Chapter Three
Sakura slowly made her way to the gate, desperately trying to shake her haunting memories from her mind. She had a mission to do; if she didn't focus on it, she was sure to die. And though she welcomed the thought of finally joining her friends once more, she knew she had to live… for their sake.
Lifting her head, she focused on the three ANBU members currently waiting impatiently for her. They turned to her and immediately she straightened her posture, lifting her chin.
"It's about time you showed up," said the ANBU captain, his fox mask unable to conceal his immense irritation. "Takahashi and his men left about an hour ago."
Ignoring this, Sakura gazed at the other two ANBU, measuring them up. The one with the cat mask… she'll probably survive the mission, with critical wounds… And the one with the raccoon mask… I have my doubts, but we'll see.
Finished with her critique, Sakura nodded, somewhat satisfied with her team. Crouching, she turned to the three and said, "Then we'd better make up the lost time," as she leaped into the forest ahead.
Looking at each other, the raccoon ANBU shrugged. With a sigh, the ANBU captain leader said, "You heard the Wolf. Let's head out."
As she leapt through the trees, branches and leaves passing by her in a blur, Sakura allowed her thoughts to drift from her mission. Wolf… she thought sadly, her hand reaching up to touch the white wolf mask that graced her face.
It was because of this mask that she was who she was. A mask she had inherited, come to cherish, and eventually worn as her own. It was the ANBU mask of Hatake Kakashi, former ANBU captain, former teacher, and former friend.
Sakura sighed. Two down, one to go, she thought, dread filling her senses. She had been given the awful task of clearing Sasuke's, Naruto's and Kakashi's apartments, since they had no living relatives, and she was the closest they had to family. She had finished Sasuke's and Naruto's, having taken almost the entire day, leaving her tired and drained of tears and emotion.
She walked through the door of Kakashi's home. Gazing around, she saw that it was a small, plain thing, with nothing really standing out or comforting about it… yet there was something about it that just said 'home.'
With a sad sigh, full of defeat and heartache, she began to box away what items Kakashi had left behind. Entering Kakashi's living room, she gasped. There, bookshelves lined the walls, side-by-side, all filled with his Icha Icha collection. With a small groan, she began to box them. I'm gonna need a lot more boxes.
Eventually, she had stored the huge book collection that had once belonged to the Copy Ninja, and though they slightly disgusted her, she could not bring herself to destroy them, give them away, or sell them. She just couldn't. These books had been sacred to Kakashi. Even though he was gone now, and no longer had a say in the matter, it just seemed so disrespectful. So, she lugged box after box home, filling what empty space she had in her apartment.
Tired, unhappy and dirty, Sakura wiped the sweat from her brow. She looked around the empty apartment, her already breaking heart cracking completely. She knew it was time to leave, that she had to go home… but she couldn't do it. It felt as though if she left, left the apartment empty and ownerless, than they'd never come back. And this brought a fresh wave of tears. This can't be real… they can't be dead. It's just a horrible dream. But she knew it wasn't true, that this was reality, this was her life, dreadful as it was.
She decided to do another walk-through, just for good measure. As she walked aimlessly, she paused at the bedroom. She had not gone into that room… Do I dare? she thought, looking over her shoulder as if she expected Kakashi to appear out of nowhere, catching her in the act of entering his bedroom.
With a gulp, she stepped over the threshold and winced, expected to get struck by lightning or something. But, after a few moments, nothing happened, and she relaxed some. Looking around, she sighed sadly. There was nothing really special about this room either, but it felt so warm and comforting… Just like Kakashi.
Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Sakura buried her face in her hands, sobbing bitterly. How can I continue to live when you guys are gone, Kakashi? What will I do without you guys?
Trying to stand, Sakura ended up collapsed on the ground, her sobs still racking her body. Opening her eyes, she looked through her tears and saw a small box under the bed. Sniffling, she wiped the tears from her eyes and, with a frown, pulled the box out from under the bed. She stared at it, wondering if she should open it, and soon curiosity got the best of her. Glancing around her, still expected Kakashi to jump out and catch her digging through his stuff, she opened it slowly.
With a small gasp, she lifted a mask from the box, awe filling her gaze. This wasn't just any mask; this was Kakashi's ANBU mask, one of the few things that she knew of his past. He had been a great ANBU captain, one of the best in his time; it was then that he became known as the Copy Ninja, his fame and infamy spreading throughout the world like wildfire.
And here, in her very hands, was the mask that had been there with him through it all, and had survived through it, just as he had. She tentatively traced the intricate designs on the mask, handling it as if it were made of the finest silk. An ANBU wolf mask… she thought, a small smile gracing her lips. Fitting for the son of the White Fang of Konoha.
Gazing at the mask, she knew she could not leave it behind. Even though it had been kept a secret, kept buried in the past, it was Kakashi's. Something that Kakashi treasured, for he had kept it despite the painful memories it must've carried with it. Nodding, she placed it back in the box and stood slowly. With Mr. Ukki in one hand, the box in the other, she turned away from the apartment and headed home, heart heavy.
It had been this mask that had inspired her to join ANBU, a way for her to feel closer to her memories of her friend and teacher. Once she had passed her ANBU tests, it was this mask that had left its mark on the memories of others: it was either recognized by those older than her, the mask of the Copy Ninja Kakashi, or recognized by those who had faced her wrath while she wore it and had survived to tell others of it. Even though she wasn't the only ANBU member to wear a wolf mask, only she was called the Wolf of Konoha.
"We're getting close to the Land of Rain," said the ANBU captain, his voice rough. "Takahashi will tell the border patrol to let us pass without any trouble, but after that, we're on our own."
Nodding, Sakura forced herself to focus on the now and present. Once past the borders, they could not escort Takahashi and his men openly. They would have to do so hidden in the trees or concealed by transformation jutsus, all while making sure their chakra is also concealed. The Land of Rain was notorious for hiding missing-nin, war refugees and all types of dangerous criminals. If they were discovered, they'd be killed immediately solely on the fact that they were ANBU. It would not matter what their mission was or what they were doing in the Land of Rain.
Once they passed through the borders, the ANBU captain looked at Sakura and the Raccoon. Nodding, they immediately transformed, taking on the form of simple travelling villagers. Once transformed, they took their positions, trailing behind Takahashi and his men while the Cat and the ANBU captain trailed in the surrounding forest.
A few hours later, a village appeared on the horizon. On the intercom radio, hidden in their ears, came the voice of the ANBU captain. "Amegakure. Keep your guard up."
Biting her lip, Sakura focused her mind solely on the mission, her heart pounding loud in her ears, adrenaline beginning to rush. Naruto was right… this is the only way to live.
Once in Amegakure, Sakura and the Raccoon split ways, as they were assigned to. They, still disguised as travelling villagers, would scout the surrounding streets, making sure there would be no surprise attacks. The Cat and the ANBU captain would conceal themselves using the cloak of invisibility technique, following Takahashi on the rooftops.
Scanning the area, Sakura was amazed at how much Amegakure looked like a normal village, despite its horrible reputation. Children were running about, playing in the streets, mothers were hanging clothes on the clotheslines overhead, merchants selling their goods, showing them off to potential buyers.
Still gazing for any signs of dangers, she tried to push back the smile beginning to bloom on her face. Distracted, she bumped into someone, nearly falling but catching her balance in time. "Sorry…" she muttered, a blush on her face at her clumsiness.
"No problem," came the reply, the man disappearing into the crowd that filled the street.
Sakura nearly continued on, when something caused her to stop dead in her tracks, eyes wide. Dread filling her heart, she pivoted, her eyes desperately searching the crowd around her. "No…"
There, in the middle of the street, a scent had filled her senses, a scent that filled her with comfort and peace, a scent that said 'home.' She stood there, scanning the crowds desperately, tears beginning to fill her eyes, all other thoughts banished from her mind.
Over the intercom, the ANBU captain was desperately trying to contact her. "Wolf! Where are you? We've got some trouble up ahead! Wolf! Wolf! …God damn it, Wolf!"
Oooh... I wonder who it was that she bumped into? Was it Naruto? Sasuke? Kakashi? Another ghost from her past? Maybe Itachi. Or maybe I'm just being a total jerk right now. Muwahahaha. Okay. I'm sorry. I'll stop. Anyway, another excitingly depressing chapter of "Bleeder" is finally posted. Y'know, I never knew I had it in me to write such depressing stories. Seriously. I hope I'm doing a good job. Alright. Laters.
I do not own Naruto.
