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Ghosts of the Past
Chapter 4: Dark Intentions
Danzo had a plan. He had a plan to make Konoha the greatest village there ever was. Yet he did it all wrong. He thought that if Konoha was the only village left — the only village in control — then the world would see Konoha was the greatest. And he wanted to eliminate everything he saw as a threat to that plan. I was one of them.
— Naruto —
Naruto stepped from the doorway of the bathhouse as he pulled at the hem of his new shirt. It was cotton and soft, but not made to be tough like his usual ninja wear. He shrugged on his cloak, trying to find a way to put it so it didn't look as big around the shoulders. After a while of messing with it he decided to let it do whatever it wanted, which meant it wanted to make him look bulky. Well, maybe he needed to look a little bulky.
He stepped back onto the inns landing, the rain having stopped just minutes before he finished his bath. The ground was still mud and puddle riddled, but he didn't care if his sandals got a little wet and dirty. A sullen wind now flowed through the village, the force of it swaying the sign that hung from an extended beam that went out over the road. On it was a picture of a hilly valley with a sun behind it and rice fields running along the hills. Just like the village.
He let the door swing close, his entering turning a few heads, but not as many as the first time. He started walking to the bar; his footsteps creating a solemn echo against the floorboards. "You probably want to go to your room now, right?" A feminine voice asked. Naruto turned, half expecting Yimi, but it was another serving girl. She was a blonde, with that farmer's daughter body and demeanor. She had the same brown colored eyes, but these were more innocent than Yimi's. Naruto guessed her to only be a few years older than him.
"Please." He smiled pleasantly. A little color came to her cheeks and she averted her eyes. She cleared her throat, meeting his eyes again, "Then right this way, please." She extended her arm in the direction of a set of stair on the other side of the room by the hearth. Her other arm held a set of sheets to her flat chest.
He started that way, trying to keep his head low and demeanor harmless as he walked by the mostly full tables. Then, a hand gripped his arm firmly. It wasn't meant to hurt or scare, but it was definitely there for a purpose. Naruto's eye flickered up the arm and to the man's face, his hand twitching almost on reflex to call the kunai that he now kept up his sleeve. Seeing that there was no threat, he pushed the tip of it back inside, hoping that the second that the metal was exposed hadn't reflected any of the firelight.
"Listen kid." The man started seriously, his brown eyes flat. There was a firm warning tone growing in his voice. "You don't start no trouble seein' as how you came in here smellin' like a butcher." His eyes settled on Naruto's, unwavering. Naruto liked his resolve. He smiled in a disarming fashion. The grip on his arm loosened as a slight shock came on the man's face. "Of course not." He pulled his arm away, turning to face the man fully, keeping their eyes locked.
The man's eyes widened as he couldn't look away. "I've just been through a lot of shit these past few days." He said slowly, his eyes turning a cloudy grey-blue. "So, I would appreciate you leaving me alone if I left you alone. Got it?" Naruto did not wait for a response and broke their eye contact, turning back in the direction of the staircase. He started walking again, his footsteps and the crackling of the fire the only sounds heard in the entire inn.
The door of the inn opened, the placing being filled by the outside air and the sound of the old hinges squeaking. "I'm quite surprised to see you here, Uzumaki." Naruto froze at the base of the steps, one foot on the first step, recognizing the voice just by the cold mocking of its tone. He started to turn, looking at the man who had brought him close to death once. "Kabuto." He finished his turning and made his displeasure known by the scowl on his face.
Several other Oto ninja surrounded the Snake Sannin's apprentice, each in the traditional uniform of their so called 'village'. "Why are you here?" Kabuto inquired, walking toward him. "Oh, I see, you came with Sasuke." Naruto casually pushed back his cloak over his shoulder to show the ninjato he had strapped to his back. He place his hand on the handle, eyes narrow. Kabuto stopped, his movements not shocked or weary by the sight of the blade, but he stopped none the less.
The rest of the room had turned even more silent by the sudden standoff. The fire crackled and rain started to slowly start to fall outside again, pattering against the window. "We both know you can't use that." Kabuto said with certainty, his face turning annoyed. "Now, let's talk like civilized people, 'kay?" He held up his arms in what was meant to be a disarming gesture, but Naruto did not even look hesitant to remove his hand from the handle.
Kabuto's eyes turned stormy, "Where's Sasuke-kun?" He asked, tone turning dangerous and low even in the quiet of the room. The two did nothing but stare at each other. What can I do? I've fought and beaten Kabuto before, but not with others helping him. The seal on his neck pulsed faintly as he thought about that fight. I won against Kabuto and Orochimaru saw potential in me, marking me. Starting this mess. The memory wasn't one he enjoyed, especially with what had happen when the seal started to try and take over his body. Even worse was when the Kyuubi had fought back against the Cursed Seals chakra.
"Dead." He stated, his hand leaving the handle of his blade and finding itself in his pocket. His cloak naturally fell back into place like a curtain on a stage. Kabuto didn't looked shocked or saddened by the news, merely annoyed. That's all they saw him as: a body for Orochimaru to use. "Too bad." Kabuto said wearily, no doubt dreading his master's reaction. "I'm surprised you left Konoha. Last I knew, you were fiercely loyal."
"Danzo tried to kill me." He said, anger finding it's way to the forefront. His eyes turning as red as flame. "Besides, Sasuke died by that pill your best gave him." His spat the word best with underlining emphasis on what it was suppose to mean. Kabuto nodded, unaffected by the sudden flux of anger. "That pill unleashes the Cursed Seals chakra to a level that kills you if you aren't put inside a specially sealed coffin that puts you into a near-death state, allowing the seal to change and run its course."
Kabuto frowned, "It is very unfortunate that he died that way. What stopped the Sound Four from completing the sealing?" Naruto's fist clenched and his teeth gritted. "Anbu." He snapped the word so sharply that it hurt when his teeth clashed together. "Unfortunate." Kabuto said, looking at the ninja that stood silently behind him. "Go to Orochimaru-sama and report." One ninja nodded obediently and disappeared out the door. Kabuto turned back to Naruto, "Orochimaru-sama had gotten impatient, so he came to look for Sasuke despite my persistence that he rest." He sighed, shaking his head, "But he won't be happy about this news."
Kabuto's expression grew pointed, "He's going to want to see you." Kabuto stated seriously. Naruto tensed up, his stomach knotting. "I...I." I don't want to. He wanted to say, but that obviously wouldn't go smoothly. He tried to rack his brain for a way out, a witty and clever reason as to why he couldn't do that. He didn't find anything. "Okay," He finally conceded after several tense seconds, eyes falling. Kabuto smiled, and despite him trying to make it look nice, it somehow only looked condescending. "Right this way then, " Said Kabuto as he stepped aside to show the door, arm going in an arc like he was giving Naruto directions to the only exit in the entire building. Fuck this prick!.
Naruto walked across the room, knowing all eyes were on him. He also knew it would be bad to start a fight here. It would be bad to start a fight at all, really. He pushed open the door, stepping onto the landing and down the steps to the muddy road. Rainwater quickly latched onto his cloak, adding an extra weight to his shoulders. He left his hood down, letting the water mat his hair against his head and slid down his face and neck. Light streamed from the windows and onto the road in images of the windows. Lanterns lined the doorways of all the buildings, shedding some light onto the road. The moon was covered in clouds and only rarely was allowed to peek out and shine it's beautiful silver light onto the world.
"He is this way, outside the village." Kabuto said, walking the way he pointed with his body angled so that he could look at Naruto. The Oto nin followed like a grey shadow. Naruto nodded, falling behind them and looking at the unknown Oto-nin's back. I know Kabuto's capabilities, but this one I have no clue about...Heh, look at me, I never cared about how strong someone was before. He paused in his thoughts when a villager darted frantically from an alleyway, across the street and into a shop. I'm alone, so I can't rely on someone saving me or helping me...They could kill me if they wanted to.
Naruto saw a bridge over a river when they reached the edge of the village. Two lanterns hung from the archway of the red wood, the other arch holding two more. The path clearly diverged here, one fork leading completely outside the village, the other to a set of stone steps that took you up the mountain to all the other fields and houses. The bridge had to be wide enough to cross the busy traffic of carts and horses abreast, so Naruto found himself walking next to both of his forced companions.
On the other side of the bridge stood a figure underneath a tree in a loose kimono, the Oto-nin and others standing a ways back. The road took a left turn and on the right was a long stretch of trees. The lack of light made it hard to see the other figure, but they were completely bandaged from head to toe, only the eyes and messy sand-blonde hair showed.
When they got closer, Naruto saw definitive gold slitted eyes peering at him through the mask of bandages. The sides of the eyes crinkled in amusement. "It's been a while, Naruto-kun." Naruto shivered at the chilling sound that Orochimaru's smooth voice made. The clouds allowed the moon to look past them; the silver light it let through creating even more shadows from the leaves and trees. The whole thing would've looked beautiful if Orochimaru wasn't standing in the middle of it.
The clouds took away the moonlight again, leaving the area in darkness; the only light the dancing fires of the lanterns hanging from the arch on this side of the bridge. "It's is very terrible that Sasuke-kun died." Orochimaru continued like Naruto had actually greeted him back. "Those worthless pests of ninja that I sent to guard him were more useless than I thought." His eyes turned withering, the lines of his face under the bandages furious. "Where is his body?" Orochimaru said, calmly, his eyes molten gold melted by his anger. Naruto narrowed his eyes, fists clenching underneath his cloak. He's asking about the eyes. Why else would he care about Sasuke's body?
The rain continued to fall softly, just a backdrop to the whole grand scheme. "I...burned Sasuke's body." He said. The truth, which would lead to an assumption that put him in a comfortable position. The snake sannin's face said it all. Naruto would've smiled if the situation wasn't so serious. Hahahaa! He's so angry! He forced himself to frown to keep his mouth from going the exact opposite way. Orochimaru seethed in stoicness, but his bandaged hand clenched and unclenched, no doubt thinking of the lost potential. "You…" Orochimaru started, trailing off, eyes flickering away to some other abstract object to remain calm.
He thinks i'm the biggest dumbass there ever was! Ha! I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to kill me!
...
He shifted his feet to look nervous, but he really was when he thought about how easily Orochimaru could slaughter him. I stand no chance. He has me at his whim. Orochimaru's eyes flickered back to him, calm and solid again. "That's...unfortunate." His stance was lazy again, a vast contrast to his forced demeanor from a few moments ago. "What are we going to do with him, Orochimaru-sama?" Kabuto inquired, walking past Naruto and standing in front of his master, the Oto-nin close behind.
Kabuto turned to look at him, a smirk on his face. "You did see potential in our young friend not a few weeks ago." Naruto's eyes widened, "Do you still think that he will be useful?" Orochimaru did not take on a thoughtful look, he merely answered. "I do." The bandages tensed around his mouth in a smile, "Will you come with us, Naruto-kun?"
Every single part of him wanted to run away, get as far away from here as possible. Yet he stood, knowing that Orochimaru wouldn't take no for an answer. He would take me anyway...I have no choice. He smiled, trying not to make it the mess of emotion that he felt. "I will...I don't have anywhere else to go." A thought came to his mind. So, he put on his best sneer and narrowed his eyes dangerously. "I want to kill Danzo anyway, so you can make me stronger." He snarled Danzo's name and formed a wicked smile at the end, like he was full of bloodlust.
He really did want to kill Danzo. Like, really, really bad.
Orochimaru and Kabuto exchanged glances, then looked back at him. Orochimaru nodded, the bandages still stretched. "Good, then let us be on our way then."
— A secret base in Ta no Kuni —
The tunnels that made up this base were deliberately confusing and annoying. He followed Orochimaru and Kabuto, the other Oto-nin having disappeared down another hallway. Torches lined the walls and he pitied the people who had to walk these maddening halls to light and relight the flames. The same winding indentions on the walls snaked and moved across the wall like waves with no rhyme or rhythm.
He had quickly grown bored, but refrained from talking because who would want to talk to these two creeps? So, he remained silent and bored as they walked, their footsteps and the stagnant flames popping and crackling the only sound that filled the halls.
Eventually doors started to line the wall. Plain unmarked brown doors with brass knobs. Even then no one entered or left theses new sights; the doors only becoming breaks in the waves on the walls. Finally, a figure shaded by the dim shadows appeared walking toward them and when he spotted them, he fell to his knees and bowed with his forehead to the ground. Naruto eyed the man as they passed, Orochimaru and Kabuto not even giving a flicker of a glance.
"How did you find me?" Naruto finally asked in the quiet dark. It was a question he had wanted to know since he had thought of it. Orochimaru did not stop walking, but he did chuckle, "You are in my country." He said the most obvious thing, which Naruto rolled his eyes at. "Keke, you would be surprised at how many spies are integrated into normal society by village leaders." Naruto nodded so he showed he understood.
They passed more people, some bowing as low as the first, most just bowing at the waist and murmuring a greeting. All the while Orochimaru did not even acknowledge them. The rooms became occupied and used, scientists in white coats scurrying out and into the doors with clipboard, too busy to bow, but not enough to not welcome their master back with quick words. Orochimaru did not seem to mind.
They reached a double door, taller and made of a different wood than the others. Kabuto opened both doors, allowing them to swing against the inner wall. They stepped into the room. The sight of it was breath stoppingly morbid. There were shelves everywhere, with tubes full of many different things that Naruto couldn't even begin to guess at. They were all disgusting body parts, if he had to guess. There were tubbed animals with horrid mutations and the tangy smell of blood was like a serious aftertaste that would forever stay with the room.
Orochimaru turned, looking at him. "So, before you learn from me, we have to do something." Orochimaru started, eyes glowing,"You signed the toad contract, so that means Jiraiya could summon you at anytime he chose." Naruto's eyes widened. "So, I'll show you how to terminate your contract." Naruto wanted to scream, cry, hiss, anything. He wanted to object so bad that he would fight the two right here and now. Yet he bit his lip, swallowed any dissent and nodded a single nod. "Now, all you have to do is go through the same seals as when you usually summon, but at the end you add these seals." He went through the signs, then added three more.
Naruto nodded, knowing he couldn't do anything about this if Orochimaru was going to train him thinking he didn't want to kill him. He drew blood from his thumb, went through the seals, added the new ones, gathered enough chakra for what he guessed was appropriate for the size, then slammed his hand against the ground. A poof of towering smoke sprang to life from under his hand and the feeling of something cylindrical replaced the cold stone of the floor. He lifted his hand and remained crouched, looking down at the summoning contract scroll.
"Good, now open it." Naruto did as told with a show of not feeling reluctant, but his heart was heavy in his chest. The aged scroll rolled open, revealing what was inside: vertical rows of names, each written in blood. He looked at his own name, scrawled in haste and excitement. It looked so foreign now. Have I really changed that much? No, he had just grown up a bit, seen the world through the eyes of those that lost.
"Now take your blood and slash out your name." Orochimaru instructed, watching closely. Naruto bit again at the open wound on his thumb to get more blood flow and dragged it across his name. The way it made him feel felt like he was cutting off a part of himself. When the crude diagonal line was through, the blood seared, then hissed, fading and creating a small rising smoke tower. The dull color that was left of his name looked like the names of the dead. The only one that remained a bright fresh red was Jiraiya's.
Naruto looked at his father's name, faded like his own, but the slash that ran diagonally down Naruto's was not present on Minato's. It was like a scar of proof, he realized, meant to show that he had abandoned a contract through anything but the greatest ender of death.
The whole process of it left him drained and tired, filled with anger and sadness.
He rolled the scroll up keeping a hand on it when it was complete. "That would be a useful thing to have, Orochimaru-sama." Kabuto remarked from his position behind Naruto and next to the snake. "It would...Naruto-kun, hand it here." Naruto shook in anger, his body literally shook only once. Naruto stood, the scroll disappearing the same as it had appeared. "Sorry, what did you say?" He turned around, tilting his head innocently and trying to look ignorant. Kabuto sneered, preparing to say something, but Orochimaru spoke first. "Don't worry about it, Naruto-kun." Orochimaru did not show his annoyance.
They walked the halls again and said nothing. They eventually came to a door much like the others. "You will stay in this room here." Kabuto motioned to the door with a hand. Naruto looked at him, then Orochimaru, then the door, frowning. "Get some rest for now, i'll make sure your needs are provided for." Kabuto smiled wickedly, "Tomorrow, we begin training." Naruto did not move for a breath, but then he turned the doorknob and entered into the room. Closing the door behind him, he sighed, rubbing a hand across his face. How am I going to get out of this?
— Naruto —
— Half a year later —
Despite getting free reign to wander all of the hideouts, Orochimaru kept an almost obsessive watch on Naruto; him or Kabuto appearing almost immediately when he got even remotely close to an exit. He was also not allowed on solo missions. Which he was okay with since after the first few missions, he realized he didn't want to keep doing missions for Orochimaru; all of the missions had been twisted in their own way.
One had been to capture a small town where it was said a cure to a disease was found in the body of a young girl and since Orochimaru wanted to know if it was true, he had the girl taken away and the village slaughtered so no one would talk or take a try at foolish revenge. The other missions weren't any better.
The news of Konoha's declaration of war had reached him after a week of his time with Orochimaru, and over the past few months he had been restless in his fury. He wanted to stop this war. He wanted to kill Danzo. Yet he couldn't do that…yet. Still, despite his growing power, he was still restless knowing people were dying because of Danzo.
A clone came at him quickly and he swiftly got rid of it with firm backward thrown elbow to the neck. He ducked underneath a sword swing. Swinging his own sword, turning with the motion, and cutting through the torsos of two other clones including the one that had attacked him. A fourth blocked his slashed with his own sword, but a kick to the knee sent the clone to the ground; a punch to the face ended his short existence.
Naruto twirled his sword behind his back, effectively blocking a diagonal cut. He spun his body, using his free hand to catch the wrist of another clone that was preparing a downward slash and returned a slash at the clone who had tried to cut his back. After that one was dealt with, he broke the others wrist and kicked it in the chest, the force of it disrupting the clone into a cloud immediately. He jumped into the air when he felt an overwhelming number had gathered around him, flipping away from some sailing kunai and shuriken that lodged themselves into the ceiling. He landed a bit way away from the fifty or so clones.
"Thats enough for now, Naruto."
Naruto paused and so did all of his clones. Naruto looked up to a balcony that overlooked the training field. Orochimaru stood there, his normal face and hair having replaced the features of the person's body he was using. The clones dispersed in mass and he just narrowed his eyes. He sighed when they were all gone, seeing all the flaws of his technique from an outside perspective. "I must admit, the chokuto fits your style surprisingly well." Orochimaru said, leaning against the rails with his arms flush on top of them.
Naruto put the edgeless side of the sword on his shoulder and smirked, "It's a quick weapon." He agreed, placing a hand on the purple rope belt that held his clothes together. Now, don't get him wrong, the clothes he wore now had not been an appealing idea at first, but once he put them on he had been quite surprised by how comfortably loose they were.
He wore black pants, over which hangs a blue cloth that covers him from his stomach to his knees and which he secures with a purple rope belt, and a white long-sleeved shirt kept open at the torso and black arm guards that cover his forearms. Secure in his belt, on his lower back, was the scabbard for his chokuto.
"And Kabuto doesn't think you clever or quick, just a mere brute." Orochimaru smiled, his smile secretive. Naruto snorted, He doesn't think of me as much of anything but a distraction to his master and an obstacle to the same masters attention. Over the past six months, Orochimaru had been quite focused on Naruto, seemingly realizing the untapped potential the blonde had.
"I would teach you a new jutsu, but I have something to attend to." He really did sound sorry, which wasn't really enduring in any way he thought it might of been. "It's midnight, get some sleep." Orochimaru pushed off the railing, disappearing from sight without hearing anything back. Naruto snorted, twirled around his sword and, in one smooth motion, sheathed it. He laid his hand on the top of the pommel, a scowl on his face.
Footsteps were heard behind him. "What the fuck do you want?" He shouted, turned, and looked at the approaching figure. It was Kimimaro. "I was just watching." He said offhandedly, his pale hand waving away any accusation. "Well, shit. I would've loved to put on a show if I knew I had an audience." He snapped mockingly. In truth he had already known that Kimimaro was there from the start. Kimimaro knew this too.
Orochimaru had quickly picked up on Naruto's sensory ability and had be quite persistant in training him in it. Naruto was happy he had.
The pale man did not smile or make any expression, really. "I wanted to tell you something, Uzumaki." Kimimaro said slowly. Naruto turned away, uninterested. "I know you want to kill Orochimaru." Naruto stopped turning, but it was nonchalant, so you couldn't say he looked like he was caught red handed. Naruto turned back around and looked the man in his teal eyes; his eyes a hard grey-blue. "You know nothing, Kaguya." He said, deathly calm, making sure to show fury so it looked like he was truly angry at even the slightest accusation of being considered a traitor.
"I don't?" Kimimaro rose an eyebrow then turned on the ball of his foot and walked off, never showing a hint of emotion. "We will see." Kimimaro said as he left through a door. Naruto gritted his teeth, "Fuckin' uptight cunt!" He yelled after him, wanting to show true anger. He scowled after nothing was said back. Turning, he walked across the field and exited through a door opposite of the one Kimimaro left through.
He went directly to his room. Making sure the door was locked and then slid down the door onto his butt, back planted firmly against the door. He shook, feeling anxiety flood him. What if they really did know and were merely biding their time for a chance to get rid of him? Even worse: What if they had found out about Sasuke's eyes? Both were not good, and he was only more anxious than he was before.
He pushed off the ground, going to his bag too quickly for it to look calm. He opened the bag and reached in. He sighed when he felt what he was looking for. A cloth in the shape of a cylinder. Sasukes eyes. Naruto pulled the covered tube out and held it to his chest, shaking with fear and relief. He slipped into his bed, suddenly calm. No, he had made sure to do everything to get suspicion off his back. Which was hard, since Orochimaru was naturally suspicious. Even then, he knew he wasn't going to be fully trusted, ever.
Sleep found him tired and weary and he let it slowly pull him into its hug. He had a hard time sleeping nowadays; With all the nerves. He sighed, falling completely into the embrace of sleep.
— Sakura —
— Six more months later—
Tsunade was relentless with her training. Making Sakura wake up at the crack dawn, barraging her with strength training, chakra control exercises, and books upon books of medical text. With the war with Suna in its infancy, the Hokage is pressuring genin to become as strong as possible if the war become bad enough to where they would be needed. So, everyone was training hard. Yet, Sakura did not want to go to war. Almost two-thirds of the general population didn't want to either. Even more so was the amount of reluctant shinobi who only fought to obey the orders of their Hokage.
Most of the engagements that had happened where inside the borders of Kaze no Kuni and even then the amount of prisoners that were captured was shocking and understandable at best. No one wanted this war except Danzo and his supporters. Sakura wanted to scoff and spit at the thought of supporting Danzo. Yet people still did.
"Don't get distracted!"
Sakura slid out of her straight backpedal, dipping behind the tree she would've otherwise hit if she hadn't slid aside and jumped back. Boom! Crack! Creeeeck! Sakura jump out from behind the tree and made a deadpanned expression as Tsunade punched the tree, breaking the large oak like it was merely a twig. However, Sakura did not let the display of monstrous strength stop her movements. Tsunade advanced and Sakura dipped her head away from a right hook, lifted her leg away from a low kick meant to sweep her onto the ground and then decided to throw a punch, which was easily swiped away.
Sakura gained some distance away, sweating and looking half full of terror and half full of amusement. "You've gotten quicker." Tsunade complemented, coming out of her crouched position. Sakura smiled, coming out of her own fighting stance; reaching up a hand and rubbing her jaw when she felt pain from the movement. A motley bruise of black and purple ran the length of her jawbone and she winced at her own touch. The bruise was a wicked contrast to her pale skin. "I'd rather not take my chances with a close call again." Sakura said dryly, glaring slightly.
Tsunade had the decency to looked embarrassed. "Come on, I wasn't trying to break your jaw or anything. Besides, its a bruise, no broken bones!" Sakura lowered her hand, "It looked like you were trying to blow half my face off with the amount of intensity you were coming at me." Tsunade snorted, crossing her hands underneath her breasts. "Whatever." Tsunade waved a hand, dismissing the topic, then returned her hand back to its position with the other.
"Let's be done today. I need to get a heavy drink that'll knock me out and into the deepest pit of hell." Tsunade rubbed her head, obviously irritated. Sakura shook her head, knowing why she was frustrated. "Don't complain tomorrow then." She said despite knowing the futility of her words. "Sure, see ya' kid!" Tsunade promptly walked off with a simple wave. Sakura didn't want to go home just yet, so she decided to sit down on the conveniently fallen tree. She idly broke small pieces off a stick, flicking them away, eyes distant. Eventually it was all gone and she was stretching, feet sliding across the grass, hands on the tree placed slightly behind her so she wouldn't slip. Her lithe muscles were defined from the action and she looked as relaxed as a cat bathing in the sun light, eyes closed.
Eventually, her mind wandered to the subject that had been plaguing her mind for the past year. The war. It was hard to fight one when you didn't truly want to. Tsunade and Jiraiya had fervently opposed the war, even going as far as not even participating. Now, if they were regular shinobi, then they probably would have been branded as cowards and traitors, then kicked out of Konoha or maybe even killed for the knowledge and power that they would have against it.
However, they were Sannin, students to the Sandaime Hokage and holders of the Will of Fire. You did not try to force your will on the most powerful shinobi in the village; both eligible to hold the Hokage seat.
She pulled out a headband, Naruto's headband. The deep and ugly scar that was cut across the leaf symbol was almost like a metaphor to the scar that had been left on her heart that night. She ran her thumb over the metal, it only feeling rough when the pad of her thumb ran over the thin scar. Unshed tears formed in her eyes and her lip quivered. "Naruto..." She whispered and put the headband to her chest, bending over it and sobbing.
"Sakura Haruno." Sakura jumped at her name, sitting up in shock, tears flying into the air from the motion. Standing in front of her was an Anbu with a purple colored demon mask and sandy brown hair."Yes?" She asked, her hands clutching the headband to her chest like she had been caught with something illegal. The Anbu made no acknowledgement to the headband or her tears, merely taking a few steps in her direction. "The Hokage wants to see you." Sakura stood, a confused look on her pretty face. She wiped at her eyes, "O..kay?" The Anbu closed the distance, placing a startling hand on her shoulder.
The world spun and they were teleported to the Hokage tower. She had used a shunshin only twice before and only just recently. Either way, they all still left her dizzy and queasy. The hand fell and Sakura stood looking at the Hokage behind his desk. He signed papers, eye focused on what he was doing.
He did not acknowledge her.
She shifted her feet after a single minute passed. Biting her lip, she glanced around, trying to find a way to start the conversation as politely as possible. "I've heard you are a very skilled kunoichi, becoming quite strong in the past year." He looked up at her then, placing his pen down. "I won't keep you long, but, I have an offer for you, Sakura Haruno."
"How would you like to become an Anbu trainee?"
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