Bygone

Part 8 • Storm

It's been about a week and a half since they've entered the Village Hidden in the Clouds. Sakura has worked out a schedule for them to follow until they can finally leave. She doesn't like the thought of staying in one place for more than a month and they still need to plan out their escape. That leaves just about two weeks for them to find the archives and sneak in.

Hidan has been the one to look and scout around, Sakura doesn't trust him not to blow their cover as merchants. Him being temporarily mute is just a small consolation though she sighs at the thought of needing to eventually return his voice. It's been such a peaceful week (not counting her nightmares and stupid civilians thinking they know better and the damn Shinobi looking down at her since she's 'civilian' — bastards, the lot of them, she snarls in disgust).

The two of them work at the vendor together for the first half of the day. Sakura would take this opportunity to teach Hidan how to play civilian, educating him on the ways of merchants and why it's useful to know. It's the perfect time since she'll be teaching her "younger sibling" as she should. After that she'll let Hidan go "explore", feigning exasperation to her fellow merchants' amusement.

They regroup at the end of the day at the inn where Hidan reports on what he found and Sakura slips her knowledge to him as she plans. She's still very hesitant in telling him anything but as if she'd have someone so incompetent tagging along. She made her decision the day she asked him that blasted question and he agreed.

Sighing, Sakura brings her hand to massage her pounding headache. The guards' rotation is different from Konoha's and taken much more seriously. It only makes her grimace at the comparison between her village and another's. She knew Konoha had gotten lax years after the Kyuubi Attack but to have it laid out in front of her is...discouraging (she held so much pride for her village once - it's hard to remember when that stopped and started).

She tries to look at things in a positive light, tries to tell herself that it'll only help her later on. It doesn't help.

She's currently sitting in the Inn they're staying at. Hidan was out exploring, getting a better idea of how Kumo was structured. She had been forced to tell him about the explosives and what they would do with them ever since he almost lit one up. He had looked so excited that he didn't once complain about staying out later to look for spots to plant them.

She shuffles the numerous papers in front of her around, rearranging them to help her think of a plan. The papers detail the guards' rotation and the description of each guard. She had used the descriptions to see if she could spot any of them off duty. She only ever saw one or two, the merchant lane is placed far away from the buildings of great importance - the buildings she needs to get into.

They couldn't afford to be bold and storm the place. It wouldn't do to have a bounty on their heads — at least not a larger one then what they surely already have from Yugakure. The goal is to stay inconspicuous afterall.

Glancing back at the papers, Sakura silently snarls. She would have to be the one to sneak in, which would mean leaving Hidan alone. And an unsupervised Hidan is a call for things to go wrong. But she doesn't trust him not to do something stupid. He was good but not that good or great.

A loud knock disrupts her thoughts, head snapping up and body tensing. It isn't until she hears Hidan's impatient foot taps that she relaxes minutely. Getting up, she stretches, putting away the papers somewhere secure.

When she opens the door, Hidan is grinning widely and openly, his mask pulled down. He opens his mouth to speak but no sound comes out - she smirks as he glares. Instead of speaking, he thrusts a pile of papers in her face.

She takes them, stepping back so he could enter. She shuffles through them, closing the door as Hidan collapses in his bed, looking all too smug. The more she reads the more furrowed her brows become and the more her frown dips.

"Tch," she clicks her tongue in annoyance, throwing the papers down on the only desk in the room.

Hidan laughs silently to her right.

The new information throws a kunai into her plans. She'll have to start over. Rethink their cover and path of escape. Rethink breaking into the archives. She'll need to gather more information before she can do anything.

Sakura growls quietly, she blames the bad luck that comes with being placed on Team Seven. Because of course the pair of civilians they're masquerading as are in leagues with some rogue terrorist group.

Damnit!

. I .

The days are getting colder. The winds pick up faster. The sun is hardly seen through the clouds anymore. People talk, concerned and agitated murmurs passing through the streets. A storm is coming, they say.

Shops close earlier, vendors leave out only the essential, packing away their things. People stay inside longer, the streets slowly get emptier as the days pass and the threat of a storm rises.

The empty streets don't help or favor secret meetings in shady areas. Especially when you're technically an enemy to the village and getting caught is the last thing on the list. But keeping up your end of a deal is also very important.

Overall, Sakura has a headache. After finding out that the civilians they're disguised as are part of a terrorist group, Sakura and Hidan needed to recon. Sakura reluctantly let Hidan meet with the terrorists since he was temporarily mute and couldn't give anything away. He was also much more excited at the thought of being a terrorist than she was.

She's looking to find a certain terrorist. Not become one.

She curses her luck for the tenth time that morning. Snarling under her scarf as she passes by hurrying civilians. It's been less than a week since the revelation but she already has several plans in mind. She just needs the cooperation of a terrorist group that calls themselves "The Saku Kisetsu" or "The Blooming Season".

She's read about them before, briefly. And what she remembers doesn't dwell well for her. It makes her plans complicated and betting on luck. They were a small group, slowly growing. They terrorized small towns, slowly moving up. The Five Hidden Villages didn't concern themselves with such a group since the war was still somewhat fresh.

But then the group tried their hand at one of the Big Five. It didn't end well for them. Meaning it's not going to end well for her or Hidan.

Seven is a lucky number my ass, Sakura thinks viciously as she trips into an alley. Quickly scanning her surroundings, she pulls her coat closer, blonde hair billowing in the harsh wind.

A hand reaches out and grabs her by the elbow, but she doesn't move. Turning, she raises a brow at the offender. He quickly assesses her before letting go of her elbow. He smiles, showing off white and gold teeth.

"Naomi-chan," he rasps, the wind making it difficult to hear. "So glad you could finally join us."

She smiles placating at him, not saying anything. He chuckles, turning to walk deeper into the alley. His hands rest in his pockets, he'd shoulders are relaxed, his back is turned. All in all, he doesn't suspect anything.

"You always were the serious sibling in the duo," the man comments, glancing back briefly. "I see you've been teaching Kouji too. His acting has really improved since I last saw him."

Her eyes narrow at his back slightly at the comment but she doesn't speak. She lets him carry the conversation while leading the way to the meeting point. Hidan was currently back at the inn, watching over their supplies. She doesn't trust these people not to turn on them should they suspect anything.

"Ah but that's fine. This is a pretty big project, bigger than what you Sato Siblings usually deal with," he says, waving a hand in nonchalance.

"Careful Reiki-san, or I might just think you're insinuating something with that comment," she cuts in sharply, voice cold and clear.

He looks back, slowing his pace. His brown eyes are hard and searching but she stares back blankly. He hums, a smile that doesn't reach his eyes spreads across his features.

"So serious," he laughs, stopping in front of a door hidden behind various crates. "You know I'm only joking, right Naomi-chan?" He quickly moves the crates out of the way, smiling at her over his shoulder.

"Yes, I know," she answers, pushing past him to enter. "It's why your wife left you after all. Who could forget?"

He sneers at her back, glaring the entire time he moves to close the door. She doesn't pay him any mind, taking in the small and dimly lit room. There's a table in the middle of the room, taking up most of the space. Other than her and Reiki, there are five other occupants in the room.

All male too, Sakura notes as she moves to lean against the wall, no wonder Naomi is so serious. Civilians look down on their females more than Shinobi do. And that's just because they don't have the means to get away with murder.

It's another half hour before someone speaks up. Sakura eyes them carefully, taking in the relaxed stance and tense muscles. Everyone is so...civilian that it disgusts her to be around them. She may be civilian-born, but she never played well with other civilians. She most definitely does not enjoy playing civilian.

"I would first like to thank you all for being able to make it today," the man intones, voice rough. Sakura half heartedly guesses that he must be a regular smoker, refraining from rolling her eyes. Civilians never get straight to the point, it's annoying.

The next ten minutes is filled with fake pleasantries, subtle insults, and arrogance. It's enough to make her wish that she brought along Hidan just to see him get ready to kill the other occupants.

How morbid, she realizes, unsure how to feel about her thoughts. She doesn't regret it, doesn't feel any remorse. As a Doctor she can tell that's a bad thing, but as a Shinobi she thinks that it was expected. She feels little shame for her thoughts and that makes her uncomfortable as she realizes she's somewhat co-operating with a terrorist group that basically wants to enact a massacre through explosions.

Sakura decides to store the realization for a later date. Getting cold feet when she's this deep in her self appointed mission is the last thing she needs right now.

"Now, I believe we can get started, yes?" The man asks, smiling and hands spread out in front of him in a welcoming gesture.

Sakura is quiet throughout the planning, speaking up when spoken too and when she can shift things into her favor. For civilians, their plan isn't too shabby. She could think of something much better on her own but she isn't here to change history too drastically.

"- and Naomi-chan will be the one providing the explosives of course," the leader finishes casually.

"She and her brother will be responsible for their placement? Are you sure we can trust them with that?" Another man asks dubiously, not bothering to hide the doubtful and condescending expression when he turns to her.

She offers a fake smile, "Who's to say you can be trusted to keep your trap shut, Hibiki-san? From what I hear, you, and you alone, were entrusted with a simple but important task that got thoroughly busted. Which should have been impossible with the clear cut instructions and contingency plans. Hm?" She tilts her head innocently, pulling her brows together in mock confusion.

He growls, flushing red in anger. "You don't know what the fuck you're talking about bitch," he spits.

Finally leaning off the way, she steps forward. Eyebrow raised, she asks mockingly, "Then please do enlighten me on how you so royally fucked up."

Hibiki steps forward, fists raised to throw the first punch. The man next to him quickly steps in and pulls him back, muttering quickly and harshly for him to calm down. The leader pins her a dark look across the room.

"Are we done here? I have other things to do than babysit," she asks, already walking away. She ignores their offended shouts and protests as she steps out of the meeting point. She looks up to the sky, grey eyes narrowed. It's colder now, and the clouds are darker.

The storm approaches quickly it would seem. How bothersome, she thinks while briskly walking down the alleyway.

. II .

The next few days were spent drilling civilian etiquette into Hidan, then merchant etiquette. She taught him the basics of bargaining and how to get others to pay more than what is really necessary. She taught him what to look for when someone is trying to con him. Then she sternly lectured him about being polite through it all, threatening bodily harm if he so much as thought of fucking up (she might have also added the incentive of killing the terroists - they're a damn pain in her ass).

Then she returned his voice to him. She was subjected to hours of listening to him curse and whine in his obnoxious teen voice. She was tempted to take his voice away again but forced herself to sit still as he talked as much as he could in the first hours of having his voice back.

The loud noise grated on her nerves and senses. But if she was going to get reacquainted with the peace times, then she would need to get used to loud and annoying noises again. Especially if she planned on going through her shaky, half baked, long term plan.

The following week consisted of leaving Hidan to cover their vendor in the market as she 'explored'. She complained often enough to her fellow merchants of wanting to see the sights that they would buy her excuse. They even offered to watch out for her 'brother'. She thanked them but didn't take them up on the offer.

She isn't stupid. Her parents were merchants for Kami's sake. Where else would she have learned what it took to be a merchant? She knew a sabotage of business when she saw one.

During the night when they regrouped in their hotel room, Sakura diligently listened to Hidan as he explained what happened while she was gone. She offered pointers and carefully explained subjects they didn't have enough time to cover. Then she would report her own findings, quietly explaining her own thoughts. She never said anything outright, instead she left him to make inquiries and assumptions — offering small tips on how to make his ideas better.

It was...fun. And she uses the word very lightly. She's been in war for years after all. But teaching was...nice. Sakura knows perfectly well what she's doing, she grew up with a Yamanaka as her best friend. She's also talked with several shinobi therapists. By becoming a teacher of sorts, she isn't in battle. Becoming a academy teacher is mostly being told to by your therapist after all.

( Unless you were Iruka-sensei.

He loved to teach, to see the next generation grow. Loved to be the one that helped them on their journey to being great. Loved to be able to give children the means to protect themselves.

And look where that got him.

It was a genjutsu. The explosions pre-placed.

It was just a matter of leading him away from the children.

But his love for children wasn't to be underestimated.

Several were injured but only one died that day.

Body identified by the scar across the nose.

Year 3. Month 2. Day 5.

Page 5. Row 11. Number 42. )

Sighing heavily, Sakura glances out the window of their hotel room. The clouds are much darker and the wind looks to be stronger. Not many people were out, preferring to stay inside since it looked like the storm would begin today. It was surprisingly (suspiciously) perfect for the events that were about to occur.

She turns away from the window at the sound of a door opening. Hidan steps out of the bathroom, dressed in all black, shinobi appropriate attire. Quickly looking him over, she nods before turning to grab her packed bag. She's already changed in her own black attire, a mask hanging from her neck ready to be pulled over her mouth and nose. Hidan has his own mask in red since he complained.

Turning back to face him, she raises a brow as he swings his bag around his shoulder. "Ready?"

He grins.

. III .

They had planned their own escape routes the moment they received what the plan was and how it would work. Despite detesting the attention it would attract, the attack would be the best time for them to make their getaway. Being seen as blonde would also divert attention from their actual appearance.

Hanging upside down in a small corner facing the window, under a subtle genjutsu, of the Kage Tower, Sakura can't help but reevaluate her life choices as she watches several shinobi pass below her. Were the day any brighter and clear than its current gloomy rain, light from the window would be hitting the exact corner she and Hidan hang from.

Only the darkest of corners are for the ANBU afterall. They occasionally hide in the light corners as well but from what she's heard and experienced, it's a bit too tedious and grates on a shinobi's paranoia of being caught. There was also something about keeping up a certain reputation and image but Sakura mostly ignored those sorts of whispers when she worked under Tsunade.

Keeping a steady hold of her breathing and heart rate, she slowly tilts her head, eyes flickering about. With her hand on his shoulder she can feel Hidan's slight shift of movement in acknowledgement and preparation.

Their own plans have to line up with the terrorist group's plan. They don't have much time, needing to avoid the explosions and evacuation protocol that will no doubt be implemented as well as the search for the perpetrators. It would not do getting caught after so long. So long as they time it correctly…

The guard turns boredly to look down the hall, waiting for their replacement. Sakura drops down behind him, medical chakra already gathered in her hand to effectively knock him out. Striking him in the head, she catches the man and quickly sets him down just as Hidan falls to stand beside her quietly.

Turning towards the door, she hovers her hand above the door knob, staring outside the window and through the pouring rain. Hidan shifts to be back to back with her, a stolen naginata in hand. Senses spread out, she can feel the replacement guard walking up the stairs.

Five meter, four, three, two meters, Sakura tracks eyes narrowed intently out the window. Around the corner.

A loud explosion sounds out and Sakura quickly breaks down the door, the sound of wood splintering is drowned out in the sound of explosions. The guard around the corner is quick to turn heel and move in the opposite direction.

With a flick of her wrist, Sakura signals for Hidan to stand guard as she makes her way inside the room. She isn't stupid enough to believe that the room doesn't have some form of sealing protection and detection - this is Kumo for kami's sake. They have two jinchuriki!

Her eyes flicker around, taking in the subtle label system. Quickly deducing the organization system, she moves towards the first shelf. Why put active and loyal shinobi records first when they could put their missing-nin's info first?

Sakura flicks through the records, checking the most recent first. Using her photographic memory to her advantage, she quickly takes in as much information as she can.

"Oi, bitch," Hidan calls out quietly. She grunts in acknowledgement, already guessing what he would say. She instructed him to only call out if there were enemies or if the fifth explosion had already gone off. Since it's been less than half an hour since they broke in, she can only guess it's the latter rather than the former — the explosions were set to go off in quick succession.

Carefully placing everything back to say it was, she quickly makes her way over the broken door. Glancing down at the unconscious guard, she feels a small pang of pity but nothing more.

"Let's go," she murmurs.

She wedges the window open rather than breaking it, not wishing to catch attention when being so close to the Kage and his ANBU. She drops down first, Hidan quickly following. Sticking to the shadows, she avoids any and all chakra signatures she can feel, twisting her own chakra deeper inside her.

The displacement of rain hitting her instead of the floor makes her tense as she tries her best to keep both of them out of the rain and out of sight. At the very least, the rain washes away their scent and will muddle their chakra signature enough to be useless if they leave any behind in their haste.

With the Kage Tower being in the middle of the Village, it isn't long until she can see the village walls. And with it, the shinobi that guard it. Including jinchuriki.

"Fuck."

Sakura's not sure if it was her or Hidan who said it. But she nods and grimaces in agreement either way.

. IV .

The weather was slightly cooler now that it wasn't the summer. Umino Iruka couldn't be more happy with the warm temperature and cool breeze as he overlooks the day's sparring matches.

It's been close to eight months since his pink-haired female student's disappearance and funeral. It pains him that a child so bright was snuffed out so young. She would have been a promising kunoichi in the Intelligence and Logistics departments.

It was difficult to continue classes but he was shinobi and he had a duty to prepare the next generation. As it is, the newest addition to his class seems promising if a little too serious and emotionally stunted. The last Uchiha looks like a normal child in comparison.

Being only a chunin, he doesn't know the exact details of Sai's enrollment. The Hokage only gave him warnings and asked that the boy be watched out for. It's suspicious but isn't his place to question. Overall, he doesn't pose much of a threat to his students other than tactless insults.

He was a little worried when Naruto began pestering the boy but from what he can tell, Naruto's only looking for a training buddy. Another thing that's changed since Sakura's funeral. Naruto's been very keen on getting stronger and has been training more. Iruka is both relieved and despaired because it only means that the pranks are getting harder to spot in time.

Sighing, Iruka calls for the next match. Hyūga Hinata and Yamanaka Ino. If this was a match called several months ago, he would say that Hinata would win the match. Now, however, he can't say. Ino was hit hard with Sakura's disappearance and has taken to training much more seriously after grieving.

Briefly glancing away from the match, he eyes the gaggle of girls around Sasuke. If only the other girls would have the same change of heart and lifestyle. Some have, but not nearly enough to make a difference.

At least he can say with full confidence that the clan heirs will be quite a force when they get older. The notion of the disappearance of one of their own children really didn't sit well with the clan heads. Thus more training has been scheduled for them from what he can see and has heard.

Looking back to the match, he holds back a sigh. Many civilian families wanted to pull their child out and some have. Thankfully things have calmed down since then.

"Hinata wins!" He announces, observing the way the Hyūga holds the other girl down. Ino lasted much longer than last time, she's really improving.

Hopefully, he thinks as he calls for the next match, peace can last a little while longer.

. V .

Wow it's been so long. Sorry everyone! Motivation / Inspiration has been on the down low for this story but now that I've got this chapter done, I can hopefully write some more.