Unbroken Words: Part Twelve

“Come on Shino, Hinata I smell him up here.” Team 8 was flying through the forest. Naruto never returned after the retreat and Tsunade sent them to find him as soon as possible. Some were afraid that he left again so she sent them thinking that they could redeem themselves from the last failure. With a final burst of speed they emerged from the woods and into the clearing before them or what was left of it anyway. Team 8 was amazed at the battlefield before them. The grass was practically stained red with blood and the land around them was drastically decreased.

“Is that?”

“Yeah. It’s Sasuke Kiba.” They approached him only to come to the conclusion that he was out cold.

“I don’t see Naruto-kun anywhere.”

“Akamaru can you find him?” They split up and searched the remains of the battle scarred outskirts. The trails on the other side of the clearing were empty along with the riverbanks. All possible ways of escape were free of Naruto.

“Kiba, Hinata we should return with Sasuke and tell them exactly what we saw. We need to send out a bigger search party. His blood trail ended at the river so the result could be disastrous if we do not hurry.” Even against their wishes, Kiba and Hinata reluctantly grabbed Sasuke and left.

---------------------------------------------------------------

“Hokage-sama Team 8 has returned.”

“Good send them up for a mission report.”

“I’m afraid they can’t do that.”

“WHY not?”

“They must sign forms for the prisoner.”

“What are you insinuating? Naruto is no longer-”

“It’s not Naruto. It’s Sasuke Uchiha.” With that Tsunade left the office in a huff.

‘Why did that traitor come back?’

-----------------------------------------------------------------

When she finally arrived at the administrative building, Tsunade saw all of the members of Team 8 awaiting her arrival. “Tsunade-sama you came.”

“Where is Naruto?” They could tell that she wasn’t going to take the news lightly. None spoke at first so Shino stepped up for the group.

“We arrived in the Valley of the End only to find Sasuke. Naruto’s blood trail ended at the river. All route were free of his scent. He was mortally wounded judging from the amount of blood we found. The only way to have escaped is by the river. That is all.” Shino bowed and sat back down on the bench.”

“So close again, huh?”

“You should dispatch a larger search team. He could die with the strength of the current now.”

“Now?”

“The landscape was decimated and the river’s boundaries have been increased.”

“Your right but I can’t after suffering an attack like that.” Tsunade was going insane by just the thought of him being dead. After just seeing him alive and breathing a few hours earlier.

“We may just have to wait it out Tsunade-sama.”

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Its been two weeks since the Rain’s attack on Konoha. All of the villagers have returned and began repairing the damage done to the village. No one has seen Sakura. After Ino gave Sakura the news about what happened to Naruto, she locked herself in her apartment. He wasn’t the only reason why. Sasuke was a prisoner of war to Konoha and the only one that knew what happened. To make things worse, he refused to talk to anyone but Sakura. How he loved his mind games. That’s why it shocked everyone when Sakura arrived in Tsunade’s office.

“Sakura? What do you need?”

“I’ve come to request a meeting with Sasuke Uchiha.”

“W-what?” Sakura’s expression was emotionless and still. It was as if the life had been drained from every fiber of her body.

“Everyone deserves to know what happened and I’m tired of playing games.”

“I’ll have Shikamaru escort you there. He is leading the investigation.” Without giving the answer a second thought she left and began her way to the housing facility.

“This way Haruno-san.” The guard led her down a set of twisting, interlocking and dead end hallways. The final set of doors that they came to had mazes of highly complex seals plastered across them. When the doors opened they revealed Sasuke. He was sitting in the center of a seal drawn in the floor along with the seals that encased most of his body and it’s surroundings.

“Ah, Sakura its been awhile hasn’t it?” Sasuke’s slight smirk never left his lips.

“Where is he?”

“May I ask whom?”

“Don’t give me that shit. Where is Naruto?!”

“Not with us I can tell you that much. No one has ever survived Kirin. Its impossible to escape natural lightning.” Sakura giggled at his response. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. Just the fact that you have no idea what happened but you that having information could save you. You are pathetic Sasuke.” He couldn’t believe it, Sakura (a former fan girl) was willing to kill him for Naruto. Naruto of all people. Shikamaru arrived just in time to see Sakura leaving the facility. She kept walking past him, not even acknowledging him until he spoke.

“So what’s up?”

“He never knew anything.”

“Sigh. How troublesome.” She couldn’t believe that the one link to Naruto’s location was worthless and it was Sasuke at that. When she finally got back to her apartment, after telling Shikamaru about the lack of information, she saw that she had received a notice. Sakura opened it and was saddened at its title. All shinobi and villagers alike received the same pamphlet. It contained the names of the people lost or missing from the battle with Rain. At least Sakura was glad that Tsunade hadn’t given up. It was more like the Hokage was in denial, but no matter. She refused to have Naruto listed under the fatalities. The stars were like pinholes in the night sky allowing small shimmers of hope to shine through its black abyss. All she could do was watch and hope that she could find him. “Naruto where are you?”