Sakura's Twin Brother

Chapter 7

Aki's Point of View

"Aki. It's okay, you were in a rush. Look at us already. And you have a lot of questions to answer, Aki." Kakashi-sensei, your not helping my situation by making me more nervous, my apologies for being rude... even it mentally speaking..

"Aniki... where did you get those... scars?" Naruto shakily asked as he worriedly looked at me, but when he received no answer, he turned to Sakura in hope for an answer. Sakura, however, hugged her me tightly, a few tears flooding in from her, but not me. Why is she crying? The reason? I have no idea, I'm afraid.

"Calm down, Sakura-nee-san." I soothed gently, soothing her back softly as she cried.

"Uh, Sakura.." Kakashi-sensei started, Sasuke-san cutting and finishing for him.

"Aki be the one crying out of trauma and not you, Sakura." Sasuke spat out venemously, knowing full well what caused those scars. "I'm surprised you even have the guts to call Aki your brother, let alone younger twin." He said spitefully.

Sakura turned to Sasuke, a glare full of venemous hate visible in her entire body as it shook. "Why you---" I cut her off, not wanting a fight to break out because of my sake.

"Please stop this nonsense already. What happened in the past, stays there. Don't start a fight over something that your not even the victim to, both of you. So please, pardon my language, but urusai (shut up)!" I said, for once loosing my temper.

They stared at me in shock before stormed out of the house and into the forest, masking my chakra as I climbed a talk tree using my feet alone and sat on it's highest branch. The thing about my temper is...

Once I snap, it's when they least expect it. Not once have I snapped up until now. I usually just walk out rudely and silently, ignoring every single call for me to return to my previous post. But as of now, I needed the time alone to cool off.

There's always been a nagging voice at the back of my skull telling me to end it all, because I wasn't worthy to live in the first place, always cold and rude in my own way. Maybe I should... just end it all... no. Don't give into that temptation Aki, you still have to avenge him... Him...

I shook my head and soon heard the distant calls of my teammates. I ignored them, even if it was already nearing nightfall. I could always just camp out on this tree for the rest of the mission, and only show when we would all need to protect Tazuna-san.

After I came to a decision, I decided to doze off for a while.

When I finally woke up, I saw Naruto at the stump of a tree just across from my own. I jumped down and walked over to him, but found someone, a female judging from her kimono and choker, brown hair and brown eyes. She gently woke Naruto up, but something about her chakra felt familiar.

"Excuse me." I called out from behind her. "I'd like to know your name, if I may. And thank you for waking Naruto as well." I said, hiding my suspicion under my polite mask.

"It's nothing really, but he would catch a cold staying here at night. Oh, and I'm Haku. Pleasure to meet you both." She responded with a polite smile and nod.

"Huh--?! Ah! Aki-nii! There you are! We've been lookin' all night for 'ya! Sakura-chan was yelling how it was all our fault that you left Tazuna's house last night, believe it!" Naruto suddenly said, snapping out of his surprised daze.

"M-my apologies. I shouldn't have ran off last night, but I had to loose some steam or I might have caused quite the trouble. Oh, and thank you once again Haku-san. And I see your gathering medical herbs, do you need assistance?" I offered her. She smiled and nodded, and we all conversed as we searched for the said herbs.

After a while, I started connecting the dots, and found out crucial information about Haku. Yuki Haku, apprentice and 'tool' of Momochi Zabuza. A former member of a side-village in the Land of Water. A mercenary ninja, partnered with and trained by Zabuza himself, starting from a very young age during the Bloodline Purge. Basic really, judging from his words and actions. And 'she' is actually a 'he'.

He's known as Haku of the Ice Release, no killing records, since he is an innocent, but very talented. He mostly just puts his victims in death-like daze, but never kills them. The only mercenary ninja with a clean kill record, but very dangerous. Ranked high chunnin and low jounin, if I remember correctly, but it's been a while 'till I last checked about him. He was one of my first ones to read of so.. this may be difficult..

"This would be enough for a while. Thank you very much for your help, but I must be leaving now. Good day to you two. Oh, and I'm a boy." That statement just confirmed my suspicions... Gomenasai, Haku-san. But next time we meet, it'll be as enemies on the battle field.

The Next Day

I woke up earlier than anyone else and began to prepare breakfast for everyone. Afterwards, I took a quick shower and got . It was the only thing that filled my bag. Sakura-nee must have swapped it while I was showering. Oh well, no harm done, I suppose?

By the time I finished getting ready, everyone was groggily and somewhat excitedly eating the warm breakfast. I smiled before noticing Naruto wasn't there yet. "Is Naruto still asleep, may I ask?" I asked them.

"Yeah, he is, Aki. Got a bit carried away during training last night, but he completed chakra control. So it's his reward to sleep in, I guess. He can catch up when he's good to go." He told me, making me nod. He did stay late just to finish that lesson, I suppose.

"Well, the food if delicious as always, Aki-otouto!! Can I have thirds??!!" Sakura-nee... please stop yelling... "Huh?!"

"Did I say that out loud?" I asked, dumbfounded. Kakashi-sensei chuckled and nodded.