Ascension (Sequel to Ruination)

[4] Kazekage

This has come out much much later than expected so sorry for that. But I haven't really been confident in my writing lately and it's put a damper on my motivation.

I'M BACK

It was harder than she had imagined it would be. Everytime she ran this moment through her head, it was always different. She would not choke up like she was now. She was going to make them hate her even more than they did at that moment for leaving. They were going to want to make her pay for betraying the Hidden Leaf. She was trained in the Mist to never let emotions get in the way of a mission. It was easy when she had no one she was actually attached to. No ties to anyone so she would always be able to put her own life on the line without worrying about anyone. She would always be able to make rather risky decisions without having to worry about anyone.

Yuzuki didn't have to worry about leaving anyone behind.

But she left her own father behind. Without any explanation as to why she left. Now she was gazing into his cold eyes, his sharingan uncovered because he did not trust her. His icy stare caused shivers to run through her as she tried to come up with words. She couldn't do it. Not again. If she told them why she left... no, it had to remain a secret. No one could know, unless she wanted to risk the Akatsuki finding out her true intentions.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she suppressed her thoughts of telling them the truth, and came up with a lie. "I was tired of playing by the rules, and I wanted to be able to do whatever I wanted."

The truth was dangerous. Lying was careful, easy, even.

"But, that doesn't mean I want Gaara to die. And if you don't untie me and let me help you, the Kazekage will die. Very soon, at that," her voice was even, and her words calculated. She was playing a dangerous game.

That was the truth.

Kakashi said nothing, but he wanted to let her go. Because if what she said was true, then they needed her help. Especially since she knew the Akatsuki's fighting tactics and styles. Could they really trust her? Could they believe what she said?

"Listen, you don't have to trust me. But you need to believe me when I say that I'm telling you the truth. Why do you think I'm even here to begin with?"

It was a good question. One that had them rethinking not letting her go. It was too risky to leave her tied up and to have Gaara die when she said that she could help. They needed any resource they could get. Even if that resource was a traitor of the Leaf Village. Someone that betrayed them.

Kakashi knew there was nothing else to do, than to set her free. "Okay," he said stiffly, and rather reluctantly.

The others eyed him as if he were crazy.

"But, you will have someone keeping an eye on you around the clock, to make sure you don't try to escape. And afterwards, we're taking you back to the Leaf Village. For a trial."

Yuzuki nearly growled at the man. That would ruin the whole mission. She was supposed to get information from the Akatsuki, and gather any plans on how they were try to capture Naruto again. If she was sent back to the Leaf Village then it would foil the whole plan. The Akatsuki wouldn't trust her after being captured.

"Very well," she lifted herself off the ground. Having to put forth more effort considering she could not use her hands. "Untie me."

She held out her wrists for them to take off the ropes encircled around her wrists. Kakashi stalked away, leaving Naruto to take them off himself. She could feel burning eyes on her, and glanced over at Temari, who stood rooted to the spot. Her knuckles were white as she clenched her fist, her face twisted with disdain.

The fury in her eyes faded away into helplessness. Yuzuki understood that feeling.

After Naruto finished untying her hands, she rubbed her wrists, red marks where Kakashi tied the ropes too tight. It seems he really did not trust her. Not one bit. She understood.

Minutes later, a hawk flew in, a scroll bound to its leg. The hawk landed on low hanging branch, biting the string around its leg until it was chewed through. The string flitted through the air until it landed upon the grass that seemed to be a light shade of brown. A sickly shade. It was so close to the desert that every plant in its vicinity was slowly wilting from dehydration.

Yuzuki picked it up and handed it to Naruto, who unfolded it to read the message inside it. "It says we need to hurry to the Sand Village," he crumpled the paper and through it in the fire that had been lit by Temari.

"Then let's go," the girl walked passed him, his eyes on her and his thoughts far away. He wondered the same as the others. Why would she leave the village for something like this? It wasn't in her nature.

Although, she always seemed like the wild type.

~

They had made it to the sand village by mid-day, the sun was centered in the sky. It's rays beating down in their skin as they entered the Sand, being led to the Hospital by one of the lead Jōnin.

There, they found Temari and Gaara's brother, Kankuro in a near death state. Which was when Yuzuki decided she could step in and help. "I can save him."

"No, not you. You still can't be trusted," Temari stopped the Hatake from moving any further. Yuzuki but her lip to keep from saying anything. This response was reasonable.

"I can do it," Sakura stepped up, tying her hair into a pony tail.

~

Yuzuki sat outside the hospital room, her back against the wall as she gazed down at the floor. Sakura and Naruto seemed to have come a long way in the two and a half years she had been gone. She wanted so bad to be back at the village but she had work to do and she couldn't get them involved.

The girl glanced back up at them, her heart sinking in her chest at what pain she might have caused them. Or what they must have thought. Another friend leaving just like Sasuke. The team would never be the same. After everything was over. They would never be the same.

Kakashi sat down next to her, his back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. A guarded stance. He refused to face her as he asked, "Why did you really leave?" Maybe he thought it was because of him.

"Like I said earlier, it's easier to do what I want if I cut my allegiance from the village."

He did not believe her, not for a second. There must have been some other agenda.

"Stop lying, and tell me the truth."

She sighed, knowing lying wouldn't keep him off her tail. The girl decided to tell him the truth— well, some form of the truth. Without jeopardizing her mission. "If I tell you, it will ruin everything."

"Ruin what?"

"That's what I can't tell you, if I do it will put everything at stake. I'm playing a dangerous game. And you can't be a part of it. I don't want anyone I love to get hurt. I don't want you to get hurt, Dad."