Chapter 28: A Road Of Challenge & Revenge
"Vengeance ought to be spoken through gritted teeth, spittle flying, the cords of one's soul so entangled in it that you can't let it go, even if you try it's a still-beating heart clenched in your fist and there's blood running down your arm, dripping off your elbow, and you can't let go."
― Laini Taylor, Strange the Dreamer
Sakura
"How long do you plan to keep watching me?" Karin spits out.
Gray bags sit under her scarlet eyes, cheeks sunken in more than the last time Sakura saw her.
Her eyes drift to the simple meal of tea, onigiri, and salted fish left for her during breakfast time.
'Still untouched.' Sakura notes.
Karin scowls at her, wishes so badly she could tear at that somber look in Sakura's verdant orbs, eyes that stare at her with such pity. It's the same pathetic look people used to give her while biting into her Mother's flesh, the poor Mother-daughter pair without a home...
Only good for healing and replenishing chakra.
'There must be more interested prisoners here than me.' Karin sinks her head back against cold stone.
She can't be sure of how much time has passed since being locked in here, darkness surrounding her on all sides. The room uncomfortably smells of urine and blood, toes curling in hearing the skittering of what's either a roach, or worse, a rat by her feet.
Karin sighs, rubs at her bound hands once more. Maybe it's futile to keep tearing at her skin again and again until it's a raw pinkish-red, but she can't not try to get out of this wretched place, gritting her teeth.
"Your chakra chains aren't going to form; I made sure to use cuffs made to seal one's chakra and energy." Sakura mentions at her efforts.
Karin gazes up to her slowly, grunting in annoyance.
"...Why are you really here? Did you come to gloat? Rub it in my face that your Sasuke's red thread and not me? You're the reason he kept slipping out all those nights, is losing focus on his goals for revenge."
Sakura takes a step closer to the iron bars, jade orbs turning dark.
"Gloat? Tell me Karin, what's so fun about being attached to a guy who just tried to kill me? Who I have to sneak out to see if only to relieve the constant nagging pain of knowing he's hurting, frustrated at the world."
Karin shrinks back slightly at her glare, sees now maybe why Sasuke finds Sakura so alluring when her tone can turn this cold and nasty so fast.
"I want answers Karin. Everything you know about Tobi and Sasuke's plans." Sakura eventually says.
Karin huffs, narrowing her eyes.
"And what makes you think I'll tell you?" She sneers right back.
Sakura removes a syringe from her pocket then, fluid within a hazy yellow from what Karin can see from the candlelight beside her.
"I may not have the sharingan like Sasuke does, but I do know how to get the answers I seek. You're going to tell me what I want to hear Karin. Otherwise, I can put you in a genjutsu with this, make you hallucination your Mother's death over and over." She warns.
Karin bites her lip hard enough to taste blood, scratches and rubs at her chains again harder than before to no avail.
"Decide Karin. Speak or get injected." Sakura counts down.
Tears start to burn at her eyes. "You're being ridiculously cruel! This isn't going to make Sasuke actually care about you!"
"Maybe not, but that's not important right now. I care about the village and I need to know the best way to protect my patients, my parents, and my friends. So if you have nothing else to say, it's time. 10...9...8..."
Karin sucks in a breath, Sakura has nothing left to say to her, won't listen to anything else can bring up to plea her case. She clinks her door open, walks in seemingly slow motion up to her. Karin squirms and twists her body away as Sakura grabs at her arm, preparing to go for her deltoid muscle.
"How can you trust what I even tell you? I may just give you lies!" She prattles on.
"4...3...2..." Sakura's countdown nears it's end.
The needle presses at her skin, in a second she'll be jabbed, and then...
"Okay, Okay! I don't know the full details, however it's for some Eye of The Moon Plan! I overheard Tobi say that's what would be next after he replaced Sasuke's eyes with Itachi." Karin blurts out.
Sakura leans away from her, pursing her lips.
"Eye of The Moon?" She repeats.
Karin nods, gritting her teeth.
"I swear that's all I know though! It's something that's apparently been in the works for years by Tobi, a plan that will put an end to everything."
Sakura considers prodding her further for answers, but Karin completely turns her back from her, curling into a ball. Sakura observes her for a moment before sighing and pushing her still untouched plate beside her, hopes she'll consider eating instead of continuing to waste away in here.
She won't be going anywhere anytime soon.
"If you're done bothering me now then just go away." Karin grunts out lowly.
Sakura sighs, slowly turning away.
"This won't be the last time we talk." She warns before leaving the cell. She nods to the guards at the side she's done talking to her for today, heading back into a cloudless morning.
Ribbons of pastel yellows and pinks streak a dark violet sky, the promise of another hot day coming.
She needs to finish her rounding in the post-anesthesia and intensive care units, sure that she's been away from the hospital too long that Dr. Mouri or Dr. Ishigawa may question or report to Lady Tsunade her night wanderings.
'An end to everything?' Sakura wonders as she hurriedly switches back into her scrubs and white coat. She'll have to have her wasps do further research by eavesdropping on any upcoming meetings.
As well as monitor who else may come to visit Karin.
She pastes on a smile as she walks by Dr. Tanawa heading to see his own patients in the medical/surgical wing. His brown-gray eyes immediately drift from hers and Sakura once again feels a tad bit invisible.
It's hard to trust any of her fellow residents and healthcare personnel now that they know she truly won't be breaking her red thread ties to Sasuke.
'It will change with time, don't worry about that!' Sakura peps herself up, forcing her mind to focus on the here and now.
Though Karin's words linger in the back of her mind even as she's checking vitals and assessing her patient's post-surgical wounds.
'What is the end to this everything?'
Shikamaru & Temari
"I'm going to move here once this war business is over." Temari announces.
They're on the same back steps of the Nara Clan's patio again, observing as sunlight slowly creeps it's way in from the mountains and trees towards the village. It still brings her a tiny rush of excitement even though she's seen this sunrise come and go dozens of times now. In Suna, the sun just rises over flat brownish tan rolling dunes, signals heat that can blister the skin if one is unprepared. There no cooling mists that blanket the forests or vibrant greens, yellows, and pinks that she gets there unlike in Konoha.
Shikamaru chokes mid-sip of his tea, twisting to look at her.
"What?!" He sputters in shock.
This isn't how he imagined breakfast would occur before he saw her off again from another Konoha-Suna alliance talk.
Did Ino or maybe even Sai set her up to this?
"I thought you enjoyed having her boss you around?" Sai questions with a smile.
Shikamaru rubs at his head, he can see now why Naruto said Sai isn't the easiest person to talk to.
"When did I ever say that?" He dryly asks back.
Ino gives Sai a winning smile, admiration shining in her sky blue eyes at Sai's supposedly polite inquiry.
"You didn't have to say it Shikamaru; it's written all over your face!"
Sure Temari had once mentioned in passing moving here around the time of Asuma's death, but his mind had been too clouded then, grief and rage spinning through him to find and kill the the duo that took him away far too soon.
But war discussions came first. Suna agreeing with Konoha's measures based upon the Akatsuki's movements to get all available shinobi back into training regimens and exercises to prepare for war.
Gaara himself when not in meetings with the other nations, has already put up extra defensive measures into Suna's buildings and the surrounding deserts.
Temari rolls her eyes, at least that statement got his attention.
"I just mean, after these talks of war die down, it would be easier for one of us to just move to the other. You're too valuable to Konoha as a tactician, so I'm going to have to come to you. That's what you want too, right?" She explains, edge of impatience in her tone.
She swears this conversation went easier in her mind than how it's happening now!
Shikamaru studies his tea, sees the exhaustion and resolve in his face.
War talk is all what most shinobi and civilian discuss these days, dealing with an enemy that's finally moving out of the darkness. No, the Akatsuki have been more in the spotlight for months now, it's just that nobody has figured out what their true endgame goals are.
He could use a cigarette he absently realizes, maybe that's why Asuma-sensei was always smoking no matter the time of day...
"Yeah, of course that's what I want. I want you close to me so I don't have to worry as much about looking at our red thread all the time to ensure you're okay. But you're valuable to Suna too. You're the Kazekage's sister after all, so don't sell yourself short." Shikamaru sighs.
Temari huffs, though she feel herself start to smile seeing a hint of red to cheeks.
Her own face is probably getting hot too. Shikamaru's a terrible romantic, but he does know how to put her a bit more at ease.
"Don't sound so excited then." She snorts.
Shikamaru shrugs, moving on to his next consideration.
"Did you tell your brothers about this?" He questions.
Temari shakes her head, waving off the idea. "It's not a priority to mention it right now, I'm just letting you know what my plans are. Your parents already gave me a designated room here when I visit after all."
She moves to stretch and stand then, picking up their bowls and plates.
Shikamaru follows her back into the kitchen, house still thankfully dark.
It's one thing to deal with his parent's teasing, totally another to have distant clan members questioning the nature of his and Temari's relationship and bombard him with not needed advice on how to take things slow despite being red thread matches.
"You don't need to rush to have the patter of baby feet beside you! Especially not before you take over as head of the clan once Shikaku steps down!" Shingo had advised, a distant cousin he probably only talks to once or twice a year during the holidays or an upcoming birthday.
And yet even he somehow knows about Temari's assigned room here, her ties to him as his red thread.
'Ugh, I don't need this many troublesome things on my plate right now!'
Temari nudges him, forces his mind back to focusing on scrubbing while Temari does the drying.
"Mind going to how troublesome I am; aren't you?" Temari half-teases, brow raised daring him to think up some type of lie quickly.
Shikamaru's shoulders relax, snickering.
"If you know already, then why ask?"
Naruto & Hinata
"You make it sound so easy." Hinata sighs.
Naruto takes her pessimism in stride, practically bouncing on his toes. They've studied the maps of each major region they'll have to go through or cross near for a little over a week now. The snow capped and frost-laden mountain and fields in Shimogakure to the thermal springs surrounding Yugakure.
"It's like a 3-5 day journey there if we pace ourselves properly. Also, we've traveled before through a lot of the climates we'll have to face."
Hinata shakes her head, recalling Karui's words.
"No, I mean in regards to Killer B. We have no idea if he'll actually want to train you. We're not assigned to a mission to go to Kumo-"
Naruto waves that off.
"Don't you worry about that Hinata! I can get permission from Granny easily!"
Hinata just pictures him getting shoved out of the Hokage office, Lady Tsunade scoffing at the mere idea.
Two jinchuriki shouldn't be anywhere at the same place and time.
Especially when they're the last two left to be caught.
Will Kumogakure even welcome them as outsiders from another village? Father took out some of their best ranked shinobi when she was kidnapped all those years ago...
And blood has continued to spill since then.
"Everyone knows my name by now Hinata! We gotta put ourselves out there if we really want to get strong y'know!" Naruto mentions, patting her cheeks forcing her to look at him.
Her stomach knots just a bit tighter, there's a lot at risk heading to Kumo...
But so much to be gained as well.
So she ignores the nervous drumming of her heart, leaning into Naruto's touch.
"Okay. After breakfast we should head out; tomorrow." Hinata asserts.
She swears the blue of Naruto's eyes flash with excitement and mirth.
"Alright!"
Kakashi greets them at Naruto's bedroom window just as dawn approaches, Hinata squeaking in surprise awaking Naruto. His eyes instantly land on Kakashi, wind crackling up through the room.
'That was quick!' Kakashi hurriedly leans himself back.
With a half formed rasengan in hand, Naruto is dangerous to be around in a sleep addled state.
And right now he's seen as a threat to Hinata, to what was a peaceful morning.
"It's just me, sorry to be you two's alarm! It's urgent." Kakashi explains quickly.
Scarlet in Naruto's eyes clear back to azure in recognition, head twisting in confusion.
"Huh, what? Kakashi-sensei why are you here?" He spits out bluntly.
Kakashi slowly maneuvers into his room, smiles in a way that unnerves them both.
"Well, why do you think Naruto? Hinata?" He asks instead.
Naruto merely shrugs, Hinata pursing her lips quietly having a hunch.
"...So were either of you two going to tell Lady Tsunade of your plans to head out?"
Naruto nods eagerly at that.
"Yes, I sent a messenger toad last night to the Hokage's office, y'know!"
Kakashi stares at him flatly. They both know Tsunade was away from the office a majority of last night taking emergency calls at the hospital requiring her expertise.
Most likely what Naruto wanted to happen was for her to find his message long after he and Hinata had already departed.
And to that Kakashi holds up his messily scrawled sticky note.
"You mean this message! The one that just says me and Hinata are heading to Kumo to train; don't worry! -Naruto." He reads aloud.
Naruto crosses his arms. It's short and to the point that Granny would understand!
Kakashi sighs, there's still many facets of life Naruto needs to learn.
"You two aren't going anywhere without an escort for extra protection. That's a risk Konoha isn't going to take."
Naruto huffs, ready to argue only for Kakashi to point at himself.
"Luckily, you two have me."
Sasuke
"How do you feel?" Tobi asks as he sits him up.
Sasuke nods as his vision adjusts, his eyesight is the best it's been in months.
It's sometime in the late afternoon, warm yellow-gold light spilling into the crevices of the cavern. By nightfall this place will be up in flames, ensuring that no wandering merchant, explorer, or shinobi finds what laid between these walls.
Tobi washes off what looks to be a mix of scalpels, needles, and tweezers, tosses away bloody bandages and sponges.
"It's a shame I couldn't get those eyes off of Danzo, sealing and destroying Shisui's remaining eye before I could even get close to his body in time. Oh well, his eyes aren't needed in order to complete my goals. Do take it easy though, no need to rush in spamming use of your sharingan if it's unnecessary." He muses aloud.
There's also Kabuto to think of, he's sure the man is still seething with rage over Sasuke killing his beloved master.
Sasuke looks around slowly, takes in the sharpness of the trees swaying lightly outside, wisps of clouds in the distance, blackbirds and swallows heading north.
'Don't worry Itachi, your eyes will be the ones used to exact revenge for the sacrifices you made.'
Sacrifices that Konoha doesn't even acknowledge, a majority of civilian and shinobi woefully naïve. To them, the Uchiha massacre is just a dark stain of Konoha's past, meant to be forgotten or erased from future historical texts...
"I'm fine, let's get going. We need the Eight Tails." Sasuke grunts, glancing towards the remaining two members of Team Taka.
Tobi merely hums, staying back.
Jugo and Suigetsu meanwhile turn his way, silently asking what they refuse to say aloud.
'What about Karin?' Sasuke assumes.
Tobi on the other hand has no qualms about questioning him.
"Are you heading straight for Kumo? No plans to check in on the healer of your team?"
Sasuke merely shakes his head.
They both know that Karin is heavily guarded under lock, chains, and key. Sakura as well is probably too uncomfortably close that she'll sense his approach.
Tobi laughs dryly at his lack of answer.
"Good. Make sure your priorities stay that way."
He needs to take a route to Kumo that is hardly used, one that will give them the least amount of attention. Most of the commonly used routes at this time of year are either swollen with floods from the monsoon season or perpetually iced over from the cold climate. Both environments favor creatures he'd rather not deal with, buzzing mosquitoes to bears and wolves on the prowl for their next meal.
Jugo immediately gets to packing what they'll need without further question, Sasuke eyeing Suigetsu's slower movements.
"Are you just going to keep staring at me or come right out and say what's on your mind?" He asks bluntly.
Suigetsu stiffens, violet eyes flashing with annoyance before looking away.
"It's just...you're really not going to go after Karin? I'm pretty damn sure she'll forgive you with a 'sorry' even if you don't mean it. The Eight Tails is going to be hard to fucking catch on top of the shinobi that could be backing him up."
"She isn't going to forgive me, not after I stabbed her." Sasuke retorts.
And if she does, she's even more foolish than he originally thought.
He turns his attention to a crisscross of maps Jugo set out for him, takes in rivers and mountain passes. A lot of the lands and territories to the north are filled with deep ravines and rocky valleys, most people wait until the early spring to summer seasons to travel here.
Time he doesn't have.
"Oh, before you go, there's something else you may want to know." Tobi mentions.
Sasuke gazes back his way, silently waits for him to go on.
He can practically feel his smirk under his mask.
"I've heard through the grapevine that Naruto is heading there too. Perhaps your paths will cross."
Naruto, Kakashi, & Hinata
"What was wrong with us traveling by foot, y'know?!" Naruto grumbles out.
All around them is just blue, blue, and more blue!
Any excitement he had watching white seafoam and crackling blue-gray waves hit the sides of the ship quickly faded as day turned to night. A waning moon observes their journey, silver light lapping against calm waves.
Kakashi sighs, ever since boarding Naruto has had little to say besides complaining.
He glances to Hinata instead, questioning look in his visible eye.
"Even though Naruto is your red thread, how do you tolerate him when he gets like this?"
Hinata giggles. "It's really not that bad! You know of all people know Kakashi-sensei that Naruto is the type of person who doesn't like to sit still!"
Naruto crosses his arms, bumps his shoulders affectionately with Hinata.
"Hmph, don't try to turn Hinata against me Kakashi-sensei! Anyways, while I get your point it's faster to travel by sea, I wanted to take in all those smaller villages that would've also lead us into Kumo."
Kakashi shakes his head. "It's too dangerous right now for you all of people to be traveling by land. The remaining members of the Akatsuki are slowly going to be on the hunt for you. And that probably includes Sasuke as well."
Naruto clicks his tongue, nodding silently.
'But harming Sasuke means harming Sakura too via their thread bond. I know Sakura said she wanted to deal with Sasuke in her own way, but I doubt whatever method she comes up with will be enough to change his mind.'
Team 7 is most likely fractured beyond repair.
The last time he talked with Sakura she had discussed the theory that Tobi and Obito were one in the same, enough to unnerve Kakashi-sensei considering all they know of their shared past. It probably is one too many coincidences, though she lacked the proof at the time to fully say for sure that Obito Uchiha is truly still alive.
'I'll find out what I need to know to confirm his identity. You worry about controlling and mastering this Tailed Beast training.' Sakura advises.
This Obito guy is as strong as Kakashi and if he's working with Sasuke, can he handle them working together in a 2 vs 1 fight?
And what if they're other people behind the scenes he doesn't know about yet?
Quiet overtakes them, Kakashi's expression turning lighter.
"Have you thought about what you're going to say to him?" He asks to switch gears.
Naruto looks up, puzzlement in his eyes.
"I mean to Killer B. You can't just go up to him and demand he train you. That might've worked with Jiraiya-sensei, though I doubt you have anything of value or interest to Killer B to make him want to help you."
Naruto cocks his head, mulling it over.
"Well, I thought us being both jinchuriki was enough, y'know! I mean, I can offer him my ramen recipes! Or teach him how to make that fancy Otoro tuna like your Dad and chef Hachi showed us one time Hinata! I might not make it as well as he did, but I watched them do it enough times to get the gist of it!"
Kakashi feels himself smile at his enthusiasm.
"Food isn't going to impress him, though it's a start."
Hinata moves to stand feeling her eyelids start to droop. "I'm going to call it a night you two; see you in the morning."
She bows to them both, calms her breathing just as the boat cuts through a large wave. Father hadn't been surprised she was going to Kumo with Naruto, maybe even thought it for the best knowing that the seal on their threads had been undone.
'I only ask that you be careful. Any injuries Naruto sustains you will feel as well.'
"I know." She murmurs to herself, studying her reflection in the bluish black waves. This far from land now her stomach churns, body feeling off balance with only ocean and darkness below her.
She squeezes her knuckles to her sides, counts her heartbeats instead of focusing on the ship's lulling, falling into her pillows.
'Breathe. Relax.'
If she throws up, Naruto is going to instantly know something is wrong.
And she can't hold him back, can't have him fretting when his training needs to come first...
A moment later a hand brushes at her back, Hinata peeking one eye open.
Naruto.
'Oh, too late.' She curses her luck.
"Hey, do you need that what's it called Drama or Dime-a medicine Sakura said to pack?!" Naruto whisper-yells.
Hinata nods, points to her bag. "It's called Dramamine or Dimenhydrinate; I should get a glass of water too."
She shifts herself up ignoring her gut's violent swirl of disagreement.
Naruto shakes his head, grabbing a glass from the bathroom and passing it to her.
"Sorry, I should've taken this medicine before we got the boat. Are you feeling queasy too? I never thought I would get seasick, ah but then again I've never actually traveled out to sea for such a long period of time that I can recall, even for a mission."
Naruto simply rubs at her back, laying them both back.
"It's fine! I'll stay up with you until you fall asleep or puke on me y'know! Whichever comes first!"
Hinata traces a finger against the planes of his chest. Kakashi-sensei won't like it if he catches her in her cabin after he strictly requested they have rooms on opposite sides of the ship. (Or maybe Father was the one to ask for that).
Either way, they're going to get an earful in the morning if Naruto doesn't leave soon.
"Do you really think it's going to be hard for me to talk to this Killer B guy? I mean the Nine Tails has been quiet as of late, but he'll probably start truly getting into my head if I start using his power."
Hinata smiles. "It's not going to be easy, however it's not impossible to form a connection with him with time and patience."
Naruto nods, a bit more relieved, however he hears the Fox's chilling rumble in the deep recesses of his mind; a sharp reminder he can't keep ignoring forever.
"You will never get my power without losing your sense of self in the process boy."
"Go...Go back to your cabin." Hinata lightly orders when Naruto's eyes start to drift shut.
Naruto shakes his head, grinning toothily.
"But you don't want me to leave really, do you Hinata?"
She wrinkles her nose, hopes the darkness can hide the flush she feels rising to her cheeks. Instead of answering she turns over in her bed, hardly really hiding herself at how small this space is, back pressed against his chest.
Naruto's lips warm her neck before dropping a kiss at her pulse point, laughing in her ear. This close she can feel the ripple of his muscles, his rising erection pressing against her thigh.
"Well Hinata, do you?" His voice an octave deeper.
'We need to be sleeping; planning.' Logic argues with her emotions.
Hinata huffs, squirming as his touch moves lower, fingers skim her breasts before coming to rest at her thighs.
"No." She softly sighs, letting Naruto turn her back to him, kiss smoldering her both inside and out before he throws her blanket over them.
Kumogakure- Killer B
"Yo, what's this about me being pressed with some guests? I don't have time to be worrying about some kid and his bid to get me to train him!" B complains, kicking back in his chair.
Motoi sighs impatiently.
"It's already been put in place by A, remember? We went over this from the meeting last week he had with Konoha's Hokage?"
Granted, he's sure B had been half-asleep during said meeting or mumbling raps to himself than actually listening to what A had to say. (He should've just used his usual Iron Claw technique to get him to pay attention). Naruto Uzumaki aka the Nine Tails and his entourage are set to arrive by tomorrow evening, maybe the following morning at the latest.
"...Motoi my man, do you think I would remember what happened a week ago when I need to constantly seek and tweak all of my greatest raps and songs since starting my career?! Fool, ya fool!"
'No, I suppose I shouldn't have thought you would recall said meeting when you're as scattered brained as usual.' Motoi considers.
Why did A task him with dealing with giving him these updates? Surely he knows about his harbored anger towards him, even B can't be so obtuse not to realize how much he dislikes being forced to be in his presence...
B stretches out his arms with a yawn, clearly tired of the subject now. Naru or whatever his name is isn't going to get his attention unless he has musical talent similar to Master Sabu.
"Well, I'm off to train so stay in your lane Motoi! I don't need you raining or complaining on my plans!"
Motoi doesn't bother hiding the roll of his eyes.
"I wasn't planning to stop you." He scoffs as he freely lets B pass.
He's heading for the Valley again he notes, eyeing the rolling fog and clouds. It's denser than usual despite only a few showers earlier in the day.
'Only B goes out there to train as far as I know. Unless he found someone willing to practice lightning techniques with him?' He guesses before letting the thought go.
It doesn't matter what B does now, A's punishment for him be damned.
"I don't think we're alone in the Valley today B. Be on alert more than usual." Gyūki warns.
B merely smiles at that, crossing his hands behind his back. Despite A and Motoi assuming he sleeps through all of their meetings and updates, he knows the Akatsuki are going to come for him eventually.
They already took Yugito, it was only a matter of time before he came up next on their radar for capture.
And trekking deeper into the valley he instantly gets the sense he's being watched.
He dodges a coming blade for his neck, twisting Suigetsu's sword out of his hold for himself as an idea springs to mind.
"Heh, Gyūki, I just came up with a brilliant plan! I'm finally going to get the vacation from this nation that I wanted after all!"
-x-
I plan to make changes to Killer B's fight with Sasuke. At least in showing how it will affect Sakura as Karin isn't here to help heal him like in canon.
Pat-re-ons get early access as I uploaded this chapter there about 2 days ago along with some more extra NaruHina and original writing content! Another one is in the works as a NaruHina auction themed idea I got. Feel free to check it out, I go by The Lovely Midnight Writer there!
Otherwise, let me know your thoughts as always!
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