Tortured Memories

PoD- "I just love this fic! I think my friends like it too. What about you, my beloved readers? Do you love it? Give me some imputs! I want to know how I can make it more interesting for you!"

Senior Gaara- "Tell us! Tell us! Tell us! Maybe you want to see more or less of people?"

Disclaimer- I do not own Naruto!

Chapter Seven

On the way to the Hokage's office it was unusually quiet. The silence was broken once or twice by Kakashi's advice. It was the usual stuff and something about Naruto's giant rat story. I had laughed at that point. Naruto and his crazy ideas- that must have been his dream right before we left. The sun was starting to come down over the clouds and casting shadows against the buildings and we made it to the Hokage's office in record time.

We stood outside the door as Kakashi wrapped up the conversation and I nodded. I turned and slowly opened the door. I stepped in and the three heads of my team followed. Tsunade looked up and I closed the door, and I think I slammed Naruto's nose. I bowed and Tsunade signaled me to come closer. I held my breath as I approached her desk and I think she took notice.

"You're allowed to breath," she stated.

I relaxed and sighed. I tried to smile as I stared down at her. I glanced over to the door. I knew they were listening, I could feel it.

"Uh, Kakashi-sensei said you wished to speak with me?" I asked politely.

"Ah, yes. I just want to make sure everything they told me was true. I figured Naruto's giant rat wasn't, but I wanted to be sure about everything else," she explained.

"Oh, yes. I understand. What exactly did Sasuke and Kakashi tell you, Tsunade-sama?" I inquired.

I shifted from one foot to the other as Tsunade skimmed through a stack of papers. Had she taken notes while Kakashi and Sasuke were explaining what happened over the last couple weeks? I looked down at the written words and she glanced up. I jumped and tried to hide it with a smile, but I failed.

"Well, the Uchiha said your team encountered Hoshigaki Kisame and Uchiha Itachi," she paused and stared at me. "Is this true?"

"Yes, ma'am," I replied.

"And Kakashi stated very clearly that other than that nothing went amiss, correct?"

"Yes it is."

It went on like that for about an hour. Her asking random questions and I answered as much as I knew and as truthful as possible. It was getting annoying and I started shifting about and walking across the room.

Finally she took a deep breath and stacked the papers back into a pile. I turned and she threw them off her desk. They scattered across the floor and I looked at her in surprise. She stood up and pointed to me.

"Alright, Sakura! What went on that I haven't been informed of?" she shouted.

"Uh, what? What are you talking about, Tsunade-sama?" I asked, I could hear the fear in my voice...but could she?

"I know I'm missing some huge event that happened during your team's time away! So, what the hell is it? And don't lie!" She whispered as she slammed her fist onto the table.

"Tsunade-sama, nothing happened other than what they told you. I promise," I answered. I bowed and returned my vision to her fuming face. "Is that all? If so, I must be going."

"Yes, you can go," she sighed as she sat back down.

I bowed again and turned. I slowly headed across the room and approached the door. I gripped the door and I heard her stand up again and come toward me. I released the door and turned to her. I waited as she neared me and finally stopped.

"Yes?" I asked patiently.

"You like him, don't you?" she asked.

"Uh, what?" I asked in shock.

"Hmm, don't you?" She repeated.

"I'm sorry. I don't think that has anything to do with our topic. Good day, Tsunade-sama," I replied softly.

She sighed and returned to her desk. I smiled triumphantly and swung the door open. Sasuke and Naruto jumped at the sudden movement in the still door and Kakashi peered up at me from a crouching position. He stood up as I squeezed between him and the wall to escape the Hokage's office. I sighed and turned back to my companions. They all had these strange looks of interest in their expressions.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"What happened?" Naruto asked.

"You should know, weren't you eavesdropping the whole time? You could just give me the whole summary of went on between the Hokage and I!" I replied.

"Yes, but it would make us look a whole lot better if you just told us and pretended as though we weren't here at all," Kakashi stated.

I didn't reply. I turned and started walking down the hall. I heard someone following and figured they just gave in and would tell me they were listening, but I guess I was wrong. Naruto grabbed my arm and turned me around.

"Sakura, please tell us," he pleaded. I could see all the concern and interest in his eyes.

"But weren't you all -"

"No. Kakashi was the only one who was being inconsiderate. I persuaded Naruto to know better than to disturb your privacy with his annoying curiosity," Sasuke stated smiling slyly.

Naruto rubbed his head as Sasuke spoke. I guessed Sasuke's persuasion technique was bashing him on his head. Maybe he should have tried that with Kakashi.

"Oh, well. Uh, nothing really. She just asked some random questions about what happened while we were out of Konoha. I'm not sure why, though. Most of her questions were very reasonable," at that point Tsunade's final question appeared, "except for some."

"Like what?" Naruto asked.

"Eh? Oh, nothing. So, who wants ramen? It's on me!" I stated dodging Naruto's question.

"Yeah!" he cheered and he raced away.

Kakashi sighed and started walking after him. I smiled and dug in my pocket for my wallet. I pulled it out and checked to see if I had enough money to pay for Naruto, the human incinerator. I looked up and found Sasuke three centimeters from my face. I felt myself blushing and I dropped my money.

"So, what did Tsunade ask you that didn't have to do with the vacation we took?" he asked softly.

"Uh, i-if I liked - RAMEN! Yeah, I told her that didn't matter and left," I snapped waving my hands in the air like a freak. I sighed at lowered them to my side and smiled.

"Really?" he asked sarcastically.

"Yeah. C'mon, Kakashi-sensei and Naruto are waiting. Hopefully I can afford all of you," I replied and picked up my wallet and started off.

Sasuke had stared at me the whole time we ate and I tried to ignore it, but it was bugging me. I finally gave in and paid for what we had already consumed and left. I believe only Kakashi and Sasuke noticed my departure because they glanced up if not more that a second after I dug out my wallet. Naruto was probably too busy with his ramen at the moment, but I could just see him.

"Where's Sakura?" he'd asked.

"She left about two hours ago, that's why we stopped eating. We're broke," Sasuke answered, then Kakashi started laughing and Naruto tried to find some money in his pockets.

I started laughing and continued my night walk to home. I looked up at the sky as I walked, so peaceful and so relaxing. I smiled and finally found my home. I entered quietly and made my way to my room. I changed into a large white shirt and a pair of black shorts. I pulled my hair back and slid into bed. And soon I was dreaming.

PoD- "Awe! How cute. I wonder what she's going to dream about. Or who. Or maybe she's going to be awaken. The world may never know!"