-1AN: About the dead or alive part there is a reason, of course it is up to the bounty hunters if they are able to actually knock one of them out. The reason why they list the alive part will come clear later. That’s all I can say really.

Part One: Clearing Mist

Chapter 2: The Market

After breakfast Sasuke moved to sleep on the bottom bunk. The dark hair boy tugged on the curtain around the metal frame to block the light. From the shadows of his sleeping space Sasuke called out,

“Wake me up an hour before we reach the town.”

Naruto who was sitting in the booth glared at the ugly green sheet and stuck out his tongue. Really not even a please? With a grumble Naruto got up to start some coffee for himself then. Once the lovely drink was in his fox mug Naruto walked towards the cockpit.

Sakura yawned and brushed a few stray hairs out of her eyes.

“Getting up early to watch the sunrise does that to you.” The fox boy grinned and took the co-pilot seat.

“But I love the desert sunrise its so beautiful you know. “ Green eyes stared out through the tinted glass at the empty desert.

“Huh-uh” The blond took a sip of his coffee. “We going to pick up a job from there or not?”

Sakura paused and leaned back to think about the town. It was small but one of the major sites for oil. The Fire Nation had ruthlessly claimed the city and forced most of the inhabitance to work for them. Lucky 7 first appeared a little over 2 years ago; at that point the town was dried up and on the brink of death. Skillfully they restored the town after kicking some ass but that was another story.

They had a few high powered friends as well as a few enemies that lurked within the town. It was all about how they treed when they entered the town.

“We can talk to Maki and check the town’s bulletin board. They always had trouble with sand snakes and centipedes. Maybe they might have a few colonies we can take out for a price. ” Sakura thought rationally.

“Oh hell no, not those fucking centipedes! I almost died!” Naruto growled and gulped a little more coffee.

“You said you wanted to be bait…. Not our fault.” She said sweetly and waved a hand.

“I didn’t want to be! You two tricked me to be the bait!”

“and you brat are the idiot who fell for the trap.” Kyuubi finally putting in his two cents.

“Shut up you overgrown toaster!” Naruto grunted and stomped towards the shower. “I AM TAKING MY SHOWER!”

“WE CAN HEAR YOU DOBE!” Sasuke yelled from his sleeping place.

Sakura just sighed and looked up at the red eye. “You know you really didn’t have to say that.”

There was no response for a while, then suddenly Naruto screamed bloody murder. “IT BURNS OWWWWW!”

The AI just chuckled. “if I am the toaster I wonder what that makes you?”

After more yelling and screaming Naruto settled down to take a nap on the top bunk. The lights in the living area was turned off to save energy and cool down the tank for the heat of the noon’s sun. Alone by herself Sakura watched the winds push and pull the sand particles. The girl’s mind drifted towards family members she hasn’t seen for almost three years.

While they weren’t her real mother and father, they were the ones to save her from the bitter cold of winter and raise her. Maybe it wasn’t the most ideal household to grow up in, death being their occupation, but Sakura loved them as if they were her real parents. Often her mother would say, she really was a cherry blossom.

They found her on the bridge of a small fishermen’s village on the brink of death. Winter was killing her like it did to all life. It was only her strong will to live and to see spring, her mother said, that made them keep her.

She was the strongest cherry blossom that ever lived.

“What are you thinking about?” The red eye turned to look at the day dreaming girl.

“My family.” A smile tugged on her lips. “I wonder if they are doing okay, I worry about them. They can be real idiots when on the job you know?” Of course he didn’t, but it felt like the right thing to say.

Not to pass of the chance to drain more information from the girl Kyuubi made a dive for it. “What was your family like?” This could be valuable.

“My father is a really strong man, super strong. He always loves a good fight that ends in death, namely his target. He is most likely the best hunter that the Fire Nation has, and most deadly if he turns. My mother… is well..” She paused for a moment and bit her lip. “likes to dress up real pretty, and wear makeup, but is just as deadly as to-chan. Ka-chan though has a really soft side and I could almost get away with anything as long as I gave Ka-chan the puppy dog eyes. To-chan didn’t fall for that act much and taxed on extra training if I did it.” Sakura confessed, almost feeling the happy memories flood over her. It has been a long time since she turned from a hunter, to a hunted. However, it was her choice and they never questioned it.

Life is full of choices, we give you these choices Sakura-chan. You have to follow what you believe in.

“So, your mother and father were both hunters? Is that how you knew the basics so well?” Kyuubi pried again.

“yeah, I started learning when I was 6, It was hard at times I wanted to give up and quit. To a 6 year old trying to fight to kill is not a fun game after a while. Slowly I was understanding it wasn’t a game anymore, and when I was eight my childhood was gone. I read more, learning everything I could. More I found out about the world, the more grown up I became.” Sakura leaned back and stared upwards at the mechanical swatches above her.

“Then you know the rest, we were living in Leaf, the capital and I got the apprenticeship of a life time. I told them I wanted to take it to become a better hunter. I think my mother had the leaving the nest attack but soon gave into the idea. I lived at the hospital and then things really got interesting. I am surprised you didn’t know all this Kyuubi.” The doctor shifted her head to the side and smiled shyly at the AI’s eye.

A snort sound echoed from the speakers, “You humans are so boring.”

“That’s why you listen in real good when we are exchanging stories of what happened?” Sakura cooed teasing the computer.

“We are here” Kyuubi just grumbled and retreated into his mainframe. It really didn’t like being caught.

Lumiere rested in the crack between the curve of a mountain range. Homes were carved out of the hard stone and below a few wood based buildings were planted. Those were mostly the saloons, prostitution, and what other shops were located in the town. At the very end of the town something blinding reflected in the afternoon sun. As the assault tank drew closer Sakura could make it out as a mansion.

It was a gaudy thing made out of the sweat and blood of the town’s folk. There the mayor stayed swimming in a heated pool, and drinking chilled wine. Something boiled at the pit of Sakura’s stomach as she looked up at the awful thing that has risen since their last stay.

Maybe they could repeat a little history while they were here. It would add another notch under the terrorism category after all the boys were ahead of her weren’t they? Or was that in robbery?

“Just because I was sick that one time they go off and do it by themselves and take the credit!” Sakura seethed for a moment.

“So the fact you were out and useless didn’t matter and you would have followed us just to get an extra number to your name?” Sasuke stood arms crossed. His face hid whatever emotion he had at the moment, if he had them.

“…yes… well no but that’s not the point!” The youngest of the three snorted and turned her head to the side. “Its not fair you guys are S class and I am only A.”

A dark chucked erupted from Sasuke’s throat as he took the seat next to her. “Its because you don’t like getting your hands dirty and inflict as much damage with your attacks. Unless of course you get out of hand, and being an A class is tough shit but not as tough as S class weakling.” For a moment he thought he might have pushed her too far.

“You are lucky we aren’t outside right now.” Sakura muttered darkly. Just because she knew her limits and they didn’t shouldn’t mean they should be S class. They were idiots wasting all their energy to kill the big bad.

“I wander which wanted posters they have up here?” Sakura changed the subject. In a scrapbook she kept all news articles, chipped the titles from merchandise, and wanted posters to make a memory of everything they had done so far. To them their motto was:

The ends justifies the means.

Sakura took off the autopilot control and slowly willed the tank into a nest trees located nearby. It would be a five mile walk from the tank to the town but Kyuubi was too easily spotted. It would be like painting Lucky 7 on the side with their faces.

“we wait until sundown?”

“Aa, then we buy a room at the inn.”

The doctor slumped slightly in the pilot’s chair. “how long should we stay? Clearly they changed the mayor of the town, Lukina would never build such an awful thing, and we don’t know if Maki is still working out of here anymore.”

“We break into three and gather information. If anything just a day to restock and fuel.” Sasuke ran a hand through his hair but there was a frown on his lips.

“What’s wrong?”

“I wonder if they put another puppet into Lumiere. If they did they could be expecting us to show and save the day again.” Sasuke’s eyes remained fixed on the city five miles away.

“well you know, we have to. It’s what we do.” Sakura stated softly but the cold look in his eyes made her think other wise.

“It is what you and Naruto do. I follow along with it.” He stood and walked towards the kitchen.

As he left Sakura thought over his words then stood and followed him. “It’s what we do! You are apart of Lucky 7 too damn it! We gave you a choice to follow us or be left behind. You said follow.”

Naruto shifted slightly and looked over the edge of the top bunk. He could see Sakura’s distressed face, Sasuke’s impassive one, and the tension growing in the air. Her green eyes were narrowed and a hidden flame blazed behind them, Sasuke’s looked indifferent but a cold fury burned.

“If I remember right, you kidnapped me, not much of a choice there. You and the idiot had some idiotic idea of saving the world from the Fire Nation.” He turned to face her. “You weren’t any closer then you are now then you two were then. You are still weak and annoying, you are nothing more then flies buzzing around their ears.” There was a stand off and even Kyuubi was quiet for a change.

“Fine. Go run back to the capital, see if we care.” Sakura turned, marched into the cockpit, and slammed the door.

“What the fuck was that about bastard!” Naruto growled for a moment, the fight was so sudden it caught Naruto off guard. “Last time I checked Lucky 7 was a three man crew. Now what got your tighty whities in a knot.”

“Nothing.” A growl and a shove Sasuke walked towards the bathroom.

“Oi! I am talking to you! You really hurt Sakura-chan just don’t be bastard! Are you really loosing hope? We only been doing this for a few years.” Sasuke spun around to face the blond. He waited to see the anger and another curt attack about their personal mission but Sasuke just looked defeated and tired.

“Five years Naruto. Five. We have been just picking at them like a ice sculptor who has a mountain to crave. We think Lumiere has a new puppet in place. What about the other ones?” The boy shoved his hands into his pockets eyes averted.

Was everything they were doing in vain?

“Don’t be a jackass. We are the most wanted guys around, every time there is a fight to be had, we do it and win. We make their whole system look retarded and rally people’s hearts to us. No matter how many puppets they replace, hunters they send after us, or set up traps, we will fight them all and win. Loosing hope now is just asking for our winning streak to end.” The blond shifted slightly and held up his thumb. “I promised you that we would kick their asses to the moon, and I don’t break those sort of promises jack ass.”

“Naruto….” For the moment his worries fade for a moment, his eyes traveled to the closed door.

Sakura just smiled and leaned against the door, she heard everything. At times they all got like this, a good scream and yell just to get the worries out without seeming weak, a gentle talk with the other person, and bravo they would be patched up and Lucky 7 again. Five years of constant fighting was a long time, and they faltered wishing for the normal life of home.

ooo

At sundown three bodies climbed out of the top hatch of the tank. Sakura was the first one out and on the ground, Naruto, and lastly Sasuke. The girl was dressed in typical desert garb, long robs of vibrant colors and a turban to hide her uncommon hair color. Sasuke and Naruto both wore clothing almost identical, light brown robes and pants with a turban on top. The three exchanged looks.

“You go first Naruto we are going to enter at separate times. Sakura you take the middle and I will follow up behind. Make sure there is plenty of distance between us until we get to the Black Lagoon inn.” Sasuke dished out the orders.

For a moment they all agreed until Naruto held up his hand, “well mission leader, how long are we going to stay?”

Sakura looked to Naruto and went to explain, “we are only going to see if Maki and Lukina are still there, if they got run out or, something mysterious happened….”

“We are going to investigate and solve the problem. After all we aren’t called Lucky 7 without a reason, though where they go the idea we had seven on our crew for that one movie was kind of freaky.” The three of them shared a mild laugh and nodded.

Naruto entered the city first, blue eyes scanned the shopping district of the town. A few lights flickered on and off as if the power was failing. Taking careful steps the blond walked towards Black Lagoon.

It was odd, the town had returned to the ghost status. What could have happened since they last been here? Naruto pondered as he entered the inn. At the counter stood a tall skinny man. His face was long and narrow eyes slightly slanted and he almost screamed mr. evil right there and then.

“What can I do for you sir?” His voice was sleazy and as greasy as his slicked back hair.

“A room for a night or so.” Naruto returned.

The sleazy inn keeper held out his hand for the money and Naruto painfully paid for it. Key in hand Naruto walked up to his room. It was a two story Inn and Pub, on the first floor was where you could get a non eatable dinner and a lukewarm mug of beer. On the few times they stayed here Naruto swore that they raised cockroaches as pets here.

Stopping at his room, he eyed the key and the number on the door. 6. Naruto took a step inside to see the one bed and dirty blankets. With a look of disgust Naruto pulled out the do not disturb slip and placed it on the handle. On the back of the paper was a red sticker dot facing the door.

Now in the room he started to make temporary beds for his other two teammates. Once that was done all he could do was wait.

Bored eyes traveled the room spotting every disgusting aspect of the over charged room. “They must really not expect visitors…” Naruto muttered to himself.

Sakura entered the town a half an hour behind Naruto and traveled through darken streets. She stuck to the shadows as not to draw attention of the early drunks or men looking for a good time; not caring if the girl had a good time or not. Once the Black lagoon was in her sights Sakura darted into the ally between the Black Lagoon and the barber shop.

In quick movements her hand made a few symbols, her voice barely above a whisper she said, ‘swift’. Sakura watched as a mix of pink to red light filtered down to her feet. One tap and she could feel the spell already in affect. In about two seconds she zoomed past the inn keeper to the second floor and looked for the do not disturb signs. Her eye caught one and turned it over, the red sticker in place she slipped in and planted her own green one.

In this world there are many types of people, some are more gifted then others. You have your wizards, knights, kings, princesses, and even a ninja or two. The world revolves around Mana, the life force for all things and connects it with everything. Mana itself has many different names but as many names as it has; it has juts as many functions.

There are your typical spell weavers, these people are naturally gifted to molding an element or elements to their will with a spell.

Animal Talkers, these people live among the animals as if they were one of the herd, they can control them or will them to do deeds.

Medical Professional, these are one of the most uncommon and if you found with the skill are put to this job early on. They have control on the Mana that flows through a body, the living force itself. With just a touch they could kill or save a life.

Seers are among the rare as well. Gifted with the sight of foresight they can see into the future or the past with just a touch. They are connected to the constant flow and core of the Mana.

Lastly there are Blood Line Manas. BLM are strictly kept within their respected clans for control of the BLM. Many families with a BLM do not announce it to the world unless they outnumber or are in total control of their government. 100 years ago all BLMs were hunted down in fear, about half of the already rare BLMs were lost the rest learned to hide their hate until they could over take their murders.

There are a few more however they were lost to time and forgotten. Only a few people have accesses to the records kept hidden from the public, and even if they still lived, death was just down the street waiting.

Sakura was a MP, her skill in the field goes unmatched. Naruto falls under the spell weavers and Sasuke due to his BLM can bounce between Mana Control Types.

“Hey Sakura-chan.” Naruto looked up from his spot on the floor, no way he was going to sleep on that disgusting thing.

“God don’t they know about hygiene here in this inns?” She sneered slightly taking the other makeshift bed on the floor. Sasuke would have the displeasure of getting the bed.

Back to Sasuke he waited a few more minutes, his eyes traveled to the full moon in the sky. “Alright Kyuubi I am leaving. Put up your camouflage we will be back some time tomorrow night to check up on you.”

The AI just snorted and a hum later the giant tank vanished. Dark eyes stared at the empty space, he would never get used to that little perk. This hunk of metal really did have everything. Not to waste anymore time, he placed his hands in the same signs as Sakura did. When the word fell from his lips a blue like aura surrounded his feet. The next moment he was gone.

Sasuke slipped into the room just as the spell’s effect was waning. Dark eyes glared at the two others then the rotted mattress with a yellow and brown stained sheet to cover it.

“Naruto.”

“Hmm? Sakura do you have any 2s?” The blond didn’t look up from his cards.

“No, back to the pile with ya!” The pink hair girl returned to him.

“Switch with me.” There was no way he was going to sleep on something that most likely was peed on.

“Naw, you were having a hard time sleeping thought we would give you the bed. Damn it!” Naruto cursed at his new card. “Ne.. ne Sakura lets play old maid?”

“Ha! That is four wins for me!” She snatched away the cards and started to shuffle.

Sasuke just gritted his teeth, “Naruto… really lets switch.”

It took everything Sakura noticed for Naruto not to burst out laughing. Finally Sasuke found his efforts were in vain he turned to her. She spilt the deck in three piles one was expected for him.

“Sakura. Switch.”

“Oh but I am happy on the floor remember?” Her eyes narrowed at the two boys. “I mean I was mana depleted, sore, and wounded but you guys found it was okay to stick me on the floor.”

“But Sakura-chan we were all wounded,” Naruto bit his lower lip trying to see which card he should pick.

Sasuke grunted in conformation trying to get her to switch.

“Well I think today I want to sleep on the floor.” Naruto let out a sigh when the card was a 2.

Sasuke soon joined them but trying to think of a way out of this. “Looser gets the bed.”

Oh so they weren’t going to hide it. Sakura grinned and looked over at Naruto.

“Looser gets the bed, and has to go out into the market in the morning.” Naruto added. “and find something that we can actually eat without getting sick.”

After a heated game of old maid Sasuke was dubbed the looser. He shot a glare at an overly innocent looking Sakura and a devious looking Naruto. Somehow he got the feeling he was conned.

“Well” Sakura yawned and leaned back into her blanket. “Lets get some sleep, we can’t really do much in the noon sun’s and morning is our only chance to get any real information.”

“Right” Naruto nodded, “I will take the middle section of the town.”

“I will take the sheriff and bulletin board section.” Sakura made to claim her area.

“Then I will take the inns and saloons.” Sasuke muttered as he stared down at the disgusting bed.

The lights turned off and everyone settled in. After ten minutes Sakura spoke up, “Sasuke come down here you might catch something and give it to us later.” There was a shifted and before they new it Sasuke rested between her and Naruto. A smile danced across her lips, not like he could see it. It was the best way she could say sorry without loosing her pride.

Finally after the room had settled from Sasuke’s move to the floor Sakura closed her eyes. Dreams were things people tell you that are A: windows into the future, B: your true thoughts, or C: memories. Sakura wasn’t always sure what her other two teammates dreamed about. For all she knew Naruto could be about Ramen and Sasuke’s about living the life of a prince. Her dreams were dark, coated with blood stains and the smell of brunt skin.

Each member of Lucky 7 had a hard past, there was no easy road for them to follow. Lucky 7, they were lucky to be alive, and 7 was the number assigned to them by their first teacher. At first they weren’t instant pains in the Fire Nation’s ass, it was more of a slow moving project. They learned the value of each member of the team, taught how to fight together as a whole, and finally learned to live together without killing each other.

The fact that they put a price on their heads alive meant the government was still after them. While they didn’t care if their dead bodies were dragged back to the Capital, as long as it was in one piece. Sakura’s hand twitched in her sleep.

She had to keep her mind on other things, if she allowed her mind to wander too far into the past; old wounds would reopen. Calming her mind once again her thoughts traveled to her family, then to her medical teacher, then finally to the teacher who started this chain reaction. Her mind on him Sakura kept the nightmares at bay for now.

Sun rose early that morning and Sasuke slipped out from the Inn quietly. Sakura turned her head to watch him go then followed. Might as well get her part done while it was still cool. She would just get breakfast while she was out.

The town was already alive in the early rays of dawn’s light, Sakura just smiled and nodded. Quickly she made her way to the board and looked at the wanted signs and jobs for hunters.

Sakura looked at the poster located on the town’s bulletin board. Of course she had seen Naruto’s and Sasuke’s wanted posters, and they looked very cute in the bad guy sort of way. It made her think that fan girls at the Fire Nation’s capital were behind the imaging of the posters. Hers however was less pleasing to the eye.

Large Forehead it said down in appearance, however in the picture part the forehead was so large you could run a cross country marathon on it. It took up half of the available space, here eyes, mouth, and nose looked like they were being squished due to the size(and possibly weight) of her forehead. Anger flared in her eyes as she ripped down her wanted poster.

She was seriously going to kill who ever printed that picture.

Narrowed eyes scanned the board one more time then froze. There printed it big bold words was WANTED, HAKU MITSU

The reward wasn’t listened but it was a personal request from so called president but really dictator. The Reward would be big, if you lived to see it that was. Heart racing Sakura eyed around then ripped off the wanted poster. Zabuza was not on the board, that didn’t make any sense. Her mind switch gears, they wouldn’t betray each other, that didn’t make sense. Hell if there was love to be had between hunters they had it.

Quickly Sakura raced to the hotel , unable to understand the meaning of this maybe the other two could figure it out. Reaching the second floor without being seen Sakura entered the room. There sitting on the floor with some fresh fruit and bread were Naruto and Sasuke. She eyed the two boys and slammed the poster next to them on the floor.

“Did you find us a job Sakura-chan? Wait, why do you looks so angry? Eh?” Naruto glanced down at the paper and it hit him. “That’s Onee-chan! Wait why is he on the wanted poster? I thought… that they were with the government? What changed?”

Sasuke peered over at the poster, he had never met the woman, and why did Naruto call him a he?

“I don’t know… I don’t know! They stick together, always. It doesn’t make since if Haku went traitor then Zabuza would have as well. There was no sign up for him…” She didn’t want to think that he was dead. That couldn’t be it.

“Wait” Sasuke looked up from the fresh fruit. “Zabuza the hit man and personal dog for the Fire Nation? How do you know them Sakura?”

Naruto looked sheepish and guilty of something. Sakura just kept her eyes downward. “Remember when we met… I was raised by hunters?” A short pause, “when I was younger, around five Haku found me….and he well saved my life. Some how, he never really did tell me how he did it, but Zabuza allowed him to keep me.”

Sasuke eyes narrowed for a moment, “like a pet?”

“Maybe at first but…they became my family as I did to them… Haku was like a new mother and Zabuza oddly enough felt like my father figure.” Nervously she eyed Sasuke, Naruto only found out because she was still living with them at the time they met.

Mostly she kept it a secret who her adoptive parents were. After all, now they were on opposite sides if the Fire Nation force them to hunt down Lucky 7, it wouldn’t be time to pull the ‘but you raised me’ card. In the real world they would have to fight for their lives.

“So… you were raised by homosexuals?” Sasuke stated bluntly. “now it make sense.”

“What does?”

“Your lack of interest in men, you had no women figure to show you an example.”

“What does that have to do with it! I like men! Just because I don’t throw myself at you anymore means nothing! Right Naruto?… Naruto? What is with that goofy grin…”

“heh… heh Sakura its sokay if you like women I mean if we could…watch…” For the next hour all Naruto knew was darkness.