Hello!
Just popping in to say if you're returning to this fic, I did do some major rework on *particularly the ice test* which changes things significantly, so it might be worth rereading that part. Drop a review pretty please!
….
Haruno Sakura sat, covered under the long and dark material of a cloak, at the wooden table of a tea house at the end of Leaf territory. Anyone watching her would think she was simply lost in her thoughts, but she was in fact speaking with the goddess within her. The long and sturdy walking stick she'd fashioned of Hashirama's trees leaned against the table, tea in front of her still steaming hot.
Your meridians are broken and your chakra coils flayed. If you had any cultivation, that too, would be useless now. That is the consequence of underestimating life and…
Cultivation? interrupted Sakura curiously. She'd only ever seen the word in a single scroll written entirely in Chinese, and it was a very old one at that.
Cultivation is the path by which one refines themselves into an immortal. You will become more familiar with the concept during our journey. Now, back to the problem at hand.
Even you can't do anything about it? Sakura's hands clenched in frustration.
Kaguya shifted, holding her arms aloft, hands tucked into each elbow. She looked away.
I never said that.
Can you repair my chakra coils and my… meridians, whatever those are?
Sakura sat down in a huff, looking up at her mentor expectantly with crossed legs. Kaguya sighed in return.
I suppose I should tell you more about what cultivation is before we go down this path.
Sakura cracked a smile. It had been hard for her, leaving Konoha… Her bonds had tortured her twice over. This was her first smile in a while.
Although repairing chakra coils and meridians is considered a godly skill, it's not that difficult for a being such as myself. However, if you lose focus during the refinement process, or you fail to endure the heavenly lightning test that helps you breakthrough, then you'll be obliterated into ashes.
Breaking through and repairing my chakra coils, huh. Sakura felt nervousness bubble up within her. She was so weak at the moment.
Nowadays, cultivation isn't like what it used to be. A bit of godly power is enough for you to run rampant in these lands and certainly enough for you to… succeed in your mission.
Sakura shook her head at the goddess. Meeting Kaguya's eyes, she asked: "Is there another way?"
Kaguya was silent for a moment. She sighed.
The second way requires you to rebuild your bones and muscles to completely remodel your chakra coils and meridians.
Sakura spoke without hesitation. "I choose the second option!"
Kaguya narrowed her eyes. I'm not done explaining yet. This isn't as simple as it sounds. It's about destroying your whole body, including your blood, flesh, tendons, and bones and using a heavenly treasure to completely rebuild your body. Extreme pain and suffering is a must. For millions of years, nobody has even attempted the process. If you fail, you will die and your soul will completely disperse.
Yet Haruno Sakura was determined."I still choose the second option. I will bear all the consequences for my actions and never regret it!"
Kaguya smirked. She liked the girl. I knew you would choose this path from the start.
"If it's just about taking revenge, maybe I would've chosen the first option. But I don't want to do just that. I wan't to become someone strong. I want to become a powerful existence that nobody dares to overlook, just like you!" Sakura said resolutely. Goodness, she felt like Naruto at the moment. Maybe she missed him a bit.
Kaguya chuckled. I accept your compliment. Now, let us make our way to the heavenly volcano.
In her mindscape, Sakura smiled at her co-consciousness. She thought to herself: Hope, finally, there is hope. I thought I'd lost it all,—alas, there was another way. Naruto, is this how you lived in my original timeline? Always fighting to get stronger, for all of our sakes, pushing yourself to the end of the world because of that pristine heart and strong nindo of yours?
….
They had been walking for weeks. Sakura's significantly compromised state frustrated her to no end. She mostly employed stealth to avoid unwanted encounters, but she did have a few things at her disposal, chakra or not.
I have my swordsmanship, poisons and taijutsu, so I'm not completely defenseless. My kunai and Shuriken as well… as long as I don't make a ruckus and stay covert, I might just make it through.
She encountered few enemies. With the obvious line through her hitai-ate, not many wanted to bother her. Finally, after a nasty and particularly messy journey through Iwa territory, she reached the foot of the volcano. She gave it a once over.
"Kaguya, this thing is enormous. Must I really climb the whole goddamn mountain?"
Yes, for you must be the one to rebuild yourself. I can only watch.
Sakura groaned but began her treck, and what a journey it was. Four times she almost fell from the ancient volcano's exterior, but it must have been self preservation that kept her latched to the grooves in the rocks. She grinned when she felt the rocks grow warmer, warmer, then hot, and finally nearly untouchable.
Heat exploded from the large volcano and Sakura marveled at the beauty of the molten lava, which glowed with a candescent, unearthly energy.
This is the birthplace of the fire kirin, stated Kaguya.
A flash of Sasuke's own kirin from her last timeline crossed her mind. "You don't say…"
The fire here never extinguishes and continues to burn all year round. It can wipe your body clean and crisp. Kaguya, who had materialized in some ghostly fashion next to Sakura, said. Are you afraid?
Sakura felt drops of sweat pool around her clavicle and spill down her back. She quickly shook her head.
Kaguya's look was strange, alien, and demanding. Then prove to me that you are not afraid.
"Oh ye of so little faith," Sakura said, letting a smile spread across her face as she fell backward, into the depths of the riotous volcano below. As she fell, she saw a blue string of light connect Kaguya's forehead to her own.
A part of my soul can protect your consciousness. This will ensure that you can only be reborn once you've undergone the entire process…
When Sakura's downward journey stopped and she hit the surface of the lava, pain rocked her like nothing she'd ever felt.
…But the pain will also intensify. Don't disappoint me.
Sakura shrieked as she hit the surface of the lava, swallowed by the heavenly flames. The volcano bubbled and spit, reacting to her entrance. It was a level of pain even Minato's Rasengan's could not match. She remained on the surface, thrashing against the pain.
Kaguya watched on, annoyed. Dive, girl. Only then can you begin the test.
Sakura, desperate to leave the gruesome pain behind, ignored her co-consciousness. She continued to move her limbs manically, without thought or plan. Her eyeballs roved around blindly. Kaguya continued to survey her, irritated to no end.
Going to pretend you can't hear me, are you? Sorry, little girl, you don't have a choice in this matter.
Kaguya materialized a long poll and flew down to the convulsing Sakura. Kaguya drove the stick violently into Sakura's stomach, causing her to enter into the depths of the lava, until no part of her was visible above the surface. Chuckling to herself, the goddess returned to her position at the top of the volcano.
That bitch,—
But the heavens were against Sakura. All thoughts left her as she felt her body literally liquify into the intractable, viscous lava into which she was submerged; from her finger tips to her brain, she felt herself melting, melting, melting, and just when the very last part of her was about to be consumed by heat, she found herself regenerating.
W-wait a minute, what's going on?!
At first, Sakura felt hope. Had she passed the test? When her entire body had reformed, it resumed it's burning, and she knew something was deeply, horribly wrong.
She heard Kaguya's delighted cackle in the lightless space of her mind. Sakura felt the immeasurable heat seep into her eyeballs, felt them explode under the tremendous pressure. Her new skin was alight and bubbled painfully in the lava,—this time everything was worse because with every new regeneration, she was more and more aware of her flaming body,—if her nostrils had not been filled with burning lava, she would have smelled herself burning.
ˆDid you think this would be easy? You will burn and regenerate one hundred times before this test is over.
And so the grueling test continued it's pattern: burn, regenerate, repeat. Each time Sakura's body disintegrated, just before death, a newer, better body appeared, and she became even more aware of the pain which flayed her, leaving her like an exposed nerve. It was almost unbearable, and Sakura swore she was beyond the precipice of her sanity, past the point of counting how many times she had regenerated, focusing everything on simply living. There was no yesterday, no tomorrow, simply now, as her improving senses told her,—the unwilling participant,—exactly which parts of her were dying and returning again. The worst mistake she made was opening her mouth mistakenly to scream, only inviting the burning liquid into her throat, lungs, before it ate through the tissue and gnawed her from the inside. In the dizzying pattern of life and near-death, Sakura lost her sense of time, but was able to cling to life, and in that struggle,—she did not know when,—something strange came over her.
Sakura began to relax, as if she had reached an agreement with the voluptuous panic. She was immaterial now, made of nothing but the strange, blue light Kaguya had bestowed upon her.
Kaguya watched on approvingly. Though Sakura couldn't see, Kaguya actually materialized an object into the physical world.
The seed of this frozen heart lily can make the dead return to life. It is the heavenly treasure I mentioned before. Since you have withstood the flames, I will give this to you now.
The pink lily with a green heart made it's way from Kaguya's hand to where Sakura had curled up into a ball within the lava. It enlarged, coming to a stop under her before enveloping her in green tendrils until her entire body was covered. From the insubstantial spirit she had become, Sakura began to reform, beginning with her hands until the green energy had entirely remade her body. Within those heavenly flames, Sakura returned to life, naked, like a newborn; wise, like a warrior. She stood atop the lily and felt the curious sensation of cloth against her new skin. The petals wrapped around her naked body, fortifying her with a red dress, cinched at the middle with a belt of darker red and gold; a breezy, short skirt blessed by the flames around her. Lastly, Sakura's hair grew so long that it passed the middle of her bottom but that, too, seemed to be blessed, as the flames around her had no effect.
What am I? Sakura wondered.
This is the power of a celestial. But do not compare our powers,—your journey is still unfinished.
Without warning, Sakura's legs gave out. Grateful for the lily pad under her, she made her way to Kaguya.
"Let me guess, next is somewhere freezing, isn't it?"
Why, of course. Did you think this would be easy? The look in Kaguya's eyes was one of challenge.
"Bring it on."
….
Sakura shivered in her new outfit. Kaguya had already assured her that it didn't matter what she wore in this climate. Before her stretched miles of untouched ice, decorated by glaciers and snow-packed mountains.
"It's cold," yelped Sakura. "My hands are about to freeze!"
The nether snow here is cursed. Even if you use fire skills, you won't be able to prevent the cold from seeping into your body.
"Cursed?" she wondered aloud.
It is ancient history. The nether world's coldness merged with this curse, forming the coldest and darkest place at the border of the netherworld. Now, do you want your mission to succeed or not?
Kaguya's right. Not everyone has the determination to tread this path. I must work hard,—no, harder,—to achieve my goal.
Sakura trudged on under the directions of Kaguya, as she continued to explain the story behind the icy terrain before them.
The nether snow not only corrodes your body, but it can also eat away at your soul. This will help strengthen your body like never before.
"Sometimes the way you phrase things makes it impossible to trust you, you know that right?" grumbled Sakura.
A twinkling laugh, like the jingle of bells, filled the empty space in her mind.
….Did Kaguya just laugh? Not chuckle. Not smirk. Not sneer.
A warmth spread through Sakura's body, and she found herself smiling too.
I won't be merciful to you even if you can't endure the suffering, Kaguya commented.
"What causes me the most suffering is the prospect of failing my mission. Watching my enemies walk happily away when I could do nothing. Rest assured, if I can endure the volcanic fire, then I can also pass the Frost test just the same!" Sakura patted her heart with sincerity.
Hmph. Weakling, you're not worthy of my worry.
"And here I thought we were becoming so close," chuckled Sakura. She continued through the frost, until she was met with a large, square hole in the ground. At the middle of this underground enclosure was what looked to be an empty tomb. Shivers ran down Sakura's spine. She needed no direction—Sakura lowered herself into the coffin made of ice, before looking back at Kaguya, who had once again materialized by her side.
"Will you wait by my side?"
I always keep my promises.
Sakura nodded and closed her eyes. She flinched at the ice, which immediately penetrated her skin. Kaguya place a ghostly hand above the coffin and the enclosure began to glow a ferocious white, summoning winds in an otherwise breeze-less territory.
In the blink of an eye everything was gone: The tomb, and Sakura. Kaguya placed her hands calmly behind her back, awaiting Sakura's return.
…It's cold.
Sakura grimaced but kept her eyes closed.
I didn't think the nether snow would affect me this much. I'd rather be roasted by fire again.
As she did in the pit of the volcano, Sakura curled into a ball. She couldn't feel any clothing. There was definitely something mysterious about this time space.
I'd rather be disintegrated than endure this kind of cold that slowly seeps into the soul, bit by bit.
It's like a never-ending torture to the soul.
Sakura bit her lip, eyebrows furrowing. She began to panic.
My soul is already quite weak, there's not much remaining. Kaguya, what is your purpose for helping me? I can't trust anyone anymore!
Damn, swore Kaguya from the outside. I forgot that she just recently used the frozen heart lily to rebuild her body. When the frozen heart lily mixes with the nether snow, it amplifies the nether snow's effects. Right now, the nether snow is probably overwhelming her and her willpower is slowly starting to disperse… If she were like me, none of this would matter. But she is in fact human.
Kaguya growled from her spot in the frost. What weak creatures they are… Though it was my oversight that put her in danger. The test will continue, if she can break out of this, it will only be a benefit to her.
Sakura found herself back at the end of it all. The end of Konoha, Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi, Ino and Sarada…. The smell of ashes in the air, the putrid sight of blood and the horrifying prospect of all her loved ones dead. It was a prolonged nightmare, and she was almost enveloped in the grips of black, nightmarish tendrils. They seem to whisper to her:
Even at the end, you couldn't do much, could you? You're a medic. Yet you let each one of us die,—
You were our Hokage, weren't you supposed to protect,—
Sakura shook with rage, sorrow, grief, and guilt. Tears pooled at the ends of her viridian orbs.
I am going to die here, and I will lose them twice over. I will fail my mission. I can feel myself becoming more transient by the second.
My soul needs kindling… I have nothing, nothing except…
The realization hit her like a bijuu bomb.
If the last test was about withstanding physical pain, then this one must be about spiritual pain. What can I offer up before I'm completely consumed by this cold?
The most valuable thing I have: My bonds.
Sakura began with those at the periphery of her existence and worked her way to those closest to her. The Hokage in her reminded her that the last bond she could ever burn was her love of Konoha, and the people of her village, because was her anchor, her mission. Tsunade and Naruto, too, were indispensable. So she began.
Hinata, I'm so sorry…
Sakura watched a film of memories lose their significance within her heart, and felt a kind of detachment alongside warmth in the cold, directionless frost.
I must keep my bonds with the Hyuuga clan, but my affection for Neji…
And so it began. The parade of horrors that kept her soul alive in the hallowed halls of her heart. She shivered and held the fire ever so delicately, the precious cargo that it was, that kept her human. Finally, after the significance of Ino, Tenten, Rock Lee, Shikamaru, Gaara, and Kakashi had burned brightly in her hands, tears streaming down her face, freezing not long thereafter on her cheeks, Sakura began to feel desperate again.
She clutched her heart. There was a terrible sense of foreboding in her. She would not make it out alive with just these little fires against the nether frost.
"No! Please don't take him from me!" Sakura yelled into the abyss. Perhaps it was the last of Little Sakura in her that dreaded this moment so badly, and the mother of his child, that did not want to let go with such effusive love for Sasuke in her heart. The blushing, delicate woman that Sakura thought she had cast away long ago, but most importantly, when she began this mission. "Not him, please, not him…"
Uchiha Sasuke's image appeared and Sakura choked upon the moment. There was nothing worse than this, nothing more despicable. She was doing the exact same thing she had admonished him for in the past.
It was the warm, tenacious bond that they'd formed over two lives and a child that burned more robustly than even her bond with herself.
"Not Sasuke, please!"
Sakura watched on for a moment with ire of the gods, before she felt the sea in her heart calming with every passing moment, as Sasuke's image disappeared into oblivion, like the last stars bursting in the sky.
"…the sacrifice must be true," she whispered, without longing, simply feeling a dimming sorrow clutching her heart now. Sakura took a long breathe.
"What's done is done. I suppose this is what I must become, in order to save Konoha."
In a way, this is better. You were just pretending to know them, and they had no idea about you. It was all an act, right from the very start, she thought grimly. I had no choice. The worst thing I can do is die here, and let this sacrifice go to waste, so…
"I—,"
She struggled against the darkness with everything,—and nothing,—inside her. She bit down on her lip, which returned some semblance of lucidity to her.
"I will not accept this as my end!"
Kaguya watched, jaw slightly slack, as the nether snow around her vessel began to melt.
The cursed snow is…? Impossible! The only way to conquer the nether snow is by breaking it. What has that girl done?
Sakura stepped out from the pool of water which once caged her. Her green eyes burned, but not with flame or fire; rather, with the stark frost of the deepest cold.
How did you melt the nether snow, Sakura?
Sakura's face was etched with indifference as she met the gaze of her teacher. She had a smile that nearly curved into a snarl.
"I burned a bond so deep it was greater than the curse of the snow."
Sakura showed no signs of regret, nor pain nor grief for the part of herself she'd amputated in order to pass the test. She had won. She had passed. That was all that mattered.
Kaguya was silent. She had never expected, nor seen, such a phenomenon. For one, singular moment, she wondered at the experience of being human,—-and then it was gone.
Good, the girl is better for it. Did she think anything else would do for a mission such as this?
The goddess looked on with satisfaction as Sakura stepped out of the ice prison, eyes alight with resolution, and unharmed. Finally, Sakura grinned wildly. Something warned her that she hadn't the heart to look backwards. It was too fresh… and any authentic emotions in that regard had been destroyed. She didn't need an identity crises. No real warrior with a mission did.
"So, what's next, sensei?"
Kaguya watched her. Not bad.
Sakura shook her head with newfound perspective. "I am still too weak."
Kaguya returned to Sakura's mind scape and they walked a while.
For people who cultivate, other than strengthening the body, the most important thing to do is to improve your divine senses. Your divine senses are much better than your average person but, you've never used them before. There are monsters lurking beneath this ice glacier…
Sakura paled. "I have a bad feeling about this…"
You won't be able to see or hear anything. Use your divine senses in order to help yourself avoid danger. Divine sense come from the spirit, not from chakra.
Sakura nodded determinately. It wasn't difficult to break the ice. She dove in head first, and was surprised to find the water wasn't cold. She had already come to terms that Kaguya was even more of a hands-on teacher than Kakashi or Tsunade.
I can't see anything, or even hear the sounds of flowing water. Can any lifeforms even live in here?
Out of nowhere something latched onto Sakura's ankle.
Son of a bit—
Ow!
It bit me again! Is it the same one?
Think! There are probably other life forms in here. More than I can count.
Sakura felt the blood seeping from her wounds and swore.
Not good, the smell of my blood will attract even more of them. If I can't see them, then I can't dodge them. If this goes on, they will eat me alive. Now that I can't see or hear anything, I can only count on my divine senses now.
Sakura looked deep inside herself. She eschewed the panic growing in her heart, taking in her situation. Her spirit bid her to open her eyes, and before her was a blue grid reaching farther than she could see, including the forms of the vicious creatures racing toward her.
I can see them now! So this is the power of divine senses!
Sakura managed to dodge a few but was at a loss of what to do next.
Before I entered the water, I remember Kaguya said: Your body was reformed by a frozen heart lily and it is very attractive to water creatures. Link your divine consciousness with your body to move in the water. This takes a toll on the mind, so don't use your divine senses for too long. Remember, the property from the frozen heart lily also draws in the underwater creatures, so you must be careful.
Back then I thought I'd be their next meal but… I can use my divine consciousness to move freely in the water and dodge these piranhas. A Haruno always repays her debts. Blood for blood…
Sakura stilled in the water. Something within her divine sensory zone had chased all her other prey away.
The fishes here are so dense, yet there isn't a single fish swimming near that rock. A dangerous existence probably lives there. Why don't I drag these small fishes over and have them fight each other to death instead?
As the pink haired shinobi led the swarm of fish to the rock, she noticed that they had stopped completely.
They stopped chasing after me? Is the owner of this coral reef so terrifying?
She grinned, picking up a sharp shell and dragging it across her hand. The scent of fresh blood wafted over to the the wall of pirañas and they were at once clamoring.
"Doesn't my blood taste good?" Sakura smirked. She watched the fish rush toward her. "Such fresh blood, are you willing to waste it?"
"Now chase after me! Come along, and this frozen heart lily will be yours!" She took off towards the large underwater rock and the incensed, carnivorous fish raced toward her. Maybe it was the way her hair seemed to fan out in ethereal beauty, or the lightness of her own body, but Sakura felt good.
An enormous, red fish emerged from the other side of the rock.
Quite the large bite on that thing, she thought. Looking into it's eyes a little apprehensively, they appeared to be in a standoff. Then, time began again. She raced toward the fish's open mouth, careful not to come too close to it's enormous, jagged teeth, and led the pirañas pursuing her right into it's mouth. She watched with satisfaction before dematerializing and reappearing at the surface, where she found Kaguya looking down expectantly.
"How exciting! My heart was beating so fast," gasped Sakura, soaked to the bone.
Kaguya furrowed her brows. Why didn't you just teleport out of the water? Instead, you baited both sides into fighting each other.
Sakura looked at Kaguya mildly. "Wouldn't I have failed my training if I had teleported out?"
It is still your first time, aren't you afraid of failing? huffed Kaguya. What a strange mortal you are.
Something inside Sakura's heart sang. She was happy.
"You can only realize your full potential through life and death situations. One must push past their limitations." Sakura approached Kaguya, taking note of a few flesh wounds.
Something inside Kaguya was niggling at her. Even if you'll get hurt? Or maybe even die for it?
"I believe in you. You won't let me die," she said to the avatar of Kaguya looking at her quite strangely. Indeed, it was odd to have the trust of a mortal.
…. Kaguya said nothing, simply stared, before she let out a breath that sound distinctly like "heh".
"Ouch!" Sakura yelped as a blue pill hit her on the forehead and landed in her palm.
Eat it.
Sakura obeyed and a yellow light surrounded her for a few moments. She leaned into the warmth of healing she'd never experienced before.
All my wounds healed up, in an instant at that!
"Thank you, Kaguya," said Sakura, before bowing.
I'm not done with you. You had many other ways to deal with those piranhas and you chose the most dangerous method.
Sakura huffed like a teenager being told off. Well, technically she was a teenager being told off.
The core of your frozen heart lily can assimilate with water, meaning, if you can merge with the water well enough, those creatures won't be able to sense your existence anymore.
"Is it similar to hiding your chakra signature?" she asked Kaguya's translucent form.
No. You are the water after the assimilation. It is not camouflage, but fusion.
Sakura's analytical mind went into high gear. "Then wouldn't I be at an incredible advantage in the water? As in, I can move around in the water as if I owned it?"
Kaguya's eyes narrowed. Dream on. Your divine senses are too weak, so you won't be able to fuse with the water just yet. You can have many things under your control if your divine senses are strong enough, not to mention those weak and feeble piranhas.
Sakura's eyes sparked with curiosity. "With my divine senses? Would I be able to do that?"
Kaguya met her gaze with seriousness. Release your divine consciousness and follow me to another place.
Sakura nodded, closing her eyes as her spirit form stepped outside her body and Kaguya took her hand. There was an impenetrable flash and when Sakura opened her eyes, she gasped. What she saw before her were galaxies, planets, stars, all draped against a blackness that could never be moved; and yet there was so much light.
"This… this is the universe!" Sakura breathed.
This is the divine sea, it's just a place that I conjured up through divine materialization, said Kaguya with a nonchalance that Sakura hoped she could one day replicate.
We're here to train your divine soul. The stars in this place will attack your divine soul. If your soul is damaged, it will also affect you body. However, if you can absorb the power of these stars, it will strengthen your divine soul.
Sakura exhaled loudly, slapping her cheeks for good measure. Recently, Kaguya had a way of firing her up. She was giving Sakura a way, a path forward,—otherwise, Minato would've been the end of her.
"I'm ready, we can start."
A sea of swords fashioned from stars immediately rained upon Sakura.
They're fast! she thought. She dodged one aimed right for her face and felt the trickle of blood mix with sweat. Oh, this was very, very real. She went into autopilot, dodging manically.
She's still too slow, thought Kaguya to herself. She might be a bit sluggish, but she should still be able to pass this stage.
The number of star-born swords only increased, and Sakura found herself looking within. Finally, as she relaxed, she felt freedom, flexibility, and even joy.
"It's almost like dancing," she laughed. Using my divine senses is just like playing a game. It's enthralling. What a shame this has never reached the shinobi world.
Are you planning on dodging forever? intoned the goddess.
"Of course not!"
What can I materialize out of my divine consciousness to counter this situation… I know!
"Watch me."
A ball of swirling, iridescent, blue energy gathered in her hand.
I got lost in the moment, but now is the time to change my own fate.
Divine materialization? She's materialized a… Kaguya watched, wondering.
…magnetic shield. Not bad.
After Sakura had batted all the swords away, she approached Kaguya.
"How can I absorb your stars' power?"
Kaguya pointed to the swords. What do you think they are?
"Hmmm…" Sakura placed a contemplative hand to her chin. "They are a part of your divine consciousness, therefore… You turned those stars into swords to test me?"
I didn't alter anything. It's your divine consciousness that determines their shape and form.
This really is a marvelous education, up here above it all, the pink haired shinobi thought distantly.
"Wait, what? I was the one who made the stars turn into swords?" reeled Sakura. She looked at Kaguya reproachfully. "But didn't you say the stars would attack me? How could they attack me if they didn't turn into swords…?"
Kaguya huffed. Such idiotic thoughts!
With a swish of her hand, all the stars in her created universe exploded in a massive display of fireworks,—it was surely the most beautiful sight Sakura had ever witnessed. Above it all, Kaguya and Sakura felt no impact.
This is a field, and everything in this field is under my control.
"I am inside your divine consciousness and if my divine consciousness gets injured, will my real body also get damaged?"
You fool! Sakura flinched but had grown used to Kaguya's impatience at this point. Once your divine consciousness is destroyed, then what good is it to be left with an empty body?
Kaguya pointed to Sakura's forehead. Your divine consciousness is the true soul of a cultivator.
Kaguya snapped her fingers and at once, entire planets began racing towards Sakura.
The dangerous part starts now, she thought warily.
She won't be able to fend off such strong aggression, Kaguya watched on nonetheless, and she did not intend to help Sakura.
Suddenly the rocketing of the planets stopped entirely, right before Sakura's petite form. She smirked. A popping noise was heard and the planets turned into dishes Sakura was most fond of. There was miso ramen from Ichiraku's, dango, tempura, her mother's rice balls, and many more dishes. Sakura folded her legs and readily consumed the food, whether it was immaterial or not did not matter, for it was her divine consciousness that gave them shape, flavor, and scent; the former-planets raced into her mouth,—what a silly way to consume them, thought Kaguya, though she was not unamused by Sakura's cheek.
The goddess straightened herself. The power from these stars is enough to raise your strength to a whole new level. Afterward, you only need to cultivate a bit and practice your control. Now, onto the next challenge.
…..
Sakura closed her eyes and when she opened them, they were so deep in a forest she could see no way out. Somehow, she had returned to her material form. The night draped upon them like a lovely, satin cloth.
You posses the frozen heart lily, yet your bodily control is abysmal. Fighting is the best way for you to train, proclaimed Kaguya.
"Why does it feel like you're about to drop me into a scorpion's nest?" Sakura asked with one pink brow raised.
Not scorpions, but you aren't far off. Kaguya pointed to an enormous lion of golden pelt, yet his eyes and mane were a deep, midnight black, and his figure was long and wiry. He had not been there when Sakura last looked. What are you waiting for? Go fight him.
"But I don't have any chakra! Just this… divine senses and new body," she whispered urgently.
Exactly, now go.
Sakura cursed her luck. She used her divine senses to glean whatever information she could about her enemy. The animal was harder than steel.
Even if I get stronger, I won't be able to break his defense, she concluded. I need to find a weak point!
Okay, take a breath, and think.
Everyone says that a lion's weakest point is their nose, but based on my current strength, even if I am able to hit his nose, I don't think it will do much damage. I must think of another way.
Sweat trickled down the side of her face, making her newly long hair stick to her cheeks. Sakura looked around,—
Bzzzzzzz!
Sakura's eyes swiveled toward the source of the noise and she grinned at what she saw.
I need to think of a way to bait him to go under that tree.
Sakura threw all caution to the win as she directly approached the mighty lion and punched,—a chakra-less punch, as much as it pained her to do so,—him on the nose.
The lion simply stared back. "Little human, are you tickling my nose?"
She responded by with a flurry of fists that would put the Hyuuga to shame.
The lion roared and Sakura felt the warmth of his breathe as his massive jaws opened. "No matter how many times you punch me, you won't be able to hurt me! You're merely tickling me! Now I only have to—"
His paw swiped her aside, but she continued the rotation and stuck to the trunk of the tree behind her.
I feel more agile after being reborn, but it's a shame that my power isn't up to par yet.
Sakura dropped to the ground. "What 'King of Lions'?"
Her opponent growled. "You dare mock this great Lion King?"
Sakura watched it in slow motion. The beautiful coat shining under the moonlight as he pounced toward her, his reckless abandon, perhaps the result of being an intelligent creature isolated in this vast sea of voiceless trees.
Sakura looked behind her as she jumped backwards. Almost there!
"Ugh!" coughed Sakura as once again the lion swapped her with his paw, causing her to fly backwards. She feigned dizziness and instability after crashing into the thick tree trunks behind her, sending leaves and branches scattering.
Good thing my body is sturdier than before, if not, I would've been dead by now. With a fwip, she raised her head to observe the lion more closely. I've suffered too much for you not to take the bait!
He came rampaging toward her. "Little human, your words just now… I'll teach you a good life lesson for them—"
The lion raised his paw and Sakura looked upwards towards the beehive. Now is the time!
With her divine consciousness, she severed the beehive from the tree, and while Sakura dove out of the way of the lion's paw, the beehive fell straight upon the lion's nose.
"You think you can defeat me with this?!" he mocked, shaking his nose viciously.
Sakura smirked.
She watched as the lion rioted and rolled, trying desperately to get away from the small, stinging creatures. Meanwhile, Sakura huffed against a nearby tree.
I used up all my divine consciousness when I materialized that sharp dagger to cut the hive… it was extremely effective!
Just now I hid a sticky pill in my hand, when I punched his nose. I got hit on purpose so I could lure him under the tree. The last step was to use my divine consciousness to cut the nest down. How close! My plan would've failed if I had messed up in any way.
An enormous sonic blast came from the direction of the lion. She felt the force of his voice from where she was standing—he seemed to be losing control of his rational self, and now most of the bees were dead. Sakura was forced to her knees.
"Ugh!"
The blasts only became stronger and Sakura felt blood leaking from her nose and mouth; luckily, she had covered her ears. Finally, she fell sideways, succumbing to darkness.
Kaguya materialized outside. That's enough, Lion King. Take this pill and return to yourself. Kaguya flicked another pill at her apprentice and vessel's open mouth, healing her wounds and returning her to consciousness.
You rely on your puny intelligence too much! You still haven't learned your lesson from before yet? Kaguya's voice boomed in Sakura's ears and visions of her unexpected fight with Minato, and all it's consequences, flashed across her mind.
"Did I do something wrong?" Sakura's eyes turned downcast, knees up by her chest.
Did you really think you'd won by temporarily beating the Lion King? The strong are strong for a reason. They win with absolute strength! Your little intelligence will end up killing you one day.
That was a gut punch, thought Sakura. Kaguya turned around and Sakura could only watch her back. My high-scoring intelligence has only ever been a boon to me in battle.
Kaguya's own mind was busy. She did well for someone who has recently learned how to materialize their divine consciousness. But I can't let her feel proud just yet, after all—our enemy isn't weak.
A beat of silence.
What are you standing there for? Come here! Kaguya yelled behind her. She threw a book at Sakura.
"What is this?" The title read: Chaos Theory.
The Art of Chaos allows the user to absorb all seven types of spiritual influences, those being Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, and the variant spirit roots of Ice and Thunder, very rapidly. There are 7 levels in the Art of Chaos. You must rebuild your entire body during each stage to fully master it… Otherwise, your meridian flow will become entropic and you will lose your mind. Mortals could never seem to comprehend it's true secrets. But I believe you can, Sakura.
"So what you're saying is… I can rebuild my chakra coils and meridians!" Sakura grinned. While Sasuke and Naruto had been born into power, she had only ever worked hard for it. She fingered the flap of the book, tracing the lettering of the title with her pointer finger.
….
"I-I will master this art! I won't fail you!" Sakura said with resolution.
And so she did. For a week, Sakura sat in that very same place, absorbing and perfecting the beginnings of the "The Art of Chaos". During this time, Kaguya refused to help her, for this was a journey Sakura needed to make on her own. On the seventh day, she found some success:
"The Art of Chaos" is truly spectacular," she remarked.
Sakura attempted a few taijutsu moves usually impossible for her, even before receiving her injuries, but was surprised to find she was in fact more nimble and faster than before.
"My body feels light as a feather. I've never felt this energetic before."
Each day, Sakura was made to defeat an even more ferocious beast. She found that, like chakra, if she concentrated her divinity into her fists and released them at the right moment, her power was explosive—however when done with her divine consciousness, the result was far more destructive. It was raw strength. Her divine consciousness continued to grow and become more pliable, and soon, she had defeated every animal king in the forest.
….
"What's next, oh wise one?" asked Sakura. They had developed a bit of a banter over time.
Come with me and I shall show you the next phase in reconstructing your body. I warn you now, this trial is not without pain…but it can help immensely in your healing process, said Kaguya, in her acerbic, expectant tone.
Sakura nodded, closing her eyes until she found herself in a beautiful garden,—flora blooming everywhere, and a sakura tree surrounded by a pristine lake, mixed in with white wisteria trees. The lake held a kind of clear, green, gem-like color.
"Is this a medical bath?" question Sakura after a moment of contemplation.
Precisely. But it is no ordinary concoction of herbs and berries. Now, get in.
Sakura nodded obediently and entered the lake. At first, she felt nothing. Her pink hair floated around her on the surface and fanned out, reminding her greatly of Kaguya's own hair.
The medical bath is ready. As for how much you can absorb through this bath, well, that depends on you.
"Motherfuck—" Sakura swore, as the area around her form began to bubble.
It's painful, she acknowledged. I feel like my body is going to explode.
Climb back up if you can't endure anymore, taunted Kaguya. Her white robes swayed in the wind above Sakura.. the goddess that would always be above Sakura.
I must persevere through this, she thought as she noticed her own blood undulating up to the surface. No matter how much it hurts… I can absorb more ingredients if I persist.
The water went from a placid green to a dyed, bloody incarnadine.
"Ahhhhh!" she screamed. Oh, how the pain intensified. She was beginning to lose consciousness.
Get a grip, Sakura! You've already lost your chakra, the only way to succeed is by, by… not losing!
Again, Sakura screamed and soon she slipped underneath the surface, head facing up, unable to move.
Hmph, Kaguya watched from the sidelines. How weak. She fainted. Though, she did persevere for half an hour, which makes her far better than any ordinary human by far. If it weren't for her fortified bones and tendons, I'm afraid she would've melted in the medical bath already. She's still too weak.
Kaguya entered Sakura's consciousness. Wake up you foolish girl! Or you really will die this time?
Sakura's eyes shot open and she made for the surface, before clambering out of the lake and turning over on her back to catch her breath.
For the next few days, Haruno Sakura began to cultivate her Chaos Theory once again. She spent time in Kaguya's divine space as well, and eventually she faced off against multiple animal Kings in the dense forest again. At first, when she first entered the forest, she struggled to keep up, only able to put up a defensive front; but now, Sakura was able to fight them on equal ground.
It was daybreak when Sakura took a moment to contemplate. Everything that I've been through is something that I could never have imagined in my previous timeline.
When Kaguya and Sakura returned to the forest, Kaguya quickly found,—to her irritation and pride,—that the animal kings were no longer suitable training partners. With every defeat, each animal king bestowed a few drops of their blood to her, marking Sakura, and soon her soul reeked of their protection. It added a terrifying aspect to her unguarded presence.
…
"The sea, again?" Sakura wondered aloud. They weren't far from where she'd first learned to use her divine senses by locating piranhas in the water.
Kaguya chuckled darkly. Until now, you've been fighting little weaklings. It is time to increase the difficulty of your training. Now, hop to that rock over there, the one protruding from the surface of the ocean.
Goddamit, Kaguya's smiling… that cannot possibly be good.
"….?!"
As soon as Sakura's feet found home on the rock, an enormous, golden eye arose from the ocean; the skin of the crature was a fiery red and it wasn't long before a tentacle swept up from the sea and lunged at her. Sakura immediately launched herself into the air, flipping until she landed on top of the giant octopus' head. She heard a muffled laughter inside her mind.
"This is hilarious to you, isn't it?"
Kaguya wiped her eyes. You just look so ridiculous, little ningen.
Sakura quickly returned her eyes to the battlefield. She stomped down hard on the octopus' head.
During her journey, she had come to find friendship in her beast-opponents, and they had gathered on the beach to watch her match. The lion with piercing eyes roared.
"That won't work on him! Our constitutions are completely different. Your punches will only feel like little tic bites to him," growled the lion.
Sakura nodded. She knew she couldn't beat this enemy head-on. She had to be tricky. She was lucky that her looks were so well-suited to provocation. Who wanted to be beaten by a little, pink haired teenager? Sakura hopped onto the lower lid line of the tremendous creature. Her height did not even reach the bottom of his pupil. Waving, she sent him a saccharine smile.
"Catch me if you can! If you do, I'll admit you're better than me."
With that, the battle began. Tentacles began moving in every which way, and Sakura engaged in what could only be called a game of cat and mouse. She landed on a tentacle before another rose and hit her back, whacking her straight into the ocean.
The beasts watched from the beach.
"Not good," commented the monkey king of the forest.
"The sea is that tyrant's most favorable battleground. That little twerp is going to suffer for her mistake," returned the lion.
Meanwhile, Kaguya watched with narrowed eyes. Her lips curled into a smirk. So you want to deal with him in his territory? Let's see how much you've improved, then.
Sakura crashed into the icy, dark waters. She quickly looked around for signs of her opponent. A huge tentacle curled around the rock to her right, crushing the compounded mineral under it's mighty strength. Sakura immediately shot upwards as she looked behind her.
If he manages to hit me, no matter how sturdy my body is, it'll hurt like a bitch, she reeled. She turned her head forwards and was met with the octopus' enormous eye.
He's so close! she thought. As Sakura continued to play on the defensive, dodging each tentacle with alarm, she felt frustration well up inside her. Good thing I practiced my divine senses before, if not…!
Two rough-skinned, bleeding-red tentacles lashed out at her, pinging within the radius of her divine senses. Sakura avoided them by just a hair's breathe as she navigated through the sudden explosion of loosened debree as the tentacles collided with the rock behind her.
I can't stay passive like this, she growled in her mind. She took a good look at the seething monster, whose eyes glowed in the dark waters. You're huge, but not very agile. On the other hand, my frozen heart lily allows me to move freely in the water.
Sakura drew the tentacles towards her, moving in a strange formation which the octopus didn't consider. Sakura smirked as the tentacles quickly became entangled in a tight knot. Sakura focused her divine senses—I've been waiting for this!—and materialized an enormous scythe, sharp as can be. Blue, crackling energy emitted from the weapon as she gripped it in her hands.
After training for so long, I am able to materialize larger objects out of my divine consciousness!
Sakura brought the scythe down mercilessly and chopped three tentacles from the monster's body. She let out a breath before cursing; the godddamn tentacles were regenerating, and at a rate far too fast for her to deal with head on.
…they grew back? Sakura fought rising anxiety. A curious flash of her teammates from her old timeline flashed into her consciousness,—Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi were aggressive fighters, and so would she be. Be bold, never relent. Never falter.
Let's see how many times you can grow them back! If one time doesn't work, then I'll do it ten times, until I figure out your weakness, anyhow. Her brows furrowed as she began her game of hide-and-slash once again. He's fierce and strong, and these tentacles seem to grow back no matter what I do.
She cursed again. He's grown smarter far too fast. He's not falling for my knot trick again. I must make him follow my momentum but…
Two raging, yellow eyes stared at her and Sakura seemed to feel the weight of the wild beast's glare. As of now, I can't get close to him at all!
Think! She swore at herself as her mind raced. In my last timeline, I made quite efficient use of explosive seals. This huge octopus's stomach probably doesn't lack any water at all, meaning my frozen heart lily can help me move around…
Sakura's mouth curled in a wicked grin. This time, you won't be able to escape!
Sakura closed her eyes and focused her divine consciousness. A writhing tentacle shot forward while Sakura stood still and just as it reached her, Sakura's form became immaterial, disappearing from the octopus' view and allowing the tentacle to pass through her fading body. Within a matter of seconds, Sakura opened her eyes to find herself within the octopus's stomach. She took a moment to marvel.
Wow, if I didn't know I was inside a monster's belly, I would've guessed that I'm inside a cave. She moved over to the walls and felt the material. She looked around—there!
A massive, pumping organ was mantled on the walls of his insides before Sakura.
This is… his demonic heart.
Sakura put her hand on the blue organ and scratched, testing the density. Her scratch marks actually remained. I didn't think a ferocious beast would have such a weak interior. He made me feel worked up for nothing.
A curious sense of rapture enveloped her. Haruno Sakura, conquerer of beasts, she mused. Sakura re-materialized the scythe she had called into reality before; her swing was vicious as it cut through the octopus's beating heart. She heard him roar from the outside, probably in unbearable pain.
Good, she huffed. Well deserved.
Again, she swung her scythe, watching the blue blood waft into the interior chamber in which she had transported herself. Another roar. The octopus began it's last, enormous tantrum, creating a massive whirlpool and then a tsunami-like wave. It would not go down without chaos.
The beasts on the shore cowered, but Kaguya's presence alone was enough to repel the giant wave. The octopus drifted down into the water and for a moment it was just a riotous sea and a downpour created by negating the wave. After a moment, a blue light emerged above the water, and when it died down, what remained was a triumphant looking Sakura, still holding her human-sized scythe.
Sakura stared at Kaguya.
Kaguya stared at Sakura.
The lion king fussed with his fellows. "Little one, you actually defeated the tyrant king of the sea…"
Just how frightening is her potential?! thought the monkey king.
Sakura let an innocent smile grace her visage.
"It was easy."
She turned to Kaguya. "Were you stunned by my beautiful performance?" she asked excitedly. Maybe she really had turned 13—almost 14 now.
Kaguya rolled her eyes. What is there to be astonished about?
"Hmph!" snorted Sakura as she went to sit on the beach.
Why are you sitting?
Sakura stopped and straightened herself. That's right, I'm nowhere near powerful enough yet. Only when I've received acknowledgement from Kaguya can I put my plan into motion.
Oh, I think I forgot to mention. You're not leaving this place until you finish cultivation. Kaguya seemed to tower over her, features etched into an emotionless mask. She shrugged when Sakura's jaw dropped. I figured you had caught on by now. You don't have a choice. You asked me for help, remember?
Sakura nodded. Total submission was the deal in exchange for Kaguya's otherworldly wisdom.
You've been using the medical bath for 6 days now; you need to do it for another day for best results. Kaguya leveled Sakura with a look of authority. You must absorb all of the ingredients in the medical bath, understand?
"Yes."
…
Sakura floated vertically in the bubbling green water, wincing as her body absorbed the violently regenerative ingredients,—herbs and who knows what. Sweat poured down from her forehead and she ground her teeth together.
"I can do it!" she said to herself with a robust confidence that masked her desperation.
You can come up now, said Kaguya impassively. You've already absorbed 90% of the medical ingredients. Your body is at it's limit.
Sakura shook her head. The ingredients continued to seep into her skin and clenching her muscles was all she could do as the healing ingredients forced themselves into her body. Her skin burst and tore under the pressure. Blood dyed the medical pool red and Sakura could only yell in pain.
Get out, commanded Kaguya. You will die if this goes on, foolish ningen. How disappointing. Kaguya made a move to, well, Sakura didn't know what, but she interrupted her.
"Don't come over! If you stop me, I won't forgive you for the rest of my life!" she barked at the goddess. Suddenly, Sakura was underwater, blood floating rather elegantly to the surface as she sunk deeper.
I can't die before I've completed my mission…
This thought galvanized Sakura and her spirit. Suddenly, nothing hurt anymore, and she realized she really could do this. Straightening herself in the water, she put her hands together and concentrated.
From the shore, Kaguya could see a bright, yellow light emerging from the spot where Sakura has disappeared. Her lips curved upwards in a proud smirk. The water quickly turned into a whirlpool with the light at it's center. The pink haired girl vaulted out of the water, flipping and arching until she landed on the grassy shore near Kaguya, in front of the white wisteria trees.
"I did it," Sakura stated happily. She had never felt so nimble.
Not bad, stated Kaguya. I didn't think you'd be able to absorb all the ingredients.
Sakura looked down at her stomach. "I feel like there is a force gathering in my… meridians, as you call them… and it's still growing, as if it's going to burst out. What is happening to me?"
Kaguya's lofty amusement did not change, in fact, it intensified. It's preparing for your foundation. Now, back to the forest we go.
…..
In a moment they were back in the familiar forest of beasts. Dark, riotousclouds began to gather in the sky within minutes. Sakura noted that the incoming storm did not seem to be a natural phenomenon. All around her animals fled, and the wind whipped the trees with such force that branches were ripped from the trunks of trees.
Sakura knew this was another test, so she walked towards the clearing, away from Kaguya, without a word. She sent a questioning look at Kaguya.
You are causing this. Only wholeness will bring about such a phenomenon. You better hope your foundation is mighty, spoke Kaguya from her spot underneath the trees.
"W-wait a second…" began Sakura. "You can't possibly mean…"
You must get struck by the lightening.
Sakura's face fell, viridian orbs widening. "Can't I at least dodge the lightening?!"
Only if you experience the thunder-shock will your body and divine soul become sturdier.
Kaguya wasn't kidding around.
So, Sakura set herself to the task at hand. Lightening ripped through the atmosphere as it pounced upon Sakura, and booming thunder followed.
"Ugh," grunted Sakura. She managed to stay on her feet.
The lightening strikes will get stronger one by one. If you cannot endure this, your soul will disperse. Kaguya gave the sky a shrewd look. Time for the second lightening strike.
The second she could endure, the third made her sway, but by the fourth she was back standing up, her spine ramrod straight.
Normally cultivators prepare with some kind of lightning-based weapon. But you don't need help, isn't that right, Sakura?
The goddess addressing her by name only fired Sakura up.
"If you're thinking of helping me, fuck off!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, not caring one bit for her rudeness. She felt her long, pink hair bristle with friction.
Another lightning strike.
The seventh lightning strike tore through her body and she fell to her knees, coughing blood onto the grass. She looked upwards. This time, instead of a blue bolt, as she expected, the clouds crackled with a yellow electricity. Sakura gritted her teeth and tried to stand but her knees gave out and she fell back onto the ground.
No! I won't give up, I will never give up! Stand up you idiot, she chided herself. Placing her weight on her knees, Sakura managed a shaky upright stance.
The heavenly lightning crashed down upon her, booming so loudly as to shake the ground beneath her. She felt a kind of breaking in her neck, shoulders, ribs and back, before she keeled over and fell to the ground. Sakura gritted her teeth. As a medic, even without chakra, she could feel that her body was covered in blood.
Did she lose…? wondered Kaguya mildly.
"I…I definitely won't admit defeat…" gasped Sakura. It didn't take a genius to deduce the test wasn't over. The tenth and most powerful strike was yet to come. So she began to let anger seep into her veins; fury at the heavens, rage at her own limitations. She dragged her body upright once more.
"BRING IT ON!" She screamed, just as a huge, purple bolt of lightening rocketed down from the sky and collided with her being.
The sky above her began to clear. Before long, a gorgeous, orange sky revealed itself from under the cloud cover. Two ethereal beings appeared in the sky: a phoenix and a dragon circled skyward, while a warm, yellow light consumed Sakura's form. She no longer hurt. Sakura looked back at Kaguya with a gentle smile on her face, feeling a strange sense of peace.
The foundational stage is only the beginning, Kaguya said sternly, but the pride in her voice was impossible to hide. She was, after all, an arrogant creature by nature.
"Yes, but… It's as if I've been completely reborn, Kaguya. I can feel that even my chakra—,"
Swift as the wind, Kaguya pressed her thumb into Sakura's belly. Sakura gasped as once again her chakra was stolen from her… or, more accurately, sealed off.
"What the hell was that for?!"
You rely too much on your chakra. You must master cultivation first. After that, I'll consider returning your precious chakra to you, Kaguya said in that imperial tone of hers. The one that practically screamed, 'try me. I'll make sure you regret it.'
Sakura pulled at her long hair. Just when she had started to become fond of the goddess, too.
…..
After Sakura left, Konoha needed rebuilding. Genin were sent on chunnin missions, and Naruto went to find Tsunade with Jiraiya. Sakura's other friends gave Naruto and Sasuke time to grieve for their loss, but one clear night, their patience ran dry. And so Naruto and Sasuke found themselves surrounded and being ushered from the bar stools of Ichiraku to a table with more plentiful seating by what could only be Sakura's old acquaintances.
Oh, great, thought Sasuke. Just what he needed.
Keep your defenses up. You promised to keep her secret.
Before anyone managed to get a word in, Sasuke spoke: "Before you ask us anything, let me clarify: Sakura left of her own free will."
"Sakura wouldn't have just left! Especially as a nuke nin!" Neji ground out, hair swaying caustically in the wind. "All of this is ridiculous."
"What benefit is there for Sakura in becoming a nuke-nin?" demanded Tenten, backing up her teammate.
"…She said she needed more power."
"Sakura? More power? You've got to be kidding me. She could beat us all combined in under 3 minutes flat," returned Neji, pearlescent orbs lit with an invisible fire,—there was anguish, confusion, betrayal, desperation,—all things Sasuke recognized because he himself, even knowing the truth, felt those same emotions.
There was only so much T&I could do to change their memories.
"So, you're telling me she aided Konoha in the invasion and then left?" pressed Shikamaru, arms folded.
"It's true," Naruto's voice shook as he spoke. Knuckles white with frustration, he continued spinning the tale as he stared at his reflection in his pork ramen: "I watched Sakura slash her hitai-ate myself."
"Well, I witnessed Sakura personally lecture Kabuto on the value of the Will of Fire," Ino cut in, pale blue eyes narrowed into slits. "We all did. This just doesn't add up."
Sasuke, who wasn't used to so much interaction, finally found himself out of patience. "Have you ever considered that she might have been lying?"
"Not for one minute," countered Ino. If this had been anyone else, her crush on Sasuke would have calmed her temper. But it wasn't. It was Sakura. "Don't you know how goddamn sincere she is?! There's no way she left in search for power. She believed in the value of bonds."
Shikamaru nodded in agreement. It didn't make sense.
They watched Naruto and Sasuke's stares turn to each other, and then downward.
They said nothing.
Shikamaru growled. "Come on guys, they're not going to tell us anything."
The group gathered themselves and left the two boys in the now mostly-empty booth.
"I fucking hate this," Naruto finally said, breaking the silence.
"…Me too."
This is not forever, elder Sasuke reminded him gently.
…
So! As you can see, I decided to bring some Wuxia principles into this fanfic. I promised a god-like Sakura, and on that I must deliver.
Please Read and Review! I'm really curious to know your thoughts on the direction of the new arc. There is much to come! Sorry about the lateness of this chapter, it was pretty hard to switch gears, but believe me when I say we will return to the shinobi world and that plans have been made. More than anything, this is a story about Sakura's strength, and the fic will follow that principle.
As for the burning of the bonds…think carefully about what opportunities this opens up, opportunities born of authenticity rather than the overlap of old bonds…
Ever yours,
Peregrine Passage