Chapter 17: Separate Ways
"We finally made it."
Ino dropped to her knees "Thank the goddesses!"
Hinata just panted hard "How long have we been walking?"
"I'd say for about six hours..." Temari answered.
Tenten shrugged "At least we didn't run like what we usually do with sensei. A hundred laps around Asahigakure with weights almost as heavy as Lee's! I'm so glad that month was finally over!"
Sakura agreed "Compared to that, this is nothing."
"For you maybe, but my chest still hurts! Lets get the last piece and get this over with!" Ino exclaimed.
Then they entered the ruins of a large palace.
Ino was the first to enter the castle and then gasped.
"What?" Temari asked. Ino just pulled her arm then showed her the inside of the ruin. The others followed, then when they saw it their jaws dropped and their eyes widened.
It was huge. The walls were close to crumbling, there were many stones around, and there were even vines on most of the walls. And in the very middle of the room was a large space for something.
But that was not what shocked them.
On one large wall in the back was a mural.
A very beautiful mural.
Something even greater than the Hokage mountains. And even better painted then Sai's drawings.
In the very middle was a huge heart with pink light rays surrounding it, there were two people on the side, two other people on the other side, and one at the bottom.
And at the very bottom were words.
One was a female with dark short pink hair and red eyes, with a red gown. And there was a ball of fire in her hands.
The next also wore a blue gown, but her light blue hair was long reaching her waist, and was wavy, with dark blue eyes, and in her hands was a ball of swirling water.
The other wore a white gown and had light blonde hair, almost white, with white eyes and her hair was fixed into one large braid, and in her hands was a swirling place of wind that was color gray.
Another had blonde hair put into a high side ponytail, orange eyes, a yellow gown and in her hands was a ball of lightning.
And the last had forest green hair with brown eyes, her hair was put into two low pigtails, similar to Tsunade's but much more longer, she wore a green gown and had leafs swirling around in the palm of her hand.
But what was so great about them was that...
It was breathtaking. They looked perfect.
They were beautiful.
Everything the girls' have ever seen could never have competed with those paintings.
But even though some of their characteristics were different, like hair and eyes, the girls looked a bit similar to the goddesses.
Too similar.
"Is it just me or does she look like an older version of me with different hair and eyes?" Tenten asked them pointing to the earth goddess.
Hinata nodded "Your facial structures are exactly the same, except her's is more mature..."
"This is so proof that we are the reincarnations." Temari said, then walked to the very middle of the room that had a large space, and in the very middle was a rock... piece of the crystal to be precise.
Sakura continued to look at the mural "What do you think it says at the very bottom?"
Temari then picked up the crystal then faced the three "I take it that this is the last piece. But... now what do we do?"
Hinata got out her own piece "Lets bring them together first." They got out their own piece then laid it on the floor with in the center.
They they started glowing, the room suddenly shook, and the girls fell to the ground due to the sudden impact. But then is suddenly stopped as soon as it arrived.
The ground the crystal were in started to move upward. But only for about a foot.
Tenten examined the table "I think this is the pillar... we have to move it upward somehow."
But Sakura just continued to examine the words placed on the mural "... Weird."
Ino faced her "Forehead, we kinda have a problem here, mind to help us out?"
Sakura just ignored her "... Hey girls, listen to this:
We'll be there for each other,
no matter how far,
now and forever,
together or apart,
family till the end.
Sisters forever."
The ground started shaking again, but then stopped.
Sakura smirked "I think this is some kind of chant to raise the heart pillar... very cliche, something I would expect to read out of a book... but anyway how do we say it?"
"There are five lines, and one is like the very ending. That would probably be said all together." Hinata said.
They circled the pieces.
Sakura took in a deep breath then begun "We'll be there for each other."
"No matter how far." Ino said.
"Now and forever." Tenten continued.
"Together or apart." Temari said, with a little irony with the apart thing. (She is the only one not in Konoha)
"Family till the end." Hinata said, a little sad at the sound of the family part.
"Sisters forever!" All five said.
The ground started shaking again.
But this time the center of the ground, that held the pieces, rose meters above. Then the pieces started glowing.
...
"How come they're not getting together?" Ino asked.
"They've been separated for a thousand years, it will not take a few seconds for them to be formed again." They faced the new voice and saw their very own sensei.
Melane let out a sigh "I am very sorry for the behavior of the three children."
"What do you mean? We're like best friends with them." Sakura said.
"... Ali put a jutsu on this place, Nobu made sure the maze was indestructible, and Suoki made an illusion... the maze was the illusion."
"You mean to say there was never a maze?" Temari asked.
"Never has been."
"..."
"It was a just a genjutsu."
"..." Ino and Temari were thinking the same thing I'll murder the pipsqueaks.
"But it shows that even with such obstacles you were able to complete your mission. It has ended."
Ino's eyes widened "What do you mean?"
"I will inform your Hokage when the heart crystal is fixed, fixed not revived, you will come back to revive it. But other than that you all are done. You will return to your villages and continue living your daily lives as if though nothing happened."
"As if though nothing happened?" Sakura asked.
"Once the crystal is revived... not only are the Higure after the crystal, but when others hear of it they will try and get it. And they can only acquire it if they have your necklaces to let them touch the crystal, something the Higure can already do.
"So never show that you learned elemental jutsus, except for Temari, and act as if though you never got close or even met on this mission. Act as if though nothing happened. The people on the dark side will easily trace you. You may perhaps meet time to time, but secretly.
"The ninja that attacked you were not real. They were merely puppets if you were wondering."
"But one of them was real for me." Tenten said.
"Perhaps he joined them against the Tsuchikage's orders. But other than them, the only people who know are the the leaders of the Hidden Villages and Tsunade. You understand my orders?"
"Hai."
"Remember: Act as if though nothing happened."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
"Sakura-neechan."
Sakura, who was packing her things, turned around and saw Suoki "What is it?"
"... Who is Uchiha Sasuke?"
Sakura looked down but then sighed and faced him "He's like you... almost exactly like you except he's the only one who survived. He didn't have another relative alive... well there is one still alive."
"Then he is like me?"
"It was his older brother. And that person was the one who killed his own clan."
"..."
"But, please, Suoki-kun. Don't avenge your clan."
"And why not?"
"Why do you think Feleka-neechan doesn't want to avenge her clan?"
"She's says... that if she does then she'll be just like the people who killed it."
"And who says you're an exception?"
Suoki just looked down. Sakura smiled then grabbed his chin to make him face her "Who are the people you care about Suoki-kun?"
"Feleka-oneechan..."
"Who else?"
"Kage-sama."
"And?"
"..."
"Suoki-kun."
"... Ali and Nobu also."
"What do you think they'll do when they find out you got your vengeance? To defeat the Higure you must be powerful. Very powerful. Do you think they would want the brother they never had to be power hungry?"
"... No."
"Then don't make that mistake. If you do kill them, then what? Do you think you'll feel better? Knowing that you have blood on your hands just for the sake of vengeance?"
"... No... But what about you?"
Sakura sighed "That is what I don't like, they will try and kill us, and we must kill them before they do. I won't like the feeling when that happens, and neither will you. Understand?"
"..."
"Don't worry, you have always have alot of time to think about it."
He nodded "Hai." But then he shot her a questioning look "Why don't you say those things to Sasuke?"
"... He doesn't listen to me. And..."
"And?"
Sakura frowned "I doubt he would even listen to Naruto."
"Naruto?"
"I have a feeling that they're best friends now, and if he can't convince him, I can't either."
"Why not you?"
"... Sasuke-kun doesn't even acknowledge my existence."
"That's how it is."
"What?"
"I never acknowledge Ali or Nobu, but I still consider them-" he inwardly groaned "-family."
Sakura smiled "Thanks Suoki-kun, that means alot."
"How?"
"That I might have a chance to convince him like I did to you."
Suoki nodded, but then turned around and smiled.
"Thank you Sakura-neechan."
Sakura smiled back.
"I also did it for Ali-chan and Nobu-kun."
But Sakura won't be able to do it for herself and Naruto.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Temari smirked "I guess this is goodbye for a while."
Ino nodded "Yeah well, I'm not sure I can say I was glad to meet you."
Then Sakura came running "Sorry I'm late!"
"What did you do?" Hinata asked.
"Just had a talk with Suoki-kun."
There was a tense silence after that.
Tenten sighed "You people are just so immature. I'll miss you Temari. And also you three when we go back to not caring what happens to us."
Ino rolled her eyes "You just had to get to the point didn't you?"
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Hinata, Tenten, Sakura, and Ino were in front of the Konoha gates.
Tenten crossed her fingers "Please let them be on a mission. Please let them be on a mission. Please let them be on a mission. Please let them be one a mission. Please-"
"What in the world are you saying?" Ino said.
"Gai-sensei and Lee are going to torture me when they find out I'm back. 'Let us run with our youthful flower around Konoha 100 times to celebrate her homecoming! May the fire of youth live on in you!' That is what I bet they'll say."
Hinata put her fingers together "I'm just nervous about what my family's reaction will be."
"I doubt there will be one." Ino said.
"... Yeah, you're probably right."
Sakura rolled her eyes "We'll never know what's going to happen unless we go in!" Then they passed by the gates, after greeting the shinobi on guard, then headed to their respective places.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Hinata entered her home then walked to her room, the people who saw her just did... nothing out of the ordinary. Pitiful glances or glares.
Hanabi is still mean.
Hiashi is still mean.
And Neji still doesn't acknowledge her.
Hinata sighed as she lay down on her bed "Nothing really has changed."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Tenten was about to head to her home when the green beasts of Konoha appeared in front of her.
"Let us run with our youthful flower around Konoha a 100 times to celebrate her homecoming! May the fire of youth live on in you!" Gai exclaimed.
...
Tenten sighed I just knew he was going to say that.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Ino looked around the flower shop and noticed that it was closed.
But then the back door opened and her mother came in, she had a sad smile "I just had to visit your father."
"What happened?"
"He was seriously wounded during a mission while you were gone."
"Oh."
Ino looked down Everything is still the same.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
"Okaasan?"
"What is it Saki?"
"Where's Otoosan?"
Laiya just looked down "He'll be gone for a while."
Sakura just nodded "Nothing unusual." She muttered.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Temari entered their home and was greeted with Kankuro.
"What was your mission?! It took how many weeks?!"
Translation:
How could you leave me alone with Gaara?!
Temari shrugged "It wasn't much, it just took longer than I expected."
He just sighed "Whatever, Otoosan is looking for us."
Then they entered his office with Baki and Gaara already there.
"This mission is about the Chuunin exams being held in Konoha soon."
Temari raised an eyebrow.
Fate was going to make them meet sooner than expected.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
review, that i always write
but...
i need help, and i'll type properly too:
I read this one story that was like mine, it was main kunoichi friendship, yet there were side pairings, like mine.
sassaku naruhina nejiten and inoshika
But friendship between the girls were number 1.
And it was under Sakura and Sasuke
Should that mean I could also put it under Sasuke and Sakura?
Because not alot of people are reading this story, once the hits reach below 5 I might consider deleting it.
My hits are in the line of 2 already.
So I'm asking for a suggestion:
1. Should I put the story under Sakura and Sasuke to get more hits?
2. Or leave it under Ino and Sakura? Since some reviewers might want Sakura and Sasuke fluff quickly. Something I cannot give.
I suck at romance people! You, who already read my stories, should know that!
i hope you read wat i just typed... even i don't read author notes often... :(
that and i'm sry. this chap was more cheesy than the 1 with the history lesson!