After cutting down 97 trees and carrying them on a cart to the construction site, I find myself in front of a basin, all sweaty, desperately wanting a shower.
The duo of straw head and candy head refused to come back to rest.
More like unable.
He put them in a forest trap training, where they must race back home.
And here I am, chopping down trees while they get to do cool-ass training.
I did learn a new technique, although I doubt if I will be able to use it mid-battle.
After a refreshing splash of water to my face, I lay myself down on the Tatami mat.
Nothing can beat these cold mats on hot nights.
"Don't you wanna train?", asks a kid.
The kid is Inari.
I turn and look at him while I chew on the piece of grass that I picked up.
The boy has some serious glare in his eyes.
He is looking at me like I'm some freeloader, who lazed all day doing nothing.
Which I'm not. Sheesh! Why do I have to go through this? Isn't he supposed to ride this rodeo with Naruto?
He asked a question, but that didn't sound like he expected an answer.
So I didn't give any. I just kept on chewing.
"What's the point, Gato will get you guys anyway", he says. Hands clutched into a fist.
For a second I stop chewing. Okay, Let's see what we can do about this. Naruto can tighten his screws later. Since this ball landed in my yard, why don't I play with it a bit?
Flinging my finger, I whip out a lollipop.
He looks at it. His face alternates between confusion and awe.
"Where did you get that?", he asks.
"I'm a ninja", I explain. He makes a face like saying "That doesn't explain anything" but since it's obvious to him that it's the best explanation he will get, the topic is let go.
"Hmp.....you think you can warm up to me with that?", he says while crossing his arms and turning his face away.
"Maybe?", I say with a shrug.
He takes glances at it. Wave country isn't well-off, so it is safe to say, that candies are a delicacy for children here.
"Why don't you come and sit down? Have a chat with this big bro?", I suggest. The kid thinks for a second and comes close.
I shove it in his hands and take out one for myself.
"Come on kid, it's not poisoned", I assure as I take a lick.
He takes a lick. His eyes widen. The sweetness and taste have taken its effect and like any other kid, he enjoys his candy.
Angry or not, at the end of the day, all kids love candy.
"You know, once your grandpa finished building that bridge, these candies will be a lot cheaper to buy in this town", I say.
He stopped licking.
"People can't even get food and you are talking about candies?", he asks angrily.
"Cause of Gato?"
"That's obvious"
He takes a lick. I take a lick.
There is only silence and the sound of slurping in the room.
"You all are gonna die", he says.
"Well, we all die eventually", I say.
And there is that silence again.....along with the occasional sound of slurping.
"So you want Gato dead?" I ask.
He stopped licking...again.
"You guys can't touch him. He is the richest man in the land", Inari says as he stands up pointing the candy at his face.
"Why we ain't scared of him, why are you scared of him?", I ask. For a second he considered throwing that lollipop at me, but stopped last minute.
Can't waste a delicacy.
"You....you don't know anything, what he has done, what he is capable of doing!", he screams.
"He will hire hoards of man and run you down!".
I put the whole wide lollipop in my mouth, but outcomes only the stick. I swiped it for a similar-shaped cotton candy a second ago. It's a neat little trick that works on kids.
Worked on Inari too.
As Inari again looks confused, I sit up.
The overhead light shadow falls on my face.
And I turn on my sharingan.
Inari looked scared, frozen in his spot.
"Kid, we are hired trained killers, trained to kill people behind their back since the day we can spell our names. If You think some smelly old man can get us, you gonna have to think twice".
Inari gulps a spit full.
"We kill people from the shadows. We kill them so hard, that not even their parents ever remember them. Do you want Gato dead? We are the vendors of death. Offer me something in return! And the deed will be done", I say with a heavy voice as I extend my hand.
He looks at my hand while trembling in fear.
But this kid is not just snot--nose brat, he is a witness.
A witness to a world that can be cruel.
These kids aren't easily broken. To prove my point he asks with a shaky voice," What do you want?"
I smiled so widely that my face touched My ears, it was a genius. But, let's just play along.
"Take my hand and tomorrow his body will float by the seashore", I say.
His trembling stops. Slowly but surely, he extends his hand. But oh so afraid, as if he is exchanging his soul for it.
I know what he wants. He doesn't want peace, he doesn't want the village to be rid of Gato, he doesn't want justice.
He wants blood, the blood of Gato, who spilled the blood of his soon-to-be father. Rid him of the chance of a better life.
He wants revenge. And it's oh so sweet to test.
You can't ignore the devil as he lures you into the abyss with the sweet lollipop that is revenge.
"Inari! The dinners ready!", a female voice calls.
The kid instinctively reacts to the voice that means the world to him. A voice that can Snape you away from any bad dream. His mother calls.
Oh well, it's time to bale.
He turns and I'm gone.
The confused kid looks around for a few moments. The mother calls again.
In the end, he decides to go to his mother.
That's how it should be.
I swiftly come out of the Tatami. I see Kakashi sitting there cross-legged with his book in hand.
He gives me the side eye.
"What were you planning on doing, Sasuke ?", he asks.
The "kun" isn't there. I made him angry...
I sit down. On my knees.
"I just wanted him to know, it's okay to let go", I state.
"What?", asks Kakashi.
"sometimes....the dark side can show the way", I say.
"No it doesn't ", Says Kakashi as a matter of fact as if he is exactly what I'm saying.
Oh? Right now I wanted to say so many things.
Like, how Minato managed to kill over a thousand people in a single war. I'm sure the death of his student didn't play a role in that.
Are you sure Minato didn't consider revenge as an option? I'm sure if Kushina wasn't there he would be a mass murderer bigger than my Nee Chan.
Not to mention the thing about my clan.
"Of course not", is all I say with a smile. Kakashi looks at me not convinced. A vein attempt at reading my intentions. What? I was just having a bit of fun.
"Sometimes, I wonder who is the one wearing the mask here, Sasuke kun", Kakashi sighs as he gets back to his book.
Eh?
He is the one who mimicked Inari's Mom's voice. Who the fuck does he think he is?
I see a burned and bruised, beaten to a pulp Naruto, being carried in by a worse-off Sakura.
"You guys look like shit!", I state the fact.
Sakura lets down Naruto like a Sack of potatoes. Which was unintentional.
Naruto lies there with his ass up in the air.
Sakura gasps at the state of Naruto. Promptly with whatever strength she has left in her arm, lifts Naruto and attempts to carry Naruto to bed.
But It looked as if she looked like on the verge of collapse.
So, I got up and helped. What the fuck did Kakashi make them do?
After that, Sakura went to take a shower.
I again sit down.
"Lemme guess. You told them to compete with each other back in town. But in the end, it was teamwork that they needed?", I ask.
"You said it!", Says Kakashi without looking.
"Why exclude me?"
"Because they won't always have you as a de facto leader. I need them to be able to think independently ", states Kakashi.
I gasp.
"Naruto can think on his feet a hundred times better than me. you won't believe what he can come up with sometimes. I just spew whatever general plan we have for possible scenarios", I say.
"That I observed today", Says Kakashi.
I hear the sound of something falling on the ground.
Naruto is up and is dragging his feet.
"Haraaa hetttaaaaaa"....he says .
"The dinners ready!" The call comes just in time.
Sakura is out as well. That is some next-level fast shower.
"Hei ....have you seen Inari?", tsunami san asks peeking from the paper door.
I look at Kakashi.
"He should be around the house", Says Kakashi who looks up from his book just to say that, again gets back to reading.
"Oi. Dobe. Go get Inari", I command Naruto.
"Wha?....why me?", Naruto whines.
I grab him by the neck and whisper.
"Just go and do your thing"
"Thing? What thing?"
"That thing, just go and you will get it. Get him to come and eat"
I push him on the back.
He looks at me confused but goes anyway while ranting.
I leave it to his capable hands, hoping my little experiment didn't ruin the whole thing.
######
The scene comes to life from an overhead of the dinner table.
We eat and pass along food and stuff ourselves with food.
There seems to be an eating contest happening between Inari and Naruto.
Thank good Ness.
To my surprise, I see Sakura eyeing them and following along with them.
Am I the only unmotivated kid here?
Then it hits me. They get to do cool training, tomorrow and I will be back to doing boring ass wood cutting.
I can do Naruto's sessions just fine if Kakashi lets me no problem.
But... it's not like I hate wood cutting. After today's small-scale deforestation, I am kinda enlightened.
It suits me. To say the least.
But this is purely raw strength training.
What's Kakashi's plan?
I look at Kakashi. He has already finished his dinner.
I see Tsunami san blushing vigorously.
The guy does that on purpose, I swear it.
After dinner, we get ready to sleep.
It's a bit early for me so I unseal my guitar and practice a few tunes sitting in the backyard.
A faint smell of nightqueen.
I turn, and see Sakura sitting beside me. Her face peeked out of her knees.
"Didn't know you played Shamisan?", Says Sakura.
???!! What?
"Oh....no. this is not Shamisan", I say. They don't have a guitar in this world.
Sakura raises an eyebrow.
"Hmm!?", she wonders as she closely observes it.
"Listen", I request.
With a light tune, I start singing.
"Tell me why, ain't nothing but a heartache!
Tell me why ain't nothing but a mistake!
Tell me why, I never wanna hear you say!
I want it that way!"
And continue a few more lines.
Taking a breath I stop. Of course, it's in Japanese. I have some of my favorite songs, made in Japanese.
"See, it's different! It's a creation of my....."
I see Sakura has wide eyes.
"You.....sing so well", Says Sakura.
.....!?!.....
I look away. Oh my...I never sang in front of anyone before. I used to sing in my previous life. Had a hideous voice. This body has a thing for songs.
"Ha...ha...Sakura-san. You are making me blush...ha ha ha...", I try to hide my embarrassment.
It's not working.
Sakura does her bewitching smile.
I get up.
"Aaa....I'm really sleepy Sakura-san. I will go crashing down. Thanks for the company", I say and start walking toward towards room, leaving Sakura alone.
Then I turn around and polp down beside her.
"What? Weren't you sleepy?", Sakura asks. Her smile persisted.
"You don't leave a lady out in the alone like that", I state. Even though I'm embarrassed, gotta live by the code of conduct.
Sakura laughs. Like ....it sounds like a river, like flowing water. The calm flow of which, brushing by the sides of a small boat as it lazily swings along the shore.
I just couldn't take my eyes off her.
There is something, ghostly about it.
Suspecting it to be a genjutsu, I wanted to use "kai".
And I did.
Sakura looks at me confused again.
"You....looked so beautiful that I thought you were a genjutsu", I try to explain myself.
Now it's her turn to blush.
But her laugh continued.
They say one should observe a person laughing out of joy. There is much to learn.
#######
It has been a week now.
No sign of Jabuja. Naruto and Sakura are as usual sparing.
And I'm just lying on the ground, busking in the morning sunlight.
Suddenly their sparing stops.
"Naruto", Sakura says.
"I have to go powder my nose", she says and before Naruto could comment on it she left.
Naruto comes over and sits beside me.
"What was that all of a sudden?", he whines.
"That is why you don't punch a lady in the face", I state as I turn, "You made her makeup fall off".
"Is that what it is?", Naruto asks with honest curiosity. A bit of doubt is still there. At the end of the day, Naruto may seem dumb, but he can be sharp at times.
"She went to take a piss if that's what you wanted to know", he shrugs.
Naruto cringed at my word.
"Speaking of ladies, I saw a real beauty this morning", he says.
"Oh yeah? Tell me about it", I urge.
"We talked. She talked about some weird stuff about protecting precious people and stuff.
... seemed pretty odd though", Says Naruto.
"What?"
"She...seemed strong....like crazy strong. I think that woman was a ninja", Says Naruto with furrowed eyebrows.
I guess teaching Naruto the basics of sensing chakra bears fruit. This guy can at least discern when to fight and when to run.
I get up. Turn to my right, and see Kakashi dangling his legs from a tree branch.
"I guess the enemy decided to pay a visit. Sensei", I state.
He shuts his book.
"A ninja shouldn't assume", Says Kakashi.
"Who said anything about assuming", I reply.
He looks at me with a tired "huff".
"Maybe it's time we started properly guarding the bridge", Says Kakashi.
"What do you mean properly? We've been guarding it 24/7", Says an angry Naruto.
"One person at a time. We need all of us there if what I think is gonna happen", Says Kakashi.
The whole week, at least one of us was posted on the bridge, guarding the workers. Since Sakura successfully blew up the boats that the thugs used, there hasn't been any random small fry going around town wanting protection money.
As a result, it has been quite peaceful. wasn't in the job description, but it kinda happened.
Maybe we should charge them protection money instead. Open up a gang. The Uchiha gang.
I shake my head. No, that sounds cringy.
Today was my day off. Sakura's shift.
"Sasuke kun. You are on. Backup Sakura from today", Says Kakashi.
Dang it.
"I will be there as well", Says as he jumps down.
"What about me?", Naruto asks.
Before Kakashi says anything, I cut in.
"You are coming too. What are you gonna do? Suck your toes?", I chuckle.
Naruto seemed to understand the mood and was looking back and forth between me and Kakashi.
"We are all guarding the bridge together where the bridge builder will be", I say as I stand up to face him.
"That is in the job description ", I added.
I don't know why Kakashi wants to split Naruto.
But I can't question a captain. Only vato his decisions.
Kakashi after a moment of silence.
"Yeah. Sure, all of us are going to ", he says with an upturned-eye smile.
Okay. I sigh in relief. But.....I feel as if me and Kakashi have some kind of problem.
Gotta clear it up if we get through this in one piece.
#######
We come to the bridge. Check my traps.
And as usual, I dress up as one of the workers. They say it's good to Blend in the environment.
To become one with the occupation.
Gives an overview of how a worker might get attacked. Also helps me get to know other workers. Their habits, their routine.
God forbid, should Jabuja were to infiltrate, I WILL know.
This time, Naruto makes a clone a transforms it into me.
Sakura.....is powdering her nose.
I look at Naruto, and he just shrugs. None of his clones were dispelled. So there shouldn't be any trouble near Tezuna's house.
I'm normal circumstances, I would be worried. But, this Sakura can handle herself.
I wonder what else there is different in this world.
My sweat is stuck to my hair. Feels damp.
Well, it is by the sea.
But the dampness... I don't know how to explain.....ominous? An ominous dampness?
Perfect for an ice user, huh?
How many hours do we have to stay like this?
Hours?
That's gonna be tough.
Am I wishing to be attacked?
What's new?
I see Naruto just chilling by the railing.
Except for the occasional twitches in his whiskers, you really can't tell if the hyper ADHD ninja can ever be nervous. With a long breath, I get to work.
These cements ain't gonna mix themselves.
3 hours later.
"Thap, thap,thap, thap, thap ", fast and light footsteps from my back. But I don't look at my back.
A standard spring-loaded ninja tool to mimic footsteps. I keep my eyes peeled on the patch of cement that I'm mixing.
If I look in the wrong direction I'm dead.
"Acchi mite koiiiii!",
On my right.
A humongous blade comes straight for my throat.
I blocked it with the sole of my sandal.
The blade makes sparks against the metal plate as the blade's wielder meets with unexpected force.
Jabuja's eyes widen.
"Got the wrong guy?" I say with a wide smile. As wide as I can make it.
I don't know what he saw in my face, but he flinched a bit.
Jumping over the sword and trying to grab him.
He moves backward.
"Wrong move", I hissed.
From My outstretched hand, the Hidden blade springs out.
Jabuja's face blurred as he dodged the blade at point-blank range.
Cut his cheek deep though.
All that for a drop of blood.
Then he made his hand signs, faster than my eyes could see. But my Sharingan recognizes it.
Mist jutsu.
A small patch of fog just erupts and he disappears inside the fog.
2 clones jump out of it.
"Thekiiiiiiiiiiii!", I scream.
One of the clone's body flickers in my zone.
The blade blurred.
A horizontal slash.
My lower half blurs, circling like a canon ball in the air, I throw a barrage of kunai. One of them hits the clone.
Another clone vaults over the melting clone and slashes at me.
I pull myself backward mid-air, with the wire attached to one of the kunai I threw.
Naruto, like a mortar shell falls from the sky and dropkicks the clone, dissolving it into water.
But in the meantime, the fog thickened.
Me and Naruto are back to back.
In the midst of it, I hear a loud bang.
A bright smoke signal is in the air.
Violet.
Naruto looks at me, worry in his eyes.
Sakura, I mean our Sakura, is not the type to give away her position.
Even if she is attacked, she will not call for reinforcements.
The fact that she is using it, does warrant a complex meaning to it.
For now, my prediction is that she is luring in her enemy. Going for her position might be counterproductive.
I shake my head sideways at Naruto. I know he is worried, but now is not the time for explanation and he has to take my word for it.
He just nods and focuses.
I felt so proud of him that my eyes almost teared up.
My breath is thick and the fog is blue.
The temperature drops.
4 masked figures erupt from 4 directions.
The fog is moving along the clones as if it's alive.
I unseal my long axe and balance it on my shoulder.
Naruto with his hands, ready to summon an army.
Haku.
It gets so cold that our snot starts to freeze.
"Ice?", asks a confused Naruto.
"Kekkei genkai", I state.
"Kiki what now?"
"Kekkei Genkai", the enemy corrects Naruto.
Naruto nods thoughtfully.
But he snaps back.
"Hey, I know your voice. You are that pretty lady I saw!", Screams Naruto as he points at him.
"Hello, Naruto it's nice to see you again", Says Haku.
I chuckle at his greeting.
"Look Naruto, even enemies feel good around you", I state.
I see Haku isn't responding. I guess I'm not on his good list. But reminding him that I am fully prepared to slice him up if I feel like it, is necessary. But I just can't help the mood.
"Look, he had that impression on everyone. I'm not saying it's a bad thing. If we can come to a peaceful solution through this, I'm all in", I say while raising my hands defensively.
I hear Haku sighing.
"Hand over the bridge builder. And you may yet live", Says as he points his kunia at me.
I whistled. "No can do, I gotta buy a new chicken feed. Need that A-rank money", I say with a smile.
Naruto was pumping up for a spicy line.
He ...didn't follow up with it for some reason.
Then he just went all calm and cool.
"We don't abandon people to their deaths", Says Naruto.
As for Kakashi, he is fighting Jabuja. But for a brief moment, he waves his hand.
"That says no deal", I translate.
Tazuna huffs in relief.
I know, he is unprotected. But as long as he doesn't drink too much from stress and falls off the bridge, he won't die.
I wish Sakura was here. I don't know what is she dealing with, but that better be important.
"What about your pink friend", asks Haku.
"What about her?", asks Naruto. Jumpy as ever.
"She might be in danger".
Naruto grits his teeth in frustration.
Oh....I see what's he doing.
.
.
.
But from what I can tell after a while of talking, these aren't clones. Just mirage. Or, some kind of thin layer of ice that is reflecting the image.
The next one is at 3 o'clock.
I clicked my tongue 3 times.
A standard thing we agreed on was to give signals. Sakura really can catch on to these things quickly, as for Naruto.....not so much, as he is looking at me confused.
But for now, I have to trust him.
Wow, to think the OG Sasuke fought beside Naruto in a lot of pinch, shows how much trust he had in this guy. I wonder if I can do the same.
I attack the mirage in front shattering the thin layer of ice.
Naruto gets attacked in the back. A plunge with a kunai.
He blocked it. I guess..... I can .....
A surprised Haku jumps back and with one hand, tries to perform hand signs.
But I promptly throw in a kunai, interrupting him.
Again, surprise is in the air. The fact that I know of his ability to weave signs with one hand, calls for a change of plans.
So, he attempts to hide in the fog.
Then I see Naruto clapping his hand.
With a mighty "hump" the guy rushed his huge chunk of chakra so hard, that it almost threw me off my feet.
Haku is in full view, Jabuja standing there as if his clothes had been ripped off.
Sakura once said she felt vulnerable whenever she had to come out of her clocking jutsu to fight in close quarters.
"Felt nude" is what she said specifically.
Naruto nagged me for a while to decipher the word.
I thought a big sister was supposed to be a good influence.
Jabuja and Kakashi are now in an intense exchange of blows,
While I keep the pressure on Haku.
Haku has almost the same speed and movements as Jabuja.
But what he lacks is the utterly ridiculous amount of instinct that his master has.
He fell for one of my wrist blades and now has a 4-inch lesion on his arm.
The guy fucking froze it to stop bleeding.
Again, he jumps back to cast the dome jutsu.
With a single pull of my finger, an axe just appears out of the waters around the bridge and brushes by him.
He is good at dodging as expected.
Naruto is keeping the pressure with his taijutsu and clones but mostly hovering around Tazuna.
I swap myself with Naruto's Clones occasionally.
It's as if we are falling into a rhythm, with an upper hand.
We can beat him.
I am tempted to use one of my fire jutsu as it getting tiring to just dodge and attack. If anything else, he hits hard. One of the backhand punches took the wind out of me. But I hung in there.
My eye soon caught on and I blocked one of his kicks with my foot and locked it with my knee.
He aimed for my neck with an ice siecle that he conjured, but I parried with my left and pulled in one of my axes in my hand and slashed at him from the side. Naruto again vaulted on top of one of his clones and was ready with a drop kick.
Then it happened.
Haku just tanked Naruto's drop kick and caught my axe with a ..... armor of fucking ice in his arm.
I felt a surge of chakra.
The air around me became dry and cold in an instant.
My body moved and jumped backward.
Something sharp ran me through.
As I land with a burning pain in my left shoulder, I see Haku panting vigorously, surrounded by a mountain of Ice spikes.
Looks like it took a lot outta him. Was that a jutsu?
No....more like an elemental burst.
Naruto! Well, he has multiple cuts and still standing. It seems he also jumped away at the last moment. The power of plot or the sign of a very capable warrior?
"Y...you have good instincts", Haku states.
I ignore that as I bring my fingers up with a rem sign.
Haku looks at the axe that is stuck to the ice.
"In the end, I wasn't of use to master"
The axe exploded.
The area was covered in ice and vapor.
Common sense would say .....he is dead.
Jabuja of course told him of my exploding armaments.
So, he knows.
But he won't think of the fact that I know, that he knows.
I signal my dear clone dispenser to make a clone of me and hide.
The fog clears and Haku's body isn't there.
But would you look at that, we are not there either.
Both parties have left the battlefield.
What a confusing turn of events.
Haku who is severely underestimating us right now, trapped a clone of me and Naruto in his ice dome.
I see Naruto doing his best to hold in a laugh, while we lurk in the hole that we made in the middle of the bridge just for this moment. It took a lot to convince Tazuna to make this hole.
Yeah, we played him.
What do we know?
We get out of the second hole right beside Jabuja. This one I made without telling him.
The surprised Jabuja dodges my slash.
Kicks away Naruto.
Kakashi in the heat of it, swipes a kick under Jabuja, making him lose balance.
With a somersault, I grabbed his neck with my legs, spinning around his torso, I locked him in a chokehold.
Naruto hastily puts a knockout tag on his forehead.
But the kick he got in the process, made him lose his lunch.
I see the dome of ice crumble.
A confused, angry, and scared Haku is looking at us piled up on of his beloved master, covered in Naruto's puke.
If he didn't want to kill us then, he would want to kill us now.
He took a step forward, and the air around us became so cold as if we were breathing ice.
But he stopped in his tracks.
My axe is on Jabuja's throat.
I slowly shake my head.
"Don't try anything funny!" That is what I want to say.
Haku silently drops his weapons.
Kakashi gets up to also put a tag on him.
Mainly chakra suppressing tag. Can't have both of them knocked out.
Tazuna comes forward hesitantly.
Crouching on the ground he gently pokes Jabuja.
"What a brute", he says while taking a sip.
I....hear a huge group approaching from the mainland.
I guess Gato and the crew still managed to come here.
I leisurely turn around to deal with the canon fodders.
Gato....has a.....long pipe....like thing pointed right at me.
He pushes a trigger and a loud bang happens.
Something shoves me away.
I quickly get back up.
Pink....and red.
I .....
Sakura...
I somehow get close to her.
Turn her over. She has wounds all over her.
I don't know where she is hit.
And she is pale as a ghost.
Lost a lot of blood.
"What.....wah..what just happened? What was that.....!", Naruto asks.
"What happened to Sakura....oi....theme....", Naruto shakes my shoulder.
I look at the group in front of me.
Gato.....that's.....an AK47.
"Waaaaallllll!!!!!!", I scream.
Kakashi in the blink of an eye goes through hand signs and puts up a stone wall.
A rain of bullets starts hitting the wall.
I don't know how many weapons they have, at least 4 or 5 of them each have automatic rifles.
The wall won't hold. And Kakashi is half dead from fighting Jabuja.
I'm using mystical arts on Sakura, have to pull out the bullet. But I can't see it. I don't know how deep it went.
Another wide wall erupts.
Ice.
Haku looks at me and nods.
Thank goodness.
But I....can't.....
I can't stop her bleeding.
I can't stop it.....
Her pulse is faint.
Sakura will die.
Haku comes close. He gently puts his hand on Sakura and freezes the wound, stopping the bleeding.
Using 2 sentons, he pulls out the bullets. From 4 places. None of them somehow hit any vital organs.
I unsealed out emergency blood packs and set up an IV.
All happened within minutes.
Miracle...Miracle and a misfortune.
I have pain....a burning pain in my eyes.
Everything is red.
I feel rage.
So much that I didn't even feel the red chakra erupting beside me.
Naruto jumped forward and broke right through the walls as if they were made out of paper.
Gato's goon shielded him with the reloaded guns.
But the bullets just bounced off of Kuyubi's chakra.
He lashed at the thugs and with a single kick, the goons were blown away.
Gato points his gun at Naruto.
But there is nothing in his hands.
He looks around to find the gun.
But alas, he has no hands.
With fear and dread, he looks at me who is holding his cut wrist that is still clutched onto the gun.
The gun falls on the concrete ground with a loud thud.
I see ...red...
I kicked Gato in the stomach, and he flew backward, knocking all other thugs like billiards.
He tries to get up and run away.
I don't know if it's because of me or Naruto..., his goons are too scared to help their master.
It's Naruto.
Who am I to be scared off?
Look, I'm a chill person.
I get close to Gato.
"Need a hand?", I ask. He tries to crawl away in fear. I even offered help. But your master refused. Then it's not my fault if he dies.
Gato soiled his pants.
What is there to fear? I will just bash your head in with my axe is all.
Something caught my hand.
I guess he has some loyal man.
With my Sharingan blazing madly with the most intense genjutsu I can master, I look at the one courting death.
Red meets red.
Kakashi's Sharingan also whirling.
He flinched slightly but countered my genjutsu and gripped my hand more tightly.
"That is enough", he says.
I smirk, relaxing my fist, I let go of my axe.
Kakashi moves away.
I see from a distance, Sakura blinking here and there while being supported by Haku.
I take a deep breath.
"Sorry sensei", I say.
Kakashi nods. Then he looks around.
There are 7 ....maybe 8 bodies lying around.
One .....no maybe 2 dead.
The one who took Naruto's chakra clow to the face got blasted to bits.
The rest ran away.
I see Naruto sitting by Sakura covered in blood and guts. He looks at me with a grin.
This guy just blasted a guy just now.
"You.... okay bro?", I say trying to ignore looking at Sakura.
"Yeah..... 'm good", Says Naruto.
Then he gets up and holds up an axe.
The one I gave him.
I smile and take it back.
The debt has been paid.
"I guess Gato wanted to finish you guys off", I ask.
Haku nods.
"We had some falling out with the payment. Master suspected it", Haku replied.
I sigh.
"So we cool?", I ask.
"Cool? You need ice?"
"I mean ....."
"Oh, yeah...I would like a temporary cease-fire if that's what you mean"
"Well, I don't know ceasefire would be enough for all the help you did today"
"Sasuke kun"
Sakura calls me loudly.
"Hei...." is all I could say while biting my lips.
"I thought, you would be asleep for a bit more", I added.
"Eddi trained me a lot not to lose consciousness ", Sakura replies. So, she was in pain the whole time we pried her body from the bullet. What a girl. There is no way she would die. Yeah....who am I kidding? She wasn't going to die.
"Oh.....Good", I keep looking at the ground.
Then I beckon at Naruto to take the blood bag.
I carry her in a princess carry.
"Eh?", Sakura is red in the face. Good, her blood circulation is good. Now let's get her to a bed.
As we walk back, I look at Naruto.
"Next time.....we won't wait", I state.
"Yeah", Naruto replies.
"Eh? What?", Sakura is confused.
I look at Kakashi.
"You guys go. I'll catch up".
I nod and walk.
#########
Sakura passed out once we got back.
Leaving her on a bed, I wait by her.
For her to wake up.
She will be fine.
That is what I tell myself.
I go to the bathroom. Splash some water on my face.
In the mirror, I see myself.
The two-liner scars from the lightning strike when I was 6 years old. Looks as nasty as ever.
And my Sharingan.
2 tomoe.
The eye whirls.
As if ..... it's angry at me.
I am angry at myself.
Angry at the fact that ... It's my fault that Sakura is in that state.
I take a load of water from the bucket with a mug and pour it on my head. Then again, again and again.
I try to get out but slip and fall hard on the floor.
...
...
I just lie on the cold wet floor for a while.
"Fiuuuuuu" I breathe.
Now is not the time to whine.
Gotta meet up with Kakashi. See what he found out.
I get out of the bathroom. With my wet shirt on my back. Gotta squeeze it and leave it to dry.
Naruto is standing there.
"Waiting in line?"
"Took you long enough", with furrowed eyes he looks at my head.
"You hit your head or something?"
I touch my forehead. A slight bump Is there.
"Fell on the floor. It's slippery", I reply.
"Huh.... okay", he huffs. " Sensei's back".
"O.... okay. keep an eye on Sakura ", I say.
"Sure will", he says.
I put on a dirty tank top. It may look dirty but it's clean. Keeps me cool on hot days.
Kakashi is in the living room, standing by the door.
I see Haku sitting on the Sofa with a cup of tea.
Kakashi shuts his books.
"You think you can handle her condition?", asks Kakashi.
"Yes", I reply. There is no need to abandon the mission. We are practically done here, but the contract is to wait until the bridge is finished. So we are stuck here. This advantage of having a medic on the team. Allows us to continue the mission, even with a half-dead teammate.
"The..... evidence...was Booby-trapped", Says Kakashi.
I Snap my head at him.
"What about Gato?"
"He died after you left. Someone put a seal on him. died from a stroke", Kakashi says with a sigh.
I slump. Nothing...we are in the complete dark.
"This is bad, sensei", I state.
"I know".
Then there is the silence.
"I have sent a messenger dog to the village with the details, along with Gato's body. It's an internal business now," says Kakashi.
"Reverse summoning?" I ask.
"Yes. Give your sensei some credit, jeeze", Kakashi huffs.
"Sorry sensei. I meant no disrespect ", I say.
"Ma...ma....we are all worked up today. Let's take a breather and think things through", Says Kakashi.
I sigh in relief. I slump further into the couch. I wish I could smoke right now. It's not like I wanted anything to do with it. The anbu can figure this out. Yeah .... it's their business now.
The cup sits on the table with a thud.
Now we address the elephant in the room.
"Want a refill?", I ask.
"Yes, please", Haku replies.
I take the pot and fill it.
"How is...em...Jabuja san doing?", I ask.
"San?", Kakashi points at my casual address.
"He is fine", Says Haku.
"What do you plan on doing with him", I ask.
The questions are towards Kakashi and him both.
"It's Jabuja Sama's decision to make, to do what he wishes to do with himself", Says Haku. Okay....that came out a bit hard.
"I mean, he is knocked out all "
"He is up and running just outside", Says Kakashi.
"Ehhh? You are not even sitting while we talk, but let Jabuja walk free? Sensei, you trust them?", I ask with a chuckle.
There is silence in the room. Only the sound of Haku sipping tea is there.
"You seem to trust them enough to meet them half-naked", Says Kakashi.
"It's a tank top", I state. Then extending my hands I ask," And are sure, if I'm unarmed, sensei?"
There is that silence again. Kakashi eyed me top to bottom to find the truth in that.
Only the shiny sendon by the corner of my lips reassured him.
"He will walk free. It's not like we can detain him, after what Haku did for Sakura", Says Kakashi.
"Let me guess, Naruto talked you into this", I say.
Kakashi just huffs.
I get up. And extend my hand for a handshake to Haku.
"Yosh, then it's been nice meeting you and one of the 7sworsdsman of the mist", I say with a smile.
"When are you guys leaving?", I ask.
To my surprise, Haku just gets up and leaves, hanging me in the air.
I look at Kakashi.
"Haku is going with us", he says.
My eyes pop out.
"What?"
"They fought", Kakashi at last comes to sit down. The couch by me was empty.
"Fight ?...like they tried to kill each other?"
"No, Apparently Jabuja has no use for him any longer "
"Huh? What is he? Some kunai that you....", I hault my words midway. I know where this is going.
"That is exactly what he thinks of him", Kakashi says.
I .....I am at a loss for words.
"It's a harsh world Sasuke. In the world of ninja, there are only tools and the users", Says Kakashi.
"But sensei...you taught us to look underneath the underneath ", I state.
Kakashi looks away for a second.
"It's none of our business".
There is that again.
"What will happen to Haku if we take him to Konoha", I ask.
Kakashi shrugs.
"Surprisingly he is not on the bingo book, so nothing harsh. And the village will always welcome a new kekkei genkai. He will lead a good life .....probably ", Kakashi states as he takes the cup of tea that I poured him.
Oh.....that's good to know.
"You know sensei... it's really nice to have someone who thinks the world of you", I say with a chuckle.
I don't know what expression I have right now.
A hand ruffles my hair.
Kakashi is clumsily patting my head.
"It sure does, my cute genin. It sure does", Says Kakashi.