Black shadows, small but soaring with the speed of sound, zigzagged above his head and vanished in the leaves of the cherry blossoms in the trees. The bats whistled and played between the pink petals, hunting and breaking the deep silence of the night in Konoha.
Kakashi moved his hands in his pockets and smiled with the little flying vampires.
The irony of such bloodthirsty beasts, which looked so graceful and a perfect representative of the night creatures made him lose his row of thinking. That was good, as his stomach finally had the chance to calm down. The grip torturing him had been there for so long, this little moment was a perfect relief.
But it lasted for only a short moment, as he had arrived in front of the hospital of Konoha.
The big, white building with the hundred windows was dark. The only lights glowed from the reception.
The grip around his stomach got intense as he lifted his head to search for the window of Sakura's room.
He knew perfectly well which it was. The fifth one on the first floor from the right. Of course he knew it. And it was dark.
Was she sleeping, he wondered. Was Naruto with her, as Rin had told him he would.
One thing floated in his mind. One image. Her image; the moment she had woken up, her eyes almost bursting out of the sockets, the loud gasp, like she had been drowning, and the open wounds that had covered her in blood. And it all had started only moments after he had kissed her on her forehead…
The way she started moving madly on the bed, almost falling over. He had held her. He had shouted her name. He had called for help. And then she started bleeding in his arms on her sides, on her face, on her forearms, on her thighs. And she was screaming.
A sound still ringing in his ears.
Somewhere inside of him he thought it was his fault she started bleeding in his arms. If only he hadn't acted so foolishly, kiss her like she was… like she was not his student, maybe she'd never torture herself like this.
But thinking like this was stupid and he knew it. She had been fighting the illusion, that's why she had injured herself. There could be no possible way for her to feel his kiss.
Kiss… he felt so disgusted with himself. How could he, he wondered wanting to punch his own face.
Kiss someone without their permission… it was like raping.
Suddenly, he looked at his surroundings, fearing someone was watching him. But there was none else than him and the bats.
I am going mad, he thought and forced his feet to take him to the hospital.
Once he entered the reception, he had to adjust his eyesight to the bright light.
He walked to the reception, fighting the urge of rushing to the stairs and to Sakura's room.
A dark-haired woman with a sweet, but tired face looked up at him.
She bowed slightly, as did he.
"Good evening! I'm here to check on Haruno Sakura-san!" Kakashi said in a low tone, like he feared he'd be heard by a certain someone on the floor above them.
The woman checked a list in front of her and then looked at him with a frown.
"What's your name, sir?"
"Hatake Kakashi. I'm Haruno's teacher!" Kakashi replied simply, wishing for a moment this was not true.
"It's really late for visiting hours. There are nurses checking on our patients every ten minutes, you do not need to worry." She assured him with a silent tone.
Kakashi leaned his elbows on the bank.
"Is someone staying with her now?" he asked.
"Yes, Uzumaki-san is staying with her." She answered cautiously.
"Could I have a word with him then? I won't bother the patient!"
The woman hesitated to answer. She examined him for a moment and then smiled slightly.
"Alright, but do not interrupt the patient. She needs rest. I give you ten minutes!" she said hardly.
"Thank you very much!" Kakashi bowed at her and hurried up the stairs towards Sakura's room.
When he reached the first floor, he slowed his pace and moved as silently as possible. Too aware of every step he made, all the images of last night came into his mind. The blood, the screams, the pain on her face. The fear of seeing her like this again felt like a stab in his chest.
He let his arms fall on his sides and he halted in front of the door.
He glanced through the small, round window of the door. He had to blink sometimes to distinguish anything in the dark room.
Slowly, he opened the door, while his heart beat like a drum.
He distinguished Sakura's pink hair emerging from the blanket which covered her over her shoulders. He observed the way her body lifted and sank when she inhaled and exhaled. She sounded so peaceful, it made his heart flatter. He smiled slightly under his mask.
Kakashi followed the only sound in this room; Naruto's snore. He was lying on a plastic chair with the Icha Icha novel Kakashi had left behind. He had totally forgotten about it. He actually felt a little irritated seeing his book open on Naruto's lap, like he always felt when he caught one of his students reading what he read.
Kakashi walked towards the blonde, loud jonin and shook him slightly on his shoulder.
Naruto only snored louder in response.
Kakashi grunted with his stubbornness even when he was asleep.
He slowly turned around, fearing Sakura would have woken up.
But she was still sleeping.
He lost the world around him, as now he was in the perfect angle to look at Sakura's face. It was half covered with the blanket, but he could easily see her shut eyes, which flickered slightly as she was dreaming, hopefully a beautiful dream. He caught himself observing her eyelashes dancing slightly with her eyelids' movements. Some dark pink strands fell on her cheeks were scars of her wounds were carved.
Could it be that his kiss had indeed woke her up from the illusion. Had he saved her from Madara's genjutsu. Maybe, maybe not, he thought intensively and stood up straight watching Sakura.
No… it was her doing. She had released herself. She was strong, stronger than what they all thought she was. And this is why Madara Uchiha was after her…
Kakashi pressed his lips together and frowned, feeling his hatred about this person rise again inside of him, destroying his beautiful thoughts of her.
"Kakashi-sensei!"
Kakashi flinched and turned to look at Naruto.
He was wide awake, staring at him with a frown.
Kakashi smiled slightly at him, trying to hide his feelings behind his calm, teacher-like face.
Naruto yawned and rubbed his eyes.
"When did you get in?" Naruto asked with a loud tone.
"Shh!" Kakashi hissed and signaled Naruto to follow him as he walked towards the farthest corner of the room.
Naruto walked behind him lazily.
"Kakashi-sensei! What happened?" Naruto whispered.
"I came to check on you!" he whispered back, glancing once more at Sakura's back.
"How is she?" he asked, his voice sounding too warm. He coughed and looked back at Naruto, feeling such an idiot for losing his calm so easily around her, even when she was sleeping.
"She's getting a lot better. I believe she'll be back active sooner than what the nurses say." Naruto muttered, not seeming like he noticed Kakashi's strange behavior.
"That's good!"
"Yeah! We decided we'll train together and get stronger. We have to, now that bastard's back!" Naruto said showing Kakashi a fist.
"It's a good idea." Kakashi sighed silently.
"Are you alright, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto frowned.
Kakashi looked at him and held his breathe. So he had noticed, he wondered intensively. He couldn't risk this. Naruto had to be the last person finding out about his feelings for Sakura.
"Yeah, why'd you ask?" he asked, sounding as casual as he could.
Naruto scratched his chin.
"You look… not yourself!" he mumbled and looked at Sakura.
Kakashi noticed that she moved her arm and wrapped it around her blanket.
Kakashi breathed again staring at Naruto. The grip around his stomach was too uncomfortable now.
"I have a headache, that's all!" Kakashi said and grinned at Naruto.
Naruto frowned.
"Tell Granny-Tsunade to give you one of her crazy herbs!"
Kakashi chuckled feeling suddenly a relief with the change of subject.
"Yeah, right!" he said and was about to leave, but when he touched the door handle he looked back at Naruto.
"Take care of her! Only you can!" he whispered with his eye fixed on his bright blue ones.
Naruto smirked wearing a questioning look.
"What d'you mean?" he asked sounding serious.
"You'll never fail at this!"
Kakashi sighed silently and shut the door behind him, as the heaviness of guilt drowned his heart.
________________
The sun rose for one more day.
Sakura had her gaze fixed for a long time on the unnumbered trees that surrounded Konoha, which waved under the strong wind that blew today.
She shoved off the blanket and tried to stand up. It hurt all over her body, but the stiffness hurt her more. She couldn't lie down anymore.
Her legs were shaking and she almost fell on the empty chair in front of her. The last minute she grabbed the arms of the chair and found her balance. Taking a deep breath she smiled at herself. Slowly, you can do it, she told herself.
She walked up to the window and hugged herself looking at the beautiful day.
Her head swirled with a thousand questions.
You'll never fail at this…
She frowned and tightened her grip around her forearms.
He had come, and she was awake, but she had been too scared to open her eyes and talk to him. Greet him, thank him…
Instead, the fear had taken over her and she hid herself in a fake sleep when she had sensed him.
How awfully she had regretted it. If only she had opened her eyes. See him. See his smile.
How could anyone be so stupid, she thought frowning.
Fail… did he think he had failed in protecting her, she wondered.
Her legs started shaking more, so she leaned on the window. She forced it open, her wounds on her forearms stinging her.
Suddenly the wind blew through it almost sweeping her off her feet.
She chuckled with the fresh air filling her insides. What a beautiful sensation.
Although she had hardly slept ever since Kakashi had visited so secretively her room last night, she felt so alive, so fresh, so strong after so long.
She smiled feeling her strength being focused towards one thought. A thought that transformed into an aim; to go and find him. Find him and ask him what he had meant. If he really thought he had failed on his mission in protecting her.
She couldn't stand imagining him being so disappointed with himself, feeling so guilty perhaps. Because he shouldn't.
If he hadn't been there she would probably have bled to death.
It was like during their last mission in the Village of the Blue Tree. He had been there and he had saved her. He had saved her from a free fall, he had saved her from the thunder kunoichi with the Byakugan.
How could he have failed.
If he wasn't always there, she'd be dead by now…
Sakura flinched with this thought.
Death… she had been so close to it so many times.
It had been always there. Like a dark cloud filled with thunders, threatening to strike on her. But instead it stroke on the people around her.
This striking cloud had the form of Madara Uchiha now.
He was nowhere and everywhere…
He had tied her under his illusion, while she was in Konoha, watched over ANBU shinobi. How… she wondered frowning.
It made no sense. Naruto and Temari-san had encountered him. But she? Had she seen him… she couldn't remember. She couldn't remember a single thing, not even from the illusion. Only the relieving sensation of warmth between long moments of excruciating pain. Nothing more. Not even Madara's Sharingan. But she must have seen it or else how could he drown her in a genjutsu. A genjutsu needs eye contact, so that the caster can connect to the victim's chakra network.
Had this illusion erased her memory. She couldn't possibly have recovered from such a strong illusionary technique by only injuring herself. There had to be something else too. Like this strange warmth she had felt. The only thing she could remember. What could it be…
If Madara Uchiha was really after her, she had to find out what she had done. She had to develop as many ways as possible to encounter his techniques. The next time she'd face him she'd be ready.
I will be ready, she told to herself.
I can't afford it falling unconscious again, while he kills everyone around me, she thought.
She flinched with pain, as her hands tightened around her wounded forearms.
Her heart sank and her airway felt blocked. She swallowed hardly and heard footsteps approaching in the corridor.
Sakura turned around and saw Naruto's head popping inside.
"Sakura-chan! You shouldn't get out of bed. And why is the window open?" he gasped and quickly ran towards her shutting down the window, holding a paper box in his other hand.
"I wanted to feel the air. I can't stand it being closed inside anymore!" Sakura complained.
"Sakura-chan, you're a medic-nin! You should know that you must recover first before going outside! You are still weak!" Naruto said sounding too serious than his normal self.
"That's nonsense! We only say this in order to have the patient under our watch!" Sakura commented.
She felt disappointed. She hoped that Naruto would immediately agree with her and help her escape from this depressing hospital room.
Naruto must have noticed it on her expression as he beamed at her apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan! I brought you some ramen from Ichiraku Ramen Bar. You'll love it!" he said offering her the box.
Sakura took it and felt the warmth of the freshly cooked ramen. She could also smell it.
She smiled at him.
Naruto drew out a pair of chopsticks from the pocket of his jonin vest.
"Thanks, Naruto!" Sakura sat slowly on the chair and started sipping at the noodles and the pork. The taste caressed her tongue and her esophagus. It felt like she hadn't eaten for days. Even though it was ramen, something she seldom ate, it tasted like the most delicious thing existing now in this world.
If her body could stand it, she'd even eat a hundred portions like this.
Now she could understand Naruto's love for this food!
"Mmm, it's delicious!" she commented between two bites.
"Yeah, I told the old man to give it his best shot just for you!" Naruto said proudly.
"Ah! Then I must thank Teuchi-san personally!" Sakura said and swallowed a big piece of pork and eggs.
"But please don't tell Granny-Tsunade that I brought you ramen, or she'll kill me!" Naruto whispered, like a kid that admitted he had broken his mother's vases.
Sakura chuckled, hearing a pair of footsteps on the corridor.
"I think it's too late for that!"
"What?" Naruto gasped and they both looked at the door, as the Hokage walked inside.
Tsunade's smiley face immediately darkened. Sakura could swear she noticed Tsunade's nostrils open widely as she sensed the ramen's scent.
"UZUMAKI!" she growled and grabbed the scared, blonde jonin from his vest.
"Hey, Granny-Tsunade!" Naruto cried lifting his hands, surrendering in the Hokage's sudden rage attack.
"Tsunade-sama, please don't hurt him!" Sakura said calmly enjoying every single bite.
"Sakura, why are you out of bed?" Tsunade growled at her, letting Naruto fall back on the ground.
Her eyebrows almost touched each other.
"I wanted to move a little. I'm totally fine, Tsunade-sama!" Sakura insisted with a calm tone.
Naruto glanced at Tsunade fearfully, afraid with her every movement, like she'd slap him on his face.
"Totally fine!" Tsunade muttered to herself.
She walked up to Sakura. She placed a palm on her forehead and felt her temperature.
"You really shouldn't move much. Your right ribs are still weak, they have to recover completely before you can move properly again, Sakura." Tsunade said in a softer tone.
Naruto was standing behind Tsunade and made a funny face sticking his tongue out and holding his hands in fists in front of his vest, pretending they were boobs.
Sakura chuckled, almost drowning with a bunch of noodles.
Tsunade frowned and quickly looked at Naruto over her shoulder.
Naruto started whistling and looked at the ceiling innocently.
"Uzumaki, when you die I'll make sure it'll be done from my own hands! Remember this!" she yelled at him, her cheeks turning red and her veins ready to explode from the sides of her forehead.
Naruto grinned stupidly and with huge steps disappeared behind the door.
Sakura giggled and placed the empty box on the bedside table. She missed a heartbeat noticing Kakashi's novel there.
He hadn't taken it back.
"Sakura, are you alright?" Sakura heard Tsunade's sudden worried voice say.
She looked up at her and smiled fakely.
She touched her cheeks, feeling an uncomfortable sting on both of them.
She flinched, feeling scars on both of her cheeks.
Tsunade looked at her worried.
"It's some of the wounds you caused to yourself, when you woke up from the illusion of Madara." She told her.
Sakura stood up and looked around for a mirror. She walked towards the bathroom of the room.
How come she hadn't felt them before…
She dragged her feet with every step.
She grunted, as Tsunade was right with her right ribs. They did hurt with every movement she made.
Tsunade walked cautiously behind her.
Sakura leaned on the sink and gasped noticing herself on the mirror.
Oh my…!
"H-How did I do this?" she wondered frowning, observing her altered face.
Deep stitched scars were on both of her cheeks, with a horrible red and purple color. It looked so disgusting she didn't pay attention to the sensation of skin ripping apart every time she moved her jaws.
Tsunade didn't answer. She stood motionless beside her.
"Can't this disappear? Can't you do something about these?" she cried, feeling even disgust to touch those scars.
Tsunade grabbed her forearm and forced her gently away from the mirror.
Sakura felt tears so warm gliding on her cheeks that looked like a monster's.
She hadn't recognized herself. What had she done.
"Sakura, don't worry about this now. I can fix it, but the wounds have to repair themselves first." Tsunade assured her and held her from her shoulders.
Sakura looked at her, her vision blurry and felt somehow better.
She wouldn't stand walking around like this, with everyone staring at her like she was some kind of monster.
She knew many who bear scars on their faces, like Iruka-sensei. Even Kakashi had a scar, but he would mostly hide it. But her scars were so disgusting, so monstrous. Meanwhile their scars were always there, ever since she remembered them. She couldn't really imagine Iruka-sensei without it. On him, it didn't look ugly, but hers…
Sakura walked to her bed and covered herself with the blanket sighing forcefully.
Though she had much more serious wounds to worry about, these had the greatest impact on her psychology.
Suddenly she hoped Kakashi wouldn't come by, until Tsunade fixed these horrible scars.
"Tomorrow I'll be able to take you home and I'll watch over you there. It will be much more comfortable there!" Tsunade said softly.
Sakura nodded simply.
"Is it because of the scars you're so depressed?" Tsunade asked leaning closer to Sakura and sitting on the bed next to her.
Sakura looked up at Tsunade.
"I… there are many things actually. All of them together make my head feel heavy!" Sakura said in a grief tone brushing her sticky hair backwards.
"Is it Uchiha Madara?" Tsunade asked.
Sakura felt her chest heavy and nodded hardly.
"I'm frustrated with the fact that… I can't remember a single thing! Nothing from what happened during this illusion! Usually people remember every detail from the illusionary techniques. Why is this one different?" Sakura grunted making a fist under the blanket.
"According to Temari, Madara had developed a way of fooling Hyuga's Byakugan, as a result they were blind. Neither Naruto, nor Temari remember anything from their illusions either. This Uchiha possesses skills we couldn't have imagined, Sakura. We must assume he has developed also his genjutsu in a way that no one releasing themselves from them could use them against him."
"But this may be our only chance of having an advantage against him!" Sakura said with a trembling voice.
"I know! But how can we force you to remember it? Sometimes the body erases memories of its own for the person's sake. Like serious accidents or traumas. It could be it. And if you force yourself to remember you could… lose yourself!" Tsunade said cautiously, her eyes fixed on Sakura's.
"What could possibly have happened during this illusion, Tsunade-sama? I've been under scary genjutsu, and I remember them all! I've seen death! I've seen my own friend bleed to death in my own arms! What could possibly be more horrible?" Sakura gasped, her eyes burning with thick tears, as they always did in response to the darkest thoughts of her lifetime.
Tsunade opened her mouth to speak, but hesitated.
Sakura wiped away her tears, and tried to shove away all those dark memories that occurred three years ago.
"Sakura, you're right! But to be honest I know no single way of waking this memory of yours! And I frankly fear to try it, and so should you! There are ways of facing Madara. I've sent teams on finding out about his past and gather information that will surely help us countering him. Entering your brain is too risky!" Tsunade said in an undertone.
"What if Madara appears again? Now, or in a few minutes? What will this information do to us? It'll be too late! If there is an immediate source of a counterattack against his genjutsu we should take advantage of it! What if he attacks here, with his forces, and drowns us all in his illusions? What then, Tsunade-sama?" Sakura argued, the heat reaching her cheeks and her eyes.
She wiped away again her tears, feeling really irritated with them now.
"I guess you have thought of a way then?" Tsunade folded her arms on her chest, smiling cunningly.
Sakura frowned with Tsunade's playful expression.
How could some people read other's minds, except Madara's skill of course. Kakashi could do it as well…but this was an issue for better times to worry about.
"I learnt of this genjutsu of entering someone's memories two years ago. A monk in the Land of Snow taught me this. They used it on themselves, in order to remember who they were after losing themselves through meditation. But I never learnt how to use it on myself, I can only use it on others. And it demands a big amount of chakra. I use it rarely, and… every time I faint." Sakura remembered the last time she had used it during their mission in the Village of the Blue Tree. The scattered images of the thunder shinobi meeting with the scary thunder kunoichi who possessed the Byakugan and the sensation of fear lingering in the air.
"That sounds scary indeed! But does it need time to be learnt?" Tsunade asked with a questioning look.
"I needed four months, and I still can't get the hang of it." Sakura said.
Tsunade looked thoughtful, biting her lower lip.
"When was the last time you used it?" Tsunade asked, crossing her legs.
Sakura frowned.
"During the mission in the Village of the Blue Tree. Why?"
"Was Kakashi there when you used it?" Tsunade asked with a smile.
Sakura hated it when the other one was ahead of her in planning. She turned her head to the window and then back at Tsunade.
"I think so."
"I'll ask him then. If he was there, he'll probably have copied it. Does this technique have any serious effect on the victim?" Tsunade asked standing up.
"How should I know? I faint when I release the technique! I can't feel a thing, how should I know what happens to the other?" Sakura asked irritated.
Was Tsunade really planning on having Kakashi, out of all the people, search her memories?
She wanted to punch herself for telling her of this technique of hers.
This was too dangerous. What if Kakashi saw something he… shouldn't?
Sakura grunted and avoided Tsunade's questioning look.
"You don't like the idea?" Tsunade wondered loudly.
Sakura shot her a killer glance.
"I can teach you the technique, or Naruto, but… not…!"
"Two minutes ago you cried about the short time we have and how we should hurry in finding a way of fighting Madara effectively and now… you hesitate? Sakura, what on earth is wrong?" Tsunade asked placing her hands on her hips looking really annoyed.
Sakura gasped.
She was right. It was her own problem. Madara's matter was the top priority. It was stupid of her to put their village's safety in jeopardy, because of her fear that Kakashi might find out about her feelings.
Stupid…
"Ok, then!" Sakura muttered.
"Great! When I come again, I'll also bring you the technique Rin-san developed of waking someone from Madara's illusion. You can study it. All medic-nins must know it and so should you!" Tsunade said and walked to the door.
But she halted before she opened the door.
Sakura looked at her wondering what she had forgotten. She wished Tsunade had regretted in having Kakashi search her memories.
"I totally forgot about it!" Tsunade mumbled and came back and sat on the chair next to Sakura's bed.
Sakura followed her with her eyes.
"What is it?"
Tsunade looked rather disappointed, almost sad.
Sakura missed a heartbeat. What evil happened now, she wondered.
"I had a meeting with the Elders this morning. They… request on having a meeting with you!"
Sakura lifted her eyebrows.
"What kind of meeting?"
Tsunade petted her fingernails on the chair's arm nervously.
"In short, they do not trust you, considering you abandoned the village for three years, unknown of your actions and acquaintances during this time and, of course, with the fact that Madara is after you. They believe you did something during this time that made Madara mad. Some believe you are a spy of his and plan on taking control over Konoha. Another even said that you are one of Madara's puppets! I laughed with that! They're all so old, they should have quit by now! I mean, their minds are…!" Tsunade said quickly, but Sakura interrupted her, before she started saying crazy things and swearings.
"So they want to question me? Of what I did during these three years? Are you kidding me?" Sakura asked shocked.
Was it really such a big question of what she had done those three years, she wondered feeling frustrated. The one person she loved ever since she was a child was murdered and had let his last breath in her arms, what was so strange about leaving. She was in pain, she was lost. She couldn't stand it living in a place where everything would remind her of him.
"Unbelievable!" Sakura sighed forcefully.
"Well, they had made their minds in sending you away. In exile! But I managed to convince them in talking with you before they made any kind of decision." Tsunade said calmly.
Sakura looked at her.
"Great! And when will this take place?"
"I want to have Kakashi check your memory first, and tomorrow I can finally take you home. I'll arrange it for the day after tomorrow."
Sakura kept her gaze fixed on Tsunade before she sighed again, realizing that life would not be easy from now on.
Kakashi would definitely find out about her feelings about him, then she'd no longer be able of facing him again without drowning in shame. In addition, the Elders didn't trust her and were in the edge of exiling her, believing she was Madara's spy. That was the most unbelievable of all. She had almost died because of his genjutsu, how could this be a behavior towards a comrade, or a slave or whatever, she thought gritting her teeth.
"So… if I cannot convince them-" Sakura paused rubbing her tired eyes "-there'll be no possible way of becoming a jonin then?" she asked.
The desire of becoming a jonin was always there, in the back of her mind, ever since Tsunade had first recommended it the day she had visited Sasuke's grave after three years. But every other occurrence had erased it from her mind.
Now it was back. The desire was there. The need to prove herself to herself…
"Do you really want to become a jonin?" Tsunade asked smiling. Sakura smiled back at her recognizing the pride sparkling in her honey-brown eyes.
"Yes, I want to become a jonin!" Sakura admitted feeling finally her chest lighter, her heart calmer.
"This is why I left!" Sakura began feeling her heart bounce as the words she so long didn't dare to say, finally came out.
"I had to become stronger and a respectful kunoichi. So that I can protect the ones I love. Like Naruto is… like Sasuke was!" Sakura said in a low tone.
Tsunade looked at her, her eyes shining with tears.
Sakura looked up at her and smiled sadly.
"It's been three years!" she whispered, trying to suppress her own tears. "Three years that I only trained… for them, for you, for Konoha! And if becoming a jonin makes me stronger, then I will!" Sakura said and smiled with the wave of confidence rising inside of her, drowning every doubt, every fear, every weakness.
For the ones I love…!
Tsunade smiled at her and hugged her tight.
Sakura suppressed the stings in her entire body as she hugged her mentor back.
"They will believe you, Sakura! Don't worry about them! They know you, they know your family! There's no way they'll doubt your honesty! I'm sure you'll make it! You always do!" Tsunade muttered.
Sakura smiled and broke the hug.
Tsunade cupped her face in her palms, hiding her ugly scars.
Sakura felt some tears leaving her eyes.
"You know what? I heard Iruka talk to his class about you and how you fought against Uchiha's genjutsu. Of course he didn't mention much detail, but I can tell when kids look amazed. And they were amazed, and they asked about you. No wonder if they come any minute now rushing through this door asking for your autograph!" Tsunade chuckled.
Sakura chuckled as well.
"That's terrific, because I can't stand Chie's mumbling about Turo-san anymore!" Sakura joked.
Tsunade frowned and smiled, not understanding.
"I'll send someone with Rin's scroll and maybe some food. If you're going to eat normal food, please let it be something else than ramen!" Tsunade chuckled and walked with her sure and confident pace to the door. Her blonde, silky hair danced on her back.
She smiled once more at Sakura before leaving her alone.
Sakura stood up and slowly walked back to the window.
She couldn't stop smiling thinking of everything Tsunade and she had talked about. She would become a jonin, and she would face the Elders, she would face Kakashi. There was nothing that would make her unhappy.
As long her friends and family were safe, she'd be happy.
She opened again the window and took a deep breath of the fresh wind blowing in the outside world.
She covered her eyes as she saw a figure standing motionless on a faraway roof.
The figure was definitely dressed in the ANBU uniform.
She missed a heartbeat wondering if it was Kakashi, but she couldn't make it out from such a distance.
She smiled observing the unknown person and sighed.
_
thank you for reading!
it's funny...at the moment i'm working on chapter 33, and for the first time i reached a point where i can't go on! up until now my hands were trying to keep up with my imagination as i was writing and now i'm on a dead end-i believe those of you who are writers as well know well what i mean.
so now i'm searching for inspiration-i know how the story will end, but something will come up for 33 ;) i'm telling you this just so you know that i may be updating less often than what i'm now...yeah dreadful i know! lol
anyways, i hope you like it so far! until next time!
