Chapter 14: Chapter 14
A Chance Encounter 14
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Hey guys! I thought I would try to get out another update as soon as I possibly could. : ) I'm hoping the invasion part of this story will be over soon, and then we can start getting Sakura stronger.
I'm wondering if I should do a time skip, to where Sakura is a little older, and then her romance with Hayate can begin… Just giving you all a warning about that : ) it may happen, it may not.
Edit: 8/30/18
Tsunade's blonde pig tailed hair fluttered behind her as she stalked through the hospital. Things had certainly gone downhill since she had last been here; she was not at all impressed with Konoha's hospital or its staff. The caliber of medics had deteriorated over time, and, after the attack, Tsunade was going to make sure the hospital was never this understaffed and under-skilled again.
Walking past a hospital room, she stopped herself from going into the room and yelling at everyone in there; Sakura knew more about medicine than almost most of the idiots that were inside of the room and the girl had only started really learning a month ago. After this invasion was over, Tsunade was going to implement a medic learning program, and overhaul all of the procedures they had in the hospital.
Heading to the front of the hospital, Tsunade froze when she felt Hayate and Genma's chakra speeding towards here. Being a medic with such fine chakra control allowed her to scan their chakra systems without really having to think about it; the two men were scared, and worried. Concentrating harder, Tsunade was able to feel why they were so worried: Sakura's chakra was barely there, flickering between being there and not and back again over the course of a few seconds.
Tsunade had really wanted to go out to the arena to watch Sakura's match, and to ensure Sakura and the Hokage's were going to be safe. But, she knew that she would be needed at the hospital, and now, seeing the hospital and its entire staff at work, Tsunade knew she had made the right decision.
Picking up her pace slightly, Tsunade headed to the front doors. She would hopefully intercept the group of three when they got here. The only reason the three would risk coming here would be if something bad had happened, and Tsunade knew, at the feeling of Sakura's chakra waning in and out of life, that something bad had indeed happened.
As the blonde stepped outside of the hospital, she watched the group of three, four if you counted the nin dog that ran with them, hurry towards the hospital. It had felt like forever since she had last seen the three, but, it had only been less than a day.
"What's wrong?" Tsunade questioned as the group landed in front of them. Before they could say anything, Tsunade sent a hard punch to a sound ninja that had been following them. The punch sent the nin flying backwards into a building, causing that building to crack under the enormous pressure.
"I'm fine, Tsunade-sama," Sakura said with a slight smile as she held her ribs tightly. Even with the pinkette's response, Tsunade was no fool. The fact that Sakura was being carried attested to the fact that she couldn't be fine.
"You don't look fine, Sakura," Tsunade said with a frown as she walked the group into the hospital. Looking at the dog, she shook her head. "The dog can't come with us; he'll contaminate the whole hospital."
"Bull," Sakura said with a slight frown; she had not yet realized why the dog had been sent to her. "I'm fine. Go find the Hokage and make sure he is okay."
The dog grunted but shook his overly large head. Tsunade looked back to the dog with a great deal of seriousness. "Well you can't come inside. You'll just have to wait outside, and when you feel Sakura's chakra signature enter a hospital room, you can wait outside of it."
The dog grunted again, but this time nodded his head in agreement. Without even saying good bye to the dog, the group of four entered.
"What happened?" Tsunade questioned Hayate, who seemed to be the most level headed. He also wouldn't lie about Sakura's condition, like Sakura herself had done.
"Sakura was crushed against the arena wall and Gaara's sand," Hayate said while laying Sakura down on a gurney. Sakura protested slightly, but she was hushed by Hayate's stern look. "There was a point in which she was not breathing regularly, and now she says her ribs hurt."
Tsunade ignored Sakura's protests as her hands began glowing green. Bringing them down to the pinkette's body, Tsunade let out a sigh before giving her a stern glare. "You went too far," the blonde said as her hands glided over the girl's small body. "Your chakra network is overworked, and more than a few of your ribs are broken. You pushed yourself too far Sakura."
"There was no other-"
"I don't even want to hear it," Tsunade said with a shake of her head. With a sigh, the blonde stopped the chakra that came from her hands. "You'll be fine, even though you're not completely fine right now. But I forbid you from leaving the hospital until at least this invasion is over."
"Yes Tsunade-sama," Sakura said with a slight nod. She didn't want to agree, but what good would she be out in the village? There would be no way for her to defend herself, and she would only get in the way. The one thing she did feel good about was the damage she had done to Gaara. She had not been able to defeat him, but at least she had dealt some kind of damage to the red head, and she had also been able to find a weakness in his so called ultimate defense.
Looking to her two brunette senseis, Sakura's eyebrow rose. "Aren't you two going back out there?" Sakura asked while she looked to the two. Thinking on it, she really didn't want them to leave, but she knew how much their skills would ultimately help Konoha at this time. That didn't stop a small frown from tugging on her lips at the thought of Hayate going back out there; he had a target on his back from the beginning of this.
"We just wanted to make sure you were okay!" Genma looked back to the pink haired girl with a grin. "And now, I get to squeeze the life out of you; you made me so worried."
Sakura fought a smile as Genma practically tackled her. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and sighed once she hugged him back. "I'm glad you're okay, kid."
Sakura had to fight a laugh when Genma was suddenly thrown from Sakura rather roughly. The blonde that threw him from Sakura's person was glaring daggers at the brunette. "Didn't you hear what I just said?" Tsunade said angrily. "I said she will be okay, not that she is! No squeezing!"
Genma looked to Sakura with a puppy dog pout, and Sakura finally did laugh. "It's really okay," she said as she looked to her blonde sensei. "I feel a lot better."
Tsunade's glare shut her up though, and Sakura sighed. Looking up, she smiled softly when she noticed Hayate standing in front of her. "I'm glad you're okay," he said with a smile, and reached over to hug her gently. After a few short seconds, he leaned back, and looked to his best friend. "Let's get going."
"Sure thing boss," Genma responded sarcastically as he mock saluted back to the brunette. As he followed Hayate out of the hospital, he turned around and winked towards Sakura. "Stay safe, ya hear?"
Sakura grinned at Genma's antics and nodded. Once the two were out of the room, Sakura turned to Tsunade; she knew she couldn't just sit here while the invasion was going on. "Is there something I can help with here?"
"I'm not going to let you waste your nonexistent chakra," Tsunade said as she motioned for her to follow. Sitting up was a lot easier than she had thought it would be; Tsunade must have healed some of the damage when she had sent her chakra through her body. "But I will have you help in the emergency room. Get things the other medics need, and if you see them doing something wrong, don't be afraid to voice your opinion. Kami knows they don't know anything about medicine here."
"Of course," Sakura said as her mood brightened considerably. Even without chakra, she was still useful. "I'll do anything to help."
XxxX
Hayate gritted his teeth as he and Genma worked their way back to the arena. Being loyal Konoha ninja, Hayate knew he and Genma should have gone to protect the Hokage when the attack first had commenced, but he couldn't just leave Sakura. Even now, he found it hard to leave her behind in the hospital even though he knew she was safe and okay.
Hayate had met this little pink haired girl only a little over a month ago, and already she was someone very important to him. He had been angry at seeing her so helpless… and he had been angry at himself for not protecting her.
He was sure the Hokage would understand; Hayate owed Sakura a lot, and he hadn't been about to abandon her when she had really needed it.
He stalled his thoughts as he defeated another sand ninja with his dance of the crescent moon. His sword was still drawn as he nodded to Genma; the other brunette nodded back before the two launched forward together in a coordinated attack that took out four more ninja. The amount of enemy ninja had started to decrease in their numbers, and Hayate knew that Konoha was only a mere hour or so away from complete victory.
As Hayate and Genma drew closer to the arena, Hayate felt an ominous aura around the arena. There was a severe amount of chakra pouring from the location, and Hayate had no idea where it was coming from. The chakra was completely unnatural, though, and he worried for his fellow nins' safety.
As he looked over to his friend Genma, the look on Genma's face showed that his friend had also never felt something of this magnitude before either. A silent nod caused the two to increase their pace.
"What do you think it is?" Genma asked as their speed increased. Hayate was about to shrug, until the arena came into view.
"Is that a chakra barrier?" Hayate asked. Looking to the other brunette, he saw Genma's eyebrows furrow.
"Is that why I can't feel Hokage-sama's chakra?" Genma asked in response to Hayate's question. Genma was always good at sensing others' chakra signatures, Hayate thought, if Genma could no long sense the Hokage's chakra, the barrier was either very strong, or the Hokage was dead…
He sincerely hoped the former was the case. Quickly entering the arena, Hayate looked to the carnage that was caused by the invasion, and the fight before the invasion.
Sand still littered the arena, but that wasn't the only thing that was scattered around. Bodies, both unconscious and not, lay around the arena. Many ninja still stood fighting, though, and Hayate recognized one ninja right away.
"What's going on here Kakashi?" Hayate asked while he appeared beside him. The silver haired shinobi Kakashi had been previously fighting could not be seen, but that didn't mean it was safe to just stand there and talk; both ninja stood in a ready stance, neither one was looking at the other.
"Orochimaru was disguising himself as the Sand Kazekage," Kakashi said a little breathlessly. "He and the Hokage are in that barrier… no one can get in."
"Is he-?" Genma couldn't even ask his question. Just as he was about to finish, a loud booming noise was heard throughout the arena, and the barrier quickly dispersed. All the ninja in the arena who had been fighting stopped and turned towards where the barrier used to be.
As the three ninja raced towards the roof the barrier once stood on, they noticed the jungle of trees that littered the rooftop. Speeding up a little quicker, Kakashi, Hayate and Genma arrived just in time to see a figure jump out of the trees. Four more figures appeared by the first figure's side, and it only took moments for the group of five to disappear.
"Orochimaru?" Hayate questioned breathlessly. "If Orochimaru is still alive, that means-"
"Hokage-sama!" The shinobi surrounding the arena all appeared before the roof top forest, and it was Gai who had found their beloved Hokage.
The man was pale, deathly so, and his breathing was slow. His eyes were hooded, and life was about to leave him. "I was-sn't able to do it," were the Hokage's last words before he took his last breath, and he passed away.
In respect to the third Hokage, Gai set the man down on the ground and quickly bowed; the Konoha shinobi all followed suit. This man had been the leader of the village, and even in death, he would still be respected.
A long moment of silence was held for the man, and in that moment of silence, Hayate realized how short life was. He realized within the past month, he had been near Death's door at least three times. He had been so close to death, and yet he had prevailed. The Hokage, who was arguably, the strongest shinobi in the village, had not been close to Death's door for many years, and yet, he had lost his life on this day.
Taking in a deep breath, Hayate also realized Sakura had been at Death's door at least once, and that was one time too many. Life was tricky, and uncertain, but he would do his best to keep the pinkette alive. After everything that she had done for him, it was the least he could do. The Hokage's death proved that life could be lost at any time, but Hayate would make it his job to ensure Sakura's safety.
Standing from his bowed position, he walked up to Gai before quickly whispering to him. "We should take him to the hospital," Hayate's voice was soft, and he barely heard the words he spoke from his won mouth. He couldn't understand why he was so calm and emotionless in this instant, but Hayate knew that whatever had happened today was far from over. Now was not the time to get emotional, even though, the Hokage, the man he had known for all of his twenty years of life, was dead… The man who had been the strongest shinobi in the village was dead.
Hollowly, Hayate watched as Gai picked up the Hokage again. Two anbu members flanked his left and right sides, and Gai slowly started to leave the arena. The third Hokage's body would be treated with the utmost respect, and a funeral lasting at least a week would be held for him shortly.
As he watched Gai carry the Hokage away, Hayate felt Genma briefly bump his shoulder with his own. A lot of things were bothering him right now, but the one thing that Hayate wanted to fixate on was the Hokage's last words. What had he meant when he said he hadn't been able to do it? What had he been trying to do?
It was obvious that Orochimaru had survived the encounter with the Third. Was the Third so disappointed in himself because he had not been able to kill his student? Even though that seemed like it would be the easiest way to explain it, Hayate didn't think that was what the Hokage had been talking about. It was something he'd have to talk with Genma about later when it was just the two of them. Any way to stop Orochimaru would benefit the village, and ultimately keep everyone inside the village safe, Sakura included.
It took Hayate a long time to realize that silence had fallen over the village as the small party ran to the hospital. It appeared that the fighting had stopped. The remaining Sand and Sound ninja had either been captured or had escaped while the rest of the Konoha shinobi had been distracted by the Third's death. The invasion was over and Konoha was the victor, but that didn't mean the Leaf shinobi were happy with the end results of the battle.
XxxX
The skies even cried for the Hokage during the funeral, three days following the attack. Sakura stood in between Genma and Hayate; her hands clenched tightly in both of theirs. After the invasion was over, both men had been hard pressed to leave Sakura's side. Sakura felt the same way, and holding onto their hands a little tighter, she thought about the man that lay in the casket before them.
How had the man she had known and loved for all her thirteen years of life be dead? The third Hokage was someone everyone looked up to; had been everyone's father or grandfather at one time. To have someone that influential, to have someone that strong, be defeated and killed so easily caused her stomach to clench in the worst way.
How was she supposed to protect her precious people from Orochimaru when the Hokage couldn't even defeat him? Biting her lip to stop the tears that were threatening to fall, Sakura's eyes caught sight of the Hokage's real grandchild and felt her stomach clench even tighter.
Who was she to feel this way about someone who was not even blood related? Pity flooded her as she looked at Konohamaru. How must that poor child be feeling?
Shaking her head slightly, Sakura's mind flew back to the man who lay in the casket, and all he had been able to do for his village. In the end, the third had been able to do more than most realized. During his autopsy, Tsunade had found a seal on the Third's body; Tsunade had known what had happened after a little more investigation. The Third Hokage had been a hero; he had sealed the use of both of Orochimaru's arms… the man would never be able to use seals again.
It was bittersweet; Sakura knew the Hokage had given his life to stop Orochimaru, but he hadn't really stopped him either. As she gripped Hayate and Genma's hands a little tighter, she watched the new Hokage for her reaction.
Tsunade had been one of the ones that had been nominated for the Hokage position after the Third had died; she had said she didn't want the position, but somehow, Sakura's old teammate Naruto had convinced her to take the position.
As she watched Tsunade finish her speech, she knew the funeral would be ending soon. Looking up to the sky, Sakura's emerald eyes watched the dark clouds continue to darken overhead. The weather easily fitted the mood of everyone at the funeral; everyone seemed to be mourning.
As she watched the other people of the village file out, shinobi and civilian alike, Sakura let go of Genma and Hayate's hands and walked up to Tsunade. The pinkette had wanted to talk to the newly appointed Hokage for some time, but with how busy the blonde was being the new Hokage, Sakura knew that Tsunade had had very little time to talk to the pinkette. Sakura had assumed, now that the blonde was alone, and the Third's funeral was over, she would be finally able to talk to her.
Walking up to the blonde, Sakura bowed before smiling slightly. "Hokage-sama," Sakura said in respect, though it still felt weird calling someone who was Hiruzen Hokage.
"Sakura," Tsunade said with a nod and a small smile of her own; there was still grief in the blonde's almond colored eyes, but Sakura knew she was pushing through it. "Just the girl I wanted to see. We should head to the tower; I have quite a few things I wished to talk with you about."
"Of course, Tsunade-sama," Sakura said with a nod and walked beside the Hokage as together, they headed towards the tower.
"One of the things I wanted to talk to you about was your training, Sakura," Tsunade said as she looked in front of her. "I know I'm Hokage now, but that still doesn't mean I won't train you. A promise is a promise, and I plan to keep my promises."
Sakura's mood began to brighten considerably; she had thought after Tsunade was inducted as the Hokage she would no longer have the time to train Sakura. It was a wonderful surprise, and it made Sakura's small smile widen.
"Also," Tsunade said as the two continued on the way to the tower. "I have received two requests: Genma and Hayate both want to be put on a team with you, that way they can continue your training and begin missions with you."
At Tsunade's statement, Sakura felt her breath leave her slightly; that had been the exact reason she wanted to talk to the new Hokage. Sakura had wanted to switch teams for some time now, but she had never imagined Hayate and Genma would both accept her as easily as they had. The three had become very good friends over the course of the past month.
"But then that brings up another thing I wanted to talk to you about," Tsunade said as the Hokage tower came into view. "The Third Hokage had left a message saying that he wanted the three of you to form a team no matter what; it was actually the last request he made as a Hokage."
And there went Sakura's breath again. The Third Hokage had been thinking about her before the invasion? If he were still around, she would hug him for his considerate nature. Because Tsunade was the only one there, Sakura felt it was necessary to hug her instead.
"Thank you so much Tsunade-sama," Sakura said as a full-blown smile graced her features; it had been a while since she had smiled this largely. "That was the whole reason why I wanted to talk to you; I also want to be on a team with Hayate and Genma. I know I'm only a Genin, but-"
"After the Chuunin exams, Sakura, you have proven yourself well enough to be promoted to a Chuunin," Tsunade said as she held the pink haired girl in her arms. "Especially after everything that you were able to withstand in the exams, and everything you were able to do outside of the exams for your village. Today I will be able to finally tell the village what really happened a month ago, and how you were able to save Hayate."
Everything was happening so quickly, but Sakura wouldn't have had it any other way. She gripped the blonde tighter. "Thank you so much Tsunade-sama," Sakura said.
The blonde in return gripped the pinkette tighter and smiled, "You deserve it Sakura."
So I'm pretty sure a time skip is going to happen after this chapter. : ) hopefully it will be up soon, because I have already started to write it. Again, thank you all so much for being patient with me.