Tranquility

One | I

Uchiha Sasuke, a Genin who knows the darkest certitude of his naive and peaceful hidden village by the death of Haruno Sakura.

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An alternate plot where Sarutobi Hiruzen's regime lasted after Orochimaru's attack at The Chuunin Exam.

It was another mission, a B-rank mission. A Daimyou from the border land of the country of Rice and Earth sent the entreaty to the Sandaime Hokage about a day prior. Sandaime himself needed to sort the delivered scrolls by the help of his subordinates, the village strategist and ANBU that situated on their respective 'territory'.

It was a short brief for his team. An escort. Avoid the route near the village of Sound. His sensei took the scroll and saved it on his hip pouch. Team seven met their supposed to be escorted Daimyou at the village gate.

The Daimyou was a young men, not older than his sensei. Sasuke noted. He was accompanied by two of his subordinates from his own village, one on the front of the wagon, controlling their horse, and the other on the back. An ordinary escort only need a day to reach the border, right before the sun set. No need to settle a camp for The Daimyou.

It was a sunny day, yet the sun wasn't stung too harsh. Fire and Rice were having a common climate. Humid and windy, which pretty lighten up the mood of his team, especially his blonde teammate -who were chatting nonstop about his new well prepared secret jutsu- on the left side of the wagon. He didn't give a damn in the single word. 

Deep down he wanted a real mission, a mission that could show up his skill. His training wasn't intended to be stored, and fruitless. But still Sasuke told himself to stay cautious. The supposed to be an easy mission, Genin mission, could lead to be an S-rank mission just like in The Land of Snow. He wasn't intended to be injured on their mid battle and left Naruto to finish it. Again.

It was the same formation. He and Naruto were being positioned on the front, while his sensei and Sakura, his female teammate on the back. He noted that his team's dynamic felt different. Especially after a clash in The Land of Snow. Even Naruto -the clueless one- seemed more cautious of his surrounding, but still his way of being cautious was too visible.

Also, he didn't miss the sharp glances and the tenses of his female teammate, her green eyes eyeing the canopy of leaves above them when they entered the woods near the border. Kakashi, well, he was being Kakashi. Reading his porn book even in front of the higher-ups. He could take care of himself anyway.

It was almost sunset, exactly as Sasuke predicted. The sky was painted with gold and red, the darker shade tinted it's farthest edge. It should be their leave when The Daimyou entered Rice's country border -safe and sound- then being escorted by his own Rice Shinobis. They could just sign their scroll and stuffed their Ryo on each of their pocket right away, yet an idea suddenly crossed the head of his. He said he would doubled-up the payment if Kakashi and his team were willing to sign a new assistance.

Tomorrow night, there will be a festival near the shore that I should attend. I ask your assistance to double-up the escort. Personally. Besides, you may take a rest since the dark soon arrives. The Daimyou words were being delivered in his stern yet warm voice.