Reborn as Sakura and Hinata: Lost in the Wind

The Perfect Plan

The air was heavy, wet, like each breath I was drawing in brought more than just air, as if anticipation itself could be physical, and it wasn't just breathing that made the mood so tense. Over the constant rocking of the boat and the knowledge that I was but mere inches of wood away from drowning, I'd say the only thing that might've been more uncomfortable was the atmosphere between Kakashi and Tazuna, the white haired men's eyes locked with equal determination.

"So, I was right then." Kakashi stated with impressive neutrality, "You did lie to us."

"I did," Tazuna admitted, head lowering slightly, "But you must understand-"
"What I understand is that you came to Konoha to coerce it's people into your village's squabbles," Kakashi interrupted sternly, "You knowingly put children in harm's way?"

Tazuna sighed, "It's why I didn't want them on this mission to begin with."

"Yet you said nothing." Kakashi followed.

Tazuna's brow set, "If I might be a bit bold, I think it's a little rich for you to bring up that they're children when you are the very one training them to become soldiers and die."

I felt Naruto tense behind me, and I couldn't help but do the same. He did have a point, what use was arguing over putting us in this situation when the whole idea of this system was training children from a young age and putting them on battlefields? We weren't children anymore, not really.

Kakashi, though, maintained his composure, "I didn't sign them up for a war mission, now did I? I signed them up for what was supposed to be a simple escort mission, where there was no reason to assume you'd be in any real danger. Apparently, that was incorrect."

Tazuna nodded, conceding to the better point, "I'm sorry. I... I felt there was no other way. Konoha wouldn't have given us any help, it wouldn't have been in their best interest, but my people desperately need it." Kakashi remained silent, a sign to continue, "This bridge that I'm building, it will allow my people to finally rise out of poverty. We are isolated on our island, cut off from trade, and everytime time we try, Gato either destroys what we have or kills whoever dares to try. This bridge... building it is a death sentence for me and my men, but what would Konoha have to gain from helping us? If anything, Gato is the better man to make an alliance with, he has money, connections..." Tazuna's head bowed, "I am so sorry, doing this gives me no pride, but my people are desperate, scared, and dying..."

I... hadn't realized how bad they had it. When watching the show, I'd always found Tazuna and this plot annoying, but... hearing him say it, the sheer desperation and pain in his tone, the sense of fear that seemed to hang in the mist around us like it was an oppressive force all its own. It truly was awful. As a plot, they were all just little facts and quirks of the story, things you wouldn't really think about and write off as tropes, but... we were children, we were fighting wars, people were dying, suffering, Naruto had a fucking fox demon inside of him and Sasuke's entire family was fucking exterminated... Kakashi had watched almost all the people he loved die. Now it seemed insane I had ever written these things off, insane that I made fun of them with Beth as shitty tropes.

Kakashi's expression wasn't so stern now, and he sighed, "Well... I'd say we've come a bit too far to turn back now," He glanced back at us, "Wouldn't you say?"
"I'd like this boat ride to have a purpose." I nodded tensely, if they put me on a boat for no reason I was gonna be mad.

Naruto nodded as well, "Yeah! We can't just back out now! We signed up for this mission, so we gotta finish it, right Kakashi-sensei?"

Sasuke let out a half-hearted grunt, and the man smiled slightly, "I suppose that is what I taught you." He turned back to Tazuna, "We will help you then, but I hope you appreciate how much I am putting at risk by doing this for you."