Okay all here's the nineteenth chapter of Lost. Next chapter will be the last one, but there will be a Sequel, called 'Found', that will be written at some point, okay? If anyone has any thoughts about what they might want to see happen in the sequel, please let me know. I'll be happy to consider your thoughts people.
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Lost.
Chapter Nineteen – I Have A Wish.
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Today was Sakura's sixteenth birthday. She grinned at the group as Naruto placed a bright pink iced cake with candles, in front of her. She looked at the candles on the cake which were alight. "Itachi made the cake. I never knew you were such a pastry chef Aniki." Sasuke said, making Itachi glare slightly, but anyone could see the glare was filled with affection and that the two brothers were only teasing each other. Sakura stared at the cake and made her wish as she blew out all the candles. She really hoped her wish would come true.
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After the party, Kakashi had been called away with Tsunade and Sakura sat on the deck outside, looking at the sunset. Naruto and Sasuke were washing up and Sakura could hear their bantering through the walls. "Oi Sasuke-Teme, don't mess with me! I'm a master of the silent kill now! Besides I know I'm right!" Naruto exclaimed loudly.
"Tch Dobe, prove it." Sakura heard Sasuke reply.
"I'll bet you a week's worth of ramen Sasuke!" Naruto yelled.
"Fine Naruto, you're on." Sakura heard Sasuke reply.
"I'm gonna win!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Hn." Sasuke replied. Sakura couldn't help but giggle at the pair. That was when Itachi came to sit on the deck next to Sakura.
"Are you alright Itachi?" Sakura asked softly. Itachi nodded seriously.
"Tsunade said I'm fine now. I'm allowed to go on missions and do all the things I like doing." Itachi stated. Sakura's eyes lit up. Itachi gave the girl a curious look.
"I got my wish." Sakura said softly.
"What wish?" Itachi asked.
"I wished that you'd be in the clear and I got my wish." Sakura said softly. The pair looked at each other for what seemed like an age when they suddenly realised that their faces were a mere inch apart. Sakura pressed her lips against Itachi's gently. The elder Uchiha was shocked for a moment before he kissed back. Somehow, this young girl had made her way into his heart without him ever realising it.
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In a tree in the garden, Naruto and Sasuke were both watching with smirks on their faces. "I totally win Teme. I told you they were going to get together today." Naruto said quietly. Sasuke glared at his blonde best friend.
"I still can't believe there are going to be pink-haired Sharingan wielders." Sasuke shot back.
"Well it might be a good thing that Kakashi isn't here." Naruto replied.
"You're totally right Naruto-Kun." The two boys almost fell out of the tree in shock at the voice of Konan. She was sat next to Pein and both of them were eating popcorn.
"Hey you two. This is my brother's love life go and watch someone else." Sasuke hissed.
"Why? You're watching too." Pein quipped quietly, whilst he popped another piece of popcorn in his mouth. Sasuke shrugged.
"You still owe me a week's worth of Ramen Sasuke." Naruto stated. Sasuke cursed colourfully as he remembered the bet made between him and Naruto.
"The last time I checked this was called stalking." The quartet almost yelled in shock at the voice of Sai who sat even higher in the tree then the rest of them.
"Sai, you socially inept asshole! What the hell are you doing here?" Naruto exclaimed.
"I was passing by to say happy birthday to Sakura-San and I wondered why all of you were sitting in this tree." Sai replied.
"Well you don't always have to act on what makes you curious Sai." Sasuke stated.
"Ino didn't say that the other day. In fact she told me I should act on my curiosity more often." Sai replied. The teens were both confused. Pein and Konan, however, both knew what Sai was talking about.
"You're only saying that because you decided to kiss the blonde girl the other day." Pein stated. Sasuke and Naruto both stared at Sai incredulously as they wondered how Sai was still living. All the while, the new 'couple' remained oblivious to the audience in the tree.
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Kakashi and Jiraiya were looking at Tsunade as though she'd grown a second head. "You want Jiraiya and me to go searching for Naruto's mother?" Kakashi asked.
"Yeap." Tsunade replied.
"Damn! I can't leave my little Sakura alone with Itachi! He might deflower her while I'm gone!" Kakashi yelled. Tsunade and Jiraiya both covered their ears at Kakashi's loud yelling.
"I don't think you need to worry about that too much Kakashi. Sakura only just turned sixteen and Itachi just got the all clear from that practically fatal virus. The most they'll be doing is sucking each other's faces off." Tsunade stated. Kakashi glared irritably but didn't say anything else. After all, he did half-approve of Itachi.
"So when do we leave?" Kakashi asked.
"Tonight. We're chasing up a lead in my spy network and hopefully we won't be too late to catch up to Kushina." Jiraiya replied. Kakashi nodded and excused himself to go home and grab his travel pack. He also needed to say goodbye. After all, he didn't know how long this mission might take.
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Sakura and Itachi were still sat on the deck when Kakashi returned. Naruto was smirking as he read a book about the customs of being a Hokage. Sasuke glared daggers at his blond friend, and Pein and Konan just kept their faces neutral. Sai was just stood leaning against a wall. "Hey Kakashi-Sensei! What's up?" Naruto asked. Kakashi gave Naruto a grin.
"Well guys, I'm going on a search mission." Kakashi stated.
"Wow that was… unexpected." Sasuke stated.
"How long are you going to be gone Dad?" Sakura asked.
"I don't know when I'll be back." He stated. The occupants of the room looked at Kakashi with interest.
"Are we allowed to know what you're going to do?" Sasuke asked.
"I'm afraid not." Kakashi replied. Sasuke and Naruto both pouted like petulant children. It was hard saying goodbye, but in the end, Kakashi had to leave with a pack swung over his shoulder.
"I'll walk with you to the gate Dad." Sakura said gently. The pair left the house together whilst Naruto and Sasuke looked at Itachi.
"So… when are we going to hear the pitter-patter of evil, pink-haired, Sharingan wielders?" Naruto asked. Itachi blushed brightly for the first time in his life. As Sasuke and Naruto snickered to themselves.
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Sakura and Kakashi walked side by side. "I'm gonna miss you Dad. Despite your overprotective nature." Sakura stated.
"I'm not too worried. I'm sure Itachi will look after the three of you." Kakashi replied. Sakura did her best to hide the blush that sprinkled across her cheeks.
"Yeah I'm sure Itachi will look after us, even though, as Shinobi, we can look after ourselves." Sakura replied. Kakashi laughed at that comment.
"I'll be back as soon as I can be." Kakashi said as they reached the gate. Sakura saw Jiraiya standing there.
"See you soon Dad. At least I hope it's soon." Sakura replied. She felt herself pulled into a hug.
"I'll be back as soon as I can be. I'm sorry I have to leave on your birthday." Kakashi said softly.
"A mission is a mission. Just be careful." Sakura replied, hugging him back. Kakashi ruffled his daughter's hair gently and then left with a wave. Sakura watched as Jiraiya and Kakashi left. Somehow, she felt as though something good would come from this mission.
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That night, Kakashi and Jiraiya were at an undisclosed destination in Mist Country. Jiraiya was a lot calmer then Kakashi, though neither of them showed exactly how they were feeling. After all, this was a mission, not a vacation. That was when a woman appeared, walking towards the pair. Her eyes were a vibrant purple, almost like two amethysts stuck in her eye sockets. Her hair was the same radiant colour as her eyes, in fact she was dressed head to foot in purple. Her purple hair was tied in a large braid that was pinned into a bun on top of her head. She seemed quite young and yet a million years older at the same time, as she took a seat on the grass. Jiraiya sat down across from her and Kakashi sat next to Jiraiya, as they waited for her to speak.
"It's been a long time Jiraiya-Sensei." The woman said softly.
"It certainly has Tomoko. However, there are a few questions I need to ask you and I need you to answer them honestly. If you don't think you're up to that then there's no point to this conversation." Jiraiya replied sharply. Tomoko smirked.
"You should know me better than that Sensei. Besides, I already know why you're here." Tomoko replied stoically.
"Really? Do enlighten us." Kakashi quipped.
"With pleasure. You're looking for Kushina-Chan. You want her to go back to the village." Tomoko replied.
"You knew she was alive and never told anyone?" Jiraiya asked sharply. Tomoko glared.
"I did the only thing that I could do at the time. Danzo had a bounty on her head, and she barely made it away from the village with her life. I couldn't just come to anyone and hand her over. She'd have been killed in a heartbeat, and I owe Minato more then to let his wife be murdered." Tomoko spat out. Her amethyst eyes flashed with anger. Jiraiya nodded his understanding.
"Danzo is no longer an issue. But Kushina does have a son that she has a right to see." Jiraiya stated.
"No, I don't have any rights Jiraiya." The trio spun to look at the speaker. Her bright red hair was as long as it had always been. Her eyes were the same blue, and her face the same shape. If Jiraiya and Kakashi didn't both know better, they both would've sworn they'd stepped back in time.
"Kushina-San?" Kakashi asked softly. The red-haired woman gave the silver-haired Jounin a kind smile.
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Okay all I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please R&R and let me know what you think. After all, the next chapter will be the last one for this instalment at least.