Chapter 46: Again
Naruto and Sakura were still looking back at Sasuke as they walked away, and he was watching them, "but, you can't have sharingan, it came from the byakugan, but that was way after your death," Sakura said as she slowed to a stop, Naruto at her side.
"I'll explain everything later, we're not out of danger yet," Nomad said as he Sage and Strag continued walking.
"But you said we were safe back there," Naruto said.
Strag stopped and turned to look at them, the other two doing the same, "if a Head comes, they can reach us, we want to move before that happens," he said.
"We can't leave without Sasuke," Naruto said.
"He's a deserter. It's his choice to disobey orders and stay here, he got off last time, but I doubt it'll happen again," Nomad said.
"You can stay too, if you wish to desert with him," Strag said.
Naruto looked back at Sasuke who was still watching them, although unable to hear what they were saying.
"Otherwise, we're leaving now, and it's an order to leave with us," Strag said.
Sakura looked from Sasuke to Naruto, who was staring at Sasuke, "Sasuke! Don't be an idiot! Lets get out of here, you'll see her again!" Naruto yelled.
There was silence for a moment, it was obvious Sasuke had heard Naruto, Sage was sure the Alliance had heard him. Then Sasuke turned his back on them and walked back to the Alliance. Naruto started after him, but Nomad grabbed his arm, "you did your best Kid," he said.
"No, I can beat some sense into him," Naruto said.
"It didn't work last time Kid, he still got away then, and I doubt this time would be any different," Nomad said.
Naruto stopped trying to break free of Nomad and stood there looking at the ground. Nomad let go and Naruto fell to his knees, Sakura quickly ran up to him and pulled him to his feet, she was hurt by what Nomad said too, but Naruto was there, he was hit harder.
"We're going now, and we're going silently until we camp," Strag said before taking to the trees, Nomad and Sage behind him. Sakura looked at Naruto whose eyes were on the ground.
"Come on Naruto, we gotta go," Sakura said defeated.
Naruto nodded and Sakura followed after Strag, and a moment later so did Naruto.
x-X-x
Although Strag had only said to be silent until they camped, Naruto and Sakura were silent much longer. And when one did finally speak it was three days later as they finished dinner.
It was Sakura who broke the silence, "Nomad-sama-"
"I said you don't have to say sama. At least not for me, the only one who might actually deserve the title is Wiseman," Nomad said cutting her off.
"Sorry… but before you said to ask you later about the sharingan," Sakura said.
"That I did," Nomad said before taking a bite of his bread.
"Well, is this later enough," Sakura asked.
"It certainly is," Nomad said.
"Then, can you please tell me how you showed Sasuke you're sharingan when it's not possible for you to have it?" Sakura asked slightly annoyed at him for trailing her on.
"There you go, that's what I was waiting for. Don't make sure the question is okay before asking it, just ask," Nomad said and Sakura nodded slightly, "anyway, my ability isn't just byakugan, it's manipulation of the eye," he said.
"Manipulation of the eye?" Sakura asked.
"Yes, byakugan is only a part of that, which is why I say what I have isn't byakugan it's different. I can use byakugan, but it's not all I have," Nomad said.
"What else can you do?" Sakura asked.
"One thing is change my eye appearance. I can't use sharingan, but I can make it look as though I can by making my eyes look like the sharingan," Nomad said.
"So that's what you did to Sasuke," Sakura asked.
"Yes, because I'm sure the girl did it to him as well, I was hoping he'd figure that out for himself, I was wrong," Nomad said.
"He probably thought it was just another one of your abilities. He probably took it as proof of Lerah having sharingan," Naruto said setting his unfinished dinner down.
"Naruto…" Sakura said looking at him as he stood up.
"I'm going to bed," Naruto said before leaving the fire and entering his tent.
"Is it really that hard on him?" Strag asked.
"After the last time I'm sure it is," Nomad said.
"Stop it! You don't know what it's been like for him, half the village blamed Naruto last time Sasuke was gone. Every time Naruto did something that would earn any ninja recognition half the village didn't believe it was him, they all though it was Sasuke and that Naruto was taking credit…" tears were making there way down Sakura's cheeks, and the three legends were staring at her.
"But Sasuke always corrected them, he never took credit for something he didn't do, and he always told the people that it really was Naruto who did it. And even though the village has taken Naruto back, they could still blame him for Sasuke leaving this time," Sakura said.
"That doesn't make it alright-" Strag started but Sakura cut him off.
"Nothing's ever been alright for him! Ever! But you don't see someone who overcame everything that was done against him, someone who still fights for the village despite what it does to him. all you see is a Kid," Sakura said before getting up and going to her tent, tears still flowing.
"So, what were you going to say?" Nomad asked once Sakura was gone.
"It doesn't make it alright to get emotional over an impulsive traitor," Strag said.
"It's better you didn't," Sage said.
"Yeah, if you said that… I don't want to know what would've happened," Nomad said.
x-X-x
The next day Strag, Naruto and Sakura returned to Konoha, Sage and Nomad had gone ahead so it didn't seem like they followed Strag. The three made there way to Tsunade's office. As they entered some elders left, each one looking intently at Strag and Naruto. Once the door closed behind them Tsunade looked up from her desk.
"What happened to Sasuke? Is he in the hospital?" she asked.
"He's with the Alliance," Strag said.
"WHAT?" Tsunade demanded standing up.
"We reached the location but were attacked, Red and Zigg were brought down but one of them appeared to show Sasuke the sharingan, and Sasuke decided to remain there," Strag said.
"And you let him?" Tsunade yelled.
"I told him the consequences of his actions, but he still went back," Strag said.
"Naruto, why didn't you try and stop him?" Tsunade asked.
"I told him that if he went after Sasuke, he'd be a deserter as well," Strag said.
""So you just let him go, you let him betray us?" Tsunade asked.
"Yes, because soon he will, if he hasn't already discovered that he is the last with the ability. At which point he will try and return, possibly taking one or two of them down on the way," Strag said.
"I can't believe you just let him go," Tsunade said falling back into her chair.
"Can we go now?" Naruto asked looking at the floor.
"Who killed who?" Tsunade asked.
"I killed Zigg, and Naruto took out Red," Strag said.
"I had help," Naruto said.
"Help?" Tsunade said looking at Naruto.
"Yes, it appeared Naruto needed a hand so I threw a dagger at Red to distract him, allowing Naruto to defeat him," Strag said.
Tsunade nodded slowly, "Naruto, Sakura, you can go… I want one of you to tell Kakashi about Sasuke," she said.
Naruto and Sakura nodded and left the office. The split up at the base of Hokage tower and went to their houses to drop off their stuff. After which they met back up at the training area and started looking for Kakashi, although doing so halfheartedly.
After a few hours of not finding Kakashi Sakura decided she should check the hospital, incase he was visiting someone there. Naruto determined to check his house, which for some reason they had yet to inspect.
Sakura reached the hospital and asked if Kakashi was there, either as a patient or visitor.
"No, sorry, he's not here but it's a good thing you are, they're short handed on the third floor," the nurse at the desk said.
Sakura nodded and headed off to the third floor. When she got there she saw a nurse in the hallway and hurried up to her, "hey, I heard you were short handed up here, anything I can help with?" Sakura asked.
"Oh, yes thank you. The last four rooms on the right side need to be checked," the nurse said.
Sakura nodded and headed off to the four rooms. The first two were fine, injuries getting better and no complications. As Sakura left the second room she saw an ANBU walk out of the fourth.
Her interest was peeked but she forced herself to continue onto the third room. It too was fine and Sakura now continued onto the fourth, expecting to see a wounded ANBU member in the bed, she was wrong. Sitting in the bed was none other than Link.
"What are you doing here? I don't want any visitors," Link said.
"I'm sorry Link, but I work here and today I'm checking on you," Sakura said as she started her work.
Link was silent as Sakura worked, but as she added to the doctor's notes Link spoke up, "I heard about what happened with the Alliance. Zigg and Red dead," Link said.
"Is that what the ANBU was here for?" Sakura asked still working on the notes.
"Yes, whenever anything happens with the Alliance they tell me. At least all the stuff against the Alliance," Link said.
"It might be a form of punishment," Sakura said setting the clipboard of notes back into their holder.
"I'll be glad when they're all dead," Link said.
"Why, because they let you get captured?" Sakura asked.
"I know everyone thinks it was all a show, and it was planned to be, but I really changed," Link said.
"Oh? When? Was it after Dozez and Isis died, or once you were captured?" Sakura asked slightly on edge.
"When I fought Naruto in the Chuunin Exams," Link said looking at the foot of her bed.
Sakura's eyes widened but they quickly went back to normal, "so you weren't faking it when you said you wanted to go back on the plan? Then why didn't you tell Tsunade-sensei?" Sakura asked.
"I did, but not right away. I was scared of Dozez, and I wasn't sure Isis was on my side, I couldn't confront them," Link said.
"Is that why Nomad let you live? Because you told Tsunade-sensei?" Sakura asked.
"No, they didn't know that I talked to her, all three were trying to kill us. I gave it my all in defense of my life," Link said.
Sakura was silent for a while, then she looked at Link, "why don't you let him see you? He still cares about you," Sakura said.
"But he doesn't know I talked to the Hokage, he might think it was all a lie," Link said.
"I think you not wanting to see him is only confirming that," Sakura said.
Link didn't respond and Sakura turned to go. But as she opened the door Link spoke, "I also heard about your friend, going with the Alliance because of the sharingan," Link said.
Sakura stopped and shut the door turning back to Link, "yeah, it was a Kid who showed it," Sakura said.
"None of the Alliance has the sharingan. But he could still be trapped there, you should get him out," Link said.
"We can't, a team that'll be large enough to ensure our getting of Sasuke would be too big. We'd be noticed immediately and confronted by the Alliance head on. We can't afford that happening," Sakura said.
"I'm betting those are the Hokage's words," Link said.
"No, I just know it's true," Sakura said.
"Not if you use the secret entrance," Link said.
"Secret entrance?" Sakura asked.
"Only me, Zigg, and Tzet know about it. We used it all the time to sneak out without the others knowing," Link said.
"Would they tell the others?" Sakura asked.
"No, the Alliance only thinks I've been captured. Neither would tell the others, although they might personally guard it. But Tzet is the only one left," Link said.
A smile found its way to Sakura's face, "thank you Link, thank you very much," Sakura said before leaving.
x-X-x
Naruto was leaving Kakashi's house after telling him about Sasuke. He reached the streets and saw Sakura running up to him, and she looked really happy.
"Sakura what is it?" Naruto asked when she was in earshot.
"Is Kakashi-sensei home?" Sakura asked once she reached Naruto.
"Yeah, what is it?" Naruto asked again.
"Come on, I'll tell you together Sakura said grabbing Naruto's wrist and heading into Kakashi's house.