ONLY HOPE
Me: Well, so its not a one-shot ^^
?: Well duh...
Me:...What're you doing here...?
Kakashi: Because I feel like it?
Me: Well since you're here...say all the stuff...
Kakashi: She does not own Naruto, please read and review.
Me:...
Kakashi: What?
Me: You forgot somthing...
Kakashi:...No I didn't...
Me: Yeah you did...
Gai: I WANNA SAY IT!
Me: Alright.
Kakashi:...
Me:...
Gai: See now Kakashi, I've beaten you on this one!
Kakashi:...
Gai: *smirks*
Kakashi: Huh? Oh, when did you get here?
Gai: *Facepalm*
Me: Come on...
Gai: Special Thanks to Tiger Priestess for reviewing, Foxy3000Kitty, aalc95, and rosi3 for following! Hazah! (C_H_E_C_K_T_H_I_S_O_U_T)
Me: Read and Review Please!
Our Small Conversations
Finally reaching their destination, silence hung over Team 7 and the newly formed team Kakashi. They all found Sai standing over Sakura's unconscious figure. None of them spoke, the ANBU root hadn't even aknowldeged their presence yet, as he continued to watch over Sakura. The three of them continued to stand behind Sai, waiting for some sort of reaction from any of them.
Silence. No one spoke nor moved. It was as if they were all stuck, frozen in time...
Finally deeming it was time for something to happen, Kakashi cleared his throat. Still, Sai hadn't moved. Naruto only stiffened. And Sasuke tuned them all out.
Sighing, he spoke. "We all knew this was most likely to happe-"
"NO!" Naruto interrupted. Eyes purely fiery, anger clearly in his tone. "No Kakashi-sensei! It can't be! It shouldn't be! Why does it have to be Sa-"
Sasuke put a hand on his bestfriend's shoulder, causing him to stop. He spoke. "She didn't do all that for nothing, Naruto..." His voice, ever so calm and gentle.
He turned to the raven haired man, tears filled his eyes, looking broken with the loss of his 'sister'. "Don't give me that crap, Sasuke! I know it wasn't all for nothing! But...but there has to be something we can do to keep her alive! This can't be how she dies! She had so much in thought, so many dreams and wishes she wanted to fulfill, and now," He paused, voice shaking as his tears came running down. "...I won't let it." His voice was confident, and it was a promise, for he was who he was. Naruto.
Another set of silence hung over them, and Sai continued to look oblivious to their presence. All that can be heard throughout the room was the slow beeping of Sakura's heart beat watcher.
"Shh..." They all turned to the new speaker. "She's not gone yet. She can hear you guys fighting...she's very much aware of her surroundings even in her sleep." He smiled sincerely and caressed the pinkette's face, wiping away her tears. "So please stop your arguing..." His voice was calm, gentle, and he smiled lovingly at the pinkette. It was the most emotion he had shown for such a long time.
"Sai..." Kakashi breathed. He closed his eyes and sighed. "Maybe...maybe it wasn't such a good idea to visit her at her state..."
Sasuke nodded, and started for the door after Kakashi. They both stopped and waited for their blonde team mate who stood in place, still gritting his teeth, tears still flowing. But he didn't follow. Instead he ran to Sakura's side and sat beside her bed, and continued to release his tears for his 'sister'.
They decided it was best to let Naruto be, and headed for the door once again, but opened before they had the chance to do so. Standing behind the door, was the two other people who deeply cared for the pink haired kunoichi. The Godaime Hokage herself and her assistant.
"Tsunade-sama, Shizune-san..." Kakashi greeted. Sasuke in turn, bowed his head in respect.
Tsunade entered the room, followed by Shizune and spoke. "There is little more I can do for her...but I can't guarantee that she'll live. So I suggest..." She paused, taking a teary glance at the other three before them. It made her choke back a sob, but soon enough she began to shake, tears flowing. With her head bowed down, she continued. "...I suggest you spend the remaining time with her." She paused again, biting her lip to fight the tears. "She can hear you, but she'll remain still and unconscious. So please..." She looked up, eyes shining from her tears. "Be gentle."
With that, she passed through the two men, with a crying Shizune behind her. The door closed. The six of them mourned in silence altogether, and gently spoke to Sakura.
"...I promise Sakura-chan! And you know how I always keep my promises..." Naruto forced a smile as he held Sakura's hand. He saw as tears fell down her face, and her lips tugged on by a small, sincere smile. Her hand, holding his tighter.
Finally releasing her hand, Naruto stood and nodded towards the Hokage. Letting her know he was done. Tsunade looked at Sai, telling him to go before her.
"I've talked with her...a few hours ago..." Was all his reply as he continued to stand beside the unconscious body. Tsunade quietly nodded and approached her student.
She spoke to her the way she always did, and she answered her with a squeeze of her hand, and sometimes her sincere smiles. She told her of how well she was doing, and that after the surgery, she would be back to normal again. Lies. They both knew it. But it was good enough to see her student smile. All Sakura could see in her head, was an image of whomever spoke to her, but further than that, she can't open her eyes.
Their teacher-student talk lasted for about an hour and a half or so, but to them, it only seemed like minutes. Soon enough though, she stood and let Shizune speak to her.
Shizune spoke to her nervously, not knowing specifically what to say. They talked for about half an hour, getting comfortable by each minute. She simply spoke of how Naruto was doing under his training, and of how childish he still was. And she was rewarded with soft noises that Sakura made, which she thought was her laughing, and from time to time Naruto would defend himself, yelling, 'Nu-uh! That's not true!'.
Like the others, she stood up and let someone else speak to her. Kakashi took the position and spoke to her. He mostly told her about how he watched her grow. He laughed and she smiled from time to time, talking like they were father and daughter. He also told her that she has earned his respect, and that caused tears to flow down her face. And before he stood up to let Sasuke talk to her, he made her promise him something. In reply she gave him a weak smile, and squeezed his hand. He made her promise to live through the surgery, and if she keeps her promise, he would show her, his face.
Outside, at the Konoha Gates...
"Ahh...Did you really have to bring us with you? The travels too long..."
"Oh come on! It was only three days...besides, we should really thank them..."
"Oh right...aren't we bringing my doctor back with us, too?"
"Hn."
"Psh. You like her, don't you, Kankuro?" Temari smiled suggestively, poking her brother teasingly.
In response, he looked away and replied. "Shut up.." He mumbled. "The only reason you came with us willingly was just to see a certain genius." He smirked.
Now, it was Temari's turn to look away. Blushing, she defended herself. "Did not!" She yelled.
"Yeah right! Everyone knows your little crush!" He yelled back.
"Shut up!" She retorted. "You're only acting as if you don't want to be here!"
They continued to yell at each other, as their brother continued to stay in his pleasant mood. Until a vein popped. They won't stop yelling. Another. People were starting to look. Another one. Now people were whispering as well. And another one...
He stopped abruptly, causing his two older siblings to stop and look at him.
Kankuro cautiously spoke up. "Gaara?"
SMACK!
"Idiot! Respect your Kazekage!"
"Argh! Stop hitting me will you!?"
"When you stop addressing him as 'Gaara' alone!"
He had, had just enough. He turned and faced them. Stopping them once again. They rose a brow to him curiously, waiting for him to speak.
Finally he sighed. "Shut up." He was clearly irritated. Nonetheless, he turned and continued walking again. No longer being bothered by either of his siblings rants.
They continued to walk towards the Hokage tower, not paying much attention to their surroundings. Until a familiar voice haulted them to yet another stop.
"Hey..." Came that familiar, monotonous, lazy, bored voice.
Me: Hey guys, thanks for reading, please review!
?:...'till next time...
Me: That's not the proper way to close it...
?: Well that's how you made me sound at the last line see...
Me:...Alright...goodnight...