Author:
UnknownShinobi
Title:
Between
Category:
Anime – Naruto
Disclaimer:
Something just for all you troublesome lawyer types…
All characters, countries, and jutsu pertaining to the Naruto belong wholly to Kishimoto Masashi.
In no way am I trying to claim ownership of Naruto, it is merely a basis for this story.
Following Apply ONLY to the current chapter.
Warnings:
Character Death
Pairings:
Sasu?, Slight InoSai
Other:
Seven years after current manga arc (Training Naruto)
Heavily inspired by the recent movies I've been watching
Damn me and my forgetfulness...
Sakura-centric
Speech/Though Guide
"blahblahblah" normal speech
'blahblahblah' thought
"blahblahblah" flashback speech
"blahblahblah" Kyuubi
Between
Chapter 4: Remembering the Past - Broken
Swinging her legs out of the warmth of her bed, Sakura gently places the photograph back on the table top and hesitates. Hesitates because the next picture lies face down; had she the will, it wouldn't even be there. Just touching the dark wood of the frame transmits a cold wave of emotion to her.
Her fingers are quickly pulled back and clutched to her chest, as if they were burnt by the smooth surface. And she tries to banish the feelings from her mind, tries to blockade the tenderness of her heart even as the portrait appears before her mind's eye.
Konoha's Golden Team, or what's left of it. Eight years with a perfect record and then this… All because they underestimated their opponent. Never expected him to sink that low. They're broken now, beyond repair – there's no way they'll recover.
-FLASHBACK-
"Sasuke!"
"Dammit, the seal… it's activated…"
"You have to calm down."
"I'm not doing a damn thing!"
"Oi, teme, move it!"
"Sasuke!"
"You bastard!"
"Sakura…"
"Don't worry…I'm not going to let you die…"
"There's nothing you can do…"
"Chōjū Giga: Ryu!"
"No… no…"
"Rasengan: Kaze no Yaiba!"
"Don't look in his eyes!"
"Amaterasu!"
"Sakura-san!"
"Uhhhh…"
"S-sasuke-kun?"
"Dammit, teme. You just had to be the hero one last time!"
"Shaddup, dobe."
"Shh… Conserve your energy…"
"Hey! The weasel's back up!"
"Naruto. Take my eyes…"
"Nani?!?!?!?!?!"
"Can't you see I'm dying? They'll be of no use to me…"
"You're talking nonsense. You'll live! You have to! For your kid's sake!"
"Hurry up! I can't hold him off much longer!"
"I'm sorry…Tell her I'm sorry…"
"You'll tell the pig yourself…"
"Sakura-chan…"
-END FLASHBACK-
The voices echo, the screams reverberating. There's a first time for everything, and in the life of a ninja a first is usually something bad.
It was the first time she had actually lost a teammate. The first time she hadn't been able to save the endangered life. The first time she had actually felt hate.
Picking up the picture, she stares at herself, smiling at the baby Sai has sitting in his lap. A smile almost obscured by her hand. Most anyone else might think that she was trying to subdue a fit of giggles, but that's because her eyes are hidden behind her long bangs.
Naruto's hand is on her shoulder, the bandages on his eyes and his awkward smile making him look half mad – like one of those blind old men you read about in stories. His head is cocked at angle which makes him look like he's peering at the child, and perhaps he is.
Ino is the only one in the picture who doesn't seem happy. She appears to be on the verge of tears, barely holding back. The platinum blond leans against the painter, her hand hovering over the bundle and an ivory fist grasping one of her fingers.
She can't dwell in the past. None of them can.
The past cannot be changed, yet cannot be forgotten.
But they must look towards the future.
Towards a future of hope…
Where the mistakes of the past can be corrected…
They must look forwards for them…
For the children of the future…
For Uchiha Azuki…
Jutsu Definition:
Chōjū Giga (user: Sai) – Super Beasts Imitation Picture
Sai basically draws a picture on his scroll and then uses the technique to animate it. Ryu (dragon) was added to the end so that the reader knew what Sai brought to life.
Rasengan: Kaze no Yaiba (user: Naruto) – (self created)
Rasengan – Spiraling Sphere
Kaze no Yaiba – Blade of the Wind
Rasengan: Kaze no Yaiba – Rasengan Variation: Blade of the Wind
It's a play on Naruto's Fūton: Rasengan and Fūton: Rasengan Shuriken, except in this case he covers his entire arm with spiraling winds – thus creating a blade.
Amaterasu (user: Itachi) – Shining Heaven
Creates black flames that can burn through anything. Mangekyo Sharingan is necessary to activate the jutsu.
I'm such a lousy author... I copied Kakashi Gaiden...
Wait! Not done! Fanfic NOT complete!!!
I reread the previous chapters and have decided to run through them again to fix some of my grammatical errors. The next chapter bit take some time in coming as I have a couple of essays to finish up for school.