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Epilogue
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This was not about an underdog who found her way up to the top. No, that was my friend Naruto's story. This was just about what I did in the past.
Seven years passed. It turned out I did not have a bloodline. There never was.
I didn't know if it was a some sort of trick Sarutobi convinced me of in order for me to be a part of the underworld.
Sarutobi had vanished again. Perhaps taking a vacation in Micronesia with some young girls. He had completely retired from the guild six years ago and I was still amazed at how vigorous he still is. He's going to turn eighty-two this year. He even had five heart strokes in the past few years yet that didn't seem to stop him from doing whatever he wants to do.
In any case, I'm now working for another publishing studio in Sapporo. I've been working there for the past four years. The second company which I'm working for is where I was able to publish my own children's story book. It was released last year and is doing well. It's about a ninja kid named Konohamaru, a rascal yet headstrong boy, dreaming to be a leader of his village when he grows up. He's actually a combination of the characters I have known in my life. He actually reminds me of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sasori.
I hardly visited Tokyo for seven years since we graduated. I was only able to go there during seminars and this made Ino infuriated.
Sometimes seven years can feel like a short or a long time. I don't get to speak with my former classmates often. These are the years when a person would strive to reach his or her career goals. This is the period when I'm now worried about my monthly dues and expenses, and not about exams or home works. I've been engrossed and caught up with my job for the past years.
Now, I sat here, on top of a hill, deliberating. I feel exhausted and I could only think of my senior year at the academy. The rogues are talented in keeping the news hushed. I assume they have been hiding a lot of incidents these past several years. I have not heard any weird news on the television or newspapers for a long while.
Also, my parents have moved back in Obihiro a year after I left Tokyo. Turned out the project my father was overseeing there was done.
For the past seven years, I think I have done my part in my job as best as I could. I have been consumed of my workloads. I often sleep late just to finish the job. I do not get to go out much either. And now, I have reached a point where I want to do something more. I have been thinking about the Mortis Guild for a long time now. It has not entirely skipped my mind in all these years.
I have to move.
Haruno Sakura pulled out her mobile phone from her pocket and checked the time. She stood up and trudged down the hill, leaving the old wooden seat empty at the top once again. The long knee-length grasses brushed passed her legs as she lumbered down towards the white, second-hand car parked just the side of the road. There were not much cars passing around this part of the town.
In those seven years, Sakura kept her hair short. She had grown a bit thinner in the past few months and she was trying to gain back her weight. Her skin was still pale and she could see some light wrinkles starting to appear on the sides of her mouth and around her eyes. The prize of too much work, she knew. Nonetheless, she has gotten used to it.
Sakura slid on the driver's seat and started the engine. There was a conking sound at first, but eventually the engine went back to its low purring as the car started to move.
Thirty minutes later, Sakura stood inside a train station, behind the entry way where people inserted their cards to enter. It was almost dark as the coming train pulled up to a stop. She tucked her hands inside the pockets of her brown coat as passengers began to alight.
The people moved briskly towards the exit. Heads swarming. Then, she saw the mop of red hair among the throng.
Sasori saw her from the distance and smiled. He moved straight to the exit and turned to meet her at the entry. He was wearing a dark green jacket, a small black travel bag swung from one shoulder. His red hair had grown longer and was now tied in a ponytail. Sakura could not help noticing how young he looks for his age even if he has some bags under his brown eyes. Sometimes she finds it intimidating.
"Ohayou." He greeted warmly, kissing her briefly.
"Ohayou." Sakura replied, still scanning his appearance. She has not seen him for six months. He took her cold hand and they moved towards the line of shops inside the station, the direction to the building exit.
"Been waiting long?" Sasori asked casually.
"Nah. You hungry? That was a long trip. Don't know why you didn't take the plane today." Sakura said.
"I wanted to see some sceneries."
"You're such a weirdo." she chuckled. Sasori grabbed her around the waist and started tickling her. She pushed him away but he simply embraced her from behind, planting another kiss on top of her head.
"I missed you." he murmured.
Before heading home, they decided to eat in a tea shop. Sasori was going to stay at a boutique hotel after Sakura refused to let him sleep in her tiny apartment during his two-day stay in Sapporo.
They sat opposite each other as they waited for the dishes and sipped cups of hot tea. The shop did not have much guests that night. Only three tables were occupied.
"So, where's the shoot again tomorrow?" Sakura asked, holding a cup between her hands on the table.
"It's in a hot spring somewhere at the Minami Ward. I think it's name is Nichi Onsen—some sort." Sasori said. "Don't worry, there won't be much naked models involved. The owner just wants me take photos of the hot spring mostly. I think he's going to let his niece or nephew do the modeling part."
"Tch."
He suddenly pinched her nose and she slapped his arm away. He likes it when she's a bit jealous and he likes teasing her about it.
"Oww! That hurts, you retard—" Sakura squeaked, rubbing her reddening nose.
"Ino asked me to do that." Sasori grinned. He unzipped his travel bag and pulled out a yellow box. He slid it across the table toward Sakura. "And that one's from Hinata-chan."
"That bonehead, Ino-pig." she hissed.
"She's still annoyed you haven't visited her."
Sakura often calls Ino, but they only get to meet two or three times a year. Sometimes Ino flies to Hokkaido during family vacation, while Sakura could only visit Tokyo during holidays if she was able to save more money that year. Ino was one of those people who did not like her moving back to her hometown. Whenever Sakura would have trouble with something regarding her job, she would often remind her about her wayward actions and impulsive decisions.
Sakura slid up the lid of the yellow box and found several cookies of different flavors inside.
"Sorry, I ate some during the trip." Sasori muttered, grinning lopsidedly.
And out of all the people in Konoha Academy, it was Hinata whom she often get to see. It was because of their jobs, too. She and Hinata did not work for the Mortis Guild, or in any related units of the sort. Unlike being a rogue, they were not on call twenty-four seven. They could manage their time more being regular citizens. Hinata has been working as a baker in Tokyo for years, and she's planning to open her own shop that year. Both of them were able to meet and talk over coffee from time to time. They would often meet half way, somewhere in Fukushima or Sendai. She found out from her that Ten Ten and Neji will be having their first born, too.
Sasori, on the other hand, juggles two jobs. He's both a rogue and a photographer (whenever he feels like it). There would be times when he would stop shooting for months, due to his job in the guild. They do not talk much about the underworld biz in public. Sakura guessed he did not want to worry her. Not many people would understand his position. Being in a relationship with him for almost a year now, Sakura doesn't often pry on his whereabouts. He would sometimes simply tell her through a text message or a short call that he's in this area or that, carrying out an assignment.
Sakura and Sasori's relationship did not come much of a shock for everyone, even if it was for the two of them. Sakura thought Ino would have a violent reaction, but she comfortably shrugged her shoulders instead and said it was no surprise at all. She, Hinata and Ten Ten had gotten used to Sasori long ago. They would even badger him playfully about his odd antics.
Sasori and Sakura were good friends for the past several years and they did not lost communication all throughout the years, no matter where the other was. And eventually, Sasori began to ask her out. It took Sakura long enough to see him in that light. She saw him more as a best friend, and she kind of had reserved feelings for someone else for quite a long time. But his persistency and hard head was viral, and she found herself attracted to him in spite of it all. The thought of him being attracted to her because she resembled his ex-girlfriend was long gone. She knew it was beyond that.
Sakura had dated a few men since she started working, and none of them clicked with her. She was not sure if Sasori was in the same situation. But she knew he had dated some girls he met in his work. She kept convincing herself she did not care then, and would fume out and rant whenever he was gone. Despite Sasori's messy schedule, there had been no season when he would forget about her. He was always there even if they couldn't see each other.
"Karin is back in the country after attending the movie premiere of The Secret Plot in Busan. She was spotted stepping out of the Narita Airport, accompanied by bodyguards and her rumored boyfriend, the youngest heir of the business mogul Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Sasuke. She is expected to attend the press conference in Chiyoda Cinema this Wednesday. The Secret Plot soared up to number three in this week's HOT101 movie charts, with movies Monkey Legend and River settling on the number one and number two spots." A female reporter was saying from a small television elevated against a wall at the corner of the tea shop.
Sakura turned her head and gazed at the screen.
The celebrity Karin wore sun glasses as she walked out of the airport, wearing high-heeled boots and maroon coat, her famous long red hair swaying as three bodyguards trailed behind her. Sasuke stood beside a shiny white car with some other people in black coats outside the exit. His face did not show any sign of greeting nor excitement as he stood there calmly.
That boy.
The guy whom she had feelings for in a long time before.
Paparazzi swarmed the minute Karin appeared out of the airport. She briskly stepped in the back of the car as Sasuke took the passenger's seat. He did not look like he wanted to be there at all. Well, most of the time he looked that way. He did not like being photographed or being recorded in a video without his consent.
Sakura watched him as he disappeared in the video. She was used to seeing him in the television or the internet. He still looked attractive. With that trademark jet black hair and clear skin. He kept his body fit and lean.
Uchiha Sasuke.
If there was someone who had grown distant from her over the years, it was him. She tried calling him and there were even times when they texted each other. But that was only for a given time. Both of them had grown too occupied with their works. They had met various people in opposite industries and their worlds grew apart. Gaining new friends and losing old ones. Come to think of it, Sasuke seemed to be the one who must had some hard feelings for her.
Even if Sakura tried to avoid thinking about him, he was never not on the news. Especially if the news were related to Karin, whom was rumored to be dating him, or about the Uchiha corporations. Sakura had no idea how he could even manage all of these while still being an active member of the guild.
Sasori noticed her watching the news with a serious face. He looked from her to the screen.
"You miss him?" he asked.
Sakura turned away from the screen after hearing his voice, as if snapping from a daydream. The waitress came and placed the plates filled with pork buns on the table.
"It doesn't matter." Sakura said when the waitress moved away.
Sasori's brown eyes watched her as she consciously twiddled with the bun with her fingers. He took one and gently broke it into two from the middle, steam coming out.
"You know, he's leaving again. He took another assignment overseas. China, I think." he said in a low voice.
Sasori and Sasuke could not be actually pronounced as friends, but they see each other during work. They both try not to slam into each other as much as possible, with one trying to distant himself from the other. Sasori was more at ease with Naruto.
After training in the United Kingdom base for a year after their graduation, Sasuke had developed this habit of taking assignments out of the country ever since. Ino, although she had been seeing Shikamaru for three years now, still kept some tabs about his whereabouts every now and then. Usually it would take months for Sasuke to come back after taking those tasks. Sakura remembered he had been to China multiple times. Ino had mentioned in the previous years that he had gone to Russia and South Korea as well. He could not keep himself planted in one place.
Sakura pondered if it was because he wanted to see the world or if it was because he was trying to escape from something.
"He seems to be enjoying it, doesn't he? As long as he's happy and enjoying himself, I don't think that would be the last time." Sakura tried to chuckle.
Sasori took her hand and placed it against his cheek. Sakura felt his warm, smooth skin on her palm. He was quiet for a minute. His long eye-lashes fluttered as he looked at the table surface. His appearance barely changed since his student days.
Sasori, all throughout the years, had grown mature. He'd still get angry sometimes but he was not as hot-headed as the first time she met him. He was a lot responsible now even if he wouldn't take his photography job serious at times.
"He's as stubborn as fuck." Sasori muttered. Then his gaze at her softened. "Do you know the time during our seniors… when we were doing our penalties at the Mortis Guild base after Sarutobi was stabbed?"
Sakura remembered what he was talking about and she kept silent as she looked at his thoughtful face.
He murmured. "I actually stumbled upon that stubborn-ass at the weaponry section. He was returning some devices and I was polishing some blades. Unsurprisingly, it wasn't filled with friendly talks and we were savagely insulting each other. I guess we both knew it was one of the worst yet best arena to fight, with all the weapons and all. We would end up murdering one another. So we both walked out before things started to get chaotic. And I remember telling him…"
His eyes drifted back down at the table. "I remembered telling him that I was going to step aside and let him pass and make you happy. Because I know how you feel about him even if you didn't say it. But I also told him… that if he'd make the slightest dumb mistake and let the smallest chance slip by, I'm going to grab you away from him. And I would make it certain that he won't be able to do anything about it anymore."
It felt like an echo resounding inside her chest. Sakura could feel a tear starting to form on her eyes, but she swallowed hard and tried to stop it from coming out. Instead, she smiled gently at him and planted a light kiss on his lips.
"That's a long time ago. I'm glad you're here, you weirdo." she joked lovingly and he laughed.
"Anyways," Sasori sighed, unzipping the travel bag next to him and pulling out a long white envelope. Sakura noticed the familiar symbol printed at the back of it. He slid it across to her. "Here's the entry form. Hand it back to me once you filled in everything and attached all the necessary references. I'll pass it straight to the filtering bunch. Sending this via postal is illegal. A member of the guild should always be the one to carry it."
Sakura took it. She opened the envelope, pulled a part of the form out and peaked at it. The form was thick, smooth and filled with letters in slender, formal fonts. "Thanks, Sasori."
She had been thinking about it for the longest time. It had been a small flame burning inside her at first, until it grew larger and larger over the years. She had enough experience in her previous job. And she knew it was about time she'd try once again.
"Your past experience is being a writer… You know, I think you'd fit right in the Research and Investigation Unit." Sasori said comfortably.
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It was quarter to midnight and the corridors were mostly empty. The building was hushed and many of the rogues were leaving one by one, fixing their desks and shutting off the room lights, except for some of the other divisions under the guild. He calls these units the nerd squads—the divisions handling case reports, verifications, databases, and all other else he finds dull yet brain draining. They are the ones who are fond of staying up until dawn, spending the night doing their works in front of computer screens or with piles of papers. They also take most of the supplies from the coffee machines which would leave him nothing but water or some sickly sweet juice the next day.
Uchiha Sasuke walked along the empty hallways, passing by some rooms with people still working late. He had changed into a plain dark blue, long-sleeved shirt in the first empty room he found and is on the way out of the building after throwing his used blouse in the trash bin. He did not care whatever the brand was or if people say it's a waste of money or if it's one of the causes of global warming. He just hates carrying used clothes back to his place.
He strode steadliy along the hallways, not even taking a second glance on anything or anyone. A few girls whom he passed by greeted him or waived at him good night. He would usually ignore them, but sometimes he would give a nod or two.
Working for the guild is risky and exhausting, but if there's one thing he likes about it, it's that it keeps him really preoccupied most of the time. Meaning he does not have to spend more time worrying about the business empire or his personal affairs. He just goes ahead and do the job—avoiding confrontations with people especially his father. He would even be gone away from the Tokyo guild base for months. He hates getting caught up in his personal thoughts, even if it was unavoidable. True, he doesn't have a lot of free time to play or fool around unlike his student years, but he's earning tons. And if he's not in the mood, he would still do whatever he wants, anyway. This attitude earned him a lot of penalties and notes from the evaluators and the heads in the past years. And being a team captain of the guild, he's been a favorite of the guild's council to discipline.
His brother, Itachi, had left the guild two years ago to take over the family businesses since Fugaku was to retire. It was Sasuke whom their father wanted to leave the guild and handle the corporations, yet he just could not convince his hard-headed son to do so. Fugaku believes Itachi's too great of an asset for the guild to be taken away, unlike his younger brother, who couldn't seem to get away from trouble no matter how skilled he is. This has always been the cause of rifts between Fugaku and Sasuke, which led to one growing distant from the other. Sasuke knew Itachi did not want to leave the guild either, but being the older and the "better" one, he just went ahead and took over—just to keep everything stable. If there's one other person who could curse and whack some commanding and threatening words into Sasuke's rigid head, it's his older brother. He's the one who could deal with him by the throat and let him do some things he would normally refuse to. And since he's the one who gave up his career in the guild for him, Sasuke would rarely disobey his orders. It's all about pride and respect.
Come to think of it, there are a lot of rumors and news circulating Uchiha Sasuke. That includes the chaotic missions which he got involved into, and the women who had been linked to him in the past several years. He did not like lingering on these dumb things as much as other people did. Sure, he had made a handful of collateral damages in some of the missions he had undertook, and he dated many and had even fun on some, but that's his business, not anyone else's.
And he has a lot to worry about than crappy intrigues and rumors. The wanted list and the watchlist of the guild was getting longer and longer over the years. Psycho paths and lawless gangs were sprouting everywhere. It wouldn't take long and the public might finally notice the ruckus. It was getting harder to cover up the traces of the damages done outside. He knew he had some faults on this matter. There were times when he wouldn't care about his actions anymore while he was on missions.
Not to mention Kakashi has always kept his eyes on him and Naruto. He left Konoha Academy two years after his batch graduated, and once the school was completely settled in another location. Sasuke assumed the guild wanted to have Kakashi render his full time in the guild base, rather than focusing on the org for students. Kakashi looked at ease with the decision since he appeared to be getting exhausted in dealing with minors and their adolescent problems.
"Good night, Sasuke-kun!" Kurotsuchi, a short-haired girl who's the assistant and grand daughter of a retired captain named Onoki, waived good bye at him as he passed her seat.
"Yeah, g'night." He didn't look back at her and casually held his hand up above his head and gave one wave before he turned to the door and walked along the corridor.
He could feel the exhaustion which the days had brought as he strode along the vacant area. He and his team caught two demi-humans hiding in a warehouse in Yokohama that afternoon. Yet it was just another day. And it won't be long and he'd be flying back to China within the week to accompany Yamato to meet with another team to investigate a village massacre there.
He accidentally stepped on something on the floor and it snapped under his shoe. He lifted his foot and found a wooden brush broken into two on the floor. He picked it up and instantly knew whom it belonged to. He looked through the opened door next to where he stood. Sai's desk was a few steps from the door. The room was now empty, and the light from the corridor was the only thing making things distinguishable.
Sai was one of the rogues that has a knack on calligraphy. He was one of the multi-tasking members of the guild. He does research, hunts demi-humans, assists the interrogation unit, and was even one of those who filters incoming recruits. He does whatever he was told and he appears cool with it. He was the quiet yet cunning type, quite like Sasuke himself. People would even sometimes compare them, both dark, mysterious, skilled… and this would irritate him.
Sasuke tossed the broken pieces of the brush into the trash bin next to Sai's desk. He was about to turn around and leave when he noticed one of the papers pinned on the wall against his desk. He stopped and stared at the typed letters under the little light there was. It was the list of new recruits to be filtered that month.
And he saw there...
Right near the bottom.
Typed in thin black ink.
11. Haruno Sakura
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A/N: This fic is far from being perfect and there're tons of errors (I won't have enough time to edit them), but still, thank you for the reads and reviews. I've also changed the title. There's going to be a sequel, but it won't be done anytime soon. I have some other stories in mind. Again, thank you.
Updates: Please check my new fic entitled 'The Boy Number 5'. It's a Sasuke + Ino pairing. This is not a sequel to this story, but that's what I could offer for now. Bye~