OMG. I'm on such a roll today that I don't know what to do with myself. I guess the prospect of going back to school already has be all jittery, cuz I've finished this chapter AND started the first chapter of my new fanfic.

Well, read and enjoy!

Nicola

Chapter Nineteen: The Day Finally Arrives

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow was the day that everything depended on.

The Chunin's death, the countless hours, days, months, years of planning, the sacrifice of lives and homes and family, the fear instilled in them all that kept them going strong—it all came to play. And tomorrow, it would all come together in the biggest battle any of them had ever faced. No one was speaking to each other, nerves jittery and last minute regrets or hesitations plaguing them all.

Everyone was in their respective rooms, sitting around and staring blankly at each other. They weren't really seeing those near them, only focusing on the battle that would start tomorrow morning, early.

Kaede wasn't one of those in the rooms.

She was in one of the storage closets in a hallway that was hardly traveled on. She knelt over a worn cardboard box she'd rustled up to store something important in, and this important something she was running her hands over, feeling its texture and letting it slide through her fingers.

The torn, still bloodstained black and red shirt and pants that went to her knees. She hadn't looked at these ever since taking them off after arriving in the underground the day that Orochimaru won. Nearly five years ago.

She took the shirt out first, fingering the slash on the back that she knew she'd have to sew before wearing it again. She looked at her own terrible job at shortening the sleeves and smiled, warmed by how bad she was at anything having to do with clothes. Shoot, half the time when they were in Konoha, Miki had picked her clothes out for her, saying she had no sense of fashion.

Then her hand hit something old and slightly crusty on the fabric, and she held it up to better see it. Blood stains.

She didn't know whose blood it was, whether her own or one of the many Sound ninja she'd slaughtered during the battle. She didn't feel any remorse for taking their lives—they'd fought her and threatened her village, and deserved whatever she could dish out to them.

She put the shirt aside, taking out the pants and testing the strength of the fabric on the legs. Good, it was still strong. Strong enough to take her wildest moves that she knew she'd have to use against Orochimaru and his guards. She laid the pants next to the shirt and solemnly looked down at the tattered remains of the wraps. There was nothing left to them, really, but she could find another set to use. Rock Lee had about a hundred he would be more than willing to allow her to borrow.

Since there was still the tear to take care of and a few other small holes, Kaede took the shirt and pants and stood up, thinking that Shizune might have a needle and some thread to use, preferably red. She wanted the tears to show out, to tell their story of the battle they'd come to exist because of. It would show that she hadn't forgotten.

She left the closet, closing the door quietly behind her, feeling herself sinking into her own reverie. Last time, Orochimaru had gotten the best of them. This time, she was positive that he wouldn't. Lives had been sacrificed for this; a mere child had run into the heat of war fully expecting to die. Countless ninja had fought hard to protect their village and had perished trying to do so, while their comrades continued to fight around them. People were still in the village, suffering because they remained loyal to Konoha. Kaede could think of no worse pain than those who lived like her mother—in fear and worry.

She would never have wished that on anyone, and to have caused it all…well, let's just say the guilt never goes away.

Having found Shizune in the medical room, and received a needle and thread from her, Kaede now sat in the room she shared with the other Jounin, slowly and jaggedly sewing the tears in her shirt and pants with white thread. White would stand out boldly against the black and red.

Still no one was speaking. Naruto was staring off into the abyss, his eyes locked on the ceiling, glazed over. Sakura sat next to him, fiddling with her gloves absentmindedly and mouthing something to herself. Rock Lee and Neji were both watching the floor at their feet; Miki was repeatedly stroking her hair; Hinata was twiddling her thumbs and swallowing; and Kaede sat sewing.

Her mind was wandering far away from this room, to the village that sat waiting for them to attack, to take it back. Orochimaru was probably sitting comfortably up in the office that was rightfully owned by Naruto, laughing at his successes and foul-mouthing those who still loved Konoha for what it had been. Kimimaro and Kabuto were most likely at his side, laughing along with him and contemplating where the remaining loyals were. And Sasuke…

Sasuke had not been around in ten days, having stayed in the Sound to guard Orochimaru at the snake Sannin's request. Kaede could just see the black-haired Uchiha standing with his hands in his pockets, listening to Orochimaru rave on about the Leaf village and how stupid and pathetic it was, and how much stronger the Sound was, and how he prevailed over them and how they didn't have a chance in hell to fight back and—Kaede stopped herself before she could work herself up into a fury.

Gaara, too, hadn't been around for a while. He had been preparing his village for the first attack before the sun would rise in the morning. He had sent his regards to her, though, and to those who would be fighting alongside the Sound ninja.

Kaede glanced over at the weathered old clock hanging on the wall, glaring at its ominously ticking hands. It was only noon—they were all to be in bed early, so as to be fresh for the fight. She listening to the tick-tick-tick the clock was emitting to the deathly silent room. If someone passed by the door, they probably wouldn't even realize anyone was in there, for the only thing you could hear was the clock.

Finally the gashes in the outfit Sasuke had bought her to wear for Konoha were sewn up, and Kaede set them aside, along with the needle and thread. Her hands were beginning to get clammy as the clock became almost antagonizing in its slow pace. Couldn't it go any faster so they would all be able to go to sleep? As if they could sleep, anyway, but trying to sleep would be something to do instead of sitting around worrying and wondering. Kaede blinked hard to turn her focus from the clock and wrung her hands.

Her fingers began to rap on the floor, impatient. She didn't stop them, nor did anyone notice the racket they were making. They were all too intent on their own thoughts to honestly care. Kaede continued her tapping, becoming more rapid as the minutes went by. She couldn't hear the ticking anymore, just the rapid pat-pat-pat-pat-pat-pat her own fingers were making. And slowly, unknowingly, she was bringing her friends out of the strange spell they were all under.

Naruto was the first to look over at the source of the patting that was gradually becoming a single hum. He blinked curiously at her, and began to chuckle for reasons Kaede couldn't imagine. His laughter pulled at Sakura and Shikamaru, who stared at him, wondering what he was laughing about, and then Miki and Rock Lee turned their heads to look at the chuckling Hokage. Neji and Hinata soon followed, and before they knew it, Naruto's laugh had begun spreading around the room. Even Neji was giving little low chuckles, and, at Miki's urging, began to laugh for real.

Kaede joined in, and stopped the thrumming to hold her sides. She hadn't laughed so hard in such a long time, and couldn't figure out why she was laughing at all! Her ribs ached under the pressure of her giggles, and she leaned over, thinking she'd hit Naruto's shoulder, but he moved at just the wrong moment and she hit the floor, bringing on a new bout of giggling and hooting.

Once they'd calmed down enough to sit up and begin speaking instead of chuckling, Naruto slung his arm around Sakura and pulled her into a long kiss. She kissed him back after only a moment's surprise. There was a chorus of "Awwww" that went through the room, and the two parted, blushing. At least, Sakura was blushing; Naruto was looking rather proud of himself.

"Sakura got it good!" Miki said, whistling. Sakura blushed an even deeper shade of red and buried her face in Naruto's shoulder. He hugged her with one arm and let her hide her face in his shirt. He chuckled lightly and kissed the top of her head.

Kaede watched all this with a smile on her face and a trace of envy in her chest. She was glad for Naruto and Kaede, and how happy they were, and that they knew they'd be together for as long as they lived, but she couldn't help but feel a little envious of their relationship. She'd had something like that with Sasuke, yet he was miles away now, and she didn't expect to see him fighting with them until morning came and she and Miki were infiltrating Orochimaru's office.

She brushed her hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ears. There would be a time and place for reconciliation, but now was not that time. Maybe after the battle was through, and if and only if Konoha was back in its rightful place, she and Sasuke could try to start over. Maybe.



That night, Kaede couldn't sleep, as no one else could. She tossed and turned under her thin blanket, wrestling with the butterflies in her stomach. She should not be nervous! She should be excited and confident, but she wasn't. She was upset and worrying about the battle, wondering if this really was the right thing to do, if this was really what her people needed.

Yes, she argued with herself. They needed their homes and the comfort the village brought them. They didn't need to be put through any more hell than they'd already been.

No, that nagging voice shot back. They didn't need to get their hopes up when it was obvious there was no chance of winning. It would hurt twice as much to take a blow like that after plans to rebuild the village had already been made and thoughts of home were already spinning through their minds.

Yes, they needed home. It would hurt worse to just know their village was giving up.

No, it would be worse for them to lose any more loved ones. They've already been put through so much.

Yes!

No!

Kaede flung her head back, pushing her pillow down and hitting the wall with the back of her head. She cursed under her breath and rubbed the spot, thinking how wonderful it was that she had a headache now to help her get to sleep. Ugh.

She rolled over again, onto her left side. Maybe she could get to sleep like this. She'd always slept on her left side, with Sasuke's chest pressing to her back and his arm around her waist. He would whisper sweet words in her ear and tighten his arm around her, telling her with gestures the things he couldn't bring himself to say. She would fall for it, too, and be asleep in no time with his warm body holding hers.

Finding that she was still uncomfortable, she rolled onto her right side, thinking that now she'd be facing Sasuke, with his lips lightly pressing against her forehead and her hands resting on his chest. He'd play with her hair, twirling it around his finger, tugging it without hurting her, pushing it away from her face. She would fall asleep with her head in the crook of his shoulder, using him as a warm, welcome pillow.

She moved onto her stomach, knowing that whenever she'd slept on her stomach, Sasuke had not come home until late. Maybe that would help her sleep better. But then, after he'd get home, he'd immediately climb into bed beside her and rub her between her shoulder blades, and even in her slumber she could feel him and hear him whisper how beautiful she was when she slept and how much he wished she were awake so that he could hold her.

Now on her back, she stared at the ceiling. Great, this was worse. The only time she could remember sleeping on her back like this was the second night Sasuke had not returned when he was supposed to. She had lain there, watching the shadows on the ceiling and wondering when he was going to get home. She'd wrapped the covers tightly around her and pressed a pillow to her side, trying to imagine that it was him sleeping right there next to her like he was supposed to be.

She groaned and sat up, rubbing her forehead and flinging the covers off of her. She stood up, and none of the Jounin said anything, though she knew they were all awake, too. As she walked towards the door, she felt Naruto's hand brush against her foot in a silent reminder not to do anything too rash, or go outside. She knew this, and tapped him with her toe in answer that she would remember.

Out in the hallway, she burst into a run, heading towards the sparring room and the punching bags there just waiting to be pounded. If she couldn't sleep, it would be better just to imagine Orochimaru's face on the punching bag and slam it to a pulp.



Kaede left the sparring room at around four in the morning, heading into the kitchen that was already crowded with ninja waiting for their call to head out. She poured herself a cup of hot tea, spruced it up a bit with a whole bunch of sugar, and moved to stand next to Miki, who was also sipping on tea.

"The Sand already start?" she asked, swirling a spoon in her cup to mix the sugar in with the tea. Miki nodded, not able to find words. She looked worried, her eyes wide and her face drawn. Kaede took a sip of her tea, watching her friend. "No worries, Miki. We'll kick their butts."

Miki tried to smile, but it came out in a grimace and she hastily attempted to cover it up by taking a big gulp of tea and choking on it. Kaede chuckled and took another sip.

"Yeah, I know," Miki replied as soon as she'd recovered. "But I can't help but be worried. This is it, the big fight we've all been waiting for."

"Yes it is," Kaede said, swirling her tea again. "And we're going to win, I can feel it. You may not yet, but once we get out there and start doing something, you'll know. Because we are, Miki. And this time, it's going to work out."

"Thanks, Kaede," Miki mumbled, and took a more controlled mouthful of her drink. "I'm sure you're right."

Naruto strode into the room then, and, still in his doggy pajamas, made his way groggily over to the tea. He poured himself a mug, took a sip of it, and was instantly awake. Sakura had to grab onto his arm to prevent him from shaking so bad that he'd spill his tea. He shook his head at his own nerves and looked around the room.

"Alright, everyone! It's time to get ready."

The reaction was immediate; all of the ninja stood up or pushed off the walls or counter and moved towards the door. Kaede was one of the last ones out, as she was planning on finding something else that she would be wearing. After a quick stop at her room, she went into the not-traveled-much hallway and entered one of the storage closets. Inside, she pushed away a few boxes and jugs of water, searching for the only thing Naruto had taken from her.

Two days ago, the Hokage had gone around and taken everyone's Leaf village headband, replacing it with a Sand one. It was to ensure that Orochimaru still took the attack as one from Suna, not Konoha, and that everyone was treated as such. It was known that Orochimaru would have anyone left from Konoha killed or tortured for information, and if they all had Sand headbands, it would be safer.

But Kaede had no intention of following that protocol.

Inside a large box filled with Leaf headbands, she dug around until she came up with the headband she'd gotten from Kakashi one Christmas. Its cloth ties were black and stitched in red. It matched her outfit, and she planned on switching the headbands as soon as she was in the village. She didn't care what risk she had to take, she was wearing it, and she knew that somehow, the other ninja would, too.

She found a full-length mirror in one of the other closets and propped it against the wall after changing. The white stitches on her shirt and pants stood out bright and bold, just how she wanted them to. Her headband, disguised with a special jutsu as a Sand headband, was tied across her forehead, and her hair was pulled back with her leather strap. White wraps ran down her legs and up her arms, and her black sandals were strapped tightly to her feet. She was ready.

Once she'd glanced in the mirror a second time, making sure everything was the way it was supposed to be, she ran down the hallway to the kitchen again, where everyone was waiting. Miki smiled as she saw the outfit and pounded fists with her friend. Kaede grinned back, loving the way Miki looked in her Jounin clothes. Everyone was wearing similar clothes with their own style added to it, but all of the vests were Sand vests. Kaede felt a wrench in her chest at the sight; it was like their heritage was being taken away from them for the biggest battle ever, the time they needed to cling to it the most.

She glared at Naruto from across the room, silently letting her know how she felt about it, and he nodded, seeming to agree. She knew it had been Gaara's idea to protect them that way, but she did not like it, and neither did Naruto, apparently. He made a chakra sign, and in several puffs of smoke, the disguises the ninja had put on their vests and headbands came off, revealing the trademark vest and symbol of Konoha on each of them. Even Kaede's jutsu was released, and she grinned at the Hokage.

He, too, had disguised his clothes.

They were waiting for the signal to leave, and Kaede was the most impatient of them all. It was almost time, why wasn't it coming? She wanted to get out there and fight, to do something, not stand in this kitchen when she could be out there taking back her village! And then, just as she was about to scream in frustration, it did. At least, for her and Miki and Tsunade and Jiraiya and Sakura it did.

Naruto motioned for each of them to come forward, and they stepped towards him. Miki stopped before she reached him and kissed Neji as if for the last time, which it might be. Sakura threw her arms around Naruto and hugged him tightly, not wanting to let go. Kaede watched all this with a heavy heart, praying and hoping with all she had that they would all come back alive.

With a short grunt and a heavy shove, Naruto released himself from Sakura and shook his head, letting her know he wouldn't stand for that behavior. He looked at the group that was about to leave; his gaze rested on Kaede, and he walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"We can do this," he said quietly to her.

"Yes we can," she replied, and they hugged for a moment. If anything happened to him, she thought to herself, she would personally kill the one who'd done it, with, of course, the assistance of Sakura, who'd probably want to kill him, too.

Miki and Kaede fled from the room before any more words could be said, and Miki glanced back over her shoulder for a fleeting moment. Kaede knew she was trying her hardest no to break down at the prospect of losing Neji, and she too felt the same way. Everyone in that room had a special place in her heart; she was not willing to let them go.

Their feet pounded on the hard earth that was the path leading to the underground entrance into Konoha. Kaede did not know how long it was, how far it was until they would reach the village, but she knew she wouldn't stop until they did. Miki ran alongside her, a look of determination that so matched Kaede's on her face. Her pale eyes stared straight ahead and her mouth twisted downwards in a firm frown. She ran harder, surpassing Kaede with ease and leading the way.

Kaede let her go, understand the kunoichi's need to burn off a bit of anger before the actual fight began. It was all going to be stealthy and quiet until the first attack went off. That would be from the first teams to enter Konoha through the entrances Tsunade was going to bust down. The second team would go through Jiraiya's tunnel, and the third through Sakura's.

Heart thudding rapidly in her chest, Kaede ran hot on Miki's heels, thinking of the amount of time they probably had left. They needed to preserve as much chakra as possible, and energy, for they had a limited amount of chakra pills with them. She had to make sure that Miki did not activate her Byakugan unless absolutely necessary, since it used up chakra at a pretty even pace. And she needed to keep her temper and thoughts of revenge under control. They both needed to save it for the big one, not the small troubles they were bound to encounter on the way.

Kaede could hear a bang from a little ways off, and knew that Tsunade had broken off the first barrier. Good, that meant they were close.

Miki had heard it, too, and was running faster. Kaede matched her pace with ease, having no trouble keeping up. Up ahead, she could see the turn Sasuke had warned her about, the one that would lead them straight to the entrance. It was a ladder, and on top of the ladder was a door of moss. They would have to perform the jutsu to break the undetectable seal on it, and clamber through without making a sound. It was a task fit for a ninja, and Kaede knew she and Miki could do it.

They rounded the corner, and Kaede saw the ladder.

It was a simple wooden ladder with worn and splintering rungs, but Kaede saw it as a ladder leading to the only chance Konoha had.

She went up first, building hand seals once she was at the top of the ladder to break the jutsu on the moss. She felt it rather than heard it break, and saw it creep away silently. She motioned for Miki to come on up, and clambered her way out as quietly as was possible. Miki followed her, and they found themselves just outside the wall of the Hokage temple.

Kaede held a finger to her lips to ask for silence as she stood slowly with her back against the wall. Miki did the same and shot a glance at her. The two had been friends for a long, long time, and Kaede trusted no one more.

Two guards stood at the entrance of the Kage tower that had once been Konoha's. Kaede fought back the rage building up in her at the thought of that horrible, wretched man sitting up in her old office, looking over her village. But in truth, this was her fault in the first place, and she'd be damned if she didn't fix it!

She had waited so long for this attack, so many long, torturous years, agonizingly waiting to launch the final attempt at bringing her village back to life. Five years ago, the whole thing had started. Orochimaru had mauled the village from top to bottom, sending in his followers to take down anyone that stepped in his way. She'd fought for the village, and for everything it stood for. They'd failed, and Konoha did not exist anymore. The Leaf village was extinct except in the hearts of those who remained faithful to it, and the Sound village reigned in its place.

Kaede chuckled lightly at the thought that Orochimaru was still living with the idea that there was no possible for those remaining Konoha villagers to fight back against his massive nation. And he was still holding onto the idea that he'd killed the Hokage of the Leaf Village. Sure, after the many fights and attempts to infiltrate the last remaining villagers' hideout, Orochimaru should have known that the Hokage still lived. But Sasuke had kept the secret, and he was oblivious. Kaede smirked smugly at the image of Orochimaru's shocked face when he found out he had not killed the Hokage. He couldn't hold onto "his" village forever, and she was there to make sure of it.

Miki uttered a small mew of frustration, eager to get this show on the road. The young Byakugan user was always this way—never patient, constantly urging everyone to hurry up already and finish whatever he or she were doing. Even after all those years underground, she hadn't changed.

Rolling her eyes, Kaede jerked her head in the direction of the two guards stationed at the entrance gate of the Hokage temple. Her nose wrinkled in anticipation, Miki activated her Byakugan and darted across the brown grass, her hand skimming the rough gray wall.

In a moment, both guards were on the ground, still and their bodies lifeless. Miki stood over them, a witch-y smirk souring her crisp, well-defined features. Her eyes went back to normal as she turned her Byakugan off and turned to her left where Kaede now stood, head tilted every so slightly to the side. Kaede's hazel eyes were locked on the window several stories above them where she knew the Hokage office was. A small movement, like the release of a drawn back curtain caught her eye, and she snarled. Orochimaru was watching.

Miki, come on," she snapped, and the Hyuga blinked in wide-eyed surprise at the harsh tone of her voice. Kaede set off at a pace too fast to be necessary for their present mission, all thoughts directed on getting to Orochimaru and kicking him out of her village.

As they ran across the deadened lawn, Kaede reached up and pulled the leather string she used to keep her hair tied up loose and shoved it in her pocket. Her now light-brown hair willowed around her face and she let it. As it settled over her face, blocking everything from sight except for her proudly displayed Kohnoha headband and her nose and mouth. Her face wasn't the most welcome here.

Orochimaru had failed to kill the Hokage once—she bet he wouldn't pass up the chance to correct his mistake and get rid of her for good.

The tall doors that would lead into the main hall of the temple leered ahead, and Kaede's eyes narrowed. She remembered every detail from the day when this all started, and wasn't hesitant to relive it whenever the thought of Kohnoha came to mind. Besides, this was all her fault in the first place.

Yay! We're back to where we started, in a good way!!! And thanks to my reviewers, you helped me get to this chapter tonight! I promise, it'll have a happy ending, this IS a SasukeXKaede fic, after all, lol.

Okay, for those of you who know i'm writing another story, as you all should know, I'm looking for titles. here is the summary:

Returning to the village after seven years, Raiden Tomanoko, a young blonde Jounin in her twenties, is assigned to protect Sasuke and Naruto from Orochimaru and the Akatsuki along with Hatake Kakashi, with whom she's always rivaled with. But she has a mystery about her. The necklace she wears has a missing half, and she says she will never see the second half until her death. And for some reason, she reacts oddly whenever the Fourth Hokage is mentioned, and has been caught staring longingly at Naruto several times. What is this girl's deal, and how does Kakashi play into all of this? KakashiXOC

okay, that's it. Need a title, thanks! Review, please!

Luv ya

Nicola