Next chapter of Blood is Thicker Than Bone. With Sakura accused of betraying Konoha, Naruto looks for answers. Also Haku and The Sound Trio have an encounter with old faces.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Sakura sat at the table in the small room quietly, not saying a thing as she looked on nervously. The room only had a table and two chairs in it and it was dimly light as she looked at her surroundings.
How did she get here? The Pink Haired girl did not understand how this had happened. One moment she was studying the info that Tsunade had given her and the next thing she knew she was here.
Flashback…
"I'm sorry Ino, but I got a lot of work to do." She said to the Blonde who wanted to go to the Mall. She was seated at the park and had a folder containing medical notes she had written down as she was studying.
"C'mon forehead girl. Let's go shopping and head to the Springs." Ino protested to her.
"Sorry, but Tsunade trusted me with this and I've got to do this." Sakura said to her friend. Before she would jump at the chance but now she had more important things to do. "I can't goof off right now. Maybe later when I'm done."
"Fine, I'll see you later. Maybe Hinata will want to go shopping." Ino said and walked away.
Sakura watched her leave and let out a sigh as she resumed looking at the notes as she had been working for quite a while ever since Tsunade had decided to appoint her as her assistant, this was a huge opportunity for her and she couldn't let her down.
"Sakura Haruno." A voice said and she lifted her head and saw Two ANBU much to her surprise. "Come with us." The one wearing a Ox mask said to her.
"What's the problem?" She asked in confusion
"Now…" The other one said to her as they approached her.
She had been taken here and forced to wait in the room. She wondered how long she would stay here and why she was even here in the first place.
The door opened and in stepped Ibiki Morino who looked on at her with nothing in his eyes.
Sakura gulped seeing him, feeling her heart sink. She had heard about him, they said he was the most feared Interrogator that Konoha had and there was not one person he hadn't cracked like an egg with his methods.
Ibiki calmly closed the door and took a seat across from her at the table.
"Do you know why you're here?" He asked her after a few uneasy moments.
"N-No." She answered him nervously.
"Had the highest marks in your class, put on a team with The Yondaime's student as your Sensei, and The Hokage herself had appointed you yesterday to learn under her. I really thought you would know better." He said to her and she winced.
"What are you talking about?" Sakura asked him and he scoffed.
"Don't play dumb, you know why you're here." Ibiki said to her and suddenly reached out and produced a Hitai-ate with a Melody note on it. "Do you know what this is?"
"A Hitai-ate from Otogakure," Sakura answered him. "What's that got to do with me?"
"Really? Than why do we have pictures of you and this?" He said and laid on the table a photo of her handing a vial containing Kimimaro's disease to a Sound Ninja.
"W-What?" Sakura said in shock as she looked at it not believing what she was seeing.
"We discovered the Hitai-ate in your home. And we checked through Security Footage and discovered what you have done. You really should've thought this out if you believed you wasn't going to get caught. One of the Vials containing it was missing and now we have our culprit." Ibiki said to her glaring at the pink haired girl.
"That's not me!" Sakura protested to him.
"Oh really, than who else in Konoha has Pink Hair and an outfit like yours?"
"I swear that's not!" Sakura said to him.
"You when no one was watching took a vial, that you had been trusted with by The Godaime herself to put away, containing the disease that was inside the Kaguya and gave it to a Sound Nin who no doubt took it to Orochimaru. Witnesses saw you take it out and slip it away and we have photo evidence of you. Do you know what his means?" He asked her. "Treason, you are a traitor to Konoha." Ibiki said glaring at her with disgust.
"No, I'm not!" Sakura protested tears starting to form in her eyes at his harsh words.
"What, being put on a team with Sasuke not enough for you?" He said to her. "What did Orochimaru offer you? Once Konoha is destroyed he'll allow you to go on a date him after we're all dead. Jealous that another girl will catch his eye?"
"No!"
"You have supplied him with a means to possibly kill thousands of people all for the sake of a schoolgirl crush."
"I didn't do it!"
"A foolish girl you are, allowing such stupid thoughts to enter your head."
"I swear I didn't!"
"That is enough," A voice said and Tsunade had entered the room. "Ibiki, leave NOW." She ordered him.
"Godaime, if you please I'm in the middle of Interrogation." Ibiki said to her.
"You have asked enough questions, leave at once. You are not to go with your methods until I give you permission." She ordered him as Sakura was crying tears streaming down her face.
"…Very well, I'll take my leave. Ten more seconds and I would've had her as frail as she is." Ibiki said and stood up and left the room. He passed by Kakashi and Naruto not paying attention to the Blonde glaring murder at him having witnessed what he had done as his eyes were red.
Kakashi put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down as he was also ready to step in should that have kept going. Naruto was also ready and he would've bet he would've had to pull him off of Ibiki as Naruto would've attempted to kill him.
"Sakura," Tsunade said as the girl openly cried as tears fell down her cheeks.
"I swear Tsunade-sama, I swear I didn't do it!" She said as she sobbed. Tsunade looked at her with sadness and hugged the girl comforting her which was what she needed at that very moment.
"I know Sakura, I know. You would never do such a thing. I know your innocent." She said in a soothing tone of voice wrapping her arms around her the way a parent does a frightened child. She had not gotten this far in life just be believing the first thing without further details. She made a motion with her head and Naruto and Kakashi entered the room.
"We know you've been framed Sakura. Anyone who would think you would ever do such a thing is a fool." Kakashi said to her.
"I know, all I did was help someone with a stretcher and then I went and put the vials up. I wouldn't ever betray Konoha!" Sakura said hiccupping between sobs and suddenly felt Naruto's embrace.
"It's okay," He told her hugging her. "It's going to be alright. We're going to find that dirt bag who's framed you." Naruto said to her and she brought an arm up to feel his warm touch.
The Hokage looked on at the scene as she felt it tug at her heart.
"Sakura, go home." Tsunade said to her. "I'm afraid your going to have to be stripped of your Rank as a Ninja for now but you aren't staying here, not until further evidence is found or proven." She said as she walked towards her obstructing the others view. She revealed a hidden Kunai and silently told her to take it. Sakura nodded and took the weapon. "Kakashi, Naruto, I trust you two will escort her to her home."
"Of course Hokage." Kakashi responded to her.
The two lead Sakura home ignoring the glares and looks that were being given them, no at Sakura as many stared at her with mistrust as word had spread of what had happened. Naruto couldn't believe this, he would rather have it directed at him like it was before than to have Sakura endure their glares and whispers.
"Sakura," Kakashi said to her seeing how out of it she was once they got her to her home. "Don't worry everything is going to be alright. No way you did what you've been accused of. We'll find out what really happened." He said to her who wordlessly nodded and closed the door. The two stared at the door for a long while.
"Dig a hole…" Naruto said to Kakashi who looked at him a frown on the Blonde's face. "Cause there's going to be a body needing a grave after I find who did this to her."
"Naruto, I know you're upset but now's not the time to let your anger direct you." Kakashi advised him.
"Than what am I suppose to do? Sit with my thumb up my damn ass while the person who framed her walks around free?!" He said angrily Tayuya rubbing off of him. "This isn't something like Konohamaru throwing a paintball at a house and running off to blame me, this is serious!"
"I know Naruto, I know. But you can't go around accusing everyone." Kakashi said as he was also angry at what had happened but years of training and experience had lead him to control that burning fire inside him instead of letting it erupt. "You're a ninja Naruto, a ninja's job is to find out evidence and what has really happened and find the true culprit." He said to him
Naruto took a few deep breaths calming himself down. "Alright, I'll do it your way Sensei, I'll try to find some proof of her innocence. But I can't promise that when I find the guy he'll still be able to talk after I get through with him." He said to him who nodded.
Kakashi watched him go and sighed thinking about all that had been happening.
Elsewhere…
"We got another Job," Haku said as he entered the room where he, Dosu Kinuta, Zaku Abumi, and Kin Tsuchi were staying at. They were at a small village in Fire Country where they were currently staying at for now.
"What is it this time?" The Bandaged Ninja asked him. The Four Ninjas turned Mercenaries had been doing odd jobs and missions around the land since they had no place to call home.
"I'm not going to hide it to any of you, it involves us going to The Leaf Village Konoha." He said to them.
"What? He wants us to go back to Konoha?" Zaku said in disbelief. "We're basically going into a Lions' Den. We tried to kill The Uchiha remember? I don't what would be worse going there or going back to Otogakure." He said at the fact.
"What does he want?" Kin said ignoring Zaku.
"He said he wants us to retrieve a map, a map that used to belong to him and he would want it back. It's currently in Konoha at a Antique Store, he wants us to go there and get the Map and give it to him."
"Why doesn't he just go get it himself?" Dosu asked Haku who shook his head.
"He said he can't go there as someone of his reputation would not be welcomed in Konoha, in a way he reminds me of Gato." He said as the man was off putting and unpleasant. "He's offered us a small fortune for getting it."
"What's so special about this map, it leads to some kind of treasure?" Kin asked skeptically.
"He said it was in his family's possession for generations, that's why he wants it back as he lost it long ago and thought it had been destroyed." Haku explained to them. "But the question is, should we take it? Go back to Konoha?" He said to the group and all four were quiet for several moments.
"Yes." Dosu said outloud. "We should take it,"
"What? Dude are you nuts?" Zaku said looking at him.
"Most people have mostly forgotten about us right now, with all that's happened; Orochimaru's attack, the new Hokage, and other stuff I doubt anyone would recognize us if we go there."
"Says the guy who's face is all bandaged." Kin said with a smirk.
"We're nobodies that is true, but that works to our advantage as no one will notice or care who we are. I can cover myself with a hood or place a genjutsu on my face to cover up. We go in, get the map and give it to the guy." Dosu explained to them. "It's in an antique shop so it's highly unlikely we'll have to fight for it and how much could it cost? We could probably easily afford it."
"When you put it that way it sounds easy." Haku said to him.
"Too easy," Zaku muttered as he had a feeling that something wasn't right about it.
"Well Konoha is about six hours from here, if we go now we'll make it before Night." Kin said to them.
"Let's go then." Dosu said and got to go leaving the room.
"…I don't like this." Zaku said as he left as well leaving Haku and Kin.
Kin went to leave when she felt Haku grasp her by the arm. "Are you okay?" He asked her referring to what had happened before. The meeting with the man finding out what had happened to her mother.
"I'm fine Haku," She said looking at him. She had felt relieved after finally unleashing everything she had stored up within her since she was a little girl. The anger and bitterness she had vented out at the man responsible for her life.
He reached forward and stroked her long hair and Kin had a small blush on her face at the feeling of it running through her hair.
"Let's go." He said to her and they went to join up with the others.
At Konoha…
"Ino think hard, you have been with Sakura the most. Tell me, did you see anything of her at all yesterday?" Naruto said to the lighter blonde who was with her team.
"I'm sorry Naruto, I met her yesterday and today but only for a little while." Ino responded. "We went to go grab a bite to eat but other than that I didn't talk to her."
"Well did you see anything at all? Anything that looked out of place?" He asked them.
"Sorry, Me and Chouji were on that Mission with Kiba and TenTen." Shikamaru said to him. "We didn't get a chance to talk or interact with her."
"You guys can't possibly think she's a traitor do you?" Naruto asked them.
"No, of course not!" Ino protested. "I know Sakura she would never do such a thing." She said to him. "Chouji has a better chance of losing weight than that happening."
"Hey!" The portly Genin protested.
"Well I can't find out who really did it unless I know everything that's happened. I know she's innocent but I've got to find who really did it and prove that she didn't do it." Naruto said to them.
"Well, we'll keep a look out for anything suspicious and let you know if something comes up." Shikamaru said to him.
"Alright, you guys do that." Naruto said and left Team 10.
Naruto let out a sigh in annoyance, he ask all sorts of people around the village and had come up with nothing. He had went to the Hospital, Training Grounds, everywhere but found no answers. He had asked everyone he had spotted if they knew anything but had come up empty.
"On a wild goose chase?" A voice said and he turned and saw a Male Medic.
"Who the heck are you?" Naruto said to him and he smirked at the blonde.
"We've never met have we?" He said to Naruto. "My name is Yoh, I work as a medic at the hospital. You probably don't like me, after all I'm the one who spotted the traitor." He said to him and Naruto's eyes narrowed.
"Her name is Sakura and she is not a traitor." Naruto said to him.
"Are you turning a blind eye? I know she was your teammate but even you should see the obvious. All the proof of her treachery has been revealed. I wonder how long she has been? Who knows what else she would've done if she hadn't been caught." Yoh said to Naruto who glared at him. "Good thing she was found out, Tsunade had thought about making her an Apprentice, who knows what else she could've done if I hadn't spot her take the vial containing your cousins' disease."
"Shut up," Naruto said to him.
"Why do you continue to deny the obvious? It's clear as the sun that she did it. Loyalty to friends is one thing, blind delusion and willing ignorance is another." Yoh said with a sneer.
"She's a traitor and deserves a traitors death, I heard you had a crush on her. Whatever made you think you had a chance with her anyway?" He said smugly.
Naruto grabbed him by the shirt backing him against the wall and brought his other hand up in a fist and slowly bone claws sprouted out of them aimed at his throat inches away. "Keep talking, I dare you." Naruto warned him.
Yoh to his credit wasn't frightened. "Wolverine eh, is that what you're going to be called now?" He said to him. "Now if you excuse me I have work to do, doing my job as a Medic." He said and pulled himself away. "Saving lives instead of taking life like mindless brutes like you and the Kaguya do." He said in a final parting shot to Naruto who glared daggers at him as it took everything from running after him and tearing his head off.
Later that day…
"Back in Konoha." Haku said as the foursome had entered The Hidden Village of The Leaf. Him, Zaku, Dosu, and Kin were at Konoha, having returned to the village.
The four were wearing common clothing, dressed as civilians so no one would suspect anything of them if they were wearing their usual outfits which would make them stand out like a sore thumb if they did. Dosu was wearing a mask over his face and claiming to have lepersy so no one would bother him. They got entry into Konoha and looked around the Village as it had been repaired from the attack. But despite it they still sensed the after effects of it on there. Even though it had been rebuilt there was still the sense of fear and peril.
"Hmph, look at that." Dosu said pointing as they saw a carving being done on the Mountain were The Hokages were at. A fifth one was being done on it, for The Godaime. "Egotistical don't you think?" He said to them.
"Not like all the bases we went to that were Snake shaped." Zaku replied dryly about the many bases that Orochimaru had that in one way or another resembled a snake.
"C'mon let's go, the shop should be around here somewhere." Haku said to them and they went on their way passing through the streets and not drawing any attention to themselves. Memories played back through each of their minds of the last time they were here when their lives had changed. Of what had happened in The Forest of Death with Sasuke as well as The Exams and finding out they were to be used for Edo Tensei and Sacrificed.
"There's the shop." Haku said to them as they walked through the streets and spotted an antique store. The four headed towards it and went in entering the shop which was run by an middle aged man.
"What can I help you with?" He asked the group.
"We heard you have maps, we are looking for one." Kin explained to him.
"Over there, in the back corner they are hanged up." He mentioned and they headed towards it.
"Found it," Zaku said as he discovered a Map that had a seal on it similar to the one that had been described to them. He picked it up and looked at it and the others examined it as well. "This is what he wants us to bring back?" He said skeptically as they looked at it.
The map was old, way beyond old almost ancient. They could just make out the figures and outlines on it. It showed a Samurai wearing a Mask on it and a group of locations on it.
"It'd take an expert to decipher this," Dosu mused as it was beyond their abilities to read due to how old and the style it was in. "I can make out a few words on it but other than that nothing. It leads to something but I don't know what." He said to them as they brought the map to the counter to pay for it.
"It's yours for fifty ryo." The owner said to him
Haku looked at the old map skeptically and at the others as it wasn't worth that much. "Twenty."
"Fifty."
"Twenty." Kin said.
"Forty."
"Twenty." Dosu said.
"Thirty."
"Twenty." Zaku said.
"Fine! Twenty Ryo," The man said giving in.
"Thank you," Haku said handing him the money for it and rolled the map up putting it away.
"That went easier than I thought." He said as they left the Antique shop. "Let's head back and deliver this and get our payment." He said to the others.
They left Konoha and had they stayed for a few more minutes they would've been spotted by a blonde who was jumping overhead on the rooftops of the buildings. Switching back to their regular clothes they went on their way.
A few minutes later they were surprised to find the man who had given Haku the mission standing in the road, as if waiting for them.
"Was he suppose to meet us?" Zaku asked quietly.
"No…he didn't say so." Haku mentioned and stepped forward on his steps cautiously. "This is the Map correct?" He asked the man who slowly nodded his head. Haku then handed it over to him
The man took it with shaky hands his eyes not moving.
"Now then, our payment as promised." Haku said to him.
The man looked at him and then dropped the map much to their surprise wondering what was wrong with him.
The man then fell over dead revealing a silver haired medic having stabbed him in the back with a scalpel.
"Kabuto!" Haku shouted seeing him.
"Surprise to see me?" He said with a mocking grin as he picked the Map up. "Even now you pawns still find a way to be useful." He said with a chuckle.
"We've been setup!" Dosu said alarmingly.
"Indeed," Kabuto said smugly. "You forget just how far Orochimaru's reach is. When you were discovered he found a way to use you to his advantage. He couldn't get the map himself so he used that man to get you to get it for him. A simple mind control Jutsu really. Useful for getting others to do your work when you can't bother to dirty your hands." He said with a smirk.
The four glared at him anger in their eyes as they reached towards a weapon. "I know this was too damn easy!" Zaku cursed.
"Oh wait, I promised a reward for completing your mission did I not?" Kabuto said to them. "How rude of me not to do so," He said and several Sound Ninjas and Kurosuki members appeared. "Grant them access to Nirvana, kill them all."
The group charged the Four engaging them in battle. Kin dodged a shuriken and threw her senbon bells attached to them and activated her Genjutsu making multiple copies of herself and the others as she had learned how to make more than just her appear.
Dosu activated his Melody Arm to disorient and confuse them as he used it to his advantage. A group of Kurosuki members performed their special move at him forcing him to leap out of the way. He quickly did hand symbols and formed a barrier around him neutralizing their next attack.
Haku dodged an attack and elbowed a Kurosuki member in the face. A Sound Nin slashed at him from behind but let out a cry and fell to the ground senbon sticking in his neck and saw that Kin had done it saving him. He looked at her and the two nodded.
"Traitor!" A voice said and Haku turned and saw Karashi charging him claws aimed to stab him.
Haku effortlessly sidestepped Karashi's charge and jabbed a Senbon into his neck, he went limp and fell down to the ground unconscious. He then returned the favor and using an Ice Jutsu froze a group of ninjas who were attacking Kin
Zaku fired his Air Cutters knocking a group back but another group fired sound Jutsus at him forcing him to move. Focusing he switched to Sound and fired loud bursts of Sound at them knocking them back and making them clutch at their ears.
Kabuto did hand symbols suddenly and an echoing sound appeared and it disoriented him and he clutched at his mouth and threw up as he felt dizzy. "Your bandaged friend's melody arm isn't the only tool that can do this." He taunted him and a Sound Ninja went to cut him down and Zaku was pulled away in the nick of time by Dosu who grabbed him.
The four fought well but the numbers were too overwhelming as they began to get encircled and surrounded with nowhere to go or run.
"Run them through," Kabuto ordered and the group charged at them looking to kill them.
Suddenly a white blur which was nearly undetectable to the human eye appeared in it and a group of them fell down instantly knocked out.
The blur stopped and it produced a pair of Bone Swords.
"What? Kimimaro!" Kabuto shouted in shock as none other than The Last Kaguya stood there.
(His speed, it was unreal.) Dosu thought as he had appeared and instantly enemies had fallen down.
"Kabuto, consider this my way of resignation." Kimimaro said and fired bone bullets at him who leapt out of the way. It was most fortunate he had shown up. Having been training by himself he had sensed a familiar presence and the scent of Orochimaru nearby and discovered Kabuto, he still had scores to settle with the Second Hand man of Orochimaru and now was as good as time as any to deal with loose ends.
"Kill him!" Kabuto shouted and they rushed at him looking to overwhelm him.
Kimimaro dodged, parried, and reversed moves with the greatest of ease. Not one blow came near his body or landed on him. He was like a doctor performing surgery the way he avoided attacks and stabbed with his bone swords his movements full of grace, a beautiful but fatal dance he was performing that left any who challenged or got near him cut down. His illness had no signs of inhabiting or hindering him anymore as he fought on.
If sick like he had been they might've been able to overpower him in his weakened state but one hundred percent healthy they didn't stand a chance against him.
He knocked a ninjato out of a Sound Nins' hands shattering the blade and kicked him away and dodged the Black Tornado of the Kurosuki members and knocked them all down one by one.
Haku and the others looked on not believing what they saw as he was doing it effortlessly with no challenge, his true power had been unleashed as it used his Kekkai Genkai and Clan techniques and dances to take them down.
Haku awe struck at what he saw felt Dosu nudged him in the side and Haku looked and realizing what he meant nodded his head.
Kimimaro stabbed a Sound Nin in the throat and flung him into others knocking them down.
The rest who hadn't been killed or knocked out including Karashi fled leaving Kabuto behind rather than face the Kaguya.
"Fight or die," Kimimaro said to Kabuto as he was now at an disadvantage. He had not expected Kimimaro to show up and he knew he did not stand a chance against him alone and at full health.
"I prefer to run. I have what I need anyway." He said and threw a smoke bomb down and disappeared taking the map. Kimimaro brought a hand up to cover his face as the smoke covered the area as Kabuto made his getaway.
Kimimaro looked on as Haku and The Sound Trio had also taken that opportunity to run as well. Putting his bone swords back into him he calmly headed back to Konoha.
The next morning…
"What's the matter Naruto?" Teuchi asked looking on at the boy who mindlessly stirred his breakfast.
"I don't know, I've asked and looked everywhere but I ain't got any closer." Naruto said as he was at Ichiraku's. "I've asked everyone I knew if they say something but all of them haven't said anything that can help. I've asked Ino and her team, Kiba and the others. I even asked an ANBU but they've all said the same thing." He said and looked up at them.
"You don't think she really did it do you?"
"Naruto I should charge you triple for saying that." Teuchi said to him. "Sakura's your friend and friends never give up or quit on another." He said to him.
"Right," Naruto said and Teuchi smiled and so did Ayame.
The door opened and Naruto saw to his surprise Tayuya enter the room something in hand as she sat at a stool beside him. She laid it on the table and it was the photo of Sakura handing The Vial to a Sound Nin.
"I've seen that enough," Naruto said to her with a frown.
"Look moron, you don't really like me and I hate your guts but there's something you should look at." She said to him. "I had a copy made of this. For starters you should examine things more closely."
"I don't get it." Naruto said as he had already looked at it numerous times before looking for anything.
"I'm here to help you idiot." Tayuya said to him. "I've noticed something on there that can help prove your pink friend's innocence." She said as she held it out.
Naruto lifted his head and stared at it. It looked just like Sakura the person did
"Look Naruto, notice something that she doesn't have." Tayuya said to him holding the picture close to his face. Naruto looked at it and didn't see anything. "Look at her feet dumbass," Tayuya said to him and Naruto's eyes widened at what he saw.
"No shadow, she doesn't have a shadow in it!" He said realizing it. It was clear as day, the Sakura in the photo did not have a photo while the Sound Nin in it did.
"Right, she doesn't have one cause that's a Bushin and Bushin aren't solid so they don't possess one. That's not her." Tayuya said to him. "Here's what happened; someone created a Bushin to look like her and made it look like she was handing the damn vial to him. While the real person had taken it and was long gone and planted evidence in her home to make it appear she was a traitor." She said to him. "Orochimaru favored that tactic of having one of his men steal something and plant evidence making it look like someone else did it."
"Orochimaru…" Naruto said with a snarl as he wasn't surprised that bastard had his hands all over this. It would be something he would do.
"This proves that Sakura is innocent, the guy who did this was smart but made one tiny mistake. He put the clone in an angle were the camera caught where if it was real it's shadow would be noticeable." Tayuya said examining it.
"I can't believe I missed that. This proves she's innocent!" Naruto said a smile growing on his face as he finally had the proof. "Thanks Tayuya!" He said and suddenly hugged her much to her surprise. "I gotta go!" He said and left Ichiraku's running.
Sakura laid on her bed in her home staring up at the ceiling, aimlessly counting the dots on it. She had been stuck here and hadn't been able to go anywhere ever since all that had happened. She was bored as she wanted something to do, anything rather than just be cooped up here all the time.
She knew she was innocent but until it was proves she was placed on house arrest unable to do anything for now.
Letting out a sigh she pulled herself up off the bed and went to the kitchen area and opening the fridge pulled out a bottle of water and unscrewed the lid and took a sip of it.
She drank it and noticed that something tested odd about it, something seemed out of place as the water tested funny. She put it back in and wiped her mouth.
"That's step one." A voice said suddenly and she turned and saw a Male Medic seated in the living room.
"Y-Yoh?" Sakura said looking on at him. "What are you doing here in my home?" She said as she was by herself as it was just them.
"I'm here to finish the job," He said and got off the couch a smile on his face. "Surely you noticed something off about what you just drank didn't you?"
Sakura looked at him and her eyes widened. "Don't worry it's just a small dose, at most you'll have a stomachache from it later on." He said to him with a false assuring tone of voice.
"Why are you here and what are you doing?" She said to him feeling a sinking feeling in her heart.
"I'm here to finish what I began. It's a two part process it is surgeons often using it for Surgery to knock out patients, first the person must swallow it for it to enter their system." Yoh explained. "Next they are jabbed with this to fully render them unconscious." He said and produced a syringe filled with a dark liquid and advanced towards.
Sakura backpedaled and lost her footing and fell to the ground. Yoh smirked at her display. "You, you're the one. You took the vial!" She said to him.
"Correct, I guess you are pretty smart." He said as he undid the cap from the syringe.
"This will be strong enough to knock out even a Lion with a small dose. Imagine what it'd do to a girl like you." Yoh said as he held the syringe in his hand. "You know what they say, give a man enough water to drink and he'll drown." He said and went to grab her arm. Sakura pulled away from him out of his reach.
"Stay away from me." She said to him.
"What a pathetic excuse of a Kunoichi you are, what ever made Tsunade think you could learn under her?" He said sneering as he walked forward and Sakura crawled backwards her back hitting a wall with nowhere to run. "It should've been me," He said and envy appeared in his eyes for a brief moment.
"You wanted to be her apprentice?" Sakura said a bit surprised.
"Yes, I've studied and learned all I could of being a Medic by myself, Orochimaru-sama took an interest in me as only Kabuto is superior to me in Otogakure in the Medic Arts. And yet Tsunade goes on a whim and picks you of all people, a useless girl?" He said jealously burning in his eyes. "Honestly I didn't have to frame you, I could've just taken the vial while you weren't looking and ignore you but it was that that made me do it. Watching a weak pathetic excuse of a ninja be handpicked by a Legend to work with." He said bitterly and Sakura winced and gasped and he smirked
"You truly are as pathetic as I thought, Orochimaru-sama will have no problem destroying Konoha if the rest are as like you. When they find your body The village will think you committed suicide which will only prove their belief that you are a spy and with no other way out took your own life." He said as he got into a squatted position leaning down towards her. "I'll gain the Hokage's trust and become her apprentice and have access to all her secrets and moves and techniques, that which I will use to destroy Konoha for my master." He said an evil gleam in his eyes.
"You won't get away with this, once everyone discovers-"
"You really think their going to believe a schoolgirl who's silly crush has endangered all of The Leaf?" He interrupted her and she glared at him. "A girl who spent all her time in the Academy deciding the best way to comb her hair to impress a boy?" He said to her. "This place is full of idiots, I could tell them the Sun's green or there's a monster in the Moon and they'll believe me." Yoh said to her. "Orochimaru will destroy this place soon. You won't be around to see it happen though." Yoh said and readied the syringe to jab in her arm.
"You underestimate The Leaf." Sakura said and Yoh smirked.
"If the rest are like you I have nothing to worry about, maybe I'll frame one of your friends next. That blonde girl or maybe that idiot teammate Naruto. They hate that stupid boy anyway I'll just give them the extra nudge to make them kill him in a riot. Sasuke I won't touch so that's some relief for you as Orochimaru-sama desires him." He said to her with a dark grin. "You didn't learn anything at the Academy did you?"
"I did learn something." Sakura said to him.
"What was that?" He said mockingly to her and she suddenly jabbed her hand upwards
Yoh's face suddenly changed from one of smugness and arrogance to pain and shock. He stepped backwards revealing a Kunai in his chest. The Hidden Kunai that Tsunade had given her the other day. The Spy stumbled backwards clutching at it as it pierced into his heart.
"First rule of being a Kunoichi," Sakura said glaring at him her green eyes burning a hole into him. "Never appear threatening." She said as he fell to the ground dead.
Sakura stood up and glared at the dead man who had framed her, had tried to ruin her life.
"Well done Sakura," A voice said and she looked and saw Tsunade seemingly appearing out of thin air. "You did very well in letting him drop his guard and revealing everything." She said to the girl. "Qualities that a Kunoichi must have if she is to survive. I was right in seeing the potential in you."
"Where you here this entire time?" Sakura said in disbelief.
"Indeed, I made myself into a chair using a Henge and watched on while a Clone is at the Office." Tsunade said to him as she reached down and disposed of the syringe. "I had my suspicions about him and was ready to step in once I saw him enter your home and when he blabbed to you, fortunately you did my job for me." She said smiling at her. "I knew you would never betray Konoha and you are cleared of all charges
The Door suddenly opened and Naruto ran in.
"Sakura! You've been setup, there's-what the hell happened here?!" He said looking on at the sight before him.
"You're thirty seconds late Naruto." Sakura said to him with a smile. Naruto walked forward and he saw that she appeared different as a newfound confidence was in her eyes. "I already took care of the guy who framed me and made it look like I had done it."
"I guess you can look after yourself finally." Naruto said with a smile to her.
"It appears that way." Sakura answered back to him.
The next day…
"Now then," Tsunade said seated at her desk with Kimimaro and Tayuya there as well like before. "Barring any more interruptions and spying I wanted to tell you two something that I wanted you to do." She said to the both of them. "A base, that is believed to have been one of Orochimaru's has been discovered. It's located in Waterfall Country or Takigakure is that correct?"
The two were silent for a long moment. "…Yes." Kimimaro responded as it was true. Orochimaru had one of his numerous bases there. He had bases all around the Elemental Nations and even the Five Great Villages.
Tsunade nodded at them. "I want you two to go there as numerous Sound Nins and Kurosuki members have been spotted going towards Waterfall Country, something's happening there as of late and I want you two to find out what."
Tayuya looked at her. "Aren't you a bit concerned that we'll take that opportunity to run the hell off and never come back the moment we leave this damn place?" She said to her and Tsunade smirked.
"That's why you're not going alone, I'm sending in someone else with you." She said and suddenly the door opened and a purple haired Jonin entered the room.
"Tsunade there had better be a damn good reason for calling me in so early. I got a nasty hangover." The woman grumbled. "I wasn't suppose to be here till one." She mumbled in annoyance.
"Anko Mitarashi, meet your teammates for the mission." Tsunade explained introducing the three to each other.
"What? I'm suppose to go with some bone freak and some loud mouthed bitch?" Anko said in disbelief as she had heard about the newest citizens of The Leaf.
"What the hell you just call me you piece of shit?!" Tayuya shouted at her while Kimimaro remained silent.
"You heard me, wanna make something of it red?"
"Enough," Tsunade said to them knowing the two were about to go at it. "If you don't kill each other in the first five minutes I want you three to go to Takigakure and discover what's going on as Orochimaru's looking for something there as there's been a lot of activity going on there. Kimimaro, Tayuya you know the layout of the base and what to expect that's why I'm having you two go as well as Anko so to keep an eye on you and don't try anything or run off." She said to them
"Really, I'm going to have to spend my time babysitting a pair of nut jobs?" Anko remarked ignoring Tayuya's glare whilst Kimimaro was silent.
"Enough Anko," Tsunade said as she had put the three together for this mission for a reason. All three knew what it was liked to have been used by Orochimaru. All three had been used and discarded by him. If they could work together they'd make an excellent team but only if they could gel together which going so far likely wasn't going to happen. "I know all three of you have a grudge against Orochimaru over what he had done to you, now's your chance to get some revenge against him." The Godaime said and all three even the normally cheerful Anko eyes narrowed. "Focus on completing the Mission and finding out what he's got going on and then try to kill each other after it for all I care." She said to them.
"I'll do it," Kimimaro said. "But for my own reasons, not for the Leaf nor as a Ninja of Konoha. I do this only cause I have a personal stake in the matter." He said to her who nodded as he still had refused to become an official Leaf Nin.
"I'll go as well, I ain't got any damn thing else to do." Tayuya muttered.
"I guess I'll go as well." Anko said and Tsunade nodded as they appeared to be on the same page.
"Good then, leave in two hours and head towards Waterfall Country and discover his base and if you can put a stop to whatever he's got going on."
A/N: That's it for this chapter. Review please.