Hot 'N' Dangerous

Chapter 68: Important People and More Sound Nin

"Found you," I murmured and Liz appeared a second later.

We were in an old tree sitting in the middle of the village. We were twenty or so meters above the ground, sitting on a rather thick branch.

"Do you want to lecture me some more?" Sasuke asked bitterly.

"... No... I just thought that maybe you needed some company," I sat down next to him and Liz sat down next to me.

"I don't need company," he growled but he made no move to leave.

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself," I sighed.

Suddenly, ninja twine came snaking around the tree and strapped the three of us down tightly. We looked forward to see Kakashi.

"Ah, it looks like you girls found him before I did... then you might as well listen in, this will be good for you too. I had been planning to talk to you girls later on anyways" Kakashi said without emotion.

Sasuke was the only one who struggled against the bonds. Liz and I were in no hurry to leave though being bound in ninja twine isn't exactly what one would deem comfortable.

"What's the meaning of this?" Sasuke growled, his dignity was obviously still being threatened.

"If I don't do this, you'll run away, won't you?" Kakashi had guessed right through Sasuke, "Since you aren't the type to sit still and listen to lectures."

"Tch," he grunted, looking at Kakashi grudgingly.

"You three..." he addressed all of us, "Forget about revenge."

"What?" all three of us were surprised and a little angry to hear those three words.

I knew that Kakashi was going to lecture Sasuke but I thought it was only going to be about his improper use of Lightning Edge. What was this all of a sudden? Liz hadn't been expecting it either.

"Well, I've seen a lot of people like you three and the fate of those who seek revenge is grim," he paused dramatically, "It's tragic."

"That's not true!" Liz denied, losing control, this subject was delicate for the three of us, "It has been done before and I've met those people! They still live their lives normally! It's just another luxury that they can live with and rest with!" she argued.

"It's hidden," Kakashi said simply, "They don't make it obvious because they've gone to great lengths to satisfy their revenge, they aren't willing to tell others that they had paid a price for it," he shrugged, "Trust me, you'll end up suffering and hurting yourself even more."

We all didn't believe that that was true. If we had exacted our revenge, we would be that happiest people alive. I could die without thinking that I had failed my village. We looked up at Kakashi, defiance shining in our eyes.

"Even if you do succeed in getting revenge, the only thing that remains is emptiness," he said sadly.

"Shut up! What do you know?!" Sasuke yelled, "Don't lecture me as if you know what it's like!" Sasuke roared.

"Now, calm down," Kakashi said, not a single feature on his face moved to show his emotion.

"I can't live or rest in peace knowing that I didn't try and kill the man that murdered my entire village!" Liz was breathing heavily, her anger getting the better of her.

"You won't live," Kakashi said firmly.

"You want to bet on it?" Liz challenged.

Kakashi didn't say anything, so I did, "The best of both worlds isn't impossible. Like I've heard many say, 'Nothing is impossible'," I forced a laugh, "Somehow, we were even able to travel back to the time of the dinosaurs and came back alive and with souvenirs, what else isn't possible?"