Avenger's Destiny: Chapter 13

Chapter 13- Kakashi’s Summon

There was nothing but silence as the group of shinobis traveled towards Leaf, Gaara following them to meet the Hokage in Konoha.

The air was tensed and solemn, each shinobi was occupied with their own train of thought – particularly a certain pink-haired kunoichi, who lagged behind in the formation, still trying to comprehend everything that had happened within the short span of the past two days.

She wondered why memories of her family affected her so much now. It was probably because the mission, the Nanabi and the scrolls were so closely linked to her long gone family…

Sakura had always assumed that she had finally accepted the fact that her family – everything that she had once knew and loved – were gone, but now she realized the truth.

She had never really let go. All these years, she had still clung on to past memories so tightly, but she’d forced herself not to let emotion take over, telling her to get a grip and be strong, when deep inside, she’d never had the strength to let go.

That was probably why all those memories haunted her now.

The cherry blossom tilted her head slightly to the left, catching a glimpse of the newly embedded seal on her left arm, in the form of the ancient Haruno symbol. She’d noticed it that morning, having collapsed from exhaustion after the ‘ritual’ of sorts on the previous night.

‘I seem to have an affiliation to seals and marks…’ Sakura thought dryly, picturing the Nanabi’s mark running down her arm with the Haruno crest just above it, and also the tattoo of her favourite quote, ‘strength’ in kanji on her right shoulder. And the seals on her palms from the Binding Seal Jutsu that Kakashi had used on her before she’d left for the mission.

‘How much more can I handle?’ she sighed inwardly, willing the entire nightmare to just go away and leave her in peace.

N

Being only at the border of Leaf, they had about six more days of travel. Neji decided to let them spend the night at an inn in a village he’d once visited on a mission, seeing as everyone needed a lot of rest.

Ino had squealed with delight when Neji mentioned that the inn had an onsen. Sakura, Tenten and Hinata merely smiled tiredly. It’d be a nice change for them…

The forest was thinning, patches of sunlight streamed through the tree canopy, the mud path broadened into a proper road leading towards the village in the distance. For a moment, Sakura let her mind drift, to admire the natural beauty around her, inhaling the sweet, fresh forest scent deeply.

The cherry blossom was rudely jolted out of her trance when a sharp, searing pain coursed through both her palms. She gasped involuntarily, clasping her hands together in an instinctive attempt to stop this burning pain.

The crystal locket around her neck, the one that Kakashi had bestowed upon her with the Binding Seal Jutsu, was glowing red-hot, and pointing discreetly towards the direction of the setting sun on its own accord.

“What’s wrong, Sakura?” Kiba asked sharply as the team turned to look at her curiously.

“Nothing,” Sakura said with a nonchalant smile, hoping against hope that they’d actually buy that.

“You’re lying, Sakura,”

‘Damn Neji and his Byakugan!’ Sakura cursed inwardly.

“Don’t lie,” Neji warned, his arms crossed. Tenten strode over to her best friend, gently unclasping Sakura’s hands and examining the seals embossed into her palms.

“Someone used Azarashi no Jutsu on you,” Tenten said quietly, her voice undemanding, unassuming.

Everyone stared at Sakura. ‘Well, obviously,’ she thought bitterly. ‘After everything that has happened, I’m not exactly the most trusted member of the team, am I?’

She sighed, prying her hands loose from Tenten’s grip.

“Kakashi-sensei…”

“For what?” Naruto asked concernedly, pushing his way to get in front of her. He obviously had no idea of what Azarashi no Jutsu was. “What did Kaka-sensei do to you? If he hurt you – “

“No!” Sakura snapped, irritated. “Just let me explain already!”

Naruto fell silent, his expression disconcerted. It had been a long while since Sakura had snapped at him like that.

Sakura took a deep breath, willing herself to calm down.

“Before we left on this mission… Kakashi-sensei told me that he was going on another S-ranked mission, and that he might need my help – “

She caught their incredulous faces and felt her fists clenching. ‘Why am I explaining myself to them in the first place?’

It then struck her that she was being unreasonable. They were, after all, worried about her.

“I know, that’s exactly what I told him! But he was serious about it,”

“He can't be serious, Sakura-chan!” Naruto cut in, trying to convince her as he grasped her shoulders.

“He’s a Jounin, Sakura… an elite ANBU member… D’you think he’d ever need any help from a chunnin? And even if he did, do you really think that you’d be able to hold your own against someone he couldn’t handle?” Shikamaru added quietly. He had reason, but Sakura refused to give in.

“So you’re saying that you don’t believe that I’m capable?” Sakura half-snarled, struggling to keep her temper in check.

“No one’s underestimating you, you old hag…” Sai stated with a sidelong glance at her. This only served to infuriate the kunoichi more, and she seethed. “They’re right, it's just unreasonable to rush off like that,”

“He might be hurt! He might be dying, and you’re telling me to stay comfortably here, because I probably can't handle whoever he's facing and leave him be?” Sakura raised her voice, trembling with pent-up anger.

“There are rules, Sakura – “ Neji started.

“I know the rules, dammit! But have you forgotten our code of honour? Where ‘no shinobi leaves his comrade to die’?” her emerald eyes flashed dangerously at him. “I’m not asking the team to come with me, I can always look for him alone!”

“Tsunade-sama’s orders were for us to return safely, as a team,” Neji countered, knowing full well how much Sakura respected her mentor. It was quite a bit of manipulation on his part, but hey, he was doing his job. “You may not realize your duty, Sakura, but I do. Mine is to get you safely back to Konoha, regardless of the circumstances. You’re not the only one who cares about Kakashi,”

“But – “

“I said no, Haruno!” Our mission is complete and we will return to Konoha together. You are not going off alone to find Kakashi. Do I get myself clear?” the Hyuuga prodigy raised his voice to counter hers, glaring her down.

It was a known fact that when Neji called you by your last name, whatever he said was final. Sakura fought the urge to retort.

She lowered her gaze, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill from her emerald eyes.

Everyone was silent, wondering what was about to happen.

“Promise me you won’t go, Sakura,” Neji added more quietly, his opaque eyes staring at her.

Sakura closed her eyes and discreetly crossed her fingers. This situation would call for some defiance on her part, regardless of the rules.

“I promise,”

N

The inn was beautiful, secluded in a glaze surrounded by greenery. The innkeeper provided them with three rooms, two for the boys and one for the girls, instructed them on directions to the onsen and to the common room, then left them to their own devices.

Luckily, no one recognized the Kazekage, his gourd concealed by genjutsu, and they were left in peace.

Once again sharing a room, the four girls fell into routine. Ino dragged Hinata to the onsen for a bath, while Sakura sat at the bay window, staring at the twilight sky. Tenten lay, spread-eagled on the bed, folding paper shurikens from scraps of paper.

The cherry blossom suddenly stood up. “I’m going out for a walk… I think I need to clear my head a bit,”

“Want me to come along?” Tenten sat up, concerned.

“No thanks… I need to be alone,” Sakura said quietly.

Tenten nodded understandingly. “Don’t stay out late, okay?”

“Yeah,” Sakura stealthily picked up her backpack, all filled and ready for her ‘solo’ mission. She prayed hard as she walked out of the room.

The weapons mistress noticed nothing.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Sakura heaved a silent sight of relief. Quickly checking if anyone was about, Sakura climbed onto a nearby window sill, leaping out swiftly. She landed lightly on the grassy ground, hoisting her backpack onto her shoulders.

The crystal locket was still slightly elevated, pointing towards the trees. Taking a deep breath, Sakura sprinted off with nothing more than a backward glance and a quick, soft apology to her team.

N

Neji knocked lightly on the girls’ room door. The door opened slightly before a shriek rang out,

“Wait! I can’t be seen with my hair like this!”

‘Ino, presumably,’ Neji sighed inwardly. He often wondered how his meek cousin could handle the boisterous girl. 'Probably the same way she handles Naruto, ne?' Hinata opened the door moments later.

“Neji nii-san?” the Hyuuga heir asked curiously.

Neji was silent. Ino and Tenten were inside, but…

“Where’s Sakura?” he walked in casually, his eyes scanning the room swiftly. “We’re about to have a meeting,”

“She went out for a walk,” Tenten replied as she picked up her paper shurikens and stowed them away in a cloth pouch.

“She went out for a walk?” Neji questioned, taking Tenten by the arm and pulling her to where their backpacks lay. “So, tell me – who takes their backpacks out on walks?” he continued asking quietly, motioning to the remaining three backpacks on the floor. Sakura's was missing.

The three kunoichis stared at each other, horrified. How could they not have noticed...?

“Tenten. What time did she leave?” the Hyuuga prodigy asked. Her brow furrowed as she gave the question some thought.

“About an hour ago…”

“Then she had a head start. Pack up, we’re going after her,” Neji turned to walk out. “I’ll tell the guys to get ready,”

“But – Neji nii-san – you said – “ Hinata spoke slowly, her pale eyes glancing at him in surprise.

“I didn’t expect her to listen to me. Did you?” Neji smirked.

Hinata shook her head.

“She’s always got a mind of her own… we wouldn’t be able to stop her, at any rate. Besides – “ Neji turned to walk out, the faintest hint of a smile on his face.

“I really want to see who the Hatake Kakashi couldn’t handle alone,”

N

Sakura swung herself over a fallen log, landing quietly on the mossy forest grounds, sweating profusely. She took a moment to catch her breath, instantly becoming aware of the locket pulling strongly around her neck.

Kakashi was near.

‘Who could he be facing? Am I too late?’ she thought worriedly. ‘It’s been several hours, the enemy’s probably gone…’ Sakura reassured herself, despite logic arguing that unless his enemy had killed him, whoever it was wouldn’t have left. Or rather, Kakashi wouldn't have allowed him or her to leave. He had a sort of fierce pride that hardly showed through his usual appearance, Sakura knew that. Like Naruto, Kakashi didn't accept defeat well, even if he accepted it with more composure than the blonde ninja.

The kunoichi’s internal clock told her that it was almost dawn. Swiftly and silently, she darted through the shadows of the trees, hearing voices from a distance just as she passed a huge birch tree.

The cherry blossom quickened her steps, but gasped as a kunai whizzed past her head. Instincts kicking in, she ducked low, checking for any signs of enemies.

There was none. No one targeting her, at least. Sakura cautiously picked the kunai up from the ground and examined it. There was a tiny slash on the loop handle – Kakashi’s weapons signature.

She stood slowly, never letting down her guard while pocketing the kunai. Edging through the trees, Sakura focused on locating the source of the noise.

From her spot in the trees, she could see Kakashi staggering to his feet, covered in blood and gashes. His red Sharingan was activated, and he looked absolutely calm, but Sakura could sense his low chakra levels. At this rate, her sensei wouldn’t be lasting very long against whomever he was facing.

Sakura had two options. She could take advantage of her position and use the element of surprise to attack his opponent first, or she could go straight to help Kakashi.

She quickly made her decision, charging into the tiny clearing, prepared.

N

The cherry blossom did not spare a single glance at Kakashi’s opponent, choosing, instead, to look at her sensei. Directing her healing chakra towards his deeper gashes, she playfully reprimanded him.

“Your kunai nearly killed me back there…” she told him. Kakashi winced as she healed him, letting his body relax a little.

“Took you long enough to get here,”

“I had to find an opening to escape, you moron,” Sakura retorted. “For all the gratitude I get from you... the team wouldn’t let me leave… saying you could take care of yourself and all… right,”

Kakashi wasn’t paying any attention to Sakura’s words. “Sakura…”

Sakura continued her lecture without heeding him. “What would have happened if I didn’t come?”

“SAKURA!”

Kakashi made a move to twist himself around her to protect her, but this time Sakura was faster, swiftly overpowering him in an aikido move, pinning him to the ground with both hands.

At that same moment, the kunoichi spun around with a flying roundhouse kick, using her arms as leverage while dodging a lightning-encased blade narrowly. Her attacker felt the impact of her kick, but quickly adjusted, landing on both feet, some distance away. The cherry blossom leapt back a few feet, landing in a crouch.

“I’m not dumb,” Sakura’s voice came out as a snarl. Her emerald eyes flashed upwards, meeting those of her attacker’s.

“Sasuke.”