"She-she's…" Choji stuttered.
"Uh huh," Ino smiled happily with her arms crossed.
"Wow! I can't believe this. I think I'm going-" Kankuro was about to talk, but he got interrupted.
"Shh! Just don't say anything. It's not our job to tell, except Ino," Temari lectured and shrieked excitedly on the inside. "This is such great news…!"
"I know right! But does Gaara know?"
"It's best that he should," Neji pointed out.
"I'll tell them both. Anyway, we better eat breakfast," Ino chirped, then she headed over to the campfire as they were walking behind her.
…
The hillside was half lop-sided where there are full of little igneous rocks and undergrowth plants. Both Naruto and Sasuke were proving the grass area and plucked as many herbs as they could get. A single sneeze came out of the blonde-haired Hokage as he scratched under his nose and groaned in disgust.
"Gah… These lilacs are giving me allergies. It's so itchy," he scowled.
"I'm immune to those," the dark-haired ninja said monotonously.
"Yeah, yeah. I get it. No need to brag about it," Naruto huffed.
"So how many did you find so far?"
"Eight. How about you?" Sasuke replied.
"Aargh! Mine is… three," Naruto groaned in frustration with a sweatdrop.
"I see. That should be good."
"Good?! I wanted more, but you just took them too fast!" He retorted.
"It ain't my fault you're too slow. Anyway, as long as we have these herbs, we must return it to Ino, so she's able to treat Sakura."
"I-... Yeah. She has been feeling like that since the start of our trip. I'm guessing it has to do with her encounter with the wolf," Naruto murmured.
"I suppose. The enemy wants something more than just a treasure. Something he may have seen in her," Sasuke noted.
"Oh yeah, now I remember. The rogues are still here, aren't they?"
"Yes, they are. We almost got trapped in that cave during our scavenger hunt."
"If it wasn't for those creeps and their bombs, I think we would've determined who gets the prize. But whatever. At least, we're all safe," the blonde-haired ninja thought.
"I'm not convinced," the dark-haired ninja muttered.
"Hm?"
"They're not going to let these things off the hook, especially when they're out there looking for us," he explained.
"You're right. We got to go and find them, but first we should return back to the camping site."
Sasuke nodded in agreement as the two of them began to teleport out momentarily.
…
The two leaders, Shikamaru and Temari, have already found the boat beside the dock, where the five leaf jonin had frequented outside the beach. He then uses his technique by transmissioning the chakra signals to communicate with them in his own mind. He got a reply back from them, stating that they are on their way to confront the rogues by themselves, which perturbed them.
"We are being told to leave this island."
"Why? We can help them out," Temari said.
"You don't get it. We don't know what the enemy is capable of. He's an Uchiha," Shikamaru stated.
"What?! I thought there's none other than Sasuke," Temari pointed out in perplexity.
"That's what I was thinking, but no… This one is created by Orochimaru as one of his test subjects. For him to go this far, it seems that his mind took control over his own body," Shikamaru facepalmed.
"I'd say, we should take measures," Temari said determinedly.
"If you insist, then why the hell not? It's gonna be another drag. We gotta warn the others of this," he murmured dully, making her giggle at his usual lazy attitude.
…
After they had eaten their meals, the rest of the leaf squad and the two sand siblings were now disassembling the wooden sticks and folding the tents by compressing them inside the bags. Then, Sai pulled out the blank pages of the scrolls and made a few hand signs to perform the sealing jutsu.
"That should do it. It all came in handy. Is there a limit to hold those equipment in?" Neji queried an eyebrow analytically.
"Two hours. Although, this technique of mine is still a bit flawed," Sai replied.
"But it sure comes in handy," Tenten said.
"How long does it take for Naruto and Sasuke to get those herbs?" Choji squinted his eyes intrusively.
"Less than thirty minutes or so," Lee said.
"So when are we going to leave?" Kiba asked.
"Once our leaders come back and tell us to. As of now, they have to sort something out. I'm not just saying this cause I'm paranoid, but I sensed this way back in that cave and after fighting those ninjas," Ino explained.
"What's important is that Sakura is fully recovered and that we get out of here fast," Lee said.
"Are you initiating that we, as ninjas, should run away?" Shino asked neutrally.
"No, that's not what I'm saying," Lee retorted slightly.
"Then, what?" Neji urged on.
"It's just there's no point in fighting those guys. They might just be doing stuff like a regular routine," Lee thought.
"Get real… Don't tell me you're starting to become scared of them or is it their boss?" Tenten raised an eyebrow in a peculiar way.
"Who says I was? I'm only pointing out that all of us have important missions to do. I also miss spending time with Guy sensei. He encourages me to teach the kids in the Ninja Academy," Lee pouted.
"Jeez… You will. Just be patient, alright? Anyway, I need to get change," Tenten sighed and went over to her backpack.
…
It was about an hour later when Hinata was watching the pink-haired kunoichi quietly with a deep worried look on her face. She gently placed her palm on top of her forehead to check her body temperature and was relieved that it's normal. She formed a pleasant smile that she's proud to be her friend without having any problems together.
"Hmm…" Sakura croaked as she blinked twice to clear up her blurry vision.
"You're awake!" Hinata exclaimed happily.
She turned her head over to the side, much to her puzzlement and asked in a daze. "Hinata? Where… Where am I? Where is everybody?"
"They're down by the beachside," Hinata answered simply.
"I see… Are we done here?"
"I think so."
"Oh, okay… Thank you for looking after me. You didn't have to."
"But I'm willing to because you're someone I care about," Hinata said warmly.
The pink-haired kunoichi stared at her and nodded in appreciation. "I feel the same about you too."
"That reminds me, Gaara wants to see you outside," Hinata informed.
"Oh, okay…" Sakura murmured softly and went out of the tent as she saw him standing there, waiting for her.
His eyes gazed upon her and asked wistfully. "How are you feeling?"
"Umm… I'm not too sure. My condition is getting complicated for some reason and I can't even remember what it is," she responded with a faint chuckle.
"Ino is working on it. She told us that Naruto and Sasuke are getting the herbs to cure your illness," he said briefly.
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"Ahh… Well, I suggest we should head back to the leaf village. Maybe, I'm feeling homesick," she frowned.
"You will. Shikamaru and my sister are preparing the boats," Gaara said and continued on to recall. "I want to discuss what happened between us back in the falls. I'm not here to pressure you or anything, but I've been wanting to tell you that I'm in love with you-"
On spur of the moment, his sentences were cut off by Sakura's kiss, which made his eyes widened in surprise with his heart beating faster on his chest.
"No need to explain… I'm also in love with you too…" she said fondly.
"What about your memories… What if they never come back?" Gaara glistened back and forth in uneasiness and looked away, sulkingly.
"Hey, hey. Look at me," Sakura gently cupped the side of his face where their eyes met and continued on. "There are some things that I have in mind, but I know deep down in my heart, this is…"
"A bun in the oven," A male voice blurted out loud, much to everyone's stupefaction.
Gaara and Sakura became alarmed as they started glancing around frantically by hearing the sound of their voices.
"Kiba! You idiot! You're ruining their moment!" Tenten hissed in warning, slapping him in the shoulder aggressively.
"Excuse me?" Sakura was taken aback.
Ino slowly went over to her and muttered faintly. "What he means is…"
"What?" The pink-haired kunoichi demanded.
"Sakura… You're pregnant," Ino announced, grinning in elation.
Suddenly, the pink-haired kunoichi's eyes widened in bewilderment to the point that she's speechless. Her blank expression was soon filled with mixed emotions all over her, whereas the red-haired Kazekage slowly came up and held her hands in front of him.
He caresses them endearingly and uttered. "I'm going to be a father..."
Sakura's cheeks turned pink and gave him a nod with a joyful smile and whispered in a hum. "Yes…"
Then, the couple came into an embrace and placed their lips onto one another, much to the girls' squeal and cheer of excitement.
TO BE CONTINUED...