Summary/Disclaimer: Time for another chapter of the Merc and the Medic. Enjoy the 1500-word chapter. I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto and a few others do.

(Office of the Hokage.)

Naruto looked up to see the door open with Shizune and Shikamaru next to Sakura and Marmora.

"Marmora…." Sakura said, tugging Marmora into the room.

"I already told you why I do that… I'm allowed to geek out." Marmora said before he stood at the door while Sakura walked to take a seat.

"Hello, Naruto." Sakura said, Naruto smiled before he looked at Marmora who turned to look at the painting on the wall.

"Marmora is only here because he assumed you wanted both of us since we live in the same house… Also, because he has nothing better to do then follow me around." Sakura said, smirking at the last part while Marmora hummed.

"Ha, ha, ha. I'm the one who got a job because YOU are bringing up the 'I own the house rule.' I should also…" Marmora said before Sakura growled.

"I swear to the Kage, if you…" She started to say before Marmora chuckled and smirked himself.

"Because I found a bill saying Sakura hasn't paid off her loan yet." Marmora said before a vein appeared on Sakura's face.

Naruto cleared his throat before Sakura could punch Marmora… And possibly destroy the building in the process.

"I'm going to kill you…" Sakura hissed while Marmora smiled under his breath.

"I was going to ask why you keep taking missions after having a job…" Naruto said, Sakura glared at Marmora before turning back to Naruto.

"Sasuke has come to town to ask you something." He said, Sakura and Marmora's eyes widened to the size of the Hokage Monument.

"SASUKE!?" Sakura yelled with such fervor Marmora thought she had learned a sonic scream Jutsu or something similar.

"Yes… Sasuke." Naruto said, used to Sakura's frequent yells and such.

"I think she nearly burst my ears." Marmora muttered; Sakura turned to him before the Hokage sighed.

"He wanted your help for a medical mission in Sound Village. He's been preparing to live there… I spoke to him myself." Naruto said, folding his hands.

"I… Why me? Sound has medical nin, so does Konoha." Sakura asked, she visibly shook like she was about to fall over.

"Sakura, your honestly considered probably the best medical Kunoichi in the world despite your reservations about that. I'm also going to guess your teammate who he can trust, the world, least the major villages, are still recovering from the war." Marmora said, putting an arm on Sakura's shoulder.

She turned to look at Marmora before he looked at the Hokage.

"With all the respect for the Sound. I know they attacked Konoha. I don't know what happened between Otogakure and Konoha, I know there's still a few villagers who are unhappy with how the war went years ago. I would wish to escort Doctor Haruno." Marmora stated, Sakura grabbed his hand.

"I can handle myself, Marmora!" Sakura yelled. Marmora pulled his hand back and sighed.

"I know you can, I have the bruises." He joked before he looked at Naruto.

"I already know that Danuja is becoming a threat… He's a puppet, I wrote to Dagger and whatever is left of my original group. I could give you the letter and then his response when it comes in. I know Sakura could destroy a small army and you could rampage from Fire country all the way to the Land of Earth. I'm overmatched 100000 times and it isn't my place to ask for your permission after I fled here like a coward because my Sensei got himself in trouble and I helped by accident as a teen." He said before he cleared his throat.

"I refuse to let whoever is behind Danuja's sudden rise in violence, I refuse to let it consume Konoha." He said, Naruto sighed.

"I will leave it up to Sakura, you're not legally a citizen of Konoha, I'm going to be removing that law soon anyway. You know how the last war went." Naruto stated, Marmora looked at the ground.

"You are still allowed to make your own choices. I have some business I think a former mercenary could handle." He said, Marmora's eyes widened.

"You know who I am?" He asked, the palpable shock on Marmora's face before Naruto nodded and smiled.

"I'm the Hokage of the village and have dozens of ANBU agents at my call. You think I can't dig up information on a mercenary who thinks he's a ghost?" He asked, Marmora blinked.

"Ok, I think I just became more scared then I was before of the ninja from the war." Marmora said, his eyes swelling up to the size of a planet.

"Marmora!" Sakura yelled before Marmora looked half at her and half at the Hokage.

"I'm at your service, Lord Hokage. I still would like to help as an escort for Sakura before I ace[t the mission… Unless your mission is far more urgent and requires me more." Marmora stated before he took a step back.

"Naruto." Sakura said, quieter this time before Naruto sighed.

"Sakura, I might not know him, but I know he's trying to help you… Just like any of the rookie 9… Just like any of the ninja." He said, Sakura sighed before he turned to look at Marmora.

"What about the Land of Iron, Lightning and Water do you know?" Naruto asked, Marmora's eyes widened for the third time.

"3 different countries? Lord Hokage, I'm good, but I'm not good enough to make it to make it halfway across 3 countries… Even 1 would take me weeks if not months." He said, Naruto hummed.

"I didn't say to cross them. I asked you what you know. I've heard of a lot of bad things outside the Land of Fire." He said, Marmora sighed and took the seat next to Sakura.

"I've only been to the shores of Lightning, my sensei said I was exceptionality gifted with potential when it came to water Jutsu. I haven't seen it yet. I did find it beautiful there… Iron? All I know is Shinobi aren't allowed to interfere with the Samurai there. I've met a few Samurai, when you owe no true allegiance to a country… Though I can say dagger failed to crush my loyalty to Amegakure… I had bad memories there, I don't hate it there. I've heard you were in the same boat, with all due respect, Lord Hokage." He stated, he cleared his throat. Naruto said nothing at the moment.

"Water? I've NEVER been there, but I would love to go there, I've heard its snowy, but I was born in a village of rain, water, the ocean? I've always wanted to travel there… What is it you need me to do then? I'm not as strong as the rest of the Shinobi from the war. I doubt I'm even a fraction of that strength." He said, Naruto handwaved it.

"The land of Iron is already fighting a war against whoever is threatening the Land of fire… And I know nothing has happened in Water yet." Naruto said, Marmora blinked and turned to the side.

"So, all the fallout of the war is allowing whoever is funding Danuja to consider waging open war? Damn, I still need to ask where I come in." Marmora said, Naruto turned to look at Sakura and Marmora.

"I'll figure that out soon… But Marmora?" He asked, Marmora blinked while the Hokage hummed.

"If anyone else gets hurt in Konoha? If Sakura or any of my friends get hurt?" Naruto said, Marmora nodded and looked to the side.

"You don't have to tell me, but trust me. I know, I'm going to go get ready to travel to sound. I trust sound, but I know what losing does to some people… Seems even after war, things still aren't back to normal." He said and then turned before walking to the door and opening it.

"Is it really that bad?" Sakura asked, Naruto shook his head.

"Not as bad as I said, but I know it's bad enough to keep people on guard, it isn't Danuja and his group. I already heard there be at the Land of Waves by the time of next week… No, this problem is a lot worse… A LOT worse than a few criminals." Naruto said, Sakura frowned.

"Have you been happy, Naruto?" Sakura asked, Naruto nodded.

"Yeah, but have you been happy?" He asked, crossing his arms.

Sakura had no answer to that, Naruto sighed.

Author Notes

Phew, another chapter done! I apologize if I probably got Naruto wrong, this is why I didn't want to include him at first. I also want to point out there will not be a fourth war or anything… I'm just trying to hype up the Boruto era villains. I also want to point out Sakura doesn't love Sasuke anymore after his attempts to kill her and such, but he's conflicted. Next chapter will be on Sunday or so and will show Marmora meeting Sasuke, until then, Lighting Wolf out!