Chapter Four
Ibiki Morino? Seriously?
She had some serious stuff to discuss with Hokage.
Slightly turning her head, she could see past Sakura's horrified face and even Sasuke looked somewhat amused.
Oh, wait till you see his bold head with a dozen of scars.
"A-ano you don't look like typical sensei," past Sakura voiced her concern, receiving a smug smile from Ibiki.
"Indeed, I'm not 'typical' – in fact, I'm anything but typical," he replied. "Now, I wouldn't want to waste time. Let's go."
As they left the Academy, newly formed Team 7 started heading towards the training grounds. The weather was boiling and Sakura could how uncomfortable her past self and Sasuke seemed to feel, even though both tried to hide it. She wasn't so new to the idea of hot weather, for she received a number of missions in the Wind Country and sometimes she and her teammates had to survive hours without water in the worst conditions.
She then turned her head to face forward, looking at her sensei's back. There weren't many things she knew about this man and she doubted she even will – Morino, albeit being cheeky at times, knew exactly what to say and when to say it. Haruno didn't think she would be able to change anything in his time line – his brother, to her knowledge, was alive and fine and he himself didn't lose anyone else during the next four years.
The group soon reached the training grounds and, to Sakura's immense surprise, it was the same one she and her team tried to take the bells away from Kakashi. Pinkette felt somewhat nostalgic and softly smiled, looking around. Back in the days...
"Am I boring you, Uzumaki?" Ibiki's voice sounded from her left and Sakura, trying to act like Naruto as good as she could, pouted and crossed hands over her chest.
"We just came here and doing nothing productive. I thought we gonna meet and have a mission straight away, not come to some training grounds," she whined with a frown.
In response – she didn't have any time to blink – she was hit in her back and sent flying a few meters, soon collapsing with the ground and having a mouthful of dirt. Slowly getting up, she swore under her breath – she had no idea that this time-traveling had any impact on her ninja senses! On the other hand, it might be due to how safe she felt, not expecting any sort of attack. Darn it!
"I see someone is getting too arrogant of himself, huh? Should I remind you that you are nothing more but dirt on my sandal right now? You don't mean anything in this world right now and you won't if you continue with such attitude. I have patience – not much, but trust me when I say that I'll be able to put you in place." Team 7's sensei said, almost laughing. Sakura could hear 'Baka!' from past Sakura and a regular 'Hmpf usuratonkachi' from Sasuke.
Things didn't seem to change a bit.
"I know that I have to do some sort of test to decide whether you can be genins or not." Pregnant silence. "Which is why I give you the ability to decide on how you want to pass."
"Whaa!" The three members of Team 7 shouted, looking appalled while Ibiki took a comfortable seat on the grass with his elbows on his knees, hands locked.
"I give you the right to impress me. I don't care whether it's something book-worth, a useful technique or an impressive taijutsu – you should make a wise choice," the man elaborated, looking closely at each one of his students which looked terrified, save for Naruto who looked to be deep in thoughts.
Hmm, Ibiki squinted – something about this boy didn't look right. From what he was told, Uzumaki was an obnoxious little rule-breaker, not able to concentrate on something for longer than five seconds. On the other hand, the young blond was Yondaime's offspring – you could expect anything from him!
"Half an hour – then I'll decide your fate as a shinobi!"
4 days after Madara and Obito were defeated
The war was gruesome, bringing everyone so much immense pain it would be impossible to describe. There wasn't any free space to bury dead bodies, for cemeteries were filled with them. No one was brave enough to propose and burn them – too disrestpectful, too soon after their death. The Hidden Leaf was slowly getting into its ordinary routine, but its usual positive aura wasn't present. Everyone seemed a bit off, even small kids that barely knew the meaning behind a word 'war'. Dozens of devastated families were mourning and no one was ready to just go on, forgetting everyone who gave up their lives to save the village.
Naruto was slowly passing by the shops, hands in his pockets; his bowed head and fringe hid his somber gaze that couldn't possibly belong to a 17-years-old boy. He experienced so much during the last four years – far more than most people ever will – but he accepted this fact long ago. As Neji once said, 'You can't escape fate'.
In the end, he seemed to be right – and Naruto hated it with every part of his broken soul.
This war didn't only take away hundreds of lives, but it also took away his best pinkette friend and left his brunet rival not being able to ever use chakra which, to Sasuke, was worse than death.
Yesterday Konoha organised an official bureal for those who died in the 'bloodbath', as citizens called it. At first, Uzumaki didn't feel like coming, yet he decided that it would be lack of respect for everyone who fought; more than that, it had to be the first time he visited Sakura's grave that contained her body just as it was left – he asked not to wash off the blood or change anything about her. With a sad smile, he realised that he resembled Kakashi and could imagine himself being constantly late to his future team's meetings because he was visiting Sakura's grave.
He didn't shed a single tear during her funeral.
His insides were tearing apart, beast inside him – not Kurama but someone that was a darker side of himself – screamed in anguish, trying to get out and avenge her. It was ironic that he was now the one talking about revenge, but there was no one to kill for her sake anymore.
When her eyes closed and she let out her last breath, he shook her for what felt like hours, though, according to Hinata, it was mere minutes. He couldn't accept it – couldn't accept that she, of all people, died.
He denied it with pure anger.
And this anger took the best of him, causing Naruto to lose control and stop thinking rationally by literally destroying everything around him and denying help.
The anger he promised to hide and never bring back.
"Naruto."
Young blond stopped in his tracks. For a long moment all he could do was stare at the ground but, oh so slowly, he finally looked up at the person in front of him. And, by Kami, it was one of the first people he didn't want to see any time soon.
"Ohayo, Kakashi-sensei," he replied hoarsely, not recognising his voice. Still, he didn't talk for quite some time now which was rather unfamiliar for him, so that was to be expected.
Older man cringed at the seemingly fake cheerfulness and looked above his student's head, refusing to even look at how utterly destroyed he looked.
"No need to fake that you are okay around me, Naruto," he replied quietly and a moment of silence passed between them, both not knowing what was next. "I know what you are going through right now and I can see how depression affects you-"
"You know nothing," growled Naruto, causing Kakashi to close his lone eye in internal pain. "I already know that you lost both of your team-mates – though one of them turned out to be very much alive – so our situation may seem similar because we both lost our female best friends but you have no right to say this. Your team-mate died over a decade ago but mine died four days ago." He clutched his fists in rage and looked up at his sensei with tears in his sky-blue eyes. "The pain is still fresh, don't you dare!"
In response Kakashi didn't say anything, instead nodding, and finally looked in Naruto's hurt eyes. He didn't want to argue that Rin and Obito's – that sweet, innocent Obito's – last breaths were haunting him in nightmares, that the memories were crisp and clear and he was able to replay them at any point in his life, doubting he will be ever able to forget. These memories won't be affected by upcoming years.
Naruto acknowledged how much Sakura meant to Kakashi – of that Hatake was sure, as she was as important to him as Rin or Obito back when they were genins. And he fully understood why Naruto was so pissed off and at the moment the only way to calm down Naruto would be leaving him alone. However, Hero of the Sharingan had other plans.
"I wanted to tell you that Sasuke has a break from his interrogations right now, so it would be wise of you to visit him," he said to his student – former one, at that, but Kakashi still thought of Naruto as his student. "I know that you are feeling like your whole world doesn't make sense anymore – I can't say I understand how painful it is but I know that you need to break out of it. Go talk to Sasuke – argue, tell him everything you think because you need to rant."
With that, Kakashi turned around and left, while Naruto continued standing in the middle of the street, staring into distance.
Truth to be told, he wanted nothing more to rant, to get all of this pain out – but was it wise to meet Sasuke?
Well, he'll just need to find out.
Turning around 180 degrees, he took off to Konoha's one and only prison. People there knew him – in fact, there wasn't anyone in Konoha that didn't – but guards that worked in Konoha's prison were told to know everything about him years ago. Uzumaki suspected it was Danzo's idea.
As he entered the prison and nodded to both guards, one of them took him to Sasuke's prison. Young – and, now, the single remaining – Uchiha was still considered as an S-class criminal and Naruto knew it wasn't about to change in close future; of that Godaime assured him.
The guard stood near the wall while Naruto went further and soon stood in front of Sasuke's cell. It was relatively small, smelled of dirt and sweat but arrogant Uchiha didn't seem to be care.
Because Sasuke couldn't use his chakra anymore, there was no need in bracelets restraining chakra or sorts, yet Tsunade still warned him that, although Sasuke couldn't use ninjutsu anymore, he was still in good shape and, with a little bit of luck, can kill someone without breaking a sweat.
Naruto just stood – far enough that Sasuke won't reach him, though he doubted he would dare to. Uzumaki didn't get to see his best friend for three days now – Tsunade ordered to keep him in prison, away from everyone, and only let out for interrogations. The visits that anyone could have with him could be no longer than twenty minutes and everyone were searched when entering because of the risk of giving him a weapon of some sorts.
"Hey, Sasuke." Naruto finally said, though he was talking to his friend's back. Uchiha stayed unmoving, making blond feel nervous all of a sudden. "So, uh, Tsunade-baa-chan told me that you voluntarily decided to come back to Konoha – not sure if it's because of all this 'Hokage crap' you've been saying." He chuckled, though it wasn't nearly as genuine or happy as it usually was.
He then went silent and deeply inhaled. "Look, teme, I have things to do and, although I'm really happy that you decided to come back, we both know that our team will never be complete again. Not without... Sakura-chan."
Saying her name out loud wasn't suppose to hurt so badly.
"I've... I've been to her burial," Naruto started, nervously licking his lips and taking a seat near the wall. "Hokage said a lot of amazing things about everyone but especially about her. She... kso! She protected me with her life! If she didn't jump in front of that attack, she would be still alive!"
Silence.
"Godaime and Kakashi told me that she did it willingly and there isn't my fault in any of it but I just can't help it. If I was careful enough, none of this would've happened!"
"But you weren't."
Sasuke's gravely voice startled Naruto but he kept on listening.
"You can continue blaming yourself for every bad damn thing that has ever happened in your life – or happened to someone else because of you but it doesn't change the fact that it has happened. You need to come in terms with it and accept it, usuratonkachi."
"How can you say that about Sakura-chan?" Uzumaki quietly asked, now facing Uchiha but he didn't feel angry because of his words. His voice sounded a bit off, a bit... empty. "She was your team-mate and friend."
"I don't look at the past and over-think it. What is the reason."
"Didn't you ever think about the possibility of Itachi telling you everything before you got to kill him?"
Pause. "Urusai, Naruto."
"Truth hurts, doesn't it? And you can deny it all you want but you care about Sakura-chan. Not like I or her friends – you care about people in a cold manner, barely showing it. I know you, teme." Sad smile. "So I won't argue with you. I only came here because Kakashi told me you are, for once, free. Still, I was wondering if you would want to hear what I said on Sakura's burial but I already know that you don't care."
Sasuke finally turned around and faced him – and, for one moment, blond couldn't recognise his best friend in this man. He looked defeated and broken and his eyes, for once, didn't seem cold and uncaring – they were simply tired. These weren't the eyes of a boy – these were the eyes of a man who went through hell and back and saw it all.
"I don't care about a lot of things right now, Naruto," he replied coldly. "Do whatever you want."
And so Naruto did. He told him his exact speech – heartbreaking as it was, Uchiha's face expression remained a perfect mask of uncaring, though his eyes were a different story.
Soon, Naruto left, promising that he'll visit him somewhere during the week, but he didn't reply. Instead, Sharingan owner was deep in thoughts about what was his future plan.
It would probably take months before Konoha decides on his punishment and let him do anything but it didn't matter to him anymore. Uchiha doubted anything did, for he was now a mere citizen, unable to perform the simplest jutsu because of Madara's attack that hurt his chakra flow and made him practically disabled. Tsunade argued that he was lucky to even walk, yet he failed to see how this situation was 'lucky'.
Quite frankly, there was no reason for him to live anymore. It sounded ridiculous, but these were the facts: in a matter of seconds he lost years of his trainings and his power – one of the only things that mattered to him in the world. What will he do now? Will there be a reason for him to stay in Konoha and live a normal, civilised life?
Sasuke smirked – there was no way in hell he'll quietly sit in this pit and remain weak, as long as there was something – and he was sure there was something – he could do about it. If Sakura was still alive, he was sure he would be able to pull a few strings and make her look in the books of hers that would possibly return his chakra back. After he left Konoha, he never admitted in caring for anyone but his family members, though deep down he knew he cared about Team 7 and Sakura's death was... unsettling.
We both know that our team will never be complete again.
"Urusai," Sasuke whispered to himself, closing his eyes.
He will be patient and will be rewarded for it.
"We're ready!" Present Sakura shouted, giving a thumb-up and smiling.
"Hmm impress me then," Ibiki smirked, looking up from scrolls in his hands. "Who's gonna be first?"
"I am, dattebayo!" Sakura shouted, standing in a pose, ready to perform Chakra Enhanced Strength. She performed a replacement technique a few minutes ago, testing her abilities, and everything worked just fine – it seemed like she was finally adjusting to Naruto's body and was able to control her chakra. She knew that her chakra control was far from being perfect in this body but there would be enough for a good punch.
Screaming "Shannaro!" on instinct, she launched and hit the ground, making a relatively big – nothing comparing to her usual hit – hole, startling her team-mates. Ibiki, however, remained unimpressed, only smirking and nodding for Sasuke to proceed.
As expected, young Uchiha performed Fireball jutsu while past Sakura told him a bunch of information from the book she recently read on jutsus. Present Sakura internally winced at how awfully dependent on theories she was back in the days.
Some time later Ibiki called them up and, with a huge grin, announced, "I doubt you will work good together, each of you not thinking about your team-mates and only about yourselves and I doubt you'll be any good in strategies but I officially announce that Team 7 is now on game!"
A/N: Don't worry, the cover is right – we gonna see a lot of Kakashi in future! So how was that? Also, I wonder if people want to see more of Naruto and Sasuke. I hope you liked it, please review - it means a lot to me :)
