Chapter 13: Out in the Open
Konoha
"What's wrong with him now?" The serene atmosphere of the engawa was broken by the Hyuuga patriarch's question, his tone laced with a hint of concern as he sat with his daughters. From this vantage point, they observed Neji in meditation—or at least attempting to be in meditation—a lone silhouette against the tranquil backdrop of the Hyuuga compound. A gentle breeze stirred the air, carrying with it the delicate scent of hanashobu, adding to the peaceful yet unsettled ambiance.
"Sakura-san refused to clear him to go on a mission. She said he needed more time to recover from his internal injuries," Hanabi replied, her gaze fixed on Neji's distant form.
"As he should, but that does not explain your cousin's morose state. He sighed at least a dozen times since I sat here 10 minutes ago. I thought his former genin teammates' presence earlier would uplift his mood," Hiashi remarked, his brow furrowing in contemplation.
Hinata, intrigued by her father's keen observation, tilted her head curiously. She didn't think her father was paying attention to her cousin that closely. "Lee-san and Tenten-chan came by to tell him they will be going on a mission, Father. It wasn't exactly good news to him since they will be gone for months," she added, providing context to Neji's mood.
"Nevermind that! There is something that I would love to tell you all about, otosan!" Hanabi interjected eagerly, her youthful enthusiasm bubbling over.
Hiashi, now fully attentive, arched a single brow, intrigued by his youngest daughter's excitement.
"The the mission Neji oniisan isn't allowed to join is the one Sakura-san is assigned to. Not that it's really up to him. Even if Hokage-sama picked him, Sakura-san, as his medic, would never have allowed it!" Hanabi exclaimed, excitement evident in her voice.
"So? He was previously her main jonin escort on those medical missions, but that didn't mean he had to accompany her on every single one," Hiashi responded, not fully grasping the significance.
"You don't understand, otosan. This particular mission will last for at least three months! Do you know what that means?" Hanabi continued, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"And what does that mean, Hanabi?" Hiashi asked, his curiosity piqued.
"It means he won't be seeing her for at least three months!" Hanabi giggled, clearly amused now at her cousin's expense. "If he had only told her he liked her when he had the chance, he wouldn't be in this situation. Who knows, maybe Sakura-san would have given him the green light to join her on the mission. It seems the attraction isn't one-sided, after all!"
"Hanabi-chan!" Hinata chided her sister gently, a blush coloring her cheeks at the candid conversation.
"What? I'm only saying what everyone else is thinking. Frankly, this scene is getting old. I may be fourteen, but I'm not clueless. I know our cousin is hopelessly smitten with the best medic in all of Konoha, the most kickass, and just all-around good kunoichi. But even if Lee-san and Tenten-san hadn't interrupted them earlier, I doubt they would have addressed whatever it is that's going on between them," Hanabi defended, unapologetic.
"And what is going on between them?" Hiashi inquired, his interest now fully piqued by the mention Neji's feelings towards Haruno Sakura.
"Apparently nothing… yet," Hinata murmured wistfully, her gaze drifting back to Neji in meditation.
"Haruno Sakura, huh," Hiashi mused, a thoughtful expression crossing his features as he considered the implications.
Neji's somber mood persisted until the next morning, but he rose early nonetheless to bid farewell to his former teammates and Sakura. Despite his mood, he assured Sakura once again that he would take it easy and refrain from excessive training. Yet, Sakura couldn't resist reminding him of the importance of allowing his body ample time to recover fully. She emphasized that while he had been discharged from the hospital, he still had a ways to go before returning to his previous condition, which could take up to two months.
Neji cherished the moments when Sakura's attention was solely on him, ignoring Tenten's knowing looks and Lee's oblivious remarks about sparring once they returned.
He couldn't help but wish he was accompanying her to Suna. The journey was only three days on foot, even with a leisurely pace. He silently hoped Sakura would reconsider his clean bill of health. However, he knew Sakura was serious when she switched into doctor mode.
"Take care of yourself out there as well," Neji managed to say as Tenten practically dragged Lee away to bid farewell to their other friends who had come to see them off.
"You bet!" Sakura replied, her tone light. "Oh, and look," she pulled something from her medic pouch at her waist. "Your present. I absolutely love them! Let's hope I won't need to test them on the way to Suna," she joked, proudly displaying the new gloves he had gifted her. They were tailor-made for her, crafted with her combat style in mind. The materials, a blend of leather and silk, were sourced from the Land of Iron, known for its artisans who catered exclusively to samurai, their crafts wear-resistant and last for a very long time. As luck would have it, a traveling craftsman had been in Konoha for the Spring Festival, and Neji had managed to make a special request for one of the village's heroes.
"I'm glad you liked them," Neji said, a gentle smile tugging at his lips, earning a blush from Sakura.
"I do. Thank you," Sakura replied warmly. "I'll see you when we get back, alright? Please stay safe."
Neji chuckled softly. "I should be telling you that."
"Oh my god! Just kiss already!" Ino, who had been nosily observing the two, yelled from a distance. Ino had also come to see them off. It would have been quite a gathering if Naruto and the other members of Team 7 were here, but they had been sent on a mission a few days ago.
The two awkward shinobi blushed deeply at Ino's blunt comment.
"Shut up, Ino, or I'll never get you those sand dune pastries you've been craving!" Sakura retorted, her cheeks aflame with embarrassment.
"Whatever! You love me!" the blonde answered, turning around to resume a conversation with Hinata.
"Ino, seriously! Can't you give them a moment?" Tenten chimed in, also eager to observe the interaction.
The atmosphere was filled with a mix of embarrassment and amusement as Neji and Sakura exchanged glances, their cheeks still tinted pink.
"I guess I'll see you in three months," Sakura managed to tame her embarrassment to say her final farewells, ready to finally set off on their journey.
Neji hesitated briefly, gathering his courage. "Sakura," he began, closing his eyes briefly and inhaling deeply before speaking, "when you return, would you be interested in going out for dinner?"
Sakura's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean...?" She trailed off as Neji continued.
"Of course, I understand if you're busy or not interested. Forget I asked," Neji said quickly.
"No! I mean, no, I won't be too busy. There's definitely time for dinner," Sakura hurriedly replied, her words tumbling out.
"So, is that a yes?" Neji asked, a hopeful smile on his lips.
"Yes! Definitely," Sakura answered, feeling a rush of excitement. "I'm sure that's what the team will want to do first thing when we get back. We'll surely miss the food here while we're away," she rambled on, her cheeks flushing.
"No, not with the team. Just you and me," Neji clarified.
"You mean, like a date?" Sakura asked tentatively.
"Exactly that. So? Would you like to go?" Neji asked earnestly.
"Okay," Sakura replied decisively.
"Okay," Neji echoed, his smile widening at the prospect.
That smile lingered in Sakura's mind as she and her team set off on the long journey to Suna. The harsh sun and chilly nights camping under the stars hardly bothered her, as thoughts of her first date with the elusive Hyuuga filled her thoughts with anticipation. Three months isn't that long.
Suna
"For someone who endured a three-day journey under this scorching heat, you're positively glowing," Kankuro, in his customary dark attire and intricate puppeteer garb, remarked with a small smirk playing on his lips as he leaned casually against a post. His hood was pulled back, revealing his wind-tousled hair
"Tell me about it. This woman hasn't stopped smiling since we left the village," Tenten commented dryly, her usually energetic demeanor tempered by the exhausting journey through the hot, humid desert.
"Sakura-san is positively filled with youthful energy! We should all strive to match her vigor!" Lee declared with his trademark enthusiasm, despite the sweat visibly glistening on his brow.
"I'm just excited to be here and dive into our knowledge exchange!" Sakura added, her grin unwavering despite the dust clinging to her clothes.
"Somehow I doubt that's the whole truth, but we'll have time for a proper interrogation later. Let's head to Gaara's office first to get the rundown for today," Temari suggested, taking the lead as the Konoha shinobi followed the Sand Siblings further into Sunagakure.
Her curiosity would have to wait to be satiated. After all, business took precedence in these diplomatic missions. However, Temari made a mental note to extract every detail from the pink-haired medic, especially since she had been a crying mess the last time Temari had seen her at Ino's.
Temari ushered the group forward, the promise of discussions and exchanges of knowledge hanging in the air as they made their way through the bustling village. The scorching sun beat down on them, but the excitement of the visit and the potential for new alliances kept their spirits high.
It had been a month into their mission in Suna when Tenten began to notice something interesting: Gaara, Suna's Kazekage. And it wasn't for the best of reasons.
One day, the Kazekage started lingering around the pink-haired medic, casually suggesting walks after long sessions of lecturing at Suna's newly renovated medical school or proposing visits to scenic sunset spots. They even went out for lunch together, just the two of them. If it weren't for the fact that Sakura had actually forgotten her bento on the day of a particularly long workshop, Tenten might have been miffed at not being invited to sample the renowned sandfish sushi in Suna. "Next time," Sakura had promised apologetically later that day.
Initially, Tenten wasn't bothered by this development. However, fate had other plans. It became increasingly clear to Tenten that Sakura was completely oblivious to Gaara's attempts at making a move. Or perhaps, even more baffling, Sakura simply didn't mind. And that made no sense to Tenten at all.
She couldn't shake the memory of Sakura's excitement when they had left Konoha, especially after that serious moment with Neji by the gate. So, what the heck was going on now? Was Sakura playing her former teammate, granted they weren't together yet? Tenten couldn't fathom it.
With a determined glint in her eyes, Tenten realized there was only one course of action left: investigate. She swore to herself that she would get to the bottom of this strange behavior from Sakura or, if need be, confront the intimidating Kazekage himself. Whatever it took to uncover the truth, Tenten was ready to find out.
Unfortunately, Sakura proved to be more elusive midway through their three-month-long mission. She had been busy with the lectures all day, and when she had some free time, the Sand Siblings were usually hogging all of her attention, even Lee was starting to protest. But that didn't deter Tenten from her mission to uncover the truth. If she couldn't get the information from Sakura, she would have to go straight to the source: Gaara himself.
It was a stroke of luck when she stumbled upon the Kazekage training in one of the private grounds favored by the Sand Siblings, a spot that Tenten herself had grown fond of during her stay. "Perfect! I have no idea how I'll approach this, but here goes nothing," she mentally prepared herself.
"Good morning, Kazekage-sama!" Tenten greeted cheerfully, putting on her best friendly demeanor.
"Tenten-san," Gaara nodded, momentarily halting the movement of sand around him through his chakra.
Tenten couldn't help but gulp at the incredible finesse of his chakra control. Nonetheless, she had a mission to carry out.
"Lovely morning, isn't it?" she managed to say, masking her initial nervousness with a bright smile.
"Indeed," Gaara replied mysteriously, a truly faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Tenten would have missed it if her senses weren't on high alert in the presence of the former jinchuriki.
"You seem unusually cheerful today, Kazekage-sama. Anything interesting going on?" Tenten asked casually, trying to steer the conversation.
If Gaara had eyebrows, Tenten was certain he would have raised one. Instead, he looked at her with his usual air of nonchalance, the brief smile completely gone. Gaara's expression was as inscrutable as ever, making him even more difficult to read than Neji in Tenten's opinion.
"I mean, not that I've had the chance to get to know you well enough to tell when you're cheerful or not," Tenten backpedaled, trying to cover her slip-up. "I just noticed that you seem...happier lately," she laughed awkwardly.
Gaara decided to ease up a bit, choosing to humor the Konoha ninja with whom he and his siblings had been sharing meals during their stay. "Yes, there have been some positive developments in the village recently."
Tenten's eyebrows shot up at that reply, her curiosity piqued. "Really? That's wonderful. Please, do tell me more."
"As you know, Sakura-san has been instrumental in bringing advanced medical techniques to our medics. Her teachings will have a lasting impact on our village," Gaara explained.
"Oh, is that it?" Tenten sounded a bit disappointed, then quickly covered it up with a cheerful tone. "Well, that's Sakura-chan for you! She's truly amazing, isn't she?"
"Indeed," Gaara agreed simply.
"I'm sure your medics adore her. She's a very patient teacher and delightful company. It seems like you enjoy her presence, too, don't you, Kazekage-sama?" Tenten probed.
Gaara tilted his head, unsure of Tenten's intentions but sensing that her question wasn't as innocent as it sounded. "What are you trying to ask, Tenten-san? Please be more direct."
"Are you interested in my friend, Gaara?" Tenten finally asked without any pretense.
"Interested?" Gaara asked, slightly bewildered.
"Yes, interested. As in, are you pursuing a romantic relationship with Sakura? Do you want to date her?" Tenten clarified.
Gaara didn't answer immediately. Instead, he let out a long and frustrated sigh.
"Yes, that was the initial goal," Gaara admitted.
"Goal? What do you mean, goal? Is she just a target you're aiming to hit?" Tenten's frustration began to simmer.
"No, you misunderstand me, Tenten-san. I don't have any ill intentions toward Sakura-san. Trust me, Sakura-san is as much a friend to me as Naruto. But to be completely honest, the council..." Gaara trailed off, unsure why he was confiding in Tenten, who was practically a stranger. But if he hoped to clarify his intentions, he had to start somewhere.
"I've been under pressure from the Suna Council to find a suitable bride to continue the line," Gaara revealed.
"What?" Tenten's shock quickly turned to anger. Not only did Gaara likely lack deep feelings for Sakura, but he was also cozying up to her under pressure to find a wife to bear his children.
"I've been exploring prospects to become Suna's first lady, so to speak," Gaara continued emotionlessly.
"Keep talking like that, and I might forget you're the Kazekage," Tenten warned, her temper rising.
"Do you even have feelings for her?" Tenten pressed.
Gaara didn't answer immediately. Then, just when Tenten thought he would dismiss her, he spoke, "Sakura-san's company is…tolerable."
Tenten fought the urge to deliver a swift punch to the man standing before her.
"Okay, Gaara," she began, tossing all formality aside. "Here's the deal. I challenge you to a spar, no chakra allowed. If I win, you leave my friend alone. She has someone waiting for her back home, and she doesn't need any distractions." Tenten couldn't help but acknowledge, albeit begrudgingly, that Gaara's attentions weren't entirely unwelcome. If Neji weren't in the picture, she might even encourage Sakura to entertain the Kazekage's advances. After all, Gaara's dangerous aura and quiet strength held a certain appeal. Tenten couldn't help but imagine the powerful physique that lay beneath the heavy Suna garb—a seasoned Shinobi in every sense.
Don't get distracted now, you! A voice inside her head, suspiciously like Ino's, admonished.
"And if I win?" Gaara's voice dropped a few octaves, his smirk growing more pronounced.
"If you win," Tenten replied dismissively, "you can do whatever you want."
"I hope you don't regret that, Tenten-san," Gaara's smirk widened, his eyes glinting with a challenge.
"Neji and Sakura better name their firstborn after me, or I'll forever regret opening my stupid mouth," Tenten muttered to herself, a mix of determination and nervousness swirling in her chest. She swiftly prepared herself, checking her weapons and adjusting her stance to face the formidable Kazekage.
"What was I thinking challenging Gaara?" She shook her head, trying to push aside the doubts and fears creeping into her mind. This was no time for second-guessing. Tenten squared her shoulders, steeling herself for the upcoming spar. The challenge had been made, and now she had to see it through, no matter the outcome. But she really had to try for the sake of her idiotic friends' love life.
That afternoon, Sakura dedicated a solid hour of her lunch break to mend every injury that marred Tenten's body, including three broken ribs, black eyes, split lips, a concussion, and a few broken fingers that will take some time to naturally heal, it seemed Gaara had toyed with her during the first half of their spar, then shifted to a more serious demeanor for the latter half, leaving Tenten struggling to retaliate or find an escape plan. The clash of their skills echoed across the training grounds, drawing the attention of Temari and Kankuro.
Initially concerned that Tenten had somehow offended Gaara, the Sand Siblings were surprised to realize that the Kazekage was simply reveling in the challenge—a genuine enjoyment of the battle with the weapons mistress. Their jaws would have dropped if they weren't so preoccupied with evading Tenten's relentless assaults. The intense match lasted a staggering two hours until Tenten, begrudgingly, had to concede defeat as Gaara pinned her down to the ground.
"I didn't know you had such a daring streak, Tenten, challenging the Kazekage to a spar like that," Sakura teased her friend afterward.
"Shut up. You have no idea," Tenten replied stubbornly, still reeling from the intense bout. Indeed, Sakura was unaware of the full extent of what had transpired that day. She had made Gaara agree to keep their deal strictly between them, a condition he was more than happy to oblige.
Later, as Gaara retreated to his office, an unusual sense of cheerfulness enveloped him. He found himself thinking about the woman who had been willing to risk life and limb to protect her friend's heart—a woman of remarkable courage and loyalty. The image of Tenten, fierce and determined, lingered in his mind, leaving him with a newfound sense of intrigue and admiration.
"What the hell is this?" Tsunade exclaimed as she read the urgent missive from Suna a few days later, the message scrawled in what seemed like hurried chicken scratches or perhaps scribbles by a child who was just learning to write.
But the letter, suspiciously resembling a ransom note, bore a bold demand that raised Tsunade's eyebrows:
Dear Hokage-sama,
If you wish to see your apprentice back in Konoha, send your most trusted jonin, specifically Hyuuga Neji (it's up to you if you want to send more, but whatever happens, Hyuuga Neji must come), to Suna to escort her back to the village. ASAP.
Respectfully,
T.
"What in the world is happening in Suna?" Tsunade muttered to herself, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Iwa
"This is…" Sakura's breath caught in her throat as if she had been doused by ice water. Her suspicions had been confirmed. The tonic, derived from the plant and soil samples she had collected, contained dangerously high amounts of toxins. If her analysis was correct, the main ingredient was a known abortifacient.
"...Oikatsuo." Taken alone, the yellow flower wouldn't have been lethal, but combined with other concentrated amounts of mildly toxic medicinal herbs, it was proving deadly.
Sakura wasted no time in summoning Katsuyo. To her relief, the small slug appeared on the first try, without any difficulty on Sakura's part, ready to serve the purpose she had in mind.
"Are you alright, Sakura-chan?" the slug asked, antennae twitching as it surveyed their surroundings. "Oh, there's something different about your chakra… You're with child. Congratulations!" the slug greeted her warmly.
"Thank you, Lady Katsuyo," Sakura replied with a faint smile. "I wish I could have summoned you for a happier reason, but I urgently need your help."
"Of course, what is it?" The slug was eager to assist.
"I need you to go to Kakashi and tell him…" Sakura proceeded to relay the urgent information she had discovered. The Hokage needed to be informed that a Konoha shinobi was potentially at the center of an unfolding sabotage in an allied village. She trusted Kakashi to know what to do, as her mind raced to strategize for her immediate situation while also considering the larger repercussions.
"And the second message is for Tsunade-sama. Please, I need you to locate her. She's likely somewhere near Suna at this time. I may need her assistance in maintaining a summoning in the village to attend to anyone in urgent need of poison treatment. I don't think I can effectively treat multiple people for poisoning in my current condition. I'll do my best to create an antidote, but it will take time. I'm not even sure if I have all the necessary resources." Sakura's words spilled out rapidly, her anxiety palpable as her mind raced through scenarios and solutions.
"Calm down, Sakura-chan," Katsuyo soothed. "Leave everything to me. Take some deep breaths. I'll be on my way as soon as I see you are okay."
Once Sakura had calmed down and Katsuyo had left to deliver her messages, Sakura made her way to Kurotsuchi to share her findings and demand answers about the attack on the villagers. She was almost certain that the patients had been deliberately targeted by whoever had given them the tonic, disguised as a quick fix for common ailments and the harsh climate.
Hurrying down the corridor, Sakura suddenly realized that something was off. She hadn't sensed Badger's presence since leaving the laboratory—no, even before that. He seemed absent since she had left her room that morning, a fact she had overlooked in her focus on the plant.
"Badger, now is not the time to overly conceal your presence. We have work to do!" Sakura declared, a cold sense of worry creeping over her.
"Looking for this?" a feminine voice interrupted, and a moment later, a badger ANBU mask landed at Sakura's feet.
"Mika-san? What's going on? Where's Badger?"
"I wouldn't worry about him or your other escorts. They're having a blast. You, on the other hand, are in trouble, doc," Mika emerged from the shadows, her expression unsettlingly sinister to Sakura.
"What do you mean? I just uncovered what's affecting your people. I need to inform Kurotsuchi immediately so we can stop it."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Haruno-san," the Iwa ninja chuckled, taunting Sakura. "We've put years of work into this. We can't have you ruining everything for us now, can we?"
"What—" Sakura began, only for white gas to suddenly flood from the pipes above them.
"Sweet dreams, doc," were the last words Sakura heard before watching Mika casually don a gas mask, darkness enveloping her as she lost consciousness.
A/N I don't own Naruto
Hanashobu = Japanese iris
Oikatsuo = Tansy (Tanacetum vulgar), according to Google eating it can sicken or even kill cattle, horses, some goats, pets, and people. Another article claims it kills intestinal worms. But really, I don't claim that anything that I write is medically accurate. Let's just go with whatever the crazy author says lol
Looks like this story might end up spanning more than 15 chapters after all. My apologies for the constant additions, and please bear with the slow updates. Even I'm wrestling with keeping track of the storytelling across three timelines! Haha, I know, I did this to myself.
Thank you for reading! Please review if you feel like it.