Upon their immediate return to Kumogakure, Cee shooed his students off to deliver the herbs to the hospital with the instructions to go home afterwards, that he'd bring them their mission pay and to take these next couple of days off.
And once they were well out of sight Cee rubbed his temples before marching to the tower, shoulders squared with determination "Welcome back, how did the mission go" Darui greeted, dropping down next to his friend.
Cee curled his lip in response "Disastrous, those girls have horrible luck and while gone not only were we found by Leaf Shinobi, but those same shinobi recognized Sakura, Grass shinobi attacked, tried to take off with Karin and Sakura regained her memories" Cee growled.
Darui winced "And let me guess their demanding we return the Kid to them" Darui guessed and Cee nodded "How does the Kid feel about all of this" Darui inquired carefully, knowing how fond of those girls Cee was.
"I have no bloody idea Darui, Sakura barely said three words on the way back, not even Karin could get her to engage in conversation and she's one of the most talkative brats I know" Cee grumbled.
Looking decidedly pissed off about the entire situation "Okay no need to bite my head off for it Cee, so any idea on what your going to do" Darui questioned, not wanting war to break out between Cloud and Leaf over Sakura.
The blonde muttered death threats under his breath for a couple of seconds "Tell Lord Raikage of course and hopefully work out a deal for Sakura's sake because she's the one who'd be hurt the most in this type of situation" Cee sighed.
Passing a hand through his blonde locks, "Yeah that's whats so drab, the Kid is so compassionate that if things didn't work out she'd be stuck there but be hurting while surrounded by the literal enemy" Darui groaned.
Realizing Cee was right, plus there was also Karin to factor into the whole equation because Sakura would refuse to leave if Karin wasn't allowed to go as well "Cee" Ay nodded when one of his best jonin entered his office.
Mission report in hand "Lord Raikage" Cee returned the gesture as he set the report on Ay's desk "Sakura regained her memories, it's all in the report, everything that happened" Cee informed, unsure of Ay's reaction to the news.
Agonizingly slow Ay grasped that damning mission report and lifted it to his face to read "They want the brat back, who said we're going to give them her, she's ours" Ay sneered, once he'd finished reading the report.
But after eyeing up his shinobi's expression Ay understood that wasn't the proper response "Has the brat said anything Cee…no, but we know as well as the next person that brat won't leave without the other brat" Ay commented.
"Very true if I didn't know any better I'd say Sakura and Karin were joined at the hips ninety percent of the time, still I doubt they'd be amenable to being separated from one another" Cee agreed to the point made.
Ay pinched the bridge of his nose "Go eavesdrop on the brat now that your back I'm sure she'll have something to say about the situation in the safety of her own home, I'll decide what to do with that information afterwards once I'm sure of her feelings on the matter" Ay barked.
After thinking about the actions he needed to take to ensure the safety of two of his shinobi by protecting them from all manners of things "Understood Lord Raikage" Cee bowed, taking his leave of the office by simply disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Luckily neither girl were back from delivering the herbs to the hospital so he slipped the spare key he had on hand into the keyhole and entered their apartment before suppressing his chakra and scent and using the transparent escape technique to avoid being seen.
Four minutes later Sakura and Karin entered the apartment "So….you ready to talk Sakura-chan cause I can't take your silence any longer it's driving me crazy not knowing what you want to do" Karin asked.
When they both flopped down on the couch in their living room "I don't know okay Karin, I mean whats even there in Leaf for me anyway my parents are dead after all" Sakura sighed, verdant orbs shining with tears that had Cee's heart squeezing painfully in his chest at the sight of them.
Because Sakura hardly cried in fact he couldn't recall her crying at all in all the time she'd been here in Cloud, Karin had always been the crier "But what about your friends, surely you miss them right" Karin blurted.
Already fearing the answer so she squeezed her eyes shut but silence followed her question, Cee felt his heart drop at Sakura's expression "There was only one Karin-chan, that girl Ino and we only knew each other for about a month before I lost my memories" Sakura admitted.
Karin winced "And here you have lots of friends, me, Karui-chan, Omoi-kun so even if you go back to Leaf there isn't really anything there for you" Karin realized, tears stinging at the corners of her eyes.
"Yeah..but I know I'll be forced to go anyway, and because I don't want to be the cause of a war between our two nations where people get hurt and possibly die I'll go" Sakura declared determinedly.
As she drew her arm across her eyes to get rid of the evidence that she'd cried, then stood "If you think I'm going to let you go alone Sakura-chan better think again" Karin stood as well ready to do anything in order to stay with Sakura.
Who smiled sadly "No Karin I can't drag you into this mess so your gonna stay here and keep learning how to be one of the best sensor shinobi in the world under Cee-sensei's instructions" Sakura informed bluntly.
Karin drew back as if she'd been struck by lightning then a feeling she wasn't use to feeling boiled within her and without thinking Karin swung out her hand cracking Sakura across the cheek as fury burned in her crimson orbs.
"Like hell I'm staying behind Sakura, your my sister and any mess that's yours is mine to got that, so we're both gonna go to Raikage-sama and ask for a transfer to avoid the mess of a potential war peacefully got it" Karin spat.
Glaring into wide peridot orbs daring Sakura to refuse her, Sakura sighed "Okay we'll go together" Sakura relented a tiny relieved smile on her face to Cee's own relief as the girls linked hands with one another and left their apartment again.
Once he was sure they were well on their way Cee undid the jutsu and un-suppressed his chakra and scent before body flickering back to the Tower "Did you eavesdrop as I asked" Ay barely looked up when the blonde entered his office for the second time in less than an hour.
"Yes I did Lord Raikage and Sakura's as complicated as she ever was, in fact their both on the way here to request a transfer to keep things between our nations peaceful" Cee rolled his eyes, relaying the information he'd heard from his students.
At that Ay raised his head to stare at his shinobi with an incredulous expression on his face "Those brats would sacrifice everything that they've worked for here in Kumo for the sake of keeping things peaceful" Ay spluttered.
Not having thought the brat or brats would be that self-sacrificial in the scheme of things "She cried Lord Raikage, Sakura has never cried but yes that is their intention" Cee admitted, still really uncomfortable about having seen such a thing.
For the second time that day Ay pinched the bridge of his nose "What do you think is a good option Cee" Ay finally asked, wanting to get an opinion from one of his most trusted shinobi before those girls arrived.
Cee was quiet for a second "Dual citizen route maybe, three years there and three years here until their old enough to decide where they want to permanently settle down at in whichever village suits their fancy" Cee suggested.
Knowing that was the best they would ever get "Go now, don't want those brats to know that you were spying on them do you" Ay smirked, dismissing Cee with a wave of his hand and he was gone in the nick of time as knocking echoed through his office.
After calling out for them to enter he focused his attention on his paperwork, making the brats wait a couple of minutes "Is there something you want brats" Ay growled when they stood there hands behind their backs patient as could be.
Like he thought she would Sakura took a deep breath "Raikage-sama, Karin and I would like to request a transfer to Konohagakure to avoid causing you and this village any problems when the demands come for me to go so no one gets hurt" Sakura requested.
Viridian orbs searing into him, burning with absolute determination "Except someone will get hurt won't they brat, you so request denied" Ay scoffed, inwardly smirking and anticipating the oncoming argument she would make.
"Even if that's true Raikage-sama it's the best way to prevent war between two already strained nations, I don't want to be the cause of that of multiple other people getting hurt so it has to be me" Sakura said.
Un-deterred in her newest quest "Haven't you been hurt enough brat, do you seriously think you can solve all your problems this way by sacrificing yourself huh" Ay snapped, fed up with the argument that she was presenting.
Sakura shrunk back looking like she was about to cry, jerking at his heartstrings because he'd always been soft on children "I'm just saying, rely on me to find a better solution I'm not the Raikage for nothing after all" Ay softened his tone a bit.
Because he didn't want her to be scared of him "That's right if anyone can find a better solution it's Raikage-sama" Karin exclaimed, hope rising in her that this didn't have to become the only way to work things out.
When he had Sakura's full attention again Ay cleared his throat ready to drop the bomb essential "You'll become dual citizens of both Leaf and Cloud, you'll stay in each village for three years each is that more acceptable to you" Ay announced.
Keeping his eyes focused on Sakura who stared at him with wide eyes that were rapidly filling with tears "Really Raikage-sama you think the Hokage would accept that" Sakura intoned hopefully as she dried her eyes yet again.
Ay grimaced inwardly "It won't be easy of course and I'm sure he's expecting a permanent transfer but in the end I think he'll agree, now get out of here and leave me to my work brats" Ay barked sending the girls scrambling from his office.
For a moment he sat before forcing himself to start writing a letter to the Hokage of Konohagakure "Mabui" Ay yelled when he was finished, and his assistant entered his office "Take this to the messenger bird tower and have it sent off to Leaf" he ordered.
Mabui did as commanded and soon the letter was well on its way to the Hidden Leaf Village where the Hokage was waiting patiently for such a message to arrive after receiving the news that Sakura Haruno was still alive three days earlier.
So when it came two days later Hiruzen untied the official looking scroll stamped with the Raikage's seal with due haste "Hokage-sama what does it say" Inoichi who had delivered the scroll questioned.
When Hiruzen set the scroll down after reading it "The Raikage is proposing the dual citizen route with a time limit of three years in each country until Sakura is old enough to decide where she wants to settle, also she'll be bringing along someone else with her" Hiruzen sighed.
Not happy at the complication "Asuma did mention something about a redhead that called Sakura onee-chan, perhaps they simply don't wish to be separated from one another" Inoichi mused calmly, thinking of the pro's of the unexpected.
Hiruzen stroked his beard in response "Still I have to wonder at possible deception for this isn't the response I actually expected of Unruly Ay" Hiruzen commented, more than just a little suspicious over the calm response.
"It is a little weird I suppose, knowing the Raikage who is prone to violent outbursts, that letter is to benign" Inoichi nodded, understanding what the Hokage was saying, to put it simply the lack of threats in the letter made them suspicious about it.
But if they wanted to get Sakura back they had no choice but to believe for the time being "No choice but to agree I guess and we'll have three years to convince Sakura and her friend to possibly stay here permanently if we give her enough incentive to do so" Hiruzen sighed.
Really not liking the ultimatum that he'd been given as he pulled out a blank scroll and started scribbling a response back to Ay where it was sent off afterwards back to Kumogakure where another two days passed.
"Is that the letter from the Hokage about those Kids" Darui questioned, curious as he came in to deliver his mission report, Ay nodded as he unrolled the scroll and read the contents of the letter by the time he was finished he was smirking.
Darui quirked a brow "The Professor is underestimating those brats, he said he'd agree if we let him try to convince the brat to stay after the three years are up" Ay grinned widely making him look pretty creepy if Darui was being honest.
Charcoal irises widened "What" Darui choked out, inwardly dying of laughter while outwardly trying not to crack up laughing because everyone in Kumo knew how stubborn Sakura was and if she didn't want to do something or stay where she didn't want to stay she wouldn't.
Sakura was extremely blunt and spared no ones feelings not even Karin's "Exactly but if that's all it takes knowing that he'll end in failure I'll agree to his request for their sake" Ay shrugged, already writing out his response on another scroll.
Two days later making it nearly a week that they'd been corresponding Hiruzen was surprised at the swiftest of the letters from Kumogakure "The Raikage agreed" Hiruzen breathed a sigh of relief that his requested had been accepted.
"Good, now what, will we send someone to retrieve them from Cloud, Lord Hokage" Inoichi asked, inwardly hoping that he was one of the shinobi if that is what Hiruzen decided on doing because it had been so long since he'd seen Sakura.
Whom he'd been fond of way back then for being friends with his daughter "Hmm..oh yes I believe that would be for the best and to send someone who will be familiar to her as well, yourself for instance, along with Shikaku and Choza" Hiruzen nodded.
Deciding on the team that would go to Kumo and escort Sakura and her friend back to Leaf "Alright how long do we have to pack" Inoichi inquired, pleased with the way things were going now that a direction had been settled on.
Hiruzen stroked his chin "It will take two days for this letter to reach Cloud so two days, which gives them three days to pack for their trip here, we don't want to rush them so this mission will be about two weeks long, just bring them back safely Inoichi" Hiruzen informed.
Inoichi bowed then hurried off to inform his friends and teammates of their new mission leaving the Hokage to write out the final letter to the Raikage who two days later nodded in acceptance of everything that had been said in the letter.
So now it was time to sit those brats down and let them know how things were gonna be from that point going forward which meant summoning them to his office again "Did the Hokage agree Raikage-sama" Karin asked bravely for once.
Linking hands with Sakura to ground herself "In three days a team of Leaf Shinobi will be here to escort you back to Konoha, you have that long to pack and be ready to leave and tell people that your leaving got it" Ay announced.
Sakura and Karin nodded "Understood Raikage-sama and I swear on my honor as a Cloud Shinobi that I….we will do our best in Konohagakure so nothing negative reflects poorly on you for letting us do this in the first place" Sakura vowed.
His lips quirked upwards into a slight smile "Scram" Ay barked in the next moment, making the girls flee his office, when his door shut Ay rubbed his face tiredly "I wish you the best of luck brats make me proud" Ay whispered in his empty office.
Outside the tower waiting for Sakura and Karin was Cee who looked the most resigned they'd ever seen him "Sakura, Karin, good luck in your future endeavors alright" Cee said, handing them a scroll each to their confusion.
Making him chuckle "I'm your sensei, you didn't think I'd let you leave without ensuring you stayed on the right track for your training did you…in those scrolls are detailed training schedules for the next three years that I wrote up this past week and even lost sleep over" Cee smirked.
"Oh Cee-sensei I'm gonna miss you so much it's unbelievable" Karin cried, the one who always wore her heart on her sleeve the most as she lunged and wrapped her arms around Cee's waist, burrowing her face in his dark shirt.
Cee rested his hand gently upon her head "And if you have any questions you can always write, never think that you have to cut off contact with us here in Kumo just because your leaving for a few years" Cee declared.
Raising his free arm and a second later Sakura was wrapped around him in the same manner that Karin was "Thank you Cee-sensei, so much for everything" Sakura sniffled, letting her tears flow free after holding them back for the past several days.
Never having been one for emotional displays, Cee let this one time slide as he soothed his genin kunoichi by rubbing their backs as they clung to him and cried until they finally calmed "Now I believe you have others you need to say farewell to don't you" Cee reminded.
After the girls had released him and dried their faces though it was still evidence of them having cried at least for now the tears had stopped "We do, come on Sakura-chan" Karin nodded, then took Sakura's hand to drag her away from their sensei.
Once they were out of sight Darui dropped down from the roof he'd been shooed off to "That was drab" Darui commented, eyeing his partner who was probably going to be in an extremely foul mood for the next couple of years.
Meanwhile the girls had bounded off to their apartment where they knew Atsui was going to be on that particular day "Hey if it isn't Karin and Sakura" Atsui greeted when he answered his door on the third knock.
But when he got a good look at their faces frowned "You two been crying what for" Atsui inquired gently as he invited the genin into his apartment and sat them down at his kitchen table while he fetched some ginger tea for them.
Since they had a particular penchant for that kind of tea "I got back my memories and now the village I was born in wants me back so we're transferring to Leaf for three years" Sakura answered automatically.
Leaking a couple more tears "So that's why Cee's had a bad attitude lately and why three years, aren't you happy to be going home" Atsui said, confused over the conversation already which wasn't making much sense to him.
"Three years because we're going the dual citizen route and no not particularly Atsui-san because I don't really have anything there because Cloud is my home now and I'll be counting down the days until I get to return" Sakura admitted.
Karin nodded in agreement "Yeah, those Leaf Shinobi only want Sakura back because that's where she was born, they don't care that their uprooting her, us from a stable life here in Kumo" Karin scowled.
Atsui bit his cheek to keep from laughing "Well all I can say is good luck okay and I want a letter a month from each of you alright" Atsui ruffled their hair gently then after they polished off their tea, they left to find the next person to tell of their impending departure.
First all of their hospital co-workers and then greenhouse co-workers, even Samui who they saw down in the market "Just take care of yourselves" Samui requested of the two young kunoichi who were friends with her own students.
Yugito was next on the agenda and though the woman had been hard to find Karin and Sakura did eventually locate Yugito "Pity there was still so much I wanted to teach you, well keep up the good work on your training then and I'll see you in three years" Yugito sighed.
Rather fond of her unofficial students that she'd only been teaching for an admittedly short time then after they promised to do their best ran off to inform the last two that needed to be told that they were leaving.
Karin spotted Omoi first and he was alone "Hey Omoi-kun what are you doing all the way up here" Karin greeted, alerting the boy of her and Sakura's presence at the very tip top of Kumogakure since the village was built in and around cliffs.
Omoi waved "Breathing in the fresh air, what about you guys" Omoi explained scooting over a bit when his friends sat on either side of him, all three of them just staring out over Cloud Village, taking it in, in its entirety.
"So we have some news, news that's rather upsetting, Karin and I are transferring to Konohagakure for three years, I got my memories back and that's where I was born, but we'll be back I swear" Sakura blurted suddenly.
After they'd sat there in silence for several minutes, Omoi turned his head "Are you kidding me, they can't just demand you to go, do they even care that you're a shinobi of this village now with a stable life and friends" Omoi asked.
Clearly upset "I don't know Omoi-kun but I also don't want to strain relations between our countries even more if I refuse to go so being a dual citizen was the best option" Sakura smiled sadly at Omoi.
Who ranted and raved before sighing in resignation "Your gonna come back right" Omoi inquired knowing that he couldn't stop Sakura or Karin from leaving though it was going to suck not seeing them for three years.
"Most assuredly Omoi, we'll even write to you, however many times a month you want us to" Karin assured not surprised when he asked for a letter a week before they left him to find Karui who would be the most upset.
And they were right "But that's so unfair how could they ask you to uproot your lives like that" Karui shouted, visibly angry and ready to go on the warpath in order to keep her friends in Kumogakure where they belonged.
Sakura sighed softly "I know Karui-chan, it is unfair but that's life and we don't have a choice if we want to protect people from the possible fallout if I had refused" Sakura explained calmly knowing there was no point in getting worked up.
Karui froze at the simplistic answer "Grr you make it ridiculously hard to argue with you, you know that right Sakura and it's frustrating" Karui groaned losing steam now that she was no longer in a rage over the impending situation.
"That's Sakura though, anyway we will be back Karui in three years so wait for us and we'll write letters as well" Karin giggled lightly, hugging the other redhead who had become her second friend besides Sakura.
Upon parting Karui took a deep breath "You better write at least two or three times a month or I'll march to Leaf and kick your asses" Karui threatened, watching her friends wave farewell and head to their apartment in order to start packing.
It was almost noon and all the way back in Leaf, the older generation of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio were setting forth from the village to make a trek across the land to escort two young kunoichi back to Konohagakure from Kumogakure.
By the time they arrived three days later Sakura and Karin were all packed and ready to go "We've been waiting for you and Boss wants to see you in his office first before you leave and all that" Darui nodded.
Just glad his surly friend wasn't there to greet the shinobi that would be taking his students from the village that was just a catastrophe waiting to happen really "Right of course" Inoichi nodded back looking confused somewhat.
As they were led through Hidden Cloud to the Raikage Tower until they were stood before Ay the Raikage "Your here then, Darui bring the brats" Ay barked at his right hand man who bowed and exited the office through the door to fetch Sakura and Karin.
Nine minutes later the girls entered the office with heavy packs on their shoulders "These three are here to take you to your home for the next three years so I'll need your headbands since you'll be Leaf Shinobi when you get to Leaf" Ay growled.
"Here you go Raikage-sama" Sakura said, placing the hitai-ate on his desk free of the faded yellow ribbon that she had sewn the metal part onto having prepared for this moment ahead of time because she didn't want to lose the ribbon.
Karin set hers down with even more reluctance and both were snatched and stowed in the Raikage's desk "Right we're ready when you are" Karin sighed, looking up at the Konoha-nin that had come to escort them.
Inoichi grimaced at their bloodshot eyes "Actually if you don't mind Lord Raikage in order to give them more time to say their farewells we'll be staying a week" Shikaku cleared his throat as he caught the Raikage's eyes.
Who snorted "No need Nara-san we already told everyone so we'd rather just leave and be on our way now if that's okay" Sakura interjected, Ay smirked, having already known she would say that because the longer they stayed the harder it would be to leave.
Shikaku stared down at her with a raised eyebrow and behind him Choza chuckled under his breath "Well if that's what you'd rather do then lets go" Inoichi clapped his hands lightly, retaining control of the situation.
And with that the five of them bowed to Ay who waved his hand dismissively and watched them leave his office, eyes were on them all the way through the village and just as they were signing out a boy latched onto Sakura.
Tears streaming from his shiny golden irises "Do you have to go Sakura-chan, Karin-chan" Yukai cried, hugging tighter to the pinkette when his sister dropped down behind him having chased him all the way across the village.
Because he absolutely did not want to let his favorite person go "I'm sorry Sakura, I tried to stop him but he insisted on trying to stop you and convince you to stay" Karui apologized, not even sparing a glance in the Leaf Shinobi's direction.
Sakura sighed softly "Yukai this is for the best right now okay, I, we made this decision so you have to accept it" Sakura informed gently, not having the heart to be cruel, he was just a little kid after all who didn't understand.
Yukai clenched his arms around her waist refusing to remove himself from her person "I don't want to" Yukai declared stubbornly like his sister would have at his age, Sakura closed her eyes praying for patience.
Until she thought of something "Can you do me a favor Yukai-kun, I'm going to give you my lucky item that got me through the roughest times of my life and I want you to take care of it until we meet again okay" Sakura requested.
Pulling out the faded yellow ribbon while extracting herself from Yukai's clutch then deftly tied the ribbon around his wrist as his sister came forward and held onto him so he couldn't attack her with another hug and refuse to let go again.
"Is it really your most important item Sakura-nee-chan" Yukai asked, staring at the old ribbon dubiously, Sakura nodded "Th..Then I'll treasure it well and give it back to you when you come back" Yukai declared.
Not really wanting her to leave but she was trusting him with something precious to her so the least he could do was stop acting like a little kid as the group signed out finally and disappeared out the gates of Kumogakure and out of sight five minutes later.
Half an hour later Karin quirked a brow on Sakura who shrugged "Correct me if I'm wrong Sakura but wasn't that the ribbon Ino gave you to commemorate your friendship" Inoichi asked, beating Karin to the punchline essentially.
Sakura nodded "Yes it was but Yukai needed something to ground himself with, otherwise we would have been standing there a lot longer" Sakura said quietly, rather upset herself but she wasn't going to show it to these people yet.
Who haven't earned her trust in any capacity "Hold on you mean you kept that thing for over seven years" Choza intoned incredulously, talking for the first time since the five of them had met in the office.
"Of course she did that was the one thing Sakura refused quite stubbornly at that to part with until now but she was also right Yukai is..was very attached to her and would have kept us from leaving for hours most likely" Karin admitted.
Still shocked though she did understand with that they kept walking until noon "Right you girls must be tired so we'll stop here, rest for about an hour and eat lunch at the same time" Choza announced disappearing into the forest to catch lunch.
Mistakenly assuming that Sakura and Karin were tired from the walk as the other two vanished as well leaving them on their own "Great not even a day and we're being babied" Karin rolled her eyes as she sat and started digging a pit for the fire.
Leaving Sakura to keep watch for the time being as she walked around the area until the fire was ready only then did Shikaku return with an arm full of wood "Troublesome you two are supposed to be resting" Shikaku admonished.
As he set the pile down since it was no longer needed "About that, we're not exactly tired Nara-san in fact we could have kept going for about four more hours really" Sakura explained because she really didn't want to be treated like an infant who couldn't do anything for herself.
Shikaku rubbed his face tiredly "Hmm well then consider these stops for us not for you from now on" Shikaku grunted in the next moment he and his friends were exhausted from nonstop walking for the past three days.
"If you had said that in the first place we could have gone hunting or something" Karin grumbled to his amusement as the others returned with a pale of water and wild chamomile flowers and a string of fish.
That Choza handed over to Sakura when Shikaku told him to while Karin boiled the flowers for tea over the already roaring fire as the pinkette prepared lunch for them until it was ready to be eaten "Mm that's the best tasting fish I've ever had" Choza commented.
Munching happily on his stick of fish "I saw you put something on it" Inoichi chimed in after polishing off his second fish and turning his gaze on to Sakura who wasn't as talkative as he hoped she'd be after all these years.
Verdant orbs glanced his way "Ground up lemongrass that I grew with salt and pepper" Sakura answered automatically, enjoying the flavors bursting on her tongue and proud of herself for having grown such a wonderful plant that enhanced food flavors.
Inoichi sighed quietly "Give them some time they'll come around Inoichi for now we can't rush them" Choza clapped his friend on the shoulder seeing how Sakura's distance from him was affecting the blonde.
Even Karin was distant and kept to herself or Sakura but that was to be expected of the girls really who probably only saw them as horrible people come to steal them away from their home which didn't really paint them in a good light at the moment.
Forty-five minutes later the five of them were on their way to Leaf again, complete with frequent breaks it took them a day longer than it was supposed to, to get back home "Well here we are Konohagakure your new home" Shikaku announced gesturing to the gates.
Before Inoichi ushered the girls through them to sign in and lead them down the streets of the Hidden Leaf Village to the Hokage Tower for a meeting that would decide how things would be for them there in the village with the Hokage himself.