Dimensions 2

Chapter 35: Decisions of Love

Konohagakure

In Konohagakure, it had just been informed that the Third Hokage, Sarutobi, had passed away. He couldn't hold on much longer battling the sannin Orochimaru. Orochimaru had left recently by the help of his servants and disappeared with severely injured arms. With the jutsu Sarutobi had pulled, he did the best he could. Meanwhile, everyone was getting ready to go to his funeral. Especially Kariko Sanomi.

Haruno Residence

/Doushite.../

Chikako had given Sanomi a black dress to wear and was getting ready to go. Sakura was waiting by the door sulking with sadness.

/Doushite.../

Sanomi couldn't think anymore. She was thinking about two precious people killed in one day; Akemi-sama and Hokage-sama. They helped her triumph every path along the way. Akemi taught her jutsus, while Lord Hokage accepted her in the village. She clipped on her jet black hair two white butterfly clips and wore black dress shoes. It was similar to what Sakura was wearing, just more formal with laces at the bottom.

/Sanomi...we have to go. Sakura-chan is waiting for you./ Chikako said softly. Sanomi nodded her head. She had to go to another area after the funeral.

/Go to the tree to where you found the sword.../ The words echoed in Sanomi's mind. But why? What was the point? Why should she go to another area? It was Akemi's orders though. She had to obey and respect them. Sanomi made faint footsteps out of the room and rattled the door open. Sakura was waiting by the wall.

"You ready? Naruto and Sasuke are waiting for us." Sakura said timidly.

"H-Hai." Sanomi croaked. Both of the kunoichi walked together in silence.

Konohagakure

As the kunoichi walked together through an alleyway of their destination, Sakura spoke up.

"Aren't you..." Sanomi looked up to her, "supposed to play the flute?"

Sanomi made a tainted blush on her face. She totally forgot. She promised Kakashi earlier that she had to play music in the funeral. She had one song in her mind and she hoped it would be the best one. Both kunoichi noticed Naruto had arrived first. Then Sasuke was the last one to arrive by the brown fences and walked passed them. He waited for a moment wondering if they were going or not. They ended up following Sasuke a few seconds later and walked together to the tower.

Hokage Tower

Everyone from the whole village was there. Everyone wore black for formality and respect. They stood in lines waiting for it to begin and showed their Leaf headbands to represent the village. Sanomi saw that Iruka embraced Konohamaru.

/The grandson.../ Sanomi thought sadly. Torches were in front also and Sanomi knew it would rain somehow. The heavens were weeping badly.

"Kariko." Sanomi turned around and saw Anko. Surprisingly, she had a scroll in her hand.

"Hai?" She questioned.

"Hokage-sama wanted to give this to you." Anko walked over to her and handed her the scroll. It had Sarutobi's signature and had a Leaf insignia to represent the village. Sanomi walked toward an area where she would be playing a song on the flute. In the meantime she opened it and read the scroll.

Kariko Sanomi,

I've been watching you ever since you came to this village. It seems I found out a lot about you. Very interesting facts about you. You use a certain blade to go to different worlds...am I correct? I've used a crystal ball to keep very close eye on you, so don't be surprised. This scroll was meant to be sent to you when everyone would be training for a month for preparations. I got too busy and didn't have any time to send this to you. Whether I'm alive or not, I'm grateful of you. You came unexecpected in this village and I thought you would be a spy or from another village to attack. I've sent many shinobi to keep an eye out for you. But that wasn't true at all.

You started to help around the village, doing missions, and trying to survive in this world. I thought you would go home because it would be too challenging for you. Yet you didn't, and for that, I thank you. I've known you for a short period of time, but a time that I get to experience you strength and weakness. You've been excellent in jutsus that probably many people taught you. You may have an attitude many times, but you shown great respect for the village. You didn't know how our world works...until now. For that I thank you one more time. Please keep up the good work and hope the best comes for you.

Sincerely,

Sandaime (Sarutobi)

For just reading the scroll, a tear went down Sanomi's pale cheek once she put it down.

/Hokage-sama.../ Sanomi's head went down and tears continued to trickle down.

/He knew.../

"Sanomi." Sanomi wiped her tears away and saw musicians waving their hands to her. That was a signal to start it off. Sanomi picked up her flute and drums started to pound softly. The funeral was to begin.

Everyone was in complete silence. Sanomi put the flute in her lips and blew gently. The song was filled with sadness and sorrow and it just echoed probably in the whole village. Everyone in the village listened to her. They were surpised that she could play the flute so elegantly. They barely knew her name after all! Children listened with hopeful eyes. They would think that the music would bring Lord Hokage back, that the music would be magic.

Sasuke could just stare at her play. He wished that he was up there playing with her. He played the bamboo flute a couple of times when he wanted alone time. No one would be hearing him play at the house. For Sanomi, everyone was hearing her play. He was grateful that she was able to respect the Hokage this way, playing music for him. It probably felt good in Sanomi's heart. As Sanomi stopped playing for a final ending everyone continued to be silent. Small claps were heard from the smaller children and a couple of women. Sanomi nodded her head and went down with the Genin. She stood like the rest of them and she was handed a white flower to put in the tablet.

Drums continued to be played for more respectful music and everyone started to put white flowers on a tablet. A picture of the Hokage was placed on it so everyone could look at his face. Once everyone went, Sanomi was the last one to go. She walked up to the tablet slowly and kneeled down like the rest of them. She placed the flower on the tablet and closed her eyes.

/Lord Hokage...thank you. I hope you could hear me right now. It's pretty amazing you found out about me without telling. I'm glad you let me stay in the village./ Sanomi was there for a while, thinking about the few memories with him. A couple of tear drops were rolling down her cheek and she thought about him more.

/Even though I spent time with you for a short period of time, I'm glad I get to know you in person. Hokage-sama...thank you./ Sanomi stood up and walked back to her spot. Soon Naruto started to question Iruka-sensei about people dying. Meanwhile, the sun started to peek out from the nimbus clouds and everyone was in silence, thinking about the great Hokage. One who served the village accurately, and one who loved the village with his heart.

Midnight: Konohagakure Forest

Sanomi had sneaked out of the Haruno Residence and went to the forest.

/Do you remember where the tree is Sanomi?/ Chikako asked.

/Hai./ Sanomi answered back.

She stepped on a couple of cracked leaves and followed a dirt path. The night sky was filled with stars and trees covered the light from the moon. Sanomi spotted the tree where a bird's nest was. She remembered a small bird needed help and Sanomi took care of it for a while. She couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the tree. In the middle of the tree there was a small white butterfly. It was glowing very strangely. Sanomi walked to it and soon katakana lettering was inscripted on top of it. Sanomi blinked her eyes a couple of times and was surprised that just came out of no where. The white butterfly fluttered its wings softly as Sanomi read the inscription.

Kochou Guardian...

Samurai...

Touch the white butterfly in front of you...

Each person, each wing...

/Is it safe?/ Sanomi questioned.

/I'm sure it's fine. Summon me./ Chikako asked. Sanomi took the flute out and did the tune once more. Once Chikako was summoned, Sanomi touched the Hokage's Scroll in her black strap. She was still wearing the black dress because she wasn't finished on what she wanted to do.

"I'll go first." Chikako walked up to the white butterfly and with a gentle touch on not to squish it, she touched it. The white butterfly reacted when one of the wings were touched. Chikako felt more power in her heart and started to absorb it. Suddenly, she felt a sudden reaction in her brain. In her mind, she sensed Akemi-sama's power and many unique abilities flooded in her mind. She let go of the wing once it was done and she noticed that the wing disappeared from the butterfly. Now it had one more wing.

"Chikako, what happened?" Sanomi whispered. Chikako shook her head with disbelief.

"I...I don't know. One moment I was feeling Akemi's energy, and the next...I feel like I know all of Akemi's jutsus..." Sanomi's eyes widened.

"I remember every jutsu Akemi used in the past, present, and the future. She taught me some of them. But I never learned all of them. The butterfly gave me all of Akemi's jutsus to teach to you." Chikako smiled.

Sanomi couldn't believe it herself. Soon Chikako stared at the ground. There was a large bow and a huge quiver to put on her back. Chikako lifted the bow and put the quiver behind her back. The bow was made out of wood, but it felt so hard that it felt more like steel, like her old bow. It was engraved with roses and had wings on the tips. It looked so beautiful that it had a reflection of a mirror and Chikako could see herself. In the back of it, it said:

Kochou Spirit Bow

"Sugoi..." Chikako whispered to herself.

"Sanomi...it's your turn." Chikako stepped to the side to let Sanomi through. Sanomi was nervous about touching it and wondering what would happen to her. She walked slowly up to it and her hand was shaking. With a small lift, she touched the butterfly's wing.

The wing suddenly reacted. This was not the same as reacting to Chikako's hand. Sanomi closed her eyes and a flash started to sputter out of the butterfly. Glitter started to spread through Sanomi's arm and feeling the serenity of the glitter overwhelmed her in silence. Her Kochou chakra was spreading through her whole body and Chikako didn't know what was happening since it was blinding her eyes.

A circle formed around Sanomi's feet and in the middle of the circle there was a symbol of a butterfly spinning around in tremendous speed. Soon, huge amounts of energy were lifted at the bottom. Sanomi, without knowing, unleashed her Kochou Sword with her fist. She let go of the sword and it floated by itself toward the white butterfly. Sanomi's regular chakra and Kochou chakra formed together and in a swift motion the chakra charged right at the sword!

Once Sanomi opened her eyes, she noticed that the white butterfly was gone. Chikako was standing right by her, wondering what had happened. The amazing thing Sanomi found out about was what she was holding. This was a different sword! Chikako's eyes widened with shock.

"Sanomi...you..." Sanomi eyed Chikako who was in a bit of a shock. She wondered why after all of this.

"Nani?" Sanomi questioned.

"You...made a sword."

"MADE A SWORD?!" Sanomi shouted.

Right in front of her eyes, the sword flooded with Kochou chakra. The blade was a bit shorter than the old one, but it had a sharper point. In the bottom, a gold necklace was stuck and Sanomi felt her own...but nothing was on her neck! Was this the same necklace Tsunami gave her? That was right in front of the sword? She had to thank her someday but it might be complicated to tell her the whole story. She wondered why the necklace was in the sword. The handle was made out of pure steel and butterflies were engraved. The only official change was that feathered wings appeared in the sides of the sword.

"Your chakra combined together while you were in a trance. The butterfly must've done something to combine them together and with your power, transferred it to the old sword. Look in the back." Chikako responded. Sanomi twirled the sword around and read the inscription engraved. It was in katakana lettering.

Kochou Destiny Blade

"Kochou...Destiny Blade?" Sanomi whispered to herself.

"The name of your blade now." Chikako said.

Sanomi sat down on a nearby rock and could just stare at it. She was thinking about how much she accomplished with her old sword. It was the same that could wish for something. But now it had more unique abilities that she had to master now. She didn't like the thought as she covered her face with her hands. Chikako had to leave her to think for a while and would speak with her once more.

/Doushite.../ Sanomi thought in her head.

/I have to go through more?/

Sanomi felt like it was too much. She had to remain calm. She must master this blade if she wanted to beat the Kochou Demon. She didn't want to avenge Akemi's death, but Chikako would.

"Daijoubu ka?"

Sanomi heard a different voice and she stood up. She eyed her surroundings and found out that the person was right in front of her.

"A-Akemi?" Sanomi eyed the spirit in front of her. But she looked like she was fading away with pure white. Akemi ambled over to her to touch her cheek and kissed her forehead. Sanomi felt the warmth of her hand.

"Sanomi, don't be sad. Trust your heart and you'll overcome what you need." Akemi whispered in her ear.

"D-Demo...it's so much...to do..." Sanomi whispered harshly. She felt like choking herself as she felt like she wanted to cry. Akemi rubbed her back.

"It'll be all right. I promise you..." Akemi kissed her cheek and back away from her. Sanomi lifted her head and saw Akemi wave a good-bye.

"Akemi, you can't go!" Sanomi shouted. Akemi lowered her head.

"Forgive me, Kochou Samurai. I love you with all my heart. Make good decisions. Take care..." Akemi was fading away swiftly and Sanomi was running to get her. She lifted her hand to grab her but it was too late. White wings spread in the spirit and she flew high in the air. Out of existence.

Sanomi went down on her knees.

"Akemi..." She whispered as she eyed the sky above her. She stood up and walked back to her rock she was sitting on. She had her head down in silence. She felt more isolated than before. But she couldn't think things like that. She had a mission on her own.

"Everyone's looking for you."

Sanomi lifted her head and saw a certain black-haired boy coming her way.

"Sasuke..." She mumbled. Sasuke sat down with her and wondered why she was around this area.

"I went for a walk and figured-" Sasuke stopped and saw Sanomi in complete distress.

"Oh. Forgive me." Sanomi whispered. She was struggling not to cry in front of him. She hated to cry when someone was looking at her.

"Tell me your problem if you want, but don't be afraid to cry in front of me." Sanomi felt like he read her mind.

"But...the ninja rule-"

"It's okay. No one's looking and I won't rat you out." Once she couldn't hold on any longer she placed her head on his chest and cried softly. Sasuke never expected this certain action coming at him. But he remained in the same position. He rubbed her back a couple of times until Sanomi made a squeak.

"Kowaii." Sasuke started to listen.

"I'm scared about what's going to happen. I've been in this world too long." Sasuke closed his eyes and stayed silent to speak her mind out. She spoke about this for a while.

"I don't want to leave! I don't! Demo..." Sanomi hiccuped with tears.

"It's your decision." Sasuke whispered. Sanomi's head lifted up, but not making certain eye contact with him.

"If you leave this world, I'll be okay. If you stay in this world, I'll be okay. The reason I will be okay is because it's your decision. No matter how I may react, it's a decision. Besides, even if we part, we hold something precious." Sasuke's necklace jingled and Sanomi's bracelet jingled at the same time. Sasuke lifted his head and eyed white butterflies that came around them. So many of them just appeared out of no where.

"Every since you came to this world, I thought you would be more of a fan girl. Chasing me everywhere and staring at me everyday. Demo, I was the one examining you." Sanomi's eyes widened with surprise.

"When you arrive for our Water Country mission, you looked like you couldn't do anything. More of a weakling. Once we completed that mission, every negative thought about you was out of my mind. You were just trying...like Naruto." Sanomi lifted her head seeing Sasuke's pure eyes. She wiped her tears away and saw a beautiful sight of butterflies.

"You started to open up to me after that. You started to show what you have and I was astonished. Something opened up inside too that I could never open. I shut something inside me for a long time. But I'm sure it opened a little..." Sasuke responded. Sanomi made a soft reassuring smile. Sasuke held her hand gently.

"If you made a decision, what would it be?" Sasuke asked out of no where. Sanomi lowered her head and gave a thought.

"Ano...I'll stay here temporarily." Sasuke's eyes narrowed toward her.

"Is there a particular reason?" He asked. Sanomi made a smile.

"Nani? You don't want me here? I'll gladly leave." Sanomi stood up but Sasuke pulled her back down. He made a glare at her and she chuckled.

"I was kidding. The reason? I've been telling you the reason."

"And that would be?" Sasuke asked. Sanomi scoffed and shrugged her shoulders.

"You ask too many questions. You should know..." Sanomi blushed. Sasuke made a tainted blush but hid it well so Sanomi wouldn't react to it.

"Sure I miss my family and friends...my aniki might be pissed about me not coming back he he." Sanomi laughed softly.

"Demo, he can wait a bit longer. Maybe...just maybe...time would be more slower and school would not start just yet." She imagined. Both of them continued to watch the butterflies and Sanomi made a thought in her mind.

/I'll do my mission. No matter how hard it would be...I promise to do well for Akemi-sama.../ Sanomi saw a white butterfly on Sasuke's shoulder and giggled softly. Sasuke took a look at the butterfly and let it crawl on his shoulder. It then flew away with the other white butterflies.

/If that's the decision.../ Chikako thought in her head as she watched the two of them/I'll gladly be with you Kochou Samurai. We'll begin your training./ Chikako closed her eyes and as she was thinking about Sanomi's world of Tokyo, Japan, she spread glitter in her whole world. Time had started to slow down...

As the moon shone with pure tranquility, Sanomi wanted to thank Sasuke something by embracing him tightly. He didn't know what to say after the action she took.

"What's this for?" He asked.

"Arigatou...for making me feel like I'm home..." Sanomi whispered. Sasuke exchanged the same embrace.

"Do itashimashite." He whispered. Sanomi closed her eyes and fell into a deep slumber.

/Thank you for paying attention to me./ Sasuke thought in his mind.

The butterflies looked like snow, except it was more of flying than falling from the sky. Sanomi imagined that one of them would be Akemi. One white butterfly glowed more than the others...

Rocky Mountains

"We know who we're getting right? The village is weak. It'll be a piece of cake." Two unknown strangers were standing in the middle of the night. They stood at the very same place they did when the Hokage Funeral was finished. They wore black cloaks with red swirling clouds and had large hats on to cover the identity.

"Don't underestimate this village." The stranger said in a monotone voice. The other stranger laughed.

"Of course. You were born in the village."

Both of them were surprised to get two objectives.

A/N: Hey everyone. In the next couple of chapters, it'll just be about Sanomi visiting her hometown Tokyo Japan. Maybe in future chapters after the visiting I might post the arrival of Uchiha Itachi! Now you should be excited about that! I have a good plot dealing with him heh heh. I'm very excited to put him in the story and hope that you wait!