19. Before elaborating in the now constant author ramble below, just a heads up that this writer never claimed that Sakura was a 'good' person.
Dear hobi (Guest),
I haven't been reading many new fanfics recently, so I can't really say very much as to how I compare haha, but I'll take your word for it! ^v^ glad that my pretty much still canon story is keeping people's interest.
"Zabuza-sama, while you were knocked out, the Konoha ninja told me some things. I believe that their words have merit. I do not trust Gato, Zabuza-sama."
His master scoffs, even as he rips at the bandages around his neck.
"You're foolish, Haku. To be so easily swayed by the words of men."
Haku only returns to applying salve to the wounds, deftly batting away itchy fingers.
"Sakura-san is willing to pay more to ensure the safety of their client."
"You're on first name basis with our enemy?"
There's no more talk on that, they can both hear urgent footsteps.
Gato storms into the room, muscled goons lumbering after.
Silver topped cane pointed forward, derisively looking over his incapacitated hired sword.
"So you failed as well. Demon of the Mist my foot."
Hand snapping out, gripping hold of the cane poised to jab his master.
Ice spreading across the fine wood, and Gato drops it as if burnt.
"You better not fail again!"
Door slamming, Zabuza growling.
"Should just lop off the midget's head. If only I had my Kubikiribocho."
Haku examines the cane in his grasp, commanding the ice to melt away.
"Zabuza-sama, is the cane not already worth a couple million? I do not see why we should work under someone who doesn't even respect you."
Haku knows his master is going for something larger than simply Gato or money.
But Haku doesn't know that Zabuza is plotting treason once more.
"The Konoha ninja do have Zabuza-sama's blade as well."
The bridge is near complete half a week later.
Haku has seen Naruto and Sakura every past evening in that same clearing, collecting herbs.
Gato's getting antsy, and Zabuza decides to make his move.
"Come, Haku. We will strike with the morning fog."
With the Hatake's presence, there's no chance that a chakra-origin fog would go by unnoticed.
There's hardly a greeting, but the two jonin meet calmly, kunai gripped in their dominant hands.
The masked ANBU takes his place before the genin team, senbon poised.
"Team 7, protect Tazuna-san."
Sakura steps forward, and Naruto makes a couple clones to evacuate the other labourers, Sasuke taking his position in front of the bridge builder.
"Does that mean you turn down my business proposition, Hunter-nin-san?"
Haku can't quite help the apologetic inflection in his reply, "Zabuza-sama does not appear receptive to money of other sources. Perhaps it is his pride, I thank you for you offer nonetheless, Konoha-nin."
Neither battle takes off, or becomes overtly violent.
Just careful circling of opponents, caution on the jonins' end, distaste of battle on the other.
The masked ninja strikes first, blurring and heading for his target.
Upon his senbon clashing with a thrown shuriken he disengages and retreats.
"You're fast," Haku notes as well, the fading burn scars on Sasuke's palms.
Kakashi sounds almost smug, "Looks like my team will be able to handle your apprentice, Zabuza."
The swordsman scoffs, even as Haku mulls over the thought, 'Apprentice?'
"My tool is infinitely stronger than those weaklings. I found him amongst corpses half frozen. The scene looked like the Academy after I ripped through all those wannabe genin."
It's not something Haku enjoys recalling.
"I'd advise that you don't underestimate my students so much. Sakura was able to stop your sword, Sasuke is the last Uchiha, and Naruto is an ultimate wild card."
Zabuza scores a cut on his opponent's arm and laughs.
"Haku. Stop fooling around."
The water vapour in the air, forming the fog, freezes.
A quiet reply, warm breath whispering into the cold, "As you wish, Zabuza-sama."
"Secret Technique: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals."
Twelve full length body mirrors arranged in a circle, floating a couple centimetres above ground, another eight forming a tighter circle, angled downwards from above, and one final mirror at the top of the dome, closing it off.
"A bloodline?"
The same reflection in all the mirrors, voice coming from all.
"This is the bloodline of my clan, and we were persecuted for it. I am the only one left, capable of the Hyoton."
Naruto is struck harshly across the back of his head, Sakura's chain missing the hand that comes out of a mirror by inches.
Sasuke curses as the Naruto clones pop and Sakura grabs Naruto out of reach of another Haku.
"I apologise, but if you cannot see me, you are going to die."
Sakura hands Naruto's unconscious form to Tazuna, before covering them both in another shell of chains.
She knows, senbon thrown precisely can still get through gaps, but if she closes those gaps, they might not be able to breathe because she doesn't k-n-o-w.
A sigh was heard when they fail to move.
"Secret Technique: A Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death."
It begins to rain, the slips of almost-glass through Sakura's hasty covering of chains, running against skin before splashing into water on the floor, Sasuke running through hand seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
With no little relief, the flamethrower takes shape, evaporating the water.
Whistling.
"Sasuke!"
There's the clatter of metal against glass.
Wide, red eyes finding green, looking down at his hand, kunai having deflected a swathe of hidden senbon.
Confused mumbling, both of them on the floor, senbon and browning puddles around them.
"My body just moved, on its own accord…"
An inhale, and Haku emerges from a mirror.
"You're like me. You… have a bloodline too. Your eyes are like blood."
Then, firmer.
"I cannot let you go."
He makes a move to attack again, but this time, he's in plain sight.
Chains latching onto Haku, yanking him away from Sasuke's unprotected back, wrapping around him, securing his hands, binding his legs.
The Uchiha scrambles off his teammate, getting back into a defensive position.
Sakura's fingers hooking onto the porcelain mask, gently removing it.
She rests her forehead to his, eyes closing.
"I won't let go either, Haku-san."
His Ice Mirrors melt away, and beyond the thin curtain of pink hair, he can see a sparking, fist of lightning.
Birds are chirping off in the distance.
Sasuke delivers a chop to the immobile fake hunter-nin, rendering him unconscious.
Looking over the prone forms of her friends, and then Sasuke lying at Naru's side, red eyes with a tomoe each spinning.
Calling out, "Sensei!"
That similar crimson eye sliding over to her, not one, but three tomoe, oh, Sharingan – spinning lazily, how p r e t t y.
Her chains looking over her teammates, healing Sasuke's cuts, soothing Naruto's concussion, Haku's binds loosening, but ready in case he woke up.
Sakura gestures at the huge crowd of mercenaries disembarking on the edge of the incomplete bridge.
Kakashi smiles, before returning his attention back to Zabuza.
"Well, Zabuza, your employer turned on you. Are we still enemies?"
The Mist-nin bares his teeth.
"Haruno! Does your offer still stand?"
Smaller feet pattering on the bridge followed by the thundering of boots.
Naruto getting up, rubbing his head, immediately struggling to stand, to prevent Inari and the civilian militia from advancing.
"Nii-chan! We came, I made them come! We'll protect you!"
Sasuke leaning Naruto on him, her chains wrapping around the huge sword Inari drags along its flat side.
They can't really speak, but the sheer pride in Naru's beaming face tells her that he'll be okay.
"Thank you, Inari-kun."
A thumbs up, child-like grin, reminiscent of Naruto.
She hands Zabuza back his blade, and Kakashi doesn't protest.
"I don't make deals lightly. 2 million in any form you like. In turn, your job is to kill them. Especially Gato. I will take Gato Corp, I hope you have no objections."
Bandaged hand closing around the Kubikiribocho's handle.
"It would be a pleasure to cut Gato up."
Faintly, she wonders if she should have his body put on display, to show all of Wave country that their hero has been avenged.
Civilians rarely thirst for blood. Doctors are used to it, but generally aim to heal.
Yuurei's discarded her Hippocratic oath in being a businessman.
Ah, what a hippo-crite.
She watches the Demon of the Mist cut standing mercenaries like a scythe cutting grass.
But Wave has always bled.
The villagers are almost happy to see the blood.
Even Tazuna-san, tugging at his beard, at ease.
"Ah man, the blood's gonna be hell to clean off later."
Inari, being the only child, is fully preoccupied by her blonde teammate.
She turns back to Sensei.
"I will clear up here, with Momochi-san, then return. Please bring everyone else back, I have business to do."
Unbloodied hand patting the top of her head, "Maa, you didn't have to be so violent, Sakura-kun."
He waves at Tazuna, assuring him that everything is over.
The whole crowd heading back, even as the massacre goes on, Sasuke throws her one last look, but she smiles, and her green chain looped around his arm pulses.
Maybe its satisfaction she feels, watching body after body fall, hearing every enraged yell as the wounds on Zabuza stack up.
And when finally, it comes down to the last man.
Like with most ninjas, their final kill is always the slowest.
Sakura steps through the scattered corpses, and her hired sword half faces her.
"Just a moment, Momochi-san."
Bending down, "This is a hostile takeover, Gato-san. As of tomorrow, Gato Corporation will be re-established as Wave Corp."
"I y-yield, Haruno-hime! You may take over my connections in the mafia and have all my p-personal assets, please let me live!"
She contemplates if she should simply say, that she plans to anyway?
"Connections are by networking, not by fear, Gato-san. I may condone killing, but not oppression or drug dealing. I have, some, morals you know?"
Zabuza smirks, all teeth.
"That's a no."
"Should I clean up the bridge, Haruno?"
She nods.
"Just sweep the corpses into the sea, Momochi-san. Fish grown in bloodied waters eventually develop a taste for flesh."
Like Wave, oppressed till the point where they thirst for freedom and gladly shed blood over it.
"If you say so. Water Style: Hand of Waves."
And as if the water came to life, the sea rose and cleared everything away.
The breeze comes back, salty as ever, like it was signalling a new beginning.
Yuurei knows better. People are still people. People change, but can never be reborn or forgiven for their sins.
Zabuza sways a bit on his feet, and Sakura extends a few chains to support him, "Mystic Palm Technique."
Saying it more for his sake than hers, she would rather be given the peace and quiet to concentrate.
"You're healing me."
"Haku-kun would be sad if you died, Momochi-san. We wouldn't want that."
He doesn't argue with her 'we', and she presumes that she's correct.
"Tch. That kid's too soft."
It's a period of very brief silence as they walk across the planks, back towards the village.
"Will you be taking over Gato Corp directly?"
She laughs.
"Would you like to take over, Momochi-san? I was thinking of offering the position to Tazuna-san."
The mist-nin snorts, "Hell no. The bridge builder can have it. I was thinking of receiving payment in the form of supplies."
Sakura looks up at him, and there's a far off look in his eyes.
"What use would a missing-nin have for 2 million ryo worth of supplies?"
By now, he's partially healed, hefting his blade over his shoulder, throwing an arm over it.
"We're going to overthrow a village."
Maybe he mistakes her curiosity, because he barks a laugh, "Don't worry Haruno. Not Konoha. Kiri."
The village comes into view, and she muses, "You're quite confident, Momochi-san, to be saying this in the open."
"With those of tainted blood, and a demon carrier to boot, we'll definitely be able to restore Kiri to its former glory."
He's a patriot at heart, not a deserter, and so, ninjas are not so black-evil-white-good.
"Why did your village fall from glory in the first place?"
"Our Kage went ballistic supposedly. I never knew him before he was crazy, but he had been good enough that people wanted him as a Kage."
She gives him a small smile, "Then those people cannot be trusted anymore. Momochi-san you, as the person who is emotionally unbiased, should kill your Kage."
He should think it wrong, like Yuurei thinks, but Sakura isn't all Yuurei anymore and Zabuza doesn't think of killing as bad.
"I did try. That's how I got chased out in the first place. Not to mention, no one's sure if our Kage can even be killed with a demon inside him."
Sakura has a personal stake in this.
"Humans are humans. The demon will probably reform. Humans all die."
He shrugs.
"You're awfully positive aren't you."
"I simply want to see Kiri stabilised. It doesn't matter whether the Mizukage is overthrown or if you and your fellow rebels are killed."
Zabuza sounds vaguely amused.
"Even though you're about to pump money into us?"
"This is a transaction between a hired sword and a businessman. No questions asked, Momochi-san. This is not my investment, just money paid as due."
The house comes into view, Kakashi perfectly at ease, outside reading in the setting sun.
"If the rebel forces win, I will ask that Wave be invited to be our protectorate."
Another smile quirks on the edge of her lips, "You should forewarn Tazuna-san. He can be your contact to me. Otherwise, Merchant Head Tsubaki-san will be the one bringing you your goods."
"Will he do it? The Mizukage has an iron fisted grip upon the village."
She waves at sensei.
"Then you'll have to convince him that your rebel alliance is worth backing. He's a patriot at heart too."
Sakura confers Tazuna the position of Wave Corp Head, Zabuza extends Mist's offer in advance, and Haku wakes up, in that order.
Kakashi gives Sasuke a Sharingan crash course, and Sasuke spends the next couple of days experimenting with his doujutsu.
Haku recovers quickly with both his and Sakura's medical expertise.
Naruto and Inari help out with the bridge building.
Tazuna slips into the leadership position with ease, by the next week, Wave Corp has expanding into bridge and ship-building.
When the bridge is complete, Haku and Zabuza regather their bearings, and turn to leave.
"Wait, Momochi-san. On behalf of the citizens of Wave, I ask that you stay to watch the bridge opening ceremony."
Haku dressed in a casual pink yukata, tilts his head up, and Zabuza only looks down a moment before grunting.
Naruto bounces in excitement, swinging Inari around. Sasuke hanging by Sakura's side, who sends off a messenger bearing her clan symbol. Kakashi taking in the entire scene with a lazy glance.
Tazuna proudly leading the entire village plus visitors to the bridge, hand on the woven cloth that just covers the plaque of the gateway.
Everyone takes the moment to appreciate the aesthetic and symbolic aspect of the gateway. Built like homes of a traditional Japanese compound, fairly rare in such parts.
Pagoda styled roof, but not quite the torii formality, welcoming vistors, but filtering evil spirits.
With a flourish, the cloth falls.
"I declare the Grand Wave Bridge to be open!"
Applause and cheers, stepping onto the wooden structure, everyone is to say the least, pleased.
Tazuna beckons the ninja closer, to the pillars supporting the archway.
"It may be small, but Wave Country will remember your contributions."
The Leaf and Mist symbols carved on separate sides of the pillar, exposing delicate wood grain patterns.
"We'll paint it over with gold paint once that arrives, but I wanted to be able to show it to you all."
Ah, the gate is symbolic in its acceptance.
They make a quick return to Konoha, unhampered by a civilian, stopping only for a single break.
Izumo and Kotetsu are at the gates again, he raises a hand in greeting.
"Yo!"
They salute lazily at him, before gesturing in the general direction of the Tower.
"Lord Hokage's been waiting for you Team 7."
Then, as an afternote, they half bow at his female student, "Lady Haruno."
Sakura-kun inclines her head, "Izumo-san, Kotetsu-san. How is Aoba-san?"
They go back a few years, back to when the Haruno head made the controversial decision to go to Kumo.
Kotetsu groans, setting his head back onto the table.
"Same old, same old. Nothing ever changes."
His lone eye crinkles in sympathy, before abandoning them to boredom again.
It's a quick debrief for his team, Lord Hokage giving Naruto a quick pat down, Umino-san joining, "You're not hurt, Naruto-kun?"
Blonde grinning, "I'm a super awesome ninja, of course I ain't hurt!"
Dismissed, Umino-san promising to treat Naruto to a ramen dinner. Sasuke and Sakura walking out together, but not quite still.
"I think I'll go get ramen too," the last Uchiha says, perhaps trying to put off returning to the clan compound, now much more subdued with scattered families, after having lived in utter chaos and lively warmth.
The pink haired girl only nods, "See you soon, Sasu-chan." Afterwards, she turns and adds, "You as well, sensei."
Door closing, his Hokage threads his fingers together.
"So Kakashi-kun, how did Team 7's first C-rank go?"
Maybe it's the edge and faint sarcasm he hears, but Kakashi laughs, running a hand through his hair.
"Remarkably well, Hokage-sama. They're all alive."
"Senpai?"
She pops her head into his office, and he looks up from the case file he's occupied with.
"Sakura?"
He stands, closing the file as he goes.
He smiles, pushing up his glasses, before asking, "Dinner?"
She nods, "If you're free!"
Tugging off his white coat, and draping it over his swivel chair, Kabuto gestures at the door.
It's become a thing for them now, that she would pop in at the end of the day, and that they would go out to eat.
More than Sakura getting him away from the endless cases at the hospital, and his further research, he appreciates being remembered.
She's in a loose green shirt and black pants, he's in a high collar, sleeveless dark purple shirt with a long sleeved white shirt under, with matching pants.
"What shall we eat today, senpai?"
Considering he hasn't seen her since she last left for her first C rank, it's not hard for him to guess that she returned today.
That would mean she was feeling tired, looking to relax, and eat lots of sweet things.
He elbows her playfully.
"I feel like having dessert first today. While you were gone, a new café opened. What do you think?"
Admittedly, this is them spoiling their appetites for dinner, but neither of them have guardians to stop them anymore.
The teasing glint in her expression, lips curving in that secret kind of guilty smile only they share, "Tab's on me, senpai."
Bell chiming as they push past glass doors, cool air welcoming them in.
The baker behind the counter looks up, uttering a soft, "Welcome!"
Others present only turn because of the bell, and soon go back to their own business.
Part of the magic is looking at all the cakes in the display, another bit would be watching the baker work his craft, piping little cream flowers on top of a cake.
Like Sakura, Kabuto is engrossed in reading the descriptions of the cakes, inwardly 'oohing' and 'aahing' at how pretty the cakes look.
"Is there anything you recommend, baker-san?"
Kabuto is decided on his Salted Caramel Pie, but Sakura is clearly torn.
The baker gives him a quick, amused glance, "Antoine is fine, sir. If I may, I would recommend the Mont Blanc, you look like someone who appreciates subtle flavours."
That glance tells him that he-knows-what-he's-doing.
Kabuto rubs the back of his head.
"I'm Kabuto."
"I'm Sakura," comes the chime in, eyes drifting back and forth.
Then as if her decision is just made, of her own choice, and absolutely not influenced, she asks for a Mont Blanc.
Antoine-san's gaze is warm, no longer teasing, he looks almost melancholic.
"A Mont Blanc for Sakura-san. You, Kabuto-san?"
"A slice of Salted Caramel Pie please."
"Shall I warm it slightly?"
He shrugs in reply.
"I'll be right over with your cakes, pick any free table to your liking."
White salt crystals just dusting the top of senpai's caramel pie, pie crust a deep golden brown.
A square of dark chocolate, with the shop's name at the top of her Mont Blanc.
Sakura finds the presentation of their cakes simple yet elaborate, and she can hardly bear to think of eating the cake.
But senpai digs in with little fanfare, and she's soon compelled to do so as well.
The temporary pain of destroying Antoine-san's artwork is made up for by the faint chestnut taste that lingers on her tongue, and light Chantilly cream now exposed.
"So, kouhai, how was your first C rank?"
Taking another bite of her cake, reaching the base layer of sponge.
"Well, we met a Swordsman of the Mist, and a fake Hunter-nin. But we completed the mission. It was eventful."
The soft caramel threatens to fall off the crust, but senpai wisely eats the bit he's cut off.
He chews slowly, before saying that, "It certainly sounds eventful, and not like a C Rank."
I enjoy ending on this kind of mildly sweet note.
It gives me the warm fuzzies after writing Sakura thoughts in the middle.
But really!
Theme for this chapter is dualism. While plot is plot, and plot did take centre stage, and I did not get to explain very much of anyone's feelings here, I think I should be mindful to draw attention to just one or two things I planned, and I wrote.
Sakura cares for Haku, not Zabuza. She doesn't care very much for Zabuza even if in relation to Haku.
She isn't the kind to get attached to one person, and because of that, defend another who is related to them. Or maybe it's just because she's not that attached to Haku.
Next, Sakura explicitly orders her hired blade to kill.
This is something Talk-no-jutsu wielding Canon!Naruto would never have condoned, please make of it as you will, but if Team 7 were a Sannin remake, Sakura has Tsunade's skill set, but she is Protective!Orochimaru.
Yeah.
Alright, that author clarification bit over, onto the more rambly bit.
Some people might not like the last, inclusion of Kabuto bit very much. It's my teeny filler to bridge Wave Arc and the Chunin Exam Arc.
I've recently watched the food/slice of life anime, Amaama to Inazuma, and that's where thoughts of food have come from.
As I continue writing Chains, I feel as if I've really diverged from canon.
Not just the subtle(Can I call them that ..?) changes of the plot, and some plot devices… the characters themselves are different.
Sakura is a given, but Sasuke turned out more emotionally hurt by Itachi and now, more protective. Naruto turned out more resilient and adapting than boisterous and loud-mouthed. Kakashi comes off as darker and more shadowed than canon's eccentric and hip!Kakashi.
Other than our main(?) four, when I re-read, I think the person I changed the most, after Sakura is Kabuto.
Author writes angst not romance, and this is a gen!fic, but I like how my version of Kabuto came out. Gentler, more emotionally grounded, less cocky. About Kabuto, I somehow set him up to become someone Sakura can always go to.
Unlike with others who depend on her for advice and being the rock, binding kind of support, like Shika-chan who looks up to her, Naru who's confidence was reassured, and Sasu who has some family (albeit all either still comatose or just distant), - nothing much going for that, I admittedly wasn't thinking.
Kabuto is just different, because he's older and he's someone Sakura respects.
Leave me reviews and pms, I enjoy hearing from you all (It makes my day when I'm stuck working: )
Merry Christmas Eve,
Kayo.
(Make that Merry Christmas in advance ..?)
