Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine.
The event's from yesterday were monitored, and Naruto and Sasuke decided to not let the other ninja know yet about Yuu and instead, let the other shinobi know who were to be going out on missions to watch for medic members and for anyone to report suspicious characters or Grass shinobi that suddenly popped up near fire country.
Hell, no one even told Sakura about the cherry blossoms. Naruto and Sasuke thought best that if Sakura knew about it, she would want to go out and try to kill the bastard, due to her anger. Instead, Naruto started Sakura on the new medics that were to be trained. So far, fifteen new chuunin, plus a small class of young genin that would be taught the basics of medicine, and to get a feel of any young ninja that might show signs of the art.
Sasuke and Shikamaru started to move their stuff to the police headquarters, where Naruto explained to the two ANBU captains that missions would be given out by him, and all mission reports were to be returned to the two of them. All squads and teams would now report here for duty, and ninja that were not setting out for missions would be turned into civilian squads to keep the peace. ANBU members would also report in to both sides for any specific missions that were needed to be done.
After word about the police headquarters being open again had gotten out, people seemed ultimately happy with the way things were going. The other shinobi seemed to actually like the idea, and the ANBU squad captains and members didn't seem to have a problem with it. Within about three days, ninja were seen going in and out, from doing missions, to reporting any problems in Konoha. Sasuke was actually sitting at his own desk when a certain white haired man came bursting in.
Still he sat, rereading the mission report that Konohamaru had sent in, Sasuke didn't even look up, "What?"
"Look at me! Desk duties!? Charity work for civilians! This just isn't me!" Suigetsu hollered, waving his arms frantically, walking around Sasuke's office, "I mean, yeah, so I am now a ninja here, and it's not all bad, but I mean, we now are going to start having desk duties!?"
Sasuke drawled, trying to ignore Suigetsu as much as possible, "It will be so everyone is working as one unit, people will rotate desk duty, and to show civilians that we are willing to help them, and not exclude them from shinobi matters. The Hokage has already told everyone this."
Suigetsu leaned against a wall, "But, police work is so freaking boring."
"Then ask for a mission, or, better yet, focus on getting to chuunin status." Sasuke replied, raising an eyebrow at him.
Suigetsu huffed, and looked around his office, "Must be nice being an advisor to the Hokage, getting your own office and junk."
Sasuke looked over at Suigetsu, his eyes narrowing, "What do you want?"
Suigetsu huffed, "Like I said, I'm bored."
"Then either go to the Hokage, ask for a mission, or, work on getting ready for the next chuunin exams. Either way, get the hell out." His eyes flashed red for just a moment, his patience running thin.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, will do captain!" Suigetsu saluted Sasuke and stepped out.
And that was mostly how the rest of the day went for Sasuke, people showing up, asking stupid questions, even though during the initial meeting with all members of the shinobi ranks had been told before hand.
It was going to be a long initiation period, and Sasuke didn't know if he could handle it.
Sakura on the other hand was excited to see so many recruits coming in for medic training. She and a team with Shizune and Ino, started out in a classroom, going over the basics again of chakra control and the human anatomy. All in all, it wasn't bad, but the first few weeks would be tedious work; field work was where all the fun was.
Sakura was to give reports to Naruto and his two advisors weekly over the classes and students, mostly to see who had potential and where people would be starting off. Sakura all in all was having a much easier time then Sasuke, but, then again, there was still a hospital to run.
After a class, which ended late on into the evening, she returned to her own office, a folder placed on the desk, with a note attached,
Sorry, Sakura-chan! I know you are busy, but I need several squads ready and will need physicals. Do you have any medics on staff that would be able to do so tomorrow, 7 in the morning? I'll need you to do the captains, but the rest can be done by others.
P.S. – Hinata-chan says I have to get one too, because I guess I'm long overdue. This isn't like a pregnancy thing is it? Oh, and when did you want to start seeing Hinata for checkups? Oh! Can we do it here at home!? That would be awesome!
Thanks!
The Hokage of Konoha
Uzumaki Naruto
Sakura sighed heavily, and opened the folder, throwing it down just as quickly…
Since it looked like twenty-two members needed physicals, and she had to do four of them since they were captains, and of course Naruto himself, which was a pain in the ass all on his own, since he hated getting the shots they would administer. The hospital would be extremely busy, and she would have to post-pone her morning classes.
Sakura placed her forehead on her desk. Figures…
The next morning, twenty-two members, and Naruto, found themselves waiting in a lobby at the hospital. Sakura had started leading men to different doctors, and finally looked at her five.
Sasuke, Shikamaru, Naruto, Sai, who was just recently promoted, and Yamato all followed Sakura to a room. She instructed that she would be doing Naruto first.
The other captains knew why, because fifteen minutes later, Naruto tried so desperately to get away from the annual shots that Sakura would have to give, and they usually were the ones that would have to push him back in. She did the rest of the captains, until she was left with Sasuke.
Sasuke walked in, taking off his shirt as he sat down on the bed, laying back. He was used to the procedure, since ANBU members usually had these things done every three months.
Sakura proceeded, asking Sasuke how it was going at the new headquarters,
"Busy." He replied, as she moved her hands, concentrating on anything that maybe wrong with him.
"Yeah, just started on our new recruits, seems like they will be an easy bunch though. Looks promising." Sakura stated in mild bursts, trying to focus on the physical. Reaching out to grab an ophthalmoscope, she looked into his eyes, squinting and taking a good look at his onyx eyes, she asked, "How have they been doing, your eyes?"
He closed them for a moment, "Ok."
The pink-headed medic moved her head over to look away from her instrument and to look more at his whole face, "Just ok?"
"They strain here and there, but other than that, I'm fine." Sasuke dragged out, not really taking it well that something was wrong with him in the first place. Sakura put down her scope, and started healing his eyes.
"You don't have to do that now." Sasuke mumbled.
"I know, I'll be busy later, this should get you through to the end of the week, I'll see you on Friday, and so I'll do another round again."
"You could have at least let me put my shirt back on." Sasuke muttered.
"Oh, it will only be a moment; you always complain its cold in here." Sakura smirked, but didn't have the heart to tell him that she accidentally just forgot to tell him.
But who would? Her Inner Sakura mused. Sasuke saw her smirk, "Sakura…" he said with a mild exasperated tone.
"Oh, please. I'm not acting like a fan girl, am I? Just be glad it is me doing this, and not one of the nurses, or Karin, besides, I see a lot more than just men's chest all day."
"Tch…" He would have rolled his eyes if his sharingan wasn't activated.
"I mean, you could be Shikamaru. He gets routine physicals all the time. The problem is its Ino giving them and it's usually in her office. Speaking of which, you might want to watch out for that at the police station." Sakura finished, finally throwing him his shirt. Sasuke sighed, placing the shirt back on and shaking his head,
"You're kidding right?" He asked, a crestfallen face flashing, he didn't want to believe that lazy idiot would allow that type of thing to happen in his own office.
"You do remember the times we have walked in on Naruto and Hinata. Seems to me it's a pretty common thing. Just thought I'd give you a head's up if you noticed her running around there." Sakura smiled and went to the door after filling his chart,
"I'll see you on Friday, Sasuke. Take the window out, the rest of the nurses are probably in." She smiled and winked at him, as he nodded and did as he was told.
Friday came swiftly; Sasuke found himself sitting at a table in the back of a large meeting room. A long desk was out in front a long wall, holding room for four near the back. At that moment, Tsunade and Iruka were sitting in two of the seats, waiting for Naruto and there other council member. Sakura came in and bowed her head in greeting, walking over to her seat next to Sasuke,
Sitting and reaching out for a cup of water he had offered her, she asked, "Who are we waiting for?"
"Naruto and Kakashi." He stated to her.
"Naruto I just saw, he said he would be in in a moment." Sakura said, eyes trailing toward Tsunade, who was pointing her finger at her, and requesting her to come over. Sakura stood up and swiftly walked toward her mentor,
"Yes shishou?"
"I heard about the Grass representative. I want to talk to you sometime this weekend." The older woman demanding, sounding a little upset.
Sakura's brow wrinkled, "Umm…"
"Just meet me some time this weekend." Tsunade ushered her away as Naruto came in, however Naruto looked around, confused.
"Where is…?" he started.
"Who?" Tsunade asked, looking around.
"One of the new council members." Naruto smiled, scratching his head. He hadn't said anything to Iruka and Tsunade, yet anyways.
"Oh, boy, don't tell me…" Tsunade had started, rubbing her face in attempt to calm herself down. A moment or two later however, Kakashi finally walked in.
"I'm so sorry I'm late, you see, Shizune…"
"Whatever! Get over here and sit your ass down!" Tsunade demanded. Kakashi smiled thoughtfully, and went to sit.
Naruto went over arrangements that were made with Iron country first. Tsunade approved of the entire thing, as did Kakashi and Iruka. Iruka, who was head of all of the education at the academy, reported on the students there, also telling them that exams should be able to start soon. Kakashi, who was listening to everything, stole glimpses of his faithful book under the desk.
Tsunade wanted to hear from Sakura and Sasuke on their recent work, and proceeded to drill Naruto about the recent medic that was attacked,
"Have you sent out someone to find anything where he was found?" She first asked. Naruto nodded.
"Have you started looking into possible suspects?" She went on.
"Yes, baa-chan." Naruto simply stated, sort of aggravated. Tsunade however smiled thoughtfully, she really did love Naruto as a son, and giving him the position of Hokage was a task that she was glad to do, but it still was Naruto, and he had to be reminded.
"I'm pleased with your progress, Hokage." Tsunade smiled, as Naruto momentarily flushed,
"By the way, just to let you two know, Hinata and I are expecting a baby!"
"What!?" Tsunade spit out, shocked.
"Wow, Naruto! Congratulations!" Iruka smiled at his old student.
"Should have seen it, Tsunade-sama, fainted and all." Kakashi jeered, his eyes still glued to his book. Tsunade, who was just shocked about the news, clapped her hands and smiled,
"Well, that really is great, I'm just really surprised. I figured you would wait a little longer."
"Well, it was kind of a surprise!" Naruto exclaimed, over all very happy with the news now, then he was in the beginning.
A knock was heard at the door. Sasuke went over to open it, when a man with an almost burgundy colored hair, spiking out ridiculously in different directions, greeted Sasuke,
"Ah, am I late?"
"No, no, come in!" Naruto exclaimed, beckoning the man over. Sakura suddenly stood, as Sasuke let the man in.
Sakura, who was utterly shocked to see the man come walking toward Naruto, shaking his hand, couldn't help herself but call out his name, "Otou-san?"
"Ohayo Sakura-chan!" He smiled at his daughter, and looked over toward Naruto, "Where do you want me, Hokage-san?"
"Right there, old man!" Naruto pointed right beside Iruka, who was a little shocked to see Haruno Kizashi. Sakura was fuming, and Sasuke stayed very silent, not letting any expression come to his face.
But, if you had to say Sasuke felt something, it was somewhere along the lines of unsettledness. For the last time he had seen Kizashi, the man was yelling at him about the depression his daughter had been in when Sasuke had first left, and seemingly didn't like Sasuke.
Not like I really care…or anything…
Tsunade looked over at Kizashi, and then to Naruto. Naruto proceeded to explain,
"Kizashi deals with civilians on a day by day basis. He hears their plight and has come to me on several occasions for help."
Tsunade pondered this, Kizashi was a liked member of the community, and, having a daughter as a kunoichi, he wouldn't be that dumb about the workings of shinobi life.
Tsunade, Iruka, and Kakashi all looked at each other, and then nodded, welcoming Kizashi to the council.
Sakura's jaw dropped slightly, but decided she would talk to Naruto and her father later, but for now, she ignored it. Naruto explained to Kizashi about the police department, and that he would be passing information to the villagers of anything that Naruto needed to get passed on. Kizashi smiled and nodded, as if he had been doing this for years.
Sasuke didn't seem to really care, either way, so once everyone was dismissed; he immediately turned to leave,
"Wait, Sasuke-kun, I wanted to get to your eyes today." Sakura called out to him, he noticed Kizashi out of the corner of his eye, looking back toward him and gave him a hostile look, but moved on with the other council members. Naruto stood back, as he watched Sakura intently,
Oh here it comes…
"My father!? Really?" Sakura said to Naruto, sitting Sasuke down on the chair, where she sat in front of him on the table, reaching out to start on Sasuke's eyes,
"Look, he came in asking if any civilians were on the council. He knew I would need a council member that was civilian, we got to talking, and actually he had a lot of good ideas. Also, being a father of a ninja, he was able to sympathize with our work and our future goals. Your father is really liked by others; it really will work out…" Naruto trailed off, looking away. There was something else. She could feel it.
"What is it, Naruto?" She demanded at him, still focused however on treating Sasuke's eyes. Sasuke glanced slightly out of his peripheral vision, looking at his blonde friend. Naruto whispered very softly, neither Sasuke nor Sakura could hear.
"What was that, dobe?" Sasuke asked, as he felt Sakura lower her hands, and deactivated his sharingan. Naruto finally looked at Sakura's face,
"He wanted to see his daughter a little more, that's all." Naruto sounded sad, and Sakura turned away from both Naruto and Sasuke, reaching for the door. Slamming it shut behind her, Naruto looked over at Sasuke, who was staring at Naruto intently,
"What was that about?" Sasuke asked, still looking at the door his other teammate slammed shut.
"I guess she doesn't visit with her family much, anymore." Naruto looked down toward the floor.
"Why's that?" Sasuke requested, but he already sort of knew that answer.
"I don't know exactly." Naruto raised his eyebrows at Sasuke, who looked over at Naruto and nodded. It was probably about himself.
For it was always about Sasuke and Naruto with Sakura, and if her father seemed happy with Naruto, then it must have been the other. Sasuke sighed, knowing it had something to do with his daughters feelings toward the boy. Sasuke knew he could not change Sakura's feelings, there was no point in it, he thought so anyways. However, the least he could do is maybe remind her that at least her parents were around to talk to.
He and Naruto didn't have such luxuries, and even though they both cared for Sakura, they never saw why she was always so annoyed with them.
Sasuke followed Sakura out of the tower, catching up with her with ease.
"You shouldn't ignore the fact your father wants to see his daughter more." Sasuke told her, trying to sound nonchalant.
"What do you know?" She suddenly snapped at him. Sasuke's eyes narrowed at her. She never snapped at him, unless he was fighting with Naruto. Sakura sighed and reached to move her hair out of her face from her abrupt turn toward Sasuke. The raven haired Uchiha watched her hand for a moment, and looked at her eyes.
He watched as different emotions flickered, until they came back to being calm, "It's just we don't always see eye to eye."
"You are an adult; you can make your own decisions." Sasuke advised, shrugging his shoulders, not really knowing whatever it was that they were not agreeing on.
"It's not that easy, Sasuke." The pinkette looked toward the ground.
"Then why are you not visiting them as much?" Sasuke asked, his patience running very thin. He didn't like to talk about these things, for him, it was out of place. But, she was Sakura, and she had her parents. So they should get along.
Right?
"Sasuke, you're a man, you wouldn't understand." She replied, and turned to go down toward her own apartment. Sasuke's eyes shifted toward her, but let her go anyways. If she wanted to tell him, she would eventually.
But he had a feeling that he would figure out soon, and not from the girl that was walking away from him at this time.
Sakura walked quickly home, where she plopped down into a chair and immediately began to tear up. Her feelings for the Uchiha heir were all over the place, she wanted nothing to do with him one moment, to wanting him so much it physically was making her sick. Her parents were insisting that she move on, and many outrageous men were declaring her as a sort of conquest. She hated the feeling, and now she was perplexed even more.
The actions of Yuu told her that she was not acting like the kunoichi she needed to be. She should not be scared of some man trying to make his way into bed with her. Those actions were to be ignored. She was a ninja, damn it, and a damn good one, and even though the Hokage would never ask any of the girls on the Konoha teams to do those sort of things, if she found herself in the position, she should accept it. For it could mean her life, or that of her own team.
But Sakura only wanted her first time with someone she truly loved. She didn't want someone that would disrespect her. Her eyes shut hard as she tried to realize that she was making herself miserable, and that maybe Hinata was right. That she needed to move on, live a little, and focus on herself, but that couldn't stop the fact her own father was pushing for her to get married. She didn't think Sasuke would understand those things.
Little did she know that even though the Uchiha's family was all gone, Sasuke was having a hard time with his own.
Sasuke dreamed of a lot of things. Mostly of younger days with his family, other times it was during his travels those years he was a nukenin. But then there were nights like these. Nights where it was like he could physically talk to his older brother. This time, Itachi and Sasuke were younger, Sasuke about six, and Itachi thirteen. In dreams such as these, he would always see his thirteen year old brother, and even though Sasuke was just a six year old, he would talk as if he was his usual self. Tonight, Itachi was standing on a tree branch, his younger brother looking up at him,
"What's been going on, Otouto?"
"The Police Station is up again." Sasuke told him, jumping up to the branch that held Itachi.
"Naruto-kun still working with you, correct?"
"Aa."
"Ofcourse. How's everything else going?"
"Fine, I guess. I keep busy."
"Anything new?"
"No."
"Having any fun?"
"No…"
The older brother looked toward the younger brother,
"What about a girlfriend?"
"Don't…"
He looked at his younger brother with ill confusion, "It's your dream…"
"So?"
"Something is bothering you, little brother." Itachi smirked. Sasuke hated talks like these, cryptic and unusual were not something he liked hearing from his brother.
"Do you remember when Okaa-san used to write poems and tell us them?" Itachi asked, his leg dangling down from the tree, looking at the starry night sky.
"Barely, why?" But, he was being pulled out of his dream, when his ninja senses sensed someone in his room.
Figures…even in my dreams, I still don't fully understand my family…
He flings a kunai at a nearby wall, where another ANBU is already standing; it misses him, of course. Sasuke sits up, not really wanting to see anyone at this time,
"I apologize, captain. The Hokage has summoned you." The ANBU guard disappears; it sounds like one of the older guys.
He better have a good reason for waking me…
A man screams as a syringe is inserted into his arm, blood fills the needle, as another man taking it takes all that it can get. The man on the table screams that someone will come for him, that he is important.
The man with dark hair just laughs, and rips off the man's forehead protector, the medal crashes on the ground. Taking the syringe and placing it on the table, he evokes chakra into his palms, and places it on the man's chest.
The man screams in horror, until his heart is taken from him. The older man that performs the surgery cleans off his hands, taking the vile of blood and the band from his forehead into an awaiting bedroom. A woman is still on his bed, whether she's dead or just sleeping, it can't be told.
The man scratches a line into the medal protector with a kunai. Then, takes a piece of paper, and begins to write,
Keep them coming…
It's no use…
I will take what I want.
Taking a small vial, he releases the blood into the glass, watching as it pours in slowly. The man stops and takes a shaky breath, infuses chakra into the glass, and watches as the blood slowly bubbles. Once he feels comfortable about it, he sets it up in another syringe, and places the needle against a vein. He lets the blood pour in, and yanks the needle out, throwing it across the room.
He feels better now.
But it won't be the same until the person he needs gives him what he wants.
A/N: And the plot thickens! LOL! Anyways, thanks for the reviews, and followers, make sure to write a review! At first I didn't like how I was writing this, but a BURST of inspiration came rushing, and I got it out there, and now I'm happy! So here you guys go!
