literature

Unbroken Words: Part Three

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When Ino entered her office she couldn’t believe what she saw. Tsunade had her back to the door and at least three (visible) empty bottles of sake. She slowly turned the chair to face Ino. Tsunade was visibly distraught and she appeared to be frustrated. Ino carefully walked forward trying not to get on Tsunade’s bad side before she could even tell her what happened.

“What. hic. do y-you. hic. want, hmm?”

Ino rushed to the desk and set the note in front of her and, just as quickly, returned to her position about three feet in front of the unstable Hokage. Tsunade’s eyes widened with shock just as Sakura’s had earlier that afternoon. Her response was hushed but, Ino could still hear her sadness.

“Where did you find it?” Ino instantly looked to the ground.

“I didn’t…Sakura did.”

“Where is she now?” The question was rushed out in one breath, showing the urgency of a favorable answer. Ino was stricken with fear at the tone that the Hokage was using with her.

“A-at her apartment but I don’t-” quickly her sentence was interrupted by a simple yet angered command. “Bring her here.” Seconds ticked by and when Tsunade didn’t hear footsteps nor the closing door it caused her to erupt; spilling over all of her withheld emotions.

“That means NOW if you didn’t understand it the first time.”

Ino was prepared to stand her ground but after hearing the sharp words hissed from between gritted teeth she felt it was better to oblige. Ino, like most, valued her life and wouldn’t want to meet a painful demise at the hands of Tsunade. Needless to say, Ino bolted from the office within seconds of the tirade. All she could do next was nervously knock on Sakura’s door. No answer came, even though it didn’t surprise Ino. She lifted the mat in front of the door and searched for the spare key. Ino was shocked that it wasn’t there.

‘Where could she have put that damn key?’ thought Ino as she was now frantic to get into the single apartment room.

“He moved it.” The emphasized word ‘he’ brought the blonde a heart wrenching pain. She turned to see Sakura standing behind her, head down staring at the earth beneath her feet. Staring like it had just been placed there and it was a startling revelation to her. Slowly she passed her friend and extended her arm straight up in front of the door. When it was brought back down from the doorframe a small bronze key was at hand.

“You must have come here for a reason no?” Sakura strode inside and collapsed on the bed, leaving the door open as an obvious invitation to come in. However Ino never entered.

“Tsunade-sama wants to see you immediately.”

Sakura just shot Ino a lifeless glare, her body still in a heap on the bed. “I’ll get around to it.”

“But Sakura it involves-”

“I know exactly who it involves!” Sakura was finally sitting upright, tears welling up once again in her eyes. Ino rushed in, clearly enraged by Sakura’s actions, and grabbed her wrist dragging her out the door. She slammed the door shut while she gave the pink haired kunoichi a piece of her mind.

“Get a grip Sakura he’s gone but not dead. If you want him back then cooperate. Otherwise get the hell out of our way and go back to sulking!”

Ino knocked on the door once then shoved Sakura into the silent office, slamming the door closed.

“Is it true Sakura? Is he really gone and where did you find something like this?” Tsunade held the note up so it was in Sakura’s line of vision.

“His apartment…was there…empty.” The broken answer was barely above a whisper.

“Was he acting strange at all?”

“No.”

“Any ideas where he might be headed?”

“Sorry.” Slowly but surely Sakura was regaining her composure.

“You are dismissed. I’ll inform you if anything comes up. Till then get rest.”

“Of course.” With the short yet difficult conversation behind her, Sakura came to grip with reality and left the room.

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Two years had passed since Naruto’s departure. Even though the council wanted Naruto gone, they seemed to be tense and on edge about the predicament. They have actually approved and pushed forward with Tsunade’s investigation.

“We need to find that boy quickly, Tsunade-hime.”

“Oh what’s this a change of heart? If I recall correctly weren’t you two pushing for him to leave not too long ago.”

“Now is not the time to be reminiscing. We want to keep an eye on him. He’s still a target.”

“I’m doing the best I can. If the boy doesn’t want to be found then he won’t.”

“Just continue with your duties.” Koharu and Homaru left the room just as arrogantly as they had entered it.

“Humph. Old fools, think I’m going to bend over backwards at their every whim.”

“How is the investigation going anyway, Tsunade-sama?” questioned Shizune as she prepared a cup of tea.

“It’s going no where fast.” Tsunade assumed her normal thinking pose or maybe she picked it up when she was in too deep with lenders. The groove of her thumbnail pressed between her teeth. She was leaning back in her chair looking out at Konoha. Her eye visibly twitched at the knocking that came from the door.

Quickly Tsunade spun around and ordered her visitor in. Shock overcame her when the man quietly entered the room and stood before her.

“You found something! Finally.”

The man before her wore the traditional ANBU uniform. His mask was that of a bird. Its pale green stripes curving around the small beak.

“I talked with a merchant outside of Tanzaku. He reported seeing him heading off to the east.” His voice was monotone yet had a clearly defiant ring to it.

“Where exactly is he headed?”

“The merchant said that he mentioned visiting an old bridge builder. Perhaps a former client?”

Tsunade sat back once again and smirked at the new information that had surfaced. “Thank you for your report. Rest up for awhile before heading back out. Till then you are dismissed, Neji.” Neji bowed his head and left the office.

“Shizune I need you to get Naruto’s mission logs. We need to find out where he’s headed.”

“There is no need to do that.” The Hokage and her assistant both turned to the far corner of the room. Sitting on the window sill with her feet dangling into the office was their visitor, or rather, eavesdropper.

“Oh really why is that Sakura?”

“I already know where he’s going. What would be the point in wasting time?” She jumped down from her place and approached the desk with a scroll at hand. Quickly Sakura opened and placed it on an empty space.

“I know what the shinobi world looks like. I’ve traveled it countless times. So where?”

“Here.” Sakura anxiously pointed to the Land of Waves. “Tazuna was the master bridge builder that Team 7 escorted on our first C-class mission.”

“Shizune.”

“Yes.”

“Call Hinata, Kiba and Shino.” Shizune dashed out of the room to prepare the summons.

“Thank you for your help Sakura. You can return to the hospital now.”

“W-what? Why?”

“Those three can handle the situation. You are needed here more.” Sakura was obviously enraged, even Naruto would be able to recognize that.

“What would Naruto tell you to do?” The anger disappeared from her face and left a grim expression behind. “I understand.” were the young kunoichi's departing words. All Tsunade could do was shake her head and reach for her hidden bottle of sake. "Sorry but its for your own good."

"You know the mission right?"

"Yep don't need to tell me twice Shino."

"R-right we need t-to find N-naruto-kun." With that the three departed for the Wave country in search of Konoha's missing, knuckleheaded ninja.
Chapter 3. Just for kicks but has anyone heard the theme for the Naruto Shippuuden Movie: Bonds; No Rain, No Rainbow by Home Made Kazoku. Love it :love: ! You can get it here [link] (just incase the link doesn't work its gendou.com) Gotta love free anime theme downloads. Oh yeah Please comment :)
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