DUN DUN DUUUUUUHHHH! The plot thickens!
Hope you guys like it, and I know it's three days early, but Happy Thanksgiving everyone! May you all stuff yourselves silly and feel damn good while you're doing it! That's what I'm going to be doing!
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Chapter 42
Sakura walked down the eastern hall of the Konoha Hospital, her slender fingers gripping a clipboard of medical reports, eyes staring determinately ahead as her footsteps echoed softly in the tight confines of the pale ivory walls. The sky outside the glass windows was clear and blue, the air balmy and sweet, as it always was in early summer. Numerous medics – both male and female – walked in pairs or alone, some peering down at clipboards or quietly discussing various subjects with their neighbor, their white uniforms crisp and clean. There was a sense of peace in the hospital, and Sakura basked in the feeling as she made her way to her next patient in room 234B.
The fifteen-year-old glanced down at her charts, noting that her next patient was a thirty-year-old kunoichi who had just returned from a mission with both several broken ribs. Normally, this would be taken as a critical procedure, but in this case, the woman had been lucky enough for the ribs to avoid her lungs and any other vital organ. It was a simple procedure, but it required a large amount of chakra, which would explain why Tsunade had placed this particular case just before her half-hour long lunch break, so that Sakura could refuel before returning to her duties.
The kunoichi sighed, and was about to turn into the hallway that held room 234B when a young woman accidentally bumped into her. Sakura squeaked in surprise as both of their clipboards went flying, sending papers scattering on the polished floor. The young woman – a newly appointed medic, if the nervous eyes and uncertainty to her smile was anything to go by – flushed darkly as she scrambled to collect her papers, her short red hair partially shielding her heart-shaped face from view.
"I-I'm so sorry, Haruno-san, I w-wasn't watching wh-where I was going! Oh, this is so e-embarrassing!"
Sakura grinned at the stuttering, being fondly reminded of a particular Hyuuga kunoichi who had the same tendency. She knelt down to help the young woman who was only a few years her senior, and was about to answer with a reassuring comment when something caught her eye.
It was a medical file from nearly half a year ago, with the usual information filled in the spaces. But the age of the file wasn't what interested her. It was the name.
Hikari.
Sakura slowly reached for it, her eyes widening as she scanned the information below the name more carefully. The pink haired medic stood up abruptly, her eyes wide as she blinked rapidly.
It couldn't be. It was impossible.
The young woman looked up at Sakura with a worried frown, her warm brown eyes concerned. "Are you alright, Haruno-san?"
Sakura nodded jerkily, and suddenly began running in the opposite direction. The girl ignored the confused yell of the red haired medic who was suddenly left with both hers and Sakura's mess, and raced around the corner.
It had been only a few months ago, when Tsunade had been teaching Sakura about the effects of forbidden jutsus involving the soul. There weren't many effects, besides death, and Tsunade had led Sakura into the large room that held the histories of all Konoha Hospital patients, even those who had already died. She had pulled down a particular file which held the information of a deceased ninja whose body had been examined after jutsu involving the sealing of his soul.
Sakura's breaths came in pants as she reached the Archives and with shaking fingers she opened the door. It opened silently, without even the murmur of a creak, without any sound at all. If there had been any noise, it was drowned out by the frantic beating of Sakura's heart.
The girl's hands clenched into determined fists as she moved swiftly among the shelves, looking for the name that had been on the file nearly two months ago. Sakura didn't know why this file had stuck in her memory so solidly, but that was beside the point now.
Sakura, with a small sigh of trepidation, finally located the file, and slowly pulled it out of its place, moving to the small table located near the window. She placed Hikari's report on one side, and flipped open the tan cover of the other file so that both front pages were facing upwards, the information easily comparable. Both had pictures of the persons clipped onto the corner, and Sakura felt her heart pound as she peered at the first – and most recent – report.
Name: Hikari [Clan Name Unknown]
Occupation: Shinobi
Gender: Female
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 134 lbs
Chakra Affinity: Wind
Chakra Number: 132894307
Blood Type: B
DNA Code: 9809348373
Sakura swallowed hard, and let her eyes reluctantly move to the file beside it. The front page – the part of the report that gave the basics, the bare minimum of information compared to the rest of the report – was yellowing at the edges, and there was a small stain at the corner from where some careless hand had knocked a cup of coffee onto it.
Name: Minato Namikaze
Occupation: Shinobi/Fourth Hokage
Gender: Male
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 145 lbs
Chakra Affinity: Wind
Chakra Number: 132894307
Blood Type: B
DNA Code: 9809348373
Sakura let out a gasp, her eyes wide as she rechecked the two papers…double checking...triple checking.
But the information was sound. There couldn't be any mistakes, because these files were scanned several times for errors. How could something like this have slipped past the scan? Didn't they compare the current files to past files?
Sakura let herself fall into the worn wooden chair residing beside the table, her eyes staring without seeing at the two medical reports.
It was physically impossible. The idea that Hikari was the genetic and chakra double of Minato Namikaze was ridiculous…stupid to even bring into question. To be related was one thing, but to have the same chakra number and DNA code was frightening and inexplicable. Fraternal twins might share the same DNA code, but even then, the chakra code would be completely different, because each individual's chakra is unique.
How was this even happening? This obviously meant that Hikari wasn't what she said she was…she was anything but some random kunoichi who had happened upon Sasuke. But what else could she be? It wasn't like she appeared out of thin air or anything, there had to be a logical explanation!
But even as Sakura said that to herself, something deep inside her gut whispered and hissed that if she had learned anything about Hikari; it was that she was anything but logical.
Seven cloaked figures were perched in the trees, staring out with calm eyes, the red clouds on their clothing glimmering slightly in the dim sunlight that managed to pierce the leaves above them.
Six of the figures were identical in the fact that they had bright orange hair pulled into different hairstyles, and that they had multiple facial plugs and piercings as well as pale purple eyes with several rings around the pupil. They all had the same cool and collected expression, and one of them stood in front, obviously the leader. He was tall and strong, his hair short and spiky, eyes glancing around slowly. A woman stood next to him, with dark hair and a lip piercing, her hair pulled back with a flower pinned to it. Her eyes followed the leader as he thought to himself.
"Konoha has a detector that will sound the alarm if all of us go in at once, so Animal Path," The leader glanced at a short, feminine figure with the same orange hair and purple eyes as the rest of them before going on. "will enter from above and summon us inside, therefore giving them the idea that there is only one intruder."
The team nodded, and the man went on quietly. "We have two objectives."
Another orange haired clone, one with long hair and a plug that was diagonally pierced through the bridge of his nose was calm as he spoke.
"Find and capture Naruto Uzumaki."
The one referred to as Animal Path narrowed her eyes slightly. "And deliver the girl known as Hikari."
The leader nodded. "You all know your directions. Preta Path, I trust you to find and deliver the girl to Madara…he specifically asked for her to be alive, so keep that in mind."
Preta Path nodded solemnly, his bulky arms shifting slightly under his cloak.
With a glance to the dark haired woman beside him, the leader motioned for Animal Path to begin, and with a nod the small female clone disappeared.
The dark haired woman stared up at the sky, waiting for Animal Path's summons, her eyes calm and indiscernible.
"So it begins."
I smiled to myself as my hand flipped the egg over on the hot pan successfully. Of course…Sasuke's hand was covering mine, directing my movements, but it was still nice to know that it was within my abilities to flip an egg without all hell breaking loose. What was even nicer was that Sasuke's chest was pressing lightly against my back, which gave me a pretty good feel of his muscles.
I have one word for you in relation to Sasuke's body.
Damn.
And it was all mine.
Damn.
I grinned as Sasuke rolled his eyes, and elbowed him lightly in the stomach. "Hey, don't go rolling your eyes at me, young man. I just flipped an egg; shouldn't you be dancing around in relief that your girlfriend isn't a complete failure at cooking?"
Sasuke's lips quirked up slightly at the word 'girlfriend', but he regained his composure a moment later. "I'll save that for the day when you can make tomato soup."
I laughed, leaning back into his chest. "Tomato soup? What's so special about that?" Sasuke shrugged, and I giggled as his other arm looped around my waist.
The morning was peaceful and bright as we made breakfast, and I was surprised to say that things with Sasuke were – dare I say it – pleasantly normal. No impending doom, no one to hunt down…just him and me making omelets.
Too cheesy?
Ha! Get it? Like, there's cheese in an omelet, and I just…too cheesy…c'mon…anyone?
Sigh.
I looked back as Sasuke moved away from me to grab the salt and pepper, and I flipped the egg once more – nearly slipping it off of the spatula but catching it at the last second – before tilting my head back to look out the window. It was a clear, beautiful day, and I grinned at the prospect of training outside. I couldn't do anything too serious – it had been two days since my injuries in the training facility, and my stomach was still a little sore – but it would still be nice to be outside. Weather like this made me want to lie back in the grass and soak it all in; the sun, the smell of the grass and the earth, the sweetness of the warmth soaking into my skin, the love I felt for the dark haired shinobi behind me…
I was so lost in my thoughts that the smell of burning egg didn't reach my senses until a few moments later, and I hurriedly flipped it, turning to glare at Sasuke as I did so.
"Hey, you could've at least told me–"
But Sasuke wasn't behind me any more. He was by the far window, his eyes narrowed in concentration. I made to make a teasing remark, but the look on his face stopped me. It was strained, and wary. Not a very comforting combination on the visage of Sasuke Uchiha, in case it wasn't already obvious. I moved the pan off the grill, and flipped off the heat, moving quickly to where he stood.
"What is it?"
Sasuke frowned, his dark eyes flickering to the window. "Something big. It's hard to get a feel of it without my chakra, but–"
I shushed him, because I could feel it too. It was a rumbling in the air, so slight that it took the utmost concentration to detect it. Chakra was building in a huge amount, I knew it by the tingle that went down my spine, and suddenly the ground rocked under our feet like an earthquake. I almost lost my balance, but managed to stumble backward so I was gripping the wooden support that stood in the middle of the living room. Sasuke crouched down, gripping the windowsill as the apartment rocked wildly. We both and after a moment the shaking stilled abruptly.
There was silence for a moment as we both ran to the window, staring in shock at the creature that had suddenly appeared. It was a huge cat-like animal with lethal claws and pale purple eyes, fangs the size of several full grown men. Its fur was dark crimson red, and I almost choked as I saw several limp and bleeding figures impaled on its needle-like claws.
It was then that the screaming started, rising up from the deathly still streets until it was pulsing in my blood and ringing in my ears.
Sasuke and I turned to stare at each other, and I saw in his eyes the grim and painfully obvious conclusion that I had come to.
Konoha was being attacked.
In light of that event…we had one of two options. Stay, and fight for the village. Or make it seem like we want to fight, and run away as soon as our chakra seals were lifted. I saw them both in Sasuke's eyes, and stared steadily into them, willing him to make a choice.
Sasuke smiled slightly. "That idiot isn't around to protect the village…so I'll do it in his place."
I nodded curtly, and moved to slip out the window. I knew that Neji was at the Hyuuga Compound; today was the day he had private lessons with Hinata. I had to get my chakra unsealed before Neji left to go see what was going on.
I felt a hand on my arm, and turned to find Sasuke staring at me, his dark eyes scanning my eyes slowly. I stared at him, and something hot swelled in my throat as I let my fingers touch his jaw.
The time for peaceful and carefree breakfast was over, replaced by something darker and more sinister. Now, the warm grass and pleasant streets of Konoha had become a battlefield. And both of us knew the danger that lay on a battlefield. It's either kill, or be killed yourself. We both knew, in that moment, that there was a chance that one of us wouldn't come through this alive.
Sasuke's eyes flickered to the window before locking back on me. I felt the time slipping through our fingers, and leaned forward to rest my forehead against his. He closed his eyes, and I let mine flutter closed after a moment.
Then, we both pulled away simultaneously.
"I love you."
I blinked at the sound of those three words, spoken barely louder than a whisper, and stared at Sasuke with wide eyes. He was staring at his feet, his hands clenched into tight fists.
Wetness welled up in my eyes, but I blinked it away hurriedly. It must have taken so much strength to say those words; it must have taken so much for Sasuke to lay his feelings so openly on the table like that.
I smiled, and kissed him softly for a few seconds, enough for me to memorize the warmth of his lips and the clean scent of his skin. I pulled away, and whispered just as softly.
"And I love you."
And then, we both turned away, both of us pulling the shutters over our hearts and preparing for the worst. I leapt lightly out the window and landed lightly on a lower balcony, swinging down to land on the street.
People were running around, panicked and screaming as the sounds of ninja fighting the creature above us filled the air. I swallowed hard at the sight, but my task still stood before me, beckoning me. I started running, and didn't stop, not even when even more horrifying sights met my eyes.
There were so many things I had to do.
I had to keep running; I had to ignore the fear and revulsion that tried to pry its way into my heart at the sight of wounded and dying villagers. I had to get my chakra unsealed. I had to protect Konohagakure from its attackers; I had to put aside my sudden rush of emotion that was a result of Sasuke's words. I had to put on the cool and merciless façade of a kunoichi, I had to attack first and ask questions later. I had to bleed, I had to brandish my weapon, I had to keep fighting even when my muscles were screaming at me to give up, I had to keep going even when my body cried and wept and begged for me to let all the pain end.
Because I was a kunoichi, and as such, it was required that I be mentally and physically prepared to live, fight…and die on the battlefield.
I could say that I wasn't hesitant to die in battle. I could say that I was ready to watch as people died before my eyes, I could say that although the sacrifice of those fellow comrades was devastating, it was for the sake of winning the battle, and hence for the good of everyone still living.
I could say that I wasn't afraid.
Well, it's a good thing I didn't say any of those things, because every single one of them would be a lie.