Please don't forget to visit my website at www. freewebs. com/ animemangafanatic or just go to my profile and click my website link. I also started a forum, so be sure to stop by on my profile page to get there. Naruto does not belong to me, only original characters and themes. Also, please give thanks to my beta Fionfee. I thank you tremendously! All beta positions for "All" and "Blood of the Cherry Blossom" are now filled. If you're interested in another position, please let me know. Also, please make note that this month there will be no update to "The Struggling Weasel, The Dying Cherry Blossom, and One Christmas Wish." For further news on things that will affect my stories, you really need to go to my website because I'm going to stop telling you here.
A knock came to the door. Sakura instantly flipped out a kunai from beneath her pillow. Cautiously, she approached the door. Due to her previous missions, Sakura had learned not to even trust her own. Tsunade had given her all the cases that involved investigating their own. Using her other hand, Sakura performed hand seals and placed it on the back of her front door. Recognizing the chakra signature belonging to one of the messenger jounin, Sakura cracked the door open a couple feet.
"What is it?"
"Hokage-sama would like a word with you."
"You could have sent a bird to get me."
Sakura could see he was quite uncomfortable for a certain reason. He bowed with respect.
"I'm deeply sorry Haruno-sama has instructed me to take you there personally."
Sighing, Sakura turned back inside to get ready to leave. Sitting on the couch, she ran her hands through her hair. The jounin waited just inside the door. Seeing him still shuffling his feet around nervously, Sakura sighed yet again and got up to get ready for the day. Yuu came out rubbing her eyes. Shinrai took one look at the guy then went into the kitchen. He pretty much got the picture right away. Seeing her walk away, he panicked.
"Sakura-sama?"
"I'm going to shower and then I'll be right back."
"Um..."
"Just stay there and be good, child-san."
Yuu and Shinrai snickered as the door to the bathroom shut. Turning to the jounin sat on the couch, Shinrai asked him a question.
"Coffee?"
He rubbed his temples in frustration.
"Yes, please."
Yuu laughed and whispered into his ear.
"I see no one here has learned to not try to make her move to their drum beat."
Shinrai laughed.
"They'll learn the hard way."
After five minutes, Sakura exited the bathroom in new clothes and came into the kitchen to chug down a cup of coffee. Sakura tugged on her casual clothes as she moved to the front door and tugged on a pair of boots with straps. Her jounin escort was up and by her side in an instant. She mentally rolled her eyes because he seemed eager to not anger Tsunade. No one had a backbone in this village. Everyone feared angering the Hokage deeply. He opened the door and Sakura left as she put her jacket and scarf on. Looking up, Sakura instantly stopped. Shikamaru leaned against the apartment complex's wall. A cigarette was lit in his mouth.
"Leave us."
"But Nara-san..."
"I outrank you. Also, I already informed the Hokage I would be escorting Haruno Taichou to her office. So you're free to go."
The jounin saluted Shikamaru uncertainly and then disappeared. Sakura looked at him.
"Really?"
"No, going all the way there, then here, and then back again would be too much trouble. I'll just explain when we get there."
Sakura sweat dropped.
"You will remember right?"
"Who knows?"
Shikamaru dropped his cigarette then stomped it out.
"Ready?"
Sakura started walking away and Shikamaru walked by her side.
"Why are you here Shikamaru-san?"
"I imagine you were finally told the truth."
She gave him a raised eyebrow.
"Playing with the human pieces again?"
Shikamaru smirked and shrugged.
"Well, what can I say? They're so easy to move."
Sakura laughed.
"I should know better than to mess with you."
This time Shikamaru laughed.
"This coming from the person that wins half of our matches."
Sakura smirked.
"Sakura-san, with all due respect, prepare yourself. The information has leaked and many people know are beginning to question your loyalty. I'm sure you're already well aware of this fallout though. You were always looking farther than any of us. Fate is the one that dealt you this hand and I believe that you played the most appropriate cards."
"Even though I most likely betrayed this village?"
"Even so."
Sakura stopped walking and turned to him.
"Why have you put so much faith in me?"
Shikamaru sighed and looked up shrugging.
"Because you always had my back in any of our missions. It takes me back to that one a year or so ago when I was going to die. You stupidly stayed behind and almost died with me."
"Shikamaru-san, you're my comrade and friend. How could I possibly leave you behind?"
"Sakura-san."
Shikamaru looked at her dead in the eyes.
"Even if you did betray this village, it doesn't mean that you don't love it. If you didn't love this village as much as you do, then you wouldn't risk so much for it. Someday, you may return to Akatsuki..."
"I won't."
"One day you may need to go to Akatsuki, but on that day, you'll still leave a great part of your heart here. After all, we're family no matter how much we hurt each other."
Sakura sadly smiled before resuming the walk towards the Hokage tower.
"I still can't believe that you got up so early."
Tucking his arms behind his head, he smirked.
"Troublesome..."
Tsunade looked up when the knock came to her door. Just one, but sharp enough to easily be heard no matter what. She knew it to be Sakura's. It was a knock she hadn't heard in a very long time. After all, Sakura had been with Akatsuki for half a year, a very long year. The door opened and both Shikamaru and Sakura came in. Instantly, she knew that Shikamaru had excused Sakura's jounin escort for himself. Wasn't that surprising, since Shikamaru and Sakura were really good friends ever since that near death mission that they took. Sometimes Tsunade wondered if Shikamaru believed in Sakura more than them. Lately, it seemed that way, and it left a horrible guilt in her. Sakura had been nothing but loyal over the years, and instantly her trust was broken in them. They were willing to believe in betrayal within a heartbeat. A horrible revelation it was.
"I see you did the honor of bringing her yourself Shikamaru-san. You're dismissed."
Shikamaru sighed and left. Yawning loudly, he closed the door behind him with a click. It gave the women maximum privacy. Sakura sat in one of the chairs in front of Tsunade's desk.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yes."
Tsunade crossed her fingers, and rested her chin on top.
"Personally, I think it is a waste to have you doing nothing. The elders want to hold off putting you back to work until your memory has returned and the investigation against you is totally closed. Of course, depending on the verdict, your punishment will be decided."
"Of course. So basically, you want me back at work?"
"Yes, at the hospital and ANBU training."
Sakura sighed.
"Then back to the babies I go."
Tsunade laughed as Sakura exited the room.
Itachi was currently drinking tea and eating some bread for breakfast. He was sharpening his weapons while having his breakfast. Deidara was on a rock in the garden folding papers. Tsuki was putting out laundry, even in this cold weather. Sasori and Kisame were having a light spar. Currently, they were giving him glances. The glances were pissing him off greatly. Knowing full well who started this, Itachi sent a newly sharpened and polished knife right at the paper master. Screaming in shock, Deidara pointed a finger at the Uchiha prodigy.
"What's your problem, yeah?"
Itachi glared as he continued polishing and sharpening. Deidara came over to sit by him while the others continued doing their activities.
"It's just a little fun, yeah."
"You said you understood."
"I did, yeah. However, I didn't say I wouldn't give you a hard time about it, yeah. Everyone really came to like Cherry Blossom, yeah."
"She wasn't here for our entertainment."
"No, yeah. She was just here long enough for both of you to fall in love, yeah. That's the reason why you sent her back, yeah. You became scared, yeah."
Itachi remained silent but his hands had come to a halt.
"After all, this is the first and only time you've ever fallen in love with someone, yeah."
Itachi did not reply anymore just looked up at the sky, watching the clouds pass by.
Sakura looked down from the clouds moving and back to the stand clerk. He told her the total of her purchase and Sakura paid for it. There was talk everywhere around her about her supposed betrayal. The rumors that she had happened to actually catch were way exaggerated, but she should have suspected as such. After all, that's the thing with rumors. All the ever do is become ridiculous and cause damage. She could easily see that the clerk was scared of her. Closing her eyes with a sigh, Sakura held up her hand to tell him to keep the change and left with her bag. Moving towards the hospital, Sakura pulled out an apple. Starting at the hospital seemed like a good idea. Of course, she took the shortest way, but Sakura was such a fast eater that she finished an apple, an orange, and three different types of breads. A sound of snickering caught her attention as she neared the hospital. Looking up, she came face to face with Kakashi.
"Yo."
Sakura remained silent and bored. Kakashi was reminded of an Uchiha. Their horrible personality was rubbing off on her.
"I heard that you're back to work."
"Ah, Tsunade-shisou thought it was best. Plus, I probably would have went stir crazy eventually."
Kakashi smiled.
"So you're my new security detail? I thought it was you last night."
Kakashi kept his smile. Her intuition was amazing.
"I'm sorry but the elders have demanded that at least one eye be kept on you."
"And you volunteered?"
"It's better me than ANBU isn't it?"
"You were once ANBU Kakashi-san."
Kakashi chuckled. Sakura sighed and walked into the hospital.
"Try to keep up will you?"
"Hai."
Sakura entered the hospital and immediately the talking stopped. Every eye in the area moved to her. However, she didn't seemed faze as she walked to the nurse's station. Then the whispering started and the glaring. Kakashi was now witnessing for the first time the fallout. He felt sorry since, even if she was a traitor, it was heart wrenching to watch. After all, Sakura had been one of his precious students. The way she was handling it was amazing though. There was some things he just didn't know about this girl.
"Where are the charts for today?"
"Um... Haruno-sensei... you... um..."
Sakura looked at the nurse who was shaking in fear. She didn't blame her. The rumors were saying she was as heartless and deadly just like the Akatsuki members that she had been with. They may have been true but it was just the tone of it. If people would just think about it, they would realize how stupid they really were. There was no way that Sakura wouldn't hesitate when it came to killing her own. After all, when she was ordered to kill rogue Konoha shinobi, it was still difficult for her.
"I have them. After all, a traitor has no right here."
Sakura sighed before turning to the obnoxious doctor. In her mid-twenties, Haru Maki was a stunning beauty, she would give her that. Slightly taller than Sakura, with a bigger bosom and long dark brown hair and green eyes, Maki was a good doctor. She just wasn't nearly as good as Sakura. Tsunade and Shizune barely even touch Sakura, so there was no way that Maki could even begin to compare. Maki, however, had been trying desperately to take over Sakura's position in the hospital as chief of staff. As Hokage however, Tsunade still left all the decisions up to her most trusted student. After all, it wasn't pride or love that Tsunade made this decision upon. It was the very fact that Sakura could act without reckless endangerment in a stress-filled situation.
"Haru-sensei, I never took you to be one easily influenced by vicious rumors."
It made her blood boil seeing Sakura so cool and unfazed by everything.
"You aren't welcome here traitor."
Sakura tsked in disapproval.
"Do you have any proof for these accusations Haru-sensei?"
"Well... No, not exactly..."
Sakura's look become extremely cold.
"Then I suggest you don't repeat the untruth."
"Can you deny that you were with the criminal organization Akatsuki then?"
Sakura still wasn't fazed by Maki's triumphant smirk. But one of her own began to pull at her lips.
"No. I'm not sure why I was with them. My memories are unfortunately locked away."
"Oh how convenient for you."
"But I will say this. I would sooner lay down my own life before I took any of my family's."
Kakashi closed his eyes and a content smile made it to his face. Everyone in the hospital was moved.
"Now then Haru-sensei, if you don't mind, I am still chief of staff and I have work to do. I need to make sure everything is still in place with an incompetent idiot like you trying to run this place."
After the incident at the hospital, Sakura had been busy double-checking on everything. Staff had begun to slack as well as health care. It was enough work that Sakura could have cried if she still knew how to. Being an ANBU captain, Sakura just sighed and set to work. It was going to be a long job to put it all back together. However, at the moment, Sakura was at Ichiraku for lunch. Once Kakashi saw that Sasuke was there too, he left to go do something, obviously leaving Sasuke as her new watch dog. She didn't complain, just sat down to eat lunch. With an Uchiha sitting with Sakura, it was of course quiet. Sasuke's curiosity got the better of him though.
"So, there was incident while you were kidnapped. A girl was traveling with two members, and we intercepted them."
Sakura bit into her rice ball wondering where this was going.
"The girl had black hair and some of the most purest blue eyes I've ever seen."
Sakura nearly choked on her food. She knew without a doubt who he was describing. At the beginning of the year, she had receive a recent photo of the girl. Said girl looked so much like her very dead mother.
"Ino reported that the girl was familiar with you like on a personal level. Who is she?"
Even from the corner of her eye, she could see that Sasuke was serious. She sighed in frustration.
"Long story, but here we go...
Sakura sat at the kitchen table watching her jounin parents, running around the living room preparing everything for their new mission. A year had gone by since Kei's death, and she still hadn't fully recovered from it. First, her birth mother had died, then Kei. Afterwards, she was forced to live in Konoha under the disguise of Haruno Sakura. The very fact that everything was spiraling out of control made her nauseous, but there wasn't anything she could do about it. It made it even worse that the two chosen people to be her new parents didn't even bother to keep an eye on her. They just assumed that she could handle herself. Watching them leave, not even bothering ta say a simple goodbye, Sakura sat back with a sigh. After a few more minutes, she shrugged it off and left the house too. Running down the streets, Sakura decided to go to Ino's.
"Sakura-chan!"
She stopped abruptly and turned to the Third Hokage, who was with two ANBU guards. Tilting her head to the side in confusion, she waited for him to say more. Allowing them to come closer, the Third stopped in front of the small girl. Sakura could see that his expression was extremely pained. Bending down, he took her into his arms.
"I have bad news for you dear."
Sakura's eyes widened in worry. Her heart just couldn't take anymore bad news.
Standing by the doorway, Sakura stared into the room. Tsuki was curled up in her grandmother's lap in a chair by the bed. Holding up her hand, she indicated that her ANBU escorts were to leave her. They did so out of respect. After they disappeared, Sakura moved into the room and came to stand by the bedside. The woman in the bed turned her head slowly and smiled weakly at Sakura. It painfully reminded her of this woman's best friend when she was dying, her mother. Taking her hand gently into her own, Sakura smiled back.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here earlier. I had heard Toki-san was killed by Rain nin, but I couldn't break away from Konoha to come. It's grieves me greatly that I couldn't have been here."
"Hush. I'm just glad you're here now. I always wanted to see you one last time."
Sakura looked over at Tsuki.
"I promise to take care of her."
The dying woman known as Tanaka Hikari smiled happily. Both families had a long history. Hikari's mother and Sakura's grandmother had been the best of friends. So much, they even got pregnant around the same time. Hikari had been best friend's with Sakura's mother. They had been like sisters. Hikari couldn't even begin to describe how she felt to be included in her life still even after Sakura's birth. Sakura had even taken a very special place in Tsuki's now too. After all, the pink haired girl had named Tsuki. Even though they weren't blood related. Both families had always felt as such.
"I'm sorry to leave her in your hands so soon, Sakura-chan."
She shook her head.
"It's the least I can do. After all, we're bound to be best friends for life."
Hikari smiled.
"Then, I can rest easily."
Hikari shut her eyes as Sakura placed a small hand on Hikari's forehead.
"Kami-sama, please give Hikari safe passage and reunite her with her loved ones. Please give her peace."
That's when Hikari's heart stopped. Sakura slowly opened her eyes then closed them again as two crystal tears rolled down. Then, Sakura was gone just like the wind.
"So this Tanaka Tsuki girl and you are family friends?"
Sakura leaned back.
"I guess you can say that. Although, I'm pretty certain that the connection between us probably goes just as deep as previous generations. Why are you so interested in Tsuki-chan?"
Sasuke didn't answer but Sakura could see a faint blush. Smirking, she place a bill on the counter and left. Feeling Kakashi, Sakura left the shop and headed towards ANBU headquarters. She didn't tell either Sasuke or Kakashi though, that the conversation had seemed similar somehow. Did she have a conversation with Tsuki about Sasuke? Deep down, that's how it felt exactly.
Shinrai entered the arena where he was told Sakura was training ANBU. Seeing Kakashi, he raised a hand in greeting. Kakashi waved back. He sat with the older man by the side at the wall. Sakura had just flipped one guy over and punched his abdomen hard. The fallen ANBU coughed up blood as he rolled out of the way from Sakura's follow up attack. Looking over briefly, Sakura saw Shinrai, then she refocused on beating this guy up. Once again, with her missing, things had begun to fall apart. These guys had not only slowed down but were actually weaker than she left them. She could have screamed. Just what were they all doing while she was missing?
"So Shin-kun, what brings you here?"
He held up a scroll.
"Just needed to inquire something from my very good friend."
"Ah."
Everything finally came to a halt and many people looked displeased at her. She didn't notice as she slipped off her gloves and looked up at Shinrai and Kakashi. Nodding her head to the side, they understood and stood up to meet her. Turning to the ANBU, she called to them to continue practicing with each other. Meeting up with Kakashi and Shinrai, she looked at her childhood friend confused until she realized what he was holding. The scroll she recognized and knew what the contents were without reading.
"You want to do a blood bond?"
Shinrai looked surprised before realizing Sakura must have everything memorized.
"What is it exactly?"
"Exactly as it sounds."
Sakura accepted the water bottle that Kakashi offered her. Taking a quick swig, she continued to explain.
"Basically, it's a very simple thing to help control your god later on if your respective god should ever loose control."
"Did you ever do one?"
Sakura glared and Kakashi looked at Sakura surprised.
"You're also a guardian?"
Shinrai felt like hitting himself. By the looks of it, Sakura had wanted to keep it under wraps.
"I wasn't supposed to tell was I?"
"It's fine Shin-kun. However, Kakashi-san I will not permit you to tell anyone of what you hear today."
"And what makes you think that I won't tell?"
"Kakashi-san, when people find out who the guardians are, there are only two things that happen."
"They are?"
Sakura answered this time.
"Control or death. If you can't control the guardian for the power, kill them instead so no one else can have it."
Kakashi felt sorrow for these people who are cursed to be guardians. A horrible fate it seemed lied before them. No wonder it was difficult to find any part of the puzzle that connected any of them. It was also going to be a riot if anyone found out that three of the guardians resided in Konoha alone. He thought it was wise to keep his mouth shut at least from everyone but the Hokage. After all, the village could not afford attacks from everyone, at least not after the attack from Orochimaru.
"So what do I have to do?"
Sakura took his hand and looked him straight in the eye.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Didn't you do one?"
Sakura smirked. Shinrai's old habit was coming through. He never liked to be outdone by anyone, not even her. That's why he strived so hard and made sure he did it perfectly. It's why both of them were perfectionists. Unraveling the scroll, Sakura flipped out a kunai. Reaching a blank spot, she sliced his wrist and blood poured onto the paper. A seal soon revealed itself and Shinrai bandaged the cut. Four seals sat on the paper. Secure's was red, Yuu's and Nasake's were green, and Shinrai's came out white. Each of them in the direction of south, north, and west. The only one missing was the blue of east. Both of them knew that it belonged to Tsuki but neither would tell anyone that secret.
"Is that all?"
"That's all."
Shinrai thanked Secure and left to do more research.
"Good kid."
Secure nodded and turned to Kakashi.
"He's doing better."
"Better?"
"After the death of his brother Kei, Shin-kun became very protective of the rest of us."
"Ah, the prince and princesses."
Sakura nodded.
"As well as his mother and father. Shinrai has no blood relatives so he only had us."
Sakura sat on the bench as Kakashi joined her.
"Why did you leave them then?"
The air around Sakura grew deadly cold and Kakashi was surprised.
"I didn't have a choice in that matter."
It came out cold and bitter. Her hands were gripping themselves so hard that they bled.
"I didn't have a choice in a lot of matters."
Sakura went back to beating... training the ANBU. Kakashi was surprised at how far Sakura had fallen since being that innocent happy girl that he had first met.
Kakashi had left her to talk with Tsunade, leaving Sakura buried under all the hospital files. She was grateful to be out of the eye of scrutiny but the work load in front of her made her groan. Leaving Haru Maki in charge of the hospital in her stead was a bad decision made by Tsunade. Making a mental note on having that conversation later, Sakura continue to work.
"Man this is crap."
Leaning back, Sakura turned to the side and looked at the books stacked against the wall. Sakura had moved all the files to her office at the apartment and was working there. Yuu and Shinrai had turned in a while ago. Getting up, she chose a specific book and flipped it open. Finding what she wanted, she read the page on Uchiha family jutsus. She had taken some of the books from the compound when Sasuke was still away and Kakashi's sharingan eye had been bothering him. It would be appropriate to tell Sasuke and she would do it tomorrow. Unfortunately, tonight she was too wrapped up in the fact that an Uchiha locator was on her shoulder.
Tsunade poured Kakashi another sake glass.
"I knew that her pain was great. It's why I kept telling the elders that we couldn't keep making her do all the dirty work. But I swear... I didn't think her past was that painful."
Kakashi rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"We don't know anything about her really do we?"
Tsunade sighed.
"It kills me that we kept clipping her wings. Not only that but now we have her chained up. What do we do with her? Why can't we free her?"
Kakashi drank his sake.
"You know better than anyone. The elders would rather kill her than lose her."
"But is death so bad compared to this?"
Kakashi took another drink.
Lightning streaked the sky. Thunder rumbled loudly in the sky. Several rogue ninja surrounded Sakura. Clutching tightly to her teddy bear, Sakura cried for her mother. It was dark but no rain was falling. These men had found her when she was sleep-walking. When she woke, this is where she was. Lately, Sakura had developed a case of sleep-walking. Her mother thought it was cute, and she had found it annoying. Pein had thought it was adorable as well, as such he was the one who was voted to deal with her. He usually just walked behind her, but not tonight. Earlier he had been called to talk with one of the lords of the land and during that time Sakura had sleep-walked away. Thus the enemies that were trying to invade found the little girl all by herself.
"Should we kill her to shut her up?"
"Ah."
Fear spiked through her and something in her slipped. That's when it happened. Powerful as a god himself, chakra shot throughout her body and instantly killed the hundreds of men in the area. Sakura was screaming at the top of her lungs. Eyes closed in fear. A crater appeared beneath her from the sheer force of the attack. Once it finally stopped, it rained blood. Looking down at her soaked hands, Sakura shook.
"Mommy! Mommy! Pein! Pein!"
She felt herself slipping again. Tears were coming out faster and her sobbing was cutting off air. However, she couldn't stop. Her actions were involuntary. Sakura was scared though, because she was shaking violently. Quickly flickering back and forth, her eyes didn't focus on one dead body. They just moved around fast, taking in all the blood that she had shed with her own hands. Clutching her head in pain, Sakura screamed. There was blood on the ground, all over the bodies, and all over her. The screaming didn't die down nor did it stop.
"Sakura!"
Said girl slowly turned to who was calling her name. Her mother was making her way over.
"No... No! Stay away!"
But it was too late, once again there was another explosion. By the time Pein had found her, it was too late. Sakura's mother lay dying near her child and Sakura was violently shaking as blood covered her head to foot. Pein quickly picked up Sakura, who was trying to shake her mother awake. Several guards went to her mother's aid, as well as medical healers. Sakura clutched to her cousin as the rain finally began to fall, washing all the blood away from the earth.
Sakura woke up screaming. Shinrai and Yuu were at her side within minutes. She didn't notice though. By burying her face in her hands, she willed away the memories. With heart wrenching pain, they were killing her, Sakura cried bitterly for the first time in a very long time. Else where, a certain Uchiha clutched his shoulder in great pain.