"Do you think we are going to believe that?" Suigetsu argued.
"That is not very convincing," Jugo added.
"Sasuke we are not believing her right?" Karin said looking at their leader. They all were waiting for the raven's response.
"I believe her," Sasuke said shocking everyone with his response.
"Huh, do you believe her Sasuke?" Karin shouted.
"For a guy who considers himself to be smart you are very dense," Suigetsu admitted.
"The scroll that he stole 'Kazumi' can be used to time travel. It is an old scroll developed by one of our clan's ancestors. No one except the descendent from his bloodline could use the scroll and as far as I know, the bloodline ended long ago. Whoever created this scroll never had any children," Sasuke revealed.
"Then, how was Fuzen able to use it?" Sarada questioned.
"He must have some abilities that helped him," Sasuke said. "I don't know anything for sure but I can't let him or anyone else get to those scrolls. I don't care if he is from the future, I have a duty towards my clan," That was Sasuke's reasoning to help Sarada but some part of him couldn't leave her on her own. There was something familiar about her.
"But Sasuke we already killed him right? So, the job is done," Suigetsu said.
"He must be alive, I didn't intend to kill him back then. We need to go back and get the Kazumi scroll and you can take it and go back to your time since Fuzen can use the it," Sasuke stated looking at Sarada.
"Do you think he is going to agree just like that?"
"We'll make him if he refuses. I won't allow anyone to mess with the scrolls our clan preserved," Sasuke was determined. That was the least he could do to honour his clan, and his father's wishes.
"We need to get moving then, ahh... I can't get a rest today can I?" Suigetsu sighed.
"You are talking as if you did all the work. Sasuke was the one who fought before and you stood there watching them fight," Karin scolded.
"Why do you always have a problem with everything I say? Besides you stood there doing nothing as well," He fought back.
"That's not the point you idiot," She punched him and he turned his body into liquid form.
"Let's get going," Sasuke ordered clearly not interested in hearing them bicker.
As they all got ready to start moving Sarada was panicking. If she stood up they were going to see the Uchiha clan symbol on the back of her dress. That would create another mess and a series of questions she didn't want to address. Plus, it's better if they know as little as possible about the future.
"What are you doing? We need to leave," Karin shouted at her. Seriously, she was much better in the future, Sarada thought.
"It's getting very chilly so, it would be nice if I could borrow a cloak," She requested hoping someone would give it to her.
"What makes you think you can make demands like that?"Suigetsu stated.
"Take it," Sarada saw Sasuke taking his cloak off and offering it to her. She did not expect that. She took the clock and put it on. It was big for her body but it was warm and it smelt like her dad. It felt like her dad was with her. Not the one she was sharing a room with, her dad from the future.
"Thank you," She said to the teen version of her father.
"Hn, let's move."
***
Under the heat of midday summer, three figures were traveling at a fast pace. There was a teen boy who was impatiently jumping from one tree to another. The pinkette beside him was calm, and a silver-haired man had his head inside the same book he's been reading since the teenagers met him for the first time.
"Seriously, sensei you are reading even now, we are in the middle of a mission. When are you gonna get serious?" The blonde knucklehead shouted at his teacher.
"Why are you even asking him this? He's always been like this, seriously I'm not even expecting him to ever grow up, and focus on the more important stuff going on rather than his book," His pink-haired teammate responded. Kakashi heard his students and wondered where the little kids had gone who used to see him with amusement no matter what he did. Teenage had made them more rebellious than before.
"What's so special about the book anyway and doesn't he get bored reading the same things over and over?" Naruto was intrigued.
"Who knows? It would be better if you went out more rather than reading that thing over and over. Maybe you would even have a girlfriend by now," Sakura said to the silver-haired jounin.
"Kakashi sensei and girlfriend? I can't imagine that happening," Naruto burst out laughing.
"Sometimes I think even Naruto has a better chance at getting a girlfriend than you sensei," Sakura couldn't help but let out a few giggles.
"I am really glad you two are concerned about me but aren't you guys a little small for talking about this stuff?" Kakashi finally decided to speak up.
"C'mon sensei we are just worried about you. You are getting old," Naruto said.
"Exactly, and we don't want you to end up old and all alone," Sakura added.
"This is not something you guys have to worry about, and besides I am going to be perfectly fine by myself," Kakashi said.
"Ohh.. cut the crap sensei, I know you want a girlfriend but you cannot get any that's why you make all these excuses," Naruto said in a teasing tone.
"We've never seen you with anyone ever except that one time when we... caught you on a date with a girl," Sakura said.
"More like you were following us, and that was not a date," He replied.
"She was pretty you should have taken her on a date sensei," Sakura added. Before anyone could say another word Pakkun appeared in front of them.
"Pakkun, find anything?"Kakashi asked.
"The last trace I got of her is from Kusagakure. She must be there," He relayed.
"Then we are going to head to Kusa. You are dismissed now Pakkun," Kakashi said.
"Before I go, I saw a man on the ground a few meters ahead of here. He had the same red clock as you described. He's also got the sun symbol on it. Maybe he is connected with your mission," Pakkun revealed.
"If he got the same clock as our target then it must mean something. Let's hurry before we miss him," Kakashi commanded his team and Pakkun dismissed himself.
"If we manage to capture this person it might be easier to capture our target. She was able to trespass into the village and steal an important scroll from the Uchiha compound. We need to be very careful with her," Kakashi warned his team and they headed towards the said person.
"I see someone," Sakura said when she saw a person lying on the ground. "He must be the one Pakkun mentioned."
Sakura immediately checked his pulse. "He is still alive but unconscious. There is a deep cut in his chest and looks like he got burned badly," She informed.
"Let's bind him first and then start to heal him. We need him to talk," Kakashi took out some seals to bind him and Sakura started healing. He checked the symbol in his clock, and Pakkun was right this guy was related to their mission.
"How could he have even ended up like this?" Naruto questioned.
"Maybe he got attacked. There was a big fire in the Tanaka village recently and criminals are taking advantage of the chaos. The number of crimes has been increasing in this area. That's why a lot of ninjas from our village have been assigned missions around here," Kakashi answered.
"Oh yeh that's why Sai had to go work with team 10 in a mission," Naruto said.
"But when we come to think of it, a simple bandit couldn't have done this big damage. Either the bandits were really powerful or this is the work of some high-profile rouge ninja," Kakashi expressed.
"We'll find out when he wakes up. I have fixed up the major problems he'll be awake in no time," Sakura informed them.
"Can't he hurry up? I am ready for some action," Naruto yelled.
"Can you shut up? He has no control over when he is getting conscious. It depends upon his body," Sakura scolded the blonde.
"But I hate waiting, I can't wait for much longer," Naruto whined.
"Guys quiet," Kakashi spoke suddenly gaining both of their attention. "We've got some intruders."
They felt a few chakra signatures coming their way. One very familiar. Before anyone could react five people landed in front of them. Naruto and Kakashi were shocked to see an old face. Sakura who was facing the opposite direction felt someone behind her. A very familiar presence. She didn't need to turn around to see who that was.
"Sasuke-kun," She whispered still not facing towards him.
"Teme" Naruto whispered.
Sakura slowly turned her head to look at Sasuke. He was still the same since she last saw him in Orochimaru's hideout a few months ago. She looked at his eyes the same time he decided to look at her. Their eyes locked for a moment. Even though Sasuke had changed in the last few years, Sakura could still find traces of old Sasuke in there.
"Sakura," He finally addressed her. She couldn't move, she was frozen in the moment until Kakashi appeared before her trying to shield her from him.
"Oii, Sasuke do you know these people?" A male voice spoke. Only then did Sakura notice other people behind him. There was the boy with white hair, a tall orange-haired man, a redhead female, and on the right there was a raven-haired girl. The girl seemed strangely familiar to Sakura.
"Teme," Naruto yelled. Sasuke looked at his old teammate. They glared at each other with murderous rage. Everyone present could feel the tension in the air.
To be continued...
Finally, team 7 has joined the story. Team Hebi and Team 7 come face to face. And, Sarada sees her mom.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, see you soon.