The next day, Hinata was finally going to have a chance to speak with Kiba. Their team had agreed to train at a certain training field. When the Hyuga heiress arrived, Shino was waiting in the center of the field. Spheres composed of his bugs were rotating around him as he stood solemnly. He turned to look at her. She nodded at him and raised a hand, indicating that she wanted to talk. Shino nodded back and his bugs quickly moved back inside of his body. When the buzzing had ceased, Hinata spoke.
"Hi, Shino. How are you? I need to ask a favor of you," she said, sounding more confident than usual.
"I am fine, Hinata. And I will do my best to assist you," the Aburame replied.
"When Kiba arrives, could you go somewhere else? I need to speak with him privately."
The Aburame raised an eyebrow but made no objection. He simply nodded.
"Thank you, Shino," Hinata said with a small bow.
Shino resumed training with his bugs while Hinata looked around for Kiba. A few minutes later, the dog ninja had finally arrived alongside Akamaru. Hinata walked towards him quickly. As she did, Shino went off into a nearby grove of trees. Kiba watched as Hinata approached, some trepidation covering his features. This kind of assertive body language was entirely out of character for the young woman.
"Kiba, I need you to do something for me," Hinata stated.
Kiba smiled awkwardly.
"Sure, anything for you, Hinata. What is it?" he asked.
Hinata frowned.
"I understand that you've been saying some things about Sakura-san in reference to Naruto-kun... Specifically about her feelings for Sasuke-san, or what she might do if he came back... I don't want you to talk about that anymore."
Kiba cocked his head at her and frowned as well.
"But, Hinata... Why do you even care?"
The bluenette narrowed her eyes a little.
"I care because it's bothering Naruto-kun. In fact, it's bothering him so much that he even asked me for help. So will you please stop?"
Kiba let out a frustrated sigh.
"So you're doing this for him... Hinata, he left you. He left you like you weren't even worth anything to him, and yet you still-"
Hinata loudly interrupted him.
"Kiba! If Naruto-kun needs my help, then I'm going to help him. I'm sorry if you want me to hate him, but I'm not capable of that. He never meant to hurt me. So will you stop or not?"
Kiba stared at her with wide eyes for a few moments. He sighed again, but this time with no venom. It was a sigh of resignation.
"Fine, Hinata... I just wish you didn't feel that way about him. It isn't fair to you at all. But like I said... Anything for you."
Hinata seemed to relax.
"Thank you, Kiba. I appreciate it. Do you want to start training now?"
"Of course..."
Hinata smiled pleasantly at the downtrodden Kiba.
"Okay. Shino is waiting for us over there. Let's go."
She walked off in the direction of the trees. Kiba followed her with his head down, his resentment of Naruto growing with each step he took.
/
Naruto had asked Kakashi about getting a mission for himself and Sakura. He had been told that there was one in a little over a week. It was a diplomatic mission to represent Konoha in the capital of the Fire Country. Naruto was an ideal choice for it because of how well-known he became from his exploits in the war.
A few days had passed since then, and he had yet to have a chance to tell Sakura about it. She had been busy working at the hospital, and they had yet to run into each other. Naruto decided to go to the hospital and meet Sakura during her lunch break so that he could tell her about it. He had gotten about halfway there when he was interrupted by a male voice calling out to him.
"Hey, Naruto."
The blonde turned to look. He saw Shikamaru standing in the shade of a building. He remembered that this part of Konoha was owned in large part by the Nara.
"Shikamaru, hey. How are you?" Naruto replied.
Shikamaru had taken a few casual steps towards him.
"I'm fine. I went to the Hokage office the other day to speak with Shizune. I'm still serious about becoming your advisor, so I wanted to ask her if there is anything I should be learning right now."
Naruto grinned. Shikamaru remained stone-faced, however.
"Wow, really? That's so cool, man. You know that I wouldn't want anyone else to do it, right?"
Naruto's enthusiasm finally managed to elicit a smirk from the laid-back man.
"Yeah. But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about. I saw you there."
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
"Really? What was I doing? Studying, right?"
"You were... And a certain medical ninja was helping you. And it wasn't Shizune. I never agreed with what Kiba was saying, but now, I'm absolutely certain that he was wrong."
Naruto's eyes widened.
"You are?"
Shikamaru nodded.
"Yes. I asked Shizune, and she said that you and Sakura had been doing that for the last three hours. Three hours. Three hours of studying laws and regulations. It sounded incredibly troublesome. So I asked her why Sakura was there. She said that she was there because she wanted to help you. She was willing to do something mind-numbingly boring, for over three hours, to help you. And for no other reason. Naruto, that woman loves you. If you ever doubted that, you're an idiot."
Naruto's eyes glazed over a bit and he smiled softly.
"Yeah... I know."
"I'm glad you do. And I doubt Kiba has ever been more wrong about anything in his whole life. I'll tell you right now, Naruto, I want to be your advisor, but I wouldn't do that for you. Not unless you paid me."
Naruto laughed.
"Haha. That's okay, Shikamaru. I was actually on my way to try to find her right now. What time is it?"
Shikamaru looked down at his watch.
"It's 12:50."
"Oh. Her lunch doesn't start for another ten minutes. Hey, do you still hear from Temari?"
Shikamaru turned his head and looked off into the distance.
"She sent me a letter awhile ago. She's going to come to Konoha with her brothers in a month or so."
Naruto's eyes perked up.
"Great! I'll get to see Gaara again. But listen... I've been wondering. Did you ever tell her how you felt about her?"
The Nara blushed lightly.
"No... I don't really know how to tell her. She's older than me, she doesn't even live here, and I have no idea what she thinks of me. She's a really tough woman. Hard to read. Not unlike Sakura, actually."
Naruto looked down in thought.
"Is she really that much older than you? I didn't know."
Shikamaru finally turned to look at Naruto in a somewhat deadpan manner.
"Naruto, she's the older sister of Gaara and Kankuro. Gaara is the one who is around our age, and he's the youngest. Simple math would tell you that she is, at the very least, about two years older. But it's almost certainly more than that. If I had to guess, I'd say four. I never asked her, though. My father would have killed me if I did something that stupid."
Naruto nodded.
"Well, you should tell her how you feel when she comes here. I realized something because of Sakura-chan. Telling a girl how you feel can completely change the way they look at you."
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow.
"What? How could it possibly do that?"
Naruto shrugged.
"It just does. If they're close to you, and they care about you, telling them that you love them means a lot to them. It's not something where they'll just tell you that they don't feel the same without really thinking about it. They'll really search their heart and find out what they truly feel for you. And if they don't feel the same, well, there's nothing you can do. But not telling them is just not even giving yourself a chance. You can't really expect them to just fall all over you and proclaim their love for you. That only works for guys like Sasuke."
Shikamaru frowned.
"Didn't Hinata do that for you?"
Naruto looked down, feeling a little guilty.
"... Yeah, but she was the only one. Sakura-chan didn't do that, and she never would have. If I never told her how I felt, nothing would have happened between us. And you said Temari was similar to her. So you need to tell Temari how you feel."
Shikamaru sighed languidly. Naruto looked up at him.
"Okay, Naruto. You make a good argument. I'll do it. I just really hope she doesn't laugh at me."
Naruto smiled.
"If she really cares about you, she won't laugh. It would be impossible for her. But I have to go find Sakura-chan. I'll see you later, Shikamaru."
"Okay. See you later."
Naruto walked off. Shikamaru's eyes followed him as he did. When the blonde disappeared around a corner, the Nara returned to the shade in deep thought.
"Impossible...? But why? I didn't understand most of that. And yet he convinced me. Sometimes, he's really troublesome," the dark-haired man mumbled to himself.
/
Naruto had arrived in the hospital cafeteria. It was still mostly empty as the lunch period hadn't started yet. He took a seat at a table facing the main entrance and watched for Sakura.
A few minutes later, people in white uniforms started pouring in. When Naruto saw the pinkette walking through the doorway with a distracted expression on her face, he waved at her. He really liked the way her pink hair looked against her white medical coat. She smiled when she noticed him and walked quickly over to his table, sitting down across from him.
"Naruto..." Sakura said with fondness.
"Hi, Sakura-chan," Naruto replied with a grin.
Sakura was watching him with wide, soft eyes.
"Naruto, I missed you so much. I should have come to see you at your apartment, but I've been doing stuff with my parents and Ino... I'm so sorry."
"Don't think anything of it, Sakura-chan. I should have come to visit you here sooner, but I was too busy at the Hokage Tower."
Sakura nodded.
"Okay. Did you find out anything about a mission?"
"Yeah, there's a diplomatic mission next Tuesday that I would be ideal for. I can bring one other ninja with me. Who do you think I should take?"
Naruto looked at her with faux seriousness as he asked this. Sakura laughed.
"Haha. Are you even allowed to lead such a mission, since you're still a Genin? Wouldn't I be the one taking you?"
Naruto laughed as well.
"In that case, I would be honored if you would let me serve under you, Chunin Haruno."
Sakura watched him with amusement.
"How long are you going to be a Genin? Why hasn't Kakashi-sensei promoted you? At this rate, I'll probably be a Jonin before you're promoted."
The blonde shrugged.
"I don't know. I haven't asked him. Anyway, I should let you eat while you still have time."
He made a motion to sit up.
"Naruto, wait!"
Sakura was looking at him with some urgency. Naruto looked at her questioningly in a half-sitting, half-standing position.
"What's wrong, Sakura-chan?"
"I don't think we should wait that long to spend time together. Let's do something sooner. Want me to come spend the night at your place tomorrow night? I don't have work the day after."
Naruto smiled.
"Of course! That would be great. I really missed you too, Sakura-chan. I love you."
"I love you too, Naruto. Okay, now you can leave."
Sakura grinned at him. He looked at her fondly one last time before waving and walking off.
/
The next day, Sakura was in a rush after she had gotten off work. Tsunade had sent a messenger to inform her that she wanted to speak with her as soon as she was available. So the pinkette had first rushed home to get changed to go to Naruto's apartment and to give her parents a hurried explanation. She had put on a short-sleeved white shirt and long, close-fitting pants that were a dark green. She carried her usual bag with her. She planned to visit her master and then go see Naruto afterwards.
She had finally arrived at the building that was once the Senju compound, which was about as far away from her parents' home as a location in Konoha could possibly be. It was a very large building with a minimalistic wooden design. Tsunade lived here with only Shizune as her occasional company. Sakura felt bad for her, thinking she must get quite lonely at times. She wasn't sure how she could help, though. The times when she had visited, Tsunade had said that she had very little left to teach Sakura, and that the pinkette must have better things to do than make small talk with her. Sakura once suggested that she take another student, or even a class, but Tsunade was reluctant. She said that she seriously doubted anyone living today could learn medical ninjutsu with the speed and agility that Sakura had.
Sakura knocked on the door. After a moment, it opened to reveal Tsunade with a weak smile on her face.
"Sakura," she said.
"Shishou... Hello. I got your message... I really hope you're doing well," the pinkette replied.
Tsunade sighed.
"I'm fine. Come on in."
Sakura followed Tsunade down a hallway into a den of some kind. Tsunade sat down in one of the wicker chairs that were present.
"You want to sit down? Want anything to drink?" asked the Godaime.
Sakura smiled politely.
"No, I'm fine, Shishou. What did you need from me? I'm kind of in a hurry... I'm going to go visit Naruto."
Tsunade smirked.
"Ah, Naruto... Yes... I can't even describe to you how happy I was when I heard... After Jiraiya died, it was my hope that you two wouldn't make the same mistakes we did... When I heard that he was seeing that Hyuga girl, I got so angry. I tracked him down and demanded to know what the hell he thought he was doing. I demanded to know how he could possibly abandon you. And he just said there was no way that you could ever love him. I had to restrain myself from smacking him. I guess he was wrong..."
Sakura looked down sheepishly.
"I didn't think I loved him then. But in a way, I always have. He's always been so important to me, Shishou... I can't stand him being hurt or depressed. If he needs me, I have to help, no matter what it is... And he needed me to love him, so I did... And it made me happier than I've ever been before."
The Godaime finally smiled genuinely.
"That's great, Sakura... He always loved you. I'm glad you finally realized that. Just remember to be safe. You're still very young and you must have many things you still want to do."
Sakura blushed a deep crimson.
"Of course I've thought about that... But I don't know. It doesn't seem like the jutsu they teach you in kunoichi classes is at all practical."
Tsunade nodded with a serious expression.
"It's not. It's painful and messy, obviously. It's really only of use if you get raped by the enemy."
Sakura raised an eyebrow.
"Should I just buy something, then? Or ask Naruto to buy something? God, that would be an awkward conversation to have at this point..."
Tsunade scoffed.
"No, of course not. You're my student. I'll teach you a jutsu. Heh... I was so worried that you would ask me to teach you this for that Uchiha brat. I think I even had a nightmare about it once. You don't know how terrified I was of the possibility that you would always be hopelessly in love with that little shit."
Sakura frowned deeply.
"Shishou, please don't talk badly about him. Sasuke-kun is still very important to me. He'll always be my teammate, and I do love him, I'm just not in love with him."
The older woman gazed at Sakura wearily.
"Whatever, Sakura. You're not in love with him, and you don't know how happy I am to know that. Even if he reformed himself, he's not someone you would ever want to be with. Trust me, I know his type. I'm glad you'll never have to find out."
Sakura sighed in resignation. Whether her master was right or wrong, it didn't matter anymore. But it was a reminder that most of the ninja world still hated and feared Sasuke. She was glad Naruto wasn't here for this. It would have made him feel really bad.
"Shishou... Weren't you going to show me a jutsu?"
Tsunade nodded.
"Here."
The Godaime slowly performed five hand signs.
"That's it. It acts as a barrier lasting twelve hours or so. Try to have a clear mind as you perform the signs, as hard as that may be. You may want to do it well in advance, because thinking clearly is obviously going to be an issue," Tsunade explained.
Sakura did the same signs herself at a quicker speed. A moment after she had finished, she rested a hand on her lower abdomen.
"Hmm... It's a warm feeling. It's kind of distracting... I feel really... I'm too embarrassed to say."
Sakura blushed deeply. Tsunade chuckled in amusement.
"The presence of medical chakra in that area will do that. If anything, it would only help matters. You'll get used to it. After a while, you won't even notice it anymore."
"Can I turn it off?"
"Just do the hand signs again. You shouldn't, though. You should try to get used to it."
Sakura immediately performed the jutsu again. Her blush faded after she did so.
"I'll get used to it another day... I have to go see Naruto. I can't be feeling like this."
Tsunade laughed outright.
"Haha! Are you sure? Like I said, it would only help matters."
The pinkette glared at the amused older woman.
"Yes, Shishou, I'm sure!"
Sakura's expression became one of quiet respect.
"Thank you for teaching me the jutsu, though. You've taught me so much, and not only about jutsu. I will always appreciate having been your student," she declared.
Tsunade looked downcast at this.
"It was a pleasure, Sakura... It really was... But I wish I could have had a child of my own to pass my knowledge on to. Heh, it's ironic. That Uchiha brat will definitely take a woman and have children. He won't give up just because he can't have you. So the Uchiha will live on, while the Senju will die with me. When we won... We... My grandfather, my father... We defeated them every time, and in every possible way... Yet they're going to outlive us, and only because of an ex-traitor brat who had the right friends."
The Godaime sighed deeply. She looked very tired. All the events of her life were starting to wear on her in this time of peace. Sakura only watched her solemnly.
"I hope you can understand now why I'm so thankful that you won't be the one to have his children. That would have made me feel so... God, I don't even want to think about it. Get out of here, Sakura. Leave this old woman to her foolishness and go have fun with Naruto. My past mistakes are mine to bear," Tsunade concluded in a weary tone.
Sakura's eyes widened. She looked down in thought. After a few moments, she looked up with a neutral expression.
"Shishou... If Naruto and I have a child, you should be the godmother. And you can teach him or her, if you want to. It should be you. Ino can wait for the next kid, or have her own damn kids."
Tsunade gaped at her, not knowing what to say. Finally, she smiled.
"I think... I would like that."
Sakura smiled widely in return.
"Goodbye, Shishou. Take care of yourself."
Tsunade only nodded sharply. Sakura gave her a polite bow and exited the building, making her way to Naruto's apartment with haste.
