(a/n: Hi! Thanks so much for the reviews! I was so happy! –smile- You guys rock. Note that I have a new fic out called Eternal Light. It doesn't mean I'm not going to update this fic. Of course I am. Anyway, this is chapter sixteen.) Now if you'll excuse me, I have a disclaimer to write.
Pairings: SasuSaku (NejiTen, NaruHina)
Disclaimer: Naruto doesn't belong to me. The end. Full stop.
Together
Chapter Sixteen
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"Sakura, you are not paying attention." Tsunade snapped, her hands on her hips, glaring at her student. Sakura blinked, and looked up at her teacher, forcing a smile. "Shishou?" Tsunade sighed. "Sakura, what was I saying?"
"Er, do not release too much chakra when healing?" Sakura suggested, her cheeks reddening. Tsunade stared. "Yes and no. I wasn't saying about that. And yes, do not release too much when healing." She placed a hand on her shoulder. "Is something bothering you?" Sakura shook her head furiously. "No, I'm fine." Tsunade nodded slowly, although she didn't believe her student. Sakura's face darkened, she opened her mouth, but stopped. She wanted to tell Godaime, but does she want to listen to her immature stories? Yes, it was her decision that she is giving up on him. She bit her lower lip. Sakura placed a hand on her forehead, inhaling deeply. Her vision began to blur. She blinked, rubbing her eyes with her hand.
"Sakura!"
"Hai!" Sakura called out, catching up to Tsunade, who shook her head. Tsunade picked a leaf like herb. "Shizune found this the other day. She told me this leaf is very powerful, it can erase the poison in your body." She handed it to Sakura, who slowly took it. "I suggest you make these into medicine. You do know how to make them?" Sakura nodded, she staggered backwards. "Don't make too much. Make about three maximum- Are you okay?" She bended down to look at her, Sakura nodded. Tsunade frowned, and placed a hand onto her forehead. She sighed. "Sakura, you're burning." She slapped her hand away, Tsunade looked at her in surprise. "Shishou, I'm fine. Please continue-" Her voice trailed off.
"Sakura!" Tsunade called out, and sighed and looked at her student's unconscious face. Without waiting, she picked her up. "You should really look after yourself." She said.
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"Sakura-chan is sick?" Naruto yelled. Kakashi pushed him off. "Yes, she's resting in her house right now. Godaime-sama took her there. She was training with her, and then she fainted. She has a fever. Nothing to worry about." Naruto's eyes narrowed and stared at Sasuke. He glared at him. "What? It's not my fault." Naruto walked up to him. "What did you say to her?"
"I didn't say anything to her."
"Sure, nothing." Naruto retorted, pointing a finger to Sasuke. "Did you insult her? Hit her? Kiss her? Punch her?" Sasuke flinched, frowning. "Shut up, you idiot. Punching and hitting are the same."
"You must did something really bad." Naruto said.
"She is sick. What does it have to do with me?" Sasuke said impatiently, crossing his arms. Naruto shook his head. "No, you must have said something really bad that made her sick." Sasuke stared at him. "What the hell are you talking about?" Naruto ignored him. "I'm going to her house." Kakashi sighed; both of them watched Naruto disappear.
"Sasuke, go with him." Kakashi ordered.
"Why am I going?" Sasuke asked. "Aren't we here to train?"
"Yes, going visit Sakura is part of the training lessons." Kakashi said wisely. Sasuke glared at him, feeling himself getting angry. "Hey-"
"Okay, let's say you're not going. Would you rather be doing gardening for Godaime?" Kakashi suggested, his eyes closed, he found himself smirking. Sasuke sighed. "Fine, I'm going." He gave his teacher a final glare. Kakashi watched him go, grinning to himself.
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"Sakura-chan!" Naruto entered Sakura's room. Sakura sat up slowly. "Naruto." He scanned the room, and saw Lee, sitting on a chair, a smile pasted on his face. "Naruto-kun. Nice to see you." Naruto blinked. "Oh, Gejimayu. Hi." He turned to Sakura, handing a basket of food.
"Er, what's that?" Sakura asked.
"Ramen!" Naruto announced happily.
"Eh…?"
"Please have them. I bought them for you." Naruto said, smiling brightly. Sakura laughed softly. "Thanks." She placed the basket beside her bed. "Thank you both for coming to visit me." Sakura looked by her door. Sasuke was not here. She sighed, so he didn't care after all. "Please sit." She waved her hand. Naruto took a seat dully. "Sorry if I worried you." She said to her friends. "Having a fever isn't a big deal."
"Sakura-san, you should lie down." Lee said anxiously. Sakura smiled slightly, she lay down, pulling the covers over her. "Neh, Lee-san, is it very hard to become a Jounin?" She asked, her head turning slightly to see him. He took the question by surprise. "Jounin? Sakura-san you want to become a Jounin?" Sakura blushed (although you can't see, because her cheeks were already red from the fever) "Yes." Lee shook his head. "No, it's just like the Chuunin Exam, but it's more challenging."
The door opened. "Okaa-san, can you bring the tea up?" Sakura asked.
"Sakura."
She sat up, (even though she shouldn't be) and faced Sasuke. He sighed and sat down. She stared. "S-Sasuke-kun. What are you doing here?"
"Kakashi told me to come here." He replied dully. Sasuke looked around. It was a small room. There was a bed, a desk, a chair, and a closet. And plus some paint on the ground. The door opened again. Her mother entered, and placed the cups on the table. She was very pretty woman for her age. Sakura looked a lot like her, except her hair is dark red.
"Sakura-chan, who is this Onee-san?" Naruto asked. Sakura blinked. "It's my mother." Naruto stared with disbelieve. "Did she use some Medical Jutsu like Tsunade-baachan?" Sakura smiled and shook her head. "Iie." Her mother smiled and left the room. "Neh, your mother is so young." Naruto said after she closed the door behind her. She looked back at Naruto. "Yes, I know." She could hear her mother walking down the stairs. "I'm feeling fine. Please, I-I want to be alone."
Lee stood up. "Understand." He turned to Naruto and Sasuke. "Naruto-kun, Sasuke-kun. I think we should really go now. Let Sakura-san rest." Naruto pulled a face, Sasuke shrugged and they left the room and gave her a final glance. Sakura lay back down with a heavy sigh. She reached over to her old Team Seven photo, wiping the dust away with her sleeve.
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The fact that Sakura was sick in fact, spread in Konoha within a day. She was quite famous around Konoha, mainly because she's Tsunade's best student. The Godaime always brings her around. Already, seven people came visit her after Naruto, Sasuke and Lee were gone. Ino came with a bunch of flower, Shikamaru came with her, groaning and saying it was too troublesome. He just received a smack on the head from Ino. Hinata, Tenten and Neji came (dragged by Tenten and cousin), giving her all these presents. Sakura was flattered; she said her sickness is no big deal. To her dismay, her friends ignored her. Some medic, who she doesn't even know or remember their names came and visited her. After two hours, her room is packed with packets of food and presents.
Her mother got a little angry and stuck a sheet of paper on the front door saying: Please do not disturb. Maybe the fact that Sakura's sick is probably a good thing. She sighed, closed her eyes. It was so quiet that her ears hurt.
It's not fair…
Day three
After three days. She recovered fully. She was able to go to Tsunade's office again, doing some easy healing. She was her bright self again. Her usual laughter and smile, Tsunade was worried about her. She asked Sakura what is wrong; she just smiled and shook her head. Tsunade could tell that smile was fake. Tsunade caught Sakura crying in the bathroom later on in the day.
"Sakura." Tsunade had put a hand on her thin shoulder. She gave her a light shake. "Look, you can tell me what is wrong." Sakura covered her mouth with her hand, silent tears rolled down her cheeks. She sniffed loudly. "I-I'm giving up."
"Giving up?"
"Yes, for good." Sakura replied; she pushed the bathroom door open. "Shishou, some patients are waiting for us. We should get going." Tsunade frowned. "Sakura-"
"Shishou, I'm fine. I just don't think I'll be myself again. I can't. It's too hard." Sakura said, gripping the handle. She gave her teacher an apologetic smile, before running off. I am Haruno Sakura, and I will always be. She ran back to the room, with a smile on her face, acting like nothing had happened. Every time she smiles, she could feel how hard it was. Sakura apologized to the patient's mother, and then turn to the boy, she examined the boy. Sakura frowned slightly. She turned back to a medic and ordered to make some medicine. She smiled politely at the mother. "He will be fine. He just lost a lot of blood. He'll be okay." A relieve smile appeared on the mother's anxious face. Lifting the shirt up, she pressed her hands firmly on the boy's chest. Glowing chakra appeared around her hands. A few minutes later, his breathing was normal again. Sakura carefully wiped the blood away from his face and body. The medic rushed over, handing the bag of medicine politely to Sakura. "Sakura-sama, the medicine." She nodded and thanked him.
"This is for your son." Sakura handed the bag to the mother; she thankfully took the bag, wiping a tear away from her eyes. "Arigatou." She said in a shaky voice. "I thought he was going to die. Your name, child?"
"Sakura. Haruno Sakura."
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"I want to eat that!"
"You ate the last piece of chocolate! It was mine! Now I'm eating this!"
"So what! I was hungry!"
"I don't care! Give that back!" Chouji shouted, making a jump at Naruto, knocking him down and grabbed the muffin, stuffing it into his great, wide mouth. "Chouji! You bastard!" Naruto shouted, looking hurt. "How dare you!" Birds flew away from the trees. Sasuke sighed. "It's only a muffin, Naruto." He turned his glare to Sasuke. "Easy for you to say! It's the most delicious muffin in the whole village! Whole country! Whole world! Whole Milky Way! Whole universe!" Sasuke sweat dropped.
"This is so troublesome." Shikamaru's voice was heard from distance. As usual, his hands were in his pockets, eyes half closed. He dragged himself to his other teammates. Ino arched an eyebrow. "Took you a long time."
"Tch, why do we have to train Team Seven?" He asked.
"Because Sakura-chan is not here. And I don't want to train with Sasuke-teme." Naruto said, folding his arms. Sasuke smirked. "Like I want to train with you, you idiot." Ino sighed. "They never get along."
"Where is Sakura anyway?" Chouji, taking a bite of the last piece of chocolate, Naruto stared and opened his mouth. "Chouji! That's mine!" They all ignored him.
"Tsunade-sama called her to the office, some people were injured." Ino replied, fiddling with her hair.
"Neh, let's go see her!" Naruto suggested, making a good guy pose.
"She's working right now." Shikamaru said, rolling his eyes.
"Doesn't really matter." Naruto said. "Youshi! Let's go!" Then he disappeared. His teammates sighed in unison, before catching up to Naruto.
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It nearly gave Naruto a heart attack. His eyes nearly popped out when he saw Sakura covered in blood. "Sakura-chan! You're dying!" Then he fainted on the ground. Sakura had carried him to the bed. After five minutes, he woke up. Sakura apologized and said it was someone else's blood. It wasn't her blood. She went over to the sink and washed her hands. "Gomen, you guys didn't have to come."
"Iie, Sakura, we came here to see you." Ino said, smiling.
"Sou…" Sakura said, taking a glance at Sasuke. Unfortunately, he was looking at her with a serious expression. She blushed, and stared back at the sink. "I saved a lot of people today." Sakura said softly, smiling faintly. It was the first real smile in the day. "A lot of parents thanked me. I kind of like being a medicine ninja now."
Ino patted her in the back. "What was wrong with them?"
Sakura shook her head. "I do not know. They were all covered in blood. I suspect something had poisoned them and being cut badly. Some people were dead already when I looked. Being a shinobi isn't easy, neh?" She looked at Ino, who looked anxiously at her. "Ino, I'm giving up."
"Giving up? You mean Sas-" Ino were cut off by Sakura covering her mouth with her hand, nodding slightly. Sasuke looked at Sakura, he stood up, and then left of the room, Sakura looked after him. Ino looked sadly back at her. It is the right choice, goodbye. Sakura released Ino and run out after him.
"Sasuke-kun." Sakura called out. He turned back. "Sorry, am I boring you?" He shook his head. "No. I just want to go back." Sometimes Sakura doesn't really understand Sasuke at all. "I'm sorry if I troubled you."
"Tch, stop apologizing. It makes you look stupid." He said, waving a hand in the air. "Ja." Sakura approached him, lifting her hand and touched his cheek, looking sadly into his dark eyes. He stared blankly back at her. She tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek. "Ja." She said with a final smile on her face.
To be continued…
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Notes: Good? Bad? Tell me what you think! Itachi soon… (dun, dun, dun) Please review! Thank you very much! See you all in the next chapter! Ciao!