Born from Silence
Naruto stares at Sakura in shock, no not his Sakura.…His Sakura would never be a tool for Danzo and sit in front of Sasuke and Sai and state such nonsense! He clenches his fist and sits up straight as Kakashi barks out that Danzo is dead. Sakura knew this already, as it was only one of the most celebrated events known to the Uchiha’s. He looks over at his two teammates who look stricken. Sai having been under Danzo’s control in ROOT looks to be having a mini melt down while Sasuke looks ready to blow.
Tenzo shows no emotion and Kakashi's handling this the best way he knows how, with orders.
“We have a big day tomorrow and we all need rest. Sai, Sasuke and Naruto you will be sharing a tent. Tenzo, Sakura and I will be in the other. I will get first watch and it will go in order from there. Sakura you’re exempt from watch for obvious reasons.”
Sakura nods.
Naruto stares at her, the realization that his Sakura isn’t there hitting home right then and there. While Kakashi had ordered them not to tell Sakura information and all through Sakura’s explanation that she was from a different dimension he kinda thought it was all a big joke. It had to be… What kind of messed up bullshit is it that his Sakura was demolished and wiped clean from her body while this other girl hopped aboard? This isn’t some science fiction novel.
He had just told Sakura how he felt. Had just held her as she wept for her mother and was there when she went on a rampage about her father forcing her to quit being a kunoichi. Hell, everyone on Team Seven and Konoha Eleven was there for her when that happened and still had her come to training sessions. Speaking of… Ino doesn’t even know her best friend is gone! Naruto growls in frustration but more so with himself that he took this all too lightly.
“I’m sorry, Naruto.” Sakura is standing before him. He startles and blinks his tearful eyes quickly wiping them away.
“It can’t be true.” He whispers to her. “This can’t be happening. I thought…” Thought this would be a sick game and eventually everyone would be laughing about it. “She can’t be gone.”
She grabs his hands tightly and he tries to pull away but her hold is gridlocked.
“Listen… Naruto.” Sakura swallows and looks over to Kakashi who takes the hint and begins to walk away while ushering the boys along.
“Let me go,” Naruto starts to fight her grip, “You’re not her so it doesn’t matter. Just let go.”
Sakura opens her mouth looking ready to say something but then closes her mouth and lets go of Naruto’s hands. Naruto takes a deep breath and another, his anger growing as he takes in her sorrowful face. His Sakura didn’t have a choice and now this one is here after dying getting a second chance, and she was loyal to Danzo of all people.
“I don’t care how you do it, you get her back! You don’t deserve to be here, this isn’t your life! Sakura is an amazing and beautiful and caring person and all you have been is..is..” He shakes and looks away. “Figure it out!”
Naruto turns and stalks off in the direction of the tent and while walking by Kakashi he ignores his Sensei’s stare. He throws open the tent flap and ducks inside and sits between Sasuke and Sai who were fiercely whispering when he came in but stopped once he entered.
“I can’t believe this.” Naruto puts his head between his knees.
Sai pats his back. “Were you and Sakura really going out?”
Sasuke smacks Sai’s head. “Now isn’t the time!”
“I can’t believe this!” Naruto says again. What else is there to say?
“The fact she just admitted she’s a tool for Danzo just makes this more dangerous than before. We can't speak to her about anything… No wonder why Kakashi said for us to remain quiet. I mean, he didn’t look surprised so he must have known.” Sasuke says while arranging his bedroll.
“If she is from ROOT then she has been programmed, so that doesn’t necessarily mean she is loyal.” Sai says softly. Naruto and Sasuke look over to Sai. “It could mean he was successful there where he wasn’t here. What if he was never executed?”
It took years for Sai to begin living a ‘normal’ shinobi life after Tenzo had rescued them both out of ROOT while the proceedings for his trial were taking place, before the execution itself. He lived with Tenzo and they both began therapy and also had help from Tsunade to dismantle the seal that was put on them… even with Tsunade's help however Sai still cannot say Danzo name and can still be triggered now and then. Sai takes a deep breath. Sakura’s mantra almost put him in a bad mind set again and fortunately Kakashi was quick to shut that down. He wonders how Tenzo is doing as he was victim to Danzo far longer than he was.
“It doesn’t matter, Sai, that isn’t our Sakura, and who cares what she went through?! It isn’t our problem, she had her life, she can’t just take over someone else’s!”
---
In the other tent Sakura lays in the bedroll facing away from Tenzo laying opposite of her. They can clearly hear the boys. Her heart clenches and she swallows down a sob as she hears Naruto. Not her Naruto. Not her Naruto. Not her Naruto. She continues to repeat this over and over and blocks out their voices no longer wishing to hear them.
“They are just upset… he doesn’t mean it.” Tenzo whispers.
Sakura doesn’t say anything and tries to remain as still as possible hoping to feign being asleep. She knows he knows she’s awake but she doesn’t care and tries to think of the good times with her Naruto but is unable to.
“Sakura, you’re to go to this village northeast of Suna. We expect total annihilation and because you’re one of my favorites I will give you the option, poison or disease.” Danzo smirks staring at her with both eyes, his sharingan twirling.
“Yes, Hokage-sama.”
“Ah, you know me better than that, I want you to address me by my name when we are alone like this.” Danzo frowns at the disrespect. He will have to give her more training.
Sakura bows apologetically. “Yes, Danzo-sama. Of course, Danzo-sama!”
“What is it you will choose?” He stands up and goes over to her pulling her hair back and twirling it in his hand.
“I choose what you prefer, Danzo-sama.”
“Hmm… I always liked disease, it’s hard to trace and can look a lot like a rat came by instead of a deliberate act of war. Yes… let’s go with disease. I want slow and painful, you should know a good one with your medical experience.” He pulls her hair back causing her to step into his hold. He puts his arm around her chest and his face into the crook of her neck. “And remember my cherry blossom, if anyone from that village is left alive your Sensei will be down a hand, understood?”
“Yes, Danzo-sama! I am Konoha’s tool, to be used by you, Danzo-sama!” She relaxes herself into his hold causing the man to chuckle. He squeezes her ass then smacks it before letting her go.
“Dismissed.”
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“We can’t keep going on like this, Naruto… please something must be done…” She pleads with the blond in front of her. Kakashi was off on a mission with Sai and they weren’t coming back for a while, which meant Naruto and herself are placed with a ROOT operative of Danzo’s choosing.
“While Danzo is in power, we are his tools to use.” Naruto’s voice cracks. He just came back from a week long reprogramming session.
She pulls him into a hug. “You can’t give up hope on me, Naruto! Don’t you dare!”
Naruto hugs back and puts his head into her shoulder. “One day, Kura. Promise.”
“Thank you.”
Sakura opens her eyes waking to the sound of Kakashi switching with Tenzo for the watch. He takes his place where Tenzo was resting to give center space between them. She holds her breath and closes her eyes again hoping he didn't notice her sudden change in breathing.
"I know you're awake, Sakura." Kakashi whispers. "Don't worry about the boys right now, it's a lot for them to take in. We have to finish this mission first and foremost and once we are back in Konoha we can discuss all of this, kay?"
"Kay."
"Everything will be fine." Kakashi says. Sakura turns to him staring at him through the dark, he isn't facing her but towards the tent.
"You said that to me in my dimension too, that everything will be fine." It sounds like she's accusing him of being a liar, so she adds, "Thank you, Kakashi-sensei."