iMMATURE: Hello readers, I know updates have been slow nowadays. But firstly, does anyone know if it's possible to create a subtopic? Sorry if the story's progress has been slow. This chapter they will finally leave this mission and return to Konoha.
Kiba: Then I'll appear in the story finally!
iMMATURE: I'll think about it.
Shikamaru: Women are so troublesome.
iMMATURE: Men are so …
Shikamaru&Kiba&Shino: Men are so?
iMMATURE: Er …. What do you do when you're outnumbered -.-;;
Chapter Four:
Consideration
Naruto had a cold expression as he turned away from the couple. "Naruto-kun?" Hinata said trying to get the blonde's attention.
"It's getting late, we better get back." Naruto told her. Hinata looked back at Sakura and Sasuke before following Naruto.
The distant look on Naruto's face worried Hinata. "Naruto-kun, this way," Hinata said softly. She pulled on Naruto's sleeve for him to follow her. They arrived at a small house, a little away from the crowded market streets. They entered and two maids stood near a closed door.
"Naruto-san, Hinata-san, hime-san is sleeping right now. So, be extra quiet. We'll be leaving, take good care of our hime for us." The two maids ran out.
Naruto went towards the door and placed his hand around the knob. "Naruto-kun, Koyuki-hime is sleeping."
"No, she isn't," Naruto said opening the door. He went in and flipped on the lights. The hime immediately threw the covers over her eyes.
"Not so fast," She whined. Naruto left the door opened and went into his room. "I'm going to sleep early."
"Naruto-kun, matte" Koyuki said running out of her room. Naruto stood at the doorway, "Hinata-chan, could you do me a favor and escort Koyuki-chan around town?"
"Hai," Hinata almost immediately answered. Koyuki watched the retreating child.
Hinata opened the door for Koyuki and there stood at the doorway was Jiraiya. "Jiraiya-sama," Hinata exclaimed.
"Hello, may I speak to Naruto?"
"Ero-senin," Naruto said surprised. Hinata looked at Naruto before guiding the princess out of the house. Jiraiya closed the door and sat down on a nearby chair. Naruto sat across from him. Jiraiya looked serious for once.
"Naruto, have you been experiencing anything strange?"
Naruto gave a confused look, "Strange?"
"Has your chakra been reacting normally?"
"I think so …" Naruto said. He never had the best chakra control. If his chakra ever ran out he always had the fox's chakra, which always got him out of a pinch. But lately, he had no real need to completely deplete his chakra to the extent the use of the fox's chakra was necessary.
Jiraiya got up, "Great then, I got no where to stay so I'll be sleeping in your room." Jiraiya was in Naruto's room before the boy was able to utter a word.
"Go with Hinata-chan." Jiraiya commanded him.
Naruto sighed and left the darkened house. He found Hinata not too far away; she was standing alone without Koyuki-hime. "Where is Koyuki-chan?"
"She is with Sakura. She wanted to show Sakura a waterfall." Hinata answered.
"A waterfall?"
Sakura stood at the bottom of the waterfall. The water glistened as it gently fell down from the mountain top. "Pretty," Sakura exclaimed.
"I thought you'd like it," Koyuki said standing beside her. "When I lived here, I would always come here with my worries. There is a pretty depressing story that follows this waterfall."
"A tragedy?"
"Yep. Of course, this story has been retold so many times there has been two main retellings. The basic story is the same, the endings are slightly different. Would you like to hear it?"
Sakura nodded and they both sat beside the water.
"Years ago, there was a famous doctor that lived in this very village. She fell in love with a poor peasant. She refused to accept her love for him though, because of his social standing. Then one day he fell ill. She tried as she could; she was unable to cure him. She was clouded by fear that he might die. Therefore, she went to this very waterfall and asked the spirits to bless their water to help cure her patient. In return, she will serve them after her death. The peasant became well after the water touched his lips. Overwhelmed with joy, the doctor confessed her love for him. They then were married.
Years later, the peasant discovered the sacrifice she made for him. He pleaded to the spirits to release her. The spirits refused, only something of equal value will they agree to release her. He then offered to give back the very water that had cured him. The spirits still refused, claiming they cannot take back, what they gave. He then offered his life. The spirits accepted this offer and immediately took his life. He died beside the waterfall. Moments later the doctor discovered her dead husband. Some say she was blinded by anger and cursed this waterfall with her death. Others say she blessed these waters, so no one else would have to experience her pain. Whether she had cursed or blessed the waters, she died beside the waterfall, beside her husband."
"So in the end, she was with him." Sakura concluded.
"You can say that." Koyuki said rising. "You should spend your birthday with someone you want to spend it with. Hinata-chan, would you please escort me back?"
"It's alright Hinata-chan, I'll escort her." Naruto said. Hinata was shocked to see him, "Naruto-kun, I thought you were sleeping."
"Yeah I was, but someone stole my room." Naruto said rubbing the back of his head while chuckling
Hinata looked at him confused.
"Very well then," Koyuki followed Naruto as they headed back.
Hinata watched the two leave and looked over at Sakura and approached her.
"Sakura-chan, I almost forgot to give you your present." Hinata said handing Sakura a small wrapped rectangular box. Sakura carefully opened it and there laid two gloves.
"I saw that your old gloves were getting wary, so I thought you needed new ones." Hinata said when Sakura stared down on the gloves.
Sakura was speechless. She did not expect Hinata to remember her birthday and buy her a present. "Thank you Hinata-chan," Sakura said. She put the cover back on. "I'll be sure to use them." She assured her. Hinata smiled.
"It's Sakura's birthday, why didn't spend it with her?"
Naruto sighed, "I've spent her birthday a day early."
"Then there is no reason for you to spend it with her again?"
"I don't see a need to."
Koyuki laughed, "Of course you don't. You have only one thing in your mind. At least you're consistent. But you know Naruto; you don't have to reach for the stars to become acknowledged."
"Becoming Hokage has always been my dream and I plan achieve it."
"Becoming a princess and governing a whole country was definitely not what I dreamed, but I still managed. Things change as time progress."
"If you let your dreams change then you never really wanted it."
"Maybe there was just something you wanted more."
"There's nothing more I want than to become Hokage."
"For now," They reached their temporary home. Naruto opened the door and found three unconscious men on the floor.
Jiraiya was in the living room table with a bottle of sake.
"What happened here?" Koyuki questioned. Jiraiya's face was completely red indicating he was drunk. "Ah, three people came here. I took them out."
"I can see that." Koyuki said walking around the bodies. "Clean this up please, I'll be going to bed." Naruto poked at the bodies seeing if they will budge on their own. They stuck to the floor though. Fortunately they were ordinary bandits.
"Have you been using your chakra lately?" Jiraiya questioned after the bandits had been removed.
"No," Naruto answered. "I'm going to bed, good night." Naruto approached his room the second time and successively entered.
Sakura woke up early the following morning. She smelt fresh cookies in the kitchen. She went in to find Hinata taking out baked cookies. Sakura watched as Hinata placed the cookies on the table before greeting her. Hinata jumped, "Sakura-chan, I didn't think you will be up this early."
"Are you always up this early?"
Hinata shook her head, "Naruto-kun looked depressed yesterday, so I baked him some cookies. I use to do that for Kiba and Shino."
"Hinata-chan, do you like Naruto?" Hinata blushed as she played with her fingers. Sakura laughed, "Don't worry Hinata; I'm sure Naruto will love the cookies." Sakura winked at the blushing girl.
Naruto happened to wake up early for once and saw the two girls talking to each other. "Good morning," he greeted both the girls. They returned the greeting.
"I'm going to go for a walk," Sakura said giving Hinata a secret smile a moment later. Sakura left a blushing Hinata.
Sakura went to the edge of the waterfall. The water endlessly fell down from the mountaintop like it showed eternity and hope. She thought back to the story the hime told her. How could something so beautiful cause so much pain? She looked over at the water, and saw someone staring at her. She had not looked at herself so closely for awhile. For a moment, she thought a stranger stared at her. She threw a rock to blur her reflection. The rock never floated back up. It stayed in the bottom, and Sakura knew, it will remain there. Unless, someone or something were to pick it back up.
"Sakura?" Sakura turned around, "Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke stood there with his hands in his pockets with that expression of his. No, it was different this time. He no longer had those distant thoughts of revenge. He stood there as the proud remaining Uchiha. He had his own reason to live, to continue.
"I was just … seeing if rocks could float," Sakura said laughing nervously. Sakura knew her response will only oblige further suspicion. But it was Sasuke, he would not question her. Therefore, Sasuke just nodded and turned away from her. He did not walk away as he would have usually done. He waited for Sakura to collect her thought and end her hesitation. Sakura understood that Sasuke was willing to listen only if Sakura permitted.
"Do you think I changed?" Sakura finally asked.
"You've gotten stronger," Sasuke answered rather simply. It was not the answer Sakura was searching for though.
"No, I mean … if I was who I was when you had left, do you think I would be standing here right now?"
"I rather not dwell in the past. It has done me little good."
"But … because you were so focused in your past, you were able to gain this strength and …"
"I dreamt of many vengeful actions I could have done to my brother. The only way I would have been able to perform them was to obtain power. The thirst of power drove me to do many things I regret. When my brother stood in front of me, defeated. All those dreams, they had vanished. The pain of the past stayed and whether he is dead then or now, the past has already been written. And I wonder if all I've done was worth it. You do not want to change into something you'll regret. Nonetheless, I'm who I am."
Sakura was left at the river side. She placed two rocks next to each other and carved a word on each rock. The rocks looked completely different from each other. One was rugged and bumpy; the other was smooth and fine. She held the rocks close to her before placing them next to each other. The water hit the backside of the rocks, but it was unable to carry the rocks away from their stationed area. She left the two rocks beside each other.
The months passed and Sakura would visit the waterfall often. She would always find those two rocks next to each other. Beside this waterfall, she felt this was her sanctuary.
The day came when the movie had finished and she had to leave the waterfall. Team 7 was finally whole again or at least, that what she had hoped. The truth was everyone had changed, even the slightest. Everyone had become stronger and everything else that came with age. Team 7 were not little genins that had just left the academy anymore. They had struggle through hardship after hardship, maturing a little along the way.
It had been three years, and counting. Sakura possessed no impossible goal. Her dreams were simple, to meet her dream guy and then fall in love. It was a simple dream that every girl could dream of. She never asked to prove anything to anyone. She had once dreamed of surpassing Ino. That bitter rivalry had ended as their childish desires had ended though. They were not exactly best friends again, but they did rekindle their lost friendship.
She stood at the edge of the ship as it deported. Soon they were within the ocean. The ship moved swiftly as it headed to the spring country. After the princess was safely back in her throne, they would bring their guests back to Konoha. By the time they reached Konoha, Sasuke and Naruto would only have a night's rest for the Chunnin exam the following day. Therefore through the whole trip, they trained on their own.
Sakura and Hinata helped around the ship as the other two were rarely seen throughout the day. At the midst of the day, Sakura would be in her room, writing the report for Tsunade. The ship entered and left the Spring Country. The genins only came out to tell the hime their good-byes before disappearing again.
When they finally reached to Konoha, the genins were the first off the ship. Sakura and Hinata thanked the crew for their assistance before entering their village. Sakura headed straight to the Hokage, while Hinata headed home.
Sakura handed Tsunade the report and turned away to leave.
"Wait Sakura," Tsunade said putting the report on the side.
"Is there anything else you need me for?" Sakura questioned.
"Yes, I have proposal to make."
"A proposal?"
"The village hidden in the mist has been recuperating quite well since the last time you visited them three years ago. Clinics are scattered across the village, but they still do not have a hospital present. They are currently constructing a hospital as we speak. They have asked to send a doctor to help train their apprentices. I've decided to send you."
Sakura stood there, astonished.
When Sakura did not speak, Tsunade continued, "I understand that you might want to support your teammates through the Chunnin exams, but this will be a great opportunity for you. Due to that village's trades, many people from across the world might stop by that hospital for treatment. If they are satisfied with your services, they might pass your name. Unfortunately, you do not have the same chance here as you will have there. I would like for you to consider this offer. You do not have to give a direct answer till seven days from now. Naruto and Sasuke should be done with the second part of the Chunnin exams by then."
"I will definitely think about it," Sakura assured her and said her farewells. As she was about to exit, Tsunade added, "Sakura, please understand. I'm not sending you as Konoha's representative; I'm sending you as my representative."
"I know …" Sakura said softly.
"I'll be right here waiting," Tsunade assured her, hoping to lower the pressure.
iMMATURE: Okay, I know it is a weird way of ending this chapter. Normally Tsunade would say, "I'll be waiting for your answer". But, I felt so inclined to continue with my theme. Also, the whole part of change … I had first considered Naruto having that discussion with her, but as I wrote, Sasuke just seemed the better choice. As far as Naruto and Hinata are going, I'll probably allow Sakura's imagination run wild. I've been putting Sakura's point of view for these past chapters, which was definitely not something I planned to do. I'm going to try to put Naruto's pov for the next chapters. Next update I have no idea when. I'm going to focus on my other stories, so pray for me that I will have the time to write x.x
Oh and Review please.
Answer to Reviewers
Kane the Warrior – lol yeah March 28. Naruto's reaction is definitely jealous but as far as Naruto is concerned, Sasuke is his best friend and the guy Sakura was drooling over three years ago. Since Naruto's feelings for Sakura hasn't changed for three years, he shouldn't expect Sakura's to either.
Thsunami – that would be funny, the kazzma clan … I don't think anyone seen an anime that has more than one wife.
XWY – Sakura not allowing Naruto to put on the necklace for her is just insecurity.
Miss.Studder – Sorry for late update … I don't know when next update will be.
Animaman – Sorry for the slow plot development. As far as dates go, I don't think I'll be putting them in anymore dates. Naruto acting more mature ... hmm ... i'll try that.
Aguescar – I'm glad you took an interest to my story. Hope you keep reading ;
Aubert – Yeah I know my writing skills need improvement. But, can you please be more specific on what exactly I need to work on? Or is everything a complete mess? It would be a lot of help, thanks.
Darklight ultimate. – I hope you keep reading.