Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter 14
I want to thank you all for the supportive reviews in regards to this story! It makes me so happy that you guys enjoy my story!
I just realized that next week Uni is going to get so chaotic for me...midterms to study for on top of that reading to complete...WAHHHHHHHHH akfdja;kj;kadfja;lkdfja;lkdfja;l...so please don't hate me if i don't update as frequently...but i will try! Also a hint: A major sasusaku fluff scene is coming soon 'wink wink nudge nudge'
Somedays she regret making this ingenious decision to follow Jiraiya back to Konoha. Especially agreeing to becoming Hokage. It was fine dealing with all the paperwork and all, I mean she could just give it to Shizune, who has gotten very good at forging her signature. It was the meeting with the village elders that peeved her. Those batty old coots think they know so much. Seriously, how long has it been since they even stepped out of the village?
Snarling, she snapped another brush. Watching as the inky blob drip down onto the mission report before her. It was like this, every time she finished one of those annoying meeting with those geezers. It seemed like they had no skills aside from being able to turn her mood from cheerful to flat out pissed within a few hours. Tossing the broken brush aside she reached for another one.
Today was going to be a long day
"Are-" slurp "-you-" slurp "-going-" slurp "-to miss-" slurp "-me-" slurp "-Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked as he inhaled the miso noodles in front of him. Tiny droplets of soup flew in all directions.
Making a face of disgust, Sasuke shoved Naruto's face into the bowl. Smirking when he watched Naruto sputter while trying to get bits of noodles out of his nose.
"WHAT THE HELL, TEME!" He yelled as he wiped his face with the small napkin handed to him by Teuchi the shop keeper.
"Dobe."
"YOU-" Naruto was pulled back by Sakura before he could punch the smirking raven haired male.
"Stop it the both of you." Sakura said in an exasperated tone. Their constant fighting was starting to give her migraines. "And to answer your question. Of course I'm going to miss you."
Naruto who seemed to have completely forgotten the incident with Sasuke, was now turned fully to face Sakura. Grabbing her hands in his own, his face broke into a grin. "I knew you love me Sakura-chan!" He launched himself onto her. Awkwardly, Sakura patted him on the back.
"Shouldn't you be going now, Dobe?" Sasuke stared at them with a slightly annoyed expression, as he pulled the stupid blond off the girl.
"You're just jealous that Sakura-chan loves me more." Naruto freed himself from the raven haired male and reattached himself to the girl.
"Sasuke-kun's right, aren't you late?" Sakura asked the blond as she pointed to the small clock that hung in the corner of the small ramen shop. Turning his head, Naruto stared at time. His eyes widened in realization.
"ARGH, I'M LATE! KAKA-SENSEI'S BAD HABITS ARE RUBBING OFF ONE ME" He shouted as he immediately released Sakura and ran out of the shop. "BYE SAKURA-CHAN, TEME!" He gave them a small wave before bolting for the village gates.
"Uh...he didn't pay." Teuchi stared at the eight empty bowls of ramen that was neatly stacked on top of each other.
Sakura's forehead collided with the countertop. "I'll pay for it." God, she was going to be broke.
Before she could reach for her wallet, another hand stopped her actions. Trailing up the arm, she found herself staring at Sasuke, who handed a wad of cash to the shop owner. "Let's go."
"Eh?" She sputtered as he dragged her out of the small stand. "I can't have you pay for me." She reached for her wallet again, to pay him back.
"Stop. It's fine." He dropped his hold on her wrist. "You can pay for the meal next time."
Sakura stopped in her tracks. Was he hinting that they'll be going out to eat again? Was this his way of asking her out? A smile appeared on her face. 'Stop it Sakura, you're thinking of something stupid again. This is Sasuke-kun we're talking about, there's no way' However, despite her attempts to reprimand herself for her own stupidity her smile never faltered.
"What's that stupid grin for?" Sasuke asked as he stared at her.
Her grin grew larger. "Nothing."
Leaning against the large doors of the village, Jiraiya closed his eyes as he enjoyed the nice breeze.
"Leaving with Naruto, eh?"
Cracking open his eyes, he stared at the silver haired jounin beside him. "Yup, kid shows potential."
"He's full of surprises." Kakashi muttered a reply.
"He's not the only one." Said Jiraiya as he recalled the strength demonstrated by the Haruno girl and the Uchiha boy. "Sakura and Sasuke are also something."
"Oh, they're something alright." Kakashi reply dryly.
.
.
"ERO-SENNIN!"
Both older males turned towards a screaming blond, as he ran down the street.
"Seems like we'll be going." Said Jiraiya.
"Aa." With that Kakashi opened his favourite porn book and poof-ed away.
Panting to a stop in front of the toad sage, Naruto stared at the spot where Kakashi had just been, he asked. "Was that Kaka-sensei?"
Toss aside another mission report, Tsunade grabbed her sake cup and downed the liquid. Setting the cup down, she rubbed her temples with one hand as she reached for another file with the other.
Opening the manila folder, she stared down at the roster of all the genins that graduated this year. Her gaze fell on a certain pink haired girl. Reading her stats, she grew more and more confused.
According to the file, it states that Sakura Haruno had no skills in medical ninjutsu, nor was she particularly gifted in Taijutsu or ninjutsu. The only thing she was good at was genjutsu and a near perfect control of chakra. So how was it that she was able to perform medical ninjutsu and demonstrate that kind of strength. Something that requires years to master.
"Shizune."
The brunette walked over to the desk. "Yes?"
"Find and bring in Sakura Haruno." Tsunade said, without glancing up from the file. She was going to get to the bottom of this.
"When are you going to be able to get into the archives?" Sasuke asked as they walked down the busy street of Konoha. He wasn't trying to rush her, but he just really wanted to find that mission scroll.
Folding her hands behind her head, in a fashion similar to what Naruto usually does, she stared at the civilians that walked past her. "Haven't really thought about how to approach Tsunade-sama yet, I mean she's probably suspicious by my abilities."
"Just tell her the truth." Sasuke stared at the thoughtful girl beside him. "I mean you told Kakashi."
"I get that I have to tell her the truth." Sakura sighed. "But how am I suppose to bring up this topic? Am I suppose to just show up in her office and be like 'guess what I'm from the future?'"At the last bit of her sentence she made a 'tada' motion with her hands.
"…"
"See you don't have any ideas either."
He gave her a glare.
"Oooo, I'm so scared." Sakura waved her hands beside her in a mocking fashion, before lightly jabbing Sasuke in the side.
His glared melted away as he rolled his eyes at her childishness.
.
.
"Haruno-san."
The two genins stopped their small banter and looked up at the petit brunette.
"Hokage-sama requests your presence."
Sakura turned to give Sasuke a look. "Guess this is how I'm going to approach her." She softly muttered to the raven haired boy beside her.
.
.
Trailing after the brunette, Sakura followed her up the winding stairs of the tall Hokage tower. Occasionally bowing to passing chuunins or jounins.
When they reached the top floor, they turned left and continue down the rounded hallway to the office. Stopping in front of a large oak door, Shizune gave two short knocks before pushing open the door and ushering the small genin in.
Looking up from the mountains of paperwork, Tsunade gave a small nod before sending Shizune out. "Shizune please leave us. I need to have a private conversation with Haruno."
Giving a low bow, Shizune left the office and gently closed the door behind her.
Not saying a word, Tsunade studied the nervous genin before her as she folded her hands under her chin.
A long pregnant pause.
"Um…" Sakura began, as she stared at the hokage.
Cutting her off, Tsunade tossed a folder at the girl. "Care to explain to me how a girl who doesn't have any gift in medical ninjutsu is able to perform chakra scalpels, or how it is that you are familiar with my techniques, or better yet, how is it that you were able to do all these techniques that takes years of practice to master perfectly?" Her honey colored narrowed suspiciously at the girl.
Sakura flinched under the penetrating gaze of Tsunade. Her brain seemed to have completely shut down. "Um...I uh…"
"I'm waiting."
Giving the back of her neck an awkward rub, Sakura let out a sheepish laugh. "It's a crazy story actually."
"Do tell." Tsunade continued to study the girl before her.
"Well…" And Sakura proceeded to tell her the same story she had told Kakashi.
.
.
After she finished, she stared hesitantly at Tsunade for any signs of doubt. However the older woman's face revealed no indications.
"Uh...I know how impossible this may come across, but I promise you it's the truth." Sakura decided to speak up after seeing how Tsunade made no indications of talking.
"Do you have any proof to support your story, aside from you being able to do my techniques?"
"Well, you're one of the best medical ninja, and you taught me everything that you knew about diseases and treatments." Sakura began. "I mean I'm able to find an antidote for almost all poisons."
"…any other proof?"
Sakura was slightly taken aback as she tried to think of other possible ways to prove her story. "Oh got one." She stood up and pulled a kunai from her pouch. Walking near the Hokage, she positioned the knife over her stomach. "I'll demonstrate it to you." With one swift movement she stabbed the blade into herself.
Wincing at the pain she slowly pulled blade back out. Lifting her shirt she gave the hokage a better view of the wound. "Just now, I perforated the outer lining of my stomach, and the tip of the kunai managed to puncture a small hole in my large intestine. Without proper treatment I would bleed out within a few minutes." Tsunade listened to her explanation of the wound, shocked by the accuracy of her description. "Because you were my shishou, I learned to stitch up this wound in a matter of seconds." Sakura pushed chakra to the opening of the wound, and without using her hands she quickly repaired the damage.
Tsunade's eyes widened when she saw the girl heal herself without the usage of her hands. That was something most medics can't possibly do.
"Oh, also this." Sakura suddenly remembered that she had the byakugou seal to prove her story. Mentally rolling her eyes at her own stupidity she untied her hitai-ate and let it fall from her forehead, revealing the small purple diamond. If she had started with this, she wouldn't have had to painfully stab herself "You said to me that as your disciple, I will inherit the power of the sannin and Hokage."
Tsunade leaned her body forward and closely examined the byakugou seal. There was no one other than herself and the previous Mito Uzumaki who could teach anyone the proper way to form this seal. So if Sakura has this seal, it must mean that her incredible story was the truth. "How long did it take you to form this seal?"
"Three years."
"Impressive." Tsunade commented as she touched her own seal. It took her over six years to be able to form hers, yet this girl was able to complete hers within three. "I guess I made a really good decision in accepting you as my disciple…in that other time line." A small smile was present on her face.
Sakura let a grin break out across her face. She believed her. "Um, Tsunade-sama?"
"Hm?"
"I was wondering if I could be your disciple this time around as well? I really enjoyed working for you the first time."
Tsunade gave a light chuckle. "How can I say no to such an outstanding student."
"Orochimaru-sama it seems like Tsunade is now the hokage of Konoha." Kabuto meekly spoke to the irate man.
Cursing, Orochimaru glared at the grey haired man.
"I might be able to do something about your arms." Kabuto quickly added. He let out a small sigh of relief when he saw his master calm down. "Though it also seems like that Haruno girl knows some medical ninjutsu."
"I think it's time to retrieve my vessel."
Patting her hand along the wall, she finally found the small switch she was looking for. Flicking it on, she waited to the over head lights to ceasing their flickering.
"This way." She whispered to the raven haired boy beside her. Silently they made their way across the rows of official documents. "Since it was a secret mission, the scroll should be in the restricted section."
Right after she gained her position as Tsunade's disciple she was handed a small key card for the Konoha archives. Knowing how eager Sasuke had been to get into the archives, she hightailed out of the office after being dismissed and headed straight for Sasuke's apartment.
Grabbing Sasuke's wrist she pulled him down one of the end rows of the large room. Stopping in front of a small shelf she pointed to the rows of documents. "Those are the restricted ones."
Walking in front of the girl, Sasuke pulled one of the scrolls out and blew off the layers of dust. "Let's start looking." Nodding, Sakura pulled out another scroll. Peeling open the document she scanned it's contents.
.
.
.
After going through the shelf of documents twice, they were still unable to find any information pertaining to the Uchiha massacre.
Giving a small sneeze, Sakura placed the scroll back in it's place. "If it's not here, then it might be with the elders."
"Let's go then." Sasuke said as he helped the girl up from the ground.
"Wait." Sakura pulled on Sasuke's arm to stop him from walking. "I don't have access to that, only Tsunade-sama does."
"...are you saying…"
"I think we should tell the hokage."
In an instant Sasuke pulled his arm from her grasp, and turned around to glare at her. It took him a great deal of trust to include her in this, now she wants to involve the Hokage? Someone he barely knew. "No"
"Sasuke-kun, she's the only one who can talk to the elders, and possibly get the scroll." Sakura pleaded as she made a reach for the boy again.
"I'll find another way." Sasuke replied stubbornly.
The pleading looked left her face, as a glare took it's place. Angrily poking Sasuke in the chest, she harshly whispered at the boy. "And that's going to take you till when? Their security is crazy tight." She saw his glare harden and sighed. "Look you may not know Tsunade like I do, but she's always fair and she hates the elders just as much as you do."
"…"
"I understand if you don't trust her, but trust me okay?" Hesitantly she grabbed Sasuke's hand. "Trust me when I say it's a good idea to get Tsunade-sama involved. Besides Itachi is a wanted criminal so if we are to bring him back, Tsunade-sama will know about the Uchiha massacre sooner or later."
Sasuke studied the girl in front of her. Her large green eyes pleading as she stared up at him.
"Please… for me."
'For her'
"Fine."
Quietly exiting the archives room located in the basement of the Hokage tower, Sakura locked the door behind her before quickly following after Sasuke to Tsunade's office.
.
.
Walking up the stairs in silence she stared after the raven haired boy's head. She was thankful. She knew it probably took a lot of trust on his part to follow through on this plan of hers, and she was glad he trusted her enough to do so.
Rounding the corner they walked down the empty hall to the hokage office. Not bothering to knock, Sasuke walked into the room like he owned it.
"Have you no manners boy." Tsunade looked up from a file she was slaving over and glared at the raven haired genin.
"Hn." He grunted as he placed the scroll regarding the Uchiha coup on her desk.
"What is this?" Tsunade eyed the two scrolls not bothering to pick it up.
"Please read it Tsunade-sama." Sakura walked up beside Sasuke.
Grabbing the scroll, she opened it and scanned the document.
"I want the mission scroll that gave the orders for my brother to murder my clan." Sasuke rudely demanded.
Tsunade looked up from the parchment and stared at the Uchiha. "Why?"
"I'm going to bring Itachi back. He did everything for this village, he doesn't deserve to be treated like a criminal."
"Let me read over this document, and if I deem from the evidence provided that Itachi was in fact ordered by Konoha to murder your clan. I will ask for the mission scroll from the elders." Said Tsunade, as she accentuated the 'I deem' part. "Now get out the both of you."
It seems like today was full of surprises for her. Heaving a sigh she began to study the scroll in more detail.
Once the two genins left the large Hokage tower. Night had already descended on the peaceful village. The large moon in the night sky casted a shimmery glow over the village, as the chirping of cicadas filled the quiet night.
Turning around Sasuke pulled Sakura close to him, as he glared down at her. He had just given the only piece of information that could bring his brother back to a stranger.
"You better be damn sure this plan of yours to involve the Hokage works."
So Tsunade knows...but I think her knowing is logically..I mean she is the Hokage. I would like to say that a key sasusaku moment will happen in 2 chapters...so depending on the number of reviews I get I might upload two more chapters before monday. Also a time skip is coming up soon.
Anyways please review.