His key made a sharp sound as it connected with the lock and the door winced under his forceful push to open it. A dark empty room welcomed him, a small breeze spiraling around his place since he had left the windows open. He kicked the door shut and headed to his room, starting to methodically remove his dirtied ANBU uniform which clung to his body like a heavy second skin. The night was still relatively young he noticed, his alarm clock indicating a bright 10.30pm. He had left Sakura in the street about an hour ago. Even knowing she was only a few steps from her apartment, he had walked around a few blocks before coming by to check the place he had left her a few minutes prior, only to find it empty. At least she went home, he supposed.
The hot spray of the shower soothed his tired muscles and he just stood there, unmoving, letting the water cascade down his body, cleaning dirt, blood and weariness in its path. He didn't know how long he stayed that way, only that for all the well-being it brought, water failed to relieve him of his racing thoughts. Where the fuck was she expecting this to go?
He sighed angrily, wearily, and stepped out of the glass doors of his shower. Turning his back to the mirror covered in steam at the center of the small room, he grabbed a large towel, one with traces of blood that never left no matter how many times he washed it and began to rub it in quick motions against his damp skin. Maybe he shouldn't have picked up a creamy beige for towels. Oh well.
With the towel still resting on his shoulders, he left the small cubicle he had for a bathroom and walked in his adjacent bedroom, the soft carpet becoming a darker shade under his wet steps.
Sakura. Sakura. Sakura.
She too was an ANBU, although she had just joined a few months ago on Tsunade's request. Medical nins were always a strong asset on the field, especially in the bloody business that ANBU was, and there was always a shortage of competent medics available. Having trained under the Hokage and being one of the top medic-nin the village had to offer, it was no surprise she had been scouted for ANBU. His old teammate hadn't wanted to join the elite squad at first, saying she fitted better in a hospital environment and preferred to take up regular jounin assignments.
The problem was that, back then, she barely took up any assignment and was more often than not locking herself up in her ivory tower known as the Hospital. Naruto, Ino, Kakashi, Tenten, Kiba… they had all noticed her turning down mission after mission under the pretense of groundbreaking research, lack of staff, training responsibilities… Thinking it had to be just a phase, they let her be, let her wrap herself in a cloak of antiseptic, feigned to ignore the way her eyes failed to shine. He too had played that game, a game of pretense that was supposed to suit everybody. During that time, he barely saw her at all. The rare times he did see her was when he was lying on a hospital bed, blood pouring out of severe wounds that she patched up without a word, lightless green eyes focused on the source of his physical agony. A diagnostic was all he ever got from her. She did not have anything to say to him.
What could I tell her? This question haunted his mind every time he encountered her, saw her from afar, heard her voice in the crowd. He just didn't know.
This situation went on for over a year, after which Tsunade decided she could no longer let her shy away from active duty and let her fighting skills go rusty. Not sure how to best handle her apprentice to make sure she thrived again on the field, she decided to assign her to ANBU training, the same path he had taken years ago. She had been an ANBU rookie for a little over five months now and although she had surprised everyone, himself included, with her impressive record track of successful missions after being off the field for so long, light had yet to return to those dull jade irises.
Clothed in only a loose short he climbed into bed and laid down on the dark blue sheets, his mind still running after the reasons of her fading away.
Naruto was scribbling anxiously on one of the many scrolls piled up in front of him. Reading through the barely readable notes of hurried team leaders, pompous diplomatic envoys' letters, boring administrative requests, he felt his mind go blank on several occasions and had to put all his willpower into actually understanding and analyzing what he was reading.
"Kami! Why did I ever want to become Hokage in the first place?!"
A snort came from the other side of the room. He glared at the disturbance, finding light hazel eyes laughing at him.
"Oh, give it a rest!" he exclaimed at the Hokage sitting behind her impossibly large wooden desk.
"You're the one who's aiming at becoming at Hokage," teased the older woman, thoroughly enjoying torturing her trainee with extra work.
"Yes! Well… that's not exactly what I had in mind!"
"Poor you!"
He could hear the humor in her voice.
"Like you're not enjoying putting me through this, ba-chan," he said pointing an accusing finger at the blonde woman. "Admit it," he barked, the latest information he had tried to memorize and put together all but forgotten.
"I'm sorry," said Tsunade, her beautiful face trying to convey the feeling she had just expressed.
"You don't sound very sorry to me!"
She laughed at his reply, amused by his impulsiveness that no amount of paperwork seemed to be able to tame. Naruto was a breath of fresh air in her exhausting days at the head of the village and part of her couldn't wait for him to be finally able to take over as Hokage. He would no doubt make a great leader. He had charisma, the mental strength to pull through, and support from the people and the ninjas. However he still lacked in experience to deal with the mine-field that were diplomatic relations and clans' management, which is why she had gradually taken him under her wing as years passed with the hope to make him the Hokage everyone awaited him to be.
A soft knock interrupted her musings and she yelled a brief "Enter!"
Five ANBUS stepped in, white masks with painted red symbols hooked on their shoulders, faces uncovered. The tall silver-haired captain marched nonchalantly to her desk and deposited a scarlet scroll in her awaiting hand.
"Thanks," she muttered.
Kakashi bowed his head slightly and took a step back, standing next to his ANBU comrades. Alongside him, she had also summoned Raido and his right-hand man, an ANBU lieutenant with dark long hair tied up in a ponytail and cerulean eyes, and Sasuke and his subordinate, Hanare, a kunoichi in her mid-twenties that used to be assigned as her bodyguard.
Naruto stood up and left his desk to stand next to her, one arm resting on the back of her chair, his face wearing a serious expression that had been nowhere to see only minutes ago.
"How has the situation evolved?" he asked, tone free of intonations that might have betrayed his thoughts. He's learning, she thought.
"It seems that the organized syndicate implanted in Earth has indeed started to raid across the border, targeting the smaller villages north of the Fire country," explained Kakashi.
"What are the facts?" asked Tsunade.
"Burglary, burnt houses, village officials tortured so that thiefs can get access to monetary funds and hidden weapons. The routes on the north eastern part of the country are definitely unsafe for merchants and travelers-"
"Most of them are never to be seen again," supplied Hanare, interrupting Raidou.
"I see," said Tsunade before sighing heavily. Her eyes rested on the Uchiha, a raised brow asking for his participation in the subject.
"Our team hunted down several members, but killing them does not seem to stop the raiding. It just seems that they have an unlimited supply of rogues to send over the border," said the dark-haired Captain.
"How many assassinations so far?" asked Naruto.
"About twelve," supplied Hanare, her left hand lightly brushing Sasuke's upper arm where a clear, angry red cut was to be seen.
Naruto's eyes narrowed visibly Kakashi noticed, although he couldn't tell if this was due to the disturbing news of the ineffectiveness of the actions ANBU had carried out up until now or due to the brief touching between the elegant brown-haired kunoichi and the Uchiha.
"What do you suggest now?" asked their hazel-eyed leader.
"Assassinations won't bring us anywhere at this rate if we do not know how they operate and how to dismantle their organization. We should opt for an infiltration mission," said Kakashi concisely.
"Hm," nodded Naruto, eyes still glaring at the Uchiha and his subordinate.
"It could work," said Tsunade thoughtfully, "but the Council won't allow it. They have been waiting for years for an excuse to declare war on Earth and also Rain… They will block any attempt at resolving the situation through the old discreet methods."
"Come on," burst out Naruto looking his female mentor straight in the eyes, "it's not like ANBUs have to answer for anything in front of the Council. They are under your direct orders!"
"It's not that simple, Naruto," intervened his old Genin teacher.
"Aa," sighed Tsunade. The puzzled expression on her apprentice's whiskered face told her that she still had her place as Hokage for a reason. Turning away from him to stare at the five standing ANBUs, she rested her chin on her crossed manicured hands, elbows firmly anchored on her desk.
"Most of the powerful clans within Konoha have suffered some losses over the recent years due to the political instability in the North, be it from the syndicate or other foes. Also, the lack of cooperation of Earth's authorities when it comes to securing the border and trade routes have taken its toll on most Council members' patience. They want an all-out action to realign Earth with Konoha's demands in the region. They will refuse to see the syndicate as a separate threat and will do everything to manipulate the current situation to their advantage, so that they can justify an open conflict," explained Tsunade. "An operation of this scale, even led by ANBUs, will not go unnoticed by the Council and they will want to have their say in it."
"Why in hell would they want an open conflict?" yelled Naruto, all countenance forgotten. "A war would lead us nowhere!"
"An actual war against Earth isn't the biggest threat looming over our heads," supplied Tsunade patiently, voice measured and even. "Konoha is able to take down Earth. Sure, we would suffer some losses, but as things stand now, the outcome of the conflict does not raise a doubt." She paused, eyes closing wearily. "The real issue is how over nations will react to Konoha invading another country."
"What do you mean?" asked Naruto although some understanding started to dawn on his face.
"The post-war status-quo is over," said Kakashi all nonchalance gone from his attitude, "and should Konoha create an open conflict to ensure its safety and interests, other neighboring nations might see it as an attempt to gain even more leadership in the region, thus threatening smaller countries' interests."
"But that's nonsense," yelped Naruto.
"It's not," said the Copy-nin. "Konoha is already the leading power in the region. As such, any openly aggressive action on our part will be interpreted as a take-over. Smaller powers will either support Konoha in its wake or go to other leading powers such as the Land of Lightning. No matter how they choose to act, the whole thing will break the existing balance between the leading powers, and since it is almost certain that Sand will support Konoha, it is more likely than not that other powers will organize themselves accordingly to stop the rise of Konoha and create a counterbalance of their own."
"Shit," cursed the future Hokage. "You're just saying, that should the open conflict happen, there is no other way but to see it grow into an uncontrollable monster all over again that no one can control."
"Aa," agreed Kakashi.
"I need sake," sighed Tsunade. "Now!"
But no one smirked at her antics. Being an alcoholic leader seemed justified in a situation like this mused Naruto.
Later that night, Naruto was walking to Ichiraku where he and Sasuke had agreed to meet for dinner. He hadn't been able to get rid of the anxiousness that this morning's conversation in the Hokage's office had plagued him with. His dark-haired teammate, dressed in his regular training attire, was already seated on one of the high chairs, a fuming bowl of noodles soup in front of him.
Naruto greeted the cook with a boisterous "Hello" that seemed fake to his own ears, given his current racing worries. He took a seat next to the silent Uchiha and welcomed the bowl that was placed in front of him with a small nod. The cook raised his eyebrows at the odd behavior of his most loyal customer, but decided to ignore it for now, having other customers to attend to.
"Did you train with Kakashi?" he asked his sulking comrade.
"Aa."
"Who won?"
"Tch. Baka," groaned Sasuke.
Naruto smirked. Sasuke's pride would never allow him to admit that he and Kakashi were some of the few ninjas that could still catch him off guard.
"Sasuke?"
"Hm."
"I have to ask you something," started Naruto uneasily, letting his chopsticks rest on the table beside his half empty bowl. "What is it with you… and your ANBU partner?"
Dark orbs stared into blue ones, not betraying the thoughts of their owner.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Are you with her?" pressed the blond.
"Why are you asking?" countered the Uchiha.
It was past midnight and Sakura had not had dinner yet. But then again, she rarely did. She often came back too exhausted from the hospital or her missions. Her ANBU Captain was a tyrant, working herself to the bone and sending her on the front lines during fights while, as a medic, she should essentially act as a backup. But she refused to let this get to her, just like she refused to go to her old Genin leader who was one of the top commander in ANBU to let him now about how her Captain… never mind. She could deal with this on her own.
Not bothering to shower, she just freed herself of her sticky clothes, undid the bandage covering the infected cut on her thigh, too tired and chakra-depleted to properly heal it. Naked, she walked to her messy bed and lied under the thick purple cover, the soft material comforting against her beaten skin. Eyes closed, she willed herself to sleep, only to find her thoughts wandering back to the night she had spent with him, remembering acutely the feel of his body pressed against hers, the hunger in his red spinning orbs and her own hunger for more, more, more…
My silence is screaming at you
But you hear nothing of my agony
And I just stand there
A puppet in a world of assassins
A knife in my hand
Ready to relieve others of the burden of this life
A bloodthirsty wolf among the pack
