(Welcome back! He now holds a Princess in his hands, but what will Kuroda do with her? I love feedback and constructive criticism, so please leave a review so I can improve my writing and storytelling skills. Enjoy!)
"Hey, you guys stop messing around," says Jando, seeing his teammate practicing and walking over to the training area, "The king is supposed to return sometime today and Kayo-sensei says we need to be ready for his arrival."
"We are not messing around," says Kuroda, from his perch on the wooden log with the princess by his side, "Sakura has almost perfected the Jutsu. If she trains today she should be able to do it, otherwise she has to wait until we get back to the Leaf Village."
"She has been at this for weeks, who cares about a few more days?" Jando snorts.
"Just because you didn't accomplish anything with your training doesn't mean that other people didn't," Kuroda counters.
"Oh yeah, what about you? You haven't trained at all," Jando responds, his tone a mix of irritation and anger.
"If I trained I would be even further ahead of you two than I already am. If we want to get stronger as a team then we need to be advancing at the same rate," Kuroda says loftily.
"Fine. Whatever," Jando scoffs, "What about you, Princess, aren't you supposed to be getting ready for your father's return?"
"I already am ready," she replies, not even turning to look at him, "When his carriage gets close one of the servants will come notify me so I am in position to greet him."
"Fine, but I'm not going to be the one that Sensei is mad at if you guys are late," Jando warns as he turns to stalk away.
"I know I can do it this time," thinks Sakura as she pants heavily and rests on one knee, "I just know I can!" She pushes herself up, determined to get it right on this try.
"Okay, here I go," she announces as she makes the hand signs, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A giant cloud of smoke bursts into existence a meter away. She stares intensely into it, just waiting for it to clear away so she can see the product of her efforts. Out of the white gas walks a perfect copy of Sakura Nagana, right down to the long, pink locks kept soft and shiny by daily care, and the unique blue-green colored eyes that always seem to shine, and the custom white dress with dark blue outlines designed by her mother. Sakura examines her work and is both hopeful and skeptical thinking, "Well, she looks correct and she can obviously move, but I'm not sure."
"Can you speak?" Sakura asks her clone.
"Of course I can speak," the clone replies, "I am a Shadow Clone."
"Hey, Kuroda, did I get it right?" Sakura calls excitedly.
As Kuroda stands up to come over for an inspection both the original and the copy's faces light up in anticipation. He carefully assesses the clone looking for any discolorations or irregularities and then takes her arm and gently runs his hands over her skin. After seeing that it is soft and smooth just like the real Sakura he pokes and prods the arm to make sure the density and composition is the same.
When he is satisfied he takes a step back and asks, "Please raise your arm." After complying he has the clone do some stretches, jumping jacks, and a few other activities to make sure she moves in the same way as the original.
"She looks and moves correctly, but can she talk?" questions Kyoko, still seated on the log.
"I didn't notice that she hadn't," admits Kuroda, "Good work, Princess."
"Of course I can talk," the clone says, her irritation showing on her face, "I wouldn't be a good clone if I couldn't."
"So, what is your determination, Kuroda?" Sakura asks, eagerly awaiting his approval.
"Well, she has a bit of an attitude, but she seems like a perfect copy to me," he admits, "There is just one more test I want to do."
"Another test?" the clone moans, displeased with having to perform like a circus animal.
"It will only take a second," he assures, "Just go over there and stand still. Don't move no matter what."
"Fine," she says, with a groan before walking away several meters and turning around, crossing her hands over her chest with impatience evident in her frown. When the clone is in the proper position Kuroda slides his right leg back and in one swift motion pulls out a kunai and whips it straight at her chest. Her eyes open in astonishment but she holds her position and ordered. When the weapon pierces her chest she bursts into white smoke and vanishes from existence.
"Congratulations, Sakura, you have officially made your first Shadow Clone!" Kuroda decrees.
"Yes, I did it!" Sakura exclaims, jumping up and punching her fist into the air.
"Well done," Kuroda says proudly, "I knew you could do it."
"Thank you so much," she cries as she smashes into him for a long and crushing hug. He returns the gesture, but in a much lighter fashion. Princess Kyoko runs over to congratulate her as well.
As they chat about her victory Kuroda reviews what he learned, "Like I theorized the clones are affected by the contract and have to follow the rules. Also as I speculated they are not tied into my blood ritual, so I don't have to worry about rescuing copies."
"I'm so happy for you, Sakura," says Kyoko with sincerity.
"This is so great, now I will be so much more useful on our missions," Sakura responds, "And when we get back to the village you can teach me to make even more, Kuroda."
"Sorry to disappoint you, but you'll be on your own when we get back home," he says flatly.
"What? Really?" she questions, her shoulders drooping and smile fading, the disappointment evident in her voice.
"I'd like to help you," he says sincerely, "But I have to return to my own training. I've been slacking a bit here. Plus our bodies are different and I am not a medical ninja. Only you will be able to figure out how to improve the Jutsu to fit your own style."
"I promise I will work hard and make you proud," she pledges.
One of the servants comes out of the manor and walks down towards the groups. "It looks like my father will be here shortly," says Kyoko, "I must go and prepare."
Kayo Yuhi walks down one of the many corridors of the manor as she makes her way towards the main entrance. Now accustomed to the pristine cleanliness of the marble floors and silk drapes that make up the inner corridors of the building she hardly gives them a look when passing by. Her mind is focused on other things; spending every spare moment she has trying to figure out her pupil's plans or how to remove herself from them. The tips of her white teeth bite into her scarlet lips as she concentrates on her thoughts. "There has to be a loophole somewhere, doesn't there?" she ponders, "I know if I could just see it then I could find some way to bypass his orders. One thing I do know is that he hasn't specifically told me I can't try to find the scroll and destroy it. If I could find mine I could figure it out and then be able to help Sakura remove her signature without actually finding her scroll. Although she seems to be completely content with blindly following Kuroda's orders. I'll have to talk to her about that."
Her thoughts are interrupted when she realizes that she is at the front door. She nods politely as one of the servants opens it for her. Outside she finds Kyoko waiting with a number of attendants. Her hair is braided into an intricate style and she has a bit of makeup on that gives her a slightly older appearance. She is wearing a more formal gown than she usually does but the main color of it is pink, like most of the rest of her clothes. Jando is nearby leaning up against a wall and looking grumpy and bored. Sakura is there as well, her clothes looking a little dirty and sweaty from a last minute training session. Kuroda is by her side staring up at the sky, looking for something unknown.
Kayo tries not to stare at him, but some strange feeling won't let her look completely away. It is as if she is being drawn towards him, not just on a mental level but on a physical level as well. She can feel her body itching to move closer to him. Kuroda stops looking at the sky and turns his attention towards the gate where moments later the King's carriage charges inside. The two mighty horses neigh as the driver steers them up the slight incline on top of which the manor rests. Attendants scurry around to complete various tasks as the door to the carriage opens.
The large mass of the man who is King steps out yawning and stretching his arms high into the air. "I hate having to travel in that thing," he comments, "It is always so boring and I fall asleep. Then my joints ache from sleeping in such a cramped space."
"I told you that you should just purchase a bigger one, Father," Kyoko says, stepping up to greet him.
"I know, I know," he replies as he bends down to grab her into a bear hug, "It is just so difficult to find one as sturdy as this one. It has been in our family for…"
"Forty years," the Princess finishes, "That is what you say after every journey."
"Well, my daughter, you seem to be as joyous as ever," he says, "I trust you had a good time while I was away."
"Yes, it was a very good time," she murmurs, blushing a bit, "How did the negotiations go?"
"Well enough for now," he answers, "But of course there will be more in the future. Ah yes, Ms. Yuhi, it seems that there were no significant events while I was gone."
"Everything was very peaceful here," Kayo replies.
"Very good, and it seems my daughter was very entertained," he responds, "I haven't seen her light up like that in a while."
"We did our best to keep the Princess from falling into boredom," she says, resisting the urge to glance at the dark-haired boy on her right.
"Splendid, splendid. Now come back into the manor. I am going to throw a grand feast tonight," the King announces.
"I'm sorry but we really must decline," Kayo responds, politely, "Now that you are back we really must return home."
"So soon? But I have barely just arrived," he protests, "I must treat you to some more of the hospitality of the Valley Country."
"We can stay for a bit," she capitulates, not wanting to offend him, "But then we need to hurry back. I received word from the Hidden Leaf that the situation looks to be getting a bit more intense between the Wind and the Earth Countries. We don't want to get caught in the crossfire so the Hokage ordered us to return with haste once you arrived."
"Ah yes, I heard about that during my travels. I honestly don't believe anything will come of it," the King responds, with an airy wave of his hand, "But I understand you have your orders."
"Thank you for understanding," she replies appreciatively.
"Come then, we will have some tea and then get you stocked up with supplies for your return home," he announces, ushering them inside.
"Well, from this letter that the King sent back with you it seems that you accomplished exactly what I tasked you to do," says the Hokage, as she leans back a little more in her chair, "This should now set us up for more business with the Valley Country. Good work, Team 3."
"Thank you, Lady Katonae, but it was mostly due to the efforts of Kuroda," Kayo replies, mischievously, "I had intended for Sakura to become good friends with the Princess, but she established a connection with Kuroda that flourished during our time there." Inside Kuroda boils with rage about mention of his relationship with the princess, but he doesn't let any of it show on the outside.
"Yes, very good," the Hokage replies, seemingly uninterested with the details, "It also seems that the King is just as generous as rumored."
"I tried to decline the additional bonus he added into our fee," Kayo explains, "But he insisted that we take it."
"I have a feeling I chose the perfect team for this mission," the Hokage responds with a smirk, "Well, now that you are back I think it would be best to keep you on D-rank missions for a while…"
"What? Again?" Jando complains, starting to throw a tantrum, "We can handle harder missions!"
"Oh great," Sakura sighs, "Right when we get on the Hokage's good side Jando has to go and screw it up."
After the meeting the team departs from the Hokage's chambers and head their separate ways, but Kuroda follows his Sensei down the hallway. He stays close by her side and speaks softly so that only she can hear, "Well played, Sensei, I honestly was not expecting that."
"Too bad the Hokage didn't seem to be interested in my hint," she replies as they duck into the stairwell.
"Maybe you don't know her as well as you think you do," he says as they descend down the stairs.
"What do you mean by that?" she inquires suspiciously.
"Oh, it really doesn't matter," he replies dismissively, "In any case don't do something like that again."
"Is that an order?" she asks.
"Can't you tell?" he responds, slightly surprised.
"How would I know? Some of your orders are so subtle that I only know when I go against them," she reveals.
"You should be feeling a slight tingle on your fingertips whenever it is an actual order and not just a suggestion," he reveals, "I'll see you tomorrow morning for the mission. Don't be late."
As the boy walks ahead of her she holds her hand up in front of her and stretches out her fingers, trying to feel the tingling sensation he referred to.
Deep in the cramped, dusty basement of the village library Kuroda is intently reading a large scroll and attempting to decipher the text. It is very old and some of the ink has faded leaving words unfinished and sentences that don't make sense.
"If that letter is an S, then this other letter could possibly be a P," he mutters to himself as he tries to figure it out. Suddenly a small pricking goes off in the back of his neck and the realization of the danger that it means hits him. "Good thing that no one usually comes down here," he thinks a second before his body fades from view, leaving no trace of his presence.
(A tingling sensation runs down his spine, what could be its significance? As always, if you want more information on my characters you can see their bios on my profile page. Be warned, there may be some spoilers. Also I'm in the process of getting pictures drawn for the characters, but I have no idea how long that will take. If you're interested in drawing and have a DA account then send me a Message. Enjoy the next chapter, and please review.)