The Little Senju (Little Senju Series Book One): A Naruto Fanfiction

The Little Senju and the Final Valley

Izumi's POV

I pulled my flak jacket over my shoulders before zipping up the front and pulled my hair into a high ponytail. This was serious. I couldn't afford to waste anytime. Sakura was hot on my heels as I raced toward the village gates. Though it didn't seem like she would be accompanying me on my mission. It probably wouldn't be safe for her if she did come anyway...

I came to a halt just outside the village gates biting my thumb before completing a flurry of hand signs, " Summoning jutsu!" I called into the open air as a cloud of white smoke surrounded me and a familiar orange-haired girl appeared, "Sorry Taki, I don't have time for jokes." she held back her sarcastic tongue returning to her dragon form and leaning down so that it would be easier for me to board her broad shoulders, "I'll make it up to you later, okay?" My glance shifted to my pink-haired comrade who already looked concerned that I wouldn't return, "Don't make that face..." I muttered throwing her a sympathetic stare, "This is my fault, so I'll make it okay again!"

A wave of confusion whirled around in her green eyes, but she nodded with tears still present at the corners of her eyes, "Be careful." she murmured, "Just bring Sasuke back."

. . .

I clung as tightly as I could to Taki's scales as we flew above the forest. We needed to catch up fast. That was easier said than done as the others had left nearly half a day before Taki and I had. The fiery-scaled dragon made no attempts at conversation as she kept up her fastest pace.

"Stop!" I ordered briefly noticing familiar chakras nearby, "I'm just going to create a few wood clones to make sure the others aren't in any immediate danger." Taki nodded hovering in place as I produced several wood clones that instantly sprang in the directions of the familiar chakras, "Good..."

. . .

"You can go now, Taki." I ordered causing her to wince slightly at my sudden directness, "I can handle it from here, so take a nice long rest."

The dragon nodded worry clouding over her emerald orbs before mouthing a small, 'Be careful!' to which I returned her nod.

I scaled a hill and found the final valley waiting for me on the other side. The familiar statues of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju in their respective places. Atop their heads I saw my two male teammates burning into each other with their eyes. I made a wary step forward before noticing the black marks that had already migrated across half of Sasuke's face and his eyes... The sclera of his eye was now black and his irises were painted a bright almond. Upon hearing my loud gasp the two boys shifted their gaze from each other to me.

Naruto remained silent for once as Sasuke looked down at me seemingly unimpressed, "So, it's you two..." A sense of superiority reigned supreme in his tone as his eyes flickered between the two of us, "The hopeless little knucklehead and the clueless little Senju that thought she was worth my time..." I bit into my lower lip wondering if I should feel hurt or angry at his comment. Maybe both? "She sent you, huh?"

Sakura? She must have tried to convince him too... I thought back to her face just before I left the village and when I was at the hospital. By the looks of it Naruto'd had a similar experience with the pink-haired girl.

"It's like I already told Sakura, and you too Izumi, it's over." Sasuke continued certainly, "Just leave me alone." Naruto's face was twisted in anger as he balled up his fists at his sides, "Hmhmhm, look at you!" the raven-haired boy chuckled placing his hands on his hips, "What's with the angry face." he smirked darkly before letting out another uncharacteristic chuckled.

What happened to you, Sasuke....?

I took my place next to Naruto watching as his face became more and more mournful with every passing second, "Why...? Why're you doing this to us...?" the blond choked out with a scrunched face making it look like he was about to cry, "Sasuke..."Sasuke's face changed for a moment seeming almost surprised by Naruto's words, "I don't get it!" Naruto threw his arms into the sky, "What happened to make you like this?!? Why're you doing it?!?" his voice cracked slightly as he screamed.

"Please..." I whimpered lightly stuffing my hands into my pockets to avoid their compulsive shaking. Why did everything have to change when it felt like it was going so right...?

"Why should you care what I do?" Sasuke asked purely baffled by our begging cries for answers, "It's my concern, not yours." Naruto looked taken aback and I suppressed the urge to act without thinking. If I wanted this to go smoothly I was going to have to act accordingly, "I have my own path to follow and none you can steer me from it. I will tell you this much. My days of playing ninja with you kids of the leaf village are done."