Grains of Golden Sand, 3/?
Title: Grains of Golden Sand
Author: Ren Apple
Pairing: GaaSasu
Warning: Yaoi. Mature Themes.
Rating: R
Word Length: 1594 words
Summary: He was ordered to betray the ones he loved most. Now, he must fight for what he has left.
A/N: Not beta-ed. I am so happy to finally have this chapter out. I know it has been long awaited. I got an email from someone the other day about it. That is what really caused me too kick my drabble writing butt into gear.
If you are just catching up go check out the new and improved previous chapters: [1] [2]
Chapter 3: Expectations
“…and Uchiha Sasuke a proud jounin of Konoha will be returning home. Each member of this village owes him a large gratitude to being the key to winning the war against Otogakure. You should each and everyone one of you be thankful to that boy. At the age of twelve he was given a mission that only he could ever hope to accomplish. Many of you owe your very existence to Uchiha Sasuke for without him senseless lives could have been lost.” Tsunade paused for a moment. “We are now in a time of peace, and I expect each and everyone of you as citizens of Konoha to respect him.”
Loud cheering interrupted her speech. Tsunade waved her hands in a quieting gesture, and collected her breath. The crowd became silent. “Upon his arrival we shall have a celebration for our brave hero! But do not take for granted this time of peace, because we have learned it is precious and far between. Many brilliant shinobi have lost their lives gaining it. Be uplifted, Konoha! And remember Uchiha Sasuke in your prayers. May they bring him home.”
“Uchiha!”
“Uchiha!”
“Uchiha!”
Tsunade raised her hat into the air, and smiled. “Uchiha!”
There were many perks to being a jounin and one of them was being privy to large amounts of information. Unfortunately today many of them realized they were not privy to all of it.
Many of the village’s strongest shinobi were gathered in this room. Expressions surrounding her ranging from extreme shock to extreme happiness. And if the situation had been any different Tsunade would have been hard pressed not to laugh. Especially with Shizune giving her stern looks continued to shoot her way as if she realized what she was thinking.
Hatake Kakashi stood as one of the more composed faces of the group, but Tsunade had still been able to surprise him today. Although, he was flipping those pages of his ‘Icha Icha Paradise’ books mighty quickly, she thought.
She sighed. The room the room was loud with the silence and questions left unasked. Most of the occupants understood the need for secrecy but some like a certain Mitarashi Anko were left angry and confused.
Tsunade nodded to Shizune, and was quickly handed a large scroll was placed in her open hand. “Shinobi of Konoha, I know you are surprised.”
“That is for sure…”
Tsunade coughed and glared in the direction of the voice. She unrolled the scroll and began to read off it. “Since many of you are just returning,” she cast a pointed look in Kakashi’s direction. “I shall repeat the basics of the speech I have previously held to the public. Uchiha Sasuke is a jounin, he was also on a large undertaking under my orders to infiltrate Otogakure and gather reconnaissance. It was understood if the opportunity arose he was to assassinate Orochimaru.”
Tsunade met the eyes of several of the Hyuuga standing in the back, many of them were distrustful of her because of what had happened to the youngest male, Neji. “It had been with his assistance many of your lives were saved.” She gave Neji a small nod of acknowledgement. “Not many of you can understand the extreme pressure it is to leave your home and cut yourself off from your friends and family allowing them to believe you have betrayed them and your village,” Tsunade paused and looked directly at Naruto and Sakura, “but Sasuke went above and beyond his duty. I allowed him the choice-”
“Then why did he do it, Tsunade baa-chan?” Naruto yelled out, causing many of the occupants to stare.
“I believe Sasuke chose to proceed with this mission because he was the only one who could, Naruto. Because he believed Konoha.”
Naruto looked down at the floor ashamed, and Sakura gave him a solemn look clenching her fists at her sides.
“What the public does not know is the circumstances surrounding Orochimaru’s death.”
Many faces who had been listening disinterestedly perked up at the mention of Orochimaru. “There was no chakra residue left of Orochimaru at the sight-”
“So how do we know he is dead.” Anko asked deadpanned.
Tsunade carried on as if she had not been interrupted. "-but Kabuto the only survivor of what we are calling the ‘Otogakure Massacre’ has reported he watched the entire battle on his medical monitor.” Anko looked ready to speak again, so she quickly added, “And we can thank Ibiki for his thorough interrogation of the matter.”
Her fingers lingered at the bottom of the scroll. “Are there any questions you would like to ask?”
Sakura stood bravely before her with tears shining in her eyes. “And where is Sasuke-kun now?”
Tsunade sighed, she had been hoping no one would ask that question. “ANBU is out searching at this very moment.”
Naruto came up behind Sakura, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “So you don’t know!”
Tsunade shook her had sadly. “He is a jounin, if he does not want to be found then we will not find him.”
“Tsunade-sama, are you going to send a search party?” Sakura asked.
Shizune took the scroll from her hands and began to write quickly. Tsunade crossed her arms over her chest. “Yes, two teams.” Many of the shinobi did not look eager to be assigned to the retrieval as most remembered what happened to the few sent before. They forgot to include the entire squad had been made up of genin. “Kakashi will be leading Hinata, Naruto, and Kiba.”
Kurenai looked irritated and slightly relieved at not being called to lead most of her team.
“And Gai will be leading Sakura, Neji, and Lee. Any protests?”
Hyuuga Hiashi looked ready to object this arrangement, but Neji stepped forward into the room to stand next to Gai, and he decided to withdraw.
“I see.” Tsunade said, “Thank you all, and those who were not called are asked to please leave the stadium.”
After the only requested shinobi left, Tsunade got down to business. “Now, this is nothing like the previous retrieval, and it his highly likely you will find the Uchiha in very bad state. You will need to immediately, I need you to understand the necessity of this. Immediately rush him back to Konoha. Do you understand?”
They all nodded in varying degrees of severity.
“I have split up the remaining members of team seven onto both groups, Sakura with her healing training will be able stabilize Sasuke if they are first to find him and if they are not Kakashi with his summons can quickly send word.”
Shizune pulled out a large map of the country. “We are assuming he has decided to make a trip around Konoha to the western border with Suna. So this is the area you are headed.” She pointed to the large mass circled on the map. “I have sent word to the Kazekage to watch for him, and we are hopeful.”
Naruto smiled at that, Gaara was a great Kazekage. Even if he had gotten into office before him.
“You have an hour to prepare, and you leave immediately.”
Temari was anxious. Something was wrong with Gaara. Usually it was hard to hold his attention for longer than an hour, especially at the smell of blood. What caused her to panic the most was the way his eyes had flashed at the Uchiha’s scent. Since the chuunin exams three years ago he had gained an unprecedented control over Shuukaku. Which he had barely explained. He had said they had reached an understanding, and if that was not worrisome enough he had smiled at her too.
Sand swirled around Gaara lifting the traitor Uchiha slightly from his body so he did not become heavy. Temari wanted to ask why they did not just leave him to rot, but refrained. Gaara had not looked happy last time she had asked.
Kankurou was also unusually silent at his side, and for Temari that was just another warning.
Gaara was moving at a break neck pace, that she could barely keep up with, and by the sweat drenching Kankurou’s suit and his heavy breathing she assumed he was too. “Gaara?” She asked timidly. “Gaara, can we slow down?”
Gaara barely acknowledged her, but was made her lose her footing and fall onto the branch was that his eyes were gold. Was he in control?
Kankurou stopped ahead of her and looked back. “Are you alright, Temari?” He shouted.
She nodded and stood. “Yes. Let’s go.”
They quickly began catching up to Gaara’s position. Temari gave Kankurou a sideways look. “Did you see his eyes?”
He nodded. “Yes, but he seems in control.”
She gave him a wan smile. “I know. It’s scary.”
Gaara could not concentrate. He only knew he had to save the human, who gave meaning to his existence. Who fought with him equally. He shook his head shaking off Shuukaku’s voice.
Blood, he loved the smell of blood. But it was making him sick now. The human’s blood smelled disgusting and tainted. He hated it, and had to fix it.
Temari didn’t understand. She couldn’t understand. Shuukaku understood. He nodded to himself jumping faster through the forest. Neither her nor Kankurou even knew the Hokage’s plan to infiltrate Sound using the Uchiha. They were completely in the dark.
The Uchiha groaned and shifted on his shoulder. Gaara froze midair before continuing to leap. It was getting worse. He needed medical attention immediately. Gaara hoped the Hokage had dispatched a medic-nin into one of the search teams.
Author: Ren Apple
Pairing: GaaSasu
Warning: Yaoi. Mature Themes.
Rating: R
Word Length: 1594 words
Summary: He was ordered to betray the ones he loved most. Now, he must fight for what he has left.
A/N: Not beta-ed. I am so happy to finally have this chapter out. I know it has been long awaited. I got an email from someone the other day about it. That is what really caused me too kick my drabble writing butt into gear.
If you are just catching up go check out the new and improved previous chapters: [1] [2]
Chapter 3: Expectations
“…and Uchiha Sasuke a proud jounin of Konoha will be returning home. Each member of this village owes him a large gratitude to being the key to winning the war against Otogakure. You should each and everyone one of you be thankful to that boy. At the age of twelve he was given a mission that only he could ever hope to accomplish. Many of you owe your very existence to Uchiha Sasuke for without him senseless lives could have been lost.” Tsunade paused for a moment. “We are now in a time of peace, and I expect each and everyone of you as citizens of Konoha to respect him.”
Loud cheering interrupted her speech. Tsunade waved her hands in a quieting gesture, and collected her breath. The crowd became silent. “Upon his arrival we shall have a celebration for our brave hero! But do not take for granted this time of peace, because we have learned it is precious and far between. Many brilliant shinobi have lost their lives gaining it. Be uplifted, Konoha! And remember Uchiha Sasuke in your prayers. May they bring him home.”
“Uchiha!”
“Uchiha!”
“Uchiha!”
Tsunade raised her hat into the air, and smiled. “Uchiha!”
There were many perks to being a jounin and one of them was being privy to large amounts of information. Unfortunately today many of them realized they were not privy to all of it.
Many of the village’s strongest shinobi were gathered in this room. Expressions surrounding her ranging from extreme shock to extreme happiness. And if the situation had been any different Tsunade would have been hard pressed not to laugh. Especially with Shizune giving her stern looks continued to shoot her way as if she realized what she was thinking.
Hatake Kakashi stood as one of the more composed faces of the group, but Tsunade had still been able to surprise him today. Although, he was flipping those pages of his ‘Icha Icha Paradise’ books mighty quickly, she thought.
She sighed. The room the room was loud with the silence and questions left unasked. Most of the occupants understood the need for secrecy but some like a certain Mitarashi Anko were left angry and confused.
Tsunade nodded to Shizune, and was quickly handed a large scroll was placed in her open hand. “Shinobi of Konoha, I know you are surprised.”
“That is for sure…”
Tsunade coughed and glared in the direction of the voice. She unrolled the scroll and began to read off it. “Since many of you are just returning,” she cast a pointed look in Kakashi’s direction. “I shall repeat the basics of the speech I have previously held to the public. Uchiha Sasuke is a jounin, he was also on a large undertaking under my orders to infiltrate Otogakure and gather reconnaissance. It was understood if the opportunity arose he was to assassinate Orochimaru.”
Tsunade met the eyes of several of the Hyuuga standing in the back, many of them were distrustful of her because of what had happened to the youngest male, Neji. “It had been with his assistance many of your lives were saved.” She gave Neji a small nod of acknowledgement. “Not many of you can understand the extreme pressure it is to leave your home and cut yourself off from your friends and family allowing them to believe you have betrayed them and your village,” Tsunade paused and looked directly at Naruto and Sakura, “but Sasuke went above and beyond his duty. I allowed him the choice-”
“Then why did he do it, Tsunade baa-chan?” Naruto yelled out, causing many of the occupants to stare.
“I believe Sasuke chose to proceed with this mission because he was the only one who could, Naruto. Because he believed Konoha.”
Naruto looked down at the floor ashamed, and Sakura gave him a solemn look clenching her fists at her sides.
“What the public does not know is the circumstances surrounding Orochimaru’s death.”
Many faces who had been listening disinterestedly perked up at the mention of Orochimaru. “There was no chakra residue left of Orochimaru at the sight-”
“So how do we know he is dead.” Anko asked deadpanned.
Tsunade carried on as if she had not been interrupted. "-but Kabuto the only survivor of what we are calling the ‘Otogakure Massacre’ has reported he watched the entire battle on his medical monitor.” Anko looked ready to speak again, so she quickly added, “And we can thank Ibiki for his thorough interrogation of the matter.”
Her fingers lingered at the bottom of the scroll. “Are there any questions you would like to ask?”
Sakura stood bravely before her with tears shining in her eyes. “And where is Sasuke-kun now?”
Tsunade sighed, she had been hoping no one would ask that question. “ANBU is out searching at this very moment.”
Naruto came up behind Sakura, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “So you don’t know!”
Tsunade shook her had sadly. “He is a jounin, if he does not want to be found then we will not find him.”
“Tsunade-sama, are you going to send a search party?” Sakura asked.
Shizune took the scroll from her hands and began to write quickly. Tsunade crossed her arms over her chest. “Yes, two teams.” Many of the shinobi did not look eager to be assigned to the retrieval as most remembered what happened to the few sent before. They forgot to include the entire squad had been made up of genin. “Kakashi will be leading Hinata, Naruto, and Kiba.”
Kurenai looked irritated and slightly relieved at not being called to lead most of her team.
“And Gai will be leading Sakura, Neji, and Lee. Any protests?”
Hyuuga Hiashi looked ready to object this arrangement, but Neji stepped forward into the room to stand next to Gai, and he decided to withdraw.
“I see.” Tsunade said, “Thank you all, and those who were not called are asked to please leave the stadium.”
After the only requested shinobi left, Tsunade got down to business. “Now, this is nothing like the previous retrieval, and it his highly likely you will find the Uchiha in very bad state. You will need to immediately, I need you to understand the necessity of this. Immediately rush him back to Konoha. Do you understand?”
They all nodded in varying degrees of severity.
“I have split up the remaining members of team seven onto both groups, Sakura with her healing training will be able stabilize Sasuke if they are first to find him and if they are not Kakashi with his summons can quickly send word.”
Shizune pulled out a large map of the country. “We are assuming he has decided to make a trip around Konoha to the western border with Suna. So this is the area you are headed.” She pointed to the large mass circled on the map. “I have sent word to the Kazekage to watch for him, and we are hopeful.”
Naruto smiled at that, Gaara was a great Kazekage. Even if he had gotten into office before him.
“You have an hour to prepare, and you leave immediately.”
Temari was anxious. Something was wrong with Gaara. Usually it was hard to hold his attention for longer than an hour, especially at the smell of blood. What caused her to panic the most was the way his eyes had flashed at the Uchiha’s scent. Since the chuunin exams three years ago he had gained an unprecedented control over Shuukaku. Which he had barely explained. He had said they had reached an understanding, and if that was not worrisome enough he had smiled at her too.
Sand swirled around Gaara lifting the traitor Uchiha slightly from his body so he did not become heavy. Temari wanted to ask why they did not just leave him to rot, but refrained. Gaara had not looked happy last time she had asked.
Kankurou was also unusually silent at his side, and for Temari that was just another warning.
Gaara was moving at a break neck pace, that she could barely keep up with, and by the sweat drenching Kankurou’s suit and his heavy breathing she assumed he was too. “Gaara?” She asked timidly. “Gaara, can we slow down?”
Gaara barely acknowledged her, but was made her lose her footing and fall onto the branch was that his eyes were gold. Was he in control?
Kankurou stopped ahead of her and looked back. “Are you alright, Temari?” He shouted.
She nodded and stood. “Yes. Let’s go.”
They quickly began catching up to Gaara’s position. Temari gave Kankurou a sideways look. “Did you see his eyes?”
He nodded. “Yes, but he seems in control.”
She gave him a wan smile. “I know. It’s scary.”
Gaara could not concentrate. He only knew he had to save the human, who gave meaning to his existence. Who fought with him equally. He shook his head shaking off Shuukaku’s voice.
Blood, he loved the smell of blood. But it was making him sick now. The human’s blood smelled disgusting and tainted. He hated it, and had to fix it.
Temari didn’t understand. She couldn’t understand. Shuukaku understood. He nodded to himself jumping faster through the forest. Neither her nor Kankurou even knew the Hokage’s plan to infiltrate Sound using the Uchiha. They were completely in the dark.
The Uchiha groaned and shifted on his shoulder. Gaara froze midair before continuing to leap. It was getting worse. He needed medical attention immediately. Gaara hoped the Hokage had dispatched a medic-nin into one of the search teams.