Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Of Love and Betrayal ❯ Revelations ( Chapter 16 )

-XVI-

Revelations

 

Jumping through the tree's as fast as he could, Kakashi tried to keep the panic that was building within him under control. He knew something wasn't right when he was getting no answer back from Sakura after she had entered the mansion. He had made sure himself that her transmition set was working correctly before she left, but when she entered the building it had just emitted static in his ear. They had waited anxiously for any answer at all from her for the next thirty minutes, but when nothing came he had decided to give the signal to move in, his panic overriding any sense of self preservation that he had. When he felt her unique chakra signal again he had been practically choked with the sense of relief that he felt.

`She was alive, thank Kami…I'm going to kill her for not answering us.'

Just as he thought this the large building to his right completely exploded and collapsed before his eyes. Jumping away from the heat of the blast, he continued running through the tree-tops, careful to avoid the portions of the forest that had caught fire due to the explosion. Finally breaking through the trees, he landed in a small clearing which, to his relief, was occupied by Sakura and a small boy that clung to her side.

“Swan, are you alright? What the hell happened back there, we lost complete communication with you!” Kakashi said, trying very hard not to yell.

Sakura looked up at the sound of his voice, a scowl on her face. “It's not like I purposely didn't say anything so don't get mad at me wolf…The minute I got in there I got knocked unconscious.”

Looking down at the small boy that clutched to her side she put a reassuring hand on the boys head.

“This little guy was the one who woke me up; I didn't find anyone else in the mansion. The only one in there, other than guards, was him.”

Kakashi glanced down at the little boy; He was not able to see his face, since the boy was tucking it into Sakura's side.

“It could be a trap…” He started a warning in his tone.

Sakura shook her head and took out a scroll from her kimono, which he noticed was not the same one she had been wearing when she had entered the mansion.

“The little boy gave me this scroll to give to Tsunade; apparently this whole mission was a set up so that whoever it was that was pulling the strings here could get into contact with the Hokage. I don't really know that many details but I know that we need to get back to Konoha as fast as possible. Something bad is about to happen and it looks like our village is in the middle of it,” She said avoiding his eyes.

Kakashi's eyes narrowed suspiciously but he just nodded in understanding and turned just as the last two members of their team arrived.

“Yeah! That was fun! Finally we got some action on a mission, it feels nice to let out some steam,” Kaijo said, his blue eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Tiger, Eagle did you take care of the straggling guards?”

Naizu walked out from behind Kaijo and nodded, throwing his bound black hair over his shoulder.

“We took care of the rest…Are you okay swan? We were worried.”

Sakura nodded tiredly, a small smile on her face. “Yea I'm fine I just got a little bump on the head that's all.”

“We should start heading back to Konoha right away if what you say is true, we need to get that scroll to the Hokage as soon as possible. Tiger and Eagle you both go back to our hotel room and get our things, then meet us at the bridge. Sakura I know you're tired so just head straight to the entrance we should all be there within the next hour. Heal yourself and rest a little while you wait, we are not going to stop until nighttime.”

Stretching his arm over his head, Kaijo smiled and turned to Naizu. “You wanna race?”

Naizu just shook his head, a smirk present on his features. “Why? We already know you would lose.”

“Yea you wish!” Kaijo yelled and then took off into the woods, Naizu right on his heels.

Turning back to the pink-haired kunoichi, Kakashi slid down his mask over his face. “I'll see you two in an hour,” He said and then took off through the woods.

Sakura looked down at the little boy that was clutching to her side. “Hey are you okay? Can you walk?”

The little boy looked up at her, his eyes slightly watery. “I-I think so. Swan-Chan I'm scared.”

Sakura knelt down and pulled back the little boys black bangs. “Don't worry your safe with me; I won't let anybody hurt you. Come on let's get going to the bridge.” Turning around she knelt down, her back to the boy.

“Come on, let me give you a piggy back ride there,” She said and the little boy hesitantly climbed onto her back, his little face digging into her hair.

“Don't worry I won't drop you, just hold on tight,” she said and took off as fast as she dared, trying not to scare the boy on her back anymore then he was already scared.

0o0

Kakashi arrived at the bridge just as Sakura had finished healing herself and the small boy. Kaijo and Naizu arrived a couple of minutes later, dropping their heavy load on the ground.

“I went back to the mansion and didn't find anything suspicious. The explosion was caused by a ninjutsu, of that I'm sure I could feel the remnants of a familiar chakra signal. Other than that I couldn't find anything else,” Kakashi said while digging into his pack and pulling out his water.

“Do you think you're alright to travel swan?” Kakashi asked, taking a large swig from the canteen.

Sakura nodded and turned to her other teammates. “I need to carry this little guy so I won't be able to carry my bags would u mind carrying them for me?”

“Yea no problem Swan, a little extra weight won't slow me down,” Kaijo said enthusiastically, lifting up Sakura's bags as well as his own.

Gently picking up the now sleeping child she gingerly placed him on her back and took a rope out of her bag, tying it around the boy and herself.

“Who do you think he is? It's weird that he would be alone in that mansion with all those guards. Why would he have a scroll for the Hokage anyways?” Naizu asked, his pale eyes watching the sleeping boy curiously.

“I don't know but he said that he was told I would be coming. I already checked if he was real and there is nothing suspicious on his person. For now I put him to sleep so he should be out for the rest of day,” Sakura said.

“Come on we have to start heading back, we have a hard three days run to get home. Sakura let me know if you get tired and we will stop.”

Sakura nodded and took off running, the others following close behind.

They ran for three days only stopping twice to rest and eat at night. On the third day they finally entered the lush forest that surrounded the leaf village. Feeling her load shift slightly, Sakura jumped from the tree branch she was in and started to jog slowly on the path leading up to the main gate.

“The tree's here are pretty, the leaves are green and pretty like your eyes Swan-Chan,” She heard the little boy say and she smiled looking back over her shoulder.

Sakura came to a stop as they entered the large red doors of the main gate and tried to catch her breath.

“Come on we need to go see the Hokage immediately,” Kakashi said taking off towards the large red building in the middle of the village.

`Jeez can't a girl catch her breath?' Sakura fumed and then took off after Kakashi and the rest of her team.

Once they arrived at the large building, they immediately walked in and made their way to the Hokage's office.

“Hokage-sama is in a meeting right now, would you mind waiting for her to return?” Shizune said as they went to knock on the door.

“Yea just let her know ANBU team 5 is back from our mission and it's imperative that we see her.”

Shizune nodded and slipped into the large office. Ten minutes later another team of Shinobi left the office and the Shizune came out and gestured for them to go in.

Tsunade was sitting at her large oak desk as usual, her eyes reading over one of the many stacks of paper on her desk. When they entered she looked up, her expression serious.

“You guys are back sooner than expected. What happened on the mission?”

Kakashi went through the mission in detail up to the point where Sakura went into the mansion and than Sakura took over and retold her experience in the mansion. After they were done Tsunade nodded thoughtfully.

“I definitely think your right Kakashi, there is more going on here than is apparent. Where is the child you spoke about?”

“He is outside waiting for us…Sensei may I speak to you in private please?” Sakura said not looking at her comrades.

Tsunade nodded, confusion showing on her face. “That's fine, for the rest of you, the mission is going to be labeled a failure but I still want you to write a report for me by tomorrow. You will have the rest of the week off, enjoy your time off I have a feeling things are about to become dangerous very soon,” Tsunade said, dismissing the rest of the team.

Nodding in understanding Kaijo, Naizu, and Kakashi all turned and left the office, only Kakashi glanced back at Sakura as he left.

Once the door was closed Sakura sank down into the chair before the huge oak desk.

“Sensei I didn't tell you the whole story just now…I haven't told the rest of my team but while I was inside the mansion I ran into Uchiha Itachi and he told me to give you this,” Sakura said pulling out a scroll and handing it to Tsunade.

Tsunade took it gingerly, her eyes wide with surprise. “What did he tell you?”

Sakura went through the entire conversation between her and Itachi and when she was finished she looked back up at Tsunade to find sadness radiating from her golden eyes.

Tsunade sighed “I am sorry Sakura, but what he said is true…the village elders did order for the massacre of the Uchiha clan. The other things he told you I have not heard anything about. As for the boy I have a feeling that the scroll he gave you will tell you more about that. I will let you keep the other scroll since he said it was for you only. One more thing...that boy don't let him leave your sight, we still don't know the purpose for him being here. I will look over this scroll and let you know more details later. Go home Sakura, get some sleep you look like you need it.”

“Thank you sensei…” Sakura said quietly, leaving the office.

`All this time we thought you were the enemy when in reality you were innocent. How much have you suffered at the hands of this village?'

She felt a stab of pain deep in her chest knowing that Itachi was still somewhere out there, alone and working to try and save the same village that killed his family.

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Authors Note:

Okay so this is my first update in like two years WHOOHOO!! lol. It's about time I finished this fic and I'm afraid that with the new revelations this fic is going to be kind of long. I'm predicting maybe 10 or 15 more chapters.

Next Chapter:

Sakura goes home with the little boy and after tucking him in she finally reads the scroll and finds out something that tests her strength and her ability to forgive.