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Zutale, Xararudolf90, and I-Love-Trunks1

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Chapter 50: Pain Arc III: A Hokage's Sacrifice

Normal P.O.V.

After Gamakichi and Tsunade retreated with Jiraiya from the battlefield, she ordered the toad to head towards the Konoha Hospital. Along the way, Tsunade's heart aches at the destruction and what remained of her village.

"Some Hokage I am. How could I let it get like this? How could I let him get like this?"

"Is this the place?" Gamakichi asks as he stops in front of one of the last buildings still standing.

"Yeah. Inside, quickly," she orders while sliding off his back.

"Lady Tsunade?"

Tsunade looks up to see Sakura and her ANBU team rushing towards her.

"Sakura? What are you and my ANBU team doing here?"

"We came to help out here at the hospital. There were not enough Mednins to take care of everyone while you were away, so I came here to take charge. Your ANBU followed me here and have been assisting me since," Sakura explains.

"I thought I told you idiots to protect Shizune? Is she inside? Tell her to come out and help me. Jiraiya needs to be operated on yesterday. I can't lode him too," she commands while walking towards the front doors. When she notices that no one is following her, Tsunade stops and turns around to face them, "What's wrong with all of you?! I said let's move!"

"Lady Tsunade! Please forgive us! We are ashamed to call ourselves your ANBU protectors!" the Hawk ANBU pleads while the rest bow in respect.

"What are you blabbering about? Where's my niece?!" Tsunade yells while grabbing the front part of the Hawk's vest angrily.

"Lady Tsunade, don't blame them!" Sakura yells, making everyone face her. Her body shakes in anger as tears fall from her long, pink eyelashes. "It was my fault. I was too careless. I couldn't save her in time. I'm so sorry, Lady Tsunade. I'm sorry,"

Tsunade drops the Hawk ANBU before walking over to Sakura with wide eyes. Shaky hands grip trembling shoulders, "Sakura… hun… What are you talking about? What happened to Shizune?"

Trying to swallow a large lump in her throat, Sakura forces the words out, "Shizune… died… while fighting. We were surrounded by some of the animals summoned by Pain and I couldn't save her in time… I'm so sorry, Milady… It's all my fault…" she started to cry again.

Tsunade's hands slowly slide of her student's shoulders until they hang down at her sides. The news of her niece's death weighs heavy on her heart. Another blow to add to her guilt. Biting her lip until the iron taste of blood pools in her mouth, the Slug Sanin turns on her heel. Her blond hair and clothes blowing in the wind.

"All of you, quit your groveling and stand tall! It's no one's fault for what happened today but mine! Do you understand?!" she yells, never turning back to reveal her tears.

"But, Lady Tsunade~"

"Enough!" Tsunade interrupts Sakura, "We do not have time to place blame or worry about what has happened. Right now, as long as I am alive, I am still the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf and it is my duty to protect those who remain. ANBU! Get into position! It's time to perform the Katsuyu: Immerse Network Healing on a grander scale,"

"But Lady Hokage, I must protest! That will completely drain your chakra reserves! You could fall into a coma or worse!" the Rabbit ANBU protests.

"I don't remember asking for your opinion. I am aware of the side effects of this jutsu. However, it is the only way I can save the rest of the village while also buying time to try and save Jiraiya. So, excuse me if I don't have the patience of time to be arguing with anyone about what's best for me right now," she scolds, causing everyone to silence themselves. Taking a few deep breathes and wiping her tears away, Tsunade speaks again, "Sakura and Gamakichi, take Jiraiya and prepare an operating room and wait for me there. I'll be there after I'm finished with this jutsu,"

"I will have Karin help too. She stayed behind with me to help here as well," Sakura adds before instructing Gamakichi through the hospital doors.

After the two disappear through the double doors, Tsunade and her ANBU team heads towards the hospital roof. The ANBU each stand in four separate corners while Tsunade sits in the middle. She summons Katsuyu before them.

"Tsunade-sama, it's been quite a while. How have you been?"

"I'm sorry Katsuyu, but we'll have to save catching up for another time,"

"Oh my. It would seem so. I shall do my best to help those in need,"

"Please do. I'll be sending you my chakra through the Immerse Network Healing Technique. Please report anyone to me that is deceased and care for those still living and seriously injured,"

"As you wish, Tsunade-sama,"

Katsuya bows before dividing itself in several colons and making their way down the hospital building. Once out of sight, Tsunade and the four ANBU members preform the ritual. Concentrating on the ritual, Tsunade can feel her chakra reserves emptying as she concentrates them into Katsuya's body. For what seems like hours, Tsunade pours most of her chakra into her network with Katsuyu until her body starts to feel week.

"There, that should be enough chakra," she says, trying to stand up.

When she falls to her knees, the ANBU are at her side, "Lady Tsunade!"

"I'm fine. I had to give most of my chakra so that Katsuyu can heal the village," she says before standing. "You four go out and her help with any remaining citizens who need aid. Come back here when you are finished,"

They nod before taking off. Tsunade turns towards the to enter the hospital.

"Lady Hokage,"

"Karin? What are you doing up here?"

"Sakura told me to come find you. We had the room prepared but you were taking quite a while to meet us. Are you alright?"

"Yes. I will be alright," Tsunade says while approaching her.

"Sakura told me that the jutsu you are using will deplete most of your chakra reserves. Are you sure you will be able enough to operate on the Toad Sanin?"

"You doubt my abilities, child?" Tsunade glares.

"Not at all. Just merely airing on the side of caution,"

"Hn. Your caution is noted,"

The rest of the walk is silent until they reach the operating room. Jiraiya is laying on the table, hooked up to a heart monitor and an IV. Sakura's shoulder length hair is pulled into a high ponytail as she washes her hands thoroughly. Karin does the same after pulling her hair into a high ponytail too. Tsunade only washes her hands. Once the three of them are ready, they begin operating on Jiraiya.

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Time ticks away as they continue to operate on the unconscious and barely alive Toad Sanin. Karin dabs the sweat from both Tsunade and Sakura's forehead and helps with handing tools when needed. Since Tsunade can't use too much more of her chakra, Sakura uses hers to keep Jiraiya's wounds stable during the process. The operation is long and grueling. They take his vitals and do what they can to clean up the more severe wounds, including his missing right arm. Throughout the operation Katsuyu relays news of more deaths of their shinobi and villagers, including Kakashi. When Tsunade is told of Kakashi's death, she stumbles a little and pauses with side eyes.

"What's wrong, Lady Hokage?" Karin asks.

"Katsuyu confirmed Kakashi's death…" Tsunade almost whispers.

"Kakashi-sensei? Oh no…" Sakura says, trying to hold back her tears.

"Sakura, stay focus… We need to finish…" Tsunade commands, forcing herself to go back to work.

"Lady Hokage," Karin starts. "I don't know much about this jutsu of yours, but from my understanding, I thought you can only communicate with your summon while your performing the ritual?"

"In normal circumstances, you would be correct. However, I have found a way to use both the ritual and chakra to create another communication like with Katsuyu. I developed this before the Second Shinobi War. This way I have a way to communicate with Katsuyu while I fight and must use her to heal others. Sakura, this will be one of the techniques you will be learning before we go into the Fourth Shinobi War,"

"Yes, Milady,"

"Magnificent. There's still so much I must learn about you and the Toad Sanin. I only have a limited knowledge on Master Orochimaru before Sasuke-kun defeated him,"

"You're a medical wonder yourself, Karin. I still plan on studying you. And, if you're interested, maybe you can study as an apprentice of mine,"

"I will consider it. Thank you, Lady Hok~ Lady Tsunade,"

"Lady Tsunade, if I may," Sakura speaks, "Since you are running out of chakra, why don't I supply my chakra to the network instead?"

"No, I need you to keep your reserves plentiful. I will use the last of my chakra to pour into Jiraiya before slipping into my coma. Once that happens, I need you to oversee helping the others. Do you understand?"

Emerald green eyes meet exhausted hazel ones. Even though she doubts her abilities to hold herself to the high regard Tsunade does, Sakura is going to do everything in her power to make her sensei proud.

Sakura nods her head in determination before the two of them go back to work. After a little while longer, Tsunade feels that she's done all she can do for her mate. It doesn't help that she can feel her chakra is almost depleted.

"Sakura, you can stop your chakra now. We're almost done,"

At the command, Sakura releases her chakra and steps away, whipping the sweat from her forehead. Tsunade hands Karin her tools before placing her hands over Jiraiya's main injury in his chest. With the last of her chakra, Tsunade closes the wound. Her once tight, youthful skin becomes severely wrinkled and withered. She stumbles backwards until Karin catches her.

"I've got you,"

"Lady Tsunade!" Sakura yells as she rushes over to them. Both women move Tsunade into a nearby chair where she can rest. "Oh, Lady Tsunade… What have you done…?"

"Hey now… What are those tears for...?" Tsunade says with a small smile on her face.

"Look at you… you're… you're…"

"Old? I know… I'm sorry you have to see me like this…"

"No… I'm sorry… If it weren't for me, none of this would have happened… If I had been stronger… If I wasn't so useless… I'm a disgrace as your student…"

A weak hand reaches out to caress her cheek. Sakura looks up to see Tsunade weakly smiling at her, "I don't want to hear any of that nonsense… Sakura, listen to me… None of this is your fault… It's mine… I'm the Hokage of this village… That means it's my duty to protect you… all of you… Naruto… Sakura… Shizune… Karin… Sasuke… Kakashi… Jiraiya… all of you… and I have failed… So, don't blame yourself… blame me… Blame me because… I didn't realize until now… the true meaning of being Hokage…"

"What do you mean?" Sakura asks, taking Tsunade's frail hand in hers.

"Being Hokage… means that sometimes… you will have to make… the hardest decisions… and face the hardest loses… of your life… Today… I lost almost all the Hidden Leaf… and my alpha… But… at least… I could give what I could… to save who I could… Understanding this lesson… is something all Hokages will learn… especially Naruto… when it is time… for him… to take… my… place…" Tsunade says as her eye lids drift close and her hand slips from Sakura's.

"Lady Tsunade? Lady Tsunade?!"

Karin puts her fingers up to Tsunade's neck and wait a moment, "She's alive, but her pulse has slowed. We should move her to a bed,"

"Yeah…"

"You stay her. I'll bring another on in here,"

Sakura doesn't watch Karin leave the room. Her emerald green eyes are trained on her sensei's stilled form. The Slug Sanin's weak words play in her head on repeat. Even though she meant those to be lessons for a Hokage to know, Sakura understood them as her role as a Mednin. They weighed heavy on her beating heart and will remain with her for the rest of her life.

A short time later, Karin came back into the room with a bed. The two easily lifted the light, frail woman onto it and moved so that the couple can be next to each other.

"So, what now?" Karin asks. Sakura just looks at her, lost on what to say. But before she could say anything, a loud, raw roar shakes the hospital building. "What was that?"

Another roar erupts and shakes Sakura's core, "Oh no, no, no, no, no…"

Sakura curses all the way to the rooftop of the hospital with Karin hot of her tail. The roar is louder with them being outside. She pulls on her white bunny ears to try and minimize the sound.

"Naruto…"

"Naruto? That's Naruto?" Karin asks in shock. "How could he make such a loud roar?"

"That's not just Naruto… He's using the Nine-Tails' chakra… He's becoming the Nine-Tails"

"That could mean that Sasuke-kun is in danger, right? We need to help them,"

"No!" Sakura yells as her hair and clothes whip in the harsh winds. "If we go out there, it'll be suicide. We need to stay here and protect Lady Tsunade and Master Jiraiya… It's all we can do for now…"

"But…" Karin was about to argue but seeing Sakura's concerned, distant gaze silences her. Instead she asks another question, "Sakura… when you said Naruto is becoming the Nine-Tails… What do you mean…?"

When the pink-haired bunny doesn't look at her red-haired fox companion, it only makes the unanswered question weigh more on her soul.

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To Be Continued…