Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Sakura yawned and stretched her arms. She was wondering why she had managed to wake up at 5 in the morning. It was when she took her breakfast that it occurred to her. Today she, Kakashi, and Sai are going on a mission to Sunagakure.
Although the situation should be serious, Tsunade and Shizune weren't exactly awake either, thought Sakura as she watched her sleepy master giving a brief speech before they take off. Sakura recalled the moment Tsunade woke up from the coma five years ago. She was in quite a dilemma. She didn't know whether to be glad of Naruto's defeat of Pain, or to be sad of his death. Sakura had never seen her so down since Jiraiya passed on, as she sort of blamed herself about something that even she, her apprentice didn't know.
"As you know, there is something going on in the Land of Wind, presumably poisonings, and you must reach there as fast as possible to find the cause of the it and treat the sick…" Tsunade droned on and on. Sakura barely managed not to fall asleep in front of her master, although she knew the consequences if she did. She didn't know whether she'll be spared as she is her apprentice, or not as she is her apprentice who did not give a good example to others.
Finally, they took off. With the remaining members of Team 7, Hatake Kakashi and Sai (who was finally free after the disbanding of root as Danzou died), Sakura headed towards Sunakagure.
******
When the sun was properly up, Sakura realized that six years ago, they had used the same route to reach Sunakagure. The trees, the earth, everything looks the same. But they don't feel quite the same. Without the zealous blonde, everything seems so hollow and quiet. She still remembers the spot where they have forced Naruto to rest on their way to save Gaara, along with the late Chiyo and his Jonin-sensei. She, too recalled the hideout of the currently disbanded organization Akatsuki, and remembered how angry Naruto was when he found Gaara dead as they broke in. The image of his comrade's sad face when she told him that it was too late to save the shukaku host, and his relieved expression when Gaara was revived remained crystal clear in her mind although six long years has passed. Tears sparkled in her eyes when she thought of these memories. She quickly rubbed her eyes dry hoping that none of her teammates noticed it.
******
Kakashi did notice it, although he didn't bother to point it out. He still doubts whether Tsunade's choice to let Sakura involved in this mission was right. His thought of Tsunade reminds him of Naruto, who reminds him of the Fourth, who reminds him of his sacrificed comrades during the Third Great Shinobi World War…
******
Rin was peeking through a hole in the door leading to Namikaze Minato's study room. The fourteen-year-old Kakashi could not understand why Rin was so interested in the red-haired woman who came to visit their Jonin-sensei. He leaned onto the wall and watched the excited kunoichi grinning. He sighed. Maybe Rin's idea of visiting Minato-sensei weekly wasn't such a good idea after all.
"Ooh, they are discussing something over the table. Sensei had put his favourite book on it." Rin whispered. "I've never seen sensei invite a woman to his study room."
Suddenly, she squealed, "Kakashi! Look! I think she is pregnant!"
His heart jolted. Pregnant? He looked into the hole Rin offered him and indeed he saw Minato laying his hand over a bump on the woman's belly. It was too large to be just fat. Both of them looked at it with loving expression.
"Sensei's going to have a baby! I hoped Obito could see this!" Rin squeaked happily. He just stared in awe. A baby…
******
Chaos. A giant chakra beast had attacked the village. It simply has too many tails, and with a roar and a swipe of its tail everything was flattened.
"Rin! Where are you going?!" Kakashi yelled through the panicked crowd.
"Kushina told me to hand the baby over to sensei! Just born!" Rin yelled back while running towards the beast with a bundle clutched in her hands.
"No! Let me handle it!" Kakashi tried to help, but the crowd pushed him away from his teammate.
"It's alright! I'll be fine, go and help Kushina!" Rin's voice echoed through the crowd.
Kakashi immediately rushed to the hospital. At the entrance, a bleeding woman was staggering out of the white building.
"Kushina! What are you doing?" Kakashi asked urgently. The weakened kunoichi looked up at him.
"Take me to Minato. Quick."
"No! You must rest! You just gave birth –"
"Don't bother about me! I can help defeat the nine-tails!"
After a few moments of bickering, Kakashi lost. He carried Kushina right to the scene. Dead bodies was scattered everywhere. Right in front of the beast is the Toad Boss. The forth was already fighting bravely. In his hand there was a bundle.
"MINATO! I'LL DO THE JUTSU TO HOLD IT! SEAL THE FOX!" Kushina bellowed as soon as they were near enough.
The Hokage looked down wearily, he knew there's no use to argue with the determined woman. "FINE, BE QUICK!"
"Kakashi, take Rin and get out of here." She said, "Now!"
The white fang's son didn't need telling twice. He ran around yelling her name in vain. Suddenly, among the dead bodies, he spotted a familiar face…
"Rin!" he ran towards her. She had stopped breathing. Her body was covered with terrible red glowing scars. Despite that she is no longer alive, Kakashi took her body to safety, unable to stop the urge to cry. He looked back at the fox with pure hatred.
Suddenly, with a horrible roar, the fox was sealed.
******
"Kakashi, should we rest now?" a feminine voice pulled him back to reality. Kakashi looked around. Night was already closing in, it was too dark to keep going. "Alright then, let's camp here for the day."
Author note: Yeah I know. Mostly memories. Just kind of ran out of ideas and I thought this memory about how Rin and Kushina died is good so I wrote it down. Good part coming up next chapter!
Reminder: This story is based on what happened after manga episode 476. I wanted a bit of suspense so forgive me if you're lost. Everything will be explained in the story.