Sakura's POV

We spent that day as a family reunited, all of stayed there, until visiting hours ended, then after everyone in the guys cases hugged me and the girls hugged me and kissed my cheek, they all left. I quickly fell asleep to a more content, dreamless sleep, cuddling with the little fox and frog plushies Naruto had brought me when he and Sasuke came back.

The blinding sunlight woke me the next morning, and turned away from the window toward the woman I knew had slept in the chair all night to watch over me. She seemed to have noticed me shifting.

"Sakura, your father is down in the lobby. You can leave as soon as you are dressed, I have already signed the discharge papers." I nod and take the clothes from her hand. I slip on my shorts over the bandages, and do the same with my red shirt. When I finish someone walks in, and I turn to see Ino.

"I convinced your dad to go home. The hokage already has a mission for him, and would like to see you. I told your dad I would escort you around today. I thought we could spend some time relaxing together, before I have to go on a new mission." I nod and we leave the hospital, heading in the direction of the hokage's office.

"Do you know why the third is looking for you?"

"Probably a team assignment so I can know who I'm working with. Maybe get to know them before I can start training." She nods and we walk the rest of the way in silence. When we arrive at the door, I knock and am invited in. Ino stays outside leaning on the wall.

"Hello Sakura. Its wonderful to see you again. I presume you are feeling better?" I nod and give a small smile to the fatherly man. "I called team seven, your team. They should have been here by now. I wond-"

"We're here!" Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi burst in, the last one scratching his neck.

"Late as usual. I wanted to introduce you to your new teammate." They turn to me and then their jaws drop. I laugh at their faces. Sasuke is the first to recover.

"Welcome to team seven. Guess we don't really need to introduce ourselves huh?" I smile, and turn to the third.

"Did you do this on purpose?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," he says cheekily. "I expect you to be training with them in a week. I know you will be healed by then under Tsunade's care. Plus you've fought with worse wounds before, huh?" I nod thinking of past wounds and missions.

"You are dismissed." We all bow, then leave. Ino kicks off the wall and looks at me.

"So?"

"Meet the rest of my team, team seven," I say as the others walk out. She stares at them for a minute, then looks at me.

"You lucky bitch." We all laugh at her calm remark.

The next week flew by quickly and was only awkward during the times when someone had to help me bathe. Luckily though, Into had been training in the basics of a medic in, so she was the one who bathed me, saving me from the embarrassment of explaining the blood... down there... to my parents.

It was the day of the second day after getting back to the house that was the first bath. It was the only one that was really awkward.

Ino had come over and we were watching a movie in the living room after my dad had left on his mission, and my mom was shopping. I went to get up and so did Ino. She made a face.

"God, Sakura! When was the last time you had a shower?!"

"A week and a half ago." She makes another face. "Don't do that! Its not my fault I got kidnapped..." I trail off quietly at the end. She looks at me sadly.

"I'm sorry. Come on. Let's get you washed up." I nod and we head upstairs. We get to my bathroom, and Ino leaves for a second to grab some bathroom supplies. I take this time to remove the bandages. When they are off I stare at my body in the full length mirror.

I am skinny, but have put more weight on in the three days I've been back, and receiving regular meals. My hair is grubby and slightly tangled. My face is paler than usual from the lack of sunlight, and my green eyes don't shine like they used to. I frown, and the door opens. Ino's eyes look sad when she sees the barely healed bruises.

She turns the bath on after setting the stuff on the counter. I watch as she puts cherry smelling bubbles in the water. In the supplies she grabbed was a bar of soap, a razor, and some conditioner. She must still remember I only need to shampoo once a month. How nice of her.

When the bath was filled with bubbles and water, she steadied me as I climbed in. She allowed me to sit for a few minutes before she asked me to dunk my head under water. I do as she asks, then she begins massaging the conditioner through my scalp. After that, she left it in my hair and began to scrub my back.

She frowns, and opens her mouth to speak.

"Can you handle washing the rest of yourself?" I blush and nod, and she leaves for a few minutes. I wash my chest first, knowing I will be in pain when I wash my privates. Sighing, I move the sponge between my legs and wince in pain. When I'm used to it, I wash the blood away, and frown to see that more is still leaking out. I finish quickly, wanting to be done with the pain.

Ino comes back in and grabs the soap from the side of the tub. She lifts one of my legs up and coats it in soap just past my knee. She then proceeds to shave the leg.

"I can't have my best friend walking around like a hairy gorilla, can I?" She asks and I chuckle. She moves on to my other leg. After that she hands me the razor and I quickly shave my armpits.

She then asks me to hold breath and stay under water to wash the conditioner out. It is quick, and I don't actually feel out of breath at the end. Once that is done she gets up.

"I'm leaving you in here to relax. Call me if you need anything. I'll come back to rebandage you." She puts on my playlist on my phone then walks out.

I sit in silence, then sigh.

She probably thinks I'm disgusting. I feel so useless. Why couldn't I just fought back? None of this would have happened.

Then again, my parents would be dead.

It was a choice between them or me, and I had to protect them.

I growl in frustration and hit the wall. Great. Now there's a hole in the wall.

Something small plops into the water and nicks my leg. It stings but at the same time... it feels okay. Like it... it takes my mind off of everything else. I look down to see what it is.

A razor.

I pick it up and stare at it. I hold above my arm and then-

The door opens.

"Sakura no!" I look up to a concerned Ino. She cautiously walks towards me and kneels by the tub. Tenderly, her hands move to mine and remove the blade. She sets it down behind herself on the sink.

She turns back to me and is tearing up. I look at her guiltily, then look away. She pulls me into a hug.

"Sakura, why would you do that?" I shake my head when she releases me and I refuse to look at her.

"Come on. Let's get you out of the tub, then we can talk." Grabbing my hand, she pulls me out of the water and hands me a towel. I wrap it around myself deciding to let my wounds breath a little bit.

Ino walks into my room, and sits on the far side of my queen bed. I sit on the other side and keep my back to her.

"Sakura?" I can hear the tears in her voice. I don't need to look to see they are there.

"I want- no I need to forget. Ino you don't understand it. Its there, every time someone touches me. Everytime someone comforts me. I just want to forget, even for a little. Please." I say and turn to her, my own tears on my face. She moves towards me and she pulls me towards her. She cradles my head in her lap. I stare up at her blankly.

"Saks, this isn't something you can just forget. Besides, since when have you ever been so selfish? That wouldn't have hurt just you. I was in pain. I still am. By doing that you hurt everyone who cares for you. I, WE don't want to lose you."

I close my eyes and look away. I feel tears drop on my face. She's crying over me.

We sit like that for a while til our sobs have calmed, then she shifts.

"Let get you dressed. Maybe a walk will make you feel better. See some old familiar faces." I nod and it takes us three minutes to rewrap my bandages. I decide to just wear a red, loose half shirt, because my stomach is covered by bandages. Ino throws me some loose sweatpants and I thank her quietly.

We move downstairs and walk out the front door. My eyes hurt at the bright sunlight, but they adjust after a few seconds. A few people stare at me, probably not recognising me. As we round a corner we walk into a pair of familiar people.

"Hey Ino! You coming to practice later? You weren't there yesterday..." he trails off when he sees me. I recognise the swirl marks on his cheeks. The pineapple head, as usual, stood to the side and was looking up at the clouds. That is until Choji trailed off.

I wave awkwardly as they stare at me in shock and mild surprise.

"Well. What brings you back to town, Haruno?" Shikamaru asked, not unkindly. I shrug.

"Dad was reassigned back to the village. We all moved back."I shift uncomfortably under Choji's gaze. Shikamaru notices and his eyes shift as well to the slightly bloodied bandages that are wound around my petite waist.

"What happened?" He asks before he notices Ino frantically shaking her head for him not to.

"We were ambushed and to protect my parents I let them take me. I am ok though. No need to worry." They nod, then turn to Ino expectantly.

"I may or may not. I have to find someone to stick with forehead girl later to make sure nothing happens to her." They look at her questioningly and she shakes her head.

"I wouldn't mind hanging out w-with S-sakura-chan later. It has been a while s since I have s- seen her." A small voice says. "I-if that's okay with you."

I turn to see the sweet little girl I was friends with, almost sisters, all grown up. I embrace her. After a few seconds I let her go and keep her at arms length.

"Hinata! It is so good to see you!" She nods.

"I have to go, I have training with father, but I will b-be by later." I nod and watch her walk away.

"I guess I can go to training." We all laugh. Smiling, Shikamaru and Choji turn to me.

"Mind if we join you?" I shake my head and we continue our walk. Soon we decide to stop by Ichiraku's and get some ramen. Guess who we bump into.

"Sakura-chan! I thought you were still in the hospital!"

"I was let out yesterday." I say, and Ino whacks him over his head.

"Baka! How do you think she was at the Hokage's office?!" He shrugs stupidly. I sigh, and place my hand on my forehead.

"Anyways," I say, dragging the word out. "How has training been for all of you? I really wish we could've all trained together..." I say, thinking of the brutal training my dad put me through.

"Its going well. We all have our own styles of fighting, but I'm not telling you anything because I want to train with you to see your skills too," Naruto says, and I grin evilly.

"Careful what you wish for, little boy." Me and Ino are always teasing him because he's a year younger than us. He childishly crosses his arms, making the rest of us burst into laughter.

"What's so funny?" He asks, and when no one answers he lays his head on the counter heavily.