Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Forgotten Ties ❯ Homecoming (Part I) ( Chapter 6 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Chapter 6 - Homecoming (Part I)

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine… … …

One was missing.

Tsunade frowned with displeasure. “Who's missing?”

Her nine subordinates froze at that moment, all hoping the late one would show up soon…

“I'm here!” A sudden puff of smoke answered their prayers as Yamanaka Ino made her `grand' entrance into the Hokage's office by appearing right beside…Tsunade.

“Kya!” Ino shrieked. Apart from pure shock that someone was actually right beside her, Ino also thought her sensei can kill her with those set of piercing brown eyes of hers.

Ino decided to straighten her shoulders and said in the most innocent way possible. “I… hmm.. I made it in time, didn't… didn't I?”

“You wouldn't be stuttering if you did.” Tenten quipped, and immediately earned a killing scowl from Ino.

“There is still two minutes before our meeting time at eight thirty.” Ino defended, shrugging her shoulders.

“You're considered late when everybody has already arrived.” Hinata retorted smoothly.

“Hinata!” Ino burst, glaring at her usually quiet comrade.

“Just face it. You're late.” Kiba added with a snort.

Ino gritted her teeth, feeling unjust.

Now, who are the ones that doggedly kept her up all night?

Ino was about to rebuke these unsympathetic people when she was startled by the loud fist slam on the Hokage's oak table, sending nearby sparrows from outside to disperse at that instant.

“URU SAI!”

Everyone fell silent immediately, turning their attention at the seemingly pissed Fifth Hokage.

Shizune watched Tsunade concernedly. She is being irascible these days. Or to be more specific, Tsunade's temperament has been getting pretty short than ever since Sakura was confirmed to be still alive.

“Easy, everyone.” Shizune tried to sooth with her awkward smile. “Let's not bicker over petty things.”

“Tsunade-sama!” Shizune quickly turned to the woman with arms crossed over her voluptuous chest. “Let's get things moving.”

Tsunade exhaled to calm at Shizune's words.

Right.

They couldn't afford to waste any more time.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes at the blonde shinobi propping by the window frame with his hands tucked casually in the pockets of his orange suit.

Naruto has been remaining quiet all the while, keeping his say to himself while his blue eyes revealed all.

He was annoyed at his noisy comrades alright. But the age of time has taught him calmness… calmness to set things straight.

He was no longer the twelve year old gennin who would butt into every business mindlessly and then worsened things in the end.

He was twenty now. Tsunade reminded herself. A full-grown man who has also matured in his way of thinking as well as actions.

Tsunade then squared her shoulders and cleared her throat. “As you know, the Sand needs our assistance urgently after their village was attacked.”

She paused to observe each and every of their expressions.

They are going to hate her for this.

“I'm sending all of you over.”

“What about Sakura?” Naruto asked brusquely, the first to react.

Tsunade rested her hands on her hips. She had already expected defiance coming from this lad with blonde spikes.

“She will just have to wait.” Tsunade answered nonchalantly. “The Sand…”

“She has waited for four years already!” Naruto interjected Tsunade, his voice raising. “And…!”

Ino gave an soothing squeeze on Naruto's shoulders, which made the latter realize he has been rude to the oba-chan.

“I suggest you split us up.” Shikamaru stepped forward. “One team to aid the Sands and one team to bring back Sakura.”

Ino thought at that moment Shikamaru looked dashing with those words.

“No.” Tsunade rejected flatly, deepening her frown.

Shikamaru cocked a questioning brow. “Why?”

“From the information I've been getting from the Sand's messenger, there is this possibility that danger still lurks in their village. As you all know, Gaara is missing. Termari and Kankuro are seriously injured to God knows what extent. Their village is critically weak now, so we need at least two teams to aid them. And since most suitable shinobis are out for missions now, I can only trust you guys to do the job.”

Shikamaru nodded in understanding. And so are the others.

Naruto clenched his fists, suppressing his unwillingness of all this. As much as he wanted to disagree, he couldn't deny what Tsunade just said made sense.

After Sasuke's departure eight years ago, Konoha underwent an overhaul to retrieve its former strength.

Sakura became a disciple of Tsunade and him with Jiraya.

And jounins, chunnins… everyone seemed to be busy with their missions and all the stuff that involved rebuilding Konoha.

Even Kakashi, their laid-back sensei seemed to have this solemn expression on his face all the while.

Subsequently, Tenten, Ino, Hinata and Sakura formed the official team training under Tsunade and became the famous Four from Konoha with their flawless teamwork and individualities.

Neji and Shikamaru gradually enlisted in the ANBU while the rest was promoted to jounins.

Just when everything was returning to former times, tragedy stuck again.

Sakura died.

Along with some evident damage to the Leaf village.

Opportunists started to take advantage of Konoha's condition after the episode and Tsunade got very upset though she didn't mention it. But the grief was obvious. The Hokage worked ceaselessly to rid herself of the hurt in her. Jounins, chunnins.. Even gennins.. Everyone was busy again with their missions and rebuilding Konoha…

Now, Konoha just tasted the tip of their former strength when this had to happen.

A book smacked right at Naruto's face, snapping him out of his reverie.

“Naruto, are you listening?” Tsunade bellowed, her brows furrowing.

Naruto rubbed the bruise on his forehead. “Yeah, yeah.”

Tsunade heaved a sigh of exasperation at the restless blonde before turning her attention back to where she stopped.

“As I was saying, Hinata.” Tsunade averted her gaze to her serene disciple. “You shall be in charge of the medic responsibilities since you have the Byukugan.”

“Shall I go with them?” Shizune offered. “Hinata may not be able to cope with the casualties in the Sand village, given the damage.”

“You have to stay here.” Tsunade said in a matter of fact. “Speaking of casualties, we do have a couple of them too.”

Shizune gave it a thought. How could she forget about it? A rising number of patients have been flocking to Konoha for medical attention over the years, given Tsunade's reputation as the medical specialist since her return to Konoha as the Fifth Hokage.

Tsunade was right. She has to stay in Konoha.

The Fifth rubbed her chin. “And who knows, emergencies might occur and medics are a must to save the day. After all, the safety of our village comes first as much as we want to help the Sands.”

“Hn.” Shizune nodded.

Tsunade turned to her blonde disciple. “Ino, you shall assist Hinata.”

“Huh?” Ino worried her lower lip. She has never been the medic type. To be honest, Ino felt she was more like a psychiatrist instead.

Ino heaved a sigh of helplessness, since no one except Shizune seemed to be more suited to this job, but she has to stay in Konoha.

(If only Sakura is still with us…) Tsunade thought but she quickly pushed that thought aside and focused on the concurrent conversation.

“Be confident of your abilities, Ino.” Tsunade assured. “You made who you are today. Prove it.”

“Hai!” Ino responded enthusiastically as she felt her confidence rising by the comfort of her sensei's words.

“As for the rest of you… remember, our goal is to defend. Do not start an attack unnecessarily. Be on the alert for any dangers and report immediately for any mishap.”

“HAI!” came the simultaneous confident replies from her nine subordinates.

“Shikamaru!” Tsunade eyed the lazy ANBU knowingly. Shikamaru glanced away in response. He knew what Tsunade was going to announce.

“Troublesome. Why does it always have to be me…?” Shikamaru murmured, rolling his eyes.

“Hai, Hai. You are to be the leader of this unruly team.” Tsunade tilted her head slightly, amused.

“Guide them well!” Tsunade winked at the disgruntled ANBU who received an elbow hit from Ino, who was displeased with his attitude.

“Now, gather your things and leave the Leaf in thirty minutes time!” Tsunade concluded.

They bowed. Then whoosh! They were gone.

“It's their first time, isn't it? The ten of them working together as a team.” Shizune said beside Tsunade, who took her seat in front of the Hokage's desk.

“Hn.” Answered Tsunade with a drawled voice. She knew what Shizune was thinking.

“Do you think they will be alright?” Shizune questioned, finally voicing out her thoughts.

As much as they are comrades, disagreements do arise from the ten of them from time to time…

Tsunade thought about it a second. “They know their priorities… for they are my dear subordinates after all.”

Shizune smiled in response, in which Tsunade smiled in return.

-+-+-+-+-

“One dozen beef cup ramen, check! One dozen chicken cup ramen, check! One dozen seafood cup ramen, check… …”

Naruto trailed off as one of those moments with Sakura invaded his mind. It was one of those rare times where they were assigned as a team for a mission. Sakura had dropped by his apartment while she was on her way to their meeting place, the village gate.

-Flashback-

“One dozen seafood cup ramen, check! One dozen chicken cup ramen, check! One dozen beeefff…”

“I'm coming in!” Sakura announced, before teleporting herself right in front of Naruto with a backpack swung over her shoulders.

“Ah… …” He had only worn a pair of flowery boxer shorts then.

Both (-_-lll) at that moment.

Instantaneously, Naruto was smacked right in his face by Sakura's backpack, sending him sprawling on the ground.

With a clenched fist, Sakura said intensely, “You idiot! Being half-naked in front of a lady!”

“Iitaii…” Naruto grimaced and rubbed the back of his head while he sat cross-legged on the ground filled with his scattered stuff that is to be packed inside his backpack.

“How was I supposed to know you were dropping by?” Naruto retorted. “And this is my house, for crying out loud! I can wear anything I want!”

Naruto saw Sakura sending her deadly fist at him, in which he swiftly dodged and caught her fist before slamming her right down his bed.

“Hehe!” He smirked then, gaining the upper hand by being the one on top. “Easy, girl! You lost.”

Sakura smiled devilishly. “That's what your idiot mind thinks.”

She began a bit of taijutsu in which Naruto steadily counteract and nullify.

Just when they were in the midst of arm-wrestling on the bed… …

“You guys sure know how to make use of time…”

Naruto and Sakura immediately stopped their struggling and turned intuitively towards the source of the voice, in which they found Kiba, Akamaru and Hinata standing right in front of them.

“Woof!” Akamaru greeted.

Kiba had his arms folded across his chest smugly while Hinata darted her whitish eyes nervously around the room, as seeing Naruto in his raw athletic build was too much for her.

The two immediately untangled themselves and straightened up.

“We're not doing what you think we're doing!” Sakura defended, starting to feel redness creeping up her cheeks.

“I'm not sure about that…” retorted Kiba with a snort. “Fancy smooching around when we are to embark on a mission. You guys sure don't have a sense of discipline.”

Sakura stepped defensively forward about to retort at the same time Hinata tugged on Kiba's sleeves to hint him to stop his sarcastic remarks.

“Why don't you just admit you're envious?” Naruto quipped, tucking his hands behind his head.

“Of what?” Kiba retorted.

Sakura and Hinata exchanged a knowing look. (There the two goes again…)

“Of me!” Naruto stated smugly. “You're jealous of me!”

Sakura cocked an exasperating eyebrow while Hinata looked helpless.

“Of what?” Kiba hissed.

“Of what you don't have!”

The two was about to start a fight when the girls shouted, “STOP IT!”

“We have a mission, remember!” Sakura reminded.

“And internal conflicts will only ruin it.” Hinata added.

The two heated ones gave each other a glare, then “Hn!” turned away from each other.

Hinata looked at her watch. “We've got ten more minutes.”

Sakura glanced at her watch, then at the scattered stuff in Naruto's room.

They've got only ten more minutes to leave the village yet not a belonging from Naruto were even packed!

Sakura breathed. “I'll help Naruto in his packing. Hinata, Kiba. You guys wait for us at the gate. Naruto!”

“Yeah?”

“Get dressed!” And then his orange suit was smacked right in his face.

Once they were alone on their own, Sakura began stuffing necessities into Naruto's backpack while he gets dressed. When Naruto was done with his dressing, he noticed Sakura had forgone his beloved ramen…

“Hey!” He started to protest.

“You don't need them!” Sakura snapped. “Now where are your boxers?”

“Eh?”

“Don't tell me you plan to wear the same one throughout!” Sakura said unbelievably.

“Of course not!” Naruto said, feeling kind of embarrassed. “I.. I'll pack that myself.”

“Of course! I'm only reminding you! Eh…” Sakura noticed Naruto's backpack was starting to tear at the sides.

“Ah… it started to tear already…” Naruto remarked and received a clout in the head by Sakura.

“Don't you even think of throwing it! I'll stitch it up for you when we're back.”

-End of Flashback-

Right.

This backpack in his hands now was a present from Sakura. He smoothed over the stitch-up corner when he sensed someone by his door.

“Open up, Naruto-kun!”

It was Lee.

The chap was banging so hard on his door that Naruto thought it would collapse any moment. He teetered his way through, careful not to step on his stuff scattered everywhere on the floor.

Naruto unlatched his door and found the fuzzy brows puffing at his doorway. Naruto thought he must have got here using more than his super doper ultra speed.

“What is it! I'm still paccckk…!” He suddenly felt himself being tugged by Lee in his sleeves as they leaped from roof to roof.

“What's the matter, fuzzy brows!” Naruto asked with annoyance when he finally got the chance to smack Lee's hands off him at one of the rooftops.

Silence surrounded them for a moment before Lee stated calmly. “Sakura-san is back.”

Naruto took a moment to register that fact in his mind. Then it was his turn to yank Lee by his shoulders. “Where is she now?”

“At the hospital. Gai-sen…sei…”

Naruto was already gone.

Lee stared dazedly at where Naruto stood a while ago. (His speed… …)

-+-+-+-+-+-

“WHERE IS SHE?” Naruto demanded roughly upon whooshing into the reception of Konoha hospital in his white T-shirt and black shorts.

(What happened to Sakur?! When did she get back? How did she get back? Why is she in hospital?! What the hell happene?! Is she dying? Who was there with her during the time she got hurt?Or alone? WHO THE HELL HURT HE?)

The list reverberated strongly in his mind over and over again as he stared sharply at the stunned receptionist in front of him.

The receptionist took a moment to acknowledge his presence before pointing her index finger astutely towards the north wing without a word in her still stupefying mode.

Then in a blink of the eyes, Naruto was nowhere to be found…

The receptionist looked around the enclosed area in disbelief. Shrugging it off, she was about to get back to her work when…

“WHERE IS SHE?” Ino and Lee whiz in and shouted in her ears in the midst of their wheezing.

In a state of momentary incredulity, the receptionist almost toppled in her seat if not for her instinctive grip at the edge of the desk. She quickly regained her composure and points her index finger knowingly towards the north wing once more, only to find herself staring into space upon hearing a whoosh…

-+-+-+-+-+-

(The north wing was where all major operations are held… … … … … HANG ON, SAKURA-CHAN!)

Naruto came to an abrupt halt when he saw a couple of medical nins running hither and yon upfront. Then he saw a flustered Shizune popping into view from one of the rooms.

“Hurry!” she hollered, her voice echoing down the hallway.

The medical nins immediately quickened their tracks while Naruto's muscles went rigid that instant.

“Shizune ne-chan!” Naruto called, running to her side.

“Naruto!” Shizune uttered, clearly not expecting to see the youth at the north wing of Konoha hospital at this point of time. “What are you do..? Aren't you supposed to-”

“I'll catch up!” Naruto interjected, peering anxiously over Shizune and caught a glimpse of a familiar figure with pink hair lying lifelessly on the operating table inside the operating theatre.

His anxiety tripled that instant. “Is that… Sakura?”

“SHIZUNE! I NEED YOU HERE!” Tsunade bellowed from within, interrupting them.

Shizune grasped the urgency from Tsunade and grabbed Naruto by the shoulders when the lad tried to barge into the room that moment. “You can't go in! We'll take care of things here!”

“But-”

“SHIZUNE!”

Shizune peered over her shoulders and at Naruto again. “Just GO!”

Naruto tried to protest again but was held back by a firm hand on his shoulders.

“Let it be, Naruto.”

It was Kakashi.

Shizune gave an acknowledgment nod at the silver-haired shinobi before closing the door behind her, closing the vision of Sakura to Naruto as well.

Naruto slumped against the wall, cringed at the fact that he might lose Sakura yet again. His body involuntarily quivered at the thought of that.

He breathed. He was no longer sure he wanted to know what was going to happen next.

Eyeing him the entire time, Kakashi thought silence was considered abnormal for this number one noisy shinobi in Konoha.

But the silence usually meant one thing - he has something in mind he couldn't figure out.

“Naruto-kun!”

Lee appeared that moment, halting himself right in front of the two. “How is Sakura-san?”

Naruto did not respond.

“It's up to Sakura now.” Kakashi answered subtly when he saw Naruto looking disheartened on the floor.

Ino appeared breathlessly then, glaring daggers at the fuzzy brows for the fact that she can barely catch up with the man in green. “You! (puff) (puff) (puff)”

But then, the words just died in her when she saw Naruto looking suspiciously quiet against the wall.

“Sakura…” Ino whispered faintly instead, fearing the worst.

Suddenly, they heard a shriek coming out from the operating room that Sakura is in.

“The bleeding won't stop!” They heard one of them from within.

Naruto immediately shot up and tried to turn the doorknob, which was locked. He pounds on the door instead. “SAKURA!”

-+-+-+-+-+-

Tsunade glared at the door, quite surprised to hear Naruto outside, in which his pounding gradually stopped.

“Hokage-sama! What do we do now!” One of the medic nins asked fretfully.

Tsunade looked at Sakura.

It's amazing, Hokage-sama! Sakura-san actually does the healing from the inside to complement mine from the outside.

Tsunade recalled some of the words Shigure told her when she was notified of Sakura's homecoming.

Right.

They can't afford to perform anymore healing jutsu. The jutsu on her was simply too dangerous to take such a risk. The only way to cease the internal bleeding now was to make Sakura do the healing. After all, she was the only one who knows exactly where the internal bleeding was.

“Sakura!” Tsunade cupped her student's ice-cold face frantically. “I know you can hear me! HEAL YOURSELF, SAKURA!”

-+-+-+-+-+-

Sakuya snapped her eyes open, only to find herself shrouded in darkness. She could feel her body trembling with cold and exhaustion as she tried to balance herself up. Her legs started to buckle under the strain the moment she is up, and it was becoming more and more difficult for her to focus her eyes ahead. A sharp, searing pain exploded across her consciousness, like a flash of lightning across a dark horizon.

She was vaguely aware that she was on her back now, staring up dazedly into the darkness. She tried to budge, but found that her body won't move no matter how much she wanted it to. Everything seemed to be getting darker as her heart pounded wildly from an unknown tightness in her chest.

“HEAL YOURSELF, SAKURA! HEAL YOURSELF!” Sakuya heard.

Something was wrong. But Sakuya couldn't tell.

Where was she? She didn't know.

Suddenly, bright beams of light flashed their way through, making her eyes squint instinctively. She rolled on her back feebly as a hand reflexively shaded her eyes against the vivid beams.

“Sakura” A husky voice called out.

The voice… sounds familiar.

“Come to me, Sakura”

(It's the… the thing again.) Sakuya thought.

Summoning all the strength that is left in her body, Sakuya crawled her way through. She didn't know why, something… somewhere in her told her she could trust this thing.

She lifted her head halfheartedly when she felt blazing red hot flames in front of her. As like previous times, a magnificent sword would be glowing from within, mixing its purple aura within the flames.

“Heal yourself, Sakura.” It said.

“Sakura, is that you?” Sakuya heard another voice coming from her left. Making a clever guess, Sakuya reckons it must be her look-alike in that damn cage. “Do as it tells you!”

“I can't…” Sakuya said feebly. “My chakra…”

“Be strong, Sakura! You don't want to die now that you've come this far!” Her look-alike hollered from the darkness.

Sakuya just laid limply in front of the glowing sword.

“Sakura.” It voiced again, this time forming the flames into a Phoenix head. “Feel me, Sakura. Feel me from within.”

Sakuya winced, trying to grasp the meaning behind the words.

“Focus, Sakura!” Her look-alike hollered again.

(Focus…?)

“Feel me from within” It repeated.

“Become one with me.”

-+-+-+-+-+-

“Naruto! Will you PLEASE calm down!” Ino shouted in his ears while trying to hold the chap down.

Lee and Kakashi have been trying to calm the chap down from then and again when they heard screams from within the room. Even Gai came to help.

Naruto smacked off their hands and clout hard on the wall instead, venting his frustrations that he had bottled up over the years.

Ino exhaled, relieved that the hot-blooded blonde is somewhat calm for now.

She looked at her watch perfunctorily. Then it struck her that they should be somewhere instead now.

“Ah!” Ino shrieked, suddenly yanking Lee by the shoulders. “Did you inform the others about us coming here!”

Naruto froze at that realization.

They had totally forgotten about their mission.

Lee dilated his already wide eyes as he hesitated under Ino's piercing blue orbs. “I… I don't... I don't think so.”

With immediate effect, he received a smack in the face from Ino.

“We're shit this time!” Ino remarked, throwing her hands up in the air.

“WHAT!” Gai asked incredulously. “Explain yourself, Lee!”

“We're the aiding teams to the Sands. We're supposed to be on our way now to their village.”

Right after he said that, he received a whirling kick from Gai, in which he was wretchedly flung down the hallway.

“YOU HAVE A MISSION, YET YOU'RE STILL HERE!” Gai bellowed, his veins popping. “WHERE ARE THE DISCIPLINE THAT SENSEI PAINSTAKINGLY TAUGHT YOU!”

“GOMEN NASAI, GAI SENSEI!” Lee apologized from down the hallway. “It was a case of emergency!”

Neji and Tenten, who got news of them being here, appeared then, helping Lee up as they made their way to Gai.

“That's not enough to suffice your absence for the mission!” Kakashi retorted, feeling his anger rising as well. “You guys have seriously endangered the lives of your fellow comrades because of this one impulsive act.”

“Furthermore, this concerns the goodwill between us and the Sands. What will the Sand think of us sending slack aiding teams to them?” Kakashi questioned, averting his sharp gaze at Naruto, who now hung his head low.

Tenten spared a glance at Naruto when she and Neji came up to them. Then she turned to Ino. “You should have at least told us where you guys were! We were practically turning Konoha upside down just to find you three!”

Ino too, just hung her head low without uttering a word.

“Where are the others now?” Naruto finally voiced, carefully avoiding Kakashi's reproaching eyes.

“They already left the Leaf two hours ago.” Neji answered with his Byukugan. “We are to catch up with them as soon as we find the three of you.”

Naruto hesitated and turned towards the door that separated Sakura from him...

“What can you do here?” Kakashi questioned, sensing his unwillingness to go.

A glint of defiance flashed across Naruto's eyes but it was transient.

(Kakashi-sensei is right. What can I do here? I can't heal, nor is there a need for me to fight.)

“If you must know, Sakura is saved.” Neji stated as a matter of fact as he deactivated his Byukugan.

Naruto looked up in realization at the Hyuuga for his act of consideration, gratitude etched clearly in his expressive face.

“Thank you!” Unexpectedly, he pounced on Neji and gave him this really huge hug that kind of disgusted the Hyuuga. “Get off me!”

Both Tenten and Ino chuckled, amused to see the scene at the same time relieved to hear that Sakura was fine. Lee just smiled silly while Gai and Kakashi just shoke their heads in exasperation.

“I say we get out of here before the obachan rips our heads off!” Ino quipped.

Her teammates nodded in agreement.

“If you excuse us!” Tenten concluded.

Then one second you see them, the other you don't…

“I'M GOING TO-” Tsunade jerked the door open with the intention to take punitive actions against them, and was actually slightly stumped when she saw only Kakashi and Gai at the door, grinning at her.

(That was pretty fast.)

“It's been hard on you.”

“How was the operation?” One said after another.

Tsunade eyed the two knowingly, and the two looked back knowingly.

“Arguably a success.” Tsunade informed, deciding to fold her cards.

The two jounins relaxed that instant, relieved that the Hokage was not going to pursue the issue.

Tsunade bit her lip, her gaze on the floor.

All was not end yet.

“Get Kurenai and Anko and meet me at the Hokage's office in fifteen minutes time. There's something I wanted to know more.”