Behind the Mask
Rated: T for language and violence
Disclaimer: Naruto characters (c) Masashi Kishimoto
Summary: We all wear masks. But that only makes it harder to tell the difference between truth and lies.
Note:Thanks to everyone who reviewed!
Omarou, to answer your question. When I get enough reviews, I try to stagger the updates so it is perhaps a week or two between updates. But if it takes me longer to write a chapter, it will take me longer to update :/ But I appreciate your enthusiasm for this story!
4 reviews till next time!
023: 死亡
(death)
Green eyes stared into red. The cold wind gently caressed their faces. The branches rustled in the wind, disrupting the silence that had settled around them. A slow and sultry smirk spread across Sasuke's face and Sakura could feel a fierce anger spreading inside of her, replacing the initial surprise she had felt upon seeing his Sharingan.
She now remembered that the Sharingan originated from the Uchiha Clan. It was sort of easy to forget that fact when Sakura had never met another Sharingan user other than Kakashi. She also now recalled that Kakashi had gotten his own Sharingan from his best friend who happened to be a defect of the Uchiha Clan. Sakura's eyes immediately dropped to the ground and she focused on his feet.
"You want to fight me?" Sasuke asked, arrogance coloring his voice.
"You don't stand a chance against a shinobi." Said Sakura lowly, the lie slipping easily from her. In truth, Sakura was far from her usual standard. She had next to no chakra and she could already feel the fatigue settling in her limbs, clouding her vision.
Sasuke's blood red eyes glared at her with amusement. "I've always wanted to try. You must know Wu He, that I always get what I want."
Red flared up in Sakura's cheeks and she was glad that her mask was still on her face this time. Inside, her mind was screaming a slew of profanities at Sasuke. "You're arrogant, Uchiha. I'm surprised someone hasn't taught you some manners yet."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Will you be the one to teach me?"
Sakura growled, but did her best to hold back her temper. She didn't have chakra or any energy to waste by foolishly charging in at him. She wanted to wait for him to attack first. Sasuke gazed at Sakura, his expression eerie, as if he were staring right through her. "You're low on chakra." He murmured.
Sakura bristled, forgetting that a trained Sharingan was fully capable of seeing the chakra levels within the body. Sasuke smirked at her again.
"You are really in no shape to fight me. How ironic is that?" Sasuke mused. "Leave while you can, since you can't stop me. That is…unless you are willing to join me."
"I wouldn't join you in a million years." Spat Sakura. Sakura quickly calculated all the options that didn't end in utter defeat for her. Genjutsu was out of the question, not only because the Sharingan would be able to see through them, but also because Sakura was out of chakra. Sakura was hopefully relying on the fact that Sasuke's Sharingan wouldn't be as trained. Her best bet was an onslaught of Taijutsu, hopefully finishing him off with a chakra filled axe kick. The only problem was, she was so tired, her limbs could barely react. Not only that, but it would be likely that if she did manage to hit him, all of her chakra would be depleted and she would pass out.
"A shame." Said Sasuke, a hint of regret laced in his voice. "I did…do feel that we could be great together."
Sakura bit her lip. Was it the smart choice to stay and fight? She had to believe that it was. She hated Orochimaru as much as one could hate a person and the thought of him getting his creepy pale hands on something as powerful as the Sharingan would certainly mean destruction for Konoha or something else equally unappealing. What would Naruto do?
A light smile past over Sakura face as she thought of her teammate. Naruto would stay and fight, even if he was on the verge of death. Naruto hated Orochimaru just as much as she did, if not more for what he did to both Kakashi and the Fourth Hokage. Naruto would stay and fight even if it killed him and so would she. She owed that much to her village and to her teacher, even if she wasn't dealing a blow directly to Orochimaru. Confidence built inside Sakura and she clenched her fists together.
"Enough talk, Uchiha." Said Sakura. "You're not getting to Orochimaru unless you go through me."
Sasuke studied Sakura. The new found confidence in her voice was not lost on him. Did he really want to fight her? Yes and no, both for multiple reasons. He utterly wanted to test out his new found power on someone not as helpless as Governor Feng. But he also still felt something for the pink haired kunoichi stirring deep within his heart, an incredible attraction to her that was enhanced all the more by her willingness to fight him. Yet this was counteracted by the incredible rage and anger he felt at her rejection.
Sasuke's feet blurred out of sight and Sakura couldn't repress the shocked gasp that came out of her mouth. She did not expect him to be that fast. Sasuke's hand enclosed around her waist and Sakura was pulled backward into his grasp. Her back was pressed against his chest and she could feel his hot breath in her ear. She felt the cold tip of his nose against the side of her scalp, pushing through her hair. "Should we take off the mask again?" He whispered.
Sakura's senses came back to her and she elbowed him hard in the stomach. He let her go and doubled over, heaving in a breath as Sakura spun out of his grasp and crouched into a fighting stance. Sasuke's hands went to his stomach. He hadn't expected her to hit him so hard. Taking advantage of Sasuke's incapacitation, Sakura reached into her vest and pulled out a jar. Unscrewing the cap, she dropped a small tablet into her gloved palm and put it into her mouth, swallowing it. Already, Sakura could feel some strength and energy returning to her.
Sasuke recovered and there was anger blazing in his eyes. The forest clearing was empty and Sakura no where to be seen. He spun around, trying to locate her. Had she escaped? It seemed unlikely. He focused his Sharingan on the surrounding area, and tried to pinpoint her chakra. Unfortunately, he couldn't detect anything out of the ordinary. Either she was out of chakra, which was possible considering her low levels before, or she was good at masking it. Sasuke scowled. He hated to be the sitting duck.
Sakura sat high up in a tree, only a few feet away from Sasuke. She had him clear in her sights, although luckily, the branches obscured her from his. She was debating her next move. Sakura was a strategist, she always had been. She earned top marks in the written portion of the Chunin exam and was considered one of the best in Konoha only behind her teacher and briefly, Nara Shikamaru.
Sakura peered down at Sasuke, and kept her breathing to a bare minimum to keep from making noise. She would have to outwit Sasuke and quickly if she expected to stay alive. He was faster than she predicted, she gave him that much. Quietly, she popped another soldier pill in her mouth as her vision swam before her. Quietly arming herself, Sakura realized that she would have to rely on Sasuke's inexperience with shinobi techniques…
Yagura's hands were shaking. He couldn't understand why, yet there they were, shaking as if he had just jumped out of a freezing cold bath. Still trembling, his long pale fingers reached up and grasped at the tie he had holding his hair up. He pulled the dark ribbon out, his silvery hair spilling out around his face. His hair wasn't terribly long and Yagura supposed it was a hair style that he picked up from Saizo. Yet somehow it made him feel older and more powerful instead of a middle aged man who looked much younger than he really was.
Through habit, his shaking hands started to comb through the strands, straightening them out. His lavender eyes stared straight ahead, although he wasn't looking at anything specific. His heart seemed to be beating a little too loudly in his chest for his own comfort. A shrill whistle sounded through the air, shaking Yagura out of his daze. His hands stopped and dropped from his hair. Pushing his wooden chair back, he walked into the kitchen and plucked a small kettle from the fire and poured the boiling water into a tea cup.
His hands had started to shake again as he grabbed a handful of tea leaves from a jar and dumped them in the cup. As he blew out the flame and walked back to the table with his cup, he tried his best not to slop tea all over the floor.
From somewhere inside the house, a door slammed shut. Yagura tried to sip at his tea, but the tea ended up slopping onto the table. It was regrettable that more sloshed onto the table than he drank, but at least it wasn't the floor. As he set the cup down, cold hands, slightly darker than his own, folded in front of his eyes.
"Guess who, Yagura." A feminine voice purred seductively in his ear.
Almost as quickly as the shaking had begun, it stopped just as suddenly as Yagura felt himself loosen up at the sound of the woman's voice. He let out a relieved breath and pulled her hands away from his eyes. "There's only one woman who can sound as good as you do." He responded lightheartedly.
There was a laugh and the woman plopped herself in the chair next to him. She gave him a cheeky smile, showing off rows of pearly white teeth. "There better be." She said, the barest traces of a threat lacing her words.
Yagura finally turned to face his wife and found himself captivated by her beauty once more. Her dark auburn hair was pulled up into a top knot like his, with loose strands flowing down to her waist. She had already pulled off her overcoat and her outfit was exposing a lot more cleavage than Yagura would have liked. Her green eyes glittered back at him and he found himself bringing his hand up to cup her soft cheek. She covered his hand with her own and her expression turned serious. "You were shaking." She said. "Why?" Her eyes had a hard edge in them.
Yagura sighed softly. "Maybe I'm afraid…" He said, unsure.
"Afraid?" His wife sounded alarmed as she brought his hand off her cheek and rested it on the table, her hand still atop his. "Why would you, the all-powerful Yagura, Mizukage of Kirigakure ever be afraid?"
Yagura turned his gaze away from her. "Sometimes, even I am allowed to be afraid."
His wife scoffed. "Of what, may I ask?" She said skeptically.
Yagura turned back to her, his gaze hard. "The Amekage." He said softly.
His wife blanched. "What was that son of a bitch doing here, in our land? If he doesn't allow foreigners in his land, what makes him think he has the right to come here?" She demanded angrily, slamming her fist down on the table.
"He had a…proposition…" Yagura explained.
His wife raised her eyebrows. "What kind…?" She asked wearily.
Yagura ran his fingers through his hair again. "War…with Konoha."
His wife quickly blanched at his words. "Konoha?" She blurted. "Never…I mean we can't…we can't…" She trailed off.
"Mei…" Said Yagura in a strained voice. "If we don't…he's already sided with both Iwa and Kumo."
"But we know that Suna will side with Konoha." Said Mei angrily. "Which do you think is worse? We do not stand a chance against an attack force like Suna." She intoned.
Yagura shook his head sadly. "All I want is to stay neutral…"
Mei slipped her hand against Yagura's cheek and turned his face toward her. "And you don't think that's possible?" She asked softly.
Yagura looked at her wistfully. "I want to think it is, but Mei…he's a dangerous man…even more so than I am. And I don't trust him. He didn't make any open threats but…if something should happen to me…"
"Don't say it." Said Mei angrily. "Do not even think it…"
Yagura shook his head and squeezed both of Mei's hands between his roughly. "Listen to me." He demanded. "If something happens to me, you are to become the next Mizukage. Do you understand me? Do not let the council influence you otherwise."
Mei looked at him, her face worried. "I won't…but nothing will happen to you!" She cried. "'I won't let it." She said through gritted teeth.
Yagura smiled sympathetically. "I know you won't."
Glossary:
Amekage- Kage of the Village Hidden in the Rain
Mizukage- Kage of the Village Hidden in the Mist
Kirigakure-Village Hidden in the Mist
Iwa- Village Hidden in the Rock
Kumo- Village Hidden in the Clouds
Suna- Village Hidden in the Sand
Sasuke held his sword out in front of him as he slowly trampled through the forest. For five minutes, Sasuke had been searching desperately for Sakura, yet no found no trace of her. Sasuke scowled, refusing to believe that her hiding skills were that good. Turning to his right, Sasuke suddenly heard a twig snapping. Locating Sakura, his hands blurred through the hand seals.
"Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" Sasuke bellowed, the huge fire ball exploding from his mouth as it headed straight for Sakura.
Sasuke watched as it headed straight for the kunoichi and blasted right through her. The smoke and fire dissipated into the air as a charred tree branch fell to the forest floor in Sakura's place. Sasuke's eyes narrowed and he felt déjà vu, recalling how Itachi practically did the same thing. He didn't have time to dwell on it, however, when he heard another branch snap. Turning to his left, he set off in that direction.
Sasuke followed the sound of Sakura crashing through the trees, an obvious testament to both how tired and sloppy she was getting. He followed her deeper into the forest until something in the corner of his eye caught his attention. Sasuke stopped short as the snapping branches echoed farther away from him.
In front of him, the forest looked inconspicuous, yet Sasuke knew something was wrong. The edges of the forest were glittering with a light blue aura – chakra. Sasuke gritted his teeth, knowing he had been tricked. A Genjutsu and a shoddy one at that, especially considering his Sharingan could see right through it. Sasuke had studied about the effects Genjutsu and how to dissipate them, especially once he had activated his Sharingan. This was his first time encountering one face to face however, and Sasuke was fairly pleased with himself for locating it.
Sasuke put his hands in a seal before yelling "Kai!"
The Genjutsu shattered and Sasuke immediately saw what Sakura was trying to hide. A row of kunai lay embedded in the ground, not a step away from where she was standing. Upon closer inspection, Sasuke saw that each of them was labeled with an exploding tag that Sakura probably would have activated had he ignored the Genjutsu and stepped right through.
"Nice try!" Shouted Sasuke as he deftly jumped over the exploding tags.
"Thanks." Echoed a voice above Sasuke. Sasuke looked up into the trees and saw Sakura above him, her leg raised and a powerful flow of chakra erupting from it.
Sasuke barely had time to dodge as Sakura's chakra enhanced axe kick pummeled into him, creating a deep crater around them. Dust and snow kicked up everywhere, temporarily clouding Sakura's vision. She tried picking herself up from her crouched position but instead stumbled forward and fell to the ground, her legs completely giving out on her.
Black spots were flickering in front of her vision and Sakura realized that passing out was probably inevitable now. Her body was nearing its limit, considering she had already consumed five soldier pills during the concoction of her plan. Sakura had to admit it wasn't the most brilliant of plans, but it was the best she could do with her limited chakra and time.
As the dust and snow cleared, a scream suddenly erupted from the crater. Sakura turned around on her hands and knees to see Sasuke clutching his right shoulder in agony as he writhed on the ground. Sakura realized that he must have moved at the last second since she knew that her kicked was aimed straight at his head. Sakura wouldn't be surprised if his arm was completely shattered. He definitely wouldn't be getting to Orochimaru now.
Suddenly feeling overwhelmingly pleased with herself, Sakura let out a laugh despite the situation. She laughed as Sasuke continued to scream, his legs kicking out uselessly as he grasped his shoulder. A few times, he screamed out some profanities at her, but it only made Sakura laugh harder. Tears started to leak from her eyes and Sakura couldn't explain why she was so happy. Maybe it was because the fight had been so impossibly easy when she was at the worse disadvantage. Still laughing, Sakura grabbed another soldier pill from her pocket, ready to make the journey home. She probably wouldn't make it all the way, but she would at least be safe at the border. Not to mention someone like Naruto or Kakashi was bound to come looking for her.
Swallowing down the bitter pill, Sakura struggled to stand up, all of her limbs quivering. Her left leg, the one she had used against Sasuke was probably the worse. She stood up, and took a moment to regain some balance. Looking over her shoulder, she looked down at Sasuke who was biting his lip in an effort to stop screaming.
"I told you not to cross me." She said, her voice a tad mocking.
"Oh Sasuke-hou. What a pickle we've gotten ourselves into."
Sakura looked up, completely taken off guard by the sound of another person's voice. Standing to her left was a vaguely familiar man with glasses and white hair pulled into a pony tail. He was looking down at Sasuke who had his eyes squeezed shut. Then his glance flashed to Sakura.
"Nice to see you again, Wu He-nushi." He greeted casually.
Then before Sakura could even reach for a kunai, Kabuto was at her side, his hands glowing green. Sakura opened her mouth and let out a muted scream as Kabuto slammed his palms into her chest. Sakura's brain screamed for her to do something as Kabuto's chakra surged into her at unhealthy amounts. She knew what he was doing, yet couldn't find the energy to try and stop him. Her brain got foggy and her eyes drifted to a close as Kabuto finished his attack and left Sakura lying on the ground, just outside the crater she created.
He walked back over to Sasuke, who had just noticed his presence. Kabuto tsked and shook his head at Sasuke. "You will be a handful for Sifu Orochimaru." He sighed.
"W-Wu…He…" Sasuke rasped, his voice shaking with pain.
Kabuto glanced over at the defeated shinobi, and debated on whether or not to kill her. "She might be useful someday, just as you will be." He murmured to himself. Then he turned toward Sasuke, knocking the raven haired boy out before picking him up and disappearing into the air like burning paper.
Glossary:
Kai - Release
Hou - rank below lord
Sifu - Master
Nushi - Chinese honorific, equivalent of Ms.
"They call themselves Xiao. Do you know what that means?" Shisui looked over at Itachi who was staring down at his reflection in the water.
Itachi looked up at his older cousin and his expression was one of diffidence. "It means dawn." He said before turning back to the water. "Why would you ask me something that I already know the answer to?"
Shisui grinned and then playfully ruffled his cousin's hair as Itachi grunted and swatted his hand away. "Because you're too smart for your own good, you little bastard."
Shisui's eyes lingered on Itachi for a moment before the smile faded from his face and he pulled away to stare up at the night sky with a solemn expression that was almost foreign on his face. Crickets chirped softly around them and the breeze was sweet with the smell of plum flowers and jasmine that grew during spring in the Uchiha compound. "They say they fight for peace." Said Shisui softly.
Itachi's eyes shifted toward Shisui curiously, but Shisui was still staring up at the sky, perhaps lost in his own words. "They say that the Period of the Warring States has gone on for far too long. They want to bring us back to the time before the Fire Emperor...when there was just one emperor." Shisui turned to Itachi and his eyes were enigmatic. "Wouldn't that be nice, Itachi?"
Itachi's lips pulled into a slight frown. "The Period of the Warring States has been going on for a hundred years. How would anyone know if things were better?"
The breeze ruffled the curly locks on Shisui's head as he looked as if he hadn't even heard Itachi. "They say there is peace in the Land of Iron. No secrecy, no people running around like animals in masks. It isn't barbaric there like it is here. It's paradise."
Itachi's fingers began pulling at a stray thread on the sleeve of his silk robe. His dark eyes traveled to the reflective waters beneath him. "You really think there can exist such a thing like peace?" He asked lowly.
"I can dream there is." Shisui said confidently. He turned to Itachi once more. "Don't you have a dream, Itachi?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
Itachi didn't look up from the water. "Why would I need to? I already know my future." He said, his voice without emotion.
"Oh yeah?" Shisui challenged. "Tell me then."
Itachi's eyes flickered toward Shisui for a brief moment before they returned to the water. He gave a sigh that almost sounded like he was put out by Shisui. "When I complete my studies, I'll become a police officer. Then when ba eventually retires, I'll take his place as Chief. Then when ba dies, I'll become clan leader and Sasuke will take my place." He said, as if he were reciting a piece of literature.
A frown marred Shisui's face. He looked as if perhaps he was pained by what he had heard. "...But don't you dream of anything different? Anything better?" He asked.
Itachi looked away, out into the night sky. Shisui should know better than anyone the pressures of being a high valued member of the Uchiha Clan. Shisui himself had gone through much of the same training Itachi was going through when Shisui had been his age. The only free moments Itachi was spared out of his hectic schedule were these rare evenings when Itachi was allowed to spend time with his best friend and cousin, or when Mikoto insisted that Itachi take some time out to play with Sasuke.
Uchiha Fugaku's face swam before Itachi. "Why dream of something that won't come true?" He said almost despondently.
Shisui paused before responding. "I'll make it come true. I'll join them and I'll help end this." His voice was determined.
Itachi glanced up and he could see the fierce determination in his dark eyes. He understood what 'this' Shisui was referring to. He never spoke of the deep, dark fear that he harbored within him. Shisui thought that Itachi couldn't remember the Third War, but he was wrong.
"You'll end the nightmare?" Itachi asked, almost tonelessly. He began to pick at the stray thread again.
Shisui looked at Itachi with newfound light, like he had found something within Itachi that he hadn't known existed. "I'll try." He vowed silently.
They sat in silence for a while, a couple of fish leaping above the surface of the pond before re-submerging. They left ripples in the water long after they were gone.
"Alright, pop quiz then!" Said Shisui eagerly, breaking the silence while Itachi rolled his eyes. "I'll give you a place and you give me Xiao in that language."
The exercise was stupid, but Itachi knew he would comply anyway. Shisui was forever trying to test him, but Itachi couldn't say he was bothered by it.
"The Land of Rivers." Said Shisui quickly.
"Hiu." Sighed Itachi.
"Good." Said Shisui nodding his head. "The Land of Wind?"
"Etigenlep."
"Very good..." Said Shisui, narrowing his eyes. "How about...the Land of Snow!" He said dramatically, as if he found one Itachi could not answer.
Itachi smirked in response. "Rassvet." He said slyly. "Give this up, tangxiong, you can't give me one that I can't answer."
Shisui narrowed his eyes. "I will bet you five yuan that this next one I give you, you won't."
"Not that I want to take your money, but go on." Said Itachi airily.
"The Land of Whirlpools." Shisui challenged.
"Akatsuki."
Itachi quickly pulled his long hair into a ponytail as he pushed the memory aside. He was doing what Shisui had never gotten the chance to do. Itachi would have liked to think that his cousin would have been proud of him.
But lately, he wasn't so sure. Lately, Itachi couldn't help but wonder if everything over the past ten years had been a lie. They were hunting Bijuu - once thought of mythical creatures that Itachi knew would bring nothing but destruction if caught. How could Pein believe that they would bring peace? And could Itachi be satisfied blindly hunting something when he didn't know the proper reasoning for it? Especially when he thought it was wrong?
He didn't know the answer to his question; not yet he didn't. So until he knew the answer, into the Land of Lightning he would have to go. He only hoped that his younger brother would come to his senses by then and come home.
Glossary:
Ba - Dad
Tangxiong – Older male cousin on father's side
Yuan - Currency unit of ancient China
"That's the gate right?"
"Wha…?" Naruto snapped out of his daze and followed Yugito's finger to where she was pointing. Indeed, up ahead, Naruto could see the gates to Peking. There was a small line outside already where some farmers had gathered with their wagons full of crops as the guards checked their passports.
The sky was a bright blue and the sun already high in the morning sky as Yugito and Naruto journeyed closer to Peking. Naruto was still more than irritated about the stunt that Yugito had pulled the other day about getting Naruto to unleash the Kyuubi's chakra. At first, Naruto had decided to ignore her for the better half of the day after he had stomped off. But around dinner time, Yugito decided she had enough of it and thoroughly chewed him out and blamed him for being a baby. Naruto couldn't decide who was worse, Yugito or Sakura. At least Yugito seemed to be all bark and no bite whereas Sakura did both, especially bite.
"Are you going to come in, see the sights?" Asked Naruto eagerly, turning toward Yugito.
Yugito thought for a moment, and then shook her head. "Nyet, I still have lot more exploring to do." She said wistfully.
Naruto couldn't help the sad feeling that overcame him. Despite Yugito being the domineering sort of woman, he enjoyed her company. Her sense of enthusiasm and knowledge was something he appreciated and it would have been a blast to show her the city.
"Bummer…" Said Naruto.
Yugito reached over and punched his arm lightly. "No worries. You still have lot to learn. We'll meet again." She said cheerfully.
Naruto sighed. "As long as you don't pull anymore Genjustu tricks on me."
Yugito gave out an exasperated sigh. "Fine, if you are going to be such baby about it. But, don't think you will get off easy!" She warned, pointing a threatening finger at him.
Naruto put his hands up in surrender. "Wouldn't dream of it." He said, his tone light.
They had approached the gate by now, standing only a few feet away from it. "So…this is goodbye…for now I guess." Said Naruto looking at the gate.
When he turned back, Yugito surprised him, placing a quick kiss where his lips would have been had he not been wearing a mask. Naruto blushed bright red. He put his fingers hesitantly to his lips.
"So…" Said Yugito tilting her head. Her eyes gleamed, like a cat eyeing her prey. "Do you want to know what it feels like without the mask?" She purred.
Naruto grinned beneath his mask and his smile was boundless and free, like it used to be when he was younger. Suddenly, he felt a whole lot lighthearted than he had since arriving in Peking. "Well now, if I did, what would we have to look forward to when I see you again?" He asked.
Yugito narrowed her eyes, smiling. "Hmm…you sly fox."
And with that, she yanked the reins on her horse and turned around, galloping off. Naruto watched her go, his body erupting with newfound warmth. He nudged his horse forward, a smile still adorning his face. He absentmindedly handed his passport to the guard on duty. The guard quickly gave it back to him. "Nice." Said the guard, grinning.
Naruto laughed and scratched the back of his head sheepishly before moving through the gates.
He liked Yugito, even if she was testy and bossy and domineering, but was it enough to get over Sakura? Did he want to get over Sakura and see where his relationship with Yugito would go? Naruto wasn't sure. He really liked Sakura, he always had. And it would be hard to get over something that he had harbored for so long.
But it would be healthier for him in the long run, wouldn't it? Sakura was already interested in Uchiha Sasuke and they had even kissed already! It would be healthier to pursue a relationship with someone who was actually interested in him. But Sakura was already so many things to Naruto and she had so many attributes that Naruto admired. She was also beautiful too. Yugito was pretty as well, in a different way.
"Ugh!" Naruto ran a tired hand through his hair. Girls were so confusing and difficult. Maybe he should follow in Kakashi's footsteps and just be an obnoxious flirt but otherwise forgo women altogether. Of course, Kakashi already had the love of his life…
Glossary:
Nyet-No
Kakashi hummed contently, his hands stuffed into his pockets. A scarf was wrapped securely around Kakashi's neck and thin gloves adorned his hands. Around him, leaves in multitudes of colors littered the streets. A couple of blocks up, Kakashi spotted a couple of grumbling Genin reluctantly raking up the leaves and stuffing them into oversized bags. Kakashi smirked under his mask, glad that his Genin days were far behind him.
Kakashi reached the barracks where Jounin level shinobi with no family lived and walked to the door of his own quarters. Fumbling, he dug his key out of one of the pockets in the front of his Jounin vest. He was about to insert the key into the slot when he noticed a figure approaching him.
He turned, cocking his head to the side. "Oh, Rin…what are you doing here?"
The brown haired kunoichi blushed and ducked her head. "I just wanted…"
"I thought you would have been by Obito's." Said Kakashi casually as he finally stuck the key into the slot and opened the door. "He did invite both of us today you know." Said Kakashi turning back toward her.
Rin shrugged her shoulders, still not looking Kakashi directly in the eye. "I'm so glad that you and Obito are finally getting along."
Kakashi bristled at the way she said Obito's name and quickly suppressed it. "I suppose he isn't too bad…when he's not whining."
Rin giggled and quickly put her hand to her mouth. Kakashi stepped inside the doorway. "Do you want to come in?" He asked.
Rin quickly shook her head no. "I just wanted to…"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow to her quizzically. "Yeah?"
Rin quickly leaned forward, her lips pressing against Kakashi's through his lower mask. Kakashi's eyes widened in surprise. Rin quickly leaned away, just as quickly and blushed a deep red.
"Bye Kakashi." She said before putting her hand to her mouth and quickly scurrying away.
Kakashi stood there, dumbfounded, his hand against his mouth. He couldn't exactly remember why it was such a good idea to have this mask covering the bottom portion of his face.
"I'm back!" Naruto called out loudly, closing the door behind him. His cheeks were stained pink and his lips were chapped from the cold, but there was a smile as he plucked the mask from his face.
Kakashi bolted out of his laying position on the couch and banished the dream to the back of his mind where it would hopefully stay. He looked at Naruto dazed. "Oh, sorry, Kakashi." Said Naruto sheepishly as he kicked his shoes off. "Were you sleeping?"
Kakashi rubbed his sole eye and shook his head. "No, just waiting for you to return. I got Kuren's message."
"Oh, yeah." Said Naruto, shaking his head. "Where's Sakura?" He asked, looking around Kakashi's living room as if he expected to see the pink-haired kunoichi pop out of one of the rooms.
Kakashi looked at Naruto in confusion. "She isn't here."
Naruto frowned. "Well…she isn't at our guesthouse. Is she visiting with Tsunade-nainai?"
Kakashi continued to stare at Naruto. "As far as I know…you're the first to return. Sakura hasn't returned from looking for Temari yet."
Naruto sighed and shook his head. "But, her horse is in the stables. I saw him when I returned my own. Why would Sakura return and not tell you?" A sinister, ugly thought that she was off cavorting with Uchiha Sasuke crossed his mind, but Naruto quickly brushed it away, almost embarrassed that he would think such a terrible thing about his best friend. Besides, Uchiha Sasuke should have been duty bound to be searching for his wife.
Kakashi stood up from the couch and grabbed his mask and shoes. "Why don't we check with the guards at the gates to see if Sakura left again. It's possible she just dropped her horse off. And if not, well then she's somewhere in the city."
Naruto frowned, confused as to why Sakura would bother to drop off her horse if she was only going to leave again, but he followed Kakashi anyway, knowing that it was the best lead they had.
Glossary:
Nainai – Grandma
Temari sat on the ground, her hands tied behind her around a tree trunk. Temari watched as her nose started to drip, falling into the snow she was sitting on. She sniffled and then cast an aggravated glare at her captor who sat across from her.
He was a middle aged, dark skinned man. A white porcelain mask sat on his face and a white turban hid his hair from view. His appearance was almost strange compared to the light complexioned people of the north, but Temari could easily tell he was from the West. He sat calmly before her, carefully sharpening his blade against the side of a long flat rock. Temari scowled. She seemed to have a knack to getting herself kidnapped by strange men and it was beginning to get on her nerves. How was she supposed to assert herself as a strong independent woman if this kept happening?
"Are you going to just leave me tied up like this?" Demanded Temari, breaking the silence.
The man did not look at her, instead continuing to sharpen his blade. "Have you learned your lesson?" He asked. His voice was accented. Unlike the shinobi of Konoha, this man's clothes were lighter. The tactical vest he wore was of a dark tan color while the sweater he wore underneath was a lighter crème. He had heavy pants and boots on. Black gloves covered his fingers.
"What lesson would that be?" Temari snapped, responding in the language of the West.
"Then you have learned nothing. And until you learn something, you are going to continue to sit there. I hope you enjoy watching me eat." The man said with nonchalance. If her knowledge of the Western language surprised him, he didn't show it.
"This is bullshit!" Yelled Temari.
"Bullshit?" The man stopped sharpening his blade and put it down before looking at Temari. "No, these are merely the facts of life. The lessons of survival."
Temari looked away, her mouth set into a hard line, her eyes blazing. Her stomach gave out an unhappy gurgle at being left empty for so long. The man had only bothered to force some water down her throat and nothing else.
"You lack discipline." The man finally said.
"So what if I do?" Muttered Temari.
"It's a valuable asset to have. Especially if you are on your own. You know what happens to those that lack discipline?" He asked, looking at her.
"Enlighten me." Temari quipped.
"Death." Said the man.
Temari huffed out a breath and turned her head away.
"Death would be terrible for someone so young and prominent. It would be tragic if Governor Feng found out his only daughter had died because she couldn't keep her mouth shut or her hands to herself." Said the man as he cleaned the blade off with a rag.
Temari turned back to the man, her eyes wide. "How do you know who I am?" She demanded.
"Your father was from the Land of Wind. I was there the last time you visited. It's hard for me to forget a face, especially one like yours." The man replied.
Temari bristled. "You're a Suna shinobi then?" She asked. "What are you doing here in Peking?"
"I don't see that as being of your concern." Said the shinobi, putting his blade away in a scabbard that was strapped to his waist.
"Whatever." Said Temari, rolling her eyes. "So you just plan on leaving me here, tied to this tree forever?"
"I told you, once you learn some discipline, I'll be happy to let you go." The man said standing up. He bent down, pulling off his shoes and proceeded to roll up his pants.
Temari watched him with confusion and surprise written on her face. "You're crazy." She said incredulously as the man waded into the steam they were by.
"Not crazy, hungry." He said as he bent down and peered into the stream, his hands ready. "Now be quiet."
"It's got to be freezing in there!" Exclaimed Temari.
"Shhh!" The man said angrily.
Temari reluctantly shut her mouth and watched his with interest. Silence surrounded the area as the man peered intently into the stream while the icy waters rushed past him. Then, with lightning quick speed that Temari almost didn't pick up on, the man plunged his hand to the water and came out with a decent sized wiggling fish. He then waded out of the water, fish still in hand and sat down. Temari noticed how the skin on his legs were covered in tiny goosebumps.
"Ridiculous…" Said Temari.
The man folded his legs under him and sat the fish down on a rock as it still flopped around. Then, whipping his blade out, he made a cut along the length of the fish. The fish stopped moving as blood leaked from the cut. The man set down the blade and then ran his hands up and down his legs as he tried to warm them up.
"Teach me." Said Temari as she continued to stare at the fish he caught.
"What?" Said the man as he rolled his pants down.
"Teach me." She repeated before looking back up at him. "Discipline. You said you wouldn't let me go till I learned it, so teach me."
The man shook his head and laughed. "I don't have time."
"Please?" Asked Temari, the words tumbling awkwardly from her mouth. It wasn't often that she begged. "I already know Taijutsu, Kenjutsu and even some Ninjutsu."
"Those things mean nothing. They are but useful tricks." Said the man pulling on his socks and boots.
"I know I can be a good student, if you just take me on." Pleaded Temari.
"Why would you want me to teach you?" Asked the man turning to face her. "I thought you just wanted to be let go."
"I do…" Said Temari looking down. "But if you did…I have no where else to go, no one to turn to. I can't go home…"
The man sighed wearily. What was he going to do with this girl now?
Death was…inevitable to say the least. It came when one least expected it, leaving behind broken hearts and painful memories. Gaara had become accustomed to death from the moment he was born. His mother was whisked away from him before he really even had a chance to know her. He would say that it was his fault, but he would more over blame it on his mother who wasn't strong enough to stay alive. The pain that death brought to others was nothing more than the fear of journeying into the unknown. The practical human hated the unfamiliar, the break from the uniformity of life. This is what death brought.
Gaara knew all this – he was an avid believer in these thoughts. Yet Gaara could not understand why tears leaked from his eyes every time he thought of his father, or when he looked down at the plain wooden box that held the remains of his father's body. Gaara reasoned with himself that he knew what life would be like without his father – he had gone over it many times. He should have been accustomed to the idea by now, so why did the hurt emptiness still resound so forcefully in his heart?
Gaara didn't even have a particularly close relationship with his father. They were merely father and son. His father cared for him, gave him a roof over his head, food to eat and promoted him as heir to his position, even over his older brother Kankuro. In return, Gaara had remained the perfect filial son, respecting all of his father's wishes even when Temari had pleaded with him otherwise. There was nothing special to their relationship. Gaara would have guessed that it would be rather easy for him to move on when his father eventually died.
Was it because his father had been so forcibly taken from him? Was it because it was so unexpected? Gaara wiped a discrete tear from his eye and felt a hand being placed onto his shoulder. He turned to see his uncle Yashamaru, his face mournful. "You must feel so at loss, zhizi." His uncle said. "It happened so suddenly…"
Gaara didn't respond and looked around the courtyard where his father's coffin had been laid out so that mourners could come to pay their respects. Gaara wasn't sure about many things concerning his father's death, but one thing was for sure.
Uchiha Sasuke had something to do with it.
Glossary:
Zhizi - Nephew
"I…I returned her horse to Tsunade-furen's estate just like she asked, when I got off duty this morning." Mumbled a young guard dressed in a simple brown cotton robe. "I thought she would return…but she never did."
Kakashi and Naruto stood within the guard barracks located near the main city gate. When it appeared that none of the guards had even seen Sakura ride in because they had just taken their shift that morning, Kakashi suggested that perhaps one of the guards on the night shift had seen her. But while Kakashi didn't seem to think much of it, Naruto was beginning to get nervous. If Sakura had come in last night, where had she been the entire day? Even Tsunade admitted to not seeing her.
"What do you mean, she never returned?" Naruto asked the guard heatedly. "Where did she go?"
"She went into the forest." Said another guard standing by the first. He was a little bit older than the first and didn't seem quite as nervous. "She kept asking us if we felt something."
Kakashi put what was meant to be a reassuring hand on Naruto's shoulder and stepped closer to the guard. "Do you know what is was?"
Both guards shook their heads. "We didn't feel anything!" The younger guard said quickly. "But she seemed suspicious…"
"Which gate did she leave from?" Naruto asked, stepping away from Kakashi.
"We were in charge of the Western Gate…" Said the older guard, but trailed off when Naruto unexpectedly turned on his heel and ran out of the barracks.
Jutsu:
Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu- Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique
Note2: The autonomous region of Xinjiang is the Western most province of China. It is commonly known as 'Chinese Turkestan' and is home to over a dozen different ethnic groups. Although Mandarin is one of the most common languages spoken there, the other is Uyghur which is what I referred to as the 'Western language'
Character Corner
Name: Uchiha Itachi
Age: 23
Height: '6-0"
Specializes: Ninjutsu,Taijutsu, Genjutsu, Kenjutsu
Kekkei Genkai: Sharingan
Uchiha Itachi is currently head of the Uchiha Clan and Chief of the Peking Police Force. He was the first born child of Uchiha Fugaku and Mikoto. At the age of 5, Itachi already possessed an extreme intellect and extraordinary talents when he started his studies. At age 7, he unlocked his Sharingan. He was the youngest Uchiha Clan member to ever unlock their Sharingan and this only furthered his family's belief that he would be the prodigy of the Clan. By age 8 Itachi was already proficient in reading, writing, mathematics and political affairs. He earned the respect of his father who started to integrate him into a fully functioning clan member. Fugaku thought that Itachi would replace him as Chief of the police force and maybe Clan Head so he started to train him in the art of Shaolin gongfu. At age 10, Itachi completed the Civil Service Examination and earned the rank of jieyuan (ranked #1). When Itachi was 13, his entire Clan was murdered, making him and his younger brother Sasuke the only surviving members. Itachi since took his father's titles.
It was easily noticeable that Fugaku favored Itachi over his younger son Sasuke who appeared to be only average. Itachi continued to spend time with his brother, even with the pressure of the clan and his father on top of him. After being the only survivor along with Sasuke, Itachi had no choice but to promote himself as Clan Head. Although he had neglected his brother over the years, Itachi believes that everything he does he does for his brother. Itachi is a pacifist.