Paths of Divergence

Reparations

Chapter 45
-Reparations

     The days and weeks went by slow but steady. Everyone in the village came together offering as much manpower as possible to rebuild the village. The Sand village even offered their help as well sending ninja and contractors alike to aid in the reparation of the village.

     Shizake and his team poured sweat and determination day in and day out to assist with rebuilding the village. Although his focus was mostly on the village, he kept on recalling his conversation with his family mainly in regards to Sasuke. Occasionally his thoughts would run amiss and he would zone out while hoisting a piece of lumber or other construction pieces.

     While the physical reparations were well underway, emotional reparations would need to be made as well.

*

     "Shizake, hand me that hammer," Nitatchi says, holding his hand out.

     The Uchiha grabs a screwdriver unknowingly, handing it to his friend with a blank stare. Nitatchi looks down disappointingly, glancing over to Kita and Toshika who shrug their shoulders. The Hyuga chuckles before flicking Shizake on the forehead.

      "Ow! The hell was that for?" Shizake yells while rubbing the spot that was hit.

     Nitatchi smugly grins before gesturing at the screwdriver in the other boy's hand. Shizake defeatedly drops his shoulders before reaching in the toolbox and grabbing the hammer, handing it to Nitatchi instead.

     "Much obliged!" Nitatchi says before pounding some nails in a piece of two by four. "You sure have been distracted lately."

     "Sorry. I just keep thinking about Sasuke. What's he doing at this moment...? I don't even know if Itachi is dead or alive. I just have a lot of questions that need answering," Shizake says, wiping the beads of sweat from his brow.

     "It certainly is a lot to think about. I don't blame you though since they're your family and all," Toshika says while handing a piece of plywood to Kita.

     Kita grabs the plywood, setting it across some slats on a roof. "Couldn't you have someone from scouting and intelligence look into it?" she asks.

     Shizake rubs the back of his neck, sweat running down his back. "That reminds me... I still haven't spoke with Azumi. After all she went through to track Itachi for me I couldn't possibly ask her to do any more," he says. "She also died when the prison collapsed during Pain's invasion. Of course, she was resurrected like the rest of us but still... I'd feel too guilty."

"Well. You should at least talk with her and make amends," Nitatchi says. "I'm sure she's pretty upset that you two haven't spoken."

     Shizake drops his head and shoulders, staring downwards. "You're right. I should. Kita, when we finish up here would you mind accompanying me to find her?" Shizake asks.

     "M-me? Well, sure. I don't mind," Kita says, wiping the sweat from her blonde brows.

     Shizake nods before he and his comrades return to their task of repairing a roof. Once the evening sets in the squadron decides to call it quits for the day as does most of the village. While a large chunk of the village reparations have been completed, there's still a long ways to go before everything is fully rebuilt.

Kita and Shizake trudge along the dusty streets which had to be repaved to set the blueprint for how the layout of the newly constructed leaf village would be set. They walk in silence except for the occasional greetings of ninja and villagers alike who recognize them for their heroic deeds. The blonde girl finally breaks the silence, looking up at Shizake.