Itonami: Yes, yes, I know I'm late with this chapter. My internet went screwy and stuff. This is a little shorter than usual. Sorry. I didn't want to start the actual action until the next chapter or so. This one introduces the Akatsuki problems and has Sakura x Sasuke and Neji x Tenten fluff. I'm so proud..
Oh, maybe I should put a note to clear up something. Uchiha Itachi is dead. There will be no romance between his ghost and Sakura. Now, it would be more of a Lee x Sakura x Sasuke triangle. I like to keep Sakura in a triangle. It makes things more fun. I apologize for the confusion.
Ha ha, anyway. Enjoy and see if you like.
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Naruto.
Chapter 16
The Godaime rapped her knuckles on her desk, a look of absolute fury etched on her pretty face. "The Akatsuki is still existing!" On her desk was a dirty scroll that was oozing of blood. In it, lay a child's heart, coated in thick, brown blood and it was beginning to rot. It gave off a pungent smell of decaying flesh and putrid blood. She was breathing heavily, still a little frightened and unsettled at the sight of blood.
"I need to think." Tsunade sighed, getting up from her seat. "Get Uzumaki Naruto and Haruno Sakura in here. Now."
An ANBU wearing a bird mask quickly disappeared in a swirl of smoke from her office. It made its way in the night, easily spotting the tall blonde and the pink-haired medic.
Getting in their path towards the bar, it halted the entire group traveling with them. It bowed low. "Hokage-sama requests your presence. It is an urgent matter." When everyone made a move to follow, it held up a hand. "She has only asked for Uzumaki-san and Haruno-san."
Sakura's face grew serious and looked back Sasuke. He nodded at her to go on. She turned to face Naruto. "Hey, let's go before Tsunade-sama gets mad."
The two of them bid everyone good night and transported to the Hokage's office. Tsunade was pacing on the floor in a repetitive way, her pretty face contracted into a worried scowl. When they came in, she stopped pacing and turned to look at them. More specifically, she looked straight at Naruto.
"Ne, Oba-chan, what's up? What's the emergency?" He asked, scratching his head with a confused expression on his face.
Without a word, the Hokage pointed to the scroll latent in a bloody pool and the two gagged horribly at the sight. Sakura had to cover her nose. Even as a medic nin, she was never used to the stench of exposed blood. Naruto wrinkled his nose and coughed loudly.
"The Akatsuki note that you handed to me…a child's heart was carved out and put in it." Tsunade whispered in a pained tone, but it grew louder and stronger. "They are on the move again. They will strike when we least expect it. There is no time. Naruto, you are in great danger. Itachi might have lost the vision of the Akatsuki, but this leader is still after you.
"The time, place, and the how are in a little riddle that he so cleverly made up for us to solve." Beige eyes sharply looked at Sakura. "Haruno Sakura, I want you to gather up Shikamaru and a tactics team as soon as possible. Have them assemble here as soon as the sun is up tomorrow. I will get the medical team.
"Uzumaki Naruto, you will call out a strike division and a defense division. I want you to get the jounin and chuunin to take part, besides the medic units." She said swiftly, spinning on her heel to walk back to her desk. She pulled out a blank scroll in which she hastily started to scribble on. Rolling it up again, she threw to Naruto. He caught it easily and stuffed it in his jounin vest.
"Go, make sure you're discreet." She gave him a wry smile. "I'm sure you can do that. We don't want the village to panic. Let them enjoy the festival."
"Tsunade, does this mean that Sasuke can be used here? You know he can kill with taijutsu alone. I can really use him." Naruto said casually, but Sakura and Tsunade could both tell he was demanding Sasuke.
The Godaime hesitated and looked uncertain for a split second, but nodded slowly. "Bring Uchiha Sasuke here. I wish to speak with him. I will have to ask the elders of the village. Sakura and Naruto, you two go and do what I just told you. We are short on time. Be quick and report when everything is in place."
Sakura and Naruto sprinted out, the wind knocking back their hair from their faces. The female jounin nodded to Naruto. "I'll go get Shikamaru! You go get Sasuke! I'm sure he'll be there with the others!" She shouted as they split in different directions.
Naruto raised a thumbs-up sign as he headed off to where he and Sakura had left everyone else. Relief flooded through him as he located the group of jounins that he was looking for. Rushing up to meet them, he was winded from excitement and adrenaline.
"Sasuke!" He shouted, making everyone wince at his loud voice. Sasuke looked at Naruto curiously. The panting jounin was breathing heavily with his hands on his knees. Hinata handed him a cup of water shyly, which he accepted gratefully.
Wiping off his mouth with the back of hand, he said to his friend again, "Tsunade wants to have a word. Just go up there now." The blonde ninja winked at his friend. "Don't worry, you're not in trouble."
"Yes, I'm sure she wants to have tea and crumpets, dobe." Sasuke's tone was half sarcastic and half monotone, but he vanished anyway, leaving Naruto to deal with the others left behind.
The blonde nin now spoke in a very soft voice so that the people listening had to lean in very close. "Alright, everyone listen. We're not going to panic and make a commotion. This festival will continue, despite what is going to happen now. The Godaime has been given a scroll that threatens Konoha."
"Is the Hokage in danger?" Neji asked.
"No, but the Kyuubi's power is." He received very shocked glances. "Look, that's not the important point. The Akatsuki is on the rise again because some nutcase is after the Kyuubi."
"Shouldn't you be somewhere safer? In a secret location?" They all knew that Naruto was the Kyuubi carrier, but he hated being referred to as that.
Naruto became very impatient. "Will you all just listen to me?" The noise quieted and he continued, still in the same low voice. "The Hokage has assigned me to get an offensive team and the defensive team, to protect the village if the strike doesn't wipe out the Akatsuki.
"I'll explain the details at sunrise tomorrow. That's when Shikamaru is coming in to help solve a damn riddle that the Akatsuki has written. I'll meet you at the jounin lounge. Spread the word around to all the jounins if you can. I'll need all the help I can get. I'm afraid Konoha is preparing for war…again."
Sasuke couldn't figure out what the Godaime could want with him. He didn't do anything wrong, did he? He didn't even touch a weapon, did not hurt anyone. What could Tsunade want?
"Uchiha Sasuke, you may enter." A voice called out from behind the double doors.
Before he pushed open the doors, Sasuke smelled blood. It was faint, but it was coming from the office. When he entered the room, it was a little heavier.
"Ah, sorry for the smell." She noticed him grimace a little as he entered. "The Akatsuki is playing a revolting game." She wrinkled her nose in displeasure.
The Uchiha's eyes narrowed at the mention of the organization. "The Akatsuki is dead. Naruto's team killed them off."
Tsunade looked out of her window. "Don't be naïve, Sasuke. Just because your brother led them once, doesn't mean that another just as powerful will not come along and pick up the slack."
"Itachi is dead then." Sasuke stated calmly and she nodded her head in reply.
"Another by the name of Kamoku Akuma has declared himself the true leader of these Akatsuki bastards." She sighed and faced Sasuke. "But, there is a more important issue that I've called you here. Naruto has requested that you may be able to participate in the teams being organized for the safety of our village. He still believes in your abilities, and I have decided that I do also.
"Your three years are almost up, and I will send a message to the elders to see if they will approve of unsealing you again. Now is the perfect opportunity to prove that we are able to trust you once more. I will give you another chance, a little sooner than expected, but four more months isn't going to make much of a difference. I've already sent the scroll with the fastest hawk, so I just need to wait for their reply."
"You're going to give me back my chakra?" He asked blankly, wondering if this was a dream.
Tsunade smiled at his astonishment. "You owe me, Uchiha. Yes, I will unseal your chakra reserves." She turned serious again. "I cannot spare ANBU to baby-sit you. If I hear that you've escaped or betrayed us once more, there will absolutely be no mercy given. Understand?"
"Hai, Hokage-sama." He bowed curtly.
"You are dismissed. I will alert you as soon as word is received."
Sasuke bowed low and turned to go. His hand met the cold brass door handle but then her voice stopped him.
"Sasuke, don't make Sakura wait too long, or it might be too late! Life is short, and I'm positive you know that from first-hand experience." The Godaime called out, a grin on her lips.
Without a sign of acknowledgement, Sasuke disappeared out of the room.
Sakura sped through the night over the buildings, trying to spot a familiar slouched posture in the crowd. They would have to assemble tomorrow at sunup. It was already well past two in the morning.
"Damn it, Shikamaru." She muttered under her breath.
"I saw him near the gates with Ino."
Sakura wheeled around and skidded to a stop with difficulty. "Sasuke?" Her face broke into a smile and walked along the shingles of a roof towards him.
"Did you go to Tsunade-sama?"
He nodded and stretched. "I heard Naruto wants me to help."
For some reason, small fear struck Sakura's heart. "Yes, he recommended you to Tsunade-sama."
"I'll have to thank him then."
"Be careful, Sasuke. I'll do my best to check on you guys."
He smirked. "I'm always careful."
She had to smile at that. They had run out of things to say to each other and an awkward silence shifting through them uncomfortably. The wind embraced the pair in its cool arms as it caressed their hair and face. Words became useless and died in their chests. They both sighed at the same time then caught each other's eyes.
Uchiha Sasuke stepped closer and Haruno Sakura stayed where she was. He had an uncertain look on his face. His footsteps halted hesitantly and he had his hands burrowed in his pockets. Sakura barely dared to breathe.
"Be careful, Sakura." He muttered, tearing his gaze from her ivory face. He still had that uncertain expression evident on his face.
Sakura was actually quite disappointed at his words. She had expected something more than that, and she had no idea why. "I'll be careful. Don't worry." It was all she could reply. What else could she say?
"Go, Shikamaru has no idea what's happening." He said, regaining his composure, stowing away his uncertainty.
She nodded and gave him one last smile. Disappearing with a puff of smoke, Sasuke turned away. Something soft brushed past his cheek and he caught is swiftly. Upon opening his hand, he saw that it was a single petal of a sakura blossom. The wind picked it up from his hand and the petal seemed to dance alone in the air, swirling and twirling lively as the shinobi watched with his charcoal eyes.
Tenten was in their room, lying on her stomach on their soft futon, watching Chopsticks and Hanryo interact. Hanryo had been a little shy at first, not knowing what to do as the tomcat inspected the new feline that invaded his territory. But they both became very fond of each other that they were the best of friends in no time at all.
She giggled as Hanryo chased Chopsticks' tail. The two cats were making loud mews, carrying out to the garden. Hyuuga Neji slowly lifted one eye to reveal a beautiful pearl-colored iris. He had been meditating in the night but many things were distracting that night. The Hyuuga leader stood from his meditating rock and quietly made his way to the room which he and his wife shared.
"Tenten, you're not torturing them, are you?" He drawled as he slid open the shoji door.
Tenten smiled up at him, her chin resting on her hands. "They're just having fun, Neji."
Neji sat down on their futon next to his wife, his gaze wandering from the cats to the woman observing them. Tenten had her hair down, which flowed gently over her back, the auburn color shining its many tints of red and brown. A crescent moon gave off pale light through the rice paper of the doors. Because of it, he was able to see the porcelain color of her hands and face, her mahogany eyes sparkling with amusement as she watched her cats tussle playfully.
Tenten suddenly turned to meet his stare, almost drowning herself in his colorless eyes. "They seem to like each other a lot." She murmured softly.
The Hyuuga cocked an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
"They probably like each other more than we like each other." She teased, giggling at his unreadable expression. He did that if he was shocked about something.
A low growl erupted from his throat, but she didn't stop her laughing. His gaze hardened with a glimmer of mischievousness in it. Neji abruptly flipped Tenten over on her back, suppressing her cry of surprise with a kiss. Reaching for their blanket, he locked his wife in his strong arms in a firm embrace and covered them up.
Tenten kissed his chin. "You're a naughty one."
Neji smirked, "It's what I'm known for." His eyes traveled to his two cats still playing on the floor. They pawed each other, swiping away wisps of fur from one another. Chopsticks pounced on Hanryo, but she dodged gracefully from under him and shook her fluffy head.
Their marriage consisted of just the two of them and their two cats. It was a quiet life together with other members of the Hyuuga family residing in different parts of the manor. Neji was highly respected as was Tenten. It took an impressive woman for the Hyuuga leader to marry.
The two of them did not have children yet; Tenten asked Neji to wait. She didn't feel like she was ready to mother a child then. Though disheartened, he understood and did not pressure her. That did not mean that they did not share intimate nights, in fact, it was just the opposite.
Both were honored shinobi, vitally important to the village. When Orochimaru was defeated, they thought that peace was finally going to be permanent. It proved to be very naïve to think so. Akatsuki were causing trouble again and this time, the threat was even more dangerous than Orochimaru.
Neji and Tenten lay in the dark, the moonlight illuminating certain parts of their room. Shadows soundlessly snuck across the walls. Husband and wife stared at the ceiling together, only dwelled in each other's arms.
The both of them didn't speak until Tenten broke the silence. "Are you afraid of the Akatsuki coming here, Neji?"
He loosened his arms around her and pulled away slightly to be able to see her face to face. "No."
She smiled sadly. "You're not afraid of anything. I've always admired that."
Neji grunted and shifted his head. "I don't pretend to be fearless, Tenten."
"You used to." She chuckled and sighed. "When we were still genins, you knew no fear. Up until the day you went after Sasuke, you weren't afraid of anything."
He didn't answer. The Hyuuga seemed to be thinking. "I was being arrogant. As a Hyuuga, one should have no fears. As a mere man, having such fears makes one stronger. All of us have learned that the hard way."'
"I don't think I've ever been as scared as I am now."
Neji looked at her in surprise but his expression melted into a smug one. "Why should you be? You're married to a Hyuuga."
She lightheartedly punched his chest. "I'm scared that I might lose you. That's what I'm afraid of."
Her husband took off one of his arms from her waist, where it had been situated, and grasped her hand firmly. His face was set into a serious appearance, his brows furrowed. "You won't lose me. I promise."
"Then you won't lose me either, Hyuuga Neji." She whispered in the dark of their room.
"Good." He said solemnly. "If I do lose you, who else is going to bear my children?"
She suddenly turned a little aggressive. "No one."
It was not a matter to take lightly, but his chuckle rumbled like thunder in her ear.
The couple lay on their futon together, sharing the warmth of their blanket and their bodies. Slyly, Neji slipped a hand underneath Tenten's sleeping yukata to caress a soft stomach. She startled and slapped at his hand, but relaxed at his sudden touch anyway.
"Like you said, I am a naughty one." He huskily, his voice alone stirring a curious passion inside of his wife. "Do you want to play, koishii?"
Tenten's reply was cut off by a hungry kiss. She embraced the passion-filled night. Her mind went hazy as she felt Neji's hot kisses travel lower.
The two cats gazed at the strangely "playing" couple with their wide orbs. Both curled up next to each other and drifted off to sleep.
Author's notes: Ah, another chapter finished. I hope you liked the romantic moments. I changed the rating, too. I thought it kind of got a little violent in the latter chapters. It's a mere safety precaution. Hopefully, you enjoyed this one. I thought it was stupid like the previous one. I can't seem to imagine anymore good, awesome scenes to write for you all. T-T
Neji x Tenten: I think I should congratulate myself on that one. Wow, it turned out better than I hoped.
Sakura x Sasuke: Anyone getting frustrated with them? I am. I can't decide on the right time when feelings are unraveled. I'll figure it out.
Once more, cats help make the Neji x Tenten moment flow better…or not…maybe it gets too random for you. Tell me and I'll take them out.
Thank you for all of your reviews! They are always appreciated!