Rokudaime

Chapter Seven

Don't want to lose you

Hokage's office

If there was one thing that Tsunade hated most in this world was waiting. Waiting was both exhausting and nerve racking. You never knew what will happen in the next few minutes nor of what to expect when the waiting was done with. Biting down on her thumb as she often did when pensive or worried, the Godaime paced anxiously around her office. What Katsuya had told her earlier had disturbed her.

Cloud was in Konoha territory and had attacked her shinobi for the medical scroll. How they knew about the scroll was lost to Tsunade. The only reasonable explanation she had of them knowing about the scroll was a spy within the village. An extremely skilled one to have gone unnoticed!

Blonde brows furrowed over amber colored eyes at the thought of an enemy shinobi being right under her nose. It infuriated her and luckily her Anbu would take care of it. She had sent in her best Squad to back up Sakura and she eagerly anticipated the arrival of her guests.

Cloud had just made a big mistake.

Tsunade had sent a letter to the Raikage of the village hidden in the clouds, telling him that if there was another intrusion such as tonight that there will be hell to pay. It was a warning and Tsunade only gave one warning before she stroke out if were to happen again. No doubt Cloud still wanted the secrets of the Byakugan from the Hyuuga clan.

She would have to tell them about this and make sure they were protected, not that they couldn't take care of themselves, but for extra measures just in case. It would be truly devastating if another village got hold of one of the most powerful blood limits of the world.

Tsunade sensed the chakra levels of her Anbu and quickly opened the door for them to enter. The three Cloud Nin were in chakra cuffs. Kiba, Kiyoshi and Kai held them captive before pushing them down to kneel on the floor before her.

Both Captains, she could see, were behind their respective squad. Tsunade raised a brow at her blood covered apprentice. Sakura saw this and shrugged her shoulders giving her Shishou a goofy grin.

"These were the Nin that trespassed, Tsunade-sama." Neji said while indicating the three foreign Shinobi. They were from the very Village that his father had sacrificed himself in the place of his twin brother, his Uncle Hiashi. The anger that had been building up in his blood was reaching its boiling point and he had to control himself before he out right killed the three.

Tsunade felt the killing intent coming off of the Hyuuga and quickly dismissed the trespassers to be sent to Morino Ibiki. "He'll take care of them before I get to them." Tsunade said while watching Squad One take their guests to the fearsome Interrogator.

Now that they were gone the Godaime turned to Sakura expectantly. "The rest of you are dismissed. Shizune take the boys to the Hospital and check them out." Kiyoshi and Kin stared at the Hokage about to protest when Sakura gave them the look.

The look was a mixture of a glare and painful promises if they did not obey orders, especially from the Hokage.

Sakura was very protective over her Shishou and did not allow anyone to disrespect her.

They both shut their mouths and followed after Shizune out of the office and to the Hospital.

Once the doors to the office were closed Sakura pulled out the scroll and handed it to Tsunade. "Those Nin knew about the medical scroll of Suna." Sakura informed her with a serious gaze. "I took one out, the leader of the group." She revealed to the Godaime. "I see, so that's where the blood came from." Tsunade commented while looking over Sakura again.

If she had still been afraid of blood, she wouldn't be in the same room as the pink haired Anbu. Thank the heavens she had gotten over her fear. "Yeah…" Sakura drawled out slowly, thinking about her next choice of words. She wanted to know why her Shishou needed a medical scroll from Suna. She wanted to know why she looked so tired lately and why her appearance wasn't as sharp as before.

Sakura took in a deep breath before staring straight into Tsunade's amber eyes. "Shishou…what's going on? Are you sick?" She asked finally and it seemed as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Now all she needed was answers.

Tsunade smirked at Sakura before walking over to her desk and placing the scroll on her desk. "You worry too much Sakura." She waved off carelessly, noticing the hurt look in Sakura's eyes. It sent a pang of hurt and guilt across her body. "But, Shishou…" Sakura stuttered, taking several steps to stand in front of the desk.

"You haven't been yourself lately! You're pale and snapped more than usual. Something is wrong!" Sakura yelled out angrily, her emerald eyes shining due to her rant. Tsunade's eyes were wide in shock. This was the first time Sakura has ever yelled at her.

She watched as Sakura's pink brows furrow in worry. "Please Shishou tell me." The medic pleaded softly, staring at Tsunade with an intense gaze. The Godaime closed her eyes before letting out a sigh. Sakura wasn't going to let up on this and the best course of action was to tell her the truth.

"Alright Sakura, I'll tell you. Take a seat." She ordered before she told her the main issues dealing with her illness and how she was unable to cure it on her own with just healing chakra. Through the whole explanation Tsunade saw Sakura's face change from worry to horror and then blank.

Tsunade wondered what was going through her head at the moment.

No, her Shishou cannot be sick. The thought of her Shishou's illness leading to a possible death terrified her to no end. These spontaneous muscles spasms that inflicted her Shishou's body were unheard of, especially when it led to stiffening limbs. As Sakura took in the symptoms her medic mode began to take over.

"Are you able to carry heavy items without problems?" Tsunade frowned at Sakura's tone. She knew it well and didn't like it. Her apprentice usually used that specific tone when dealing with patients at the Hospital or healing in the field. Pushing her dislike aside Tsunade shook her head. "I can barely hold a cup of sake without trembling." She responded with solemn eyes.

It was ironic…

The strongest of kunoichi in the world was unable to lift a cup of sake.

Sakura frowned deeply. Worry starting to kick in as she racked her brain for any information she had stored away into her mind. Muscle weakness, tiredness, fatigue, spontaneous spasms. There had to be something she had read about in the medical texts that could help her distinguish this illness so that she can find a cure for it.

"Don't stress yourself Sakura, Shizune and I have looked at all the texts in the Library and have found none of them to be of any association with my symptoms." Tsunade told her. "That is why I had asked the Kazekage to let me borrow the medical scroll of Suna." Sakura bit her bottom lip in anxiousness and worry.

What if the scroll from Suna did not have the information they needed to cure Tsunade?

What would they do next?

What would become of Konoha if Tsunade is left disabled and unfit to protect the village?

The elders will no doubt be ready to replace her Shishou with Jiraiya, but the Toad Sage had already made it clear that he did not want to be Hokage. No, this could not happen! She had to find a cure and help her Shishou.

Tsunade saw Sakura's eyes and grinned at her in rare affection. The woman before her will be an extraordinary kunoichi and excel in medical ninjustu with her drive and passion.

Sakura could even lead a village without much difficulty. The pink haired kunoichi has been around politics concerning Konoha for years now. She would be a great potential candidate for Hokage.

Amber eyes widen in realization as they stared at Sakura.

As she stared at Sakura the Godaime saw characteristic in the young woman before her that mirrored hers. Sakura was no push over, she was a more than capable kunoichi, she was an excellent medic, and she was a good negotiator, although her temper did get the best of her at times.

Why hadn't she notice this before and just realize this now?

Sakura could replace her as Hokage while she sorts through the medical scroll. It wouldn't take her more than a few weeks at most to find the source of her illness and find a cure for it that is if the scroll had information regarding her symptoms.

The elders wouldn't know of it and Shizune will be here to assist her while keeping taps on Sakura's progress through the whole ordeal. If a problem were to arise then she would step back in, but she highly doubt that. The only problem Sakura will have will be with Cloud, but she was more than sure Sakura could handle it.

A voice brought her out of her thoughts and she blinked to see Sakura gazing at her in worry. "Shishou, are you okay?" She head Sakura asked before nodding her head. "Yes, I'm fine. I just realized something is all." She told her, causing Sakura's curiosity to spike. "About your illness?" She asked with hope.

When Tsunade shook her head, Sakura sigh as her shoulders sagged. "Then what?" She asked after a moment. Tsunade had a certain light in her eyes and Sakura wasn't sure how to take it. Whenever her Shishou had that look it was either because she was going to beat the hell out of someone or she was going to beat the hell out of several people.

"Sakura…" Tsunade drawled out with a grin. "What do you think about the title of Hokage?" She asked suddenly with keen interest. Sakura raised a brow before sitting back in her seat at the random question.

The title of Hokage had never really interested her before. From her experience with Tsunade while growing up and being under her wing, the job involved protecting the people and the wellbeing of the village. It also dealt with a lot of politics that usually entailed meetings with the other Kages of other nations. She had accompanied Tsunade on several of them and knew how it ran.

They would review their treaties and make new ones annually if they see a need for a change. They also discussed trades with goods and the dividing of territories to form new countries.

All in all it was not something that Sakura saw herself doing in the near future, but she did realize that she was also capable of the role as Hokage. She did have the experience and knowledge, but she would leave all that to Naruto and would rather assist him along his reign. Sakura pursed her lips slightly before answering her Shishou truthfully.

"I think it is great, protecting the village and the people. It's a hard job, but it does have it rewards…" Tsunade was pleased to hear what Sakura thought. It was a good thing she had taken the young woman to several of her meetings with the Kages. She didn't have to waste time tutoring Sakura on the politics concerning the role as Hokage. She continued to listened to Sakura seeing as she was not done speaking yet.

"I mean ordering Anbu is pretty cool." Sakura said thoughtfully. Just imagining the control the Hokage had over Konoha's elite was amusing and rather appealing. She had a few things checked off in her mind if she was Hokage and it concerned a certain Hyuuga.

Sakura contained the blush that wanted to stain her cheeks before shaking her head of those thoughts.

Really, she needed Neji.

She hoped he was waiting for her somewhere outside.

"Sakura?" She heard her Shishou call out questioning. She blushed lightly before finishing up her reply. "Hokage is a great title, Shishou, but I don't know why my opinion of Hokage had anything to do with this?" Sakura said with a confused look on her face when Tsunade out right smiled before leaning back into her seat.

"Oh, but it does Sakura."

Tsunade told her with a smirk.

Interrogation Headquarters

"So these are the punks that dared to trespass into Konoha territory." Ibiki exclaimed with a frown on and narrowed eyes. The three before him were trying hard to control their bodies and prevent them from shaking. Oh, he was going to have fun with them. A smirk broke out on his lips that made the three stiffen tightly.

They gave each other weary glances before they settled back onto the man dressed in black in front of them.

This was the infamous Morino Ibiki.

The stories they have heard about him resounded in their minds. He was a master Interrogator and excelled in torturing. They knew one thing about the scarred man before them and his style.

Morino Ibiki's main goal will be to target their psyche.

Any hope of guarding Cloud's secret will be futile against him.

Ibiki tore his gaze from the three and turned them to land on the Captain. "I'll take it from here." He said and on cue his assistances appeared from behind him taking the three Nin away from the Anbu. "I'll inform Tsunade of any information I retrieve from them." He said with confidence receiving a nod from the Captain before the Squad disappeared.

Neji and his team left the Interrogatory building and ran back to the Hokage's Office. He wondered if Sakura was still there. He wanted to know why Cloud Nin had attacked Sakura and her Squad and what they were after. He would ask her later when they were at her apartment.

He smirked slightly.

She was not going to throw him out tonight. He would make sure of it. These past few nights have been torture without her, not to mention his Uncle's suspicions of her. He would have to find a way to fix this arrangement with Ten-Ten and the only way he saw that happening was if he asked Ten-Ten to void the agreement. The Ama heiress had feeling for him and no doubt she loved him just as much as Sakura, but the fact was he loved the pink haired kunoichi.

He would die for Sakura.

During his travel to the Hokage Tower he did not hear Kiba calling his name repeatedly for the past minute. Shaking his head he turned to the shaggy brown haired shinobi. "Jeez, Neji, take off your thinking cap for a minute." Kiba said with a scowl on his face. Neji narrowed his eyes in response, not at Kiba's comment, but at his own fault for not paying attention.

"What is it?" He asked sternly. "I said what do you think Cloud wanted? I mean it's not every day that Sakura's team gets into a brawl like that unless she had something they wanted." Kiba told his Captain.

Neji had been thinking the same way.

"Whatever it is they failed to retrieve it." He said in a tone that told them he was done with the conversation. The others nodded not wanting to converse either and entered into the building where they meet a shock stricken Sakura.

Neji kept himself from going to her and watched as Kiba and Akamarue passed by him to shake the medic out of her state. He frowned at the contact, but reminded himself to keep his emotions in check before calmly walking towards them.

"Hurano-san, are you alright?" He asked, making sure to keep his voice monotone. His brows furrowed when he caught the scent of sake on her. The medic shook her head before smiling at them. Her gaze connected with Neji's while relaying a message to him by looking off to the right quickly before looking straight towards him again. "I-I'm fine, I'm just tired is all. Goodnight you guys." She told them before walking down the stairs with a thoughtful expression on her face.

Neji resist the urge to look back and instead entered into the Hokage's office. He would see her soon enough and find out what had happened to cause that look on her face.

Sakura's apartment

Walking to her apartment, Sakura's thoughts kept recalling her conversation with her Shishou. She had to do this for her Shishou, even if she did not believe she could. This was a huge mission as Tsunade had called it and she was thinking about the consequences if they were discovered.

She feared what would happen and what the Elders would do to her and those involved in this scandal. One thing was for sure the kunoichi would not allow her Shishou to be hurt by them.

Opening the door to her apartment and heading straight to the bathroom, Sakura slowly took off her blood stained clothes and turned on the shower, reliving her conversation with her Shishou just a few minutes ago.

XoXoXoXo

"My illness has yet to be indentified and it will no doubt take a while for me to look over the medical scroll." Tsunade started, her gaze landing on said scroll. It was thick and filled with information that would hopefully help her with her search. Bringing her gaze back to her apprentice, the Godaime continued, "It would take up most of my time, leaving my attention towards the village elsewhere. I would leave it to Shizune, but she will not be able to handle it as well as I know you will." She finished with seriousness.

Sakura slowly caught on to what she had been telling her and a heavy feeling suddenly settled in her stomach. It was surreal. Shaking her head, Sakura laughed out of nervousness. Her laugh did not reach her emerald eyes as they were filled with disbelief. "Shishou, you can't mean…" The look on Tsunade's face told her she was serious.

Sakura felt sick.

"…but, Shishou that would make me-…" Tsunade grinned and interrupted the shock medic. "Hokage." She finished for her with a smirk. Sakura's eyes widen at the title. No, she didn't want to be Hokage! So, that's why her Shishou had been asking her opinion of Hokage. She had been planning this.

Seeing the terrified look in Sakura's eyes Tsunade quickly went to ease the young woman. "You would only be replacing me for a few weeks, a month at the most, so relax." Tsunade told her with reassurance, although she wasn't quickly sure it would only be for that long. It might take longer than that, but what Sakura didn't know won't hurt.

Sakura let out a relieved sigh at her Shishou's reassuring tone. If there was one thing about her Shishou is was that she confident in her abilities, but there was also a side of her Shishou that often told little white lies when unsure of a gamble.

Sakura narrowed her at Tsunade.

"Really?" She asked suspiciously and bleached when Tsunade simply nodded her head with a wide grin. That meant no. "No worries, Shizune would be supervising you and if anything becomes too much for you I'll step in." The Godaime said while stretching her back and arms.

Sakura was still not sure. She doubt she could run a village, protecting it was another thing entirely. She would rather protect the village as Anbu then run it as Hokage. Being Anbu entailed following orders from an experience Shinobi. She was not experienced as Tsunade or the other older shinobi in Konoha and what if the elders found out about this whole arrangement?

"Shishou what about the elders, especially Danzo?" Sakura asked seriously and with furrowed brows. The old man would be a problem. Tsunade frowned at the mentioning of the one eyed man. "Hmm. I haven't thought about that, surely they would replace me knowing this scandal." She said thoughtfully. "We have to keep this secret of course and it is your duty to keep Danzo from suspecting anything about this." She said with urgency in her tone.

Sakura felt her stomach tightened at that.

How the hell was she supposed to do that?

Tsunade leaned back into her chair and stared at Sakura. "Think of this as an S-class mission, Sakura." Tsunade told her and grinned when she saw Sakura tense further. Honestly, her student was too uptight and she knew the perfect thing to loosen her up. Opening her drawl she pulled out a jar of sake, ignoring the way her arms shook from the effort.

It was a generous gift given to her by the Kazekage and now seemed a proper time to drink it.

Pouring the rich sake into two cups Tsunade bite down on her bottom lip to prevent herself from whimpering in pain until a pair of hands relieved her of the heavy jar and proceeded to fill the cups to the top.

Grinning weakly, the Godaime took her cup and motioned it towards Sakura's cup where they both made a 'clank' noise before they both drank it in one shot. Sakura watched her wearily while she poured them a second round.

She had to do this…

She had to do this for her Shishou.

XoXoXoXo

As the hot water ran down her body, the blood completely gone now after several minutes, Sakura blinked back the droplets of water that blocked her vision. Tsunade was like a mother to her and she would do anything for the busty blonde, especially after everything she had done for her. The Godaime didn't have to train her, but she did and she would never forget it.

Grabbing the white colored soap she lathered it onto her skin, scrubbing out the blood that was in her pores, in smoothing circles. The bottom of the tub was tinted to a soft pink color from the blood that washed off her body. She would have to clean the tub after she was done with her shower. How bothersome.

Taking the shampoo from the small rack in the corner of the shower, she lathered her hair and scrubbed her scalp lightly. Her thoughts drifted to Neji and she wondered when he would be here. Debriefing to the Hokage shouldn't take long; he should be getting here soon.

When he did come she was going to tell him that she was not going to let him go.

She would not give him up to another woman because of an arrange marriage. She had all her firsts with Neji and she only wanted Neji. She couldn't lose him. Just the thought of it made her heart fill with pain.

She could feel her eyes stinging with the familiar sting that came when she cried, but she couldn't tell her tears apart from the water that hit her head. Why did things have to be so complicated when it came to love for her?

All she wanted was a-…there was a cool draft that brushed against her skin, causing it to shiver in displeasure. It was cold. Sakura's brows furrowed as she stuck her head out from behind the shower curtain to check if the bathroom door was open.

The door was close and just as she was about to pull the curtain back and return to her shower, her attention was brought to the new set of clothing on the floor besides her own. Her eyes widen in surprise and had quickly turned her head into the tub to find that Neji had joined her.

"Neji-" Before she could finish pronouncing his name his lips silenced her. With her back pushed up against the title wall, Sakura eagerly returned his affection while wrapping her legs around his waist. While his lips kept her mouth entertained, his hands wandered her wet body, familiarizing itself once again with her supple body.

It had been a while since he last had her and he was going to have her tonight. With that in thought he dragged his lips along her jaw line to her slender neck and settled himself there for a moment before his hardened member brushed up against her inner thigh.

He heard Sakura moan lowly at the sudden brush and he had smirked in return. If she hadn't wanted this she would have stopped him twenty seconds ago. Knowing that it was mutual the Hyuuga placed himself before her entrance before sliding in easily into her warm core. A long hiss of pleasure escaped Sakura's parted lips as she reveled in the sensation.

The throbbing need that coursed through her lower region was growing with buildup tension. Neji's hold on her was secured with one arm holding her waist and the other holding her from beneath her curvy backside. As he moved against her each time, the medic groaned in response, lightly at first, but as his movements became more vigorous did she moan heavily.

Sakura nuzzled his neck with her face, her arms wrapped around his neck, kissing him. She sucked on his soft skin, leaving it raw and red. The tightening in her inner walls signaled to her that she was close and from the way Neji had picked up his pace so was he.

Her breathing hitched as she mewled in his neck, her hot breath brushing against his skin. Her hold tightened against him and her eyes closed when the familiar spasms overtook her body in waves of unbound pleasure. He kept moving against her, causing her to yelp out in slight pain at the intense feeling.

Her nails dragged along his upper back, leaving a fine red trail in its wake; she could feel his ragged breathing against the crook of her neck. She couldn't take it anymore, despite how cleansing it was to have sex in the shower; she really wanted to finish in bed.

"Neji…bed…" She gasped out in short breathes as he suckled on a hot spot on her neck. She wasn't sure if he had heard her or not, but a few moments later her back was pushed into a mattress and his movements against her became much faster and on course.

Sakura arched her back as her orgasm hit her full force.

It pulsed throughout her entire being and she lay there reveling in it and no sooner had she reached her peak did Neji. His deep groans of pleasure reached her ears as he filled her completely.

The answer was as clear as day as she watched his face. She wanted to be with him always, for the rest of her life if she could. She would not lose him, she would fight for him. Ten-Ten had better watch out from now on. The only thing that now stood in their way was Neji's clan and their traditions, not to mention the fact that she was replacing her Shishou as Hokage starting tomorrow morning.

Sakura sigh in happiness as Neji took his place besides her and pulled her into his chest.

All the thoughts that had filled her mind moments ago were now gone as she drifted off to sleep in the arms of the man she loved.

Nothing else mattered.

A/N: ^_^ I think I did pretty well with this chapter, what do you all think? lol ;)

So, I changed the format since it was bothering some of you and I aim to please. ;) So I apologize if it was hard for some of you to read in the beginning. Hope that makes some of you happy.

Don't forget to review!

Lady Manami