Touru rubbed his arms briskly as he walked. It was chilly at the entrance to Dosui Valley. The mountains on either side were imposing and even though it was late morning, their long shadows let the night's chill linger on the valley floor.
The wagon holding Sakura Haruno rolled along next to him and the two sealing corps guards. Each of them kept a hand on the wagon as their eyes drifted closed while they concentrated on the seal. Touru didn't see why they bothered, they could reinforce the seal against a sudden attack from Haruno and she had already tried that and failed.
Technically, she was no longer his problem. In fact, as far as things went, Touru's mission was over and he and Kippei ought to return to Iwagakure. The Interrogation Force jonin, Hisako was in charge of the company taking Haruno to where Kenta Kobayashi lived. She didn't seem to mind if he and Kippei tagged along.
It was only another two miles to the village where Kenta lived. Soon. Very soon he would take Haruno into custody and teach her why messing with Iwa shinobi was a very bad idea.
Touru's lips twisted into a terrible smile. Haruno was about to pay. She had killed his comrades and now justice would be served. He hoped Kishi and Toshi could see it, wherever they were.
- 傷 -
Sasuke elected to stay in Naruto's suite while the treaty was drafted in its complete form and signed by dignitaries from both countries. He had had enough of diplomacy and false humility and he well imagined his face would be unwelcome.
He would have preferred to remain alone but it was not to be. Shortly before the ceremony was due to begin, Yoshitaro Mori paid him a visit. He was brief and to the point.
"You did exactly as you said, Uchiha-san. You may not realize this, but that is quite exceptional in diplomatic circles."
"Hn."
"My domain is in your debt. As recognition of this, I would take it as a favor if you receive this small token." Yoshitaro pushed forward an intricately carved wooden box, lacquered in several different colors and inlaid with a creamy pearl. "The forests of Takaichi are our treasure. Our craftsmen and poets strive to reflect their beauty and diversity in their work." He gestured to the box.
Sasuke took note of interlocking pieces of wood that had to be slid just so to allow the box to open. In a closed position they resembled a tree, in open position it was a fire. Inside the box was a small scroll, a bottle of ink and a fine pen.
"I can't..." Sasuke couldn't put his finger on why but he didn't want to accept it. Honestly, he hadn't even done anything.
"Please, Uchiha-san, I beg you to take it even though it is a poor thing."
Sasuke frowned. He didn't even have a desk to put it on.
"I understand it may not suit you, but I ask as a humble man whose people you saved, permit me the honor of giving you this gift." Yoshitaro moved so he was genuflecting on one knee, leaning on the knuckles of the same hand.
The man was just going to keep begging. Sasuke grunted and set the box on a table at his side. "That's fine."
As if released from his position, Yoshitaro relaxed and resumed standing. "I will not trouble you for much longer, Uchiha-san, I merely wanted to make sure you understood your actions are deeply appreciated. I've no doubt you are formidable on the battlefield, therefore the prospect of war may not hold much dread for you. But I am relieved. Even though we could do considerable business in a time of war, I do not think I could bear the cost yet again."
The man's dark eyes grew unfocused as he seemed to replay a calamity in his mind. Sasuke didn't ask him to elaborate. Then his gaze refocused on Sasuke and Yoshitaro bowed again. "You have my sincere gratitude, Uchiha-san. You have more than lived up to your family's reputation."
Sasuke cleared his throat. Ignoring the slight blush working its way up his neck he said, "Please call me Sasuke, Yoshitaro-san."
Yoshitaro smiled. "Of course, Sasuke-san." With a mumbled "please excuse me," Yoshitaru turned and let himself out of the suite.
After a minute Sasuke turned to the box. He ran a finger around the edge. A high quality grain met his fingertip. For his entire life his possessions were strictly useful things and nothing so needlessly showy as this box. Perhaps his Kusanagi blade would have fetched a similar cost but was a unique sword, designed to complement his particular fighting abilities.
Still, it was very beautiful.
Sasuke expelled an impatient breath. Naruto needed to hurry the hell up. He didn't care that Sakura was probably oblivious to the passage of time; now that they had a peaceful means for securing her safe return he wanted to get down to it.
Granted, the Tsuchikage still had to tell them where Sakura had been sent. Sasuke made a fist. He really wanted dig it out using his Sharingan. He was sure 10 seconds under Tsukiyomi would have Hidesaburou babbling all sorts of things. Then again Naruto just wanted to pound it out of the man, and that was something Sasuke wouldn't mind watching at all.
But when they had discussed it Ino stepped between them with a hand on her hip and a haughty, "ahem." She said, "You two seriously want to undo everything we just did, don't you?" She tossed her head. "I'll ask him - nicely - and you know he'll tell me." Then she grinned wickedly. "And if he doesn't, his Diamond Style can't stop my Mind Transfer!"
Ino's hidden jutsu aside, she could probably get the information they needed without causing an international incident. "Just hurry up and find out," Sasuke muttered.
There was plenty of entertainment in the suite, an extensive tea service, a couple dozen scrolls stacked neatly against a wall, even a calligraphy set. None could hold Sasuke's attention.
He opened the windows to the suite. The sunlight was gaining strength as the morning haze burned off. The quarters were up around three stories off the ground. There was a small balcony outside a pair of floor to ceiling windows that swung in. It would be useful later. For now Sasuke lounged in the doorjamb and regarded the countryside that spread out before the palace.
This was territory that he used to know but hadn't come near in years. Sasuke emptied his mind and gazed at the gentle hills and thick forests that covered them. Birds played in the branches and periodically chased each other into the sky above.
Below the palace, the streets were rapidly filling with foot traffic and carts pulled by oxen. It would be a warm, bright summer day.
A wide, sparkling blue river ran down from the north through the town that surrounded the palace. In his mind he imagined the river's course upstream: three miles upriver it swung to the east by northeast. A dozen miles after that was Konoha.
The scent of trees reached him and he couldn't stop his eyes from closing as a flood of childhood memories raced through his mind. Playing hide and seek with Itachi, showing off his clothing and knapsack for his father before his first day at the Academy, shuriken practice while his mother watched, working on his fireball jutsu, racing home from school to talk with Itachi about what he'd learned...
Sasuke shook his head and wiped a hand over his face. He had packed away all those memories when he left the village. He dearly wished they would stay packed.
But this was their country. This was the land his family had settled in and this was the place he was born. The river and the trees were as much what made him as his blood and his name. Simply staring at the horizon let him feel calm again.
A rap at the door snapped his reverie. He considered ignoring it but it was followed with a girl's, "Uchiha-sama, are you here? There is a letter for you." Her voice was somewhat faint and seemed to tremble.
Sasuke frowned. "Aa, come in."
The doorknob jiggled before turning, even though it wasn't locked. The door swung open slowly, revealing the teenaged servant girl who nearly passed out serving ramen the night before. She was white in the face and her shoulders curled up and forward as if expecting a blow to fall at any moment.
"Tsch." Why would they send a child who was about wet herself from facing him?
The girl inched in but stopped just past the doorway. "Uchiha-sama?"
"You have a letter for me?"
"Y-yes, sir." A folded piece of paper was held in both her hands and even though she could answer his question, her brain didn't seem to work to the extent of holding it out for him. If she shook any harder she was going to crush the letter.
Sasuke walked toward her. He made it halfway across the room before the girl squeaked. Her eyes rolled back in her head and her legs bowed out from under her. Sasuke caught her up in his arms before she could collapse onto the floor. The letter came loose in her hands and floated away, coming to rest on a shelf a few feet away.
With an irritated grumble Sasuke set her down on a chair at the table where he'd set his new writing kit. He closed the door and then retrieved the letter and settled into another chair, opposite the girl.
It was a long sheet of paper folded over, one side longer than the other allowing red wax to seal the two sides together. An unfamiliar crest was pressed into the wax. Sasuke slipped a thumbnail under the wax and pried it loose.
It was a letter from Shojiro Omatsu, the elder from Genshichi.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. If anyone could take credit for forcing the finalized treaty it was that old man. No matter what Naruto said, Sasuke had just stood there, doing little more than existing. It was the old man who put the right words in the right ears. Then at the end of everything, while the Konoha contingent stood off to the side, organizing their next steps, he simply left without a word.
It was what made Sasuke so uncomfortable accepting Yoshitaro's gratitude and gift. But Shojiro's words about shouldering the Uchiha's graces as well as their sins haunted him.
Sasuke glanced at the girl passed out in the other chair. Her head lolled on a shoulder, mouth hanging open. He had no idea what to do with her so for the time being he simply ignored her.
Sasuke drew in a deep breath and pushed it out, then he began to read the letter.
Dear Uchiha-dono,
Please forgive my impertinence in sending a letter rather than meeting with you while we are in the same building. I am afraid this old body of mine has its limitations, and after the excitement last night and this morning the limit is here. At any rate, my dear Tsugumi-chan would be cross with me if I tried to leave her at the signing ceremony to come see you, and I imagine you will be leaving the daimyo's palace the moment the Hokage acquires a copy of the treaty. So I sense that I must act quickly, sending my words one way while my battered body goes elsewhere.
Uchiha-dono, I have a confession to make: I was not eager to recognize my debt of blood. I had thought I might approach you to tell you an interesting story or two about our families, if you would sit through the telling. The wealth of Genshichi was not created by giving away boons.
So if you wish to understand why I did what I did I ask that you read on with an open mind.
I told you already that both my life and that of my son were saved by Uchiha. One occasion is remarkable enough, but certainly two instances require extraordinary recognition. The person who compelled me to understand this was Koharu Utatane, a student of the Second Hokage and an advisor to every Hokage since. She and her teammate Homura Mitokado made certain that I acted on my obligation to you and your family. (I must admit, at first I was loathe to accept their point of view, and I believe my reluctance fueled my granddaughter's dislike toward you. She is young and impetuous, please overlook her naivete, Uchiha-dono.)
It never crossed my mind when my son insisted I bring Tsugumi-chan to these treaty deliberations that I might finally meet the last Uchiha. Your clan is quite solitary. Or, I suppose I should say, it was. I rarely had the opportunity to meet with any Uchiha outside of one of their ninja missions or a battle of some sort. Correspondence with them was paltry. Still, it grieved me deeply to hear of their passing.
The first time I ever encountered any shinobi was during the Second Great War. I was lad of 14 years and filled with more bravado than sense. My family had fled our home and were trying to reach the shelter here in this very palace. I swore to help our small cadre of guards and insisted on wearing a sword. When the fight came to us I was, of course, woefully unprepared. I should have died on the road but a small team of Konoha ninja with red eyes descended on the battle and eliminated the enemy.
I truly regret that, due to the state of my wounds, I was insensate through the rest of the journey and never had the opportunity to ask after their names. While I was recuperating I had the great fortune of meeting the distinguished Team Tobirama, minus the Hokage himself, of course. Koharu-san was a fetching young lady then, and on hearing my story she told me it was a squad of Uchiha who got my family to safety and healed me. She told me that the Uchiha were one of the two founding families of Konohagakure, and any single Uchiha was easily as capable as a whole squad of normal shinobi. In short they were the pride of Konoha. Then Koharu-san berated me at length for picking up a sword in the middle of a war. She scorched my youthful pride rather severely!
After the war my family returned to Genshichi and I eventually took over leadership from my father. Other concerns filled my mind and that episode of my life faded into the background. I rarely had dealings with shinobi of any sort and never thought to ask the few I saw about the Uchiha.
Finally, there came a time when business called my son, Katsujuro, to sea. This was perhaps 30 years ago now, a few years before the Third Great War broke out. In those days there were highwaymen lying in wait just outside of the territory of the Land of Fire, and the waters were constantly troubled by pirates. If the business were to be concluded safely I felt I couldn't leave it to our guards. I sent to Konoha for a squad to escort him. Furthermore, I wrote to Koharu-san, requesting that she use her influence with the Hokage to assign an Uchiha squad to this mission.
I looked forward to meeting the squad in the faint hope they might know of the individuals who helped me when I was young. When a trio of shinobi arrived and only the captain was an Uchiha I tried to hide my disappointment, but I feel I may have failed. The man was imposing and even his teammates seemed wary of him. I had wanted to ask him about the Uchiha of Konoha, but his demeanor discouraged conversation in general and queries into his clan in specific. So in the end the captain and his squad left with Katsujuro and his partners while I had barely spoken about anything other than the mission with him.
When they returned a month later my son bore an ugly scar upon his back and the squad captain's arm was in a sling. But everyone was accounted for and the business had been concluded in our favor. Katsujuro sang the praises of the Uchiha captain who fought fiercely over his prostrate body and refused to give an inch.
I tried then to explain what it meant to me that my son was returned and that again it was due to the effort and tenacity of the Uchiha, but the captain did not care to hear it. The mission was concluded and he was eager to return to his home and his family. One of his teammates let slip that Fugaku was a new father. I had not the heart to keep him from his son a moment longer, now that I had regained my own, so I bid the Konoha shinobi farewell.
Uchiha-dono, you look so much like your father it quite takes my breath away, even though you are older now than he was when I knew him.
Sasuke smacked the letter down on the table and sucked in a ragged breath. He had read the last two paragraphs with increasing tension. When he caught sight of his father's name he unconsciously held his breath.
Quite unexpectedly his eyes filled with tears. He rubbed them away with the heels of his hands. He didn't know a damned thing about his father's career.
Sasuke got hold of himself and wiped his nose. Across from him the servant girl made a face and smacked her lips. She would be rousing soon.
He read on.
Koharu-san cautioned me about saying such things to you. She told me that soon after this mission Fugaku refused all further missions that required him to leave Konoha. I hadn't seen any Uchiha since the war because nearly all of them were police officers. I had no idea!
Everyone in the Land of Fire has heard one compacted story or another of the tragedy of the Uchiha, and all that I can conclude is that the truth must have been far more horrible for you, to lose your parents, indeed your clan at such a young age. It is not lost on me that you have suffered due to the sins of others. I cannot imagine how you have persevered, Uchiha-dono, but I am glad you did.
I hope you eventually have the opportunity to raise a family. Koharu-san was evasive when it came to discussing what might become of you after retrieving your teammate. But setting aside your future with regard to Konoha, I sincerely hope you will one day hold your child in your arms and know my joy, and your father's as well. Perhaps you will even bring your son - or perhaps daughter - to Genshichi. I will tell Tsugumi-chan to be kind to you.
Farewell, Uchiha-dono. The pleasure of meeting you was greater than you can ever know.
With the highest esteem,
Shojiro Omatsu
Sasuke read and reread the closing paragraphs, using his Sharingan to commit them to memory, willing the words to burn across the back of his skull, into the depths of his heart, through the profundities of his soul. He never wanted to let go of them and dared not trust such a flimsy thing as paper.
Sasuke had heard judgment leveled against his clan one way or the other for nearly all of his life. When he was an orphan boy in Konoha the whispers were about his kindhearted mother and the vigilant Uchiha police force. The villagers often stared at him with a mix of concern and heartbreak, like they were looking at a baby bird that had fallen from its nest and would soon die on its own. But after he killed Itachi and met Madara it seemed he only heard full-throated denunciations: how the Uchiha were power mad, how the Uchiha were cursed, how the Uchiha desired to bring blight and destruction on all good things.
A feminine grunt caught his attention. The servant girl patted at her face and wiped drool from the corner of her mouth. When she noticed Sasuke she blinked at him and then started severely.
"Wh-what am I doing here?" she squawked. She jumped to her feet and nearly fell over again as her legs were not entirely prepared for her weight. Likely her fear of him came from stories of the Uchiha-bogeymen she heard while dandling on her mother's knee, Sasuke thought.
Sasuke stood up, holding out a hand that he hoped was calming. She took a step back, a deep blush and fear battling for prominence on her face.
Sasuke tsked, wondering if she would pass out again. "What is your name?"
"Mi-Mitsuko, my lord." She trembled.
Sasuke stifled a sigh. "Stand up straight, Mitsuko."
"Y-yes, sir!" Her spine immediately snapped straight and most of her cringing ceased. She kept her eyes dutifully downcast.
"I would like to know something. Were you assigned the task of delivering this letter or were you just the nearest person?"
Mitsuko hitched and then cleared her throat. "Omatsu-sama asked that I deliver it. I... That is..." The servant girl balled up her hands into fists to try to get hold of herself. Then she bowed to Sasuke. "I know there is no excuse for my poor performance. I am sorry to have burdened you, Uchiha-sama, I will understand if you wish to make a complaint to the senior staff."
Sasuke's breath caught when she said it was the old man's idea. The thought occurred to him that it was a ploy, much like Sakura's, to prod him out of his habits. Sasuke pushed out a breath. If anything, politics was making him paranoid. "It's fine, you don't have to worry."
"Yes, my lord." Mitsuko stood up straight again. Her eyes closed in relief.
"Hn. Omatsu-san knew you were afraid of me but sent you here anyway."
Pink flooded the girl's cheeks. "I suppose that is true, Uchiha-sama. Please forgive-"
Sasuke made a dismissive noise. "It doesn't matter. He didn't know you were going to faint. You are very new to working in the daimyo's palace?"
"Yes, my lord. I came here two months ago and thought I would be helping in the kitchens for at least a year." Mitsuko twittered a flood of words, eager to explain herself. "But the negotiations increased the personal attention of the palace staff at every hour. Even the cooks had to prepare the meals and then bring them out themselves. Most of the day I work in the scullery but the odd hour demand of the Hokage's ramen last night found too few people available to serve him, so I was called to attend."
"Hn. And after the gathering with the daimyo many of the diplomats wanted a night cap so you were called again."
"Correct, my lord. I assisted in meeting Omatsu-sama's requests." The girl hitched and her cheeks turned even more ruddy. "I know it is a poor habit to eavesdrop but I couldn't help overhearing him speak with the two Konoha elders about your appearance and argument with the Tsuchikage."
Sasuke imagined that couldn't have been very reassuring. "Hn."
She took a step forward. "My lord, I must beg your forgiveness. I've always heard such terrible things about the Uchiha that even when I could see you are a good man, I could not control myself."
Sasuke scoffed lightly. "You can see I am a good man?"
Mitsuko blinked at him. "Oh yes, my lord. You are wearing that." She pointed to Sasuke's head.
With a start Sasuke recalled he was still wearing his hitaiate. He put a hand to it and adjust it over his temple. Just when did he start thinking of the hitaiate as his? At any rate, it hardly meant he was good. Plenty of people had worn the Konoha hitaiate who were quite evil. Too many, Sasuke thought.
"Omatsu-sama said you are the Hokage's teammate and his friend." Mitsuko added.
"Hn." Well, at the very least the girl had convinced herself that she was not facing a bogeyman.
"If that is all, my lord? I should return to attend the ceremony."
"Aa..." Sasuke looked up when he realized Naruto and a few other Konoha ninja were at the door and about to enter. "Hn. The ceremony is finished."
The door banged open as Naruto let himself in with his usual fervor. Ino and Sai trailed in after "Bastard! We got it! It's finally done! Ino knows where they have Sakura and Shikamaru's smoothing things out with that guy Hidesaburou, then he's gonna take care of all the escorts and stuff for the diplomats when they leave. And Sai is gonna-"
Ino cleared her throat and directed Naruto's attention to Mitsuko.
Mitsuko immediately bent in a deep bow. "My lord, Hokage-sama!" When she stood up again her face was once again rosy. Her eyes registered confusion but she watched Naruto with increasing wonder at his high spirits and coarse manner.
Sasuke cleared his throat and folded up Shojiro's letter. "She's going to deliver a message for me."
Mitsuko started and looked at him. "Yes, my lord!"
"Huh? Well, alright bastard! I thought you'd want to leave right away." With a grin Naruto held out a scroll with the seals of both daimyo pressed into it.
Sasuke smirked. It was almost finished. "Aa, soon." He took the scroll from Naruto and tucked it into his thigh holster. Then he opened the writing kit and pulled out pen and paper. He tucked Shojiro's letter into the box.
"Whoa, where'd you get that! It wasn't here before."
"Just shut up and let me think for a second." Sasuke's considerable talents didn't extend particularly far in the area of writing. He felt stymied, unsure where to start, and it was made worse by everyone staring at him. He frowned.
Ino appeared at his side. "What are you writing, Sasuke-kun? If you don't mind me asking."
He grunted. He didn't really want to get into it, but this was an area that Ino probably understood better than he did. "It's for Omatsu. Because he helped out."
Shock stampeded over her face. "You...want to thank him?"
Sasuke could do without the staring. He wasn't going to explain the letter to her, or possibly anyone else. "Aa."
Ino got hold of herself and shook her head. "I think he helped you, mostly, Sasuke-kun. And if so he would likely enjoy a message in your words, not courtly language."
"Yeah, man!" Naruto added, crowding Sasuke's side. "Just say what you mean, you never had a hard time with that, you bastard!"
"Fine, just back off already!"
A tiny giggle made the three of them look up to Mitsuko. She slapped a hand over her mouth in surprise. "I'm sorry!"
"Aw hey, that's okay!" Naruto turned to the girl. "Me and the bastard are always like this! I mean we haven't seen each other for a while, but back when we were kids..."
"Now, Hokage-sama," Ino began. "I don't think you need to explain your childhood to this young lady."
Ino stepped to Naruto's side and subtly guided him away from Sasuke. Naruto overrode Ino and kept yammering about genin missions to Mitsuko, and Sasuke could finally tune him out. It wasn't the quiet that he would have preferred, but at least he could think.
It was an instant decision but one he knew was the right now. Now, how to go about it? Write what he meant, in his own words? What should those words be?
He stared at the blank paper for a full minute. He was grateful - for the letter, for the help, for the stories of Uchiha. And he wondered if he should explain more about himself, his life, how he could never have anticipated the last three days and how they had turned everything he knew on its head. But none of it felt right.
Sasuke wrote a few words hesitantly and then another word followed and then another.
Omatsu-san. I am grateful.
The heart of the Uchiha is the heart of a shinobi. Shinobi endure. I endure.
I am Sasuke Uchiha.
He reviewed his words and realized he meant every word. It was everything that he had to say.
On the other side of the table Naruto had Mitsuko in stitches and even Ino couldn't keep from giggling. "So there we were caught in our own trap all mad at each other, but we couldn't give up! Even the bastard was really determined to find out what was under Kakashi-sensei's mask, but..."
Sasuke folded up his letter and packed up the writing kit.
Sai watched him quietly. "Have you finished your message, Sasuke-kun?" Sai asked.
"Aa."
Mitsuko snapped her attention to Sasuke, even though she still shook with muted laughter.
"Take this to Shojiro-san." He held out the little note.
"Yes, sir!" Mitsuko took the note in both hands and bowed to him. Then she bowed to the others in the room, backing up slowed. Finally, she cleared the doorway and ran down the hallway on her errand.
"Alright! Now we can get going!" Naruto looked like he could just burst with excitement.
"My Lord Hokage, I really must object." Ino implored. "Sasuke-kun and Sai-kun can take care of this while you meet with dignitaries here."
"Hey, I told you it would be okay, Ino." Naruto answered. "I'm gonna go see Sakura-chan, believe it! I'm totally glad you got the location and Sai has the maps for where we're going. We'll go get her and then come right back, don't worry!"
Ino frowned, courtly delicacies completely wiped away. "Naruto, I know you want to see your teammate as soon as possible but you still have a lot of work here to do! If you feel so strongly about it, give one of your hiraishin to Sasuke-kun! He'll call you when the time is right."
She held out a hand as if to grab Naruto's arm and hold him in place. Naruto caught her by the wrist instead. And then he gave her a huge grin. "You're worried too, Ino. It's okay. I promise. It's gonna be okay."
Then he made a hand sign. "Shadow clone jutsu!" There was a puff of clouds and an identical Naruto reached out and put a hand on Ino's shoulder. "I'll take care of things here."
Ino pouted but said no more.
"Are we ready, Hokage-sama?" Sai held out a rolled up parchment. Naruto took it and handed it to Sasuke.
"Yup. That's the map to where we're going, I figured you can memorize the way."
"Hn." Sasuke unrolled the map and studied it for a moment. From what he remembered of Fire and Earth countries he could see the best route to the valley where Sakura was headed. He nodded to Naruto and held the map out to Sai.
He declined. "I have my own copy, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke glanced at him sharply. He was coming too?
"Okay! Let's go! Bastard, let's do this!"
"Hn."
Ino's frown deepened. "Naruto..."
Sasuke turned to her. "Ino."
She snapped her attention to him.
"Please take care of that box. Its contents are precious to me."
Pink blossomed over her cheeks as her breath caught. "Ah-yes! Of course, Sasuke-kun!"
Sasuke nodded to her. Then he turned and strode to the small balcony. He easily stepped onto the balustrade and launched himself into the air.
"Summoning jutsu!"
A voluminous screech tore through the sky and Sasuke landed on the back of an enormous bird.
Garuda wheeled in the air and turned his head slightly to peer at Sasuke with one large yellow eye. Sasuke silently thanked the giant hawk for answering his summons. With Garuda's help, a journey that would have taken running through the whole day would now take less than two hours and be far less exhausting. He directed the hawk to swoop low by the balcony.
Naruto leapt out and landed behind Sasuke. "This is so awesome!" He held up a fist and cheered. "I'm flying!"
"Tch." Sasuke shook his head and settled in and called back. "Fitting a third person will be difficult."
"No problem," Naruto grinned. "Sai's got his own ride."
They soared high above the palace. From there Sasuke could see a large white bird emerge from the balcony. It's edges were thick black, as if they were made of ink. When Sai jumped on it made sense.
Sasuke directed Garuda straight to the border with the Land of Earth. With another cry the massive hawk dove toward the horizon.
"Alright! Let's go!" Naruto shouted.
Sasuke didn't bother to point out they were already going. He looked back to see if Sai could keep up. The ink-bird was sailing just behind Garuda, taking advantage of the reduced wind resistance.
"What's up, bastard?"
"I didn't realize he was going to come too." Sasuke felt slightly irritated at having a stranger around. He had reached his limits for socializing a while ago.
"Sai?" Naruto looked back but Sai's bird had moved to an angle that was to the side and somewhat above Garuda.
Sai called down. "I convinced the Hokage to allow me to attend and observe the release of Sakura-san from her captivity."
Naruto added, "He was in Team Kakashi for a long time."
"I consider Sakura-san to be my teammate as well, Sasuke-kun. I desire her swift release no less fervently than Hokage-sama or you."
A confused look escaped Sasuke before he could turn forward again.
"Sai always had a lot of trouble with feelings, ya know! He used to say he couldn't feel anything. But now he just doesn't know how talk about them without sounding like damned dictionary!"
"Hn."
Naruto smacked a hand to his forehead. "Yeeahhh, why am I even explaining this to you? At least Sai can admit he has feelings! You have to fight everyone first - and I guess you gotta kiss 'em first too - before you admit someone matters to you!"
"Tch. Shut up."
"See, bastard! Like that!" Naruto laughed and then cried out when Garuda shifted in the air, nearly sending Naruto plunging. "Whoa! Okay, okay! Fine, let's talk about something else. You got your first request, you're gonna carry the treaty and the Tsuchikage's letter saying Sakura-chan is free to go. What's your second request?"
Sasuke had wanted absolute privacy to discuss this with Naruto, but it seemed this was the most privacy the Hokage was allowed to have. He regretted not thinking of it the when they had been alone in the suite during the night. But what they had spoken of then had its own importance.
He pressed his lips together and slowly let out a breath. "I don't want to go back to being a Konoha shinobi."
Behind him Naruto stiffened. "You... I figured we would talk about it when everything was done. When we got Sakura-chan back and if you didn't disappear immediately then we could work on you coming home-"
"It's not like that." Sasuke made a face. How could explain what he wanted? "I don't want everyone to make a fuss." And by 'everyone' he meant Naruto.
Naruto stared at him and waited for him to go on.
"How can I go right back to Konoha when everyone is sure I'm a traitor or a devil? And no one would want me for their missions." Sasuke paused. "And anyway, at this point I would not be the right person for usual ninja missions. There's just..."
Naruto shifted and finally spoke. "It's okay, man. Sakura-chan said you were different. I noticed you don't like the idea of fighting too much anymore." He grinned. "I just want you to come home because Konoha isn't the same without all my friends, ya know?"
"Konoha has been itself for much longer than you ever knew me."
Naruto barked a short laugh. "There you go trying to convince me we're not that close. You always want me to doubt my faith in you, bastard. You should know by now that's never gonna happen."
Sasuke hid a small smile. It was foolish to hope that Naruto would ever be anything other than himself. "After the past two days, no, maybe after the last few years, I realized there is other work that shinobi could do. Work that I could do." He glanced back at Naruto and then cleared his throat. "I think it could help Konoha, but to do it..." He hated saying it like this but there was no way around it. "I'm going to need your help. I... I'm going to need everyone's help."
Naruto looked at him as a smile took over his face and spread through his entire being, the kind of smile that seemed to radiate through his body and soul, the sort of smile that only Naruto seemed able to produce. Sasuke blinked away like he might if he were staring directly at the sun.
"Keep sayin' stuff like that and I'm gonna hug you again, bastard!"
"Shut up, loser. If you touch me I'll have Garuda dump your ass."
"Aw! That's why you had me give the treaty, so you can go save Sakura-chan by yourself!"
"Yeah, so back the hell off already."
Naruto grinned. "Whatever, I know you love me."
"Tch. Moron."
Naruto laughed openly. After several minutes he calmed down enough to speak. "Okay, you have some ideas. You know, I've been thinking about it ever since Granny Tsunade told me Sakura-chan found you again. And I talked a little with Shikamaru and he has some ideas too. He said you're looking for something to do that isn't all about fighting. I bet he has strategies in his head for the Sharingan where you don't kill anyone!"
"Hn."
"Well, anyway, what do you wanna get done? We'll sweat how to do it after we get a few solid ideas down."
Sasuke looked back once more. There again was the more mature side of Naruto. Supportive and...thoughtful. He smiled. Konoha was in good hands. Sasuke began to explain a little of what was on his mind.
- 傷 -
Sakura's consciousness fluttered together in the darkness once again. "Still here," she thought. She couldn't begin to tell how long it had been since she had tried to destroy the seal and failed. What a joke. Imprisoned in her own mind, she could feel her chakra almost completely replenished but she couldn't use it to the effect she wanted.
A movement of air ghosted over her skin as if a draft or the gentlest breeze. Sakura tried to imagine her arms and legs into being in the empty place where she was. The air was real...but somehow not present.
Then it occurred to her that it might be she who was somewhere else. For a moment a pang of panic went through her and she forced herself to take a long, slow breath.
There it was. She could feel her breath in her chest. Sakura could almost control it. She could feel air on her skin, the scents of people and smoke and food. Her mind was still trapped, separated from her body, but more of her body's sensations reached her mind.
Sakura's imaginary jaw set. Her captors did not know with whom they were dealing.
She looked up and out at the seal hanging impervious and imposing over her. It hid as much as it showed. It was extremely intricate and designed around precepts she hadn't encountered before. Seals could usually be shattered the way she might punch through a glass window. But a few were thicker, with layers that would draw out the power of a punch. This was different beyond even that. It stretched and absorbed attacks based on power, so even if she refined her chakra to slice through it there would be little effect.
Sakura nodded. She would hand it to the Iwa Sealing Corps, they knew their business. But they had left her alone too long and she had now had enough time to study the seal and develop a counter-measure.
Sakura set aside her physical sensations and concentrated harder on her chakra, bringing it to the place, such as it was, where her consciousness existed.
Carefully, slowly she sculpted the chakra so that it countered the seal overhead. She was moving, she felt a jolt and little bumps. She tucked away the memory that she was in a cage loaded on a wagon. That was not important right now. She continued to shape her chakra.
Fill in the negative space... It was like the most delicate surgery.
Tsunade had given her a lesson once. It was a complicated meditation on small but consistent pressure. Some obstacles would not be moved by gigantic and sudden force. For example, a diamond buried within bedrock. Tsunade had taken her to a cave with crystals of various colors. The cave was under a waterfall and the walls were slick with water and slime.
Tsunade had explained that the slime was largely micro-organisms and sediment carried down the walls by the water. Over millennia the water had steadily worked on the stone, removing it layer by layer until the crystals were exposed. It would be difficult and perhaps impossible to slam chakra into a stone wall in a way that would expose the crystals without burying them in smaller rocks and dust.
But a steady trickle of water over the ages had done what strength could not. Tsunade explained that a human being didn't have the luxury of time like water did, but that did not mean they couldn't learn from it.
Sakura put the image of the seal in her mind. She could work within its contours, flooding it with her chakra, patiently and persistently until its shape and elastic strength was completely undermined. She had to be precise and perfect.
If she missed then... Sakura understood that she could not afford to fail again. She had wasted too much time here. Sending her chakra through the seal would either break the seal or cut her off from her chakra and any opportunity to gather and mold any more. She couldn't afford anymore mistakes.
Sakura stared hard at the seal and dragged her mind to the point of thinking of it not as being "above" but "in front" of her. Adjusting the angle her mind insisted on was difficult but she had to do it.
She imagined her hand reaching out for the center of the seal.
It immediately pressed back against her intrusion. Sakura could feel the reaction affecting her mind, trying to shove it back under the darkness, back into senselessness. For a split second she felt a part of her mind go dark and she nearly dropped her hand. She got hold of herself and stiffened her arm. The seal still pressed on her, trying to suppress her wakeful thoughts.
This part would be even harder. Sakura had to change the form of her chakra merely by thinking it. Normally that was done with hand signs.
She steadied her imaginary breath and positioned her imaginary hands on center of the seal. The pressure on her mind persisted, pulling on her consciousness, encouraging a sensation of sleepiness, pressing on her to give up, dragging her toward darkness.
She could almost feel herself sweating. Just maintaining her consciousness was tiring. Thinking was taking more effort than the boulder smashing exercises Tsunade used to give her. Either this was done quickly or it wouldn't be done at all.
But just thinking that wasn't going to... Have...to...concentrate. Let go, the darkness seemed to whisper. Relax and rest.
Sakura shook her head and almost felt like crying. Concentrate! Her mind had never been tested quite like this before. She had performed complicated surgeries while under enemy fire. She had stood at Naruto's side and recited nearly entire chapters of Konoha history in order to settle village disputes. She had organized and led teams in extreme danger and made sure they all got out again. But nothing battered and pushed her mind like this.
She made a face. Sasuke may have graduated at the top their class at the Academy, and that was because his ninjutsu and taijutsu were unparalleled at that young age, but even he couldn't touch her grades when it came to facts and figures. Hell, during the written portion of the Chunin exam he was the one who needed to cheat, not her!
This stupid seal had nothing on the power of Sakura Haruno's mind! Sakura braced herself and flooded chakra through her hands into every nook and cranny of the seal. It over-wrote the seal and erased the negative spaces. Shannaro!
To Sakura's mind the barrier seemed to shimmer and then melt as the chakra oozing from her hands changed its form and slid into every opening and crevice, warping and modifying it until the seal could no longer hold its integrity. The seal appeared to warp and come loose, like weather-beaten paint on an old fence.
It was no longer a hindrance. In Sakura's mind she reached up and pulled a loose corner of the seal and tore it down.
On the hard floor of a steel cage, loaded onto a wagon and rolling down a town road, Sakura's left pinky twitched. A very soft grunt came from deep in her throat and the sensation of it caused her eyes to pop open.
Gosh I really wish FF allowed just a little more formatting. Blocktext would go a long way...
Thanks for the terrific reviews last time! I try to respond to everyone, whether its positive or negative but I don't always have the time. But reviews really make my day, so thanks!
ETA: I know I've said this before, but just to remind everyone: This story deviates from the canon at approximately the point where the War starts. It's my own spin and I appreciate anyone who reads along just for the fun of it. I am NOT FINISHED watching the anime and have never read the manga. (Stop bugging me about it.) I really don't like spoilers, so if you have finished Naruto and want to comment based on the official canon please make sure you stick to events before the War. Thanks.