After eons of absence I am back from the abyss. I actually wanted to post this in time for Sasusaku month. It's a bit late but I am pushing myself to finish this story.
I really don't know if many are still interested since the original series has been finished and all. However, using the actual canoniverse I will work on to conclude this piece.
So please join me as I relaunch this story's journey.
"Chapter 10:Reclaim"
Sasuke has always been prompt with the time. In their genin days he and Sakura would wait for Naruto then Kakashi. Today was just like then. At the back of his mind, he assumed Sai will be more diligent. Looks like the emotionless artist is no different from his former latecomer teammates.
He glanced at Sakura at the corner of his eyes. She was reading what seems is a book about herbs. "Is that book interesting?" He uncharacteristically asked. Being vocally curious was not his style but the boredom of waiting for the other three took a toll. Sakura nodded with her gaze fixated on the book. Failing to catch her attention he felt a foreign feeling of irritability. Directing his body towards her, he grabbed the book which took her by surprise. "Hey I was reading!" The pinkette reprimanded. The Uchiha heir continued his business and looked through the contents. After seeing the object of her attention he raised an eyebrow. "You were so engrossed in these blue leafed things?" The sharingan user pressed on.
"Those blue leafed thing is called eternel. According to a legend it blooms on a big field on the mountains at North. When the field blooms on a full moon and a skilled chakra wielder infuses their chakra to it a wish to the gods can be made." The young doctor in training explained.
"For a medical professional, I can't believe you would fall for these type fairytales." The man in a deadpan voice retorted. "Well, that is your opinion. I have mine." The woman pulled the book back. "What are you planning to wish for anyway?" The onyx eyed man pressed on. "Why bother knowing? You have no interest in this fairytale remember?" The rosette countered back. "Fine, it does not concern me for sure." Crossing her arms the lady confirmed. "Yes it has nothing to do with you."
"Are you planning in finding that field?" He really just needed to ask. "Yes and this year I will do it. Based on my study the field is too bloom in the next six months. I already have Shishou's approval, though I am not sure if Naruto or Sai will join me."
"It's not going to be a 3 man team?" the man clarified. "We are not going to battle or an assignation mission. Honestly I think Sai is the better option since his ability can make travelling easier." The emerald eye woman answered. "How can he make travelling faster?" Smiling Sakura replied. "Sai can draw a chakra beast like a huge bird and we can ride it to travel faster. I can replenish his chakra by taking it from the environment if he gets tired."
"So your motivation for your chakra technique is to make this myth of yours to a reality?" The Uchiha concluded. The pinkette preferred not to answer. "I know we just met and you probably don't trust me. But believe me, I have no intentions of stealing whatever wish you have chosen." He glanced at the woman before him, her expressions are unreadable. He does expect her to treatment coldly. But why was it bothering him? Shouldn't he be happy of having one less annoying person to deal with?
Facing each other, suddenly her eyes began to shimmer and a smile appeared on her face. "They're here finally." was said in a whisper. She hurriedly walked past him to greet the other men enthusiastically.
As she passed by the intoxicating vanilla like scent filled him. He would never grow tired of it. "Don't tell me you all got lost to the road of life?" She voiced out with a giggle. Even if the message not for him that tone always calms him. Closing his eyes, without seeing he knew that then other three are smiling brightly for her.
"Sorry to keep you waiting Sakura-chan" That was definitely the dobe's voice. "We had a friendly spar before getting here." Sakura observed her friends. "Well it seems Kakashi-sensei is on the receiving end of the wrath." The one eyed sharingan user scratched his head. "Since they made me tired already Sakura, I will not be joining this sparring session."
"What?!" The two konoha shinobi and kunochi exclaimed. "Kakashi, what are you planning?" Sai asked accusingly. "I am an old man and tired. Naruto and Sai will be one team, Sasuke and Sakura will be the other." The elder declared. "Wait minute, why si Sakura-chan teaming up with teme?!" With crossed arms Sai replied "Would you rather watch his back or beat him up?" Naruto suddenly cracked his fingers. "Since you put it that way, the idea makes sense." The Uchiha remained stoic. Never in this lifetime will he lose to those dumbasses. "Do you have any inhibitions Sasuke?" Kakashi tried to clarify. He just swayed his head to indicate no. "Why do you bother to ask him sensei? Teme has always been socially constipated. Plus he probably wants to whip me and Sai. Not like it's going to happen." The blonde confidently said.
"Why are you guys talking as if I am not part of this sparring match?" The only girl huffed. "Sakura, we already experienced the wrath of you strength. Rumor has it that Uchiha's are strong, Dickless and I are curious to try it out." The artist explained. "You boys make it sound like Sasuke is a thing. That is very rude." The lady reprimanded. "It's not like he cares Sakura-chan." The whiskered cheek boy consoled. "How do you know, people who don't express themselves freely often have the biggest emotional baggage." The doctor to be pointed out. "Ugly, believe us when we say he doesn't care. Soon enough you will understand." Sakura's eye's splinted at the horrible nickname. "Sai you idiot, I am going to pulverize you both."
The declaration made the two men sweat drop. "Sai how could you flip her switch?" Naruto blurted out. "Relax, she will heal us gain after anyway." The smiling man confidently said. "Why are you such a glutton for pain?" The sun kissed ninja inquired. "Feelings are a wonderful thing. It makes us feel alive right?" the alabaster skinned one clarified. "You and your twisted understandings of life always get us into trouble." His partner could only sigh.
"Enough chitchat." Sasuke blurted out and walked towards the sparring area. "Very well our lady and gentlemen, shall we?" Kakashi ushered the younger ninja's. "Sakura, can you please make sure collateral damage is avoided?" The one eyed sharingan user requested. Nodding the girl held up her hands to form some seals. "No problem sensei." In a matter of seconds a dome shaped aura cage sealed them in. Sasuke's eyebrow raised, that was impressive wielding and reserve. "It's not a handicap Uchiha-san. The barrier is from the chakra of the ground and wind. The spike I gave it will last for 3 hours. That will be sufficient time to conclude who the winning party will be."
Taking their places at opposite ends, the pairs wait the go signal from Kakakshi. "Before I let you all lash out, remember no fatalities please." That reminder said, the clash has began. It was a given that both Konoha men are going after Sasuke. Sakura being the assigned partner manage to help and block attacks aimed at him.
"Sai, we won't be able to hit him good if Sakura continues to shield him." The brunette bobbed. "Naruto, can you distract Sakura with your Kage-bunshins?" Giving a thumb up, the hokage aspirant released his clones. However as the clones tried to come near the cherry blossom lady, each became a puff of smoke before touching her. "Sakura-chan you absorbed their chakra."
"Well your kage-bunshins are part of the environment so I can do that right?" The girl confidently said. "Crap, does it mean she will absorb your chakra beasts too Sai?" The artist swayed his head. "My chakra beasts are concentrated chakra. She can't disintegrate them but it would mean I have to distract her. And you would have to beat up the traitor-san." Sai whispered. "Well can you let me have my fill today and I can promise you yours nnext time?" The orange clad man offered. "It's inevitable. But I want my reward earlier." The other negotiated. "I am listening." Inhaling the dark haired boy shared his demand. "Sakura is going on a mission by the end of the week. I will accompany her, don't make a fuss about it." His partner smirked. "You want alone time?" The other just remained silent. "I will take that as a yes. Well like teme you are also emotionally incapacitated so nothing is bound to happen." Came the teasing remark. "Is that a yes Dickless?"
"Fine you can come with her. So let me have a go on Sasuke and keep Sakura-chan in a safe distance." Upon agreement the two pursued their plan. Sai was able to usher Sakura away while Naruto went full mode on Sasuke. Kakashi kept his sense up because he knows a wrong blink can lead to his demise. "Why are you guys so mad at him?" The pinkette questioned. "Sakura are just being protective." The artist declared. "He is not a threat to me. And if you mean him being an admirer, its quiet obvious he does not care." The girl expounded.
Sai decided to fight hand to hand with Sakura. He is bound to lose if chakra manipulation is involved. "Sakura you are going on mission right? Do you need a companion?" The girl smiled. "You heard about it? Yes I would love company." Sai saw Sasuke and Naruto relatively near when an idea popped in his head. Leading Sakura closer to th fighting men Sai voiced out loudly. "I don't mind accompanying you to you mission just the two of us." Sakura's eyes glimmered and lunged at Sai for an embrace shouting "Thank you Sai."
Witnessing the exchange and display of affection caught the Uchiha off guard. This gave Naruto an opening for a punch square on the jaw. "Get your head together teme."
Using his battle quick reflexes the onyx turned to red. "That was a dirty trick" He thought. "Naruto you will pay." The chirping of a thousand birds can be heard. "Whoah, not if I can help it." While the other started to brandish the rasengan. Caught in their intense battle, none noticed the barrier fading. The overwhelming chakra from the two began to reach a dangerous level. When the pink haired maiden noticed the predicament fear tainted her mind. If the two clash they are bound to lose their arms and cause five kilometers of damage. Getting on her feet and performed seals immediately. She managed to enclose each chakra dense hand with a barrier and tried to disperse the power concentrated within. "Sakura-chan what the heck are you doing?!"
Green eyes in full concentration, both men felt the force on their hands fade. Sakura held a hand to her mouth and coughed. Head was swirling, her eyes wanted to close. Sai hurriedly ran to her side as she gave in to the dizziness. The two battling men halted. The artist holding her in his arms saw blood trickle down her mouth. Lifting her up bridal style the man scurried away. Witnessing the urgency in Sai, Naruto abandoned Sasuke and followed suit.
"It seems she took it to far again." Kakakshi grunted. "What the heck was that about?" the Uchiha questioned. "Sasuke, Sakura can wield, manipulate and absorb chakra. Her ability is like of a black hole taking everything in sight. However it is lethal as it is powerful. You know what happens to black holes when it's all filled up right?" The sharingan user with deep read eyes further frowned. "Black holes vanish once occupied."
"That's right." The gray haired man confirmed. "Sakura believes there is field of mythical plants called eternal that can grant wishes. She honed her skills until now to do the required nature chakra diffusion to make that one wish. As we speak, her plans to embark on the journey are already decided." Sasuke looking at the direction where his two adversaries ran to popped up a question. "Kakashi this mission, if it becomes successful means that wish will cost her life."
"Probably. We have no idea how much she needs to exert anyway." His former sensei confirmed. "That is why I want to ask you a favor." The younger averted his gaze to the speaker. "Sasuke I want you to go on the journey with her."
"You want me to travel with her and that fake smiling jerk? What for?" Red eyes seemed to become redder. "Sasuke if the myth is true and Sakura tries to overdo it, using your sharingan knock her out. You are an expert in doing this right?"
The blunt request kind of insulted the onyx haired man. "So you want me there to make sure she gets knocked out? What good will it serve me?" He challenged the elder with the question. "Nothing, so you will just let her die Sasuke?"
"She is not dying yet Kakashi." The other retorted. "You lived together and with your sharingan you noticed nothing?" The Uchiha heir began to scowl further. "Sasuke, Sakura's cells are depleting. Currently she can manage to regenerate them. But the limit is nearing so she pushed to go on the journey."
"If she is a dead woman walking, why bother me to knock her out of the inevitable?" Sasuke uttered bitterly. "Honestly, I just want you spend time with her. Miracles can happen."
"I am not exactly a being of light, life and love Kakashi. You know better than that." The Jounin shrugged. "I promised her that if you appear one day and you get together I will not interfere. Sakura always wanted to be with you. The chance is here and I want to fulfill it for her. But it seems you don't want to cooperate. I have no intentions of forcing you. Since I assured her that too."
"You are going around circles Kakashi its irritating." The younger huffed. "Do whatever you want Sasuke. But I tell you again, savor each moment spent with everything you will leave behind." The silver haired man stared at him intently. "When the time comes you want to comeback for it. They might not be at the same place you left it." And in a puff of smoke he was gone.
A "Tch" came out of his mouth once he was alone. Damn Kakashi for stirring feelings inside him. Closing his eyes and calming himself he hated the resolution floating in his head. In this limited borrowed time. Sasuke Uchiha decided to reclaim something he lost. Screw everybody who thinks he does not deserve to have it back otherwise. He is a very selfish man after all.