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New chapter is up. Enjoy^^
Disclaimer: Masashi Kishimoto owns NARUTO. I'm just borrowing them for the sake of our own self-enjoyment and my own wild imagination going a little crazy… Yosh!
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"Talking"
"Thinking"
[Mindscape]
["Talking in mindscape"]
"Biju speaking"
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PETALS OF HOPE
CHAPTER 14
The fifth Hokage took a sip from her tea as she tried to calm herself. Before her, an old ancient tree stood, probably the oldest and biggest tree in the village. Her grandfather, the first Hokage, plant the said tree when the village of the Leaf was being established. It symbolizes the people of Konoha.
And from where she is sitting, she could see that certain leaves are starting to fall.
"Precious lives are being wasted because of one's selfish ambitions."
The blonde looked at her palm where Kagura of Amekagure put a seal.
"I don't know what you are up to, Kagura. But please, be careful…" Tsunade thought to herself.
A burst of wind blew through the Gondaime's hair, soothing her. She looked up in the sky and frowned as she heard the sound of a far off thunder.
"Is something wrong?" Shizune asked.
"There's a storm brewing."
"You mean the weather, right?"
Tsunade shook her head slowly as her senses tingled. "Don't worry Shizune, especially you Tonton. As your Hokage, I will protect you and everyone else. I promise." The blonde said seriously, with a soft smile on her face.
Shizune looked incredulously at the woman in front of her, sharing worried glances with the pig. "I think you overworked yourself this time, my Lady." Shizune's nose perked up. "Oh no, you've been drinking again, are you?"
"Ah, shoosh. Don't be such a worry rat, Shizune. It's just one shot."
The two women engaged in a heated argument, not noticing the shadow that appeared behind the bushes.
Tsunade smiled in anticipation as she dragged her assistant away and raised her right leg and dropped the sole of her shoe in an effortless manner creating a slight fissure on the ground.
"This place is sacred to me. And you are NOT welcome here. So I suggest you to better leave, Himura Danzo."
Shizune prepares for an attack but was held back by Tsunade herself. "What's the matter?" The medic asks.
"We are surrounded. Do not make a move." Tsunade said.
"But…"
"We couldn't afford to fight in this place. It might damage the tree. My grandfather would be very upset is something happens to it."
"Ah yes, the Heart of Konoha. Damaging that tree would destroy this village. Of course, we couldn't let anything bad happen to it, wouldn't you agree, Princess Tsunade?"
"You traitor!" Shizune shouted as she throws some needles at Danzo.
"Shizune, NO!"
Two ANBU wearing red masks appears in front of Danzo and deflected the needles. Another one appeared behind the brunette and incapacitated her, firmly holding her hands down.
"If you don't surrender, more leaves will wither and die." Danzo said mockingly.
"Lady Tsunade, please don't…" Shizune begged.
"Shut up!" The ANBU put a gag in the medic's mouth preventing her to speak. After tying her arms and legs, she was dropped unceremoniously beside Tonton whose feet were also tied by another masked ANBU.
Tsunade stared worryingly at the tree. It didn't her took long to make a decision. The Gondaime Hokage sighed and raised her hands in surrender.
"You may have stopped the tree from moving… But what about the branches… and her leaves?" Tsunade asks the bandaged man.
"Hmm…" Danzo smirked disdainfully. "Cutting those branches and leaves would surely please me and my men. It wouldn't take long as a new tree would rise from it. Stronger and better."
"Yeah, sure, why not…" Tsunade rolled her eyes. She turned to look at Shizune and Tonton, ensuring that they are unharmed.
"Being a Hokage really sucks. I really have to find a new job." The Senju thought amusingly to herself. "The council will surely make a fuss if I appointed him ahead of schedule. Just great."
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Earlier that day, Hokage tower
Tsunade looks at everyone in her office. Shizune stand by her side. Her brows furrowed in deep concentration. Sitting on her desk, her hands folded under her chin, elbows stood on the table. She is contemplating whether to start the meeting, feeling the anxiety buzzing in the air. Team Gai, Asuma and Kakashi have been assembled around her in a loose formation. Kurenai's team together with Hyuga Neji, looks like a mess as they were attacked earlier. Her assistant, together with Sakura's help, already healed their injuries which is not life threatening but still very wearisome to some extent.
Hinata and Naruto was leaning by the window beside Kakashi (those two was rarely seen apart much to the Hyuga Hiashi's annoyance); her former apprentice, Sakura, stand beside the Hyuga heiress while emitting some strange dark aura while glaring murderously at the Uchiha who was standing on the opposite side of the room, further away from the others but looking complacently at her former pink haired apprentice. The others were looking skeptically at the two, feeling the tension between. Hyuga Hinata seems to giggle every now and then while staring at those two.
"Something must have happened… I wonder…" Tsunade noted as she sighed while shrugging her shoulders dismissively.
Since this room cannot accommodate everyone, some were hidden behind the shadows, waiting.
"Everyone…" Tsunade started. She cleared her throat in an attempt to get everyone's attention. Her vein starts to pump as she was ignored. Naruto is starting to get into her nerves with his constant giggling. She concentrated enough chakra to her fists and slammed it on her desk breaking it apart. Everyone's jaw dropped. Those who knew the Hokage's temper smiled knowingly. The others took a step backward, trying to clear up the first stage of her 'attack' just in case the Gondaime lose her calm once more.
"Now that I got everybody's attention." Tsunade tried breathe slowly and started again. "An old friend visited me the other day... And she came with a warning." The blonde leader looks at Sakura's expression, reading it. "She warned me of the danger that is yet to come to our beloved village." The Senju stood and walks behind, by the window, as she stares at the village. "Konoha's greatest enemy lies within her. And some you must have already experience the betrayal."
Tsunade smirked. "Sometimes, it took a lot of courage to fight some of your own. Heh. He surely knows how to crumple the defenses we built inside. Of the trust and camaraderie everyone shared."
"I know some of you…"
Naruto unknowingly clenches his fists. Hinata places her hand above his, silent understanding in her eyes. "He must be worried about Sai." The Hyuga thought.
"…had made some bonds among them." Tsunade grasp her hands on the window baluster. Frowning as she chewed her lower lip.
"Someone told me that we should not judge a person thru his or her mask, but what is behind it." Tsunade turns around to face them. Her expression unreadable. "I am giving this opportunity to inform you the decisions everyone has to make, if anyone would encounter someone who has been a part of their lives who is currently taking part in Konoha's darkest hour..." The Gondaime faces Naruto who stared right back at her. For once, the brat is serious.
"If you cannot save them…" Tsunade hated to be the bearer of bad news, but she has a duty to fulfill to her people. "…destroy them." She firms her resolved.
"Sacrifices must be made by a few to save the many."
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"Sacrifices must be made by a few to save the many."
Sakura still remembers what Konan told her that day. "Sacrifices eh?"
From what she had heard, this ANBU Root has been dispersed strategically within Konoha's military forces. Like Sai. People who has been a part of everyone's lives. She hates to admit it, but that mummy is clever to darkest part of his bone. Also, he happens to be the one who gave the verdict and influence the other elders to destroy the Uchiha clan. Sakura doesn't know if Itachi knows about this. As she thinks about it, maybe she needs to inform him at once.
"Sakura?"
The pink haired turned to see Kakashi standing with two mugs of hot coffee on each hand. He handed her the other one as he drink from the other cup. (Author's note: I don't know how Kakashi eat or drinks. Surely, he takes off his mask. Let's just say that he did remove the mask before he drinks his coffee without Sakura noticing him^^ I really can't explain so let's just leave him that way…)
"Thanks, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura smiled. The silver haired jounin looked the same as before yet older, wiser.
"Is there something wrong? Is that Uchiha giving you a hard time? Maybe a little 'help' from me and Naruto would fix your problem?" Kakashi said with his all too familiar eye smile.
Until now, the face behind the mask is still an enigma to everyone. Hmmm…
"Nah. I can handle him." Sakura said while smiling. "Thanks for your concern though, I really appreciated it."
"Maaa. He is such as grumpy bastard. I can definitely feel the daggers he is shooting behind my back." The Hatake said as he opens his favorite orange book, ignoring the said mans glare.
"Ignore him. Suits him right for being an idiot." The kunoichi commented as she drinks from her own cup. She could hear Itachi's indignant huff as he continues to glare at them from behind the pillar.
"There are things in this world that is very hard to understand. But making the decision to change things for the better would depend on your personal beliefs and for the people you love." Kakashi said without looking at her.
"Huh…?"
"If the time comes and when one is forced to make the decision that will change everyone's lives, the consequences would come after that decision was made. The guilt of that decision will be dealt with for the rest of the person's existence."
Shocked with the flow of this conversation, Sakura knew that her sensei did have a sixth sense (If that is what you want to call it… But honestly, it could just be a good guess… But how would Kakashi know about decisions that she has to be made in the future…? Creepy…), she nodded absently. "Why is he telling me these things? Did he…?"
"No… I am not using my sharingan…" His eye curve happily. "It's just that, your face is so easy to read my cute former student…" Kakashi wave his hands pleasantly. "No wonder HE likes you." He added in a whisper. Surprisingly fast, he tilted his head to the other side to avoid a kunai thrown at his head. Itachi smirked from his spot as he twisted another kunai on his fingers.
Startled with the killing intent the dark haired shinobi emitted, Sakura sweat dropped looking at Itachi's deathly expression towards Kakashi. "Hey! Cut that out." She scolds him as she placed herself between the two sharingan wielders.
"This scene looks exciting…" Ignoring the Uchiha, Kakashi turned a page and started giggling like the pervert everyone knew.
Itachi's eye twitched. "If only I can kill him, life would be easier around here. But knowing Sakura's fondness for this guy… Ugh! Why do I have to put up with him in the first place…?" He thought to himself. Looking naively at Sakura's furious reaction for attacking her former sensei, the dark haired sighed in surrender.
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Uchiha District, a few hours later
"This is…" Itachi exclaims.
"What's wrong, Itachi?" Sakura asks, temporarily forgotten that she is supposed to be mad at the Uchiha at the moment, approaches him worriedly.
Kirara took a seat on the front house, observing Itachi's weird expression. "What did Lady Kagura put inside that pouch for him to react this way…? Hmmm…"
The Nara already left a couple of minutes ago as he has other matters to attend to. "I need to report this incident to the Hokage immediately." He said before leaving them, irritating the little girl by giving her a pat in the head earning him a ferocious snarl from Kirara herself.
A few minutes later, another group of ANBU headed by Yamanaka Inoichi came to take the fallen shinobis in prison for questioning. He talked to the princess and Itachi before he left in a hurry and gave the red haired a curious glance.
"Kirara?"
"What is it Itachi-kun?"
"Why did she give you this?" He asks. The young girl tried to read his face but all she saw was a troubled look.
"I have no idea. What's inside of it by the way? I never had the chance to take a peek. Well, I should have done that in the first place to avoid myself with this kind of curiosity. Wow, never thought I would see you again like this. The first time was the day you learned of that brat's defection to this village…" Kirara said while scratching her head. Her ears are itching... She needed to change back her other form.
Itachi turned just in time to see the little girls discomfort and chuckled. "I don't think Sakura would mind seeing your real form…"
"What do you mean?" Sakura asks in confusion.
"My true form… Well you see… I am half human, half demon…" Kirara said shyly. Looking apprehensively at the pink haired, wondering if she'll hate her if she knew what she really was.
["Why don't you see for yourself?" Itachi said to her mentally, with an affectionate smile on his face.
"Huh?" For Kirara, the Uchiha is a bloke of ice who doesn't usually show his emotions to everyone. The princess really did change him for the better. "Very funny, Itachi-kun…"]
The Uchiha cough as if to hide his amusement. Sakura looks at both of them, frowning.
Kirara breathe slowly as she turned to her other form.
Sakura gasps in surprise. The young girl turned into a fox with reddish brown fur, her eyes were still the same, mercurial and silver. She had one tail, slightly longer than normal. Her paws are black. She looks nervous while staring at her expression. "My sister has a demon fox as her summon?" She looks at Itachi's and concern is written all over his face. They are looking at her weirdly. "Are they expecting me to go crazy or something?" Sakura thought. Kirara couldn't stop her giggles.
["I'm sorry…"The girl spoke in her thoughts.
"W-what the…" Sakura looks at her closely.
"As you can see… I mean hear; I am a telepath as well, just like Lady Kagura. Both of us can read other people's minds; I for another, can let other people hear me talk through their minds."
"Like this conversation…" Sakura thought.
"Exactly."
"But… How?"]
"I really don't know either…" Kirara said, voicing out, an attempt to include Itachi in their discussion who shrugged his shoulders dismissively.
"Uhm… Well?" Kirara asks.
Sakura looks at her, wondering. "Well what?"
"What do you think...? Do you hate me now?"
"Why would I hate you?" Sakura questioned her back.
"Can't you see… I am a FOX…"
"So?"
"…" The fox grumbled to herself.
Sakura looks at Itachi who nodded in return. "Oh…!" The pink haired smiled softly in recognition of the girl's fears and approached her who whimpered slightly. She touched her fur and rubs her gently behind the ear. The girl moaned in delight.
"Why would I hate someone like you…? You are so cute I wanted to cuddle you forever." Sakura said as she nuzzled the fox, embracing her. Kirara the fox really had soft fur. Despite the knowledge that the girl is a demon, and that her sister is her master, she liking her already. Like a long lost sister.
"Hey… Uhm… I can't… I can't breathe…" Kirara yelped.
"Oh… Sorry." Sakura released her immediately. Kirara licked her face as both of them laughs, while Itachi shook his head in irritation.
"Yey. I got to kiss her first, Itachi-kun… You really are so LAME…" Kirara laughed out loud. Sakura blushed profusely and Itachi's eyes twitch while thinking murder.
"Surely, Lady Kagura wouldn't mind if I shave her fur and make it into a jacket or something. Winter is coming… Yes, I definitely needed a fur coat…" He thought. His eyes glinting with pure evil while staring at the fox that happens to read his mind beforehand.
"Oops! Hehe..." Kirara gulped slightly. "I think I am taking my leave now, princess, Itachi-kun… My work here is done…" She purred as she gallops away from the two.
Looking at Kirara's retreating figure, Sakura glared annoyingly at the man beside her. "Uchiha Itachi," the pink haired spoke slowly, dangerously, enunciating every syllable. "What did you do now?" She demanded.
Itachi looks innocently at her. His charcoal gray eyes gazes back affectionately. Sakura rolls her eyes and decided to walk out. "Stupid. Uchiha. Moron. Itachi. Bastard." She gritted her teeth in frustration.
The dark haired followed her amusingly while whistling a happy tune. The tension from the earlier argument almost forgotten.
Kirara who changed back to her human form stares confusingly at the two from above the roof, unnoticed. "So that's why Pain-sama has this constant headache. These two almost drive me nuts. Whew. Interesting couple indeed…" She hummed to herself.
"So…" A shadow appeared behind the girl. "Are you going to tell me now why you are here?" Nara Shikamaru asks.
"Sure. But first, I need to talk to your Hokage. I had an urgent message from Nagato-sama and Jiraiya-sensei."
**** To be continued
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Thanks for reading everyone=)
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Yes! Go Itachi! Go Sasuke! Kill the bastard Kabuto…