Home sweet home
Trip back to Konoha was more uneventful, nerve wracking, easily said downright boring to the core. It was one thing to simply travel trough some forest as fast as possible so that Hokage can be notified of the new information, and the other is having the worst luck ever.
Twitch.
Son of a…
Twitch.
In matter of a day could it be possible that the wretched weather could and would change so fricking much?
The answer: oh yes, YES IT CAN.
To Sakura this meant a big waste of valuable time. How can a ninja as great as her be so restricted when it comes to a measly little rain? Simple it wasn't just raining, in which case she would have been already home, done with her report in a bath basking in its glory, it was pouring oceans. It was like someone was deliberately trying to mess up her day even more. If it couldn't have been worse her food supply just had to be none existent. So starved, soaking wet and moody, so not a good combo.
Twitch.
The worst day of my life. Grr, if something more happens I swear someone is going to wind up dead. This is so humiliating.
The cave that she was currently residing in was quite small with the opening just big enough for a person to crawl trough. The walls were dump from the rain, having the gagging smell of clay which the small fire in the middle on the ground didn't neutralize. The young Haruno tried to keep the little warmth she got savored but the shivers didn't yield. A wet fussy blob of pink was more her description than anything else.
It was depressing knowing how close home is, but some insignificant water preventing the travel. Sakura wasn't stupid. In all her years of medical training she knew that the risk of running home in this pouring rain is likeliness of death. And she so didn't want to die, contrary to many beliefs.
Three agonizing hours later the weather finally cleared out and she was out like the wind, dead set on getting to the village before nightfall. There was no way she was stopping for anything, or at least that was the plan. Being the stubborn person her mind was set, until an unexpected surprise changed the idea.
In the middle of a little clearing her feet just landed on, ready to leap into another tree, green eyes spotted a shadow moving, very fast, but she caught it. Instinct told her trouble is near, and her mind went to battle mode. Seeing that whatever was there had no idea the cover was blown it or by the look of it he continued to run full speed near the east border of the village.
Now a normal person would brush it off as something insignificant and be on their way, but the knowledge of a certain Uchiha being in the area and the arrogance he possesses were enough for young ANBU to follow. It was quite hard trying to keep up with the intruders amazing speed but pushing to the limit was Sakura's specialty. Just as the distance was lessening the cloak person, she dimly noted, a grave mistake was made on her next branch her chakra infused feet touched broke at the contact making a loud enough noise, successfully notifying her presence. With a slight head shift the intruder picked up the pace and was gone before she could recover. Landing on the grass, cursing like the meanest sailor, a conclusion was made: whoever it was is long gone and she had failed.
Yes, worst day ever. First the rain now this I can't believe it's real. Now I really want to just go to bed and pretend this day never existed. Yeah, that's what I'm going to do. Sakura, honey, the world fucked you up today royally, congrats.
With those dejected thoughts, the sprint was continued.
In a matter of minutes Sakura's vision was occupied with a sight of wooden gates, red and golden, giving them a regal feel. She was finally home, and somehow it wasn't the same. Well, that feeling wasn't the same for a long time now, ever since the war. Before, her senses were filled with such calmness and serenity but now it only served to make her stomach uneasy, always cold. More so it made her want to run back to the cave, never to emerge. But over the years the feeling subsided to just a plain numbness which was tolerable.
Stepping inside, nodding to the guards, she made her way towards the hokage's tower. The stares and the hushed murmurs didn't make her mind wonder, because she was what they say. A very sharp edged tool incapable of feeling remorse or well anything. So why try to oppose and evade something as blunt as the truth. It help mold the perfect assassin she is today.
Making her way up flights of stairs with occasional hello and nod, she made her way to the office of a current Hokage and mentor. Knocking, knowing her teacher was most likely asleep; Sakura opened the doors casting a glance at the everlasting scenery. The great Lady Tsunade snoring on a pile of papers, cheeks decorated with the imprinted ink. Such a glorious sight to witness, note the sarcasm.
"Shishou, wake up, the mission is done"
Not a budge.
Twitch.
"Shishou, the village is burning"
A loud snore was rewarded.
Twitch.
"Shishou, you spilled all your sake"
"Argh, what!?"
Bingo.
"Shishou, here's the missions report" the girls voice sounded more like a command but the older woman knew better than to scold, it was pointless now.
"Good Sakura, I trust it was a successes" it was a stupid question the woman knew, but nowadays it was the most talking young ninja before her was willing to offer.
"Hai, if you don't have any emergency in the hospital or a mission, I'm going home"
Without another breath she was out of the office, running to her comfort zone, her lovely apartment.
Unluckily for Haruno, her wish was about to abruptly die in a flash of orange and yellow. Before she could react a loud yell came and the next instant someone was lifting her high in his arms. Now if it were anybody else, there would be a dead body lying the next second, but knowing it was Naruto, reluctantly her body relaxed. There was no point in fighting the blond, he never gave up.
"Sakura-chan your back, finally I was beginning to get bored!" yup, still loud as ever.
"Idiot, don't you have Hinata to bother now"
Hinata was Naruto's girlfriend of three years. After the whole Pain fiasco the only good thing came out where Hinata's confession and his realization of his love for the timid girl. To say they were the perfect couple is an understatement. The two have such a unique way of balancing each other out.
"Hina was also on a mission, she came back just yesterday so I had a weekend to myself. I think I drove granny a little crazy"
So that's the reason she had trouble sleeping. No wonder, a weekend with only Naruto is certain death penalty.
"Naruto as much as its nice bumping or more like running into you, I had a crappy day and all I want is to go to bed"
"But Sakura-chan I wanted us to spend some time together, to catch up" the puppy eyes were present like always. Just as Sakura racked her brain to find a valid excuse and this time teleport to her house, the blond looked at his watch and made a girlish yelp.
"Aww man Sakura-chan I'm so sorry I have to run, Hina-chan is expecting me to get her for our date and I'm so late!"
Ah sweet salvation.
"Enjoy your date" and just like he came in he was gone. Not that our pink beauty minded.
Taking extra measures this time and a little more time, Sakura found herself in the safety of her cozy apartment. It has a big open living room filled with books and scrolls. Kitchen was medium, simple and enough for her lifestyle. There are two bedrooms; one of them a guest room which was once occupied but now looked plain and cold, and the other was her bedroom. It has a king sized bed in the middle of the room, a desk, bookshelf flowing with various books, a dresser and a night stand. It was only basic furniture nothing more. The only noticeable thing that stood out like a sore thumb was her collection of weapons. You could die a happy man if you ever dared and succeeded to touch the famous Haruno weapon arsenal. It was the only thing in the entire apartment that marked her, something to identify the place as Haruno residence.
Well and unknown to all there was a small picture frame containing Sakura's most precious memories. The frame contains two pictures: one in which two people are looking at the camera, smiling, truly happy while hugging two kids, one a pink haired girl with a wide smile and sparkling eyes and a boy a little older with red hair and eyes to match trying to act broody but the trace of a smirk was present. A picture of people most precious to her, that she could visit now on in the cemetery. The other picture contained a group of three kids and their teacher. The two boys, one blond and other raven black, are standing on the opposite sides of picture looking away for each other. There is a girl in the middle smile stretched from ear to ear without a care in the world, and in the back man with silver hair, smiling behind his mask, each hand on a boy's head. A picture that promised, but in the end had to fall apart. Nobody was the same; the team was broken beyond repair.
After a long shower, containing of scrubbing of the dried blood, Saukra made her way to her, now more than ever it seemed heavenly, bed keen on sleeping the eternity off.
Just as sleep started to consume her in a fast rate, making her body dead weight, her mind screamed in alarm.
Someone was in the room.
Stretching slowly so that her hand was under the pillow and holding a hidden kunai, icy green eyes opened sharply. There was a presence, she could feel it, but the chakra was skillfully hidden. By that realization it clicked, this is no ordinary A ranked ninja, the power was too strong and the style was implying to one person only.
The one she had been patiently waiting.
Eyes locked on the wall were the biggest shadow lay, near the dresser, slowly sitting up, smirk in place, eyes amused but deadly, piercing now blazing redness of the Sharingan.
This is the moment of truth, and I am strong enough.
"Long time no see, Sasuke-kun"
It's time for a game to start. Deadly sins overtake me.
Ok here is another chapter on such a short notice due to my lack of sleep. I hope I have your interest and that you like the story and its developing. I'll try to update as soon as possible till then review.
Love ya Shadowgirl
