#they try to tell this to sasuke next time he's in town so he can share their frustration
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evilkitten3 · 30 days ago
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yeah i'm just gonna throw this out here i think kakashi was lying through his teeth on that one i think that was complete bullshit and he just failed his previous teams bc he didn't want to deal with them not bc there was a limit on how many people could pass
naruto population worldbuilding is one of those things that i just. can't even think about without getting mad. why are your classes only like 20-30 kids??? a YEAR???? and you're failing half of them??????? and this is allegedly sustaining a military force with tens of thousands of people? No It Is Not. 20-30 people die EVERY FUCKING TIME you introduce a new bad guy for emphasis or whatever!!! replacement rate is NOT fucking working!!!!! chunin exams only letting like. jkgadfjlkj 1? 2 kids per village advance? it's literally sooooo bad kishimoto did NOT think it through. i simply have to tell myself that certain characters are lying <3 or wrong <3
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laniuchiha7 · 4 months ago
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The Baker and The Farmer
During the weekly farmers market Naruto rushes over to the Uchiha Farms display clutching a bouquet of lilies in one hand and two pieces of honey cake in the other.
“A new bakery opened up in the town square!” Naruto informs Sasuke while eating one of the cakes. “The woman who owns it is at Ino’s stand handing out free samples to everyone who buys a flower arrangement.”
“Ok?” Sasuke isn’t sure why this matters since he’s not a fan of sweets nor does he have a reason for buying flowers.
“Here.” Naruto shoves the remaining confection at him. “Try it! I bet you’ll like it more than you think!”
Reluctantly, he takes a bite. Not bad, actually Sasuke thinks it’s really good. Still too sweet for his personal tastes, but he can tell someone who really cares about their craft made this. “It’s fine.”
“I’m gonna give these flowers to Hinata,” Naruto says. “The cute baker girl, Sakura I think her name is, mentioned coming around later and introducing herself to the other vendors later. She’s hard to miss so be nice to her, alright?” With that the blonde runs off, leaving Sasuke to finish the honey cake without complaint.
At first Sasuke wonders what his friend means by she being hard to miss until he spots someone with blossom pink hair speaking with his brother by the wooden containers of cherries and strawberries.
“Sasuke,” Itachi waves him over. “This is Sakura, the owner of the new bakery in town.”
“Hi!” Her singsong voice pleasantly says. “Nice to meet you!”
“Likewise. I had one of your honey cakes earlier, it was good.”
“That’s high praise coming from him,” Itachi adds.
“I’m glad you enjoyed them,” she’s smiling from ear to ear, a tinge if blush spreading across her cheeks. Must be from the sun, he thinks, just like the burst of warmth climbing up the back of his neck.
“What were you talking about before I came over?”
“I’m interested in having produce from Uchiha Farms delivered to my shop, maybe two or three times a week.”
“Shouldn’t be a problem,” Itachi assures. “I can add you to my route. Just let me know what you want and how much.”
Before she can answer, Ino calls her back to their stand for a moment. “I’ll be right back!”
Sasuke turns to his brother as soon as she’s far enough away. “I can do it. Handle her order,” he clarifies.
“Are you sure? I already have a few deliveries in that area.”
“Hn. I don’t mind. If you want you can take my stop at the schoolhouse near the edge of town.” Bait Sasuke hopes his brother takes since the teacher who runs the place is Izumi, the girl Itachi has been eyeing for weeks.
The corner of his lips curve into a smirk. “Ah, I guess that’s a fair trade.”
Over the course of the next few weeks, Sasuke gradually learns more about Sakura when he delivers her order and when she stops by his stall at the farmers market — her parents own a bakery back in her hometown and she wanted to start her own, she and Ino attended the same school as children and continued to keep in touch, she loves strawberry mochi, and is very single.
Whenever he stops by she gives him an extra piece of cake or fruit pie she made, although she soon learns he isn’t a big fan of sweets. “I noticed your nose scrunches up before taking a bite. It’s cute,” she says to him one day, “I’ll cut back on the sugar when you’re here again.”
Next time he stops by she gave him a delicious cheese tart instead, causing something to bloom in his chest. Something he doesn’t want to name just yet.
“Why haven’t you asked Sakura out??” Naruto is loitering around the Uchiha Farms stand during the weekly market. “She’s popular, ya know.”
“Hn. None of my business,” Sasuke mutters under his breath, throwing a glance across the road at her set up only to see Idate chatting her up. Of course he’s aware of Sakura’s reputation around Konoha of being the sweet baker with even sweeter goods. Yet he doesn’t believe she treats him any different than a customer or their friends, she’s just naturally friendly to everyone.
“Do you really think she’s giving the rest of us free food?” Naruto brings up. “She only started adding savory options at her shop after learning you prefer them over her usual stuff. Trust me, she likes you.”
From the other end, once Idate finally leaves, Sakura meets his gaze with a bright expression.
Perhaps Naruto has a point and he needs to get out of his own head. He can try a more subtle approach, buying her a pink and yellow dahlias should convey his sentiments, even if it means having to withstand Ino’s prying questions.
“What are those for?” Sakura asks as she’s packing up her table for the day.
“I got them for you.” The tips of his ears begin to burn.
“They’re beautiful Sasuke!” She takes them thankfully. “They smell wonderful too.”
He takes her basket so she can hold the flowers as they walk back to the bakery.
“I-um-had something I wanted to ask you too,” Sakura goes on. “I heard from Itachi that you really like tomatoes. I found this recipe for a tomato and goat cheese tart. If you’re not too busy tomorrow, I was thinking we could make it together and have it for dinner
.as a date? Unless you’d rather do something else?”
“That sounds perfect,” Sasuke says. “I’ll look forward to it.”
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depressedhatakekakashi · 1 month ago
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Now i just want a fic where Kakashi, Sakura and Naruto go out for a team hang out at ichiraku after the war
And for the first time ever Kakashi looks at Sakura and tells her that it’s her turn to pair. Informstion she’s not happy to receive.
But before she can get mad Kakashi points out that as a Jonin she makes more than enough money to pay for their hang outs once in a while, and next time will be Naruto’s turn
Sakura reluctantly agrees
After that, it’s never Kakashi’s turn to pay again because he always convinces sakura or Naruto to pay (never sasuke cuz that boy doesn’t get paid so if he’s in town AND willing to sit down for lunch with his own team Kakashi’s not gonna try pushing his luck XD)
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artisttrova · 3 months ago
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Guess who wanted to upload the first two chapters of one fic and work on the one I've already teased? And guess who did neither because they've got a debilitating migraine?
Yup, yours faithful
So because of this, I'm actually gonna post the first chapter here in it's entirety cause fuck it! We ball.
From the fic with a work title "Broken Nest" (I've rewritten it dozens of time and I don't care anymore if the language is shit, neither do i care about any possible grammar mistakes). This is a modern AU
The people sitting around the table sighed in joy and surprise. A second later, Sakura was surrounded by her girlfriends, all squealing in joy simultaneously, forming a very merry cacophony of sounds. Sasuke was trying his hardest not to get suffocated in his friends' arms. Naruto and Rock Lee even started crying. A moment later, Sakura's tearful mother trapped her in a bone-crashing hug, repeating time and time again how happy she was to hear the news, while her father patted Sasuke on the back and started to talk about how he would be a ‘proper’ father to him. Sasuke had to stop him from speaking as the man was getting carried away quickly.
Orochimaru was standing not far away from everyone, twirling a soda can in their hands. They heard Sasuke softly but firmly tell Kizashi that he had a parent and scoffed.
Orochimaru only rolled their eyes when they next heard Mebuki quietly say "But that freak didn't even come up to congratulate you" followed by a louder "Mom, don't say that...I'll explain" from Sakura.
They kept their silence. They would surely be offended, too, if anyone reacted to the news of their children's firstborn in the way they did. Much less the ‘parent' of their daughter's husband.
Thankfully, no one really cared about their presence, and the situation fizzled down as fast as it came up. When everyone had calmed down a bit and scattered in small groups again to discuss the baby boom that had recently hit the town, Sasuke slipped away from everyone, approaching Orochimaru, all while Sakura took her parents to another room to talk.
"Is everything all right? " Sasuke asked quietly.
"Don't worry about me, it’s your day. Congratulations again on the new addition to the family." They smiled amicably as they looked around the room. "I thought surely people would figure out I knew ahead of time, but it seems like Sakura’s mom took it to heart."
Even standing a good few feet away from the entrance to the guest bedroom, both Sasuke and Orochimaru could hear Mebuki and Kizashi berating Sakura on the fact they didn’t learn the news first.
"She'll have to deal with them, they're her tribe. We had good reasons.” Sasuke answered, seemingly unbothered by the sounds of his enraged inlaws. "You know I just didn't want to make the news a surprise to you due to... everything."
Orochimaru sighed with a smile, allowing themselves a second of proud arrogance that they had raised Sasuke quite well. As well a deeply traumatized, orphaned teenager could be raised. They sipped the soda, grimacing at how overly sweet it was.
"I'm happy for you, Sasuke." They looked at the boy and put a hand on his shoulder. "Even if it doesn't seem like it.”
"I know." He smiled awkwardly. He was still not used to physical touch from anyone, but his wife. Sakura just seemed a weird exception from most of his weird societal deficiencies. Well, she and Naruto.
Both Mebuki and Kizashi stormed out of the room, glancing daggers at Orochimaru. Sakura followed, only sheepishly smiling at her husband.
"At least you only have me to deal with." Orochimaru chuckled, as they looked at Sasuke.
They tried to play their feelings off as a joke but didn't succeed much. The tin can crumpled slightly under their fingers.
“I take it, he keeps acting like an idiot?" Tilted his head Sasuke, noticing the forced nonchalance.
"Let's not talk about that, please."
"He's no stranger to me either. I want to know." He sighed. "Sakura says he quit not too long ago..."
"Yeah." They nodded."As far as I know, he's basically out of work now. So much for all the talk about the need for a doctor at the orphanage..."
"Does he even visit?" Sasuke frowned.
"He still comes once a week and takes Log somewhere fun. We don't talk outside of that arrangement. And by that I mean I refuse to talk to him." They grimaced as the girls laughed again as their husbands approached the group. Some leaned forward, kissing their wives on the forehead or temple, and some hugged. Sasuke felt a squeeze on his shoulder.
"It's been six months, right? And things are not moving in any direction, as it seems." Sasuke got their attention again.
"I guess. He's been acting weird lately, but it doesn't mean much to me anymore.” They set the empty can on the table. "I don't know where to throw it, is that okay if I leave it here?"
"We'll clean it up, no big deal." Sasuke waved his only hand, "Can you elaborate on the weirdness?"
"This is not the best place or time for such talk." Orochimaru turned away from the party completely, deciding not to annoy themselves any further, and crossed their arms, "Recently he's just been nagging me about allowing Log to stay at their place. All the while refusing to speak about the divorce and figuring out the visitation times. He's dragging this whole process out, even though he started it. He won't even allow my lawyer to go through his documents... Guess he's just scared I'd take sole custody, which I never even intended."
“I don't think this is about custody at all,” Sasuke mumbled.
“Well if he's trying to win me over by being annoying, he's not doing a good job.”
"Why not allow him to take Log for a couple of days anyway?" Sasuke shrugged. "From what I know, he's a great dad."
"Yeah, but he lives with Urushi, and from the rumors that reach me from the orphanage, they haven't done anything, but drink and go clubbing since Kabuto packed up his things and left our...I mean my house. I refuse to put my child in these conditions."
"I understand." Nodded Sasuke.
Orochimaru glanced nervously at their watch. They were beginning to notice people's slanted glances at themselves a little more than usual. Their sour face stood out a little too much amid everyone's joy.
"I have to go." They muttered, "Log is home all alone, and... I don't want to spoil your party."
"You're not gonna spoil anything." Sasuke looked around, causing several pairs of eyes to immediately turn away from Orochimaru. "This is an important moment in my life. I couldn't imagine not sharing it with my parent."
Orochimaru smiled as they looked into Sasuke's eyes. When did he become so tall and grown up? He was almost half a head taller than they were now, if not more. They couldn’t fully comprehend how he'd once been a small, malnourished boy who lunged at their cooking like a hungry animal. They were never good at cooking. Even now that they have gotten better at it, Log still refuses to eat almost everything they make. Sasuke was just an unfortunate little thing when they decided to take him in and now, there he was, with his own house and a family, still standoffish as ever, but so grown up and matured.
"I'm not your parent, I'm your guardian. You have a real family."
"Oh, come on." Sasuke waved his hand. "We both know that Itachi can hate you all he wants, but he was a juvenile delinquent and that's why he lost custody of me. You, on the other hand, at least tried to give me a good life and continue to help to this day. You are as much family to me as he is.”
They looked away a little embarrassed, hiding a smile.
"Thank you. But I still need to get home. I'm scared Log will freak out. There was a storm on the forecast." They tucked a strand of hair behind their ear.
"Okay." Sasuke nodded. "Sakura really wanted to give you some food to go, so
"
Orochimaru nodded and headed for the exit. “I'll wait at the porch.”
They saw no point in saying goodbye to anyone. No one but Sasuke and Sakura even said hello to them. However, the click of their heels before they stepped out onto the porch let everyone know that they were leaving.
Orochimaru took out a cigarette and lit it a little further away from the entrance. They'd given up cigarettes completely during the pregnancy and after Log was born, but lately... They've been craving a cigarette. Still, they never smoked in the car or at home, not wanting their son to inhale the smoke or smell, but smoking near the gas station on their way home or near a grocery store was for now their favorite part of the day by a long shot.
Orochimaru looked at the sky. Behind the painfully similar houses in this painfully plain neighborhood, all painted in cheery pastel colors, the gray, cloudy sky seemed even gloomier.
They sighed, remembering how they and Kabuto used to sit together in the pillow house with Log, with a flashlight and a book while a storm raged outside the window.
Log's fear of thunder was a surprising development for the family. He had been born in such weather that it seemed he shouldn't have been afraid of thunder. They even had a blackout in the middle of labor, the storm was so vicious they had to deliver a child in the candlelight. Yet, it was nonetheless endearing to help him through his fear. Something about being the source of comfort for their little guy was endlessly heartwarming.
They sighed, walked over to their car, pulled out an ashtray, and tossed the cigarette bud in it after extinguishing it. They wouldn’t litter at their son’s house.
"Ah, there you are! " Sakura materialized behind them, holding several bags. "I've packed you some snacks to go! There's soda, chips, two containers of mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, fried sausages, pork chops, salad..."
"Sakura, how much do you think me and Log are eating?" Orochimaru laughed.
"Don't interrupt me! "Sakura exhaled loudly through her nostrils. Orochimaru saw Sasuke behind her back, visually signaling them not to argue. "So, there's also, uh..."
"Yogurts." Sasuke helped her.
"Yes! Yogurt. My mom got me a yogurt maker and thought maybe Log would like it. He doesn't have a lactose problem, does he?"
"No, he likes yogurt." Orochimaru smiled.
"Great! " Sakura cheered. "There's also crackers and a couple of pieces of cake. Mom brought so much food, I didn't know what to do with it. I've done a lot of cooking myself...at least take this and eat it with Log, I know you don't like cooking. I’d feel better if you ended up throwing it away, rather than me, 'cause, you know, I see mom so rarely and I adore her cooking
"
"Thank you, honey." They took the bags from her hands and stacked them on the passenger seat after turning around and hugging her. "Congratulations again. I can't wait to see you as a mother, Sakura, I think you'll fit the role very well.”
"Thanks! " She laughed, taking a step back from them and folding her palms together, "I'm so glad we moved closer to you now. My parents definitely won't be moving out of their backwaters any time soon, and I'm so glad I can at least consult with you during the pregnancy."
"Honey, call and text me with anything you have, I know how much pregnancy fuels paranoia, and I'll always help you with anything."
Sakura looked at them, got some air into her chest, and threw herself at them, folding her hands around their shoulders again. Orochimaru smiled as they hugged her, catching Sasuke's pleased look.
"I'm so glad you and I have found common ground." She sighed and pulled away. "The beginning of our relationship was a disaster. "
"You two were just too young," Orochimaru laughed. "Right, Sasuke? Who brings a bride into the house at 16, huh?"
"We didn't get married at 16, didn’t we?" Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"I can see why you were so skeptical of me back then." Sakura turned to Sasuke, "We were
 young."
“Well.” Orochimaru walked to the driver's door. “That was a temporary flaw.”
The drive from the Uchichas' house took less than ten minutes. Orochimaru tried to concentrate on the road, but somehow, their thoughts kept returning to tonight's party. How sad Sakura looked the night before when they admitted that they couldn't look at the pictures of their wedding anymore. How Sasuke jokingly promised to "talk to Kabuto with his fists" if he didn't come to his senses and act like a normal father. How Sasuke and Sakura worried about their journey home and asked them to text them as soon as they arrived. They knew they started showing more and more obvious signs. They knew people could see the weight of their situation affecting them.
Their thoughts, one way or another, came down to Kabuto.
All the narrow streets with cute shops they passed held so many memories. The bakery where Kabuto always ordered cakes for their son's birthday. The cafĂ© where they went for coffee every Sunday, even before their child was born. They couldn’t help, but get choked up, thinking how a few years later, hot chocolate and Ă©clairs have been added to their usual Sunday order. They shook their head, trying once again to think only of the road.
The yellow leaves falling from the trees were sticking to the windshield and getting stuck in the. Who thought planting so many trees was a good idea?
"How dare they not ask you in advance." Kabuto's voice sounded in their head. They must have repeated that dialog a thousand times. For some reason, the medic liked trees.
Suddenly, something black ran out into the road. Orochimaru hit the brakes, holding their breath in surprise. They jumped out of the door, walking forward to see what was it they almost hit. There was a very scared black kitten sitting a few centimeters away from the car.
"Why did you run out into the road, you silly?" They picked up the kitten and moved it to the lawn next to the sidewalk. As they approached the car, a drop of water hit them on the nose. They sighed.
The rest of the way was much calmer. However, there was still this stupid pain in her ribs they felt whenever they were in this part of town. This stupid longing for what once was ordinary. By the time they pulled into the parking lot next to the house, it was pouring.
They didn't feel like going to meet their child while they were still shaken up. They exhaled and leaned back in the driver's seat, trying to push themselves to relax.
They didn't even want to look in the direction of their house. They remembered how much happiness and love the building had held and how much misery it had brought them now. They remembered how they and Kabuto had just bought this house, how they had made plans for renovations, and chosen wallpapers and flooring. How Sasuke, who was already living apart from them, had scoffed at the pastel purple colors that had been chosen for the interior of the house and how Kabuto had always argued with him for the same reason. How they had painted the walls in the nursery together, but Kabuto had been constantly distracted by hugging and kissing them, holding their still round belly. How they arranged the pictures, arguing in animated whispers about where their wedding photo would look best, while Log slept quietly in Kabuto's arms.
They hated going back to the house that smelled of dust and delivery food, remembering how they'd always eaten dinner together before, the three of them, and how Kabuto had enjoyed cooking and discussing the week's menu with them. Hated sleeping in a bed where the fucking memory foam mattress still couldn't seem to forget the outline of the other person. They hated how Log was constantly worried, now that his routine was disrupted, how he lost focus in school because of it, and the way all the teachers looked at them as they signed the paperwork to homeschool the boy. They wanted to scream when their sweet son whispered to them about his daddy and whether he would be living with them again for the first time. They hated that they couldn’t possibly tell him the answer.
They opened their eyes, only now realizing that tears had been streaming down their face all along. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and at the same moment, they slammed their fists exhaustively against the steering wheel.
How could he do this? How could he just leave everything behind? How could he leave the two of them?
They drew air into their chest, feeling like it was becoming harder to breathe. Their throat felt like it was being squeezed.
Kabuto had always been there for them. He was there for them when their arms stopped working because of a back injury. He spent hours doing exercises with them, patiently enduring their tantrums of fear and hopelessness. Had it not been for his persistence, they would probably still not have regained mobility in their fingers. He had been involved in the delivery of their child himself and was attending to their every need for months before the birth as if they were made of porcelain. He had stayed up nights and nights in a row, sitting with Log when he was sick. He had comforted them when Log had fallen face-first onto a piece of glass on a walk and then explained to Log that his scar wasn't scary when the kids on the playground started refusing to play with him.
He'd taken up so much space in their lives, and now it was as if there was no life left.
Now he was finding it difficult to maintain life with them. Now he suddenly needed "time apart" and "to feel young and alive again." At least that's what he said. Orochimaru was sure he just wanted to find someone younger and start a family with them.
They desperately wanted a second child, but nothing worked. The doctors just shrugged, there was nothing wrong with either of them, as it seemed. Orochimaru hadn't taken testosterone long enough to get pregnant, not to mention that they had never taken high doses. Their first child had even been conceived without stopping the use of hormones. Kabuto was also healthy. Nothing indicated what could have been the problem.
They were just unlucky.
At least according to the doctors.
Though Orochimaru certainly blamed themselves and only themselves. They were born with a defect and only exacerbated their condition with hormones.
Kabuto denied it, but how could he deny the obvious?
They hadn't been able to get pregnant for a year before Kabuto left.
Not counting a few miscarriages, of course. Most of them, very early. Except for the last one.
It ruined them both altogether, after which they decided to stop trying. For their good.
Sasuke had called specifically, warning them about the nature of their party tonight. He knew they were still sore about the topic, and even Sakura agreed with his decision to warn Orochimaru. Still, they had come after all. Decided to be with their child at such an important moment, even though it ended up as Sasuke thought it would. With a meltdown in the car.
They were wiping their face from tears when suddenly they heard a quiet banging on the car door. They turned their head sharply, seeing a yellow child's umbrella outside the window. Immediately they opened the door.
"Log? Why are you outside?" They asked fearfully.
The boy stood there, sniffling, tears streaming down his face. He was in his favorite blue dinosaur pajamas and rubber boots, holding tightly to the handle of his umbrella. Outside, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled.
The boy couldn't squeeze out a word, clutching the umbrella even tighter in his hands as thunder rumbled behind him.
Orochimaru jumped out of the car and scooped the child into their arms. Quickly grabbing the bags from the passenger seat, they slammed the car door shut and pressed the button on the keys, setting the car on alarm.
They practically ran into the house, dropping the packages on the floor at the entrance as they went and setting the crying child on the floor.
"Honey, why did you go out in the rain? Were you so afraid of the storm?" They began to talk, wiping tears from Log's chubby cheeks. He just shook his head.
"I was afraid..." The boy was still choking back tears. "For you."
Orochimaru sighed and sat down on the floor in front of the boy. Log squelched his nose and wiped his tears with his hands, clearly scared out of his mind, struggling to cope with his emotions. They reached forward with their hands.
"Come here, sweetheart." They smiled, the way they only smiled at their son. Log was always easily reassured by their soft, friendly smiles. The boy took a step forward and fell into their arms, and they scooped him up immediately. Log buried his face in their wet coat, gripping the fabric tightly with his hands, and they placed their palms on his hair, gently stroking the blond strands. "It's okay, baby, it's okay. Mommy's here for you now. Sorry it took me so long, I'm just a little tired.”
"Have you been crying?" The boy asked, snuggling against their chest as they pulled off his rubber boots.
"No, what are you, I just... "Their gaze met their son's. They realized they didn't want to lie to him anymore. "Yes. I was crying."
"Why?" Log sniffed.
Orochimaru looked at their son, struggling to form an answer. They’d prefer not to answer at all.
In general, Log was difficult to talk to. Long before he and Kabuto broke up when they were still together but already were visibly growing apart, Log had begun to withdraw into himself. Less talking, less playing, less socializing with the kids. But after they broke up, something in him finally broke. One-word sentences and a distant expression became the norm. His therapist argued that it should have passed with time, that he'd just taken the breakup to heart

It's been half a year. Just recently, he had started smiling again, talking to other children on walks, clapping his hands, and jumping up and down when he was happy. Barely so, but still, it was progress. But Kabuto just had to ruin it, to ask to visit him more and disturb his routine. Orochimaru could not say no. But they could see that their son had begun to regress. The mood swings and unreasonable hopes for his father's return were not good for him.
It was just painful.
"Is it because of Daddy?" The boy asked them quietly.
"Yeah." Orochimaru sighed, mentally berating themselves for allowing themselves to act like that in front of a child. His and Kabuto's problems weren't about their son. Shouldn't have been his burden. They'd tried so hard to keep him from the bitterness of realizing their family was crumbling... but they couldn't.
Log got to his feet, stepping back, giving Orochimaru a strangely thoughtful look.
"I miss daddy, too."
Orochimaru swallowed the lump in their throat and averted their gaze. They got to their feet, pulling off their high-heeled shoes. Log looked at them attentively. They couldn’t bear talking about his father. Not to him at least.
"Aunt Sakura sent over a lot of goodies," They spoke up, picking up the bags, and putting on a cheerful appearance again. "What do you want for dinner? There's mashed potatoes, mac and cheese..."
"Is it my fault Daddy's not coming back?" Log suddenly asked.
Orochimaru froze with the bags in their hands. The boy looked at them with his childishly sincere big eyes, now filled with a sadness that was so inappropriate for his sweet face. They walked past him, putting the bags on the table. They had to be silent for a second, gathering their thoughts so they wouldn't just start crying in front of him again. He shouldn't feel this way. No child deserves this.
"No, honey. Daddy loves you. He loves you very much." They saw the boy look at them with a silent question in his eyes.
Why.
"It's just..." They pulled out a container of sausage. "Daddy doesn't love me anymore. He wants to try living without me around. That's why he doesn't come often."
Tears treacherously rolled down their cheeks. Log immediately ran to them, hugging their legs. He just couldn't reach any higher. They reached lower, picking him up in their arms and kissing his cheek, smiling sadly.
"It happens." They began. "Adults are very stupid and rarely know what they want. Your dad thought he was happy, but he realized he wasn't. Now Daddy looks for happiness in other people and other things. But you, honey, will always be his happiness, as you'll always be mine too."
"Why aren't you his happiness anymore? " Log tried to repeat the gesture that Orochimaru was making, awkwardly brushing the tears away from their cheeks, causing them to start smiling.
"I don't fully know myself. I'm not sure your dad knows the answer either. He just feels that way." Orochimaru sighed and put Log down on the ground. They looked at the bags. "Shall we have cake for dinner tonight?"
"Yes!" The boy was immediately enthusiastic.
"Great, it's decided! " Orochimaru clapped their hands. ”Now you and I are going to wash up, get changed, and go watch Bluey and eat cake, right?"
Log started jumping in place from excitement, upon hearing that he was also going to be allowed to watch TV while he ate. That was normally strictly forbidden.
"Well, go to the bathroom and wash your hands and face, I'll get you some clean pajamas and come over, okay?"
The boy nodded cheerfully and ran to the bathroom.
"Don't run! You'll slip!" Orochimaru shouted back at him and sighed.
They looked at their reflection in the mirror, hanging at the entrance of the house, not that far from the kitchen, and shook their head.
They should also wash their face.
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the12thnightproject · 2 years ago
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Chapter 27: Shelter. Shingen's POV from the river, the rain, and the cave.
Shingen x OC; Kenshin x MC (Mai)
Previous Chapter: here
Logline - Disguised as a boy, Katsuko finds herself working for Shingen, but her dangerous masquerade becomes difficult to sustain when she falls for the man with a fatal secret.
It had been too late even before they started terracing the hills and trying to divert the waters into overflow ponds. A project like this ought to have begun months, perhaps years before the flooding, not in the middle of a deluge. Shingen thought this might even be the biggest sin to lay at Nobunaga’s feet, for in diverting their attention to battle, needed projects such as this had been postponed, or ignored.
Even knowing that it was a futile effort, they were giving it everything they had to redirect some of the water before it reached the river. Sasuke, at least, instantly grasped what Shingen had in mind, and scurried from one post to another, giving practical suggestions without having to ask for further instructions.
But after working through the wet, miserable night, and into the next afternoon, with the rain continuing to fall, there was that feeling that
 it wasn’t going to be enough. Homes would be lost. Lives maybe, too. The specter of failure pulled at him. Another project potentially left undone.
He shut his eyes to the raging waters, while the rain poured off his helmet and dripped down the back of his neck.
When he reopened them, she was standing in front of him, looking, as usual, like a drowned rat. Angel or devil, he didn’t even know any longer. But what was she – easier to just ask. “Why are you here?”
Katsu, because in those clothes, with that mirage of soldierly decorum, it was Katsu, and not duplicitous woman he had revealed himself to be, said, “Yukimura asked me to deliver a status report and a message.”
I don’t have time for this. “Well? What is it?”
Since Katsu seemed unusually reticent, Shingen glanced over his shoulder. “Sasuke! Tell them to bring more rocks to shore up that retaining wall!” Sasuke gave a salute to indicate message received and headed further up hill. Shingen turned his attention back to Katsu.
“Kenshin’s got the banks of the lowest point of the river built up about this high, and we’ve evacuated all of the towns up to the coast.” She drew an invisible line right about at her waist. That’s not going to be high enough. Time was running out, on this, on him.
But she was still talking. “Yukimura said 
 that you should return to the castle and have Sasuke take a shift.”
Had he? What had he told her? Was that why she was here? Because now she knew about his illness? He studied her face. No, there was no sympathy or knowledge in that expression. She was here because Yukimura told her to be here. Just following orders. For once. “Message delivered. Tell Yuki no.”
She continued to stand there, and again he wondered why she was still 
 well, with them at all. Once her masquerade had been revealed, she ought to have left. Yoshimoto had told him that he’d managed to prevent her – at least temporarily - from leaving on what would amount to a suicide mission to confront Yoshiaki. But even that didn’t explain why she had joined the teams outside. Though if she had been telling the truth about losing her home in a storm – and that was a big if – then he supposed she would feel strongly about helping those in a similar situation. “Anything else?”
“Um. N-no. It’s
 j-just that Yukimura was pretty insistent that I make you leave, which, I know I have no way of doing, but I’ve never seen him look that worried about anything,” she sounded a lot more hesitant than normal. “I guess if you’re not going to leave, can you at least go inside that tent over there and eat something, so I can at least tell him you’re not 
 pushing yourself.”
Yuki was worried – worried enough to send Katsu all the way up here. Shingen wasn’t going to leave, couldn’t leave in the middle of this project, but he could at least send back some reassurance. “Tell him this is worth the risk. And not to worry. I’m doing fine.” For now. He was doing fine for now.
She nodded and turned around without saying goodbye, slowly making her way down the muddy path toward the river. If all that had happened over the past couple of days, well, if it hadn’t happened, he would have been happy to see Katsu, might have taken a moment to show him what they were doing here. Actually, if things had been different, Katsu would have been with him up here from the start. But everything was different now.
His friend Katsu didn’t exist.
Because it had been Yuki who asked him, via Katsuko, not to push himself, Shingen did follow the suggestion and grabbed a few morsels to eat. He’d only just picked up a bowl of now-cold rice, when Sasuke appeared at his elbow, slipping into his vicinity in that silent way he had.
Something was slightly off about Kenshin’s ninja though. Shingen couldn’t pinpoint it exactly. Was it that his clothes seemed cleaner than earlier? That odd thought fled his mind, when Sasuke spoke. “A little boy just fell into the river.”
“Where? How close are we?” Was there time to get a rope? Unlikely. He dropped the bowl, not caring that is splattered on the ground, and rushed after Sasuke.
Sasuke pointed. “There
 downriver – Katsuko ran after him.”
Once again, he felt that fist around his heart tighten as he ran for his horse. “Can she swim?”
He looked back over his shoulder, but the ninja had vanished.
Of course, he couldn’t have expected her to keep her promise not to take any insane, stupid risks. She could likely toss off false promises as easily as the lies that were a second nature to her.
By the time he was on his horse, galloping along the riverbank, there was no sight of either Katsuko or a child in the water. Across the raging waters, a group frantic people were running alongside the river – the boy’s family, he assumed.
They were pointing – finally, he located the boy, floundering in the water. But where was Katsuko? Had she gone in after him? Had she--?
As he rounded a bend, he saw her up ahead, hanging half upside down from a tree that stretched out over the river. Even as he fathomed her plan; recognized its merit, there was a part of him that wanted to drag her down from the tree, pull her to safety.
All he could do was hold his breath, watching as his daredevil messenger dangled over the river, one arm reaching toward the child who in moments would pass underneath.
Katsuko snagged the back of the boy’s clothing, while he reached up and clung to her arm. Shingen hurried toward them, prepared to help pull the boy to shore if she didn’t have the strength to lift him into the tree.
CRACK.
He would be replaying the image of Katsuko, no, it was Katsu, falling into the river for the rest of his life. He might lose them both – the mischievous forest sprite who played kiss-and-run, and the puzzle-loving messenger who he’d looked forward to seeing every afternoon.
Even while his mind was reeling, his body already had urged his horse into a gallop, flying along the riverbank, as he kept them in sight, feeling that clench of panic every time her head disappeared under water.
She’d kept her grip on the branch though, and the boy – good girl. Admiration for her determination broke through the fear. Yes, that’s it
 keep your head up. As they continued to gallop along the riverside, his brain flipped into tactics, as he analyzed the current, assessing where the water was most likely to send them. He knew this river, had studied it. Up ahead, the channel widened, which would lessen the rapids, somewhat, but hopefully still be shallow enough for his horse to cross.
Without hesitation, his well-trained horse entered the river at his signal, and at least at first, seeming to find a foothold on the bottom. But the further toward the center he got, the less steady his horse was.
He’d gotten used to measuring out the remainder of his life in months –  was that measurement going to be down to heartbeats?
Fortunately, his horse had found his footing again, and he pressed forward, aiming for a place that would intercept their progress. Then Katsu was slammed into a boulder, ricocheting them almost out of reach
 but

He had them. He had her. She looked at him, seeming dazed – had she hit her head on that rock? – before blinking the water out of her eyes, and pushing the boy into his arms while she climbed onto his horse. I have you.
They weren’t nearly out of danger, but at least Katsu and the boy weren’t being flung about in the rapids. Worried that he was asking too much of his horse, especially when once again, he faltered, he climbed off, hoping to help lead him to the bank. “Hold on,” he told Katsu. Would she listen? He sensed, rather than saw her make a move to help. “If you get off this horse, I will drown you myself.”
Muttering under his breath, every obscenity he knew, in random order, he guided his horse toward the closest bank. Even after he sensed the moment his horse once again was able to touch the bottom of the river, he didn’t relax until they were all safely out of the water.
And then it was simply enough to stand there and gaze at where they had all been. They were out of the water, but in front of his eyes was the image of Katsuko tossed about in the rapids, being slammed against the rocks, tangled up in the debris. He looked over at her, just to confirm that yes, she was there. She too was staring at the water. He wondered if she realized she was still hanging onto the little boy as if his life was still in danger.
“Hiko!”
An older man – presumably the boy’s father rushed up. He grabbed his son, alternately hugging then yelling – and Shingen related to every change of mood. “Thank you for saving my only son. Hiko is a careless whelp, but he would be missed.”
“No thanks are needed,” Shingen said. He ruffled the boy’s wet hair.
“Be that as it may, I am grateful,” the man said. He looked over his shoulder at where the rest of the family group was making their way along the riverbank. “I would have been left with five useless daughters.”
He didn’t have to see Katsuko’s face to know how she felt about that, and even before she took a step forward, Shingen prepared to haul her back to his side. He placed a warning hand on her shoulder. Immediately she stiffened. Did she still fear his touch?
Annoyed, he turned his attention back to Hiko’s father. “I’ve found a multitude of uses for them,” Shingen said. “But I’m glad we were able to be of service to you.”
The boy’s mother scurried up with a blanket and wrapped her son up in it. Before rejoining his family, he turned and hugged Katsuko. He imagined that being in the river together had been somewhat of a bonding experience – and if he were being completely honest, he wasn’t sure if the boy would have survived without her. Shingen likely would not have gotten to him in time, were it not for Katsuko keeping Hiko’s head above water. But even that honesty couldn’t overcome the fear and anger that still coursed through him.
“I cannot repay you, but, would you like to have one of my daughters?” The man gestured to where five girls were lined up. “Sho,” he said, and the tallest girl stepped forward. She gave him a shy smile.
She was a pretty child, but possibly young enough to be his daughter. He smiled at her, and tried to be kind about the rejection. “I couldn’t separate you from your family, Princess.” Then he addressed her father. “You do me honor, but I am not in any position to add to my household.”
The man bowed, then went to his wagon, and returned with a couple sea otter pelts and a sack of something that clinked. “Please accept these as a token of my gratitude.”
Shingen nodded, and stowed the gifts in his saddlebags.
The family all bowed and headed back up river.
Katsuko looked at him warily, and it was on the tip of his tongue to give her a lecture that she would never forget, but on the heels of that thought was the memory of her falling into the river, and before he could think better of it, he’d pulled her into his arms. Simply to confirm that she was real and alive and here and 
 ahhh
 not wearing that binding she normally wore around her breasts when she dressed as a boy.
He stepped back quickly and didn’t miss that flinch she gave when he gripped her shoulders. “Didn’t you promise never to do something that dangerous again?”
“I did not!” She gave him a calm and steady glare. “I said I couldn’t promise that. I might be a liar, but I don’t make promises that I don’t intend to keep.” She yanked herself out of reach.
Does she think I’m going to strangle her? He was tempted to do all sorts of things, but of course he could control those impulses.
Meanwhile, she continued to protest. “What I said was that I would consult you if feasible. It was not feasible.”
That
 was likely the correct assessment of the situation, but that didn’t lessen the anger he felt. “Do you have any idea what could have happened if Sasuke hadn’t gotten my attention in time?”
“Yes.” The look she gave him was easily translatable. “But, if the tree branch hadn’t broken, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
Did she not remember they had fought about this before? More likely she remembered but hoped he didn’t. “The hell we wouldn’t. Just because you survived, doesn’t mean it wasn’t a stupid, reckless thing to do!” Again, some part of him recognized that her actions had likely saved the boy’s life, but he couldn’t stop himself from yelling.
“I didn’t have much time to think-“
“That, is obvious-“
“What else was I supposed to do? Let the boy drown?”
No
 that was not in her nature. If he were honest with himself, if this had been almost anyone else standing in front of him, he would have admired them for it. Maybe she was a liar, but whatever was in her dubious moral code wouldn’t allow her to stand back when lives were at stake.
His horse meanwhile, apparently had had enough of both of them, and chose that moment to try and shake off the river. Right. They couldn’t stay here all night. “Come on. We’ll need to find shelter before we lose daylight.”
Not bothering to check whether or not Katsuko was following, he mounted his horse. He didn’t notice he was holding his breath until he felt her climb on behind him. At least she was willing to let him take the lead in finding shelter. That relief had him prod his horse forward sooner than he’d intended, and Katsuko let out a little, “eep” as she hurried to wrap her arms around his waist. Possibly the only time she’d ever rushed to grab him.
He doubted they would find any structures in the area, but the hills were riddled with caves; it was only a matter of finding one large enough to shelter them. Hopefully before the sunset – otherwise, they’d have to build something out of branches. Either way, an uncomfortable night loomed ahead of them.
Katsuko’s grip on him slackened – was she falling asleep? He reached to take her hand, and he sensed her startling into awareness again. The near-drowning must be catching up to her. If she’s that exhausted, she ought to be in front 
 better to ensure she didn’t fall off. It was unlikely that she would accept if he made that suggestion, so he simply did his best to wake her up every time he sensed her dozing off.
Finally, he found a likely cave set back in the hills and pulled his horse to a stop. “This will have to do,” he said.
Katsuko shook herself awake, and peered around him. He could feel her actually shudder when she saw his idea of a shelter. “Th-that’s a c-cave,” she said.
Was she still afraid to be alone with him? The implication was insulting. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to take the opportunity to push my unwanted attentions on you again.” He wouldn’t have pushed them to begin with, if he’d had any idea they were not welcome. Usually, they were quite welcome, if not invited. In fact, often, they were encouraged.
Not wanting to even look at her at this point, he busied himself with finding the driest possible place to settle his horse, built him a bit of a rain-break out of branches, then walked past her into the cave. “Coming?” If she didn’t follow him inside, he would literally carry her in there – whatever her feelings were toward him was no reason to spend the night sitting in the rain.
After a moment of hesitation, he heard her footsteps patter in. She halted again, right by the mouth of the cave. “Do you have a lantern?”
“I was more concerned with catching up to you, than I was with grabbing a lantern.” He did have the saddlebags, though, and hopefully, between the leather of the bags and the oilskin wrappings, his clothes would be
 they were damp in places. But not soaked. “The slightly good news is that I had yet to unpack my saddlebags, so at least I’ve got a change of clothing. Not completely dry, more’s the pity, but the oilskin protected them to an extent.”
He wrapped a layer of his kimono in one of the pelts. “Get out of those wet things.” He tossed the bundle toward the direction of her voice.
The faint light from the mouth of the cave was just enough to outline her body, but her features were in shadow. He doubted that she could see him at all. Even so, he made sure to look away from her, as he changed into dry – drier – clothes. Hopefully, although he doubted he would be that lucky, he wouldn’t get sick, or if he did, that the worst of it would hold off until he could be back in Kasugayama.
Once drier, he took stock of their provisions. He always kept a packet of rice cakes in his saddlebags – not that there was any danger of starvation, but they ought to eat. “If you can manage to bring yourself closer to me, I’ve found some field rations of dried rice.” What else – what had the trader given them? He rooted through the sack, found a couple of bottles. He opened one and took a tentative sip. “And the trader gave us some sake.”
The stilted reply came from the front of the cave – apparently she’d parked herself as far as possible from him. “No thank you.”
“Suit yourself.” More for him then. He took a quick bite, got some petty satisfaction at the echo of the crunch.
At some point, they needed to have it out, clear whatever misconceptions and lies still stood between them, this discomfort was becoming unbearable, but he didn’t have the energy to take that on. He would still have to keep a distant eye on her at Kasugayama until they could prove to her that going after Yoshiaki was unnecessary. Say what you will about Nobunaga – and Shingen had said plenty – he would deal with that problem himself.
Hopefully, by the time she moved on to whatever life she chose for herself, they’d at least part if not as friends, but with a better knowledge of who they were, and who they weren’t.
Once she left, he could always have his mitsumono keep track of her, simply to assure himself that she was alive and safe. He’d like to know that, and, well, in a few months that would no longer be an issue. Maybe she’d find her way to someone who could keep her daredevil impulses in check, keep her safe. Someone who would appreciate the way she threw herself into investigating puzzles, who would recognize her latent talent for strategy– perhaps he really should send her to work for Mitsuhide. Let the two of them drive each other crazy. She’d probably prove enough of a distraction for Nobunaga’s spymaster to keep him out of Kenshin’s hair for a while. It was a rather elegant solution
 and he hated it.
He looked toward the entry to the cave, but it was now pitch black. He could no longer see Katsuko, but he could hear her breathing
 and

Something’s not right.
He’d certainly spent enough time laboring to breathe, to recognize when someone else was struggling. Struggling with what, though? “Katsu? Is something wrong?”
Her breath choked off with a sharp intake – the sound of someone trying to pretend that everything was fine. He knew that sound too. He’d performed that masquerade. Katsuko was terrified. Maybe of him. But more likely, he’d been mistaken 
about many things.
He stood up. Keeping one hand over his head to make sure he didn’t accidentally walk into the low hanging ceiling of the cave – the last thing he needed on top of everything else was a concussion- he hugged the wall as he made his way back to where he believed Katsuko was sitting. “You’re really not ok, are you?”
She reached out and took his hand. Some of the tension he’d been holding uncoiled at the feeling of that hand in his. There was trust in that hand. She needed him. “N-n-no.”
He slid down the wall to sit next to her – she was curled up, her face on her knees. He’d seen this before – sometimes in battle. Sometimes after, when soldiers could not erase the scenes of battle from their mind. “I’m here.” The battle, whatever it was, was in her mind. There wasn’t much he could do, but he could be here. To give her something else to latch onto besides her thoughts, he started talking, a half nonsense, half-truth story about the orphaned bear cub he had adopted and a day that it had gotten into Kenshin’s stash of pickled plums.
He put his arm around her shoulders and felt her relax slightly. He remembered the horror in her voice when she saw the cave – was it the cave, or the dark? She’d asked for a lantern. And yet, it had been fairly dark at the lake, and she’d had no trouble blowing out the candle in the Inn. He’d walked into Katsu’s room once at night, and there hadn’t been a candle or lantern left burning.
Not the dark. The cave itself?
A fragment of memory from the night he’d tried to forget presented itself. He’d been too mad at her at the time to take it in, but he’d heard everything

“Was the opportunity too great to pass up when you tried to kill me before?”
“I tried to kill you a few times
 can you be more specific?”
“Box.”
“Oh, the crate. That one I just left up to fate whether or not you survived. If Motonari had let you out before you died of thirst, I imagine he’d have found some use for you. It didn’t matter to me as long as you were gone.”
The vassal, Iekane, also from Katsuko’s past – he’d locked her in a crate, apparently loaded her on a ship? A Mouri ship? How long had she been shut in there? An experience like that – yes, that could leave a person with a fear of dark closed in places. The idea of his daredevil forest sprite locked inside a

His?
Yes. She had followed him home, and he was keeping her.
His.
For as long as he was able, he was keeping her.
His.
Katsuko sighed and melted against him. “You probably think I’m crazy.”
He didn’t. Everyone was afraid of something. He attempted to lighten the mood. “Aside from your habit of flinging yourself out of trees, Devil, no.” He brushed his fingers through her still-damp hair, resisting the urge to cup her face, and seal her lips with a kiss. Not the right time.
But hopefully, soon.
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[Very soon... look for another post later today]
@bestbryn
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kankuroplease · 3 years ago
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Tattoo shop au hc for Yamato pls?
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Yamato was involved with the wrong crowd as a child because he had no one at home. so when he met Kakashi, who not only helped him while he was being jumped and didn’t judge him harshly for what he’d been doing around town, he sort of started to try and live a bit differently.
Kakashi invited him to come and hang out while he apprenticed with Minato and eventually he was learning right along side him.
He found nature tattoos were his calling. Even looking at and studying the references were calming to him and gave him something other to do than hang around his old gang. And the rest is history
Volunteer firefighter
Dating Genma. Ngl it’s pretty serious, BUT he’s not telling anyone outside of Kakashi. He’s pretty sure they scared off the last person he was talking to 💀
Genma always remarks about their “audience” when he’s visiting him outside the shop. The crew, minus Kakashi, is usually is pressed up against the window trying to figure out what the relationship is
Is the hot motorcycle guy scamming Yams? Are the just friends? FWB? Loves? What?! None of their business. That’s what
Still gets happy whenever Kakashi compliments his work.
Buys everyone’s coffees on the way to work and feeds the stray cats in alley
He can do portraitïżŒ tattoos. They aren’t his favorite, but he’s more than capable of doing them.
Doesn’t toot his own horn as much as he should about his skills.
Most likely to get flustered if someone wants tattoos in “intimateïżœïżœ places. Actually prefers not to do those types of tattoo work and will apologetically decline.
He’s not going to sugarcoat if a tattoo is going to hurt. People ask about his throat piece and he’s brutally honest about how that one and the one on his his head felt.
Also the most likely to reprimand someoneïżŒ for their behavior
As arguably the most the most levelheaded person in the shop, he’s tired. There’s always someone about to get them a violation somehow.
He gets that they’re located in Uchiha territory, but he doesn’t like letting Shisui do whatever he wants in the shop. Sakura, stop letting him sit behind the counter.
Does gift drives and donates for kids in need. It just feels full circle for him in a way
Will tell Kakashi children shouldn’t be in a tattoo shop, but will end up holding baby Ryu anyways he can’t tell a baby no that is doing grabby hands
Would he ever take on an apprentice again, heck no. Did Sai turn out to be a great tattoo artist and eventually stop asking his clients odd questions, yes.
Is a little worried that Sai will get his feelings hurt by his jet setting girlfriend
Worried that Sakura is playing with fire befriending an Uchiha that makes people disappear, while being the ex of another Uchiha that is also her coworker, AND flirting with the owner of their shop’s biggest competition 💀
Worried about Naruto and his ho phase and why his alleged octopus tattoos look clearly like squidsïżŒ
Worried that everytime Sasuke walks out the door, it’ll be the last time they see him.
Wishes he didn’t know all this stuff to worry about, but gossip travels quick in this shop. So the least he can do is try to give some advice/guidance.
Green thumb. He’s the guy how has some obscenely overprice plants that will give you clippings from them if you ask for them. But also don’t touch or attempt to water his plants.
Has Pinterest boards just for different types of plants and wildlife
Even has a private board for the photographer Kakashi gives him.
Informs the shop when the next expo is and if it’s worth going it
Likes unwinding with good book and some wine after work
Invites Sai out because he knows Sai is even more of a homebody than himself
They either go out for drinks or Sai invites him and Genma to go to a strip club because they have good chicken wings
Thanks for corruptingïżŒ Sai Naruto and Sakura💀
Does the flashlight thing
Has a hard time turning down gifts if the gifter is persistentïżŒ. That’s how Chiha ended up getting him to take a cat figurine she swore he looked like.
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justsasuke · 3 years ago
Text
Team Taka Matsuri Day #1: Hometown
I saw a thing this morning saying we need to talk about Karin more that ofc got me thinking about Karin and led to me writing this for the prompt. (shoutout to @dualfuel) I honestly don't think about Karin a lot because 98% of my brain is JuuSasu sludge but whenever I do spend some time thinking about her I realize there's a lot more depth to her and much to be explored. I had fun doing a little bit of that exploring while writing this. ((Please excuse any typos etc. I wrote this in a rush))
Hope you enjoy~ and happy Team Taka Matsuri!!
-- -- --
It's her hometown but she doesn't realize until they passed the rock in the clearing she used to play on when she was too small to realize the world was a dangerous place.
She stops walking and stares. The town she remembers had been burned to the ground along with her memories.  And yet there it is standing again, completely rebuilt and looking exactly the same.
She’d forgotten in the aftermath of all that had happened to her where the place she had spent her early years was.
“Sasuke, can we stop here?”  she calls. It's mid afternoon and they have only been walking for a few hours. It's nowhere near time to take a rest and she had told Suigetsu so when he had needed a break half an hour ago.
"Wow, Karin. Are you tired already?" Suigetsu immediately asks, his lavender eyes sly and his pointy teeth bared in a grin
Karin ignores him and brushes past, walking to where Sasuke is paused in the path, Juugo right beside him.
"Stopping here isn't the plan" Sasuke comments when Karin is close enough. But it's not a no so Karin brushes him off with a shrug
"So? It's convenient. And we haven't stopped in a town for days" They had been spending the nights camped in the woods, sleeping in makeshift tents and keeping themselves warm by campfire which only worked if Suigetsu wasn't on second watch. He couldn't keep a fire going to save his life and without Sasuke or Juugo or Karin to tend to it, it was usually out by morning. "We could all use the break".
Sasuke looks over at the village and Karin holds her breath. She watches intently as he scans the roofs of the buildings they can see through the trees, and when he glances at Juugo she wills Sasuke to turn to her and say yes.
She won't mention that they're only meters away from where she had played in the streets with the other children in the village. That if they enter the village through the main gate and pass the first two streets they'll be walking right by the place where she had lived with her mother and helped all that were injured. And she definitely won't tell Sasuke or anyone just how much her heart aches at the idea of walking those streets just one more time.
"I hate to say it but Karin is right". Suigetsu interjects, coming up behind Karin and stopping next to her. "We haven't been in a town for days and man, I could really use a bath. Besides, all this walking is making me tired. I don't think it's going to hurt if we stay here instead of 10 more miles up the road, do you Sasuke?"
For once in her life Karin is grateful for Suigetsu's compulsive need to take a breather. (It wouldn't last forever, he said. It was only the result of him being trapped in that tank for years and would stop over time. That was months ago)
"We'll stop here then". Sasuke says finally.
Karin wants to laugh with relief. She turns to Suigetsu instead and shoves her fist into his arm "you are so lazy Suigetsu" she snaps, and he rolls his eyes.
Home. It wasn't her home still, it hadn't been for years. And yet when she walked through the gates--built back exactly as they had been before the fires--it felt like she was being welcomed back.
**ok some notes real quick notes because I need to mention that in my mind Suigetsu definitely noticed Karin being off and decided to take her side. he's sensitive like that so I wanted to try and add that in. ~ciao
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animeomegas · 4 years ago
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Been thinking a lot about sasuke and his alpha going on a vacation by themselves and just doing very domestic things like washing his hair, maybe pairing his nails after a lot of begging bc yknow how he is, watching a movie and soft rubbing his tummy and he’s just so relaxed he falls asleep tucked into ur neckđŸ˜”đŸ˜© Spain without the S, monarch đŸ˜©
Yesss, I love this idea so much, I got a little carried away haha. That’s why it took me so long to write this <3 Sasuke deserves to be spoiled as much as possible, canon did him dirty, but I am here to fix that!!!  I hope you enjoy ~~
Sasuke is almost a different person when he’s on holiday.
Being away from Konoha takes away so much stress from his shoulders, stress that he didn’t even know he had. He’s in a place where no one knows him, a place that’s never done anything to him, a place where nothing has to mean anything he doesn’t want it to. He’s free in a lot of ways.
He smiles more. He laughs more too. It’s such as big difference that I would say that trips out of Konoha are a pretty crucial part of taking care of Sasuke’s mental health.
He’s finds it easier to accept affection outside of Konoha, when he’s alone with his alpha. There’s no one there to judge him, or to pick him apart to use his weaknesses against him, he doesn’t feel like he’s constantly being watched in the way he often feels when at home. He has fewer nightmares too.
Sasuke would never leave Konoha permanently at this point, I don’t think, but honestly, his alpha is probably tempted just to wrap him up and run away together because of how much happier and healthier he is in small, unaffiliated towns or tourist countries.
You picked a cute, little rental cottage in the woods on the edge of a rural town in Tea Country.
You get there in the evening, throw down your luggage and decide for a quick bath and then bed, committing to activities tomorrow when you’re less tired from traveling.
You go to start running the bath while Sasuke familiarises himself with the room, but before you do, you pull him in for a cuddle, scenting him and nuzzling him, just so happy to be getting some alone time with him. And he does it back. Without thinking, without hesitation, without complaining. He makes a little comment about you trying to drown him in your scent but the little smile on his face says he’s only teasing. And as you try to pull away, he pulls your face into a kiss. You can feel him smiling against your lips and you can’t help but smile in return, breaking the kiss with a breathy laugh.
“I need to run the bath,” you whisper, breathless already.
ïżœïżœOne more,” he demands coyly, pulling you back in.
When the bath is eventually run, you sit back and allow Sasuke to slip in front, his back against your chest. There are no words shared at first, but the silence isn’t awkward, it’s content, both of you simply lost in thought.
You offer to wash his hair for him, and he hands you the bottle with a “you’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?”
You laugh and tell him probably not.
He allows it with a sigh, but as soon as you start massaging the shampoo into his hair, the sighs change in tone. He pushes back into your ministrations and a couple of quiet purrs escape him, seeming louder than normal as the sound bounces off all the porcelain.
Before it’s time to wash it off, you use the foam to spike his hair up, laughing as he tries to elbow you away. He ends up turning around and grabbing you by the wrists, but now that you can see him face on, the laughter only gets stronger. His hair looks ridiculous.
Sasuke huffs and flattens it down before grabbing your face for a ‘shut up’ kiss, a personal favourite of his. You both get a little carried away with kissing in the tepid water, just basking in each other’s company until there’s a ‘shampoo in eye’ mishap that forces you apart.
The water is cold by the time you both get out.
 You both slip into pyjamas but before bed, you have one final request.
“Can I paint your nails, Sasuke? I brought some new nail varnish and everything!”
“Absolutely not. And why on earth do you have nail varnish?”
“I brought it specially for you~”  you whined, holding the container up to show him the deep purple colour.
Sasuke hit you with an unimpressed stare.
“That’s too bad, you should learn to make purchases more carefully next time.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“Please?”
“
Fine, but only my toenails.”
It’s relaxing in a way, having his nails painted, not that he’s going to say that out loud. It’s repetitive and quiet and
 kind of pleasant. He catches himself more than a few times smiling at your concentrated face as well, amused that your taking this so seriously.
“There,” you interrupt his inner monologue. “The purple’s on! Doesn’t it look nice?”
Sasuke makes a non-committal ‘hnn’ noise in response, wiggling his toes a little.
“So, I just have to wait for this to dry then I can go to sleep right?”
“Nope! I still need to add the topcoat, I got a glitter one just for you!”
“If you put glitter on my toenails, I’m divorcing you.”


(The next morning a vendor at the market comments on how much she likes Sasuke’s glittery, purple nails.)
  â€œI’m exhausted,” you mutter into Sasuke’s neck, leaving a few kisses for good measure.
“It’s entirely your fault that it took this long to get to bed, so I have no sympathy,” he replies from his position as little spoon.
You huff a little but settle down, tightening your arms around his just a little for good measure.
 This was one of the most relaxed states you had ever seen Sasuke in. He was warm and comfortable, he felt safe and sleepy. He was even letting out little content noises as you rubbed a hand in circles over his stomach, pushing up his pyjama shirt ever so slightly. His skin was smooth and warm under you hand.
You could feel yourself succumbing to sleep, and so you placed a few kisses on his mating mark as a way to say goodnight and allowed your eyes to close.
And in the morning, you awoke, not to an empty bed as you so often did at home, but with your arms still wrapped around a sleeping Sasuke, completely relaxed and still dead to the world.
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narutogwriting · 4 years ago
Text
Before You Go
Pairing: Sasuke Uchiha x Reader
CW: angst
Length: 3.6k+
Summary: You play it through your head. Every moment, every interaction you ever had with Sasuke before he left. Was there something you could have done? Could you have made him stay?
Inspired by: Before You Go by Lewis Capaldi
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Looking at Sasuke hurt. That’s all you could think about for the longest time. To look at Sasuke was to be punched in the stomach, all the air leaving your lungs. It was like someone’s fist tearing through your chest, grabbing your heart and crushing it in their fingers. Looking at Sasuke left your entire existence battered and bruised.
You remember hearing the whispers. Adults whispered a lot, always telling each other secrets. “I’ll tell you when you’re older.” That’s what they always said when you asked them what they were talking about. So much of their conversations were too hard to follow along with. You made a mental registry of all the questions you would ask when you reached this elusive “older” age.
You were nosey, of course; always wanted to hear the ins and outs of things. But the first time you remembered the whispers really catching your interest was when you were seven years old.
“It’s horrible, what happened to the Uchihas.” “I can’t believe he could do that to his own family. “Just tragic.”
Uchiha. A boy in your class had the last name Uchiha. Sasuke. He was really popular, by far the strongest kid in the academy. You never talked to him, but you always noticed how happy he would get when his big brother would come pick him up at the end of the day.
“Did something happen to Sasuke?” You asked, crawling out from underneath the table, earning a startled gasp from you aunt.
“What have I told you about eavesdropping!?” Your mother snapped at you, but she didn’t look angry like usual. She looked worried almost. With a sigh, she pat your head. “Don’t worry too much, okay. It’s nothing. Sasuke is just fine.”
It was natural for a parent to want to protect their child’s innocence. Even at your parent’s age, the Uchiha Massacre was a horrific occurrence; it was too hard for them to process; it would be even harder to try to explain it to you. Ignorantly, your parents thought that if they hid it from you, you would never have to deal with it, but of course that wasn’t true. People talked and word got around. It only took one or two kids in the academy finding out some details for the story to grow and spread.
Sasuske wasn’t at the academy for a month after you heard your parents and aunt whispering about his family, but the next day at school, word was already beginning to get around. Sasuke’s older brother, the one he’d adored so dearly, that he’d smiled so happily at every day, had murdered his whole family, leaving only Sasuke alive.
It would have been better to hear it from your parents, the toned down, soft version of the appalling act as they tried to explain to you for the first time that the world could be a cruel place. But instead, you had to listen in horror while your classmates gossiped, lied, and exaggerated the whole thing, discussing the most traumatizing moment of Sasuke’s life as if it was a new movie playing in the cinema. You’d gone home crying almost every day that week.
When Sasuke finally did come back, he talked to no one, and no one talked to him. He kept to himself, arms crossed and a blank, cold stare on his face that would soon become his signature. You couldn’t believe that such a beautiful smile had ever crossed those icy features.
“Stay away from Sasuke.” Your mom whispered as she walked you home from the academy. When you questioned why, she’d simply shushed you. “Do what I say.”
Parents always know best. That’s all you know when you’re seven years old. They always do and say the right thing, and you always listen because you never have a reason not to. Your mom told you not to talk to Sasuke, so of course you wouldn’t because there must be a good reason not to.
You never told your mother that it was this very command that later shattered your innocence; the first moment when you realized that your mom was not always right.
It wasn’t immediate. You never really talked to Sasuke in the first place, so it was nothing new to ignore him now. But now that you’d been told not too, of course everything in you wanted to go say hello to him.
There is a theory of development that categorizes the age of seven as industry vs inferiority. It’s the first time you’re independently integrating into society and trying to figure out your place. The major question of children this age is “How can I be good or bad?”
And you were no different. This appeared in a lot of ways. When you struggled to hit the target with a kunai, you felt like a failure. When you were corrected by your parents, it felt like criticism and hit you to your core.
But you were moving further than your peers. You didn’t just wonder if you were good or bad based on your skills; you wondered if it made you bad to ignore a person that everyone else seemed to be purposefully isolating as well.
Can I be a good person if I let another person feel miserable?
Sasuke had lost everything, was living on his own in the place his family had been murdered in front of his eyes. Even you could understand that that must be traumatizing. Of course he was angry and cold and closed off. How could anyone fault him for that?
It started slow. “Hi, Sasuke.” You would greet him every day when you got to class. It took him off guard the first couple of times. Once he got used to it, he just “hn’d” in response, but that was okay with you.
Then you started asking him if he wanted to sit with you at lunch, offered him an extra dessert that you would sneak into your pack just for him.
He always told you no, so you would leave him alone and just offer again the next day. Not to be annoying; just to let him know that you were there.
Things changed a few weeks after Sasuke had come back to the academy. You were still saying hi and being ignored, and a few kids had begun to slowly start trying to interact with Sasuke in response. You never really saw him outside of the academy except for this one day you were out with your mom running errands.
You’d never considered how he got food or supplies he needed. You didn’t know where he got the money, but there Sasuke was at the market just like you were. You watched from your mom’s side as he walked up to a fruit stand where there was a group of people examining the different produce. Sasuke reached past someone, grabbing an amaou to put in his bag.
The person next to Sasuke glanced down absentmindedly, but you saw the way their eyes widened as they settled on him, realizing who he was.
“Oh shit,” the guy muttered, dropping his fruit and hurrying away from the stand. One by one, every other person around did the same, looking at Sasuke with an expression of shock or discomfort before speeding off.
You couldn’t see Sasuke’s face from where you were, only his back, but you could see the way his shoulder tightened. He froze completely before his body began to tremble just slightly. Sasuke’s fingers tightened and the fruit was crushed beneath his fingers. He dropped the pulp and the bag with all the other fruit he’d been planning on getting and in a moment, he was gone.
It was the first time you could remember hearing a heart shatter. You just weren’t sure if it was his or yours.
Your mom’s attention was elsewhere, so you took the opportunity to sneak over to the fruit stand, grabbing the bag Sasuke had dropped, examining the produce inside. When back at your mother’s side, you grabbed her hand. “Mom, can I get some fruit?”
Later, you snuck the fruit bag from your kitchen, slinging it over your arm as you walked around the village. You finally found Sasuke sitting under a tree on the outskirts of town. He had his back to the trunk, arms crossed as he stared off. He didn’t look at you, didn’t acknowledge your presence as you approached, but he didn’t tell you to leave, either.
So you slipped down next to him, leaning against the trunk and placing the bag of fruit silently between the two of you as you crossed your legs. With nothing else to do, you began to pick the flowers in the grass, weaving their stems together until you had a small bracelet formed.
What came over you, you weren’t sure. But confidently, you turned to Sasuke where he still sat, staring off with his arms crossed. You reached out, gently taking his arm and untangling it from the other. To your surprise, he didn’t fight you, so you took his hand, sliding the flower bracelet around his wrist.
When you looked up at him, you found that he was already staring at you. He wasn’t smiling, but for the first time in weeks, he wasn’t frowning either.
~
You hated him. You hated Sasuke Uchiha! After everything, the past five years that you had spent together
 Had it all meant nothing!?
It was a blow straight to your heart hearing the words when you had come home. “Sasuke has defected from the village.” Sasuke had left to train with Orochimaru, all for his revenge. He hadn’t been kidnapped or forced to go; he left willingly. Just like that. One day he was there, and the next he was gone.
You hadn’t even had the change to go on the retrieval mission. You just had to have gone out of town that day. He’d already been gone for days by the time that you were home. Naruto was the last person that got to see Sasuke before he disappeared; maybe forever.
Even thinking the words had you in hysterics. You sobbed violently into your pillow, the sounds being ripped from your throat. You sobbed so hard your body shook. Your cries were so vicious that you began to vomit, not even able to make it to the trashcan.
That’s where your mother found you hours after you heard. “I told you to stay away from him
” Your mom tsk’d softly.
You would never forgive him.
~
Was there something you could have said or done? You thought you’d been a good friend to Sasuke. You’d always tried to be there, listen in those rare moments that he wanted to talk to you. Ever since you’d given him the bracelet

That moment was so pivotal in your friendship. Not just that you’d given the gift, but that Sasuke had accepted it. It was the moment that your one sided pursuit of Sasuke had become mutual; the two of you were now friends.
And it wasn’t a normal type of friendship really like your other relationships were. This one was quieter, built around so much that was unsaid, only felt. In Sasuke’s loneliness, you were there standing by and sitting next to him through it all.
You couldn’t take away Sasuke’s pain or hurt, but you could walk with him through it.
Or at least, that’s what you had thought. It’d been stupid. You actually believed that you could help Sasuke, make him feel better when he’d experienced the most appalling sort of loss. Maybe that belief had only made Sasuke feel even more lonely.
Did you ever understand at all? No, you hadn’t, and you knew it. You’d tried your best, done everything you could, but you were just a kid too, and you’d never experienced anything like Sasuke had. How could you have known what to say to make it better?
Despite this, the guilt that you felt was consuming, taking up every part of you. You felt as if you’d drown in it, felt the way it filled your lungs until you couldn’t breathe.
You’d been in denial when you heard the news, felt the anger when the retrieval squad had failed. In the weeks that followed Sasuke’s defect, you’d switched between the two stages almost constantly.
Now, finally, you’d moved onto bargaining.
If Sasuke just comes back
 If he just came home, you would be better! Whatever he needed, whatever he wanted, you’d give it to him! Somehow you’d have the right words this time. You would tell him exactly what hear to make it all stop hurting. Whatever it took

And you bargained hard. You bargained and bartered and you petitioned and you pleaded. You begged whatever god that was listening, tried to sell your soul to the devil, if only, if only it would bring Sasuke back!
But if god existed, he wasn’t listening and the devil had no use for a spirit like yours. You were alone, screaming to the sky.
~
“Sasuke! You’re awake! I was just gonna stop by to see you.”
Sasuke could see that you were in a rush even if you didn’t say it. You were dressed, running your fingers through your hair to throw it up into a bun. There was a dumpling hanging delicately from between your teeth, signaling your quick breakfast you were trying to take on the go.
At this point, Sasuke knew you well.
It wasn’t often Sasuke came to you when he was struggling, at least not outright. There were plenty of times he’d sought your presence to simply suffer in silence, but at least he wasn’t suffering by himself.
This time, he didn’t want to suffer silently. Not right now at least. He’d been thinking hard, struggling all week since Itachi had put him under the Tsukuyomi. Tsunade had been able to bring him back from his comatose state, but hadn’t been able to mend what Itachi had broken and bent in his mind for the second time.
You wouldn’t find out til later, but Sasuke had come straight from the hospital not after waking up, but after challenging Naruto to a fight. Kakashi had broken the two up just before they’d about blown their arms off.
Naruto was surpassing him. That much was so clear, so obvious to him now, but no one wanted to admit it. If even Naruto, the worst of the worst in the academy was getting better than him, at this rate, how would he ever be strong enough to kill Itachi?
Kakashi had lectured him heavily about losing the friends he had left in his mourning of the family that was long gone. It was what Sasuke had wanted to talk to you about. Somehow, he knew Kakashi was right, but when he’d spent the last five years thinking of getting revenge on Itachi, he didn’t know how to reconcile what Kakashi was telling him.
“Stop by? Are you going somewhere?” Sasuke asked the obvious as you finally fixed your hair. You grabbed the dumpling, taking a bite as you nodded.
“To see my aunt,” You said through a mouth full of food. “In the village of the hidden rain.” You tilted your head, peering at him curiously. “Everything okay?”
Sasuke considered the question. You were going out of town, would be gone for a few days at least no doubt. Now probably wasn’t the best time to bring this up, but he wasn’t sure if it could wait until you got back.
As he began to respond, your attention was taken by your dad yelling from inside the house. “Finish packing your bag so we can go!”
You glanced behind you back into the house, rolling your eyes with a sigh. “Hold up!” You snapped before turning your gaze back to Sasuke. “Sorry about that. We’re running behind now, not that it’s my fault.” You gave a small laugh.
Sasuke knew he could have pushed it, and you would have dropped everything to listen to him. Your parents be damned. It’d just been a moment you were distracted from him because of your dad yelling. But now, suddenly, the words left Sasuke. He had nothing to say.
“It’s fine. I just wanted to stop by since they discharged me.” He lied easily, the words slipping off his tongue without dilemma. Even so, you usually would have picked up on it. You would have known that something was off, and you needed to pry.
It was just one time, one moment where you didn’t push him. You were in a rush, afterall, and you’d be back in a couple of days.
It was only hours after you left that the Sound Four had appeared to Sasuke, and minutes after, he was gone.
That moment would replay in your mind constantly in your mind, on repeat until it drove you insane.
You should have noticed. You should have noticed. You should have noticed.
You should have stayed.
~
Time heals nothing, but it gives you more things to worry about. You never thought it’d be possible, but Sasuke was no longer on the forefront of your mind at every moment. Every day, sure, but you were able to function in society, get stronger and attend to your duties.
You were no longer drowning in the sorrow of missing Sasuke, though that was where you’d been for so long you never thought you’d escaped. But finally, you’d hit the last stage of grief.
Acceptance. Sasuke was gone and there was nothing you could do.
You could have lived out the rest of your life in that acceptance, pushed the dull, ever present pain aside and pretend it wasn’t there, but you couldn’t do that. Naruto Uzumaki wouldn’t let you.
Hope was alive and well in Naruto’s heart and thus he stirred it in yours. “I’m gonna bring Sasuke back. Just you watch.” He’d grin at you.
You didn’t know where in the stages grief you were now, but you believed Naruto. He’d get Sasuke home even if you couldn’t.
You wished he never gave you that hope.
Kiba had picked up Sasuke’s scent. You were almost there. Almost to Sasuke

That was when the orange masked Akatsuki member intercepted your team, keeping you from reaching Sasuke. You were desperate, feral almost as you attacked the man. To move him, killl him, it didn’t matter to you. You just needed to get past him, to get to Sasuke!
Another Akatsuki member appeared then, taking the attention from the masked man. You were about to make a break for it, but that’s when you heard him.
“Itachi is dead.”
The words settled on you, blood rushing to you ears and drowning out everything else. That was what Sasuke had always wanted; he’d finally done it. He’d killed Itachi, gotten his revenge. This should be a good thing.
You couldn’t explain it, but something was settling in your gut, a horrible, nauseating feeling that this was wrong. This wasn’t how things should have ended. Despite everything you knew and believed, you suddenly had the certainty that Itachi wasn’t the heartless monster everyone had believed he was.
Was it intuition, coincidence, or some unexplained connection you had to Sasuke? Glancing at Naruto, you could see he felt it too.
None of you noticed the masked man had disappeared. You followed Kiba as quick as your feet could carry you to where he tracked Sasuke’s scent, but by the time you got there, it was too late. He was gone.
“This is as far as I can smell him
 We lost him.” Kiba told the team reluctantly.
You dropped to your knees, hand clutching desperately at your chest. You couldn’t breathe. It hurt; it hurt so fucking much you were sure you would die. The pain in your heart seized every part of you, knocking the air from your lungs and causing you to convulse.
Dropping to the floor, you began to sob. Those heart broken, anguished cries you thought you ran out of years ago.
“Sasuke
”
How you knew, you couldn’t be sure. But it wasn’t your own pain you were feeling. It was Sasuke’s tears that flowed down your cheeks and his aching regret that filled your heart. Where was he? You wanted nothing more than to be there with him now, to wrap him up in your arms and never let him go.
The team winced as you weeped so brokenly, the sound shattering their hearts.
You’d never understood, not really. As much as you wanted to, despite your best attempts, you never could grasp the layers of Sasuke’s pain. If only you’d been able to. If only you knew the storm that was building inside of him, leaving him restless and agitated, desperate for the carnage to end. You wish you knew that he couldn’t stand it, the way that every beat of his heart left him in pure agony.
Was there a way you could have made his heart beat better?
Every night, you saw Sasuke in your dreams, his back to you as he left. You lived it over and over and over again.
”Sasuke,” You called for the first time, watching him pause, but not turning to look at you. “Before you go
 Was there something I could have said or done? To make it all stop hurting?” You waited for an answer that never came. Sasuke stood there for a few more moments before he walked away, disappearing into darkness.
You guessed you would never know.
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writingwhimsey · 3 years ago
Text
My Pirate Lord and Our Life Ch. 59
Chapter 59
The next day, it was still relatively early in the morning. I was sitting on the veranda with Motonari, leaning against him and his arm was wrapped around me. We were still in our night robes, having just finished breakfast and just relaxing together. Well, relaxing as much as I could anyways. I was fidgeting a bit and restless.
"Ya alright?" Motonari asked me, his hand going to rub my back.
"Yeah, I just can't really get comfortable." I answered.
Motonari kissed the top of my head. "Anything I can do to help?"
I shook my head. "I think this is just how it is till the baby is born." I adjusted my position once again, stretching my legs out in front of me and continuing to lean against Motonari.
He turned so that I was between his outstretched legs and resting back against his chest. He then wrapped both arms around me, hugging me close. He rested a hand on my belly. As if in response, the baby started kicking right under his hand.
"Can't tell if he's tellin' me ta get off or not." Motonari said with a laugh.
"I think the baby is just saying hi papa." I replied, smiling.
"Not like they can tell it's me." Motonari replied.
"Hmm, they can hear you though." I spoke. "By the time they get here, they can already know the sounds of the voices of their parents...and anyone else who is around regularly."
“That’s interestin’.” Motonari mused.
It was then that our peaceful morning was disturbed. There was the sound of clatter coming from somewhere inside and then Kenshin was surprisingly bursting from ne of the rooms next to ours. Yukimura was close behind him, as well as Kanetsugu.
“Yukimura told me there was likely to be a battle here in just a couple of days. You dared try to keep me from it.” Kenshin said, glaring at Motonari.
“A battle? Here?” I asked, starting to feel panicked.
Motonari glared at Kenshin.
“Lord Kenshin will you please calm down?” Yukimura asked. “And clearly, you’ve upset Ava. Jeez, how does Sasuke do this?”
“Clearly someone was trying to keep my lord from battle.” Kanetsugu said. “Something that shouldn’t be ignored.”
I turned in Motonari’s arms to face him. “What’s going on?”
He lifted a hand to my cheek. “I was plannin’ on tellin’ ya
just a little later.” He replied, shooting a glare at Kenshin. “And I wasn’t tryin’ ta keep ya outta it. Just tryin’ to keep some peace in my damn castle for m’lady.”
“Tell me when and where and I’ll be there. I’ve grown bored with all of this peace.” Kenshin replied before striding off.
Hiroyoshi showed up to take them all to rooms they could be staying in. Motonari was sighing before turning back to me, his crimson-eyed gaze gentle. “This wasn’t at all how I planned on ya findin’ out.” He said, gently stroking my cheek with his thumb.
I could see the worry and concern in his eyes as he looked at me. “What’s going on?”
He let out a sigh before kissing me on the forehead. “You remember how I said I didn’t trust Akari and didn’t like that she was still hangin’ around town?”
I nodded. Bristling a bit at her name. Though I knew I had no reason to be jealous and Motonari had very thoroughly assured me I was the only one he wanted, I still couldn’t help but to feel jealous.
“Turns out she’s workin’ with someone else I used to know.” Motonari said. “Real nasty sort of guy
they got a plan. Not sure exactly what they want
”
“But what?” I asked.
Motonari sighed as he leaned his forehead against mine. “I swear, I’ll keep ya both safe.” He said.
I could see the frown on his face. The concern, but also determination in his eyes. “Motonari, what is it?”
“They plan on tryin’ to sneak in and take you
use ya to force my hand
ta do what I don’t know, but I ain’t lettin’ ‘em take ya.” He answered. “I ain’t ever lettin’ anyone do what that bastard Yoshiaki did again.”
“What? When?”
Motonari stroked my cheek in a reassuring manner. “Their plan is to sneak in durin’ the party
but we got a plan ta stop ‘em tomorrow night.”
“Why
why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I asked.
“Coz ya got enough ta worry about.” Motonari answered. “And I didn’t want ta stress ya out
didn’t want ya worryin’ coz I’m gonna take care of it. I’m gonna keep ya safe.”
I could see that he really was concerned. He really was just trying to keep my stress levels down. He was worried about my health. I reached both of my hands up to hold his face. “I know you’ll keep us safe.” I assured him. “I never doubt that
I never doubt you.”
Motonari lifted his hand and gently grabbed one of my wrists, turning his head to kiss the palm of my hand. “Ya give me more than I deserve.” He said.
I smiled at him. “You’ve not given me any reason to doubt you so far, so why should I start now?”
Motonari smiled at me. "I'm sorry I didn't tell ya sooner...I just...I'm worried 'bout ya." He admitted.
"I know." I replied. "Just...tell me sooner if this ever happens again. I'm not as fragile as you think."
"Oh, I know better than anyone ya ain't some fragile little princess." He replied, a playful smirk on his face.
"So...is that the real reason everyone is here early?" I asked.
Motonari nodded. "Yeah...I could handle the threat on my own...but it don't hurt ta have backup...'specially when it comes to protectin' my family...if nothin' else I know that mother o' yers will fight tooth and nail ta keep ya safe."
I laughed. "Brother." I corrected. "Though he did definitely about cry over me last night like a mother."
Motonari laughed and gently kissed me lips. "Come on, we'd better be gettin' ready. Pretty sure that crazy God o' War woke up the rest of the castle."
"Probably." I Agreed.
Motonari stood up and then reached both if his hands out to me, helping me up. We went into our room and changed for the day. I went to go tell Misa and the others about what was going on while Motonari headed to the council room to discuss further details of the plan with the Oda forces and fill Kenshin in on the plan.
The girls and I gathered in Misa's room. Kotoro was running about the castle playing with the maids' children. "So, what in the hell is going on, Ava?" Misa asked.
I sighed. "Apparently...there's a plan to sneak into the castle and kidnap me and use me to force Motonari's hand." I explained.
"What?!" They all exclaimed together.
"You know, this shit wouldn't happen if you wouldn't have decided to marry a pirate warlord, right?" Misa remarked.
I shot her a glare. "Don't worry everything will be fine. Motonari and everyone has a plan to keep us all safe."
"And what is this plan?" Misa asked.
"I don't know." I answered. "But I trust that the plan will work. I've seen all of these guys in battle. I've seen their plans in action. I know they work. I've already been kidnapped enough and I know Motonari wants to make sure that never happens again. Having to shoot me once was more than enough for him."
"MOTONARI SHOT YOU?!" They all three exclaimed.
I sighed. "Dammit, I really gotta stop letting stuff slip." I then went on to explain the situation we had been put in my the Shogun and Kicho.
"So...basically your original sewing case was used as a bullet proof vest?" Kimi asked.
I nodded. "Basically."
Misa was shaking her head. "I knew I should have insisted harder for you to get your head examined when we were home." She then let out a sigh. "But I can clearly see that the man loves you...and honestly I kinda don't feel surprised at this point anymore."
"Yeah, the more I find out the less shocking it all becomes...but then I also question your taste in men." Asuna remarked.
"Trust me I questioned myself in the beginning too...but you know the heart wants what it wants." I replied.
Motonari...
After explaining the plan to Kenshin, Motonari was turning to Nobunaga. "I got one request for ya." He said.
"What is it?" Nobunaga asked, carnelian eyes looking sharply at Motonari.
"Have Hideyoshi be in charge o' the portion of our joint forces that's stayin' behind." Motonari replied.
"What? How can you make that kind of request?" Hideyoshi asked. "I should be at Lord Nobunaga's side to be sure to protect him!"
"Hideyoshi." Nobunaga commanded.
Hideyoshi instantly clammed up. "Yes, my lord?"
"Motonari is right. You are best fit to stay behind." Nobunaga declared. "You and Mitsunari shall stay."
Hideyoshi looked ready to argue, but held his tongue. "If that is your command my lord." He said with a bow.
They finished dealing out everyone's orders, dividing up who would be going where. Then the council was ending. As Motonari was exiting, Hideyoshi caught up to him. "Why?" Hideyoshi asked.
Motonari turned to him. He knew exactly what Hideyoshi was asking. "Why what?" He asked anyway.
"Why are you wanting me to stay behind?"
"Ain't it obvious?" Motonari asked.
"No. Unless you're planning to betray us and take Lord Nobunaga's life."
Motonari sighed. "This whole damn thing is 'bout protectin' Ava and the baby. 'Bout protectin' my family...keepin' 'em safe. Since I'm the naval battle expert, I gotta lead that fight. Which means I gotta leave the castle. I gotta have the only other person who loves Ava as much as I do here ta protect her."
Hideyoshi looked at Motonari a moment.
Motonari looked rather disgruntled as he rubbed the back of his neck in an annoyed manner. "Yer the only one I know I can trust ta protect her and keep her safe when I can't. Yer the one I trust to do that. Coz I know ya'd give up yer sword arm to protect her."
"Well...that...makes sense." Hideyoshi replied. "And don't worry, I will keep her safe."
"I know. That's why it's gotta be you since it can't be me."
The pair shared a look. Though they fought...a lot, Ava was important to them both. They were allies now and they would work together. They would keep Ava safe.
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ikeromantic · 4 years ago
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Lunches with Friends
A Mitsuhide Akechi fanfic, approx. 1600 words. This scene takes place post-romantic route epilogue. Fluff, angst, and friendship.
First: Mitsuhide and the Maiden
Previous: Loyalties
Hideyoshi straightened his clothes once more. No matter how he smoothed the fabric, it felt awkwardly fit. As if it wasn’t the clothes so much as his skin that didn’t sit right. The chatelaine would arrive soon to meet with him and he felt nervous. Which was ridiculous. How many times had he talked to her before? Helped her carry her bags? Had tea? But today felt different.
Maybe because she wasn’t really the chatelaine now. She’d moved herself to Mitsuhide’s manor, an outward signal of her choice. But there had been no official decision from Nobunaga, no ceremony, and that meant there was a chance he could save her.
A polite tap at his door let Hideyoshi know she’d arrived. He cleared his throat and welcomed her in. Light followed her as the door slid open, golden on her skin. With her bruises healed and the exhaustion of travel gone, she was as beautiful as ever. Like a - a very pretty little sister. “Please, have a seat. I’ll prepare some tea.”
“Thank you! It’s been awhile since I visited you here.” She sat down gracefully. Her eyes tracked him as he moved around the room. “I’m glad you had time to meet with me. I wanted to ask, well, to see if I could change jobs.”
Hideyoshi hadn’t expected that. He wasn’t sure why she’d asked to meet, but this hadn’t even made the list. He covered his confusion by rearranging snacks on the tray.
She took his silence as encouragement. “I thought since Mitsuhide was going to continue his work for Nobunaga, I need to find something I can do too. Something besides chatelaine, since I live in the Akechi manor now.”
“I see.” Hideyoshi poured the tea and sat down across from her. “What did you have in mind?”
“I’d like to join the seamstresses.” She looked down at her tea, an anxious smile playing at the corners of her lips. “In my - my hometown, I designed clothes. Sewing is something I love and I’d really-”
He interrupted her. “It’s fine. I’ll clear it with Nobunaga.” He reached over and patted her head. “I want you to do what makes you happy, which is why -” Hideyoshi cleared his throat. “Which is why I want you to reconsider this, this thing with Mitsuhide.”
Her head snapped up, eyes wide.
“I know he’s . . . interesting. But you can’t ever really trust him. He lies as easily as he breathes.” He wrapped his hands around hers, feeling how fragile and warm she was. “You deserve a love with trust that goes both ways. Someone that won’t lie to you, won’t hurt you.”
She pulled her hands back, out of his grasp. “And who is that? You?”
Hideyoshi rubbed his face, wishing just once he had the kitsune’s silver tongue. “It could be. Or Mitsunari. Nobunaga. Ieyasu . . . even Ranmaru. He’s closer to your age too.” He stood, unable to stay seated when his heart was hammering in his chest like this. “I . . . look, anyone would love you. And anyone but Mitsuhide would be a better match.”
Her small hands made tiny, white knuckled fists in the fabric of her kimono. “I love him. And I trust him. I know he sometimes . . . keeps things to himself. But he does it out of loyalty and kindness.”
“I’m sure that’s what he says-”
“Hideyoshi. I thought you were my friend.” Her eyes were damp with tears and her cheeks flushed with anger. “I can’t believe you! Trying to - to -”
“I am trying to protect you.” He bent down and took her by the shoulders. “If you marry him, you will never be safe. Never. Not from his enemies, and not from his lies.” His voice shook.
The chatelaine tried to pull out of his grasp as she stood, but he wouldn’t let her go. He pulled her close. Pressed her to his chest as if she were a balm to the thundering there.
“I love you. As my - my sister. And I can’t watch you hurt yourself like this.”
“Let. Me. Go.” She stared up at him as if she were seeing a stranger. “It is my choice who to love. And I love Mitsuhide. I will be his wife, even knowing that yes! Yes, it will hurt! I know what he’s like, and I know how dangerous the life he leads is. I am not afraid.”
Hideyoshi studied her face, seeing in it her iron will. She had decided and words would not sway her. He let go and took a step back. “Then . . . forgive me. I . . . misspoke.” He bowed low and waited there for her to speak.
After several breaths, she reached out, fingertips grazing his shoulder. “Can we just pretend that never happened? Hideyoshi?”
He straightened and gave her a nod. His chest still felt tight, his heart heavy as lead. “We can.”
She gave him a half-smile. “Good. Because I do think of you as a friend. Or, or maybe a big brother. And I don’t want to lose that.”
Hideyoshi cleared his throat. “I just need to understand that my little sis knows what she’s doing.” He tried out his own, awkward smile.
“Let’s sit and drink our tea and - we can talk about something else. Is that alright?”
With some relief, they sat down and resumed drinking their tea. They were quiet for a time, but eventually fell into the comfort of their relationship, sharing stories about the other maids and things in town.
***
Mitsuhide spent most of his morning drafting a letter to Sasuke. He wanted to make it clear what he was asking - but only to the ninja - and to cover his tracks should it be intercepted. Afterall, regardless of the friendship between his lover and Kenshin’s henchman, they were still enemies on opposing sides of an unresolved conflict. It would not do to be caught out for a treason he was actually committing.
The final letter probably read like nonsense to anyone besides Sasuke. Asking about the frequency of the ‘worms’ and whether or not they had a season . . . he just hoped the ninja understood. And that the answer was the one he sought.
He was in the process of sealing it up when his door opened. Masamune stepped in, carrying a covered tray in one hand, and a bottle in the other. He grinned when Mitushide looked up. “If looks could kill. You want a rematch for our raincheck?”
Mitsuhide chuckled. “I’d rather not. But you could have sent word that you were coming. Or at least knocked.”
“Ah, but then I’d miss that expression on your face. Crafty fox caught with a hen in his mouth.” Masamune’s laugh felt too loud for the room. He didn’t notice.
“I can only assume you are bothering me for a reason.”
“I am! I heard congratulations are in order. And, I haven’t brought you lunch since you got back.” Masamune sat down and gestured for Mitsuhide to join him.
It was the quickest way to be rid of him, Mitsuhide reasoned. And he was hungry. And, though he would never admit it, it was good to see Masamune. He sat.
Masamune unpacked the lunch he made. A variety of savory and sweet foods, all presented in easy to eat bite-sized bits. He grinned as he set out the last dish.
“What is this?”
“You always say eating is an annoyance. You want convenient foods, right? So . . .” he gestured to the plates. “Different flavors, all easy to eat. One of these has got to stir those tastebuds of yours.”
Mitsuhide hid his surprise behind a razor-thin smile. “Thoughtful of you. But what is it you want.”
“Exactly what I said. And to tell you congratulations. You and the lass made it official yet?”
“If you mean, have I spoken to Nobunaga, then no.” Mitsuhide picked up a ball of what looked like steamed daikon. “There is no need to hurry. Is there?” He raised an eyebrow.
Masamune shrugged. “I wouldn’t delay. The lass is a treat, and you can bet others have noticed. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear Nobunaga’s getting offers for her hand.”
“Those letters, if they existed, would never reach our lord.”
“Heh, that so? And what about those in the alliance with an interest?”
Mitsuhide finished swallowing the daikon. It was faintly spicy, not enough to get a reaction. “I am unconcerned. Nobunaga has allowed her to make her own choice. And I know who she will choose.”
“I think you’re scared.” Masamune sat back with a smug smile.
“Scared?” One eye brow arched.
Masamune nodded. “Of what your enemies will do to her if she’s your wife. Of the way love dies in a marriage. Of her coming to regret you.” He waved a hand in the air, encompassing all of the ways things could go wrong. “You always overthink things. Try to plan your way around problems. And now you’re stuck.”
Mitsuhide wanted to scoff. Such problems were for ordinary men, not the kitsune warlord. But . . . Masamune wasn’t wrong on any count. Ranmaru’s threat made him realize how easy a target the chatelaine would make. And he worried for her happiness. She’d yet to meet his family, see his home. And there were so many examples of marriages gone sour over time. This blissful love - he didn’t want it to fade.
“Assuming any of that nonsense was true, what would you recommend,” Mitsuhide asked finally.
“Stop dancing around it. Marry the girl. Take life as it comes. And eat your damn lunch.”
Next: My Favorite Place
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kakashifanrp · 3 years ago
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- Going Between Dimensions -
Part 10 - It won’t work
Kakashi Hatake x Reader/Y/N 
Masterlist
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It had been a week since you saw the wolf during the meditation. As frustrating as it was, it had gone downhill from there. Your purple cloak would not come out, and you couldn't connect with the Chakra that connected you with the beast at all. You let out a frustrated sigh as you got up. "I will take the dishes" You muttered, knowing Kakashi was half asleep on a branch close by.
You grabbed the bucket and walked the few meters to the river, hoping a small break would help the mood. You sat down as you started to clean the dishes from the breakfast earlier. You had given up trying the small talk with the shinobi.. The most responses you got was on day one, now it was just a command here and there before he went on reading or whatever else he did.
Your eyes scanned the eria a bit as you couldn't help but smile at how beautiful it really was here. The peaceful sound of the running river helped lighten the mood. At least when it almost looked like it was covered in glitter by how the sun reflected in it. You dried off the bowls as you thought about the wolf's words. "two moons collide...no balance... Ugh.. Why making it soo damn hard?" you scoffed. "what does it mean.." Those thoughts and words had been eating at you for a long time now.. It was hard to figure out what it was supposed to mean.. And how could you solve something you didn't know where to start looking..
With a heavy sigh you placed the clean dishes in the basket and got ready to go back. Ears perked when a sound of a branch snapping from the other side of the river, making you turn and look over. Most likely it was another animal again, there were alot of wildlife around here. As you looked up, your eyes widen as you saw the red eyes in the shadows. The body was frozen in place, as your eyes was directly aligned with the red ones in front of you. You screamed out as the eyes changed into the familliar red with a three tags shuriken around the pupil, the same eyes that had haunted your nightmares for soo many years.
Kakashi heard the scream, making him react quickly. He jumped from the branch and ran thowards the river, too see what was going on. He stopped as he saw you laying there, next to the clean dishes.. He couldn't sence anyone around as he hurried over to check on you. "passed out.." his brows narrowed as he scanned the eria once more. He gave the air a quick sniff with his nose, before quickly taking out his kunai. He knew that scent all too well. "I know you are here, Itachi!" Kakashi kept his guard up as he looked around.
"soo you are the one guarding this Jinchuriki?" Itachi stepped out from the shadows across the river. Kakashi made sure not to look into his eyes, he learned the hard lesson a few weeks back. "Why are you here?" He asked, demanding a answer. "as defensive as always.." Itachi answered unimpressed. "she will not do for us, her Tailed beast is not from this world, but it seems like you allready knew?"
Kakashi thighten his grip on his kunai, opening his sharingan eye.. Ready for any attack. "What did you do to her..." It didn't look like Itachi was gonna make any moves, but that still didn't calm him down. "I showed my gratitude, no more, no less" Itachi answered plainly, before he dissolved into bats and dissapeared. The scent dissapeared and Kakashi put the kunai away. He turned and looked down at you, before lifting you up and carried you back to the cabin.
He carefully placed you down on the bed and started to pack when he had made sure you were ok. It was time to leave, and that quickly... He knew if Itachi came back he would have a hard time taking him on alone.. Which was not a good thing right now, at least when there was no backup anywhere near you, and you being unconsious.
You let out a groan as you started to wake up again. Your head was pounding making you lift your hand to put pressure on your forhead. "Take it easy.." Kakashi's voice even thought it was low, sounded like full blown speakers to your ears, making you flinch. You remembered the eyes in the shadows, making your own snap open. "I said easy" He muttered next to you. "W.. What... Happened?" You asked carefully, noticing you were back in the cabin. "Nothing to worry about.. But we need to go.." You looked over at him, a bit confused as you saw he was allready packed up.
"You looks like it is something to worry about" you looked up at his face.. "I will explain later.. Are you able to walk?" You just nodded and carefully got up. You bit your thumb and did the signs. "summoning jutsu" you said carefully, summoning Mirai, before carefully putting the bags on him again. You lean on your wolf as everything got packed up and ready. "Lay down on my back, Y/N.. No need to push it too hard" Mirai nosed you, making you nod as you layed down on his back as they started to walk.
You hoped Kakashi would start to explain, but a hour had passed and he had said nada soo far. "are you gonna tell me what happened or not?" you looked over at him carefully, noticing he was still on alert. "Itachi Uchiha.. That is what happened back there" Kakashi looked over at you, giving you a look that said it all. "wait.. Itachi is back?" It was a shock, You thought Itachi didn't stay this close after he went to the village last time. "Was he looking for Naruto?"
"No... He said he showed you his gratitude.." The way Kakashi said it told you he wanted to know if you knew what it was about. "gratitude..." you whispered, just getting a nod from Kakashi. "Can it be about Sasuke..." your brows lifted slightly as you thought about it. "Itachi was the Anbu being guard the night before the massacre.. Helping me with my training.." you paused a secound. "He made me promise something.." you sat up a bit, careful not to hurt Mirai. "it makes sense now.."
"what makes sense?" Kakashi looked over, wanting to know aswell. "He made me promise to look after Sasuke if anything happened... But I never put two and two togheter before now" Kakashi put both of his hands back in his pockets. "does anyone know?" he asked after a bit, making you shake your head. "No, I never thought it had something to do with the massacre..." you mumbled. Somehow you have had a good enough relationships with the Uchiha's, being Obito's best friend when you were younger.
"I always thought it was something he said because I used to babysit from time to time.. It was not uncommon that I was over at the Uchihas side of town.." Kakashi just nodded, knowing what you were reffering too. "When we get back, you go straight home to rest.. I take the information to Lady Tsunade" he said plainly. The rest of the trip were silent. When you both got back to the village at night Mirai took you home to rest as Kakashi went to see if he could see the Hokage right away.
Luckily for him Tsunade had not went to bed yet, as she was up late filing paperwork. He knocked at the door and walked inside. "what are you doing back allready?" The blond asked as she looked up from the pile of papers on her desk. "We ran into Itachi Uchiha again.. And the training is not going as we thought" Tsunade slammed her fist in the desk. "are they after her aswell?" The look in her eyes roared of anger. "no, He had all uppertunity to do so, but did nothing to take her.. I don't know what happened exactly.. She was passed out when I found her" He admitted nervously
"You let her go on her own!" She stood up, making Kakashi nervous. "No, no.." he answered nervously. "She was a few meters from me, doing the dishes in the river... Then she screamed and I found her passed out... Most likely she was caught in his Genjitsu" he explained calmly. "He knows about her, since he used to work as a guard for her back then.. But he claimed he came by to show his gratitude..." Kakashi explained. "Apperantly it had to do with Sasuke.. Itachi had apperantly asked her to watch out for Him the day before the massacre"
"and what does that mean? Showing his gratitude?" Tsunade looked at him. "I am not sure, neither is Y/N" He answered honestly. "and about her training?" Tsunade sat back down, leaning her head on her folded hands. "The first day during meditation she suddenly got in full panic.. Claiming she spoke with a wolf. The wolf told Y/N she is not ready, and since two moons are coliding there will be no balance.. After that she has not been able to use the tail beast cloak.. " Tsunade nodded slowly." I see.. We have alot to figure out then.. And make sure to solve that methaphor"
Kakashi nodded and sighed. "The seal is gone, and the tail beast is taking back the controll.. It will be alot of work" it was true, it seems like the tailed one wanted to put up a fight. "But training outside the village will not be safe, not after knowing they know about her... The best I can do is the old training grounds" kakashi looked at her, knowing this was not a good idea for him personally, but he was left with no choice. "Then use the old grounds. See if it can help to gain back controll... I summon her for a breef tomorrow" Tsunade dismissed him, making Kakashi nod before leaving.
He was not looking forward to go back there, not after what happened that night. Hopefully it would not go as Jirayia said.. That would only damage her training and safety doing soo
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dianapana · 4 years ago
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SH Day 7- Genin Era
Rated T
Honestly I’m never confident in writing in the original Ninja Universe, my depiction of most of the characters is so OOC and that works fine with AUs but I fell like I need to be in character to write in the Ninja Universe, not sure I achieved it in this story but yes
either way, I hope you enjoy.
~Love Dia.
@sasuhinamonth
Hinata POV
When Iruka sensei first announced the teams, I was disappointed that Naruto-kun and I were on different teams, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it was actually best that way. No matter how hard I try I always get flustered and distracted around him and for a ninja focus is important, especially in the middle of important and dangerous missions. And even despite being on different teams, I’m always able to find him around town and look from afar, just seeing him is enough for me. I got used to this way of thinking for a while now, thus when Kurenai mentioned that we’d go on a mission together with team 7 my anxiety levels rose higher than my excitement to see Naruto. I was already too weak and dragging my team down, father always made sure to remind me just how much of a disappointment I was, our initial track record of failed missions, or barely passed ones only added as proof to his words. I was terrified I was going to put everyone in danger, I was scared to make a fool of myself, I was filled with fear that was threatening to overflow from deep inside me.
I tried approaching Kurenai about the issue, tried to ask her to allow me to stay behind, but they needed every one in our team in order to track a run-away criminal, they needed Shinos bugs, Kiba’s nose and my eyes. Naruto’s team was in charge of fighting him if necessary and bringing him into the village. Kiba had been furious when he heard our job was to be a map basically, but I was glad we wouldn’t have to fight. However, my relief was short-lived when Kurenai mentioned that it was an A-class criminal so there was a high chance that team 7 would need our help in combat as well.
The day of the mission started pretty similarly to my usual days, I got dressed, packed bentos for everyone and left bright and early for the training ground where we were told to meet up. The whole way there I kept thinking about what I should do if Naruto was already there, what if it were just the two of us there, what would we talk about? Or would we just sit in silence? However, my worries were futile, Naruto wasn’t there, it was only Shino, I and Uchiha-san. Shino greeted me, but Uchiha-san didn’t acknowledge my existence, the three of us stayed in silence which usually I wouldn’t have minded but my thoughts were hectic and I would have liked any sort of distraction. Slowly more people joined, Kurenai, followed by Sakura and Kiba and soon there was no longer silence, Sakura was talking to Sasuke and Kiba was complaining to Kurenai-sensei. After a few minutes of being ignored Kiba let it go and came to talk to me, he was telling me about some of the new dogs his older sister rescued and Akamaru placed himself in my lap for pets, it almost felt like a normal day and for a moment I forgot all about Naruto and the joined mission, that was of course until Naruto appeared, he had been running to get here on time, you could tell he was hurrying by his slightly red cheeks, the rapid way in which he breathed and the droplets of sweat rolling down his temples.
His sunny disposition was wonderful from far away but it was maybe a bit too bright and blinding from this close. I followed him with my eyes as I were so used to do, not even registering he was walking to me until he was barely a few feet apart, his eyes focused on me with a smile.
“Mornin’ Hinata-chan” I loved how my name sounded on his lips, I blushed hard and murmured a reply, before any more talking could occur Kakashi-sensei arrived as well. Kurenai laid down a map for us and told us to gather around, I was too conscious of Naruto’s presence so I moved as far away from him as I could, I needed to focus on the explanation, my distraction could already be seen for in my attempts to distance myself from Naruto I bumped into Uchiha-san. I screeched, took a step to the side and apologized but he didn’t acknowledge me this time either. The only nod I got from him was when I gave everyone their bentos right before we split into smaller teams.
Thankfully I was able to focus on the plan and understood my part in it. I was to be in front of the team together with Kakashi-sensei and Uchiha-san, I’d use my Byakugan at the beginning until my chakra level was about half and then took small breaks if we hadn’t found the criminal by then. I was glad that Naruto wasn’t directly next to me, however, I was extremely uneasy around Kakashi and Sasuke as well, I had hoped at least Kiba would be next to me, but he was with Sakura and Kurenai to the left while Shino and Naruto were in the back.
“Ok Hinata, you can turn it on whenever you want, if you see anything unusual let us know immediately,” Kakashi said as we stepped outside Konoha grounds. The scroll with the mission information had a portrait of the man and information about his chakra type as well, which all in all helped me a lot, I knew exactly what I was looking for, thus being able to ignore all the movement around me that belonged to the team. The criminal had escaped from Suna three days ago and from their sources, he would pass through the forest outside Konoha somewhere today or tomorrow depending on his speed.
We had been running for almost 3 hours when I felt my chakra levels falter for a moment. I had never used it for such an extensive period of time, plus Kakashi and Sasuke’s speed was much higher than I was used to, all in all, I was having a tough time keeping up with them. I turned off my Byakugan when I felt my left eye hurting badly. “My chakra needs to recharge” I let them know and Kakashi nodded. We didn’t stop running, however, we slowed down significantly in order for Shino and Naruto to catch up with us, Shino too had been using his bugs and was tired, thus it was only Kiba that was still actively searching. Once my chakra felt stable enough, I turned on my Byakugan again, I could still feel discomfort in my left eye but ignored it for the time being.
Another hour passed when Akamaru barked loudly and not even a second later I spotted the criminal, he was far to the left, Kurenai’s team was maybe 45 minutes away from him, I informed Kakashi of that and we too turned to run that way, slowly increasing our speed.
“Hinata, we need you to keep your Byakugan active and let us know exactly where he is going, Shino if you can send some poisonous bugs ahead, our best plan is to knock him out without much fight needed”
The closer we got the more I felt his chakra overpowering me, the faster we ran, the faster he ran too, I wasn’t sure if he knew we were on his tracks, he had made no movement that indicated he knew. It was a split-second event, he was one, he was alone and then there were two others. before I could even open my mouth to tell everyone I felt a sharp pain at the back of my neck and the world slowly started getting blurry and black, the last thing I saw was Uchiha-san’s hand reach out to me.
Sasuke POV
The mission started about 2 hours ago but I could hear Hyuuga’s breath getting heavier and heavier with each step, I kept waiting for her to tell us she was tired, but she didn’t. Kakashi was quite far ahead of me and her but I’m sure he knew she was tired as well. Finally, an hour later she admitted to being tired, I turned for a mili-second to look at her and her left eye was closed, you could see the eye twitching underneath her lid, she had exhausted herself. We met up with the dobe and Aburame, I expected Hyuuga to lose her composure just as she had at the meeting place, but she was either too focused or too tired to give Naruto any attention. Even Naruto was uncharacteristically quiet.
The mission had been a long run thus far, that was until Hinata finally saw the suspect in the distance, we changed our path the way she guided us and kept increasing our speed. Kakashi told her to keep her Byakugan on and she made no comments. Out of everyone I was the closest to her and I could hear her getting more tired by the second, I kept mental tabs on her just in case she was going to pass out. For a split second, I heard her breath patter change, as if she was about to speak and I turned to look at her, her left eye was bleeding and from behind her came a man that hit her hard with the side of his hand on the nape of her neck, I reached out to her and barely caught her, held her against me before we hit the ground. Before checking how Kakashi and the others were faring I cupped her face and brought it up to my ear, for an agonizing long second, I couldn’t hear or feel her breath, but thankfully she was breathing, she was alive.
“Sasuke, take care of Hinata” Kakashi ordered, he had already knocked out the man that attacked us and was carrying currently carrying him on his back while writing a scroll and running at the same time. I picked Hinata up and continued running too.
“Is she ok?” Aburame asked and I nodded trying to ease his worry. I had been worried too, for a moment there I panicked, what would I have done had she died? Her left eye was still bleeding slowly, it looked as if she was constantly crying blood, I could feel my shirt getting wet with her blood, having her blood on me made me feel even more in charge of her safety.
“I found them too, I put a bug on each of them, there are three men in total” the information was welcomed “Kurenai-sensei’s team should reach them about 10 minutes before we do, I managed to inject with a small dose of poison one of them, the other two killed my bugs” Despite Hinata’s approximation beforehand, the criminal and his partners, apparently, were running too, all we could do is try to catch up to them in due time.
Holding her into my arms I felt oddly detached from the mission, for the majority of it I had been distracted, more interested in her state of being than the mission itself. Today had been one of my first interactions with her, what was it about her that caught my attention? Her blush and stutter when Naruto was concerned? Her loud scream when she bumped into me? The bento she offered me with no alternative reason? Either way, her presence distracted me and I did not appreciate that, her weight in my arms felt comfortable and even that annoyed me.
“Sasuke, you turn around with Hinata, I trust that there are no other men involved with the criminal. We can’t be sure how long the chase will take, Shino will keep trying to poison them and we hopefully will be done soon, however Hinata needs medical attention”
My detachment to the mission only furthered, I asked no questions, I gave no reply but simply turn around and run towards Konoha. Despite the extra weight and the long run thus far I wasn’t tired, I was oddly energized, my blood was boiling and I was running even faster than I have ever had. We were about 5 or 6 hours away from Konoha, but I wanted to reach it in 4 if possible. My focus returned and I heard every little leaf crunch on the ground, every little branch being moved by the wind.
When we were getting closer to Konoha, meaning maybe under an hour away Hinata moved into my arms, I stopped abruptly and looked down at her, her eye had stopped bleeding 2 hours ago thankfully, her complexion which had been white before was rosier and I could feel her sweating under her enormous jacket. I lowered myself to one knee and propped her legs onto my knee thus using that hand to undo her zipper, then without much thought I took off her jacket and threw it on the forest floor, it was covered in blood, sweat and dirt anyway, she wouldn’t miss it. I got back up and adjusted my grip on her, my hand was touching the skin of her upper arm, it was moist and hot but soft. I was about to start running again when her eyes fluttered open. The sclera of her left eye was blood-red, her right eye was also red but not quite to the same extent.
“Uchiha-san
? Where are we?” her voice was meek, but for the first time, she was looking me straight in the eye.
“We are maybe 1 hour away from Konoha”
“D-did the mission end
? where is everyone else?”
“The mission hadn’t been over when we departed form the group. Kakashi sent me to take you to the hospital. I am sure he assessed the situation and decided they could finish without us and that this was the best course of actions”
I had no expectations of how she would react, but her sudden sobs took me by surprise. Without even realizing it, I brought her body closer to mine and raised it a little. “Hold onto my neck” I ordered, Hinata looked at me with glossy eyes but obeyed nonetheless. I resumed running in that position. Was I offering her privacy to cry? Was this meant to comfort her? Even I couldn’t say.
The rest of the run went by fast, after crying for a while Hinata fell asleep, in the meantime, I started nothing things that I was grateful for. I was grateful for her short hair since the wind couldn’t blow it in my face, I was grateful for the soft skin of her arms since they felt nice onto my neck, I was grateful for her height since it made her the perfect size for me to carry, I was grateful that she was asleep and not dead.
When we reached the hospital, I placed her onto the bed in the room a nurse guided me to. She didn’t let go of my neck for a moment and whispered “it’s a-all my f-f-fault, I ruined another m-mission. I’m so s-s-sorry” her voice broke, and for some reason hearing her say that hurt me as well. I didn’t know how to comfort her, so all I did was rub circles on her back with my hand, I sat down on the bed and allowed her to keep holding onto me for a bit longer. “You did nothing wrong, thanks to you the others knew where the enemy was. We failed you because we didn’t notice the man behind” I had heard about the Hyuuga blind spot from father, but had forgotten about it until that moment. I wasn’t sure f my words or actions were of any help to her, but she didn’t cry, she was just hiding, and even that didn’t last long, for the doctor came to check on her.
I walked out of the hospital and went home to rest, in the middle of the night, hours later I heard a knock at my door, it was Kakashi-sensei. He came to let me know everything went well and to ask about Hinata. I told him what the nurse told me, a blood vessel busted in her left eye, she was knocked out and had a slight concussion, but nothing major. They were going to let her out of the hospital in the morning. After Kakashi told me some more about the mission he left for the night and I made a sudden decision.
I found myself in front of the hospital. I knew which window belonged to Hinata’s room, I had seen her through it when I left that evening. So instead of going through the door, I decided to jump onto one of the trees and then right outside her window. I tapped it lightly, not wanting to wake her if she were asleep, but thankfully she wasn’t.
“Uchiha-san?” she said as she opened the window for me to get into the room. She looked confused and embarrassed. I walked to her bed and took a seat on the side of it.
“I just wanted to let you know the mission was a success, everyone is fine.” Her eyes widened. “You didn’t ruin it, as I said before they couldn’t have done it without you” it felt odd o say that and the more the words gained meaning into my mind the more embarrassing they became. “Either way, I just thought you’d worry so I came to tell you that there’s no need for that”
I got up and wanted to leave, the room felt small and warm, but Hinata grabbed the back of my shirt. “Thank you” she mumbled the words about a dozen times, each time a little quieter and broken than before. I wanted to stay and comfort her some more, but I also didn’t want to see her crying anymore. My feelings were confusing me and so was she, so I simply replied ‘go to sleep’ before going out the window and leaving her behind into the dark hospital room.
The first week of Sh month done oof, can't believe I pulled through, especially since I didn't really plan on posting anything but day 1 so most stories (apart from day 6) I things I randomly wrote at 1 am. Thank you for reading and interacting <3
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chubbyreaderchan · 4 years ago
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The Bomb Expert | Sasuke Uchiha x chubby!Reader | 1/?
A/n: Reader summons rats to dismantle and place bombs. She and Sasuke were close friends up until he left for Orochimaru. One day, Sasuke comes back to ask her to join his team to kill Itachi. Sorry if Sasuke is a bit ooc in this. I suck at writing him so I'm trying to write him more so I can get it.
Tw: Female pronoun reader, animal death (old age)
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--
(Y/n) sniffled softly as she sat at the small grave. Her male rat, Gozaburo had died. Her parents were off on a mission when it happened and they wouldn't be back until she was going to start the chunin exams started, so here she was in the field burying the large rat. It wasn't the first time a rat had died of old age, it wasn't new but it was always heart breaking. The ninja rats were her family. It was sad, she hoped he would be there for her to help her through the exams but that didn't seem possible. She sniffled again, placing a flower down once he was buried and stood up.
Sasuke had originally came to this field to train and get away from Naruto and Sakura but instead he found a young slightly plump girl around his age looking quite sad. She looked familiar. Oh right, she was on team 8. He stared at her a moment thinking about leaving and finding somewhere else to go but then he saw the tears. He sighed internally before speaking.
"Are you okay...?" She looked up, shocked that anyone was there. She thought this area was going to be secluded but here was the famous last of the Uchihas watching her cry over a rat. He would probably think she was ridiculous. His whole clan was killed. "You'd think it was stupid... It's not a big deal... Really." Sasuke rolled his eyes. "What is it?" "One of my older ninja rats passed. That's all." "..." He didn't say anything. "I know it's not that big a deal." Sasuke sighed. "You cared about him. He was one of your partners."
"Yeah..."
"It's not that stupid."
"But--" he shook his head stopping her from mentioning his struggles. "How did he die?" "He was old for a rat." She said softly. "I see." He responds. "You want to come train with me?" He didn't know why he asked her that. Maybe because he understood her feelings, even if it was just a rat.
--
Somehow Sasuke developed a friendship with the young kunochi. He was impressed by her, even if she wasn't the best in hand to hand, she was fantastic at tactile explosives. Hell, she was even amazing a dismantling complex bombs. He found himself often seeking her out when he was annoyed by Naruto or his many fan girls.
She was calm and didn't obsess over him. It was nice. He enjoyed visiting her place, watching her care for her partners was a peaceful environment.
When he was marked by Orochimaru and he was trying to decide what he was going to do she was the only one he would stay for.
Did he fall for her? That was ridiculous. He would miss her.
That's why he snuck into her window before he left. (Y/n) was shocked to see him there so late. "Sasuke?" "I'm going with him."
Her face scrunched, she was getting ready for bed and damn she looked cute looking at him like that.
"With Orochimaru... I need to get stronger. I need to kill Itachi." He said smoothly. "I just needed to see you before I left." Maybe he did fall for her but he couldn't. He wouldn't. Not until Itachi was dead.
She gave him a look. One that he knew everyone would give him. She was going to stop him. "If that's what you think is right." He looked up at her in surprise. He was sure she would tell him not to go. "Sasuke... This is your path to walk just know I will be here if you need me for anything."
He wanted to kiss her. But he didn't. He just left. That was the last time she would see him, at least for the next three years.
-- 3 years later
"How was he?" Sakura and Naruto had returned from their mission not long ago. Sakura and (Y/n) decided to have some time together. Sakura liked (Y/n) though something in her told her that Sasuke would pick her before he'd pick Sakura.
(Y/n) handed a grilled veggie to a small rat cuddling against her neck. She took a bit of her own food as she waited for her response. "He was... Different. Stronger." She sipped her tea sadly. "I see." Was the rat handlers response. In all honesty, Sasuke looked disappointed in her opinion when he saw her. He was definitely hoping she would come for him, at least that is what her inner Sakura was screaming.
"Next time... You should come with us." She said. "Maybe you could convince him to come back. He always liked you..." (Y/n) shook her head. "I think he'll come back when he's ready." Sakura looked at her in surprise. "What?"
"Sasuke is stubborn... Just like Naruto. They need to come to their own conclusions. It's why I didn't try to stop him." Sakura instantly froze.
"You had the opportunity to stop him?" She was hurt, the small rat hid quickly into her master's shirt knowing Sakura's rage. "Kind of. He wouldn't have stayed for me..."
"It kills me to say this, (Y/n) but... I think he would have."
-- Orochimaru's "death"
(Y/n) had not expected this.
Not ever. She was in a town in the land of fire that had a specific shop with her rats favorite treat. It's the only one a certain rat would take and she goes on a journey often to be sure she always had it at home. Some would say she spoils her ninja rats but she didn't mind... But she never expected to see him.
"(Y/n)." She froze when she heard his voice. It only changed slightly but she could find that voice anywhere. Her plush form turned quickly, Sasuke's heart skipped a beat when their eyes met. "Sasuke..." She grew into herself. Even if she was a bit on the fatter side, it suited her.
There where nights where he dreamed of her but he had no idea how beautiful she would be once he saw her again. She would be a distraction but her skills and intelligence would be useful.
"Wh--...? Did you...?"
"We can catch up later." He said coldly. "I have been waiting to see you here."
"What...?" She was shocked. "Why? Why didn't you just come to my house I haven't..." It was clear she was rambling, he simply shook his head to get her to stop. "I can't go back there... I just need to talk to you."
"Okay."
She purchased her items and walked out with him.
"I am putting together a team to take down Itachi."
"And...?"
"Your skills would work well for me."
"I see."
She adjusted the bag in her hand, without thinking Sasuke took it from her, as if he were some kind of lover of hers. What an idea...?
No. Not yet.
"So you want me to abandon the village for you."
"You don't hav--"
"Can I think about it?"
Sasuke looked her over, hiding any of his emotions on his face.
"Three days. Meet me at the Great Naruto Bridge. I am going to be there. If you don't show up by sunset I'll assume you won't do it."
--
It was that last day. It was hard to choose. If she left maybe he would come back after he reached his goals? Maybe... Just maybe.
She couldn't tell anyone. She didn't want to risk becoming a spy and Sasuke finding out. It would only push him away. The sun was still high. If she left now she would just barely make it.
She looked at her rats and sighed. There was no choice. She had to help him if she ever wanted him to come back with her.
With shocking speed she grabbed her clothes and a bit of equipment, as well as food for her summons. Out the door she went to make it to the great Naruto Bridge, hoping not to draw attention.
She told the two keeping watch at the gate she was leaving for more rat treats due to an unfortunate accident. (Y/n) had a feeling she wasn't the best liar. Hopefully it wouldn't draw to much attention. That was one part of her journey that didn't need to be worried about for the moment.
Sasuke waited.
In fact sunset was already falling upon the bridge. "It's sunset." Suigetsu said boredly, he really wanted to get that sword. Sasuke looked at him with an annoyed expression. Suigetsu shrugged a bit.
Sasuke turned to leave but stopped when he heard his name. "Sasuke... Sorry I'm late."
"That's her?" The shark like male said in surprise. "She doesn't look that impressive."
Sasuke glared at him in annoyance. "Tsk." Somehow he was personally offended that he would say something like that about her.
"Let's just go. We still have more members to collect."
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pinkhairedlily · 4 years ago
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Chapter 6 - Student Council President Sakura
SCPS AO3 | PREVIOUS CHAPTER
“When’s your birthday, Sasuke?” Naruto asked unprompted. He was eating an onigiri in one hand and writing in a notebook with another. “Captain Haru gave me a journal and told me to fill in the dates.”
“Why are you treating it like a slam book?”
“What’s a slam book? Why are you even changing the topic?”
“July 23.”
Naruto went silent for a moment as he jotted down Sasuke’s name. “Oh, last week? During our sleepover?”
“You mean, hostage sleepover.”
“Ah shit. We didn’t get you a present. Sorry, grumpy.” Naruto’s face was sincerely apologetic and Sasuke was on the verge of nonchalantly assuring him that it was all right when he heard his following reply. “But make sure you get me one okay. It will be on October 10.”
“I wish I was allowed to physically harm you right now but your training next week will suffice,” Sasuke jested right back. “I’ll put in a word with Haru to make you suffer.” He would have said more clapbacks if they didn’t hear loud footsteps running their way.
Their two heads popped just a few inches above the bushes that lined behind the fence and saw a disheveled Sakura catching her breath with bent knees and her arms full of folders. Sasuke surmised she might have come from a council meeting.
“It’s Sakura – “ Sasuke covered Naruto’s loud mouth with his palm.
Her phone rang inside her skirt’s pockets, and her expression panicked when she saw the caller id. The folders fumbled out of her grasp when she answered it. “Oh hello, Kakashi-sensei.”
Both the boys’ brows raised in curiosity when her voice went a pitch higher.
“Ah, I’m actually out of the campus right now, Sensei. Got an errand to run. I’ll see you for consultations
..soon?” Then she ended the call. They all heard another set of footsteps nearing their location, and Sakura repeatedly said I’m screwed to herself.
Naruto wrestled out of Sasuke’s headlock and pulled a surprised Sakura inside their hiding place. The latter grumbled but quickly gathered the folders from the ground and followed suit. Three heads now looked over the bushes, and true enough, Kakashi appeared in the clearing with his phone in his hand. “That’s funny. I thought I heard her voice here.”
When they were sure he was out of their sight and earshot, Sasuke signaled a thumbs up, and Naruto, not missing a beat, started with the obvious question. “Why are you hiding from our mathematics teacher?”
Sakura blushed with intensity, her cheeks the color of cherry tomatoes with a ripeness Sasuke liked the most. She flushed so intensely she couldn’t hide it for her sake. The thought of wanting to have that kind of privilege crossed his mind. “Uh, he wanted a report from me, but I wasn’t able to finish it.” Like the self-aware person that she was, she immediately got her bearings and recognized the place. “This is behind the library.”
“It’s Sasuke’s favorite hiding place until I barged in. And now, it’s yours too.” Naruto grinned at her even when he just revealed this place’s existence to their student council president.
“Shouldn’t you be asking me permission first?” Sasuke arranged the folders first before returning them to Sakura who seemed to calm down a bit.
She laughed dryly. “Technically, it’s public property so we don’t need your permission
grumpy.”
Naruto erupted in laughter while Sasuke closed his eyes in annoyance. Two loud-mouths in what was supposed to be in his safe space and yet all he felt was just mild annoyance. Stopping his thoughts before they ran him aground, he rummaged through their storage bin and found an extra sandwich he bought this morning and the last pack of his cherry tomato juice.
He passed the food to her and gave her a little bit of scolding. “At least have your lunch first before making fun of me.”
“You’re really giving her a tomato juice?” Naruto never could hide his disgust for certain food. “Don’t tell me this is your rite of passage.”
Sasuke glared at the blonde, forcing him to shut up. “Bring any more people here, and I’ll tell your captain to drag you to hell.” That wasn’t so difficult, given that Haru has taken a liking to him, for what he didn’t know. He just treated him like a big brother would, like Itachi would.
Sakura took a sip in the middle of their banter, and she emitted a surprised sound. “So this is what it tasted like? It’s actually good.”
That was the first time someone liked what he liked, and he vaguely realized he was waiting for her opinion. With that, he had trouble suppressing the smile that started to form on his face, so he looked away and mustered his focus on the nearby yells of a practicing dragonboat team.
“Oh, I forgot, belated happy birthday Sasuke.”
He strengthened his resolve not to turn his head just as quickly because he was sure the shock was visible in his face. He was so taken aback he didn’t hear Naruto ask Sakura where she learned of it.
“I came across our class records during the meeting and saw the date. Sucks we weren’t able to get you a present. Anyway, I gotta run. I have another presentation to the principal for a personal project.” Sakura finished off her sandwich in one bite and ran out of the secluded space.
Naruto stared after her disappearing figure, the bunched-up juice carton and sandwich wrapper in his hands. “I should make her a decent lunch sometime. I don’t think she’s eating well.”
But Sasuke had another observation in mind. “Why didn’t you ask for her birthday?”
“I know already. I asked Hinata about it.”
--------------------------------
Sakura tried to catch up with the baseball captain in the seniors’ hallways before she would lose him to his after classes dates with Hinata. “Haru, wait up please.”
His brown hair has grown longer to hide his undercut which Naruto wanted to replicate as he often mentioned in between their conversations in classes. It was actually a wonder how the usually demure Hinata gravitated towards Haru who had a strong personality. His annoyed gaze softened when he realized it was her calling him, his smile turning into a wide grin as she raced through the halls.
“No running, Ms. President,” he chided.
Sakura playfully punched his shoulder, her fist’s impact light as she struggled to catch her breath. “Can I at least have some of your time? I promise I won’t take long.”
The captain’s face took on an incredulous look. “How the tables have turned.”
They found themselves on a rooftop, away from the incidental eavesdroppers (if there were any), and moreover they needed some quiet space to talk about important matters. The first of which was the baseball team’s finances.
“I gotta hand this to you rather straightforwardly. The board didn’t foresee your qualification in the preliminaries hence they didn’t allot a big budget for your team – not for training, not for travel expenses, not for uniforms, and miscellaneous expenses.” He towered over her, her height a third short from his shoulders, but when he hunched them forward and leaned against the railings, he was almost shoulder to shoulder with her. “So what are your plans?”
Back in junior high, he would often ruffle her hair out of her immaculate ponytail, and this closeness wasn’t really odd because they were from the same town and grew on the same block. Distance just crept in as they made more friends and entered different circles.
“My personal savings,” Haru simply replied. “Our coach will chip in half of our projected expenses so we’re good to go.”
Sakura sighed. “As always, you don’t like to rely on anyone.”
“We’re not really too far from each other, Sakura. So what’s your plan anyway?” Haru turned with his back this time against the railing.
“Pass-the-Hat.”
Haru nodded. “And your savings.”
Sakura shook her head vehemently. “Hell no.”
“Gears are turning in your head, and I can see you’ll fill in a part with your savings. Stop it, Haruno.”
“I’m telling you, I won’t give you a part of my savings. Anyway – “
“Anyway? There’s more?” Haru hastily looked at his watch to check the time, almost formed a reply, and thought better of it, hiding his wrist from his view.
“I saw your career sheet form. You know you could always try to apply for an athletic scholarship, right?” If she can hazard a guess, Haru may not be planning at all to proceed to college. He always has his father’s fishing business to take over back in their town.
“No association would vet for a player who only qualified for prelims on his senior year.” Haru playfully ruffled her hair, the gesture she thought was once forgotten between them. “So don’t feel sorry for me. I already have Hinata to deal with.”
“You sound so pessimistic when you’re just going away for a year until she decides to follow you. Your story’s almost like a fairytale,” Sakura scoffed.
“First of all, long distance relationships don’t work and second and last of all, there’s her father to think about.” Haru let out a long sigh. “Believe me, Sakura, I want to make it work, but I feel like the distance between us had already set in even before I go.”
--------------------------------
Haru was right. While Pass-the-Hat garnered lots of amounts enough to shoulder the logistics of the training of the baseball team before the semis, there wasn’t enough to pay for their new equipment. She could ask the teachers, but she knew Haru and the coach have already asked for prior favors. At the last minute before the trip got cancelled, Sakura anonymously put in two-thirds of her savings into the donations pool which the captain got wind of and somehow reached Kakashi.
While she was successful in avoiding him for the first few days of the school trip while Naruto and his team was in Fukuoka, he caught her alone as she was reading the markers outside the walls of a castle.
“Haruno Sakura.” His voice startled her. She turned around, like a good student that she was, and waved a bit too enthusiastically. “Mind telling me why you won’t talk to me outside of our council meetings? Did I say any directive that offended you or overworked you? I need to have an open communication with you kids.”
Kids. “Ah, I was just a little busy these past weeks,” Sakura assured him. She nervously fidgeted with his rubber band that was still on her wrist. His eyes followed her movements, and she hid them quickly behind her back, afraid of what he would say if he realized.
“I heard from the principal that he greenlighted your personal project, and that you will be presenting this to the board next week for a possible funding. You accomplished that on top of the feats you pulled to bring the baseball team to the semis.” As Kakashi recounted her accomplishments, she couldn’t help the blush that rose to her cheeks. She was finding it difficult to say an excuse right now. “So I’m returning your personal donation.”
Sakura stared at him directly, never mind the raven irises that drowned her in undivided attention. “What?” He smiled, highlighting even more his mole, and she gasped, breathless at the sight.
“Don’t worry your pretty head over these things. You’re too young for this. I’ll have the funds downloaded to your bank, all right.” Kakashi patted her head softly and disappeared in the meandering crowds.
She slapped the rubber band against the thin skin of her wrist repeatedly. She didn’t know whether she should feel grateful that her savings were back or feel angry that she was patronized because of her age. Didn’t Kakashi know that teenagers grow up faster than their actual age and that she had every right to worry her pretty head? When will he start seeing her as she was?
Her self-deprecating thoughts ran awry when someone took hold of her wrist that has gone red from the slap of the rubber band.
For someone who alternated between being grim-faced or stoic, Sasuke’s hand was gentle and kind. She knew that ever since she saw him in the cafĂ©, all the good things in him seeping out through cracks in his wall. Right now, she knew he was worried about the supportless baseball team.
“They’re losing, aren’t they?” Sakura suppressed the overwhelming emotions from her earlier interaction with Kakashi and concocted a plan in her head.
She coordinated with the guides and had them add a stop at the baseball field at Fukuoka for one last hurrah for the team.
--------------------------------
Thirty minutes later, their school witnessed how the top teams decimated Naruto’s team. No innings won, batters relentless, and Haru got injured. Sakura, sensing the dampened atmosphere among the student body, rallied yells, earning surprised looks from the team members.
Through the crowds, Sasuke saw Hinata, her fingers twirling the ends of her long braid, and her eyes scanning the place for her boyfriend
until her gaze shifted to Naruto. He traversed the space to stand beside her, breaking his own rule to remain uninvolved in other people’s affairs.
But he owed this to Naruto and Haru who never failed to include him in after practice dinners and effectively kept the gaping depression in his apartment away.
“Your boyfriend has a broken arm, but you’re looking at Naruto.” He said, even before he could announce his presence to her.
Hinata turned her face to him and repeated his words. “My boyfriend has a broken arm but I cannot look at broken limbs for too long. Thanks for pointing that out.”
“There’s a second statement after my but.”
“Hmm, my eyes just probably gravitated to him unknowingly. But it couldn’t be helped, right? He just has this bright, sunshine energy.” Hinata shrugged, seemingly confused by her words as well.
Sasuke wanted to prod more but her eyes narrowed at something behind him. When he glanced back, he saw Sakura stood in tiptoes as she hugged a downtrodden Naruto. If he wasn’t so sad, he would have blushed and awkwardly pushed his crush away, but for this instance, he choked back his sobs and eventually cried on her shoulder.
“Maybe the student council can also support other teams which are gearing up for nationals. You may suffer backlash if favoritism becomes obvious.”
He scoffed at Hinata’s advice. “I’ll tell our student council president that.”
Sasuke made his way to the blonde and pinkette, his arms engulfing both of their heads in a very rare hug. He felt Sakura stiffen beneath him while Naruto changed shoulders and cried openly against Sasuke’s shirt.
This he didn’t mind, as long as both of their faces were hidden from her view.
AO3 LINK | NEXT CHAPTER | CHAPTER 7
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psalloacappella · 4 years ago
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tempo rubato
Day 7 Prompt: free prompt // â€œFrom now on . . .”
@sasusakublankperiodweek
Ao3 | FFN | â†“
It is a divine and breathtaking thing, to be untethered from their earthly expectations.
The rhythm of the world is a universal hum, an unbroken orbit consisting only of two.
(we write a story)
Hewn halves of the same whole, shadow and light.
They tell themselves to keep it simple, take it slow. This, whatever this is.
The dynamic shift between them is not sudden nor gradual, but something permanent, piquant, and passionate.
Arcs of exploration, personal and entwined: They roam the edges of the world they know and the enclaves they don’t, hoping that their bonding will reveal the hidden map — time reigning at the helm, the pilgrim cartographer. 
But they’ve never been blithe or unfocused, not in their goals or in the shaping of their destinies. Certainly, nothing between them has ever been anything other than a dramatic affair, enduring, and a love that every other eye can see.
“How many days has it been?” she asks him across an inn table, watching him in the dim light. 
Sasuke knows damn well she’s aware of the hours and seconds that have elapsed together; she’s far too precise for sly questions of time. Does it matter?
He pauses before answering, already so taken with the way she levels her gaze at him, unadorned, and knows bringing her along will be the ultimate undoing of his penance journey, the taking apart of his hard heart. Sunrise cleaving through his endless dusk.
“Months, now.” Gathering up the last shreds of meat from his bowl, he places it in hers and meets her eyes in the manner of setting dry kindling alight. 
And so it works, this restrained and sentimental pace, for a while.
.
(we speed up)
Whispers in firelight will be their foundation, the tales that will shape their future. They speak of mundanities (flowers), practicalities (weather) and dreams, some past, lost, and others transforming into hesitant, potential plans. They speak of scars, this one that one, from the one they called Sasori she breathes, his fingertips tracing a swift cleaving crescent, from him, he mutters, and he knows she’ll know which man simply by the smolder in his sloe and violet eyes.
Some damage gossamer, passing marks on the skin, and others rugged as mountain ranges, raised in affront. Shapes distorting and flickering in the flames. A reminder of the world they hold up, the home they must decide to recommit to, if they can.
They travel and retrace their own history, craving and dreading the point at which they meet the end if only to know the epilogue. 
But this love is unbridled, moves at breakneck speeds — years piled up with unsaid things, so it’s easy to melt, crumble, learn and map every single vulnerable inch of one another. Hearts, minds, skin. Whispering one another’s names in constant refrain.
It is a divine and breathtaking thing, to be untethered from their earthly expectations.
The rhythm of the world is a universal hum, an unbroken orbit consisting only of two.
.
(we slow down)
Swimming in a lazy river, circling as fish in palty ponds consisting only of their dual halves, they speak of coulds:  Could we settle somewhere new? Is the place that birthed us a sort of destiny? Is that home, or is this, you and I, enough of an identity? 
Could our future thrive in the same place of our trauma?
Could this system, somehow, become better? 
Balancing a brush between idle fingers, Sakura drips dry in the parched heat and nibbles the end of it in thought.
“Anything to add?” she asks. 
Sasuke swats at an insect, squinting in the high noon.
“For Kakashi?” Thinks a moment, then glances sidelong at her; at the way she holds things aloft so delicate in hands that break the earth. Heal men, and kill them on occasion. At the way she imbues such seriousness into her letters to their ex-sensei, frown rivets dashing across her forehead. At the fading water evaporating from her skin. “Ah, just to share it with the idiot.”
Lips drawn in moue, Sakura struggles not to laugh. “I can write separate letters; Kaka-sensei is busy now. Hokage things, you know?”
She watches him throw his arm against his eyes to shield them from a dazzling sun, and his quiet snicker contains multitudes, echos in a song. The expression just in that reminds her how little friction remains between them, that they’ve caught fire. 
“He can dictate to Naruto — you’ll burn out here if I let you write two,” he chides, noting the red dusting on her cheeks, suffused with glow. “I’m not quite sure how well he reads on his own anyway.”
Erupting into giggles, she shades her own eyes to stare at him with bewitching and stripped abandon. “Be nice. You know he’s next in line to lead, and no matter what he says, he’ll need you.”
Duty. It sits between them occasionally, considered and sometimes unwanted. 
“You as well.”
Before she’s laughed it off, brushed it away to avoid its grip, but he’s correct. They are fever-bound in fire to the village that will shape the future. A daunting prospect. 
“And I’ll need you too.”
Sakura’s so sure she’s misheard, but he’s closer now than a moment ago, sweeping into her orbit with his infuriating and silent speed, thumb resting gently on her blazing bottom lip.
Bringing the question into being, a fruitless thing he’d never deliberate but she never has qualms about speaking into being. 
“Do we have to go back?”
In answer he kisses her on a simmering, sunny riverbank in a way that would make their mothers blush, an apology, a wish, and this day becomes an axis even if they won’t know it for many cycles of the moon.
A pin is pressed into a shared soul map, becomes a burgeoning accompaniment, another rising phrase in their endless song.
From now on, they are in harmony, particularly with something much larger than themselves. 
.
.
Somehow it seems the village feels them coming, whispers paving the way.
Beginning with the far-flung ranging scouts and flying fast to the spry perimeter lookouts, on to the first inner circle defensive squads and, once the shinobi are identified, the hostile caution drops from their voices in a game of telephone to be replaced with a slightly manic curiosity. 
“Two,” one of them says, yanking a sweaty flak collar from his neck. 
“No,” the other says in a strident tone, waving his answer away. “There’s another with them. Three.”
Details drip in Ino’s ears, and she leaves her post in a whirlwind, a tornado of emotion whose  witnessed story springboards from house to training ground to alcove to inn. 
It’s fitting that the first encounter, or reunion, occurs in the middle of a main road beginning as ringing, if loving insults but dwindling to potshots from gritted teeth and smoothing into cooing whispers as the two women, these best friends, encircle one another with shaking arms and a bundle pressed between them; the accompanying men linger at awkward edges, Sasuke betraying so little with his usual impassive expression and Shikamaru, who was tripped up in Ino’s anger along the way, keeping his hands in his pockets. 
“Oh, how could you?” Ino sniffles, wiping away tears with the heel of her hand. “Can’t do anything by half-measures, no subtlety, you never could! No letter, no warning.” Here she glares at Sasuke for a moment, enough for him to cast his eyes away in at least a modest show of humility. 
The moments pile upon, become stranger and more surprising, as Ino presses her lips to the bundle in Sakura’s arms and Shikamaru sighs in not-unhappy resignation, ah, so it is, and extends his hand to an unusually startled Sasuke and for a fleeting sliver-second, the corners of his mouth aren’t quite so dour.
“Who’s next?” Ino asks, tenderly flicking away a lock of Sakura’s hair. “Though by now, the whole damn town knows.”
The men shake clumsily, wary, bereft of custom.
“I’m sure you had nothing to do with that. The honorary uncle, it's only fair.”
“We have to report regardless,” Sasuke supplies quietly. Bending over the bundle and his new wife (which, Ino will rant in retrospect, seems obvious now — his unusual tenderness, his glow, men don’t glow like that for just anyone, any reason!), he whispers, begins to lead her away. They walk with high heads and radiant faces.
Her jade eyes behold their new bundle, but his eyes stay, mostly, on her. 
.
By now the gossip’s reached his stuffy office, and though he’s never been one to put on airs or prepare for visitors, he does try to clear a free spot to be able to see over the mess of his desk, before an aide takes pity on him and handles the rest.
He will have to get a full, unadorned look at this.
She leads, of course she does — this is the love at twelve she forcibly took into her own hands, even when it pricked and bruised. Wrestled it until she won. The newlywed glow is obvious. As a shadow Sasuke sweeps in behind, but the tiny uplift of his lips is still evident.
True, then. Differences all around.
“The kids do things differently these days,” Kakashi jokes. “Have you at least considered getting married?”
“Have you?” Sasuke snarks.
Sakura shushes him gently, thumbing away some errant speck from their bundle’s chubby face. Eyes bright, they seem to dim the rest of the room as she raises them to Kakashi and asks, breathless, “Do you want to—?”
And despite his aide’s effort to clear his desk he gets up and comes around it, to them, closing the loop around a future he hopes is halcyon and new, shepherds of peacetime. 
He wonders if they’ve had their real homecoming yet, the true test — but no, he’d be able to tell. Not that the joy in Sakura’s face could possibly be more evident, and by the careful way Sasuke presses his mouth to her temple, nudges her with his nose (and there’s the glow, the one that paints great men often only because of exceptional women they love). Naruto, busy and climbing for his Hokage position but with his own recent arrival, his own legacy coming in the form of something tiny, blond, and confusing. 
The third point of their legendary triumvirate, no doubt unaware of what’s coming to his doorstep and in tow, the new member of his full life he’ll meet anew. 
“Isn’t she beautiful?” Sakura whispers, eyes shining.
A gloved hand on each head, as if they’re genin again:  He’s gentle with Sakura, ruffles Sasuke’s hair with a roguish twinkle if only to provoke his trademark scowl. 
Subdued, but their sensei’s happiness sings through in the crinkles in the corners of his eyes. 
.
Perhaps they don’t expect Naruto to be the one they see as the door swings open; after all the last letter he sent in his untidy scrawl is still in Sasuke’s cloak pocket, unread in the wake of their universe shifting to this perennial birth that’s brought them across the world and then to their best friend’s doorstep, clutching this thing that did not exist and now does, borne of them and their love; he stands there, blond hair in chaos and a strange smattering of dirt on his cheek and a rag over his shoulder covered in fluids that his friends now know will be constant, streaming, the aftermath of infants; Hinata behind him, carrying her own bundle, with the same look of frenzied-excited exhaustion but now her mouth falls into a small, round ‘o’ as she sizes up the scene faster than her darling, ditzy husband, who’s bereft of speech and straightens up from his sagging position against the door frame, stunned.
“S-Sakura-chan!” Bright ocean eyes ping from her face — beaming, because she’s already understood this wonderful coincidence and can deduce now what his message contained, she begins to weep a little, overwhelmed — to Sasuke’s, hesitant but with its own subtle change, a fleeting expression of love and pride. 
Hinata makes a comforting noise behind them, a reassuring response to Sakura’s tears, the language of women a bit quieter, something less decipherable.
“‘Ay, Sasuke you total bastard, showing up like this! Didn’t respond to my letter—”
“You ass,” Sasuke hisses, tugging fabric over one tiny ear belonging to his daughter. “She can hear that.”
“She’s in trouble anyway, with my mouth,” Sakura sighs, brushing away a tear.
Naruto’s eyes grow so wide they push the earthly bounds of his sockets. His head whips ‘round to look at his wife, their son, and snaps back just as fast to stare at his best friends.
“She?” The word comes out croaky, and Naruto’s already sniffling.
Sasuke and Sakura exchange a glance, the ghost of a knowing smile:  His sentiment has always been equal parts maddening and endearing, his adoration broadcast to the entire world.
Sasuke assents with a nod, but his own voiced response emerges with surprising vibrato emotion. Perhaps to hide it, he drops his chin onto Sakura’s head, resting it there. “Yeah. A little girl.”
They should expect it, but it’s still a scuffle like old times, Naruto tackling them both, gathering them close in his way, welcoming them home from the outside world and back into his magnetism, his heart. 
“Can’t believe you — didn’t even — you just come home like this—”
Their greetings and scoldings and expressions of love mesh together, can’t believe Sasuke managed it, Don’t squish her, Naruto! You idiot, It's you who’s managed it, how old, how long, where did you travel, what have you seen, how old is your son?
“How did you know?” Naruto asks, finally allowing them to breathe. He stares at Sakura, quizzical. “Betcha missed my letter. So how’d you know it’s a boy?”
“I’m a medic, remember?” Readjusting her daughter, she extends her other hand to Hinata, gesturing so she comes closer, anticipating a deeper appreciation of a friendship they’ve already begun, a new language they’ll learn together. “Had a feeling. I just know.”
But Naruto’s tugging on them again, drawing them close and tight, rooting them to the earth and the place they sprung from, flourished and fought in, and now, where they’ve returned. 
Time slackening and quickening though never lost or stolen, occasionally rhythm-robbed but always arriving expectantly, weaving their life legends into knots.
The codetta they’ve always managed to sing together in the end. 
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