Konoha’s Guardians : Book II :
Chapter 2 : rebirth
Kabuto paused in his hiding place as he heard the sound of doors opening and voices as two familiar women entered the Hokage’s inner office. It was a good thing he had yet to move into the room itself—but Tsunade had been somewhat hard to predict from the first time he had met her three years previous—something that had been irking him, as well as several others when her sporadic actions and movements interrupted plans. Then something one of them said caught his ear.
Perhaps this time it was a good thing…
Kabuto smirked as he waited for the Godaime and her assistant to leave. There was no doubt a scroll lying around in her office that supported what he had just heard—this was just the kind of information he needed. Orochimaru would react quickly and likely without planning things through… but if it took out the Kyuubi… it would be worth it. As soon as the two women left he slipped into the office and made a quick search through the various scrolls in the office. Finding what he had been looking for, both originally and regarding what he had overheard, he slipped out once more to report the whereabouts of Mitarashi Anko. Orochimaru had an unofficial appointment to keep with his old student after all.
********
“And so after Sakura finished yelling at him for being late he only grinned and said “So show me what you brats have learned” and then attacked.” Naruto explained as he walked side by side with Hinata towards Iruka’s home. From the time of his first mission that called him away, Naruto would always have dinner with Iruka on the first night of his return. Over time those dinners had come to include Jiraiya when he was in the village; Tsunade; occasionally Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi, and finally… Hinata—all those that were closest to Naruto’s heart and whom he considered his family.
Hinata couldn’t help but laugh at Naruto’s retelling of his team’s interactions with the famed Sage-nin, or Ero Sennin as Naruto so often called him. Things between the Toad hermit and his chosen pupil were never dull, a fact that Hinata had witnessed more then once in person since the events that had surrounded their first Chuunin exam.
She glanced up at Naruto from the corner of her eye and then gasped, and looked closer. “Naruto! You have five tails!”
The blond haired teenager laughed and scratched the back of his head. “So you finally noticed, eh? I’m not the only one that’s furthered the mastery of their Guardian bond though… the teardrop mark on your forehead has changed color again Hinata-chan. It was blue when we left, now it’s purple.
Before any further comments could be made the pair had arrived outside of Iruka’s door and the Chuunin sensei opened the door before they knocked. “Ah Naruto-kun, Hinata-chan you’re right on time.”
Naruto winked at Hinata and then led the way inside. “Iruka-sensei! Are we having ramen?!”
Hinata shook her head and smiled as she followed him inside, a warm fuzzy feeling spreading through her at his attention.
*********
“Hokage-sama! You must come quickly. A team of Anbu were found dead and severely injured just outside of Konoha!”
Tsunade frowned but immediately moved to follow the Chuunin messenger to the hospital, her dinner with Naruto and those he considered his close family would have to wait. Within moments she arrived at the hospital and frowned deeply when she saw the state of the attacked platoon. There was no doubt about who was behind it… Orochimaru… what are you after this time? “Shizune, where is Anko?”
Shizune blinked for a moment. “She was going to meet with Sakura at their usual spot I believe… you don’t think…”
“I don’t think—I know. Go get Naruto; Hinata is likely with him at Iruka’s. Bring all of them to the training field quickly.” The dark haired Jounin nodded and then was gone. Tsunade nodded to the nurse and doctor currently tending the Anbu and then vanished making her own way to the training areas.
********
Sakura absent mindedly twirled a kunai around her finger as she walked down to the path that had become familiar over the last three years… a path that she traveled often to meet with the woman who had started out as her sensei, and ended up being her mentor and dear friend. She froze as a wave of pure malice and killing intent washed over her—her eyes opened wide and then she rushed forward the last bit of distance to the clearing. Upon arriving her eyes narrowed as she skidded to a stop. “Orochimaru…” she hissed as she took note of the snake-eyed man who had one arm holding Anko securely against him, the other with a kunai pressed to the woman’s neck.
“Pity… it seems your so called phoenix has interrupted us Anko-chan, and I really don’t feel like playing with her today—so I’ll say goodbye.” And with that his teeth sunk into the woman’s neck and then he released her vanishing into the ground slowly as she crumbled to her knees a voiceless scream leaving her lips. “Goodbye Anko, I do hope you enjoy my last parting gift…” And then the snake was gone.
“Anko-san!!”
The brunette haired woman struggled to look up and smiled sadly before wincing and grabbing her neck, angry black marks spreading from the curse seal that was once again visible and active. “Go…gomen…Sakura-chan.—It looks…like… I won’t be able to test…you.” She choked out before fading into unconsciousness as another extreme wave of pain ran through her.
Sakura rushed forward, dropping to her knees at the woman’s side, any thought of pursing the Snake Sage-nin forgotten at the sight of her fallen mentor.
“That curse! It’s been activated—its not trying to take control… it’s trying to kill her!”
“No! It can’t! She’s been fighting it for so long it can’t kill her now!” Sakura responded as tears began to build in her eyes.
“Sakura! Quickly use the Rebirth jutsu I taught you, it’s the only way to stop that curse from killing her!” Hitori said quickly as the warmth of her power was added to Sakura’s before her partner could even ask for it.
Sakura fought back her tears and bit her lip. The jutsu was complicated, tricky, and at the very least dangerous if not used correctly, but she knew as well as Hitori that if there was ever a time to use it… this was it. She quickly formed a series of seals.
“With flames of purity… Houou Hi Rinyuuaru no Jutsu!*”
In a burst of chakara, flames seemed to come to life around the pair constantly moving around the teenage girl as she stood her eyes closed for a few moments, her eyes snapped open, the flames surging into the form of giant feathery fire wings on her back. She reached around the collapsed woman and pulled her into her embrace, the wings of chakra and raw power folding in around them. Taking one of Anko’s hands in her own Sakura formed a second set of seals.
“With flames of rebirth… Houou Hi Shinsei no Jutsu!**”
A second set of fiery flame-like wings appeared on Sakura’s back extending fully, red and gold feathers of power surrounding the two women completely. Anko screamed and thrashed in Sakura’s arms, but she held on as tears trickled down her cheeks. “Hold on Anko-sensei…just hold on.” Suddenly, the flames of gold and red intensified and then spun inward and tightly around the pair, slowly winding around Anko and fading into her skin turning it golden with the intensity of its power and light. Then, as suddenly as the power had appeared it vanished.
Sakura sat in drained silence, struggling to keep from collapsing fully to the ground. “Did… did I do it?”
“Hai… the curse seal has been purged from her body… rest Sakura-chan you have used all your available strength in this jutsu…the Godaime is coming.” Hitori answered her faintly, the Phoenix’s own power drained as well.
Sakura began to nod her head, but got her chin no farther then half way to her chest before she collapsed next to a now relaxed Anko—the curse seal purged, but having still taken its toll and leaving the woman drained and unconscious. Sakura smiled faintly as she spotted the blond figure of the Hokage entering the clearing just as her eyes closed. They would be fine… Anko would be fine.
**********
Naruto watched Sakura sleep silently; clenching his fists at the thought of what she had gone through only hours before. Orochimaru had been in the village and had nearly killed Anko, Sakura’s sensei and friend, but the power of the Phoenix had come out on top. However, there was no way of knowing how long it would be before Sakura recovered from the huge energy drain the Houou jutsu she used had caused. Naruto sighed letting his anger go. There was not time for him to fret about Orochimaru—as his duties as a Guardian were more pressing for now. He turned as he heard the hospital room door slide open and smiled softly when he spotted Hinata’s dark head peek in.
“Naruto-kun, it’s time.”
Naruto nodded, took one last look at Sakura and then moved out into the hallway where Hinata fell into step beside him as they made their way out of the hospital and towards the Hokage’s main office.
As soon as they entered, Naruto knew that something important was being planned. Sasuke had already taken his customary position against a wall, pretending to look bored and indifferent. Shizune was moving a stack of scrolls from a shelf to Tsunade’s desk, and Neji was sitting attentively several feet away from Sasuke.
“Ah, Naruto, Hinata, good now we can start.”
“Start what Baa-san?” Naruto asked as he took a seat on the floor between Neji and Sasuke, Hinata sitting next to him between himself and Neji.
Tsunade frowned. “Start a meeting that I had planned to hold off until all five of you bound to Guardians were present. However, with Sakura’s current condition, the events surrounding it, and Lee’s absence it cannot be helped. As the four of you are all aware, Orochimaru infiltrated the village, most likely with Kabuto and attempted to kill Mitarashi Anko. Due to Sakura’s arrival and abilities as the Phoenix Guardian, his plans were foiled. That doesn’t change other events, however. In the last month I have received some interesting reports, reports that may help you find and gather other people bound with Guardians. I will now be sending all of you out on simple duties…”
“But you just said that you had reports of other possible Guardians, and what does this have to do with Hyuga?” Sasuke interrupted frowning. There was no doubt of their loyalty to Konoha, but if they had to abandon the village in order to take care of events that involved the Guardians... they would and Tsunade knew it.
“Fool, let me finish. The simple duties I’m assigning you are a cover story for your real missions.” Tsunade smirked as she noted that she had their full attention now. “Good, now listen carefully, I’m not going to explain this twice. Naruto you and Hinata will be teamed up. Sasuke I’m sending Neji with you. Don’t say it. I will not send you off alone into most likely very hostile situations. We already are aware that the Akatsuki would have no qualms with killing one of you five. Neji is the only one available who has a chance of keeping up in a fight of such a level if it should occur. His abilities will allow him to work well with anyone of you five. Once Sakura recovers and Lee returns I’ll be sending them out to rendezvous with you two and switch groups. At that point Neji will team up with Lee since they have worked together before very successfully. I will not hear any arguments on this matter Uchiha Sasuke.”
Sasuke grunted and glanced at Hyuga Neji but said nothing further about the matter.
“Now here are the cover missions,” and with those words Shizune handed each of them a scroll.
* - [Houou Hi Rinyuuaru no Jutsu]: Phoenix Fire Renewal Spell
**- [Houou Hi Shinsei no Jutsu]: Phoenix Fire Rebirth Spell