The two kunoichis were sitting on the log, where the bushes are covering them. To be sure, Temari had cast a soundproof barrier jutsu around them, so that no one was eavesdropping nearby.
"I know Shikamaru and I shouldn't have put you and everyone in the scavenger hunt. Something so dangerous could risk your lives," she said in concern.
"That's alright, Temari. It's not your fault," Sakura assured with a gentle tone of voice.
"How have you been feeling, though?" Temari asked.
"I'm doing good, actually. My memory is slowly coming back, I guess," she stated.
"Yeah, you were with Gaara those days. I've heard the white wolf attacked the two of you out of nowhere. Nothing serious happened, right?" Temari said.
"No. We were defending Serulata, the Sacred Tree back there and that's when we were able to use our powers," the pink-haired kunoichi explained.
"That's the second time you met her," Temari noted.
"She was very kind to us right after she cured Gaara's wounds on his right arm. Then, she gave us a gift…" Sakura nodded and trailed off of her words faintly.
"What kind?" Temari wondered.
"You see, when he and I fell outside the cave's collision, we wandered through the backwoods, passed by the thickets and ended up in the falls. We both gabbled a lot and…" the pink-haired kunoichi paused for a moment as she looked down timidly.
Temari scrutinized a little in observation until her lips began to form a pleasing smile in realization and teased. "Ooooh! You two actually did-"
Sakura covered her face fully in embarrassment, which made the four blonde-tailed kunoichi squeal in excitement.
"I'll stop," she grinned happily and continued on. "I should tell this to Kankuro."
"Please, no. No, don't," the pink-haired kunoichi begged and went on. "I don't think it's right. Besides, I'm with Sasuke…"
Temari blinked at her in befuddlement. She saw the guilt on her face, knowing that she committed a wrongdoing and said. "You did not cheat. Whatever is going on between you and my brother, you should not blame yourself for letting your feelings show towards him. That was bound to happen. Why else do you always wonder why being with Gaara was right?"
The pink-haired kunoichi stammered a bit tensely, saying. "I don't understand."
"Sakura… I've got to be completely honest with you, your relationship with Sasuke is nothing but a pretense because… Gaara is your true love," Temari affirmed.
Sakura questioned with her eyebrow raised. "He is?"
"Yes, even if you still haven't remembered it…"
Sakura gazed at the shrub and said softly. "It just feels so…"
"Real?" Temari guessed correctly.
Sakura hummed in response with a nod.
"Listen, you and Gaara will always be soulmates. Heck, you both were once childhood friends, now you two are inseparable lovers. Believe me, I was there. You can ask Kankuro and our friends…" Temari explained.
"I don't know, Temari… I have these feelings for Sasuke and I want to make sure of what you've told me," Sakura muttered, sighing in distress.
"I'll still be there to support you and I promise you… it's the truth," she said sincerely.
"Thanks…" the pink-haired kunoichi smiled contentedly, then they both hugged in solace.
The clouds began to converge together by the next few hours, which soon darkened the skies and rained heavily. The sound of the punch was made that echoed through the walls of the underground cave as Zenchi grunted in pain. He spat out blood from his mouth and twitched his left purple bruised eye as he staggered off.
"You fool! We were this close!" The boss snarled furiously and questioned. "How could you let this happen again?!"
"We tried getting it back, but the youth-lings have gotten away," he reasoned pleadingly.
"The forehead girl already attained the treasure and it appears she received it from her other half," Mingyu reported calmly.
"Then, fix it. I do not give a damn if it's that difficult. We must move to the next step together…" the boss said with his Sharinnegan eyes, full of atrocity and ordered them, saying. "Kidnap Miss Haruno and once you do, I will give her worse than death. This time, it will be an endless torment of hell."
Meanwhile, everyone else was inside the huge tent, where they all sat down comfortably near the wooden lanterns on the floor.
"You all had a nice dinner. Good, good. We will be moving onto our last activities," Shikamaru announced.
"Aww! I'm going to miss our vacation," Ino pouted with a frown.
"Sadly," Choji said with a little sour expression.
"Lady Tsunade has responded to our letters," Shikamaru answered.
"She told us she's sending the recruit teams on their way to inspect," Temari noted.
"I'm glad because those bastards are permeating our personal space," Kiba huffed.
"I agree. Just seeing their faces makes me want to whip them all the way through the gutter," Tenten remarked.
"Wherever they are, they won't prevail against us," Kankuro muttered.
"Before we discuss that, I will now call out on which teams you are on," Shikamaru said.
"Sorry to interrupt, but unfortunately I won't be able to participate…" the pink-haired kunoichi notified with her hand being raised.
"I will be the one to take her place," her other half insisted as she stood up and glanced at their friends in determination. "She cannot endanger herself while she's in recovery."
TO BE CONTINUED...