''
The two were quiet, burying their heads in shame.
''We were released after a week's time maybe, we lost track of time. Then, they told us we could go…'' Souta trailed off.
With a slight tremor in his breath, knowingly treading on dangerous ground, he continued, ''Yes… we should have been more attentive; however, if I may ask, what is the issue? We were treated well as prisoners and were returned without injuries.''
''That's even more suspicious…'' Shizune mumbled. Sakura brought her lips close to the microphone.
''They never released you unscathed; they released you with a price. The price of Konoha.'' Sakura paused, skimming through the report of their test.
''You bathed in their disease, you ate their disease, you wore it, you inhaled it, you drank it. And you brought it back here.''
With the sheer remaining confidence Taichi had dispositioned, he resumed, ''W-what…What are you trying to say?''
Sakura slammed the clipboard on the table, ''You're both carriers of the VHF disease.'' The bitter anger pricking in her veins, clinging onto her remaining sanity to not physically disable them herself. Her voice echoed through the receivers, ''And not only that, you were instructed to stay at home, but you went around spreading the disease. Had you followed the protocol, we could have saved lives and reduced the number of infected.'' She turned to Kakashi.
''What will you do Kakashi-sensei?''
He brought his fingers to his chin, contemplating his choices. He carried his arms to the table, leaning into the speaker. ''It's your Hokage speaking. First of all, you've both been removed of your roles. Not only did you disobey direct orders, you did not finish the assigned mission.'' He straightened himself, folding his arm.
''Of course, you wouldn't have known that you were carriers, that is understandable; however, had you not entered Otokagure in the first place, Konoha would not be in such a situation. Even then, if you followed the protocol and stayed at home, the cases wouldn't be soaring.''
''We just wanted to prove to be useful and gain intel…''
''You should have finished your assigned mission then. Now, someone else has to continue your half-assed work.''
Kakashi left the room and the rest followed suite. Shizune turned to Sakura, ''Leave the rest to us now, you should rest for the remaining of the day.'' She was still fuming due to the irresponsible behaviour of the two individuals, but what's done has been done and they needed to move on to their next strategy. Sakura nodded, bowing to the Hokage and left for her apartment.
.
.
By the time he noticed, he was outside her residence. He hesitated but knocked once. Nothing. He gave a slightly louder knock. Still nothing. Just when he was about to turn his heel, he noticed the curtain fluttering from the side, dancing along to the wind. Curving towards the window, he brushed the curtains aside and effortlessly helped himself in her half-opened window, treading ever so discreetly.
It was ebon black. He felt a slight tingling chakra. She's in here. He activated his sharingan, looking for any figure, any sign of life, and there it was, on the ground, leaning against the couch. As he walked towards it, he kicked over a bottle. Halting in his tracks, he picked it up, and smelt it, his features scrunching in disgust- a half-finished alcohol bottle. She drank? He disposed of the glass bottle and leaned down to face her. She barely drank anything and she's out of it. He snorted. It was very unlike her, drinking before a mission.
He imbibed in her features. She had the appearance of an ablaze fire, a passionate fiery soul sparking against ice; yet, when her features were relaxed, she was no different from the fleecy clouds drifting peacefully in its quiet depths. She isn't just 'beauteous', she makes the area around her alike, affecting others and releasing their divinity within them too. And she does it with ease. It is who she is.
But for him, she brings out the emotions in him that he never knew he held, never knew it was possible for him to possess.
Her brows furrowed from the subtle touch of her fringe. Sasuke moved closer, guiding the back of his knuckles on her hot skin, and brushing the hair way from her eyes. He unhurriedly glazed his fingers down her arm, reaching for her fingers, grasping them. She looked serene, a major contrast to the expressions she typically uses against him.
The wild urge in his heart seemingly refusing to settle down. Appeased by the mere presence of her. His body starting a fire within him that no-one else could ever ignite, but her.
He inched closer, the scent of vanilla colliding against his nostrils. In a trance-like state, he could not remove his eyes from her rosy lips. He could hear her bated breath with ease; the steadiness ringing like music to his ears.
A bit closer, the tip of her hairs tickling his face, her hot breath caressing against his heated skin. He was merely a movement away from brushing his lips against her.
He glanced up to her eyes, then back down to her lips, shutting his eyes and crashing his head against the sofa besides her neck. He couldn't do it, not when she was unconscious and unaware. He groaned, winning against the intense urges.
He picked her up in one swift movement and led her to her bedroom. Gently placing her on the bed, throwing the rug over her, in such a rough manner, as if she committed a sin against him. He sat on the edge of the nightstand, bringing his fingers to her temples. ''How are you drinking the night before your departure? So improper.'' He muttered, relieving her from her intoxicated state. Once he saw her features completely relax, he threw the scroll onto the same nightstand and headed for the door.
.
.
Ready for departure, she gave herself a final check. She wore a black sleeveless turtlenecked vest, covering it with a grey vested flak jacket. She sported a double shoulder holster on top of her jacket. Elbow length gloves on each arm for protection. For flexibility, she wore black tight cargo trousers, equipped with her usual shuriken and kunai thigh holster on each thigh. Not wanting to overwhelm herself with items, she used a convenient sized black backpack for aids. Finally, she bodied a grey cape attached with a hooded cowl, preparing for the unknown climates of the Kirigakure.
She gave her apartment a final check. Considering she drank last night, she felt oddly refreshed. She only wanted a small drink after yesterday's chaos. ''I'll be back.'' She whispered to the empty space before her and closed the door.
The sky invited her eyes to play amongst the ever-arching birds. The cloudless azure sky, a perfect protecting dome promising to be canvass to the citizens' happiness. She smiled, inhaling the fresh air, believing It's cloudlessness prophesying a hassle-free journey for the rosette. She looked ahead to the Konoha gate and saw Ino and Naruto.
Jogging over to them, she waved. ''Guys! Why'd you come?''
''To see you off of course.'' Ino retorted as if it's the most obvious thing ever. ''When do you ever see me off?'' Sakura jokingly scoffed.
''Hinata, Shikamaru and the rest wanted to see you off too, but they're occupied, they've sent their regards.''
Sakura waved a hand in refusal. ''I wasn't expecting them to, but tell them I've received it well.'' She nudged Naruto on the shoulder, ''Thanks for returning the scroll, at this rate I didn't think I'd see it again.''
'That wasn't me, that was Sasuke.'' Her eyebrows scrunched in confusion and before she could reply, Ino grabbed her arm.
''You have to be careful, that village, it's corrupted with a totalitarian leader. The fact that you're infiltrating it is even worse, they'll kill you on sight.'' The light-hearted atmosphere held was lost, all seriousness taking place.
''She's a capable shinobi though, she'll kick their ass, what do you take her for?'' Naruto snorted.
Sakura smiled at her friends, her family. They are her stability when her world becomes chaotic, as she is for them. They are the light to her that expands inside her soul and gleams through her eyes. She would put her life on the line for them, as she is doing so right now, by finding the Pyrola.
''No matter where I'm going, I'll make it back in one piece, I promise that to you all.''
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
I think this was a good place to end, I wanted to keep going, but I didn't want you guys to get bored.
Thanks for reading c:
Ciao
-Grape