"You just had to fucking come didn't you!" I spat as we jumped tree to tree. By now he was of no use to me, he had gotten to injure to move on his own.
"S-h-ut u-p." Fū was at his limit. He had lost a lot of blood at the last camp but we were trained to keep going no matter what and we still had two more camps left.
I grip his arm around my shoulder tighter as I increased our speed. He had gotten to hurt, and I had healed him the best I could but he need surgery and I didn't have the tools necessary to do so in the field. It would be so easy to leave him out here, to let him bleed out. He would suffer a slow painful death and frankly he would deserve it. But I couldn't. If I did I would be stepping down to their level and I was better than that.
"Stop talking you need to save your energy in case you need to fight." I push more of my charka into him, trying to keep him awake and conscious but at this point I was fighting a losing battle. At the rate he was going I wasn't sure if he would make it if we finished off the last camp, but we had no choice but to push on.
"Senpai I need five." I nodded and Yamato released his hand signs. Ever since Sakura left Yamato and I have been training Naruto nonstop. We were trying to get the nine tails under control and every day we made progress, but this was going to take a lot more time.
"Kakashi do you know when Sakura is supposed to get back from her mission?" Naruto whined as he walked over to his bags to get his water bottle.
"I don't know Naruto." I sat down next to Yamato and stared up to the night sky. We had been out here training for hours and I was starting to feel its affects. "Why don't we call it a night Naruto?"
"What? But I haven't gotten the nine tails under control. What if I lose control again and hurt-" Naruto stopped talking. Pain flashed across his face as he recalled a certain memory. When Yamato, Sai, Naruto and Sakura had first been sent out in search of Sasuke, Naruto ended up losing control and striking Sakura when she got close trying to help him.
"Naruto that wasn't your fault." Yamato insisted as he stood up and stretched. "She doesn't blame you for what happened."
"I know. But what if next time you aren't there to stop me. What if I do more than just hurt her arm?" I saw Naruto fighting the tears that were beginning to form.
"Then she will stop you." I cut in. "She is stronger than you think and I am sure she could handle you even if you couldn't stop yourself."
"But what if she can't? What if she isn't here either to stop me then what?"
"Then I will. Naruto you have people here looking out for you. Don't worry about it too much. We will continue to train until you have it under control but until then the members of team 7 are here for you." I stand and walk toward Naruto. The closer I got the easy it was to see how close Naruto was to crying. What are you thinking? Do you feel like you are alone? Do you feel like you are a threat? I place my hand on his shoulder and give him a squeeze. "Everything will be alright I promise."
Naruto stood there silent for a moment. "I just wish Sakura was back home. I have a feeling something went wrong."
"Would it make you feel better if we go and talk to Lady Tsunade?" Yamato asked gathering up our bags.
"Yeah," Naruto sucked in a deep breath. "Let's go talk to Granny."
This isn't good.
This is bad, very bad.
I tried to increase my speed but I was at my limit and so was Fū. I had taken out the second to last camp out with no problem. There was only a handful of ninja there, and those that were left behind weren't very skilled. That should have been my first clue. That camp had been too easy. I should've known it was a set up.
When I approached the last camp Fū had already passed out from the lack of blood, and I was rushing to both finish the mission and get back with enough time to save him. I had hid Fū in a tree a couple of miles outside the camp. But once Fū was set down the bombs started going off.
When the smoked cleared there was 200 men waiting for us. I couldn't believe I had been so stupid to fall for it. The second camp was almost empty because all the heavy hitters were moved to the last camp. I couldn't take down the last camp and was left with no choice but to flee.
Home was only a few miles away but the rate I was going I wasn't sure I would make it. I was taking down the men just fine until they started targeting Fū, then I had no choice but to protect him, while still trying to save my own ass. The gash in my side was sweeping with blood and I could feel the ninja tools that were still embedded throughout my body.
Fū was on my back, and I had tied his arms around my neck to keep him in place, while my arms held his legs so they wrapped around the front of me. The closer I got to home the more I struggled to support our combined weight. With each step I took I could feel Fū's charka getting lower and lower, his pulse slowing, his breathing becoming more sallow. I pumped as much of my charka into him as I could but I knew if we didn't get help as soon as we reached the gates he won't make it.
I swallowed hard and let out a breathe knowing I had only one option left and I knew he wasn't going to be happy about it.
"She is still up here? She has been out here for hours." Shizune sighs stepping aside.
"Lady Tsunade" I call out when we find her on the roof of the Hokage Tower. Tsunade doesn't turn around and look at us right away. Her focus seems to be on the front gates in the distance.
"Yo Granny I want to know when Sakura is coming home!" Naruto blurts out desperate for an answer.
"Huh?" Tsunade turns around and looks at us but she doesn't look good. She had bags under her eyes and her eyes were red as if she had been crying.
"Tsunade what's wrong?" I ask scanning her up and down. Her clothes were wrinkled and her pony tail wasn't as tight as she normally worn it. To put it simple she looked like she hadn't been home at all the last couple of days, she looked like a mess.
"What did you need?" Tsunade asks pulling on her shirt trying to readjust.
"We were wondering if you knew when Sakura-chan was supposed to come home." Tsunade's eyes widen slightly at the sound of Sakura's name, now I know something is wrong. "What's wrong?"
Before Tsunade could answer we hear the call of a hawk and look up to the sky. Tsunade held out her arm and the hawk landed on her. On its left foot was a rolled up scroll. No one talked as Tsunade unrolled the scroll and began reading.
"Shizune!" We all jump back as she begins screaming. "Get me a medical team to the front gate now and have another team prepped for surgery at the hospital!" Shizune nods and takes off down the stairs.
"Granny what's going on?" Naruto question goes ignored as Tsunade scans the scroll further.
"Have the hospital grab five bags of B positive blood ready to be infused and have two bags of O- on standby!" Tsunade yells as she chases after Shizune, completely ignoring us.
Once she is down the stairs Naruto turns white as a ghost he whispers "O- is Sakura's blood type." Once those words are out of his mouth we are all rushing down the stairs.
It had to be her. Granny wouldn't have reacted that way if it was anyone else. That feeling I had earlier, I should have known something was wrong. I should have marched in Granny's office and demand to be sent out after Sakura-chan. She needed me and I ignored my gut feeling.
I could feel my heart beat against my chest when we got see the gates. There Tsunade stood in the middle of the entrance, with her arms folded across her chest, staring into the woods. Behind her stood a team of medics, who all wore a worried expression.
Kakashi was the first of us to reach Tsunade and his usual calm demeanor had been replaced with panic. "What happened to her Tsunade?" Kakashi stood beside her, and went to go jump into the woods when Tsunade caught his hand in hers. "She is hurt. I need to go to her. I need to get her. I need-"
"To wait here." She cut her off and dropped her grip, returning her attention to the woods.
"You can't expect us to wait here and do nothing." Yamato stepped closer to Kakashi. I watched as my two senseis began to panic. What was going on? I wanted to jump into the woods and search for her, but something told me it would be no use.
"She instructed me to be ready with a team at the entrance. I will follow her orders." Yamato huffed and walked past the gate with Kakashi.
"Granny she is okay right?" I asked taking my place next to her.
"I don't know." Tsunade's eyes hardened and my stomach began twisting in a knot.
We stood in silence for ten minutes. I tried to focus and sense her charka but I couldn't sense her anywhere near us. If she requested a team to meet her at the gates then something is wrong, she got hurt. I could feel my eyes burn as imagines began playing in my head of all the worst case possibilities. With each second that past Kakashi was put more and more on edge. His body tensed and I knew at any moment he would be jumping into the frost in search of her.
"That's it I'm going in to look for her." Kakashi was about to jump into the trees when the dirt started swirling around us. The wind danced around us and for a moment you couldn't see anything. But once the smoked cleared there was Sakura.
Once I saw Sakura I went into a panic attack. I couldn't even react to what I was seeing. I quickly glanced at Kakashi and Yamato and saw they weren't moving either. Sakura was dressed in some type of anbu uniform, kneeling in-between Kakashi and Tsunade. Her mask was missing and her face was covered in blood and dirt. There were all kind of ninja tools sticking in her. All I could think of was when we were genin and Sasuke was impaled with needles from Haku.
"Help him!" Sakura shouted. My eyes left her face and I noticed for the first time that she was carrying someone. His mask was still on but his orange hair gave it away. This was the same guy that had given Sakura trouble before. Blood dripped down his arm and side, but besides those two spots he seemed fine. I watched as Sakura pulled out a kunai out of her leg and cut the rope she wrapped around his arms. "Now!" She snapped and the medic team were quick to her side.
Sakura held very still as the medic team pulled him out of her grip and placed him on the gurney. Once he was off of her Kakashi was at her side trying to pick me up. "Put me down!" She snapped and Kakashi moved his hands away from her. Sakura looked up to the medic team who hadn't moved. "Get him to the hospital now!" She snapped once again and the medic team took off running.
"Sakura-chan!" I yell finally being able to react as I knell down beside her. I look to see where I can place my hands on her to help her up but she is covered in wounds. The ground around her is being to turn red. There is a large gash on her left side that is pooling out blood. I can tell she has other injuries but with her uniform on I can't tell were else she is hurt.
"Tsunade please go after him." Sakura takes in a deep breath and stands up.
"No he is in good hands. You need help. Let me-" Tsunade steps forward her hands glowing trying to touch Sakura, but Sakura grabs her hand.
"I am fine." Sakura stares at the medical team as they make their way further into town toward the hospital. Her faces hold confusion. "Whatever you do, just please don't let him die."
Tsunade and Sakura lock eyes for a moment and Sakura lets go of her hand. "Don't worry we got her." Kakashi calls out. Tsunade nods her head and disappears in a cloud of smoke.
Once Tsunade is gone Sakura starts walking forward. "Sakura! Hey you're hurt let me carry you to the hospital." I walk besides her ready to catch her if she loses her balance. I was amazed she was walking. She was badly hurt, she shouldn't be able to move.
"No one to-uch me." She winches as she jumps onto a rooftop and takes off toward the hospital.
"Oye wait up Sakura-chan." I call after her as she increases her speed.
"What the hell happened?" Yamato questions as we reach the hospital.
"I don't know but I am going to find out." Kakashi jumps ahead and walks with Sakura inside of the hospital.
"Yamato?" I question as we follow behind them as they make their way to the trauma unit. "Is something going between them?"
Yamato doesn't answer and I don't push it especially when Tsunade steps out into the hallway.
"Is he?" Sakura questions, not finishing her sentence.
"He isn't stable but he is alive." Sakura closed her eyes and let out a breath.
"What wing is he in? I need to get prepped for surgery so I can-"
"So you can do nothing." Tsunade held up her hand silencing Sakura-chan. "You are in no shape to perform any type of surgery. I need you to get your ass in room 109 now. I need to get a look at you."
Sakura doesn't fight Tsunade instructions and makes her way to the hospital room.
"Tsunade that boy is the one who hurt Sakura-chan weeks ago." Kakashi blurts out once Sakura is no longer in sight.
"I know." She breathes.
"She should have just let him die." Kakashi's comment caught me off gaurd but before any of us can respond he is walking into the hospital room.
"Yamato I need you and Naruto to alert the main gates to be put on threat level orange."
"What about Sakura-chan?" I whine. She was hurt, Kakashi was acting weird and I didn't want to leave her alone in the state she was in.
"Kakashi is with her, she will be fine. Now go, there isn't time to waste."
I glance once more at the room Sakura walked in before turning on my heels and walking out with Yamato to put the village on alert once again.
I follow Sakura into the hospital room not caring if she wanted me there or not. I follow her not caring that we hadn't cleared the air form the other night. I followed her into the hospital room not caring if she had broken my heart the month before. I followed her into the room to make sure she was okay. To make sure she was safe. To make sure I was there if she needed anything.
I didn't bother to knock on the door and stepped right inside. Sakura was turned away from me and she was attempting to take off her protective gear.
"What happened?" I question leaning against the door.
Sakura ignores me as she removes her chest plate. Several weapons fall on the floor. I look closer at her form and it seems no weapons pierced her stomach or chest. One by one she pulled the weapons out of her skin, never once muttering a word or sound. We stood in silence in the room, neither one of us talking. The only sound that could be heard was the sound of weapons and blood hitting the floor.
I wanted to go to her and take her in my arms. I wanted to help her remove the weapons from that perfect skin of hers. I wanted to call in every available doctor and nurse to make sure Sakura was okay. But all I did was lean against the wall waiting for her to finish. I could tell Sakura didn't want me anywhere near her, and for now I was going to give her space.
Once every weapon was removed she began removing her arm guards. Her arms were covered in scratches and bruises of all different shapes, sizes and color. What happened on her mission? Why was that guy with her? Why wasn't team 7 assigned to go with her? Sakura never once looked or talked to me. After she removed her armor she went into the bathroom. When she came out the blood and dirt was wiped off her face. She had a black eye and a busted up lip.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" I ask taking a seat in one of the chairs in her room. We had been in this room for nearly 20 minutes and Tsunade hadn't come in to check on her yet and it was starting to piss me off.
"No," Sakura turned her back toward me once again and very carefully pulled off her shirt. I had to fight the urge to jump up and start yelling for help. She had a large gash on her side that went all the way up from her hip to her armpit. There was another large cut over her right shoulder blade. Sakura once again looked like she had been in a war. How was she still moving? Still conscious?
Sakura walked over to the drawers and started pulling out medical equipment. I sat in silence as she slowly started stitching herself up. That's it! I jump up out of my seat and walk into the hall.
Where the hell is Tsunade? I walk back toward the surgery room. She needed to be with Sakura right now. Sakura needed medical attention whether she admitted it or not, and unfortunately my medical knowledge was limited and I could do nothing to help her.
I pushed two large doors open and walked deeper into the trauma unit. There Tsunade stood looking into a window watching doctors and nurses preform surgery on Fū. I watch for a moment as the doctors danced around him, moving in rapid movements. His heart motor showed that his heart was barely beating. A breathing mask was placed over his face and an IV was stuck in one arm and in the other was a tube feeding him blood. But it didn't make since. He looked less injure than Sakura. What was causing him all these problems?
"Tsunade what's going on?"
"I'm not exactly sure. All of his major wounds were already healed before he was brought in. The problem we are having right now is bringing all of his levels back to normal. He seems to have lost a lot of blood and he was almost completely deprived of charka." Tsunade bits her lower lip and balls her fists. "He wasn't supposed to be with her."
"What do you mean?"
"She was supposed to go alone. I knew something was wrong when we lost contact with her-"
"You sent her out of the village believing she was alone?" I practically shout at her. "What kind of mission did you send her on Tsunade?!" She doesn't answer, she doesn't look at me. She just counties to stare at the screen in front of her. "You lost contact with her and did nothing about it! Why weren't we deployed after her once contact was lost? Why weren't we assigned to go with her to begin with?!"
"Because she didn't want the members of team 7 going with her." She turns and faces me, tearing streaming down her face. "She demanded to be sent out alone, once she discovered how many base camps were stationed around the village. I couldn't afford to send anyone after her. If things went bad I need you here, to protect the village."
I stared at Tsunade. There was more to it than she was telling me. For her to send Sakura out alone, it had to be bad. "Pull yourself together. Sakura is badly injured and she needs your help."
Tsunade took a moment to compose herself before we left Fū's room and made our way back toward Sakura's. "How hurt is she Kakashi?"
"Bad. When I left she was sticking herself up." We reached her door and walked in. Rags covered in blood were tossed all over the floor. Cabinets and draws were opened and medical equipment was scattered all over the bed. What the hell happened? I was only gone five minutes!
"Sakura?" Tsunade calls out as I check the bathroom. The only thing in the bad room is a bloody towel left in the sink.
"She isn't here." Damnit! I shouldn't have left her!
I shove my hands under the water and scrub up to the elbows. Once they are clean I enter into the surgery room, and all the doctors and nurses stop and stare. I ignore their stares as I make my way to his charts and monitor. He was becoming more stable, but he wasn't out of the woods yet.
My hands glow green as they start roaming his body. His organs were slowly getting the blood they so desperately needed. My glow changes to red as I help guide the new blood through his system. My blood ached and burned but I ignored it. If Fū died we would be in trouble. Fū might have been an asswhole and a piece of shit, but he was a piece of shit that knew how to fight. He was trained to fight for this village until his last breathe and if I was right about what was to come, I needed someone like him to be inside the village, to fight for it, to protect it.
Fū was weaker than me, but that doesn't change the fact he was Danzo's right hand man. He was Danzo's number two and for good reason. He was raised inside the foundation, just like Sai had. He only knew how to fight and follow mission protocol. He could watch the men around him fall and continue on to finish the mission. I need a solider like that. Fū couldn't die. I needed him to be alive and well in Konoha to buy enough time for me to come home if I was in Suna.
After ten minutes I heard a knock on the window. I looked up and discovered a very pissed off Tsunade and Kakashi. Once I entered the room all the doctors and nurses stopped working. They were used to me taking over and would only help when instructed to. I looked at the team around me and nodded toward the door, signaling them that I wanted them to leave.
As soon as the last nurse left the room Tsunade and Kakashi came flying in heated. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" Tsunade spat. I knew she wanted to rip me off of him and grab me back into my hospital room to begin treatment but she didn't touch me. She knew she wouldn't win if she tired. Right now I considered Fū my patient and she knew nothing got in-between me and my patients.
"I could feel his charka signature getting lower from my room. I had to step in."
"But you're hurt Sakura-chan." Kakashi stepped closer to me and I got butterflies. I wanted to stay as far away as I could from Kakashi because whenever he is near I get confused.
My hands glow brighter as I shove more charka into Fū. I could sense the damage was almost corrected and I wanted to speed up the process so I could go report to Danzo. "M'Lady I was unable to take out all the camps. I'm sorry." My eyes started locked on Fū's chest feeling ashamed for failing her. I wasn't able to eliminate the threat to my home, my people were still at risk. "There is one camp left."
"I'll have a team selected and ready to go tonight." Tsunade turns to walk out the door.
"No." Tsunade turns back toward me confused. "I already have a team in mind."
"Who?"
"Danzo's second string are equipped to handle this situation." I need to hurry up here and go to the foundation and form my team so we could leave by nightfall and have this situation handled by tomorrow night.
"Absolutely not!" Kakashi shouts but I give him not attention.
"M'Lady I have a team ready to go. I know the threat level and I know this team can handle it. We do not have time to compile another team. The camp can move at any moment."
"I can't send out a squad I do not know. I cannot trust them to handle such an important mission when we have no room for failure."
"Do you trust me?" I look up for the first time and look eyes with Tsunade. She nods her head yes and a smile spreads across my face. "Then trust me."
"Tsunade you can't possibly be thinking of relying on Danzo! On the foundation!" Kakashi tried to get my attention but I ignored him.
"My team would be back in 24 hours. If they aren't send your team."
"Fine." I return my attention back to Fū. Kakashi leaves the room pissed off and Tsunade dismisses herself to go prepare the second team. After ten minutes he is finally stable enough and I call back in the team of nurses and doctors.
I head back to my apartment and discard of my now useless uniform. I jump in the shower and allow the water to wash off my failure. If that moron hadn't been ordered to go with me, the mission would've already been completed. I was injured and I knew Tsunade wouldn't allow me outside the village at this point alone. Once all the blood and dirt had been washed off I exist the shower and begin wrapping my wounds.
I had healed most of them at this point but the cut of my side still burned and my eye was still black. I wanted to save as much charka as I could so most of the minor injuries remained. As I dressed into a new uniform I felt a presence in my family room. I quickly dressed and grabbed my back up mission bag and walked into my family room.
"How are you feeling?" The masked man asked sitting on my couch, his mission bag by his feet.
"Fine. Are your men ready?" I walked into my kitchen and bring sealing away food and water.
"Yes. They are ready to go whenever you are."
"How did he react?" I asked walking back into the family room. When I had left the hospital I sent a clone to inform Danzo of the situation.
"He is pleased you encourage the Hokage to send his team. He says he will deal with Fū later." I step next to Torune and transported us to the Hokage tower.
"Tsunade how could you send out his team?" Kakashi walked back and forth in my office.
"Sakura understands the threat level we are at. She knows this team abilities and what level the enemy is at. I have no choice but to trust her judgment at this point." The bottle of vodka in my desk was practically calling out my man. At the hospital Sakura wouldn't allow me to examine her. I had no idea how injured she was. All I could do was hope she had handled her injuries by herself.
I could tell Kakashi was about to protest again but was silence by a knock on the door. "Come in" I order and the door pushes open. Sakura and another ninja come walking in. As soon as I see Sakura I realize what she is planning on doing. She is dressed in an anbu black ops uniform, her mask attached to her hip. The ninja standing next to her wore the same uniform but while his mask remained attached to his hip he wore a black clothed mask that covered everything but his mouth and chin. I couldn't see his eyes, not there was a pair of googles underneath the mask that prevented that. I hadn't seen this ninja before, but everything about him screamed foundation.
"M'Lady me team is ready to go." Sakura steps forward and hands me a yellow folder. I open it only to discover it is her mission report. Every camp she encountered was detailed very specially. She had the location of the camp, the amount of men and their skill level, and their supplies listed for each and every one of them. As I flipped through the file I realize how much the village was at risk. If Sakura hadn't made those connections a month ago, who knows what would have happened.
"Sakura are you sure you want to be sent out?" I ask eyeing her. She was injured, but did I really trust this team to complete the mission without Sakura as their leader? I look over to Kakashi, surprised he hadn't said anything. He was staring intently at Sakura.
"Hai."
"Then you are dismissed." Sakura bowed and the two of them disappeared into a cloud of smoke.
"I hope you know what you are doing." Kakashi says after Sakura is long gone. He glares at me once more before walking out of the office and slamming the door.
"So do I" I whisper as I dive deeper into Sakura's report.
I sat on top of the Hokage monuments watching the sun set. I don't know why I chose to wait out the time here. Maybe it was because Sakura seemed to find some kind of peace here. Maybe I was trying to find a way to be closer to Sakura again. I don't know. I hadn't slept last night, I was too worried. I had seen how hurt she was and within three hours of being brought to the hospital she was already changed and ready for the next mission.
I hadn't seen this side of her before. Was this the warrior Gaara was talking about? The warrior that put the mission in front of everything else, including her health? I didn't know who was with her in the office, and it left an uneasy feeling. He was in the foundation, there was no question about that. But why hadn't we seen him before? I shock the thought out of my head as the last rays of the sun disappeared into the night sky.
Her time was up. If she wasn't back in the village, a second team would be sent out after them and I was making my way to the tower to request to be put on that team. Why was there so many base camps sent up in our territory? Was Orochimaru planning on attacking the Leaf? Or where they set up into order to capture Sakura-chan"?
I didn't like being keep in the dark, especially since it involved Sakura. I still hadn't forgotten about the scrolls she had hidden inside of her apartment or office. I still had to talk to her about those, but there hadn't been a right time. She already pushed me away, I needed to wait until she was opened up.
I reached the office and knocked three times before being told to enter. I push open the door and relief washed over me. Sakura stood in the office, a mission report in her hand. She had spots of blood all over her, but she seemed to be okay.
"Kakashi is there something I can help you with?" Tsunade asks raising her eyebrow at me.
"I was just coming to see if Sakura had reported in but it seems that I already answered my own question."
"Everything is in the report M'Lady. All the camps have been handled." Sakura turns to walk out the door but I block her path. I didn't want her to leave. I had so many questions for both Sakura and Tsunade. Sakura locks eyes with me, signaling for me to move, but I don't. As I return her gaze I notice something about her eyes seem off…they seem dull.
"When you say they have been handle what do you mean Sakura-chan?" Did they eliminate everyone? Did they burn the camps to the ground? Or did they round up the men to bring them back to be questioned? I flash back to my anbu days. I did a lot of dirty work, and by the blood on her clothes she has probably had to do a lot of it these last few weeks.
"We eliminated the threat." She coldly spoke. "Now if you don't mind I would like to go home and shower." I stepped aside and allowed her to exist the office.
"Kakashi…." Tsunade paused for a moment as if she was trying to think of the right words. "What happened between you too?"
"What do you mean?" I asked taken back by her question.
"Yesterday you two seemed off." She spoke slowly and carefully. "Did you tell her what we talked about?"
"No." I answer simply. No that wasn't why Sakura hated me. "She is probably just adjusting to being engaged." I turn to walk out the door.
"Kakashi please remember the village needs this agreement to work out." She reminded me once again before I turned and closed her office door.
Yeah the village might need this agreement to work but what about what Sakura's needs?
I made my way to Sakura's apartment. Something is going on and damn it someone was going to tell me what. As I ascend the stairs I could sense her inside the apartment. I sigh a breath of relief, at least I know where she is. I knock on her front door and wait for her to answer. But after a couple of minutes have pasted and the door doesn't open I get worried.
What is she has passed out from her injuries yesterday? What is she has fallen and can't reach the door? I reach into my pocket and grab her spare key, and I quickly open the door. As soon as I open the door I hear the shower running. Thank god! She just couldn't hear me.
"Sakura-chan!" I call out as I take a seat on her couch.
"Naruto?" She shouts.
"Yeah it's me! I wanted to talk with you!"
"I'll be out in a minute!"
After five minutes I hear the shower turn off and the bathroom door open. I stayed glued to my spot, not daring to look as I hear Sakura make her way to her bedroom and open and shut her door. After Gaara proposed to Sakura I realized my feelings for her change a long time ago and I was just too stupid to notice it.
When we were kids I had a puppy crush on her. She was so beautiful and popular. But she never noticed me in that light. Her attention was solely on Sasuke. I don't think she even gave another man a second look when we were kids. Sasuke was my rival and if I won Sakura from him, I felt like I would be beating him on some level. I laugh at myself now.
I still had very strong feelings for Sakura but now I realize it's more of a sibling kind of love than anything else. I wanted to be there for Sakura-chan and protect her, like a big brother. I wanted to prevent any more heartache, she suffered enough from Sasuke and it was nice to see she was finally moving on from him. I knew Sakura always looked at me like a brother and I knew she was just as protective of me as I was of her.
After a couple of minutes Sakura walks into the front room wearing her normal uniform, with her wet hair pulled back into a high ponytail. "Sakura how are you feeling?" I ask standing up and walking over to her. Her poor face was all beaten and bruised. Her eye was black and her lip was puffy, and while she wore long pants and a long sleeve I knew she had more injuries underneath.
"I've been better but I'm okay I promise Naruto." She flashes me a smile and I fight the urge to wrap myself around her and trap her in a hug. The only thing keeping me glued to my spot, my hands at my side, was the fact if I hugged her I would be hurting her.
"Sakura do you have a moment to talk?" Sakura nodded and took a seat on the couch. "What has been going on with you lately?"
"What do you mean?" She tilts her head to the side in confusion.
"You aren't around anymore. You don't hang out with us anymore. I feel like I never see you anymore." Sakura's eyes widen slightly but after a moment she is reaching down and taking my hands in hers.
"I'm sorry Naruto. These past few weeks have been crazy. I was sent out on a mission the morning after the festival. I'm sorry I should have told you I was leaving." She squeezed my hands tight and I feel a little better.
"What is going on between you and Kakashi?" She seems to flinch at the sound of his name and she lets go of my hands.
"I don't know what you mean Naruto." She quickly stands and walks into the kitchen and opens up her fridge, pulling out a water bottle. "Do you want anything to drink?"
"No. And don't change the subject you know what I am talking about. You guys spent morning, noon and night together for weeks and now….now it seems like you don't want to be anywhere near him. What happened?"
Sakura walks back to the couch but she doesn't sit down. "We weren't hanging out. He was assigned protection duty from Tsunade and Gaara."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"Gaara assigned protection after you guys left Suna. He wanted to make sure his future fiancé was protected until the announcement was made and Tsunade assigned him and Yamato to me once Sasuke attacked. Once the mission was completed there was no need to spend time together outside of missions or training."
Her answer didn't sit well with me. I knew she had issues with Kakashi after I left to go train with Prevy Sage. Kankuro was all too happy to explain why he wasn't happy with me and Kakashi when we took her to Suna, one day after training. I never knew she felt that way but once Kankuro told me everything I didn't blame her. We left her behind, I left her behind and now it was my turn to fight to win her back. But it seemed like her and Kakashi were repairing their bond. No way was it all a mission.
"Sakura that can't be what happened. I am your best friend, please talk with me." Her faces hardens as she takes a seat on the couch.
"I don't know. It's all so confusing." I could see something inside of Sakura break. "I thought he was spending time with me, trying to make up for lost time. I didn't know about Gaara's feelings until the day before the festival. I thought Kakashi and I were growing close again, that we were developing-" She cuts herself off.
"Developing feelings for one another?" I question and I see a small smile develop on her face.
"Maybe. I thought I felt something but I guess it was just wishful thinking. I was just so desperate to have that same bond you and Sasuke got with him, that I over analyzed everything."
"Sakura-chan," she looks at me, the smile gone. "How do you know that it was just wishful feelings? Maybe Kakashi feels the same way."
"He doesn't."
"How do you know?" I protest.
"Because I walked in on him with another women." She whispers, gripping the water bottle tighter.
"What!?" I practically scream.
"The morning of the festival I went over to his apartment to give him breakfast as a thank you. When he opened the door he was half naked. A women came out of the bedroom wearing nothing but his shirt. It wasn't hard to put two and two together." She turns to me wearing her signature fake smile. "Besides it doesn't matter, I am marrying Gaara."
"Sakura-chan I'm sorry."
"It's okay." She jumps up off the couch. "Are you hungry Naruto? I'm craving some ramen."
"Yeah let's go! My treat Sakura-chan!" I loop my arm around hers and escort her out of her apartment and toward the ramen shop. I knew she was holding in more than she disclosed tonight but I was okay with that. It was going to take time for me to be worthy of her trust again. For the moment I will just focus on trying to make Sakura happy and later I will have a little chat with Kakashi…
"Do you know when Sakura-chan is supposed to get here?" Kankuro whined as we made our way to the council meeting.
"She supposed be here soon. She sent word two days ago that her mission was finished and that she would be leaving for here shortly." My answer seemed to satisfy Kankuro because he remained silent as we finished our walk to the meeting. It had been two weeks since I had the captains start the new training and I was anxious to see the results. I walked inside the room and took my place. Kankuro took his place next to me and one by one the members of the council piled into the room and took their place.
The meeting was schedule to deal with the new income of trade between the Sand and the Leaf. It was also formed to discuss how we would strength the bonds between the two villages. One by one the matters of the meeting where discussed and crossed off the agenda. Everyone seemed to be happy about the new arrangement and didn't question the new ways we were going to strength our bonds. Once everything was crossed off the list I stood up, ready to dismiss everyone when my anbu captain interrupted me.
"My lord, I have a problem I would like to discuss in front of the council." I sat down and motioned for him to continue. "My second squad is refusing to train under the Leaf methods."
"What?" I question clearly pissed.
"My men are stating that they refuse to undertake in methods that will make them weaker than the other units. I've tried discipline and reasoning but they won't follow the instructions."
"I see." I look around and the members of the council seem to agree with the anbu.
"I think I have a solution my lord." I don't brother to turn around. I sensed her a while ago. She was most likely waiting in the hall, listening, seeing if our plan was working.
"Please proceed Ambassador." Sakura walks further into the room. Her beautiful pink locks flowed in loss curls down her back. I slightly smile seeing she chose to wear the shirt we had given her last month, and it fit her perfectly. Her leaf headband was gone, maybe she was trying to show she wasn't on either side. I looked closer at her face and noticed her eye makeup was darker than usual. She normally wore soft browns and pinks but today she wore a purple and grey smoky eye with dark red lipstick. She still look beautiful but it wasn't one of her signature looks and it covered up her natural beauty.
"Captain assemble your men in the training fields in fifteen minutes. Have them prepared for a fight." The captain bows to Sakura and I before disappearing into a cloud of smoke.
"What are you planning Haruno?" One of the council members ask.
"If they truly believe the Leaf have weaker training methods than Suna, then they should have no problem in defeating me in a fight."
"You can't possibly think you can take down an entire team of our anbu!" Another member shouts and a smirk spreads across Sakura's face.
"Your right, I don't think it, I know I can take down your anbu." And with that she disappears into cloud of smoke, leaving the council members fuming.
"Troublesome women," I whisper under my breath as I stand dismissing everyone from the meeting. Kankuro, Ibiki and I made our way to the training grounds in silence. If Sakura won the fight no one would question the new training methods, but if she lost nothing from the Leaf would be expected. I hope she realizes what she is getting herself into. My men aren't weak, and neither is she, but facing a whole squad of them. Well I haven't seen Sakura in that kind of action in a long time, it should at the very least be interesting.
"The rules are simple. The fighting stops when someone calls mercy." Sakura stood in the middle of the training fields surrounded by 20 anbu members. My eyes bounce from member to member and I recognize that the second squad was not the ones who were called to fight, no these are our number ones.
"Gaara is she crazy?" I ask stepping closer to my younger brother. I look over my shoulder and notice the council standing a few yards away from us, their eyes glued on Sakura. I thought back to a couple of months ago when I challenge the council saying Sakura could take down all the top of their anbu all at once. I mentally slapped myself for saying that now. I never thought it would come to this.
"Calm down Kankuro she knows what she is doing." Gaara tries to reassure me but it isn't working. I tense up watching the men circle around me, scaling her up, trying to find her weak spot. After a few moments I realize that Sakura is waiting for them to make the first move, she isn't going to be the one to throw the first punch.
One of the members jump forward his sword in his hand and swings for her neck. Sakura simply steps to the left, and the blade slams into the ground next to her. The anbu tries to recover but Sakura is already responding, kicking him in the side and sending him flying several yards backwards, his sword still lodged in the dirt.
"I would advise you to not attack one on one. Think of a plan and respond together. You are stronger as a unit. Don't overestimate your skills while underestimating mine." What the hell is she doing? Why is she giving them pointers while fighting? Is she trying to lose?
Her words seem to inflame the anbu as four anbu approach Sakura. One anbu sends a shower of kunai towered her while the other try to land puppet strings on her. Sakura pushes off the ground and does a black flip in the air, landing smoothly a couple of yards behind the four anbu. She turns to her left but freezes. I look closer and notice one of the anbu was able to land a chakra string on her left shoulder.
"Now!" Someone shouts as ten anbu encircle her. They release their hand sign and in seconds Sakura is covered in a dozens of strings. She tries to move, but she is locked in place. One by one more and more members encircle her until all twenty are around her, waiting to strike her down.
I go to step forward, to stop the fight, knowing exactly what they were going to do. "Kankuro stay out of this!" Sakura shouts. How did she know I was going to-? Before I could finish my thought I am blinded by a bright light and the sound of birds creping fill the air. The light disappears and the ten anbu who had their strings attached are now lying on the ground unconscious, smoke coming off their arms, their clothing burnt off. The other ten anbu were blown backwards and are just starting to stand up and regain their footing. "What did I just tell you about underestimating my skill sets? If you have the upper hand and it seems too easy, more than likely you have fallen into your opponents trap. Think before you act."
The ten anbu that are left fighting look at each other unsure of what to do. She just took down ten guys without even trying. Sakura slowly steps around the ten fallen anbu and moves into a clearing that's far away from them. Is she not expecting them to get up the rest of the fight? Once again Sakura is waiting for them to make the first move. She's only fighting defense. I could only imagine what would happen if she went on the offensive.
"Come at me like you intend to kill me. Don't treat this as child's play." Sakura closes her eyes and motions the remaining anbu to come at her.
"She isn't seriously going to fight with her eyes closed is she?" One of the council members question.
"Ms. Haruno is proving a point. She has been trained in both Suna and the Leaf. She is just toying with the anbu at the moment." Gaara comments never once taking his eyes off of her.
The ten anbu start trying to strike her one by one. Sakura would either move to left, or to the right or simple jump up, avoiding their attacks. This little game of cat and mouse continued for another twenty minutes before the anbu around her started showing signs of exhaustion. But how? These men were trained to keep going for days, how was this tiring them out?
One of the anbu falls to his knees. "I can't!" He yells shaking. "I can't I can't I can't!" He begins repeating the phrase over and over again. The other anbu stop attacking Sakura and are quick to his side. The anbu is beginning to rip his mask off and once it's off his face is as white as snow.
"Captain what's wrong?" Another anbu begins shaking him, but the captain stops responding. "What the fuck did you do to him?" He calls out.
Sakura is still standing where they left her, her eyes still closed, a smirk on her face. "Your captain will return to normal once the fight is over. Now is anyone wanting to call mercy yet? Or would you like to continue with the little chakra you have left?"
I look at Gaara and his eyes are still locked on Sakura. "They still haven't figured out what she is doing yet?" Ibiki asks shakes his head.
"What are you taking about?" I question confused. It didn't make sense why they were growing so weak so fast.
"The first thing the anbu in the leaf are taught is how to absorb the charka from your opponent. If these anbus, including their captain, had just looked at the new lesson plan they would have known what she doing." Gaara's eyes move between the group of anbu and Sakura. "This is why I wanted to do cross training. The Leaf has several effective methods they use in battle that we do not."
I heard the council begin whispering behind us. They were beginning to understand what Gaara and Sakura were trying to do. While Sakura was the best of the best, our twenty anbu should have done more damage than they did. I don't think they even did any damage. In fact all they did was make her stronger as she took in their charka.
Sakura opens her eyes and looks at the remaining nine anbu in front of her. Her eyes bounce between each one of them before her smirk disappears. In a flash her eyes are glowing green and one by one the anbu all fall to the ground unconscious but one. "I have a question for you" she points at the remaining anbu. "You were the only one in your group who wanted to take part of the new training process. I am curious as to why." The anbu looks at Gaara for guidance not sure what to do. "You can lower your guard. I won't strike unless you do." Gaara nods his head and the anbu slightly lowers his guard.
"Because I have seen you in battle." Sakura's eyes stop glowing green, showing the anbu she was lowering her guard as well. "Both times our village have been attack, you came running to help. And both times, you a leaf shinobi, have been able to succeed in ways our sand shinobi have not. I wish to become stronger, so we do not have to rely on the aid of anyone else. I wish to become stronger to protect this village in ways I could not before."
"I see. It's a shame your fellow shinobi did not feel the same. If they had been practicing these last few weeks they might have stood a chance." Sakura walks closer to the anbu. "You're the second in command correct?"
"Yes ma'am I am." The anbu lowers all of his weapons. The fight is over, Sakura is clearly the winner.
"Well your captain fell. You're the only one left. It is up to you if you call off the fight or you and I can go one on one. Your choice."
"I forfeit the fight. It is clear we have lost."
"Very well." Sakura eyes glow green and a pink charka begins spreading throughout the air. It was amazing to watch. I had never seen charka manipulated in such a way before. It slowly spread around the training course. One by one the injuries on the anbu began to heal and they slowly start regaining their consciousness. The captain started to regain color in his face and began slowly standing.
None of the anbu say a word. They all had underestimated her and were finally put in their place. The only anbu who hadn't been healed was the anbu standing in front of Sakura. She stuck out her hand and the masked shinobi stared at her awkwardly, not really knowing what to do. Slowly he reached out and shock hands with her.
"You fought well. A little training and you might be able to take me down one day." Sakura smiles as they release the handshake. Slowly his injuries started to heal as well. "Since you were the only one who supported the new training, I think it is only fair you get the charka I absorbed from your comrades back." Sakura touched his shoulder and her eyes change bright green for a moment. I could feel the shift of charka in the air. After a few minutes her eyes went back to normal and she made her way over to us.
"You alright?" I whisper, and she nods.
"Captain." Gaara calls out and all the anbu snap to attention. "I need a report of your findings here today in three hours."
"Yes Kazekage-sama." He bows.
"And another report explaining why I shouldn't demote you and promote your number one to take you place."
The captain's face hardens before he bows again and he and his team disappeared in a cloud of smoke, their tails between their legs. Gaara turned and stared at the council who all had their mouths hanging open. "Does anyone else wish to question the new training method?" No one said a word. "Then it has been decided. The new training goes into effect tomorrow morning." With that Gaara began walking back toward the tower with the rest of us in toe.
Man things are sure getting interesting around here….