Sakura ran the tip of her tongue along the top perimeter of her gums. The past few days she'd been experiencing some discomfort there, as if the gums were swollen.

Every day she asked Kabuto if he had made any progress on her DNA and every day he told her he was getting close. Speaking of Kabuto...

Kabuto had knocked on her bedroom door early that morning to explain he would be leaving the base to go pick up her parents at a designated checkpoint. They would then be led the remainder of their journey blindfolded. This was necessary to protect the base's secret location as well as her parents from becoming victims to anyone looking for Orochimaru.

Hence she found herself standing near the front door, trying and failing to be patient. Sakura had been so distracted by the news of her parents coming to visit that she had made very little progress on her antidote.

"Who are you waiting for?"

Sakura nearly jumped at the voice directly behind her. She turned to see Suigetsu standing there, giving her the curious eye. She had been so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn't even heard the silver haired mist nin's approach.

"My parents. Kabuto is bringing them." she answered, seeing no reason to hide this information.

"Oh really? Mind if I join you then?" he asked casually.

Sakura gave him a critical look, why would he want to meet her parents? She felt another chakra signature, this one much more familiar.

"Suigetsu. Have you seen Kabuto?" Sasuke asked, completely ignoring Sakura's existence. Karin was predictably right behind him. She narrowed her eyes at Sakura who responded by turning around and giving them the cold shoulder.

"He's not here right now. I'm actually waiting for him." Suigetsu answered.

Ah, that explained it. He was more interested in Kabuto than meeting her parents. That made a lot more sense actually.

Together they stood in silence. Well...Sasuke and Sakura stood in silence while Suigetsu and Karin argued as was their usual routine. Five minutes later they were silently joined by Juugo and then fifteen minutes later by Orochimaru himself. The latter seemed to find pleasure in egging either Karin or Suigetsu into escalating their verbal fight.

Kami this is getting awkward. Sakura thought as she shifted in place. Just then the lock on the door clicked, swinging open to reveal Kabuto swathed in a traveling cloak and hat.

"Ah, what are you all doing here?" he asked, stepping to the side so two other similarly dressed figures could enter.

"Dad? Mom?" Sakura asked, taking one step forward. She noticed Sasuke stiffen out of the corner of her eye but didn't care enough to wonder why. Kabuto was reaching towards the first figure, hands pulling back with a length of cloth. The conical hat tipped back to reveal her father's blue eyes.

"There's my little girl!" he exclaimed, leaping forward to hug his daughter. In his sudden excitement the hat he had been wearing fell off, freeing spiky pink hair.

There was a moment of silence where everyone stared. Then Suigetsu burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"Kizashi? What's going on?" her mother asked as Kabuto struggled to untie her blindfold. Finally it came loose in time for her to witness her husband lift and swing their daughter around. "Oh for heaven's sake! She's not five anymore Kizashi!" she handed her hat and cloak to a waiting Kabuto.

"Don't care!" The pink haired man cried actual tears of joy. Sakura was clinging tightly to him, just as elated only a lot more subtle about it.

She had always been somewhat of a daddy's girl.

By now Sasuke had stalked off with Karin close behind. Suigetsu was bent over double, wheezing for air between laughs. Juugo stood in the background, silently observing the chaos.

"Welcome to Otogakure. I hope your stay here is comfortable." Orochimaru said, sliding up to Sakura's mother and kissing the back of her hand. "I am Orochimaru, and you are?"

"Mebuki Haruno." she replied, pulling her hand back a little to quickly than was polite. "That is my husband, Kizashi Haruno."

"A pleasure to meet you both." Orochimaru smiled. "Please, if you require anything let Kabuto know and he will accommodate you." He motioned towards the medic currently hanging up their cloaks. Orochimaru then took his leave, ushering Juugo and a still laughing Suigetsu to do the same.

Kizashi finally stopped spinning his daughter around so she could dizzily wobble her way to her mother for a hug. Mebuki's green eyes warmed as she was finally able to hold her only child.

The touching moment ended when Kabuto spoke.

"I'm afraid I must go as well. I've been gone for most of the day and should check on those I left in charge. I'm sure the three of you have much to catch up on anyway. I'll make sure more bedding is brought to your room tonight. See you at lock in."

"Lock in?" Mebuki asked, fluffing her blond hair where the hat had flattened it.

"It's a long story. Why don't we talk in my room?" Sakura suggested, leading them forward.