Unraveling the Milestones
Summary: 3 years after Sasuke left, the remnants of Team 7 pull together for a mission. The tribulations put them to the test and bring unraveled mysteries and unrealized ways of affection to life. Kakashi's finale with a bud that needs to bloom.
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, there wouldn't be a need to write fanfictions xD. Belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
"He speaks"
"He thinks"
"Inner Sakura"
)0()0()0()0()0()0()0()0()0(
Review thanks:
SweetAssassin: Hehe! Thank you! As much as I'm a hopeless romantic I love humor xD Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Noyesgirl: Thank you so much! I really hope you like this chapter as well!
Darkened Memories: Thank you so much! You write some of the longest reviews which I'm very thankful! Hehe! Oh and as for you disbelief on the book giving in the first chapter, hehehe this chapter will explain what happened after she left 3 Hope to hear another reply from you!
Silent Kunoichi…: Yeah I really hope I can reach my goal with the chapters but I've thought about this story so much I think I can. I just need ya there motivating me! xD Enjoy the chap!
Ymir-chan: xDDD I laughed at your narrative in your review x3. Here is the next "highly awaited chapter" and I hope you enjoy it! Keep up to reviews and thanks for your extended one! 3
Pyro-witch2: Tee-hee! Yush 3 I really feel bad for Lee but psh, those eye brows were almost a life force themselves xDD. I hope you enjoy the chapter and it keeps you laughing!
AngelWingRinoa777: W00T! Thanks for your support Rinoa! (Go figure I've been playing FFVIII just awhile ago too x3)
)0()0()0()0()0()0()0()0()0(
On with the story…
Day 01 – Back in Konoha: Part Three
Sakura couldn't help but smile amusedly when it took both Chouji and Ino to pull the rabid green beast into a chair. He was soon attacked by many hair tenants that proceeded to strap the foaming bob haired nin down and began to deprive him of his clone like attributes of Gai sensei. Sakura grinned and spun on her heel as she fell back into another chair comfortably and silently the woman untied the forehead protector and gave it to Sakura to hold in her lap. The pink haired kunoichi watched steadily the movements of the hair stylists' hands that continued to delve and thread through the mass of hair. Sakura suppressed the involuntary shiver that threatened to quiver about her body, ever since the first Chuunin exam, Sakura had never liked the thought of someone touching her hair. It made her feel weak. Helpless as the time of the sound nin holding her by her hair like a defenseless rag doll. Sakura clenched her fists around the hiate-ate.
The first lock of cherry blossom hued hair fell to the floor.
Thank you.
More wispy locks spilled over her shoulders. Her green eyes locked on it's trajectory down towards the floor.
Look at your hair. Has so much more shine than mine. Maybe if you had spent as much time training as you did on your looks you might not be here right now about to die.
Sakura's brow creased as more locks continued to fall in a silent shower around her chair.
"Even if you watched my back, I still watched Sasuke's as he headed towards the other sound nins; saving me again. I was so grateful he was alive…and as soon as he could stand, I reverted back into a helpless princess."
Sakura released the symbolic forehead protector as her fists clenched. Her eyes traced her reflection in the mirror. Her green tank top that held rows of explosive defenses beneath in wrap, no longer was she going to be caught off guard. Her dark brown short vest that held scrolls, no longer was she going to just watch. Her skirt that had sown in pouches on the inside of her skirt that was full of the throwing nails, Makabishi; so she would never run or be chased. Her kunai holster that was hugging her thigh was to remind her of strength. Her left boot carefully held wired kunai. Her right boot held carefully sown in holders that were home to almost fifty senbon needles; she could be beautiful but deadly. Her hip pouch that held every reminder of what it was to be a ninja along with the elbow length gloves she wore to exert her new found strength.
"Done!" the stylist said as she backed away. Sakura looked up in the mirror and smiled.
And short hair to remind her to never loose anyone close to her again.
"Thank you!" Sakura grinned happily and tied her Konoha forehead protector on her head again and gave the mirror one more satisfied look. "BRING IT!" her inner Sakura cheered and she couldn't help but nod in approval. She turned around and everyone seemed to part like the red sea as Rock Lee stood up. Sakura gasped.
The Green Beast of Konohagakure Village stood ashamed. Lee stood with his now normal eyebrows and almost normal looking yet saddened eyes. His shoulders slumped in defeat as he waited for someone, anyone, to break the deafening silence that filled to salon.
"LEE! Is that you!" yelled a feminine voice. In the door way stood Ten Ten with a shocked look on her face and her cheeks were burning. Her obviously tattered form gave way to the fact that she had just gotten back from a mission. Neji paused and looked over her shoulder, and the calm nin couldn't help but arch a defined brow.
"Lee?" He couldn't help but ask. Gone for two days with his former team mates on a mission and to come back and see almost a decade of Gai look alikeness gone.
"Ten Ten-san! Neji-San!" Lee cried out taking a few steps forward. Then he hesitated and turned away. "I'm glad to see my two former team mates safe from their mission but don't look at me. I've failed Gai sensei in loosing a match to my cherry blossom."
Neji scoffed as his blank eyes moved over to the mentioned and saw the freshly groomed nin. She stood with that determined look in her eyes that he could faintly recall in a blonde nin he had not seen in a few years. He turned his head away as she glanced his way after feeling the burning gaze of his scrutinizing but before she could say anything he continued walking back to the Hyuuga residence to inform his Uncle of his return.
"What is wrong my brown haired youth?" Gai-sensei asked as he stepped forward and looked over her shoulder. And his jaw dropped.
"Lee!" He cried and Lee looked up with the ever dramatic tears.
"Gai-sensei!" Both rushed forward in a hug that caused everyone in the salon to sigh. A few villagers were crowding around the door to see the emotional faces of the used to be twins.
"Lee-san, whatever happened to you?" Gai asked.
"Gai-sensei! I failed you! I lost to my beautiful cherry blossom and thus my punishment." He cried out and behind him Sakura twitched.
"Let him call me his again and see if I don't start work removing that black bob on his head." Sakura thought in time with her inner ego.
"Oh! The tribulations of youth! Do not feel ashamed. Every man has lost to the woman of his affections. Even I Lee." Gai sensei said as they shared the personal tears. Sakura and Ino stared eerily at the pair, what woman would ever be with the green beats of Konoha? Sakura and Ino looked at each other and laughed awkwardly. Before the scene could continue in it's little soap opera that could aura, Shikamaru walked in and looked at Lee.
"Shikamaru-kun!" Ino squealed happily and bound over the moping two. Her long blonde hair flicked like a banner behind her and wrapped her arms around him and took a step back.
"Ino-chan." He spoke and nodded. Only Sakura knew of their relationship and was very happy for them both. Instead of exploiting their relationship which Shikamaru dubbed, "troublesome" most of the time, they took fancy to keeping their affections behind closed doors. Shikamaru, being the number one strategist of Konoha, had decided it was in best interests so not to risk Ino being kidnapped and used against the lazy nin. Ino was not as fond of it but understood and Sakura couldn't help but think it was romantic. Sakura snickered, she couldn't help it, and she was after all a hopeless romantic.
"How was the exam meeting with the Godaime?" Ino asked which distracted Shikamaru from staring awkwardly at the green beats on the floor still mopping in their own little world.
"Troublesome." He responded with his all too known phrase but Ino smiled. It was just his way of saying it was something that couldn't be discussed. As more and more villagers surrounded the salon, Sakura sweat dropped.
"I think you just made history Sakura-chan." Chouji said and Sakura laughed uneasily.
"So I did…" She replied.
"Oi. Haruno." Shikamaru spoke and she lifted her head. "Hokage wants to speak with you as soon as possible. I think you might have a mission." He informed her and she smiled brightly. "Finally!" It had been months since she last had a mission and frankly she was starting to get bored since her training with Tsunade was becomingly increasingly disrupted for reasons she didn't know.
"Thanks Shikamaru-kun." She grinned but before she could leave a distant yet familiar voice rang through the crowd.
"Sakura-chan!" She looked up in disbelief. "Naru…" but before she could finish her thought. The ant bitten nin had already tackled her into a vice grip hug which caused both to topple back on the floor.
"Naruto!" She said with a large smile. She really had missed her bubbly blonde friend. There he was in all his ant bitten glory. Still attired in his bright orange but traded in the blues for blacks. Instead of the tradition short band forehead protector, he had taken up the black long ones that had the tied ends hanging over his shoulder. He finally hit puberty she mused. The fifteen year old had grown mostly out of his boyish features and obviously was no longer the shortest of the group from how he towered over her. A cough from Chouji got her attention when she realized their position.
"Naruto no baka!" She fumed and punched him with unmeasured strength that sent him flying into the wall. "Makes good wallpaper." Her inner Sakura mused as Sakura looked at the Naruto crater in the all.
"Oh my gosh! Sorry Naruto. I didn't mean to punch you that hard!" Sakura said as she rushed over feeling guilty. Her inner Sakura smirked. That was an improvement. Everyone in the room winced at the reminder of the Konoha Cherry Blossom was defiantly not the weak and frail girl from three years before in team 7. Kakashi held the typical anime arch as he walked into the salon. Naruto laid prone on the floor with his body twitching and Sakura kneeling over him. She sighed and decided she would heal him this once, forgiving his child like energy.
Her hands began to glow with the soothing iridescent hued chakra. Everyone in the room watched silently, not many got to see a medic nin in action for all of the healing was behind closed doors. She rested her hands a few inches above his cheek and the small silky like strands of charka caressed his cheek allowing the bruise to disappear.
"Sakura-chan?" Naruto muttered disorientated.
"Stay still baka." She miffed and continued to heal his battered form. Her chakra continued to heal the fallen blonde. His muscles relaxed as the soothing aura continued to snake around his body like a warm breeze, even healing the inflammations caused by the ants. Finally she sat back with a sigh and wiped her brow. "There!" She grinned.
"Sakura-chan! That was amazing!" He said proudly and jumped up flexing. "Oh wow I feel good as new! I knew you cared for me!" He said sneakily and she glared quickly as she cracked her knuckles. He suddenly started laughing nervously and backing a way a few steps.
"Ho-ho-ho! I just got a new idea for my next novel!" Jiraiya spoke in a sing song voice as he walked in seeing the touching scene of Sakura healing his little protégé. Kakashi looked at him from the corner of his eye and back to his two former students and back again. He then eyed him skeptically and the Ero-sennin turned after feeling the Jounin's gaze. The older man coughed and looked away.
"You men are such perverts." Ino scoffed crossing her arms over her chest.
"Na-Na-Naruto-kun?" A soft voice spoke and the two eldest men parted and Hinata was being followed in by Shino. Shino hadn't changed much yet opting for more clothing that hid his features. (A/N: If you're curious, I'm basically working off of the pictures from after the time jump in the series.) He was opted to watch over Hinata while her cousin was off on a mission. Hinata's figure had grown more curvy and wore a jacket but in a different style and her dark amethyst hued hair was now to her shoulders.
"Hinata!" Sakura cheered happily. Sakura bounced up and waved happily to the now stuttering girl. The two had grown closer of the years and soon the entire rookie nine was like unrequited family.
"Sakura-san!" Hinata spoke happily pulling her attention from the grown Naruto.
"Hinata?" Naruto asked in disbelief with a small blush tainting his cheeks. Sakura smirked at the exchange. So at least now he wasn't so dense.
"Hinata-chan! Shino! Come on you guys said we were going to meet up to train about half an hour ago!" Said an all too distinct voice. Everyone looked out the doors and saw Kiba riding on top of Akamaru. Naruto stared in disbelief again. Everyone had changed so much! He turned his head towards the two chattering girls. Especially Hinata and Sakura-chan.
"Naruto baka! You're back!" Kiba laughed on top of the massive dog. Kiba lost the jacket and chose a close fitting one and Akamaru was surely no puppy anymore and now the two traded places, Kiba depending on his canine friend for transportation.
"What did you say Kiba!" Naruto hollered and raised a fist to him. Everyone laughed and Sakura looked around the room, amazed on how the day took a twist for the better. The reunion warmed a small forgotten space in her heart as she took in each one of the still maturing faces. Chouji stretched and made his samurai attire creak softly.
"Oi Chouji. Want to go out and eat?" Shikamaru asked and Chouji grinned at his best friend.
"Yup!" He answered and continued walking out almost with a bounce that made his longer red tinted hair bounce.
"See you later forehead girl!" Ino called and waved to follow the two boys out.
"Ja Ino-pig!"
"We should be leaving as well Hinata-san." Shino said looking at the blushing girl who only nodded.
"Of course. Ja Sakura-chan. See you later Nar-Naruto-kun." She blushed and hurriedly rushed out and leapt on Akarmu's back and the three disappeared.
"Bye Hinata-chan!" Naruto called out the door between to two elder men. Sakura smiled wistfully to herself which didn't go unnoticed by Kakashi. She then frowned and looked out the window and sighed. "Sasuke-kun." Kakashi watched stoically as his partial student held that look that was reserved for only one man in the world. Sasuke. Kakashi lowered his eyes to the hyper blonde who was still waving out the window. Kakashi still felt the regret as much as Naruto for not being able to bring back Sasuke. Now there wasn't a trace. He looked back to the pink haired nin as a sudden wave of shock covered her face.
"Aiy! Naruto no baka, you're going to make me late to see Tsunade-sensei!" She then made a made dash and was out the door. Jiraiya stared at the waves of smoke and looked at Kakashi.
"Tsunade-chan really is teaching Haruno?"
"Aa. Sakura is almost at the same level as Shizune with healing and not to far behind Tsunade-sama with strength."
"Wow! Sakura-chan has really improved! I knew she could do it!" Naruto cheered excitedly. "Let's go see Tsunade-baachan!" Before the men could reply the hyper blonde zoomed out the door leaving Ten Ten clinging to the door frame breathing heavily.
"He almost ran over me!" She scoffed angrily. Jiraiya chuckled and shook his head but winced at his ant bites.
"I suppose I should pay my blonde sucker a visit and see if she can heal me before Naruto drives her insane." Kakashi smiled amused and followed the man out when Shizune walked up to the two.
"Jiraiya-sama! Kakashi! Woo, hitting two birds with one stone." Shizune grinned as Ton Ton squealed from her spot on the ground.
"Shizune-san." Both men responded.
"Kakashi, Tsunade-sama would like to see you." She stated and Kakashi nodded as she turned her attention to the Ero-Sennin. "Welcome back Jiraiya-sama. How was training with Naruto?"
"Very well. We were just about to pay a visit to the Hokage herself." Jiraiya grinned.
"Great!...Wa-wait. Naruto is back?" She asked with a small amount of horror.
"Yes." He replied dumbfounded.
"Oh no! Tsunade's going to kill him! No Tsunade don't!" She screamed suddenly and dashed off towards the Hokage tower and the two men looked at each other. Then Jiraiya started laughing nervously which caused the silver haired nin to look at him awkwardly.
"I think it might have to deal with the fact that little Naruto left her a very unwanted gift before he left."
"That was?" Kakashi asked, highly amused at the predicament.
"Just a little---" Before Jiraiya could finish the ear piercing scream of the blonde Hokage echoed over the village.
"JIRAIYA!" The two men sweat dropped.
"I don't think she will mind if I'm late…" Kakashi muttered and started heading back towards his apartment as fast as he could without seeming suspicious.
"Mind if I join you?" the perverted hermit asked laughing nervously and continued to walk beside the shorter man. Ten Ten sighed as everyone was gone and she started to pry the two green beasts off the floor.
"Come on. How bout some tea?" She asked as she started dragging the heartbroken men to a local restaurant so they could douse their worries in the abbess of green tea.
"Oh Ten Ten-chan!" Wailed Lee miserably and sunk his head on her shoulder crying.
"Oh Ten Ten-san!" Gai copied and tucked his head on her other shoulder. She sighed and glared heavily at anyone who dared to block her path.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sakura sweat dropped as she stared at the frying Naruto. Not to long after she entered the room Naruto appeared squealing his infamous 'Tsunade-baachan' line and Sakura didn't even get to blink before she saw Naruto being pummeled.
"Tsuande-sensei?" She asked timidly as she tip toed over the very, very, very abused Naruto. "After I spent all that time healing him too!" She grumbled mentally before looked up to see a very satisfied face on her sensei.
"Sakura-chan!" She grinned happily and guided the pink haired kunoichi to her desk and allowed the nin to sit before she took a seat behind her desk. When the blonde hokage was about to speak Naruto groaned and waved a battered arm in the air.
"Sakura-chan." He spoke weakly.
BAM!
Sakura winced as Tsunade chucked the empty sake bottle at his head. Naruto fell back with a thump and Tsunade nodded to herself.
"Serves the little pervert right." She huffed.
"Eh?" Sakura muttered confused as Tsunade shuffled through her desk and pulled out an old tattered paper and slide it across to Sakura while glaring death at the blonde boy. Sakura opened it cautiously and her cheeks flushed red and her eyes widened in shock. "NARUTO YOU PERVERT!" She screamed mentally, her inner Sakura already had fainted.
"Naruto no baka!" She hollered and grabbed one of the empty sake bottles off the floor and chucked it at the groaning form that was trying to stand up. With equal rage she shoved the paper back to Tsunade and was grumbling death threats.
"Tsu-….I'm too late." Shizune barged in and paused as Ton Ton snuffed around the fallen ninja.
"Take him to the infirmary. Make him heal 'natrually'. If one medic nin tries to heal him, you better makes use of those senbon needles Shizune." Tsunade spoke in a huffy three year old manner.
"Right away Tsunade-sama." Shizune muttered and started to drag the battered fifteen year old's body out the door. The two women shook their heads in distaste as the door was finally shut.
"So, I don't know. I guess it's going to be a hour or so till your ex-sensei gets here…so how's training going?" Tsunade-sama asked cheekily. Sakura laughed and shrugged a bit as they immersed themselves into a conversation of training, haircuts, and perverted men.
Outside, a devastated Pakkun was still running roof to roof with a really pissed of wet cat right behind him.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Yatta! Woo! Another chapter done! I know it was kinda of a filler but I was just giving everyone an FYI about everything. This chapter was kinda short considering it was barely five pages on MW but if I get enough reviews back I'll make the next one eight pages long! So Hope to hear from you all! -Simli