A/N: Thank you so much for those who reviewed!! Really love you guys for supporting this, and thank you Shadow-chan for coming up with this idea!! Can't tell you how I enjoy writing this fic even though I update it slow...xD
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter too! It's not gonna have the 2 years ago story anymore! It's time for the present to be unfold!! hahaha!!
Naruto no belong to me.
Military
Chapter 3
Getting a higher ranking.
When he was younger, that was all he could think of.
Go further, fly higher.
Anything to beat his elder brother who shadowed him.
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Emotions were useless.
Pride of the Uchiha Clan was what kept him going.
Nothing would change that, nothing.
That's what he told his mother.
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Her hazel eyes scanned the document she held as the teen in front of her remained emotionless. Her hand held a document of his profile which proved his excellent skills on battle field, but he did break the most important rule in the military and was to be given a fair punishment.
"Yes, to choose."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Between what? Tsunade-sama."
She glanced at Kakashi before turning her attention towards the young Uchiha. She doubted that he would disagree to these choices, after all, it would determine his future in the military.
"Uchiha Sasuke, you can either choose to end your relationship with Haruno Sakura, or risk not being promoted, ever."
Kakashi shook his head, thinking that Sasuke would never risk his position over a girl, much less one he used to ignore, or so he thought. Sasuke breath out what seemed like a breath of relief, for when he look at the Marshal, he was smirking.
"I'll take the risk. I'm staying with Sakura."
Tsunade nearly fell from her chair when he answered that, and Kakashi was rendered speechless. He glanced frantically from Tsunade, who was trying to clam herself down, to the young Uchiha who had been his ward since young.
"Sasuke…" he started, trying to reason with him. "Your ranks…"
Sasuke just gave him a blank look, his eyes were like the first time Kakashi saw them, devoid of emotion. But there and then, he knew that inside, Sasuke was actually…happy. He suddenly took a walk down memory lane after seeing those eyes, remembering the first time Sasuke was assigned to him after the Uchiha family was moved to another location.
"I'm gonna make it to the top, even if it kills me!"
His onyx eyes remained unchanged as his mentor tried to stare him down. The Uchiha was not budging from his decision, and Kakashi didn't feel like seeing his best student getting left behind by the rest, not when he had climbed up so high.
"Sasuke, please reconsider…"
The said boy merely closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, he faced the Marshal.
"I…joined the army in the beginning, to get a higher rank than my brother so that my father would acknowledge me." He started, getting both their attention.
"But now, I don't intend to get a higher rank than my brother, father or ancestors if I have to sacrifice my relationship with her. Having a relationship with Sakura only motivates me to keep surviving to protect her, the team, and the country."
His reply surprised the other superior, both were aware of his intentions of joining the military in the beginning, but neither suspected this change over a young girl.
"I'll keep climbing to the top." A young Sasuke said to Kakashi and Tsunade. "Even if no one sees me, I'll bring myself to the top and protect my country!"
Tsunade smiled at the enthusiasm of the young boy. "Yes, I believe you'll make it."
"That's why I decided, Tsunade-sama." Sasuke said, looking the Marshal in the eye.
"I'll throw away my emotions, just to make it to the top. I'll sacrifice anything, even my life to make it there. Not only for the sake of protecting my country, but to beat my brother."
He said that, even after his parents died. He really did throw away his emotions. He did not mourn for them, but he walked forward, beating his brother was all that matters now.
"So beating your brother had no meaning anymore?" Tsunade questioned silently, waiting for the reply.
"You'll be left behind Sasuke…" Kakashi tried again, looking at Sasuke.
Sasuke gave him a small smile, and shook his head. "I'm sorry Kakashi-sensei. I don't care. Not when Sakura is involve."
Tsunade sighed, massaging his temples. "Very well, you have made your decision, Uchiha Sasuke."
Sasuke nodded, not intending to back out from his words.
"I hereby declare Uchiha Sasuke to be strip from any promotions in the future, and his relationship with the medic Haruno Sakura to be able to proceed. However, it should be kept subtle in public. Do you understand?"
Sasuke saluted, nodding a little. "Yes madam."
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Sakura paced nervously at the meeting place of their team. Naruto was sitting on a tree nearby, acting as look out for Sasuke or Kakashi. The girl couldn't stop glancing up every time she heard something.
"Are they here yet Naruto?"
The past two hours had been similar to hell for Sakura. The pastel haired girl didn't know whether to be relief or worried that she wasn't called together with Sasuke. She didn't know what to feel right now. Sasuke only said he was going to meet with the Marshal, but when Kakashi followed him, she instantly knew something was wrong. That lead her to Naruto, who spilled everything.
"I heard someone told the Marshal about your relationship."
Damn.
That was the first word that crossed her mind. Mind you, Sakura wasn't the type to curse, but she knew this would be a very terrifying ordeal, whether towards Sasuke or her. The worst that could happen was that Sasuke would be stripped of his rank and be banned from ever meeting her again.
That would mean she would be removed from their team and probably sent off to another base. Sasuke would hate her, Kakashi would despise her for pulling his best student down and Naruto would just downright ignore her.
"Sakura-chan?"
Yes, those stuff would probably happen. But Naruto ignoring her might be going a little too far…then again, Naruto didn't actually say anything after finding out about their relationship, she could even swear he was kinda happy…
"Sakura-chan…"
Ohh…how could it had gotten so bad?
Maybe she should have kept the chain Sasuke gave her in a more discreet place, or maybe she shouldn't have even agreed to the relationship, or maybe…
"SAKURA-CHAN!!"
"WHAA!!"
Sakura fell down on her butt, blinking twice before realizing that Naruto was waving a hand in front of her face.
"Hellllooo…Sakura-chan, you okay?"
The girl just nodded, before standing up with the help of the blind boy. "I just wanted to say, Sasuke and Kakashi are coming."
Oh my god.
Sakura immediately started to panic. Sasuke was gonna be so mad when he saw her, no doubt about that. She backed away slowly, before running off in the opposite direction. Sasuke wouldn't chase her…right?
Right.
"Sakura-chan? Hey! Sasuke-teme is here! Sakura-chan!!"
She spared a glance behind to see Sasuke standing beside Naruto, apparently stunned that she took off. What she didn't noticed was that Sasuke was smirking. So she thought he was mad?
He took off without a backward glance.
And she was wrong about him not chasing her.
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"Why do you support him?"
Naruto looked behind to see his mentor, feeling a bit sorry for him, he shrugged. He didn't really understand, but he knew that Sasuke was like a brother to him, and that he was happy to see him happy.
"Sakura-chan seems to be the happiest when she's with him, and I say it's the same for him."
Kakashi sighed, leaning against the tree. "He was stripped from any further promotions."
Oh, so that was the price to be paid.
Naruto always knew of Sasuke's ambition. It was more of a race to them, both were aiming for the highest rank, Marshal. Now that he was stripped from promotions, will he still get to the top?
Yes. Believe it.
The blond grinned. "Sasuke-teme will find a way to rise to the top Kakashi-sensei, you better believe it."
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Her legs carried her all the way to the river of their first meeting. She gasped for air as she collapsed beside the water, tears streaming down her face. Sasuke had just stood there, watching her go.
He was really mad, but she shouldn't really be bothered now. After all, Tsunade-sama might be arranging her transfer right this moment.
Or not.
"Boo."
The girl nearly screamed and fell into the water had the culprit not been fast enough to catch her. He smiled at her as she had her eyes shut, praying for God to have mercy on her and not let her touch the ice cold water beneath her.
"Sakura."
Okay, ice cold water sounds very inviting, like now.
"Are you okay?"
Huh?
Sakura opened her jade green eyes and stared at Sasuke. He was still smiling softly, the look he always gave her when they were alone.
"S-Sasuke…?"
He chuckled. That was a good sign.
"Yeah kid, it's me."
Sakura smiled, her tears no longer falling. She tackled him to the ground, not minding the cold snow below. Sasuke patted her head softly, assuring her that it was okay.
Until he heard a snicker behind him.
"Teme…Kakashi gave us a day off."
Sasuke and Sakura looked up to see Naruto standing above them, grinning like a maniac.
"I'll wait for you at the top, teme. Make sure you reach there no matter what it takes."
Sasuke smirked. "Aa…you better…"
"Believe it? Will do, Lieutenant Colonel." Naruto mocked salute and walked off, leaving them alone again.
"Sasuke?"
Said teen turned to his girlfriend, did he do something wrong? She sure looked like she was gonna cry again.
"Yeah kid?"
Sakura pouted, he loved to call her 'kid', even if he was only older by a year.
Wait, if she were to count, he had many nicknames for her, and her, him. But that's not the point now.
"What did Naruto mean?"
Oh. Busted.
He didn't want her to find out the price he paid for staying with her. She'd probably just blame herself and wallow in guilt. He did not want that. But…
"Uchiha Sasuke, I demand you tell me what he meant, now."
Once again, hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn.
"I…w-was…"
Great, now he was stuttering. Way to go Uchiha Sasuke.
"Was?"
"...Banned from any further promotions in the future."
Bam, here it comes.
"WHAT!?"
He winced, lying on snow really helped. He tried to focus on the cold instead of her guilt in her eyes. No such luck. She brought him up by his scarf around his neck.
"Why!? Sasuke! You were suppose to climb to the top!! How can you do that if you're banned from further promotions!? It's my fault isn't it? I caused this! I'm gonna march up to Tsunade-sama and say the relationship is over! Wait, did she banned you from meeting me too? Am I getting transferred?! Oh god, is this my last time seeing you!? Is it…"
She really couldn't finish her rambling. Uchiha Sasuke was not one for anyone's shouting, not even his girlfriend. So he did what he saw was the best when their faces were only an inch away.
He kissed her.
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Kurenai placed the files down on the table after going through them. The room was full of tension, as the other higher ups were also done browsing through the documents.
"But Tsunade-sama, how can they have done this?"
Tsunade clenched her fist. "I don't know. Being the maniac he is, he probably thought that these…creatures were the best army he could get."
Asuma scratched the back of his head. He clearly wasn't too happy about fighting these freaks. "So what do we do?"
Tsunade glanced from Asuma to Kurenai, then to Kakashi. "I will need three soldiers to lead this mission. The best you can recommend to me."
The Generals nodded, each going over their own team to see who was the best. Tsunade let the six of them discuss while she went over a plan in her head. As she was halfway through, Kakashi announced that they had decided.
Tsunade nodded at Shizune, who took a pen and paper to jot down the names.
"The candidates most suitable would be, Hyuuga Neji, Nara Shikamaru and Uchiha Sasuke."
Tsunade frowned. "I just banned Uchiha from any promotions, if I give him this mission and he makes it back alive…"
"Then it proves he's worth the trouble." Ibiki said. The others agreed. Even Shizune was nodding.
The blond Marshal sighed. Her underlings were such logical people, she thought sarcastically.
"You do realize that this could very well be a suicide mission." She said carefully. "It very well ends these three of their future if they fail this mission."
Anko smirked. "Right. Even if they did fail, I doubt they would die on battlefield."
The six of them merely chuckled. Tsunade let a smile graced her lips. "You're right. I don't think they'll die, but they definitely will make it back."
"Hyuuga Neji made Lieutenant Colonel at the age of seventeen, just like Uchiha Sasuke, while Nara Shikamaru made Colonel this year for his brilliant strategy plans." Shizune stated, going over their profiles.
Tsunade nodded. "There's no going back now. We have to stop these creatures before they reach the border. These three will lead this mission to eliminate the enemies once and for all."
Everyone immediately started jotting down strategies and soldiers that would be best assigned under this mission.
"The main source, would be Orochimaru. If they manage to take out his army, they are to proceed to infiltrate the main base and wipe it out. Should they fail, they are to retreat, no matter what the circumstances."
"Then what about us?" Gai questioned. "Shouldn't we be the ones sent out?"
Tsunade shook her head. "Generals will remain here, and arrange the defenses should the team fail this mission. We will eliminate all that reaches here."
"The foul creatures and poor souls should be put to rest, not to be toyed with."
The foul creatures named Chimeras.
It was when I saw her crying that I knew she really cared for me. Not for my looks, ranks or even my name. Just me.
I knew then that I had made the right choice by taking the risk and staying with her. I don't think I would be able to stand not being with her after that day.
But happiness don't always last. Duty always comes before anything else, including emotions.
My duty is to protect my country, even if I have to sacrifice my life for it. I know this and have always been ready for it, for protecting the country also meant protecting her.
dark: well...I seem to be doing okay...I hope.
Sasuke: ... ...
dark: What? You're not happy you kissed her?
Sasuke: ...Shut up. I sound so...cheesy at the ending.
dark: Awww...you're blushing!
Sasuke: ((glare))
Sakura: It's okay Sasuke-kun! ((hugz))
Sasuke: ((blushes like a tomato))
dark: Errr...yeah...OKAY! Review please!! I really love reviews...don't we all:p