Shizune entered the office and to her surprise, saw Sakura staring at a picture frame in her hands, her front facing towards the window and her back towards the door. It seemed like the picture Rokudaime often stared at too.
Sakura didn't move when she heard the door click open.
Shizune closed it and moved towards the piles of paper and noted that Sakura was dressed for battle. She turned her head towards the pile again; Naruto had ordered her to place the information about Obito there.
"Where is Naruto?"
Shizune turned. Sakura still stared at the picture, tall and proud.
"He is at the temple in the mountains, praying to the former Hokages for success…"
The pink haired woman frowned. "Why should he do that? It won't help him anyway, we shinobi rely on skill and teamwork…"
The older black haired woman stared at her sadly. "You shouldn't think like that Sakura-san…"
She placed the frame on the table again. "He has always been easy to manipulate, Naruto that is. If you want to, you can make him believe anything…"
Shizune frowned. "There is a reason he is the Rokudaime Sakura-san, do not underestimate him…six years has passed since you left…don't expect him to not having developed…"
Sakura looked down.
"I think I stood still in those years…I disappointed Rin-san when I refused sharing anything of my knowledge…because what she knew, I hardly knew myself…"
With a groan she slammed her hand into the table. "I am weak! Weak!"
-
"One for the first Hokage…"
He lit the first candle.
"The second…"
He lit the second candle.
"My mom, my dad, my granddad, my dead family…whom ever they were…"
Five candles were lit.
"Sarutobi…Haku…Zabuza…"
Three more.
"…Dan, and Tsunade-no-baa-chan's brother…"
Two for the sake of his replacement-mother's wishes.
"………..Sasuke's mom, dad…and for the salvation of his brother some day…"
Three candles.
"…Sasuke…"
That one was lit with a heavy hand.
He heard the door slide open and close again. He closed his eyes when he lit the last candle. "And Tsunade-"
"Naruto…"
He turned his head slowly, the usual grin replaced with a sad smile. "Hey Shikamaru…"
The shadow ninja crossed his arms. "I am leaving now…anything you want me to do while I am gone…"
It took him a while to answer.
"No…just go…"
Shikamaru nodded and took his own stick and lit the edge. "It is sad, you know. All these people dying for the sake of others…I can remember Kurenai's face when Asuma was on the edge of dying. Things changes when you are close to dying and all you want to see is the life…"
He turned his face to Naruto. "I thought you would be happy again when Sakura came back Naruto…"
He snorted. "It is not that I am not glad for her presence…it is just…" he paused for a second and sighed. "Things changes as you say…I can't just go up to her and pretend like nothing happened…it would be wrong…Sakura isn't Sakura anymore…"
"I think Jiraiya said that once too, about Tsunade…"
Naruto looked up. "He did?"
Shikamaru nodded. "Yeah…said he loved her or something, but when he met her again she had changed…guess it is sorta ironic the way things turned out…"
Sasuke's candle blew out and Naruto closed his eyes. "Maybe…maybe we are just…I just…wanted Sakura and Sasuke to be there, here, right now…we should fight side by side…nothing should have turned out the way it should…-"
"- I didn't want to become Hokage like this…"
-
"Be careful Temari, don't rush anything…and remember to breastfeed the baby once every second hour, he is awfully thin…"
Temari stood and frowned for a while, not all that pleased that she was forced to 'heal' and stay away from battle. Readjusting the bundle in her arms she looked at the pink-haired kunoichi.
"Take care, Sakura-san," she said with a smirk.
Sakura didn't smile and stared at the baby boy; Temari noticed and looked at her son kindly. "Strange you know, I thought I was going to have children with a handsome man who knew many cool techniques and was stronger than me…" she laughed hard. "And here I am, far away from family and with a boy who only knows how to control his shadow…"
The baby sniffled a bit and Temari looked at bit puzzled. "What about you?"
Sakura looked confused at her. "What about me?"
The blond-haired women smirked. "Going to have small pink-haired babies some day? Heh?"
Strangely Sakura flushed and scratched her neck. "Well…uhm…"
Temari smirked and petted Sakura's shoulder hard. "Haha! What about Naruto? Rokudaime's strong kids? Heh heh?"
Sakura narrowed her eyes. "Temari-san, Naruto and I are not going to have babies…"
Temari stuck out her tongue and waved. "Sure thing Sakura-san…but remember, I have taken Shikamaru, take him away and I'll kill you…"
Sakura raised an eyebrow.
Temari blinked. "Go get the Hokage, girl…"
Sakura groaned.
-
Naruto and Shikamaru walked through the streets of Konoha, admiring the buildings before the attack, who knew what the city would look like when they were done? Well, they counted on that most of the ninjas would only reach the borders of the forest, so that the village was relatively safe.
He then noted that the Hyuugas stood in his way, blocking his small trip. Neji spoke. "Rokudaime-sama…"
Naruto grinned. "Yo…!"
Hinata hid behind her cousin and a blush was clear in her face. Naruto didn't notice her at all. "What's up Neji?"
"Hinata would like to be in the Hokage group in the assault…"
Naruto tilted his head to one side and smiled. "Sure, that won't be a problem Hinata! We could use the Byakugan…"
Neji nodded, and Naruto scratched his head while laughing.
"By the way…Rokudaime-sama…" he continued. Naruto listened. "I will take my time to congratulate you and thank you for the kindness…"
Neji sat down on the ground and bowed, his forehead touching his ground. "You kept your promise…you are a worthy Hokage…"
Naruto laughed even harder. "You are welcome! But my name is Uzumaki Naruto! Right Hinata?"
"A…ah…yes…"
Neji stared at him for a while before smiling, and Naruto ran over to Hinata and placed his arm around her. "Be a bit like Hinata, right Neji?"
"You truly are a different Hokage…" Shikamaru complained.
The street was filled with laughter and then screams when Hinata fainted.
Sakura stood stiff in the darkness of an alley, surprised. "Did Neji say what I think he said…?" she softly whispered to herself. Her brows went into a frown. 'I won't believe until I see…'
-
Naruto stared at her in shock. "W…what?"
"I said I wanted to stay in the main field, not amongst those who stay back…"
"Sakura…"
"No! Listen! I will not be weak as you think I am! I am strong! I can fig…"
He slammed his fist into his table, his patient long gone. Not that she had done it, he had just dealt with a lot of people…and now she was going against him.
"I don't care, Sakura! I know you are strong!" His face full of anger as he slammed his fist into the table one more time. "You can kill me with one stroke!"
"Then, why won't you let me fight!" she screamed back, waving her hands furiously in the air.
"Because I don't want you to get hurt!"
She threw her assistance paper on the desk, her emotions just as his. "So what? How can I help anyone that way! You know who I am! Stop holding me back!"
He hissed. "I am not Sasuke, Sakura! I trust you! You are strong, I believe in you! "
She stopped and stared at him, her eyes narrowing. "Don't talk about Sasuke in that way…"
"Why? You are not the one who killed him, Sakura!" He never imagined in his whole life that he would say such cruel things to her.
"How can you just expect me to treat you how you want me to? This is a community! If you go against it, it might be fatal…" he continued.
She slapped him…she really did, and he let her. "Don't! Don't talk like you are the leader, the ruler of me! I am my own!" she did it once more. "I can't stay here if you don't let me…"
He sat down and buried his head in his hands. "…Sakura I am sorry…"
She wrinkled her nose and hurried out the door, slamming it with all her force making the Hokage-building shake.
Naruto stared at the inner of his hands, wondering how things turned out like this. When he had become so cruel and she so naïve…
…And when did Sasuke become the one thing they couldn't talk about.
-
Hinata, Ino, Lee, Naruto, Genma and Chouji stood in a line, far back in the real assault. Naruto had a great view over all the Ninjas, and he was placed high up, hidden in the trees, which only his people could see.
The Rock army slowly advanced and Naruto narrowed his eyes. The original numbers had been decreased a lot, but it would still be a memorably fight. Sakura was nowhere to be seen and it worried him. Their small outburst had made Shizune almost tear out her hair when she entered the room.
Naruto then shot his hand down. "YOSH! DO YOUR BEST! OFF!"
The ninja's saluted and sprang through the forest, making the surrounding trees nearly lose all their leaves.
Lee jumped towards Neji and Chouji to Ino, everyone ready for the big battle. Hinata tried her best not to blush at the sight of Naruto standing proud in the dim light from the sunset. She drew one big breath. "Sha…shall we go Naruto-kun…"
He turned his head towards her and smiled. "Sure thing, Hinata!"
Drawing a bit of his blood, he slammed his hand to the ground, summoning the great frog king.
"What Naruto? Summoning me here of all places?"
Hinata stared dumbfounded at the huge frog beneath her. "Aih!"
Naruto smiled dumbly and scratched his nose. "Nothing! We just have to play a little…"
The King blew out a cloud of smoke and smirked. "Well! Why didn't you say that the first time?"
With a shriek, Hinata watched as both she and Naruto flew into the air, the frog underneath them.
-
Temari turned wide-eyed when a huge blast could be heard all the way to where they were. Shikamaru stared too and narrowed his eyes. "We have to get you away quickly…" and began to walk faster towards the mist-country.
His hand went to hers but found nothing but air. Temari was walking the opposite way. He groaned and took her roughly at the arm.
"Don't! We have to get you to safety!"
She narrowed her eyes at him. "I don't care! I have to help th-"
"Temari! You are going to die! You are not in a condition to be there!"
She glared at him. "Shikamaru…you only came here so you wouldn't have to fight…you cry baby…"
He grabbed her arm harder making her wince a bit. "Don't ever…ever…say that I am here willingly…"
"THEN, GO BACK AND FIGHT!"
"NO!"
"Why NOT?"
"BECAUSE I NEED YOU TO BE SAFE!"
"BECAUSE NARUTO TOLD YOU!"
He shook her. "NO! Because I care about you!" Shikamaru let go of her arm and marched off towards the bridge. "Troublesome woman…"
She glared at him and followed him for an unknown reason. Something told her that what he said was true, but never underestimate the pride of a sand woman…that was what Kankarou said a lot of times.
-
Naruto clapped the frog king on his head. "GIVE ME SOME OIL!"
"YOSH!" It roared, drawing in its breath while Naruto made the hand seals.
The enemy ninjas looked terrified and quickly began to retreat, but Naruto only smirked. "KATON!"
Hinata stood amazed as the giant frog spit out oil and was burned by Naruto's fire-technique.
When the fire disappeared Naruto stood for a while and inspected the area. When seeing no one had survived, he saluted. "YATTA!"
The frog king laughed. "Truly if I hadn't seen that, I would never have believed it…or that you have become Hokage…"
"HEY!" that was when he turned around and saw the Tsuchikage before him. "Shit!"
-
"Sakura-san!" Shizune yelled across the battlefield, making Sakura turn her head swiftly.
"Naruto! He is hurt! I need your help!"
Sakura's eyes widened and she jumped down from the branch, avoided getting hit by the many kunais. 'Damnit Naruto! What have you done now…?'
-
The petals swirled downwards as Sakura stood before Naruto's damaged body. Her mouth slightly parted and her green eyes wide.
"SASUKE! I HAVE TO HEAL HIM…!"
She collapsed to the ground, the sword still firm within her stomach. Her breath harsh due to the fact that she had almost been killed. Naruto stood still, his eyes wide as he gazed at the silent Sasuke before him.
He had chosen to save Sakura by slamming his Rasengan with his wind-nature and give Sasuke a giant fatal wound…for the sake of Sakura.
Sakura knew she could save him; she just needed to get this sword out.
"SASUKE!"
Shizune hovered over Hinata's body, healing her as much as she could. Beside her lay the groaning body of the Tsuchikage. Sakura gasped shortly and ran to him, enemy or not, he needed treatment; it was normal for a medic to think that way. The urge to heal their surroundings.
"Don't die!" she screamed and let her hands hover above his chest where the wound of the Rasengan lay.
-
Her hands hovered above his chest, the Rasengan ran deep and his breath was racked, he didn't have much time. Placing them firmly she let her chakra run through her veins, healing the best she could. However, no green light came and she grew frightened and began panicking, screaming louder and louder for every passing second, seeing Sasuke's face grow completely white.
"Itachi…" his mouth escaped, and she screamed louder slamming her hands into the ground.
"WHY?"
"Sasuke! Wake up!" she tried her hardest and traced the wound which had stopped bleeding, but from other reasons. The small green lights that came from her fingertips were too late.
Slamming her fist once more into the ground. "Why?"
Her head turned angrily towards Naruto, who stood completely still, "Why, Naruto? Why?"
-
She pushed the memory away and began to heal the wound, which closed surprisingly fast, making her wonder what had gotten into her. Brown eyes, which were a common feature amongst rock, opened and the lashes fluttered due to the sudden light. The Kage was young, but old, she estimated him to be older than both her and Naruto, but only by a few years.
When the Kage finally focused his gaze on her he laughed.
"Geez…I must have really died…"
She sighed in relief and stood up moved over to Naruto. He was muddy, bloody and didn't look well at all, if that even described the situation good enough. She sat down to prepare the healing; rubbing her sore hands she let them hover above his chest…but no green light
-
No green light came.
-
Her eyes widened. "No…" she tried again, pushing herself harder; she wasn't Tsunade's apprentice for nothing.
-
He turned paler.
-
"Naruto!" she screamed, her eyes showing her frustration, knowing that even the Kyuubi couldn't help now. "Naruto!"
-
"Itachi…"
-
She froze and stared at the whiskers on his face, his eyes closed and his breath swallow, but she couldn't…she couldn't get her chakra to work.
-
"You have perfect chakra control…Sakura…"
-
Shizune noticed Sakura's frustration, but she had to save Hinata. "Sakura! Get a grip! He is dying…"
However, Sakura didn't seem to hear it. "Sasuke-kun…" with a breath she closed her eyes and began to cry. How many years had it been since she cried the last time? The strange yet familiar sensation of the wetness against her cheeks, which only hold bad memories for her.
She dried her eyes, but the tears continued. Naruto had never made her cry, not on purpose, if anybody ever did make one cry on purpose. It was a silent cry, not a sob; it was those times where your mouth went into a deep frown and the tears just trailed down. She gasped for her breath as it slowly grew into sobs and her hands continued hovering just above his chest.
Closing her fist and opening them again she tried to calm herself down, but all her emotions came back to her with a swift motion and she couldn't control them.
"Sasuke-kun---,"she whispered. A soft hand was placed on her shoulder and she gasped. She could hear a deep chuckle and almost sense the smirk. "Yo, Sakura…how about stop being weak and save Naruto over there…"
The tears came back to her as she moved her hands closer to the wound. "…Stop being so annoying."
"Sasuke-kun…"
A low grunt was heard. Her fingers traced his stomach and her mouth parted a bit open, the chakra slowing forming, but she knew that it wasn't enough to heal.
"Eh? Sakura? What are you doing? This isn't what I taught you, was it? Geez! Have you been slacking off in the time you were away…?"
Her eyes opened and gasped. "Tsunade-sama!"
There was no one but she felt her teacher's presence behind her, Tsunade's hands that were placed on top of hers. Of course when she looked there was nothing, but the warmth and the presence was too strong to be ignored.
Smiling sadly she closed her eyes again, noticing that the chakra streamed freely now, and the healing sensation from her fingers being transferred to Naruto. "You better live, Naruto…"
Tsunade smiled, she knew she did. "You are not my apprentice for nothing Sakura…"
Minutes passed by and she noted that Naruto began to breathe normally again and she couldn't help the already streaming tears to become more intense.
-
She watched his body grow white and she knew it was too late; there was nothing she could do. It was her fault…she was useless as a medic, and she was weak.
Standing up she just stood, watching as Naruto circled his arms around Sasuke's body…she was the failure.
-
"Sakura…chan…"
Her eyes opened with a jolt and widened when they saw an exhausted Naruto lay before her, smiling, not grinning, smiling.
She bit her lip, the tears still streaming down her face like a waterfall, landing softly in a puddle at his chest. "Naruto…"
Before Naruto knew what had hit him she threw herself over him, hugging him with all her force, afraid that he might disappear. "You stupid baka! Baka! Baka!" He was confused at first, but realized slowly that Sakura, still was Sakura.
"Hey! I am not a baka! I am the Hokage! H-O-K-A-G-E!"
She sat up, crossing her arms. "Well! You aren't a good one! Going off, nearly getting killed!"
-
Thank you Sasuke…Tsunade-sama.
-
He stared at her and sighed. "Sakura-chan you are so strict" and pouted.
"N…Naruto-kun…" their gazes turned to a bruised Shizune carrying a nearly healed Hinata.
Naruto then sat up as if he hadn't been hurt in the first place. "Are you okay Hinata? He didn't hurt you, did he? Did he?"
A small blush traveled across the girl's cheeks, as she looked the other way. "No…no, not that badly…"
Sakura decided to let the lovebirds be, and turned her eyes towards the Tsuchikage who sat on the other side, watching Naruto, Hinata, Shizune and Sakura. When his eyes saw her staring at him he smiled, showing his gratitude.
"Hey…it's quite…" Naruto noted. Shizune looked up in the sky. "I think it is over…one battle…and it's over…"
Sakura stood up and Naruto stared at her confused. With soft footsteps she walked over to the Tsuchikage and showed him her hand, motioning him to take it. Grateful as the kage was, he took it and helped him stand up.
He was sore and needed to stay in the hospital for a few days, but he could walk.
"Naruto…"
He looked at her.
"I demand that since the battle is over that Konoha ninjas treat both rock and leaf ninjas…!"
Naruto gazed at her for a while before grinning. "Of course!"
The kage looked at her, but she didn't look back. She looked serious, professional, and the only thing that might seem like weakness was the trails of dried tears.
The Rokudaime stood up fully and turned to watch the leaf monuments. Sakura smiled.
-
Maybe…just maybe he has overcome every Hokage.
-
Tsunade-sama…lifting her gaze to the sky she closed her eyes. Maybe, just maybe I can become an even greater medic…