Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Daisuki ❯ Bleed It Out ( Chapter 8 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: DisturbedUsagi 
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Romance / Angst / Shoujo | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 11.14.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 219 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Romance / Angst / Shoujo | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 11.14.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 219 | Status: Work In Progress
Author’s Notes// I just want to thank Arlesace (I’m glad I could help you through evil exam time and thank you for the marshmallow! eats) and Phishouttawatta for being such wonderful reviewers. You really make me smile and motivate me with your encouraging words and compliments. I look forward to future reviews!
Disclaimer: I don’t own Naruto. And this is most likely the last time I’ll ever say this. ALSO: you have been warned. There could be Japanese sprinkled in here, BUT there will also be a friendly translation at the end of the chapter. You no likey? Well, TOO BAD.
Daisuki; Chapter 8
Bleed It Out
The sweat rolled from her forehead and over the curve of her cheek until pausing at her parted lips, a bubblegum pink tongue slipping out to lick it away. The circle of what had been trees surrounding her were all splinters, scattered across the tall grass. Her breathing was steady as she stood there with gloved fists clenched, debating whether or not she should pummel the ground below her into dust. The girl’s silent argument was interrupted as a crunch of earth was heard behind her; in one quick movement her heel had swung around at the intruder, only to be caught by their hand.
“Yo,” A nonchalant greeting was thrown Sakura’s way from masked lips, a crinkled eye staring down at her.
“Sensei…” He released her ankle and she slowly brought the foot it back to earth, her emerald eyes softening their gaze.
“You really know how to tear up a place,” Kakashi joked, glancing over the scene. “I almost didn’t believe Ino when she told me you were out here training. Now that I see she was telling the truth, I’m glad.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you Kakashi Sen…”
“Just Kakashi, please.” The copy-nin corrected her with a smile. “I haven’t been your teacher for a long time.”
Sakura managed a tiny smile, brushing a rogue tendril behind her ear. “Sorry, Kakashi.”
“I suppose it has been awhile. I do have a lot of responsibilities, despite my protests to Hokage sama…” He added with a sigh, shaking his head. Suddenly his one-eyed gaze turned serious and hers responded in confusion. “I have been hearing a lot of rumors about things going on in Konoha during my absence…mind filling me in?”
“Ah,” She stared at him perplexed, and then pursed her lips while she pondered a response. “Since when do you care about the petty happenings of Konoha, Kakashi?” Sakura asked with sincere curiosity; it was unlike her ex-teacher to care about personal problems of his old students.
“Since I’ve been in between novels. Stop the stalling, Sakura and just answer the question. I’ve heard some pretty disturbing things.”
“Oh?” Her reply was in a tone of innocence.
The sharingan-user stared at her tiredly, never one to care for a woman’s evasive conversational tactics. “Sakuraaaa.” He drawled.
“Nothing that has happened here has been disturbingKakashi.” She huffed, growing tired of all the lectures she’d been given as of late. “Just being my typical self, you know? Crying and whining and complaining Sakura. Always depending on everyone else.” The heel of her right sandal was digging roughly into the dirt, her entire body tense. Her chin jutted out as she lifted her head, as if she was looking down on him. “Well, you know what? I’m tired of it. I was tired of it before but I’ve had too many people lecturing me on what I already know. I can stand on my own two feet without a helping hand.”
“I never said you couldn’t, Sakura.” He replied softly, hands slipping into his pants pockets.
“It’s not you, Kakashi Sensei!” She added the formality to his name out of sudden habit, immediately turning her gaze to the side with a jaded expression. Sakura forced the air from her lungs in an exaggerated sigh, folding her arms across her chest; she was shutting off from the conversation and her old instructor could read it all over her body.
“It wouldn’t be weak if you did ask for help, though. There is strength in reaching out for help.” He continued as if she hadn’t interrupted him. “Having too much pride will get you killed.”
The breeze sifted through the leaves of the trees that had survived the kunoichi’s attacks, rustling around the quiet scene of instructor and student, now both lost in their own thoughts. The scarecrow regarded her with tenderness while she stood closed off before him, almost a daughter to the Jounin in ways no other female student had been.
“I stumbled into Shikamaru’s group on the way back into Konoha,” Kakashi began another subject in hope that she would open up again. His idea had worked; her head had turned slightly towards him with eyebrows cocked. Holding back a smile he continued, “I was hoping that I would find Naruto in high spirits, since his personality is a breath of fresh air compared to the teams I’m sent on missions with. But,” The Jounin shifted his weight from one leg to the other, “Not only was Naruto in a sour mood, but the entire group seemed to have something stuck up their nether region.”
He heard her mumble something along the lines of ‘my fault’ and his visible eye widened in interest.
“Hm?” He leaned forward on his toes, hands still in his pockets.
She shifted uneasily, arms unfolding slowly before she began to run her gloved fingers over her upper left one. “I think I upset Naruto when they left a few days ago.” Sakura answered him sullenly.
“Upset him? Naruto has never been upset with you.”
“I know, which is why it makes me feel worse,” The kunoichi kicked the pebbles of dirt at her feet, remembering the face the kitsune had left with her. “I’m sort of dating Lee…well, I don’t really know now, but, I never said anything to Naruto about it…”
He decided to ignore the confession about his rival’s student, instead he focused on Naruto. “Sakura, Naruto is your friend, not your boyfriend. If he’s upset, he’ll get over it…this is Naruto we’re talking about.”
The girl nodded in agreement, “I know…but he stayed by my side when I was at my worst so the last thing I want to do is hurt him.”
“I doubt you dating Lee or not dating Lee would make the entire group upset, so don’t put the fault on yourself.”
“When Lee was leaving I called out for Sasuke.”
The x-factor had finally revealed itself. Kakashi masked his surprise well, but inside the statement had hit him like a ton of bricks. Not only had Sakura’s farewell call severely affected Lee, but in turn had upset Naruto because of his territorial attitude towards the kunoichi, and with Kiba to instigate and Shikamaru unable to forcefully disperse the fighting due to his apathetic nature, the cell had turned into a festering group of touchy teenage boys. An exasperated sigh escaped him.
“I’m sure the reunion will be exciting then,” He half joked, removing a hand from his pocket to rub the back of his neck. Silence fell over them again and once more Kakashi broke it. “I still have to report to Tsunade, so I should get going before she tears up the village looking for me.”
“Of course,” Her smile was sad as she looked at him, restraining herself from shying away as her former teacher walked towards her. The copy-nin came to a stop about a foot away, outstretching his arm with a closed fist.
“Open your hand,” He urged her softly.
The rose-haired girl observed his gaze before complying, fingers spreading with slight hesitance. His fingertips brushed her cloaked palm then were gone as quickly as they came. She looked down at her hand, surprised to see the miniature bell sitting there, with its thin red thread dangling over the side of her palm. Sakura pulled off her glove, the bell jingling as she rolled it between her fingers.
“Kakashi Sen…” She began in a whisper.
“I thought about using the bell test with my new students, but every time I considered it, it just didn’t seem right. You, Naruto…even Sasuke; this memory belongs to you three.” He had cut her off to avoid a situation more sentimental than it needed to be. His visible eye crinkled in that telltale masked smile, reaching out to ruffle those choppy pink strands. “You’ve all exceeded any expectations I originally had for you and then some…I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t proud.” His shoulders rose and fell in a sigh before he stepped back and turned to retreat from her, raising his hand in a farewell wave. “Take care, Sakura.”
The kunoichi watched her former instructor take his leave with the familiar sadness she had each time she watched someone go. Sakura clenched the bell in her fist, the metal cool against the heat between her fingers.
“Kakashi!” She called out suddenly.
He paused in his steps, casting a glance over his shoulder, “What is it?”
“Who…” Sakura bit her lower lip in momentary hesitance, “There were only two bells so…who did you give the other one to?”
His back was to her when the question was asked, but even if he had faced her, that tiny smirk still would have been hidden.
“Sasuke, before he left.” The copy-nin left his answer short, knowing she wanted something more.
“Did you know he was going to leave?” She clutched the bell tighter.
He stayed quiet for a moment before tilting his head towards the treetops, “I had a feeling, and it was only a matter of time.” Kakashi raised his hand in another wave, beginning his steps again. “He’ll be back someday, Sakura, but it would be best to forget about him for now.”
She raised her head to retort the impossibility of that suggestion but found that he was no longer there; once again she was the one being left alone.
He’s right you know…
Sakura shook her head to dismiss the inner voice that plagued her on a constant basis. The birds in the surrounding area fluttered from their forest haven as the ground shattered around them with the force of earthquake soon after.
Meanwhile…
The mist that surrounded the team made it difficult to tell where their attackers were but that certainly didn't stop the quite overzealous Lee from trying. The dark-haired boy stepped away from the group, carefully spinning on his heel to change position as he waited, and waited... before leaping into the air, his body twisting more rapidly this time with his foot extended. Connect. He felt his foot hit something and judging from the loud crack, he could easily assume it was the face. That man wouldn't be getting up for a while... though the mist remained, clearly indicating he wasn't the user of the jutsu. This, however, left Lee open to attack, his back vulnerable.
A series of six kunai rained down, one sinking into his left shoulder blade and another into his left hip. In spite of the pain that shot through his body briefly, Lee was able to roll out of the way, the other four kunai missing him completely. The pain was nothing compared to what he had felt before in his few years, and it was certainly not going to get the best of him.
Kiba, in the midst of Lee's attack, was having an easier time, however. The mist was enough to obscure his vision, but nothing could hide their scent, not from him and Akamaru. They both sniffed at the air several times, Kiba's dark eyebrows furrowing in concentration. He counted quietly to himself at first. One, two, three... By the time he reached three, he noted Lee being attacked by the disembodied kunai. That made four.
Shikamaru backed up, finding that he was bumping into something in his immediate vicinity, the assailant forcing him to the ground as he wrestled his arm behind him. Kiba and Akamaru acted, immediately, losing count of their attackers; Akamaru sniffed out the foot of Shikamaru's offender and bit down on his ankle, trying to forcefully drag him off of the boy. Again, not the target they needed, though Akamaru saw the need to sink his teeth in deeper into the ankle, refusing to let go until Kiba dealt with him.
The Inuzuka boy wouldn't get the chance, however, as a slash with a kunai to Akamaru's left ear caused him to release the Nin, leaving a trail of blood with him. Naruto had already taken a blow to his gut, and then another one to his right hip. He didn't have time to think, not that he used such time to his advantage anyway. The blonde’s hands came together quickly in a hand seal as he performed the Kage Bunshin, several clones suddenly appearing from whiffs of smoke around him, though no sooner had that appeared had once been dissipated with an offending shuriken. Lee was unable to pull the kunai from his back, though he managed to remove the one in his hip, which helped him in deflecting a shuriken that hurdled toward his chest.
"Damn it, Shikamaru!" Naruto yelled. "Think of something!"
With a puff of smoke, another clone was dispersed, leaving Naruto with only two. He, along with Shikamaru and Lee, could feel the wind suddenly whipping up as Kiba's body propelled itself in one direction like a black drill, Akamaru acting as the polar opposite; a scream. Kiba hit something, or rather someone, skidding to the ground to pin him in place, the warmth of blood from an open wound in the ninja's stomach oozing over Kiba's face. Kiba had him exactly where he needed up, pulling a kunai into hand and driving it directly into the Kirigakure shinobi's throat. A deep, gurgling sound could be heard as he started to choke on his own blood, though bleeding out before he could die of asphyxiation.
In the heat of the killing moment, Kiba was left open, tackled from the corpse as he felt the cold steel of a kunai under his stomach and press in deep. He coughed, hissing with a sudden inhalation as he tried to fight off his attacker. A second one got him from the side, digging into his right hip and then a third into his right shoulder, howling out in pain. Naruto's final clone had been attacked and destroyed, and Lee was again assaulted, trying to retaliate with a series of kicks that only hit air. When the flurry of attacks stopped, he was struck again from behind, this time tripped, his feet kicked out from under him.
In the course of his fall, Lee tried to counter, punching out to his side, hearing the sound of a shattering kneecap. The Mist Nin didn't seem to be as deeply affected by it as he had hoped, a kunai finding its way into Lee's chest, just missing his heart. This trapped his attacker however, much like how it did with Kiba. Lee gripped the arm that still held the kunai and Kiba did the same to his attacker from the front.
"Now!" they cried out in unison.
Naruto's hand was already rearing back as he was standing over Lee, the swirling sphere of chakra in his hand pulsing with power before being driven into the body of the Mist shinobi held in place. In a rapid twirl it sliced through the armor and flesh of the attacker until he was thrown into the fog, the faraway sounds of a tree splitting echoing throughout the wood.
The mist slowly dispersed from the scene, hands that had finished making seals dropping to their owners’ side while he gazed upon the group from a distance. A retreating Mist Nin came behind him, dropping to one knee and silently awaiting his orders. The same black mamba slithered past the lackey and up the curve of the latter’s calve, its’ tongue flicking in and out innocently.
“Send anonymous word to Konoha of their group.” His voice was deep and silky.
“Taishou, forgive me, but you told us to attack them and now you are going to help them?” The Mist Nin lifted his head in confusion.
“Kaminari no Kuni is my territory. I was simply making it known. I would hate to have an unnecessary war on my hands,” He replied in the same smooth voice as the mamba slid over his shoulder.
Two more Mist Nin came behind the first, kneeling in the same position; the first nodded in understanding. “We shall send word to Konoha immediately.”
In silence the three shinobi disappeared, leaving the leader to his thoughts. He reached up to stroke the skin of his pet, taking in the sad scene below him with tainted crimson eyes.
“I’ve stayed away for far too long, dobe.” A tiny tug at the corner of his lips was gone as quickly as it came, turning on his heel to disappear in kind. “I’ll be home soon…but not for you, perhaps.” And then the leader faded into the shadows.
“Naruto, are you alright?” Shikamaru had finally caught his breath, coming out of the fight with no more than some bruised ribs.
The blood that had been spilling from his wounds before was already slowing and soon would be sealing up effortlessly. The blonde spit out a clot that was stuck inside his cheek before nodding, “Yea, I’m fine. How about you, mutt?” his cerulean eyes darted to the Inuzuka boy who, at that moment, was being nudged by the blood-clumped muzzle of Akamaru. Naruto swallowed back the taste of copper in his mouth, moving to pull himself off the ground. “Oi, Kiba…”
“I’ve been better,” the brunette croaked to appease the other, or at least to assure the group he wasn’t dead; Akamaru whined incessantly.
“His wounds are bad; we can’t finish a mission like this.” Shikamaru sighed, resisting his trademark troublesome line.
“Gejimayu is just as bad…” the blonde nudged Lee’s thigh with his foot. “How are you holding up, Lee?”
Silence came in response. Shikamaru pulled up his knees to rest his forearms on them, dark gaze moving over the lotus boy. “Lee, say something.”
Still nothing. Shikamaru and Naruto exchanged looks before a sudden gurgle in the boy’s throat interrupted them. It was followed by a cough of blood, spurting over his lips and down the side of his jaw.
“He’s unconscious,” the team leader whispered. His eyes drifted over Lee’s multiple wounds, the one on his chest gaping, deep, and dangerously close to his heart. “We can’t move him like this. Kiba is a lost cause as well.”
“Go,” was all the jinchuuriki replied, eyes glued to his two wounded friends.”
Shikamaru shook his head, “I’m not about to leave you alone with two wounded shinobi, Naruto. The best idea is to send a scroll back with Akamaru…”
“I can take care of them, Shikamaru.” he responded in a choked voice, fists clenched.
“Naruto…”
“GO, SHIKAMARU!” the blonde growled, his harsh tone laced with urgency.
He watched the blonde crouch over the other two boys, already pulling out what little medical supplies they had brought to patch whatever he could. Shikamaru could continue to argue with how irrational he was being, but that would only waste more time, and that was the most precious thing that had at the moment. Slowly he rose from the ground, routinely dusting clean his cut-offs before turning on his heel to depart.
He cast one last look at the jinchuuriki, “Take care of them, Naruto.”
A nearby branch creaked from Shikamaru’s weight and then the shadow genius was gone, leaving the blonde to curse in his absence.
Silently he began to wipe away the blood from Lee’s wounds, bandaging the smallest and adding pressure to the ones still flowing. Akamaru had moved behind his owner, propping him up so that the boy was cradled in his soft fur; a small comfort to ease the amount of pain he was in. The blonde watched the lotus boy’s face for the longest time, an overwhelming sadness coming over him.
“Sakura chan will have my neck…” he whispered to the breeze.
She lifted her foot to rest it on the coffee table, wincing at the pain in her cramped muscles. Sakura wrapped the hot towel around her calf, letting out a deep breath as those same muscles relaxed slightly. The kunoichi leaned back into the sofa cushions, a contemplative expression on her face as she stared at her toes. Maybe training for hours on end after such a long absence wasn’t such a great idea after all.
Her head picked up suddenly when the vase behind her tipped over on the counter, the daffodil it held limp over the side as water spilled onto the floor. As she stared at the wilting petals a small suspicion nagged at the back of her mind, the clock on the wall ticking the countdown to midnight.
“Lee.”
Author’s Notes// Sooo, this was my longest chapter! With good reason I suppose. I hope you enjoyed the fight scene (Thanks to Matt ;D) and you should be able to figure out the owner of that snake is now, you smart cookies you. Chapter 9 will be up as soon as I can manage. PLEASE! Review, while favorites and alerts are appreciated, a review reeeaaaally hits the spot.
Fun with Japanese!
I don’t think I put very much Japanese in at all this chapter. shrug Oh, well. Next chapter for sure!
“Taishou…” Basically ‘leader’ but it could also be ‘boss’, ‘commander’ etc.
“Gejimayu…” Lee’s nickname again. “Bushy brows”
Much love, Usagi
Disclaimer: I don’t own Naruto. And this is most likely the last time I’ll ever say this. ALSO: you have been warned. There could be Japanese sprinkled in here, BUT there will also be a friendly translation at the end of the chapter. You no likey? Well, TOO BAD.
Daisuki; Chapter 8
Bleed It Out
The sweat rolled from her forehead and over the curve of her cheek until pausing at her parted lips, a bubblegum pink tongue slipping out to lick it away. The circle of what had been trees surrounding her were all splinters, scattered across the tall grass. Her breathing was steady as she stood there with gloved fists clenched, debating whether or not she should pummel the ground below her into dust. The girl’s silent argument was interrupted as a crunch of earth was heard behind her; in one quick movement her heel had swung around at the intruder, only to be caught by their hand.
“Yo,” A nonchalant greeting was thrown Sakura’s way from masked lips, a crinkled eye staring down at her.
“Sensei…” He released her ankle and she slowly brought the foot it back to earth, her emerald eyes softening their gaze.
“You really know how to tear up a place,” Kakashi joked, glancing over the scene. “I almost didn’t believe Ino when she told me you were out here training. Now that I see she was telling the truth, I’m glad.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you Kakashi Sen…”
“Just Kakashi, please.” The copy-nin corrected her with a smile. “I haven’t been your teacher for a long time.”
Sakura managed a tiny smile, brushing a rogue tendril behind her ear. “Sorry, Kakashi.”
“I suppose it has been awhile. I do have a lot of responsibilities, despite my protests to Hokage sama…” He added with a sigh, shaking his head. Suddenly his one-eyed gaze turned serious and hers responded in confusion. “I have been hearing a lot of rumors about things going on in Konoha during my absence…mind filling me in?”
“Ah,” She stared at him perplexed, and then pursed her lips while she pondered a response. “Since when do you care about the petty happenings of Konoha, Kakashi?” Sakura asked with sincere curiosity; it was unlike her ex-teacher to care about personal problems of his old students.
“Since I’ve been in between novels. Stop the stalling, Sakura and just answer the question. I’ve heard some pretty disturbing things.”
“Oh?” Her reply was in a tone of innocence.
The sharingan-user stared at her tiredly, never one to care for a woman’s evasive conversational tactics. “Sakuraaaa.” He drawled.
“Nothing that has happened here has been disturbingKakashi.” She huffed, growing tired of all the lectures she’d been given as of late. “Just being my typical self, you know? Crying and whining and complaining Sakura. Always depending on everyone else.” The heel of her right sandal was digging roughly into the dirt, her entire body tense. Her chin jutted out as she lifted her head, as if she was looking down on him. “Well, you know what? I’m tired of it. I was tired of it before but I’ve had too many people lecturing me on what I already know. I can stand on my own two feet without a helping hand.”
“I never said you couldn’t, Sakura.” He replied softly, hands slipping into his pants pockets.
“It’s not you, Kakashi Sensei!” She added the formality to his name out of sudden habit, immediately turning her gaze to the side with a jaded expression. Sakura forced the air from her lungs in an exaggerated sigh, folding her arms across her chest; she was shutting off from the conversation and her old instructor could read it all over her body.
“It wouldn’t be weak if you did ask for help, though. There is strength in reaching out for help.” He continued as if she hadn’t interrupted him. “Having too much pride will get you killed.”
The breeze sifted through the leaves of the trees that had survived the kunoichi’s attacks, rustling around the quiet scene of instructor and student, now both lost in their own thoughts. The scarecrow regarded her with tenderness while she stood closed off before him, almost a daughter to the Jounin in ways no other female student had been.
“I stumbled into Shikamaru’s group on the way back into Konoha,” Kakashi began another subject in hope that she would open up again. His idea had worked; her head had turned slightly towards him with eyebrows cocked. Holding back a smile he continued, “I was hoping that I would find Naruto in high spirits, since his personality is a breath of fresh air compared to the teams I’m sent on missions with. But,” The Jounin shifted his weight from one leg to the other, “Not only was Naruto in a sour mood, but the entire group seemed to have something stuck up their nether region.”
He heard her mumble something along the lines of ‘my fault’ and his visible eye widened in interest.
“Hm?” He leaned forward on his toes, hands still in his pockets.
She shifted uneasily, arms unfolding slowly before she began to run her gloved fingers over her upper left one. “I think I upset Naruto when they left a few days ago.” Sakura answered him sullenly.
“Upset him? Naruto has never been upset with you.”
“I know, which is why it makes me feel worse,” The kunoichi kicked the pebbles of dirt at her feet, remembering the face the kitsune had left with her. “I’m sort of dating Lee…well, I don’t really know now, but, I never said anything to Naruto about it…”
He decided to ignore the confession about his rival’s student, instead he focused on Naruto. “Sakura, Naruto is your friend, not your boyfriend. If he’s upset, he’ll get over it…this is Naruto we’re talking about.”
The girl nodded in agreement, “I know…but he stayed by my side when I was at my worst so the last thing I want to do is hurt him.”
“I doubt you dating Lee or not dating Lee would make the entire group upset, so don’t put the fault on yourself.”
“When Lee was leaving I called out for Sasuke.”
The x-factor had finally revealed itself. Kakashi masked his surprise well, but inside the statement had hit him like a ton of bricks. Not only had Sakura’s farewell call severely affected Lee, but in turn had upset Naruto because of his territorial attitude towards the kunoichi, and with Kiba to instigate and Shikamaru unable to forcefully disperse the fighting due to his apathetic nature, the cell had turned into a festering group of touchy teenage boys. An exasperated sigh escaped him.
“I’m sure the reunion will be exciting then,” He half joked, removing a hand from his pocket to rub the back of his neck. Silence fell over them again and once more Kakashi broke it. “I still have to report to Tsunade, so I should get going before she tears up the village looking for me.”
“Of course,” Her smile was sad as she looked at him, restraining herself from shying away as her former teacher walked towards her. The copy-nin came to a stop about a foot away, outstretching his arm with a closed fist.
“Open your hand,” He urged her softly.
The rose-haired girl observed his gaze before complying, fingers spreading with slight hesitance. His fingertips brushed her cloaked palm then were gone as quickly as they came. She looked down at her hand, surprised to see the miniature bell sitting there, with its thin red thread dangling over the side of her palm. Sakura pulled off her glove, the bell jingling as she rolled it between her fingers.
“Kakashi Sen…” She began in a whisper.
“I thought about using the bell test with my new students, but every time I considered it, it just didn’t seem right. You, Naruto…even Sasuke; this memory belongs to you three.” He had cut her off to avoid a situation more sentimental than it needed to be. His visible eye crinkled in that telltale masked smile, reaching out to ruffle those choppy pink strands. “You’ve all exceeded any expectations I originally had for you and then some…I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t proud.” His shoulders rose and fell in a sigh before he stepped back and turned to retreat from her, raising his hand in a farewell wave. “Take care, Sakura.”
The kunoichi watched her former instructor take his leave with the familiar sadness she had each time she watched someone go. Sakura clenched the bell in her fist, the metal cool against the heat between her fingers.
“Kakashi!” She called out suddenly.
He paused in his steps, casting a glance over his shoulder, “What is it?”
“Who…” Sakura bit her lower lip in momentary hesitance, “There were only two bells so…who did you give the other one to?”
His back was to her when the question was asked, but even if he had faced her, that tiny smirk still would have been hidden.
“Sasuke, before he left.” The copy-nin left his answer short, knowing she wanted something more.
“Did you know he was going to leave?” She clutched the bell tighter.
He stayed quiet for a moment before tilting his head towards the treetops, “I had a feeling, and it was only a matter of time.” Kakashi raised his hand in another wave, beginning his steps again. “He’ll be back someday, Sakura, but it would be best to forget about him for now.”
She raised her head to retort the impossibility of that suggestion but found that he was no longer there; once again she was the one being left alone.
He’s right you know…
Sakura shook her head to dismiss the inner voice that plagued her on a constant basis. The birds in the surrounding area fluttered from their forest haven as the ground shattered around them with the force of earthquake soon after.
Meanwhile…
The mist that surrounded the team made it difficult to tell where their attackers were but that certainly didn't stop the quite overzealous Lee from trying. The dark-haired boy stepped away from the group, carefully spinning on his heel to change position as he waited, and waited... before leaping into the air, his body twisting more rapidly this time with his foot extended. Connect. He felt his foot hit something and judging from the loud crack, he could easily assume it was the face. That man wouldn't be getting up for a while... though the mist remained, clearly indicating he wasn't the user of the jutsu. This, however, left Lee open to attack, his back vulnerable.
A series of six kunai rained down, one sinking into his left shoulder blade and another into his left hip. In spite of the pain that shot through his body briefly, Lee was able to roll out of the way, the other four kunai missing him completely. The pain was nothing compared to what he had felt before in his few years, and it was certainly not going to get the best of him.
Kiba, in the midst of Lee's attack, was having an easier time, however. The mist was enough to obscure his vision, but nothing could hide their scent, not from him and Akamaru. They both sniffed at the air several times, Kiba's dark eyebrows furrowing in concentration. He counted quietly to himself at first. One, two, three... By the time he reached three, he noted Lee being attacked by the disembodied kunai. That made four.
Shikamaru backed up, finding that he was bumping into something in his immediate vicinity, the assailant forcing him to the ground as he wrestled his arm behind him. Kiba and Akamaru acted, immediately, losing count of their attackers; Akamaru sniffed out the foot of Shikamaru's offender and bit down on his ankle, trying to forcefully drag him off of the boy. Again, not the target they needed, though Akamaru saw the need to sink his teeth in deeper into the ankle, refusing to let go until Kiba dealt with him.
The Inuzuka boy wouldn't get the chance, however, as a slash with a kunai to Akamaru's left ear caused him to release the Nin, leaving a trail of blood with him. Naruto had already taken a blow to his gut, and then another one to his right hip. He didn't have time to think, not that he used such time to his advantage anyway. The blonde’s hands came together quickly in a hand seal as he performed the Kage Bunshin, several clones suddenly appearing from whiffs of smoke around him, though no sooner had that appeared had once been dissipated with an offending shuriken. Lee was unable to pull the kunai from his back, though he managed to remove the one in his hip, which helped him in deflecting a shuriken that hurdled toward his chest.
"Damn it, Shikamaru!" Naruto yelled. "Think of something!"
With a puff of smoke, another clone was dispersed, leaving Naruto with only two. He, along with Shikamaru and Lee, could feel the wind suddenly whipping up as Kiba's body propelled itself in one direction like a black drill, Akamaru acting as the polar opposite; a scream. Kiba hit something, or rather someone, skidding to the ground to pin him in place, the warmth of blood from an open wound in the ninja's stomach oozing over Kiba's face. Kiba had him exactly where he needed up, pulling a kunai into hand and driving it directly into the Kirigakure shinobi's throat. A deep, gurgling sound could be heard as he started to choke on his own blood, though bleeding out before he could die of asphyxiation.
In the heat of the killing moment, Kiba was left open, tackled from the corpse as he felt the cold steel of a kunai under his stomach and press in deep. He coughed, hissing with a sudden inhalation as he tried to fight off his attacker. A second one got him from the side, digging into his right hip and then a third into his right shoulder, howling out in pain. Naruto's final clone had been attacked and destroyed, and Lee was again assaulted, trying to retaliate with a series of kicks that only hit air. When the flurry of attacks stopped, he was struck again from behind, this time tripped, his feet kicked out from under him.
In the course of his fall, Lee tried to counter, punching out to his side, hearing the sound of a shattering kneecap. The Mist Nin didn't seem to be as deeply affected by it as he had hoped, a kunai finding its way into Lee's chest, just missing his heart. This trapped his attacker however, much like how it did with Kiba. Lee gripped the arm that still held the kunai and Kiba did the same to his attacker from the front.
"Now!" they cried out in unison.
Naruto's hand was already rearing back as he was standing over Lee, the swirling sphere of chakra in his hand pulsing with power before being driven into the body of the Mist shinobi held in place. In a rapid twirl it sliced through the armor and flesh of the attacker until he was thrown into the fog, the faraway sounds of a tree splitting echoing throughout the wood.
The mist slowly dispersed from the scene, hands that had finished making seals dropping to their owners’ side while he gazed upon the group from a distance. A retreating Mist Nin came behind him, dropping to one knee and silently awaiting his orders. The same black mamba slithered past the lackey and up the curve of the latter’s calve, its’ tongue flicking in and out innocently.
“Send anonymous word to Konoha of their group.” His voice was deep and silky.
“Taishou, forgive me, but you told us to attack them and now you are going to help them?” The Mist Nin lifted his head in confusion.
“Kaminari no Kuni is my territory. I was simply making it known. I would hate to have an unnecessary war on my hands,” He replied in the same smooth voice as the mamba slid over his shoulder.
Two more Mist Nin came behind the first, kneeling in the same position; the first nodded in understanding. “We shall send word to Konoha immediately.”
In silence the three shinobi disappeared, leaving the leader to his thoughts. He reached up to stroke the skin of his pet, taking in the sad scene below him with tainted crimson eyes.
“I’ve stayed away for far too long, dobe.” A tiny tug at the corner of his lips was gone as quickly as it came, turning on his heel to disappear in kind. “I’ll be home soon…but not for you, perhaps.” And then the leader faded into the shadows.
“Naruto, are you alright?” Shikamaru had finally caught his breath, coming out of the fight with no more than some bruised ribs.
The blood that had been spilling from his wounds before was already slowing and soon would be sealing up effortlessly. The blonde spit out a clot that was stuck inside his cheek before nodding, “Yea, I’m fine. How about you, mutt?” his cerulean eyes darted to the Inuzuka boy who, at that moment, was being nudged by the blood-clumped muzzle of Akamaru. Naruto swallowed back the taste of copper in his mouth, moving to pull himself off the ground. “Oi, Kiba…”
“I’ve been better,” the brunette croaked to appease the other, or at least to assure the group he wasn’t dead; Akamaru whined incessantly.
“His wounds are bad; we can’t finish a mission like this.” Shikamaru sighed, resisting his trademark troublesome line.
“Gejimayu is just as bad…” the blonde nudged Lee’s thigh with his foot. “How are you holding up, Lee?”
Silence came in response. Shikamaru pulled up his knees to rest his forearms on them, dark gaze moving over the lotus boy. “Lee, say something.”
Still nothing. Shikamaru and Naruto exchanged looks before a sudden gurgle in the boy’s throat interrupted them. It was followed by a cough of blood, spurting over his lips and down the side of his jaw.
“He’s unconscious,” the team leader whispered. His eyes drifted over Lee’s multiple wounds, the one on his chest gaping, deep, and dangerously close to his heart. “We can’t move him like this. Kiba is a lost cause as well.”
“Go,” was all the jinchuuriki replied, eyes glued to his two wounded friends.”
Shikamaru shook his head, “I’m not about to leave you alone with two wounded shinobi, Naruto. The best idea is to send a scroll back with Akamaru…”
“I can take care of them, Shikamaru.” he responded in a choked voice, fists clenched.
“Naruto…”
“GO, SHIKAMARU!” the blonde growled, his harsh tone laced with urgency.
He watched the blonde crouch over the other two boys, already pulling out what little medical supplies they had brought to patch whatever he could. Shikamaru could continue to argue with how irrational he was being, but that would only waste more time, and that was the most precious thing that had at the moment. Slowly he rose from the ground, routinely dusting clean his cut-offs before turning on his heel to depart.
He cast one last look at the jinchuuriki, “Take care of them, Naruto.”
A nearby branch creaked from Shikamaru’s weight and then the shadow genius was gone, leaving the blonde to curse in his absence.
Silently he began to wipe away the blood from Lee’s wounds, bandaging the smallest and adding pressure to the ones still flowing. Akamaru had moved behind his owner, propping him up so that the boy was cradled in his soft fur; a small comfort to ease the amount of pain he was in. The blonde watched the lotus boy’s face for the longest time, an overwhelming sadness coming over him.
“Sakura chan will have my neck…” he whispered to the breeze.
She lifted her foot to rest it on the coffee table, wincing at the pain in her cramped muscles. Sakura wrapped the hot towel around her calf, letting out a deep breath as those same muscles relaxed slightly. The kunoichi leaned back into the sofa cushions, a contemplative expression on her face as she stared at her toes. Maybe training for hours on end after such a long absence wasn’t such a great idea after all.
Her head picked up suddenly when the vase behind her tipped over on the counter, the daffodil it held limp over the side as water spilled onto the floor. As she stared at the wilting petals a small suspicion nagged at the back of her mind, the clock on the wall ticking the countdown to midnight.
“Lee.”
Author’s Notes// Sooo, this was my longest chapter! With good reason I suppose. I hope you enjoyed the fight scene (Thanks to Matt ;D) and you should be able to figure out the owner of that snake is now, you smart cookies you. Chapter 9 will be up as soon as I can manage. PLEASE! Review, while favorites and alerts are appreciated, a review reeeaaaally hits the spot.
Fun with Japanese!
I don’t think I put very much Japanese in at all this chapter. shrug Oh, well. Next chapter for sure!
“Taishou…” Basically ‘leader’ but it could also be ‘boss’, ‘commander’ etc.
“Gejimayu…” Lee’s nickname again. “Bushy brows”
Much love, Usagi