The Moon That Embraces The Sun

Chapter 4:

Childhood Hour


Title: The Moon That Embraces The Sun (AKA Guilty Pleasure)

Rated: T

Pairing: Multi x Sakura

Plot:

The "thorn bird" of the title refers to Sakura's character, who only brings out her best at the cost of great pain. A thorn bird is a mythical bird who searches for a thorn tree from the day it is born. When it finds it, the bird impales itself upon the sharpest thorn, and rises above the agony to sing the most beautiful song ever heard.


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Flashback


"From childhood's hour I have not been as others were; I have not seen as others saw." Edgar Allan Poe


Beep-

Beep-

A baby. My hand reached to touch the cold surface of the incubator my eyes staring through the glass coldly. His unusual pale skin even for a newborn and obvious stunting growth of black hair in his head was the very picture of my hatred.

Even his mother had died after giving birth, he was still strong as if feeding their life for his own and was taken to basic neonatal care to be looked overnight.

Looking around for anyone's eyes, I carefully watched out for any who would see my future deed, knowing there was none, I took out the infant from its bed by its neck carried the child away from the hospital into the forest.

Breathes of agitation left my dry lip and uneasily searched my surroundings before doing what I was about to do. In my eyes rested onto the well lid slightly open in crescent moon shape by a flat similar sized circular bamboo wood, using my hand to push the wood further away, I found myself staring into the face of abyss and it stared back. A flashback seemed to suddenly pass by, something I was ashamed and disgusted about. I've been here before. And I have stared into the same water just like that time.

"All I wanted was happiness"

The baby in my hands stirred with alert that he was not in his usual place as his hands came up to grab whatever warmth it could find.

Wordlessly and simply, I dropped and plunged the baby into the water. It took a little time to hear a faint 'splash' but I found myself quickly sealing the rusty well shakily before tripping away from it, staring at it fearfully and quicken breathing escaped my lip with small gasp.

Orochimaru died. He can no longer hurt Naruto or Sasuke anymore.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? YOU JUST KILLED A CHILD! A BABY NO LESS!" Sarutobi was not one to be so angry at many thing but as he stared in horror and disgust at the woman who sat so proudly while drinking her tea indifferently like any other day after returning just few hours from drowing a infant, this made him lose some of the control over.

"Then what do I do? Just left him to do things he'll do? Why? Are you upset you lost powers you could have using him? Or do you really have that enough compassion for that student of yours? That child..is better dead I didn't "

"YOU COULD HAVE CHANGED HIM! YOU CAME HERE TO CHANGE THINGS, HAVEN'T YOU?"

I grasped my head at the start of migraine, "You seemed to think of me as a monster but it's not a proper manner for someone who came risking their life, and expecting them to be human. But don't forget, even if my body are frozen like this, I still feel the emotions humans feel!"

After that he did not spoke to me at all nor did he involved himself with my doings.

But in the gloomy sadness, Mito's daughter left a light shining. Mito's daughter, Cho was a living proof of their love and soon the daughter grew and grew, respecting and carrying her parent's will. She then met a ninja, ANBU and bore him a child, she named the two sibling Tsunade and Nawaki.

But tragedy seemed to keen on taking those happiness away. Her husband was killed in a mission and left her as a widow, her frail health was faltered by birth.

Soon, the child care was taken under the Third Hokage so that I could concentrate on Naruto's arrival and future.


Looking up to the blue sky, a man picked up pile of logs of trees he had cutted down and sat up to travel back only to be stopped after few distance,

he heard desperate, muffled cries that seemed to pierce the silent forest. He turned side ways and saw a rotten wooden well.

Curious, he walked forward.


Ten years later,

After a year imprisonment in my own room, by the same person who had killed an infant I finally let myself out to get some light for my unhealthy skin which became pale as snow over the year, I covered my face with black veil covered jenmo hat that entirely contrast against my desire for a sun, headed out to the playground.

Playground.

Such irony. Still knowing it wasn't the time it was as if if I came to this place again that held such carefree, wild memory I would hope the world would become innocent again. Just like before.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for a girl named Mitarashi Anko? She has spiky purple hair and brown eyes. Have you seen her?" I turned to answer before my voice was taken away, brutally.

"..H-How...?" The young boy was unmistakenly him. The very wretched existent itself.

However, Orochimaru echoed his question again and I still was unable to make any sound except gasping breath he bowed and left.

That day, I angrily confronted Hiruzen knowing he already realised the day that monster walked in to take his entrance exam, in spite of anger I told him everything and then he gave his pity. But I furiously shoved those away before going out to finish what was meant to end.

SLASH

Orochimaru could feel those striking pain that burnt across his skin as he limply fell on the ground and looking with hatred and question at the woman that held her bloodied katana over his body before swifly turning around from the forest she had took him to left him to die.


I still wondering around but constantly visiting Mito-san who became a widow and through her I learnt Izuna died an honourable death; I could see the age took a toll on her, economic disparity between the countries became a serious problem. The nations began to form factions, and under the pretext of expending fair rights, the countries started using military force to expand their territories. Thus, the gruesome Second Shinobi World War started.

As with all wars, the Second Shinobi World War brought forth many heroes and took even more lives.

Even the villages surrounding Amegakure was raining; a perfect weather to describe the on-going war yet sad as I trotted under pouring rain toward a cries that emitted from the house, I've noticed its wooden door was slightly open and creaked in, there is a boy surrounded by four bodies, bloodied but only two were while two seemed to have died in one clean act not involving piercing their bodies.

His weeping increased when he noticed a tall shadow elongated by flash of thunders and backed into the wall.

"N-No.." He pleaded as I crept toward him slowly and taking in the fallen bodies. The two near him must have been his parent while other I noticed was my own village's shinobi. This wasn't the first time I met a child like him who all lost something during times like this; I bent down cautiously to match his hidden eye level and lifted his long fringes to see only widening in process.

His eyes were undoubtly of Pain. And from what I have heard of its rare gift I concluded this was him as young.

In my trained ears and from the gathering chakra, I knew the gang of ninjas were heading toward our direction and quickly grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the house as he screamed for help, I fleetly covered his mouth and dragged ourselves in the bush and stayed quietly.

Soon, a pair of leg reached our sights and understanding, the boy willingly became quiet and docile but tense and alert, the seemingly captain first went into the house as his followers searched every nooks and corners of the house until finding nothing.

He gave them the command to head forward.

We waited and waited and waited..in silent that I seemed to hear Pain's heartbeat as my own before we assumed it was safe to get out from our hiding place. We found a shelter under the tree away from the drops of rain that was furiously gushing down to the ground, I lifted my left sleeve as I deliberately pulled out a silk pouch and left it to his bloodied feet and dragged a string that fell onto wooden floor in feather like motion as his eyes widened what was shown.

Two onigiri.

The now orphan could feel his mouth watering and salivate readying for the food to be eaten and digested but when he looked up suspicious and distrusting toward the woman she gave him a firm gaze.

"It is your choice to eat or not to eat but what there is to lose? If there was a poison, I'd at least would want to die after filling my hunger" Slowly, Pain brought the food up to his lip and took a small bite then bigger than the last one and bigger and bigger until the hollow feeling in his stomach was gone.

"What should I call you, kind miss?"

"Haruno Sakura. My name is Haruno Sakura" I took out a large silk pouch with floral pattern and handed it to him. It was filled with money that could last for a month or so, few small kunai and a tantō-for his personal safety.

He gasped and looked at her expectedly for her command. Give and take.

I smiled, "Clever child. You're gifted, you know that?" He shook his head and I pointed his eyes, "I'll show you mine if you show me yours" He hesitantly lifted his fringes to show the swirls in his eyes as I lifted my bang to show my newly and recently implanted Sharingan but because it was not mine nor did I belonged to their bloodline, it became permanently active and I knew I had to hide them everywhere to everyone excluding certain people I had in mind.

He was surprised another people like him, people with weird eyes existed.

"Your eyes. It's powerful and strong, I only hope you will use them wisely. No matter how you're gifted, you alone cannot change the world.. Find a man called Jiraiya. Become his student and grow strong and when you then become what I want you to be, come and find me. I'll be here for you and you will be there for me; I will save you from this world and you will save me from this world, rather than leaving our fate in the hand of so called 'Kami'. Sadly, its seems Kami hate us if we were sent to heaven, he'd send us right back. I hope you survive. You may be of great use to me. You will endure the hardship and become strong person. A lesson without pain is meaningless. For you cannot gain something without sacrificing something else in return. But once you have overcome it and made it your own... you will gain a irreplaceable full-metal heart" She was already leaving, her pale pink veil trailing behind her like a soft breeze of wind that came and go briefly, leaving him behind with an unforgettable memory and forever gratitude.


Thirty years until Naruto. But during those time, I have learnt Orochimaru still lived. I could still clearly remember when my body just broke into fits and cries and little piece of madness returned, my head filled with bad thoughts and such sadness that brought more insanity together it was almost complete.

But now, I was currently travelling to Suna to pay a visit to Chiyo, against Hiruzen's wish but its hypocritical words itself made me to go even more, whom now infamously known for her skills in poison only to be countered numerous times by Tsunade's medical expertise however, even she could not cure her grandson's sickness that many told it was an after affect of his parents' death by Katake Harumo

Even Suna, it seemed no matter where I went, there wasn't a day I could seek for daily peace or just one innocent sight other than bodies. I headed straight, lifting hem of skirt just above the ground to stop from being coloured in by dirts and blood, and was stopped by two guards crouching in defense for a suspicious intruder even if it was a woman.

"Stop! Identify yourself, onna" One of familiar brown headed guard demanded.

"Wait-you're-" Shinobi almost immedietly let down his kunai as his brain recognised the woman he could now clearly see under her bamboo hat through hot, desert sun.

"Chiyo-baasama" At the name many Sunagakure villagers and ninjas called her, the said person slowly turned around from her patient to face her caller, and met with his gaze filled with gratitude yet confusion-a strange thing you'd see during time of war and he side-step revealing blank faced woman.

Arching her brow, she asked, "Yes, Daichi?"

"She is here. And she wish to speak with you first"

He moved himself out of the way as I stepped up and bowed with respect toward the powerful woman I was eyeing, even if it was her who had called for my help, she looked at me with constant skepticism all while trying to use all of her teachings she was taught of recognising suspicous behaviour.

Daichi uneasily looked between the two female who seemed to be in some kind of staring contest to see who'll turn their head away frist and found himself worried for his saviour who had healed him on verge of death for no reason other than to save many ninjas possible and respect he had for his village's elder.

"Private" I added. The elder still with qualm in her eyes led her to her office where the door was tightly sealed and sound blocked, I sat down to the chair I was offered and handed her an envelope I took out from my sleeve. As she read she would occasionally glance up that lessen the more she read and was soon changed into face of sadness and shock.

"Do you understand now?" I asked. She remained quiet however, "Is it that suprising? About your grandson's future."

Just incase she had not believed the letter Tsunade wrote, I also brought the scroll and layed it in front of her before putting them back to the pocket in the kimono. She and I quietly stood up and headed out toward the window to see a frail figure of a child as his small hand came up to block his sudden attack of cough.

His dulled eyes, held shadow below each of his eyes, a result of sleep deprivation, looked as if wanted to close and go into eternal sleep. I could make out his skinny built even from his baggy cloack he was wearing.

In every sense, he reminded me of my wasted six years but still knowing he...

"Even if he were to do that, I'd still love him, Sakura. I'm sure you've done this because of someone who wronged you, right? Sasori's illness cannot be cured by the physicans of this time, so I must intrude upon you. I wish for you to cure him with your power, so that I could change him this time. I will grant you whatever you wish, therefore please save this boy somehow..."

As I continue to look down at the boy's worst state and the feeling he was going through, I understand it. Very well to my bone that I wanted to help.

"If that's the case, I'll help myself to the future puppetier. You'll be my emergency ration. But if you are unable to change him, I'll kill him again"

Chiyo soon brought up the boy and introuduced him to me. On that day, his face paled as the request I'd made in half in jest was accepted.

"This is an herbal soup. Drink up" I layed the plate filled with green herbal liquid in front of him. The first thing I wanted to do was to make him regain the weight he had lost during depression because he was seriously underweight for a seven years old and next I wanted to heal him psychologically.

Even so, he blankly stared at the soup. It looked he already gave up his will to live.

"If it's frustrating, eat up and get better. Then make them regret letting you go."

"..."

I revolved from him before walking away, "Afterwards...if it's painful, go ahead and cry."

"Obedient children are revolting"

At those words, tears began to cloud his already blurry vision from lack of food and for the first time burst into tears.

After, he ate to fill his hunger; trained and grew to match up to his saviour's expectation. But strangely, Sasori noticed, his grandmother would not tought him to make puppet so secretly he resorted to self-teaching through information obtained through books and research, and; as he grew, he came to master these technique.

It was almost complete, Sasori thought. He proudly stared at his master piece now age thirteen at the art he had formed. Dressing the doll with her favourite colours of black and pink sleevless dress that came upto its ankle and matching heels she adored and he was finally finished. His hand came to wound around her pink hair- it was hard to find ideal materials that was soft, silkly and long in pink but he managed to alter it to match her's.

He never touched it but he was sure this hair can never be compared to real ones. Her hair that would move so feather like and heavenly everytime she moved, he sometimes wonder how it felt.

Then he looked at his prized doll. Its pale, smooth and marble porcelain skin, coloured by her rosy blush and her blood red lip and those sparkling emeraled eyes that resembled of jade jewel and long lashes spread around her eyes like fire but one thing was missing,

Warmth.

Her warmth. He remember when she gave him one of her rare smile under the light shining through large glass window and it blind him but he still saw her small smile. But he could neither hear knocking of warning and creaking of presence, he was harshly tore away from his fantasy when the door open to his room and I stepped in.

My eyes took in his form before jerking toward another figure spread out on floor and horror dawned my eyes.

Chiyo then came in and her mouth widened, hand coming up to clasp her mouth at the equal feeling of fear and shock.

I was faster in recovery and quickly ordered Chiyo, "Take the puppet quickly!" I wounded my arms around his neck as his hands quickly came to grasp his precious object and Chiyo hurriedly took his puppet away form his hold and I quickly stepped away to Chiyo's side as we stared at him dreadfully.

"Sasori, where did you learn them?" The female elder asked desperately but his eyes was on the object then to me then back.

"Give them back, Chiyo baa-sama!" Agression was something that you've see rarely on his face but those look of barred teeth and anger was a beginning of his obsession.

Unable to look, I dashed out of the room soon Chiyo followed and stood as I put my hat back ready to leave.

"Chiyo-sama, you must kill him. If you don't I will."


"All things truly wicked start from an innocence." Ernest Hemingway