O.O I'm sorry for the long wait, but I have been really working on the quality of my writing and I think it will be noticeable. I want to thank everyone for their reviews because they inspire me too continue with this story of my own. I would also like to say that this fanfic greatest quality should be the fact that it so different yet so familiar. I wanted to create a generally enjoyable tale that could appeal to a wide audience weather they like romance or adventure I want them to be able to enjoy my writing. I promise the next chapter is going to come up a lot sooner than the last did.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
The sun peaked over the horizon breaking the dark recollection of the night. Its blades cut through the sky shedding a golden glow over the white terrain. The Hidden Village of Sound was cast in its affection, sheltered in light and baking to higher temperatures. Outside wildlife buried from underneath the sheet of snow; signs of winter's intrusion on an early spring, and rose to life welcoming a new day in common fashion, the tree tops stretched to greater heights, and the animals stirred from a night's rest. The day was early but its heart already pumped with adrenaline.
The Sound Village had changed under orochimaru's rule. He had kept his promise to the people and restored wealth in the broken lines of the clan members. He had helped construct a utopia for exiled ninja and cursed ones. The Sound's walls held strong around the small border. Its population was in large part do to orphaned children. Their Kage, the Otokage, embraced his people and formed solid bonds with them. The village loved both Orochimaru and the Otokage.
The early spring days welcomed the earth a frosted coat of meadow. The air bit at your lungs yet the children played without worry. They were free from War's embrace. The people here had a harder look to them. It was as if the weather had beaten against their body to shape out a unique contour. Their eyes saw something extra in the homes, the boards that made the home, and the land the boards rested on. Their will to push Otogakure to greater heights was power. Yet; all was not well with the Sound village. Dante's rise in power could not be overlooked and in a cliché way the council rallied against the Otokage.
One after another the elderly bodied poured into the large office each standing before the Kage with sullen faces. They were clothed in long white robes with the village's symbol etched on the front in purple. The Otokage looked at them with a detached arrangement. His face veiled from the audience of the council, the Otokage starved their glares. His assistant was the only other person in the room besides the council members and he stood lazily by the window also looking at the party uninterested.
"Do you have any words for the Otokage?" the assistant asked with wondering eyes.
"Yes I do! Why haven't you signed off on the order to add more shinobi to our borders? We have heard Dante is preparing for an offensive strike," the first council member to speak was an old man with balding gray hair and sagging eyes.
"Otokage, I have backed you since the beginning however; even I must confess that your actions have been quite puzzling as of late. You have stopped working with the council. You are dividing the village!" The next person to speak was the only young member on the council. Her name is Tenken and she acquired her position by being an excellent war tactician. She was also the newest member on board.
"I do believe it may be time to appoint a new Otokage!" the balding man spoke out once again but no one seconded him.
"And who better to fill the Otokage position Baron? You?" the assistant asked edging closer to the group.
"Rain you have no voice here!" Baron bellowed furious with the boy's intrusion, but his anger was cut short. In a flash Rain was driving a knife through the man's chest and watched as he toppled over in a crimson puddle. The council members jumped back in horror.
"What is going on Rain, are you trying to start a war?" Tenken asked in shock, but unlike the others she did not recoil. She confronted the boy.
"We control the ANBU stationed here, are you trying to start a civil war?" another elderly council member asked. This voice belonged to a stout blonde haired woman. Her name was Rossette stone.
"For all bodies present with the exception of myself, Rain, Tenken and Rossette, will be charge with treason. You will be detained and await a trial," the Otokage said speaking for the first time.
"You're crazy!"
"If anyone should be charged with treason it would be you!"
"Hurry, call the ANBU."
Rain laughed at the panic. He was having a little unexpected fun.
"Don't worry about the ANBU I was going to kill them anyway," he said laughing all the while.
The Otokage stood up and looked into their faces. He could see fear, and fear was a weakness that needed to be weeded out.
"I will make my ruling here. Every council member besides Rossette Stone and Tenken Hirou will face execution. Now"
"Orochimaru how dare you betray us!" Rossette said stepping forward. The rest of the council tried to coward towards the doorway, but in an instant Rain shielded them from salvation twirling a kunai knife between his fingers.
The Otokage looked at Rossette and laughed, "Rossette I think you have me confused with someone else… Believe it!"
"Well this should be a little fun," Rain said stepping towards the crowd with a grin widespread across his face.
Elsewhere
Penetrating the sound's border was not an easy task. Do to the war Sakura and Hinata would be targeted upon sight, they moved in accordance to Shikamaru's directions. He kept them traveling along the banks of a well known river that ran through the fire country. It was often targeted by foreign territory in times of war. Konoha owned most of its body in comparison to the Otogakure, yet the advantage was slight. Neither party would attack the water supply because it was communal.
Her sandals sunk into the river banks and mud squeezed through her toes. She twisted her face in repulsion.
"Wow, Shikamamru could have made this a little easier on us," she said running her sandals through the water's current.
Hinata had much less troubled traveling along their chosen path because she had much more grace, and was light on her feet. Sakura watched as the girl glided carelessly over the muddy banks. They had traveled a good ways beyond Konoha yet; the girl seldom spoke. Sakura had even tried to get the child to speak with a little friendly conversation yet, the girl evaded all attempts. She concluded all Sakura's questions with short brief answers. Never-the-less Sakura appreciated the company.
"Hinata wait up," Sakura called out waddling through the muddy terrain bare footed with her sandals held in her hands. The purple haired teenager turned on her spot and watched as her pink haired counterpart struggled up the riverside. She smiled looking at Sakura with admiration. Sakura was so strong and confident. She tried to mirror those qualities but they felt out of place. She wanted to find her own strength.
"Shikamaru warned us of a patrol a few miles down, we need to be very careful. Can you spot anything with your Byakugan."
The bashful girl's eyes flashed and veins exploded from her temple as she activated her legendary kekkei genkai. With this ability she could see the charka flow of beings and also penetrate objects and see through them. She could detect any shinobi's charka flow.
"The patrol must be a little further off than Shikamaru believes because I don't see anyone."
"Well let's just be cautious," Sakura warned. She knew they didn't have any room for error. One mistake could in addition mean death.
They traveled well into the night, the sky turning from blue into violet then a midnight hue. The air grew cooler and stressed the importance of shelter. They found a cavity that had been made alongside the water's edge. They walked on the shallow stream's surface and emptied into a dark cave like clearing with moss covered walls. The flooring was uneasy and the damp air clung to their skin, a fire would be hard to start under such conditions. Hinata pulled out a thick fur robe and threw it over the shivering crowd. Her body shook violently against Sakura's own, who's in turn answered with similar spasms.
"Well this isn't all that bad," Sakura said to the timid girl.
Hinata answered with a rare smile and twinkling eyes, "This isn't bad at all. I would love to do something like this with Naruto when I get him back. That is if he wants to."
"Haha-ha I think this might be a little too calm for someone like Naruto, but who knows."
Hinata turned and looked into Sakura's face. Her eyes found the lining of her lips and her fair flawless skin.
"Sakura… How did you feel about Naruto?" The question was a surprise even to the questioner. Sakura's brow crinkled a little and she looked into Hinata's face. The girl's emotion always bubbled to the surface and now was no exception.
"Hinata I love Naruto, he's like a brother to me."
"But he likes you."
"Oh come on, that was ages ago. Not to mention my heart belongs to Sasuke."
"but Sakura… I'm scared," and a tear ran down the young girl's face. Hinata's beauty was magnified by her humanity. When she was sad all someone could think about was protecting her, and now was no exception.
"Hinata… Even if Naruto still had feelings for me, so what. I had to fight with my heart over Sasuke and your going to have to do the same for Na-"
The girl's conversation was interrupted by the presence of a mechanical sound. A sound the quiet contradicted their natural environment.
"We're surrounded!" Hinata said her Byakugan active and alert.
