A/N: Finally, what happens next after my evil cliff-hanger I left last chapter ;). Our favorite red-headed kunoichi finally makes an appearance! And remember, I always welcome constructive critizism :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If I did, Sakura would punch the living hell out a Sasuke, Sasuke would have never left the village, and Asuma would have never being killed by that bastard Hidan.


Possible Reburcussions

A girl was running through the trees at breakneck speed, her long, blood-red hair fanning out wildly behind her. Her pale complexion looked determined and focused. She jumped from tree to tree, still keeping that steady speed of hers. 'Yes! I'm almost about to beat my record in speed last time. Maybe I'll almost catch up to Minato.' the girl wondered, this single thought only increasing her determination. 'Hell yeah! No one messes with Kushina the Red Habanerno! Minato will see, dattebane!' Kushina thought excitedly.

Kushina continued her self-appointed misson, almost reaching her stopping point. However, Kushina's face took on a shocked expression, stopping so abruptly on a tree branch that she lost her balance. "Whoa! Whoa!" she shouted involunentarily. Her arms windmilled behind her, desperately trying to save herself the embarassment of falling off. After a few rather ungraceful moments, she finally regained her balance. On normal circumstances, she would be greatly pissed off at herself for such a clumsy move (which sadly seemed to happen to her often) or the thing that caused it, being it a person or object. But that time was not now.

The red-head's navy eyes fell on what had caused her blundering. It was a girl, lying prone on the forest floor. She couldn't make out much, only a bright splash of pink she assumed was hair. 'Talk about standing out. Her hair is almost as conspicious as mine.' was the first thought that flew through Kushina's mind. But soon after, her surpise was overtaken by worry. 'What's a girl like her doing out here all unconscious? Was she attacked or something?' she wondered. 'Duh, stupid. Of course she was.' Kushina scolded herself, rolling her eyes at her denseness.

Her somewhat round face took on a slightly panicked expression. "And what the hell am I still doing over her?! That girl could be seriously hurt! She needs help!" Kushina shouted aloud angrily. Cursing her slowness and inability to act as quick as she liked to, Kushina jumped down from the branch she had been perching on. Torn between curiousity and concern, she sprinted to where the pink-haired girl lay, trying to get a better look.

Thanks to her increased momentum, Kushina reached her destination. She paused next to the teenager, who looked to be about the same age as her. Horror overcame as she stared in shock at how severely injured the girl was. She had several burns across her arms and legs; they looked so raw and painful it made Kushina cringe slightly. Her gaze searched her, wanting to judge just how badly her injuries were. From what she could see, she had clearly defined gashes and cuts that were still bleeding heavily. Her whole body was so full of injuries that to her it almost seemed the girl was just one big wound.

Kushina knelted down by the pink-haired girl, checking her pulse to see if she was even still alive. 'Please, don't be dead.' she prayed, even though she did not know this girl. To Kushina's relief and mild surpise, she was still alive. Still, her pulse was faint and not as strong as he should be. Compassion and sympathy welled up inside. 'This girl's been through hell. She needs to go to hospital right away.' Kushina's eyes caught sight of the girl's red forehead protecter, dirty but still strapped to her head. 'Konoha ninja, huh? Funny how I don't recognize her.' she thought but this discovery only strengthened her desire to rescue her.

"Hey, don't worry. I'll getcha outta her in one time, I promise! Don't die on me yet, 'kay?" Kushina couldn't help herself saying, despite knowing full that the kunoichi was too out cold in front of her to even begin to register her words. Carefully, she gingerly put the girl's arm around her shoulder, trying to support her. She couldn't help wincing again at how badly messed up this stranger was. 'Good thing you're unconscious. Otherwise, you'd be in a whole lot of pain right about now.' she thought, hoping that this girl would be able to make it.

"I have to hurry!" Kushina said. Her navy-blue eyes hard with determination and her mouth set in a thin line, she began her run back to Konoha as fast as she can, grateful for her large amounts of stamina. Leaving the forest on the outskirts of the village behind, her original purpose for coming in there long forgotten.


It didn't take very long for Kushina to arrive at the Konoha hospital, partly due to the non-stop pace she had kept up ever since she decided to save this girl. She had crashed into many people, often biting back the urge to snap curses at them for being in her way. She's trying to save someone here! Thankfully, some found the little sense they had and realized the urgency of what was going on, catching sight of the person sprung like a deadweight across the young kunoich's shoulders.

She burst through the doorways, startling several people who were waiting for their turn to get checked up. She heard some gasps from a few of them but ignored them. Desperately, she approached a medic-nin who had just emerged from the hallway. He was wearing the typical white oufit most wore around her and regarded Kushina as well as the wounded girl in question with horror.

"Hey! She needs help like really bad right now! So just check on her already, dattebane!" Kushina insisted, not exactly caring how demanding and angry her tone was right at that moment.

Seeing how serious the situation was already from just a glance, he nodded. "Yes, of course." He took the limp kunoichi's weight off the red-head's shoulders and quickly approached the medical-nin unit, whispering urgent words together to the others before taking the pink-haired girl into the Intensive Care unit.

After watching them disappear from sight, relief surged from Kushina. She had done it and what's more, the girl she rescued had surived long enough for her to take her here. That thought appeased her and she felt triumphant at that accomplishment, but her mind was still tinged with worry. She was in such bad shape. Sure she didn't know the girl personally. Hell, she didn't even know her name. But she surely didn't deserve a beating that severe, did she? Kushina couldn't help but sigh heavily, dragging herself down the white wall slowly, consequently know sitting on the floor. 'Some fun day this was.' she thought sarcastically.

She wished Minato was here. He was always a lot more calmer than she was and he always seemed to know how to make everything better or what to do. A smile graced her lips as she thought about her best friend, wondering how his misson was going that he was sent on. 'Knowing him, probably fine and easy no doubt. He's such a know-at-all.' Kushina surmized, recalling how he knows almost all the ninja rules and tactics word for word. Kushina never really payed attention during her time in the Academy, unlike him. His smarts could annoy the hell out of her or impress her. It really depended.

Before she started daydreaming, she pushed Minato to the back of her mind. He'll be back soon and then she can tell him how great she was today. 'Hopefully that girl lives though.' Kushina frowned worriedly, her concerns for the pink-haired girl she rescued today returning to the forefront of ther thoughts. Giving up defeat in trying to think about anything else other than what went on today, she decided to just wait it out.


In the end, Kushina had decided to go home. She had neither the motivation nor the desire to stay and wait in that damn hospital. She hated that place and it would take a lot for here to ever be there for extended periods of time. Maybe for Minato if he was severely injured, but he was an exception. A stranger? No frickin way. This is not to say that she did not care. She did. Despite her outward harshness, she cared greatly about people. And her heart had poured out to that girl when realizing her wounded state. Kushina already respected this girl, and she didn't even know her. Which is exactly why she felt obligated to see her today.

After some brief sessions of morning training she did every day, she left her apartment and trudged off to the Konoha hospital. To Kushina's relief, it was much less crowded today and quiet. She never really liked crowds or being trapped in small places for very long. Why exactly, Kushina never really understood but she never dwelled on it that much anyway.

Kushina walked up to the front desk. A nurse was up there looking bored and disinterested, holding a clipboard in her hands. "Hey." Kushina greeted.

The nurse stared blankly at her. "What is it that you want?"

Slightly annoyed with the way she regarded her, Kushina asked as politely as she could "Right. There's this girl that came here the other day, really badly injured and stuff. So you think I could see her or something?"

The brown-haired nurse stared at her, clear irritation in her brown orbs at the vagueness of the red-head's statement. "Name?" she asked professionally.

Kushina put her hand to her chest. "Kushina Uzumaki!" she adressed herself brightly.

The nurse rolled her eyes, before correcting her statement. "No, I mean what's the name of the patient you want to see?"

Kushina blushed, red enough to match her hair color. 'How stupid am I?!' she thought in embarassment and indigation. "I knew that!" she snapped, more angry with herself than the nurse. "And ..." Kushina trailed off, looking at her toes. She didn't know that girl's name at all. How was she supposed to know when she was pretty much unconscious when she met her? "Well, I don't exactly know her name." she admitted a bit meekly

The brown-haired woman now had a full-blown glare at the teenager, which Kushina heartily returned. This woman was getting on her nerves. Before anything else was said, it was broken up by a voice. "Kushina-chan, no need to start a fight already. I know who you're talking about and I'll take you to her."

Kushina whipped around to face that interrupter, indigation strongly on her tongue. " I wasn't starting anything this time, Shinosuke!" she retorted. "She was-" Kushina began, pointing at the nurse.

"Whatever you say, Kushina-chan. Did you forget what you came for already?" Shinosuke said in a amusement, his blue eyes twinkling with mirth. Kushina recognized this and narrowed her eyes at him in mock anger, too used to Shinosuke to truly be angry with him. Her and Shinosuke have been close ever since she first moved to Konoha from Whirlpool. Even though she had been an outsider, he had always been kind and accepting of her. He was friendly and was able to put up with her occassional moodiness. She would never admit it, but he was almost like a father to her. 'Too bad he works in a stupid place like this.' she though in annoyance, her loathing for hospitals coming back to her.

" Yeah, right ... sorry." Kushina mumbled, her 'sorry' coming out a bit more quieter than the other words. Nevertheless, the medic-nin led her down the halls.


Kushina couldn't help wrinkling her nose at the strong smells that seemed to affect the whole building. She could never get used to it and didn't understand how someone could work in place this for hours at a time. It's one of the many reasons she would never want to train to be a medical ninja. 'Well, besides my average chakra control. It's not perfect enough to be one.' she remembered. That was a slight wound to her pride, but it's not like she really wanted to be one anyway. Though kept her private complaints to herself. She had never really been one to complain over trivial things. It's not like only a few things bothered her. Many things irritated her and she had a lot to complain about. But she learned long ago that half the time complaining didn't change anything so you should just deal with it and hope for the best.

Kushina followed quietly after Shinosuke, her thoughts again getting directed towards the person she rescued yesterday. From what she heard here and there, the pink-haired girl surived the intense procedure that was used to stabilize her. That relieved her immensely and she was glad she was able to save her in time, but her curiousity remained. What happened to her? Who is she? And how did she get hurt so bad? Kushina frowned. No one had recognized her so far, which striked her as odd. From what she could tell, she was a Konoha kunoichi. At least that's what her forehead protecter implied. So many questions were buzzing through her mind. 'When she wakes up, I'll get all the answers I need.' Kushina realized, her patience never having been a strong suit of hers.

So immersed in her thoughts as she was, Kushina ran into a solid, warm body. She looked to see the tall frame and shaggy brown hair of Shinosuke who had stopped already by the entrance. He seemed to be enjoying Kushina's mishap. "Could ya maybe give me a warning next time, -dattebane?" Kushina grumbled. Shinosuke didn't reply, his expression reverting from teasing to serious in a blink. He opened the door for them, letting Kushina stepping in first.

The person in front of her was the last person she expected to see. "Third Hokage?" the red-head exclaimed in surprise, noting his typical posture with his arms behind his back and typical, unfasionable (in her eyes) red-and-white robes.

Hiruzen smiled at the young chunin. "Kushina. A joy to see your face as always." he greeted good-naturedly.

Caught off guard, Kushina didn't return his greeting and turned to Shinosuke, who was behind her. "What's he doing here?" she asked curiously.

Shinosuke frowned disaprovingly at Kushina's lack of respect towards her Hokage, knowing how rude and ill-mannered she could be at times. Hiruzen just looked amused. "He's here the same reason as you." Shinosuke replied somewhat vaguely, telling half the truth.

Kushina's eyes widened. "Oh, I almost forget!" she exclaimed. She walked over towards the bed next to the Third Hokage and examined the pink-haired girl. 'She looks better.' Kushina noted. She still seemed pretty worse for wear. Some of her burns remained, but they were not as raw as they once were. Of course, gashes and cuts were still everywhere. She was also distinctly sure that when she wakes, she will barely be able to move properly. Kushina was no medical ninja, but she wasn't stupid.

"How long will she be out?" Kushina asked inquiringly, not really to anyone in particular.

Unsurprisingly, Shinosuke answered for her. "Hard to say. Her wounds were near-fatal. It took six medic-nin to stabilize her which took exactly 39 hours of complete effort and concertration." Shinosuke's dark blue gaze turned thoughtful and he put his finger under his chin. "If I have to make a estimate, It might take up to 6 days. 5 at the earliest." He clarified with the practiced ease of a seasoned medical ninja.

Kushina wasn't surprised. She didn't even expect her to wake up in a week, let alone less. But that wasn't the only thing she wanted an answer to. "What caused it? Do you know?" Kushina wondered.

Shinosuke exchanged a glance with the Third Hokage. Some unspoken message passed between them that Kushina couldn't even began to cobble together. The Third Hokage glanced at Kushina. "We truly don't know. This woman just arrived here yesterday after all and not eveything can be made clear through wounds." He explained. His voice sounded sincere enough to Kushina's ears, but she was positive they were hiding something. Due to the glances Shinosuke kept exchanging with the Hokage, her suspicions grew. She narrowed her eyes and a slight scowl formed on her face. 'They're definitely hiding something. Shouldn't I know? I'm the one who saved her, didn't I?' Kushina silently protested but her logic got the better of her. She was a Chunin after all, and 16. Whatever it is that they're keeping a secret, it must be classifed. 'Classified' means 'not Kushina's business'.

Clearly dissatisfied with her answer, Kushina was tempted to push for more information. But in the end, she could not, realizing that it just wasn't her place to. 'It's not like they'll actually tell me anything anyway.' Kushina acknowledged. Deciding to at least get an answer to one of her questions today, she asked her final question.

"I'm gonna ask one more question." Kushina stated to the Hokage.

Hiruzen looked at her expectantly, a hint of wariness in his eyes. She heard Shinosuke breath out a slightly annoyed sigh at her ever-growing nosiness. Kushina tore her eyes from the prone girl she had been looking at and glared at him for a minute, before half-turning to face the Hokage. "That weird, pink-haired girl ..." she began in typical Kushina fashion, gesturing to the girl in front of her. "What's her name?" she asked simply.

Seeing the innocence in her gaze, Hiruzen paused and sighed a little. 'There is no point in keeping it a secret now.' he conceded. Tuning his gaze to the red-head (who at this point now had a distressed, impatient expression because he was taking so long to answer), he stated the honest truth: "Interesting question, Kushina. And her name, I don't know."

Kushina looked taken aback at this, her mouth twisting into an expression of outrage. "You don't know!? Whaddaya mean you don't know? You're the Hokage! You're supposed to know, -dattebane!" Kushina pointed to the girl. "She's a member of Konoha! It says so on her forehead protecter. How can you not know her?! You have to know everyone, -dattebane!" Kushina threw her hands up in the air in her excitement, before resting one on her forehead in exsasperation.

Shinosuke spoke up. "Kushina, he's the Hokage remember? Show a bit more respect towards him. He's your superior in every way and the leader of our village. You've only been a chunin for a year." He reprimanded her, losing his patience for her showing such blatant disrespect. He loved Kushina like a daughter, but she was so argumentive.

Seeing the hard, angry look in his blue eyes that usually held such friendliness and patience, some part of Kushina felt bad. Some part. But the larger part of her was conflicting with his words. 'So what? He's the Hokage, yeah. But he's still just a person. Why should I give him special treatment just because he has higher rank?' she wondered, genuinely confused. It wasn't like she didn't respect the Third. She did and he was a great and patient man. She could tell that already from the short years she's known. But this was her. It may seem tactless and disrespectful to others, but it never seemed that way to her. 'I'm just me.' she thought. She liked the way she was and has never been ashamed of herself since that day.

While Shinosuke continued to glare at her, trying judge what her answer is with her silence (Kushina concretely refusing to look directly in the eyes), Hiruzen burst out laughing. Both Shinosuke and Kushina stared at him, identical expressions of shock and confusion on their faces. He continued to laugh with mirth, until he regained his composure a minute or two later.

"Hokage ... ?" Shinosuke questioned, greatly perplexed.

Still with an amused expression on his face, he shook his head. "It's nothing to worry about. Kushina has a fighter's spirit and her reckless fearlessness is something to be admired for, not frowned upon. She's truly special." Hiruzen admitted with complete honesty. Truth be told, Kushina's unbiased treatment of him was something entirely new and refreshing. He could never discourage Kushina's forthrightness. It was a very endearing trait to him and just like everyone else in Konoha, she was his family.

Kushina beamed happily at the praise, nodding her head in confidence. 'Completely true.' she agreed. Not helping herself, she gave Shinosuke a sly, 'I told-you-so' look. Shinosuke looked embarassed at this, noticing Kushina's smug expression directed at him. He sighed helplessly, feeling as he had been wronged somehow.

The atmosphere turned serious again, as Kushina remembered what he had just said about the girl. "So, anyway seriously, what's up? How can you not know her name?" Kushina repeated, a lot more calmer now than she was before.

Hiruzen gazed steadily at her, his expression dead serious. "Yes, well ... " He began, giving a sideways glance at the battered, knocked out teenager besides him. " I don't recognize her at all." he admitted quietly.

Shinosuke showed no surprise, having already been told beforehand. Kushina, on the other hand, looked stunned. Her eyes widened with disbelief, her mouth hanging open. For once the red-head had nothing to say. She was literally speechless. 'He doesn't recognize her ... ? That's impossible.' Kushina denied, her mind still trying to wrap around what she had just heard come out of his mouth.

Seeing how the usually talkative chunin hadn't said anything yet, Hiruzen continued. " I've never seen her before in my life, in pictures or in person. So this promotes a problem for us." Hiruzen pointed out logically, already considering this young woman a possible spy from rival villages. Possibly Kumo, who were the most hostile against his village.

Kushina finally seemed to put together her thoughts well enough to form coherent words, but all that she came out was: " But she's wearing a Konoha headband ..." Kushina argued weakly, also seeing the possible rebercussions from her rescue of this stranger.

Hiruzen looked pityingly at her, wondering if he should really say this. Shinsuke beat him to it before he did, who seemed just as reluctant. "Kushina-chan. he began gently. " True, she does. This may not be the case but you need to know this. The girl you rescued ... may be a spy." Shinosuke admitted reluctantly. He was almost sure she was, but he couldn't tell that to Kushina. She needed to consider the possiblity, but she also needed consolation. He broke his heart to see her like this.

"No! She's not, -dattebane!" Kushina denied desperately, trying to convince herself they were wrong. She was failing, as her realistic part of her knew the truth in those words.

"We're not sure yet, Kushina. But the possibility is there." Hiruzen said gently.

Guilt flooded through Kushina.' I saved a spy ... I saved a spy that was trying to harm my village.' Kushina realized, her guilt getting stronger the more she repeated it.

"It's not your fault, Kushina-chan. You couldn't have known and besides-" Shinosuke tried to explain

"I saved a spy! It doesn't matter whether I didn't know or not, -dattebane! The point is, I did it, -dattebane!" Kushina argued, feelings of failure and worthlessness (which was unlike her) consuming her.

The Hokage stopped her emotional rant before she could go any further. "Kushina. It is just a theory we made. Nothing is set in stone. We'll just wait until she wakes up to get true answers." Hiruzen pleaded. "Saying that though, I will assign the ANBU to watch over our patient here until she wakes. Let's not jump to conclusions. Even if she turns out to be a spy, it will be taken care of." He stated with conviction, praying that young woman in front of him would stop hating herself for something she had no clue about.

Kushina tried to calm down, wanting to believe he was right. Really, it's wasn't clear on who this girl was. 'But who else could it be?' Kushina wondered, going back to the negative side of thinking. 'Oh Minato, I wish you were here right now.' Kushina wished helplessly. He would make her feel better and would stand by her in this.

Seeing some of the guilt recede from her eyes, Hiruzen was relieved. Though her navy orbs were doubting and guilt could still be seen. Putting her hand on the red-head's shoulders in a gesture of comfort. She looked up at him miserably. " You are a great ninja, Kushina. You're caring, gentle, and fearless. You listen and follow your heart which leads you the right way. Those are not traits of weakness. Those are traits of strength. So do not hate yourself for being as kind and selfless of others as you are. That is the most treasured and wonderful ability that you have." Hiruzen said encouragingly.

Kushina looked shell-shocked at such deep words spoken about her. Unshed tears welled up in her eyes as gratitude and fondness for this man swelled up inside her. She couldn't help herself. She hugged him tightly, which he returned. "Thank you." Kushina murmured. She released him. Wiping the tears that she was relieved did not fall, wanting to keep at least some of her dignity she had left. "Thank you both. "

Kushina turned to leave the hospital, her earlier confidence and cheerfulness somewhat returning. "See you guys soon." Kushina said, waving her hand in farewell. Shinosuke watched the self-proclaimed tomboy leave the room, smiling fondly after her. He knew with all his being that every word the Hokage said was true. 'Kushina, you'll grow up to be a beautiful adult and skilled ninja. You'll be a great woman, friend, wife, and mother someday. You may not realize that today ... but you will. And I'll always be proud of you.'


A/N: I just all around love this chapter XD. The first Kushina-centric chapter so far :P. Writing her character is somewhat hard XD. I'm trying to do her a mixture of Naruto and Sakura's personalities but also her own character :P. If anyone is willing to give suggestions on Kushina's personality, I will gladly listen to what you have to say :). And this is also the first chapter Sakura wasn't a major character(Well unless you count her being unconscious the whole time XD. I don't think any of you should be surprised by that :P). And yes, Kushina has an Iruka XD. Shinosuke who I'm actually very fond of which surprises me :D. I LOVED writing the Third! He's so deep, if he even made poor Kushina almost cry D:! Though the ending of this chapter both touched me and made me want to cry T.T I'm sure you all know why ;)

Chapter updates will be hosted on Saturdays from now on. Unless I have too much homework XD which will probably happen to me sometimes : P

Preview to Next Chapter: Sakura finally awakes and is faced with old faces and new faces that should be dead. She tries to grasp what happened to her and fix it in any way possible, all the while trying to adjust to this new environment.

P.S: Minato finally makes an appearance next chapter! :D

Reviews are always greatly appreciated :D