Note: Hi everyone! Yeah I know I didn't follow up Sasuke's sharingan or how it was supposed to work, but Daniel of Lorien, I was just focusing more on Sasuke and Sakura's relationship even though it didn't happen much in the second chapter. If it bothers you that I didn't follow well, you don't have to read it. / I'm not really an action type writer and since this IS a drama/romance genre, I didn't focus too much on the fight scene. I wanted a reason for Sasuke to be at least injured in the fight so Sakura can take care of him, mmmkay?
Chapter 3 – Father and Daughter
"You almost gave me a heart attack, Sasuke-kun…" Sakura spoke gently to him, while she finished bandaging Sasuke's wounded torso. She had already finished bandaging his wounded left leg as well, while at the same time, wondering what had happened in the battle against that cold looking man. When she saw him fall on the ground, she was reminded of the time when Sasuke was in a long coma before the Chuunin exam even happened.
Sasuke hit himself mentally in the head for not being able to fight back better. He had dealt with those dangerous fights before, but why hadn't he beaten the man? He wasn't even close to injuring him! He gritted his teeth angrily and winced when he tried to move from his spot. A hand gently placed itself on his shoulder. Sasuke looked up to find Sakura looking at him worriedly.
"You shouldn't move so much Sasuke-kun…besides…" She looked away, putting the extra rolls of bandages back in her backpack. "You'll get him next time."
The dark haired man looked at her curiously. Sakura noticed him looking at her and she looked up and smiled, sighing deeply. "Well, I've known you forever so I've caught up with your facial expressions when you're feeling a certain way…"
Sasuke stared at her for a second, then turned away, glancing at the sleeping man on the floor, with a long pink jacket that covered only a portion of his body. He noticed that it was Sakura's pink trench coat in which he wasn't used to her wearing. Actually, he barely saw her wearing it. "How is he doing?"
Sakura looked to where Sasuke was staring at and took a long deep breath. "He'll survive, I think…" He glanced back at her. She had on a look of regret, worry and anger, all mixed into one thing in which Sasuke could not comprehend. He could predict one thing about her, but so far, she's been so hard to understand these days. Ever since he returned from his battle with his brother, it seemed Sakura has been distant, as if she no longer…Sasuke shook his head mentally and slowly stood up, having to stagger a few times from the pain he was experiencing right now. "Where are you going?" Sakura's gentle voice spoke. There was a bit of worry in her tone of voice.
"We have to keep moving and-!" He stopped when he noticed a shadow moving in close, followed by the sound of footsteps coming their way. Sasuke slowly took out his kunai, while Sakura, noticing the same thing, also took out hers.
The shadow became smaller and smaller and the sound of footsteps became louder. Seconds later, the same man whom injured Sasuke very badly, appeared in front of them. He gave a bow to Sasuke and Sakura, before stepping aside to let someone else in. Sasuke flinched, while Sakura's heart beat a lot faster than it normally did.
A second figure appeared in front of them, this time, much younger. He had long red hair tied up into a ponytail behind him and his eyes were an eerie aqua green, similar to Gaara, but much brighter. He didn't appear to be much older than them, but his height made it impossible to guess exactly how old he was. The man was at least two more inches taller than Sakura's father. The man stopped and smirked. "THESE are the two that defeated Yai?"
Kayo nodded, standing a bit behind the man. "Mostly that boy over there, Yamato-sama." He pointed to Sasuke, who kept his hand gripped around his kunai.
The man named Yamato, turned his head to stare at Sasuke. "I see," he said, lifting up a curious eyebrow. "Remind me to kill Yai when I get back…"
There was a disappointed look on Kayo's face, but he bowed and said, "Yes, Yamato-sama."
"So you are the one Kayo told me about…" Yamato took a few steps forward and stopped just as close as he could possibly get to Sasuke and leaned down so low that their noses were almost touching. Yamato smirked at him. "I do not see any resemblance with your brother. He was a LOT more appealing than you…" He leaned back and laughed. He turned his eyes on Sakura. "It's nice to meet you, neechan!" Yamato smiled at him and turned around.
Sakura blinked, a hint of red coloring her cheeks.
Sasuke gripped his hand tightly around his kunai that his knuckles were turning white. He gritted his teeth, now pissed off by the man's comment. He was ready to slice off the man's long red hair before a voice stopped him.
"NO WAIT!"
Sakura and Sasuke both turned their eyes to Jounichi, who was slowly standing up from his spot on the floor. He staggered for a bit, but managed to lift his head up at Yamato and Kayo. "I don't want any trouble," he continued. "I don't want anyone else hurt."
Yamato turned his head to look at him. "Well no one would be if they just do as they are told!"
"WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE AND WHAT DO YOU WANT?" Sakura yelled. She too, gripped her hands tightly around her kunais. She was ready to charge, when she felt herself being lifted off the ground. A hand suddenly gripped itself around her throat. She coughed and looked down to find Kayo grinning up at her.
Yamato laughed, not looking at any of them. "Tsk, tsk what a temper your daughter has, Jounichi…I wonder where she gets that from." He glanced at Jounichi.
Jounichi felt his heart beat faster. Just watching her being choked to death like that, was killing him. He didn't need this…he didn't WANT this. Not like this…
"SAKURA!" Sasuke yelled. "You bastard! LET HER GO!" He was about to attack, when a hand on his shoulder stopped him. Sasuke turned to find Jounichi standing behind him now.
Jounichi shook his head at Sasuke. "No, I don't want anyone else hurt."
"What about your daughter? Don't you care about her?" Sasuke was annoyed with this man. It makes him wonder how on earth he could be Sakura's father when all he's done is run away from his family and then come back ten years later only to ruin his family once again. It was THIS man who deserves to be hurt.
"Of course I care about her…I care about her a great deal." Jounichi glances at his daughter. "I'm sorry for being such a terrible father to you Sakura. I haven't done anything to deserve you so…"
Sakura stared at him worriedly.
"I'll go with them quietly…please don't look for me." He removed his hand from Sasuke's shoulder and looks at Yamato. "I'm ready to go with you."
Yamato looks at Kayo and nods head, telling him to let go of the girl. Kayo lets her go immediately and she falls on the ground hard, coughing for air. "Good choice," Yamato spoke, walking off. Kayo stopped behind Jounichi and pushes him. Jounichi did not fight back instead he takes one glance at his daughter before following them.
Sakura quickly stood up. "OTOUSAN! DON'T GO WITH THEM! We still need to take you to the Mist Village!" There were tears now escaping Sakura's eyes. "You…you still need to tell me what's going on. You still have to explain to me where you've been in the last ten years…"
Jounichi stops and looks at her one last time and smiled. "You've done enough…thank you." He glanced at Sasuke. "Please take care of her for me…" Wind surrounded all three of them as they stood outside. Sasuke watched, paying attention to every move they make, in case they try to attack, but to his surprise none of them did.
"OTOUSAN!" Sakura ran towards them, but in mere seconds, they were already gone. Sakura stood there, frozen, covered in a whirlwind of leaves that were left behind. She looked up, unable to grasp the situation they were in. Sasuke watched her for a moment. There was something mesmerizing about the way she stood there, her hair flying in all directions from the wind, her hands clasped together over her chest, her tears twinkling in the night. "OTOUSAN!" she yelled again.
FLASHBACK...
She was six years old, a little girl with so many dreams. Her long pink hair flowed freely behind her, a red headband pulling back her bangs and showing off her forehead. Kids have always teased her about how big her forehead was, but her parents, her dear sweet parents always made sure she was thought of as beautiful. That is why Sakura Haruno loved them very much.
Sakura kneeled down to touch the soft petals of a fallen pink flower from their tree in the backyard. She loved the smell of sakura in bloom. Not only did they smell wonderful, they bloomed into beautiful flowers in the spring. She has often wondered why her parents named her 'Sakura,' when she knew she wasn't that close to an actual sakura flower. A sakura was much more radiant than herself, much softer looking and even more beautiful. She touched her own pink hair…maybe it was because of her pink hair that they named her after the flower?
"What are you doing, sweetheart?"
The little girl looked up and noticed her father walking down the cemented pathway her mother made around the garden. Her mother loved the garden and it was the best place where the young Sakura can forget all the worries in her life. The dancing tulips and the glittering roses were amongst the beautiful, but none could compare to the beauty that was blossoming in the spring of the cherry blossom. She stood up excitedly, expecting her father to return tomorrow, but this was definitely a surprise. "PAPA!" Sakura ran to her heart's content towards her father and she was scooped lovingly in his arms. "I thought you weren't coming home until tomorrow?"
Jounichi smiled and kissed her cheek. "To me, it's already tomorrow." He glanced towards the garden. "So what were you doing before I got here?"
Sakura pointed excitedly towards the sakura tree. "I was watching the sakura flowers bloom! And it's still blooming! It's so pretty!"
"Oh really? Do you want to watch it together then?"
"Okay!"
Jounichi carried his daughter over to the sakura tree and stood beneath it. The pink petals began to fall faster as the wind picked up and they could both smell the fragrance getting stronger and stronger, as a sign of the blossoming flowers in the trees. He gently puts Sakura back down on the ground, now holding her hand. They stood there silently, just watching the petals dance in the air.
"Papa?" Sakura spoke gently.
He looked down at his daughter. "Yes?"
"Why did you and mama name me Sakura?" She was looking up, her bright green eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Well…" Jounichi leaned down and picked up his daughter in his arms. He smiled at her and reached up with one hand to grab a blossom flower from the tree nearest to him. He placed the flower behind his daughter's ear. "Just like a seed, when you were born, you were just so tiny and vulnerable. Your mother wanted to name you something that as you grow up, you would bloom into someone beautiful. So, she named you Sakura. Every spring, a sakura flower grows from a tree and make the tree beautiful and that's just exactly how you turned out." He curled a strand of pink hair behind his daughter's ear. "You've grown into the most beautiful girl, even prettier than any other girls in your school. Your mother and I are so proud to know that your heart too…" He placed a palm against Sakura's heart. "Has become even prettier than any other girl's."
"Really?" Sakura asked, smiling.
Jounichi nodded. "Oh yes. That's why your mother and I love you very much."
Sakura smiled brightly again. "I love you and mama too, papa!" She hugged her father, the flower from her ear falling down softly on the ground.
END OF FLASHBACK
Sakura picked up the pink trench-coat from the ground and stared at it. He had lied to her that time. If BOTH of them loved her, why would he leave her behind without any explanations whatsoever? Why did he suddenly tell them not to attack those two people and then suddenly walk off with them?
Sasuke watched her for a moment as she stood there, not saying a word. Really, he wasn't good with this. Being a comforter was the last thing he'd be, especially if he hadn't come across with this kind of experience before. He didn't really grow up with a family; so for starters, he thought that Sakura was even lucky to have two parents. Deciding on something, Sasuke picked up Sakura's backpack filled with bandages and some other stuff and handed it to her. "We're going after him," he suddenly said. He grabbed his own backpack and put it on as well.
The pink haired chuunin looked up, surprised at this decision and blinked. "What?"
He couldn't believe it either. Normally, if they failed a mission, the best thing to do was go back to Konoha and inform the Hokage-sama on what had happened and from there, have her decide on what to in this situation. However, it was the look on Sakura's face that led Sasuke to decide to go after Jounichi. It wasn't like he felt sorry for her or anything or the fact that he cared for her… he just thought she looked pathetic, that's all… "You heard what I said." He shifted his feet and began walking out of the cave. "We're going to find your father and once we do, you can ask as many questions as you like."
Sakura stared at his back and quickly followed him. Did she hear that right? Did he really care for her this much to make such a decision? Had he finally admitted his friendship towards her? No matter how much it may hurt that he will always think of her as his teammate and now a friend, it still felt good at least to turn to someone and tell them your feelings. It's not like she still loved him anyway…right?
She was walking beside him now. Oh good, she caught up, he thought. Sasuke looked around. The aura left by Jounichi and the two men was still very strong, but he knew both of them should be careful about following that, since it could lead them to a trap. "Do you know where they went?" she finally asked, after a long silence. "This forest is awfully big." Sasuke didn't answer, which meant for her to be quiet. And so, she shut her mouth and followed him. She watched as he marked a tree with his kunai, just in case they get lost in the forest.
They had walked about half a mile, when they were suddenly brought back to where they started from. Sakura said nothing, though in her mind she was quite frustrated, confused at the same time and wondering what went on in Sasuke's head to suddenly have them go back to the starting point of their journey to bring back her father. "Sasuke-kun…"
Sasuke didn't answer again instead he began walking once more. Sakura sighed and followed him for the second time. And, just like before, they have only walked half a mile until they were brought back again to the beginning. However, instead of getting frustrated or trying for the third time to get out of the forest, Sasuke looked around the tree he marked and noticed something odd about that tree and the tree beside it. He hadn't realized it before but the other tree also had a mark in which he didn't remember putting in. Someone else must have come back for them and had done this in order for them to get lost. "They know we've followed them, so pay attention to where we are, Sakura…" He looked to where Sakura was, and she was sitting on a tree stump. "They've done something to keep us lost."
Sakura looked up and nodded her mind wandering. For a moment there, Sasuke wondered whether she had heard him the first time. "What have they done? I don't see anyone attacking us."
The dark haired Chuunin moved to where the two points meet and put his hand on the tree nearest to him. "Someone has put a jitsu to keep us trapped in this forest. We've been going around and around for nearly two hours now. It seems they knew we'd follow them eventually."
"So all we have to do is break the seal right?" Sakura spoke, standing up to stand beside Sasuke and do the same thing he was doing. She moved her hand around and eventually her hand touched Sasuke's. She stared at their two hands touching and slowly removed hers. "I'm sorry," she mumbled, before walking back to the tree stump.
"It's not uh…impossible, but in this case I think this seal is temporary."
"How do you know?"
Sasuke turned around too quickly to look at Sakura, when the pain in his side became visible again. He winced and placed an arm over it. "It's- it's because of the environment the jitsu is in. Some jitus don't really last long depending on how or where they're using it."
"So how long do you think it will last?" Sakura stood up. "Sasuke-kun, your wound is bleeding." She sighed. "You really shouldn't move so abruptly." The pink haired kneeled down beside the tree stump instead of sitting back down on it and patted it, telling him to sit there.
Sasuke turned back around. "I'm fine," he said, staring at the tree. There must be something on the tree that could deactivate the jitsu. He furrowed his eyebrows and leaned over to the tree and knocked on it. It was hollow…most trees weren't THIS hollow.
"Sasuke-kun…"
Sasuke didn't listen, instead he continued knocking on the other parts of tree, and most of them weren't that hollow except for the one he knocked on earlier. "Sakura, there is something here." He knocked on that hollow surface again, as he turned to glance at Sakura.
"Sasuke-kun, please don't try to move so much!" Sakura repeated, almost yelling now. She approached him and tugged at the sleeve of his shirt. "I don't want you to die!" Sasuke stood there, shocked by her actions. All he could do was look down and do nothing as she continued to rant. Sakura repeated her words over and over again, tears now falling from her eyes. "Why do people want to leave me so much? Do they hate me so much that they would rather be injured and slowly die instead of seeing me? Why do they risk their lives for me? Am I not good enough for-?" She stopped when she felt strong arms suddenly go around her. "No…let go," Sakura spoke, shaking her head, trying to get away, but Sasuke would not let go.
Sasuke didn't know what he was doing at this point. Maybe it was the fact that all he COULD do was embracing her in his arms and say nothing. He felt her shaking and soon he could feel her burying her face in his chest and crying her heart out. He felt her grabbing the back of his shirt, a sign of burden for the pink haired Chuunin. To be honest, he was quite surprised at his own actions and the fact that Sakura had any problems at all. He always thought, because Sakura always held a smile on her face every time he saw her, that Haruno Sakura had a loving family. However, Sasuke was all wrong. "I guess you and I are similar in some ways, Sakura," he suddenly said, without even thinking it.
Sakura stopped crying for a bit to listen.
"We both have problems with at least one member of our own family," he said, putting his arms back down, but she was still holding on really tightly, her face still buried in his chest. It really did kill him if she cried so much.
Sakura looked up and wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled. "You're right…" It was such a bright smile that Sasuke admitted was quite cute, although he would never admit it. "Thank you, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke nodded and walked back to the tree. "Did you see this?"
Sakura nodded. "Yes, you showed me."
The dark haired Chuunin knocked on that hollow surface the third time. "There's something behind this spot right here." He closed his eyes and summoned his Sharingan and allowed his Chidori to appear. "Stand back," he warned.
Sakura watched as the red in his eyes appeared again and in his right hand, sparks began to appear around his fingers. She took a few steps back. "Chidori!" He yelled, touching the palm of his hand with the electricity. Seconds later, the tree was found cut in half. Sasuke looked inside the tree, while at the same time he could hear Sakura coming back to his side, looking in as well. Inside the tree, he found a kunai with a seal paper attached to it that said, "Explode."
"SAKURA!" Sasuke grabbed her waist and they both landed on the ground, with their heads ducked just in time to hear the loud BANG around the trees. Sasuke kept his and Sakura's head bowed low as the explosions continued its massacre in the trees. Curious, Sasuke quickly looked up and noticed that at least six trees had been completely demolished, but it led to a new opening in which Sasuke was hoping for. He was ready to get up off of Sakura, when Sakura's voice startled him.
"Sasuke-kun! Your wound!"
Sasuke looked down at her, a look of worry in her bright green eyes. He slowly turned his head down at his wound and noticed that the bandage had come off, revealing the gash in his stomach.
"I'm so sorry! It wasn't put in properly!"
"Don't worry about that, we have to get going." He quickly got off of her and helped Sakura up. "Look, the explosion created a new path that wasn't there before," he explained. "The seal has been broken."
"At least let me put more bandages on it more properly!" There was a tone of defiance in her voice this time, telling him that she had enough of repeating herself. Sasuke sighed, giving up turned to face her.
Sakura looked around for her backpack and was relieved when it didn't explode among the rest of the trees and grabbed it quickly, taking out the bandages. "You have to take off your shirt," she commanded.
Sasuke was about to protest, but he lifted up his shirt slowly and allowed Sakura access to his wound. She dabbed more alcohol into it, making Sasuke wince and watched her do her work. He hadn't really watched her bandaging up anyone. Her soft hands moved around, touching his bare skin as she began working through his wound with the bandages she brought along with her just in case. He watched and part of him admired the way she worked. There was so much concentration for someone whose mind worried about the problems in her life. Normally, he wouldn't have that kind of patience, but her own patience put Sasuke in a whirlwind of new emotions he has never felt before.
"There! Done! See, that wasn't so bad, was it?" She smiled up at him and handed him his shirt back. "We can finally get going, but if you do as much moving to have that bleed again, you HAVE to let me know, or else I won't speak to you again!" She winked and turned. "It's this way right?"
Sasuke watched her back, her long pink hair flowing. "Yes." He blinked a couple of times and snapped out of it before walking pass Sakura to lead the way to the new path that had been created. What just happened back there? He thought to himself. There were too many things swirling in his mind that Sasuke decided to erase that memory from it. There was no need to worry for something that small anyway…
"Don't you think that was much too easy, niichan?" A woman with short red hair looked up from painting her nails and glanced at her twin brother who sat on a chair, watching the glowing crystal ball before him.
"That's expected from a man born from the Uchiha Clan," he said, smirking, instead of disappointed with the fact that the two had gotten away. His long red hair flipped to the other side of his shoulder as he turned to look at his sister. "Neechan, maybe it's time that you and Kayo show our guests the RIGHT way to the Mist Village, ne?" He gave his sister a smile and turned his head towards his very trusted friend, who was standing by the door obediently.
The red haired woman glanced at Kayo and scoffed. "Work with him? Yamato, didn't I tell you before that I DO NOT work with amateurs like him?"
Yamato raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh now, now, don't be so harsh on him, Kasumi. I believe that when you start working with someone knew, you will learn to work WELL with him! I mean, wasn't that the same with you and Yai?"
Kasumi glared at him and stood up, wiping off imaginary dust off of her miniskirt. "Then why did you have to go on and killing my precious, Yai-chan? He and I were having fun!"
"Because I am very protective of you." He stood up from his chair and walked over to her. "He was eyeing that pink haired girl the moment he set his eyes on her. He was cheating on you!"
Kasumi frowned. "Well even then, you could've let ME kill him for being such a jerk!"
Yamato smiled and placed a hand under her chin and forced her to look at him. "I'm sorry I didn't let you, but I wanted you to keep your energy. Maybe you and Kayo can hit it off as well…who knows, he could be the next man for you."
Kasumi jerked her face away from her brother and glanced at the crystal ball. "Actually, I have someone else in mind…" She approached the crystal ball and watched as Sasuke's face popped into the crystal ball. "He's very cute. I want to play with him."
Yamato continued so smile. "Good. Kayo, you have your second mission."
Kayo bowed. "Hai!"
"Let's give them a night to remember…"
GoodGurl: WOOT WOOT! Finally finished the third chapter! I am on roll! I just hope I don't run out of ideas, but then again, I have more ideas for my fourth chapter! SO stay tuned!