Author: Cheza-chan
Rating: PG/PG-13
Summary: No one should try to hold onto the past. You cause yourself even more hurt and pain when you do. Look to the future and start anew.
Disclaimer: Alas, I do not own Naruto. I can always dream that I do though.
A/N: (smile) Thank you for the review, Saico-san… and yes, I agree… (mumbling) I didn't wanna change it… Actually… I didn't want to put in the part with Sakura, just the one with Naruto, Sasuke, and the hunters. It's just that, I have fears… I want for my readers to be able to understand. But… yeah, I dun like that part with the revelation of Sakura so early! (tears it out) There, a short chapter, long chapter, short chapter, then long chapter… Gooooomeeen for all the sudden changes. I promise to stop after this (sheepish smile).
From the previous chapter, another year has gone by since Naruto found Sasuke and the hunters found them both…
Chapter Three – Return
Shizune was put in charge of the Godaime's appointments and meetings. Jiraiya had even taken the time out to settle down and offer the village help. He worked alongside his teammate's right-hand woman. They, and many others, were doing this so Tsunade could rest and try to regain her bearings.
Was the world so big that five skilled shinobi could disappear within it? She had no answer and rolled over on her futon, the empty sake bottle falling from her fingers. Two years—it had been two years since she sent her two best and only hunters out to bring back three children; two years since Sakura just mysteriously vanished without a trace.
Tsunade covered her face with her arm, suddenly feeling queasy. She was almost positive one of her loyal subjects would report in and deliver the personal effects of all her missing-nins. There was a knock to her closed door and the Godaime sat up with a start.
"Hokage-sama. Kamizuki Izumo desu," the voice stated. "I was told to give you this message: come to the village gates."
Tsunade felt his chakra recede and she allowed one bare foot to touch the floor; she suddenly felt very cold. She eased her other foot down and began strapping on her heels. It would probably be someone from the neighboring village bringing her the effects she so didn't want. Her expression hardened as she stepped out into the sunlight she'd been missing for weeks. It should have been raining.
The crowd parted as Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune strolled forward to the gates. The Hokage froze, eyes wide, and covered her mouth. Jiraiya placed a hand to her shoulder, squeezing lightly as the woman began crying. "Clear the emptiest wing of the hospital," he told Shizune. "And take some ANBU with you to guard it."
"Hai!" The young woman disappeared.
The Kazekage stepped forward and gave a slight nod. "I believe they belong to you." He glanced behind him to where his own Jounins carried four. Sakura stood protected by two more, her head downcast. "Your hunters weren't unmasked or destroyed because they were just barely conscious when we found them and they're still alive." Gaara moved his gaze over the somber pink-haired girl then faced the Godaime once more. "She wouldn't let me kill them." He freed an arm and used it to indicate that the four shinobi head to the hospital. They disappeared. "I think that's it." The redhead turned and began strolling out of Konoha.
"Sakura!" Tsunade called out, wiping quickly at her face.
Sakura waited until Gaara passed by then followed, the two Jounins remaining at her side.
"Sakura!"
Sakura raised her hand and slowly reached out to Gaara. The Sonagakure group stopped and the boy glanced at her then over his shoulder.
Tsunade laughed softly and ran out to the returning girl. The Sand Jounin left behind eyed the Hokage warily, his hand hovering near his weapon's pouch. "I thought you were dead," the blonde woman sighed, hugging her former apprentice. She stepped back, eyes wide, and stared at the girl's stomach. It was slightly rounded. "Is it…?"
Sakura nodded. Her mouth smiled but her eyes held over seven years of sadness. Tsunade squeezed her lightly then took her arm and led her through the village to the hospital. They were allowed admittance to the cordoned off hall where her wounded shinobi lay.
Sakura stopped before she entered a room and a hushed conversation between her and the Godaime ensued. The young woman turned to her bodyguard and he posted outside the room she disappeared into. Sakura removed the black cloak she wore and rolled up her sleeves. Sighing deeply, she stared from one hunter to the other. The only light came from that which was in the ceiling—they had gotten a windowless room. She moved to the closer bed and reached out to the white mask. Her fingers curled into her palm and she raised her other hand, both hovering over the cloaked chest. She closed her eyes. The visible chakra around her hands was used to mend the damage internally and externally.
The uniformed figure coughed and the girl relaxed, dropping her arms. She touched her fingers lightly to the mask then moved to the other bed. Once there, Sakura raised her hands. She pulled away quickly and rushed from the room, slamming the door behind her. She questioned the Sand-nin about Tsunade's whereabouts and he silently pointed to the end of the hall. Sakura smiled and rushed there, carefully and quietly sliding open the door. "Tsunade-san?"
The blonde raised her head. She was sitting at the end of Naruto's bed. The boy had the room to himself.
"There's something preventing me from healing one of your hunter's organs. You might have to perform a surgery."
Tsunade stood with a sigh and strolled over to the open door. She placed a hand to Sakura's shoulder and the girl lowered her head. "Stay here with Naruto in case he wakes up. Shizune is keeping Sasuke stable. Him, I want to deal with myself also."
Sakura nodded and the door closed behind her. She made her way to the desk in the room and took a seat, placing a hand atop her rounded stomach. If Naruto hadn't left her, this child would never have been created. If he hadn't left, she would have never realized true love could be found with the most irrational, unreasonable person alive. "Naruto, I hate you…" Sakura tried to stay calm for the sake of her baby.
"Sa… kura… chan…" The blonde's face was contorted in pain. "Sakura… chan… gomen…" Sakura looked away from the bed, trying to shut out his voice as he continued. "But… I brought back… Sakura so… so you have… to forgive… forgive me…" His face relaxed into a weak smile.
Tsunade stared at the five senbons she'd pulled from her hunter and wiped the blood from her hands before finishing the job of healing him. Kyoushu sat on the opposite bed, one leg drawn up. He wanted to remove his mask to speak with her. "Sakura-san—"
"Don't worry about it," the Godaime groaned, working the kinks from her shoulders. "If there's ever been anyone more loyal, even more so than you two, it would be that girl and that boy." She smiled, knowing the other man had begun listening also. "Granted, if they were ever captured by enemies, Naruto would fight to the death—"
"Sakura-chan would also," the older of the two hunters snapped.
"I know she would," Tsunade laughed, purposely patting him on his stomach. He hissed in pain and swatted at the woman's hand. "Take care of each other and yourselves," she sang, waving tot hem over her shoulder as she strolled out of the room. She closed the door then removed her outer "gamble" shirt before making her way to the single room in the middle of the hall.
Tsunade sighed deeply and opened the door, disappearing inside. It was locked behind her.
Gaara was unapproachable. Temari was the only one to risk it. She stood before her little brother, bowed slightly at the waist. "The Konohagakure shinobi we found are recovering. Shikamaru told me." The lazy Jounin would remain her source of information so long as he stayed alive.
The redhead's fingers twitched. "Then where is she?" He wanted his woman back at his side. She made him feel less violent, and brightened every room she walked into. Gaara's rage began to grow. "Where, Temari?" he growled.
"In her home village."
"She was happy here! For two years, you saw her smiles. How does she look now?"
"Miserable," the blonde Jounin admitted, straightening herself to full height. "I'll return and find out what's keeping her."
"You do that."
Temari nodded then back out of the room, removing the large fan from her face as she went.
Gaara scowled and stood. He'd go bring her back himself but the guarantee of not killing someone in the process did not stand. The normal flapping of his cloak against his legs as he walked was no more because he had given it to Sakura on their journey out. The young Kazekage stood on the balcony overlooking most of the village. 'Sakura…' He squeezed his eyes shut and dug his fingers into the wall.