Kaze no Kuni is a land struck with deafening heat and constantly shrouded in storms of sand. It makes people outside the country wonder how its inhabitants could survive in such a disruptive environment. The people of the sand have been living in the deserts for decades, maybe even centuries. They have adapted to the sandy tempest, marking the grainy cliffs and the dusty plains in their heads. Suna's people have always thrived in the windy chaos, and it will stay that way for a very long time.
Unfortunately, outsiders aren't accustomed to the weather, especially during months of sand squalls. Most will actively avoid the country if the time comes. That's why it's strange to see a group of cloaked travelers trekking through the blistering sandstorm. The craggy grains of the desert swirled across them, accompanying the gales of wind blowing through the air. While not as dangerous as many would like to believe, sandstorms still prove to be a disastrous event to the inexperienced.
With their feet laced in chakra, the travelers forced themselves through the havoc of wind and sand. One of them, in particular, seemed to be unbothered compared to their companions. He shifted under his grey cloak and beckoned his followers to follow swiftly. Leisurely trudging through the deep golden grains, their eyes spotted the large concave cavity in front of them. Sandy ruins and geological deformations surrounded it, almost creating a thick barrier around it.
But the travelers paid it no mind and proceeded to hike down the cavity through the cleft leading towards the middle. As they passed through the sandy trench, the storm above them slightly halted under the wall, allowing some of them to pull down their goggles. But the winds were still strong enough to keep their masks on to prevent sand from slipping inside.
Everywhere they looked, they were greeted with stones and sand, eliciting groans of discomfort from the rest of the group. But the leader knew better, and his eyes surveyed the area. He could pick up the little footsteps running above them despite the harsh winds howling in his ears.
The unknown entities continued to follow their trek until they walked out of the arches and were greeted by an entire village shrouded in a hail of sand churning across the entire sector. Sunagakure, the Hidden Village in the Sand, stood strong amid the storm. Few of its residents are even seen outside their homes, fixing their porches and watering their plants as if nothing is wrong.
The clay buildings appeared to be thick, reinforced with stucco to hold strong against storms like this. Wooden windows rattled against the walls. A chaotic jingle sang all across the village from the bronze wind chimes. The few people out wore heavy, thick garments around their bodies and face but kept their feet bare for some odd reason.
In the middle of the village stood a large structure in the shape of a sphere. Painted on the wall is a bloodied symbol of Suna, and the rust decorating the roof's edges spoke of its age. Jagged fences encircled the perimeter, providing a barrier for the building.
As the travelers finally arrived at their destination, the head of the group subtly leaned over to the side. "You can come out now. I just want to meet your Hokage. After all, he's been expecting me for a while now." came his honeyed voice.
It took a few seconds, but their hidden followers soon revealed themselves. Almost blending in with the storm, mantles of sand swirled before them, and out emerged a trio of individuals swathed in brown and kimono. A turban-like headdress masked their features, revealing only their cold gazes between the cloth. Clutched tightly in their hands are a pair of blades, one shorter than the other, trained at the strangers' forms.
The travelers, sans the leader, jumped into a defensive stance. One of them opened their robes to reveal two pairs of arms, each holding a kunai at hand. Another had their hand out with a bone-like knife jutting out of their wrist. The larger one took a step forward to counter any incoming attack quickly but was halted by the head of the group, who held a hand up.
"Let's all calm down. This is supposed to be a diplomatic meeting," they said with an air of calmness, but both sides refused to let up.
That is, until another person appeared from a swirl of sand. The man wore the standard attire of a Suna-nin with a distinct, white headgear that allowed a white sheet of cloth to cover half of his features, displaying his proud red markings across the right side of his face.
"ANBU, stand down. The Hokage has indeed been expecting them," he spoke with a deep, authoritative voice.
The trio of Suna's ANBU nodded in understanding, concealing their weapons back in their garments and dematerializing into a shroud of sand. Once they were gone, the travelers eventually allowed their stances to relax, but they remained vigilant. After all, they're in hostile territory until agreements are finished, one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries at that.
The remaining Suna jonin regarded the travelers with a hard gaze, clearly distrusting any of their apparent intentions, especially the one leading them. However, he still has to follow his orders. "Follow me, delegates of Otogakure." he greeted stonily.
He then led them into the Kage Edifice, passing through halls of rough sandstone and numerous Suna-nin reporting to their duties, all of whom cautiously eyed the strangers with a dangerous gleam. The travelers kept their robes on to keep the unwanted attention from growing even further. The group stopped before the front doors of an office, the Kazekage's office, to be exact.
The man knocked. "Kazekage-sama, I have brought them," he said politely, contrasting with when he greeted them.
"Send them in." a resonant voice responded after a minute.
Once the doors opened, they were immediately assaulted by a frigid gaze belonging to a man bearing a striking shade of auburn hair. The lesser-willed travelers froze under the presence of the Kazekage, who donned a white kimono with green highlights and the signature hat that presented the symbol of Suna. However, two of the group managed to shrug off the killing intent with ease. One of them even smiled in response, earning an eyebrow from the Kazekage.
The man then turned to the Suna jonin. "Thank you, Baki. Now, leave us." he dictated.
Baki hesitated for a second, unwilling to leave his Kazekage with a group of strangers. But the commanding glare from his leader forced him to accept the order with a bow. He swiftly left the office, but not without glowering at the travelers. If they try anything, he'll be the first to cut them down if the Kazekage will not have already.
Once the jonin left, the head of the group immediately went to work. "Kazekage-sama, how honorable it is to meet you." The delegate laced his words with as much sincerity as possible, but it was quickly scoffed at by the Kage.
"Spare me the false pleasantries and get to the point." Rasa isn't a patient man, and he has no time to be showered with worthless praise.
A frown barely flickered across the delegate's features for a second, but it was quickly recovered. "Very well. Otogakure extends a hand to your village, Kazekage-sama. We wish to form an alliance with the sole purpose of achieving our shared goal." he replied.
Rasa regarded the 'stranger' with a curious look. "And what is that?"
A smirk curved up under the delegate's mask. "The destruction of Konoha." he declared, sending ripples across the air.
The hidden ANBU in the office shifted uncomfortably under the malicious presence of the man. Their duty to shred the threat into pieces was momentarily resisted, for they lacked the orders to do so. Meanwhile, Rasa barely reacted to the proclamation, and one might even see disinterest in his stern features.
Despite being allied with Konoha, Rasa despised the agreement. To the world, it looks like Suna is latching onto the economy of another village to sustain its dying body. Their village suffered greatly after the Third Shinobi War, and he made the desperate decision to ally with Konoha, one that he regretted even before the agreement. While it prolonged the village's lifespan, it didn't erase the fact that they were slowly losing resources. It doesn't help that Konoha receives most of the commissions, lowering their mission rate.
Oh, how tempted he is to simply invade Konoha, but the reluctant truth is that the Leaf remains to be the strongest village in the entire Elemental Nations, and it would be imprudent to invade them, especially with his weaker shinobi force. As strong as Rasa is, he isn't stupid enough to believe he alone can stand against Konoha's might if he dares to wage war with them.
The only reason why he hasn't disregarded the delegate's foolish statement is due to the nature of Otogakure. The village spawned out of nowhere, garnering plenty of attention because of the huge explosion in numbers. Most of the shinobi came from the minor shinobi clans living in Ta no Kuni before it was renamed Oto no Kuni, increasing their military force exponentially.
However, what really drew his interest was their Kage, who had sent a message to him for a meeting. At first, he refused to acknowledge such a new village, but that was until he found out who their leader was. It was a surprise, but it only made his curiosity grow. Now that he knows the intention of their alliance, he couldn't help but consider it.
"What makes you think we stand a chance?" Rasa decided to ask. "Konoha has grown even stronger after the war, even after the Kyuubi attack. They have raised a few notable names. Have you heard of their newest creation, the Ōgonshoku Dai Uzu? Slain hundreds of missing-nin. Reshaped Kusa's forests? Even I'm not arrogant enough to face their spawns alone. How will we benefit from your alliance?"
The delegate smiled. "How about your son? I can—"
Unfortunately, he wasn't able to finish. An oppressive force brought every single person, including the hidden ANBU, down to their knees. The delegate remained standing, albeit with a bit of a struggle, but he refused to lower himself. His gaze met Rasa's, and a flash of gold pierced his being. He then shifted his attention to the slithering, golden sand making its way toward him.
Like snakes, they lunged and latched onto his body. He could feel the tiny grains creeping up his form, wrapping his limbs in a cocoon. It's almost recreating his own coffin before him, ready to bury him under the Suna's deserts for no one to remember. He could feel the tendrils of golden sand itching to suffocate him, to break every single bone in his body until there was nothing but brittle.
"Choose your words carefully, delegate of Otogakure. You are balancing a line between life and death. One wrong answer, and I will leave your bones to be swallowed by the storm." Rasa snarled, curving his hand upward as the sand followed its lord's lead and hugged the vulnerable throat of the traveler.
Despite being deprived of air, the delegate had a smile under his wraps. "I- I can fix your son's seal." he rasped out.
In one short second, the crushing pressure disappeared, and the sand slowly retracted from the man's body, the golden grains sliding back to the small canister strapped to his waist with the name 'Karura' painted on it. The rest of the room took one big breath after the force faded away, allowing them to rise from their knees, albeit with great effort.
Rasa allowed his ferocious glare to remain on the delegate, but he couldn't hide the shock in his eyes. "You lie." he hissed out.
A chuckle was his response. "I tell nothing but the truth, Kazekage-sama. It has come to my attention that your son's seal is… defective. Allow me to fix it, and your weapon will no longer be a failure."
The Kazekage narrowed his eyes at the man. He isn't surprised that he knows about his son being a Jinchuriki. After all, he made no attempt to hide it and even allowed the news to spread a bit, simply to intimidate his enemies. But the knowledge of the defective seal is something he has been keeping under wraps, and for someone like him to find out could only mean one thing—there are traitors in his village.
Rasa placed that thought behind for now. The one that interests him more is the offer being given to him. "If I agree, who will fix the seal? As far as I know, there are but a few sealmasters left in this world."
The redhead's statement only drew a snake-like smile from the delegate, who began to shed the white and brown garments from his face. The first thing people saw was a pair of sickly-yellow eyes with slitted pupils unnervingly reflecting the scene before him. Next came his chalk-white skin that lacked any blemishes or scars, yet it appeared just as petrifying. Two purple marks ran down from his eyelids to his pronounced nose. A cruel smile decorated his features, one that revealed his abnormally sharp teeth that resembled fangs.
"Surprised to see me, Kazekage-sama?" This time, the mention of his title came as sardonic, almost bordering mocking.
There was no visible emotion on Rasa's face except for a wooden stare. To anyone else, he looked blankly inscrutable. "I see. I never thought you would meet me personally. You surprised me yet again, Orochimaru." He spoke of his name as if it was a curse, and considering his crimes, it isn't that far off.
The Snake Sannin gave an unctuous chuckle. "I find that hard to believe. So, do you accept my offer?"
Rasa frowned. "Why would I allow a weapon as powerful as Gaara to be handled in the hands of the likes of you?"
"Because, with the seal defective, you will never unleash his true potential. He will remain unstable and uncontrollable. Will you be able to stop him if he decides to… rebel?" Orochimaru arched an eyebrow, his oily smile slowly curving up his face.
Rasa wouldn't admit it, but he had already passed his prime. Back in the days of the Third Shinobi War, he could flood entire countries with his sand and bury an entire village worth of people under his might. Despite that, recapturing the Ichibi has been his most difficult feat yet, and now that he has lost some of his strength, he could only wonder who would be able to stop him.
However, Orochimaru is not to be trusted. He may have some semblance of respect for the Snake Sannin, but the label of a traitor, a twisted one at that, doesn't bode well with those who ally with him. At least the average missing-nin can have their loyalties earned with ryo, but a man such as Orochimaru has more cunning and abnormal desires. One wrong move will earn him a blade in his chest, and he has no wish to pass on the hat just yet.
"Can you certainly fix the seal?" Rasa asked, but he carefully trod over the slippery exchange.
"I may not be as skilled as Jiraiya, but I dabble myself with a few seals here and there. A simple Shishō Fūin will fix your little Jinchuriki problem." Orochimaru replied casually. "So, do we have a deal?"
Everything in Rasa's body is screaming at him to refuse, but the offer is so tempting. Not only will Gaara be free from his maniacal state, but he will finally have the chance to raise the power of Suna. He could almost relish it—the delicious taste of victory and pride.
But his logical side reprimanded the devil on his shoulder. Orochimaru is just as dangerous as Gaara, maybe not in terms of power but influence. He managed to coax entire shinobi clans into his village, prideful but desperate ones who would cling to any opportunity for power.
It sounds awfully familiar.
But yet again, is that not the truth? The sight of his children flashed in his head; their innocent smiles reminded him of his late wife. Gaara, his supposed failure, could finally be restored to his past self. The same boy who would bounce on his lap. The same boy who murdered hundreds of his people in just a year. The same boy who would be the ultimate weapon against Konoha—to save Suna.
To save his people.
To save his children.
To save… him.
Rasa closed his eyes and allowed some of his age to show. "I want to be there when you fix him. I bear no trust in you, but the benefits outweigh the losses. I suspect the same goes for you." He replied, frowning when he saw the snake's lips grow wider, not even attempting to hide his cruel glee.
"Don't worry, Kazekage-sama. I'll make sure to take good care of him."
No one in the room believed his words.
"You know, fighting trees won't increase your swordsmanship."
Naruto hummed, attacking the poor shredded oaks with his makeshift sword. Many trees have already fallen victim to his blade, and this one will soon join the rest in the afterlife. Pieces of bark and flutters of leaves littered the forest floor. Linear scrapes of dirt spread across the ground due to Naruto's chaotic footwork. The fact that most of the trees he cut down will be used to build the bridge Tazuna is constructing helps his deforestation case.
"You see anyone else volunteering?" The blond countered in between grunts. "I need to keep my skills sharp if I'm going to have to go against Ameyuri Ringo. Our last bout showed me I still have much to learn before I can wield her sword."
Kakashi quietly sat under one of the undisturbed oaks in the forest, smiling to himself as he read another passage in his favorite series. An occasional giggle would slip from time to time, but he mostly kept to himself. He decided to accompany his friend in his training because he didn't want to be trapped in an empty room and a rabid boy glaring at him all day.
"I see you found yourself a rival. Care to tell me how that happened?" The scarecrow decided to indulge his curiosity.
Naruto sent one last swipe down the oak's trunk, allowing the sharp gales of his blade to cleave through the bark like butter. "I won't say she's my rival. I would say that she's… an opportunity. A chance to grow stronger." he said, ignoring the tree crashing down to the forest's floor.
"Isn't that the purpose of a rival?"
"Shut up."
Kakashi chuckled. "You know, Yugao and Hayate will be sad to hear that you don't consider them as your rivals."
"I hold nothing against them. But fighting against the same style for years won't really help me improve. They're skilled swordsmen but lack the diversity and flexibility that some other swordsmen have, like Ameyuri Ringo." Naruto explained with a sigh.
He's been dueling with Yugao Uzuki and Hayate Gekko for nearly seven years, and they practically know each other's moves by now. None of them win their battles due to a superiority of skill, but through experience on how to cancel each other's styles. It slowly became a chore to fight each other, and unless one of them picked up a new sword style, none of them would improve.
Fortunately, Naruto encountered someone who could actually push him to defeat in terms of swordsmanship. The Kiri no Shinobigatana Shichinin Shū are famous for their skills with the blade, and that's not factoring their abnormal styles due to their unique set of swords. Countering their styles is a near-impossible task; the only way to defeat them is to overwhelm them with sheer power.
Naruto could easily do that the first time he and Ameyuri crossed blades, but he wanted to rely on his swordsmanship, and just as he thought, he needed more experience. He needs more training…
"Speaking of training, how did the girls fare in their training?" he asked, taking a swig of water from the bottle he had brought.
"It was fine. Sakura has an earth affinity, while the Hyuga princess has a water affinity. I both had them do the standard chakra nature training and taught them how to do it. They're progressing at an average rate. Nothing noteworthy." Kakashi replied off-handedly.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you didn't offer them a jutsu as well. That's how you did it with me when you found out I got a water affinity."
"No offense to them, but they're not quick learners like you. I still remember you mastering the jutsu I gave you in less than a week."
A smirk made its way on the blond's face. "Yeah, I also remember receiving three more after you lost that bet with Kurenai. Oh, what a wonderful day that is."
Kakashi scowled unnaturally. "It was horrible. No Icha-Icha for an entire month? Jiraiya-sama was also going to release another volume at that time!"
"Yeah, so is every jonin and chunin in Konoha, possibly the entire world." Naruto rolled his eyes. "By the way, you should be in bed right now. You'll open your wounds if you keep moving around."
"Hey, hey… have some faith in your student's handiwork. She did a good job stitching me up." Kakashi attempted to placate the blond. "A great job, in fact. For a genin, she's a pretty good medic."
Naruto hummed in agreement. "Yeah. Do you know that her chakra control is so near perfect that it scares me that someone like that exists? I thought only Tsunade Senju possessed something like that. Though it's a good thing, she took an interest in iryojutsu. We need more medics like Tsunade."
As Kakashi was about to reply, a shout broke through their conversation. "Kakashi-san!" Tsunami suddenly emerged from the trees, dressed in a plain blue dress and a maroon apron. "Please return to the house. You're still not healed, and I would rather not risk your wounds opening."
"Maa, maa. It's fine, Tsunami-san. I'll be…." Kakashi's words trailed off when he was targeted by Tsunami's glare, which exuded an aura that could be compared to how a mother would scold their child. Kakashi had never experienced having a mother, yet all instincts in his body screamed to obey.
"Okay…" the scarecrow sighed, dragging his feet along the dirt and lowering his head while a metaphorical cloud of depression rained above him.
Tsunami let up her glare and smiled warmly at Naruto, "Good luck in your…" she glanced at all the fallen trees with a sweatdrop. She chalked it all up to the plenty of oddities amongst the shinobi, which included reading smut around children and actual child soldiers. "...training, Naruto-san. I'll set up a good meal for you when you return."
Naruto returned the smile. "That'll be great, Tsunami-san. Make sure to tie Kakashi to the bed so he won't leave," he called out, receiving a look of betrayal from his silver-haired friend.
"Okay, goodbye, Naruto-san!" the widow called out while dragging a dejected Kakashi in tow.
Once the two left, the blond went back to his training. Summoning his chakra into his hand, swirls of wind began to spiral along his arm before shifting into a twisted form of a blade. It looked like a standard katana, but there was the added benefit of cutting with both edges. It certainly added a lot more personality to his style when he could surprise his opponents by reversing his swing and cutting them down in the process.
He had first created the Hisan'na Soyokaze as a counter against strong taijutsu users and those who prefer close combat, such as Might Guy, who can cancel the distance between them in a matter of milliseconds. So, he took on a sword, one that bore the weight of less than a feather and the sharpness of an eagle's talon. With this, he is able to force those types of opponents to distance themselves and allow Naruto to gain an advantage.
He still lost to Might Guy in their rematch though, but that didn't stop him from continuing to train.
His mother had been a great swordmaster, one who could've been greater if she hadn't decided to quit becoming a shinobi once he was born. Since he honored his father by taking up his signature jutsu, he decided to replicate his mother's skill with the blade. So far, Naruto would consider himself rather experienced, but not enough to defeat true swordmasters such as Mifune of Tetsu no Kuni and the Kiri no Shinobigatana Shichinin Shū.
So, he will continue to train his swordsmanship until he is worthy enough to take up her blade.
There's not a lot he can do with a tree, but he could still practice his control over his sword. Sometimes, having a blade with no real mass or weight can really be a pain in the ass.
SNAP!
As quick as light, Naruto lunged with his wuthering sword. For all intents and purposes, he should've struck down the person who was supposedly sneaking behind him with a malicious aura. He expected to cut down one of Gato's lackeys or maybe even a rogue missing-nin. It came to his surprise that not only had his blade missed, but the target had also been a frightened young girl holding a basket of herbs. She looked no older than Tayuya, and judging by the plain, pink kimono she was wearing, it's safe to assume that she was a civilian.
Time froze between them. Their eyes remained on each other in complete shock, a series of emotions running through their hearts. It was only broken when the young girl clumsily fell to her butt, shakingly clutching her basket and cautiously eyeing Naruto's tense form, who still had his blade trained on her. The two stayed in those positions for quite some time before the blond's panic broke it.
"Oh, shit. I'm so sorry!" He immediately dispelled his sword and went to help the girl up.
The charcoal-haired girl hesitated to take his hand, but the frantic worry on the blond's face finally convinced her. "N- no, it was my fault, shinobi-san. I should've known better than to sneak up behind a shinobi." she smiled faintly.
Naruto chuckled uncomfortably. "Nah, attacking a… civilian isn't exactly part of the job description."
"Well, then, I guess we're both at fault here. My name is Haku, by the way," she said with a calmer smile. The basket in her arms shifted against her kimono as she bowed in greeting.
The blond returned the gesture. "Name's Naruto Namikaze. Nice to meet you!" he replied cheerfully. "What are you doing here, Haku-san? This place isn't exactly the safest right now." In fact, Naruto had requested the bridge-builder to keep the citizens away from the forest for the time being. Mostly to avoid any accidents, such as this one right now.
"I… can see that." Haku eyed the trees around them, or more precisely, the lack thereof. It looked as if a storm had passed through the forest, yet none of the people felt any change in the weather. She could only guess this was his handiwork. "Well, I was actually planning to pick up a few herbs here, but from what I could see, it would take a long time to find them."
Naruto paled. "Oh, shit. I'm so sorry. I should've thought about that before… trashing the place."
"Oh, it's fine. I'm sure there are still some patches lying around that haven't been covered." Haku reassured him.
"I'll help you. As payment for my… actions," he said, joining the girl in picking the herbs she needed.
Fortunately, they uncovered a patch of land that was untouched by Naruto's destructive training, and it appeared to have more than enough herbs for Haku. It only took them cutting through an entire oak trunk to access through. As the two pick the necessary leaves, Haku decides to give in to her curiosity.
"I noticed you've been training hard if the trees around us are any signs," she remarked, grabbing Naruto's attention. 'You seem to be pretty strong."
"Well, you could say that. But I'm still aiming higher." the blond replied. There's no reason to be humble. He is considered one of the strongest shinobi in the village, and the fact that most don't know about that always amuses him. One of the few perks of being in ANBU is the anonymity. The only reason why his moniker was placed in the Bingo Book was because of his not-so-subtle actions during his time as ANBU Captain, such as deleting an entire forest.
"I wonder… why are you training so hard? There are many things in this world that will beat you back down if you stand up to them. The most rational thing to do is to stay down, yet why do you try? What makes you strong?" Haku paused her actions to glance at the man next to him.
Naruto locked eyes with her, matching the intensity churning between those pools that no civilian should ever have. The response was quick and lacked hesitation. "To protect my family. I know this world is cruel, which is why I'm training so hard. I already did my best to protect them, but I know that it isn't enough." he replied. "If you were given the chance, would you sacrifice your life for the one you wish to protect?"
"Yes."
The response was absolute, with pure conviction. From just staring into her eyes, Naruto could already see all the hardships she struggled through in life. He had seen it so many times in other shinobi, other veterans of war. Some try to find happiness after that, and some give up, leaving this world full of regrets. The fact that she's standing right now with determination proves how strong she is.
"I see." Naruto hummed to himself. "I suppose you also have someone to protect."
Haku smiled. "Yes. He might not be the best person, but I owe my life to him." The pure devotion in her voice told him everything he needed to know. It's obvious she cares and will do anything for this person. Too bad she's an enemy.
"I guess it's safe to assume that you've had some training as well. After all, it would take quite a lot of speed to avoid my blade."
Haku stiffened. The comment came so naturally that she almost missed it. The carefree atmosphere remained between them, yet she couldn't help but feel tense. There was no accusation in his voice. In fact, she might even say he was impressed.
Appearing not to notice her frozen state, Naruto continued. "But I shouldn't be surprised. After all, anyone who accompanies two of the Kiri no Shinobigatana Shichinin Shū should be pretty strong. That reminds me. Don't think I forgive you for burying me under all that ice."
It was clearly a joke. Naruto even chuckled good-naturedly, showing that he wasn't offended at all. But Haku was already tense. The senbon she had hidden under her skirt is already ready to be summoned into her hand. With her feet coiled to spring into action, her frantic mind ignored the amusement in his voice and took his words as a threat.
"Hyōton: Koori Tsubame no Jutsu!"
The moisture above him began to solidify, absorbing the water in the air to form jagged blades of ice with the tips aimed down at the nonchalant Naruto. After a few seconds, about a hundred of these kunai-like projectiles were hovering above him. It didn't take long before all of them sailed towards the blond at speeds faster than how an average shinobi would throw them.
Unfortunately for Haku, taking down Naruto would take a lot more than a bunch of kunai carved from ice.
"Futon: Kaiten Tate." The blond gathered a spiral of wind chakra into his palm and spread it above him in an arc, creating a gyrating bubble of gales as protection.
Sure enough, the incoming jagged icicles were instantly shredded into tiny shrapnels. Applying more chakra to the jutsu, Naruto propelled the bubble forward and turned the remaining blades into a cloud of dust while keeping his gaze locked on the agitated form of Haku.
The blond sighed as he stood up, raising his hands placatingly. "Y'know, I'm pretty sure that—"
"Hyōton: Jigoku no Yari!"
The charcoal-haired girl wasted no time in conjuring another assault, slamming her hands against the dirt and manipulating the water in the soil. Once again, Naruto is forced to avoid another attack. This time, frozen spears suddenly jut out from the ground and attempt to skewer him. Fortunately, he summoned his sword just in time to block all the blades. Twisting the sharpened gales in his hand, he tore through the icy poles with just one swipe.
Releasing a sigh, he tried hiding his twitching eye and raised his hands again to calm the situation down, though he added more force to his words. "Will you just listen to me for one—"
Only to hold his blade up again to block another set of spearheads emerging from the frozen floor, eliciting a frustrated cry from Naruto. He leapt into the air to avoid them, but much to his surprise, the spears extended farther than he thought and followed him to the air.
With Naruto preoccupied, Haku took this opportunity to end the battle or, at least, hold the blond powerhouse back so she could escape. She immediately rejected the idea of using her trump card because it required her to be present in the jutsu for it to work. Being close to him doesn't exactly bode well after seeing him match Ameyuri Ringo in close combat. The only option is to keep her distance and immobilize or potentially distract him.
'I guess I have no choice then.'
With one particular jutsu in mind, Haku prepared to perform it. She extended her arms into the air, feeling every water molecule in the area. She could feel the individual atoms spiraling across the air, the trees, the ground, and even on Naruto himself. Her fingers fiddled, almost as if she could hold them and manipulate them before her very hand. Icy mist exhaled from her pores, and she breathed out,
"Hijutsu: Ten no Itetsuita Arechi."
And the world froze.
Naruto's vision was blinded by a sudden white hue overtaking the entire area. It was only when he opened his eyes that he realized the conditions he was in. Everywhere he looked, he was greeted with ice. From the soil on the ground to the bark of the trees to the autumn leaves falling to the floor. A breath left his lips, and a billow of cold mist emerged from his mouth.
Tracing a finger around his neck, he uncovered a tiny frozen pearl that used to be a drop of sweat. Naruto stared up, which was returned by the white clouds above, blocking the rays of the midday sun from penetrating through. Every micromovement elicited a crack or a crunch from the ice. Even blinking felt harder than usual.
The blond attempted to move his arm and was surprised to feel a bit of weight pulling him down. Gazing down, his tempest of a sword is now a shadow of its former self or, more accurately, a frozen shadow. The blade had solidified, leaving a frozen cocoon enveloping his forearm and tendrils of ice coiled around his bicep where the wisps of wind would usually end.
"Don't try to move. You'll break your legs if you do." a voice suddenly echoed from the silence.
Naruto glanced down at his legs; sure enough, strings of ice connected his legs to the ground. Those had originally been gusts of concentrated air shooting from the pores of his legs and propelling him up into the air. It looks like even the tiniest and insignificant forms of matter have also been trapped in this icy wasteland.
"Pretty impressive." Naruto's voice came out dry, almost as if he was speaking against sandpaper. "If this is what the Yuki clan had been capable of, then I fear their power even more than before."
Haku frowned in response. "I wouldn't assume that. We were a peaceful clan. I've only achieved this kind of strength because I had to. As Zabuza-sama's tool and weapon, I must be in my most powerful state to be useful to him. "
"I see." Naruto hummed. "I guess he is the one you were talking about?"
The charcoal-haired girl nodded. "Yes. I'm sorry for deceiving you, Naruto-san. But this is goodbye. The next time we meet, it will be as enemies. In another world, we may have been friends. Maybe even brothers. But unfortunately, destiny works in different ways. So long, Naruto Namikaze."
As she turned around to leave, she heard a rough chuckle coming from the man.
"You seem pretty arrogant to stand in front of me and boast your strength like that. You could've used my shock to escape, but you decided to stay behind and lord your power of over me."
A frown made its way up Haku's face. "What do you mean, Naruto-san?"
Naruto's reply is simply a smirk, and the stalactite closed around his forearm was forcefully broken by his bare hand. Haku stepped forward to prepare for another fight, only to take one back when the blond opted to extend his arms out into the air and spoke a single yet ominous word.
"Suikomu (Inhale)"
He then curled his appendages, almost as if he was grabbing something, and slightly pulled. What came next could only be pulled from fiction as the air around him began to follow his movements and flow along his hands. Almost as if he summoned hypocenters with their own gravity onto his palms, reality began to shift and twist, pulling gas particles into the mass spiraling along his hands.
All the ice around him suddenly began to sublime, spirals of icy gas slowly chipping off the frozen wasteland around them. In a perfect reenactment of the end of the Ice Age, Naruto absorbed the air trapped within the ice and gathered it into his hands, condensing them into two vacuum orbs. Life returned to the forest; the sun's rays finally penetrated the weakened clouds, and the golden leaves of the oaks burst into color.
Howls roared across the forest as the ice slowly melted around them, leaving streams of water running along the once-frozen soil. Haku could only stare at the scene in horror, her feet rooted into the ground. She could see the disaster forming right in front of her, churning and twisting, and with every second ticking, the chances of everything collapsing grew higher.
Soon, no trace of her ice was left. Not even a single shard or pearl. This man, no… this monster, had literally sucked the air out of the ice. She had never seen something like that before, and she doubted she would ever see it again. The volume of wind and air in his hands could only be compared to a hurricane, with the eyes of the storm looming over her with the aura of a god.
Naruto began to close his hand slowly. The mass of chaotic wind spirits howled frantically, shrieking to be released but to no avail. With just his bare hands, the blond contained the storm with a snap, and silence fell over the forest.
Haku looked as if she was frozen herself, but her shaky breaths and wide eyes were signs of consciousness. The panic only grew when Naruto stalked forward, eyes trained on her form like a lion preying on a tiny rabbit. He stepped over the puddles of water that remained from the ice and stopped when he was inches away from her face.
"Are you going to kill me?" her voice, calm and soothing as silk, but it was all an illusion to hide her fear. Maybe she would've embraced such a death in the past, but with Zabuza still alive and waiting for her to return, she refuses to leave this place as a corpse.
Fortunately, Naruto isn't looking to kill anyone, and if she had been a little bit calmer a few minutes ago, then she would've known that.
"No. A young girl like you still has so much future ahead of you. Besides, how would you protect your precious person if you're dead?" Naruto said, earning a look of surprise from Haku. "We are not enemies, at least not right now. So, don't worry about that."
"I… apologize for overreacting." she bowed hesitantly. "I admit, when I first saw you, I wanted to return the wounds you gave Zabuza-sama. But after conversing with you, it seems we share common qualities, and I… respect that."
The blond smiled. "Same to you. However, I do dislike the way you view yourself. A tool? Really? That's not exactly the best role." he scowled at that. It reminded him too much of Danzo and how the entire organization of ROOT works.
"Zabuza-sama picked me up for the sole reason of being used as his weapon, and I will gladly accept that. He gave me a purpose to live, a purpose of staying strong, and I will stand by my position until the day I die." the soft-spoken Haku stated with pure conviction.
Naruto frowned, but he knew when someone stood by their beliefs. It would be useless to try and debate with someone so determined, but that doesn't mean he has to like it. How could he let someone live a life like this when he did so much to prevent the same situation for Mito? However, there's nothing he can do.
He could only hope that underneath the cold and ruthless exterior of the Kirigakure no Kijin lies a heart.
"I see, then I hope you do well in your… endeavors." Naruto smiled nonetheless.
Haku returned the smile. "The same to you, Naruto-san."
The two stared at each other as friends for the last time because the next time they met, it would be on the battlefield. Truly, the world is as cruel as people say it is.
As the charcoal-haired girl picked up her basket of hers and turned around to walk back to her cabin, she turned around with a mischievous smile. "Oh, by the way, Naruto-san. I'm a boy." With that, she—he left with a silent giggle, unknowingly leaving a dumbfounded blond behind.
Fifteen minutes had passed, and Naruto still stood frozen in the middle of the wrecked forest with a bewildered look on his face. Thousands of calculations and mathematical formulas ran through his head as if he was deciphering a secret code. A literal evidence board is being rearranged in his mindscape. But he couldn't figure it out, no matter how much he tried.
How the fuck is he so pretty?
Sakura's first C-rank mission had been a disaster—at least for her. It had been a traumatic experience, having a personal encounter with death and witnessing humanity's worst crimes unfold before her. She could still feel the blood stains on her face, no matter how much she bathed herself.
The pinkette thought that her next missions would be a lot easier, missions like what Ino got during her first C-rank mission. Alas, it seems fate has its own decisions and decided to place her in another horrible situation. Meeting missing-nins wasn't part of her itinerary for the day or the week, but Kami loved playing with their creations' lives.
While she could say that she was glad nothing terrifying had yet to fall on her, it didn't make her experience any better.
Sakura doesn't even know why she's meandering around the town. Her sensei had given them this time to rest for a bit. Still, she didn't want to stay in Tsunami's house, where Inari spent literally every minute berating everyone and repeating the ominous warning that they'll all die facing Gato. She didn't want to be around a creepy kid like him, even though she considered his words.
She couldn't help but dread how a single man could turn a bustling trading country into this.
Everywhere she looked was just a mass, grey of depression circulating the town. If she thought the prisoners they saved during her first C-rank mission were miserable, they're nothing compared to the lifeless movements of the citizens of Nami. Their eyes, even the children's, spoke of great despair. Women and men wandered aimlessly, their forms defeated and deprived of hope.
Some resorted to drinking their sorrows off, evidenced by the few unconscious drunks lying around. Others continued their jobs without rest, working until their bodies would no longer take it. The entire town reeked of rotten meat and smoke. There are hardly any stores, except for the occasional street vendors who barely focused on their stations.
It looks like a future ghost town, and she's here to witness it convert. The dark atmosphere dampened every flicker of positivity she had left. Not even the thought of cuddling with Sasuke brought her joy. The scene before her starts to break her heart, and she wishes to do something about it. But from what Naruto-sensei said, they would have to wait patiently.
The question is, can the people of Nami do the same?
"Shinobi-san! Shinobi-san!"
A desperate cry broke Sakura out of her thoughts. Turning her head, she was greeted by a woman plagued with exhaustion and distress, as seen by the dark bags under her eyes and her gaunt form. But what took her attention was the scraggly, young boy cradled in her arms. Skin as pale as the moon, blood ran down the boy's lips, the only sign of color on his being.
"Please, save my son. He's been sick for months, but he just started coughing blood. Please! Heal my son." The troubled mother practically fell on her knees and begged rather tearfully.
The woman seems to misinterpret shinobi as miracle workers, beings of impossible powers. To a civilian who has no basic understanding of chakra and its users, they might as well be. But Sakura knew the truth. Saving a child from an unknown disease is next to impossible, at least for her. She barely cracked the surface of medicine, and she's expected to create a miracle cure?
The pinkette knew she should've refused; tell her that she was no better than the doctors she visited, that not every shinobi can cure her son.
She didn't know what compelled her to take the child from her arms and use every bit of her knowledge to save this dying boy. Why is she frantically searching for a cure that never existed in her med-pack? The world began closing in on her, a shroud of darkness looming over her, judging her for her useless actions.
But she kept going.
The boy's bones barely had any weight. It almost felt like it would break under any form of pressure. Another cough came from him, causing another stream of blood to run down his chin and onto the muddy road. Ever so slowly, his eyes drooped down, allowing the sweet embrace of slumber to claim him. Unfortunately, it won't be as peaceful as his younger years.
Sakura's hands trembled as she held a syringe over the bottle. She dared not to attempt using the Shōsen Jutsu on him. She had seen and heard of the repercussions of using such a complicated technique with little experience. So, she had to resort to chemical medicine, but doubts immediately crept into her mind.
Is this the right medication? No, but it won't hurt to try, right?
But what if she makes it worse? Could she make it worse? The boy is already dying, and anything will help for now. His life is now in her hands, and she has to make a decision. But which is the right answer?
"Sometimes, life kicks you to the curb. There will be no correct choice, and you'll have to decide which will yield the least consequences. You can't save everyone, but that doesn't mean you can't try."
Takumi's words echoed in her head but failed to calm the pinkette. In fact, it brought her even more anxiety. If the answer is so obvious, why can't she figure out what it is?
Time is starting to tick by, and Sakura is still frozen in hysteria. The mother's cries of misery barely registered in her ears, nor was the growing crowd around them affecting her. Everything is moving so fast, yet so slow at the same time. This boy is dying, and it's her fault if he does. Every single person in this town will blame her if she allows him to die. The oath she had taken to save people will shatter before her, and her right to become a medic will no longer be achievable.
Ever so slowly, she pierced the needle through the skin and into his deltoid. The medicine she had used was a universal concoction to expunge any common virus in the body. Rare ailments such as the chakra virus and MPA are not affected by this, so Sakura is rather hopeful that the child is simply suffering from a common disease that has no treatment.
The following seconds were the longest she had ever experienced. The metaphorical clock in the sky ticked soundlessly, beating along with her pumping heart. Every breath she took felt toxic. Each time sent a burning feeling down her throat and lungs, only to find out that none of it was real. Despite administering the medicine, her hands continued to tremble, forcing her to hide them near her chest.
The weary mother caressed her son's bloodless cheeks, waiting for a sign of relief. But alas, none came. The boy's eyes remained closed. The murmurings of the crowd died down. No one spoke a word as they watched the boy's chest slowly rise and fall. It's been a constant symbol of the boy's life, as well as the small wisp of cold air leaving his nose.
Everyone watched it pulse until it stopped.
Sakura froze. The gasps of shock and pity remained muffled, as well as the agonizing screams of the woman. All she can see is the lifeless boy who had relied on her to save him, the same boy she failed. The pain he had been suffering remained etched on his face, causing her to engrave that memory into her head. Tears of a mourning mother dripped down onto his forehead. The town grew even more solemn as the passing of an innocent young boy spread.
She didn't notice someone grabbing her by the shoulder, pulling her from the sooty dirt, and guiding her away from the crowd. She didn't register the arms wrapping around her, pushing her face onto their chest. She didn't realize that tears were running down her cheeks until a voice broke her out of her shock.
"It's okay… It's not your fault."
If she wasn't crying before, she definitely is now. The embarrassment of staining her teacher's chest with her tears didn't register in her mind. The fresh memory of her failure and the unjust death of a young boy was more prominent. It didn't matter how unprofessional it was to cling to the head of the Namikaze clan because what she needed right now was a touch of comfort, even if she believed she didn't deserve it.
"Why? Why couldn't I save him?" her muffled cries reverberated against his jacket. "It's my fault. My fault… Why am I here? I don't belong here! Please, I want everything to stop!"
She could feel his hands caressing the top of her head, just like how her father would. "Then stop. No one will blame you for doing so. No one will stop you. You'll be better than us, shinobi. You see the state of this world, and you realize how hopeless it is. Giving up will be one of the bravest things to do." He whispered.
There it is; the freedom to drop out of the program. It's almost the world that is giving her the signs that she's not fit for this role. She could join her father in his successful business in the sake industry, possibly inherit it and become a prominent figure in the business world. There is no need to worry about missing-nins when she can hire other shinobi to protect. It sounded like the perfect plan.
But can she really do it with the knowledge of the world's horrible state? Could she revel at night, knowing of the atrocities being committed every single day? Could she ignore the plight of the benighted, suffering under people like Gato?
No, she can't.
She has seen too much already, and even if she quits being a shinobi, it's not like the truth will be erased from her mind. The world she lives in will remain, only she would be cursed with the knowledge that some of her civilian peers would never realize. Living life would be hell, constantly being plagued by the faces of those she had abandoned, those she had failed to save.
But what if she stays? It's not like she alone will change the world. Even if she had the Hokage's power, she doubts she'll ever create a large enough impact to rid the world of its sin and crimes. What is her purpose if she continues her career? There had been hundreds—no, thousands of shinobi who lived and died without accomplishing anything. Will she be just another number in the statistics? Just what does she want?
"Why did you want to become a shinobi?"
That's the thing, she didn't. At least, not for the right reasons. She wanted to impress Sasuke, someone who would never consider her worthwhile, yet she persevered. She wanted to stay with her best friend, her only friend, but now, their relationship has been fractured. But now that she's seen the truth, what is compelling her to stay?
"You're hesitating." her sensei observed. "Why is that? Is there actually something stopping you?"
The boy's lifeless face flashed again in her head, and instead of bringing her despair, a raging fire burned in her heart. Her hands trembled, not in fear, panic, or even anxiety. It's cold-blooded determination. The devil that had been feeding her doubts vanished without a trace. The weight on her shoulders was forcibly lifted and thrown away. The colored lenses in her vision cracked and fell open, revealing an entirely new realm to her.
"No. I want to continue."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, surprised at the sudden strength in her voice. He's glad that the pinkette refuses to give up, but he couldn't help but question, "Why?"
When she raised her head, the blond was struck by an inferno swirling in those emerald-green eyes. "I don't like it. I don't like it when parents have to bury their children. I don't like it when people get sick or hurt. I don't like it when people terrorize other people for their own motives. I want it to stop." she muttered, but the passion in her voice made her louder than she really was.
"So what will you do to stop it?" Naruto followed up, curious about where she was going with this.
Sakura pursed her lips. She had failed to save the boy, but if she had learned the Shosen Jutsu, maybe he would've been fine. Even when she learned about iryojutsu, the idea of curing people's sickness and wounds in the career of a shinobi piqued her interest. Out of the skills she had learned throughout the months, the art of healing has been her best. It's even better than she enjoyed much more than she thought she would. Maybe this is the path she should've chosen all along.
With those thoughts in mind, Sakura's resolve hardened.
"I'll be the best medic in the world, better than Tsunade Senju! I'll learn every medical technique and cure every disease in the Elemental Nations. I'll create a world where no one will get hurt! If someone stands in my way, I'll pummel them to the ground!"
Naruto almost forgot the pinkette had this fire in her. He should've realized this when he met her mother. Oh, the number of times he thought that the elder Haruno's hair would suddenly burst into flames with how much of a spitfire she was.
Are all women like that? Best not to try and find out.
"That's a pretty big goal you got there. Are you sure you can handle it?" When he saw Sakura was about to respond, he held a hand up. "I'm not testing your pride. I'm genuinely asking if you can take it. Everything you see right now is nothing but a drop from an ocean of horrors. You will see worse, experience worse, and, Kami forbid, commit worse. Just like that boy, you won't save anyone. There will always be death; sometimes, you can't do anything about that. Will you accept that?"
At that, Naruto could see Sakura hesitate. While her motivations are pure and unadulterated, it's a bit idealistic. Even Jiraiya's dream isn't that quixotic. However, one could have such ideals and still keep a sense of cynicism, such as him. A world of peace will be unattainable and vastly unrealistic, but that didn't mean he wouldn't try.
The only difference he has with the truly idealistic individuals is that he doesn't reject the reality he's living in. He won't expect everyone to follow the same dream, and frankly, there are a lot who desire chaos. Naruto promised himself to preserve these ideals, the same ones his father and godfather held during their prime. But he will never lose himself in them because that will only lead to death.
The question is, will Sakura be able to prevent her idealistic views from consuming her? She won't be the first one. In fact, there had been a lot. Even Sasuke and Hinata have remained naive in their goals, despite experiencing a harsh dose of reality. Sasuke desires to strike down his brother through any means necessary, but what happens after that? Will his life suddenly get better once his clan's brother is killed? Naruto is sure the younger Uchiha hasn't thought that far ahead.
Even innocent Hinata, who strives to abolish the barrier between the main houses and branch houses, doesn't realize that simply becoming the head of the clan will fix everything. The elders, people who uphold the traditions, will obviously despise the thoughts of it, and she would have to deal with them. There might even be the possibility that she would have to execute them to achieve her goals, and he couldn't see her kill a butterfly, let alone a clan member.
None of them has seen their views shatter before them.
But is Sakura strong enough to accept the actions she must take in the future? Some might contradict her goals, but if she truly wants to achieve such a dream in a world like this, she must be ready for it. Judging by the ever-so-growing fire blazing in her eyes, he knew her answer.
"I will do what needs to be done, Naruto-sensei. As a medic, I am tasked with saving everyone, no matter the situation. However, I am also a shinobi, so if I have to… kill, then I am willing to do that to achieve my dream. But, I'm not that experienced yet…." Sakura bowed towards him, a perfect ninety degrees that took Naruto by shock. "Please, teach me, Naruto-sensei!"
Once he got over it, the blond smiled. "Gladly."
That's the end of Sakura's story arc. Hinata's is starting soon
Also, I'm going to be inactive for a week or more because I have an upcoming exam. So, just hang on tight and I'll drop the next chapter in maybe two or three weeks from now. I hope you guys stick around. See ya!