Chapter 3: Restless

A/N: So based on feedback from last chapter a good chunk of you said using Old/Young to differentiate Naruto and Hinata is easier (among using it to differentiate between all the future characters) so I'll be using that method from now on by using Y for Young and O for Old. FYI!

"-But it's all a part of what I'm working through. The way life changes. The way people and things disappear. Then appear, unexpectedly, and hold you close."

― Nina LaCour, Hold Still


Jiraiya (Past)

"No, Naruto never mentioned any plans to me about leaving. Granted, if he's disappeared like this he wouldn't have told me in the first place in order to prevent me from stopping him."

Kakashi speaks dryly, calm and matter of fact in spite of another one of his student's being gone from the village.

If he's worried or annoyed, his features won't give it away.

And Jiraiya sighs internally, he's getting nowhere.

Sakura beside him curls at her lips in a way that says there is more she wants to tell him, more that could be beyond what he currently knows regarding this case and Kakashi eyes her curiously as well at her fidgeting, wondering what other secrets she's been keeping to herself.

"Well besides Hinata, I figured you two would've been the last to see Naruto since you're all Team 7. Was there anything he said when either of you last spoke to him that might've indicated he planned to leave Konoha too? I mean anything he said offhandedly that would make you think he was planning an escape?" Jiraiya questions.

He takes note that Sakura stiffens at the mention of 'Team 7' when said Team 7 is currently without 2 of it's core members.

The only fractured team.

"No, I mean...he was really upset from his lost to Sasuke back in the Valley, I know that. He promised me he would bring Sasuke back, I believed he would no matter the effort it took. But I shouldn't have placed such a burden on him...I need to get strong enough to catch up with them, to know I could bring Sasuke back on my own without putting the pressure all on him so I've started training under Lady Tsunade's tutelage." Sakura pipes up.

Jiraiya hums thoughtfully, the last thing he needs is a mini Tsunade to deck him in if she happens to catch him in the midst of his research though that isn't important to bring up right now!

It's been nearly 24 hours now and no Naruto, no Hinata...

He makes a show of flipping through his notebook, coming upon his 3rd page of notes.

"Alright then Sakura, what was it Sasuke said to you right before he left? I believe you tried to go after him too but were unable to convince him to stay in the village." Jiraiya remarks.

Sakura flusters then, cheeks gaining a crimson hue as she shuffles at her toes.

"I...I asked if he would take me with him though clearly I would've just gotten in the way. He thanked me before knocking me out and leaving me on one of the park's benches." She explains.

Jiraiya nods his understanding, recalling his own feelings of inferiority he felt at times around her age despite rarely showing it, pushing up from his chair.

"Alright then, well if you two remember anything and I mean anything, make sure I'm the first to know!" He emphasizes.

Kakashi nods with a slow wave while Sakura just watches him silently, jade orbs dark with uncertainty on what to make of his personality.

Good, maybe Tsunade hasn't shared their past stories together with her yet!

It was time to pay Hiashi Hyuga a visit.

The Hyuga compound is still, as if the mansion has been holding its breath awaiting his arrival since Hinata's disappearance.

Afternoon sun warms the mahogany floors and gardens, casting golden glows and bringing about a shine to scarlet fuchsias and yellow hydrangeas lining the back walls/fences of the manor.

'Ugh, it feels like a thousand eyes are watching me! Jiraiya restrains a shiver as he follows one of the guards to Hiashi's main quarters.

His reputation precedes him going by the mix of the wary and curious stares.

"Welcome Jiraiya...it's unfortunate we're not meeting under better circumstances." Hiashi begins, gesturing to the tatami mats and cups of green tea set out before them.

"Yes, perhaps in another time and place once this is all over we can laugh on it with one of my newest books!" He beams as he moves to take a seat.

Hiashi doesn't bother to try and smile back, arching a brow.

'Well, guess he's in no mood to laugh.' Jiraiya sours.

Not that he would be happy about any of this, his eldest daughter is missing with no clues on her whereabouts.

And more importantly based on the whispers he's heard, he's worried the byakugan is going to fall into the wrong hands...

He reviews over everything he knows with him, what the cameras captured of Hinata's presence at the hospital, what her teammates gave about her last known whereabouts, and if he knows anything else she had planned for the day.

"I know she's fond of the boy, but I could never see them running off together." Hiashi scoffs.

"Yes, well I'm learning a lot about what I thought people would and wouldn't do over these last few hours." Jiraiya supplies back.

"Hinata knows better, she wouldn't risk the clan's reputation or our kekkai genkai for love. Naruto is more than meets the eye, I'll give him that though I can't see either of them just leaving so abruptly without an explanation. Hiashi regards with a note of finality on the matter.

Their teas sit cold, wind blowing the steam into the beginnings of dusk. Neither speak as the clock overhead fills the growing void of silence.

Jiraiya restrains a groan, nobody has been of help today at all! Hiashi is holding out on him they both know and part of him can't blame him, he an outsider intruding on generations old secrets and clan rules.

'But this is for his daughter.'

He isn't sure though if even those words would have enough of an effect on the stoic man...

He moves to stand, asking him to let him know if he remembers any other details over what Hinata was up to before she left for the hospital.

Hanabi pokes her head out just as he's heading back for the gates, pearl eyes glancing around quickly before speaking.

"Did Father tell you anything? Do you know where Big Sis is?" She asks carefully.

Jiraiya shakes his head and her expression dampens.

"Big Sis really likes Naruto, she often watched him train in the forests on evenings like this before coming home." She muses.

They both look to the sky then, the pastel pink-violet of another day ending.

Another day without answers...

She straightens then, eyes clearing with resolve.

"I saw Big Sis head for Father's study that very evening. She had a scroll in her hands when she came out, though I don't know which one it was." Her words nearly run together and Jiraiya blinks before nodding.

A shadow falls over her before she can say any more, a hand landing upon her shoulder.

"Hanabi, dinner is to start soon followed by your final hour of training/meditation. You don't have time to waste ,especially with Hinata's presence being gone." Kō instructs, guiding her in the opposite direction. He scowls faintly at him, hoping he hasn't perhaps been sharing excepts of his novels with her.

In reality she has just given him his first clue, a tiny piece of information, but it's a start.

'A scroll, huh?'


Naruto & Hinata (Future)

"Papa, there's strangers in our house!"

A boy's voice yells from somewhere over him, footsteps scampering around him in a circle through a gray haze of darkness.

'Where am I?'

And then the memory returns, Pervy-Sage saying goodbye to him with the promise of actual training once he's recovered. The scent of smoke singeing his nose, Hinata's warm gaze twisting to fear at the scroll's effects. A crimson red fire burning apart his room, eclipsing them both in smog...

Naruto-Y shifts up slowly, vision bogged down by drowsiness and fatigue only to see blond hair and shining azure orbs watching him curiously as everything clears.

The boy steps back when he catches his gaze, cobalt eyes mirroring his own narrowing.

"What cha doing in our house? Burglars can't sleep in here you know; this is Papa's important room!" He mentions, gesturing to scrolls and books that once littered the ground.

Naruto-O walks in, yawning cut off mid-way when he sees Boruto's hovering at his side.

"Boruto, these are our guests; not strangers!" He mentions, lifting the boy up before he can decide he needs to attack.

"How old is he again?" Naruto-Y asks after a moment as Boruto scampers between his father's legs in a dizzying loop once he sets him back down again.

Naruto-O looks back to him, grin etching up his lips. "He just turned 3, though he tries to act much older depending on the situation."

'He's acting 3 right now.' Naruto-Y considers, but wisely keeps to himself at seeing the preschooler's cheeks pout out at him, temper only barely kept at bay for now it seems.

Hinata-Y awakens at all the commotion, peering quietly between Father and son.

'He truly is a mini Naruto in looks.' She muses now that she is getting a better look at him in the daylight, same shade of sunny blond hair and sky blue eyes with even matching whisker marks upon his cheeks. She wonders briefly what Naruto thought seeing him for the first time properly, features that only he had in Konoha he now shares with someone else.

Though she can't see any of her own features in him until he glances her way and she notes the roundness of his eyes and face in contrast to the sharper features of Naruto.

Boruto cocks his head at her as if she's a puzzle.

"...You have eyes like Mama." He points until Naruto-O lowers his hand down.

"It's rude to point Boruto!" He reprimands, but he either doesn't hear or ignores him.

"They look like Auntie's and Grandpa's too! Are you from Mama's family as well?" He pursues, squirming out of his Dad's hold to get a better look to decide if they're real.

Hinata-Y feels her face start to redden at his attention by shifting back just slightly as his stare intensifies, unsure what to say to his remarks. He of course is going to be curious about their sudden presence here in his home breaking his usual routine, over why she who should be a stranger has her clan's eyes.

"I'm not, well I am though I-" She starts.

But before she can think of an excuse to say Hinata-O steps in, Himawari in tow taking in the scene.

"Ah, it seems everyone is already up for the day! Good, we have a busy day ahead in checking in with Sakura." She remarks.

Naruto-Y straightens, words a click to his main goal for today.

"Sasuke, you said he's going to be back in the village; I want to see him!" He bellows, jumping up from his futon with urgency. The fact that his older counterpart sees no rush to check in with him is only a tiny relief. This is a Sasuke after all more than 10 years older than him, who his older self has hopefully saved from going down a dark, twisted path.

"Uncle Sasuke is always traveling." Boruto adds in.

Naruto-O nods. "We didn't forget, though we need to see Sakura first to confirm our DNA as well as get insight into that scroll you used. Sasuke like I told you before won't be back until later in the day, most likely this evening or even nightfall."

He's unable to hide his full scowl from his older form, bristling with impatience. "Why can't we just ask him to come back earlier?! Shouldn't Pervy-Sage or even Granny have some authority to get him back to the village sooner?"

The room stills then, neither of their adult counterparts speaking then.

A flicker of ache passes though in his older selves' eyes, blue eyes hazing over before clearing just as fast.

"Did...Did I say something wrong or weird?" Naruto-Y asks cautiously at his expression and his older self shakes his head, tacking back on a smile as swings Boruto onto his shoulders.

"No, just thinking is all, you know! I'll call Sakura again in a moment. Hopefully, she wasn't covering night shift duty this week." He explains away.

Each word sounds sour to his ears though, no matter how old he is, he can tell when he's lying...

But he buries the thought down for later to question him on.

He can't allow himself to relax on the Sasuke subject, not when the last time he saw Sasuke his eyes were the stormy black of wrath, eyes that only desired power alone...

'How did I let it so easily slip my mind?!' He berates himself.

'You know why.' His thoughts answer before he can dwell on it.

'Love. I'm actually loved.'

He peeks towards Hinata, but her focus is still on their apparent future son. He always thought she was so quiet and weird the way she reddened each time their eyes met, the opposite of Sakura and a majority of the girls in their class really, but now it's her making him so confused and flustered.

Family photos line pristine white walls (at least the ones Boruto hasn't managed to color on), expensive polished oak bookshelves and tables he never imagined he could own rest against the walls/sides, and velvet green to blue curtains with a toad themed décor are set up for an ever expanding living room. Partly he feels like he is still in a dream, no matter how many times he pinches himself secretly.

All of it has been so distracting, causing him to be forgetful and tongue-tied. Especially in taking in his two future children, this home and life that will someday be his own...

The smell of breakfast wafts in the from the kitchen, rich aroma of spices giving way to a colorful assortment of rice, eggs, meats, fish, fruits, toast, and of course ramen. Nobody has ever prepared so much food for him and he shifts anxiously from foot to foot.

A banquet.

"Grab a plate! I made extra knowing what the day ahead is going to look like!" Hinata-O gestures. Himawari fusses, tuffs of her violet blue hair brushing at her lips as she wiggles back and forth. Hinata-Y studies her closely until her adult form holds her out to him and she flusters before nervously accepting the toddler into her arms briefly to rock her.

"You're a natural!" Naruto-Y points out making her cheeks burn tenfold when her tiny hands move to curl at her jacket to hold on. Not a moment sooner though does her stomach's gurgling make her return Himawari back to her older counterpart's arms.

His own stomach too faintly growls in excitement, the reminder neither of them have properly eaten in hours.

Naruto-O behind him takes out what looks be like a phone and he lingers back as he sees what looks to be Sakura's name upon the screen, catching the end of a conversation.

"-Yes, it's better you come here. Oh no, nothing's wrong with the kids! I know Hinata explained it some, but we need you to run some tests then contact Sasuke."


Sakura (Past)

"So is it true he really just up and left? Ino questions.

She stirs at her hot chocolate absently, waiting.

The bistro is quiet save for them and an elderly couple in the back, most of the usual patrons staying home to escape the gloomy weather.

Sakura doesn't immediately answer, sinking deeper into the warm metal of her seat. The wind whistles outside, sky that same ugly gray-black from the night Sasuke left to the day he and Naruto had their fateful battle in the Valley.

And too caught up in her thoughts and memories, she hadn't even carried along an umbrella for today, chill of the rain still clinging to her skin and clothes.

"That's your 4th mistake in the hour Sakura!" Tsunade barks out from next to her.

Sweat beads at her head, gazing down at the dead sea bass. It's cold glazed over yellow-brown eyes seems to be scorning her failure as well to bring it back to life. Not only that though, she's been slower in dodging Lady Tsunade's punches and rock throws from earlier, shoulders wincing from the new collection of bruises lining her arms and back.

"You're off your game today; I presume because you're down another team member so abruptly. I'm sure Jiraiya already interviewed you and Kakashi regarding Naruto's disappearance." She notes.

Sakura can only nod, throat tight knowing what is coming at her expression and sigh.

"Well, you're no good to me not thinking clearly Sakura. You know the veins, capillaries, and arteries of this fish like the back of your hand so it shouldn't be taking you this long to resuscitate and heal it's major injuries. Take the next 3-5 days off to rest. A medic nin is useless on the field if their mind isn't focused on protecting the injured and themselves from further attack." She orders.

There is no room for argument, even as she bites at her lip hearing that same word again used on her.

'Useless.'

"Damn it, I just needed a second to clear my head!" She growls, slamming a fist down making Ino jolt and her own milkshake nearly topple over.

She reddens, shaking away the memory and sitting back up. "Sorry, I just have a lot on my mind. Lady Tsunade dismissed me early from training and yeah, apparently Naruto just up and left the hospital that evening. Maybe he couldn't wait on that perverted toad guy and took off on his own."

It's been nearly 4 days now with still no leads or even clues to where he or Hinata have gone.

There is a slow wave of panic building in most of the jounin-sensei and adults now no matter how much they try to mask it, nobody knowing Naruto's exact whereabouts in particular is creating talks of war, stirrings of old fears...

Ino snorts, waving off the idea. "Naruto couldn't have gotten too far, he's always been loud and in your face about where he's going so I can't see him suddenly quietly leaving without telling anyone."

Sakura nods her agreement, leaning in. "That's what I thought too! Naruto often foolishly liked to announce out plans our secretive/private missions we had sometimes screwing things up in the process of doing so. This is different though, his room was on fire Ino, I...I'm worried someone kidnapped him like I've heard in the rumors swirling about by all the jounin-sensei."

"What about Hinata? Wasn't she in the room as well and now she's missing too?" Ino questions.

'True, and Hinata likes Naruto so she would try her best to ensure neither of them were harmed in anyway, but there's no trace of either of them in the village or that room.' Sakura considers.

Ino makes a show of sipping at her chocolate shake, cheeks warming from the heat of the drink. "Well, not much can be done about it right now. Hopefully a clue gets picked up on the location or direction they went in soon enough."

Sakura silently agrees, moving to take a long slurp of her own drink. They switch to the lighter topics of how Ino's own training is going in perfecting her Mind-Transfer jutsu to joint training with Shikamaru and Choji late into the evenings.

"I swear sometimes the only way to get those chips out of Choji's hands is to promise him barbecue later on or those new signature meat bowls Ichiraku's is promoting for a limited time!" Ino complains, retelling the story of how she nearly ripped apart one of his rare sour cream and onion bags he had brought along as a snack.

Sakura laughs along, easily picturing the scene though a tightness wedges at her chest recalling said lighter moments with her own team 7.

Moments that are only memories now.

She brushes away droplets from the sides of her hair, moving to stand and dropping down her share of ryo onto the counter.

"I'm going to get heading home for a shower, don't want to catch a cold on top of everything else on my plate!" She pushes out a laugh, no matter how fake and strained it sounds to her ears.

"Next time we can go shopping or you can keep me company at the Flower Shop!" Ino calls out behind her and Sakura nods her promise with a wave.

That isn't a bad idea really, Yamanaka flowers keeps the most toxic plants in the back, the sprays and liquids that are reserved for more high-rank or critical missions...

She'd save up her ryo to buy one or two, study the exact toxicology of the roots, seeds, and leaves on how deadly they could be when used the right way.

'More. I need to do more.' The mantra has dug its way up to the forefront of her mind again.

She passes the training grounds on her way home, considering Kakashi-sensei perhaps there within the pine, dew, and moss reading one of those dirty books alone or reminiscing.

'He won't be of help.' Her thoughts hiss, ignoring the way the words make her stomach coil.

She doesn't have Naruto's seemingly endless chakra reserves or Sasuke's kekkai genkai that can stop an opponent mid-attack...

And Kakashi-sensei knows this, why else has he left her alone to her own devices since the end of the chunin exams? There's nothing he can train her in she supposes, nothing he sees in her beyond good chakra control and strength.

It can't be helped; her clan is civilian. No historical footnotes like those of the Uzumaki or Uchiha.

'My strength and healing alone isn't enough though. More, I have to find more I can specialize in and do.' She clicks her teeth, wondering who else she can ask.

Her footsteps take her past her home, past the central library not ready yet to face her parent's comforting looks at her lost or see the librarians pitying stares. To be told that maybe being a shinobi isn't the lifestyle or career choice for her seeing as how her team is broken up and so soon.

Instead she finds herself at the house of Team 8's jounin-sensei: Kurenai Yūhi.

Genjutsu, she hasn't yet focused on learning more about illusionary techniques.

She pauses outside her door, taking in her attire before straightening out her locks as best she can and patting at her semi-dry top to remove as many wrinkles as she can. The rain has thankfully turned into a drizzle, sky parting revealing patches of blue to violet. The walk here has cleared her thoughts, given her enough time to think on whether this a good idea or bad one.

'Okay, here goes nothing; be confident Sakura!' She pushes herself, knocking loud enough for it to echo.

She catches a glimpse of an outline of a male figure by the window and feels her cheeks go hot. Ino did say she saw Asuma-sensei spending more time with Kurenai-sensei as of late, but she had thought it was just her gossiping as usual.

Apparently not.

Kurenai comes to the door a moment later, blinking in puzzlement when she sees it's just her alone.

"Sakura? This is a surprise. Can I help you or do you have some information on Hinata?" She questions.

Sakura shakes her head, straightening herself into a bow.

"No, I'm sorry I have nothing new to report on Hinata." She starts.

She peeks up to her then, verdant meeting scarlet.

"However, I have a request."


Naruto & Hinata (Future)

"That's what Sasuke looks like now?!"

His question is left up in the air, doing a double-take on the photo. Sakura looks exactly the same save for her coral pink hair becoming slightly shorter, donning a new variation of her favorite red top/dress. Tucked in her arms is a child with Sasuke's same dark hair and eyes, a girl telling by the red bow in her hair.

"It does look like him Naruto." His Hinata points out, taking in the onyx hair and eyes.

The only difference was he was covering up his left eye for some reason and he was missing his left arm as well.

"I suppose you're right, he isn't smiling which is typical of Sasuke!" Naruto-Y considers. Even he himself didn't look exactly the same going by his change in hairstyle.

"People aren't going to be the exact same when almost 10 years have passed." Sakura-O mentions, accepting the photo back from the duo. She can see why Naruto-O called her now.

"Where is Sasuke anyways, you said he was going to be by?!" Naruto-Y asks and Sakura-O sighs, restraining rubbing at her head. It's been a long time since she's had to deal with this boisterous, impatient preteen/teenage form of her former teammate.

"He'll be by within the hour, I told him to come here once he clears the entry checkpoint. Now sit still already so I can draw a sample of you and your older form's blood!" She commands, making both Naruto's immediately straighten.

'Ugh, it's okay. If I have to deal with all of this to see Sasuke again it will be worth it.' Naruto-Y reminds himself, looking away as Sakura-O sets up her supply kit and needles.

The technology and devices in Konoha sure have changed.

Because a moment later Sakura-O has a laptop up, typing away as his and Hinata's blood spins around a metal tube beside it.

Her emerald orbs sharpen as a colorful mix of numbers and graphs fill her screen enough to make his head ache when he tries and peeks over.

"Ah, so they're telling the truth; the DNA and blood types are indeed a match." She murmurs a few minutes later.

Two sets of the same people from different time periods...

Her brows knot together in confusion, looking between Naruto and Hinata's younger forms.

"I looked into the information I got from your older selves, the scroll of Ages and Seasons has so little data on it except that it was made for use during wartime and as another measure to prevent the byakugan and Hyuga clan's secrets from leaking out." She reviews.

"Yes, Father only gave my sister and I tidbits of information on it in order to make sure few people truly knew about it's existence." Hinata-O recalls.

Sakura-O nods, twisting her laptop so they could all see what she's compiled on the topic.

"The thing about it is, we'll need to find a scroll that's similar in nature to that one, a scroll that is hundreds of years old in order to return you two back to your original timeline. Your abrupt disappearances could negatively impact both the past and future the longer you both are stuck here, especially with Naruto being the jinchuriki of our village." She continues on.

A quiet settles over the group, Naruto-Y being the first to pipe up.

"It doesn't have to be all negative you know! My Hinata and I can learn things about what happens in the future and prevent it from happening! And I'm sure Granny or one of the old advisors of Old Man Third must know about another time/space scroll thingy we could use!"

Sakura-O looks back to their older counterparts who nod at the idea.

It's their best bet right now rather than dwell on the alternative.

Before any other options can be brought up though, the doorbell rings and Naruto-O shifts up.

"That's probably Sasuke."

His younger self jolts, eyes widening immediately following closely behind him.

He isn't sure what his teenage counterpart is going to expect from this encounter, certainly not a warm greeting because Sasuke just looks at him the same way he did when he first saw him.

Confusion, then mild annoyance.

"Sakura said you wanted to discuss something important and to meet her here. At least I hope you do and didn't waste her time coming here. Why do you have some strange fan that's dressed like your 12 year old self in your home too? You're not even Hokage yet at least from when I last visited." He questions, eyeing his younger self warily.

Naruto-Y crosses his arms, lips setting into a frown.

"Well, he's still an asshole."


Elsewhere (Past)

"Are you sure about this info Akio?" Kabuto warns, the man nodding his confirmation despite the kunai pressed at his neck. A shard of moonlight makes the corner of his face shine silver, enough to catch the curve of his lips etching downward to match his scowl.

"You know my sources are perfect; I would never dare bring false information to you or Lord Orochimaru." He remarks in a low snide at his lack of trust in him, squirming when he presses the blade hard enough to draw blood.

Kabuto scoffs, this intelligence is bigger than anything any of the of the other snakes or outside spies have brought to them in weeks. Of course he would be skeptical on if it is all true or not.

"It's all real. I saw the hospital room for myself briefly before the police and ANBU blocked off the hallway with tape. A doctor there too Makoto Abe, said all of the room and furnishings were black as the midnight sky, what wasn't burnt away was merely covered in layer upon layer of dust and ash." He goes on, knowing where his thoughts have gone.

Kabuto simply nods, flipping through the accompanying pictures.

"Get going on your patrol, I'll update Orochimaru." He waves him off and with a bow, Akio melts away into the night.

'Naruto has disappeared from Konoha as well? But how can it be nobody can find a hint of his scent or even chakra signature?' He frowns.

None of it added up.

Still, this'll be news Orochimaru would want to hear.

He finds him lounging in his private study reviewing a set of scrolls next to his latest corpse, skin a waxy white keeping the decaying process at bay. Since taking over Gen'yūmaru's body he no longer seemed to be in such pain, but his bandages required changing every few hours and the deaths of the Sound 4 had put him in a foul mood for days...

It is only Sasuke's presence here now that brings some gleam back to his eyes, the boy very much still a brat in his opinion despite Orochimaru's training and advice.

"Akio has given me fascinating info that he thought you might want to know." Kabuto states.

Orochimaru doesn't immediately look up from his work, scratch of his pen against his papers the only sound filling the room.

"I assume he used a reputable source to pass along these findings to you?" He finally asks.

Kabuto nods, handing him the photos and notes.

"Konoha has suddenly lost their jinchuriki: Naruto Uzumaki as of a little more than a day ago. There is much gossip and rumor as well from our spies that the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan, Hinata Hyuga is missing alongside him." He reports.

He watches then as Orochimaru scours over each photo carefully with a hum, smirk rising upon his lips.

"Well, well, this is interesting news indeed." He purrs in agreement.

-x-


I'm up way too early, but here it is another chapter! It's Daylight Savings time though I prefer we stopped changing times, I hate driving home from the hospital in the dark!

Hopefully the differentiating isn't confusing. It's hard to write Kakashi and Sakura without thinking about how little Kakashi truly trained Sakura (what else did he do for her besides the basics? I was trying to avoid painting him negatively or even Sakura for her continued feelings for Sasuke.), I like that she's got her medical knowledge and strength yes, but there's so much more that could've been explored with her so this time I'm having her work with Kurenai as well as having her take an interest in poisons as I've previously written for her!

Please let me know your thoughts!

Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!