Disclaimer: Naruto characters belong to Kishimoto Masashi
Summary: Sasuke is a warrior and also a descendent of the Uchiha clan with leadership bands. Will these bands lead to good or evil? (AU needless to say)
:::::: The Scroll of Death ::::::
=*= Chapter Two =*=
[Mist Village]
Gaara was a normal kid before he went through a change. His father had run away since his birth because of the death of his mother. When Gaara was born his mother had been strangled and mutated to death. No weapon was found except some sand near the bed.
Furthermore, the midwives who have witnessed the scene had either run away or disappeared. It was clear that the floor had splatters of blood but they presumed it was from Gaara's mother.
When they found Gaara alive and well, they blamed him for his mother's death. He was a cursed child. He had ripped his mother's womb and witnessed the dreadful killing. At least no one suspected a baby infant could have the power to hurt the person who created him…
The village had always looked down at the little red head. He and his brother and sister had been kicked out of their family because they blamed them for the departure of their father. Another reason why they were kicked out meant there was one less person to share the will left by their grandpa.
Though these three siblings were exiled from their homes they had lived peacefully. The oldest brother Kankuro would chop wood and help out in the labour field. The older sister would weave, sew and cook to make some money. While Gaara, watched out and tended the house. He never did any housework because he would often lock himself up in his room.
He felt lonely even though he had a brother and sister. Though they could have left Gaara, they had kindly accepted him. As the years passed, Gaara continued his isolation from the other children. Sometimes he would take himself to a sand pit and watch the sand move by itself. He did not realise he had the power to control the sand.
Finally, one day while playing in his sand pit something strange happened. A group of kids about 12-13 who were the same age as him pushed him out of the pit. He felt hatred and anger because he had thought the pit was his.
// Flashback //
Gaara did not know what had possessed him but he wanted those children gone! As the three children played happily the sand suddenly rose. It was like as if the sand had a life of its own as it covered the children like a cacoon.
"Die," sand Gaara softly while the sand squeezed the children to death.
He did not realise he had killed the children; he thought they had simply disappeared as he went back to his sand pit to play. Suddenly a figure rose out of the sand while Gaara was scared shitless. He peed in his pants as the sand figure rose higher.
"Who-who are you?" asked Gaara.
"I'm a sand demon. I was created by you," said the thing.
"I didn't make you. You-You're a monster!" stammered Gaara.
"But so are you!"
"That's not true!"
"Where are the children then?"
"They disappeared."
"No you killed them!"
Gaara shouted, "Did not! YOU killed them!"
"But I'm a part of you," said the figure as he seeped inside of Gaara.
Gaara felt the pain as the sand particles entered him and screamed, "Get out of me, GO AWAY!"
"That's impossible, we were together since birth," said the demon inside him and added, "YOU killed your mother."
"NOOOOO! I won't listen," shouted Gaara as he blocked his ears with his hands.
But the voice rattled within him.
++
[A week ago, before Temari left…]
Kankuro had an argument with Temari near Gaara's 16th birthday.
"I'm tired of this," said Kankuro.
"Of what?" asked Temari.
"Of Gaara disappearing in the middle of the night. Hasn't he heard about the deaths? Doesn't he realise how worried we become?" demanded Kankuro and in a lower voice, "Perhaps he's the killer!"
"Now don't accuse our little brother to be a murderer," replied Temari and added, "Maybe he has a girlfriend now."
"Whatever, I'm going out to find him before he gets himself killed," said Kankuro.
Kankuro should never have went outside… He had found Gaara but the demon took control. Gaara stared at his brother with cold eyes as Kankuro froze in horror. The sand squeezed his Kankuro alive but Gaara managed to stop it before Kankuro's body disappeared. As the sand dispersed Gaara caught his brother's whimpered body.
"Onii-chan," said Gaara softly as he carried him home.
Temari was shocked to see Kankuro's dead body. Suddenly she was clear that Gaara was the murderer. She wanted to puke but instead she chose to cry by herself in her room. What monster has Gaara turned into?
Later on in the week, she had witnessed how his brother killed his victims. She felt sick and resented from living near his brother. She planned to escape when Gaara's out killing.
// End of flashback //
Gaara studied the empty room and wondered where his sister was. He had not wanted to kill his brother but it was too late now. His sister was the only remaining family member he had but now she had left too.
He searched for food, money and Temari's clothing but non-was found. He summoned his demon friend and asked, "Where is my sister?"
"I don't know, you'd have to get away from this small village to find her," replied the thing.
"I'll find her," said Gaara.
"And then kill her," said the demon but Gaara was speechless.
=*=
[Spiral Village]
Ino's parents had agreed that they be allowed to go on a short holiday. Who knows? Maybe after the journey Naruto would come back holding hands with their daughter. Before they agreed, the Yamanaka's told Naruto to take care of Ino. He agreed most definitely, he would not let anyone harm Ino.
They greeted Shikamaru in the morning and set off their journey to Haruno city.
"It'll take five days walk but we'll get there!" cheered Shika.
"That's ok! I've never been out of Spiral Village," said Naruto.
"Me neither so we trust your directions! You better lead us to the right place!" shouted Ino.
"Of course, I'll take you guys there. I promise," replied Shika grinning.
++
[Five days later]
When they finally came to the city they were amazed at everyone's elaborate clothing. The streets of fancy stores and big buildings were unlike their village. The people here were second-class citizens and traded goods for a living. Some owned restaurants, while others owned stores.
"Let's eat something," said Naruto looking at a bun store on the street.
However, Shika led them to a restaurant while the waiters greeted them politely. They sat down and watched the waiter pour some tea in their cups. Naruto looked around at the price menus on the walls and gasped. EXPENSIVE!
"Shika, we don't have that much money," said Ino before Naruto said anything.
"Don't worry besides Neji I know an aunt who got married to a rich man," said Shika and added, "I'll just ask her for money after this."
"You sure?" asked Naruto before Shika ordered a few dishes.
Later, a garnished dish of chicken and pork lay in front of them. Shika had ordered rice for himself while a ramen for Naruto and an udon for Ino. When all the dishes came, Shika announced, "Hope you like the food. Don't worry this meals on me."
=*=
[Mitarashi Residence]
General Mitarashi greeted a grumpy official politely. Official Hatake had come to check up on Mitarashi's soldiers and how well trained they are. Mitarashi sighed at the sight of Hatake; he was a powerful official who did not accept bribes. His soldiers are very slack in training and he hoped Hatake would not pick that up.
After a while in checking Hatake went hysterical, "You call these soldiers? They won't last a second during combat!"
Over the next few hours Hatake continued advising Iruka Mitarashi about training and combat tactics. He warned him not to slack off if this city or country were attacked one day. You have to take safety measures before it's too late.
++
Meanwhile, Shika popped up to meet his aunt, Anko. She greeted him with a hug, as he was one of her favourite nephews. She was lucky to marry a well off man and was happy to meet her relatives.
"Shika, if you like. You and your friends can stay here," said Anko.
"Also don't worry about money, here I'll give you some," offered Anko as she placed a few gold nuggets in Shika's hand.
Naruto and Ino gazed at the money because they had never seen so much in their lives. They could live a year with those three pieces of gold. They felt ashamed of the measly bronze pellets they brought with them.
"Here, you guys might need some money too," said Anko as she gave each Ino and Naruto a few silver nuggets. The money brought shame yet delight in their faces. Anko caught there displeasure and added, "Don't worry you don't have to pay me back. If you need more please ask and Shika's friends should be treated first class. Between, do you guys mind telling me your names?"
"Naruto Uzamaki," said Naruto.
"Ino Yamanaka, nice to meet you. Thank you for your generosity," replied Ino.
Shika just smiled and thought, 'This is life, I'm so lucky to have a rich aunt.'
++
Hatake was about to leave but at the same moment Anko was showing Shika and his friends their rooms. Hatake had been alone and missed his beloved koishii. He had left her to become an official and he shifted from the thought. He had married Kurenai a wife that he did not love in order to succeed. Power meant everything but later on in his life he regretted doing so.
He had gone back to the place where he had met his beloved but she was not there. In fact she was nowhere in sight and he had tried finding her for many years. No luck at all…
// Flashback //
"I'm sorry Motoko, I must leave," said Kakashi.
"Koishii, how could you leave me? Don't you love me?" asked Motoko. She wanted to tell him about her pregnancy but the shock of his departure overwhelmed her.
"No I don't. I'm going to become an official and I'll be marrying someone soon," said Kakashi.
Anger embroiled inside Motoko at the sting of the words. Her heart was ripped apart and it felt worst than if Kakashi had slapped her on the face. She looked aside as shameful tears flowed out of her eyes "Leave then."
She didn't need him, she could bring her own child up, she had arms and legs, and she could survive! Kakashi left silently and Motoko washed his back move further and further away. Soon she could not see him as she fainted on the ground…
// End of flashback //
Kakashi stared at the blond hair boy in the small group and ran up towards him. He looked like an exact replica of Motoko besides the fact he had some male features. Kakashi grabbed the boy's hand and demanded, "Is your mother's name Motoko."
Naruto laughed and replied, "WOW! Are you psychic, yes my mother's name is Motoko Uzamaki." Suddenly, Naruto's smile faded as his eyes focused on Kakashi's silver hair.
Anger, fear and resentment appeared on Naruto's face as he growled, "You bastard!"
Iruka was shocked by those words and warned, "Please apologise and take back your words peasant boy."
"No it's ok. Where is Motoko?" asked Kakashi.
"She died. She won't be seeing your sorry face," replied Naruto as he turned his head. A few tears glimmered in his eyes as the man had brought up his mother's death.
"Where's your father?" demanded Kakashi.
"I don't have one, for all I care he could be dead too. Not like he ever took part in bringing me up. Do you know how hard it was for a woman to bring up a child and work to make a living?" taunted Naruto and added, "You don't because you were never there."
Suddenly Anko chipped in, "You're Motoko's son! I see the resemblance now. Dear God! I remember she was heavily pregnant when she came to Spiral Village. That was when the short war broke out."
"She came on Oct 10th
and I remembered so clearly because that day was when the war ended. Thinking
back, you must be 16 years old like Shika here."
Anko shut up abruptly as she saw Kakashi's face twist. She walked back a few
steps behind Iruka's back.
"I left Motoko around June…" whispered Kakashi as he continued his gaze on Naruto.
=*=
[Haruno Fort- After Sakura met Sasuke]
Sasuke had finally found the place but was shocked to see the pink hair girl again. As he was showed around the place the girl came in from the back door. When her green eyes spotted Sasuke she ran up towards him.
"SASUKE, what are you doing here. By the way, I'm Sakura and you left so suddenly his afternoon," chanted Sakura.
"What are you doing here?" replied Sasuke.
"I live here."
"Are you Sakura Haruno?"
"Yep!"
"Is Commander Haruno your father?"
"Nah-duh!"
Meanwhile in a corner Mr Haruno had witness Sakura talking to Sasuke. A smile lit up his face as he saw Sakura's eyes glisten. He wondered who the man was but it didn't matter he had hoped his daughter would find a boyfriend.
Commander Haruno walked up to them and asked, "Just who are you?"
"I'm Sasuke Uchiha," replied Sasuke as he showed the commander his wristbands. At the sight of the bands the Commander kneeled down on his knees and whispered Sakura to do so.
"HA? Why should I bow to him?" cried Sakura but her father had yanked her down.
"What do you want, your majesty?" asked Haruno.
"I want your army to help me fight against Itachi Uchiha's," said Sasuke.
"But that's impossible, Itachi's force outnumber ours by many," stammered Haruno.
"Will you help me?" asked Sasuke.
Haruno took a look at his daughter and a smile lit up his face, "Only if you marry my daughter."
::: TBC :::
[Notes]
One gold nugget = 10 silver nuggets
One silver nugget = 100 bronze pellets
Ramen = 10 bronze pellets
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