Greetings, nice to know that a lot of people read the first chapter, so hopefully this next one will sate the few people who actually reviewed for the first one. From those that did, and by seeing a second chapter, I think it can be said that this is going to be a full-blow story, though done in the manner I see fit. The timelines are going to correlate with the cannon plot to some degree, but its kinda hard to make everything fit accordingly so I want to remind everyone that this is AU.
Not heavily AU, but enough for there to be a noticeable difference. That being said, I'll do my best to keep to my original plan of staying as close to the cannon plot-line as possible, but I can only promise so much with all things considering.
Now, enough talk, onward with the story!
UPDATED AS OF 1/10/2017
I don't own Naruto: If I did, Yugito would still be alive and fornicating with Naruto by now...
How does one cope with loss; with utter defeat, hopelessness, weakness, or regret?
An inquiry such as that was not something which possessed only one specific answer. There were many methods which were often applied in the effort to alleviate the troubles of men and women alike. Food or alcohol consumption, training, even sexual intercourse; there were many alternatives to be used from the commonplace methods to the downright bizarre. If it eased the soul then it was viewed as a positive and that went for all human beings of every status, not just shinobi. But with some problems could not be put to rest by a few swigs of a fowl beverage; they could be suppressed, numbed, but not vanquished completely.
In time that pain would return, which would lead them back to that glass, and the cycle continued. That is just how it worked, easier as it was to forget the cause of one's pain than to try and cope with it.
The younger generation didn't have some of the luxuries that the adults had in concerns for their troubles, grievances, or doubts. Younger shinobi might be considered adults in a military sense, but that did not imply that they had all benefits of being an adult. They still had to be of legal age to drink or smoke, creator forbid that a twelve year old Genin pick up on such things. That didn't stop the youth from doing it anyway if they could get away with it, but by that point they were at an age where it was mildly acceptable; though they're still susceptible to the law and were punished appropriately.
So yes, the younger generation didn't have as many methods to cope with their individual problems as adults did. But in the face of that, they had other means of dealing with their own issues; discussing it with their peers being the most common. Some would disagree with that, young adults tended to bottle up their emotions rather than allow others witness them openly grieving or suffering. Such was not the healthy option, nor was it the correct option to take, but those who took this approach were likely aware of those things already and, frankly speaking, didn't give a shit.
To them, it was much better for them to deal with it alone rather than trouble someone else with their woes.
As it so happens, Nii Yugito was among those people.
Like everyone else, she too tackled her own problems differently than others and soliciting conversation just wasn't hers. No amount of advice, reassurance, or positivity gained from such discussion would break her troubled mindset any faster than if she tended to it in her own way. People would extend the offer to her, a notion she appreciated but nevertheless turned down each time. It wasn't her unwillingness to vent; instead it was the lack of personal closeness that rendered her silent. Of the many comrades she had in Kumo, true friends outside of duty were in short supply to her.
Perhaps that was her own fault, perhaps it wasn't; but that was likely a subject for another time. Her thoughts were currently centered on a particular boy who she deduced was on the same page as her in regards to getting passed his problems.
Now Yugito would be the first to admit that she wasn't aware of all the details regarding things as of late. What she did know was that a recent lead on the boy's former teammate had led to him and his team's abrupt departure from the village. That was all the information she had been told when she asked him prior to his rushed departure that afternoon. What struck her about that particular announcement was the fire brimming in his eyes, a level of determination that she had yet to witness since she had come to be in his care. Unforthcoming as it was, she didn't push the subject any further given how important this matter was to him.
The following week after his departure had arguably been the most grueling and dullest experience she had since coming to Konoha. When the team had finally returned from that mission, she was less than surprised to find that the flame she witnessed before had been reduced to nothing but a faint spark. It didn't take someone of her skills to conclude that the mission had failed and the defector was still at large. Personally, she didn't see much point in putting such effort into retrieving someone who obviously didn't want to return. It would have been much easier to just eliminate the scum and get the whole ordeal over and done with.
Four months ago such an opinion would have been vocalized and the temptation was still strong even to this day. It was only out of courtesy to Naruto that those thoughts remained in her mind and not spoken aloud. If the same subject was breached by another Jounin, then she would not hesitate for a second to voice them. Her caretaker might not like it, but that was the grim reality of this profession and just about any Jounin could attest to and agree with that. But even in that situation, even if it was for the best of the village, he would still argue against that until his lungs collapsed.
Truly he wasn't a normal shinobi, a fact that he makes no small effort in reminding her half of the time. The traitor had been the subject of discussion a couple times in the past, not many but enough to give her some insight on the matter itself. In those instances, he flat out refused to see that person as a traitor or a threat, rather he persisted in calling him a friend and someone which he desired to save. It had been their latest discussion that he provided a retort that was, surprisingly enough, level-headed coming from him.
"Sasuke is our teammate so he's our business. That means we're the one's goin' after him and we're the people that are gonna bring him back."
Yugito had admitted that it was commendable of Team Seven taking responsibility, even if she silently disagreed with it. But that time had passed, it wasn't commendable anymore, and she reasoned that the subject of his teammate's elimination needed to be brought back up. It wasn't about her personal opinion anymore, the duty to his village, or for the sake of his profession. This whole 'rescue' thing, this effort to 'save' someone who didn't want to be saved, was slowly destroying both him and his team.
The evidence to this was apparent too, given the manner in which he was training since he had returned from that mission. Yugito herself had hardly seen much of him since then, a bothersome fact that both annoyed and concerned her. She was aware of how extensively he trained, oh she was most certainly aware, but there was a limit on how much time one should dedicate to honing one's skills. The fact that he hadn't been at home as of late further increased the sense of unease churning inside her. Needless to say, after yet another morning of his absence, the Jounin made the decision to head out and search for the orange-clad youth with the full intention of dragging his sorry ass back home.
A task that she quickly realized was a lot easier said than done; considering she didn't have the faintest fucking clue as to where he had run off to.
Having searched every place that the two had visited in the past four months with no results, Yugito turned to the alternative method of locating the lad. Although it took a bit of asking around to find the place, which ate up more time than she liked, her patience was rewarded once she was pointed in the right direction. Hence the reason why it was around the mid-afternoon time-frame when the woman finally found herself standing at the front door of the Haruno residence.
Having already knocked, all that was left to do was wait for an answer. Given the noise behind the door indicating someone's approach, Yugito had quickly composed herself into her standard professional persona. A few more moments of patient waiting, the door to the residence opened, revealing the very teen whom the blonde was looking for.
"Greetings, Haruno-san."
The level of surprise that overcame Sakura's visage, though short-lived, did not escape the Jinchuuriki's notice.
"Ah, um, good afternoon Nii-san."
In all fairness, this abrupt visit from the Kumo Jounin would have caught most people off guard. It was hard of her not to be put off by this, considering she strongly doubted Naruto had specifically told the woman where his teammate lived or anything like that. On that note, one could assume that the circumstances behind the woman's current living arrangements were not a foreign concept to her. If anything, she had been the most vocal in her disagreement towards the decision to place a woman in the care of her idiotic teammate in the first place, though her objection was ultimately overruled. So yes, Haruno Sakura was well aware of their situation and as such among the few people outside of Naruto that the foreign kunoichi frequently spoke to.
To be fair, the pink haired young woman could hardly be blamed given her inquisitive nature as it was too damn hard for her not to strike up a conversation with her given how little she knew about Kumogakure and its customs. To be able to speak with a foreign shinobi on decent terms was a rarity, so of course she would jump at the chance to gain some insight on their culture and whatever history the woman felt was safe to share. At first things had been going swimmingly, there wasn't much of an issue and there was no hostility to be had between herself and the young Chuunin.
But as time dragged on, weeks eventually turned into months, and the pinkette seemed to have since grown a mild case of discomfort when conversing with the woman.
Let it not be misunderstood, she did not hold any animosity for the blonde. Rather it was the woman's blunt-nature that off-set Sakura the most. It was just disturbing how casually she approached certain matters such as politics, assassinations, and hell even her thoughts regarding the opposite sex were straight forward. Not in the way that someone like Naruto was, but instead it was approached with the same level of calm one uses to decide what to eat for breakfast that morning. In some ways, it reminded her of how her own sensei acted in his day-to-day actions; only Yugito carried herself with in a more professional manner than Kakashi did.
"I apologize for the inconvenience, but I require a portion of your time if you are available."
"O-oh, no, no I'm not busy right now anyway so it's no problem." Assured the pink haired youth while dismissing the woman's concerns with a simple hand gesture; her unease masked by a polite smile. "So then, what's the problem and how can I help?"
Disturbing as it was, she believed that it all went back to Kumo and its culture; as they were a nation primarily driven by their military, not by their economy like Konoha was. They focused on military strength and dominating presence rather than political power and others non-threatening methods of peace. Some would say it made Kumo seem like it was run by brutes who ruled by intimidation, but in the same vein just as many have claimed Konoha as inferior for their use of reason rather than conflict. Neither party was wrong in doing things in their own ways, as both nations were powerful forces not to be underestimated or trifled with.
"Very well, I am in need of assistance in regards to Uzumaki-san and his current whereabouts."
Nothing about Kumogakure or its culture, however, had much of anything to do with this woman's spontaneous interest in her acting caretaker.
While their discussions regarding the blond were as few as their actual interactions, when the subject did appear Yugito seemed noticeably more interested in the subject than any other that was brought up. She would make many inquiries regarding him, to the point that it reached a personal level that the Haruno wasn't comfortable discussing with her. She didn't pry, but that look that Sakura received from her when she avoided certain questions showed that the cogs in her mind were turning.
It had been strange, hell it was still strange to this day in her eyes that someone could hold so much interest in someone like Naruto. Given the two did live together and that would inspire anyone to gain more information regarding their fellow tenant, but what was the purpose of asking if she was romantically interested in the idiot?
Her response to that question had been met with silence, a rather scolding glare, and an abrupt ending of any and all conversation by her abrupt departure. Even now she still felt a pang of guilt stab at her chest whenever the two's eyes met, for she could still faintly see the wisps of disapproval floating within those teal spheres. Whether or not it was real or just her imagination was irrelevant, she still felt bad about it considering how she claimed to have changed at lot prior to his departure years ago.
That particular discussion and the way she reacted only told her that she hadn't changed as much as she liked to believe. She was still the same immature academy girl who was quick to put down someone who she claimed to be her friend. Hopefully she wasn't here to act on the numerous, and rather unwarranted, insults she had spurted out that day.
Kami knew that she had chided herself enough since then to warrant a verbal lashing from someone as intimidating as Yugito.
"Haruno-san?"
The inquiry used when addressing the pinkette seemed to serve as a reminder that the very blond was right in front of her. Blinking almost owlishly, her cheeks gained a slight red hue upon realizing she had been spacing out in front of a guest.
"Ah, sorry, sorry, I kinda zoned out there for a second. I've been pretty busy at the hospital these past couple days and today was my first day off since our team's last mission."
"I see..." As the blonde's words trailed off, Sakura once again found herself subjected to the woman's ever calm eyes met her own; to which she knew those teal spheres of hers were gauging her for reasons she did not yet know of. After a few seconds of this the potentially judgmental shine in her eyes faded and her flat yet clear clear-cut tone made its return. "I must apologize for my insistence, but I would immensely appreciate it if you could provide me with the current whereabouts of Uzumaki-san."
If honesty was a must, Yugito would be inclined to admit that she was aware that her presence here instilled a great deal of discomfort in the young woman. Just as she was aware that the subject of the Uzumaki could vary depending on the subject currently under discussion. The Kumo Jounin was very much aware of these factors, very aware that she was being far more scrutinizing than in previous encounters, and she did not care. She did not care because she was intentionally using those feelings of unease to get what she wanted.
Sure, toying with the emotions of the younger woman was uncouthly, but if it gave her results then she would do what she had to. The knowledge that Sakura was his teammate did not matter at that particular moment either, although perhaps she would eventually apologize for exploiting her in this way at a later point in time.
Then again Yugito could distinctly recall every word the pink haired girl had said regarding her caretaker. Teammate or not Naruto was a friend worth defending and as such the blonde found it a tad difficult to follow the pattern of forgive and forget. Maybe in another month or two she could probably forgive it, but forgetting was not bound to happen any time soon. As things stood now it served to her benefit to keep that discussion fresh in her mind. If for no other reason than to have some genuine emotion to draw on for this little ruse.
At a later time, in a moment of reflection, she would begin to question precisely who was being hoaxed here: Haruno or herself.
But that was something reserved for a different time and place.
"Is-is something wrong? Did something happen?"
"Perhaps, perhaps not, that's what I aim to determine and the reason I sought you out." Responded the blonde with a casual shrug of her shoulders, though the flat tone remained steadfast as well as the even flatter stare that never left the Haruno's visage. "He has been absent from the apartment for a prolonged period of time and I had yet to have receive any information from him or anyone in regards to his abrupt disappearance. Which brings me to why I am here, I wish to find him and so that I may evaluate the current state of his mental health. So again, if you happen to know of his current location, I would greatly appreciate it if you could disclose that information to me."
Aaaand there it was, that bluntness, that familiar straightforward nature of hers which consistently left Sakura in a state of unease whenever it was directed at her. Suddenly the girl's hands seemed far more interesting than woman as she shifted her gaze downwards whilst her body leaned against the left side of the doorframe.
It wasn't like Sai, who was just so emotionally detached that he came off as being socially awkward. Yugito had signs of that however she did understand social cues and customs that made her much easier to approach and talk to. But when it came to certain matters of her own personal interest, well, that's where things grew uncomfortable. She was just so forward about it, whatever it happened to be, that she sometimes came off as being too pushy or overbearing unless given a proper response. That same pressure was what had ultimately caused the pinkette to speak negatively about her teammate and friend on impulse.
Factor in that this woman was both a Jounin of a foreign country and a Jinchuuriki on top of that and you have someone who had a lot of intimidation to work with.
Coupled with her natural slanted eyes and that consistent professional vibe she gave off. . .
Well it's easy to see why she was someone worth being afraid of, despite what Naruto said otherwise.
And judging by the rather insistent tone her voice took during the end of her statement it was a good indication that she was not leaving here empty-handed. Even if her body language and tone betrayed nothing, her eyes held a thin but still noticeable edge to them that all but pierced through younger woman's own emerald spheres. Sakura couldn't help herself, she turned her gaze elsewhere, anywhere that wasn't looking directly at those teal orbs. That wasn't the look of a concerned individual rather than being the gaze of someone baring a grudge, animosity, or contempt.
Sakura knew the reason why, hard not to considering how that conversation concluded, but why was Yugito still carrying a grudge about that? Hadn't the woman realized by now that nothing that she said then had been heartfelt? Hadn't Yugito realized that Sakura had been a much harsher critic towards her behavior then than Yugito ever could be?
Doubtful, it seemed, or perhaps she did and was using that against her. Hard to tell with her, but the truth of the matter was that being subjected to that gaze was bringing about more and more depressing thoughts to the forefront of the young medic's mind.
Thoughts like the final moments she shared with Sasuke that night three years ago.
Naruto's bandaged, damaged, and defeated face as he apologized for his failure to keep a promise he shouldn't have been forced to make.
Their failed attempt to retrieve their wayward teammate not too long ago and seeing firsthand just how far the gap was between them and the rogue Uchiha.
Yugito's presence, her tone, and her ever-patient but knowing eyes only served to add insult to injury.
"He's…wait, what do you mean by 'evaluate his mental health'?"
Her initial response was to be completely honest, give her the information she wanted so that she would be on her way and away from her. But that changed once the woman's statement fully registered and thus enticed her to probe the question a little further.
If Yugito was surprised by the question she was being addressed with, she did not show it. It was drilled into her bones to expect the unexpected, to be prepared for any situation that may or may not occur during the course of her career. This was a prime example of that training paying off, having gained the foresight to expect some of the outcomes which her statement would most likely provoke. Of course, it was impossible to determine every outcome of every situation out there as well as have the foresight to expect every outcome to her actions or her words.
Even still, the things she could expect she could prepare for accordingly, and the question that was addressed by the Chuunin was among those questions which she was prepared for. So, when the statement was made, she didn't even bat an eyelash at it and merely continued to uphold the image she had since her arrival.
"I am aware of your recent mission to locate your defected team member and return him back to the village. I am also aware that the mission had ended in failure as the traitor is still at large. Henceforth, I had grown concerned regarding my caretaker's wellbeing as he appeared to be noticeably distant upon his return. In addition to becoming absent from his home for long durations of time, I have come to conclude that he is-"
"He's trying to grow stronger."
The response regarding the girl's question was something she expected, the interruption however was not.
Sakura's interjection also allowed her the means to take note of her sudden change in body language. Before, Sakura appeared apprehensive as a direct result of her intimidating presence here at her home. Now her demeanor had completely changed from the former and into that of depression and sorrow. Those eyes, those emerald green spheres that she could see holding a great deal warmth behind them, were filled with so many emotions that it was astounding. Regret being the most powerful among all that she had witnessed in those spheres.
Yugito herself didn't realize it then, or perhaps she did but refused to care, but her professional appearance had been dropped all for the sake of listening to whatever the young woman had to say. It had been the stained thin smile that the Haruno offered which made all her intentions of locating her friend vanish for the time being. Sure Yugito was worried about her caretaker, that much was clear, but right now someone else that was close to him needed to vent.
She fought back the urge to shrug.
Why the hell not?
"...if you want to talk," Began to Jounin, slipping herself out of the professional and aloof persona and into the woman which Naruto spoke so highly about. "I would be more than happy to listen."
Once again, Sakura's reaction to this sudden change of heart had been brief, before she allowed herself to smile with a little less sorrow hidden beneath it and gestured her inside. With a nod of acknowledgement towards the gesture, she stepped into the young woman's abode and, upon shutting the front door, lead the way towards her room on the upper level of the home.
Upon reaching her personal domain, Yugito found herself with a rather plain room, decently furnished if only a little bit messy due to the abundance of books and scrolls that were scattered around the room. The small wooden desk and chair stuck out the most to the Jounin's eyes, its presence conflicting with the decor; which meant it had been a rather recent addition to Sakura's furnishings. Still it was plain and a bit bigger than expected, though comparing it to Naruto's own bedroom wasn't fair considering they shared it without so much hassle. Over-all, Yugito found it to be cozy, a nice enough location to discuss the personal matters without feeling too much discomfort.
Being the guest, Yugito took to the chair that was meant for the desk while Sakura herself took to the comfort of her own bed. With but the adjustment of the chairs placement the blonde was now sitting directly across from the girl who was sitting cross-legged on the only other piece of furniture in the room. Despite the turn of events Sakura still seemed somewhat perturbed about the whole situation, being in the same room as the woman who carried something similar to her teammate and all. Though that wasn't full reason behind her unease as opposed to it being a factor that played a part in it.
She knew it wasn't right to judge a person based on circumstances like those, the best examples of that were Kirabi and Naruto himself. If one didn't know better, they never in their lives would have suspected that said individuals housed the two most powerful entities in the living world. It was a sweet relief that they turned out the way they did, yet at the same time the most terrifying 'what if' scenario of all time if they turned out differently.
But that wasn't important at the moment.
What was important was breaking this damnable silence that had currently took residence in the room.
Yugito had offered to listen to her talk, but how did she begin discussing a topic like this to someone who was generally an unknown? Again, they had talked a number of times since her arrival, but those conversations were brief and few. This little 'talk' was going to be far from brief considering all that which she needed to explain. So the question again was how to start this conversation off? How was she to begin this explanation to someone who she had such limited interaction with? It was hard enough for her—and maybe Naruto even—to discuss it with their closest friends let alone talking about it to a foreigner.
Feeling her confidence and drive to proceed with this explanation withering away, Sakura resigned herself to just forgoing the whole thing and apologize to the woman for wasting her time.
"I take it that he is the team member you had lost?"
Thankfully the woman's inquiry tore her out of her musings as she followed the woman's gaze; which led to the sight of Team 7's Genin photo that was kept on her nightstand.
The picture was old, along with the memories that were present every time she looked at it. Back when things were much more simplistic in nature, when the biggest concern to the three of them was learning something new or going on another mission. Times where she would watch as Naruto and Sasuke argued, or times when the three of them would actually work together to overcome adversity. Hell, one of the most humorous moments in their time back then was working together to try and see what their sensei's face looked like underneath his mask.
Fond memories flooded her mind from just glancing at it, erecting a small smile to take form her lips as she reached over and plucked the picture-frame up off nightstand to examine it. The degree in which she did this was reminiscent to the sort of fondness one often saw in parents when looking their children's baby-pictures. The sentimental value of something so simple as a picture, not even a remotely good one due to both the boy's expressions, was something that was both remarkable and precious.
"Mhm, the very same." She said this simple statement with what could be depicted as a sigh; and only she would know if it was out of contentment or one of mourning. One thing was for sure though, the picture was definitely something she cherished more so than any other possession she may have to this date. "Uchiha Sasuke, our teammate, and…I guess you could say a cherished friend of ours."
Having taken a decent enough look at the photo prior to mentioning it, Yugito could already determine that it must have been taken early on in their career. Kumo didn't do such things as often, the comradery was there but the whole photo taking process was reserved for the sentimental types. Those people were rare honestly, at least in Jounin-sensei's, which at the same time sent her down her own road of memory-lane. Nothing too special about it really, as all she had now were a few pictures and some names on the memorial wall that she served as a reminder of her early career as a shinobi.
In the back of her mind part of her did miss the old days when things were somewhat simpler than they were now; but the past wasn't territory she dwelled in for very long or too often.
She was content for it remain that way since everything from back then mattered little to nothing at all nowadays.
Nonetheless it mildly bothered her how different Konoha was in comparison to Kumo and the fact that Sakura's team was so close did fill her with a tad bit of envy.
Envy aside, Yugito took to leaning her body forward slightly, propping her elbows onto her knees whilst holding her head up on the palm of her left hand. To the casual observer it would appear as if she was disinterested with this entire event, as if no part of the conversation that was soon to come would hold any significance to her. To Sakura, however, it didn't take someone like Kakashi to note the attentive look that shined clearer than day in those dark sphere's of hers. Posture didn't matter because she was damn sure that she currently had the blonde woman's complete and undivided attention.
"What happened?"
That was a good question really; what did happen?
What had been the real cause that shifted events to unfold in the manner in which they did? Was it the curse mark that Orochimaru had placed on Sasuke during the exam? Or was it the fact that Naruto had sudden grown so much and became noticeably stronger in such a short span of time? So many ideas of when it could have happened, when all this mess had truly started, but Sakura could not determine the exact moment when everything spiraled downwards. That much was made pretty clear when the smile on her features died away and was once more over stricken with grief along with curiosity.
None the less, the woman remained silent as Sakura did her best to compose herself and gather her thoughts. Fortunately that process did not take very long to do, although that did not mean the subject matter was an easy one to talk about.
"I…honestly don't really know exactly where it all started." It was a sincere response; one that caused the woman in front of her to raise an eyebrow. There was a pause following this as Sakura attempted to explain it from where she believed things went wrong. "If I had to guess, I'd say it was during our first Chuunin exam, the second portion of it to be exact."
It didn't take much coaxing after bringing up her teammate for the words to spill from the younger woman's lips regarding the boy known as Uchiha Sasuke. Yugito knew of the Uchiha, hell there wasn't a shinobi village in the world that didn't know the name of that clan. The boy known as Sasuke, from what Sakura had explained, was a very capable young man and an astounding shinobi of his generation. Of course she would have expected as much, otherwise she would have been quite disappointed if he had been anything less than moderately skilled.
Throughout the conversation regarding him, from Team 7's first attempt in the Exams to his eventual departure from Konoha, the blonde Jounin had reached the conclusion that was glaringly obvious to her.
Said conclusion had all but doubled her resolve to convince Naruto to cease with his pursuit of the Uchiha.
The boy was spawned into a privileged clan, had some of the best training that could be offered to him, and yet he still felt inferior. So much so that his jealousy over his fellow teammate over-came his duty as a shinobi. For Kami's sake he was a Genin, a skilled Genin, but a Genin none the less. But all the same she could understand his frustration when being compared to a Jinchuuriki and one who was obviously not as skilled then as he very well could have been at the time. But Jinchuuriki were not always chosen to bare the gift of becoming one, some were simply forced to play the role of container regardless of if they had a choice in the matter or not.
She wasn't particularly fond of the training she underwent to achieve her level of skill as both a shinobi and as a Jinchuuriki. Even so she carried the honor of being one with her head held high knowing that she could provide a great service to her country and its people.
Naruto, however, did not view it in the same light as she did given his upbringing and that subject was another piece of knowledge she didn't even remotely pretend to like.
Perhaps if the Uchiha boy had known of Naruto's blessing, or curse dependant on one's viewpoint, would he have felt as discouraged as he did? Perhaps he would have understood that Naruto's inborn talents were not all something that he had chosen to have but rather born with without his consent? If the boy had known then, had he been aware of his teammate's 'curse', then it was possible that he wouldn't have deserted the village in search of power. The fact that his said teammate carried the strongest of the biju yet still considered the Uchiha his rival couldbeen seen as a privilege and honor, in her eyes at least.
To her it showed that he held a deep respect for his teammate's abilities, showed he could be as skilled as he was then without the need of a creature to make him have a far greater advantage than most human beings could fathom. Yet that was all tied in with the past, it was clear to her that the said Uchiha was much stronger than he had been back then if Sakura's description of Sasuke's current capabilities held any merit.
But the conversation regarding her lost teammate had long since passed, long sense been finished, and yet Yugito still remained in the pink haired girl's bedroom.
Reason being was that, upon having her reflect on all that had occurred and re-opening old wounds, the blonde woman chose to try and cheer up the young woman by a mere shift in topics. Her subject of discussion had been simple in regards to their team's past experiences; despite having heard a majority of them from Naruto himself. However the result of this topic opened up new stories which Naruto had not shared with her such as the story of their graduation test with their sensei. Hearing about Naruto's sensei literally 'butt poking' the boy served to both disturb and amuse the woman a great deal.
Before long many of the team's misadventures had been brought to life that Yugito had not been told; specifically the one's regarding her blonde friend's misfortune during said events. These stories, these misadventures, each new tale served to erect a good number of laughs from both parties; ultimately curing the sour mood that had taken up the room prior.
By this point Yugito's professional visage was all but gone leaving a far more relaxed visage of the blonde woman that, up until this moment, only Naruto knew existed.
One thing had to be said though; Yugito could understand why Naruto cared so much about this girl.
Haruno Sakura could produce quite a brilliant smile when she was engrossed in pleasant conversation.
"I take it you three never saw his face after all of that?"
"Nope, he had us on the edge of our seats though." Said Sakura, her head shaking as her chuckles filled the room upon recalling the events of Team 7's curiosity over what was beneath Kakashi's mask. "You have no idea how pissed we were when it looked like he was going to show us. All he ended up showing us was the other mask under the first. Ah, all of us were so mad after that, and we eventually just gave up on it after that."
"I thought Naruto didn't give up on anything?" Retorted the woman, her posture noticeably more relaxed since the beginning of their little talk and her tone clearly showcasing her amusement. "Given how stubborn he is I can imagine that he would persist until he succeeded."
"Yeah, he usually doesn't just up and quit, in fact I think he still asks the other Jounin about it from time to time. And don't even get me started on how stubborn he is. I'm sure you know by now, but sometimes I wonder if its him being stubborn or him just being obsessive. Even with that Shamisen, ever since he got it, he hasn't stopped trying to play it even though he's clearly bad at the thing."
The last part of that statement abruptly caused Sakura's brow to scrunch up in thought as a particular thought came to her.
"Speaking of that, I'm pretty sure Naruto mentioned something about you being really good at the Shamisen."
Being perfectly honest, Yugito couldn't accurately guess how much or how little the fellow blonde spoke about her when she wasn't around. She had little reason to be concerned about who or what he discussed about her, provided it wasn't slanderous in nature. She doubted he would do something of that nature, maybe a couple months ago sure, but not now. Yet, despite being unbothered about it, part of her couldn't help but feel a bit flattered by the praise; trivial as the subject was.
"Did he now?" Murmured the woman feigning her disinterest in the topic in favor of 'adjusting' the prayer beads on her arm, not realizing herself that the corners of her lips had risen ever so slightly. "He does often praise me about my hobby, although I'm certain that whatever he has told you is merely an over exaggeration. I assure you it's nothing worth mentioning, in spite of what Naruto may say otherwise."
Had she been paying attention to Sakura during her 'inspection' she would have taken note of the look in the pinkette's eyes as she spoke. The look of cogs turning within her brain, the flash of realization, and finally the soft yet knowing smile that showed on both her lips and eyes.
"Mmhm that could be true but that isn't all he has to say; he does in fact talk about you a lot." At that Yugito's attention once again fell back onto the girl in front of her with an expression of mild bewilderment. "When I say a lot, I mean a lot, and he's said some pretty great things about you too. Not just the about the Shamisen but a lot of other things as well. Like how you're great company to have around or how you help him out with things around your home. The conversations you two have, the training you two do, all of it; he's done nothing but say good things about you. And I believe a lot of what he said wasn't a case of him just 'over exaggerating' as you put it."
Having absorbed what the young Chuunin said, Yugito was temporarily at a loss words before quickly recomposing herself. But whatever rebuttal she may have planned to retort with was effectively stifled before it could be brought out into words. Reason being was because Sakura had continued on without giving an opportunity for the blonde to get a word single word in.
"You're a lot like him, you know that right? Different in many ways, sure, but you do have similar traits that are a lot like his. For example: neither of you like to show weakness in front of others; your reasons may be different from his but you still share that trait. You don't like it because of your pride and he doesn't like it because he wants to keep me and others close to him from being worried. Another trait is how both of you are as loyal and as dedicated as they come to your village and the people you want to protect. On top of that, though you may deny this, the both of you sometimes come off as socially awkward at times; trust me I've noticed."
With each example being presented like this, Yugito couldn't help but feel like she was being lectured by one of her old instructors from her time as a child. The manner in which Sakura was pointing these things out to her like this...well…it bothered her. Nii Yugito didn't delude herself into believing that she was perfect, she had her imperfections, but all the same she still accepted those things as part of herself. She knew she was a blunt person, without question she knew that, and she acknowledged that as part of who she was.
Said blunt nature often helped keep her in control of a conversation, however now it seemed that same method of approach was being used against her. With Sakura not allowing her a moment to speak, Yugtio was left unable to verbally defend herself from what was being said at that moment.
Being on the receiving end was not her game, she would rather give it than receive it. Yet here she was now experiencing what it's like to be on the receiving end of such a forward approach in a conversation.
Let it be explicitly said here: Nii Yugito really didn't like being on the receiving end of this conversation.
"For the sake of argument though let's say we discard those examples, what do you have then? You live together in the same apartment, share the same meals, spend a whole lot time together, and even sleep in the same room as each other every night." Let it also be said that Yugito really wished to kick the ever-living crap out of Naruto for telling people that last little detail. "So, with all that being said, is there anything wrong with admitting that you have good traits? Is it really that bad to have someone appreciate you for just being there when, before you came around, nobody ever was?"
"A-absolutely not! I-I wasn't discrediting his opinion of me nor discrediting myself. I was just under the impression that...uh, he was..."
It wasn't when she diverted her attention away from the Haruno that spoke volumes of how much her composure had been lost. Nor had it been how the digits of her left hand had come to toy with the remaining locks at the tip of her bound hair. It was when she fully registered her own words, or rather how she said them after they left her lips, that served as the 'tell' so to was stammering, her of all people had lost her professionalism on a subject matter about a solitary male.
That wasn't like her, not in any way, shape, or form was that the typical of behavior she was prone to expressing in public. She hadn't stammered or cowered in front of others since as far back as she could remember; not even when faced with the unyielding rage of the Raikage and that man could really yell when he was angry.
So why was she acting so differently than she normally did?
Surely it couldn't have been over something as trivial as feeling appreciated by her acting caretaker. The notion itself was absurd, so utterly juvenile, yet that was what this topic was centered around. Was she really that flustered about it that her whole image, her pride as a Jinchuuriki and a strong kunoichi of Kumogakure, could be tossed away into the wind so casually?
"Just making nice because he was told to do it?" Sakura had no way of knowing that putting words into Yugito's mouth like this only served to genuinely annoy the blonde. Granted that was where the blonde's thoughts were going with that unfinished statement, but it still pissed off the Kumo kunoichi nonetheless. "Please, I can't remember a time that Naruto hadn't managed to befriend someone during the course of a mission. Besides, even if he was being ordered to just nod and smile, he wouldn't have done it. He's not the type to just blindly follow a command he didn't like and it sure as hell wouldn't have been the first time he'd have gone against what he was being told to do. No matter how you look at it he would have wormed his way into your heart eventually; it was only a matter of time."
Yugito could have possibly been imagining things, but something about Sakura's tone began to sound suspiciously smug. Like she knew about something that she wasn't telling or was on the verge of spilling yet withholding enough information to keep her captive audience in suspense. But with the blonde's mentality in such disarray she could barely keep up with what was being said, let alone gauge her accurately in expression or body language.
"But the biggest question on my mind right now is how deep did he go? Do you really see Naruto as only your caretaker or do you see him as-"
"Don't make insinuations about a relationship you don't fully understand!"
Yugito was being a hypocrite by saying this, that was indeed true, unfortunately this impulsive statement overcame her ability to give a damn.
The ferocity which Yugito used to interject made it painstakingly clear that wherever the girl's thoughts were going was not up for discussion. Seemed that the raw emotion that overtook her in that instance restored enough of her composure to lock her narrowed and intensely fierce eyes onto those of the startled Haruno's. As quickly as this surge of emotion appeared it dissipated, allowing the Jinchuuriki to calm her nerves and thus lessening the intensity of her gaze by a significant margin even if she still refused to break eye contact.
Admittedly she didn't intent do lash out at the girl in such a manner, at least not as aggressively as she had just now. Yet, even if she didn't admit it at that moment, Yugito would not deny that it was for the best as it would serve to remind the girl not to overstep her boundaries.
To clarify, Yugito had no issues in regards to the Uzumaki nor was she denouncing the notion on the same grounds that Sakura had done. The way he was, what he stood for, what he fought for, his thoughtfulness, his trust, his company, all of those things were positive aspects that she had come to respect and enjoy as his friend. By all accounts she liked the way things were as they were, anything more would inevitably lead to pain that she didn't want Naruto to experience. So to ask for anything more out of their relationship was not option for her, the circumstances that currently stood regarding her stay here made this arrangement temporary.
She would not stay here, she knew that, and it was because of that awareness that she desired to keep their bond the same as it was now.
Hence why implications or assumptions of a romantic relationship between herself and Naruto were best to be crushed before they could bare fruit. For the sole purpose of preserving their bond Yugito had no other option but to classify such notions as being nothing less than baseless rumors; end of discussion. Whether those assumptions were accurate or otherwise was irrelevant as all that truly mattered to her was ensuring that their inevitable parting ended on good terms and without regrets. Although that was debatable as there was perhaps something she could possibly consider to be a regret.
That evening at the apartment, that chaste kiss she had given him, perhaps that was something she would come to regret doing. Initially it was to be taken as a rewarding gesture for all the things he had done but was never given proper thanks for. It hadn't been done out of romantic interest, just a simple reward that she felt he earned and never received, at least...that's what she told herself at that time.
Now that Sakura had made the implication the Nibi Jinchuuriki was beginning to suspect that maybe there was more to it than that.
And that suspicion concerned her more than she cared to admit.
"My apologies Haruno-san but I have imposed on your hospitality long enough." Muttered the woman just after breaking eye contact and abruptly rising out of the chair. "Thank you kindly for indulging me, it was an enjoyable experience, but I believe it best that be on my way."
Had the Haruno had anything she wished to say, Yugito did not give her the apt amount of time to do so. It didn't take long after she had stood up to find herself out in the hallway, then at the top of the stairs, and finally at the front door to the residence. While it would have been easy to blame the girl for her sudden desire to depart so as to be alone with her thoughts, Yugito did no such thing. None of that was her fault, if anyone had to be blamed it was Yugito herself for allowing her emotions run rampantly like this. Honestly she wasn't sure if it was peaceful atmosphere Konoha excreted or if was Naruto's own influence rubbing off on her that was impeding her composure.
Whatever the case was it needed to be dealt with soon otherwise she didn't know how different she would be upon her eventual return to Kumo.
"Yugito-san!"
Said kunoichi had just turned the knob to open the door when she heard Sakura's voice calling out to her. She didn't know what influenced her to halt her departure but whatever the cause was she heeded it as she turned to face the young woman staring down at her from the top of the stairs.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to force my thoughts or opinions onto you." This was no feint, Sakura's apology was sincere, yet her eyes held something else that the Yugito could not place. "I just wanted you to know that whatever you decide to do is your choice, Yugito-san. Just promise me, whatever decision you make from here on, that you'll take care of him. He needs someone like you around and I know that he cherishes you more than you will ever know."
Without further to add Sakura gave the woman a small parting bow before turning away from the staircase and back to her room.
What she left in her wake was a troubled, conflicted, and utterly bewildered kunoichi of Kumogakure.
One who would spend the remainder of her day reflecting on the girl's parting words.
UPDATED AS OF 1/10/2017
And there you have it, the second chapter of Three Strings of a Shamisen.
Believe it or not, I did do some research on Kumo and they are primarily focused in military strength, more so than Konoha, so this is my interpretation of how their shinobi act. Also, as some will take note, Yugito does seem different in this chapter and if something needs to be said about that, I'll explain it as simply as possible. Yugito with Naruto equals causal interaction, Yugito with everyone else equals a more professional persona. If you still don't get it, than I'll leave it to you to figure out for yourself, but I'm sure everyone gets the reasoning so my worries might as well be naught.
So, feedback would be nice and I know people are reading this if the 1,153 Views, 23 Favorites, and 15 Followers to this story gets is of any indicator. So yeah, about that empty box at the bottom of the screen.
You knoooow, the one you write something in?
The box that says 'Type your review for this chapter here'.
Yeah, you know the one I'm talking about.
Mhm, that one.
Click It.