Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Chapter 18: Truth Serum

Flashback

Her nails scraped against the brick walls as she walked. The sound was not quite registered by her brain. The monotony of every day did not bring her any sense of structure or solace. Her heart only grew more and more restless and anxious with each passing second. Each moment she breathed felt like a lifetime. She was tired.

She stepped over the gutter without having to think about it. The spot where the street suddenly dipped. The repugnant odor wafted up her nose. It was enough to make her eyes water. It would have. If she was still capable of crying.

She heard voices up ahead. Sakura came to a stop, hidden away by the corner of the building. A structure shielding her from facing the souls of the world. The sound of objects striking each other reached her ears. Their laughter and friendly teasing soon followed. She turned her head. A pair of footsteps that was behind her took one look and turned around but not before letting out a sound of annoyance.

She pressed up against the back of the brick wall that surrounded the home. Trying not to take up any more space than absolutely necessary. She could hear murmuring. She absentmindedly rubbed her arm. The slow, deliberate circles were her way of self-soothing.

"Stay away!" An angry voice hissed out harshly. "Don't get too close."

'Don't let her shadow touch you.'

Sakura pushed off the wall. She braced herself. She walked through the narrow alley. It was the quickest way to get home. The sky was painted in broad strokes in the color of burnt orange. She felt the sun on her back. The hairs touching her neck stuck to the sweat.

The sounds of the marbles stopped. As did the voices and jokes. She felt their eyes. She kept her head down, her jade orbs focusing on the path directly in front of her. Her right hand moved slowly over her left forearm.

'Witch," one voice called out. It was a young voice. He could not be much older than Haruma would have been. The twelve-year-old girl ignored the voice. It was not the first time.

"Child killer." Another voice, emboldened by the first said with much more hostility and confidence.

Sakura picked up her pace. The unease and sense of anxiety grew in her. Her skin was burning from the volatility of their collective gazes. She could hear the sound of feet shuffling. She did not turn around. She could just make out her home at the end of the alley.

She felt a sharp pain in the back of her head. She heard a clunk as something hit a wall. Her arms dropped to her sides, hanging loosely.

"Come on!" A voice called out hastily. "Before she puts a curse on you and kills you."

Feet ran, clothing shuffled, doors closed. Sakura brought her hand to the back of her head. Her fingers felt around for the source of the sudden pain. She could already feel her skin begin to swell around the site of impact.

Her eyes focused on a marble lying not too far away. It was larger in size than most marbles. It was the shooter marble. She bent down and picked it up. She looked at the glass-colored sphere. It had a noticeable crack in it from hitting the wall after it ricocheted from the back of her head. She set it down where she had found it. The neighborhood boys would need it for their game tomorrow.

She walked moving in the direction of home. She stepped through the gate. She looked around the outdoor kitchen. The firepit was barren. She pushed her legs forward deeper into the home. She came to a stop at the open teal door. She knocked. She stood there with one foot over the other, not daring to cross the threshold.

The room was dark. She could just make the outline of her mother lying on the futon mattress on the floor.

"Okaasan?" She called out in a timid voice. She waited for a response that she knew would never come. Sakura looked over her shoulder. "I'll get started on dinner." She announced just like she did every night. It was their routine. She lingered in the doorway, just like she always did. She felt her heart break a little more each time they did this.

Sakura pushed off the door. She turned around and began to make her way to the food storage. Her father would not be home from the fields for another hour or so. She would have a warm meal for him by the time he walked into the doors. Even if he would be too drunk to tell the difference.

End of flashback

He folded the parchment in his hands carefully. A letter that he had long awaited anxiously only heightened his anxiety now that it was here. The talks were at a standstill. That was why the letter had been delayed. The troops had been moved and repositioned at the order of high-ranking generals under the suggestion of the Shogun. Danzo had been right. The war was not over. Far from it from the looks of things.

He slipped the letter under his pillow at the sound of a single knock against the wooden frame of the shoji door.

"Come in," he called out as he turned to face the threshold. His head dipped slightly. "Good afternoon, Sensei."

"Namikaze-sama," Kabuto brought an arm across his chest before he bowed deeply. He readjusted his round glasses on his face while he straightened his frame. He waited for Minato's hand to gesture for him to cross the room.

"How are you feeling?" Kabuto asked the blond in a light, kind tone.

"No complaints," Minato answered back in a pleasant tone. He undid the knot holding his jacket in place. He slipped his left arm out of the blue fabric. "I am looking forward to having the thread removed."

Kabuto rested his black bag on the brown desk. He stooped over to peer closely at the mostly healed skin. The black thread drew in the eye on his otherwise fair skin. The doctor pressed his cold fingers close to the sutures.

"Does this hurt?" He asked whilst continuing to prod the area.

"No," Minato answered, watching the man closely.

Kabuto nodded his head. "That is good," he straightened to his full height, three inches shorter than the blond. "We can go ahead and take them out."

"What a relief," Minato smiled easily. "Should I sit?"

Kabuto looked at the chair from the corner of his eye. "It might be better if I sit and you stand, would that be alright with you Namikaze-sama?"

"Of course," Minato gestured for him to sit. He waited for Kaubuto to turn the chair around and slip into it.

"Please move closer," Kabuto requested. His hands were rooting through his bag in search of his tools. Minato moved closer in compliance. The medic held a small pair of metal scissors in his right hand. He began to snip through the stitches one at a time. Minato felt pressure as his skin was being pulled when Kabuto tugged at the sutures. He collected the wayward remnants of thread in his left hand as he worked.

Minato looked through his raised arm as Kabuto ran a cotton ball with what smelled like alcohol along the area. It stung. He felt his abdominal muscles spam involuntarily once, as the burning sensation eventually died out when the alcohol evaporated into the air.

"Done," the medic smiled up at him. "It will be a couple of days before the suture incision wounds themselves completely heal so I recommend taking it easy for a little while longer. The internal wounds appear to be healing nicely but it certainly would not hurt to not push yourself more than absolutely necessary."

"Understood," he raked a hand through his blond locks before he slipped his arm back into the jacket. He tied it in place. "What is your estimate for when I will be back at full strength?"

"Hard to say, Namikaze-sama there are many factors." Kabuto rubbed the back of his neck with clear discomfort.

"Unofficially, Sensei."

"A month perhaps?" Kabuto closed his bag. "I would wait a couple of weeks before trying any of your usual," Kabuto pressed his lips together as his dark eyes focused right in the middle of Minato's chest. "Conditioning," he finished his thought in a cold, clinical voice. "But that being said," he rubbed his chin. "It would be beneficial to your healing if you keep moderately active."

Minato resisted the urge to flinch. He felt very much like a specimen being studied closely in the man's dead gaze. Kabuto blinked. He smiled at Minato. His eyes had light behind them again.

'What a strange man.'

"Thank you, Sensei." Minato forced his lips into a smile. "I'll walk you out."

Kabuto pulled his back from the desk. "Not necessary, Namikaze-sama. I can see myself out."

"It would be good for me, after all you said to stay active right?" Minato said easily. He watched as the man's smile faltered slightly. Within a second, Kabuto had recovered. His usual smile was plastered on his face.

"As you wish, Namikaze-sama. I could always use the company."

"After you," Minato slid open the door. Kabuto dipped his head as he walked through. Minato fell into step with him.

They walked down the corridor with dark, rich wood paneling, in near silence. The only conversation that took place was between their sandals and the hardwood floors. The pair rounded the corner. The bright light of the day beckoned to them. Minato's face remained impassive even as he watched the man from the corner of his eye.

"Is something the matter, Yakushi-sensei?" Minato finally asked him in a conversational tone when he noticed the man's eyes scanning the entirety of the space for the third time in less than a minute.

Kabuto shook his head. "No, Namikaze-sama. I slept on my neck funny last night," he said with a light chuckle.

"Maybe you should try some stretches?" Minato offered helpfully. Kabuto was still the focus of his subtle gaze.

Kabuto smiled at him. He rubbed the back of his neck. "You're right. Staying warm and limber is the answer."

A high-pitched gleeful exclamation filled the air. It drew both of their attention. Their eyes locked on the blond boy running through the courtyard. He was spinning circles around the woman. She was saying something to him which resulted in more exuberance from him. His face was glowing against the muted backdrop of the dormant garden. Naruto's arms were stretched over his head as he said something that caused Sakura to giggle into her hand. The little boy puffed out his chest, he was beside himself with pride at soliciting such a reaction out of her.

'Naruto.'

His eyes softened as he watched the boy, his son, just be in such a state of happiness. He was so full of life completely unbothered by anything. He could almost see the twinkle in his eyes from where he stood. Naruto wore his heart on his sleeve, unapologetically and openly. Minato did not even realize he had stopped moving. He was startled to see that Kabuto had as well. Minato followed the doctor's gaze. He stared almost unblinkingly at the woman.

It was the same gaze. The same dead gaze he had been subjected to earlier when the man was removing his sutures. The intensity was just as unnerving.

'She really is oblivious, to not feel his eyes.'

Minato cleared his throat. Kabuto looked at him in surprise.

"Sorry about that, Yakushi-sensei. Naruto is spirited." Minato said with a chuckle.

"That he is," Kabuto nodded his head in agreement. "It's nice to see him like this."

Minato brought his hands to his back. He took a couple of purposeful steps toward the gate and further from Naruto and Sakura. Kabuto followed his lead.

"This is as far as I will be going, Yakushi-sensei," Minato said breezily. "I just remembered I have a prior engagement I need to attend to. My apologies," Minato said with sincerity.

"Thank you for coming all this way." Kabuto bowed.

Minato nodded to a guard. "Please escort Yakushi-sensei to the gate."

Both the guard and the doctor did not disobey his words. They bowed before leaving him rooted in place. It was only when he saw the doctor slip through the gate and the guard close it, that he put his body in motion once again towards the direction he had come from.

He saw her approach. He ceased tossing the fruit in his hands once he could see the whites of her eyes. He did not miss the slight falter of her steps when she finally did notice him.

"Minori-san," she broke the fast in conversation first. "Good morning." She settled the hay bale down on its side, it reached her hip.

"Sakura-san," he nodded his head in the faintest of motions. "Are your hands clean?"

The raised brow was his only response. Her green eyes blinked at him slowly. Those two gestures alone made him want to shuffle his weight on his feet but he remained unmoving.

"This is for you," he nearly mumbled. Her gaze went from his face to the apple in his outstretched arm. Her jaw clenched slightly before she drew in a breath.

"Why?" She tilted her head to the side.

'It's just an apple.'

"It's a thank you for taking such good care of Kaminari." He said in a level voice with more confidence than he felt. The horse poked his head out from behind the stall at the mention of his name. He nickered as his dark brown eye landed on Sakura. The woman smiled softly at the stallion.

"He already had his," he added to eliminate any and all traces of doubt.

Minato looked at the apple. He pulled his arm towards him and gripped the fruit with both hands. He winced as he pulled apart the fruit into two pieces as he had seen her do. He was unable to stop a grunt from leaving his mouth.

'She made it look easy.'

"Here," he held out a half. He supposed it was a good thing that he was not sweating from the expenditure of energy. That would have only embarrassed him further.

He waited with bated breath for what felt like nearly half his life. Her fingers curled around the fruit. She settled back against the post of the barn. She took a small, tentative bite of the fruit. Her eyes closed briefly as she chewed, savoring the way it tasted.

"Thank you," she said in a voice so small he almost missed the utterance entirely.

"You're welcome." He ignored the way his stomach twisted into knots. It was strange to be thanked for something as small as sharing a piece of fruit. "You can have the second half as well," he offered it to her awkwardly.

"I shouldn't," the corner of her mouth twitched upwards ever so slightly. She continued to nibble away.

His eyes fixed on the half of an apple in his hand. He raised it to his lips and took a substantial chunk of it off. He chewed as the words started to come together in his mind.

"I saw the Sensei today," Minato said easily, he studied her from the corner of his eye. He saw her whole body flinch.

"Are you alright?" Her warm, emerald irises were on his person. He turned his head so that he was facing her. Her concern was palpable. It was either genuine or she was a very good actor.

"I'm fine," he corroborated with a short nod. "He came to remove my stitches."

"Oh," Sakura pressed her back against the wooden post once more. She was looking down at her feet. The hand that was holding the remaining third of the apple was resting loosely at her side.

"He said everything looks fine," he pretended not to notice her clear disappointment. "Do you know the Sensei? From before maybe?"

Her head snapped up revealing her parted lips and wide eyes. She shook her head empathically.

"No," she brought her arm - her left - to her chest protectively. The action was automatic. She did not think about it. "I've never been out of Tonika Village before I started here." She barely paused between her words.

"From my understanding, the Sensei is not originally from Konoha either." He pretended not to notice her surprise. "He arrived a little before the start of the war. I thought maybe you crossed paths at some point."

"I met him here at the compound. I got hurt," Sakura bit her lip, her eyes darkened and her chin moved closer and closer to her chest - slowly.

"I see," Minato did not miss a single emotion that moved through her. He tilted his head up. The smell of wet straw coupled with the twists and turns his questions had taken them, left his appetite somewhere along the way.

"Um," Sakura took half a step towards him. "Does this mean you'll be taking over?"

Minato's eyes moved from side to side as he tried to find an answer to her inquiry. "No," she visibly relaxed at his statement. "The Sensei said I should hold off for a little while longer before I go back to my routine."

Sakura looked over her shoulder at the horse. "I guess that means we'll be spending more time together, Kaminari-san." Something close to excitement colored her statement. He kept his expression neutral.

"Naruto-sama seemed to have a fun time with the Master." She broke the momentary silence and his train of thought. "The ramen dinner was a big success."

"It was," Minato closed his eyes. He could picture it. He could smell it. He could almost taste it.

He watched her take another small bite of her apple. She seemed to be in no rush to go about her chores which was unlike her.

"Sakura-san," he called her name to pull her from her reverie. She tilted her head to the side. "Maybe we can talk about something other than the boy?"

To his surprise, Sakura let out a short breathy sound. Something caught between a scoff and a chuckle. "He's the most exciting thing in my life."

"He's five," Minato deadpanned, making both his disbelief and his building frustration.

"My statement stands," her lips pulled into the briefest of smiles. Her expression softened as it landed on the horse once more. "Do you know for how long you will be here?"

"No," Minato answered truthfully. "It looks like a while longer."

"That's good," she did not turn to look at him. Had she done so, she might have registered the surprise on his face. "The longer you stay the more time Naruto-sama has with his Otosama." She reached out a hand to give the white horse scratches up and down his face.

'Back to Naruto.'

Minato shook his head. "What do you do on your days off?"

"Some things here and there," she answered unhelpfully.

He turned to face the horse, he leaned his forearms against the wooden stall door. He folded his hands together. His eyes fixed on the white mass in front of him.

"Are you planning on seeing the fireworks? You should if you weren't. They are pretty special." He kept his tone casual. The New Year fireworks were one of the few festivals that Konoha went all out. He knew for a fact that the war did not change that. The letters his men received proved the event still took place.

"No," she answered distractedly. "I don't like crowds." Her hands moved to the knot at the base of her neck. "And someone needs to stay behind and look after the animals. Make sure they are okay." She patted Kaminari on the neck. "You don't have to worry." She reassured the horse.

Minato scoffed. "Kaminari is a war horse. He's used to sound. He'll be fine."

Sakura pinned him with a less-than-impressed look. "Kaminari-san is not the only animal." She rolled her eyes at the taken-aback look on his face. "The cows and chickens do not care for loud bangs and bursts of light."

Minato opened his mouth with a less-than-fully formed thought.

"Sakura!" A loud, feminine voice called out.

"I'll be right there, Juna-san!" Sakura cupped her hands around her mouth. She looked at Minato. "Sorry, Minori-san but I need to wrap this up."

He stood by mutely as she essentially bull-rushed, completing Kaminari's tasks. She was done in less than five minutes. He was not convinced even he could have done all that, that fast.

'Just what am I dealing with?'

Tomoha's joints protested but she paid it no mind. She kept her hands clasped behind her back. Watching, forever watching. She watched as the young boy spoke animatedly to his father. It seemed sharing one meal was all it took to shake off the awkwardness between them. The boy was treating him no differently than he treated Kakashi or even Jiraiya. It was progress but it was not nearly enough. They had so much time to make up for. They were not uncle and nephew or even grand uncle and grand nephew. They were father and son. They already lost five years and they had no idea how much longer they would have time together before he would be pulled to the frontlines again.

'This will not do.'

Her lips pressed together in a bloodless line. They were moving much too slowly. She rolled her eyes up to the textured ceiling of the dining room. The sounds of Naruto's high-pitched voice mixing with Minato's soothing baritone were nothing more than white noise. She focused on the center of the ceiling.

'This certainly will not do.'

She chewed on her bottom lip in worry. Her hands were brought together, she wrung them for good measure. The cold late-night air felt like a form of punishment as she breathed in.

'What did I do now?' She found herself asking the question for the umpteenth time. She had wracked her brain, over and over and she for the life of her had come back blank each and every time. She did not have an answer.

The sound of her sandals scraping against the gravel grated on her nerves. A thin dust cloud was building with each step her feet dragged her. She clamped down on her jaw to keep from having it rattle. She was terrified.

'It's fine. You're fine. You haven't done anything.'

Her dinner had started just like the rest. Nothing was out of the ordinary. It all changed when Miharu handed her her bowl and told her to come to the kitchen at eleven. At the time she did not even have the presence of mind to ask her what it was about. The usual dinner that she had at her usual time, was even more tasteless than usual. It was almost impossible to get it past her throat.

Her left foot came to a stop right next to her right. She looked at the wooden door with a sinking feeling. Her logic abandoned her. Her reason was nowhere to be found. Sakura took in a deep breath. If she stayed a minute more in the cold air she would surely come down with something. She slowly raised a fist to the wooden slab keeping her from the fate that awaited. Her hand shook right before she knocked three times.

The hefty door screeched loudly as it was pulled open. She tried to smile at the woman but she was not sure she achieved her objective.

The woman said nothing. She took a step back allowing Sakura to see into the void. She blinked a couple of times. There were a handful of lanterns in the center of the kitchen. She saw three stools. Only one was occupied. Her stomach lurched when her eyes met with a pair of calculating obsidian.

"Ambe-san," she whispered almost in horror.

"Sit down, girl." Tomoha gestured to the stool to her right.

Sakura looked over her shoulder. The sound of the door closing all but sealed her fate. There was no going back. Her legs felt like they had been replaced by wooden stilts. She was very aware of each movement. The stool scraped against the floor as she settled into it. She rested her hands on her kneecaps.

Miharu sat down heavily on the only remaining stool. She reached over and pulled out a glass. Sakura heard liquid being poured into it.

"Here," the woman shoved it harshly into her hands.

The liquid sloshed. Some of it landed on her sleeve. The stench burned her nose. She recognized it instantly. She looked at the two women with wide eyes. They asked her question for her.

"Miharu's alcohol." Tomoha held up her glass.

"I've never had some before," Sakura said numbly. She looked at the clear liquid in her glass. She gulped.

"You're in for a treat then!" Miharu said jovially. She held up her glass before she knocked it back. Sakura could practically see her face darken with the passing seconds. "Welcome to the inner circle, kid."

The woman looked to Tomoha for guidance. "You're trusted now," Tomoha explained in a bored manner. She looked at the bottom of her glass with a frown. She held it out, and Miharu reached across to fill it without haste or a sound.

'Trusted?' Her stomach formed into even tighter knots. It was the only proof she had that she was not dreaming.

"What are you waiting for?" Miharu said with a rough grunt. "Down the hatch!"

Before Sakura knew what was happening she felt her wrist being grabbed and the cup being pushed up against her lips. The ceramic hit her tooth. She moved her lips to the edge of the cup and swallowed. She promptly started to cough violently.

Tomoha clicked her tongue. "You'll get used to it." She said without sympathy at the heaving woman.

Miharu patted her on the back. She refilled her cup as if Sakura was not hacking up a lung.

"It will go down smoother this time. Just be sure to take a smaller sip and swallow." Mihari pointed a finger at her. "I won't tolerate you wasting my hard work."

Sakura struck her chest with the heel of her open-faced palm. She looked at the clear liquid with trepidation. She bit back the question dancing at the top of her tongue.

'Do I have to?'

She felt sympathy for Naruto now. Every time he had asked her that very question during their lessons.

'I'll be nicer, more patient, Naruto-kun.'

"Kami," she muttered under her breath, asking for protection from the higher being. She closed her eyes before she took a sip. It burned all the way down. Despite her severe wince, the liquid stayed down.

"That's all there is to it," Miharu said with a brimming grin.

Sakura stomached a couple more smaller sips. It was not getting any easier. Not even remotely. Her tongue felt thicker than what she remembered.

"Ambe-san," she cleared her throat. She leaned forward towards the woman. "I have a question."

Tomoha rolled her eyes. "You wouldn't be you if you didn't." She ignored Miharu's cackle. "Ask away." She gestured with her hand for Sakura to get to the point.

"Um," Sakura brought her hand - the one not holding the glass - to her forehead. "Who is responsible for the weekly food order?"

Tomoha's face pulled into a stern expression. Sakura blinked slowly. She brought her cup to her lips in the meantime. The alcohol was warming her up. Her stomach rumbled loudly. She covered it with an arm. Her face turned as pink as her hidden-away hair.

"Food," Miharu smacked her palm to her forehead. "I knew I was forgetting something. I'll be right back." She was on her feet and out the door almost as quickly as the words had left her mouth.

'Wait!' Sakura looked after her in a panic. She gulped as she realized she was all alone with Tomoha. Tomoha who was studying her very, very closely.

"Why are you asking?" Tomoha's voice was harsh and clipping.

Sakura's head bowed down out of instinct. "Um…." she bit her bottom lip. "I went to the shop and the prices there surprised me," she began to explain shakily. "Did the food budget get reduced recently?"

"I don't know about these kinds of things. I don't have any formal education." Tomoha rubbed her wrists.

"Are you alright?" Sakura frowned when she saw the action.

Tomoha sighed. "Just my aching bones. It happens every winter. I'm used to it." She said dismissively. She took a couple more measured sips from the cup in her hand.

"Ambe-san," Sakura played with loose strings on her kimono. "Who is responsible?"

Tomoha's whole disposition changed in the blink of an eye. Her face seemed to discolor right in front of her eyes.

"Shimura Danzo," she said the name as if it burned coming out of her throat. She leaned forward. Her dark eyes captured Sakura's in a cold gaze. Sakura held her breath. "Let it go." She said the warning in a serious tone.

"Why?" She asked before she could stop herself.

"He's bad news," Miharu matched Tomoha's expression and voice. Sakura jumped out of her skin slightly at the sound of the woman's voice. She had not heard the door open or close.

"Avoid him at all costs," Miharu said with a severe frown on her features. The stool creaked as she sat down. She put a burlap bag lined with cloth on the floor between them.

"Is he really that bad if he works here?" She asked with ample ignorance.

Miharu did not answer. Instead, she opened the bag to reveal boiled peanuts. Sakura looked at her in surprise.

"You're not the only one who can share food," Miharu said gruffly. There was an indistinguishable twinkle in her eye. "Why is your cup empty?" She refilled Sakura's cup before the woman could answer.

Sakura watched as Miharu opened up a few of the peanut pods and deposited them in Tomoha's hand. It was only after Miharu had put some in her mouth that Sakura timidly grabbed one peanut. She opened it slowly. She brought the peanut to her mouth. She chewed slowly, relishing the almost beany taste.

"Sit back kid, you're in for a story." She pointed to Tomoha at the presence of confusion on Sakura's face.

"Danzo-sama predates us all. Even me."

"I joined a couple of years after Tomoha-san," Miharu explained. "Right after my husband left me because I could not bear him any children."

Sakura's expression pulled into one of sympathy. "I'm so sorry," she brought her hand to her chest.

"I'm not," Miharu snorted. "The man was garbage. My life is pretty great. I lost a husband and gained freedom. A fair trade if you ask me." She popped more peeled peanuts into her mouth with a large grin.

Sakura found herself smiling despite it all.

"Danzo-sama wasn't hired." Tomoha rubbed her brow slowly. "He was First Master's advisor. Even before the First Master rose in the ranks." She curled and uncurled her hands in clear discomfort. Sakura kept her mouth closed as she watched the woman endure.

"He is a cold man. A calculating man. He saw the promise in the First Master so he latched on. He made it all but impossible for the First Master to leave him behind by taking a blow for the Master."

Sakura's eyes widened. "He what?"

"He took the brunt of an attack that would have killed the First Master," Tomoha repeated. "It left him disfigured, he lost full movement in his right leg. The First Master was so grateful he promised that Danzo-sama would always have a home with him. That Danzo-sama would be his right hand forever."

Her head was spinning in earnest now. She drained another glass. She coughed a couple of times as the liquid worked its way down her throat. She peeled a couple more peanuts to appease the gnawing hunger in the pit of her stomach.

"Long story short," Miharu gave a hard look. "Do not get on his radar. Do not make eye contact with him."

Sakura nodded her head. "I won't." She vowed.

"Good," the woman sighed deeply. "Now let's get to drinking!" She clapped her hands.

Sakura smiled lopsidedly.

Miharu held the woman by the elbow. She was unsteady on her feet.

"We might have overdone it," she muttered to herself as the woman stumbled. She steadied her with a sigh.

"I can't feel my face," Sakura said only with a slight slur.

"It's just the cold," Miharu assured her. "Damn that Tomoha. Using her joints as an excuse to get out of this." She kept moving forward, helping to guide the inebriated woman back to the quarters.

"I can't see straight," Sakura held out her hands.

"You need more training," Miharu countered. "It gets easier. You'll be able to handle more the next time we do this at the beginning of next month."

"I'm going to throw up," Sakura's head lolled with each wobbly step.

"Don't you dare," Miharu roughly grabbed her by the forearm. "I worked too damn hard for you to just spray it everywhere!" She shook the woman roughly.

Sakura covered her hand with her mouth. "Miharu-san," she whined nearly on the verge of tears.

"Sakura," she poked the woman in the ribs with her elbow. "Don't think about it. Let's talk about something that will keep your mind off of it."

"Okay," Sakura muttered weakly. The cool air was helping to keep the nausea somewhat manageable.

"How are things going with the horse attendant?" Miharu asked her teasingly.

Sakura's eyes widened. "You know him?!" She screeched.

Miharu shushed her aggressively. Sakura covered her mouth with her hands.

"Sorry," she whispered through her fingers.

"You're not subtle. And neither is he," Miharu's smirk was borderline lecherous.

Sakura groaned. "I need to sit down." She made to lower to the ground.

Miharu grunted as she pulled her back up. "Keep moving. One foot in front of the other, kid." She coached.

"Nothing is going on!" Sakura said in a panic. "You have to tell Ambe-san that!"

Miharu scoffed. "That's the problem. Your face won't look like that forever. You might as well take advantage of it while you can."

Sakura shook her head. "No mingling!" She whispered loudly. She made a clumsy 'X' with her crossed arms. "No!" She looked down at her feet. "One," she stepped with her left. "Other." She moved her right to join the left foot.

"The alcohol is still making its way through you," Miharu noted nonchalantly. "It will get worse before it gets better." She cooed.

"I can't get fired," Sakura admitted. She looked at Miharu with an unfocused gaze.

"Just don't get caught," Miharu said dismissively.

Sakura felt heat rise to her face with even more vigor. She opened her mouth but no sound came out.

She studied the pinkette. "Is there something wrong with him?

Sakura sputtered. Miharu saw some spit sail in the air from her mouth. "Is there something wrong with him?" Sakura repeated Miharu's question in a high octave. "He's annoying. He's a know-it-all. He's really smug. He has answers for everything. He's always there. He just watches like he has nothing better to do." She inhaled loudly. "He's considerate. He brings me food. I like the way he speaks and carries himself. He's really calm. And he's tall. He has a nice smile." Sakura's face grew redder. "And even nicer arms. Really nice arms." His abdominal muscles flashed in her mind. Sakura broke into a fit of giggles.

"Sorry, I asked," Miharu mumbled under her breath. "Get a hold of yourself."

The pinkette shook her head, freeing her of the thoughts. "I'm tired, Miharu-san. I need a nap." She made a face. "I think I drank too much."

Miharu snorted. "We're almost there," Miharu lied.

"Okay," Sakura hummed in contentment, placated in her ignorance.

Miharu looked over Sakura's shoulder. Her brow furrowed together. She turned her attention back to the women.

"You know how to get back right?" Miharu asked the swaying woman.

Sakura shook her head. "I really don't." She slurred. "I need your help."

"That's what I'm doing," Miharu whispered under her breath. "You'll be fine," She grabbed Sakura by the shoulders and gave her a non-to-gentle shove in the back. "Keep moving straight. Just remember one foot then the other."

"Okay," Sakura waved over her shoulder. "Good night, Miharu-san!" She said sunnily.

The woman shook her head. She turned on her heel. She did not even stop moving even as she heard Sakura shushing loudly.

His eyes opened. He saw nothing but darkness. A quiet sound of frustration left his lips. Minato rose to his feet. He padded over to the window, he counted the steps. Minato pulled back the curtains. The yellow moon hung in the sky in its entirety. He opened the window a crack; the cool air was welcomed on his too-hot frame. His flesh rose, the texture changing from smooth to bumpy. He looked over his shoulder at the dark fabric hanging on the wall hook. He closed the window before walking towards it. He reached for it before he slipped into the navy jacket. The shoji doors opened and closed. It was not until he had stepped onto the outdoor platform of the main house that he slipped his feet into his pair of sandals waiting for him.

They clapped against the wooden floorboards. The silence of the night welcomed him. The still amplified the thoughts in his head. It taunted him with what he could not have: peace. It did not visit him for even a moment. His legs led him down the path without consulting his overwhelmed head. He was pulled rather abruptly and harshly from his ponderings by a loud, aggressive holding of a consonant sound.

He craned his neck. His brows eased from being furrowed to eventually being raised up in jovial interest. It was when he spotted her, shushing a tree for being too loud, his jaw unclenched. He crossed the barren field, closing the distance between them with even strides.

"You have to be quiet!" She pressed her finger to her lips. "It will be trouble if the guards find us."

She was completely oblivious to his presence behind her. He shook his head in amusement. He reached out and tapped her shoulder.

"Ahh! Crow!" Sakura sank into a squat in less time than it took for him to blink. She covered her head with her hands.

Minato rolled his eyes at her antics. He slowly crouched down. All he could see was her hands and some of the bandana poking through the gaps.

"What are you doing, Sakura-san?" He asked her in a level, low voice.

"You can talk?!" She gasped.

Minato blew air from his lungs audibly. "Sakura-san, it's me, Minori."

"Oh," she sounded somewhere between relieved and disappointed. "What are you doing here?" She whispered loudly without uncurling from the tight ball she was in.

"I asked first, Sakura-san." He reminded her with more firmness as it held his authority over the situation.

"I'm going to bed." She explained impassively.

"Your bed is back over there," he gestured over his shoulder. She was completely turned around.

Sakura peeled her hands from her head. She looked at him in a way that made his stomach sink. She regarded him like she was solving a complex math problem.

"You're so pretty." No sooner had the words left her mouth did her lips break into a smile.

'And you're so drunk.' He noted blandly.

Her eyes widened. "Did I say that out loud?" She covered her mouth with her hands as if convinced that could fix everything.

"No," he assured her. He saw her shoulders visibly relax.

"Thank Kami," she muttered under her breath. She frowned. "You're like me."

Minato furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

"Sad." Sakura breathed heavily. "You hide it well. Better than most," she brought her fingers clumsily to her chest. She pressed down. "You're heartbroken."

He was not aware of a singular thought in his head. He was no better than a moth that flew brokenly towards the moon in the night sky. It was purely instinctual. Minato swallowed thickly.

"You're sad?" He asked her in a small voice that was nearly drowned by the quiet calm around them.

Sakura nodded her head solemnly. "For the longest time, it was all I knew. It was all that I was. There was no happy. There was no sad. There was just nothing." She watched a column of her breath leave her lips. She giggled. "I'm all tingly." She ran a hand over her arm. "Look!" She shoved it close to his face. He could see the goosebumps breaking across her skin as her sleeve slid down to her elbow. Her wrist was barely larger than Naruto's. That both alarmed him and harshly jerked him to the present in his current predicament.

'Right.' He reminded himself. She was not profound. She was not reading his face, searching his eyes, and peering into his soul. She was drunk. And that fact made it easier to push aside and dismiss the conflicting feelings that rose in him from her drunken stupor of her impacted observations.

"What happened?" He lowered her arm and stared into her eyes. They were unfocused and hazy.

"It's awful," she wailed. "I didn't want it. But I didn't have a choice. Miharu-san made me drink and it tasted so bad. But then the more I drank the less bad it became. And now I can't feel my face." She rambled. "Ssh!" She pressed a finger to his lips. "You're too loud!" She glared at him heatedly. Her left eye closed before her right as she blinked.

Context hit him in the face just as her breath did. He moved her finger aside. His face pulled into a grimace.

'They left her alone like this?' The guards were vetted but it seemed a little like testing fate leaving a very vulnerable Sakura to fend for herself. The risk of her sleeping outside was fairly high.

"How much have you had?" He asked her whilst studying her face closely.

"Not a lot!" She smiled unevenly.

He watched as she pointed with both index fingers.

"One plus one plus two is four!" She held out two fingers on each hand.

His stomach dropped. "Was this your first time having alcohol ever?"

Sakura nodded her head. "First time," she hiccuped.

'Miharu's moonshine. Not pretty.'

He remembered when Kakashi and he were just fourteen when they got into Miharu's moonshine for the first time. The next day was much worse. He registered the fact that she was staring at him closely.

"Get up, Sakura-san." He helped her rise to her feet.

"What about Tree-san?" Sakura gestured to the shrub. "Shouldn't we bring him with us?" She tilted her head to the side and blinked slowly at him.

"His bed is outside," Minato answered the ridiculous question with an equally ridiculous answer all with a straight face and seriousness.

"Oh," she nodded her head. "That makes sense. Bye, Tree-san!" She waved at the tree. "Aren't you going to wave to Tree-san?" She asked him expectantly.

"No." He answered flatly.

"So rude!" Sakura admonished him. "It doesn't cost anything to be nice! Just because you're sad doesn't mean you have to make others feel that way." She grumbled with her hands on her hips. "Be nice!"

Before he could get a word out she skipped a couple of steps away from him. She spun in a circle with her arms out. She tilted her head towards the night sky. Her face was flushed pink. She nearly lurched forward. He caught her in time.

"The stars are so much clearer in Tonika." She said dreamily not looking away from the heavens.

"I'll have to take your word for it," he held her by the elbow to keep her from wandering off or landing on her face. Whichever was more likely to take place first.

"You really haven't been?" She asked with a scoff. "I'm disappointed since you've traveled everywhere."

Minato did not bother hiding the surprise from his face. He was almost completely convinced she would not remember a thing tomorrow.

"How do you know that?"

Sakura shrugged in a disinterested manner. "You go where the Master's horse goes. I just thought at some point in the war you would have passed through." Especially when there was a very real possibility of Kumo getting involved.

"I've been to Tonika," he admitted. He felt her gaze on his face. "But only during the day."

"Hm," Sakura swayed slightly. "Tonika has the best sunrises and sunsets too." She sighed deeply. "I miss the way the air tasted back home." Her voice was full of longing. She shrugged out of his hold. She closed her eyes as the wind caressed her face. She let out a soft giggle.

"Do you have plans on going back?" He asked her lightly. Miharu's moonshine or as he and Kakashi called it - truth serum - was a golden opportunity. Her guard was down. Her filter was nonexistent. She simply was incapable of lying.

"I need to be here," she said with measurable sadness. She took a couple of steps. She held out her arms and started to spin again to a tune only she heard. There was a snapping sound. The strap of her sandal broke. Sakura stumbled forward. She stopped herself from completely falling with her palms. He watched silently as she grabbed her head. Her shoulders started to shake. It did not take long for the sound of her quiet sobs to reach his ears.

His stomach turned. He crouched down in front of her. "Are you hurt?"

She shook her head as she continued to sob. She clenched the broken sandal to her. The whole thing could only be described as pitiful.

"It's just a shoe," he began gently trying his best to console her. The less attention they drew the better. The guards were not gossips but that did not change the fact he would rather no one else know about his masquerade.

She raised her big, forlorn eyes to his. His breath hitched at the brokenness in them. He has said the wrong thing. That much was clear to him now. He made it worse.

"I don't have money to buy new ones," she hiccuped. "I need to send it back. My Otosan and Okaasan need it."

Her words were like a slap in the face. He took her in. All of her; including her devastation. He looked at the broken strap.

"It will be okay," he said in the same gentle voice. For reasons he did not understand he held his breath and said, "Don't be sad. It's fixable."

"Really?" She sniffled. She used the sleeve of her kimono to wipe the snot from underneath her nose. The lingering smell of alcohol from when she had spilled on herself, burned her nose. She lowered the sandal to the ground.

"Really," he held her gaze unwaveringly. "How about we get up off the cold ground now?" He asked her encouragingly.

"Okay," Sakura nodded her head. He helped her to her feet. She leaned into him to keep her sock from making contact with the dirty ground. Her eyes widened in horror as she watched Minato reach over to grab the sandal. "W-wait!" She exclaimed. "Just leave it."

"It's okay, I've got it so don't worry about it." He quieted her protests. "Lean against me for balance," he said in a voice that did not leave much room for her to protest.

Sakura nodded mutely as she did just as he said. She inhaled deeply. "You smell so good." She said out loud what she thought she was just thinking.

Minato ignored her statement. He turned his head to hide the levity on his face. Her sandal was still firmly in his hand, the hand not holding her more or less up.

"I'm all floaty and warm and feel fuzzy," she marveled as she hopped up and down. "Alcohol is great. I like it."

"You'll find out the downside of it all tomorrow," he said with a laugh.

"I hope tomorrow never comes," she sighed slowly. "Because I'm enjoying right now." She smiled at him.

Minato looked at the moon. His ears burned.

"I like my job," she nodded her head. "It's a good job." She leaned against his shoulder heavily. He was practically dragging her along now. His arm moved to her waist. All he felt was bone against him. "I'm not sad anymore. I'm not nothing anymore either." She yawned loudly, rubbing at her eyes. "I'm sleepy."

"Is this all you want out of life?" He ignored the voice in his head that told him he was a lowlife for asking her that question when she was so vulnerable, especially after he made her indirectly cry.

"If I was someone else, anyone else," she paused to look at the moon. Her eyelashes fluttered closed for a second. "Probably not," she answered thoughtfully. "But I'm content. I'm helping my family. I'm not a burden to them, finally. I like - no I love - spending time with Naruto-kun." Her smile was genuine. Her eyes sparkled. "I'm really lucky."

His stomach continued to twist and turn as it dropped lower and lower. He could smell the alcohol on her person.

"What of love?" Minato asked her in a level voice not betraying his scrutiny.

Sakura snorted in a very undignified manner. "Love is for the rich and connected. For the poor, it is but a hindrance. An inconvenience. There is no place for love in my life." She said adamantly, with conviction despite her slur worsening.

"That is a bleak outlook," he noted with a frown. It did not suit her or what he had come to know of her. Maybe she was a better actor than he thought.

"It is the outlook shaped by my reality." She grimaced.

"Don't you want a family one day?" He posed the question that would indirectly provide him with the answer he had been wondering for weeks now. It could speak to her motives.

He froze in place at the stern look she gave him. Her emerald eyes were determined, they did not suffer fools. They did not put up with nonsense.

'Has she sobered up already?'

His heart skipped a beat as he waited for her to speak.

"I didn't hatch from an egg." She looked at him with absolute seriousness. He bit back a scoff. He kept moving. "I have a family!" She said with indignation. "I have an Okaasan, an Otosan, an Obasan, and an Oneechan!" She held up four fingers. She wiggled them. "Family!" She nodded her head in satisfaction.

"So no kids?" He asked her for clarification.

"It would be nice," she sighed deeply. "If I wasn't cursed." She made a face. "Just one of each. No more than two."

He turned his head to regard her with surprise. "Cursed?" He asked her.

Sakura leaned forward. Her lips parted. He waited for her to elaborate. Her head lurched forward. A singular loud snore broke the still. She had fallen asleep with her eyes still partially open.

Minato cursed inwardly as he lifted her into his arms. Her head came to rest on his shoulder.

"Na..Naruto-kun," she babbled in her sleep. "Stop picking your nose," she snuggled closer to him. To his warmth. Her head had migrated to his collarbone. Her breath was hot against his neck.

He said nothing. He kept moving through the still night. It was only when they were safely on the other side of her door, away from prying eyes, did he allow himself a moment to take in her peaceful face. He lowered her into her mattress. He removed the remaining sandal from her feet before he pulled the well-worn blanket to her chin. He rolled her to her side just in case she ended up throwing up. He listened to her breath for a couple of minutes to ensure it was even and not labored in any way.

'It's cold in here,' he noted with a frown. He tucked in the edges of the blanket to keep the heat trapped inside. He gathered the sandals into his hands before he pushed onto his feet. The door closed completely behind him.

He was long gone before the sound of a cane tapping against the wooden floors filled the once-quiet night air.

This one was little more lighthearted towards the end. I had fun writing it. Let me know what you think. Thanks!