Hibara Fujisaki: Not going to confirm or deny if he's going back or not.
Faery66: And you will
Guest: Because he doesn't need to. Konoha has little value to him, and holds bad memories. He simply doesn't want to.
mr. Suite and tie, Bomb, Biotek and so many others: Here you go have more.
The Sith'ari: I'm not telling
Jebest4781: Sorry going to have to wait a bit longer
Stratos263: Yeah a lot did.
Well people this is it. The final Chapter for Satsuki for real this time. I was working on Nero's arc, but then I looked back on this and I thought I should expand on this just a little more. I promise this is the last one for her.
Chapter 13: Tired
(Play: Fate/Zero Ost Grief)
It had been a few hours since the Uchiha Clan's attempted Coup d'état, and right now she was in the Hokage's Office with Tsunade and an old man. People were beginning to repair the damages now that the fighting was done, and if she heard right Konoha was trying to keep a strong front as they repaired Konoha. A majority of their remaining forces were cleaning up the damages around the village and gathering the dead as well, while others continued to do missions in order to help raise money and prevent the other villages from getting any ideas.
"Been one hell of a day," Tsunade said. She was covered in blood and patches of dirt, but unharmed for the most part, with only small scratches and bruises that showed she had been injured.
"Yeah," she agreed.
"Who's he?" she questioned, gesturing to the old man at the end of room. Tsunade glared at the old man who didn't show any sign that he acknowledged the glare. He just accepted it and rolled his one good eye.
"Satsuki this is Danzo Shimura," Tsunade said grumpily.
"Sir," She said politely. She never met Danzo. She had heard of him, and none of it was good. He might've had the appearance of frail, old man with bandages that covered his right arm and eye, but she knew better. It had been drilled into her for years to never underestimate anyone in a ninja village. Just because he looked like a man who should have died the mere fact that he took an injury to the eye and lived was enough proof that he wasn't some run of the mill man. Even if he didn't show any signs that he was injured she would be cautious around him. He had this presence and bearing that caused the hair on the back of her neck to stand up and be alert.
"Thank you Ms. Uchiha for the respect that you show me," Danzo said as he stepped forward and nodded at her in acknowledgement. Danzo continued solemnly, but sympathetically. "I understand that you've been through quite the ordeal."
'You don't know the half of it,' Satsuki thought scornfully.
"But I must thank you for siding with the village over your family. Not many would make the same decision that you did, and because of your choice you have my respect," Danzo finished and bowed to her in respect.
"Thank you, sir," Satsuki said. She noticed Tsunade gaping at them for some reason, but quickly managed to compose herself. "Is something wrong?"
"No it's just…that I was surprised," Tsunade started.
"By what?" Danzo questioned.
"…By your actions Danzo," Tsunade muttered.
"I can be sympathetic," Danzo deadpanned. "Especially to people that have earned my respect. Remember Satsuki. Self-sacrifice, that's what epitomizes a shinobi. Never seeing the light of day, toiling in the shadows. That is the way of a true shinobi. Countless shinobi have died the same way. This world cannot function on ideals and pleasantries alone. It's thanks to people like you that peace has been maintained."
Satsuki didn't respond. She didn't know what to say. A part of her wanted to lash out and hit him, but another part just wanted to listen to him.
"I've decided that for now you'll be a Special Genin. I know you're above that, anyone that saw you earlier knows that, but before you become a Chunin it would be best if you got a few missions under your belt, and learn how to work as a team first."
"I understand," she answered. She should've been glad that she became a Genin, but she felt hollow. No sense of pride or accomplishment.
"For now get some rest. You've earned it after what happened today, Satsuki," Tsunade said softly. She took her hand off her shoulder
"The Hokage is right. You deserve a rest after these recent events. You've taken a path that many have walked before, but not many have taken as many steps as you have at just the start of it, and many of them have been broken by less. The fact that you stand before us now shows that you're one of the special ones. I'll be keeping an eye on you, and I cannot wait to hear your accomplishments," Danzo said.
"Thank you," she replied, and left the office and made her way down the stairs.
She left the Hokage Tower and made her way back home. She saw people moving broke debris and pulling bodies out of the ruined buildings. If they were still alive then they would call for one of the Medic-Nin to check them over, and depending on how severe their injuries were heal them on the spot. If they were dead then they moved them over to one of the piles to be examined for identity, and buried later.
She walked past a pair of guards and heard them whisper. "Hey isn't that one of the Uchiha Clan?"
She looked at them out of the corner of her eye and saw that one of them was glaring at her and the other was looking at her suspiciously, almost as if he expected her to pull out a kunai and go on a killing spree. She couldn't help but look around after seeing them and realized that the people were all looking at her, and no matter where she looked everyone was either glaring at her, or frowning at her. She could hear their whispers and knew that they were saying nothing good.
She inwardly sighed in resignation as she ignored the glares and whispers. Ever since the short lived 'Uchiha Rebellion' as people called it anyone that was associated with or was a member of the Uchiha Clan was treated , even if they weren't a part of the rebellion. As much as she wanted to glare back at them, tell them to shut up, and point out that she fought for them she could not do it.
She was too tired to do anything about it.
She kept her head held high and continued her journey home. She heard curses and hurtful things but ignored them. She sent out a pulse of chakra and felt Itachi's chakra. She made her toward it and saw him past one of the ruined restaurants, she saw Itachi destroy some rubble with a fire Jutsu and made her way toward him.
"Hey," she said tiredly. Itachi turned around and his face softened.
"Satsuki," he replied. "How are you holding up?"
He didn't need to ask. Her brother knew her well enough to know when she was in pain, but him asking her brought some small comfort.
"You already know," she answered.
"Yes, but I want to hear it from you," he said softly.
"As well can be expected. It's not gonna get any easier isn't it," Satsuki said. "The people are going to hate us for a long time aren't they?"
"…Yes, they will," Itachi said honestly. "It's going to get worse before things get better. We might've sided with the village, but we're still going to suffer because of our clans actions. We're just going to have to prove to them that we stand for the village, and help heal the wounds that have been made. Are you heading home?"
"I will but after we do that," she replied.
"…I understand," Itachi answered.
"Will mom be joining us?"
"No, she wants some time to herself," Itachi answered sadly.
"I understand," Satsuki answered tiredly. "I would prefer that she was there, but I understand."
"You go on ahead without me," Itachi said. "I still got a few more houses to check then I'll head over."
She walked past the streets of Konoha, and continued to ignore the glares and whispers of those she passed. When she finally arrived at the compound's gates she felt an immense wave of relief, happy that she no longer had to see and hear the people anymore.
She entered the compound and walked past many of the empty homes. The district itself wasn't touched in the fighting, but she knew that it wouldn't stay that way for long. Many people had lost loved ones because of her clan and she knew that they wanted to get revenge, no matter how small it was.
She walked the empty street past her home and made her towards the lake. Usually she would've felt at peace here, but it did nothing to help her. She walked past the dock and couldn't help but remember the time she had done the Fireball Jutsu in front of her father.
She made her way to the forest on the edge of the Uchiha compound and stopped in front of a tree marked with a circle. This was where they were supposed to meet. She sat down in front of tree and waited for him to arrive.
When he arrived Itachi pulled out a scroll and placed it on the ground and unsealed it, revealing a Storage Seal. He bit his finger and smeared his blood on the seal and in a puff of smoke a body the size of an adult's male wrapped up in a blanket appeared. She knew that the body was her father's. She was glad that the blanket covered his body.
It made it easier to keep his death out of her head, but despite her efforts it played out again in her head. She grabbed her head and closed her tightly as tears threatened to come out and hiss. She felt Itachi ruffle her hair and opened her eyes and saw a hole behind him. She was so wrapped up in what had happened that she never noticed Itachi make it in the first place.
"It's alright," Itachi said as he hugged her and pat her back. "Father may be gone, but mother and I are still here."
She didn't know how long he stood there and held her, but she relished in his touch. IT made things easier. She breathed in and out and was soon able to calm herself down. When she finally able to control herself he let go of her and helped her up.
She grabbed her father legs as Itachi grabbed his shoulders. They lifted his body and made their way to the hole. The hole was easily deep enough to fit their father inside, and they wouldn't have to worry about any animals digging it up. They softly placed his body inside the hole, and put the dirt back in the hole over his body.
When she was finished she placed a hand on the trunk of it. As much as they wanted to give him a proper grave and burial they both agreed that this was better. It wouldn't be long before people desecrated his grave, and did something to it or worse his body.
"Bye dad," she whispered. She took her hand off of the tree and made her way home. She felt Itachi's presence vanish, no doubt to go back to work.
Her journey was quiet thankfully and when she entered her house she wasn't surprised that her mother wasn't home. She knew that she would come back when she was ready. She went to her room and took off her kunai pouch and tanto and threw them onto the ground, and threw jumped into her bed.
She wished that Naruto was here to comfort her. He always knew how to cheer her up. Thinking about her best friend caused her to ball her hand in anger. That was one of the many turds on top of this horrible day. Said turd being that her best friend had faked his own death to get out of Konoha all those years ago, and left her here.
She remembered how he declared he would be the Hokage back when they were kids. She remembered that she declared she would be Hokage for him after his 'death'. Did that even matter anymore? She made his dream her own for him, because he 'died', but in reality he was alive. Did that mean he never cared about being Hokage? That he never cared about Konoha?
"Naruto," She muttered. "Did I even matter to you?"
Thus brings an end to Satsuki's arc, and we finally go back to Nero. I felt like this was a perfect place to expand. By the way I'm looking for a beta, to help my grammer and also to fix the previous chapters. Looking back they still had some good grammar at times, but they can be ALOT better, compared to what I do now.
Okay people I have a REALLY important question for you all. Would you prefer shorter chapter, over longer chapters. I'm thinking about trying t out and seeing where it goes, because I wanted to do a huge chapter as a comeback where Naruto/Nero and his band of misfits but I thought that you people wouldn't like that and wanted proof that this story is still alive.
It's not that I lacked the inspiration it's just been a horrible year with my real life requiring to step up for my younger brother and be there with what's going on at home, with our parents getting a divorce, and you can guess who are stuck in the middle of it all.
But now that things are finally starting to settle I should have more updates soon. Especially since I'm trying smaller chapters, for most of my stories.
Well because of the wait I'll give you guys a hint. Next time Nero and his party encounter the fires the hell.
Leave a review and let me know your thoughts.