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: Sakura and Gaara's baaaaaaaaaaaaaack! I know I said that was the end of them but then I realized I needed bridging chapters and they were the only ones I could play around with. (purrs) Ask me what I was thinking as the bridging chapters come out and I'll tell you I have no idea… I just wanna get to the Hinata/Sasuke saga…
Chapter Five – Yamada Mizuiro
They had intended to just lop off the head but breaking the spine would do. Baki's Kaze no Yaiga sliced through the water barrier and the clone behind it. He scowled and stood still, waiting. There was a faint rise of chakra to his left but experience told him it was a feint. The Sand ninja stood his ground, eyes narrowly staring ahead.
And as it usually does, the spine was snapped. The figure sat, hidden in the shadows. An arm was outstretched and the fingers of the hand slowly closed inward to form a fist. "Bang," a voice whispered.
Sakura was barricaded in her room; Gaara's sand filled over nook and cranny, forming a protective dome halfway down the building. A ruthless murder had taken place right below their window and, with the baby due in two months, Gaara wasn't taking any chances.
Two ANBU members, sent by Tsunade, stood with the Kazekage and a few of his Sand-nins and stared down at what used to be Gaara's advisor. All that remained was intense blood splatter and a copper-colored puddle. "Someone from Kirgakure?" the masked Konoha shinobi spoke.
"It's pointless for them to try and overpower my village," the redhead stated coldly. He glanced behind him, up at the dome the village's sand had been used to create. So close to home. His eyes narrowed and the sand rained down several more yards. He closed his eyes at the sudden blast of wind and knew his sister had arrived without turning.
"Baki, huh?" The blonde rubbed the back of her neck. She snapped her fan shut and stuck it behind her so it slid into place in the sash around her waist. "He was kind of a pain, but… it's still a major loss." Temari raised her eyes to the dome. "Does she have enough air in there?"
"She'll be fine," Gaara scoffed. He turned and faced the two masked figures. "Tell your Hokage the only evidence available for her to work by is that the assassin is skilled with water jutsus; possible an advanced bloodline." They nodded and disappeared. "Clean this up," the young man then told his own ninjas. Temari leapt away first and her brother followed. The sand fell, washing over the lower buildings, and the siblings landed on the outer hall of the mansion.
Sakura stared at them through the glass, watching them converse. She hadn't been quite fond of the man but it wasn't her placed to say so and he had been an important figure—a few rungs below her Gaara. She sighed and placed a hand to her beach ball-size stomach. A slow grin spread across her face. Gaara was going to crap his pants in two months' time if he hadn't already figured out they were having twins and she wasn't going to tell him.
The sliding glass door was opened and the redhead entered; Temari had vanished. "You're going back to Konoha until this person is caught."
"And you?"
"For thirteen years, I've gone without sleep. What's a month or two?" He placed a hand to the pink head and drew it downward, tucking stray strands behind the woman's ear.
"That might make the Jinchiruuki think he has control again," Sakura sighed, closing her eyes.
"I've not completely mastered what I can do with my sand but Shukaku knows better, especially with you at my side." A faint smirk tugged at his lips but quickly vanished. "Pack what you need. The child might be born on foreign soil but he's still going to be a citizen of the Wind Country."
Sakura shrugged, not ready to argue with him, but didn't make any motion to move. In fact, she folded her hands in her lap and allowed herself to get more comfortable. She would pack when she was ready or until Gaara lost his patience; it was obvious which would come first.
§§§
Sakura smiled warmly as the door swung open and she found herself unable to stop the tears flowing from her eyes. The woman opposite her was in a similar position. She reached out and wrapped her daughter tightly in her arms.
Sakura had forgotten, after her first fateful return, to visit her mother; she thought the new had spread this far but apparently not. "We have so much to catch up on," she said, squeezing the woman. They were of the same height now. Sakura closed the door behind her and the ever-watching Godaime Kazekage headed back to his village.
Naruto sat, waiting, at Ichiraku. It had taken a lot of persuasion to get Sasuke to join him and his stomach was so twisted with doubt that the other would or would not show, he'd only had five bowls of ramen. The young man sighed and lowered his head to the counter and listened to the world behind him as he continued to wait. Their last conversation hadn't gone anywhere, just him telling the Uchiha no one hated him for what he did—maybe the citizens of Konoha, but not the shinobi.
Naruto groaned loudly. If Sasuke didn't show in the next fifteen minutes, he would leave and find Tsunade to see what could be done about him advancing in rank. His senses grew alert and the man slowly raised his head to stare at the dull and lifeless figure standing beside the booth.
On top of the black cloak he wore over black clothes—if anything, he looked more like his brother that way—the Uchiha still wasn't talking; Naruto was hoping to change that. He glanced at the young woman behind Ichiraku's counter and Ayame quickly looked away. He was numb to such reactions because it was to be expected.
"Sit down!" Naruto laughed, indicating to the stool beside him. "I'll get you a bowl. What do you want?" Sasuke stared blankly at his folded hands, unable to find his voice; he doubted he would anytime soon. Naruto's grin remained on his face even as he ordered a beef miso ramen for his old friend. "Ayame-chan," he sang, leaning forward.
The redhead giggled, smiling. "We missed you while you were gone, Naruto-kun." She glanced at Sasuke; the smile left her eyes but not her face. "And it's good to have you back." The dark eyes stared, unblinking, and she was forced to look away. It would always be like that.
"Sasuke, how long are you going to act like a child?" The brunet glanced at the man next to him. Naruto glared back. "No one's going to feel sorry for you forever, if they even do at all. I'm sure half of them are terrified of you rather than disgusted." Sasuke averted his gaze to the street at the many villagers walking by. They did hate him; he could feel it. "When you're ready to grow up…" Naruto tossed the money for his bowls and the one for Sasuke onto the counter. "I'll feel sorry for you. Until then…" He stood and disappeared.
Sasuke turned away from the explosion of smoke and stood also. He would head back to his empty house and whittle his days away there. Ayame stared at the bowl of ramen she held and sighed. She had left two weeks prior to his being released from the hospital and Sasuke hadn't expected to see her again for maybe a year, if at all. He lowered his eyes to the ground as the small group of kunoichi drew nearer.
"Everyone's creating a family," Ino sighed loudly, tucking her arms behind her head.
"I'm not," Tenten retorted, crossing her arms.
"Look how big Sakura and Hinata's stomachs are!" the blonde gushed, making said women blush. "How many months do you have left?"
"A few weeks," the blushing Hyuuga replied softly.
"Two months," Sakura sighed. "Hinata, you're so lucky! I feel awful… and that bastard shipped me… off." All four girls stopped and stared at the man standing before them.
Sasuke couldn't tear his eyes from Hinata's rounded stomach. He knew, as she was the heir to the clan, it was her duty to produce children, but the Hyuuga rarely mated outside of their own. He shook the name of the potential father from his head and tried to circle around them.
Ino stepped into his path, her shoulder-length blonde hair settling back into place as she crossed her arms. "That self-loathing and worthless look in your eyes disgust me. It's not common in this village. Say something!" she yelled. Sasuke remained silent. Ino growled softly, her eyes narrowing, and she created a fist. Hinata gasped but Tenten and Sakura looked on quietly as Yamanaka punched the brunet. No one stopped; it was an argument between skilled shinobi and another shinobi would stop it.
"You shouldn't be scared to hit a girl," Ino jeered. She released her fist against his face once more. Sasuke coughed and the blood trickled from his mouth.
"Ino..." Sakura sighed.
The blonde trembled, holding back tears of rage and sadness. "We were worried about you and now you're back and you don't even have the decency to speak with us!"
Sasuke slowly raised his head, wiping at his mouth. The crimson Sharingan orbs stared back at the glowering woman. He'd promised himself at least two years before he used it again. Ino wasn't intimidated and she didn't move. "Say something," she hissed.
His eyes fading to black, the Uchiha spat out the remaining blood and reached for her. He drew her close, his mouth to her ear, then pushed her aside, continuing to his house. Ino's anger diminished at the hoarse voice floating back to them. "...Sorry," it said. She smiled and shook out her hand. "His jaw's hard." Sakura and Tenten laughed. Hinata smiled and stared after the man until he was engulfed in the crowd.
Sakura woke due to the fact someone lightly shook her. She moaned softly and swatted away the bothersome hands. "Sakura," her mother whispered, voice frantic. "Sakura, wake up. We have to go."
The young woman squinted through the darkness. Her gaze was drawn to the light shining through the window and the cascading waterfall she saw there diminished all thoughts of sleep. She turned back to her mother and gasped at the hunter hovering nearby. "What's going on?" Her hands encircled her unborn child protectively.
"I was sent to escort you to the Hokage-sama," Shugo said in a toneless voice. "A missing-nin has engaged in combat with my partner on the roof of your house. It's not safe." He stepped forward and held out his arm to Sakura.
She didn't think twice and took hold, allowing him to assist her into standing. "Why's he after me?" she whispered. The blank mask stared back at her, offering now answer. Sakura nodded her understanding. Shugo lifted the kunoichi's mother and walked with Sakura out of the house. Once downstairs and outside, he wrapped an arm around the young woman and took off. Glancing over her shoulder, she knew the house would be destroyed come sun-up. She sighed. 'Gaara'll be here in no time.'
Indeed. The Kazekage intercepted the trio and took over the task of supporting his wife. "Onna…" he growled. "You're nothing but trouble."
Sakura smiled weakly. "I'm tired. And if I have my baby right here in this forest, two months premature, because of what I'm being put through, none of you will want to know me." Her smile was fading fast along with her strength.
"Take her to your Hokage," Gaara said, circling around the masked figure.
Sakura yawned and took Shugo's arm. "Gaara…" The Kazekage headed off in the direction they'd just left. The kunoichi's eyes fluttered shut and, as strong as he could tell himself he was, the hunter knew he would have a hard time carrying a seventh-month pregnant woman and her mother. She woke later that morning to find she was in Tsunade's private quarters.
The blonde Hokage rose immediately as he apprentice stirred. She sat on the edge of the bed and placed a hand to Sakura's shoulder to keep her from getting up. "I don't want you stressing yourself. Besides, you're safe here."
Sakura nodded and yawned. "Who's after me and why? Your hunter-nin wouldn't tell me."
"A missing-nin from the Hidden Waterfall Village. I have his file if you want to see it."
Sakura smiled. Tsunade still confided in her after all she did. She inched her way back against the headboard and slowly rose into a sitting position. The Godaime Hokage came back with a tied scroll that she handed to the young woman. Sakura undid the string and rolled it open, settling in to read it thoroughly. "He's unstable," she said softly after several minutes. "He probably has no idea that because he left his village he can't return."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed and she held out a hand to silence the other. An explosion of smoke appeared directly in her room and diminished to reveal Shugo supporting Kyoushu. "Sakura-san, excuse me a minute."
"I think I should be a part of this," Sakura intervened. "My and Gaara's life is on the line. So, first, how's my mother's house? And how's my mother?"
"Water damage," Kyoushu replied, straightening up; Shugo's arms left him. "The east side is missing."
Tsunade hid her smile as Sakura nodded, for the situation was serious. "Your mother's sleeping off the shock," she spoke. "She took it upon herself to go out and inspect the house herself."
Sakura shook her head then glanced at the shinobi. "And Yamada Mizuiro, the missing-nin?"
"He got away," the smaller hunter replied, bowing his head. "My deepest apologies."
The older woman sighed and crossed her arms. The missing-nin was of a rare advanced bloodline and getting too close would lead to a rather messy death. 'Maybe I can use Naruto and Sasuke to help me on this one, but they're not on very good terms right now.' She glanced at the silent young woman at her side. "No questions?"
Sakura smiled and folded her hands atop the open scroll in her lap. "You mean about the Godaime Kazekage?" She shook her head. "If he's not above us right now then he's sitting atop his own building back in Sonagakure. Now, if you'll help me then excuse me…" Sakura held out a hand and Tsunade took it, assisting her to her feet. "I have to use the restroom," the young woman concluded.
"You're dismissed," the blonde told her masked shinobi. The duo bowed then disappeared and the door to the bathroom closed. Tsunade smiled, brushing back her hair. There had been times she was doubtful for taking the Hokage position, but moments like these made it worth it.