Chapter 10: In Hopes of A Better Future With You.
The working of my mind.
It was a night unlike any Sakura had seen before. Everything was from her wildest nightmare.
If she had one wish, she would wish to be awake. All time. To know her reality.
She wishes this wasn't real.
A monster of a smile, staring blank. Death in his eyes, murder in my mind.
I hate this dream of a real future with you.
"Why did you do it, Sasuke? Why did you have to do this?" She wanted to scream at his face and demand answers.
She wanted to wrap her fingers around his pretty little neck and crush it. She wanted to rip her hairs off her skull and cry. She wanted to curl in a ball in a dark room and never come out.
So many things, and the one she ends up doing is staying behind, under the pouring black rain and fighting the love of her life.
She focuses on her frustration, forcing it into a tight ball of vicious anger, finds strength in her helpless hopelessness, this open betrayal and punches a full chakra concentrated fist into the wet ground below.
The whole area shakes, and the land bursts open, cracks appears, fissures forms.The ground splits open into two with a huge crack in the middle, dividing the earth.
Sasuke loses his ground and jumps back,away from the path of destruction. So much of Sakura's rage taking a form.
Sakura knows he isn't bothered by it. His face barely shows any reaction. It's like looking at a stone statue- no life in it.
What happened to you Sasuke? What did you become?
Tears flowed from her eyes, she kept throwing punches at Sasuke, chasing him and he kept dodging her.
A little dance, just the two of them. For the first time in her life Sasuke was revolving around her, his eyes,attention fully focused on her, and she could find no joy in it.
She wanted to punch that face she fell in love with - the face she was so much in love with, still.
"ugh!!" She wanted rip her heart apart. Tear it right out off ribcage.
"Why?!!" Sakura couldn't help shouting, her voice crazed, cracking as she yelled at Sasuke with all her force. "Why did you do this, Sasuke? What could you have possibly gained by doing this?"
The anger she had was all pushed into her screams of accusations against Sasuke. Now, she felt empty. Her shoulders sagging as she choked on her own sobs, coming out uncontrolled.
"Why? why? why? I don't understand-" She was full blown crying at this point. A hand pressed to her lips, trying and failing to control her cries.
She bowed her head, letting hair fall in front of her face, to hide her tear stained face. Her heart wasn't into fighting anymore. What was she left to protect anyways? She already failed to save who mattered.
No, she was no Naruto.
Naruto? She closed her eyes tighter and cried harder. Where are you?
She opened her eyes, still dazed, her tears no longer pouring out of her eyes- the rain washed away the rest.
Sasuke comes to stand in front of her. Standing so close, she can reach out a hand and touch him.
Sakura doesn't bother to lift her face. Looking at his face just hurts. There's nothing left for her there. A pity. She understood that so late.
Sakura stays quiet. A feeling of numb fatigue settles in her heart, moving into her body. Sasuke can kill her and she wouldn't even feel it.
She stares blankly at the ground, rain dripping in drops from her face and clothes on the muddy puddle beneath her feet.
Sakura wants to choke on that dirt, for loving a man like him. Rage rears again at that thought but dies at the next sight her mind conjures. A lump forms in her throat. She swallows.
Sasuke stands there, for what feels like an eternity before he speaks.
"Sakura." A finger touches Sakura's chin and lifts her face up. She stares into Sasuke's dark eyes, empty of any shine, just like his soul.
Sakura, had never seen the sharingan up close, so near to her, forming right in front of her.
She saw Sasuke's black eyes change to bright red right in front of her eyes. His pupils splitting, forming three petals like substance in glowing red iris.
Sakura knew, as long as she lived, she will never forget that sight. Ever.
What was a given to her then, was that she wouldn't live any longer.
A chill ran down her spine. She did not even try to hide the flash of stark, primal fear that lept in her eyes. Her tears stained cheeks, that was flushed from crying, paled.
Sasuke's eyes remained the same.
"Thank you." Sasuke whispered in her ears, voice softer than falling cherry blossoms.
Sakura's eyes were wide, her mind stuck in time. She wasn't breathing. Her lips parted, in shock.
Sasuke was obviously not tied to time. The blinding pain hit her in the chest, right where her heart was.
"Ah.." An involuntary sound escaped her parted lips.She struggled to breathe. But her lungs failed her.
It was Sasuke, who, in the end, kept her upright.On her feet as life slowly left her.
Sakura couldn't help but lean on,a bit. Sasuke holding her, standing so close. She slowly closed her eyes. A helpless smile forming on her lips.
She didn't want to die. But if she was going to - then,this wasn't the worst way to go.
Sasuke's presence was enough to make it perfect. No matter if he was the one taking it away from her.
Last time, too, she had fallen asleep when Sasuke had said those words to her.
Today, she again falls asleep- maybe for forever this time.
Last time, she did not t get any chance to give him a reply. Today she does. Smiling, she whispered back:
"It's okay, Sasuke -kun."
She falls against him, for one last time becoming the smitten little girl that she always was.
Dying in the arms of her supposed love.
Neji could see.
As soon as he reached the clearing and saw the destroyed house, he could see Yamato, Kakashi and Naruto getting out of the house under the cover of the smoke.
He looked inside the house again using his byakugan and spotted Sasuke. Neji, leapt into action and pulled Sakura with him.
He forced his path deeper into the forest, heading the way he saw Naruto, Kakashi and Yamato talking. When he reached Kakashi, with Sakura right behind him, Yamato and Naruto had already left.
"Kakashi Sensei!" Sakura exclaimed. Neji could not help but grimaced at the noise. He looked back at the house- Sasuke was still inside. He sighed.
"Stay quiet, Sakura." He said, his voice low.
"Neji, Sakura. What are you both doing here?" Kakashi asked, a note of urgency in his voice.
"Kakashi sensei! The house was under attack! Sasuke could be in danger!" Sakura tried to whisper but failed. She pointed back at the direction of the house, her eyes wide.
"Kakashi sensei." Neji spoke then, a ring to his voice, his tone clipped. Neji's byakugan was locked on Sasuke who was moving out of the house, then.
Kakashi nods. "Sakura.I want you to go deeper into the forest and stand by. Do not try to engage, no matter what." Kakashi ordered, looking into her eyes.
"Neji, follow me." Kakashi says and starts back the way they had come. Neji followed right behind.
Sakura stayed behind. She waited for them to disappear before she went in the opposite direction, her steps hesitant as ever.
As they sprint through the forest, Kakashi spoke, "Listen carefully. I am going to engage Sasuke in a fight. Do not intervene until it's over. I have a feeling Naruto won't stay back. So, I want you to make sure Sasuke attention stays away from him. Stay hidden till then."
They are nearly out. Neji sees Sasuke in front. He hums in affirmation and veers left, leaving Kakashi to confront Sasuke. He stops when he is appropriately away from sight and watches the battle between unfold.
Neji stays resolutely at place as Sasuke pierces a sword in Kakashi. Neji, at the same time, notices Naruto fall to the ground- sick from shock.
It's understandable, Neji thinks, that Naruto is so devastated. Because, unlike Neji Naruto has no power to look through a genjutsu.
He feels a chakra form beside him. He takes one more look at Naruto and Sasuke - Naruto falls limp to the ground, under Sasuke's genjutsu.
Neji lets his byakugan fall off and turns his head. Kakashi sits beside him- a bit sweaty and a lot jaded.
Kakashi's upper jounin jacket is missing, and his black inner garment is a little scorched. Other than that he is pretty much unscathed.
"That was a very good performance." Neji comments.
"And yet you sound so unimpressed." Kakashi replies in a mock sigh, his voice casual as ever.
"Hmm." Neji turns his head to look back, his answer unintentionally arrogant, dismissing Kakashi's remark.
"So, what now? He really did impale you without flinching."
"Hm... that he did. A pity. Now we will have to wait for him to flinch."
Neji turns his head so quick, he suffers a whiplash. "What?!" His voice comes out harsh and sharp. He didn't mean to. So he purses his lips and looks away.
Kakashi raises an eyebrow at this but replies calmly, "Um.. we will have to see what will make him flinch or who -." Kakashi voice turns serious then, "I don't think-" He pauses before continuing:
"Sasuke has to have a limit too. We should at least see how far he has been corrupted before we pass judgement on his future in Konoha."
Kakashi looks back at Neji, " Don't you think so, Neji? Look at Sasuke. He can be very useful to Konoha." Kakashi looks back at the sight he can see nothing of.
Neji says nothing. In his mind, he knows one thing: Kakashi has lost his mind, completely.
Kakashi closes his eyes and lays back. "Well, I am tired. I guess I will wait here and enjoy while the two prodigy of the two most powerful dojutsu clan, fight."
He gives Neji a one-eye side glance that tells Neji it's his turn to die now.
Neji returns it with a bored look before he gets up and starts towards Sasuke.
He narrows his eyes as he runs : He will give Kakashi a better show than the farce he gave Sasuke.
Neji will show that Uchiha the superior dojutsu.
Sasuke wasn't foolish.
He knew as soon as he drove his sword into Kakashi's beating heart that it was a lie.
He frowned as Kakashi continued to drone on and on about whatever Sasuke didn't bother to hear. His eyes were trying to discern the reality, he was looking for any genjutsu that might be placed on him. He found none.
Then, he felt it. The Nine Tails. His eyes narrowed, instinctively his sharingan spun and as he looked in the direction of the threat, his eyes met Naruto and just like that a genjutsu was placed not only on Naruto but on kyuubi, too.
But it was Naruto who fell unconscious. Sasuke felt his heart slow down. He relaxed involuntarily, thinking probably it was battle instinct that made him react that way to kyuubi's presence. He didn't want to deal with any nuisance now.
He had to get rid of Kakashi first. Also, somewhere in his mind, it nagged him that he did not want to fight Naruto. That made him even sore. He focused back on Kakashi again, so lost in his mind that he didn't feel the kick until he landed on his back.
When he reopened his eyes, he found a Hyuuga standing in front of him, glaring down at Sasuke with his hands poised in a battle stance.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes- Neji Hyuuga.
He remembered his name from when Naruto had introduced him last night.
Sasuke got up and jumped a few feet back. The Hyuuga clan with the dojutsu byakugan dealt in hand to hand combat. Chakra pressure point attacks - the gentle fist technique. Sasuke knew all this. He analysed quickly.
It will be better to maintain distance.
Then, he tried to remember everything he could about Neji. Neji. The Hyuuga prodigy, a branch member, fought with Naruto in the chunin exam. And lost to Naruto? Hmm...
Sasuke let his sharingan take in Neji. A predominantly close range fighter. But the Hyuuga, he knew, with their fine precision have delicate control on chakra. Neji can easily use it for mid range attacks and distant fights too.
Then, there was the Byakugan.
Neji stood proud with his posture alert. Sasuke sneered : clan brat. Arrogance of a noble clan was evident in Neji.
So like the Uchihas yet different.
As far as Sasuke could think of Uchiha vs Hyuuga rivalry was common. Both dojutsu clans, rich tradition, historical past, noble heritage. Culturally strict. Everything broke down to the basics.
Sharingan, on the other hand, was superior to the Byakugan. Probably that is why they never got along.
Watching Neji, who glared at him, pinch at the most fragile corner of Sasuke's heart. They both were from a unique ocular bloodline. But only one of them still had a clan.
Sasuke's heart spammed painfully- why could it not be the other way ? Why did he have to lose everything-? Sasuke couldn't hep but feel frustration well up. He closed his eyes and let his hate take form - in a better way.
He felt his boiling chakra cool down and settle. Cold tendrils wrapped itself around his heart. The pain lessened. No, the Hyuuga clan just weren't part of it. No need to bother himself with what could have been and those nonsense.
Sasuke was on his path and nothing will stop him. His chakra grew condensed and became stronger. The air around him became charged.
Sasuke felt Neji shift. The change in Sasuke agitated him. Neji gathered his own chakra. Sasuke felt him coming. His eyes remain closed.
Neji attacked. Sasuke pulled back and maintained his distance while throwing fireballs at Neji.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Naruto's unconscious form being slowly wrapped in vines and pulled away to the forest. Sasuke's first reaction was to stop the vines from reaching Naruto. Sasuke clenched his jaw and looked away. It was better if Naruto was out of the way anyways.
Focusing back on Neji, Sasuke landed on his feet, a good foot away from him.
"Come on, Uchiha. Stop running." Neji taunted, his voice haughty.
"I don't remember taking orders from you, Hyuuga." Sasuke replied his voice void of any significant emotions.
Then, without any warning he flung a chidori ray right at Neji. Neji barely had any time to escape it.It narrowly missed his heart but pierced his shoulder.
"You are playing dirty Uchiha." Neji said through gritted teeth. His voice strained as he struggled to overcome the pain, a hand pressed to his bleeding shoulder.
That was just a warning. To gauge Neji. Oh, well. He failed.
Sasuke's eyes glowed red. His tomes spun. He had enough of this mediocrity.
"No one said anything about it being fair, Hyuuga. Certainly not the hidden leaf when it came to the Uchiha before." Sasuke spoke, voice challenging.
He sighed after a moment of watching Neji struggle to gather himself.
"And here I thought you were something." His eyes became blank of emotions as he let chakra into his fist. A second later the sound of a thousand chirping birds filled the air.
Neji's byakugan flared, he glared at Sasuke. This was not going as planned at all.
"Uh, what happened?" Sasuke tilted his head and asked Neji in a voice dripping with false confusion. He raised his eyebrows in mock innocence.
"Lost your leverage?" Sasuke sneered, voice becoming harsh. He dropped the facade in an instant.
"Do you think I am a fool? The moment I laid my eyes on you, I knew it was your genjutsu that helped Kakashi switch himself out. Truly a pity how fallen you have become to let your own comrade die for a parlor trick." His voice became disdainful at the end.
Sasuke never would have considered Kakashi switching his body with some other ANBU and escaping. What would he gain from doing that anyways? If Kakashi wanted he could have easily given Sasuke a harder fight. But to use genjutsu and body switching just to create a false impression. Why?
Sasuke, at first was not able to look through the genjutsu. He knew that the chakra around them was abnormal but he failed to pinpoint the source and everytime he broke it, a thicker layer was placed.
Now, it was obvious it was Neji who was using genjutsu. Neji with his Byakugan can make genjutsu thicker that makes them harder to notice and look through- suitable for a Byakugan eye. And he must be hiding farther than Sasuke's range of sight to notice the origin.
Sasuke was annoyed. He pieced all this together but for the sense of him he couldn't understand why Kakashi would go to such lengths. The only conclusion he could draw was that Kakashi was scheming something completely different.
Underneath the underneath.
Sasuke gritted his teeth in frustration. He will kill that copy ninja.
But for the moment, he directed his attention back at the Hyuuga. Alas, this one will not be so lucky. Sasuke won't fall for the same trick twice ; or to any trick for that matter.
"Hmph, don't bother Uchiha. Come." Neji lifted his bloodstained hand at Sasuke and curled his fingers inwards in a show for him to come, taking his own fighting stance.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes and rushed at Neji with his chidori poised to strike.
Sasuke must be half a hand distant away when Neji spun. Chakra spurred all around him creating a barrier, Sasuke was thrown back.
Fortunately, that did nothing to stop his chidori and he gained his footing again. He did not let Neji gain his ,though.He simply attacked again.
Neji's spinning slowed and Sasuke was there for it. As soon as he saw the chakra barrier weaken he leapt at Neji.
Neji, to Sasuke's unpleasant surprise, did not go down that easily.
In the millisecond that Sasuke's sharingan saw before his eyes closed in pain, it was the empty white eyes of the Hyuuga and blueish veins of Neji's Byakugan.
64 hand palms landed on various chakra points in Sasuke's body. When he finally landed on the ground, his hazy memory thanked Orochimaru for the first time.
Orochimaru, through all his training and experiments, made sure that Sasuke was not kept down for too long under any circumstances. Orochimaru was very particular over his control on Sasuke.Today, Sasuke was glad for that.
He lay there for what felt like eternity. Body numb with pain. No feeling in his arms or legs - just plain emptiness. It felt like his soul was out and floating- no mass, no weight to ground him to reality
He waited for warmth to slowly return and his lungs to fill with air again. He laid and closed his eyes, sharingan no longer in action. Slowly, he breathed in and out and felt better.The pain brought him back from fadin' unconsciousness.
"That damn Hyuuga." Sasuke groaned.
His eyes flew open when he heard other groan in reply. He tried to turn his head and look but couldn't. It , from the sound of it, must be Neji.
Who else was here anyways? Sasuke felt a bit relieved at that. Not because he was vindictive but because it meant he will not be killed immediately now that he was in no condition to defend.
It must be than. Sasuke mused. His mind replayed the scene of moments ago clearly : Neji's angry eyes with his veins bulging with chakra, both their hands reaching each other's body at the same time,Neji's fingers hitting Sasuke's chakra points rapidly, Sasuke's chidori flaring at Neji's side...
"Ah... so that's why." Sasuke murmurs to himself, blinking up at the sky. He lets his eyes fall shut again.
His mind is swimming. He sees his own chakra network... it's a hazy dream... or a fading memory- no it's a feeling. The blocked points are slowly- like sticking glue - coming apart. The points opening and chakra flows through reaching and connecting again.
Sasuke still feels disjointed, disoriented. He slowly opens his eyes. His mouth is dry. He tries to swallow. It still hurts but at least he can feel his body now.
The warmth of blood is back and with it the strength of his own chakra. His mind feels heavy: too much chakra flow.
He moves his fingers one by one, then closes his fist and hardens it.
Yes. Finally.
Sasuke pushes himself off the ground and sits up. He takes a huge gulp of air. It freshes him up, a bit. He looks around - nothing.
Then, he turns his head and finds Neji. He is lying further away from Sasuke, on his side. A dark pool of blood beside him. His breathing is indistinguishable from where Sasuke is. But he, Sasuke suspects, is very much alive. In pain.
Neji's eyes are closed, pressed tightly shut. If no medics arrive soon enough, he will die.
Sasuke gets up and dusts his clothes. Next, he looks around for his sword. He spots it at some distance and goes to pick it up. After he is equipped again, he leisurely walks to Neji.
He stands in front of him,staring blankly unamused. Neji feels his presence and opens one of his eyes to look up at him.
They both stare at each other, without speaking, for some time. Locked in a stare contest that Sasuke wins when Neji's eye falls shut.
Neji's lips twist and he snaps or attempt to snap. It comes out frail : "what?"
"You lost." Sasuke deadpan.
"Hm.."Neji gives a faint smile, his face sweaty with pain."I gathered. Still thanks for that useless waste of your breath."
Sasuke rolls his eyes. "Well, now that you are going to die, I won't bother with you anymore. Enjoy your peace."
He turns around and walks away. Half away through, he hears it. And when he looks back at Neji, he knows he heard it too.
"By the way, I think I will still keep the medics away from you. You have hurt me enough tonight." Sasuke tells Neji. Voice light and a hint of familiarity to it.
In the end, when everything was done.
He sees Neji tense. He knows who is coming, too.
Sasuke turns again. A smirk forming on his lips. At this point, Sasuke can laugh.
Like moth to the flame, all these people are coming towards him, desperate to die.
Neji watched.
He watched as Sakura and Sasuke fought. Or more like Sakura tried to fight the air around Sasuke, while Sasuke watched her exhaust herself.
He still had to give it to her. Tears flowing down her face, mingling with the outpouring rain and Sasuke's indifferent, unapologetic face in front of her, Sakura still kept going. Without landing a single punch.
That girl had no sense of dignity. Neji sighed. He was glad he wasn't dead and Sakura was avenging her. His soul would have never found peace.
Hitting and missing even the easiest of punches, Neji for the life left in him could not understand what she was trying to do.
He couldn't help but find it comedic that at the end of his life, when he was lying wet and bleeding, the only thing he could do was watch.
That too with his byakugan, crystal clear everything as they happened and he was helpless to do anything.Sasuke truly was a cruel man.
Neji did not know what to make of it. Why did he even bother to stay awake and watch Sasuke ruin everything? He should close his eyes and just... sleep.
But Neji was never a coward neither a loser. As a last resort, he decided to stay awake and see because he didn't deserve the peace of dying yet.
He had failed, miserably ,in his task.
Sasuke did come out changed. A hold of the dark heavy around him.
Who will save you now Sasuke?
He knew that Sasuke will stop any help from reaching them. Neji wasn't worried about that. As far as he could see - no one was coming near- worse Sasuke and Sakura were going farther.
The outcome could have been different, he bitterly thinks,now that he can afford to be bitter about it.
He felt a strain on his eyes- he wouldn't be able to keep using the byakugan for much longer.
He tried harder to keep his eyes open and working. It was foolish, a waste of chakra but Neji did not want to close his eyes just yet.
Then, as if his last wish was granted, he saw them : a squad of ninja team coming into the forest.They were only a little distance away.
Soon, they will be here. Neji just had to hold onto until then...
His eyes glazed over, Byakugan dying.
The last sight he caught was of Kiba following him others nins and a little to the side-- who-- Tenten, Lee and --?
Hinata?
Neji entered blissful darkness, on that thought, slowly sinking in a cold, dark sea of dread.
Kakashi felt something was wrong.
His instinct were on high alert, blaring like a siren.
Looking back, he saw the glare of fireballs as Sasuke and Neji fought. He was leaving them behind, but he had to.
Soon, Neji, just hold on for a bit.
He had faith that Neji will be able to keep Sasuke away for some time. He first needed to take Naruto away and inform Lady Tsunade on this situation.
Kakashi runs through the forest, to his next mission. On the other side, Kakashi knows Yamato is retrieving Naruto. He has to meet with them.
He passes the dead bodies of the Root members Danzo had kept on Sasuke. One of the two he used to trick Sasuke.
Kakashi let himself think of Sasuke. The coldness he felt for him worried Kakashi a little bit. He knew Sasuke had no love left for him but still to kill one's own sensei without blinking? Guess that should not have been a surprise.
Rumours were that it was Sasuke who killed Orochimaru. Kakashi was not so special, apparently.
Still Sasuke's heartlessness could be used in a much more efficient way for Konoha. Kakashi through experience knew that it was only time before a power like Sasuke will turn against his own home.
Not that Sasuke thought of Konoha as home anymore. Still, he was a threat to it. With the growing threat of Akatsuki and Sasuke path to darkness.Even Kakashi understood the need of Sasuke back in Konoha. It was in their best interest if Sasuke became loyal to them.
Also, on a much personal level that Kakashi will never admit, he truly wants Sasuke back in the Leaf Village. Along with that he wants to see his Team 7 whole again.
Kakashi has stayed alone for a long time. The broken team seven makes him lonely than ever before. He does not want Naruto and Sakura to go through that same pain throughout their life. Especially Naruto.
After everything Naruto went through and still continues to in order to protect them. And if Sasuke can give him that semblance of peace and happiness- of a family that he is searching for than Kakashi can try to make it so.
After all, it's not like Kakashi does not understands. He understands all three of them - Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura.
Kakashi knows how it feels to be alone and then find a family in your team only to lose them too. To never feel at home again. Not belong anywhere or anyone.
Kakashi knows how it feels to harbour hatred and anger inside your heart. To crave justice and find nothing. To push people away because it hurts too much.
Kakashi knows how it feels to wake up one morning and find your whole world changed. After which nothing ever feels the same no matter what you do.
He knows them all. He knows himself.
To crave something that you can't have and then slowly watch it get lost in life only to find out it died when you weren't looking.
Kakashi too had loved once. Now even the memory of it scared him.
Obito ...Rin... Minato Sensei ... Tou san-
All the ones he lost because he didn't try
Kakashi was never the one to waste his time on things that were not possible. He doomed a lot of people because he did not put effort into saving something until it was too late.
Then, Sasuke left. It was the same thing all over again. Once again, Kakashi due to his own demons, his own cold heart lost another one -
But no Sasuke was not lost yet.
If nothing at all then, at least, Kakashi could be sure that Sasuke was a lost cause. Now, that he looks at Sasuke, he does not see an evil, traitor defector.
He sees his student- the one who was moody and grumpy - the one who spoke of avenging his clan -the one who risked his own life to save his team mate -the one who he taught chidori - the one who along with rest of his teammates played childish tricks with Kakashi.
The boy who was learning to smile again.
Kakashi remembers a lot of incidents with kid Sasuke. The whole team 7 together. Sasuke was happy, he was home, he was finding his family again.
With Naruto, Sakura and him. And Kakashi knows that's why Sasuke left. Because their love was distracting him from his brother's hate. And in the end, unknowingly,unintentionally, Sasuke still chose his own brother.
He was suffering and he wanted to suffer alone,just like his clan had, at the hands of his brother.
In order to keep him, to let him not leave, Sasuke must know what it's like to have them back again.
And Kakashi was ready to try and give it his all. To actually be his sensei in some regards. After all, a good teacher learns from his students and Kakashi was learning to give others a chance from the best of them.
"Captain Kakashi" Yamato reaches him and says, Naruto right beside him, still unconscious. "What's next?"
"Right now, I want you to go to Lady Tsunade and request for reinforcement. Make sure she adds all the teams of Naruto's friends. Danzo's guys are dealt with. So, no problem should come now."
"Yes, Sir." Yamato nods. "Anything else, sir? " He adds, glancing at Naruto.
"No.Let him stay back for the moment. I'll personally talk to Lady Tsunade first. Most of it has already been discussed and will go according to plan. Sasuke evaluation process will go as planned. "
If Sasuke is actually able to fight back the Council will see the danger of keeping Sasuke locked without his will in Konoha. They will also understand that Sasuke as a Konoha shinobi was a far better deal to have.
Kakashi can see that in Sasuke. The path he is on can easily be manipulated into making him do bad things. For both Konoha and Sasuke's well being it was better if he was reassigned into the village and grew among the people who loved him.
The danger was not over. Pein wasn't the end, he was the beginning and Naruto alone will not be enough. They needed to make sure Konoha survived with everything they have got.
Sasuke needed to stay.
And he knew Naruto's words alone won't help. Everyone of them needed to agree to it to make it happen. And what better than to show them Sasuke's worth?
Kakashi was just doing the best he could: both for his student and for his village.
Kakashi's sharingan gave a dull throb. It brought him back from his musings and he looked over at Yamato.
"Understood?"
"Yes, Captain. "
"Good, Let's go."
With another nod of affirmation from Yamato, they both started towards the Hokage Tower.
Dawn, a long way from home.
Tsunade sat down after Yamato and Naruto left. Her mind still wondering at Kakashi's words.
A few days later, when the trial about Sasuke ended, Kakashi had come to her. The points that he made were something to think about.
Tsunade did not know if Kakashi wanted this solely for Konoha and was motivated by the pein attack or if it went to some personal level and was doing it for Sasuke's sake.
Although the latter was very unlikely considering Kakashi. The copy ninja was hard to figure out. But whatever his motives were, Tsunade agreed at the end it would benefit them greatly.
These things, selling people and buying loyalties were common, very common practices in shinobi villages. And on a personal level, she can not for the life of her be bothered by any of Councils plan about the revival of Uchiha clan.
Tsunade did not want any part in that. Naruto would be a hassle to deal with. Sakura too. She sighed. This was way to time consuming.If Kakashi manages to accomplish whatever he is trying to, she won't mind.
Tsunade put her hands away from her chin where she was resting her face. Pushing her chair back she was about to stand when her body seized over. Her mind was breached by an external force
After the desired information was relayed ,her mind was freed. She got up on unsteady legs. A ball of rage waking in her chest. She shook from anger. Her lips pressed into a hard line.
Tsunade lifted a fist and brought it down hard on the table in front of her. It broke apart into two. Shizune hastily entered the room, along with a couple of guards.
"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune exclaimed, watching her warily and then around the room. A confused frown appeared on her face.
"That damn Kakashi." Tsunade muttered angrily folding her arms over her chest. Her voice was low enough that Shizune and the others did not hear anything.
"Sasuke Uchiha has attacked and fatally injured a lot of Konoha shinobi. Send medical help as soon as possible. And relay this to Kakashi wherever he is that it's his duty to deal with the mess he has created." Tsunade ordered , her voice brittle. It became harsher when she took Kakashi's name.
She took some deep breathes. When she looked up Shizune was still standing there, her mouth agape. One of the guards had left in her place.
Looking at her, Tsunade forced herself to calm down. Then, in a much lower voice she added : " And tell Naruto, it's time. He can go."
Saying that, she turned back and went to her desk and pulled a sake from one of the cabinets. She sat heavily on her chair and pulled open the cork. Tsunade took a gulp straight from the bottle.
Shizune stood there and watched her do it. At this point she knew something terrible must have happened to cause Lady Tsunade to react this way.
"Lady Tsunade, may I ask you what has happened?" Shizune asked, her voice polite and soft, though a little nervous.
Tsunade sighed again before taking another swing of the bottle. She looked up at Shizune, her mouth twisting and replied , "Sakura's fatally wounded. Sasuke thrust a sword into her chest. "
"Sasuke?But how? "Shizune asked shock evident in her voice.
Tsunade gave her a humorless smirk before turning her attention back to the bottle in her hand. Shrugging, she said,
" Kakashi's brilliant plan. "
Tsunade sobered at that thought. A few minutes ago she was sold onto Kakashi 's idea but now, no way.
"Shizune, I am calling a meeting with the Council of Elders. Inform them. I am gonna go over the decision on Sasuke Uchiha again. He is too dangerous to be left like that." Tsunade spoke, a hard edge to her voice and a pensive look in her eyes.
She will make sure that Uchiha never gets near a sword again .
With that, Tsunade gets up. A malice urge to go and stop Sasuke herself. She has no sympathy or any familiarity witj Sasuke. Honestly, she bothered with the whole thing just for Naruto and Sakura's sake. Now, though, he had lost favour.
It was Orochimaru all over again. And she wasn't ready to go through it again.