Kakashi woke up from his sleep with a scream building in his throat. He clutched his sheets as he tried to calm himself. Sakura's death played in his mind on repeat. While he didn't actually witness it, his mind could fill in the blanks. Sasuke drove his chidori through Sakura. While on accident, this didn't change the fact that she died the very same way Rin had.
This was what his nightmare was about. Rin's death. Except this time, it wasn't his old teammate he dove his chidori through, it was his student. Kakashi felt like puking just thinking about it. He couldn't even imagine what excruciating pain his student must have gone through. Both physical and emotional. The betrayal she must have felt...what were her last words he wonders? Her thoughts...
With a sigh he jumped out of bed to get changed. It's been five days since Sakura lost her life at the hands of Sasuke and it felt like the whole village was mourning for the bright girl whose life was snuffed out too soon. There was an oppressive, gloomy atmosphere in the air, suffocating everyone. Sakura was pretty well known and beloved in the village. Not just as Tsunade's apprentice, but also for her work at the hospital. Which, while nothing extraordinary, helped her stand out due to her cheerful and kind personality. With her gone, well...
Her funeral was tomorrow and with Tsunade coming to Sakura's apartment afterwards to clean it up, Kakashi wanted to spend a little more time with his pink haired student the only way he could now that she was gone, before the last traces of her existence were gone. He jumped on the roof to avoid the mingling Konoha citizens and jumped from building to building to get to her apartment building. Using the window that was still left open, Kakashi entered her bedroom.
Kakashi took his mask off in order to properly inhale the scent of his student for what will be the last time. Lavender and mint with a hint of the hospital chemicals that seem to always follow her, no matter how much perfume she tries to use. Taking his time, he studied the bedroom. Even with the hole in the wall, Kakashi could still see the knick-knack and medical equipment Sakura had placed on her office table. There was a picture of her and Tsunade, a carved painted wooden statue depicting a manta ray that she bought in Wave, the cheap plastic dog, frog, slug and snake figurines that Naruto bought for the four of them after Sasuke signed the snake summoning contract, a bonzai tree and countless scrolls and books.
Turning away from the desk, Kakashi looked at the rest of her room. There was a huge painting depicting Konoha at it's founding, that Sakura no doubt stole from the Senju compound, there was a poster about a poplar band from Hi no Kuni near her bookshelf, he didn't even know she listened to their music...On her nightstand he found two pictures, one of team 7 and of her parents.
With one last look at Sakura's smiling face, Kakashi made his way to the living room, taking the quickest way by jumping through the hole in the wall. Sakura's living room had even more pictures, some on the walls, some on shelves, they gave the apartment a happy touch. Most pictures had her with either Naruto or Sasuke or both. There was one with Shizune and one with Iruka from her graduation ceremony from the academy. There were a lot of pictures of her with Ino and the rest of the girls, but the one Kakashi liked the most was one taken on during the Konoha Ranks Convocation.
Sasuke was supporting Sakura as she leaned far back, looking like he was done with everyone and everything, Sakura was doing jazz hands and a kissy face at the camera with her left leg raised, Naruto was holding Sakura's leg up with one hand, while the other pulled at his lower eyelid as he struck his tongue out. It depicted team 7 perfectly, two extroverts and one introvert ready to cause headaches for everyone. God he was going to miss her so much...
Rooted to the spot he thought back to the day he met his pink haired student. She seemed eager with a unique maturity far beyond her years. She wormed her way into the hearts of everyone with her kindness and selflessness. Always helping, always trying to make people feel better. Always willing to aid anyone and everyone, regardless of who they were.
"...if there was a chance I could have helped you...I had to take it...I will always help a person if I can...It's just how I am...Maybe...I'm just...too soft...to be...a ninja." No Sakura, your kindness was exactly what made you such an excellent ninja, I just wish I could have seen you grow into the amazing woman I know you were meant to be...
Kakashi was about to turn towards the door when something caught his eye, behind the Shizune picture was another one farther back on the shelf, moving the frame to the left, Kakashi froze at what he saw. Looking at him was Rin's smiling face, dressed in a short formal indigo lace dress, standing next to Sakura's mother who was in a wedding dress. Suddenly Kakashi was hit with a wave of memories of attending Rin's sister's wedding as her plus one. Of being bullied into a suit by both her and Kushina, of dancing with Rin just to appease Mebuki and running as soon as it was politely possible.
Holding the frame with shaky hands, Kakashi fell to his knees with a sob. Of course...Of fucking course Sakura was Rin's niece, why isn't he surprised...History really had a way of repeating itself.
"I'm so sorry Sakura, Rin. I'm so fucking sorry for failing you both."
...
The day of Sakura's funeral was bright and sunny with not a cloud in the sky and Ino hated it with a passion. It was like the sun was mocking her. Why does the worst day of my life have to look like this? There should be rain, all peeling thunder, a storm to reflect the tempest of emotions in her chest. The world just lost the kindest, brightest, most amazing human being in the universe. The weather should at least have the decency to reflect that...
"Come one Ino..." said Hinata, taking her hand. The Hyūga princess was red around her eyes. Ino softened her expression and squeezed her hand.
"I hate this."
"I know."
"This should have never have happened."
"I know."
"This is all Sasuke's fault!"
"Ino..."
"No!" Ino wretched her hand free from Hinata and whirled around to face her. "This never would have happened if it wasn't for him! Sakura would still be with us if it weren't for him!"
"It was an accident...You know what Hokage-sama said-"
"I don't care what Hokage-sama has to say, I don't care what excuses Sasuke has! The fact of the matter is: my best friend is dead and Sasuke is the one that killed her." Ino's voice broke into a sob at the end. "Sakura is gone and she's never coming back. My beST FRIEND IS GONE!"
Hinata pursed her lips and brought her arms around the blonde. "I know...I miss her too..."
"IT'S NOT FAIR!"
"I know...I know..."
Hinata kept on hugging her friend in the middle of the street for a what felt like hours, but really was only a few minutes, before once again taking her hand and leading her towards the funeral site. Ino let herself be led through the streets, gritting her teeth every time someone offered her well meaning but otherwise empty condolences. They didn't lose Sakura, they barely even knew her. To them, her best friend was just another tragic story, it will pull at their heart strings, but ultimately they will forget her and move on with their lives. And Ino hated that, hated that her dearest friend could just fade into obscurity, hated that people could just move on when to her, it felt like the world stopped spinning. She hated their pitying faces, hated their empty platitudes, she just...hated.
Arriving at the site, Ino took notice of all the people that arrived. There were people that worked with Sakura at the hospital, some of her ex-patients, some of their old classmates from the academy that didn't pass to become genin, Anko, Ibiki, Shizune, Iruka-sensei, the Jōnin-senseis, their friends, Karin, who was standing next to Naruto and Sas-
"What the hell is he doing here?" growled Ino as she stopped to glare at Sasuke.
"Ino..." said Hinata.
"No! What the fuck is he doing here? It's his fault Sakura's gone, he shouldn't be anywhere near her funeral! He should be rotting in a cell!" Ino's voice rose with each word and with every climbing decibel of her voice, Sasuke flinched more and more.
"Ino come on, don't cause a scene now." said Shikamaru with a lazy drawl, but his eyes were filled with concern.
"I'll cause a scene whenever I damn please to, especially when it concerns the murderer of my best friend!" Ino prepared herself to march towards Sasuke and personally boot his ass from the premise when Asuma caught her arm.
"Ino, please, not now. This is neither the time nor place." said Asuma. Ino turned around to face him and yell at him, but he just put his hands on her shoulders and held her in place. "Look, I know how you're feeling kid, but doing this, now of all times, will not make you feel better, trust me."
Ino glared at her sensei with the ferocity of a vengeful goddess. "You don't have even a quarter of an idea what I'm feeling sensei, don't fucking pretend that you do!" But nonetheless she stayed put. Hinata sighed and after offering Ino a small smile, left to join Kiba and Shino near Kurenai-sensei.
...
If you asked Naruto what Sakura's funeral was like, he wouldn't be able to tell you. His body was on auto-pilot since that day in the forest. He could tell you that he went to the funeral, he can tell you he gave Sakura a white flower and he could tell you he was next to Kakashi-sensei, but aside from these things, his mind draws a blank when he thinks about Sakura's funeral. He doesn't know who else was present, he doesn't know if Granny Tsunade gave a speech and he doesn't know what he's gonna do now. Now that Sakura's gone.
Sakura-chan was...Sakura-chan was the light of their team, from the moment they finished the Wave mission she put in the work to turn them into a proper team. She made him lunch, corrected his sloppy katas, bullied Sasuke into joining team building exercises, helped them figure out their chakra natures, being a friend, a confidant, being...Sakura. She always put her 100% into the team, even when Kakashi-sensei seemed to like sidelining her. She did everything she could for them to make sure they would succeed. She wormed her way into his heart, not just as a crush, but as a friend, one of his precious people...And how did he repay all that?
By letting her get kidnapped by fucking Oto of all places and getting her killed at the hands of Sasuke. Yea great fucking job there Naruto. You're a real friend. You sure showed her you fucking screw up...Sage he hates himself so much. How could he have let this happen?
Karin would check on him from time to time, try to feed him and talk to him, he would just ignore her. He didn't have the energy to humor her, he didn't have the energy to do much at all right now. He knew he was being rude, acting like an asshole by ignoring her, Sakura was her friend too, she was also grieving, but he didn't care...He just wanted to be...
"Naruto?" said Karin, as she peeled back the blanket covering his head. He hasn't moved from his bed since he came back from the funeral, a week ago. "I'm going out to get us some food, do you want anything?"
He just grunted.
"Um, I know a recipe that my mom used to make, its made with fish...I think it was called Sanpeijiru? Would that be ok with you? It was really popular back in Uzushio."
He grunted again.
"O-or I can get us Ichiraku? Would you like that more...or maybe something else, I can probably make Yakitori...I think. Or wait, they sell some near Sakura's appar-"
"Karin! I don't care what we get to eat. I don't even want food right now! Please just...let me be. I see what you're trying to do and on any other day I'd appreciate it, but...just not now. Please just...leave me alone!" snapped Naruto.
Karin clamped her mouth shut and nodded meekly. She left the apartment they share without another word, closing the door softly. Naruto looked at spot she just vacated and plunged into his pillow to scream. And scream, he did.
He really didn't mean to snap at Karin, it was just...fuck, he didn't know what that was. His cousin didn't even do anything wrong! She was simply trying to cheer him up. God he really was an asshole.
"Well that wasn't very nice of you." said a new voice. Naruto lifted his head and saw Jiraiya sitting on the window sill. The blonde sent him a glare from under the covers. The Sannin sent him a sad smile. "How you feeling kid?"
"Like I just lost one of my best friends to another one's hand and yelled at my cousin for no apparent reason..."
"Hmm...So, not that good, huh?"
"NO!" Naruto lifted himself to glare at the Sannin. "No I don't feel good! Have you any idea what its like? To watch one of the most important people in your life die? To see her lifeless eyes stare at the sky and be able to do nothing? To know that there was something you could have done to change that outcome? I was right fucking there! I saw the entire thing happen! Sasuke just...his hand was through her...she...I don't even know HER LAST WORDS, Ero-sennin...I...I-" the blonde dissolved into sobs. Jiraiya jumped down from where he was perched on the window sill and landed in bed. His arms circled the genin and he crushed the blonde in a hug. He let Naruto scream and cry in his arms, covering his shirt in snot and tears. The whole time Jiraiya softly pet his hair while humming an Uzushio song Kushina used to sing.
"I hate Sasuke s-so fucking much..." murmured Naruto.
"Now that's not a good line of thinking..." said Jiraiya. Naruto made a complicated face before hiding his face in his mentor's shirt. "Hey kid...let me tell you a story."
"I really don't feel like listening to tales from your travels right now, Pervy Sage."
"No, no, it's not one of those I promise, just listen please." Naruto gave a grunt so Jiraiya took it as a sign to begin. "There once was a boy who excelled at everything related to shinobi life, he was smart, strong, fast, agile, a prodigy really. One day that boy gets an apprenticeship under a strong ninja that would be able to nurture him alongside two other kids, a boy and a girl. The other two had a very strong bond, they were friends like no other, our boy, let's call him...Inu."
"Dog? Seriously?"
"The names don't matter brat. As I was saying, the other two, who I will name Murasaki and Aoi, were childhood friends. They both tried to become friends with Inu, but he wouldn't let them get close. He was scared of making friends, in fear of losing them to the many wars plaguing the lands. But as things tend to go, close proximity in times of peril forms bonds between people. Inu began to care deeply for Murasaki and Aoi and as the three of them saw more and more of the battlefield, they became close. Just as Inu was ready to officially accept them as friends, tragedy struck as Ao would get killed by a shinobi from the neighbouring city they were fighting against. With his dying breath, Ao gifted Inu his um...sword, yes his sword. It was a blade blessed by the Sage of Six Paths, said to be able to cut through anything."
"I don't like this story."
"It has a point kid, I promise. Anyways, something you should know is that Ao was in love with Murasaki, as he was dying he told Inu to use that blade to protect Murasaki from all. The years passed and Inu and Murasaki continue fighting in the war. One night, Murasaki gets kidnapped by the enemy and Inu valiantly runs into enemy territory to rescue her. After saving her, the two run back to their city to get help, as enemies pursued them. For some reason, the whole way back Murasaki begs Inu to kill her-"
"What?! Why would she say that?"
"Be quiet and you'll find out." Jiraiya clears his throat. "Inu obviously refused, as this went against the very promise he made to Ao on his death bed, but there was something he didn't know. The city they were fighting against had placed a curse on Murasaki that would summon the three...headed dragon, yeah, once she arrived into their home. Knowing this, when the enemy caught up to them, Murasaki jumped in front of the blade just as Inu was about to kill the last of their enemies. She died by his hands, using the same sword that was meant to protect her. Devastated, Inu returned to his home city, where he ended up hated by everyone and branded as a Friend-Killer."
"But it wasn't Inu's fault."
"Oh? Why do you think that?"
"Because he didn't mean to kill her! It was an accident."
"You're right, it was an accident, a horrible one, but an accident nonetheless. But do you think Ao would see it like that? If he were alive that is..."
"Of course, if he knew what happened, I'm sure he would understand Inu didn't mean to kill her...oh."
"Now you see where I was going with this?"
Naruto sighed. "Yeah...I do. Sasuke didn't mean to kill Sakura...that...stupid Oto nin used her as a meat shield."
"Mh-hm."
"But I'm still mad at him, like I get it he didn't meant to but..."
"Nobody says not to feel the things that you do, Naruto, burying your emotions will do you no good, you're allowed to feel the things that you do, especially as you're still grieving. All I'm saying is, try not to let them consume you, scream, rage, cry your heart out if you need to, and when you're done, pick yourself up and heal. Also...maybe see a Yamanaka."
Naruto snorted. "Thanks Ero-sennin, that made me feel a bit better."
Jiraiya ruffled his hair. "Any time squirt."
...
Tsunade was sitting in the Hokage office with a glass of rosé wine, the softer drink wasn't one of her usual choices, but she remembers it being one of Sakura's preferred alcoholic beverages back in their future-past. For the first 14 hours since Sakura's death, Tsunade had spent her time plastered, drunk out of her mind, screaming and crying and uprooting 3 quarters of the trees from the Forest of Death. She raged and yelled and cursed the names of both Orochimaru and the Sage for taking her student from her. Shizune and her ANBU guards had wisely stayed out of her path. Then at the end of her tirade, she picked herself up with as much grace she could muster and marched herself to the morgue to begin the autopsy.
Danzo, that senile walking fossil of a man, dared to ask her to let someone else handle the autopsy, as she was apparently 'too emotional' to do it herself. Bah, as if she would allow some inexperienced hands handle her dear student, she promptly told the geezer to get out of her sight before she makes him a smear on the wall and proceeded flip him off as she went to her student.
She found Shizune already waiting for her inside the room Sakura was in, together they peeled back the white covers and stared at the body with sadness. With tears down her cheek, Tsunade kissed her student's forehead and muttered an apology.
The autopsy began and as they continued poking and prodding her body, more minor inconsistencies they began to find. Oh sure, the average mortician wouldn't have seen them, but Tsunade knew her student like the back of her hand. And the body in front of her, was definitely not Sakura. For one, the weight differed by a couple kilograms and while that could be attributed to the days in captivity, the difference in height couldn't. The body in front of them was 7 cm shorter than Sakura. And if that wasn't enough, the scars on her back were entirely missing. Thousands of tiny needle scars painted her student's back like constellations after her fight back in Wave, but now her body was as clean and smooth as a baby's.
(A\N: 7cm = 2.755 inch)
"Tsunade-sama look at this." said Shizune as she parted the body's hair near the temple.
"Surgical scars." said Tsunade. "This is a body double."
"But why? Was Orochimaru trying to use your student as a means to infiltrate the village?"
"I don't know Shizune, but I don't like it. Whatever Orochimaru tried to achieve clearly failed. However this does have a good side." Tsunade smirked. "It means that Sakura is alive."
"What are we going to do, Lady Tsunade?"
"Publicly nothing, we cannot let my dear old teammate know that we are onto him. However, I will ask some of my most trusted ANBU to look into this." clearing her throat Tsunade straightened her back. "Shizune Katō, from this moment on I am placing you under a gag order. The information you have learned is to be treated as an SS-rank secret, you are to not disclose this to anyone, not your friends nor family. What you have heard does not leave this room, understand?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
With a sigh, Tsunade took another sip of her drink, closing the memories of that conversation behind a tight vault in her mind. She already sent a team of 3 ANBU, consisting of Genma Shiranui, codename: Cat, Raidō Namiashi, codename: Mouse and Riku Fūma, codename: Fox, Minato's previous guards, to Oto no Kuni. Counting her there were now 5 people that knew about her student being alive.
Turning her head to the window, Tsunade gazed at the night sky. Wherever you are my dear student, I hope you are hanging on for me. Help is coming.
...
Inside a cell, Sakura was sitting with her back to the wall, hugging her knees. The sound of steps was heard but Sakura refused to acknowledge them. Her cell was opened and in stepped Danzo. He threw a pair of black steel sais and an ANBU mask at her feet.
"Sakura Haruno has officially died on the 17th of September, welcome to Root, Bear." said Danzo, before leaving her cell.
Picking up the mask Sakura began to weep.
(A\N: And so with this, we have officially finished the OG Naruto part of Stream of Past. Next we are onto Shippūden, hooray! I would like to note, I will not rewrite the entirety of Shippūden, as that is just too long, so past the Gaara retrieval arc and the introduction of Sai, a lot of the Akatsuki fights are just going to happen offscreen, as they are mostly the same. I have some other things I want to focus on this fic and there's no reason for me to write about Naruto and Kakashi killing Kakuzu when the fight is the exact same.
I do plan to write a couple of interludes before I get to ep 1 of Shippūden, mostly cuz I need to rewatch it to remember what happened...But for the most part, we reached the end of the first arc of this fic.
Credit where is due to Rina0kumura, over on Wattpad, who gave me the idea to make Rin be Sakura's aunt. Shout out to them for being smarter than me.
For now, this is all I have to say, Crazycousins202 out! )