"Your Mission Isn't Over."

"Your Mission Isn't Over."

Break the damn, expect a flood. Another reject piece from my first draft story. Rereading this, it's not as bad as I remembered.

Background: Early days Team 7 & Asumi(my OC) coming home after a mission. Sasuke just roasted Sakura.

Rating: PG/E for Everyone

Warning: Hinted strained relationship. Diet Hurt/Comfort.

“After a mission, the protocol is to drop off the mission report. Since I’m the leader, the duty would fall on me. But since this is your first mission, I think it's best to bring you all along to show you how it's done. Unless of course, you have plans.” The one-eyed shinobi looked at the only girl on his team with consideration. “Sakura, if you have plans with your family it's okay to leave now.”

“I...uh,” Sakura glanced at her crush who just shat on her feelings before looking at her sensei. His singular eye seemed to analyze her emotions. Next to her Naruto was already deeply inhaling the smell of ramen wafting down the streets. “Yes, I think I'll go home, sensei.”

Not surprised, the jonin nodded and reminded his pink-haired pupil what time they would be training tomorrow. The two boys followed Kakashi as he jumped to the roofs to the Hokage office. Sakura watched the departure before turning to head to her house, only to collide with an unsuspecting pedestrian. Great, just my luck. Sakura opened her mouth to apologize but the words died on her tongue at who she bumped into.

“Sarutobi-san.”

“Sakura.” Asumi’s tone held no previous hint of friendliness to her. Sakura fought to not grimace in the kunoichi’s face. Asumi’s expression was blank, more aloof than Kakashi and her eyes felt colder than Sasuke’s. She looks like an angel of death ready to reap my soul. With fear suddenly running through her veins, the young genin missed her senior speaking to her. Only when a single blue brow raised and brown eyes squinted did Sakura jumpstart.

“Sorry?”

“I said, where are you headed? I thought I heard your Kakashi-sensei say something about a mission report.”

“I.. uh yes, he did. But my parents, they are making uh, they’re making dinner and would be-"

“Angry if you were late?”

“Yes,” realizing what she said, Sakura's eyes widened before correcting herself. “No, I mean no, not angry. Just, uhm… sad?”

“Sad? Is that right?” When the young kunoichi nodded, the elder turned and walked in the direction of the Hokage building. Thinking they were done, Sakura turned in the opposite direction to continue her journey home. Man, I’m totally going to be late now. What was all the fuss about? That conversation, more like an interrogation, felt pointless.

“Sakura? Where are you going? Your mission isn't over.” Asumi called behind her, though she didn’t stop her walk, each step now holding purpose. Sakura stopped in her tracks. Her mission wasn’t over? What did that mean?

“Really Sakura, you can't be a good shinobi if you don't finish your mission to the very end. If you really needed to go home, I would understand. But,” Asumi stopped and turned to look at Naruto's crush. Her junior's stance and overall demeanor screamed insecurity. The noise and movement around them didn't stop but for that moment where Sakura’s ears strained to hear what the jonin would say next, it felt like time stopped.

“Your parents are no longer your highest authority. Not even the Hokage. The village you promised to protect is who you must answer to. If you feel like your mother and father won’t understand why you can’t make every dinner, then that requires a different discussion. The point is, you are a shinobi of the now. Not only that but this is your first mission. Personally, I think you should go to your team.”

Asumi sighed when the girl only stood there. Sensei she was not, Asumi mused. How does she get Sakura to understand what she was trying to say? The fact is once you get that headband, you’re basically an independent. Civilian households struggle with grasping that concept. Even genin, fresh graduates from the academy, receive payment to serve so with that, there needs to be a readjustment to the rules at home. The bluenette doesn't want Sakura to be disrespectful to her parents, but she needs to realize she herself is doing something that her parents have no control over. It’s not them that gets tossed into war and bloodshed.

“You're right, Sarutobi-san.” Slight shock flickered on bronze features before a big smile broke out. Sakura might not completely understand yet, but Asumi decided that they could continue to converse on the way to the Hokage building.

Lovely

Happy to say I started the framework to give this series some background. Still don't know what to call the series though. open to suggestions. Anyway, the teaser:

She stood behind the man, measuring tape around her neck and a kettle of tea in her hands, dressed head to toe in knock-offs.

Her shoes were fake Luis Vuitton and the purse she carefully placed at her workstation looked to be fake Fendi. Her slacks, though in style, looked like they came from a discount store. Her shirt was the worst offender, the signature Burberry plaid was all wrong. The older women of Wayne Enterprises would call her attempt offensive.

Bruce thought she looked lovely.

Thanks to the tropical storm, my school’s been shit down until these get better. That means I’ll be holed up in my dorm, working on my bruce wayne x reader series. Hopefully i can churn something out by Friday, we’ll see. I’ll also put some of my old works in the junkyard. Until then, stay safe if your in the gulf area like me.

This connects to my previous post. If he had access to the avatar state in that moment he would have succumbed to it.

i just realized in the ember island player’s episode when aang said “if ihadnt blocked my chakra i would be in the avatar state right now” he meant he was so angry about the portrayal of his and katara’s relationship in the play he wouldve been in the avatar state if not for his blocked chakra.

this entire time i thought it was about how he feels guilty about blocking his chakra because if he hadnt he’d be defeating ozai/wouldve already defeated him. i thought it was about how the reason he was reacting so angrily was because of all the pressure that had built up about the entire world relying on him, a twelve year old, to defeat (possibly kill) a master fire bender with years more experience than him and far less empathy. this is literally what ive thought since i watched the show for the first time when i was TEN. 

but no. you cant expect that type of nuanced writing from bryke. it was just a throwaway line about how he felt entitled to katara’s affection. and katara just had to take that. i dont care if he was “just 12.” i understand that 12 year olds make mistakes, thats not my issue here, but the fact that he’s never corrected or forced to confront these mistakes makes my blood boil. and bryke doesnt even try to make it seem like he’s in the wrong when he SO CLEARLY IS. i will never not be angry about how aang never has to apologize for these toxic behaviors and how he doesnt show significant growth. 

the lengths bryke will go through to strip katara of her agency so that they dont have to admit that the character they project onto has flaws is ASTOUNDING.

I simp heavy for Sukuna but even in my dreams, that man is not comforting me. At best he’s offering pain and suffering to whatever hurt me or a half-assed hug. He is not rubbing my back if I cry. If anything he would kick me out because my sorrow is annoying him.

Still my man though. Imma stick beside him

The bottom line is that no one deserved Katara, and she should have ended up with no one right after the war. None of the ships make sense right after the war.

After 20, anythings fair game. Aang, Zuko, Haru, Random man #3.