Two weeks later after her return from being kidnapped, like Tsunade had promised their training sessions were a lot more well difficult to be honest as Sakura attempted to dodge the large rubber ball the woman had thrown at her for the fiftieth time.
Only to get nailed in the stomach by it "Okay I think that's enough for the day, go rest I think the Tsuchikage and his escorts will be here tomorrow" Tsunade ordered when Sakura dropped to the ground then rolled over to cough up blood.
Perhaps she had been being a little too rough on the girl "Thank you Shishou" Sakura groaned, lifting a chakra filled hand to her mid-section to heal the internal bleeding that was going on before trudging off to home.
"Ack Sakura-chan you look awful, was Hokage-sama really that tough on you today or what" Karin gasped in horror when the rosette entered the house looking like hell warmed over with blood drying on her chin.
Sakura sighed "Yep she decided that what she had me dodging before wasn't sufficient enough so made the switch to large rubber balls that hurt like crazy if they hit you" the pinkette winced, rubbing her stomach lightly, indicating that's where she'd kept getting nailed.
Karin grimaced and pat her friend on the back then sent her off to have a shower where Sakura emerged feeling somewhat better after a refreshing soak in some water "Did you hear the news, the Tsuchikage will be here soon" Haku joined his betrothed on the couch.
When he noticed her home, instinctively Sakura cuddled into his side and he wrapped a possessive arm around her shoulders in response, Karin squealed inwardly, cheering the couple on silently as she joined the duo "Tomorrow I think they said wasn't it Haku" Karin frowned.
"Correct Karin-chan, most likely it will be my team escorting them around the village, luckily I already met them so I'll be a familiar face at least" Sakura answered the question that had been asked as she enjoyed the rare free time that she'd been given.
Likewise, Karin and Haku did the same until Mebuki and Kizashi returned from wherever they had gone "Hmm what's this being lazy are we" Kizashi teased, scaring the daylights out of the trio who'd had their guards down for once.
Earning a smack from his lovely but temperamental wife "If Sakura, Karin and Haku want to be lazy let them Kizashi, all of them have been working hard since their return from becoming Chunin especially our daughter you dolt" Mebuki scolded with a huff.
Before storming off, Sakura bit her lip "Might want to go apologize Dad, or Kaede will come early" the rosette snickered softly when Kizashi stood there looking like someone had kicked his puppy or worse.
Though at the suggestion he scurried after Mebuki to properly apologize, fifteen minutes later the older married couple settled in the living room to find out why Sakura was home early afterwards they spent the day relaxing as they hadn't for a good long while.
And the following morning Team 7 was ordered to the gates where after twenty minutes the Tsuchikage arrived "We would have been here yesterday if Gramps wouldn't have hurt his back and been stubborn about the whole thing Kid" Kurotsuchi snorted.
"Really Tsuchikage-sama if your back is giving you that much trouble you really shouldn't be so stubborn especially when someone offers you help" Sakura teased, Kakashi almost choked on his tongue in response.
Probably thinking that his student was about to be rebuked, he was going to apologize when Ohnoki grumbled under his breath "Cheeky brat, why'd ya have to go and take after my brat granddaughter for" Ohnoki scowled.
Making the girl giggle "Well as interesting as that conversation was, greetings Tsuchikage-sama, I am Kakashi Hatake and these are my students Sakura Yuki, Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki and we of Team Seven welcome you into our Leaf Village, we'll also be your escorts" Kakashi said.
Clearing his throat and drawing the old Kage's focus onto himself, "Hmph well go on take me to Tsunade" Ohnoki grumbled, signing in when he was gestured to followed by Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi, then they were being led down the streets of the Leaf Village to the Tower.
Where they were shooed off by Tsunade "Alright lead the way Kid, I've never been here and I want to see all the sites while I can" Kurotsuchi promptly attached herself to Sakura's hip the moment they were outside the tower.
Kakashi blinked in utter confusion before looking to Kitsuchi "They made fast friends during Sakura-san's stay in Iwagakure" Kitsuchi coughed, hiding a laugh as he did so, glad his daughter was enjoying herself at the very least.
Not to be left out Sasuke and Naruto sped up to walk even with their teammate and her new friend "I'd suggest the Hokage Mountain first and then since it's almost lunch Naruto can lead us to a restaurant that has particularly good food" Sasuke suggested.
Hinting about Ichiraku Ramen to Naruto who grinned catching on rather quick for once "Yeah, yeah you know" Naruto bounced up and down, a little more relaxed than they had been during the first initial meeting with the Raikage and Mizukage.
Since Sakura had already established friendly relations with some of Iwagakure's citizens "Good grief" Kakashi shook his head with a chuckle as they followed behind the kids, Kitsuchi content to let his daughter be in charge of their tour it seemed.
Until they reached the mountain in question "Are we really going to climb all those stairs" Kitsuchi sweat-dropped wondering how the hell anyone could consider this a spot for tourists when they would practically have to climb a load of stairs.
The rose-haired kunoichi giggled "No, we can simply walk up this way, most do unless it's a civilian" Sakura explained, focusing chakra into her feet and leading the way up the side of the Hokage Stone Mountain.
Upon reaching the top however his breath was taken away at the picturesque sight "Do you know the names of your previous Kage" Kurotsuchi mused, walking out onto the Thirds head to the tippy top of his hair rather fearlessly at that.
"Yeah, the one you're standing on is Old Man Hokage" Naruto chirped, flushing when his teammates stared at him with bemused smiles "Uh I think his name was Sarutobi something, maybe" he murmured sheepishly.
Rubbing the back of his head as he did so "Hiruzen Sarutobi-sama, he was our third, our first two were brothers Hashirama and Tobirama Senju, your leader would have known them personally I think" Sasuke chimed in.
"Our fourth was Minato Namikaze who so also happens to be Naruto's Father and lastly Lady Tsunade is the Fifth but her stone face hasn't been made yet" Sakura finished, enjoying the breeze as she gazed out over her village.
Until Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi had looked their fill so now it was Naruto's turn "I promise your gonna love this place" Naruto assured, walking down the mountain without paying attention and so it was no surprise that he lost concentration over his chakra.
Water that froze into ice thanks to Sakura quickly caught him "Please for the love of kami watch what you're doing Naruto, I really don't want to see you go plummeting to your death" Kakashi groaned, grateful that at least one of them had the means to save idiotic teammates.
Naruto ducked his head at the scolding even if he was a chunin now he was still a knucklehead unfortunately "Ramen, this is really, truly what people enjoy here" Kitsuchi asked when they reached the restaurant in order to have lunch.
Before Naruto could lash out in defense of the Ichiraku restaurant Sasuke placed a hand on his shoulder "It might not look like much but we assure you Kitsuchi-san that Ichiraku is the 1st or 2nd most popular restaurant in the village and Teuchi-san makes the best ramen" Sasuke informed.
Left with no other choice but to try out the restaurant the six of them sat and Ayame hurriedly wandered over to take their orders "For me I'll have the deluxe spicy chicken ramen, no egg though" Kitsuchi requested.
Kakashi got curry ramen, Sakura regular chicken with extra rice cakes, Naruto beef ramen and Sasuke ordered miso ramen "Alright we'll have your orders out in a jiffy" Ayame announced, twenty minutes later the ramen arrived.
Meanwhile on the other side of the village Yagura had finally made up his mind on the matter of helping Sakura out with her little problem so after getting directions was headed to the girl's house to speak with her.
However, when he got there only Mebuki was home "Oh, um are you one of Sakura or Haku's friends, I'm Mebuki Haruno, Sakura is my daughter" Mebuki blinked at the short man stood outside her home.
Stomach obviously swollen with child "No I'm afraid we aren't friends, I have hopes however of becoming her mentor of sorts but I can see that she isn't home at the time being, Yagura Karatachi, I was the 4th Mizukage of Kirigakure" Yagura introduced himself.
Explaining his reason for showing up unannounced "Goodness I bet she'll be thrilled Mizukage-sama, and yes she's out at the moment, the Tsuchikage arrived earlier so her team was sent to greet them and be their escort around the village" Mebuki smiled.
Yagura nodded in understanding then bid his farewell to the woman, when he turned though, a sharp scream caused him to whip around and catch Mebuki as she stumbled down the steps "I am...am sorry Lord Mizukage but I'm in labor" Mebuki gasped.
The pain rippling across her abdomen while something trickled down her leg "Where is your husband" Yagura inquired, unsure of what to do in this situation as he held the heavily pregnant woman rather awkwardly.
"Off meeting new clients I believe, aaAAAAHHHH" Mebuki screamed, Yagura didn't waste another second, merely turned on his heel and hurriedly walked down the streets to the hospital that was unfortunately rather far.
Doing his best to tune out the screams "Look I don't care how aaahhh you do it BUT JUST GET ME TO THE BLOODY HOSPITAL NOW" Mebuki demanded, inwardly feeling bad for shouting at who was pretty much an innocent bystander.
But the pain was too much Yagura didn't so much as react to the yelling instead made a hand-sign and in a swirl of mist was across the village to the hospital "This woman is in labor" Yagura stated when he walked through the doors of the lobby.
Avoiding the fist that was aimed at his head from the suddenly volatile blonde, apparently violence ran in the family who knew "JUST GET ME INTO A ROOM RIGHT THIS INSTANT" Mebuki growled.
Labor making her irrational as she was put in a wheelchair and wheeled off "Relax man they all get like that around the time the baby comes, your wife will be just fine so if you need to you can go collect the bag or whatever" a hospital intern placated.
Patting Yagura on the back after mistakenly thinking that he was the blonde's husband, he didn't stay much longer and then in a whirl of mist was gone "Haruno-san, your mother is in labor" Yagura informed when he noticed the young kunoichi among her team and guests.
Sakura jolted on the cusp of just up and disappearing on her team when she stopped just as suddenly "Go on Sakura-san you promised her that you'd be there for the birth of your sibling right" Kitsuchi urged.
Not wanting to be the reason the girl missed out on witnessing this event "Thank you so much Kitsuchi-san, really I won't forget this" Sakura bowed, nodded to Yagura in thanks and a moment later was gone to home.
Where she sent Chie off with a message for her father, her smart little wolf pup knew how to track people now, grabbed the prepared bag and hurried to the hospital without wasting another minute "Ah Sakura, your mother is in room 14 of the maternity ward" a nurse said.
After seeing the girl speed-walking through the halls, eight minutes later Kizashi could be seen doing the same thing to the nurse's amusement, like father, like daughter apparently "A little on the LAAATE side Kizashi" Mebuki screamed.
Pushing on the doctor's instruction considering she was dilated enough "Sorry Mebuki my love, it took Chie a few minutes to find me" Kizashi apologized as he finally reached her side and grasped her hand with his.
Giving her something to ground herself with as she bared down with all her might, an hour later with a plop Kaede slid into Sakura's waiting hands, with a tuft of blonde hair on her head Kaede Yuki was sure to be a cute child.
With a little reluctance the rosette handed her baby sister off to the nurse to be cleaned up "Don't stop Mom you have to get the afterbirth out of you" Sakura reminded when her mother relaxed back onto the bed looking exhausted.
Imagine their surprise when after an hour of pushing out slid another baby "What, that's not possible" Kizashi choked, eyeing his wife who shook her head tiredly not understanding what was going on either.
As his third child, another daughter, was taken off to be cleaned up as well "It is though Haruno-san, the second baby must have hid behind the first one and the machine would not have been able to pick up on it" the doctor explained.
Though to Sakura it made sense because she'd always thought her mother looked further along than she should have "Either way isn't this great Mom, I have two baby siblings now" Sakura snickered earning a fond smile.
Five minutes later the second newborn was brought out and placed on Mebuki's chest with her sister "Goodness they are just so precious" Mebuki cooed softly, wondering what she should name the other one.
"Haruhi, Haruhi Yuki" Kizashi piped in, a name coming to mind almost instantly, thankfully Mebuki liked the name and thus Kaede and Haruhi were officially a part of the Yuki family from that day onwards.
Sakura loved on her siblings for a few minutes then slipped out of the room "Sakura we were thinking you weren't going to come back" Naruto waved upon seeing the pinkette heading straight for them, returning from helping her mother give birth.
Jade orbs rolled upwards lightly in exasperation "Tsunade-shishou would bash my skull in if I neglected my duties for the whole day knucklehead" Sakura snorted softly, looking tired from the last few hours.
Kurotsuchi immediately attached herself to the younger kunoichi "Well how did it go, was the baby alright when you left Kid" Kurotsuchi asked, hoping that she got the meet the little one before they had to leave.
"More like babies actually" Sakura commented causing Kakashi to choke yet again "Funny huh so yeah one baby hid behind the other throughout the whole pregnancy" the pinkette laughed, explaining how it had happened.
Thoroughly enjoying her teammate's reaction to the news "So what did they name your other little sister, I know one of their names is Kaede and who did they look like more" Naruto chattered excitedly, happy for the rosette.
But wishing he could have a couple of siblings himself, then he remembered Sasuke and Sakura were like siblings which settled him "Haruhi, and my mom, though Kaede had blue eyes like my dad, so where were we off to this time" Sakura smiled.
Directing their focus back onto the task at hand "Our training grounds Sakura-chan and I'm glad your mother finally had your siblings now you can stop stressing out about it" Kakashi informed, chuckling when she threw him a glare at his teasing.
He knew however that she wasn't truly angry with him as Sakura took the lead and soon after they reached the training grounds by the memorial stone "And this is where you trained them when you first all became a team" Kitsuchi commented.
Taking a look around as he did so, and was able to notice some marks that indicated this field was used quite a bit still "Yes and the test that he gave us was a total let down, trying to pit us against one another hah, with Sakura, she was never going to let that happen" Sasuke remarked.
Earning a scoff from Kakashi "To be fair I wasn't actually expecting Sakura-chan to be like that, I thought she'd be more like well how girls usually are with you" Kakashi grumbled, able to admit that he'd underestimated his female student now.
While Sasuke glared at being reminded of his fangirls that were annoying as all hell "There, there Sasuke I won't let the big bad fangirls get you" Sakura soothed, perking up after a minute when a flare of familiar chakra reached her senses.
She wasn't the only one who felt it "Seems like their done for the day and just in time for dinner" Kurotsuchi commented, letting herself be led away from Team 7's training field, all the way back to the tower in order to collect Ohnoki.
"Good work no doubt and yes I know about your mother Sakura, for now I'm placing someone else in charge of taking them around for the evening so go rest and meet here tomorrow morning" Tsunade barked.
Dismissing her hard-working shinobi from their escorting task for the evenings at least "Come on knucklehead I'm in the mood for some barbecue tonight" Sasuke dragged his roommate off in the direction of Yakiniku Q to get takeout for the night.
Naruto fake complaining about being drug the whole way to Sakura's amusement "Guess we'll see you tomorrow Kurotsuchi, Kitsuchi-san, Tsuchikage-sama" Sakura waved, turning and heading off to home.
Where she was accosted by her betrothed and Karin "Mebuki's missing and Kizashi is nowhere to be found either" Karin cried, having looked everywhere in the house, had even tried spreading out her senses but still hadn't been able to find the older couple.
"I think we need to go speak with Hokage-sama and get a search party out looking for them" Haku informed, looking far too serious that it had Sakura cracking up laughing to his consternation because here he was worried and she was not.
Until she held up her hand "Oh you two, their fine, it's just that Mom went into labor earlier in the afternoon so they are both at the hospital with the babies" Sakura grinned, watching Karin and Haku's expressions closely.
Just waiting for one of them to catch on "Kaede was born safely then huh, well that's a relief and now we can all sto...wait, BABIES as in TWO" Karin smiled, rambling until her train of thought was derailed or rather came to a screeching halt.
As she realized that Sakura really had said that "Really, Mebuki-sama gave birth to twins aren't you lucky Sakura-chan, what was the gender of the second baby" Haku inquired, relaxing now that he knew the married couple was alright.
"Girls both of them, Kaede and Haruhi, both blonde but Kaede has blue eyes" Sakura explained, heading into the kitchen so that she could make supper for the three of them since it would be a few days before her mother got to come home with the twins.
Haku smiled gently following his beloved while Karin hoped that they got to meet the little ones soon, not long after filling up on some good food, the three Chunin settled down for the night in order to get some shut eye.
Five days later that were filled with excitement as Team Seven escorted Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi around it was time for them to go home "You'll just have to come visit" Kurotsuchi remarked, feeling a little disappointed herself.
Because she'd hoped it would take longer but alas it hadn't "We can do that" Sasuke nodded slowly, admitting if only to himself that he would miss Kurotsuchi, she was interesting and strong as he'd found out during her and Sakura's spar.
"If your all done yacking, let's get a move on back to home" Ohnoki grumbled, in better condition than when he'd arrived thanks to Tsunade and Sakura who had done some repairs on his back, making him feel twenty years younger.
Kakashi bit back a grin when his students waved until the Stone Ninja couldn't be seen anymore unfortunately just as they were turning a familiar russet red arctic wolf dashed by out of the corner of his eye and he was instantly on the alert.
Especially when he appeared, the masked man Minato had told him about, "Sakura, Sasuke get Naruto out of here now" Kakashi ordered, the two didn't even hesitate, merely heaved the blonde up between them and took off like the hounds of hell were nipping at their heels.
Tobi audibly clicked his tongue in annoyance as his prey was taken off with "He won't be kept from me, Akatsuki will have the nine-tailed fox sealed within that boy" Tobi warned, vanishing into the aether.
One second of standing there frozen was all it took just as screaming reached his ears of multiple people, probably civilians and when he arrived on scene, he found the masked man impaled by several ice pikes.
Right before he shattered into a million little ice shards "I hope Shishou doesn't get mad, ugh, had no choice it was do or die and there was no way in hell I was letting that bastard take off with Naruto ever" Sakura groaned.
Nearly slumping to her knees but an arm around her waist held her upright "Sorry Sakura-chan, sorry" Naruto apologized with a traumatized look in his blue eyes only to be waved off gently because it wasn't his fault and he had no reason to apologize.
"Come on let's get to the tower" Kakashi grimaced, unaware that the masked man was still very much alive, he'd merely retreated for the time being, as the Copy-ninja picked up his kunoichi to carry her to the Hokage Tower.
As expected of her Tsunade was absolutely furious over the news "Go home and rest Sakura, all of you have a week off from missions anyway" Tsunade sighed upon calming down, knowing that she couldn't blame her apprentice for protecting Naruto.
Who wasn't ready to do so himself, Sakura sighed to herself and let Kakashi take her home, in the meantime she sent out a summons to Minato "Lady Tsunade is everything alright" Minato questioned once he was stood before the woman.
Sporting a severe frown even "No, I'm afraid not Minato, Akatsuki once again just tried to abduct Naruto for what he has sealed inside of him, Kakashi said it was the masked man and that you'd know who he meant" Tsunade announced.
Unsurprised when Minato's face twisted in fury at the news "Of course, he was the reason I had to seal the fox in my son and the reason for Kushina and I's deaths on the day our child was born" Minato admitted.
Half tempted to do something but Naruto needed him "Sakura stopped him this time, barely, I, however don't think it will be the last time we see the masked man, so something needs to be done in order to prepare Naruto for the long road ahead of him" Tsunade said.
Merely having a feeling that the masked man wasn't dead, it seemed too good to be true really "Your right and I've been thinking about it, Jiraiya took Naruto on as an apprentice didn't he, perhaps he could take him to Mount Myoboku for training" Minato suggested.
Even if it meant staying behind to keep an eye on the village, Naruto would need all the training he could get "Maybe I could get Mitarashi to take Uchiha to Ryuchi Cave to undergo the trials" Tsunade mused, mostly to herself.
Because she couldn't separate Team Seven without a just cause "And Sakura what will you do about her" Minato asked, knowing that Tsunade couldn't simply send the girl to Shikkotsu forest, and be able to continue training her at the same time in other things.
"Yagura approached me the other day of commandeering Sakura's training for a time, I haven't given him an answer yet" Tsunade confessed, knowing that of the three of them her apprentice was in need of multiple teachers.
It was understandable Minato thought to himself, Sakura's situation was more complicated, as he was dismissed for the time being and he headed for the house he shared with Kakashi "I take it you heard" Kakashi grimaced.
Getting a nod from his sensei as he did so "We have to figure out how to protect them" Minato sighed, joining his former student on the couch, inwardly praying that Danzo and the members of Akatsuki dropped dead.
Or he was tempted to do something about them himself "Yeah, but what though" Kakashi groaned, trying to figure out how to keep his students safe or Sakura would be the first to sacrifice herself for Naruto, Sasuke would probably follow on her heels.
That's how loyal they all were to one another, with no answer forthcoming however the two settled down for the day, thinking over their options, meanwhile at the Yuki house, Sakura was up and about after eating helping her mother with the twins for the rest of the evening.