Author's Note:

Hey everyone! Sorry about the super late update. I had to recover from a terrible kidney stone that had me bedridden for two weeks! If you have never had one, count your blessings and hope that you never get one! I promise it sucks! Anyway, I'm feeling a lot better than before and wanted to try and get this chapter out for you guys! I hope you enjoy it! I'm sorry that it's so short!

Reviewer Shoutout: Jnaruko

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Chapter 60: Slug Queen for Cherry Blossom

Normal P.O.V.

"Shikamaru! Where are you?! Shikamaru!" Naruto yells as he runs around the village like a madman. "Shikamaru! I need you! Shika~"
"Oi, Naruto. What's with all the yelling? I'm right here," the male deer yawns as he approaches his friend with his hands in his pockets.

"Oh, thank gods I've found you! You need to come with me now! It's an emergency! Come on, I'll explain on the way!" Naruto yells as he tries to pull the lazy boy with him.

"Whoa there, foxy. Hold your horses," Shikamaru pulls back enough to offset Naruto, making him fall onto the ground. When he lands onto the ground, Shika leans over the stunned boy with a slight smirk, "Now, why don't you calm down for a bit before we go rushing off to who knows where doing who knows what, ok?"

"Ok,"

They take a few calming breathes before Naruto finally sits up with his hands in his lap, "Alright, now calmly explain what's going on,"

"Sasuke lost his vision from overusing his Mangekyō Sharingan and the medicine he was taking to prevent it doesn't work anymore. Granny Tsunade said there was nothing she could do for him, so I was mad and left them at the hospital. But then I was approached by a… person…"

"A person…?"

"…"

"Naruto, if you want me to help, you have to be honest with me about everything. And I mean everything,"

"Fine… He is on the enemy's side. He managed to sneak into the village, but we only talked. In fact, he offered to help Sasuke,"

"Wait a minute. An enemy broke through our defenses to talk to you about helping Sasuke? I swear, it's never anything simple with you," Shikamaru groans as he smacks his face.

"Kurama said that too. Anyway, he said that he can help give Sasuke his vision back, but he wanted Granny Tsunade to come too,"

"This all sounds very~"

"Suspicious? I know. And now, I don't know what to do. I normal person wouldn't even entertain the thought because the information came from the enemy. But what if he can help Sasuke? What if I don't take him up on the opportunity and Sasuke remains blind for the rest of his life? I would fail him as alpha and his mate. I don't know what to do. That's why I need your help. Not just as my future advisor, but as my friend,"

"What did Lady Tsunade say when you told her?"

"She just asked me what I would do?"

"And what did you say?"

"Nothing. I freaked out, ran out of the hospital, and immediately started running around the village looking for you,"

"Why am I not surprised," Shika laughs with a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Alright, let's go back to the hospital and talk to Lady Tsunade to see what our best course of action is,"

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The two arrive back at Sasuke's hospital room only to discover Jiraiya and Kakashi arrived too,

"Where did Sakura-chan, Karin, and Shizune go?" Naruto asks.

"I told them they could get some lunch after making some rounds for me. Figured it would also give us more room to talk too," Tsunade explains from her chair beside Sasuke's bed.

"Where did you go, dobe?"

"I found Shikamaru. He's going to help us," Naruto answers proudly.

"Very well. It will be nice having his opinion to weigh in on the matter at hand. I already briefed Jiraiya and Kakashi on the situation,"

"I think it might be a trap," Jiraiya says, bluntly.

"Of course, it is. This is Madara and Obito Uchiha we're talking about here. But why would they send someone else in their place to deliver the information? Why not just have one them come themselves?" Tsunade asks.

"Wouldn't it be too obvious? I mean, we would all know if Obito or Madara had entered the village. Plus, this guy didn't seem as strong as either of them. I don't think he's as important," Naruto answers.

"You said you've talked to him before, right Naruto? Did he seem off to you in any way?" Kakashi asks.

Naruto thinks back to the two conversations he had with Tobi, "Only that he doesn't pose a threat. I've always been on alert whenever we would talk, but he's never given me wrong information or tried to harm me. He only wanted to talk to me. Something he said earlier did throw me off though,"

"What did he say?" Shikamaru questions.

"He said, he was looking for someone to build a world full of peace and love because he doesn't believe he belongs to one. It was almost like he was looking for me and Sasuke to create that world because he doesn't believe in Madara and Obito's cause. But, before he left, he said they were just the ramblings of a hopeless romantic,"

"What did you say?" Kakashi gasps.

"You know me, Kakashi: forever the hopeless romantic,"

"What's wrong, Kakashi? Did you think of something?" Tsunade asks.

"No. No. Just… remembering an old friend," the silver wolf answers while shaking his head.

"Naruto. You said this Tobi guy gave us a few days' time to get to the Mountains' Graveyard, right? And he said that I needed to come, correct? Could it be because of operation for Sasuke?" Tsunade asks.

"That sounds about right,"

"I don't like this, Tsunade. You're the Hokage. You can't just up and leave for almost a week or so to perform an operation. That will put the village at risk of an invasion. What if that's what they want? Even if this informant is swaying sides, Madara and Obito will know that you're out of the office and try to attack us. Their numbers may be weaker, but with the combined strength of the two of them, they could wipe us out. We can't take that hit," Jiraiya protests.

"But what about Sasuke? We can't just leave his blind forever. He needs to see. Everyone in this room knows that we're mates, so I have to do what I need to do to protect him too,"

"But you have to also consider that you are to be named the next Hokage and the Nine-tails vessel. Or did you forget that they still need the Jinchūriki for their plans?" Kakashi says.

"Of course, I didn't, but I am more than just those two things too, ya know,"

"Of course, we know that! But we must consider everything before moving forward, brat!"

"This is ridiculous! Sasuke and I are running out of time! We need to make a decision now!" Naruto roars.

"Naruto, you need to calm down," Shikamaru says.

"WILL EVERYONE SHUT UP!" Sasuke screams, effectively silencing the room, "I like how everyone is talking about and making decisions for me like I'm not even in the room. No one has even asked me what I want," he says, his body shaking with anger and sadness.

"Sasuke… don't you want to fix your vision?" Naruto asks gently as he sits at Sasuke's side.

"Of course, I do. I can't be of any help if I can't fucking see. But, if my vision is going to put the village or you in any danger, then the answer is no. You may be my alpha, but we're supposed to protect each other. That includes me not putting you in harm's way to protect me. So, the answers no and that's final,"

"Sasuke~"

"Gods, all of you men are annoying," Tsunade says as she rubs her temples, "If any of you would have let me finish a single thought, then you would have heard my plan. I wasn't planning on going in the first place. As Jiraiya said, I am the Hokage, so I cannot leave my village unattended and walk into an obvious trap like that. That's why I'm going to send in someone just as good,"

"Who are you sending, Lady Tsunade?" Shikamaru asks.

"I will be sending my number one pupil, Sakura Haruo. She has proven herself to almost reach my level and I would like to put her skills to the test but didn't know how. This will be the perfect test for her, if it's alright with you, Sasuke?" Sasuke nods, "Good, then it is decided. Naruto, since this is about your mate, you will be the one in charge of this mission. Shikamaru, Karin, and Kakashi will go as a backup. I expect everyone to listen to him and I expect Naruto to be in command the entire time you guys are gone. Sasuke, I will observe her work when you guys return, does that sound alright to everyone?" Everyone nods, "Then it is settled. I will fill Karin and Sakura in they return from lunch. I expect everyone to be packed and ready to by this evening. You're all dismissed,"

"Oh, man. What a drag. How did I get dragged into this mess? Oh well, can't be helped now,"

"That's the spirit. Now, if you'll excuse me. I have a little dolphin I need to say bye to before leaving. Ciao," Kakashi smiles before disappearing.

"I'm going to pack our stuff and I'll be right back. Wait for me?"

"Where elsewhere would I go, dobe?"

"Oh right. Ok, I'll be right back," Naruto grabs Sasuke's hand and gives it a little squeeze before leaving the room.

"That boy. He's going to make quite the Hokage someday," Tsunade smiles as she leans back into the chair.

"Yeah. It'll be interesting to see. At least we'll both be retired and have all the time in the world too, ya know," Jiraiya smirks as he wiggles his eyebrows.

"You pervy old frog,"

"You love it,"

"Hm. Maybe…"

Both lean in to kiss each other, but stop when Sasuke clears his throat,

"Did you two forget I'm still in the room?"

"Sorry,"

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To Be Continued…