Chapter 14

In a clearing secluded from the island's populace, two people were present. One was clothed in a battle robe and a mask, the other just his pants and a sword holster. The masked one looks at the man on the ground and says "First, I will drain the blood. Then I will-"

They get interpreted as the man lying down suddenly lurches and growls. He grabs the senbon in his neck, then rips them out violently.. He coughs, then says "Damn Haku, why are you always so harsh about that?"

The masked ninja takes off their mask, showing a very feminine face beneath. She frowns and says "Zabuza-sama, I told you not to do that so harshly. You can give yourself nerve damage."

Zabuza grunts and says "Hasn't happened yet. Now then, we need to get back so I… can… what is this?" Zabuza reaches down to his pouch, noticing something there that wasn't before. He grabs it and pulls it out to show a letter, emblazoned with the symbol of fire.

Haku's eyes widen in surprise. "I did not see that. Where did it come from?" Her eyes shift slightly as she remembers the young boy that examined Zabuza. "So it was him."

Zabuza just grunts and says "Doesn't matter Haku. This letter is important." He reaches for the seal, knowing that this was authentic. No matter the effort, no one was able to copy the Hokage's seal.

He tears open the envelope, revealing the letter inside. He unfolds the parchment and quickly scans through it. Haku eyes it from behind, and slowly her eyes widen in surprise. Zabuza's eyes narrow as he continues, his hands clenching the paper tightly.

"Haku. Your thoughts?" Haku instantly removes her surprise, her mind running through what she found out. She frowns, then speaks her thoughts.

"What they are offering to us is too good to pass up. Protection from hunter-nin, a place to stay, along with instant promotion in the village. The probation is understandable, due to us being missing-nin, but it doesn't mean much. Altogether, this is a miracle for us. But… I am curious as to how the Hokage came across this information, and also our location."

Zabuza nods, coming to the same conclusion. "As you said, this is too good to dismiss. Still... that old man better have some answers for me on how he got this information."

Haku looks at her master and says "Are we going to listen to them already? It wouldn't be advisable. This could still be a trap."

Zabuza snorts, putting the letter in his pouch. "Of course we won't. We'll look for the signs they told us about. Also, you better go meet those brats where the letter told you to. That would be the best way to gain information."

Haku nods, a similar conclusion in her head. Zabuza looks at his apprentice, then lays back down. "Now, let's go. I need to get back, and my legs are fucking shot right now."

Haku sighs, then nods. She grabs Zabuza and quickly runs back to their hideout. On the outside, she was calm and collected. On the inside however, her mind was going wild. How did the Hokage know where they were? Their mission? And… how did he know of her bloodline?

And that boy. What kind of shinobi was he to sneak that letter without her knowledge?

"Look, a tree! It's waving at me. Hi tree!" I look at Kakashi with exasperation as he mumbles randomly. He somehow regained consciousness during our trip back and now sounded completely insane. What the hell happened?

Naruto chuckles and says "The tree has a gift K-Kakashi-sensei!" Kakashi blinks, then his one eye widens. "A gift! I bet it is the alligator wind-up spoon I ordered on Ebay! Give the gift you bastard!" Naruto snickers and tries to conceal his laughter.

Tazuna sweatdrops as he watches Kakashi. "That man is crazy. Nothing to it, just plain insanity." I can only nod in agreement.

Sakura frowns and says "This isn't normal, right?" I just shrug, not sure nor caring in the first place. "You're the medic, you tell me. But this is hilarious, so take your time."

The pink-haired genin glares at me slightly, then goes over to Kakashi. Her hands glow green and begin to travel along his body. "A mild cause of chakra exhaustion, but not as severe as I thought. He seems to be lacking chakra in the brain, which is probably why he is loopy. Together, I think that eye of his… the sharingan, drained his chakra and left his brain empty. It'll take another hour before he can speak coherently, and a week before he can fight normally."

I glance the silver haired man I was carrying, who now was arguing with the ground about… honey flavored coconut noodles? Anyways… for him to regain consciousness this early, albeit fucking insane, but still early was impressive. He must've trained some while we had time. I smirk and think "Secret training, huh Kakashi? Nice job."

Kakashi suddenly dangles from my arms, his sharingan eye spinning lazily and screams "I can see EVERYTHING!" My smirk instantly disappears, as well did the my new respect for the man. Kurama just laughs loudly in my head.

We tried to ignore Kakashi's slowly decreasing ramblings until we reached Tazuna's house. Tazuna opens the door and calls out "Tsunami, Inara, I'm back!"

There is some rattling in the next room, before a young lady walks to us. She had long black hair, along with a red shirt, and a blue dress below that. She currently had an apron on as well.

The lady smiles and says "Papa, you're finally home!" She turns to us and smiles gently. "And with the ninja too. But aren't they… a bit young?"

Tazuna just laughs and says "They may be young, but they did amazing work! We got attacked by, ah… the Demon of the Hidden Mist they said! Seemed scary and powerful, but those two brats back there took him down! The girl didn't do much." Sakura clenches her fists angrily. "But she had conviction that told me otherwise!" Her anger drains instantly. I just edge away from her slowly.

Tsunami seems to say something, when a new and younger voice cuts in. "What's it matter? They're just gonna die anyways."

We all turn to the new arrival, a young boy with a hat and green overalls. He was all glaring at us, especially me and the team. Tsunami gasps and says "Inari! Don't say such rude things to the ninja!"

Inari glances at her, right as Naruto yells "Oh yeah you little brat?! Just watch me, I'll protect your grandpa and become the strongest ninja you'll ever see!"

Inari glares at Naruto, who glares right back at him. Inari just huffs and turns around, muttering as he goes up the stairs. "Stupid ninja are just gonna die. They won't be heroes. There's no such thing."

Naruto growls, when I put a hand on his shoulder. He looks at me curiously, and I just shake my head. Naruto frowns, then nods. I turn to Tsunami and say "Excuse me Ms. Tsunami, but do you happen to have a place for our sensei to rest? He got drained during the battle and needs time to rejuvenate."

Tsunami looks at our sensei, before nodding once. "We do have a spare room with a futon. We can put your sensei in there." I nod my thanks and follow her up the stairs.

After putting our sensei down on the futon, I breathe a sigh of relief. "Finally, my arms were killing me! Why is such a scrawny guy so heavy?!"

Naruto looks between us, before saying "Maybe it has to do with the fact that he is nearly double your height." I just nod with tears. Why am I so damn short?!

I pump a fist and scream "I will beat Kakashi in height! I swear this to any deity listening!" Naruto sweatdrops and turns to Sakura. "I think Kakashi-sensei did something to him." Sakura just nods, dumbfounded.

Ignoring my small slice of insanity, I turn to Tsunami and say "Thank you very much for helping us. Is there a place for us to rest as well?"

Tsunami blink, then nods slowly. "Y-Yes. Right this way." We quickly follow, leaving our sensei in the bed behind us. Tsunami shows us our room, conveniently set up with three futon as well. As we enter, she says "I hope you all sleep well tonight. You all must be exhausted fighting such a strong shinobi."

I smile and nod. "We all are tired. Thank you very much Ms. Tsunami." She just smiles and closes the door behind us.

I sigh, then fall onto the futon. "Man… I really am exhausted, and I didn't do much! I did… what, throw a shuriken?"

Naruto chuckles as he lays down just as unceremoniously as I did. "Yeah. You must be losing your touch teme!"

Sakura frowns and says "He did so much more than that Naruto! He helped lead us, along with seeing Zabuza in the mist. He was amazing!"

I just wave her off, saying "It wasn't much, but it did tell me one thing." I frown and say "We need more training, especially if Zabuza is alive. I think that tomorrow, we go to the forest and train."

Naruto and Sakura nod, just accepting my thoughts. After that, things go quiet. With little noise invading my thoughts, I begin to explore them. There was little of interest, until I came upon one in particular. I frown, then say "Guys, you still awake?"

Naruto responds with "Yeah, I am teme." Sakura follows shortly after with "Yes I am Sasuke-kun." I nod to myself more than to them, satisfied.

"Naruto, this is important. I think it's time we tell Sakura about number nine." I pick myself up, looking at Naruto, who freezes mid motion. He looks at me with wide, fearful eyes. I lean forwards, ignoring Sakura's look of confusion. "We need to tell her soon. I am ready, but are you?"

Naruto stares at me for what felt like an hour before nodding slowly. I smile gently and say "Good. Come on." I gesture to Sakura, who was now looking at us expectantly. Naruto glares at me and says "I better get something in return for this teme." I just smirk slightly, albeit strained, and say "I have something in mind."

The blond genin sighs to himself, then turns to Sakura. "Sakura… do you… remember how I was treated in the village?" Sakura nods, wondering what this was all about.

Naruto gulps, then says "I-I… contain… the Kyuubi." Sakura's eyes widen in shock, and Naruto flinches slightly.

Sakura shakes, then says "W-What do you mean you 'contain' the Kyuubi?" Naruto looks at her and tries to answer, but he was having difficulty. Time for me to step in.

I look at her and say "It means that the fox is sealed into his stomach. He is a container for the bijuu, called a jinchuuriki."

Sakura's looks at me with surprise, and slight disturbance. "A… human sacrifice?! Why are they called that? Naruto is still alive, if this is true."

I sigh, then say "This is true, me and Naruto have proof. As for why they are called sacrifices, well… most jinchuuriki live horrible lives. This is because of the fact that people see them as the demon itself, not as a container of the demon."

She eyes me, then looks to Naruto. "So… is that why the villagers always called you the demon brat?" Naruto nods solemnly. Sakura frowns, then says "But what's the proof? No offence Naruto, but you are notorious for being a prankster."

I chuckle, and a small smile plays at Naruto's lips. "I guess that is true. Show her the seal Naruto." Naruto nods, then lifts his shirt. Channeling a small bit of chakra, the intricate seal appears on Naruto's stomach, making Sakura's eyes go wider than ever before.

I glance at the seal, then say "That isn't all." She looks towards me in confusion, and I lift my shirt. Ignoring her blush, I channel chakra to my seal, showing a similar, but slightly different, seal as Naruto's.

Sakura gapes at the pattern on my stomach and says "Sasuke… you too?" I nod, not as solemnly as Naruto, but still slowly.

Sakura looks between us, then says at me again. "Wait. If Naruto has the Kyuubi, what do you have Sasuke?"

I smirk ever so slightly and say "I have the Kyuubi as well." Seeing her confusion, I say "The Fourth Hokage split the Kyuubi's chakra between us, which is why we both can contain it." That was an obvious lie, but would she really believe that I was a time traveler?

Sakura frowns, accepting the answer, then looking between us. "Is there a chance it can… break free?"

I shake my head. "No way. Naruto's may need to be fixed up a bit in a couple years, but otherwise, there's no way for the Kyuubi to get free. Besides, I think the old furball likes messing with my head too much." Just as I say that, Kurama decides to slam against his cage, rattling my mind.

My eyes snap open and I scream "FUCK! I'm sorry, alright?!" Sakura and Naruto gape at me, surprised at my little outburst. Then, Sakura begins to giggle. Naruto turns to her in surprise, while I smirk. "As much as it hurt my head, I learned this from Naruto. A little joke can always ease the atmosphere on these things."

Sakura giggles some more, then says "I, ha, can't be scared when THAT happens!" She proceeds to giggle some more, making me smirk and Naruto breathe out in relief.

I look at Sakura and say "Well, since Naruto revealed his secret, do you have anything for us Sakura?"

Sakura giggling dies down as she thinks. Slowly, she shakes her head. "Sorry, but my life was pretty normal. Loving parents, safe house, it was pretty ordinary."

I nod my head. "In that case, I guess I need to reveal something." I look down, my bangs hiding my eyes. "This is something… that needs to be revealed. I can't keep this a secret any longer."

Naruto and Sakura look at me curiously, and I finally decide to take the plunge. "You both know how during the middle of our first year, I became that brooding little bastard?"

They both nod, Naruto somehow ignoring the joke. I look at them and say "I didn't just decide to become a jerk that day. That day… was the day my whole clan was murdered."

Their eyes both open wide, both in shock and confusion. I chuckle grimly and say "I didn't even realize you guys didn't know until recently. Somehow, just like Naruto's tenant, they kept that information from the children. I figured… you guys had a right to know, especially if we are living in the empty clan compound."

Sakura's eyes widen, but for a different reason this time. "I didn't even think of it at the time, but the compound really was empty! Is this why?" I just nod, making Sakura look down in thought.

I smile, trying to comfort myself at this point. These memories still hurt… so much. "As if things aren't bad enough, it was all done by my brother. The infamous Itachi Uchiha."

Once again, they look at me in shock, more so Sakura. The medic then says "I heard of him! I couldn't ever figure out why, but everyone was afraid of him. I knew he ran away from the village, but that was all I knew."

I chuckle again, then say "So now you know why. My whole clan was murdered by my brother."

I sigh, then say "Even though I know you guys have questions, let's just go to sleep. This was exhausting for me."

Naruto and Sakura nod in agreement. Just I begin to lay down, I hear behind me "Teme, just know, me and Sakura will be there for you."

I smile slightly and say "Thanks Naruto. And I'll be there for you guys as well." After that, some shuffling is heard, and then everything is quiet.

I stare into the darkness, my mind swirling with my thoughts. Even though it was painful, somehow, that felt fulfilling. I… feel as if I am lighter, a weight taken off my shoulders. I sigh, and for the first time in both my lives, I am able to put the clan behind me.

-Author Notes-

As much as I try to make things emotional, I feel like I can't ever describe them enough. I just hope you guys enjoyed this. Team 7 is finally bonding even deeper, and secrets are revealed. How will things turn out now? I'll leave that for you guys to guess.