Fragments
-o-
Assault
-o-
Sakura slowly opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling.
She hurt all over, the battle had taken a lot out of her. However, while she had been hurt rather badly, she could still consider it a win. After all, the pain she felt currently didn't even compare to the constant ache she felt back in her old body.
There were drawbacks to everything and her high-speed technique did quite a number on your body, even reinforced with chakra. You just couldn't push the human body that far without a price. Overuse weakened the bones, tore apart muscles and sinews and generally left you a wreck. Now if you didn't overdo it the body could heal that damage in a few weeks and it wouldn't lead to any lasting problems.
Of course, she hadn't given her body time to heal back then, she couldn't afford to.
She couldn't afford to just recover from broken ribs then either actually. She moved her hand up to her ribs and winced at the pain that shot through her torso.
Yeah, definitely broken. However... she wouldn't have to reinforce her bones with chakra and move around... she could actually just stay here, nuzzle her booze... she groped around for one of her scrolls, since she wore her nightwear somebody had to change her out of her old clothes, which meant she might not have access to her alcohol...
Her groping sped up slightly. If those bastards had thrown it out again, just after she managed to secure a small stash from Tazuna...
But her hand hit a bottle beside her bed and she quickly sat up, ignoring the pain shooting through her chest. A bit of chakra fixed that anyway and now, that the alcohol shot through her blood, filtered almost unconsciously by her chakra, she could feel the shakes die down already.
She sighed contently, this could be nice...
She frowned at the bottle. The civilians probably wouldn't have thought to place it there. Which left only her teammates, who could have put it beside her bed.
She suppressed any tears that might come. Damn them. She wouldn't fall for that, who the hell did they think she was? Some weak little twit that would fall for the first bit of kindness? Or the tenth or twentieth...
She shuddered and sank back under the blanket, the bottle almost half empty. Her breathing came heavy and fast and she did her best to suppress the tears she could feel coming. She wouldn't cry, she hadn't since she came here, she wouldn't start now.
Still, suppressing them had become harder and harder lately. Mostly when the boys had been nice to her. Hell even when they took away her alcohol she wanted to cry. She got why they did it. They said it often enough after all. They worried about her... they worried about her!
She drained the bottle and didn't filter the alcohol out of her system this time.
It hit her hard, much harder than she expected, but with the way she filtered the alcohol her body hadn't really grown used to it. Giggling weakly she curled up. Why did they have to be so nice to her. She pushed and pushed at them and sometimes she could see their irritation spike.
But always they pushed it down, let her get away with it, gave her those pitying looks. She could feel a tear running down her face. Why couldn't they let her hate them? Why did they have to remind her of the time before? She couldn't, wouldn't...
More tears had joined the first and Sakura sobbed quietly into her pillow. She didn't even register the pain in her chest anymore.
Somebody opened the door, but Sakura couldn't stop anymore, she had shut her emotions out for so long, letting only her desires and her anger loose, never her sadness, never her hurt. She had put them away, locked them up and threw the key away, or at least she had assumed she did it.
But now? Naruto, Sasuke, Ino and Kakashi... they somehow broke down the walls around them and pulled them out, together with other emotions she had long thought dead.
"Go away." She slurred, keeping her back to the door. She didn't know who had come in, and she didn't care. If possible nobody should see her in this state.
Whimpering she buried her face in the pillow, hopefully muffling her sobs. She had tried to keep them away, she knew her behavior should have turned them off of helping her...
A body fell down beside her. Too light to be Kakashi or another adult. Too heavy to be the kid. Which left only three people and somehow she doubted that Haku would dare come close to her.
Naruto would probably keep his distance as well, not that he feared her, but he just didn't want to risk... she didn't know.
"Haku made a salve for your ribs." Sasuke said quietly. Sakura could hear him set a pot of something down beside her.
"I said go away." She tried to growl, but the alcohol and her own sobs didn't exactly help.
"It helps, crying." Sasuke said after a moment of silence. "I've cried a few times... about totally unimportant stuff, but..." She felt a hand on her shoulder. She should snap at it, rip it off and throw it into his face. But Sasuke... this Sasuke, he just... it would feel wrong to hit him.
He had this aura of innocence, an aura Sakura found at the same time disgusting and infinitely appealing. She hated it and wanted it at the same time.
"Hate you." She muttered into her pillow. Why couldn't she stop crying? She couldn't afford to be this vulnerable. She had to be strong.
His hand hesitated for a moment, then pulled her around, to face him.
He looked at her, a small, sad smile on his face. And yeah, that look full of pity again. But hell, she pitied herself as well, why shouldn't he? Carefully he pulled her into a hug. For once she didn't resist. She just cried into his shoulder, cried for everything she had lost, everything she had seen. Everything she could lose again.
After a while, she didn't know how long her tears finally, finally stopped. Shuddering she pushed him away again. He had stayed silent the entire time, just rubbing her back, offering her a shoulder to cry on.
"I still hate you." She muttered, looking away from him.
He sighed, but didn't say anything himself.
"And... I don't want to trust you..." She felt more tears coming, but bit them down hard. "But, You bastard... you're worming your way back into my trust. You somehow manage to..." She shuddered as she fell back into her bed, staring at the ceiling again.
"Heh, I've been told I'm good at that." Sasuke chuckled, she bet he enjoyed that reputation. "And well, you always were so jealous, when I flirted with other girls, whether on missions or whenever else." She glanced at him, he looked out of a window.
"I think I enjoyed it, having you beat on me and dragging me away from the other girls." He laughed. "Marking your territory Naruto called it. You always punched him out when he said that. You laughed more..."
She could see his profile, his features had fallen as he thought of better times.
"I'm not her and I can't ever be her." She whispered, almost sadly. She wished she could be though, it sounded nice.
"Yes." He laid back and stared at the ceiling. "I think I get that now... whatever happened back then. My Sakura, my Naruto... they... they are dead." He took a deep shuddering breath.
"You two... you aren't them, you can't replace them. I..." She could see tears falling down his face now. "I... I still... can't..."
Sakura bit down on her chuckle, he didn't need to hear it. And she honestly didn't find it funny. But damn, here he comforted her and all she could do was stare at him, she hated herself.
He took a deep breath. "They are gone. I have to accept that. I have to accept that I'll never see my family again, that I'll never see my friends again. At least I can be fairly sure that some survived I guess, that they'll mourn me and you. That they will have some more happiness in life." He smiled now, even while cried.
Damn, how sappy. She wished she could feel that way.
"And," He continued. "I won't give up. I won't let this beat me. Sure I lost all I had, maybe even more. And this isn't what I lost. As I said, you aren't my lover."
She choked at that, and the bastard smirked.
"Maybe you'll never be."
"Yeah, I don't think I could ever be that. Not anymore." She nodded, but without venom.
He sighed. "But maybe... maybe we can be friends again. Or for the first time."
She stared at him, as he lay beside her, eyes fixed on the ceiling, tears still falling from his eyes. Still so damn innocent, even with the realization that all he loved, he most likely had left behind on a different world.
"Maybe." She whispered. She still hated them, but they were just so good at worming their way past her defenses. "I'm still going to beat the shit out of you." She added though. No way would she give that up. It had felt way to good to rip into Naruto. To work out all her frustrations with him. His death had denied her that opportunity. And now she had another. Sure, not with the one she really wanted to beat, but Naruto, this Naruto, had provided a decent enough substitute.
Sasuke laughed easily. "I wouldn't have it any other way. Hell, you gave me more than enough reasons to want to beat you into a bloody pulp, believe me." He grinned wildly at her.
"Let's just wait until you are healed up ok? Wouldn't be any fun otherwise." He added.
Sakura nodded, watching him as he pushed himself up and walked out of the room. She looked at the salve beside her. "So I just rub this over my chest and it'll will help heal the bones?" She asked him.
Sasuke shrugged. "That's what Haku said." He watched her from the door. "Want me to help apply it?" He grinned lecherously at her.
She didn't laugh at the little pervert, she wouldn't laugh at him. Even if she wanted to. She narrowed her eyes, then smirked. "You? Don't make me laugh. But hey, send Haku in. I'm sure he'll do a very good job of it. And he's just so pretty." She sighed dreamily. Take that bastard.
Sasuke looked at her for a few seconds, then grinned widely. "Well, if you are sure." Quickly he left the room, but he didn't close the door.
"Haku! Get up here!" He shouted down the stairs.
Hmm did he actually think she bluffed about letting Haku rub the salve all over her chest. She looked down. Not as if she had anything that would interest the boy, sadly.
She could hear somebody walk up the stairs, but only just. Haku moved with infinite grace after all.
"She wants you to apply the salve." She could hear Sasuke say from outside the room.
"Uhh... what?" Haku asked back. "But... she's... well..." He stammered back.
"Hey, if it makes her happy, I don't question it." Sasuke answered.
"Wouldn't she be uncomfortable having somebody... err..." Man, Haku apparently was even more innocent than Sasuke... actually she suspected that the only field Sasuke had no innocent left whatsoever involved sex. Huh, and here she always though he was Asexual, go figure.
"Come in already, this salve doesn't apply itself." Sakura growled as she lifted her shirt above her head.
Haku meekly entered the room, Sasuke's head also popped in, got a good look and disappeared again, as soon as he noticed her glare.
"Lucky bastard." He muttered as he retreated, but he did close the door behind him.
Haku for his part stood in the room like a deer in front of the fire jutsu... hmm roasted deer.
"Uh... I..." Aww, Haku looked so cute when his entire face lit up red and he stammered helplessly. Pity she only had a twelve year old body, she could imagine so many fun things to do with him if she were older.
"Oh get over it. You know how to apply this best right?" She waved him over.
"You shouldn't move like that." He admonished her, focusing on the pot of salve beside her.
She leered at him, even though he couldn't see it. She never knew this could be so much fun. She didn't even have to do anything to mess with him. Just let him apply the salve to her chest.
He turned around, his entire face red, as he looked at her chest and immediately away again. His hand made its way shakily and when it actually touched her she barely felt it.
She smirked as she grabbed the hand and forced it into real contact with her body. "It won't do me any good if nothing of the salve actually gets on me now does it?" She asked him innocently.
Oh he was just so much fun to tease. They just had to keep him.
Haku gulped and applied more pressure. "I suppose."
Sakura made herself comfortable on the bed. When did she get a massage the last time anyway? She couldn't remember. This would be nice and funnily enough she trusted Haku more than Sasuke and Naruto, at least for the moment.
What the future would bring? Well, she didn't know that, but maybe, just maybe it would be better.
Haku's hands felt good... so relaxing... slowly she felt herself drift off to sleep again.
-o-
Sasuke leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes.
That conversation had been draining. Very, very draining. And he really didn't like the conclusions he came to. He had lost his friends, the Kyuubi had tricked him, well or not. After all he still had a life, which meant he still could honor his friends by making the best of it. And Naruto at least kinda felt like his Naruto. And even though he wasn't his Naruto he already had build a friendship with him.
And after this talk with Sakura... things were looking up on that front as well. Even if she didn't now, or ever, consider him anything more than a friend. It would have to be enough. Besides he doubted he could consider her anything more either. She had it right when she said she wasn't his Sakura.
She had lost too much, suffered too greatly for them to connect on that level.
Slowly he pushed himself up again. From inside he could hear Haku stammering. He smirked. Lucky bastard indeed. Or maybe not, who could say for sure?
He made his way downstairs slowly. Naruto sat on the table longingly looking at a cold bowl of ramen. His jaw however hadn't healed yet and so he was forced to eat through a straw, which meant no ramen for him. Sasuke sniggered at the pitiful look on Naruto's face.
"Don't worry, in a few days you'll be alright again, if what Haku said about the salve is true." Sasuke said easily.
Naruto glared impotently at him, then looked upstairs.
Sasuke smiled softly. "We had a talk." He said, sitting down on the table. Naruto pointed at his eyes.
"Yes, I kinda cried. She did too." Sasuke answered the question. He looked at his friend. "I think, this might have been a rather major breakthrough. She didn't resist me hugging her at all. Cried on my shoulder even."
Naruto's eyes widened and if his jaw hadn't been heavily bandaged Sasuke bet it would be on the floor right about now.
"I'm very, very persuasive." He shrugged modestly.
"Ah you two are here, good." Kakashi said cheerfully as he entered the kitchen. He looked around, to see if anybody else could be found, but the civilians busied themselves elsewhere. Tazuna hadn't gone to the bridge yet. Kakashi had said it would be easier to protect him if he stayed in the building, at least until they had taken care of Gato.
Still he, like Tsunami and Inari avoided the ninja after yesterdays display of... well brutality Sasuke supposed. For civilians that must have been rather disconcerting.
"I've talked with Zabuza some more. He gave me a description to Gato's hideout." Kakashi said, practically beaming. "I'm going to go and take him out. Sasuke, while Naruto and Sakura are recovering I want you to guard Tazuna and them. Make sure Haku and Zabuza don't cause any trouble and defend them against any other threat Gato might send out."
Naruto glared at Kakashi indignantly. The bandage over his jaw ruined the look however.
"Sorry Naruto, but I know you aren't quite up to your usual stunts yet." Kakashi waved him off. "Sasuke is the only one fully healed, he' the one doing the fighting. Unless it looks as if he's overwhelmed of course, then you can interfere." He looked around curiously. "By the way, where's Haku?"
Sasuke whistled innocently.
"Sasuke?" Kakashi sighed.
"I gave him to Sakura, she's playing with him now." He grinned at the other two.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Playing with him... how?" He asked carefully.
Sasuke shrugged. "Eh, she's making him apply the salve to her, nothing more. It will be a learning experience for him."
Naruto's eyes twitched... and his bandages turned red.
"Wow, I didn't think Naruto was still a virgin." Sasuke shook his head sadly. Naruto was still so young.
Naruto's head slowly, ever so slowly turned to him. His eyes were open wide and stared at Sasuke in total disbelief.
"I'm going on patrol." Sasuke said, pushed his chair back and walked out of the room, whistling loudly. Nothing got you over a pouring out your emotions like bragging to friends.
-o-
Kakashi jumped through the trees, carefully watching for any movement, however he hadn't come across any guards yet and even if he did, he doubted that Gato had anything on Zabuza's level ready so fast.
He probably still waited for word on what happened to Zabuza. After all it had only been a day since the fight. Zabuza had told Kakashi that the base he prepared in hadn't, actually, been Gato's main base. Just one of the many outposts Gato had strewn across Wave.
Still, there would probably be at least a hint on where to find the main base. And if Kakashi had a lot of luck Gato might just be there, waiting for Zabuza. In any case, Kakashi planned to get the location of Gato's main base of operations in Wave and if it happened to be close by raid it. If not, he would just hand the info over to Tazuna. Maybe he could do something with it.
A resurgent Wave indebted to Konoha would be a rather valuable asset to the village. Trade had become a rather important aspect of financing it after all. You simply couldn't keep a village the size of Konoha independent with mercenary work alone. And while Konoha did need the backing of the Fire Lord, should he decide to leave them hanging Konoha could survive for a time and probably adapt.
According to some rumors he heard, Sand hadn't been so lucky. With the support of their Lord withdrawn their situation had become rather critical.
He spotted the first guard, standing close to a ramp, leading up a tree. Kakashi smirked, good against civilians and maybe even some bandits. Against a Ninja? Utterly useless.
Anyway, you couldn't believe every rumor you heard. For all Kakashi knew the rumor had been created by Sand in order to appear weaker than they were. In which case Konoha would have to be careful, since it would mean they planed something. Actually Konoha would have to be careful regardless. A wounded opponent was dangerous too.
He could see the wooden building hanging in the trees now. Curiously well hidden for such a building, especially considering the rather obvious entry on the ground. Kakashi shook his head exasperated. They thought about hiding the building itself, but forgot to hide the entrance, typical.
He made his way along the walls, soundlessly moving to one of the windows. Listening for any sound, to make sure nobody could spot him if he entered jumped in.
He found himself in a small bedroom, maybe for guests or guards. He didn't know and he didn't care. Zabuza couldn't give him a floor plan. He hadn't bothered to scout the place. If things had gone sour he would have just escaped through the window or not even bothered with that and just made his own exit. That ridiculous sword of his would have had no problem with the walls after all.
Hmm, well if you didn't know the way, you ask for directions. Now, if I were a helpful citizen where would I be?
Kakashi walked over to the door, leading out of the room, opened it, grabbed whoever walked past it and dragged him into the room. At the same time he closed the door again and held a hand over the guys mouth.
Kakashi grinned, good ears were just so useful for any ninja, just like a good nose and sense of touch. Eyes were just a given.
"If you scream you die." Kakashi whispered to his captive, who whimpered quietly in his hands.
Kakashi looked his catch over, warm comfortable clothes, soft hands, pale skin, glasses and several papers clutched to his chest. Humming he grabbed one from the stack and had a quick look over it. Kakashi couldn't help but smile. He had landed a big one, an accountant.
"So, you might just live to tell your children of the time you were captured by that ninja and survived." Kakashi grinned at the man. Not that he could see the grin. Not with closed eyes, shaking like a leaf and turned away from Kakashi.
"If you remain quiet of course." Kakashi added. "Nod once if you won't cause trouble. Nod twice if you will cause trouble and nod a whole lot if you are so scarred you couldn't even think of making trouble."
The head bobbed up and down rapidly, Kakashi actually had a bit of trouble holding his hand over the mouth.
"Good, I'll remove my hand now. Don't scream remember?" He whispered and slowly removed the hand, only to place it on the unfortunate guys throat. No sense in risking stupid moves after all.
He could feel the man gulp fearfully.
"Wh...wha...what...d...d..d...do you want?" He stuttered close to panic.
"Where is Gato?" Kakashi asked calmly. He suspected that if an accountant stalked these halls, hunting for more money to press out of Wave, then Gato would also be here. Or at least show up on occasion.
"Ga...Ga...Gato?" The man asked, still trembling.
"Yes Gato, you see, I've been hired to protect somebody from him and the easiest way to do that is to kill Gato. I'm afraid you'll have to look for..."
But the trembling man in his hands suddenly stopped trembling and even though Kakashi couldn't see it he could imaging the evil grin on the suddenly calm man.
"He's three levels above us in his study, I can bring you there." He said, his voice suddenly full of satisfaction.
Kakashi blinked, apparently Gato didn't inspire too much locality in his employees.
"Hmm... can I ask why you want to kill him?" He asked as he eyed the ceiling. He listened carefully, but he couldn't hear anybody above him.
"He's a bastard and an idiot." The man hissed. "Do you have any idea what he did to Wave? He became rich destroying it. Now that he controls it though, he keeps it down, crushes the people, and takes what little money they have."
"You disagree?" Kakashi asked as he moved around the room, knocking on the ceiling every so often. He doubted he would have to keep threatening the man.
"Of course I disagree. Do you have any idea just how much money we lose thanks to him ruining this country? Never mind the moral problems with it. We could make so much more if the country just had some money to spend. But Gato just wants control, he doesn't care that he hurts himself gaining it. He's such a shortsighted, stupid, vindictive..." Kakashi tuned out the hissed tirade, nothing of value seemed to be said at the moment.
"Hmm I see." He muttered. And punched through the ceiling, creating a small hole he quickly expanded.
He noticed that the accountant had stopped his rambling.
"I take it Gato isn't the best boss?" Kakashi smiled at the gaping man.
"Not the best boss? He's underpaying everybody! The thugs he's hired are just too stupid to realize it. But they keep the rest of us in line. We can't back out now, he'll just send his thugs to kill us if we try to leave." The man shook with rage, forgetting his astonishment at Kakashi's shortcut.
Kakashi shook his head. He had no idea how Gato became as powerful as he did with that attitude. Somehow it failed to instill loyalty in his employees. Kakashi had no idea why it failed though.
He grabbed the man and hauled him through the hole he just created, then he followed.
"My, this is faster than taking the stairs." The accountant muttered to himself.
Kakashi nodded, checking the next ceiling. Two more and he would be on Gato's level. This room seemed to be used for storage, judging by the dust it had gathered.
"Careful, the next level houses his thugs while he's here." His captive... or ally, Kakashi wasn't entire sure yet, whispered.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, above him he could hear soft snoring. Nothing to worry about if he acted fast. A few soft knocks told him where the ceiling didn't have anything standing on it and a quick punch created a nice hole, some pulling widened it enough for Kakashi to jump through. The thug in the bed stared at the ninja in a sleepy stupor. Not for long though, as a kunai in his throat silenced him.
Behind Kakashi another thug fell back into his bed as well. A kunai had embedded itself in his eye.
Kakashi jumped back down and pulled the accountant up with him. The man hadn't even tried to run, though whether that was because he didn't have the time, or because he didn't want to Kakashi didn't know.
As the man saw the corpses in the beds he gave a strangled squeak.
"Having second thoughts?" Kakashi asked calmly.
The man shook his head. "No, just... this is my first corpse." He stood there, shaking violently, looking very, very green as he looked from one corpse to the other.
Kakashi took his face and made the man look at him, instead of the dead bodies. "You worked for Gato didn't you? I would have thought you saw this fairly regularly." He said.
"I try to stay in my office." The man said, slowly regaining control.
"Smart I suppose." Kakashi muttered. "What's above us?"
"Nothing. Up there are Gato's private rooms. Nobody's allowed in there but Gato. The only thing we are allowed to see is his office." Kakashi nodded as he once again knocked on the ceiling. He hadn't heard anybody up there, but he still didn't want a bed to fall on him.
"Does he have any guards with him?" Kakashi asked while he worked.
"Yes, he had two favorites... I actually think he pays them well." His captive said... maybe Kakashi should ask for his name? Eh, why bother?
"They are better than the rest?" He asked.
"Uhh I don't know. I don't know anything about fighting." Came the answer. "But I think they are just a bit more vicious than the rest of them."
"Heh good. Shouldn't be much of a problem then." Kakashi said as he punched through the last part of the ceiling. Quickly he had the both of them up there as well.
"Hey! What the hell?" Somebody from three floors down shouted up to them. Kakashi looked through his hole. Luckily nobody could see all the way up, so they just had to hurry a bit.
He looked around the room, expensive furniture, tastefully arranged. Say what you wanted about his methods, Gato knew how to decorate a room. "Where to now?" He asked his guide.
"I don't know! I've never been here before! But his office is in that direction... if he's there and not somewhere else in his rooms. These are pretty big you know?"
Kakashi nodded as he walked to the door. He couldn't hear anybody behind it, so he opened it. Just another empty room. Similar furniture, but nothing of interest. He signaled his guide to follow and hurried on. He could hear more shouting from below now. Faintly, but it wouldn't take long now till somebody connected the dots and made this a bit harder than it had to.
Kakashi didn't exactly want to start a slaughter, cleaning up would be such a bother.
So he hurried on, through the rooms, but it became apparent fast that he would have to walk around the entire floor to reach Gato this way. He sighed, the shouting had become pretty loud at this point. No more time it seemed.
"Step back." He order the man behind him and punched through the wall. Luckily they were rather thin, otherwise this might not have worked. He didn't have Zabuza's sword after all.
He quickly made his way through, nodded at the girl staring at him from a bed he passed by and ignored the terrified scream from her.
"Always knew she wasn't a real secretary." His guide muttered behind him, but Kakashi ignored it, he could hear panicked screaming a few wall over as well and this came from a male. He grinned as he pulled his Hita-ate free from his eye, revealing his sharingan. This would be over faster than they could react. He broke down another wall and came face to face with around ten guards, arrayed around a short guy screaming orders and obscenities at them.
"Get the fucking bastard who's..." He trailed off, as he realized that he had been caught.
"Kill him!" Gato shouted almost immediately. Kakashi chuckled as he charged into the men. Chidori crackling in his fist. Gato died before any of the men could even react.
A fist through your chest would do that. With a careless flick of his fist Kakashi shook the corpse free and pulled out several kunai.
The fight hadn't even started before it ended.
Kakashi stood surrounded by eleven corpses only five seconds later. They hadn't even drawn their weapons.
"Urgh." His guide stood in a corner emptying his stomach.
"Killing somebody isn't pretty." Kakashi shrugged. "But you get used to it after a while... I should show you one of my students, she's great. I think she would have enjoyed this." Kakashi grinned at the man. Sure, he apparently hadn't been here willingly. But still, he had been here.
"Oh god, you ninja..." The man muttered. More screaming could be heard from downstairs.
"Tell you what." Kakashi said to him. "You tell me where Gato keeps his money or other valuables and I take you out of here. It would be rather hard to explain what you are doing here right?"
The man pointedly didn't look at the corpses, but he nodded nevertheless. "I think he has a safe here somewhere. But again I don't know where. And I don't have the combination or the keys anyway."
Kakashi glanced around the room. He walked over to the desk and searched it quickly. There had been a few very interesting documents, nothing of immediate value, but some of those business partners of his would be of interest to Konoha. He growled, especially those selling drugs and other less than legal objects to the man.
"I think I know where the safe is... or at least somebody who knows it." Kakashi pulled the man after him, as he backtracked to the bedroom they had come across.
The woman was still there, this time she actually wore clothes however.
She stared at Kakashi, before a small whimper escaped her throat. Not surprisingly, since blood covered him from head to toe. He grinned winningly at her, which only served to make her more nervous.
"Gato's dead." He opened the conversation. "Tell me where he keeps his safe." Her eyes widened even more, but she still managed to shakily point at a spot on the wall.
Whistling Kakashi walked over, he could hear shouting from the direction of Gato's office, however nobody seemed inclined to follow whoever slaughtered all those people.
Kakashi grinned happily, that was one advantage of leaving so many corpses, the next in line wouldn't want to be the next in line.
He punched the wall and his fist ripped through the wood of the hidden door. Sure he could have found another way to open it, but this had just been so much faster. Behind the door stood a steel safe.
"You still need a key." His guide whispered. The woman nodded fearfully behind him.
"Luckily I have a key right here." Kakashi grinned at them and charged another chidori. He slammed it into the safe and the door crumbled beneath his hand. He stopped himself from wincing. That had been rather painful. Next time, just take the entire safe.
He ripped the door off its hinges and looked into the safe, some money, but mostly just paper, maybe contracts? He pulled some out and glanced over them. Yeah, contracts some bank-accounts, bla, bla, he didn't have the time to go over them. Better to just grab it all and sort it out later.
"Well, I have everything I came for. Let's go." He grabbed his guide and turned to leave.
"Wait!" The woman stopped him.
"Hmm?" he turned around questioningly.
"Take me with you! I don't want to know what those thugs of Gato will do to me." She looked pleadingly at him.
Kakashi shrugged. Not as if one more passenger would be much of a problem. "Sure, just follow me."
"There's another exit somewhere around..." The woman started, but shut up after Kakashi reduced one wall to rubble with a few quick punches.
"Monster..." He heard her whisper and grinned. Ahh, civilians so easy to impress, or terrify.
"You coming?" He asked her grinning. He wondered what the poor girl would do if she met Sakura.
"We are wasting time." The accountant jumped into the conversation, glaring at the girl.
Kakashi rolled his eyes. The thugs hadn't even dared leave the office yet. After the noise Kakashi made to break down the wall they had even moved back down. Smart really.
The woman nodded and followed Kakashi through the hole. A few walls later and they faced a rather steep drop onto the forest floor.
"And now?" The woman glared at the accountant, wisely not at Kakashi he noted amused.
"Oh, now comes the fun part." Kakashi shrugged, grabbed both of them and jumped. The panicked screams that followed were music to his ears. Always so damn amusing doing this.
Though the screams got old fast, why did he keep doing it? Eh, no matter within a few minutes he had reached solid ground a few kilometers away from the base.
His passengers fell to the ground, not moving at all. He shrugged lazily.
"Wave is in that direction, if you start walking now you'll reach it in a day or two. There's more than enough water in the woods and no dangerous animals that I'm aware of." He waved at them and disappeared quickly back into the woods.
"What?" He heard the female scream after him, but he ignored it. He got them out of immediate danger and he didn't feel obliged to do any more. They had worked for Gato after all.
And now he could return to Tazuna, hand over whatever money he felt like and return to Konoha with a nice little bonus for his team. Once there he could offload Zabuza and Haku, maybe his team as well, though hopefully not to Ibiki and have a nice rest. Today had turned out to be a rather good day all in all.
-o-
Naruto grinned as he returned into the kitchen, he had gone out, to a secluded part of the forest and pulled out some of the Kyuubi's power, instant healed jaw no jutsu.
Having to stay silent sucked, he had so much he wanted the world to know. And with the way thing went they hadn't be able to teach Inari about heroes. He still had to do that, just how? If Kakashi came back successful it could be easier and harder to archive that. He sighed, this would be so much easier if he could just go and beat some people up. It always was easier to beat people up and make them realize their errors that way than to talk to people. He somehow never found the right words outside of combat.
He looked up as Haku came down the stairs, a strange contemplative expression on his face. And a blush, a very pronounced blush.
"What did she force you to do? Nothing too bad I hope?" Naruto asked the poor boy.
Haku ripped his head up and stared at Naruto, then blinked and focused on Naruto's jaw. "How?" He asked in confusion.
"The Kyuubi. It's a bit dangerous and rather unpleasant, but I can instantly regenerate the worst wounds, as long as I'm not dead that is." He winked at Haku. "So, how is she anyway. I couldn't check yet."
Haku coughed, his blush springing up full force. "A hand full." He muttered.
"Oh I would say she's a bit bigger than that... wait, she had broken ribs and she... damn, now I'm jealous." Naruto hung his head. Haku got to touch Sakura before him... well he got to touch kiddy Sakura. And somehow Naruto didn't mind all that much anymore.
"Wha? No I didn't mean, she forced me and she fell asleep almost as soon as I started and nothing happened and I only did as much as..." Naruto laughed at the flustered boy. Geez, how innocent could one boy be? Not that Naruto would have reacted differently he supposed. But still, Haku was a few years older, shouldn't he be interested in stuff like that?
"No need to be embarrassed, it's no big deal. I'm pretty sure Sakura just did it to get a rise out of you." She better have, because everything else would just be disturbing.
"I... yes, I think that was all it was. Can I see Zabuza now?" Haku quickly changed the subject.
Naruto looked at the boy then nodded. "Suppose you should use your salve on him as well. Haku nodded happily.
"By the way." Naruto said blandly. "If I use the Kyuubi like that, to burn through mayor injuries, it also burns away any poisons."
Haku stiffened almost immediately. "Just to let you know. I did feel a bit lethargic this morning, just after I used your salve."
"It just makes you fall asleep." Haku muttered.
"I know, you wouldn't kill us if you didn't need to. But you wouldn't have gotten past Sasuke anyway." Naruto shrugged as he walked up the stairs with Haku. "And I really don't mind that you put Sakura back into her bed. I bet she moved around like crazy already." He sighed in exasperation. Though mostly to hide the fact that he would be running around like that again by this point.
"Yes." Haku said a tentative smile on his lips.
"You are going to use that salve on Zabuza as well." Naruto noted, Haku shot him a look but nodded nevertheless.
"It's just easier that way. Lessens the risk of Zabuza doing something stupid as well."
"You have the sharingan for that." Haku muttered.
Naruto watched him lazily. "I know you won't try to poison us fatally, but if we force you to use the salve on Zabuza as well, we remove the last chance of temptation."
Haku looked at him strangely, but nodded anyway. "I suppose."
They entered Zabuza's room and Naruto watched the man rest on his futon. He didn't move much, but the little twitches told Naruto all he needed to know. Zabuza had already begun to regain some of his strength. Much more than he let on. He grinned, after only a day though even that much wouldn't be enough to do much more than flop around uselessly.
"Hello Zabuza, your student is here with your medicine." Naruto greeted the man. He hadn't seen him since yesterday but he noted that the man looked at him very, very warily.
"Hello brat. Haku." Zabuza nodded to them, as politely as he could. Which wasn't very.
Haku quickly stepped up and began applying the salve on Zabuza's naked chest. Naruto kept a carefully eye on them, but Haku didn't try anything, so Naruto didn't interfere. After a few minutes Zabuza's breathing had relaxed and he had drifted off into sleep.
Haku continued with his ministrations, but after a while he had finished with his mentor.
"Hey Haku, wanna come and talk to Inari?" Naruto asked watching the other boy pack up his supplies.
"Huh? Why? I thought you would make the Uchiha put me to sleep again." Haku wondered.
"I like you. I don't think getting you into Leaf will be easy, but I'll try. I kinda have a bit of pull with the Hokage and if I asked I'm sure he could get you in somehow." Naruto grinned at the confused boy.
"Why though? Why would you want me to join Konoha?" Haku asked, almost desperately trying to understand.
Naruto lifted an eyebrow. "You mean beside the fact that you would be a very valuable asset? And I'm not just talking about your bloodline. If we can get you to be loyal to Konoha." Naruto grinned at him. He could see by the look of understanding that crossed over Haku's face that Haku understood that reason.
"So Zabuza-sama will be the chain that binds me to Konoha?" He asked Naruto.
Naruto looked back at him, he actually had planned to mention himself wanting to be Haku's friend, but Haku had touched on a rather important little detail.
"I don't know." Naruto answered honestly. "I don't like him much. I mean I know he likes you. Maybe even loves you."
Haku's eyes widened. "He doesn't, I'm just a tool..." He began, but Naruto held a hand over his mouth.
"No, to him you are much more than just a tool, no matter what he wants to believe. Never ever think of yourself as just a tool Haku. You are a human." Naruto pulled out a kunai. "This is a tool. It's cheap, it can be replaced easily." He tapped Haku in the chest. "You can't be replaced, ever. There might be people like you, kinda. But there are no people that are you. That can take your place in Zabuza's heart."
Good thing Sakura couldn't hear this. She would ruin it with some sort of snark Naruto just knew it.
Haku looked down, hiding his eyes from view. "No, I'm just." He began, before Naruto forced him to be quiet again. "And, if you let me I would like to be your friend as well. Sasuke too." He frowned slightly. "Hell, maybe even Sakura. Though I think she would play a bit rough for you."
"We are working on that however. And hopefully she'll be better soon." Naruto lifted Haku's chin and forced him to look him into Naruto's eyes. "Friends?" He asked.
Haku tried to look away, but Naruto didn't relent.
"I... this..." Haku stuttered.
Naruto let go and shrugged. "Too early? I suppose so, can't exactly go around calling somebody friend you don't know can you?"
"I would like to though." Haku whispered, causing a grin that almost split his face onto Naruto's lips.
"We can work on that. And hey, I'll do my damnest to make sure Zabuza is all right ok?" Haku looked at him in wonder. "I might not like him much, he's done some rather horrible things I'm sure of it. And I can't promise anything, I don't have that much pull." And maybe even less, if the talk with the Hokage went badly. "But, I'll try." He grinned at Haku, who smiled back carefully.
"You don't mind me trying to..." Haku asked.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Hey, you were just trying to protect Zabuza, can't blame you for that can I? And you didn't try to kill us, just put us to sleep. Makes it even less bad eh?"
Haku nodded slowly.
"Hmm I wonder what Kakashi's doing?" Naruto wondered loudly. Somehow they had run out of conversational material.
"I'm sure he'll be back soon." Haku said, trying to comfort him.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "I'm not worried about him, he's a big boy, he can take care of himself. I'm just wondering." Haku raised an eyebrow.
"Really I'm not." He glared at the boy. " He's not Zabuza, he doesn't need us to look after him."
Haku narrowed his own eyes. "What was that?" He asked dangerously.
Naruto couldn't help but grin at that. Here he was, trying to make friends with Haku and instead he picked a fight with him. But words were so damn complicated, fighting was so much easier!
Haku narrowed his eyes, then shook his head laughing. "You want me to fight you." He muttered. "Just like with Haruno yesterday."
Naruto shrugged. "Well obviously I would hold back more." He said.
Haku tried to glare at him, but he gave up after a few second. "Yes, I suppose you would at that... how can you be so strong?" He asked quietly.
"As I said, I've got the Kyuubi in me. Makes for quite the boost in power." He wouldn't mention the time traveling yet. No need for Haku to think he was insane. Yet. He would come to that conclusion soon enough after all.
"A jinchuriku. Zabuza mentioned people like you. He said you had awesome powers, but were generally disliked." Haku glanced at him, trying to see beneath his facade.
Naruto considered his answer, but decided quickly to go with the truth.
"That's about right. There are some who have overcome the fear and the hatred. I'm not quite there yet, but I'm well on my way." And hey, he had managed it once, doing it a second time? No problem at all. Konoha respected strength, as long as it came together with the will to protect.
Haku studied him for a while, then shook his head. "I don't understand you." He muttered finally.
Naruto grinned at him. "Few do, really."
-o-
Sasuke sat on the small pier surrounding the house, listening to the waves and the sounds of the house.
It was, relaxing, very relaxing and he liked it. Nothing to worry about, since even if some of Gato's thugs came by, they wouldn't be much of a problem. And if any more ninja like Zabuza were in Gato's pocket... well Sasuke doubted there were. Missing nin were expensive and hard to come by as well.
Somebody fell down beside him.
"Hello Inari." He greeted the boy without looking away from the waves.
The boy didn't answer, he simply watched the waves with Sasuke.
They sat like that for a while, neither saying a word. For once Sasuke didn't feel like talking, Sakura, his Sakura would have asked if he felt alright. Damn, he missed her.
"Why?" Inari finally said.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow as he looked at the boy. "Why what?" He asked.
Inari shrugged. "Why are you so strong? If we had that strength, if we had it then Gato couldn't have pushed us like this. Then... then..." Tears fell on the water. Sasuke sighed, seemed today was day of the tears or something. What was it will all the crying today?
"If you had been this strong Gato would have chosen somebody else. And if he hadn't found somebody, he would have become strong enough to fight you. But really, there is no answer." Well, Sasuke had one, but he would rather not tell it to a kid like Inari. Anko had only told him because she was rather drunk and in one of her more depressed moods.
'There's always a loser, somebody's always paying the price, the only thing you can do is try and make sure it's not you.'
Sasuke had banished that thought as far as he could, but sometimes it haunted him.
"That's not fair." Inari sniffed. All Sasuke could do was nod.
"No, it isn't." He agreed. "But, life seldom is."
Inari glared at him. "Then what are we supposed to do?"
Sasuke shrugged, seemed to be pretty self evident. "What your grandfather did, go and get help. And if you have to cheat to do it? So what. As I said, life isn't fair, why should you be?" he winked at the boy.
Inari considered that. "But don't you hate being used like that?" He asked finally.
Sasuke watched the water some more, a small smile hidden on his lips. "We do yes. But why do you think we still agreed to protect your grandfather?" Well, the first time.
"Because he told you a sob story and you fell for it?" Inari accused him.
Sasuke laughed, from what Naruto had told him that came pretty close to the truth. "Probably yes, but if he had lied, do you think he would have gotten out of it in one piece?"
Inari slowly shook his head. "No, you would have... well..." He fell silent and shifted uncomfortably.
"Exactly, you have to be careful, who and what you cheat and for what reason. Your grandfather got away with it because he told us the truth, and because he choose us to protect him. Konoha does have a rather soft spot after all. And well, once the bridge is finished I expect Konoha will send somebody to collect the missing mission fees. But by then you'll be able to pay no problem."
Inari nodded slowly.
"If your land manages to regain its spirit that is." Sasuke added.
Inari looked at him confused. "What do you mean? Once the bridge is finished we'll have money again. And with Gato gone..."
Sasuke shook his head. "With Gato gone the way is open for another guy like him. If he can take control of the bridge in addition to getting control of the waterways you are no better off than with the bridge."
Inari glared at him. "Then why help us?" He shouted at Sasuke, showing some spirit at least.
Sasuke grinned easily at him. "So you have a chance to help yourself!" He replied. "If you can just regain that spirit, you can push any would be asshole away from your bridge before they can buy themselves the ninja support they need. And if they do manage to get that support? You know where to find us. Just never give up. Push and push some more."
Inari continued to glare at him. "But do it smartly. None of that, running headfirst into an ambush crap." Sasuke snorted in disgust. "Go and get some help from professionals if the enemy is too strong, hell go and get help from us if the enemy is just as strong as you are. You don't want to lose any lives now do you?"
Inari still looked at him with narrowed eyes, but he seemed to mull it over nevertheless.
"So, what can I do to make that spirit come back anyway? I'm just a boy." He muttered.
Sasuke ruffled his hair, until Inari pushed his hand away angrily. "Stop that!"
"You are just a boy, but how do you think the adults will feel if you go out there, to face people way stronger than you, but not stronger than the adults? Do you really think they'll let themselves be shown up by a little boy?" Sasuke grinned nastily and Inari grinned back. "Just in case they are cowards like that though, keep an escape route ready and don't look back, if they are like that? They don't deserve you or your family. Just leave and settle down in Konoha, we always can use some more carpenters."
He winked at the boy conspiratorial. "Somehow stuff always breaks, I have no idea why."
Inari snorted, looking back to the destroyed clearing. "Yes, absolutely no idea why." He repeated.
-o-
Kakashi slowly entered the house, distractedly leafing through his stolen documents.
He couldn't stop grinning. With what he stole wave would recover quite fast and with a recovered wave, indebted quite deeply to Konoha, more money and missions would come Konoha's way, never mind the increased reputation.
He had already pocketed enough money to pay for this mission, some more as a bonus for himself and his genin and some choice real estate that would be rather useful, if Konoha ever planned to build a more permanent presence in wave.
"Hello Naruto, Haku." He greeted the boys talking animatedly over the dinner table. He couldn't see Tsunami anywhere, but she had avoided the kids since their little fight, so that didn't surprise Kakashi much.
"Hello Sensei." Naruto greeted him back, the broken jaw apparently already healed. Kakashi didn't bother thinking about it. He wouldn't understand anyway.
"Hatake-san." Haku bowed slightly.
"Well, at least somebody is polite to me. Maybe I can get the Hokage to drop Naruto and make you take his place." Kakashi joked. The boy blinked, but frowned at Kakashi, weird reaction.
Naruto merely rolled his eyes, not just at Kakashi though. "He's joking Haku. He doesn't mean it seriously. Geez, you should get stuff like that."
Haku blushed crimson and locked down. "If you are to be my friend, I wouldn't want to take your place... and I'm not used to such interaction. Zabuza-sama always says what he means, he doesn't joke like that and... I didn't..."
Kakashi waved him down. "Mah, mah. No need to be down on yourself. As I said, Naruto isn't exactly a shining example for decent social interaction." He winked at the boy, who looked back, first distrustful, then smiled tentatively. Kakashi filed him away as a lost cause.
Maybe in a few years he would be able to fake a smile better... Kakashi glanced at Naruto, and maybe Naruto actually could teach him to smile for real. But if so, Naruto could work miracles.
He considered that for a second, Naruto had already gone back in time. Why not work other miracles?
Sighing he laid the papers on the table. "Have you two seen Tazuna? I've got some stuff for him."
Naruto looked over the papers as well. "Huh? That's all? I expected more..." He pulled a paper from the small pile and read it.
"Naruto, those are certificates of ownership. They are worth a bit more than a sack of money." Kakashi berated the boy.
"And whoever owns these papers owns the items?" Naruto asked, not bothering to keep the skepticism out of his voice.
Haku shook his head. "Not really. However, it's much easier to get those items if you do have those certificates. And if the owner is dead..." Haku shrugged.
"Exactly, if they work a bit they should be able to get a decent price for those at least. More than enough to bring wave back into shape." Kakashi smiled at Haku, respectful and smart, he would really have to work on the Hokage to make sure Haku could stay in the village, they had so few genin like him.
"Of course, they need to be able to hold onto the money and protect themselves from bandits and the like, can't always count on ninja to pull their asses out of the fire, right Inari?" Sasuke walked into the room as well, Inari hot on his heels. The little boy nodded, looking at the older boy seriously.
Naruto looked at Sasuke with narrowed eyes for a second, but an easy grin replaced the look almost immediately.
"You two had a talk then?" He asked.
Sasuke shrugged. "Just explained to him how to make sure his village is the right place for him. And that somebody has to make sure nobody else like Gato can get their claws into it again." He turned to Kakashi. "Sooo... how did it go Sensei?" He asked eagerly.
"Gato's dead." Kakashi answered, smiling lazily.
He noted that Inari eyes widened in shock for a moment, then he shook his head and smiled. "Good. He needed to go." He said with conviction.
"Yes, even some of his employees agreed with that. They helped me get to him." He decided not to go into details, the kid didn't need to know that much. Sasuke and Naruto also seemed content not to ask any more questions.
"Where's Sakura, I don't see her anywhere?" He asked, he had expected her to be here, waiting for him and her share of the money.
"She's sleeping, the fight must have taken a lot out of her." Naruto said. Though he shot a quick look at Haku, whatever that meant. Kakashi wouldn't worry about it. He could trust Naruto that much.
"Well, let's get Tazuna, and then get ready to go back to Konoha." Kakashi said, as he turned to Haku. "No offense, but I would prefer to have him in Konoha before he's back in top condition."
Haku nodded placidly, though he couldn't entirely stop his glare.
-o-
Sakura grumbled a bit as she forced her chakra into her ribs, to make sure they stayed where they were supposed to stay.
"Are you sure it's a good idea for her to be up already? Her ribs are broken!" Tsunami admonished Kakashi again. Much to Sakura's delight. She would have preferred to stay in bed as well. But, well Kakashi hadn't lied, the faster they managed to get Zabuza to Konoha the better. Never mind the Hospital there. Her ribs would be in top shape much faster there than here. And she had gotten stir crazy after only one day in bed.
"Don't worry, I can take care of myself. The trip back won't be a problem." She tried to placate the worried woman. "And if it does become too much? Well, I can just get one of the guys to carry me..." she leaned in and winked at Tsunami. "Might do that even if it won't be too much."
The older woman giggled quietly and nodded at Kakashi. "Very well. But... be careful, I know I avoided you..."
Sakura rolled her eyes. After what she had witnessed, that would be perfectly understandable. Ninja hadn't been liked very much were she came from. Not that they were ever attacked, the survivors, the few non ninja, weren't suicidal after all. But you could feel the hatred there. The hatred for those to blame for the end.
"So, don't worry about anything, if bandits do come just make sure you have some people in hard to reach places who can use a bow or a crossbow. And you should be fine. If it's ninja's just send somebody and call for us." Naruto said to Inari, who looked from him to Sasuke who nodded in agreement, and back to Naruto.
"Alright, will do... and you were awesome Naruto, well you know if you hadn't gotten your ass handed to you by a girl." Inari grinned evilly at him.
"Hey brat! You want a piece of me?" Sakura shouted at the kid, who hid behind Sasuke's leg. "Thought not." She laughed and ignored Tsunami's glare expertly. Not as if she would do anything to the kid really.
"Thank you again." Tazuna said, to Kakashi. "You could have just kept the money for yourself... instead..." He wiped some tears off.
Kakashi shrugged. "Eh, it was the right thing to do really."
And the fact that Konoha could make more money with a strong wave in their debt had nothing to do with it, eh Kakashi? Sakura thought amused.
She carefully stepped into the small boat, in which Haku and Zabuza already sat. Haku made sure that Zabuza sat as comfortably as possible. If they had stayed longer they could have used the bridge, but with Kakashi in a hurry, they would need to use the boat... or water-walk to the other side, but why bother.
Everybody filed into the boat, and the boats-man kicked off. Sakura watched the three people seeing them off. If Inari really wanted to become the leader of wave he would have some work in front of him. But with Kakashi's money and Tazuna's new reputation he would have an easier job than most.
"Thanks for talking to him." Naruto said to Sasuke, after they lost the group in the thick fog.
"Eh, no problem. And well, he talked to me. I just answered." Sasuke shrugged his shoulders.
"Are you two going to hug and be all brotherly now?" Sakura asked. "Cause if you are? I think I'm gonna drown myself."
She might try to not hate them as much, and she might try to behave herself better. But she would be damned if she suffered through too much sappiness. No way, no how.
Naruto sighed and looked at Sasuke. "I thought you said she would be better."
Sasuke glared back. "Hey, she is doing better. Don't expect miracles from me!"
Sakura grinned as they continued to squabble, much better.
-o-
Thanks to Slamu for proofreading