A/N: Here's the next chapter!

Also, please note: the currency used is going to be the Japanese yen. Hence, 10,000 yen is approximately 100 US dollars.


Chapter 22: In the Streets of Konoha


By the time the group had awoken again, Tsunade and Noh had taken short naps themselves, and Noh had been assigned to walk through Konoha with Sakura for a little shopping spree for clothes and other necessities.

The guards hadn't suspected a thing when the two strolled on in with their IDs, thankfully, and thus the ladies were able to head up to Konoha's main street, where Sakura remembered that a certain shopping center was located.

She couldn't help but stare around as they both walked. "I honestly can't believe it looks so different now."

Noh nodded, amazed at the new buildings. "It does look much different. Then again, it has been about six, seven years for both of us."

"I guess I keep forgetting," she laughed, messing with her hair. She'd decided to go with a simple ponytail, half of her bangs hanging across her face with the other half pinned. Noh had gone with a stubby ponytail, something that made her look radically different; everyone was so used to seeing Noh's hair barely brushing against her cheeks all the time.

They both had simple gray travelling cloaks on and dresses underneath for a more 'civilian' look. Noh had ditched the purple facepaint, and Sakura had taken care in putting on some eyeliner and some lighter concealer.

"Ooh, look at that!" Sakura pointed towards a fruit vendor, who had juicy-looking peaches for sale. "Why don't we get a couple for lunch?"

"Only if we get enough for the others," Noh replied with a wink. "I, for one, do not want Baa-chan ripping us a new one for not getting her some."

Sakura nearly burst into raucous laughter, instead letting herself giggle madly at the nickname. "Of course, of course. Poor Baa-chan. She'd freak if she knew we called her that."

Noh laughed along with her as they approached the vendor.

"Good afternoon, ladies," he said with a weathered smile. He gestured towards the fruits. "Ripe produce for sale."

"We'll take a bag of peaches, please," Noh said, pulling out her coin purse.

"That's ten peaches for... around ten thousand," he said, picking some peaches.

"Ten thousand?" Sakura gaped. "Prices have really inflated since we left."

"Yes, yes, the king rose taxes again, so I'm afraid I can't accept anything less," the vendor explained, sighing as he put the fruits into a pouch. "Still, one must have hope. As long as things simmer down with the rebels, I have faith that the king will loosen his grip."

"One can only hope, indeed," Noh echoed with a solemn frown as she handed him the money. She paused for a moment, before slipping him a little extra. "Thank you, kind sir. Keep the change. May Kami-sama smile upon you and your family."

"Bless you, miss," the aged man replied, bowing slightly to her. "May Kami-sama guide you in your journeys for your kindness."

As they left the vendor, Sakura sniffed. "Well now I feel super bad."

Noh kept her grimace, nodding slowly. "Now you understand why we fight," she explained in a low voice. "If we don't cry peace for the voiceless, then why do we even speak at all?"

The way her eyebrows scrunched together, the way her eyes narrowed, the way her mouth was pressed into a thin line, making her wrinkles more pronounced, seemed to age her. The shadows that clung about her face as she bowed her head slightly added to the bags already formed under her eyes. Even though she was only twenty-seven, she looked scarcely a day over thirty-five with the look on her face.

Sakura sighed lightly. Trying to lighten the mood, she pointed towards a little shop with a pretty, pale green dress in its window. "Hey, we're at the clothes shop. Why don't we do a little looking around? It'll make you feel better."

The brunette cracked a smile. "We're here for you, remember? I doubt I'll do much looking myself, but feel free to go buck wild in there."

"Oh no no no, you're looking with me." The pinkette threw her a stubborn look, though her eyes gleamed with mischief. "Who knows? Maybe we could even find something to compliment Baa-chan."

That seemed to do it. Noh gave a chuckle, adding, "With the way she and Jii-chan dance around each other, I'm honestly contemplating it."

Once they got into the shop, they noticed how much more worn-down it appeared, a stark contrast to how Sakura had remembered it from when she was a preteen. The wallpaper was fraying in some places, the carpet was worn down from where customers came and went, and the stock they carried seemed little more than four-fifths of its capacity.

"Welcome to the shop, ladies," the middle-aged blonde woman from behind the counter greeted with a smile. "Unfortunately, I don't have much else other than what's on the shop floor, but you can still look around."

"Thank you, madam." Sakura said, bowing respectfully before ducking into the dresses.

Noh followed her, pausing once or twice to look at some piece that caught her eye. She stopped in front of a pretty purple dress that fell to her knee, secured by a black obi. She smiled slightly, the memories of her old training outfit coming to mind. She picked it up, feeling the soft material.

"You find something?" Sakura asked, suddenly standing in front of her with a pale green qipao dress, the pattern of a waterfall of soft lilac flowers falling down the left side of the dress.

"Er- maybe," Noh replied, shaking her head. She turned to see the girl's pick. "That's a gorgeous dress, Shien. You getting it?"

"Maybe I will," she said, studying the collar. "I just saw you looking, y'know, kinda sad, so I thought I'd see if you were okay."

Noh blinked for a moment, before relaxing, giving her an easy smile. "I'm fine. Just... memories, you know."

"Yeah, I do." Sakura nodded empathatically." "I have a couple of other picks, if you don't mind giving me your opinion."

"I'm an open book, Shi," Noh said, following her to the racks.


In the end, Sakura got the dress, as well as a leaf-green sleeveless qipao with a black obi, a white off-shoulder mid-thigh dress, and a jade green kimono wraparound dress for Tsunade. After a bit of persuasion, Noh bought the little purple dress she'd been eyeing.

As they walked out of the shop, they stopped in a park to eat some of the peaches they bought, talking about this and that.

They finished their fruits and decided to walk around and look.

As Sakura was busy gaping in wonder at the beautiful summer sights, she accidentally bumped into someone and fell.

"I'm so sorry!" A boy with short black hair exclaimed, helping her up. "Please forgive me for so rudely bumping into you!"

Sakura recognized Lee immediately and gave him a soft smile. "It's no trouble. If anything, I bumped into you first."

Lee shook his head fiercely, grasping her hands in his larger ones. "No no, I insist. I should have been watching my path so I wouldn't run into such a lovely lady."

She blushed, giggling a little. "You're quite sweet."

"My name is Lee. What might a breathtaking blossom such as you be called?" He asked, his own cheeks flushing a light pink.

"Shien. My name is Shien Hayashi." She replied. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"A beautiful name for a beautiful girl," he replied with a beaming smile. Then he happened to look closer at her, and it dimmed a little. "You look rather familiar... have I met you before?"

"I wouldn't say so," she replied with a dismissive shake of her head. "I would have remembered such a striking face."

Thankfully, he ate up her compliment, his eyes lighting up in delight. "Ha ha, of course! If I'd met you before, I'd remember your beauty!"

At that moment, a girl with twin brown buns appeared, looking annoyed. "Lee, c'mon, Guy isn't gonna wait forever."

"Apologies, Tenten," he replied. "I was just, er,"

"I knocked him down, it's my fault," she interjected, relishing in her friend's growth. She looked so different, and yet when she looked into the girl's face, she didn't seem to change at all. "My name's Shien. It's nice to meet you, Tenten."

"Same to you," she said, immediately brightening as she gave her a nod. "Lee, c'mon."

"Will I see you again?" He asked, gazing into her eyes.

"Perhaps, if I happen to be around," she teased lightly.

"Well, it was really nice to meet you, but I'm afraid Lee and I have to get going," Tenten replied, grabbing Lee's arm.

"Goodbye," she said, watching as Tenten dragged her brother off.

Noh rose an eyebrow at the pair. "They surely are something."

"Lee's always been one helluva something," Sakura replied with a huff of laughter. "Glad to see neither of them have changed a bit."


A/N: I've been really itching to have Sakura meet Lee and Tenten for a while now!

Tell me what you thought! See you next week, and merry Christmas/Kwanzaa/Hanukkah/heck, all three! May your presents excite you and may your family atmosphere be warm!