And a couple days later Sakura set forth from the village with Yagura, Pakura and Ino tagging along on her mission "This is kind of scary" Ino commented, keeping as close to Sakura as she could while they walked in the direction of Iwagakure.

"Be at ease Yamanaka-san, you are safe" Yagura assured, on the lookout for any trouble, because he knew how quickly things could go south on them and even with how much Sakura had improved lately something was bound to happen.

Ino eyed him warily but stuck like glue to Sakura's side "So why are you coming along Ino-san" Pakura inquired, not really seeing the point in having the blonde on the mission and she wasn't sure she understood the reason for Sakura choosing the girl anyway.

"We'll be working at the hospital, since Ino is learning iryo-ninjutsu from me I figured the best way to teach her is to have her practice in an environment that will help her learn quickly" Sakura answered calmly, patting Chie who had refused to stay behind.

Pakura nodded her head in understanding "Makes sense and is that Chie, I can hardly believe how big he's grown" Kitsuchi remarked, glancing to the full-grown wolf padding after his partner and remembering when he still barely reached the girls knees in height.

Sakura grinned at him in response "Yes, it is, and I know right, he's huge now and still growing" Sakura admitted, reaching down to pet Chie again to take her mind off things, because she was almost certain that something bad was going to happen on this mission, when she didn't know but it wouldn't be good.

During their conversation the 2nd Tsuchikage remained stubbornly silent as he refused to participate in such frivolous antics and stayed that way for the entire 3-day trek it took them to reach Iwagakure, where Ohnoki welcomed the Leaf shinobi warmly before sending them off to a hotel so that they could chat.

Less than a minute after the Leaf Shinobi left the office "Why Ohnoki, shouldn't you know better than to ally yourself with other villages, they'll only betray you in the end" Mu demanded, when it was just him, Kitsuchi and his former student.

"Mu-sama, I'm well aware of your opinion on the subject, but I have faith this time, thanks to that pink-haired brat anyway" Ohnoki snorted, not about to let his decision be swayed even by his former mentor, his granddaughter would never forgive him if he betrayed the Leaf Village.

Violet orbs narrowed "The Yuki girl, what importance does she hold here in Iwagakure, that you would actively send your own son to check up on her, isn't it her own people's duty to look after the irritating little brat" Mu snapped.

Kitsuchi bit back a chuckle "You don't know her like we do Nidaime-sama, Sakura is special, she is far to kind for this cruel world that we live in, the very first time I met her, she'd been kidnapped, right out from underneath her people's noses, in front of them even that's how brazen the bastard was" Kitsuchi said.

"Even then, knowing that if we wanted to, I could have her executed, she remained polite, befriended my granddaughter and defended another when she found him being bullied" Ohnoki added, knowing that it would take a while for Mu to warm up to the idea.

For now, though he would just have to accept that he was allied with other nations, left with little choice on the matter Mu was escorted off and the following morning Sakura and Ino got to work in the hospital, back in Leaf however Mebuki got a surprise visit from Naruto's parents.

"Oh, hello there, welcome to my home Minato-san and...ah Kushina-san I believe" Mebuki greeted upon opening the door for the younger couple, though it took her a moment to remember the red-heads name, she was at least able to remember it.

Karin often mentioned the young woman's name because Mito and Kushina had been close way back during the 3rd Hokage's reign of the Leaf Village "Yes, hello to you too...Mebuki-san, we're sorry to visit so unexpectedly, but I heard from Minato that your daughter is my son's teammate" Kushina apologized.

"And she was hoping that you could tell her some things about him" Minato admitted with a fond smile for his wife, Naruto would certainly be surprised when he came home to find his mother alive but at least the boy would have a chance to get to know her now.

Mebuki didn't need to be asked twice merely motioned for the couple to enter her home and led the way into a comfortable living room "So what do you want to know Kushina-san" Mebuki asked, after making tea and snacks for her guests to partake in.

"When did you meet Naruto for the first time, how old was he, he didn't cause you too much trouble did he" Kushina rambled after taking a sip of the delicious tea first, the smooth taste paired perfectly with the scones that had been prepared.

The blonde woman smiled, thinking back to the day no doubt "He was twelve and had just been assigned to a genin team with Sakura and Sasuke, I swear that girl the minute they were put on a team became like a protective older sister to that boy, had him afraid of her within a week" Mebuki laughed.

Remembering how shy Naruto had been and how easy it had been to tease him as well "I can see that happening" Minato chuckled his amusement, Sakura did seem like that sort of person, considering how well she'd taken to having siblings after all.

"I admit to some confusion, what do you mean she had him afraid of her" Kushina frowned, focusing on that part of the explanation apparently and Mebuki knew she had to explain properly or else the redhead would not understand.

"You know how young boys are, messy and all that, the first time she went over to his former apartment it was completely trashed and she yelled at him about how unhealthy it was for him to live like that, then made him clean up and start taking care of himself, Naruto-kun wasn't prepared for the whirlwind that is my daughter unfortunately" Mebuki explained.

Easing the younger woman's worries "Sounds like she did my boy a real favor then, I'll have to thank her when she gets back" Kushina sighed, sipping on her tea again, it really was quite delicious "By the way what kind of tea is this" she asked after a moment.

"Well, I make it out of a type of flower, I haven't really come up with a name for it yet, Sakura would probably scold me for serving it, but it tastes so wonderful that I can't really help myself even if it does increase fertility in women" Mebuki confessed in a slightly sheepish tone of voice.

"How about Aphrodite tea, for the goddess of fertility" Kushina offered, taking another sip, then caught sight of Minato swallowing thickly out of the corner of her eye as he watched her, and just to tease him a little she let out a soft little moan.

The reaction was instantaneous "Pardon us Mebuki-san but I think my wife and I shall be going now" Minato stood, draining the rest of his tea before using his seal to whisk himself and Kushina back to his apartment where they got started on making a sibling or possibly two siblings for Naruto.

Left behind in the aftermath of their departure Mebuki laughed her delight that at least someone liked her tea and perhaps she could make it something to be sold at the clinic, once she'd passed her goal of becoming jonin that is, as she cleaned up.

Not long after she received another set of visitors "Lady Mebuki" Fugaku tilted his head at the woman in respect for her clan head position, his own wife at his side, who'd been curious enough to want to meet their youngest son's female teammates parents.

"Fugaku-san and Mikoto-san correct, pleasure to meet you, I'm Mebuki Yuki and no doubt you've heard from your husband the mother of Sakura who happens to be Sasuke's teammate" Mebuki smiled, letting the couple into her home and making the same tea as before.

And of course, she couldn't forget the snacks to go along with her homemade tea "Isn't this..." Fugaku instantly recognized the aroma of her special tea, then trailed off as Mikoto took a sip before he could warn her what the effects of the tea were.

So, with a resigned sigh he took his own sip of the tea and found it palatable "Were you saying something Fugaku...hmm, oh right, yes I'd like to hear some stories if you're willing to share them about Sasuke that is" Mikoto eyed her husband in confusion but he just shrugged and nodded at Mebuki.

Reminding her why they'd come all the way to her clan's former compound "Sure, I'll tell you about the first time Sakura brought him over, it was a couple weeks after they'd been assigned to a team together, she had badgered him into eating a meal with us along with Naruto" Mebuki said.

"Badgered him how exactly, from what I remember, Sasuke was a stubborn child, and I can't imagine him changing much from the age of 8 to 12" Fugaku leaned forward also interested in hearing about Sasuke's adventures as a genin.

Mebuki nodded in response, indicating Sasuke had been extremely difficult "Though as much as he moaned and groaned about it, he was still polite and kept coming back on his own after a few weeks, I'm pretty sure he lost a bet against Sakura and was doing his best to adhere to the rules of it" Mebuki explained.

"The bane of all Uchiha men, their pride gets the best of them and won't let them back out of anything, not even a bet they've lost" Mikoto laughed, of course her youngest would be the same way, why had she thought any different before now.

Just then they were joined by Yukina, Haku and little Mifuyu "Didn't realize you had guests, sorry, if you'd like we can come back later Mebuki-chan" Yukina apologized, seeing her best friend's guests and recognizing at least one of them anyway.

Who nodded in greeting before focusing on Mebuki "No you can stay, I'd like it very much if I could get to know you as well" Mikoto chimed in before the blonde could, wanting to make new friends and have a larger social circle this time around, instead of keeping to herself like last time.

"If you're sure...it's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Yukina Yuki, these are my two children Haku and Mifuyu, of course I have two more on the way, but I don't know their gender yet" Yukina smiled, after getting a nod from her friend, before she sat, prompting Haku to do the same, while introducing herself at the same time.

Followed by a gentle pat to her belly "And you are also pregnant with twins aren't you Mebuki-san, my, soon there be lots of little ones running about won't there" Mikoto gasped, turning to the blonde again to see the older woman's belly rounded with unborn children as well.

"Quite, we aren't the only ones, there is one more, Emi, she's got one on the way" Mebuki informed, causing the younger woman to blink before shaking her head, it wasn't her business anyway if everyone in the Yuki clan appeared to be pregnant.

A cry startled Mikoto out of her thoughts right as Haku snagged his little sister "Speaking of stories, I don't think it was ever mentioned how you met Sakura" Fugaku commented, all he knew was that Haku was engaged to the rosette, and they seemed to be good for one another.

"That is a story huh...well to be fair I met Naruto first, he'd fallen asleep in the forest from training, reckless boy, and mistook me for a girl unfortunately, then with my master, Zabuza, we met Team Seven in battle, if not for my actions, Sakura probably would have never awakened to her bloodline" Haku grimaced.

Dark eyes narrowed in response "Your actions of what exactly, what could have caused Sakura to awaken her kekkeigenkai" Fugaku prodded, watching how Mebuki frowned, and he knew that the answer would be a hard pill to swallow.

He was right "She thought Sasuke was dead by my own hands, I'd had him trapped in a jutsu and put him in a death like state when the mist Zabuza had been using cleared enough for Sakura to see and went berserk, which led to her using Hyoton for the first time" Haku sighed.

Still feeling terrible about that even if there was nothing, he could do about it now, it weighed heavily on his mind "But he was obviously fine, so why did Sakura-san lose all sense unless she liked Sasuke-chan and couldn't bare to see him like that" Mikoto prodded.

Wanting to understand "No, it was more like sibling affection, Sakura saw the loneliness that Sasuke would never admit to and treated him like a younger brother, her team was her second family and she cared deeply about everyone on it" Mebuki admitted softly.

Knowing how much her daughter cared about the people she loved, it was blinding sometimes to be honest "Oh, I see, do you think she's heard from him during the time he's been gone" Mikoto asked, wanting to meet the girl now more than ever after what she'd just learned.

"I think once, he just showed up in the hospital to visit her is what she told me, other than that, not that I can recall" Haku shook his head lightly, while bouncing Mifuyu, she was such a sweet little baby, but he couldn't wait to meet his other siblings when they were born.

Clearly Sakura hadn't even told that tidbit to her mother as Mebuki lifted a pale brow in response before huffing out a laugh "Why was she in the hospital" Mikoto questioned, curious about everything it seemed, only to be horrified at the answer.

Eventually she and Fugaku left to indulge themselves in other things, leaving Mebuki with her three guests to get started on supper, and all the way back in Iwa, Sakura and Ino were exiting the hospital after a long chaotic first day "Kami that was ridiculous" Ino complained.

Looking exhausted to Sakura's amusement as she'd fared better than her friend "Yep and it will continue to be that way until we straighten them out to function as a proper hospital should" Sakura quipped in the next second earning a glare.

Violet eyes narrowed angrily on the pinkette from his hiding spot, before deciding now was the perfect time to make sure the girl knew her place by popping up unexpectedly in front of her, what Mu didn't count on however was how quickly Sakura could react, especially when startled.

As she threw her fist out and with a crack he went flying "SECOND TSUCHIKAGE-SAMA" Sakura yelled in horror at what she'd just done before rushing after the man as he lay prone on the ground from having three of his ribs broken.

"D..Do you need help Sakura" Ino hovered nervously behind Sakura as the rosette knelt at Mu's side, hands glowing green as she set the broken ribs then began healing, it looked difficult, so it was probably a good thing that she didn't help anyway.

While Sakura worked, she looked the 2nd Tsuchikage over with worried jade eyes "Why" Mu demanded when the girl helped him sit up, searching for any more injuries that he might have gotten from his extremely stupid moment, of course she wouldn't be easy to get the drop on.

Her eyes flashed with suppressed anger "Because I'm sick of all the fighting" Sakura snapped, not afraid to unleash said anger on him apparently, before standing and stalking off with Ino on her heels as they returned to the hotel for the night.

Yagura, who'd been a silent witness to the incident shook his head, then hurried after the young kunoichi and arrived in time for dinner in the hotel cafeteria "Where did you go Yagura-san and is it just me or does she seem angry" Pakura asked.

Glancing at Sakura as she shoveled food into her mouth with manners yes, but her actions seemed a bit off, "I'm afraid Mu-san set her off, I am unclear of what his actual motives were, he unfortunately learned what happens when she is startled" Yagura explained.

Keeping an eye on the pinkette "And let me guess she turned around and healed him afterwards, seriously why can't people just leave her alone" Pakura sighed, able to guess the rest of what had happened and wonder why people constantly tried to pick a fight with a girl half their age.

Meanwhile after being snapped at Mu stormed off to the Tower "Mu-sama, dare I ask what warrants a meeting so late in the day" Ohnoki questioned, having a feeling he knew but inwardly hoping he was wrong, apparently that was too much to ask.

"That girl, what the hell is wrong with her, she punches like she expects someone to attack her without warning" Mu demanded, basically admitting that he'd gotten punched by Sakura and his former student sighed, putting his paperwork to the side as he did so.

Before staring at him "Because she does unfortunately expect someone to attack her at all times of the day, I only know what my granddaughter knows and that is the brat has been through quite a bit since the moment she became genin" Ohnoki confessed.

Pleased when guilt flashed through violet-colored eyes "Like what Ohnoki, surely it can't be that bad" Mu frowned beneath the bandages around his face, not wanting to pity the girl, but her words kept ringing through his thoughts and wouldn't leave him alone.

"I know for a fact that her first mission outside the village turned A rank on her, something about the mission client lying about the difficulty of the mission and only paying for a C rank, she's almost been killed at least 5 times that I know of and of course the several attempts to abduct her as well are countless" Ohnoki informed.

So, yes, it was apparently that bad according to Ohnoki and suddenly Tsunade's fit made more sense "You should feel lucky that you weren't there when she read that message Ohnoki, Tsunade was furious about your request" Mu remarked suddenly.

Causing his former student to flinch "Kitsuchi already told me, and I don't blame Princess Tsunade for being angry, but there are no other medics that I trust more than the brat to get the job done properly, I'll just have to deal with the potential risks and make sure none get through the village defenses" Ohnoki scowled.

"Why are these people so intent on her teammates Ohnoki, that abducting her would potentially draw them out of where they've been hidden for the past year or so" Mu asked, because he hadn't really understood when it had been explained to him back in Konoha.

Another sigh before "One is a Jinchuuriki, a group called Akatsuki is trying to collect them for reasons unknown to the other nations and the other is an Uchiha, formerly one of the last remaining Uchiha until some started being brought back to life, unfortunately Orochimaru is dead set on this Uchiha" Ohnoki explained.

"They both care greatly for the brat, Mu-sama, I beg of you, leave her be, the hospital is sure to be stressful enough for her, she doesn't need any more stress, it'll cause her to collapse" Ohnoki requested, hoping this will the last time Mu stormed into his office about Sakura.

Left with no other choice Mu headed off to the place he'd been given to stay in for now and over the next few days watched how Sakura interacted with the people and shinobi of Iwagakure, there was no malice in her smile, she was completely genuine as her eyes sparkled.

Even as she endured working at the hospital for seemingly hours on end, the girl never once faltered, only remained entirely to selfless "Hey Sakura, what's it like being engaged" Ino asked, and he happened to overhear from his hiding spot.

Drawing jade irises onto her from the notebook she had in her hand "It was strange at first, I admit, but Haku and I quickly established some ground rules that helped us get use to the idea, so now I don't think I'd know what to do if I wasn't engaged to him" Sakura confessed.

Smiling fondly as she thought of Haku "By the way is that the notebook Shikamaru is always calling your little book of horrors" Ino questioned, trying to process the information she'd been given by asking another question now that they had a little time to do so.

"Yep, and he could be just as terrifying if he came up with his own unique jutsu's so I don't know what he's always complaining about" Sakura huffed, scribbling something else down in her notebook for her latest project that she still wasn't sure would work.

But she wasn't going to give up on the idea either "True, if Shikamaru wasn't always so damn lazy that is" Ino snorted, Sakura snickered under her breath just before the two kunoichi looked at one another and dissolved into helpless laughter to Mu's confusion.

He was so engrossed in eavesdropping on their conversation that he almost missed Kitsuchi showing up with a knowing smirk on his face "Don't, it's not like I feel for the brat or anything" Mu snapped, realizing he'd been caught spying on the girl.

"Mhm, sure Nidaime-sama whatever you say...Sakura-san if you'd like you may make use of the training grounds here in Iwa" Kitsuchi chuckled, body flickering to appear before the young kunoichi, he knew better than to overwork the rosette at this point.

Jade orbs glittered with excitement "Really, thanks I might go now" Sakura exclaimed, having an idea she wanted to test out, it was another jutsu for Hika, well for any young child of the Yuki clan when they were old enough to learn that is.

Kitsuchi chuckled under his breath as the pinkette bounded off, leaving behind Ino who shook her head "Guess I better go and catch up with her, see you Kitsuchi-san" Ino bowed, then with a wave she too was gone as she headed after Sakura.

Next to head in that direction was Mu, to Kitsuchi's amusement, and the former Tsuchikage arrived in time to see Sakura use a never-before-seen jutsu, at least to him anyway, "Whoa, that was wicked cool" the blonde gasped loudly.

"Thanks, Ino, though there are still some kinks I have to work out, it's at least usable" Sakura hummed, flipping open her notebook again to the page the jutsu was on, and thanking the kami for whoever had made this notebook as it kept everything nice and organized for her.

For a few minutes she was silent, so Ino decided to practice her medical ninjutsu, considering she was still just a beginner at it and not nearly as much help as she needed to be, while Sakura scribbled more things down in her notebook with furrowed brows.

Before snapping it shut a second time, then formed hand signs "Alright, Hyoton: White Snow" and from her mouth Sakura blew out a stream of snow after mixing yang chakra with her combined wind/water chakra it covered the ground and was extremely soft "There" Sakura smiled, proud of herself.

While ignoring Ino as the blonde stood there with her mouth hanging open in shock "Man I wish I had Hyoton, that looks so cool" Ino grumbled teasingly, inwardly thinking that she probably wouldn't make it look half as cool as Sakura had just then.

"Care to spar for a bit, I kind of started developing my own taijutsu style, it's for the Yuki clan" Sakura asked settling into an unfamiliar stance, Ino grinned, then lunged a second later, when the spar was over twenty minutes later, Ino decided she was immensely glad that they were friends and that Sakura had held back on her.

Otherwise, she would have been to terrified to spar against the pinkette "That taijutsu form is pretty crazy Sakura" Ino commented as they began making their way back to the hotel for lunch, since it was their day off to do whatever they wanted for the day.

"Indeed, I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it" Mu remarked, appearing before the kunoichi at a distance because he had no desire to be punched and thrown halfway down a street again with three broken ribs to boot.

Emerald orbs narrowed on him while instinctively throwing out her arm to stop Ino from getting too far from her side "Well I developed it, so nobody would have seen anything like it before" Sakura informed, eyeing him warily now as he remained unmoving before them.

Mu was about to say more when he was interrupted "KID, oh my kami I can't believe it, you really are here" Kurotsuchi barreled her way past the Second Tsuchikage and straight into Sakura who only had a moment to brace herself for impact.

And managed to stay standing on her feet when Kurotsuchi slammed into her "I'm only a year younger than you" Sakura reminded uselessly, glad to see her friend who released her after a moment then stood back so that they could take each other in properly.

"Psssh whatever Kid, anyway sorry I haven't been writing much, got busy an all what with my promotion to Jonin, I'm sure you know how it is, we'll have to spar sometime, on that note I have to go see gramps to report in from my mission" Kurotsuchi snorted and like that was gone a second later.

Ino blinked in confusion "That's Kurotsuchi, Ino, she's Tsuchikage-sama's granddaughter and yes, she's always like that, so try not to be offended" Sakura laughed at the blonde's bewildered expression then turned intent on getting back to the hotel, only to remember the roadblock.

Said roadblock looked as confused as Ino to her amusement but she didn't think Mu would appreciate her laughing at him as she had Ino "Who taught you how to develop your own jutsu's" Mu questioned a second later now that there was no one to interrupt him.

"No one Nidaime-sama, I learned how to do so for the sake of my clan on my own" Sakura answered, hoping that he didn't have a million and one questions he wanted to ask and receive answers to, otherwise they would never make it back to the hotel in time for lunch.

Violet orbs narrowed in response before floating off, satisfied for now at least, and five minutes later Sakura and Ino were sitting down in the hotel cafeteria enjoying their afternoon meal "I meant to ask, how's Fu doing, with patrol and whatnot around the district" Ino questioned.

"Alright I suppose, he follows orders well enough, Juzo does get freaked out by the staring though, but he doesn't really know what to do with his freedom from servitude yet to be honest, neither have Sai or Torune really" Sakura admitted.

Wishing that there was something she could do that would help, but it was out of her hands and a load of stress that she didn't need either "Right, guess it will take more time than almost two weeks" Ino sighed, before focusing on her meal and later crawled into bed in her shared room with Sakura for some shuteye.