Sakura silently made her way through the town. It was around 3:00am in the morning, and she had just gotten back from a long mission. After she reported the mission details to Tsunade-sama, she was looking forward to a nice hot shower and some long anticipated sleep. Sakura could feel the layers of mud and grim on her, mixed with sweat and blood that caked her skin.
Sakura was now 17 and was head medic of konoha, next to her sensei of course Tsunade. When sakura wasn't working at konoha hospital, she helped out on missions here and there. Sakura sighed from relief as she turned down the street her house was on. "Almost there." sakura said as she struggled to keep walking. Sakura stopped dead in her tracks as she noticed a red flickering light dance on the street. Sakura froze where she was, unable to move, as shock over-whelmed her.
Tears swelled up in her eyes as she watched helplessly, as her house was being consumed by flames. Shaking from her head to her ! My home! All my things! My pictures. My cloths. My medical equipment. My scrolls. "All my work!" sakura shreiked, losing control, as she rushed towards the house, only to be stopped by a pair of strong hands.
Sakura didn't know who it was that grasped her, but she kicked and struggled to get free, but they did not loosen their hold. Sakura screamed from frustration as she turned around to find a sad looking Naruto. "Sakura!" Stop it! If you go into that house it may collapse on you! I already lost one team mate. I can't lose you too!" he said, as he held her back.
Sakura fell to her knees, as wave after wave of tears spilled down her cheeks. That was the home she had grown up in. That was the home where her and her parents lived together before they died. Now she had officially lost everything she cared about. Her parents...Sasuke...even her home. She now had nothing left. Sakura fell forwards onto the ground, fainting from shock. The last thing sakura saw before losing consciousness were the flickering flames that had now completely consumed her home.
Sakura cracked open her eyes as she slowly sat up. She was in a room she knew far too well and spent a lot of her time in, the hospital. She was wearing one of those white gowns. Everything seemed like a distant dream, from the night before. She remembered some details, but not much. Sakura did her best to stay together mentally, as she scanned the room, looking for something to divert her attention.
She noticed that next her was a table full of different flowers and cards, and even a balloon. Sakura reached over began to read them. There was one from Naruto, Lee, Ino, Tenten, Shino, Neji, Choji, Hinata, Kiba, Shikamaru, Tsunade and even one from Kakashi. Sakura smiled. It seems she didn't lose everything...she still had her friends. Sakura almost jumped out of her skin as she heard a knock on the door.
The door cracked open, as Naruto walked in, followed by a shy Hinata. "Hinata!" Naruto!" sakura said in surprise. Hinata quickly came over to sakura and gave her a brief hug. "Sakura-san, I...am so relieved to k...Know that you are ok!" hinata said, as she took a seat next to the bed. Everyone who had taken the chunnin exams together had become good friends over the years.
"Me too Sakura-chan!" I was on my back from the ramen shop, when I spotted you trying to run inside the burning house. I thought I was going to lose you sakura-chan. Next time let's try to avoid giving me a heart attack." Naruto said, as he grinned from ear to ear, trying to lighten the mood.
Sakura held back tears as she returned his smile. "The only problem is where am I going to stay? I think I might have to rent an impartment." sakura said, as she sighed. Hinata sat down on the bed and next to sakura. "That has already...been t...taken care of." Hinata said as she smiled at her friend. Sakura stared at Hinata for a sec, completely confused. "A...as you know my cousin Neji is the new Hyuuga clan leader. And I managed to talk him into letting you stay with us!" Hinata said, as she grinned.
"Hinata...that's so kind...but I couldn't intrude on you and the Hyuuga's like that." sakura said as she stared down at her hands. Hinata was her best friend and she didn't want to be a burden. "That's too bad...cause you are c...coming to live w...w...with us whether you like it or not." Hinata stumbled, but her determination was clear. "But Hinata..." Sakura started before she got a chance to finish, Naruto had covered her mouth with his hand.
"Sakura...it's already been decided! Just give up already." he said, smiling as he took his hand off her mouth. "Are you sure I won't be a burden?" Sakura asked Hinata, who shook her head in response. "Sakura, you are not a burden. You never have been. Let's make a deal though. You come to live with us free of charge; however, you have to be the Hyuuga family medic." Hinata suggested, mentally congratulating herself for her idea.
Sakura thought for a moment before she smiled at Hinata. "You've got yourself a deal!" Sakura said, grinning. Now she didn't have to worry about staying in some broke down apartment by her. That was one less thing she had to worry about. Sakura quickly got out of bed and walked to a small book shelf that had her cloths and her purse on it. She noticed that someone had been kind enough to wash her cloths. She grabbed her stuff and walked into the tiny bathroom, and quickly changed back into her medic outfit.
"I'll meet you guys down stairs; I have sign out of the hospital since I'm actually a patient this time. And I have to get some things out of my office." Sakura said as she waved at her friends, before walking out of the room. She quickly ran to her personal office and grabbed a bag of medical supplies. Since she was going to be living with the Hyuuga's as a nurse, then she needed supplies. If you were a Stanger looking at her, then you would think she was happy and cheerful, but if you were someone that was close to her, then you knew that she was keeping it bottled in and was trying so hard not to cry. Calm on the outside, but falling apart on the inside.
Sakura grabbed the bag tend threw in some medicals scrolls, closed the bag and made her way down stairs. She walked over to the register desk and signed out. "Hello Miss Haruno." a rather plump lady at the desk said, waving. "Hello kakurai. I'm afraid that I'm not going to be coming into work for a couple of weeks. I...I need some time to myself." Sakura said, Kakurai look at her with a conserned look but shrugged it off as she said goodbye. Sakura walked into the main lobby to find Naruto and Hinata waiting for her.
"OH MY GOD!" Naruto shouted, in shock as he looked at the clock on the wall. "PLEASE TELL ME THAT CLCOK IS FAST!" he screamed. Hinata and Sakura looked at him like he was insane. "I HAVE TO GO! I HAVE A MISSION IN 13 MINUTES AND I STILL HAVE TO PACK! I WILL SEE YOU GUYS WHEN I GET BACK!" He said in a panic as he quickly kissed Hinata on the cheek and ran off into the distance. Hinata's face turned a bright red, as she nearly passed out.
Sakura couldn't help but giggle. "So I'm guessing things are going good with Naruto" Sakura said, as she watched Hinata's face go even redder. (If that's possible) Hinata quickly regained her composer and started walking in the opposite direction of where Naruto was going. "Um...the H...Hyuuga estate...is this w...way." she said, trying to change the subject. Sakura took the hint and they walked to the Hyuuga mansion in silence.
Sakura's eyes popped out of her head when she was the house. It was a one story, but the size of it was downright amazing. There was a pair of double doors, twenty feet high that led into the house. Hinata led the way as they turned corner after corner, and went down hall way after hallway. "You will be staying in the room right across the hall from mine, and to the left of your room is Neji's room. So if you need anything, we're both close." Hinata said as she opened the sliding door to Sakura's new room.
There was a huge walk in closet, a bathroom, a huge window that over looked a beautiful garden, a TV. and the most comfortable looking futon she had ever seen. "This is where I'll be staying! This is awesome! Thank you Hinata!" Sakura said, giving her a bone crushing hug. Hinata blushed and nodded. "I'm sorry I can't stay here with you, me. shino and kiba have training today." Hinata said, bowing slightly. "That's fine hinata. It thinks I'm going to take a nap." sakura said as she stretched her arms. "Okay, bye Sakura said." Hinata said before walking out of the room, leaving Sakura to herself. Sakura plopped down on her futon, and second she hit the futon, she was out cold. She was so worn out.
