Chapter 18: A Lapse in Time & Memories
"There comes a time when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your own heart. So you'd better learn the sound of it. Otherwise you'll never understand what it's saying."
― Sarah Dessen, Just Listen
Shikamaru & Temari
She first goes to visit the grave of Asuma Sarutobi. Bundles of white lilies, pink carnations, and yellow-white chrysanthemums encircle his memorial stone, a grand farewell to a man truly loved.
A man Shikamaru saw as a second Father...
"I'm sorry I didn't bring something to match the color theme going on here. Ah, but this is desert marigold and dandelion. They grow quite often near the outskirts of Suna's many desert flats." Temari begins, curling her toes at hearing the dryness of her voice.
The wind picks up scattering goosebumps up her arms, nearly turns her umbrella inside out gazing up as the rain starts to lessen to a drizzle.
Temari manages a small grin seeing peeks of sunshine and blue-violet sky, peering back to Asuma's grave. It seems the rain will finally come to an end this evening into nightfall.
'Looks like you were a master with wind techniques too, huh?'
She sets down the wrapped flowers near a box of cigarettes, steels herself for where she's heading next.
The Nara Household is very much still in mourning, blinds shut to the world and pattering of rain.
The sadness in the air is palpable, coats the house in grays and blacks from the passing clouds.
Temari stops just outside the stone path that leads up to the entrance. Were they even taking guests at this time? No matter how much things have improved between Konoha and Suna, she's still a foreigner in this village.
'This is it. You can't chicken out now after coming all this way!' She berates her nervousness.
Her stomach feels like sludge, the little she ate for breakfast lurching about.
The pain in her hands hasn't stopped for even a second, only worsened like a flame she can't put out.
A bell tolls somewhere in the distance, biting her lip recalling the whispers she overheard from the few shopkeepers mingling about.
"Died in the line of duty, huh? Such a loss for the shinobi forces..."
"Forget the shinobi forces! That man was going to be a Father! Maybe the Sarutobi line is cursed; I hope nothing happens to young Konohamaru next..."
Temari blows out a breath, stepping forward only to hear the clicking of the front door opening, coming face to face with Yoshino Nara.
Her eyes widen a fraction, rushing forward to clasp her hands.
"Temari? Oh my goodness; you came all this way from Suna to see Shikamaru?! I saw something flickering around outside the window and thought maybe it was well-wishers still loitering about or Chouko bringing us more bento boxes." She breathes out, ushering her close.
Temari accepts her hug, peers into her dark eyes, tear stains marring her cheeks.
"I...I can come back another time if need be." She starts only for Yoshino to vehemently shake her head.
A smile edges up her lips, tapping at her chin.
"Not necessary! You're family now too no matter how much you and Shikamaru want to deny it; the daughter I never had! Shikaku and I were just saying the other day how glad we are Shikamaru has a red thread match that keeps him on his toes and actually makes him get up now before noon!" She beams.
Temari swallows, cheeks warming forcing herself not to look away from her smirk.
Yoshino squeezes her hands, voice gaining a somber edge.
"I'm sure you heard about his sensei's passing. He's barely ate or even come home except to sleep since the funeral the other day."
Temari nods, follows her gaze to what must lead to the backyard or patio section of their house.
"He's been out there playing shogi match after match with his Dad. I'm sure he would be glad to see you as well. Oh, and I hope you didn't rent a room at one of the inns here because you're staying for dinner and the night now too!" Yoshino commands.
Temari knows better than to question her, the Nara matriarch runs this household with an iron fist.
'I can see why Shikamaru says his Mother can be scary when pushing for something!'
Yoshino tugs her gently towards the backdoor, nodding when she gazes back to her warily.
"He needs you." She mouths and Temari feels her heart annoyingly flutter.
She walks in the shadows just out of sight of the pair, catches the tail end of their conversation.
"-I'm glad you're alive Shikamaru. As your Father it would've pained me and your mother to have to bury our one and only son. The Akatsuki have abilities we never imagined any human could have."
Temari stills, silently agrees.
Shikamaru says nothing, though his posture sinks into his knees slamming another shogi tile down with barely a glance to the board.
"I know it's painful, but the reality is now that Asuma is dead." Shikaku notes with a finality that has Temari suck in a breath and Shikamaru slam the board away.
"I know he's dead! I was there as he took his last breaths!" He snaps.
Shikaku simply nods, moves to stand.
"Good, you're angry. Let all of those emotions out here and now. All of your pains, your fears, your rage...and when you're done, we'll all be here."
He pauses seeing Temari behind them before cracking a small grin.
"Temari is here too all the way from Suna." He pats her shoulder as he walks away back into the main rooms of the Nara compound.
And now it's just them alone.
Temari settles herself beside Shikamaru, feet dangling off the edge of the wood steps that lead to the garden. She feels his eyes on her, probably wondering why she crossed sand and forest just to see him in this awful state.
The sky has taken to a purple-black, moon slipping through out of the clouds casting them in silver light.
'Say something!' She yells at herself.
But what can she say in this moment? When her Mother died shortly after Gaara's birth and when they found her Father's corpse in the desert, she was given empty platitudes from various shinobi and civilians of 'sorry for your loss' or 'the pain will heal with time.'
None of it made her feel better.
So she pushes herself to say what she wished she had heard for herself and her brothers back then.
Temari grabs Shikamaru's hand, fights off the creeping rise of embarrassment seeing his ashen features twist in surprise.
"I'm here. For anything you need; I'll listen."
Shikamaru looks from her hand to his own, squeezing it before abruptly pulling her into his arms.
A sob erupts out from his throat, rattled and broken.
"He was going to be a Dad..."
His tears wet her shoulder, Temari silently making featherlight strokes through his hair and cheeks.
Shikamaru pulls away after a moment, sighing moving to stand and stretch. He grabs a blanket from the corner, wrapping it around Temari and himself.
"Thanks. You came all this way despite me being a crappy guest. I sensed you here as soon as you came through the village gates, but didn't feel like moving. Your hands have been hurting like hell, haven't they?"
Temari shrugs, excusing his laziness this time. "Yeah, I had to come check on you. Anyways, your mom was going to block me from leaving once I actually got here to the manor. I stopped by the cemetery first as well to give Asuma flowers that grow locally around Suna."
Shikamaru nods, gives her a soft half-smile.
Her heart pounds in her ears, partially wonders if they're going to fall asleep out here.
His gaze eventually falls to shogi tiles scattered about the wood flooring, picks up one marked with the symbol of the king before laying back.
Temari lays back too following his lead, considers how long they've been out here as yellow-green fireflies flicker through the bushes, cicadas sharp buzzing coming from high up in the trees.
She can't recall if Yoshino or Shikaku called them for dinner...
"Hidan and Kazuku. Me and the rest of team 10 are going to avenge Asuma-sensei." Shikamaru decides, regaining her attention.
Temari nods, recalling what she learned of the infamous zombie duo.
"Make them both suffer, make Hidan wish he could die."
Shikamaru smirks.
"I intend to do all that and more."
Sakura & Sai
"She won't stop crying, can't you talk to her Ugly?" Sai questions.
Sakura fixes him with a glare, hands turning a vicious dark red warning him not to ask her that same question again.
"Her sensei died Sai. Ino is your red thread, so of course you're going to feel her pain; her grief!" She hisses with quickly with barely tampered ire.
'And it's your fault she couldn't say hear his final goodbyes and had to hear them instead from Shikamaru. So focused on Sasuke that you're indirectly causing others pain.' A bitter thought croons back.
A lump of guilt digs in her chest, Ino should've been right there with Team 10 in Asuma's last moments, not here helping her with a risky, unethical project.
Sai studies his hands again, frown deepening.
"I can't draw properly with my hands aching this bad; it would be detrimental for any mission. You said she likes flowers, right? Can you at least come with me to be my support?" He suggests.
Sakura deflates, knowing Sai is trying to understand.
'I can track Sasuke afterwards, be patient.' She sighs.
She fixes on a grin, nodding.
"Let's get some of the flowers I had stored away that I normally use for medicine." She determines.
She may not be as good as Ino at flower arranging, but she picked up on some things from watching her so many times.
Yamanaka Flowers has been closed since Asuma's funeral, Sakura having to knock on the back entrance where they normally get deliveries to see if Ino is in.
"Ah, thanks for coming by Sakura. Ino's been upstairs all day and only seems to come down to get food. I'm worried what it will do to her energy if this keeps up. She's even being stubborn with her mother on at least cleaning up after herself." Inoichi huffs.
His gaze falls to Sai, brows knotting together in silent recognition.
Sakura looks between them silently. It's clear Ino's Father had assumed or maybe hoped his daughter's red thread match would be someone less like Sasuke in both looks and personality.
"Hmph, so your Team 7's newest member from Root. Sai, was it?" Inoichi asks as he invites them to sit for tea.
Sai nods and Sakura internally winces seeing his fake grin rise up.
'Please don't go and say something rude now of all times Sai.' Sakura clenches her hands in her lap.
She takes a short sip of her milk tea, warmth doing nothing to quell her rising nerves.
She, Yamato-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, and Naruto have all been giving him communication lessons and practice for various scenarios, though she isn't sure if any of them have truly sunk in.
Inoichi crosses his arms. "I've looked into your history as I'm sure you know. Red thread or not, I don't trust one of Danzo's lackeys sniffing around my own home for potential information that could be used against Konoha's civilian and shinobi."
Sakura purses her lips, prepared to defend Sai's honest intentions for stopping by, however Sai simply holds up the wrapped bundle of lavender and dogwood they made, white and purple petals tangled together from trying to keep it out of the rain's path.
"It's a good thing then Mr. Yamanaka that you're not my Red thread match and Ino is! Your feelings for me don't matter; Ino's do." He states simply.
Sakura gawks at him horror, all their lessons have been a failure!
'Punch him! Knock him out before he says anything worse!'
"Sai, don't say it like that!" Sakura hisses.
Sai glances to her, earnestly confused by her anger. "What? I shouldn't care what his feelings are when they don't affect me the way my red thread does."
Inoichi's chuckling stops Sakura from further berating Sai.
"Ah, well I must say, I appreciate your honesty Sai! I guess that's one thing that man taught all of his recruits. Anyways, maybe you two are probably the best options at being able to convince Ino to come out of her room for a bit. I know though she doesn't like people to see her face after she's been crying."
And with that he moves to stand, heading to the kitchen to help finish the chores with his wife.
Sai nods, pleased with their encounter. "See? He likes me Ugly."
Sakura rolls her eyes, gesturing for him to follow her upstairs.
Ino's face is buried within her pillows, room filled with the scents of gardenia and freesia.
"I'm not hungry Dad-" She begins hoarsely only to bristle when she catches sight of Sakura's pink hair.
"Forehead! You brought Sai here too?! No...I don't want to be seen like this!" Ino bemoans and curses her all at once, throwing her blankets over her head. Her normally shiny blonde hair is in tangles, face a blotchy red from tears.
Sakura attempts to pull the blankets off, but her earlier thoughts pierce into her like pinpricks. She's caused Ino enough trouble dragging her into her own love drama and using her clan's jutsu for her own means.
The meeting with Sasori's spy is supposed to happen tomorrow and none of Team Kakashi feels ready to face whoever it may be.
'The meeting won't happen.' She already knows.
But her hands have been prickling, red thread faintly visible once again. Even if she has to go it alone, she needs to meet Sasuke, has to tell him what she saw from Takita's memories and confirmed via sneaking Itachi's medical file from the private records of the hospital...
"Beautiful, at least let me look at you." Sai regards, settling down beside Ino's covered figure.
Ino says nothing, accepting as he slowly pulls back the covers.
Dark eyes meet blue, Sai nodding as if confirming something to himself.
"You look nicer when you're smiling; crying just makes your cheeks too puffy." He notes.
Sakura not so subtly jabs at his side, but to her surprise Ino sits herself fully up.
A small grin etches her lips, cheeks even turning the healthy color of a blush rising up seeing the flowers he brought her.
"Thank you Sai, you too Sakura."
Sakura mutely nods, stepping back from the room to give them privacy.
A hard knot of envy twists around her chest as she heads back along damp pavements, streetlights buzzing on casting yellow-orange glows. Sakura sucks in a deep breath as her home comes into view, stomping down this jealousy before it can burrow itself further into her chest.
'It's fine. I'm going to go see my own red thread soon enough.'
Sasuke will have to hear her out this time.
Even if she has to go to him alone.
'Tomorrow.' She decides.
Naruto & Hinata
'Stupid. This was a stupid idea.'
The thought gets broken up by Hinata curling against his chest and he takes her figure in once more. Her normally straight violet hair is in disheveled waves, skin flushed pink from their lovemaking.
In the end he kept Hinata close, so close that there's no turning back from what they did.
"Stay here tonight, with me?" Naruto asks hesitantly, fights with his nerves for a possible coming rejection.
He can send a messenger toad so at least Ko or one the other Hyuga guards know where Hinata is.
It may not stop one of them from coming to fetch her anyways, but it's a risk worth taking.
The walk to his apartment was closer and already it's gotten late, clock having ticked towards 10:30 pm while they discussed what would most likely happen next within the village in the aftermath of Asuma's death.
"I don't want to go! I mean, I'll stay if you want me to." Hinata declares.
Naruto nods, maybe too eagerly making Hinata giggle.
She must hear how fast his heart is pounding, wiping his sweaty palms against his pants before taking her to his room. Pervy-sage told him dozens of times how this is supposed to go, where exactly to touch and kiss, but he always half-listened or ignored him in favor of sleeping or reading comics over his novels.
He inwardly groans, now he has to go off of his fragmented memory!
'Condoms. At least I have some here.'He recalls.
Hinata tugs at the end of his jacket getting his attention, red blooming across her face.
"Are...Are your neighbors going to hear us?" She squirms.
On the nights alone when she thought of them actually doing 'this' she would muffle herself, bite her lips to keep any guard or worse, Neji or Hanabi from wondering what she was doing.
Naruto blinks, slow smirk crossing his face. "I don't know Hinata, are you going to be loud?!"
If anything, her face turns a shade darker. Though she boldly steps forward closing the path between herself and Naruto.
"Who says...who says it's going to be me that's loud? You're the louder one of us after all!" Hinata counters.
Naruto chuckles, nodding while wrapping an arm around her.
"You're right, but I suppose we should find out."
Hinata's skin is just as soft as he imagined, peppering her face and neck with kisses while he zips down her jacket, exposes cream white skin to moonlight and air. He palms her breasts, feels his erection harden at her moan of his name.
"We can stop, you know. If this is too much-" Naruto mentions once they're fully exposed to each other. He's heard this normally hurts no matter how fast or slow he goes, a pleasure mixed with pain.
Hinata shakes her head, lips finding his before he can say anything else.
"I want you." She states assuredly when they break apart.
Their fingers intertwine as Naruto sinks her into his bed, arousal pressing right up against her. Naruto shifts them, open her legs before thrusting in, walls clenching around his girth.
"So tight." He groans, stilling himself waiting for Hinata to adjust to him.
His breath is hot against her neck, Hinata's nails digging into his back tearing skin as he builds a steady pace.
A gasp escapes her, arching into him and Naruto catches her lips again, covers her moan and his own as he spills into her.'
"Good Morning." Hinata murmurs out, sheets sliding off her figure untangling herself from his arms.
Naruto yawns, takes in her nude form as grit clears from his eyes.
"Yup, good morning indeed! I can definitely get used to you waking up beside me everyday like this Hinata!" He smirks, eyes slowly roaming her body up and down. Her face burns scarlet, but she doesn't hide from his stare.
"You sound just like that perverted master of yours." She murmurs.
Naruto wrinkles his nose. "Nuh uh! Pervy-Sage is much, much worse than me, you know!"
Hinata laughs, wincing as she tries to get comfortable again.
"You okay?" Naruto asks carefully as Hinata stretches her figure up to gaze outside.
Weak rays of yellow-pink from coming dawn slip in through his blinds, highlight the scattering of bruises and scratches they've left on each other.
Hinata smiles. "Sore."
Naruto hums, leans into her. "A good kind of sore though, right?"
Hinata giggles out a soft yes at his tickling of her sides and he feels his worries ebb away into the receding night.
There's still Neji to consider once this news reaches him no matter how long they try to hide it or delay it, whatever her Father is planning...
"Did you get some sleep?" Hinata asks gently as Naruto shifts her back against his side.
Naruto nods, finger tracing circles along her back.
He knows Kakashi-sensei is planning a meeting to discuss finding Itachi hopefully before Sasuke does, but that isn't for at least another hour.
"We'll be late." Hinata mentions as Naruto hovers back over her.
He shrugs, fingers already pressing back against her hips, forehead gently bumping hers.
"We have the time."
Sasuke & Sakura
"Where are you going Sasuke?" Orochimaru grunts.
"Yeah, don't leave me! I mean, you can't leave yet until Kabuto and I finish making your thread toxin!" Karin chokes out while nervously tapping her glasses when Sasuke's eyes flicker her way.
"Karin, when are you going to face facts that you're not Sasuke's red thread?! He doesn't want you no matter how many times you try to get his attention!" Suigestsu teases earning him a hard shove to his ribs.
He morphs himself into water before her stabbing can begin.
"Nobody was talking to you!" Karin shrills out, sparing Sasuke one last look before sighing.
'He's going to her, whoever she is.' She frowns.
And meanwhile the rest of them are forever without thread matches, tied together only because Sasuke or Orochimaru took interest in their abilities.
Jugo merely watches Sasuke silently, seems to know already where he's going, but won't question it.
Sasuke barely spares them all a second glance, scoffs under his breath as Orochimaru hands claw at his chest.
'Pathetic.'
That's all Orochimaru has been these past few weeks. Swapping hearts with Kimimaro months ago changed nothing of the effects of the sealing jutsu Lord Third placed upon him, always running on borrowed time until a new body part is needed once more.
"Out." He states curtly to finally answer him, Kabuto's glare burning on his back at his attitude.
Soon enough Orochimaru will truly no longer be of use to him, finding Itachi and exacting revenge is finally within reach.
He just needs to be sure his red thread's effect is thoroughly dampened before going after him.
"Strange that Sasori never showed for our scheduled meeting the other day. I'm sure he wanted to get details on what the other jinchuriki have been up to." Kabuto mentions with a glance back to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru scoffs, shrugging the matter away. "Perhaps he realized you were no longer under his memory seal technique and decided not to risk venturing out or based on what I've heard...he's dead."
Sasuke pauses outside the door, Orochimaru going on knowing he has his attention.
"Yes, he's been killed. By Lady Chiyo his own grandmother and Sakura's hand. Or at least that's what been reported by some of my spies." He purrs.
'Sakura killed him?' Sasuke considers.
Or at least had help in taking him out.
He continues to hear unexpected things about her.
"Don't stray too far, my latest toxin for your thread and for you to ingest will be ready by nightfall." Orochimaru calls out.
Sasuke doesn't answer, waits until he is far enough away from the base to finally stretch out his tense fingers, throb running down his arms.
Sakura is close, probably followed their shared red thread to locate him no matter how dull it's light was.
Kusagakure is a series of winding bridges and viridian forests, deep ravines and rivers blue as the ones found in the Land of Waves. Most of the villagers keep to themselves here, Sasuke moving in the opposite direction of the main clock tower towards the woods in the southeast.
A crowd is just outside Tenchi bridge though, huddled in whispers of excitement and awe.
"I've never seen a woman best Ryoto in target practice! Which village does she hail from?" An old man questions giddily at seeing the man's cockiness finally taken down a peg.
"Not sure. Maybe Iwa or Taki? They're both bigger villages than ours and are known for the powerful shinobi they have." A boy replies in return.
A girl beside them shushes for them to be quiet. She's not a shinobi! I heard Akari say so herself that she's a hunter! It's why she's so good at target practice and catching any animal or shinobi in her path!"
They all fixate back on the duo in question and Sasuke arches a brow as he steps closer, feels the tug of his thread.
'It's none of that.' He knows.
But a Sakura with dyed strawberry blonde hair and crystal blue eyes looks nothing like her regular Konoha self, isn't known for taking lives like the woman just a few feet away.
"Alright, let this be our last round! I have places to be and people to meet!" 'Akari' chimes out to the crowd causing a bellow of excited cheers.
Ryoto sneers at her confidence. What was supposed to be a simple game of darts at seeing her absently practice her aim by the river to clumsily catch some fish somehow turned into a challenge for his title as the best marksman of Kusagakure and the region proper.
'She had the skill all along, just pretending to be weak and naïve!' He growls.
He gestures back towards the man officiating their match, Kyou moving their target poles another 10 feet back.
This time he'll make sure he bests her. The sun is setting fast over the horizon, streaks of last red and pink sunlight half shading the target boards now.
Kyou catches his smirk, gives a slight nod just as Sasuke steps forward to the forefront of the crowd.
'Akari' seems to sense what he's about to do anyways without his help, the senbon needle he has discreetly pinpointed towards her. She unleashes Kenichi from her sleeves, wasp landing on Ryoto's index finger before he can take aim for the boards.
Ryoto jolts trying to shoo the wasp away, half-turns to the crowd, gaze falling upon Sasuke and the flicker of crimson in his eyes.
"Are you going to cheat still?" He mouths in question.
His stomach falls, dropping his darts in shock.
"I-I give up! I don't need to prove myself to some foreigner anyways!" He snaps, dumping both darts and needles to the grass leaving the scene quickly before either can follow him.
Confusion fills the air at his behavior, but without a show there's nothing to view as the crowd quietly disperses back over the bridge into the village.
'Akari' watches them go until only her and Sasuke remain.
He annoyingly clenches and unclenches his hands trying to shake the sting away, taking in her appearance.
"You're not going to undo your disguise?" He questions.
Sakura shakes her head, watching the last stragglers head back for Kusa's center square.
"Not until I'm sure we're alone." She mumbles just loud enough for him to catch.
Sasuke studies her, ever the enigma. Sakura didn't come all this way without reason, they both know that and yet she refuses to speak on the matter until they go deeper into the woods where the sun has already passed.
Impatience rolls over him like a wave, flicking lightning throughout his hands in warning.
"You make things difficult for no reason Sakura."
Sakura gazes at the crackling of electricity tiredly before snorting with a shrug. "I'm not the one who interrupted a competition out of jealousy or some belief that I couldn't handle myself."
Sasuke blinks taken aback, utterly bewildered by her statement.
And Sakura uses that chance to step close to him dropping her disguise, Sasuke invaded with the scent of lilies and smoke.
"Stop me if you want to." She whispers by his ear before her lips press against his own.
The last time they kissed was when he said goodbye to her and the village, to Team 7 and whatever they could've been...
His hands twitch at her sides before heedlessly bringing her close until they're flesh to flesh, tastes chocolate and mochi on her lips.
Itachi flashes to mind before he can press Sakura into bark and moss, pulling out a kunai that gleams in coming moonlight.
A stab to Sakura's heart explodes her into a swarm of wasps.
'An insect clone?'
Sasuke clicks his teeth, leaping back blowing out a stream of fire before any of them can land and sting.
When did Sakura learn an ability from the Aburame clan?
"By stopping me I didn't mean by stabbing me in the midst of a kiss. It pains me I'm not too surprised." Sakura voices from the darkness up above.
Lingering flames cast her in an orange glow, leaping down a few feet opposite from him.
Sasuke shakes his head, angered that his body still craves her, that his heart rate refuses to slow down knowing he gave into temptation so easily.
"I can't let you keep getting in my head like this."
The admission aloud only drives his frustration. He should've just waited at the base for the thread toxin to be done, ignored the pull of his thread no matter how much it ached.
Sakura steps a foot closer, wasps up like a shield protecting her should Sasuke try any other attacks.
"I didn't come here to fight or mess with you Sasuke. Though I am happy to see you, I won't lie to you about that." She confesses.
Sasuke blows out a breath, onyx meeting jade as dozens of questions bubble up.
"Why are you here then? So far from the village that nobody knows where you've gone?"
Sakura smiles sadly and his stomach twists as he straightens himself in preparation for whatever it is she has to say.
"I have information; regarding Itachi that is."
-x-
I was able to cover every major couple in this chapter as I envisioned, so proud of myself for that! (Pats self on back).
I know a lot of you guys are excited for the Pain arc and that's great, fantastic even lol! I have the rough drafts in motion, but it's going to be awhile before we get to that main event as I don't want to rush it so please be patient!
We all know what happens leading up to Naruto's fight with Pain, though I'm changing some key events that probably make things sadder or better I guess depending on how you see it compared to canon. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it!
I enjoy any thoughts/feedback as always!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!
