Chapter 39. Borrowed Time Pt. 1

"Time…time slips through my hands like grains of sand."

|Sakura|

With a sharp wheeze, I sat up and touched a hand to my chest, making sure I was in one piece. My panic subsided as I touched my arms and confirmed that what had occurred some days ago had not been a dream. I was here; I was alive.

I got out of bed and went to the bathroom, swallowing hard as I turned on the sink. After splashing some water onto my face, I regarded myself in the mirror and noted how smooth my skin was. It looked nothing like the cracked visage I'd gotten used to seeing before.

Orochimaru had brought me back to life some time back. Although I couldn't be sure how many days had passed due to the lack of windows underground, I guessed that at least three days had gone by. The adrenaline surrounding the whole process had long since worn off, and I'd been having nightmares about what I'd gone through ever since. What made them worse was that, with nothing to do and no one to converse with, all I could do was think about what I had witnessed and experienced.

Kabuto had brought me to the main operating room and encouraged me to lie down on the table before strapping me in. Once he was sure I wouldn't come loose, he stepped away from me and went outside, only to return with one of Sarada's former teachers on a gurney. Based on the tilt of his head and his general disorientation, I figured he was under the effects of some sort of anesthetic, and when he spoke my speculation was confirmed.

"Uchiha-san…?" The man garbled, "Is that you?"

Unsure of how to respond, I looked to Kabuto for answers, "What's going on? Why is he here?"

"I'd tell you but that would ruin the surprise." Kabuto smiled as he wheeled the man over to me, "Let's just say the two of you are about to go down in history."

"History?" The man repeated, blinking slowly, "What are you—?"

"Is he awake?" Orochimaru's distinct voice cut him off, and I tried to look in the direction I heard him from.

My restraints made it more difficult than I would like, but I was able to crane my neck just enough to catch him entering the room. He approached us with a smile before lightly tapping Sarada's teacher's cheek.

"Takayama-san!" Orochimaru gleamed, "How are you feeling? Is your head okay?"

"S' good." Takayama nodded lazily as he held a long blink, "I'm just tired."

Orochimaru cackled, "Oh, don't worry. You'll be sleeping very soon."

His word choice made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and I regarded him fearfully. It turned out that I was right to do so because the pale man smiled at me before pulling on a white, sharp-toothed hannya mask and turning to Kabuto. Kabuto handed him a vial of what I assumed was blood, and after unscrewing it, Orochimaru poured some of it into his hand and smeared it across my forehead.

The metallic scent confirmed my assumptions, and I tried not to gag when he did the same to Takayama. Orochimaru then covered the vial back up and returned it to Kabuto's waiting hands before taking a deep breath.

"The tiger prowls while the snake schemes and the dog barks at the dragon's requiem. *Hotei laughs and *Kannon prays, but the shinigami laughs all the same. Impure World – Rebirth!" Orochimaru concluded with a clap of his hands.

I immediately felt a change, and before I knew it, flecks of dust and debris were swirling in the air around me. With a closer look, I realized that those flecks of dust were coming from me, as my skin was now cracking and peeling.

As if things couldn't have gotten worse, I made an attempt to lift my hand, only to discover that I had been put under a temporary paralysis; at least, I hoped it was temporary. I didn't get to spend much time deliberating about my condition because a cry from Takayama took precedence.

Flicking my eyes over to him, I could see that my flaking bits of ash and skin were floating over to him and attaching to his body. They seemed to be implanting into his flesh, and so far, the entirety of his face had been covered. As the seconds went on, I noted how the ash expanded downward, attempting to encase his neck as well as his upper chest.

Takayama's screams indicated that the process must have been extremely painful, but no matter how sickened I was by the sight, I couldn't tear my eyes away from him.

Orochimaru coughed above us, and I gave him a passing glance. It was as if he hadn't moved since he'd started whatever this was, as his hands were still clapped together in a prayer-like fashion. As the ash reached Takayama's ankles, I felt a strong heat rush throughout my body, and Takayama shrieked.

"Please…!" He begged despite his hoarse voice, "I don't want to die! I don't want to—!"

He abruptly went silent as the debris finished consuming him, and once it had settled over his body, Orochimaru dropped his hands and reached out to my operation table to keep himself standing. The paralysis that I'd experienced during the ordeal was gone, I knew that something had changed about me so I remained still.

Kabuto stepped forward to assist Orochimaru and I watched as the scientist straightened up and removed the hannya mask. He revealed a worn face, similar to how Tsunade had looked after she'd undone the seal she'd placed on me. The only difference between them was the ring of blood that surrounded his mouth, and he soon raised a hand to cover it as he coughed up even more blood.

"Orochimaru-sama?" Kabuto called, his concern evident in his voice as he placed an arm under Orochimaru to help him stay standing.

"Nothing can be gained without giving something in return," Orochimaru cackled before looking down at me with a red grin, "And from the looks of things, I'd say it worked. Congratulations, Sakura-san. How does it feel to be alive?"

Orochimaru and Kabuto kept me under surveillance for quite some time after the ritual due to my complaints about feeling sick and immensely warm. However, after a few injections and a sizeable meal, I felt much better, and the next time they came into the room I told them as much.

During these checkups and examinations, I wasn't afforded much downtime. In fact, a couple of hours after my meal, Orochimaru knocked on my door and asked me to aid him in something. The ambiguousness of his request put me off, but I accompanied him anyway. It was then that I was brought to a detached Sasuke submerged in some sort of sensory deprivation tank, and all other thoughts of mine disappeared.

I hadn't seen him since I'd walked in on Orochimaru performing surgery on him, and now when I pictured him, all I could envision was his anguished expression from the shock therapy being administered to him. Kakuzu had forced me out of the room under orders of that white-haired scientist, and although Kakuzu didn't seem too disagreeable, when I begged him to tell me what they were doing to Sasuke, he told me that he never gave up information for free.

I was escorted back to my room then and my following thoughts only consisted of Sasuke and the potential torture he could be enduring. His dazed apologies and confessions replayed over and over in my mind, and I scolded myself bitterly for not telling him that I loved him back. Sure, Naruto had my heart, but Sasuke and I were technically still married, and we'd gotten together out of love.

Before I could berate myself any further, an additional knock on the door led to my meeting with the ringleader of the whole gang, group, or whatever they were to be called. With spiky orange hair, sharp violet eyes, and black metallic piercings all over his face, he certainly held an unforgettable visage. Upon Orochimaru's request, I was made to stand in the center of the room and keep a straight face as the man inspected me.

He seemed genuine enough, as his touches remained respectful and as professional as possible despite violating my personal space. Our subsequent conversation had me feeling a rush of emotions in rapid succession, as I ranged from curiosity to confusion to fear. It was safe to say that the events of that day had left me with much to think about, allowing me to ignore the revival process I'd just gone through.

However, my confinement in the following days changed that. I went from barely having any time to think as I was thrust into a new situation to absolutely zero contact with anyone. With nothing of substance to occupy my mind, I was only able to do three things: eat, think, and sleep, and of course, sleeping came at a cost, as the same nightmare had been plaguing me for a while.

In it, Takayama and I were both strapped down to our respective surfaces, but instead of him being the one to get covered in ash, I was. From head to toe, I was consumed by the needle-like debris, and it cemented itself into my skin at a painfully slow rate until I could no longer see or breathe but I always woke up right before I could take my last breath.

A knock on my door jostled me out of my thoughts, so I stepped out of the bathroom and back into the room.

"Yes?" I called as I reached my bed, although the call was really just a formality, as I knew there could only be one person on the other side.

The door creaked open and of course, Orochimaru poked his head around the corner, "Ohaiyo, Sakura-san. Are you decent? You have a guest."

Although I wanted to tell Orochimaru that I wasn't in the mood for any of his games, a large part of me wanted to see who this so-called visitor was. It had been days since I had spoken to anyone, Orochimaru included, and although I hated to admit it, I was starting to go through withdrawal from a lack of social interaction.

"Sakura?" The door swung completely open as Obito pushed Orochimaru, "Daijōbu?"

"Obito-san?" I couldn't help my confusion even as he pulled me into a hug, "What are you doing here?"

Before Obito could answer, Orochimaru cut in, "He's here for you." The scientist smirked as he crossed his arms, "It's been five days, Sakura-san. You seem perfectly fine, and I don't believe you'll be collapsing anytime soon, which means you're free to go."

"I…I don't understand." I shook my head as Obito released me, "Why is he here?"

Orochimaru chuckled, "Oh, Sakura-san; are you really this clueless, or are you just trying to convince yourself that the truth is not what it seems?"

I raised an eyebrow at him, and he laughed, "Ah, so you truly don't get it! You must have a considerable amount of faith in Obito to not even consider him working with me."

"Oi." Obito warned Orochimaru with the vocalization, but the pale man paid him no mind.

"Obito's the one that covered up your suicide and made it so you could be brought to me. How else could I afford to keep you here?"

I turned to Obito in hopes that he would refute these claims, but when he avoided my gaze, I felt my heart drop.

"It would be beyond difficult to come back to your family if they thought you were dead, ne? Luckily, Obito reached out to me before anyone learned of your attempt, and we spun this careful story about how you'd injured yourself and needed some intensive care in an undisclosed location." Orochimaru laughed again, "I've been told that your loved ones took the news badly, so one can only imagine how they'd be feeling if we had just left them with no explanation."

I nodded my head as he went on, but truthfully, I wasn't even listening anymore. There was only one thing ringing out clear in my head: Obito was working with Orochimaru.

'For how long?' I couldn't help but wonder.

A small part of me hoped that he was going undercover like Sasuke, but I knew that couldn't be the case. He was too ashamed to look me in the eyes, and I was willing to bet that Sasuke didn't know anything about Obito's involvement. Orochimaru was operating as an individual, not someone from Akatsuki or whatever the group he was with was called; whatever he and Obito had going on was a private arrangement.

"Anyway," Orochimaru clapped his hands, "I understand this is a lot to take in so I'll leave you two to hash things out. Try not to take too long though; today's a big day after all, ne Obito?"

Orochimaru winked at him before leaving us and as soon as the door swung shut behind him, I took Obito's face in my hands and made him look up at me.

"He's kidnapped people." I said as I looked him in the eyes, wanting to make sure he understood that.

Obito nodded.

"He's killed people."

He nodded again.

"He's part of the reason why my—" I swallowed hard as Mom's corpse flashed in my mind, "why Ka-san—!"

"I know." Obito whispered, pulling my hands down from his face, "I know."

"Then why?" My voice cracked as I made my confusion clear, "Why would you—?"

"You died, Sakura." He interrupted me with a shaky voice, "You lifted a gun to your head and took your own life, and yet thanks to him you're back like nothing ever happened! If Orochimaru's done the impossible for you then maybe…maybe he can do it for others."

I didn't miss the bit of hope that slipped into his voice near the end of his statement, and it was then that I recalled the story Sasuke had told me about Obito many years ago.

As an Uchiha, one could say that Obito had always been destined to join the police force but he wasn't exactly sure about sticking with the family. It was only after the death of his close friend in high school that he committed himself to the force.

"Rin." I said the name as it came to mind, "Your friend that died back then."

"She wasn't just my friend." Obito corrected me as he released my hands, "She was—I loved her; more than anything, more than anyone, more than myself. I never thought that…I'll be able to see her again, Sakura. Tell me, is it wrong for me to want that?"

Unable to withstand his pleading tone and the pitiable look in his eyes, I turned away and Obito sighed.

"…Orochimaru was telling the truth, you know." He informed me after clearing his throat, "I told your friend Ino that you hurt yourself and needed treatment. You must've spoken with her about something similar because she seemed to understand and didn't ask too many questions. I…I told Sarada as well and she took it as best as she could."

At the mention of my daughter, I felt a lump grow in my throat, and I turned around to face him, "How…How is she?"

"Sarada's a strong girl. She was staying with Izumi when she heard the news, but Ino came to pick her up and she's been with her ever since. As far as I can tell, she hasn't let the news break her down. And she won't have to." Obito touched my shoulder, "Orochimaru brought you back, Sakura. All the people you almost left behind, all the things you would've missed out on…you have a second chance thanks to him."

He was right and we both knew it, but I wouldn't give him the relief he wanted by outwardly agreeing so I shook his hand off my shoulder and reached for the doorknob.

"You're here to take me back, right?" I questioned as I pulled open the door, "What are we waiting for?"

|Two Hours Later|

After a stop at the mall got me a reasonable change of clothes, the rest of the considerably long drive was spent with Obito cautioning me not to reveal anything I'd learned today. He tried to phrase it in a way that made it seem like he was concerned for my safety, but I knew that he was really just trying to cover his own ass. Nevertheless, I agreed, as I had been warned by Kabuto prior to his arrival that if I were ever brought before Orochimaru again, he wouldn't be so pleasant.

With a shake of my head, I focused on the sight in front of me and analyzed the familiar yellow house. A plaque on the door announced that it was the Yamanaka abode, and I took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell.

"I'll get it!" My heart fluttered at Sarada's voice and her rapidly approaching footsteps as she thudded down the stairs. Soon enough the door was pulled open, "Hello? How can I—"

She cut herself off at the sight of me and the two of us just looked at each other. The last time we'd spoken to each other, we'd been on amicable terms but as of now, I didn't know what she felt toward me. Was she angry about what I had done? Did she think of it as me leaving her again?

A few more moments of silent staring went on before she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me. This simple gesture answered all my questions, and I lifted my own hands to her back and returned the tight embrace.

"Mama…!" Sarada heaved into my chest as I patted her head, "I-I didn't know if…I thought you were—!"

"Gomennasai." I apologized as I kissed the top of her head, "Gomennasai but I'm here now, okay? Mama's here."

She nodded and I swiped a hand under my nose as I realized I too was crying.

"Sarada? Who was at the do—"

I looked up from Sarada and found a stunned Ino in the doorway. Sarada pulled back to look and once she saw the shocked look on Ino's face, she stepped aside and nodded. I silently thanked Sarada with a smile just before Ino pulled me into a suffocating hug.

"You idiot…!" Ino murmured tearfully as she held me close, "I told you to rely on me!"

"I know, and I'm sorry." I apologized as I shut my eyes and leaned against her shoulder, "Hontōni, gomennasai…"

She shook her head before pulling back from me, "It's fine. All that matters is that you're here. Now come inside; are you hungry?"

I stepped inside and turned around to watch as she ushered Obito and Sarada in before shutting the door. Sarada motioned for Obito to bend down so she could whisper in his ear and when his eyes slightly widened, I worried about what she had told him.

Unfortunately, Ino wouldn't let me pay attention to them for too long. She took my hand and led me to the kitchen before insisting she make me something to eat, and although I told her I was fine, my grumbling stomach said otherwise. After sharing a laugh, Ino put some eggs on the stove and popped two pieces of bread in the toaster, and I slid into a seat on the island.

"So, how's life been?" I questioned as she added some spices to the omelet she was now making.

Our former tears had been dried and wiped away, and the two of us had fallen into our old routine, and I couldn't help but wonder what Ino would've done had I not been brought back.

'I would've destroyed her.' I reasoned with a slight frown, 'Her best friend committing suicide rather than opening up? She'd never be the same.'

"Oh, you know," Ino waved her hand, "It's life. Just taking it one day at a time."

Something about her words gave me the feeling that there was more to be discussed than she was letting on, but since I didn't have much to go off, I decided to keep the conversation going, "And how's Naruto? Did you tell him about me, or did you keep him in the dark?"

Ino froze and I wondered which part of what I had said could've caused that reaction from her. Before I could probe her for details, someone came rushing down the stairs and bounding towards the kitchen.

"Beautiful, I'm running out. Naruto's—" Sai stopped himself when he saw me, "Sakura?"

I raised a hand from the table, "Hi."

"Hello, nice to see you." Sai nodded to me before shooting Ino a quick look and she waved her hand, a sign I understood to mean she would explain later, "Ino, I've got to run. I just got a call from Hinata; Naruto's body is missing."

"His body?" I repeated with a tilt of my head, the words not making sense despite having registered, "What do you mean?"

Sai gave Ino another quick glance before turning to me, "Sakura…Naruto's dead."

Obito and Sarada came into the kitchen just as he finished speaking and I looked at everyone in the room, "This is some kind of prank, right?"

"Sakura." Ino stepped away from the stove and grabbed my hand, "Gomennasai. I was going to tell you; I swear, but since you just got back, I figured I'd—"

I raised my free hand, and she stopped right in her tracks. Taking another glance at everyone, I could tell by their solemn expressions that this was no joke.

With a shake of my head, I lifted my hand to my forehead in disbelief, "Naruto's…dead?"


|3rd Person|

Shikamaru absent-mindedly toyed with his lighter as his eyes flicked back and forth from the numerous scenes being displayed on the screen before him. Thanks to the various cameras that had been set up throughout Senju Park, he had an angle on just every entry, exit, and important area he could think of.

One of the cameras were pointed at the impromptu press booth that had been set up for the day and standing just a few meters in front of the charade was an assortment of plain-clothed agents. To the untrained eye, they seemed like ordinary people who were sticking around out of curiosity, but each one of them was a trained ANBU member, ready to jump into action at a moment's notice.

As Shikamaru adjusted his watch, he noted the time read just after one o'clock. With a quiet sigh, he returned his attention to a different scene.

From the inside of his white security van, everything seemed normal and that's what worried him. If it weren't for the fact that he knew he had put his plan into action, he wouldn't have been sure that today was a special day. The relative silence he was in caused Shikamaru's mind to wander, and he recalled a talk he'd had with his late mentor Asuma under similar circumstances.

Asuma had come over one day to speak to his father regarding some reports of arson in their area, and although Shikaku had been praised as one of the city's best detectives, he wasn't so keen on where he placed active case files in his house. While Shikaku stalked off to the attic in search of familiar records, Asuma had invited a young Shikamaru to sit down and play a few games of shogi. It sounded like a drag, but Shikamaru's mother had raised him well, so he knew better than to deny a guest a request.

"Shogi allows you to work through various situations by utilizing each of the pieces' attributes." Asuma told Shikamaru as he emptied the pieces onto the board, "This game is a must for people like you who think too much."

He looked down to find Asuma holding out a rule book, and when he saw the persistent smirk on his mentor's face, he let out a heavy sigh before taking it from his hand, "It's a drag, but I'll have it down in ten minutes."

Asuma chuckled, "I have no doubt you will."

After skimming through the long parts and double-checking the important paragraphs, Shikamaru was ready to play, and after a few tense back-and-forths, their first match concluded when Shikamaru slid his *silver general up to Asuma's king.

"I…lost." Asuma admitted before hanging his head.

"You didn't have to hold back, y'know?" Shikamaru scratched his head, unsure of the legitimacy of his win.

Asuma shook his head, "No, no, it's your win. I never thought you would use the Climbing Silver for your first game."

"The book said something about soldiers in the front breaking through enemy lines." Shikamaru shrugged, "It seemed like the smartest play to me."

"Aa, so it is." Asuma rubbed his beard, "But that strategy calls for sacrifices. It seems reasonable enough, but I don't like using it very much. It's natural that you'll lose pieces in this game, but to purposefully throw them away for the goal at the end is…Shikamaru, you're too rational for me."

Shikamaru leaned back and looked out to the sky, "Trust me, I'm not as logically minded as you think."

"Why am I thinking of that now?" Shikamaru murmured moments before his earpiece buzzed to life, and with a shake of his head, he tapped it and spoke, "Agent White Tail here."

"White Tail, we're seeing a large group of people heading in the direction of the broadcast. They came in from the park's Southeast entrance."

Looking through the various screens on his display, he found a camera that had eyes on a location in that area and he watched as a group of ten to fifteen men dressed in all black walked by.

"White Tail, your orders?" The undercover agent questioned him about their next move as he watched them proceed toward the prop booth.

"Leave them for now." Shikamaru replied, "We can't be sure of what they're coming to do."

"Understood." The earpiece went silent as the agent severed the connection, and Shikamaru crossed his arms before attentively watching the screen.

A big group of what he assumed to be men wearing all black and heading straight for the makeshift press conference. Any idiot with eyes could tell that they weren't coming to hand out cookies, but at the same time, they hadn't actually done anything yet. In order for Shikamaru to make a play, they would have to make the first move.

Now he understood why that memory of Asuma had come to him.

"Sacrifices, sacrifices…fucking hell." Shikamaru murmured as he anxiously brushed his beard, and he held a finger to his earpiece before speaking, "Agents, there is a large group heading your way. It's unclear whether they have malicious intent so be on guard. Should any of you perceive an imminent threat, you are authorized to use deadly force."

"Copy."

"Understood."

"Message received."

Shikamaru dropped his hand and severed his connection to the open channel before looking back up at the big screen. The group that had concerned him where now mere meters away from the broadcasting booth, and now that they were on screen, Shikamaru could see that they were clearly foes. Each one of them was carrying a powerful assault rifle, and they had them on hand and at the ready. Where they'd gotten them from, Shikamaru had no idea, but he would wonder about that at a later time.

"Agents! The enemy is Southeast and close! Get out of there!" Shikamaru yelled as he pressed his earpiece on.

On the screen he was looking at, he could see one of the agents lift a finger to his ear to respond, but he was stopped from doing so as a multitude of shots rang out. Immediately, the other agents turned around and returned fire with their standard-issued pistols, and the makeshift press conference quickly turned into a shootout.

Unable to do anything from the security van he was posted in, Shikamaru watched helplessly as agents began to drop like flies. For every shot that managed to tag one of their assailants, four agents were subsequently killed. No matter how trained they were, the difference in firepower was too great, and with the lack of coverage in the grass, it soon became clear that the agents were severely outmatched.

One of the attackers spotted the camera Shikamaru had been using to assess the scene and swiftly shot it out, destroying Shikamaru's only view of the situation. Even without the cameras however, the shots still rang out clear as day.

Cars whizzed by him at speeds that doubtlessly surpassed the speed limit, but he couldn't blame them. Anyone with an ounce of common sense would rush to get as far away from an area if they heard active gunfire.

Standing up from his chair, Shikamaru pulled himself out of his haze and noted the current time: 1:15 p.m. Knowing that could only mean one thing, he brought out his phone and dialed Sai, tapping the back of it impatiently as it rang.

Sai picked up on the third ring, "Shikamaru, anything to report?"

"Obito is the spy." Shikamaru immediately informed him, setting his phone down as he put Sai on speaker, "A large group with guns came to the park and started shooting. They were still firing up until a few seconds ago, but things seem to have died down."

"Are you okay? I'll be there in thirty, but I'll send backup to your location; they should be there in ten."

"Sounds good." Shikamaru said as he pulled a bulletproof vest over his head, "I'm in a white van parked at the intersection of Chinoike and Tsuchigumo. I don't think—"

There was a bang on the side of the van that made Shikamaru cut himself off, and evidently, Sai must have heard it as well because he didn't say a word. When another bang hit the rear doors of the truck, Shikamaru unholstered his pistol from his side and aimed it at them.

"Sai, I promised Temari that I wouldn't leave her and Shikadai alone…" Shikamaru informed him in a low voice as the edge of a crowbar slipped through the crack and bent, attempting to pry the doors open.

"Shikamaru, just hold on." Sai tried to keep him calm, "Backup is five minutes away."

"…Tell her I'm sorry." Shikamaru finished just as the doors flew open.

Shikamaru fired first but multiple shots rang out and soon after and Sai heard Shikamaru grunt as he fell to the floor, no doubt having been hit a few times.

"Shikamaru?" Sai called as he switched on his siren, alerting cars in front of his own to get out of the way, "Shikamaru!"

The other end was silent except for the shuffling of footsteps as someone approached the phone.

"The guy was talking to someone." A light, but snarky voice reported.

An older, more husky voice replied, "Is he dead?"

A few seconds passed before the snarkier voice answered, "His pulse is weak but it's there."

"Good, try not to let him die." The older voice sounded much closer to the phone, and there was the sound of it being lifted off whatever surface it was on before the man spoke again, "Hello?"

"Who are you?" Sai questioned him immediately, pressing down on the gas pedal and urging his car to go way beyond the speed limit.

The older man clicked his tongue in amusement, "I'll be the one asking questions. To start, how important is this Shikamaru guy to you?"

Sai couldn't help but narrow his eyes, "What are you trying to pull?"

The older man sighed, "I just told you that I'll be the one asking questions. If you really don't care for him, then I can just have my partner—"

"Wait, wait, wait." Sai cut him, biting his tongue in annoyance before continuing, "I care about him a lot."

"Good." Sai could hear the smirk on the guy's face, "I'll tell you what: if you wire two million ryo to my bank account, we'll spare him."

"Hah?!" The lighter voice exclaimed in the background, "Oi, old man, don't go deciding on your own. We're supposed to—"

"He's one guy." The older man barked back, "We can make an exception if his friend here is willing to pay."

Holding a hand to his chin, Sai quickly considered the pros and cons of this offer. If he forked over the cash, the men could just as kill Shikamaru after they confirmed the funds had been transferred, at the same time, if he refused to send them the money, they were sure to kill him. Sai was caught between a rock and a hard place, but it was then that he recalled Shikamaru's last words to him.

"Tell her I'm sorry."

Shaking his head, Sai made up his mind; there was only one option.

"What's the account number?" Sai questioned, double-checking his mirrors before he pulled over to complete the transaction.

Hinoto would chew him out for taking agency funds without the go-ahead, but he figured he'd be able to smooth things over when he eventually explained the urgency of the situation.

"Smart man. It's XX74534." The man gave him the account details.

Sai set up the transaction and waited for it to go through. Once his screen showed him a green check with the words, processed, he informed the man of the successful transfer.

"Perfect." The man chuckled, "I just got the notification. We'll just leave him outside the van we found him in. My guy's done his best but between you and me? He won't last long without some help."

"Arigato." Sai spat through grit teeth, willing himself to stay calm, "I've got it."

"Okay." Sai could hear the smugness in his voice, "Well, pleasure doing business with you."

The line disconnected but before Sai could move to make another call, Fu's name popped up on the dashboard as his call came through, and Sai wasted no time in answering it.

"Chief, we're on the scene and it…it was a massacre." Fu reported, sounding visibly disturbed by what he was seeing, "We're checking for survivors but so far—"

"Send a group to the intersection of Chinoike and Tsuchigumo." Sai interrupted, "They should be looking for a white van; White Tail should be there, he needs urgent medical assistance. I'll be there soon, so you can give me your report in person."

"Understood. Agent Mist, out."

Sai pulled back out onto the road once the call ended and let out a deep breath. Objectively speaking, it was thanks to today's tragedy that they'd gotten the information they were looking for: Obito was the rat. Now all that was left was for Obito to be brought into custody and make the lives lost today meaningful, but when Sai remembered that he'd last seen Obito at his house, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up.

"Please Buddha…" Sai prayed as he dialed Ino's number, "Please let them be okay."

Before today, Sai never would've believed Obito could hurt a fly. Now, he wasn't sure what to think of the man he'd known all these years.

"Sai-kun?" Ino's voice connected at the last second and Sai almost let out a heavy breath of relief, "Hey, is everything okay?"

"I'm fine. Is O—?" Sai paused as he considered where she was, "Am I on speaker?"

"No, should I put you on? I'm in the living room by myself though. Sakura went to use the bathroom."

"Okay, that's good, keep me to your ear." Sai told her before clearing his throat, "Is Obito still in the house?"

"He left half an hour ago actually. Said there was somewhere he needed to be." Ino informed him, "Are you sure you're okay? You sound kind of wound up."

"I am." Sai admitted to his wife, "Beautiful, Obito is a spy. He's been working with the criminal organizations that have been wreaking havoc on Konoha. There was a…a shooting at Senju Park because of some info that we gave him as bait."

"Oh Kami." Ino went silent for a moment, "Sai-kun, you don't think—I mean, Sakura came over with Obito-san this morning, but she couldn't possibly be—?"

"Involved? I don't know." Sai's jaw locked in place as he mulled over the possibility of Sakura being in cahoots with him, "I think you should be careful around her, Ino. I know she's your best friend but—"

"I'm gonna talk to her." Ino interrupted with a determined voice, "Sakura's never been able to lie to me. If I ask her for the truth, she'll spill it."

"Ino, if she's working with him and you back her into a corner, she might—"

"What, hurt me? Sakura would never do that. She loves me."

Although it wasn't meant to be a dig at Sai, he couldn't help but see it as such and he bit his lip, "You're right. Only an animal would hurt someone they love."

"Sai-kun, I'm not…you know what's not what I meant."

Sai scratched his head and sighed, "Just be careful, Beautiful. I have to go, but I love you, bye." He smacked a hand to his forehead after hanging up, "Idiot. Did you think she'd just let it go?"

With a shake of his head, he forced his self-deprecating thoughts out of his mind and focused on the task at hand. He dialed Hinoto's number and swiftly straightened up when she answered on the first ring.

"Chief! Have you decided to leave your wife for me?"

"Now isn't the time for jokes, Hinoto." He chided her as he turned onto East Senju Avenue, "I want an APB put out for Uchiha Obito. When he's found, I want him taken alive, understand?"

"Yes, sir." Hinoto affirmed, "I'm guessing you want his police clearance revoked."

"You know it."

After letting out a heavy sigh, there was the sound of ruffling bedsheets as Hinoto moved around and after a few seconds, she spoke again, "Alright Chief, I'm on it."

She ended the call just as Sai finished parking his car, and after pulling out his earpiece from his pocket, he wore it and checked his gun before stepping out. As he walked up, he could see that the medical tents had been set up, and a perimeter had been established, with heavily armed agents posted around the yellow police tape, but it wasn't until he came close that he saw the true extent of the day's tragedy.

The scene before Sai was a massacre, just as Fu had described; corpses were spread about across the grass which was stained with copious amounts of blood from the deceased. It was then that Sai noticed the medical responders helping to arrange the bodies. He watched them lay them down in rows for a few minutes. The fact that they were all outside instead of in their tents meant only one thing: no one had survived.

A masked member of one of the elite task forces approached him, but Sai recognized him all the same.

"Agent Beetle," Sai addressed Torune as he came close, "Anything to report?"

"Agent Mist and I found Agent White Tail just where you said. He was barely hanging on but we managed to get him into an ambulance and send him to Konoha Hospital; he should be arriving right now." Torune nodded before turning back to the sea of bodies before them, still being collected, "He was the only survivor. Whoever these guys were, they made sure to confirm their kills. Everyone here was finished off with an execution-style shot to the head. There are some unknown faces though, most likely their own guys that went down; they must've considered them to be dead weight."

Sai grimaced, "Can we ID any of them?"

"The first thing I did was have med team take their fingerprints. I've sent them to the surveillance unit and they told me they're going to submit them to the criminal database. It won't be long before they get a match."

Sai nodded before clasping an appreciative hand onto Torune's shoulder, "Well done, Beetle. You may return to your group. Keep up the good work."

With a quick salute, Torune turned around just in time to catch Fu walking by, and the two met up before continuing on to their next task.

Sai crossed his arms as he observed the extensive cleanup process, and as his anger flared up, he dug his fingers into his biceps.

"Uchiha Obito…" Sai grit his teeth, "Where are you?"

*Shogi and Chess are immensely similar, think of this piece as its denomination, like a bishop or rook


|Sarada|

"Sakura, we need to talk." The severeness of Aunt Ino's voice made me stop right in my tracks.

When I realized her footsteps were heading my way, I immediately pressed myself against the back kitchen wall and stood as still as possible. Thankfully, Aunt Ino didn't notice me, so I waited for her to walk by and held my breath as she and Mama entered the living room. When I was sure they were on the couch and not close by, I tiptoed to the living room doorway and carefully listened in.

"What did you want to talk about?" Mama questioned, her tone calm but also slightly confused.

Whatever Aunt Ino wanted to discuss with Mama was serious, and yet Mama didn't seem to have a clue what Aunt Ino could be thinking about. I tried to consider if Mama had said anything or if there was some major detail Aunt Ino had failed to tell her but seeing as how Mama had been filled in on Nanadaime's death, I couldn't really think of anything.

There was a notable pause before Aunt Ino spoke again, and while her earlier harshness was no longer present, her voice was just as serious, "Where exactly did Obito take you to get treatment?"

"W-What?" Mama stuttered, "Why does it matter?"

"Sakura."

"Ino." Mama's voice slipped into an equally no-nonsense tone as she fired back, "For Kami's sake, what are you getting at? Just come out and say it!"

I peered around the corner and saw that Aunt Ino had crossed her arms and wore a tight frown on her face. After letting out a heavy sigh, she stood up and turned away from Mama.

"Sai told me that Obito is a spy for the criminals who've turned this city into hell and a bunch of people were just killed because of him, so if you know anything about him, I need to know right now before you end up in jail."

"Wha—Jail?" Mama shook her head, and forced a nervous laugh, something she only did when she was trying to avoid talking about something, "Ino, slow down, okay? Obito-san, a spy? What're you—?"

"Kami in heaven." Aunt Ino turned to Mama, her face draining of color, "You already knew."

Mama stood up with her, "That's not—Ino, wait."

"For how long? Have you known all this time?" Aunt Ino questioned as she took a step back, "Is that why you…did you even hurt yourself?"

"What? No, I did, Ino." Mama reached out to her to keep her from retreating, "I did but it's not what you think. I—"

Aunt Ino pulled away from Mama's outstretched hands, "Don't touch me. I don't even know who you are anymore."

"I DIED!" Mama exclaimed, grabbing Aunt Ino's shoulders and preventing her from leaving any further, "Whatever Obito-san told you was a lie! The truth is that I've been dead for however long I've been gone. Well, not exactly but—"

Aunt Ino furrowed her eyebrows, "Do you hear yourself right now?"

"Listen to me," Mama continued, tightening her grip on Aunt Ino, "The night of Hanabi's wedding, I—I got in a fight with her and I needed to clear some stuff up so I went to Tsunade-sama for answers. She told me everything I wanted to know and…well, it wasn't good. At that moment, I was done with everything, so I went home and grabbed Sasuke-kun's gun from the bathroom, then shot myself in the head. I shouldn't—wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for Obito-san."

Aunt Ino shook her head in disbelief, "Sakura, you can't be serious. If that's the case, then how are you here? You expect me to believe that you came back to life?"

"Yes, because it's the truth!" Mama let go of Aunt Ino and let out a frustrated groan, "Look, I talked to Ka-san and Tou-san and they moved on, but I couldn't because there was this door that I had to go through, and when I woke up a man named Orochimaru was telling me welcome back but it turned out I was more of a zombie than revived so he had to complete the method and—"

Aunt Ino held a hand up, "Okay, I've heard enough."

Mama nodded her head before releasing Aunt Ino from her clutches, "Please believe me, Ino. I didn't know Obito-san was a spy until today when he came to get me, but if it weren't for him I'd be dead."

"For Kami's sake, Sakura," Aunt Ino let out an exasperated sigh as she placed her hands on her hips, "Do I have to interrogate you for important stuff like this? Why didn't you just tell me?"

"Gomennasai, but they basically threatened to kill me if I told anyone."

Aunt Ino pulled her into a hug, "Okay, well at least you're not working with him. I'll call Sai-kun and clear up the mis—"

"NO!" Mama yelled, immediately spacing herself from Ino and shaking her head, "No one can know!"

"Sakura—"

"Ino, I mean it." Mama's face tightened, "Orochimaru's people, they—they don't mess around. If they find out that I said something, they will kill all of us. I can't…I don't want anything to happen to you guys."

Aunt Ino tilted her head to the side, "Sakura, don't you think it's a little late for that? Sai-kun knows that Obito is a spy and I'm sure by now the whole police force has found out."

"They won't blame me for that." Mama replied, although she didn't sound so sure, "I didn't tell anyone anything. I told them I wouldn't say anything, but if…wait, how does Sai know that Obito-san's a spy?"

Aunt Ino bit her lip, "Remember when I told you that I know a lot about Sai-kun that I didn't know before? Well, one of the things that I learned was that he's not a famous painter like he said he was. He's the chief of the ANBU."

I clapped my hands over my mouth at the revelation. In all honestly, I'd always suspected Uncle Sai wasn't an artist. Sure, I'd known him as a painter all my life and he was always taking trips somewhere to show off his work, but something deep down told me that wasn't his sole occupation; I never would've guessed that he was part of the ANBU.

'And Inojin knows.' I realized as I recalled something from our previous talk, 'That's why he took shabu that time. Because Sai-oji lied about being part of the raid on Kū!'

Mama touched a hand to her head, "Sai is the…okay. Okay, maybe we can tell him."

"Maybe? Sakura, we have to!" Aunt Ino placed an endearing hand on her shoulder, "Who knows what else Obito told them? Those criminals could be planning their next attack right now!"

"R-Right," Mama swiftly nodded her head, "You're right. Um, what should I tell him first?"

"This Orochimaru guy, you know what he looks like, right? Try to think of ways to describe him for a police sketch. Think of everything you saw and heard while you were there. He's gonna need all of it."

While Mama and Aunt Ino worked out what information would be most beneficial to Uncle Sai, I carefully slinked away and up the stairs before coming to Inojin's bedroom door. After two light knocks, I turned the doorknob and entered his room.

"No, you're the better artist." Chino laughed from his phone, and I realized they were on FaceTime.

"No, you are." Inojin laughed back, "You're a natural prodigy, I can tell by that uh—"

"Bird?"

"Yeah, in the corner." Inojin snapped his fingers, "I think the low positioning of its eyes is unique."

"That's its beak." Chino giggled, "But thanks for the kind words, I know I'll never be as good as you."

"Pfft, don't say that. With some practice, you'll be a master in no time." Inojin tried to encourage her, "Trust me."

"Mhm, sure Mr. My-Dad-Is-An-Artist. Maybe one day I'll get to your level where people don't mistake my bird's beak for eyes."

Inojin snorted, "Exactly, you—"

I cut him off with a tap on his shoulder and he looked up at me, "I need to talk to you."

"Uh, can it wait?" His eyes flicked back to his screen, and I could see that Chino was watching us intently.

"No." I crossed my arms and he sighed.

"Chino-san, I'll call you back in a few, okay?"

"Okay, I'll be waiting." She told him with a smile, but her eyes told me that it was anything but friendly, "Don't take too long."

Inojin ended the call and glared up at me, "What?"

"Don't 'what' me." I smacked his arm before taking a seat on his bed beside him, "I have some news."

"Well then, get on with it." Inojin said as he waved his hand, and I pinched his cheek.

"Mama's…Mama's in trouble. We all are and I…I think it's my fault." I admitted as I went over the conversation I'd overheard, "Mitsuki's dad and Obito-ojisan are involved with some bad people and Mama knows things about them that could get them in trouble. They might—will kill us if anyone finds out, but she's planning to tell your dad anyway."

"I'm confused." Inojin admitted, "How is this your fault?"

I swiped my hands down my face, "I never should've gone out with Mitsuki. Because of me, they have info on Mama, on you, on Ino-oba, on everyone I care about. Mama tried to warn me, Sumire tried to warn me, and you told me to break up with him, and I did eventually but too little too late, I guess. Now we're all screwed."

"Sarada, I only told you to break up with him because, well, I'll be honest with you." Inojin sat up and took my hand in his, "I was jealous that you had chosen someone other than me."

"Inojin…"

He shook his head before continuing, "For the longest time, Boruto was my only rival, so when you two made it clear that you were just friends, I figured it was only a matter of time before you came to me. When I found out you were dating some no-name guy, I just…anyway, I'm not asking you to go out with me or anything like that, but I want you to know that I do care for you. Maybe not in the way you care for me but…I'm here, y'know? I don't want us to be strangers, Sarada."

I opened my mouth to tell him that we would never be strangers and that I would always think of him as family, but a noise outside caught my attention.

Standing up, I went over to his window and watched as a black Toyota Camry parked right in front of the driveway. The engine shut off and I held my breath as the driver's door opened, a semi-formal-dressed Sasori with a bouquet of pink carnations in hand stepped out. My eyebrows unwittingly scrunched together at the display, and I followed him with my eyes as he walked up to the front door.

When he rang the doorbell, Inojin stood up from his bed, "Who's at the door?"

With a shake of my head, I yanked his room door open and listened from the top of the stairwell as Aunt Ino greeted Sasori. The two exchanged pleasantries before Aunt Ino called Mama to come to the door, and a sense of dread filled me as Mama spoke to him.

"Sarada, who's that?" Inojin whispered.

"Trouble." I whispered back before descending the stairs.

I tried to play it off as if I was coming to answer the door and even gave Aunt Ino an innocent hug before sparing Sasori a quick glance. If he had noticed my presence, he didn't care to acknowledge it, as his eyes were completely focused on Mama. To my surprise, when I turned to look at her, I could see a hint of unease in Mama's expression. That caught me off-guard: as far as I could tell, Mama and Sasori had been relatively good friends.

'Does she know about his connections?' I wondered, 'Did Orochimaru tell her?'

"So, whaddya say, Sakura-san?" Sasori questioned, bringing my focus back to their chat, "Are ya up fer an impromptu outin'?"

Mama's wariness had yet to recede, and it was evident in her voice, "I really shouldn't—"

"Please." Sasori begged, "I'm—I'm headin' outta town soon 'n I…there's some stuff I needa tell ya."

Mama kept her eyes on his and they had a silent exchange of words before Mama gave in, "Okay. I'll go with you."

'No!' I inadvertently tightened my grip around Aunt Ino, and when she gave me an inquisitive look, I flashed her a quick smile before returning my attention to Mama and Sasori.

"Arigato." Sasori smiled before bowing his head, "Hontōni, arigato."

Mama grabbed a shawl from the nearby closet before stepping outside and it took everything in me not to vomit as a sickly sensation disturbed my gut.

"Mama." I called out to her before she completely descended the steps.

She turned to me, "Yes?"

I ignored the stare Sasori gave me and instead silently pled with her as I looked into her eyes, 'Don't go. I have a bad feeling about this. Please don't go.'

Although I didn't physically say anything, Mama must've understood what I was trying to say because she came back to the doorway, took two fingers, and poked me in the forehead.

"When I come back, you'll fill me in on what you've been up to, ne?"

Recognizing the familial forehead poke-turned promise, I rapidly nodded my head before answering her, "Aa, I will. So come back soon, okay?"

"Okay." Mama's voice slightly wavered towards the end, but she managed to shoot me a small smile before turning back to Sasori, "Let's go."

I, Inojin, and Aunt Ino watched the two of them get into Sasori's car, and none of us went back inside until the vehicle was out of sight.

"Don't worry, Sarada-chan," Aunt Ino said as she patted my head, "Your mom will be back before you know it."

Based on her reaction, I could tell that Mama hadn't told Aunt Ino of Sasori's involvement with Orochimaru. I didn't know what was going on in Mama's head, but I trusted her enough to make smart decisions, which meant that worrying about her would only be counterproductive.

"Yeah." I put on a brave face for my aunt as my phone vibrated with a notification, and when I brought it out to check what it was, I immediately frowned.

Hey Sarada, are you still on for the meeting? It starts at 4 o'clock in case you forgot.

I sighed before typing a quick response, Hey Kawaki, yeah I'm still coming. Could you send me the address again so I don't end up at the wrong place? Thanks.

I returned my phone to my back pocket before pinching the bridge of my nose.

"What is it?" Inojin inquired after seeing my visible display of stress.

"There's always something I have to do." I answered before heading up the stairs, "I'll be fine; you should call Chino back, I'm sure she's waiting."

"Right, right." Inojin snapped his fingers before calling after me, "Arigato, Sarada."

With a shrug, I entered the guest room and sifted through my closet for something to wear. After absentmindedly settling on something slightly formal but not too business-like, my mind returned to Mama and everything I'd learned so far.

She'd purposefully shot herself in the head, Mitsuki's dad Orochimaru had brought her back to life, and Uncle Obito had gotten a bunch of people killed because he was working with him.

'Should I even go to this meeting?' I wondered to myself as I got dressed, 'Mitsuki's the one who introduced us; who knows if Kawaki is on this whole thing?'

I sighed as I adjusted the sash around my waist, "No, that can't be. Kawaki's been upfront with me since we met, if there was something I needed to know, he'd tell me."

After adjusting my hair and rubbing a smidge of lipstick on my mouth before mushing my lips together, I gave myself a quick once-over in the mirror before I felt like I was ready to go.

"I have to go." I murmured to myself as I grabbed my purse, "Otherwise, what was the point of getting him a birthday present?"


|3rd Person|

When two o'clock had come and gone without an emergency broadcast, Kakashi felt something was up. Just to confirm he'd been given the right time, he called Shisui but to his surprise, Shisui informed him that he'd been told the broadcast would start by noon.

Kakashi thanked Shisui for the information before moving on to Itachi, and he found out that Itachi had the broadcast scheduled for three o'clock. Guy had been told four o'clock and Sakasaki five o'clock.

Immediately, Kakashi understood the reason for their varying times, and he couldn't fault Sai or Shikamaru for the sound strategy. He too had long suspected one of their own was an informant, although he'd had trouble coming to terms with it whenever he sat across his colleagues. Still, if he believed the whispers of gunfire at Senju Park in the early afternoon, then there was no denying the inevitable truth in front of him.

Kakashi's phone dinged just as he settled down across from Obito in his kitchen, and he opened it to check the notification.

"Something important?" Obito questioned, nodding to Kakashi's phone as he read the message.

Guy was asking Kakashi why he'd asked what time the broadcast was.

Kakashi quickly responded to Guy's text with, Just wanted to make sure. Obito's with me, we're probably gonna watch it together before putting his phone on silent and setting it down, "The city never sleeps."

"You're telling me." Obito chuckled as he lifted his beer to his mouth, "What crime's been committed this time?"

Kakashi took a swig of his drink as he contemplated his answer. Part of him wanted to just come right out and say it, question Obito about his actions and why he'd done what he did, but Kakashi hesitated.

Obito was more than his best friend, hell, he was practically Kakashi's brother. The two had known each other for as long as he could remember, and they'd experienced their best and worst moments in each other's company. When Rin died, Kakashi felt as though their bond had intensified even more, as they were the only ones who could truly understand how deeply her loss had affected them. To think that this same brother of his could betray the city they had sworn to protect made him sick. If he couldn't trust Obito, who could he trust?

"There was a shooting in Senju Park," Kakashi began, deciding to probe Obito for any reactions to the news, "That's all the info I've received. No body count, no motive, nothing of substance – at least, not yet."

Obito shook his head as he picked up a piece of chicken, "The city's getting worse and worse every day."

"Aa." Kakashi clapped his hands clean as he sat up, "And it won't be easy to fix it when we've got enemies inside and out."

It didn't escape Kakashi how Obito slightly froze at the implication, but his best friend was able to push forward, "How so?"

"Well, there was the death of the Commissioner General," Kakashi lifted a finger, "It might've happened outside of our jurisdiction in Otafuku, but you have to agree that the timing is a little too close."

"Mm." Obito nodded, and Kakashi noted how his shoulder relaxed, "But the reports say he died from an overdose of that new street drug, shabu. He was found next to a prostitute he'd rented for the night, no?"

"He was but it would be all too easy to fake something like that." Kakashi argued, "Maybe he knew something he shouldn't have. Or maybe the forces he was working with got rid of him because he was no longer useful."

Obito snorted, "He was the commissioner of the nation's police, who could be more useful than him?"

"Someone less famous." Kakashi suggested, "Someone based in Konoha where their eyes are focused on, and someone important that would have just enough clearance to gain access to things that the public wouldn't be able to, without being too much of a public figure. Someone…someone like you."

Obito set his beer down and swallowed hard, "Kakashi—"

"Why did you do it, Obito?" Kakashi questioned, the guilty look on Obito's face confirming his suspicions, "They've taken hundreds of lives, plunged the streets into chaos…how long have you been working with them?"

"I…I'm not working with all of them. Just one." Obito admitted with a hung head, "He's their…doctor."

Kakashi hadn't wanted to believe it. Despite all the signs pointing to his best friend being the spy, he wanted so desperately for Obito to tell him that he was mistaken, that everyone was mistaken, and he would've defended him to the death. Instead, here he was openly admitting to his involvement, and that left Kakashi with no choice but to push for answers.

"Why, Obito?"

Obito sucked in a sharp breath, "That day…when Rin died, I—I didn't want to go on. She was everything to me, Kakashi. I had no one, and I wasn't talented or smart, but she stayed by me all the same. Losing her was…I didn't care about anything else."

"Obito…"

"Afterward, when you said you wanted to join the police and make sure that a situation like Rin's never happened again, I put on a smile and promised to help you. I thought that as long as the two of us stuck together, I'd move past Rin over time, but I didn't." Obito continued with a scornful laugh, "And working with the police only made things worse. Instead of finding relief, I was horrified to learn that tragedies worse than Rin's were happening every day. They'd been happening for so long and more than half of them never got solved! I was at my wit's end, Kakashi, but then I met him."

"…Who?" Kakashi asked after clearing his throat, his heartbreaking more and more with each word out of Obito's mouth.

"Orochimaru." Obito said his name grimly, "I won't go into details about our first meeting, but I will say that he knew more about me than I knew about him. I had slapped some cuffs on his wrists and was ready to lead him down to the station, but then he told me I could see Rin again."

Kakashi's eyebrows came together, "How?"

"He said that he was working for someone with a lot of money, someone who was investing in him on the basis that he figure out how to bring people back to life." Obito shook his head, "I know it sounds crazy and it sounded crazy then, but the look in his eyes…I knew he wasn't lying."

"Is that why so many people have died?" Kakashi's lips tightened, "Because a deranged doctor promised to bring the dead back to life?!"

"It's not a promise, Kakashi." Obito stood up, "He's done it. Sasuke's wife Sakura committed suicide five days ago, but he brought her back. She's alive and kicking at her friend's house right now."

Kakashi was taken aback by the news but shook his head as he stood up with him, determined not to be swayed, "Do you truly believe that one life is worth the loss of so many others?"

"Sacrifices must be made for the greater good." Obito weakly replied and Kakashi grabbed his shoulders.

"This isn't for the greater good! You're doing this for yourself so you can see Rin!" Kakashi seethed, "Do you think she'll be happy, huh? Coming back to see that this the man you've become?"

Obito shook Kakashi's hands off him before taking his plate to the sink, and Kakashi followed closely behind. He heard his phone vibrate on the table from an incoming call, but he paid no mind to it.

"She wouldn't want this, Obito." Kakashi continued his attempts to persuade him as he washed his dish, "She'd want you to move on, to be happy."

"I can't…" Obito whispered as he set the plate down on the drying rack, "And I'll tell her that when she's back."

Kakashi felt an uncomfortably sharp pressure in his abdomen and looked down to find a knife in Obito's hand, pressing against him. When he looked back up, he found his best friend's face contorted with grief, yet he continued to dig the blade further into him. Kakashi lifted his hands to Obito's arm to force him back but found himself uncharacteristically weak. Another glance down at his abdomen told him that Obito hadn't just stabbed him in the stomach, but he'd managed to sever one of his gastric arteries.

"It didn't have to be this way…" Obito cried as he lowered Kakashi to the ground, removing the knife from his stomach, "It didn't…!"

Kakashi could feel his eyelids growing heavy and his consciousness starting to slip, so he focused on breathing rather than giving him a response.

"Forgive me." Obito begged as he pressed his forehead to Kakashi's, "But I need her, Kakashi."

Obito wiped his eyes before dropping the knife in the sink and stepping away. Unable to keep his eyes open, Kakashi could do nothing but listen as Obito walked out and shut the door behind him.

Although Kakashi knew better, it felt like hours had gone by in the few minutes since Obito had left, which was why he wasn't sure if the banging he heard on his door was real or not.

"…ashi…Kakashi…" A familiar voice called his name, barely cutting through the fog in his mind.

He felt them drop to his side and soon enough somebody was pressing their hands to his gut, no doubt trying to apply pressure to the wound. Kakashi willed himself to open his eyes and blinked at the bleary but recognizable figure before him.

"Guy…" Kakashi managed to call his friend's name, albeit barely audibly.

"Kakashi!" Guy smiled through his tear-drenched cheeks, "Hang in there, okay? Help is on the way!"

Kakashi weakly shook his head, "Guy…Obito is—"

"The spy, I know." Guy cut him off, attempting to hush him up, "We'll deal with that later. For now, just save your energy, okay? Come on, Kakashi, I can't lose you."

Kakashi opted to stay silent and comply with Guy's advice. In the meantime, his mind drifted back to the discussion he'd had with his best friend before he'd left him for dead. All this time, he'd been so blind to Obito's pain; could he even really call himself his friend?

With these thoughts on his mind, Kakashi let out one shuddery breath before shutting his eyes and Guy froze.

"Kakashi?" Guy shook his shoulder, "KAKASHI!"

|At the Konoha Museum of Art|

Sasori and Sakura had explored the museum in uncanny silence. Despite not exchanging any words, they managed to stay within close proximity of each other, and they indulged in each other's interests in the various forms of art around them.

It was when they reached the basically-deserted third floor that Sasori made up his mind: this silent exploration had run its course. Now it was time for him to reveal what he'd called her out for. Taking her hand in his, Sasori pulled Sakura out onto the open-air balcony.

"Sakura-san, there's somethin' I gotta tell ya." Sasori began with a strong voice after clearing his throat, "I ain't actually a taxi driver. The truth is, I'm—"

"Working with Orochimaru." She interrupted, looking him square in the eyes, "And you're both parts of a larger gang that's turned Konoha into 90s Kirigakure."

He nodded, "So ya know."

"Of course I do." Sakura scoffed before crossing her arms, "It wasn't hard to figure out when…when you put everything into perspective."

Sasori noticed her hesitation but before he could prod her about it, she glared at him and went on the offensive, "This is why you called me out here? To tell me that you're a criminal?"

"No, that ain't why." He shook his head, "I brought ya here ta…ta apologize."

"For?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Yer ma's death." He cleared his throat, "If I'd known she was gon' be in the bank that day, I coulda…gomennasai."

Sakura lowered her arms from their crossed position, "I don't understand; were you the one that blew up the bank?"

"It was my buddy, but I was there when he did it. We ain't think nothin' of it, y'know? People die all the time, 'n we were just…just followin' orders…" Sasori's voice withered under Sakura's hard gaze.

"Is that what you tell yourself to fall asleep at night? That they were gonna die anyway so it's not a big deal?"

He swallowed as a lump formed in his throat and his voice came out barely above a whisper, "I ain't never felt guilty until I met ya. When I saw how ya looked at yer ma's funeral, tryin' your best not ta cry, I felt like the worst man in the world. 'N then that night of the festival…what I said to ya was drunken ramblin'; I ain't mean none of it."

"The phrase is drunk words, sober thoughts." She didn't seem convinced.

"Not that time." He insisted, some strength returning to his voice, "I wanted ta find ya 'n apologize but my boss had a job fer me. Been busy since then but when I finally got the chance ta get away, I went straight ta yer house. I ain't even finish parkin' when I heard the…the gunshot. When I found ya, I thought that ya'd done it 'cause of me, 'cause of my actions so I—I brought ya ta Orochimaru and—"

"Wait." Sakura held a hand up before bringing it to her head, "You found me? Not Obito-san?"

"Obito-san?" Sasori repeated after her, "I ain't got a clue who that is but I know that I'm the one who took ya back ta HQ. Fer treatment."

"Treatment?" She furrowed her eyebrows, "Wait, Sasori, you don't know?"

He blinked, "Know what?"

Based on his genuine blank stare, Sakura realized that despite Sasori having sought out Orochimaru's aid, Orochimaru hadn't told Sasori the extent to which he'd gone to bring her back to normal. Sakura considered telling Sasori the full truth, but when she considered how meticulous Orochimaru was, she reckoned that there must've been a reason why he didn't tell Sasori what he was up to. And honestly, Sakura didn't see any need to fill Sasori in.

Sakura shook her head, "It's nothing. Anyway, are you done? From what I've heard so far, all you want is for me to make you feel less guilty by accepting my apology. You don't really think there was anything wrong about what you did, right?"

"I…" Sasori fumbled for a response and Sakura raised a hand to his face.

"Save it. I hate to burst your bubble but if you think for one second that I will ever forgive you or your criminal friends, you're out of your mind." She crossed her arms definitively, making a point to show that she would not budge on her stance.

Sasori slowly nodded his head, "Ya got every right not ta. But Sakura-san, I want ya ta know that I'm truly sorry fer all the pain I caused ya. If it's any consolation, just know that once I drop ya off, ya won't ever see me again."

"Don't worry about it, I'll find a way back to Ino's house on my own."

He bit his lip and looked as if he wanted to say something, but when he met her green eyes and saw them lit with a passionate resolve, he knew he would just be wasting his breath.

"Goodbye, Sakura-san." And with that, he walked away.

Sakura remained on the balcony for quite some time, partly because she didn't want to come out too quickly and catch a glimpse of Sasori if he was still around, but also because she needed some time to collect her thoughts. Despite all she'd recently learned about him, Sasori had been a good…friend.

If she was being honest, there was a time when she had entertained the idea of them becoming something more. Thank goodness she'd settled on Naruto instead.

At the thought of her deceased lover, her courageous fire died out, as she was reminded of the depressing news she'd learned from Ino earlier in the morning.

"Naruto…Naruto was killed." Ino revealed as she set down a cup of tea in front of her, "As far as his official death goes, his apartment caught fire and he was unable to escape, but according to Sai-kun and Shikamaru, there was some kind of bomb on his door. When Boruto went to open it to help him: boom."

"But who would do such a thing?" Sakura held a hand to her head, "Naruto's never wronged anyone; if anything, all he ever tried to do was help."

"He might've helped the wrong person." Ino quietly replied before taking a seat across from her, "Remember that kid Naruto brought to Hanabi and Konohamaru's wedding? The one with piercings and the little tattoo under his eye? His name is Otsutsuki Kawaki, and his father did not take kindly to Naruto taking him under his wing. According to Kawaki, Jigen basically ordered a hit on him."

"Jigen?" Sakura tilted her head to the side as she connected the dots, "Otsutsuki Jigen? He's his father? Wait, but why would he have Naruto killed for giving his son a place to stay? Didn't he kick him out?"

Ino shook her head, "Apparently there was a scuffle, and some things were said…anyway, aside from Kawaki's testimony, there's zero evidence tying him to the crime."

"So he's just gonna get away with it?" Sakura couldn't believe what she was hearing, "That's it? Naruto dies, Kawaki goes back with his father, and the case is closed?"

"Sakura, Sai-kun's doing everything he can to bring him to justice, but he needs irrefutable proof. If they bring this case before a jury and there is even a fraction of doubt, Jigen will walk away a free man. You know how the Otsutsuki are."

"Yeah." Sakura nodded as she let out a defeated sigh, "Yeah, I know."

Although Sakura had made up her mind to live life to the fullest once she discovered she'd been brought back, she would be lying if she said that Naruto's death hadn't shattered half of her hopes for the future. In fact, during her talk with Ino, she had daydreamed about finding a way back to Orochimaru in hopes that she could convince him to bring Naruto back as well, but she shook the notion from her mind.

Bringing someone back to life didn't come free. Even if Sakura could somehow convince herself that she was okay with an innocent person being sacrificed if it meant she got to see Naruto again, she couldn't deny the insurmountable debt that Orochimaru would hold over their heads once the deed was done. Besides, there was also the smallest bit of fear in the back of Sakura's mind that Naruto wouldn't come back.

Sakura had a lot of regrets which prevented her from moving on, but Naruto was much more happy-go-lucky. Perhaps his spirit had already moved on, and if they attempted to call him back, something far more sinister would take his place.

Slapping her cheeks together, she brushed away the thoughts of demons and possession. Whereas before she may not have been so conscious of those things, after having quite literally come back from the dead, she couldn't afford to write off anything now.

With unwanted imaginings of the paranormal on her mind, Sakura tightened her shawl around her shoulders and made her way to the museum's exit.


|Naruto|

"The council meeting was really important, ya know. They were discussing the budget of the city's various departments and who would be getting a reduction." I shook my head, "About halfway into the meeting, Shikamaru steps in and says, 'Sorry to interrupt but you all need to see this.' Everyone heads outside and the first thing I notice is that the billboard the Fire Department put up with my face has been vandalized. It had the words stupid old man and washed-up geezer along with a bunch of Xs and even a mustache."

"And it was done by Boruto?" Dad chuckled as I leaned back.

"Aa," I couldn't help but laugh at the memory, "Everybody at the meeting had a good laugh and the tension practically evaporated from the attendees, but I was beyond embarrassed. When I got home, I talked the kid's ear off about it, but he swore up and down that it wasn't him, ya know."

"I wish I could see him, ya know." Mom commented wistfully.

I turned to her, "He looks just like me. A little too much like me if I'm being honest. And he has our tic, Ka-chan. But that's where the similarities end, ya know. He's way smarter than I was at his age, and according to his friends, he's pretty reliable; I don't doubt that he gets those talents from his mother."

"You said Hinata-san was from the Hyūga clan, right?" Dad recalled, "Gomennasai, Naruto. The Hyūga clan wasn't all that friendly towards outsiders when I was a kid, and based on what you told me, I see things haven't changed."

I shrugged as I lifted a hand to cover my yawn, "It must be a prestigious clan thing, ya know; the Uchiha didn't exactly treat me like family either, but I made my peace with it. After all, not everybody abides by stupid clan rules. Otherwise, Hinata never would've—"

I cut myself off when my left hand began to glow, and a glance at Mom and Dad told me that this was not a normal occurrence.

"Um, what's happening to me?" I questioned as I sat up, the glow spreading up my arm and enveloping my upper chest and neck.

"I'm not sure." Dad admitted, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Maybe you're moving on?" Mom offered but I immediately shook my head.

"That can't be." I disagreed, "I've got so many regrets; Sakura-chan, Hinata, Boruto, Himawari, Shikamaru…I need their forgiveness, ya know."

Dad held his chin, "Hm, maybe—"

As the glow completely encompassed my body, Mom gasped, but I knew that couldn't be why she was startled. Following her line of sight, I looked down and found my legs fading away.

"Am I…am I going to Hell?" I questioned as I was filled with a sense of dread.

"Nothing like that." Dad assured me, touching my cheek, "I think you…you still have time on Earth, Naruto."

"What? How is that possible? I was blown up, ya know."

Dad tilted his head to the side, "Maybe your body is in the hospital and they've been fighting to keep you alive all this time. It seems to me like you're being called back."

"But—!" Mom placed a hand over my mouth to stop me from completing my sentence, 'But I don't want to go back!'

She seemed to know exactly what I wanted to say because after lifting a finger to her lips, she removed her hand from my mouth before wrapping me in a hug, "Daijōbu. I wish I could spend more time with you too but I'm happy enough with what we got, ya know. Make sure to set things right when you get back."

"Ka-chan…" I let myself trail off as I hugged her back, not sure of what to say.

Dad joined in on the hug and ruffled my hair, "Naruto, I think I can speak for both your mother and I when I say you grew up to be a fine man. You have a good mind and a kind heart, and I want you to keep those things, alright?"

"Aa, I will…" I promised him as I tearfully nodded into the hug, "I'll make sure of it…!"

When they finally released me, I wiped under my eyes and realized that the lower half of my body was completely gone.

As my upper half began the fading process, I gave them a shaky grin, "The same goes for you guys, Ka-chan, Tou-chan. D-Don't worry about me, ya know. You two should just hurry up and move on."

Mom and Dad exchanged looks before Mom spoke, "Are you sure? We—"

"I'm sure." I told Mom with a laugh, giving her a thumbs up, "I don't plan on dying again anytime soon, and if I do? I'll make sure not to have any regrets."

Dad shook his head before smiling, "Understood, Naruto. If that's the case, then this is goodbye."

"Mhm." I hummed, trying but failing to keep my voice level, "I…I love you guys, ya know."

My vision darkened as the last of myself faded away, but I still got to hear their answer.

"We love you too."

It suddenly dawned on me that this would be the last time I would ever speak to them, but before I knew it, a blinding white light flashed brightly in my face. As I blinked, the haziness of my surroundings started to diminish, and I was able to see that I was in some sort of operation room.

'I guess I am in the hospital.' I thought, but when I tried to sit up, I quickly realized that was not the case.

In the first place, I was not dressed in standard hospital patient attire. Instead of wearing the traditional spotted gown, I found myself in a typical white t-shirt and matching white boxers. The next and more obvious clue that I wasn't in a hospital were the straps holding me down. They were locked into place across my neck, chest, my arms, and my lower legs, effectively preventing me from doing anything other than wiggling around and just barely turning my head from side to side.

"Oh, don't try to move just yet, Naruto-kun." A muffled voice advised me as a place hand pressed against my chest, "Your body isn't at 100%, despite how alive you might feel. I will say though, your body is a scientific wonder. Sakura-san didn't heal half as fast as you did."

"Sakura-chan didn't…?" An unbearable heat tore through me, and I struggled to look at the man, "Who…are you?"

When I dragged my gaze to his face, I had to squint to be sure of what I was looking at. With pale skin and shining golden eyes, he looked like a snake trying to pass as human, and his jarring voice only confirmed voice only aided in my characterization of him.

"My name is Orochimaru, but you could say I'm a friend of a friend." The man grinned before looking to the side, "Ne?"

Following his gaze, I watched as a blond-haired man came forward, but it wasn't until he was just in front of me that my blood ran cold.

"Sasuke?" I called questioningly, "Is that you?"

Rather than respond, he folded his hands behind his back and continued to stare down at me. Sure enough, it was Sasuke. Despite his unusual blue eyes and obviously dyed blond hair, I recognized that hardened stare anywhere. It was then that I recalled the masked man whose voice bore an uncanny resemblance to his also had blond hair, and I had to accept the fact that Sakura and I had run into him at the festival.

I tried to reach out to him, but my restrictions reminded me that I wouldn't be moving anytime soon, so I returned my hand to the surgical table beneath me before speaking again.

"Sasuke, about Sakura-chan and I…" I paused as I considered the best way to apologize, "We never meant to go behind your back, ya know."

Sasuke's face remained unchanging, but before I could wonder whether that was because he was contemplating punching me in the face or not, Orochimaru waved his hand.

"Sasuke-kun's no longer concerned about the relations you had with his wife." Orochimaru chuckled before tapping Sasuke's shoulder, and Sasuke stepped back, "He's got more important things to be focused on, and to prove it to you, he'll take you home after I confirm a few things. Right, Sasuke-kun?"

"Of course." Sasuke nodded.

Hearing him talk was what really sent fear cascading down my back. His rigid stature or monotonous voice would never have bothered me; no, it was the continual stare of those emotionless eyes of his that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

When it came to concealing himself, Sasuke had always been a master of poker faces and faking his voice, but I pointed out a long time ago that he could never get rid of the fire of his eyes. It was one of the few ways I could confront him whenever we argued and he attempted to move on like everything was fine. But now, to search his eyes and find his flame extinguished? Something was very, very wrong.

"Sasuke, what happened to you?" I questioned as Orochimaru unclasped my upper restraints, "Are you…are you even Sasuke?"

"Sure he is!" Orochimaru clapped his hands, and Sasuke helped me sit up, "At least, in theory. I like to think I've gotten rid of the unnecessary parts of him, made him more useful."

"What?" I couldn't even begin to understand what he meant by that, and quite frankly, I didn't care.

I grabbed Sasuke's hand just as he freed my legs and urged him to look at me. Silently, I pled with him to give me some sort of sign that this was some kind of act or ruse, but he simply blinked at me before pulling his hand free.

"Naruto-kun, instead of trying to distract Sasuke-kun, could you do me a favor and raise your right arm for me?"

I turned my attention back to Orochimaru and Sasuke stepped away from me. Realizing that I wouldn't be getting anywhere so long as Orochimaru stood nearby, so I sighed before obeying his request.

Orochimaru hummed before taking up a clipboard and writing something down, "Do you feel pain anywhere?"

"No." I colorlessly replied before lowering my arm, "I feel fine."

"Good, good." Orochimaru nodded before scribbling a few words, "Well, I think you're good to go. Sasuke-kun, escort Naruto to his home please."

With a nod, Sasuke came forward again and lifted a blindfold to my eyes. I thought about refusing the garb but decided not. After my vision was obscured, I felt a hand on my lower back push me forward, and I stood up. I was urged a few feet forward before my arms were folded behind my back, and soon enough I felt the cold familiar steel of handcuffs on my wrists as they were snapped into place. Just as Sasuke placed a hand on my shoulder and turned me away, I called out to Orochimaru.

"Wait, wait, wait." I said, turning around wildly, "I was dead; I know I was. How am I alive?"

Orochimaru laughed, "A certain someone cares about you very much, Naruto-kun. So much that they couldn't bear the thought of life without you. They came to me with an offer, and now here you are: alive."

"But how…how is this possible?" I wondered as I digested his words, "I was on fire. I—I was blown to pieces; my body wouldn't even have—"

I cut myself off as I recalled one of his earlier statements to me, "You said Sakura-chan didn't heal half as fast as I did, ya know. What did you mean?"

A warm hand met my cheek and I recoiled from the touch; soon after Orochimaru's familiar chuckle poured out again.

"You are one of a kind, Naruto-kun." Orochimaru praised, "It's too bad I have to send you home, otherwise you'd make for a very interesting test subject."

He clapped his hands and I felt Sasuke resume our tread.

"Wait!" I yelled as I tried to stop us from moving, "I'm not done talking to you yet!"

"Neither am I, my dear boy." Orochimaru replied as Sasuke shoved me forward, "If you really want to know more, come and find me."

I stumbled over an unknown object, but Sasuke managed to hold me up and prevent me from hitting the floor. It became clear to me that we had left the room and I gave up struggling. We walked for some time before I heard a metallic door creak open and then a few moments later, I stepped into what I believed was an elevator. The low hum I heard after the low clack of a button confirmed it, and I turned to my right.

"Sasuke, be real with me, ya know. Are you working for this weirdo, or is this an undercover thing?"

Sasuke remained silent, but I heard him breathing in my left ear, so I turned to face that way.

"This is ridiculous." I clicked my tongue as I shook my head, "Are you telling me that snake actually brainwashed you?"

There was still no response from him, and when the elevator dinged as we arrived on whatever floor, Sasuke led me out all the same. The familiar crunch of grass under my feet told me that we were outside, and I bit my lip as I contemplated how I would get through to him.

"Come on man," I pled with him as I tried again, "It's been six months since you saw your family. Since we saw each other, ya know! Don't you have anything you want to say to Sarada? To Sakura? To me? I can pass the message along but that's only if you talk to me!"

We came to a stop and for a second, I thought that Sasuke was going to speak, but my hope was quickly snuffed out by the sound of a car door opening. The next thing I knew, Sasuke was pushing my head down and lowering me into the back of a vehicle. He made sure my legs were properly inside before shutting the door, and when he entered the driver's seat, I was at a complete loss.

'Maybe he really is gone.' I mused as the car roared to life, 'If that's the case then how will Sakura-chan…?'

I let out a heavy sigh, 'No, he's still in there. I just have to reach him.'

Clearing my throat, I began to retell one of our fondest memories, "Remember that day KPD officers came into the middle school to teach us about being aware? Everybody was split up into groups of three, and it was me, you, and Sakura, ya know. We ended up with Kakashi-sensei and he had us trying to grab those bells from him. I don't even know what the point of that exercise was."

I paused for a moment to give Sasuke the chance to jump in, but when he didn't, I continued, "I goofed around while you and Sakura actually tried to get them from him, so when lunchtime came, he gave you guys pizza and told you not to give me, ya know. But as soon as he was out of sight, you split yours with me. He caught us munching and made us all kneel for forty minutes, but you told me it was worth it."

I chuckled as I finished telling the story, but as the quiet in the car wore on, I felt my heartbreak.

"Ne, Sasuke. Just talk to me, would ya? We're brothers, and we promised we'd always be there for each other, ya know. If you're in there, I need to know."

The silence was deafening, and although I wasn't ready to give up on my best friend, I refrained from speaking any further and opted to consider an alternate approach.

I didn't know the first thing about mind control or brainwashing. Whether it was using it on others or breaking free from it, the only information I had was from various action movies where a villain used it on the main hero. In those movies, a loved one had always been able to call the hero back to their senses.

While I had always thought Sasuke and I were close, it seemed that we weren't close enough for me to break his shackles. There was only one person capable of bringing him back to his true self, but the last time I'd spoken to her had been the night of Hanabi's wedding. Orochimaru's vague statements made me unsure of where Sakura actually was. For a moment, I thought that he'd hurt her, but I stopped myself from continuing that line of thinking without any further evidence.

It had to have been more than two days since I'd died, which meant that Sakura's therapeutic no-communication clause with me was over. I figured I'd call her up after explaining to everyone that I wasn't dead, but when I considered the nature of the information, I was going to share with her, I began to wonder if it was even worth it.

Me coming back, Sasuke not being himself…it was a lot to take in. What were the odds that all this intelligence knowledge would shatter her already fragile psyche?

The car came to an abrupt stop, flinging me forward and out of my thoughts, and I smacked against the back of the driver's seat. With a groan, I pushed myself back and tried to ignore the subtle ache from the collision. Sasuke got out of the car and a few seconds later, my own door opened, and I was helped out.

"Sasuke," I called his name as he removed my cuffs, "I know you're in there, and I know you can hear me. No matter what happens between me and Sakura, I want you to know that I'll always be your brother, ya know. I will love you always."

A hand on my shoulder lowered me to the ground, and I began to resign myself to the fact that I really hadn't been able to get through to him. When I didn't hear him move away from me, however, I took a chance and pulled my blindfold down from my eyes.

I raised my eyes from the asphalt and found him staring at me with what could only be described as a thoughtful expression. To an outsider, it might've been nothing, but to me it was groundbreaking. I didn't want to startle him, so I rose from the concrete as slowly and carefully as possible. When I met his eyes again, his face remained unchanged, so I took a moment to remind myself of what I had said.

I must've taken too long because with a blink, his posture returned to its pinpoint sharpness and his eyes fell. He stepped back before turning and walking away, and all I could do was stand and stare after him.

"Sasuke." I opened my mouth to try again, "Sasuke, don't leave me."

This froze him in his tracks, and I watched in surprise as he raised a hand to his face.

"Please don't leave, ya know." I continued, walking up to him, "We—I need you."

When I reached him, he lowered his hand from his face and turned to me. It was then that I saw the bloody tear trailing down his left eye. I instinctively reached out to touch him and inquire about it, but he smacked my hand aside.

"Gomennasai…" He murmured as he got back in his car, "Gomennasai."

His tires screeched as he drove off, and once his car was out of sight, I let out a frustrated groan.

"You idiot…" I berated myself as I turned around, "What was the point of going to all those de-escalation workshops?"

With a sigh, I scratched my head and looked up at my family's house. As I approached, I noted that there didn't seem to be a hint of life in the building, despite the fact that the sun was just starting to set. When I reached the front door, I considered ringing the doorbell but ultimately decided to grab the spare key from the pail of sunflowers on the side wall.

"Ah, Buddha is merciful." I sighed as I stepped inside, relishing in the cool, regulated air of the house, "But these kids…how could they leave the AC on and then head out, ya know? Don't they know this costs money?"

I adjusted the thermometer on the wall before heading for the kitchen, but I ended up stumbling over a pair of blue dress shoes. It was then that I noticed Hinata's black flats beside them, and I looked at the shoes with increasing confusion. Before I could figure out why the blue footwear was somewhat familiar, Hinata's bedroom door opened.

"Hello?" An unmistakable voice called from the top of the stairs, "Is someone there?"

Not believing my ears, I came to the bottom of the steps and looked up, and sure enough, a shirtless Toneri was peering down at me. I opened my mouth to question him about what he was doing here but what I saw next broke every hostile bone in my body.

Hinata stepped out of the room with her hair disheveled, her cheeks flushing, and wearing nothing but an oversized blue button-down. When my gaze dropped, I found her neck littered with reddish marks and even a bite mark on her carotid. I didn't need to see much else to know what they'd been doing.

"Naruto-kun…?" Hinata called my name warily, and I could tell she wasn't sure if I was really in front of her.

With a hard swallow, I raised a friendly hand, "Hey Hinata, how've you been?"

She gently touched a hand to Toneri's shoulder in a silent request for him to move, and once he stepped to the side, she slowly descended the stairs. The look on her face was a cross between awe and apprehension, and when she finally arrived before me, I found myself holding my breath in nervousness.

Hinata touched my bandaged right arm and squeezed, then moved down to my hand and interlaced our fingers. Her right hand touched my cheek before sliding down to my chest, and she held it over my heart for some time. When she raised her head again, I saw that her lilac eyes were glistening with tears, and with a sniffle, she surged forward and wrapped her arms around me.

"I never thought I'd see you again." She blubbered as she sobbed, and I softly patted her back.

"Daijōbu," I assured her in a soft voice, resting my chin on her head, "I'm here."

The creaking of the stairs drew my attention to it, and I looked up just in time to find Toneri coming down. We glared at each other when he finally reached the landing, and when he placed a hand on Hinata's shoulder, I had half a mind to shove him away. However, before I could go through with it, Hinata released me and pulled back.

I stared after her in shock as she went to Toneri's side and took his arm in her own, but when I tried to shoot her a quizzical look, Toneri stepped in front of her and blocked my line of sight.

"Start talking." Toneri ordered as he crossed his arms, "Because I know for a fact that you died. How are you here?"

I scratched my head, "It's a crazy story, ya know. You probably won't believe me."

"We have to." He said as he turned and went towards the kitchen, "It's not every day a dead man comes back to life."