The Return

Chapter 54

The Voice in the Night

For the next few days, Sasuke and Sakura patrolled the Mist, gathering intel as they went. It seemed that a few shinobi had gone missing. There were indicators that they'd been with comrades or people they knew in the moments before their disappearance. Besides that, citizens spoke of their acquaintances and neighbors acting strangely beforehand, as if they weren't quite themselves. The two of them knew that this information could only mean one thing, White Zetsu was making their move.

"Judging by the shinobi at the local bar, there were three genin who went missing last night" Sasuke indicated.

"Right, I was speaking with a group of mothers in the park who spoke of something similar. I also went to the local hospital and found that those who made it back alive were stabbed with kunai. The patients I managed to get out of critical condition told me that they thought the figure who hurt them was a dear friend, although they believed that to be impossible given the circumstances."

"So, it's settled then. White Zetsu is intercepting this area of the Mist. We'll have to be careful from now on. Perhaps we can come up with a password to ensure we are who we say we are?"

Sakura nodded in agreement.

Sasuke took a deep breath before reciting the lines to remember. "The question will be: when does a ninja strike? And the response will be, a ninja waits until the time is right, when the enemy sleeps and drops his guard, when his weapons lie forgotten in the stillness of the night, that is the moment for a ninja to strike."

Blushing a tomato red, Sakura remembered the same password from the Forest of Death during the chunin exams. Back then, Naruto struggled with the code helplessly while she memorized it easily. That said, the phrase also brought back negative memories of Orochimaru. She shuddered at the thought of their battle against them. Still, she looked up at her husband appreciatively.

He smiled softly, consumed by nostalgia and precious memories. He became more focused considering the dangers before them, though. "Be careful, understand?" 

Sakura glanced back at him determinedly. "Yeah, you too" she replied, clenching her fist.

Raising his hand, Sasuke disappeared into the chilly evening air.

Sakura smiled at his afterimage before turning and refocusing on the mission at hand. They had to find all the White Zetsu hiding in their midst before they struck again. She wouldn't let anyone else die on her watch.

The lights from the city shone brightly like sun drops on the water, mirroring the houses and boats on the hillside. At first glance, the Hidden Mist seemed peaceful and content, but in the darkest corners and alleyways trouble stirred. As Sakura walked along through the brightly lit streets, she found a road branching off into a neighborhood road. A shadow crossed her peripheral vision from the side. Gotcha, she thought. Heading down the laneway, she strolled calmly and smiled at passersby. Everyone seemed happy but there was an air of tension as though something were about to happen. She veered right attempting to block off her opponent's exit from the alleyway.

A small child with a candy apple ran straight into her.

"Oh, are you ok?" Sakura looked down at the little brown-haired boy in surprise. She hadn't been expecting a child to cross her path.

He looked up at her through tears. "Please miss, he's coming for me!"

Sakura looked past the boy, anger flaring within her. Who could hurt a little child like this? It was low, even for White Zetsu. Looking down at the child clinging to her cape, she began to consider the possibility that he could be one of them too. Still, she couldn't ignore a cry for help like this.