Fiat justitia, ruatcaelum

The Truth in The Ashes

Sakura and Naruto stood in the dark side of twilight on the edge of their territory.
“Wear this.” Naruto passed her a fold of cloth, “The Grave Spawn can sense chakra use. You go out there in a henge and you’ll have a dozen on you before you get halfway to the gates.”
She accepted the pale blue article, setting down her borrowed messengers bag. The cloth fell open into a full length formal kimono. The pale blue was crossed by a white and teal wave pattern along the hem, a pastel lavender swirl with nine angular sides on the back.
“It’s beautiful…” Sakura shucked her vest and slipped into the kimono, the silk soft like warm water on her skin.
Naruto grinned, one hand going up behind his head, “It was just kind of lying around… Like I was ever going to wear it anyway, right?”
Sakura pulled the obi sash from where it had fallen to the ground, “Why would you have this anyway?”
Naruto flushed, “Uhh… Hehe… I was using it as a bathrobe, actually.”
“Well, thank you.” Sakura tugged the silk sash down tight, “I really do like it.”
Naruto’s eyes were mere squints as he chuckled sheepishly.
“I’d better get going. If anyone comes across me, they’ll want to know why I’m out so late.” Sakura looked up as she stuffed her vest in on top of the scrolls she had been lent. The bag wasn’t exactly ladylike… *To hell with the passerby anyway.*
Naruto approached her, his arms rising. He hesitated, one hand flexing into a fist as be brought in closer to himself. He clapped Sakura on the shoulder, “Good luck. And that bath really helped.” He grinned widely.
Sakura shook her head, chuckling as well. “Thanks, Naruto. I‘ll visit next time I‘ve got the anbu after me.” She slung the bag over her shoulder and set off wordlessly, her pace at best a hurried shuffle. The kimono was restrictive, but it would help her. Better than he could by her side.
Naruto waited until even his best eyes couldn’t pick her out of the gloom.
“That bath really helped… Good one, Casanova.”
*Do not berate yourself so, kit.” The kyuubi whispered in his skull, *The youngling truly appreciated your words.*
Naruto sighed, knowing the kyuubi knew how aggravated with himself he was.
*It was better you mock with her than try to prey on her ego, kit. Gaara has ruined that for you.*
Naruto turned it over in her head. “I suppose… She does seem to take a joke better than most…”
*She expects you to be light-hearted. But perhaps one day you can be honest with her. Yeh yeyeyeye, we both know how comely she was in your ‘bathrobe’!*
Naruto tugged at his shorts, “Yeah, yeah…”

Sakura peered through the deepening night as she hurried down the streets. The kimono was tight around her legs, but it wouldn’t look right if she hitched up the hem to run.
*What’s it matter though? The place is deserted!*
She gazed back up, the full moon a thinly illuminated patch in the thick clouds. The scent of rain was falling thick over the city.
*I wonder if the Complex is still safe?* She altered her path toward the old gates. A night there might work better than getting soaked trying to sneak over the wall.
The rumble of thunder echoed over the land as the Uchiha gate came into view, looming up at the end of the street.
The red and white fan set into the ironwork was split by a bold black break where the gap stood.
Sakura approached with caution, her eyes catching a glint of dull steel.
She focused her eyes on the gat itself, but never lost sight of the shadow-hidden form behind it. A short spear in their hand.
Sakura leaned on the gate, mindful of the way the shadow slinked back from her.
At her feet lay the lock and chain that had feebly secured the gate. Both were intact, though a senbon needle was still jammed into the large keyhole.
She leaned down to pick it up, the gate groaning as it moved under her weight.
“What was that?” The voice of a young boy. He was panicky, ready to fly.
“Hello?” Sakura called into the courtyard.
“Never mind that! What was that?” A second boy. He wasn’t as shaken, but Sakura could almost taste the yellow streak in him.
Sakura stepped into the gateway, “Who’s out there?”
“It’s the Lady Uchiha!” A girl’s voice quivered with her own terror.
“OI!” An older voice called from within the compound, “Come on guys! Game over! We have to get back to the house!”
“Sango! If she finds us in here we’re toast!” The second boy muttered.
“What about the spirits?” The first boy mewled, “If we try to leave, they might…”
“What might the spirits do?” A deep voice spoke through the frightened boy. The voice didn’t echo through the dark night air.
Sakura listened as a small body fell upon the dry grasses and tracked the pattering of feet as they approached.
The two boys came around the corner at a full run.
The first lost his footing in the dry leaves, crying out as he fell and slid toward the shadowed figure with the spear. The shadow lifted the one foot the boy would have touched and nothing more.
The second boy didn’t slow as he fled, his eyes looking back at his friend.
Sakura held out a hand, almost knowing what was about to happen.
The boy never turned to look before he slammed into Sakura, her forward arm doing little past get him tangled in her sleeve. He shrieked in terror, his white, pupil-less eyes blind with fear, the stink of fresh urine following him as Sakura pushed him away into the open street.
His lungs filled anew, his scream trailed down the street in his wake.
“Wait!!!” The first boy chased after the second, the knees of his trousers tattered and shredded. He flashed past Sakura without so much as a glance from his pale eyes.
“Damn Hyuuga.” Sakura muttered, “You’d think with the all seeing eye they would…”
The shadow figure had edged toward the gate, stalking slowly. Keeping to the shadows. He stopped when Sakura fell silent.
“Hello?” She called, stepping back into the gate, “I could swear I heard more than those two… Hello?”
From the corner of her eye, she saw the shift in stance as the spear changed hands.
“Whoever else is out here!” The woman’s voice called, “That is not funny!”
The cloud cover broke for a moment, a lonely patch illuminating the inky night of the orchard. The girl she had heard was laying on the grass unconscious. Kneeling over her was a young woman in green tights wearing legwarmers on both her legs and arms and a padded vest. The leaf headband as her belt shone.
Sakura could pick out five other figures, hiding in the thick shadows. They moved with little regard for her position, or one and others’. As if all present were aware of how visible they really were, but wished to remain unknown.
Sakura stepped into the light, “Will she be alright?”
“Who the hell are you?” A fist clenched tightly as the girl glared at Sakura. Her ebony hair, cut in a ridiculous square bob, swung in the listless air.
Sakura approached, ignoring the threat, “What were they doing in here? Don’t they know how dangerous it is?”
The woman sighed, “It’s the same old ‘haunted house’ game we played as children. I’m just trying to be a babysitter…” She sighed, “For all the good it does.”
“You don’t know how dangerous it really is.” The deep voice of the ‘spirit’ spoke again. It seemed familiar… The cloud cover closed up, the light fading like the ember of a candle without flame.
The woman picked up the girl, cradling her, “I don’t care who your scary friend is, but if he doesn’t show himself and knock it off, I’m gonna punch his teeth out.”
The subtle shuffle of feet on the grass sounded behind Sakura. She turned. The figure of Sasuke taking form from the shadows. Sakura noted with apprehension that he carried no weapon in hand.
“Sorry.” He looked around, “But this place is about to become a battleground. You have to leave, now.”
The woman glared, “No one orders me around, buddy. I only take orders from two people; Sango and Lee. And you are neither of them.”
“Kyu kukuku. Our luck improves…” A bright ball of light grew suddenly in the palm of one of the shadows.
The pale blue light showed the equally pale face of the one who formed it, his face unnaturally smooth, almond shaped eyes a bright yellow with dagger shaped pupils, “Our trap has yielded much more than I would have expected it to.”
“You have no quarrel with the redhead, Orochimaru.” The deep voice spoke again, “Let her take your bait and leave here.”
“Not so quickly, Uchiha!” A pinpoint of red light appeared, just above eye level, “I recognize that girl.”
Orochimaru turned his head to the red light, “Now, now. Do be calm, Hitake.” He turned back to Sakura and the woman, “After all, why shouldn’t we all take a moment to observe this interesting predicament?”
He threw the ball of light into the air. It reached the peak of the throw before it exploded, casting a brilliant, sustained blaze of light over the orchard.
“We have the remaining Uchiha here…” Itachi held a pair of long kunai in one hand. “The elusive girl that evaded the captain of the anbu from a hospital bed…”
“Yes…” Kakashi growled. He held a tanto in one hand, his fist flexing on the hilt.
“Odd, I was under the impression she had pink hair…” He shrugged, “And, last but not least, the young Sango. Oh, and don’t worry, the two boys will be returned home after this is over, if the anbu haven’t done so already. Though I suspect you will have a hard time babysitting after this.”
Orochimaru crossed his arms, grinning. “But, death does have a way of upsetting your future plans.”
The girl in Sango’s arms stirred, moaning. “Sango…?”
She threw her arms around Sango’s neck, “I was so scared!! I though the spirits of the Uchiha were gonna eat me alive!”
She looked over Sago’s shoulder, spying Itachi. Her shrill shriek echoed harshly, “BEHIND YOU, SANGO!!!”
“Kya kaka kaka!” Orochimaru laughed aloud, “That is quite classic!” His laughter faded as the young girl’s gasps of terror grew quieter.
“But I have other things that need my attention. Hitake, do take good care of them for me. Start with the youngster, if you could.” The sannin turned his back to the group, strolling away.
“You bait a trap with an innocent little girl and nonchalantly condemn her to death for being so unfortunate!?” Sango shouted, “You are beyond vile!”
“Hm… Vile.” Orochimaru paused, “So simple…and yet still new…” He faded into the deeper shadows of night.
Kakashi’s fist lit up in a ball of lightning, the flitter and chirp of angry songbirds filling the air. “I shall end your clan, Itachi.”
“Kakashi.” Itachi spoke softly, “You don’t have the strength.”
Sango hugged the girl to her chest. “Don’t watch, Kiekie…”
Sasuke drew a thin katana from his back and a folded windmill shuriken from his hip, “Don’t blink. This is going to get interesting.”
Sakura slowly lifted the skirt of her kimono, tucking it into the obi. Her bag had shifted to her back.
“GYRRAAA!!” Kakashi fell to one knee, his chidori scattering as his focus collapsed.
Sakura swept up handfuls of her kimono, stuffing them into the obi and drew one of the long kunai as footfalls approached.
The gate spearman came at her, leaping, the point of his spear leading his attack and bearing the whole of his weight.
Sakura timed her strike, brushed the spear point away, the kunai in her hand coming forward as the nin translated his futile fall into a swinging kick.
The blade met his sandal and parted it. And his foot. And his thigh to the bone.
The blood took a moment to realize it had been freed, and then it all rushed out madly, the gout missing Sakura by willpower alone.
Inner Sakura seized her moment and swept the kunai up. It severed one arm at the wrist and shoulder and parted his second wrist. Before the nin had begun to scream, Sakura levered her arm back, grabbing his spear and pulled it from the earth over her shoulder.
The tip whistled as it came about, Sakura let it rotate her hand into a powerful position and plunged it into the nin’s heart, driving him to the ground.
She took in the sight of the battle; Itachi and Kakashi were motionless, Sasuke held the sergeant at bay, his windmill shuriken open and used as an effective shield as they tangled blades, Sango held the girl to her, trying to evade the battle and failing.
An anbu came behind her, spear high as he shifted his weight to leap.
Sakura channeled chakra to her feet, feeling the ground literally explode as she pushed off. Three strides, the third let her twist as she rose. She tucked in her bottom foot as the lifting leg carried her forward and around.
She blasted as her body inverted, her foot holding all the chakra she could channel. She hit the spear, the shaft snapping like a cheap bamboo pole. Her rotation carried her, as her lift foot came back to the top, her toe catching the anbu in his mask.
He tumbled back, the face protector cracked like a nutshell. Smoke erupted around his body as a sapling replaced him. The spear came at her from behind. She arched her back, letting it slide under her arm. One elbow looped around the pole arm as the other grabbed the anbu by the neck. She crushed down and spun, throwing both away, the spearhead cutting the kimono cleanly and gouging Sakura deeply enough to be serious.
Sasuke and the sergeant had locked blades, leaning on one and other, panting, sweaty and bleeding.
Sakura grew aware of the sobs of the young girl. Sakura could see the glow of her eyes against Sango’s chest. *The girl can’t look away…*
Sakura poured chakra into her hand, forcing up light. “Suke!” She hurled the ball toward he Uchiha.
*Hope he’s got the Sharingan working!*
The orb exploded in the sergeant’s face as Sasuke ducked under her press.
“AAIIEEE!” She covered her eyes with the crook of her arm as Sasuke lifted a knee into her belly. His windmill blades clipped her shoulder and the young Uchiha dropped her with a strike to the back of the skull.
“We can’t pull this one out, Niisan.”
“Working on it Otosan.”
Sasuke fell back. He and Sakura stood to each side of Sango. Anbu stood around them. Five.
The sergeant was climbing to her feet, blood, vomit and mud down her front.
“Damn…” Sasuke gave his windmill a fresh spin, “And I was afraid I’d hurt her…”
*We need a good distraction about now…* Sakura tried to keep tabs on all the anbu. They didn’t make it easy, milling about, drawing weapons, scrolls, flashing random signs… *Where the hell is the number one surprising ninja when you need him?*
*At home, spending three minutes brooding about how you have to wait on instant noodles and two more eating them.*
Sakura began to flash elaborate signs with wild gestures. She poured chakra from her well, *hope I’ve got enough…* And she found she had plenty to spare.
“Sannin special jutsu!” Sakura shouted at the top of her lungs, “Ero bunshin secret art, Oriki no Jutsu!!”
Bright rainbow colored light and multicolored smoke clouds exploded in a dozen places. “Cabaret Edition!”
Nude models of both sorts stood posed in their clouds of brightly glowing smoke, blowing kisses and pelvic thrusts to any who dared look in their direction.
“What are you?!” The sergeant lashed out at one of the men only to have him counter her sword with his member and thrust into her face, knocking her back.
*Mixing jutsu can be dangerous, and yet… so rewarding!*
The patter of hands like butterfly wings whispered and chaos descended.
Smoke filled the air as logs and doppelgangers appeared, mounds of earth and water burst and projectiles buzzed in a deadly hail.
“Find a way out!” Sasuke hurled his windmill shuriken before he exploded in a cloud of smoke, a kunai falling to the ground where he stood.
A jutsu hit Sakura, like breaking from the surface of a pool of water and she found herself ten feet to the left, a log falling to the ground where she had been with a katana skewering the hapless wood.
Sango shoved her charge into Sakura’s hands as she drew a scroll from her vest and tore away the edge.
She hurled the paper upward as the damaged portion burst into flame.
The paper unrolled as it ascended and the long trailer exploded into thick, choking smoke.
With a few final thumps and zings, silence fell over the orchard.
It was worse than the cacophony of battle.
The girl in Sakura’s arms coughed on the stench of the acrid smoke and spent chakra.
As if choreographed to perfection, two blue streaks of light grew in the haze, the crescendo of enraged birds drowning out all other things.
“Anbu! Out!” The unmasked sound of retreat in the first available direction caused her worry.
A shadow came at them from the fog. Sasuke didn’t slow as he grabbed Sango and Sakura, “Move! This is gonna be huge!”
The sound of the storm only grew louder as they retreated. Sakura hesitated atop the compound wall, looking back.
The electricity in the air grew with the shriek of the chidori.
Still, neither moved.
When the moved, the was in an instant. More quickly than she could track. The two connected and a bolt of lightning broke from the sky, lancing the orchard, setting something to flame.
The plume burned brightly, extending like a blast of dragons’ fire.
*Not the lightning strike…*
“Niisan!!” Sasuke was on the wall beside her.
Itachi fell behind them, leaning against the wall, kneeling. “Yo. Time to duck out, otosan.”
Sango stood close to Itachi, forming rapid hand signs.
Light and darkness dazzled Sakura’s eyes.
The jutsu crushed her down and drug here away.
As her senses resumed, she found herself standing in a large room.
“Teleportation…” Sango was heaped into an armchair, “It almost takes the fun out of running, but they won’t be able to track us… I think…”
Sakura set down the girl she was carrying still. She backed quickly away, almost running to Sango and clinging to her.
“I thank you for our egress, but who are you?” Itachi stood. He was cradling his arm.
“Moerku Sango. Taijutsu extraordinaire. A pleasure to finally meet you, Lord Uchiha.” She let her arm drop lazily, “Forgive me for not shaking your hand. That took a lot out of me.”
“And I beg the same,” Itachi bowed, “I seem to be bleeding all over your floor at the moment.”
Sakura went to his side, the blood drip was steady. “Let me see your arm.”
Itachi turned, a stupid smirk on his face as he held up his uninjured left.
“You can’t fix what isn’t broken.”
Itachi winced, “Ouch. Watch the knives, eh?” He began to unbutton his shirt, “In exchange. I want to see what made Hitake Kakashi blink.”
Sakura lifted her brow. She focused her mind and tried to place the doppelganger where the young Hyuuga girl wouldn’t have to see it again.
Itachi’s good hand fell on her shoulder, “Never mind… I didn’t really need to see that after all.” He looked down at her, “Man, that was really… well…” He actually blushed, “Otosan, cover your ears.”
“Just say it out, Ero. I saw a lot more than that out there.” Sasuke stuck his tongue out.
Itachi grinned, “If that is you, lovely Sakura, it is a sight I shall always cherish. And if not, I suppose I’ll always cherish it.”
She slapped him in good humor. “Say what you like, there isn’t a better jutsu devised for surprising someone.” Sakura fumed at him, “Straight from the ninja handbook of the number one surprising ninja himself! Now let me mend your arm.”
Itachi shrugged out of the shirt, exposing the damaged limb.
“How did you manage this?” She waved her hand over the wound, almost afraid to touch it. The bones in his forearms were obviously broken in many places, but it looked like the flesh had ruptured as well. And electrical burns coursed his arm from hand to elbow.
Sakura drew a thick cord of chakra and pooled the healing energy in her hand. She massaged his shoulder, searching for the major chakra channels and arteries.
“Well, first you push a little more than you can handle into a jutsu that’s destructive by nature and then you smash it into one that’s significantly stronger than your own. That’ll do it every time.” Itachi chuckled, “I really should have known better.”
“There…” Sakura found the place where blood and chakra flowed down the arm and piped her own energy into the area. His pulse was even and slowing, though still strong. And as if hungry, his body simply drank down her chakra.
Like ice pouring over warm water, his wounds began to melt away as her chakra and his own infused blood filtered down to his hand.
Sakura gripped his hand with her own free hand and pulled as the bones set with a grisly series of snaps and pops.
“Ahh…” Itachi didn’t move, “Hey, that’s been broken for days! It feels so much better now!”
Sango peered at the handiwork from her seat, “You’re quite talented, Lady Hanuro.”
Sakura didn’t pause her work or look away. “How do you know my name?”
“Oh, just a lucky guess.” Sango yawned loudly, “I couldn’t think of anyone else who would fight back to back with the Uchiha brothers. And Gaara told me a bit about you.”
Her work completed, Sakura stared at the kunoichi.
Sango was unaware of the gaze, or didn’t care. “The jinchuuriki have offered to help anyone who bears an Ash symbol. In moderation, of course.”
“Ash…” *It’s important… I know it is!*
“Yes.” Itachi spoke in a low tone, “The Moerku are unofficially known as the Ash nin. The movement as a whole is very quiet and largely unknown. Even more rumor than yourself.”
“Yep.” Sango slouched lower, “We pretty much just want Konoha like it was. Before Orochimaru.”
“That’s it!” Sakura turned to Itachi. He still rubbed at his arm, dark bruises covering much of the forearm, “I was told by one of the ash nin that the Moerkukage wanted to speak with you. That he could help.”
Sango picked herself up with effort, “I suppose we probably could. But niisan is out on business right now. I can send word when he gets back, if you like.”
Itachi shrugged, “Sounds good. We use the name Momoshi as a message drop in Konoha. I expect to hear from you soon.
The rumble of thunder shook the building.
“Sounds like a good one going. That’ll make it easy to sneak out.” Itachi pointed to Sakura’s side, “Did you know you were bleeding?”
Sakura looked at her side. The hole in the silk was easily large than the gash in her side, but the wound still oozed a trickle of blood. “Oh… I didn’t even feel it anymore…” She passed a healing hand over her own wound. In three beats of the heart, the wound was mended, though it did leave an interesting scar. A thin, pale pink line. *Must have already been on the mend… That was quick.* She took off the kimono, folding it carefully and drew her flak vest from the bag and put it back on.
Itachi nodded, “You still look good. The blood down your side is a nice touch.” Itachi smirked, making no attempt to hide his own sticky red stain. “And when we get to the house, we shall have hot tea and cookies and talk about the Hanuro Complex.”