Gerimis

Sakura Haruno sat perched on a steel chair while transcribing Shizune Kato’s every word. They were monitoring a sample of Root’s fifth Bijuu chakra which was contained in a two by five feet glass container. The glass container was attached to a few wires and sensors recording its heat, radiation waves and anything which can’t be seen by the human eyes. Apart from observing the chakra, the whole process was also recorded on camera.

Shizune placed a hand on the glass container and the chakra moved towards it, but soon it moved away and began exploring the inner surface of the container. The orange chakra moved like how smoke is in water, the smoke like thing moved along the bottom surface of the container before slowly reaching one inner wall. Then it moved upwards towards the upper surface and moved across the upper part of the container and reached the other end and began moving down. It looked like it was feeling and sensing its surroundings.  

The glass container was framed by a black contraption which looked bulky but it succesfully bounded the sample chakra from escaping the glass container. The innovation was developed by Yamato, a CHUNIN agent and Killer Bee, a Jinchuriki. Yamato and Killer B had spent all their lives learning how to control Bijuu Chakra, and with the aid of Root had spent the past five years creating gadgets which could bound Bijuu Chakra in small containers. Bijuu Chakra in small amounts were easy to bound but Bijuu Chakra inside a human host was another story.

In another lab five doors down, two lab attendants were placing back a pair of cryogenic containers back into storage. It would be six months later before the bodies were due for its next check up. As they closed the storage door, the labels of the bodies in the containers were revealed. On metal plates were inscribed: Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki.

After closing the first door, the two attendants worked side by side to lock another three very heavy insulated doors. Finally they reached the main door of the Cryogenic Storage, but just as they were about to push it close Kakashi Hatake’s voice came over the PA system.

“Maa boys, an order just came in. Please send them to Shizune in lab A3”

Kotetsu and Izumo, the two attendants nodded and waited until Kakashi left the room before using body languages to voice their frustration at having to open the heavy doors again. It had been almost 15 years since the bodies were stored here and had been checked for damages every six months. The pair were relieved for the bodies but were sighing at the thought of having their leaves frozen for a month in anticipation of preparing the bodies.

Meanwhile Kakashi walked happily towards  lab A11, five doors up. He flashed his eye into the scanner and was granted access into the Observation Room where Shizune was. Without words, he passed an Authorization Tab to Shizune who took it automatically without glancing away from the Bijuu Chakra.

“Sakura, end of observation 1515. Go and rest.” Shizune advised Sakura which also meant that she wanted her assistant to leave them for discussion.

“Don’t worry Shizune, the higher ups wanted a member among the juniors to join in the programme. They specifically asked for you.”

Sakura who had stood up and was clearing the table and her laptop quickly looked at Shizune, searching in her mentor’s eyes for approval.

Without a word, Shizune slid the monitor of the Authorization Tab awake and scan her finger on it. Her eyes lit up and she smiled widely as she read the words on it. Shizune looked at Kakashi for a second and continued reading the Authorization Tab. It was an order to revive the bodies of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, ahead of schedule.

“About time,” Shizune glanced to Kakashi. Then she passed the Authorization Tab to Sakura. “Please scan your finger into the tab and get on with the preparation. “

Shizune flashed Sakura a smile and the apprentice nodded to her sensei.

“Sakura, as my assistant throughout the revival process, you will have to pick up speed in learning many new procedures. You will conduct second experiment after every first experiment I do.

“Yes sensei,” said Sakura energetically. Kakashi’s visible eye turned small with glee.

Shizune then turned to Kakashi and said, “Welcome back to ROOT, how long will you stay this time?”

Kakashi’s mask moved as he talked. Shizune sensed from his voice that he was feeling very happy about the project.

“I’ll be staying here for the duration of the mergence. Sakura, congratulations on the promotion. You will learn a lot from Shizune.”

Sakura blushed and bowed in respect towards Kakashi, “I am honoured to be a part of this programme sensei.”

She then looked up at Shizune and asked. “I have heard of Minato Namikaze before, in fact everyone knew he died the year I was born. Well, me and my peers who were born that year heard a lot of rumours about him. Would you care to tell me more formally about him sensei?” Sakura eyed Shizune hopefully, before she glanced at Kakashi.

Kakashi waved an arm at Sakura, “Sure, sure. Since we are all in this programme together, I will tell you soon. Who better to tell his life story than his own student, right?”

Sakura gasped, “Wow, oh wow. He was a legend. Thank you Kakashi-sensei. Well I better check with the revival team as procedure decreed. Permission to leave Shizune-sensei.”

Shizune nodded and Sakura left along with the Authorization Tab. She knew Sakura was heading to the lab five doors down to help Kotetsu and Izumo with chemical preparation for the bodies. They will need to order some items and chemical from their special labs in Suna, there was only one body being revived every five years, thus they only ordered when the situation demanded it.

They stood together side by side, Shizune and Kakashi. The orange chakra was now circling the glass container slowly.

“He was known as the Yellow Flash,” Kakashi started. “He invented the teleportation jutsu using the chakra of the Kyuubi which we discovered from one of Kaguya’s lab.” His voice suddenly became hoarse, “and because of the chakra, he was taken from us.”

Kakashi looked forlornly at a far off corner of the lab while Shizune glanced at him. She closed the gap between them and placed a hand on his shoulder and lightly squeezed it.

“I was told that no one was able to control the chakra until he met Kushina Uzumaki. Somehow he successfully fused the Kyuubi’s Chakra with Kushina’s and manipulated it into some sort of a power source.”

Kakashi sighed and looked at Shizune. Shizune could see the sadness and hope inside the man’s eye. “I was about twelve when Madara fused the majority of Chakra in his body and transformed into a leviathan, an orange destructive beast. My father fought it while he told me to save the villagers. My father died. But now the same thing is rumoured to happen again, the Kaguya clan is rumoured to be wanting to try something like that again.”

“Yes, we should be better equipped now. It’s been fifteen years, but we are prepared. But since we don’t know the Kaguya clan’s strength we are somehow disadvantaged.”

“Thank you Shizune,” Kakashi turned to face Shizune. “Your research had helped his daughter too. We could have been foster siblings, but my obligations with Root hindered any hope of that.”

Shizune blushed, but within the vicinity of the lab, her workplace, she quickly composed herself and smiled.

“Just hope that Sasuke could bring her in voluntarily. We need her to be in the best mental condition because this chakra is very choosy. It picked the host itself. So far 89 mice clones containing the DNA of our prospective Jinchuuriki had been damaged some way or another.”

“Sakura told me there were 100 samples. What happened to the other eleven?”

Shizune frowned and pressed some buttons on a monitor. The thin monitor slid down from above and displayed a login interface which she quickly accessed. She clicked here and there until a table of data and pictures of mice, damaged and normal appeared side by side.

“The eleven, let me see….six were normal for a day and self destructed soon after while five showed promising results.”

“Whose DNA were they?”

“Minato, Kushina and former Senator Mito Senju.”

“Aha…” Kakashi said. He could see the point Shizune was getting at. “So, it is like you said, picky.”

“Yes. The mice showed accelerated rate of recovery after being hurt.”

“Hey, wasn’t Madam Senju a member of the Uzumaki clan, like Kushina,” Kalahari interrupted.

Shizune looked back at him aannoyed but still answered, “Yes, the Uzumaki clan were known as being able to hold massive chakra, but Senator Mito’s husband Sir Hashirama was adamant that we do not disturb her wife at all. It was rumoured that she had housed this orange chakra before Kushina. But I think after the birth of their daughter, Hashirama got rid of it, or Kaguya stole from her. It was all classified,” Shizune explained.

She added, “the sample we had of her DNA was obtained way before Sir Senju blocked us from her. And actually, all along the experiment we have discovered unofficial records showing that at one time all three of them, Mito, Kushina and Minato had been this chakra’s Jinchuuriki. We couldn’t access Senator Mito as I said…”

Kakashi hummed, “Hmmm. Not while the Senju have political power.”

“Furthermore, it is better for the human host to accept their Bijuus willingly, like all the Jinchuurikis who came in by. Mito was forced by her elders. But our present Jinchuuriki, they had accepted their fate. Hope Sasuke would be able to convince her,” Shizune said. She knew he realized whom she was referring too.

“He will succeed, he is my student after all,” Kakashi said. His only visible eye became beady with a gleeful expression.

“I just hope he isn’t using his eyes on her.”

“Sasuke has his ways,” Kakashi said and looked at Shizune in the eyes and waved a hand at her. “I better be on my way to meet Gai and ask him about Sasuke’s mission report.”

Out of the corner of her eyes she saw the chakra gathering into a shape. Kakashi noticed it and as she turned, he said, “the last time I saw the Chakra it was shaped almost like a Fox. But I think we better wait until Minato wake up to ascertain that.”

Shizune nodded and smiled at the white haired man’s optimism. She could see the chakra trying to form into a shape, almost like a Fox, like Kakashi said.

Naruko palmed her face when she remembered how she had eaten the ramen Sora brought without qualms yesterday. If she was a historical figure born millenniums ago someone would have invented the saying, ‘the fastest way to a silly woman’s heart would be by ramen.’ Not that her heart was hooked on Sora because of the ramen or something.

Despite that, she was however more relieved that Sasuke hadn't seen her grabbing for the ramen as quick as lighting. She didn't want to think what would happen if Sasuke saw her did that. Sora had left before she could ask whether he’d be visiting Chiyo so Sasuke didn't even know about the ramen. He'd only known about Sora coming when they were back at the hotel and Naruko telling them about Sora’s invitation. He didn't convey anything apart from asking where the lunch place was, and Naruko answered that Sora would come to fetch them.

She sighed as she wrapped her body with her towel and headed to the shower. She laughed at the thought of having her brain and heart ache with the thought of boys who were practically strangers. Naruko wasn't even sure why Sasuke seemed to act ice cold towards Sora, or whether it was actually Naruko projecting her feelings on Sasuke. Sasuke did act and look like he was jealous when Sora was around, but Naruko didn't want to hope further as Sasuke was a new found friend while Sora was someone from her past who was not quite a friend. Why would they be jealous of each other, right?

She rested her forehead against the door of the bathroom when the smugness of being fought over by two boys caught her heart. It wasn't right to feel full of oneself just because two guys seemed to show interest in you, Naruko sighed. It could be that they were really into her, or that it was only two guys acting territorial. She huffed as she thought of herself being treated like a possession.

Absent mindedly Naruko started showering and lathering her body with soap. She continued to automatically went through the motions of bathing whilst her mind found a conclusion to her thoughts. She wasn't going to be upfront with them anytime soon so she would have to ignore those thoughts and enjoy her last day at Iwa as normal as a tourist would.

Soon Naruko found herself ready with Sasuke at her side, standing at the front of the hotel waiting for Sora. Sai and Ino were busy ogling at a new batch of flowers planted at the hotel's front garden, even when Naruko had told them about the flowers they'll be seeing later.

While they waited for Sora to come and fetch them, Sasuke moved and stood before her.

“Are you ok?” he asked.

She looked into those black eyes set against pale skin and swallowed a little. Truthfully she was mesmerized but since she had anticipated Sasuke to confront her this morning, she managed to set a boring expression on her face. She wasn't about to forget his hot and cold treatment towards her, so she decided to play her word out neutral.

“Nothing.”

“That isn't an appropriate answer. You'd fail the college entrance exam when you finally sit for one.”

“I'm ok.” Naruko couldn't stop but smiled a little at Sasuke’s mockery of her. She wondered did Sasuke even finish school? He was sure around more on days when he should be in school.

“Hmm. I noticed you didn't wince at all, how's the foot?”

Naruko thought, Were you asking about Sora or about my foot now?

“It’s less sore than yesterday.”

“Good, I wanted to take you out to dinner later.” Sasuke flashed a small smile at her. Naruko wondered whether he'd brought her to dinner if her foot was still sore, she also thought whether that was his indirect way of saying he cared about her. However, her thoughts were cut short with the arrival of a massive black MPV at the hotel’s front.

The MPV passenger’s door slid open and Lee was inside.

“Hey, let's go. I was invited along, Sora asked me to come along.”

Naruko called for Ino and Sai from the garden and they bundled into the MPV and headed to their lunch destination.

Ino took out her phone as soon as her foot was planted on the tarred parking to capture the large welcome sign.

“Iwa Lunch and Lounge Orchid Farm.” Sai had the pleasure of saying the name of their lunch place out loud.

Lee added, “They only had orchids at the beginning but when Sora invested in here he began adding more local flowers to the mix.”

Naruko grinned at Lee’s words, Sora hadn't said a word about this place being part of his empire or something. She decided to let it go and just get through the lunch, she reverted to her earlier thoughts, act like how a tourist would.

Lee led them towards the entrance where they entered through a VIP door and through a souvenir shop. There were a lot of orchids motiffed trinkets hung outside the shop, Naruko made a mental note to buy one of the orange shirts with a huge pink.orchid on the front. It was gaudy but since she liked orange and costed only 10 ryo.

“Hi Lee, Naruko and new friends,” Sora greeted them.

Naruko glanced towards Sora and saw Sora in a brown jacket with a white tee underneath. He was looking casual compared to his traditional business attire the few times Naruko had met him.

“Good morning Sora. This is Sasuke, Ino and Sai.” Naruko decided to introduce her ‘new’ friends to Sora even if the man didn't catch their names the first few times. But she was sure this was the first time he had met Ino and Sai, but not Sasuke. Sora should have known Sasuke’s name by now.

“Oh yes Sasuke, we met at the nursery home.” Sora offered a hand to her friends and they gladly took it. Sasuke even offered a nod at Sora which made Naruko’s heart relaxed.

“Let's head to the restaurant. It has a nice view of Iwa, Ino and Sai would love it.”

Naruko blinked a few times, it looked like Sora did pay attention to her friends likes after all. She let the smiling couple Ino and Sai follow Sora first before feeling a hand on the small of her back and guiding her forwarded. A voice soon after told her, “Don't just stand there looking blank, you'll make the host feel awkward.” Naruko made an annoyed face despite the flutter in her heart and looked at Sasuke who was looking relaxed, like he was the one being friends with Sora.

They sat at a table for six made from reclaimed wood. In fact the whole restaurant was made from reclaimed wood with some parts from new wood, but there were also some parts like table legs and frames made from stainless steel. The restaurant was in dark brown and earthly colours, which gave away a warm and modern atmosphere. There were also plants let grown to cover some steel wall or screen. Naruko almost felt like she was at her old home with Chiyo. Only the feeling was the same since this restaurant would probably cost more and looked posh despite the humble materials used.

Sora sat at the head of the table with Lee on the other end. Naruko sat on Sora’s left side with Sasuke on her right, while Ino sat on Sora’s right side with Sai on her left. They proceeded to order based on the lunch menu.

“Naruko, I am pleased to tell you that this restaurant was inspired by our homes when we were smaller.”

Naruko looked at Sora from her menu and replied, “I was just thinking how it felt almost like home.”

“Yes Naruko, our memories will continue to.live in these furnitures,” Lee said while writing down his lunch choice on an order form. “I sourced half of the wood from our home town.”

Then Sora added, “Remember the wall with the plants at the back of your house, well I took the idea and presented to my decorator and he suggested using movable-steel frames as indoor decors. I had originally thought about brick walls with plants on it.”

“So, you can move the partition around the larger space and divide it into smaller spaces with the use of greenery,” Ino chimed in happily. “Can I borrow your idea? Maybe tweak it a bit.”

“Gladly, but royalty at ten percent a year.” Then Sora laughed, “No. I was kidding, just don't wholly copy it. I think my decorator spent a week designing it, so to respect him just be inspired.”

Ino nodded and laughed, “Certainly. I wouldn't want to steal someone’s idea. I am a business woman and I know how it hurts to have some idea stolen from you.”

“A business woman, we better exchange cards after this. So what business are you into?”

“I am doing props for event, event decorations but I have a flower shop on the side.”

“So you're thinking of expanding any of the business? How about your boyfriend, Sai right? Sorry I didn't notice the ring.”

Ino smiled, “Fiance, yes. We are thinking of expanding the flower business since we had a lot of demand vs supply.”

“Then maybe I can suggest a supplier or two,” Sora eyed Sai this time.

“Gladly,” the paler man smiled at Sora and then looked at Ino.

They fell into an easy conversation with Sora, Lee and Ino doing most of the talking. When the food arrived Sora dedicated a minute of telling how it was prepared. Sasuke didn't say a word as he wasn't addressed at all and all Naruko had to answer was Yes or No.

After desserts, Ino, Sai and Sasuke followed Lee to the garden to see some new orchids and other flowers while Naruko stayed behind to ogle at some Catleya orchids in the front part of the garden.

Sora strolled towards her and commented, “Your friends were delighted to see many beautiful flowers here.”

“There aren't that much orchids in Konoha. Have you ever been to Konoha, Sora?” Naruko looked at Sora and the older man looked at her.

Sora thought for awhile and answered, “I’ve been there with my father years ago but not in a few years. My father just let me travel since I turned 18, so I had only travelled for around two years. I'm thinking of visiting Konoha after this.”

“Well, ring me later. Maybe we can have lunch on me. Just tell me earlier so I can treat you to something fancy.”

“Ok. I wanted to see this beautiful flower which had recently been marketed there.”

“Oh. Ino never told me anything about any flower like you said.”

Sora laughed, “I was actually teasing about you. You have bloomed like a flower indeed.”

“What is it you want Sora?” Naruko had a tough time receiving praises, in fact she had received too much sarcasm in her short life time compared to praises. So naturally she was acting like Sora was annoying her.

“I am saying as it is Naru, since you've gone you have changed. I like you.”

Naruko turned around avoiding Sora’s face. “Maybe I should join them.”

But before she could walk away, Soragm grabbed for her wrist.

“Let go Sora.”

“Why?”

Naruko grimaced and turned around, her eyes as big as saucers with disbelief. “I am not sure what you want but all these sweet talks are weird. I barely know you.”

“I want to know you as more than friend.”

Naruko wrenched her hand away. “I don't want to be rude, but I don't have anything to.offer to you. I am not going to return to Iwa.”

Sora laughed, “I didn't even ask you for that.”

“Then?”

“Like I said, I just wanted a chance time get to know you closer. You have been around that friend of yours. I only had this chance to tell you I like you now.”

Naruko stilled. She was sure she and Sasuke were just friends but she wasn't sure whether she wanted to be more with someone else. She remembered Iruka’s words about grabbing for a higher aim apart from just work, leisure and friends.

“Or do you have someone else?”

Naruko smiled, “I don't have anyone yet in my life. I will probably won't have anyone special yet because I just remembered what my friend, or mentor said. He told me to aim more from life.”

Sora sighed. “I think I have exhausted all my means.”

“Visit me in a year or two Sora, but I am not promising anything. Only, maybe as friends, if you could do that.”

Naruko was sure she would have something else in mind l, but with whom and how it goes she didn't want to wonder yet.

“Ok then. I'm sorry.”

“Don't be. We are only children. Who knows there might be a nicer girl along the way.”

Sora hoped there was, but at the moment there weren't a better catch than Naruko for him.

“I better get to my friends. They might want to share something with me.”

“Ok, ladies first.”

Sora’s face fell as Naruko turned away from him. He really wanted Naruko to respond positively to his proposal, but being friends with her was enough for now. He wasn't looking for anything else other than his father’s business and Naruko. I'll wait a year.

With that numbing thought he wore a smile on his face and walked after Naruko to the garden.

Ino and Sai were ogling an array of colourful flowers on a flower bed. Sasuke was with Lee a few feet away, looking and poking at a bonsai tree.

“Hey Naruko, I noticed you weren't wincing at all.” Ino suddenly said from her flower  ogling.

“I don't feel pain at all,” Naruko flexed her foot and had the urge to pirouette on her formerly sprained foot.

“Great! Me and Sai thought we'd go back to Konoha first tonight. There’s something up with one of our high profile clients so…”

“Today? How about us?”

“Ahh, sure if you want. Are all your bags packed?”

“Not yet, but I will get to it after wex get back.”

“Well then, it's settled. But we need to ogle some more flowers,” Sai added.

“Sure love.” Ino kissed her fiance’s cheek a and continued with her watching.

Everything happened in a flurry after that. Sora had remained friendly until it was time to say goodbye. He only shook her arm although she kissed him on his cheek. She smiled dumbly as the realization that he was serious about her sunk in.

They packed and went to the train station th at night, with Sai already changing their tickets to tonight.

Naruko started resignedly at her hometown of Iwa and hoped that she could find a home in Konoha.

It was time to depart. Naruko zipped her bag and placed it on the floor next to her bed.

“Ready sweetheart?” Naruko looked surprised at the person addressing her. It was Ino, and she smiled while sliding into the older woman’s side. Ino wrapped her hands around Naruko and squeezed the younger girl. Ino must have thought that Naruko was sad about leaving Iwa when she had been gladder than sad.

“Where's your bag? I'm sending everything down first.” Sasuke said suddenly appearing before her. He looked at Naruko with those dark eyes and winked. He stepped into her room and took the bag.

Naruko unlatched herself from Ino’s hug and the older woman let her go. She double checked the room for anything else she could've have left behind and smiled happily. Never had she imagined saying goodbye to Iwa.