Chapter 12- Reunited and it Feels So Good
Team Guy was on a mission to escort the eccentric Dr. Ryota, a renowned botanist, through the Land of Fire. Despite his claims of enemies seeking to steal his research, the team had yet to encounter any evidence of danger. Nevertheless, they remained vigilant.
Neji scanned their surroundings with his Byakugan, his eyes narrowing as he searched for any signs of danger. Shanan walked beside him, her vibrant chakra signature buzzing like a constant hum in the background.
"Shanan, can you walk elsewhere? Your insane chakra is distracting."
Her smile faltered. "Oh, sorry... I can try to suppress it."
"Just go stand by Lee," he said, his gaze still sweeping the horizon. "I need to focus anyway."
She raised an eyebrow. "Alright, fine. But you're gonna miss out on my charming company."
"I'll survive."
Rolling her eyes, she jogged over to join Guy, Lee, and Dr. Ryota. "So, Dr. Ryota, what's your research about?" she asked.
Dr. Ryota's eyes lit up. "Ah, yes! The rare Kokoro plant. Its flowers contain unique chakra signatures that can revolutionize medical ninjutsu!"
"Really? Only in the flower?"
"Correct!" Dr. Ryota nodded. "The roots do the groundwork, but everything converges in the flower. Its unique energy signature amplifies healing chakra specifically."
He pulled out a small notebook and flipped to a page, showing Shanan an intricate diagram. "I've developed a theory on resonance frequencies."
Her eyes widened. "I've read about resonance frequencies. It's based on advanced sound ninjutsu principles."
Dr. Ryota beamed. "Exactly! You understand! Few shinobi venture outside their area of expertise."
Guy smiled warmly. "Shanan's always had a thirst for knowledge, spanning many fields. Reminds me of a good friend I have."
Her eyes sparkled with appreciation as she met Guy's gaze. Turning back to Dr. Ryota, she said, "I'm an avid reader, always have been. So, how do you plan to harness the Kokoro flower's energy? And have you experienced any... unwanted attention regarding your research?"
Dr. Ryota's expression turned cautious, his voice dropping to a whisper. "They're always watching. I've seen suspicious figures lurking outside my lab." He glanced around nervously.
Shanan, Lee, and Guy exchanged concerned glances, their eyes scanning the surrounding area.
The Doctor's enthusiasm resurfaced. "However, the real challenge lies in extracting chakra from the plant and transferring it to a shinobi. I've yet to crack the code, but surely it's not impossible. I've heard tales of an ancient tree capable of this very feat, but the species' name has been lost in translation over the years. Imagine it – a natural, sustainable source of chakra."
"Oh, no… Could there be old records anywhere? It can't be completely lost!" she said.
"Unfortunately," Dr. Ryota's expression turned somber. "The ancient clan that possessed the translation kept it a closely guarded secret. I've been studying what I can find of their history, hoping to uncover clues, but their records were stolen during the clan's downfall within the last decade."
Her eyes widened. "That's devastating."
"Yes." He nodded. "But once I crack this mystery, the Kokoro plant will revolutionize the shinobi world!" His eyes sparkled with determination. Reaching into his front pocket, he produced a small, delicate green flower. "Here, take it. I have a hidden greenhouse filled with these precious blooms." He handed the flower to Shanan, who accepted it gingerly, her fingers cradling the petals.
She gazed at the tiny green flower, marveling at its unremarkable appearance. "Wow, it's so... unassuming. You'd never even know how powerful it is." As she held the bloom, a soothing wave washed over her, calming her mind. Suddenly, Neji's words about her chakra absorption sprang to mind. She excused herself from the group and walked over to Neji. "Hey, does my chakra absorption thing work on plants too?" she whispered.
"It's organic," he confirmed, his gaze fixed on the flower. "So yes."
Her eyes locked onto the delicate petals. "So, this tiny flower...?"
"There's no chakra in that flower, Shanan."
"Hmm… Then he's crazy?" she asked him.
"No," he replied. "You absorbed all of it immediately."
Her eyes widened as she dropped the flower, understanding dawning on her face. "Oh well..." she breathed. "Probably best not to mention this to our researcher friend."
"A wise decision," he said, continuing to scan the area.
Lee slipped beside them, his voice barely above a whisper. "You do not think that he would try to use you for research, do you, Shanan?"
Her eyes narrowed, her gaze drifting back to Dr. Ryota. "Oh yeah, Lee. Scientists are always kidnapping kids and performing evil experiments on them for the 'greater good' or 'academic achievement'. And while he may be brilliant," she continued, "I saw that look in his eyes..."
"What was the look?" Lee asked.
Her expression turned serious. "Mad scientist. He's certifiably crazy, there's no doubt in my mind. If we went to his lab, we'd need to search for missing children before leaving him."
"Ooh..." Lee's eyes sparkled with intrigue.
Neji's patience snapped. "Can you morons please take this conversation elsewhere?"
Guy Sensei fell back, joining the group now as he leaned in closer to Shanan and Lee. "Shanan may have a point, guys. Let's keep an eye out for his supposed enemies, but..." His eyes narrowed. "I think we know who the real enemy is here."
Shanan and Lee exchanged resolute nods, their faces set.
Neji threw up his hands. "This conversation is beyond ridiculous. You're breaking my concentration."
Guy's expression turned apologetic. "You're absolutely right, Neji. You stay back here and keep appearances up for the mission. Lee, you stay with Shanan in the middle."
Lee promptly wrapped his arms around Shanan's arm.
Guy nodded. "Conjoined twin formation, good. Take care of our girl."
"Thanks, Sensei. Even if it is a little sexist." She smiled appreciatively.
"No problem, Shanan. Desperate times call for sexist measures." He flashed a reassuring smile.
Lee's expression turned solemn. "Do not worry, Sensei. We will remain joined at the hip. I will protect our girl from harm."
Neji's exasperation was palpable. "You're all idiots..."
Guy rejoined Dr. Ryota, who glanced back at the group. "You two have gotten chummy back there."
"Not to worry, Doctor. Those two are boyfriend and girlfriend," he said with a dismissive chuckle.
Lee swiftly corrected him, his face flushing. "No, we are not!"
"Lee, you idiot!" Neji whispered loudly from behind the duo.
A warning glance from Guy silenced Lee, but only for a moment. A mischievous glint sparked in his eye. "Actually, we are more than that now," he declared. "We are already engaged to be married."
Neji's sigh was heavy.
"A bit young, aren't you?" Dr Ryota asked, his eyebrow raised.
"Shinobi villages operate differently, Doctor. We do whatever we want," Guy told him.
"Our parents said that it was okay!" Lee exclaimed, his face aglow with excitement.
"Besides," Shanan added with a sly smile, "It's gonna be a long engagement. But," she looked at Lee, eyes sparkling in the most convincing way. "When you know, you know."
"So true, my little love bunny," Lee teased, patting her arm affectionately.
Shanan beamed at him. "My handsome frog prince!" she said, pinching his cheek.
"I'd like to request an end to this idiotic conversation. You're all breaking my concentration!" Neji said.
Shanan playfully tightened her grip on Lee's arm. "Neji, I'll ask you not to speak to my fiancé in that manner."
"I'm speaking to both of you in this manner!"
Shanan and Lee exchanged amused glances. They giggled, their arms still entwined.
Guy Sensei watched with amusement, his eyes crinkling at the corners, though his senses remained on high alert to their surroundings.
Dr. Ryota observed the exchange, fascinated. "Your team's... camaraderie is unique."
"We're a family, Doctor. Dysfunctional, but family," Guy said.
"And Neji's the grumpy older brother," Shanan teased, looking back at him with a grin.
His scowl deepened. "I'm the only sane person here," he muttered, shaking his head.
The mission concluded without incident; a rare triumph. At one point, Neji thought he detected enemy chakra, but it turned out to be an angry swarm of chakra bees. Team Guy handed Dr. Ryota over to his next escort at the Land of Fire's border with the Land of Rivers.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the group settled in for the night, the crackling fire and rustling leaves filling the air.
"Okay, who's on 'keep Shanan warm' duty?" she yelled out as she unpacked her bedroll.
Neji was already spreading some soft brush out for his bedroll and sighed before going to gather more.
"I believe it is Neji's turn," Lee reminded her.
At this point, they all knew she got cold easily, so it was just part of traveling with her that Neji and Lee took turns sharing a bedroll with her to make sure she didn't turn into a popsicle overnight.
"Just don't annoy me, or else I'll shut off your chakra completely," he threatened. "I mean it. And don't put your hand in my shirt, this time. I hate that!"
Lee laughed at Neji's misfortune. "Perhaps if you wore a jumpsuit like Guy Sensei and I that would not be an issue, Neji," he teased, looking over at Shanan for approval. Her laughter was just what he'd hoped for.
"Sorry, Neji. You're so warm, I don't realize I'm doing it. But I'll try not to," she said.
"Skin to skin contact is a great way to share body heat," Guy Sensei said. "What's one night anyway?"
Though Guy was as lighthearted as ever, Neji sensed the undertone and didn't press the issue further. Though his grumpy expression remained as he helped Shanan with her bedroll.
As they settled in, she tried her best to sleep facing the fire, but she still couldn't stop shivering.
"Alright, you big baby." Neji said. "I'd much rather have you violate my personal space than keep me awake all night."
She rolled over, and Neji instinctively wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders. She snuggled into his warmth, slipping her arm under his shirt, and the chill vanished immediately.
"You and Lee were really obnoxious today," he added.
Her response was a playful poke on his nose, which only irritated him further.
"Shut your eyes, Shanan. Go to sleep."
As they strolled back to their village, Shanan and Lee resumed their playful banter, arms linked once more. The warm morning sun cast a gentle glow on their faces.
"So, Lee, my sweet prince, shall we discuss a theme for our wedding?"
He grinned. "How about a water-themed wedding, in honor of you, my beautiful?"
"Oh, yes," she said with a nod of approval. "Maybe we could tell everyone to dress as mermaids and get married in the sea."
His grin faltered for a moment. "I cannot breathe under the water, Shanan," he whispered. "Should I pretend that I can for the joke?"
She smiled gently. "Yes, Lee... You can lie for jokes if it annoys Neji," she said.
Neji rolled his eyes. "You two are impossible!"
Lee chuckled nervously. "Yes, an underwater wedding where nobody will drown! What could be more normal than that?" he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Shanan laughed and Lee's smile grew, his initial worry forgotten.
Guy Sensei watched his students with a warm smile. "It's heartening to see you all getting along so well. I hope you remain this close when you're older."
Shanan's eyes sparkled as she glanced over at him. "Sensei, do you still keep in touch with friends from your Genin days?"
"A few," he said thoughtfully. "They're still active shinobi."
"Oh, is your friend with a thirst for knowledge one of them?" she asked, remembering his brief mention the day before.
His smile softened, his eyes drifting into the distance. "Yes. He's one of the cleverest people I know. You remind me of him, Shanan."
"Aww, Sensei! You think I'm clever too?" she asked, her face lighting up.
"What an absurd question!" he said with a hearty laugh. "Clever and ridiculous..." His voice dropped to a murmur. "Just like Kakashi..."
She chuckled, her voice overlapping Guy's mumbling. "Sounds a lot like someone I know, Sensei."
The group approached the village just before lunch, their laughter and chatter filling the air.
Shanan returned home, exhausted but content, and crashed onto her bed. But as she lay there, she realized she was desperate for a shower. So she dragged herself up and stumbled into the bathroom.
After a refreshing shower, she quickly threw on her pajamas and returned to her bed. Her thoughts drifted to the boys, wondering when they'd finally return from their mission, as it had been over a week already.
Just as she began to let her exhaustion take over, the door creaked open. Her heart skipped a beat as Sasuke stepped inside, his gaze scanning the room before locking onto hers. The tension in her chest dissipated, replaced by a mix of relief and excitement.
"I thought I saw Guy Sensei's unmistakable green getup," he said.
She groaned, covering her face with a pillow. "Five minutes, please."
"No time," he said as he crossed the room. "The Hokage is about to make an announcement." He sat on the edge of the bed and lifted the pillow from her face, tilting his head to look at her. "Hey, I missed you."
She smiled playfully and sat up, throwing her arms around his waist, "I missed you too. Welcome back." Her eyes welled up with tears as she pulled back, taking in the sight of him.
Sasuke enveloped her in a gentle hug, holding her close as they sat there for a moment, absorbing eachothers warmth.
Finally, he pulled back, sighing heavily. "We should head out."
"Seriously?" she groaned again, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. "I'll just wear this, I don't feel like changing again."
"You look great to me." he said, smiling softly at her as he stood and held his hand out to help her up. "How was your mission?"
She took his hand, noting the sweet gesture. "Uneventful, but so much walking. I'm just glad we didn't have to escort him the whole way." She stood up, stretching. "What about you guys? How was your first mission?"
His expression turned serious as he recounted the harrowing tale. "We had to escort this bridge builder to the Land of Waves, but then we encountered this duo, Zabuza and Haku. I actually got pretty hurt by Haku, protecting Naruto."
"You got hurt?" She asked quickly.
His voice remained steady, but his eyes betrayed his emotions. "He hit us with Senbon needles... Naruto passed out, and I had to protect him." His gaze drifted, avoiding Shanan's. "My Sharingan awakened, but it wasn't enough. I thought I was done for... Naruto held onto me, refusing to let go. I felt myself slipping away... and I told him to tell you..." His eyes locked onto Shanan's, tears brimming.
Her breath caught in her throat. She saw the vulnerability in his eyes, the fear he'd felt, worried he'd never see her again.
"That I love you more than anything and I told him to be the best Hokage for me."
Shanan's face crumpled. "What...?" Tears overflowed, streaming down her face as she clutched Sasuke fiercely. Her body trembled against his. "I'm so glad you're okay," she sobbed, ragged breaths punctuating her words. Though she knew this was the life and expectation of a shinobi, the thought of losing anyone she loved broke her heart to pieces.
His arms enveloped her, holding her close as they both succumbed to tears. Their bodies swayed gently, a comforting rhythm born of shared anguish, seemingly grappling with the implications of their duties.
The warm sunlight streaming through the window cast a gentle glow on their tear-stained faces, a stark contrast to the darkness they'd faced.
Finally, they separated, their eyes still brimming with tears. They shared a fragile smile.
"You have your Sharingan now..." she reminded him.
His expression transformed, wiping away his tears with the back of his hand. "Yeah, I am happy about that. It made me aware of what was happening, even when I thought I was gone..." His gaze drifted.
"Really?" She asked, though the thought of him being lost, even for a little while, was still very distressing.
His face softened, his fingers intertwining with hers. "I felt... different. More aware." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Like I could see everything, even in darkness." He opened the door, and the sounds of the village drifted in.
"Shanan, the chakra that came out of Naruto was... not Naruto. It was so powerful, I could feel it. Like someone sitting on my chest," He said. "He's been trying to catch up to me, but I don't think he's as far behind as we all thought."
"Of course he isn't," she said softly, her grip on his hand tightening. As they walked onto the balcony, she waved, a habitual gesture that Sasuke had always found endearing.
With their feelings out in the open, he felt encouraged to ask, "Why do you always wave?"
Her thoughts faltered, unsure how to explain, but his question had unknowingly touched a sensitive spot. She had long forgotten the reason behind her waving, and the lost memory felt like a tender wound and she suddenly felt very self-conscious about the ritual.
He quickly sensed her distress and apologized, "I'm sorry. You don't have to explain anything to me." He hated seeing her upset, even if it was just a little. Her heartbroken expression was too much for him. "I'm sorry," he repeated, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.
Her face softened. "No, really, it's alright," she said. "It's just something I feel like I'm supposed to do for some reason," she tried to explain, though it was always hard to explain things she didn't understand herself. "I'm honestly surprised you've never asked before." Her laughter seemed to ease his concern, and he smiled, relieved that the tension had dissipated.
As they walked, still hand in hand, Sasuke changed the subject, "Oh, I wanted to tell you something. While I was still out, Kakashi Sensei used a lightning attack called Chidori. When we were heading back, I mentioned that time you had lightning come out of your hand, and he seemed intrigued." His eyes sparkled with excitement. "He said lightning natures are rare here and that he should take a look at yours soon. He said with your water type, you might need guidance on how to control it properly."
Shanan's heart skipped a beat. She had been eager to master her lightning ability, but her attempts had been unsuccessful. Each time she tried, it interacted with her water nature, causing unpredictable reactions that took hours to calm down. She had been too embarrassed to share her struggles with Naruto and Sasuke, but now, knowing that Kakashi Sensei shared her affinity for lightning, she felt a sense of hope. Maybe, finally, she would receive the guidance she needed to harness her power.
"That would be great," she said, grateful for the opportunity to work with Kakashi Sensei. "And it's adorable that you talk about me with your sensei when I'm not around," she said, beaming.
His cheeks turned red as he smiled back at her. "Of course I do! Though, I'm guessing it was Naruto that told him about your water nature. I don't remember mentioning that part to him…"
"Naruto too?" she asked, eyes welling up dramatically. "You guys…"
Just then, Lee's voice cut through the air, "Shanan!" He jogged over from the crowd to join them. "We did not even make it home before Asuma Sensei stopped us and told us about the announcement. I wonder what it is going to be?"
She yawned. "I just hope it's good. I was just about to take a nap."
"I would also like to take a nap. And a shower. But hey, this way we can annoy Neji some more," he said with a grin.
The three of them made their way to the crowd as their two teams stood next to one another.
"Oh, Neji…" she called out.
Suddenly, a calm, familiar voice cut through the indistinguishable chatter, "Hello, Shanan."
Her feet seemed to root themselves to the spot, her entire being freezing as if time itself had halted.
Guy Sensei shifted to the side, revealing a figure whose soothing voice was like a soft breeze on a summer day, calming a restlessness she hadn't even realized was there. The constant hum of thoughts and emotions, the gentle buzzing in the background of her mind, ceased abruptly, leaving an eerie stillness in its wake.
She stared blankly ahead, her eyes wide and unblinking. Sasuke's hand slipped from hers as she stood transfixed. She took a deep breath, and the only sound she could hear was the gentle rhythm of her own heartbeat.
"Kakashi..." she whispered, the name escaping her lips like a prayer.
As she looked up, her heart swelled, tears pricking at her eyes. Memories long buried resurfaced, seven years of oblivion shattered in an instant, leaving only the deep connection they shared.
His expression, neutral at first, softened. His eye crinkled at the corner as he took a few deliberate steps forward, closing the distance between them. His hands remained casually in the pockets of his flak jacket.
Her feet moved of their own accord, meeting him halfway. They stood facing one another, the world around them fading into the background. The silence between them was a living thing, pulsing with unspoken emotions.
"I still wave at you, you know?" she said, a soft smile spreading across her face.
His gaze held hers, "I know."