Hello, folks! Sorry about the late update but my Internet connection sucked and it was preventing me from uploading. anyway... I hope you like the new chapter.
PS I do not own "Naruto" it belongs to Masashi Kishimoto ©
"Just open your eyes, just open your eyes
And see that life is beautiful
Will you swear on your life
That no one will cry at my funeral?"
"Life is beautiful" by SIX:A.M
The sun hid behind a bunch of gray clouds and the Copy nin looked up surprised at the momentary shadow that they casted on the cemetery. So, finally it would rain. He averted his eyes around him, observing the gathered people. Most of them were shinobi, but there were even some civilians. The black-dressed crowd had surrounded the coffin placed on the ground next to a deep rectangular hole. Kakashi's black eye stopped on Ino. The blonde was standing straight with trembling chin and tears running down her face. She was trying to be strong but obviously it wasn't working. Tenzo was next to her and the Copy nin saw him wrapping his arm uneasily around her shoulders, comforting her. The girl burst out in sobs and buried her face in the ANBU's chest who hugged her tightly. Kakashi curved his lips under the mask in a sad smile. His kohai was going to be OK with Ino. Sakura had made a great job guiding him.
"From the first day of her shinobi life, Sakura seemed to be led by her emotions and feelings. They became her strength and her greatest weakness... I still remember the day when she came to me and asked me to be her mentor. At first I thought that she was just another silly kunoichi with shallow ambition but then her words made me think about whether it was true or not."
Kakashi closed his eyes. Tsunade had lost her too. The Hokage's words were reaching his heart, enhancing even more the pain he felt.
"She said to me, "I've always considered myself to be a true ninja… but those were just empty words, because Sasuke and Naruto were always in the lead! But now it's my turn to take the lead, and all of you can watch me from the background!". I saw the resolve in her eyes, I saw my younger self. I lost before the girl with sparkling in confidence eyes and tousled pink hair. I chose to believe in her and I was not wrong."
The Copy nin heard a slight yelp and whining and let his gaze fall down. His dogs were lying next to his feet with muzzles buried in their front paws. They had insisted to be at the funeral. Especially Bull. He had developed strange affectionate feelings for Sakura over the years and occasionally when Kakashi had a mission for them he asked for his summoner to let him stay for a while after it with the petit kunoichi. The Copy nin chuckled soundlessly when he remembered the dog biscuits that the medical kunoichi had baked for his pack years ago. Everybody was super excited, even Pakkun who usually was reserved at communicating with other people than Kakashi.
Bull had covered his eyes with paws and his tail was hidden somewhere beneath the huge body in agony. With every yelp his ears lopped and his huge body jerked. The Copy nin knew that despite his scary look, he was kind, loving and loyal by nature. The death of Sakura affected him the most of his whole pack.
"Much like me, it took everybody a while to acknowledge her real skills. They doubted her but little did they know how much effort she invested in her training. Sakura was so much more than those long ago images of weak, beauty-obsessed kunoichi emblazoned in our minds. She was a girl who grew into a young woman with a zest for justice, love for her friends and loyalty in Konoha. She was a fierce and jolly girl who managed to capture our hearts without us knowing it. Sakura was blessed, unfortunately for such short time, with father and mother who never thought anything mattered more than their child, with friends who were ready to give their lives for her. She was blessed to have us as her second family."
The silver-haired jonin closed his eyes tightly, feeling the familiar burning pain in them and stinging in his nose. These days he had cried more than his whole life. Hell, he had cried enough for his next two afterlives. Kakashi gulped the lump in the throat, suddenly wanting to get out of this place. It was suffocating him. He tried to imagine her so that he could breathe again. She was like the oxygen. The image of the girl that appeared in his consciousness was blurry. He couldn't focus on her face. Desperation took over his body and Kakashi trembled. Why couldn't he remember her? What was he going to do if he couldn't recall her image? How was he supposed to go on with his life? The memories of Sakura were the only thing left from her, except the shabby letter in his pocket.
"We thank the dozens who have rained blossoms down on Sakura's memory. She has gone to be with her mother and father, where there will never be an end to love. She was lost on her ill-fated 18th birthday, but we will always wake for her, so that her time, which was not doubled, but cut in half, will live forever in our memory and in our beguiled and broken hearts..."
Tenzo's words emerged on the top of his mind, "…no matter if you believe it or not, the pain that you're feeling right now can't get any worse, can it?". It did matter, that was the only important thing, standing between his sanity and madness. If he chose to believe that he had lost a dear friend the pain would simply pile up on the top of the other pains in his miserable life. Yeah, this time the scar would be a little bit deeper, the path that Sakura had carved in his life would hurt more, would heal slower. But he would learn to live with it. And yet, if he believed that this girl had crawled under his skin and stole his heart, it would be over for him. If he admitted that he had fallen in love with Sakura that meant that he admits losing everything. And he couldn't afford that, he had to look after Naruto, he had to find the culprit and make him pay for the mortal sin they had committed by killing his cherry blossom.
"…We dared to think that she'd stay here with us, giving her support and compassion to those who were in need, her love and tenderness to those who deserved it and that she'd continue to prioritize the life of others than her own . But like her father and mother and many other friends lost in the battlefields, she had every gift but length of years. We who have loved her from the day she entered our lives, and watched the remarkable kunoichi she became, now bid her farewell."
Suddenly Kakashi felt Naruto's chakra flaring up and the jonin opened his coal eye, startled. His former student was shaking convulsively with clenched fists and lowered head. Just as he attempted to go to him, afraid that the kyuubi might get out, Hinata embraced Naruto, whispering something in his ear. The chakra eased and the Copy nin sighed relieved.
"We will continue to love you and we always will keep the Will of Fire in our hearts as a memento of your unconditional sacrifice in the name of your Hidden village."
The silver-haired jonin raised his eyes to the sky – instead of disappearing the clouds had become even darker, now completely blocking the sun rays. A strong wind appeared, blowing away some of the flowers, put on the top of the coffin. Kakashi saw their petals twirling and twisting in the air. A few of them bumped into his chest and he let his hand to catch them before they could fly away again. Now when he was without his gloves and his skin could feel directly the silky and smooth surface of the flowers; they looked even more gentle and fragile. Kakashi took a deep breath, inhaling the smell of the incoming rain that was spreading in the air.
"Rest in peace, Sakura."
Tsunade finished her farewell speech and allowed the present people to pay their respects. Usually the coffin would be kept open, revealing the person in it but due to the cause and the cruelness of her death now the lid was shut. The shinobi and civilians stepped forward slowly, some of them with flowers in their hands, other with tears in their eyes. Every one of them kneeled beside the coffin and stood there with closed eyes, praying. "For what?", Kakashi thought, "She's not coming back."
Bull stood up and bit the stem of one of the flowers that the wind had scattered. The enormous ninja dog walked slowly to the coffin and placed the flower gently on it. The crowd was observing speechless as well as the Copy nin. It was so human-like. Sometimes he forgot how similar his dogs were to people. Yet they were different. There wasn't any betrayal or gossiping. Dog's life was a good, simple and pleasant life. Lacking in a sense of fear that somebody, somewhen, somewhere would stab you in the back.
Looking at Bull the jonin realized that right at this moment, this huge black ninja dog was probably more sincere and devoted in his love for Sakura more than the half of the gathered people here. Shinobi these days were less human than the wild animals, they were more vicious, brutal and merciless than the most violent beasts out there. Their actions had become primal, completely based on instinct. They had lost the only thing that made them humans – emotion. There was no place for compassion, forgiveness and gratefulness any more. And now when Sakura was gone Kakashi felt getting closer to those cruel people. His human nature that Obito had presented to him was slipping away through his fingers despite his desperate attempts to tighten his grip on it. Hate and detest were getting the better of him and the Copy nin shivered terrified at the realization that deep inside he wanted this to happen. He wanted to be merciless and brutal to the responsible for this funeral, he needed to take revenge on them.
A pain pierced his heart at the thought of what Sakura would think of him if she knew how he was feeling. The kunoichi had so much faith in him; she firmly believed he was able to change for better; that he deserved to welcome a bit of happiness and peace in his soul. He would disappoint her. Right now everything that was in his mind was hate and vengeance. The sadness had transformed into fury, the desperation had become his strength, the emptiness in his heart – inhumanity.
In the end the only ones left were Kakashi and Naruto. The Copy nin kneeled on the ground, patting his dogs which were still lying down around him. His eye was nailed on the brand new memorial tombstone.
"Haruno Sakura, 18 years old. Dear friend and beloved daughter. "
He never imagined that he would be burying his student. It wasn't right. He should have been the one, not she.
"We'll avenge her death.", Naruto mumbled under his nose, knowing that his ex-sensei could hear him, "I'll find the bastard who killed her and prick his eyes out, shoving them down to his stomach so he can see how I rip out his guts…" Kakashi didn't say anything; his eye was blank as if he was miles away from here. Naruto continued, "I understand now why I couldn't bring Sasuke back.", the Jinchuuriki sighed chuckling sadly, "Revenge is a consuming feeling and he had been having it for so long. It's no wonder my words didn't reach him."
"Revenge isn't going to bring her back, Naruto.", the Copy nin stood up looking up at the darkened sky. A huge rain drops fell on his headband and splashed around, "I know better than anyone. Instead of wasting time in revenge, become stronger.", another drop fell, followed by dozens of others, "At least that's what I'm gonna do. There won't be Sakura anymore who will save our asses…", the hypocritical lie slipped easily through his lips. Acceptance was never an option. Before maybe, but in this case definitely not.
"HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT!", the blonde burst out in fury, "She was our teammate, friend! She would want us to avenge her! To pay back the son of a bitch who killed her!"
"Would she really?", Kakashi whispered as the rain pour over them, "Wouldn't she want us continuing with our lives without revenge or tears? After Sasuke's departure and his constant obsession for vengeance would she really be happy to see us like that?"
Naruto clenched his teeth and lowered his head, knowing that his former teacher was reasonably right, "I can't accept it…I love her very much and I'm going to miss her. Hell, I'm already missing her."
The Copy nin suddenly turned around with insane look in his eye, yelling, "DO YOU THINK I DON'T? I LOVED HER AT LEAST AS MUCH AS YOU DID! BUT I'M FURIOUS AT HER AS WELL! How could she be so inconsiderate?! How could she write me such pathetic excuse of a letter! How could she hope that I'll understand her when I don't even know why she came to me the night before?! How could she leave me in the morning without uttering a word, relying only on her scrabble? How could she…after everything that happened….? She left me behind…", Kakashi dropped on his knees and started punching the ground with fists. He was panting and crying. The dog pack was looking at him worriedly and Pakkun stepped closer to his master, pushing him gently with his nuzzle, comforting him.
Naruto looked at his ex-sensei taken a back. He never saw him losing his composure like this. He had always been the reasonable, calm, strong-minded and logical one. Now he was a mess, a pure wreck. The boy lifted his gaze at the crying sky, thinking.
The storm had scattered the flowers all over the grass in the cemetery. Trickles of rain were running down the memorial stone. They had built in a picture of Sakura in the middle and now the rain drops were flowing on it, looking like tears. Their friend was crying alongside them. The Jinchuuriki knew that she was up there watching them. Probably right now her heart was tearing apart, seeing Kakashi's pain, seeing everyone's pain.
Naruto walked away leaving the Copy nin almost lying on the wet, muddy ground with hand reached for her tombstone. He couldn't help his sensei. Nobody could. At least not now. But when the time came, he would support him with everything he had. The blonde knew from Sakura that among the members of Team 7, Kakashi needed help most. Back then when his teammate told him that, Naruto couldn't understand but now he realized what she meant. The Jinchuuriki frowned making mental vow to himself that he'll look after his former sensei as Sakura would have. It was promise.
And he never backed away from his given word.
"Does it hurt?", Sakura pressed her green glowing fingertips at Sasuke's temples.
"No, but I'm feeling a quiet buzzing in my head…", the Uchiha answered slowly barely frowning as the kunoichi moved her hands, massaging the temples and forehead.
"I can feel knots behind your eyes. You've been putting greater pressure than your sight could handle.", she bit her lower lip concentrating on her work. Small drops of sweat appeared on her forehead as she tried to investigate in detail his eye's deterioration. It had been always tricky and chakra-consuming to work on eyes, "I'm sorry. I need to correct myself. Your eyes can withstand even more but the reason for their recent decay is because you don't take good enough care for them."
Sasuke jerked aside under her fingers as they gently caressed his forehead skin, "I can look after my eyes…"
"Apparently not. You don't get enough rest.", Sakura kicked him slightly in the ankle as punishment for his movement, "Stay still. Or you're risking to cut some of your eye nerves."
"Must you touch me…like that…", the dark haired boy frowned but stood clam on the chair.
"That? How?", the kunoichi raised her eyebrow puzzled and her green glow dispersed. She needed a break. The fingertips had began to redden from the constant chakra flow. The medic grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and started scribbling something, ignoring her patient.
"Well, lightly…", the shinobi murmured and cracked his stiff neck. It wasn't exactly easy to stay numb during the whole time.
Sakura raised her gaze slowly from the paper confused and shocked, "Lightly?". Sasuke only frowned and sent her a angry glare. The girl winked faster few times, trying to comprehend his answer, "How the fuck do you want me to touch you? Like a mad monkey playing bongos?"
The Uchiha growled and stood up in attempt to get out of his room, where the examination was held. She was mocking him.
"Sit. I'm not done.", Sakura sighed deeply, placing the paper and the pen on the desk, "The damage done to your eyes is not irreversible…yet." She noticed that his shoulders relaxed slightly, "I can speed up the process of your recovery but that doesn't mean that in the meantime you can mess around with your sharingan. I'm specifically speaking about Mangekyo. The more you use it, the stronger and deeper the decay will become. And finally, at some point, you'll go blind. If this happens, then even I won't be able to help you."
Sasuke nodded slightly, "As long as you can save my sight."
The kunoichi cracked her fingers and wrists, adjusting the pillow on his bed, "Come here. From today onwards, we'll begin your treatment. The procedures that I'll be doing are extremely risky, chakra-depleting and time-consuming.", Sasuke obeyed and lied on the bed as he saw Sakura dragging the chair next to his head, "We'll be doing them in periods. Meaning: I'll start today and the next session will be in two days."
"Why?", the Uchiha narrowed his eyes.
"As I told you. If I deplete my chakra too much I might lose my control over it and it may cause you slight problems like blindness.", the medic settled on the chair and brushed away some of the fallen locks over his eyes and forehead, "Moreover, after the procedure you'll most likely suffer a hard case of migraine. I'll try as much as I can to prevent this from happening but I assure you it's inevitable. Kakashi was tied to the bed for a week after I worked on his eye. Ready?"
"You've worked on Kakashi's sharingan?", Sasuke looked at her face, which was now above his.
"Yes. Are you ready?", the pinkette raised her brow irritated.
"Was it successful?"
"Are you doubting my abilities?", the girl growled through her teeth.
"Just curious."
"Ready?", a vein popped on Sakura's forehead as her eyes twitched annoyed.
"Yeah."
The kunoichi leaned closer over Sasuke's head and her fingers glowed green. The Uchiha shinobi closed his eyes, trying to relax his body. At least now it was more comfortable , lying on the bed. Her fingers were moving steadily and confidently over his temples, exploring. The feeling her chakra was leaving was ticklish but pleasant and Sasuke soon completely relaxed his body. It's been years since he felt so good. The tension in his eyes was lifting little by little.
He could smell the shampoo on her hair which was still partially wet – she began the examination right after she got out of the bathroom. Sakura was leaning above him even more . He could tell that because some of her longer locks tickled the nape of his neck. Was she like that with every patient? Was she like that with Kakashi as well? He still hadn't read the letter and Sasuke didn't know what were the relationship between those two. But right now he decided to enjoy the relaxing feeling spreading in his body. The boy unconsciously smirked slightly.
Sasuke lost track of time. But when Sakura's chakra dispersed and she drifted her fingers away from his temples, he opened his eyes to look at her. Her face was sweaty but she was smiling at him. Suddenly she reached her hand at his face and he jerked, thinking that she might be attempting to slap him for some reason. But when her fingers touched his wound on the cheek left from his fight with Zetsu, the Uchiha's eyes widened in surprise.
The girl healed his wound and whispered, "I told you that it didn't suit you."
Sasuke averted his gaze from hers and he noticed the bite marks on her chest, revealed by the deep V-neck of her top, left from Zetsu. She still hadn't healed them. He lifted his hand and moved aside the lock of pink hair that was hiding her neck, uncovering another set of bites, "I recall telling you the same."
Sakura lowered her gaze, "I didn't want to waste my chakra."
The Uchiha successor sighed smirking, "There is no need for you to be so thoughtful. We're your enemies after all."
"They are.", Sakura touched his hand that was still holding her hair, "You are my former teammate."
Something in Sasuke's eyes flinched and he pulled back his hand, settling on the mattress more comfortably, "Heal yourself as soon as you can. Now leave. I start getting headache and I want to sleep it off."
The kunoichi stood up and got out of the room, walking to hers. When she entered a smug appeared on her face, "You'll never know what hit you, Sasuke.", she mumbled and her features once more became unreadable.
Her plan was progressing smoothly for now. She didn't know what was the reason for which her ex-teammate behaved the way he did but it was all in her favor. The next session should be in two days. That was enough time for her chakra to be replenished. As a matter of fact, the procedure didn't drained her that much but if she let him knew this, he'd want more frequent treatment. She couldn't allow herself to suffer chakra-depletion. She was surrounded by enemies after all. There was no way she could foresee what might happen.
The girl lied on the bed and her hands glowed in green as she started healing her injuries. The bite marks slowly faded and her chakra dispersed in the air. Sakura sighed tiredly and eased her back on the mattress, snuggling into the sheets. What was awaiting her in the future? She hadn't seen Zetsu since the last time he came into her room and attacked her. The kunoichi trembled at the memory. She needed to think what her plan of action would be from now on. She couldn't let him do as he pleased, she was Konoha's shinobi, not some weakling that he could play around with on a whim. Her shishou was one of the Legendary Sanin, the Slug princess Tsunade. The Hokage would be disappointed in her, as if all those years spent training would be for nothing.
Sakura smiled and recalled the image of Tsunade. Suddenly next to it emerged the visions of Naruto, Kakashi, Ino, Yamato, Sai… she was the female member of Team 7. She promised herself that she'd protect her teammates and friends. But that didn't mean that she should act carelessly.
"Kakashi, what would you do if you were in my shoes? Should I confront Zetsu or keep my distance from him, hiding under Sasuke's wing as his medic? Should I reveal my strength?"
Sakura closed her eyes and pulled the sheets to cover her lower back and tights. This place was cold. May be she should ask them for another blanket…
The chakra depletion tugged her into a restless slumber.
Kakashi knocked on the wooden double door, waiting for response from the other side. The Copy nin sighed and rubbed his eyes with fingers. The last few days he hadn't slept at all. His body was exhausted but every time he closed his eyes, the image of Sakura's burned flesh and torn limbs was invading his mind and he never managed to endure the vision more than two or three seconds. He had witnessed even more nauseous views but somehow that was a desecration against her memory.
A hollow "come in" was heard behind the door and the silver-haired jonin pressed the handle, opening the gate. His steps were rhythmical and confident. He stopped before the desk of the Hokage and bowed politely.
"Thank you for accepting my request for audience with you, Hokage-sama.", he said with even and calm voice, avoiding eye contact with the blonde woman behind the desk.
Tsunade waved with hand before her face as if his formal address to her was unnecessary , "What do you need, Hatake?"
Kakashi stared through the window, unable to form the words in his head. The Copy nin sighed and averted his eye to the caramel ones in front of him, "Hokage-sama…", his voice hitched and he had to take another deep breath before continuing, "Could you tell me more details about the accident in Sakura's apartment?", he couldn't force himself to say her death. It sounded too…final.
Tsunade tensed but managed to smile sadly at him, "You already know everything. You were there when it happened…"
"Hokage-sama… I'm perfectly aware that this explosion couldn't have been caused by blown up oven or water-heater. The only things capable of producing such directed precise detonation are explosion tags or other type of explosives.", the silver-haired jonin looked at the floor, "It wasn't just a mere accident… Sakura was killed…"
The Hokage sighed heavily. To be honest with herself, she expected him to come sooner. When she found out about the cloud headband in the ashes Tsunade knew that a time would come when she had to tell him all facts. The blonde huffed, "Even if you are right, Kakashi, this is classified information…What right do you have to know more than the others?"
"I'm her former sensei…"
Tsunade frowned, "Exactly…former. Naruto is her current teammate and I don't see him around asking about such things.", the Hokage sighed, rising her eyebrow, "Do you have other more justified reason why should I tell you this apart from your professional relationship?"
"No.", he whispered through clenched teeth. The anger started bubbled in him. Why she was so stubborn now of all times? His clearance status was high enough to know everything happening in the village. Why was she torturing him now with secrets and classified information?!
"Then I have nothing to say to you.", the blonde gather a piles of paper on her desk and arranged them, ignoring the man before her.
The Copy nin suddenly bumped his clenched fists on the desk, bending over it. The gathered papers scattered on the floor. His eye was burning with fury, "Hokage-sama…even if you don't tell me I'll find the culprit on my own…"
The blonde frowned seriously, "Whether you know the culprit or not, have to be irrelevant to your actions. You know that you can't just go around killing people. There are certain rules that need to be followed.", her eyes narrowed, "If you can't control your emotions and turn yourself in to revenge, you'll be put on a trial for disobeying direct orders from the Hokage, ignoring security laws and murder."
"Fuck the rules. Will you tell me the details or not?", Kakashi growled staring at her eyes. The Hokage didn't answer her gaze only flinched. "I see…", the Copy nin pushed out from the desk and stood straight before it, "I think the revenge for Sakura's death is worth paying every price.", he turned his back and stomped toward the door, leaving the Hokage speechless.
At the moment when his hand pressed the handle a voice coming behind him, made him stop. "I'm not telling you this as the Hokage…", Kakashi turned around and saw Tsunade opening the drawer with miserable expression, her voice was shaking, "I'm telling you this as a woman who just lost her precious non-blood-related daughter… " the Copy nin went back to the desk silently, watching the package in her hands.
"What I'm going to tell you now mustn't affect your behavior in any way. It's not only a personal matter it's an international conflict.", Tsunade looked in his coal eye and handed him the package, "I know how it hurts Kakashi. But think carefully before doing anything reckless which may pull Konoha into war."
The silver-haired jonin unpacked the evidence with trembling hands. When he saw the item in the brown paper his eye widened in shocked and anger, "Cloud?!"
The blond shinobi hiding outside of the windows of Hokage's office stiffened as he heard Kakashi and Tsunade talking. He knew that his former sensei wouldn't leave things simply like that. Naruto's eyes reddened as he caught the name of Darui and the Raikage slipping through their tongues. Were they the responsible ones?! Jinchuuriki growled quietly and jumped from the building, running toward his apartment. He needed to calm down and think of a plan to gather more information.
He mustn't jump to conclusions.
Even if he repeated that countless times in his mind he couldn't cool down the burning rage inside him. Assassination. They dared to murder Konoha's kunoichi…Tsunade's apprentice…Team 7's member…within the borders of the village. Those imbeciles dared to kill SAKURAin her apartment. There was no painful enough punishment that was suitable for them. There was no place for forgiveness. Pein's words emerged in Naruto's mind, "You think you're the only one who matter. You think you can put off death. But that peace made you foolish and thoughtless. If you kill someone, someone else will kill you… this hatred binds us together..." The young jonin's features curved in a painful, yet vicious grimace.
"If I have to pay such price as eternal hatred for seeking retribution for Sakura's death, so be it…", the blonde growled and doubled his pace towards his home.
"Dear Raikage-sama,
Due to the recent grievous and disturbing accident that caused the brutal death of one of my most highly-skilled and trusted shinobi, I require your co-operation in solving that case. In light of this situation, I demand information, more specifically, the pertinent details surrounding the activity of your shinobi before leaving the borders of Konohagakure.
In case, you neglect this kind request, I would be deeply saddened to remind you that currently, the future of your hidden village is completely in Konoha's hands as winners of the Tournament.
I'll be awaiting the response about your arrival in Konohagakure no longer than five days from the date written on the bottom of the parchment.
Sincerely,
the Hokage"
"What's the meaning of this?", the Raikage shot his secretary an furious glare.
The dark-skinned woman with white hair only bowed apologetically, "We received it few minutes ago."
The robe-wearing man growled through his teeth. Was that slutty old hag blaming him for the death of her subordinate? And on top of that she had to remind him about that stupid tournament. The old shinobi sighed deeply and turned around at his secretary, "Write a response letter, saying that we'll head there in three days. Inform Darui and B. They'll be coming with us."
"Yes, Raikage-sama.", the busty woman bowed and walked out of the room.
The blonde kunoichi stood from her chair and shook hands with the white-haired man before her.
"I'm glad you came here so quickly.", Tsunade smiled but her eyes flinched with suspicious spark.
"Did I have a choice?", the Raikage growled and sat in the armchair next to him. Darui and B were standing silently behind him.
"I guess not.", the Hokage took a deep breath and looked at A's eyes intensely, "I suppose you remember the details surrounding Haruno Sakura's death.", after receiving a slight nod from the shinobi in front of her, Tsunade continued, "The thing is, that later on, after your leave my men found another evidence."
"I guess it is somehow connected to my people.", the Raikage whispered, "Speak openly, Hokage."
Tsunade pulled from the drawer the package and threw it at the man before her, "See for yourself."
The white-haired leader gasped for air at the sight of the Cloud forehead protector. The man shook his head confused, "I don't know what to say."
"It'll be extremely helpful if you could say something, anything or I'll be forced to resort to more violent measures.", the blonde growled and clenched her fists on her desk.
"A" sighed and returned the evidence, "I have nothing to do with this murder case. Although I'm not completely certain about my subordinates…"
"I know that sometimes, shinobi ignore and neglect our orders that's why I'm asking for permission to interrogate Darui.", Tsunade clasped her hands twice and Kakashi emerged suddenly outside of the window, standing on the roof below it, "You're well aware of his skills and professionalism. Your shinobi won't be hurt or harmed in any way."
The Raikage waved his finger at the dark-skinned ninja who drew closer and bowed politely at the kunoichi behind the desk. Kakashi stepped closer to him and uncovered his sharingan.
"Look at my eye and relax your mind.", the Copy nin released his breath and the commas in the red iris span, activating the jutsu. The Lightning shinobi didn't move an inch as the other man explored his mind. The silver-haired jonin searched every corner of his brain for any kind of evidence that he was connected with Sakura's murder but in the end he couldn't find anything, "He's clean.", there was a quiet disappointed note in his voice.
The Raikage turned his gaze at the other leader, "Somebody is trying to frame us."
"Why?", Tsunade folded her now relaxed fingers sending serious look at the old man.
"Well, if you think carefully, you can clearly see the reason." , Darui murmured under his breath but then, realizing his impudence bowed politely and apologized, "Forgive me."
"No, speak.", the blonde woman averted her gaze and now it was nailed at the former participant.
"Somebody wanted to cover up his tracks. We were just the logical choice.", Darui shrugged shoulders, "From the very beginning me and Sakura were always ahead of the others. Meaning, the only one with strong enough motive for this assassination is me.", the white-haired shinobi smiled indifferently, "You can consider it last resort in hope to disqualify her and so I can take first place."
"Then, how can we be 100% certain that the Raikage didn't ordered somebody else to do the dirty job…", Kakashi hissed through his teeth. Tsunade shot his angry glare and the silver-haired man shut his mouth.
Suddenly the window glass behind the Hokage shattered and Naruto's clones forming a Rasengan stormed at the office, aiming at the Raikage. Before anyone else could reacted B was already in front of the chair of the Cloud leader. The tall man transformed his arm into a octopus' tentacle and stopped the jutsu from harming the people in the room. The kyuubi Jinchuuriki tsk-ed and jumped back landing behind Tsunade's chair. Out of nowhere the Hokage punched Naruto and sent him flying through the room, crashing into the wall, causing the fall of some paintings which were hanging on it.
"What the hell are you doing, Naruto!?", her voice was echoing in the office.
The Raikage winked few times shocked by Tsunade's sudden outburst. Darui and Bee were in defensive stances as well as Kakashi who was now shaking his head in disbelief, relaxing his muscles. He should have foreseen this.
The blonde jonin, stood on his feet and wiped off the dust from his clothes, "Those bastards are responsible for Sakura-chan's death. Why are you even talking to them!?"
"Naruto…", the menacing aura that Tsunade's body was radiating made the Jinchuuriki shiver and step back, " You've been eavesdropping again, haven't you?!"
"I heard you talking to Kakashi-sensei about the Cloud protector you had found in the ruins of her apartment!" the blonde argued with a little more calm tone.
"Get out of here. You are not authorized to present on this meeting.", the Hokage growled and grabbed the boy for his collar, dragging him out of the room. After she kicked him out and closed the door again, the Raikage and Darui were observing her curiously.
"I guess, I'm not the only one who have troubles controlling their subordinates.", "A" grinned, "I saw him during the tournament. He was one of your personal guards, right?"
"Yeah.", Tsunade sighed and sat on the armchair.
"Who is he? Bakayarō! Konoyarō!", B asked, staring at the door through which the boy was thrown out.
"He's Uzumaki Naruto.", the Slug Princess answered with a slight smile.
"Can I go after him, "A", bro?", B asked his leader and the Raikage only nodded. The tall shinobi exited the office quickly.
"What was this about?", the blonde kunoichi sent the man in front of her puzzled glance.
"That was Killer B – the Hachibi Jinchuuriki.", A answered smiling, "They have things in common I suppose."
"Yeah.", Tsunade nodded and folded her hands on the desk again, "Back to the topic… I was thinking about the conversation we had during one of the challenges. Do you remember it?"
"You think it has something to do with him?", the Raikage murmured under his breath.
"Yeah.", Tsunade nodded and looked at the Copy nin behind her, "Kakashi. You may go."
"Darui, you too.", the Raikage turned to his subordinate, "If Hatake-san doesn't mind, you two could follow the boys. I don't know Naruto's personality but B's one big troublemaker."
Kakashi and Darui bowed politely and exited the office leaving the leaders, staring at each other.
With hands in his pockets the Copy nin led the cloud shinobi through the streets of Konoha. They were silent. Kakashi didn't have much to say to the other ninja. He didn't like him before, during the tournament, and now he definitely hated him as if not being guilty about Sakura's death was a crime itself. The silver-haired jonin knew perfectly well that he wasn't aware of all things happening between their two kage's and if Tsunade was certain about "A", so the Raikage was most surely innocent. But that still didn't mean he had to like his subordinates.
The Copy nin let a deep sigh escape his lips as he felt Naruto's chakra signature. He turned right on the next corner and jumped on the roofs, increasing his pace. Kakashi knew that Darui followed him.
"I'm sorry about Sakura-chan.", the white-haired shinobi murmured, staring at the back of his companion, "It must have been hard on you."
"…"
When Darui didn't receive an answer apart from Kakashi's grunting he continued, "You two were kind of an item, weren't you?", the cloud ninja missed the angry snort the other shinobi made, "She was cute. She shouldn't have died."
Then Kakashi stopped and turned around with ice cold glare nailed on the man before him, "She was cute? That's the only reason for her to stay alive that you could come up with after spending time with her and knowing her? Cute?!", the Copy nin shook his head in disbelief, "I can't believe I'm actually talking to you, prick. You should thank Kami I'm not Naruto, or now B would be sweeping what was left of you. " , the Konoha jonin turned around and continued with his run.
Darui glanced at the jonin with indifferent eyes. "Are you blaming me for not being culpable of her death?"
"…"
Another quiet grunt and this time Darui reached, grabbing Kakashi's upper arm. The Copy nin turned around slowly and nailed the man with his furious glare.
"Let go of me.", the silver-haired jonin whispered with low voice.
Darui released him from his grip and leaned to the half-masked face of the other shinobi, "You need to know one thing: shinobi are supposed to be emotionless tools. And this is not just accidental rule that somebody created. There is a reason for us being like that. And one of the reasons is right here, before your eyes. Death is our dearest friend, Copycat. No matter how much you try to put it off, it will always come back and accompany you. If you let the grief and sorrow take the best of you, you're dead before you even set one foot on the battlefield."
"You know nothing about me, nor Sakura.", Kakashi grumbled and tried to pass him by but Darui clenched his arm again fixing him with his black gaze.
"But I know about relationships and how they end for shinobi.", the dark-skinned ninja let go of his arm and turned around running on the roofs of the buildings, headed to Naruto's place.
Kakashi stared at the running man. He knew nothing. Nothing. The grief, the sorrow. That cloud cocky bastard could have felt them before but he knew nothing about the unanswered questions that Sakura left him, about the pain from the thought that she died only meters away from him, about the anger he felt towards her for not having the courage to wake him up and tell him everything she wrote on that letter. The disappointment in himself as shinobi, teacher, teammate and a friend. He failed as everything. The only thing he never failed was to bring death to the closest people he kept around him.
He had been an emotionless tool but the Obito showed him that emotions apart from deadly weakness could be immeasurable strength. The feelings, the bonds he created, everything he shared with his friends had been the basis of his existence since Obito's death. The pain, the hurt, the despair, the frustration… they made him feel alive once again. At least until Sakura came into his life.
She presented him the happiness, the long forgotten feeling of forgiveness, the love… the vital and euphoriant feeling of being needed. She gave him a reason to push further, to try harder. She believed in him and in his goodness. In her eyes he was a man worthy of forgiveness and she gave it to him. She forgave him for all the time he had ignored her needs, for the times he neglected her in his teachings, for the times he had never been next to her when she needed someone to confide in because he knew that she was keeping a lot from Naruto. She always gave him her unstopping support and compassion, understanding and care.
How could he not be affected by her death? How could he continue with his life as if nothing happened? How could he forget her when every time he closed his eyes, her face emerged in his mind? How could he not think about her when the night they spent together didn't even leave his brain for a second?
Kakashi realized he had walked to the memorial stone. How long had it been since he last came here? The Copy nin kneeled on the ground and traced the name of Obito with his forefinger.
"Obito…How to keep on living, my friend?", the silver-haired jonin sighed and closed his eyes, "It's been a week since she's gone, Obito…today I went back to my apartment. I haven't stepped inside since she left me that morning. The breakfast she had made for me is still on the coffee table, now spoilt but I can't dare to throw it out... The towel she washed is still spread on the back of the chair in the bedroom.", Kakashi opened his uncovered eye and glanced at the trees above the memorial stone, "The bed…Her scent is still lingering on the sheets. I'm afraid to wash them, Obito, because I might lose part of her. I'm afraid to sleep on them because I might not be able to stand up again. And as the smell fades away little by little every day, my desperation grows inside me. I'm lost. So lost, my friend.", the Copy nin felt his good eye burning with familiar tension behind it, "Only if you were here to tell me what to do…Only if…"
Naruto sat heavily on the ground in front of Sakura's grave, putting some unknown to him flowers on the tombstone which he picked along the way. His head fell exhaustedly and the boy interlaced his fingers slowly, gripping his hand with the other. He touched his lips to the knuckles which were now almost white from the strength with which the young man was clenching his fists. At first he thought that he should pray but then a chuckled escaped his half parted lips. He was never religious to begin with, he didn't believe in God. The only things he had faith in were his own strength and his friends. Nothing more nothing less. Slowly his hands fell to his sides lifelessly and he just stared at Sakura's picture. She was smiling. Of course they'd choose smiling one. She was a cheerful girl.
Naruto reached and caressed the cold glass, covering the photo.
"Sakura…", his voice hitched and Naruto took a deep breath before continuing, "I know you'd probably punch me hard for this but I can't help myself. I feel so much hatred in me. The Kyuubi doesn't help either. Since you've been gone I can't stop meeting that damned fox in my inner mind. He's telling me that not avenging you would be a shame, a violation of your memory. He's insisting that as a shinobi I must seek retribution for the pain somebody cause me… and the worst part of it all is that this time, as never, I completely agree with him. ", Naruto sniffed with single tear rolling on his cheek, "To be honest, the only thing stopping me from letting out the Kyuubi is Hinata. She somehow manages to bring the good in me, Sakura-chan. I'm glad I opened up my eyes for her. If it wasn't for that girl, maybe the next one that Kakashi would be burying would have been me.", the Jinchuuriki sighed heavily, "I've lost Sasuke long ago, I've lost you now. I can't even dare to say that I want to be the next Hokage. I don't deserve this title. At least not until I continue threatening the population of Konoha with the beast in me which might burst out any moment, I can feel it ripping out my gut from the inside, crawling, trying to get in the open…", Naruto opened his mouth to continue his revelations but he felt another chakra signature closing by. The boy turned around and saw the shinobi who stopped his Rasengan. The blonde examined the newcomer with careful, evaluating glance and raised his eyebrow. Did he come to finish the fight?
"What do you want?", Jinchuuriki growled.
"Yo, man. 'Sup?", the other rasped and nodded in greeting.
The young Konoha jonin frowned at his strange way of talking, "I asked you a question."
"Easy! Bakayarō! Konoyarō", the big dark-skinned man get out his hand from his pocket and gave Naruto a thumb up, "I'm not here to bite, you I wanted to cite…", the shinobi suddenly pulled out a small pad and scribbled something inside murmuring, "Cool, cool…"
"I didn't get anything…", the Kyuubi host thought and his right eye twitched annoyed. Well, at least he didn't sound threatening so Naruto might as well suggest the he didn't come here to fight. The blonde turned around again and once more sat on the ground before the tombstone. He felt the other shinobi sitting next to him.
"Man, what was that amaa~zing super-duper cool technique you used on my bro "A"?", the cloud shinobi grinned at Naruto.
The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki winked few times trying to comprehend what he had just said, "You mean Rasengan?"
"Maa~n, that was soo~ cool…Who showed it to you, yo?"
"Ero-Sanin Jiraya.", Naruto mumbled, still a little unsure why he had followed him, "He saw it from the fourth Hokage who actually created it."
"Fourth? Yo, what a coincidence, yo!", the dark-skinned shinobi exclaimed, "That dude fought by bro "A"…I still can't believe he could actually be faster than my bro, man. Nobody's faster than him! Bakayarō! Konoyarō!"
" "A"… "A"…You keep saying that1 Who the fuck is "A"? And who the fuck are you?", Naruto frowned staring at the man next to him.
"My bad, my bad, man! I'm Killer B – the Hachibi Jinchuuriki. And "A", my bro, is the Raikage of course…"
The blonde was speechless and when he finally could talk he whispered, "You're Jinchuuriki, too?"
"Why so surprised, man?", B grinned and reached his fist at him, "Bump it!". Naruto looked confused but clenched his fist and bumped it into the other Jinchuuriki's, "See, man? Now, you're my bro too! Bakayarō! Konoyarō!"
A slight smile appeared on the young leaf shinobi's face, "Cool, …bro."
"Now let's talk about that stubborn bastard in you.", B rapped with grinning face.
"What do we have to talk about him?"
"You should train him, bro! Like I did with mine!", the cloud ninja gave him another thumb up, "We're now best buddies."
Naruto's eyes widened. He never thought it was possible to tame the Kyuubi. Up until now he had always tried to suppress him, only this. The nine-tails host grinned in response, "You going to help me, bro?"
"As if you have to ask! Bakayarō! Konoyarō!", the Hachibi Jinchuuriki grinned and stood up, "Let's go back and talk to your blonde chick and my dude for your departure…"
"Departure?", Naruto stood up as well and shot B questioning glance.
"Maa~n, you seriously thought we could train it here?! I'm going to teach you where I had trained with my buddy! Bakayarō! Konoyarō!", Killer B grinned and started walking back to Hokage tower.
Naruto grinned. "Just wait, Sakura-chan, I'll show you! I will become stronger and this time I'll protect everybody! I will not give in to the depression again. I'm Uzumaki Naruto! And I'll become the strongest Hokage in Konoha's history, dattebayo!" the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki ran to catch up with his newly found "bro".
"So I'm going to run my own investigation and we'll keep in touch weekly or sooner if something interesting comes up.", the Raikage stood up from his chair and fixed his clothes. The same did Tsunade as well.
"I just hope that you'll figure out something. I already told you my theories.", the Hokage smiled.
"The one where the Mizukage's been compelled by genjutsu is personally my favorite …", a voice echoed behind Tsunade. When the blonde kunoichi turned around her eye twitched in irritation.
"Jirairya…how long have you been here?", the woman growled as she noticed the Toad Sanin jumping through the window.
"So, cold, sweetheart…so cold.", the white-haired Sage grinned and sent a playful glance at the Raikage, "Glad to see you still functioning properly, A… I've always thought you lost some of your confidence when my student beat you up…"
The other man tensed but said nothing. Tsunade's former teammate had always behaved that way with him, why bother starting a quarrel now after so many years, "Glad to see you're still the same, Toad."
"By the way…about your theories, sweetheart…I think I have some more info.", Jirairya pulled out a scroll from his red sleeveless jacket, "I figured out that still some of the living Akatsuki members were still living in Water country, specifically, around the borders of Mist Village."
"And what does that exactly help us with?", the Raikage snorted.
"There are only two remaining Akatsuki members – Zetsu and Tobi.", the Sage continued, "One of my sources said he heard a bunch of hunter nins that had seen Uchiha Sasuke wandering around the same region. As we know Sasuke. His only goals were revenge, restoring Uchiha clan and achieving greater power. Which guide us to the next question: what is he doing with Akatsuki unless he has some benefit from it?"
Tsunade widened her caramel eyes, "We don't know the identity of Tobi. He could be anyone! And if Sasuke sticks with them that means he knows who is he. Or at least he knows enough to consider beneficial for him to stay."
"I can't see where you two are going…", the Raikage murmured and sat in the armchair again.
"Pein was killed by Naruto and Konan hid his body. Recently we found out about the death of the Paper girl. The only reason for which somebody would want to kill her is to find out the location of the rinnegan. And considering that she was the right arm of Pein we can assume that not everybody can just go and kill her.", Tsunade explained quickly, "The most logical choice would be a fellow Akatsuki. That means Zetsu or Tobi and we certainly know that Zetsu doesn't care for some doujutsu bloodline limits. On the other hand out mysterious Akatsuki has only one hole on that orange mask he wears.", the Hokage turned around, biting her nail excitedly.
"You assume that he had taken the rinnegan?", the Raikage asked frowning. He still couldn't exactly follow their line of thought.
"And that eye would be completely useless for somebody without an eye bloodline limit. You've met the Copy ninja Kakashi. His sharingan consumes double or maybe triple more chakra than usual. And the fact that the eye belonged to somebody else before causes him great liabilities. That's the reason he keeps it covered – as a foreign substance only medically matched up with his body he can't shut it down.", Tsunade explained.
"The only left option is that Tobi has eye bloodline limit – most likely sharingan.", Jirairya grinned.
"That explains Sasuke's behavior.", the Raikage murmured.
"And with the sharingan he has the ability to cast the highest class genjutsu over a person's mind. If my theory is true then Tobi had compelled the Mizukage to do whatever he instructed him."
"That's insane.", A mumbled under his breath and rubbed his temples, "You guys are crazy. We're talking about the Mizukage here. Not just some random shinobi…"
"We both agreed that something was off with his behavior during the tournament.", Tsunade argued.
The Raikage only sighed, "I'll think it over carefully when I get back to Cloud. I will still run an investigation."
"Good. Then we'll hear in a week?", the Hokage smiled and sat in her chair.
Suddenly the door snapped open and Naruto followed by Killer B entered the room.
"Tsunade-baachan…", the Hokage's eye twitched in irritation at the address, "Old man…", a vein popped out on the Raikage's forehead at the casual form of address from Naruto, "B and I have something to talk to you about…!", the blonde noticed the other man in the room, "Ero-Sannin!"
"Yo, Naruto.". the white-haired Sage smiled at his student.
"Great! We're all here!", the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki grinned.
Tsunade let out a deep exhausted sighed and summoned all of her patience not to beat up that little brat, "Let's hear what you two have to say…"
TBC