A fast update this time, hope you enjoy

Chapter 9

At first it had been weird being back in Konoha. Many of the people she knew had either avoided her, or they admitted that they didn't know what to say. In a way it felt pretty good being here. Kazuya made sure she had enough space, and no one had tried to impose on her since she came back to the village. She liked the quiet at the memorial stone, and even talking to Kakashi seemed to have returned to feeling natural, instead of forced.

Sakura closed her book, and leaned back against a tree, to the side of the memorial stone. Even if she was feeling better, in the back of her head she couldn't let go of the person she had lost. He had been there for her, when she needed him the most. And now he was gone, taking his warmth and comfort with him. She had heard people tell her that time heals all wounds, but this wound just wouldn't heal.

Months had passed, the battle with the Akatsuki was going nowhere, and Naruto seemed to have come to a point where he was itching to get some action. Sakura had to agree that being stuck in the village was getting to her too. With a long sigh, Sakura got up. See you tomorrow.

So far things had gone fine with protecting Naruto. With the exception of Kazuya, since he didn't let anyone in on what he's feeling, everyone seemed to warmed up to Naruto. On occasion, Ryoga would attemt to help Naruto with his training.

By the time Sakura reached the training field, Ryoga was already there. Apparently Naruto had grown sick of Kazuya's many not so nice remarks and challenged him to a sparring match. Naturally, cool and calm won over pissed off and angry. Naruto stood across from Kazuya, panting. "How can he be this though?" Naruto asked himself. "I should have all the advantages here. I have more chakra and the opposing element."

"Well?" Kazuya asked. "Are you waiting for the grass to grow or what? Or are you ready to give up?"

Naruto's mind went back to the third Hokage, and even to Jiraiya. He had decked both of them by using his sexy jutsu. So far whenever he faced an opponent he really couldn't defeat, that jutsu did the trick. Naruto ran towards Kazuya, concentrating his chakra. Barely a foot away from kazuya, he came to a sudden halt, a cloud of smoke envoloped him, hiding him from sight.

When the smoke cleared, a sexy, naked blonde girl appeared. With innocent eyes, Naruto looked up at Kazuya, who seemed unimpressed.

"I don't get it," he said after a moment of silence.

"It's my sexy jutsu."

Kazuya nodded, looking up at the sky and rubbing his chin. "That jutsu is about as usefull as….. Cock-flavored candy."

Naruto turned back to his normal self and stared at Kazuya. How did that not work? "Are you into boys?" Naruto asked flatly.

Kazuya stared evenly at Naruto. He frowned at the question and shook his head. "Nevermind." He turned to Lucy. "You coming?"

Kazuya waved at Sakura and Ryoga before leaving. Sakura shook her head and walked over to Naruto. "What did he do?" she asked, already aware that Kazuya had the ability to piss off just about everyone.

"Sakura-chan," Naruto said. "Well he was saying that you were a lousy kunoichi when you went to Waterfall. And that Kakashi-sensei was to blame, because he didn't train properly. And that I could've been much stronger if I had been in Waterfall with the Uzumaki clan instead of here…"

Sakura held up her hand to silence Naruto. "Don't listen to him. He was just being a jerk."

"But Sakura-chan," Naruto said. "You were never a bad kunoichi."

Sakura smiled at Naruto's sweet words. "Kazuya has a different set of standards. He was expecting me to be like Lady Tsunade. Instead he got someone who wasn't that powerfull and skilled. So he trained me. And I am stronger now…" Naruto wanted to interupt, but Sakura cut him off. "Strength isn't everything. Having a team you can trust, is far more important. And I trust you Naruto, more than anyone else."

"I'm sorry," Yamato added. "I wanted to stop them but…"

"Where's Kakashi?" Sakura asked, interrupting Yamato. She knew that he had a better chance of calming Naruto down than Yamato.

"He went to get us something to eat," Yamato said. "Since Naruto didn't want to take a break."

"And you believe that?" Sakura asked. "That man hasn't paid for anyone's meal for as long as I can remember."

Yamato said nothing. He remember Kakashi treating him dinner on several occasions when they were younger and both in ANBU. Seemed that he stopped doing that.

Ryoga took his spot on the ground under the tree Yamato had grown next the bench he had made for Kakashi. Reaching in his pouch, Ryoga pulled out a pack of sigarettes. Not really feeling like getting involved in the drama Kazuya had just caused, he leaned back against the tree, putting a sigarette between his lips and lighting it. This called for a more delicate approach and Sakura knew exactly how to handle Naruto. He watched while smoking, how Sakura calmed Naruto down, and how Kakashi arrived holding a see-through plastic back with food. Seemed Sakura was wrong.

Kakashi sheepishly rubbed the back of his head when he saw the trainigfield. It looked like a battleground and Naruto was out of breath. He also felt Sakura's angry gaze on him.

"Where were you?" She asked.

"Getting lunch for these two."

"From now on," Sakura said angrily. "You will all take a break to eat. Got it?"

Sakura's angry gaze made the three men nod in compliance.

"Oh before I forget," Kakashi said. "Lady Tsunade asked if you could report to her office."

"Uhm, okay," Sakura said before yelling to Ryoga that she had somewhere to be and that she'd be right back.

How long had it been since she last went to talk to Lady Tsunade. Long ago she was like a second mother to her. Someone she could trust completely. Now she wasn't sure what to feel anymore. She had been gone for years, and only been back for several months. A nostalgic feeling gripped her when she stopped just outside the wooden doors to Tsunade's office. She used to come here nearly every day. Sometimes to report, sometimes just to talk. The whole experience made her feel warm on the inside. Almost like being home. Comfortable and familiar.

Sakura softly knocked on the door. A few seconds later "a come" in sounded from the other side. Slowly, Sakura opened the door to peek inside. In between two stacks op paper sat Tsunade. She smiled when she saw that it was Sakura who had entered.

A long moment of silence followed. Everything they needed to say, was said in a way. The silence was only broken when Tsunade pushed back her chair, getting up and leaving her desk in favor of hugging Sakura. A hug Sakura returned.

"I wanted to come you sooner," Sakura whispered. "I just didn't know how or when…"

"Same here."

Tsunade pushed out of the hug and took a good long look at Sakura. "You've grown into such a beautiful young woman," she said.

Sakura smiled, feeling better than she had all day.

"How are you?" Tsunade asked. Of course as Hokage she had already heard a great deal. Kakashi had uttered his concerns about Sakura to her. But also Yamato had reported on the way Sakura was. Both men had told her that Sakura wasn't eating properly, and that she generally looked depressed. This had caused Tsunade to ask Kakashi to keep a close eye on her and to keep her informed.

"You should know," Sakura answered with a small smile. "You've had Kakashi spy on me."

Tsunade seemed a little taken aback by this statement, but nodded in confession. "I was worried."

"You and a hundred other people," Sakura said, her tone becoming serious. "Can we talk about something else? I know everybody means well, but I just need time."

Tsunade nodded and gestured Sakura to sit down. "Tell me about Waterfall. How have they been treating you? Do you like your team?"

"You've already met my team," Sakura started. "Except Akira… He died, back then…" Sakura's voice trailed off for a moment as the horrible events of that day came to mind. "Ryoga is a replacement that Kazuya requested for this mission… Or maybe he did so for me."

"How's that?"

"Ryoga's been there to watch me. Looking after me. He's Kenji's cousin. He's been very sweet and patient with me. And when I'm with him it's like he numbs the pain a little, taking away the sharp edges. And I know I have no claim on Ryoga, but he checks on me every day, except when he's on a mission. He reminds me, why I'm still here."

"And life in Waterfall? When you first got there?"

"I was sad," Sakura admitted. "I was alone, and the next day I met Kazuya, Lucy and Akira. Lucy was so kind. Like a girl-version of Naruto. I instantly liked her." Sakura smiled at the memory of her first akward meeting with Lucy. "She and Kyrie mostly took me shopping, and we had so much fun. Then after my first mission I met Kenji." Sakura clenched her fists in her lap. He'd been dead for months, yet talking about him still brought tears to her eyes. "He made things better. Made Waterfall my home. I trained with Ranmaru a couple of months." Sakura abrubtly changed the subject. "He made me this sword and taught me nature and shape manipulation."

"I see," Tsunade said. "So they've made you into a more versatile fighter."

"I can even do genjutsu," Sakura added. "I'm mainly waterstyle. I can do several lighting style jutsu. And I made jounin after being in Waterfall for a year."

"So you've been a jounin for over a year now!" Tsunade repeated. "How did you manage that?"

"Kazuya is more of a hard-ass instructor than you and Kakashi combined. His training methods are harsh. I even broke several bones, tore ligaments and landed in the hospital as a result of his training. It was rough," Sakura explained. "But I think that him constantly pushing me past my limit made me stronger. I still can't defeat him on my own, but someday I'll surpass him."

"I hear he's not very nice."

Sakura laughed at hearing that. Yeah he wasn't very nice to people he didn't know, no denying that. He'd been mean to her too on her first day on his team. He had even suggested that Ranmaru send her back to the Leaf because he deemed her useless. "Only to people he doesn't know, or doesn't like."

Sakura got up from her seat. "I've been gone too long," she said. "If Kazuya finds out he'll say something akin to we are on a mission."

"I have to get back to work too," Tsunade said. "Could you give this scroll to Kakashi, I forgot to do so earlier. And Sakura, don't be a stranger."

Sakura took the scroll and disappeared from her seat making Tsunade smile. She had walked in through the door, but she could transport herself out with little effort. She had definitely improved.

XOXOXO

The moment a loud boom was heard behind him, Ryoga quickly put out his third sigarette. He swatted his hands at the smoke around him, trying to clear the air. "Didn't work," Sakura chirped. "Still saw that."

Ryoga shrugged. "Didn't smoke in your presence."

"You always say you want little Ryoga's someday," Sakura said, a naughty glint in her eyes.

"Yes, so what?"

"Smoking is bad for your sperm count."

"There's like millions of them. A few dead ones won't make a difference."

Sakura smiled. "You do know over half die by the time the enter the birth canal, right?

Ryoga's eyes went wide. "Really? How do women get pregnant when their body is such a hazardous place?"

"Luck," Sakura chirped, walking over to Yamato and Kakashi. She gave Kakashi the scroll and returned to sit with Ryoga.

Kakashi opened the scroll and read the contents. He gave a long exasperated sigh, making Yamato look at him. "Tsunade is sending us on a mission."

"Me too?" Yamato asked.

Kakashi shook his head. "No, just Sai, Naruto and I… And the Waterfall team."

Yamato let out the air he'd been holding. Part of him was glad that he didn't have to go on a mission. He hadn't had a day off since Naruto decided he'd train every day until he'd go on another mission. "What's the problem?"

"It's babysitting the children of the Daimyo for two days," Kakashi said. "Naruto's going to go crazy."

With lead in his shoes, Kakashi went to break the news to Naruto. And like he had guessed, Naruto started to throw a tantrum. Of course it was a stupid mission, but given the amount of money involved Tsunade had made this a B rank mission. So that meant that she'd send a chuunin to take care of it. In this case she was sending Naruto who conviniently had missed every chuunin exam since he was 13 years old.

Sakura and Ryoga could almost guess what was going on from the fit Naruto was having. Seemed they were being send to watch a couple of kids.

"This is not a mission!" Naruto yelled. "This is babysitting. Can't they get a nanny to do that?"

Kakashi sighed. Naruto would never change. "We're obligated to obey the Hokage's orders." Kakashi said calmly. "And this is our assignment. Weren't you the one who complained about not having been send on a mission for months?"

"I know, but… This is humiliating," Naruto whined.

Ryoga skillfully took the scroll from Kakashi and read what it said. He smiled and passed the scroll to Sakura who looked confused at Ryoga's happy face. "What?" Sakura asked him.

"We're going on vacation!"

Sakura read the scroll. "I guess you could call it that."

"Are you making fun of me?" Naruto asked. "That's a horrible mission."

"No it's not," Ryoga said. "Getting paid to watch a couple of kids… Sounds like a vacation to me. The missions I get send on always means meeting people who try to kill me. This sounds like a nice change in pace."

"I'll let Kazuya know we're leaving tomorrow. Give him some time to put on his poker-face," Sakura whispered to Ryoga, who started to imagine Kazuya's reaction to this mission.

Both could guess Kazuya's reaction would be something like "Are you fucking with me?" or "Are you serious?". The latter if he was in a good mood.

Ryoga put an arm on Naruto's shoulder. "How about I treat you to some ramen?" He offered, bringing his mouth close to Naruto's ear so he could whisper. "You can show Sakura your skills with kids. Girls like a man who's good with kids."

Naruto narrowed his eyes at Ryoga. Sure he had heard that saying too, but never put it to the test. He wasn't really all tht interested in girls unless they were Sakura. "Let's go," Naruto eventually said.

XOXOXO

Sakura easily found Kazuya sitting on the roof of her apartment building. He was reading his favorite magazine, How to kill, which Sakura had once called porn for psycho's. Kazuya looked up from his magazine, raising an eyebrown in question.

"The hokage is sending Naruto on a mission," Sakura explained without being asked. "And we have to tag along."

Kazuya took a deep breath. "Are you fucking with me?"

"That would require less clothes," Sakura deadpanned. "We leave tomorrow morning at ten."

"That late?" Kazuya asked. "Why not earlier?"

"Kakashi is always late," Sakura said. "So leaving two hours later is normal around here."

"Great. Can we leave him behind?"

"No."

Sakura laughed when she left the rooftop in search for Lucy. Just like Kazuya to instantly suggest to leave Kakashi behind. The two them clashed a lot. Just about every time the subject of Sakura's training came up. Kazuya kept claiming that Kakashi was to blame for the sorry state she was in when they returned her to Waterfall. He liked provoking people a little too much.

XOXOXO

Like Sakura had said, the Waterfall team gathered at the gate just before ten o'clock. Only Naruto and Sai were there, making Sakura grin. That part of Kakashi would never change.

"If he's not here by ten o'clock," Kazuya said, already fed up with Kakashi being late. "I'm leaving him behind."

Just as the words had left Kazuya's mouth, Kakashi showed up. "How you ever made jounin will forever remain a mystery to me," Kazuya said narrowing his eyes at Kakashi. "Well can we go now? Or do need more time to fix your hair?"

"Why, is it unruly?" Kakashi asked, playing dumb.

Sakura grabbed Naruto by an arm and dragged him out of the gates, making him stutter as spoke. "Sakura-chan, what's the hurry?"

"Maybe we can escape while they're busy," Sakura said while laughing, causing Kakashi and Kazuya to regain focus.

The rest the short trip was made in silence. Sakura had gone back to being depressed, and rest simply looked like themselves. Naruto was still trying to figure our what Ryoga had meant exactly by saying that girls like men who are good with kids. He had no experience with kids, except that he had been a child once himself. How was he supposed to win Sakura's attention with this mission?

Once there the Daimyo's wife explained some of the house rules and wanted to hand her youngest child, a baby of three months over to Naruto, when Sakura interfered and took the baby instead. She was then instructed that he still needed to be fed and bathed. Sakura eagerly nodded and sat down with the baby, cradling him and she made sure to support his head.

Ryoga scratched his head. He would never understand what women liked about a baby. All they really do is eat and poop and sleep and cry. He could do that, but when he did that it was considered gross. He looked over at Naruto and gestured a I told you so.

"That is a baby," Kazuya rasped. "Not a plaything."

Sakura gently cradled the baby in her arms. "Oh shut up," she said softly, so she wouldn't upset the baby. "Let me enjoy this okay?"

Kakashi looked up from his book and was instantly reminded of something Sakura had told him. They had been at the memorial stone.

It was a sunny day. And Iruka had taken his class out to explain to them the memorial stone and what meaning the names on the stone held to the village. The kids were quiet, on the occasional question would cause the group to lose focus. Kakashi had turned his head to Sakura, but she had turned her head away, her eyes closed and a few tears escaped her eyes.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

It's nothing."

"You're crying."

Sakura dried her tears. "We always talked about this," she said softly. "About getting married and starting a family. But I was stubborn. Getting married is under civillian law in Waterfall meaning I either had to get Ranmaru's permission or wait until I was twenty. I thought it was stupid to get permission so I wanted to wait. I thought we had more time."

Sakura started to sob, her body shaking as fresh tears fell. "I feel like I've missed out. Like I'll never feel that happy ever again."

So during the mission they let her look after the baby, since she believed she'd never have one of her own.

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