Uchiha Kagami is well known in the clan for his tea ceremonies which calm the spirit at the sight of his effortless moves and which seem to make the time stop so no problem could worsen. Shisui looked at his father with a blank face, hiding the feelings unsettling him - the ceremony feels sightly different. It is very uncharacteristic of his father to make tea in such a heavy mood. Kagami slightly bent to reach the chashaku with his right hand, only to rest it on top of his right knee. With his other hand he reached the natsume and using the left hand he removed the lid. Performing a beautiful ceremony before a serious discussion is something characteristic to Kagami - only that this time Shisui feels restless. Whenever something pressing needs to be discussed, Kagami makes sure the mood is relaxing and no rushed decisions are made. Shisui likes this about his father and he appreciates the calm with which he avoids stress. But today it is different.
Hot water was poured over the matcha and a chasen was used to whisk the powder. When the water turned green and a layer of foam formed on top, Kagami took out the chasen and rested it in front of the mizusashi.
Shisui leaned further to reach the bowl of tea and took in the nice scent of freshly made usucha. He turned the bowl and made a bow to thank the host for the drink.
"War left a deep wound in our hearts," Kagami started when he heard Shisui sip from the drink. He kept a straight face, looking ahead at the steam lifting from the kama. "And all wars comes with a change," he continued reaching the fukusa and folding it to fit back in his kimono.
The first sip went down his throat smoothly but as his father kept on talking, Shisui could not help but feel the mood growing heavy. It is not in his father's character to bring up the subject before the end of the ceremony. However, he kept quiet and politely listened to his father as he talked. The tea is worth it and he cannot deny that Kagami clearly knows how to prepare a good usucha.
"Fugaku fought next to Yondaime in the last battle of this war and he proved he is a powerful man recognized by the Kage himself." Kagami made a short break and looked outside the small window of his tea room, which is big enough to fit only up to 2 guests. There is no sound outside and even Kagami finds it hard to get used to the silence.
Kagami leaned only slightly to grab the empty bowl his son left next to his knee. He looked inside, the moon reflected at the bottom of the black chawan, and inspected it to check if any dust was left behind or if he whisked it well enough.
"The village is weak now," Kagami voiced as he cleaned the chawan. "Now is the moment to strike."
His father's last words froze Shisui as he understood what he meant. He knew the clan was not really pleased with how the village treated them but he hoped this war was enough to silence them for the next years. He didn't think his people would like to spill more blood after such a tiresome year. The Uchiha clan feels marginalized and discriminated and they never accepted how no Uchiha ever made it Kage. They have such powerful shinobi and yet nobody was selected to look over the village from the tower. It was as if someone was planning to push them down and keep them at that level.
Shisui never felt like he wasn't recognized and he never felt like his clan is marginalized. But Fugaku feels diferently. He wants more political power and he wants to be the one to decide how the village should work. And not only Fugaku, all Uchihas are completely blind and refuse to see how appreciated they truly are. So, as if Fugaku was not selected for the most important fight, as if Shisui was not a captain in the war and as if Itachi never became an ANBU team leader, the clan ignores everything and becomes greedy for more.
"Shisui, we will lead a coup d'etat and replace the current Kage," Kagami finished sharing his thoughts and the ceremony at the same time.
They bowed and Kagami left the room without waiting for Shisui to say something.
The man felt his heart jump out of his chest but he remained composed and left the room after his father without any sign of stress on his face. The tea suddenly felt heavy in his stomach as he walked ahead towards the bathroom. He didn't think the clan will put him in such a delicate situation, not after all the shit that happened with the war. He has to choose between his village and his clan and either party won't forgive him if he abandons them. His clan - the Uchiha blood is rushing through his veins and his parents are the ones who made him part of such a prestigious clan. His village - the place where he learned, the place where his nakama are and the place were Sakura is.
Shisui knotted his eyebrows together as he stared at his feet, water rushing down over his head. A cold shower is not enough to help him think straight. He is frustrated and he cannot calm down his heart. He could stand any party hating him but Sakura…what would she say? Would she even understand what he goes through? Would she even think that this decision is impossible for him to make without upsetting someone? But more importantly, would she feel betrayed? Out of all, only Sakura matters most….
Shisui clenched his teeth annoyed. If this fails – and the chances are very high for that to happen – they will be banned from the village, if not killed. If that happens...his whole existence will be for nothing. What will he fight for if there is no more village?
But right now...the decision is not clan vs village but clan vs Sakura. She wouldn't live the village for him and probably his clan wouldn't even accept her...
Shisui shook his head deciding it is not the time to think about Sakura. He stepped out of the shower and reached a white towel which he folded around his hips. The clan was always rigid and full of hatred. Probably the most predominant characteristic of his clan was the constant feeling of not being appreciated for what they did. He never really suffered of anything and he cared very little what others thought because he knew that his clan was strong and respectable. He was always treated fairly and only the best doctors were assigned to his check ups. Most likely that is the same for everyone, so what does the clan want? Nobody can really make the Uchihas most important and nobody should do that. In his opinion, they have just as much influence as any clan.
Shisui wiped the steam from the mirror and stared at his tired reflection. His worries never end.
Sakura stared at the file with a blank face. Early in the morning, she went to the Hokage Tower to pick up her permit to go back to the hospital and start working as a reliable member of the village. She had her white coat folded in a paper bag and she was ready to go directly to the hospital but life seems to have again other plans with her.
"I made a request for hospital work," she said looking at Kotetsu as if not understanding the words written in the file.
The man looked back with apologetic eyes. It was not him who decided. He was merely requested to hand in the assignments. "I am sorry," he apologized feeling the need to answer her something.
"But I made a request," she insisted on a severe tone. She was asked what she wanted to focus on in the future and she wrote a long report justifying her request. Have they even looked at her request? Kotetsu shrugged his shoulders and portrayed a small smile. Sakura nodded and turned on her heels to leave. Stupid village and stupid leaders.
Sakura walked through the Hokage tower with the intent to visit the Kage and talk to him about her request. She had all the intentions to step in a give him a piece of her mind but she stopped at the sight of two ANBU who were guarding the entrance. One of them looked towards her but only for a second. She was not worth of more attention. Sakura heard voices coming from the office and she understood that they won't let her in so she left with a heavy heart. Tsunade didn't come back in the village; she got lost on the way back but Sakura understood that the woman is done with the village. She would like to do the same but they will hunt her down and cut her tongue to silence her forever. It is frustrating to see this difference in treatment. But she is a nobody so probably she has to be happy that she even has a job as a shinobi.
"Sakura?" Shizune called from behind her.
The girl stopped and turned to face the woman who was stepping out of Yondaime's office. Sakura bower her head in respect and waited for Shizune to approach her. "It's been a while," she greeted and bowed her head again.
Shizune warmly smiled at the girl. "I am glad you are fine. When do you start your shift?"
"I got a mission," she replied looking at the file with her next assignment. Shizune frowned not understanding her. "I cannot get back my office in the hospital. They sent me to Sunagakure."
"Have you applied for hospital work?" the woman insisted.
"Of course I did," she growled losing temper. "I will work as a medic at the military camp in Sunagakure for the next two weeks." She starts feeling less and less happy of coming back home and of being part of the winning camp.
"I heard that the previous Kage died in the fight against Yondaime and that the new leader is a young boy, Gaara."
Sakura shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. She doesn't care about that village and she doesn't want to step foot there but she doesn't want to go back to prison so she will touch her heart and gladly follow the order. Even if she is far from glad to complete the mission. "I need to leave tomorrow so..."
"Take care." Shizune felt bad for Sakura but there was nothing she could do to help. Instead, she patted Sakura's shoulder and walked together with her towards the exit.
Sakura kneed in front of her bed and pulled a backpack from beneath it. A two weeks mission means taking with her clean clothes and sharp weapons.
"Must you really go?" Mabuki asked as she walked inside Sakura's room.
The girl zipped her backpack and stared at it with sad eyes. She must go regardless of what she wants and she must do this in order to get back her job at the hospital. Everything is so she can get back to the place where she most wants to be and for that she will make this mission a success. Even if she has problems trusting the village and the leader.
Sunagakure no Kuni was never Sakura's favorite place to go, especially during the sand storms season. She tried her best to avoid the place and luckily the number of missions there was low. Sakura was disappointed and angry to learn her request was declined but seeing Shikamaru next to her, she knew right away she wasn't the only one mistreated. The two left the village early in the morning and travelled two days with few breaks to their destination. Shikamaru was careful to constantly remind Sakura that the mission was a drag. She knew and even if he said it once to many times, she always agreed with him.
"The kage is a jinjyuriki," he started at some point on their way to Sunagakure. Sakura had to reply so she shrugged her shoulders, knowing that from Shizune. "He is the previous Kage's son. Hopefully he isn't longing for another war."
"This is why we go there, to make order and remind them we make the rules." War never ends. They won and they are not nice enough to collaborate based on trust. This is why the Kage ordered a military base in Sunagakure. He needs eyes and ears there and if someone makes the wrong move, they mus stop the revolution before even starting.
That was pretty much their longest conversation. They didn't feel the need to talk and there was nothing new to share. They were accompanied by many new faces and if before the war the trips were useful to know each other before the mission, now they don't even feel the need for new acquaintances. Everyone is too used to the idea of never getting back home alive. The team, consisting of 6 jonin and a medic, traveled in silence all the way to Sunagakure and even at their hotel they parted without many words.
Leaf shinobi call it a camp but in reality they booked two hotels, close to each other, were leaf delegates stay over the night. The restaurants of the two hotels are run by chefs from Hi no Kuni who know exactly what food they have and where it is from to prevent poisoning. Everything is well thought so that nobody is in danger.
Sakura sat on the single bed and looked around the room; the furniture consists of a desk with a mirror above it, a closet and the bed she sits on. Not too much to get too comfortable but enough for a decent stay. However, she had no expectations. Almost a year of war taught her that the village doesn't bother to invest to much. But, to be realistic, the village doesn't have too much money at the moment. It is easy to see only the bad things when nothing good ever happens.
Two knocks at the door signaled Sakura that it is time for her to get to work. She checked herself in the mirror, making sure to arrange her bangs at the sides of her face. The kunai holster is secured in the right place and she has the right amount of weapons there. Although she is not supposed to fight she must always be cautious.
With the gloves in one hand, Sakura left her room and met with Shikamaru in the hallway. The two nodded as a greeting and left the building together just when the wind started carrying sand through the village. The first storm of the day is approaching. Shikamaru, with a map in his hands, lead Sakura towards the police station. Sakura followed Shikamaru in silence, eyes scanning the people walking down the streets, as far as possible from them. She can tell that their presence there is not appreciated and people do not trust them. Although they are there to make sure there is order in the village, they do not intend to get violent with anyone. They are not that inhumane after all!
The police station is situated in the Kage tower. To be more precise, it is situated in the basement of the building and it is guarded by both suna and leaf shinobi. Sakura and Shikamaru were welcomed without words being needed and the suna shinobi opened the door for them. A long trail of stairs greeted the two making Sakura grateful she noticed the stairs before taking a wrong step. The hall has very few bulbs of light but it is just enough to help them find their way down. "Such a drag," Shikamaru mumbled at the endless number of stairs.
"It makes me wonder why situate the police station here."
Shikamaru tilted his head at the side trying to come up with an answer. "This is actually a very good place. It is convenient for the Kage to act in case of an emergency."
"In Konoha we have powerful policemen who don't need such interference," she added thinking about Shisui and his powerful hands.
Shikamaru kept silent at her remark although he wanted to correct her. There are many things Sakura is not aware of and he shouldn't tell her too much.
When they finally managed to reach the bottom, Sakura felt a knot forming in her stomach. The place resembles the prison where she was held and although the walls are dressed with cement and the ground is covered with marble she cannot hold in the urge to leave the place. The kunoichi clenched her fists and walked after Shikamaru with a blank face but deep inside she was struggling to calm down.
A leaf shinobi opened another door for them and they entered the interrogation section. A wall made of glass made it possible for the two to notice Ibiki interrogating a suna civilian.
"How many times do I have to say I wasn't trying to set bombs inside the hotels? I was looking for help for my daughter!" the man cried feeling a terrible amount of pain in his head. "Please…" he begged Ibiki who has not showing any remorse.
Feeling Sakura and Shikamaru, Ibiki got up and left the room to greet the two. "I was waiting for you," he said and looked at Sakura. The kunoichi understood that her mission there was to heal Ibiki's victims and make them resist as much torture as possible.
"We have an assassin here?" Shikamaru asked looking at the crying man.
"No, he is innocent. I already know he was there for help," Ibiki answered and lit a cigar.
"Then why are you tormenting him?" Sakura asked out of curiosity.
"It's the procedure. We cannot release anyone without proper interrogation. Maybe he knows someone who plans an attack," Ibiki answered. "We can release him now so please heal his wounds."
Sakura knew very well that sending Ibiki there had two meanings: 1. He is well known for his cruelty during an interrogation and that might make people think twice before getting themselves into a mess and 2. He is very good at his job and nothing will get past him without him knowing. It is safe to say that Sakura felt bad for the poor man but Ibiki told them that he already sent people to help the daughter and that everything is fine. She feels reassured to know that she is once again capable of emotions.
Back at the hotel, Sakura and Shikamaru went for dinner together. They had the possibility to choose their meals and that gave Sakura the opportunity to try some local dish. It is surprisingly nice to have dinner with a friend. Especially since she hasn't been very close to her friends since war ended. Ino might be jealousy if she knew Sakura spent time with Shikamaru when she has been avoiding the blond.
"Say, are you still close to Sasuke?" Shikamaru asked finding the silence quite heavy.
"Not really," she shook her head.
"So you do not know what he is up to lately," Shikamaru concluded out loud.
Sakura raised a questioning eyebrow at him, "What is this? Are you interrogating me?" Shikamaru is not the kind of man to care about what other people do.
He smirked liking Sakura's wits. The girl is way to smart for him to make a move without her noticing. "You got me," he admitted when the waiter came in with their meals and two glasses of water with ice.
After the man left, Sakura could not taste her food before questioning Shikamaru. "What did he do?" She isn't scared for him but she is curious.
Shikamaru had a bite of his chicken and portrayed a smile. She has no idea if the smile is for the food or for her. "This isn't how interrogation works. You cannot ask me back." Sakura shrugged her shoulders agreeing that he is right and they ate in silence. She always loved the food back in Konoha but the vegetables prepared here with sesame oil are very tasty. She almost forgot about Sasuke when Shikamaru spoke. "What about Shisui-san?"
Sakura froze hearing the name. She never thought that somebody could read them and notice they had something. "What exactly has Ino told you?" she asked, voice ice cold.
"Nothing."
"Don't lie to me! Otherwise you wouldn't ask!" Out of all people nobody would come to Sakura to ask about Shisui.
Shikamaru sighed at the sudden troublesome situation. "She didn't say much." As her stares persisted, he continued: "She mentioned that you are close." Sakura raised a questioning brow at him. "Very close."
"That bitch," she hissed annoyed. Ino always has a way of letting things slip her lips and she was never good at keeping secrets.
"I assure you I do not judge nor do I care. Everyone did things they are not proud of. Even I…" he stopped and thought of all the things that went wrong in his life. "Anyway, has he been acting strange lately?"
Sakura turned back to her food and continued eating. Ino really messed things up and if rumors appear, he won't believe her if she told him it was not her. "I don't know. We haven't met since we came home."
Shikamaru nodded understanding her. "Of course."
"It is not what you think," she bit annoyed.
"I don't think anything."
"Well you are wrong. I am not lying and I did nothing wrong."
Shikamaru really wasn't thinking anything but since she continued, it is his duty to answer her. "He moved on and now he makes planes to overtake the village." He didn't want to tell her so much but she forced him. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her and seeing her surprised faced told him that she really knew nothing. "I don't know details. We suspect a coup d'etat."
"Shisui wouldn't do that. He loves the village and its people." How could anyone suspect Shisui of betrayal? He fought for the village and he did everything he could to follow orders. He wouldn't...would he?
"But he loves his clan too," he reminded her. Sakura couldn't answer and she quietly watched her almost finished food thinking if there is a small chance Shikamaru is right. Of course she knows he loves his clan just as much and he even told her his clan is superior to most. "And the way he hurt you, he can hurt the village."
Sakura bit her lower lip and got up. "You know nothing about him and you know even less about us. Just because you are smart that doesn't mean you are also right this time." Angry with Shikamaru's insinuations, she turned on her heels intending to leave but he grabbed her wrist too keep her there, forcing her to turn back towards him. All she wanted was to leave and think alone in her room.
"Sakura, the last thing I want is to hurt a friend. I did my duty to ask and you honestly replied. But remember not you or I decide what to do next," he whispered trying to keep the conversation just between them. The room is now full of tired and hungry shinobi. "You know I am too lazy to start a new war."
Sakura felt her hands growing cold. "I don't believe anything you say…" she whispered back.
The two stared at each other in silence. She refuses to believe there could be a second war and of all place right inside the village. Her family and future sibling are there and she doesn't want to see them in danger.
"Is a war about to start?" A voice asked alarming both of them. Their mouths went dry at the sight of no other but the Uchiha Shisui himself.
Shikamaru felt the stare on their hands and he released Sakura from his grip to prevent an incident. Despite the calmness of the young Uchiha, Shikamaru knows that anyone can get angry if you make the wrong move.
