"I am not for you."
Sakura hung the mask back on the peg, checking the next one.
"Contract available."
Sakura hung the mask back on the peg, sighing at the monotony of this. Just the same message over and over... wait.
The mask was completely blank on one side. The other side had a complex kanji she had to consider for nearly two minutes before she could puzzle it out. "Kateikyoushi" meant either coach or tutor, but this here meant "live-in" or "occupant"? Sloppy handwriting.
Again her eyes sought out the eyeholes.
"Contract available."
Taking a deep breath, Sakura tried putting the mask on just to see what kind of contract it was.
A moment later she took the mask off and carefully put it away.
"You done?" asked Sasuke.
"Yeah. I need to see the Hokage," said Sakura.
"You need to see the Hokage?" asked Kakashi.
"Yes. It will become apparent when I have the chance to speak with him," said Sakura. "There's an S-Class secret involved."
"Sakura, whatever it is you think you've learned," began Kakashi.
"ANBU code 'The winter moss grows thick near Tanzaku.'"
There wasn't much that could get Kakashi openly gaping at one of his genin. This qualified. "That. That's an old code."
"Necessary," said Sakura. "Can we go now?"
"Oh? Haruno-san isn't it?" asked the Hokage, slipping into his grandfatherly role as the genin was shown in. "You've discovered something you feel is an S-Rank secret?"
"She knew an old ANBU code for a priority report," said Kakashi.
Sakura considered the two men briefly before taking a deep breath. "Hokage Level Recognition Code. Look around. Leaves are brown. And the sky is a hazy shade of winter."
The Hokage went dead still for almost two seconds. "ANBU. Leave us. Full seals and protocols."
"'Recognition code'?" asked Kakashi.
"Years ago it was realized that being ninja - we get exposed to a lot of 'weird shit'," said Sakura. "Certain recognition codes are to be used for a variety of circumstances where identity may be suspect."
"You are not Haruno-san then," said Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"She's here, just sort of in the background and asleep," said Sakura.
"Hokage-level?" asked Kakashi, going back over the previous statements.
"Yes," answered Sakura. The voice, a product of physiology, was exactly the same. Tone and mannerisms had been slightly off and now were completely off. "There was a contract contained within this mask. While I am here, I will build up Sakura Haruno's body and chakra - as well as provide for teaching her some additional skills when she's ready. Right now her body isn't developed enough for two true consciousness running things."
"So which Hokage are you?" asked Kakashi, reminded that weird things happening WERE part of a ninja lifestyle.
Sakura nodded. "I am-"
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(Posted Thu, 29 Jan 2015 03:43)
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