Alive And Victorious Chapter 16: 16 Mission 1023098, a naruto fanfic

Dear readers, I'm happy you enjoy my story :) I get it that you're impatient to see updates as fast as possible, but please note that I'm not a native English speaker, and it takes a hell of an effort from me to write every chapter. Sorry for the mistakes, by the way ^^'

Story image by tariah23 . deviantart . com

I have her permission to use it.

No betareading.

Enjoy.

o0o0o0o

Alive And Victorious

Chapter 16. Mission 1023098

With Temari and Kankurou at his side, Gaara started his journey to Tetsu no Kuni. All villagers and ninjas, gathered along the main Sunagakure's road, were biding him farewell, and one could think all of them were honestly happy to have him as their leader. However, there was at least one person hidden in this crowd, who was an enemy. The particularly dangerous enemy, since he attacked unexpectedly, and accurately, like a poisonous snake.

The Kazekage's eyes wandered from face to face, from a man to a woman, from a child to an old man. Then he spotted Matsuri, standing in the front line, and his heart skipped a beat. She wasn't smiling like others, when she uttered a few quiet, albeit distinct words for goodbye.

"Have a safe journey, Kazekage-sama."

He hoped he was the only one who could hear sadness and helplessness in her voice. His gaze met hers, and it hurt him to think about all the misery he had brought to her life.

Maybe it was actually better for her to stay away from him, after all.

The man standing by Matsuri's side shifted a bit, and the redhead calmly raised his gaze to meet an unfriendly stare. He knew he had seen the guy before. He could even link a name to that face, even if he hadn't seen it for quite a long time.

..."Gaara-sensei, this is my friend Yakku," Matsuri had said. "Yakku, this is Gaara-sensei, whom I told you so much about..."

..."He's one of my best friends," Kankurou had repeated Matsuri's words in the mocking tone. "The girl is surely blind. This Yakku guy is head over heels with her, but he's not going to tell her. He's afraid of you..."

..."Someone I trusted, told me an awful lie... a figment of his imagination," Matsuri had explained, with her lower lip briefly trembling. "He told me... well, that person told me that is was you who killed my grandfather..."

All the pieces of the jigsaw fell together, when Gaara saw the almost imperceptible, triumphant smirk crossing the chuunin's lips. Gaara always was a quick learner, but obviously not quick enough, to learn this particular, painful lesson. Never underestimate the one who chases after your girlfriend.

Striding towards the village's gate, Gaara realized that all of it wasn't exactly about Aoba's death. It was about jealousy, possessiveness and scheming, and if the guy told Matsuri the truth because he would have simply believed she had the right to know, it would be... well, not forgivable, but at least understandable. But that was just a vicious, selfish act, and the guy dared to hurt Matsuri with it.

And that was something Gaara couldn't let slip.

Glancing over his shoulder, the Kazekage scanned the village for the last time before he would march off to the distant lands. Despite of the circumstances, he was strangely calm. Cold even. Long ago, he resigned himself to the fact that his past would be haunting him from time to time, but he would have never thought it would harass him in that particular manner.

Deep in his heart, he didn't actually believe that he had the right to be happy. Not after destroying so many lives in his futile attempt to feel anything but loneliness and pain. Maybe, when his belief turned out to be true, it didn't even surprise him, after all.

He would hide where he was always hiding, under the mask of indifference and aloofness. Surely, Matsuri wouldn't want to associate with him any longer, and he couldn't blame her. Maybe she would even end up with this Yakku guy... that is, if he could survive Kazekage's revenge first.

o0o0o0o

Matsuri raised her head, and watched the white gravestone in front of her with the weary expression. She was sitting there for an hour already, but it didn't soothe the turmoil in her soul as it did earlier.

For the tenth, or maybe hundredth time, she remembered her grandfather's face from the night she had seen him for the last time. The night when she had seen him terrified like never before. He must have known. It was obvious. He must have known that the death awaited him behind the door... but how? How could he have known? He was heading for a mission, like many times before, and like many times before he was supposed to escape the monster's deadly grip.

She flinched when the word 'monster' came so easily to her mind, and she realized she had never thought of Gaara as a monster... until this time. Tears filled her eyes, and disappeared quickly, since she had no strength to cry anymore.

"He was killing on whim, whoever he wanted dead, and when he was furious, he was changing into Shukaku and only Yondaime could stop him," Yakku had blurted out.

"My friend's little brother didn't want to play with him. He still has huge scars over his legs where the sand wounded him," Darui had added.

"My granny's neighbour looked askance at him—"

"My uncle's friend didn't go back from the mission. He was found dead deep in the desert with all his bones crushed-"

"My grandfather told me-"

"There was a shinobi with a scar on his face, do you remember?"

"...the sand broke his legs—"

"...he was only eight years old—"

"...her dad didn't come back home—"

She had already forgotten that conversation from over two years ago, but now it returned to her mind, so vivid as if it was yesterday. She didn't want to listen then, she defended her sensei, completely oblivious to the fact she could add her own part to the story.

Did Gaara know?

Did he know from the very beginning, and he didn't tell her?

Her entire being protested against that suspicion. She had already doubted him once, and it turned out she was wrong. She knew him. She knew who he was... didn't she?

But still, could anyone honestly say that they really knew what was going on in Sabaku no Gaara's head?

If he didn't know, how come he had gone there, to the Tower? He didn't tell her where he went and what he was searching for, but apparently he had an idea where to look. Eventually, it turned out that whatever he found, was the evidence that the story Yakku had told was entirely true.

Matsuri bent her legs and rested her forehead against them, wrapping her arms around her knees. It wasn't quite appropriate, to sit in front of the gravestone, but she was too tired to give a damn about it.

Her dear grandafther... What would he say if he knew that she was going out with the man who had killed him? That she loved a murderer?

And Gaara... Did he love her at all?

She believed he did, but the fact remained that he had never said those words. Not even once. Not even in the slightest whisper.

She always thought it was because of his reticence, because of... him being just himself. But now, she couldn't stop wondering.

Was he able to love at all?

Matsuri only wanted to sleep, to stop all those dark musings from haunting her. To think that only a few days ago she deemed herself to be the happiest girl in the entire village.

Oh, the irony of it all.

o0o0o0o

Sipping the water from her canteen, Matsuri indifferently stared into space. After drinking all the water, she lifted herself to a standing position, and unreeled her jouhyou. Her companion stood up as well, and grabbed a few kunais from his pouch.

They've been training for a few hours, and Matsuri could feel the physical exhaustion stifling the pain in her chest. On those days, it was everything she yearned for; to train hard until she was too tired to be able to think.

Yakku was always by her side, like a shadow. He was training with her, eating with her, walking her home after the medical ninjutsu training. Darui and Sari were surprised, to say the least, but she had never told them the truth. She didn't care what they must have thought. The only thing she cared about was getting rid of the pain.

Yakku was eager to ease her pain. Of course he was. I will make you forget about him, he had said once, and Matsuri couldn't even bring herself to get angry. Then he tried to kiss her, and she let him. She didn't even begin to feel what she was feeling when Gaara was kissing her, so she broke the kiss, and told Yakku out of her sight. He had complied, but on the next day he was there, again.

Ten days had passed since Gaara left the village, and he was supposed to arrive at any time. Matsuri didn't know if she wanted to see him again or not. She didn't know anything.

She flung her jouhyou at Yakku, and missed. With a wince, she rubbed the sore muscles in her arm. At the sight, Yakku shoved the blades down his pouch, and approached her. Suddenly, they had heard a ruckus down the village. It sounded like many people were running here and there, and both chuunins could distinguish the sharp voices giving orders. Matsuri's heart leapt in her chest, and Yakku stiffened, the muscles in his jawline visibly working.

"Let's see what is going on there," he said nonchalantly, and the girl nodded. They paced quickly towards the main road, when a jounin named Mukade crossed their way.

"Report to the Kazekage Tower immediately," he commanded. "We're at war."

Both of young chuunins froze, even if it wasn't completely unexpected. People were talking about it for weeks. But still, when it turned out to be true, finally, they couldn't deny they were frightened a bit.

"Did the Kazekage return?" Yakku asked slowly, and the jounin shook his head.

"He sent a messenger hawk," Mukade replied, and nodded at them, before he went away, leaving them to their own assumptions and fears.

o0o0o0o

Kankurou didn't like prying into other people's business, but that rule, like all others, had some obvious exceptions, and Gaara definitely was such an exception.

Since the siblings came back from Tetsu no Kuni, the puppeteer had the vague feeling something was wrong. During the trip Gaara looked absolutely normal, but Kankurou had learned long ago, that when it came to his younger brother, it was better to trust his gut feelings. Just like with Matsuri. Kankurou didn't know how, but he just knew that Gaara was slowly developing an affection for his student, albeit unconsciously.

And now, Kankurou had this feeling again. The feeling that something was wrong, something was different than usual. Naturally, he began to watch his brother, and he quickly realized that Gaara wasn't seeing Matsuri at all. Moreover, she was always being accompanied by a chuunin, who had been in love with her for a long time.

Did Matsuri and Gaara argue? Did they break up? It seemed so, but it was also too hard to believe. They looked so happy together, and Kankurou didn't know any reason why they would have broken up. But still, Gaara was so damn hard to deal with, sometimes. The puppeteer knew it firsthand. Had Matsuri had enough of his brother?

It might be the case... but there was also Gaara's rival, Yakku, and Kankurou suspected he might have something to do with the sudden separation. So the puppeteer watched. Quietly, patiently. Temari asked him once, if he had noticed that Gaara and Matsuri weren't seeing each other, but he had dismissed her with some stupid excuse. Fortunately, she was too busy to realize.

Eventually, his vigilance paid off, and after a certain meeting in the Puppet Corps quarters he had learnt everything he needed to know.

Now he had to decide what to do next.

o0o0o0o

The training was over, and Matsuri sighed with relief. Mastering the medical ninjutsu was quite tiresome, and she was only learning the basics! She didn't even want to think, how much determination and natural gift was required to master it on the higher level.

Actually, she became considerably more determined, after she had learnt about the war. To think that Gaara could be wounded, and she could be the one to help him survive... It was a great responsibility, but also a great chance, and Matsuri decided she was not going to lose it, even they weren't going to reunite. Since his return, Gaara didn't ask her to see him even once. All the hidden villages were at war with Akatsuki, and they were busy with manufacturing and stockpiling ninja tools, and general preparations to defend their countries against the attack. Nothing strange Gaara didn't have a time to even think of her. But still... she wanted to hear a word from him. Just a word... even if she wasn't exactly sure, which word it should have been.

Leaving the building, she saw Yakku leaning against the wall, apparently waiting for her, as usual. She greeted him with a weak smile, and they strolled down the street, heading for the canteen. She wondered what Gaara would have thought if he had seen them together. Would he think she was cheating on him? Well, that wasn't exactly cheating, since they kind of broke up, but still...

Suddenly, a dark figure appeared in front of them, as if it was her sense of guilt personified. Matsuri blenched uncontrollably, and Yakku caught her hand, glaring provocatively at the person who blocked their way. Kankurou - since it was him - wore his usual, nonchalant expression, and his hands were shoved down his pockets.

"Can I have a word with your girlfriend? In private, if I might," he asked conversationally, and Matsuri opened her mouth to protest at the mentioning of her being Yakku's girlfriend.

"What for?" Yakku snapped, tightening his grasp on Matsuri's hand. The girl decided to throw aside all the pretences, and she shook his hand off with an irritated growl.

"Sorry, I can't tell you. It's personal," Kankurou replied in the same manner, even though the slightest edge of threat was recognizable in his voice.

"That's okay with me, Kankurou-sama," Matsuri said resolutely, and took a step forward. "See you later," she said to Yakku, who scowled at her and left without a word. The puppeteer observed him, until the chuunin disappeared behind the corner.

The kunoichi mutely waited for an explanation. Kankurou scanned the vicinity, and leant in.

"Not here. Your place," he murmured.

Surprised and scared a bit, Matsuri nodded and led him to her apartment. Before they went into the building, he turned around and assessed the neighbourhood with his eyes narrowed. After a good while, he slipped through the open door and followed Matsuri upstairs. She waited for him in front of her door, and when he came closer, she pushed the door and invited him inside with a gesture of her hand. Kankurou stepped inside without hesitation, and Matsuri shut the door quietly, taking a deep breath before looking at Gaara's brother.

"What is it that you need to talk about with me, Kankurou-sama?" she inquired softly, hoping he did not come here to chastise her. She didn't think he had the right to do so, because the whole affair was not his business, but she was afraid he could suddenly grow overprotective, when it came to his brother.

"Have you ever heard about the mission 1023098?" the puppeteer said bluntly, and Matsuri furrowed. She had never been assigned to a mission with the number starting with 10, but from what she had known, it stood for a high difficulty of the assignment and its top secrecy.

Puzzled, she shook her head, giving her guest the questioning look. Kankurou nodded slightly, and scanned her face meticulously.

"What I'm going to show you is a top secret thing," he announced, and the girl blinked, surprised. "I would be in trouble if someone had learnt I showed it you." He went silent, and took a thick folder from inside his top. "Can you keep a secret?" he asked in a quieter, harder tone, and Matsuri nodded easily. She was certain he wouldn't show it to her if he thought she wasn't trustworthy, anyway.

The puppeteer hesitated only for a moment, before he handed her the folder. The girl gasped when she read her grandfather's name written on it. Kankurou must have sneaked Aoba's files from the secret archive!

"The last page," he said impatiently, and she flipped through the papers obediently, until she reached the said page and began to read.

Mission 2-4016777. Escorting the Kazekage to the summit conference with Kaze no Kuni no Daimyō. Mission report: Success.

Matsuri raised her head and slanted an uncertain glance at her guest.

"Read," he urged. "We don't have much time."

The girl's eyes returned to the page.

Mission 21233350. Hunting down and eliminating the Iwagakure nukenin, Gantetsu. Mission report: Success.

Below there was only one, last entry. Matsuri gulped and her hands trembled, as she read the following words.

Mission 1023098. Open to all shinobi of Sunagakure, to be assigned at any time. The assassination of the container of the demon Shukaku.

With her eyes closed, her heart hammering against her sternum, and her blood hissing in her ears, she didn't even have to read what was next. However, she forced her lids to snap open, knowing that the sight would be etched into her mind forever, no matter if she would read it or not.

The last line was written down in a red ink, the handwriting different, the brushes of the nib hurried and sloppy.

Mission report: Failure.

The end of the chapter 16.

The next chapter: Two sides of the same coin

nukenin=rogue ninja

Mision 1023098 – the concept borrowed from an amazing fanfic „Lucky Number" by Storymaster Caith. Go and read it, you won't regret it!