Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Chapter 7
Naruto stared at the shadow of the memorial stone as it stretched further and further across the grass, creeping closer to the hedge of flowers that bloomed brightly next to the somber monument. He shifted slightly in his crouch up in the trees on the opposite side of the clearing, his feet starting to go numb as he waited with waning patience to find the final person he wanted to talk with before heading back to Mt. Myoboku. The council meeting should be done soon and Kakashi-sensei would probably be here any minute for his usual daily brooding. After scouting the entire village, this was the spot he thought would be the best for an unobserved, "accidental" meeting.
The fact that both the training grounds and the cemetery were completely deserted helped calm Naruto's anxiety just a bit. Because of Nagato's sacrifice, the people were able to focus on rebuilding their homes, healing their wounds, and working hard at restoring a sense of normalcy to their community instead of having to mourn their dead. Ninjutsu was being applied to construction instead of destruction. Naruto lifted his eyes to the sky, sending a derisive smile up into the heavens as he realized that in a twisted sort of way, the Akatsuki Leader really had brought peace through pain.
But the slight amusement quickly faded along with his expression as the irony weighed upon his conscience. Violence was a fact of shinobi life. Naruto had used his fists to pound the stupid out of more than one enemy. But Nagato and his alter ego Pein had blown that reality way beyond any altruistic idea of 'greater good', and with one sweeping jutsu of destruction had flipped Konoha upside down. Literally, socially, and politically.
In a single day a shunned jinchuriki had become an exalted hero, and a caged princess had become a "freed" fugitive. Naruto, who had refused over and over to use malicious methods to accomplish his goals, had to admit that the invasion had yielded far more change in a much shorter period of time compared to the years he'd spent clawing his way up from the bottom of society. By the blood and sweat of his efforts he had only managed to gain ounces of respect until that day. While Nagato and his Akatsuki had demanded tons of obedience.
Like a snake coiling around his shoulders an idea twisted around him, hissing whispered temptations to his weary psyche. Was there merit to the idea of using pain as a path to peace? Would simply eliminating the Hyuga make him hated for a short time, while ensuring an end to a vicious cycle forever? The pressure on his chest increased, his heart thudding against his ribs as the thought sank its teeth into his brain.
Could pain really be a shortcut on the path of peace? Changing the Hyuga could take decades, if I could just erase them all and start over…
The dark epiphany was constricting, choking, struggling to escape the straining binds of Naruto's sense of justice. He could hardly breathe through the weight of its demanding influence.
Dark chuckling rumbled in the back of his mind as a chill ran down his spine, making him shiver down to his soul even in the warm afternoon. So what if Nagato's philosophy isn't perfect? He got more results than the pious little brat who screamed his nindo at the top of his lungs during a hundred little fights. You'll die of old age before you make any change!
Suddenly the world went black. Naruto fell to his knees in rancid shallow water, scrabbling at his throat as the overwhelming sensation of being suffocated accelerated the spreading bloodlust like a poison pouring through his veins. In the distance, a fuzzy mirage of red slitted eyes crinkled in demonic glee as they admired his struggling.
Remember what we accomplished together against Pein? The shinobi couldn't help you. The Toads couldn't help you. It was I who changed the course of fate that day! I can fix everything for you, just let me out—
No! Naruto seethed, his lips moving but no sound escaping past the crushing weight on his windpipe. But in the depths of his hellish mindscape even his thoughts boomed with the volume of thunder. I don't need your hatred! I don't need your power! I have a long way to go, but I won't take the easy way out!
BAKA! You are stupid to refuse my power!
The edges of his vision slowly started to clear, and despite the pounding in his head, a vulpine grin curled the whisker marks on Naruto's cheeks. Just stupid enough to never give up.
The Kyūbi snarled, whipping his tails against the bars of his cage as he stormed away, furious at yet another failed attempt to sway his jailor. The hot gust of wind which marked his departure churned the water and beat against Naruto's chest, violently tossing him backwards. But instead of the swampy wetness he expected to feel seeping through his clothes, tree bark bit into his back, and the gale shifted to a warm afternoon wind that cooled the beads of sweat streaming down his temples.
Blinking dazedly, the jinchuriki ground his teeth together and swallowed hard, lifting a hand to his throat to reassure himself that the sensation of being strangled was just in his head. The songs of the nearby birds replaced the echoes of the fathomless emptiness, and with shaky hands Naruto grasped the branch to pull himself upright and back to reality.
We may both be Uzumaki and students of the same master, but I am not the same as Nagato. Naruto asserted internally, wanting to remind himself of his own truth and center his sanity around it once more. He and Nagato had heard the same words from Ero-senin's lips as they grew, and had taken his teachings into their hearts. Yet the methods each of them had chosen in order to pursue those ideals were vastly different. Both had achieved a measure of success, and along with it a heavy dose of failure.
Naruto might once again be an unwelcome presence in his own home, but he refused to condemn and obliterate an entire people because of a corrupted few. The Hyuga might be hunting for him and Hinata, but the entire Clan was not evil. Konoha might not be safe for a jinchuriki with Danzo and his Root attempting to gain control, but it was still a refuge for the rest of the villagers. A change in perspective might be in order, but sacrificing his morality for a quick revenge was not an option.
I will find another way, he swore as he settled himself quietly back onto his perch. It may not be quick, but it will last longer than pain. I'll find a way to protect Hinata forever, without having to scar Konoha with another genocide.
The crunch of footsteps brought his gaze back to the cemetery path, and his transformed brown eyes peered eagerly through the thicket of leaves. Even before he could spot the newcomer's face, he could smell the familiar scent of their cigarette, the same brand their sensei had always consumed. A smile replaced the frown on Naruto's face. This shinobi may not have been the one he was waiting for, but the guy was one of the smartest people in Konoha, a trusted friend, and had more political rank than he even wanted.
Perfect.
The unsuspecting Shikamaru shuffled lazily down the path, his eyes nearly closed as he puffed on his cigarette, lost in thought. Carefully cupping his hands around his mouth, Naruto pursed his lips and whistled out a tune that would sound like any other bird to the average person, but would ring bells in Shika's head with childhood memories of secret warning signals and hiding from Iruka-sensei to ditch the academy back in the day.
When the sound reached his ears Shikamaru froze briefly midstep before slowly putting his hands in his pockets. Continuing up to the tall stone, posture slouched and expression as solemn as any mourner's would be when visiting a lost sensei, he stared at it with vacant eyes. His sharp features tensed and his ears strained for any sound that was out of place in the whisper of the leaves in the wind.
Reaching down Naruto intentionally snapped a twig, then silently leapt to a branch further away before cracking another stick even more loudly, clearly indicating which direction he was headed.
A small smirk curved around his cigarette, and a minute later Shikamaru took a final, deep drag from it before setting it reverently upon the edge of the memorial stone. After a slow bow he turned on his heel and headed into the woods, following the strategically almost soundless footsteps away from the village towards the furthest deserted training ground.
Naruto led them to the towering rock face where he remembered Kakashi-sensei would do his crazy one handed climbs as part of his training. In the late afternoon the whole area was cast in shadow and would give the kagemane jutsu user the advantage over anyone who may come upon them. Naruto contemplated using Sage Mode to double check the area, but such a widespread and unique chakra would certainly draw the attention of any sensory ninja looking for him. So he pressed himself into a crevice facing out towards the trees and waited tensely for Shikamaru to catch up.
After a few minutes the same unique bird song whistled back from the foliage, and Naruto relaxed as a familiar spiky ponytail appeared from between the branches. Stepping forward he exhaled in relief, greeting Shikamaru with an outstretched fist.
"Don't worry, we weren't followed," Shikamaru confirmed without being asked as he bumped Naruto's knuckles. "All the Clan Heads are at a council meeting with the Advisors, along with Kakashi-sensei and the Daimyo. Anyone who isn't working is focused over there right now." He studied his old friend with narrowed eyes, taking in his henge, and sighed deeply.
"Alright, this better be good. You haven't used that signal since we were kids. Does all this creeping around have anything to do with the drama in the council?" he drawled, crossing his arms and bracing for anything.
Naruto grimaced, scratching at his cheek with a dirty fingernail. "Is it that obvious?"
Shikamaru snorted. It did not take a genius to figure out that something was going on. Lifting a hand, he ticked off his observations on each finger in a flat tone. "The Hyuga demanded a meeting with the Elder Advisors. No one has seen you or Hinata once since The Invasion. Kurenai told me she went to the Hyuga to ask about Hinata and was turned away, harshly. And Sakura has been ready to snap anytime someone so much as mentions your name. Even Kakashi-sensei is acting more odd than usual, he and Gai had a ridiculous race across the village yesterday that was just…obscene," Shikamaru finished with a shudder.
Naruto collapsed tiredly against the cliff face, sliding down onto the dirt and rubbing his hand over his forehead as he rallied himself to tell his tale once more.
"It's a long story…"
"Mendokuse," Shikamaru groaned, plopping down next to him and reaching for a fresh cigarette. "Start at the beginning."
Throughout the convoluted conversation Shikamaru's fingers constantly toyed with Asuma's lighter. Flicking it open, sharply lighting the flame, then slamming it shut with a loud snap. Over and over his fingers twitched and flipped as Naruto laid out the entangled series of facts, trying not to ramble while being as accurate as possible. Eventually Shikamaru shoved the lighter into his pocket for fear he'd wear the hinge off and closed his eyes, his hands settling into the meditative circle so familiar to him.
"Now I see why the search for 'the hero of the Leaf' seemed rather intense for a simple congratulatory meeting," he grumbled, barely able to absorb the unbelievable series of events. "The way the Hyuga and ANBU have been scouring the Village for you it felt more like there was a warrant out for your arrest."
Naruto grunted derisively before uncorking a water flask and taking a long drink to quench his dry throat. "Those cranky ass Advisors have wanted nothing more than to lock me up ever since they first heard of the Akatsuki. Tsunade-baachan barely convinced them to let me leave with Ero-sennin on that training trip. After what happened to Gaara I've felt like eyes have been watching me around every corner since we returned. This whole mess Hiashi started is the perfect excuse to lock me in a cage and throw away the key."
Shikamaru hummed in acknowledgment. Naruto was not wrong. During his time planning the chunin exams he had spent many hours in the Hokage Tower, and the opinion that Naruto should be carefully guarded was common amongst the council. Hiding the village's prized jinchuriki who is being hunted by a powerful criminal organization was only logical. Except that he was a human, not a secret weapon that could be concealed until needed. And a cage could never hold the maelstrom of Naruto Uzumaki for long.
"Mt. Myoboku was a perfect solution," Shikamaru added thoughtfully as he exhaled a fine cloud of pale smoke. "No one can get to you there, either enemy or friend. But it's also neutral territory, so no one can accuse you of going rogue."
Naruto nodded but frowned as he leaned forward and crossed his legs. Planting one elbow on a knee as his chin sank into his palm he blew his flat bangs upwards with a harsh exhale.
"I kinda feel like a hypocrite keeping Hinata there," he admitted morosely. "After all my shouting about not wanting her to be caged, I literally turned around and trapped her in a foreign place." He picked up a twig and distractedly scribbled swirls in the fine dust, not noticing the way Shikamaru assessed him with a sidelong glance. "I'm trying to make it more comfortable, but already she has mentioned the fact that she doesn't feel like she belongs."
"So make her belong." Shikamaru shrugged like the suggestion was obvious. "Up until now there have always been two Toad Summoners at any given time, right? Ask if she wants to sign the contract."
Naruto straightened up sharply, his mouth falling open and the twig falling from his fingers. "I…never thought of that." His brown eyes began to dance as the idea took hold.
"Shima and Fukasaku love her, and all the different water jutsu would be right up her alley!" he practically shouted, making Shikamaru shush him with a stern glare. Naruto chuckled and rubbed the back of his head, ruffling the oddly limp hair. "I guess, as the only remaining Toad Sage, I'm allowed to ask Great Gramps Sage to do that."
He flashed a bright smile that would have been a dead give away of his identity to any acquaintance paying close enough attention. "Thanks Shika!"
Shikamaru shook off the appreciation with a lazy wave of his hand, but a small smile pulled at the corner of his mouth as he observed Naruto's flushed face. "So you really built her a house, eh?" He couldn't resist teasing as he cocked an eyebrow. "The Hyuga are gonna shit themselves when they hear that you two are living together. What will her father say?"
Naruto crossed his arms, his face contorting into a fierce scowl that had Shikamaru unconsciously leaning away from its intensity. The burning anger which rapidly replaced the cheerful gleam in his eyes did not reflect the normally petulant irritation of the emotional boy Shikamaru had grown up with, but a deeply rooted fury that continuously smoldered despite being under tight control.
"Hiashi can kiss my ass," Naruto huffed indignantly. "There is no way I'll let him lay a finger on her. If he can't see her worth beyond some stupid clan business than he doesn't deserve to call her family. He lost the right to have a say in her life the instant he tried to seal her as far as I'm concerned. I don't care how strong she is or isn't, how good her Byakugan is, or what side of the Hyuga she belongs to. She is my precious person, and I won't abandon her."
Shikamaru stared with wide eyes at the way Naruto's eyes flashed from brown to blue to red, his breaths rasping harshly with the passion of his declaration. Even after forcing himself to steady his breathing, the jinchuriki's pupils remained slitted like a feral animal. Shikamaru's cigarette nearly slipped from his lips before he shook off his shock.
Geez when Naruto finally gets it, he really gets it, he mused. Reaching out he gently slapped his friend on the shoulder the way one would calm a growling dog by rubbing his head, a smirk creasing his eyes shut.
"Good for you Naruto," he congratulated. "You're not as dense as you seem sometimes."
"Oi!" Naruto frowned at his friend but there was a tinge of laughter to his voice and the piercing nature of his gaze softened back to normal. "For your information Fukasaku said I was a genius at lov—"
Suddenly Shikamaru shushed him, his hands snapping together to form the hand sign of his shadow jutsu. "Someone is coming," he hissed.
Instantly Naruto melted back into the crevice of the rock, thinking small thoughts as he tried to stamp down his chakra to near invisibility while Shikamaru stood to block him. Sweat was quickly starting to prickle down his back as he listened to the approaching person jump from branch to branch, making little effort to hide their arrival.
Both shinobi leveled their gazes onto the opposite side of the training ground, waiting with bated breath until an unmistakable pink head of hair leaped out of the trees, landing with a soft thud that contradicted the hard look in her eyes. When those eyes zeroed in on Shikamaru, the man's shoulders reflexively raised to his ears.
Sakura raised her hands to cup her mouth as she called out, "Shikamaru! Have you seen Naruto? I can't find him anywhere. I have news about Sasuke-kun I need to tell him!"
"Sasuke-teme?! What about him?" Naruto blurted out, leaping out of his hiding spot and completely blowing his cover. Shikamaru smacked his palm into his face and groaned, mumbling something about them both living to regret this. Sakura blinked, then squinted suspiciously at the unfamiliar person with Naruto's voice but missing the bright yellow hair and whiskered cheeks.
Naruto's shoulders hunched when he realized his mistake, matching Shikamaru's defensive reaction as he sheepishly rubbed at the back of his head. "Eh, hehe. I mean, uh, here I am Sakura-chan…"
Within seconds her expression cleared and she planted her fists on her hips, stomping across the grass like an approaching storm. Naruto swallowed hard, remembering the last time she had spotted him as he reentered the village and braced himself for whatever kind of greeting might be awaiting him this time. By the time he had recovered his composure she was running full steam. Just when he thought for sure he was gonna get a fist to the face, she skidded to a stop and grabbed his shoulders.
"Naruto!" Sakura panted out, shaking him as her green eyes raked him up and down, taking in the weird henge. "Where were you? I've been looking all over for you! It's been days since you showed your face, what kind of appreciation is that for all the praise the village has been heaping on you? Iruka-sensei said you haven't been showing up to your assigned jobs either. Don't tell me this fame has already gotten to your thick head!"
Naruto stood still as she scolded him with her words but simultaneously flooded him with her chakra to ensure he was okay. Some of the tension melted from his shoulders, and with the closer contact he saw the bags under her eyes, the slight tremble of her lip, and the way her hair was pulled back and limp like she hadn't had time to comb it out in a couple days. One of the toad's reports flashed through his head, regarding the large number of medic nin working around the clock to help sustain those who were still significantly injured from the invasion. With Tsunade-baachan unable to help, there was no doubt in his mind that Sakura was leading them, side by side with Shizune.
Guilt probed at his conscience more forcefully than the healing chakra which invaded his muscles. She's been working hard too, and I've only made it harder by disappearing. The least I can do is tell her the truth. Gently pushing her hands off his body with a small shake of his head, Naruto offered her an apologetic smile. "I can explain Sakura, some stuff has happened with Hinata and she really needed my help."
"I needed your help!" Sakura exclaimed in exasperation, throwing her hands in the air. "Tsunade-sama is in a coma! Kakashi-sensei is hiding even more than usual. Sai has been creepier than ever for Kami only knows what reason. And now there are shinobi here from Kumo and they want to talk to the Hokage about Sasuke and I can't seem to find anyone to help me figure out why!" Sakura was nearly snarling despite a teary gleam to her eyes as she unleashed a torrent of words upon her teammate. The last she had seen of Naruto he had been carried away by a crowd of adoring fans, and a small amount of irritation sharpened her words.
Where has he been while I was working my ass off? Inner Sakura fumed. Between the exhaustion and worry, her second psyche was simmering dangerously close to the surface. Any information related to Sasuke-kun was enough to rattle her, but right now the combined stress of everything left Sakura struggling not to appear outright frantic. The fact that she had been racing all over Konoha since this morning only further stoked her anger.
"Wait, what? Kumo!? What do they want with the Teme?" Naruto straightened up in alarm, finally giving Sakura some reassurance that she would not be alone on her little mission. Darting a glance at Shikamaru's flat expression, Sakura turned away from him and focused on her teammate, too keyed up to even question the reason behind the ridiculous henge.
"I was able to overhear a few of them talking outside the Advisors' tent. They are here because of something to do with Sasuke-kun and the Raikage's brother. They looked pissed. One of their jonin was going to talk to Danzo I think, but the other chunin were talking together off to the side. I wanted to get closer to hear more but they just took off into the village. I tried to follow, but I lost them, and I need you to help me track them down."
Suspicion creased Shikamaru's face as he scowled, and he inhaled slowly on his cigarette before shaking his head. "I'd leave it be if I were you Sakura. Sounds like nothing good."
She clicked her teeth at his uninvited advice, glaring at him until he shrugged and looked away, scanning the treeline warily.
Crossing her arms, Sakura turned back to Naruto and waited, expecting him to spawn a hundred clones and immediately flood the village with spies. Expecting him to declare at the top of his lungs that he'd find those assholes no matter what. Expecting some kind of knee-jerk reaction to hearing Sasuke-kun's name. But instead he hesitated, chewing on his bottom lip while shifting from foot to foot. Incredulity prickled throughout her already frayed nerves, and Sakura couldn't help the icy edge of her voice.
"Did you not hear me?" she bit out, "what are you waiting for? Make some kage bunshin!"
Naruto's brow furrowed, a slight grimace crossing his features as his bland brown eyes met her piercing green glare. "Sorry Sakura-chan, I-I cant. I can't be seen at all in Konoha right now. I can send out some toads to scope the village, but they've already been really busy today. Depending on how long the Kumo shinobi stay, we might not find them before they leave. But I promise I'll figure out what they were doing!"
Sakura's mouth dropped open, she couldn't believe her ears. Was Naruto balking at a time like this, when info about Sasuke-kun was on the line?!
"But you're a Sage now!" she insisted, shaking her upturned hands at him, begging him to think about what was at stake. "Forget the toads, you can just locate the shinobi with your Sage Mode!"
However Naruto was already shaking his head, the unfamiliar limp hair swishing vigorously. "I can't risk using that jutsu right now, I have to stay hidden. It's complicated, but the village isn't safe for me, and I have to think about Hinata—"
"Then let's leave the damn village!" Sakura bellowed, nearing the end of her rope. Her face flushed red as she stomped her foot, causing pebbles to trickle down the cliffside. "You've already practically disappeared for three days, what's a bit longer? We'll just use your Sage Mode to find Sasuke-kun and bring him back ourselves."
That had Shikamaru whirling around, his eyes widening as he threw down his cigarette and squashed it with his heel. "Oi, oi! Don't get carried awa—"
"Its not that simple!" Naruto snapped, making Sakura roll her eyes and start pacing angrily. His conscience grated uncomfortably between the opposing pressures of his childhood need to find Sasuke, and his newer, more exhilarating desire to protect Hinata. The stress was building upon all his existing worries, threatening to crack his control. He stomped after Sakura step for step, his voice rising along with his frustration.
"I'm still new at this!" he exclaimed, pointing forcefully at his chest. "I can only use Sage Mode for a few minutes at best, and my range can only cover some of Konoha, not the whole goddammed Land of Fire! Plus, I can't just leave—I don't want to abandon her—AARRGH!"
His fingers yanked at his stringy hair as his words started tripping over one another under the intensity of his conflicting emotions. There was so much at stake. Chances to find the Teme were few and far between. But rumors that he had killed Orochimaru had been drifting around Mt. Myoboku for a while, so hopefully the asshole was safe from the Snake, even if he had somehow managed to get into fresh trouble. And right now, Hinata was not safe, she needed him the most, she actually wanted him, and he owed her his life.
I can't believe I'm even thinking this, but Sasuke is gonna have to wait, Naruto concluded. He looked up at his teammate's stiff posture, the way that muscle in her jaw was jumping like it did only when she got really pissed, and he groaned. But how do I tell that to her?
"Sakura, just slow down and give me a chance to explain. A lot has happened and I can't leave Hinata alone right now!"
"What does Hinata have to do with any of this?" she spluttered. "We'll leave and come back before anyone notices. The Council will thank us afterwards!"
Shikamaru grabbed them each by the shoulder, trying to come between the two amped up teammates. "Neither of you are going to look for Sasuke right now, okay? Sakura, as Tsunade-sama's apprentice you are needed here more than ever. We don't even know for sure what information the Kumo shinobi have. With the Godaime out cold the Advisors have been on a serious power trip and wouldn't hesitate to label Sasuke a Rogue Nin. Dragging him back here would just be dragging him to prison."
Sakura flung his hand off her shoulder and stepped back, shaking her head in disbelief at the complete lack of significance either of them were giving this crucial information. "So both of you are just giving up? Is that how it is?" she accused.
Her eyes drilled into Naruto, who was half turned away and rubbing his chest like it ached. Even in the stupid henge she could read her teammate, and she saw the indecision wavering in his eyes. Fisting her hands, she swallowed hard before daring to use her sharpest words to help push him over the edge of doubt. Naruto will thank me later, when we find Sasuke-kun and bring him back here everything will work out. Once he is with us again it will be just like before. I'm stronger now, if I can just show him what I can do, he won't leave me again.
Taking a slow breath, Sakura steeled herself the way she would prepare to administer bitter but necessary medicine.
"That's not the Naruto I know," she whispered lowly, and his head snapped up as if he had been struck. "The Naruto I know would never pass up the opportunity to bring his teammate back home. Would never admit defeat. Would never accept that he was too weak to go up against Sasuke-kun."
"I am not weak!" Naruto barked, instantly rising to the bait she dangled in front of him. His eyes flashed as he whirled away, raising a fist, and for a moment Shikamaru thought he might punch a crater into the rockface just to prove his point. Somehow he held back, hand wavering in mid-air before punching into his palm. But the whiskermarks on his face were suddenly flashing across his cheeks as a fraction of his outrage broke through his chakra disguise.
Encouraged by his burst of emotion Sakura's hands snapped out and grasped the front of his shirt, practically hoisting him up off the ground with her chakra enhanced strength. She shook him, desperately trying to free him from whatever was making him hesitate as she continued to goad him into action with her words. Her voice trembled despite her firm grip.
"Then prove it Naruto! You promised me you would bring him back. 'The promise of a lifetime', remember? Don't you care about that? Don't you care about Team Seven anymore?"
Shikamaru watched through narrowed eyes as Naruto's face paled, his mouth working but no sounds coming out as his teammate repeated her tearful request from years ago. He remembered the exact moment when Naruto had made that beaming promise to a bawling Sakura before heading out to risk his life alongside the other boys. It had been Shikamaru's first mission as a brand new chunin and first failure as a leader, and the burden of sending his friends into fights which should have killed each one of them still haunted him to this day.
Naruto had come out of that mission the worst by far, nearly murdered by the friend he had tried to save, and Sakura knew that. For her to bring up those painful memories and twist them to her own motivation in the heat of the moment absolutely soured Shikamaru's stomach. He hated guilt trips. He was just opening his mouth to cut her off when two unfamiliar shinobi appeared out of the shadows of the thicket, unnoticed by the distracted group.
"'Naruto', you say?" A girl with fiery red hair asked sharply. "We thought if we followed pinkie long enough we would eventually find you both together. Where is that good for nothing Uchiha teammate of yours?"
Her eyes were as harsh as her words, and they sized up each of the three Konoha shinobi suspiciously as Sakura dropped Naruto's shirt and they all turned to face the newcomers who were both dressed in the standard attire of shinobi from Kumo. None of them responded to her question, and she worked her jaw in contemplation as she stalked closer.
"Don't play stupid, you should have known he would run to the Akatsuki, just like his homicidal brother. The Uchiha are nothing but a Clan of Traitors!" Distain dripped from her voice, and the second shinobi behind her stepped forward as well, cooly twisting a lollipop in his mouth as he waited to see what the threesome's response would be to the revealing insult.
Naruto stiffened, his hands clenching at his sides. They're lying! Sasuke would never join the Akatsuki. Not after Itachi. By this point steam was nearly pouring out of his ears, and he could feel the flickering hatred of the Kyūbi starting to burn behind his eyes. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to maintain his henge and control his emotions.
"That is ridiculous! You'll have to do better than that," Sakura declared firmly, crossing her arms and not backing down an inch from the kunoichi's looming approach. This is what she had been craving, an opportunity to confront the foreigners away from the judging eyes of the council. A chance to obtain information straight from the source instead of eavesdropping for days or waiting for the toads' intel in order to piece together an idea of what Sasuke-kun had done.
"If you know so much about him, then why are you bothering us?" she added with a challenging tone.
The kunoichi's face twisted, her fingers twitching over the handle of her sword. The other ninja raised an eyebrow, his lollipop rolling to the other side of his mouth. "I guess they don't know anything after all Karui," he said in a lazy, half mocking tone. "The reports did mention that the Uchiha had a new team with him. Two guys and a girl, all in Akatsuki robes. Obviously he has moved on from these losers."
Naruto flinched, the statement hitting that sensitive place on his heart which still ached from a childhood scarred by abandonment. Deep in his gut the Kyūbi was rumbling angrily, his chakra threatening to boil. Naruto automatically began trying to stifle the building surge of emotions that the demon sent flooding throughout his body, but something about this wave was different. He pressed a hand to his stomach, attempting to split his focus between the threat outside as well as the threat within.
Normally the hatred burned like fire, searing along the kindling of Naruto's own negativity until it overtook his sanity in a whoosh of hellish fury. But this emotion was tainted with something more sickening. A fluid rage that flowed around a more solid core of…dread?
If that Uchiha dared to lay a hand on my brethren I will wipe out his clan once and for all!
What?! What does that mean? Hey! Kyubi! What do you know?
Unaware of Naruto's internal struggle Sakura had not been able to suppress a gasp at the man's cold statement. "Sasuke-kun is our teammate! He is a shinobi of Konoha. One day he will return and until then we will protect him in any way we can." She slashed her hand through the air, as she took a chakra laced step forward that made the ground rumble. "There is nothing you can do to make us help you."
"You'll tell us, or we'll rip it out of you!" the kunoichi erupted, cocking a fist and aiming straight for Sakura. Her teammate jumped forward and grabbed her wrist, but she twisted away with a furious roar.
"Don't stop me Omoi! I'm sick of fucking diplomacy. I'm sick of not knowing what happened to him! We came all this way and I will get answers!" Whipping around the woman stabbed an accusing finger at Sakura, inches from her nose. Even with his eyes closed Naruto could clearly perceive the bitterness and hurt that underscored her shouting. Apprehension lanced through his chest as his mind tried to piece together how the Kumo ninja's demands related to the Kyūbi's threat. What did Sasuke do to them? Do I even want to know?
Cracking open an eye, his heart lurched unexpectedly at the look on the kunoichi's face. Her brows were drawn down into a threatening glare, but her lips trembled in their snarl. It was as though she was barely restraining some deeper feeling by choosing to bare her teeth in anger instead of losing control. A sense of deja vu hung heavily across him as Naruto glanced at the other guy, Omoi she had called him? His face was cold and stony, but his shoulders drooped along the same line as the candy stick that sagged from his mouth. Naruto's mind clicked as the cloud of deja vu cleared. They're hurting, and this anger is just the outer layer of that pain.
The kunoichi's voice dropped, her words were clipped and vicious, and each one of her serrated syllables cut into the barely healed wounds which grief had left upon his own soul. "Your teammate attacked our mentor. Our sensei. The Raikage's only brother. He was a good man, the protector of our Village. He never provoked anyone. And your asshole Uchiha just came out of nowhere and took him!"
Her gaze danced across their faces, which had all paled in shock. None of the Konoha shinobi could speak as they each digested the outrageous accusation. Unconsoled by their sudden speechlessness, her voice rose, unshed tears making her hardened eyes shine. "Do you have any idea what it's like to have your precious person ripped away!?" she cried, her whole body vibrating like a bowstring pulled taught, itching to loose her pain upon them. Behind her, Omoi let his gaze fall to the grass and swallowed hard before he spoke up.
"He was more than just our teacher, he was our friend. And that Uchiha and his Akatsuki friends hunted him down like an animal, just because of what he is, not because of anything he did to them. We cannot even grieve for him properly, or take comfort in hope, because we don't know if he is dead or alive."
Naruto flinched, biting back a groan, his naturally powerful empathy clashing with personal experience to create a perfect storm of unwanted flashbacks. He knew those feelings, was bitterly familiar with what it felt like to lose someone you admired and loved, and not even have the chance to say goodbye. Omoi's statement unleashed a wave of emotions that rippled from the present all the way back to the moment Fukasaku told him Jiraiya was gone. The saliva in his mouth suddenly felt too thick, the urge to gag became nearly overwhelming. Yes, he understood. More than he wanted to, more than he could ever explain.
Shikamaru held up his hands, trying to capitalize on the softening moment and diffuse the situation. "We don't know where Sasuke is, ok? If we did, we would have brought him home a long time ago."
"Bullshit!" the kunoichi growled in frustration, ripping her sword off of her back. Omoi nearly inhaled his candy as he ducked away from her broad swipe.
"Karui what are you doing?! If you start a fight the council will find out, then there could be a war, then the Raikage will send us to the front lines for starting a war, and we'll get killed—"
"Shut up!" she swung at him, making him back away and cease his rambling list of doomsday scenarios. "If we can't punish that Uchiha, then at least we can punish them!"
Suddenly Karui froze, her body barely trembling from the immense effort to move, but not taking a single step. Shikamaru's hands were holding the seal of his jutsu, and his face was holding a deep scowl.
"Take it easy," he demanded, the usual drawl gone from his tone. "This will accomplish nothing. We told you the truth, now go await the Advisor's decision on the matter. We have nothing to add."
Karui's body stopped shaking as she ceased her struggle to escape the shadow jutsu of the Nara Clan, but her golden eyes pierced Shikamaru with a glare that was twice as deadly as her sword. Omoi hesitantly touched her wrist, reaching to secure her sword and glancing at Shikamaru, who nodded and slowly retracted his jutsu.
The instant she could move Karui struck forward with the swiftness of a coiled snake, Sakura only had time to lift her arms in defense, unable to completely dodge. From behind her a blur shifted protectively and the sound of skin slapping against steel rang through the tense air as Naruto clapped his hands around the flat sides of Karui's sword.
Karui blinked in shock, trapped in her stance, her eyes wide and mouth gaping at his speed. They stared at one another, Naruto's gaze shifting from a dull brown to a crystalline blue which shimmered with a genuine empathy that threatened to crack the shell around her heart. He saw the pain in her eyes, heard the echoes of his own grief over Ero-sennin in her stuttered breaths. He remembered how it felt when he tried to bury the depths of his hurt under mountains of anger and denial. He remembered the freedom that had cleansed his soul when he finally quit bottling it up and let it all out. Rationally, he knew this situation was not his fault. Logically, he knew that he owed nothing to these people on Sasuke's behalf. But he could plainly see that they were suffering, and it pulled at his compassion in a way that felt real, and yet made no sense at all.
He glanced sideways at Shikamaru, the only one who had been able to reach him when he had been drowning in grief. The only one who had understood what it was like to lose your sensei. He sighed when he met Naruto's gaze, a resigned look of understanding written all over his face.
"Hit me then." Naruto commanded, turning back to Karui. He dropped his hands, ignoring Sakura's gasp. Karui's eyes narrowed in suspicion and her sword lowered.
"Are you mocking me?" she hissed.
"I won't offer again," Naruto warned, glowering slightly. He straightened up, planting his feet widely and spreading his arms with palms up. Taking a deep breath he continued more softly. "If you want to hit something, hit me. Hit me until it stops hurting. Hit me until you can't move anymore. I cannot give you back your sensei. But if you need to let it out," he dropped his hands, voice ringing with sincerity, "I won't stop you."
Her sword fell with a muffled thump upon the grass and immediately Karui slammed a fist into his gut with all her strength. Naruto curled over her shoulder, his breath whooshing out in a harsh cough.
Shock flickered across her face as she pulled away, she had fully expected him to dodge. Naruto staggered on his feet, gagging and spitting out a glob of bloody spit upon the earth. Shikamaru grimaced and looked away. Sakura blinked in bewildered horror, shuffling backwards beside him.
Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand Naruto straightened up once more, refocusing through the aching of his gut upon Karui, who was panting through clenched teeth as she watched him. Naruto nodded at her, calm resignation settling back upon his features.
"That's a start. Don't stop."
It was as if his hoarse whisper had shattered the walls of a dam, and in a burst of furious tears and sobs Karui unleashed everything she had upon him. Omoi looked on, lollipop dangling from his slack lips, unable to comprehend the scene before him. The sickening thud of flesh on flesh, punctuated with the crunch of bones reverberated across the empty training ground. She never let up, and Naruto never stopped her.
Finally, after what felt like a tortuously long time, she eventually drained herself. Her arms became heavy with grief and exhaustion, the punches slowing and getting sloppy. Omoi pulled the candy from his lips and tossed it away, unable to stomach the sweetness when such a sour taste filled his mouth. This time, when he reached for her, Karui let him pull her away.
The fury was gone, the heaving sobs had subsided to tired sniffles. Omoi picked up her sword and gently guided her toward the treeline, internally swearing to never speak of this again. Karui never looked back, burying her face in her bloody hands to try and stifle the lingering hiccups. But Omoi turned to glance over his shoulder, and his eyes connected with Naruto's which were nearly swollen shut.
He didn't get it. But he respected it, and that was something he could appreciate from any opponent. Omoi nodded to the beaten shinobi as they walked away. Naruto nodded back, his bloody lips mouthing the words, I hope you find your sensei.
As soon as the pair of Kumo shinobi disappeared into the trees Naruto collapsed. Sakura instantly dropped to her knees next to him, her hands healing but voice screeching as she scolded him. Shikamaru stripped off his vest and knelt as well, propping up Naruto's head on the rough green garment.
"Sakura that's enough!" he snapped at her. "He's already hurt, you don't need to chew him out."
"Don't tell me what to do!" she bit back, but the venom was gone from her tone. Shaking her head, she fought back tears of her own as she scanned her teammate's abdomen to make sure there was no hidden bleeding. Naruto's head lolled heavily on the makeshift pillow, eyes closed and unresponsive to her admonishing.
"Why did he let her do that? If anything he should have punished them for insulting Sasuke-kun. Why did he choose weakness? Baka! You're supposed to be getting stronger. What does this even accomplish?" she mumbled as she worked.
Shikamaru clicked his teeth, annoyed at her inability to see the selflessness in Naruto's sacrifice, instead focusing on the failure of her own goal in this situation. She had no idea what Naruto was going through, nor what had happened in the last few days. Personally, Shikamaru could care less if that Uchiha ever came back, as long as he quit bringing trouble to Konoha. And as someone who had mourned the death of their mentor, and daily lived to make him proud, her narrow perspective grated at his patience.
"If you don't understand, then I can't explain it to you" he growled. "Nothing about what Naruto did was remotely weak. You know nothing. So don't say anything."
The strands of pink hair which had escaped her ponytail swished at her temples as she whipped up to glare at him, insulted by what she perceived as condescension in his voice. "Mind your own business! This has nothing to do with you! This is a Team Seven issue, and we will find Sasuke-kun without your—"
"Sakura," Naruto slurred between bruised lips. She jolted in surprise, amazed that he was even conscious after such a brutal beating. His cuts were not bleeding anymore but he still looked absolutely awful. Her heart clenched with guilt. She had just stood there, useless as ever, watching while he was battered to a pulp. Naruto must have read her emotions on her face, because he reached up and tried to pat her shoulder to calm her down.
"It's fine, Sakura. It's done."
Indignation filled her once more and she bristled at the finality of his words, barely restraining herself from hitting him again. Roughly she brushed his hand off her shoulder.
"It's not done. We haven't even started yet. Hold still, we need to get you healed up so we can go find Sasuke-kun."
"I'm not going to look for Sasuke."
The chakra flowing from her hands spluttered and died, her body stiff as her eyes slowly lifted from his wounds to stare blankly at his face. There was no teasing in his expression, no glimmer of mischief in his eyes. He was dead serious.
"Wh-what?" she whispered incredulously. Naruto groaned as he sat up, struggling to breathe through his injuries as he turned to face his stunned teammate.
"This changes things, a lot. If he really has joined the Akatsuki then...shit. That means…it means," he grimaced, lifting a hand to rub at his pounding head. "I-I gotta think about this, okay? I have to figure it all out before I just run off chasing rumors! I have a lot more to consider now. There's Hinata, and the Spy Network, and the accusations from the Hyuga, and…fuck. I can't keep it all straight!"
He hissed painfully as he tried to gesture with his hands in the air, grabbing his side. Damn it, that chick must have broken my rib. Breathing carefully through pursed lips he turned pleading eyes to Sakura.
"Just gimme some time, I can figure something out—"
"There is no more time!" she exploded. "I can't wait any longer! You promised me! I thought your word meant something? I thought I meant something? How can you just walk away from me?"
Naruto blinked but instantly lashed back. "I'm not walking away! Dammit Sakura, we can't just go rogue right now! Everyone is looking for me. I have to lay low, I'm on thin ice here!"
Her eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about? Everyone thinks you're the 'Hero of Konoha'. This kind of attention is what you've always dreamed about. You should be using your new standing to advocate for Sasuke-kun, not go into hiding."
"If you would just shut up about Teme for one goddamed second I would tell you!"
Silence answered Naruto's shouted retaliation. Shikamaru's eyebrows had risen nearly to his hairline. Sakura flinched as if his words had actually struck her, leaning back until she slipped off her knees and sat heavily upon the ground. Naruto punched the dirt, his fists being one of the only places on his body that could withstand any more punishment. His heart hurt. His brain hurt. His soul hurt. His whole being hurt. He couldn't take it anymore. All of the frustration, anger, grief, and stress flooded out of him in a torrent of rambling nonsense.
"I have no standing, I'm a failure! I try to do the right thing and I make it all worse! I'm doing the best I can to fix it, but I'm just one guy. I'm not the person they think I am. I'm not a hero. I'm not a weapon. I'm not an idiot. I'm not a monster. I just wanna go back. I need to go back. I need her…"
Confusion flickered across Sakura's face as he ranted, she glanced at Shikamaru, but he also was focused on Naruto, whose eyes were glimmering from blue to red. This was not going the way she wanted, she didn't want to fight. She wanted them to join together as a team and go after their missing piece. She just wanted Sasuke-kun back more than anything.
Shikamaru could see that things had gotten way out of hand. He assessed the position of the sun in the sky, calculating the time and coming to a quick conclusion. "I think that's enough talking for now. Naruto has been hit in the head one too many times to be interrogated anymore. Let's get him cleaned up and find Kakashi-sensei. The council meeting should be done by now."
"No," Naruto mumbled stubbornly, even as he accepted Shikamaru's outstretched hand to help him stand. "I need to get back to Hinata."
Something odd burned in Sakura's stomach. Something she didn't want to examine too closely. But seeing that her opportunity was slipping away her desperation peaked. She jumped to her feet, grabbing Naruto's hand as he started to turn away and face the forest.
"Naruto, Hinata is fine. I healed her, didn't I?" She let her chakra flow into his body, healing his bruised knuckles, proving her worth, proving that she was the one whose side he needed to stay by. Her voice trembled with genuine fear despite how much she tried to hide it. She couldn't bear to see another teammate turn his back and walk away from her. Not again.
"Please, Naruto. Right now I need you more than anyone."
He paused, slowly looking down at their clasped hands. His gaze trailed up her arm, skimming over her face until he was staring straight into her shimmering green eyes. Their vibrant green depths pleaded with him wordlessly as he turned around. The irony that only a few days ago he would have walked barefoot over hot coals in order for her to look at him that way was not lost on him.
Sakura's brow furrowed as she gripped him with her other hand, weaving their fingers together as she continued to heal him, to solidify their connection, before making her final request. Her ultimate checkmate.
"You promised you would do this for me, remember? Promised you would help me." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "You always do, because you love me, right?"
Naruto's eyes were focused on Sakura's beseeching expression but suddenly the image of Hinata's face was all he could see. Blood trickling down her forehead and staining her teeth, as she offered him a wobbling smile and the words to bring him back from the brink. Offering herself up as a sacrifice for him. Willing to die for him. And asking nothing in return.
"You have done so much for me. I am not scared to die protecting you, because I love you."
Sakura frowned as Naruto's eyes grew distant, and squeezed his hand to regain his focus. The motion called him back from wherever his mind had wandered, and he looked down at their entwined fingers with a flat expression. His free hand lifted and held hers, covering it with his own.
A smile softened her face, relief and hope melting away her fear. He finally remembered, she had done it. But the smile faltered when instead of clasping her hand he began sternly peeling her fingers off of him, one by one.
"No, I don't," he said solemnly.
Her arms went slack, and the chakra faded from her fingers. His eyes swam with sadness as he looked up and saw the hurt creasing her features.
"I'm sorry Sakura, I do have feelings for you. They are the same feelings I have for Sasuke, Kakashi, and Ero-sennin. It's the bond we have together as teammates. Those feelings are why I let the Kumo kunoichi hurt me. Because I understand what it's like to feel helpless when you can't find real justice for your precious person. Because I know that my physical pain is only temporary compared to theirs. If that doesn't make sense, then I don't know how else to explain it."
Finally removing his hand from Sakura's frozen grasp, Naruto stepped backwards. Tears rolled unchecked down her cheeks, but he didn't cave in, did not so much as reach out and pat her shoulder.
"This doesn't change my promise to find Sasuke someday." His unswollen eye flitted over to where the skyline of the Leaf used to be, now just an empty blue late afternoon sky. "But I don't owe you anything, and right now Konoha isn't safe for me or him, and I would never lead my friend into a trap."
She gawked at him, completely shaken by his response, his certainty, his complete sincerity as he firmly shut her down. He had never shut her down. Her mind was reeling. "But, Na—"
His head snapped back, his gaze hard as crystal as he leveled her with a harsh glare that made the words strangle in her throat. His voice nearly growled as deeply as when he lost himself to the demon when he spoke.
"And don't ever say that to me again."
She recoiled at the anger in his voice. The flicker of red in his eyes. What happened to the dense, sappy, softhearted, little puppy that ate out of the palm of her hand? The boy who would empty his wallet to buy her lunch whenever she batted her eyes? Who was this…man?
A swirl of leaves suddenly filled the space beside them, and Kakashi was calling out a jovial greeting that felt awkwardly lighthearted for the heavy atmosphere. He blinked in confusion at the morose mood of the three people standing there, wondering about the identity of the unfamiliar man.
He quickly took in the battered stranger's appearance, the trembling green eyes of his student, and the firm set of Shikamaru's mouth. "Ah, I am late again I see," Kakashi murmured.
Sakura abruptly turned on her heel and leapt away, disguising her sniffle with the sound of crunching tree bark as she stomped across the branches. Kakashi raised an eyebrow at the brusque departure, and turned to Shikamaru with a questioning look on his face.
"Mendokuse," Shikamaru sighed, rubbing his neck and thinking that the tension of this afternoon was more than enough justification for a long soak in the onsen later.
"It's a long story. For now," he jabbed a thumb in the stranger's direction, "this is Naruto. We know about the shinobi from Kumo. And yes, he has Hinata hidden."
Kakashi let out a low whistle, stepping closer to assess the mess that was his student's face. "Hmm, maybe Hinata can heal you a bit later on, eh?"
Naruto's face flushed red, even under the odd hair and clothes, his feelings were obvious. Kakashi grinned under his mask, but did not pry, he had much more important things to discuss at the moment. Which was why he had been looking for Shikamaru in the first place. Wasting no time, he explained his abrupt arrival.
"I just came from the council meeting. Danzo has officially been proclaimed the next Hokage."
Naruto growled and crossed his arms, and Shikamaru lifted his eyes heavenward as he reached for another cigarette, knowing what was probably coming next. Unfortunately he wasn't disappointed.
Kakashi shoved his hands into his pockets in a way that appeared deceptively relaxed, but his voice was tense as he continued. "He and the advisors stated their intention to have Naruto locked up, claiming that you are at too much at risk as a jinchuriki with the Akatsuki still in existence and need 'protection'. He has also officially declared Hinata a rogue nin, with the blessing of the Hyuga, and has offered the assistance of his Root to locate her."
Naruto scoffed, spitting a clump of bloody mess to emphasize what he thought about it all. "They can look all they want, they won't find her. It's my turn to protect her."
Kakashi's eye crinkled. "I see. Then I suggest you go back to her. ANBU are following me, or they were trying to."
Shikamaru smirked at the Jonin's cockiness, knowing it was completely justified. The lighter flicked in his hand and he puffed on the cigarette until the tip glowed brightly. With a deep draw and exhale that sent rings of smoke floating into the air, he mused out loud, "Why do I feel like this is just the beginning? Was the destruction of the village not enough?"
The words of his father replayed in Naruto's head as he stared beyond the bluish smoke of Shika's cigarette at the faces of the Hokage that still remained despite the carnage of the last few days.
"The cycle hatred won't stop so long as a shinobi system exists the way Danzo wants it. Until we find the answer to true peace, there will not be an end. But Konoha is more than just a collection of buildings, it's united by a Will of Fire. I'm gonna figure out how to win the fight against the hatred. I'm going to bring peace to the shinobi world."
Kakashi blinked at the familiar echo in his student's words, then reached out to place a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "That's some deep insight you have there Naruto. I'm proud of you."
Naruto grinned, despite the sting of his split lip. "I can't take all the credit, I got it from my dad." He pointed up at the mostly intact visages of the Hokages that looked out over the shambles of their village, and Kakashi's jaw dropped as Naruto gazed up at the yondaime with warm admiration.
"Who told you?" Kakashi choked out.
Now it was Naruto's turn to smirk. "He told me himself."
Before he could say more, he felt the telltale tug of the reverse summoning in his gut. With a mock salute that looked rather ridiculous with his massive purple eye, Naruto disappeared.
Kakashi stood frozen as Shikamaru scrutinized the stoic face of Minato Namikaze, swapping the cigarette from one side of his mouth to the other as his mind worked. Understanding dawned and he narrowed his eyes at Kakashi, who chuckled sheepishly and mumbled something about a cat being stuck in a tree before also vanishing.
Shikamaru sighed, turning towards the forest to begin his long walk back, since he seemed to be the only one without a convenient transportation jutsu. Hopefully the clouds would be enjoyable from the onsen.
A/N: Shortly after the last update, I lost one of my most precious people. Grief is a thief who steals my joy, words, time, and motivation. It feels so surreal, I still can't wrap my mind around it all. This event has affected every aspect of my life and my story. I'm sorry for the delay, I'm sorry for not answering comments, I'm sorry for not participating, I'm doing the best I can.
If you're wondering if this going to turn into a Sakura bashing story, the answer is no. Sakura is operating under her own set of priorities, based on her own coping abilities. This was my version of the moment in canon when she lies to Naruto and confesses her love to him in order to manipulate his feelings so she can create an opportunity to kill Sasuke without Naruto interfering. I hate that. I think it is much more true to her mindset for her to twist something she honestly believes is fact (Naruto loving her) in order to get Sasuke back, not murder him. I also feel like the perspective of love between her and Naruto in this chapter is an enlightening moment for him, because it is the exact opposite of what he has experienced with Hinata. If he was ever unsure about whether he had moved on from Sakura before, now he has absolutely no doubt.
Thank you so much for your patience. I hope the extra long chapter helped to make up for the long wait.
Tell your precious people you love them. There may not be a tomorrow.