Thank you for the supportive reviews!
WHOOPP! another chapter so soon!
Quick reminder that this fic is a part of a multi fic series – it'll be complete in like 5 chapters (I'm so proud of my progress in this and how close we are) and then I'll post part 2 – which follows the journey of Sasuke and Boruto and Kawaki! So soon we'll see more of other characters as well! So enjoy these last few chapters because it'll be awhile before I return to Sarada-chan!
Disclaimer: Not mine. Also warning: usual depictions of violence for this fandom
Chapter 16
Heading home, there were a few small conversations about the ways a ninja could utilize the sustainability stone, but overall it was focused silence. They've lost a lot of chakra and stamina over the mission, and the run back to the village across two countries is much more direct and quick but also tiresome and they all hurry back to the village.
They take two stops – one taking turns taking naps to restore some energy when they cross back to Rain Country, and another when they finally, finally pass the border back into Fire Country.
They settle for another night, this time instead of camp they go to another inn. Their downstairs Dango shop is famously good and ninja friendly.
It's a bright afternoon when their village is only a couple of hours away, and the group slows to a walk, the Jonin feeling it's safe enough to relax a little.
Hanabi and Moegi seem to be discussing Kara in hushed voices, and the other Genin speculate about what the other artifacts being guarded now could be. ('I bet there's a real water dragon in Kiri.' 'Not again Wasabi.' 'What?! Weird stuff always happens there, it's the hidden MIST!' 'So troublesome.') Sarada keeps her eyes forward, hard feelings gone but doubts still lingering from the overall ordeal now that the mission is nearly done and over with.
Sumire slides next to Sarada on the walk and leans closer, speaking softly. Sarada is sure she won't be overheard by anyone else.
The words are blunt. "I was dangerous to my friends once too." The purple haired girl's eyes seem much older than 12. It's not the pale empty Hyuga purple. It's steely and deep dark and full of things her friend is really good at hiding. "And Boruto told me they wouldn't care, as long as I was okay and didn't leave them." She smiles nostalgically. "Sarada, don't distance yourself from us… I know what you're going through and we don't care. Besides, who better to handle being your friends than a bunch of ninja?" She grins encouragingly, and gives Sarada her space.
Wasabi asks loudly about the blackberries as a distraction that is fairly obvious but also much welcome and Sumire and Sarada share an amused glance. They tell the story of the giant raccoon that escaped from training grounds 3 to invade their training. Sarada allows herself to be cheered up a bit if only for the amused tilt to Hanabi's lips as she listens in.
Once things calm down and they're walking comfortably again, Sarada politely tunes out Namida's voice as the kunoichi walks close to Sumire and gently asks her how her summons is doing.
Walking should be driving her crazy by this point, but instead she's content watching the forests around their direct path to the main gates of Konoha. She's missed them. This. Home.
Rain and Rock countries are rather miserable in comparison, although maybe she's fonder of this atmosphere because it's nostalgic.
"Woop!" Wasabi jumps up with more energy than Sarada can think to muster right now and she's a bit impressed. "The front gates! We totally made it!"
Namida hops happily. "We did it! An SSS-class mission!" she smiles, burying her chin hidden by her palms. Her comfy jacket still damaged, and would likely need to be replaced.
As they head through the direct main path into Konoha they're joined by merchants and travelers and other passing fellow Konoha shinobi. They even spot one ANBU which is always exciting.
"I think Fox." Sarada joins in the speculation that follows.
"No way! That mask looked nothing like a fox!" Inojin patronizes, horrible as always when it comes to art and believing he can see the true intent of the ANBU masks no matter what but there's no way it was a horse. Fox is cooler anyways.
"Hey, that's your dad." Wasabi points, elbowing Shikadai.
Nara Shikamaru seems to be pestering the front gates guards as they approach.
Shikadai groans. "Is he serious? I can make it through a mission without breaking my neck, thank you very much." He says, frowning at his dad's concern. Nobody mentions his slight blush.
Or that he broke his shoulder.
They hear a familiar voice behind them.
"Oh, looks like we made it right after you guys, huh?!" cheerfully.
They turn to see Lord Seventh smiling at them, carrying on his back –
"Mom?" Inojin blinks, eyes widening slowly when he realizes what he's seeing. He jumps forward, eyes never leaving his mother.
"Finally, you two!" Shikamaru-san's grumpy voice calls, appearing right next to Inojin and glaring at his former teammate and Hokage.
Their entire group moved closer to the pair as well, concerned.
"Haha, sorry sorry. Didn't mean to make you worry, Shikamaru." Naruto says calmly.
"Ino-san, are you well?" Hanabi-sensei asks calmly.
"My damn chakra ran out!" Ino Yamanaka snarls, her long blond ponytail whipped back in her annoyance. "Naruto had to carry me like some weakling." She huffs.
"Hey now, the hospital can patch your leg just as well as you could have." Naruto tries to appease.
"Phht. Just take me straight to Sakura." Ino grumbles and turns to Shikamaru-san. "Shikamaru did you get the Intel I sent you?"
Shikamaru-san nods. "Loud and clear, just couldn't respond. Don't worry, we've sent a team."
Ino seems very relieved. "Good, I wasn't sure with that distance if it'll reach." She looks around. "Where's my husband?"
"Sai volunteered to be the head of the pursuit team." Shikamaru-san tells her with satisfaction.
Ino blinks and bursts in laughter. "Hahahahaha! They're so dead! Shikamaru didn't you want any of them back here for questioning?"
Moegi-sensei's lips twitch like she's fighting her amusement.
Shikamaru raises his eyebrow. "Sai promised to behave."
Ino reaches past Naruto and puts a hand on Shikamaru's shoulder. "He's a really good liar." Like it should be obvious. Then she turns to Naruto. "And he's supposedly a genius."
Lord Seventh smirks happily at Shikamaru-san's displeased expression. With their constant bickering, Sarada knows Seventh loves it when Shikamaru gets slammed by his old teammates.
"Mom!" Inojin's voice raises, impatient.
Aunt Ino blinks down, finally looking at him, before hopping off Seventh's back and with one leg jumps on her son, hugging him tightly.
"Awwwww! My lovely son, are you worried about your Mommy?!" she screeches happily and wow she loves aunt Ino but that has to be a bit embarrassing.
Sarada turns to hide her shaking laughter form a fully blushing Inojin.
"Don't worry your Mom's super cool!"
"Mom! Let! Go!" Inojin begs.
"Oi, should you be moving around so much?" Shikamaru-san grumbles, resemblance to his son uncanny.
"Ehhhh? I'm totally fine except for this stupid leg!" Aunt Ino yells at him, still hopping on one foot.
"Here" Hanabi-sensei steadies her with one hand guiding Ino by the elbow not to trip.
"Hey Ino, the barrier –" Shikamaru is cut off mid-sentence.
"Don't start scolding, I already patched it up and reconnected with it as soon as Naruto and I came through the parameters." Ino says, half glaring at her old teammate.
Shikamaru rolls his eyes, but Sarada can see he's relieved. "Fine."
"How went your mission everyone?" Ino looks around their exhausted expressions of the six Genin.
The genin look at each other, unsure how to answer.
"Ino-san you're back!" a sweet high voice rings across them all.
Ino finally lets go of Inojin to see Himawari Uzumaki run towards them with a smile big enough to rival the Hokage's.
"Hime-chan!" Ino smiles at the small girl.
"Are you okay?" Himawari's face frowns with concern like Hinata-san does, bright blue eyes slightly watery.
Ino pretends to look offended. "Of course I am!"
"I helped with flower deliveries while you were gone!" she tells her proudly.
Ino glows at the girl. "Oh! Good girl! Thank you!"
Himawari smirks, proud. "Hehe. Papa I got praised!" she shows off.
"Lucky! I only got yelled at, somehow." Naruto sighs dramatically.
"You were late!" Aunt Ino tells him, unapologetic, swaying a little on one foot, finally starting to lose balance.
"Come on, I'll help you to the clinic." Hanabi-sensei says, leading Ino with her inside the village.
"But what happened?!" Inojin finally snaps, dragging his heavy bag frustratingly.
Shikamaru-san pulls him close to him, his arm around Inojin's shoulders. "C'mon kid, no point worrying now that everything's over." He says, sauntering with Inojin after Hanabi and Ino, both listening politely as Himawari prattles on excitedly about a big dog she met on her deliveries.
Shikadai rushes to them, poking his dad with questions. "Dad, come on what happened?!"
"How was your mission, Moegi?" Naruto asks curiously, following them inside the village accompanied by Moegi-sensei, Sarada, Sumire, Wasabi, and Namida.
"Could've been worse." Is Moegi-sensei's uninspiring response.
Naruto nods as though that is good news. Perhaps it is. "Excellent!"
"Is Aunt Ino going to be alright?" Sarada finally asks, glancing at how angry her friend seems tucked under Shikamaru-san's shoulder. Shikamaru-san's grip effectively stopping Inojin from rushing to his mom and demanding questions.
"Mm, she's really barely hurt, Sarada-chan." Naruto tells her warmly, and Sarada can't help but feel like everything will be alright.
I want it. To be him. To be able to settle others' fears with a single comforting expression and a promise. To be able to right all wrongs. To be able to make a difference and to be a comfort for people, not something they're wary of might grow and attack them.
"Just drop it, Shikadai! It's all settled!" they hear Shikamaru-san's annoyed voice from up ahead, finally snapping at Shikadai's pestering. "If you want to be worried about someone, worry about Cho-Cho!" I don't think I've ever heard him snap before.
Inojin and Shikadai snap to stare at the older man.
"What happened to Cho-Cho?!" they both echo.
Sarada runs up to catch up to them, the other three girls following her.
"What's that about Cho-Cho?" Sarada asks politely, frowning.
"Well, your friend is, how do I say this?" Lord Seventh sighs.
"Is she okay?" Moegi-sensei asks sharply, eyes flashing dangerously and protectively.
"She's suspended from shinobi work for a month." Shikamaru tells them bluntly.
"Well, that's not how I would've said it." Naruto raises his eyebrow disapprovingly at Shikamaru-san, who only shrugs in response.
Wasabi shakes her head. "Seriously, how long were we away from home?"
"Almost two weeks." Sumire does the math quickly, and gets an approving nod from Seventh.
"I guess we've missed some things…" Namida mutters, glancing at Ino begrudgingly accepting Hanabi-sensei's assistance.
"Why is she suspended, Dad?!" Shikadai asks tersely. "What did she do?"
"Where do I start?" Shikamaru-san's eyebrow twitches.
"Well, she's a very driven young ninja." Naruto grins, but looks burdened as well.
"Where is she?" Moegi-sensei asks, looking between Seventh and Shikamaru-san.
"Hospital." Shikamaru-san says harshly.
"Is she -?!" Shikadai pales, green eyes widening in fear.
"No. It's Chouji." Shikamaru-san says, voice still tight and Sarada's beginning to think it might not be anger at all.
There's a tense silence as everyone is walking. Nobody needs to say it out loud to know they're heading to the hospital.
Sarada gives no mind to the fact that she's still carrying her backpack with the dirty wet coat and clothes from their long mission. She doubts the others care as well.
A woman with fiery red hair waist-length and dark skin stands in the waiting room with her back to them all, back straight and stiff, unmoving.
On the other side, on one of the chairs, sits Cho-Cho, holding her knees to her chest.
"Cho-Cho?" Shikadai phrases it as a question, and walks over to her.
Ino is set down carefully on another vacant chair, wincing. Inojin sits next to her, looking conflicted about what to be upset about more, so Sarada goes to Cho-Cho's other side.
Cho-Cho doesn't react that they're there. Her hair is a mess and her white sleeveless kimono dirty and battle worn with bits of ash and concrete dust covering it giving it a white overall color.
Some healers rush pass.
"Shizuna-oneesan." Sarada spots the black haired woman.
Shizuna stops by them when Ino hisses as she shifts her weight.
"Ino? What's wrong with your leg?" Shizuna comes over to them.
"Never mind that, how's Chouji?" Ino asks.
Cho-Cho's mother turns slightly, listening intently.
"We still don't know, but Sakura's getting tired so I'll replace her for a bit and she can restore her chakra for a while." While she explains everything calmly and assuring, her voice carrying across the entire waiting area, she's also healing Ino's leg not looking like it's any hard work or requires any form of concentration.
Sarada has some basic idea of how complicated and difficult medic-ninjutsu is, and while her mom's the best in her books, Shizuna is the only one Sarada knows who has the gift of managing to make it appear as easy as breathing and almost fun.
"Thank you, Shizuna-san." Lord Seventh tells her gently, grinning awkwardly at the tense situation.
She nods, satisfied with Ino's leg, and swoops out of the room through the doors leading to the emergency room.
It's half an hour later that Sarada's mom comes in through the doors, tired but eyes sharp, pink hair tied back.
Like pieces of metal, Cho-Cho and her mother gravitate towards her.
Sakura's eyes scan the waiting room quickly, lingering a moment longer on Sarada to scan her for visible injuries. "He's stable, but still weak. We're raising his vitals right now, but with enough recovery time he should be fine. No shinobi work for three weeks." Sakura informs them all, her focus on the two family members.
The woman with the red hair sighs heavily. "Thank you, Sakura."
Sakura nods. "Of course, Kurai."
Cho-Cho suddenly tears off her headband, looking down at it.
"Useless." She calls.
"Cho-Cho!" Kurai-san says sharply, glancing at Naruto.
"I'm so useless!" Cho-Cho's voice breaks.
Kurai's strict features soften.
"He had to… I couldn't even save my own Dad…hic hic, he had to save him and I just…hic."
Drops softly fall on the engraved Leaf shinobi symbol, sliding off the metal onto the floor.
Kurai places a hand comfortingly on her daughter's bowed head.
"Do not break child. Grow. You are young. Grow." She says, as if watering her.
"I second that." Lord Seventh says, grinning kindly at Cho-Cho. "Take this month to regroup, and come back smarter. Is that a deal?" She doesn't answer him, but Naruto doesn't seem like he expected an answer. "Well, Ino?"
Ino sighs heavily, but with a reassuring nod from Sakura that her old teammate will really make a full recovery with time, she nods and gets up.
"I'll see you at home, Inojin." She presses her fingers on his shoulder before leaving with Naruto and Shikamaru, who gives Kurai an apologetic look for being unable to stay.
"Shikadai." Shikamaru says, and then leaves.
Shikadai looks up at his Dad, watching him until he's gone from sight. He looks at Inojin, who's frowning at the wall, unsure what to be demanding to know about first.
Sumire, Wasabi, and Namida stand at the corner, trying not to impose, next to Hanabi-sensei who's calmly leaning on a wall where she wouldn't be in the way of any of the passing medic-nin.
Moegi-sensei stands next to Kurai, exchanging quiet conversation with the worried woman.
Shikadai and Sarada exchange looks. Sarada shakes her head – nothing makes sense to her either.
Cho-Cho sniffs, hand coming up to wipe her face. She finally looks up; red rimmed eyes avoiding everyone.
"…How did your mission go?" Cho-Cho asks, voice barely quivering.
Well, if she wants to ignore the loaded tension in the air – or that they're at the hospital – Sarada supposes that's what friends are for.
"Hanabi-sensei kicked all of our asses into the mud. It was awesome." Sarada tells her.
That gets her a raised eyebrow from her mom, but Cho-Cho grins, and its bittersweet.
Sarada will take it.
"You seem particularly energetic this evening, Sarada-chan." Lee-san smiles encouragingly, his teeth somehow sparkling as he does. "Excellent!"
Sarada pants, her chest raising and falling. Team Hanabi-sensei left shortly after Chocho's dad came out of immediate danger, heading to the Inuzuka vet clinic to have a look at Nue. After that, they slowly dispersed, too tired to stay long after returning from such a long term mission. Having spent the entire afternoon after a quick shower sleeping her mission fatigue off, she woke up with frustrations in spades that both Aunt Ino and Cho-Cho have somehow been harmed while she's been away. Aunt Ino, according to rumors around the village, was kidnapped to hurt Konoha's protective barrier. Sarada still hasn't gotten the whole story from Cho-Cho.
"Yes, Sarada's growing into the spirit of youth, Papa!" Metal smiles, throwing his fist in the air, barely worked up unlike Sarada who's already feeling her muscles complaining.
Sarada shakes her head at him quickly behind Lee-san's back, worried about what she already knows the duo is planning. They're not very subtle.
"I have an announcement!" Lee calls, drawing them away from the weights they've been tossing to the distance (no chakra enhancing to add strength allowed for Sarada).
I'm not leaving tonight without ending up in a green jumpsuit, am I?
"That's really not – " her voice goes unheard at Lee-san's speech.
"Sarada, now that you've passed the first few levels of Taijutsu mastery with us,"
Sarada stares at him – has she? Standing next to Metal, it sure doesn't feel like it, but then again, they've been training for years in just Taijutsu so she shouldn't have expected to catch up so easily.
"We'll add Shurikenjutsu to our evening training as well, and combine the two!"
Sarada blinks. "Are you serious?"
"Yeah, we usually train with tools in the late mornings, when Aunt Ten-Ten attacks us with an arsenal of weapons." Metal grins like it's completely normal. It's not; Sarada's seen Ten-Ten-san's collection… It strikes Sarada how incredible it is that Metal survived his childhood enough to become her friend at the academy.
"We figured with you favoring Shuriken like you do, it'll be a nice combination." Lee nods, teeth brilliant and bright. "And a nice challenge for Metal-kun and myself."
"Thank you." Sarada says, hesitant. "Are you sure, Lee-san? Shurikenjutsu is a combination of-"
"Taijutsu and Ninjutsu." Lee-san nods. "Yes, which is why we'll work on your form when throwing them together, but you'll be the sole attacker and we'll hold you off with only Taijutsu. It won't be much different from our practices with Ten-Ten, just perhaps not as bloody." He acknowledges, like that's a sad thing, but he's willing to sacrifice that much. "Now that your stamina has been raised, we'll also focus on your flexibility – it'll be imperative for a long ranged shuriken user."
Aware that they're changing their schedules to help her, she bows and grins. "Thank you."
Lee-san waves her off. "Be ready for tomorrow and bring all the shuriken you've got. And call me Lee-sensei! Since you've passed the test period that my other apprentices over the years didn't!"
"Yes!" she calls. As the residing taijustu master in a great shinobi village, it makes sense Genin will come to him for guidance if they're interested in advancing at it. That none of them stood his vigorous first test of resilience is surprising…but also not really, she thinks, glancing at all the weights they've been tossing without chakra tonight. She decidedly cannot feel her arms, which is a feeling she's long since used to associating with Lee and Metal.
She'll have to be ready for tomorrow and bring everything she's got – she knows if it's too easy to evade her attacks it'll frustrate them. If they're helping her out, she should at least make it challenging for the pair.
"And Sarada-chan."
Sarada nods, returning to attention.
"Don't hold back." the Jonin said, for once serious. "Now, onto something even more important. You can feel honored that you've been gifted –"
Sarada should've known. She really really should've known.
A green spandex appears in Lee-sensei's hands. "- something only few were privileged to wear!"
Next to her, Metal's eyes are shining in happy camaraderie.
Sarada looks from one extremely excited face to another identical one.
Oh well…I hope Papa doesn't disinherit me for this… and Inojin never sees me in it.
"…Thank you very much." She says humbly, a little in defeat.
Lee-sensei and Metal then proceed to explain to her the many places wearing the jumpsuit will assist her, and all of its amazing functions, while Sarada's mentally listing reasons why you shouldn't burn gifts with one's trademark Uchiha fire jutsu. When Lee-sensei suggests she arrives wearing it for tomorrow's practice, she's viciously pleased to realize she'll be attacking them with full force soon enough. She kind of can't wait to throw some shuriken at them, if she's honest.
Reminded of Ten-Ten Sarada drags herself to her store that night, just before closing, to collect her order.
"Oh, Sarada-chan!" Ten-Ten calls in greeting upon seeing her.
"Hello." She bows politely and tries to hide her wince from the older kunoichi. Lee-sensei's training leaves her so sour. "I came for the erring."
"Hi!" Ten-Ten hums, going to get her order from behind the counter.
Sarada walks around the displays, checking out the different weapons wondering if she should get some to try on Lee-sensei and Metal.
"Here it is. Quite a masterpiece, truly. Shouldn't melt from fire ninjutsu or take damage from water and wind ninjutsu either, just like ninja weapons. And look – it's so pretty!" Ten-Ten hands her the box.
Sarada opens it and the artwork is beautiful; a small fan, red and white after the Uchiha clan symbol, dangling off a short erring, small and unobtrusive but easily recognizable.
Sarada looks at Ten-Ten's pleased smile and feels her stomach fall. After what Moegi-sensei said in their mission, Sarada knew she can't wear it carelessly like she wanted to.
"…Thank you very much." Sarada says, knowing you can't ask for refund for special orders. Well, maybe it'll still be okay to wear inside the village…
"Please come back soon, valued costumer!" Ten-Ten-san sings in goodbye and Sarada is about to leave, rather dejected, when she remembers something.
"Ten-Ten-san, maybe I shouldn't ask, but a shinobi is supposed to use any means in their disposal…"
Ten-Ten at least looks intrigued. "This isn't you and Yamanaka-kun asking me to mentor you again, is it?"
"Not this time." Because even though that idea is still cool even she has enough on her plate for right now. "It's about Lee-san and Metal."
The older woman raises a brown eyebrow curiously. "Oh those two, this should be fun."
"I'm hoping to make it fun." She mutters before asking "How close to deadly are they really okay with, when somebody attacks them as a training exercise?"
Ten-Ten grins smugly and happily answers her.
The next day Sarada meets up with Inojin, listening to him vent his annoyance at his clan.
"So let me get this right, your mom gets taken by enemies and the elders freak out realizing they need more barrier experts." When Inojin nods Sarada whistles, sipping from her milkshake. "If that isn't the most self centered thing I've heard of…"
"Now, I'm having intense training every day in Barrier Jutsu. It's ridiculous! Mom's the best at it in the entire clan anyways, not like me studying it now will make any difference for years until I've mastered how the village barrier works. They should be more focused on making sure Mom's safer, not pestering me. Like I don't train most of the day already." Inojin sighs, leaning back on the couch at the hamburger restaurant.
Sarada knows it annoys Inojin that the training his clan elders are forcing onto him comes at the price of his painting time. "Even if they're not thinking about it, I'm sure Shikamaru-san and Seventh are going to do everything they can so Aunt Ino has no openings for enemies to take advantage of again. They'll keep her safe, don't worry."
Inojin keeps his eyes focused on his milkshake straw. "If I learned it when I was little I could've taken over for her. Then there'd be no reason for them to kidnap my Mom."
"You're too young, Inojin. You won't be able to leave the village most of the time. You won't get to see anything new."
"My mom-!"
"Has lived a life before she settled into her role as the one maintaining the barrier protecting the village." Sarada reminds him. Hell she fought a war. An end-of-the-world-is-at-the-balance war.
Inojin's expression is cleaner than normal, and Sarada knows he's trying to calm himself down. If Sai-san taught his son anything, it's always been his ability to work at calming his emotions to think through them, and focus on logic.
Sarada always found it similar to how she has to push away some of her bitter thoughts and clean her head. There's a reason beyond their moms being best friends that they both got a long well since they were little.
"Right. But I'll have to, won't I? Eventually." Inojin says, looking down at the food intently. The 'even if I don't want to' stays unspoken.
"No." Sarada tells him honestly, and he finally looks up at her, confused. "You don't. Your clan will tell you that you do, but you don't and I know your parents won't force you against your will. Your mom will keep up the job for as long as she can and then she can pass it over to one of your cousins. I mean, sure, they'd prefer to keep it in the main household, but your parents are much less traditional than the elders, and scarier." Sarada tells him, thinking of Sai-san who babysat her most of her childhood during flu seasons along with taking care of Inojin by himself and still she can't imagine calling him uncle Sai for the singular fact that she knows he'll smile at her when she does – and Sai's smiles are the scariest thing in the world.
Inojin shrugs, picking up his burger and taking a bite so he won't have to answer.
They eat in comfortable silence, sometimes making small comments about things that changed when they were gone. Eventually they finished lunch and threw away their trays.
"Chubbers hasn't talked yet." Inojin says lightly.
"Hasn't told me either, but…" Sarada shrugs when Inojin glances at her. "She came early for training this morning. And for once, she was really motivated."
"When do you guys meet up?"
"Dawn."
Inojin gapes at her, before chuckling. "You threatened her to get her up that early, didn't you?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Sure, Uchiha. So what are the plans for today?"
"Another cat retrieval mission, and I need to set up an attack on a jonin that's good enough he's not bored." Shikamaru-san told her this morning she'll be promptly returning to her vital cat missions again, with an expression that said clearly 'you mess with me brat, you pay for it'. And who knows what Lee-san will do if he's bored.
Inojin nods like it makes perfect sense. "I got practice with Moegi-sensei, so I need a fire resistant suit and see if there's a ninjutsu that lets you breath under water."
Sarada nods, because now that she knows Moegi-sensei a little better, that statement also makes perfect sense.
"See 'ya."
"Later."
The pair of friends wave and separate.
Sarada makes her way to the Hokage's building.
POFF!
"Yo, Sarada! It's been a while!"
Sarada walks calmly around the figure that appeared before her.
"Hey hey, Kore! So rude." Konohamaru sighs heavily and jogs to catch up with her. "If this is now, how will I survive when you guys are teenagers?" He grumbles. "Hold up!"
Sarada rolls her eyes and stops. "Konohamaru-sensei, how was your vacation."
Konohamru cocks his head in confusion. "What vacation? Anyways, I see you got Shikamaru-san to hand you D-rank missions, not bad. I've gotten the afternoon off, so I'll join you." He waves a scroll in his hand. "I've already got the mission details, so let's go!" He calls, looking excited.
Gotten the afternoon off from WHAT? Shikadai did say he thought all the shinobi were up to something during their SSS-class mission. Has there been an actual reason for Konohamaru-sensei's absence?
Sarada shrugs and Konohamaru whoops. "Alright, let's go team 7!"
"Half of team 7." Sarada mutters, as they head to the west forest out of the village.
Konohamaru-sensei pets her on her head. "The best half!" he calls, grinning. "So, how was your ultra cool secret mission with Moegi and Hanabi-san?" he asks, blue scarf flying behind him at a ridiculous length as usual.
"It was pretty cool." She admits, especially after only cat missions. "Do you know what happened to Cho-Cho?"
Konohamaru-sensei shakes his head. "You should ask your friend, Sarada, she'll tell you when she's ready."
"…I see, you don't know." Sarada says calmly, knowing it's bound to get a rise out of her sensei.
"Hey! I totally know! I'm just giving you my very awesome advice, brat!"
Sarada hums. "Sure you do, Sensei."
Konohamaru's eyebrow twitches.
The mission goes by longer than usual. Konohamaru took this mission as an opportunity for Sarada to practice traps in the forest and they set up several with wires and large rabbit traps modified not to harm the cat. Eventually it took longer, but it was more fun. Sarada didn't realize she could both complete the cat missions and practice something practical at the same time.
"Thank you very much." The cat owner told them happily, smothering the hissing cat once they've returned it.
"Happy to help, Ma'am!" Konohamaru-sensei says cheerfully. They bow their goodbyes and head back to the central part of the village. "So, how's your training?" Konohamaru-sensei asks, looking a bit sheepish.
Sarada gives him an accusing glare. "Fine. Seventh spoke to me."
"Ah yes, I asked him to help you. He meant it when he said you'd receive whatever resources you need. Have you found your focus?"
Sarada's anger levels fall down to mere annoyance, secretly pleased her sensei didn't completely forget her. "No, the mission sort of side-tracked me." She remembers she still hasn't gone to the Sealing Unit. Remembering the complicated fuijutsu placed on the Sustainability Stone, it might be really cool to learn sealing. Then she decides she might ask for his help, feeling a bit nervous about this evening. "I've been training with Lee-san…"
Konohamaru-sensei's expression is slightly surprised at that. She tells him the story, as he listens and 'oh's and 'hmm's every once in a while. "So, I guess I'm unsure how to pose a challenge to someone like him." she admits, shoulders slumped.
"Well if he asked you to, that already means he trusts that you can." Konohamaru-sensei says. "And you're already on the right track having asked Ten-Ten-san after Lee confirmed she'd know what their weak points are. Let's prepare the grounds, just like we caught the cat, yeah?" her teacher smirks at her. "We've got a few hours, I'm sure we can set up a pretty cool playground for the enthusiastic duo."
Sarada's eyes alight with ideas suddenly. In the old Uchiha compound she had found a whole crate of giant shuriken, rusty but edges still sharp.
"Yes, sensei!"
Kyaa hope you're excited, next chapter we'll see Sarada's progress in this fic! Mostly after that we'll see a bit less missions and more inner-village plot! Hope this redeems konohmaru a little as a sensei (some things are going on without Sarada's knowledge since she's a genin, after all, so she isn't aware of everything)
Poor Chocho was due a dose of motivation, and this chapter shows the beginning of her will of fire! What the heck happened in Kiri? Who won, Allied Forces or Kara? Who knows! (I do, but like, that's it *evil laughter*)
Don't worry about Nue, she'll be okay. She's a bit like a bijuu in that most of her mass is comprised of chakra – either Sumire's or the chakra she sucked out of others when she was an academy student. Sumire (while everyone was busy fighting) sneakily sucked the bad Kara agents' chakra when she could and the chakra pills she took also helped. The Inuzaka clan's got it from here.
Inojin has real ass problems at 12 – mom was kidnapped, one day I will never again be allowed out of this village until I die. UGH. Poor kid.
Himawari-chan welcome to this fic! I've been meaning to include you for-wait for it –EVER! In case some of you have forgotten since I've posted it almost years ago, bf he left Boruto asked sarada to look out for his sister, and well, she completely forgot… but hey, she had a lot going on… sort of…
Tell me what other characters you'd like to see more of, in the village, in the upcoming chapters, in the comments! (except for: missing members of team 7, Sasuke, Kawaki, and the other kages and Suna genin team)
A little spoiler – next ch we'll see Kakashi [who's ridiculously difficult to write, btw]
Byeeeeeeee!