I slowly pull my shirt over my head and discard it on the bathroom floor. My side had started bleeding from the fight earlier and it annoyed me. It hadn't even been a fight. I simply moved too much and this damn thing bleed. As the tub filled with cold water I released chakra into the wound.
This day had been difficult. The travel to Suna had been quick but I was still on edge from my mission. I couldn't help but think about Orochimaru. He knew something he shouldn't, and what that was I had no idea and it was starting to piss me off. I took a deep breath and pulled down my pants.
I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror and I looked like hell. Cuts and scrapes were all over my body and those damn gashes on my shoulder and side burned. I climbed into the ice cold bath and at first my body screamed in agony but slowly it relaxed as the tensed muscles relaxed and became numb.
I stayed in the bathtub until the water was no longer cold. I dried myself off and wrapped a towel around my body before walking to Gaara's room. Gaara was sitting on his bed reading a scroll, but when he heard the door shut he looked up. He set the scroll down and jump up out of bed.
"What the hell happened?" Gaara stepped closer getting a better look.
"My mission had complications, but it was handled." I turn to the dresser, searching for pjs that wouldn't bug my body. I pulled out a lose pair of shorts and one of Gaara's old t-shirts. "Would you mind helping me wrap my side?" Gaara nodded his head and I dropped the towel, handing him my medical supplies.
"Sakura were was your team? What kind of mission were you sent on?" Gaara very carefully rubbed an ointment over the gashes and cuts, before wrapping a white gauze around my waist and securing a bandaged over my shoulder blade.
"It was anbu." Gaara stopped asking questions after that, he knew I wouldn't answer any anbu related questions. After he finished I quickly dressed and climbed into bed and laid on my good side. Gaara put away the scroll he was reading and laid besides me facing me.
"Sakura how are you adjusting to our arrangement?" Gaara's eyes stared into mine, desperately looking for an answer.
"I am still adjusting to the arrangement but I am not unhappy Gaara." He looked at me confused. "You are a wonderful man. We have been friends for a long time. I would be lying to you if I told you my feeling toward you haven't changed this last year. We were becoming extremely close. And who knows we might have reached this point on our own even if this arrangement hadn't happened."
"Did you mean it Sakura-chan?"
"Mean what?"
"When you said you love me?"
I close my eyes for a moment, allowing that night to replay in my head. The moment had been magical. For a brief second I forgot about everything that was going on. For a brief second I left loved and cared for. For a brief second I thought this was all I ever wanted. The words just slipped out. "I do love you Gaara." I opened my eyes and started into those deep blue orbs of his. "But I am still trying to understand all of these feelings. I know I am asking a lot but please be patient with me."
He flashed me a smile before he puts his arm under my head and carefully pulls me into him. "For you Sakura-chan, I could wait a life time."
We stay like that a while. I was slowly falling asleep listening to his heartbeat while he played with my hair. I was almost asleep when he stopped touching my hair. "Sakura?" He whispered.
"Mmmmhhhh" I mumble not wanting to completely wake up.
"That night we didn't use any form of protection." He says a little note of worried in his voice.
"Don't worry" I mumble. "When I joined anbu, I was placed on birth control. There is no need to worry Gaara." I sink my head deeper into his form, absorbing his smell, stealing his warmth.
Once again I slowly drifted back into dream land and Gaara began playing with my hair again. I thought for a moment this whole arrangement might not be a bad thing. Gaara cared deeply for me and maybe over time my feeling could develop even deeper for him. But for tonight I will put everything else aside and simply enjoy the fact I was in Suna….in Gaara's arms. His touch silenced every ache in my body and I could feel my body finally relax as I drifted off into a deep sleep for the first time in a very long time…..
It's been two long wonderful weeks with Sakura-chan. After our little talk her first night, I was put at ease. She wasn't going to run from this, no she just need some time and I was more than okay with that. These past two weeks we have been exploring our new founded relationship. I was beginning to crave her touch. I was becoming selfish, I didn't want Sakura returning to the Leaf. I wanted her to stay here with me, with us.
I let out a breath as I entangled her hair between my fingers. The sleeping beauty next to me had been amazing last night and I couldn't help but pull her naked form closer to mine. I could wake up every morning like this for the rest of my life, and if things go as planned I will. I bent down and kissed her forehead. We needed to get up and start the day, we had a morning meeting to see how the anbu were progressing with the new training.
After her fight no one questioned the new methods. Even the council began backing me up in the new changes that were happening around the village. The plan was finally working, and it was all thanks to her. Within two hours of being inside the village she had solved all the problems I had been dealing with for a month. To put it simply she was amazing.
I sat up, pulling my arm out from under her. I cupped her check with my hand and landed a sweet tender kiss on those beautiful lips of hers. After a moment I begin to feel her response and when I pull back her eyes flatter open.
"Good morning" I say as I climb out of bed and gather my things for the day.
"Good morning Gaara. Did you sleep okay?" She asks throwing her arms up into the air and stretching. I knew she was sore. She was been going none stop these past two weeks. She trained the new anbu day in and day out. When she did have a moment to breath she chose to spend her time training with Kankuro or Temari. She hadn't slowed down, it was if she was preparing herself for something.
"Yeah. You?" She nodded and climbed out of bed, wrapping a robe around her. Her injuries were finally almost gone. The two gashes had closed, and now all she was waiting for were the bruises to disappear. "I'm leaving for my office now. I'll meet you at the meeting?"
"See you then." She walked into the bathroom and I heard the water start. I quickly got dressed and made my way out of the house and too the tower. It was still dark out and not any people were on the streets. The silence set me at peace and as I reached my office the sun peaked out over the horizon and began burning away at the morning dew. I sat in my chair and watched the sun rise. Things were finally going our way. I smile at the thought and gave one last look at the sun before turning and giving my full attention to the files in front of me.
His foot swings toward my head and I barely have enough time to dodge it before he is already sending a counter attack. Wood wraps around my leg trapping me in place. I try to free myself but can't.
"Kakashi let's take a break, you aren't focused." Yamato releases the wood around my ankle. We had been at it now for a couple of hours. Yamato and I had made this a habit. Every morning Yamato and I would train for a couple of hours before Naruto and Sai joined us. I need an outlet and Yamato was all too willing to be my punching bag, and for that I was grateful.
I shove my hands in my pockets and look up to the morning sky. The sun was just raising but instead of giving off a nice warm glow, it was cold. Something was off. Something was wrong.
"So you feel it too?" My glaze leaves the sky and it falls on Yamato. He too is staring at the sun.
"Yeah." Yeah I do. These last two weeks had been hard. Sakura left in the middle of the night again for Suna and we didn't find out about it until she had already sent word that she had made it there safe. I kept replying that morning over and over again in my head. Why had I been so stupid to go and sleep with Yūgao? Why was I even stupider to not realize it was Sakura at my door that morning?
"Senpai are you ready to talk about what happened between you and Sakura? Or are you going to continue to space out until she returns home?" Yamato had been more than patient with me these last few weeks but it seemed I was finally wearing him thin. "Was it the proposal? Or did something else happen?" Yamato took a big drink of water, waiting for me to think of a response.
"It wasn't the proposal. I knew about that a few days before it happened and it's not what you think." I take a deep breath and clammed my racing heartbeat. "She walked in on me the morning of the festival with Yūgao."
Yamato immediately begins spitting out the water and coughing. I knew Yamato had thought my sour mood was all over the proposal. I could have dealt with proposal. What I couldn't deal with is Sakura wanting nothing to do with me.
"Why the hell did you go and do that?" He blurts out once he gains his voice. "You love Sakura why would you go and sleep with another women?" Anger flashes through his eyes. I had hurt Sakura once again and Yamato wasn't happy about it. "How did Sakura find out?"
"She showed up at my door and I answered it not thinking. She put two and two together." I shove my names deeper into my pockets and gripped my silver bells. Ah the bells reminded me of a simpler time. Back then I could do no wrong in her eyes, back then I was able to protect her.
"Kakashi…."
"She also found out about the protection detail Gaara assigned to her. She seemed pretty pissed about that too."
"How in the world did she find out about that?" Anger boils within me as I think about Gaara. The only way she could have found out was if Gaara had told her. "Why would Gaara tell her?"
"To turn her against me. Against us. I knew she wouldn't be happy about the protection detail which is why we agreed not to tell her. I am sure she feels like we betrayed her trust and think she cannot handle herself. That bastard is just trying to take her out of the village." I pull my hands out of my pocket and ball them into fists. Yamato walks over to me and places a hand on my shoulder, giving it a light squeeze.
"Would you like to continue training Senpai?" I took a deep breath and got into a fighting stance, hoping Yamato was ready to take some punches…
"So the program seems to be working." Gaara's eyes danced back and forth as he read the reports. The anbu had improved in all the testing areas, which was fanatic considering the program hadn't even been in effect for a full two weeks. The rest of the council members had left me alone since the fight. No one question whether I belonged here or not. No one dare question my strength anymore and it was a breath of fresh air to be able to attend meeting without everyone doubting me and my actions.
"Of course they are. We have our best trainer assigned to the job." Kankuro sat next to me in the meeting room, a grin spread across his face. I had spent a lot more time with Kankuro these last few weeks. He trained with me day in and day out, and no matter how many times I knocked him down, he got right back up. The anbu weren't the only ones who had been improving. Both Kankuro and Temari showed improvement.
"I am excited to bring back your fighting style back to the Leaf and start my men under the new found training program. In the near future I would like to send a group of Leaf Anbu to Suna and a group of anbu from Suna to the Leaf for training. The more our people interact as one unit instead of two separate parts the better."
No one in the room had objections and the rest of the meeting went quickly. Temari left after the meeting to finish some paperwork needed for the upcoming Chunin Exams and Kankuro, Gaara and I went back to Gaara's office.
"It has been great having you here Sakura. It feels just like old time again. Right Gaara?" Kankuro flopped down next to me on the couch smiling. "We missed you like crazy."
"I missed you guys too, but I have to return home soon." My attention was in the file in my hand so I didn't caught my slipup. I had referred to the Leaf as my home, something I hadn't done for years. When I talked about home I was always referring to Suna.
"Home? But I thought your home was with us Sakura-chan?"
"It is. You guys are my family. But I have another home in the Leaf. I have people I care about deeply over there to. Besides being the ambassador I have to travel between to two to make sure everything runs smoothly" I try to reason but I can tell buy the look on his face that he isn't buying it.
"Why can't you assign a second in command in the Leaf and coordinate everything from here in Suna?" Kankuro grabbed the file out of my hands, tossing it on the table, waiting my full attention.
I look at Kankuro and then at Gaara before responding. "Kankuro I can't stay here, not all the time. I have responsibilities back at the Leaf. There are things I need to take care of."
"But what about your responsibilities here in Suna?" Kankuro whined and I locked eyes with Gaara looking for help.
"Kankuro calm down. As an ambassador she has duties to both villages. Until the wedding Sakura is going to have to spilt her time between the two." Gaara sat at his desk reading a file while giving his little speech to Kankuro. He wasn't giving his full attention to us, which is why he slipped up. Unit the wedding? He did expect me to move here after wedding full time? What about my team? What about Naruto, Sai, Yamato…..and Kakashi?
"What do you mean until the wedding?" I ask standing up and walking in front of his desk. "Gaara I never agreed to move here full time. Even after we marriage I still have responsibilities back in the Leaf that will need my attention from time to time. I can't stay solely within Suna."
"Sakura as my wife I will need you here. If you need to travel to the Leaf from time to time that's fine, but you will be needed here." Gaara's statement catches me off guard. We had been doing so good these last few weeks that I ignored all the little details that still needed to be worked out.
I go to open my mouth and protest both Gaara and Kankuro when my arm starts burning. My heartbeat quickens as I pull up my sleeve and notice my seal on my arm forearm is glowing. "Oh no." Is all I manage to get out before the mark spreads up my arm, the burning sensation spreading with it. I drop to one knee as I close my eyes and try to concentrate.
"What's wrong?" Both Gaara and Kankuro are quick to my side, our pervious conversation forgotten about.
"The Leaf is under attack." I quickly stand and start performing my hand seals.
"Sakura what is going on?" Gaara panicky asks.
"I am going back to the Leaf now, I will send word as soon as I get there."
"Wait! Sakura let me go-" before Kankuro can get another word in I am disappearing into a cloud of cherry blossoms hoping that I wasn't too late.
The morning rays crept through the blinds telling me the new day had officially started. I signed as I stared ahead deep in thought. Ever since I returned back from the Leaf, Orochimaru had been sending me on pointless mission after pointless mission after pointless mission. He was wasting my time and it was starting to get on my last nerve.
The nights had become even longer since I seen Sakura. She haunted my dreams at night with that little comment of hers. What lie was she talking about? And more importantly how did she get so powerful?
I reach up and touch the seal on my shoulder. That feeling I got when she gave it to me, it was so warm. Her laugh had been stuck in my head and every time I closed my eyes all I could see was her battered body. I grit my teeth frustrated. I am wasting time. Every day I am focused on her I am not getting stronger to take down Itachi.
I get up and walk toward the waterfall, allowing its water to wash over me, hoping it will help me clear my head. After a moment it begins to work and I get into a fighting stance and start my chidori. The loud creping fills the cave, and the noise helps settle my inner demons. Today Orochimaru was sending me on another mission and I had to have my head clear.
Tsunade sat in her office drinking tea going over files for the upcoming exam. She had an uneasy feeling in her gut. Something was off, she just couldn't place it. This morning the winds were different, as if they were trying to send a warning. Of course Tsunade wasn't one to believe in superstitions but when she reached for her tea cup and it cracked she was differently put on edge.
Meanwhile Kakashi was walking back to his apartment with a bag of groceries. After his talk with Yamato he felt a little better, not having everything bottled inside of his chest. And after sparing for several hours with the males of the team it had allowed him to release some of his frustration. He was almost home when a shadow flew by above his head. He looks up and drops his groceries when he seeing enemy ninja flying above him in the sky.
"What the hell?" He lifts up his headband activating his sharingan, ready for a fight. The foreign ninja were strapped to yellow metals wings and by his count there was at least 50 of them in the sky. Kakashi takes out a kunai and throws it at one of the ninja above but before it makes contact the ninja releases a small metal ball.
As soon as the ball hits the ground, it explodes taking down a whole building. Fire erupts all around them and before Kakashi could even react to their attack, all hell breaks loose. One by one more bombs are dropped. Women and children scream as they run for cover. Smoke fills the village as bomb after bomb goes off. Citizens run for their lives not really sure where to go for safety.
Tsunade stares out her window, her hands balled into fists as she helplessly watches. She knew something was wrong, but she never imagined the village being targeted. Sakura took down all the camps, the village was in the clear. But as the flying ninja circle around the village Tsunade gets a better look at them, and she knows this isn't the work of Orochimaru. No there was another power enemy at play here.
"Send out the Level 3 Security Alert!" She orders at Shizune. Shizune runs out the door but the attack has already begun.
Leaf ninja take to the roofs trying to hit the moving targets. But one after one the Leaf shinobi fall, being too out in the open to hide. The flying ninja have machines that release weapons faster than the Leaf can keep up with. More bombs hit the streets and Choji is sent flying backwards.
"Are these guys using Wind Style or something?" He asks looking up to Ino. Before he can stand back up the ninja above have already targeted him and releases a bomb.
"Choji move!" Ino yells trying to alert him but it's too late for him to move. Ino watches in horror as the bomb goes off a few feet in front of Choji and smoke fills the air. "Choji!" Ino begins screaming making her way toward her fallen teammate.
"What the?" Choji questions as the smoke disappeared around him. He opens his eyes and uncover his hands that were wrapped around his head for protection. "I'm okay? How?" Choji looks up and notices a pink bubble had been formed around him. "What the hell-"
"Are you okay Choji?" Choji stands up at the sound of her voice. There Sakura stood, in a protective stance in front of Choji. How did she do that? Choji stared at her back not being able to answer as he took in the screen in front of him. A few feet inform of Sakura was a creator, leaving no doubt in his mind that he would have been blown to pieces if Sakura hadn't stepped in and saved him.
"Yes- Sakura how- what-?" Choji tries to form the sentences inside of his head but he is to shaken up. Sakura releases the bubble and turns to examine Choji. Her beautiful eyes glowed a bright green and her hands glowed pink. She touches his forehead and in an instant all of his minor cuts and starches are suddenly healed.
"Ino! Choji!" She voice is laced with authority as she calls out her comrade's names. "Get as many people as you can to the hospital." By now Ino had made her way down to Choji and was staring at Sakura. Sakura's charka was different. Her whole mood was different, Ino could sense it. "Keep your heads down and look out for one another." Sakura disappears into a cloud of smoke, leaving Ino and Choji to scramble to try and locate the injured.
Neji jumps up on a rooftop, holding two boys under his arms. His byakugan activated, scanning the skies. How did we allow this to happen? We should have seen them coming! "It's chakra. They're circulating chakra into the wings creating air pressure differences between the tops and bottoms of the wings to fly!"
Shikamaru stood on a roof top with five another ninja throwing weapons at the air born threats trying to take at least one of them down, but they were fighting a losing battle. Weapons are aimed and released at the men but are blocked by a pink wall. Shikamaru doesn't question the shield knowing damn well who it belonged to. He looks over his shoulder by cant see her. He looks at the other rooftops in his line of sight and notice similar walls put up. How is she able to do this? What jutsu is this? Shikamaru is deep in thought trying to pin point Sakura and doesn't notice the weapon flying toward his head until it hits the shield and bounces off. He shakes his head, trying to focus on the problem at hand. "Sky Ninja? Were there ever such things? I've never heard of them."
Building after building is exploded and civilians are set flying backwards. Pink floating chakra is starting to quickly fill inside of the village. Once the charka floats by a person all of their major injuries are healed and a bubble is put around the civilians for protection. Once the bubble was wrapped around a person, the bombs could no longer harm them. Everything around they would be destroyed but they would remain perfectly unharmed.
"To attack from the air with such strength…" Tsunade stood staring out the window in the Hokage Tower trying to assess the damage. She stared out into her village as another bomb was dropped. All she could think was that the village needed help more than ever and Sakura was hundreds of miles away in Suna.
"Who in the world are they M'lady?" Shizune questions.
Tsunade's eyes harden, "during the Second Great Ninja War, there was a group of ninja who excelled at a jutsu that allowed them to manipulate chakra and fly in the sky. They called themselves the Land of Sky. They opposed the Five Great Nations, and were destroyed by the Leaf."
"You're saying this attack is somehow related to those ninja. What if they are descended from them?"
"Then their goal would be the Leaf Village. And by extension, it's quite possible they'll seek revenge on the entire Land of Fire!"
Weapons flew the air as Kakashi carried an injured comrade to safety. Inside of a blown up building Kakashi found cover and set the injured shinobi down, sitting upright. The ninja reached up and held onto Kakashi's hand for dear life as the pain from his injure look over. Kakashi knelled besides him holding his hand knowing there was nothing more he could do for him. Sadness washed over Kakashi as he felt his comrade's pulse lessen. Kakashi looked up at the sky as the forging ninja circled around the fallen buildings.
When he looked back down, he noticed a pink floating substance that was hovering above the injured shinobi. Kakashi watched in amazement as the wound in the chest begins to smoke and after a few moments is completely healed. "What in the world?" Kakashi could sense it. The pink substance was Sakura's charka. Sakura! She must be inside of the village! The shinobi opened his eyes and locked his gaze with Kakashi's.
"What in the world just happened?"
"Sakura Haruno just healed you, you're going to be okay." Kakashi flashed him a smile before making sure the area was secured and disappearing into the fog of war to help more of the fallen.
One of the sky ninja flew along the taller building shooting needles into the windows trying to hit innocent targets. Luckily by now Sakura's chakra had spread throughout the entire village, and all the women and children hiding on the ground inside of their apartments were save from the rain of needles.
Bombs were dropped on bridges, causing the bridges to collapse. As they collapsed bubbles form around those who were standing on the bridge. They fall into the river, but the bubbles keep them afloat and all the falling derby bounced off the bubbles and sunk in the water.
Slowly every shinobi on the street are engulfed by a pink bubble as the rate of bombs drop increase. Some of the shinobi are sent flying backwards inside of the bubbles from the explosion and are knocked unconscious.
Tsunade notices the pink charka floating in the air and is confused as to what that could be. She steps closer to the window trying to get a better look to figure of if it was a part of the attack when a Sky Ninja flies up and starts shooting up the Tower. Shizune falls backwards as the window is broken. Needles fly toward Tsunade's head but lucky right before they make contact a pink wall is placed in front of Tsunade. As soon as the needles hit the floor the wall turns into a bubble that covers the inside of the office, making it impossible for the enemy to get to the Hokage.
"What is this?" Shizune slowly stands and touches the bubble.
"It's the village's only hope of surviving this attack." Tsunade lets out a breath. She was inside of the village. There was hope now.
Naruto ran through the broken down buildings, trying to make his way to the center of the village. When team training was over, Naruto stayed behind to practice more on the nine tails charka control. He had made his way deeper into the training grounds just in case he lost control, and when the attack started he was too far away to help.
Naruto's heart slammed against his ribcage as he ran at full speed. How could I be so far away when this happened? I wasn't there to protect them! I need to go faster! I need to get to Granny Hokage and make sure she is okay! Naruto stopped for a brief moment examining which way would be the fastest to the tower. The damage that had been done was unbelievable. The attack hadn't even been going on for that long but from the damage it looked as if it had been going on for hours. "What the heck is going on?"
Naruto goes to start running again when someone calls out to him. "Hey you there! Boy come help me!" Naruto turns to his right and see an older man holding a beam from a building, struggling to keep it up. "Lend me a hand!" The old man pleads. Naruto looks closer at the man. He had long white hair that went half way down his back. A purple bandana was tired around the top of his head. Naruto didn't recognize this man, and the clothes he worn held no leaf or clan symbol. In front of the older man was a man that was stuck underneath parts of a building struggling to breathe.
Naruto runs over to them. "Don't worry old man I got you." Naruto slowly lifts the beam, freeing the man underneath. The man is freed but badly injured. The older man is examining him, feeling around his chest. Naruto kneels besides them. "He needs a doctor and quick."
"There is a hole in his lung, he won't make it to the hospital at the rate he is in." The old man slowly pulls out a medical scalpel and slices a tube in his other hand.
"You're a doctor?" Naruto questions.
"Pneumothorax. Leaking air builds up in the chest and crushes the lung." The old man taps the injured man's chest on the side, finding the damaged lung. He shoves the tub into the chest and after a moment air escapes from the tub and the man's face relaxes as he is able to breathe easier. Naruto watches in amazement as the older man wraps the chest, steadying the tube inside of the chest. "Good now you can take him to the hospital." The man stands and starts to walk away.
"Me take him? But I've got to go after the guys that attack our village!" Naruto protested.
"Don't waste your time." The older man flung his backpack over his shoulder, his back to Naruto. "You would be like a stray cat jumping up to catch crows flying in the sky."
"Cat…Wait, a stray cat?!"
"Yes…You'd end up falling and being crushed flat. Right now you should focus on trying to find lives to save, even if it's just one. There will be plenty of time for fighting later. Isn't that right Naruto?"
Naruto bends down and picks up the man is his arms. "Wait how do you know my name?"
"Try to carry him without bending his chest, Naruto!"
"Hey! Old man!" Naruto calls after him, but he disappears into the broken down buildings, looking for more people to save. Naruto stands up and begins running to the hospital wondering who that man could have been.
Meanwhile Kakashi and Yamato run up the stairs to the tower. After the shinobi around them began to be encircled in a protective bubble, they knew they would be safe. Now they had to worry about the Hokage. If she was killed or badly injured the state of panic would only increase. They ran into the office, not brothering to knock.
"Lady Tsunade!" Yamato shouts, but she doesn't turn around, her attention is on the damage being down outside.
"Good you are safe." Kakashi walks closer to her looking at the thin pink wall that surrounded them.
"Yes though I wish I were the only one they shoot at." Tsunade notices some of the airmen have begun to fall back. Does this mean the attack is over? "They overtook the entire village but they didn't destroy the Leaf, and it looks like they are beginning to retreat. Which means they must have some larger objective in mind."
"Shinobi from the Land of Sky?" Kakashi questioned remembering an old war story his father used to let him back from the second war of flying ninja.
Bombs still exploded outside, but the four ninja instead of the office weren't as alarmed as they should have been. They knew Sakura was protecting those inside of the village. They thought the enemy was beginning to retreat and that the threat was over. They thought now was the time to stop and think of a plan of action. But they were wrong, so wrong. The men didn't start falling back because they were retreating, no they were simply giving room for their second line of attack.
A large flying aircraft begins flying into the middle of the village. Sakura takes note of the vesicle and knows exactly what is about to happen. "You have to be fucking kidding me!" As she scans the area around her she knows the bubbles wouldn't hold up against something like that. She had already stretched herself thin. The civilians might survive since their bubbles were laced with more of her charka than the shinobi she choice to protect, but she wasn't sure it would be enough. She wasn't going to be left with much choice. She was low on charka, and she wasn't sure if this was even going to work. She had only use this jutsu once before, but it wasn't effective, and there was much less at stake back then.
Slowly the aircraft opens and a man sitting on a structure is lowered. His face is covered and his arms and legs are wrapped. The signature coming off of him was strong. And as he gathered the charka around him in his hands a white glowing circle begins to form. Dark clouds from above and lighting and thunder can been seen and heard. The white bubble begins to change yellow and multiple across the bottom of the vessel.
Sakura sucks in a deep breath and bit into her thumb. This has to work, we have no other choice! "Susanoo!" Sakura screams out the name as pain takes over body. Blood starting running down her face from her eyes as they change from green to pink. The wind around Sakura beginning to pick up as Sakura slowly raises from the ground.
"M'Lady is that Sakura?" Shizune asks, breaking the conversation between Yamato, Kakashi and Tsunade on what needs to be done.
Tsunade eye's flows Shizune's line of sight and notices the vessel forming the large bomb. "No!" She screams. "If that bombs goes off they will be killed!" Tsunade goes to run out of the tower toward to bomb to try and save her people when Yamato grabs her.
"If you die the situation will only be worse." Yamato encircles his arms around Tsunade as she watched her student raise in the air.
"What is she doing?" Kakashi watches in horror not understanding what she was planning to do.
A mark begins to glow under Sakura's shirt on her shoulder. The cruse mark Danzo had given her was breaking. Slowly the powers that had been suppressed began to break through. This worried Sakura. If she lost control, these flying ninja wouldn't be the cause of the destruction on the leaf. She sucked in a deep breath trying to concrete as the mark spread across her body.
A pink gigantic, humanoid avatar appeared out of nowhere, with Sakura in the middle of it. Within the matter of seconds the avatar had developed armor and wings. Sakura pushes up off against the ground and flies into the middle of the village where the aircraft is. The sword it was holding disappears and the shield is placed above its head. Sakura stood in the middle holding her hands above her head, looking up.
"No!" Kakashi screams as the yellow bubble combine together and release in a single lighting blot directly above Sakura.
The pink bubble that were surrounding all the men and women individually inside of the village disappear. A purple bubble is formed underneath Sakura, spreading out throughout the whole village.
Sweat hold down Sakura's face as the bomb made contact with her Susanoo's shield. Electricity flowed though Sakura's body as she tried to absorb the rare power of the blast. Her gloves and long sleeves began disintegrating as the electricity tried to stabilize inside her body. "Come on. Come on! COME ON! AHHHH!" She screamed as the pain took over. Just a little bit longer. Hold on for a little bit longer and everyone will be fine!
The yellow lightning bolt began to slowly fade. Everyone below watched in amazement. Neji and Shikamaru watched as Sakura tried to control the bomb above them. They watched helpless and she tried to save the whole village on her own. Naruto hadn't stopped to look up to see why the area around him had change shades of purple, he was too focused on getting the injured man to the hospital. Sai stood on top one of the roofs staring at his teammate. "When did she learn something like that?" He stared helplessly as the power over took her.
Almost there! The lightning bolt completely disappeared and a wave of power is set out throughout the sky. The aircraft is sent flying outside of the village. Everyone below watching takes a breath knowing that it wouldn't be a threat any more. Sakura stays floating in the air for a few moments before the Susanoo around her begins to fade.
Black markings are all over the body and she is losing her battle of control. Layer by layer her Susanoo is stripped down. Sakura looks down at her village and smiles, seeing it okay before blackness takes over. The purple bubble below disappears along with all the remaining pink charka that was floating below heeling the injured. Sakura's Susanoo completely disappears and she starts begins falling with no way to stop herself…..
"Sakura!" Kakashi screams as he watches the love of his life fall not being able to do anything to help her.
"Ninja Art: Super Beast Scroll" Sai wipes out his ink and scroll and a hawk jumps off the page. Sai jumps on top and flew into the air toward Sakura. Sai stands up on the hawk and catches Sakura in his arms. Her face was covered in weird markings and smoke was coming off her clothes. Her gloves had been burnt off and her shirt had been burnt from the elbow down. Dried blood ran down her face. Sai gripped her closer to him as the bird dodge the rain of weapons the sky ninja threw at them.
The hawk increased its speed and flew above the sky ninja, high enough were they couldn't follow. Sai looked down at her worried. I wonder what he is going to do now that he knows you can perform such a powerful jutsu. Whatever is about to happen Sakura I promise I will be here to help you through it.
A few more bombs were released, but no damage was done. After another five minutes of the enemy flying around scanning the area, recovering data on their attack they started to actually retreat. The village was safe, at least for now.
"Those bastards have started to fall back." Shikamaru kneeled down on top of roof to watching the enemy disappear into the horizon. "Do you see why, Neji?"
"They've run out of chakra. They need to recoup."
"I see. So if we calculate the amount of chakra they've used up and what they have left, we should be able to determine the distance they're flying to get back." Shikamaru reasoned.
"So it would seem." Neji stood on top of a chimney besides Shikamaru. "Sai is no longer in the sky. I wonder if he has taken Sakura to the hospital."
"Whatever just happened, she took a pretty powerful hit. Hopefully she is alright. Let's go we need to talk with the Hokage."
"Right." The two boys disappear, hoping their plan of attack would be efficient.
"Ummmmmmm" Sakura began stirring in Sai's arms as he walked into the hospital. As soon as he enters the building Ino locks eyes with him and makes her way over to them.
"Sai what happened?" Ino asked leading the way to a more private spot. The hospital was littered with people, though no one was in serious condition, Sakura made sure of that. But now she was the one who needed help.
"She absorbed the blast. She hasn't regained conscious yet."
"Here set her on the bed." Sai sits her on the bed and Ino draws the curations around the bed. It wasn't the same as having your own room, but it was going to have to work, at least for now. "What are those markings all over her body? Why were her eyes bleeding" Ino asks slightly lifting up her shirt, trying to find the source.
"It's from a cruse mark and as for the blood I have no idea." Ino nods wiping off the blood, then she starts healing Sakura's arms. They had been burnt from the electricity and her charka was almost completely depleted. After ten minutes Ino had healed all of the visible injuries. Ino's hands stop glowing green and she smiles. "She should be fine Sai, she just needs rest."
"Doctor, here's another one!" A ninja yelled on the other side of the sheet and Ino's smile disappears. While the injured weren't critical, that didn't mean they couldn't take a turn for the worse. Ino locks eyes with Sai and Sai nods. Ino leaves Sakura side and begins healing the new penitents being brought it. Sai leaves to start bringing in the injured. Sakura is felt alone in the bed.
"Put her here." A nurse instructs. Naruto is leaning against a wall watching as the medical staff works around them. A doctor besides him begins having to perform CPR, due to a lung collapsing.
"Where is Sakura? She should be here." Naruto shakes in anger. He hadn't seen Sai bring her in. His back was turned setting down the man he brought it. There was nothing he could do to help. All he could do was stay against the wall by the window and hope he was out of their way.
"Doctor we are losing this penitent, come quickly!" A nurse shouts as a child starts having a hard time breathing.
"This isn't good, we are to short staffed and there is too many people that need our attention! Where is Lady Sakura!?" A nurse cries out, frustrated.
Sakura's eyes snap open at the sound of her name being called. The room around her is spinning but she slowly starts to sit up. She looks down at her hands, noticing that someone has treated her. She sucks in a deep breath and when she slowly exhales pink charka begin forming around her. The markings start fading away as Sakura regains control and once they are completely gone Sakura stands. She is wobbly and can't see straight but she clinches to the wall for support as she makes her way to the group of injured.
She pulls the sheet back and Ino makes eye contact with her. "Sakura what are you doing?! You're hurt go lay back down!" Ino tries to scold but can do nothing for her best friends, she couldn't stop the treatment she was preforming on the person in front of her.
"I-m fin-e." Sakura struggles on the worlds. She closes her eyes for a moment and when they reopen they are glowing green. The pink charka that was floating around Sakura begins dancing around the room. It spread throughout the room, hovering around the wounded for a moment before entering their bodies and healing them.
"Amazing," Naruto whispers.
"He is becoming stable!" A nurse yells in excitement.
"So is she!" The doctors and nurses breathe a breath of relief as their critical penitents return to a stable condition. But the moment was short lived as more and more people were brought it.
"Sakura when did you-?" Naruto watched in amazement as Sakura worked. Sakura ignored Naruto's question as she moved from patient to patient. Naruto stood against the wall watching Sakura, Ino and Hinata work. After ten minutes the type of patient brought in changed.
"She's stable. She'll pull through." Hinata called out overlooking the patient in front of her.
"Another?" Sakura questions. After the first rush of patients that were brought in, almost everyone else brought in was already treated and stable. But who would be doing such a thing? "It's just like the other patient Naruto brought in, this girl was treated perfectly. But who could do this and in the middle of a battlefield?"
Sakura was confused. While the patients had been treated correctly, it wasn't by common methods used in the leaf. No whoever did this was an outsider. "Sakura I saw an old man that was-"
Before Naruto could finish his thought a young teen is climbing through the window, starling Naruto, screaming "that was Master Shinnou!" The teen ran into the room looking at the patients around them. "Her and him…they were all treated by Doctor Shinnou!"
"Doctor Shinnou?" Naruto questions confused.
A doctor turns and faces Sakura, "that name sounds familiar." Sakura nodded her head, she too had heard of that name. But what was he doing here inside of the leaf?
"So you know that old man?" Naruto asked wanting to figure out how that man knew his name.
The teen lungs at Naruto grabbing Naruto's shirt in their hands. "You said you saw the doctor, right? Where?! Where is the doctor now?!"
"Hey! Wow! Chill out for a moment."
"My village….my village is in trouble and they need help! Please hurry and…" The young teen faints before they can finish their thought. Naruto catches them and locks eyes with Sakura.
"Naruto place them on the bed, then go and see if you can find that doctor. If their village is really under attack then there might be a connection between what happened over there and what happened here."
"Right!" Naruto places the teen on a nearby bed and jumps out the window in search of the doctor.
"Ino. Hinata." Both girls look at Sakura. "Can you handle things here? I need to go talk with the Hokage."
"Sakura are you sure you're okay to be moving around. You are hurt pretty bad." Ino looked over her friend worried. The markings might be gone but that doesn't explain what happened.
"I'll manage." Sakura turns and walks to the door before turning around and locking eyes with Ino and Hinata. "Thank you Ino." And with that Sakura disappears out of sight.
I reappeared at the Tower on top of the stairs. The world around me was still spinning and I was having a hard time focusing. My body didn't want to move. My body was still in shock from the blow but I didn't make time to wait around and recover. Their counter attack could happen at any moment and we had to be ready.
I slowly begging walking toward her office, my hand gliding against the wall for extra support. With each step I took it felt like someone was slamming my head in with a brick. Ino did a great job healing my hands but that wasn't were the real problem lied. When I see Tsunade's office door I force myself to stand straighten.
I push open the door and walk in as straight as possible. Inside of her office stood Tsunade, Shikamaru and Neji. "M'Lady are you alright?" I manage to say as I walk deeper into the office letting go of the wall. I didn't want to appear weak. Everyone eyed me for a second. I look up and notice the window behind Tsunade's desk has been completely blown out and I notice weapons that had been scattered across the floor.
"Sakura!" Tsunade jumps up out of her desk yelling once she has processed that it is actually me standing in the room. She appears in front of me, pulling me into a hug. I close my eyes and allow her to squeeze harder. "Thank god you are okay. How-how were you able to do that?" Tsunade pulls out of the hug, her hands on my shoulders looking me in the eyes.
"Now is not the time to explain. We need to make a plan of action in case they plan to attack again." Tsunade stares at me for a moment before releasing me and walking back to her desk.
"Neji and Shikamaru were just talking about a formula that will allow them to calculate the enemy's location based on how much charka they have left."
I nod my head. "Is there anything I can do to help M'Lady?" The dizziness had gotten worse, but I was fighting my best to hide it. I didn't want to be sent home. I had just released a secret I had been hiding from Danzo and I was worried how he was going to react. I didn't want to be alone, no if I was alone he would send someone to summon me.
"Sakura you should rest." Shockingly it was Neji who commented. "There is no reason why you should be on your feet. You absorbed that blast. You're hurt." Neji eyed me up and down. What had he seen with those eyes of his?
"I am fine. Besides I think we have more than just our attack to worry about."
"What do you mean Sakura?" Shikamaru questioned.
"There is a teen in the emergency room right now saying their village was under attack and that they needed help. Before I could question them, they passed out. I sent Naruto out to find the kid's master who is apparently inside of the Leaf right now. I have a gut feeling the two attacks are connected."
"Interesting." Tsunade closed her eyes thinking. "Neji, Shikamaru can you go into the briefing room and begin working on your calculations, I need to speak to Sakura alone." The two boys looked at me before nodding and walking out of the room.
"M'Lady?" I questioned confused as to why she would send everyone way. We didn't have time to focus on me, we had to think of the village's needs first.
"How did you know we were under attack Sakura? I thought you were supposed to be in Suna for another week,"
"I was but when one of my seals went off I knew something had happened, so I came running back here to help." My eyes drift to the floor boards, avoiding her gaze. "I am sorry I wasn't here sooner. If I had never left…this wouldn't have happened."
"Nonsense. Sakura what you did today saved hundreds of lives. But I have to ask you how you were able to do that. How were you able to perform an Uchiha jutsu? The Susanoo is a very rare jutsu that very few Uchiha were able to perform. How is the world were you able to do it?"
"M'Lady once this enemy has been taken down I promise to explain everything."
Tsunade opens her mouth to say something when her door is slammed opened and Kakashi and Yamato come bursting in. "She isn't at the hospital! I can't find her! What if she is-"Kakashi stops mid-sentence. Everything about Kakashi screamed panic: his stance, his aroma, his charka signature.
"Sakura-chan you're okay?" Yamato slowly manages to ask stepping farther in the office.
"Yes why wouldn't I be," I say turning my back toward the two anbu, giving my attention back to Tsunade. "I need to go form a new seal around the village. The old one broke when I transported here."
"Very well. Kakashi, Yamato go with her."
"M'Lady that isn't necessary." I tired reasoning. I didn't want to be left alone with these two. I was done. I still wanted as much space between me and Kakashi as possible and I was tired and didn't want to deal with all the extra emotions that came from being around him.
"Sakura either let your sensei and captain escort you or I will send you back to the hospital to resume treatment." She threatened and the look in her eye I knew she meant it.
"Alright, let's go." And with that the three of us walked out of the office, no one dare saying a world as we made our way to the Hokage Monuments.
"You've been a great help Naruto." Doctor Shinnou stood beside the bed watching over the young teen, while Naruto sat in a stool at the foot of the bed.
"Well I couldn't just leave your apprentice alone, old man."
"Apprentice?" The doctor questioned looking fawnly at the child.
"Yeah...You're this guy's…Um, this kid-"
"Amaru" the doctor corrects.
"Right, you're the great doctor Amaru was talking about aren't you?" Naruto's eyes leave the doctor and fall on the child lying asleep in the bed.
"That's kind of you but I'm not so deserving of a title like doctor."
"That's not true. Without you, there would have been a lot more wounded people who wouldn't have survived. That's what Ino and the rest of the doctors keep saying."
Shinnou smiles at Naruto before his face hardens in sadness. "Amaru's village is located on the outskirts of the Land of Fire, however last night, some unidentified ninja attacked it. Many people were injured. It seems Amaru came all this way to seek my help."
"So no one knows who was behind the attack?" Naruto notice's Amaru beginning to wake up and jumps up off the stool and leans over the bed. "Hey you awake, little boy?" Amaru jumps up and nails a punch right in Naruto's stomach sending him flying out of window and into the night's sky. "Why is it always me?" Naruto cried as he hit the ground. Man I can already tell this boy is going to be a lot of work.
We had followed her to the monuments without talking and now we stood a few feet away as she began to form the new seal. I was still trying to get over the fact that she was okay and walking around. That blast, I stood in the office frozen as I watched her absorb it. I thought it had killed her, I thought I had lost her….When I saw her in the office it took every ounce of will power I had to no run to her and pull her into me. I wanted her to be sitting in a hospital bed receiving treatment, not off trying to perform another powerful jutsu.
Something about Sakura was different. As she walked she slayed slightly, and her feet shuffled underneath her. It as if she was forcing her body to move. I tried to stay as close as possible to Sakura without getting into her personal space, wanting to be nearby in case she collapsed.
Sakura bit her thumb and started weaving hand signs, too fast for me to be able to read without the use of my Sharingan. Her eyes glowed green as she knelt down and touched the ground. Bright green glowing symbols began spreading out around her, wrapping over everything in its path. Yamato and I stood in amazement as we watch it spread throughout the village. On top of the monument we had the perfect view. Neither one of us realized just how strong she had gotten. The pace of the symbols increased as it reached the edge of the village, and as soon as the markings hit the bottom of the gates they begin scaling them. Once the entire gate is covered the marking take off into the sky, until a doom like bubble is formed and all the markings reach a point in the center, directly above the village. The bubble glows a bright green for a moment as everything makes contact and the jutsu sealed, before dismissing to only a faint green glow.
Sakura slowly stands, pulling a kunai out of the strap on her leg. She looks up and throws the weapon up into the sky. It hits the doom and goes through with no problem. However, when the weapon starts to fall and it hits the shield it doesn't go through, it bounces off and slides down the bubble onto the ground outside of the village. "The seal should hold up for the next four days, giving us more than enough time to counterattack."
Yamato eyes bounced back and forth from Sakura and the shield. "Sakura how do you know how to perform a jutsu this complicated?"
Sakura closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. "During my training I research a lot of different Justus. This happened to be one of them, though I have given my own twist on it." She opens them and her normal beautiful eyes meet mine. "Now if you excuse me I need to go back to the tower and help Shikamaru and Neji." Sakura walks past me but I don't dare reach out and touch her. Everything about her screamed fuck off. She was still very pissed off at my and Yamato.
"I don't think so young lady." Sakura stops dead in her tracks and I whip around to see Master Jirga next to the newly formed seal. "We are going to have a little conversation first."
Sakura turns around and bows, "Master Jirga."
"I am having Tsunade send you out of the village, first thing in the morning." Jirga crossed his arms over his chest, shaking his head. I look at Sakura, expecting her to protest but she remains silent. "You know every well what is about to happen."
"I had no choice! If I hadn't people would have died!" Sakura proclaimed. Why is she having to justify her actions? What she did was a good thing? Right?
"I'm not saying you did anything wrong, but for your own safety you cannot be inside of the village at the moment. Things are too hectic, he will take advantage of the chaos." Jirga walks closer to Sakura, pulling a small bag out of his pocket and handing it to Sakura. "Besides Tsunade needs you to accompany Naruto and Hinata on a mission to see if the other attacks are related." Sakura places her hand out and Jirga drops the bag in her hand. "If Naruto loses control, this will help."
"Master Jirga I do not understand. Why is she having to be sent out of the village?" I question stepping closer to the two.
"We can protect her from Danzo. There is no need to send her away." I could tell Yamato's statement upsets Sakura because anger flashes in her eyes.
"I do not want or need anyone's protection. Have I not proven I can handle myself?" She snapped placing Jirga's bag in her pocket. "I am not some weak girl who needs to be saved. I am not some damsel in distress. I am an anbu black ops captain damn it!"
"Sakura-"
"No Kakashi! Gaara might have assigned you for protection but it wasn't necessary. You two do not need to surround yourselves around me out of pity. I can handle my own." Sakura's words stung. Did she really believe all that time I spent with her was out of pity? Jirga drops his grip on Sakura's shoulder and she takes a few steps away from them but then stops. She rises her hand to her forehead and I can feel the sudden drop in her charka levels. That seal took a lot of charka and I am sure after the day she had today she was probably almost out. She goes to continue to walk away when Jirga appears behind her, hitting the back of her neck, knocking her out.
Jirga catches her as she falls, picking her up. "Why the hell did you do that?" My eyes widen as Sakura goes completely limp in his arms.
"If I hadn't she would have caused terrible damage to her body. If she uses many more charka she might die." Die? No she can't! Not until we talk…not until I make her understand…"This was the only way to make her get some rest. Why don't you two take her home and make sure no one bugs her while she gets her beauty sleep." I walk to Jirga and he places her in my arms. As soon as Sakura leaves his arms, Jirga disappears.
"What in the world is going on?" Yamato questions staring at the spot Jirga was standing in.
"I don't know but let's get her home where it is safe." Yamato nodded and I hold her closer to me as we begin to make our way to her apartment.
Blossom what was Jirga talking about? Why are you in even more danger…..?
He had summoned me to his bedroom once again and I walked in prepared to be assigned another meaningless mission. I walked into the room only to find Orochimaru sitting in his bed upright, an IV in his arm, his pet Kabuto at his side.
"Ah Sasuke, you've come."
"What do you want?" I ask getting straight to the point. I was tired of having my time wasted.
Kabuto smiled before speaking, "we've received word that the Leaf Village was bombed this morning. It seems the Land of Sky was responsible. A group to thought to be destroyed of long ago."
"The Leaf Village? After all this time you are still interested in them."
Orochimaru leans forward in his bed, "my dear boy at this point I could care less what happened to the Leaf or its phatic people. This is not what I've summoned you here to talk about." Before Orochimaru can explain why I am here, he bends over in a coughing hit. Blood runs down the side of his mouth as he struggles to reclaim his breath. "Sasuke, there is a man I want you to bring to me."
"A man a question?" I question.
"A doctor" Kabuto answers.
"This man is the one whom I received the Forbidden Regeneration Jutsu. And after all this time he should have perfected a different regeneration jutsu that's even better than mine."
"Oh, its him is it." I had meet him once before, when I had first joined Orochimaru.
"Bring him to me. I am in need of that jutsu now."
It's the morning after the attack and the village is starting to do repairs. When I went home the night before I discovered my apartment had been damaged in the attack. So I ended up staying the night at Sai's apartment, sleeping on the couch. Both of us had been woke up early in the morning. Sai was summoned to the Hokage Tower and I left to check on Amaru.
After meeting up with the old man and Amaru, we left the hospital and began our journey to the tower. I needed to see what Granny Tsunade was going to assign me to, and the doctor and Amaru needed to find out if we could afford to send any help with them.
"Are you sure you're well enough to leave?" I ask rubbing my check. It still stung from the night before.
"Hmph! Doctor Shinnou has agreed to come with me back to the village and lend us a hand. I cannot afford to waste time sleeping. "
"I got it." I sighed. I knew this kid was going to be a lot of work and his attitude wasn't helping.
"Then it's a good thing we formed an emergency three man medical team."
"Uh?" I turned around at the sound of her voice. There Sakura and Hinata stood ready for a mission. I eyed Sakura and she seemed to be okay from yesterday. They both had their mission bags, and Sakura held a spare bag in her hand. "Wait a three man squad?"
"Yes Naruto-kun. Me, Sakura and well you." Hinata nervously said standing somewhat behind Sakura.
Before I could reject the idea Doctor Shinnou calls from behind me "it would be a great help if you would tag along Naruto."
"W-wait, h-hold it I never said…" I challenge. Sakura just smirks and takes a bag out of her pocket and holds it up to me.
"Here." She places the bag in my hand. "It's a protective charm from Jiraiya Sensei." I look at the bag and smile. Okay fine let's do this!
"Good then it is decided." The doctor smiles looking at me.
"Let's go, I'm assigned leader for this mission." Sakura states and the girls start walking ahead of me leaving me back to sulk for a moment about not being able to take part of the counterattack force.
The Sky ninja landed on the platform on top of gigantic ships floating in the water right by the cost. Just as quickly as they landed their equipment was yanked off and healers started restoring their charka.
Sai hide among the rocks on the side of the mountains watching the enemy. This was not how he expected his day to go. He hoped this morning he could check on Sakura but before he was even fully awake he was being summoned to the tower and being assigned to the counterattack force. Sai puts his binoculars away and pulls out his ink, drawing a drink. "Ninja Art: Super Beast Scroll." The bird jumps off the page and Sai jumps on and flies toward the ships.
The enemy spots him and calls for the second string to be suited up and ready for flight. As soon as they are strapped they are released into the sky, trying to take down Sai. When they see it's only Sai in the sky they all begin laughing, thinking that was all the forces the Leaf could afford to send after the attack.
"One, two, three, four…" Sai counts high above. "So far it seems the enemy has only noticed me so far." Sai radios in as he recalls the plan Shikamaru came up with.
"You're capable of going toe-to-toe with the Sky Ninja. You're a valuable asset to this mission. But there's no reason for you to go all-out on them. All you need to do is draw their attention away from what we're doing. "
Sai sighs as he brings his attack. "Shikamaru sure makes it sound easier than it is. I'm no good at performing such delicate work. Well, I can hold back a bit. "
The enemy starts hiring weapons at the bird and Sai manages to doge them, flying closer and closer to the water. But a weapon manages to hit and the bird pops, sending Sai flying backwards toward the enemy until he lands on top of one of their wings. He breaks it and send the man falling into the water. He pushes off of the damage wings and lands on his next victim, causing them to lose altitude, and falling into the water as well. As he made his way through the group Kakashi and Shikamaru stood in the forest line watching the screen unfold above.
"Just as Lady Tsunade said, it seems they're preparing for their second objective. To think there'd be aircraft carriers standing by in a place just off our coasts. Your calculations were perfect." Kakashi turned his attention from the ships to Shikamaru standing behind him.
"Well it's the same way the worker bees find their way back to the beehive. All I did was narrow down the possible flight distance from the chakra that Neji's Byakugan detected." He explained as if it was something so simple.
"Even so, just sending a single four-man squad is a ballsy. Typical Shikamaru."
"Well, they could always retreat into the open ocean. So I thought it would be best to let the Sky Ninja think we had no military means to counter them. That way they stick around longer so we have enough time to do some real damage.
"Amaru's village is upstream, deep in this jungle. There are some ancient ruins nearby." The doctor explained as we rowed down the river. I was still upset about not being placed on the counterattack force, but at least Sakura was here with me. Ever since we left the village she had been acting weird but we hadn't had only privacy where I could ask her what was going on. In one boat was Shinnou, Sakura and Hinata, and in the other was me and the brat.
"And why are we going by river in these stupid boats?" I complained already feed up with this mission. It's be faster if we jumped out and went by foot!"
"Naruto in a jungle like this, were we are surrounded by tons of poisonous bugs, snakes and wild beasts. Traveling by foot would be too dangerous, even if it was just us three." Sakura tired reasoning but now I was to wide eye looking at the creators around us that I failed to notice earlier.
"Plus this river has man-eating catfish, alligators and poisonous fish as well." The doctor was so kind to add to the list of things to be concerned about as we traveled down the river. From the corner of my eye I watched an alligator drive into the river and I could feel sweat developing on my forehead. Man I hated being stuck in this boat even more now!
"Don't worry." Amaru called sarcastically behind me. "Both these boats carry doctors that are way more useful than you ninja. All I need to save you is this scalpel" He preaches as he pulls the medical tool out of his pocket.
"Oh yeah?" I challenged his cockiness. "Well, it's us shinobi who are protecting you doctors now." I stand up in the boat trying to exaggerate my point, "and besides, I got a feeling that if you were the one holding the scalpel, you would end up killing all of your patients."
"Yeah, right!" He shouts standing up in the boat as well, causing it to rock back and forth. "I might not look it, but I'm Doctor Shinnou's number one apprentice! You wouldn't understand this in your cold ninja world! There is nothing more important that the bonds between a master and an apprentice and the skills passed down between them!"
Now this child is really starts to piss me off. "Say what? You got no clue. I'm not gonna let that pass! If you're talkin' about the bonds between master and apprentice, then my bonds between me and Iruka Sensei, Kakashi Sensei and even Pervy Sage are wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy more stronger than yours could ever be with-"
"Enough!" Sakura commanded. Both Amaru and I stop fighting and look at her. Sakura's eyes were glowing again and both her and Hinata were staring at the sky. "Be quite for a moment."
Hinata activated her Byakugan. "There's chakra emanating from a flyer high in the sky. The same kind that attacked the Leaf."
"Well, that's not good. Quick under the trees!" Shinnou called out pushing on the water going toward cover. Their boat creates waves that almost tip over our boat.
I go to reach for the paddle when I see the flyer making his way toward us. "Damnit!" We didn't have enough time to reach the trees. I jump toward Amaru knocking us into the water, flipping the boat over in the process. After a few minutes I can sense his charka disappearing in the distance and I come up from air, grateful none of the animal decided to attack us. "He missed us." I flipped over the log and climbed in. I looked down at my hand and noticed I only had ahold of Amaru's jacket, but not Amaru. I looked over the boat and called over his name. I could see him in the bottom of the river so I jumped in after him.
As I swim deeper into the water I noticed he had driven in deeper after his scalpel. I was relieved and about to abandon helping him when I see him get tangled up in the surrounding plants and veins. He struggled to free himself when he lost his breath. I reached him and grabbed hold pulling him upward. I guess I used enough force because the vines that were wrapped around his ankle broke and I was able to swim us to the surface.
"Naruto!" I hear Sakura call out as I throw us into the boat. From the corner of my eye I can see them push out from under the trees towards us.
Amaru laid on his back gripping his scalpel tightly toward his chest, breathing heavily. I look closer to see if he was injured when I notice his 'curves'. The wet t-shirt clung tight to the body showing things a boy shouldn't have. "No way could it be that you're a..?"
"Naruto?" She called out to me but I started to feel funny. I could feel myself sway in the boat, as if I was losing my balance. "The poison!" She says but I don't understand. What poison? What? Everything around me goes black and I can feel my knees fight something hard before nothing at all…