So yeah… please don't kill me. Heh heh. I know, it's late… and I know I said I'd try and post two chapters… but the key word is try. Life's been hating me lately soooo yeah. Here's chapter... what is it? Eighteen? Or sixteen. I can never remember… but Merry Christmas! Happy Kwanza! Hope you had a great Hanukah! and Yay! Boxing Day! … I think that's all of them?
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto nor will I ever…
(btw, this is my longest chapter! ::applause::)
Recap: " "Don't worry, she's okay," Itachi whispered in his ear. Stepping away, he picked up the plush toy with the scroll and handed it to Naruto. "Let's go check in."
---
Kisame removed the clouded cloak from the pinkette to reveal Sakura.
"Sa-Sakura." "
---
(btw, think ominous Akatsuki music)
Locked in a stare down, Tsunade came to her senses quickly as her eyes traveled to the pinkette in murderous arms. The pinkette lied splayed out and her head dropping down. Caramel eyes melted in worry as Kisame's brows furrowed while examining the Godaime. His charcoal eyes gazed down and quickly noticed the pinkette's vital signs were weakening. Inhaling shallowly, Sakura's skin flushed a deep rosette with hives breaking out.
"I could kill you and run or you could save your pupil. Make your choice woman because she doesn't have much time." Keeping his voice stern, the Akatsuki member never looked away from the indisposed woman.
"How can I trust you? How do I know that you won't kill me after I save her?" her voice stayed serious but with a hint of wavering.
"Do you honestly believe you care about your life that much? From the look on your face it seems you care for her a hell of a lot more."
"Fine. Set her down and step away."
"We don't have time for this. She's going into anaphylactic shock."
The minerval princess knew before the gilled man told her that her pupil was dying but she still held some sort of value for her life. Or maybe it was that she was still a kunoichi and refused to go against her gut feeling. Sucking in the cold night air, Tsunade set her amber eyes on solely Sakura and began to step forward. Reaching her slender hands, she hesitated as if any moment the skinning sword would chop her limbs if they got any closer. She took one more glance at Sakura's dying figure and her love over took fear. Flaring her chakra to her hands, a green glow pulsed into the hived covered body.
"I've stabilized her for about five minutes but we need to get her to the hospital. My chakra isn't going to fix her too much."
"I can't do that," he stated. "Hospitals have security."
"Either you suck it up and get over it or she dies!"
Charcoal eyes flickered with fear and quickly went dull. "I only ask you to save her for your sake. Not mine."
The blonde dismissed his faulty eyes and continued to pump chakra into the girl's system. "I promise that you will enter safely and leave without no one knows. Now god damn it let's go!"
"If you break your promise I promise I'll destroy this village."
Nodding in agreement, the blonde waited impatiently for the blue skinned man to change forms and stow his cloak. After he turned into the civilian, Tsunade grabbed Sakura's hand and transferred them in a cloud of smoke.
(a/n: end music. Btw, I wrote this thinking of the music and then I reread it with the music playing in the background. It ended exactly when I finished reading :) I read kinda slow though to check myself so it probably won't happen with you. … alright I'll let you continue.)
With Naru and Ita (btw, Naruto is still a girl but I'm using masculine possessive-ness)
Falling softly upon the small inn on a lone hill, a veil of moonlight illuminated the calming scene. A cobblestone pathway led to the homely hotel and two figures walked hand in hand. One glided precisely over the rocky stones and was careful not to trip over the occasional root. The other… not so much. Stubbing his toe twice, tripping only to be caught… four times, and eventually being carried, the pair eventually approached the wooden tavern-like door. Crossing the threshold, the slender man slid the petite female down to the oak floor. Mossy orbs took in the homey inn and breathed ever scent that wafted through the air. It just felt like a long voyage finally ending in a warm embrace of home.
The room was divided into three sections: the lobby, the sitting area, and the dining room. Matching oak pillars and furniture completed the scene. Center stage was the main desk with a china cabinet filled with simple white chinaware. To the left of the lobby was the dining area that was closed off from the eye by rice paper screens. On the right was the sitting area that was large enough for approximately fifteen people. Sectioned off in two groups, each had a three-seated couch, a love seat, and two single chairs with an oak coffee table. The furniture was mossy green and shades browns to create a soft earthy feel.
Watching the small auburn kunoichi, the cool figure brought her back to reality when he clasped her hand. Leading the pair, the slender onyx man glissaded towards the front desk to a lithe girl waiting with a blushing smile. Her frost silver hair framed her ivory skin with piercing blue eyes. Her innocence aurora placed her at the age of fifteen or sixteen.
"Hello Iwao(1). Will you be staying with us again?" her melodic voice chimed.
"Hello Gin(2). We'll need three rooms for tonight."
"Yes, of course. Will it just be you two?"
"No. Three more will be joining us later."
"Oh. Would you like to upgrade your stay to a suite? We currently have one available." Her bright eyes shone with happiness and her warm smile melted all the men in the small inn's restaurant. Alas, none of her beauty and charm made a difference to the stone nin.
"A suite would suit perfectly. Thank you."
"Mhm," she chirped. "It's room number 9 at the end of the hallway. Here are four keys to the room. Would you like me to help you with your lug..gage…?"
"We travelled light this time," he replied with a slight smile to his tone, "but thank you." Turning lucidly from the desk, Itachi nodded in Naruto's direction for him to follow past the front desk into the hallway. Leading the petite woman through yet another door, they entered the common room and went to check out all the rooms. Naruto excitedly sprinted into each of the rooms and started claiming the best things for himself. Itachi on the other hand, sat on the suede couch and removed his cloak.
A stolen towel or two, three pillows taken, and tripping over a barstool later, Naruto was standing direction in front of a relaxing weasel. This time it was a delicate blonde tenderly admiring the eased face of a man who looked like a thousand weights were lifted from his mind. His body was so open with his arms spread wide across the back of the couch and his legs propped up on the glass table. Naruto cradled his body in the crook between the slender arms and placed his legs over top of the narrow hips. A long waited night of peace and comfort.
---___--- let's go back to a certain hospital with a certain blue man--- ___---
A smoky cloud dissipated and three figures were slowly visible. Stepping away from the falling dust, Tsunade guided the murderer down the corridor towards a large metal door that had at least three locks.
Ram-Serpent-Horse-Tiger. Tsunade finished the hand signs and a loud metallic sound echoed.
"Hurry in. It's not very often this chamber is used and someone could've heard that."
Kisame complied without any complaints and strode through the entry. Placing the frail body upon the sanity bed, the blue man drifted away as Tsunade started to slip needles in and hooked all the necessary equipment up. All the while Kisame's eyes burned from never blinking once to confirm there was no ill will done to the pinkette. Ten minutes passed and the busty blonde finally stepped away, sweat beading from her brow.
"She-she's stable for now," she huffed.
"Good. I need to leave soon. I'm sending for Itachi."
And before she could protest, Kisame started forming hand signs. Within seconds Itachi appeared in hologram in his original form.
"What. I was in the middle of something."
"I need you to come to the hospital. Your little brother decided he wanted to become a rapist and attacked Pinky. She got rid of easily but it in critical condition or something. I don't know exactly but I need to leave immediately for the Sound mission."
"Hn. Who else is in the room?"
"Just the old lady."
BEEP BEEP BEEP (so imagine the hospital beeps you hear on all the television shows… and it's going haywire. Kay? Good.)
"Hn."
"Just get here, Teme. I don't have time for your shit."
"You better have enough time to tell me what the hell you both are talking about," Tsunade yelled. She was over Sakura again, pumping her chakra into her malfunctioning body.
"I'll be there, but I have to make sure I have a way back in."
Kisame barked in laughter before he finally calmed himself remembering the situation he's in. He had trust in the busty blonde but it still kept him somewhat somber. "I'm not breakin' the news to Blondie," the blue man ginned toothily. "Sucks for you 'cause I sure as hell ain't messin' with the poutin' an complainin'."
"Hn," was the only cold reply from the Uchiha before his hologram flickered away. Tsunade stepped away from Sakura again, drained halfway of chakra and turned towards Kisame.
"Now tell me what the hell is going on!"
"I can't explain to you. If you're a decent Hokage then you'd already know and by the expression on your face I bet you already know. It's better for you to not know the details."
"And how can I trust you and your murderous clan not to attack my village?"
"Because if we wanted to then it would've already been done. Plus Itachi-teme has a soft spot for his ex-village." With that, Kisame turned from the blonde and threw on his infamous cloak.
"How long?"
"How long what?"
"How long has it been since she's been in your care?"
"Huh? What the hell kinda question is that? I don't know… About 2 weeks? I'm not exactly sure…"
"Can she stay here?"
"No. She'll refuse. We didn't steal her. She came to us."
"Why in Kami's name would she do that?"
"REALLY?" he started screaming at the woman as she shrunk back in fear. "She almost just got raped! Do I need any other reason?" His eyes blazed in anger in defense for the frail pinkette.
"You care for her," she stated in realization.
"She doesn't feel the same."
"And how would you know? Have you talked to her?"
"It doesn't matter. A war is approaching and she's in love with Blondie who's with someone else."
"Who?" the Godaime's perplexing brows furrowed.
"Itachi."
The room filled with an awkward silence and only the slow drip of an IV and the heart monitor sounded. Tsunade's eyes shut in disbelief. That man was supposed to be dead. It was the sole reason that Sasuke was cleared of his name and his treason against the village, wasn't it?
"Take care of her." Poof. He disappeared into a swirling cloud of smoke.
--__--__--__--__--__--__--__With a Sasuke--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__ --__--__--
'What the hell happened? I only know two women who have that strength… There's no way she'd return… or would she?'
He perched like a raven on the edge of a building in the slums. Jumping down from the dismantled roof, the avenger strolled down the streets with the usual blank stare deep in thought. He knew where he was going and he knew what he wanted. Sasuke turned the corner sharply and continued down a dark path littered with the sleeping homeless just trying to find warmth and women looking to get paid. Many of the street women started catcalling and offering their price as the regular passed. Stepping off into another small alley, Sasuke opened the first door to his left and trailed down into the underground pipes of Konoha.
His final destination? Root.
--__--__--__--__--__--__--__-- With Itachi & Naruto --__--__--__--__--__--__--__--
His sleeping figure curled tight in a ball and lied shivering without the extra body heat. Naruto cracked his eye open just in time to see Itachi just about to jump from the open window.
"Where-" he yawned, "Where are you going?" The blonde rubbed the sleep away from his eyes only for them to start drooping into sleep.
"Sakura's in the hospital and Kisame wants me to go stay with her."
'Wow… he actually said more then "hn"… wait what!!!"
"What?" his eyes flew open. "Why is she in the hospital?!"
"Long story. I need to go now. Let us back in later."
"How will I know you're back? Why can't I go?! She's my friend!"
"You can't be seen."
With that said, Itachi's transformed illusion hopped out the window with a small pillow in his hands. He leaped from rooftop to rooftop landing in a hidden alley way a block from the hospital. A surge of chakra flowed to the tips of his fingers into the squishy felt pillow and Itachi continued on his way as he walked with a purpose towards the blue gates.
-_-Same place… we're just gonna go to the hospital and wait for Ita to enter there-_-
As any weary person would working the night shift, the reception nurse turned her head towards the clock that read 11:15. It just wasn't fair that she got stuck on night duty because one person complained about how she looked. Apparently she was too beautiful for all the pregnant ladies that came in for their check ups and made them feel like a bloated hippopotamus. Nala turned her head as a tall, dark, and handsome man walked in with a small bundle.
"Excuse me nurse! Yes! You! I need Tsunade-sama now!" he called immediately upon entering the building. "My baby girl, she-she's so sick and Tsunade-sama is the only one that knows how to treat her. Sakura-san used to come to my village every so often to heal my baby but she's stopped coming. I heard rumors and I just need someone to help me! Please, just call Hokage-sama!" Itachi's voice was breaking every time he spoke of his "little girl" and his eyes watered.
"I'm sorry sir, but I can't help you. You need to wait your turn and fill out the proper forms."
"No! Kami!" he shouted in desperation, "Can't you see my baby is dying!" Itachi folded some of the protective blanket away from the child's face. Her heart breaking-ly blue face showed the lack of oxygen that her blood received and her breathing was faint. The small wisps of pink hair appeared to dull around the heavily lidded eyes. "Look at her face! Do you honestly believe that she'll survive?!"
"Sir," she spoke evenly and sternly, "I'm going to ask you to step back and go sit down now."
"NO!" he screamed. The few people in the waiting room rose their sagging heads to see the man causing such a commotion. "Do you have kids?" he questioned. Her silly little head nodded as she thought back on her teenaged pregnancy. "Would you just 'sit down and wait' for you kid to die? NO!"
"YEAH LADY! CALL HOKAGE-SAMA! SHE NEVER TURNS DOWN PEOPLE!"
"Yeah! You should learn life lessons here twat!"
Eventually the entire crowd (five people) began walking towards the front desk and demanding her to help save the child's life. She broke down in tears as the pressure grew to great to handle and reached for the intercom button.
"THANK YOU!" someone finally agreed upon her actions.
Clicking the button, the nurse picked up the small microphone and inhaled quietly to speak. "Security, I have a man down here with a pink haired child. Please escort him to waiting area J."
Itachi roared with anger as he grabbed the microphone out of the dumb bitch's hand. He immediately clicked the button and started ranting his needs while fending off the nurse's smacks. His voice let loose all the years of anguish and sorrow as he began pleading into the mike.
"Hokage-sama! Please save my daughter! Save my Sakura!" His cries for help brought tears to his own eyes and all those in the lobby. He set the microphone down on the counter and slowly backed away to wait for his arrest to "waiting area J".
(a/n: waiting area J means jail… just to clarify.)
---___---___---With Tsunade upstairs---___---___---
"Damn-it! Now I have to go and save that murderer's ass! Fucking fantastic!" Tsunade vented to unhearing ears.
Poofing away in a cloud of smoke, the Hokage arrived in the lobby. By the description of the man and the pink haired child, she immediately knew who Itachi was. Snatching his sleeve, the busty blonde poof-ed them away wearing a disgruntled face. The raven, on the other hand, smirked. Landing in front of the large steel door, Itachi shuddered in her clutch but she dismissed it for the eerie hospital feel. Tsunade unlocked the doors again and held the portal open for her "guest".
"She will be able to go home tomorrow afternoon," the blonde commented as Itachi loomed over the motionless woman.
"Is it possible for her to leave tonight?" his voice showed no hint of emotion.
"No. She's still unpredictable and I would like to keep her in a safe environment. If… your partner? was right about Sasuke-san attacking her, then he will most likely be looking for her to take his revenge."
"Hn."
"Are you going to stay here with her tonight or do you need to return to someplace?"
"I can't stay," he turned to face her. "Will you be with her the entirety of the night?"
"Yes. I'm the only one that knows she's here and if something happens I need to be here to fix it." She didn't know why but she felt obligated to tell him as if Sakura was his. His charcoal eyes made the whole ordeal that less intimidating. "I'm going to keep her in a coma like state until you return though."
"Why is that?" his eyes pierced her confidence.
Puffing out her chest and regaining her attitude, the princess replied with a sharp tongue. "Well unless you'd like her to flip out and start destroying the hospital and potentially exposing your organization, then you'd agree without complaint."
"Hn."
"Ugh, typical answer, Uchiha. You and your brother act exactly the same."
"Do not compare us."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow at the tension he caused.
"I will be returning tomorrow at thirteen hundred tomorrow. She better be awake and in one piece." The dark man stalked out of the room with his "sick baby" who was now healthy and walked down to the lobby. "Thank you so much nurse… Nala. My child lives another day no thanks to you."
Itachi stormed out of the glass doors and into the thin crowd. Most were wobbling side to side, yelling obscenities, or arguing with every person that they bumped into. Figuring that no one was watching, the ebony haired man disappeared in thin air out of the streets of Konoha. Landing on the frosty grass outside of the Inn on the outskirts of the village, Itachi threw a pebble at his window. A blonde mop popped out the window and grumbled while backing away. Itachi leaped up to the windowsill and climbed in only to watch his blonde crawl back into a room. The tall man turned and closed the window and blinds. Like a hawk to his prey, the Uchiha followed Naruto into the room and climbed into bed under the homemade quilt.
"Goodnight," ivory lips whispered in a tan ear.
"It's fucking one in the morning. Go to sleep," he grumbled in response.
"Lovely," he smirked. Soft snores sounded from the tan body. Charcoal eyes finally shut for the night as the two souls melted to one.
--__--__-- next day. Yeah. All that happened in one night. Don't be overwhelmed :) --__--__--
Light filtered through open blinds and danced upon locks of gold. Each beam of sun embraced the soft features of his tan face. Stirring ever so slightly, Naruto pulled himself from slumber's grasp. His senses perked up when the aroma of coffee wafted through the air and found its way to his nose. He pulled the sheets off, slid his feet to the cold autumn floor, arched his back in a stretch like a cat, and final made his way to the common area. He stood in the doorway with a simple black tee and ramen decorated boxers and watched the lean figure cooking in the kitchen. He could only admire the strength of such a delicate looking man and was mesmerized how each movement the man made a new muscle would flex. His onyx hair seems to fall into its exact place and it almost seemed like a picture.
"Are you going to stand there all day," the man turned with a smile, "and let our breakfast go cold?"
"Eh heh heh," Naruto scratched the back of his head as a deep blush crept to his cheks and ears. He obviously got caught in his admiration. "I was just about to ask you what you were making," he spat out a quick lie.
"Mhm," Itachi's voice answered with a deep grumbling. He smiled down as he picked the food up and placed it on the coffee table.
'His voice, ugh, it sounds like silk. What is this feeling in my stomach? Are these butterflies! I haven't gotten these since Kami knows when… Actually, I do know when.'
~Flashback~~
'Naruto,
I have work until 8 tonight.'
"Che. That means midnight."
'I was hoping that we could have dinner tonight before I have to go back to the midnight shift.
Love,
Sakura'
"Yeah… cause she'll definitely be off in time to actually eat real food. But I guess any time with her I should consider lucky. I do love her…"
Time passed on that day rather quickly and eight o' clock rolled around soon enough. Naruto, being the best boyfriend that he could be, arrived promptly five minutes after 8 so Sakura would have enough time to change and be ready to go by the time her shift ended. Well… that was the idea anyways.
"I NEED THE PADDLES NOW! I'M LOSING HER!"
"HAI SAKURA-SAN!"
His head dropped when he realized he wasted his time coming so early. He total understood that she was saving lives and that's the job that they both signed up for, but sometimes he just wanted her to be his, for her to be normal and not needed by everyone. He couldn't complain though. He was on the fast track to becoming Hokage.
Twenty minutes passed and finally the commotion stopped and the hospital was silent. There was a solid tone and all the nurses walked with their heads slightly down in respect. Sakura walked from the room covered in blood, her hair astray, and tears roling down her eyes. She walked into the nurses' locker room and seven minutes later she walked out with a new set of clothes, her hair tied back, and puffy eyes. Her arms were crossed over her small waist as if to comfort and hold herself. Naruto stood tall as she shuffled to his chest. He just held her there tight in his arms for a few minutes. Time seemed to slow as she mourned in his arms. Eventually Sakura pulled away from her solid protection and whispered a soft "Be right back." She walked threw the swinging doors into the visitors' waiting are as Naruto stood in the doorway and watched his lover break the news to the late patient's family. A wailing woman fell into her husband arms and screamed for her child, her baby. Sakura backed away from the family for them to have their moment and for her to allow the tears of failure to run free without anyone seeing them.
She took her break and Naruto just held her hand as they walked out into the nippy night air. Walking blindly, the pair followed their feet and found themselves at the place they first met, a small children's park. Naruto eased into a small swing and pulled the miserable pinkette into his lap in a curled up ball. Off in the distance a grandfather clock struck ten and he bent his head down to her ear. Breaking their sanctuary, he spoke gravely into her small ear.
"You need food before you go back."
Her head shook in response. "I-I don't want to eat…"
"You can't tear yourself up every time you're not one hundred percent successful. It's Kami's will, not yours. You must continue on to held aid others." He stood up with the small woman in his arms and slowly set her feet down. They walked back into town, got some food, and he returned her to the hospital. "I'll see you later, kay?"
"Kay…" she replied somberly. "I love you."
"You too," he half smiled. With that ending note, Naruto turned from glass doors and out into the night.
'What the hell was that? "You too"? She's mine now and all I can say is "You too"? But does that mean something? I mean, we're together now and I don't get butterflies every time I see her. My heart doesn't skip a beat and those romantic moments just seem cheesy now… but she's the girl of my dreams and I've been chasing after her for so long. Maybe something's wrong with me…"
He continued to his apartment and laid in the bed still fully clothed. The blonde stayed restless all night until finally sleep overtook him at four in the morning.
~~End of Flashy~~
Slender arms slid their way around Naruto's hips and woke him from his daydreaming. A soft kiss placed upon his forehead made the blonde's heart jump as he breathed in Itachi's scent of lime, citron, pomelo leaves, and white musk(3). His scent was obviously of high quality and it made the blonde feel refreshed.
"So I slaved over a hot stove all morning to cook you breakfast," he whispered above the blonde's head, "and you won't join me in eating?" Naruto's breath hitched and he tilted his chin up only to see warm eyes looking right back.
"So-sorry," he breathed heavily out. "My mind wondered off."
"May I know the culprit notion that stopped you from my meal?" his dark eyes danced.
"I don't really know how to explain it," worried blue eyes turned away. "It was about this feeling but I just don't know what it means." Itachi chuckled deeply for he knew what the blonde spoke of. Unwinding his arms from his lover's waist, the raven lifted his partner's chin and smiled reassuringly.
"How about we eat before it gets cold, yes?" The blonde nodded and Itachi escorted Naruto to the coffee table where they sat at opposite ends in single seated chairs. Before them were two bowls of fruit, a small plate with two pancakes, and a ceramic syrup pourer (4). "So we have about two hours before we must pick Sakura up from the hospital. I told Tsunade we'd be there at one and I'm pretty sure Sakura wouldn't mind talking to her. I thought we'd show up at about 1:15 to give them extra time."
"You sure that's such a good idea? I mean, Sakura left by herself too. Do you really think she'd want to talk to the one person that could coax her into staying?"
"There's no way she'd stay after what happened last night," Itachi looked up in disappointment.
"You never did tell me what happened…"
"Sasuke has lost his way and is dishonoring his name."
"He know's we're here?!" Naruto yelled in alarm.
"No. He knows Sakura is here."
"Teme! I'm going to kick his ass!"
"No. Not yet at least. Sakura protected herself from his rape attempt. It's not yet time to battle."
"Yeah, yeah. That's what everyone tells me."
"That's because they are generally correct."
"You don't hafta rub it in my face ya' know!"
"I'm not," he smirked, "it's just cute how huffed up you get." Naruto stuck his tongue out like a little kid and turned his back with his arms crossed. "Well while you pout, I'm going to go shower and get dressed. You're invited to join if you'd like." With that, Itachi picked up his dishes, walked to the kitchen putting his dishes in the sink, walking into the bathroom, and started running water. Naruto's eyes grew the size of saucers with a pouty lip.
Climbing up from his cross-legged sitting style, the cerulean eyed nin hurried to put his dishes away. "Damn him," Naruto started to mumble under his breath, "and his perfect ivory skinned muscles and his-his silky black hair and-and his charcoal eyes that melt me to a puddle and his- what's the word… Talented! Yes, talented fingers that do-"
"Are you going to continue grumbling or are you going to join me?" Itachi voiced through the door.
"Fuck you!"
"Your attempts of woe-ing me are failing miserable," he chuckled.
"Screw you!"
"No, I believe I screw you," Itachi said as he opened the door stark naked. Naruto's eyes grew once more and he felt slightly over dressed. "So are you going to stop pouting, or are you going to join me," he repeated. Naruto narrowed his eyes and turned his chin up as if he was better than that. Itachi sauntered over to his blonde and stood directly in front. "You sure," he purred.
"Hmph."
Placing his pale long fingers on Naruto's hips, the ravenous man pulled their hips together and started grinding until his uke started to moan.
"Fine, I'll stop pouting! Let's go take a shower," the blonde submitted between moans.
(a/n: I could've written a lemon but a shower scene has already been done even though they are always hot and steamy ;) )
--__--__--__-- At the Hospital w/ Sakura and Tsunade --__--__--__--
'Any minute now she should be waking up. I stopped the drugs two hours ago and they should be done passing through her blood system. What the hell am I going to say to her?' Tsunade didn't have time to think of an answer as the pinkette started to stir. Rushing to her side, the busty blonde waited in a chair next to the bed for her adopted child to fully come to her senses. Emerald eyes that were slightly hazy soon became eagle sharp and locked in on her protector.
"What the-What the fuck? Why am I in the hospital?" she demanded.
"Glad to know you haven't lost any edge to your charm," Tsunade replied in a "quite frankly" tone. "You're here because you got knocked unconscious and a murderer was kind enough to get you medical attention."
"Kisa-kun…" she whispered. "Where is he now?!"
"He said something about a mission and a war approaching. I don't know as to whether he's trying to stop the war or start it-"
"Stop it."
"Excuse me? Since when have you given orders to me?"
"No. They are trying to stop the war. I don't know the details really, but I know it has to do with Sasuke and Team Hebi."
"Actually it's Taka (5) now."
"Oh…" They sat in an awkward silence for awhile until Tsunade cleared her throat and turned to look at her "daughter".
"How are they treating you?" her eyes were pleading for information.
"They treat me fine. I made a complete fool of myself in front of all of them my first day, but other then that, well," she genuinely smiled.
"That's all? They treat you well?" the blonde questioned desperately. She had a mother's instinct and she wanted to know every little detail.
Sakura granted her adoptive mother the gossip she was dying to hear. "Itachi is apparently an OCD, health nut freak. I don't see him much because he's usually off with Naruto-kun and he threatened me if I left a certain room… I think he just didn't want me to get killed… Anyways, Sasori and Deidara-kun such horn dogs. They're even worse then the cover story to Jiraiya's books (6). Kisa-kun is a stubborn ass, jerk face, fish brain. He got me drunk the first night I stayed there!" The pinkette felt like she was a genin again, gossiping about all her friends to her real mother. It brought a sad smile to her face when she thought of her mother's death. It was an assassin attempt against Sakura and she was out on a mission, unable to protect her family.
Tsunade on the other hand was thinking about how many so-called-diseased Akatsuki member were actually alive.
"You're thinking about her again, aren't you?" the princess brought the two from their thoughts. The words seemed to spill out of her mouth without her even thinking about it.
"Shishou, you always know me. I'm so confused lately."
"I know," she smiled tenderly. "You still love him don't you? Is this what you mean by confused?"
"He's with Itachi! I can't compete with that! And you should see the look on his face when he's around him. It's as if he holds the world's secrets and he was invincible. Kami, he's never looked at me like that, and I don't want to ruin anything else for him."
"Then don't."
"But how? I don't want to wreck anything but sometimes I feel like we're just not meant to be."
"Maybe you're not, Sweetie. Have you ever looked at the world around you?"
"You're seriously not helping," her voice went flat.
"I'm not telling you what you want to hear," the blonde spoke from her heart. "I'm telling you what you need to near."
"You always do," she rolled her eyes. "What time is it?"
"It's about 1:05 right now. Itachi should be here soon to pick you up… I wonder what's keeping him. Very unlike an Uchiha."
"I have an idea," she grumbled. "So anyways, how was the festival for you last night? Well… except for this whole ordeal."
"You know, some villager actually had talent this year and dunked me," she winked.
"I couldn't help it!" the pinkette laughed. "It was only payback from all the training over the years."
"So I transformed you from a meek little scrapper into a beautiful deadly woman and this is the thanks I get? You're worse than Naruto."
"Worse?! There's no way you can compare me and that baka!"
Tsunade laughed at her apprentice's temper. They were her two "children" in the world and they seriously acted like it towards one another. It's hard to believe that they somehow got along and became lovers.
"Hello! Shishou? Don't tell me you're on memory lane again."
Poof.
"SAKURA-CHAN! YOU'RE OKAY!" a spunky blonde shouted oblivious to anyone else in the room.
"Baka! I'm still in the hospital! Stop yelling!"
Itachi nodded to the exhausted looking Hokage sitting at the bedside chair. Naruto followed the movement and suddenly became more reserve.
"Tsunade-baachan," he narrowed his eyes and deepened his voice.
"Uzamaki Naruto, that is no way to address your Hokage," Tsunade chastised.
"You're not my Hokage, remember?"
"Oh shut up Naruto! You know as well as I do that Tsunade-shishou didn't make that decision. Now let it go."
He knew he couldn't win this battle, and plus, he missed the old lady.
---___---___--- Root Base (back track to about 4 in the morning) ---___---___---
Sasuke waited for what seemed like four hours outside a heavy metal door down in the drainage system. Not only was he covered in sewer water, he was possibly sitting the rat crap. The avenger walked through the pipes for about half an hour until he finally came upon the main entrance. It was ironic how Root was literally the foundation of Konoha and yet no one ever thought of looking down for the "disbanded" organization. Sasuke began to get impatient after meditating for so long for one sole man.
"You came," a voice bounced off the walls.
"And you're late. For a man that can travel vast distances by breaking the fabric of life, you have no excuse," Sasuke kept his voice even.
"You should know not to chastise your elders Sasuke, especially when they could very easily kill you in a blink of an eye."
"But you wouldn't because for some particular reason you need my eyes. Don't you, Madara?" (7)
"This isn't the reason we've met up. Now tell me, why have you brought me to Root?"
"Haruno Sakura has returned and this gives me the idea that Naruto has returned as well. She vowed she'd bring him back and apparently while I was gone he rubbed off on her. So I want to know that if what you promised me is all lies or is it all part of your master plan?"
"Unexpected things occur. I doubt he would come back into the village at this point," the ancient man lied nonchalantly. He knew everything that happened in the hidden leaf village. "Things have a way of working themselves out, now if you don't mind, you've wasted my time with your petty insecurities. I thought I've trained you better then that. Danzo will be arriving approximately ten minutes. Good luck with the deal." The orange masked nin swirled away into nothingness.
Okay! Well that's the end. I know it kinda sucked and it was actually more of a filler then anything, but you can get over it… hopefully. :) I solemnly swear that I WILL update this January. And if I don't, I give you the right to spam me with PMs until I update. The following notes below are just my thoughts on parts that I wrote… you don't have to read them but I enjoy it. It also defends anything that you may find offensive. And if it doesn't or you find anything offensive that I didn't mention, don't hesitate to REVIEW AND TELL ME!
Please review. :) thanks.
1) the name means "stone man"… I felt it fit…
2) it means "silver"
for the inn…. I really don't feel like going into great detail. You have your brain. :) use it :)
Nothin against teenaged pregnancy, I just portray the nurse as young in my head cuz all she cares about is going home, hot guys that walk in the door, and following rules. Yeaaah. She's a nurse but seriously, you can't tell you that you've never had a nurse that looks about the age of your teen cousin when you go to the doctors. So. I declare again. Nothing against it, she's just young and I wanted her to have a kid cuz parents do crazy things when it comes to their child.
Btw, I really love the word twat. It's fun to pronounce :)
3) the scent is CK in 2 U by Calvin Klein. I did not just make that up on the spot. And if you don't know what white musk is, look it up on the internet :) I can't explain it well…
4) okay. So I could NOT find the technical word for a syrup pourer. It really bothers me because there's no way that there's no name for it… if you know the proper name, please I beg you, tell me!
5) So in the anime he says Taka (which it's the latest ep. 141) but when I looked it up it says Hidan. I know it means Hawk but either way, don't flame me cuz it's not the version you've heard. and no offense, but don't inform me of what you think it is cuz I go by the anime… and I can HEAR him say Taka.
6)I'm pretty sure his books are like codes… or something like that… not positive.
7) Illusions are tricky, aren't they? :) everyone was so sure that all the rest were dead but I made 'em live… it helps with the story line later.