Teammates

Chapter 18

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Sasuke winced feeling the weight of the chains that tethered him to the walls and floor. He couldn't see and was too exhausted to use his sharingan. He felt weak and growled at the feeling. He was quietly creating a plan to break free and escape, whatever this place was. A voice booms in the distance laughing menacingly and loud.

"You can't escape, not within your own mind!"

A Chidori and a Rasengan rained down on Sasuke in a furious whirlwind of orange and blue, he collapsed, blood running down his face, down his neck, pooling in his collar bone before running down his chest soaking his shirt. Suddenly the blood was gone and was replaced with a gentle green mist. Though the stain on his shirt was a testament to what had occurred moments earlier.

0o0

Mifune was afraid. His Samarui sentries just informed him of Lady Tsunade and her secretorial assistant's hurried and unexpected leave. He paced his office while trying to figure out what to do. Most likely Danzo's men have already informed him of what had happened, in fact, he probably knew before Mifune. Which means his childhood friend was upset that he broke their deal, intentionally or not Mifune and the Iron just betrayed his childhood friend, Lord Danzo of the infamous ROOT and he was sure that it didn't matter that they have known each other for the better part of twenty years. Danzo was so different back then. Mifune tried to fight the oncoming memory by closing his eyes but his mind's eye still played the memories trapped underneath his pounding migraine.

Mifune was thirteen years old and like his father and his grandfather before him was about to embark on a journey to the top of Three Wolve Mountain to a temple to learn the ancient ways of the Samurai and being the young prince and heir to the Land of Iron, Mifune's father hired some Leaf ninja to guard him during his adventure. It was a life changing journey. Before then, Mifune had never witnessed actual combat. Before then, he had never seen someone spill blood, he had only heard stories and practiced techniques. On the morning of the trip, Mifune was introduced to his ninja escort of the trip. It was a genin team and their sensei. One of the genins was named Danzo, back then he had both eyes and a heart. Danzo and Mifune were the same age but Mifune knew that mentally, the leaf ninja was older than him.

Danzo didn't pay much attention to the little prince Mifune. Mifune tried unsuccessfully to befriend the genin team but the ninjas were not interested. In one particular attempt he decided to walk alongside the carriage instead of riding in it but soon grew tired. He was about to climb back into the carriage when suddenly there was a kunai with an explosive bomb tag attached. The explosion caught the genins off guard and they quickly fell into formation protecting Prince Mifune. The enemies lead the leaf escort away from their charge and seeing an opening, attacked. A kunai was aimed at wide eyed Mifune flew at an alarmingly rapid rate. Mifune froze terrified. He must have blinked or somethign cause in a flash Danzo was in front of him and blood was running down his face. He had sacrificed his eye for spoiled little Mifune.

That moment had been a big eye-opener for Mifune. (xD punny!) Mifune realized that people fought and died every day. Those numbers exponentially grew when nations were at war. Which is what Mifune became determined to help his people avoid, war. So now that he broke his agreement with Danzo, intentionally or not his people were now in danger. Hopefully Danzo is in a forgiving mood thought Mifune, he was fearful of his long-time friend's wrath. Danzo grew up to be a vicious person. Mifune believed it was partially his fault. Losing an eye for a spoiled prince, practically a stranger would hurt anyone's outlook (PUN!) on life.

Danzo had refused to have a failed mission, no matter what cost, so they bandaged it as best they could and proceeded with the promise of getting it healed by the monks. However when they reached the temple, the monks tried to fix it but it was too late, Danzo's eye was permanetly useless. Just like Mifune used to be, Mifune never told Danzo, but that day, Danzo became his hero and his inspiration. As a student Mifune became dedicated. As a fighter, he became the best. As a prince and later a ruler, he became humble. And because of Mifune and by extension, Danzo, that Iron was a lovely peaceful place. Hopefully, It won't also be because of them that Iron also falls from grace.

0o0

Shisui and Itachi were still with the cold body of Sakura when something strange happened. Her heart started beating! Shisui's eyes widened and tears flew freely down his face as he watched completly in shock as Sakura shed one single golden tear. Itachi's heart leapt into his throat. It wasn't possible, he thought, her chakra signature had reappeared!

It was faint, but it was there. Shisui stood with the unconscious but living kunoichi cradled in his arms and raced towards the hospital, Itachi was about to follow him when he sensed a hundred thousand miniscule chakra signatures surrounded the village, he knew Sakura would have to hold on, Konoha came first, though he never felt like it shouldn't before this moment. He pondered where all this loyalty towards this one girl came from. A month ago he would have gave his life and all the lives of his family if needed for Konoha, though Itachi mused, the lives of the Uchiha clan was a little dramatic, even for him. Itachi became confused when all the signatures were registered as the same identity but quickly relaxed when his Sharingan informed him that it was the Hokage's chakra. Curious he confronted one of the... slugs? Picking one up he asked one question.