Chapter 20: The Flashpoint
I've tried to be forgiving. And yet. There were times in my life, whole years, when anger got the better of me. Ugliness turned me inside out. There was a certain satisfaction in bitterness. I courted it. It was standing outside, and I invited it in."
― Nicole Krauss, The History of Love
Sasuke & Sakura-Konoha Hospital
"Sasuke, you've hardly touched your katsudon and miso soup."
Sakura keeps her voice light despite Sasuke's stormy look in return, ink black of his eyes swirling with a cloudiness she can't discern. He's been rigid and snappy since awakening 8 hours ago now, studies the white of the hospital's walls as if they're about to close in on him.
Sasuke retracts his fingers from her grip. "Don't you have other things you should be doing besides clinging to me Sakura?"
Sakura fights back a squirm at his harsh question, thinks of Anko-sensei allowing steel to slip into her tone to match his bluntness. "And don't you think you could be less of an ass and at least try to eat some of your dinner? You won't be discharged if they see you haven't even eaten since your operation this morning."
No matter how legendary she is for her healing, Lady Tsunade can't fix whatever is running through his mind.
Emerald pointedly peers from him to his apple before he scowls, takes a reluctant nibble at the fruit before grabbing for the tomatoes within his salad instead.
"Where's Naruto?" He grunts between bites.
'Why does he keep asking where he is? He knows he isn't planning to visit.' Sakura questions herself.
She shrugs, keeps her features to a neutral expression. "He only stopped by very briefly when you were still in the PACU recovering. I assume he's probably at Ichiraku's now or back at his apartment."
Derision crosses his features, scowl bubbling right back up.
"I need a proper spar with him, no matter where he is in the village right now. The last time we talked that I recall...I had interrupted his training. I'm sure he got right back to it once I was unconscious, so I need to see where I stand with him in comparison. If he's gotten ahead of me, then I need to restart my own regimen tonight."
Sakura freezes as Sasuke abruptly tosses off his blankets, turns his body to get up.
'Wait, he wants to fight him; now?! Ugh, what is his problem?!' Sakura grits her teeth, patience snapping.
"Oh, what's this? Some lover's quarrel I'm interrupting?" A voice asks from the window, both twisting in unison at the sudden newcomer.
A boy, maybe just a few years older than them slides into the room like a spider, crosses his arms taking in the pair. Two others watch from the distance, simply observing for now.
Sakura is the first to her feet, eyes quickly taking in his attire, the smirk dancing at his lips.
'Otogakure nin?! This guy is one of Orochimaru's men!'
Verdant side-eyes Sasuke. They've come for him at the worst of times, how did they get past security?
Or really, what did they do to them to get here?
Sasuke moves in right beside her, cracks his fists with a rising smirk. "Well, I was looking to test myself against Naruto, but you'll prove to be a good warm-up match."
Kidomaru scoffs at his confidence. "Doubt it, your level looks weak to me."
He speeds forward before either of them can react, coats Sakura's hands and legs with a silver web, stickiness pinning her in place.
Dark eyes glance to her once before scoffing, directing his attention to Sasuke. "You're lucky girlie that Orochimaru's orders are only to deal with Sasuke alone."
Sasuke draws in a breath, dropping low beneath his arms to ignite the web.
"Fireball jutsu!"
"Too slow." Kidomaru sneers, kicking him from behind sending part of the flames towards the ceiling.
"Sasuke, don't worry about me! I'm fine!" Sakura directs, gathering her strength to her feet. She's just mobile enough from some of the flames landing to create an earthquake she's sure, at least put some barrier between them all hopefully.
A second boy hops into the room, huffs at the damage.
"What's the holdup Kidomaru? He shouldn't be giving you that much trouble."
He pauses in surprise seeing Sasuke's own curse seal activate, launching forward for Kidomaru hitting his jaw. The crack echoes throughout the room, Kidomaru easily straightening his neck back in place with a laugh.
"Oh, maybe you aren't such a weakling after all, but you're still nothing compared to even Kimimaro. Sakon, wanna tag team in here?"
Kidomaru jabs his fist in return into Sasuke's chest, blood instantly coating the back of his throat. Sakon chuckles, joins in launching a barrage of punches and kicks to Sasuke's stomach and back.
Sakura clenches her teeth hearing the crack and tear of muscles and ligaments Tsunade just healed. At least they don't notice the threads thinning at her ankles to make her next move.
Sasuke falls to the ground, pair hovering above him.
Sakon speaks first, Ukon joining in towards the end. "Weak. Lord Orochimaru can give you power, give you better control of that cursed seal. If you want him to that is, or you can stay here and never get strong enough to kill Itachi. We'll let you think it over tonight, but we'll need an answer by tomorrow night; 24 hours to decide."
Sakura pivots herself before Sasuke can respond, rips her left leg from the prison of webs.
"Earth Release: Fissure!"
Kidomaru and Sakon finally glance her way again, hop back towards the remains of the window before they can sink into the unleveled floor.
"You desire power to kill that brother of yours; don't you? We can give it you." Kidomaru promises once more before parting with the others.
Sasuke sits up slowly, shattered glass and tile highlighted in the silver of a full moon's approach.
"I need to go after them or find Naruto and-"
Sakura draws up her hand cutting him off, stone and earth rising to her command. If only there were more plants in this room, vines and leaves she could've used to further ensnare that duo with.
And mentally, she chides herself for not having brought along some herbal remedies or teas that could help placate Sasuke's foul mood.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Pillars!"
She steadies herself properly, moves her hand for his chest to firmly direct him back into bed.
"You're in no condition to fight anybody right now."
Sasuke snorts, pushes back against her spears, scarlet flashing in his eyes. "What makes you think I need to listen to you? The weakest member on our team?"
Sakura ignores his barb, mud and rock clamping up around his feet and hands temporarily locking him in place. "Weak or not, I'm not just going to stand by and let you pick an unnecessary fight with Naruto or those guys!"
Her heartbeat rings loud in her ears as Sasuke effortlessly ignites flames to his fingertips, fire engulfing each spike until they melt one by one from the heat. She squeezes her eyes shut just as crimson twists to viridian, Sasuke's voice low and mocking in her ear even without using genjutsu.
"Useless. Fighting you is a waste of my chakra and time. Go back to taking care of your Dad or studying plants."
SLAP!
Sakura breathes hard, Sasuke momentarily frozen from the sting rippling out, onyx to verdant studying each other silently.
But then he shoves her out of the way, her arm knocking into his IV pole, nails digging into his shoulder before grasping at air as he twists for the window to head out.
A pop rings out in the sky just as he leaps out, a burst of reds and yellows briefly lighting up the dark.
Fireworks.
'That's right, tonight is the first night of festivities to celebrate Lady Tsunade becoming 5th Hokage.' Sakura absently recalls, dull thrum of a headache rising to the back of her head.
She sits up slowly, blinks back spots from her eyes, wills her tears not to come.
She'd wanted to watch them with Sasuke...
Kakashi-Kakashi's Apartment
"Slow down. Take a deep breath." Kakashi repeats.
Not even a full week since his recovery and already things are going to hell for his team apparently. Gai had said each team has its share growing pains (for him, it was Neji and Lee's opposite personalities), but he's sure none of the other jonin instructors are having as much of a difficult time with their assigned rookies as he is.
He pushes a cup of chamomile tea towards Sakura once more, shaking her head before reluctantly doing as he wants, taking a small sip.
He notes silently the series of cuts to her arms and hands, the beginnings of a plum-colored bruise to the corner of her head.
"You don't need to stare; I know what injuries are on me. I'll cover up what I can't heal via medical ninjutsu." Sakura murmurs and Kakashi winces at the tinge of defeat in her voice, looking down.
'I need to stop treating her like she's made of glass; she isn't Rin.' He reminds himself.
He waits exactly 5 minutes before slowly peering back up.
"Alright, start from the beginning. Tell me what's got you so worked up so early in the day?" Kakashi presses.
It's not even daybreak yet, sky a mix of violets and blues at sunrise's slow approach.
Sakura huffs, clears her throat of any lingering raspiness.
"Sasuke. Two guys broke into his hospital room last night. I'm sure based on their attire and behavior that they're Otogakure nin. They came to Sasuke with a proposal that Orochimaru can give him the power he seeks to kill his brother. Orochimaru we both know though only wants Sasuke's body however, I don't think Sasuke considers that an issue really if it means he can get stronger."
Kakashi's visible eye widens, stirring absently at his own tea.
"And I assume this information has all already been passed along to our new 5th Hokage?"
Sakura huffs, swears he might be smiling beneath that mask of his despite the circumstances at hand. "Yes, don't pretend to be obtuse. Lady Tsunade sent out a team of night guards, but I don't think that's enough. Can you find and talk to him before he makes a decision he'll regret? He mentioned wanting to test himself against Naruto, though that was hours ago now."
Kakashi nods, straightens up peering to Pakkun and the others.
"Track Sasuke via his scent. I'll check the Uchiha district first and go from there. If there's guards already assigned to track Sasuke down, it hopefully shouldn't be too hard to find him."
A chorus of agreed barks or 'yes!' greets him back as his nin hounds disappear in a puff of smoke.
Sakura simply hums, gaze turning towards dawn's arrival.
The sunlight hits her face first and Kakashi truly sees then the tear tracks to her ashen gray cheeks.
But her eyes show the opposite, venom flashing through jade like lightning, too fast for him to know if it was truly there until she speaks again.
"When you do find Sasuke, as I'm sure you will, give him another good slap or punch from me. For last night!"
Kakashi arches a brow at her false smile, tempted to ask what type of argument or what Sasuke of all people could say to unleash her anger like this, shrugging.
"Don't hold on to your upset Sakura, grudges aren't healthy."
He's sure his advice goes in one ear and out the other as Sakura shakes her head, polishes off her tea quietly. She walks ahead of him back to his entrance, slipping back on her shoes to leave first.
Her voice drops to a whisper, upset spilling into her features unbidden.
"You didn't see how he looked at me last night."
And then she heads out.
Kakashi blows out a breath, tosses the rest of his own tea down his sink.
'I have a feeling I'm going to need to grab a coffee at one of the market stalls instead.' He sighs.
He moves for the rooftops, goosebumps rising along the back of his neck spotting red from the corner of his eye.
'Damn it, I can't be too late already.'
Sunlight outlines two crumpled figures, black swirls the color of charcoal wrapped around their arms and legs as he draws closer to assess. A pungent scent of smoke and blood hits him like a wave realizing who they are.
The assigned guards from last night.
Vermilion pools under their chests, eyes half-open glancing to him.
'Are they already-'
"Dead?" Pakkun gives voice to his thoughts while hopping down beside him, Bisuke and Shiba sniffing at their bodies.
Kakashi checks each of their carotid pulses, feels his own heartbeat slow some in relief feeling a faint beat in each of them.
But they're both too erratic, will dissipate soon...
'Are they even going to make it?' Will this just be a waste of resources that could be used on someone with a better chance of survival?' A darker thought slips in before pushing it down.
"No. But they will be before noon if they don't get emergency care stat. Call the rest of the pack here to get them to Konoha's ER." He orders.
Pakkun gestures towards below, to jagged trails of blacks and grays exposing shattered brick and wood along the surrounding buildings.
"Your two troublemakers are about to go for the kill it looks like if you don't intervene." He warns.
Kakashi only hears him partially, racing already for where he sees a tornado of water and wind swirl up into the air.
"Water Release: Vortex Tornado!"
The twister of water barrels forward for Sasuke, flame bullets exploding into bursts of steam.
Kakashi gazes first to Sasuke, electricity channeling into his hand, jumping straight into Naruto's cyclone for a direct attack.
"This ends now Naruto! Chidori!"
Naruto matches him, rasengan at ready to meet his lightning.
Kakashi moves between them, pulls Sasuke backwards into a headlock sending his chidori into the ground.
The ground beneath them briefly rumbles before quieting, Naruto slamming his rasengan into the wall beside them.
Sasuke watches in awe as the building instantly crumples down into a pile of cracked metal, brick, and stone, teeth clenching together.
'All that destruction from just a small sphere of wind?'
"Both of you explain yourselves. Now." Kakashi forces his attention back to him.
Sasuke wrenches himself from his hold, rage still swirling in his eyes.
"Stay out of this sensei; it's none of your business." He snaps.
His terse answer only makes him raise a brow, instead taking in the myriad of cuts and bruises covering them both. He glances to Naruto next for a proper explanation, crimson burning back at him.
"It was self-defense. Sasuke attacked me first y'know." Naruto grunts.
Kakashi gestures with his thumb to the men one of them left behind on the rooftop.
"And those two guards? Were they self-defense as well?"
Naruto snorts, looks down instead at blood turning a coppery red beneath his fingernails. Briefly, he pictures all over again the screech of metal, the men's agonized screams for daring to attack him alone when he was on the defensive and not even fighting Sasuke back.
At first.
"What the hell is your problem asshole?! I'm not trying to harm him!" Naruto spits, dodges the first guard's kunai.
"Wait, wait, Miyano! Aren't there new orders from Lady Tsunade that we need to be kinder to the jinchuriki? Sasuke Uchiha is here as well; we need to interrogate him on what happened last night at the hospital!" Officer Nakagawa asks quickly.
"Ugh, Nakagawa just back me up here damn it! The beast's eyes are red; we need to stun and pin him down before he starts rampaging elsewhere in the village! Lady Tsunade's orders don't matter right now!" Miyano shouts back, sweat building at his brow, cheeks turning a mottled red as each of his strikes miss Naruto.
Nakagawa steps forward slowly only for Sasuke to jab at his neck, body toppling like a puppet to the ground.
Miyano stiffens in alarm, looks up into scarlet dropping his kunai.
"You're both in our way; move."
Naruto shuts his eyes until the memory is buried, speaks again sharply.
"Sensei, do you really care if it wasn't? Some are just the kind worth killing. Especially knowing what I've seen those two guards do in the red-light district in the after-hours to the waitresses and dancers."
Kakashi says nothing, Naruto's lips etching into a bemused grin.
"Oh, don't worry sensei. Their deaths won't go towards your body count if they don't make it!"
Kakashi studies Naruto, an enigma he still hasn't figured out how to fully control or even relate to outside of missions.
'Minato-sensei, your son dislikes me. I can't blame him really.' He recalls of Naruto previously pointing out that he knows he's only given him half-truths or avoided the subject entirely when it comes to his family history.
And without that trust, Naruto will always keep him at a distance.
"Ugh, I've heard this all week already from basically all of my advisors. Give me time to get these rules into effect Kakashi." Tsunade huffs.
This jonin meeting is the one she thought would be the smoothest so far of all her official introductions.
Apparently not.
"I'm only saying that you're going to get pushback for a good while from both civilian and shinobi to these new policies. Naruto has to make an effort from his end too." Kakashi relates.
Kurenai raises her hand. "I will say since Hinata was...given away to him his temper has calmed enough that some shopkeepers are less afraid to sell to him when Hinata is out and about with him. Though I know that doesn't mean much in regard to his teamwork."
Amber eyes look her way with a nod before sharpening back to Kakashi. "Well then, as his sensei, you need to connect with him. You have the lowest scores out of your colleagues from your rookies when they did their 6-month survey on how much they feel they've improved since graduating from the Academy in skills you've taught them on and off the field. Fix your shit Kakashi, and your team."
What can he even say right now to handle Naruto's current stormy mood?
He ignores his sarcasm, the weight of his underlying implications regarding the guards.
"Why are you up this early?" He redirects the subject, Naruto not one to rise before 11:00 am or noon unless necessary.
Naruto's shoulders drop, hint of pink rising along his whisker marks.
"Hinata. I just wanted to get us both some breakfast and do a bit of shopping, so I set my alarm. It's better to come early before all the good stuff is gone and I'm left with the moldy or expired crap y'know."
Sasuke scoffs at his answer, Naruto pinpointing his anger back to him.
"Hey bastard, you got something to say? I'm not the one who got his ass handed to him by some weird half spider hybrid guy and conjoined twins' experiments."
"I'm not the one letting a loved one cloud their thoughts from getting stronger!" Sasuke challenges back.
Naruto's features go blank, wind rising to a howl around them.
A new twister is about to spin up with all of them inside.
Sasuke bristles in mild alarm, Kakashi reaffirming his hold on him.
"Naruto, go back home; I'll pay for your groceries and breakfast and bring them by later this morning. Sasuke, apologize and then you and I are going to have a chat."
He rather as well have asked Sasuke to eat trash as his facial expression morphs between annoyance and defiance.
Kakashi's grip turns crushing on his shoulder and he hisses to not yell out.
"...Sorry I attacked you out of the blue." Sasuke grumbles.
Naruto rolls his eyes, shoves his hands into his pockets.
"Yeah, sure you are. Getting stronger isn't going to fix whatever scrambled up your brain into being a bigger asshat than usual. You're the one people should be freaked out about; not me."
He barely spares Kakashi a glance as he goes, his gift going unmentioned.
Kakashi leads Sasuke into the west forests for privacy, greenery tinged with golds and reds as morning makes its approach from the mountains into the village.
"What's gotten into you to attack a teammate unprovoked?" Kakashi questions.
Sasuke purses his lips. "I just...Naruto got stronger so fast, and I didn't even realize when it happened. I'm falling behind and I hate it."
Kakashi settles into the grass beside him. "Naruto and even Sakura too have been putting in extra hours training to become stronger for themselves and for their loved ones. None of you need to turn it into some type of fierce competition."
Sasuke groans quietly, burying his head into his knees. "Yeah, I shouldn't have taken my anger out on Naruto...or Sakura. I want to be stronger for myself too, to protect them I suppose."
Kakashi chuckles lightly. His earnest apologies and feelings only come out when said two people aren't even around to hear it.
"I don't think I ever told you how I came to have my sharingan eye. It...It was a parting gift from my old teammate Obito before he died." He begins.
Sasuke stiffens, mood dampening. Probably another victim of Itachi from that fateful night.
"Heh, where are the rest of your old teammates anyways Sensei? You never talk about them."
"...All of them are dead. It's why I'm always late to greet you all. I'm visiting them at the Memorial Stone at the cemetery." Kakashi admits.
He pats Sasuke's head to get him to look around at the woods, summer to spring wildflowers coming alive in purple coneflowers to deep red poppies blooming at their feet.
"I understand your feelings of revenge Sasuke, even if I didn't get the full story from last night. It's crossed my own mind dozens of times and honestly if it hadn't been for Gai and Lord Third, I probably would've left Konoha too. But going down that road means you'll lose a part of yourself. Orochimaru will use your body for himself or dispose of your body as he's done to his past followers." Kakashi explains.
Sasuke says nothing, just studies foxglove and primrose growing in patches near the bark of the opposite trees.
'Is this a losing battle? Is he going to defect anyways?' Kakashi wonders.
Like Sakura said, he can't see past the fog in his eyes to know if he's already made a decision.
Sakura-Haruno Household/ Hokage Tower
It's nearing midnight when Sasuke greets her for the last time.
She notes his backpack, the look of finality that's cleared the haze from obsidian.
Sakura steps forward tentatively, fingers brushing at his cheek.
"Sasuke, please. Don't defect from Konoha, leave us; leave me." Sakura croaks, hates that she's pleading now.
Anko-sensei would have her do laps around the village if she could hear her right now.
His fingers lightly intertwine with her own, pull her close into his arms.
And for a moment, her heart leaps with hope that this isn't a departure as he tilts her chin up, lips brushing with her own. Her cheeks burn pink as Sasuke pulls back from her and her body abruptly freezes, staring into vermilion too late to look away.
"Thanks for everything Sakura, but this is goodbye."
Darkness swims up into her vision she can't stop as Sasuke turns around, voice escaping in gasps, reaching a hand forward.
'Don't go Sasuke! Please, don't go!'
"Sweetie, sleeping that way is going to have your back cracking more than your Mother's when she first gets up in the morning. Ah! But don't tell her I said that!" Kizashi greets her. He hovers over her layered in sunlight as he twists to open her blinds, still adjusting to his prosthetic's stiff movements.
Sakura sits up slowly, half in bed and half out of it on the floor. Her gaze lands on her slightly open window, everything from last night jolting her awake.
'Ugh, that jerk! That was a kiss goodbye and he made sure my guard was down!' Sakura smacks her cheeks.
Tears burn at her eyes, throat coiling up as her mind replays the scene over.
Shit. He's truly gone.
"Whoa, where's the fire?! I thought you'd be too tired to be up and going, especially on a rare day off!" Kizashi asks as Sakura maneuvers around him to change and splash her face.
"Err, breakfast with Ino! I'm going to be late!" She lies, rushing down the stairs two at a time.
Mebuki pokes her head out of the kitchen as Sakura hugs her, grabs a piece of toast and egg for the road.
"Did I hear with Ino? Glad to hear you two have repaired your friendship!"
Sakura nods as she adjusts on her shoes. "I'll be back late; have a good day!"
First stop: The Hokage Tower.
But it seems word of Sasuke's departure from the village has already reached Lady Tsunade's ears as she approaches, stunned to see Shikamaru within her office.
"-We're still down many shinobi from the failed invasion. The more experienced chunin and jonin are unfortunately away on assignments or higher ranked missions. Still, we need Sasuke back in the village. Your Father, Shikaku has praised your level head and intelligence, so I'm putting it to the test now assigning you as leader for the Sasuke Retrieval Squad. Assemble a team of 5 to go after him." Tsunade orders.
Shikamaru straightens in surprise. "Wait, slow down! Sasuke left the village? Why?"
Sakura partially listens to the details she already knows, curious the most on who Shikamaru will choose for this.
"Well, a good heavy hitter like Naruto would help and he's already fought alongside Sasuke." Shikamaru considers, rubbing his chin.
Tsunade shakes her head, lips flattening.
"I asked him already and he said no. I don't plan to further push him on this subject unless someone else can convince him."
Sakura pushes at the door, duo gazing to her at the creak of the wood.
"Apologies on eavesdropping Lady Tsunade, but can I talk to him?"
Naruto & Hinata- Uzumaki Household
"This is a terrible idea." Shikamaru groans.
It's just past 10:00 am, rising heat coating everything with a stickiness that does nothing to help either of their moods.
Sakura pulls at his arm to climb up the stairs already, frowning at his stubbornness.
Now she gets what Ino is always complaining about when it comes to dealing with him.
"Come on already; we're wasting time! Lady Tsunade even said we don't need to go through any official process now to talk to Naruto. We just need to see why he doesn't want to join the team to get back Sasuke!"
Shikamaru huffs. "He could have dozens of reasons why. It's not any of our business."
'We were a team. I want to at least know!' Sakura bites her tongue at her selfishness. Shikamaru at least isn't questioning why she so badly wants to know or brought up her last encounter with Sasuke before he left.
Hinata welcomes them with a smile, opposite of Naruto's flat look at their arrival.
"What's going on that brings you two by?" Naruto questions between bites of rice and egg.
Hinata offers them both plates at the colorful spread of food, Shikamaru shaking his head while Sakura nods she'll take a bit of fruit.
Shikamaru straightens. "I'll just get right to the point. Sasuke defected last night from the village to go to Orochimaru for power. Lady Tsunade has requested I form a 5-man team to recover him from Orochimaru's bodyguards."
Pearl flashes to jade sympathetically, Sakura shaking her head blinking away another rise of tears.
'I've cried enough over this. Get it together Sakura!'
"I'll be fine." She mouths to Hinata.
Naruto yawns beside Hinata, leans his head against her shoulder, chuckles seeing red flush at her cheeks before sitting up properly.
Shikamaru drops his gaze to bowls of miso soup and rice. He's never even seen his parents act so affectionate behind closed doors.
"Yeah, I know. Kakashi-sensei told me when he dropped off this food and Granny asked if I would join your squad. By the way, you should eat something Shikamaru. Who knows when your next proper meal will be." Naruto mentions.
Shikamaru blinks, studies him warily despite his grin. Naruto pushes a plate of onigiri forward and he notes then at his slight fidgeting he's making up for their last encounter.
"Yeah, guess you got a point there." He admits, grabbing an onigiri and omelette.
Sakura leans forward, tries to keep her voice from cracking, any anger creeping in. "And why did you say no to joining Naruto?"
Try as she did, Naruto hears her irritation, cobalt turning hard.
"Because I wanted to? I'm glad Granny gave me a choice, I need to keep training with Pervy-Sage and learning about my clan. I just need to get him to focus on me and not his dumb research. Anyways, my life doesn't revolve around Sasuke like it does for you Sakura, yours shouldn't either."
The sting earns him a jab to his shoulder, slinking back from Hinata's glare.
"Naruto, wasn't Sasuke at least your friend, if not a comrade?" She questions.
Naruto leans his head against palm. "Well yeah, we were assigned together and did a few missions y'know, though it's not like I know Sasuke on a personal level. I honestly can't really blame him for wanting revenge against his brother. Konoha's higher ups clearly enjoy hiding things when it comes to certain clans or people."
He turns his gaze back to Sakura, tone turning flippant.
"If you want Sasuke back so badly, just join this retrieval squad Shikamaru's making y'know? Don't force it upon me or others."
Sakura clenches her teeth, stops herself seeing crimson flicker through blue.
'I wasn't strong enough when I tried. However, Naruto has a point. I need to go about finding a way to get Sasuke to return my own way.' She decides.
Shikamaru clears his throat awkwardly.
"I've actually already sent out messenger birds to who I want on my team: Shino, Kiba, Choji, and Neji."
Hinata perks up, both members of her team along with Neji?
"I thought Shino was on an assignment with his Father?" She questions aloud.
Shikamaru nods.
"I was luckily able to intercept them before they got too far from the village. We all leave this afternoon."
-x-
Well look at me updating a bit early! So yes, Shino replaces Naruto on the squad. How this changes things, time will tell!
I hope Sasuke & Sakura were not too OOC. I wanted some form of a basis of feelings between them to go from how they are now to eventually having Sarada in the far future of this story. Not the easiest thing to write. Good thing they'll be on the back burner for a good while now! Also, I wanted Naruto to start learning Water related jutsu, I feel it matches him being a 'hurricane' of both wind and water in this story. He'll eventually study into fuinjutsu as well, he's OP in canon with Kurama too, so these are the only additions I wanted to add!
I should clarify some things I saw in the reviews:
1. Ya'll are horny lol! And I will quench your thirst and release you from jail, but only for NaruHina smutty stuff as they get older. Harems aren't my forte and I don't think I could ever write a Naruto one properly.
2. Ritsuka, my Root OC is not Kushina or Mikoto in disguise. She and her son will play a role in future chapters, but I didn't create her to secretly be another person. I'm sure though one of you will correctly figure out which canon character she is connected to as I drop hints. I haven't dropped any yet, but I will in the coming chapters. Feel free to make guesses!
That's all I can think of for now, the coming chapters hopefully won't be a surprise at how dark they'll get. As always, pa-tre-ons get early access to chapters, my extra NaruHina and MHA smut/writings, and my original works. I go by TheLovelyMidnightWriter there! Check out my Insta by the same name for book reviews, travel blog, and anime drawings!
Let me know your thoughts as always!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!