What Lies Ahead
A/N: Hello. I'll keep this intro short! This is an idea I've had floating around in my head for awhile. It follows major events of Naruto, although the plot has been shifted around to my liking.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters in this story! Rights belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
Chapter One
Mud sloshed around Sakura's feet as she travelled towards the village at a quick, but alert pace. With the war halting to a heated close, all fronts were at their weakest. She was highly aware that if there were to be an enemy attack on the hidden villages, right now held the highest probability. Tsunade-sama had made sure to go over protocol in case any attempts were made on the village hidden in the leaves, or any allies.
Her mind flashed to the all-too-fresh imagine of Naruto and Sasuke lying in front of her, limbs blown off at the elbows.
"I'm sorry… for everything…"
Deep pits of onyx and hazy purple.
Sakura shoved the image of his gaze out of her mind, her heart clenching painfully. She took a deep breath as another image swirled within her thoughts.
Mangekyō and Rinnegan. The shrill sound of Chidori, a piercing flash of electric blue. Even as he held her heart in his hand, those eyes were haunted. He was cold, distant, deeply disturbed.
She came to a momentary halt, the top section of the Konoha gates in view. She let out a shaky breath followed by a thick swallow. Get it together, damnit! There are still things to be done, people to be saved!
She closed her eyes to recenter herself. When she reopened them, her green eyes were dry and dull, but not shaken. She reached into the small pouch attached to her waist, drawing out the scroll that was delivered to her via Anbu summons. The scroll was written and signed by Shizune, requesting her help in tending to the injuries dealt to the shinobi and citizens currently within the village. They also touched on important information that was to be delivered to Sakura personally.
While the war was technically officially over, Sakura was preparing for another wave of battles. She stuffed the scroll back into her pouch, continuing towards the gates that led to her home. Albeit her decently active role in the war, her role as a medic ninja, first and foremost, was to heal and care for those injured and ill.
She clenched her fists, eyes set in a blaze of determination as she approached the gates.
She centered herself fully, her head high. As a medic ninja of Konoha, trained by and the disciple of the Fifth Hokage, Lady Tsunade herself; it was Sakura's duty to be strong for her village and offer her services, even at the expensive of her physical and mental wellbeing.
She felt a slight wave of nausea rise from within her as she took in the sight of her village. The walls stood cracked and crumbling, chunks of concrete and debris strewn about. Obvious signs of stress among the land told the story of a few dozen battles.
The faces of her comrades flashed within her mind, along with images of the people she had healed. From children to the elderly, worry worked itself into her bones.
Who didn't make it?
Who did?
Her fists clenched tightly at the sight of bodies laid about haphazardly. She froze slightly before jumping into action.
She moved from body to body, Byakugō no In wrapped gracefully around her pale, dirtied skin.
For the most part, the injuries that she healed were serious. Her heart would clench every time she made eye contact with a gaze clouded in pain, or fear. She offered comfort in the form of her soothing chakra, and for those who were too far gone, she gave words of comfort.
When she finally stumbled upon Shizune, she was in the middle of healing a woman who looked to be in her mid twenties. Sakura's eyes softened at the sight of whom she assumed was the woman's child, kneeling at her side. She internally grimaced at the thought of the trauma this child would face after witnessing such horrors.
"Sakura! I'm glad you made it here okay. Tsunade-sama is at the hospital doing what she can in her state. She requested I summoned you and sent you there…" Her expression was one that Sakura couldn't fully read, as she wouldn't meet her eyes. Sakura's eyes narrowed at her unusually shy behavior, taking in the small tremor of her hands.
"Is something wrong, Shizune-san?" She would've snorted at the ridiculousness of her question given their current state if it weren't for the anxiousness she felt. The air smelt of stale smoke and blood, the sound of medics rushing from patient to patient filled the air, along with groans of pain.
Shizune lowered her eyes back to the woman she was healing, the green glow of her hands ceasing. She informed the woman that she had done all she could for the moment, and that her recovery would be full, but lengthy.
She stood and faced Sakura.
"Sakura-san." Shizune laid a hand on her shoulder, the action causing Sakura to flinch as a heavy mass settled into her chest. Shizune's gaze lowered, her eyes darkening.
"Konoha Hospital. Tent 37B. I'm sorry." Her hand left her shoulder and she turned to tend to the next patient.
"I'm sorry… for everything…"
She shook her head, hands raising to cup the sides of her head. She turned to start towards the hospital, the mass in her chest growing in size and heaviness.
The sound of a bloodied scream pierced the air sending a chill down her spine. She caught a glimpse of a patient struggling against two medical ninja before they were successfully sedated.
Her mind felt blank, her chest stayed heavy.
As she approached the hospital, she didn't know what she'd find.
But maybe she did.
Four hundred feet away.
The sounds of the aftermath of war were even more harrowing than the sounds of active battle.
Three hundred feet away.
She felt the heaviness of her shisou's chakra within the confines of one of the hospital tent, heavy with apprehension. Her shisou was stressed with the knowledge of something unknown to Sakura.
Two hundred feet away.
Did she want to know?
One hundred feet away.
Did she already know?
She approached the building, taking a right when she approached the doors. She walked around the edge of the hospital building towards the courtyard. Once filled with plants and flowers, lined by luscious trees, with beautifully carved stone paths winding throughout, the courtyard in front of her was a stark contrast to what it once was.
Medical tents were assembled in rows, smushed up against each other in an effort to fit as many as possible. They were labelled numerically followed by an alphabetical number. Dead and dying flowers and plants were around every corner, complimenting the atmosphere well.
She walked through the rows, starting at 1A. Her muscles were overworked and sore, her chakra low. In comparison to the dread that lay dormant in her chest, however, she paid no mind.
The smell of antiseptic flooded through her senses. This was the hospital now. Her beloved place of work.
She approached row B, slowly making her way to her destination.
37B.
She came to a standstill, her hand shaking as she raised it to open the flap of the tent. The wind whistled within her ears, wistfully playing with her hair.
It taunted her.
She raised the flap, slowly stepping into the tent. Her dread expanded as her eyes took in her shisou. Her skin was wrinkled, an obvious sign of overuse of her Byakugō no In. Her eyes held a silent apology. A small cot lay in the left corner of the tent. Sakura's eyes travelled over the bloodied sheets, taking in the face of a pale woman, age lines beneath her eyes, golden blonde hair flush against the pillow.
Sakura's let out a small gasp, lips parting, green eyes widening in horror and recognition.
"Mama…?" She let out a broken half-sob, slowly approaching the bed on shaky legs.
She scooped up her mother's hand gently in her own, tears pricking the corner of her eyes.
Her lip quivered, face contorting in silent pain. Her knees wobbled and gave out. A pair of arms gently encircled her shoulders as she sunk to the ground, a sorrowful wail leaving her throat.
"I'm sorry, Sakura… I couldn't save her." Tsunade's soft voice filled her ears.
She leaned into her embrace, and sobbed.
Those still on the battlefield slowly began to gather themselves and head back towards their homes. After the Infinite Tsukuyomi was released, the recovery process began almost instantly.
Naruto gave a half-grin, his spirits not as bright as usual.
"About time you returned to us, Sasuke. Seriously, I was beginning to wonder how many times I'd have to kick your ass to get it through your thick skull that you belong with the leaf!" Naruto laced his hands behind his head as he walked alongside Sasuke and Kakashi.
Sasuke stayed quiet, eyes flickering in annoyance towards the blonde.
"How many mistakes can one man make and still be forgiven, eh? Scratch that, how many mistakes can one family make?!" Team seven and the rest of the rookie nine stopped to turn towards the voice.
Kiba stood, a finger pointed accusingly at Sasuke. Sasuke's eyes were narrowed, teeth clenched at the mention of his family.
How dare he?
Hinata raised a hand to Kiba's shoulder, sensing the tension.
"I believe it unwise to talk about something we know little about, Kiba…" Her voice shook a little, her words surprising everyone.
Sasuke's face slightly relaxed at the ease of tension.
"Besides, if Naruto-kun believes that Sasuke-san has good intentions involving the leaf village, then I do too." Her cheeks blushed red at the smile that made its way onto Naruto's face.
"Thanks for believing in me and supporting this bastard, Hinata-chan!" He let out an airy chuckle as he slapped Sasuke on the back.
Sasuke let out a huff and glared at him.
Kiba's face flushed in anger as his voice raised. "HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN ABOUT ALL THE THINGS HE'S DONE?! NOT TO MEN-"
"Kiba, ENOUGH!" Shikamaru rolled his eyes before glaring at Kiba, his left arm raised, pinky plugging his ear in an effort to quiet Kiba's obnoxious voice.
"A war just ended for fuck's sake, can we have one moment of peace? What a drag." He shook his head, continuing forward.
Kiba mumbled something under his breath before throwing his hands behind his head and continuing forward with the group.
Akamaru let out a small whine.
They headed for home.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed chapter on. Constructive criticism is always welcome! (:
- fishily