AN/ Okay, I'll admit it, I'm evil and I don't deserve them after so long a wait, but I love reviews...so please review!
Standard disclaimer applied
Recap: "Haruno Sakura?" Izumo asked with disbelief in his voice.
"In the flesh!" she replied with a cheery smile, enjoying their shocked expressions.
"But you...you went..."
"Missing? Well now I'm found, aren't I?"
"I'll say," Kotetsu murmured, mostly to himself as he looked the attractive young woman up and down before his best friend and teammate jabbed him in the ribs, causing him to stop."Since I'm back, I think I should report in and everything, right?"
"Y-Yeah! Make sure to do that."
Sakura smiled brightly once more, causing the blushes both men possessed to redden further. "Don't worry boys, I will."
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Chapter Eleven
Heartattack
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She took the Oldsmobile out past Condor Avenue
Cops were running around the scene
Looking for some kind of clue
They never get uptight when a moth gets crushed
Unless a light bulb really loved him very much
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Sakura's return was the hype of the village and everyone was talking about it. The normal gossipers who all seemed to be older women found themselves whispering with younger boys and older men about the same thing. The old and young and middle aged, both male and female all knew about the dramatic return of another bright ninja. There wasn't a single villager who didn't know about the girl's dramatic return home, especially when there were so many who were waiting for her.
Unfortunately for those few Sakura crazed men who were going stir crazy, the pink haired ninja was in hiding with Tsunade to discuss certain matters too fragile to disclose.
"Well...to be honest, I didn't expect you to return to us at all, let alone so soon. Only three months less than a year and you are back at our gates seeking entrance. What's gotten into you Sakura? Have you accomplished all you sought out to do?"
The green eyed girl nodded quietly before taking a sip of Sake. "You could say that. I actually planned on coming back sooner, but certain matter arose, preventing me from making the journey. I'm home now and that should be enough though, right?"
"But Sakura," Tsunade began hesitantly, "Are you really...I mean. Is your heart at peace? Are your feelings settled? I would not have been mad at you if you choose to stay away from the village for a longer amount of time to get over what the boys said."
Sakura hesitated, the curved cu only inches from her lips, and smiled sourly before setting down the drink. "That's well and fine, but I don't think I need to get over what they said, but rather ignore it. I don't want to remember and so I shan't. Is that okay with you?"
Tsunade nodded, frowning. "It's not wrong, but I'm a bit...hesitant? Are you sure that is the best thing to do, Sakura chan. They are your teammates, after all. While you may no onger be on a team with those four, you will need to confront them eventually. Can you live with them like that?"
"I do. I'll go on living as if I had never known and soon those wounds won't be there to annoy me any more. It'll be like old times, neh? I can forgive and forget them, but I can't really trust them just yet, maybe in the near future, but not now." Sakura looked down at her hands and frowned. "I think they were right when it came to some things. I don't...enjoy fighting and I can see why they wanted to protect me."
Tsunade swallowed another gulp of Sake, remembering why she didn't want to send Sakura on so many dangerous missions. Sakura was her daughter. Blood or no blood, Sakura was her treasured daughter who she, as the unrelated mother, was called to protect-not send on S ranked missions! Still...that was no reason for babying Sakura to the point that it hurt. Hokages had duties as well. "Sakura, I think I was at fault as well. Will you forgive me as well?"
Sakura smiled and nodded. "Of course. I don't blame you Tsuande and I have learned not to blame my teammates. It hurt, but I don't blame them. I'm at fault too, so if you don't mind, I think I should get going and find them. I plan on treating them out and having a nice long heart to heart chat. Does that sound good?"
The older blond woman sighed in relief and nodded. "Of course, are going to love that. You know Naruto has been so depressed since you left. Well, they all have, but Naruto is the only one you can really see depressed. The rest of them are just pulled back emos who are like that all the time. Those boys will be thrilled to see you again, let alone talk and be treated out by you. You sure you're not spoiling them?"
"I think they deserve to be spoiled after so much 'Sakura' withdraw," the pink haired woman laughed, standing up and streaching like a tired cat after a long nap. "Poor Naruto, my ribs are already hurting at the thought of his bear hugs. leave a bed open for me at the clinic, will ya?"
Tsunade laughed and slapped the floor in enjoyment as tears of mirth gathered at the corners of her aged hazel eyes. "Ho, ho, that's Naruto for you. Haha, don't beat him up too much, but remember to defend yourself. He'll probably try and jump you on sight."
"He had better not."
Tsunade chuckled to herself, falling back into silence, staring up at her beloved daughter. Who stood with her hands on her hops, scowling at the though of the overjoyed greeting she would receive. This Sakura was a breath of fresh air in her life less days. "I'm glad to see you this cheerful. I was so scared you would still be depressed when you came back, but I am glad that I was wrong. It is good to see you glad once again."
Sakura grinned saluting her teacher in a mock bow before bounding out of the Hokage tower and down the street.
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The boys of team seven couldn't remember a happier time. The five of them were sitting in a booth around the table drinking sake and eating whatever it was the had decided to order. Legally Naruto and Sai were only allowed to have the lighter alcoholic drinks, but switched their cups with their sensei's when no one was looking. Kakashi and Yamato acted as bookends to the group as Naruto and Sai flanked the newly returned member who was red in the face from all the alcohol.
Hours earlier, Sai and Naruto had been heading home from training with Yamato, when the loudest of the bunch spotted the pink haired female standing like a statue in the middle of the road. He and the other two froze up on sight, remembering why she had run away. Back then, Yamato hadn't been one of the original to throw in his own two cents on her lack of skill, but he knew he had slighted her in training and chose to shield her during missions more than he should. She would be angry at him as well.
But she didn't look angry. She smiled softly and coxed her head to the side. "Aren't you happy to see me, or am I alone in this feeling?" she asked with a sincere voice.
The first one to act was Naruto. He was on her like a bee on honey, crushing her in one of his biggest bear hugs. If she wasn't as strong as she was- one of her ribs might have been broken in the embrace. Yamato and Sai were quick to her side to pry him off and replace his embrace with their own. It was something Sai read in a book. 'When a friend comes back after a long time away it is common to welcome him with a hug instead of a handshake.'
"I'm glad to see you are still happy to see me. I though you would be a bit angry that I left," Sakura gasped, once hugs were done.
"Us? What about you?" Naruto asked, loud as ever. "I-ow... I mean, we thought you would be mad at us...for all those things we said and did. Not that we meant any of it like that, it was all just a big misunderstanding and-"
"I know, Naruto, I know," Sakura laughed, patting him on the shoulder. "You don't have to apologize, that's my job for now."
"You know, Gaara sent a messenger bird saying he detected your chakra signature not too far away from here a few weeks back. He came here himself and went looking, but nothing turned up. He was so bummed when he left. A lot of us were, since we were on the search party. Neji looked ready to kill someone in frustration, and poor Kakashi just looked plain old sick. I swore he aged like, ten years or something over the week. It was amazing, and not in a good way."
Sakura nodded, something akin to worry flickering in her eyes. "So I see. I know Neji is feeling better, since I just talked with him today before meeting up with you, but I have yet to meet with the Kazekage. But speaking of old friends, where is Kakashi sensei? Does he not train with you anymore or is he off getting lost on the road of life again?"
"Kakashi sempai is..." Yamato began, pausing to think. "At home, I think. No one sees him much now a days."
Sakura looked disappointed and a bit guilting, guessing the reason for his absence being herself. "I see."
"Hehe, we should go see the old fart and see if he thinks you're a clone. We though about doing something like that once but decided against it, knowing it would be too cruel. Though that didn't stop them from doing it to me once," Naruto said, crossing his arms and looking away.
"That sounds like a good idea, since I was planning on inviting you guys all out to dinner, my treat."
"Seriously, hell yeah!"
Sakura lightly bonked him on the head, not having the will do seriously do any damage. "Baka, that's my line."
Yamato was the one that knocked on Kakashi's door with only Sai beside him. Sakura and Naruto were hiding behind a corner, choosing to observe the scene before acting. They were all a little worried about Kakashi's mental condition. Naruto guessed he would pass out when he saw Sakura if they didn't handle things properly. Sai pointed out that if that happened all they needed to do was find his smut and pretend to burn it. That worked the last time their sensei passed out. Obviously, Sakura wasn't there.
Kakashi entered the door, looking as if he had just woken up. He lazily greeted his two friends and let them in. Once the door was shut, Naruto and Sakura scurried over to listen in on the conversation through the door. There was a second part to the plan but that went out the window when Naruto yelled out in pain, after having Sakura hit him for making a lewd comment about how she had matured over the years.
Kakashi was behind them before they could realize their mistake.
"Naruto, what are you...." his voice trailed off when he noticed how exactly it was he was looking at next to Naruto. His lone visible eye grew wide with shock. "Sakura..."
KLUNK
"Damn, he really did pass out, someone get his porn," Yamato grumbled, running a hand through his messy brown hair.
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Sakura got up to excuse herself, claiming she needed to use the woman's room for a moment. They were sitting outside, since it was so nice out, and Sakura found herself having to walk around the side of the building to get inside where the rest rooms were. She received several stares along the way.
She was wearing a dark red dress that dipped low enough to reach her navel and expose a good amount of chest. She paired the dress with black wrist gloves and a lacy black choker. It was no wonder most of the men and several of the woman were looking at her like a piece of meat ready to be devoured. She licked her lips and winked towards a handsome young jonin who looked ready too burst into flames, he was so red.
She laughed, mirth dancing on her lips as she passed under the shadows of a nearby Sakura tree only to stop suddenly when a kuni landed an inch away from her face and stuck fast to the bark behind her head. She was nowhere near the restaurant anymore. "My, my, you healed faster than I anticipated. I was sure those wounds would have kept you soaking in the water for much, much longer."
"Shut up," The voice was dark and filled with hate.
"But than again, you are a medic."
The one armed with kuni threw another three, making the woman with dancing green eyes and pink hair jump back and land on the branch of another tree. Sakura petals jumped into the wind, flying everywhere, casting an erie scene under the light of a full moon.
Reaching into her dress, the young woman pulled out a handful of senbon needles before throwing them at the cloaked figure. The one in the cloak jumped, but was too slow, catching two in her arm and missing only one. 'Poison!'
"I don't think I need any help from those men, but I want to see you hurt some more. I want to see the pain in your eyes as they come to my rescue. As they come to fight you," Sakura hisses, jumping back. The one in the cloak looked up suddenly, drawing another knife that was longer than the others.
"Don't you-"
"Kaaaaa!"
The dark figure cursed, jumping back only to have another figure grab her injured arm in a vice like grip, the blade of a ninja's favorite weapon against her clothed neck. "If you value your life, you had better explain yourself fast, and even then I don't think I'll let you live," Kakashi hissed, both eyes gleaming with hate.
"Sakura, what happened?" Yamato asked as Sai and Naruto took their place in front of the teammate who appeared to be injured. there was blood running down her arm from a cut that hadn't been there before.
"Y-you guys don't need to be here. This is my fight-ugh!" Sakura tried to protest but stopped when her arm began to throb. "Oww."
"What did you do to her, you bastard?" Naruto hissed, his whiskers growing darker-his eyes red. Sai looked just as deadly with his fake smile and a dozen inked lions.
"Answer!" Kakashi growled, squeezing her injured arm.
She cursed in pain, hissing as the blood from her wound seeped through her clothing and fell to the ground. Feeling his hand beginning to burn, Kakashi let go and jumped back to avoid an array of knives aimed for his head. No-not his head, they were too high. "Watch out, he's got acid or something in his blood. Long range for this guy."
Sakura whimpered in pain, clutching her injured arm, making Yamato growl in aggravation. "Don't worry Sakura, you're with us now. This guy is gone."
The figure in the cloak took a few steps back, before jumping to avoid the fangs of a lion that exploded when hit. That explosion caught the attention of a number of other ninja who were eager to help the newly returned medic with pink hair. Neji and Shikamaru were in front of Naruto and Sai, along with Lee and Kiba. Choji was in the back, acting as defense along with Ino and Hinata. There were a few other faces in the crowd that were too blurred to make out.
Too many to go up against.
under the light of the full moon the figure dodged blows from Kiba and Akamaru's best attack, The Nara's powerful shadows, An array of weapons and several painted lions. She was able to avoid them all until Kakashi's white lightning came out. She had never seen him so fast as he thrust his crackling fist through her side. It wasn't anything immediately vital, but if she wasn't treated soon, she would certainly die.
'I told you I'd make you suffer like never before' Tsuchigumo whispered in Sakura's mind as she stumbled backwards, bleeding heavily.
Sakura's eyesight was wanning, but she could still see clearly the many webs infused with chakra that were spinning an illusion only Tsuchigumo could spin. It was the perfect genjutsu. Not even Neji would be able to see through it. And to make matters worse, she had all of Sakura's memories. Tears threatened to spill over as another kuni landed it's self in her side.
'That's right, Sakura chan. I spent weeks in advance spinning my webs to make this jutsu invincible. No matter what you say or show, they will always see me as you and you as someone else. Suffer like never before, moth child!'
Sakura screamed in pain falling to her knees, surrounded on all sides by blinded men. She was feeling dizzy. Soon she would pass out and they would take her. She couldn't let them do that. They would get hurt once exposed to her poisoned skin. She needed to get out and get away, fast.
"G-ga..." She coughed, blood on her lips, willing her body to dissolve into a funnel of moths that clouded the air and filled it with dizzying dust that would leave the majority of them paralyzed for the next hour or so.
Hinata and Ino were the only ones who hung back with Sakura, and they were the only ones not affected. Ino was finishing up on 'Sakura's' many cuts before she moved over to the men to help loosen up their limbs.
In the shade of the Sakura tree Tsuchigumo grinned, her pink hair flapping around her narrowed green eyes. A black and blue stripped spider with eight thin, long legs crawled out from underneath the blooming tree and scurried underneath her dress.
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When the true Sakura awoke the next morning, she found all her wounds neatly dressed and, surprisingly, no dead body by her bed, killed from the contact with her skin.
"H-how?" she whispered to herself, looking down at her bandaged body.
"I'm wise enough to know when to use gloves, Sakura san."
Sakura reached for a knife from her thigh pocket, but found none when she confronted the owner of that voice. "Shino Aburame? You did this?"
"At least you remember me, nice to see you too, Sakura san."
The injured woman chuckled, staining a wound on her side from Kakashi's favorite lighting based attack. "Thank you Shino. I am extremely grateful to you for doing this. Are you the only one who can see through that woman's genjutsu or are there others?"
Shino took a seat beside his old friend and folded his arms over his chest. As always, he was wearing his darkly tinted glasses and a deep green hood. "Aside for myself and the other member in my clan, no one has been able to break through the illusion and see the truth. I am disappointed in the Hyugas who boast of their eyes for days and nights without end. Hinata I can understand, but Neji should have been able to see that the woman he speaks with is not you."
Sakura raised an eyebrow at how talkative the bug lover seemed this morning, but did not say anything about it. "Why is that do you think?"
Sho held out his hands and a few of his bugs flew out. "That woman's genjustu can not fool my Kikaichū, as they can not fool your moths."
"Ah, I see. Have you tried... explaining the situation?"
"Have I tried? Yes. have I had any luck, no"
"Why not, they should believe you," Sakura said, attempting to sit up in bed, only to grunt in pain and fall back into Shino's pillow. She was a medic so she knew when she should rest. These wounds would take a while to close and a lot of chakra. She still had some old wounds from her first fight with the spider woman.
Shino frowned, or at least, Sakura though he frowned, (it was hard to tell with that hood in his face all the time)."With this sort of thing, people are believing what they want to believe, rather than what they should. They want Sakura to be back and forgive them, so that refuse to see it as anything else. That woman is a sly one."
"Maybe, but I don't plan in sleeping and resting forever. Even if I have to die to prove me point, I'm going to beat some scene into my friends and make them regret ever trying to hurt me. All I have to do is take down those webs of hers, right?"
"To undo her spell, yes, but that would take forever to do by yourself with only your moths. You wouldn't be able to git rid of all of them before she throws up more."
"That's if I do it by myself..."
"...You desire my help?"
"And the help of your clan. I don't think she plans on all of you even knowing about me. When she stole my memory, there were some things I was able to keep hidden. Not many, but you and your clan was one of them."
"That was very clever of you, Sakura san. When you are fully rested and healed, you may count on our help. As the future leader of my clan, they will listen to what I have to say."
"Thanks Shino kun."
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I'm getting closer and closer to the end, yay! Maybe one-two chapters max, and it's done.
A little humor and a little drama, no? So Shino has teamed up with Sakura to save the village! A plot twist I don't think many of you saw coming. I hope I caught a lot of you with the whole, Sakura not really being Sakura. I think one person guessed something close to that, but only her.
PLEASE REVIEW!
Ja ne