Kaneshi: Evolution
By: CallxMexSenseixSenpaixSama
School starts soon. I'm glad. But then sad. Because summer reading is a horror story of its own : O
I turned to congratulate Obaa-san on bringing him back, but... But why was she not awake? Why was she not breathing? With a peaceful look, why was she dead? Was this jutsu an exchange of lives? Sakura held her as she cried.
"Everyone... Say a prayer for Chiyo.."
"Kakashi-sensei... Why must we kill others? Is it our choice whether or not their lives end? Is there no other way?"
"Shinobi chose for themselves, knowing that they may die doing their job. And death is inevitable. It is closing the door on life, but it opens a door for another path. It is better to die when we are ready to accept death, but not everyone gets that chance. So what we do now is decide what to do while we're still alive. And if people could live forever, I must say that they'd look quite disgusting."
She is lucky. Obaa-san is lucky. Because she chose to give up her life to save another's. She must be happy wherever she is now.
For our last day in the Sand village, we visited Obaa-san.. or Chiyo's grave. Great gal she was.
"Sakura-san, Naruto-kun, Kaneshi-chan. We will be leaving."
I didn't know who she was in life, I don't know what she achieved, but I'm glad I met her. We all meet certain people for a reason. I followed behind Gai and Kakashi, who were going abnormally slow. But then suddenly, he picked Kakashi up and gave him a piggyback ride. Watching from behind... How do you say...
I wont be able to sleep for a month.
I sat with Kakashi while he lay in bed. Over the years, I've certainly gotten closer to him as I'm the only one who stuck to the team. But you can't say I'm living in the past... I'm just willing to hold the team if the other members decide to come back.
Some days, I wish Sasuke never left... Some days, I wish we could've stopped him. But then, if that never happened, would we have changed? Would we have had another substitute motivation to get better until Sasuke can't say no to coming back? So would I thank him? Not really. I'm not that nice of a person.
Tired of sitting there with a reluctant person, I left. At the door, I said to him, "I know you've been awake for quite awhile."
"Alert as always." he mumbled.
So who will be our leader for our next mission? The team meeting isn't far off.
"Hiya." said this guy I never saw in my life.
"YOU!" shouted Naruto. Well, I'm guessing they met at some point.
"Um, from now on, Team Kakashi... I'll be taking Kakashi's place." said this other guy I never saw in my life.
"Nice to meet you." I said with courtesy.
"Naruto, do you know this person?" asked Sakura.
"I'm sorry for last time. I just wanted to gauge the ability of my new team member. I just didn't know how much I'd have to look after the little prick with no balls."
Pfft. Little prick with no balls. I crouched down and started snickering.
"What did you say?!!!!" shouted Naruto, furiously.
"Hey! He's our new teammate! Calm down!!" Sakura held him from pouncing on this humorous person.
I couldn't hear much over my neverending laughter, but I did hear, "Friendly crones." I laughed even harder.
"Kaneshi-chan!! How can you be laughing at this!! It's insulting!!"
I raised my hand as I laughed some more then took more control. "Ahem. I'm sure he's shy around new people and can't manage to think of the right words."
Our leader told us to introduce ourselves, since we would be going off on a mission soon.
"Uzumaki Naruto."
"I'm Haruno Sakura."
"Tensake Kaneshi... is me."
"My name is Sai."
"From here on, the four of us will proceed to the Tenchi Bridge. There, we will intercept the spy that Akatsuki has in Orochimaru's organization and bring them back. This is a chance for us to find out about Orochimaru and Uchiha Sasuke. We can gain a valuable source of information which may lead to formulating a plan to assassinate Orochimaru and bring Sasuke back. So keep focused!"
It feels different whenever I choose to listen to someone's speech.
"We will assemble at the front gate in one hour! After sorting out equipment, we will depart!"
I followed Sai, because it would be nice to know him better. And there was something about him that gave off the emotionless jerk-ness of Sasuke. He went into his house. Using the rooftops of nearby houses, I watched him through his window. This is not stalking. His room was filled with pictures. But... they had no title ? How strange. I was about to drop in since he was only packing, I sensed someone coming here. Hiding in the trees, I saw some ANBU guy go in. I edged in a bit closer and tried to listen.
"In 'Root', you have no name... you have no feelings."
"You have no past.. you have no future. All that exists is the mission."
Stopping, I thought this was very strange. No emotions? No life? What was Sai part of to be that cruel? After several minutes, I jumped in.
"Hey, Sai. It's time to leave now. Thought it would be cool if we left together.
He put on a smile. Now I knew it was awfully fake. "Sure."
Our team left, walking down the road. Tuning out everyone's voices, as usual, I wondered... Why was Sai assigned to our group? Who was that ANBU man? Root... What are they?
Looking to my left, as Sai was there, I was surprised to see Sakura about to punch him. I didn't know whether I should push him away or just stand there. I felt that pushing him away would be betrayal to the original two. Instead, I stood there, as he flew back.
He was still smiling... How emotionless can he be... ?
"Sai... Aren't you angry? You have two team members that hate you and one just punched you! Why can't you be angry? Or sorry!" I exclaimed in panic.
"A smile's the best way to get out of trouble. Even if it's fake. Amazingly, it fools everyone.. I read that in a book before. It doesn't look like it works here though."
I never liked people with no emotion... "Kakashi got his butt off of it. Sasuke's still on it. Akatsuki is above him. And Orochimaru is at the top." I cracked my knuckles. "Welcome to my list." I felt the ground tremble at my feet.
Behind Yamato-san, a tall wooden prison room sprung up. He can control wood?
"As the mediator here, here's my proposition. You can spend a day or so in here to work out your differences or we can go to a hotel with hot springs. What'll it be?" I cringed as he gave a scary face. "You guys really don't know me well either. I like being nice and friendly but I don't mind ruling by fear either."
Raising my hand, I casually said, "I don't mind hot springs. Eh, Naruto? Sakura?"
"Good."
So that's how I found myself sizzling down in the nice hot waters. Blocking out all sound except the water gurgling and splashes it made while lapping against the stones... I suppose ignorancy has its good sides. I can't say I hate Sai that much. But he irritates me. That fake smile. That calm voice. As if he doesn't feel a thing. He doesn't even care about himself. If I beat him to a pulp and held him over a cliff, he would probably smile and say, "Are you done?" Shivering, I sunk lower. It does feel good.
The next day didn't go so well either. Well relationship wise between all of us. It was so tense it could make a baby cry. Yamato-san created a house that some would kill for, for us to sleep in. Well. He'd be a nice add-in to a mission overnight.
He went into our buddy-buddy system. It was pretty laughable. Naruto with Sai. Sakura with Yamato-san and I was alone.
"Tomorrow, we'll spend a day on a simulation for team playing. I know nothing about all of you except what's in your files. I'd like to know about your fighting skills, battle skills, and array of jutsu. And through getting to know each other, smoothen up your teamwork. You might think I'm being too serious, but that's how I do things. So put your all into it."
As the team Naruto/Sai were being tested out, well... they kind of sucked. They did nothing together... like our first test when we met Kakashi. While I was being tested, they were arguing the whole time until Naruto just walked off. I sent out thin lines of chakra that stuck to the real Yamato-san, while watching Sakura talking it out with Sai. I dragged him over to me and tied him up, wondering what was going on.
"Good job, Kaneshi.. Without even paying attention too..." I loosened him. "Ok. We will be going now and get to the bridge by noon. Pack your things up."
At the bridge there was a hooded person. Yamato-san, disguised as Sasori, went over to him. Not bothering to hear a word they were saying, I made sure no one followed the Akatsuki spy. But Sakura touched me and pointed at the spy. Kabuto... !?
Very surprising. I was never expecting this. Still, I kept scouting around. Using Byakugan, I spotted a rabbit on the other end of the bridge. And beyond the rabbit...a snake... and... Orochimaru?!