Title: Sasuke's Heart: Denied?
Author: Ladye Black
Warnings: Uh, slight spoilers, unless you happen to follow along with the translations on Naruto Chuushin. They're up to like chapter 225 or some such. Way past Shonen Jump, at any rate.
Disclaimer: I'm too tired to argue, they're not mine.
Chapter 6
2 years later...
"Hey, Sasuke! Time to go!" a cheerful voice called out in the early morning. Uchiha Sasuke tumbled out of bed, sleep-rumpled and very tired.
"Sasuke!"
"Yeah, yeah," the seventeen-year-old boy mumbled bitterly.
The newly made Jounin washed up, getting ready for his first – officially sanctioned – A-class mission. Ever since the group of Anbu went missing they'd been short-handed on Jounin. They were just getting back on their feet with the ones that had been inducted this year.
Ten minutes later, he joined Naruto and Sakura in front of the Hokage.
The Hokage studied them for a moment, wondering if she should really offer them this mission. Sighing, she decided.
"This is a top priority mission," she started, pulling out the scroll. "Villages along the borders of Leaf Country are having trouble with a bandit. The bandit," she watched Sasuke carefully, "has been positively ID'd as Uchiha Itachi."
Sasuke's hands clenched into fists, otherwise, he showed no outward sign of anger at hearing his brother's name.
"Foe ten years Uchiha Itachi has been on the loose. He is wanted for the massacre of the Uchiha Clan along with various other heinous crimes. Your mission is to stop him." She leaned forward in her chair, setting the scroll in front of Sasuke. "You don't have to accept this mission. I'll understand if you don't."
For once, Naruto had nothing to say, this was Sasuke's decision. Whatever his friend decided, he would stand by it. He glanced at Sakura, and was relieved when he saw confirmation that she felt the same way. The decision was up to their friend.
Sasuke's mind was in turmoil. He was being offered the chance to look for, and carry out, his revenge on his brother. Unfortunately, the mission may have come too late. After Kakashi had died – he swallowed around the thought – he had lost his drive for revenge. He had realized too late that life was much too short to spend on such things. Decision made, he reached for the scroll.
And handed it back to the Hokage. "I'm sorry, Hokage. I think you should assign this mission to someone else."
The Hokage accepted the scroll back with grace. "I understand." She picked up another and handed it to him. "A very important diplomat needs to be escorted from here to a village in the Country of the Sand. His name is Wong Xiao. Be ready to leave in an hour. Dismissed."
"Yes, ma'am." The three saluted and were gone.
The Hokage sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Have I made a very big mistake?"
"No," Iruka answered from behind her. "You did exactly as you needed to."
An hour later, the three new Jounin were geared up and ready to go.
"I wonder what he'll be like," Sakura said as they waited for the man they were to escort.
Naruto sighed in disgust. "I bet he's and old man and'll slow us down."
"And perhaps," a voice aid cheerily from above them, "he is as young and fit as the rest of you."
They all looked into the foliage above them to see a man around twenty-five, dressed in expensive traveling clothes, hanging upside down from a tree branch. The man pushed off from the branch and executed a perfect landing.
Naruto scowled while Sakura smiled in appreciation for the man's skill. Sasuke remained as expressionless as possible.
"You're Wong Xiao?" the black-haired Jounin asked.
The man bowed. "At your service."
"Good. You ready you go?" The man nodded. "Alright, then, let's go!" And they walked out of the Leaf Village's gates.
TBC...
Yeah, I know. Sorry, but it's been busy, bein' back at school an all.