Ibiki lifted his leg over the other and leaned back into his chair.
"What is your name?"
"..." He raised his eyebrow, staring at her. Mostly at her hair and the way it was abnormally pink.
"...I'll ask again. What is your name?"
"...my name…"
Ibiki. Knew this little girl was stalling. Maybe it was the fact that he was a male. Someone that could be closely perceived as the very exact thing that made her this way. He observed her mannerisms. The way she would shuffle ever so slightly in her bed, the tugging of blankets and the curl of her feet. She was nervous. Good.
"...Sakura."
He turned his head, "Hm?"
She tugged at the blankets. "...My name is Sakura."
He asked, "Okay, Sakura. And what is your last name?" She shook her head, lifting her hand towards her head. She weakly answered.
"...Where am I?"
Click. Ibiki didn't show it in his face, but he felt something off.
"You're in Konoha. The capital of the Land of the Hidden Leaf Village. Obviously something you would know given this was your mission."
"Mission? What are you t-talking about?"
"I'm talking about how you used yourself to kill your comrades for your country."
The pinkette furrowed her eyebrows as she felt the pressure. He watched her tug her blankets harder.
"My c-country…I'm in Konoha? That doesn't m-make any sense-"
All of a sudden, Sakura felt something pull in her mind. A thud ripped through the air as a kunai hit just the side of her head, onto her pillow. She could feel her blood slide down her cheek. If she didn't twist her head, a second later she would have been spitting blood, and died. But how? How was she seeing someone that had already died before she did? Why was she sitting in this room instead of rotting away on the battlefield-
"If you don't abide by the rules of this country. You will be disposed of-", He flicked another kunai out of his pouch and stabbed the sheets near her knee.
"..by me."
What had surprised him was the way she stayed still. He could see the stubble shake from her hands and knew, she was scared. But what really surprised him was her eyes, staring right back at him with an intensity he grew familiar with in the walls of the village. It was irritating.
"I- I know. But…"
"Why am I here when I'm supposed to be dead?"
He firmly pressed his lips. Eyes narrowing.
"No, this doesn't make any sense. I was- I was there. I was with them. I felt myself take my last breath. I felt- I know-"
Her green eyes pierced through his.
"I was there- this isn't happening-",
He quickly got out of his seat and grabbed her. Forcefully placing her down on the bed. The girl was still spouting nonsense out of her mouth, despite the knife placed near her face.
"Be. Quiet." He stated with authority.
He watched her calm down, but for some reason, she moved closer to the knife he had and his eyes widened. Flicking the knife away, he used his hand instead and dug his fingers into her neck. "Sorry pinkie. I'm the one that confirms your death, not you."
With an intense staring competition, Sakura spat in his face. Not moving, Ibiki started to chuckle only to go into a full on laughter. Sakura felt dread pour onto her face as her breath hitched, a sharp pain stabbing the sides of her neck.
"You listen here, little shit." He threatened. "Your acting is good, I'm not going to lie. But it ain't working on me." With every little resistance she did, the tighter he gripped.
"You know I have the upper hand here. If you don't abide, you won't get an ounce of air. Understand?"
He watched her, face getting red and the wretched breaths. He waited for a bit, letting his grip tighten. Only for the door to burst open.
"WAIT!"
Without letting go, he turned his head towards the shinobi that came in with an annoyed look. "I'm fucking working here, what do you wan-"
"She's- She's - She's"
"She's- What?!"
"She's a citizen! She's from Konoha!"
Ibki furrowed his eyebrows, "What are you talking about? I just-"
"Sir, Hokage-sama has already confirmed this, with the aid of Minato-senpai." He held a document that he could read, 'Birth Certificate'. "She is from Konoha."
Ibiki felt something limp beneath, cursing under his breath. He pressed the emergency button on the top of the bed.
"Hurry up and get the fucking doctors in here."
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Sabutori Hiruzen took a whiff from his pipe as his eyes settled on the lone object that was placed onto his desk. He glanced up and looked at his shinobi. One with a sweat and the other with veins popping out. He flicked the ash off his desk.
"It has been brought to my attention that this person was found at the borders of our country. Correct?"
Both in unison replied with a nod. "Yes, Hokage-sama."
"And was seen with shinobi that disguised themselves as our own, taking individuals?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Sabutori blew smoke out in the air. Holding up the lone object in his hand, "Without you, Minato, bringing this in even though it should have been given in the first place. We would have killed one of our people. You do know that was wrong for your team to do that?"
"I give my utmost apologies, sir."
"Given that we are in a time where war can happen any moment, this shows we need to be on our guard at all times." He sighed.
"For now, let us discuss the matter we have in hand. This-" He shone a metal plate with the leaf symbol intact and placed it back onto his desk. "-was found in that young lady's belongings. When it was known, our shinobi searched within the system of her description and a name came through in that list."
He pushed his pipe up into his mouth, taking another blow out of it. "Ibiki, did you find out her name?"
Ibiki, his hands behind his back. "She said her name is Sakura. No last name given due to the time being shortened."
Taking the piece of papers on his desk, he held it to the two men in front of him. They both reached out, each taking one. As they read through the content, Ibiki was the first one that spoke out.
"Why is there a death certificate here?"
"Check through it again, Ibiki." The Hokage told.
As both men read, their thoughts were turned inside and out. With the new information they were given, they were able to piece it to another. The Hokage placed his pipe down, crossed his hands together and propped his arms on his desk.
"Even though we have confirmed her citizenship, we cannot confirm her loyalty." He spoke.
"That is where you, Ibiki, will be leading this. I want you to find out if this Sakura is the same one printed."
"Of course, Hokage-sama." With a sign of dismissal, Ibiki walked out of the room with Minato following. "Minato, stay."
Minato stayed in his spot as he heard the door close with a click. He put his hands behind his back. "Yes, Hokage-sama?"
"Minato, it says in your report that this person had fought your genin with no effort, showing signs of being an experienced shinobi. What are your thoughts on this matter?"
"It brings suspicion. I can verify that she had at least the level of chunin, jounin at the very least."
Sabutori hummed. Twisting his chair towards the open window of the sight of his village. Lights brightly shining, busy streets showing life.
"A person coming back from the dead. It's quite a mystery. And to be given this at this time of age is already shaking my old bones." He turned back to the tall blonde man.
"If you say that her skills are at that level. When she has recovered. I want this person to be under your team."
Minato flinched, only slightly at the words that came out. "Sir, are you.. You're not saying-"
"If this person is a danger to the village, we are going to put out this danger. But if this person is to be of use, then so be it."
Minato stood silent for a moment. He clenched his fist behind his back and felt a wave of emotions topple over him.
Sabutori sat back into his seat, taking his pipe again and watching the smoke evaporate in the air. "Let this be a little punishment for your team. Something to deal with in the time being."
"You are dismissed."
He watched the tall man walk out of his room with a bow. Waiting a bit longer. Motioning his hand up in a sign, a flicker of shinobi came into the room. Disguised with masks of a range of animals, he spoke again.
"You are to guard this civilian. If there is even a spec of disloyalty or signs of infiltration."
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"Discard the enemy." With another flick of movement, they vanished.
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Days after, Ibiki went back to check up on the patient. He sat in the same spot in front of her and sat in silence. She was avoiding his eyes as he peered at her appearance. Her face was gaining a bit of colour, her body was getting more protein. But her eyes were downcast and shadowed. Her restraints to the bed were now just chains that still held their purpose of cutting off her chakra supply but she could now move, he thought it was enough. He coughed, shifting his position in his seat.
"You feel a bit better?"
He watched her touch the fabric on her neck. And turned her head away.
He hummed and flipped through his notes and stopped at where he had left off from yesterday. "...you should thank that twat that interrupted us. He saved your life."
"So, this is what is going to happen." He leaned in a bit, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"You're going to tell me everything that has happened, when you were taken, who those people are and also-"
"Taken?"
Ibiki paused.
Ibiki watched her tug the blankets and scrunched them tightly in her hands. She was sweating and was furiously staring at the same spot, down at her hands.
"...do you remember when you were taken?"
She shook her head. That made Ibiki grimace. He felt as if this was going nowhere. And the way she was on guard, building as many walls was another reason to refrain from trying anything. He brought out his pen and was about to write down something until she spoke again.
"...I can't remember, sir."
He put his notes and clipboard under his arm and stood up. Walking towards the door. He turned his head, "Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow, I'm going to bring someone in."
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Sakura rested on her bed for the next two hours after talking with the supposedly alive interrogator that she could remember from her chunin exams. The more she took in the life she was in, the more unbelievable it was. She would sometimes look out her window and observe the details of her village. She had to give perks to the person who put her here. Because it looked exactly the same, well. Minor differences. The infamous Hokage Summit had only three faces instead of five. The houses had brighter colours than the old rusted colours she grew accustomed to.
She got up and walked towards the bathroom, only to glimpse at herself in the mirror. She took a double-take.
My hair?
Her short hair was now longer. Her skin. Paler than her usual tanned complexion from her hard work in the sun. She gripped her arms, feeling nothing but bones and the way it was so thin. She was uncomfortable. This was not her. She noticed, scars cascading down near her upper shoulder and touched it. Feeling the ridges and bumps she quickly took off her hospital gown. And felt a rush of disgust run through her.
Her body was scratched, head to toe. She then glimpsed at the aching sight of the scars from when…
She slowly moved her down near her abdomen, to the side of her inner thigh and felt the scars there as well. Overwhelming with emotions, she felt her stomach wretch. She quickly went to the toilet, vomiting all the badness.
Unwanted voices started to bombard her mind with pictures.. Different shapes and sizes terrorized her mind. Tears were streaming down her face as her breathing picked up in pace. Sliding against the wall, she brought her knees towards her chest and was dragging herself as something had possessed her. It was too familiar. But these memories weren't hers.
A memory flashed before her eyes; She was whimpering, moving away. She remembered the hands that grabbed every itch, that touched every bit of her skin and the way her body squirmed under something. Then she remembered every time she was left in that same room, the sound of the door opening and the sighs were all the same. The light that peeked through the door, she only remembered the sight of the light going out. Click.
Sakura started to scream. Her wretched voice reached through all the ends of the room. All of a sudden, a hand touched her shoulder, she flinched. Screaming, she ran out of the door. Not caring that she was out in the open, that there were other people there as well. That she was wearing nothing. "Don't touch me" She trembled.
Glaring through her watery eyes, she screamed again. "Don't fucking touch me, aah. Please. Please."
She felt like she was in that room again. The room she was locked in with nothing but a bed. She fell onto the ground and shook horribly, her head in her hands.
"Please!" She begged. Goosebumps wrapped around her as she felt the coldness, the concrete, the slaps, the punches, the scars. "Please…I'll be a good girl. I'll be a good girl. I'll be good, I promise. Please. Let me go home. Please. Please. PLEASE!-"
Someone grabbed a cloth from her bed and forcefully draped it around Sakura. She was resisting as they wrapped their arms around her. Repeating that she was safe. That no one was hurting her. And she was going home. She slowly started to stop, feeling nothing but a warmness develop over her body. The person then started to hum a song she remembered when she was younger, someone that she held so much adoration would only sing to her because it was their song. It was their secret song. Her resistance vanished, her tears stayed constant. Her breathing was like a broken record, her sobs filled with so much sorrow. Who would do this? What happened to me?
Sakura let the warmness slowly take her away and only felt a lone tear slide down her face.
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I was walking on the footpath, filled with gravel that stuck to the soles of my feet. My skin was warm. The sun is breathing on it. I looked to my left and saw fields and fields of rice patches, long and thin. It looked like it was blessed from the sun as it emitted gold that glittered. It was breathtaking. But, for some reason. I felt the urge to keep moving forward. My mind tells me to stay on the path. It was like I knew I had to find something. Something that I need to know. I walked and walked until the gravel under my feet felt smoother and less rough. I abruptly stop. I was now on top of a hill, the wind blowing against my skin and hair. For some reason, I put my arms up and felt the most overwhelming feeling; freedom.
"Hey! Down here!"
I looked down from the hill and saw a fluffy head of pink. I tilted my head, walking down to get a better view. The closer I got, the more giggles responded; the farther the person got. I went into a sprint. Running into the open field that had flowers all along. I spotted a tree that the person was going to and stopped just beside it. I ran a bit faster but stopped a few metres away when I saw them lift their hand in the air to tell me to stop. Blinking a few times, I looked at the person and was surprised it was a child. The child looked no older than five. But the child. Looked exactly like me.
"Hello, Sakura." I- She said.
I waved a little, confused. "H-hello…"
The little girl walked beside the tree and sat down, patting the spot next to her. I slowly sat, letting my backrest against the thick trunk.
"Can you plait my hair? Please?"
She turned her back towards me, scrambled myself and went to touch her hair until I noticed the two black dots on her neck.
"Those are beauty marks. My daddy said that I was born with it."
I smiled at the cute statement. I hummed in response and went to plait her hair. I made it into two singular ones on each side and she magically gave me two rubber bands. After finishing my work, I patted her back. She turned around with her big round eyes staring at me with gratitude.
"Thank you. Do I look pretty?"
"Yes, you look very pretty…?"
"We have the same name silly! It's Sakura!"
I giggled at her. "Okay, Sakura. You look very beautiful."
The child squealed in excitement and jumped into my arms. I fell back from the impact and tumbled to the ground. We both were laughing. And for some reason, not wondering how weird it was. I was okay with it. The smaller Sakura jumped off me and ran behind the tree. She then grabbed a small white bunny rabbit with a purple bow tied around its neck. She persistently told me to close my eyes. Once I was told to open my eyes. I looked at the bunny in front of my face.
I asked, "Is this yours?"
She shook her head. "I don't need her anymore. I'm giving Suki to you!"
She forced the rabbit into my hands and sat in front of me, waiting. I stared at the rabbit in my hands and raised my eyebrow. "And why are you giving Suki to me?"
"Because... I know you need her more than I do."
"I- Um. Thank you for the offer, little one but -"
"Nope! I'm not listening!". Younger Sakura then covered her ears, singing random words and shaking her head. I giggled and then told her,
"Okay, okay! I'll take her. But Sakura…why are you giving me her?"
Little Sakura sat for a while and let the wind blow on us both. The wind got stronger causing me to close my eyes for a second. Only to open to an older Sakura, like the age of ten.
"Giving you this would mean you have to give something back to me, right?". Younger Sakura's voice was lower, now dressed in a beautiful white kimono. Her hair was long and was in a singular plait placed on her shoulder. Her smile looked sad.
"And what do you want me to give you?"
"Instead, I ask for only one thing." She looked at me with the most breathtaking smile.
"Please…Look after Kumiko for me."
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