The Sharingan's Voice

chapter 5.3 Revelations

Naruto fell to the ground, just having been slightly choked. Sakura was at his side in a moment's notice, checking him over. Sakura heard the screaming behind them, but paid it no heed. It was quickly clear, that Naruto would be alright, so she turned her attention back to the happenings,

"... understand anything about some most basic things about being a Ninja. Have you ever worked in a team before at all?" She knew Kakashi's Sensei mode well.

"Of course I have..." Tatakai's voice proved of the rebellion against the words, but Kakashi didn't let him finish.

"Then do you understand the importance of trust?... Naruto, Sakura, would you please wrap this up, I'll take this conversation somewhere more private!" Sakura turned to Kakashi at the mention of her name and quickly nodded. Tatakai's expression had looked nowhere stable nor safe. In a moment they had disappeared from the site. Naruto got up his feet again, looking not directly shaken, but rather absorbed in something. He wasn't really brooding, but thoughtful didn't really fit either. Wordlessly they got back to building up the stage.

Sakura's thoughts ran back to just minutes before, where she had heard him talk. For the first time really. The accusing tone, the underlying confusion, but first and foremost, the honesty, the directness. Very unusual for a ninja. Was that the reason he didn't talk? No, she doubted that, it didn't fit. What stayed in her mind however, were the words:

".... You don't need me!..." Did they... need him? Well, with Naruto's Kage Bunshin, things could be simple, but he surely hadn't thought that this was all, the mission was about. And then, there was another thing he'd said, that left her wondering.

"... I don't belong. Stop acting like I do!" So this was what he saw them... Sai too? The self-proclaimed friend of his? It didn't seem like he was very keen in making friends with them, nor trying to fit in at all.

Did he want to stay in his position? Then again, why was he rebelling it? Why wasn't he utilizing his possibilities, working together, especially on such a non dangerous mission. it wasn't bad at all, maybe building up the stage was a bit on the boring side, but every job had these boring sides, and as a Ninja, there were peaks of boredom as well as those of excitement. She doubted he had had only interesting work as a slave... before. And she knew Naruto would have given him some interesting work as well, for the parcours. so why was Tatakai upset? Her train of thought was broken by Naruto:

"Sakura, did you see his expression when Kakashi mentioned trust? I mean, he sure didn't like being criticized by Kakashi either, but... it looked like he went crazy..." Naruto reflected his concern.

"Kakashi will handle it. But Naruto, I don't think he wants friendship, maybe you should give him some space."

"Ugh, Sakura, of course he doesn't, just look at him, he doesn't trust us. Didn't you listen to what Kakashi was saying?"

"I was a bit preoccupied with your health to be honest. What was he saying?"

"He was asking if he had worked in a team before. He also said that Tatakai didn't understand some Ninja principles, which kind of surprised me. At last he was asking though, if Tatakai understood the importance of trust... That's when he started laughing. kinda scary really"

Sakura looked at him. Kakashi was right, Tatakai's actions did mock some basic principles of Shinobi. However considering the other questions, like, if he had worked in a team... they suggested, that Kakashi didn't believe that it had been done intentionally. The subject of trust was an even more difficult subject. She knew what Kakashi had meant. The question was, how Tatakai had taken it... obviously not very well.

"Let's just wait until they're back. Come on, help me get these things where they belong.

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