He was the only one who knew why she left. His loyalty the only restraint to reveal what he promised to kept in secret. In spite of that, Shikamaru felt anger and sadness that Kaoru hadn't reconsidered her decision. The conflict between his mind and heart almost give him away when the meeting had been held. What to do with them? Tsunade was the only reason she hadn't been marked as a traitor but that didn't changed how they felt. News traveled fast, team 7 take it worst and he expected it. It was like a flashback, Sakura felt the betrayal but he saw her cry that day, Kakashi left silently and Naruto hold her band looking for answers.
Hence, once everyone had healed a new plan of action was required. As much as Shikamaru desired to look for her, he assembled the right team. An hour later, Naruto was at his doorstep with his bags ready but a serious face. On few instances had surprised him, Naruto intelligence resided on something more than deeper. Unfortunately, he could not reveal Kaoru mission, instead Shikamaru confessed something else.
"She would had left… sooner or later."
Naruto was holding himself much better than expected, his next words almost give him away. "Kakashi said… his dogs recognized the scent on her home…"
His blue orbs blazed in conflict between anger and sadness "... I don't understand why you but… I won't rest until they come back"
He stared at Naruto's back as he thought of a question that had been avoided for long… because Shikamaru wished his instincts were wrong.
Kaoru uncovered her mouth as they approached Suna, this time accompanied by the spirit God whom decided to guide them far from where he felt an Akatsuki.
"They must be going crazy" Isamu laughed sarcastically, he looked ridiculously out of place being the only white dot between them. Sasuke tried to not care too much his attempts at teasing, which were starting to freak her out.
"Just hope Temari will not set me flying once we set foot inside" Kaoru adjusted her bag feeling exhausted.
"Well… no one but myself had that right. Besides, I think your sandman is coming" Isamu pointed out at her collar as the sand inside moves erratically.
"sandman?" sasuke questioned unimpressed.
"Jealous? I'm thinking in something good for you, don't worry" Isamu grinned before stepping forward and vanishing again.
"Is he always like this?" Sasuke pondered adjusting his cape.
"What can I say? At least he likes you now" Since both were one, she knew Isamu was doing his part to cheer her up after leaving so suddenly everything behind.
At the gates she quickly located the unmistakable red hair of the Kazekage, nervous at first but she could see his little grin. Once they stopped in front of each other Gaara sighed and looked at Sasuke, his sand enveloped them slowly, the Kazekage leaned closer touching her shoulder to whisper.
"Tonight at the temple?"
She nodded, and he took them incognito through Suna. Gaara had always been comprehensive, he might be really shocked with how things turned out. He let them go at the doors to the underground village, passing the guards and walking down.
"Konoha sent yesterday the notice, if your group hadn't arrived before that… I don't know what would have happened." Kaori recognized Gaara chastise easily, but he wasn't blaming her...yet.
"I will repay your trust, things just didn't go as planned"
"He…Knew?" Sasuke asked disliking the idea.
"Just that I was prepared to leave with you."
"I…I'm...relieved to see you again but..." he interrupted Gaara once they passed the long rocky entrance, Sasuke stared at the lively town calmly hiding his curiosity, he closed off as they approached.
"This is… a sanctuary?" Sasuke interjected putting himself between them. Gaara took a second before looking at her and as she explained a bit they soon arrived at a little house near the lake below the staircase that connected the temple.
She didn't even finished because the pull of excitement and familiarity pushed forward as the voice of his young boy echoed through the door.
And her spirit liften ten times further once she found Yue sit around a bunch of strangers playing cards. "Yuu…" the joy at having his boy back was comforting, she was checking up if he was injured .
"Don't scare me like that ever again! Did you had any idea how worried I was? Why didn't you send a message? Where is your wristband? Just… What were you thinking?"
"Moaah..Ka-Kao-neesan… Stop it! you're embarrassing me!"
"I'm not your sis, and don't care… I thought I failed you" Kaoru give him some space after almost hugging him to dead. Orange ruffled hair made the blush stick out a lot as Yue tried to keep his eyes up.
"I'm not that weak you know. I saved us back then, right?" Yue turned to the man with a long blue kimono exposing his chest besides another young man with pale skin and white short hair with a blue tint and unusual almond shaped purple eyes.
"Being too cocky for someone who can't do a simple water dragon " answered the man with blue kimono
"Without ice tricks" said the other male with a grin that showed clawed teeth.
"Let it go Suigetsu, it was your fault" Another man with orange spiky hair, so muscular and taller that I thought he was furniture at first. "Who is this woman?!" A girl with red hair and glasses suddenly jumped on me. Scanning me from the bottom to the top, it was uncomfortable.
Sasuke made her retreat and Gaara said "In the meantime I suggest all of you take a break. I will send Matsuri once your food is ready and I'll appreciate if you keep a low profile for now."
"Hum as if…" Suigetsu was interrupted by Sasuke
"This is more than enough"
"Thank you Gaara, do you mind if I start paying off your confidence and.."
Gaara small grin and blue foggy eyes pointed out discreetly outside. "With you is always a yes. Besides a lot of people is waiting for"
"At last! Can we go with Matsuri first?" Yue stood up and the three of them walked out of the room, no one noticed Isamu spirit but Sasuke, as Kaoru shouted in the distance.
"I'm sorry, take them on a tour around for me"
"Does anyone else felt the goody vibes and trembled?" Suigetsu comment got a boisterous smooth laugh.
"Innocent fool. Hime-sama is one hell of a woman"
"Hell! Where does he appeared from?" Karin expressed surprised.
"Would you kept asking stupid questions or got a glimpse on sacred territory freely?"
Utakata got a feeling this was just the beginning of the most strange adventure ever.
Exhausted after the meeting with Gaara council both escaped to the temple that night. He helped Kaoru climbing at noticing the slight stagger on her feet. The rocks were slippery, Isamu had pointed out as he accompanied them through a hidden tunnel inside, he had prefered being alone with her but…
"Here we are" Isamu stepped besides for them to enter the rocky cave. It was a silent and peaceful pond that shined abnormally in the same colors of the rocks blue hue. Gaara felt an eerie power flowing through every corner. There were lines carved along one circular plane just in front the water and he let her free on the ground.
"Thank you but… it was nothing, really?"
"Don't fake… not to me" Their time apart didn't changed how those green eyes glanced down and her smile actually formed a grimace everytime she hide something.
"I'm not… I hadn't started anything yet" Isamu passed right through them and take a sit at the altar.
"Forgive her clumsiness for now. Hime-sama this is the place I had talked about." They took a sit in front of the God "Given the circumstances, mostly Hime-sama being adamant on ignore my warnings. I can't let her jump blindly and only you are here to share the burden."
"But you said I had to track the Jinchurikis alone"
"and you will but, it will take a great deal of spiritual power you lack. Therefore, this will be done well if you succeed not losing yourself in the process. Sandman…"
Gaara stared back at him, whom face couldn't hide the worry. "You know what it's at stake, but I'll do everything in my power to prevent that. I had been wanted to ask you. Would you join me on this task and become a general?"
There was little his eyes could not decipher, since the first day Sasuke noticed how close they were his teammate and the Kazekage. The boy worshipped the young leader with respect and obedience once Gaara announced Kaoru will be absent the next days. The second night he asked for more details when her spirit and the sand nin went again to the temple. They didn't wanted Yue to worry, but they were reluctant to share what was happening until he made it clear Sasuke will retrieve her if necessary.
"She is doing this for you" Gaara began, Isamu sighed just watching them with a frown. "To locate the other Jinchuriki at once, Kaoru had to enhance her powers but… she needs to survive on that cave"
"Once sealed… it depends on her alone if she gets out" Isamu finished, Sasuke clenched his fists ready to broke out until Isamu stopped him.
"Do you doubt her that much?" Gaara crossed his arms and stared back as if he was disappointed. That thought perturbed his pride, but for once he decided to listen "She never doubted you, not even once after you encountered Naruto and Sakura first. She believed I could be more than a monster. What you have now here, is thanks to her assistance and for that I'm willing to do anything for the sake of my… friend." Gaara stepped forward "It's up to you if you follow and take the first chance to repay everything she… is risking."
"What are you hiding?" Sasuke questioned with annoyance, not willing to admit that Gaara was right. Suspecting there was more to his words and by the God expression of doubt, Sasuke knew he was right.
"Take the challenge with me" Gaara answered, Isamu facepalmed as if expecting this turn about of events.
"I had a problem with that… the offer was for YOU" Isamu glanced at Gaara whom ignored his discomfort.
"You can manage, anything to increase the chances…" And Sasuke tagged along with them, just wanting to know what they had planned.
"Are you there? " Naruto blinked a few times just to focus. Sakura sighed but didn't pushed more as they passed the first threshold of a little village. Like the other two, this town proven been on their research, with some luck Kiba or Hinata might had seen something. With that thought in mind they returned to the meeting point that afternoon, unfortunately even Kiba lost their trace but their best guess was Sasuke and Kaoru had purposely deterred their path.
Kakashi was calculating the possible direction in which they could have vanished when Hinata offered a plate of soup. She smiled even now and he could not hold his curiosity.
"How do you do it?"
Hinata tilted her head, blinked a second later and took a seat besides him, Kiba followed closely next to her.
"You seem… calm." Naruto then thought maybe… she knew something, like Shikamaru. A pang of hurt on his chest thinking she didn't trusted him with whatever secret she had…
"I'm sure she is safe." Hinata confidently affirmed, softly as she put a hand on his shoulder in sign of support. Naruto had many questions, mostly how could she be sure? Maybe he was giving away his doubts, her hand left and instead she embraced her legs looking at the fire.
"I trust in Sasuke, you don't?"
Naruto felt a lump in his throat, but Hinata didn't judged and smiled as if she already knew the answer. Then Kiba surprised him with his honesty.
"As if… Since we were kids there are two things that hadn't changed. This knucklehead stubborness is just as huge like Sasuke thirst for revenge"
"Ki-Kiba-kun!" Hinata tried to reprimand him, but he chuckled and embraced her shoulders affectionately making the Hyuga blush a lot.
"Ok! You got me… but I can't remember a time when Sasuke cared for Kaoru like we do"
"For all we know he might had threatened Kaoru-san to follow…" Shino supplied.
"Most probably had persuaded her with something we could not do… look for her son" Sai butted his opinion with a serious expression. Naruto was about to shut them up, not in the mood to even fight when Sakura surprised him with a hiss and a strain on her voice.
"ENOUGH!" Everyone gazed at Sakura who had scarred a tree with her hand, shaking… of anger, Naruto though. "Hinata's right…"
Even Kakashi stopped looking at the map and listened silently as Sakura turned to us, it was painful watching her viridian eyes being overshadowed with emotion.
"Sasuke… undoubtedly cares." And until the first tear fall on her porcelain cheek did Naruto understand what she implied. Sasuke chose Kaoru, instead of Sakura. It stung again, realizing that if offered the chance… Sakura had left him. Well, he knew she loved Sasuke, but he thought that their time together had strengthened their bond, at least like friends. Sakura turned and went walking far from them, Kakashi followed her just nodding to him.
"We didn't… wanted to offend" Kiba astonished him being the first to apologize, Hinata smiled to the Inuzuka and put her hand over his.
"I-It's fine Kiba-kun. Sakura is just… sensible right now." It may be a trick of the light, but he thought both were blushing before Akamaru leaned suddenly on Kiba legs.
"Let's focus on gathering any information. For everyone sake " Sai advise was the torch they needed to continue talking about what to do now before they returned Konoha.
As they discussed, Naruto felt a bit better watching them. Kiba grinned confidently, bragging about his nose and that this time he will succeed. While Shino and Sai strategized on where to send their bugs and rats,
When Kakashi returned with Sakura, she was leaning close as if she was exhausted. Soon he announced that given the things that happened they had to divert their objective. Their best guess was that wherever Itachi might be, Sasuke will follow and therefore he changed tactics. By then he suggested something he hadn't thought but give it a hunch. Giving Gamakichi his letter to Gaara and his secret orders did Naruto felt reassured something might gone right this time.
Given the chance, Sasuke didn't let it slip. Even considered himself being the type of man who lunged forward like lightning once he determined where to hit. Now as he evaded a deadly set of glowing arrows, the excitement of a real challenge had instigued his competitive and vindictive nature to those whom pissed him off. Isamu grinned at them, not a single injury visible as he deflected another wave of sand spickles.
Since that time on his youth where the spirit scared the hell out of him. Sasuke had craved for an opportunity to pump that confident grin. Didn't cared for the audience as they observed every single second of the prolonged battle. Surprisingly he evaded the thunder shock of his sword, it collided on the barrier. Again Sasuke felt impressed the strength of the barrier, given that it was being held by the boy.
It had been an hour and neither he or Gaara had landed a single touch on the Spirit God. Mostly because he was evading and his Sharingan didn't helped with a foe like this. He could see his energy, just like he could see chakra but what he could not predict were his attacks. What gave him confidence was useless with someone devoid of reactions "as he dared to put it".
Unbeknownst to him Isamu appeared behind and felt the wave of power before a wall of sand stood between them.
"I hadn't thought this… it's totally unfair for you. I can't use the same rule while you are against me"
Sasuke didn't wanted to admit that he was starting to feel exhausted. "Why? Scared we might prove you wrong?"
Isamu sighed but replied as politely like he could. "You can't touch me since chakra alone can't outclash Reishi, without opening your spiritual path. Hence, this battle had proved to me the potential both had."
The barrier felt at once, Yue leaned on Utakata breathing hard but reassured him it was nothing. Isamu nodded in gratitude to the little boy and it was enough for Yue to smile. Karin was the first to approach with excitement and a strange smile until Suigetsu intervened. Yugo had a calm demeanor and actually had a little grin.
"It was exciting the first minutes, but seriously… I think you had to cut it sooner" Suigetsu opinion was not his concern.
"Are you alright? Do you need to bite?" Karin presented her arm, which he ignored, since his pride didn't allowed weakness in any way… if he could evade it, that's it.
"UGH that's ugly" Suigetsu grimaced. Utakata had approached them reluctantly being dragged with Yugo by Yue like it was a common thing facing the God spirit.
"YES! I'm excited, Isamu-sama could you approve Yugo? or Utakata?"
Isamu ruffled Yue orange hair affectionately, laughing loudly. "Stop there! There can only be five, remember?"
Isamu turned around to face everyone crossing his arms. "Besides those two had already a power up." Scarlet eyes now blinked as he called two spirits, their glow silenced the crowd as the newcomers materialized.
"Sandman, I bestow you my friend Ren. He will be a great match, hope his company helps you endure the path before you" The man bowed briefly beneath his new master, a bulky spirit with tanned skin, black straight hair with a scar that cut his eye and middle cheek. His clothes similar to an uniform of a samurai, but different.
While the multitude cheered on their Kazekage and Temari took Gaara with them. Isamu turned to him and sighed. "Before I bestow you my friend… I have to warn you, that Curse mark will bring nothing but trouble. I can't take it from you now but, until then if you use it… you will unbalance the natural flow of Reishi."
"Hum, what are you saying? Will Sasuke be in danger?" Karin questioned, her tone a bit unpleasant.
"This is the result of corruption of Natural energy flow, therefore Reishi being the purest natural source clashes. Think of it like oil and water. Ideally Reishi alone sustain the equilibrium among the shaman and it's spirit but with Sasuke, he had use either one or another, not at the same time or else might risk cause internal damage."
"That explains it…" Yugo whispered something else but Sasuke was prepared and nodded to the Spirit God. Contrary for what he did to Gaara, Isamu touched his neck, the side free of curse and felt as if he was writing on his skin, it was hot but bearable.
The connection started, he felt the shiver up to his back and arms, as if an electric pulse traveled through his heart. His hand pumped his chest being sure his heart still bumped, but something was different, feeling like he was… opening up. The man that now stared back at him was tall and lean, purple hair almost like the skin of eggplant but bright and longer as it touched his lower back. Styled in an unusual way with a hairpin that set aside the loose strands and framed a handsome mature oval-shaped face. A spear on his hand, with black pants and a vest with an opening in the back.
"Kaname, thank you… " Isamu smiled to his spirit general, whom nodded and Sasuke felt exposed on those golden eyes of his, something sparkled in anticipation. "This is Sasuke, hope you can protect each other like you and me in the old times"
"Your guardian looks so cool" Yue said approaching the spirit, the boy smiled and presented himself.
"Harumi… I hadn't seen her in a while." Black and golden clashed briefly before following Yue, guessing the spirits will take their time talking Sasuke talked with Isamu.
"Why are you aiding us?"
"I just follow her desires… hope it leads to the right path" And Sasuke stared as the spirit went back to the temple, waiting in silence. Followed the path were Yue had disappeared with his new… partner. Near the lake, being carefree as Suigetsu and Utakata joined them in the water. Until then he had to be patient and began to learn how to use this new power that had been transferred to him.