Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Regret Not A Thing ❯ Ch. 19: We Merry Few ( Chapter 19 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Regret Not A Thing

By Mizerable

Ch. 19: We Merry Few

The euphoria wore off.

“Tsunade-shish—The Hokage isn't going to sanction this kind of mission,” Sakura spoke gravely from within the Nagano Shrine, “Especially not with you on board for it.”

Naruto gave a vague nod to show he was still listening, eyes scanning over the information Sasuke left behind on the Akatsuki. The more he read, the more dread filled his being.

“She'd probably send jounin and Anbu squads,” Sakura added almost as an afterthought.

“And we all know how well that turned out,” Naruto spat, the death of Asuma fresh in his mind. Somehow the blood felt heavy on his own hands. It was his damn fight! Why the hell did a guy like Asuma have to go get killed because of him—

“This is different, Naruto,” she tried to speak in a soothing voice, though her own nerves were ragged, “This is bigger than anything we've ever done. You know the two of us aren't enough. One squad isn't enough. This is the Akatsuki we're talking about, for god's sake!”

“You think I don't know that!”

He couldn't help but be short with her. He knew better than anyone what they were up against. He could even feel the fox's displeasure in his subconscious, disgusted with the idea of trading one prison for another.

Sakura slumped to the floor looking absolutely dejected. Like she lost hope. Like she was giving up.

“We won't even be able to use the pretense of a mission, you know? We're just going to have to leave. Sneak out of here like criminals…”

Like Sasuke, all those years ago.

“What?” he snapped, “You don't think we can pull this off?”

You don't think the others will help?

“We have to ask people to possibly die for this!” she shouted, drawing her eyes on him like knives, “And for someone most still call a traitor, no less! I doubt their loyalty will go that far, Naruto…”

Naruto swore something broke inside him. Was this really Sakura-chan? He knew these years had been hard on her. But to have changed this much? To have lost her faith in her fellow shinobi this much?

“Will it stop you from asking them?” Naruto spoke softly, “Even if it's a one in a million shot, are you too afraid to ask the others?”

“How many times?” she whispered, her hands wound tight in her hair, “How man times have we tried to save him and failed? No one else even cares about Sasuke-kun the way we do. Do you honestly think everyone's going to jump at the chance to try again?”

Point taken. Considering Sasuke may already be—

“And if they say no?” Naruto sank to the ground next to her, looking her in the eye with a grim expression on his face, “Will that keep you from going after Sasuke?”

She gave a weak, brittle laugh as she pondered his words.

“No,” she realized, “I guess it wouldn't.”

“Well, that settles it,” Naruto clung to the bit of confidence he gained back, “If we're crazy enough to chase down the Akatsuki just to bring Sasuke back, asking everybody else to do the same should be a walk in the park!”

Sakura smiled, truly smiled, at his words. Crazy was certainly the right word for the stunt they were about to pull.

“I—I could talk to the Sand siblings. Shouldn't be too hard to get them to agree,” she decided, willing her hands to stop trembling, “And Hinata could help me with the cure…”

“I'll talk to Hinata,” Naruto blurted out, catching Sakura by surprise, “Err…Well, I can't have you running around doing all the work. It'll look suspicious.”

Sakura's face softened. There was no point in debating this with Naruto. It was plain as day why he felt the need to go himself.

“Don't worry, Naruto. Hinata's not the sort of person to hold a grudge.”

Judging from his wide-eyed look, she'd hit the nail on the head. He was still feeling guilty for the way he treated Hinata the day they found out Sasuke had been back in Konoha. Besides, Sakura mused to herself, maybe it was better this way. Granted Hinata would probably agree to help if she asked, but having Naruto do this was a surefire guarantee.

She rose to her feet and dusted herself off before extending a hand to Naruto. Once she hauled him to his feet, she kept a tight grip on his hand.

“Well, here's to loyalty.”

Naruto gave his best fox grin in return.

“To loyalty.”

* * *

Shikamaru sat in a chair, hair loose and damp, watching Temari systematically pull apart and reorganize his room. Every now and then she made a sound of disgust after finding more pill bottles, mostly empty ones, stashed in drawers. Some were in the bottom of his closet, even. In some ways it wasn't so unlike an Anbu raid to him, and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

Even if he had anything worth saying, her dark expression chased the words from his mind. His brain, being in the state it was, thought it odd to see her hair pulled back into one messy knot while it dried.

What would you think of me now, Chouji? Being looked after by a woman, like this…

Strangely, he felt like Chouji was probably smiling somewhere. Smiling at the knowledge that his friend just might be climbing out of the darkness at last.

* * *

Sakura knocked anxiously at the hotel door before wrapping her arms around herself to stave off the evening chill. She knew how odd this must seem; she never came around here. And she was startled even further when Kankurou opened the door without any of his usual make-up on. He merely raised an eyebrow at her, not remotely sure what could have brought her around this place.

“Um…Is Temari-san available?”

“She's not here,” a rather closed response.

“Oh—okay. Could you tell her I came by, maybe?”

“What's this about?” he leaned against the doorjamb, arms crossed, “I don't remember you two ever being buddy-buddy.”

“Well…” Sakura trailed off. True, she didn't know Temari particularly well. But she knew Kankurou even less. It made it that much harder to ask for the help she needed from them. Kankurou just rolled his eyes at her.

“Are you gonna come in or do you plan on hovering in the doorway all night?”

She blinked in surprise before hesitantly accepting his invitation. The hotel room looked so…lived in. She vaguely wondered why the three didn't just get an apartment, all while scanning her surroundings.

“Gaara's not here, either. If that's what you're worried about.”

There'd been a certain defensive note behind his words.

“It was,” she answered bluntly, “Because I have a favor to ask, and it's probably best if he doesn't hear it.”

“Oh?” Kankurou sounded equal parts curious and suspicious at the idea.

“Naruto and I…We need Temari-san's help. And yours.”

“Depends on what you're asking for.”

Her voice could barely carry the words out of her mouth. It seemed even more frightening a prospect now that she was here with someone who wasn't Naruto, talking about their intentions.

“We're going after the Akatsuki.”

Kankurou took a step back, eyes wide with pinpoint pupils.

“How the hell do you plan on doing that?”

A faint, wistful and sad smile crossed her features.

“A good friend gave us a little gift before he left.”

Disappeared.

It wasn't that hard for Kankurou to figure out she meant that Uchiha kid. And wasn't that brother he killed an Akatsuki member? Well. This made her sudden visit make a lot more sense now.

“You're nuts, you know,” he sneered, while Sakura looked disappointed, “If you think Gaara will stay out of this.”

Her head snapped up to finally face him; his usual smirk was in place. And somehow, somehow, the weight against her shoulders suddenly felt a bit lighter.

“And if you're gonna scour the village looking for my sister, your best bet is to try finding Shikamaru.”

“Shikamaru?” she echoed. Sure, she heard the rumors now and then. But she was also pretty sure Shikamaru and Ino were…Did Ino know about all this?

She mentally shook her head. She didn't have time to contemplate what it all meant right now. There were much bigger issues at stake right now.

“I—Thank you. I'll check his place,” she finally replied, vaguely wondering if she was a hypocrite. Asking Shikamaru to go after the Akatsuki was a blatant request for revenge on his part. The very thing they tried to keep Sasuke from all those years ago.

She left the hotel with the strange sense that everything that had happened until now might have had a purpose, after all.

To prepare them all for this very moment.

For this very mission.

* * *

Naruto shuffled home with heavy feet. There were people he should be seeing, things he should be asking of them. He didn't have time to come home and dwell on this mess. But here he was. He slipped inside and leaned against the shut door at his back. Had he ever felt so drained before?

What happened to that loudmouth kid that wasn't afraid of anything? Since when did he let that pesky little thing called “logic” drag him down?

Maybe he was getting old…

He remained in place in silence, in darkness. Somehow a defeat that hadn't even happened yet was leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. Or maybe it was the memory of losing. Losing Sasuke. Again.

With a long sigh, he reached for the light switch. Across the room, Gaara stared back.

“Gah!” Naruto nearly fell over in shock, “You've gotta stop doing that!”

Gaara simply maintained his cold silence.

“Err…Why are you here?”

“You're up to something.”

Naruto swallowed thickly. Was this guy a psychic?

All he could manage at first was a nervous laugh in response.

“What makes you think that?”

“Uchiha is missing. Undoubtedly you plan to go after him.”

“I—I don't even know where to start. I mean, I'm not even sure he's still—”

“You're also a terrible liar.”

Naruto rubbed at the back of his neck. Nothing seemed to get by Gaara.

“Look, it's my problem. You don't have to worry about it,” he played it casual.

“We are…friends, are we not?”

Even though Gaara's face was impassive as always, Naruto's eyes became impossibly wide. He knew damn well what it took for Gaara to admit something like that. Never in all his years did he dare hope to actually hear those words spoken aloud by this person. It warmed him with a feeling that had been absent for far too long: hope.

“Of course!” Naruto answered with a grin, a real one, “Of course, we're friends!”

“Then I will go with you.”

“You can't!” Naruto was quick to respond, that messy thing called logic getting to him again, “What, with you about to become Kazekage, and all. You can't just go running off on rogue missions, right?”

He wasn't going to risk hoping too much. He couldn't take it.

“Who has him?”

“Wha—?”

“Uchiha,” Gaara gave him a fierce glare, “He didn't just vanish into thin air. Who captured him?”

Gaara was right, after all. Naruto was indeed a terrible liar. No sense even trying now.

“The Akatsuki,” he murmured, lowering his eyes.

He expected Gaara to lose his temper over that admission. For Naruto, of all people, to try and hide this had to be the greatest insult. When the silence dragged on, when Naruto couldn't bear it any longer, he finally forced himself to look at Gaara again. Oddly enough, Gaara seemed…serene.

“How could I dare call myself Kazekage if I cannot save even this one person? If I am too afraid to face my own enemies?” he paused, collecting his thoughts, “This is just as much my fight as it is yours. And we'll face it together.”

Naruto could feel the telltale sting at the back of his eyes. Of course. Of course Gaara needed to do this. He was the only other person in Naruto's life that really understood him. Knew what it meant to live as a jinchuuriki. Naruto himself was determined to become Hokage, yet he was still willing to risk it all. For one fight. For one person.

“Okay,” Naruto's voice was shaky, somber even as he extended his hand, “Together, then.”

Gaara stared intently at the outstretched hand. This was different than his sister reaching for him, and somehow that much more awkward for him. There was the subtle shift of sand curling, pushing his arm up. He reached out and shook Naruto's hand, sealing the deal. This bond was thicker than even blood. This was the solidarity of two souls knowing one another perfectly. Gaara wondered, considering this was to be the most dangerous mission they would even embark upon, if he ever felt as calm as he did at this moment.

And Naruto finally remembered why he never heeded to that silly “logic” thing before. He was the number one ninja at surprising people. And he had a few people in this village to surprise tonight with one simple question.

Will you help a friend in need?

Even if they all thought Sasuke a traitor, he was at his core still a Leaf. One of their own. And he was definitely in need of saving.

One more time.

* * *

Lee found himself before the gates of the Hyuuga Estate, carefully planning his words. The guard on duty did not seem to be particularly thrilled over Lee's arrival.

“I apologize for the late hour,” when all else failed when dealing with the Hyuuga, be ridiculously formal, “But it is of great importance that I speak with Neji. I understand he is consumed with preparations for his marriage—”

The guard went in search of Neji just to avoid Lee's incessant rambling, leaving him alone in the courtyard. He tried not to fidget or pace, lest he give away his nervousness. He tried to focus on the moonlight reflecting against the koi pond. If he concentrated hard enough, he could make out the fish swimming through the dark water.

“I trust you have a good reason for coming here this late,” Neji spoke blandly, the vaguest hint of irritation.

“I don't know if it's good reason, but it is something you should hear,” Lee was oddly serious. That was enough to raise red flags in Neji's mind.

“Is there a mission?”

Lee sighed heavily. Suddenly this didn't seem as easy as he thought it would be. He limited the movement of his mouth in case anyone was watching, considering this was the Hyuuga grounds he was standing on. Neji closed his eyes as he processed the information. After everything that happened in Water Country, he should have expected this.

That woman had been right. There was a lot they didn't know about.

“Who else is aware of this?”

“The Sand siblings.”

A very long pause.

“That's it?”

“Err…as far as I know.”

“…Go home for now and make sure no one sees you. We'll meet up later.”

Out of sight, Hinata leaned against the side of the building with both hands covering her mouth. The world seemed to shift on its axis and she wondered if she had ever been so afraid before. And it wasn't even her own life she feared for.

* * *

Naruto paced back and forth before the looming gates of the Hyuuga Estate. For some reason, he was absolutely terrified to be here. It wasn't as if he would be particularly upset if Neji had to decline the mission. Granted, it wouldn't bode well in the big scheme of things, but Naruto understood that it just might not be something feasible for even Neji to pull off. Considering he had the ridiculous marriage approaching…

But the truth of the matter was that he was afraid to even see Hinata.

He might have been adamant about it when he told Sakura of his plan. Now that he was actually here, his courage seemed to waver. He'd been so cold the last time they spoke and, well, a downright asshole about things. She, of course, had been right all along and really had been trying to help. Above all things, what he really owed her was an apology. Yet here he was looking to ask for a favor. A life-threatening favor. Could he really count on an apology to be enough to convince her to help? What if she thought he was just using her—

Damn it all!

The gates suddenly opened and Naruto pressed his back against the wall, hoping the side of a pillar would provide enough of a shield to keep him out of sight. He couldn't afford to get caught slinking around here, especially if it was someone important making a late call to the noble Hyuuga.

When the person exited, Naruto saw their expression to be a peculiar mixture of anxiety and relief all at once over whatever brought that person here. And Naruto allowed himself a small smile at that.

Undoubtedly Gaara had been by to inform Fuzzy Brows.

It seemed he had no business here now that Lee had come by. There was no sense in sticking around. Once Lee was out of sight, he figured it was safe enough for him to carry on his way. He turned down the street, hands jammed in his pockets while debating the next stop he should make.

“N…Naruto-kun?”

He spun fast on his heels to find Hinata standing in the middle of the road dressed in a white sleeping yukata with a dove gray over-robe thrown around her shoulders.

“Ah—hey,” he spoke hesitantly, “I was just, um…”

Hinata kept her head down, worrying her fingers together nervously.

“I was—I mean, I didn't mean to overhear! But, I…”

“Fuzzy Brows didn't ask you?”

She gave a slight shake of the head.

“Oh…Well, you can come. I mean, if you want to,” he stumbled over his words.

“I don't want to be a burden. If you don't need me—”

“I need you!” he blurted out, catching her by surprise, “We really need your help.”

“Okay,” she offered meekly.

“I mean it,” he grew quiet, “You'd been right from the start, even though I'd been too damn stubborn to listen that day…”

“You were upset, so I can't blame you for getting angry with me,” a weak smile, “It's okay now—”

“No, it's not okay!” he interrupted her yet again, startling her, “You can get mad, too, you know? You shouldn't just let people talk down to you like that!”

“But you were so upset…”

“Bullshit! You didn't do anything wrong. I lashed out at you like some fuckin' spoiled brat, when you were one of the only people actually trying to save Sasuke.”

“Naruto-kun,” she murmured, eyes threatening to water. This was rapidly becoming such a surreal moment for her. Standing here in the moonlight with Naruto as he spoke so openly with her. While she didn't need to hear his regret over that incident, she knew he must have felt badly about it, it warmed her heart to think he cared enough for her to actually have to say it. On top of the fact that he just told her he needed her…

“I'm sorry!” he shouted and Hinata bit her lip to keep the tears back, “You stood up for what you believed in, and I made you cry for that. Just…don't ever change. `Cause I don't want you to change. I—”

Naruto turned away from her, shoulders quivering, caught somewhere between anger and overwhelming regret. Cautiously, Hinata reached out and curled her fingers around his. She let her hair fall in front of her face to hide her blush as he faced her once again.

“I've already changed,” she whispered, “I became a stronger person, a better person.”

“Ah—yeah. You are a strong person,” Naruto easily admitted.

“I—I learned that from you.”

It was Naruto's turn to blush.

“We probably shouldn't stay here,” Hinata conceded.

“Probably not,” Naruto agreed, though neither moved, “You sure you're okay with this? Your family…”

“I'm not afraid.”

Not of them, at any rate.

“Really?”

“Yes. Because I know this is the right thing to do.”

He laughed a little, finally relaxing.

“Can't argue with that.”

They disappeared into the night, never noticing how their hands still lingered together.

* * *

Shikamaru finally opened the window after the third rock smacked against the glass. At least he could assume this sort of method to get his attention wouldn't entail an Anbu mission. He glanced out into the dark to see Sakura standing below. She offered a sheepish wave as a greeting but her serious expression led him to believe this wasn't a mere social call. He rolled his eyes and took a step back, leaving her room to leap to the window ledge. What else could happen today?

She opened her mouth to speak and was immediately shushed. With a jerk of the head, he gestured to the side. Sakura spotted Temari leaning against the wall, evidently asleep. She raised an appraising eyebrow as her eyes darted back and forth between Temari and Shikamaru.

Come to think of it, had she ever seen him with his hair down like this before?

“It's not what you think,” he muttered, keeping his own gaze trained to the floor.

“I didn't say anything,” she said breezily. She didn't come here to discuss his personal life. She forced herself not to think of the rumors she'd heard of Shikamaru and Temari. Or the rumors of Shikamaru and Ino.

But she did take note that this room, Shikamaru's room, was spotless. His eyes were red-rimmed and bloodshot, his skin ashen. As if he's been ill or upset, or perhaps both. No, she reconsidered, most likely both.

“Everything okay?” she asked casually, and only received a shrug in response.

He certainly wasn't making this any easier for her. Best to just get this over with, then.

“I won't ask you to go on another mission to save Sasuke-kun. But…”

“`But'?”

He knew he probably wasn't in any real shape to go on a mission at all. Even she had to see that.

“It's the Akatsuki that have him. So I figured that, umm, maybe you…?”

Well. Looked like Temari's theory had been dead on, after all. It did little to lighten his spirits, though.

“Got any info?” he spoke blandly, seemingly disinterested. Even Jiraiya was having trouble pinning these guys down.

“Everything.”

He had to have misheard her. She was speaking so softly out of courtesy for Temari, and all.

“Excuse me?” he rasped, mouth suddenly dry.

“Names, locations, you name it.”

“How—No. Don't answer that,” he ran a hand through his hair, “Sasuke did his homework while tracking down his brother, huh?”

Sakura nodded gently as she reached into her pack to retrieve the two scrolls.

“I'm not trying to dump all the strategizing on you—”

“How much time do we have?” Shikamaru relieved her of the scrolls and cut right to the chase.

“I don't know,” she was grim to admit, “Sasuke-kun may already be—That is to say, we can't guarantee they'll all be there.”

Shikamaru made a sound of agreement, though it was a tough guess which part he intended it for.

“And our crew?”

“Still working on that…”

“…Did you ask Ino?”

“I hadn't planned on it,” hadn't wanted to, “But we could use the help.”

“Don't,” he all but ordered, “If she's there, I…Just don't, okay?”

Sakura smiled weakly as she thought of Ino.

“She'll be pissed when she finds out.”

“Ino doesn't get pissed these days.”

“Hmm,” Sakura grew thoughtful, “We must be thinking of two different people.”

“We are.”

Ino from our childhood, and Ino now that two of her loved ones were dead.

“Tell Naruto to be ready to leave tomorrow night. We'll need enough dark hours to get out without drawing suspicion.”

“Thank you,” Sakura whispered. Though even those words didn't seem to convey all she was feeling.

“Oh, go home already,” Temari grumbled.

“You were awake?” Shikamaru shot her a dubious look while Sakura made a hasty exit.

“Of course, dumbass,” she cracked one eye open, “I'm a ninja. Did you expect me to sleep through all that?”

She stood up and stretched until her back gave a satisfying pop.

“Let's get going.”

“…Where?”

“The hotel. I'd rather my brothers be the only ones to listen in,” she gestured towards the hall, towards his parents' room down the hall.

For some reason, she wanted to laugh and maybe even cry a little as he mumbled something about bossy women under his breath. Why was she so glad to hear him complaining like he used to?

* * *

Temari unlocked the door to her hotel room and felt around for the light switch. Once she flicked it on, she and Shikamaru found Kankurou asleep on the couch. Temari chose to ignore the fact that he probably tried to stay awake until he knew she was back. Instead she knocked him off with a swift kick.

“Huh—Wha—”

“Go sleep in a bed like a normal person,” she scolded.

“Oh, it's you,” he sleepily rubbed at his eyes. Then spotted Shikamaru. His eyes shifted between him and Temari, taking in their appearances. Her hair was tied into a messy knot, her clothes appeared a touch damp. Shikamaru's own hair hung limply around his face.

“Heh, you brought a date back?”

Temari hauled him up by the back of his collar with a growl before shoving him towards the bedroom.

“We're here to work. Unless you fancy getting killed by the first Akatsuki you come across.”

“Nah, that's okay,” he gave a sleepy wave as he stumbled off to bed.

Temari muttered a string of curses under her breath as she cleared off the table to make some work space. Shikamaru stood by lamely with a raised eyebrow. The rumor mill was going to have a field day, no doubt.

Not that he'd be here to worry about it.

He unraveled the scrolls and the pair set into the daunting task ahead of them.

Save a dying man and kill the world's top criminals. What a pain in the ass…But as they studied the information before them, all the humor drained away. Daunting was an understatement. Shikamaru reviewed the information on the Akatsuki and bounced it off the report he'd seen of Asuma's…last mission. One of these guys was his killer, and he was fairly certain he'd narrowed down who it was.

“Temari?”

She nearly jumped from her seat, having been so intent on her work. She took the time to compose herself before turning around to face Gaara. She hadn't even known he was here. Or perhaps she'd just missed him coming in?

“Hey,” she offered a fond smile, “Oh. Did you need some coffee?”

He nodded once and she slipped away to the kitchenette, leaving Gaara with Shikamaru. He chose to take up Temari's empty seat while Shikamaru remained hunched over his notes. That was, until he could no longer ignore the fact that Gaara was staring at him.

Finally he looked up, feeling decidedly uncomfortable.

“…Yes?”

“If you hurt my sister,” Gaara spoke, while Shikamaru swallowed nervously and prepared to deny anything was going on, “She'll probably kill you.”

“Ah—! Yeah, that's probably true,” he conceded, “But I, um, we're not—”

“I don't care what you two do,” Gaara remained impassive. Shikamaru mentally sighed over the conversation. Clearly he was missing something everyone else could plainly see.

Luckily for him, Temari returned with a tray of mugs.

“We don't have any milk,” Temari commented before setting a cup before Shikamaru.

“Black is fine,” he answered graciously.

“It better be,” she grumbled, while Gaara took his mug and stood, “Not staying?”

“No. I'm sure you have things under control. I've my own things to think on.”

“Of course,” came her easy reply. She offered him another smile as she gave him a pat on the arm, earning a ghost of a smile in return.

Temari watched him leave as her happy expression faded.

“You're sure this plan will work?” she stared at the closed door Gaara had passed through, growing terribly solemn, “You're counting on a lot of uncertainties to pan out.”

“No…These are the only certainties.”

Something between a snort and a laugh caught in her throat.

“And who says optimism is dead.”

* * *

Dawn was creeping up fast on the horizon, the first rays catching dust motes as light shone through Naruto's window. He sat cross-legged on his bed, evidently watching the sunrise. Behind him, Sakura and Hinata were going through the various scrolls acquired in Water Country, scattering materials across the floor.

“She wasn't kidding when she said it was complex,” Sakura muttered.

“But,” Hinata spoke up shyly, “But we can still complete it, right?”

“I'd like to think so,” Sakura answered crisply, pointedly ignoring the thought of whether or not they would even arrive in time.

Naruto said nothing to them, apparently meditating heavily on what was to come. As his back was to them, the girls could not see the picture frame clutched tightly in his hand.

* * *

It's another ordinary sunny day in Konoha and Ino was in her ordinary place behind the counter of the flower shop. Only she didn't feel ordinary. Normal. What have you.

Was this where she was supposed to be right now? It seemed so maddeningly…pointless. Standing around selling flowers while Asuma was in the ground. While Chouji had long been in the ground. And everyone around her treated her as if she might wilt and die just like the pointless flowers around her.

Some ninja I am…

Glancing through the window, watching the world pass by without her, she spotted Temari walk by. Or rather, turn around and march through the door.

“Hi, Temari-san,” her amicable greeting caught in her throat upon catching Temari's dark expression.

Heavy smudges about her eyes, tangled hair, sloppy clothes. She looked like she'd had a terrible night, no doubt.

“You knew, didn't you?” a cruel sort of smile twisted her lips, her mild tone chilled by her cold eyes, “You knew he had a problem, yet you did nothing.”

“…I'm sorry?” confusion wrinkled Ino's face, understanding refusing to settle in her mind.

“That punk Shikamaru…found him half-dead yesterday with an empty pill bottle,” Temari kept an air of indifference, “Surely you were privy to his…indulgences? Am I wrong?”

Ino felt her knees giving out and kept a white-knuckle grip on the counter, lest she collapse in front of this woman.

“Is—Is Shika—He's okay, right?”

“It was too much effort for him to up and die,” her bland tone didn't match the spark in her eyes.

Ino hung her head, letting her hair shadow her face.

“I tried talking to him about it. You know?” Ino sighed heavily, “But he said he was in control of things. And, stupid me, trusted him. He's supposed to be the smart one, right? I believed him enough not to argue about it, anyway…”

“Yup, that was stupid of you,” Temari agreed plainly. Ino would have retorted, but what would the point be? It was the truth, ugly as it might be.

“I seem to remember you used to nag him about everything,” Temari continued, seemingly detached from the situation.

“He hated that,” Ino admitted, “Complained about it constantly. And he's always so hard on himself these days, so—”

“`So'? There's nothing more useless than doing nothing.”

Ino drew a cold gaze on the other girl.

“And what would you have done differently?”

“Kicked his ass `til I knocked some sense into him, flushed those pills down the drain, and kicked his ass again for good measure.”

“Of course that would be your first reaction,” Ino muttered, hurt feelings getting the better of her, “Why are you even bothering to get involved? Even you always say you're not friends.”

An odd expression fluttered over Temari's features before smoothing into apathy again.

“Perhaps. But we are allies. And it seems I do need his help for something, as it were.”

“`Favors for favors,' huh? You're just using him—”

Temari's fist caught her square in the face, her hand taking a hold on Ino's shirt before she fell away.

“Don't you go comparing me to you,” Temari hissed by her ear, “I don't leave a brother-in-arms to fall apart. I helped pick him up. Can you say for certain anybody'd depend on you when it mattered?”

Ino remembered a rainy anniversary and damp skin. He'd needed her then, she told herself, just as she had needed him. It wasn't about using one another or being a crutch or—

“Of course he knows he can count on me,” Ino snapped, pressing a hand to her bruising face.

Temari's voice dropped to a whisper, all traces of venom strangely absent from her voice.

“Then why isn't he asking for you to help avenge your teacher's death?”

Ino grew very still, her heart lodged in her throat.

“He—,” she croaked, “He's planning on—”

“Didn't hear about that, I take it?” Temari shoved off, causing Ino to stumble back a step.

“I'll go,” she stated, “I'll help.”

“And what can you do?”

“Would you rather I did nothing?” Ino crossed her arms, defiant.

Touché.

Temari smirked. Hook, line, and sinker.

“Listen,” Temari began, but the chime signaling a customer entering made her pause, “Have my order sent here.”

She scribbled across a pad used for shipments before tearing off the sheet.

“Will you be able to have it arrive on time?”

“Of course,” Ino felt her own lips curl into a smile, “We of the Yamanaka family have a reputation to uphold, after all!”

Temari rolled her eyes and gave a lazy wave as she departed.

She walked out into the sunshine, feeling decidedly smug and perhaps relieved that everything went far more smoothly than she'd anticipated. It wasn't as if she'd been genuinely angry with Ino. It was all part of the plan to ensure her commitment to the mission. Or so Temari told herself, at any rate.

She turned the corner and stopped short before walking smack into Shikamaru. He raised an inquisitive eyebrow at her, then proceeded on his way.

“There's no need,” she called over her shoulder, “For you to go see her.”

“Why is that?” he asked cautiously, pausing in his steps.

“Because I already placed the order for you, dummy,” Temari replied, a wicked smile creeping across her mouth, “Ino says she'll have it ready by tonight.”

“Ah—Good,” the subtle shift of his shoulders relaxing, “Good.”

Temari's features softened ever so slightly.

The only certainties, indeed.

* * *

Tsunade pressed her fingers against the bridge of her nose in hopes of stemming off her steadily building headache. This entire village…Akatsuki…Sasuke…Naruto…Sakura…

Everything was a bloody mess. How on god's green earth was she supposed to solve all of this?

A knock at her door never signaled anything good these days. Especially when her next appointment wasn't for another hour.

She sighed heavily, collecting herself. The world was going to keep pressing on whether she was ready for it or not.

“Enter.”

She felt a minute sense of relief when Neji walked in. The most he could want was to drop off a report. No worries there. Though when Tenten followed closely behind him, she began to reassess her reasoning.

“And what might bring you two here?”

Tenten looked to be somewhere between anxious and awe struck standing before her idol. She exhaled a shaky breath, grasping at her bit of courage, before opening her mouth to speak.

“We wish to apply for a marriage license,” Neji spoke bluntly.

Needless to say, it had been the absolute last thing Tsunade had been expecting to hear. If she ever expected to hear it at all. She was certain her jaw must have been hanging open over the sheer shock of it. These damn kids…And at a time like this. Oh, how she hated getting dragged into clan politics.

“Have you two completely lost your minds?” she groused, “I'm sure you're more than aware of the Village's current situation. Considering both of your pending nuptials, you would dare throw internal clan conflicts into the mix?”

“We understand it places you in a difficult situation, Hokage-sama,” Neji acknowledged, “But it is precisely these current events that have driven us to make this decision.”

“…Oh?” she leaned forward, her chin resting against her fist. She was oddly curious what their line of thinking might be, provided they even thought this through.

“Tsunade-sama, please don't make me go through with an arranged marriage,” Tenten pleaded not as a shinobi, but as a woman, “I am willing to fight and even die for Konoha. Once I marry, I will no longer be allowed to even exist as a ninja. At least allow me a marriage that will benefit more than one clan, but the entire village. Allow me to serve as your loyal soldier.”

Love was ever Tsunade's weakness. She had no doubt Tenten would indeed fight. But she also knew to read underneath the underneath, as it were. This girl was in love and was more than willing to fight for that, too.

A half-remembered conversation with Gai trickled through her mind of the young lady on his team that dreamed of being as strong as the legendary Tsunade of the Sannin…

“In an ideal world, I would have no objection to performing your marriage,” she paused to steel herself, getting the sense this was not what she became Hokage for, “But I cannot afford to cause any unrest within the Village if it can be avoided. I do recognize it isn't fair to either of you. However, it is a sacrifice I'm afraid I'll have to ask of you for the sake of stability.”

“If I may be so bold,” Neji's voice was smooth ice, “I fail to see the benefit in limiting ourselves from having able-bodied shinobi at the ready. Tenten being unable to fight once she is married off and I, as an Anbu member, cannot afford to be pulled away from my duties simply for a sham marriage.”

“I am certain I can arrange for you both to remain on active duty until the situation is resolved,” Tsunade countered. Damn, but if these kids weren't persistent…

“There is a strong possibility we will die, considering the enemy involved,” Neji continued, “I would humbly ask to face that risk with at least peace of mind in return. Without regrets.”

“`Regret',” Tsunade murmured, “And being denied this one thing would be your sole regret?”

“Yes, ma'am. Tenten is the only one who—” he paused, mulling over his words, “She has always been the one to make me a man without fear.”

Tenten felt no shame as her face flushed while standing before the Hokage. She'd known Neji had cared for her, at least enough to save her dream to live as a ninja. But to hear him speak so frankly of his feelings. And before Tsunade-sama, no less.

Tsunade, however, kept her mouth shielded behind steepled hands to conceal the smile threatening to break free. These two were very, very convincing.

“I suppose it is a moot point to express the problems this will cause.”

“If I were to be blunt about it, my family marries off its women to forge alliances with the other clans. I can't see how they have anything to lose by gaining ties to the noble Hyuuga.”

“You do make a good argument. But the Hyuuga are unlikely to stay quiet on this matter. They are quite set in their ways and obsessive when it comes to maintaining the `purity' of their blood.”

“I am but a mere Branch member. It should not even be a concern to them,” Neji noted, not without a small touch of bitterness still lingering, “And as a doctor, I am certain you can agree marrying of the same blood will only weaken the Clan in the end.”

Tsunade was very tempted to call him a smartass. Even going out of his way to subtly flatter her medical mastery.

“Even so…” her eyes drew to the middle of his forehead, “Do you really think they will allow such defiance to go unpunished?”

Neji was bold enough to give a derisive snort at the thought.

“I am the most powerful in my generation. I doubt they would be so foolish as to jeopardize that,” he grew oddly silent for a beat, perhaps not as certain as he'd like her to believe, “But, if I may be so daring to ask, would you allow them to kill me over such a matter?”

Oh, bloody hell…

“Alright, I assume you brought rings with you?”

They each held one out; his late father's and her late mother's. Tsunade grumbled as she searched about for the proper paperwork. She sorely hoped to stumble upon some liquor, as well.

“Neither of you better make me regret this, got it?” Tsunade did her best to intimidate them. Instead, she felt something give inside as Tenten's eyes began to mist up with gratitude. Neji stood by her side tall and proud. If their generation kept this kind of crap up, she might end up being foolish enough to hope again.

Upon exiting the Administrative Building, Neji and Tenten parted ways with casual goodbyes and different directions. No one would suspect a thing.

* * *

Nightfall was a heavy, living thing. It drew inky tentacles across the sky, covering both the moon and the stars. There was nothing but emptiness above Konoha tonight. And there were a select few who were supremely grateful for this.

Gratitude aside, Naruto was a veritable ball of nerves. He paced the length and width of the Nagano Shrine while wringing his hands together. Sakura was there with him, a steady presence as she always was, though now she stood to the side with Hinata and spoke in hushed tones. About the cure, he assumed.

The Sand Trio were the first to arrive and Naruto wasn't sure if he felt relieved they kept their word, or more afraid that they really were about to embark on such an insane mission. It took him a moment to realize the siblings had Shikamaru in tow and Naruto offered a weak smile. It comforted him to know they had Shikamaru's support, but seeing him in person only amplified the guilt Naruto felt over Asuma's death.

Deep breaths, Naruto reminded himself, don't go losing your nerve now.

“Well, here's what we came up with,” Shikamaru's lazy drawl brought Naruto's attention back to the present, “Best we could do on short notice, and all.”

Naruto read over the notes with disbelief. This was an excellent strategy. But.

“But we're not even sure everyone'll—”

“You can bet money it'll work,” Shikamaru waved him off with a bored tone. Naruto seemed prepared to argue his case when something else caught his eye. Or rather, someone.

“Shino!” he called out, “How did…Man, I didn't think you would…”

“I made a promise to Kiba,” Shino pushed his glasses up, “I have no intention of breaking that.”

Naruto gave a surreptitious glance in Hinata's direction, before returning his focus to Shino with a sly grin.

“Who are you kidding? You just didn't wanna get left out of another fight!”

Shino gave a noncommittal grunt in response, though most likely rolled his eyes behind his dark shades.

Sakura exhaled heavily, blowing an errant strand of hair from her eyes. She'd been rather remiss as of late with tending to it. Perhaps she would get it cut when the mission was over.

If I return…

“Really, Forehead Girl, did you forget something?”

Sakura spun fast to find Ino staring back, complete with a spectacular black eye. It gave her pause enough to contemplate what Ino was implying.

“Honestly, I was afraid you would say `no',” Sakura admitted, her eyes unintentionally drifting towards Shikamaru. Certainly he wouldn't have been the only reason Ino might have turned the mission down. But he was a large reason.

“As if I'd let you get ahead of me,” Ino scoffed, feeling more like herself than she had in years. Perhaps because her childhood memories with Sakura had been happy ones. And conversations like this made it feel like time had never passed between them.

Sakura forced a laugh, surprised at how easily she could draw upon Ino's humor.

“Still chasing Sasuke-kun?”

Ino gave her a look as if to say who wasn't doing just that on this mission.

“No, idiot. I'm going for Asuma-sensei.”

No tears. No sadness. Only determination.

There would be no waiting at home for Yamanaka Ino. Not this time.

“Sorry we're late!” Lee panted out his greeting, no doubt having run all the way there. Tenten waved sheepishly as she followed him inside, Neji close after her.

“Shikamaru, you really are something else,” Naruto remarked.

“Like you had any doubts,” Shikamaru was quick to respond, “We're Leaf shinobi. We don't leave our brothers behind and we don't leave missions unfinished.”

Strangely Ino was the one who felt most relieved by his words. It was like staring back through time and seeing the Shikamaru during their early years.

Temari-san, you really did it.

Temari stood off to the side between her brothers, a smug expression gripping her features, as she contemplated the certainties of life. Here stood what Shikamaru called the “only certainties.” Twelve souls, twelve motivations that brought them together. But it all boiled down to one mission. For one person.

Naruto stood before the others now and cleared his throat, his need to say something coming to the forefront once again.

“I know everybody's got their own reasons for agreeing to this mission,” he stared into the sea of serious faces, growing uncomfortable, “And…and I wish I could say this'll be a piece of cake `cause there's so many of us. But I think we all know these ain't ordinary ninja. We're taking on the Akatsuki. They've hurt and killed a lot of people we care about.”

He gave pause, as if the weight of ghosts stilled his tongue for a moment. No, Naruto thought, people like Asuma will never be forgotten. Not by this group, at any rate.

“And I'm so pissed these guys are out there. I know they spend every waking moment waiting to capture people like me and Gaara. I don't even know what they want us for and I don't wanna know. But they'll never stop unless we get to `em first.”

There was a soft murmur of agreement rising through the group. It was Gaara's silent eyes that spoke the most to Naruto. Maybe the others could walk away from this, but he and Gaara would see this through to the end. No matter how it had to end. And even so…

“But none of this is why I'm going. They got Sasuke…I know most of you don't give a damn one way or another about him. Call him a traitor, a waste of time, makes no difference. But he's one who gathered all this info on the Akatsuki, even though he had to know the risks involved. And maybe this is a suicide mission for us. But if we somehow win…If we take out the Akatsuki, the world's gonna owe a huge debt to Uchiha Sasuke. I don't care how many times we've tried and failed to save him. I'll never abandon him. He's my best friend. So…so…”

Naruto let himself trail off awkwardly, well aware he'd been rambling. He just couldn't find the right words to express his thanks to his fellow shinobi for agreeing to this mission. Nor could he express his damn near obsession with wanting to save Sasuke. Sakura's hand on his arm dragged him away from his thoughts, unshed tears glistening in her fire-lit eyes. Embarrassed, he forced himself to look out into the crowd of intense faces.

“You're really going to do it,” Shino stated.

“…What?” Naruto grasped lamely for comprehension.

“Become Hokage,” Neji supplied.

Naruto's eyes couldn't have grown any wider as he studied the group surrounding him, and found that same belief staring back at him.

“Ha! We all knew that I'm gonna be Hokage!”

* * *

Two figures moved within the cave, where the darkness was a heavy cloak and the damp air suffocating. Perhaps such conditions might have been a hindrance, if the pair was anything but what they were. Perhaps.

“Man, how long do we have to wait?”

“If you hadn't wasted so much time with that ritual of your, the leader could have assembled everyone by now.”

“Blasphemy!” Hidan griped, “My prayers to Jashin are necessary! You're the one who held us up, `cause you just had to make that bounty hunting detour—”

“At least our group actually requires money,” Kakuzu pointed out, “And I seem to recall you being quite pleased with killing those monks.”

“Yeah, well,” Hidan paused to jerk open a heavy steel door, “Those heathens had it comin'. Since we were already there…”

Their conversation carried on after they dumped off their load and shut the door again, but the words were too muffled to make out. Said burden opened its bleary eyes to the thick blackness and tried to sit up. One hand felt at a chest wound, crudely bound with some sort of thick black stitching.

Healed me just enough to keep me alive…

Lying down once more, it grew apparent there was someone else in this cell.

“They caught you, too, huh?”

There was no response.

“…Are you alive?” a more cautiously spoken question.

“More or less,” Sasuke rasped.

“So which one are you?”

“I'm not a—They're using me as bait,” an awful cough followed, “You?”

“The Two-Tail. Nibi no Nekomata.”

“No…I meant, who are you?”

“Yugito of the Cloud.”

Long silence punctuated by raspy breath took up residence.

“I don't want to die,” she whispered. Her night vision was excellent. She could see what poor shape this other person was in.

“You won't. When they come for me, no doubt they'll save you, too.”

“How can you be so sure?” she forced herself to shift closer to him. It was so damn cold in this place… “Against those monsters, how can anyone win?”

How, indeed.

“Because Naruto's the number one ninja at surprising people. And those bastards are going to regret underestimating him.”

A wheezing breath caught in his throat and stole away any other words he might have said. He didn't expect this girl to understand. People like Naruto couldn't be put into words. He just hoped he could hold out just long enough to see that dead last idiot bust down the door.

He couldn't see in the dark prison, but he could sense Yugito's closeness, as well as her fear. She toyed with the prayer beads wrapped around her arm, trying to calm herself.

“…Will you pray with me?”

“I'm not religious,” he admitted. Her trembling hand wound some of the strand through his fingers, the beads were still slick with blood. He gripped them tightly, for what else was there to do in this place? Her soft murmurings fell against his ears like gentle rain and he let it wash over him.

“…in emptiness there is no matter, no sensation, recognition, volition or consciousness,

no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind,

no sight, sound, scent, taste, tangibles…”

He concentrated on his memories of Naruto and Sakura's faces. It was the only belief he needed.

“…no suffering, no cause of suffering,

no end of suffering, and no path,

no wisdom and no attainment

because there is nothing obtainable…”

Sasuke gripped her hand tightly, the beads pressed tightly in their palms.

I can breathe. I can think. I have hope.

* * *

He often wondered where the necklace came from. It hadn't been mother's, though it likely would not have been worn if it had been. Perhaps it belonged to the medic woman.

“A mercenary,” came the response when his curiosity had grown too great, “She couldn't have been much older than you.”

This naturally made him wonder what the other man's feelings towards this girl had been, to make him keep her jewelry.

“Were you close?”

No sense dancing around the subject, not these days.

“She was probably the only person I've met who hadn't cared about my name or reputation. There was little more to it than that.”

He took that answer as a “yes.”

“What happened to her?”

“Dead by now, I imagine.”

The blood drained away from his face and he wondered why he should have suspected a different answer.

“Circumstance forced her into a hard way of life. It was bound to happen, no matter how much she wanted to live. This,” he touched the necklace, “Was given to me so that someone somewhere would know she lived. Seeing as she disappeared not long after the fact, I probably am the only person who ever knew she existed.”

He, in turn, thought it must be a lonely existence to fear being forgotten more than dying.

The necklace was pressed into his hand and he accepted it with a quizzical expression.

“I wore this to remember a good person's struggle for the right to exist. Perhaps someday you will find someone to carry on this spark of life.”

Odd, how quickly his mind conjured one young woman in particular to pass this necklace to. This single spark.

To be continued…

* * *

A/N: The prayer Yugito says is an excerpt from the Buddhist “Heart Sutra”