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Disclaimer: I Don't own Naruto!
Footsteps echoed through out the dark and damp halls. Sakura trailed behind Sasuke silently as she soon came face to face with Orochimaru and Kabuto. Orochimaru hissed in surprise.
"Sasuke-kun, who is this? I don't recall inviting her to join us." Orochimaru leered at Sasuke intently while Sakura stayed quiet.
"Sakura's made a vow to join me. She will stay in the Sound from now on." Sasuke replied, his tone icy.
"Sasuke, don't talk to Orochimaru-sama like that!" Kabuto reprimanded, but the only response he got was a blast of foul chakra. Kabuto frowned, this kid some powerful yet eerie chakra. Orochimaru smiled, his container was perfect.
Sakura then spoke up, "I vow to never betray the Sound so long as Sasuke stays here. I'll go where ever he goes." She bowed. "Please believe me."
Orochimaru smirked, "Very well. I could care less. However, your first month here will have you under constant surveillance."
Sasuke tapped his foot impatiently; he was tired of these games.
"Whatever, just train me already. That's why I came here, and that's what you promised." Kabuto sent Sasuke a warning look, but Orochimaru brushed it off.
"Very well then Sasuke, shall we go." He turned to Kabuto, "Show Sakura her room. I want you to train her; you were requesting an apprentice before weren't you?"
Kabuto shrugged, "Yes, but . . . it doesn't matter, I'll train her anyway."
Orochimaru nodded and beckoned Sasuke to him. Sasuke left Sakura's side and followed Orochimaru while Kabuto led Sakura away.
'Please Sasuke, stay safe!'
"All right Team 8, nice work on your mission." Tsunade smiled, "Keep it up, and you guys will be quite prepared for the next chuunin exam."
Kiba grinned and let out a loud, "Yahoo!" while Akamaru let out an ecstatic bark. However, he was the only who had those feelings. Shino remained silent while Hinata's eyes remained downcast.
Kurenai smiled at her team and went to usher them outside of the room, only to be stopped by the Hokage.
"Matte Kurenai, I would like a word with Hinata." Tsunade said. Kurenai nodded while Shino and Kiba exchanged looks. They hoped Hinata wasn't in any kind of trouble. They exited the room, leaving Hinata and Tsunade alone.
"Now, Hinata, I have noticed a pattern in all of Kurenai's reports about the mission success. Most of the time, it says that half way through the mission, usually after a stressful moment, you suddenly lose confidence in yourself and make mistakes." Tsunade looked over at Hinata sternly. "Now Hinata, do you need to tell me something? I would like to help you."
Hinata started to fidget and twiddle her thumbs. "A-Ano, I . . ." Her voice trailed off. "I don't think I'm c-cut out to be a ninja, m-much less a Hyuuga. I'm just not the t-type of person who likes to i-inflict pain."
"Hinata, you can do other things you know, you don't have to be a ninja. There are many other professions to choose from."
"D-demo, my father would be a-angry if I wasn't a ninja. H-he says the Hyuuga clan successor must b-be strong willed, fierce, and cruel. E-everything I'm not. I'm j-just a burden t-to the Hyuuga Clan and my t-teammates." Hinata looked like she was going to cry.
Silence shrouded the room. Then Tsunade spoke. "Why don't I train you to become a medic nin?"
Hinata managed a "Huh?"
"Well, this way you're helping people in need, but still being involved in the ninja life style. Not to mention, your natural gift at chakra control would help you improve in leaps and bounds. This way your father can't complain because you'll be training under the Hokage and former Sannin." Tsunade smiled. "You'll be an excellent medical ninja Hinata. Besides, I've been thinking about getting an apprentice for a long time. Shizune only wanted to know a particular style."
Tears burst forth from Hinata's eyes as she bowed steeply. "T-Thank you so much Hokage-sama! I hope I won't d-disappoint you!"
Tsunade waved her hand, "It's fine Hinata. I'll explain it to your team, and you'll still be going on missions with them. However, you will be spending your training time with me ok."
Hinata nodded in affirmative. This was it, a chance of a lifetime! Besides, she had always secretly wanted to become a medical ninja anyway. Her healing salve was the product of this desire. Once her father found out, he ordered her to not waste her time with such trifles, causing her to loose her nerve. She never attempted to make another healing salve. This was her chance to stop being a burden on her team! Hinata gave one last bow, and just as she was about to leave the office, Tsunade shouted out,
"Don't forget, training starts tomorrow at 7:00 am ok!"
Hinata smiled and nodded, "I understand."
Naruto sat in the hospital bed, his eyes downcast. His mind was racing with thoughts about how this all went wrong. Really, it didn't surprise him that Sakura would ask to go with him to the Sound, but never in his wildest dreams would he think that Sasuke would let her go with him. He hated her, didn't he? How could they have even left the village in the first place!
"Damn it!" He screamed while punching the wall. Tears began to weld up in his eyes. 'I-I loved you Sakura! How could you do this to Konohana, to your friends, to me! You had everything here, but I guess that wasn't enough. You had to have him. I would have given you everything!'
Suddenly, there was a gust of cold air coming from the window. Naruto turn around alert, only to find that it was Jiraiya. Jiraiya raised his hand in a gesture of hello and came inside the room. He took a seat on Naruto's bed while Naruto looked at him apprehensively.
"Eh, Ero-sannin, what do you want?" Naruto really didn't feel like having any visitors.
"Well, Tsunade told me what happened. Hey, look kid, I'm sorry, I really am. The same thing happened to Tsunade and me a few years back. Only, the one who ran away from us was Orochimaru." Jiraiya sighed. "Look kid, I know what you're thinking. Don't chase after them. Those two did what they did on their own, and they wont come back."
Naruto growled, "Yes they will, I will bring them back dattebayo! I vow to bring them back, and I won't go back on my word! It's my nindo, my ninja way!"
Jiraiya stayed silent for a period of time. Then he spoke, "Look, I was planning to train you, and I still am. However, I want you to drop this silly ideal of yours. I refuse to teach you while you set this false goal ahead of yourself. You have a better chance of becoming Hokage at this rate. There not coming back, and you wont be able to bring them back. Take this advice from someone who's been through this."
Naruto just shook his head. "You . . . you just don't understand. Those two were my first real friends, the people who I made my first real bonds with. They were my precious people; so I cant just abandon them, not when I can save them. Whether you train me or not, I will save them."
He had spoken with such conviction that even Jiraiya was stunned. 'This kid, he's really something else.' "Fine then." Jiraiya rose from the bed and walked to the window. "I'll be back in a week, so be ready. My sources have informed me that Orochimaru has to wait three more years until he can take Sasuke's body. I'll train you away from the village during this time, probably for two and a half years." Jiraiya gave a small smirk. "Meet me at the gates. Remember, a week!" With that, he was gone.
Naruto gave a sad smile. "Thanks ero-sannin."
- One-week later-
Naruto stuffed the rest of his things in his bag. Final, his eyes rested on two leaf headbands. He looked at them for a while, and then stuffed them in his bag. He left his house, making sure the door was locked. He zipped down to the main gates, only to see Kakashi.
"Eh, Kakashi-sensei! What's up?" asked Naruto cheerfully.
Kakashi smiled, same old Naruto. "I hear your leaving with Jiraiya huh."
Naruto nodded, "Yeah. He said he's going to train me for two and a half years. I have to get stronger in order to bring them back."
Kakashi looked up at the sky, and then muttered, "If anyone's going to bring them back, it's going to be you Naruto. Anyway, I'm here to wish you good luck on your journey."
Naruto grinned, "Don't worry about it Kakashi sensei, it'll be fine!" His face then grew somber, "I'll bring them back, I swear. It's my nindo."
Just then Jiraiya arrived and gave them a hello. "So Naruto, are you ready to go?"
Naruto nodded, "Yeah." He turned to Kakashi and gave him a hug. "Bye Kakashi-sensei." He turned to Jiraiya, "Lets go, dattebayo!"
As they were leaving, two pearly white eyes peaked out from a tree. "Good luck Naruto-kun. I also promise to become stronger."
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura ran over to Sasuke's beaten body. It really hurt Sakura to see Sasuke show up battered and bruised. What was Orochimaru doing to him! She helped him into his room and laid him down on his bed. She brought her hands together and began to heal his body, her palms radiating green. When she was done Sasuke nodded in thanks.
"You . . . you learned that from Kabuto?" asked Sasuke quietly.
Sakura nodded, "Yes, he's been teaching me many things, mostly medical jutsu." Truth be told, Sakura really had a knack for it, her chakra control was helping her improve in leaps and bounds.
"Your pretty good at it."
Sakura blushed heavily; Sasuke never said anything like that before. "W-Well, Kabuto-sensei says I have such good chakra control that my talent in medical jutsu is incredible. I'm improving really quickly." Her eyes averted downwards, she hoped she wasn't sounding to bigheaded. Sasuke gave an "hn" and tried to get comfortable on the bed.
"Ano, feel better Sasuke-kun." Sakura turned to go to the door, but was stopped by Sasuke; he was grabbing her arm. He pulled her ear to his lips and whispered,
"Sakura, I have no intention of becoming Orochimaru's next body. All I desired is power, and that's all he can give me. I must kill my brother, but I will not become someone's body in the process. When the time comes, I'll need you to take out Kabuto for me. Don't worry, I'll tell you when." Sasuke said this all very fast, so Sakura could only just understand what he was saying. Still, she nodded in conformation.
"Yes, I got it."
Sasuke nodded and released her, "Good."
Just then Kabuto walked in. "Orochimaru told me to inform you that for safety measures, we will be moving the base every two weeks. In one week we shall be leaving, so leave out clothes that you only need for the rest of the week." After they both nodded Kabuto left the room.
"Well, I guess I'll be leaving now. I'll see you tomorrow Sasuke." She left the room with Sasuke staring right at her retreating back.
Nya, I'm DONE! Well, R&R!