Chapter 19: Defection
Flashback:
Day 298 of Captivity
The female jinchuuriki is awake and bound to a surgical table as they open here up again to see if many of the roots remain but, despite having been filled with them before most of them have faded away and the remaining roots were easily removed so they could inject more things inside her organs but, this time they also, opened up her skull and removed several tissues before injecting a vaccine into it as well as her eyes.
"We've been fortunate that the demon survived being implanted with Hashirama's cells now we hope that the SC (Sharingan Cells) vaccine takes hold in the demon just as well we've injected it into all major organs and the brain we expect the pain to be excruciating for the organs to have to adapt another kekkei genkai but, I believe the demons body will be able to adapt as it always does." Mayuri says with excitement.
Darkness engulfs the life of Naruko as she is nothing more than a guinea pig for bloodlines.
Back in the present:
Naruko is waking from her nightmare she had from her nights rest since, returning to Konoha. Upon her return she received the good news that Lee's surgery had been a success. She heads to the Hokage tower to see Tsunade. She heads toward the Hokage's door and knocks.
"You may enter." Tsunade says
"Ah Naruko how are you doing after c-rank turn a-rank mission?" Tsunade asks
"I'm doing well thank you, but I feel up to another mission." Naruko says
"Well I just so, happen to have a mission for you and your team except Kakashi it's a B-rank so, it should keep you busy." Tsunade says
"So, what is the mission Baa-chan? Naruko says sweetly annoying Tsunade
"You have to meet the client Jirocho Wasabi in the land of Tea for your assignment." Tsunade says
"Got it baa-chan I'll get my teammates and we'll be on our way." Naruko says to get her teammates Sasuke and Sakura. When she does they quickly head to the land of tea. When they arrive they meet with Jirocho wasabi who is a gangster and one of sponsors of the upcoming race to determine the control of the nagarashi port goes to either wagarashi family or the wasabi family. The run they are supposed to protect is Idate who doesn't like the ninja at all.
When the race starts the next day instead of sailing directly to the next island like the other competitor he takes a detour to head to another island to avoid the strong headwinds. Naruko and her team follows but, they are followed by team oboro who were hired to stop Idate. On the boat ride to the next island they are attacked by team oboro who sink Idate's ship by setting it on fire having no choice but, to abandon ship they get into the water and swim for it. But, team Oboro meets them underwater and battles them with water clones but, Naruko creates water clones of her own that start to generate rasengan that creates a whirlpool washing team Oboro away. Meanwhile, Idate makes it to the shore only to be ambushed by Aoi Rokusho, a traitor to Konoha now ame-nin. He poisons Idate with poison senbon. Meanwhile, Team 7 makes it to shore where Naruko performs mouth to mouth on Sakura much to her joy. They find Idate on the shore but, are attacked Aoi and poisoned by a hail of poison senbon leaving them all to die. Sakura having an antidote that Tsunade gave her uses it on the team to much effect. Idate confesses his past as a konoha nin and his connection to Aoi who used him to steal a top secret scroll and a senju artifact sword of the thunder god. Naruko encourages Idate to keep going as the weather let's up and make it past the halfway point to cross a bridge but, Aoi arrives and stops them by cutting one of the ropes to the bridge. Naruko throughs some Kunai that Aoi parries with the sword of the thunder god. Naruko charges with a rasengan and it collides with the sword of the thunder god but, is pushed back. Sasuke activates his sharingan and attacks but, Aoi taunts Sasuke.
"The Sharingan to bad your clan is extinct, but they have been weak to have been killed off by a single clan member." Aoi says
"Take that back!" Sasuke shouts as he charges toward Aoi with chidori in hand. The chidori collides with the sword of the thunder god and the chidori is repelled and Sasuke is sent flying down the cliff face onto a ledge that Sakura follows Sasuke down to. Meanwhile, Naruko notices a chip in the sword of the thunder god and attacks with a rasengan again hitting the damaged portion breaking it and hitting Aoi sending him flying off the cliff to his death. While the ninja were fighting, Idate was making his way across the bridge and catching up to the other racer crossing the finish line and winning the race. With the race won the wasabi won control of the port. Ibiki arrives to pick up team 7 by boat to take the injured Sasuke back to konoha.
When they arrive back they are given an escort mission to protect Naho the fire daimyo's niece who wants Sasuke to guard her so, Naruko transforms into him. While, they are escorting Naho they are confronted by a group of kidnappers that attempt to abduct Naho but, with Shadow clones Naruko beats them up until one of the kidnappers gets by her and holds her hostage forcing Naruko and Sakura to surrender. At the campsite they try to figure a way out when the real Sasuke arrives and rescues them and confronts the kidnappers leader Sadai who Sasuke attacks relentlessly to little effect against Sadai's rock armor so, he uses fire release: fireball jutsu causing the armor to crumble revealing Sadai's true form. When Sadai sees the sharingan he can't help commenting.
"I see you have the sharingan that makes you a survivor huh. Were you not worth killing?" Sadai says
"Shut up" Sasuke says in rage
"Did I hit the nail on the head." Sadai says
Sasuke powers up a chidori and takes down Sadai but, begins beating on him.
"That's enough Sasuke!" Naruko says
"Are you telling me what to do? Don't get cocky and think you can." Sasuke says coldly scaring Naho.
"That's enough Sasuke we need him alive" Kakashi says as he suddenly appears
"Sasuke's scary" Naho says
"Don't worry he isn't usually like this he isn't a bad guy trust me." Naruko says to Naho.
Sasuke decides to return to the village and Sakura and Naruko do to after seeing through their escort mission of Naho. Back in Konoha Chunin exam promotions reach the Genin's ears. The rookie 9 plus team Guy head to the Hokage office to receive the news about who will be promoted. Lady Tsunade makes the announcements.
"Neji hyuga please step forward." Tsunade says causing him to do so.
"You impressed the judges with your advanced techniques of the byakugan so, they are promoting you congratulations on making chunin." Tsunade says handing him a chunin vest causing the others to applaud.
"Shino Aburame please step forward" Tsunade asks causing Shino to do so.
"You impressed the judges with your strategy with your insects and versatility of your techniques so, they are promoting you congratulations on making chunin." Tsunade says handing him a chunin vest causing the others to applaud.
"Shikamaru Nara please step forward." Tsunade asks causing him to do so.
"You impressed the judges with your quick thinking and analytical mind so, they are promoting you congratulations on making chunin." Tsunade says handing him a chunin vest causing the others to applaud.
"Sasuke Uchiha please step forward" Tsunade says with Sasuke doing so.
"You impressed the judges with your power and speed along with your preparedness for the match so, they are promoting you to chunin congratulations." Tsunade says handing him a chunin vest causing the others to applaud.
"Naruko Namikaze please step forward" Tsunade says with Naruko doing so.
"You impressed the judges with your variety of techniques and well thought out plans so, they are promoting you to chunin congratulations." Tsunade says handing her a chunin vest causing the others to applaud.
"Good now that is out of the way you are all dismissed." Tsunade says
Everyone heads out to celebrate but Sasuke goes alone to wallow in his sense of inferiority to Naruko that has been eating away at him since their battle with Gaara. But, finally became cemented when Naruko defeated Aoi when he couldn't. The thoughts keep running through his head as the last thing Itachi said to rings in his ear "You know what your problem is you lack enough hate and you know you always will.". Frustrated he heads home to fume before deciding against it instead decided to find Naruko and prove which, one of them is stronger once and for all.
Meanwhile, everyone is done celebrating and Naruko decides to go visit Lee in the hospital to make sure he is not overdoing it while Sakura, Karin, and now Ino head to the hospital to get some medical training in. When she arrives she finds Lee exercising to her not so much surprise.
"Hello Lee" Naruko says
"Hello Naruko, how are you this fine day?" Lee says doing push ups
"I'm doing just fine you seem to be feeling better." Naruko says annoyed
"Yes I'm doing much better thanks to Lady Tsunade." Lee says as he starts doing squats
"Don't you think you should give it a rest." Naruko says with a sigh
"But, Naruko I've lost so much time being injured I need to catch back to where I was before by fanning my flames of youth." Lee shouts
"I understand but, if the girls especially Sakura were to see you they would get worried and it's not youthful to make others especially a girl worry about you." Naruko says thinking through what she wanted to say.
"Yes I suppose that is true thank you Naruko for calling me on my unyouthful behavior." Lee says giving it a rest and sitting on his bed.
"Sure no problem get well soon Lee." Naruko says as she makes her way out of Lee's hospital room and on the way down comes across Sasuke who has a serious look on his face.
"Naruko I want you to fight me." Sasuke says to the surprised Naruko.
"Listen Sasuke now isn't a good time perhaps later we can have a match." Naruko says smiling and rubbing her head.
"No! Now up on the roof this instant!" Sasuke says with frustration
"Ok Sasuke alright if you insist." Naruko says seriously as they head to the roof of the hospital.
"Ok Sasuke put your headband on." Naruko says calmly
"I don't need it you won't be able to put a scratch on my forehead." Sasuke says flippantly
"That's not the point it's to show that we are equals as shinobi of the hidden leaf." Naruko says heatedly
"Since, when did you start thinking you were my equal!" Sasuke says angrily as he activates his sharingan.
"Fine be that way just don't be surprised when I kick your ass." Naruko says smirking as Sasuke charges Naruko who gets in the gentle fist stance and counters Sasuke's blows until he jumps back and uses a fireball jutsu that Naruko counters with a water bullet creating a mist of steam that blocks Sasuke's vision allowing Naruko to use silent killing technique to get in close to Sasuke to land several blows on him until he counters with a kick sending Naruko into the railing of the ledge of the hospital where he continues to pound away at her until she launches Chakra chains at him forcing him to jump away onto a Water tower on the hospital roof and begins to form a chidori and jumps down toward Naruko who creates a rasengan and just before the two jutsu's clash Kakashi arrives and divert's the two attacks into the two water towers that take the blows.
"Just what do you think you were doing you two using such jutsu against each other." Kakashi says towards the two of them
Sasuke pulls his arm out of the water tower and begins to take off in a huff but, not before seeing the damage the Rasengan made to the back of the other water tower. Cursing in frustration he takes off. He is later found by Kakashi in a tree that he is bound by ninja wire to courtesy of Kakashi.
"Let me go this instant!" Sasuke says enraged as he struggles against the ninja wire.
"Not till you've calmed down." Kakashi says
"That's easy for you to say you didn't lose everyone that you cared about!" Sasuke shouts as he struggles
"You and I have more in common then, you realize." Kakashi says calmly
"Let me hear you say that after I kill everyone you love." Sasuke says heatedly
"All the people I love except Hanare are gone." Kakashi says
Sasuke falls silent as Kakashi continues to say as " fortunately we have found comrades that can fill the void left in us deep down you know this is true." as Kakashi let's go of the ninja wire causing it to go slack releasing Sasuke who just sits there. Kakashi leaves Sasuke to his own thoughts as the sun sets. Meanwhile, a Group of four Shinobi oto nin watch the scene waiting for a chance to make themselves known. Later that night at the Uchiha compound where Sasuke is staying he is confronted by the four shinobi.
"What are you doing here and what is it that you want?" Sasuke asks annoyed
"We're here for you Sasuke." one the four shinobi says as the four of them charge. Sasuke counters the four of them in taijutsu but, is quickly overwhelmed by them and is soon cornered as he is about to get up to confront them again his curse mark acts up.
"Get back!" He says heatedly to the four shinobi who respond by revealing their own curse mark manifestations.
"You don't think you're the only one of Orochimaru's playthings did you?" the leader says
"What do you want?" Sasuke says irritated
"We want you to join us in serving lord Orochimaru through him. He can grant you your greatest desire revenge by offering you power beyond your wildest dreams." the leader continues as he outstretches his hand. Sasuke doesn't take the hand but, considers it.
"Very well if you are interested we will be on the outside of the south gate waiting for you tonight." the leader says before the four shinobi disappear. Sasuke sits on the ground in thought until he makes up his mind to leave konoha behind. On the way out along the path to the south gate he is stopped by Sakura.
"How did you know I was here?" Sasuke asks
"I heard from Naruko about your skirmish with her on the hospital roof and got a bad feeling so, I stayed here waiting since, this is the most direct path outside of the village." Sakura says as Sasuke stays silent.
"Won't you reconsider Sasuke for the sake of your team and your friends we care about you and don't want to lose you. We are a family and nothing makes me more sad then not being able to help but, if you at least give me and Naruko a chance I'm sure we could make you happy." Sakura says tearfully as Sasuke gets behind Sakura.
"Thanks for everything Sakura tell Naruko I said goodbye" Sasuke whispers into Sakura's ear before knocking her out leaving her on the park bench as Sasuke exits the village to follow the path of vengeance.