Chapter 5 Welcome to Black Lotus
After some travelling they came to Tall Mountain, thick vegetation covered the entire thing. Esmelerda pulled back some vines that covered a hole. They went through, once they came to the other side the three Kunoichi's mouths dropped. On the other side of the tunnel was a beautiful, lush paradise. Buildings that looked like they were made out of crystal were set into the rock; trees and other plants and vegetation covered many of the buildings. Many female ninjas walked around or chatted happily with each other.
(A/N: The Hideout was named after Atlantis by the Founder of Black Lotus because of its beauty and that it was hidden under the earth.)
"Welcome to Atlantis."
"Wow... this place is great... it has everything." Temari gasped out as she stared at the training ground.
"Ha, you got that right; it has everything from a bath house, to the top of the art training grounds, as you can see all the members of Kurohasu are happy and relaxed. Now since you guys are new you need to start at the bottom. You will be given a tattoo, the tat will show that you are part of Kurohasu, and what rank you are; as you rise up in the ranks your tattoo will become more realistic and colourful. And don't worry, it will be placed in an area that it will less likely be seen." Esmelerda explained as she walked over to a group of houses set into the bottom of a wall, reaching underneath her cloak she produced a ring of keys.
"This will be your apartment; you said you three want to be in a team, well then you three will share a housing complex. You guys, at your rank, can go anywhere in Atlantis, except up at the upper levels, they are for the higher ranks only. If you are required for any reasons, your Black Lotus clamps will flash, you will find black cloaks and your clamps in the closets. If summoned you must meet me or my second in command in the main hall, which is located opposite the training grounds." Opening the door Esmeralda continued. "After collecting your clamps and cloaks you are to follow me to get your tatts." Esmelerda turned around to see Sakura, Ino and Temari with their jaws on the floor in shock. Ino was the first to come around.
"WE HAVE TO GET TATTOOS, THAT MEANS NEEDLES AN–" Ino shouted but was stopped by Sakura who punched her on the head.
"Oh shut up Ino, if you were paying attention it's to show that we are a part of Kurohasu" Sakura said with anger in her voice as she and her friends walked through their apartment, taking a quick look inside. Looking inside a closet near the door, they found black cloaks and three clamps that had a Lotus bloom decorating it. Walking out of the apartment, they met Esmeralda who locked the door, she lead the three to the tattoo parlour with Sakura and Temari dragging a screaming Ino.
½ hour later.
"Why did you have to resist hmm? That took longer than it should have." Temari said looking at her shoulder, where her tattoo was hiding.
"I'm scared of needles, if I knew I had to get a tattoo I would never have come. Though, I would have no good friends to talk to." Ino cried clutching her arm, even though she got hers put on her hip.
Sakura didn't add any comment as all she could think about was if her teammates missed her. 'Probably not.'
Inner Sakura: "who cares if they miss us, they thought we were weak. But we're not, are we? And who needs those friends when we have these two here."
Sakura looked at the two fighting blondes.
"Hey girls, I'm going to the training grounds. Here are the keys, I'll see you later." Sakura chucked the keys to Temari and headed in the direction of the training grounds. When she arrived home she was exhausted.
Some Years later
"Come on you guys; we're needed at the hall." Sakura shouted throughout the house. Much had changed since they joined Kurohasu. Sakura was now second in command to Esmeralda, Temari and Ino were both one rank below her, they had moved to a more elegant house; and their tattoos, clothes, cloaks and overall look had changed. Sakura had styled her hair to that like her old master, Ino had commented about when Sakura had it done and Ino ended up with a black eye. Sakura's tattoo now was a solid black lotus bloom with a pink sakura petal in the centre, her cloak was trimmed with a dark pink, and her fighting style was really different to what it was years ago. Sakura now fought with a katana, well actually two; her primary sword (Uchigatana) was a black handled blade and had a sakura petal charm hanging off the handle, this was attached to her hip. Her second sword was a Pink handled sword; this blade had a black lotus bloom charm hanging off the handle and was attached to her back.
Temari had let her hair grow out, now she tied it up in one ponytail high on her head; though it still stuck out at odd angles. Ino had said Temari looked like an Amazon warrior, especially after Temari had woven beads into it; Ino got a bump on the head for it. Temari's tattoo, like Sakura's was a solid black lotus bloom, however she had a yellow fan with the kanji for wind in black in the centre; and her cloak now had a sandy yellow trim.
Ino, to everyone's surprise, cut her hair to about below the shoulders; though she keeps it in a tight braid. Both Temari and Sakura had something to say about her sudden change in hair style, though she just ignored their remarks. Ino's tattoo was a solid lotus bloom with a dark red rose bud (looks like what a rose would from above) in the centre, her cloak was trimmed with dark purple and she now had possession of a pair of black sai.
Their weapons were given to them by Esmeralda; she told them that they were ancient and powerful.
"We're coming! Though Ino will still be doing her hair while she's walking." Temari pointed to the blonde who was still doing her hair, "It's good that your hair is shorter, but you insist that it is in that complicated braid!" Sakura just snorted in annoyance.
"Hey Ino if you're not at the hall before Temari and me, I'LL CUT ALL OF YOUR HAIR OFF!"
"Sakura! Not you too, Temari has brainwashed you!" a purple and blonde blur yelled as she rushed to the closet near the door. Temari and Sakura chuckled as Ino very quickly grabbed her cloak and ran out the door. They caught up with Ino outside the hall, together they entered hall to meet Esmeralda in the centre of the room.
"Welcome, I have your new mission. You are to meet a team of Akatsuki missing-nin in 5 days to help them prevent Orochimaru getting a hold of a vessel known as Naruto Uzamaki, who holds the Kyuubi no Kitsune by any means necessary. "
'She said Naruto Uzamaki! He has a demon?' Ino thought.
'Well that explains a lot.' Temari thought back to how he beat Gaara. Sakura just chuckled at her friends shocked expressions. 'God they're so stupid if they didn't figure it out.'
Inner Sakura: "dude! You didn't know either until he went all Kyuubi. Remember when you 'stumbled' into Orochimaru?"
'Oh shut up.'
Esmeralda continued talking. "You are to meet them in Konoha in the Fire country; (A/N: that seems stupid right? They're missing-nins. Just imagine 6 missing-nins sneaking into Konoha, ya think that they would get caught) you will then leave and follow Naruto and his teammates who are leaving on a mission. Orochimaru will use this time to kidnap him. I must warn you though, after you accomplish this mission, they will possibly attack you. A truce is called during these types of missions where we gang up on Orochimaru, though it only lasts until he is out of the way; then we go back to killing each other over the vessels. You leave this afternoon, Sakura I want to speak with you alone."
"Hai, I'll meet you guys at the gate" Sakura said to her friends.
A while later the girls were making their way towards the Fire country in silence. 'I wonder how Naruto is doing.' Sakura thought as they began to enter forests that were all too familiar.
"Ok we'll stop here for the night.' Sakura called out to her team mates. Ino and Temari stopped on branches behind Sakura, the three quickly set up camp; traps, mats and fire.
Temari slumped against a tree. "Ugh...who do you think Akatsuki will send?" she asked to no one in particular. Sakura tensed at this question; she knew exactly who was sent, Esmeralda told her when they talked alone, she was also told not to tell the others.
"One of the higher ranked? I mean Esmeralda sent us, her highest rank missing-nins." Ino quipped.
"I don't think the Akatsuki have ranks perse, I think it's more like if the leader like you more your higher up." Sakura said stirring the meal she was preparing.
"So who do ya think Pein sent Sakura?" Ino pulled her knees against her chest, resting her chin on her knees. Sakura twitched.
"I don't know," she lied. "I just hope it's not Kisame" Sakura shuddered. "He is so weird." She told the truth this time.
By the next evening they had made great time.
"If we keep this up, we will be there tomorrow. 2 days ahead of schedule." Sakura said as they set up camp.
"Cool, we could go shopping in the village nearby, and then we can continue to the meeting point." Ino cheered, clasping her hands together.
"Yeah, we could have like a mini holiday." Temari then walked over to Sakura who handed her a bowl, Ino then got up and walked over to Sakura. Sakura looked at her two best friends while she was in deep thought.
'Well I do need more paint for my painting, Sai was right, drawing or painting is a good way to relax and express your feelings. Plus we're two days ahead so what's the problem of going and someone needs to make sure Ino doesn't do something stupid'
"So...Sakura can we go... please" Ino pleaded while having the puppy dog eyes, Temari and Sakura just laughed at Ino's expression, between laughs Temari spoke with a huge smile splattered on her face.
"Ino, ha he ha, you haven't used that face since you begged us not to drag you to the tattoo parlour. HA HA HA"
"Temari's right, and don't worry Ino-pig we'll go to the village. Like I said we're two days ahead of schedule and I need to get more paint for my painting, I've ran out which is not good now is it Ino?" Sakura raised a slim pink eyebrow at her friend while smirking.
Flashback
"Hay Billboard want to spar" Ino ran to her pink haired friend, Sakura didn't move from her painting she just ignored Ino, she had better things to do like get more paint. But Esmeralda forbid anyone from going to the village without asking, which she would gladly do since she is Esmeralda's successor plus Esmeralda treats Ino, Temari and herself like her kids. But since Esmeralda is out she has to stay and look after the hideout.
"No, Ino-pig. I'll not join you; why not ask Temari or Laura?" Sakura said with a little bit of annoyance in her voice, Ino just stood there with her hands on her hips and looked at the future leader of Kurohasu.
"Temari and Laura are on a mission and you will join me if you like it or not Sakura. Just because you're going to be leader, it doesn't mean you just ignore your friends and tell me what to do." Sakura pouted that neither Temari nor Laura was here to stop Ino from annoying her, and she had to find a way to get more paint and fast. It's the way she releases stress, and she had a lot of stress; it was that or break and/or hurt people with her super strength.
"INO I'M BUSY CAN'T YOU SEE THAT" Sakura snapped
"You're not busy, you're just painting. It's just a waste of-." Sakura punched Ino off the balcony before she could finish, Sakura then jumped over the railing and walked over to Ino who was rubbing her bum from the impact.
"Don't you DARE say painting is a waste of time when it's NOT. It's a way for me to relax. HOWEVER I'm running out of paint and I can't get anymore until Esmeralda gets back. If you would prefer I use my strength to relax please do tell." Sakura paused for an answer, but none came. "Now LEAVE me alone for the REST of the day, okay Ino-pig" Ino just nodded to the pink haired kunoichi and ran off not wanting to get Sakura even angrier then she already was.
End Flashback
"Then what are we waiting for, let's go before Sakura-sama gets angry shall we" Ino then leaped up and headed for her belongings. Sakura face went from friendly to serious and got up to look at Ino who was packing.
"We'll go tomorrow Ino; we've just been travailing for two days straight without even stoping to rest" Temari cracked up laughing when Ino stoped and turned, shaking as she did so. 'Oh yeah she's angry now, Ino better do the right thing or she'll get it like last time' Temari stopped laughing when she saw Sakura's eye's dead on her.(A/N: they do go to the toilet and bath but that's it, they ate while they were running and Ino told Temari what Sakura did.)
"I better stop shouldn't I" Sakura just nodded her head; she then walked off with a mumble that was still audible.
"I'll be at the river if you need anything okay." With that she was gone.
Once Sakura was at the river she sat at the edge of the river, just listening to the night which made a smoothing music that Sakura remembered that Esmeralda sang when she needed help.
"Maybe I should give it a try" with that she started singing.
"I don't know if you can hear me or if you're e - ven there.
I don't know if you would lis - ten to a nin - ja's prayer.
Yes, I know I'm an outcast, I should - n't speak to you.
Still I see your face and won - der were You an out - cast too?
God help the out – cast, defence- less from birth.
Show them the mer - cy they find on earth.
God help my peo - ple, they look to you still.
God help the out - casts or no – bod - y will." Temari then came out of the bushes and started singing too.
"I ask for health, I ask for strength.
I ask for brav - ry to shine on my name." Ino jumped out of the tree that she was in and stood next to Sakura who was standing up too but looking up at the stars and started singing. (A/N: they're praying in a way)
"I ask for love I can pos-sess.
Together: "I ask for God and his an – gels to bless me."
Sakura: "I ask for noth – ing, I can get by,
But I know so man – y less luck – y then I.
Please help my peo – ple, the weak and down – trod.
I thought we all were the chil – dren of God.
God help the out – cast chil – dren of God.
"You really have a nice singing voice there Sakura" Ino patted her friend on the back, Sakura returned a weak smile.
"What do you want Ino, Temari?" Sakura raised an eyebrow at the two; Temari looked to Ino as if she was going to say something. 'Hopeless, you know that Ino. Huh looks like I have to tell her then' with a sigh Temari began speaking.
"I made Ino come and apologise to you and since I had to make sure Ino did it I followed, but we thought you went for a swim but as we followed your voice we saw you looking at the sky singing instead of bathing"
"I'm sorry that I made you angry Sakura-sama, I wasn't thinking about how long we've travelled" Ino looked and the ground as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. Sakura just stared at the kunoichi for a while then let out a long sigh.
"It's ok Ino-pig, I'm just a bit frustrated that we have to go to the very village that called us weak, not to mention we have to actually protect Naruto and his teammates."
"A bit more like angry, and you're not the only one that isn't happy that we're going to Konoha" Ino said with a smile placed on her face. Sakura giggled at Ino's remark while Temari watched the two, she headed back to camp before she stopped and shouted.
"ARE YOU TWO COMING OR NOT?"
"YEAH WE'RE COMING; DON'T GET YOUR KNICKERS IN A TWIST. Come on Sakura." Ino shouted over her shoulder as she went ran to catch up with Temari, Sakura just turned back to the river and looked up to the sky before shouting back.
"I'LL MEET YOU GUYS BACK AT CAMP, I JUST NEED A MINUTE"
"OK, WAIT UP TEMARI" with that Temari and Ino left for their camp leaving Sakura to her thoughts again.
"God help the out – cast chil – dren of God."
'Please give us the strength that we will need to complete this mission and to make sure that Naruto will be safe from Orochimaru. Also watch over Leader-sama and the Kurohasu village and hide out.' With that Sakura turned and walked back tocamp, she could not wait to get more paint for her painting, the sooner the better. Once Sakura got back to camp she found that Ino and Temari was asleep so that means that she was first watch which she does not mind it's a way for her to think on what colours she needed when they we're to go to the village tomorrow.
(A/N: Kurohasu has a village that is a couple kilometres away from the hideout, Esmeralda showed Sakura, Ino and Temari them a month after they joined. The village is like any other village just no one knows that it exists. The residents that make up the village contain retired missing-nins, descendants of missing-nins, children that Kurohasu members found on their missions. The children had lost their parents on missions, in wars or were just abandoned, but since then it has grown. More about the village will be mention later in the story.)