Summary/Disclaimer: Time for another chapter of the Merc and the Medic. Enjoy the 4000-word chapter. I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto and a few others do.
(Village of Sound.)
Marmora and Sakura felt awkward kicking off their shoes and pulling off their gloves before they got into bed.
"I can still sleep on the floor; I've slept on worse things like dirt." Marmora said. He already realized that he'd have to snuggle up to Sakura, the single blanket wasn't enough to keep out the cold air which came through the poorly covered window.
"No, that would be rude…" She stated, Marmora sighed and turned to look at the shivering Haruno.
"This is already weird; you think I'd like to be stepping on that line?" He asked, Sakura frowned.
"Marmora?" She asked, Marmora could see her green eyes boring into his ocean blue ones.
"Yeah?" Marmora asked, he felt… Bad whenever Sakura was sad and he had a very faint idea why.
"Do you like me?" Sakura asked while Marmora blinked, he had no idea how to respond.
"How…. How do you mean? You mean like a friend? I do, your nice, your smart… You're asking if I mean romantically while we're literally sleeping in your former crush's guest room…" Marmora said, Sakura rolled her eyes and smiled.
"I… Like you a little that way. You try to act all prim and proper but you're not afraid to speak up for yourself. You kick everyone's ass yet from what I've heard, you tried to make yourself sound bad… You're not, your super smart, you're as good a doctor as your teacher if not more, you got super muscles. Sakura, I think anyone who passes you over because they don't like how you like is a bigger idiot then me when I tried to take you on with no Jutsu." He said, Sakura smiled and wrapped her arms around him.
"I don't really have a clue what to say." Marmora said, he came up with the idea after this.
"Sakura?" He asked, she looked at him.
" We haven't really been around each other while we were friends… Are friends, how about we go on another date or whatever that outing was back in Konoha and say we're unofficially dating?" Marmora asked, Sakura hummed.
"Only if you promise to let me mentor you with being a Hunter Nin. I don't want to start a relationship if… This works, then have my idiot boyfriend not listen and get sent back to Konoha in a casket." She said, Marmora hummed.
"You're never going to let the last training go… I won't do anything stupid… Unless we are training, the only way I'm going to counter your strength is by doing something that you don't expect." Marmora said, Sakura sighed.
The duo slowly went to sleep unaware of the small creature spying on them before it went to report to its master.
(Next morning, 9:00)
Marmora flipped to the side to dodge another boulder being thrown by Sakura.
"You know, I don't feel bad about trying to use Jutsu when it comes to the fight." Marmora said, he tried Sea Sword Skewer and lunged at Sakura.
She dodged it, but her dodge allowed her to land a kick on her. His physical strength was growing day by day.
"You know, if you aren't going to easy on me, I won't go easy on you." Sakura said, she kicked Marmora back who slid into the knee-deep water.
Sakura went to lunge at Marmora before Marmora thought of something.
"AQUA SALVO!" He said, his giant water bombs were fed by the water, every glob of water forced Sakura backward.
"Sakura, never fight a water ninja on their own element." He said while he climbed out of the water before looking at Sakura.
Sakura lunged forward; her fist cloaked in Charka. Marmora rushed at her.
He already knew he couldn't match Sakura head on, even without her seal, one of her Charka enhanced punches would take too much out of him.
He slid under her and felt all the power from her fist. Sakura flew over his head before he grabbed her other arm.
Sakura, who went to twist around in midair, blinked while Marmora tossed her into the water, twisting around to use her momentum and his to throw her further.
Sakura slammed into the water, Marmora walked over, dusting off his hands.
"Like I said, never fight a water ninja when they have a source of water nearby." He said, he walked over to go and get a soaked Sakura out of the water.
He reached her hand towards her and smirked while Sakura slowly blinked and reached out towards him.
Then she smirked and grasped his hand, Marmora went to speak up. He blinked in shock.
Before he managed to get a single word out, Sakura pulled him into the water as well, Marmora vanished into the water. He popped out from under the water.
Sakura giggled with glee while Marmora looked at the laughing Haruno and rolled his eyes.
"I freaking hate you." Marmora said before he started laughing himself, both of the soaked Shinobi climbed out of the water while they looked around.
"Ok, I think I'm getting better, that was 3 moves that I was able to get out before fatigue and pain caught up to me." Marmora said while both began to walk towards the rest of the village.
Marmora looked at the water while he patted the area where he normally carried his Ryo.
"You know something I like water? I like how it's so beautiful and peaceful but it can turn out to be deadly and lethal at other times." He stated while Sakura hummed and started to wring the water out of her shirt.
"Well, it's certainly pretty… Do you know that we fought 2 water ninjas?" Sakura asked, Marmora held up his hand before shaking it back and forth.
"I know bits and pieces, Sakura. I can't get the full story by just talking to people. I know about most of the Shinobi war, something that big isn't going to go unnoticed." Marmora said, he and Sakura passed into the city before going to Sasuke's home.
Marmora wanted to get new clothes and he would probably go shopping tomorrow. He knocked on the door before Karin let them inside.
"Why are both of you wet?" She asked while Marmora walked past her, his shirt drying as his clothing was still able to shrug off water. He knew Karin was starting to think something.
"Me and Sakura went out to train, I'm trying to make sure I can use my combat Jutsu… The only Jutsu that I have to be fair." He said before Sakura went into her room while looking for her civilian clothes.
He hummed while he walked back into the living room where Sasuke sat.
Marmora sat next to the Uchiha and folded his hands under his chin. Sasuke slowly looked at him.
"I would like to ask what made you wish to move to Sound. I've gotten a few different stories as a teen. I actually, have heard hundreds of thousands of stories." He stated before he hummed, Sasuke looked up from the paper he was writing to look at him.
"Hmm… I've been here after I left the Leaf years ago and ended up deciding to come here to keep an eye on Orochimaru." Marmora heard, Sasuke held up his hand before Marmora could speak.
"I miss Konoha, yes… But the only real people who want me there is Naruto… And Sakura." Sasuke said, Marmora hummed, unaware that Sakura and Karin were watching from the doorway.
"You don't think anyone wants you there, that there's nothing back there for you. You want to make amends and they don't deserve to be reminded of you; I'm guessing?" Marmora asked, Sasuke said nothing, but his frown told him that Marmora was hitting close to the money.
"I don't hate you if you think I do, I've spent my entire life living from one suitcase of Ryo to the next. I have also taken lives that start wars. I've done a lot of bad; I can't change anything you did in the future. I don't have the ability to do that or the strength to stop you if you could." Marmora said before he got up and went to walk away.
"Sakura didn't tell you what happened, did she?" He asked, Marmora turned to look at him.
"I know your past; a lot of people know what happened to the Uchiha clan. I know you worked for Tobi, I've heard other assassins and mercs try to kill him and die. I hate your betrayal, your path of destruction and such. I think most people are disgusted by that." Marmora said before he walked to the doorway.
"You still did things that made sense, your brother slaughtered your family if I heard right. I would want payback on that person, I don't know the entire story, that's up to you. I also know Danzo was a worthless war bastard who cared only about himself. I care about my village, my parents are pathetic and I feel nothing for the people who give birth to me, then cast me out because of their own hate and such. You killed Danzo, and he needed to die." Marmora stated before he walked out of the room while he cracked his neck.
He passed Karin and smiled. He put his hand on her shoulder and turned to look at Sasuke.
"I'm glad you are both happy together. I'm going to train and make sure that I can fight off more or less. I'm never going to be able to use Charka in battle if my body isn't able to handle Charka." He said and walked outside.
Sakura, who had changed to her civilian clothes, followed. She knew Marmora would push himself to get as much training possible.
(Orochimaru's Eastern Hideout)
Orochimaru had dozens of hideouts, being a mad scientist and former warlord, he was someone who always tried to keep ahead of his enemies.
Shin walked back and forth; he had taken over whatever was left from the syndicate. He had such an easy time poisoning Danuja and then killing him when the man went to him for the antidote.
He always chose the same tea. He was such a fool.
"The Uchiha legacy deserves better then to live in a worthless era of peace…." Shin said, walking through a row of his 'sons', he had also kept a fair number of Danuja's men. He could easily kill them, but you couldn't fight a war without soldiers.
"Find the mercenary and bring him here. I know your incapable of subduing or killing the Uchiha, his former teammate and the descendent of the Uzumaki. Your become… 'Replacements', if your incapable of that." Shin said while he walked through his soldiers.
"You have wasted enough time, go…" He ordered before Yousuke and the remainder of Danuja's men… Along with 2 of his sons left the compound.
He wanted to murder Sasuke, for he had taken Itachi from this world. He would die for that, he would start another war, he knew that. He also knew that there would be a lot more resistance to his plans.
The Uchiha would be reborn through him. He would plunge the war back into the natural state of war, it would be glorious.
(With Sakura and Marmora)
Marmora picked at the meat on his plate before putting a piece of meat into sauce and then eating it.
"So… does Naruto know that your moving out of Konoha? I would suspect he isn't happy with things considering the fact that he…" Sakura said, she sighed and rubbed at her temples.
She stopped loving Sasuke romantically years ago, she just hadn't been able to convince herself till after the war.
The man had no emotion, no love, no remorse, no compassion. He had come at her ready to spill her guts all over the floor and like a blind fool, she believed he loved her.
She was happy Karin had found love with Sasuke, if a little. She continued to look at Marmora, their discussion fresh in her mind.
"He ripped my arm off. We settled that years ago. I am allowed to live in Konoha as long as I make several appearances in Konoha." He said, Marmora hummed.
"You know for someone who doesn't like to joke a lot, the way you were able to say that was funny." Marmora said, Sasuke allowed a small smile to grace his face while he continued to eat.
"You know, I still have to wonder what's going to happen with Danuja. He's never been in an actual fight before, but he was able to take advantage of the fallout of the war for Amegakure. I have no idea why he'd put you in the line of fire. I'm actually curious why he'd send his entire syndicate after me. Dagger is the one who took loans from him and Dagger never leaves Amegakure unless it's for a mission." Marmora stated, he brushed off his coat and turned to look at Karin.
"Pain was somewhat connected to the Akatsuki, wasn't he?" Karin asked, Marmora hummed and nodded.
"Yes, I believe he founded it. Danuja took a deep interest in the Akatsuki when they were founded. I really don't want to know what runs through that man's head considering the fact that a ninja terrorist organization caught his interest." He said, he slammed a hand down on the table. He flinched after that and looked around at the others of the table.
"I just forgot the fact that I was going to train and then I never did. I'm going to go and do that, thank you for the food, Ms. Uchiha." He said before he slid his chair out, stood up before he walked out the door.
Sakura turned to Karin who hummed and then finished up her food.
"I thought you went with him before?" Karin asked, Sakura shook her head.
Sasuke always described Karin as a very temperamental person. She could be nice and caring some times and then rude and cold other times. She seemed to have mellowed out after the war.
She still wanted to know how her friend loved Sasuke after he ran her through with a Chidori.
"I went to get him to stop him from leaving before we could eat. Marmora is very capable of dealing with himself." She said, Karin watched Sasuke leave the room. He always went to go and talk to Orochimaru when he was out of the house. He would get groceries and such then he'd come back to the house.
Karin waited till she heard the door close before she turned to Sakura.
"You like Marmora like you did Sasuke, don't you?" She asked, Sakura turned to her with a slack jawed look.
"I… That's none of your damn busi…" Sakura started to say before she got cut off.
"Cut the crap, Sakura. I can see it all over you. I don't know much about Marmora, hell, I don't even know how and when he got to Konoha. You like him." She said, she cleared her throat and sat down.
"You smile at every single time he does something stupid and cracks lame jokes. You enjoy sparing with him, you clearly take it easy. I know what you could do, Sasuke told me. You and him are always together, I doubt you both spend much time apart. Sasuke talked to your friend Ino, she said you guys are nearly inseparable. I honestly think the only reason you both don't sleep in the same bed is because he's too polite to step on that boundary." Karin said, Sakura's jaw dropped and Karin smiled.
"You're the only Kunoichi that isn't married among the war Shinobi. I don't think that's a bad thing, we don't all have to be married to be successful. You still need to stop lying, Haruno. You like Marmora, a few days, a few weeks… You like him because he's nice and caring and you enjoy his stupid moments because he jokes about it with you." He said, Sakura looked to the side.
"So, what if I like the idiot? Marmora's been helping me out ever since he became my roommate. He's made food, he's gotten the house a plant, he helps with the dishes." Sakura said, Karin smiled.
"So, he's like a husband without being a husband… Sakura, just ask the idiot out. He's not very shy like the Hokage's wife, but the guy is only going to ask you out like he did last night if you pressure him." She stated, Karin said with a smirk before she went to handle the chores before Sasuke came home to help her.
"We don't have very thick walls, Sakura. I should remind you we just got this home a few months and all of that." She stated before she walked out of the room.
(With Marmora)
Marmora had no idea people were watching him, he kicked a target with enough force to splinter it in half.
He flipped backwards and then threw a trio of Kunai at a pair of targets, 2 hit off target, 1 didn't.
He sighed before he heard something behind him and turned around in time to dodge a kick.
"Yousuke…" He muttered while he looked at the man who had vanished into the trees around the clearing.
He felt a Kunai graze his cheek and groaned in pain before he managed to stop another kick which sent him flying to the side.
He muttered a curse before he stopped a punch aimed at his face and then kicked the man to the ground.
"You're going to need a hell of a lot more then this to kill me!" He yelled before another Kunai ripped through his arm and knocked a portion of his jacket off him and to the ground. He fell to the ground before Yousuke and his men surrounded him.
"Water Release, Aqua Salvo!" He yelled, he spat a giant bomb of water, knocking 3 of the thugs into the stream, unmoving.
He caught another Kunai tossed at him and then stabbed another thug in the chest before throwing it into the head of another thug.
He collapsed while he heard the sound of footsteps around him, he was outnumbered and he hadn't the ability to fight off a small army of thugs.
"Bring him to the Uchiha… He'd gut us with those freak sons of his if we don't… I can't believe he tricked the boss to end up killing before he took over his empire." He heard before he felt himself being dragged away.
He felt something fall out of his pouch. His headband, which was crushed into the ground. Marmora couldn't feel his body. He tried to fight back, but the men who were dragging him only tightened around his arms.
He groaned before he felt himself slowly start to lose consciousness. His head slumped to the ground, too exhausted to keep himself awake anymore.
(With Sakura, Karin and Sasuke)
Sakura sighed before she noticed that it was starting to get late. Marmora was stubborn, but she was sure that Marmora wasn't stupid enough to train until it was dark.
"I swear to god if he's still there…" Sakura muttered before she opened the door and closed it.
She frowned; Karin's words were still fresh in her head while she walked towards the training ground.
"Stupid Karin, making me question my relationship status… So, what if I'm the only Kunoichi who hasn't been married? I've been exploring, wondering what to do… I shouldn't have to marry to…" She said before she tripped over something and fell into the knee-deep water of the clearing.
She looked around before she noticed something, she had fallen on a body.
She went to scream before she noticed there was another body. She saw that parts of the ground were upheaved, she traced over the ground.
"This looks like a crater from an Aqua Salvo… And those are Danuja's thugs…" Sakura muttered, she worried, she began to look around.
Had Marmora…? She was about to rush home before she noticed something crunch under her shoe.
She bent down and looked at an Amegakure headband. She clenched her fist.
"Marmora…." She said, she went to scream and instead collapsed into the dirt.
She didn't care about the dirt and mud. She had trusted Marmora to look after himself, Danuja had his men ambush Marmora who took down a few of them before he ended up being captured.
"Marmora… I'm sorry." She whispered to herself. She should have been here; she would have been able to….
No, she didn't have an excuse for that, she shouldn't have been so stupid as to let Marmora go off alone. She needed to find him. Danuja still wanted him alive, he wouldn't kill the man if he could still use him and make an example out of him.
"Karin… She can track Marmora's Charka. I'll bring back his headband and then we're go after him…. Ugh, I can't do it tonight, I try it and I'll be too tired…" Sakura said, she looked at the headband and traced her finger over the symbol.
She would get her friend back, she had to. Sakura knew she wouldn't be able to forgive herself if she didn't.
She turned and rushed back towards Sasuke's house. She needed to start making a plan of attack once she found out where he was.
She hopped Marmora was stubborn enough to hold out. She would break him out by tomorrow, they wouldn't be able to get very far by night.
(With Marmora)
Marmora groaned and opened his eyes; his jacket had been discarded along with his gloves and shoes. He tried to shield his eyes and realized he was trapped.
"Comfortable?" He heard and went to form a Sea Sword which he could fail around, he was bound to break something that would drop him out of the contraption.
"I don't know, you have the balls to let me out of this and we're see who's 'comfortable.'" He muttered, he continued to struggle. He could tell that he was underground, the moonlight peeked through a few areas down on him.
"I honestly would… If you weren't bait for your friends to be lured here before their deaths… Besides that, annoying little bas…." He heard before he rolled his eyes.
"You're not Danuja. I know the jackass. He would be stabbing Kunai into my side while deciding how to serve me up on a roast…" He muttered; he had no real idea where he was… But he'd be damned if he died here.
There was noise in the distance before a figure walked up to him. Marmora would have gagged if he could.
The… Thing in front of him, looked like a corpse with very familiar eyes on his head, one eye was forced open and the Sharingan looked sickly.
He looked like an undead monster before he spoke.
"I am Shin. I am the true ruler of the Uchiha clan. I must say, I'm sorry I had to involve you within this… But when I heard of Danuja wanting to send a spy to see if you were in town to be recruited… I had to redo my plans." He said before he tightened his hand into a fist and punched Marmora hard enough to draw blood before he forced him to look at the undead creature.
"I hate having to do that to my plans…" He hissed.
Author Notes
Phew, another chapter done! This is my longest chapter for the story…. Chapters after this will be mostly 2000-3000 or so words. Next chapter will be on Tuesday or so and will show Sakura telling Sasuke about Marmora's fate, Marmora talking with Shin, and then Sakura, Sasuke and Karin coming to rescue him, until then, Lighting Wolf out!