Sarada sighed as she slowly sipped her smoothie. With Boruto gone for the week, it was a lot quieter. Mitsuki had not been wanting to train for reasons she could guess. Cho-Cho was always busy, either at an eating contest with her dad and other Akimichi clansmen/women, or helping out with the academy students. She was surprisingly good with kids.

She just couldn't think of anyone to hang out with. Sumire, Namida, and Wasabi were never around, and boys were irritating. (Sorry Iwabe, Denki!) Sarada glanced out the window of the shop. She liked quiet, but she hated it when it was boring. She never realized how much she would miss Boruto if he was gone. Sarada looked at her phone screen.

"Shoot!" Sarada jumped out of her seat and ran towards the door. She was supposed to have been home 15 minutes ago.

Sarada gasped as she stepped foot out of the door. A person in a white robes was holding her mother by the throat. Sarada took a tentative step forward. She was close enough to see the face of the assailant and to hear what they were saying.

"Where is he? And don't tell me you don't know. I've researched well enough to know who is close to him." The person had a soft feminine voice. She spoke so calmly it was chilling.

Sakura glared With all the ferocity she could muster. Her hands struggled to loosen the grip on her throat. Her strength was being sapped away by the Otsutsuki, and it was hard for her to focus her chakra.

"Even if I did know... I wouldn't tell." Sakura vehemently replied. Her throat was constructed so it was difficult to get all the words out.

Sarada didn't know who they were talking about, but she has an a idea. The Hokage was often targeted by these strange people. He was the last time, and his person looked almost exactly like the man that attacked during the Chunin exams.

"My name is Hitashiki Otsutsuki. If the nine-tails is not delivered to us, we will destroy the whole village." Hitashiki roughly dropped Sakura to The ground, leaving her gasping for air.

Hitashiki turned around only to be stopped by the arrival of another Otsutsuki. This one was a lot larger than the the other, and was most definitely a guy.

"The village is refusing to talk. This guy must have bribed them." The bigger one said in a gruff voice. He seemed to respect the smaller one.

Hitashiki frowned. "I know... I can't sense his chakra but he has to be near. He's Hokage isn't he? From what I can tell, a Hokage is always in the village. Thats what I researched anyway."

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "You actually researched human behaviour? I thought you Otsutsuki were all about inferiority. We humans are 'inferior' in your eyes."

Hitashiki smiled creepily. "That is often the case. But since Lord Momoshiki was defeated, I can't underestimate you guys too severely. Especially the Jinchuuriki. He's supposed to be the strongest man on earth correct?"

Sakura smirked. "Yeah... But your sources were wrong. Naruto isn't Hokage anymore. He quit."

Hitashiki looked angry, she looked towards the bigger Otsutsuki.

"Is that true Yukashiki?!"

Yukashiki looked narrowly at Sakura. "I suppose... I don't know, I didn't research. Why are we keeping her alive? We could easily kill her."

Hitashiki glared at the pinkette. "She has useful knowledge that we need to find the Jinchuuriki. Let's just take her and-"

Hitashiki was stopped shot by a swift kick to the face by a black blur. The moment her vision refocused, Sakura was gone.

"What the..."

She was once again attacked, this time, she could see who her attacker was. Her face twisted in a distasteful grin.

"I see... Sasuke Uchiha."

N*A*R*U*T*O

Sasuke scooped Sakura up in his arms and jumped towards Sarada. He could sense her Chakra, and was surprised the Otsutsuki hasn't noticed her yet. The villagers had all fled the scene, Sarada was the only one left besides them.

"Sasuke... You made it." Sakura smiled softly. A light blush fluttered onto her face before quickly disappearing. "Naruto..."

Sasuke remained silent as he set Sakura gently down next to Sarada.

"Papa!" Sarada gasped. "Mama. Are you alright? I watched the whole thing and I wanted to help, but I thought-"

Sakura hushed her, placing her two fingers gently on her lips. "Its alright. I'm fine, Sasuke is going to deal with them now."

Sarada nodded towards the figure that had already left the scene. She watched in fascination as he attacked quickly, leaving no room for openings. Sarada happily grinned.

"Papas going to get rid of them, isn't he."

Sakura frowned. "Sasuke isn't God, but I know he's strong. He'll keep them busy until I can rally the reinforcements. Or actually..." Sakura looked towards Sarada. "Can you go get the old Ino-Shika-Cho formation? I have to tell them something. Hurry... I'm going to recover my chakra enough to help Sasuke."

Sarada nodded and jumped towards the nearest building. Shikamaru was already directing the evacuation with his team helping. Shino was leading young children to the Hokage mountain where the people were headed. It was the safe house for everyone in the village. Though, people didn't need to use it in over twenty years.

Sarada quickly said what she needed to say to the pineapple dude. Shikamaru sighed and rubbed his temples.

"What a drag... And so soon after Naruto leaves too. I'll get them, Sarada you better get to the evacuation center."

Sarada shook her head. "I can't, I want to help make sure everyone is alright. Lord Seventh isn't here right now so it's our job to make sure everyone is safe."

Shikamaru groaned in irritation. "Its true... I guess your fine, but as soon as everyone is safe in the evacuation center, get there yourself."

Sarada nodded in agreement, watching as he ran towards his old team formation. She had never seen the old advisor run, but this was an emergency so I guess it wasn't out of the ordinary.

"Alright, you guys are going to be fine, Lord Seventh will be here soon. Calmly walk to the entrance, no pushing." Sarada began to file the people as fast a s She could, Shikamaru had already gotten the majority in the center, so her job wasn't as hard.

Sarada looked towards the fight scene with a sigh.

"Stay safe Mama, Papa."

N*A*R*U*T*O

Shikamaru knew that the moment he heard that Sakura was calling them, she was going to spill the news. It was one of the only reasons she would call the Ino-Shika-Cho formation to help with someone out of their league. Ino was going to be the person to relay it using her mind jutsu, and they were just sidekicks to make sure no one got injured.

"Make it quick Sakura." Ino out a hand on her hip and cast an irritated glare at the Pinkette. "We got a village that's falling apart all around us."

Sakura nodded slowly. "Well... The information I'm about to relay is not happy news. I'd appreciate your consideration." Sakura took a deep breath and stopped healing her injuries.

"So, Naruto didn't resign for no reason. He resigned because there is something wrong." Sakura looked down sadly.

Choji frowned. "Something wrong? Like with him?"

Sakura nodded. "He's sick. I don't know how to tell you this but he's been plagued by an illness I found in his body after he was experiencing some irregularities. Kurama's chakra is slowly deteriorating his body, from the inside out. If he uses his chakra, it could make the illness work faster, which is why I don't want him in this fight. It's a good thing he's on that vacation, he'd fight no matter what to defend his village despite what it might do to him."

Ino gasped. "Naruto is... Dying? Is that what your saying?"

Sakura's face was grim as she nodded.

"I... I don't believe it. How stupid is that, the strongest man alive being brought down by a dumb illness." Ino shook her head as she took a step backwards. Choji nodded. "That does seem a little confusing. Why isn't Kurama healing him?"

Sakura sighed. "I just told you... It's Kurama's chakra that's killing him."

Sakura glanced from Ino to Choji.

"There is no cure."