Chapter 45 Lost hero.

The clash of Naruto and Sasuke's fist sent waves through the water. They leaped away from each other, landing atop the water before circling each other. It didn't look like a real fight, with the satisfied grin on their faces.

They moved, and a series of booms and waves rang out from the water. I watched from the shore as Naruto and Sasuke trained. Previously, Naruto couldn't stay atop the water while fighting, but it seemed he's improved while I wasn't looking. The tree climbing exercise was a success, with Choji and Ino haven mastered it. With Shikamaru's training being different, I couldn't put them in the same category.

Using the knowledge from my past life, I created a training ground any game dev would envy. It was a basic side scroller but in 3d and with no extra life. Fireballs, disappearing platforms, traps, the works, it was fun to make, but even more, fun to see Shikamaru attempt to survive it.

Improving his reflexes and ability to think on his feet was the ultimate goal. I looked over at the sleeping Nara in the shade. He worked hard these past few days; it was about time to put it to the test. Gato had moved his supplies to his current hideout. His thought was that it would be safe with him. He was wrong, of course, but alas.

From Haku's recovery speed, we should expect them to attack the bridge the day after tomorrow. That should give Gato enough time to gather all his valuables. I grinned, pleased with the turn of events. It wasn't our mission, so we wouldn't have to fight Zabuza. Sasuke wouldn't have to die, and Naruto won't be hurt. And I suppose Kakashi doesn't have to go through chakra exhaustion, but I couldn't ask for a better outcome.

"You guys are doing something stupid," my smile fell. "it doesn't matter how hard you train you cant beat Gato's men." It's times like this that remind me why I hated kids. I looked at the brat without hiding my displeasure at his existence.

Brats always run their mouth without thinking. They think they're the main character and that no one is quite like them. Self-centered little shits. My mind went to a blond hair boy glaring up at me with hatred. I returned his glare with mutual hatred. What had this brat ever done to receive their love? They looked at him in a way they didn't me. I sacrificed so much, and yet.

"Sakura-chan!"

I returned to the present with a start. The little shit, not blond but with dark hair, was trembling on the ground. Inari looked at me as though I was a demon, even as the puddle beneath him grew.

Naruto, who was the one to wake me, ran over towards the boy hugging him and trying to calm him. The boys trembling eyes never left me. Did I do something wrong? No, my body didn't move from its spot.

I was suddenly lifted off the ground and tucked under Kakashi's arm. I looked over to the jonin, but his face revealed nothing. I was just about to ask what the hell happened when he spoke.

"Naruto, take Inari inside and wash him up," he told Naruto. "Sasuke, I think that's enough training for today. Dry off and get some rest." Sasuke eyed me even as he nodded. "As for you," Kakashi lifted me with one hand as though I was a small cat. "It's been a while since we chat, huh."

Dread filled my stomach as he carried me away. I watched as Naruto and Sasuke entered the house with the boy, but I still didn't know what this had to do with me. Shikamaru turned on his side, content to ignore everything.

The forest was lively as Kakashi carried me through. My legs dangled at his sides as I looked over his shoulder. After realizing carrying me like a sack of potatoes wasn't a good idea, we ended up like this. I felt like a child again. Was this not how he carried me after first becoming my watchdog?

It was a bit too nostalgic.

"What did I do?" I asked when the silence dragged on. Kakashi sighed.

"You did something like that to a child without realizing it?" he shook his head. "You need to control our temper better."

"Temper?"

"You released a potent amount of killing intent at Inari," he stopped walking. A chilling breeze blew by as his words sunk in.

Damn it. Even in a new life, you're still a pain.

I groaned, "It wasn't intentional."

"I know," he sighed, brushing my hair. His storm became a lullaby, and I buried my face in his shoulder.

"What made you angry?" He asked the question I didn't want to answer.

"Humans are stupid," I said after a pause. "While Gato's men might be too much for civilians, it doesn't excuse their submissiveness. Tyrants get beheaded, yet this man, not even my height, is somehow untouchable, ridiculous."

"When you're a shinobi, you see the world differently," Kakashi defended them.

"A shinobi with no chakra or hands can kill this guy," I thought of Zabuza massacring them. "Civilians with pitchforks can do a lot of damage."

"So, what are you going to do about it?"

"It's not my mission are my problem," I flickered out of his hands. "We're only here to kill Gato, not to be these fools 'hero'."

"Why is there a piece missing from this photo?"

I groaned aloud as Ino asked the question. I made an effort to ignore the picture, so I didn't trigger the scene but alas.

"It was a picture of my husband," Tsunami said simply.

"… And the man called the hero of this village," Tazuna said needlessly.

Inari got up and left the room, much to his mother's disapproval.

"I told you not to mention that man in front of Inari," she scolded her father and also left the room. It was playing out the way I remembered.

"What's wrong with him?" Ino huffed.

"I sense there's a story there," Asuma said, in Kaksshi's stead. I stood. I wasn't interested in this story I already knew; this was a team Asuma moment, I didn't need to be here. As I made my way to the door, I felt a tog on my dress. Looking back, I saw Shikamaru glaring at me.

"If I have to sit through this, so do you," he said. What nonsense.

"Inari had a father not related by blood," Tazuna began as though we weren't even here. I tugged on my dress.

"They were close despite this and seemed like a real father and son," Tazuna went on. He was ignoring us, wasn't he? "Inari would laugh a lot back then." I tugged my dress free and turned to run, but Shikamaru, the last bastard, tackled me to the ground.

"Misery likes company," he said with a crazy look in his eyes. I glared at the seal painted on his checks. He couldn't hurt me psychically, so he wanted to break me mentally!?

"Why you," I growled.

"…Inari changed after the incident with his father."

And so, the tale was told again.

A crybaby met a courageous man, and the two became fast friends. The man believed in living your life to the fullest and protecting what's dear to you. The cry baby was touched by the man's words and followed him around like a baby duckling. Before long, the crybaby's mother too became close with this man, and they soon became a family.

One day the village was in danger of flooding. The man, an outsider of the village, risked his life to protect the village. From then on the man was known as a hero, that is, until Gato arrived. Seeing his influence on the people, Gato killed him in front of everyone.

From then on, Inari, the crybaby, lost his smile.

"From then, Inari changed, as did Tsunami and the whole village," the tale finally came to an end. I sat on Shikamaru's back with a blank face. There was a difference between reading it and living it. While reading, you're an outsider looking in with no way to help. You cheer the characters on because they can do what you can not.

If asked what the reader would do in this situation, the answer is almost unanimous. "Id help." I'm in that number, unfortunately.

Naruto sprung to his feet and went for the door. He tripped over Sasuke's feet and fell on his face.

"Where are you going idiot?" Sasuke asked.

"Training," Naruto said, getting back up.

"It's already late. Why don't you rest?" Kakashi tried to reason. It wouldn't work, of course, and we all knew it.

"I'm gonna show him," Naruto stood up, his eyes burning with determination. "I'll show him that heroes do exist!"

"Hold it," I called out, almost causing him to fall again. He looked back at me expectantly.

"I have a batter uses for your chakra."

The bridge at night was creepy. The eerie silence was a contrast to the loud banging in the morning. I looked up to the night sky, finding a crescent moon; it wouldn't be bright enough.

"How are your senses?" I asked. Naruto and Sasuke gave me odd looks. Sasuke had already activated his Sharingan, and Naruto's eyes were glowing red. These punks. Of course, they could see in the dark. I took out my glasses while shaking my head.

"Never mind, is your vision as good as the daytime. Naruto nodded, but Sasuke shook his head.

"I can see in the moonlight, but that's about it," he explained. Sharingan cant see in the dark, noted.

I placed my hand on the bridge and forced chakra into it, I could feel it flow thought he metal and stone. Sasuke winced and coved his eyes.

"How about now?"

"I hate you," he growled. I removed my hand, and Sasuke relaxed when my chakra was no longer blinding him.

"What are we doing here, Sakura?" Naruto asked.

I placed on my glasses and watched the seals work. Night vision activated, giving me a good view of the bridge. I created these sci-fi-looking visor glasses for such a purpose. With all these dojutsus, someone like me would never survive.

So since I couldn't implant new eyes, I created an alternative. I feel like batman.

Running a kunai over my palm I bleed on the bridge.

"Scatter," I commanded. From my blood drips, springflys followed my will and flew all over the bridge. They fluttered their wings, and powders of chakra fell upon the bridge, making it visible to Sasuke's eyes.

"We're gonna help build the bridge," I finally answered.

"What!?" they both screamed. I stepped back from their powerful vocal cords, frowning at them.

"It's not hard for ninjas to do, especially with Naruto," I explained. Naruto understood first, surprisingly.

"You mean with my shadow clones," he said.

"That's right," I pointed to the distant shore. "With Naruto, we have an endless labor force. Sasuke's speed and Shurikenjutsu and my straight and direction. With the tree of us, this bridge is doomed to be complete."

"Why didn't you say anything about this sooner!?" Naruto demanded.

"You guys were training," I answered flatly.

"We can train anytime, Sakura," Sasuke said disapprovingly.

"True, but when are we going to get another chance like this? Asuma is one of the only wind users that can train Naruto. Wasting this opportunity was not an option."

Sasuke nodded in acceptance. While Kakashi does know the jutsus, the training for the justu is beyond him. So he was useless. We could have asked the Hokage but I felt bad taking him away from his paperwork. Naruto whined.

"I need to apologize to Shikamaru when I get back," he said.

"This bridge won't stop, Gato."

They looked at me with surprise.

"The problem isn't the isolation. It's the pint-sized tyrant playing god. If they don't kill Gato, he will destroy the bridge or block its usage. It's useless unless you get rid of the root of the problem," I explained.

"Then why?" Naruto asked in a quiet voice.

"For training and," I looked at them with a devilish grin. "To but the dwarf tyrant in a panic. His workshops are being attacked, and the stupid bridge is almost complete. People make mistakes under pressure."

"Sakura-chan is scary," Naruto complimented my plan. I smiled brightly at my sweet boy.

"Vicious," Sasuke muttered.

"Now then," I walked off towards the edge, "let's build a bridge."

Pint size tyrant.

Next chapter

November 23