The bite to the wind only picked up as the mid-day sun slowly slipped further down the skyline. The small amount of shrubbery surrounding the Konoha team did little to shield them from the short bursts of wind, but that didn't deter them from their positions. The hillside they currently occupied had the perfect vantage point for the reconnaissance their mission demanded. The team of shinobi simply pulled their collars up higher and continued watching the large building below them.
"Anything yet Shikamaru?"
The chunin somehow managed to stop himself from rolling his eyes at the whining tone coming from his blond team mate. Though she hadn't moved positions from where he first instructed her to hide, it didn't stop her from voicing her displeasure at the situation. "Not yet Ino. Continue monitoring the area."
"This is excellent training Ino-san!" Lee said with a bubbling tone and hearty smile to accompany it, but he remembered to keep his voice down - after the third warning from Shikamaru. "We must condition our bodies to withstand any climate if we are to further ourselves as shinobi!"
"If only I could condition myself to dealing with you," the petulant woman muttered to herself. She chanced a quick glance at her team captain and, finding him thoroughly engrossed in his surveillance, scooted closer to Choji. The larger man proved to be a perfect source of heat for her shivering body.
"Shikamaru's gonna scold you again," her friend whispered as she snuggled against his larger frame.
"Not if you be quiet baka!" she shot back.
The prison below them may have been only a two day journey from Konoha, but passing through the dense forest and thick ravine that surrounded it put them back by an additional two days - and that was with the help of the map given to them by Tsunade-sama. The facility was purposefully cut off from society as it housed a number of dangerous men and women. The sharp cliff leading to a turbulent ocean and jutting, sharp rocks enclosed the building on the other side. Escape from the prison had happened only once before - and even then the body of the convict was never found. With all the safeguards they had in place, it was seemingly impossible that there should be a problem with the facility, however, that seemed to be just the case.
Judging by the letter Shizune presented at the council meeting nearly a week ago, there was something amiss in the stone building they were monitoring. Nothing had been reported, but something was off with their last communication. Shikamaru had sat in the later meeting with his father and Tsunade-sama, pouring over the wording of the letter she now had in her desk. Deciding the matter needed further investigation, she dispatched former Team Asuma with the help of Rock Lee to see to the matter. He'd been vigilant in monitoring the surrounding area as they traveled to the facility, but nothing untoward stood out to the young strategist. However, his gut was telling him more was going on.
The Nara took a moment to shift positions on the cold, uncomfortable ground and eyed his companions. Ino was once again huddled up next to Choji, desperately trying to steal what body heat she could from him. Choji just continued to watch the goings on below - and trying not to nap under the rather boring conditions. Lee just had Shikamaru holding back a sigh. He understood and agreed with the decision to add the taijutsu master to their team, but watching him continue to do one-handed pushups was beginning to grate his nerves.
Shikamaru could only pray this ease filling the group would continue. Too many events had occurred in the last few months driving the tension higher and higher among every shinobi in the village. Considering they were just coming down from the war, the feeling of being overwhelmed was all too easy for them to succumb to. It would do them all good to have a single moment to breathe easy - even if they were on a scouting mission.
The thoughts spinning round his mind were drawn to an abrupt halt as he spotted someone stepping out of the door to the roof of the prison. His keen eyes took in the sight - watching every move the man made, every expression that crossed his face - before the man went back inside once again. He stood up, brushing the dirt and grass from his pants before catching each eye of his team mates.
"That was our cue. Get ready to go."
"Thank you for your purchase. Have a wonderful day."
Sakura smiled in thanks to the cashier and gathered her few bags before leaving the supermarket. It was nice having dinner with Ino her first two days back - the girls had a lot to catch up on after all. Sakura had spent so much time out of the village due to her missions and the quarantine that Ino felt it was her duty to fill Sakura in on all the gossip she could possibly remember. While Sakura wasn't one to idly sit around and share such secrets, it was nice to not speak about poisons and outbreaks for once. Besides, when Ino helped out her family with their flower shop, she was privy to all the talk being passed around - the villagers seemed to love sharing everything with her.
Unfortunately, Ino was sent out on a mission a few days ago so Sakura was once again left to her own devices when it came to meal time. Though her mother worried about her skills in the kitchen - really, they weren't that bad - Sakura wasn't up for dining out every night, especially alone. While she knew she could also call Naruto to join her, she was positive he would insist on ramen and probably consider it a date of some sorts.
Well, perhaps not.
The jinchuriki had been spending quite a bit of time visiting Hinata as she continued to recover in Konoha's hospital. She'd seen him there that morning as a matter of fact. The pinkette had only dropped by for a while to see if the nurses and medics on duty needed help with anything, but she was sent away with a smile and a friendly order to rest. Instead of leaving right away, Sakura took the time to visit Hinata - who was quite busy blushing and doing her best to control her stutter as Naruto was kicked back in the chair by her bedside. She knew Hinata would never be so unfriendly as to rush her away, but Sakura didn't want to interfere with their slow but steady progress. She said her hellos and left, heading straight to Sai's quarters. The young artist had still not regained consciousness, but he was showing definite signs of improvement. Sakura made a mental note to bring fresh flowers to his bedside the next day. His color was improving and his vital signs were almost back to baseline; it was her hope he would wake any day now. When he did, even if she wasn't physically in the room, she wanted him to know she had been there beside him, worrying for him, praying for his recovery. She hoped to see him up and about soon, ready to join their team once more.
Thinking of her team mates inevitably led her thoughts to Sasuke. Since their release from the quarantine camp nearly a week ago, she'd only seen the Uchiha in passing. Tsunade-sama was giving Team Kakashi a much needed rest after the strenuous missions they'd participated in. Since they had no reason to work together at the moment, it seemed that also meant their time spent together would drastically lessen.
While she didn't think he would visit her for no reason, recent events had left a small amount of hope blooming in her heart that just perhaps he would.
Though no conversation about the...moments, between the two had occurred, that didn't mean she had to ignore them, right?
How could she possibly ignore - or forget - the numerous embraces they'd shared? Even now the memory of Sasuke's hands on her body, his warm lips covering her own, haunted her every thought. It couldn't be just a passing fancy that sparked those moments. They had to mean something. At least, that's what she continued to tell herself, though the raven haired man had made no effort to contact her.
After the events - and her rather ridiculous behavior - in their past, Sakura just couldn't bring herself to seek him out first. If she searched him out with some blatant excuse would he call her annoying once more? Would he turn disgusted eyes her way before coldly stalking off? The possibility of that happening froze the much more confident woman and she found herself doing nothing more than childishly wishing to see his face instead of actually going to him.
A deep sigh past the medic's lips as she turned down yet another busy street in Konoha. Even during her talk with Ino - who knew exactly how she felt about the Uchiha - she couldn't bring herself to speak of this topic. Even in her own befuddled mind, things were progressing in an awkward way with Sasuke. They obviously weren't dating, they were far from being lovers, so what were these random embraces that she'd even begun to instigate herself? Ino would, of course, demand every detail of the sordid affair, probably give her false hope with her assumptions that Sasuke definitely felt something for her, then progress to getting angry on her behalf at his lack in communication. She could full well see the blond demanding Sakura confront him about his feelings or she would do it for her.
Though she did want answers to those questions herself, she wasn't strong enough to demand it from him. This tenuous, undefined relationship they had going on was still more than she ever dreamed of having with him. It was a combination of the pain of her stubbing her toe and the mental slap her Inner gave during her rage that caused Sakura to wince. This scared, wishy washy attitude she'd adopted wasn't sitting well with that more outspoken counterpart of hers. Sakura might know that, and on some level fell the same way, but she felt she was at an impasse.
As she righted herself - swapping the bags to her other hand and glancing around to see if anyone had caught her embarrassing near fall - her eyes caught sight of something that sent a sharp pain coursing through her body. Her mind screamed for her to run away, but her eyes and body were frozen to the sight of the beautiful couple embracing in the alleyway. Though they weren't exactly hiding, they weren't doing such things in plain sight for everyone to behold. Sakura knew, had she not been searching the area, she would have never noticed them.
She wasn't familiar with the woman's name, but Sakura remembered seeing her in various places in the village. She was a civilian and it was obvious why the pinkette would remember such a woman. Every time she was in the same place as her, the medic couldn't help but to feel inadequate. The midnight black hair that cascaded down her back was flawless, her skin looked like porcelain, and she had a body every man turned to gaze at. Sakura knew she paled in comparison to such a woman, though that knowledge had never bothered her so much as it did right now.
Even as she screamed in her mind, her lips merely trembled as she watched those delicate hands slide up his body. Only more disturbing than that was watching him gaze at her, his eyes raking down her figure, his hands never raising to push her away.
She felt the sting of tears as she watched the shadowed figures in the corner.
Unable to take in another moment of the wretched scene, she fled, bumping into passerby's as she dashed towards her home in the dying light of the afternoon sun. The hopes she'd clung to, the questions she'd bit back every time as she took his actions on faith and dreams - they were ripped out from underneath her in that single instant.
Sakura slammed her door the moment she crossed the threshold of her home, slumping against the thick wood and doing nothing to halt the flow of her tears.
"I...I'm sorry; who did you say you were with?"
Shikamaru absently rubbed the back of his neck and tried for that placating smile his mother always used on him. The stammering man before him was obviously nervous and continued to look behind him - watching for his superior, who'd yet to show himself, to come to his aide.
"Konoha," the young man sighed, somehow keeping the exasperation out of his voice. "I'm Nara Shikamaru and I'd like to speak to the warden on behalf of our hokage."
"Yes...yes sir," the large man shifted his weight, unable to keep still under the watchful eyes of the shinobi before him. "If you could just..."
"Ah, I'm sorry you had to wait so long." A gentleman came up the empty hallway, his long copper hair brushing his shoulders as he strode confidently towards them. A large scar trailed down his left cheek like the physical remains of a tear track, giving the man a battle worn and slightly menacing look. "I understand you wanted to speak with me?" His smile was easy, assured, and he met Shikamaru's eye without hesitation.
"Are you the warden?"
"Yes, I am Reishiro. If you'd like to talk, why don't we go to my office. If you two would follow me?"
Ino fell in step beside Shikamaru, opting to have the Nara control the flow of the conversation. Reishiro led them down the cold, stone hallways of the prison. They were far from the inmates quarters, yet several men stood around various entrance ways - each of them wearing an armband depicting them as guards of the facility. Ino could see her friend's discerning eyes taking note of each person watching them as they made their way into the warden's large office.
"So," Reishiro began, offering the pair chairs across from his wooden desk. "How can I be of service to Konoha?"
"We're here to ask about a specific prisoner Konoha sent to this facility some months ago. A woman by the name of Karin."
The warden leaned back in his chair, arching his eyebrow to the younger man. "I'm quite sure I already sent a response to the Hokage's request for her."
"You did," Shikamaru confirmed. "But I'm afraid we need a bit more information. You left out her cause of death in the letter."
"Ah, forgive me; that was my mistake. She became terribly ill a few weeks ago - vomiting, pains in her belly, running a fever. We summoned a doctor to see her, but she died only a few days later."
"I see and where is her body?"
"We burned it. After the incidents going on across the five nations, we thought it would be best to burn the corpse to help ensure no one else became sick."
"Why did Konoha receive no notice of her passing?"
"Again, that is my mistake. We have been rather busy around here - what with the larger number of inmates after the war and all." The scarred man's eyes narrowed slightly as he peered across the desk to the duo. The small smile still lingering on his face held no warmth for the shinobi. "If I may ask, why is Konoha so concerned with this one prisoner's death?"
"We believe she had further information that could have been valuable to us. I understand this is a little unusual so I appreciate your co-operation."
"It is," Reishiro chuckled. "Indeed it has been a while since anyone from the hidden villages has come to speak to me personally."
"Is that so?" Shikamaru asked, folding his hands in his lap. "I can't speak for the other villages, but I know Konoha hasn't asked for an audience with you in years."
"That's true."
"Actually...how long have you been the warden?" The Nara asked, his head tilting quizzically.
"Six years now."
"Huh. Then I'd venture to guess you've never met with us at all during your time here."
"Ah, well I've seen some of the shinobi in passing as they brought new prisoners, but no, I don't think I've spoken with anyone like this."
"Is that why you've been so confident in this ruse?"
Silence fell over the room for a moment. Reishiro blinked several times before he found his voice once more. "I'm sorry?"
Shikamaru waved a hand absently. "This entire set up. You didn't think twice before greeting us and bringing us to this office - which I will agree is definitely the warden's - though you are not the person who holds that title."
The warden set up straighter in his chair, his large shoulders squaring and the muscles in his neck twitching with his movement. "I think you..."
"There's something you didn't know about when you began this. You see, even though the Kages and Damiyos don't always meet face to face with the warden for long periods of time, there's a code they are all aware of. Any time a letter is sent from one party to another, key phrases will be used to quickly identify the other person. When you read the sentence 'the rain has fallen here for several days', that wasn't just a comment on the weather." Shikamaru leaned forward, resting his elbows on the arm of the chair and steepling his fingers while he watched the countenance of the man behind the desk grow darker. "When you didn't respond with the correct reply, we already knew the person who answered us wasn't the warden."
"You little shit!" Reishiro cried and made to leap up, but he found himself unable to do so. It wasn't just his legs that refused to move, he found himself unable to move any part of his body. His grunts and curses were in vain as he struggled against the unknown obstacle. A snort from the younger man across from him had his eyes going wide with realization. "What the hell did you do?" he sneered at the calm shinobi.
"Just restrained your movement," Shikamaru answered, casting his eyes towards the floor where he'd already used his shadow possession technique to bind Reishiro. "It'd be troublesome if you tried to attack after I exposed you."
"Sonofabitch," the now snarling man cursed. He struggled fruitlessly for another moment before a cold smile split his face. A humorless laugh escaped his thin lips and he turned malice filled eyes towards the pair.
"And just what is your problem?" Ino snapped at the look he gave her.
"You've let this guy get you in some big trouble Blondie."
"What?"
"You really think I'm alone in this? I've got dozens of men surrounding this office. You're never gonna make it out of here."
Ino shared an amused look with her friend. She stood and made her way to the door, waiting patiently in front of it. "Do you actually believe those armbands made the shady looking guys you have hanging around look like guards?" Shikamaru asked while Ino giggled behind him. "Besides, we've had this place under surveillance."
"Wha..."
"Gathering as much information as you can always yields better results."
Muffled shouts were heard just before an explosion seemed to rock the very walls of the office. Reishiro's wide eyes were transfixed on the door as the loud sounds of outrage and pain permeated the thick stone. Dust and silt fell onto the surface of the desk as the ceiling was rocked with the impact. Ino waited expectantly for Shikamaru's nod before leaving the room. Through the now open door of the office, clouds of dust and smoke could be seen rolling through the halls; rubble littered the once clear hallway.
"Konoha dai senpuu!"
The familiar shout was heard only seconds before a scream of pain accompanied the loud crash of a body being hurled through thick walls of stone. Men ran by the door, frantic to get away from their attackers - some of them wearing the armbands of the guards while a few others wore the drab clothing issued to prisoners. A blur of green passed by their vision before Shikamaru and the captive imposter heard muffled groans from those who attempted escape. Knowing the situation was well in hand, the Nara pushed the door closed and turned to Reishiro.
"I'll repeat your earlier statement back to you, did you really think I came alone?" The shinobi ignored the look of pure hatred sent his way. "Now, why don't we talk about this little operation you have going on here."
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The dust had long settled and the cries of outrage silenced before Shikamaru emerged from the office. Reishiro - who's real name he learned was Takemura - sat bound to the chair, silent now and with wary eyes. Having been locked in a room and interrogated with the clever strategist for over an hour, the confident aura he previously exuded was nowhere to be found.
Shikamaru made his way down the hallway, weaving around the large chunks of stone that fell from the walls during Lee and Choji's ambush to the unsuspecting prisoners acting as guards. He went down the stairs at the end of the hall, making his entrance into the cell block. The first few rooms were empty, most of the iron bars that once acted as doors now hanging precariously or already having fallen to the floor. The further he ventured into this once filled facility, he began seeing the unconscious, previously freed prisoners back in their cells. Lee sent him a large smile that crinkled the corner of his eyes and a cheerful thumbs up as he emerged from placing two more injured prisoners back onto their cots and securing their doors.
Lee's personality, while happy and helpful, was not something his team was used to, but he couldn't deny the taijutsu specialist's powers. Choji and Lee had been greatly outnumbered when tasked with infiltrating the prison and preparing an ambush - but they were not out matched. The opposition they faced was quickly dealt with and, with Lee's speed, those trying to flee were quickly caught and returned.
Following the few turns the hallway lead him on in this particular block, he finally found Ino - bent over a man's still form in a much smaller room than any he'd passed. The door was solid, with only a thin, rectangular block for viewing inside. A single cot was the only furnishing within the cold, damp walls. Solitary confinement was Shikamaru's guess.
"Is he awake?"
"He should be in just a few minutes, though I don't know how much he'll be able to talk." Ino looked up at her friend as the chakra of her medical jutsu continued to pour into the gentleman. "He was in pretty bad shape when I found him. Dehydration, malnourishment, slight hypothermia...he's been left in here to rot Shikamaru."
Indeed, the conditions this man were in gave credence to the theory he'd had since examining the letter Konoha received. Shikamaru waited patiently as the man began to groan with pain when his consciousness returned. With the first fluttering of his eyes, the squad's captain knelt beside the wounded man. "The rain has fallen here for several days," he whispered, watching as those eyes opened to scrutinize him before falling on the hitai-ate wrapped round his upper arm.
His voice cracked and obviously caused him pain as he spoke, but the man pressed on. "At least...it hasn't turned to...snow."
Shikamaru leaned back on his haunches, allowing a chuckle to pass his lips. "It's good to finally speak to you Reishiro-san. After Ino finishes healing you, we'll get you some food and water and then we'll talk."
His foul mood must have been quite obvious for everyone to see as most people he past gave him a wide berth down the busy streets of Konoha. That suited Sasuke just fine. He'd been in close enough contact with others that day for his liking.
His anger wasn't just directed at the woman who'd felt the need to slap him after his not-so-polite refusal of her advances - though, truth be known, his hesitancy in the beginning probably led her to believe they would be welcomed. He also directed that anger towards himself. Thanks to her interference, he'd come to some realizations that were irking the normally stoic young man.
At first, when the rather attractive woman had approached him in the alleyway, he ignored her presence as he was apt to do. However, a thought came to mind as her hand brushed against his arm – perhaps he could make use of her body to rid himself of these annoying...urges that had made themselves known. Breaking from his normal habit, he actually turned to her when she introduced herself, though he didn't bother to remember her name.
Sasuke took the time to inspect her body. Dark black hair, attractive features, full red lips, a dress that clung too tightly to her body, but showed her ample curves and shapely legs; he couldn't have done much better had he went in active search of a partner. His perusal of her body must have given her a sign he was willing as she pressed her large breasts against his chest and proceeded to whisper something to him.
Sasuke wasn't interested in anything the woman had to say, he was simply trying to find the most expedient way of dealing with his frustrations. It was simply that period in his life, he supposed. Perhaps such inclinations should have began sooner, but he didn't have that kind of time nor desire in the years past. His existence had been solely to train, kill his brother, then – towards the end – destroy Konoha. There was simply no time for any pleasures in his life.
Now, though the threat of Kabuto loomed over their heads, his daily life was nothing compared to his time spent out of the village. Suddenly, he found training every second of the day was no longer necessary. He could wander the village and observe the things going on, he had time to enjoy a meal instead of eating for no other purpose than to keep up his strength, and – though he was loathe to admit – he had time to talk to Naruto and others who considered him a comrade once again. Apparently, with this new found free time, the desire for power he once had now transferred itself to other, more...worldly needs.
Ones that had him thinking of Sakura at the oddest times of the day and night.
The physical contact they'd had lately preyed on his thoughts and he found himself looking forward to the next time they would occur. Not only that, but he found himself wanting to take each encounter further, press into that unknown territory all men would one day enter. To do so with her would complicate things greatly within the dynamic of their team. He was sure that was probably already occurring after their numerous embraces.
In order to maintain this relative peace he'd found, Sasuke supposed it would be better to turn his attentions elsewhere. Surely he continued to go to her simply because she was the only female he had routine contact with. After all, the woman pressing her body against his was physically more attractive than the pinkette.
Yet, as her fingers danced along his toned stomach, he couldn't find himself working up any of that want that had plagued him for weeks.
Her dark eyes were half-lidded as she gazed up at him, but he could find no pleasure as they weren't emerald in color.
The hair that brushed against his arm was silky in texture, but it's dark hues were a far cry from the cotton candy color he wished to see.
When her lilac smell hit his nose, he actually found it unpleasant. It was nothing like the light, free sent that lingered in his mind even hours after holding Sakura in his arms.
All these things ran through his mind and, as he stared down at the woman he'd allowed into his personal space, his lips actually curled back in disgust. She was nothing more than one of the many who'd approached him in the past, hoping he would share his bed with them. He pried her hands away from his body, suggested another location she could sell her wares in, withstood the slight sting left by her angry palm, and turned in the direction of Sakura's house.
He'd kept his distance from her home – thinking she would want to spend time with the family she'd been away from so long – but his patience was worn past thin. Now, with this revelation shattering the last of his excuses, his want to see the fiery young woman was too great to ignore.
Shadows were just beginning to dance along the faces of the homes flanking the road as he stepped up to her door. He knocked on the freshly painted wood and hoped it would be she who answered. He'd never met her parents before and he was most certainly not in the mindset to try and be polite to strangers. He was impatient, curling his fingers again and again as he waited for the medic. Finally, he heard the sound of the locks tumbling. Sasuke ignored the feeling that took hold of his gut when her face appeared.
"Sak..."
Having a door slammed in his face was a new experience for the Uchiha. So much so that he stood in rapt fascination of the event. When his wits returned to him once more, Sasuke found his swift temper ready to flood his body with indignation. His fist came to pound on the door once more, not caring if he angered the other occupants of the home. "Sakura."
"Go away Sasuke," she called from the safety of her home. "I have nothing to say to you."
Again, his eyes widened at both her words and her heated tone. For a moment, just a single moment, Sasuke racked his brain to try and understand why Sakura was acting this way. There was nothing he could bring to mind he did to warrant such behavior. Clearing himself of the undeserved guilt allowed his temper to flourish over the treatment he was receiving. His narrowed eyes stared at the thick wood as if he could truly see beyond the barrier.
"Open this door Sakura."
"No. I told you to go away."
The Uchiha took a slow breath, willing himself not to release his chakra in the middle of the village. "Open it or I will break it."
Something in his tone must have conveyed the truth of his words, for a moment later he watched as the door slowly swung open. He stalked past the entrance, slamming it shut behind him and followed her retreating figure.
"What the hell do you want Sasuke?"
He grabbed her arm, spinning her round to face him. Though he took notice, Sasuke momentarily ignored her red, swollen eyes as he pulled her forward. Even now, a fire burned behind her green gaze that set his blood afire. "An explanation," he managed to get out past his clenched jaw. "We'll get to the rest later."
Konoha dai senpuu – Great leaf whirlwind
Ha! I'm just sliding in under the month mark, but by God I made it! (I think this is becoming a personal game for me)
Allow me to say that no matter if I do miss an update or two, even if weeks come between them, I will NOT abandon this story. Honestly folks, with the regularity of how often I update how could you even think such blasphemous thoughts? I've decided to simply chalk it up to you beautiful readers being so enthralled with the story, that the very thought of it not ending is making you nervous. (Yes, please just allow me to wallow in my delusions of grandeur.)
Further and further we tumble down the rabbit hole.
Shall you continue to join me?
(sorry, sleep deprivation has kicked in)
Hope you enjoy the chapter! I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
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p. freaking s.
OMG THE MANGA!
Naruto's gonna see his daddy again! God I just love me some Naru/daddy time. Makes me go all squealy!
And, what's this? Is Kishi actually giving us an out for Sasuke to (please please please) join Naruto and fight beside him once more? Like help him end the war? Like maybe he could go home to Konoha? Am I the only otaku losing their mind over the possibilities?