notes:I take shots of Brandy like a BOSS
notes2:pay close attention to this chapter guys, high fives to anyone who sees it
dedication:to everyone who has reviewed my story – I hope you all win the lotto
disclaimer:nope
x.x.x
How you are seen by others becomes the mirror that tells you what you are like and who you are. The ego's sense of self-worth is in most cases bound up with the worth you have in the eyes of others.
Eckhart Tolle
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Viridian orbs slowly opened as the pupils slightly dilated from the sudden beam of sunlight filtering through the open curtains in the bedroom. The hustle and bustle of the market was clearly heard from the open window, the people of Konoha had already started their day.
Sakura stared at her ceiling with a blank face as she recalled the dream that she had last night. She slowly rose into a sitting position as the blanket fell into a pool around her waist and brought her hand from under the covers brining it forward to stare at it, palm facing up. Her mind was repetitively playing the resounding smack from her dream and Sakura instantly glared at the offending body part.
Throwing the covers off of herself she walked over to her window and looked outside. It was a beautiful day like always and for some reason that only made her mood all the more sour. She began clenching and unclenching the hand that she had been previously trying to mentally burn. It had been so long since that incident between her and Naruto had happened and yet she still didn't forgive herself for it even though he did long ago.
Sakura's gaze fell down towards the streets and she noticed three children walking together and laughing up a storm amongst them selves. The Konoha headband glistened from the sun shining down on it, almost as though it were some kind of mockery to her. She squinted from the glare bouncing back towards her eyes. 'TheseGeninhavenoideawhattheworldisreallylike,' she thought to herself.
The girl of the group was small but looked as if she could handle her own if the time came for it; she had dark ebony hair with matching eyes. The boy to her right was slim but carried an air of cockiness; he had dark auburn hair and olive gold eyes. Lastly, the boy to her left was of the same stature of his male comrade and he had silver blue hair with blue green eyes.
The girl of the group screeched in horror when one of the boys in the bunch tried messing up her hair – she immediately began running around in circles trying to avoid her teammate. After the girl had enough of running around like a headless chicken she picked up a mud ball and threatened to throw it at the boy, she had a playful look in her eyes. The boy with the silver blue hair squeaked and ran away as he flailed his arms around like a maniac. The remaining teammates turned towards one another as they laughed and high fived each other before they ran in the direction of their friend.
Sea foam eyes slowly trailed after the group until they disappeared around the corner and Sakura could feel almost a bitter taste work its way up her throat. Turning away from the window, the med-nin walked towards her bathroom to quickly wash up, she needed to report to Tsunaade about her mission and check up on how things were going in the hospital. Once finished she dressed and almost reluctantly picked up her headband and tied it on as she stepped out her apartment.
x.x.x
Meanwhile, Team Hebi was currently running at a break neck pace towards the specific destination where Sasuke and Itachi would fight. Each individual was engrossed in their own thoughts as they jumped tree branch to tree branch while the wind was whipping against them.
Sasuke was going insane on the inside.
He knew that he and his team were pushing the fastest they ever had but that didn't stop him from feeling as though it wasn't enough. He had been waiting for this moment for nearly half of his life and it couldn't come any sooner. All of the anger, frustration, pain, sadness and impatience was festering within him and was coiling at the bottom of his stomach ready to burst and consume him alive but he would much rather take all of those emotions and use it to destroy his enemy.
"It's about time you made it," the familiar ninja retorted.
The young adults stopped and immediately formed a blockade around Sasuke, ready to defend him if this legendary shinobi engaged in combat. Sasuke just stared straight ahead and glared, if this man was here then he knew that Itachi was definitely near by – his eyes began to itch and nearly yelling he responded to the interference before him, "Kisame, I have no business with you, move aside."
"Tch you're just as blunt as Itachi," Kisame retorted and Sasuke glared at him because he did not want to be compared in any way to his brother, "he's up ahead and waiting."
The younger Uchiha pumped chakra into his legs and in one leap by passed Kisame and ran in the direction the Akatsuki member had indicated. The remaining members of Hebi started forward to follow suit but were stopped by the swordsman, "you three stay here with me, this is between them." He gave them a wide malicious grin that left nothing to the imagination. Itachi had asked him to distract Sasuke's groupies but he never said anything about keeping them alive – perhaps he'd have a little fun tossing them around for a few while his partner settled his score with his baby brother.
"Like hell we'd let Sasuke go in there alone!" Karin yelled.
"You'll see him soon girlie," Kisame replied as he put his hand on Samehada.
Suigetsu put his hand on his own blade, "we'll see about that. I've got a bone to pick with you asshole," he hissed and charged in Kisame's direction.
The blue skinned nuke-nin grinned.
'Let the fun begin.'
x.x.x
Sakura was climbing up the stairs of the Hokage tower when she bumped into Shizune who was carrying an arm full of documents as per usual, "Oh! Sakura, good morning!" the dark haired assistant chirped.
"Morning," Sakura replied with an incline of her head.
Shizune gave her a half smile, "Lady Tsunade is waiting for you in her office as well as Naruto … he seems a little upset, did something happen?" she asked.
Green eyes lowered to the floor, "…no."
Shizune gave her a sympathetic look and lightly bumped her hip with Sakura's, "whatever it is I'm sure he's just overreacting," she said and continued down the stairs.
The pinkette nodded to herself and walked to the entrance of her shishou's office and knocked, "come in," Tsunade answered. When Sakura entered the room she instantly zeroed in on Naruto's chakra and looked in his direction. He was leaning against the wall towards her left with his arms folded against his chest, his eyes closed and his foot taping against the floor in what she could clearly tell was irritation. If she had still been the same little girl from previous years, she would've ran to him and spilled a thousand apologies but she wasn't the same person as before and instead she waited until he acknowledged her on his own.
Naruto slowly opened his eyes and looked at his best friend with a small disapproving look with a hint of excitement and walked towards her. Sakura sighed and opened her arms in welcoming and like a child seeing his mother after a long day of school; he threw himself in her arms and hugged her. The Kyuubi vessel knew that the pink haired girl could take care of herself but he couldn't help but worry about her sometimes since he feared that she would lose herself during missions. The life of a shinobi wasn't an easy one and he knew that when you go on one too many assassination missions you could drown in the profession and that was the last thing he wanted for Sakura.
Tsunade watched the whole interaction between two of her favorite people in the world and smiled. The seasons may change, the world may turn more cruel, people died, and she grew older but she was grateful that these two were still in each others lives even after everything that has happened. She may of not been able to have the greatest of relationships whether it be romantic or platonic but a part of her liked to live precariously through Naruto and Sakura.
The busty blonde shook her head to snap out of her little daydream and cleared her throat to catch their attention, "Welcome home, Sakura." Tsunade greeted. Her ex-apprentice gave her Shishou a small smile and bowed in reply. "You will give your mission report to Shizune and she will review it, for now I have something for the two of you."
Both of the original Team 7 members straightened and paid close attention to their Hokage when her voice went from familiarly polite to serious, "it has come to Konoha's attention that a group of rogue shinobi is terrorizing the Land of Fire. We do not know their specific location for they always change their course," Tsunade took out a manila folder from her desk and threw it on the desk towards her ninja, "they seem like a troublesome bunch and we cannot continue to let them to do as they please."
Both Naruto and Sakura stepped forward and took turns reading over the details of the report and each of their faces contorted in disgust at what they saw. These ninja were going around different homes and stealing priceless items from noblemen and women, raping and killing their targets in the most horrendous of ways after the job was done. But what was more puzzling was that no one had detected them. Sure regular civilians and samurai weren't trained in the art of tracking chakra but that didn't mean that they couldn't defend them selves from an attack.
Just what the hell was going on?
"You two are my best team and considering your abilities as well as your experience with one another; I want you both on this mission."
The hyper active ninja of the Village Hidden in the Leaves instantly pumped a fist in the air and grinned like a mad man. It felt like ages since the last time he went on a mission with Sakura and to say the least, he missed doing so, "don't worry, Granny we'll find these jerks and take 'em out no problem!" Naruto hollered.
The female ANBU captain closed her eyes and smiled. 'NarutowillalwaysbeNaruto.´
x.x.x
Sasuke had taken the last few steps into the room where he felt his brother's signature chakra come from – low and behold there he was, sitting on a throne as if he were some kind of God. They stared at one another like they were the oddest things on the planet. One was confident and aristocratic and the other was boiling –bubbling- with a sick sense of nostalgia. One would think that the tension between the two would rip an invisible string in the fabric of time but what would happen in the near future would determine each of their fates.
Within the blink of an eye they attacked each other in a series of kicks and punches. Kunai vs. katana. Chidori vs. speed. Murderer vs. Avenger. Regular human eyes would see these two as Gods for the way they almost impossibly dodged, flew, ran and just moved in general - was practically inhuman.
They were shinobi. They were both born from the same prestigious [cursed] clan.
They both had the will, rage, skill and passion to fight.
They were bloodbrothers.
Fated from the beginning of their clans' first generation to be poisoned.
Both siblings stood there, the past conflicts brushed off as neither of it was real. Genjustsu and Sasuke was pissed. They had been standing there for nearly ten minutes as neither of them broke a sweat. As usual, Itachi badgered him about his eyes although he mentally admitted to himself that his little brother did indeed get stronger and he was impressed. But it was time to get serious, no more games and chit chat, but as Itachi stood before Sasuke he knew that whatever happened happens.
"You're reality is death," Sasuke hissed.
Suddenly it began raining an almost boundless amount of shurikin and every weapon was perfectly countered. They flew towards one another in a stand still as Sasuke tried to run his brother through with his katana. An Itachi clone followed up behind the original to execute a blow with kunai but Sasuke was fast and he immediately summoned a snake to take the onslaught as he dodged. Time almost seemed to stop but then pulsed in a supernatural way as it merged with Itachi's chakra allowing him to flash step to his younger brother and knock the wind out of him as he forcefully held one of his hands above his head.
"Forgive me, Sasuke," Itachi said as his hand slowly reached towards his younger brother's face. His index, middle and thumb pushing open Sasuke's eye socket, "this is my reality … give me your light," he whispered as he pulled.
Sasuke screamed.
x.x.x
Naruto and Sakura walked out of the Hokage mansion after their debriefing. They would be leaving sometime tomorrow morning so that way they could get a fresh start and it would also allow them enough time to prepare a strategy for the mission.
"I can't wait for this mission, it's been forever since we've teamed up," Naruto said as he looked up at the sky with his hands behind his head.
"I know. We can't afford to make any mistakes though …" Sakura responded.
Naruto stopped and put a comforting hand on his friends shoulder, "don't worry, Sakura I'll make sure you don't do anything stupid."
The female looked at him and sneered as she gave him a big whack on the head, "idiot I'm more concerned about you, let's see if you can keep up," she said while smirking.
The blonde ninja only gave her a cheesy smile as he put a hand on his head to sooth the ever growing bump, "I'll see you later, Sakura!" Naruto waved as he turned to jog towards his home.
Sakura slightly waved back and once he was out of her site she began walking in the direction of the hospital. Just before making the turn to enter into her destination she head the distinct thump and then an 'ow' come from her right. When she looked to see what happened she noticed that it was the same girl from this morning with her friends and it seemed as though she had fallen and was holding her ankle.
The med-nin walked over towards the girl and asked her if she was alright and what happened. Apparently the girl had been practicing taijutsu and lost her footing resulting in her twisting her ankle. A glowing green hand went towards the girls appendage to heal it and the young genin was amazed. The hurt and swelling was magically alleviated and it was good as new. The older woman gave a quick check over to make sure wasn't hurt anywhere and once she was satisfied with her checkup she stood to take her leave.
"Don't force it," Sakura said.
The genin girl looked up towards the woman with confusion, "force what?" she asked.
"Taijutsu. There will be times where you may need to measure certain attacks but even so, just let it flow naturally. The more in sync you are with yourself the more effortless and powerful your hits will be. Just remember to breath," the pinkette replied.
The dark haired girl stopped and had a look on her face as though she was rolling it around in her head processing the new information and she smiled. She flexed her ankle back and forth and side to side to test it out and giving a smile when things didn't hurt, she bolted up and her smile only grew wider, "thank you!" she chirped.
Sakura patted the girl on her head and turned to walk away and into the hospital …
She never noticed the girl bowing behind her in respect and admiration.
x.x.x
A/N: oh shit I'm done finally. I wrote half of this on my iphone while I was on the train on my way to work as I listened to my husband, [Drizzy] Drake. I LOVE HIM! So yeah … what do you guys think of this chapter, I'd love to know how you're enjoying the story so far and I just want to thank everyone who has reviewed … you guys are seriously awesome but a special thanks to SasuSakuKawaii for putting me under her favoritestories, seriously girl I'm honored.
I'd also like to thank .261 for your review because no lie I was like this afterwards … :O like, flattered to the 10th degree you don't even know! But uh … trust me that I have no intention on making these two lovey-dovey anytime soon. As you said, they have a lot of shit to work out and I plan on making them do so because dammit they have to, no? I want them to get together and have babies already … grr and anyone who agrees with me say "hell freakin yeah" in your review haha
Much love guys!