Beginning in Endings
A/N: Hello lovely readers, sorry this chapter has taken longer then I wanted it to. I caught a nasty cold over the weekend as did my son and I have been trying effortlessly to return to normal still. But I did not want to let you guys down by taking too long so here is the new updated version of this chapter. There is A LOT of NEW content in this chapter so please read slowly and for those who have seen this chapter before re read then ending is very different. Please enjoy and let me know what you all think of this story up to this point likes or dislikes I would love to know. Thank you for your support and of course for reading I send you all so much love! Enjoy!
Sakura's P.O.V
I could finally see the gates of Konoha in the distance, I knew walking through them seemed like the hardest part of my day so far but I knew that wouldn't be true for long.
As we approached closer the full view of the gates in my sight now I knew I was right in my earlier assumption because even from this distance I could still see my two teammates waiting at the gate. The closer I got the more expressions I could see and sense; ten steps away, sadness, nine steps, hurt, eight steps, regret, seven steps, fear, six steps left, I could feel loss in the air. Only five steps left now, guilt, four steps, anxiety, three, I could see how the trauma affected them, two, they both seemed scared to face me, one…
5 hours prior…..
Normal P.O.V.
"Hokage-sama," Iruka said as he and Genma bowed before the Hokage. They had been summoned early before the sun even greeted the sky, so here they stood before him awaiting his commands. "Haruno Sakura will be arriving today by 10 the latest," the Hokage said as he carefully eyed the two young men before him. The last time he had seen the both of them they were covered in the ashes and dust of the massacre, from what the Hokage had been observing and hearing they had hidden away in their homes away from their friends and neither had spoken much since that day.
Genma and Iruka both had very different but sad expressions on their faces, Iruka looked as if mother had said she was disappointed in him where Genma looked mad at himself. It was an understandable for the two of them but this was something shinobi would be familiar with for the rest of their lives unfortunately they would have to experience it sooner than others.
"Haruno does not know the details she was only informed of the loss of her parents," the Hokage continued, this caused both boys to look up straight away a hint of anger on Genma's features. "So, has a right to know the extent of what has happened, why was she not told!" Genma all but shouted at the Hokage, thankfully the Hokage was understanding of the situation and was not upset at his outburst. Even stranger Iruka did not try to reason with Genma he was equally upset about this news but he would not outright say so.
The Hokage raised his pipe to his mouth inhaling before breathing out the smoke as he answered, "Sakura wanted to return home, it was her decision to not know." Both Genma and Iruka were confused by this it didn't make sense to them which the Hokage could sense, "If she would have listened to all the details she would have not felt she could return here to face what has happened." The Hokage explain this seemed to bring the boys to the understanding that they needed, "You both will meet Haruno had her mentors at the gate and escort them here without any disturbances, understood?" The Hokage asked, neither one of them seemed like they wanted to accept this mission but it was their duty and instead of defying orders they just nodded and walked out as silently as they had entered.
Sighing as the Hokage continued to smoke no his pipe he turned in his chair and watched the two young men walk in different directions upon exiting the Tower. "Why did you not request someone who was not as close to this as they are sir?" a man asked the back of the Hokage. "Haruno needs her family," the Hokage said, the man was shocked at this statement and interrupted the Hokage. "But they are dead sir!" the man said a little shocked but the Hokage turned back around and looked at Minato silencing him "Yes her biological family is now deceased but the Will of Fire that burns inside each of us it connects us to each other. Those boys her teammates she must trust them with her life every mission they are on together, they must depend on each other in any circumstance does this not make them as close to family as the members she was raised by?" Minato just looked in awe at the wise Hokage that he stood before, the Hokage was right and he agreed with him fully he just prayed to the Kami's that this would not damage them more than the information she had not received yet.
Present…..
Sakura P.O.V.
I hadn't realized until I took the last step finally facing my teammates head on that I had been holding my breath. When I finally released the air I had been holding I sucked in a breath of air greedily panic was all I could feel now there was no going back I was in the Leaf village no running away now. No one said a word Tsunade just looked at the side of my head, Shizune was looking at Tsunade waiting for what was to come next Shizune couldn't bare what I was going through it had made a distance between me and her during this travel back but I understood I probably looked worse then I felt if that was possible.
I would forever be grateful to Iruka for breaking the uncomfortable silence that was beginning to suffocate me in that moment. Everyone was waiting for me to run or break down crying, and with everyone's eyes on me I thought I just might but I knew I needed to at least make it the Hokage's office before I could cry again I would not let another tear fall until I knew what I was up against. I knew I was in a form of denial but it was what was working for me up until this moment.
"Sakura-san…" Iruka started nervously I could tell by the way his voice cracked and sounded so soft, he was usually quite but this was more than that. "The Hokage wants us to escort you to his office, okay?" Poor Iruka he sounded like he was afraid of me in this moment I didn't know why he would feel afraid of me but I wouldn't question that just yet that could come later. I nodded in a response I dare not try to speak that just might break the wall that was keeping me up right now. Everyone turned and looked to Iruka and Genma, we slowly started walking again this time towards the Hokage tower, I chanced a glance at Genma he was unusually quiet for once and stiff something was very wrong with him because it was then that I noticed there was no toothpick in his mouth, not even a candy stick. My stomach turned uncomfortably there was some many things wrong right now and with each painful step towards the Hokage tower, and each stare from the civilians I could feel that wall crumbling beneath me.
Once we reached the tower I slowed I was beginning to think that I wasn't as ready to hear any of this as I told myself I was, but Iruka looked at me over his shoulder and his eyes said all that I needed in that moment he believed I could do this even as impossible as I thought it was he believed in me. So, with each step I took I tried to convince myself that I could do this and that this was the life I had chosen I needed to accept that ninjas die every day and it is to be expected. We stopped just before the Hokage's office and I couldn't bring myself to knock on his door, I just stared at the door handle as if it would keep this moment from happening. Genma placed a firm hand on my shoulder, "We are all right here for you Sakura-san, none of us are going anywhere we will be right here for you...we are family understand? No matter what is said inside that door." I kept my eyes on his locked with his the whole time he talked when he was done I looked around to see Iruka's sad smile in agreement, Shizune nodded to me, and Lady Tsunade just looked at me with understanding and hope in her eyes. I could feel a stinging burn behind my eyes so I just nodded more to myself then to them and headed into the Hokage's office leaving the only family I had left on the other side of his office door.
"Sakura, I am sorry for your loss," the Hokage began once I was seated across from him, I knew this was going to be hard to handle when I walked in so I did what I thought was going to be the easiest to get through this I cut straight to the chase. "What happened?" I asked in a voice void of any emotion because truly if I felt anything right now I would not be able to stay and hear his answer. The Hokage looked at me for a few painfully long seconds before sighing out a large cloud of smoke and putting his pipe down on his desk before himself. "There was a fire Rin and Iruka only found 1 person alive, your first uncle on your father's side. Sakura, you are going to be under the care of your uncle once he is released from the hospital, it is up to you to decide what will become of your clan and future actions. As your parents, have passed you are Heir to the Haruno clan."
I could tell the Hokage was keenly watching me for any kind of reaction but I had none to give, my body was in shock not only where my parents gone but everyone else I knew all except for an uncle I had never really spoken to or seen much. 'How did a clan as great as mine all die in something so simple as a fire' I thought to myself and then that's when it hit me, as a ninja we are trained to see through these types of signs to better know what we are walking into on a mission. I looked into the Hokage's eyes suddenly I could feel a fire burning inside me, anger, "It was an assassination." I said to the Hokage it was not a question it was a statement a fact, his head nodded as my only confirmed that what I knew was true, "Do you know who or why?" I asked nearly jumping out of my seat surely it had been 3 days since I had first heard of what had happened they must have some information by now. "We have sent our best to search for any traces but Sakura you must know that there was not a breach in our wards," the Hokage said with serious face as he leaned forward to gauge my reaction to this information. The shock must have been written on my face because the Hokage grabbed his pipe again and began smoking when I looked at him with all the questions I couldn't make words to ask.
"This is not for you to worry I have some of my best working on this, you are to stay in the village under sever protection until further notice," the Hokage ordered, "Hokage-sama is the house?" I asked knowing the answer in my heart and mind but simply needing to hear the words, the Hokage shook his head but then pointed to the door in which Tsunade then burst through the door, "You will stay with me you're my apprentice now so you are my responsibility, I am more then capable of taking care of you." Tsunade said with such authority almost as if she was daring the Hokage to say something different. I also noticed a few gathered friends behind Tsunade besides Shizune and of course my teammates, now team 2 was standing with them and Rin looked as if she felt like somehow, she had part in what was happening to me right now. "Thank you Tsunade," I said quietly my friends seemed to liven up some at this response the Hokage nodded towards the door of people and once he did Rin came running in straight to hug my side. "Why don't you young ones go and take Sakura out while Tsunade, Shizune and I make arrangements for your move," the Hokage suggested, "I will come for you when we are done," Tsunade said to me before moving towards the Hokage's desk. Nodding I stood and bowed quickly before walking out of his office with my friends by my side.
Once outside of the Hokage tower Obito ran ahead of us and stopped "Come on everyone stop being such downers," Genma and Kakashi shook their heads at this comment, Rin was the one to speak up though. "Obito-san this isn't really the time Sakura-hime is hurting we need to support her in getting through this rough time," I finally decided enough was enough and spoke up, "I'm fine guys I don't want you to treat me any differently please let's just act like this is any other day that would make me feel better right now." Iruka, Rin, Genma and Obito all looked at me with a look of shock or uncertainty and partly guilty, but in the back Kakashi made eye contact for a few seconds before closing his eyes and stuffing his hands in his pockets before turning his head to look away at some unknow place again today I would not let this bother me though.
Everyone decided to just hang out around town and get something to eat but on our walk to Ichiraku's my team got requested to help out team 3 in a mission, of course I was not allowed to go help them out so I was left with Rin and her team. When we reached, the ramen shop we all sat on the stools Rin and I in the middle, Obito quick to sit next to Rin of course which left Kakashi on my right side, "Oi some of my favorite customers," Teuchi the store owner said as he looked at all of us. "I want to pay today," Rin said as she looked at me, I gave her a look that said 'I asked to be normal' and she just smiled while waving my look away and ordered anyways which made me smile a real smile for once today. Through all of this it was good to know my friends will always be there for me and be themselves, I quickly ordered and once I was finished Rin was quickly onto another more distracting subject which I was so thankful for.
"So tell me EVERYTHING about training with Tsunade-sama! You are so incredibly lucky, I want so badly to be a medical ninja but all I know is first aid stuff like band aids and ointments." Rin said with such a sparkle in her eyes, "Well it was hard," I said while scratching the back of my head. Rin started waving her hands franticly to show how upset she was with my bland response, "Hime you don't even understand how lucky you are!" I just giggled lightly before finally giving her the details she really wanted, "I wanted to learn from a medical ninja so I could have a better chance at passing the exams coming up, I never imagined getting taught by someone as amazing as Tsunade herself." I said as I was handed the bowl of miso soup, I bowed my head before I began eating my food, the rest was of our orders were being served which made it easier to avoid questions since Rin was more worried about eating until Obito spoke up. "You hear that Kakashi, Sakura-san here is going to beat your sorry self and become a jounin," laughing Obito pointed across the bar we were eating at while laughing at Kakashi who seemed to not even hear him lest notice he was still with us as a group. 'Did Kakashi ever even act like he was grateful for the amazing team he had?' I wondered but I knew he probably had always been this stuck up.
"You are one to be laughing you are not even good enough to have been entered in the exams yet," Kakashi said with such distaste causing Rin and I to look at him in shock then to Obito, Rin began looking sad but sighed 'this must happen a lot between them, poor Rin.' I thought to myself just by the look on Rin's face I was positive that this was a normal thing the two of them fighting.
Obito then jumped from his seat and got even closer to Kakashi who had stood from his seat already finished with his meal somehow 'did he eat through his mask, gross' I wondered for a second until Obito's yelling in Kakashi's face pulled me from my thoughts. "Oh yeah! Well one day I am going to become Hokage and be the greatest ninja this village has ever seen!" Obito yelled, Kakashi simply waved him off with one hand before he began walking away not even acknowledging Obito's words, this of course got Obito enraged as he ran after Kakashi's back and swung at Kakashi aimed straight for his head when Kakashi simply disappeared reappearing behind him and hitting him on the back of the neck hard causing him to fall unconscious. Rin jumped out of her seat running instantly to help Obito making sure he was just unconscious and not dead, I stood and walked over to Obito placing a hand on his neck quickly finding a pulse "Take him to the hospital, Obito will be fine he's just sleeping." I told Rin before running after Kakashi to give him a piece of my mind.
"Hey what the hell is your problem Hatake?!" I yelled at his back as I finally found him walking with his hands in his pockets by the far east side of the village where my clan district is 'or was is more correct now' I thought to myself but quickly I shook the thought and tried my best to focus on why I was after him to begin with. Kakashi himself didn't even acknowledge that I had spoken to him which angered me further, I already had a bad temper problem 'so says my teammates,' now he was pushing it. I ran past him stopping right in his path making sure to stop him, with my hands on my hips I stared up at his eyes making sure he could sense and see how I wasn't going to let this go without a fight.
"This is of no concern to you Haruno go home," he basically spat at me as he tried to step around me, which I quickly saw coming and stepped again in his pathway to where ever he was going. "Yeah well it is now Ha-ta-ke," I made sure to emphasize every syllable in his name "Rin is my best friend; Obito is a friend we do NOT treat friends that way. He is your teammate for Kami's sake what is wrong with you?" I all but yelled at him, Kakashi just glared at me as he took a step closer to me putting the tips of our shoes almost touching as he glared more daggers at me. "You know nothing about me or my teammates you are an outsider here Haruno!" Kakashi raised his voice at me, only angering me more and hurting me as I tried my best my best to ignore the few statements he had made about my home, which I did not have now and how I was an outsider, which was truer now than ever. I leaned forward making us practically nose to nose as I burned holes into his head with my eyes not willing to back down to his challenge, "I have been here long enough to see you ignore the one girl who actually could love someone like you, and to watch you treat your own teammate like nothing more than a troublesome pest that you think you are better than!"
I poked him in the chest with my finger as hard as I could, with a little bit of chakra help just to make sure it hurt and that he got my point, as I continued "Successful shinobi understand the need for back up and teammates and are GREATFUL when they have specially dedicated ones like your own to your safety and well being. They are not a bother nor are they unnecessary in our line of work seems to me like it is YOU Ha-Ta-Ke who is the outsider, you don't even see how lucky you are to have them as teammates and you probably never will."
I huffed out a breath finally losing some of my anger as the shock was clear in his eyes the only sign or emotion I had ever seen in him before, "You know what I feel sorry for you because without them you would be a lonely ass sorry excuse for a ninja, who doesn't know the first thing about being a great shinobi or about the Will of Fire, and it is Obito who is better than you he believes in a future and friends." I said as I moved out of his way finally and head back to the Hokage's tower ready to get some sleep, my mind and heart could not take much more of this day, and for some reason yelling at him the way I just did made me feel bad for him for the first time. I truly did feel sorry for him I don't understand why but I had a feeling that he was the stubborn ass he was because of another reason all together but what that reason was I could not see or understand, as I ran on top of the buildings in the village I looked up at the sky and thought how it just seemed like a cry for help like a child who couldn't talk yet I felt a few single drops of rain hit my face which made me smile as I slowed and sat comfortably on the top of someone's house. I started crying as I let the weight of what Kakashi had said to me I hoped only out of anger, I had no home to go anymore, and now I knew I was still seen as an outsider here. I wanted more than ever to just go running into my mom and dad's arms to cry, but that was no longer possible so I sat there in the rain crying until I was numb either from the cold rain or pain that just took over, finally ready to face everyone I headed back to the Hokage Tower this time at a slower pace.
Kakashi's P.O.V
'That girl had the nerve to talk to me like that' I thought she didn't even know me who the hell was she to say anything to me about 'MY' teammates, but I had to admit I had found a new respect for her for even standing up to me the way she did. She even went as far as to poke me 'which hurt actually' I thought as I rubbed the spots she poked my chest, surely there would be bruises if I checked. I hadn't even realized I was so angry at this 'girl' to notice that we were arguing in broad day light in the middle of the street I quickly acted as if nothing had happened slouching back with my now un-balled fists in my pants pocket and before I could even take a step I had been stopped by the last person I wanted to have seen that disagreement.
"You know you can always learn a thing or two from angry women Kakashi, it might even get you from being killed by your pride in this case," Minato said as he slowly walked up to me to finally look me in the face. 'I don't like the look he is giving me' I thought as I eyed him closely, he was smiling a little to hard to be upset with me as that girl had been, "What is it you really want to say to me sensei?" I asked as I closed my eyes I could feel a headache coming on from all the events that today seemed to be throwing my way, "Perceptive as always," Minato chuckled. I reopened my eyes and looked at him hoping he would see my impatience was growing thin, chuckling harder he finally spoke up, "Women throw punches in all shapes and forms but only those we have a weak spot for actually hurt us Kakashi," for once I didn't understand what he was trying to say to me those little pokes could hardly be seen as punches, feeling it was just more sensei nonsense he told us here and there I just waved to him and began walking again trying to hurry home as to not run into anyone else this day. "See you tomorrow sensei," I said as I walked away from Minato, I should have known with the luck I was having this day that he wasn't done yet, Minato flash stepped directly in front of me this time with a more serious expression on his face this made me stop and await his next words.
Minato made a stance close to my own by placing his hands in his pant pockets as he looked at me seriously still. "I do hope you are planning to find Haruno Sakura to apologize to her Kakashi," Minato said this angered me more than I expected it to though. "Sensei," I began but he simply raised a hand silencing me, "How many times has team 4 come to aid us in a mission and proved helpful?" I just looked at him, 'what does this have to do with anything right now' I thought to myself. "Just answer Kakashi," Minato sensei said to me, I sighed and just answered him sensing I wouldn't get out of this until he was ready anyways. "Several," I said flatly, "Of all those times how many was Sakura a part of the team?" Minato waited while I questioned his line of thinking, "Every," Minato smiled at response but then got serious again.
"Do you think all of those missions would have ended in the completion that they did without her participation?" again more strange questions and for some stupid reason they all had to do with that girl. "No team 4 works efficiently because of Sakura," this was a true statement not because I think she is skilled in anyway. "Then tell me Kakashi, do outsiders aid in the success of others? Do outsiders put their lives at risk for others?" Minato heard our conversation, 'great all I need now is for him to tell Rin who will tell her teammates.' I thought to myself, "I didn't really mean she was an outsider she is a fellow leaf shinobi," I said hoping to get him to see it was just an angry statement.
Minato nodded still not seeming to be satisfied with my answer after all his questioning, what more could he expect of me she started the fight she should have known who she was arguing with. "I do not think Sakura interpreted that way Kakashi," Minato said causing me to finally cross my arms as I grew more impatient. Sighing Minato took a hand out of his pocket and placed it on my shoulder, "Sakura deserves and apology Kakashi it is the right thing to do, I cannot make you but I can suggest it." Minato took his hand off my shoulder and began to walk stopping when he and I were shoulder to shoulder, I could no longer see his face, "Also one last thing Kakashi, Sakura cannot return home even though I am sure she would like to, she no longer has one waiting for her." I stiffened upon hearing him, I had forgotten I had told her to go home it was a stupid comment that just came out without my own thinking. Minato was looking at the charred Haruno district besides us before walking on, "See you at the funeral Kakashi," he said in parting.
'I really fucked up this time,' I thought to myself as I returned my hands to my pockets. 'I better go fix things before half the village comes after me to kill me for hurting the precious Haruno' I thought as I turned and rushed back to the Hokage Tower in hopes to beat her there. The last thing I needed now was that girl to be crying in front of the Hokage and her spill that I was the cause, he would surely take away my chance at the exams as well as D rank missions for a month, I shuddered to myself as I picked up my speed.
I stopped before the Tower and searched to see if her chakra signature was inside the building yet. Thankfully for my own selfish reasons she was not, I leaned on the outside of the building wall in wait for her to show. After a few minutes, I started growing impatient again, 'where on earth was this woman? Didn't she have enough time to come complain about my behavior to the Hokage while Minato lectured me?' I thought to myself as I closed my eyes. I couldn't decide which bothered me more, that she didn't come rushing here to tell everyone about my ridiculous behavior, or that she wasn't here for me to hurry up and apologize to so I could get on with my day.
"Hatake?" a timid girl voice broke through my thoughts I opened my eyes and there was the person I had been waiting on. "Is something wrong?" she said as she took a careful step towards me, her hands were behind her back a sure tell that she was uncomfortable something I had seen her do before when everyone was all together large groups seem to have this effect on her. I shook my head no so she would stop looking me up and down for some invisible problem I wasn't telling her about, 'how is it she is still so worried for myself after all those horrible things I just said to her, was she as stupid as to forget already' I thought to myself.
"Sakura-san," I said maybe she could hear how serious I was trying to be, I didn't get the reaction I was hoping for though she seemed to flinch at the sound of her name. I stood up straight and took a step away from the wall I had been leaning on as I placed my hands in my pockets, habit. "I wanted to talk to you," I said as calmly and nicely as I could as I continued to watch her strange reactions this time she crossed her hands in front of her as she looked like she was ready to flee at any second.
"I did not mean those things I said earlier," I began of course she tried to cut in and stop me but I was determined to say a real apology. So, I held my hand up to get her to let me finish which she kindly let me, "I was just angry, you are not an outsider this is your home." Sakura nodded at me, "I also wanted to say I am sorry for telling you to go home I deserve what I got for that," I said the end more to myself than her which seemed to confuse her. She walked up towards me which had me stiffening as a reaction, she gently placed her hand on my arm as she looked at me with the kindest most forgiving look in her eyes. Sakura was doing something to me that I could not understand or see for myself yet I relaxed into her touch and my posture became more natural, here this girl who easily upset me also calmed me in mere seconds and had touched me in my personal space twice today without my own recognition. "Thank you very much Hatake-san we all say things out of anger, and we all make mistakes." She said in the softest voice before taking her hand away and the warmth it was providing, before smiling at me and walking into the Hokage Tower.
'What is it about this girl?' I thought to myself as I watched her disappear into the Tower. I started to walk away when Rin and Obito came running into view both looking equally disturbed then shocked when they saw me, "Kakashi-kun?" Rin asked upon reaching me, I just nodded who else would I be? Obito didn't say a word to me or look at me, I deserved that I should apologize to him too Sakura was very true in her speech earlier but I was stopped by Rin's next words. Dred filled me and it wasn't even my bad news the news was intended for another, I knew thought that this was something that may push her to her breaking point if she wasn't there already. I looked up to the Hokage's offices windows from where we all stood outside the Tower, sighing I nodded to Rin. "I'll go with you to tell them," I said which seemed to surprise my teammates more than it should have. Maybe Sakura was more observant and bold for telling me than any other one of our friends, I simply started to head inside the Tower they would follow or they wouldn't either way I wanted to make sure for myself that she would be okay.
