[(Warning! - Violence, Bad Language, Limes, and mild Lemons!) * Breaking Through to My Heart is influenced by Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden. But, it won't follow the exact storyline. I've changed a couple shinobi's ages around, taken some events and used them, and made some events that never happened. *Notice: All the Naruto characters do not belong to me, nor do the places, except for the Hanahara family, the Hidden Village of the Blossoms, and a few other characters.]


Chapter 29: Report

[Tsuki]

One the way to the Hokage's office we were practically run over by Shizune as she made a bee-line for Kotetsu. She stopped in front of him, eyes wide with worry. "Kotetsu."

Kotetsu's face flushed as Shizune said his name. "Shizune… I… I'm glad to see you."

Shizune clenched her hands in front of her chest and bit her bottom lip. Her eyes followed the path of his torn uniform and the blood that stained it. "Are…" She unclenched her hands and tentatively reached out, pushing aside the edges of his uniform to touch the unbroken but bloodied skin. "Are you okay?"

Kotetsu reached up and took her hand in his, laying it against his chest and holding it there. "I'm alive."

For probably the first time in front of people, Shizune started crying. She struck out with her free hand and hit Kotetsu over and over, gently of course, but with utter emotion. "I hate you! I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!"

Kotetsu smiled down at her, allowing her to hit him. He had adored Shizune forever; he would be willing to go through her hitting him every day just to see her. "I know, Shizune. I know. I'm sorry."

Everyone, without saying a word, decided to leave the two of them alone. He could report to the Hokage another time. As we walked away I felt my emotions flip-flop all over the place, a result of Shizune's emotions, Kotetsu's adoration, and Kakashi's hand in mine as we walked. When I'd heard Kakashi whisper that he loved me, it had sent my heart racing as we climbed the stairs to the Hokage's office. Those words were something I never thought I'd hear from anyone.

When we were halfway up we encountered Asuma and Kishīkiriku as they were leaving. Kishīkiriku was watching me, staring at my hand clasped with Kakashi's. I blushed but refused to stop.

They both halted as we met. Asuma was grinning at everyone. "Heading to report to Tsunade?"

Kakashi nodded. "Now that everyone is healed and we're done fighting, now is as good as any time."

Asuma chuckled. "She probably won't bite your head off today, so feel lucky."

I laughed. I was always pissing off Tsunade. "Did you guys give your reports?"

"Somewhat, yah. Mostly just gave thanks for being alive." He beamed down at all the others. "And I have all of you to thank for that. I never expected the day to come when the students rescue the teacher."

Ino and Chōji blushed. Ino hid her eyes. "But I wasn't able to do anything."

Asuma gently brushed past Kakashi and I and gripped Ino's shoulder, waiting for her to look up at him. "Ino, I have never been prouder…" He bobbed his head a little to the right and left with a shrug. "… except when you became a chuunin alongside Chōji and Shikamaru. If you hadn't been there to try and heal Izumo and Kotetsu, they would have most likely not made it."

Tears fell down Ino's cheeks as she stared up at Asuma. "I'll just have to get stronger."

Asuma gave Ino's shoulder a final squeeze before lowering his arm. He looked from her to Chouji, smiling with pride. "I feel weird paraphrasing Lee, but, work hard so that you can become stronger than the you of yesterday… in this case, today."

Chōji held his hand up and clenched it in a fist. "We will!"

Asuma turned back to Kakashi and I. "I'll let you got. I have to get back to my wife before she kills me."

Kakashi held his hand out and him and Asuma gripped forearms firmly. "Tell her I said hi."

"Will do, and we will have to invite you and Tsuki over one night for dinner."

Kakashi nodded and released Asuma's arm, turning away so we could finish our walk up the stairs. "We would love to."

We walked past Kishīkiriku without anything more than a nod, and as soon as we were past him he started heading down after Asuma. It didn't take us much longer to make our way to the Hokage's office and Kakashi knocked on the door.

Tsunade actually opened the door, her golden brown eyes staring at us all. "I was wondering when you all would get here."

Kakashi pushed me forward through the door and followed behind. The others trickled through as well until we were all crowded inside. "We got distracted on the way. Shizune is currently beating up Kotetsu so he won't be able to report yet."

Tsunade let out a hearty laugh while she closed the door and walked around us to her desk. "I figured as much."

I took a seat in front of Tsunade's desk, as Kakashi pushed me towards it. When I was sitting he moved up behind the chair and placed his hands on my shoulders. I focused on Tsunade so that I wouldn't focus on his hands. "Generally I wouldn't be able to talk about things concerning… Orochimaru… but since he left the Akatsuki I have the freedom to talk about them."

Tsunade propped her chin up on her hands, elbows on her desk. "So you know who these Akatsuki were?"

I nodded. "I'd met a few of them while I was…" I couldn't help but shift uncomfortably. "…with Orochimaru. The two today are called Hidan and Kakuzu."

"So were you guys able to kill them since you all saved Asuma?"

Chōji, Ino, and Izumo looked down at the floor. Izumo answered first. "No."

Kakashi followed. "We tried. If it wasn't for Tsuki, Gaara, Temari, and Kankurō showing up, we might have been able to hold out much longer than we did. Shikamaru and Yamato had Hidan imprisoned with the help of Shikaku once those four arrived. Tsuki was the one who stopped Kakuzu from attacking again."

I absently scratched at a spot on my uniform pants. "I didn't really do anything except talk him down."

Sakura stepped forward. "You saved us, Tsuki. It was you who saved us."

Tsunade stared at me, her golden brown eyes piercing through me it seemed. "Tell me what was going on when you arrived, Tsuki."

I shifted uncomfortably again and looked over my shoulder up at Kakashi. "First it was Gaara who asked me to come help at the wall. I know you told me not to." Kakashi squeezed my shoulder and I turned back to Tsunade. "When I arrived, Genma had been taken to the hospital and Izumo and Kotetsu were on the ground bleeding out while Ino and Sakura tried to heal them as quickly as possible. Chouji was unconscious next to Asuma who was lying on the ground tangled with the wood and ropes. Kakashi was close by, lying on his side coughing up blood and struggling to move."

"And?"

"I…"

Kakashi shook his head and let out the tiniest of laughs. "She screamed, getting everyone's attention."

I gasped, my face turning beet red. "Kakashi!"

"What? It's true."

Ino snickered.

I shot Kakashi a glare. "Anyways… I jumped down and called on the roots to cocoon Sakura, Ino, Izumo, and Kotetsu, pushing my chakra into the roots to heal injured. As I walked forward to confront Kakuzu I sent out more roots to cocoon Chōji, Asuma, and Kakashi for the same reason. Then Gaara, Temari, and Kankurō appeared and I threatened Kakuzu."

Kakashi gripped my shoulder again, his voice proud as he spoke. "And she didn't use her Kekkei Genkai except to show that she meant business at the very end. I could feel her release it for the briefest of moments, and then put it away."

Tsunade sat back with a loud hum. "Wow. That's actually something good to hear. I take it Gaara's training has been of help to you?"

I nodded. "Yah, I suppose it has. For the first time I didn't feel like I needed to fight with just my Kekkei Genkai alone."

Tsunade hummed again. "Good. I want you to keep up the training then." She finally addressed the others behind us. "Sakura. Ino."

They both snapped to attention. "Yes, Hokage?"

"The both of you have shown vast improvement in your training. Today was a huge step forward for you girls." Tsunade stood up and moved around her desk, brushing past me where I sat and past Kakashi where he stood, only stopping when she was in front of Sakura and Ino. "I think I can approve the next step in your training. It's going to be harder from here on out, but I think you can both handle it."

Sakura looked at Ino, and Ino at Sakura. Then they looked at Tsunade. "We're willing to work as hard as needed to become stronger."

Tsunade smiled, more so at Sakura since she was her personal apprentice. "You guys can head home then and rest. Tomorrow is when I'll drive you like a slave-driver."

They both gave a deep bow. "Yes, Hokage!"

As they left Tsunade turned to Chōji, Kotetsu, and Izumo. "You three did well today, even when you got injured. That is something I value highly in my shinobi. Thank you." She offered them a warm smile. "You three can have the next couple of days off to rest."

They nodded, turned, and left. It was finally just Tsunade, Kakashi, and I. Tsunade walked back to us but didn't sit down; she used her desk to prop herself up against again. "So what happened to the other Akatsuki, Hidan?"

Kakashi shrugged. "Most likely blown to pieces and buried in a hole in the Nara family's forest. Shikamaru wasn't very happy with Hidan."

Tsunade sighed. "I wish he would have let me interrogate the man first."

I shook my head. "You wouldn't have gotten anything out of him. They would rather die than talk. But, if Shikamaru really did bury him, he might talk in a few years as his body starts to whither from starvation. He can't die, but he can become a dried husk."

"Then I suppose I'll have to remember to talk to Shikaku in a few years." She blew out a heavy breath. "You two should go check in on Genma and see how he's doing."

I stood up, stretching as I did, while Kakashi moved away from the back of the chair. "We will. He's probably flirting with the nurses though." He held his hand out to me and I took it while Tsunade barked out a laugh.

"Most likely." She eyeballed our conjoined hands, a grin spreading across her face. "Have a good rest of the day."

I turned away from her to hide my blush and got pulled along by Kakashi. With his free hand he waved over his shoulder. "Thanks."


[Konoha Hospital]

After arriving at the hospital, the nurses directed us to Genma's room, which was on the second floor. We made our way up the stairs and down the hall until we stopped in front of Genma's room.

From inside we heard his lecherous laugh. "Are you sure you don't want to be my girlfriend, Shina?"

There was a musical laugh. "I'm already dating Iruka, stupid. You know this."

There was a heavy sigh. "I know, Shina. Iruka is one hell of a lucky man."

Musical laughter again. "Damn straight he is! Now shut up and lay back before I send for Sakura to punch you out."

"But then I would be in the hospital longer! Not that I'm complaining, with a hot nurse watching over me."

There was a sound of a slap, Genma's laughter, and then the door to Genma's room opened. Shina stopped before running us over. "Kakashi, and, uh…"

She hadn't met me yet. I gave a small wave. "Tsuki."

She smiled. "Kakashi and Tsuki, are you guys here to visit Genma?"

Kakashi nodded. "Yah."

"Tsuki?! Is that you, Tsuki? Did you come to see me?! I'm such a lucky man!"

I groaned and hid my face in my free hand. Shina laughed and started walking past us. "He's been like that since he woke up."

Kakashi rolled his visible eye. "He is always like that."

Kakashi stepped through the door and pulled me along with him. Genma's bed was next to the window and it was open, allowing a refreshing breeze to filter through. Genma had his lower half of his body bandaged like a mummy but he was smiling as we became visible.

"Kakashi! Tsuki! I heard we won!"

Kakashi pushed me into the chair beside the bed while he chose to stand. "Yah. We won. It's good to see you are alright, Genma."

"Thanks. I was having trouble breathing and moving with all the holes that bastard opened up inside of me. I was in surgery for a little bit as they worked on fixing me up inside. How is Asuma? I haven't heard anything yet."

"He is alive and all healed, thanks to Tsuki."

Genma turned his attention to me. "Oh yah? Do you think you could heal me so I don't have to sit in this hospital anymore?"

I shook my head. "No."

Genma's smile fell. "Not even for your teacher?"

I still shook my head. "Nope."

He tried puppy eyes, which was weird since he had a pretty stoic face and he didn't have his hitai-ate on, allowing his brown hair to flit back and forth in the wind. He didn't even have that damn senbon between his teeth. He just looked wrong trying puppy eyes. "Please?"

I closed my eyes and crossed my arms beneath my breasts. "Nope. You need to heal in the hospital. If your life isn't in trouble I'm not going to heal you."

"But… but…"

Kakashi gave a huge sigh. "I think we should get going, Tsuki. We've already missed breakfast; I don't want to miss lunch."

I went to stand. "Ok."

Genma's hand shot out and he stopped me. "Don't leave just yet, Tsuki! You only just got here!"

Kakashi reached forward and pinched Genma's wrist in between his fingers, flinging it away from my arm. "Hands off, old man."

I smiled and brushed past Kakashi so that I was behind him. I gave Genma a wave. "We'll stop by and say hi again."

Genma's hand reached out again even though he couldn't grab either one of us. "But!"

"See you, Genma."

"Kakashi! Tsuki!"

We closed the hospital room door behind us, closing off Genma's cries. Kakashi eye smiled down at me as he laced our fingers together. "He'll be fine. He's a stubborn old goat."

I nodded and we both started walking down the hallway, our hands swinging between us. "I know. His body just needs rest." Kakashi grunted. "So what do you want for lunch?"

Kakashi stopped while I kept walking. The result pulled me backwards, causing me to stumble into Kakashi's arms. My face planted against his flak vest and my hands went out to grab the bottom of the flak vest to steady myself. One arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me even closer to him, and the other reached up to pull his mask down to completely reveal his face, his hitai-ate already pushed up to reveal his sharingan swirling lazily.

I blinked up at him and he smiled. He had a beautiful smile. I was entranced as his lips moved, forming words. "I want you."

My face turned completely red and I gripped his flak vest tighter. "I… I…"

His hand moved down away from his mask to wrap around the back of my neck to tangle into my unbound crazy mess of hair. "I want to kiss you." His face slowly moved down towards mine until I could feel the faintest brush of his lips. I swallowed roughly. He whispered, the air escaping from between his lips causing goosebumps to shiver down my body. "Can I kiss you?"

I let out a small whimper, not caring anymore if we were in a public place. "Yes."

He pressed his lips firmly against mine and I opened my mouth so that his tongue could slide in to gently caress against mine. Then he pulled it out and bit down on my bottom lip. My knees buckled and it was only Kakashi's arms wrapped tightly around me that held me as I let out another whimper. When he finally released it and slowly moved his face back, there was a small speck of blood on his lips and I could taste it in my mouth. I was having trouble breathing and my world was a 1000% hyper-focused on him.

"You're so beautiful, staring up at me like that, your face flushed and lips swollen from my kiss."

I couldn't form words as I struggled to regain the strength in my legs.

From behind us a loud gasp broke our focus as one of the nurses assigned to this floor came around the corner at the top of the stairs and witnessed our kiss. Her clipboard fell from her hands and she held her hand up to her face, hiding her blush.

We both looked back at her in silence as she quickly squatted down, grabbed her clipboard, and dashed back down the stairs.

Kakashi laughed and slowly released his hold around my waist, allowing me to pull back from him as he reached up and pulled his mask back up and his hitai-ate down. "I think we should go to lunch now before we're kicked out."

I slowly looked up at him, my focus still affected by the kiss. "Huh?"

Kakashi laughed harder and grabbed my hand in his once more, pulling me around and on down the hall. "Come on, beautiful."