A beginning, or is it really just a continuation of past mistakes?
Sakura
As warned this is the Sakura chapter. That means this is chapter one, redone from Sakura's point of view. Thanks to Destiny for giving me the formatting idea.
Dislaimer: Naruto is still wearing too many clothes, therefore he is not mine.
Rated for language, dunno, I wouldn't say there's much in this one, but in others it arises. Your choice.
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Hokage's Office, Konoha Village
Goidame-sama had called them together almost immediately. Shikamaru's scouting team had returned with some crazy reports. If it had been almost anyone other than Shikamaru they wouldn't have even bothered with the rumour.
Sound nin moving, a new leader, a medical specialist, a whispered name, Kabuto...the snake doctor.
As always Sakura felt the familiar burning in her gut at the mention of his name. She knew that Tsunade-sama (her own teacher) felt the same way about the corrupt medical ninja. With gifts like his, like theirs, using them to do what he did to others, it was like a poison in their systems. It was so anti-everything Sakura felt that she wanted to burn him out of existance, purify the world that had been touched by a medical nin who did that. Oh how she wished that they'd made sure of his death when they killed Orochimaru. But Kabuto had been too sly, too clever, too damn lucky.
And then the finishing condition which had drawn them out in the middle of the night, her and Kakashi-sensei. Side by side in the Goidame's office, people still going in and out, orders and commands being given even at this hour, every minute being used to ensure the protection of Konoha. Naruto and Sasuke, were in the wrong area. Precisely they were in the area that rumours said a certain doctor was known to frequent. A bad idea from both sides. Politically speaking a hidden village did not suddenly wage bloody war on an already defeated enemy, in a neutral country. Especially not in Konoha's current state. Three years after the devasating second war against Orochimaru and the hidden Sound village they were still picking up the pieces, recreating alliances, rebuilding the peaceful balance of power. Things were shaky, too many hungry lords were looking for a reason to call a war against an already weakened Konoha.
Sasuke was dangerous in this situation, Naruto was dangerous in this situation, neither would hesitate to throw themselves into a man hunt leaving nothing but bloody corpses behind. But they could not be allowed to drag Konoha down with them. And so the last two members of the infamous Team 7 were being called on to bring them home, quickly.
Sakura dropped a note to her Mum onto the kitchen table, next to the wrapped plate she was supposed to eat whenever she dragged her tired body back from working at the Hospital, she picked up the bag which was never unpacked, and got to the main gate mere seconds after Kakashi-san.
"I've got a list of their check points, if we move fast we should be able to meet up with them before they get to the capital." Kakashi said.
"Let's go Kakashi-san, we don't have any time to waste." Sakura replied tersely.
Eh voila! Me having not slept properly the last week because of work now I have a super urgent mission to pull their fat out of the fire because they're too bone headed not to do something stupid like endanger Konoha for the sake of a personal grudge. Inner Sakura muttered.
Ah, bitching did a soul good. Reality didn't have to even enter it, like if she had been in their position she would've been leaving twisted, burned bodies behind her to find Kabuto and to finally really kill this hated man. She hated Kabuto more than she'd hated Orochimaru for his actions, more than she'd hated Itachi, Kabuto was her opposite, her nemesis. Everything she built, he pulled down, for every healing jutsu she created, he was multilating more innocent people in newer more interesting ways.
She felt she almost understood Sasuke's old need for revenge, the drive, the obsession. Frustration, the knowledge that there was a person out there, ripe to be killed, and she couldn't hunt him down and rip him apart because she had duties, responsibilties. What wouldn't she give for the pleasure of sinking her fingers into his eyes, twisting his body with her medical knowledge.
It was this feeling that made her so afraid for Sasuke. She knew he felt the same, but he was fragile. Still guilt ridden for his years as a missing nin, his single minded mission of self destruction, he was just looking for another reason to get kicked out of Konoha, to leave her and Naruto again. He didn't feel this tie that she and Naruto felt, the tie that kept their feet trudging the same paths of Konoha day after day instead of running off on their private missions. Sasuke still kept himself maddeningly aloof from everyone. Three years she'd waited for him to open up, but it was so slow. He just didn't want to move on.
The wind whipping past her face, trees moving past in a blur, Sakura felt her memories of that day rise to the surface.
Sound VillageShe was there, it was over. Naruto lay greviously wounded but healing thanks to her skills, her chakra mingling with his. Sasuke stood a little apart they were alone, and together again. Almost close enough to touch and yet gulfs seperated them still Sakura felt more than saw his muscles bunch ready to leap away.
Unable to lift her hands from Naruto's body she felt the tears slip down her cheeks, helpless again, saving one only to lose the other again, never all together like it should be. A scream tore from her throat, sheer frustration singing through the air. He paused, eyes wide, his own injuries clear in the painful turn he performed to look at her.
"If you leave, we'll only come after you." She promised, voice rough and urgent. "No matter where you go, what you do. You know we'll find you."
Sasuke didn't answer. Content with the empty look he was giving her.
"Don't go." Sakura pleaded feeling the last of Naruto's internal bleeding slow and stop, Sacré Naruto.
"The last time you did this to us, I said something stupid. I asked you to take me with you, I asked to leave Naruto behind. Not this time." She fixed his carefully controlled face with her emerald eyes. "We're a team, we'll live together and we'll probably die together. And I swear to you, if you leave we'll hunt you down. We'll find you. I swear."
Panting she stopped, concentrating on Naruto's needs taking the risk that Sasuke would leave while she was too busy to stop him with her tears, her words. Feeling the strong chakra of the Kyuubi take over the healing she slowly detangled herself from the web that was Naruto.
Sitting back on her heels, hands gripping her knees Sakura stood slowly, painfully. Sasuke watched it all without even a flicker of awareness. Then like a breath of air she was there in front of him her eyes tired.
A sharp crack echoed in his ears, a millisecond later he registered the pain searing across his cheek. Shock more than anything drove him to his knees. She'd slapped him, and it stung.
Feeling her chakra dip even lower, Sakura's knees sagged exhaustion creeping up on her. In front of Sasuke her knees hit the dirt without a hint of grace. Tears crept down her face again, she lacked the strength to spare to even wipe them away angrily.
"Don't you dare leave us again." She warned, eyes watching his, still empty. Her hand flew against his face again. Crack.
"Don't you dare." Crack.
"Don't you dare." Desperation crept into her voice. Crack!
"Sasuke. Don't you dare..." She lifted her hand to slap him again, but suddenly Sasuke's hand gripped her wrist in a hold that almost hurt.
For a moment she saw him, miles down in the darkness but there, that Sasuke that for a while had been a part of their Team 7. Then his eyes closed over again and it was just a flat black looking back at her, a sardonic smile tugging on his lips.
"You're really really annoying Sakura." He said softly.
Awareness crept through the rising fog in her head. Happiness bubbled after, a shy wonderous smile blossoming on her face. Exhaustion and injury took him first, his head hitting her chest as he finally passed out. His weight pushed Sakura back so she fell half across the sleeping Naruto. Her eyelids fluttered closed but not before she encirled their hardwon prize in her arms as sure a binding as any rope. Should he wake before her or Naruto and decide to do something silly, like run away again.
It was Naruto who woke first, who didn't know if he was supremely happy or supremely devastated to wake to find Sasuke asleep in Sakura's arms. He decided on happy, but definately not defeated. And he wrapped them both in his arms the best he could and stayed there until they were found later by Kakashi, Jiraya, and Gai.
Konoha Forest
She still didn't know why he'd decided to stay. She'd asked him once, on the verge of tears, why he'd come back if it wasn't to be part of the team again, to stay with her. He'd said coldly, he'd believed she'd've bugged him less if he stayed than if he went. Now he wasn't sure.
Sakura followed Kakashi's hand signals flawlessly. No need for real vigilence they were still miles from the border of Fire Country, but old survival habits died hard. Ninja moved in silence when they could.
Sakura felt the old fear curling in her stomach. Why had Sasuke stayed with her and Naruto? Three years of coldness, a coldness not melted even by Naruto. Why did he stay if he didn't try to build anything with them. Sakura was getting fed up with his long term pouting, next time she saw him she was going to whack him one just for making her worry again.
"Sakura." Kakashi called softly.
"What?" She snapped back. Almost immediately she clapped a hand over her mouth.
Internal bitching good, bitching at undeserving Kakashi-sensei is not. She mentally noted to herself.
"Sorry Kakashi-sensei, I haven't had much sleep this week." Sakura said, apologising the best she could.
Kakashi shrugged.
"On that subject, I know you're being kept pretty busy over at the hospital, so if you need to rest just say so. I'm sure we can catch up to them before anything happens." Kakashi gave her a thumbs up.
Internally Sakura gritted her phantom teeth.
Oi! D'ya think I'm still 12 or something? I don't need your fake reassurances. Naruto and Sasuke are capable of getting themselves into a mountain of trouble by themselves.
Noticing the black cloud floating over his younger teammates head, Kakashi decided to drop the small talk. He so enjoyed going on missions with Sakura when she was in a mood like this. Why couldn't Sasuke or Naruto be here so they could share it around. Adolescents he told himself, he was sure he'd never been like this.
Days later, Rain Country
Days had passed in their search, Naruto and Sasuke were still missing. The only good thing was, while they hadn't found the two young men, they also hadn't found traces of corpses and bloody vengance being rained in a neighbouring country by Konoha's most infamous young Chunnins. That was until this morning. They'd been backtracking Naruto's and Sasuke's route, figuring they must be nearer the end of their delivery mission than the start, the rain had finally paused when they came across the remains of the village.
Signs of a viscious slaughter were everywhere. None had been spared, from the youngest babe in arms to the eldest bedridden grandparent. The slaughter had no visible reason, the village held no importance or wealth, the people here were for the most part farmers.
Kakashi regarded everything with a cool eye. Sakura had spun between horror of what she was seeing to terror for what it might mean. Fighting the rising bile in her throat, Sakura stumbled back towards the trees, legs shaking so badly they almost wouldn't hold her. She vomited before she got to the trees, but continued anyway until she could rest her forehead against the cool rough bark. It started to rain again.
Kakashi noted Sakura's withdrawl from the scene. What ever he thought of the young women's actions he carefully kept them from showing on his face. Keeping within a close distance to the shaking Kunoichi he scanned the village again. Judging it necessary he roughly shook Sakura's shoulder.
"Let's go Sakura, and this time act like a chunnin. There may still be enemies in the area."
His voice held no reproach for her dangerously wandering away from him leaving them both open to surprise attack, but it brooked no argument now either. Sakura's shaking hands came up to grip the tree.
"Let's go find the guys Kakashi-sensei. It's time to go home." Pushing away from the tree with an effort Sakura turned to face the village.
Somewhere in that bloody mess might be Naruto and Sasuke, she had to find them.
This time as she crept through the dead village she noted the precise killing strikes, she guessed at the quality of the weapons which had made these wounds. Not Samurai, none of the strikes came from large bladed swords, they were small knives, or precise bone breaking, heart shattering strikes. Ninja trained strikes. And it had happened less than a day ago.
Gathering the last lagging parts of her shaking courage together until she felt she was as close to normal as she was going to get, Sakura opened her Chakra, flooded her vision with it. It was something Tsunade-sama had taught her to do. For Sakura it wasn't yet an extremely effective way of analysing a person's chakra flow, and therefore their level of health, but the chakra she was looking for tended to leave big marks. Scanning right and left she had to admit that she saw no sign of Naruto's distinctive Kyuubi Chakra.
That means either the trail's too old for me to see, or he didn't use Kyuubi's Chakra. Please let it be the second option.
Giving Kakashi a negative signal they continued through the village. When they reached the makeshift hospital in the chief's house even Kakashi took a step back.
"Get back Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura said quickly.
It wasn't the rows of children lying mutilated, or the parents desperately shielding bodies hacked apart that caused his movement nor Sakura's sudden step forward and quick seal forming. It was the signs of pestilence.
The children's faces and bodies were bloated, red patches marked them behind their ears, and the base of the neck. Fingers and limbs were bent as though the bones inside were twisted. None of the other dead were marked like them. Perphaps this was the reason the village had been destroyed, to stop a plague. But Sakura doubted this very strongly. If a plague had been found in this area the bodies wouldn't have been left like this to rot in the open air, to risk poisoning the water. All travel in and out of the area would have been forbidden, this was a massacre, done for the fun, so what were all these children doing here like this?
Sakura's medical training was working overtime, she scanned she analysed all the while holding her decontamination jutsu in place.
Her decontamination jutsu had been the first medical jutsu she'd ever succeeded in creating. Based on a creating a thin layer of Chakra above her skin, she'd succeeded in extending it ever so slightly from her body creating a pocket of breathable non-contaminated air. It gave her a window of two minutes max to work in a poisonous environment before getting light headed from lack of oxygen.
Her eyes picked out a glint in the sunlight. Moving cautiously not touching anything she placed herself beside the corpse of a man face down dead over the beheaded body of a young child. Under his hand were the shattered remains of a small glass bottle. Grasping the broken edge she pulled what remained of the bottle out, the top half was gone, but the bottom and the label were remaining.
For a second she became so light headed she thought she'd accidently over ran the timelimit.
The sound of Kakashi-sensei calling out to her brought her back to her senses.
"Sakura!" He whispered hoarsely, still trying for secrecy. "Did you find something?"
Even from the door way his voice carried perfectly. She looked at him a mix of defeat and fierce hate in her eyes.
"Kakashi-sensei, I think we might be too late for Naruto and Sasuke."
A little later, Rain Country
Urgency pushed them. A quick search of the rest of the house found Sasuke's and Naruto's backpacks. A circling search of the village found nothing else. Sakura pushed back her rain darkened hair, pulling it into a tight bun. Didn't the rain ever stop?
"We're running out of time, Sakura, circle west around the fields, I'll circle east. If you find anything or run into trouble use the bird whistle." Kakashi ordered.
Sakura nodded eyes already mapping out her route through the fields. Kakashi gripped her shoulder forcing her to look at him.
"Do not, I repeat do not do anything to endanger yourself or this mission." Kakashi warned.
"Hey," Sakura said shaking his hand off. "Who do you think I am? Naruto?"
Giving a him a quick smile and wave Sakura darted off across the open field moving low to the ground. In her mind she saw that small bottle over and over again. She felt the small fragile lump it made in her backpack. But the label, the label! The sheer arrogance of the man! Sakura was sure there were sparks being ground from between her teeth. Dead was too good for him. And now she knew for sure, he wasn't dead, he was alive, and still practising his abomination of medicine.
Kabuto. How well she remembered squaring off against him during the last Konoha-Sound war. How he'd grown in arrogance how much more like Orochimaru he'd become. Trapped in his own laboratory of horrors, how he'd boasted and teased her looking for his chance to counter attack. Pushing for that momentary slip in concentration when she would let his words distract her.
Kabuto's secret Laboratory, Hidden Sound Village
"I've grown so much Sakura-chan." Kabuto said, keeping his voice friendly.
He was hiding behind a wall of open shelves, packed with jars of preserved fleshy lumps and other more horrible, identifiable parts. Sakura watched him like a bird watches a snake, through that glassy wall of horrors.
"I've grown too." Sakura promised, trying to skirt a pool of green liquid and the fleshy lump it covered.
"Ah, but I've branched out, tried to help my fellow man." Kabuto said weaving behind the wall of bottles and jars to stop her getting a fix on his head.
Sakura tried to keep her eyes focused on him rather than on the things floating in those jars, the light falling through the glass was green. Green like things left to grow mould, preserved unable to rot and therefore find an end, forced to continue a gross imitaiton of life kept a hair's breath from decent death. Kabuto pushed another jar over. It fell, shattering, adding to the green pool she was trying hard to avoid. Sakura's heart lurched as her eyes identified the lump as an embryo.
"You aren't like other men Kabuto, you're more like a snake, a poisonous snake." She hissed back.
"Even poison can be medicine if used skillfully." Kabuto said, pushing another jar over.
Sakura felt her control start to slip. Why not just rush the thing? She had the strength to just crash right through, grab his neck, rip his head off.
Hold up girl. This is Kabuto, he wants you to do something like that, just like he meant to lead us here, to this room, to this spot why? Sakura's eyes flicked left and right looking for his next move.
A trap, or more Sound Ninja. Even Kakashi-sensei was wary around him going straight for his sharingan trump card.
Remember what Kakashi-sensei said, this guys a thinker. He always has a back up plan. What is it?
"I decided that there were so many people out there who needed my skills, my help." Kabuto smiled at her as if sharing a secret. "But you're the first person I've shown this to."
Sakura tensed ready to move. But rather than attack her Kabuto held up a small bottle. Light flickered from the candle torches across the label. The fumes from the preserving liquid were strong and were starting to make her eyes water, making it hard to see. Maybe that was his plan, blind her with the fumes and then attack her.
"I'm making medicine. I'm even giving it away almost for free. You should see the gratitude on their faces. It's most moving." Kabuto said regarding the struggle on Sakura's face.
Forward or back? Time was running out. Readying a kunai with an exploding tag Sakura fell into the concentration needed for a precise kunai throw, slowly threading her vision with chakra. She saw his muscle move, his finger rise to push another jar over. His eyes were semi-closed as he smiled at her, his concentration on his next words. Her arm flicked forward, kunai following the line of her hand.
Kabuto's eyes widened his hesitation costing him dearly. As the jar tumbled forward her kunai filled its empty space. There was a scream as the kunai buried itself in blood. There was no time for congratulations or even a feeling of achievement. The explosion tag was burning. It was only a small tag, meant to keep him off balance long enough for her lesser speed to bring her close for the finishing move. But even as she pushed forward chakra gathering in her hands for the strike that would bring down both Kabuto and his wall of horrors, her subconscious pushed her back away from the falling still burning cinders, the thick strong smelling liquid that now covered the front of the room.
BOOM.
The explosion tag went with a blinding flash of white light, a final flowering of fire and Sakura remembered.
Flammable, never forget these preserving liquids are flammable. Always handle them with care Sakura.
Tsunade's words echoed in her ears even as she desperately covered her face with her arms and lept backwards as fast as she could.
BOOM
This time the green jars exploded throwing burning jelly around the room, igniting the liquid on the floor. The smell of burning, rotted meat filled the air, fighting with the smell of ash. Sakura heard a man screaming, saw from behind her crossed arms a burning man shape writhing caught in the middle of the explosion. Smoke started to choke her, but still she fought to see, to confirm, to know. Flames reached everywhere in the room, eating glass, paper, wood, licking at stone. Sakura hissed in pain redirecting Chakra to her burns, putting her new decontamination jutsu into use.
Forced back by the heat Sakura bumped into a table not yet touched by the fire, a sound of tinkling glass caused her to turn. Half expecting more explodable jars she was momentarily stopped by the careful arrangement of identical little glass bottles. Each one bore the same label and was filled with little blue pills. Sakura took one, lifting it to her eye momentarily before a collapsing wall of burning paper and wood reminded her of more pressing matters.
Backing towards the door avoiding burning pools Sakura was sure she saw the burned form of a man lying face down in the room. Satifisied, and having no choice Sakura turned and fled before everything was gone. Later when she had a chance to relax being carried back to Konoha in a hospital cart with Sasuke asleep (drugged of course,) and Naruto walking beside his hand possessively clamped to the wooden side, Sakura remembered the little bottle and took it out.
She meant to examine the contents when they returned to Konoha, after she'd seen to Sasuke of course, he would need observation for the curse seal which still clung to his neck even with Orochimaru well and truely dead. But after, after she was sure her two teammates were safe and well she could indulge her curiosity. Running her eyes over the label she had to admit it was clever. A musical note, without the little flag at the top, graced the front. Around the upright stroke two snakes twisted to finally face each other, mouths open hissing. Between their confronting fangs a tiny K was embellished. Kabuto, Orochimaru and the Sound. But what were those little blue pills?
Rain Country Fields
The colour of the pills had changed, but the label hadn't. Sakura had to keep a tight rein on herself, she couldn't go as fast as she wanted for fear of missing a light trace, a clue, a chance to find Naruto and Sasuke. Her breath beat in her ears, but search as she might the rain had wiped clean the muddy ground. Refusing to give up Sakura stopped to gather her thoughts.
In the silence of that pause Sakura brought her breath back under control. Eyes closed she concentrated on organising her mind. First a list of tasks to complete and the actions needed to complete them.
Don't think about what you're doing. If you think that the bleeding flesh under your hands is a human being you'll screw it up. Don't think about the risks, what could be lost if you mess up. It's not important. Concentrate on making a list of what needs to be in order of importance, then figure out what needs to be done to complete that list, then do it. Time may be your enemy, but so is worry.
As always in her times of need Tsunade-sama's words came back to her. It was after that little speech that Tsunade-sama had started sneaking her into the gambling dens behind Shizune-san's back. A little Jutsu magic and instant 20 year old!
Konoha Golden Fountain Gambling Hall
"Gambling," Tsunde-sama said, "is an important part of training."
Eye twitching with doubt, Sakura felt some very Shizune type words floating through her brain. Clearing her throat at her student's doubting look, Tsunade chose a table of dicing. Sakura tried not to groan when she saw the way the croupier lit up with happiness as Tsunade sat down. Taking an offered cup of sake, Tsunade sipped it as she waited for Sakura to fold and sit down beside her.
Once Sakura had taken a place Tsunade glanced at her from the corner of her eye. Nervously Sakura fingered her bulging purse. As commanded by Tsunade she had emptied her bank account. Nearly three years worth of saving were now crammed into one little pink pouch. Smiling widely Tsunade explained to Sakura the rules of the game. It was easy, you just rolled the dice, if it was an even number you won, if it was odd you lost. Double or nothing gains.
"Now how much dosh did you bring?" Tsunade asked.
"N-nearly a thousand." Sakrua confessed, her stomach flipping at the thought of actually carrying that much cash at once.
She had a crazy desire to spend it like water on clothes, ice cream, shoes, and other such unimportant things. Tsunade arched an eyebrow.
"Wow, you must have been saving for a while." She said as a casual question.
Sakura nodded, her hand spasmically gripping the purse as if afraid it would grow legs and run away if she wasn't touching it.
"Since I became a genin." Sakura said. "This is payment from every mission I've ever done. Right from the first one with Naruto and Sasuke-kun." She almost stumbled over their names, she missed them so much.
Life had lost alot of its flavour without her team members. Before she could slip into her usual reverie of what life would be like if they were all back together, Tsunade had slipped the purse out of her hands.
"Gaahh!" Sakura screeched, latching onto her purse with all her might. "Tsunade-sama! You're not going to use that are you? It's all the money I have, it's taken me years to save it all up! I have plans for that money!"
"Ee-eh!" Tsunade griped. "Shizune doesn't complain this much and she certainly doesn't physically attack her teacher!" She tried to wrestle the purse away from Sakura without snapping her arm bones, no luck.
Releasing the purse she threw up her hands in despair. For a moment the croupier drooped as it seemed the famous pigeon was not going to play. Then noticing the familiar sparkle in her eye he started rattling the dice cup again in a hopeful way.
"I guess you'll just have to do it." Tsunade said with a sigh.
"Do what?" Sakura asked the suspicion thick in her voice.
"Place the bet!" Tsunade said brightly. "We are here to further your training after all." While saying this Tsunade downed another cup of sake.
"B-bet?" Sakura faltered. "I thought I was just here to watch." She finished lamely already seeing her savings dissapearing in her mind.
The croupier rattled the cup invitingly. Tsunade looked sideways at her student. Sakura painfully opened the purse defeated, and took out a 10 note. Tsunade shook her head. Sakura blanched and took out another advancing them towards the croupier. Tsunade cleared her throat. Gritting her teeth, her famous temper heating up, Sakura took out another 10, swearing to herself it was the last. Sliding a look at Tsunade, she let a scowl slip onto her face at her teacher's unimpressed look. The croupier started to really smile.
"Well, how much should I bet?" Sakura asked archly.
"All of it." Tsunade said lightly.
"A-all, all, all of it?" Sakura stuttered. "All, all of it? All my money. Like here?"
"Of course. Don't worry, just don't think about it." Tsunade said waving away her student's fears.
Sakura failed that night, she refused, flat out to bet all her money in one go on a dice roll. She slunk out of the gambling house under the glare of her teacher. Days later Shizune-san had taken pity on her and taken her out to have some tea. There surrounded by fragrent tea steam Sakura had spilled out the story. After her initial spasmic twitching session thinking about the Hokage taking her underage student into a gambling den, Shizune had sighed.
"It's her way of desensitising you to taking risks." Shizune had confided in Sakura.
"Tsunade-sama, she didn't keep gambling just because she loves the uncertainty. When you're a med nin, you have people's lives in your hands all the time. That kind of strain can break a person's mind, it certainly breaks your heart enough times." Shizune lifted her eyes staring out over the tea steam in the cold air.
"The first time you're faced with a life or death decision, a fellow shinobi, probably a friend, lying, bleeding to death or with a wound that just by looking at you know they're probably gonna die. That sort of thing can really break you up." A look of pain flashed across her face.
"A lot of med nin drop out of the profession after their first real field test. Tsunde –sama believes you've gotta be able to bet it all on one move, life or death, win or lose. Without freaking out thinking about the consequences." Shizune smiled at Sakura who sat engrossed in the story. " Time maybe your enemy but so is worry." Shizune intoned seriously.
Sakura smiled softly, still hurting from her teachers cold behaviour the last week. Dissapointing people wasn't her favourite passtime. Shizune slung an arm around Sakura's shoulders in a rare display of physical affection from the senoir student to the younger.
"She wants to make sure that the day you're faced with Naruto or Sasuke bleeding to death in front of you, you don't wait to count out your bet, or freak thinking about what will happen if you fail." Shizune explained swirling her tea slowly in her free hand.
Sakura's eyebrows drew together, with an effort of will she held back the tears that formed whenever she worried about failing Naruto or Sasuke. She wasn't a baby anymore, and if she ever expected to be able to protect Naruto and Sasuke (when they got him back) like they protected her, the first thing to go had to be her self pitying tears. Shizune dropped a large coin on the counter top.
"Double or nothing Sakura." Shizune said. "Heads I go to Tsunade –sama and offer to buy all her sake for the next month. Tails, you go to the Golden Foutain gambling hall and take that bet Tsunade-sama challenged you with."
Sakura started to consider the offer, then shook her head, gripping her hands into fists of enthousiam, Sakura punched the air.
"Yeah! You're on Shizune-san!" Sakura roared trying to inject all the enthousiam into it that she could.
The other teahouse patrons turned to look at the noisy pair. Shizune scooped up the coin looked Sakura right in the eye and tossed the coin. Sakura couldn't stop her heart from skipping a little thinking about what she was doing. Watching the coin fall Sakura realised everything that was at stake.
A part of her wanted to grab the coin out of the air, but another much stronger, louder part screamed 'Let it fall!' Sakura gripped the counter top to stop her hands from moving. The coin spun a little on its edge before landing flat.
"Tails!" Shizune crowed punching the air in her turn. "I keep my money!"
"Oh no!"Sakura complained, eyes locked on the tabled coin.
The other patrons turned a dirty look on the noisy young women. Shizune quickly deposited the coin in her purse. Shocked Sakura turned her head slowly towards Shizune.
"I don't suppose...?"Sakura began.
"Not on your nelly!" Shizune beamed back at her. "One thing gambling with Tsunade-sama has taught me, is to leave the table while you're winning."
Standing Shizune left payment for the tea on the counter.
"On that note, I have to get back to work. I've paid for both teas, so you just get hopping little miss."
Shizune was much to perky for Sakura's tastes, she was starting to understand why Tsunade-sama drank so much. Feeling like she was living a bad dream Sakura dragged herself up and trudged out behind the skipping Shizune. How was she going to explain this to her Mum?
Left to her own devices Sakura walked slowly towards the gambling den reclutching her much squeezed purse. It struck her that she could simply lie, they would have no way of knowing if she'd done it or not. It wasn't like Tsunde-sama would know about it anyway. Sakura wasn't going to tell her even if she did do it. It was such alot of money to risk on one throw she whined to herself. It was everything she'd saved for so long. A physical reminder of her time spent with Naruto and Sasuke. Just as she'd almost convinced herself to forget the stupid bet, Lee appeared around a corner, hopping on one leg.
"What are you doing Lee-san?" Sakura blurted out to the red faced young man.
"Sakura-san!" Lee called out happily. Without stopping his hopping he bounced in front of her his bowl cut hair flying up and down in counter rythym. Sweat dripped down his face and tiredness was written all over him.
"I am fulfilling a promise to Neji!" Lee's red face took on a concentrated look. "I challenged Neji to a match, but failed to live up to my glorious promise of victory. In return I have promised to hop around Konoha on one leg one hundred times."
Sakura blanched at the number.
"One hundred! But Lee-san that's ridiculous! And besides noones watching you, I doubt Neji even cares if you do it or not!" Sakura tried to grab Lee's shoulders and force him to stop.
"But Sakura-san, I can not go back on my solemn promise to Neji. That is not the way of a true shinobi." Directing his concentrated look on Sakura he continued. "Gai-sensei taught me the importance of being able to put everything on the line no matter what the challenge. That way even if it is only a challenge of Juken you can truely put your heart into it!"
Sakura cocked her head looking at the serious, though ridiculously bouncing Lee.
"But aren't you afraid you'll lose, like this time?" Sakura asked wincing in case she offended him.
"Fear can only hold you back. Effort and belief in yourself are the only important things!" Lee struck the nice guy pose, bouncing version. "If you are afraid of the future, you'll never go forward. I am sorry Sakura-san, but I need to finish this last round and then go back to my normal training."
Waving at the bouncing retreating back of Lee, Sakura sighed.
I guess it's like what I'm supposed to do here. Even if noone watching me. One day it'll be Naruto or Sasuke waiting for me to take my decision.
"Ah! To hell with the future!" Sakura yelled.
The random couple walking down the street jumped and walked faster away from the screaming kunoichi.
Rain Country field.
Sakura was ready to move again when she heard it. Faintly in the distance, someone screaming her name. Before she could really pinpoint it, it was gone.
Sasuke-kun!
Sasuke was calling her! He was actually calling, screaming her name. She would not fail him now, not now. Putting the whistle to her lips she called to Kakashi.
Something found! Come quickly. No danger.
Legs already moving, deciding where the call had come from narrowing her search to a section of forest, she restrained herself from calling back. She knew nothing of the situation, her calling out would not help them, would not help her. No matter how desperately she wanted to answer the need in that voice.
Later
She still hadn't found them, and Kakashi-sensei still hadn't found her. Putting the bird whistle to her lips a second time she called out.
Where are you? Danger?
A reply floated to her ears.
All safe, coming soon. Keep looking.
Sakura wished he was there to give her orders, she didn't know where to look anymore. Her eyes just kept seeing rain, trees, and mud. Since that first call there hadn't been any others. Sakura had to fight down rising panic that maybe she was too late.
Her nose told her first, then her eyes. A faint smell of cheap insense, and away over a line of trees not yet searched, thin wisps of blue smoke. As good a clue as anything, Sakura told herself, and she changed her course to cross the smoke.
Later still
Kakashi was still not there, Sakura was beginning to worry, when she saw it. A large hole in the muddy clay ground. A tree overhanging a part of the hole, had an insense burner hanging from a branch. The source of the blue smoke, and the funny smell. But it was the voices coming from the hole that raised Sakura's spirits the most.
Stopping her initial headlong flight to the hole, Sakura scanned the area, then she looped it looking for the captors, telling herself if they were good enough to capture Naruto and Sasuke together, they were clearly dangerous. Nothing, not even a hint of enemy shinobi.
Choosing the wooded side of the hole she eased herself forward, senses stretched to the limit. The nothing was driving her insane. Reaching the side of the tree with the insense burner she risked a look down. Her heart squeezed painfully, they were there, Naruto and Sasuke. Muddy but alive. Before she could give a call,she picked up their conversation.
"You really haven' been paying attention these last few years huh?" Naruto voice floated up.
"Sakura rocks. With her med nin stuff an' her monster strength, an' an'...her. She's not weak you know."
Sasuke remained silent.
"So waddya think 'bout her really?"Naruto continued. "I really wanna know, cause if you're interested in her, then I'm gonna have ta get serious 'bout winnin' her over."
Again Sasuke said nothing.
"Hey Sasuke can you hear me?"Naruto pushed his voice taking on the whining edge that Sakura knew so well.
"Hey! Sasuke! I said, whaddya think 'a' Sakura-chan?"
"NOTHING! OKAY! I DON'T THINK ANYTHING about her!" Sasuke's voice rose clear and strained.
Sakura sucked in her breath. Her heart thudded painfully.
He didn't mean it. He just under pressure, and he never reacts well when asked about his feelings.
She tried to ease the tight feeling it always gave her whenever he slapped away her attempts to approach him. His damn Uchiha pride. Shaking her head Sakura stepped into the open and called down in what she hoped was a nonchalant voice.
"Well, that's just peachy. And here I was all worried about you two bone heads."
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto called. He waved a little.
"Hey Naruto. You guys okay?" Sakura asked running her vision through with Chakra. The damn vision wasn't as trusty for scanning as her touch version, what she wouldn't give for Hinata-chan's eyes sometimes. She bit her lip as she saw the confusion in their chakra flows. Caution kept her on the edge of the pit, where was Kakashi-sensei? Sasuke tumbled slowly onto his side, and that decided her.
"Sakura-chan! Sasuke's ears are bleeding! Get down here now!" Naruto called up frantically.
"Screw the future." Sakura muttered, grabbing the rope already hanging from the tree.
"Sakura, get that stuff away from you, it's a chakra blocker!" Naruto warned her. That would take studying later she thought as she tossed it aside. Securing the rope for a heavier weight, Sakura jumped into the pit.
Immediately she went to Sasuke, her chakra already building and flowing into her finger tips. This close her eyes were picking up the damage already caused by prolonged exposure to the chakra blocker. Naruto wobbled over to her side and sat down. Sakura cradled Sasuke's head, her power flowing into his limp body.
Sakura sighed in relief. Nothing serious, there was no reason for Naruto to have scared her like that. If she hadn't been so glad they were alright, she would have punched him for scaring her like that.
"Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked in a shaky voice. "Is Sasuke gonna be okay?"
"Yeah, the bleeding is just from his ear drums. I can quick fix it, get you guys out and then do an indepth healing a little later." Sakura took Naruto's head in her hands scanning him as she had Sasuke. "When you said chakra blockers and Sasuke's ears were bleeding, I really thought the worst you idiot. Let me check you over"
"Neh Sakura-chan, I'm okay, just a bit sick. You know me, Kyuubi power comes through again." So saying Naruto swayed forward collapsing onto Sakura.
"Yeah you're fine, idiot."
Sakura wrapped him slowly in her arms unsure. She needed to hold him up anyway she told herself. And physical contact was a better way to scan him, and..., and he did need a little putting right so it wasn't really a hug. Though the position was a little awkard with Sasuke's head still half in her lap and Naruto pressing on her upper body.
Village, Rain countrySakura scrubbed all the tearmarks from her face before straightening. Opening her medical bags she made room for the two scrolls full of notetaking next to the samples she'd taken.
Turning her back on the village of dead she made her way towards the empty farmhouse at the edge of the forest. Kakashi, Naruto and Sasuke were waiting for her, and she'd be damned if she cried in front of them again. Lifting her face towards the gentle rain Sakura walked towards the people most important to her, still alive, still well, still there.
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Next chapter, it's a party! And most of the Konoha Boys are there!