Recap/
Eleven Years Since the Akatsuki captured Shukaku, eleven Years Since Akasuna no Sasori's puppet body was destroyed, nine Years since Sakura Haruno became a mother at seventeen. Two months since the reemergence of Akasuna no Sasori. Natsu-Ren is nine years old he finds out his father is out there somewhere. With all his courage he embarks on a quest to find him, leaving his family in Konoha to worry. Will Sakura be able to keep him from finding his Father in time? Or is the secret Konoha tried to hide finally out?
"Alright! Attendance role-call, please! When I say your name please say that you are here and present." Iruka-Sensei stated as he stepped in the classroom, the children rushing to take their seats,
"Goodmorning, sensei!" they greeted, most with happy smiles.
"Yuna Mori!"
-"Present, sensei!"
"Kaito Hana!"
-"Here..!"
"Eio Nana!"
-"Present!"
"Natsu-Ren!"
.
.
.
"Natsu Haruno?" Iruka looked up from his clipboard to an empty seat,
"He's not here sensei.." One of the other children confirmed. Iruka's brows furrowing a bit troubledly as he glanced out the window, that kid is so troublesome.. With a sigh he dismissed it, this being typical of the young Haruno boy that he didn't even mark him either absent or late, but skipped his name for now,
"What a momma's boy! You know how he is Naomi!"
Iruka's head snapped up from his thoughts, "That's enough! Go stand in the hall Ioki..!" He glared at the blonde headed boy who rolled his eyes at him and would wait until the classroom door shut,
"Let's proceed with role children."
Kotetsu and Izumo were sat at the village gates like usual, Izumo reclining in his seat while Kotetsu stared off at a little figure standing infront of the gates, staring dumbly off into the distance. His gaze troubled as it certainly wasn't the first time he had seen the boy here.
"Ey, I'm going to call the kid over." Kotetsu nudged Izumo who gave him a baffled look,
"Man.." Izumo sighed, leaning forward in his seat as he tried to pull on a friendly smile,
"Ey! Haruno! Come and greet us wont'cha?" Not wanting to scare him off, and would grin as the kid's shy green eyes landed on him.
"Come on,'' Kotetsu urged as the nine year old cautiously started toward them,
"Goodmorning Kotetsu-San… Izumo-San." The redhead greeted, his green-eyes staring downcasted at the road.
"Ne.. Aren't you enrolled in the Academy kiddo? Should you be here right now?" Izumo asked, his eyes however not seeming too interested as the kid's face turned a bright red to match his hair.
"B-But.." The child began to stutter, his eyes narrowing a bit as his hands curled into fists.
"Ah.. I get it, your mother returns today don't she..?" Kotetsu intervened, a kind look in his eyes as the Haruno kid looked back up at him.
"Y-Yes.. I wanted to greet her.. L-Like I usually do.."
"What would your mother say if she sees your skipping class?" Kotetsu asked, as the boy quickly shook his head.
"I don't care ! I-I'm going to greet her!" He stubbornly exclaimed before he heard a whistle come from the guards on the wall, "Mom!" The kid beamed instantly, turning away from the desk to quickly go to peer out beyond the gates for the approaching figures in the distance.
Sakura Haruno, twenty-five years old walked alongside her teammates. A very giddy Naruto at her side, and Sai at her other side talking away.
"Ne, Sakura-Chan, we should celebrate with Natsu-Ren tonight at Ichiraku's, what do you say?~" The blonde beamed, his eyes hopeful as the pinkette smiled sadly.
"I'm sure Hinata would love to join you Naruto.. But Natsu-Ren always wants me to fix him his favorite whenever I return from a mission." She said slowly, her eyes apologetic as she ignored the way Sai stared at her.
"O-Okay.. But I was hoping to see Natsu-Ren is all.." The Uzumaki said lightly, looking rejected.
She hated to turn him down, Naruto had been very supportive these past years when she was pregnant with Natsu-Ren, he and the rest of team seven and her friends all were there for her, but Naruto would come to her beck and call in the middle of the night with random goodies incase she had midnight cravings..
Sadly he had been gone for a mission when she had given birth to Natsu-Ren, but the moment he saw him it was almost like he was trying to become her son's father... She really didn't know what to think… But knew it killed Hinata inside to see the man she loves to fuss over another woman... A woman like her. She didn't want Naruto to gain her bad reputation, she wanted him to find love above all else.. Hinata was the woman for him, and she had waited all this time for the blonde to notice her. Sakura wouldn't break the Hyuga-Princess's heart.
"Seems like you will Naruto.." Sai spoke up suddenly, capturing Sakura's attention as her eyes quickly jumped to the gate unexpectedly to see a short figure standing there trying to peer over to them. Her eyes widening almost instantly in disbelief at the child,
"NATSU..!" Naruto exclaimed in her ear, going to start off into a jog to meet the redhead as Sakura felt a vein pop in her forehead.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING HERE? CHA..!" She snapped, her eye twitching as she shot forward, grabbing Naruto by his backpack before he could reach her son as she yanked him back like a ragdoll, her furious eyes on her son who had run up to greet them.
"I was waiting for you like always!" Natsu-Ren beamed, his green eyes filled with tears as he beamed up at her. Naruto and Sai both having taken a step back from the furious pinkette.
"I thought you would've stopped this when you joined the Academy..! You should be in class right now Natsu-Ren!" She tapped her foot, ignoring the two Konoha gatekeepers who were watching them from afar.
"But there's nothing in the academy that you can't teach me, Mom! You're one of the best!" the redhead exclaimed, and Sakura swore she could hear Naruto swoon behind her. But despite the puppy-look on her son's face she refused to give in.
"That's silly! The Academy offers you everything I can't and can! I graduated from the Academy to become a genin and so will you, cha..!" She threw up her fist in exclamation before pointing at the boy accusing.
"I'm marching you straight to class before my report to he Hokage!"
"Awe…! But Mom! Kakashi won't care, please let me come with you! I want to know how your mission went..!" The child whined,
"Sakura-Chan, let him come with us! It won't hurt for him to have some experience!" Naruto begged, coming up to her as his blue eyes stared at the kid adoringly.
"No! You can't give into what he wants! He needs to learn, Naruto!" She huffed, going to reach down to grab the redhead's hand as she gave the Uzumaki a hard-look, "Report to Kakashi, I'll be there momentarily." and would quickly go to guide Natsu-Ren away from the two. The child looking just as equally happy with this as he held tightly to his mother's hand happily.
"I can't believe you'd skip class, and I had thought you'd be so punctual !" she murmured to herself as she walked through the Academy halls with Natsu-Ren's hand in hers.
"It's been days, mom… I wanted to make sure you were alright." The redhead murmured sadly, his disheartened green eyes staring up at hers as they stopped infront of his classroom. The pinkette turning to face him only to kneel infront of him with her hands coming up to his shoulders.
"Natsu… I'll always come home.. From now on if I come home while you're in school I'll visit you during break, okay? Maybe go out for lunch or Iruka-Sensei might even let me observe you during practice.." She reasoned, going to straighten his blue vest. Her eyes worried as she fretted over how attached he was to her.. She knew the kids picked on him for that, but in reality, he was all she had… Technically speaking.
The redhead stared at the ground, "P-Promise..?" he whispered, but Sakura merely smiled and leaned forward to kiss his forehead,
"I promise my love.."
Kakashi stared at the two in his office, looking for the missing Pinkette, "Ah I assume.. Sakura got a little sidetracked?" He mused knowingly, though there was a troubling look in his eyes.
"She went to walk Natsu back to class, Kakasha-Sensei." Naruto said giddily, Kakashi merely shook his head and looked to Sai,
"Report."
"We investigated the last known sighting of Akatsuki, the Hidden Sand suffered great loss from Akasuna no Sasori's emergence, Sakura with only two hands had been able to save only half of those who had been poisoned.."
"And at this point, we are certain it was Akasuna no Sasori?.." Kakashi asked warily,
"Most definitely, Kankuro even saw him himself he said,"
"That's… troubling news, how did Sakura take?" as you could see a hint of worry in the old nin's eyes,
"Indifferent,"
"Of course, we'll have to keep our guard up if Akatsuki is rising from the dead.. Set up patrol around where Hidan lays buried and further report to those guarding the border." Sai nodded,
"Kakashi-Sensei, do you think we have any reason to be worried..?" Naruto asked, the gleeful look falling from his face,
"I'm not sure Naruto.. Tell Sakura to keep her guard up."