Thanks for the reviews everyone! Glad you guy like the story and sorry if I'm updating too late but due to the holidays I have to update once a week because of preperations for christmas and all. Plus I need time to get your presents!
Key:
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto peoplz!
Please R&R! Read and Review!
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3 shuriken pierced into the wood of a tree. Each one hit the small 4 inch red dot marked on it.
"ARRRRHH" a frustrated cry resounded in the clearing.
Punches could be heard, each one pounded into the tree without the use of chakra to shield the blows so it wouldn't hurt the shinobi's hand. The rough masculine hands continued attacking the tree as if it were a real enemy, his hands bled from scraping across the rough surface with each hit.
Panting heavily, he decided he nearly used up all of his anger by taking it out on the tree, and fell to his knees on the soft grass. Dark cold eyes scanned his hands, covered with scratches and blood from his long rough training. Raven hair fell over his eyes only to be pushed aside so it wouldn't obscure his vision. Calm onyx eyes flashed a dangerous red several times before they disappeared under the Shinobi's eyelids.
'It's been 3 years since that failed mission' he thought, getting up deciding he took a long enough break. 'And we still have no clue about her whereabouts.'
He figured he would train relentlessly until tracker nin found their location, but that was not the case. Apparently that was not the case, because they still have no lead as to where Akatsuki could be. Let alone a particular pink haired missing nin. He sighed angrily before running a hand through his spiked raven hair in frustration.
Every month he would ask if they had any leads. He had been patient every time they answered "no" but it's been 3 fucking years and his patience is long gone. Now at the age of nineteen, he still has "dreams" about the day she left and the failed mission and not once did he ever stop thinking about his former teammate.
He refused to go on any mission that didn't have something to do with Akatsuki. If leads on his old teammate were found he wouldn't be able to go with the retrieval team because he was off on some incompetent mission. Naruto followed his example enthusiastically…
"OI,TEME!!"
Speak of the devil…
He sighed once more and turned to face the hyper active blonde. Naruto stopped in his tracks just a three yards away from him and his face turned solemn.
"You were thinking about her again… about Sakura?" he asked softly
No response.
"Sasuke…" Naruto said sympathetically
The Uchiha turned his head to he side. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked down to the side. There was a moment of silence before he spoke.
"How did you know?" The ANBU Captain asked
The Kyuubi vessel looked at his best friend before looking out into the distance.
"Because… the look on your face is the same as mine when I think about the old times." Naruto said smiling weakly
Sasuke nodded.
"… Kakashi would be late as usual…" he trailed
"…and Sakura would scold him before hitting him with her monster strength?" Naruto finished with a reminiscing smile
"Remember when she would hit you upside the head for being a dobe?" Sasuke smirked distantly
Naruto chuckled.
"Yea… that wasn't such a pleasant memory." He half grinned half smiled, rubbing a hand on the top of his head like he used to when she hit him on the head.
There was a peaceful silence as they thought about the past.
Naruto remembered how Sakura helped him see Hinata who was there for him all along, how she smiled brightly when she heard about them getting together.
Sasuke remembered her brilliant smile that would always light up on her face when she saved a life at the edge of death.
"Her smile." Both ANBU Captains said quietly
Shaking his head Sasuke looked at Naruto with his normal stoic expression.
"Oi, dobe. What was so important that you just had to interrupt my training?" Sasuke asked before quickly adding "And you better not say ramen."
Naruto looked at Sasuke who had a smirk and realized he was trying to lighten the mood. The blonde grinned widely.
"Eh?! Why not Sasuke-teme?! Amen is the best, dattebayo!" Naruto whined
"Because every time we go, I have to pay off the bill." Sasuke deadpanned
"But you're loaded!"
"I won't be if you keep making me pay off the bill."
"But teme!"
"Hn."
"Fine." Naruto muttered "We'll pay 50-50"
"Forget it. You have a bottomless pit and I'll have to pay at least 12 bowls of ramen not including my own."
"Fine. I'll pay for mine."
"…Deal."
Ino stared out the window of the Yamanaka flower shop. Over the years the store had renovated into a 2 story popular flower shop. Not only to buy flowers but also hired to create custom gardens for the customer. They also did delivery sales and on Valentines Day they are bustling with people.
Even though the shop is much more popular than six years ago as a genin, just like she wanted, she couldn't help but feel empty without her childhood best friend. She gaze out the window thinking of the stupid rivalry they had over Sasuke. She couldn't believe they broke their friendship for him, it was really Sakura who broke it but Ino knew she could've stopped it. Now when she has Sakura back, the pink haired girl leaves Konoha as a missing nin.
'…Sakura…What if she's…'
The pale blonde haired Kunoichi shook her head. Sakura was too stubborn to die. The day Sakura dies would be the day Uchiha Itachi falls in love with the Haruno.
Ino scoffed.
The heartless bastard would never fall for anyone. No way would he fall for her. She deserves more than a killer.
…
"Kakashi-sensei!" chirped a child like female voice
Kakashi was knelt on one knee and looking out into the setting sun. Hearing someone call his name he looked down to find a 13 year old girl with bright emerald eyes and pale red long wavy hair. She looked absolutely adorable. As Kakashi stared at the girl, her hair suddenly looked pink.
'Sakura' he thought with his eyes widening slightly under his mask.
The Shinobi jumped from the tree and onto the ground with lightning speed. In a split second he was on one knee and hugging the little girl as if she was his lifeline.
"K-Kaka-sensei?" She asked with a barely visible blush from the sudden action.
"…Sakura…" Kakashi whispered holding the girl closer
Tears threatened to escape his eyes. The girl in his arms looked confused and slowly pulled away.
"Kaka-sensei, it's me. Sayuri. Remember?" The girl known as Sayuri said confused
Kakashi's eyes snapped open and stood up realizing this girl wasn't Sakura.
'Of course not… ' He thought sadly
"Kakashi-sensei!"
"Kakashi."
Two boys came up next to Sayuri looking up at him. One had bright blue eyes and light brown spiky hair while the other had silver boyishly tousled hair and onyx eyes.
"Daisuke-kun!" Sayuri squealed.
Kakashi smiled reminiscently, she is so much like Sakura so many years ago.
The boy with onyx eyes glanced at her before nodding to her in acknowledgment of her presence.
"Hn. Sayuri."
"SAYURI-CHAN!" The boy with cerulean eyes greeted
Sayuri was about to say something when Daisuke cut in.
"Not so loud, Haru-baka."
"What was that, teme?!"
As they argued back and forth Sayuri noticed the way Kakashi looked at them distantly.
'They remind me so much of team 7.' Kakashi thought silently.
When she was about to ask her sensei what's wrong Sayuri suddenly remembered something.
"Kaka-sensei, who is this Sakura you were whispering about?" Sayuri asked
Daisuke and Haru stopped arguing and looked at Kakashi with interest. Daisuke raising a brow while Haru looked at him questioningly.
Kakashi gave a weak smile.
"Sakura… is someone precious to me…"
Tsunadae gazed at her sake blearily. Empty bottles rested on her desk, scattered messily even on the floor. She had been drinking much more since Sakura was gone. She constantly checked the status reports for Akatsuki but they've been quiet and their position is unknown do to this fact. No one had spotted Akatsuki and this upset Tsunadae.
She was hoping if they managed to find at least one Akatsuki, they could put an advanced tracker on one of the Akatsuki and let them lead Konoha shinobi to their base.
'We already know it's in Amegakure, but that place is too dangerous. There has to be some other way in.' She thought
The hokage swallowed another glass of sake and looked through the files with a drunken blush on her face.
She scanned through her papers. Then found a folder that had familiar kanji writing. The handwriting is familiar.
Tsunadae dug through the caverns of her tipsy hazed mind and then a name popped up in her head.
'Sakura.'
Hurriedly the Hokage dipped her hand in the folder and pulled out an old 5 year old paper. She carefully looked at it's faded words and tried to decipher the message.
Dear Tsunadae-shishou,
I know you must know about the death of my only family left. It's important that you don't let anyone
Know about my family's deathBesides the news would only burden others with
Sadness and pity when they could never understand me because they never went through
What I have.
Arigatou.
– Sakura
I know deaths of Shinobi are traditionally held with a ceremony but I would be thankful if you bury their graves in the forbidden graveyard where no one can disturb them.
Tsunadae's eyes widened and her head fought out of her tipsy state. She had forgotten about the death of Sakura's family. She was so caught up on Naruto's return, then later on they found Sasuke's team Hebi, then bringing Sasuke home and monitoring his probation, and then Sakura's leave kept her busy. She was preoccupied and forgot to read the letter. She had already sent her family's bodies to be buried in the forbidden graveyard though.
The hokage's heart clenched when she remembered that Sakura's family had been murdered. She sighed. She lifted her sake about to take a sip when she noticed something.
The string that held the scroll rolled up and securely closed had been snipped by a kunai. Most likely by a skilled shinobi either Jonin rank or higher.
Tsunadae examined the letter and found a little note scribbled at the edge of the very bottom that seemed to be just recently written.
Gomenasai, Hokage-sama
Tsunadae recognized that handwriting anywhere.
'Kakashi'
The hokage stared at the note a little longer before performing several handseals ready to burn it before anyone else could lay their eyes on it.
On the last seal she stared at the note. Faded ink from the ages it's been untouched and the light brown color it took on. She closed her eyes and let out a shaky sigh.
"Katon: Housenka no Jutsu" she whispered
Using as little chakra as possible she breathed a small flame and it quickly ate up the paper. The former slug sannin watched the flame dance on her desk before putting it out by fiercely slamming her hand on the small fire.
'I'll keep your secret safe, Sakura.' She thought to herself.
"Oi, dobe." Sasuke said looking down as he and Naruto walked down a path leading to training ground 3. The Uchiha stared with empty eyes at nothing in particular.
"What?."
"Do you think Sakura… will be alright?" He asked
Sasuke looked at Naruto with an unreadable expression.
"We haven't heard from her in years. What if she – "
BAM.
Sasuke was sent flying several yards before rolling across the ground a few feet. He looked up at Naruto as rage suddenly consumed him.
"What the hell is your problem?!" Sasuke growled
Naruto narrowed his eyes into slits.
"You were about to say 'What if she died' " Uzamaki growled back "How could you think that?"
Sasuke looked down and slowly got up.
"There's no sign of her. Not a trail. Not a lead. What am I suppose to think?" Sasuke said quietly
"Akatsuki hasn't been heard from nor seen. Do you think they're dead?" Naruto countered
"Of course not." He answered "It's an entire powerful criminal organization, but she's one person and she's…"
"Weak?" Finished Naruto
Sasuke looked to the side with his back to Naruto. Naruto shook in anger.
"After all this time how could you still think she's weak? She managed to exhaust us while we fought her at the same timeand she still nearly beat us!" Naruto yelled
"Naruto, we are not the strongest shinobi in the world! There is always someone better! Stronger! Sakura is no exception!" Sasuke snapped
Naruto chuckled humorlessly.
"An Uchiha saying he's not the best? Lowering his pride?" Naruto said
"Naruto I'm not kidding! I'm fucking serious" snarled Sasuke, whirling around to glare at the dobe
Naruto chuckled once more with a smile and Sasuke grabbed him by the neck.
"What the fuck is so damn funny?!"
Naruto let out a wheezy laugh due to the pressure on his neck.
"You care for her, you care for Sakura"
Alright, chapter 11! So in the next chapter It's gonna be Kakashi talking about Sakura. We'll see what else hapens when he reveals a little more then needed...
So for now you guys review and I need your opinion. Do you think I should somehow bring in Suigetsu, Jugo, and Karin? Or should I use the sand siblings instead?
Plz review and vote!