I'm having a bad day sorry if I seem so angry. To answer XxNina-himexX excellent question about inner Sakura, inner is Sakura's suppressed emotions of rage and disapproval If you notice in shippuden the more Sakura voiced her true feelings the less inner shows up. Inner Sakura is Sakura's strength and lets face it Sakura is bad ass. We finally find out what happened to the summon, Tsume, and Hana. Akamaru gets to hog the love some more, and I get a cup of coffee. As always reviews are not necessary but are inspiring.
"Alright she's calm you can come in." Shisui called from the front door of Sakura's home causing everyone to look at him. They had obviously expected more damage to his person, and honestly when he first decided to calm her so did he. Every pair of eyes were checking him for critical injuries of some kind. Shisui didn't know if he should laugh or feel insulted by this. He opted for the middle ground with a smile. "Is it really that big of a shock that I made it out?"
"Check him for internal bleeding." Naruto joked, but Tsunade did it anyway not wanting to take a chance. This earned an irritated sigh from Shisui. It was no secret that he didn't like the feel of anyone but Sakura's chakra invading his body. Still she was the Hokage and he really couldn't argue with her decision. So with an irritated expression he allowed Tsunade to do as she pleased. After a few minutes he was given an all clear and they entered Sakura's home. When they entered the sitting room many expecting Sakura to lash out as they sat in various spots around the room.
"So now that were all here and your ... calm whats the plan?" Kiba was the first to speak this time.
"I have no choice but to place all competitors in Sakura's home for the remainder of the contest. There will no way to catch her alone that way and short of an army no one will be able to come after her not even Tora." Tsunade explained expecting an enraged Sakura to speak up, but she never complained about it.
"Why is Tora so hell-bent on killing me in the first place?" Sakura asked a little put off.
"He's Danzo's protege don't you remember. That could have a lot to do with it." Itachi pointed out.
"So? I didn't kill him. Tobi and Sasuke were responsible for that." Sakura rolled her eyes with a look of disgust as she stretched her body allowing her purple satin shirt to rise. This gave an eye full of her flat stomach and toned abdomen. No matter how innocent this action was it was affecting ninety percent of the men in the room. Not that she noticed.
"That may be so but he blames Tsunade for Danzo's death. I've heard him say it before." Neji added as he watched Sakura's muscles and toned abs. He thanked Kami for his self-control.
"So he should be going after Tsunade not Sakura. I don't get it." Choji having no interest in the pinkett was looking at Ino for an explanation. Saddest thing was she didn't understand either.
"If you want to weaken an opponent but not kill them you often go after their weakness." Shino watched Sakura from behind his sun glasses with great interest.
"So he goes Sakura to cause Tsunade to suffer. Since no one has been taught the revival jutsu she would remain dead. This would cause chaos all over the village and cause more stress effectively breaking Tsunade. I would go this route if I were the enemy." Gaara admitted as he crossed his arms trying to distract himself from other things he would like to be doing.
"Does she do that on purpose?" Dan whispered to Tsunade whom looked over to her former student. She was holding Akamaru's head upon her lap borrowing the safety he offered. She was wrapped within Akamaru's tail around her chest and shoulders deep in thought as she nibbled her bottom lip. Her legs arched so that her feet planted on the floor and if one didn't know better they would swear that she lay naked beneath.
"No that's just the way she is. She doesn't realize what she's doing to those poor boys." Tsunade answered pointing. Dan's eyes trailed to the men within the room noticing the looks in their eyes save the few who wore sunglasses, or mastered the look of indifference. Still the had tells that gave their thoughts away. Shino had crossed his arms and was tapping his index finger upon them. Neji was slightly shifting every few minutes. Shisui and Itachi's Sharingan were flickering as they struggle with their desires. Sai and Kankuro were fidgeting with their ink, or puppets in an attempt not to look. Gaara's sand was shifting. Yahiko and Kotaru were holding their noses to look like they were in deep though.
"I'm back from summons island." Lee interrupted the tension causing everyone to look up thankful for the shift in attention. After years of following Gai around like a clone Lee was sent off to Suna on a three-year mission alone. When he returned something within him had changed. He wanted to be his own person and soon after he had changed his wardrobe and hair style. He began thinning his eyebrows and working harder. His jaw had squared over the years losing the boyish appearance. His eyes were now intense and his smirk rivaled Kiba's with mischievous intent. His hair grew out slightly and not looked messy and often covered parts of his eyes. His he started to wear muscle shirts of black that featured his muscular appearance and ANBU tatoo. His pants were always low on the waist and teased the eyes with promises of what could be below. He often slouched and held a more laid back frame which now rested on the door frame to the room. He had given up on Sakura ever returning his affection but with that came an easy friendship that allowed him more time with her.
"What did you find out? Is she ok? Can I summon her back now?" Sakura was up and gripping Lee's shirt with a deep worry line marring her features. He found that he still hated to see her looking like that.
"She'll be fine in a few days. Fukasaku, and Shima are looking after her. Being reverse summoned forcefully by someone without a contract almost ripped her left-wing off. Tora wasn't planning on her survival, but she's got a lot of fight in her so she wants you to call her when Tora shows his face again." Lee gave a smile as he removed Sakura's hands from his shirt. He watched the sigh of relief wash over her face. She threw her arms around his neck in a hug that he had gotten use to over the years. He returned it resting his hands on her spine which earned him several growls and glares of disapproval. Raising an eyebrow he released Sakura and rolled his eyes. "Shut up assholes I have a woman who's sitting in the room currently. Sakura I swear to Kami if I get another growl from them I'm going to by you muzzles for safety purposes. He Ten lets head out." Lee called to Ten Ten many of the others followed leaving the competitors alone with Sakura.
"Go get your stuff and I'll get your rooms situated." Sakura dismissed them as she entered the kitchen listening to the men shift around as they left. She informed the chef of the arrangements and was reaching above her for the pocky on the top shelf when she felt her arm jerk back of its own accord. Upon inspection he found tiny chakra strings attached. Before she could turn to look Kankuro had her lifting herself onto the counter and retrieving the snack. Her manipulated her body with ease as he adjusted her to a sitting position on the counter and stood between her legs with a smirk.
"Your to trusting of me." He smiled releasing her from his strings.
"And why is that Kuro?" She teased the puppet master causing him to raise his eyebrow.
"The last time you called me that we were about to die Sakura. Are you trying to tell me that I'm in trouble?" He asked stealing some of her snack.
"Maybe." She smiled and used her thumb to rub part of his makeup off.
"Don't Sakura I wont hesitate this time." Kankuro placed his and on hers moving it to his lips. Placing gentle kisses along the tips his eyes locked onto hers.
"Then you should create some space between us." Sakura countered pulling her hand away.
"Seriously Sakura when are you going to let that go?" Kankuro growled as his words of rejection came back to bite him in the ass again. Years ago Sakura had allowed him to stay with her while he was on a mission to gather necessary herbs for cultivation. Everyday he spent with her he had grown closer to her and everyday she had grown more and more beautiful in his eyes. He resisted everyday due to being with Matsuri. One day he had a moment of weakness and he had kissed her. He meant for it to be an innocent kiss, a tease, but it had quickly turned into more. He was unable to stop until he her laying on the grass with swollen lips and hazy eyes. Seeing the bruises on her arms caused by their rushed attraction had snapped him back into reality and he withdrew from her. He had felt guilty about taking advantage of her when she had opened her home to him, and was already with another woman not that Sakura had known. When question about what was wrong he simply stated that this was wrong and wouldn't work between them. That they had needed to put some space between them and the next day he fled before she could speak to him again. When he arrived home he had found Matsuri with another man not that he hadn't had his suspicions she was sleeping with another. But this meant that he was free to pursue Sakura. The minute her name entered his head he paled and knew that he had lost that opportunity by running away. He had tried to mend the bridge he had burned with her but it never seemed enough to allow physical contact again. Not to mention she would use his words every time he attempted to be close to her.
"When am I going to get an explanation?" She countered chewing her pocky. The familiar line of questioning that he had always avoided had once again been tossed in his face and it pissed him off.
"Fine Sakura I was stupid ok. I was involved with Matsuri at the time and that wasn't fair to you. I ran away instead of acting like a man and confronting the issue. I stayed loyal to her while she fucked some guy and effectively screwed me out of knowing what we could have been." Kankuro pressed his face into her stomach with a sigh as she removed his hood and stroked his hair. They both knew where this was heading and they both accepted it.
"That's all you had to say stupid I would have forgiven you had you told me." Sakura removed him from her body and let herself off of the counter. "If you ever pull that crap again I will boot you home Kuro. I'm giving you a chance to make amends I owe you that at least. I know that were not going to work but if you still want to try I'll let you."
"Sakura I cant do this with you. I really do care about you but I think your right were not going to work. You don't trust me with your heart anymore. Not fully, and without that there can never be a relationship. At least not a healthy one. So I'll be your friend and I'll always have your back. I hope to god that Gaara knows what he's doing because I'm rooting for him to win you over now that I'm out of the running. Give him a chance ok, and I'm heading home tomorrow so give it a few days and then write me and Temari. She misses you." Kankuro smiled and moved to leave when he felt himself halted by her hand.
"Thank you Kuro for being so honest with me." Sakura smiled and hugged him. Kankuro held her for a moment feeling as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. They stayed like that for a few moment until they heard the door slam against the wall and Tsume's voice call for Sakura. Immediately breaking apart the two ran into the living room to see Tsume, Hana, and their pack limp in singed hair matted and bloody.
"I'll carry them to the dining room table." Kankuro said grabbing Hana from her ninkin whom collapsed with exhaustion. Sakura nodded and left to grab some towels giving some of the remaining servants orders to take the ninkin to the Inuzuka estate for treatment. Upon entering the dining room she hit medic mode which ment that nothing else mattered she was a doctor not a friend of the family. She removed the singed clothing as Kankuro cleansed the wounds so infection wouldn't set in he had remembered Sakura's basic classes for beginners which surprised him. She had regained enough chakra from the chakra pills that were supplied by Tsunade to heal them both so she didn't have to worry about conserving her chakra. After assessing the damage she set to work removing fragments of wood. Kankuro watched as Sakura began and never failed to heal each wound without a scar left. A half hour later Tsume and Hana were moved to separate bathrooms to clean up with the help of her staff. Tsume cursing them the whole way stating that she didn't need or want the help offered.
Kiba was the first to arrive back as Kankuro left not wanting to be caught in the frantic rush that was the Inuzuka heir. Sakura effectively explained that both Tsume and Hana were taken care of and were bathing. The state in which the dogs were brought to the Inuzuka compound had terrified Kiba so he had left Akamaru in charge of packing and returned. Once confirmed that his mother and sister were going to be alright he relaxed considerably. Sakura went to the kitchen to make tea and food Kiba watched from the living room admiring the woman on the other side of the counter.
"You keep that look on your face and she's gonna figure out that your feeling more than grateful." Tsume interrupted his thoughts as Hana laughed at her love struck brother.
"Is it that obvious?" Kiba asked feeling self-conscious.
"Any more obvious and you might as well hang a sign around your neck." Hana pointed out as she went to the kitchen to say goodbye.
"You better be ready for a fight pup." Tsume warned watching the girls in the kitchen.
"Yeah Tora's becoming a thorn in everyone's side." Kiba growled wanting nothing more than to rip out the elders throat.
"He ain't half the battle. You still got to win her from the others." Tsume clarified as she waved to Sakura and left with Hana. Kiba watched the three walk to the front door and sighed.