Tsunada entered the room. "Sakura?"
Fifteen-year-old Hurano Sakura glanced up from the computer screen. "Yes Tsunada?"
"Are you through with those files on the Second Hokage yet?"
"Sakura nodded. "Yep, all through! Hold on a second and I'll get them for you."
The fifth nodded and sat down on one of the chairs in the tastefully furnished room. She looked over at the girl typing away busily on the computer.
Sakura had been living with Tsunada as her' apprentice for the last two and a half years, and during that time she had improved greatly in many areas.
Tsunada recalled the Sakura of two years ago, she had week and insecure, more than that, she had been depressed because of a tragic love affair she had just been through with a boy named Uchiha Sasuke. But regardless of all that, Tsunada had seen a great potential in the girl. She had offered to train Sakura personally. Sakura had jumped at the invitation to be trained by the Fifth Hokage of Konoha as well as to get her' mind off of Sasuke. And now as she gazed at the pink haired Kunoichi, Tsunada knew that she had been right. Sakura was a highly intelligent person, and a quick learner. She had become a master medic, and was now second, only to Tsunada her' self. She had also become an expert fighter, much to the surprise of her' fellow shinobi, most of which had not expected her to ever amount too much as a warrior. Her' genjutsu was exceptionally powerful. Tsunada knew for a fact that Sakura took great pride in her' abilities as a warrior. Kakashi, Sakura's former sensei had once informed Tsunada that Sasuke had called Sakura weak and that because of that fact, Sakura's abilities had, for many years, been a touchy subject for her.
Sakura stood and rummaged through her' desk. "Ah! Here it is!" she said, handing the manila envelope to Tsunada.
The Fifth Hokage smiled. "Arigato Sakura chan. I wanted to let you know that I'm leaving for a diplomatic mission tomorrow. I will travel to The Village Hidden in the Waterfall and I won't be back for at least a week. Is there anything that you need before I leave?"
Sakura shook her' head. "Nope, I think I'm good."
Tsunada nodded. "I left a list of things for you to look after on my' desk. If you have any questions, just ask Anko, alright?"
Sakura smiled, causing her' jade green eyes to sparkle. "No problem!"
The Fifth laughed. "Good, and don't forget to-"
"Practice! Practice! PRACTICE!!!" Sakura finished for her. "I know Tsunada."
Tsunada chuckled. "Alright then, I'll let you get back to work. See you in one week!"
Sakura waved and then turned back to the file she had been working on.
~ * ~
Not fifteen minutes later, Sakura was interrupted once again when someone knocked on the door.
"Come in."
The door opened and in stepped Kiba and Hinata.
"Hey Sakura!" Kiba exclaimed.
"G-Good aft-ter noon S-Sakura." Hinata stammered.
"Hi guys." Sakura replied with a smile. "What's up?"
Kiba and Hinata exchanged glances. "Weeeellll… we have a favor to ask." Keba replied.
"What kind of a favor?" Sakura inquired.
"Well Hinata found an injured kitten that had been abandoned on the street. Lord Hiyashi won't let her' keep it, so I was going to, but Akamaru doesn't really get along with it." He paused and glanced at Hinata.
"W-We were wonder-ring if y-you w-would be willing t-to t-take it-t in?" Hinata explained.
Sakura shook her' head. "I don't think-"
"Pleeeeeaaase?" Kiba begged. "We thought you would be able to take care of it; I mean since you're such an expert on medical stuff, and all."
Sakura thought a minute. "Weeeell…"
"Just come and look at it." Kiba urged. "If you still don't want it after that we won't ask you again." Hinata nodded her' head in agreement.
Sakura sighed. "Alright, I'll take a look at it but I'm not making any promises." She warned.
Kiba and Hinata agreed and led her' outside to where they had left the kitten in a box.
Hinata took the lid off of the box and handed Sakura an adorable kitten. Its' shiny, solid black fur was soft and silky. Its' eyes were green and were the exact same shade as Sakura's. The tiny creature snuggled up against Sakura's chest and began to purr." Sakura smiled as she gazed down into the Kitten's large, trusting eyes. It needed someone to love it. Why shouldn't she be that someone?"
Sakura looked up at Kiba and Hintata, both of whom had been gazing at her' hopefully. "I'll take him," she whispered.
Hinata and Kiba slapped high fives.
~ * ~
Naruto, Shikamaru, and Chouji were hanging out in Naruto's apartment, when they heard a knock at the door. Naruto stood and opened the door. He was unprepared for the sight that met his' eyes. Sasuke?! His' former teammate stood supporting himself by the doorframe. Blood flowed down the front of him from the many wounds and gashes that marred his' body. "Sasuke! What happened to you?!" Naruto gasped.
"Naruto…help…me…" Sasuke gasped. Naruto caught him as he fell forward. Shikamaru and Chouji jumped up to help Naruto support the injured boy.
They half carried, half dragged him over to the couch. Naruto laid him down and Shikamaru began to inspect his' injuries.
"H-He's dead N-Naru-to! I-ta-chi…I…killed…h-him." Sasuke managed to murmur.
Shikamaru spoke. "He's in really bad shape Naruto; we need to get him to the Fifth Hokage and fast!"
"But Kakashi told me that Tsunada was gone on a mission. She won't be back for at least a week!" Naruto exclaimed.
Shikamaru shook his' head. "He can't wait, and Tsunada's the best medic in Konoha; none of the others even come close in comparison."
All three boys looked each other and gasped. "Sakura!!!!!" They exclaimed in unison.
"But, what if she refuses to help?" Chouji asked. "After all, Sasuke failed her, why wouldn't she fail him too?"
Naruto and Shikamaru looked at one another. Chouji was right! Sakura might refuse to help and if she did, Sasuke would certainly die. Naruto sighed. "We won't know unless we try."
Shikamaru nodded. "Let's go!"
~ * ~
It was eleven o'clock and Sakura lounged on the sofa, her' new pet, which she had named Kaminari, (Nari for short) lay asleep on her' stomach. Sakura sighed and switched the channel again! Another soap opera! "Ugh! This is soooo depressing!" she muttered.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
A knock reverberated off of the door. Sakura switched off the TV and stood up to admit whomever it was.
The scene that met her' eyes was shocking. Chouji stood in front, and behind him, Naruto and Shikamaru stood holding the limp, blood covered body of none other than Uchiha Sasuke!!!!!!
Sakura gasped and stepped back.
"Sorry to bother you Sakura." Naruto said. "But Sasuke is really hurt and since the Fifth is gone, you're the only one who can help him."
Sakura stood stock still, staring at Sasuke's limp form. "Is…is he…d-dead?"
Shikamaru shook his' head. "Not yet, but he will be if he doesn't get help soon!"
Sakura turned and walked over to the window. "Why should I help him?" she whispered to her' self, but the others caught the low spoken words.
"Because you're the only one who can!" Naruto answered.
Sakura shook her' head. "He betrays us all, he doesn't care if he nearly kills me in the process, and then when he needs help he comes crawling back here and expects us to help him!" She sounded furious. "And the moment he's well he'll leave again." She sighed. "And he'll break my heart again." She added under her' breath.
She turned on the boys, her' jade eyes flashing. "Give me one good reason why I should help that jerk!" She demanded.
Naruto looked her in the eye. "Because he'll die if you don't!" "He was willing to sacrifice him' self, and the dream that he left us all for, to save you when Gaara had you pinned to that tree." He reminded her. "Please Sakura. He betrayed me to, but you're his' only hope!"
Sakura turned away and stood silently for a long time. Then she turned back to them, her' face set as if carved out of stone. "Alright, go lay him on the bed." She pointed to a door to their' right. "I'll be there just as soon as I get washed up."
So... how did everyone like the first chapter of "Depend On Me"?
Please reveiw. (Constructive criticism only please.)
-MidnightAnimeAngel