Ch 4: Recovery
A few days had passed since Naruto had left his home, the Village Hidden in the Leaves with his team. Again after three years, he stood in the midst of the small Village Hidden in the Waterfall at the entrance. He remembered the time Team 7 was assigned to protect the young leader of the village, Shibuki, who at the time was a coward due to something that happened in his past. His former sensei had come after the Hero's Water. The large tree was still there as it was years ago.
"Naruto?" the boy looked to the side to see the one who had made a promise to Sakura to keep him safe, watching him curiously. "Is everything alright?" his gaze questioning.
"Mm… yeah, Keisen," the Kyuubi vessel stated.
The Jonin, however, didn't seem convinced. "Memories?"
Naruto nodded and felt a strong, reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Give it time. That is all you can do for now. I may not know exactly what happened between you three and Sasuke will come around eventually. He has to get reacquainted with the way things run in Konoha. Come, we have a mission to complete. I know you want to get back to Sakura and Sasuke, so we'll try to finish this mission as quickly as we can." Keisen smiled him a promise. Through the few days they had already spent together, Keisen had become a friend. Tsunade had cautiously told him about the Kyuubi and he was assigned to protect him if it was the Akatsuki who were the one's responsible for stealing this important scroll. He couldn't help but smirk at the promise he made, he found out this guy was like himself, in a way, though not too much like him.
He followed Naruto after he had started walking, villagers had run up to them in a greeting and very welcoming manner. "Thank the heavens you're here so quickly!" one man said.
"If it isn't Naruto," someone had all attention on the person who said those words. There stood Shibuki with a cocky smirk on his face. His attire hadn't changed, still the light bluish shirt with the strap still strapped to his shoulder and a left shoulder guard and his dark hair (I forgot if it was black or brown) hair was still as long as it was the last time he had seen him.
"Shibuki," a smirk found its way across the boys' face.
"It's been a while," the leader responded waving for the shinobi from the Village Hidden in the Leaves to follow him into his house. Each had taken off their sandals to respect the household. "Please have a seat." The boy offered with a hosts' hospitality. As they were doing so, Shibuki sent out a woman to get some tea for his guests before the introductions. "Lady Tsunade has filled you in on this mission?" he asked.
"She has," the blue haired Jonin answered. "But will you tell us a little more about this scroll? Or the one's who had taken it?"
Shibuki continued, "This scroll has secrets and was originally created to protect this village and is called 'Sparing of Life'. But this scroll can be reversed and it is called 'The Harvester of Death', first by destroying its birthplace. Life is drained from the village, all of its resources. Even allied countries can be targeted – though it has to be after the scrolls original village has been completely destroyed, giving the enemy the upper hand for world domination.
"Those who took it had slipped passed our defenses. We have few ninja, and were unable to know of this. One of my men however spotted three men, though he wasn't able to get a detailed description of them. So we fight an enemy blindly, I'm sorry to say. The scroll was hidden in a secret place, but our enemies have found it with ease. They have had it for nearly four days. There is a seal on the scroll that takes seven days to dispel, interrupt that just once, and they have to start over."
"Well have any of your men found out where they ran off to hide?" Naruto shouted eagerly.
"You haven't changed," the leader shook his head, a smile on his face. The woman returned with some tea and many cups before she left again. "We have a few ideas, but we must start as soon as you're ready. If we waste any more time the closer they are to releasing the seal that locks its contents."
Naruto jumped up, fist in the air. "Well let's do it! Don't worry Skibuki, we'll find it in no time."
Keisen stood up beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder to keep him from running out the door. "Naruto, we should rest for a moment and think of a strategy."
"Are you serious, Keisen?" the boy was ready to go. "If we don't find that scroll soon, Konoha could be in a war."
"Naruto, come with me. Will you excuse us for a moment?" Shibuki nodded as Keisen led Naruto to a corner, his back toward them so they couldn't see the angered expression on Naruto's face. "We need to think this over, Naruto."
"I just can't sit here if the safety Konoha is possibly at stake…"
"I feel the same way, but we can't rush in there and kill ourselves. If that happened we would be useless to Konoha, so much for preventing a possible war. Besides, we're all exhausted, we made it here with little to no rest at all. We can't send the team off to their deaths with what little energy they have left." Keisen reasoned. "We have to protect this village and our own and our allies. Tsunade trusted us to do this and," his voice became quieter, "if it is Akatsuki you can't go rushing into their open and waiting arms. They would most likely destroy us to get to you. With you being the last one they need, it's risky. We need to strategize."
Naruto let out a frustrated sigh, "Not to mention the promise you made to Sakura… You're right, but when we're rested we go and kick some shinobi-!"
"Let's do that now then we can do what you want to do, we'll inform the Hokage shortly." Naruto beamed at this before the two returned to their seats.
"What should we do?" one of the other members asked the two.
----
It had been a couple days after his fan girl encounter; the Uchiha was summoned to report to the Hokage immediately. Sasuke, deciding to comply with her orders, arrived within minutes of receiving the message. Shizune walked out with Tonton in her arms, "Lady Tsunade will see you now." She said kindly.
The dark haired teen didn't answer her, only walked passed her and entered the door as the medic closed it with a gentle click. He stopped when he was standing in front of the blonde Sanin – who was sitting behind her desk. Her head was leaning on her hands which were clamped together in front of her face, eyes closed. There were a few more moments of silence between them. Sasuke just watched her, his face as ever impassive, he was annoyed already.
Finally, Tsunade released a heavy sigh that sounded like she was holding for hours. Afterward, she opened her eyes which were immediately on the youngest Uchiha standing before her. "Uchiha," she began, "I am pleased to know that you are not causing trouble in my village." Sasuke repressed a snort. "Though that is not the only reason I called you here." Her gaze turned more serious. "I need to know how you defeated Orochimaru."
Sasuke's face darkened at the mention of the snake Sanin – who had been his teacher previously. "What do you want to know?" he asked, surprising the Hokage when he answered. The Genin figured he'd better listen to her, he heard from a few sound shinobi about Orochimaru having to retreat from this medic after their first encounter years after they haven't seen each other, asking her to heal his arms. But that was the thing. He couldn't use his arms so he wasn't sure who would survive in a standoff. That creep was useless according to the Uchiha prodigy.
"Everything? How you beat him." Tsunade answered quickly. "I restrained myself from asking you while you were in the company of your peers."
"Hn. It wouldn't have mattered." His voice held a small amount of cockiness.
'Still pulling off the tough guy act.' The medic's brows furrowed together for a moment before returning to normal. 'He wasn't like this before he left. His last mission he wasn't so stuck up.'
"Just tell me…" she trailed, clearly not wanting to get into an argument. The paperwork had already taken so much out of her and she was actually caught up, for the moment so she thought she should get this out of the way first before she was bombarded with more.
"The three years were almost up…" Sasuke started going off in detail with a very intrigued listener.
"Excellent, Sasuke." The silky voice that belonged to the creepy snake Sanin said, pleasure rolling from his tongue with the progress of his student over the years. Sasuke was staring at him indifferently, his eyes reflected a loathing for this man but he still had a purpose to him otherwise this man would no longer be breathing. A katana was in his hands as his grip tightened, his knees slightly bent while the blade curved upward as he held his weapon in front of him, ready to parry any attacks that came at him. "Training is over for now, Sasuke." Orochimaru smiled as his yellow-slit eyes looked the boy up and down. "It's almost time, Sasuke, for me to have your body."
"I still haven't found Itachi!" the boy sneered venomously.
The Sanin chuckled softly, "You will, once I have your body." He turned his back, "I will see you in a few hours to have the transfer."
Sasuke watched him leave with a scowl. This man was not one to be trusted. "Come now, Sasuke." The boy didn't have to look to recognize the voice. "You should be honored that Lord Orochimaru has chosen you to be his vessel."
He looked at the silver haired medic as he adjusted his round glasses on his nose, he scowled at him. "Is that anyway to treat a comrade in arms?" Kabuto smirked. "Let alone a friend?"
"I have no friends." Sasuke frowned.
"Oh, well then, I guess those other two whom you protected have meant nothing to you? Naruto or that girl, Sakura, was it?" By now he was grinning. "They weren't your friends? They seemed so disappointed to hear that you could care less about them when they had done so much to get you back. And this is how you treat them? What kind of friend would do such a thing? Someone they considered friend who turned his back on them and all for power, power that only Lord Orochimaru could offer and you don't even show loyalty to him by wearing the sound headband. He has really been patient with you."
"Hn." The soon-to-be vessel for Orochimaru walked away, nose stuck up in the air as if he could careless. Kabuto watched him, smirking.
'The things you think you are doing aren't really for your benefit, but Lord Orochimaru's. I'm surprised even the younger brother of the great Uchiha Itachi can't see that.' Kabuto returned to his first task.
Only a few hours had passed since training and Sasuke walked down the darkened halls which were lit by lanterns spread ten feet apart. This place has always been gloomy. It wasn't homey, but it was what Sasuke had become accustomed to, it had become his second home. He came to a large door, Orochimaru's thrown room. Two guards bowed to the Uchiha before quickly opening the door for the boy. Sasuke walked in with haste to meet his sensei and his faithful Kabuto.
"Ah, Sasuke," Orochimaru's voice said with its silkiness. "Are you ready for your end of the bargain to be complete?"
Sasuke glared and the Sanin continued, "Kabuto… leave us."
The silver haired medic looked at Sasuke cautiously then back at his master before standing reluctantly. As the door closed, the dark haired boy looked back at the snake man – who started smiling just as he stood up. "Are you ready to become my new body?" he didn't even wait for an answer and sent a purple glow toward the boy, surrounding both bodies. Sasuke remained unfazed by this whole thing. Orochimaru took a step closer, his grin snaking its way across his face.
"I have waited years to posses the Sharingan," the man said.
'My time is up,' the boy remained as he was. 'But my goal hasn't been achieved. I haven't kill Itachi, he told me he would give me that power.' He could feel the fusion grow a little stronger as it continued to increase.
"It won't be much longer, Sasuke." The snake Sanin began. "Your body belongs to me now."
"No…" this startled the man and a frown formed on his face. He looked at the Uchiha in front of him. His expression was of loathing, hate now burning in his eyes. The Sharingan activated and the Sanin flinched.
"It's not possible!" he took a step back and Sasuke smirked, taking a step forward.
"You are of no more use to me. My brother is still out there and I have to avenge my clan."
"Wh-What's going on?" Orochimaru asked, suddenly realizing that his jutsu had turned against him and the last thing he seen was the spinning tomoe of the Sharingan. Throughout the lair, the Sanin's scream echoed.
Tsunade sat there, her arms crossed and a surprised expression on her face as Sasuke finished his tale. "Instead of Orochimaru absorbing you, you absorbed him?" she asked to clarify that she heard clearly. Sasuke nodded.
"After that I formed my team to track down Itachi, we met once, before your shinobi intercepted me."
"It is interesting to hear that my old teammates own jutsu turned against him. I am surprised you were able to. That does not happen often, Sasuke, especially on a Sanin. Where is your team now?"
Sasuke remained silent. Tsunade raised a brow, "So you abandoned them just like you did Naruto and Sakura and Kakashi?" she remained unfazed by the cold glare she had received. "Is that all?"
"Yes."
"If there is anything else that comes to mind, I want to hear it." Just then there was a knock on the door. "Enter." The Hokage said, not knowing who it was.
The door opened slowly and Sakura entered, looking from Tsunade to Sasuke then back to Tsunade. "Sorry to interrupt. Morning Tsunade-sensei, Sasuke." She said to each in turn as she stopped, standing beside her old crush, bowing to the woman. "I came to ask if you had a message for me."
"I do. I received it just a few minutes ago." The blonde reached down on her desk to grab a scroll and handed it to Sakura.
"Thank you, sensei." She said as she opened the scroll to read its contents and walked away just a bit from the two, both watching her every move. A smile curved on her lips as she finished, rolling it back up and handed it back to Tsunade before turning to an impassive Sasuke. "Naruto's fine." She returned her attention to her teacher. "I'm glad to know that they're well, but the missions going to take a little longer than expected."
The slug Sanin nodded before walking to the window. "I thought it would."
"Do you have any idea who it could be?" Sakura asked.
"I don't."
"What?" both females looked at Sasuke.
Tsunade eyed him, "We cannot speak to you about this matter. Not until we believe you are completely loyal to Konoha again. You are dismissed"
"Hn," he said, hands in his pockets, turning to leave.
"Well, I have to get to my shift at the hospital, let me know if there is any more news on Naruto." Sakura waved to the woman who had trained her. "Bye Tsunade."
She was too deep in thought to answer her student. 'So Orochimaru, your downfall was one of your own jutsu. Power comes with a price and you just paid yours.'
----Three Weeks Later----
Naruto was panting heavily, along with the rest of his team. They had just finished a long battle and were almost completely drained of chakra and energy, a deadly combination. "What… are we… going to do… now, Keisen?" Naruto asked through breaths. His face was bruised and stained in dirt.
The blue haired teen was a little worst than the others. Blood stained his clothes and skin. Deep cuts along his body and a broken arm and fractured leg, though he was able to smile through the pain. "First, we return this scroll to its rightful owner. Then we return to Konoha." He stood at full height, placing the scroll in his pocket to keep it safe before limping over to one of his teammates who was unconscious. Keisen laid the man over both shoulders, right arm between his legs. He looked over the other three and Naruto. "The sooner we get to safety the better."
Naruto wrapped one arm around a weakened comrade and had him swing an arm around his shoulder for support and the last man was able to walk on his own. The leader looked over his squad. True he was in worse shape than the others, but he was more concerned about his companions. "Let's go." Then he broke into a sprint, followed by the others.
Silence ensued when they returned to the Waterfall Village to return the scroll to the leader of the village. Many of the citizens praised them as they entered, but were stunned by the amount of injuries they received. The leader ran up to them, "You've returned." His voice held happiness with the success of the mission, but his eyes surveyed their injuries and his expression saddened. "Come, rest now." He gestured toward the door, leading them. Another man was taking the man away from Naruto and another helping Keisen get his friend off his shoulders.
"Keisen?" Naruto looked at the leader of the team, his voice filled with worry. "You need to rest more than we do. Keisen needs treatment. Someone help him first."
"Get a medic," Shibuki ordered as he helped the Jonin.
Hours had slowly passed. "Naruto," Shibuki came in to the waiting room that Naruto and the other members of his team looked at the leader as they had been sitting in for a few hours. The blonde quickly jumped up, worried for his friend in the other room.
"How is he?" Naruto asked, concern leaking his voice. By now the other three had come up behind him. They had been healed as best they could with the only medic this village had, though she wasn't as skilled as Tsunade or Sakura of course. Since their leader had been in the other room for a few tiring hours they had stayed, not even resting. All four of them were proven very stubborn.
The older boy shook his head, "Not too well I'm afraid. You know our medic doesn't have enough training to heal him, but just enough to stabilize him. It would be best if you returned to Konoha and had the Hokage or Sakura heal him. We can't do any more for him, or you, here."
"So we have to leave now if we are to save him?" Shibuki nodded. "Alright, I need to send a message to Grandma Tsunade and tell her that we have an important patient for her. You three, get ready to leave, now." They did as Naruto commanded as he turned to Shibuki. "Sorry we couldn't visit longer but Keisen needs to be treated."
"I understand and I wouldn't want my teammate to suffer either. Just travel safely, especially since you are low on chakra and rest."
The blonde nodded, "We will."
"Thanks for the trouble you went through for us." At that second the other three arrived for their departure.
Naruto walked into the room where Keisen was resting. The doctor looked at him, "He's stable, but I'm not sure how long it will last. The quicker he gets to Konoha the better his chances." Shibuki and the doctor helped the unconscious leader onto Naruto's back, arms around his neck and legs around his waist.
"Alright," Naruto turned toward his companions, "we're returning to Konoha."
This chapter is a little shorter than the other ones and I was stuck on this chapter so hopefully it was somewhat decent. I didn't really like how this chapter turned out, so hopefully the next one will be better.
If you have ideas or suggestions I would love to hear from you! Don't be shy! Anyway, please review and sorry that this chapter sucked…