I know it's been forever...i apologize. For a detailed description see the AN below. Happy reading! And don't forget to review!
Sakura rode her horse as quickly as possible, and silently as possible through the village. She knew she had to get out of there as soon as possible before her father sensed that she was gone. If he caught up to her while she was still in the village…there'd be hell to pay. But that didn't matter because in the next few seconds she was out of the village gates…nobody could stop her now.
"Sakura!"
Sakura instantly reigned Yoru in. Tsunade-sama appeared right in front of her, effectively causing her horse to jerk suddenly, sending Sakura up and out of the saddle. Acting on instinct she pulled her knees into her chest, flipped backward and landed lightly on the ground.
"Tsu-Tsunade-sama..." she gasped, shocked to see her master standing in front of her.
"You baka!" She slicked her forehead, effectively sending her to the ground, "What the hell do you think you're doing!?" Sakura bit the inside of her cheek. Now was as good a time as ever to find out if her acting skills were good enough to fool even Tsunade-sama. Hopefully the elder woman didn't hear her slip up before.
She stood up straight and pulled her shoulders back. "Healer-san. Perhaps you have the wrong person?"
"Oi! Don't try faking it you bloody fool! And I heard you call me Tsunade-sama just now."
Fail, apparently the woman could hear well in the sprinkling rain. Still best to play dumb, "I really do not understand what you are trying to say."
SMACK!
"Itai!"
"Don't you try to fool me Sakura! Any other warrior worth his salt would have reflexively moved away from my hand! You are the only idiot I know that would train yourself to bloody stay in place! Deserving punishment my foot!"
Sakura realized she was absolutely defeated, this woman was just too damned stubborn. Oh well at least she could explain and hopefully Tsunade will understand. That is if the woman would let Sakura actually defend herself…
"Who do you think you're fooling you idiot? You could certainly fool the men; maybe go as far as fool the General who will be training you, but not me! How many times have I had to send my life-force after yours just to coax the stubborn thing to fill your body! I've done it at least a hundred times! From you poisoning yourself with that nasty toad to using that axe wrong and almost hacking off your arm! You have nearly died so many times Sakura! Our chakra and life-force are bonded in such a way that cannot be hidden from either person! You just don't have the Yin seal yet, so you can't feel the full extent of it."
"But shishou!"
"But what? So what if you can change the pattern of your chakra? And so what if you can force the directions of your life-force to swirl differently? You may be able to change your energy imprint and mix it around with nature energy, but you can never hide from me! Nothing short of replacing the essence of who you are can take away the bond between our life-forces!"
The older woman finally stopped but only to take a deep breath and compose herself, "Sakura if even I can tell that you are you, then so will Hatake and Uchiha. To the naked eye, you may look like a boy, but your disguise could fall apart easily. Your chakra signature is too similar to your own current one. You need to change it enough that even I will have trouble spotting it. "
"Soooo," Sakura gulped slightly, "You're going to help me? How did you know I was here?"
"Well..."
"Don't say it was the bond. You've told me that when I suppress my energy, along with everything else, even you cannot get a read on where I am."
"Ah well you see, as the first Hokage's grandkid I have connections all over the place so when I heard about the war recruits I thought your dad might get called up. And then I heard about the stunt you pulled during the meeting and I thought to myself…if Sakura -man-hater could do that...then she was bound TO DO SOMETHING COMPLETELY IDIOTIC AND STUPID!"
Sakura flinched then glared, "But you-"
"I'm not finished!" Tsunade commanded her to stay silent, "It was quite easy to find you because you just forgot to suppress that tiny bit of chakra in Kigechu. Remember you share a similar chakra signature. But I could only read it because I knew it was there. Typically his signature is too small and overpowered by yours to really be sensed."
"Oh..."
"Yeah! Oh!"
"So…other than to yell at me..."
"I came to make sure nothing was out of place. And that anything incriminating was covered and would not be found!"
"So you didn't come to call me stupid and drag me back home?"
Tsunade put her hands on her hips, "Now why would I do something like that?"
"Because I'm idiotic and stupid and a man-hater and you're trying to look out for me," Sakura replied with her own hands on her hips.
Tsunade just smiled, "I'm not here to stop you. I'm here to help because with the way things are going and the fact behind the rumors…they will need you. Not as a man but as a woman…they just don't know it yet."
Sakura could only smile.
"Now, first of all Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi are going to be the training commanders for the new recruits. They have the sharingan meaning that they would most likely be able to see even the smallest of lies in the actual truth, so make sure your silver tongue is up to par. Watch, in particular, your physical signs of lying. That damned eye can read everything even if it's not turned on." Sakura nodded in understanding.
"Next, I'm pretty sure the Hyuugas, Inuzukas and the Aburames will be there. Most annoying troublesome batch of clan kids but they are talented," she huffed, "The Hyuuga eye will be able to see how feminine your structure is as well as differentiate a feminine chakra with a male chakra."
Emerald eyes widened in surprise.
"The Inuzukas can often sniff out people based on a distinctive scent of theirs. Not to mention years of living with animals have made them quite adept at sniffing out the different genders."
Oh Kami-sama…this mission was over before she started. Right now she couldn't be more grateful that Tsunade stopped her. It didn't even cross her mind that she…smelled feminine…or her chakra signature would give her away as such.
Keep paying attention, she's going to lecture first then perfect. You know the drill.
I know! It's just…I should have thought of this myself.
Well you didn't so shut your face and pay attention.
"Now as for the Aburames…they are like an insect variation of the Inuzukas. Bear in mind Sakura, your scent is so very incriminating amongst warriors like them. Being able to tell male from female is a basic instinct to them. With that said you have to be very careful during your cycle week."
Sakura didn't think her eyes could get wider but they did, "Tsunade-sama…I can't get caught! Give me something that can help please!"
"I was hoping you would say that," her smug look got even smugger, "Alright, with the problem of those scent crazies you will have to change the imprint of your smell. Much like you did for your chakra. It should not be too difficult for you. Now close your eyes and concentrate on any male chakra you can find alright? Pick a civilian someone you've never met, reach out with your chakra and feel."
Sakura did as instructed and found a lower ranking civilian boy nearby to copy, "I got one."
"Now, instead of feeling for his chakra, feel for the liquid and glands within him. Yes it will feel disgusting but the point is to mimic his chakra signature and smell. Have got it?" Sakura nodded, "Good, now mold your own glands so that it would feel similar."
"Shishou…this feels so odd…and strange..."
"Well you are mimicking a man so get over it. Male bodies and female bodies have different hormones balances so naturally you will feel weird."
Tsunade waited until Sakura completely finished synching with the male "chakra donor."
"There I have a full latch on him."
"Good now perform these seals: Boar, dragon, ox, dog, rat. Fuin."
Sakura performed the seals recognizing the pattern, "Fuin. Shishou that's a medic binding seal."
Tsunade nodded slightly proud that her protégé recognized the seals, "Hai it is. We use it only in dire circumstances to keep the patient stable enough for transport to a secure location. It will work perfectly to throw off the Inuzukas and Aburames who specialize in scent since you now smell like that man instead of like the woman you are. The Hyuugas would be harder to get past, particularly Neji. His Byakugan is of fairly high mastery and he can tell the different chakras from a male and female as well as see your skeletal structure and chakra points in the body. Now, I am sorry Sakura, because this will be painful and uncomfortable for you."
"What?"
"You need to keep a constant stream of chakra at your pelvic bone and harden it so as to fool him into thinking that you have a narrower bone than you really do. You're actually fairly curvy Sakura and women have larger hips than men naturally, comes with the fact that we're meant to give birth. Anyways, it should come fairly naturally to you, but there is one side effect..." Her lecturing voice turned a little…mischievous, sadistic…she couldn't rightly tell.
"Shishou..."
"We'll you'll find out the moment you put it in action, no sense in having you freak out about it now. Ah, as for when you have your period. I have the perfect idea for you! You have sealing scrolls do you not? Yes? Good! And you know how to thicken your walls so that it would take the blood longer to accumulate and come, but in a much smaller amount, correct? Okay good. I have developed something and Shizune finds it most useful, albeit a bit painful."
"Shishou, I've already taken care of my cycle," Sakura stated.
Tsunade's eyes widened, "How?"
"Remember that seal you were working on…"
"Ahh," Tsunade smiled widely, "Well I guess this mission for you will christen it. Make sure to keep track of your body functions and feelings so we can record the findings officially. And if you need to…release the blood because of the buildup then please be careful about it. The last thing you need is your cover to be blown sky high because every sensor type male will be drawn to the smell of blood. Probably a running river would be best, so take a midnight swim if you have to."
Sakura nodded.
"Now, about your breasts..."
All of a sudden her brilliant plan was getting more and more…complex. But this was for her father's safety and the safety of the village so she will have to make do.
"Shishou what are you going to do now?" Sakura had just about had enough.
"I'm not doing anything. I doubt Neji can go as far as to see anything more delicate than bones. Especially since breasts are mostly fat and skin which is typically invisible to the Byakugan."
"You doubt?"
"Well there is no Hyuuga in history who has been able to see it so I'm guessing even his superb doujutsu can't either."
"Alright. Now getting back to the pelvic bone, what is the side effect you glossed over?"
"Why should I tell you everything can't you figure it out?"
Sakura stood with her arms stubbornly crossed.
Tsunade sighed, "Simply put, the pressure you are now putting on your uterus would just…get you more tingly than usual..."
"Tingly? You mean …you have got to be kidding me! I am a very sensitive individual Tsunade-sama! And around those…those…ARGH!"
"Yes, well if you keep a constant stream there you'll get used to it. Better to always feel it than to get a very pleasurable jolt every time you send chakra there for upkeep hmmm? Just make sure it blends in with the bone and you'll be fine."
Suddenly everything began to feel too much. She already placed a medical binding seal on herself and even she could tell she smelled…different…Kami did this man not know about deodorant? It was official, she was going to be concentrating so much chakra on her body that she wouldn't have any left for anything else, "What am I? A medical wonder?"
"Well you are adept at using medical chakra for hours on end so this should be easy for you."
Sakura grumbled to herself.
Grow up and get over it. This is what you wanted to just deal!
When I want your opinion I'll ask for it!
"Oh one last thing…since you claimed that you are so sensitive, seal of your juice glands."
"My juice glands? What are you talking abo- oh...OH! Tsunade-sama!"
"Well it is not my fault you are so sensitive..."
"Okay…fine…what else could I possibly need to know?"
Sakura was ready to accept any other ridiculously medical nuance that she would have to know to make sure that everyone around her knew she was a man instead of a woman. What she wasn't prepared for was the serious tone in which her master addressed it, "Cover up any scars that you have, particularly any visible ones."
Sakura's face blanked, "That's quite the number of scars shishou..." That was true. She had a few thick ones on her hand; large scrapes that never really recovered were on her legs and fatal injuries that had left their marks on her neck.
"Whatever. Just create some skin on top of the recognizable ones. The only other option you have is wearing pants or long sleeves all the time. Now I'm not an expert on their training routines but I'm fairly sure you won't want to have every inch of your body covered all the time. It's coming up on summer and it's getting warm, you'll stand out with that obvious difference.
Sakura nodded in understanding, Kami she hated when her shishou was right, "Anything else?"
Tsunade shrugged, "Your eyes."
"What about my eyes?"
"They are the only green eyes in our village! Not technically but I've seen many green eyes and yours hold that slight sparkle inherited from your mother. Dull them and they can be passable as a sibling."
"Well I am going as my own brother..."
Tsunade nodded relaxing her lecturing stance, "So what's your name?"
"I think, something closer to my name so that I would recognize it. How about...Saburo? Or Shiro?"
She snorted, "Are you really that stupid? Choose something that isn't incriminating at least."
"It isn't incriminating," Sakura bristled but immediately calmed herself, "Besides I'm having to remember a million other things I want my name to be easy at least."
"Point taken but pick something different. Saburo mean third son, you would have to make up another sibling! And you're not a bloody samurai you're a kunoichi posing as a shinobi."
Sakura growled then thought again for a name that sounded similar to hers but not quite the same, "Setsuna."
Tsunade immediately smacked her upside her head, "What part of that makes you think you fit the name. Setsuna, calming snow, are you going to tell me that along with everything else you're going to change your personality to resemble your name!"
Sakura grumbled while she rubbed the back of her head, "No…"
"Pick again!"
Thinking harder she produced another name that hopefully passed Tsunade's scrutiny, "Seito."
"Hmmm," the buxom blonde pondered, "I like it. You've poured my sake on many occasions and drank with me as well. You can use that to your advantage if put in a tough spot. Not many places sell the 'high quality stuff' if you get my drift."
Sakura rolled her eyes, "Nobody drinks sake as pure as you do shishou."
That comment made the older woman laugh, "Right you are so in any other circumstance you'll be able to hold your liquor well. And since you like to go riding at night that covers the rest of the name. Alright…it seems you're finally ready to go."
Sakura nodded solemnly, "Yes…I think so."
"Sakura…be careful. If you come back dead I'll bring you back to life just to beat the-"
Sakura cut off her threat with a large hug, "Hai shishou, don't drink so much while I'm gone okay? It'll drive Shizune-nii-chan crazy."
"Tch Shizune is such a spoil sport…"
Sakura giggled slightly then released her and mounted her horse, "May I make a request?"
Tsunade nodded small tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
"Watch over my parents. Help them in case things get a little…dicey while I'm away."
Tsunade smiled lightly, "Don't worry about them Sakura. They will be safe while you're gone."
Sakura nodded, fighting back her own tears, "I'll see you soon Shishou."
"Yeah, yeah now hurry up and go!"
Sakura felt a rush riding Yoru through the forest at top speeds with the wind in her hair. It was an incredibly satisfying feeling. But she felt this only for a moment. It was going to get serious when she got to the camp and before she even entered she had to…modify her pelvic bone.
Not looking forward to that at all…
She did not know what training the ANBU warriors had in store for all of them, but whatever it was, it would not be easy. But with all the training that her own ANBU father put her through…she was all that worried about what they would throw at her. She'd take it in stride and come out on top.
Oi…If you would pay attention for a moment, you would realize that IT IS ALMOST NOON! CAN'T YOU SEE THE SUN? We have to report in a couple of hours and if you want time to get your mind and body right then…
Oh crap. She was right. Damn it how was she going to get faster? She didn't want to completely tire out Yoru by pushing him farther than his limits. They had at least another ten miles or so and if she hadn't gotten lost. Well could you blame her, it was her first time actually traveling out of the village. But maybe if she helped him along…
Sakura breathed in and let her chakra out as she exhaled, she sent it gently into her horse's system, coaxing it slowly into letting her enter.
One.
Two.
Three.
And she sent a large burst of chakra through its limbs forcing them to go almost ten times its speed. Yoru gave an excited cry at the burst of speed as they continued to race through the woods. What should have taken another four hours of travel only took her an hour. Now she was early giving her time to compose herself before entering the large encampment below.
"Ok, breathe, focus, concentrate. Just act normal, nobody will question what you're doing there since you have the summoning scroll," Sakura closed her eyes and stretched her limbs. She had to remain calm so that her next few lies wouldn't be detected. She figured that if she got through the first few days without any hiccups then she was golden. So performing the necessary jutsus Sakura could instantly feel the tingling effects the chakra had on her pelvic bone.
You know…it's a good thing you hate men or else this would be really, really hard for you.
Don't I know it? Alright so here's the plan. We're gonna play this like we would anything else. I know I'm goodand I'm going to make sure everyone knows it.
Agreed, it's best to play similar personalities that way it's one less thing to think about.
Exactly, my back story is set, she took a deep breath and mounted Yoru again, Alright…let's do this.
Shannaro!
There was a small path that led into the camp; it looked like it was made by numerous people walking into from this general area rather than anything purposefully made. There was a small table set up just inside with a sign that read check in. Dismounting she led Yoru up to the table.
"Scroll," the man seated asked looking up from a large scroll in front of him.
Sakura wordlessly handed hers over.
"Haruno?" the man looked up at her, "You're not Haruno Kyodu."
"Obviously," Sakura rolled her now dull green eyes, "I'm his son, Haruno Seito."
"A son?"
Sakura didn't say another word and just stared with a blank look.
The man cleared his throat, "Alright then, instead of reporting with the regular corps you'll need to be enlisted into the training corps. Set up your tent and supplies anywhere in either rows four or five. Stables are set up next to the edges of camp, your horse can stay there for the duration of training."
Sakura nodded, "What exactly is this training for?"
"Formation set ups and large scale attacking. Those who are civilians with no shinobi training will be drilled on proper techniques while the clans will continue their regular trainings."
"Well I have shinobi skills so does that change anything?" Sakura asked.
"Oh," the man looked slightly surprised.
Sakura cocked an eyebrow, "What? My father was an ANBU Captain you think I wasn't trained in shinobi arts?"
The man adjusted his collar before scratching her name and rewriting it elsewhere, "My mistake. I assumed-"
"That I had no talent which is why you've never heard of me," Sakura finished easily, "And my family lineage is full of civilian silk transporters. I get it. I'm not offended but will that change my set up area."
"Hai, you can set up your gear in either rows one through three. Horse still has to stay in the stables though."
Sakura nodded taking her scroll back, "Thanks."
Walking towards the designated section she scanned around to find a suitable spot for her camp. There was a small tree at the end of row two that look like it could use a friend. Sakura led her companion over to it and began her set up. After she finished, she led Yoru to the stables, petting him gently before she left.
Here goes nothing…time to mingle.
We got this. Sakura could feel her inner smiling in anticipation.
She took a deep breath, and strode in with all the confidence she could muster and blatantly ignoring that damn tingling in her lower regions. What she didn't count on though was the attention she brought to herself. Her height and hair color would originally have been enough for her to stand out as a woman. Coupled with her attention grabbing strides she had made herself out to be a contradiction from the typical woman. And it seemed that even as a man her confidence drew people's attention to her. Oh well, she was gonna get noticed anyway.
One large tent read "Mess Hall" and she walked towards it. She sat down at one of empty wooden tables and surveyed her surroundings discretely. Long wooden benches were around each long table and the line for food was at the northern end. The whole place stunk of rice, not that rice was particularly fragrant but it was definitely all she could smell. There was also quite an amount of unrefined rice wine. Probably, at most…twenty percent of alcohol…child's play compared to Tsunade's stash. Right now she was wishing for a cup of two.
As soon as Sakura sat down, all the other younger men of her generation surrounded her and what was worse…it was the clan boys. Among the many faces were Uchiha Sasuke and Hyuuga Neji. This meeting will be interesting and crucial. She was sure they were going to try some type of ploy to see what kind of guy she was. Well she was gonna show them that she wasn't a push over.
"Hey! We've never seen you around before. Are you new?" She looked to her left to see a blonde-haired blue-eyed by talking to her. So this was Namikaze Naruto close up he was still rugged and tanned, fairly easy on the eyes and he seemed nice as always.
Now would be a good time to see if he would be good enough for Hinata.
Ooooo, nice idea Inner.
"First of all, I do believe you are not speaking for the others, and no I am not 'new' as you say, rather you merely have never seen me before," Sakura replied in a monotone voice not even bothering to keep eye contact. She merely lounged easily in her chair, unaffected by their presence.
"What! Are you some kind of rude asshole?! I was just asking a question." Strike one; he could not deal with insults.
"Yes I do have an asshole. But no, I am not as rude as you are."
"Why you...you!"
Strike two; short temper. He's way too much work Hinata. He'd drive you absolutely crazy.
"Yes…you, is a pronoun of the second person used either singular or plural and also used of the person or persons being addressed, in a nominative or objective case. Hence to repeat it twice in succession is unnecessary." She was now beginning to wonder why the other boys haven't gotten involved. A quick glance around told her they were content to observe her reactions to Naruto. Pity, he was already getting boring.
SMACK! His hand hit the table in front of her.
"You bastard!" He shouted officially on edge. Just one more push and he would be a goner.
With a slightly cheeky smile…she pushed, "I do believe I am not a bastard. Are you by chance one?"
"You!" He leapt up with a bowl full of rice and threw it at her with what he perceived to be fast and something that could not be dodged. Pity. She only had to turn her head slightly to the side and the bowl soared easily past her and into the other table.
"YOU'RE GOING TO BE SORRY! KAGE-BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!" Suddenly over ten Narutos popped up and jumped towards Sakura, who anticipated his move and poofed into smoke. The real Sakura was up in a tree that hadn't been there a moment ago, outside the tent.
"GAAHH! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Naruto ran out of the Mess Hall his head searching from side to side. She groaned inwardly.
Is he incapable of looking up?
This is who we have to defend our country and homes? It's a damn good thing I'm here.
"I'm here," she called from where she was standing precariously on the edge of a tree branch, her arms folded, "Now you ought to calm yourself Namikaze-san. I doubt Hinata-sama would want someone so hot-tempered."
This received a raised brow from Neji and a few other clan boys. How did this guy know Hinata-sama?
Her statement also had Naruto stopping dead in his tracks, "How do you know about her? And how would you know what she liked?"
"Well it is quite simple really."
"Is it?" Neji asked staring up at the young man, "Do tell us then or perhaps you can tell us your name first."
"Ah…so the Hyuuga is interested in my name, eh?" Time to start the background story, "A lot of help you lot were letting my sister strip down in front of you yesterday. And you call yourselves gentlemen!" She ended with a righteous glare and jumped from the tree branch.
"You're a Haruno?" Neji clarified, eyes narrowing. It was obvious he wasn't the only one who didn't believe it. Although he had seen the retired ANBU Captain before and the…boy standing before them did hold a certain resemblance.
"Yes Hyuuga-san. I am the brother of the woman that pulled that stunt yesterday. And yes Namikaze-san, whose mouth is opened like a gaping fish, I do know what sort of man Hinata-sama likes."
Hold it? Hinata-san? Sasuke thought to himself, What's this guy playing at? He's not a simple one to be trifled with. Considering that he had pulled a tree out of nowhere. Genjutsu?
"Hn, dobe. You're making a fool of yourself."
"Who's the dobe, teme! Get him!" Now all the Narutos ran at Sasuke, who shushined and appeared next to Sakura.
Sakura stiffened at the sudden closeness of the man. Why did her body react that way? What was he doing so close to her anyway? This was only gonna harder and harder if the first time a man stood next to her she froze like a popsicle. Not to mention the side effects of sending chakra to her pelvic bone was making her horny. Thank Kami she had already sealed every single thing.
She took a couple steps away from Sasuke, earning a questioning look from him. Kami she hated men.
"I like my personal space Uchiha," she replied as nonchalantly as she could, "You'd do well to remember that."
"Hn," He smirked.
Why that cocky no-good overtly sexy piece of meat...Kami she was going to have to censor her thoughts with the way her body reacted favorably to that train of thought. Damn it! And why were all the men looking at her now? Naruto had only just noticed that Sasuke had gone over to Sakura's side and had decided to send his clones after them. Sasuke had been standing near her for a good ten seconds and he only just noticed…
Geez…and here I thought all these men who had the benefit of going to the Academy would be able to fight without using a hand sign. What the hell do they teach them? Are all men this stupid?
Hopefully not…but there's no telling until training starts.
Her muscle memory kicked in while Naruto's clone ran to her. She leapt upwards as a Naruto clone came after her and while gravity overtook her body she palmed a kunai and killed the clone. She then honed in on the real Naruto amongst all of the other ones, and using some air to push herself to him, landed in front of him while forcing the earth up and locking his hands behind his back. Then to add flavor, she kicked his sorry ass into a nearby tent.
"Oof!" He got pushed back far enough into a large red tent with a banner on it. Sakura smiled and used the earth that was still on Naruto to bind him tight, rendering him immobile.
"AAGH! Damn it you fucking Haruno!"
When the dust cleared, he noticed the red interior of the tent he was in, and turned around to see his mentor Hatake Kakashi, father and General of the army Namikaze Minato, and one Uchiha Itachi all staring at him with blank faces.
"It wasn't my fault! I swear! It's all that Haruno's fault! That puny bastard's the one who threw me in here! I swear!"
"Naruto…quiet down," Minato rubbed his forehead gently while staring at his bound son. Really when was he going to become more observant and slow to anger. He's just like his mother…
"Who is this Haruno you talk about?" Itachi asked. Surely Haruno-san would not be petty enough as to rile a rookie recruit.
Naruto turned slightly to look, "Hi there Itachi…er…sorry…Uchiha-taichou. It's this short guy with…well he's a short guy!"
"That is strange Minato-sama," Kakashi mused.
"Hmm? How so?"
"The Haruno I know is quite a statuesque man, even after being retired from ANBU. It would be impossible for him to be called short."
"Maybe he has a son then?" Minato offered.
"Well, I did not see him yesterday. Perhaps we should go out and put a stop to another untimely interruption," Kakashi gave a pointed look at Naruto who only smiled a little ashamed.
"Go ahead and greet the men. I'm going to undo Naruto first," Minato squatted down next to his son and began studying the binding, "Hmmm, this is rather hard to undo...that boy is quite good. To be able to form a net this detailed and complicated. Not to mention the complicated sealing methods and to do it so quickly. Well it seems we have some good talent among the rookie ranks." The blonde General smiled as he continued to examine the bind put on his son.
Hatake Kakashi was not an easily surprised man. However, the very scene before him was one he could not have predicted as he walked out of the tent and surveyed the scene.
Outside the eating area in the main courtyard were a swarm of Naruto clones who were intent on trying to land a hit on a smaller…man? The clones had multiplied themselves till the point that the only a few places were left untouched. It was just too much orange for his eyes, honestly, he still didn't understand his student's obsession with the color. Not only that it was almost slightly embarrassing to see his student chase one young man around the entire courtyard and not land a single hit on him. The other men of the army were either creating a perimeter so the fight would not extend to the other parts of camp or watching from a tree that had not been there mere hours ago. Said tree happened to be at least three times bigger than the usual tree found in these parts of the country. Obviously someone placed it there, Sasuke? Maybe Neji? Did they even know such a complex genjutsu that could actually hold the weight of a real man? In any case the tree wasn't important…what was though was the small man with dirty blonde hair running easy laps around the rest of the clones.
What he found interesting was the small man was weaving seamlessly through the clones using small illusions to cover his movements, making it harder for the Naruto clones to predict his movements. That alone was impressive but even to add on top of that, the young man was throwing small water bullets at the clones making them disperse. Naruto kept trying to compensate for the losses by creating more clones. Really? He knew more than clone jutsus why wasn't he thinking smarter? Probably because that guy pissed him off and he wanted to beat him with his own hands. That was the only logical conclusion that Kakashi could come up with. Luckily, one of the clones finally managed to smack the young man and he burst into a swirl of leaves.
Wait a minute…leaves? Damn it. Had he gotten caught in a genjutsu and one that was obviously more complex then the small movement concealing ones he was tossing around earlier. Kami why hadn't he noticed sooner…
Itachi walked out surveyed the scene and instantly knew a large scale genjutsu was being used. He watched the debacle for three seconds before a small amount of irritation grew inside of him. This was training camp for war, not the damned Academy were brawling was an everyday occurrence. He quickly ended the genjutsu once the young man disappeared into a swirl of leaves. "Sasuke...what is the meaning of this?"
Everyone blinked when the illusion was broken and the thirty Naruto clones disappeared instantly from the courtyard. The tree was also empty save for one occupant…the young dirty blonde haired man.
"Naruto got pissed off at him," Sasuke pointed to the guy in the tree, "And tried to teach him a lesson."
Itachi's eyes narrowed flashing to the accused. Sakura met his stunning onyx eyes and could tell she was being summoned. So she jumped easily from the tree and walked over towards her superiors. Unfortunately that meant walking toward Hatake Kakashi…whom she now loathed with every fiber of her being.
Uchiha-san," Sakura bowed in respect before glancing at Kakashi, "Hatake. Don't blame Sasuke for not stopping things. He was put under his own illusion."
"Haruno-san," Kakashi spoke up folding his arms, he was rather irritated with his blatant lack of respect towards him while Itachi received it, "Do you have no respect for all your commanding officers?"
"Forgive me Hatake. I only give respect to those who deserve it. And being the perverted bastard that you are, you deserve none of my respect."
The surrounding crowd gasped. They couldn't believe some new kid just insulted one of the most talented and powerful men in all of Fire Country. Was he insane? The Hyuuga stepped up to her and she flinched as he whispered in her ear.
"I would not advise you to make enemies so soon newbie. He is one of the top mentors in the academy and has far more experience than you think."
Sakura instantly shot him back a few steps with a quick blast of air, "Just like I told Sasuke, Neji, I like my personal space…remember that. And like I said before I only show respect to those who deserve it."
"Have I somehow offended you boy? And I do not even know your name." Kakashi was trying to stay civil, mostly because he was curious as to how he earned such a terrible reputation with someone he had never met before.
Sakura fixed him with a venomous glare, "My name is Haruno Seito, and I'm brother to the girl you made strip yesterday."
"Ah…so that is why you are angered I suppose?"
"No, no…you have gotten it wrong. Angered maybe a little bit, but vengeful…most definitely yes."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes at the veiled threat. He was impressed that this thin, short looking young man had the balls to glare at him particularly never taking his eyes off him. He could definitely admire it except for the fact that he was being completely disrespectful to him. Oh well…he did disrespect his sister, his anger is very warranted. He will just have to make it up to him somehow.
Itachi chose this time to intervene, "You were not present yesterday at the gathering, why?"
"You weren't there either Uchiha-san, at least that was according to my father's report."
"Then pray tell where were you?" Kakashi asked.
And Minato walked out at the exact moment with a strangely quiet Naruto in tow.
"Haruno-san, are you refusing to answer the questions of your superiors. Not to mention you are acting very insubordinate which I will warn you now is not tolerated among these ranks."
"Minato-sama," Sakura bowed low in respect, "It is my pleasure to meet you." She had only heard good things about this man.
"I must say, you are quite adept at causing a ruckus aren't you?"
"Yes, I am quite skilled at it, I suppose."
"Well, do you mind releasing my boy?" he gestured to the subdued blonde behind him. Naruto wouldn't meet her gaze which she found mildly amusing.
"I don't mind…but perhaps you can advise him on his temper? It is not wise to be unbridled in a time like this Namikaze-san."
Minato smirked, "Yes you are quite right. Now, Haruno-san, now would be a time as good as any."
"Yes sir." With a quick tugging of chakra, the earth coils around Naruto turned into dust.
Sakura was quite pleased that she was able to give the grey-haired pig a small taste of his own medicine. Even though she knew her insubordination would probably warrant a harsh reprimand it would have been totally worth it. And for the next few days of training she would go all out on any spare she had with him. He'd be a fool to underestimate her
What a pleasure it had been to try out a new technique, those earth coils worked like a charm. She had decided to use all of her techniques with her amazing control, and with this one, had purposely upped her level of control just to bind the weaves together. She had then performed a few mixes of lightning fast seals, simple one really, she had merely braided and layered them one over the other. All the while, she was sending her chakra into three directions whilst pulling earth and water at the same time. Basically once the jutsu was complete it was nigh unbreakable. It had taken her three months to perfect doing that while fighting at least three of her father's puppets. He was obviously her target for the coils.
Well back to the matter at hand. The vile pervert, she rather liked calling the Hatake that, was busy scrutinizing her along with the very sexy but blank-looking Uchiha and a gorgeous but sadly married and somewhere around thirty something Minato. Not to mention they were all in her personal space...how annoying!
And was that blasted younger Uchiha and Hyuuga Neji talking about her? The fluctuations in the air sure seemed like it! She breathed heavily, inadvertently sending some air up her hair, lifting the strands around her face away momentarily. She also saw fit to send a piercing glare their way to they stopped their not so discrete whispering.
How long was she going to have to put up with this? For an indefinite amount of time? Troublesome was certainly an understatement to describe her situation.
"I'm very impressed Haruno-san," Minato praised as he watched the coils fade into dust, "That was three elements in one."
"Hai Minato-sama," Sakura smirked lightly, "My father trained me well."
Minato nodded, "Now I do believe we were going to hear about you before I walked out of my tent."
Sakura understood a subtle order when she heard one. She would disrespect that vile pervert as long as she could but she could never do the same to this man, "Yes sir. I'm a couple years younger than my sister but I was born with many great abilities. My father kept me at home since he was retired so that I could advance quickly in my studies. The caravans were having some troubles with bandits along the roads so instead of hiring other to protect them, he trained me. I'm not seen much around the village because I spend most of my time on the roads as the lone guardian for our silk products. Since I've started working for him every single attack on our caravans end in bloody deaths to those attacking."
Minato nodded again, "I see you look quite young are you even of age to be here?"
Sakura's eyes narrowed slightly, "My age is of no importance. I will not let my crippled father go to war where he will lose his life. For all the service he provided for the village as an ANBU he deserves to live the rest of his life with his wife and daughter. I am perfectly capable of serving in his stead"
"You still didn't answer the question Haruno-san," Kakashi pointed out.
"What's it to you Hatake?"
"Haruno-san," Minato intervened, "I'm going to say this once, the next time you show anything but respect for your superiors it will warrant a punishment. Even one such as you with great talent is not above following orders."
Sakura held her tongue knowing that she had officially reached his patience level, "Hai Minato-sama, it won't happen again."
Uchiha Itachi, was for the most part, quite bewildered. However, it only showed through a very tiny and minuscule clenching of the jaw. Even Hatake had not noticed.
He had been discussing battle strategies with the honored Namikaze Minato and the man who had lowered himself quite a bit in his eyes since yesterday. As much as Itachi could understand why his superior had done so, and as much as his heart had been racing to the point of stopping, he still considered it wrong to do as such to a girl. Especially to the girl he was so very interested in…not that he knew…but it's the principle of the matter. No woman should have been subjected to that.
But then the blonde-haired knuckle-headed boy had been pushed in among a flurry of dust and dirt. The dirt and dust had then proceeded to come alive and tie the boy together. That lead to them going out and to him finding out that the highly esteemed Minato-sama actually could not do anything about releasing the binding. He had been trained to never assume anything but he could not help but think that a man who could cause Minato-sama to have trouble with a technique would be a much more stately man.
Instead he got a rather small man who was shorter than even the shortest of the group, not to mention an incredibly impulsive and stupid one. He was talented yes, and Itachi had watched him wield three of the five elements and once all at the same time creating those impenetrable bindings. Jutsu's like that took amazing control.
He watched the man's every move and noticed, with some form of admiration that every single movement was deliberate and calculated. What he found strange was the way the man seemed to flinch with reflex when another man came close to him. Despite the fact he claimed to like his personal space he found it rather odd that he would be so on guard around members of the same sex.
The man had dirty blonde hair that was pulled back into a short ponytail at the nape of his neck with some bangs hanging near his face and very full and pouty lips. How and why he had noticed this. He did not want to know.
He seemed very angered towards Hatake and when he found out that he was in fact, the brother of one Haruno Sakura that was forever on his mind since...all day yesterday he understood his anger perfectly. It mimicked his own.
It had already gotten Itachi thinking. Perhaps he could act a mite friendlier to the boy. And perhaps he could offer him some more guidance? Not that it seemed like he needed it. Even when the boy had been confronting the Hatake had he seemed afraid, it had seemed more like a righteous sort of anger. Righteous to a point that it was as if the boy had experienced it! But that was impossible for him to be Sakura in disguise… there were no scars on both her…his hands, and he smelt like a man. Walked around like one too…but still there was something that he couldn't quite put his finger on. Maybe it's because he hadn't met him before.
The man walked and talked like he was the general around here, but at the same time, he seemed so free and pleased, like a child walking from its crib for the first time. It was particularly strange. He had shown no humility whatsoever and had proceeded to quite happily insult his strategizer and advisor, had Minato-sama not come out he was certain the man would have used some extremely choice…or rather improper words. Itachi knew their confrontation was far from over. He could expect more of the similar attitude for training this entire week.
He noticed how he bristled when he saw the Hyuuga and his younger brother's lips move while looking at the boy. He seemed as though he knew what they were saying. It would be a first for someone to have such good hearing without him detecting chakra in the person's ears. This talented shinobi will be a great addition to the ranks.
Whatever it was about him Itachi concluded it was because he simply didn't know him. And hopefully through more contact and socializing this uneasy feeling would go away to be replaced with something different. Friendship, kinship…anything. Then maybe he could use this new relationship to get closer to his sister.
Ta-da...only one more chapter then it's all my original writing :) I'm kinda excited. and just a reminder i HAVE consulted with the original author for her ideas and such and she basically told me to run with it. So i am! I'm really excited for the next few chapter and i hope you are as well.
Ok so an explanation...For one I'M PREGNANT AGAIN! I'm so excited! For those of you that know it's been about 7 months since i lost my first one so my husband and i are super excited for another new addition :) But just like last time the baby comes with morning sickness and unfortunately it lasts all damn day...ugh...i swear this part sucks but i'm excited for my baby. Also i'm almost finished with my internship this is the last month so i'm cranking on everything to get it done ASAP.
For those who didn't read my profile i also had no computer for almost the entire month of July. i got it back this last week then went of vacation and now here's is the newest update!
Other story updates: Becoming One: I'm almost finished with Chapter 26 i've written and rewritten probably a million times b/c i want to get it right. i hope ya'll like the effort i put into it. Because it's taking me forever! Vitality of Sakura: i'm about halfway done writing that then i have to send it to Katherine then we will post it :) Hmmmmm yup that's it for updates. Look for Becoming One update soon :)