Holy crap, I'm actually updating! XD. Sorry for making you guys wait so long. School slowed my already slow updates. So, I'm going to stop ranting and get this thing done. And, away we go!
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Chapter 7: We Head Out Again
It was the third day. The group had spent the entire second day planning and strategizing, deciding which roles certain people should play. Now, the five of them stood at attention in front of Tsunade's desk, waiting for the final orders to commence this crucial mission. They stood like stones in front of their Hokage, waiting to finally be addressed.
Tsunade signed the last piece of paperwork that had been placed on her desk that morning. The stacks and piles would have to wait.
"Well, it seems you're ready. Kakashi, Sakura, I know I don't need to ask you this question. But Neji, Sai, Yamato, are you positive that you want to continue on with this? Remember, there is a strong possibility you won't return from this mission."
There wasn't even a pause. The three of them nodded curtly at her, signifying their allegiance to the mission.
"That's it then. Kakashi, you will lead this mission. Now, by rank, Neji or Yamato should be second-in-command, but Sakura knows more about Akatsuki than you, Neji, Yamato," the pair simply nodded and accepted the fact. Sakura had challenged Akatsuki far more than them.
"Kakashi, take this," Kakashi walked sharply towards the desk, grasped a slip of paper Tsunade was holding, and walked back to his position in the line-up. The sheet held strange symbols with translations next to each one.
"Memorize this, then burn it. Scatter the ashes, in case anyone has invented a jutsu to repair burnt items. I want a mission report sent in this code every week. If no report is sent on the corresponding day, I will send a team out to retrieve. Do not make me send a team out that doesn't need to leave Kakashi."
He nodded. Tsunade sighed heavily. It was time for this team to embark on this mission. "You four will leave tomorrow at daybreak. No training today; I want you all rested for tomorrow," she eyed Kakashi and Sakura carefully. The duo fidgeted slightly under her sharp gaze. They had planned to train well past nightfall, rest for a few hours, then rise and leave for the mission. They would have to find a more secluded training ground if they wanted to continue their regimen.
"And to make sure you aren't training, I'm sending a guard to keep watch for today," Tsunade smiled smugly. She watched Kakashi's and Sakura's faces fall slightly, while Neji, Sai, and Yamato looked slightly relieved. Apparently, they had had a taste of the Team Seven's idea of "training".
"Shizune, would you care to escort them until tomorrow?" Tsunade grinned deviously. Like hell these two were going to accomplish whatever they had in mind.
"Of course Tsunade-sama," Shizune grinned at the team, that oddly demonic smile that would force any obnoxious patient back into bed.
A shudder ran down everyone's spine. That smile was creepy.
"You may discuss your plans, nothing else. I will see you at the crack of dawn tomorrow. Dismissed." Tsunade nodded at the team, who bowed slightly in return and headed out the door. Shizune followed behind them quickly.
They waltzed through the streets of Konoha, attempting to avoid Shizune if possible. Unfortunately, she seemed to be able to sense them no matter they went.
Glances were exchanged, secret codes they had planned and programmed into their minds. The next second, the four of them disappeared in four different directions.
Shizune blinked and stared at the spot where the team had been standing only seconds before. She had not expected them to split up, since they had not used any code she had seen before. Damn, they must have invented a new system for this mission. Tsunade-sama wasn't going to be happy if she didn't find them soon.
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Sakura's kept her mind blank, feeling only the strain of her muscles as they pushed against the rough bark of each tree she leaped to. She reveled in the motion, in the push and pull of the muscle on the bone. It felt as if she was flying; nothing could distract her as she soared.
She was disappointed that her voyage had ended so soon. As stated by the signals they used before disappearing, she arrived at Hokage Mountain just as the others arrived. They sat down in a pow-wow circle, and Kakashi pulled out the map that Tsunade had given him. Little notes were scribbled all over the sheet of paper now. Little anecdotes were written in, detailing areas that could become detours if need be.
Kakashi pointed to several areas, describing each one with detail and giving different people different positions at certain checkpoints. Here, Neji would be in back for lookout. There, make sure Sakura is in the middle, in case of an ambush.
After an hour discussing last minute plans for tomorrow, Kakashi rose and stretched. The team followed suit. "Follow me," Kakashi tilted his head toward the eastern forest of Konoha. The team sprinted away.
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Bang. Crash. Clang.
In the dense forests of Konoha, Kakashi's team fought fiercely against each other to train for the challenges ahead of them. It was every man, or woman, for themselves, and it took all of their self-control for it not to turn into a death match.
Bodies whistled through the air, sailing from branch to branch. Kunai knives and shuriken were flung at various body parts to puncture and impale.
The team landed on a grouping of branches, facing each other. Everyone was panting heavily, cuts and bruises layering their skins. Neji and Kakashi had decided to train with their bloodlines, to challenge the others. No longer were looks of depression on anyone's face. Now, they had been replaced with expressions of hope and determination. On an invisible signal, everyone crouched again to begin the battle.
"KAKASHI!"
Oh crap. There was hell to pay now.
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The next morning at dawn, a group of seven people stood statue like at the opening gate of Konoha. Five of them carried heavy packs, standing just outside the ominous doors of the village. The other two were standing on the inside of the gates, as though there was a barrier keeping them apart.
"Well, you should be off. You'll need as much time as possible for this mission. Good luck, and return home," Tsunade was trying to stay strong. It was hard, watching this group of people who were so close to her leave on a mission that they might not return from.
"Don't worry Tsunade-shishou. We'll back in no time." Sakura nodded towards her former instructor.
Tsunade smiled sadly. "Of course you will be."
"Well, we're off then. Ja nee!" Kakashi began the trek out of the village's territory. Without looking back, the team followed him hastily.
"Be safe."
They were on their own now.
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Before he had felt cold. Now, he felt pain. But oddly enough, he was happy to feel this pain. It meant he was alive.
Naruto's once bright blue oceanic eyes had become dull and glassy, losing that mischievous glint. His body was starting to become lanky, as his muscles were starting to become weak from no exercise. He gazed at his wrists, which had become raw from the constant strain against the sharp metal. He smiled slightly. He looked on at the tiny red tears that the breaks in his skin were crying. He was glad to see that was bleeding. It meant his blood was actually flowing, that he wasn't just rotting in this cave.
He closed his eyes once more, attempting to feel the life force he had known since he was young. But alas, it was still gone. He glared at the cuffs encircling his wrists and ankles. After many hours pondering, Naruto deduced that those strange markings were seals, suppressing all of his chakra.
He couldn't even contact that damn fox.
His ears picked up a large crash coming from the far end of the dungeon. He heard two footsteps, approaching his cell. He growled low and feral at the two figures standing directly outside his cell.
The two people he currently hated with all of his heart were standing happily in front of his cage. He once again growled; a feral attempt to make the evil pair leave.
But they did not move, just smiled smugly at him and his dilemma. Kira was carrying a covered tray, while Hiro only stood with his arms crossed over his chest. Hiro's grin was wider than Kira's; it was almost arrogant, while hers was more prideful, as though she was a cat and she had caught that annoying mouse.
Naruto glared at them slightly, not able to summon enough strength to turn up the heat. It was more like a withered stare, listless and dull.
"What do you want, usuratonkachi?" Naruto asked flatly.
"Aw, is that anyway to speak to the only people who come to say hi to you? And we even brought you some food," He reached over to the covered tray to show some sashimi, as well as well as a steaming bowl of ramen. Naruto attempted not to drool. They did this last week too. The two of them brought delicious food that made his palate tingle with desire. Then they would set the food down in front of him, force it down his throat, and torture him with statements about his home village.
Following the same procedure as last time, Hiro unlocked the steel door to Naruto's cell, while Kira waltzed in. Hiro locked the door behind him, and then turned back to Naruto, still smirking. Kira kneeled down by Naruto's head, taking a pair of chopsticks from inside her cloak. She chose a piece of the sliced fish, and held it in front of his mouth. Naruto shoved his lips together, which only made Kira's grin widened. She pulled some sort of tool out of her cloak, and used it to force his mouth open. She then placed more and more delicious food in his mouth, until he had no choice to swallow.
All the while, Hiro sat beside the crown of his head. He spoke loud enough that Naruto and Kira could hear him, but soft enough that his voice wouldn't travel to the other captivities.
"So Naruto," and so it began. "We just received the reports from the spies in Konoha. They haven't sent a recon team. In fact, they haven't even sent out a search team to check out our little battlefield for clues. But they have had quite a few celebrations in the past week. All for the same reason. That you aren't there anymore. Your… ahem, teammates, seem to have been in the center of these little parties. Bragging about how they rid Konoha of that stupid demon."
Naruto refused to choke on his food. He attempted to block out the painful feelings that flowed through his veins. He kept telling himself that it wasn't true, that they were on their way right now to save him. But was the village really that far from here? Naruto wasn't sure. He had been unconscious when they had abducted him and dumped him in this cell chained to a wall.
For about ten minutes more, Hiro continued his tales as Kira shoved food down his esophagus. By the time the food was all gone, it was taking all of Naruto's self control to not cry in front of these cretins. The hurt crashed down like a tidal wave, repeating itself over and over.
"Well Naruto, we'll be back tomorrow to check up on you. Sorry, but it will be back to normal gruel tomorrow. Guess you'll just have to deal or something," Hiro smirked once again as he locked the door to Naruto's cell.
Once he heard the footsteps fade and the door slam, the tears parted from his eyes. He let the blissful sleep pull him under hoping to find some comfort in a place where anything can happen.
Unfortunately, he was wrong.
Naruto , five years old, ran crying through the streets of the poorer areas of Konoha. The streets were filled with trash and grime. He weaved his malnourished body through piles of garbage cans and the waste itself. He heard the rumble of the heavy footsteps fall with patterned thuds as they chased him through the alley. Blood dripped heavily as it travelled its way down towards his eye. Bruises as scrapes laced his arm to form intricate patterns of nothing. Why was this happening? The young child thought as he ran for dear life. He had just been sitting in the park, hoping to receive an invitation from one of the children in his age group to come and join a game. None ever came though. Then, when a drunken man –Naruto smelled the alcohol on his breath- noticed him alone in the park watching the last people leave the premises, he accused the tiny tot of being a stalker and plotting to harm the others. He eventually gathered enough people during the chase to harm the little one that had darted like a fox being hunted by a hunting dog.
New dreams plagued his mind as well. He wasn't sure, but the new dreams seemed a cross between reality and the truth.
"Sakura-chan!" The petit girl turned at the slight supersonic shriek produced from her teammate's vocal chords.
"Yes?" She was annoyed and he should have known that. She had studied all day, Tsunade working her to the bone in between missions.
"Guess what today is!" Naruto was so excited. It was his first birthday in Konoha in about three years, and he wanted to at least celebrate with his team. He hoped they remembered. He had only been reminding them every day of the week.
Sakura thought about it for less than a minute, then shrugged and stated, "Who knows?" Then walked away briskly, leaving Naruto's heart to rip just a bit more.
Naruto's physical shell was lashing out once more, but instead of just the usual thrashing and flailing, his spine arched just slightly irregularly, and his face blurred almost indistinctly.
He felt as if he was dying, as thought cyanide had been laced within the food. The liquid fire ran a race through every one of his muscles as the convulsions and spasms continued.
I'm dying… Naruto considered his words. Is it worth it?
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Well, even though its midnight and I have school tomorrow, I'm posting this chapter because I might forget otherwise. Have fun, Oyasumi nasai, to Jaa nee! (translation: Good night, and see ya later!)