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 Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 9:58 pm
"I suggest you train. Your team looks like they need it." Sakura turned to head back to the village proper, "I doubt they'd make it through the forest in their condition. But then again, we did, didn't we..."
She glanced back at him over her shoulder. "Everyone will be hunting you, you had better look out for your teammates, or they might not make it out alive."
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 10:02 pm
He returned her glance with a glare. This girl still understood nothing. Everyone will be hunting him? This was different from anything that happened in the past two years, how? "Your concern for my team is duly noted and unnecessary." He walked forward, stopping next to her, their shoulders almost touching. "Take care that your manners and courtesy aren't misunderstood by those who would be watching," he said softly before continuing on past her. "Koizumi, Shintaro, Kon."
The other three Sound nin didn't say a word as they filed after Sasuke. They just glanced at her, the Jounin thoughtful.
Sasuke went to the gate, pulling out a keyring and selecting a key to insert into the lock. The lock had rusted some, so it took Sasuke some effort to get it open but open it did. The gates swung slowly and with a high squeak owing to disuse.
"If you any of you three touch anything I don't permit you to, expect to be carried back to Oto in a body bag."
"Hai, Sasuke-sama," the Jounin intoned.
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 10:04 pm
She watched them with an air of disinterest, until the gate shut behind them. Taking a deep breath, she calmed a sudden case of the shakes that had washed over her. It was unnerving how much he hadn't changed, and she had to wonder what he'd meant by her watching her manners. It wasn't as if he actually cared about her well-being, was it? Shaking off the thought, she made her way back to the village. It was a good thing that Naruto wasn't home yet.
She sighed, maybe it would be a good idea to hit up one of the training grounds to blow off some steam before she had to go see Tsunade-shishou...
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 10:07 pm
Sasuke set up the others in the single guest room of his house while he reclaimed his old bedroom. The chance of something "happening" was too likely, and Sasuke needed them to get through the Forest of Death. Therefore they would restrict themselves to the compound and the training grounds therein unless Sasuke accompanied them.
He himself could go where he pleased, within acceptance for visiting shinobi. Though as an Oto-nin he doubted he could get to as many places as, say, an Ame-nin. No matter. Once food had been acquired, his only goal was to allow himself to relax some. One thing Konoha had that Oto didn't was hot springs.
Before heading out, he looked at his face in a mirror. The bruising was quite in evidence, and an internal check showed she'd managed to fracture a few bones. He performed a few seals before bringing his chakra-coated hand to his face. Self-healing was always annoying, even when necessary, but he wasn't going to walk around looking like he'd been clubbed with a two-by-four. When he was done, the discoloration was for the most part lessened and the bones healed. There was still some light redness but nothing big.
"I'm heading out," he called to the Jounin. "I'll be back in a few hours." Not waiting for a reply he left. Minutes later he was out of the compound and in the village.
The glares and anger was almost tangible. There was also the occasional gasp after he had passed and some saw the Uchiha fan. He glanced to the Hokage Tower; at some point, he felt, he would be meeting with the village leader. Orochimaru-sama had told him all about Tsunade-hime. That, combined knowing how she liked Naruto didn't impress him personality-wise, but he was suitably respectful of her strength, skill, and healing prowess, especially since he had exprienced the latter first hand.
He was simultaneously aware of and ingnoring the people around him. First order of business was food, and to see how much the village had changed. Not only for Orochimaru-sama's benefit but for his own. To always be aware of your surroundings, even unconsciously, is something that had been pounded into him again and again until it was instinct.
A smell wafted past his nose, and his mouth watered. Hot springs wasn't the only thing Oto lacked. Decent dango was another. Minutes later, he had eaten the first of a stick while a few more were in the box under his arm.
His feet carried him to the training area where the hero's memorial was. There were more names then there had been three years ago, but the posts nearby had aged. He sat down on the left post and ate more of his dango, throwing the sticks into the middle post.
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 10:08 pm
"It's rather funny I should find you here." Sakura tugged off her gloves, leaning against the trunk of a tree. "Are your companions really that intolerable, or did you miss the dango that much?" She smiled, shaking her head.
"And here you always told me you didn't like sweets..."
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 10:42 pm
"A group of Oto-nin in a village that two-and-a-half years ago they were at war with. Said village is currently inhabited by not only the village's allies but by those the village has no open hostilities with. It is too easy for a convenient accident to occur. Cutting down the chances of an accident to happen is simple prudence." He ate more of his dango. "Also, one of the Oto-nin is still considered a missing-nin of the host village, and if it weren't for the clause that no qualified Genin team cannot be barred from the exam, no doubt the Hokage would have me in the deepest, darkest room Morino has access to in T&I."
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 10:45 pm
"And you didn't answer my question. But then again, I suppose you never did really like talking with me, much."
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 10:51 pm
"If that wasn't an answer, then you weren't listening to what I said," he replied. He finished his current stick and threw it to join the others.
"Before, you rarely had anything worth listening to outside missions. I can't know if that's changed about you."
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 10:55 pm
"Hmmm, maybe." She paused, pulling a bottle of water out of her pouch and taking a drink. "But at the time, all you cared about was training and making sure you were better than Naruto."
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