The scene that lay waiting for Sakura in room 303 was like something from her worst nightmares. Medic nins rushed in and out of the crowded room, all frantically shouting orders to one another. Before her their patient was motionless as they tended to his wounds. Even in an unconscious state, Naruto's hair poked out in all directions. She took a shaky step into the doorway, careless of the nins shouting for her to move until she felt a hand on her shoulder that finally pulled her out of the way. When she turned to see who had pulled her she was met with a familiar pair of brown eyes.

"Shizune?"

Sakura could only stare dumbfounded at the woman before her. The last time she had seen Shizune, the older woman was informing her that she had decided to turn down the position of Chief Medic and would go on an extended traveling mission instead. That had been the day after Tsunade had died, six years ago. Shizune had aged very little and still had a somewhat mischievous sparkle in her eye. It was like no time had passed at all. Seeing Sakura's confusion, Shizune took it upon herself to speak.

"Glad to see you finally got over your fears of the hospital Sakura"

She said with a playful smirk. Sakura's face darkened and she turned away. Her was expression unreadable, but for her downcast eyes. It was a Sakura different from the one she remembered. She placed a gentle hand on the younger nin's shoulder.

"Does it still hurt so much, Sakura? Do you still blame yourself for-"

Sakura stiffened under her grasp and Shizune withdrew her hand.

"He asked for you, you know."

Shizune said matter of factly as she gestured towards the unconscious Hokage in the hospital room next to them.

"He was practicing a new jutsu he's been working on, but his head wasn't in it. He ruptured most of his internal organs, broke a few ribs, and he punctured his right lung so there's a fair amount of internal bleeding. His lung is filling up with blood so fast, he can barely breathe. Even still, he said that no one was to heal him until you came. He said 'I want Sakura-chan to be the one to heal me, so nobody better touch me until she gets here.' We induced a coma, using genjutsu, in order to stabilize him just before you got here. Right now they're trying to stop some of external bleeding."

Sakura's eyes widened in disbelief. Naruto had been seriously injured and he had still demanded that she heal him. Not only that, but he had managed to send her a shadow clone while he was injured. She would have been seriously impressed if she wasn't so angry.

"Why on Earth would you agree to do something like that? What if I didn't come? What if I refused to operate on him?"

Shizune shrugged and turned to face the room.

"He's the Hokage and he gave an order. Besides, you are here and you will operate. Won't you?"

Sakura also turned to face the room. She watched as various medic nins stitched his wounds and tried to stop the bleeding before she let out a deep sigh. She rolled up her sleeves and took a step into the room. Parting the crowd of nins as she made her way to Naruto's side. Her hands shook as she pressed her palms to Naruto's chest.

"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

She said nothing as she wordlessly slid her hands along his chest to hover above his bleeding lung. She allowed her chakra to seep forward and into his body, concentrating on the feeling of his lung tissue beginning to heal. It was such a familiar feeling to heal someone. She had almost forgotten how much she had loved it. The warmth of his skin mingled with the warmth of her chakra as his ribs began to mend as well and she smiled. Naruto had even halted the Kyuubi's normal healing it seemed. Whispers rose from the gathering crowd of medics as they watched her work. The other nins had ceased all of their healing efforts and instead stared transfixed while the newcomer healed their Hokage with the skill and efficiency that they had only known to be possessed by Lady Tsunade.

"Towel."

The crowd went silent at the sound of the mysterious medic's voice. Only one dared to speak up.

"H-Haruno-sama?"

She didn't answer. She didn't even acknowledge that she had heard the man's voice. Shizune stepped into the room and spoke.

"Why are you asking her name? Don't you know the name of Konoha's Chief Medic nin, Haurno Sakura? She asked for a towel."

No one moved and finally Shizune reached for a towel and dabbed the sweat from Sakura's face, before turning to glare at the motionless medics.

"How dare you treat the Chief Medic with such disrespect? Do you know how-"

Sakura's hand on Shizune's arm halted the angry tirade.

"Its alright Shizune-san. Everyone is just surprised to see me, right? I'm sure no one expected to see me so soon. If you're angry, I understand. There is no need to be respectful. I haven't been your chief for four years."

As Sakura stood before the group of nins no one spoke. They stared silently at Sakura, some with obvious anger written on their faces. Shizune spoke up once again.

"Alright. Now that you've all gotten your fill of awkward staring, get back to work. Someone bring the Hokage out of his coma. The rest of you, get out of my sight."

Shizune's command sent the nins scattering. She almost felt pleased with her ability to scare them until she noticed Sakura's absence. Her heart pounded as she raced for the door, afraid that it would be another year before they could convince Sakura to heal anyone again. She was running through a mental list of all Sakura's favorite hiding spots when she saw the weary woman seated outside of Naruto's hospital room. Her legs were drawn up to her chest and her chin was rested on her knees. She had wrapped her arms around her herself and was staring blankly at the floor.

"I thought I'd lost you again."

Shizune said, while she moved to sit beside her friend.

"There's nowhere left for me to go. Besides, Naruto's not awake yet. What if I…"

Shizune scoffed at this.

"What if you what? Accidentally attached his foot to his hand? You know and I know that operation was flawless. If anything, you proved that you are more than capable of having your job back."

"No. You're the one who's best for the job."

It was Shizune's turn to sigh. The older woman slumped against the wall and brought her own knees to rest against her chest.

"Do you know why I turned them down when they asked me to be Chief Medic? It's because I knew that you would surpass me sooner than I would ever have been able to adjust to the position. There was no point in fighting it. You were so gifted that it seemed silly to take the position just because I was older."

"Me, gifted? Haha that's funny."

Shizune's frustration boiled over. It was all she could do not to smack the Kunoichi seated next to her.

"I've had it with this whining! You were the youngest Chief Medic Konoha has ever had. There isn't a medic nin that I've ever met as talented as you, except for Lady Tsunade herself. Even she was 24 when she got the job."

"But it's my fault. If I had been better, then…"

Sizune leaned her head against the wall and closed her eyes.

"Do you honestly think you're the only one who feels guilty? Naruto let him fight those S class nins alone. I'm sure he feels guilty too. Even I feel it. There's not a day that goes by that I don't wonder what would've happened if I hadn't gone on that mission, if I had been here to help you, instead of trying to run away from my problems. I never told anyone, but Kakashi asked me not to go. He- he begged me, but I was too lost in my own sadness to consider his feelings at the time. My biggest regret is leaving, and I'm sure that yours is too."

Sakura turned to face Shizune, unable to believe what she had heard.

"Shizune, I never knew about you and Kakashi-sensei."

Shizune chuckled as she rose from her sitting position and stretched her back.

"No one did. Could you imagine how embarrassing it would be if people knew I was in love with a pervert?"

She wrinkled her nose in mock disgust. Sakura glanced into the room and Shizune raised an eyebrow suggestively.

"Hmm well maybe you can."

She chuckled as she walked away, waving a hand behind her as she went.

Sakura considered what Shizune said. Leaving was her biggest regret and she hadn't even given Naruto a chance to ask her not to go. Getting up from the floor she stepped cautiously into his now empty room and closed the door behind her. She couldn't help but smile at seeing the drool run down his chin and his hair flop in his face. Even after a major operation, sleeping Naruto was still sleeping Naruto. Her fingers gently brushed the hair from his face, when his hand rose and caught her wrist.

"Did you close the door so we could have some private alone time?"

He spoke sleepily; face breaking into a devilish grin.

"No. I did it so the whole hospital wouldn't have to be subjected to your snoring."

She deadpanned.

His eyes popped open at this and he fixed her with his best puppy dog pout.

"You're cruel Sakura-chan. When will you admit that you've finally fallen for my charm?"

She nearly choked at this and struggled to sputter a denial.

"Who- who said… I- I haven't."

He released her wrist and smiled at her.

"I was only joking Sakura. Geez, I'm starting to think I'm right though."

"Baka"

She said lightly tapping his forehead, smiling in spite of herself.

"If I'm right, will you come back as the Chief Medic?"

The smile fell from her face and she moved away from him. Naruto frowned.

"Is it really too much to ask?"

She looked at him. His blue eyes widened with concern for her. Always for her. Even in a hospital bed he cared about her.

"Naruto, I'm not ready."

"Of course you are. You're just afraid. If you don't come back, I'll make sure to wind up in the hospital everyday and have only you heal me until you comeback. "

Looking at the determined expression on his face, she found herself smiling again. She could feel her resolve weakening.

"I guess I don't have much of a choice then."

She said with a reluctant grin. Naruto took her hand in his.

"I know I haven't said it in a long time, but… I still love you Sakura. I never stopped really. I don't need a response, but I want you to know because… Because Hinata asked me to marry her and I-"

"Don't."

Naruto wasn't sure what he had heard. It had sounded like Sakura had said something, but he had been too caught up in his confession to really hear. Sakura had blurted it out so suddenly, even she had to question what she said, and why she said it.

"What did you say?"

The words were unmistakable this time.

"I can't promise you anything right now, but don't marry her Naruto. Please."

His hand tightened around hers.

"Okay."

On the other side of the door a tear fell. Hinata was vaguely aware that she was crying but, she couldn't bring herself to turn away. It was over. She had lost. Again. Once again Sakura had managed to swoop in and take Naruto from her. It was unfair. It was so unfair. She had loved Naruto for most of her life. She had always supported him, stood up for him, fought for him. Through it all she had been there for him, especially when Sakura hadn't. When Sakura had left the village suddenly, leaving Naruto with only a kiss, it was Hinata who had been there. It was Hinata who had spoken to the elders about Sasuke's arrival and had convinced them to only put him on house arrest. Even though she knew Sasuke had no business being in the village, it was what Naruto wanted so she made it happen. It was Hinata who voted against putting Sasuke to death and suggested banishing him instead, even though he had killed her sister. It was all for him. Despite all of that it had taken mere seconds for Sakura to speak the words that would rip away her dreams of marrying Naruto. Hinata had almost begged him. All Sakura had to say was "don't".