Nay, Naruto mine he is not.
Author's note: This chapter was done yesterday, but for some reason fanfiction would not let me upload it. Sorry for the wait!
Chapter 21: Behind the Waterfall
"Sakura, I was wondering if I might have a word with you."
The young woman looked up in surprise. "Uh, sure."
She looked questioningly at Kakashi but the copy nin shrugged.
Jiraiya smiled. "Let's take a walk, you and I."
They skimmed through the giant tree tops, all the while not speaking. When at last the sannin stopped on a high branch, Sakura was able to see a massive waterfall on the far reaches of the horizon.
Jiraiya noticed her gaze.
"Behind that waterfall lies the hidden village of this country, Takigakure."
"I had no idea it was so huge."
He chuckled. "It really is an impressive sight. The people here are very proud of it."
After a few moments, the Toad Sage's expression grew somber. "Sakura," he said. "There is something I want to talk to you about."
"Hmm?"
"This is something important—something not even Kakashi is aware of."
Her green eyes turned to him.
"I have a favor to ask of you." He looked back out at the setting sun. "But let me explain a few things first."
He took a deep breath.
"The chance of us being able to make civilized contact with the eight-tails is extremely low. Even if we manage to get her to speak with us, it is unlikely that she will be willing to listen to what we have to say. I do not hold any hope for bringing her back to Konoha in her current state."
"But…but what about all the planning we did back at camp? With Naruto and Saruwatari?" Her eyes narrowed. "Why would you get their hopes up like that?"
Jiraiya looked at her sadly. "It was something the Hokage and I had planned on from the beginning. Tsunade and I knew the likelihood of simply convincing the demon was very low…so we devised a back up plan."
"Back up plan?"
He nodded. "I will seal Hachimata if she is not able to be bargained with."
Sakura was so shocked she didn't know what to say. Seal the demon? But that means…
"Jiraiya-sama! You cannot give up your own life!"
"It is my life, and therefore mine to do with as I wish." He said gruffly. "Death comes to all ninja. It is the way of things. I would have my death be in service to protect those I care about."
"The others would never let you! There is another way! We'll find another way…"
He shook his head. "I hope as much as you, Sakura, that we do not have to do this. But…that is not what I brought you here for."
"Then…"
He would not meet her eyes. "With your excellent chakra control and your ability to use it with such precision… Tsunade and I decided there would be no better candidate for the host than—you."
The healer's eyes went wide. She stared at him, stunned.
"I would, of course, not do this without your consent. And I know it is something you will need to think about."
Sakura remained silent.
Jiraiya glanced at her. "And you cannot tell the others. There would be no way they would let you go through with it."
"You…you want me to lie to them?"
"No. Just don't volunteer the information. The risks of this sealing are higher than most. The majority are done when the host is an infant and the body is able to grow and adjust to the power inside of it. Since you are older…"
His voice trailed off.
"Are you saying I could die?!"
He sighed. "As I said, the risks are higher."
"I don't even know what to say," She shook her head in disbelief. "How can you ask such a thing of me?"
"I would not ask you at all. I have watched you grow and become strong. I would never want to ask such a thing of someone I consider my friend and comrade. But…I would ask this of a fellow shinobi…one who wants to protect the ones she loves."
Sasuke. Naruto.
Sakura bowed her head. "If I refuse?"
He shrugged. "Then we do what we can and hope for the best. No one would hold it against you."
"How long do I have to decide?"
"I would have your answer in the next few days. It won't take long to locate Hachimata. There are only so many places an enormous creature like her can hide."
She nodded. "I will think on it."
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Naruto looked at Sakura , his expression one of concern.
"Sakura-chan," He walked next to her. "Are you alright?"
She smiled at him. But Naruto had seen her smile enough times before to know that her heart was not in this one.
"I'm fine, Naruto. I'm just tired."
"Don't over do it! Do you need to rest? I'm sure we can stop for a while…"
"No, really. I am fine. Thank you."
He flashed her one of his famous smiles. "Okay, Sakura-chan. I'd do anything for you, just let me know!"
She sighed, watching as he raced off to the front of the group.
Naruto. He really would do anything for her.
She looked at the ground. It certainly didn't make her decision any easier.
"Alright team," Kakashi stopped. "Everyone hold up for a while. Let's plan our next step."
They clustered together.
"Ahead is the main river that cuts through this country." The former ANBU captain said. "The river branches at three separate points."
He drew a primitive map in the dirt.
"Here. Here. And here. Now, these first two forks lead into populated areas. But this last one," He tapped the spot on the ground. "This one leads deep into a forested area. Rumor has it that there are many ravines, waterfalls and caverns along the river bed."
"Hmph. It would have to be a big waterfall to hide a dragon." Saruwatari raised her eyebrow. "Almost as big as that main one we keep seeing hints of."
Kakashi nodded. "There is another sizable waterfall somewhere within the heart of the forest. It is our best chance."
…"our best chance"…
His words played themselves over and over again in Sakura's mind.
"Sakura."
She looked up, realizing that everyone was staring at her.
"Everything alright?" Kakashi's gaze studied her.
"Oh. Yeah." She waved her hand in apology. "Sorry."
"Hmm. Maybe we should make camp here tonight." The copy nin continued to watch her.
"I'm fine really!" She straightened. "There's still some daylight left, we should…"
No arguments. Kakashi pulled out his worn book. He turned away from her, reading as he walked away.
She frowned and opened her mouth to respond but decided against it. If anything, everyone was grateful for the early stop.
Sakura tossed her pack next to the base of a tree, leaping up onto one of its branches. She glanced down at everyone before climbing higher into the tree.
Sasuke watched her go.
He looked over at Jiraiya. The Toad Sage was discussing something with Saruwatari. He seemed completely unconcerned.
Why has Sakura been so quiet since she spoke with Jiraiya? He stared back up into the tree. It's not like her to want to be by herself.
Tossing his own belongings to the side, he jumped up into the tree after her.
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Sakura stared out at the landscape from the topmost branches of the tree. It was a calm evening and she could hear the distant sound of a waterfall roaring.
Not far away, she could see where the river cut through the valley. Its dark water sparkled where she could see it and even when it disappeared, she could mark its sunken path through the country.
"I'd do anything for you!"
She hung her head.
Naruto had sacrificed his life for her so many times she couldnt even count them. And he had done it without a second thought.
She owed him no less.
She owed it to all of them.
"Sakura."
She pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs. She didn't turn around. "Hm?"
Sasuke walked over and sat down near her. He looked at her, his face expressionless. "Why did you go off alone?"
She smiled bitterly. Sasuke always pointed out what she did wrong.
"This tree is in the center of camp." She replied.
"Hn. A poor excuse."
Even after all this time, Sasuke is still so cold.
Her eyes misted over.
It was things like this that made her realize how foolish she had been as a child.
She swallowed hard.
And even now, she would still do anything for him.
If he knew she could die in the next few days, would he even have cared? Or would he have just looked at her with his emotionless expression and walked away?
He had walked away from her once. She didn't doubt he'd do it a second time.
She might die, but she wouldn't put her heart out on the line again. At least she would die with some dignity.
Sasuke saw the tears slide silently down her cheeks.
On an impulse he almost went to wipe them away, but before he could move, she turned to him, her eyes unforgiving.
"Sasuke-kun," She whispered. "I want you to know something."
The Uchiha's guard went up. She was going to tell him how she felt. But he wasn't prepared to explain his feelings for her. He didn't know if he even knew the words to express them. Inside he was on the verge of panic.
And he only knew one way to deal with panic like that.
His expression darkened.
"Why do you always ruin nice moments by talking so much?"
Her mouth fell open slightly as she looked at him in disbelief.
A final tear slid down her cheek.
She stood, her arm steadying her form against the trunk of the tree.
"I wanted you to know…what I wanted you to know…" Sakura closed her eyes. "Was that I never lost faith in you."
When she opened her emerald eyes again, she didn't look at him. "And I was going to ask that you have the same faith in me during the coming days."
Sasuke felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. She hadn't said what he thought she was going to say.
"Sakura, I—"
She shook her head. "No, Sasuke-kun. Please. I would rather have you hit me in the face then have you say anything else."
She jumped onto the branch below him.
"I think it would hurt much less."
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The next day, as team 7 made their way along the furthest fork in the great river, Sakura stepped to Jiraiya's side.
The sannin looked down at her.
She nodded to him, her eyes weary, knowing that he knew what she was referring to.
Jiraiya smiled at her sadly and nodded back. He patted her shoulder reassuringly.
Sakura slowed a bit, settling into her own pace.
At least now you'll be of value to someone.
But she looked at Naruto, knowing that she was already important to him. The thought cheered her and gave her new resolve. If she could protect Naruto by doing this, it was well worth it.
Sasuke.
She glanced over at the Uchiha.
She looked away when he caught her stare, her face an unreadable mask.
She would do it for Sasuke too.
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The roar of the waterfall was deafening as they climbed cautiously on the rocks at its base.
The way was slippery and treacherous, but as they neared the plummeting water, a dark passage could be seen behind it.
Naruto shivered. The air coming from within was cold and the mist made his skin clammy. It reminded him of Thunder Country.
As they disappeared behind the waterfall, two sets of eyes watched them from the rim of the gorge.
"Soon," Itachi whispered. "Very soon."
In the background, a mouth full of razor teeth smiled.
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Coming soon: Chapter 22: Hachimata