Team seven and I finally arrived at the village hidden in the mist as we escorted princess Cedany of the river village here in order to sign their yearly peace treaty.
This mission has been a huge pain in my ass. The mist village was not my favorite place to be in, I looked around slowly at the shinobi who were escorting us.
Something felt off about the vibes these ninjas gave off. I hid my suspensions; I couldn't be jumping to any conclusions now. I walked beside Kakashi with Cedany in front of me. I was surveying our surroundings when I spotted something interesting.
On the shinobi's belt who hung off to the side there hung a mask, the colors were a forest green but melted into a dark gray on the bottom. I pulled out my phone and opened a few pictures from the attack on the waterfall village Dawn had sent me a while back. The ninja who attacked the waterfall village all wore that same mask. I could not jump to conclusions and declare war...at least not yet.
Team seven and I were led into a throne room who had an old man sitting on top of it without a care in the world. He appeared to be in a good mood, that is until he spotted me. He darkened his face and his body tensed.
"Uh...sir?" Naruto asked, noticing the glaring between myself and the old bastard.
"Yes?" He smiled looking towards Naruto.
"Do you know Sakura...?"
"You mean the Reaper?" He asked glaring at me. "How could I not? She slaughtered my entire army." Team seven looked over at me shocked.
"Jago you were attacking the Waterfall Village." I cleared up the misunderstanding crossing my arms over my chest. "What did you think was going to happen?"
"You killed every-"
"You wanted a war, you attacked knowing damn well I am the Commander, you knew the stories but still sent your men to die anyway. That is not on me, that's on you." I found myself explaining more to Kakashi than anyone else.
"But you-" Jago tried to cut in, painting me as the monster.
"Yet when the Reapers came knocking on your door, you ran back to the Waterfall Village begging for my help. You are still that fucking coward you were when I first met you." Jago stared me down as he was at a loss for words.
"Why are you here in my village?" He spat.
"I am escorting a princess from the River Village" He scoffed at the village's name. "Anyway, where is your boss?" Team seven looked at me confused, I examined them before turning back to Jago.
"This-" I trailed off trying to figure out the word for him. "-miscreant here was the leader of this village a few years ago. But after he attacked me and nearly killed off his entire army he was impeached from the title, his brother took over." I said looking at him. "Where is Nile?" Jago gave off a sinful grin.
"He is not here, you all were four days late-" Jago explained, "-so he took off on official business. If you wish to wait around for him to return next week, I am sure I can find some room at the animal shelter for you all to wait." I rolled my eyes at the pettiness.
"Where did he go?" I said getting annoyed.
"That is Mist Village business." He spat at me.
"Ok." I said turning towards team seven. "Let's get Cedany back home so I can return you three to the leaf village." I turned and started to walk out the door, taking Cedany's hand in mine as I pulled her out of the room.
"Wh-What? Sakura!" Naruto called after me, Kakashi and Sasuke followed. I did not say anything more as we made our way out of the large building. I saw three more shinobi with that damn mask on our way out, I felt their eyes burning me.
"The leader is not here so the treaty cannot be signed, we will return Cedany back to her village then you three return to the Leaf."
"But our mission-"
"Was to bring Cedany here, Nile is not here that is not my problem. Now returning Cedany on the other hand, that is my problem." I looked back at them, "End of conversation." I snapped quickly getting us out of the mist village.
Finally, two miles from the village I stopped walking, turning on my heel to bite into Naruto I ran into Kakashi by mistake. I blinked looking up into his exposed eye, he smiled at me as I all my focus drained to his hand resting on my lower back.
"Shut the fuck up Naruto!" I snapped clearing my head, walking around Kakashi. "We are not going back to the River Village."
"Wait what?" Naruto asked dumbfounded. I sighed and pulled out my phone.
"Eh..." Naruto muttered, "Sakura why are you showing us pictures of people sleeping?"
"They are not sleeping Naruto, they are dead."
"Oh..." Naruto looked at Kakashi, "...Sakura why are you showing us pictures of dead people?" I put my phone away with an annoyed huff.
"There was an issue back at the Waterfall Village. A group of rogue shinobi tried to get in but failed. Those shinobi inside the mist village have the same masks that group did, but I don't believe they are rogues-"
"Ok, it's the same mask, so what?" Sasuke muttered shrugging.
"Wait..." Naruto looked at me, putting the pieces together. "The Mist Village attacked the Waterfall Village?"
"No." I said.
"I am confused." Naruto said scratching his head.
"I have met Nile; he would never attack a village if he did not have too. Because of Nile the Mist is on good terms with my village, he would never attack us. They do not have the manpower to do so."
"Ok but the mask-"
"But his douchebag brother Jago on the other hand, would."
"But he has no authority left?" Kakashi said shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Nile's brother is a rat. I am sure he convinced a few shinobi to follow him. He has always wanted to take down the Waterfall Village that has never been a secret."
"Ok." Naruto said, "But why did you lie back there?"
"Because we are being followed. I have a feeling whoever placed that bomb on the King Williams car is tied to Jago, so no one needs to know where we are really going."
"Why would he want to kill Cedany?" Kakashi moved closer to me, I could feel the warmth radiating off him. "She isn't next in line for the throne."
"I don't know." I said, looking up at Kakashi. "The only thing I can think of is ever since Jago failed at attacking us the Mist Village is only standing because the Waterfall is supporting them, we have been for two years now. But now they are starting to get back onto their feet, they won't be in the shadows anymore."
"So, shinobi with the same masks that have been attacking people, going in and out of the village will be quickly noticed." Kakashi figured it out.
"So that dude is trying to keep the Mist Village in the shadows until he can take down the Waterfall Village?" Naruto asked.
"It's possible."
"And since Cedany is going to be the one to sign the peace treaty this year, he is trying to kill her to buy him some time?" Naruto was really trying to figure it out, good for him. I felt a little proud of him.
"Why didn't you just kill him while we were there?" Sasuke asked.
"I have no proof that Jago is the one behind any of this yet. Those shinobi I saw in there could be hiding here as a cover. I can't go just attacking people."
"So, this is a lead?" Naruto asked.
"Yes."
"Ok!" Naruto jumped up, getting pumped. "So, what is the plan!?"
"I know of a small port town that we can stay in for the week until Neil returns." I explained.
"Good idea." Kakashi commented.
"Are you up for this?" I questioned Cedany.
"Do I have a choice?" Cedany asked.
"Not if you want to live." Naruto muttered.
"You three-" I said to team seven, "-this goes beyond what you were paid to do. You can return to the leaf village and I will handle things from here."
"Are you kidding!?" Naruto laughed walking over and wrapping an arm around me. "This is going to be fun! Going off assigned missions is what we do best!"
"Naruto is right." Kakashi said, "We are not the type to run off when thing gets hard. You should know that."
----
Two days had passed by, with how busy the old port town was, I didn't feel comfortable staying inside the town, we were too exposed with all those people, so we hung out camping in the woods.
It was sundown; we were on ur way back to camp from getting supplies from town. My side hurt; the car explosion caused a few stitches to come loose again. I did my best to repair them, but I believe it was getting infected.
I could feel a fever coming on due to getting sick from this, the last thing we needed right now is me going septic which is why I kept this to myself. Naruto and Cedany were talking in a low tone about food. They liked the same things I guess; I was not paying much attention, I felt very hot.
A black kunai flew past my face and landed a few yards in front of us. Pulling out my sword I spun around, clashing blades with a guy who wore the same tacky green and gray mask.
"Cedany!" I yelled, "Take cover!" But it was too late; we were in a trap. Shinobi were all around us, and I was feeling worse by the second, I couldn't even sense these shinobi. Naruto pulled Cedany behind him.
"Take down the Reaper!" I heard voices call out.
I watched has half of the shinobi set their eyes on me. I groaned feeling uncomfortable from the pain my side caused. Fucking Naruto, this was his fault. Shinobi began their way towards me, seeing the shiny price tag on my head, and they all wanted to claim it for themselves.
I was separated from team seven, time did not exist as I fought off the Reapers from trying to claim my life. As I fought, the more I thought. So, the Reapers and Jago from the mist village were involved together, I don't believe a random group of rogues would try and strike the waterfall village.
I needed to get back to the mist village and question Jago. Bodies littered the ground around me, on the bright side of this most of the oncoming ninja were trying to kill me, so team seven should be having an easier time.
I was pushing my way towards team seven, every so often I could hear Naruto I think this is the first time I have found myself grateful for how naturally loud his was. I jumped in the air, clashing swords. I pushed myself off the masked girl and landed a few feet away from Naruto and Cedany. I flung a kunai into the back of a Reaper who tried to jump Cedany.
"Thanks Sakura!" Naruto called out, punching a guy in the face with a smile. The fight continued; I was busy with a group of masked shinobi, I had trusted Naruto with Cedany. I don't know why I had been so stupid...her bloody scream echoed through the battle ground scaring a few birds away.
"Help me!" Cedany cried.
I glanced over in her direction, a tall masked man had her by her hair and was pulling a kunai out of his bag. Fuck me. I jumped up; I forced my way towards Cedany. Before I could figure out what happened I watched as a flash of orange tackled the man holding Cedany, Naruto fought with the guy on the ground.
I was then blocked by a wall of ninja, I glared but there was not anything I could do, I gripped my sword, ready to fight. I looked over as Kakashi was pushed towards the ground with a ninja on top of him. I through a kunai in the ninja's back, my attempt to help Kakashi. I heard Sasuke cry out from a stab to his leg. Naruto was screaming something that I could not understand.
I always preferred hand to hand combat over jutsu. But I couldn't be picky now, I felt myself sweating and was becoming nauseous. I summoned fire, and a lot of it. Twelve Reapers could not escape my flames. I looked over only to jump away and a new wave of people coming out of the trees.
Fuck my life.
A large wall of fire pushed most of the new wave of Reapers back. I wrapped it around them steaming them alive. I looked over as Naruto jumped in front of a man who was about to attack Sasuke. I could not help him, I was running towards Cedany, who was being held by the neck by a stranger.
Why was Naruto not watching Cedany!? He has one job!
I kicked him away and turned away only to be grabbed by the neck. Before I could open my eyes and attack him, I felt a stinging sensation rattle my skin, it was like lava was being poured into my throat and dripping down into my body. I bit my jaw down and opened my eyes.
There stood Jadeite, second in command of the Reapers. He wore a dark blue suit; his shirt was unbuttoned exposing too much of his shaved chest. He had long dark brown hair and matching eyes. His mouth twisted upwards into a sinister smile.
"My oh my-" His deep voice chuckled out. "-how I have missed you Reaper."
"Jadeite." I growled out.
"You remember me-" Jadeite gasped, pretending to be shocked. He looked down at Cedany. She was on the ground, eyes wide with terror and her body shook. "-I remember you too." Jadeite smirked. "I killed your mother." He laughed at her pained expression. I grunted in pain as he tightened his grip on my neck.
Of course, I was caught, because I was too busy defending Cedany who should have been watched by Naruto. Ever since I had returned to the leaf village, my life has been getting messed up left and right. Fucking team seven, I would shake my head if I was not getting the life choked out of me.
"Sakura!" Naruto cried out, I wanted to yell at him to pay attention to his own shit, he was a fucking squirrel! I glanced over any way; I saw Naruto was being held down against the earth by one of Jadeite's glorified assistants. I could not move; I felt every muscle in my body contract. I gasped; I knew this pain. I knew what was happening, I tried to regain control over my body, but I failed.
"Stop trying to fight it." Jadeite laughed leaning closer to me. "You know what this is, yes?" I glared, if looks could kill that would make my life a whole lot easier right now. "I will take that as a yes. But do not worry, I have improved my father's technique." He shot me an corrupt smile as I gazed into his cold hungry eyes, I did not see a human looking back at me, I didn't know what he was. "You and your friend will not survive this; I can promise you that." Naruto who was screaming in pain, all I could do was listen as my body became paralyzed, soon white dots blurred my vision.
"Sakura!" Kakashi attacked Jadeite, stabbing him in his side. Jadeite gave out a surprised cry and let go of me. I felt like I was falling slowly, as I watched Jadeite dance away from Kakashi who then turned grabbing me before I hit the ground. I caught a glimpse of Sasuke who was trying to wake Naruto. Kakashi fixed my head so I was looking upward. I could not hear the muffled voices off Jadeite and Kakashi.
I was looking up at the sky at the colorful clouds. I knew after a while Kakashi was trying to get me to respond to him. He was screaming at me to say something but all I could think about was how beautiful the clouds were, every night I would look up at the stars and watch them for hours.
Why did I not do this with clouds?
They were painted into the sky so softly, smoothly bathed within their pastel colors. Kakashi came into my view but all I could keep thing about is why didn't I look up at the clouds and watch them too? They deserved it.
Why didn't I?
Why didn't I look up at the clouds more?
----
I woke up and saw no clouds, nor stars just beautiful darkness. Was this finally death who had come to take me? I looked around; Ah, no... well damn, I was in a cave.
There was a small fire going giving off warmth with a soft glow. I still could not move my body, I felt so weak. I was so tired I didn't even care that I was angry.
"Sakura!" Kakashi's voice caught my attention. His annoying masked face popped into my line of sight. His placed his gloved hand on my forehead, what good was that going to do? He had gloves on. He picked up my hand and held it in his, he squeezed my hand lightly. I tried to move my hand and squeeze back but I couldn't. "Sakura..." He breathed as he was searching my face, sleep hit me like a moving truck.
"Kakashi, I think we are in the clear for now." Sasuke's voice echoed inside the cave. He dropped more firewood against the wall and looked up seeing me looking at him. "Sakura?" He walked over towards us. "How is she?" He asked looking at Kakashi,
"She just woke up." Kakashi answered, not moving his eyes off me. I felt my eyes grow heavy and I started to drift back off. "Sakura!" Kakashi shouted sounding concerned, "Fight it, stay awake!"
When I resurfaced, I could move my head this time. I had control over my body. Naruto was on the other side of the cave. His head was facing me as his mouth hung wide open with drool leaking out.
He was passed out and wasn't waking up anytime soon. I went to take in a deep breath, but my rib cage refused to expand out, I ended up coughing. I rolled onto my side trying to grasp any trace of oxygen into my lungs. My body felt like it was made of cracked glass.
"Sakura!" Footsteps ran over to me; I was getting tired of hearing my name. A pair of hands rolled me onto my back, it had been Kakashi. He covered me back up with his sleeping bag.
"Do not move." Sasuke instructed.
"How long have we been out?" I asked as Kakashi helped me sit up, he then brought a water bottle to my mouth. I felt like a child, I didn't even have the strength to hold the damn thing myself. He capped the bottle and placed it off to the side, but Kakashi did not move his arm from around me. If he did then I probably would fall backwards.
"Couple hours." Sasuke answered.
"Has Naruto come to at all?" I questioned.
"No." Sasuke sighed,
"How is Cedany?" I asked seeing her asleep beside Naruto.
"She feels like this is her fault you got hurt." Sasuke answered looking at the sleeping girl.
"Kind of is." I muttered.
"That man-" Kakashi ignored my comment. "The one who was choking you, who was he?"
"Yeah." Sasuke added, wanting to know the same information. "He sure as hell knew you."
"Jadeite." I breathed as my head felt like it was spinning around in a dryer.
"Who is he?" Sasuke drilled.
"He is second in charge of the Reapers." I said.
"-fucking kidding me." Sasuke muttered, leaning back against the cave wall.
"Something is wrong with Naruto." Kakashi changed the subject. "You and him both have the same marks on your shoulders. What did that man do to you both?"
"A sun inside of a circle?" I felt like shit, like I hadn't slept in days.
"Yes." Sasuke sounded surprised. "How did you-"
"Because I have had this mark before." I cut in tired of talking.
"You what?" Sasuke pushed himself off the cave wall. "What the hell is it?!"
"It seals the person's chakra." I answered feeling my head bob back and forth as I began to feel another title wave hit me, crashing me down into the depths its sleep. "It's stronger this time though..."
"But you know how to get rid of it right?" Sasuke asked. I shook my head slightly.
"I don't know." I answered.
"What?" Sasuke snapped, "How do you not know?! Naruto he...look at him!"
"I know." I said "Kaguya was the one to break the seal the last time. But this seal as has been tampered with. It won't be as easy as last time; I don't know what is going to happen."
"Who was the first person to use this seal?"
"It doesn't matter." I sighed.
"Why?!" Sasuke demanded. "Maybe if we-"
"The original leader of the Reapers, he was the one who placed it on me after my cover was blown."
"Your cover?"
"Inside the Reapers."
"Wait, what!?" Sasuke's voice was like knives against my skull.
"Mhm." I nodded.
"Sakura." Kakashi rubbed the side of my face, stirring me awake. "How was your cover blown?"
"I was in a unit on the Reapers, we got sent to the grass village. I turned on them when I discovered they were attacking the village."
"Was that the night your parents were killed?" Sasuke was annoying me.
"Yeah." I answered. "The Reaper's leader wasn't pleased I got so high up in the Reaper's chain of command and well..."
"Well?"
"He couldn't beat me; I was stronger than him so he created a seal that could beat me."
"This seal...its..." Sasuke's voice trailed off. My eyes were closed, I could only imagine his face.
"It was designed to kill me." I finished for him.
"We need to find this leader and-" I cut Sasuke off as I began to laugh.
"Do you think it will be that easy to hunt a Reaper down?" I opened my eyes and looked at Sasuke.
"We need to try; we would find him and-"
"He is dead." I ended the conversation.
"How can you be sure?" Sasuke asked.
"I am the one who killed him." I snapped.
"Maybe you missed or-"
"I sliced his head off and burned his body." I smirked at Sasuke's stunned face.
I laid my head against Kakashi's chest. I listened to his heartbeat with my eyes closed for a long time, I oddly found myself liking this sound. Everyone was quiet until Sasuke spoke up. I opened my eyes once he started talking.
"All this seal is going to do his block off your chakra, right?
"That's part of it."
"Why is it only part of it!?" Sasuke almost sounded like he was whining.
"Because nothing is ever easy in my life." I joked. "This seal will eat away at the chakra." Sasuke moved to check on Naruto, who seemed to have a fever. I glanced up towards Kakashi, with his mask hiding his face I didn't have a lot to look at, but I watched as each strand of his silver hair bent and seemed to defy gravity.
Kakashi noticed me watching him and I was too tired to move my head to deny the fact I was checking him out. This seal really was fucking me up. Kakashi did that stupid thing where he closed his eye as, he smiled at me under his mask. He ran his warm fingers softly down my face, for a moment I felt like he was telling me everything was going to be alright, he was here.
"Naruto!" Sasuke yelled causing Kakashi to jump, pulling me closer into him as he moved.
"What is wrong with him?" Kakashi asked.
"There are marks spreading all over his body!" Sasuke answered, for how standoffish Sasuke was towards Naruto I was generally surprised Sasuke showed this much emotion right now.
"He is fine." I called out my voice had cracks in it, annoying me deeply.
"What?" Sasuke looked over to me.
"It is the seal."
"What does that mean!?" Sasuke asked, as the campfire reflected light off Sasuke's face I saw how stressed he truly was. He had dark bags under his eyes and a deep frown on his face.
"Because of this seal, there's no chakra in our bodies."
"How is that possible?"
"Yes." Kakashi agreed, "Our bodies create it, we need it to survive."
"That is true but think of the seal as a vacuum. The longer it is placed on us, the more chakra it is going to suck up. The fact that Naruto is beginning to bruise tells me that the seal is sucking chakra up faster than his body can make it. Which is why you're seeing injuries that could normally be healed without us knowing."
"What about you?" Kakashi wondered, he reached down to my arm and lifted my sleeve and sure enough I had bruises beginning to flourish along my skin. I watched Kakashi brush his fingers across the marks on my arm. The light sensation was enough for the tilt wave of sleep in its favor, I could not fight it any long. My eyes sealed shut and I felt my head fall onto Kakashi's shoulder.
----
"What the hell!?"
"Calm down Naruto!"
"How the hell am I supposed to calm down!?"
"We need to figure out what our next move is going to be. Now that your awake we can move."
"What the hell do you mean move!? We are down two people! I am useless and Sakura is still passed out!"
"You are going to tire yourself out Naruto, calm down."
No, just all types of hell no. I felt my blood pressure spike hearing team seven bickering with each other. I tried to drive back down into the pool of black sleep, but I was failing. It was like I was being pushed back into reality; this was not fair. I was only 'assisting' team seven anyway so I should be allowed to sleep.
Against my wishes, I opened my eyes. Naruto was sitting up holding his head as Sasuke lectured him that we needed to move. We had been in the same spot for far too long and if we were to be discovered by the Reapers, we would not stand a chance. Sadly, Sasuke was correct. Now that this mark was on me the Reapers were going to be in even more of a frenzy to hunt me down and kill me while they had a chance.
Fanfuckingtasic.
I wanted to sit up and tell Sasuke to shut the fuck up for five seconds but the moment I opened my eyes, my head throbbed. It was like something was squeezing my skull with a juicer. I moved my head, instantly regretting it. My eyesight was blurry, and my stomach rolled around inside my gut.
I shoved my face into the pillow under my head and as I did, my headache eased. I couldn't describe the smell; it didn't match the scent of a piece of food or fragrance I knew of but it smelt really comforting, my muscles relaxed and I felt as strange as it may sound, I felt safe in this moment. I wanted to close my eyes and fall asleep as I buried my face deeper into the pillow.
"I'll draw them away; you get Naruto and Sakura as far from here as you can." I woke up to Kakashi's voice. At first, I didn't care what they were saying but then after my blissful second of ignorance I snapped my eyes open. I had an uneasy feeling in my chest at the thought of Kakashi playing bait.
"Hey!" I heard Cedany, I looked up seeing her face above me, ew. "Sakura is awake!" Cedany announced as if she had won at a game of bingo. Sasuke and Kakashi moved towards where I laid. Kakashi kneeled beside me,
"Do you think you can move?" He asked me, I shook my head.
"You are not going to make yourself into bait." I ordered him.
"Sakura-"
"They won't go after you." I cut Kakashi off, sitting up with Kakashi's help.
"Why won't they go after him?" Sasuke rubbed his face.
"They are not after him." I thought this was all obvious shit to understand, apparently it was not.
"They are after you." Cedany gasped out. I rolled my eyes, it made them burn and made me a little dizzy to do so but I had too. She was the reason I got this damn thing put on me in the first place, it was her and Naruto's fault.
"Sakura, we may not have a choice." Kakashi explained, "Those Reapers are getting closer to where we are."
"They are scouting under every rock." Sasuke added. "It's only a matter of time before they discover we are here." I sighed, I could play as bait...give team seven and Cedany a chance to run. I promised William and Arabella I would keep Cedany safe, it didn't matter how much I didn't like her, I still had a job to do.
"Sakura..." Cedany trailed off, sitting next to me. "Could you and Naruto die from this?" She asked yeah, she would like that wouldn't she?
"Sakura?" Kakashi's tone let me know this was a factor that he had not thought about. "Could you and Naruto die from this?"
"It's...a possibility." I drew out, knowing this isn't what they wanted to hear but for Naruto's annoying sake I couldn't lie.
"How did you survive that last time?" Cedany asked.
"I didn't." I said honestly.
"What?" Kakashi breathed his exposed eye widened.
"Kaguya was barely able to resuscitate me."
"Because you didn't have chakra?" Sasuke was trying to understand as he turned to Naruto. It was not as simple has that; how could I explain to them what was happening?
"Picture a soda can." I explained. "The longer this seal is on us, the more you shake the can. When you open the lid, or if the seal if removed...what happens to the soda in the can?"
"It explodes." Cedany answered.
"You guys will explode!?" Sasuke asked jumping to his feet, as if that would do something.
"Yes."
"What if the seals are kept on?" Kakashi looked into my eyes,
"We will die from lack of chakra."
"What the fuck?" Sasuke groaned, holding his head.
"That is the point of the seal." I said sighing shaking my head. Kakashi touched my shoulder, is fingers lightly brushed the mark of the seal.
"This looks old, it had to have been forbidden. How could the Reapers get their hands on it?" Kakashi talked more to himself than the rest of us in this cave.
"Haven't you figured it out yet?" I asked feeling exhausted "The Reapers are the ones creating the forbidden arts." Sasuke looked to Kakashi and then to me, his mouth slightly agape. I don't know why they seemed so shocked, someone had to had been making the dark arts they didn't just pop up and go boo. "I may have only been tracking them for a couple years, but the Reapers have been around for a long time. There is so much you don't know, and it exhausts me."
"It is getting to be light soon." Cedany muttered, hugging her knees.
"You four have to go." I told Kakashi.
"We left no trail-" Kakashi smiled under his mask, "-we are safe here for the time being until you and Naruto can stand."
"You are not safe here." My stomach twisted, "They could be tracking your chakra, you need to get Naruto-"
"They can do what?" Sasuke cut in causing me to huff.
"Your chakra can be tracked if you use it, it's really not hard if your trained to do it."
"How?" Sasuke was curious.
"I do not have the energy to explain it to you. But it's like a dog catching a sent, once you know it, you never forget it. That's why I have not been able to track down the Reapers hideout."
"Why can't you? It can't be that hard if you track their chakra or whatever..." Cedany dared to speak up, I was feeling so mad at her, but I cracked a smile.
"Did you really think I am just too stupid to find them?"
"Err..." Cedany blushed. "No..."
"There hideout is in a different dimension, that is why I can't trace them."
"What?" Sasuke gasped.
"Rinnegan, it allows you to travel to different dimensions. The Reapers can do it, but we have no idea how. And when we do try and go after them then we just get lost and it's a freaking headache-"
"What do you mean when you went after them?" Kakashi asked wondered. I sighed, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. It took a moment to draw them up, but I was able too. I wasn't going to be able to use them with this damn seal on me, but I could sport them for show.
"Ho-How?" Sasuke breathed looking into my eyes, they were no longer their vibrant green shade, instead the rinnegan swirled around inside them.
"My blood line inherited it from Kaguya." I answered, blinking them away. It hurt too much to have them activated right now.
"You are just full of surprises." Kakashi said, making me want to smile.
I forced myself to sit up and I felt very confused. The mouth of the cave was getting dark...I was just awake, talking to Kakashi. I noticed that I was alone inside the cave, had team seven done what I told them to do?
My throat was burning, I began to search around for water when a familiar sound of metal clashing together drew my attention back towards the mouth of the cave. I pulled the sleeping bag off my legs and rose to my feet. I almost buckled under the weight of my own body, I reached out using the rough cave wall for support. Outlines of Kakashi and Sasuke were fighting off a group of masked shinobi. Cedany and Naruto was nowhere to be seen.
"The great Reaper of Reapers-" A voice drew my attention, I turned seeing a Reaper walking towards me, laughing as he did so, "-how grand are you now?!"
"Still grand enough to kick your ass." I spat, tightening my already weak grip on my sword, I had a feeling this was not going to be fun. The shinobi rose this blade as he ran towards me.
I blocked his sword with my own, pushing him back as I did so but that little movement already had me winded. A dark kunai flew past me, slamming into the Reaper's chest. I turned, Kakashi was by my side with his hands in his pockets looking at me with his closed eye smile.
"Where is Cedany?" I questioned.
"She is safe." Kakashi sounded so calm.
"Where are we going?" Naruto's groggy voice turned my head, Sasuke was pulling him from a pile of bushes.
"Road trip." Sasuke muttered as he lifted Naruto up.
"Nah, I'm too tired for that, let's just go back to bed." Naruto whined.
"We can sleep when we get home Naruto." Sasuke grunted as he lifted Naruto on his back, giving him a piggyback ride. "You are so heavy." Sasuke gasped out.
Kakashi turned to me, his sharingan eye was exposed. He reached out, as if he was about to try and pick me up. I snapped, around hearing them before Kakashi. I pushed Kakashi back out of the line of fire which had sprayed down on us. We were able to dodge the attack but a wall of fire separated team seven and myself. Kakashi and I locked eyes as a second group of Reapers dropped around me.
This was my problem; they were after me not the leaf shinobi.
"Go!" I yelled at Kakashi, I turned and blocked a sword from taking my head clean off my shoulders.
I glanced behind me making sure no Reaper was going after team seven, they were not. I felt slightly confused though, I told Kakashi to leave and they did which is what I told them to do so why was I feeling so...disappointed?
I turned back at the seven men in front of me who laughed, fully believing they had a chance at taking me down and tonight that was a full possibility.
----
It was so dark in this forest. I had layers of blood, sweat and dirt coating my skin. My heart was beating like a hummingbird inside my chest, my breathing was labored as I forced myself to stay awake and fought to strong urges to sleep.
"You can't fight forever Reaper!" A masked shinobi taunted me, he sliced through the skin on my arm, I could not heal due to the fucking poison in my body! I was kicked against a large tree, I looked up in time to move out of the way of a sword.
A callused hand wrap around my already bruised neck and squeeze. Vital air was blocked from getting into my lungs. I felt my body panic, begging me for air. The shinobi who had me literally by the throat was ripped away, I gasped pulling in air deeply. I leaned against the trunk of that tree for it was the only thing keep me on my feet.
"Sakura?" I snapped up at the that voice.
"Kakashi?" I breathed; I saw his dark figure outlined by the moonlight walk over towards me. "I told you all to leave!" I began to lecture, but I was lying to myself when I said I wasn't delighted to see Kakashi hadn't left like I had told him too. I moved forward on shaking legs but Kakashi pushed my body up against a tree.
"I have been looking for you for hours!" Kakashi sounded angry, I couldn't think of a time where I had seen Kakashi mad before.
"Well I have been here." I mocked him; it was just my instinct too. I heard him chuckle from deep in his chest, I felt his hand run across my face. I winched at the stinging on my cheek when he brushed across a cut.
"Sakura." He breathed.
"I am fine." I said, all my weight rested against the tree. After I caught my breath, I noticed how both of Kakashi's hands were on either side of my body, holding me against this tree trunk.
"You are hurt." He stated the obvious.
"Well I have been fighting without chakra for a few hours now. Let me see how good you can do it. If you live, then you can judge me." I half joked.
Kakashi was so close to me, I could feel his body heat and I got a sniff of the same scent as before, while I was sleeping in the cave...I looked at the darkened outline of Kakashi, it was Kakashi's shirt I was smelling. He chuckled again. he was about to say something until I felt him being ripped away.
"I will be the one to kill the Reaper!" A voice yelled. I felt a cold unforgiving hand around my neck pressing me harder against the tree. The slight clink of a kunai being dragged out of its holster caught my attention.
My brain ran in circles trying to think of something to do! The tightness around my throat vanished, I opened my eyes a little confused. I heard a gurgling sound fill the night air.
"Sakura?" Kakashi's voice called out. "Are you alright?"
"Define alright!" I called back holding my neck, slowly pushing myself off the tree to walk towards him on jelly filled legs.
I heard him chuckle again at my comments. He walked in my direction; I could hear the crunch of the woods under his feet. I didn't how much longer I could fight like this; I was starving and most likely dehydrated. Kakashi reached me, I felt my eyes widen in surprise as I felt him pushed me backwards, pressing me back against the tree I had almost been killed on twice.
Kakashi's hands cupped my head, my brain didn't register what was happening until I felt Kakashi's lips against mine. My eyes were wide, and my body tensed up as I slowly came to the realization of what was happening.
Slowly, I felt myself relax as I allowed my eyes to close, I leaned into Kakashi's embrace as I kissed him back. Kakashi dropped one hand from my face and placed it on my lower back pulling me closer to him. My stomach was fluttering as my heart was pounding so loud it echoed filling my ears.
I placed my hand on his chest as Kakashi's hand on my cheek kept my head tilted, I felt his tongue run along my bottom lip asking for permission in. Fire ignited in the pit of my stomach as Kakashi's wet tongue dipped into my mouth, exploring every inch. I have kissed men before, but nothing felt quite like this.
Every piece of my bare skin that Kakashi touched was set ablaze, it was an exhilarating feeling...or maybe it was the blood loss...
"Kakashi!" Naruto's voice echoed through the trees.
"Sakura!" Sasuke yelled soon after that.
"Where are you!?" Naruto yelled out.
Kakashi broke our kiss with a curse on his lips, he turned his head to gaze off into the distance where the voices were coming from. I blinked a few times as I felt a haze began to thin. Kakashi wrapped an arm around me, leading me away from the tree and towards the voices.
After a moment I had a flashlight shined in my eyes. I was instantly blinded; I covered my face with my arm. I glanced at Kakashi, able to see a little better now he had his mask on, looking composed as he always did.
"Sakura!" Naruto said jogging over towards me. He stopped and looked taken back as he gasped. I looked at where everyone else was looking, me. I was more blood than skin; I felt dirty.
"Kakashi!" Naruto yelled pointing at him I looked over, blood was smeared over the front of his uniform.
"Are you two ok?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes, it is not my blood." Kakashi chuckled.
"Oh." Naruto muttered, "Sakura!" Naruto yelled again, shining the light in my eyes again, I looked away from it, putting my hand up. "Sorry!" He yelled, moving the light again. "How do you feel?"
"How do you feel?" I asked countered,
"I slept a lot." Naruto laughed rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand, "I feel a bit better."
"Good."
"You did not answer the question." Sasuke stated slightly glaring at me.
"I am alive." I answered.
"We are not far from a village!" Naruto said with a smile.
"Oh yeah, which one?" I asked looking at my clothing, there was no cleaning this mess might as well just burn it.
"The Waterfall Village." I stopped thinking and looked over at him.
"The Waterfall Village?" I repeated.
"Yeah!" Naruto smiled. "It is about a day away; the map says so."
"Great." I breathed.
"We just have to pick Cedany up first."
"Where is she?" I wondered looking around.
"We put hid her in a tree." Kakashi answered putting his hands in his pockets.
"She climbed a tree?" I laughed at the thought.
"No, we put her in it." Naruto laughed, "They put me in it too. It was not that bad. It was kind of warm." He said looking at me scratching his chest laughing. I didn't even want to know how they did it. I shook it off and followed them to where Cedany was hidden. It was an hour walk; I was overly tired but sure enough I watched Sasuke pull Cedany out of the trunk of a tree.
"Huh." My arms were crossed over my chest. "How interesting."
"Your alive." Cedany was shocked to see me.
"Can't kill me that easily." I said waiting for everyone to get their bags on and get ready for the days' worth of walking...fantastic. I went to reach for my bag but Kakashi beat me to it. I looked up at him, my heart skipped thinking back to the kiss we shared. "I can-" Kakashi flashed me his signature closed eye smile.
"I will carry this." He turned and left no room for argument as he walked away. I glared at his back until I felt better.
I pulled my arms up as glared at the dried blood and dirt as if I could scare it away. I sighed; we were surrounded by thick forests which means we were getting closer to the waterfall village. We had stopped for a small break, I basically collapsed to the forest floor, my heart was running laps as I felt freaking hot. I leaned against a tree as Cedany cried for water, I closed my eyes for just a moment.
I startled myself awake, opening my eyes quickly to see night had fallen around us. I was laying on my good side inside a sleeping bag. Kakashi was in front of me lighting a fire. I saw a pair of blue shoes stepped in front of me. I looked up and saw Sasuke kneel.
"Hey..." Sasuke said low voice brushing hair out of my face. "...how do you feel?" I couldn't speak, all I could do was dip in and out of this world and my playground of hellish nightmares.
"Sasuke," I heard Kakashi. "She is drained, let her rest."
I felt myself resurfacing to reality too quickly, I opened my eyes to birds chirping and the bright sun blinding me. The dick. I sat up slowly feeling like I had a wild night of drinking, and I am waking up in a drainpipe. The forest around me was peaceful.
"Sakura." I really wanted to ignore Sasuke. "How are you feeling?" He sounded a little worried. I finally turned my attention to him, but I looked past him and saw Kakashi was checking Naruto's pulse. I noticed everything was packed and ready to go, the fire was even out.
"Mhm." I responded to Sasuke as I moved to stand. Kakashi was at my side in a hot moment, he caught me when I stumbled.
"The seal is getting worse." Sasuke noted, I warned them this would happen.
"We need to move." I said, pushing myself out of Kakashi's grasp.
"We can't." Sasuke scoffed. "You can barely walk, and Naruto is passed out."
"Then pick him up and carry him." I stated flatly. "We need to go."
"Why?" Sasuke glared, "So you can run off to-"
"Do you think sleeping is helping Naruto's condition?" I spat feeling my temper shorten. "No! The more he sleeps the worse he becomes. We need to move!"
Sasuke didn't reply, he just walked past me and picked Naruto up out of his sleeping bag and Kakashi rolled it up and carried everyone's bags. Kakashi kept looking over at me. I felt tired, I was forcing myself to walk.
It hurt like a bitch, who ever said just go to your happy place it will all be ok, needs to get bitch slapped because that whole go to your happy place shit is a bunch of bull.
"Stand down." I called out feeling team seven and myself getting surrounded. Eight people dropped to the ground, bowing as they kept their heads down.
"C-Commander!" There was a mixture of emotion in their voices as they saw me.
"Get the infirmary ready, four people are in need of care." I ordered.
"Of course, anything else Commander?"
"Get Kaguya, immediately."
After they vanished, I kept on walking forward. We soon walked through the first gate. Wildflowers filled every inch of the area around us. Hundreds of trees and a waterfall was as far as the eye could see.
"This is the waterfall village?" Naruto asked looking around still riding on Sasuke's back.
"No." I said, "This is the gate to the village."
"The gate?" Sasuke sounded confused.
"Yes. We are in the soldier's grounds right now." I explained.
"Soldiers grounds?" Kakashi asked.
"The shinobi or soldiers as we are called here, do not live in the actual village, we live around it."
"Why?" Naruto asked, but before I could answer my soldiers appeared. Jumping out of the trees, they stood at attention. Which meant they had to stand straight with correct posture, which is where the famous, "chin up, chest out, shoulders back and stomach in" comes from. Their arms are to be at their sides and eyes front.
"Commander!" They all said at once.
"At ease." I called, not looking at any of them. They relaxed their knees, moved their left foot to the side, and interlock their fingers behind their back. I turned to look back at team seven, I was going to see how Naruto was doing since he was awake, but I didn't get the chance.
I jumped sideways, a shinobi with a large sword as sliced through the ground where I had been standing. I heard team seven, but I had to ignore them. I pulled my sword from my back; I spun around his large body and ran my sword into his lower back and twisted. The shinobi went limp, falling to the ground. I held my sword as it fell, it was once again coated in blood and needed to desperately be cleaned.
"That-That was a Waterfall shinobi." Sasuke looked from me to the dead ninja.
"Mhm." I said turning and walking away, someone would deal with the body.
"Wh-What do you mean 'Mhm'?!" Sasuke picked up his pace as we walked through the gates of the waterfall village, I turned to look at team seven.
"That's how it is here." I answered.
"You guys just attack and kill each other?!" Naruto's mouth hung open, even Kakashi's posture was affected.
"Yes."
"What!?" Sasuke and Naruto were looked shaken.
"That is just how it is here." I shrugged,
"How what is!?" Naruto yelled in Sasuke's ear causing me to sigh, I looked over seeing medics who wore all white running towards us. "Why would that guy want to attack you!?"
"Because whoever kills me gets my title." I answered as the medics came just in time to get me out of this conversation. "Take Team Seven and get them treated." I ordered, the four medics nodded and walked over towards Team seven and Cedany.
"Hey!" Naruto called, "Put me down!" He called but was too weak to fight them.
"I can walk." Sasuke glared at the medic who tried to put him on a stretcher.
"Sakura, where are you going?" Cedany asked seeing me walking a different way than where they were going, I looked back at her.
"You guys can trust them, they will keep you safe." I said with a wave, I saw Dawn and Diem running towards me.
"Sakura!?" Naruto called as I started to walk away from them. But I couldn't turn back to look at him, I needed to get this damn seal off me and then I needed to figure out what is the deal with the mist village and those shinobi with those masks from the reapers. I had a feeling the waterfall village would be going to war very soon.
----
I opened my eyes and saw I was laying in my bed, in my room inside the Waterfall Village. I sat up, my entire body was sore as I reached over and touched my injured side. I wore a baggy white shirt and pants. Kaguya was beside me in a chair, knitting...why was she knitting?
"Kaguya?" I asked very confused.
"Sakura." She stood up and walked over towards me, she felt my forehead. "How do you feel?" I thought for a moment.
"Fine?" I sat up, very sore. "Wait, the seal its-"
"Gone." She smiled,
"I don't remember..."
"You met me at the arena remember." She said laying me back on my pillow. "I removed the seal, and I won't lie, it was a little hard containing your chakra, but you pulled through better this time than the last."
"Kaguya." I said sitting up, "I need-" She stopped me.
"You need to rest." She said stopping me, "You are home now, that is all I care about." She touched my cheek with her hand. "I have missed you, now get some rest."
"What about team seven?" I asked, "And Cedany?" Kaguya turned to look at me.
"Cedany is fine, she is in her own room resting. I have arranged a team to escort her home, I gathered the outline of what had happened on the mission from the leaf village shinobi who are in the infirmary recovering."
"I see." I said laying back in my bed. It felt nice, not having that seal placed on me.
I took a small nap and then got dressed after a hot shower. The waterfall village uniform was different than the uniform I wore when I went out on missions on my own, like when I was inside the leaf village.
I slid on dark blue thick cargo pants, a white t shirt, and a dark blue jacket over it which held my name and rank. Other soldiers had team numbers on theirs, but I was not on a team. I put on my black boots and walked out my bedroom door.
I walked to Kaguya's office and knocked on the door four times.
"Enter." She called. "How do you feel?" She asked as I walked into the room.
"Better."
"You have been gone for a while." Kaguya said.
"Yes, you stationed me inside the Leaf Village."
"It has been a few weeks."
"Correct."
"It was longer than I had thought you would be gone."
"I know, but the Reapers are migrating. "
"Sakura." She stated my name looking about out the window.
"Yes?"
"Can you explain as to how you received that seal?"
"Jadeite."
"I was the one who trained you, you are an equal match against him. That does not explain how you were taken off guard and allowed yourself to be attacked."
"I did not let my guard down. We were under attack; I chose to save Cedany's life. That is how I got the seal."
"What about the other time?" Kaguya asked turning around to look at me. "You, getting hurt by a random, low level Reaper? That is not like you."
"I..." I looked down, "I saved a leaf shinobi's life, that is how I got hurt. It was my job to protect them."
"Which one was it?" She asked.
"What?"
"Which one of those leaf shinobi was it?" She repeated turning towards me. "You held such hatred for that village. You walked away; you were done with them. And then I come to find out you almost died saving a member of that village...which one was it?"
"The blond haired one down in the infirmary."
"I knew I recognized them." She said taking something out of her desk. She tossed it towards me, it floated down to my feet. There laid a picture of team seven, we all took it together on our first day as a team. "That is your old team."
"Yes."
"Why are you risking your life for them?" She raised her voice turning towards me. "They took you for granted. Explain to me why you are ready to die to protect them!" Kakashi's kiss danced uninvited through my mind. "Just a handful of weeks inside that village and they have already changed you, you're going soft!"
"I am not."
"Oh, really?" She asked. In a flash I spun around only to see Kaguya holding a knife to my throat. My side grunted, reminding me it was still injured. "You are dull." She said walking past me. "You are acting like a child. Running around playing with that group of boys!" She yelled looking at me. "You are not acting like a leader I trained you to be! This is not how I want the commander of my army acting!" She glared. "Do you care about that team down there?" Kakashi's masked face flashed into my mind.
"No."
"Really?" Her voice was testing me.
"You put me in that village, I did not want to go in the first place."
"I do not believe you." She said, tossing her kunai on the picture at my feet. "Even after all these years, I can see they still have a hold over you. I can see how their memories have their nails still latched onto you" She glared through me. "You need to make a choice. Them or us-"
"Ok." I said with a laugh in my voice, "You're being a little dramatic."
"Sakura-"
"You sent me to that damn village, you made it, so I had to go out on two missions with them. Don't try and put this shit on me. I am slow because if you have already forgotten in your old fucking age, I just had a seal that was designed especially for me ripped off and I just got my chakra back. Yes, Kaguya I am a little fucking tired from that."
"Hm." Kaguya huffed, still glaring at me.
"I don't have time to fight with you." I sighed, "We have a problem."
"Problem?" Kaguya tilted her head.
"We might be going to war."
----
Two days had blurred by, I hadn't slept much as my commanders and I began our investigation against the mist village. While I was busy doing this, Kaguya did make a pack with Tsunade from the leaf village, we were now allying. Kaguya was on my ass about team seven, so to shut her up I said once they were stable enough to travel, I will send one of our teams to the leaf village and they will look after the village and I remain here. I stood in the training grounds watching a new batch of students who had begun their training while I was gone.
"They are dreadful." Dawn, my second in command muttered.
"It is their first week." I reminded her.
"Yeah, but still." She grumped Dawn was a little older than I was. She had long brown hair with matching hazel eyes. She was kind but didn't let her kindness be her weakness. After the Reapers attacked us, I promoted her to my second in command.
"Maybe we should double their training." Diem commented as he popped candy in his mouth. Diem was my third in command. Just like Dawn he proved himself when we were attacked, he saved a lot of people that night. Diem was a handsome man, with his shady black hair that fell just above his eyes, he had one blue eye and one green one.
For a moment he wanted something more than our friendship as commanders. I denied it but I don't believe he has gotten over it. "Check it out." He nodded behind Dawn and me, I turned and sighed. "Why is Orion giving out tours this far out?" Diem wondered.
"I don't know." I said eating my protein bar, "I will be back." Orion was giving out a tour to team seven.
"Good luck." Diem laughed as I vanished. Orion was a different type of person. He was like a glorified butler and he liked that title. But he was so full of himself, he had short black hair and he was a germaphobe. Someone the other soldiers would freak him out by taking his hand sanitizer and pretend to cough or sneeze next to him. I will admit it was funny. I appeared a few feet away from them.
"Sakura!" Naruto smiled, he looked much better than he did the last time I seen him.
"Commander!" I turned and smiled seeing a red headed girl running towards me, with a guard behind her.
"Annistyn." I called her name, seeing she was causing more trouble. She had bright red flames for hair, deep green eyes and a pale face. She jogged over towards me, I looked up at the guard. "What is the problem here?"
"That..." He huffed, out of breath. "That brat! She was vandalizing the village!" He yelled pointing at her, she stuck her tongue out at him.
"Officer." I stated coldly, "She is a child, have more composer."
"Forgive me Commander!"
"I will take care of Annistyn."
"B-But-"
"Why don't you go work on your cardio?" I said shooting him a fuck off look.
"Of course, right away commander." He said and jogged away. I turned to her and gave her an annoyed look.
"What?" She defended acting innocent. "I was just tagging a wall in the ally!"
"We have been over this Annistyn." I said crossing my arms over my chest. "What is your excuse this time?" I was listening to her try and explain her lashing out but also, I could hear the small group behind me. Orion was explaining to team seven who Annistyn was.
"That is Annistyn, she just joined the academy." Orion whispered. "Four years ago, during the attack on the waterfall village, Annistyn's mother Isadora worked with the Commander, she was her second commander, but during the attack Isadora was killed. Annistyn was seven at the time, and she took the news about her mother real hard. The Commander took Annistyn under her wing and ever since then the Commander have been watching over her." I tuned out the history lesson and sighed.
"Annistyn." I said kneeling down. "Do you want to be a great fighter?" I asked, and she nodded.
"I wanna be like my mom...and like you."
"So, don't you think your time is better spent studying and practicing than harassing the guards?" She looked down then smiled.
"Yeah."
"Then you better get going." I smiled at her.
"Going where?"
"If you are going to beat me tomorrow when we practice, you should get ready."
"You mean it!?"
"Of course." She hugged me, then she let go bouncing.
"I am so going to beat you this time!" She laughs running away, she was a good kid when she wanted to be. I then vanished and reappeared beside Orion; he jumped a foot in the air.
"C-Commander!" He bowed in respect; I rolled my eyes.
"Sakura." Naruto smiled. I ignored him.
"Orion." I stated his name, making him look up at me and my glare. "Do you mind telling me what you are doing?"
"T-The leaf village ninja wanted a tour of the waterfall village and M-Miss Kaguya approved it."
"Yes, but you know not give tours this far out of the village. I have told you this before, have I not?" I asked.
"Y-Yes. But the leaf village ninja really wanted to come out here and they would not take no for an answer and... well..." I sighed and looked over at team seven.
"We were just curious Sakura." Naruto laughed, "It is not his fault."
"You three are guests in this village. If your escort says you cannot go somewhere, respect that." I glared. Naruto's smile melted from his face.
"We just wanted-"
"There is no reason to get snippy." Sasuke butted in. "It is not like it is a big deal." I turned to Sasuke. As if fate for once decided to not fuck me over, I spun around and grabbed the kunai that was heading towards Naruto. His eyes widened as he turned a shade of blue. I sighed and looked behind me.
"I-I am so sorry!" A trainee yelled and waved, I ignored her and turned back to team seven.
"I know your village lacks discipline and rules-" My voice was stern. "-But mine doesn't. I can't let you three walk around like you own the place. We have rules for a reason." I said handing Naruto the kunai that would have killed him. "Orion is not a trained fighter; he would not have been able to catch it. If I had not come by then I would have had a dead leaf village shinobi on my hands and that is a lot of paperwork." I said turning from them. "Stick to the gift shop Team Seven." I called out vanishing from them and then reappearing beside Dawn and Diem.
"What?" I asked seeing their smirking faces.
"You were nice to them." Diem said shoving more sugar into his mouth. "Any reason for that?"
"They are morons." I gave an answer looking at the trainee who lost control of her weapon, I walked over to the trainer who was shaking in his boots waiting for me to say something.
"More target practices." I motioned.
"Yes Commander!" He nodded.
The rest of the day blurred away. Since I had been gone for a while, I had a lot to catch up on. I was with Kaguya in her personal house. I was sitting at the kitchen table doing paperwork as she caught me up on what has been going on around here. She was in the other room on the phone.
"Your shinobi are just fine." I heard her say, I looked up from what I was doing. Who was she talking too? "Of course, we are sending them home soon. My medic will take one more look over them and if they are all fine, they will be sent out tomorrow morning." She paused for a long time. "Sakura is fine. She was doing paperwork last I had checked on her." I rolled my eyes and went back down to filling out the endless stream of paper. "No, she will not be returning to the leaf village, she has chosen a very good team to escort your ninja home and remain there as protection." How did so much paperwork pile up after I left?
"Of course, you cannot request Sakura to return with Team Seven." She laughed, "Because I can't have the Commander of my army stationed in another village!" Kaguya laughed harder. "Do not worry, the team being sent to you are one of our bests, you are in good hands. Now you have a good night Tsunade." Kaguya walked into the kitchen after a moment, we stared at each other for a moment.
"Why did you let so much pile up?" I asked her, she walked past me and opened the fridge. "Why didn't you delegate some of this to Dawn or Diem, that is why they are here."
"Hungry?" Kaguya ignored me.
"Depends."
"On?"
"Who is cooking?"
"Me."
"Then yes I am hungry." I smirked.
It took all night to catch up on my paperwork. The sun was bright and sunny, it was not my friend. The sky was clear and blue with warm air blowing around. I walked outside after finishing filing all the paperwork, I was watching shift change when I saw them walking out of the building. I forgot they would be leaving this morning.
Team seven was waiting for their team to meet up with them so they could all travel back to the leaf village. I waited to turn and walk away, but I continued to gaze at Kakashi who was watching Naruto goof off. Once again, his kiss flashed through my mind, causing my stomach to flutter.
"Sakura?" I turned at the sound of my name, Dawn stood behind me. "Are you going to say goodbye?" She asked me, I looked back at team seven.
"No." I answered.
"Any reason?" Dawn wondered. I knew them, it may have been years since I had seen them, but they haven't changed. Naruto would fight with me and Sasuke would make his stupid comments and Kakashi...he would gaze right through me.
"Has our unit checked in yet?" I asked never pulling my eyes from Kakashi's masked face. The waterfall village had shinobi who were placed on teams, but when teams were combined, they were relabeled units.
"Yes. That's why I am here."
"And?" I turned to looked at Dawn, she looked unsettled.
"Neil, the Kage of the Mist Village is confirmed to be dead." I quickly looked back at Dawn.
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
"I see." I trailed off, watching the team going with team seven come into view. By Naruto's reaction, they were not informed that I was not returning with them.
"Your orders, Sakura?"
"Get our soldiers ready." I said turning to look at Dawn's stern face. "And make sure to keep it quiet, no one needs to know we are about to attack the Mist Village."