A Cherry Blossom's Life
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, it rightfully belongs to Masashi Kishimoto
Chapter 3: Behind Each Great Man, There's A Great Woman
Hi no Kuni, The Land of Fire.
Known for its warm weather, its sunny days and its many ressources, making it one of -if not the- most wealthiest countries. However, it was its ninja village, Konohagakure, that made the Land of Fire such a famous and feared country. Konohagakure no Sato, the village hidden in the leaves, also the biggest and oldest ninja village to exist. Although all of the proud Konoha ninjas would readily die than admit that there was something faulty in their village, none of them could deny that the near impossibility to withstand the torturous summer. Despite the fact that these ninjas had traveled and endured different weathers, from the burning desert of the Land of Wind to the freezing mountains of the Land of Snow, the humidity and heat that belonged to their native land was just too much for the suffering ninjas. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that missions became more frequent during that time of year than any other period, preferably outside of the Land of Fire altogether.
However, not everyone could escape the burning summer of Konohagakure, not even the most powerful ninjas of said village, such as the clan heads, the Konoha Elders but especially the Hokage. And while Sarutobi Hiruzen had resigned a few years ago, the current Hokage, Namikaze Minato, still needed him and requested his help. Therefore the ex-Hokage couldn't leave his village. Besides, he loved his village too much to just up and leave it, even if it was for holidays. Yes, his wife Biwako could easily say that sometimes, more often than she would like to admit, her husband's protectiveness of the village made her angry, or perhaps annoyed. It wasn't so much about the fact that he loved Konohagakure that angered her, more like his dislike of leaving it. She loved her village more than anything, nevertheless, she too needed an escape of the routine, of the unsufferable summer in Hi no Kuni and of the consecutive sleepless nights.
It was true that she had been craving another child to raise and help, preferably a girl. But she now realized that she was no longer young, and though she loved the pink baby with all her heart, her suffering bones couldn't handle too much pressure anymore. Perhaps it was time for a little family get together; she might have a chance at convincing her older son to finally marry and maybe who knows, with a little push, her younger boy to start living with them once again. The brown haired woman missed her troublemaker of a lazy son. Despite his stubborn attitude and his uncaring ways, she knew that he not only loved them both, but also little Saku-chan and secretly his brother. She was proud of him, he finally started to reconnect with his family and his village. She had feared that after his stay at the Fire Temple, he would become socially awkward and wouldn't be able to make any friends. Thankfully, he had met with kind children, despite one being an ancient disciple of her husband's student, the traitor Orochimaru.
She was quite saddened by the news of his betrayal. She remembered when her husband used to tell her about his melancholy and how he missed his parents. She had always cared for all of the kids, but it was Orochimaru to whom she was always more attentive. His loneliness seemed to have always pulled her and his eyes, his dark hurt eyes always managed to awake her motherly instincts with a force that was rare,y showing up. Biwako knew of his quest for immortality, and although she disagreed with his ways, she understood from where the idea was coming. She remembered her husband telling her what he had told Orochimaru about the white snake and its capacity at regenerating. She remembered what the youngster told her husband about his want, no need he insisted, to stop the death of his precious people. Yes, she missed and still loved very much the introverted little boy, no he was a man.
The whistling of the kettle, signaling that the water was hot enough to make tea, awoke the wrinkled woman from her musings. Standing up slowly, she gently put the pink haired toddler she had been cradling moments ago in the pram, before walking soundlessly toward the kitchen. Biwako was glad the little girl wasn't awaken from the sudden noise that had invaded the house. For the last three days, Sakura wouldn't stop crying, it was as if she just realized that her parents weren't returning. She felt her weak heart tighten in her chest. The poor baby was missing her parents and family and she couldn't do anything about it. Lady Sarutobi knew she couldn't replace the baby's mother, her memories were still too fresh. Within the next months, perhaps the baby would have replaced her older family with her own. After all, no one remembered clearly this stage of life. It was all blurry and we couldn't remember things until at the age of five or four the earliest.
Looking up at the clock hanging next to the refrigerator, Biwako noticed that it was already four thirty. In just a few minutes, her dear friends, would arrive for their daily tea party. After preparing her special herb tea, she pulled everything she needed from the cupboards and set the on a tray before going to the garden through the back door. As soon as the old Lady was out of the house, she was attacked with the blinding rays of the sun and the burning heat of August. Quickly rejecting the idea of an outdoor tea party, she returned through the same door she had just exited from. Going to the living room where her adopted daughter was sleeping calmly, she began setting the teapot, creamer, sugar bowl, three cups, and plates with small petit fours. Finally satisfied with the arrangement, the aged woman returned to the kitchen to prepare her surrogate daughter another bottle of milk in case the one she had been drinking from was emptied.
As soon as she put the milk bottle on the table, Lady Sarutobi heard a knocking on the front door. Looking back at the clock she realized that her friends always arrived at six o'clock. Chuckling lightly, she hurried lightly to open the door to the impatient red headed and the annoyed black haired, if her chakra was any clue. Opening the door with a smile already settled on her face, Biwako looked at her guests. In front of her stood two of the only women in Konoha she would call best friends. She was close to all of the clan matriarchs, and acquainted with most of the Konoha women, but Kushina and Mikoto always held a special place in her heart, kind of like Orochimaru. Although she knew she was old enough to be their mother, she couldn't dote on them as she would to a daughter, thus why they were considered her best friends. Letting the two women enter, the wrinkled woman soon found herself sitting in the living room, making small talk.
"So how is Sakura-chan? Is she still crying too much?" Asked the redhead as soon as the host of the tea party finished pouring the delicious tea only she had the secret of.
The older woman sighed before answering the pregnant woman as she gave each one of her guests a cup of tea. "Yes, the poor baby won't stop crying unless she's drinking her milk or sleeping, which is why the house is so quiet."
"Have patience, Biwako-chama. The poor girl is just missing her parents, that's all. I'm sure she won't cry after a few days with enough love and care that I'm sure she's receiving from both you and Lord Sarutobi. And if you need anything, like babysitting little Saku-chan, you can always call me for help." The black haired woman finished with a smirk that made them eerily remember the fact that she was a pureblood Uchiha, although she rarely acted like it.
"Ha!" Cried out the Youndaime's fiancée, slightly startling the black haired baby that Mikoto was cradling. "As if she'll call you to babysit Saku-chan! I'm much a better choice. Besides, Saki will die of boredom just by being in your clan compound. At least with me, she'll always be playing and laughing as loud as she wants to. So nope Saku-chan will stay with me."
"She will not!" Protested just as loudly the Uchiha matriarch. "Did you forget that I have both Shi-chan and Ita-kun who will always love and protect baby Saku-chan, and lets not forget baby Sasu-chan. And then someday, Ita-kun will marry Saku-chan and finally I'll have beautiful grandchildren who will always be bring lights illuminating the compound." She sighed dreamily.
"As if! Saku-chan will marry my baby alone, cuz I'm sure it will be a boy and that's final. Humph."
Kushina turned angrily toward the pram to see the same person she had been discussing about awake and staring at them all with a smile. The redhead blinked her eyes and approached the link haired girl, who opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something but couldn't. And all that came from her direction was small "ow" repeatedly said with both her arms raised toward her face, thus immediately alarming the other women that she was awake.
"Oh she wants you!" Cried out Lady Biwako who had been watching the duo battling over her baby daughter. The older woman internally scoffed at the thought; as if her daughter would marry anyone. Unless both she and her husband and her sons agreed on the same suitor, then no, no one will marry her daughter.
While the grey haired woman mused on who shall marry her daughter and her black haired friend looked at the duo in wonder, the Uzumaki survivor had taken the pink haired girl in her arms and looked at her still raised arms. Wondering internally what she wanted to do, she approached the girl to her until both the toddler's hands rested on her cheeks. As soon as the much smaller hands rested on the red haired woman's face, the younger girl emitted a shrill yell that immediately snapped the oldest woman's attention away from her musing and startled the black haired woman until she almost dropped her youngest son. Looking at the two glaring women sheepishly, Kushina handed the crying girl to her surrogate mother and sat back with a downcast face that pulled at the strings of Biwako's heart. Sighing tiredly, the older woman started lulled the baby to sleep while said baby drank her milk with a few whimpers here and there. Mikoto asked the hotheaded woman what she did to make her future daughter-in-law cry.
"Nothing!" Cried out the accused woman angrily. "I just saw her looking at us silently and I approached her to see what was wrong with her since Biwako-kaa said that she had been crying during the last three days nonstop. And then she raised her arms toward me, so I took her in my arms but she continued raising her arms toward my face." Taking a deep breath she continued talking just as fast as she's been doing earlier. "So I approached her to my face and as soon as she touched me she started crying."
And just like that the strong, stubborn and loud woman started whimpering on her black haired friend's shoulder while Mikoto shushed her with calming words and rubbed her back soothingly.
"She doesn't like me, Mikoto-chaaaaaan! What am I supposed to do when my future son will bring her to our house to present us to his girlfriend?"
"Calm down, Kushina-chan. Calm down, okay? I'm sure Saku-chan will love you in time." Told her softly Mikoto still rubbing her friend's back in soothing circle motions, before continuing with a smirk on her face. "I'm sure your son won't bring Saku-chan to present her as his girlfriend but simply as a best friend, because we both know that it's Ita-chan who's gonna be her boyfriend."
And just like that the last of the Uzumaki clan sprang to her feet, glaring darkly at her best friend/rival/sister. Her previous sadness was forgotten as if she wasn't crying on the shoulder of the same person she was glaring at.
"Now, now ladies... I'm sure it's Sakura-chan who has to decide who her boyfriend, fiancé and husband will be." Said Biwako reminding the two younger women of her presence while cradling the now silent toddler.
"Of course we know that Biwako-kaa." Replied the redhead with a small pout on her face.
"Though it does help to give her a little push toward my boys." Mikoto said with a glint in her eyes and a large grin that seemed to scare the semiconscious pinkette.
"Now, Mikoto-chan, I thought we already agreed that it was my future son who was going to marry Saki." Kushina said while shaking her finger, as if reprimanding her friend.
And just before Mikoto replied to her friend, the older woman interrupted her. "Mikoto-chan, where is Itachi-kun? I thought that you were always going to bring him with you to our tea party." And just like that the fiery Mikoto they both loved subdued into the silent and pushover that her clan wanted her to be.
"Ah... Fugaku dear thinks that Ita-kun spends too much time with me and not enough his peers, which later on will make him act unlike how all the Uchiha men have to. Thus making my poor Ita-kun a bad clan head."
"Mikoto." Warned her her hotheaded friend.
"I know that he's going to train my poor baby behind my back, like how the stupid clan council wants Fugaku to do. I know that they want to make of my silent baby a fighting machine, a weapon and a killer so young. I know that they want my peaceful child to develop the Sharingan as soon as possible so they can push him more than they already do. I know they want him to reach Anbu before his 15 birthday. I know so many things about them but what can I do? How can I protect my poor baby? They're going to break him apart from the inside out and I can't. Do. A. Damn. Thing. About. It!"
And just like that the strong ex-Anbu broke down under the gaze of both of the closest thing she has to a sister and a mother. She cried like she never did before, she poured her heart to the two women who were her family in everything but blood. She told of the signs of genii her son had been showing that she was sure the clan council wouldn't stop pestering her husband into using them for the greatest good of the clan. What a joke! The only thing those only crooks wanted was power over everyone and everything. She told them of the other genii, Shisui, who was already showing signs of fatigue and chakra exhaustion every time he visited her. She told them of the horrible training the younger kids, not even five years old! Had to endure. She told them everything that had been bothering about the clan and how it was lead ever since she could remember. And so for hours, she confessed the darkest secrets about her clan.
"But please don't tell anyone about this!" She supplied her two friends as soon as she finally ended her tale. "You have to promise me that you won't tell anyone. I-I know I should have told Sandaime-sama and Minato too, but I can't. Please I'll tell them everything, just give me some time. Please promise me this and I won't ask anything else." She begged the other women with an almost hysterical expression marring her usual gentle face. Sensing the distress in the black haired woman, both Biwako and Kushina agreed readily, even if they knew that they shouldn't have, but family came above everything.
"Hm... Does that mean that you'll give up on Sakura-chan?" Kushina asked with a fake serious voice. "Mikoto-chan... Ya know I was only kiddin' with ya." She explained, panicking upon seeing the tears leaking from her sister's eyes. She was startled by the sudden embrace of the dark haired woman, but she returned the hug nonetheless. "Aw man... You're ruining my shirt with your salty tears."
To which she received a single slap to the back of her head from the same woman who was embracing her. "Shut up and enjoy it."
"Ne, you know I'll do everything for you, imouto-chan." Kushina asked her friend jokingly but with a hint of seriousness in her voice.
"Hey, I wanted to be the big sister. So you're my imouto-chan."
"Ah no! I called you imouto so that means that you are my imouto."
"I am your big sister."
"No, I am."
"I am"
"No, me."
"Me!"
"No, me. Shut up, you...you... you stick you your ass."
"Is that the best you could come up with? How disappointing! You..."
"Now, no need to vulgar words, am I right?" Biwako smiled a gentle yet frozen smile at them that made the two women 'eep' suddenly while nodding their heads profusely while repeating "yes ma'am. Crystal clear ma'am". Truly these two girls were becoming more and more troublesome. Shaking her head, Biwako released a light chuckle that seemed to only scare the two women who were opposite in everything. Lady Sarutobi remembered that 'troublesome' was the preferred word that used Shikaku, which his wife had always been whining about how annoying it was, so much that they both became using the word too much for the Nara matriarch liking. Looking at the window, the older woman noticed that the sun was already setting which meant that it was sometime around seven. Turning her head toward the clock that was a few ways right to the fireplace, she knew that she had been correct since it was actually ten past seven.
Looking at the two young women, the wrinkled Lady saw them bickering once again about God only knew what. Rolling her eyes at the childish antics of the supposed to be respectable ladies, Biwako stared down at the pink haired toddler that had been silently watching them ever since Kushina and Mikoto started quarreling. Perhaps she had been living in a loud environment. Besides, what could possibly make little Sakura wish to touch Kushina-chan? Was it due to her loud comportment and fiery attitude that reminded the little girl of her family? However that didn't explain why she would need to touch the older woman's face. Unless she reminded her of someone from her previous family that resembled Kushina, yet didn't. Gazing at the pregnant woman, Lady Sarutobi tried to see what could possibly make her surrogate daughter remember her family. Perhaps Kushina reminded her of her mother, but then again she already knew that the blue rose symbolized her mother. And knowing how blue and red clashed horribly, she guessed that it was impossible for Kushina to resemble the young girl's mother.
With that possibility down, perhaps it was due to the red hair that had become oh so rare after the massacre of the Uzumaki clan. Yes, it seemed most likely that it was the red hair. Biwako believed that it was her father or some male family member, due to the different structure of the jaw, which explained why little Saku-chan began crying after touching the Youndaime's fiancée. Besides, the third ornament, that might have belonged to her father, was red. Squealing internally at her new discoveries, she snapped back to the real world. Both Mikoto and Kushina were pouting, while staring at opposite directions. The older woman shook her head slightly, before she turned to look at the silent Uchiha baby. Unlike the pink haired child, he had been asleep during the whole time the two friends had been rowing. Obviously the little Sasuke was a heavy sleeper, like his father had been as a child before he began his training for the ninja Academy. Lady Biwako didn't need to worry about the dark haired boy, she already knew that his clan would beat it out of him.
"Kushina-chan. When are you due again?" The older woman asked the redhead to dissipate the tension.
"Oh! Sometime during October, most likely the third or four week." She replied with so much eagerness that made the other two mothers smile at her impatience.
"Aww... Kushina-chan is growing up so quickly." Mikoto said while wiping a fake tear. "It was only yesterday when Minato ad been chasing her like a lovesick puppy, while she tried her hardest to make it more difficult for the poor man."
"Hey!" Kushina cried out angrily. "I did not!" Seeing the unbelieving looks her two friends were giving her she continued in a more subdued voice. "Well, maybe I did for a little while."
"A little while? Yah more like for forever." Snorted in a an unladylike manner the Uchiha matriarch.
Just as the hotheaded woman wanted to retort, a knock was heard. Uchiha Fugaku arrived.
"Ah! I must go, Biwako-chama. It was great to have tea with you, although we have to support Kushina's loud and obnoxious ways." Mikoto said as she hurriedly took her youngest son in her hands and walked to the front door. She handed her husband the toddler while she put on her shoes.
"Figaku dear, how was your afternoon? Did you leave Ita-kun at home? He must have been exhausted if he didn't accompany you. Don't work him hard okay? He's still but a child." The dark haired woman asked her counterpart as they both started walking toward the Uchiha compound, after she took back the little Uchiha in her hands.
"Good, good. And yes, Itachi is at home resting." He answered her swiftly. She knew that her husband had never wanted to talk about something outside of the compound, especially if it concerned his daily life. "How was yours, honey?"
"Ah! Perfect!" She replied with a smile as she began telling him everything that had happened the afternoon, all the while omitting her breakdown. "I really want Saku-chan to marry Ita-kun!" She said as she finished her tale. "They would make such a beautiful couple together and Itachi will need someone to help him during his life, especially him being a ninja. I'm sure a bright person like Sakura-chan will help him a lot, and the little thing is so intelligent! I'm sure that she'll be a genius." After her rant, she turned toward her husband suddenly as if just remembering his presence. "What do you think, sweetie?" She asked him with a smile that warned not to say something that contradicted her.
"Of course, dear." He placated her with a small smirk that no one but his wife noticed. "However she must be powerful enough to marry our son, okay?"
"But of course she'll be powerful. She'll be the strongest kunoichi Konoha had ever seen, even more so that the Slug Princess." His wife replied with such confidence that made him believe her immediately. They continued walking in a comfortable silence until the arrived the liveliest district in Konoha. The couple walked on, ignoring the different calls from the merchants to look at their products. As they started leaving the Main Street, the two Uchiha met with the famous trio of Konoha, who had all become fathers as of last year. The Ino-Shika-Cho were all talking happily. After all formalities were done, the Uchiha matriarch began asking the newly made fathers about their children.
"How is Ino-chan? And Shikamaru-kun and Choji-kun? I'm sure they're going to continue their father's footsteps. Oh, I wonder who will little Ino-chan choose when she'll grow!" The dark haired woman started giggling lightly as she saw the shocked expression of the three best friends.
"Lady Mikoto!" Cried out the blond haired father. "Don't you think that they are still too young to be discussing something like this?"
"No, of course not." She replied with a smile that swiftly transformed in a smirk. "I already decided who's going to marry Itachi-kun. And they're going to be so cute together." She let a few giggles escape her throat.
"And if I may ask, who is the lucky girl?" Asked the big boned man as the Nara patriarch watched silently the exchange.
"But of course. Who else but Sakura-chan!" She said with a wide grin.
"Ah, you mean the mystery girl who's been living with Lord Sarutobi?" Demanded the previously silent man, although he knew the answer.
"Is there another Sakura-chan? She is such an exotic beauty, with her tea rose hair and emerald green eyes. Oh! Have you seen her heart-shaped face and heard her melodic voice. And she is so pale and small and cute, just like an angel!" Mikoto ended her rant with a dreamy grin.
"However, it had not been discussed with the Elders." Intervened her husband with a grave frown. "She still remains a probable candidate, if she proves she holds some criteria."
"Ah, but Saku-chan is so cute!" Retorted the young woman with a playful pout, which made the three best friends laugh awkwardly at the obviously private banter.
"Um... We better go now." Started the Yamanake head with a slight cough.
"Yeah... Don't want to make Yoshino-chan mad." muttered his jet haired friend. "Mendokusei*."
"Which reminds me, Chiharu-koi* wanted me to buy more flour for her special cookies." Added Chōza, while scratching his cheek, before the two parties bade each other a respectful farewell.
Meanwhile in the Hokage Tower
"Sarutobi-sama, there haven't been any news about the whereabouts of Jiraiya-sensei. It's like he completely disappeared." The voice of a blond haired male interrupted the silence that have been hanging in the room.
In the circular room on the top floor of the Tower, two men sat opposite each other. The one who had spoken was the young Yondaime Hokage. With his gravity defying golden locks, tanned skin and cerulean eyes that shone with wisdom and intelligence beyond his age, Namikaze Minato was a handsome man, as certified by the majority of the female populace. But what these hopeful women didn't know was that he was already taken by the same woman who had always rejected him. The only people who knew about their engagement were the ninja clan heads and the Konoha Council, and of course his guards. The soon-to-be parents had agreed to keep it a secret until after the birth of their son, as to protect him and his mother both, seeing as the seal guarding the nine tailed beast would be at its weakest form during birth.
Though Minato was known for his cheerfulness and kindness, his usual happy grin was replaced by a nervous frown, which was slowly morphing into an angry scowl. Opposite to him, sat an aged man, who, unlike his successor, still held his composure and calmness. The wizened man was the Sandaime Hokage, also called the God of the Sinobi, not only due to his many prowesses and achievements, but also due to his generosity and indulgence. Sarutobi Hiruzen was his name. He was always seen with a pipe hanging on his mouth.
"Did all the Anbu teams return with no information?" He asked in a calm voice, perfectly hiding his concern for his ancient student.
"Hai. I don't know what to do anymore." The younger man said with a despairing sigh.
"Ah, did the paperwork really do all of this?" The wrinkled man asked with hint of amusement lacing his voice, after he let loose a small puff of grey smoke. He chuckled lightly at the confused expression of the blond haired Hokage. "If the Anbu can't find Jiraiya-kun, it only means that he doesn't want to be found. Normally I would stop until he decides t show up here. However seeing as this is an important matter that can't be delayed anymore, I would advise you send him a summon."
The Sarutobi clan head laughed quietly as he saw the different emotions race through his successor's eyes, from confusion to enlightenment and finally embarrassment. The young fiancé stood up abruptly and began doing a fast succession of hand seals, after he had smeared blood on his fingertips. Slamming his hand on the floor, the fourth Hokage yelled: "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!", as a small toad appeared. It was smaller compared to the ones he usually used during battles. The toad's skin was a dark orange hue while his -it was quite obvious that it was a male- legs were of a darker shade, almost red.
"What can I do for you, boss?" Asked the small toad.
"Search for Jiraiya-sensei and tell him that he's needed for an important matter in Konohagakure." The blond Hokage ordered in a stern voice.
The small toad frowned upon hearing the name of the man he was ordered to look for. All the toads were ordered by the Elders to stop looking for the legendary Sanin. Telling the newly issued order to his summoner, he noticed how his serious expression crumbled into a anxious one, as the old man's own visage settled for a worried frown.
"Why is this? Did something happen to Jiraiya-sensei?"
"No, Master Jiraiya is fine. He just recieved troubling information." Seeing the raised brow that only meant 'explain', the orange toad continued. "During the Third Great Shinobi War, Jiraiya-sama took three children under his wing. Training them until they could defend themselves without his help. However, he just recieved news of their deaths during the crossfire of Hanzō's army and the revolutionary forces."
The two men looked in sorrow at the toad. They both knew of who 'Jiraiya's pupils were. They were children born in Amegakure nd orphaned by the constant war raging there. They could only empathize with the white haired Sanin, seeing as they both had lost students dear to their hearts. Uchiha Obito was also a casualty of the war, which had left his other two students greatly scarred. Furthermore, his only female pupil was too killed during a war. The only living member of his ancient squad was left too much traumatized by the two accidents, that at a time the great Hokage feared his student's sanity. However, the silver haired man managed to live through both experiences.
While both of the Fourth Hokage and the hermitic Sanin had lost their students to death, the Third Hokage lost his to insanity and criminality. It was his desire for immortality that drove him over the edge and away from his home, Konoha. The wizened man had always cared deeply for the three members of his genin squad and tried with every way to make them the greatest ninjas the world had ever seen. Perhaps he overdid it, then again he had three geniuses. He just had to push them toward the right direction. But he failed in his mission. It was the only one he had ever failed since the one where the Second Hokage sacrificed himself for the better of the team and named him his successor. Sometimes, the Sarutobi head would question himself and wonder if his sensei didn't choose wrongly. However, whenever he looked at Konohagakure no Sato, he would understand once again why the reason behind his choice, the Will of Fire that the founder had left them with.
"Master?" Came the wondering voice of the small toad who had been watching the two men as their eyes slowly dazed and started seen things that were beyond the walls of this circular room and maybe buyond the protecting walls of the village. Immediately the attention of the two powerful men snapped to the summon waiting for their new order.
"Yes, yes..." His summoner answered in a contemplative voice. "I understand why the order have been issued. However, seeing as his input is important, you will start looking for him in a week. If he still doesn't want to, tell him that Minato will declare your absence as a treason due to his failure to report for duty. Am I understood?" His voice had become stern as he told the toad his order.
As an audible 'poof' was heard throughout the room, the young Hokage turned toward his predecessor, an exhausted sigh leaving his lips and a visage that seemed older than his actual age. "Did I do the right thing? Maybe I should have just given up until Jiraiya-sensei had mourned his students death properly and decided to return to Konoha. But I was afraid that he'll disappear just like how Tsunade-sama did."
The older man looked at him sadly, before letting out a grey puff of smoke. "Sometimes as a Hokage we make difficult decision where we have to choose the lesser of two devils, even if our morals differed and our conscience screamed at us to disagree. I hope, Minato-kun, that you'll never find yourself in such a position. After all, what can I do but hope for a better future."
The Sandaime Hokage stared at the window overseeing his village, with a thoughtful, yet worried expression. He felt as if something bad was going to happen to Konoha and the grey clouds that were covering the usual clear summer sky only added to the ominous feeling. While the wizened man was engrossed in his thoughts, the Yondaime Hokage turned toward his desk and pulled over some of the papers that had invaded his workplace. The circular room was immersed in a comfortable silence that was too soon for the two ninjas liking interrupted by soft knocking on the door.
"Enter." Came the strict voice of the still working man.
The wooden door opened to reveal the figure of a young woman in her early twenties holding a stack of what the blond haired man knew to be paperwork. She had chocolate brown hair and deep green eyes that stood out on her heart shaped face. She was petite with a hourglass figure and quite pale for someone living in Konohagakure, due to the many hours spent inside the Hokage Tower. She was elegant, and though she wasn't a ninja herself, she understood its ways, especially her being the Hokage's secretary for over five years and was graceful enough to pass as a kunoichi. But that could easily be explained with her parentage, her being the sister of the patriarch of the Haruno clan, one of the richest and oldest civilian families.
Behind the young woman walked in a fourteen years old boy. He had lighter hue of brown than the lady who walked before him while his eyes were of a darker shade, almost black. He was wearing his hitai-ite* in a bandana style and in his mouth hung loosely a senbon. His face was set in a bored mask, but the two men could see the hidden nervosity hidden behind. He walked inside the room in relaxed strides. And after bowing to the two powerful ninjas respectfully along the woman who accompanied him, he stood a few steps behind the woman who had already set the stack of papers in front of the Hokage. His stance was slack, yet ready to jump at any given moment. He would make the perfect bodyguard, especially knowing his protective personality.
"Ah, Sora-chan! Bringing me more paperwork I see. I'm too tired and I feel like my arm will fall down in any moment." The young man asked with a tired grin.
"Yep! But it's not like I made you Hokage, so don't complain to me Hokage-sama." Haruno Sora was one of the few women who weren't head over heels in love with the blond man. It was one of the main reasons he chose her to be his secretary, besides her being authoritarian enough to make him do his paperwork even if all he wanted to do was sleep.
"Yeah, yeah... Just give me the papers and let me torture myself in peace." He muttered softly yet loud enough for her to hear him.
"One yeah is enough, Hokage-sama." She retorted with an angry yet still playful glare. "And I didn't know Konoha's great Yellow Thunder Flash loved inflicting pain upon his self." She continued before closing the door behind her. As the silence once again engulfed the room, the two men could hear the soft snigger of the Haruno woman. The Yondaime Hokage sighed as he heard the only other man in the room, besides the hiding Anbu members, chuckle. Turning toward him with a calculating look that immediately stopped the agened man in the middle of a chuckle, the soon-to-be father smirked, making Hiruzen slightly tense.
"Lord Sarutobi, could you help me with this new mountain of paperwork?" Asked the younger man his elder with his best pout.
"Yara, yara... I could help you with your paperwork," he stopped upon seeing the blond smirk in victory before adding. "But you see, my wife is waiting for me as I'm sure our sons are waiting for the family get-together." And before the Namikaze had a chance to utter a word, his predecessor had already disappeared from view, leaving the young man looking at the double door in astonishment. The light chuckle of the young man was heard directly in front of him. The Hokage sweat-dropped comically for forgetting the presence of the youngster.
"Oh! Shut up Genma-kun. I'm sure that Kakashi would love to hear that his best friend had sex in his bed while he was on a mission and that an angry woman is waiting outside his door."
Immediately the chuckle morphed into a choke, earning him a laughter from the easygoing Hokage.
"WHAT?!" The furious yell of a man was heard just outside the window of the Hokage Tower, making the Hokage double in laughter and the Jonin lose all his colors.
"I-I-I can explain..." Stuttered a scared Genma.
"Oh... I'm sure you can..." Muttered sarcastically a furious, no furious wouldn't even explain the rage Hatake Kakashi was feeling. But just as the masked youngster made to leap at his soon going to be dead best friend, Minato intervened between the two tense Jonin, putting a hand on both men.
"Now Kakashi-kun, how was your mission? I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow, so I'm sure it went well." Noticing the nod of his ancient student, he continued. "You can bring me your mission report tomorrow. Now, if that's all, go home and take a bath Kakashi-kun." Seeing as he didn't move, the Yondaime stared at him trying to understand what was wrong. He had already remarked his stiff back, the minute tensing of his legs and the dilatation of his pupils. Kakashi was anxious about something and it worried him.
"Kakashi... Is something wrong?" He shook his head in response.
"Then what?" He was answered by a tense silence that was interrupted by his first visitor.
"We both want to be Anbu." Came the answer from the dark haired Jonin.
Back in the Sarutobi Manor
Sarutobi Biwako was cradling the small pink haired toddler, who had fallen asleep once the redhead left to her own home. Kushina had been kind enough to put everything back to place and prepare a new bottle for little Sakura who had started crying once Mikoto and her baby left. And ever since then the old woman had been holding her. Whenever she tried to put her in her new bed, she woke up and began crying. So here she was now, almost one hour later and the little baby didn't want to leave her arms. As much as it was cute and flattering, the wizened lady could feel her arms numbing upon not moving them for so long. Perhaps it was time to try again to put her in her bed, wether she liked it or not, even if her wails always pained her. Just as she was about to try, a loud knocking was heard. It appeared that her younger son arrived before his father and her usually early older son.
"Come in, Asuma-kun, it's already open." She heard a muffled 'yeah, I know' before her son came into view.
"Y'know kaa-san, you shouldn't let the front door open. What if someone entered without your knowledge or some thief or murderer, or worse a pervert or pedophile."
His mother, much to his consternation, started chuckling, before she managed to answer his angry 'What?! It's true!'. "I can't believe that you think that a pervert is worse than a murderer. Hahaha..."
"Hn." He scowled at his mother before turning his face to hide the faint blush on his cheeks. "How is Saku-chan? Did she cause too much trouble while we weren't here?"
The older woman immediately sobered up. As she looked down at the sleeping form of the pink haired baby, she smiled sadly before answering her son's inquiry. "Ah, she's fine, but she's been missing her parents dearly so she's been a crying little mess lately." A deafening silence engulfed the room, before Lady Biwako began asking her son. "So tell me how are you? Hiruzen-kun told me that you've been assigned a mission with quite a beautiful lady. Her name escapes my mind at the moment, but I remember that she has bright red eyes, from the Yuhi clan then. Hmm... What was her name again, Asuma-kun?"
"Kurenai, Kaa-san. Yuhi Kurenai." He answered her stiffly. He knew where this would lead if he let his mother have her way, thus why he decided to tell her in a voice he wanted to be bored that he found her to be an average looking girl.
"Average you say?" She asked him akready knowing what he wanted. "Hmm... I don't believe you. But you know, if you're looking for a girlfriend, or even a wife, I would suggest Kurenai. Knowing how her mother is, I can safely say that she must be an angel."
"Mother!" He yelled mortified as he heard the hoarse laughter of his mother.
"I'm home." Resounded the voice of Sarutobi Hiruzen as he entered his house. A few shuffles and one or two grunts later, the wizened man appeared in front of his family, which was missing at the moment his older son.
"How was your day, honey?" His wife asked him as soon as he sat in front of her.
"Ah, fine, fine." He replied before a grim frown settled on his face after he remembered what the summon told them earlier in the office.
"What's the matter, tou-san?" The stern voice of his younger son snapped him from his musings.
"We just recieved news of the death of Jiraiya's pupils in Amegakure." He told them his face stony, not showing any sign of the raging battle between his mind and his heart. He heard his wife gasp and a stray tear leak from her left eye. Looking up, he saw that their new daughter was asleep and that her bottle would fall soon, if not moved away. His son was silent, nothing was apparent on his face. Exactly how the perfect ninja should be, abiding the Shinobi Rule #25: A Ninja Must Never Show His Emotions. He personally never liked this rule, since it made their children too quickly to his liking. Perhaps now that the war was over, Konoha's next generation won't suffer the same fate as their parents and grandparents.
The silence was interrupted by Lady Biwako standing up, the baby still in hands, toward her husband. "Poor Jiraiya-kun, he must disheartened. Don't worry about him, I'm sure he'll be able to move on and he'll come back to Konoha as if nothing happened. He just needs a little bit of time to mourn his students' death." Her husband nodded in agreement. "Here, take Sakura-chan, I need to prepare dinner, so it should be done by the time Konohamaru-kun arrives."
The older man took the pink haired toddler in his arms and began caressing her head unconsciously. His son was looking at him with a guarded expression on his face, as if he expected him to breakdown. "Tell me Asuma-kun, how have you been? Are your living arrangements satisfying? Who do you live with?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." He answered boredly. "I'm living in a flat with Gekko Hayate, a nice guy who's mostly silent, though he's always coughing and stuff."
"Good, good." Was Hiruzen's comment.
"Father, where is your pipe?" His son's question made the older man's burst in laughter.
"Ah, you see Asuma-kun, there's a little baby living with us now. I can't kill her with my smoking."
"Rather, he doesn't want her to start smoking once she grows up, like a certain son of mine." Came the muffled voice of the Sarutobi matriarch from the kitchen.
"That too." Agreed the the Sandaime Hokage.
"Hey! It's not my fault that Konohamaru is smoking." Said angrily Asuma. "Besides, it's not like I need another reason to kill myself prematurely, besides being a Shinobi, ya know?!" Thus launching another fit of laughter from the father.
A soft knocking on the front door interrupted the laughing father and the whining, no talking son. The two men raised their brows in surprise. The elder son always entered his parents home without knocking, just announcing his presence upon taking off his shoes. Perhaps it was the fact that he was accompanied which made him knock on the door.
"Enter, Konohamaru-kun, it's open." The old man said making sure that the baby he was cradling didn't wake up.
The two men were sitting in complete silence, thus hearing everything that was happening, from the bumbling sound of the boiling water in the kitchen to the scraping of the front door. They soon heard two distinct footsteps become louder and louder, signifying that the two persons were approaching. Also, they noted that one was lighter than the other, and knowing that the elder son's strides were heavy, it could only mean that their new visitor was either a girl or a younger child. Soon the two newcomers arrived inside the living room, at the same time that the matriarch entered the room to welcome her son and announce that the dinner was ready. However all of the family, except the sleeping Sakura, was stunned to silence. In front of them stood a dark haired man with hazel eyes. He was in his mid-twenties with a small mustache. His hitai-ite was put on his forehead, while his choppy hair was hanging loosely in a gravity defying style, eerily making them think of a certain silver haired Jonin. The man was the older son of the head of the Sarutobi clan, but also a Jonin for more than a decade.
A few paces behind the Jonin stood a young woman in her early twenties, with chocolate brown hair and deep green eyes. Her hair was wavy, reaching her mid-back. She didn't wear too much makeup, a natural as Biwako noticed. She was petite and pale, yet held an air of elegance and grace. Their new guest was wearing a beautiful belted lace dress. The black dress was sleeveless and widened gradually from the hips to the hem, which was an inch or two above the knees. She held in her hands a black silk evening clutch, with silver studs detailing its front. The brown haired woman was wearing a silver-plated bracelet with round-cut diamonds and matching earrings were both gifts for their two years anniversary. The family already knew of her as the the elder son's two years girlfriend. She would always visit them once a fortnight. Needless to say that she was already considered a member of the family.
After bowing respectfully to the older parents and a small punch to his seven years junior brother's shoulder, courtesy of his brother, the patriarch started talking, immediately breaking the silence that had engulfed the room. "Ah! Konahamru-kun I now understand why you're late. How are you Sora-chan?" Yes, Minato's secretary was Konohamaru's girlfriend, it was the main reason why she didn't fawn over the Fourth Hokage, besides blond men not being her type.
"Fine, fine. I'll be returning to active duty in three days. Man, and I just started enjoying myself." He said with a sigh leaving his lips, earning him a chuckle from his father, a smirk from his brother and giggles from both his mother and girlfriend.
"Oh I forgot! Dinner is ready. Come on." Lady Biwako said as she started moving to the dining room. "Sit down, everyone. Oh! Sora-chan, wait here- I didn't know that you were coming." She went back to the kitchen bringing another set of plates, chopsticks and a glass for the younger woman. "Thankfully, I always make extras, knowing how the boys are always famished, and never say no to food."
"Arigato gozaimasu*." Replied Haruno Sora.
"Asuma-kun, fetch me Sakura's pram so your father can eat peacefully." The wizened woman ordered her son quietly, yet strictly, which earned her a grateful look from her husband.
As soon as her youngest son sat back down, and thankfully they managed to put Sakura in her bed without waking her, they dug in the food after murmuring a soft Itadakimasu*. A comfortable silence settled upon the table, interrupted here and there by small talk between the two brothers and Sora. As they finished eating the main course, the older son stood up, a serious look settled on his face.
"Chichi-ue, Haha-ue, I have an important announcement to make." He made a small pause, looking at each member of his family. "As you know, Sora-chan and I have been dating for more than two years. Yesterday, I asked her to marry me and she accepted." He made another pause where he took his girlfriend's, no fiancée's hand, showing them the silver ring. It was made of several crisscrossing rows decorated with sparkling diamonds. "Father, mother, I'm asking your blessings for our union." He finished his speech with a bow, still holding his future wife's hand.
"Rise my son. Your mother and I have always been waiting for the day when you will both marry." Said the older man.
"Oh, now I have two daughters! Don't move, I'll bring the dessert!" She said in a singsong voice. Soon, she reappeared with a chocolate cake. "Mikoto-chan brought it earlier with her and said to eat it during our dinner. I wonder if she knew that you have proposed to Sora-chan."
At this the fiancée blushed lightly. "Ano... Mikoto-san saw me this morning and congratulated me. She told me that it about time we married. When I asked her how she knew, she answered that as a fellow woman she knew such things. As soon as I wanted to ask her to explain what she meant, I didn't find her."
"Ah, Mikoto-chan has always been a perspective kunoichi." Commented the Sandaime Hokage.
"What?!" Cried out the two brother and the brown haired woman.
"Maa... Didn't you know that Mikoto was a kunoichi before she married Fugaku-san? She was one of the best Anbu we had, she specialized in espionage and assassination. Quite the dangerous combination, I must say." The three youngsters listened in rapt attention to what the older man was saying. They all looked like they'll start seeing the young mother in a new light, making the older couple chuckle.
"Now, how about Konohamaru-kun and Sora-chan cut the cake?" Lady Biwako asked, or rather demanded, before handing the fiancée a knife.
As they began eating, Asuma who has been silent during the whole announcement asked his brother the question that was on his parents mind. "When is the wedding gong to be?"
"We decided after my mission." Answered his older brother without missing a beat.
"How long is your mission going to be?"
"Two to three weeks I think."
"So it's settled!" Cried out their mother, interrupting whatever her you her son wanted to say. "On the 23rd September, the start of Autumn, the wedding will be held. It will be such a beautiful wedding with a light breeze blowing, the heat would have decreased and it won't be too cold that we'll freeze. Konohamaru-kun you better finish your mission as soon as possible, am I understood? This includes no stay at any kind of inn, sleep outside but hurry up. Okay?!"
All of the family sweatdropped at the authority shown by the old woman. Sometimes they forgot that she was too a ninja. "Dear, don't you think that it should be Konohamaru-kun and Sora-chan who decides when the marriage will be held?"
"But, Hiruzen-kun, they already decided that it was going to be after Konohamaru-kun's mission." She said with a raised brow. Truthfully, sometimes she wondered how her husband became such a feared Shinobi. Shaking her head, she continued. "You know, I think that Minato-kun should give Sora-chan a two months holidays, one month to prepare her wedding and one for the honeymoon."
"Aa... I will let you prepare everything, Biwako-kaa-san." They all knew that Sora's parents were dead long ago. It was why her brother was head of the clan and controlled everything. "Besides, I don't think Hokage-sama can survive without me." She finished with a smirk, immediately making the family laugh lightly.
"But of course, Sora-chan!" A bright smile lit the older woman's lips. "But when it's time to pick the dress, you'll have to come with me, right?"
"Yes, I will." She replied with a satisfied smile on her face.
"Ne, Sora-chan, if I remember correctly, you told me last week that your brother and his wife were going to see a doctor, right? What were the results?" Asked the older man after they finished eating the cake and his wife brought tea.
"Ah, yes..." She looked down with a sad smile. "Dr. Mamoru-san told us that they could never have a child. Of course they didn't tell anything the Elders, lest they appoint me as head and make me marry some cousin in the Damiyo's court."
"But now that you married Konohamaru-kun, they can't break it off."
"Hai. Still they can remove nii-sama* and force me to replace him. But I don't want to, nii-sama worked so hard and had always wanted to be clan head, ever since I can remember."
"Do not worry, I'm sure we will be able to find a solution." The Third Hokage said with a comforting smile. And looking at him, the brown haired woman really believed that everything was going to be fine.
"Can you believe it Hiruzen-kun?" Said Lady Sarutobi as she changed in her nightgown. "Konohamaru-kun is finally marrying Sora-chan!"
Her husband chuckled at his wife's enthusiasm. He laid in the bed, waiting for her to return from the bathroom. As she laid next to him, her arm draped over his chest. She began reselling him everything that happened the afternoon, pausing slightly as she remembered Mikoto's breakdown. She hated not telling her husband such things but she knew that she couldn't break a promise, especially one made to the dark haired woman. Suddenly looking up and startling the laying man, she stared at her husband with a serious expression, they alerting him that what she was about to say was important.
"Hiruzen-kun, during our tea party something strange happened." And so she told him of the small incident with little Sakura, of how she first wanted to touch Kushina to how she surprised them all by crying once touching the poor redhead's face. After finishing her tale, she looked at her wizened husband's face lit with the silver rays of the moon.
"Hmm... I see." He said after a long while. "I always knew that I married the perfect woman." He kissed her temple before laying back down. "Sleep now, dear. A long day is awaiting you. After all, you have a wedding to plan."
He looked at his wife's drowsy smile. It was at these times that he remembered that they no longer were the lively youngsters they once were. He continued staring at his wife's face, noticing the new wrinkles that appeared on her chin and the loss of fat in her cheeks. Maybe tomorrow he'll wake up before his beloved and prepare her breakfast and bring it to her bed. Yes, it's been a while since they had one of those. Closing his eyes, Sarutobi Hiruzen tried to clear his mind from all the day's happenings. He knew that if he didn't do it he'll think about his brokenhearted pupil, which will lead him to think about Tsunade and Orochimaru. But the deep breathing of his wife would always bring him out of the dark abyss where his regrets and failures engulfed him. Yes, he was quite lucky to have Biwako as a wife.
Heyy! What's up, peps?!
I know it's been a heck of a long time since I last published anything, like two months or something... Yeah, sorry about the long disappearance, I kinda have been kidnapped by the extremely active criminal known as W.B aka Writer Block (NOT Warner Bros. though I'm quite the fan of anything they make especially the Looney Tunes) and of course his accomplice Lazyman (lame name I know :P) and during my one month and something long of imprisonment, the only thing I've had for companion were Bleach manga, to which I shamelessly admit that I've become an addict, though it's been a while since I last read a chapter, or watched an episode for that matter.
And if you're wondering what I've been doing during the rest of the second month, though I'm sure rare are those -if no one- who are reading this, I've been living in a deserted island. No seriously, I've been in this small beach village with No. Internet. During. Two. Weeks. At least. Yeah pure torture, more so than the heat actually. And here I've just watched this scene of Victorious with my little sister where Tori asks them what would they choose, to cut a leg or have no Internet. And you know what they replied... Cut a leg. Too dramatic for my own liking though. So, no Internet means all day long at the beach with cousins and stuffs and all night long roaming around like hobos, NOT literally. But you get what I mean... I hope.
So as you may have guessed, I absolutely love Kushina and Mikoto rivalry, and I have a soft for young Orochimaru, he was just too cute as a child :3 though he has always managed to get on my nerves ever since he appeared in Naruto, which means always.
Sooo, I'm rambling and rambling and I should shut up by now. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I hope that I'll be able to write the next one sooner than this one. But before each one goes on his merry way, here are a few...informations to help understand the story better:
-So during last chapter, I mentioned someone named Odayaka, it's actually the name I gave to Hinata's mother, since she wasn't given one, hehehe...
-Also, -chama is a cross from -sama and -chan, I don't remember where I read it, but correct me if I'm wrong, it's used to show both respect and closeness to the addressed person.
-Ah, I didn't know how the three best friends and the Uchiha couple should address each other, which explains why they haven't called each other by their name, except the only 'Lady Mikoto' at the start. It seemed downright rude to call her simply Mikoto, and Mikoto-chan was too close for my liking (especially with the presence of the stern, terrifying Fugaku) while Mikoto-san... I don't know, didn't feel right :s
-I know that Konohamaru's parents weren't mentioned in the actual manga, or anime for that matter. And I know that it was the Thrid Hokage who named his grandson as Konoha's protector. But, seen as he will die in the Kyuubi attack, there will be no one to name him. Also Asuma isn't smoking yet, as you've noticed. Everything has a cause, remember that.
-Yeah so while writing this chapter, I realized that some things didn't, or rather wouldn't match what I had previously wrote in 'Love and War', so now I may edit a chapter or two, or simply the whole story, seeing as I might get another idea, especially if some of the things that I had written seem now to be a little absurd. BUT like the evil person I am, or kind depends on how you look at it, I'm not going to edit L&W until I publish the chapters which contain the changes, which won't happen until a chapter or two after the Kyuubi attack, which will happen in chapter 4, meaning the next one.
-As you've probably noticed, this paragraph mostly is from the P.O.V of Biwako. Because, personally, I think that she is the one who made the Third Hokage the great man he is. Don't you think that if he wasn't married he would sink in sake and stuff?
-Japanese words used during this chapter:
*Chihaku isn't the name of Chōza's wife. It's just the name of her Japanese voice actress, because she too didn't deserve to have a name of course in the actual serie. -sarcasm intended.
*Koi is a term of endearment, which can be translated to dear, I think.
*Mendokusai means how troublesome! Because I believe that Shikamaru picked it up from his father first.
*Chichi-ue means father while Haha-ue means mother, both are used in a respectful way. Otou-san means dad and okaa-san mom.
*Sora means sky.
*Arigato Gozaimasu means thank you very much.
*Itadakimasu is sort of like a prayer I think, it is pronounced before eating. I think it means something akin to thank you for the food.
Wow, that gotta be the longest A/N I've ever wrote -.- but Don't forget to review and criticism is appreciated :)
sharkswillruledaWORLD is out ;)