Disclaimer:Don't own Naruto
AN:... Finally able to upload. Chapt 14 is done and half chap 15. Quick run through of chp14 and should be out later this week.
N.B. on Song. It's just the song that plays during the scene. Won't time it anymore. Once you know it pretend it's playing for the entire scene.
MODS: I don't think this is a lemon. I believe I bypassed the explicitness pretty okay. If I didn't I would be happy to cooperate if you would get in touch with me.
Song: Evey Reborn
Village Gate,
Sunagakure
Bright, blue emanated from the near full moon; enough to make out silhouettes and no more. The large crackling torches erected on either side of the village gate illuminated the immediate area and their flames spat around in a fierce dance with the shadows like the writhing of lovers against one another in the heat of passion.
The soft orange glow revealed a small band of shinobi. The night's breeze howled and rippled their cloaks, carrying sand in its embrace as it rushed through the village. All gathered at this ridiculous time- a few hours past midnight- stood in a group, but a lone figure standing ahead in the gateway.
Sakura shivered. Hard to believe the scorching temperatures the unforgiving desert hit only a few hours ago had now dropped where the icy wind seeped through skin and flesh to hit bone, chilling from the inside out. Sakura cursed herself for not wearing leggings. In her defense though, she did not think they would be out that long.
"N-n-naruto…. A-are…. You sure… your c-c-c-ontact … is coming…"
Sakura struggled to speak as her teeth clattered together. A look to her left, she saw Ino was shivering uncontrollably as well.
"He'll be here….."
Although he sounded sure, his eyes kept scanning the horizon.
The clattering of teeth became even more apparent. Sakura once again looked at Ino. Hinata, who was also hugging herself trying to keep warm, slipped her arms around the blonde kunoichi so they could share their body heat. Sakura quickly got on board and a few steps later all the girls were in a huddle wrapped in their cloaks. The scent of honey filled Sakura's nose from the Hyuuga's skin.
"Damn it's cold!" said Sakura. Kakashi and Neji didn't seem too perturbed by the weather.
"Kaka sensei! How could you even think about reading at a time like this?"
"Hm?"
The sharingan wielder cast a bored eye upwards. "Oh…"
His gaze went back to his book. "Desert's cold at night….. I wore my thermals….."
Sakura narrowed her eyes. Her head snapped to Neji. The handsome Hyuuga merely raised his sleeve showing he also wore his thermals. Sakura muttered some colorful words that would make her drunken Shishou proud.
This was met with a laugh.
"I didn't think you had such a mouth on you Haruno. How about letting me get to know it a little better some time? After all I never did get to thank you properly for saving me all those years ago."
The cold stopped Sakura from stalking over to Kankuro and his snickering guard of hunter nin before sending them all through a couple buildings.
"Kankuro…."
The growl instead of the usual joviality in Naruto's voice made everyone take notice of the man standing in the gateway.
"As the future Hokage…. I'm going to be diplomatic about this and give you a warning this time. But I promise you this….. the next time you proposition Sakura like that…. Gaara will be a commander short…. Do you understand me?"
Still, the blonde did not turn around. He just kept scanning the sand dunes…. waiting.
Kankuro recoiled immediately.
"Did I miss something?"
The temperature suddenly rose a few degrees in Sakura's opinion as her cheeks began to flush. However, managing a coy smile she looked over her shoulder.
"You're a day too late."
The older nin from Suna was surprised. Soon enough however, he settled, sighing with a light smirk.
"About time."
Matching smirks graced all the Konoha nin's faces.
All except Naruto.
"Stay here….." he said walking out the gate.
This alerted everyone.
"Where do you think you're go-…."
"Stay here Sakura…."
Not only was Sakura taken aback, but so was everyone else at the drop of the affectionate suffix and the level tone.
Sakura's incredulity started fading away and Naruto flickered nearby into the horizon. It was only then did they realize a slumping figure close to the desert floor. Naruto helped the person up, draping their arm across his shoulder before proceeding back towards the gate.
As Naruto grew closer to the gate with his charge so did the group's anticipation. Naruto had mentioned there was a spy in Akatsuki and that it was someone they were familiar with but not for anything would he tell them who.
Someone sniffed the air. Eyes fell on Kakashi who nodded once.
"I was right…. That idiot…."
He ignored the questioning looks from his young subordinates. Kakashi called over his shoulder when Naruto and the figure neared the entrance; almost in the light.
"Did you know who was coming Kankuro?"
"Huh?"
Kakashi turned a bit more to study the older brother of the Kazekage. The Suna nin had a perplexed look on his face.
"Of course," said Kankuro. "Gaara said to expect him anytime tonight or in the mo-…. Wait… Naruto didn't tell you?"
Kakashi looked ahead, a somber expression on his face. "No….. although this was my guess when he said we would need to see it… I brushed it off as more hope on my part than an actual possibility."
"Kaka sensei?"
Kakashi acknowledged his former student, still huddled to the other girls, out the corner of his eyes. A small sigh escaped his lips. He wasn't sure what to say.
"Sakura. Try to stay calm. Okay?"
Sakura furrowed her brow. That is, until she heard his voice just before he and Naruto stepped into the light.
"I told you not to tell them dobe!"
"Teme! You should be glad I did. You're torn to shit. Stop pretending to be a bad ass!"
"I don't need any coddling usuratonkachi!"
"Teme!"
Their features were now fully illuminated from the torches. Naruto, propping Sasuke up, stopped as they glared at one another.
"Uchiha."
They snapped to Neji who stepped protectively in front of the girls, particularly Hinata.
"Naruto, explain yourself….."
Said blonde looked around at those present. The same question was in everyone's eyes…. All except one that is, for he dare not look in her direction. Naruto opened his mouth to reply. He was cut short when Sasuke beat him to it.
"Dobe…."
The attention quickly turned to the traitor.
"Get this over with…."
Naruto glared at the face near his.
"Shut up Teme. It's not as easy as th-"
"I'm going to pass out…"
And no sooner was it said, did Sasuke's head fall forward ever so slowly and he drifted off into unconsciousness. Silence reigned over everyone at the display. Weren't they killing each other four days ago?
Kakashi sighed.
"I guess before we get any answers we should head to the hospital."
As the words left his mouth, Naruto looked away, wincing.
"Actually…"
Kakashi turned to look at Kankuro.
"Gaara has agreed to let him in the village tonight under the condition he remained under Naruto's charge and is confined to your building. As Kazekage he can't afford to put any of our med nin at risk. Gomen."
Kakashi could only shake his head while pinching his nose. 'I'm getting too old for this…'
"Err…. Shall we get going…."
Kankuro's shaky voice held some urgency to it and Kakashi knew why. The second it was mentioned that Suna med nin were not available, a certain Kunoichi's chakra began fluctuating dangerously. Out of the corner of his eye Kakashi saw that even Neji was subtly leaning away from Sakura.
The copy ninja looked at two men at the gate. He felt weary already.
"You're killing me Naruto."
Konoha Lodging
A scream erupted from Sasuke's mouth as Sakura worked on his ribs with much less care than one would associate with a medic.
"Watch it!"
Her eyes never left his torso but Sasuke saw them flare before her hands were pressing even harder, shooting white pain up his body.
"Fffffffffffffff….."
When the pain finally subsided, Sasuke opened his eyes to see Hinata placing a hand on Sakura's shoulder. "Sakura-chan….. perhaps it's best if I take over."
Through his heavy breathing and the sweat glistening on his forehead, Sasuke glanced at the once timid Hyuuga and noted the authority in her voice. It sounded like a suggestion, but her tone meant it was anything but.
Sakura eyed Hinata with a neutral expression before straightening her form and walking away. She brushed past Naruto without even batting an eyelash. If his ribs and jaw weren't killing him, Sasuke might have snorted. His former teammates were still drama queens.
Currently Sasuke half sat on the dining table with Hinata assessing him. Kakashi stood to his right a few feet away guarding the front door and Neji stood just to the right of the copy nin leaning against the wall. Ino sat in a one-seater about fifteen feet in front of Sasuke and Kiba adjacent to her on a couch letting his cast rest on the coffee table. Naruto stood between him and Ino, and Sakura passed the living room altogether and stood leaning against the kitchen island, arms folded.
Sasuke felt smooth, soft hands place themselves on his side. Green chakra hummed to life. It felt warm and inviting. Maybe he should get a medic to join hi-
"While Hinata is healing you…"
Sasuke turned his head to his former sensei.
"Why don't you two idiots explain what the hell is going on?"
The atmosphere in the room had already been stifling. Now the normally collected Hatake Kakashi was annoyed. It didn't bother Sasuke in the least but he noticed that the other Konoha nin squirmed around at the copy ninja's ire. An additional heaviness grew over them.
"What do you want to know?" Sasuke asked.
"How about, for starters, why are you here? What is your purpose Sasuke?"
Sasuke replied in his usual monotone drawl.
"I came bearing information on Tobi."
The reply was vague and on some level, expected.
"And why would you offer up such information? What would make you betray the masked man?"
Sasuke blinked once. His gaze drifted away from Kakashi.
"To betray would mean I held loyalty to him in the first place. The reason I joined him was to eventually kill him for the part he played in killing my clan."
"So you joined Akatsuki for all these years and expect us to believe that you never had the chance to kill him?"
Sasuke's bored eye fell on Neji. The Uchiha grimaced a bit as Hinata applied pressure, but compared to what that witch with pink hair was doing previously, he could handle this pain with ease.
"I was also using him for my own purposes…"
"And what's that?" barked Kiba.
Sasuke glanced at him, before looking away dismissively.
A growl rumbled in the Inuzuka's throat and his hand clenched till long nails were biting into flesh. He set to speak but Sasuke had already begun.
"I've never made secret the grudge I bore."
Everything stopped. Kiba stopped clenching. Hinata's hand stopped moving. Naruto stopped staring at the ground and now looked at Sasuke dead in the eyes. Even the witch stopped leaning against the island and stepped closer to the couch.
"We were heading in the same direction. I merely used him as a means of transport to that goal. It was always my plan to kill him once I had achieved it…."
Hinata stood in slow motion as a rose growing before one's very eyes. Her eyes locked with Sasuke's.
"You both wanted the destruction of Konoha….."
Sasuke's response was a slow blink and a simple, 'Aa.'
Chakra spiked dangerously from Neji, Kiba and Ino. Neji's Byakugan activated and he stepped forward but Kakashi held an arm out hindering any progress. "Kaka sensei, we should carry him back to Konoha as soon as possible. I also think it would make the trip easier if we don't bother healing him."
Kakashi glanced over the shoulder to look at Neji as the latter continued. "As he is now he will pose no threat to any of us. It is best we keep it like that." Kakashi contemplated for a bit before turning back and looking at his disinterested former pupil. "You know, Neji does have a point Sasuke." Kakashi noticed Naruto's head snapped his way.
"But first. You mentioned the grudge you bore in the past tense."
The killing intent in the room dropped. Curiosity quickly replaced the anger on the young Konoha shinobi faces.
"Has your goal changed… Sasuke?"
There was no waver in Kakashi's voice but the others wondered If there was a bit of hope underlying in that level tone.
Sasuke's lip twitched but he stopped himself from scowling and instead, looked away to the left and stared at the wall. For a few tense seconds, all that could be heard was the clock on the wall, ticking away.
"Konoha….."
The nin listened to the last Uchiha's words, hanging on them with bated breath.
"….. is not in my sights anymore."
A few breaths of relief were let out. It was merely a slight reprieve given the situation, but it was welcome nonetheless. . Of course, it would not be that easy.
"How can we trust you?"
Everyone knew it would be the next question asked. They were never going to accept that he just changed his mind without even so much as a motive.
No.
The question was expected. The voice behind it was not.
Heads turned to Sakura, a neutral expression held fast on her face and all but Hinata, who had just begun healing Sasuke's jaw, missed the flash in his eyes before dulling once again.
"You can't."
It was morbid. But it was the truth. They could not trust him after all that has happened. And that was that.
Sensing the mood lighten a bit - at least to the point of awkwardness instead of animosity - with the temporary truce between Sasuke and the rest of his generation, Kakashi decided to get to the business end of the conversation.
"What is Tobi planning Sasuke?"
Sasuke turned slightly but Hinata held his face and continued working on his jaw. Naruto stepped in and filled everyone in on the temporary Jinchuuriki and Tobi's replenished army of white Zetsu's. When he was done everyone was shocked. Another war on that scale? Already? It had only been a few years.
"It's worse than we thought."
They gave their attention to Sasuke. He explained the one sidedness of the fight had been with Kisame and did not downplay the fact that he was lucky to be alive. They all had a hard time comprehending the power held within the edo tensei Jinchuuriki but none more so than Naruto. He knew better than anyone how strong Sasuke really was.
"Wait a minute…"
Hinata had just finished healing Sasuke when she stood in realization.
"It wasn't by chance we met up in the forest was it?"
Sasuke blinked. That was as good a confirmation as they would get.
"You purposefully let your group be spotted around the area and waited for Konoha shinobi to show up….. You're plan was to kidnap one of us all along to talk to Naruto. Not to fight him," she near whispered.
"Hn… a fight was the only way I knew he would be forced to meet me. And it was the only way I could get close enough to the idiot to make sure we were not heard. Everything you saw after was staged."
"Staged?"
Hinata jumped at the voice. It was but a whisper, but the tone was dangerous. She spun around. Sakura was standing in front of Naruto. The intent coming off the young Haruno was unbelievable. Hinata would never have believed it was Sakura if the girl wasn't standing right next to her.
Ino withered in her chair. Even Kakashi was uncomfortable with the darkening aura exuding from Sakura's body.
"Sakura…. Calm down."
"No Kaka sensei! This is bullshit!"
There aren't many things in the world that surprised Hatake Kakashi, but even he was taken aback.
"Sakura!" said Ino springing off the one seater, her eyes wide and mouth open.
"You almost died! If Ino and I weren't there you would have! I know because I sat in that clearing crying my eyes out trying to heal you! How the fuck is that staged?"
"Sakura-cha-"
"Don't fucking Sakura-chan me Naruto!"
Naruto wasn't the only one who visibly flinched at those words.
Sakura looked around the room frantically.
She pointed at Kakashi, then Naruto, then herself.
"It was a burden we all bore!"
Her cheeks became moist and cool but it did nothing to quell her rage.
"You had this solace for four days…"
Sakura's eyes closed as her whole body shook, hands clenching at her sides.
"But that's not the worst part…"
Sakura didn't realise that her lips were trembling.
"It's bad enough you didn't tell us…. But the worst part is….."
She swallowed as she stared into Naruto's eyes. Not believing what was coming out of her mouth.
"….according to what you both said…"
Naruto took a step forward but she recoiled from his touch immediately. The pain in Naruto's face gave her no satisfaction because she just couldn't feel anymore.
"Was that if your plans didn't get moved up…. You would never have told us…"
Her lip trembled violently and her breathing grew heavy. The tears flowed freely and she spared a glance at her sensei before looking at the blonde man in front of her once more in utter disbelief.
"You really believed… that you had the right to keep this from us?"
It was the calm before the storm and she finally exploded with a loud screech.
"As though Sensei and I hadn't suffered through those years as well?"
Naruto didn't know what to say. Sakura was angrier than he had ever seen her. Her eyes always gave away what she was feeling. And right now, Naruto could see it clearly. She felt betrayed.
"Naze?..."
Her question, though whispered, felt like the weight of the world dropping on Naruto's shoulders. Taking deep breaths were getting harder and his lungs would only fill halfway. No matter the reason, he had known this was the one thing he should not have kept from them. They had suffered just as much as he had in the last decade because of the betrayal of their teammate.
"What made you think you had the right to deny us this knowledge?"
His lip parted; head inclined; eyes imploring.
"Sakura-chan…"
His voice pleaded as much as his eyes. He took a tentative step forward reaching out to her. He close his eyes and swallowed when Sakura near sneered at him and walked down the hall.
Naruto opened his eyes and kept licking his lips. His head swung side to side ever so slightly, eyelids furiously blinking. He couldn't let it be like this. Not her. Not now. He strode forward heading towards her room, when a strong hand grasped his wrist. He snapped his head to glare at the person, but the one staring back at him was even more intense.
"You're not the person she needs to see right now…."
He wanted to pull away from Ino's grip. He wanted to shout at her and tell her she was wrong. He wanted to ignore her words and storm after Sakura. But no matter how he thought of it, he knew Ino was right.
He deflated, and his eyes went to the floor. He didn't bother moving because he didn't want to catch the eyes that he felt trained on him. Especially Kakashi's. Because he knew Sakura was right….. they had suffered too.
'Kuso.'
Kazekage's Office
Gaara sat in his chair, eyes skimming the letter once more.
A creak of the door and shuffling footsteps entered his hearing.
"You sent for me Gaara?" he head his brother ask.
Gaara nodded absent mindedly.
Kankuro cocked his head. Before he said anything, his younger brother spoke.
"Kankuro."
"Hai?"
Gaara's eyes rose finally rose to meet Kankuro's.
"Bring me Yamanaka Ino at once."
Konoha Temporary Residence
"I'm sure you did a fine enough job Hinata."
The lavender haired girl nodded and placed a hand on the doorknob.
"I probably did. But I haven't done anything like bone mending in a while. I would have asked Ino but she's been summoned. It won't take you long to do a quick check."
Without waiting, Hinata opened the door and walked into the room.
Sakura sighed. 'Really picked up his stubbornness didn't you.'
Shrugging her shoulders Sakura entered the room and closed the door.
She walked to the bed. He was already sitting up.
Her hands glowed green and she started her check up. The three of them stayed quiet. Sakura did her job without much focus really. It seemed Hinata had healed the ribs completely and something else plagued Sakura's mind. She bit her tongue, struggling to keep her mouth shut, but halfway through the check up, she couldn't help herself anymore.
"Was it a win-win situation?"
Sakura felt Sasuke's eyes fix on her. Grinding her teeth, she tried to relay her question in a controlled voice.
"If he survives he helps you with Tobi, if he dies you finally killed him. Win-win either way for you right?"
She shot a glance up to meet his eyes; hers, demanding an answer.
He blinked once.
Then twice.
Finally his head slowly trailed away from her. His bored eyes made it seem he were about to fall asleep; as though not affected by her question at all.
Sakura's body shook and her mouth twisted. It took all of her willpower not to break the freshly mended bone.
Just when she thought she was about to lose control, Sasuke spoke.
"Kirin was created for the sole purpose of being my ultimate jutsu at the time. It was never meant to be scaled down."
He looked her in the eye.
"I told dropout we might die."
And then his head trailed back to the window.
Sakura stared for a few seconds, waiting for more. Surely that wasn't the entire explanation was it?
A frustrated breath flew out when it was clear there was no more to be said. Sakura closed her eyes and composed herself. Standing straighter, she tilted his head to look at her so she could check his jaw. This was done in silence.
The added tension was certainly not welcomed. It was already hard enough being in the same room as him. Uchiha Sasuke: former ninja of the leaf; a former classmate, love, teammate and friend. But over the years after the war, she began to hate him, to loathe him. Began to wish he were dead so the soul of who he once was would find peace and most of all, so Naruto would be safe. Not four days ago she stood in that clearing after the battle wanting to kill him herself, and yet, there he was, right in front of her.
What was she supposed to feel?
Her hands moved away from his jaw. He didn't look at her. She didn't look at him.
"Everything's fine."
Sakura turned around and headed for the door, opening it and exiting the room; she didn't expect to hear his voice stopping her in the doorway.
"I asked him not to tell you."
Sakura froze. She took a few seconds to gather herself. Afterwards, she looked over her shoulder to meet the dull onyx.
"He still had no right to take your side over us. Not after all we've been through because of you."
Her voice grew stronger as she spoke.
"Hn. He said the same."
Sakura started and turned around fully, eyes curious to what the Uchiha was saying.
"My team."
It was all he said. As though she was supposed to know what that meant.
Sakura cocked her head.
He acknowledged the silent question.
"Tobi has spies everywhere," Sasuke said. He gestured with his head at the room and to the door.
"Even here. My team would have been in danger if someone was eavesdropping when Naruto briefed you on our plan. Thus, he stayed silent."
Sasuke scoffed. "The idiot always did try to save everyone. Even complete strangers."
Sakura didn't take kindly to the insult.
"That's a great deal of concern from you for a team that you abandoned once before Sasuke."
Sakura shifted her weight onto her right leg and folded her arms.
"You event tried to kill that Karin girl when we found you in Iron Country."
Scrunching up his eyebrows Sasuke pressed his lips in a thin line. He exhaled deeply through his nose.
"I repay my debts…."
Sakura cocked an eyebrow, but it wasn't needed since he continued.
"They returned to me and followed me regardless of the past. In return, I decided not to put them in harm's way for the sake of my plan. It had nothing to do with concern. Only honor."
At that he looked out the window, a silent gesture that told Sakura nothing more would be said on the matter.
She stood there processing the information for a while, still confused as to how she felt about the whole thing. Sasuke; whether or not she considered him an enemy, or friend, or neutral; Naruto withholding meeting with the Uchiha. She couldn't sort out the emotions. But she did know one thing.
"Thank you."
At his blank stare, the corner of her lips turned up a touch.
"Thank you for telling me why he kept it from us… even though I didn't ask you."
She heard his scoff.
"Make no mistake about it Sakura. It's as I said. I repay my debts. He kept his mouth shut as per my request. So I am merely holding up my end by relieving him responsibility."
Sakura didn't know why. She didn't understand it. She didn't even know whether she would protest his execution in Konoha or if she would lobby for it. But for some reason, his response just made her smile.
"I understand…. But I thank you anyway."
Another scoff.
Sakura, smile on face, gave a silent nod to Hinata, before leaving the room and shutting the door.
Sasuke scowled seeing the reflection of the smirking Hyuuga in the window.
"What?"
A grin pulled on Hinata's face.
His head snapped to her direction.
"What are you smiling at?"
"Nothing," she said as her grin turned toothy.
Sasuke's scowl deepened.
The door cracked open.
Neji stood in the doorway.
"Kazekage sama is here with a message for us."
Neji, Hinata and Sasuke entered the room and time seemed to still. The air grew heavy and everyone's senses became hyperactive. Emotionless onyx eyes met the equally impassive gaze of the Kazekage.
"Uchiha Sasuke."
Ino gulped. Kiba wiped the sweat off his brow. Hinata's eyes darted between the two figures.
Suddenly, Gaara's eyes closed.
"Care for a rematch sometime?"
His eyes opened and he looked on passively, but the occupants in the room could swear there was a hint of amusement in his voice.
If that wasn't enough of a shock, then it certainly was when Sasuke smirked.
"I won't mind trying the Kazekage."
A mini smirk ghosted Gaara's lips before he turned to Naruto.
Unfortunately Naruto was staring wide eyed, mouth gaping trying to say something like a fish out of water.
"Bu-… wait….. you?..."
Raising a pointed finger at Sasuke, Naruto exclaimed in disbelief. "You made a joke?"
The smirk was quickly replaced with a scowl on Sasuke's face.
"You want me to kill you this time usuratonkachi?"
"You couldn't even if you tried Teme!"
A distinct whizzing sound filled the room. Naruto and Sasuke both caught a kunai that would have grazed their cheeks. Such an amateur intimidation tactic would no longer work on them. But when the sizzling hit their ears, both sets of eyes widened.
"Kai."
And with that simple command, the exploding notes on the kunai deactivated. Naruto's chest heaved heavily as he took deep breaths, heart pounding. Sasuke fared a little better, but everyone still noticed the slightly larger than usual rise and falls of his shoulders.
"Shut up," Sakura said monotonously.
Naruto and Sasuke did not even try to protest.
The pink haired woman's gaze shifted to Gaara and she nodded.
"As you were about to say Kazekage sama?"
There was a raised eyebrow from sand village's leader as he noted the use of his full title. There was also the furtive glances from Ino to Sakura as the blonde leant away subconsciously despite sharing a one-seater. Interesting.
But there was business on hand.
"Hokage sama has sent a message for you," said Gaara, turning to look at Naruto.
The fidgeting in the room stopped.
"What did she say?" asked Naruto.
Gaara folded his arms.
"After reading your report she decided it's time we were the ones to make the first move. You will lead a joint op tomorrow night between your group and Suna forces to assassinate Tobi."
Gaara noted the shock on the faces of the Konoha contingent.
"It's unusual for Tsunade-sama to assign a departure time that late for an urgent mission like this. Why not tonight?" asked Kakashi.
"Aa. She originally suggested that. But I relayed to her through Yamanaka-san, it is quite late. The dessert heat saps your strength during the day and it's a two day trek unless going maximum speed according to the information Sasuke has given. It would be in the best interest to reach in peak physical condition, if they are even still in that hideout that is. Thus I suggested you leave at dusk tomorrow and maximize the night's temperature to travel."
There was a subtle nod from the copy ninja.
Naruto spoke up once more.
"How many men are you sending with us?"
"Thirty hunter nin, seven jounin, and Kankuro."
Naruto nodded in recognition.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to my duties."
The Kazekage gave a nod to Kakashi and an inquisitive glance at Sakura, to which she replied with a glare, before he chuckled and left through the front door. His entourage of hunter nin accompanying him.
Naruto turned to face everyone.
"I'll meet with Gaara in the morning and see who he's given us. Then I'll decide on squads."
No one replied because it was a statement, not a question.
"Ino?"
Said blonde met Naruto's gaze.
"Hai?"
"Did you use your transmission jutsu all the way to Konoha?"
Ino managed to stop herself from stiffening and kept her voice calm.
"Hai."
"You shouldn't have done that," Naruto said calmly.
"It wasn't that big of a deal," she replied just as nonchalant.
Naruto scoffed.
"I'm sure based on that speck of dried blood from your nose that it wasn't."
This time Ino did stiffen.
Sakura's head spun around inches away from Ino's.
With a firm, albeit gentle, hand, Sakura tilted her friend's head and there was indeed dried blood.
"Tch. Idiot."
Ino yanked her face away.
"Don't treat me as though I'm porcelain! I'm a Kunoichi of the leaf."
A breath of air escaped Naruto's lips in a heavy sigh as his fingers pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Ino, you've been pushing yourself too hard this week."
He looked up and was met with a glare, but it didn't stop him.
"Maybe you should stay back in the vi-"
"I do not! Need to be protected! My leg is healed and I'm physically capable of fighting. We're already down Kiba and Shikamaru!"
She stood defiantly, nails digging into the palms of her clenched fists.
"I'm. Going."
Both pairs of cerulean blue eyes held their unwavering gaze, locking in a battle between the two most stubborn blondes in Konoha. It was interesting to see who would back down first.
"As much as I agree that she has been over exerting herself. We can't dismiss the fact as a medic combat nin, we may not be afforded the luxury of leaving her behind."
Ino flashed Neji a thankful look.
Naruto sighed in resignation.
"Alright."
He turned to Sasuke.
"We'll need you to navigate."
The temperature in the room changed.
Glares were cast and scoffs heard. Neji beat everyone to the punch.
"Naruto. Don't let your personal feelings cloud your judgement."
Even Kakashi had wanted to say it. So they were quite shocked at Naruto's reply.
"You misunderstand Neji. It has nothing to do with my feelings."
But Neji wasn't convinced and waited for more. He wasn't disappointed.
"I'm aware he can disappear in the commotion after the fight. But based on what he's told us about the lay out we'll just get lost in the underground level. Also, with the strength of these temporary Jinchuuriki, we just can't afford to leave him in the village."
Naruto sat on the dining table wearily, a hand massaging the back of his neck.
"We're going to need his strength."
His eyes closed, the skin around them wrinkling in deep thought. The others couldn't help but notice that he seemed so different to the twelve year old loud mouthed prankster they once knew. When did that jaw harden? When did those worry lines crease by his eyes? When did those same eyes lose the boyish innocence and gain that sharpness? When was it exactly, that Naruto had grown up?
They could not answer.
"Get some rest. I'll come here after my meeting with Gaara in the morning to discuss our preparations."
They cast uncertain glances at each other, wondering If they should leave their stressed friend to his own devices. Eventually though, they started getting up, before slowly making their way down the corridor. Neji lingered a while to look at Sasuke, and the Uchiha met his gaze. The Hyuuga's stare wasn't malevolent Sasuke decided, mostly curious. But as to what was the question, Sasuke didn't know. Before long though, Neji walked down the corridor as well, leaving only the members of team seven in the room.
The ticking of the clock as the seconds ran past were blaring against the silence. Kakashi stood in his usual pose against the wall, Naruto on the dining table, Sakura in the one seater, and Sasuke leaning back against the kitchen island. The wind kicked up through the open window, blowing the curtains. No sounds were heard outside. After all, this block had been cordoned off as the temporary prison of an infamous S class missing nin.
"I don't suppose you'll come quietly after the fight."
Naruto eyes opened slowly to see Sasuke's reaction.
"I'm not suicidal..."
"Anymore."
Sasuke ignored the quip.
"I have no desire to willingly walk to my own execution."
Naruto shifted.
"If the battle goes well they may be lenient. At least you won't be on the run from all five great nations anymore."
Sasuke became silent. Sakura watched with a masked face of indifference resting on her palm, propped up by her elbow on the armrest.
"There would be no point. I don't acknowledge that village's authority."
The usually emotionless eyes flashed with anger from deep within Sasuke's soul that looked all too familiar the other three.
"So you do still bare that grudge."
Sasuke looked at Kakashi. He took a few slow breaths to compose himself before speaking.
"I'll never forgive the village… but…."
He closed his eyes and folded his hands, ironically copying the copy ninja's pose.
"I decided to target elsewhere in my quest for revenge."
"In honor of Itachi?"
Sasuke held back a bristle but the spike of his chakra as the name left Kakashi's lips was enough. Sakura figured the other Konoha nin were another flare away from diving back into the den ready for battle.
It was clear that Sasuke was finished speaking but Sakura expected it. He wouldn't open up to them. Not back then, and most certainly not now.
She heard him walking away more than saw as heavy footfalls not normally associated with the stealthy Uchiha echoed against the wood.
"You know if you try to run I'll fight you."
Sasuke stopped walking, but didn't turn around.
"If you force me into that position, you would have broken your promise."
Sakura tried to hide her interest at that. She noticed Kakashi tried to do the same casting a 'bored' eye.
"Hn."
It was all Sasuke said before he walked out of the room, down the corridor to what he had been using as a room.
"What promise?"
Naruto sighed before giving Kakashi a tired glance.
"This was to be our last fight. This is just …. An intermission if you will."
Naruto didn't miss the cocked pink eyebrow from his peripheral but ignored it.
"He promised that the day we finish our fight, it will be at a time where there is nothing else holding us back. No bounties. No Akatsuki after us. Just an end."
Naruto stopped short of saying anything else, and once again, all that was heard was the clock.
After a few minutes, the shuffling of pants was heard.
"Well then, I'm off to read my- I mean sleep…"
Kakashi didn't even wait to leave the room before pulling out the worn green book. He too disappeared down the hall.
"Naruto."
Naruto looked up. He certainly wasn't expecting her to speak, much less speak first.
He saw her brow furrow and lips purse. He heard the air rush out of her nose. She stared at nothing in particular.
"We need to talk."
He leant forward, both hands at his side gripping the edge of the table.
"I was hoping we would."
He held face when he saw her head snap and subsequent glare. He assumed she realised his statement was sincere when she let out another breath and seemed to deflate.
"Ok. But not out here."
Naruto nodded in agreement.
Sakura was already moving. He got up and followed.
At least in his room he could use a sound cancelling jutsu.
He sat on the bed patiently. Not once in the last twenty minutes did he so much as ask a question. But it was easy to guess what she wanted to talk about, wasn't it.
Sakura had her arms crossed, staring at him from her position against the wall; her gaze never wavering from his.
"I'm angry at you."
Nodding, Naruto opened his mouth.
She raised a hand to stop him.
His brow knitted together but he relented.
Sakura's chest rose as she inhaled deeply before exhaling loudly through her mouth.
Her face relaxed a little.
"I'm so angry at you."
"Sakura-chan I-."
"But I shouldn't be."
"Just wante-…. Eh?"
Now, Naruto's face scrunched.
"I'm sorry too….. for earlier…"
Naruto's face visibly relaxed; the mattress groaned as he shifted.
"Why are you sorry? You were right. I'm not the only one who suffered because of him. It wasn't my right to keep it from you."
She shook her head lightly, approaching the bed.
It groaned again as she sat next to him, a smooth hand dragging her bangs behind her ears.
"He told me why you did it. I'd expect nothing else from you to be honest."
Sakura stared ahead into nothingness missing the mild shock on Naruto's face.
"He told you willingly?"
Sakura near snorted and a semi smirk appeared.
"Weird right?"
"Very."
They shared a dark chuckle before dropping silent.
"How do you feel about all of this?"
Sakura turned her head, but his gaze was to her feet on the ground.
"I don't know."
It was her honest answer. Naruto nodded absentmindedly.
"I'm just not sure how I should feel really."
Her hands went to her hair again but roughly pulled it back this time and held it behind her head.
"I just don't know you know? Four days ago I wanted to kill him. I truly wished death upon him. Ever since I gave up on him coming back to Konoha all those years ago I've thought him as the enemy; as the man who murdered my former teammate in his younger self."
Sakura shook her head with that far away look in her eye.
"But. We spent so long trying to get him back. Naruto!"
She turned suddenly and the bed sank further. Her eyes looked worriedly into Naruto's.
"He's right here Naruto. Right here. In the building. In that very room. Our teammate. Our brother. What do we do?"
Naruto's hand met her shoulder and squeezed. It did the job as a soft sigh came from the pink haired girl, easing the tension enough for her to continue.
"Do we continue hating him? Treating him as the enemy? Do we dare to believe that this time around we can save him? He's here of his own free will. He…. He told me why you didn't tell Sensei and I and played it off as a debt and his honor….. but that sounds so much like his younger self with that roundabout way of showing he cared without admitting it."
Both of Naruto's hands were on Sakura's shoulders squeezing while his thumb caressed her skin in small circles causing her eyes to shut once more.
"I just don't know what to think. But at the very least…. I know I don't trust him."
It was silent as she enjoyed Naruto's ministrations upon her shoulders. She cracked open her eyes slightly, tiredly, to look at him.
"What about you? Do you trust him?"
His hands stopped. Sakura noted that although his eyes were looking at her lips, he wasn't really seeing them. He wasn't seeing her.
"It's weird between us," he said. It looked to Sakura as though there was a scene playing in front of Naruto. One that only he could see.
"There's a connection that neither of us can deny even if we wanted to."
Sakura put a hand on his, feeling his rough skin under her soft palms.
His face lifted to hers, now semi aware she was there, that he was talking to her.
"It's a sort of respect. Honor if you will. It's the same reason that all these years after the war he's never fought anyone from Konoha unless they attacked him first."
Naruto chewed his lip; something Sakura was sure was a result of being around her too much.
"Even then he just incapacitates them and leaves, never killing. He made that vow ten years ago in Iron Country that I would be the first one from Konoha he killed, and to this day he's held true to that."
His head lifted eyes boring into hers. He was seeing her now.
"That's why I know Sakura-chan. It's not that I trust him. I just know. If we kill Tobi, we don't have anything to fear right away from Sasuke. This bond we have, whether he admits it's a bond or not; respect or honor or whatever he wants to call it; he won't do it right away. He'll give me fair warning and leave us. I just know that."
Sakura gave a drawled nod. She would never be able to understand the bond between the two of them, but she trusted Naruto's judgement. But, there was still something bothering her.
"You still love him don't you?"
Naruto didn't tense when she asked, but his eyes looked downwards.
"You still consider him the brother you want to save."
Releasing his hand, Sakura lightly palmed his face. Sighing, Naruto pressed into it and relaxed.
"Aa. He'll always be my brother. Whether he accepts it or not."
Sakura pulled his head slowly onto her shoulder before wrapping her arms around him.
"But if it comes down to it?"
She bit her lip much like Naruto had done a few moments ago.
She felt relieved when his head nodded against her shoulder.
"I'll stop him."
She knew he couldn't say the word, but she was okay with that. She understood it was hard for him to say out loud that one day, based on the paths they were currently standing on, Naruto may have to kill Sasuke. She refused to believe though, that it could happen the other way around. Her eyes closed tighter and her hands on Naruto's shoulders gripped harder.
"Sakura-chan?"
She leaned back to see his questioning face.
"What 's wrong?" Naruto asked.
Sakura tilted her head.
Once again a soft hand made its way to his cheek. She noticed Naruto's slightly confused face when she started closing her eyes, but he didn't hesitate to reciprocate her lips' actions against his when they met.
[Evey Reborn]
Staring into the darkness behind her eyelids, Sakura felt she was transported to another place.
She opened her mouth to lightly, slowly, caress his warm tongue with her own.
Shivers ran up her entire body giving her goose bumps. She felt his hand in her hair; she felt his hair in her hand. Placing a leg on one side of him as he shimmied up the bed, then the other on the opposite side, she straddled him.
"Sakura-chan."
A heat rose in her hearing Naruto moan her name. She pulled back, her eyes glassy and half lidded; reflecting that this heat was no mere spark, but a roaring fire that had built over time.
"Naruto," she whispered huskily.
Naruto's eyes flashed red and she swore he growled.
She rubbed her nose against his, soft panting breaths brushing her lips.
She moved on to rub her cheek against his whiskers, earning a purr of contentment and lust.
Finally, she stopped with her mouth inches from his ear.
"Make love to me."
It was but a breath impersonating a whisper but she knew he heard her from his trembling.
"Sakura-chan."
His voice was deep and guttural. She knew whose influence that was. She leaned back, meeting his eyes. There was the same longing in his as she felt in her heart. The same fire.
She closed her eyes, soft lips pressing against his chapped in another kiss.
"We may die on this mission."
Sakura gently pulled on his spiky hair to keep his head from pulling away, murmuring against his lips amidst kisses.
"Now that I finally have you, I don't want to have any regrets."
Her kisses became firmer, and she relished the feeling when he matched her intensity.
She bit his bottom lip, tugging it lightly. Their breathing became heavy, and haggard. She didn't look at him this time, but her voice said it all. In a throaty whisper of determination, power, hope, love, lust, longing and everything that Sakura was, she told him again.
"Make love to me, Naruto."
No sooner had she felt his hand on her back was it replaced by the mattress; his chest pressing down on her breasts, his hips fitting in between her legs.
Sakura let out a gasp mixed with a moan as he pressed into her further. She could feel how much he wanted this too and his kisses got hungrier.
She fisted his hair, savoring his tongue, almost tasting his scent. It was musky. Earthy. Manly.
She didn't know how, but despite her closed eyes she could see everything. How he looked at her. How he caressed her. She saw him kissing her neck and collarbone. She wasn't aware when her top was discarded, nor her shorts.
Her blood was pumping in her ears and her heart, thudding in her chest. Her hands roamed on his now bare chest, eliciting a groan of anxiety from her lover and accentuated when he nibbled her lip just enough to drive her to the edge of her sanity before releasing and pulling her back down.
The teasing was too much, her mind was in overdrive. The string was pulled on his pants, and she cracked her eyes open to see his reaction.
Her hand slid in, a load moan coming from above her.
She looked hungrily, waiting for him to open his eyes.
He did, and she felt a wave of adrenaline shoot throughout her body at his gaze. Hungry and wanting.
"Sakura…"
Another wave shot through her. Her palms grew clammy as it moved against Naruto's skin, wrapped around him in his pants.
A growl escaped his mouth, loud and fierce.
It was only when she felt his hand slip beneath her underwear and disappear did her eyes close again and she resorted to using her mind's eye as before. She saw it all in timeskips as she felt she was hallucinating, much like the night of their confession.
His hand moved slow and steady in her undergarments. She saw herself moan and face contorting.
Then their movements were fast, and both their faces scrunched up. Silent screams of each other's names riding them out.
She saw she was naked now, and so was he. She knew what he looked like, despite only cracked eyes and her sense of touch, taste and sound.
She saw, and felt the light sheen of sweat on them as their bodies molded.
She felt intense electricity bolt up her body as he started entering her.
She felt her senses hit overdrive as he slid against her, hips rocking back and forth to make her whole with each thrust.
It got blurrier and blurrier as it went on. Her other senses, not associated with the immense pleasure riding her body, numbed. She couldn't feel his hand on her head, using it as leverage for his sliding up and down. But she knew his hand was on her chest, caressing and pinching a pink knob.
She didn't feel her legs wrapping around him, but she felt his skin moving against her inner thighs.
Eyes still shut tight, all the feelings jumbled into one pulsing spot in her mind. He entered. His breaths were haggard. Hers were too. There was a light sheen of sweat, slick bodies gliding rhythmically against one another. Their skins burned. Her breathing was even harder. He started to grunt. He moaned her name. She moaned his. Her nails sunk into his skin. His teeth sunk into her neck. He moved quicker to match his breaths. She whimpered. He growled. He moved faster. She writhed to match. She couldn't take it. Her mind's eye faded. A final scream of each other's names was the last she remembered, before hot white engulfed her vision, then black.
AN: Don't have anything to say today :) Just thank you for all those who read this story.