Chapter 13: The People We All Know
"... I-Is that a-"
"Yup it is Hinata-neechan!"
"You three, go train." Feleka ordered the young children.
"Hai!"
"Train. And when I mean train I mean train, as in ninja abilities. Not the other ones."
"... Hai." They chorused then left. Even Suoki was disappointed. Hey, what would you do if you spent all of your time with Ali and Nobu? And besides, he is still eight at heart.
Feleka faced the five girls "I might as well tell you about some of the clans here in Asahigakure. One is the Hitoli clan. It is similar to the... Inuzuka clan. They use nin animals as partners and companions. The only difference is that the Hitoli clan uses a dragon.
"I am sure dragons are said to be mythical creatures in your place, but it was only lost because it disappeared a thousand years ago. And well... I'm sure you know why that happened. Another clan... I'm sure you noticed something about Suoki."
Ino nodded "Yeah. Its like he... hates us. And is like another Sasuke-kun."
"He kinda does, for the first part... and the second. You see, when the Higure attacked Asahigakure... they almost killed off an entire clan. The Tamashi clan. Tusnade-sama informed me about the Byakugan and Sharingan. And those are merely branch families of the Tamashi clan.
"Their kekke genkai is the Kihakugan. The most powerful eye kekke genkai, and among all the bloodline limits it ties with the best one, that of the Hitora clan. And the clan symbol is an eye. It was the first and best eye technique, so of course the symbol was that general. Though I do not wish to get into detail about its abilities.
"Only two survived the onslaught. Suoki and I. He was the youngest of the clan, so he was kept in safety. I, was the only one that survived the battle but in exchange for my life, were my eyes...
"Tsunade-sama also informed me about the Uchiha clan. Me, I understand that revenge will get me nowhere. But Suoki..."
"He's another Sasuke-kun." Sakura said. Feleka nodded "He doesn't like the fact that the people who killed his clan are after you five. And that you are the only ones to defeat them... But anyway!" she said changing the topic.
"I'll give you the tour instead. And tomorrow I suppose you'll start your training right?"
"Hai."
"... To tell the truth, I feel sorry for you five."
"Why?" Tenten asked.
"Melane-chan... she is one hell of a strict sensei."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
... I feel... weird.
I know what you mean... We've been gone for about two months, and in that time...
We forgot what it was like inside the Konoha...
You mean...
Yeah. Its like Asahigakure is our real home.
It kinda is, with the whole everyone's-lives-is-on-our-shoulders thing.
There Sakura was. A few meters away from the gates to enter the greatest shinobi village... on the ground, that is. She took a deep breath Remember. I'm lucky to get my own village just like Temari.
Sakura entered the gates and wasn't greeted with Naruto but with another hard-working-never-giving-up boy "Sakura-san!!" Lee called out "It has been very long until we have last met!!... Where are your comrades and Tenten?"
Sakura smiled.
He's so nice to worry about them too. How could I not have noticed before?...
Maybe because when you first met him, he threw all those heart things at you. I mean is that even possible?!
"You see Lee... Our mission isn't over yet. And we had to go in separate directions, and mine was here in Konoha. But I assure you Tenten and the others are perfectly fine!" Sakura assured him.
He smiled "That is very youthful news!"
"Where are Sasuke-kun and Naruto?" she asked Ichiraku is near, and Lee's yell was kinda loud. The baka must have heard him call my name.
"They are on a mission involving escorting someone to the Land of Water!"
Sakura's eyes widened I wonder if they'll meet Hinata...
Flashback
"As I have said before, the pieces of the crystal were separated into six pieces. Each in the main countries. You will go to your assigned one and ask the kage there of its whereabouts. And the last piece, which is found here, will be the last one you will find." Melane explained.
"Yes!" Temari and Sakura exclaimed.
Hinata, Tenten, and Ino had their heads down.
Temari was the daughter of the Kazekage. That has got to give some perks in the mission.
Sakura practically has all her other friends at the village. Who doesn't want that?
Ino's going to a village that kidnapped Hinata and got all pissed when one died in the process. Can anyone say unfair?
Hinata is going to a place that doesn't care if they kill just to graduate the academy. And thats against everything she goes by.
And Tenten will be going to a place that hates Konoha. That's self explanatory.
End Flashback
"What is your mission anyway Sakura-san?"
"... We just have to help a bunch of people-"
More like the whole world.
"-by repairing something that helps them alot-"
Helps us by making us all alive.
"-the pieces of it were scattered-"
Like all over the ninja world.
"-and we have to find them, repair them, and we're done!"
Who knows how long that'll be?
"What kind of thing?"
"... Its a secret, and I can't disobey orders, now can I?"
"Of course not! It would show how unyouthful we Konoha shinobi really are!"
"Glad you understand, but I have to report to Hokage-sama about something!" Sakura said running to the Hokage tower, but before she was out of earshot Lee called out to her, "Sakura-san! Perhaps after the mission you would like to go out with me?!"
She fell down anime style No wonder he acted different during the conversation. Because he knew the mission is more important... But still! "Sorry Lee! I'm not looking for a relationship yet! I'm too young!" Then she headed to the tower.
Lee's eyes widened. He would understand if she said 'You are too unique.', 'I'm too busy.', or even a flat out 'No.' But that?!
Has she got over Sasuke?... Impossible!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
"How were you able to get these herbs Temari?" Her father asked.
Temari just smiled "I just found them with my fan one day."
Flashback
"If you want to save your brothers life then you have to get the herb by your fan." Melane said.
"Why my fan?"
"Because it will be used to test if you learned anything I taught you."
"... Fine." Temari said then glanced at the herb.
That was on the floor in front of her.
Just a few inches away.
In width.
But in length...
"But its underwater! And only Hinata was able to actually touch the bottom."
"You'll get it one way or another. And you have a day, or that plant will die." Then Melane left.
Temari groaned She really is an old grouch. then she looked at the water to her fan then to the water again.
Her eyes widened Don't tell me... Its worth a shot. She jumped high in the air, very high, and swung her fan.
They were lucky at least some part of the lake was still intact.
End Flashback
He nodded "I see." Then he handed her a scroll "Follow its instructions, tomorrow."
"Hai." Temari said then he left her in the hallway in front of Kankuro's room in the hospital. Temari looked at the scroll, then outside the window Not like I'll leave in the dead of night.
She headed home from the hospital and on the way saw Gaara up on one of the roofs. She frowned when he saw him... Guess what Hinata said really got to me.
Flashback
Sakura was reading a magazine, Ino was combing her hair, Hinata was reading a book, Tenten looked out the window and Temari was just laying down staring at the ceiling.
It was one of the times Melane told them to 'bond' and 'hang out'. Right now, they were just having a slumber party... kinda. They do live in the same small house, but they were in the living room at nine in the night.
And they were silent.
Temari sighed them sat up "Why don't we go to sleep now?" Tenten shrugged "Its too early to sleep in a slumber party."
"But this isn't even considered a slumber party. Just a time where we all sleep on the floor." Sakura told her "But, why don't we talk about something?"
Silence once again.
And, of course, Ino broke it "What about you Temari? You said you went here to get a herb. Won't your brother be dead soon? Its been half a month."
"Not exactly, he'll be dead in five."
"Don't you want to him to end his suffering?" Tenten asked.
"... He can handle it, besides it isn't painful, the only real painful thing is finding out you don't have much time to live."
"You do know life is an important thing, the way you say it... is as if though you're discussing the weather." Sakura told her.
Temari lay back down "Guess I hang around my younger brother too much."
"What do you mean?" Hinata asked finally speaking up.
And the blonde told them about his purpose. None were pleased with him, but there was one who was even more displeased by the teller.
Hinata frowned "Why didn't you do anything?"
"What could I do?"
"Anything."
"... What?"
Hinata sighed "He is your brother Temari, you are his older sister. Family has to help family. I'm sure if you did help him when he was still young, he would've felt loved. What kind of older sister are you?"
"... What about you?"
"I don't want what happened me to happen to you too."
Tenten was the one to question her "What happened?"
"I tried... But failed. I lost an older brother and a younger sister."
End Flashback
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
"Welcome traveler!" the guard said in a cheery voice but then glared at her "Now leave."
"But I need to speak to Tsuchikage-sama!" Tenten told him.
The guard ninja was only a year older than her, but it looked like he was already a chuunin. He had dark red hair that was put into a small pony and bright blue eyes.
He still glared at the girl... but mostly at her headband then the person wearing it "Tsuchikage-sama would never let a ninja, let alone a young girl, from the Leaf, speak to him!"
But then another ninja came running to them "Tsuchikage-sama requests that if you see a young female leaf ninja, you must admit her-... and that is the person he talked about." The shinobi said when he saw Tenten.
Tenten was smart enough not to retort to what the young shinobi guard said. So she quickly left with the Rock ninja and headed to the Tsuchikage tower. And the whole way had a feeling that she received death glares.
The ninja escorting Tenten faced her "I am sorry if he has caused you any trouble. He doesn't exactly like Leaf shinobi..."
"The whole village doesn't like Konoha. I understand, don't worry about it."
"... But I am just a tad bit suspicious that Tsuchikage-sama wishes to speak with you. If it were a peace treaty, he would have told Hokage-sama to send another... fitting delegate."
Tenten shrugged "I'm tougher than I look." After all she met some people who look WAY tougher than how they really look.
Flashback
"You want us to what?" Ino asked.
Ali smirked "Of course if you five are still too weak-"
"But how do we know you three aren't?" Tenten asked.
"Because if we were weak, would we be stupid enough to challenge you five?" Suoki said.
Nobu just shrugged "We just want to test our-I mean you on how strong you got. Is that so wrong?"
Tch. They tested themselves... and won. But they only did one thing that the girls didn't: Teamwork.
Those three were known as another small Higure group. Only one they weren't that strong (They are still eight mentally and physically!), but together... almost unstoppable. Though...
It was the five girls that didn't have teamwork that gave the three a HUGE advantage.
End Flashback
Tenten mentally cringed at the memory when Sakura's fireball almost killed her during that fight. Then she sighed We really don't have teamwork, even after all those weeks together...
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Today was not her day.
Ino quickly went to get a room at an inn before she went to the Raikage tower. The innkeeper was a bit unsure letting the young peasant looking girl get a room, that is until the blonde slammed the money down on the table.
She plopped herself on the bed. She was tired more than she was dirty.
Which meant she was very tired.
She had to climb a mountain up to down, without using her chakra, or a bunch of rogue ninja might sense it and attack her. And in the forest... mud and thorns were very common. Too common for Ino's liking. She looked as if though she lived in the forest for years. And she did not like it.
Especially the looks some men were giving her, because of her torn clothes. She was twelve and how many catcalls did she recieve on her way to the inn?!
She cursed under her breath All male in the Hidden Cloud Village are perverts that should rot in hell. She got off the bed and was about to take a shower when she passed by the window and saw a couple.
The girl had a large smile on her face, her clothes were bright and happy. While the boy had a frown with dark clothes. But if you look closer he had a small smile that he only reserved for that girl.
It reminded her of Sakura and Sasuke.
Ino frowned at the memory.
Flashback
Sakura was in front of the large window in their home in Asahigakure, and was staring out the window. Ino just entered their the living room when she saw the girl with a sad look on her face.
Ino frowned Since when is that girl ever sad?she stood beside her and saw the three children that they knew all too well. Ino then smiled.
Ali and Nobu were trying to make Suoki do something, but he wouldn't budge. Nobu kept on asking but then Ali just rolled her eyes and grabbed Nobu's hand, then they heard her say "Fine! Be that way! Nobu-kun and I will do it without you!" Then the two left.
But Suoki was slightly angry, and Ino noticed that it wasn't because he was left out, but because Ali was still holding Nobu's hand.
Ino giggled Young love... she faced Sakura who also smiled, to cover the sadness she had before. But her eyes always showed her emotion. "Whats with you?"
"Nothing!"
"Riiiight. I'm not stupid Forehead."
"... Its none of your business Ino-pig."
"Just spit it out Forehead."
"..." Sakura just looked down instead of answering her.
Ino paused, to think it over until it struck her "You miss Sasuke-kun don't you!" Sakura's eyes widened and she faced Ino again. Ino rolled her eyes "Like it or not Forehead, he's gonna miss me more than you!"
"... You're probably right..." Sakura said, Ino's eyes widened "What?!"
"I said that you're right. I don't even think he misses me, he probably thinks I'm a burden that he's glad to get rid of-" Ino slapped her. Sakura's eyes widened.
Ino sighed then put her hand down Guess Temari was right, I kinda do things that are too dramatic out of impulse. She glared at Sakura "So what? You gave up on him? You're quitting? What kind of person are you?" Ino asked, but this time in a calm voice.
"You broke our friendship over a stupid boy that would never even love us no matter how hard we tried. And now you gave up on him. Just like what you did with me." Then Ino left.
Sakura smiled 'It would be better if she thought about it that way.'
End Flashback
Ino sighed. That happened a day before they separated to look for the pieces. And after that they haven't talked at all. The others didn't have a clue what happened, but Tenten and Hinata thought it was over Sasuke or some other boy.
Ino hated those assumptions... But it would make sense if they thought that.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Hinata was just too shocked to even enter the village gates. Especially with what she saw in the woods nearby...
But she decided to quickly pass by the village and head to the Hidden Mist Village as fast as she could. What would he do if he saw her alone, heading to the Bloody Mist Village, and without either of the other three he thought were with her?
She frowned. Who would know that? The boy is too unpredictable for his own good.
So a day passed and when she returned to the place in a forest where she camped she met a pretty girl that held a basket of herbs. But when Hinata really looked at her, she was really a male...
So much for finding a girl who rivaled with Ino's hair. The people Hinata met that did were male. And they got into a conversation, and Hinata noted that she, and that young boy, did not mentioned their names yet. And for some reason Hinata felt like she could tell the boy anything.
"... then she practically destroyed the whole lake!" Hinata sighed "It was a miracle the herb actually survived."
They boy smiled "You have the most interesting friends."
"... Friends?... I guess they kinda are..."
"You seem unsure."
"A bit."
"Maybe you five are more than just friends."
Hinata frowned "More than friends?"
"Best friends. Almost like sisters."
"Sisters?"