broken targets
Sakura changed in the small side-room connected to the office. The black suit was tight but breathable. It was like armored skin, and it made her feel powerful. A holster for her dāo also held her blank mask. Before Sakura could feel the weight of the porcelain, an unknown presence on the other side of the door startled her.
It seemed the person was expected since Danzou commanded, “Enter.”
A boy with dark hair and even darker eyes stepped into the confined space. The slight baby fat on his face deceived the hard look in his eyes. His looks were beautifully androgynous, and if Sakura didn’t know any better, she would’ve suspected he was an Uchiha from his dark features. He wore exactly what she did, but instead of a holster for blades, he held brushes. The boy bent at the waist and kept his eyes to the ground. “You called, Danzou-sama?”
A single finger tapped the top of his cane. “Take Sakura around the base and return here at 1900 hours. I trust you to inform Sakura of her new arrangements.” He turned to Sakura. “We will start our first lesson tonight.”
Sakura gave a firm nod. The boy lifted himself from his bow and answered, “Of course, Danzou-sama.”
Sakura reached for the door knob, but before she could, the boy opened it swiftly. His dark eyes were shut due to the wide, unsettling smile on his face. She returned the gesture with a lopsided grin, unsure of what to feel.
Sakura walked past him and murmured a quick, “Thanks.” She waited for the boy to close the door before she opened her mouth to speak. A pale palm flashed a few inches from her face, sufficiently interrupting her. Jade eyes widened, and heat rushed to her face in embarrassed rage. Who did this boy think he is?
“My name is Sai, and I’ll be your roommate during your month’s stay,” he said, lowering his hand from her face into a handshake. She followed said hand with her eyes as it lowered to her abdomen— his arm at a perfect, 90° angle.
Looking up, Sakura glared at Sai’s blank stare. So far, he was almost to Naruto’s level of annoyance, and he had only introduced himself— a feat within itself.
Anger still simmering, Sakura opted to stay polite for their first impression of one another. Her lips curled into a sweet smile. She grabbed his hand gently and squeezed with chakra laced in her hand. She said she’d be polite— not a pushover. If this pretty boy was looking down on her, she’d make him wish he never did.
A dark eyebrow twitched, and Sai’s picture-perfect expression switched to a look of confusion before nodding. “You do not like me.” It was said as a statement.
Sakura let his hand fall. “Anyone would if you rudely stick your hands in people’s faces.”
“I do not like you either.” His tone fell flat, “I think.”
“What?”
He cocked his head slightly. “Slight nausea, tightened muscles, and stiffness are signs of unease. It is said so in the book I have read.” He continued after a slight pause, “Correct me if I am wrong.”
Ignoring Sai’s confession of antagonism, Sakura supplied with perturbe, “Um… you’re not wrong, but that’s a weird way to put it.”
“Ah, I see. I will be sure to fix it in the future.”
I didn’t know it was possible to be this emotionally dense, Inner grumbled.
Sakura didn’t know whether to feel bad or annoyed.
“We have to report to Danzou-sama soon,” Sai said with his plastic smile. “I will arrive without you if you cannot keep up.”
Yeah, he’s an ass.
Sakura kept her mouth shut during the tour and so did Sai. The only time the boy spoke was when he needed to. He kept his words concise but informative, and in a way, Sakura was grateful for the lack of small talk as they walked through the maze. She didn’t know how to tackle his awkwardness, and she was honestly dreading having to share a room with the raven haired boy.
The two covered ground quickly. The majority of the headquarters were housing and ‘public’ facilities such as libraries, a small hospital, and warehouses for shinobi equipment. From what Sai had said, the majority of ROOT agents reside in the underground base. Many of the agents were recruited when they were young, and as a result, disappeared from society. Remaining hidden underground was the only solution to avoid people who may have known them before recruitment.
Bleak walls were lightened by bright sources of lightning chakra. There were no shadows for people to hide in— as evident from the numerous agents who passed by. There were brief ‘hellos’ and ‘good lucks’ given to Sakura by the agents. She was surprised to say the least. After Sai’s introduction, the genin was nervous that every agent was like him. Rather, everyone was polite and, in some ways, friendly.
Sai said nothing as they approached another door (which was the same style as every door they passed by). He led her inside the room, and Sakura could only gape at the sheer size of it. Concrete pillars of multiple sizes were connected to the dirt ground. Stones, in the shape of tree branches, were attached to the pillars. The concrete jungle was dense, and the end of the room wasn’t visible from her place on the ground.
“This is one of the training grounds used for forest environments. Genjutsu is used to simulate an actual forest,” Sai explained. He flared his chakra, and dark green filled her vision. Sakura could smell the earth and the rustle of leaves. She walked up to the fake tree and felt its bark. It was rough despite it being perfectly smooth a moment ago.
A small presence in the back of her mind urged Sakura to speak, “Are you a genjutsu type?”
Sai’s annoying smile only widened, as if she told a joke. “No. There are seals around every training room. Depending on the room, the seals will change the user’s perception of the room.” He opened the door and gestured to her to follow. “You will see what I mean when we start training.”
She stepped out of the room and looked at the forest bleed away into concrete before exiting. Sai crinkled his eyes. “Let us go to the mess hall. It would be wise to eat before meeting with Danzou-sama.”
Another spiraling hallway later, the duo stopped at the only door with a visible difference. The large double door towered over the preteens. Sai ushered her inside, and Sakura was greeted by a full cafeteria. Loud laughter and jovial conversations left no room for silence. As they walked to grab their meal, Sakura noticed how, despite everyone sitting in their respective groups, all the agents made small talk with a lot of their peers. There was a sense of comradery in the air, and it made Sakura’s gut clench at the thought of Team 7.
Sai set his tray down on an empty, two-seater table. Sakura followed swiftly, and broke her chopsticks apart quickly before stuffing her face with Nikujaga. The food was warm, and she was starving. Who knew having an emotional breakdown and joining a branch of Konoha’s black-ops would be so taxing? Tossing manners aside, she downed the konnyaku noodles before Sai was able to finish a quarter of his.
The background chatter helped Sakura feel less nervous, and the fullness of her stomach gave her strength. She decided to ask Sai what had been on her mind since Danzou’s office, “So what are your ground rules?” She continued after a moment of confused silence, “Like… what do you expect from me as a roommate?”
Sai asked in an oblivious manner, “Does that matter?”
Sakura lightly scoffed, “Of course it does. Personally, I don’t want to deal with your stuff all over the floor or having to clean up after you.” She gave the boy a questioning stare. “Don’t you have things you want to say?”
Sai hesitantly nodded after digesting her question. He spoke with steel, “Do not open my books or look through my belongings.”
The kunoichi gave an approving nod. “Alright. I expect the same from you.” She quickly added, “Also, no peeping on me when I’m changing.”
Confusion flashed across dark features. “Peeping? Why would I want to look at your body in that way?”
Sakura’s jaw tightened, and she could feel her teeth grind against each other. She definitely took it as an insult. She knew she wasn't developed, but from her experience, all preteen boys only had one thing on their minds. “Whatever.” Sakura brushed her anger aside with a flick of her hand. “If I catch you being a creep, I won’t hesitate to beat you to a bloody pulp.”
Sai only smiled. He finished the last of his meat before grabbing his empty tray. He swiftly exited his seat, and Sakura followed. “It’s nearly time to meet with Danzou-sama.”
“Let’s go.”
❀
The door to Danzou’s office seemed to tower over Sakura. Her heart beated rapidly as her lungs constricted on themselves. Her rib cage squeezed her organs, and if it wasn’t for the nails digging crescents into her palms, she’d probably pass out. It wasn’t that she was nervous about training— it was the fact she’d be training with another person.
Danzou-sama had been gracious to the civilian-born Sakura. He had taken her under his wing when no one else would and even proved to be an adult-figure in the span of a month (and some change) when her parents and sensei went off-the-grid. She was weak and pitiful, but he tore her from the ground and gave her purpose.
Which is why it was all the more terrifying to lose him.
She noticed the way Sai had walked in complete silence. There were no footsteps or the ruffle of clothes. His posture portrayed comfort, but the tenseness of his shoulders and the poised hand that brushed over his holster proved otherwise. Charcoal eyes scanned over every inch of the walls and paused at nearby chakra signatures. He was a skilled shinobi— someone who the esteemed councilman would want.
Danzou was an uptight man with an even more uptight schedule. He expected the best—and only the best—from his subordinates. It wasn’t because he thought he was higher than anyone else. Rather, he didn’t have the time to expect anything else. The war-veteran was built from his service to Konoha, and he was mended by action— the action to serve, command, and kill. ROOT encompassed this very ideology, and therefore, the agents must reflect that.
And Sakura didn’t— at least not yet.
Which is why with every look Danzou gave Sai, Sakura saw Kakashi. Team 7 had been a failure. Naruto and Sasuke were too large, and Sakura was too small and insignificant to speak. Even with her crush on the traitor, Sakura still wanted to learn and to train, but Kakashi had ignored her and disappeared.
She didn’t want a repeat of Kakashi and Sasuke.
Danzou snapped her from her thoughts. “Insert your chakra into this paper. Sai has known his chakra nature when he joined ROOT. Now it’s your turn.”
The room spun for a second. Danzou tapped the top of his cane once, and Sakura scrambled to pick up the thick paper— her heart beating rapidly.
She sent a small burst of chakra and could feel the way her chakra transformed into two pure nature energies. The paper became damp before crumbling into dirt, and a single eyebrow rose on Danzou’s face. “Dominant water and secondary earth nature… interesting.”
Sakura hid her glee. An interested person was someone who’d stick around. Danzou sharply looked Sai in the eye. “Step out and stay outside until I call you.” In an instant, the smile taped on Sai’s face became unstuck, and an empty expression was shown underneath. With a nod, he turned and left.
The genin pushed the tingle of happiness in her stomach down and returned her gaze to her sensei. She wanted to feel bad, but she was desperate for attention and would move mountains to gain it.
Danzou nodded towards the chair directly across from him, and Sakura’s heart soared as she sat.
He began, “This will be the first of many sessions outside of your espionage training. You wanted to know how to sharpen your mind, and I can help you with that.”
Sakura knew he spoke the truth. Danzou had already proved himself capable. Without his aid, she wouldn’t have been here. Rather, she would’ve found herself filing papers as a desk nin. Her arm stung from her invisible scars as she saw golden eyes behind her eyelids. It was too late for her to sit behind a desk and hand out missions.
“But I have to enter your mind to do so.”
The kunoichi stilled at those words. Her mouth felt dry at the thought of Ino— who screamed in fear at what lingered in her mind. It pained Sakura to know how Ino felt about Inner. The Inner who had spoken only sweet and wonderful things about their best friend before stupid rivalries. Ino’s rejection of Inner was also a rejection of herself, and her chest nearly collapsed at the thought of it happening twice.
“In order to become stronger, you must utilize your weaknesses. If we can figure out how you defeated the Yamanaka’s prized jutsu, you can refine it to become your most powerful weapon.” His singular eye pierced Sakura’s soul. “No one will ever see what’s inside your head— they’ll never know what makes you fall.”
His words melted like chocolate on her tongue. No one would ever find Inner. No one would ever find Sakura. Nor the effects of her parents, her team, and her place in the world had on her. And there would be no more Ino’s.
Sakura’s voice was a strained whisper, “Will you leave if I show you her?”
Danzou’s eye flashed with victory. “I have survived for this long because I know my limits. If I didn’t think I could handle this, I wouldn’t have taken action.”
Despite her unease, the sureness set in her mentor’s shoulders caused a flicker of hope. As soon as Sakura nodded, Danzou flared his chakra, and a Yamanaka strolled in.
The Yamanaka took the seat next to Sakura. Blonde hair brushed against her shoulder, and it made her shiver. Her breath hitched as she felt long, pale ropes of hair wrap around her throat.
But she steeled herself, and looked into familiar, pupilless eyes. Sakura swore she would get stronger. Spite and anger ate at her soul, and if overcoming her fears is what she must do, she’ll rise to the challenge.
“You’ll feel a sharp tug in your mind. Hold onto that feeling and pull until you see me.” The Yamanaka continued, “Normally, I would be able to just waltz in, but you’re a special case.”
They gave her no time to think. “Mind-Body Transfer Jutsu.”
Slipping from her consciousness was like being doused in ice cold water whilst upside down, and Sakura wanted nothing more than to tear apart the link she felt in her mind. Everything was too fresh. The scar the Preliminaries left was barely scabbing over, and with the tug she felt in her brain and the blonde hair and the all-too-bright, blue eyes, Sakura felt like drowning.
But she could feel strong arms grab the connection and pull. For a moment, she was lost in the current of her mind until everything stilled. The once vast field of dirt was tilled, and small, cohesive lumps of soil squished under her sandals. The sky was cloudy and casted a grayish-blue tint over the scene.
“Hey, Outer. It’s been a while.”
Sakura took a deep breath— the smell of freshly fallen rain encompassed her senses. A soft smile bloomed on her face. “Yeah, it has.”
The figure, in her black and white glory, stood at Sakura’s height. Crudely written on her forehead was her role: “Inner Sakura.” Jade eyes studied her companion for the first time. She had seen Inner once at the Chunin Exams, and Sakura knew what her second personality looked like in concept. But truly seeing Inner, without a distraction, was mesmerizing. She felt tangible and real.
The Yamanaka stumbled into the field from seemingly nowhere at the bend of Inner’s finger. They clutched their hand over their chest— willing themselves to breathe, but when their eyes flickered to the monochromatic figure, they blanched.
“I have never seen anything like this in my entire life.”
The ROOT agent quickly switched to an inquisitive attitude, the shock of the situation over. They circled around Inner. “At first I thought this was a case of a dual personality, but this presence is able to manipulate the subconscious despite not having control of the body— as seen by the way she is able to fling me wherever she wants.” They stopped circling and pinned Sakura’s gaze. “When did this presence first appear?”
“She has always been with me,” Sakura stated.
“No, no. That can’t be true. Your…” They looked at the writing on Inner’s forehead, “‘Inner Sakura’ reminds me of the mental personification of a Yamanaka when they ‘mind walk’.”
They continued when Sakura gave a lost look, “You see me?” They gestured to themselves. “Because of the Mind-Body Transfer, I am able to be a sort of ‘physical’ presence in your mind— which means I can sort and roam your brain. Inner Sakura can do these same abilities. If it were a second personality, for instance, Inner would only be able to ‘show’— or take control of your body.”
Sakura absorbed the information like a sponge. This was all so interesting, and the implications of what Inner could do caused her stomach to flip.
“She tried doing Mind-Body Transfer once,” Inner supplied.
Sakura’s eyes widened. Inner continued, “But I was already there when it happened. Although, I wasn’t able to control anything until she did.”
Sakura could feel the ‘click’ of the pieces coming together. She had an inkling that Inner was more than what meets the eye, but knowing her tinkering of the Mind-Body Transfer Jutsu somewhat worked was insane and… exciting.
She had been in her second year of the Academy. Her and Ino had ended their friendship, and she ran away from the blonde with everything she had. When she made it home, the girl shut the front door with a slam and slid down the sanded wood. Sakura wasn’t worried about being stealthy as she lowered her head into her knees and sobbed. The house was empty, and her cries bounced against the walls.
Sakura had lost the only friend she had, but she didn’t regret it. Ino had always been someone of worth, and a civilian-born like Sakura had something to prove. She wiped her face with the back of her hand and warped her fingers into the trademark, Yamanaka jutsu sign.
Despite being young, she was observant, and especially kept her eyes open when around clans. If the techniques they used were being shown, Sakura was going to take it while wearing a smile.
The Yamanaka’s were especially open about their technique. It was difficult to replicate, and only Yamanaka’s could fully utilize the jutsu. Ino knew this, and Sakura became an open ear for Ino’s babble about her father’s strict training. If no one but the Yamanaka could use it, why not tell her best friend about all the downsides of learning the technique?
Knowing full well that she didn’t share a drop of Yamanaka blood, Sakura pushed a small amount of Yin chakra to her brain— Yin was the embodiment of the mind, “Mind-Body Transfer Jutsu!”
It felt as if someone dug their fingers into her scalp and split her head open.
The last thing she remembered was the color of her ceiling before passing out.
Pulled from her memory, Sakura met the Yamanaka’s eyes, “I was in over my head. I thought I could actually replicate the technique.” She turned to Inner. “I guess this is what happens when someone outside the clan uses it.”
The Yamanaka grinned, but their eyes narrowed slightly, “Well, I'm glad we got to the bottom of it! Let’s head back.”
Inner threw Sakura out of their shared mind with a soft smile.
❀
The office was empty, save for two souls.
“Report.”
“Her ‘Inner Sakura’ seems to have been around her entire life, but the power she holds didn’t appear until she performed a bastardized Mind-Body Transfer jutsu— date is unknown.”
“That shouldn’t be possible.”
“It could be her advanced chakra control that made it possible. I theorize that she survived due to sending pure Yin chakra to the brain.”
A sound of acknowledgment left his lips, “I figured. Being around the Yamanaka clan for some time would mean she had to have picked up something. I expected nothing less.”
“Sir, if I may ask? Is there a possibility of her being a Yamanaka?”
“No. I checked her background, and there are no mentions of the clan. She is entirely civilian.”
Blue eyes clouded. If her chakra control was any less precise, she would have been dead. Yamanaka’s are attuned to Yin chakra, and because of this, even those in the clan with average chakra control can use the technique.
How in the hell could a civilian-born survive such drastic odds?
❀
“Good morning, Sakura.”
“Good morning, Sai.”
Sakura glared at the dark-cladded boy. Said boy returned the piercing gaze with his signature smile.
“Your eyebags are larger than usual— it seems you have not slept a blink.”
“It seems your shitty attitude isn’t from a lack of sleep— you’re just always an asshole.”
After leaving Danzou’s office, Sai had escorted Sakura to their room to sleep. However, no one had warned her about the apparent ‘spider infestation’ that somehow only affected her side of the room. Sakura, not wanting to appear weak, let the black spiders crawl over her entire body without a shiver. However, the smell of ink and the feeling of a million, tiny legs covering her skin made it difficult to rest, and as a result, Sakura went to the Mess Hall the moment breakfast was served.
Too bad her ‘black’ coffee tasted like ink.
To top it all off, when she arrived back to the room, Sai was resting peacefully in his bed.
“No need to be so hostile, I am just worried for a comrade.”
“Go fuck yourself.”
Normally, Sakura would hold her rude comments to herself, but as the two stood in the training grounds alone, the kunoichi shook in her sandals. One small mistake could ruin everything, and her opponent wasn’t making things easier— as evident from this morning.
Sakura glanced at Sai’s holster. Paintbrushes stained in black stood in the place of kunai and shuriken. It was evident he used the brushes as his primary weapon. If he was carrying any weapons, they weren’t visible— which meant his brushes most likely covered both short and long-range attacks. The nature of his jutsu was still unknown. Could he make anything become reality? If not, what was the chakra limit for each object? Does the type of ink affect the outcome?
A familiar presence approaching the room pulled Sakura from her thoughts. She saw Sai’s head perk a moment later. She heard the harsh tap of wood against concrete and lowered herself into a bow along with Sai. They greeted in unison, “Danzou-sama.”
“Raise your heads.”
Dark eyes watched the two like a hawk, and from Sakura’s peripheral, she spotted Sai shift. Their commander continued, “Your mission is to retrieve the ring belonging to the wife of the 3rd Daimyou. Location: Training Ground 3. Features of the item are unknown.”
The councilman was interrupted from the sudden entrance of a masked agent. The agent appeared next to Danzou with a smokeless shunshin. “Your presence is required at the Hokage Tower, Danzou-sama.”
Sakura watched Danzou swiftly nod and turn his attention back to the young disciples. “You’re not to leave until the mission is completed.” With a wave of his hand, the concrete pillars bled into a dense forest.
His piercing gaze left no room for retort. “Affirmative, Danzou-sama.”
Before his cane could tap the floor to signal his departure, the two agents-in-training were gone.
❀
“There are four chakra signatures 35° West at approximately 16 kilometers.”
“You did not think I already knew that, Sakura.”
So far, the duo had been running through the treetops for half a day— at least according to the training simulation’s display of the afternoon sky. Despite it being a genjutsu, Sakura could feel the soft heat of the setting sun on her skin. She could tell it was a complex jutsu from the way it synched up with her circadian rhythm. It was honestly fascinating how real the leaves lazily swayed from the summer breeze. What part of the brain does the genjutsu stimulate? The occipital lobe? The parietal lobe? If the parietal lobe was affected, would it be possible to send images to a blind person or vice-versa? It would be useful to make kunai disappear from someone’s sight. She made a mental note to practice more genjutsu.
The sting from a pulled calf muscle cut her from her thoughts. The weight on her ankles were starting to cause too much discomfort, and asking for a break would allow for conversation on strategy. She looked slightly ahead at Sai, who was maintaining their pace without a sweat.
“Sai.”
He kept his gaze forward.
“Sai?”
The boy promptly stayed quiet. After a couple seconds of still silence, Sakura broke.
“Sai!”
“Yes?” he asked, without looking back.
“Can we stop now? It’s been over 11 hours, and we need to plan.”
Sai came to a sudden halt— leaving Sakura stumbling on the branch ahead of him. He didn’t wait for her to catch herself before saying, “I know Danzou-sama. I know what he intends with this exercise, but for the first time, I cannot agree.”
Pink eyebrows scrunched slightly. “What do you mean?”
He turned his head away from Sakura, leaving only half of his face visible. “He wants to make us partners. We follow two-man cell protocols, but—” he hitched a breath— “I can not have an enemy as my teammate.”
Sakura’s foot led her forward a step. “Well I didn’t ask for this either,” she hissed.
Jade eyes spotted the stiffness of his jaw. They quickly darted to the hand over his holster and over to his face— where dark eyes flashed over the vulnerable points of her body.
Sakura’s vision sharpened, but the tension in her forehead casted tunnel vision. Her hand stung from brushing over the cool steel in her thigh holster. Her ears rang a low hum and heightened the loud thump of her accelerated heart.
A cool force tugged at the back of her mind.
She shuffled back with a stretch of her shoulders. Sakura released the tension in her neck with a sigh before saying, “But that doesn’t matter right now.” She gestured largely at the green scenery. “What matters is that we finish this job, and we do it now.”
Silence fell between the two. Sai stood rigid, like a lion before releasing its claws. A large flock of birds soared overhead with a cry. Sakura noted Sai shifted his weight on a single leg, and the killing intent broke like a spell. He swallowed, Adam's apple bobbing slightly in his throat. “Of course—.” Dark eyes narrowed. “Of course.”
Sakura didn’t trust Sai to have her back, but she could count on her partner’s desire to win. Over her or himself or the world— she did not know. However, their goals aligned, and that was the factor that pushed her to speak, “So what can you do?”
“I specialize in long-range attacks, but I am well versed in close combat. Ninjutsu is my most polished skill.”
The kunoichi brought a finger to her chin, thinking of a sufficient strategy. From the four chakra signatures she spotted, there were distinct features within each that determined both nature type and skill. Two of the chakra signatures were barely noticeable whereas the other two were fluctuating in presence— signifying that the first pair were most likely more advanced shinobi due to their superior chakra control. Like most Konoha shinobi, all four signatures had fire as their nature. All that was left to discover was what their specialties lie in.
“I’m a sensor and specialize in chakra control and close combat. Breaking and noticing genjutsu is my forte but casting is a bit more difficult,” Sakura said, taking a sharp breath. Sharing strengths and weaknesses with another shinobi was scary within itself, but having a new partner (who holds a strong… dislike for you) watching your back whilst knowing your vulnerabilities was a nightmare.
The two stood silently for a second. Internally, Sakura was trying to subside her nerves. A new mission, with a new partner, in a new place— it was all getting too much, too quickly. Plus she needed to prove herself despite the added burdens. Her stomach churned at the thought.
Sai casted his gaze to the undergrowth of the forest and rebounded back to Sakura. He asked, “Do you know how to reconnaissance?”
Sakura stared at the foliage slightly past Sai. She held her voice steady, praying it wouldn’t quiver, “No.”
The corner of Sai’s mouth ticked upward. “I will take Point,” he continued, “Follow behind a few meters and scout with your sensing— keep your chakra cloaked. When we get close to the enemy, I will try to drive them away while you go and search for the ring.”
He pulled out his notebook, and with a few strokes, a small mouse scurried up to Sakura’s shoulders. He added, “When you find the ring, put it in the mouse’s mouth. They will hide the ring in a secure place only we can access.”
Sakura nodded. “Got it.”
Hurdling through the treetops, Sakura kept her chakra and noise to the size of a squirrel. Sai shrunk his signature to that of an advanced genin. As they approached the four enemy nin, Sai signaled to halt. He signed unfamiliar commands, and when Sakura sent him a confused look, a silent sigh escaped his lips. Sai leapt to Sakura’s side, whispering, “Loop around until I set up the distraction. Once we are out of sight, follow the plan.”
Not knowing ANBU code, Sakura sent a thumbs up. Sai sighed once more with a furrowed brow. Two in a row. Must be a record, knowing his lack of emotion.
Sakura observed the enemy nin through the dense leaves. Unlike most ROOT agents at the base, the four shinobi wore their complete uniform— gray utility vest and blank mask secured on their body. From their stature, the two, more experienced shinobi were adults, for their chakra control was far superior to the other two, much younger ninja. Based on looks, Sakura figured the two younger shinobi were slightly older than her and Sai. Out of the four, only one was female.
The enemy kunoichi caught Sakura’s eye first. A large scroll sat on her back, along with a variety of smaller weapons filling her holsters. She was the shortest out of the group, and if Sakura assumed correctly, the youngest— meaning she’d be the weakest link from inexperience.
Not that it matters. The enemy kunoichi was still ROOT.
Completing her first loop, Sakura noticed other discerning details. One of the older shinobi, a slender man, held small vials of liquid on his belt. Another shinobi, who was older, had two fuinjutsu seals placed on either glove. Lastly, and most noticeably, the second youngest ninja had only the basic shinobi throwing weapons, and even then, they were lacking in numbers. Sakura assumed the young shinobi had a kekkei genkai or other boost that allowed him to not rely on weapons.
The four shinobi stood in a clearing— no trees or other shelter. They stood away from one another, each looking out into the forest surrounding them. Sakura kept observing around the shinobi for what seemed like hours. As she leapt, she tried to find Sai, and with a small tendril of chakra, she was able to find him directly underneath the shinobi with a lack of gear. Either the shinobi did not notice Sai’s blaring chakra signature or chose to ignore it because the four stood placid in their places.
Hundreds of tiny chakra signatures registered through Sakura’s sensor radar, and a small stabbing pain throbbed her temples. She winced, and could see the miniature signatures in her mind before actually seeing them. She first noticed the swarm of bugs landing on top of Sai’s hiding place before spotting an ink beetle with an explosive tag on its back scuttle up the chest of the young shinobi directly above Sai. The swarm, of what Sakura assumed was kikaichuu, loudly buzzed at Sai’s location, and as if it was a signal, the ear-curdling symphony abruptly stopped due to the intense explosion on the enemy nin’s chest.
The Aburame was launched into the forest at high speeds. The other three shinobi leaped towards one another, back-to-back. The slim man pulled a tantou— glimmering under the simulation’s setting sun. The burly shinobi held their hands up to their face and lowered their center of gravity— a taijutsu specialist, it seems. Lastly, the kunoichi, who seemed to be full of surprises, whipped out a pair of nunchucks from her large scroll with the ease of a seasoned kenjutsu specialist.
Sakura frowned, We’re dead.
Still lapping around the enemy, Sai released more explosive beetles around the shinobi’s feet, creating an eruptive orchestra. The enemy nin lurched forward, jumping to opposite sides of the clearing. However they recovered quickly, and Sai, noticing this, popped from his spot underneath the ground and quickly signed in succession: Ram, Serpent, Tiger. Three identical clones stood next to Sai with a large veil of smoke. The real Sai ran towards Sakura whereas the other three leaped to the other areas of the forest. The older shinobi chased after two of Sai clones. However, the kunoichi followed the real Sai. From an educated guess or sensing— Sakura did not know. But, what mattered was that she was heading towards Sakura’s shelter in the trees, and Sai, who was originally hurdling to her, quickly switched direction— moving to the area where the Aburame was launched at. Sai yelled before departing, “Take care of the kunoichi!”
Sakura quickly leaped to action, meeting the kunoichi head-to-head with her two daō. The nunchucks swung to the side of Sakura’s face, and she quickly blocked with the daō on her left— maneuvering the right daō to protect her open, left side. The kunoichi giggled behind the mask, and swerved her nunchucks to grapple Sakura’s left daō with the chain connecting the two pieces of hard metal. The enemy nin tugged her nunchucks back— nearly ripping the daō from Sakura’s iron grip.
Splitting apart, the two shinobi circled one another. With weapons raised, they synced up their steps— slowly inching closer to each other. The kunoichi split her nunchucks across her body, the chain acting as a shield of her chest. Sakura held her left daō near her face while her right daō was held at the center of her abdomen. It was hard to tell where the kunoichi was gazing due to her blank mask. Sakura kept her face aloof, feeling the porcelain weight on her belt loop.
The masked kunoichi spoke with a muffled voice, “Your daō are special, right? You don’t come across something like that everyday, but when you do, you can tell if there’s something sinister beneath the surface.”
Sakura clenched her jaw. “Making conversation in a fight isn’t the most strategic.” Is this an intimidation tactic? I can’t tell.
She could hear the grin on the kunoichi’s face. “I was just asking. I love foreign weapons.” In a flash, the kunoichi replaced her nunchucks with a long halberd. She continued, stabbing the vertical blade towards Sakura’s chest, “This is a jǐ— great for both long and short range combat.”
Sakura swerved out of the blade’s direction, the tip of the jǐ brushing past her gray tactical vest. Using the momentum of her pivot, Sakura ducked underneath the halberd and shoved her two blades forward. The blades stuck in the kunochi’s abdomen. However, as Sakura pulled the blades apart— creating a large tear in her vest, there was no sign of injury.
Sakura jumped backwards, barely escaping the shinobi’s knee strike. The kunoichi, who was visibly trembling, broke out in a laugh. “Aw, man! You’re a slippery one, aren’t ya?” She spun her jǐ like a baton and stuck the flat end into the ground. “Your technique is sloppy, but the daō fit your fighting style well. What is it? Kono-Suna Style? River Mist Style?”
What the hell is she doing?
Not voicing her inner thoughts, Sakura politely answered, “Kono-Suna Style.”
The kunoichi perked up. “Wow! I personally use River Mist Style with my daō.”
Sakura decided to keep the momentum of the conversation. Danzou always said to know the enemy better than yourself. She asked, “What taijutsu style do you use for your jǐ? It’s different from Konoha’s style.”
The kunoichi unfurled her scroll from her back and placed the halberd inside. She clasped her hands together after putting it back. She squealed, “I thought you’d never ask!”
Her cheerful demeanor slipped off like a poison-coated senbon. She lowered herself into a battle stance, fist guarding her head. “I’ll tell you after I kick your ass.”
The kunoichi lunged at Sakura, grabbing her arms and locking them to her side. Unable to catch herself, Sakura hit the back of her head with a harsh thud. Ears ringing, Sakura could only stare as the kunoichi pinned her to the ground. Her vision was wavering, small stars coating her view. Sakura couldn’t breathe from the sudden impact. Gasping for air, she maneuvered her head away from the kunoichi’s punches. The shinobi, clearly frustrated, continued to punch faster, growling, “Stop moving!”
The kunoichi finally landed a hit, knocking Sakura out for a second. Drifting in a daze, Sakura noticed a glint from the enemy’s fist. A ring.
“You killed him! YOU KILLED CHŪNFĒNG!”
The pressure on her chest. Bodies— too many of them—lay on the ground around them. Silver bands. Invisible scars. Blazing pain. It was all too much. Too much. TOO MUCH. TOOMUCHTOOMUCHTOOMUCH—. Chakra pumped through Sakura’s arms. Her fist, moving faster than she thought possible, punched the figure on top of her— knocking off the blank mask. Sakura pushed the kunoichi away from her. She grabbed her abdomen and bent forward, urging for oxygen to enter lungs. The shinobi landed flat on the ground— full face on display.
Brown hair. Brown eyes.
“Tenten?”
Tenten got up swiftly and wiggled her fingers in a wave. “Hey, Sakura.”
It seemed Sakura could never catch a break because a hand grabbed the back of her vest and lifted her up. Tenten became a small dot on the ground, along with the other enemy nin regrouping back to the clearing.
Mind still racing, Sakura looked up at her kidnapper and stammered, “S-Sai?!”
He gave his signature plastic smile. “Sakura.”
She looked around, taking in the aerial view of the forest. Glancing back at Sai, she noticed the large, ink bird her partner was riding. She asked dumbly, “Can you lift me up?”
“Only if you found the ring.”
Sakura crossed her arms across her chest, not minding the way her legs dangled in the air. She relayed with annoyance, “I found the ring, asshole. It’s on Tenten’s finger.”
Sai cocked his head to the side. “Tenten? Is that the kunoichi?”
Glaring at Sai, Sakura snapped, “The shinobi you lead directly to me? Yeah. That’s the one.”
Dark eyes narrowed. “I can let you go right now.”
“But you won’t,” she retorted. “The mission isn’t over.”
Whatever attitude Sai held quickly dissipated, and the blank face returned. After a moment of silence, Sai said, “Let us regroup.”
The night sky blanketed shadows over their escape. Sai flew them towards a river— which surprisingly wasn’t an illusion. With only the clothes on their backs, the duo hunted for dinner. Sakura thanked the fake stars for Sai’s talent of cooking wild animals, and despite the dull pain from her jaw, the roasted rabbit tasted phenomenal.
Sakura fell asleep to the ruffle of leaves.
❀
“This is impossible!”
Sakura and Sai sat around a small fire, moonlight painting the scene. It had been a day since Sakura’s battle with Tenten, and as the hours passed, the ring seemed further away. Sai poked the fish she caught from the river with a stick as it cooked and said, “Danzou-sama would not order the impossible.”
Hot air escaped Sakura’s lips in a huff. She muttered, “Know it all…”
Sai stopped inspecting the fish, keeping his stick in his lap. He gave Sakura a steely gaze. “I know Danzou-sama.”
Sakura scoffed with the tilt of her head. “Yeah, and I’m the Hokage.”
Keeping clenched hands at his side, he abruptly stood up— dropping his stick in the process. “Stop it.”
She sneered, edging him on, “Stop what?”
“Interesting him.”
Sakura leaned back on her spot on the forest floor. “Is this what it’s about? Really?”
“You aren’t even a chunin,” he seethed. “You have nothing to your name! You’re disposable.”
Sai’s hands unclenched with his sharp words. His dark eyes glowed against porcelain skin. He spoke the cursed words that haunted her. A burning rage boiled in Sakura’s stomach, and with the drop of her stick, she neared closer to her partner.
She stuck her index finger against his chest, piercing his dark eyes with her own. “Are you that insecure?” She continued, pushing him back, “Are you that insecure that you’ll try and put me down because I caught Danzou’s eye?” Sakura turned back around, walking back to her spot. “Because, if you are, I already won.”
A firm frown painted his face. “No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“NO!”
It rang through the leaves, bouncing against the bark. Sai sat back down with a hard thud. He picked up his fallen stick and scribbled in the dirt. All was silent, except the buzz of insects and soft calls of birds. After a few minutes, Sai murmured, “I do not understand.”
Sakura peered up at Sai, following his strokes with her gaze. “Understand what?”
The ROOT agent across from her looked like a kid, drawing in the soil. He kept his eyes downward, and Sakura noticed the youthful glow on his cheeks. Sai broke the silence. “I went through Assassination Specialization… I am more skillful— useful— than you.” He stammered, “So why…? Why am I worth less than you?”
Sakura knotted her eyebrows, looking through the flickering flames. After some thought, she shrugged. “I don’t know.” A confession fell from her lips. “Everyday I think, why me?”
The fire shivered from the breeze. Sakura watched the flames dance— crying to live. Sai shuddered out a breath, and Sakura looked towards him— surprised to see him already gazing at her. His face contorted to an awkward grimace. “Because Danzou-sama sees something in you.”
“What do you mean?”
He sighed, returning to poke the cooking fish. “You have something that Danzou-sama needs. He would not have recruited you otherwise.”
Sakura answered his unspoken question, “It’s my mind. I’m impenetrable.” An uncomfortable silence blanketed the two before she inquired, “Why were you recruited?”
“I had the mental capacity to handle the Assassination Specialization Program or ASP.” He continued, “I was the only one in my class who was worthy.”
Pink tresses tickled Sakura’s neck, tickling her throat. She coughed and asked, “Worthy?”
Sai poked the fish one last time before spearing the fried meat on his stick. He held the fish near his face, memorizing how the wood pierced the fish’s eyes. Dark eyes followed the drip of aqueous substance trailing down his hands. He grabbed the tail of the fish, and bit into the side with a tear. The crunch of scales were audible in the solitude of the forest.
“Worthy…” he murmured, looking into the flickering flames.
Sakura looked at her fish above the fire— the sides of the body tinted in ash. She stabbed it through the gut and blew off the smoke. Lowering the stick to her lap, she slowly twirled it to cool it off. Sai was an enigma to her, both aloof and explosive. Like her, he desired Danzou-sama’s attention and praise. The way he would slightly perk when their commander spoke to him was like a mirror Sakura stood in front of. Despite their rocky relationship, she could still empathize. Right now, with the fire and the moonlight casting a nostalgic glow, Sakura could see Sai sitting in her chair at the barren table in her empty home.
She asked in a soft tone, “What makes you worthy?”
He recited, “I, against my peers, showcased perdurable mental-fortitude along with an unprecedented jutsu.” She could hear Danzou as he continued, “I will use my abilities to strengthen ROOT and further Konoha’s standing as one of the mighty, Five Great Shinobi Countries.”
Sakura lifted one side of her lips with an amused huff. “You’re pretty cool, huh?”
Black eyebrows furrowed despite his question’s robotic cadence, “I cannot tell if you are mocking me.”
With the flick of her wrist, she assured, “I’m not.” She took a bite of her fish. The meat melted on her tongue. “Danzou-sama obviously needs your abilities. The fact that he acknowledges it is more than what most people could say.” Sakura swallowed with a sigh. “I just hope I can get that type of praise too.”
Sai pulled a canteen from the pocket of his gray vest. His one-piece, black suit (just like mine) had small holes, as if chewed through. The blank mask on his belt loop was polished despite the small smudge of dirt on his face. He took a swig from it and handed it to Sakura. She giggled. “Sorry, I don’t drink.”
“It is water, drink it,” her partner demanded.
She took the canteen. “Thanks.”
The water soothed her dry throat, and she spoke again, “Did you get this from the river?”
Sai finished the last of his fish and nodded. Sakura smiled. “The fact that there’s a river here is insane. I guess genjutsu can’t simulate that.” For a moment, she sat in thought. Sakura continued, eyebrows furrowed, “There were also birds and rabbits… There’s no way those were fake, right? I mean,” she laughed, “we just ate rabbit yesterday!”
Sai informed, “The animals here are real. Only species that can adapt to the concrete pillars are present— the same goes for the other training rooms.”
“Huh,” Sakura said, dumbfounded, “I guess genjutsu can only do so much.”
“Actually,” Sai began, “there are theories that genjutsu can trick the body into believing it is ingesting something that is not present. It is not proven, but the only studies that mention it say only Sharingan-levels of genjutsu or someone very susceptible to genjutsu could recreate that instance.”
“Susceptible how?” Sakura asked, keen on learning more.
“Say, someone who is starving to death.”
She pursed her lips. “So why not do that here? Are the seals not powerful enough?”
Sai nodded. “The seals take a lot of chakra due to the large area of the room, therefore it only creates the veil of a forest— it does not help that the seals must affect multiple people at the same time.”
“So if I were to stop my chakra, the genjutsu would still continue since the seals are constantly emitting chakra?” She inquired, finishing the last of her fish. Sakura grabbed a kunai; her hands felt empty and twirling something while thinking always helped.
“Correct. Unlike the regular burst of chakra one would need to cast a genjutsu, the seals are in constant need of chakra when in use, and therefore, cannot be broken in the same way.”
“Hmm…” Sakura stopped spinning her kunai— lost in thought. Wait… kunai! She suddenly stood, her brain practically buzzing in her skull. “What if we use genjutsu to cloak ourselves!? We can steal the ring right under their noses!”
Sai hummed, brainstorming. As if the pieces clicked, he announced, “That is the purpose of this exercise. Danzou-sama never wanted us to fight. We are training to be spies— being seen means we have already failed.”
“Not yet,” Sakura said, starting to pace back-and-forth. “Danzou-sama isn’t here, and we’re not dead.” She stopped, looking at Sai. “We’ve still got this.”
❀
The next night, Sai and Sakura hid in the trees— observing the enemy nin in the clearing. As they were the other day, the shinobi stood in place as they watched the forest. Sakura muttered to Sai, “Do they ever sleep?”
“Probably not. One of the first skills ROOT teaches is operating at full efficiency while sleep deprived.”
“Great,” Sakura sarcastically replied. “How are we going to steal the ring if they’re all there?”
“It is likely that the Aburame will be able to sense us through his kikaichuu. The kunoichi is without a doubt unable to detect us. However, the real gamble will lie with the two older shinobi.” Sai explained. “I have only recently returned to HQ due to my missions, so I do not know their abilities.”
Sakura turned to Sai, puzzled. “Are you saying you’ve been on active duty since your graduation from ASP?”
Sai merely nodded, eyes distant despite their watchful gaze. Sakura grimaced, looking back at the enemy shinobi. From Sai’s silence, she figured he wanted to move on from that topic. She spoke, “Can you lead the Aburame away and henge as him? From the information we’ve gathered, he’s the only one who can sense us.”
Her partner glanced around the scene, going through his options. His eyes remained on the Aburame. “Kikaichuu are attracted to chakra. I will go 10 kilometers West and flare my chakra. Hopefully the Aburame will take someone with him to scout.”
“Perfect.” Sakura grinned. “While you’re away, I’ll cast a genjutsu on whoever is left and grab the ring.”
Sai lifted a dark brow. “I thought you were not proficient in casting genjutsu?”
“I’m not,” she admitted with a tilt of her lips, “but I have a theory that if I affect the parietal lobe of the brain, I can remove myself from their sight. I’ve been in this shit-hole forest long enough to recreate it.”
Sakura heard a chuckle from beside her. She turned to her partner with surprise on her face. Sai lifted a hand to his mouth, eyes bulging. Sakura clapped him on the back and sent him a smile. “Well look at that— something we actually agree on!”
Sai frowned. “We have worked together on strategy.”.
Sakura let her hand fall. “Yeah, but not outside of our mission.” She made a tiger seal. “After our work here is done, let’s go to the Mess Hall.”
Focusing on her mental image of the forest, she pictured the whisper of drifting leaves and sturdy bark. Sakura determined that she only needed to affect sight since she would be able to soften her steps and slip off the ring without a trace. Plus, it would allow her to use less chakra and affect more people. Sai had already left after her comment, as evident from his chakra signature steadily moving away. Sakura maintained the view of the forest in her mind, keeping her chakra boiling in her abdomen.
Sai released his chakra, and like a moth to a flame, the Aburame immediately stood straighter. He signed to his team (that Sakura assumed was ANBU code, based on Sai’s hand movements the other day), and the Aburame left with the man that had the vials on his belt.
The moment they were out of sight, Sakura pushed her stirring chakra at the minds of the remaining shinobi. Aiming at the top ends of their brain, Sakura casted the view of the forest in her mind. She watched the reactions of Tenten and the burly shinboi, waiting for a change. When no sudden movement was in sight, Sakura moved— keeping her movements silent. With each step on the grassy field, Sakura could feel her heart racing, and she wanted nothing more than to go back to her spot in the trees and clutch her heart. However, the adrenaline coursing through her veins made her eyes sharper, and despite the anxiety, the weird sensation of hyper-focus made Sakura feel she could do anything.
Tenten, with her mask on and muscles loose, was only a foot away. Sakura could hear the kunoichi breathe from her strained hearing. Sneaking closer, now only a few centimeters from Tenten, Sakura spotted the silver band on her finger. The large diamond placed on the top refracted light from the genjutsu, and Sakura could practically count the carats. She slowly brought her hand closer to the ring, but the sudden turn from the burly shinobi startled her.
Sakura’s hand now on the ring, the burly shinobi murmured, “My seals went off— something’s here.”
Tenten kept her eyes on the forest and waved her partner off with her barren hand. “It’s probably just a rabbit. Your seals go off from literally anything with a chakra signature.”
Sakura glanced at the seals on the older shinobi’s gloves. It seemed they were proficient in fuinjutsu. The enemy nin continued, “No need for an attitude,” they laughed. “Better to be paranoid and die than not know what defeated you.”
Sakura could hear the smirk under Tenten’s mask. “Okay, oh-wise Sage.”
As they were conversing, Sakura slipped the ring off Tenten’s finger. She hauled her ass out of there and moved to a dark area of the forest. The ink mouse that Sai had left her scurried to her shoulder, and Sakura placed the ring in its mouth. The mouse squeaked, as if confirming its mission, and scuttled off into the bushes.
Sakura headed towards the entrance of the training grounds, waiting for Sai. After 10 minutes, she spotted dark features and glowing skin in the distance, and when Sai stood next to her, Sakura brought her hand up in a high-five.
Sai sent a puzzled look. “Is your hand injured?”
“No, dummy.” Sakura grinned. “It’s a high-five.”
“High…five?”
“Yeah,” she started, clearly surprised, “you hit each other’s hands like a clap. It’s to celebrate. Don’t tell me you’ve never high-fived before?”
Sai stared at his sandals. “I have not participated in a high-five.” After a pause, he asked, “Does it improve comradery?”
“Well, yeah.”
A pale palm gently tapped Sakura’s own. She sent him a smile— one of excitement and new beginnings.
And Sai sent one back.
❀
The rest of Sakura’s month was spent in a rural village of the Land of Grass.
After her and Sai’s training, Danzou deemed them ready for the next step of their espionage preparation. He told them to pack light and meet him at the border separating Grass and Fire. When the duo arrived, Danzou handed them their own scrolls. A new identity. Someone with different features. A person with completely opposite upbringings and personality. As they dressed into their disguises, their commander spoke of their mission. They were to dismantle a cartel smuggling drugs from their base in Grass into the capital of the Land of Fire, Ōujisama.
Sakura was to be a young boy with dark hair, honey-brown eyes, and a gap in between his front teeth. His name was Kajima, and he was a solemn boy with the tendency to lash out in anger. Freckles covered his olive skin, blanketing Sakura with an innocent veil of stars.
Sai was to be a young girl with blonde hair and scarlet eyes. Her name was Tsubaki, and she was outspoken and proud. Unlike her crooked nose, she was forced to straighten out her attitude by her parents. Her peachy skin was covered in scars and marks from her brawls in her old neighborhood.
However, both Kajima and Tsubaki were to be sold to the cartel. Kajima was an orphan who worked in the fields of Iwagakure whereas Tsubaki was from a poor family in the second largest city in the Land of Iron. Both children were on the cusp of survival— bony ribs stretching the skin of their chest. For a bag of rice a month, the pair were placed on the back of a carriage, along with other children from across the nations, and sent off to a nameless town in Grass to serve Iwagakure’s largest cartel.
They were to steal the financial records of the gang along with the files containing the names of the higher-ups. Danzou suspected they were in cahoots with the Fire Daimyou’s Economic Advisor who was in charge of trade and merchandise. All he needed was the evidence to lock the Advisor behind bars, and with the growing overdoses of the new, addictive drug in the Land of Fire, Danzou needed the final piece of the puzzle.
Wigs and tattered disguises on, Kajima and Tsubaki boarded the carriage and arrived at the large, stone headquarters of the cartel. Guards stood in front of the large barrier around the building, as if it were an impenetrable castle. Sakura noted how the soldiers held swords and spears with the hands of a mercenary. Later that day, as they slept side-by-side on the cold floor of the room housing hundreds of sold children, Sai whispered his confirmation of Sakura’s sightings.
Kajima and Tsubaki worked the fields of the drug’s plant— picking off the buds of the barley blooming flower. Their leader, an older man with a scar across his nose, barked orders to retrieve the seeds of the flower. As the two hid themselves in the crowd, they made friends with the other children. From their conversations during lunch, their friends murmured the stories of the children who worked in the labs. Apparently, they grind the seeds into a fine powder and separate the components that release endorphins to the neurotransmitters of the brain and the waste through the use of chemicals.
The duo gathered as much information as possible as they searched for the File Room. Once found, Sai made a Kajima clone and distracted the guards stationed in front of the room while Sakura slipped behind their backs. It took Sakura 5 minutes to find the files, and it took another 10 to copy them. She stuck the original papers into a scroll in her breast pocket and placed the copied files in their original place.
At dusk, Kajima and Tsubaki escaped the compound and headed to Danzou’s hotel on the outskirts of the Land of Fire. Their commander could not hide the minute tilt of his lips as they handed him the documents.
With the warmness they felt in their hearts, Sakura and Sai released Kajima and Tsubaki into the obscurity of the past and into the back of their minds as they headed home.
❀
Sakura shunshin-ed into Danzou’s office without a speck of smoke. She lowered herself into a bow, mask on her hip, “You called for me, Danzou-sama?”
Danzou flicked his wrist, and Sakura stood at ease. He reached for something under his desk and pulled out a shogi board. He said, “Come sit. Let’s play a game.”
Sakura sat in front of her commander and placed her pieces on the board. Once the two were set, Danzou signaled her to go first. She moved her G2 Fu, the Pawn, one space forward. Danzou placed a finger on his D3 Fu and slid it forward one space. He started, “Your last mission was a success, and you have improved immensely in your training.” Sakura made her Fu go F2 to E2, taking control of the board. He continued, “You’re ready for your next assignment.”
Danzou placed his B2 Hi Sha, the Rook, to D3— where his original Pawn stood. Sakura asked, “With the Godaime?” She moved her G7 Fu forward to F7. Danzou placed his Gin, the silver General, at 3A to B4. Seeing this, Sakura moved her 3I Gin to H4— mirroring his movements. Danzou nodded, confirming her inquiry as he went from C4 to D4 with his Pawn. Eyes darting across the board and placing her Fu from G5 to F5, she questioned, “What will my role be?”
“Yourself,” he answered, using his Knight to fill the place of his C4 Pawn.
Sakura leaned back and observed the board. She didn’t indulge in Shogi much— only opting to play when she was younger. It was a skill that a merchant wasn’t required to know, but her father was a fan of the game. He had said that the board was the battlefield of the mind. It was one of the few times her father wasn’t animated in his speech. “I don’t understand,” Sakura confessed. She went diagonal with her King: I5 to H6— the start of the opening she was well acquainted with from the other side of her home’s table.
Jade eyes lowered back to the board. Danzou kept his slow start, moving a Fu from C8 to D8— she noted the faded scars on his hands. Sakura continued, “How will I be able to fool the Godiame without a role?” Keeping the pressure, she moved her King, the Ou, once to the right— landing on H7.
Finally gaining some control of the board, Danzou placed a Pawn on E8. He answered, “There will be no ruse.” Sakura furrowed pink eyebrows, confused. She went H8 to G7 with her Kaku, the Bishop. He elaborated, “If Tsunade is like the rest of her ancestors,” he went C5 to D5 with his Fu, “she will value authenticity.”
Sakura nodded, despite her brain still working through the motions. For the past month, she had lied, stole, and deceived. How was she supposed to be authentic when Kajima’s ashes were with the wind? She moved her I7 Bishop up-right, landing on H8. How was she supposed to play as Sakura when she was still picking herself up? Danzou went from D3 to E3. The view she had of the board was off— too small and too far. Sakura knew she’d do anything for the mission, but deep down, she was nervous to see any semblance of her past-self— the one from before Team 7, before Toads and Snakes, before ROOT. Her H4 Kaku slid to G5, the calm before the storm.
“It wasn’t until I became a councilman that I started to play Shogi,” Danzou started, moving his C4 Bishop to D3— a beginning to an impenetrable defense.
Sakura bit the inside of her cheek, tasting metal. Patience thinning, she pushed her F5 Fu to E5, standing in front of Danzou’s own Pawn. She pried, “I thought you’d be a long-time fan.”
Danzou hummed, as if humored, and captured her E5 Fu with his own. “I was too busy with war to indulge in table-top games.” Sakura sent her G5 Kaku to F6, wanting to capture his E5 Pawn. In an unlikely move, Danzou went A6 to B5 with his Kin, the Silver General— a piece that can only move forward and (in any direction) diagonally— to stand in front of his King. He waited for Sakura to capture his E5 Fu with her Bishop before continuing, “It wasn’t until after my retirement that an… acquaintance had brought out his board—” his Silver General went B5 to C4 “— ‘to celebrate our Will of Fire,’ he said.” Sakura, nervous of Danzou’s sudden aggressiveness, slid her Hi Sha to H5. She stayed silent as the older man reminisced, “At the time, I didn’t understand the value in the Will of Fire.” He moved his Kin, the Gold General, to protect the front of his King. “What purpose did passion serve in battle when we are told to be nothing but weapons for Konoha?”
Sakura kept her face blank despite her anxiety. She was someone who aimed for gold, even if unfamiliar with the assignment. The girl may not be a Shogi master, but if she could impress her commander with her intelligence, this would be the place. Since she had captured Danzou’s pawn, she placed his own Fu on D5— using his own pieces against him. She hoped Danzou could feel the sweat on the back of her neck fall to the hem of his robes.
Small smirk still on his face, he slid his King to A4, avoiding her Pawn’s pressure. Filling Sakura’s silence, he said, “All creatures are drawn to fire, but there is no animal who will let themselves burn.” The genin looked up and was surprised to see Danzou watching her as she moved her Kin forward to H4.
His Silver General went A7 to B6, eyes still on her. “Show only the brightest parts and let the shadows mask the heat.”
Sakura slid her Fu to F4. She nodded, solving his riddle. “I understand, Danzou-sama.” Danzou moved his Ou to B3. She went to G4 with her Golden General, hoping to clear the board soon. The councilman took her E2 Pawn with his Gin. Sakura inquired, “Will I continue my ROOT training?”
Sakura moved to F1 with her Pawn. Danzou pushed his Fu to D2. He answered, “No,” Sakura wilted— her Fu going to F9, and he continued, “As the Godaime’s apprentice, you will have eyes on you no matter where you go.” He moved his Gin backwards, landing on D3. “Sai will act as your messenger. He will soon become a member of Konoha’s Chunin Corps.”
Noticing her commander’s retreat, Sakura pushed her Fu to F3, placing pressure on the Gin’s surrounding pieces. She wondered aloud, “I thought Sai was an Assassination Specialist?”
Danzou captured the F3 Pawn with his own and hummed under his breath. “I see he told you.” Sakura retaliated by taking his Fu with her Ki. Danzou placed one of Sakura’s captured Fu on the tile in front of her Golden General. He said, “However, like any shinobi in ROOT, one must be adaptable.” Sakura moved her Ki back, and the councilman placed another one of Sakura’s Pawn on the board— the beginning of an offense.
Sakura sent her Ki to the right; Danzou immediately followed by capturing another one of her Pawns. The two sat in silence as they went back-and-forth— capturing and entering pieces. It was a steady tie between the two for a while. Sakura felt confident in her movements, pushing down the urge to smile. As they played, the genin observed her commander. His placements were precise and efficient. There was no need to exert his pieces, for everything was placed to support one another. Yet, Sakura’s confidence starten to wean as Danzou promoted more and more pieces— lifting them up and using them to attack.
Sakura tried to protect her Ou, but as Danzou’s pieces started to surround her, Sakura resigned.
Danzou grabbed Sakura’s King and inspected it before saying, “Your first S-Rank mission starts now.”