Chapter 14: Rationalize
"I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain."
― James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time
Konoha Family Medical Clinic-Elsewhere, Sasuke & Karin
'What does he see in her?'
Karin clicks her tongue, hating the way her stomach curls sourly as she hops from foot to foot to stay warm. This isn't what she pictured when Sasuke stated he would need her as backup while he took on Danzo, his attention suddenly on this mystery girl with cherry pink hair and eyes the bright shade of green that remind her of the forests in the midday sun.
Sasuke has never shown such interest in a woman or any woman really, interest peaked enough to watch her every movement as she prepares and draws up two vials before heading back to Danzo's room. An easygoing grin rests upon her face, probably not even realizing her every step is being followed.
It's clearly someone from his past, someone he thought he let go of and buried when he went to Master Orochimaru for power to take on his brother...
But they're wasting precious minutes here within the trees when Danzo is right within their sight.
The drizzling from earlier this morning has turned into a downpour, raindrops chilling her skin not helping how cold she already feels not just from Sasuke's lack of attention.
"Are we going in or what? He's literally just feet away!" Karin gripes, words creating puffs of white air fogging up her glasses.
Sasuke holds up a hand before she can say anymore, obsidian eyes observing the pink haired woman for another painfully long minute.
"She just injected him with something besides medicine for his shoulder pain; I'm sure of it." He mutters, brows furrowing. They watch as Danzo stretches his shoulders just as Sakura instructs, catching the tail end of their conversation from the crack in the window.
"-I can assure you everything will be handled, my arm already feels like back in my early 20's. Homura was right about you; I'm glad I came." Danzo relates, rare smile etching his lips.
"Glad to hear it! And feel free to check back in and make an appointment in 3 months for that left knee if it's still giving you problems." Sakura explains, Karin's eyes widening at seeing a pure scowl cross her features once Danzo turns away.
'He's right. She hates Danzo, maybe even more than Sasuke does.' She frowns, the chill of her dark stare upon the man's back bringing another wave of goosebumps to her skin.
"Who is she?" Karin finally asks as they wait to meet Danzo outside, pursing her lips at Sasuke's lack of response. It's fine, perhaps she's just an old flame from his past or an unrequited love.
"...Sakura Haruno. She was a part of my old team along with Naruto Uzumaki." Sasuke mutters.
But the Sakura before him now is not the same one he left behind that fateful night, emerald eyes twisted with a maliciousness so strange to see when the last time he saw them they were warm and filled with tears.
'It doesn't matter, she's getting in the way of my plans.' He frowns, but still he can't fully shake the cruelty of her gaze that even Danzo didn't pick up on it. She's learned to hide her emotions well, to appear innocent and naïve when need be.
'Uzumaki? I didn't know there were others still alive.' Karin wonders in surprise. Her mother had often told her stories of their home by the sea, an island that became ravaged by war out of fear of their clan's sealing techniques and known longevity.
"Why can't we go back home Mama, slip out in the night once Zōsui is gone? I hate it here; it smells constantly like dirt, vomit, and blood! Uzushiogakure was better-"
A hand clamps over her mouth roughly before she can go on and wake up the sleeping man beside them, glancing up to see tears simmering in her Mother's grey eyes. Her cheeks are more sunken in than yesterday she notes as bony fingers rub at her lips, bites marks littered across her waxy skin from head to toe. War brings illness, a constant influx of civilian and shinobi needing her Mom's healing properties, not caring how much chakra they're draining out of her...
Her stomach drops then, a pitfall forming beneath her threatening to slide her into the darkness.
'She's dying.' Karin realizes, tears stinging at her eyes. She can't be sure if she'll even make it through the week with how labored her breathing is, the way her eyes have turned glassy and vacant not even wanting to eat or drink the little Zōsui gives them in the way of food and water.
They've should've gone farther than Kusagakure, should've dyed their trademark crimson hair a boring mousy brown or a plain black to hide their heritage and then perhaps none of this would've happened.
Her nails pinch and indent at her skin, forcing her to meet her gaze properly.
Despite everything they've been through, her Mother's voice is clear; strong.
"No Karin. I've told you this plenty of times already; we can never go back to our home. No matter what happens to me in the days ahead, you must never forget that Uzushiogakure no longer exists, but you don't need our home village to prove your strength to others or to be happy."
Really, what place has she been able to call 'home' or feel true joy since leaving the Land of Whirlpools; since her Mother's death? She can't imagine any of the few living Uzumaki feel comfortable where they currently reside.
Including this Naruto person.
"Let's get going Karin, we'll confront Danzo by the Naka river before he reaches the Hokage Tower; I'm getting answers and ending this once and for all." Sasuke orders, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Karin nods, ready to hop down off this tree before tensing when she feels that woman's stare upon her back now.
She turns just slightly to look over her shoulder to confirm Sakura is indeed watching her, jade eyes piercing.
Her mouth dries, throat caught in a vice as her gaze trails downward to see Sakura's hands are wound in an angry red. Sasuke is already moving ahead without her deeper into the forest, not fully knowing what this Danzo guy is capable of. Beneath those bandages of his she sensed a power eerily similar to his and his clan's.
Crimson eyes stolen from their owners.
'He's going to need my chakra; I'm sure of it.' Karin worries.
Sakura steps towards the window and Karin stiffens as she gets a whiff of sweet lilies and azaleas coming from her, legs turning to jelly.
'I can't move; my body won't turn!'
The scents encompass her in a wave, drifting her from this rainy morning into a field of flowers shades of reds and golds. Sunshine warms her skin, heartbeat drumming in her ears reaching for a pure red rose, the very same color of her and her Mother's hair.
'Red roses mean passion, romance. That's all you've ever wanted; right Karin?' A voice purrs by her ear, beaming at her slow nod.
It guides her deeper into the sea of blossoms, through orange poppies and violet tulips.
Somewhere behind she hears her Mom call out a warning to not get too close to the nightshades and oleanders she's about to pick. So many grow wild near the edges of the forest's grove and the parts of the woods where sunlight doesn't cross.
"They look innocent on the outside, but the slightest touch or digestion of the leaves and seeds can slow your heart down into a fatal arrhythmia, can make you hallucinate and send you to your death."
Sakura smiles then, field shattering around her, forcing her to meet her gaze head on like a trapped puppet.
"I have a message for you to pass along to Sasuke in regards to Danzo: You're too late."
Naruto & Hinata
"Aha! So this is where we would find you!"
Shikamaru opens one eye lazily, taking in the blurry outlines of Naruto yelling at him to wake up and Hinata lightly tugging at his arm to not be rude.
"You woke me up." He mutters dryly, pain pulsing at the back of his skull.
"Well hello to you too, you know!" Naruto snorts back in response.
'Ah, so that was just a dream then.' Shikamaru realizes, gray clouds up above cracking apart letting sunlight slip through. The air lingers with dew, the fresh scent of rain contrasting the sharp taste of blood that felt so real upon his lips just a second ago.
He shuts his eyes again only making Naruto twice as mad, but he needs to remember that dream before it fades from him mind, before all that is left are fragments that will never give him the full picture.
It was nightfall in his dream, shogi pieces scattered at his feet...
"You're off your game today Shikamaru." Asuma chuckles, slamming down one of his pawn pieces. For once, he's in the lead and he can't be sure if it's because Shikamaru is letting him win only to suddenly make a comeback or if it's because he's truly distracted.
Moonlight makes their tiles appear silver while the warm amber glow of the lanterns up above highlight their shadows along the wood flooring.
This will be their final game of the night he's sure.
At his silence Asuma looks up, brown eyes softening.
"Lady problems?" He tosses out and Shikamaru laughs humorlessly.
"If only. That would be my least troublesome issue to deal with. It's just all these meetings involving the Akatsuki, more responsibilities is all." He replies, knowing Temari expects him to give her a proper look around the new tea shop that opened near the market district once she comes back to Konoha.
He slides up one of his knight tiles, smirking at the flicker of panic that crosses Asuma-sensei's face at seeing his once clear opening now blockaded.
"I wonder why I didn't notice it before? You stopped smoking months ago around me, Ino, and Choji. Kurenai-sensei must be further along than Ino guessed." Shikamaru drawls, more to himself than to Asuma.
Asuma's smile fades, cheeks burning a faint red.
"H-How did you know about that?! Well err, you know smoking isn't good for you anyways! Besides, Kurenai has been bugging me for ages that it puts me more at risk for heart and lung issues!" He explains hastily.
"It's not good for babies either." Shikamaru teases gently, in his distraction he clumsily lets two more of his pieces get captured.
They sit in silence for a minute, low buzz of cicadas surrounding them.
"...Was that all that was bothering you?" Asuma asks.
Shikamaru manages a nod, that ugly sensation of rocks upon his chest returning, clenching his teeth to ride out the pain until the metallic taste of blood hits his tongue.
'It's not working.' His chest continues to tighten up, fighting him right back.
Asuma's stare turns to worry, reaching out a hand he pushes back, wood pieces clattering around them to the ground and grass.
Dark eyes stare at him surprise. "What's got you so spooked Shikamaru? Come on, you can tell me anything!"
'No, I really can't.' He knows.
It isn't a surprise it took Naruto so long to tell him and his team this news, death is never an easy subject especially when it's potentially staring right at you.
He's sure Asuma-sensei can hear his frantic heartbeat, see the tears he's been trying and failing to hide and push down.
"I'm worried about your death, worried I won't be able to stop it."
"Drink this water, you've probably been sitting out here for hours." Hinata mentions, pushing a canteen in hands without waiting for him to respond.
Shikamaru sighs, Hinata's expression resolute she won't take no for an answer.
Well, he doesn't want a Gentle Fist on top of his headache.
"Should we tell Ino and Choji where you are?" Naruto asks once he gulps down half of the water. Nobody had been up for eating after he had relayed the news of Asuma's death, all of Team 10 wondering the next steps to take.
A fog rolls over Shikamaru's eyes; a mix of uncertainty and frustration before he presses his lips flatly together.
"I would prefer if you didn't tell them immediately. I'm sure their thoughts are just as all over the place as mine." He relates.
He casts his gaze skyward once more, blue reminding him of lazy days skipping afternoon classes at the Academy.
A shinobi's life back then still seemed so far away...
"This...This knowledge you gave us has already set us on a collision course for a different future I'm sure you both realize. The Naruto and Hinata you met in 10 years time no longer really exist, even my own future self considering that the events that happened to them no longer have to necessarily happen to us." Shikamaru starts.
He rubs at his growing migraine to no avail, pain thrumming down his neck.
Naruto nods carefully, it's a good thing though to prevent Asuma-sensei's death, to prevent Pervy-Sage's.
However Shikamaru's features remain impassive, Naruto looking to Hinata to add in.
"...Are you worried that say, preventing Asuma-sensei's death will result in another person dying in his place?" Hinata questions.
"It's a possibility we can't ignore. I'm sure the Akatsuki is aware you have critical information on them that highly likely jeopardizes their plans." Shikamaru relates.
Naruto lets out a slow breath, he makes a painfully correct point.
As usual.
"It's fine though! We can't just ignore what we learned in the future and let it happen all over again you know! We'll be a step ahead of them since we know all of their abilities and identities!" Naruto determines.
But Shikamaru remains stoic, rubbing his chin thoughtfully before pointing to his stomach.
"Did your future self train you in how to control your Tailed Beast? Be honest." He questions.
Hinata looks to him earnestly, gaze softening already knowing this answer. While he did learn more about Kurama and accessing his power, Kurama never fully cooperated and resisted a majority of their training despite his older self's best efforts.
"Err, a little!" Naruto grumbles.
Kurama's scoff rumbles in the back of his mind, even the mere suggestion of working together doesn't sit right with him, if it ever will.
Shikamaru shakes his head, laughing dryly because at least Naruto is telling the truth over the matter.
"There in lies a big problem, one that can be used against us."
Kakashi
"Ahh, sniff that morning air Kakashi! Don't you just love the spring breeze and budding youth at this time of year?!" Gai bellows excitedly, pumping his legs up and down as if ready to race him to the entry gates.
He sincerely hopes Gai doesn't act like this for the majority of their journey.
It's too early to have such energy, dawn still hours away taking in the mist lingering over the violet-orange sunrise.
"Let's take in this view of Konoha one last time together, who knows when we'll back!" Gai chirps onward even at Kakashi's silence.
Kakashi does as he wants, letting his gaze roam over the Hokage monument, the office, the market district, and the residential buildings. He can't recall the last time he and Gai went on a mission together, not even during their own days at the Academy does it seem like they were assigned to do tasks together unless Gai made them up.
'Guess that shows how serious of a mission this is.' He considers.
They could be gone for weeks.
He adjusts the straps of his backpack, stepping forward to match Gai's pace.
"Hopefully this only takes around a month or so." Kakashi mentions to answer his earlier comment.
Gai shrugs, eagerness becoming subdued. "You've updated me on what Naruto told you about the Seven Tails and the Akatsuki, but you've been holding out on me about something else! Don't think as my eternal rival I didn't notice you failed to mention that other Akatsuki member we may know; the one with the mask."
'Obito.' Kakashi frowns.
"What about him?" He asks dryly.
Gai grins, unfazed by his coldness. "Don't be that way Kakashi! We're teaming up so it's best to know all the information you have no matter how small it may seem. You told me about Asuma via Naruto. Preventing his and so many other deaths are on the line here."
He's right, he knows he's right though that doesn't stop his chest from twisting.
Because he doesn't have all the answers yet, not on why Obito decided to turn against the village, could allow so many deaths of their fellow shinobi and civilian to happen if they don't stop him...
"Obito. Naruto and Hinata learned he's alive and working with the Akatsuki. He feels wronged by Konoha perhaps because of Rin's death, or maybe someone manipulated his thoughts into believing working with them was a better solution than coming back home. I can't say for sure until I confront him." He explains.
Gai nods in understanding, adjusting his backpack. A rare look of solemnness passes over his features, he didn't know Obito as well as he did, though he was still one of his old classmates.
"It's not like you to stress over anything Kakashi, no matter how dangerous. We'll get answers soon enough!" He determines.
He feels a smile come up, if anything at least Gai takes everything in stride; good or bad.
And with that, they set out.
Midday sun burns on their backs, Gai suggesting they stop when he notes something simmering in the distance, what looks to be silvery webs tangled in the roots of the trees.
"Looks like we're on the right track!" Gai cheers, waving Kakashi over.
He trudges closer, Gai eagerly picking up a thread that shines brightly in the sunlight.
Silk from a cocoon.
Sakura
'Where is he going?'
Danzo must've sensed Sasuke too because going by the Naka river is far outside his normal route for traveling. He dismisses two of his Root members to secure the area, Sakura long having masked her scent to avoid their detection.
She clicks her teeth together softly, she should be heading for her afternoon shift at the hospital, should be checking in on Lady Tsunade to ensure the antibiotics and pain medicine are working...
But instead she is here blending herself amid the forestry, watching as Sasuke dives straight in to take on Danzo.
And he isn't alone, that masked man Naruto mentioned is here with him observing as well. On top of that the woman she met earlier, Karin, waits in the shadows of the trees, throwing out various commands in an effort to aid Sasuke.
'Obito, he's masquerading as Madara right now though. I'm sure he's just here to observe Sasuke's progress and step in if need be. ' Sakura determines.
'Danzo won't walk away from this alive.' Anger needles at her, revenge isn't meant to be a two-person game. Sasuke clearly wants to make the finishing blow making all of her research, planning, and method of attack simply an aid in his plans.
No, she can't let it end that way.
"Where did you get those eyes?" Sasuke growls as Danzo unravels the bandages on his right arm revealing sets of sharingan implanted from top to bottom.
Danzo merely chuckles in response, gaze flickering between Sasuke and Tobi.
"Nothing you need to worry about. More importantly, I'll be adding both of your eyes to my collection once this is all said and done."
'There was some type of coup the Uchiha clan was planning against Konoha, something Itachi knew about and was ordered to stop when peace negotiations failed. I don't think he could bring himself to kill you though, no matter how bad things were getting.' Naruto's words replay in his mind.
Though he needs it confirmed by someone who was actually there.
"Tell me, did Konoha's elders truly order Itachi to kill our clan?" Sasuke questions.
Danzo arches a brow, amusement fading at such a question before smirking again.
"Ah, so he told you? It would've been better if he had just continued to keep you in the dark, naïve to the evils and horrors that clan of yours had been plotting until he put a stop to it that bloody night. I suppose he never could help himself when it came to you though." He sneers and Sakura watches as the onyx of Sasuke's eyes flare red.
"Enough. Now I can kill you for all that you did to my clan in the name of so called peace." Sasuke announces, violet flames dancing up around him.
'I've never seen this move before, another trademark to the Uchiha clan.' Sakura notes, a skeletal figure rising up crushing a fist straight into Danzo's body.
Susanoo.
Danzo's body disappears though only to reappear right behind him, sucking in a deep breath.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!"
Bullets of air launch into his wall of armor cracking it apart piece by piece, rushing in to get closer summoning the dream eater: Baku.
'Well, aren't you a man of many tricks and surprises.' Sakura muses, moving to stand and switch locations before she gets too close to the beast's suction range. It's nose sucks up and scatters the stones, fauna, trees, and even the water from the river, tugging Sasuke ever so slightly towards it.
It forces his attention, switching his gaze from Danzo to the beast.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Blaze!"
Scarlet red flames instantly scorch into the nightmare-eater's mouth, dispersing it back into a puff of clouds.
Danzo doesn't waste a minute despite the setback, bursting through the smog, clang of kunai echoing across the forest.
He grits his teeth when one of Sasuke's shuriken's embeds into his shoulder, launching up a wall of wood to divert the coming barrage.
'Damn it, why am I getting so slow?! I've been using Izanagi perfectly, ensured I never got caught in one of his genjutsu!'
"Go Sasuke, you have him on the defensive now!" Karin cheers out and Sakura straightens up to peer closer, seeing as well the indeed slowing of Danzo's attacks. His breaths come out in bloody pants, Sasuke smirking at his pain. Obito leans in closer as well from his vantage point in the trees to the north, hopping down to get a better look.
The loss of chakra combined with heparin is making him bleed out faster, nightshade and monkshood slowing his heart and nerves.
Sasuke is exhausted too however, eyes starting to bleed from overuse as he twists his arm back into place from where an air bullet hit him.
"You...You've lost. Go quietly and join your brother in the afterlife." Danzo mutters, focusing all his breathing to turn his kunai into a wind infused blade. He has to end this while he still has the strength, can still kill him off.
Sasuke scoffs, channeling his chidori into a spear.
"Who says he's dead?"
'It's time.' Her thoughts interject before she can watch any further and Sakura releases a breath, ignoring the lurch of her heart.
"I know." She whispers, slowly stepping forward into the battlefield.
Spear and blade clash releasing a burst of white hot heat. As the smog clears Danzo sways on his feet, coughing up a goblet of blood. The bandages across his forehead have come undone, prepared to have used Shisui's eye, but instead his hand is clenched at his chest unable to stop the stream of blood dripping down.
He staggers back from Sasuke, gaze twisting to her in surprise.
Then relief.
"Sakura, you're here. Stay back from me! I'm taking these two with me for the betterment of Konoha!" He announces.
She can feel everyone's gazes on her as she ignores his warning rushing forward, senbon needles at ready.
This close she can smell all of his blood and sweat, the residue of smoke from Sasuke's chidori...
"No Danzo, I won't give you the luxury of committing suicide. Sasuke may have helped push things along, but know that your death comes from me: Lady Tsunade's protégé." She whispers by his ear.
His eyes widen in shock as in a flash she pierces straight into his carotid artery while slashing into his right eye, digging and tearing ensuring the eye is beyond use again.
"Traitor." He hisses out just faintly enough for her to hear and she leaps back as a series of black bars appear across his chest, praying they won't activate.
Before she can land again she unleashes her own smoke bombs: bursts of oleander, titan arum, and larkspur.
Her eyes catch with Sasuke's as she masks up, onyx to emerald burning on her, a silent promise she can only run for so long...
"Get back! Don't inhale it Sasuke!" Karin screams out and Sakura doesn't dare look back to see if he or Obito are going to follow, launching out clones in every direction to throw them off.
'If you want to best cover your tracks you'll need to use a rainy or muddy path. Use those fancy flowers of yours too.' Pakkun's advice comes to mind. Just her luck the rain from earlier has already stopped, however it at least will help hide her scent some.
She runs until the river is no longer in sight, until the grass below turns back into cobblestone.
And even then still she keeps running and staying to the alleyways of Konoha's streets, moving through the shadows until she reaches where she knows it's safe.
For now.
Tsunade sits up in alarm off her couch as she bursts through the side door of her apartment. Amber eyes take in the blood and dirt splattered across her hands and top, the wideness of verdant eyes as she peels off her clothes hurriedly.
"What the hell happened to you?!" She barks out, throwing off her blankets to approach.
Sakura holds up a hand before she can get closer, lips pursed. She needs a hot shower, scalding enough to flush her skin pink and take away this coppery and metallic scent that feels like it's settling into her bones.
'It's done now. Danzo is dead and nothing can be changed about that.'
Tsunade's gaze hardens, hand reaching and gripping at her shoulders forcing Sakura to meet her gaze.
"Sakura. What did you do?"
Hinata
"Ooh, going out again so soon? What would Father and Neji say about these late night rendezvous?!" Hanabi teases.
Hinata flusters, but doesn't turn back, straightening her shoulders. If she hurries, there will still be some sunlight out by the time she reaches Naruto's apartment, enough for his neighbors to not give her curious or bemused looks at her late night presence.
The days are longer now, sky still a warm golden red despite it approaching 8:00 pm.
"They won't say anything. I'll be back before midnight." She promises.
Hanabi giggles, hands curling at her arm before she can walk away.
"You've gotten bolder since your birthday Big Sis! Is this what happens when every kunoichi turns 15?" She jests.
'No, it's just that the Akatsuki hasn't made a move in all these months and spring has come again.' Hinata worries.
And from what their older selves told them, the Akatsuki became much more active in the years they were 15-17. The days had turned to months since their return to the past, the belief they would attack earlier than expected slowly disappearing at constantly getting no new updates.
But that would change.
Her mind briefly flashes with the image of Neji's grave, sunflowers blowing in the breeze. It's the only death she hasn't spoken of aloud since being back at the manor. Neji must sense though she hasn't been fully honest with them, from the way they spar with her avoiding hitting his vital points as roughly to ensuring between the three of them they're taking enough breaks and staying hydrated.
'I won't speak of your death Neji. I'll ensure it's prevented.' She reminds herself.
She glances over her shoulder to see Hanabi smiling at her brightly, cheeks the ruddy pink of the excitement at another secret between them.
"Tomorrow you'll be going with Father to visit with the Taketori clan, correct? I know they aren't the most interesting meetings. Typically they discuss the trade routes for business and politics involving representation for the smaller villages outside Konoha, however still make sure to listen properly to each speaker and take notes." Hinata mentions.
The grin slips from her face and Hinata laughs. "Ugh, not you too Big Sis! I didn't need the reminder when Natsu and Neji have told me a thousand times already today to be sure I have all my notebooks and documents over the past meetings packed and ready to go."
Hinata steps back closer to her, ruffling at her brown locks.
"I won't be gone long, I just need to check in with Naruto if he's heard anything regarding the Akatsuki and the other jinchuriki." She relates.
A smirk etches back upon Hanabi's lips, nodding mischievously.
"Sure, just make sure Naruto knows your room is to the left if he plans on dropping you off again!"
Children are out playing as she walks along the market district, giggles erupting from a duo of girls as they chase the bubbles their Father creates for them. They don't look much older than Boruto and Himawari, hazel eyes eagerly watching as the bubbles dance around them reflecting the yellows and pinks of the sunset.
"Alright Mara, Mika! We should get heading home now! Your Mother made hambagu and oyakodon (chicken and egg bowl) with rice and veggies!"
"No, I don't like veggies!" Mika huffs back, sitting down on the pavement only to have her sister hold out her hand to her.
"We'll eat them together Mika!" Mara asserts, and Hinata senses she must be the older of the two as Mika accepts her sister's hand after a begrudging minute of whining.
'Himawari would've needed more convincing though Boruto is on board for anything hamburger related.' Hinata smiles, waving to the trio as they head in the opposite direction.
She and Naruto spent long afternoons in this park in the future with the kids, especially when it seemed neither Boruto or Himawari wanted to immediately head back home, coming up with excuses to get an extra grocery item or take the long way back.
"I have an Ouchy!" Boruto cries and Hinata follows his gaze to his scraped knee, trickle of blood running down his leg.
"That's why I told you to slow down; the swings aren't going anywhere." Hinata relates, patting for him to hop into her lap. Cerulean eyes widen in shock as she places a hand against the injury, green light pouring out slowly closing at the torn and bruised skin.
He gestures to Naruto watching, pointing to his knee excitedly. "Mama's healing me using her byakugan!"
"Ah, not the byakugan Boruto! She's using medical ninjutsu." Naruto explains, though Boruto's attention is back on his knee completely shocked. He's sure their future selves have used medical ninjutsu on them both plenty of times for scrapes and cuts, though this is perhaps the first time one of them is actively paying it notice.
Himawari squirms out of his lap, toddling over to watch, blue eyes equally curious. "Big Brother okay now?" She asks.
Hinata nods, kissing the spot better as Boruto leaps back up. "All better!"
"Come on Hima, let's go to the swings!" He cheers, grabbing his sister's hand.
It's on the tip of her tongue to yell out to be careful, though Boruto holds Himawari's hand in the same firm grip he's watched both her and Naruto do plenty of times before, giggles echoing out as he helps her onto the swings and starts pushing her.
She looks to Naruto then, reddening at his amused look.
"What?"
Naruto shakes his head, pulling her close, lips brushing with hers giving her a taste of the beef ramen he had earlier.
"Nothing, I just wanted a kiss too you know!" He beams.
She shakes away the memory, reaching into her pocket for his keys as she climbs up the rusted metal of his steps. In the adjacent hall she hears a door close, a man's yawn, the low sounds of a TV discussing the 7-day forecast.
But Naruto's side is quiet, sticking his key into his door quickly before one of the tenants can ask why a Hyuga clan member is here at this time of day.
"I'm back." She calls out as she takes off her shoes, voice echoing into silence. Last rays of sunlight fall against stacked dishes in the kitchen, highlight dried ink from half-opened books and newspaper articles that discuss the Akatsuki's latest activities in the regions near Ame and Kumo.
It's cleaner than when she was last here, everything properly in place save for a few ramen packets and laundry scattered across the living room table.
She's sure Iruka-sensei would be proud.
"It looks like Naruto has already done his own research." Hinata muses, reading through his circled sections.
"Mercenary services provided by rogue group that goes by the name Akatsuki offers prices at lowest seen in a decades?! An Underground organization brought into the light!" By Kenichi Yamazaki.
The article goes on to detail the shady practices the organization has done in the past, nations often using them discretely for wars and assassination missions to avoid blood getting on their own hands.
Though as of late Yamazaki goes on to state that their newest methods seem too destructive. Deadly enough resulting in civilian casualties.
It's an ominous wondering if they've been relied on too much now.
An hour passes before she decides to switch gears, needing something lighter to read.
Amid Naruto's scrolls and books are Jiraiya's works, the ones he always tells her are too boring to read.
'They can't be so boring if they're bestsellers though.' Hinata considers.
"Make Out Paradise, two young lovers grow and learn the ways to express their true feelings for each other." She reads from the back cover. It's the complete opposite of all the novels out in the open back at the compound, books there only discussing meditation, taijutsu, gardening, cooking, etc.
Nothing so...risqué.
"Why?! Why do you want me so much when I have no special skills or family? It doesn't make sense! Why does my body react to you this way?" Yui interrupts, reaching for Ichiro's arm.
Ichiro shrugs her away, twisting back to her.
"Why do you think?!" He growls pushing her up against the door blocking her escape.
Yui wasn't sure what to do as she felt him rub up against her. She didn't come to Ichiro's apartment for this reason. All she wanted was help with practicing her taijutsu and kunai throwing and somehow it had all turned into this!
Despite his anger though, she couldn't bring herself to push him away...
"I want you." Ichiro breathed into her neck, Yui gasping as he lowered his head to take in a nipple." Naruto reads aloud from above her.
Hinata blinks, vision clearing sitting up only to see Naruto flipping through the Make Out Paradise novel.
"Ichiro grasped her bottom and moved them to the bed, throwing her on top of it. She watched his every move as he unzipped his jeans and positioned himself-"
"Noo! Stop reading it out loud!" Hinata cuts him off, tossing a pillow right at him.
Naruto chuckles, accepting the barrage of pillows before Hinata decides to sink herself into the sofa. "What? That's the part you left off on before you fell asleep apparently, you know! I always found these books boring, but maybe they won't be anymore if we act them out!"
At Hinata's silence he scoots over to her, slowly opening her hands away from her face.
Cerulean meets lavender, Naruto unable to hide a roguish grin.
"I wouldn't mind if we tried it at least once." He suggests lightly and Hinata wiggles in his grip before a small grin crosses against her darkened cheeks.
"...I wouldn't mind it either."
Sasuke & Sakura
"Damn it, I never trained you to act so recklessly!" Tsunade bellows furiously.
She adds an extra dose of alcohol to her next cotton swab, jabbing it right into the open wound upon her left shoulder making her wince.
Sakura grits her teeth, fighting through the sting and pain.
This is nothing compared to hours ago.
"And you're sure you weren't followed?" Tsunade presses as she picks out leaves and twigs preparing to suture her up.
'I'm not sure.' Her thoughts pierce at her, though she refuses to lie to Lady Tsunade again.
Sakura swallows, shaking her head.
"I used a mixed of genjutsu and clones to throw them off, though I don't know if that was enough. Sasuke used up a lot of chakra, but there's a woman on his team that's probably the healer of the group. She can help people restore chakra if they bite into her. Plus there was Obito in the background just watching things, waiting to take Shisui's eye. I'm probably on his hit list now for destroying it."
Tsunade furrows a brow at her quick explanation and Sakura restrains a laugh at her switch from anger to confusion.
"...Bite her?"
"It's true; I saw the teeth marks all over her arms and legs! Ah, that must be taxing on her body though. I'm sure Danzo might've used her against Sasuke if I hadn't stepped in when I did." Sakura muses.
Tsunade takes out the suture needle and thread from her kit, giving Sakura a wry grin.
"Speaking of which, how exactly did you get the drop on him? Danzo if anything is...or I guess I should say was meticulous when it came to his plans. He never let anything distract him or get in the way of his goal to become Hokage." She remarks.
Sakura beams, glad despite everything that amber eyes regard her proudly.
"I pretended to be truly interested in his ideas! When he came to the clinic for a check-up, I knew one of the ways I could appeal to him was making him believe that I thought you were a weak leader. He let his guard down and I was able to inject him with medicine for his pain and one mixed with heparin, nightshade, and monkshood." She explains.
Tsunade whistles lowly, tying a knot together moving up her arm and Sakura fights not to squirm.
"You've come so far. The 13 year old I knew two years ago would never have been so bold; daring." She teases.
Sakura laughs, nodding as she leans against her side. The pain medicine is finally kicking in, dulling her senses. A silence falls over them, wind rustling outside scattering petals and leaves in mini whirlwinds.
"Feeling better?" Sakura asks quietly.
Tsunade nods, humming a light tune to herself. It sounds like something on the radio from the classic pop station, though Tsunade probably wouldn't like it if she said that aloud.
"Did you ever feel this way back when you, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru were a team? I still feel at times all my knowledge isn't enough, that I'm still dragging my feet somehow." Sakura sighs.
Tsunade huffs, somber grin rising up. "Yeah, it's part of why I left Konoha in the first place. I just, well it felt like everything I did at time was only leading me to more and more deaths. Ah, but I suppose Naruto and Jiraiya helped me remember why I went down the shinobi path in the first place. Honoring my Senju ancestry plus Nawaki and Dan."
Her chest tightens, burying her head deeper into her shoulder. Her reasons are far less noble, only becoming a kunoichi because it seemed like the 'in' thing to do. She had overheard Ino and Ami discussing it one afternoon, all the cool weapons/missions, the extra ryo to buy new clothes, how easy it would be to attract Sasuke's attention...
'But you stayed because you enjoy healing people, casting illusions on your enemies before they realize what you've done.' She reminds herself.
Sakura nods quietly in understanding, hoping to switch to a lighter subject when Tsunade catches her gaze again.
"So...what did Sasuke think of this new you?" She asks point blank.
Her cheeks burn before she can hide her feelings, hide that he can still bring out these foolish emotions out of her.
"He didn't say anything. I didn't exactly stick around after I stabbed Danzo's neck and eye!" Sakura gripes, though Tsunade's smirk tells her that isn't enough of an answer.
She shakes her head, ruffling at her pink locks as she ties off the last suture.
"It's okay to still be in love with him Sakura. I know you hate that you still care about him, however fighting it isn't going to help. Unless you perhaps found a new lover while you were away in Suna?" She smirks.
Sakura rolls her eyes, sliding back on her jacket.
"Yeah, no." She responds flatly, though she snickers as well at the idea of such a scandal between their two nations if she had done more with the Kazekage than a simple exchange of information.
Maybe it would've made things easier if she had, shutting her eyes seeing Sasuke's smoldering dark eyes watching as she leaped out of the burst of smog and Danzo's final attack.
'I still don't even understand Sasuke, even with the knowledge Naruto and Hinata gave me from the future. I don't think anyone can understand such deep losses until it happens to them...' Sakura knows and her stomach tightens at a sudden thought.
Her parents.
She jolts to stand startling Tsunade, hazel eyes sharpening in concern.
"What's wrong?" She questions.
Sakura twists to her, emerald eyes widening in panic. "My parents. Sasuke, would he go after them to get to me?"
Maybe. Maybe not, she can't be sure if Sasuke even recalls where she lives.
But she interrupted his attack, interrupted his own plans for vengeance.
"Go there disguised and scope out the area. Let me know via a messenger slug." Tsunade decides after a moment of thinking and Sakura nods, hurriedly gathering her belongings.
'Please be fine. Please be fine.'
Her house is only a 10 minute walk away, but jogging there will cut it down to 6 to 8 minutes max.
She pushes open her door with more force than necessary, nearly pulling it off it's hinges only to see her Mother happily chopping away at vegetables at the kitchen counter while her Father reads the latest in news beside her.
"Whoa Sakura, where's the fire? Or should I stay where's your attire?! You've changed scrubs and hair apparently from this morning!" Kizashi chuckles, taking note of the temporary black of her hair, of eye contacts that are a plain dark brown.
Mebuki looks at the front door now crooked with disdain, sighing. "That's coming out of your next paycheck Dear."
Sakura doesn't move from the door, balling up her hands to stop their trembling.
They stare at her with such glazed looks, Kizashi cocking his head.
"Aren't you going to come in sweetie?"
Sakura swallows, finding her voice.
"Let...Let me just get my shoes off!" She states with faux cheer, moving in slow motion.
Because across from Dad are painfully familiar raven colored locks she ran from hours ago, onyx eyes watching her every move.
So Sasuke did remember where she lived.
"What did you do to them?" Sakura growls, restraining herself not to slam a fist into the wall.
Sasuke looks unfazed, frowning. "Nothing physically."
She stomps over to him, ignoring her parent's stares at her rude behavior. It should've occurred to her faster that this is how Sasuke would get her attention, wondering how she pulled off her earlier attack.
How she knew so much about Danzo when they barely interacted before this.
"You need to leave." She orders and a flicker of surprise crosses in his eyes at her tone before seeing the glint of another smoke bomb in her hand.
"You'd attack me while your parents are standing right here? While knowing I still have them trapped in a genjutsu?" He questions.
Sakura clicks her tongue, expression twisting between pain and outrage.
"I'll protect my parents until my dying breath if need be. Besides, I can reverse the poisoning for them and myself and leave you to die."
She flicks off the cap of the bomb to prove her seriousness, emerald eyes burning.
"Undo the genjutsu on my parents. Now." Sakura commands.
Sasuke blinks, sighing and twisting to look back at her parents. She waits until the clarity returns back to their eyes, breathing a sigh of relief when their expressions clear, asking when she got home.
"Should we give you and this gentleman a minute?" Mebuki asks and Sakura nods warily, glad Dad only makes a small fuss before following Mom outside.
"Better now?" Sasuke asks.
Sakura snorts, mood darkening. "No, you should still go."
This is the longest he's been around her since being back in the village, the coldness of her stare eerily similar to the one she gave Danzo earlier.
Except he never pictured it on him.
Sasuke watches her for a long minute before sighing and gesturing for her to sit. His head throbs, vision blurring in and out and he curses himself for taking this risk when Sakura has turned things in her favor to keep him from getting full answers.
"Naruto told you about the future, didn't he?" He starts and Sakura nods reluctantly.
She can feel her parent's stares from the window and briefly Sakura wonders what exactly Sasuke told them to get them to agree to let him inside in the first place, if he used a false name pretending perhaps to be one of her colleagues from the hospital.
Surely he made sure they wouldn't know he's her old team member, the missing nin who left the village willingly in the night.
"Why?" Sakura pries.
Sasuke leans back in his seat, clenching his teeth as if what he's about to say next physically pains him.
"Itachi. Did Naruto say anything to you about curing his illness?"
Naruto & Hinata
"Don't go back home yet."
Hinata blinks sleepily, leaning up from his shoulder. She forgot to check the clock after they finished dinner, Naruto showing her he's improved in making shogayaki (ginger pork) with less soy sauce and salt this time while she prepared the yakizakana (grilled fish) and rice for breakfast tomorrow.
Afterwards they had reviewed over each Akatsuki member once more, their most likely destinations, the Tailed Beast they're going after, their partners, and how to take each one down.
Somewhere within that all they had both drifted off.
Naruto pauses, realizing the weight of his words.
"Ah, crap! No, that came out wrong! I mean well...if I'm being honest; I want you to stay you know." He states, twisting to face her properly.
Hinata fidgets, feeling heat pool and wash over her body once more. Absently she glances towards his overhead clock, not fully surprised to see it's 12:55 am.
Already nearly an hour later than she promised Hanabi.
There will be extra night guards out tonight and for the rest of the week while Hanabi and Father are away from the manor, ensuring things run smoothly that nobody would even know they're both gone.
To go back now risks Neji's and Father's questions once the guards see her return no matter how best she tries to sneak in (especially to have been out and about knowing Father and Hanabi leave for the trip at dawn). They like Naruto well and good, but not enough for her to spend an entire night at his place.
But then again, they don't have to know if she stays.
She wiggles at her toes, meeting his gaze nervously. "I don't want to impose."
Naruto shakes his head quickly, warm smile etching his features. "You won't be imposing; I like having you over Hinata! You can take my bed and I'll sleep here on the sofa if need be."
Hinata frowns, clicking her tongue knowing his sofa is littered with holes and springs that poke and dig when you lay down upon it. "No, your bed should be big enough for us both."
He scratches a hand behind his head, realizing he's spilling more than he expected to out of this night.
"I've been wanting to ask you to stay over for awhile now." He admits.
Hinata straightens up, taking in her plain attire. "I never packed any sleepwear."
Naruto snorts, gesturing towards his room. "You can just borrow any one of my shirts and shorts for one night you know!"
They stare at each other for a moment, waiting for one to argue against this idea.
Finally Hinata moves to stand, nodding.
"Okay, I'm going to take a shower!" She blurts out in a single breath, moving for his room.
Naruto takes that time to gather up their notes and books, clean up and dry the dishes he knows they already finished doing hours ago. Anything really to get his mind off of that Hinata is staying and it's still so early in the night...
His face burns as thousands of thoughts come to mind, each more dangerous than the last.
She returns wearing one of his white T's and orange shorts, squirming under the intensity of his stare.
'You've gotten bolder since your birthday Big Sis! Is this what happens when every kunoichi turns 15?' Hanabi's teasing comes to mind.
Is she bolder right now? Her nerves would disagree.
Still, her heart thrums in anticipation, restless like a storm waiting for the rain to breakthrough.
Naruto steps towards her, parting a wet violet lock from her face.
"Let's go to my room."
She lets him lead the way, tumbling into sheets that smell of pine and musk, hands reaching pulling Naruto down with her. He breathes into her neck and she shivers, soft moan escaping when he kisses at the spot of an old love bite.
Naruto leans up from her, blue of his eyes shining darker, red bleeding in; imploring.
"Do you want this to go any further?" He asks.
Hinata brushes her fingers up against his cheeks, nodding.
"I want this." She softly confirms.
As soon as the words leave her lips, he peppers her with kisses, hands tugging away at his shirt exposing more and more skin. His lips find and suckle at a hardened nipple, Hinata gasping, fingers threading tighter into his hair.
He slides out of his boxers, pulling down her shorts and panties in one swoop pressing close to her. Skin flesh to flesh, Hinata bites her lip. The elders only told her the bare minimum when it came to topics like menstruation, puberty, and sex.
And even then, all she learned were the Scientific's: that sex can lead to pregnancy. To wait until she's older and a proper young lady.
"You will know when the time is right to engage in such intimacy Lady Hinata." Natsu explains.
None of them discussed the flurry of desire, the pleasure of being kissed or the feather light touches of fingers caressing her warm skin when Naruto slowly thrusts into her. Pain ripples through her like a palm strike, nails digging into his back.
"Are you okay? I can stop." Naruto whispers by her ear.
Hinata shakes her head, blinking away the rush of tears that bubble up.
"No...please don't stop Naruto." She breathes out.
Naruto stills for a moment anyways, letting her adjust to his girth before thrusting again, groaning as he buries in.
"Ah, Hinata." He drags out her name, pace quickening.
His lips find hers again as Hinata squeezes at his back drawing blood, breaths turning to pants. Naruto presses her closer and Hinata bites her lip teetering towards orgasm.
"Naruto, ah! I'm-" She moans.
Her grip tightens on him, gasping out his name while he spills into her. His clock ticks quietly somewhere in the distance, breathing evening out to match the rhythm. A crevice of moonlight slips into the room, silver light making their flushed skin glow.
Naruto pulls of out of her languidly, clarity washing into his eyes taking in her sheen of sweat up her face, heat still lingering upon her rosy cheeks.
'Condoms, I didn't-'
"I've been on birth control Naruto, kunoichi begin taking them as soon as we go on active missions." Hinata speaks at seeing his expression and he laughs, pressing their foreheads together.
"Sorry I'm so terrible at this."
Hinata giggles, sitting up trying not wince at this new ache between her thighs.
"We're learning together.' She murmurs back.
Naruto yawns then, shifting his blankets over them curling her into his chest. A twinge of worry digs at him that he shouldn't have asked her to stay, shouldn't have let lust cloud his thoughts when his mind should be on the Akatsuki...
"Foolish to have such thoughts now when you've already taken her." Kurama mentions.
It's not the cold and sharp tone he's used to, Naruto managing a small grin.
"I know, it's just I need to get stronger still for her; for everyone." Naruto relates.
Hinata rests her cheek against his shoulder, fingers tracing a line along his collarbone.
"Sleep Naruto; stop thinking." She softly orders.
Naruto laughs lightly in her ear in response, squeezing her closer.
He wakes to a tapping at his window, blinking away the weight of sleep to see pebbles being knocked against the glass. The sky is still relatively dark, wisps of white clouds highlighted in faint pinks and violets. Hinata stirs at his movement, Naruto shifting up slowly avoiding the squeaks in his floorboards.
It's sometime after 6:00 am he notes, he hadn't planned for any meetings this early.
The pebbles stop and abruptly Naruto pauses in wondering if it's the wrong apartment they have when the knocking comes again, toad landing upon his window with a note wrapped around it's neck.
'Come downstairs!' He reads in bold black font.
He tracks the direction it came from downward, frown increasing seeing trademark white hair under the streetlights.
Jiraiya waves eagerly back at him, pointing to the toad and himself.
Naruto signals him with '5 minutes' turning back to his bed to see Hinata awake, pearl eyes focused on the toad.
"Toads don't normally come out unless there's rain; did it rain overnight or do you have a visitor?" She questions sleepily and Naruto shakes his head, pressing a kiss forehead as he pulls on some sweatpants.
"It's just Pervy-Sage needing to talk for some reason." He grumbles.
He takes to the stairs two at time, it must be important for him to wake him at this hour, to be so giddy and bouncy when normally he would be asleep at this time too.
Jiraiya's grin widens at his sluggish approach, glancing between him and his apartment window.
"Hinata is there, right? One of my toads said he saw her head into your apartment last night and never saw her left! Look at you, trying to be smooth when I can see those scratch marks all over your back too!" He chuckles.
Naruto reddens, this isn't why he called him downstairs. "Why do you need to know?!"
Jiraiya's smirk widens tenfold, pulling out something from his vest revealing a mini bottle of sake. "Well, isn't it obvious?! This calls for a celebration at the lost of your virgi-"
Naruto twists to head back upstairs, Jiraiya grabbing onto his shoulder before he can go.
"Okay, hold on Kid. I did actually come here with news! News, you should probably let Hinata know about it as well if you're interested." He states seriously.
Naruto arches a brow, glancing back to him properly. "Which is?"
"How would you feel about doing that training trip we never go to do? Train with a jinchuriki who has full control of his tailed beast?"
-x-
Hello April! I know Sakura is a bit OOC in this chapter, but I've been wanting to give her a badass moment and I thought of that Danzo scene months ago! In canon I honestly can't think of a villain or character Sakura defeated on her own, even with Sasori she had Chiyo's help. In this case, yeah Sasuke helped speed things along, but I wanted her to get the final blow. I was originally going to have her conversation with Tsunade go on longer having them discuss life and men, but I decided to save it for a later chapter.
A training trip is coming! I haven't fully decided if Hinata will join Naruto or not. I wrote a little bit of both options and am still deciding on which route I want to go with! Let me know your thoughts as always!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!
