3 - The Path She Treads

I find Healer Tsunade in the main hut, bent over a girl who moans softly in pain. My face hardens as I gaze upon the injured and dying. Shizune is also here, as well as Ino. Together, they focus on saving one of our warriors from a deep wound, circular in the front, but larger on his back, bleeding profusely. Sweat beads on their faces as the glow of their energy combines with his, and the flesh slowly knits back together. Try as we might to remain separate, to maintain our peace and distance from the chaos of the warring nations, we are unable to evade their eyes, their blades, their weapons. I think of the boy I brought from the reach of death, only 4 years old, and my heart clenches.

"Sakura, have you come to aid us? We desperately need your expertise - Healer Tsunade may be Touched, but she is not many, and there are others that need immediate healing." Ino has noticed me. Tsunade glances up from her work, her brow creased, but a sharp awareness flickers in her warm eyes. I meet her gaze and nod shortly, but respond to Ino's query.

"I will save as many as the Goddess permits." Ino's eyebrows twitch at the formal reply, but there is work to be done, lives to be saved, wounds to heal, so she merely smiles briefly at me before we both turn to those in danger of greeting the Goddess before their Time.

Hours pass like mere seconds. Such is the way with healing - the rest of the world fades, the only importance remaining as the patients lying before us. I finally seal the long, deep gash tearing down Tenten's back when I become aware of a critical gaze upon me. Wiping the perspiration from my face, I turn calmly to meet the eyes of Healer Tsunade. Heeding the silent query, I follow her outside and behind the healing hut.

We stand in silence for several minutes, gazing at the setting sun. When Tsunade speaks, it is not what I expect. "We lost three today. All children." Her fingers clench into imposing fists at her sides as she stares resolutely towards the red sky. "We are no threat, but the distant warriors that come to this land strike us down either way. And the shadows grow stronger with each passing day." Finally, her eyes turn to me.

I answer. "I have been Chosen." For a moment, there is no change in Healer Tsunade's expression. Then, her eyebrows jump to her hairline. I continue to speak. "The Goddess has given me a great task… But I am afraid." I lower my eyes in shame at my admission. Tsunade's hand lifts my chin gently.

"There is no dishonor in fear, Sakura. The only dishonor is turning from the duties placed before us." Her warm eyes chase away my doubts, and I relax. "Do not fret, my apprentice. I have already been told of your task." This time, my own eyes widen with shock. Tsunade snorts at my expression. "You did not think that you are the only one the Goddess ever Speaks to?"

Sheepishly, I grin back at my mentor. She smirks. "As Healer and Head of the Council of Elders, I decree that my student, Sakura, is released from tribal duties. Directives from our Goddess take priority over all else." Tsunade takes my face in her hands and presses her lips gently upon my forehead. I feel her approval, as well as a warmth that I am quickly growing familiar with. "Go with my blessing, Sakura." My mentor leans back and smiles reassuringly.

I bow deeply. "Thank you, Shishou." Rising, I step into the circle of my teacher's arms, embracing the one that has stayed beside me every step of the way in my journey thus far. My eyes close as I savor this contact, for this is likely the last I am to see of her until my task is complete. Stepping back, my eyes open once more. Tsunade is smiling, a wicked glint in her eyes.

"Don't thank me just yet, Sakura." She stretches her arms to the sky before crossing them behind her head. My face creases in confusion just as a gasp sounds from behind me.

"Forehead! Your forehead!" Ino stands there, her hands over her mouth, eyes wide. Her childhood nickname for me stretches the smirk on Tsunade's face, and I scowl at my friend. My fingers search my face for any differences.

"What are you going on about, Ino-pig?" My own insult tumbles out, and Tsunade chuckles deeply, strolling past us even as Ino's finger prods the center of my forehead sharply.

"You're in so much trouble! Why didn't you tell me you were Head Healer?" Ino wails dramatically. My eyes bug out. What a picture we must make, a voice in my head snickers. Ino's finger is still planted firmly on the purple diamond raised against my skin, her face scrunched in a childish pout, and my mouth is hanging open, eyes impossibly wide with shock. Slowly, I recover, my eye twitching as I remove Ino's finger from my face.

Turning, I walk a fair way into the training grounds outside the village, Ino's squawking following me the entire way. A vein pulses in my forehead, and my fists clench. Distantly, amusement ripples across my spirit as I envelop my hand in destructive energy. "Shannaro!" The ground crumbles beneath my fist, and I smirk dangerously. Don't thank me yet, indeed.

A/N - Hello, hello! Happy New Year (late)! I hope everyone had a good holiday, and thank you for the well wishes! For those who wished health upon my family, it did come through. My grandmother is still alive, and in relatively good health following surgery. She now has a clean bill of health, with no lingering cancerous masses anywhere. :) Thank you for the support!

I must have spent over two hours writing and re-writing this chapter. I am quite pleased with the end result, and I hope you will be, as well. This chapter is a bit of a filler, with some humor and lots of Tsunade; the task for the Goddess will come into play next chapter. (Also, for those who are confused - there is a war going on between countries. Think World War Two - Japan vs the US. Although I'm not sure that this country is Japan - it's a bit confusing even for me, so we'll assume that the country in question is in a fantasy world somewhere between the Naruto universe and our real world.) IN ANY CASE, thank you for staying beside me on this story - it's been fun so far, and I think it'll be more enjoyable in the future! As always, please tell me what you thought of this chapter, and I'll see you next time!

XOXO A.T.