He’d lost so much time already. But if she knew something else, then it was worth going back. Besides, he had to make sure she wasn’t gone too….

That decided it. Kakashi peeled off from the small recon group without a word and sped back to the village.

The boys had been gone three days. Their defection had been discovered quite early on — the night patrol had come across a weeping Sakura, and they pieced together enough of a story to have the first search team out by dawn. But the boys had made the most of their headstart.

Which told Kakashi that this had been planned.

But he wasn’t worried until he made another troubling discovery: Sakura wasn’t in any of the scattered search parties.

The kids’ classmates showed up, wanting to tag along with the jonins for the search and rescue. Kakashi remembered thinking it was probably because they didn’t want to be left out of the action rather than any strong feelings for the two.

Which made Sakura’s absence even more notable.

He grimaced at his oversight. He’d just assumed she would be part of the crowd. But as he paired with search parties, relentlessly scanning for any trace, he realized Sakura wasn’t among them. In fact, he didn’t remember seeing her at all.

Iruka had been the one to break the terrible news. And from then on, everything was a blur.

Kakashi’s mind had frantically leapt to the inevitable: She had fled too. Either chasing after them or as part of the plan. And he’d been too preoccupied to notice.

Kakashi pushed so hard off a limb it fragmented behind him.

What if he was too late? What if she was already gone….

He shook his head, banishing the thought. No, not her. Never her….

But if even Naruto left, then he couldn’t be sure of anything. Oh please, not her too….

Kakashi ducked his head into the wind and ticked up his speed. Around him, the vast countryside of the Fire country was reduced to a blur.

Hours later, Kakashi’s feet touched down soundlessly outside a tidy Konoha door. He knocked hard, shattering the nighttime stillness.

“Oh, hello Hatake-san. Any news yet?”

Sakura’s mother hovered in the doorway. Her round eyes brimmed with concern, but not panic. Kakashi sighed inwardly.

“Uh, no. Not yet,” he said politely. “Tell me, do you know where Sakura is? I’d like to have a word with her.”

She smiled lightly, opened the door and ushered him in, then disappeared upstairs.

By the time Sakura came downstairs, nearly 10 long minutes later, Kakashi had inspected every knickknack in the small living room to keep himself from bounding up the stairs and ordering her to come down. He was just beginning to pace like a caged animal when she silently appeared in the doorway.

The young kunoichi looked defeated.

Sakura’s eyes were bleary and red-rimmed. Pink splotches crept up her throat. She clutched her hands in front of her rumpled dress and bit her trembling lip.

“K-Kakashi-sens—”

She choked on the word, then burst into tears.

Kakashi instantly went to her and guided her to the sofa.

“Sakura, none of this was your fault,” he reassured over her cries until she seemed calm. “But tell me, do you know where they went? Do you know anything at all about….”

Her crying began anew. Clearly she did know something. Kakashi just patted her hand and waited patiently for the tears to subside.

“They— They left together,” she blurted out, wiping her nose. “I don’t know where they went. They just…left.”

“Naruto too?”

Sakura nodded pitifully before dissolving into more sobs.

Kakashi already knew this. Sakura had confirmed it to the patrol in the early hours of the morning. But seeing her crying at Naruto’s name, Kakashi felt there must be more to the story.

He sat forward and looked her steadily in the eyes.

“Sakura,” he said slowly, “tell me everything you know. Anything you can think of. What did they say in the days leading up to this? When was the last time you saw them?”

Cupping a hand over her mouth, Sakura shook her head. But fresh tears came anyway.

She wept bitterly.

Kakashi stifled a sigh. He sat back, deciding to just let her cry.

And eventually she was wrung out enough to speak.

“I saw them. I heard them talking.” Her voice dropped to a whispered, as if confessing something dreadful. She looked down at her lap. “They wanted to go. Sasuke wanted Naruto to go with him. And then Naruto wanted to go too. So they— they just left.” A dry sob suddenly escaped.

“I see…. Were they forced?” He sat forward suddenly. “Were they under any duress?”

Sakura shook her head. Her mouth crumpled, but she held back her tears.

“No. They were excited. Sasuke said it would be an adventure. They’d do it together.”

Kakashi slumped back against the couch and blew out a long, low breath. Sakura didn’t need to explain any further. He understood their dynamic completely. Naruto would never have said no.

Now he felt as defeated as Sakura did.

At the edge of the sofa, Sakura sat with her head bowed. She looked down and picked at her nails. A tear pattered onto her hand.

“I understand,” Kakashi said softly, sitting forward again. “Did Sasuke say where they were going? Who—”

Sakura shook her head.

“And Naruto….”

Her shoulders jerked with a quiet sob.

Kakashi frowned. What was it about Naruto—

“Sasuke said the village had failed them. Both of them. That they were the same. He said— He said—” She scrubbed a hand over her face and spoke through her tears. “He said you were a babysitter and I was a dead weight. And Naruto…. Naruto didn’t say anything. Sasuke said they’d always be there for each other, and then they were…they were…gone,” she said with a breathy cry.

Kakashi raked a hand through his hair. This was the burden that was weighing on Sakura. He couldn’t blame her for being upset.

But confessing it finally gave Sakura the courage to carry on. The words all tumbled out in a teary rush.

“I don’t understand, Kakashi-sensei. I thought maybe Sasuke would try to go after Itachi, that he might leave. But not Naruto. Never Naruto.” She sucked in a breath. “I think maybe Naruto went to stop him. Like I was going to. But instead, Sasuke asked him to come. And then, he left!” She threw her hands up. “He didn’t want our team or our village…. He didn’t want you or me…. He just left!”

Kakashi looked at the floor. He had no answers for her. But he understood. Naruto’s defection felt like a betrayal, whereas Sasuke’s somehow…didn’t. It was probably because of all the kids, Naruto seemed the most loyal to the village.

But maybe that loyalty was the problem.

Kakashi stood up suddenly. He’d gotten what he came for. Sakura was safe. And he had a clearer picture of what happened. Unfortunately, the new information made retrieval that much harder.

But he was wasting precious time. Kakashi shut off his swirling thoughts and plastered on a calm facade.

“Don’t worry, we’ll bring them home.” He patted her shoulder roughly. “It’ll turn out ok. You’ll see!”

Kakashi shot her a quick, overly bright smile — one she didn’t return — and then was out the door.

But outside, the smile evaporated.

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A Single Step — Chapter 1, Leaving

Author’s Note: Another little fic I started. A little change of pace from A Voice in the Wind. More focus on a swiftly moving plot, less on the immersive descriptions. Just trying a different style for this one. It’s multi-chapter, AU-ish, and NS. Yay!

Summary: “You should come with me! It’ll be great!” And with that, Naruto left with Sasuke, who never truly needed his help, and turned away from the teammate and village that did.

“Oh yeah? Well if that’s the case Naruto, shouldn’t you be the one leaving?!”

Sasuke’s hands were balled into fists. He thought about beating his teammate — his almost former teammate — into the the deserted Konoha street just to make his point. He was leaving. He’d made his decision. There was nothing Naruto could do to stop him.

And spouting praise of Konoha was only infuriating him more. Because he knew Naruto was a hypocrite.

Sasuke tightened his fist again, muscles surging with a deep desire to knock him off his feet. It was the middle of the night after all, no one would hear him…. But instead, Sasuke reined in his anger and settled for circling the blond.

“How can you, of all people, try to talk me out of it? Look what they’ve done to you! Look how they’ve treated you!” Sasuke’s voice rose dangerously as he paced. “How can you tell me to stay when this is the place where my family was slaughtered? And no one, not a single person, is out looking for the man responsible.”

Sasuke glared at Naruto’s rigid back. “I’ll tell you why. They don’t care. They only see me as something to hold on to. Tightly.”

Naruto huffed out a breath and continued to stare straight ahead. He grit his teeth, holding in his next arsenal of persuasive reasons until Saskue was done. Then maybe he would listen calmly.

“And don’t think I don’t see it,” the black-haired boy continued angrily. “When the council looks at me, the kages, even Danzo… It’s written all over their faces. Disgust and fear and lust for power. It’s all there.”

Naruto still looked ahead, but when Saskue swung in front, he knew his words hit a nerve. Naruto knew exactly what he was talking about. There was doubt in his eyes, doubt about all the things he’d just said about Konoha. There was pain too. And Naruto was never good at hiding his pain. At least not to him.

Sasuke leaned in, his voice menacing. “You know what I mean, don’t you? I know you do. You see it too. It’s in their eyes.”

Sasuke hovered inches from Naruto’s face. Suddenly, as if to block it all out, Naruto crushed his eyes shut.

But Sasuke didn’t move back. “It’s the same for you,” he whispered. “They locked a demon inside of you, and they hate you for it. Yet they want the power too.”

Sasuke shook him hard by the shoulders. Startled, Naruto opened his eyes. But Sasuke didn’t let go.

“I’ve seen the way they look at you. All of them. I hear what they say. You can’t deny it. I know.” He leveled a hard gaze at Naruto. “Because it’s the same for me.”

Naruto stared angrily back, meeting the unspoken challenge in Sasuke’s eyes. At length, Sasuke let go and stepped back.

“They sure weren’t thinking of you when they locked that thing inside you.” The familiar carelessness had returned to his voice. “But I think what you do with it is your own choice. And I sure as hell won’t let them use me for my sharingan while he walks free in the world.”

Sasuke flicked a mean look at Naruto. Behind the solid black pupils the red sharingan flashed.

“And I won’t let you stand in my way either.” There was a dangerous edge to his voice.

Naruto frowned at the open threat. But it helped remind him of his purpose.

“I’m not standing in your way,” he said fiercely. “I want to help you find Itachi. I just don’t think you need to leave Konoha to do it. We’re all working together, getting stronger. Just a little longer then we’ll all help you go after him.”

Sasuke snorted up at the stars.

“We’ll do it together, because we’re a team!” Naruto continued, palms open. “Me, you, Kakashi-sensei and Sakura-chan. Besides you couldn’t just leave them, could you….”

“A babysitter and a dead weight? Please, Naruto, even you must—”

“No, I don’t see!” Naruto snapped. “We’re a team, we’re in this together, and Kakashi knows what we need to do—”

“Yeah, I’ve figured that one out too,” Sasuke said bitterly, cutting across Naruto. “Have you ever thought about it, the two of us, together, on his team? It’s not a coincidence that two orphans were put together under the most powerful teacher in the village. It’s because they know how powerful we’re going to be. And they want to keep us contained.”

Naruto shook his head furiously. But Sasuke continued, his voice picking up urgency. “The village, the leaders, Kakashi, Sakura, all of them are holding us back. Because…. Because…. Because they’re afraid of us!”

Naruto looked stricken. He dropped his eyes to the ground and shifted uncomfortably. For Sasuke, there was a strange power in the thought that other’s feared him. But for Naruto, it was shame. Only shame.

Sasuke seized upon on it.

“You know I’m right. Of course you would. You understand. Because you’re just like me—”

Sasuke’s eyes went wide.

“You’re just like me,” he repeated slowly. “You have nothing here. Nothing holding you, nothing to stay for….”

Naruto blinked, confused. A smile crept up Sasuke’s face with the dawning of an idea…a fantastic idea….

“You should come with me,” Sasuke whispered excitedly. “It would be great. We could still be teammates. We could get stronger together. Then there would be nothing to stop us!”
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Chapter 31: Cracks

Sakura wiggled her wet toes and stepped into another pool of golden light. Streams of morning sun angled down through the canopy of Konoha’s ancient forests, dappling the shinobi trails. Scuffing over a patch of moss, dew flung out from the ends of Sakura’s shoes and sparkled in the air in front of her. She smiled lightly, relishing the early morning solitude.

Sakura had always loved the deep forests that hid her village. As a child she would peer out wide-eyed at the green-black world beyond the huge gates. The woods were so full of mystery to her.

But as she grew older, became a shinobi and ventured beyond the safety of the walled village, her childhood awe of the great woods dimmed. Sakura recognized it was a tactical necessity, a defensive zone encircling Konoha that was in turn patrolled and protected by her shinobis. And she knew now that all the hidden villages had similar defensive barriers. Each dangerously beautiful and deceptively empty.

But in that first year of becoming a shinobi and shedding her childhood views, Sakura had discovered a cool pocket of the great forest that was still special. Still mysterious. And neither time nor experience diminished it.

She turned at a familiar bend in the trail and breathed deeply. The path curved and dipped down into a quiet copse. The trees stood closer together here, casting the area in perpetual green shade. A haze of moss crept from under the leaves and clung to the trunks.

She followed the trail down into the little glade, and the trees closed their ranks around her. Deeper in, the moss covered everything, creeping over the ground like a thick carpet. Even the path was soft here.

The area always felt hallowed to her. And perhaps, that’s because it was. To someone, at least.

Sakura slowed, craning her neck and watching between the huge trunks for a glimpse of the misshapen stone, the slight rise in the ground. Every so often she could just make out the grey shape, hovering like a ghost behind the trees.

Another step, and there it was: She had come even with a small grey stone, barely visible from the shinobi path. It tilted cozily toward the base of a tree, half-sunk in moss, as if an errant river rock has been washed up in the green tide. But even from the path, Sakura could see it smiling at her.

The dimpled roundness caught her eye years before, when she was a fresh genin and she should have been paying more attention to her team. But her attention flitted to other things…like her hair, and Sasuke-kun, and strange rocks that seemed to be smiling at her….

In those first harrowing years, she adopted the quiet space and the little rock as a talisman. When her feet padded over the soft ground she knew she was close to home.

But one afternoon a bird happened to find the moss on Sakura’s rock much more appealing for her nest than any other. The bird plucked up a thatch and flew off. And Sakura nearly tripped over herself on the path.

A round eye squinted out. That the fat little stone really was smiling at her.

Ahead of her Team 7 bobbed around the bend and out of sight. Sakura gave in to impulse. Dress whipping at her knees, she dashed off the trail toward the rock, squashing deep footprints in the green carpet behind her.

Sakura hunched down and quickly flaked off the rest of the moss until she uncovered the smiling face of a little monk. She sat back and beamed at her discovery.

Only the slightest carving had been done to accentuate the natural shape of the rock, but she could make out clasped hands and the edges of a robe under the cloak of moss. Round head tipped to the side, he smiled up as if he were in on some secret that Sakura was only just figuring out.

In fact, he was so jubilant, so captivating with his great dimpled smile, that the question of why he was in a dark corner of the woods came only as an afterthought. Sakura pushed the long hair out her eyes and looked around. It was beautiful and dreamlike in it’s haze of green but it didn’t quite make sense. Until she saw it. Something old and grey and lurking in the shadows of another row of trees behind the little monk. Sakura rose slowly and made her way toward it.

Tucking short curls behind her ears, Sakura fondly recalled the memory. She may be older, but the alluring qualities of the glade had never waned. In fact, it had become even more special to her over the years.

Giving in to impulse again, as she had done when she was 12, Sakura left the path. But this time her footsteps were soft and soundless, and, out of habit, she left no trace on the thick moss.

She paused at the monk’s little round head and brushed off a stray leaf. The green haze of the moss had crept back over his face. But Sakura didn’t disturb it. He still grinned up as cheekily as ever.

She passed him by and wove down through a line of enormous grey tree trunks. The moss-covered ground dipped and swelled. The cloistered spot where the ground rose just slightly seemed to be a natural shrine. And it was here that someone generations before her had decided to place a statue of the deity Jizo. The serene protector of travelers. Of mothers and children. Of those lost, in this world and the next.

She often wondered if those who placed him there knew how important he would be to the shinobis who were forever leaving on this trail, many never to return again.

But there was no one to ask. Both statues looked to be centuries old. And over time, the forest had proved to be a greater force than the original caretakers.

Moss lapped at the base of the statue. It had settled over the years, and now the Jizo listed gently in the dim green light. Which made his serene expression even more poignant. His down-swept eyes and slight knowing smile made it seem he perfectly accepted the changes around him. He had escaped the moss covering of the smaller statue, but his once-smooth stone was a grey and pitted as the surrounding tree bark. It looked more like he grew there than he was ever set by human hands.

Sakura stood in front of the statue and soaked up the silence. She knew she was not the only one who took a measure of comfort from it. Over the years she noticed small offerings left at the base — nothing more than a flower or a stone — but they spoke of the obvious solace given in the face of the unknown. She wondered if they were the prayers of those leaving or of those left behind that accompanied these little gifts.

Sakura bobbed a quick prayer for protection then turned back to the path. Her thoughts were already speeding ahead as she walked on out of the glade. The broad woodlands continued for a little while longer, until the trees thinned and opened up to fields and pastures.

The sun was warm on her shoulders. Her solemn reflections burned away like morning mist. Looking out over the bright countryside, Sakura felt the familiar stirrings at the thought of seeing Katsuro. She smiled to herself and descended down the path as it wound away from Konoha and into the vast farmlands of the Fire country.

Chapter 30 – Loose Ends

Author’s notes

So, I promised a more plot-driven chapter, but I’m not sure if I delivered…. I tried to keep the scenes shorter, and keep the information-dump at a minimum. (I remember reading that J.K. Rowling made Hermione give all the long speeches that contain plot information because the reader would accept that she was the most likely one to drone on about those things! lol) So I tried to write these scenes as if the reader was a fly on the wall, overhearing events. And I tried to liven it up with oddball or arrogant characterizations. This had to be a set-up chapter. Hope it didn’t slow things down too much. And if it did…take heart. Hopefully you can already tell there will be a lot of things happening in the next chapters. So get ready….

Couple of personal notes: Just got back from seeing the cherry blossoms in DC. It delayed the chapter a bit, but I can definitely write authentically about cherry blossom festivals! lol If you have a cherry or any other blooming tree where you live, I highly recommend planting yourself underneath one for a few hours. It’s a wonderful Japanese tradition we should all do more of. And if you went to see the Hunger Games, then you saw the part of the world I live in (the mountains of North Carolina). Many of the mountain/woods/waterfall scenes were filmed in a nearby state park.

Lastly, thanks so much to all the reviewers. I’ve tried to respond to everyone, but I know I’ve not gotten to everyone yet. (I’m going to try and catch up on the rest now that this chap is done.) But please know how much I appreciate it. It really keeps me going! Special thanks to Yoshimoya on H&E — your words are a gift! So yeah — read and review! Oh, and please let me know if this info-heavy chapter came across ok….

And seriously. Get ready for the next one.

Chapter Notes

So hopefully this chapter illuminates a little of the what’s been going on behind the scenes. Not too much Sakura in this one, but everything revolves around their activities. So even in the scenes without Katsuro, they are still the focus.

• Sakura and the cherry blossoms — There is so much made of her name, being a sweet moniker to accompany her pretty looks, but really the symbolism is bittersweet. They gorgeous petals are only temporary. So I wanted Sakura to identify with the tree, not the blossom. She is rooted to her course, and she has to persevere. And thinking of it that way, it makes Katsuro as elusive and fleeting as the petals. She wants to hold on to him, but she just can’t.

• Naming Wei and character attributes in incidental characters — alright, so I’m going back on my words about OCs…sort of. I’m finding it’s necessary to add some more-fleshed-out background characters to help move the plot along. I never remember names when reading OCs, so I prefer things like the captain, the chakra sensor, etc. But this chapter I had to establish a clear rival for future events. And I think it’s just too much to go without a name. So for most of the little OCs they just get a character attribute: biting nails is the Rain tracker’s nervous habit; the teen in the noodle shop always wiping his nose. And these bad habits hopefully help delineate these characters as rather low on the totem pole compared to other bigger bad habits such as vanity (Wei’s contact) and arrogance (Wei himself).

• conflicting attitudes — So I’ve written in some conflicting attitudes in this chapter. Here shinobis aren’t just universally accepted. The soldiers, thugs and men like the tracker, men who have some skills but not a lot, are quite resentful and distrustful of shinobis. And then, there are rivalries between shinobis, especially from older ex-Rain shinobis being ordered around by a young ex-Konoha shinobi. So in this world, shinobis’ secretive nature often breeds distrust, whether they do good or not.

• “In fact, a client from Sound just offered me an extra…300 ryo for information about exceptional children. So I could easily take my knowledge to him.” — that would be Orochimaru. Lol. He’s not really a part of this story, but he’s still in the background.

• “Alright. You want the bigger picture? Here it is:” — So I hope these explanations shed light on some of the agendas from these groups, without slowing the story down too much. Think of the mob, it has lots of different branches and different goals — some for the betterment of the group, some for the betterment of an individual. I’m trying to write the Akatsuki, Itachi and the group of soldiers like that. A tiered group working for similar goals, some seen and some not yet revealed. The rest of the agendas — and Katsuro’s part in it — will be revealed in the next two chapters.

• Madara. Itachi sullenly watched the apparition take form, then bent back to his work without even a greeting. — Itachi is self-serving, and so is Madara. And Itachi hates being under anyone’s thumb. So I love that he displays a little petulant streak with Madara, who is being manipulative as usual.

• Madara’s talk with Itachi — there is lots there to be read between the lines. So, yeah. I think most of it speaks for itself, but check the spoiler notes if you want to find out more.

• Mirrored conversations: Wei and the captain; Itachi and Madara — So both of these reveal plot points, and hint at hidden agendas. Basically everyone in this group is using the other to get what they want. From the top down. In the end, both conversations tie up with the principle characters restating their resolve for their own personal cause.

• Itachi’s quiet voice floated through. “I need you to take care of a loose end for me….”— Sakura, of course, is the loose end. So even though she’s barely featured in the chapter, hopefully you understand that all of the action is pointing towards her.

• But hanging out of her pack, the end of the scroll caught the sunlight. It swung jauntily as she moved, hopelessly tangling the brilliant red threads. — Again, using the red thread of fate symbolism.

Spoiler Notes

• “Listen, these assignments may be handed down from an outsider, but you know what’s at stake here…. You came up under Yahiko. You’re still loyal to the old cause, I know you are.” — The thinking here is what happened to all the men that served with Yahiko? Where did they go? Did they just fade away or do the still covertly fight for his cause…. Well, here’s the answer. The thugs may be on the bottom, but the men running it are ex-Rain nins. The original Akatsuki.

• More on Wei — I’m not a fan of OCs, so it’s hard to commit to including them. But I think it’s time. Otherwise things will start to get confusing. Anyway, I’ve tried to write him as unintrusive as possible. Does that make sense? Wei is somewhere between an OC and a background character. He’ll serve his purposes and make his appearances, but don’t get too attached to him.

• “Do you understand what I’m saying? If we can pull this off, then we’ll have a home to return to. So follow your orders. I’m relying on you to bring it all together. Everything’s riding on this—” …. “Don’t worry,” Wei said, gripping the headband tightly. “I won’t fail.” — Wei is reinvigorated by the captain’s speech. This section helps illuminate the background, and heightens tension for the next chapter. Wei will be completely invested in fighting for this cause, and that makes him a ferocious opponent.

• Identity of Wei’s target and contact — So Wei is meeting with the politician from Sakura’s last mission. And his target is her clan diplomat. The metal clan from the meeting is the one moving the shipment. The politician isn’t outright betraying her, he is simply working for his own purposes. Sakura didn’t conceal her identity at the meeting, so there isn’t much need for him to conceal it.

• “His hired guard is supposed to be back with an offer. The man was hoping it would be an alliance or some choice trade agreement. But I tend to think—” — So this is evidence that the diplomat is still puffing up Sakura’s role to gain attention. She’s just returning with an invitation for a formal alliance with Konoha. Nothing more. It’s just a simple sheet of paper. Konoha’s hoping to get greater access to the meetings like the spring trade mtg. But the diplomat is still profiting by Sakura’s presence at the meeting by lying about the nature of it. So the politician is clarifying at the end that he doesn’t believe everything the diplomat says. But he does know an official missive is being delivered.

About Madara’s talk with Itachi — all of these themes are alluded to and will be confirmed in the upcoming chapters. Hopefully, you already have some idea of what’s happening through the writing. But if you want to know for sure, then read on….

• “This is just to fill the time. But do not forget what your real goal is. The only reason you can spend your time on Pein’s frivolity is because you’ve already caught your prize.” — Pein has charge each Akatsuki member with catching a bijuu. And Itachi already has his. Although only Itachi, Pein and Madara know about it. Even the rest of the Akatsuki are kept in the dark. Although some have their suspicions…. And Madara reveals that there is another goal outside of the main Akatsuki one, which is to capture and unite the beast. It is the set-up of a power struggle.

• “Still,” Madara’s voice was deceptively pleasant. “He needs to be trained to respond to the sharingan…. And finding a sharingan user who is a match is quite rare. So I wouldn’t be surprised if you weren’t able to—” — So, in this story (as in the manga), it will be revealed  that the kyuubi can be controlled by the sharingan. However here only a certain sharingan can successfully subue the demon. Madara has been watching for it through the generations, and thinks he’s found it in Itachi. But if it turns out not to be him, then he’s sure Sasuke would be the other most likely candidate (when he matures). And if you gather from Itachi’s tone, he’s not completely sure his sharingan’s the right one…. But he wants Madara to think so, nonetheless. Again, another power struggle in the making.

• Itachi slammed a hand down on the desk. “I am! I’ve told you already. My sharingan is the one. There has not been another more powerful user since you and your brother. You said so yourself.” — So referencing what we already know of the power struggle between Uchiha siblins. It’s often to the death. Madara is subtly pairing his own sibling rivalry with Itachi’s, and then looking at Itachi as a potential future rival he might have to deal with.

• Madara quietly weighed Itachi’s words. “Well…. perhaps Sasuke needs time as well. After all, his sharingan will not come to full power until he reaches maturity.” — also mirrors the comment about the kyuubi’s strength. Establishes a time element and gives the two boys time to come to maturity.

• “Don’t worry.” Itachi fixed both his eyes on Madara’s single one. “I never have.” — Itachi’s has never lost sight of his goal. Indicating that maybe his goal is different from Madara’s.

Author’s note: Chapter’s finished, just have to add notes. Will do that later tonight! Enjoy!

Sakura curled the hair behind her ears and took one last look around. She had to get going. She couldn’t put it off any longer. With a sigh, Sakura left the small inn and stepped out into the lane.

The grey pavers matched the early morning sky. Sakura walked alone through the still-sleeping village. Solitude had never bothered her. But turning onto the canal, witnessing the dramatic change just a few hours could make, gave her a sharp, empty feeling like none she’d yet experienced.

Last night, the cherry trees still bore their spindrift blossoms. Clouds of pink and white still rained petals over the canals, luring crowds of festival goers as if by mysterious force.

But in the cold light of morning, the thin branches were stripped bare. Jumbled rooflines were visible through the haze of limbs. And the lanes were empty.

Sakura silently crossed the bridge. Trodden petals covered the ground or floated in dull sheets atop the once-silver water. Discarded food cartons and smashed festival toys punctuated the litter with jarring color. Everything else was grey. Sakura sighed. Whatever magic was there last night, it had flown with the petals.

A few vendors were busy sweeping out their storefronts, but none offered a greeting to the passing girl. They, as she, had other things on their mind. Sakura kept looking and hoping. She told herself he may yet come. But she was believing it less and less.

Everything seemed so different now. She gripped the straps of her pack a little tighter. This mission had turned out to be nothing like she expected.

She had been so wrong…. The arrogant diplomat and the preening politician — they were both using her. And she had been too stupid and conceited to see it. She thought she was in control, but she was completely in over her head….

Sakura shook her head, ridding herself of the destructive thoughts, and quickened her pace across the large grey pavers toward the gate.

At the enormous red doors she stopped and turned back. The flawless facade was shattered. Now all she saw was deception. From the shiny storefronts and elegant homes to the men and women who made their living here.

Sakura swept her gaze over the rooflines. And he still had not come.

She sighed deeply and pushed off the from the door. Bits of shiny red paint flaked off under her hand, revealing a dingy undercoat that refused to be varnished over.

Sakura frowned up at the old door. Close up, it was cracking and splintered. Long streaking rust stains were barely covered by the fresh paint. In the excitement of the first day she had overlooked all the imperfections.

Remembering Konoha’s large solid gates, built for strength and protection, not fleeting beauty, Sakura suddenly longed to be home. She brushed her hands and set off.

But just past the village woods another disparity stopped her in her tracks.

Only a few days before, she had marveled at the gorgeous old cherry in full bloom at the town’s stone marker. It was so perfect, even reminding her of that magnificent tree in the temple painting. She had passed under its branches and was filled with hope for the days ahead.

But the petals were long gone.

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Author’s note: Preview of Chapter 30 – Loose Ends. Was hoping to get it posted this month, but it’s not to be. I’m already missing my posting-once-a-month resolution! I’m blaming it on the leap year! But at least here’s a preview! Also, there were some technical difficulties on this site after I updated some wordpress sutff. Hopefully it’s all fixed, but if you run into any problems please let me know. Enjoy!

Sakura curled the hair behind her ears and took one last long look around. She couldn’t wait any longer. With a sigh, she left the small inn and stepped into the lane.

The grey pavers matched the early morning sky. Sakura walked alone through the still-sleeping village. Solitude had never bothered her. But turning onto the canal, witnessing the dramatic change just a few hours could make, gave her a sharp, empty feeling like none she’d yet experienced.

Last night, clouds of pink and white blossoms still huddled over the canals. Their spindrift weightlessness still lured crowds of festival goers as if by mysterious force.

But in the cold light of morning, the lanes were empty. The thin branches had been stripped bare. Jumbled rooflines and the old village wall soared behind the mesh of limbs.
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Chapter 29 – The Stolen Child, Part 2

Author’s notes:

Another ridiculously long chapter. Seriously. I don’t know why I write so much. And I made a New Year’s resolution to get a new chapter out every month and I’ve already blown it for January! Ack! But I’m going to try to change up the writing to more plot-driven than character-driven for the next few chapters, so hopefully it will go faster.  

Chapter notes: 

I have the bad guys cursing in this one, but I’ve tried to keep it to a minimum, on the good advice of the inimitable kungfu. But these guys really are bad, so it’s ok. And this is a dreamy flashback, but I break all kinds of rules. Namely that it’s not completely in Katsuro’s pov. So please forgive that. It was important to convey the information here. But it did drift into dreamy territory at the end, so that’s good!

• The wind pushed down through the tree again, kicking up a swirl of leaves. Then suddenly, right in front of his eyes, a dark shape materialized in the spaces between leaves…. — So I’ve mentioned this a few times, where a shinobi uses wind to disguise his movements. I’m not really getting into how exactly this works, like the manga does. I’m more enjoying writing about the stealthiness of ninjas and the fear it must illicit. In this story, the ninja employ low level stealth tricks before relying on actual jutsus to accomplish their goals. Good for strategy, conservation of energy, concealment of techniques, etc. 

• But Itachi was different. He was methodical and precise, like packing up his blanket when not in use or hiding the orange peels so as not to leave a trace. — So you can see where Katsuro models some of his behaviors from, the ones that are little ooc for canon Naruto. Like cleaning up after himself!

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Author’s note: It still needs a final edit, but this chapter is mostly done. Well, done enough to share! Please forgive any errors! Authors notes, etc. to come later. So, just the chapter right now. Enjoy!

The days and weeks before the full moon were some of the longest in the eight-year-old’s life. But eventually they all trickled away. The night of the full moon Naruto sat in the shadow of the tree, scanning the courtyard for any sign. His stomach still ached, but this time it was from excitement.

The yard was bright blue with moonlight. No one ever came out for him, and save for a single black bird that alighted in the tree for a moment, he never saw another living thing. He sat for hours in the darkness. Plenty long enough for doubt to creep in. 

What if this ninja lied? What if he didn’t come? What if he forgot about him too, just like all the rest?

His nervousness took a sharp edge. And the longer he sat, hoping and worrying, the worse it got. After what felt like hours more, trapped in the hell of not knowing, a thin breeze ruffled his bangs.

Naruto cocked his head, thinking he’d heard a rustle of movement, but it was just the wind moving through the leaves above him.

Dejected, he plunked his elbows on his knees and dropped his chin down into his hands. Maybe it was all just a big, horrible joke—

The wind pushed down through the tree again, kicking up a swirl of leaves. Then suddenly, right in front of his eyes, a dark shape materialized in the spaces between leaves, growing more solid with each step. Naruto blinked rapidly, sure he was seeing things. But the dark outlines of leaves continued to fold and melt into the figure until there were no leaves left. Only a black-clad man walked soundlessly across the courtyard. The pale moonlight shone at his back and cast his front in shadow. And not a breath of air rippled around him.

Frozen in panic, Naruto gripped the edge of the table so hard his knuckles went white. A man…appeared out of thin air and…and…was coming straight towards him! He was about to tear himself from the table and dash back to the orphanage when the terrifying apparition spoke.

“Naruto…. Are you ready to leave?” The voice was flat, but it was Itachi’s. 

Relief flooded the boy’s features. “Yes,” he gulped. “Yes.”

“Good.” 

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Author’s note: Longer preview of Chapter 29, including the bit from the preview of Chapter 28 that didn’t make it in that chapter. My goal is to get a chapter a month post. So expect the rest in a few days!

Chapter 29 – The Stolen Child, Part 2

The days and weeks before the full moon were some of the longest in his young life. But eventually they all trickled away. The night of the full moon Naruto sat in the shadow of the tree, scanning the courtyard for any sign. His stomach still ached, but this time it was from excitement.

The yard was bright blue with moonlight. No one ever came out for him, and save for a single black bird that alighted in the tree for a moment, he never saw another living thing. He sat for hours in the darkness. Plenty long enough for doubt to creep in.

What if this ninja lied? What if he didn’t come? What if he forgot about him too, just like all the rest?

His nervousness took a sharp edge. And the longer he sat, hoping and worrying, the worse it got. After what felt like hours more, trapped in the hell of not knowing, a thin breeze ruffled his bangs.

Naruto cocked his head, thinking he’d heard a rustle of movement, but it was just the wind moving through the leaves above him.

Dejected, he plunked his elbows on his knees and dropped his chin down into his hands. Maybe it was all just a big, horrible joke—

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Chapter 28 – The Stolen Child, Part 1

Author’s notes

Another two part chapter again. Sorry, but I wanted to post something sooner rather than later, and this is a good break. And yes, this is all happening with Katsuro’s dream. The flashbacks, the dreams-within-a-dream and the occasional change of pov. It’s a flashback chapter wrapped in a dream, we all know it. I just gave up trying to make it be all misty and dreamlike. Next chapter will focus on Katsuro’s life on the run with Itachi.

Gorgeous art by anonaruto!! Check out her beautiful pictures of Naruto from a scene in Chapter 26. He’s lovely and serious and looks just how I’d imagine him to be!

Omitted scene alert — I took out a scene from this chapter because it was fully from Itachi’s pov. See a few posts below

Thanks so much to everyone’s reviews! I can’t tell you how much they mean to me! I wish I’d been able to reply to each one personally, but I just couldn’t this chapter. So please know that I so appreciate each and every one of them. It’s been a hectic fall, and in the middle of it I took a break for National Novel Writing Month in November. So I wrote 1600 words a day, everyday, to end the month with a 50,000+ word novel! And I made it! Yay! The down-side (or upside if you like to read) is that my only progress on the fanfic was to write little scenes here and there but never really finishing. This pushed my ff word-count higher, which is what led me to break it in two. I’m really trying to write more succinctly, and unfortunately with this chapter I did the opposite! Oh well, it just means there’s more to read. Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Chapter notes

Hope this chapter wasn’t too hopeless. I wanted it to feel authentic, like you really wanted Naruto to leave. Not just that he half-heartedly did. But I intentionally kept the pain themes to a minimum: no abuse, just neglect, but which I think can be just as heartbreaking. Anyway, the tone picks up and I hope it ended on a good note. Next chapter he truly becomes Katsuro and learns much more about the kyuubi.

• “The Stolen Child” — references W.B. Yeats poem of the same name. It is a lovely, gripping poem about fairies who enchant a young boy to “come away” with them, promising all the delights that only a boy could want. The twist is the boy won’t know until its far too late that he cannot return to the life he once knew. It is so beautiful and perfect to think of Itachi enticing young Naruto to “come away” with the promise of a life of adventure. See accompanying analysis for more.

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