Warning Contains: Language, suggestive themes, spoilers, and violence.
Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Naruto
Dearest Readers,
It's the end of yet another week and time really does fly by faster than you expect it to. Anyways, here is another chapter for this ever growing story. As some of you have noted, it its quickly coming to a close. I think we have maybe three or four more chapters before it will be completed. It's sad so I'll try my hardest not to think about it too often.
I'm really looking forward to reading all of your reactions to this chapter. I have to say that the flashback at the beginning is easily one of my favorites. I really hope that you like it as much as I do. A lot of thought went into it.
I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. You have all been so honest and kind that it reestablishes my faith in mankind. I might sound like a broken record but I mean every word. So thank you, again and again.
Sorry if this note seems a bit scattered. It's been a crazy long week and I'm just getting around to catching up on sleep.
Let me know how this chapter sits with you. I'll be waiting to hear back! Until next time!
~L.H.
Chapter Thirty-Six: Part of the Family
Flashback:
She was crying.
Fat tears rolled down her face, sticking and absorbing into her soft, round cheeks as they did so. She was in trouble, more trouble than she had ever been in before. And even at the tender age of five even Sakura knew that much. The small child brought her knees to her chest. Her quivering chin rested atop her uncut knee.
The pain was an afterthought. It was starting to dull anyway. The reason for the tears was still very fresh. She was sickly and she always had been. Or at least that was what her mother always told her whenever Sakura asked if she could play outside. She had heard it so many times that she was beginning to believe it. She was forbidden to play with the other kids without one of her parents around.
But it was exhausting. Her mother's eyes always followed her like a hawk whenever she even took one step out of the house. If she made a wrong move or even if her mother got the slightest impression that she was going to do something to strain herself, Sakura's time outdoors would be cut abruptly short. She had to constantly look over her shoulder to make sure no one was watching her but there always was, her mother.
She was always watching. Never did she utter a word. She always just stood there in silence studying her. And if Sakura crossed some sort of unwritten or unspoken line, her mother would simply grab her hand and lead her home. That was it. There was no amount of tears, kicking, and screaming that would ever halt her mother's purposeful strides towards their home. It was like her prison.
Her parents were not like the others. They were different. They were more careful with her. Their eyes always filled with immeasurable grief and worry whenever she came back from playing. Regardless if a superficial cut her parents always reacted like it was the end of the world. They treated her like she was made out of glass. Maybe she was. She had never hurt herself badly enough to know what her pain tolerance was. Maybe she really would shatter into a million pieces if she was hurt enough. They never let her get far enough to test her theories.
She was convinced that they were different. She had seen other parents. They dusted their kids off and encouraged to climb that tree that the child had just fallen out of. Maybe that was why the other kids cried less than her. They were used to pain. They were used to messing up. It no longer bothered them.
She was not like them. She probably never would be. Their parents did not tailor clothing or bake cakes. Their parents protected. They protected more than just their own offspring. Their parents protected the village and their Hokage. Their parents were ninja.
And that was why the kids were different than her. The other kids were strong. It was in their DNA, their genetic makeup. They were confident. They were brave. They showed their parents their cuts and bruises with wide, pride filled eyes and lopsided smiles. Their imperfections were their badges of honor.
She could never do that. She had to hide the cuts and bruises she sustained from 'roughhousing like a buffoon' as her mother called it. It could be worse. The injuries never lingered for long. On more than one occasion she would forget that she had even sustained a cut or scrape.
The blonde boy, the same boy that she had followed up the tree, had no one to show his cuts to. She had seen him leap from the branches with reckless abandonment. He had landed on his hands and knees but he had rolled to his feet with a large grin on his face. He looked so happy, so alive. The crimson rivulets did not even seem to faze him as he started to climb the rough branches once more. He was not careful. He was not treated like a fragile object. He was free and she envied him for it.
No one cared what happened to him and that puzzled her. He was not like the rest either. But he was certainly more like them than he was like her. He was rash, loud, and overly confident. He did not shy away from the spotlight. He threw himself into it even if it meant making a fool out of himself in the process. He was different than her and he was different than the rest. He had no one to look after him. And that observation made her a little more than sad.
So she had followed him. It was easily the bravest and stupidest things she had ever done. She wanted to know more about him. Her mother never let her talk to him. Her face would always go slack whenever the boy was around. But he could not be all that bad, could he? He was just like her. He did not fit in with the others.
The climb up was much easier than the options of getting down. He had caught her off guard. Sakura did not even realize that he was on to her. His loud voice and bright blue eyes had startled her. Blue, they were so blue. They put the sky to shame with their vividness. Never had she seen something so human, so real in her life before. They were bluer than blue.
His eyes had startled her. But what had caused to jump off from the tree was fear. She was afraid of the smile he wore. She could tell that he wanted to be her friend but she was not ready to be his. He confused her. He scared her and what was more, her parents did not like him. So she already had a tainted opinion of him.
They called him a troublemaker. So a mix of the thrill of sneaking out of the house, surprise of being caught by the blonde, and the alarm of the openness of his eyes and caused to make a sudden decision: fight or flee. She had chosen flee. The landing had been rough and in her haste to get away from him, she did not even realize that he had jumped down from the tree to her ask if she was okay.
The concern that danced in his blue eyes reminded her of the same concern of her father's significantly darker irises. So she had panicked. She left him staring after her as she ran to the sanctuary of her home. This was the first time she had left her house on her own and she did not think that she would do it again anytime soon. She did not have it in her to face that boy again. She had left him standing alone looking so sad. She had raised his hopes only to crush them again. He wanted a friend and she could not be that for him.
So here she was, huddled in a corner, crying. But she was not crying from the pain. No, she was crying because her mother and father were fighting again. She had gotten careless and her mother had seen the bloody trail her skinned knee left. Sakura closed her eyes. She rocked back and forth in her position. She could still hear them shouting in the other room. Her name would come up periodically in their loud exchange.
It was the same old same old. Her mother wanted Sakura to never leave her sight. But her father was against Sakura becoming a prisoner in her own home. They were both looking out for her. They both wanted what was best but they had very different ideas of what that entailed.
She did not understand why they fought. But she did know that it had to do with her. It had to do with her and her clumsiness. It was all her fault. She should have never left and she should have never followed the blonde boy. Her parents were right to call him a troublemaker. This was his fault. The girl continued to sway whist containing her silent sobs. She was shaking from the effort. They were fighting because she was not careful. She should have known that she could not jump down from the trees like the other boys and girls.
Maybe her mother was right. She was sick. There was something wrong with her. She was not like the others and she could never be like them. Their parents were ninja. Their parents were heroes. They knew what sacrifice meant. They did not worry about nicks and bruises like hers did. Their problems had perspective.
She just wanted all the shouting to stop. She wanted it all to go away. Sakura continued to rock back and forth with her eyes pressed tightly closed. Her short pink locks clung to her round, red face. The small child did not even acknowledge the kitchen door being opened.
She jumped out of her skin when she felt a gentle hand on her head. Her emerald eyes stared at the kind blue eyes of her father. She always loved that color. Blue made her feel safe. She did not know how to react. Part of her wanted to cling to her father for dear life but a large part of her was worried that she was in big trouble.
After all, she was not supposed to leave the house without her mother. Her father must have sensed her apprehension because his eyes crinkled. The well developed crow's feet around his eyes spoke to his age. He was older than the other parents. Both her parents were. But at the times she did not see the significance of the age difference.
"Come here, my little blossom." He muttered softly as to not startle her. Sakura sniffled a few times before she wrapped her arms around his neck. She pressed her face into the worn fabric of his top. The smell of the cloth reminded her of the bakery in which her father worked. The sweet aroma was beginning to provide her with comfort and a sense of belonging.
She did not move as her father started walking. "Am I in trouble?" She asked him in a meek voice after some time. Her voice was muffled because of how firmly her face was pressed against him. She was slightly more open with her father. He was not quick to criticize or chastise her when she spoke out of turn or asked questions. He had more patience than her mother.
"No dear. You did nothing wrong." She could not see his face. So she could not take in the grave look in his eye. He was worried. Just as worried as her mother had been but she would never know that. She was too young to read body language. Had she been old enough she would have realized that the words that came out of her father's mouth were at odds with what he communicated silently.
Sakura was beginning to drift in and out of sleep. It had been a long day. She blinked in surprise when her father lowered her onto the bathroom counter top. She made a face. Her nose crinkled in displeasure. "Do we have to?" The slight whine in her voice caused her father's lips to quirk upwards. He knew just how much Sakura hated this part.
"Of course, you wouldn't want the cut to get infected now would you?" He asked her in a comically serious voice. Sakura lowered her eyes to her clasped hands. Her bottom lip jutted out in a pout. There was nothing she could do about it now. Rules were rules.
"No," she said in defeat. She did not know what infected meant but from the tone in her father's voice she guessed that it was not very fun. Sakura pinched her face together as he dabbed a ball of cotton into some alcohol. The strong smell of the drink burned her nose but that was nothing compared to the stinging sensation that would soon follow behind the obnoxious smell.
"Ready?" He asked her with solemn eyes. She regarded the poised swab in his hand before turning to meet his eyes. He hated doing this as much as she did. But she had to be a big girl and deal with it. After all, she was close to being five-and-a-half.
"Ready." She said with as much bravery as she could. If she was brave enough to jump from a tree then she was brave enough for this. She squinted her eyes as the cotton came closer and closer to the partially healed cut.
The pink haired child made a soft hissing sound as her father dabbed the swab on the laceration. But she did not cry. It was a start. "There." Her father smiled at her before he carefully bandaged the joint. "Since you've been so brave, how about some mochi?"
Her eyes lit up. Sakura nodded her head enthusiastically. Both her and her father turned at the sound of laughter. Sakura was surprised to see her mother standing in the doorway. Her eyes held something too complex for young Sakura to name. "Well we better get going." She helped Sakura off the counter.
Her mother extended her hand and Sakura grabbed it eagerly. She offered her free hand to her father who took it without a word. Her parents were not like the others. But maybe that was not a bad thing. Maybe it was a very good thing. So what if the village did not see them as heroes? They were her heroes and that was all that mattered to her.
They were her heroes.
End of Flashback
It was over.
It was finally over. He was dead. He was gone. He was no longer among the living. She had succeeded. She had won. She was still breathing. She did it. This was the hardest thing that she had ever done and she had come up on the other side.
Sakura had managed to complete her mission. She did not fail to live up to her potential. And most importantly, Sakura did not fail the people who believed in her. She gave them validation for putting their faith in her. It felt good.
All the self doubt and crippling loneliness she had felt was worth it. The world was safe from the resurrection of the ten-tails. The shinoibi world had been saved. She had done it. She had accomplished her seemingly insurmountable task. She looked down at Madara's body and felt lighter than air. A massive burden had been lifted from her shoulders.
The fate of the world no longer rested in her hands. She could go back to being a nondescript kunoichi of Konoha. She could finally breathe again. She had done her part and now it was time to let the world move on around her. Time was no longer standing still for her. She could relax. She could finally relax.
Sakura hastily dried her eyes. Minato hated it when she cried. He often joked that she was an ugly crier and she knew that it was his attempt to get her to stop shedding tears. This tactic usually resulted in a weak chuckle from her.
He had helped her so much. Without his calming presence and strength she never would have made it. She would have crumbled from the pressure that was placed on her without him. She would have cracked without him, Kushina, Rin, Obito, Kakashi, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and the former Hokage. She had drawn strength and resolve from their belief and support of her.
They had become her family. At first they were just individuals that she had to protect because they were related to people she loved. But they became so much more than that. They became people that she wanted to protect because she had grown to love them. They were her precious people and when she was around them the longing for her friends disappeared. They were her friends now, and she would do anything to protect them.
They were her new heroes. They were all she had. And while she had lost her traditional family in this transaction she had gained another. They were far from conventional but they worked. They tolerated each other. They loved each other. They were comfortable and she never knew that comfortable could ever be so nice. Comfortable was just what she was looking for all along.
The man that was holding her now had become her everything. She had always prided herself on being independent and not needing a man to make her feel complete. But here she was beyond grateful that she had him. He did not make her weak. He allowed her to be strong, he allowed her to be who she wanted to be. He let her be Sakura and in a world where she was constantly lying through her teeth it was nice to let her walls down and show vulnerability to the one person she trusted more than anything.
He was her best friend, confidante, sparing partner, protector, ally, and lover. She needed him to understand how important he was to her. And that was what drove her to get over her fear and utter the words that had become taboo for her. The words that were a curse for every relationship she ever had. The same words that could not prevent Sasuke from leaving and made Naruto briefly resent her.
She took a deep breath to settle the turning of her stomach and the pounding of her heart. He needed to know. If she did not tell him and something happened to him…she would never forgive herself. She had come close to losing everything important to her. It would be stupid and foolish not to say what she was sure the world already knew.
"Kami, Minato I love you." She pulled back enough out of his embrace to look him in the eye. Self preservation be damned. The longer she kept her lips on lockdown the longer they would both be kidding themselves. He deserved to know. He deserved what she had to say to him. It was probably the adrenaline talking but she was ready to finally tell him just how important he was to her and it was about time too. It was long overdue. "You know I love you, right?" She searched his eyes with desperation. She was afraid, afraid of being rejected again.
Minato gave her the brightest smile she had even seen. "I know. And you know I love you, right?" Sakura nodded her head and she felt all the tension ease from her shoulders. Minato kissed her forehead before kissing her lips.
He had no doubt that she loved him but this was the first time that she had actually said those words. He knew that they terrified Sakura so he did not pressure her into saying them. It was clear to him that she had been rejected one too many times after she had uttered those words in the past. Even though he had known that she loved him, hearing her confirm it made his heart soar. She had unknowingly made him happier than any other point in his life. "I love you," he repeated before reclaiming her mouth.
Warmth and joy sped through her. Never could she have even imagined this sensation in her wildest of dreams. He loved her. Actions spoke louder than words and she was beginning to truly believe that. The vigor with which he kissed her left her dizzy and disoriented for all the right reasons. It made her feel alive. It threatened to burn her from the inside out and she for one could attest to what that felt like.
Why had she waited so long to tell him? Fear. Fear had held her back for too long. It kept her from being happy sooner. Fear was the reason why she had hurt so many, including herself. Fear was the why she never allowed herself to even think of a remote possibility of this. Fear had almost led her to settle for the wrong guy. Fear used to dictate her life but she was done with such nonsense.
Fear was a weak emotion. Fear was her enemy. Fear would no longer be her Achilles' heel. She would bury it alongside Madara. Fear was a weak emotion and she was finished with being weak. She was ready to strong, strong for herself, her friends, and her village.
He was kissing the fear right out of her. Minato pulled back far too quickly for Sakura's liking. The disappointment was clear as day in her eyes. He smiled crookedly at her. He gazed at her through half-laden eyes. He took her in for another split second before his demeanor suddenly changed. Her breath caught in her throat. She was not out of the woods just yet.
"We need to go check on the others. And don't think that I'll forget about that little stunt you pulled back there." He glared at her angrily. She noted with a guilty pang that his eyes were bright with unshed tears. Sakura sighed as she interlaced their fingers.
"Anything less and I would be worried. So I'm guessing that there aren't many missions in my near future?" She grinned at him and he found himself grinning back despite his anger. Who in their right minds would not be happy now? They had just defeated the greatest evil known to man and they had made it out alive with a little more than a few scratches on them. All in all it was a great day.
"No chance." He said firmly. Sakura just nodded her head in agreement. She had a knack for turning seemingly simple missions into life and death situations. Maybe taking it easy for a few months would be in everyone's self interest. Giving Minato a heart attack was not her To-Do list. A little rest and relaxation was well in order.
"You know I was about to Hiraishin out of there." Sakura rolled her eyes before looking up at the blonde. She knew that he was. His nickname was not for showboating only. There was no way that he would die so easily, it would take more than an kunai to kill the Yondaime. Yet she could not risk it. He was simply too important to the village, to her to chance it. He could have very well of finished Madara off by himself if it came down to it and she had no doubts that he would be very capable of winning.
But she had seen an opportunity to get within touching distance of the Uchiha and she took it. Because in all honesty they had no idea if another perfect moment would ever present itself. Besides, who the hell was she to go against Devine Intervention? The Gods had listened to her pleas and gave her the strength she so desperately needed to make sure that they both survived this mess. She would forever be in their debt.
But what she knew was for her had her alone. Just like before, she could not pass up an opportunity to lord it over his head. Minato had been her damsel in distress and like any self-respecting knight she had saved his ass. He even had the blonde locks to play a convincing princess. He was certainly pretty enough for the part.
"Really now? Well it would have been nice to know that before I selflessly sacrificed myself for you, porky." She jabbed him in the chest hard enough to bruise. Minato rubbed the spot with a hurt look on his face. His hurt expression instantly turned serious and Sakura felt the hairs on her neck stand on end.
Something had shifted. Suddenly everything was different and actually held weight and importance to it. For a harrowing second she feared that Minato had sensed movement, movement from their not-so-nice colleague who was supposed to be dead. "Everything okay?" She asked him slowly, a little uneasily. Sakura dreaded the answer. To her surprise he brought both his hands to rest on her shoulders. She shot his a curious look but the seriousness never left his navy orbs.
"Marry me." His voice was flat but Sakura knew that it took a lot for him to ask. The council had been badgering him about marriage ever since he took the title of Hokage. But the blonde had relentlessly ignored their suggestions. Her heart stopped beating in her chest for a painful second. He was asking her to marry him, he was asking her.
Sakura was aware of the fact that he would never bring up the topic of marriage unless he was completely ready for the commitment- not that she doubted he was. No amount of threats and nagging from the elders could bring him to this point. He was being completely genuine in his desire to marry her. It had taken almost losing her to make him realize that he wanted to make it official.
There was no ring but she never expected there to be one. All of this was happening so fast. Even Kushina never got a ring from what she recalled. It was completely unnecessary. It was a piece of metal that meant nothing in their lives, it held little to no significance. None of their married friends had rings and they were perfectly happy. The two of them were shinobi and ring would only end up becoming a liability. She did not need a physical representation signifying their commitment. She did not need a symbol that represented their love for each other. They were shinobi, all of that was not practical enough for them.
He did not even bother getting down on one knee but she did not mind. She was never one for a sappy, cheesy proposal. That was more of Ino's dream and expectations. And she had latched on to it for fear of losing her only friend in her younger years. She had wanted to be like Ino and if that meant going all gaga over a dream proposal then so be it. But that was never truly who she was. It would have been nice for him to do the whole romantic gesture, but eh, she would find a way to get over it.
Her younger self would have wilted at the way Minato had proposed to her, but she had come a long way from that annoying, idealistic, shallow girl. His intentions were pure and that was all that mattered to her. He wanted to marry her, to never leave her, to be with her thick and thin. And that was better than any dream. It was a promise, it was reality. It was her reality.
Her eyes softened for the briefest of seconds before a sly look crossed her face. She was a woman and her species was known to lose it when it comes to things like this. It would be a waste if she did not give him a hard time. She knew that her future self would kick her if Sakura passed this moment up.
She tilted her head to the side and blinked at him disarmingly. He was studying her more intently then he had studied anything before. She was flattered really. She for the first time in a really long time had his complete and undivided attention. And she was going to make the best of it. Sakura flicked his nose playfully.
"Is that any way to propose to a girl? Geez I expected more from the pupil of the legendary Jiraiya." The level of exasperation in her voice was completely fabricated. On the inside she was floating. She did not even have to think twice about her answer. It was a yes. And it would always be a yes. She could not see starting a live with someone else. He was an integral fixture in her world. She would be stupid to let him go.
"Oh, I'll give you more when you give me the right answer." Sakura felt he face heat up at his seductive tone and wink. He had turned this on its head. Now she was the one being teased. His Hokage training was being used for evil but it would be her word against his and she did not intend on sharing this moment with anyone. She ignored the thrill that went through her.
"Let's go find the scroll, ne?" She spun around and dragged the bemused Minato behind her. "We need to find the scroll with the One-Tails before we do anything else. I promised the Kazekage," Sakura reminded him in a gentle tone.
She headed to her right and left the body of Uchiha behind her.
She was lost.
She had led them in a complete circle. But on the bright side, Madara had not moved an inch. So there was that.
Minato nodded swiftly in her direction. "You should really to get around to healing yourself." It was the third time that he had "casually" brought up the fact that she needed to attend to herself but she had blatantly ignored him the first couple of times. But she figured it would be in her best interest to not test him too much. He would probably teleport her to Konoha and have Tsunade yell at her for him.
He was being patient. He was trying his best to keep all the emotions out of his face and eyes but Sakura knew that he was really upset with her. She would have been equally mad at him if he had done something so rash and stupid too. It was probably for the best that he did not witness any of her battle with Madara. She had thrown caution to the wind and she could only imagine how he would have reacted had he been there. The reckless abandon that she had displayed would have certainly angered him to a point far beyond this. He was trying to be accommodating and forgiving.
And that was precisely why she bit back her scathing remark that was dancing at the tip of her tongue and she silently healed herself. She vaguely registered the fact her yin seal had reformed. All the remaining chakra that Madara had absorbed was finally back in her system. "Do you have any ideas on where we should start?" She left the "again" out of her question. She was more or less done with making decisions. He was here and she was more than happy to hand him the reigns. Having someone else give her guidance and direction sounded quiet refreshing at the moment.
She craned her neck to look up at him. The difference in their heights was really bothersome at times like these. Her eyes regarded him closely. Minato did not bother answering her question. He merely tugged her arm softly and she followed his silent order without any resistance. He led her in a dark corridor that was attached to the entrance on the cell she had been in. The smell of mold was progressively getting worse with each step she took. And she realized why a moment later.
She stared with wide eyes at the aquifer before her. So she had been right. They were near water. The body of water was especially massive in comparison to how small her cell had been. She recognized the sulfur that was burning her eyes and throat. The dampness in the air was making it hard for her to breathe. No doubt that Minato had sensed the looming presence of massive chakra around this lake. She had sensed it too during her battle with Madara. Shukaku was nearby she could feel him.
Her skin crawled. The floor under her boots was rumbling ever so slightly. His enraged and tumultuous energy was pulling her towards the murky, dangerous depths of the water. Sakura vaguely registered slipping her hand from him and leaving Minato behind as she took an unsteady step towards the dark water. The lake was calm but her heart was beating frantically in her chest. Sakura had to take a deep, shaky breath before she sank to her knees by the edge of the basin.
Her wide eyed reflection stared back at her. Her eyes were an unrecognizable color. Where they blue? Or was it grey? She was not sure if it was the lighting or the ripples on the surface but one thing was certain, her eyes were not green. Even their shape seemed to be distorted. But that was not what enthralled her. It was his chakra. It was calling out to her.
It was saying her name. It sounded familiar. It felt familiar. She let the pads of her fingers dance across the cool face of the late. The frigid temperatures filled her with ease. It quelled the frantic beating of her heart. She closed her eyes and allowed herself a moment to capture the movement. Her hair swept past her shoulders. The pink strands made contact with the glass like water. The rose hued locks hung around her as she huddled over the water.
It was a strange sensation. She was feeling oddly at ease. Maybe it was because the high of the light chakra, Minato's proposal, and Madara's death were beginning to wear off. Maybe it was because she was so tired. She would hit a wall momentarily if that was the case. Or maybe she was going crazy but was starting to feel at home. She was beginning to think she was always meant to find this place. She felt like she belonged here, for one reason or another.
Once again her moments did not seem to be of her own accord. She was having another out of body experience. It was almost as if she was watching herself lean over the surface of the mirror like surface even more so. She tentatively reached out with surprisingly steady palms to touch the face of the lakelet. To her absolute surprise and horror she momentarily felt her hand make contact with the surface before she was pulled under.
She vaguely registered Minato's surprised shouts before she was plunged into the darkness with indescribable speed.
'Help!'
A bubble of panic rushed through her as she continued to sink towards the bottom at an alarming rate. It was as if she was being pulled down. Sakura tried to kick free from the invisible hand that was yanking her under. She felt the very strength being seeped out of her.
She struggled futilely against the pull. She struggled until her world began to blur around the edges. 'Minato, help me.' She directed a quick prayer towards her companion. He should have caught up to her by now. Maybe he was in danger too?
Another tentacle wrapped around each of her wrists, her neck, her torso, and her remaining leg. She was being pulled down towards the beast's mouth. Sakura could hear the gushing water but her eyes were next to useless in these surroundings. There was no light. She tried to resist the suction pull. If she did not fight back so she would be digested within minutes.
'He can't help me, I need to help myself.'
Indecisiveness would only get her killed. She had to stick with what she knew and what she knew well. She used what Naruto had dubbed her monster strength to pull her arms together, effectively stopping the bindings around her wrists protested but after another harsh tug they fell slack.
The beast's large yellow stared at her. It illuminated thirty feet diameter around them. She was fighting against a giant squid judging from the sharp point of the creature's head. His own eyes were illuminating just enough for her to make out his silhouette. 'Damn that Madara,' she cursed darkly in her head. Even when he was dead he was causing her grief. The life was being squeezed out her. She was going to become a Hydrophobic at this rate.
Sakura gathered all the remaining strength and formed the seals necessary. 'Suiton: Tornado of Water!' She mouthed the name of her jutsu and the familiar sensation of swirling water around her. The blue tornado grew in size and strength with the more water it pulled it. It worked to her advantage that she had so much water at her disposal.
She heard the beast click angrily as he was forced to pull away. Sakura's lungs were burning from the lack of oxygen. She was unable to make anything out anymore. Her only source of light had disappeared. She swam blindly before coming to a stop. She could not differentiate up from down. She was completely disoriented.
The need for air was becoming too great to ignore. She was going to pass out soon. She was already feeling lightheaded. 'It's over,' she thought objectively. She stopped all her movements and stared at the darkness, blankly. She was going to drown and she could not help but think that it was a horrible way to go. It would have been better to die during her battle with Madara.
The dark waters were suddenly illuminated and it only took a slit second for her to realize why. 'Flower-chan you need to swim to the bottom of this lake. You'll find what you are looking for there.'
Sakura did not understand how or why she was suddenly enveloped in the white glow of her light release but she did not have the time to question it. The chakra had also created an air bubble around her person and that allowed Sakura to breathe again. She gasped in the air greedily. Her deep gulps of air rejuvenated her. Her vision was quickly beginning to stabilize again.
She took Akemi's advice without hesitation. The woman had kept her alive for this long so why would she give up on her now? The medic changed her direction and dove deeper towards the bottom of the lake. The light release was propelling her through the cold waters with ease. The chilling depths did not even faze her. The chakra kept her warm and protected from the freezing temperatures.
Sakura swam for what had to be half a mile before her feet made contact with the rough, sandy floor of the basin. She channeled chakra through her legs and to her feet. The contact that she maintained with the lake's floor allowed her to walk through the water. She was met by powerful resistance but the chakra made it easier for her to overcome it.
Her moments came to her fluidly. She could almost sense the scroll, and she could defiantly feel the One-Tails getting closer and closer. His chakra was overwhelmingly powerful but she forced herself to not lose focus.
The scroll was sitting atop of an alter which was surrounded by a pocket of air. Her chakra fizzled out of existence as soon as she crossed the barrier. Her wet boots squeaked against the cool marble floors. This air pocket was manmade. It had Madara's name written all over it. He really thought of everything. Who would realistically think of looking for a sand monster under a lake?
'Do I just grab it?' The skepticism she felt was mirrored by the sound of her thoughts. It was just staring at her, mockingly almost. She would need a psyche evaluation after this mission. There would be no way around it. How she managed to associate humanlike characteristics to inanimate objects was beyond her. Maybe she really was going crazy.
'Yes, but be careful flower-chan. The beast may try to harm you. Madara sealed off this location from all chakra use. If the bijuu hurts you here, I won't be able to help you and more importantly you won't be able to heal yourself.'
Akemi, she was literally the only voice of reason in Sakura's head. The maiden was her own personal conscious. How lucky was she? No wonder why the Gods chose her. She was probably the only shinobi with a wide enough forehead to house two distinct personalities in her head. It was all starting to make sense.
She gulped loudly. Sakura ignored the fear that prickled in her and grabbed the scroll firmly. She nearly dropped it. She let out a painful yelp but held on tightly out of pure training. The scroll was burning her. No, it was Shukaku who was trying to burn her. His deep hate for humans was the only thing powering his attack. Sakura ignored the searing pain that raced from her palm all the way up to her arm, as she examined the casing of the scroll. From the countless hours she had devoted to researching seals she recognized it easily enough.
It was a high level seal but it was surprisingly generic. From the lack of originality and complexity she came to the conclusion that Madara was only just barely proficient in sealing. He did not share the same knowledge and skill that Kushina and to a lesser extent Minato had.
"You foolish child, do you really think that you can control me?" An animalistic growl sounded around her. Sakura jumped up in surprise. She looked frantically around the glowing alter for any signs of the beast. She let out a relieved breath when she realized that she was very much alone.
"Asinine girl, you will not be able to tame me. I will rip you apart." The voice snarled again viciously. But this time Sakura realized that the voice was coming from her head. The One-Tails was using her own mind to communicate with her. The scroll was the vehicle that linked them.
His words rang in her ears. They were more than a threat. They were a promise of very real pain Sakura bit her lip and steeled her resolve. She took a deep breath before she closed her eyes. She found herself nose to nose with fear inspiring Shukaku.
The tan and purple cat-like monster glowered down at her. There was no gate, no seal, and no form of protection from the beast. He could very much rip her apart right now, with little effort. "You die today." The beast brought a heavy hand down. He was going to crush her. Sakura covered her head with her arms and waited for the blow to land.
Instead she heard the beast let out a shout of angry surprise. The familiar sensation of the light release surrounded her. Sakura quickly recovered and stared at Akemi with wild eyes. "But you said that Madara sealed this area off!" The accusation bled into her tone before she could filter it out. She was livid in her anger. "What the hell hime? You gave me a heart attack!" Sakura planted her hands firmly on her heart and glared at the smaller woman. The One-Tails was currently being restrained by the maiden's chakra shield. He was an afterthought really.
"My, my so much anger you have, flower-chan. I recall telling you that I wouldn't be able to help you if Shukaku tried to attack you physically. But we are in your mind, child. Here you have complete control of everything. Shukaku cannot hurt you here and I can help you, as long as you want it."
Sakura's anger deflated at the woman's words. She nodded her head in understanding. Her anger was misplaced and it was not fair for her to target the only woman who had stood by her since the beginning. Akemi was the only one that remained on her side from day one. Even Minato had turned his back on her for a while there. The maiden really deserved better from Sakura. 'Trust me to find a loophole,' she might as well have said it out loud. Her thoughts were Akemi's thoughts.
The woman smiled kindly at Sakura. Sakura doubted that Akemi had a malicious bone in her body. She was simply too forgiving. "Yes, you have found a rather nice solution to our problem. Now you can talk to Shukaku without fear of bodily harm." Akemi turned her gold eyes to regard the beast almost fondly. They shared history, or at least Akemi shared history with his first jinchuuriki.
Sakura hung her head in a crestfallen manner. "I have to talk to him? Why me?" Sakura whined as she took a heavy step towards the white clad woman. She really wanted to throw a tantrum but she had an inkling that the hime would not find it very dignified or appropriate. "Why me?" She repeated in a defeated tone.
Shukaku's mouth was foaming with saliva in his anger. He might to be able to physically harm her but he was still a formidable sight. He was being ignored at the angered him even more. Akemi's pressed her lip in a tight line before she rolled her eyes at Sakura. The pinkette was really starting to rub off on her. "You know why, now go."
Sakura took another few lackadaisical steps until she was directly in front of the beast. He growled fiercely at her, she stared glassy eyed back at him. She did not even know where to begin when describing what was wrong with this scenario. Here she was talking to a menacing monster that wanted nothing more than to grind her bones to dust.
"I'm Sakura, what's your name?" She forced a tight smile on her face as she stared at his hard, angry, yellow eyes. Well, it was a start. Nowhere did Akemi tell her it had to be a good one. It was rather common place and generic but she figured that she deserved a pass today. Her brain was close to being done. Maybe that was why she was not hysterically sobbing at the moment.
The One-Tails roared loudly at her. Had it not been for the chakra shield she would have been covered in tailed beast spit. "You dare mock me? You insolent brat! I will kill you slowly." Shukaku's loud voice assured of her a painful and slow death.
"Why are you so angry, Shukaku-sama? How have I wronged you?" She asked him cautiously. She trusted Akemi she really did, but she was starting to rethink her life choices. She would have been safely, and peacefully six feet under years ago, if she had just defied the maiden. She was not ungrateful. She could just do without all the drama in her life is all.
The beast glared at her icily before he swung his leg against the buffer between them. Sakura did not even blink as the tail loudly clashed against the white charka. "You humans," he spat the words at her. She could not help but taking it personally. "You have imprisoned us for generations, denied us freedom and dignity, tried to make us your perfect military weapons, you shunned us, you torn us apart from each other, and you use us to fight our brethren, and you still have the gall to ask how you have wronged us?"
He jeered at her with narrow eyes. Sakura could see a glimmer of hurt behind his fury. He was referring to the other tailed beasts. They really considered themselves family and she understood the pain of being forcibly torn away from loved ones.
"Humans have indeed done you bijuu wrong, but even you must admit that you understand why they did it. They fear you because they do not understand you. The Sage of Six Path's decided that you needed to be separated from each other to preserve balance in the world. In order to prevent one nation from becoming too powerful, he broke you guys apart. But all hope isn't lost. You can still meet up with your family. You still have an opportunity to be given the friendship and respect you need. Please let me help you."
Sakura pressed her palm against the cool surface of the chakra shield. It was the same palm that Shukaku had burned with his chakra. Her palm was blackened and red, the smell of burnt flesh dominated her nose. The wound would never heal properly and she would be scarred but that was the least of her worries. "Please," she pleaded again.
The beast regarded her for a few painstaking moments before a deep rumble shook underneath her feet. She realized with a start that Shukaku was laughing, he was laughing at her. 'That's not very nice,' a huffy voice called out in her thoughts.
"You humans are all the same. You make lofty promises but look for the first moment to stab us in the back. I will not fall for your kind words twice. First the Sage tricked me but I have learned my lesson." The beast swung his massive tail lazily against the safeguard. He turned his back on her. He had dismissed her.
Sakura quickly glanced at Akemi and an idea suddenly struck her. 'Akemi-hime, I need you to lower this barrier.'
'Sakura! You must be joking, he'll kill you!' She heard the panic and unbridled fear of Akemi's thoughts in her head. The woman's face was contorted into a mask of pure horror.
'Please, this is the only way.' She smiled as confidently as she could, given the circumstances. She watched as Akemi's gold eyes searched her. The woman gave a defeated sigh and reluctantly lowered the barrier.
Sakura took an audible breath before she took a step closer to Shukaku. The beast sensed that he was no longer imprisoned and within a blink of an eye he had Sakura pinned under his massive paw. Only her head, neck, and toes were left exposed. He had her whole torso and legs in his grip. He lazily held her in place as he looked down at her. "Why?" He asked her simply with interest sparking in his yellow orbs. She was safe as long as she kept his interested peaked.
Sakura could still breathe easily from under him. He was not putting any weight on his appendage but that could change without a moment's notice. One wrong word and she would be flattened. "Because you were right, how could I expect you to believe me when I imprisoned you myself? How could I promise you a better life that was filled with freedom, respect, and dignity when I was denying you of those things? Tell me, Shukaku-sama do you believe me now?"
She asked him with more clam than she felt. She was trying her best to channel as much Naruto as she could. That blonde had befriended the kyuubi of all things. He had befriended the most spiteful, volatile, and grudge-baring tailed beast of them all. She would be damned if she lost to him.
She felt her back being pressed more firmly against the floor but she still did not break eye contact with the desert cat. He was testing her and she was determined to pass. The pressure of his paw against her chest was staring to become really painful. Her breath was coming in short rigid puffs, but she stubbornly refused to lower her eyes.
"You're a fool. You can't make those promises, you're a child. Even the Sage could not accomplish what you are trying to do." His voice sounded far away to her but that was a result of the blood pounding in her eardrums.
"I can try, you have my word." A strained smile formed at her lips. She was silently pleased that her words had come out clearly. "Please let me help you. Your next jinchuurki will not be your jailer. He will be your partner." She had faith in Gaara's father. The man would not go against his promise, she was sure of it.
"You mean to tell me that you do not plan to harbor me for yourself?" She detected the surprise in his voice. The pressure against her chest eased up a fraction.
She shook her head emphatically. "No, I plan on honoring the Sage's wishes. He never intended the jinchuuriki to leave their homes. Suna is where you came into being and it's your home. I can't take that away from you, you've already lost too much." Her breathing was coming more easily now and she was gathering strength with each breath. "If you would let me, the Kazekage would be your new host. The two of you could protect Suna with your lives." Her emerald eyes shone with honesty.
The beast stared at her with a mix of disbelief and something remotely akin to respect. "How could you possibly reunite me with my brethren?" She detected the brief flash of hope in his eyes.
She gestured to her arm with her head. "My best friend was the host of the kyuubi. He managed to befriend him. He learned that the kyuubi's name is Kurama. I have no doubt that he will be the one to reunite you with your family. What's your name?" She smiled disarmingly at him and pointedly ignored his slacked jaw.
"Remarkable," the beast shook his massive head. Sakura felt the movement rattle every one of her bones. Her teeth clattered together. "Remarkable, I feel Kurama's chakra in you. And on top of that, his chakra has harmed you." The way he said it made it seem more like a statement rather than a question. "And you forgave the boy? You continued to call him friend?" The confusion and the disbelief were clear on his face.
"I love him, of course I forgave him. He's too important to me to not forgive." A tear escaped her eyes as she thought about Naruto's smiling face. "Please let me help you," she begged him again with desperation.
For the longest time the only sound she heard was her own beating heart in her ears. She stared at his yellow eyes while he stared at her green ones. It only took him an instant to remove his paw from her. He turned his back to her again and Sakura felt her heart sink. She had given it her all. She could do no more.
She pushed down the feeling of failure that threatened to consume her whole. She dusted herself off and got to her feet.
"Sadao," she heard him whisper softly from behind her.
Sakura furrowed her brows in confusion. "What?" She asked him apprehensively over her shoulder. Surely her mind was not playing tricks on her. He had said something, she had heard him. She looked to her side to see Akemi beaming at her.
"Sadao," the beast repeated as he looked over his scaly shoulder to meet Sakura's eyes. "My name is Sadao, Sakura." A massive smile dominated her face. In her excitement and joy she launched herself at the desert jinchuurki. She ignored the grunts and threatening sounds he made while she cried wetly against him.
His skin was surprisingly smooth and warm.
Minato pounded his bruised and bleeding fists against the rock hard surface of the lake. He had tried to dive after Sakura but the water had turned solid the second she had slipped through. He had tried everything. None of his jutsus worked against the unrelenting diamond like glass. He even tried to reverse summoning himself to her but that did not work either. Where ever she was, the place was repressing all chakra. He could not get to her. Once again all he could do was wait on the sidelines while she was potentially hurt.
He continued to attack the skin of the lake but he knew there was no use. He had lost her again. He had failed to protect her again. Hot angry tears spilled down his cheeks as he continued to hammer away. Some Hokage he was, he could not even keep his most precious person safe.
She really was apt at making him feel like a failure.
Sakura lofted out of the water with so much force that she was propelled into the air. She swung her arms and legs wildly around her. She watched helplessly as she began to descend at breakneck speeds towards the sharp boulders at the edge of the lake. She was going to be torn to shreds.
She had come up from the depths of the water too quickly so her world was spinning. She could not prevent the extremely painful landing she was in store for. She braced herself for impact.
She was pleasantly surprised when her line of vision met a head of blonde spikes and a pair of rich blue. She was suddenly feeling immensely better. "Minato," she smiled happily as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She pressed her face against his shoulder and watched as he maneuvered them to safety. He moved with such grace that she could help but feel jealous. He was balancing them on a set of two particularly sharp rocks. They resembled wide pikes more than rocks.
Minato tightened his grip around her shoulders and knees as he carefully landed on solid ground. He held her closely against him. "Sakura what happened?" He noted her tear stained cheeks, and the red flesh of her neck and appendages.
"It's a long story," she smiled weakly at him. "You can set me down now." She said quietly as she made a move to break free.
"No, it's fine." He successfully cut off all her attempts by securing her in his arms. He looked down at her with seriousness in his eyes. He was not ready to let her go. "Tell me what happened." He was using his I'm-the-Hokage voice. This tone usually scared even the most brave, strong willed shinobi from their village. But it never quite had the same effect on Sakura.
"You're bleeding on me, porky. I need to take a look at your hands, Minato." She reasoned back at him with defiance set in her features. He signed tiredly as he carefully set her down. She took one look at his hands and clicked her tongue in disapproval. She carefully began her task of reversing the damage. "You know that breaking things with bare hands is my area of expertise, Hokage-sama. You should really leave that to the professionals." She scolded him humorlessly. Her eyes flickered from the hard set of hi face to his bruised appendages.
Minato watched in silence as she healed his bloody, torn, and swollen hands. Sakura grabbed a wad of bandages from her pouch and carefully wrapped the tender skin around his palms. She kissed the wrappings for good measure. It was at this time that Minato noticed the angry, black and red, burnt flesh on her left palm. His eyes asked his question wordlessly.
Sakura looked down at her hand. She brought her glowing fingers and closed the gash as much as she could. All that remained was a thin, tender, red line that ran across the length of her palm. "It's my badge of honor. I remember this day by it." She smiled accomplishedly at him. It meant something to her. His frown did not lesson but he allowed it to slide for now.
"You can tell me what happened while we find the others." Sakura pouted at his words. If she thought he was letting her off this easily than she had another thing coming. He let her loop her arms around his waist and press against his side. He was angry with her but even he had to begrudgingly admit that he liked having her so close to him.
"Fine but only if your promise not to get all judgey, Minato." She beamed up at him. Her green eyes sparkled with life. She looked so free and light. He was happy for her and proud of her. She had succeeded despite everything that was thrown at her. She was the strongest person he ever met and defiantly the most stubborn one as well.
"When have I ever gotten like that?" He asked her in a light tone. Sakura rolled her eyes heavenward and groaned. Of course, Minato could never do wrong. He was perfect.
"Forget that I've ever said anything." She leaned against him even more and sighed in contentment. They would be okay. Everything would be alright, as long as they had something worth protecting.
"There, you're all set." She smiled brightly as she finished healing Choza's leg. She patted his knee for good measure.
"You're awfully chipper," Tsume noted with poorly concealed interest. She stood watching Sakura gather her medical supplies. Sakura refused to throw the hungry hyena a bone.
"Why shouldn't I be? We're all live." She hummed happily as she got to her feet. Minato's cloak brushed the ground as she got up.
"For now anyways," the older woman chuckled as she discretely gestured towards the very angry Hokage and a very sacred Inoichi and Shikaku.
Sakura snorted at Minato's protectiveness and offered to help the Akimichi up. "I'll stay down here for a while, if you don't mind Sakura-san." Tsume was barking in laughter at Choza reluctance to join his team for the tongue lashing of a life time.
Sakura just shrugged and looked over the remaining members of Tsume's squad. All of them were a little harried but still in one piece.
Sakura pressed her fingers against the seals on her head and let out a content sigh. Akemi was still a part of her and what was even better was that she no longer had to get herself almost killed to talk to her.
She was use to having a second presence in her head. She had begrudgingly put up with Inner Sakura for over seventeen years before she suddenly quieted for good. She missed the loud, obnoxious, over the top opinions of her split personality. Having Akemi in her head was a refreshing change of pace and Sakura welcomed her with open arms. Who knows maybe the calm, rational, soothing presence of the woman will help curb Sakura's violent tendencies.
As a bonus, the maiden had promised to teach Sakura how to control the raw chakra. Her lack of mastery of it had almost gotten her killed.
"Oh by the way, when did you guys get here?" She turned to Hizashi with confusion etched in her features.
"Nara-san asked us to accompany behind your squad in case our tracking services were needed. We were ordered to not engage in combat unless we received the signal." His professional tone had a hint of warmth to it. "Neji-kun is doing well." He added answering Sakura's silent question.
"Alright let's head back to Konoha," Minato's clap drew everyone's attention.
"Wait!" Sakura called out to her fellow shinobi. They all turned to look at her with varying degrees of hesitation.
"Shouldn't we, you know, give them a proper send off?" She gestured back to the hideout, in which the fights had taken place.
"You can't be serious?" Tusme gave her a distasteful look. Sakura kicked the dirt near her foot. She could feel all their eyes on her.
"It's just that I think we should at the very least bury them. It would not be respectful to just leave them." Her voice was small but it carried in the clearing.
Silence addressed Sakura's ears as she continued to play with the dirt. She did not have it in her to face them just yet. For right or wrong she felt responsible for their pain and suffering and she hoped that they would find it in their hearts to forgive her, they were good people after all so it was not too much to ask for. "Sure thing, Sakura-chan," she snapped her head and looked at Minato in shock. "It would be the right thing to do." Sakura smiled at him with gratitude.
Minato gestured for Choza and Shibi to follow him. The remaining nin waited in silence for them to return. They were back with the bodies wrapped in what Sakura assumed were sealing scrolls. "Doton: Earth Corridor." She said softly as the earth before her rose. She watched the men place the three bodies in the raised earth. Sakura brought her hands together and the ground mended itself and lowered back down.
It was more than just a proper burial. A small part of her brain refused to believe that Madara would die so easily. Even in his near death state the man should have put up more of a fight. She wanted to appease that part of her brain by burying the man six feet under.
She watched the ground rumble slightly before it stilled completely. She could still not shake the dread that consumed her but she chose not to dwell on it. As far as she was concerned the man was died and he would not cause any more trouble.
"Feel better Sakura?" Minato asked her gently as they left the clearing.
Sakura nodded her head and gave him a small smile. "Thank you, Minato." She could really never thank him enough.
"You've got him totally whipped!" The Inuzuka woman said with a smirk on her face. She was at least mindful to keep her voice down. It would be troublesome if someone else heard. And by someone she meant Inoichi.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Sakura replied innocently. The medic looked at the group of people that were ahead of them. Hizashi and Shibi were leading. Minato was behind them and Shikaku and Inoichi were behind him. It warmed her heart to see how diligently they were working to protect him.
"I remember when you use to be fun," she sniffed in an exaggerated manner. The woman's eyes softened as she regarded the younger kunoichi, her lips twitched upwards. 'I'm happy for you Sakura, he really loves you.' The dog user could not help but think.
"Well what's fun for you does not automatically translate to fun for the rest of us," Sakura said with a wry smile on her face. The Inzuka pushed back the warm feelings.
Tsume mimicked her facial expression. "So when's the wedding?!" Tsume barked in laughter as Sakura flushed and moved up ahead.
"No fun! No Fun!" She yelled in between fits of laughter.
"Now I would say that the mission was a success. Good work all of you." Sakura watched with a soft smile as all the shinobi in the room seemed to brighten at the Hokage's praise. Minato had that effect on people. You just wanted to please him and make him proud.
Shikaku was the first to leave, Choza followed behind him exclaiming about all you can eat barbeque, Inoichi was next, Hizashi's lips turned the slightest bit upward as he met Sakura's eyes before leaving, Shibi left silently, and finally Tsume blatantly winked at her as she made her way out of the office.
Sakura looked down at her hands. She was dreading what was coming next. Minato crossed the length of his desk and leaned against it. From his breathing she could tell he was struggling to contain his emotions. He was human. He was allowed to freak out from time to time. But if history was any indication, it would not be pretty. She would just have to suck it up and take her medicine like a big girl.
"That was the stupidest, most boneheaded, crazy, poorly thought out, insane, suicidal thing I ever had the misfortune to witness." Sakura winced. Each one of his words had struck her like a physical blow. "You could have died, Sakura. You could have died!" She struggled to keep the guilt off her face. He was as close to hysterical as Minato ever got. His eyes blazed with fire that burned her. She lowered her eyes in shame. He was taking the fight right out of her. She did not even know where she would even begin to defend herself.
"Not only that, you risked the lives of everyone in your squad, you were very irresponsible. And selfish, you were extremely selfish." She blinked back the moisture in her eyes. She swallowed the large lump that had formed in her throat. "Look at me Haruno, when I talk to you." The order in his voice was something that she could not deny.
Sakura lifted her head. Her dewy eyes meet his scathing navy pools. He was striking her down with everything he had. He was simply doing his job. He was the Hokage and she was his kunoichi that went against a direct order of his. And now that she had been cleared from the hospital, there was nothing holding him back from going all out. She deserved to be reprimanded. She deserved to be stripped of her rank and forced to work her way back up. He had every right to set her as an example.
This Hokage was not playing around. He did not have favorites. Insolence would not be tolerated under his rule. She would not blame him if he hung her out to dry. But that what her brain was telling her. He was not just the Hokage, he was Minato. He was her Minato. He was the love of her life so it was incredibly hard not to take his words personally. He was merely doing his job but even if she did know that someone had forgotten to tell her heart. It was being rocked with each sentence that left his mouth.
"Well?" He uttered with clearly exasperated features. She blinked at him lethargically. She did not think that she could speak in her current state. "What do you have to say for yourself?" His eyes were boring holes into her. She never felt so exposed in her life before. It was excruciating taking this from him. It was ironic really. Madara's physiologic warfare had nothing on Minato's disappointment. She had failed him. And knowing that was the worst feeling in the world.
'Sorry,' Sakura was not brave enough to just tell him. She was sorry. She was sorry for forcing him to let her leave. She was sorry for putting his best friends in danger. She was sorry for making him allocate so much man power to one mission. She was sorry that he was put in a position where he had to choose her or the village. She was sorry that he had to drop everything and come after her. But most of all she was sorry that she worried him. She was sorry that he was concerned about her. She was sorry for all of it.
And she hoped that her eyes could say what her lips could not. She was sorry that she let him down but she would spend the rest of her life trying to make it up to him if she had too. She heard him sigh loudly. His fingers glided through his hair. He looked haggard and unkempt but she supposed that too was her fault.
She waited in silence for more verbal abuse because in all honestly, she deserved five times more than what he had just dished out. But she was surprised when his hands rubbed her arms soothingly. His hands warmed the goosebumps on her flesh. She felt his fingers tenderly trace the scar she had attained from Naruto's kyuubi cloak. She chanced a glance at him and she thought her heart would melt.
So many emotions were flickering across his eyes that she could not even name half. But the one that caught her attention was relief. He was relieved that she was alive. Above all else, he was relieved and not angry. "I'll be home as soon as I can. I'll cook us dinner, okay?" She just nodded her head dumbly and let her wobbly legs lead her out of the room.
'That was weird,' he had never let her off that easy before.
'He's been through a lot today, flower-chan. He knows that he would have done the same thing so he can't be too mad.' Akemi's voice surprised her. She was still not use to the woman's thoughts in her head.
'Hime back when you said that the God's manipulated the past to eliminate inconsistencies did you mean getting rid of Minato's feelings for Kushina?' Her stomach tightened at the thought that her relationship with the blonde was a product of higher beings.
'Sakura-chan, the God's are powerful but even they cannot force people to fall in or out of love. Everything that man feels for you is genuine. He truly loves you and we had nothing to do with it.' The honesty was easy to detect in her voice. Sakura smiled softly at the woman's words.
It was a massive relief to realize that what they felt was not a lie or trick. Their feelings were genuine and natural and that warmed her heart.
'So you've been watching everything I do?' She asked after a moment of silence. Try as she might but Sakura could not keep the horror out of her voice. Akemi was a part of her subconscious but that part of the brain had access to her every movement.
'I have and I must say. You certainly know how to keep someone entertained.' Sakura blanched at the bell like laugher in her head.
Sakura rested her head against Minato's chest and stared at the dark ceiling silently. "Yes," she said in a clear voice. She knew that Minato was not completely asleep. His breathing had yet to change.
"What?" He shifted to look down at her in a sleepy manner.
"My answer is yes." She repeated looking up at him. She smoothed out his furrowed brow with her fingers.
"You're answer to what?" His eyes were getting clearer and clearer with each passing moment.
Sakura pursed her lips and sighed exasperatedly. It was typical Minato to ask her something earth shattering and then forget completely about it. "Come on Minato. You know what I'm talking about."
"Honestly Sakura, I don't," the grin on his face said otherwise. He was going to make her spell it out. Oh, how she detested him sometimes.
Sakura huffed and turned her back to him. "Fine then, obviously it's not important to you." She repressed a grin at the sound of her voice. She sounded hurt and vulnerable. She had spent years mastering it. It was the same tone that got her out of trouble with Kakashi, Naruto, and any male, really.
Minato immediately pressed her against her chest. He nuzzled her head with his cheek. "Sakura-chan, don't be sad!" His voice was extremely sing-songy and playful. It reminded her of Naruto and for the first time, his memory did not cause her pang of remorse.
Sakura shrugged him off. "How can I not be? I'm in love with an idiot!" She flipped onto her back and scowled at him.
"You love me?" A sly smile stretched across his lips. His eyes had a glint in them that promised trouble. Sakura pushed her better judgment aside and pushed on.
"That's all you got from that? Honestly do you even listen to me?" Minato pushed himself onto his elbow and looked down at her. She fought back an involuntarily quiver.
"Just the important parts." His nose rubbed against her jaw in a very distracting manner. It was hard to feign anger and hurt when he was doing that. He really knew just how to push her buttons.
"Such as?" Sakura ran her fingers through his hair and he placed feather light kisses down her neck. He would be the death of her. At least she would die with a large smile on her face.
"Hmm," he hummed against her throat. "Such as you saying you love me and agreeing to marry me." Sakura gently tugged at his hair. He looked up at her in surprise. Her emerald gaze met his slightly confused cerulean.
"Well then you better deliver mister," she said in a low voice while tracing his bicep.
"Deliver?" His voice was husky and it was driving her crazy.
"I distinctly remember you promising me, now what was it? Oh right, more?" She looked at his shocked face with glee. She had him right where she wanted him.
A low chuckle rumbled in his throat. "And here I pegged you for an innocent little kunoichi." She was on her back looking up at him. His arms were on either side of her head. In the past this would have terrified her but now she found it exhilarating.
She smiled at him coyly. "You're a very bad influence, Yondaime-sama." And when Minato made his next move she could think was 'finally.'
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