It is through Ino that Sakura learns at first just how badly wrong the Sasuke retrieval mission is going.
In an attempt to distract herself and alleviate her own worries, she visits the Yamanaka flower shop to buy flowers for her parents' grave. A frizzled-looking Ino is manning the desk, impatiently stamping her foot up and down.
"Sakura!" Ino exclaims as soon as she spots Sakura, throwing herself into Sakura's arms like they're six again. "Did you hear? Choji is back!"
"He is?!"
At first she's elated, because Choji being back must surely mean that the mission is making good progress, right? Then Ino's worry registers.
"He's in a critical condition," Ino explains. "They don't know if he's going to make it. They're preparing him for surgery right now, and Tsunade-sama herself plans to perform the surgery!"
It must be very serious then, if the Hokage herself plans to take time out of her no doubt very busy schedule to perform the surgery.
"At least we know that if Tsunade-sama herself is performing the surgery, then Choji's getting the best help there is. I'm sure he'll be fine!"
If Sakura's voice wavers, Ino doesn't seem to notice at all. Instead she clings closer and more desperately to Sakura, seemingly absorbing every word of comfort.
"You think so? Because I know I always complain about him but that doesn't mean that I want him to die!"
"I'm sure," she lies. "Why don't we go to the hospital, so we can be there when he comes out of surgery?"
Finally pulling away from Sakura, Ino nods and wipes away her tears.
"I'm on my way. I was just waiting for my cousin to come take over my shift."
As if on cue one of Ino's many cousins enters the shop through the back door. Sakura stands by as Ino quickly explains the situation to her cousin and then the two girls are off, running through the streets towards the hospital.
It takes some time before they manage to navigate themselves through the many corridors to the right room, but they arrive just in time to see Choji being steered into an operating room by a group of nurses.
"I'm sorry girls, you can't come," Tsunade-sama says, turning back towards them and holding up a hand to signal that they are getting no further. "The more people in here, the more difficult our work will be. You may wait outside."
"Please save him!" Ino begs. "He's an idiot but he's a good one! Heir to his clan and everything!"
"We're doing our best."
They are left alone in the hallway and for a moment they just stand there, staring at the closed doors and the red light indicating that the surgery is in process.
"Hey! Careful you idiots! Leave Akamaru alone until my sister gets here!"
Kiba's shrill voice pierces the silence, startling both Ino and Sakura. Sharing a brief look, they both head over to a room further down the corridor, peeking inside.
Kiba is sitting on the bed, a little bit bruised and rough looking, but the worst of his injuries seem to be his leg. A vaguely familiar nurse with silvery hair with purple stripes in it - Gina, Sakura recalls after a moment - is performing some sort of medical jutsu on the leg itself, her attention torn between the jutsu and growling back at the dog at Kiba's feet.
"I must insist that you control that dog of yours, or-" another nurse starts to say but is rudely interrupted again.
"Don't you go threateni'n my dog! I'll show you!"
Despite his injuries, Kiba grabs for his weapons pouch and the nurse in question hurries to leave, passing by Sakura and Ino with barely a glance.
"Settle down, pup, and let me heal your master!" the other nurse says, her voice little more than a growl.
Akamaru bares his teeth a bit further for a moment, ears flat against his head, before he slowly pulls away a little.
"Good. And you, put that kunai away and lay back before I make you!" With barely a glance the nurse disarms Kiba and pushes him down against the pillows.
The really surprising part is where he accepts it, although he does so with a long, suffering look.
Since things seem to have settled down again, Sakura and Ino pull back, turning away from the room. That's when Sakura notices the long, padded benches along the walls. Gently, she pulls Ino back down the halls to sit down just outside Choji's operating room.
"There's nothing we can do now," she states, feeling the silence become oppressive in its tension. "We just have to trust in Tsunade-sama."
"I know. I just hate not being able to do something."
There is more agony in Ino's voice than Sakura can ever remember hearing before and her heart aches in compassion. Hesitantly she places a gentle hand on Ino's arm, surprised to find Ino leaning heavily against her.
"Thank you, Sakura," she says, "for not making me go through this alone."
"No problem."
They sit in silence then, staring at the opposite wall and the yellow line running along the middle of the floor and through the doors respectively. Sakura thinks of Choji and her brief time with team 8. Both Ino and Shikamaru will be devastated if Choji doesn't make it. She sends a silent prayer to whatever deities might be listening.
The time when she is supposed to be back on duty with the Genin Corps comes and goes. Sakura feels only mildly guilty for not going. Commander Hatake will understand, she thinks. Right now Ino needs her.
An hour or two into their waiting - Sakura honestly can't tell how much time has passed, but Ino has fallen into an uneasy sleep against her shoulder - there is a commotion further down the hall. Sakura stands just as Lady Tsunade's first apprentice, Shizune, runs past them and straight into the operating room.
"Tsunade-sama! It's Rock Lee! He's badly-" the words cut off as the door closes behind her, leaving Sakura to wonder what has happened to Lee.
Looking down at the still sleeping Ino, Sakura quietly wrestles herself free and makes her way down the corridor, towards the commotion. A group of medics are rushing back and forth, already steering an unconscious figure towards the nearest free operating room. Rock Lee lies pale on the gurney, bandages doing a poor job of stopping his multiple wounds from bleeding.
It is a matter of minutes before Shizune returns, looking frazzled but determined.
"Lady Tsunade can't come," she informs the nurses, paying no mind to Sakura. "I'll be handling the surgery."
The assembled medics easily accept her words and they disappear into the operating room, leaving Sakura alone to stare at the red light above the door.
Poor Lee, she thinks, again wondering what's going so wrong when both Choji and Lee return in critical condition, and Kiba and Akamaru wounded. Surely it can't be Sasuke that has hurt all of them? Her stomach twists uncomfortably at the thought.
Be careful, Naruto.
"Is this where Lee's being operated?"
The voice startles her out of her thoughts and she looks over to see Lee's teammate, Hyuga Neji, standing a little bit away from her. He's leaning heavily on a pair of crutches but his facial expression has none of the haughtiness she vaguely remembers from before.
"Yes. They just brought him in a few minutes ago. Lady Tsunade's apprentice, Shizune, is performing the surgery."
He nods in gratitude and sinks down on a padded bench with a grimace. Glancing hesitantly back towards Ino - who's still sleeping - Sakura joins him.
"How is your recovery going?" she asks, glancing at his crutches.
"Well, considering the circumstances." He doesn't look at her, eyes locked at the doors that separates them from Lee, but his voice is perfectly polite. "That Sand-shinobi did quite a number with me. At first the medics didn't think I would be able to recover at all, but after Tsunade-sama's surgery it's almost certain that I'll be able to return to active duty."
It does not go unnoticed to Sakura that he does not say that he'll be able to return to his former potential. Despite this she offers a relieved, hopefully comforting, smile.
"That's good. Tsunade-sama really is an asset to the village as a medic."
"She is."
They sit in awkward silence for a while. Neji is stiff with worry at first but slowly relaxes in his seat, allowing himself to lean back against the wall. He still doesn't look away from the doors.
"How is Hinata-chan?" Sakura asks, mostly to break the silence but she's curious too. She hasn't seen Hinata since the invasion, despite the hesitant plans they'd made to meet up before the invasion started.
Neji grimaces and finally looks away from the doors. First he looks away from her, taking a deep breath before he looks at her properly.
"She's recovering well too," he replies, a strange tightness to his voice. "She's mostly recovered from our fight during the exams, though she still has to keep from exerting herself. She's been kept busy with clan duties to keep her safe."
The last part is added with a certain sharpness, a bitterness that Sakura doesn't understand. She raises an eyebrow questioningly but Neji shakes his head. Whatever he means he clearly doesn't want to elaborate.
"You're the girl that saved her from that kidnapping during the invasion, aren't you?" he asks instead.
"I guess," she replies awkwardly, scratching her nose. "Though I'm not sure "saved" is the right word. I'm told Hiashi-sama saved us both."
For some reason that makes him smile. It's small, more like the corner of his mouth twisting slightly upwards than an actual smile, but it's there.
"I'm told Hiashi-sama followed your track to find her." His voice is gentler now. Warmer. "And that if it weren't for you they might have gotten past the borders."
She blushes then, looking away in embarrassment.
"It was nothing. Hinata's a friend, and I was right there when they tried to take her. Of course I tried to help and, like I said, nothing really would've come out of it if it weren't for Hiashi-sama."
And Kakashi-sensei, she mentally adds.
"Even so I, and the Hyuga-clan with me I'm sure, thank you for what you did."
His voice is solemn and he offers a half-bow, still seated but apparently quite serious regardless. She feels about as graceful as a moose, scrambling for the right thing to say or do. Somehow neither her Academy-training nor her lady-training has prepared her for this sort of situation.
"Don't mention it," she says at last, trying to wave the moment away.
She sits with him for a while longer before she gets up, heading for the lobby where she finds a vending machine. Digging out some coins from her pockets she purchases two pop sodas and a bar of chocolate.
Ino stirs as she sits down beside her again and Sakura wordlessly hands her a soda can and the chocolate bar. Ino wrinkles her nose, no doubt already calculating the calories and what extra training she'll need to do, but accepts both.
As they sip their sodas and share the chocolate she shares the news about Lee. Then they sit in companionable silence, out of things to say but grateful for each other's company.
When Choji's surgery is over he's moved to a room close to Kiba's. Sakura and Ino follow him there, sitting quietly by his bedside as they watch him sleep. He probably won't wake up for another few hours, they're told, but what can they do other than stay at his side and pray?
Shikamaru arrives less than an hour later, walking into the room on his own two legs. As soon as they see him, Ino rushes at him and throws her arms around him.
"Thank the gods you're ok, Shikamaru! I was so worried!"
"I'm fine. Just a broken finger. See?" he assures her, awkwardly hugging her back and showing her his splintered index finger. "How's Choji?"
"They say the surgery went fine."
Ino pulls Shikamaru with her back towards their chairs and it is only then that Sakura notices the other people with him. Her hassles rise immediately at the sight, but from Shikamaru's calm demeanour she concludes that they can't be a threat.
"You guys know Temari, Kankuro and Gaara, right?" Shikamaru says, gesturing vaguely in the direction of the trio in question. "They saved us."
"Saved you?" Ino glares suspiciously at them.
Sakura does the same. Temari and Kankuro are both standing just inside the door, not moving to approach. Gaara is unconscious and wrapped in a sling over Kankuro's back, while Temari carries Gaara's gourd.
"Yeah. Uh, Kankuro took down this guy with like, six arms."
"And three eyes," Kankuro helpfully adds.
Shikamaru shrugs, as if it doesn't really matter. Sakura supposes it doesn't. What's one extra eye compared to four extra arms, after all?
"And Temari fought this girl from Sound-"
"Only because I know how much you hate fighting against a girl." Temari's smirk is part taunting and part fond.
Again, Shikamaru shrugs, apparently not really caring about the taunting tone.
Kankuro shifts, hefting Gaara up more comfortably. Sakura catches a glimpse of what looks like some sort of wooden cuffs on his arms and legs, as well as around his throat. Seals carved into the wood glows lightly, even in the sharp light of the hospital room.
"And Gaara and I fought against some guy named Kimimaro or whatever, and then Kankuro and Temari caught up and, uh-" Shikamaru hesitates, glancing at the Sand siblings.
"And we saved your ass from Gaara and then you saved ours." Temari's voice is frank, almost rude.
Sakura feels her eyebrows rise in surprise, but noone offers any more information, so Sakura puts the questions aside for later. For now, she'll just assume that it has something to do with the Sand siblings having been let out of imprisonment and those strange cuffs of Gaara's. Both of which are probably above her clearance level anyway, so it's probably wise of Shikamaru not to share any more details. Even if Sakura is itching to know.
"What about Naruto and Sasuke?" she asks in lieu of everything else she wants to know.
"Naruto went after Sasuke, and then your sensei caught up and told us to head back here while he went after the two of them." Shikamaru gives a vaguely apologetic look, which Sakura takes as the most sincere apology she's likely to ever receive from Shikamaru.
"That's good then." She's not sure whether her words are a statement or a plea, but Shikamaru and Ino give her understanding looks none the same.
I hope I'm not too late!
I hope I'm not too late!
I hope I'm not too late!
I hope I'm not too late!
The words keep repeating themselves in his mind, somewhere between a mantra and a desperate plea to any deities that might listen. His chest is tight with worry and he forces his already tired body to continue running through the trees, focusing on Pakkun ahead of him and the scent they're following.
Thunder sounds above them, dark clouds gathering for an unseasonable violent storm.
I hope I'm not too late!
I hope the rain won't wash away the scent!
I hope I'm not too late!
It takes him a moment to realise that there is a new tension, one that isn't entirely his own. That chakra! He stares past Pakkun even though the only thing he can see are yet more trees.
This isn't good.
A violent, dark, malevolent chakra is building somewhere ahead of them, growing larger and more potent the closer they get. He has a suspicion that it might be the result of Naruto and Sasuke fighting. He pushes himself harder, running faster.
I hope I'm not too late!
He's not sure he can forgive himself if they kill each other. If Naruto dies because Kakashi is too late, or if he has to kill Sasuke because Kakashi isn't there to do it himself.
Rain starts pouring, the skies opening above them to unleash their wrath upon earth.
"Will the rain wash away the scent?" he asks Pakkun, knowing that he'll soon be entirely dependent on Pakkun to keep following the track.
"No problem. We're already close enough," Pakkun replies, his voice gruff. "This way."
The rain continues to fall, and then that dark, dangerous chakra is suddenly gone, as if the rain itself has swept it away. Kakashi's breath catches in his throat. This cannot possibly be good.
Finally, they reach a valley. Not just any valley, but the Valley of the End. The symbolism of it all is not lost on Kakashi. How ironic, that what might be the last battle between Naruto and Sasuke would end up taking place at the same place as the famed last battle between Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara.
With Pakkun in the lead, they head over the uneven cliffs, heading for a point just beneath the great waterfall and the large statues that commemorate the battle between Madara and Hashirama, which serves as the focal point of the valley. Down there Kakashi spots a lone, orange figure floating peacefully in the water.
He almost doesn't dare to approach. Is he too late after all?
Pakkun has no such reserves, running straight up to Naruto and sniffing the bloodied and bruised body. Kakashi is almost afraid to breathe; to face the reality of what kind of failure of a teacher he has been to these two boys.
Has he already cost one of his students their life?
"Oh Naruto," Pakkun sighs. "How did it come to this?"
Kakashi's heart clenches then. I'm too late, he thinks. Stiffly he straightens, puts a foot in front of the other. Walks closer. Kneels down beside the still body. And is immediately torn between wanting to slap Pakkun and sigh in relief.
Naruto is breathing.
Shallowly, but steadily.
The worst of the wounds have already healed, no doubt courtesy of the Nine Tails' chakra.
He sighs.
Pakkun sniffs the headband floating next to Naruto. Naruto still has his own, so Kakashi has a pretty good guess on who's headband it is.
"It's Sasuke's," Pakkun confirms.
They are all already soaked through by the rain but Kakashi still kneels there for a moment, taking in the moment. The view of his wounded student, who if he was anyone else would probably be dead already. Naruto's alive, but he was still too late. He should have been there in time to stop them. To stop Sasuke.
Naruto shouldn't have had to do this.
Wordlessly he reaches for Sasuke's headband, pocketing it before he picks up the limp Naruto. Protectively he cradles the boy closer, part of him marvelling at how small he is. He knew going into this teacher position that they were all so young and inexperienced, but it hits him right then just how much physically smaller than him Naruto is. Far too young and small to handle the burden that has been placed on his shoulders. Yet he tried. And knowing Naruto, he put up a good fight.
Sasuke is still out there. Despite the rain, Kakashi might still be able to catch him if he were to try. He glances over his shoulder but it's not really a question in his mind.
Naruto needs medical attention.
Sasuke will have to wait.
As he hoists Naruto onto his back, for easier movement, he wonders if the fight between Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto will one day be remembered with the same awe as that between Hashirama and Madara.
Probably not, as far as the general public is concerned. But Kakashi will certainly remember this.
He isn't naive enough to think that Naruto and Sasuke won't continue their fighting, for as long as they both live. Truthfully, he should have seen the signs earlier. Should have taken the necessary steps to prevent the cycle of fighting to continue.
They head out, Kakashi carrying Naruto and Pakkun taking the lead, keeping his eyes, ears and nose open for any potential threats. Not that there should be any, but this close to the border to Sound they can't afford to let their guards down.
The storm breaks some time later, leaving crispy fresh air behind.
Not having to bother to follow a specific track any longer, their trip back to Konoha goes much faster. Naruto stirs on his back a few times but doesn't wake up for real until they're nearly back in Konoha.
"Kakashi-sensei," he whispers, voice raspy and quiet. "Where's Sasuke?"
"He's gone."
Naruto nods against his shoulder.
"I'm sorry. I tried to stop him … but in the end ... "
His voice tapers off and it is only the slight clenching of his arms around his neck that tells Kakashi that the boy hasn't fallen back into unconsciousness again.
"Don't worry about it," he says, aiming for comfort though it comes out more like detachment. "You'll get another chance, I'm sure."
"Good."
On a whim, because he can't shake the guilt of having caused this to happen, he makes an offer;
"I'll train you, if you'd like. Teach you what you need to know in order to beat him next time."
He isn't sure if Naruto has heard, because the arms have gone relaxed around his neck again and there is no immediate answer. Kakashi stares ahead of him.
"Thank you. I think I'd … like that."
The words serve as a comfort to Kakashi, washing over him like a gentle wind. Even so, if he has any say in the matter, Naruto will never have to fight Sasuke again. No, Kakashi will take care of the issue long before it comes to that. Just like he has taken care of so many other threats to Konoha. The thought makes his heart clench, somewhere deep within him, but he steels himself against it.
He can't afford to be sentimental. Not this time.
They are met by a squad of medics some time later, and by then Naruto is unconscious again.
"So Choji will be alright," Sakura states as she and Ino exit the hospital together.
Shikamaru has stayed back at the hospital, talking to his father and Ino's dad, alongside with the Sand siblings. Ino had hesitated, but her father had gestured for her to head back home and so here they are.
"Yeah, that's a relief." Ino sighs, looking up to the stars above them.
"And Kiba and Akamaru and Lee and even Naruto will be fine too." They both know this. Sakura doesn't need to say it, but she needs to reassure herself that it's true.
Ino gives her an understanding smile. "Yeah. That must be a relief to you, huh? About Naruto, I mean?"
"What do you mean?"
Ino looks away, facing the street they are walking along. This late in the evening it is mostly empty, only the occasional shinobi on guard duty passing by or someone heading home from the bar.
"I know it's selfish of me. Kiba was our classmate and Lee is a fellow Konoha shinobi," Ino says, "but I'm more relieved over Choji and Shikamaru being ok than I am about them. They're my teammates, and more than that we've also grown up so closely together because of the friendship between our clans. I imagine it must be similar for you."
Except Sakura doesn't have her whole team back, and her team has never been as close as team 10. Kakashi-sensei had barely looked at her when he'd delivered the unconscious but still alive Naruto to the hospital. Sasuke is still missing - still a traitor to Konoha - and moreover it's because of him that the others are injured.
Sakura lowers her gaze, contemplating Ino's words. "Yeah, I guess I'm really relieved that Naruto is back. Honestly, I was really worried about Choji there for a while. And I was worried about Lee too, but I don't really know him either. So I guess I understand what you're saying."
They come to a halt at the next crossroad, where they will have to split. The Yamanaka compound is down the road to the right, the Genin Corps' dormitories to the left.
"See you tomorrow then?" Sakura asks.
"Yeah, definitely."
They share a last, reassuring smile and head in their respective directions.
The next morning, after explaining the situation to Commander Hatake and officially receiving permission to take some time off, Sakura heads for the hospital. On her way she stops by the flower shop, buying some flowers from a cousin of Ino's.
Flowers in hand, she enters the hospital and heads to Naruto's room. This early in the morning the corridors seem cold and dark, a stark contrast against the warmth and sunshine outside. She finds Naruto in the company of Lady Tsunade.
"You seem to be doing pretty well, considering how serious your injuries were," Tsunade-sama says just as Sakura enters.
Naruto is pretty much covered in bandages, and wearing hospital pyjamas. The room is well lit but the curtains are drawn shut and he looks uncharacteristically downtrodden. When she enters his eyes immediately turn to hers, staring without actually meeting her eyes.
Silence falls between them. Lady Tsunade leaves quietly, with a brief, stern order for Naruto to stay in bed or she'll break his legs to make sure that he does. Even that stern warning garners little more than a shrug from him.
"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan," he says when they're alone. "I tried to bring him back for you, but-"
He falls silent, finally looking away from her. She isn't any more comfortable for it, suddenly torn between being genuinely touched by his efforts and wanting to slap him.
She'd never asked Naruto to bring Sasuke back for her.
She'd never asked Naruto to bring Sasuke back, period.
She'd asked, and begged and pleaded with Lady Tsunade to be allowed to go herself, but ultimately been denied.
She'd wanted to stop Sasuke herself.
"Don't worry," she says, forcing a smile onto her lips. If it doesn't quite reach her eyes it's still fairly convincing, she knows. Hours upon hours of aunt Kasumi drilling her in the art of pleasantry has seen to that at least. "You did your best."
He stares at her then, seemingly lost for words, and she feels the urge to continue speaking even though she doesn't know what to say. There are no words that will make this situation right or bring Sasuke back.
"I couldn't stop him either. We'll just have to try again, right? Just, keep training and all that, until we can bring him back by force if we have to. For us."
He smiles then, a smile that starts small and soon is back at levels nearing its usual blinding brightness.
"That's right, Sakura-chan! We'll keep training and become stronger, and one day I'll bring him back for you, I promise you that!"
Where does he get the idea that he'll bring Sasuke back for her? Sakura winces internally. Scratch that. She can probably guess why, considering her earlier behaviour around Sasuke. Sasuke-kun, she thinks sarcastically.
Briefly the memory of him glaring at her, blood dripping from the ugly wound on his forehead, flashes before her eyes.
At least Naruto seems happier.
"Hey, why do you have the curtains closed?" Putting her gifts and flowers aside she crosses the room to pull the curtains aside. "It's a beautiful day outside, see?"
Sakura busies herself putting the flowers she bought in a vase, arranging them just right before she places the vase on Naruto's bedside table.
"So how are you really?" she asks, gently sitting down on the edge of his bed.
"I'm fine, really. Granny Tsunade says I'm healing quickly, and that I should be back to normal within the week."
He scratches the bandage running across his nose, smiling in that particular way that she's starting to realise that he does whenever he's embarrassed that people are paying attention to him.
"That's good."
"What about you, Sakura-chan? Granny Tsunade said you tried to stop Sasuke too? He didn't hurt you, did he?"
She shakes her head, looking down on her hand where it is lightly fisted into the blankets.
"No. Just knocked me out with the Sharingan and left me there on the street."
Naruto's face darkens.
"Right there on the street?" he asks, his voice resembling a low growl. "What, he couldn't even make sure you'd be safe?
Briefly she closes her eyes, praying for patience. She's learning to like Naruto but if there is one thing that is grating on her faster than the loudness it is this hero-thing he has going.
"I was fine," she assures him. "A couple of chunin found me a few hours later and took me to Lady Tsunade."
"But he still left you there all alone. Sakura, I'm not a girl or anything, but even I know that the streets of Konoha can be dangerous sometimes. Especially late at night."
His hands are fisted into the sheets too and he looks about ready to storm out of bed and head out to find Sasuke right then in there. Sakura takes a deep breath, forcing herself to relax her shoulders and unfist her own hands.
"Well, I did manage to cut his face, so I guess he had reason to be angry with me."
Naruto blinks owlishly at her. "You did that, Sakura-chan?"
"Yeah. Anyway," she purposefully makes her voice light and cheery, "what are you going to do when you're released from the hospital?"
"Oh, that's easy!" he says, sitting a little straighter and quickly shifting his moods. "Kakashi-sensei has offered to train me, so I'm going to find him the first thing I do. Y'know, maybe head to Ichiraku's or something first, but whatever."
Her forced smile freezes on her face for a moment, mind skidding to a halt.
"Besides, I figure Pervy Sage doesn't just stay around in one place for very long at a time, so I've gotta make the most out of that too. If I've got both Jiraiya-sensei and Kakashi-sensei teaching me, I'm going to grow strong real quickly, yeah?"
"Yeah, for sure. Congratulations, Naruto." The smile she offers him is genuine but positively painful, but he smiles back at her with the force of the sun, pleased with her encouragement. "You deserve it."
She stays for another half an hour or so, making small talk. Eventually she excuses herself, citing her ongoing work with the Genin Corps as the reason and he nods understandingly.
"That's so cool, by the way, Sakura-chan," he says as she's about to leave. "You, working with the Genin Corps, I mean. I bet you've seen all kinds of cool things."
"Yeah," she agrees. "I guess I have."
The walk back to the Genin Corps' headquarters is brief. Mid-morning like this the building is mostly empty, with most of the genin already out on various missions. She finds Commander Hatake in his office, seated at his desk with a large stack of paperwork.
"Sakura. Come to get a mission for the day?" he greets her when she knocks on the open door.
Nodding, she enters the office, coming to a halt before the desk. Nervously she folds her hands before her. "I wanted to talk to you as well."
"Go on."
He puts the pencil down, leans back in his seat and gives her his full attention. It's not heavy or uncomfortable and she finds that she appreciates him for that.
"My contract formally ended a month ago," she states.
"Yes. We've been very grateful for your continued work with us, especially given the circumstances. Has Kakashi decided that your time with us is over then?"
She shakes her head, her heart clenching a little at the mention of her sensei.
Don't think about it, she tells herself. Just … don't.
"No. He hasn't. However, I'd like to formally join the Genin Corps, if that's alright."
Something akin to disappointment flashes across his eyes. "Is this your choice, or Kakashi's?"
"Both, I guess," she shrugs.
"And are you sure this is what you want?"
She wants to be able to confidently tell him that yes, this is what she wants. The words stick in her throat, forming an uncomfortable lump that won't go away regardless of how many times she tries to swallow.
Looking away from him she gazes out the window behind him. There is a tree in the garden outside, the leaves just starting to turn yellow. Still the weather is warm and while the climate in Konoha is mild, winter will be coming soon.
She can't afford to be homeless during the winter. It was difficult enough during the summer. To do the same during winter, when there won't be berries or mushrooms or herbs around for her to find … Maybe Naruto or Sasuke would be able to overcome that kind of hardship and grow stronger because of it. Sakura can't. At least not if she ever wants to grow strong enough to be able to measure up against Naruto or Sasuke.
"I'm sure." Her voice doesn't waver and she raises her chin, feigning the pride and certainty that she doesn't feel.
"Have you explored your other options? The Medics Corps, for example?"
She thinks of Hajime and Tomomi and the others.
She thinks of Lady Tsunade's rejection.
She thinks of Kakashi-sensei, telling her that she's unlikely to rise beyond the rank of genin.
She thinks of the look on Sasuke's face, the pure shock when she managed to injure him.
She very carefully does not think of Naruto or Kakashi-sensei or the painful longing in her chest.
"This is what I want. Please let me join." She even offers a small bow at the end, fingers clenching into her trousers.
He sighs.
"Far be it from me to reject you from the Genin Corps. If you're sure that this is what you want you are very welcome to join us for real."
Retrieving a general contract he draws up the general conditions of her previous contract, with the exception that the new contract does not have the same time limit. Under this contract she'll be in the Genin Corps until she passes her Chunin Exams or resigns.
She signs with a steady hand.
Commander Hatake does not look pleased.
Pervy Sage visits him in the evening, when visiting hours are long over and all of his classmates have gone home. He climbs in through the window, sitting there with the setting sun behind him making him look really cool, like something out of a story.
"We need to talk," Jiraiya says, his voice unusually serious. "It's important and can't wait."
"What is it?"
He frowns, because the only other time he has seen Pervy Sage so serious was back when Sasuke's brother came to their hotel room and tried to kidnap him or whatever. Naruto isn't entirely sure exactly what was going on, except that the guy was frighteningly powerful. He both managed to beat Sasuke like it was nothing and escaped Pervy Sage's jutsu with his dark-fire-jutsu-thingy.
"From now on, you're my only student," Pervy Sage says.
Which doesn't really make sense, because as far as he knows Pervy Sage doesn't even have any other students and - OH MY GOD HE'S GETTING MORE TRAINING!
"I need to make a full fledged shinobi out of you in three years," Pervy Sage continues. "And I'll do it."
That means more super-awesome rasengan-like training and jutsus and toads with bad attitudes and having to hunt Pervy Sage down in whatever hideout he's found to spy on women and -
"Why three years?" he asks.
The number seems kind of random, except maybe there's a reason behind it since it would also be kind of random that genin teams have three members and that there are three ranks of shinobi and three legendary sannin , y'know if you count the dude who apparently killed the old man third Hokage and there's the number three again!
"We've received some disturbing information regarding the akatsuki."
The memory of Sasuke's brother and his super tall, scary looking companion flashes through his memory again. There's something fishy going on with them, he's sure of it.
Haha, fishy! He snickers to himself at the unintended pun.
"We have reason to believe that you have been chosen as their next target. And we have three or four years before they come after you."
And back to the number three again, which doesn't really make sense with what little he knows of the Akatsuki. Sasuke's brother and the other dude were only a team of two and they aren't even connected to the third Hokage or the three man squads most normal shinobi operate in. So from that perspective it actually makes more sense for the Akatsuki to come after him in two years since they apparently operate in two man squads and since it took Sasuke's brother like two minutes tops to beat him through a wall and OH MY GOD SASUKE! HE DOESN'T HAVE THE TIME TO WORRY ABOUT SOME STUPID AKATSUKI BECAUSE SASUKE!
"No way, that's not going to work," he says, fingers digging into the blanket. "I don't have the time to worry about what might happen three years down the road!"
Three years, or two years or whatever, that's like a super long time away! And the freaky looking bone dude said that Orochimaru would need to take over Sasuke's body like right now! Something about immortality and rotting flesh or whatever, Naruto doesn't quite understand the details but the one thing he's sure about is that Sasuke is in danger now!
"What are you talking about?" Pervy Sage asks, looking at him in surprise.
"Orochimaru already has his hands on Sasuke and his life's in danger right now, that's what I'm talking about!" he says, hearing his own voice come out loud in the otherwise quiet room.
Pervy Sage makes a face, as if he's surprised that Naruto has figured something out on his own.
"Huh, I see you know all the details of Orochimaru's little scheme."
"You mean you knew all about it too?" Naruto asks, aghast that Pervy Sage would sit on that knowledge and then try to distract him with other matters!
"Well, of course! Don't you think I've been studying that immortality jutsu of his? That's also how I know that Orochimaru won't be able to reincarnate himself in another body for another three years."
That makes no sense! Naruto wants to shout but Pervy Sage continues too quickly:
"Fortunately he ran out of time and had to take over another body before Sasuke could get there. That means Sasuke is safe for three years. So you do have time."
Why three years though? Why is it the number three that they keep coming back to and - HOLY RAMEN HE SAID SASUKE IS SAFE!
"Are you sure about that Pervy Sage? Are you absolutely sure?"
"Yeah."
Naruto sighs, leaning back in his bed in relief as his mind goes blank and quiet for a few moments. Sasuke is safe. Naruto hasn't killed him by failing to bring him back. Instead he has a whole three long years to train and become stronger so that he can bring Sasuke back to the village and finally beat some sense into his stupid head!
He chuckles to himself, imagining the look on Sasuke's face when he finally manages to defeat him. There is little doubt in his mind that the day will come, what with both Kakashi-sensei and now Pervy Sage offering to train him …
"Ah, Pervy Sage?" he says, hesitant because he feels as if he has backed himself into a corner somehow and hasn't quite figured out how it happened or how to get out of there yet.
"Hm?"
"I, ah … I sort of already told Kakashi-sensei that I'd train with him and stuff, so would it be alright if we, like, hung around Konoha for a bit?"
Because he has already learned that the Pervy Sage doesn't really like staying in one place for long, which will make it really troublesome if he has to go to Konoha to train with Kakashi-sensei and then figure out what bathhouse Pervy Sage has hidden in for training the next day. The back and forth will make him go mad, for sure!
"Are you declining an apprenticeship with one of the legendary sannin in order to stay in Konoha with your jounin sensei?" Pervy Sage asks with a laugh.
"What? Deci- No, no, nonononooo! I'm not saying no to anything! I was just saying, y'know, that I sort of promised Kakashi-sensei too and, y'know, I'll just have to-"
The old man chuckles and Naruto falls silent.
"Relax, brat. I'll talk to Kakashi for you."
Two weeks after Uchiha Sasuke's defection, ANBU operative Hound stands in a tree near the gates of Konoha, watching as Naruto's familiar blonde hair and orange-clothed form disappears into the distance. A group of yearmates have gathered by the gates to wave him off, and just before he disappears behind the bend of the road he turns around to wave farewell to them one last time.
"Train hard, or Akamaru and I'll wipe the floor with you when you return!"
"Don't do anything stupid!"
There are a number of other cheers and well wishes as well but Hound is mostly deaf to them, too occupied with the mixed feelings of melancholy and guilt running through him. Technically they don't belong to him but he's not far enough into his compartmentalising that he can completely separate the two.
Jounin Hatake Kakashi has lost not one but two of his protégés within the last two weeks, and now it's up to Hound to pick up the pieces.
"Captain?" ANBU operative Cat lands on the branch just behind him, as soundless as his name implies.
Uzumaki Naruto disappears behind the bend of the road.
At the gates, the small crowd that has gathered to wave him off return to their various tasks. A lone figure lingers, her eyes still locked onto the point where Naruto disappeared.
"We should get going, Captain," Cat says.
"I'm coming."
Operative Hound turns away from the gates and the pink haired little kunoichi there. He has a mission to focus on.
It is better this way, he thinks as he and Cat make their way through the forest. Naruto will be safe with Jiraiya, and there's nothing he can do right now about Sasuke anyway.
And Sakura …
Sakura will be better off under Lady Tsunade.
Hatake Kakashi never wanted a genin team to begin with. He's not a good sensei, and Hound would be even worse.
Besides, who would be stupid enough to choose a failure like him, over an apprenticeship with one of the Legendary Sanin?